Starport75 - A Disney Podcast

Starport75 - A Disney Podcast

By Chris Grey & Glenn WelchSociety & CultureKids & FamilyPlaces & Travel
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Starport75 - A Disney Podcast episodes

  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - WEDWay
    • Disney designed the Ford pavilion at the '64 World's Fair
      • Needed to propel a stream of vehicles along a track
      • It was achieved by vertically mounted rubber wheels spun by electric motors which pushed against a flat plate on the underside of the vehicles
      • That system was refined and used for Disneyland's PeopleMover
      • Debuted in Disneyland's Tomorrowland on July 2, 1967
    • PeopleMover was always planned and planned to go through Space Port, and the station would be inside Space Port
    • The track was originally planned to be much longer and go over the Grand Prix Raceway
    • The upper concourse path was built but left empty during the building of the Magic Kingdom for the 1971 opening
    • When Space Port became Space Mountain, it moved to outside the berm, so the track layout was scaled back and changed to the track today, and the station moved from Space Mountain to it's own station in the middle of Tomorrowland and the StarJets would be placed on top, similar to Disneyland
    • Space Mountain holds the garaging track and a maintenance spur The Orlando version would use something different
      • Non moving, solid state linear induction motors, which have an unlimited life expectancy
      • There are 630 Linear Induction Motors on the track, 10 feet apart, ensuring that 4 motors are always under each 5 car train
      • Each motor has a proximity sensor to tell the motor when to power on and a speed sensor to indicate how much power the motor produces
      • When a train approaches the motor turns on and pulls the steel plate under the car towards it
      • To stop the cars, the magnetic field is reversed in the motor to push against the steel plate, and why a stopping car can go backwards
      • Up to 30 5-car trains can carry 3,600 guests per hour along 4,600 feet of track
      • Each car has minimal moving parts, so they are high reliability. There are four main wheels and 8 smaller guide wheels per car. Since all drive and braking propulsion is supplied by the linear motor, there is no traction requirement between the wheels and the track. Consequently, heat, dust, wind, and moisture have no effect on the system's operation.
      • The system can have up to 50% LIM failure at random positions and still function
      • Speeds are between 1.8 to 6.8 mph
    • Progress City model
      • With the move of the Carousel of Progress to WDW, the model of Progress City would be moved to the PeopleMover track that was designed to hold a diorama
      • It would be cut down to fit the size of the diorama opening
    • Construction began in early 1973
      • The Grand Prix Raceway track was closed and modified to accommodate Space Mountain. During the closure, the PeopleMover track was built over the raceway
      • It cost $10 million to build
      • The Star Jets opened 11/28/74
      • The PeopleMover opened 7/1/75 and dedicated in April 1976
      • It opened as the WEDWay PeopleMover and was an "E" Ticket attraction, but was changed to a "D" Ticket in Fall 1976
      • It was originally sponsored by the Edison Electrical Institute
    • The original ride was narrated by Jack Wagner and ran from 1975 - 1985 and the Edison Electrical Institute sponsorship also ended
      • He is famous for the various announcements over the park PA, for parades, special events, etc. He also did voice work for the Walt Disney World Resort, and for the attractions themselves, including instructions, emergency precautions, and safety spiels. Because of the prevalence of his voice over the park, his nickname was "The Voice of Disneyland".
      • "Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas."
      • Jack Wagner co-arranged the updated soundtrack for the Main Street Electrical Parade, used in various iterations of the parade from 1977 to 2009.
      • Wagner was inducted as a Disney Legend posthumously in 2005.
    • The narration was changed in 1985 and ran until 1994
      • It was narrated by ORAC-1, the commuter computer
    • The narration was changed with the retheming of Tomorrowland in June 1994. It was narrated by Peter Renaday.
