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The Downtown Disney area is an exciting metropolis of restaurants, nightclubs, theaters and merchandise shops incorporating the Marketplace, Pleasure Island and the 66-acre West Side.
Location: The 120-acre area borders the south shore of Buena Vista Lagoon at the intersection of Buena Vista Drive and Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the east-central portion of Walt Disney World Resort.
Downtown Disney West Side: West Side, largest of the three Downtown Disney areas, includes 344,000 square feet of buildings and a 9,500-square-foot area for events and entertainment.
All Star Gear -- Accessories and apparel for every sports fan.
AMC 24 Theatres -- 24 separate auditoriums with stadium seating in 18 theaters for unobstructed viewing. Total area: 110,000 square feet.
Bongos Cuban Cafe -- Restaurant created by Emilio and Gloria Estefan brings the sizzle of Miami's South Beach with Cuban cuisine and Latin rhythms. Seats 471, total area: 16,000 square feet.
Candy Cauldron -- Southern style sweets in an open candy kitchen.
Celebrity Eyeworks Studio -- Extraordinary collection of designer sunglasses and eyewear.
Cirque du Soleil® -- A theatrical show filled with action, humor, color and light, blending the ancient traditions of circus with dance, acrobatics and street entertainment. Seats 1,671, total area: 73,800 square feet.
DisneyQuest -- The ultimate interactive adventure. A 100,000-square-foot family entertainment environment.
Forty Thirst Street -- Cappuccino, espresso and fine imported coffee plus fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies and dessert treats.
Guitar Gallery -- Custom, collector and rare guitars plus accessories, education materials and guitar-themed clothing.
House of Blues -- Live music every night including blues, jazz, country and rock with Mississippi delta cuisine. World famous Gospel Brunch. Restaurant seats 400, music venue holds 2,000, total area: 33,000 square feet.
Hoypoloi -- A gallery filled with an eclectic collection of uncommon art.
Magnetron -- Specialty refrigerator magnet shop with an assortment of collector-quality magnets.
Planet Hollywood -- Colorful three-floor-up-to-the-ceiling eatarena with famous movie memorabilia and a menu featuring sandwiches, pizza and steaks. Restaurant seats 550.
Sosa Family Cigars -- Premium cigar store features the art of hand-rolling cigars.
Starabilias -- Nostalgic items including music, movie, political and historical memorabilia.
Virgin Megastore -- State-of-the-art music, video and book showplace with more than 300 audio and video preview stations, in-store cafe and outdoor stage. Cafe seats 50, total area: 49,000 square feet.
Wolfgang Puck Cafe -- Boldly-colored, full-service restaurant featuring wood-fired pizzas and an array of classic Puck entrees. Restaurant seats 552, total area: 15,000 square feet.
Downtown Disney Pleasure Island: Shopping, dining and 72,000 square feet of themed night clubs.
8Trax -- Especially for the '70s disco crowd, a music and talk haven for dancing or rubbing shoulders with the inner circle. Lounge seats 96.
Adventurers Club -- A slightly dazed troupe of veteran world travelers entertain audiences in a terribly-British club library where even the trophy heads on the wall take part in the fun.
Avigators -- The latest in men's and women's casual attire.
BET SoundStage Club -- Rhythm and blues, soul and hip-hop, interactive VJ/DJ, opened by BET Holdings, Inc., which owns Black Entertainment Television.
Changing Attitudes -- The coolest and hottest streetwear for young men and women.
Comedy Warehouse -- The Who, What & Warehouse Improv. Co. takes the stage to make fun of everything in sight as they interact with guests. Every show is different! Club seats 290.
D-Zertz -- Coffee, cappuccino, espresso and treats including ice cream, yogurt, and candies, too.
DTV -- Home of trendy Disney fashions, hats and accessories for the family.
Island Depot -- Logo merchandise plus new trends.
Mannequins Dance Palace -- Rotating dance floor with colored strobes, laser shows and today's hottest music plus live entertainment by the Explosion Dancers. Lounge seats 178.
Music Legends -- Music memorabilia, jewelry, hats and T-shirts for the well-dressed fan.
Pleasure Island Jazz Company -- Live jazz and fusion music from the best musicians of today and yesterday in a '30s style nightspot. Seats 240.
Portobello Yacht Club -- Contemporary regional Italian cuisine. Homemade pasta, gourmet pizzas and imaginative seafood dishes are favorites. Seats 350.
Reel Finds -- Collectibles of the stars, plus movie memorabilia.
Rock N Roll Beach Club -- Music from the '50s to the '90s fills this three-story rock 'n roll mecca with DJs and live bands. Houses 438 guests on three levels.
SuperStar Studios -- Professional studio setting to create your own music video or audio recording.
Suspended Animation -- Disney posters, prints, lithographs, animation cels and other collectibles.
West End Stage -- Top-name contemporary artists and music groups play this outdoor bandstand where New Year's Eve is celebrated with live performances and fireworks every night of the year.
Downtown Disney Marketplace: Exciting restaurants and extraordinary shopping experiences in a strolling street environment with more than 20 venues totaling 191,746 square feet of building space.
2R's Reading and Riting -- Everything to read and write from Disney classics to best-sellers.
Art of Disney -- Disney animation art and collectibles.
Cap'n Jack's Restaurant -- Fresh oysters or clam chowder with accompanying refreshments, sandwiches and other fare served around the Captain's copper bar.
Captain's Tower -- Seasonal displays of favorite Disney merchandise.
Disney's Days of Christmas -- Christmas collectibles, ornaments and everything for the holiday season.
EUROSPAIN -- Glassware, crystal and metal artisan products presented by Arribas Brothers.
Fulton's Crab House -- A three-deck dining emporium featuring fresh seasonal seafood favorites flown in daily from seaports around the world and served in a riverboat setting. Seats 700.
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop -- San Francisco's famous sweet maker finally comes East with a soda fountain featuring its world-famous hot fudge sundae.
Gourmet Pantry -- Kitchen decor inspired by Chef Mickey. Deli sandwiches and pastries, too.
Harrington Bay Clothiers -- Haven for top-name men's resort, cruise and casual wear including Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger and Polo.
LEGO Imagination Center -- A dynamic showplace and retail store for famous LEGO bricks and educational toys with an interactive playground and towering LEGO displays indoors and out.
McDonald's -- The Golden Arches rise in a showcase restaurant themed "Ronald's Fun House."
Pooh's Corner -- A friendly forest setting with Winnie the Pooh merchandise for the young and young-at-heart.
Rainforest Cafe -- A wild place to shop and eat with favorite sandwiches, pastas, pizzas and an amazing array of appetizers in a unique rainforest setting. Fantastic gifts, too. Seats 500.
Resortwear Unlimited -- Women's fashions for resorts, cruise and travel.
Studio M -- Family portraits with Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters.
Summer Sands -- The latest in swimwear fashions and accessories.
Team Mickey's Athletic Club -- Character apparel with Mickey and friends to suit any fan of any sport, all in an interactive "stadium" setting.
Toys Fantastic -- Children's paradise with variety of toy favorites presented by Mattel.
Wolfgang Puck Express -- World-famous Chef Wolfgang Puck turns his talents to fast service and signature treats including pizzas, sandwiches, soup and fresh salads.
World of Disney -- The world's largest Disney character merchandise store with 50,000 square feet of colorful displays, themed shopping areas and collection of characters from Mickey Mouse to Hercules.
August 4 2000: Cirque du Soleil Technical Details
The contract between Cirque du Soleil and Walt Disney World Resort was signed in July of 1996 and the theater was delivered in August of 1998. The set took a crew of 80 approximately four and a half months to install.
The Theater
The 1,671-seat showroom is the first freestanding permanent theatre ever built for Cirque du Soleil. Set Designer Michel Crête of Cirque du Soleil, Michel Aubé of Scéno Plus, Walt Disney Imagineering and the architects of the Rockwellgroup collaborated on the overall design of the theater. The dynamic white structure was designed to convey elegance and sensuality with the addition of fabric and tension reminiscent of a Big Top. The contrasting black showroom interior transports the audience to another world as soon they enter the theater.
The set is reminiscent of a well-traveled path or trail. The rustic, relief-style finish on the 60-foot rocks was created using wood and bleached velour to cover the steel structures, thus producing a variety of perspectives.
Michel Crête designed the seven cloud-like Fabulous Figures that decorate the ceiling of the showroom. They measure 30 feet in length and are constructed of copper tubing and wrapped in mesh.
Two 75-foot towers were constructed from steel planks and positioned on both sides of the stage. Each tower has four levels and is equipped with an external elevator lift, a band platform, speakers and lighting equipment. The towers also provide alternate stage entrances and exits for the performers.
The showroom seats were modeled after old-fashioned auditorium chairs. Constructed out of steel and wood and covered in red velvet, they were designed to create familiar atmosphere for the audience. They were built by American Seating of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Crête designed a 60x200-foot trellis made of PVC panels and scrim for the back wall to create a versatile backdrop on which various images and shadows could be produced. Visible backstage activity is made obvious to bring the set to life and evoke the audience's imagination.
Automations
Michel Crête’s design of the set for La Nouba includes five elevator lifts built into the stage floor. Each lift has a 3,000 pound capacity, can move at one foot per second and rise to a maximum height of 16 feet. The center stage lift includes a second axis that is capable of descending 16 feet below the stage as well. The lifts are equipped with many safety interlocks including safety tape switches on the edges that stop the lift automatically if obstructed. The lifts were engineered and installed by Showmotion of Connecticut in collaboration with Disney Ride and Show Engineering.
Westsun Scenic Edge, Inc. of Winnipeg, Canada designed and installed the computer control system that precisely controls 45 motors including the five stage lifts that comprise the automation system for La Nouba. Over 300 automated cues in La Nouba are controlled using a Windows NT based program called Dynatrac. JR Clancy engineered and installed the 44 line set standard rigging system and 35 of the motorized winches used for flying acrobatic equipment and props.
Two computer-controlled telepheriques (or tracks) installed along the back wall of the stage are capable of moving props, scenery and acrobatic equipment at speeds of up to four feet per second. The largest set piece, the Grand Monument, measures 40x30 feet and is constructed of aluminum covered by a painted scrim.
The retractable power track floors were designed and installed by Cirque du Soleil to create a multi-functional performance area. The four floors retract beneath the stage revealing the power track surface eight inches below the stage. The floors weigh over 10,000 pounds each and are capable of moving up to two feet per second. Outfitted with a tighter trampoline bed and a second generation of springs, the 60-foot power tracks allow the performers to jump higher and faster than ever before. Instead of two overlapping tracks, as in Alegría, the trampolines are longer, wider, and woven together as one piece, a Cirque du Soleil first. The entire stage deck is layered with impact resilient Mondo Sport Floor over wood in order to avoid injury.
Acrobatic and Scenic Rigging
The theater’s immense height enabled scenic and acrobatic equipment to be stored in the ceiling. For the first time in Cirque du Soleil history, a trapeze net is mechanically lowered from above and secured with no visible stagehands. Designed in-house by Doug Kiddell of Cirque du Soleil, the 25x60 foot net is fully automated by eight motors including two 40 horsepower net tensioning winches capable of tensioning the net to 5,000 lb of force. Additional props and equipment suspended from the ceiling and operated by a motorized counterweight system include two trampolines, nine flying doors, the petite fenêtre volante (or New York window), two pedestal platforms and four trapezes.
Lighting
Lighting designer Luc Lafortune created the dynamic show lighting for La Nouba. With the use of gobos (projected patterns) and additional lighting integrated into the set, the result is a dynamic and versatile stage atmosphere. To achieve more interesting projections, stock gobos were trimmed with high-temperature aluminum tape and shutter cuts were used to produce grid shaped patterns of light. A total of 1250 theatrical lighting instruments including six follow spots, 150 color scrollers, and 38 moving lights are capable of delivering over a half-million watts of light on stage. The lighting control system includes over 1000 dimmers utilizing a Strand Light Palette 550-I to control the conventional fixtures and strobe lights and a Flying Pig Systems Whole Hog II for moving lights control in the show. Special effects for La Nouba are controlled by a Strand Light Palette 520-I lighting console. Ten stage smoke machines and four hazers are incorporated into the set and mounted in the grid above the stage. A 3,000-gallon tank of liquid nitrogen supplies the burst effects.
The Sound
The front-of-house sound booth is equipped with a Cadac F-type console with 72 dual inputs, feeding 10 Level Control System LD-88's creating an integral 80x80 matrix. This provides the ability to automate mixes and dynamic changes, as well as the placement and movement of the sound image throughout the showroom. Additionally, the LCS (Level Control System) provides all equalization and delays, playback, control of all effects and other external devices via MIDI. Seven computers are used in the sound booth to provide Cadac cue control, acoustical analysis and backup. For processing, the system uses three Symetrix voice processors, eight Aphex expander/gates with Aural Exiters, equalizers and compressors. Lexicon gear includes two PCM-81's, two PCM-91's and two 300's controlled by a LARC.
The musicians perform on two tower platforms on both sides of the stage. An additional console manned by a separate engineer is used to provide monitor mixes for each of the eight musicians. The mix stems provided by the outputs of the Crest console are fed to each musician's own Yamaha Pro-Mix enabling them to control their own mixes and recall cues and presets as needed.
The main speaker system is comprised of Meyer cabinets capable of producing 45,000 watts of amplification. Sound co-Designers Jonathan Deans and François Bergeron configured the system with its upper and lower, left and right main clusters including 26 MSL2's, 10 Renkus-Heinz SR61's and 14 EAW AS300E's to provide a wide stereo image and coverage throughout the room. Another system, installed to produce pre-programmed sound effects in the mid-aisle of the theater, consists of 12 Tannoy CMS6TDC8 speakers that can be activated by infrared beams.
13 June 2000: Two New Interactive Attractions to Open June 21 At DisneyQuest OrlandoAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The evolution of entertainment continues June 21 at DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park in Walt Disney World Resort with the opening of two new attractions that take guests from swashbuckler to song producer, all in one afternoon.
Inspired by one of the most popular and beloved Disney theme park attractions of all time -- the all-new, motion-based, 3-D experience Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold allows guests to become plundering pirates on a quest for gold. And not requiring any musical or vocal talents, SongMaker lets guests create a custom song by combining unique lyrics, energetic beats and rhythms, and a variety of musical styles -- then purchase their song creation to take home on a personalized CD.
"Since it opened in June 1998, DisneyQuest has been committed to adding new attractions which are on the forefront of entertainment technology," said Kent Mitchell, general manager of DisneyQuest Orlando. "With Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold and SongMaker, we are building on that commitment by bringing together technological innovation and the magic of Disney."
Guests Battle Pirates for Treasure
Located in the Explore Zone at DisneyQuest, Pirates of the
Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold will immerse guests in one of
their favorite Disney stories. A crew of up to four guests boards
a ship-themed motion platform in a 270-degree surround screen, 3-D
environment. Once on board, they take a place as the captain
navigating the ship, or as one of three cannoneers. Guests begin
their swashbuckling adventure by plunging down a virtual waterfall
into a world of pillaged towns, fortress islands and volcanoes.
Working as a team, cannoneers move around the boat and attempt to
sink pirate ships to increase their treasure trove. The
action-packed voyage will further excite guests with unexpected
obstacles and a surprise ending involving a showdown to defend
their hard-won treasure.
"Just as the original Pirates of the Caribbean established a ‘gold standard’ for technical sophistication in entertainment attractions when it debuted, its virtual offspring, the new Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold, raises the bar for interactive adventures," said Joe Garlington, attractions producer for Walt Disney Imagineering.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold will also open in November at DisneyQuest Chicago, on the corner of Ohio and Rush streets.
SongMaker Lets Guests Create Their Own Hits … Without
Singing A Note!
Guests will discover SongMaker in the Create Zone at
DisneyQuest, where an isolated sound booth comes alive with an
on-screen animated boom box guide, known as "Radio Dee,"
a touch screen computer and a professional audio system.
Accommodating up to four people inside, guests work together to
create a completely original song, selecting a specific style of
music, song title, lyrics and either a male or female singer.
SongMaker -- which debuted at DisneyQuest Chicago in April -- offers a choice of more than 20 different musical styles, including Hip Hop, Swing, Hard Rock, Alternative, Country, Dance, Reggae and Latin. Song "templates" shape the song’s topic and lyric options ranging from the serious ("Don’t Wanna Work Blues") to the downright silly ("My Dog Gets More Dates Than I Do"). Over 1,000 vocal performances by professional studio singers and top musicians are at the guest’s fingertips to mix and match. After selecting the lyrics from 2,000,000,000 (that’s billion!) possible lyrical combinations per song, the band plays and the singer sings the chosen lyrics.
The guest can produce his or her own unique mix by changing singers and/or musical styles on-the-fly. When the song is completed, the guest enters his or her name and picks the artwork to be printed on the CD cover. The CD will then be recorded and ready for purchase in a personalized jewel case in minutes.
DisneyQuest is a five-story, indoor interactive theme park that combines Disney’s magic with cutting-edge immersive technologies including virtual reality and real-time 3-D. DisneyQuest is open daily from 10:30 am until midnight. Admission is $27 plus tax for adults and $21 plus tax for children ages 3-9 years of age for a full day of unlimited play. Children age 2 and under are admitted at no charge. All children age 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For further information regarding DisneyQuest or for group rates, call 407/828-4600 or visit www.disneyquest.com.
Disney Regional Entertainment (DRE) was established in 1996 to develop breakthrough entertainment concepts for metropolitan and suburban markets in the U.S. and abroad. The businesses are built on Disney’s creative talents and the popularity of Disney and its affiliated brands. Currently under the banner of DRE are: DisneyQuest, now operating at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando and downtown Chicago; and ESPN Zone, a sports-themed dining and entertainment venue with locations in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, downtown Chicago, New York’s Times Square, Atlanta’s Buckhead and Washington, D.C.
Walt Disney Imagineering is the master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production and project management subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. WDI is responsible for the creation -- from concept initiation through installation -- of all Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions, regional entertainment venues and cyberspace/new media projects.
27 February 2000: La Nouba Celebrates First Year at Downtown Disney West Side at Walt Disney World Resort
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Cirque du Soleil® production La Nouba swings into its second year at Walt Disney World Resort with more breathtaking maneuvers, gravity-defying spectacles, synchronized movements and graceful athleticism than ever before.
La Nouba celebrates its one-year anniversary with fanfare on Monday, Feb. 28 by giving away a full house to local fans. Celebrities including Barry Gibb and Orlando Magic players John Amaechi, Chucky Atkins and Michael Doleac will also join the festivities. All attendees will be sporting red noses in celebration of the anniversary and will participate in a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity with the more than 70 performers of La Nouba.
The ever-evolving theatrical production has gained international acclaim with its high-energy performances that blend circus and theater arts with extraordinary costumes, live original music and dazzling sets. Since its launch last year, La Nouba has introduced a new act to its incredible entertainment lineup. In the Cycles act, two performers present astonishing stunts such as boomerangs, megaspins, twists, turns and jumps, mesmerizing audience members.
An international cast of more than 70 performers made up of former Olympians, gymnasts, world-class athletes, ballerinas and talented performers meet in a dramatic, 70,000-square-foot theater to stage a perfectly orchestrated original 90-minute production, La Nouba.
La Nouba transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, engaging the imagination from beginning to end with extravagant costumes, brilliant choreography, theatrical lighting and provocative music. Audiences thrill to mesmerizing high wire and flying trapeze, stunning gymnastic performances and other dynamic displays of strength and daring.
"La Nouba comes from the French phrase ‘faire la nouba,’ which means to party, to live it up," said La Nouba Company Manager Richard Dennison. "So it’s natural for us to celebrate our first anniversary with our local fans."
The 1, 671-seat showroom is the first freestanding permanent theater ever built for Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil set designer Michel Crête, design architect Michel Aubé of Scéno Plus, Walt Disney Imagineering and the Rockwellgroup collaborated to create a dramatic white structure designed to convey elegance and sensuality with the feel of a traditional Big Top.
Founded in 1984 in Quebec, Canada, Cirque du Soleil has become world-renowned for its completely unique brand of theatrical arts presentations. Since its creation, the Montreal-based company has touched over 20 million people worldwide, and currently presents four permanent productions, in Walt Disney World, Las Vegas, and Biloxi; plus three touring shows in North America, Europe, and Asia. On a typical weekend some 50,000 people attend these shows.
La Nouba is performed five days a week, twice daily at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The theater is dark on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Ticket prices are $62 plus tax, and $38 plus tax, ages 3-9.
For more information, please visit cirquedusoleil.com.
La Nouba
credits
Writer & Director: Franco Dragone
Director of Creation: Gilles Ste-Croix
Costume Designer: Dominique Lemieux
Set Designer: Michel Crête
Lighting Designer: Luc Lafortune
Composer and Musical Director: Benoit Jutras
Choreographer: Debra Brown
Sound co-Designers: Jonathan Deans, François Bergeron
Click each image for a larger version
