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[Ghoulish Delight]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disney2mar02,1,3791866.story?track=rss

:eek:

I know where I'll be this weekend. Word is, they're only doing a test run at DCA until Sunday.

[katiesue]

That looks so cool. Hmmm roadtrip.

[Morrigoon]

Walt would have loved this. *sniff!*

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Aw, dude! If only I had the time...

[mousepod]

Maybe Pepe will finally make a Disney appearance...

[Snowflake]

Jiminy Cricket!

[innerSpaceman]

I don't know if this is quite awesome enough to get me to visit DCA.

[Betty]

That's pretty cool. I love Beaker and Dr. Honeydew or whatever his name is. :)

[NickO'Time]

^^ You had it right.
Dr. Bunson Honeydew and his assistant Beaker.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

We'll be there Sunday, camped out in Hollywood Backlot. Wouldn't miss it!

[RStar]

It looks like they got some guy in this contraption built on a Segway.....

[Gn2Dlnd]

And here's a youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owJGRvo0y_g). Halfway through the video, the program has a meltdown and eventually resets to its opening song, the live operator cuts in to say that it's having technical difficulties and the entire contraption then moves offstage. The whole thing is pretty amazing, but the "wow" for me is in the fact that it's rolling around on Segway technology.

[Kevy Baby]

Ignore this post. Gn2Dlnd fixed his above. Though I am leaving my original so that the post following this one is not completing confounding.

Or you could just go directly to the link (from Gn's post above): http://www.youtube.com/v/owJGRvo0y_g

[Gn2Dlnd]

Oooh, it embiggens!

[Kevy Baby]

I think GusGus and I will be there tomorrow as well. Since there will be a few of us, shall we make it a meet of sorts? How does noon work for everyone? Meet at Sunshine Plaza (or whatever they call that area in front of the big wave thingy)?

[mousepod]

Thanks for the video, Gn2Dlnd! I think that from now on, whenever I get into a conversation from which I cannot extricate myself, I'll stop, sing "Heigh-Ho", and back away.

[Babette]

YouTube has it labeled as "private" and won't let me watch.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Won't let me watch anymore, either. Huh. Why would they do that?

In any case, here's a link (http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/disneyland-intros-roving-animatronic-muppets-mickey-and-friends/) to the article I saw on Engadget, the video's blocked there, as well.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I think GusGus and I will be there tomorrow as well. Since there will be a few of us, shall we make it a meet of sorts? How does noon work for everyone? Meet at Sunshine Plaza (or whatever they call that area in front of the big wave thingy)?Is DCA open by noon? :p

Hmm, the possibility of a noon meet NOT at the hub intrigues me. I can do noon at the sunshine hubcap instead.

[Kevy Baby]

YouTube has it labeled as "private" and won't let me watch.

Won't let me watch anymore, either. Huh. Why would they do that?Try the direct link, it still works:http://www.youtube.com/v/owJGRvo0y_g

[flippyshark]

That's not working anymore, either. oh well, someone go out there and tape this, eh?

So, this leads me to a related question, which I believe I will post on its own thread. (See Muppet related thread to appear soon)

[Ghoulish Delight]

That's not working anymore, either. oh well, someone go out there and tape this, eh?Really? Still working for me.

We'll be sure to bring our camera.

[Kevy Baby]

Worked okay for me too. I don't know of a way to save the video when it is a Flash video, otherwise I would do so.

[Babette]

It works for me now, but did not before.

[innerSpaceman]

If he hadn't pulled it together enough to make the excuse about his lunch spilling inside "the egg," that would have been a rather frightening thing to witness.

When Dr. Honeydew just went silent for a few minutes, it was uncomfortable enough. But when he and Beaker broke into Heigh-Ho, it was like madness had taken them.

The whole thing kinda left me queasy.





btw, when was that filmed? Um, if anytime recently .... I wouldn't expect Dr. Bunsen Honeydew back in the park on Sunday. He might frighten guests on a day when guests might actually be there.

[€uroMeinke]

Kinda cool, kinda creepy (asmimo), but also kinda boring - you'd think they could come up with a better routine.

[katiesue]

Looks cool. I want to run up to see it but Madzer has a friend over so depends on what time she leaves tomorrow if we make it up or not.

[lashbear]

Worked okay for me too. I don't know of a way to save the video when it is a Flash video, otherwise I would do so.

http://keepvid.com/

Keep ALL your favourite YouTube videos. :D

[Morrigoon]

Haha... things you don't expect to hear from a muppet:

"I'm going to have to administer some punishment to both of you." - Dr. Bunsen Honeydew

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Saw them twice today. Very, very smooth. No breakdowns, only one millisecond audio glitch. They rolled all the way to Sunshine Plaza for the morning show. Bunsen was funny and quick with good responses to random questions. Beaker is just so cute, right down to his argyle socks.

