Prime Inspirations: The Palace of Fine Arts – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure

WDWNT on October 24, 2014

This occasional WDWNT column hopes to highlight the borrowed buildings of the Disney Theme Parks and their direct antecedents. We hope to encourage appreciation and discussion of Park architecture, and to showcase the power of the original buildings and their emulations.

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The Prime Inspiration for the building acting as the entryway for The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure is The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, CA. But, in the attraction’s current form, it may be a little difficult to recognize the similarity.

To find the common thread in the design you might want to look back at the building’s first incarnation as the entryway for the film based Attraction, Golden Dreams.

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Although the original look of the building was more true to its Northern California inspiration, Golden Dreams passed from the scene in 2009.

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The Palace of Fine Arts, resides in a beautiful park setting in the Marina District of San Francisco.

To show that San Francisco had indeed risen from the ash and wreckage of the 1906 earthquake and fire, civic leaders planned a World’s Fair for 1915 marking the opening of the Panama Canal.

The Palace of Fine Arts was only one of ten featured “palaces” at the Panama-Pacific Exhibition. Designed by Bernard Maybeck, who took his inspiration from Roman and Greek architecture, he created a fictional ruin from another time. It could be considered an early piece of what we now think of as “Entertainment Architecture.” Many of Maybeck’s buildings still stand in his long-time home city of Berkeley, CA.

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A Postcard of Festival Hall. Another of the spectacular buildings of the Panama-Pacific Exposition.

The Palace of Fine Arts was so beloved that a Palace Preservation League was founded while the fair was still in progress and the building was retained.

But by the 1950s the simulated ruin was in fact crumbling. Originally intended to only stand only  for the duration of the Exhibition, the building was framed in wood and then covered with Staff, a mixture of plaster and burlap-type fiber. (So called Staff Shops that exist backstage at theme parks and movie studios get their name not from the people that work there, but from this “temporary,” easy to work with building material.)

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In 1964, the Palace was completely rebuilt with permanent, lightweight concrete.

The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure building at Disney California Adventure opened on June 3rd, 2011.

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A panoramic photo of the Palace of Fine Arts standing alone in 1919. Photo: James David Givens (Library of Congress)

 

 

 

 

VIDEO: Little Mermaid Ride at DCA Undergoes Overhaul, Is Magic Kingdom Next?

WDWNT on May 12, 2014

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After a couple weeks of refurbishment, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure attraction at Disney California Adventure quietly reopened a few days ago with several major changes and additions. This isn’t the first time the attraction has undergone changes since opening in 2011; in 2012 new hand-drawn animation sequences were added to the ride as a copy of the attraction was prepared for Walt Disney World. Now, as Shanghai Disneyland prepares to open their version of the Mermaid attraction, Walt Disney Imagineering has once again decided to make changes to what they felt were problem areas in this new-age dark ride:

For those unfamiliar with the attraction here’s what’s new:

  • A number of static fish figures were added surrounding the first screen with Ariel and as well in the tunnel heading towards the Under the Sea sequence.
  • A picture of King Triton’s Castle now adorns the small ocean scrim before the Under the Sea sequence.
  • The Under the Sea sequence received the most major changes as it now relies heavily on black light like a traditional Disney dark ride (for example, like Peter Pan’s Flight). This was done to make the scene darker and to hide the very visible lighting rigs that more frequent park visitors have complained about.
  • Several other scenes are now relying on black light as well, though it isn’t as noticeable as in Under the Sea. Again, this was to hide infrastructure visible to guests during the ride.

For those of you more interested with Walt Disney World happenings, we fully expect these changes to be made to Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid at the Magic Kingdom. When those changes might happen, well, we don’t know just yet…

Hayley Nance’s 1/13/12 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

DLNT Reporter Hayley Nance was at the Disneyland resort this past weekend, and has some newsworthy photos to share…

Jolly Holiday Bakery has quite a crowd

The Adventureland entrance getting some TLC

Main Street refurbishment

Haunted Mansion is closed for holiday removal

The Matterhorn Bobsleds is currently closed for its refubishment

Looks like the loading gates have been removed

A tunnel has been constructed to protect guests from the construction

Over in DCA, the parade route work in front of Mermaid is still underway

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We cant figure out if that lettering was there before, or if it just was really faded.

