Collector’s Edition Giveaway Part 2
During my conversation with Warren Spector, creator of the new Wii video game Disney Epic Mickey, he mentioned the theme park attractions featured in the alternative world of Wasteland were mostly from Disneyland prior to 1967. Now Walt Disney World will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2011, and many attractions have come and gone since its opening in 1971. Therefore, if there is an alternative world of Wasteland for Disneyland, then there certainly should also be a Wasteland “Florida Project” for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and his pals. Just for fun, let’s imagine there is a Wasteland “Florida Project” and begin to speculate on the attractions it might contain. With this post, the DIS Unplugged will give away 3 copies of the Disney Epic Mickey Collector’s Edition (all prizes provided by Disney Interactive Studios). Continue after the break to find out how to enter.
Image: Page from Disney Epic Mickey graphic novel courtesy of Disney Digicomics
Warren Spector mentioned one of the “lost attractions” currently found in Wasteland includes the Nautilus from the original Submarine Voyage at Disneyland. I loved the Submarine Voyage, and remember being transported to an undersea world when I rode it as a 6th grader in 1980. I knew I could peer out the porthole, look up, and see the top of the water, but I didn’t want to spoil the “magic.” I forced myself to look down, and totally immerse myself in this world of fish and giant clams. There was also a version of Submarine Voyage at Walt Disney World as Captain Nemo’s Nautilus prowled the Fantasyland lagoon in the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction. I remember squeezing into one of these Jules Verne-esque submarines when traveling to the Magic Kingdom on a high school band trip in 1984, but, alas, the Nautilus now resides in the Wasteland: “Florida Project.”
Many other attractions have been replaced in all four Disney theme parks over the past 40 years including (in no particular order): the Skyway, Timekeeper, Plaza Swan Boats, Horizons, Discovery River Boats, and Who Wants to be a Millionaire – Play It! Many of these attractions were ones I never experienced, and are now a part of the Wasteland: “Florida Project.” There are also parades and shows no longer at Walt Disney World that now entertain Oswald the Lucky Rabbit when he vacations in Bizarro Florida.
Image: Tapestry of Dreams Parade final float
Epcot had an evening parade called “Tapestry of Dreams” that we saw when we took our daughters to Walt Disney World for the first time in 2002. Part of the show contained large puppets (similar to the Lion King Broadway show) that interacted with parade watchers, and our daughters were enthralled by the sight. Tapestry of Dreams also had a cool interactive element. Throughout the day children worked on craft projects related to their hopes and dreams. In the evening, when the parade went by, children tossed their “dreams” into the nets of the DreamSeekers to ensure they came true.
Image: Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade
We also enjoyed the Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade at Disney-MGM Studios (as it was then called). This was a whimsical motorcade of stylized automobiles that included a Star Wars Landspeeder car, Andy’s bed from Toy Story, and many other fun car floats. I can definitely imagine a steampunk version of Stars and Motor Cars entertaining Oswald and the other characters in our Wasteland: “Florida Project.”
So here’s where you come in, we need some more “blue sky” development of our East Coast Wasteland. To win one of the 3 copies of Disney Epic Mickey Collector’s Edition you need to leave a comment at the bottom of this article. This time, we want you to reminsce about the closed Walt Disney World attractions that are now in Florida’s Vacation Wasteland Kingdom. Log in with your DISboards username and password, leave a comment on this article, and share some of your memories of favorite long gone attractions. Now if only we could *poof* send Stitch’s Great Escape! to Wasteland and bring The Timekeeper back to the Magic Kingdom. Bye, bye, Stitch… Bye, bye, chili dog burps… Hello Timekeeper… Hello 9-Eye.
Again, you need to leave a comment at the bottom of this article. Comments in other places such as Facebook or Twitter will not be official contest entries. Comments will close on Monday, Dec. 6th. Keep following the blog, there will be one more chance to win a copy of the Disney Epic Mickey Collector’s Edition plus a special Grand Prize. Good luck to everyone who enters.
