Are you ready to experience a whole new pirate adventure?

Walt Disney Imagineering just shared a sneak peek at the new interactive quest, A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas, which will debut at Magic Kingdom Park this summer.

In the game, the fate of piracy in the Caribbean rests in the hands of new pirate recruits, who, armed with magic talismans and treasure maps, embark on five different pirate raids throughout Adventureland to collect valuable treasures, while Captain Jack Sparrow’s magic compass guides them.

Here, Imagineers Jonathan Ackley and Matt Beiler offer up a look at a few of the quest’s cool special effects.

A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas will be included with Magic Kingdom Park admission and is open to guests of all ages.

Now, which of you are ready to join the ranks of a new recruit?

Tagged: BtS, Imagineers, MK, Video, WDW

Filed: Behind the Scenes, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

“If it moves on wheels at Disneyland, I probably designed it,” said Bob Gurr, retired Imagineer and Disney Legend. In his Disney career of nearly 40 years, he helped develop more than 100 designs for vehicles ranging from turn-of-the-century Main Street vehicles, sleek bobsleds for the Matterhorn, the cars of Autopia, the futuristic Monorail and more.

Since his youth, Bob was fascinated with tools, mechanical devices and cars. His association with Disney began in 1954, when he was asked to consult on the design of Autopia ride vehicles. Walt Disney was so impressed with Bob’s knowledge and skill that he invited him to join WED Enterprises, today known as Walt Disney Imagineering. Bob went on to design one-of-a-kind vehicles, versions of which are now in use at every Disney theme park resort property around the world. He also helped design the mechanical workings of Disney’s first advanced Audio-Animatronics human figure, Abraham Lincoln, featured in Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

Following his retirement in 1981, Bob continued to consult on Disney projects, including the giant Ursula creature featured at Tokyo DisneySea. In 1999, he was honored with the Themed Entertainment Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Bob was named a Disney Legend in 2004.

Five years ago this month, Bob was honored with a Window on Main Street, U.S.A., above Disney Clothiers, Ltd. The inscription, “Leading the Race to the Future – Meteor Cycle Co. – Our vehicles pass the test of time – Fast, Faultless and Fadless,” is a reference to Bob’s legacy and his love of mountain biking. At the window dedication ceremony, Bob shared that he had enjoyed many memorable days at Disneyland including opening day, the day in 1959 when he gave Vice President Richard Nixon the first trip on the Monorail, and now, this day would be added as “frosting on the cake.”

Tagged: DL, DLR, Imagineers

Filed: Disney History, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

It’s official! Fairy Tale Treasures, one of the enchanting locations at Fantasy Faire in Disneyland park, will open its doors March 12. You’ll find this quaint little store filled with costumes, accessories and endless storytelling, themed to our beloved Disney Princesses. This location, with its royal Old-World European charm and medieval ambiance can be found nestled between the Royal Theatre and the Royal Hall.

Now here’s what I consider one of the fun and kind of hidden secrets about the shop, and I expect all of you to look for it. You’ll find an acorn hidden in the sign shaped as a treasure chest and filled with baubles and beads that hangs above the doorway. Why, you ask? Well I just happen to have that answer from Michel Den Dulk, Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering.

“I was inspired by several of our classic fairy tale films like ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ where woodland creatures, critters and birds interact with humans to help make clothes or help dress someone”, says Michel. “For those critters and creatures, our human valuables, such as gold, diamonds, crowns, etc., probably don’t mean much, but a beautiful shiny acorn on the other hand, does. So we tied in the theme of a squirrel adoring the acorn as a treasure, which is something that was fun to create and also ended up being an underlying motif in the shop.”

What are you most excited to see when Fantasy Faire opens on March 12?

Tagged: DL, DLR, Fantasy Faire, Imagineers

Filed: Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

Yesterday, I gave you a sneak peek at Clopin’s Music Box, an interactive element coming to Fantasy Faire when it opens March 12 at Disneyland park. Today, I’m excited to share a video of the installation of this piece, along with two other charming details: Tangled Tower, which is located in the center of Fantasy Faire, and – my favorite element of this new area – Figaro the cat from “Pinocchio.” Watch as Michel Den Dulk, Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering, tells us more about these magical features.

Tagged: BtS, DL, DLR, Fantasy Faire, Imagineers, Video

Filed: Behind the Scenes, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

As we’ve learned already from Michel Den Dulk, Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering, the new Fantasy Faire at Disneyland park is designed to reflect the Gothic, Old-World feeling that guests experience in Fantasyland. In addition to the influence seen in the area’s architecture, Imagineers have imbued the entire area with the same Old-World charm through details like Clopin’s Music Box – an interactive element guests will discover at Fantasy Faire.

“It’s really like a very big music box,” says Michel. “When guests peek inside the window, they will see a scene that has our main character, Clopin from Disney’s ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ inside.” By turning a crank on the front of the music box, guests will set the scene in motion to the tune of “Topsy Turvy.”

