Inside Look: Disney’s new “World of Color” attraction and tour

I just returned home from a trip back East and was very busy getting my kids summer schedule finalized, when I received an email about a Disney media event in San Francisco. Attending Disney media events are always worth the schedule shifting and babysitting recruiting time, in return for some Disney magic. So – on July 8 – I attended the Disneyland World of Color road show stop in San Francisco. Here is the link to the World of Color road show press release  with details on the tour, my pictures of the event are at the bottom of this post. The tour was created to take some of the magic of the World of Color attraction on the road.

I first heard of the new World of Color attraction at Disney California Adventure park last spring and hoped to bring my kids to see it after it opened June 11, 2010.  I showed my kids a World of Color video and they were fascinated with the fountains, images and special effects.

The World of Color opening day event at Disneyland press release explained the details of a the new attraction at Disney California Adventure:

“There has never been a show like “World of Color,” the mega-scale,
after-dark celebration of Disney storytelling.  “World of Color”
brings animation
to life with powerful fountains that become stars of the show as they
create one of the world’s largest projected water screens.

The Disneyland News press release also explained some of the details of the special effects used in the World of Color attraction, which runs just under 25 minutes:

“The sweeping story and stunning effects are
created with:

• Nearly 1,200 powerful and programmable fountains with heights
  ranging from 30 feet to 200 feet (50 feet higher than Mickey’s Fun
  Wheel). Each fountain has multiple points of control to direct the
  lighting, color intensity, water angle and height.
• One of the world’s largest projected water screens – a wall of
  water 380 feet wide by 50 feet high, for a projection surface of 19,000
  square feet.
• Nearly 30 high-definition projectors – 14 of them submersible.
• Synchronized flame projections, lasers and special effects that
  will flood the senses.
• A soundtrack performed by more than 100 musicians.

“World of Color” has been some five years in the making, beginning
with brainstorming by show director Davison and his creative crew.  As
the concept grew, the Disney team sought out new technologies and
multi-media to support a vision in which water and light could dance,
change character and move the audience, becoming, in effect, the “stars”
of the show.”

Attraction Insider: World of Color control room:

“In each city, specially produced animation will be projected onto a
familiar city landmark, using a sensational mixture of special effects,
high-tech projections and one of the storytelling themes presented in
“World of Color.”

The public is invited to participate online only at the “World of Color”
Road Show website (www.worldofcolorroadshow.com),
where viewers will enjoy a rich experience that includes Disney
animation and music, video entertainment and a “viewer’s choice”
opportunity to vote for the starring color in that evening’s show. Each
city will have a broadcast location designed for media only.”

The San Francisco media event was at the San Francisco Palace of Legion of Honor, which is
a beautiful landmark. When we first arrived to the San Francisco Palace of the Legion of Honor, it looked like the building had green tape on it. We later found out that was just lights – and just the beginning of the fun.

Soon after we arrived, it got dark – on cue – as if Disney could control the sun going down as well. How do they do that?

We saw the live webcast going on while we were watching the event.

When the light show started, the building came to life. First, it was the blue show, then green show,  red show and at the end, they displayed animated Disney scenes, which made the building really come to life.

My attempt at taking my own pictures (holding my DSLR steady while I used the night settings) barely gave a taste of how amazing it was to watch a light show bring a building to life – so I found the YouTube video of the World of Color Road Show, San Francisco:

The tour is nearing the last stop: Los Angeles. The Los Angeles live and prior performances can be found online in English at www.WorldofColorRoadShow.com
and in Spanish at www.coloresdisney.com.
Here is some information about the Los Angeles Disney World of Color road show from the press release:

“LOS ANGELES: The final shows of the online tour will
be projected onto the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles
Thursday and Friday, July 29 and 30.  The theme will be “Sky,”
illustrated by scenes from such films as “Aladdin” and “Fantasia.”  As
before, the live online presentation will be repeated continuously from 9
to 11:30 p.m.  Encore performances (not live) will be webcast from 9 to
11:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 31 and Aug. 1.”

At the media event, I also received information about the Disney Wonder Cruise Line 2011 schedule. Something I hope to hear more about!

Disclosure: This is coverage from a media event. No payment was received for this post.