LP Lotion: Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through To Return
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Disneyland has officially announced the return of the Sleeping Beauty Castle
Walkthrough. The announcement was made at a July 17 presentation for the NFFC
2008 convention at Disneyland's Opera House. Present were Andy Siditsky, Sr.
Vice-president of Walt Disney Home Entertainment, Tony Baxter, Sr.
Vice-president of Walt Disney Imagineering, Chris Merritt, Art Director for WDI,
and John Gritz, Technical Director for WDI. The attraction is expected to debut
for the holiday season 2008, in time for Sleeping Beauty's 50th Anniversary in
2009.
The announcement was made in conjunction with a program discussing the release
of Disney's Sleeping Beauty on a two-disc Platinum Blu-ray (tm) Hi-Def disc.
This will be the first Disney animated classic to be released in high
definition. A meticulous restoration of the beloved 1959 masterpiece will be
included, along with numerous special features. Among them is a virtual
recreation of the original 1957 Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough from
Disneyland.
In the course of consulting with experts and historians from Walt Disney
Imagineering, material related to the Walkthrough was brought together. After
viewing the accurately depicted recreation, discussion was begun to bring the
actual attraction back to life. On July 17, it was confirmed that these
discussions had led to the planned return of a beloved Disneyland attraction.
In looking through material from both the 1957-78 original, as well as the
updated attraction from 1978-2002, it was determined that the earlier styling,
art directed by Eyvind Earle and Ken Anderson, would be used as the inspiration
for the new Walkthrough. Since the Walkthrough was created two years before the
film debuted, designers will now create beloved scenes that were absent from the
Disneyland original. For Disneyland guests unable to negotiate the stairs and
passageways of Sleeping Beauty Castle, a virtual walkthrough will be available
in a special room on the ground floor.
News of the return of the Walkthrough was greeted with cheers and applause from
the enthusiastic members of the NFFC. When asked when the attraction would
debut, Tony Baxter coyly assured that, "Before the Autumn leaves fall, Sleeping
Beauty will again walk the halls."
Videos
Four video interviews done during the pool interview session are available by clicking below.
Presentation to celebrate Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary Release on Platinum Blu-Ray and return of Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough was held in Disneyland Opera House
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Andy Siditsky, Sr. Vice-president of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Tony Baxter, Sr. Vice-president of Walt Disney Imagineering, Chris Merritt, Art Director with WDI, John Gritz, Technical Director with WDI
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Chris Merritt and John Gritz with materials from original Castle Walkthrough and new restoration
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Maleficent figure from original 1957 Castle Walkthrough
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