| * Indiana Jones Adventure * Grand Opening Ceremonies - February 27, 1995 |
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There were media representatives from all over the world to experience and report on this new Disneyland attraction and Disney made a tremendous effort to make a lasting impression... I left the Media Center that morning and followed the "return to park" signs, ending up in the exit queue of the Indiana Jones attraction. Instead of going out towards Adventureland and the Park with the others, I decided to stay, explore and I headed into the ride itself. I found the loading area of the attraction where the cast members were testing. I couldn't help but walk slow, look all over this queue, and try to notice the details and finesse of design this new attraction had to offer. There is an area, like a room with 'chicken wire' walls, containing many interesting artifacts on display. This room was filled with many old cameras, digging equipment, maps and a workbench full of neat "archaeological stuff". On a workbench desk, there was a Life Magazine that is mostly covered up - just the corners showing. This old magazine was from the late 30's and had Mickey Mouse on the cover. Ah-ha! A hidden Mickey! After a little more exploring, I ran into a gentleman that seemed to know much about this attraction. It was Skip Lange, the Indiana Jones attraction Show Director from WDI. He explained a few interesting details WDI did to give "credibility" to the story. On the room with the artifacts - the exterior walls are made of 1" x 6" wood planks. Some of these pieces of wood have (stenciled) markings on them. One says, "Top Secret" and another has the ID number "9906763". These are the same markings found on the crate that they used to box up the "Ark" at the end of the first Indiana Jones movie, "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Another stencil marking on the wood wall was the name of the sea vessel that was in the second Indiana Jones movie. There is a photograph on the wall, just before you go up the stairs to the loading area, of what appears to be a caravan of vehicles going through rough terrain to get to the temple. Disney actually took the vehicles [the outside shells] with actors and went out to photograph this for the décor of the queue. In another part of the queue area, there are three large carved tablets that tell the story of the Temple Offerings: The Gift of Future Knowledge, The Gift of Earthly Riches, and The Gift of Eternal Youth. These tablets are all written in the hieroglyphic language that WDI designed for this attraction. It is amazing how many awesome yet subtle details tie the attraction in with the Indiana Jones movies. More than just a ride, the story building as you work your way through is well thought out, just adding to the overall experience of this new attraction. Now... on to the ride! |
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The first time through this attraction was intense! You board into an Enhanced Motion Vehicle or "EMV" transport car. This vehicle was developed and patented by WDI. It looks very much like an "open-air desert transportation vehicle". As you depart the loading area, you enter into a room with three doors. Each door represents an entrance into one of the Temple's offerings: The Gift of Future Knowledge, The Gift of Earthly Riches, and The Gift of Eternal Youth. The 12-person vehicle has a computer on-board and the direction selection is random. You never know which door you will enter! Riding in the EMV is like riding in a 4x4 vehicle - you feel every bump! But this is the effect that WDI wanted to achieve on purpose. "A terrible, tortuous fate awaits those who gaze upon the eyes of Mara!"... A couple of facts: Fully synchronized, on-board sound system gives each guest full "stereo sound". The adventure will never be exactly the same twice, with nearly 160,000 possible combinations of show programming and variations. A maximum total of 15 vehicles cycling through the attraction at one time. A new vehicle is dispatched into the attraction every 18 seconds (2400 temple visitors an hour capacity). As part of the attraction, there are over 2129 sculpted, carved, painted or living representations of snakes! The vehicle is actually a simulator on wheels! This car moves on all four wheels throughout the ride (all wheels always remain on the ground) but the car swerves, banks, skids, stalls, backs up and gives you the full sensation of the car wheels lifting up off the ground. You would swear that the car is really making those hard banking turns and "flying" up, off the wheels around the corners. I felt the rear seats (far left & right) of the EMV gave the most movement sensation and the best view of the attraction. You are engulfed in this huge room with many things happening around you. The EMV's were truly a wonder. Once, in the middle of the ride, the car stalled (part of that particular script), the sound track mellowed and you felt the sensation of the car trying to start (like the engine cranking on a cold morning). It 'sputtered' and when it finally started, it "peeled out" and skidded around a corner. Amazing! After my 17 test-trips in a row through the Temple [and one trip I was the only person on the only vehicle moving through the temple!], it was time to make my way back to the hotel to rest and prepare for the dedication ceremony the next day... |
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I took my place on the media platform well in advance of the event and had an opportunity to have a wonderful conversation with Rene (official Disneyland photographer – who took many pictures of Walt, including the very popular image of Walt walking into Fantasyland through the Castle). He had me working at his side that day – right next to the pro! A special moment for me! The dedication was officiated by Michael Eisner and George Lucas with the assistance of a few actors and stunt actors. There were quick and basic opening remarks by both gentlemen to welcome the media and in true Disney fashion, the ‘show’ of the event began. After the fight scene (Indy slid down a rope from the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House), Indiana Jones carefully placed a golden sphere on the head of a snake at the podium. This was some sort of mystical trigger that "opened" up a barricade blocking the entrance to the "newly discovered" Temple with a big pyrotechnic explosion. “Let’s go to the ride - follow me!” exclaimed Eisner. I wasted no time and was off behind the executives and other media into the queue. Quite a production! The press was invited to ride this new attraction. Michael & George rode a car equipped with a "point-of-view" video camera. After they got back to the boarding area, I was there to capture the moment. Standing in front of the vehicle (almost where the ride operator stands) I got the attention of Michael & George as the vehicle came to a halt. They held a pose for me while both sitting in the vehicle after experiencing the ride. Click! A Kodak moment! Thanks guys! |
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> Journal - Sunday, February 26, 1995
THIS RIDE IS AWESOME!!!!!!
> Journal - Monday, February 27, 1995| All photographs on these pages © Mckyfoto Photography All photographed images © The Walt Disney Company This web site is not an official document of the Walt Disney Company |
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