Hosts Banks Lee and JeniLynn Knopp bring you this week’s theme park and attraction news. On this week’s episode: [Read more…]
Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour’ comes to Orlando in February
The Estate of Michael Jackson has partnered with Cirque du Soleil to present Michael Jackson, The Immortal World Tour in Orlando on Feb. 28 and 29 at the Amway Center. This production combines Michael Jackson music and choreography with Cirque du Soleil creativity to give fans a unique view into the spirit, passion and heart of Michael Jackson. [Read more…]
ParkSAVER: Sequined glove may not change the world, but it may change your hotel view
Captain EO, in the recently returned 3D movie at Epcot, may be out to change the world but Michael Jackson fans may be able to save a bit of change at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. The hotel is offering a complimentary “Disney-view” upgrade to Captain EO fans who wear a white sequin glove during check-in. [Read more…]
Video/Photos: Michael Jackson's Captain EO reopens at Epcot
Captain EO, the 4D movie staring Michael Jackson and Anjelica Huston, with Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas working behind the scenes, has returned to Epcot. The 17-minute film originally played at the park from 1986-1994. It’s now playing once again in the same theater with some new effects. [Read more…]
Michael Jackson's Captain EO is returning to Epcot on July 2
Captain EO, the 3D movie staring Michael Jackson that once played at Epcot, is returning on July 2.
Michael Jackson along with Disney, producer George Lucas and director Francis Ford Coppola created Captain EO. The 17-minute, 3D film ran at Epcot from 1986 to 1994 before being replaced by Honey I Shrunk the Audience.
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience will close in the next few weeks so they can get the theater ready for Captain EO’s return. It’s expected to be a limited run, maybe just for the Summer Nightastic promotion.
Captain EO was perhaps one of the first 4D movies in that it incorporated laser effects, smoke effects and starfields that filled the theater. The 3D technology certainly foreshadowed what was to come.
Captain EO also will return to two other Disney parks. It will open at Tokyo Disneyland on June 30 and Disneyland Paris on June 12.
Here’s a video taken earlier this year when Captain EO returned to Disneyland in California.
Resist the urge to eat the new 'pop' star artwork at Ripley's
You’ve seen her in bubbles and you’ve seen her without pants, but you’ve never seen Lady Gaga quite like this – covered in gumdrops, licorice and M&M’s.
Lady Gaga is just one of an all-star lineup of new celebrity portraits made entirely from candy, commissioned by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
In this one of a kind work of art, Lady Gaga’s lovely locks are made from yellow licorice. There’s no blue suede on this Elvis – but there are hundreds of blue M&M’s. Michael Jackson thrills in multiple flavors – one portrait captures his essence with M&M’s, while another uses licorice and gumdrops. And our candy Beyonce looks good enough to – well, let’s just says she looks good enough to stare at and admire.
The Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson and Elvis portraits will feel right at home in their new surroundings – new Ripley’s Candy Stores that have been added to several Ripley’s attractions around the country. Beyonce and Marilyn Monroe will hang in the lobby of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium in Orlando.
The portraits were created by Mexico City artist Enrique Ramos who previously has done several pieces for Ripley’s. Picasso may have had his blue period, but Ramos is now experiencing his “sweet” period. These portraits are 100% candy, and include Gummy Bears, licorice, Fruit by the Foot, M&M’s, after-dinner mints and candy hearts.
As Beyonce says, “Put a Ring (pop) on It.” [Read more…]
Out of the Loop: Michael Jackson's Captain EO returns to Disneyland
By Andy Guinigundo
Anaheim, Calif. – The long-awaited revival of Michael Jackson’s 3D short, Captain EO has returned to the Tomorrowland Theater in Disneyland. The film originally had an 11-year run at Disneyland from 1986 to 1997 covering a good portion of the height of Jackson’s popularity. It also played at Epcot from 1986 to 1994. While Jackson was the big on-screen talent, it should be mentioned that George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola were also involved in the film’s production.
Technically speaking, Captain EO was perhaps one of the first 4D movies in that it incorporated laser effects, smoke effects and starfields that filled the theater. The 3D technology certainly foreshadowed what was to come in the future with Disney films like Hannah Montana, Up, and the upcoming Alice in Wonderland films. I have not been able to see rereleased Captain EO yet, but Disney reported that some of these theater-based effects would be not be installed for this run of the movie.
Despite the missing theater effects, the 17-minute movie should look as good as ever. The movie has a fresh 70mm print. It should also sound great as acoustic upgrades have been made to the theater since 1997.
There is no word as to how long Captain EO will play. I would say if you are interested, make your plans to get out there now. There has been no announcement as to the film’s return to Disney World in Florida. Additionally, there has been no announcement as to what will come next or if the Honey, I Shrunk the Audience show that was replaced will return.