      • The name was changed to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, and it was the MetroLiner Blue Line
    • The narration was changed once again in October 2, 2009 to the current spiel by Mike Brassell, which harkens back to the ORAC-1 spiel and tone
      • The lighting system was also changed to color changing LEDs
    • August 5, 2010, the name changed to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
    • In 2013, the Progress City model was refurbished, the first time since 1975
    • In February 1974, WED created the Community Transport Services division to promote the WedWay in real world situations
      • The first proposal was in 1976 for the then new WDW Village
      • A new enclosed car design would be able to travel inclines
      • It would offer on demand cars to a specified destination
      • The route would service the shopping village, the hotel plaza, and a proposed office park
      • A monorail from the Epcot area would meet an aerial station straddling Buena Vista Drive
      • The monorail would run down the central median with the WedWay crossing at a lower level
      • The multi level station would have escalator, elevator and stair access
      • From the station, the WedWay would form a continuous loop line around the WDW Village
      • Another change was this system had spur station tracks so moving cars could pass other cars parked at stops
      • The SunTrust Bank was the only part of the office plaza built and the project quietly died.
    • The original plans of Epcot had WedWay in 1975 and 1976
      • Communicore was built to take an elevated Wedway track; that's why it's two stories tall
    • In July 1979, the Houston Airport agreed to purchase a WedWay system to link the terminals and hotel
      • It opened in September, 1981
    • The Community Transport Services division was sold to Bombardier
      • Bombardier installed a WedWay system that links the US Capitol to the Dirksen and Hart buildings in 1993
    40 min
  • What Is Going On at Disney? Layoffs, Park Crowds, Disneyland Still Closed. Is It Still Fun?
    • Released 10/15/20
    • Contactless Security at the Disney Parks
    • PeopleMover refurbishment extended again
    • Disneyland is still closed
    • Disney has laid off 28,000 cast members
    • Chapek says that WDW parks capacity is at 25%
    • Construction continues at Epcot
      • Electric Umbrella stories
    • Wolfgang Puck Express closes permanently at Disney Springs
    • All four Disney Cruise Line ships are in the same port for the first time ever in France https://insidethemagic.net/2020/10/france-disney-cruise-line-fleet-rwb1/
    • Glenn's Pick of the Week
      • "Boundless Realm: Deep Explorations Inside Disney's Haunted Mansion" by Foxx Nolte https://amzn.to/3j2GH5M
      • Passport to Dreams Old and New http://passport2dreams.blogspot.com/
    1 hr 15 min
  • DizWiz's trip to WDW! Rise of the Resistance! Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway! Magic Kingdom! Bye, bye, Money!
    • Released on 10/4/20
    • Glenn's Trip to WDW
      • DHS
        • Parking Toll booth
        • Rise of the Resistance boarding group
        • Lunch at Ronto Roasters ($12.95/roaster, $4/coke) $72
        • RotR
        • Mickey's Runaway Railway
        • Blue milk vs green milk ($34)
        • Slinky Dog Dash
        • Also: Star Tours, RnRC, ToT
      • MK
        • Castle color
        • Cavalcades
          • Boo to you
          • Villains
          • Princesses
          • Nightmare Before Christmas
          • Cadaver Dans
        • SM, Buzz, HM, Splash, Tiki, Pecos Bills ($63), BTMRR, CBJ, Dole Whip ($22) Emporium, Peter Pan, Mad Tea, Carousel of Progress, SM
      • Cost:
        • Two day tickets with no park hopping: $1004
        • Hotel: $320 + $97 = $415 for three nights
        • Parking = $50
        • Souvenirs = $289
        • Disney meals = $191
        • Other Meals = $80
        • Trip total = $2029
    1 hr 36 min
  • The Episode of Magic
    • Released on 8/20/20
    • School is starting!
    • Cherry Coke Energy drink
      • Coke + Coffee drink coming out
      • Will Club Cool be replaced at Epcot?
    • Epcot
      • A new Monorail Mark X attraction in the new Play Pavilion???
        • New Monorail book is being released: "The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky" https://amzn.to/32cHvyl
        • Imaginerding's review: http://www.imaginerding.com/2020/08/12/disney-monorail-book-preview/
        • Tom Bricker's post: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-world-news-monorail-attraction-plummeting-numbers-dining-changes/
      • Installation of new Pylons at the Epcot main entrance!
    • Chris started watching "Hamilton"…and hasn't finished watching it yet. He's exhausted from watching Act I.
    • Show recommendations:
      • "High Score" on Netflix
      • "The Speed Cubers" also on Netflix
      • "Mr. Robot" - excellent show, but Glenn didn't like the ending. Somebody please explain it to him...
    • Why does Disney keep the Pixar brand? Why not fold it into WD Animation?
    • Chris has a surprise history topic to cover…Magic Shops at Disney Parks!
      • Original Magic Shop
        • Disneyland opening day
        • Merlin's Magic Shop in Fantasyland
        • Taylor & Hume
        • Merv Taylor worked with cutting edge materials and had an interest in Magic
        • Opened a shop in Hollywood
        • Merv Taylor was asked by Walt Disney
        • Steve Martin worked in the shop for 3 years
        • http://www.charactercentral.net/L996_DisneyCharacters_DisneylandResort_Disneyland_MainStreetMagicShop.aspx#
      • Moved to Main Street - Main Street Magic Shop
        • 1957
        • Original stayed open until Merlin's closed in 1983
        • Where the confectionary is at WDW.
        • Same cast member demonstrations.
        • The July 28, 1977 issue of the Disneyland Line employee newsletter described the "quaint, cozy specialty shop" where "Shelf upon mysterious shelf filled with such oddities as joy buzzers, garlic taffy, dribble glasses and rubber masks attract the wandering eyes of visitors to the shop
        • 2009 takeover by Houdini's Magic Shop (private operator)
          • Chain
          • Vegas
      • WDW - House of Magic
        • 1971
        • As its Disneyland precursor had, the House of Magic sold cards, hand tricks, masks, puzzles, and "gags." Cast members bantered as they performed various hand magic and demonstrated products for sale.
        • Closed 1995.
        • 2017 returned to original facade.
      • Tokyo
        • Part of World Bazaar
      • Disneyland Paris
        • https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-us/shops/disneyland-park/merlin-l-enchanteur/?CMP=ILC-DPFY20Q1wo1107190053A
        • is Merlin l'Enchanteur
        • Tucked away in Sleeping Beauty Castle
        • Magic themed but not magic tricks.
      • Hong Kong
        • Similar to DLP
        • "Merlin's Treasures"
    1 hr 6 min
  • Disney World is Reopening!
    • Released on 7/9/20
    • New Cinderella Castle color
    • Disney World started Cast Member previews on 7/7
      • Starting to see photos and videos of what it's going to be like at the parks
      • Resuming 2020 ticket and resort sales on 7/9
      • Some changes: need reservation to enter park with ticket, no park hopping, no FastPass+, no dining plans
      • No more manual bag check; will be done by walking through a new AI security screening system https://blogmickey.com/2020/07/massive-changes-coming-to-disney-world-theme-park-bag-check-experience/
    • College Program has been suspended indefinitely
    • NBA and MLS will play remainder of seasons at Disney World
      • How will the other sports fare this fall? Baseball and Football
      • Auto racing is back!
    • Off Disney: talking about school for kids this fall
      • https://nyti.ms/3ggPKir
    • Thoughts about Disney World opening right now
    • Watch "Hamilton!" 🙂
    1 hr 7 min
  • Remembering Disney World's 25th Anniversary and the Castle Cake
    • Released on 6/20/20
    • A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow?
    • WDW's 25th Anniversary
      • A little personal history from each of us related to the 1996-1997 timeline
      • 25th Anniversary Celebration on 10/1/96
        • Including Michael Eisner, Roy E Disney, and First Lady Hillary Clinton
      • — Coke Corner interlude — Brought to you by Coke Energy…with caffeine, B-vitamins and the most guarana ever!
