Former Imagineer Confirms ‘Elee’, A Large Creature That Could Carry Guests Around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Was Scrapped Due to Budget

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Via wdwnt.com

On Twitter, former Walt Disney Imagineer Frank Mezzatesta confirmed that Disney scrapped plans to create a large creature that could carry guests around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge due to budget concerns.

“Elee”, The Giant Star Wars Creature

Yesterday, Twitter user @DisneyProject shared this look at concept art from “Elee”:

The concept art by Jerry Rees shows Elee in more detail than we have ever seen her. Elee was initially designed as a large, mechanical creature that could roam Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with as many as six guests seated on her back.

Rees states that Elee was designed to be a relative to the Bantha, a wooly creature we first see in “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” in the deserts of Tatooine.

In response to seeing this detailed concept art, former Walt Disney Imagineer Frank Mezzatesta chimed in:

According to Mezzatesta, while he and his teammates worked on Elee for “like 2 years”, she ultimately was a casualty of budget limitations as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge neared completion. If you scan the QR code next to the concept art in the tweet, you can hear Rees speak hopefully that even though Elee was scrapped, maybe she will eventually appear in the parks. He states, “Galaxy’s Edge is going to be around for a long time”.

“The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” is a coffee-table book by Nerdist managing editor Amy Ratcliffe, who spoke to more than twenty people involved in the land’s creation. This includes Scott Trowbridge of Walt Disney Imagineering, who also provides the book’s foreword. The 256-page book includes more than 300 images, including concept art and descriptions of ideas that made it into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and some that were scrapped.

Margaret Kerrison, Managing Story Editor at Walt Disney Imagineering, and Story Lead for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge had this to say about Elee: “We liked the idea of a big beast lumbering through the land and having a very personal connection with you. So you would go up and pat her muzzle, and she would react to you. We really wanted to make you believe that Elee was a real creature. So you would go on rides. We actually had a path that went around the land. Mostly to the Resistance area and back in front of the garage; it was a circle.”

elee concept art swge75

Rees spoke glowingly of the backstory he created for Elee and his desire to see her be a gentle giant that even small children could walk up to and interact with in Galaxy’s Edge.

elee concept art swge74

In these pieces of concept art, you can see Elee interact with a child guest. Initial designs seemed to allow guests to feel the breath from Elee’s mouth and even have their cotton candy slurped up by the giant beast.

elee concept art swge73

Imagineer Scott Trowbridge had this to say about the reasoning behind why Elee never fully materialized: “Elee was a creature that we designed and did a fair amount of work to figure out how we would bring her to life. lain McCaig did some designs for her. We just fell in love with those designs. We did some models and figured out how we could bring her to life technically, and then ultimately what we realized is, with the kind of population we expect in the land, we won’t really be able to have her feel authentic.”

Elee was one of many initial designs for the land that either got scrapped or essentially ended up behind a “paywall” that guests could only experience if they visited Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.

Final Performance of Harmonious Nighttime Spectacular at EPCOT

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

The 50th Anniversary celebration has come to a close across Walt Disney World, and the nighttime spectaculars introduced as part of “The Most Magical Celebration on Earth” have now been performed for the final time. Last night, guests visiting EPCOT were able to watch the last performance of the “Harmonious” nighttime spectacular before it is replaced by the limited return of “EPCOT Forever” tonight.

Watch the video here;

https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/ccGDFMRI

The four half-circle barges had LED screens, while the center ring barge used a water screen to project clips and images. Fountains, lights, lasers, and pyrotechnics were used to enhance the show.

The show opens with chants, as a narrator shares that “All around us, the world is alive with music. Voices calling out in search of one another, we find each other in song.” A medley of “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana” and “Go the Distance” from “Hercules” follows, sung in English, Mandarin Chinese, Norwegian, German, Arabic, Latin American Spanish, and Tahitian.

Alongside a number of Disney favorites like “Aladdin”, “Mulan”, and “The Lion King”, the show featured scenes from newer Disney films, including “Moana”, “Coco”, “Brave”, and “The Princess and the Frog.”

“Harmonious” closes with the song “Someday” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” For the final time, the narrator then proclaimed: “You raise your voice and it’s enough to lift the human spirit. Set the song inside you soaring, and the whole wide world will hear it.” A fireworks finale brought an end to “Harmonious” at EPCOT.

Cranes are already in place around World Showcase to remove the barges following tonight’s final performance of “Harmonious” at EPCOT. These barges were widely considered unsightly and impeded the stunning vistas of the lagoon on either side. In addition, they were plagued by a variety of problems, ranging from malfunctioning equipment to outright fires. They have already been removed from the EPCOT map in the My Disney Experience app and online at the Walt Disney World website.

Eventually, a 100 Years of Wonder nighttime spectacular will debut at EPCOT, but “EPCOT Forever” will return in the meantime. In October of 2022, we reported that it was rumored that Disney will incorporate the use of drones in their new nighttime show coming to EPCOT later this year.

