About Me

I am a 19 year old college student who has been an Annual Passholder for 6 years. I'm an active member on Micechat, a well known (and maybe even infamous) Disney Fan site. For the last 2 years, i've entertained other members with my Trip Reports which was a weekly thing. Then I decided to get into the DLR update gig and run this blog to post updates on the various projects throughout the resort. My goal in running this blog, is to provide photos and info of the current progress of the projects as much as possible. I will also provide honest opinions on everything Disney as much as possible. A personal goal for me doing this is to provide something different to MiceChat and to try someting I've never done before.

If you have any requests for a future update, you can contact me via Twitter (username: Indy1957) or if your a Micechat Member, you can drop me a PM or Visitor Message, but I would prefer a Visitor Message so the PM box won't fill up as a precaution. I'll also take questions but note that questions may not be answered for various reasons.

I use a Sony A33 DSLR Camera for all of my pictures and video recording.

World of Color 1.5: New Pirates Scene fills in for Chernabog and Hellfire. New characters and laser effects

Last night I recorded the new stuff added to World of Color recently.

The new Pirates of the Caribbean scene is heavily influenced by the new "On Stranger Tides" film just released into Theaters. Flamethrowers were moved around to get a more dramatic effect. The scene also brought back the projections on the sunburst on California Screamin and lasers on the roller coasters structure. I love this scene but its regrettable that Chernabog and Hellfire have to be swapped out. But as Steve Davison said "We'll always be changing". And he has shown here that he has kept his promise and I can't wait for more updates. Now, there is talks that this new scene will be only for the summer. Time will tell if this true (summer season for Disneyland ends after Labor Day weekend in September). Some do say that this better suited for an encore like TRON. As the part of the show is suppose to be about villians, i could agree since now the only two villians in the show now is Blackbeard and Scar. But I don't know what could replace Pirates in it's original part in the show so Pirates can take the encore posistion. This could explain why some feel that it's more suited for an encore.

In the "So Close" scene, Tarzan is swapped out for Rapunzel and Flynn from Tangled.

There was talks of Tangled having its own scene, but that obviously it didnt materialize. I actually like Rapunzel and Flynn better in this scene and I can't imagine if there would be a challenge programming a Tangled scene.

The finale also incoporates the lasers on screamin and its very impressive. But other than that, the finales largely the same (Davy Jones, hellfire and Chernabog are still in it).

No doubt that these changes will get some people that said "once was enough" to change their minds and eat their own words. In about 2 years, the show might not be the same version that we saw on that one summer night.

Disneyland Resort Update May 22nd 2011: World of Rapture

 Now that we all survived the rubbish that was suppose to be an earthquake, we can see my first DLR update!

After obtaining a WoC FP, I went over to DL to find Star Tours doing soft openings!

Line went towards Star Trader

For those of you who don't know what an soft opening is, it means that a new attraction that is not open yet is open to allow CMs working there to get used to operating the attraction with guests in big numbers. Does not mean that the attraction will be open all day. They can close anytime during the day and these aren't announced. You just have to be there at the right time. The line was about 45 when I got in. Not to bad considering it's expected to be at least 3-4 hours when it officialy opens on June 3rd.

Pics of the extended indoor queue

 Going into the main queue. About the same as the original but updated. The screen is now bigger than the last one. Very impressed!

 In the droid room, look for REX in the room. He's marked as "defective".

 This new animatronic now has a more recognizable male voice. The screen behind him is a survaillance cam. Be sure to wave!

 You pick up your 3-D glasses befoe your sent to your gate. If you have glasses like I do, be careful as it takes a while to put them over your glasses.

Now theres 3 screens at each gate. Bigger and better and that lady from the safety film of the original appears to make the cameo everyones talking about.

My thought: Star Tours has delivered what it promised when it went down! I went to Tatooine and Naboo and got Vader and Yoda and loved the new story of the ride. Oh...and your friend or relative may be who the Empire is arresting ;).





 Don't be fooled by the progress on the exterior. Lots of work within are still made to be done and is still on track for August.

 Progress so far on the Carthay Circle Theater. Note that the walls are moved a bit closer. Close inspection shows that they have already torn up the ground.

 Can't believe that they took it out in a matter of days

 The cave remains open but this is not because of a reufrb in the area. Some accident occured here a couple of days ago.

 Hard to believe that 4 months ago, we were staring at a metal structure coming together. Now its complete and running Cast Member Previews. Guests throughout the day thought it was open but it wasn't for regular guests. CM previews continue this week.

 Entrance into the loading area will be through this door (as i saw)

If the trees weren't there and this wasn't being used for the queue, it would be an ideal place for a WoC dessert buffet similar to Fantasmic!.

The new redone Seaside Souveniers. Now guests can walk within it instead of ordering things behind the counter. Ear Hat Embrodiery is beneath this sign and the main check-out is underneath the metal tower. This has Little Mermaid Merch as well as World of Color Merch.

 The renovated Corn Dog Castle.

 Progress so far on the new area which got delayed to July 1st.

 Workers putting in work on the new structures.

 Where the parade speakers will go in

 The Mermaid Building now without walls makes taking pictures of it a whole lot better.

 One part appears to have the prime paint on it. Expect that to be painted soon.

This moving flamethrower was in the back of the platform. Now its closer to the middle to make it more dramtic in the new Pirates Segment.

Close up of the progess within Carsland. Note the construction workers.

Close up of one of the cone. Note the detail on the building to the right (+the contractors trailer)

Now for a quick DL construction update

 Over at Disneyland, this cross thing is up where the new ODV location is expected to be at.

Now for a couple more of Cars Land photos from BSC

 The wheelchair chariot in the Mermaid Attraction

The work in GSS

 Now we can have a close up of the moving flamethrowers now that they have been moved closer.

You can see how the flames in the new sequence are shaped the way they are.

 You can see how the new buildings colors reflect the Paradise Pier Hotels colors. This might lead people to believe that this complex is connected to the hotel.

The water tower looks great!

 The new merch cart area next to Corn Dog Castle

Where the TLM queue ends. What is the door in the back for?

At the lighthouse thing by Paradise Park, the planter has been dug up.

The sign lit up it looks fantastic! WDI did a very good job making the building.

This concludes my first update! Hope you all enjoyed it!