The memories float has been removed

The improvements on the shuttle area have begun

Full On-Ride Video of “The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure”

WDWNT on May 27, 2011

Yesterday, “The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure” soft opened at Disney California Adventure for the first time to guests. We were on the scene and got video of both the queue, and the full ride. If you don’t want this attraction spoiled for you, I wouldn’t watch. However, if you want a look at what the fine people at Walt Disney Imagineering are capable of these days, this video is certainly worth a view. Enjoy:

 

 

 

Stay Tuned to Disneyland News Today as we continue to cover the opening of “The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure” and all attractions opening during Soundsational Summer.

Soundsational Summer Is Days Away!!!

WDWNT on May 25, 2011

Neat post from the Disney Parks Blog giving us some more video of The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Soundsational, and updates on the Disneyland Hotel renovation.

We’re just days away from the official kick-off of “Disney Soundsational Summer!” here at the Disneyland Resort – it all begins June 3. Wow! What a summer it will be! Your adventures begin under the sea at The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure park. You’ll board a pastel-colored “clam shell” and become part of Ariel’s world in this soon-to-be classic Disney “dark ride” – part of the magical transformation of Disney California Adventure park.

Over at Disneyland park, you’ll take off to a galaxy far, far away with more than 50 different 3D adventures on Star Tours. You’ll be transported to many Star Wars destinations where you’ll come face to face with characters throughout the Saga. Buckle up!

And if that’s not enough, I’m really excited to see “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade.” This exciting parade brings a new beat to the streets of Disneyland park, as guests go on a journey of sound, with an exciting musical score, thrilling rhythms and bold percussion.

And over at the Disneyland Hotel, recent renovations and enhancements include a brand new pool and water play area, new restaurants and some amazing signature suites. But enough talk! Take a look at this video and see for yourself what’s new this summer here at the Disneyland Resort.

 

 

First Look at The Nearly Completed “Undersea Adventure”

WDWNT on May 10, 2011

Yet another inside look at the almost complete Undersea Adventure from the Disney Parks Blog:

I know “The Little Mermaid” fans have been eagerly awaiting the opening of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure park. I’ve been waiting since I first saw the movie back in 1989! There are three other people who’ve also been hoping that someday a Little Mermaid attraction would open at Disney Parks: legendary Disney animators Glen Keane, Mark Henn and Andreas Deja. These three talented men are some of the creative minds behind all those lovable characters in the movie.

Recently, Walt Disney Imagineers Larry Nikolai and Chris Crump gave the animators a tour of the new attraction. I was lucky enough to also be on this tour, along with a crew from D23 magazine. You can read their extensive article in this month’s issue and here.

In this video you get to see a rare Disney moment: animators seeing their work come to life in a Disney Parks attraction. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And remember, The Little Mermaid~Ariel’s Undersea Adventure opens at Disney California Adventure park on June 3.

 

 

Embarcadero Gifts Opening May 31st to Passholders

WDWNT on May 5, 2011

From the Disney Parks Blog:

There’s so much happening around here! This week I debated what to blog about but decided to pick a topic that would be the envy of those on land and at sea.

With just under a month to go before the opening of Disney California Adventure park’s newest attraction, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, I thought I’d show you some of the treasures, thingamabobs and whatchamacallit’s that you can look forward to finding in some of our nearby stores.

First up on the list of ‘must have’ items would have to be the apparel. Not only will you make a splash when you hit the streets in your Little Mermaid inspired clothing, but now your little ones can, too! Like to accessorize? My pick is definitely the Little Mermaid scarf. There’s something for almost everyone, or at least everyone who considers Ariel among their favorite Disney characters.

Add a Splash of Color with New Disney California Adventure Park Merchandise

Where can I find these, you ask? Here are a few insider tips:

Embarcadero Gifts is a new location, located right across from The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure attraction. The location will open to park guests in early June. Passholders take note here, on May 31 and June 1, you’ll have the ‘first look’ at the new location and merchandise, including a special commemorative coin, created just for you. In search of other who’s-its and what’s-its then be sure to dive in to Treasures in Paradise.

Add a Splash of Color with New Disney California Adventure Park Merchandise

“X” will mark the spot for all of these treasures this Summer, so be sure to stop in and take a look, but before you do, find out more about what’s ‘in store’ at www.ArtofDisneyParks.com.

How many of you consider “The Little Mermaid” one of your favorite Disney films and are as excited as I am for the June 3 opening of the attraction at Disney California Adventure park?

If your are wondering where this shop is going, it will be located in the San Francisco building occupying the space formally occupied by the Luminaria lobby and later on a CM break room.