More Information on Goofy’s Sky School

WDWNT on October 18, 2008

According to the LA Times Travel Blog:

Mulholland Madness — a themeless off-the-shelf roller coaster that earned Disney’s California Adventure its on-the-cheap reputation — will get a Goofy’s Sky School “refreshing” as part of a $1.1-billion effort to add a heavy dose of Mickey Mouse and friends to the under-performing theme park.

Gone is the giant foldout map of Southern California that always seemed like a futile attempt to hide the fact that the coaster was nothing more than a wild-mouse ride found at any freeway entertainment center. Gone too is the Magic Mountain-esque, slapdash, Caltrans maintenance-yard theme involving little more than a plastering of roadwork signs.

The new back story follows Goofy’s attempts to teach a group of novice pilots how to fly. Naturally, things go awry. The reworked ride is expected to open in 2010.

Bob Weis, California Adventure’s chief imagineer, said the four-person Mulholland Madness cars will get an extensive makeover. The Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, features a similarly themed Goofy’s Barnstormer roller coaster with airplane styling and a front propeller.

Blue Sky Disney suggests the Goofy makeover is merely a placeholder for a true E-ticket-type  attraction — essentially a Disney character Band-Aid meant to hide a scar until more money frees up for future expansion.

In addition to the Goofy coaster, Paradise Pier will get a complete Disney overlay in the next few years, with the Orange Stinger transforming into the Silly Symphony Swings (with a “Band Concert” Mickey Mouse makeover) and the park’s iconic Sun Wheel becoming Mickey’s Fun Wheel. The boardwalk games and shops, currently sporting tongue-in-cheek California references, will adopt new Disney character back stories as well.

New DCA Concept Art

WDWNT on October 11, 2008

Here are 2 new pieces of DCA related concept art, plus the logo for the Blue Sky Cellar, released by Disney:

Blue Sky Cellar logo.

Concept art for the inside of the Blue Sky Cellar.

New concept art for the Silly Symphony Swings, the re-theme of the Orange Stinger.

Sting or Swing? Drive or Fly?

WDWNT on July 5, 2008

Screamscape has some details on the re-do’s of both Mullholand Madness & Orange Stinger:

2009/2010 – Silly Symphony Swings – In Development – (7/4/08) We’ve got a little more information to share today about the new Silly Symphony Swings restoration plans. According to our sources the remodeled attraction will have a Band Conductor Mickey on top of the tower who will move around to the music. The top will be remodeled to be more like a carousel to allow for the placement of scenes from the Silly Symphonies on the inside of each section.

2009/2010 – Goofy’s Flite School – In Development – (7/4/08) We’ve heard that plans for Goofy’s Flite School are moving forward, and yes that is the correct spelling. From the sound of things it may take on a similar look to Goofy’s Barnstormer in Florida as it will now look like an old giant barn has been converted by Goofy into a make-shift airplane hanger… while apparently leaving all the old chicken coops intact.