“The whole scene comes to life,” says Michel. “Clopin starts to dance, and Quasimodo will peak out of the bell tower on Notre Dame Cathedral … the sun will go down, and the moon will go up.”

Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog for more details on Fantasy Faire – and come see it for yourself when the new area opens at Disneyland park on March 12.

Tagged: DL, DLR, Fantasy Faire, Imagineers

Filed: Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

Today we have an exciting update on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom Park to share with you: Walt Disney Imagineering just sent us a “first look” inside the new interactive queue that’s currently being added to the Frontierland attraction.

In the video, Project Manager Wyatt Winter and Creative Designer Pete Carsillo offer up a behind-the-scenes tour of the new queue, which builds on the attraction’s backstory of Barnabas T. Bullion, founder and president of Big Thunder Mining Company. The storyline of the new area builds the attraction into something that takes guests deeper into the mining days of the Wild West. When the finished queue debuts in a few weeks, guests will be able to explore the mountain’s Mining Office, the Explosives Magazine Room, and maybe even get a little hands-on by doing some of the miners’ activities.

What do you think? Tell us in the “Comments” section below.

Tagged: BtS, Imagineers, MK, Video, WDW

Filed: Behind the Scenes, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

If you’re a frequent Walt Disney World Resort guest, chances are pretty good that you’ve taken more than a few spins around the exhilarating course of the Test Track attraction at Epcot. But no matter how many laps you’ve logged on this popular ride, we guarantee that you’ve never experienced anything quite like the re-imagined Test Track Presented by Chevrolet.

The result of The Walt Disney Company’s more than 30-year business relationship with the General Motors Corporation, this re-imagined version of the popular attraction combines the design aesthetics of Chevrolet automotive engineers with the storytelling expertise of Walt Disney Imagineering — including Assistant Project Manager Melissa Jeselnick.

Shifting Gears

For Imagineers like Melissa, who previously worked on such high-profile projects as Star Tours — The Adventures Continue and Toy Story Mania!, it’s all about the story. So when she tells us that the updated Test Track is one sweet ride, we know it’s not just idle talk.

In addition to the attraction’s new-look exterior (bold blue replaces the familiar yellow-and-black checkerboard pattern) and sleek marquee, there are some big — and very exciting — changes inside. We asked Melissa about the inspiration behind this ambitious project, and here’s what she told us:

“The original Test Track focused on crash testing and safety in terms of automobile prototype evaluations,” she explained. “But as the vehicle industry evolved, we decided to go back and explore a new story that reflects these evolutions. As a result, this iteration of Test Track celebrates vehicle design and an optimistic view of the future.”

Imagination in Motion

The emphasis on the design phase is evident from the moment you set foot inside the attraction’s redesigned queue. What was formerly a testing workshop has been transformed into the sleek Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot, complete with sketches, cars and models supplied by Chevrolet.

It’s in this interactive design studio that you get your big chance to play automotive designer. Through a series of selections — including body color, tires, etc. — you create your own virtual custom-concept vehicle, then put it to the test while you’re on the track. And that’s the part of the experience that Melissa is especially revved up about!

Fun by Design

“The coolest thing about the re-imagined Test Track is how involved our guests get to be in the attraction,” she said. “Not only do they get to design and style their own vehicle, they get to have it follow them through the attraction — and even into the post-show.”

How does that work, exactly? Well, after you design your vehicle, you climb aboard a six-person SimCar ride vehicle and hit the track — a course filled with hills, hairpin turns, straightaways and switchbacks — racing along at speeds up to 65 mph!

As you ride, your concept vehicle is scored in the areas of Capability (how it handles terrain and weather conditions), Efficiency (its environmental footprint), Responsiveness (maneuverability) and Power (speed). When you’re done, you can see how your concept vehicle scored against other guests’ designs, race it on a virtual track and even produce and star in a TV commercial for your new creation. As Melissa pointed out, “Ultimately, it’s about putting our guests at the center of the action.” And Test Track definitely does that!

Getting on Track

So, what goes into creating an attraction as cool and cutting edge as the new Test Track? Well, if you ask Melissa, she’ll tell you that it takes more than state-of-the-art technology — it takes a dedicated team of incredibly talented people to make this kind of Disney magic.

“One of the great things about working for Walt Disney Imagineering is the people,” she said. “We have more than 140 different disciplines — and it took every one of them, plus the talents of our partners at Chevrolet, to create this amazing guest experience.”

If you haven’t yet checked out the re-imagined Test Track, you’ll want to experience it soon. If you have been to it, chances are that it’s become a must-do on every Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Either way, we think you’ll agree…a victory lap is definitely in order for Melissa and the whole Test Track team.

Tagged: Epcot, Imagineers, Test Track, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort