gavinshearer.com

December 13, 2009

Gone Fishin'

This blog is on indefinite hiatus.

I'd love to post more often (and more deeply) but life has an uncanny way of coming up with new, interesting stuff and I've been unable to make the time to document any of it. As a result, I don't feel like I'm adding very much to the broader conversation these days. So I'm stopping.

I'll be back once things settle down, but that's not for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, the archives are here (and will remain) - so enjoy.

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated December 13, 2009 12:29 PM.
Posted to Misc. Permalink for this entry.

November 20, 2009

Disney World's Space Mountain Re-Opens

After six months of refurbishment, Walt Disney World's Space Mountain has re-opened in soft-launch, and officially goes live on the 22nd.

The project wasn't a total rebuild (and reboot) of the attraction (ala Anaheim in 2005); rather, it was more of a "dusting, cleaning, and new coat of paint" sort of thing. From the Disney Parks Blog:

As you know, the classic Space Mountain experience still exists — it’s just being updated with new technology and 21st century gadgetry. Inside the attraction, there’s new lighting as well as special “darkening” effects. And you’ll see updated color schemes for rocket capsules, line and load areas.

This is a bit of a missed opportunity. Disney World has the original Space Mountain - which, unfortunately, is also the weakest. Anaheim and Paris both have unique, distinct and modern takes on the attraction, which has just made Orlando feel farther and farther behind. A few video games in the queue and some new neon effects are unlikely to change that.

As usual, Disney fans have gone in checked it out - you can read the report, see the photos, and view the video here.

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated November 20, 2009 9:33 AM.
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November 14, 2009

Link's Airport Station Opens Dec. 19

The final stage of the initial Link system - the airport station - opens Saturday, December 19. As of 10 AM, you'll be able to ride from Westlake to Sea-Tac in 36 minutes - no bus transfer, no waiting.

Can't wait. Who's up for an inaugural ride?

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated November 14, 2009 12:10 PM.
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November 4, 2009

Shanghai Disneyland Approved By Chinese Government

The worst-kept secret in Disney history is officially out of the bag (and moving forward):

After a courtship of about 20 years, the Walt Disney Company has won approval from the central government of China to build a Disneyland-style theme park in Shanghai, Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chief executive, said Tuesday.

The initial resort, with a mix of shopping areas, hotels and a Magic Kingdom-style theme park, will sprawl across 1,000 acres of the city’s Pudong district — with the theme park occupying about 100 of those acres. It would be a little bigger than Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., and on par with the parks in Paris and Tokyo. It is expected to open in five or six years.

They're spending $3.5Bn on this puppy - nearly what was spent on DisneySea. I can't wait to see some of the concept art.

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated November 4, 2009 7:07 AM.
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October 24, 2009

Paradise Bay Is (Finally!) Being Refilled

After being drained last year to install the hardware for "World Of Color" DCA's Paradise Bay is (finally) being refilled -- all 16 million gallons of it. The process will take a few weeks to complete.

The OC Register has some great photos (as well as a video of Goofy and Mickey helping out with the process).

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated October 24, 2009 10:52 AM.
Posted to Disney. Permalink for this entry.

October 11, 2009

Details On Walt Disney Studios' "Toy Story Playland"

Disneyland Paris blog Disney and More has a post this week about what to expect from the Toy Story Playland addition to the Walt Disney Studios park, slated to open next year:

Have a look to this closer view where you can see the giant Buzz Lightyear who will stand at the entrance, Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop on the right, RC Racer half pipe coaster on the left and Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin more or less in the center of the land.

Walt Disney Studios is, without question, the weakest park in the Disney empire - small, under-loved, and a total disaster in the theming department (it makes California Adventure look like DisneySea). I'm not sure that "Toy Story Land" will help much with the theme issues, but new attractions are essential for this park to be viable.

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated October 11, 2009 12:42 PM.
Posted to Disney. Permalink for this entry.

October 5, 2009

Inside Space Mountain's "Ghost Galaxy"

Space Mountain's "Ghost Galaxy" overlay launched last week, and the reviews are incredibly positive.

The OC Register has some of the scoop and backstory on the project, including some terrific video of the Space Mountain exterior at night.

Ghost Galaxy’s back story is that Disney wants recruits to explore unknown phenomena during a deep-space research trip, but then something goes wrong. Guests are detoured into an unknown galaxy with cosmic phenomena at every turn, Roach said.

The overlay lasts until just after Halloween, and then it's gone for the year. If you're in the Anaheim area, it sounds like a fantastic good time.

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated October 5, 2009 6:29 AM.
Posted to Disney. Permalink for this entry.

September 12, 2009

Star Tours 2 Coming To Disneyland In 2011

The long-rumored update to Star Tours is finally official:

In the new 3-D version of the venerable simulator ride, visitors board a Starspeeder and join a high-speed pod race through the desert canyons of Tatooine in a scene from the "Star Wars" movie series.

Awesome, and about damn time - Star Tours has been long in the tooth for a solid decade now. Disneyland and Disney World get the update first; Disneylands Paris and Tokyo are on hold for a bit.

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated September 12, 2009 9:13 PM.
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September 8, 2009

Walt Disney Museum To Open Oct 1

Looks like the Walt Disney Museum in San Francisco is opening on October 1; the official Web site has been updated, and the LA Times Travel Blog has a great summary of what to expect.

Hours are 10AM - 6 PM, Wednesday - Sunday; tickets are $20, and can be bought up to 60 days in advance.

I'm so totally checking this out the next time I'm down in SF.

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated September 8, 2009 8:44 AM.
Posted to Disney. Permalink for this entry.

September 7, 2009

Way To Go, Richard & Mel!

My good friends Richard and Melissa tied the knot yesterday in a beautiful ceremony at a winery just outside Salem, Oregon. Individually, they're two of my favorite people, but they're unquestionably better together.

Long life and great happiness to the new couple! You guys rock!

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated September 7, 2009 7:27 PM.
Posted to Cool. Permalink for this entry.