• Andy Guinigundo is the author of the Out of The Loop column in “Orlando Attractions Magazine”. Out of the Loop keeps you up-to-date with attraction news outside of Central Florida. Andy lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and three daughters. He grew up frequenting theme parks around Ohio and making trips to Orlando with his family. While for most of the year, he’s out of the Orlando loop, he tries to visit Florida at least once a year.
Captain EO confirmed to return to Disneyland in California
The official Disney Parks blog has finally confirmed the long-rumored return of “Captain EO” to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. beginning in February 2010, but only for a “limited engagement.”
The 17-minute, fan-favorite 3D film stars the late Michael Jackson in a sci-fi battle and will temporarily replace “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” in Disneyland. Unfortunately, for those of us in Orlando, there are no announced plans to do the same at Epcot. We’ve heard rumors suggesting that it may happen later in the year, but those are still just rumors at this point.
Until then, Michael Jackson fans will have to head to California to enjoy “Captain EO” one more time.
A great set of making-of photos from the 3D film can be found at etonline.com.
Out of the Loop: Attractions attempt Michael Jackson tributes
By Andy Guinigundo
I suppose it’s fitting that someone who loved amusement parks so much, mostly Disney, has been appearing in various ways at various attractions since his death in June. No, I am not implying that Michael Jackson has been “haunting” various attractions. However, tributes have been prominently attempted and sometimes executed at various theme parks.
Failed attempts:
Legoland California often has Lego displays of current events displayed in the Carlsbad, California park. Soon after Jackson’s death, they planned a tribute display. In fact, Legoland asked fans to vote for their favorite version of the Lego MJ. About 24 hours before the grand unveiling, the display was cancelled. Sources reported that the Jackson estate stopped the display. You see the different Michaels here.
Kings Island in Ohio attempted a more macabre tribute to several recently dead celebrities. In addition to Michael Jackson, there was Heath Ledger, Steve McNair and Farrah Fawcett. Some of the celebrities were depicted as skeletons set up in scenes reminiscent of their deaths. The scenes that were to be part of the “Halloween Haunt” were deemed too inappropriate not only in conservative Cincinnati, but nationally. Kings Island ended up taking these scenes out and apologizing for the incident.
May still happen:
Soon after Jackson’s death, fans of Disney’s Captain EO clamored for the 3D movie’s return. Traffic to sites like YouTube saw heavy traffic to videos featuring Captain EO. In classic Disney denial fashion, CEO Bob Iger announced at the D23 Expo – “there are no plans to bring back Captain EO, but we are looking at it”. Personally, I would seriously take a good long look at the surviving film before rushing into a revival. 23 year old 3D special effects may not be very special.
Successful Tributes:
Last weekend on Oct. 24, dancers at Six Flags parks in North American joined other locations around the world in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for number of simultaneous Thriller performers in an event dubbed “Thrill the World”. Six Flags dancers comprised some 3,100 of the planned 10,000. It was announced a few days ago that there were 22,923 dancers in 32 countries. Additionally, $85,000 was raised for charity. The Thrill the World event coincided with Six Flags’ “Fright Fest”, their yearly Halloween event.
Oct. 27 was the world premier of the new Michael Jackson movie, “This is It!”. To commemorate the event, Madame Tussauds Hollywood provided a Michael Jackson wax figure valued at $350,000 that was featured at the Universal CityWalk Cinemas in Hollywood. The one-night only event allowed fans the opportunity to pose with the figure for pictures. The wax figure is dressed in an outfit that was to have been featured on the “This is It!” concert series. The figure was created at Madame Tussauds London with input from the pop star himself. When he is not gracing the red carpet, he can be seen daily at Madame Tussauds Hollywood.
A recent tribute was also held right in Orlando during Spooky empire’s Zombie Walk. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was reenacted along International Drive by the Rich Weirdoes and Cheryl Sington’s Dance Warehouse. Sington was one of the original dancers in the “Thriller” music video with Michael Jackson. John Landis, director of the “Thriller” video, was also on hand.
In another Orlando tribute, don’t be surprised if a “Thriller” dance breaks out the next time you’re dining at the Hard Rock Cafe in Universal CityWalk. The staff took it upon themselves to learn the dance and sometimes perform it when the song happens to play in the restaurant. More details can be found here.
• Andy Guinigundo is the author of the Out of The Loop column in “Orlando Attractions Magazine”. Out of the Loop keeps you up-to-date with attraction news outside of Central Florida. Andy lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and three daughters. He grew up frequenting theme parks around Ohio and making trips to Orlando with his family. While for most of the year, he’s out of the Orlando loop, he tries to visit Florida at least once a year.
Video: Interview with director John Landis
Hollywood director John Landis, best known for his films Animal House, The Blues Brothers, and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video, was one of the special guests at the Spooky Empire “Ultimate Horror Weekend” 2009.
After he watched a “Thriller” reenactment performed by the Rich Weirdoes and original “Thriller” video dancer Cheryl Sington’s Dance Warehouse group, we had a chance to ask Landis a few questions: