News, announcements and information about Disney

Today, July 17, marks the 46th anniversary of Disneyland. Also today The Walt Disney Story Featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln celebrates a milestone of its own: Spared from being turned into a rumored plush shop, the entire attraction received a rehab, with a new show and an infusion of new technology. With a rededication ceremony this morning, guests get a first look at the new show.

If you plan to see the show in person, I suggest you skip this article so you can avoid its spoilers. I chose not to be briefed in advance about the new show, and enjoyed it for the better. If a trip to Disneyland is not in your immediate future however, join me as I discuss the experience and share my thoughts of the new show with you.

The lobby (above), upon first glance, does not look as if much has changed. Cast members still wear tuxedos, and photos still surround you, although they are no longer of the construction of Disneyland. Also missing is the slow- motion video of Disneyland construction that fascinated me to no end. The first wall now houses a collection of photos and sketches detailing Walt's first animated short subjects and feature animation (shown below).

Past this wall is the most noticeable -- and controversial -- change to the lobby. While Walt's formal office, which he used for meetings and presentations, has been left intact, his working office, re-created at Disneyland in 1973 using the furnishings from his Burbank headquarters, has been boxed up and shipped to Florida for Walt's 100th birthday celebration. In its place is now a temporary display, placed behind the glass of the working office space, showcasing well- known images of Walt and Disneyland (below).

The subject of the 100th birthday celebration, which many feel should be held at the only park Walt actually stepped foot in, is better left for another discussion. Yet feelings run very hot about the event, and cast members found themselves fielding questions from upset guests about the perceived "hijacking" of Walt's working office. The cast members assured guests that the office would be returned in 2003.

A wall has been installed (above) across the front of the little theater, which was once the home to Y. Zol Owl, the audio- animatronic avian. Childhood photos of Walt and Roy hang on the wall below a video screen. Well- known Disney personalities, like Bruce Gordon and Dick Nunis, pay homage to Walt in a short video about his life. This segues into the next film, which discusses the beginning of audio- animatronics. Walt and Blaine Gibson show how the Lincoln life- mask was used to create the Lincoln audio- animatronic figure used in the show.

After this presentation, you are invited to don a pair of lightweight binaural sound headphones, (shown above) and turn your attention to a large screen mounted on the far wall (below), where you are instructed in the use of the headsets -- which is pretty simple: put the side with the red dot over your right ear. The volume controls have been super- glued into a fixed position for your convenience, so you could not adjust them if you wanted to. Transmitters in the ceiling send the audio signal to your headphones, giving you the sensation of wearing a surround- sound system on your head. Unlike the previous incarnation of the show, this introduction is important. The show really begins here, in the lobby.

The narrator introduces himself as Matthew Brady, the famous photographer. He sets the stage for your experience: it is 1863, and you are John Cunningham. a Union soldier. You are on leave in Washington D.C. and like many soldiers of the time, you have come to Mr. Brady's studio to have a portrait of yourself made before you join your company. Mr. Brady invites you to enter the theater, where his assistant, Anthony, will get you ready for your sitting.

There have been many changes made to the interior of the theater. The middle row of seats has been removed, leaving a wide aisle. Three seating areas have been carved out for guests using wheelchairs. The theater has new carpeting and decorations. Photos hang on the walls above the doors (above), and various photographic equipment is set up on the sides of the stage (below).

As you take your seat, you hear Anthony preparing the glass plate that your photo will be made from. This process was described in the pre- show, and only now do you understand why it was mentioned. This gives the creators the opportunity to showcase the features of the binaural sound system. Anthony continues to clatter and crash all about you, until Mr. Brady says that he will make the plate, and suggests that Anthony give you a little haircut before your sitting. If you have experienced the sound show at Disney- MGM in Florida, you already know the effect.

Finally, after you are presentable, Mr. Brady takes your photograph, which is then displayed on the theater screen. It first appears as a negative, and then reverses to a positive image. For the first few seconds, I wondered if we were about to learn that Private Cunningham was, in fact, a Negro soldier. For reasons that are not really explained, Mr. Brady then offers to bring you with him when he travels to the White House to photograph Abraham Lincoln.

When you arrive at the White House, John Harding, Lincoln's secretary, greets you. He pours you coffee and commiserates over the weather that has attracted the fly now buzzing about your ear. The effect is unnecessary for advancing the plot, but is used more to prove that it could be done. During this time, sepia- tone photographs projected on the theater screen illustrate the narration you hear. If you remove your headphones, you find that the theater is totally silent.

After you have been introduced to President Lincoln, Frederick Douglas arrives to talk with the president about equal pay for "black" soldiers in the military. I was momentarily distracted by the historically altered use of such political correctness, since "Negro" was the preferred term used in polite society in that era. When I returned my attention to the show, Mr. Harding had just reminded the president of "that Gettysburg event," and urged the president to cancel. The president disagrees, and, struck by sudden inspiration, ushers everyone from the room, ostensibly to write the Gettysburg Address. Before you leave, Mr. Lincoln wishes you a blessing.

You are then sent to join your unit, and find yourself almost immediately on the battlefield. Red lights, projected from the back of the theater, augment the bullets you hear flying past your head. All too soon, you are hit in the leg. Wounded, you drift into unconsciousness.

When you wake up in St. Elizabeth's Hospital, you learn that your leg has been amputated. The president happens to pay a visit to that hospital, and recognizes you among the wounded soldiers. He leans over and whispers in your ear, "Oh, this war, this awful, awful war. My boy, you must live, you must!"

At this, the screen goes dark. Through a bit of narration, you learn that Private Cunningham does, in fact, live. The curtain rises, and you find yourself now in the audience at Gettysburg, waiting for the president to speak. Birds trill all around, and your fellows jockey at your side for a better view.

As Lincoln stands to speak (shown above), you see the best aspect of the rehab. Lincoln is once again the premier audio- animatronic figure in the park. His face has been improved, with a new hairpiece and realistic skin tone. I was stunned by his range of motion and fluidity of gestures. I was, however, distracted by the new voice track. I already knew that Royal Dano's original track was replaced; it just seemed odd that Mr. Lincoln's voice was not coming from anywhere near Mr. Lincoln. The headphones made it seem as if he was "throwing" his voice into the audience.

At the conclusion of the speech, the lights on Mr. Lincoln fade, leaving him shadowed against the evening sky. The music swells, and the sky is transformed once again, via the long-absent, American- flag effect (part of the effect is shown below).

As you exit the theater, you place your headset on a rack, and exit into the lobby, which still exhibits signage that proclaims it as the Disney's California Adventure Preview Center. I asked a cast member how they clean the headsets, and she looked surprised. A question to another cast member confirmed my fears: the headsets are not cleaned between shows. I do hope they reconsider that.

Although a friend who was privy to a cast member preview of the remodeled attraction came away with high praise for the restoration of the lobby, I am not as impressed. Although some carpet was replaced, the fabric swags are clean and crisp, and the brass rails sparkled, I could not help but notice the condition of the walls. Holes left by nails that used to hang old photos have not been patched. Instead, you can still see screws in the walls, and the wallpaper has not been repaired.

The signs that are used to caption the photo displays are in terrible condition, and look as if they have been lifted directly from another exhibit. Some of them are flaking, peeling, dented, and discolored. A few seem to be attached to the wall with Velcro, and were easily dislodged by an unsupervised toddler.

Walt's offices can also be seen in this photo collection

I went into this new show wanting very much to like it. I had a particular fondness for the original show, and could see it fairly frequently without tiring of it. While I did enjoy the new show, I do not think it is something that I could watch repeatedly. The gratuitous sound effects, while at first amusing, would become annoying with repeated exposure.

As much as I enjoyed watching the new and improved Lincoln figure, I was not touched by the storyline as I was with the original show. I am glad however, to see that so much work was done, and I appreciate having something entirely new to experience. I will take this rehab over a new store any day.

Column by Adrienne Vincent- Phoenix

Go to: Top | Section Contents | MousePlanet Main Page

Copyright © MousePlanet® Inc. | Legal Information & Privacy Policy | About/Contact MousePlanet | Link to us

MousePlanet® is not associated in any official way with the Walt Disney Company, its subsidiaries, or its affiliates. The official Disney site is available at www.disney.com. This MousePlanet Web site provides independent news articles, commentary, editorials, reviews, and guides primarily about the theme park resorts of the Walt Disney Co. All information on this site is subject to change. Please call destinations in advance to confirm the most up-to-date information.