Final Performance of Disney Enchantment Nighttime Spectacular at the Magic Kingdom

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

April 2nd marked the last performance ever of “Disney Enchantment” at the Magic Kingdom. The nighttime spectacular debuted on October 1, 2021 with the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, and now will conclude to make way for its predecessor, “Happily Ever After,” as the celebration concludes.

You can find the video below.

The show debuted when The World’s Most Magical Celebration began on October 1, 2021 to highly mixed reviews. Fans criticized its lack of connection to the history of Walt Disney World, largely focusing on newer Disney films instead. Additionally, the structure of the show itself and its message were also lambasted. Many said it fell flat compared to “Happily Ever After,” which is regarded among Disney’s best nighttime spectaculars at any park.

The first iteration of the show lasted until early May 2022, when additional pyrotechnics and laser effects were quietly added to the show’s finale.

In August, Disney quietly updated the show again, this time overhauling the entire introduction to include a short tribute to Walt and Roy Disney, who were instrumental in the creation of Walt Disney World. Some references to opening day attractions were also added, alleviating some complaints about the show’s lack of historical connection to the park. A few lines of narration from Angela Bassett were also replaced by Mickey Mouse’s voice.

At the D23 Expo 2022 in September, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products head Josh D’Amaro announced that “Happily Ever After” would return after the 50th Anniversary celebration concluded in March 2023. Its first performance is set to be tonight, April 3. 

’50’ Medallion Removed From Cinderella Castle Clock at Magic Kingdom

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

The first 50th anniversary decorations are being removed as the large “50” medallion has been taken off the Cinderella Castle clock.

While the 50th anniversary celebrations ended on March 31, the medallion likely needed to stay for the final performance of Disney Enchantment, which took place last night. The medallion was featured in several aspects of the show, including lighting and projections.

At this time, the bunting and spire ribbons remain, but Disney has confirmed that removal will take place over an extended period of time.

WDW MK Cinderella Castle no medallion 1 1

All 50th Anniversary decor is expected to be removed across the four parks of the Walt Disney World Resort as the 18-month celebration comes to a close. Disney has announced that the celebratory embellishments will be removed in phases.

Cinderella Castle’s transformation into a “Beacon of Magic” brought new life to the Magic Kingdom icon through “Disney Enchantment,” a new fireworks spectacular replacing “Happily Ever After” at Magic Kingdom, which debuted as part of the celebration. Nearly a year after its debut, “Disney Enchantment” added a new sequence to celebrate Walt Disney and his brother Roy, following lackluster feedback from guests.

At least for now, the most recent “EARidescent” repainting of the castle is expected to remain when the bunting and turret jewels are removed from Cinderella Castle. Many of the 50th anniversary decorations have already been removed from Main Street, U.S.A., as “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” comes to a close. We saw the first decorations removed at the beginning of March.

Guest Goes Viral In Meltdown at Park

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Via DisDining.com

Walt Disney World Resort is a popular resort located in Orlando, Florida, and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world, seeing thousands of Guests daily. Disney World is home to four separate theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as two water parks called Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Guests also can enjoy going to shops, food, and much more while visiting Disney Springs.

The term “Disney Karens” has been used to describe certain individuals who behave in entitled and demanding ways at Disney theme parks, often causing disruptions and conflicts with other Guests and Disney Cast Members. The term “Karen” is a slang term that has become popular in recent years to describe middle-aged, privileged white women who exhibit entitled and often aggressive behavior.

There have been numerous reports of Disney Karens causing disruptions and ruining the experiences of other Guests. For example, some have been known to demand that attractions be shut down for their own personal use, or to insist that they be allowed to skip long lines. In some cases, Disney Karens have even been caught on camera engaging in physical altercations with other guests or park staff.

cinderella castle and fireworks

In a Reddit Thread, Disney World Guests talk about an incident with a “Karen” Guest and a Cast Member. This Guest described the “Karen” as a  “Ken.” He was parking his stroller when a Cast Member asked him to move it due to a safety liability.

“Ken puts his family’s stroller in the empty spot in our row. I helped him maneuver it on by just pushing a wheel that was caught. It’s at the end of the seat. The cast member is doing checks and tells me I can’t have that on the end and I tell him it isn’t mine. He yells to ask who it belongs to and Ken says it’s his. Cast member explains it can’t be on the end because it’s a safety liability.”

The Cast Member shut the Guest down by saying either someone needed to be with the stroller or they needed to be removed from the train.

“Cast member shuts him down and basically tells him someone either needs to get off with it or move someone around so it can be in the middle. Ken says “What if she switches places with me?” I respond and say “I want to sit with my family”. He will NOT stop arguing with this amazing cast member who says that there are 300 people waiting and they need to make a decision and if it fell off it could kill someone. Ken didn’t care. OH! He also told the cast member I said I would be responsible for it, which never happened.”

Disney Cast Members do their best to look out for the safety of Guests and to keep attractions running smoothly.