The Fabulous Disney Babe
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Pooh is the most popular character in Japan, they noted, then hopped right over to Aquatopia. Aquatopia is a very similar vehicle to the Pooh vehicles there in Tokyo, except the movements are more aimless and random. Everyone laughs, not knowing where they're going to go next.
Lost River Delta is like the African portion of Adventureland, but themed more toward Central America and the Amazon. There's even an Indiana Jones Adventure here, like in Disneyland, but instead of the Forbidden Eye, we're dealing with a Crystal Skull. There's also a very exotic Mexican restaurant here. (Hey, it's Tokyo!), and Cappucino flavored popcorn is popular there. There's also sugar-sweetened and caramel.
In the Arabian Coast, which is like the Aladdin-themed areas of Disneyland's Adventureland, they actually have attractions! These attractions are themed to the romantic tales of the past: 1001 Arabian Nights, Aladdin, Sinbad et al. There is a gorgeous 2-story carousel, which is nice eye candy. All of the things on the carousel, Brad noted, are themed to Aladdin. The Magic Lamp theatre mixes live actors with a 3D animated Genie and some amazing special effects. It's the next version of "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience", but with different effects. The Seven Voyages of Sinbad is their "small world" ride. There's a genie and other protagonists of the stories in there, Brad said. Dennis agreed: "It's Pirates meets it's a small world".
Dennis then discussed what he called "David Mumfordland": Mermaid Lagoon, the Fantasyland area of the park. Capped by King Triton's castle, there are, Dennis said, only two outdoor attractions there, one of which is a Gadget's Go-Coaster type kiddie coaster themed to Flounder. A great deal of the land, Dennis continued, is indoors. It's kind of dark, like Ursula's grotto at DCA, but huge inside: there's a teacup-style attraction, DCA's Jumping Jellyfish, and some fun interactive areas similar to the Imagination pavilion at Epcot. There's also a dramatic stage show, kind of a theatre in the round, except that all of the action takes place above you. Ariel flies in over the audience, as if she is swimming. Dennis noted: "If you want to know more about Mumfordland, put on your survey that you want to see the Bruce and Dave Show at the July Convention!"
Instead of Frontierland, they had the Discovery Bay-like area called Mysterious Island. This is a heavily Jules Verne-themed area, (and the one thing that might actually get me out there ~Fab) There are two "E-Ticket" attractions there: Journey to the Center of the Earth, (which grew out of a segment originally planned for the Disney-MGM Studios Tram Tour ~Fab) It's part coaster, part Splash Mountain. He then credited LaughingPlace.com's own Marc Borelli for the photos he was showing, and instructed the audience to look up his articles and photos for a better look at the place.
Dennis said that it was more like Test Track:
same ride system, same speed loop, except that instead of being themed to a freeway, you
zoomed around a caldera.
Dennis asked Brad: "You didn't ride?"
Brad: "No, I didn't ride it. The line was too long!"
Nautilus Gifts was Brad's undoing. He took a
moment to show off his Nautilus cap, shirt, cel phone hangie (these things will be huge
~Fab) and other goodies.
The other E-Ticket was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (A wet-for-dry undersea adventure,
several generations above the next generation of Peter Pan meets the Submarine Voyage
~Fab)
Brad went on the last premiere day as well as on
opening day, and on the last premiere day they filled the park to capacity, to see how it
would run. It was quite crowded, but Brad ran into another European-American who had been
looking for postcards. Brad reminded him about the Disney thing with new parks and
postcards (nope), then asked him what he did: "I'm the fire guy", he
replied."I did the fire for the volcano."
Brad asked him "isn't that expensive?" "Yeah."
Brad: "What about rain?" "It's quite a concern. Where do you work?"
Brad: "I don't work here." "BYE". Brad felt like a "Touron".
(His word, ask him.)
Brad showed off more of his loot: Nautilus
stickers, bottle openers, lanyards, mousepad, "the coolest watch you've ever
seen".
David: "So you ARE a Touron."
Brad: "I even got Nautilus SOCKS!" (shows off socks)
David: "Are you done?"
Brad: "I've got MORE!"
The Vulcania restaurant is a Chinese restaurant.
Apparently, in Japanese culture, Chinese food is held in high regard. There's a full-scale
Nautilus display like in Paris, but you cannot go "into" the ship. There is,
however, a stairway that people didn't seem to know about, into a viewing area for the
submarine, there's a place to rest, shade and chairs, and the only popcorn stand in the
park that day without an hour wait. Brad got a nifty collapsible popcorn container filled
with cappucino popcorn for about nine dollars. There was a line, however, for the 20,000
Leagues attraction, and they had the photo to prove it. There were roughly 4-5 thousand
people in line outside of the ride building.
Next: Opening day and how Dennis became an Imagineer.
-- Fab
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-- Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith can be reached using the Talkback form below or by emailing her at [email protected].
The Fabulous Disney Babe's column is posted every Friday and when ever else she has something to say. For more on Michelle's background, see her first column. She also offers The Fabulous Tour: Disneyland Secrets and Stories. Click here for more information.
The opinions expressed by our Michelle Smith, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted January 25, 2002