Originally Posted By Indigo Paging Tony Baxter! Please come to the Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln Theatre at Disneyland's Opera House. Now that you're rumored to be in charge of Imagineering for the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland (a position my Grandfather once held, so I've got my eye on you) and now that Marty Sklar can safely remove himself from his position as the speedbump on Harbor Blvd upon the long awaited return of the Subs, can you please have someone turn their attention to the swift return of Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln to the Opera House in Town Square. His absence after the end of the 50th anniversary is sadly noted. Thank you.
Originally Posted By Dave >>>can you please have someone turn their attention to the swift return of Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln to the Opera House in Town Square<<< Hey leave the Media Center alone! The A/C works good in there!
Originally Posted By gadzuux Wouldn't you really rather have something new? I know I would. How much "imagineering" does it take to preside over a reinstallation of a fifty year old attraction? And one that's been bowdlerized several times over it's long history. Lincoln is a sympathetic favorite, but the 'feet on the street' mostly steer clear of it anymore - even with the A/C. If it were me wearing Tony's shoes - or mouseears - I'd want to step up to the title of Imagineer and imagine a new and different show.
Originally Posted By karlg One more vote for something new. I would love for there to be a "museum" such as something like what was proposed/rumored for the Carousel Theater for the 50th to have a number of old attractions on display. They could have Lincoln give his speech in a small room. I'm totally opposed to having a large theater that only draws a few people per show. Look, I would go to see Lincoln but it is kind of sad to sit in a nearly empty theater. To me the "spirit of DL" it to keep the park fresh and keep improving it. I believe in a mix of attractions and not every one has to be a block buster. No disrespect to Indigo (another Council 2000 member, right?), just a difference of opinion. KarlG
Originally Posted By bean I would really love Lincoln back but i agree with some of the posters. I think that the lobby could be reconfigured a bit and a new stage and seating area be placed towards the back of the lobby and Lincoln properly placed there. One thing that reaaly needs to be done is to bring back Walts office which is still in WDW. i believe that when something is loaned to a nieghbor that it should be returned. Now the problem is that the main theater is not large enough for anything significant so maybe a new audio animatronic presentation ala american adventure might work with reduced seating
Originally Posted By Westsider I liked that idea for Mr. Lincoln to be moved to Frontierland in a small theater themed to a railroad depot. You go in and hear Mr. Lincoln give his speech while he stands on the observation platform at the back of his campaign train. It's as if Mr. Lincoln has made a whistle stop in Frontierland, and it would be a shorter and more intimate presentation. Then do something big and fun and new with the Opera House. A 45 year old robot standing up to give a speech, no matter how good that speech may be, is no longer worthy of taking up a big building like the Opera House when there isn't enough land to go around in Disneyland as it is.
Originally Posted By Indigo By no means am I insisting that Mr. Lincoln dominate the Opera House for the rest of its existence. But Mr. Lincoln, what he stands for, what Walt Disney found important about Abe, and the role that show played in the history of the park, it deserves a place of honor and a show that respects the size of the message. A little room just won't cut it. Nor does a bi-aural hair cut honor Mr. Lincoln and Walt Disney's legacy. Whatever the future version of the show looks like, I'm sure they can figure that out. But for now, bring Mr. Lincoln back. The 50th Anniversary is over and it is time.
Originally Posted By oc_dean American Adventure was created for EPCOT 25 years ago .... (well, over that actually - from time of inception) ... Well ... quarter of a century has gone by ... and I can just imagine how great even a smaller (condensed) version could go over. Doesn't even have to be "American Adventure" ... but something in the same vein ... that would entail just a few AAs that would be on a turntable, or rise from the floor. On just Abe though ... I got to say ... the newer show with the scizzors gimmick, among other sound effects ... Never came off right for me. I miss the 1965-1983 show. When Battle Hym of the Republic was played against a changing sky into the US flag. Very dramatic!! In my opinion ... the best version! 1984-1999 "Two Brothers" version .. too depressing. 2000-2004 Bees to Scizzors sounds? eek!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 At least the Opera House at DL is, has and will continue to be used as an attraction space. The equivalent at the MK -- what once was the Walt Disney Story -- is a very sad mix of resturant lobby, shop, photo pickup and some diplays left over from 100 Years of Magic ... what most folks don't realize and I had forgotten until I was taken into one by a CM pal a few weeks ago, is the fact WDW has TWO full theaters (even though 2/3 of seats were removed from one) that sit empty on Main Street, which is emblematic and fitting with the horrific Fla. management. I guess what I'm saying is: be glad there's something there and will be, even if it isn't Mr. Lincoln.
Originally Posted By bean Someone in another site had an interesting idea. WHy not turn the Opera house into a full blown Gallery displaying Disney art and models. Have Lincoln in a smaller theater with his speach. Maybe after the show have a movie showing the creation of the animatronic and how it was made. This person suggested moving the Disney gallery into this area ( I like that idea, maybe even remove the hat store and reclaim it for the gallery). This person also suggested that once that was done the gallery above Pirates could be turned into an extention of club 33. The galleries entrance area turned into an extended balcony for more fantasmic viewing and the staircases removed to open up the sitelines of the building and make the area look less crowded. I actually like the idea, quite clever and it would turn the opera house into a full scale museum showcasing Disneyland and its creation wit tributes to Walt Disney's inspiration.
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror The theater could show the evolution of animatronics... with a facsimile of the old Buddy Ebsen figure, a Tiki Bird, a Pirate, a Small World doll... and a Carnatosaur could step on the stage at the end, seeming to move unaided, like Lucky. Or they could just use Lucky. It would be neat to have skeletal versions of these, in different stages, with skins being applied, and then fully dressed. But akin to what Dean suggested, I'd love a show with the Great Presidents - say Washington, Jefferson, both Roosevelts and Lincoln. They could use moments similar to those in the American Adventure, even use the same recordings (in Washington's case I'd like something more) but they've got all the sculpts existing already. And we'd get to keep Lincoln, but put him in context, and give the whole show a "grander" presentation.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster Why does an American history project necessarily have to focus on politicians? The history of our country is the history of an inventive and resourceful populace, who are complacent and divided most of the time, but will unite instantly when challenges arise. Why does any presentation of our history have to be centered around those men who acted as our presidents? It's really kind of silly when you think about it. Bean presented a fantastic idea that I think would be healthy for the park. Instead of imagineers being clever and placing little homages to DL's past in all corners of the park why not contain all that nostalgia in one large museum on Main Street? It's brilliant.
Originally Posted By BrigmanMT 2 How about something themed to Main St. for once? Lincoln always confused me. However, I liked thinking that this was a testing ground for new technology. I had hoped that Lincoln would return walking across the stage as he delievered his speech, and then sitting down to rest at the end. The Animatronics Museum sounds interesting, but it would be very depressing to realize that aside from the Jacks, the last great attraction to have stand out animatronics (and recycled ones at that) opened in 1989. Probably around the time most of the posters on here were born, myself included. An Audio Animatronic display would be depressing. TV Screens and projections seem to be the wave of the future, but heck, once you put those alongside the circlevision projector, it is just going to get depressing again. We seem to be going backwards. The best solution is to create an attraction that makes that giant leap forward, in the spirit of Lincoln, and the atmosphere of Main Street. We need an attraction that takes advanced Audio Animatronic Technology and uses the technology to tell a story of Americana, and it needs to all take place in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. This is Main Street, and this would be the best tribute to Lincoln. Having Abraham Lincoln talk to reduced crowds sounds insulting, even if it does make sense. This is the problem when dealing with actual historical figures, however, I would take the presidents listed in the post above over a Califia character anyday. They just add to the richness of the setting. I want an American Adventure, but I do not think this venue could support the infastructure or a large enough audience to warrant the changes. It is just too small. I agree, an abbreviated American Adventure would not work. The theme would need to change drastically. Making it more Main Street Centric could be the key, but I feel that this would compromise the epic scale of the show, that impressed me so much. They really dont have too many options with this space. In the old days this would be an exciting oppertunity, and a heck of a lot of fun to watch. Today, unfortunately I think we will just see an empty building. I would greatly prefer the bi-aural Lincoln, but I think the Disneyland Museum and the Steve Martin setup can stick around a while longer, as long as its out before the 60th.
Originally Posted By SIR at X-S Tech Tony Baxter was interviewed about Nemo on another websites podcast and he mentioned that Lincoln is coming back in the Fall, which is what CM's have been saying too. He didn't say which version but I can't imagine it would be anything other than the Road to Gettysburg show.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "Someone in another site had an interesting idea. WHy not turn the Opera house into a full blown Gallery displaying Disney art and models." Great idea. Something along the lines of that Disneyland 50th show that toured last year would be perfect.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo >>Nor does a bi-aural hair cut honor Mr. Lincoln and Walt Disney's legacy. >> LOL on the wording. I love the idea in post #11. >>opened in 1989. Probably around the time most of the posters on here were born, >> I think you're way off here.
Originally Posted By twirlnhurl I think the reason the American Adventure works so well (far better then the Hall of Presidents) is that it is not about politicians. In fact, only two presidents have speaking roles (if I remember correctly). Even George Washington doesn't do the talking in the Revolutionary War segment. So if there was an American Adventure type show, you really don't want robotic presidents. Spirit, you said there are two theaters in the old Walt Disney Story building? Where is the second one? I have only been in the one with like 10 seats, when I was waiting for my reservations at Tony's Town Square. We watched several cartoons and halfway through one, the film stopped and a group of new CMs came in to get trained (I think...), so we left before we could do any more exploring.
Originally Posted By jonvn No. These are wrong ideas. What they should do is turn Lincoln into what he was in the first place, a technical tour de force that makes people want to visit. To do that, they can combine several techniques that already exist. Chiefly, the Crush's turtle talk with the current show. Have Lincoln actually interact with people in the audience. Have him do a powerpoint presentation about the civil war. Multi-media stuff, so that he's not just some guy standing up there talking. Have him walk around as he's talking to people, too. This will keep the thing fresh, always. As people will be able to actually talk to the guy, and he'll be able to answer questions (most of which are going to be the same anyway) with some presentations. Interactivity and instant update/change. That's where the future would be for a show like this. And, maybe even add a Washington figure. You could talk to each, or both, and they could converse with each other about what was just asked by the audience. This is what needs to be done. And they won't do it. Instead we'll probably get a toy story shooting gallery dark ride.
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror You know, a show about great INVENTORS would really theme well to Main Street. There was once an "Edison Square" planned in Walt's day, to branch off Main Street. Imagine eavesdropping on several scenes on one stage, each with their own rotating platform... Edison, of course, Alexander Graham Bell, George Washington Carver (we could smell the peanuts!)... This would truly reflect the spirit of America - and the finale could present a challenge to the audience, that the best ideas are yet to discover. This would really be a "Walt" type of attraction - in the spirit of Mr. Lincoln AND Carousel of Progress. And it would make sense on Main Street. I don't want to see Mr. Lincoln with a pointer, giving powerpoint lectures, speaking with some actor behind a screen, who presumes to get inside the head of the Great Emancipator. Ugh.