Movie and pics (http://www.jenniegreg.com/Gallery/main.php?cmd=album&var1=Muppet+Mobile+Lab/&var2=0)

Observations:
Bunsen is controlled by a puppeteer in a building somewhere. His vision is not perfect and he sometimes gets disoriented. If you're right in front of him however he can see you fine. He did call out things to people as he drove past so he does have side cams. You could see the cams on the vehicle.

By the second show we could tell that Beaker is prerecorded noises/movements that the puppeteer triggers. Same goes for the "experiments", or bits, that they perform. The timing wasn't perfect on some of that but it was close.

Bunsen stalled a few times while obviously searching for the right button to push. I'd say it was something that takes practice and that after a while the filler would go unnoticed.

Bunsen's voice was spot on and even the character seemed well done to me.

The gags written on the vehicle were also Muppet style and continued to elicit giggles as he rotated around.

We really enjoyed it. Quite the good sign of audio-animatronic things to come. :snap:

The only downside was an obnoxious person from another message board who stole a moment to advertise his board. :rolleyes: Let me say that when Bunsen called it LaughingStock I thought he was right on.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I thought it was a lot of fun. I'm glad we showed up early and caught the morning show. It was better than the later one that most of the LoT/MC folks caught. He seemed to do better in a smaller crowd where the CMs could keep the circle around him larger with more room to maneuver and see his surroundings. I also think in the first show he did a better job of steering the question content (asking, "Any science questions" rather than the more open ended, "Any questions"). But he did a decent job of deflecting a couple stupid/uncomfortable moments in the second show.

Overall, I thought it was fun, some great interaction, and the person doing the voice was on the ball with a very quick wit. Oh, and the animatraonics were gee wizz nifty cool. Really really fun.

[Kevy Baby]

It has a good beat and you can dance to it. I'll give it a 68 Dick.

Gotta say I really enjoyed the show. With a little more material and more experience on creating audience interaction, this could be a very popular addition. I was very impressed with how well done the puppetry was. Yes, I saw the three cameras as well as two of the microphones on the unit and a third on one of the handlers (black lavalier mics really show up on white lab coats). But that was only because I was looking for them - they were not obnoxious at all.

I think what I liked the most about it was that it was just Disney Magic pre and simple. Yes, it was a Muppets character (well, characters), but the notion of having something out just for pure entertainment value is part of what makes Disneyland (or in this case - DCA) special. it gave me hope that there are still some creative people involved with Disney.

And as usual: next stop - Florida :rolleyes:

[Morrigoon]

I look forward to its return. Good show, IMHO.

[RStar]

I hope they keep it (or one of them, if they make more of them) here in Anahiem. I didn't get a chance to see it. And at least Muppits have a reason to be at DCA, unlike Lucky who was pretty much destined to be at Animal Kingdom from the start.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

From what little I saw I was very pleased. I don't think I would like to see the regular characters out like this (Fab five etc.) but it works well for the Muppets. I think if they created the "heads" similar to this where the walk arounds can interact - that would be incredible.

YAY!

[RStar]

Bunsen's voice was spot on and even the character seemed well done to me.That's because David Goelz, the original voice of Dr. Honeydew was there in the park for this experiment doing the voice!

The OC Register had an article in Monday's paper about it.
"Of course I'm real," Honeydew barked at a little girl who asked. Overhearing her response, he said to the audience of about 100 or so people, "That's very cute. She said, 'He's just a puppet isn't he?' "So it was popular enough to draw all of the park patrons to see it at one time! ;)

Click here for the online article (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/anaheim/article_1598526.php)

This online article also includes a video that shows Dr. Honeydew conversing with a reporter (it appears to be her first interview ever, poor girl:rolleyes: ) but it's funny to hear his responses. It also has an interview with Bruce Vaughn, Vice President of Imagineering. It sounds like they may implement this type of technology more at the parks.

[Ghoulish Delight]

That's because David Goelz, the original voice of Dr. Honeydew was there in the park for this experiment doing the voice!
Oh. My yes, that would explain it. :eek: :snap:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I talked to David Goelz! And he sprayed me with jet fuel! *swoon*

[Kevy Baby]

That wasn't jet fuel :eek:

[RStar]

That wasn't jet fuel :eek:

It's from the monkeys in the Jungle Cruise! :eek: :D

[Cadaverous Pallor]

That wasn't jet fuel :eek:I don't care, it's Goelz ;)


Ewww, ok, that was a bit gross.

[RStar]

I don't care, it's Goelz ;)


Ewww, ok, that was a bit gross.Only a little......

But that's ok, it was funny!