Comments
227 responses to “Disney Epic Mickey: Wasteland “Florida Project””
Can’t wait to try this. I sold my wii last year but am buying another just so I can play this game!!!
For me, I really do miss the Stars and Cars parade at DHS. I saw it once many years ago and really did love it. I’m a great big parade junkie though, so probably not that many people really miss it 🙂
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I miss residential street in the MGM Studios backlot. (Yes, I know it is now Hollywood, however the last time residential street existed, it was MGM). I wish I would have been able to see the Osborne lights while they were still located there.
I miss VEGGIE VEGGIE FRUIT FRUIT!!!!!
I miss alien encounters. To me it was the best attraction at Disney world. Being a big horror fan, it look so good and it felt so creepy in there. I understand that yea it shouldn’t have been at the magic kingdom but I loved it from the moment it open…
I wish it could go back to that way instead of stitch. Don’t get me wrong I love stitch but the ride has got to go!
I am dying to get this game I brought the Wii for my daughter and this is one of the games i know were gonna both love.
River Country is missed purely from a nostalgia point of view.
I
I purchased it The collectors edition for my son I hope he likes it
I miss the Adventurer’s Club. There was nothing else on Disney property like it. Kungaloosh!
Well I’m torn…..
My first thought was “The WEDWay People Mover” …. but that’s KIND OF still there, just without the awesome “COMMUTER COMPUTER” narrator. Which would be an awesome character to bring back to wasteland. That voice is embedded into my brain.
Then there’s “If You Had Wings”. The name alone brings back some awesome memories. For those who don’t remember, it was the ride BEFORE Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, BEFORE Delta Dreamflight.
But my final answer will have to be …..
The Upstairs to the OLD JOURNEY INTO IMAGINATION ride. With all the (then) futuristic interactive games and demos. Where you can wave your hands and make a band play, or jump from light to light on the ground and it plays music. Ugh…. Memories, I could go on for hours. Can’t wait to play the game……..
The skyway. A way to cross the wasteland easily and enjoy the ride.
I’d love to see Stitch’s Adventure go away and bring back the Alien Encounter! And how about those 360 degree movies where you had to stand and hold onto railings if you got dizzy? Epic Mickey could have a field day in the old Golden Girls streets that are now gone at DHS or in the attraction that was set up like the ‘Home Improvement’ set.
I second the Skyway! Bring it back! Great job, Dave!
if it is not already in there, the adventurer’s club would be awesome in this game… I miss that, but I also miss Food Rocks!
The Skyway – as a kid I was not a roller coaster fan and my Mom and I would ride the skyway while my Dad and, yes, younger sister, would tackle Space…I have wonderful memories of those times up above Magic Kingdom with my Mom.
Can’t wait to try out Epic Mickey. I fondly remember Magic Kingdom’s Mr. Toads Wild Ride (closed 1998 to make The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh) and Epcot’s Horizons (closed 1999 to make Mission Space). In Horizons I can still remember the agriculture scene with the fresh orange grove smells. We finally went to see Stitch’s Great Escape in October and thought it was just as terrible if not more so than people said it was. I did like how they put Mr. Toads cemetery tombstone at the Haunted Mansion’s pet cemetery though – nice touch.
Oh, I miss the Tapestry of Dreams parade. That was one of the most magical parades for me. Loved the Dream Catcher. I love the idea of the Disney World Wasteland since that is where we visit.
I listen to my Epcot cd as much for the Tapestry of Dreams music as Illuminations!
LOVED that parade!!
There is a “public” warehouse at DHS (attended an event there in 2008) that has a lot of pieces of items from around the parks. They have a few of the Tapestry of Dreams puppets there. 🙂
I hope this is under my tree.
Miss the Stars and Motorcars parade, too. My DD got to hold the rope behind the parade and walk all the way through the park.
We have been waiting for this release for a while. Have yet to buy it. i know its gotten some so-so reviews but this game has so many possibilities. Can wait to get it. just imagine all the forgotten worlds that could be unleashed From Disney World!!!! Many good mentions in the post above. i am a sucker for some of the old stuff especially “If you had Wings”..Man I loved that ride when i was a kid.
River Country – since the day my family was supposed to go there we were all too sunburned to even move….and we left the next day. I never got a chance to go! Boo hoo hoo!
I would love to see “Mr. Toads Wild Ride”, and “Trip to Mars”, which I believe was once where Stitch’s Great Escape now is . I remember riding these attractions during a band trip to WDW way back in 1993. I think these rides would make great additions to the Florida Wasteland, and would love to see them in an Epic Mickey game 🙂 Hoping for some pixie dust…and get choosen to recieve a copy of this wonderful game. thanks all
Great interview and blog.
DD has this on her Santa list.
I think we need to see Timekeeper, Alien Encounter, and Legend of the Lion King. That would be PERFECT!!!!!!
I miss 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. When I see pictures of it, it takes me back immediately to my childhood, like it was yesterday. And the chances of it ever making it out of Walt Disney World’s Wasteland are slim to none. They will never be able to get submarines like the ones Disneyland has without spending every penny they have to do it. Unfortunately, the subs that WDW had were not military grade and couldn’t withstand the constant useage.
Dave, the conference call with Warren Spector was a delight. I always love hearing about how other people are enamored with the parks, Disney history and animation in general. Great job as usual.
Unfortunately, my first visit to WDW was not until 1999. So, I really cannot comment on experiences with ‘long gone’ attractions. Guess I would really like them to take that annoying Zazu out of the Tiki Birds “improved” show and revert to the original Tiki Bird room show.
I miss the Swan Boats and 20,000 Leagues…never got to experience either! I think the Swan Boat lines were too long for the parents. And the 20,000 Leagues line was too long and too hot for me, after waiting forever as a child, I got so hot in the line (this was back in the 70s) I fainted and had to be taken out of the line, obviously, by my Mom. We went a got a cold drink and my Dad and brother got on. That was my one and only chance. In 2005 when we decided to go as a family, I pored over EVERY park map looking at the things I wanted to do and could not find the 20,000 Leagues…I discovered via websites that it was gone for good. When hubby had a business trip to LA, I insisted that we spend a day at DL just so I could ride the Nemo Subs…and see the Original Tiki Room! I like the old attractions.
The thing I miss the most….The original Figment! Loved the original ride and wish it was back….
One of the rides I have the fondest memories of was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. As a child, I found it magical and it would have been amazing to share it with my children. Oh, well…
I’m really looking forward to this game. I think it is one that my daughter and I will both enjoy. What about the earlier song from Carousel of Progress? now is the time, now is the best time… The “current” family should join this list and they should have had an update by now!
I miss the paper straws we got to drink our juice in Tomorrowland. I know, I know, not an attraction, but I always thought they were a special Disney-kind of cool.
I’d vote for a return of the original Journey into Imagination with Dreamfinder. The current version isn’t that bad, but if you could marry the original Dreamfinder sequence with the end of today’s version you’d have a real hit.
Great blog again, Dave. 🙂 I really think it is cool how they put in retired attractions in Epic Mickey. I did not realize that.
I really miss the old residential street from the original Back Lot Tour. The fact that they used to use the area and its contents for TV shows and movies was always very cool to me. I also miss the old menu of Pinnochio’s Village Haus. I always liked their menu the best!
I too would vote to bring back the Old Journey into Imagination, based on past experiences. Although never having been there, I would like to see the River Country. I have heard so many tales of how it was, it sounds like it was a really neat place!
It would be awesome to see the “Florida Project” as a future part of Epic Mickey. Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of this game!
While the Land ride is still in action, I miss the “Let’s Listen to the Land” song. Every Wasteland needs a theme song!
I would like to see the Old Journey into Imagination also. I miss that.
Can’t wait hope Santa is bringing this for DGS so I can play!
I remember going on If You Had Wings where Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is now. It made me dream about someday being able to fly to FLA on a plane instead of driving from New England. I think it is so cool that this game uses Disney history in the play and I am living vicariously by reading this blog! Thanks for the great insight.
Everytime I walk by the Winnie the Pooh ride at the Magic Kingdom, it makes me long for Mr Toad’s Wild Ride. It is still one of my all time favorite rides and was just a tremendous amount of fun. I used to ride it at least 10 times on every vacation. I had the fortune of working as a College Program student the last year it was open and would go ride it at least once a week. I wish that they’d bring it back.
I really miss 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I also remember Aladdin’s Royal Caravan parade at [then] MGM, which was great to me since Aladdin is one of my favorite movies!
I am a WDW “late bloomer” Never made it to the parks before 2000 and the Millennium Celebration. I would have loved to ride the original Figment (yeah I know the real name is Journey Into Imagination), or get to make the choices on Horizons.
Horizons was one my favorite rides. I also liked the World of Motion.
As a kid, I had a blast in the playroom at the end of the original Journey into Imagination. It was 1982, and they were using green screen technology to put kids into the show with Dreamfinder. There were huge tables of pins to stick your hands (or face) into. We played with the instruments you controlled with your hands.
Wandering around in a virtual Disney park, it’s tough to beat that unless you’re wandering around the real thing! 🙂 Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride has a special spot in DW’s heart, and I know she was excited when we went to DL and she was able to enjoy it again…
I say bring back Mr. Toad or Kitchen Cabaret!
My husband and I REALLY miss the Aliens experience (neither of us can remember its original name), but it used to be held inside what is now Stitch’s Great Adventure. Although Stitch was good, we were so disappointed to see Aliens had been replaced when we visited for our honeymoon this past summer. It was FANTASTIC!!
My top 5 attractions that have been sent to Wasteland:
1) Horizons. I loved everything about it, from the look at what people in the past thought the future would be like to the very end when you got to choose your own future. I know the music is dated now, but I loved the Horizons music. It sounded so hopeful.
2) The original Imagination. I loved the way the attraction actually showed the way imagination worked. Nice ride, Figment, Dreamfinder and afterwards, going in thru the Rainbow tunnel to the Imagination Playground.
3) Timekeeper. I thought it was very clever and the movies were wonderful, beautiful and belonged at WDW.
4) The Tapestry of Dreams. We watched that parade every trip while it was being presented. At a few of the last times, I felt sad for the performers. It was such a beautiful parade, but had been shrunk to less than half the route and many people were not watching; just walking along the parade route. At least they are still using the music after Illuminations.
5) Kitchen Kaboret. My oldest DD was only 4 when she first saw this and she was sure that Bonnie Appetite was real. Veggie-Fruit-Fruit!
We missed it when it left, but actually also liked Food Rocks.
I especially miss 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea! Our family scraped up enough money by cutting out everything we could so we could have annual passes to Walt Disney World for 2 years. Every time we walked by the Carousel I would mention the ride to my children! I actually found a few videos on Youtube of the ride, start to finish! Watching the video isn’t as great as riding the ride, but at least I was able to share the ride with my children in some way!
I was a child when I rode 20,000 Leagues, but to me, it was so real! I had no idea that we were just a few feet below the surface of the water! That’s what WDW is all about though, right? It’s not about over thinking things, it’s about believing in the magic and being a child!
My husband was laid off fall 2008, and unfortunately we lost almost everything and ended up homeless for almost a year. However, our passes expired just after we lost the house and we were able to make one last trip. It was very emotional for all 5 of us to say “Ta Ta for now!” but we are once again saving up enough to get passes again! My birthday was yesterday and as a gift, each of my children gave me their allowance money from last week to go towards this game! This is something that I have been eying for a long time, but I know we would all enjoy it! Any way we can have some Disney magic at home makes the wait a little easier! It’s also making us excited to return HOME to WDW!
I think River Country would be an excellent addition — the river could have run dry or become polluted in the Wasteland. Body Wars could be awesome, too, and it’s impossible to leave out Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride!