For Our Friends in Japan

I find it challenging this week to write about the details and stories of the Disney Parks at home, when my heart and mind are with my colleagues abroad. Friday's earthquake and tsunami continue to impact the people of Japan and will do so for some time. My wife and I took our first trip to Japan and the Tokyo Disney Resort eight years ago today. It was an incredible experience. The parks there are spectacular, and the people are among the most friendly, kind and helpful we've ever met.

All reports indicate that our fellow cast members and their families are safe, and there has been minimal damage to the resort facilities. The neighboring communities, however, continue to struggle. For that reason, Oriental Land Company (OLC is the company which owns and operates the Tokyo Disney Resort) has decided to cease operations at their parks and resorts for an undetermined period of time, so their cast and potential guests may focus on what is truly important right now.

OLC is helping the community in other ways. Freed of the responsibilities of work, Tokyo Disney Resort cast members have been volunteering en masse to help their neighbors recover and rebuild. Ceasing operations also allows for the conservation of critical water and energy resources. To help preserve as much fresh water as possible for drinking, OLC has even taken the step of turning over the massive water supply within Tokyo DisneySEA to nearby Urayasu City, for use in plumbing and other non-potable functions.

The Japanese are wonderful people and incredibly resilient. Eventually, the Tokyo Disney Resort will reopen, and cast members there will resume the business of creating magical experiences for their guests. Until then, we wish them the best in their recovery.

If you're able to help, please do so. You may donate to the American Red Cross directly via their site or text REDCROSS to 90999 (U.S. only) to give $10 to support Japan earthquake and Pacific tsunami relief efforts.

The Walt Disney Company has given $2.5 million in humanitarian aid to the Red Cross and has offered to match cast member donations up to $1 million. My wife and I have already contributed. If you're a fellow cast member, we urge you to join us and give whatever you can afford. You'll find the link in the message from Bob Iger on the Home page of The Hub.

Weekend Trivia: International Disney Parks

This week's edition of Weekend Trivia took you around the world to Disney's international destinations. How did you fare on these questions? Check your answers in the comments section below.

1) What was the first Disney Park built outside the U.S.?

2) Disney Resort Paris is built on former beet fields in what town 20 miles east of Paris?

3) What is the name of the island on which Hong Kong Disneyland was built?

4) A third Disney resort in Asia is in development for construction near what major city?

5) What is the name of the Downtown Disney-like shopping, dining and entertainment district at Tokyo Disney Resort?

6) What was the original name of the property now known as Disneyland Resort Paris?

7) What two Disney resort hotels are located at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort?

8) What land/port is considered the "Main Street" of Tokyo DisneySEA?

9) Which international Disney Resort features only one theme park?

10) Which of the following attractions is found in all three international Disney destinations?

A - Big Thunder Mountain

B - Space Mountain

C - Splash Mountain

11) What are the three official hotels of the Tokyo Disney Resort?

12) What popular Disney Cruise Line show is performed daily at the Storybook Theater in Fantasyland at Hong Kong Disneyland?

13) What can be found beneath Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant in Disneyland Paris?

14) What name is associated with the monorail system at Tokyo Disney Resort?

15) Before it was decided to build Disneyland Paris in France, what other European country was a prime contender to host the resort?

BONUS) Name the opening dates for each of Disney's five international theme parks.

Where in Disney's World - Monday's Answer

Today's "Where in Disney's World" is from Mermaid Lagoon at Tokyo DisneySEA. Nearly the entire land of Mermaid Lagoon is housed within the walls of King Triton's castle in a virtual underwater world. Glossy finishes in tile, glass and opalescent paint help give the castle a shimmering appearance, as if it just emerged from the sea.

For more on Mermaid Lagoon, revisit my earlier post here.

Finding Nemo

Rising from the sea, somewhere in the South Pacific, is a mysterious volcanic island. Inside the smoldering caldera of the volcano, we discover the hidden scientific base of the infamous Captain Nemo. Inspired by the works of Jules Verne and the 1954 Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mysterious Island is one of the most awe-inspiring ports in Tokyo DisneySEA.

Nemo's Guests on Mysterious Island are invited into his Victorian era industrial stronghold to witness firsthand the fantastic secret worlds he has discovered. Aboard vehicles of Nemo's own design, the Guests can explore the depths of the ocean or journey to the center of the earth itself.

Visitors begin their journey by boarding one of a bank of Terravators, specially-designed lifts that transport the Guests down to an immense subterranean cavern. Here, a row of tunneling vehicles awaits to carry us forward on our voyage of discovery.

Along the way, we marvel at crystal caverns and luminous forests with giant mushrooms, waterfalls and phosphorescent pools. We happen upon what appears to be the lair of some sort of creature, its egg sacs suspended in a volcanic chamber. Then as we admire the Subterranean Sea, we begin to notice that we're being followed.

The creature, an enormous lava monster, feels threatened by our presence. With a burst of flame, the creature rears up to attack. In that moment, the volcano suddenly erupts, blasting our vehicle through a spiral lava tube. We fly out the top of the mountain and speed along a trough in the rim of the caldera before finally being able to regain control of the vehicle and return to base.

The volcanic peak of Mt. Prometheus, the central icon of Tokyo DisneySEA, plays a central role in the story of Mysterious Island, a port which is entirely contained within the mountain and its adjacent crater. The mouth of the volcano smokes throughout the day, periodically sending balls of flame into the air, an effect created by a series of jet engines built into the top of the mountain.

The details that tell the Mysterious Island story, along with all the stories of Tokyo DisneySEA, are seemingly infinite and range from very large to very small. On one hand, Mt. Prometheus itself is one of the largest single rockwork efforts ever undertaken by Walt Disney Imagineering. At the other end of the spectrum, even something as small as this sponsor identification plaque (Journey to the Center of the Earth is presented by the Dai-Ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company) carries on the design aesthetic of the land and fits right into the story being told.

Under the Sea

Rising on the shores of Tokyo DisneySEA is King Triton's Castle, the gateway to Mermaid Lagoon. Now that his youngest daughter has married a human, Triton has embraced the spirit of interspecies cooperation and understanding, inviting Guests "under the sea" to explore his watery kingdom.

The castle itself draws inspiration from a number of sources, including The Little Mermaid film and the work of renowned Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi. Gaudi was known for organic, flowing architectural forms that incorporated bright colors and a variety of materials. Likewise, the surfaces of King Triton's Castle are covered in shells, glass and tile, all painted with iridescent colors to give the castle a "wet" look as if it just rose from the sea.

A closer look at the tiles and other materials covering the coral exterior of King Triton's Castle reveals tiny details, such as images of sea life, Triton's trident and Ariel herself. There's even a Hidden Mickey or two.

Stepping inside the castle entrance, a bronze statue of King Triton welcomes us to this undersea realm. Adventure awaits as we proceed to the ocean floor, where all the denizens of the deep have come out to celebrate our arrival. There's plenty to do and explore, from Jumpin' Jellyfish and the Blowfish Balloon Race to Ariel's Playground and the Sleepy Whale Shoppe (actually located inside the belly of a giant whale).

Mermaid Lagoon is a magical, fantastical place to visit, but as Sebastian the Crab likes to say, "De seaweed is always greener in somebody else's lake." Before long, it's time to return to our own world and to venture forward to the next port of call.

Home of the Famous Dead Sea Tupperware

This is Arabian Coast, a mystical port city straight out of 1001 Arabian Nights, with a dash of Disney's Aladdin thrown in. While architecturally based on Islamic and Persian designs from historical Arabic sites, Arabian Coast has an overlay of fantasy, making it a truly magical place. From the ancient waterfront area to the more "modern" (by 1200 A.D. standards anyway) Palace Courtyard, this section of Tokyo DisneySEA has seemingly infinite corners to discover.

One of the most fun areas for exploration is the Marketplace. The twisting alleys and merchant-packed streets bring to life the atmosphere of an Arabian souk. In the Casbah Food Court, a series of stalls offer a variety of dishes, from Flying Carpet Curry to shish kababs at Ali Kababa's. Outside, Jasmine's Fountain features a tile mural of the princess standing in a garden.

A camel is parked on an adjacent street, awaiting its master. In a corner Blacksmith Shop, the smith seems to have stepped away for a moment, but out of the smoke rising from his still-hot forge we see a Genie magically appear.

Inside the Agrabah Marketplace, the decor on one side of the shop evokes Jasmine's private chambers, while the other side is more like the hovel where she first met Aladdin. The Flying Carpet hangs above the walkway connecting the two areas of the shop.

A nearby counter opens onto a space where Aladdin's scavenger pal Abu has stashed his treasures over the years. The counter is labeled "Abu's Sweets," so it seems the little monkey has turned generous, sharing some of his finds (at least the confectionery kind) with visitors. Abu himself swings overhead, just to make sure the vendors here don't give away any of the good stuff.

One corner of the Marketplace we won't be exploring is Jafar's Shop of Wonders. The entrance to this mysterious spot is locked tight, with a notice nailed to the door: Closed by Order of the Sultan.

Indiana Jones and the Lost River Delta

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Lost River Delta at Tokyo DisneySEA. Here, along El Rio Perdido, a settlement of archaeologists, explorers and fortune hunters has sprung up, with all eyes on the legendary treasures of an ancient civilization.

Across the river from the settlement, a Mesoamerican pyramid rises from the jungle. Those brave enough to venture inside may stumble across Indiana Jones in search of the Fountain of Youth.

Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull (inspired by a different take on the crystal skull myth than that explored in the fourth Indiana Jones film) is an attraction similar in many ways to the original version at Disneyland in California, entitled Temple of the Forbidden Eye. In Japan, the location of the 1930s adventure was changed from India to Central America, presenting a different story and some different effects. For example, the main chamber in the Tokyo version features an impressive blue swirling vortex called the Well of Souls, as opposed to the flame effects in the Anaheim attraction.

In either case, we and Indy are successful in uncovering the Temple's secrets, but barely escape with our lives.

TomorrowSEA

Port Discovery at Tokyo DisneySEA transports us to an undefined future time, one very much inspired by futuristic ideals of the past. This is the home of the Center for Weather Control, where scientists from around the world gather to study the earth's weather systems. Today, the research teams of Port Discovery are celebrating the success of their StormRider initiative, designed to neutralize hurricanes before they reach populated areas.

As part of the celebration, Guests at Port Discovery are invited to explore some of the CWC's research vessels and even take a spin on the Aquatopia, a kind of technology workshop where the scientists test new navigation and propulsion systems.

A ride on Aquatopia is unpredictable to say the least. As each 2-3 person vehicle "floats" across the surface of Horizon Bay, it spins and twirls through an obstacle course of rocks, fountains and whirlpools.

While it may appear that the vehicles are floating on a pool of water, they are actually rolling on hidden wheels (the water is only about three inches deep). Their seemingly random movements are guided by a trackless Location Positioning System (LPS) that keeps track of all the vehicles in the area and directs each one where to go next. A similar system is used on the Pooh's Hunny Hunt attraction at Tokyo Disneyland and is planned for Mystic Manor, opening at Hong Kong Disneyland by 2014.

McDuck's Department Store

American Waterfront at Tokyo DisneySEA recreates two distinct regions of the northeastern United States, New York and Cape Cod, as they may have appeared in the period 1912-1920. The New York section is definitely "Big City," with its elevated electric railway and prosperous business district. Among the most prosperous of the businesses here are those owned and operated by none other than Scrooge McDuck.

All in one block, you can find McDuck's Department Store, Wholesale Shop and Pawn Broker (Scrooge's very first New York enterprise). While each shop has its own unique appearance inside and out, they all connect into one massive emporium.

Throughout are homages to the world's richest duck and the symbols of his wealth, gold coins and dollar signs. There's even a tribute to Scrooge's heritage, a large portrait of himself dressed in traditional garb as the head of the Scottish McDuck Clan. It's fitting, since New York City at this time was already a melting pot of immigrants from all over the world.

In the back of the Pawn Shop, we can catch a glimpse of Scrooge's safe, and in another corner we see the ol' duck himself, counting his earnings. The chart behind his desk tells the story of his recent success. Business is skyrocketing. Of course, it's all due to hard work, frugality and Scrooge's personal motto inscribed throughout the store: Fortuna Favet Fortibus (Fortune Favors the Fortunate).

S.E.A. HQ

Mediterranean Harbor, the "Main Street" of Tokyo DisneySEA, transports us to the fictional Italian village of Porto Paradiso, inspired by the real life cities of Portofino, Naples and Venice. Across the bay from Porto Paradiso looms Mt. Prometheus, the volcanic icon of the park, and at its base Explorers' Landing, the headquarters of the international Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A. for short).

S.E.A. is comprised of a group of scientists, engineers, explorers, artists and archaeologists from around the world, dedicated to the continued navigation and exploration of the seas. At Explorers' Landing, the members of S.E.A. come together to share knowledge with each other, along with the rest of the world.

Guests visiting Explorers' Landing set out on Fortress Explorations, a self-guided tour of the Quay (wharf area), the sailing ship Renaissance and the Fortress itself, a 15th-century Spanish-built citadel. The Fortress includes several levels and many fascinating chambers, among them Explorers' Hall where we are introduced to the founding fathers of S.E.A. In the Chamber of Planets (pictured below), a huge mechanical model of the solar system is set into motion as Guests turn cranks at its base, staring up into a planetarium of constellations.

From the Navigation Centre and Camera Obscura to a Da Vinci-inspired flying machine and Alchemy Laboratory, the Fortress is a collective of innovative ideas and inventions of the day.

The Path to Adventure

Over the coming week, we'll be taking a side trip to Japan for a look at some of the details found within Tokyo DisneySEA. I last visited the Tokyo Disney Resort nearly seven years ago, before I owned a digital camera or had the foresight to thoroughly document the storytelling details of the parks. It's all the more reason to plan another vacation to the Far East in the near future.

The Tokyo DisneySEA park opened in 2001, raising the bar for theme park storytelling to extraordinary heights. As a counterpoint to its sister park, Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySEA is divided into seven distinct ports of call: Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Port Discovery, Lost River Delta, Arabian Coast, Mermaid Lagoon and Mysterious Island.

The stories of these lands are interwoven and even extend beyond the park itself to the adjacent Hotel Miracosta, where the map pictured above can be found. It charts a course laid out by the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.) as they ventured between the four corners of the world on their voyage of discovery.

Citizens of Hollywood

Just off the beaten path at Disney's Hollywood Studios, tucked between the 50s Prime Time Cafe and Hollywood & Vine Cafeteria of the Stars, are the Echo Lake Apartments. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, the Echo Lake area was the swanky neighborhood home to many early stars of the silver screen.

The gate leading up to the apartments is locked - sorry, residents only. Step a little closer, though, and you might be able to get an idea of who lives here. Just take a look at the names on the mailboxes. They're actually the names of several of the Imagineers who worked on Disney-MGM Studios back in the 80s.

Notable is the name on the top right box: T. Kirk.

Tim Kirk started with Walt Disney Imagineering in 1980 and worked on projects ranging from Kitchen Kabaret at Epcot to the new Fantasyland at Disneyland. For Disney-MGM Studios, he was a production set designer and art director for the Great Movie Ride and contributed to Muppet*Vision 3-D and the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Tim and his brother Steve now run their own firm, Kirk Design, but before leaving Walt Disney Imagineering they were the senior designer and senior creative VP for Tokyo DisneySea in Japan.