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March 25, 2009

"Toy Story Mania" Is Coming To The Wii!

This is an awfully nice thing to wake up to:

It's the news of the week, and it's really cool: Disney Interactive studios officially announces today that a Toy Story Mania video game - of course inspired from the DCA and WDW attraction - will be released this fall, exclusively for Nintendo Wii. And in 3D!

Remember, folks - there's only a couple hundred shopping days left until Christmas...

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated March 25, 2009 5:55 AM.
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March 18, 2009

Paris' Walt Disney Studios Turns 7

I don't know how I missed this, but Monday was the seventh birthday of the Walt Disney Studios park at Disneyland Paris.

Disney and More has a great collection of photos from the park's original opening in 2002. WDS is a tiny park; as I wrote back on my first visit in 2006:

We wrapped up our Disneyland visit right as the Villains parade was getting under way, and popped over to the Walt Disney Studios park. I didn't know a whole lot about this one - I've visited Disney-MGM studios, of course, and have spent time in the Hollywood Backlot area of California Adventure. So to say that I was underwhelmed, well, would be kind. This puppy is barely a park, and it's clearly been built on the cheap. Disney Studios has exactly two(!) rides - Rock n' Roller Coaster and a "flying carpet ride". The rest are "ride experiences" like the behind-the-scenes tour, or some of the stuff you get at Universal Studios.

Disney has invested in WDS since then, opening a Tower of Terror and (soon) a "Toy Story Land". However, it's a little shocking to see the photos from opening day and realize just how thin the gruel really was. California Adventure's opening looks positively opulent in comparison.

Here's hoping Disney brings its second Parisian gate up to scratch sooner rather than later.

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated March 18, 2009 6:28 AM.
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March 16, 2009

Link Light Rail Opens July 3, But Out Of Buffer

Morning tranist fix: looks like Link's July 3 opening is still on the schedule, but Sound Transit is out of buffer:

When construction began five years ago, the schedule included 180 days of "float," a cushion in case things went wrong. The float is now zero, says a January progress report published this month. ...

Meanwhile, the Beacon Hill Tunnel schedule is going down to the wire — crews are stringing overhead lines that power the trains in one of the twin tunnel tubes. Work is under way 24 hours a day, said Fazel.

Meanwhile, Seattle Transit Blog has some great video of the Link trains being tested in the International District station.

Posted by Gavin Shearer. Last updated March 16, 2009 6:07 AM.
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