The BLOG FLUME -- Who Needs Tradition?

Say goodbye to Lego, Disneyland gets its 1000th ghost and Disney World rethemes a couple attractions.

Written by Kenny Hitt
Published: October 25, 2004 at 10:27 AM

"Bah, Those Pieces Can't Be THAT Important...."
Lego CEO Steps Down, Company to Sell Legoland Parks
LA Times - October 23, 2004

Danish comapny Lego, Inc. announced this week that it plans to sell its 4 Legoland parks, and that the company's Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is stepping down. Kristiansen is the grandson of the company's founder, and the company said that the Kristiansen family would be receiving the first chances for offers to buy the parks. Profit margins are said to be the reason for the closures, as only the original park in the company's hometown of Billund, Denmark has actually made a return on investment. According to MousePlanet's David Koenig, the age factor may also be an issue, since the parks are almost exclusively kid-centric. Employees at the parks could not be reached for comment, because they were trying to locate some more of those little two-pegged pieces so they could finish their life-size model of the Millennium Falcon.


"So Is This Considered Suicide?"
Disney Dork Pays $37,500 to be Demortalized in the Haunted Mansion
Orlando Sentinel - October 22, 2004

Baton Rouge, LA doctor and health care attorney Cary Sharp is ponying up $37,000 in an eBay charity action to have his name and a silly epitaph added to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. Mr. Sharp and his guests will be special guests for an "interrment" ceremony once his stone is crafted. He is the first person to receive this honor that wasn't an employee of the company. Ironically, Mr. Sharp says he's not a huge Disney fan, and has only been to Disneyland once.

Bidding was started at $750 by HELLRAISER creator Clive Barker, whose ABARAT series of horror/fantasy stories for junior readers have been under development at Walt Disney Studios. The final price will be split between Anaheim's Boys & Girls Club and a local charity of Sharp's choosing. It is unknown at this point whether any of his relatives think he spent a small fortune on a frozen pizza.


"This is my FastPass...I found it, all on my own."
Stitch's Great Escape Resumes Testing
WDW Magic - October 24, 2004

WDW Magic is reporting that Stitch's Great Escape has resumed guest testing. As is the usual, testing will take place at certain times only and will not be guaranteed to be fully operational until the "official" opening date. Cast member previews are tentatively scheduled for the first 4 days of November. In the meantime, WDWM has some great spy photos from the inside (and backstage) of the attraction! Many Bothans died to bring us this information.


"LIVING WITH THE LAND...-ING?"
Retheme in the Works for Epcot's Land Pavilion
MousePlanet - October 18, 2004

Apparently, the Mouse is planning a major retheming of the inside of Epcot's Land Pavilion. The new motif? A TRAVEL AGENCY. Now, for the next few minutes, I want you to close your eyes and think about the attractions in this part of the park...a boat ride and a flight simulator. Where exactly does the LAND come into play?


"Homestate Disadvantage"
A Look at the Damage Wrought By Ivan at Six Flags Over Georgia
ScreamScape - September 20, 2004

Yeah, I know, better late than never, but here's some quick info about the damage taken by Six Flags Over Georgia thanks to last month's Hurricane Ivan. As you can see in the ScreamScape photos, water completely surrounded DEJA VU and THE GREAT AMERICAN SCREAM MACHINE. Shortly after these photos were taken, rednecks appeared en masse in order to take a gander what they thought was merely a massive park retheming.

Readers' Opinions

From Robert Niles on October 25, 2004 at 10:30 AM
I have a column coming on Lego. Needless to say, I'm not pleased, but this could provide an opportunity for another company with some bucks and some brains.
From kyle sussman on October 25, 2004 at 2:00 PM
About the new rides. According to wdwmagic.com the following new rides are being built at wdw:
MGM Studios:Lights, Camera, Motors Stunt Show
Epcot:Soarin Over California
Animal Kindom: Expidition Evererest
Magic Kindom:Stitches Great Escape.
From Kenny Hitt on October 25, 2004 at 2:23 PM
No offense dude, but that ain't exactly news to anyone who visits this site occasionally.
From Robert OGrosky on October 25, 2004 at 5:33 PM
Very good coloumn!!
From John Franklin on October 25, 2004 at 11:44 PM
Hay, Kenny,
What is a comapny?
And I thought it was an eBay Auction, not Action.
Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one that makes mistakes in these articles.
From Kenny Hitt on October 26, 2004 at 5:31 AM
...I'm not going to dignify that.
From David Franzen on October 27, 2004 at 5:35 AM
A co-worker of mine on a recent trip to MK got picked to "test-ride" the new Stitch attraction. He reported that the flow and effects are 90% carried over from Alien, just centered around the Stitch cast ('course we knew that already). Regardless, he felt that it was still a great show, and the reduction of the horror factor will certainly appeal to more folks. Especially the wee ones.

Thankfully, they don't have Stitch drooling slime on anyone.

From Kenny Hitt on October 27, 2004 at 7:37 AM
But that was the best part of the show...especially sneaking up onto the catwalk in the dark with full cups of water and dumping them on unexpected guests.

We did that to Sinbad (the stand-up comic, not the pirate) and he screamed like a little girl.

From steve lee on October 27, 2004 at 8:34 PM
A travel agency. Riiight.

That doesn't sound idiotic at all. Add that to the Living Seas makeover, and that's a whole side of Epcot I won't bother visiting.

Okay, maybe I have a soft spot for Figment. But that is IT.

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