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Transmedia: Universal Pictures’ Upcoming Thriller "The Thing" to Become Haunted House Experience at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights

Judith Rubin
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Guests Will Experience the Fear of the Film at Both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights Events Before “The Thing” Hits Theatres

ORLANDO, Fla. and UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — An abandoned scientific research facility in the midst of a vast and frozen Antarctica will set the stage for “The Thing,” an all-new horror maze inspired by Universal Pictures’ upcoming film, at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights events, which begins on September 23 and continues on select nights through October 31. In the thriller “The Thing,” paranoia spreads like an epidemic among a group of researchers as they’re infected, one by one, by a mystery from another planet.

The new haunted house will offer guests an unprecedented first-hand preview of the much-anticipated thriller in advance of its October 14 release. Guests will find themselves in a series of face-to-face encounters with “The Thing,” an alien creature that can transform itself into an exact replica of any living being. “The Thing” maze will recreate the spine-chilling suspense from the film, confronting guests with the paranoia and fear that comes from being trapped inside the film’s Antarctic Thule station. The shape-shifting alien could be anywhere or anything. Will they survive?

Eerily authentic, “The Thing” maze will feature elaborately designed and disturbingly real alien creatures and sets. They will match the film’s terrifying intensity and provoke both a memorable and disturbing experience. Universal’s theme parks have partnered with the film’s producers, Strike Entertainment’s Marc Abraham and Eric Newman (Dawn of the Dead) to create an experience that is authentic to the film. The sets, audio, musical score, creature and character references are all based on the thriller.

“We want people to live the film and experience the same terror that affects the film’s characters,” said Newman. “Our collaboration with Universal’s creative teams brought the vision of the film to life. We’re excited for Halloween Horror Nights guests to experience ‘The Thing’ in this frighteningly real way.”

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood starts on September 23 and runs on select nights through October 31. More information is available at www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

Universal Orlando Resort: There are many ways to enjoy your Orlando vacation – but there is only one Universal Orlando Resort. It is a completely separate destination featuring two theme parks, three magnificently themed on-site hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex. It’s the only Orlando destination where you are not just entertained – you are part of the most exhilarating entertainment ever created. You can soar above Hogwarts with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man, battle aliens alongside Agent J, and help Shrek save Princess Fiona in Shrek 4-D. You can be courageous, be outrageous – and be extraordinary.

Universal Studios Hollywood(SM),The Entertainment Capital of L.A., includes a movie-based theme park and Studio Tour, the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal Cinemas and the Gibson Amphitheatre concert and special event venue. The theme park features such groundbreaking attractions as “King Kong 360-3D,” “The Simpsons Ride™,” “Revenge of the Mummy(SM) —The Ride,” “Shrek 4-D™,” “Jurassic Park—The Ride®” and the world-renowned Studio Tour, which takes guests behind-the-scenes of such landmark TV and movie locations and sets as Steven Spielberg’s “War of the Worlds” and ABC’s “Desperate Housewives.” Universal CityWalk features a selection entertainment-themed restaurants, nightclubs, shops and dynamic entertainment options, including a new, next generation, state-of-the-art “5 Towers” outdoor concert venue.

Universal Orlando Resorts and Universal Studios Hollywood are units of the Universal Parks & Resorts division of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE (NYSE: GE) holding a 49% stake.

TEA prepares to host 5th annual SATE Orlando conference on Experience Design, Sept 22-23

Judith Rubin
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Thierry Coup of Universal Creative will speak at SATE ’11 Orlando 9/22-23
ORLANDO, USA, 19 July 2011 — “The SATE ’11 Orlando Conference on Experience Design hosted by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is a relevant and worthwhile two days for anyone who is or hopes to be professionally connected to the visitor attractions business,” says TEA president Rick Rothschild of FAR Out! Creative Direction. “TEA has arrived at the 20-year mark, and the SATE conference is one of our substantive offerings for sharing and comparing ideas and methodologies across the spectra of Destination, Museum, Architectural and Themed Entertainment industries. We encourage our Experience Design colleagues to join us September 22-23 for SATE ’11 Orlando at SeaWorld.”

Confirmed speakers for SATE ’11 Orlando include:
Thierry Coup and Mike A. West of Universal Creative, Linda Perry-Lube of the American Museum of Natural History, David Cobb of Thinkwell Design Group, Markus Beyr of Kraftwerk Living Technologies, Roberta Perry of Edwards Technologies, Rick Sconyers of Hard Rock Hospitality, Carmen Aguilar of Rockwell Group, Michael Jung and Joe Parinella of Walt Disney Imagineering, Ryan Wyatt of the California Academy of Sciences, Al Cross of PGAV Destinations, Martin Howe of Global Immersion and Kasja Krause of Krause + Sawyer.

Encompassing what TEA defines as the prime components of Experience Design, SATE stands for Story + Architecture + Technology = Experience. SATE ’11 Orlando will be held at Ports of Call, SeaWorld Orlando. TEA reports that last year’s conference was completely sold out.

“The SATE conference connects people to knowledge and opportunity,” says SATE ’11 Orlando conference chair Kile Ozier, Itinerant Creative Executive. “Our industry’s best artistic and technical minds – theme park designers, museum exhibit designers, creative technologists, architects, media producers and more -will meet to address new concepts and formats for the creation of compelling story-based guest experiences. We will also explore a variety of recent outstanding projects. And in a SATE ‘first,’ producers and directors from Broadway, Regional and Theme Park theatre will gather to explore Story in comparative contexts.”
 

  • Universal Creative: From Autobots to Decepticons, Minions and the 8th Wonder of the World
  • Story and the Art of Theatre: Broadway and Off, Regional and Back, Behind the World’s Iconic Berms. How is Story Respected, Protected, Projected?
  • Sensations: Exploring how Sensory Design in Hospitality is Enhancing the Experience of Space
  • Interpretive Storytelling: The Art of Weaving Facts into Fascination
  • The Use of Technology to Create a Compelling, Personalized Experience in a Group Environment
  • Digital Dome Stories
  • The Architecture of Engagement
  • Placemaking on the world’s biggest cruise ships
About SATE (Storytelling + Architecture + Technology = Experience)
SATE is a professional design conference presented by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) annually since 2007.The mission of SATE is to stimulate dialog among the makers of compelling places and guest experiences, reaching across a broad range of creative disciplines and market sectors within the attractions industry. SATE provides an environment to share diverse ideas and concepts, to challenge and inspire, and to discover collaborative opportunities. A European counterpart to SATE Orlando, the first SATE Europe, was organized earlier this year in Amsterdam by the TEA Europe & Middle East Division.

SATE is organized by a volunteer committee of TEA leaders in conjunction with TEA staff. The SATE ’11 Orlando committee chair is Kile Ozier, Itinerant Creative Executive and co-chair is Larry Tuch of Narrative Concepts. SATE 2011 sponsors include Electrosonic, VOA, Thorburn Associates, Falcon’s Treehouse, Birket Engineering and Kile Ozier.

About TEA
The TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) is an international nonprofit alliance founded in 1991 and based in Burbank, Calif. TEA represents some 7,000 creative specialists, from architects to designers, technical specialists to master planners, scenic fabricators to artists, and builders to feasibility analysts working in more than 680 firms in 39 different countries. TEA presents the annual Thea Awards and the TEA Summit and hosts the annual SATE conferences (Story, Architecture, Technology, Experience). TEA also produces a variety of print and electronic publications, including the TEA/AECOM Theme Index, TEA Project Development Guidelines, and TEA Annual & Directory. Visit www.TEAconnect.org. Connect with TEA on Facebook and LinkedIn.

CALYPSO: "WORLD’S BEST WATERPARK" says MSN Travel

Judith Rubin
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Calypso Waterpark’s new Summit Tower rises 10 stories high. This spectacular aquatic complex is said to be the tallest free-standing waterslide tower in North America.

Limoges, Ontario, Canada, July 18, 2011 ― Calypso, Canada’s biggest theme waterpark, was named the world’s best waterpark in a recent listing published by specialized webzine MSN Travel. This distinction is all the more remarkable due to the sheer number of waterparks nominated, including those at Disney and across the international scene.

“This is a great honour for Calypso, explains Mr. Guy Drouin, President and CEO of Calypso Theme Waterpark. After just one year of operations, Calypso Theme Waterpark turned heads around the world, a fact of which we are extremely proud! Theme diversity and exclusive attractions no doubt played an important part in the park’s success.”

In light of its success, Calypso increased its number of slides by adding a waterslide complex featuring ten new attractions, including AquaLoops, exclusive to Canada, where adrenaline and centrifugal force combine to give waterslide fans an exhilarating experience.

Located in Limoges, Ontario, Calypso Theme Waterpark welcomes families and thrill-seekers everyday, until September 5.

About Calypso waterpark 
Calypso stands out through its sheer size: an aquatic section covering over 100 acres and including over 35 waterslides, 100 water games, the country’s largest wave pool and all heated pools. These attractions, which include Jungle Run River, Pirate’s Aquaplay and Zoo Lagoon for kids, are each more impressive than the next and feature the latest in cutting-edge technology. Officially opened in summer 2010 following a $50 million investment, this waterpark has had a remarkable freshman year. Furthermore, Calypso won the 2011 award for New company of year as part of the Ottawa Tourism Award and was named the world’s best waterpark by specialized webzine MSN Travel. Calypso Theme Waterpark is located east of Ottawa off Highway 417 and 75 minutes from Montreal. Additional information, an event calendar and photos and videos of Calypso Theme Waterpark are available on the website, at calypsopark.com, and official Facebook page Calypso Theme Waterpark.

James Atchison, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment President and CEO, to Address Industry Leaders at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011 in Orlando

Judith Rubin
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Jim Atchison

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) announced James Atchison, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment (SEA) president and CEO, will be the keynote speaker at the GM and Owners’ Breakfast at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011. Atchison will address the transition and evolution SeaWorld has undergone over the past few years and its current strategic direction. Also during the event, the IAAPA Service Awards will be presented, honoring members for their service to the association and the industry. The event will take place Wednesday, Nov. 16, 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m., in the Windermere Ballroom at the Peabody Orlando.

The GM and Owners’ Breakfast, sponsored by CNL Lifestyle Company LLC, provides a forum for attractions industry professionals to learn from the successes of top-level industry leaders. This year, participants will benefit from Atchison’s more than 25 years’ experience in the attractions industry. Atchison has served as SEA’s president and CEO since 2003. Previously, he served as the executive vice president and general manager of the company’s three flagship parks based in Orlando: SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove, and Aquatica.

“We have long valued IAAPA’s role in advancing the interests of this great industry and I’m delighted to share our vision for the future of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment,” said Atchison. “While this is a time of growth and expansion for our company, we remain firmly rooted in the principles and values that have defined us since the opening of Busch Gardens in Tampa more than five decades ago: guest service, quality attractions and shows, environmental stewardship and animal care, safety, and respect for the 21,000 men and women who make up our team.”

Atchison began his career as a teenager in 1985, parking cars and welcoming guests at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla. He has held leadership positions in six of the company’s 10 parks with management roles in park operations, finance, business analysis, and marketing.

“We are delighted to have Jim Atchison as our keynote speaker at the 2011 GM and Owners’ Breakfast,” said Chip Cleary, IAAPA president and CEO “Jim brings extensive knowledge of the industry, exciting new ideas, and proven leadership. In the past few years he has successfully guided the company through challenging times, and this year launched 10 new attractions in all 10 parks. His insight and perspective are invaluable to the industry.”

While the event is geared toward executive and management-level professionals, it is open to all IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011 registered participants. Tickets for the GM and Owners’ Breakfast are US$85 for members and US$105 for nonmembers, in addition to Expo registration.

Information on event tickets and attendee registration is available at http://www.IAAPA.org/IAAPAAttractionsExpo.

About IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011
IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011 is the largest conference and trade show in the world for the attractions industry. With its theme “The Force Behind the Attractions,” the show will take place in Orlando, Florida, and draw 25,000 industry professionals from 100 countries to the Orange County Convention Center from Monday, Nov. 14, through Friday, Nov. 18. The trade show floor will be open Tuesday, Nov. 15, through Friday, Nov. 18. IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011 offers a full week of business opportunities and fun, and features new ideas, products, and events. Some new opportunities include: a Lunch and Learn with Pat Koch, – Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari director of values, more than 55 first-time exhibitors on trade show floor, the Mobile Application Education Symposium, and behind-the-scenes tours of Legoland Florida, “Star Tours” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and “Cheetah Hunt” and “Cheetah Run” at Busch Gardens Tampa. This is the gathering place for attractions industry professionals and decision makers to view the latest innovations, plan for the future, learn from one another, and network.

About IAAPA
IAAPA is the premier trade association for the attractions industry worldwide. Founded more than 90 years ago, IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities and attractions, and is dedicated to the preservation and prosperity of the attractions industry. The association maintains regional offices in Brussels, Mexico City, and Hong Kong. IAAPA is online at www.IAAPA.org.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s New Dinosaur Hall Opens to the Public

Judith Rubin
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(L-R) Mateo, Bella, and Israel Rivero look at a T. rex during opening day of the new Dinosaur Hall at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County on July 16, 2011. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging). (PRNewsFoto/The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County)

Visitors Inaugurate Dinosaur Hall with Increased Civic Pride for LA
LOS ANGELES, /PRNewswire/ — On July 16, 2011, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County celebrated the opening of a new source of civic pride for Los Angeles with its new, 14,000-square-foot Dinosaur Hall featuring the debut of Thomas the T. rex along with more than 300 fossils, 20 spectacular dinosaur skeletons and multi-media interactives. Twice the size of the Museum’s old dinosaur galleries, the new permanent exhibition rivals the world’s leading dinosaur halls for the number of fossils displayed, the size and spectacular character of the major mounts, and the integration of recent scientific discoveries and research into the displays.

Visitors from all over Southern California attended the festive opening day which began with a ribbon cutting with NHM President and Director Jane Pisano and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who called the new Dinosaur Hall a “major gift to Los Angeles and beyond.” The opening day celebration also featured gallery tours, paleontological “dig sites,” and family activities, including free art workshops and craft tables.

Crowds inside Dinosaur Hall were awestruck by the centerpiece of the exhibition, the T. rex growth series containing an extraordinary fossil trio of the youngest known baby, a rare juvenile, and a recently-discovered young adult (Thomas)—one of the ten most complete T. rex specimens in the world. The Dinosaur Hall’s other standout exhibits include an imposing Triceratops; the armor-backed Stegosaurus; the predator Allosaurus; a 68-foot, long-necked Mamenchisaurus; and giant marine reptiles that swam in the oceans covering what is today California.

Using the exhibit’s interactive touch screens, guests engaged in simulated paleontological role-play as excavator, prospector or illustrator, and learned about dinosaur senses and how they may have sounded based on a CT scan of a dinosaur brain.

The opening marks the mid-way point of NHM’s institutional transformation, as well as a thoughtful reconsideration of what science and the story of our planet means to visitors. The transformation continues with the opening of an exhibition about Southern California’s natural and cultural history in 2012, and more than three acres of urban nature experiences and exhibits serving as a new front yard for the Museum and the Otis Booth Pavilion in 2013.

Visit www.nhm.org for more photos and information for planning a visit.

