Ride Concept Competition: WINNERS

We've had a blast hosting our first-ever ride concept competition. Judging was extremely fun yet extremely difficult. A big thanks to our judges (listed below) and a huge thanks to all of our contestants. We are pleased to announce that we liked every entry- no joke! This is a compliment to every concept submitted... we are sometimes hard to impress, ya know. Here we present 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. In upcoming post(s) we will feature additional winners and honorable mentions.

The Villa Tempus
by Mike Schwalm

Artwork by Mike Schwalm

Intended for Disneyland Paris, Discoveryland or WDW property– situated so it can be accessed by park-goers as well as outside visitors). Based on the Time Machine by H.G. Wells.

Why can’t a theme park experience be more like a full blown movie? Of course many are, but they last only five to ten minutes at best. The Villa Tempus is an evening long experience that includes dinner as well as time travel adventure. Because of the specialized nature and limited capacity per evening the villa tempus would be reservation only as well as an additional ticket price. The structure of the evening is broken into three acts much like a movie narrative.

Prologue
-You have been invited for dinner at the Villa Tempus by its mysterious resident.

Act 1
-Explore the grounds of the Villa and all of its inventions before meeting the Time Traveler.

Act 2
-Travel anywhere in history for a luxurious dinner before heading off again in your time machine.
-Crash land on the villa grounds thousands of years in the future.

Act 3
-Take a boat down a strange river back to the now decrepit villa.
-Race through the villa collecting the pieces needed to create a new time travel device while avoiding the scary Morlocks.
-Complete the device and travel back to the present in the nick of time.

Epilogue
-Bid the Time Traveler farewell and exit through the gift shop.

More info and concept art here: PDF
Mike's blog.

Judges' Thoughts

We were blown away by Mike's work. It's clear he has put tremendous thought into this concept.

"At last a time machine attraction. Yes. I love it. I love it being an entire evening and making the guests feel like they are in a movie. It's totally different and different is just what the parks need." –Lilly

"Disney doesn't have a mystery theatre. That's a pity, really." –Paul, WDW Fan Boys

La Storia di Leonardo Da Vinci (The Story Of Leonardo Da Vinci)
by Nicholas Bulus

Artwork by ImagineeringDisney.com staff.
Intended for the Italy Pavilion, World Showcase, Epcot. A dark ride with similar track type to Peter Pan's Flight. Ride vehicles would resemble Da Vinci's flying machine. The actual ride carriage would be below the wing and hold 4-6 guests.

The experience would start in the queue showcasing replicas of Leonardo Da Vinci's inventions and some of his other works. each invention would be explained on a plaque below it. The boarding area wall would be a mural showing the schematics of the flying machine. Slowly the schematics would come to life and the flying machine would take off after boarding. The whole basis of the attraction would be to follow the life of Leonardo Da Vinci. It would start out in his hometown of Vinci showing him as a young child and how creative he was from the start. The next few scenes would show Da Vinci in his professional life and also in the renaissance showing him working on the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper, and many of his sketches that went onto inspire the helicopter, the tank, etc. The final show scene would be kind of a montage showing how many of Leonardo's ideas and paintings have fit into today's culture. When guests exit the vehicles they enter Da Vinci's lab where they can learn more about Da Vinci and his work and even design their own inventions and paintings. Of course the entire ride would contain sight gags similar to the ones in World Of Motion and the whole attraction would be narrated by someone who really engages the audience.

Judges' Thoughts

We loved this concept for a number of reasons. It fits perfectly in World Showcase where this type of ride would be very welcome by Epcot fans. It has a certain charm, fitting style, and here at the blog we love some good edu-tainment!

"I love the idea of highlighting Da Vinci whom we all know as a genius, but don't always know his background and I love, love that we would travel on his flying machine." –Lilly

We'd like to recognize "Yourfutureleader" who submitted a similar, more thrill-based Da Vinci concept. We loved this one as well.

Halls of Weather
by Jeff Sugar

Artwork by Jeff Sugar

Artwork by Jeff Sugar

The Land, The Living Seas and now...The Halls of Weather. The newest pavilion to Epcot Center will take guests on a journey that explores the most influential forces on planet Earth.

