LP Lotion: Tokyo DisneySea Update
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Tokyo DisneySea Update

Late in June Lindsay and I set off on a field trip to Tokyo Disney Resort for the third issue of Tales from the Laughing Place. That issue will hit newsstands later in July and will feature extensive coverage of Disney’s Rock Around the Mouse at Tokyo Disneyland, a fifties-inspired drive-in musical performed in and around the hub and Aladdin’s Whole New World at Tokyo DisneySea, a stunning water pageant.

However I thought it would be appropriate to feature the development of Raging Spirits in the Lost River Delta section and Tower of Terror in American Waterfront at Tokyo DisneySea. Raging Spirits is a clone of the Indiana Jones Temple of Peril at Disneyland Resort Paris. A compact looping coaster with two six-seater mine cars coupled together. This ride is more reminiscent of the Wild Mouse concept than the traditional inverted coasters like California Screamin’ at Disney’s California Adventure park. The Indy concept would have been duplicated if transported to TDS as the attraction is within a foot of the temple walls of the Indiana Jones Adventure Temple of the Crystal Skull.

Raging Spirits sees intrepid explorers disturb two deities of the elements, one for fire and another for water. Their awakening causes a rift in the temple ruins and they begin to fight catching the mine cars in the middle. The attraction is actually flipped from the Paris version as in TDS the lift climb takes you to above the queue area at the front of the plot whilst at Paris the climb is the furthest point away from the entrance. Otherwise the coasters are identical except for the fire and water special effects and the need for an extensive backwall to prevent the illusion of ruins being destroyed by the parking lots and official hotels immediately beyond the perimeter. Raging Spirits opens officially 21 July 2005. At the request of the Oriental Land Company, Limited (the owners, licence-holder and operator of Tokyo Disney Resort) we have not featured images from inside the attraction at present.

Oddly Raging Spirit not only has a height restriction on the minimum requirement (117cm) but also on the maximum which is only 195cm. Very unusual. In addition a new Quick Service facility will open up between Indy and Raging Spirits. Called Lost River Cookhouse the dining location shares kitchen facilities with the existing Yucatan Base Camp Grill which has always underperformed due to its hidden location.

Incidentally, a local Hong Kong newspaper recently published an article claiming that Raging Spirits will feature in Phase II of the fifth and newest Magic Kingdom and that construction on the next phase is already underway, some two months before the official opening on 12 September.

Also included are a few photos that show the massive Tower of Terror structure. You might just be able to make out the Gothic architecture at the top of the hotel that is in stark contrast to its American counterparts. Tower of Terror is slated to open on TDS’s fifth birthday in September 2006.

Lindsay and I will be departing for Anaheim on Saturday. We look forward to meeting many LP-ers over the course of the next ten days especially at the NFFC Show ‘n’ Sale on Sunday and the LP Coming Home Meet on the 16th. Enjoy!

Raging Spirits front
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