      • Castle cake
        • Disney Magazine Fall 1996 description
      • Remember the Magic parade
        • 1st disney parade that stopped and had guests join the dancing
      • Illuminations 25
      • 25th Anniversary Banners
      • Disney's Music from the Park
      • Books
        • How the World Began
        • Imagineers
      • WDW Explorer CD
      • What will 50th Celebration be like?
        • Thoughts on the logo
      • Per Chris, MK was open until Midnight every night during the 25th Anniversary
        • Per the 1997 Official Guide to WDW, "The Magic Kingdom keeps later hours through the end of 1997 to honor Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary." - myth confirmed!
      • The poor paint jobs on Cinderella Castle
        • https://attractionsmagazine.com/cinderella-castle-rose-gold-update-nearly-complete-magic-kingdom/
      • Ticket price comparison between 1996 and today
    1 hr 29 min
  • When will Walt Disney World reopen? Special guest Casey Liss joins us to discuss
    • Recorded on 5/1/20
    • Special Guest Casey Liss
      • Co-host of Accidental Tech Podcast https://atp.fm/
      • Co-host of Analog(ue) https://www.relay.fm/analogue/
      • iOS App Developer of Vignette https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vignette-update-contact-pics/id1455924925
      • Website https://www.caseyliss.com/
    • Casey joins us to speculate about when Walt Disney World might open
      • Stories referenced during the discussion:
        • https://www.disneytouristblog.com/wdw-reopening-update-orange-county-defers-to-disney-florida-announces-phase-1/ - a good summary of the current situation
        • https://wdwnt.com/2020/04/orange-county-task-force-establishes-initial-guidelines-for-walt-disney-world-reopening-guest-spacing-wiping-vehicles-etc-mayor-believes-june-reopening-realistic/ - a little more detail of orange county's guidelines
        • https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2020/04/28/southwest-airlines-ceo-travel-wont-resume-until-country-reopens/3038342001/ - comments from Southwest Airlines CEO
        • https://www.marketwatch.com/story/disney-is-in-the-eye-of-the-storm-analyst-warns-parks-may-not-open-until-january-2020-04-20 - UBS analyst John Hodulik's prediction that the parks won't open until 2021
        • https://thedisneyblog.com/2020/04/30/new-opinion-poll-spells-trouble-for-disneys-business-model/?platform=hootsuite - poll on the public's willingness to get back out in public before a vaccine is available.
        • https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/disney-world-disneyland-reopening-outlook-pandemic-trnd/index.html What will reopened parks look like?
        • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-disney-focus/long-lines-lots-of-kids-and-plenty-to-touch-how-does-disney-reopen-its-parks-idUSKBN22D53X - more on the reopening projection
        • https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/houston-billionaire-rockets-fertitta-coronavirus-15235646.php - Interview with Landry's Restaurants CEO about opening up with just a fraction of the customers.
        • https://people.com/health/air-conditioning-coronavirus-spreader-9-people-infected-at-restaurant/ - air conditioner spreading Coronavirus
    • Questions for Casey:
      • If you had an hour to spend in the park right now, what would you do?
      • Coke or Pepsi?
    • Casey's questions for Glenn and Chris
      • What is the most overrated restaurant in WDW?
        • https://threekidsthreecatsandahusband.com/best-restaurants-disney-world/
    1 hr 32 min
  • I'd like to teach the world to sing...
    • Released on 4/26/20
    • Coke
      • Coke Energy
      • Photo of Chris as a kid dressed in Coke material
    • Questions
      • How much would you pay?
      • You're allowed 1 hour in any Disney park you choose while it's shut down. You can stand or sit in any specific location but no attractions or stores are open. Where would you pick and why.
    • VR as an option?
    36 min

About Starport75 - A Disney Podcast

From the publisher's feed

A podcast (mostly) about Disney, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland but honestly, we nerd out on anything--tech, photography, cars, books, music, etc. Have a listen.