~ The new Tarzan Tree house will be done by June 19th. When the movie opens.
OPD Webmaster 4/25/99

~Finally, I have a chance to hop on the old 'puter and let everyone know all about Tarzan's Treehouse. Keep in mind there might be a few spoilers here. I got to visit it yesterday during yet another soft opening, just after a film crew finished up the advertisement and after the Imagineers (Tony Baxter and Bruce Gordon were on hand that day) took a walkthru of the attraction. First of all, I applaud Disneyland's casting for Turk and Jane. Turk was true to movie form (although the costume is the wrong color, and looks distorted), dancing with the music, teasing Guests, and having a grand old time. Jane looked exactly like the character in the film, right down to wearing colored contacts so her eyes were the right color. While her accent came off very close to a 'practically perfect nanny' (understandably, since she plays both parts in the Park), her adlib ability and humor was right on track. She attempted to get the Guests in the mood by teaching everyone the language of the gorillas. ("OOoo EEee AAaa... that means Jane stays with Tarzan in the jungle") And she found my newfangled camera quite remarkable... until my digital camera had a disk error, to which she responded "you see, sometimes a simple sketchbook is better than the most modern conviniences". :) But on to the treehouse itself: The leaves look more like the leaves of a banana tree, and the whole thing is covered with lichen, moss, and ferns. You can hear the music- jungle inspired, drum heavy versions of music from the film's score- all throughout that area of Adventureland. (Personally, I would have rather it been a little more subliminal, and a lot softer) The suspension bridge is quite rigid, only allowing a slight swing, but enough to excite the youngsters. After passing a reminder of the old Swiss Family Treehouse ("Mind Thy Head!"), we ventured up to the topmost part of the house. There we found the evil Sabor, in a tent that had seen better days. This represents how Tarzan became orphaned. If guests attept to pet the vicious kitty, they are treated with a VERY loud roar, and you can feel the gust of wind caused by the cat's breath. Behind you, a small whimper is heard. You turn to see, hanging safely in the tree's branches, young Tarzan's crib. He crys for a while, before launching into a very cute Tarzan yell. Leaving this part of the tree behind, be continue our little tour. The music shifts to a tender rendition of "You'll Be In My Heart" as we enter the next room. There we see Kala and baby Tarzan gazing at a mirror. Prompted by another of Jane's sketches (which are the key to understanding the interactive elements), we touch sketches of Baby Tarzan, Young Tarzan, and grown up Tarzan. The mirror then shows scenes of Tarzan's life, while the music shifts ("Two Families" for Baby Tarzan, "YBIMH" for Young Tarzan, and "Strangers Like Me" for old Tarzan). Down a few steps, we find Tarzan and Jane together. The music is a more rhythmic variation of the attraction's music here, as we see Jane 'sketch' Tarzan. From here, we wander down to ground level, into Porter's camp. The first thing that caught my attention (other than the dirt ground, and that was just because I slipped on it) was a familiar strain of music. From a small phonograph in the corner, Guests hear the music of the Swisskapolka- a tip of the hat to the old SFT attraction. The first tent is filled with scientific devices of many types. Mainly, it's a lot of the bubbly test tubes and beakers filled with a variety of different liquids. No interactive features noted here, but then we had pressure to keep moving from the rest of the line behind us (we were the first ones in that day). Pull on the nearby vine, and you might just hear the roar of a lion, or the trumpet of a wild elephant. Or even Tarzan's famous yell! The next tent was filled with the Porters' supplies. (Beauty and the Beast's Mrs. Potts, just like in the movie, makes a cameo here). In the air, the music from "Trashin' the Camp" is playing, and all around Guests can find cans, pots, drums, and several other things that they can play and join in. While we were here, the film crew came back, so you might see me in a future Tarzan ad! Also nearyby, you can find a stone fireplace. Step on the bellows, and watch what happens! ;) A nice touch, I might say. The final tent is Jane's. You'll find a tree with several holes in it- stick your hand in, and try to guess the creature inside. It also looks like perhaps the Swiss Family Treehouse's parrots might be moved here, but they weren't out that day. A few steps away, you can meet Jane and Turk, and wave at Tarzan (if he ever shows up... he didn't yesterday). Also, look for the Jungle Cruise's "little squirt", now in a new home at the top of the waterfall. If you REALLY want to see the new Tarzan walkaround, and he isn't home, watch Fantasmic. On the lower deck of the Mark Twain, about midship next to Minnie Mouse, Jane and Tarzan can be found waving. And let me say, I think the did a good job casting him as well. At least, it looked kinda like Tarzan, even though a guest pointed at him and said "Hey, look! There's George of the Jungle!" Overall, I enjoyed the treehouse. It wasn't the Swiss Family Treehouse, and the animated characters looked out of place with the realistic backgrounds, but I enjoyed myself enough to want to go back again.
tk421 6/22/99

~So far from what I have heard from everyone is that they love the Tree House. It was done really well and in a short amount of time!!
OPD Webmaster 6/22/99

Tomorrowland

~ Just wanted to remind you guys that the Disneyland Monorail is running one way trips only until September 5th (and soon afterward, it will close for a rehab, as will Autopia).
tk421 4/25/99

Mickey's Toon Town

~The Jolly Trolly will be down all summer. But it won't really matter because they don't use the Trollys on crowded days anyway!!
tk421 6/22/99
~ Paint Job: Finally, they have started to repaint the buildings. The Toontown Fire Depot, long a sad, faded pink building has been repainted a bright red once again. Let's hope they continue this thru the land, because there are a lot of tacky areas that need touched up.
tk421 4/27/99

~ Gadget's Go Coaster: Down for a standard rehab (it will be up 4/30/99) plus some curb cuts that are going in all 'round Toontown.
tk421 4/27/99

~ Curb Cuts: All over Toontown construction walls are going up. Why? Well last week, early in the morning, Mickey Mouse tripped off his curb getting the newspaper. (That's one little known fact about the Mouse... he's lost without his first cup of coffee) Realizing a safety risk when he saw it, he got on the phone. So now, in front of every house, they are adding a 'driveway-esque' curb ramp that will save guests from the embarrassment of falling off a brightly colored curb because they don't see it. It will also help guests with disabilities.
tk421 4/27/99

~ Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin: Just wanted everyone to know, there is a new Wheezy Weasel on the ride (the one about to be whacked in the head by Jessica Rabbit). It looks pretty good, and nobody has stolen his cigarettes yet.
tk421 4/27/99

Critter Country

~Well for right know it looks like NO POOH RIDE. They want to bring it to the Country Bear Play House. But as of right now they don't have enough money to make a really good ride.
OPD Webmaster 6/22/99

Disneyland Hotel's

~Neverland Pool: The Neverland pool is to open July 3 1999. I am hope this is true. It was going to open in June but they are behind (Big suprise).
OPD Webmaster 5/30/99
~UPDATE The pool will open as of now on July 3rd or 4th. If it does not open they will have guest go to the Disneyland Pacific Hotel to swim. (Thats what Disney Told Me)
6/22/99

~Monorail: The Monorail will close in Sept. I don't know when they will bring it back. Hope it won't be gone to long.
OPD Webmaster 5/30/99

DCA

Golden State:
~ Grizzly Peak:
The largest piece of DCA construction, this new landmark can be seen over the construction walls from th Lion King lots and the Disneyland main entrance. It looks like they are trying to get this, the 'Matterhorn' of DCA, ready as soon as possible.
tk421 5/1/99

Paradise Pier:
~ Orange Stinger: The framework for the large orange landmark of Paradise Pier (which represents Orange Country, I guess) is being set up. As you remember, this attraction will be a swing type ride with bee themed swings spiraling in a giant orange.
tk421 5/1/99

~ Backstage building: This has been completed for some time- in fact, it was the first structure to be finished on the DCA land. It's basically a glorified shed, and can be seen on the corner of Katella and West.
tk421 5/1/99

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