WDWNT’s own Jose Castillo is back from the Walt Disney World Resort and has plenty of photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Jose arrived at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Wednesday evening to enjoy Fantasmic!
Park hours were expanded and a Fantasmic! was added at 10:00 PM
While browsing the new-and-improved official Walt Disney World website, I stumbled over something interesting on an attraction information page. The page displaying information about the “Imageworks – The KODAK What If Labs” at Epcot seems to have a few errors (or are they):
ImageWorks – The Kodak “What If” Labs features a vast array of hands-on, sensory-themed activities and exhibits where you can exercise your imagination and explore your creative side in exciting exhibits that include:
Dreamfinder’s School of Drama – Become the star of your very own film using greenscreen technology
Stepping Tones – Create your own music by stepping on electronic picture panels
Figment’s Coloring Book – Using electric paintbrush guns, add a little color to Figment and Dreamfinder
Electric Philharmonic – Conduct an orchestra through the use of electronic sensors
Rainbow Corridor – Stroll through an illuminated tunnel where colored lights follow you
Vibrating Mirrors – Watch as your reflection changes right before your eyes
Kaleidoscopes – Spin eye-popping colors in intricate designs via large-size kaleidoscopes
Voice-Activated Lumia – Speak out and behold a bevy of shimmering light effects
Bubble Projectors – Blow virtual bubbles on a circular screen and create colorful colors
Figment’s Melody Maker – Help Figment play an instrument to the tune of “One Little Spark”
The exhibits marked in bold lettering all closed as part of the original Imageworks in October 1998 for the refurbishment that brought together the new/current Imageworks, Journey Into Your Imagination (still makes me cringe), and renamed the pavilion “Imagination!”. Why would a website just updated in 2009 feature information this dated? Why are the old exhibits mixed together with the current ones on this list (Mind you, Stepping Tones has existed both upstairs and downstairs)? It’s no secret that Walt Disney Imagineering is working on an update to this troubled Future World pavilion, as a matter of fact, most of the company has already been made aware that the entire “Imagination!” pavilion is going to be handed over to Imagineering before next summer. So what’s going on? Is this just a mistake, or is this a hint of things to come? We’ll just have to wait and see. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today for more on this story as it develops.
The good people at Orlando Attractions Magazine have reported that a KUKA robotic arm ride will be an aspect of the upcoming Raytheon exhibit coming to Innoventions at Epcot this Fall:
As revealed to Disney cast members via their online web portal called the Hub, Walt Disney Imagineering is working with Raytheon to develop a new motion simulator attraction for Innoventions at Epcot.
The attraction is called “The Sum of All Thrills” and will allow guests to design a roller coaster, jet plane, or bobsled ride using real-life physics and engineering and then ride it within a robot arm-based simulator.
The exhibit is being described as feeling “like a high-tech laboratory” and is said to try to emphasize to guests “that math can be cool.”
In customizing the ride as part of the experience, guests will use a multi-touch surface table which can sense human interactions and objects placed upon it. Similar technology is currently being used inside the House of Innoventions at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.
Once the ride is customized it can be ridden by guests in a simulator on the end of a KUKA robotic arm, created by German-based KUKA Roboter GmbH. The robot arm is similar to the one currently being used to control the menacing angler fish in Epcot’s The Seas with Nemo and Friends attraction, though it is the first time a robotic ar is being used as the ride system in a Disney theme park.
The arm pictured here dates back to 2002, as created by the KUKA Robot Group. It is expected that the Disney version of this ride will be a fully enclosed simulator, similar to Cyber Space Mountain in DisneyQuest at Downtown Disney, but with many more possible degrees of movement as a result of being attached to the KUKA arm.
In addition to the experience at Epcot, Raytheon will be supporting another 2009 initiative at the Walt Disney World Resort – the 2009 Raytheon MathCounts National Competition. Taking place May 7 to 10, 2009, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, the competition is the culmination of an enrichment and coaching program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement in every U.S. state and territory. Raytheon is the title sponsor of the MathCounts National Competition for the next three years, through 2011.
The new Innoventions exhibit is scheduled to open in late 2009.
Disney pin collectors and Epcot purists should be happy about this 6 pin boxed-set coming out later this year at the Walt Disney World Resort (courtesy of Disneypins.com):
Among the notable pieces of the collection are the original Future World, World Showcase, Spaceship Earth, and Epcot Center logos, the Dreamfinder and Figment pin, and a pin replicating the opening day Epcot Center ticket. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today and the Disney Pincast for more information on this and other upcoming Disney pins.
Matt Paul has returned from a weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort with a few photos to share. Due to problems with his camera, these pictures had to be taken via cell phone, so we apologize in advance for the quality:
The Universe of Energy has re-opened from refurbishment with a new audio system among many technical upgrades
As previously reported, the old color scheme has returned to the sides of the pavilion
WDWNT videographer and photographer Matt Paul spent last weekend visiting the Walt Disney World Resort and reports back to us with an amazing amount of newsworthy photos to share:
Let’s go there!
Closer…
WDWNT’s newest staff member, Anthony Yacullo, has just returned from his latest trip to the Walt Disney World Resort and has a number of photos from around the world to share with us:
Construction of Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration continues in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom.
The control booth is coming along nicely as well.
Our good friend Robert Ashburn of Figmentsmedia.net has provided us with photos from his trip to the Walt Disney World Resort on Friday. Let’s take a look at some of his pictures:
Robert began the day at Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park
It seems that a new math themed exhibit is coming to the “new” Innoventions at Epcot in the Fall of 2009:
Raytheon Company plans to unveil an interactive, math-based experience called “The Sum of All Thrills” at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The exhibit, set to open fall 2009, will engage children through a fun and educational experience that helps instill a lifelong passion for math, science and technology.
“The Sum of All Thrills” will be a core component of Raytheon’s MathMovesU program, an initiative designed to engage middle school students in math and science, and help create the next generation of innovators for the U.S. It will be located in the INNOVENTIONS pavilion at Epcot, a unique area of the park that contains 100,000 square feet of interactive, hands-on exhibits that allow visitors to celebrate the inspiration and innovation that improve their lives and expand their horizons.
“Raytheon is working to foster young students’ interest and success in math and science, two of the primary fundamentals on which American competitiveness has been built,” said William H. Swanson, Raytheon Company Chairman and CEO and 2009 MATHCOUNTS honorary chairman. “Raytheon shares The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to innovation and education through imagination. We’re proud to offer INNOVENTIONS visitors a unique experience that combines all of these attributes and that seeks to unlock the math and science potential within every student.”
In addition to the experience at INNOVENTIONS, Raytheon will be supporting another 2009 initiative at the Walt Disney World Resort – the 2009 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition. Taking place May 7-10, 2009, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, the competition is the culmination of an enrichment and coaching program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement in every U.S. state and territory. Raytheon is the title sponsor of the MATHCOUNTS National Competition for the next three years, through 2011.
About MathMovesU
Since its inception in 2005 to help spur interest in math and science, Raytheon’s MathMovesU program has touched the lives of more than 700,000 students, teachers and parents. Through interactive learning programs, contests, live events, scholarships, tutoring programs and more, MathMovesU engages and inspires students. Core components of the program include:
- An innovative approach to engaging students in math and science through a partnership with the Kraft family and The New England Patriots at The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon
- www.mathmovesu.com, a virtual space to educate and entertain middle school students through games and activities that showcase the math behind students’ favorite pastimes
- A scholarship and grants program that awards $1 million annually to students, teachers and schools.
More information may be found at www.raytheon.com/stewardship/mmu/.
Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.
About INNOVENTIONS at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort
INNOVENTIONS is located in the heart of Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Creativity and imagination abound as guests celebrate inspiration and the innovations that improve their lives and expand their horizons. Hands-on, interactive exhibits allow children and adults to be immersed into ideas that inform, entertain and inspire – conquer the most dangerous house in America, find solutions to “sticky” problems, experience the most cutting edge products at the “House of the Future,” protect the environment from the daily waste we create, and push the limits of everyday products as we make the world a safer place.
As many of you are aware, Figment is my favorite Disney character and I love to buy many Disney collectibles from the Art of Disney stores. Knowing this, you can probably guess that I’m pretty excited about this special release:
Product Release: Space Suit Figment: Journey Into Imagination
Numbered Limited Edition: 750 pieces
Retail: $140.00 plus applicable sales tax
Product Release Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Product Release Location: Art of Disney, Epcot®Extend the boundaries of your imagination with Figment! The act of creativity is a never-ending adventure, especially when Figment is around. The very embodiment of imagination, the unpredictable purple dragon takes on many guises in the Epcot®Journey Into Imagination attraction. But, none represents the excitement of exploring creativity more than an astronaut in limitless space.
This new numbered limited edition of 750 Walt Disney Classics Collection sculpture captures all the star-searching playfulness of Figment as he hitches a ride in outer space, just as in the attraction. Hand-crafted of fine porcelain, Figment features a hand-made glass portion on his helmet with kiln-fired metallic paint on his space suit. Sculpted by Jacqueline Perreault Gonzales, Figment stands 6 1/2″ high and retails for $140.00.
A limited number of Space Suit Figment: Journey Into Imagination will be available for pre-order. To pre-order Space Suit Figment: Journey Into Imagination please contact Walt Disney Event Services at 407-827-7600. Walt Disney Event Services is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 5:00pm.
Guests may only purchase up to two (2) Space Suit Figments. All orders will be processed and charged on Friday, April 24. Please allow 2-4 weeks for shipping.
Add this intrepid traveler to your collection and set your imagination free into the infinity of outer space with Figment!
To view Space Suit Figment: Journey Into Imagination in closer detail, please click HERE..
