Meet the World
Meet the World | |
---|---|
Tokyo Disneyland | |
Area | Tomorrowland |
Status | Removed |
Opening date | April 15, 1983 |
Closing date | June 30, 2002 |
Replaced by | Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek |
Ride statistics | |
Designer | Walt Disney Imagineering |
Theme | Japanese history |
Vehicle type | Rotating theater with Audio-Animatronics |
Duration | 20:00 |
Sponsor | National-Panasonic/Japan Airlines |
Required ticket | Free |
Meet the World (ミート・ザ・ワールド, Mīto za Wārudo) was an attraction at
) and a movie screen in the background. Park guides and maps said "explore Japan's heritage in an incredible time-travel adventure!"The show was presented in a rotating theater, similar to the Carousel of Progress at Walt Disney World and previously at Disneyland. However, they were designed in the opposite way. In Tokyo, the audiences sat in the rotating theater inside with the stages built around them, whereas, in the Carousel of Progress the audience sits in the rotating outside with the stages being the center of the building. Meet the World's layout meant less audience capacity but a larger stage area, while Carousel of Progress's format has more capacity but smaller stages.
The "Meet The World" song was written by the Sherman Brothers. The attraction was designed by WED Enterprises Imagineer Claude Coats. The Animatronics and Show Action Equipment were built at Walt Disney World's Central Shops in Florida (adjacent to the huge carriages for Epcot's American Adventure attraction being built at the same time.) The show scenes were staged at the WED facility in North Hollywood for integration and show programming. The crane character was animated by Disney animator Randy Cartwright. The attraction had over thirty Audio Animatronic figures, nine 70 millimeter projectors and 15 large pieces of show action equipment. There were two large Stewart rear projection screens and three proscenium filling perforated "scrim/screens." The figures were sculpted by Blaine Gibson with the exception of the three Meiji figures who were sculpted in Glendale by a Japanese sculptor from Toho Studios in Tokyo.
Plot
The show opened with two young children from Yokohama discussing the ancient creation of Japan. Soon, an anthropomorphic crane appeared to tell them the whole story. She took them back through time to uncover the ancient
to Japan. The crane then took them forward through time.They arrived at
The young boy asked the crane if she was the "Spirit of Japan", but she responded that he and all the other people were the "Spirit of Japan". A final montage of Japan's modern accomplishments brought the show to a close as the children and the crane soared to the skies on a hot-air balloon.
Planned Version at Epcot
Many attractions, including Meet the World, were originally planned as part of the
History
Among other issues, certain politically sensitive issues such as World War II were noticeably under-emphasized in the show. The show mentions that there were some "dark days" between the Meiji Restoration and the "Japan of today", which left Disney management feeling nervous about possible reactions from guests (specifically American veterans and other groups) over such a dramatic conflict in history being 'glossed over' as 'dark days', despite other attractions in the Disney canon having unbiased references to the same time period. Concept art and models were featured in the 1982 book "Walt Disney's EPCOT Center", along with a proposed Africa pavilion. The English soundtrack of the ride had surfaced on a tribute video, where it was edited with footage from the version seen in Tokyo Disneyland.[2]
The attraction opened at Tokyo Disneyland as one of that park's initial attractions on April 15, 1983, and closed on June 30, 2002.
In summer 2006, Meet the World's show building was demolished to make way for Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek.
Meet the World was one of the few attractions in the park that dealt with Japan; the other was a film, "The Eternal Sea", found in the future Magic-Eye Theater. The Oriental Land Company, the owners of Tokyo Disneyland, specifically wanted their park to focus on the American way of life and the American parks of Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
References
- ^ Geryak, Cole (January 16, 2020). "Extinct Attractions – Meet the World". The Laughing Place. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "Japan at EPCOT – Ultimate Tribute - Martin's Videos" (in English and Japanese). Martin's Videos. 2007-07-28. Retrieved 12 May 2012.