More Entertainment Options Coming to HK Disneyland

From The HKDL Source:

Today Bill Ernest, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Hong Kong Disneyland, announced four new entertainment initiatives for 2008 – Muppet Mobile Lab, High School Musical Celebration, Nemo Submarine “Turtle Talk” and The Art of Animation.

“As part of our continuing strategy to enhance our Guests’ experience, we are excited to add new attractions and entertainment offerings in 2008 that truly showcase the magic of Disney’s cutting-edge technology, its timeless stories and beloved characters, who will appeal to Guests of all ages,” said Ernest. “After entertaining millions of Guests in our first two years of operation, Hong Kong Disneyland will continue to find new, immersive ways to delight families from Hong Kong and all over Asia for many years to come.”

Starting in spring 2008, these four new entertainment offerings will be unveiled to Guests at Hong Kong Disneyland. These experiences are in addition to the already-announced classic Disney attraction it’s a small world – which will include entertainment features unique to Hong Kong Disneyland.

I’m sure none of these really do much for park capacity, but they might give Guests a little more bang for their buck, and perhaps keep morale high on those unusual peak days when lines are long.

Star Wars Episode III: At Worlds End

Kudos, SparkleXmotion!

Tokyo Dancing Storm Trooper

This is why I need to move to Tokyo. Akihabara, to be more specific. Now.

Hat tip to Silent Kimbly, yay!

YouTube: Muppet Mobile Lab at Epcot

Orlando Attractions Magazine and Inside the Magic podcast have posted a video to YouTube, showing Bunsen and Beaker’s Muppet Mobile Lab in its latest test run, this time at Epcot. Based on the current video, it would seem they’ve made some real progress since the tests at Disney’s California Adventure earlier this year.

A higher-resolution version is available from OA’s own video page. The Orlando Sentinel has a brief article yesterday about the Muppet Mobile Lab as well.

Dave from MouseExtra is one of many who feel that the Muppets don’t belong at Epcot. I’ve got to agree that they’d make a lot more sense at MGM. But I assume this Epcot run is mostly just a technical test, and an opportunity to get a bit more feedback from guests who interact with the Lab, so I’ll cut a little slack here for Imagineering, and hope that they’re still making the rounds when I’m back at Walt Disney World next week!

Tempest in a Teacup

From DIS News:

A 52-year-old Alabama woman was arrested on suspicion she beat and choked a woman who was allowed ahead of her while waiting to board a tea cup ride at Walt Disney World, according to authorities.

Sounds like somebody needs to switch to decaf.

Cutest . . . Stormtrooper . . . Ever!

I mean really, couldn’t you just lay down and die?

(Photo found on Flickr, taken at ConnectiCon, courtesy of DS Daijoubu.)

Mash-up Trailer: Disney and the Order of the Phoenix

Perfect timing for this, given how thoroughly the interweb is abuzz with speculation about how Walt Disney World will counter Universal’s upcoming Harry Potter “themed environment.“

No Love for the Cheapquels

I stumbled across CM Venom’s blog tonight while tag surfing . . . and apparently we agree on a few things. Check out one of his recent posts, “Chance Of “Home On The Range II”…Zero:”

I know these “films” (for lack of a better word) filled the Disney coffers with money, as they were intended to do. (After all, the cheaper the product, the higher the profit.) But from an artistic standpoint, all they do is weaken the good name that they’re stacked upon. The world doesn’t really need to see what happened when the Little Mermaid returned to the sea, how Tarzan grew up, or a situation where Kronk got a “new” groove. Thankfully, the death of this unfortunate trend means we’ll never be subjected to The Rescuers III: The Rescuers Do Vegas, or Lilo & Stitch III: Lilo’s Prom Night Date Rape.

CM Venom also weighs in on Pocahontas:

In real life, Pocahontas came to England as part of hostage situation, was baptized, took the name “Rebecca Rolfe”, and died of smallpox on the way home from England. Now that’s a direct to video sequel I want to see.