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LPWire: Now Roaming Disney's Animal Kingdom, Lucky the Dinosaur Has Guests in 'Prehysterics'

Now Roaming Disney's Animal Kingdom, Lucky the Dinosaur Has Guests in 'Prehysterics'

Born in the labs of Walt Disney Imagineering, Lucky the Dinosaur is loose in the streets of Disney's Animal Kingdom!

But guests needn't fear. Although an imposing 9 feet tall, 12 feet long and 450 pounds, Lucky is a gentle soul. He loves people -- and balloons -- and even signs the occasional autograph with his distinctive four-leaf clover "signature."

Lucky represents the latest innovation in Audio-Animatronics design and is the first Disney character of its type to walk freely and personally interact with children and families. After a prototype test period in California, Lucky comes to Walt Disney World Resort for a limited engagement to help launch the "Happiest Celebration on Earth," a global salute to 50 years of Disney park magic.

After five years of effort, Walt Disney Imagineers unveiled this major technological and creative breakthrough in Audio-Animatronics figures -- a type of entertainment for which Disney parks have been known for more than 40 years. Up until now, these figures could sing, talk, move and even duel with swords -- but they could not walk freely. With this latest innovation, Audio-Animatronics figures can walk and move independently for the very first time.

And speaking of "Time": The news magazine Time was so impressed with the advancement that they designated the creation one of the inventions of the year.

Created by a team of engineers, animators, computer programmers and artists, Lucky is startlingly lifelike -- laughing, sneezing, snorting, grinning, braying and, on occasion, getting the hiccups.

"Lucky represents a leap in our ability to deliver stories in ways that are personal, up-close and interactive -- and as a result, more magical," said Bruce Vaughn, vice president of Research and Development, Walt Disney Imagineering.

The next-generation Audio-Animatronics figure is the latest step in the technology pioneered in Disney theme parks in 1963, when singing birds and flowers made their debut in The Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland Resort. Some of the best-loved Audio-Animatronics figures found in Disney parks today are Abraham Lincoln and the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Advances in computers, software, miniaturization and electric actuation, combined with determination and creativity, enabled Imagineers to achieve what many said simply could not be done. By shifting the technology behind Audio-Animatronics figures from hydraulic to electric, Imagineers "freed" the figures from large hydraulic pumps and motors.

Walt Disney Imagineering is the unique innovative organization that creates -- from concept through construction -- all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, cruise ships, real estate developments and regional entertainment venues worldwide. Imagineering's unique strength comes from the teamwork and syntheses of creative and technical professionals representing more than 140 diverse disciplines.

Fun Facts

• Lucky the Dinosaur is 9 feet tall and weighs 450 lbs.
• Lucky is the first Disney Audio-Animatronics figure to walk freely.
• Lucky can sniffle, burp, hiccup, sneeze, yawn, cough, giggle, snort, purr and talk.

Related Links

• LP Lotion: Lucky Debuts at Animal Kingdom
  Pictures and video of Lucky

--Posted April 21, 2005
Source: Walt Disney World

 

 

 


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