Once inside, guests will depart on “The Jet Stream” - a dark ride which soars along the winds of change. They will experience the chill of the arctic, the heat of the desert and the diversity of the seasons across the globe. Next stop is the immersive IMAX theatre show “Up in the Clouds” where guests will follow the life of the water cycle and its effects on man and the environment. Images wrap around the domed interior while the theater comes to life as the seats react to the action. The final stop is the interactive “Weather Port”. A fully interactive exhibit hall surrounds the forty foot tall “Tornado Tower” - an ever changing enclosed weather system that is the focal point for this area. Here, guests can participate in live shows, feel the winds of a category five hurricane, become a meteorologist or work individually at interactive kiosks and hands-on
exhibits that detail the variety of weather types.

Judges' Thoughts

We loved the fact that Jeff designed an entire pavilion! It's no secret that we old-school Epcot fans find the Future World of today super lacking compared to that of yesteryear. This concept would have lots to do and could be good time.

"This attraction sounded like something that should have been built back in 1982.  I think it would be a great addition to Future World with it's attraction followed by Imax and other post-show activities. The floating cloud ride vehicles also make the attraction look very fun, and the pavilions layout as a whole looks fantastic." –Donnie, I'm a Blogger Dottie... A Rebel

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Podcast

This week Mitch was a guest on an episode of the WDW Fan Boys Podcast to discuss the competition. Check it out. 

Judges

Hoot Gibson, Mesa Verde Times
Tim Grassey, Brett Bennett, and Paul Miller, WDW Fan Boys
Donnie, I'm a Blogger Dottie... A Rebel
Fritz, Lilly, Mitch, ImagineeringDisney.com

Related Posts:

Ride Concept Competition
Ride Concept Competition: FINAL DAYS

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Comments

For this particular post we ask that all comments be positive in nature. Less-positive comments can be emailed to us. Thanks.

Carolwood Pacific and Other Backyard Railroads

Large image 1900x2050.
Extra large image 3800x4100. 

Take a look at specific pieces of Walt Disney's backyard miniature live steam train. Enjoy amazing photos of similar railroads from decades ago and miniature railroads still in use today.

Above you see a graphic we've produced showing the basic layout of the Carolwood Pacific in Walt Disney's Holmby Hills backyard. No other graphic quite like this is known to exist. Below you see the layout of the home and railroad being compared to the current property. Note that the Disney home was no small house. But compare it to the current monster house and it looks tiny.

With these visuals you can more-easily get an idea of what the Carolwood was really like. If you look closely at the photos and the map above you'll see that the train rode the tracks in both directions. I don't know if Walt had his prefered direction or route when showing off this great toy. But you'll notice the train is going clockwise when crossing the driveway and counter-clockwise on the same track when crossing the trestle. The fact that the train went in front of the house was news to me. The tunnel was much longer than I would have expected. They say Lillian's flower beds were dug up in order to make that tunnel.  

Walt and Lillian purchased the Holmby Hills homesite in 1949. It was the last home in which either of them permanently lived. Although, at the time of Walt's death in 1966 the Disney couple was staying in the home of daughter and son-in-law Diane and Ron Miller who had recently moved to a larger home. They purchased the Miller house as a temporary place to stay as they remodeled their home on Carolwood.

Upon seeing the Carolwood location for the first time, Walt expressed that the large backyard "will do". Lillian later said that he had the idea of a miniature railroad on his mind when he chose the property. And remember, Disneyland didn't come about for another half-decade. Walt was not yet known for such "three-dimensional entertainment".

Lillian lived in the Carolwood home until her death in 1997. When the Disney family sold the house and property Diane was wise enough to relocate Walt's barn to Griffith Park where it can be visited today. New property owners tore down the Disney home and landscaping in order to build a larger, newer house (as seen in the 2nd photo). They reportedly kept the tunnel near the house and use it for storage. The new owners are supposedly "Disney fans" (which we know can mean anything). I'd love to meet them. 

The following photo is from the collection Michael Broggie, son of Disney Legend Roger Broggie pictured here with Walt. The 17"x11" printed photo was given to me years ago by Micheal Broggie through a friend. Thanks Michael Broggie!

Famous Neighbors

Holmby Hill was and is no stranger to celebrities. Some former Carolwood Drive residents include Frank Sinatra (320 Carolwood Dr.– across from Disney), Michael Jackson (100), Elvis Presley (144), Marilyn Manrow (141), Sonny & Cher (141), Burt Reynolds (141), George Harrison (265), Barbara Streisand (301– next to Disney to the east), Clark Gable (325), Gregory Peck (375– next to Disney to the west), and Rod Stewart (391).

Other "Backyard" Railroads

Here we can feast our eyes on some great pics from the Los Angeles Live Steamers.

Live Steamers of Today

Reporter for The Orange County Register and friend of the blog, Mark Eades, recently sent us one of his articles about The Steamers. Attached to the article was this fantastic video.

In another post by Mark we get an excellent look inside Walt's Carolwood Barn as it sits today. Thanks Mark Eades!

 
A Piece of Carolwood Pacific

A piece of the original track from Walt's backyard as seen in one of our previous posts called "Little Box of Treasures". 

Related posts:

Walt Disney and the Santa Maria Railroad
Little Box of Treasures
The Wonders of Nature's Wonderland [ PART 2 ]
The Amazing Home of John Lasseter
Walt's Wife Talks About EPCOT Center
Lake Buena Vista: The Other Prototype City with a Peoplemover

Downtown Disney Would Be So Lucky

The on-property out-of-park non-hotel entertainment offerings leave so much to be desired. At least for guys like me who: buy few Mickey-shaped knick knacks, don't wear temporary tattoos, can only handle so many third-rate rain forest animatronics, don't drink, and watch a Cirque show only every five years. (I do, however, love free sample Ghirardelli chocolate squares, Earl of Sandwhich sandwiches, and the occasional bag of powdered sugar + benyas).

Before I get a hundred angry emails saying "Downtown Disney is the best", hear me out. The experience is what it is. But the king of themed entertainment (Disney) could offer an experience that brings every kind of fan back for more and more. Wasn't part of the Eisner Downtown Disney missions to attract local residents? Well it could do that so much better than it ever has. For example... me. And the people around me. I have lived near both Disneyland and Walt Disney World for the majority of my adult life and very few of my neighbors and friends even think of approaching the Downtown Disney areas for a number of reasons. As for tourists, yes everyone goes at least once per trip.

Ok, obviously these shopping/dining districts are doing something right. There is no shortage of people spending money. But allow me to go one step beyond that. Just how much fun is the experience? How well-designed is the experience??

Well anyhow, I envision a shopping/dining experience a little more like the renderings above. (That is if we cannot have this). Look how charming and cozy and well-designed and not-tacky these are. Look at the lack of third-party merchandise kiosks. Look at the comfy slow-moving boat ride! (I must say, the boat ride between the Port Orleans Resorts and the docks of Downtown Disney WDW is something I adore– mostly because it feels like early Lake Buena Vista with the golf, Treehouses, etc. But a boat through the middle of the shopping/dining would be fantastic).

To be fair.........

→ The announced Hyperion Wharf intended to take the place of Pleasure Island looks like it can be great. It would be nice if it was going to be a little more 'Adventurers Club' and a little less 'extension of West Side' though. 

→ The new Trader Sam's at the Disneyland Hotel is an example of how out-of-park experiences can be well-designed, fun, timeless, and "Disney-esque" as they say.

→ Out-of-park themed entertainment shouldn't exceed the in-park experience. It just shouldn't. But it can uphold a similar standard of quality, right?

Hyperion Wharf concept artTrader Sam's concept art

The big question... What are those first renderings??

The first is concept art for "Cloud Lake River Promenade", Chengdu, China. The second is concept art for "The Island at Tropicana", Las Vegas. Both renderings by Gary Goddard Design.

Semi-related posts:

Lake Buena Vista: The Other Prototype City with a Peoplemover
I Love it When They Get Things Right
A Look at the Progress City Model- Then and Now
ABANDONED DISNEY: River Country [Part 1]