Weekend Trivia: Star Wars & Indiana Jones

Sorry about the general lack of posts this week. It's been busy around here, with home remodeling projects and my twin boys' 5th birthday. It was, at their request, a huge movie-themed blowout... specifically Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Since that's where my mind has been, the Weekend Trivia for today on Twitter focused on the subject of Star Wars and Indy in the Disney Parks. Here are the questions. Look for the answers to appear in the comments some time tomorrow afternoon.

1) What was the first Disney Parks attractions created in association with George Lucas?

2) When and where did Star Tours make its debut?

3) Who provided the voice of RX-24 in Star Tours?

4) Where and how in the original Star Tours attraction was there a direct reference to George Lucas?

5) The G2 droids in the Star Tours queue at Disneyland previously appeared in what incarnation?

6) The original Star Tours film featured a cameo by what iconic element from an extinct Disneyland attraction?

7) In what year did Star Wars Weekends debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios?

8) For three years starting in 2003, Star Wars Weekends featured a Star Wars-themed version of what Hollywood Studios attraction?

9) The store at the exit of Star Tours at Disney's Hollywood Studios has gone by what two names?

10) In what venue outside of Disney Parks has the Disney-produced Jedi Training Academy show been presented?

11) What was the first Disney Parks attraction to feature Indiana Jones?

12) Indiana Jones attractions can be found in what four Disney Parks around the world?

13) What "treasures" are being sought on the Indiana Jones Adventure attractions in Disneyland and in Tokyo DisneySEA?

14) What was the title of the live show presented during the Disneyland Summer of Hidden Mysteries event in 2008?

15) What Indy attraction was conceived and announced for Disneyland, but never built?

Into the West

The entrance to Frontierland at Disneyland is marked by a stockade fort, reminiscent of those which once protected towns and settlements in the old west. Just inside the walls of the fort, you can see the cannons and rifles used to defend the area from attack.

Hats and canteens belonging to the fort's soldiers hang on the upper level, as if they've just stepped away for a moment.

Sticking out over the walls of the fort, you can also find a collection of flags from the period of revolution and expansion, each representing a territory of the young nation.

Weekend Trivia: Pixar Animation Studios

Ready for another round of Weekend Trivia? This week's challenge focuses on Pixar Animation Studios. Here are the 20 questions I asked this afternoon on Twitter. Come back later tonight for the answers, which I'll post in the comments section below. Good luck!

1) Before going private in 1986, Pixar was part of what other company?

2) Where is the headquarters of Pixar Animation Studios currently located?

3) What is Luxo, Jr.?

4) What early Pixar short film inspired Toy Story?

5) Who or what is the protagonist in the short film Red's Dream?

6) Where in Toy Story can you see a tribute to A113, the room at Cal-Arts where several Pixar animators learned their craft?

7) When Flik arrives in the "big city" in A Bug's Life, a logo is seen for what Disney Broadway production?

8) At the start of Toy Story 2, Buzz is seen flying through an alien landscape created by repurposing elements modeled for what other film?

9) Characters from what other Pixar features are seen in Boo's room at the end of Monsters, Inc.?

10) What is the address of Dr. Sherman's office in Finding Nemo?

11) Who are the three super villains who appear in The Incredibles?

12) Who provided the voice of the Sheriff in Cars, and what role did he play in the film's production?

13) What is Linguini's relationship to Gusteau in Ratatouille?

14) What role did Fred Willard play in WALL*E?

15) Where did Ellie dream of going in Up?

16) What brand of batteries powers Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 3?

17) What is the name of the secret agent car with whom Mater gets involved in next summer's Cars 2?

18) Reese Witherspoon has been cast in the role of Merida for what upcoming Pixar animated feature?

19) What is the name of the hospital seen in the Pixar shorts Rescue Squad Mater and Monster Truck Mater?

20) How many of Pixar's feature length films have been directed by John Lasseter?

Summer of Hidden Mysteries

To coincide with the theatrical release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in summer 2008, entertainment enhancements were made to Adventureland at Disneyland, under the title "Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries." Among these were props and artifacts from the Indy films scattered about the Jungle Cruise and a new show in the former Aladdin's Oasis.

"Secret of the Stone Tiger" involved Indy and an archaeologist named Rachel, both searching for a golden idol in the shape of a tiger's head. The show featured special effects, Guest interaction and a clever reuse of props and set pieces from the old Aladdin show presented here (the Stone Tiger was actually the Cave of Wonders).

In another part of the promotion, dubbed "Random Acts of Indy," Indiana Jones made surprise appearances throughout Adventureland, chasing (or being chased by) an imposing character known as the Desert Hawk. In their quest to get a treasure map from one another, Indy and the Desert Hawk could be seen running or fighting atop the Jungle Cruise boathouse, on the balcony and steps of the Adventureland Bazaar, through the streets of the land or on the suspension bridge at Tarzan's Treehouse.

As it turns out, Indy wasn't the only one seen running through Adventureland that summer. When faced with a certain photo op, I couldn't help but strike an action pose myself. Wouldn't want to get squashed by a giant boulder, you know!

Setting Out for Adventure

Deep in the jungles of 1930s Adventureland is an archaeological dig site, the setting for the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye. While most of Adventureland is a pastiche of exotic locales from around the world, a look at the props outside the temple in front of the Indiana Jones Adventure lets us know that this story takes place in India... specifically, the Lost Delta region (Lost River Delta is also the setting for the Indiana Jones Adventure in Tokyo DisneySEA).

Approaching the entrance to the temple, we see that it's guarded by a pair of snakes (Why did there have to be snakes?). At least these are of the stone variety!

Inside is a mural of the goddess Mara. According to legend, Mara can grant your fondest desires. A warning, though: Whatever happens, do not look into her eyes!

The Indiana Jones Adventure was added to Disneyland in 1995. With limited space available in the park (especially in tiny Adventureland), the Imagineers had to get creative. The main show building for the attraction was built in a portion of the Disneyland parking lot, accessed by a narrow passage crafted in the space between Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean. The result is one of the most detailed and interactive queue experiences ever designed.

Throughout the space, Guests encounter scenes inspired by the Indiana Jones films. There's a cave full of bats, a mysterious obelisk and a series of booby traps, including a room full of descending spikes (just don't disturb the bamboo pole holding up the ceiling... or do, and see what happens).

Finally, you emerge in the entrance chamber of the main temple itself. A large mural of Mara adorns the domed ceiling. Of course, you'll notice that Mara's eyes are closed in any artistic interpretation. Could it be that anyone who has seen her eyes open never lived to tell about them?

The archaeological work is in full force here, with the space full of bamboo scaffolding and recovered artifacts. You may even come across an archaeologist at work. Of course, by now I hope you've figured out that it pays to do just the opposite of what signs like this tell you (at least within attraction environments). You never know what surprises you might unearth!

Before boarding a transport to explore the rest of the temple, Guests are asked to pause to view a short newsreel-style film giving them some history (and safety instructions). You'll recognize Indy's trusted friend, Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), from Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

I would never recommend ignoring the safety instructions. They're very important, you know, but if you were to look back at the other end of the room you might discover a bit of Hidden Disney. It's tough to spot, since the room is dark and the light from the projector is so bright, but tucked away in back is one of the original blue and white signs from the Eeyore section of Disneyland's old parking lot, the very same plot of land on which the attraction now sits.

So which of the wishes will you choose to have granted by Mara in the Chamber of Destiny? Future Knowledge? Eternal Youth? Perhaps Earthly Riches?

Remember the warning to never look Mara in the eye. It might also benefit you to attempt to translate some of the other messages inscribed on these tablets and throughout the temple. Luckily, the code is easy to crack, especially if you still happen to have one of these decoder cards provided by original attraction sponsor AT&T.

If you don't have a decoder, that's okay. You'll see that most of the Mara symbols closely resemble their English counterparts. Good luck!

Fortune Telling in Disneyland

Shrunken Ned, whom we visited at the Adventureland Bazaar in last Friday's article, is but one of a collection of unique fortune tellers to be found throughout Disneyland. Near the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square is Fortune Red. Originally part of the Pirates Arcade Museum, he now stands alone, ready to dispense a fortune card for those willing to depart with a bit o' treasure.

Meanwhile, over at the Penny Arcade on Main Street is Esmeralda, a gypsy fortune teller happy to predict the path your life might take. Dropping quarters into these contraptions and receiving a fortune card in return has been a popular pastime at Disneyland for decades.

To visit Fortune Red and have your, uh... fortune read, check out this page at SorcerersWorkshop.org.

The Disney Parks Blog had a great video of Esmeralda back in June. You can find that at this link.

To listen to the wisdom of Shrunken Ned (as well as Aladdin's Other Lamp and other Disneyland audio treasures), pay a visit to Theme Park Audio Archives.

Weekend Trivia: Disney's Animal Kingdom

This weekend's Trivia Challenge topic on Twitter focused on the subject of Disney's Animal Kingdom. I asked 20 questions about the park. How many do you know? Look for the answers in the comments section below:

1) When did Disney's Animal Kingdom (DAK) open, and what was appropriate about that date?

2) What was the name of the park when it was first announced in 1995?

3) Name the two shows that preceded Finding Nemo: The Musical at Theater in the Wild.

4) Who are the Dino Institute staff members we meet in the pre-show for Dinosaur?

5) Dino Sue, the T Rex skeleton on display in Dinoland, was the result of a partnership between Disney and what institution?

6) Name at least two extinct attractions previously featured at DAK.

7) What title is held by the fictional leader of Anandapur?

8) What is the name of the village from which Expedition Everest tours originate?

9) What was the original name of the area known as Rafiki's Planet Watch?

10) DAK is officially accredited by what international body?

11) In what area of DAK can you find porcupines, tortoises and kangaroos?

12) What is the only animal depicted on the Tree of Life to have a name?

13) What fictional African company operates the Wildlife Express line to Rafiki's Planet Watch?

14) Who is Head Warden on the Harambe Wildlife Reserve?

15) Name the two "hotels" that can be seen in Old Town Harambe.

16) Who is the founding director of the Conservation School at Pangani Forest?

17) What DAK show was created using assets from a retired entertainment offering at Disneyland?

18) Camp Minnie-Mickey is styled after what geographic region of the United States?

19) What is the stage name of the stink bug who appears in "It's Tough to be a Bug?"

20) What is the title of the new adventure experience coming to DAK in early 2011?

Bonus - 21) Who is the Imagineering Executive Designer assigned to Disney's Animal Kingdom projects?

Bazaar Treasures

Under the roof of the Adventureland Bazaar, vendors from far and wide gather to set up shop and peddle their wares. Inside, diverse booths and kiosks offer a wide range of merchandise... along with a rich panorama of props and detail.

The Bazaar is also where you'll find a variety of interesting devices. Take Rajah's Mint (below), for example. It produces Adventureland-appropriate versions of the popular pressed penny souvenirs, but this temple of treasure presses pennies with pizazz! Activate one of the sides of the device, and the elephant statue on top rears back and stamps down on its anvil, releasing your newly-minted souvenir into the basin below.

Nearby is a tiny alcove, inside which inquisitive shoppers will discover a bit of Moorish metalwork, labeled "Aladdin's Other Lamp." According to the tapestry hung here, "Whosoever rubs the lamp (and places coins in the slot below) shall receive the wisdom of the Genie and have their future revealed." Sounds promising, no?

Do as it suggests, and you'll hear the voice of the "Genie" (a guy named Harry and sometimes his wife), predicting a fabulous future of fame and riches, inventing a three-humped camel or even having adventures in... well, in Adventureland. So maybe this so called "Genie" isn't quite the prognosticator he claims to be. He's just another huckster taking advantage of fortune seekers wandering the Bazaar. As Harry likes to say, "There's a seeker born every minute!"

Elsewhere in the Bazaar, you might come across the booth of Dr. Nedley Lostmore. Now known as Shrunken Ned, it appears Lostmore lost more than he bargained for on his adventures. Now, he resides here as Head Shrink of the jungle. For a modest fee, he'll diagnose your "condition" and dispense a prescription card.

Card souvenirs like this, from "the jungle's only self-service witch doctor," have been very popular at Disneyland over the years. It's just another of the seemingly infinite number of treasures one can find by exploring the Adventureland Bazaar.

Into a World of Adventure

The gateway to Adventureland at Disneyland leads to an exotic realm of mystery and romance. Adventureland represents a 1930s riverside port town in some far-off corner of the world. Here, the jungle dominates the skyline, and exciting discoveries are around every corner.