About the Museum
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is located at 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, near downtown. It is open daily 9:30 am to 5 pm. The Museum was the first dedicated museum building in Los Angeles, opening its doors in 1913. It has amassed one of the world’s most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history—with more than 35 million objects, some as old as 4.5 billion years. The Natural History Family of Museums includes the NHM, the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits (Hancock Park/Mid-Wilshire), and the William S. Hart Park and Museum (Newhall, California). For more information visit www.nhm.org

Iconic Empire State Building Enriches Visitor Experience With New Documentary-Style Exhibit on 80th Floor

Judith Rubin
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Empire State Building Unveils New Permanent Documentary-Style Exhibit on 80th Floor Chronicling the Engineering and Construction of the World’s Most Famous Office Building. (PRNewsFoto/Empire State Building) 

Permanent Installation Chronicles the Engineering and Construction of the World’s Most Famous Office Building

NEW YORK, July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — In its 80th anniversary year, the Empire State Building today unveiled a new, permanent exhibit that captures the global icon’s astonishing history, engineering and construction. Curated by Carol Willis of New York City’s Skyscraper Museum, the installation is located on the 80th floor of the World’s Most Famous Office Building and further enriches and enhances each visitor’s Observatory experience.

Anthony E. Malkin, Empire State Building Company, stated, “As part of our more than $550 million Empire State ReBuilding program, we have completely upgraded our Observatory experience. From our brilliantly restored art deco masterpiece lobby, to this celebration of the unprecedented and unmatched feats of engineering and construction of the Empire State Building, we have created a totally new offering to our millions of annual visitors.” He added, “The new 80th floor exhibit’s homage to the pioneering work of the architects, builders, and laborers of the day adds to our $2 million, multi-media exhibit about the groundbreaking work on energy efficiency performed at the building and offers educational value for every visitor.”

With content from The Skyscraper Museum’s archives, the exhibit illustrates three main themes:

  • Speed: Construction took only 11 months from the setting of the tower’s first steel columns on April 7, 1930, to the completed building by March 31, 1931–a full month before the official opening ceremonies on May 1, 1931.
  • Scale: Gigantic in every dimension, the record-breaking tower required immense amounts of materials and equipment to build what is still one of the tallest and largest man made structures in the world
  • Steel: The building’s steel frame was intricately designed with remarkable proportions, and all aspects of its construction remain extraordinary, even today

The exhibit shares numerous remarkable facts as well as reproductions of nostalgic photos and mementos of the more than 3,400 workers who helped create history. Documents include stunning period photographs, architectural sketches and renderings, construction notes, and daily bookkeeping documents presented on a series of photomurals, banners, two panels and seven stands. In a unique twist, the exhibit uses the windows of the building to show views from 1931, creating a period look unimaginable unless seen.

Empire State Building visitors view the exhibit along route to the world-famous 86th and 102nd floor Observatories. The building is open daily, 365 days a year, from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.esbnyc.com.

About the Empire State Building
Soaring 1,454 feet (from base to antenna) above Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building is the “World’s Most Famous Office Building.” With new investments in infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper’s robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America’s favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects. The Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world’s most beloved attractions and is the region’s #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.esbnyc.com, www.facebook.com/EmpireStateBuilding, or @ESBObservatory.

Tellus Science Museum Passes 500,000 Visitors Since Opening

Judith Rubin
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CARTERSVILLE, Georgia USA /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Tellus Science Museum welcomed its 500,000th visitor on Friday, July 15, 2011, less than three years after opening its doors.

The 500,000th visitor was Danielle Ivanov, 11, who, along with her mother and grandparents, was visiting from Florida.

“It was cool,” Ivanov said. “I’m excited.”

Danielle’s grandfather said he knew there was a chance they could be milestone visitors.

“On the way over, I was saying it could be us,” said Gary Hankins. “But I was still shocked.”

Tellus opened in 2009 and became a destination for families and schools looking for science and fun. Tellus is a Smithsonian Institute affiliate and features gems, minerals, fossils, transportation science and hands-on activities. The museum averages nearly 200,000 visitors a year, a quarter of which are school students.

“We are delighted to have had such tremendous support from our community,” said Tellus Executive Director Jose Santamaria. “There is so much to do and see, we look forward to our next half-million visitors.”

Tellus has been busy in 2011 with several big events scheduled for the year including the Night at the Museum 3 and the mineral symposium in August and Heavy Metal in Motion in October. Last week, Tellus held a launch party for the final liftoff of NASA’s space shuttle program.

“We offer a wide variety of events and new exhibits that keep visitors coming back. This is one of the keys to our success,” Santamaria said.

Tellus is a 120,000 square foot museum located in Cartersville, just north of Atlanta. For more information about Tellus Science Museum call 770-606-5700 or visit www.tellusmuseum.org or www.facebook.com/tellusmuseum.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to Take Fans Through the "Carousel of Projects" at Disney’s D23 Expo, August 19-21, 2011

Judith Rubin
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BURBANK, Calif., July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Fans attending Disney’s D23 Expo August 19-21 at the Anaheim Convention Center will have the chance to experience “a great big beautiful tomorrow” as they immerse themselves in the future of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, which is currently in the biggest period of global expansion in its history.

Drawing inspiration from a classic attraction that debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and has made stops at Disneyland in California and Magic Kingdom in Florida, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts invites attendees to hop aboard the “Carousel of Projects” for a sneak peek at concepts, designs, models, storytelling tools, and technologies currently being developed at Walt Disney Imagineering for Disney parks around the world.

Throughout the weekend, exclusively at the D23 Expo, fans will get a look at the latest details for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ 11 parks and five resorts around the world, as well as Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa in Hawaii, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Disney Vacation Club, including:

  • Actual figures, props and ride vehicles for Radiators Springs Racers, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the building of Cars Land, the newest land at Disney California Adventure which opens next year.
  • The opportunity to meet a classic Disney icon in an entirely new way.
  • Concepts, models and plans for Fantasyland, one of the most ambitious expansions in the 40-year history of Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
  • What’s new at Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Disney Vacation Club.

In addition to the pavilion, D23 Expo attendees will also have the chance to attend numerous presentations and panel discussions. On Friday, August 19, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs will give guests in the 4,000-seat main arena an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at some of the biggest projects currently underway at Disney parks, featuring a few surprises along the way.

Imagineers and cast members who create and operate Disney’s parks, resorts, cruise ships, and other vacation experiences will take fans behind-the-magic with nine exciting presentations including:

  • Radiator Springs Reality: Imagineering Cars Land for Disney California Adventure – Join Disney-Pixar’s John Lasseter and a panel of Imagineers and Pixar creative talent as they share the twists and turns through the real-life development of Radiator Springs.
  • The Making of Star Tours – The Adventures Continue – Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald will share the inside scoop on how Walt Disney Imagineering and George Lucas’ Industrial Light &Magic began laying the groundwork for a new version of Star Tours.
  • A Good Look at Buena Vista Street –Imagineers Lisa Girolami, Ray Spencer, and Coulter Winn provide a preview of the new entrance to Disney California Adventure, an idealized depiction of the Los Angeles Walt Disney lived and worked in throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
  • Imagineering the Dream and the Fantasy – Imagineers Joe Lanzisero and Bob Zalk talk about charting the design course of the two newest Disney cruise ships.
  • Legends of Walt Disney Imagineering – Disney Legend Marty Sklar will lead a celebration of the careers and accomplishments of Walt Disney Imagineering, including Alice Davis, Orlando Ferrante, Bob Gurr, and Don Iwerks. With special guest and current Imagineer Kim Irvine, daughter of Disney Legend Leota Toombs.

In addition, and for the first time, the Parks and Resorts pavilion will also feature Mickey’s of Glendale, an outlet of Walt Disney Imagineering’s employee-only store, where—for just three days– guests can shop for “Carousel of Projects” souvenirs and collectibles and Walt Disney Imagineering merchandise not available anywhere else.

Tickets to the D23 Expo are available at http://www.D23Expo.com. 

About D23 Expo 2011
The D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Event for Fans and Families—brings the entire world of Disney under one roof at the Anaheim Convention Center, providing guests with unprecedented access to Disney films, television and theme parks.

About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the wonder and excitement that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his fledgling studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official community for fans in Disney’s 88-year history. D23 gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication Disney twenty-three; a rich website at www.Disney.com/D23; a collectibles line, The Walt Disney Archives Collection; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year, highlighted by the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, August 19-21, 2011.

Alcorn McBride Helps Kids Experience Presidential Decision-Making at the Air Force One Discovery Center at the Reagan Library

Judith Rubin
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Air Force One Discovery Center photos courtesy Alcorn McBride.

Orlando (June 18, 2011) – How many kids ever get to experience the Presidential decision-making process? Thanks to the Air Force One Discovery Center at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum and Library in Simi Valley, California, and extensive video support and control by Alcorn McBride, middle school students get a chance to become totally immersed in the process.

An interactive historical theater, the Discovery Center includes replicas of the Oval Office and White House Press Room; a military situation room modeled after the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan naval warship; and a real Air Force One simulator. Reagan Library director of education Mira Cohen worked closely with Curtis Kelly of LA-based Delicate Sales, inc. to turn the script into a fully interactive, integrated media experience that engages kids with its video game-style feel.

“Kids play out a 50-minute, time-critical scenario involving the decision to invade Grenada in 1983,” explains Kelly. “They get a dossier that explains the history of invasion before they arrive for their visit, and they are assigned roles to play from members of the press corps and military officials to the President himself.”

In the Discovery Center sound effects, lighting and video elements help pressure mount as decision-making gets underway. Specific logic was required to play back content in different rooms as students choose whether to pursue path A or path B and a clock counts down anxious moments.

To synchronize the scripted but disparate events Kelly selected an Alcorn McBride V16 show controller which locks to timecode and tells a Video Binloop which of 25 different video modules to play; the Binloop also houses audio cuts and soundbites.

Cues from the V16 trigger a Crestron PRO2 control system and 12×8 video matrix switcher that routes certain clips to specific displays; the PRO2 can also prompt the V16 to start an event after a planned or unplanned delay.

An Alcorn McBride DMX Machine feeds lighting cues during the simulation.

After students decide whether or not to invade Grenada, they gather in the jet simulator as if they were flying on Air Force One. There they view archival news footage from the event combined with video of the kids’ decision-making process as history comes alive for the youngsters.

“Alcorn McBride’s Binloop is great and has worked fantastically well,” reports Kelly. “By using robust Alcorn equipment we have confidence that it’s all going to keep working. Two or three groups of students pass through the Discovery Center every day – already 50,000 students have experienced the Grenada simulation, and the Center is booked for the next two years. The Alcorn gear has run consistently for two-and-a-half years and has never broken down.”

The Air Force One Discovery Center won a Thea Award in December 2008 for Outstanding Achievement: Learning Experience.

About Alcorn McBride:
Founded in 1986, Alcorn McBride is the leading manufacturer of show control, audio and video equipment for the themed entertainment industry, and a rapidly growing provider of audio and video systems for retail environments and transportation applications. Staffed by some of the industry’s best engineers and backed by outstanding customer support, the company has demonstrated great agility in bringing new designs to market. A hallmark of Alcorn McBride products is their durable, zero maintenance design. The company’s products provide consistent, reliable operation for audio and video playback applications worldwide. For more information, visit www.alcorn.com.

IAAPA publishes 2011 Attractions Expo schedule – many SeaWorld events

Judith Rubin
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The IAAPA Attractions Expo will take place November 13-18 in Orlando. Click here for schedule.

Some highlights of the educational program:
  • Backstage at Walt Disney World, Nov 14
  • Global Perspectives for Museums & Science Centers, Nov 14
  • Zoo & Aquarium Day, Nov 14
  • Control System Design for safe amusement rides, Nov 14
  • Behind the scenes tour of Aquatica, Nov 14
  • Behind the scenes tour of Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens Tampa, Nov 15
  • “One Ocean” show, tour and dinner event, Nov 15
  • GM & Owners’ Breakfast Featuring Jim Atchinson, CEO SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Nov 16
  • Disney Legends presentation with Bob Rogers, Marty Sklar, Jack Lindquist & Dick Nunis, Nov 16
  • Brass Ring Awards, Nov 16
  • TEA Presents Future Legends: The Next 20 Years – marking 20th anniversary of the Themed Entertainment Association. Christian Lachel, BRC Imagination Arts; Scott Drake, Disneyland Shanghai; Tali Krakowsky, Apologue; Chloe Sladden, Media Partnerships at Twitter, Nov 17
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