Adventureland wasn't always so spectacular, though. When Disneyland opened, it was by far the smallest land, with only a single attraction: The Jungle Cruise. Even the landscape was a work in progress. Imagineering Landscape Architect Bill Evans had begun turning orange grove into jungle almost a year before the park opened, but everything was still fairly small in 1955. Today, the natural canopy over the attraction extends more than 100 feet into the air, creating a complete sense of being thousands of miles from the streets of Anaheim.

According to the story, the Jungle Navigation Company carries freight and passengers along the rivers of the region. Many of the goods they bring are taken straight from the docks and sold by vendors on the street (although, apparently the most rare and exotic items are available elsewhere).

Walking through Adventureland, it looks like Disney simply carved into an existing rainforest. It's hard to imagine that everything you see was put here by the Imagineers... almost everything, that is. A handful of specimens remain from the days before the park was built. There's the stand of eucalyptus trees (once a wind break for the orange grove) that forms a visual barrier between the back side of Main Street and the Jungle Cruise. Then, there's the Dominguez Palm.

The Dominguez family once lived on part of the property that became Disneyland, and this Canary Island date palm was planted here in 1896 as a gift to the family. To find the tree, head to the far right of the Jungle Cruise queue building, near the Indiana Jones Adventure Fastpass Distribution. It's the largest tree in the area, extending well above its neighbors. If you look closely, you'll even see that the two-story Jungle Cruise boathouse (added in 1994) was built around the tree to preserve it.

The Dominguez home was moved from this site to an area behind the Main Street Opera House and served as offices for many years. A member of the Dominguez family even stuck around. Ron Dominguez got a job at Disneyland as a ticket taker and stayed for nearly 40 years, retiring as Executive Vice President of the park. The window dedicated to him on Main Street, U.S.A. pays tribute to his unique place in Disneyland history:

Orange Grove Property Mgt.

"We'll Care for Your Property

As If It Were Our Own"

Ron Dominguez - Owner

Let's Dance at Disneyland

Just off the Central Plaza, between Sleeping Beauty Castle and Frontierland, is Carnation Plaza Gardens, a real step into Disneyland history. The little area beside the castle originally hosted a small bandstand and park. The area was expanded in 1956 and has been here ever since. Even the Carnation name has lasted, although that particular operating participant is now part of Nestle.

Big bands still play here on weekends, but anytime you step under the canopy you can imagine yourself in a time gone by. Everyone from Count Basie and Benny Goodman to Louis Armstrong and the Osmond Brothers have played this stage.

This was also the spot in the late '50s for the Date Nite at Disneyland events, held on Friday and Saturday nights to encourage locals to come out and enjoy the park. The Elliott Brothers Orchestra took the stand at Carnation Plaza Gardens as the Disneyland Date Niters and kept the joint hopping.

A Quintessential Disneyland Moment

On a recent visit to Disneyland, I found myself in the Central Plaza, pausing as I often do to say "Thank you" to Walt Disney for everything he's given us. I love the "Partners" statues of Walt and Mickey in the Disney Parks. Walt probably would have hated them, though. He was a very humble person.

The statue stands where it does in Disneyland today thanks to sculptor Blaine Gibson, a team of Imagineers and a couple of odd special events held back in the '80s. At that time, celebrations like State Fair and Circus Fantasy involved placing such things as a Ferris Wheel or Globe of Death (that sphere with the motorcycles inside) in Central Plaza... right in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. To keep such things from ever happening again, "Partners" was given the place of honor in the middle of the Hub.

Moving beyond the Central Plaza toward Fantasyland, I was admiring the perfect placement of King Arthur Carrousel as a visual draw, when a pair of Cast Members informed me that the Disneyland Band was about to play. Next thing I knew, they were marching across the drawbridge, joined soon after by a host of Disney characters. With all the music and dancing, it was as if a Disneyland TV special from days gone by had come to life right before my eyes!

The set included a number of favorite Disney tunes, and then finished with Bandleader Ray's sincere remarks that "We're proud to welcome you to Disneyland, the only Disney Park in the world in which Walt Disney actually set foot." With that, the voice of Walt Disney himself was heard, as the 1955 dedication of the Park was replayed for the gathering crowd. It was a perfect moment on a perfect Disneyland day.