Disney’s “World of Color” Premiere & My Red Carpet Hullaballoo
By: Colleen Lanin, The Travel MamaJune 16th, 2010
Attending Disney’s “World of Color” premiere at Disney’s California Adventure Park was THE most fun I can remember having in a long, long, long time!
Red Carpet
Before the show, I was given a press pass and a spot on the red carpet (actually it was blue) along with about 20 other blogging moms. I was a bit unprepared for the red carpet hullaballoo.
Let me start by saying I have a silly little camera. Don’t get me wrong…it’s a darling Cannon model and it gets the job done, but I certainly don’t look like anyone special walking around with my grape-colored pocket camera.
Secondly, I write about travel with children. While I have conducted interviews with authors, childcare experts, and traveling parents, I don’t know a thing about interviewing celebrities. I learned what little I do know about interviewing celebrities on the red carpet from watching Joan Rivers or Kathy Griffin asking celebs who designed their clothing.
So, I was a little flustered when Actress Teri Hatcher came right up to me and said, “So, do you have a tape recorder? And what would you like to ask me?” or something like that (I don’t have a tape recorder, so I’m paraphrasing here).
Teri Hatcher taking photos with fans on Disney’s “World of Color” blue carpet
I said, “I just love your dress – that green is fabulous on you,” being sure to smile a lot and seem very confident. Thank goodness Janice from 5MinutesforMom.com was standing next to me and quickly whipped a recording device from her bag and started asking questions. (Janice has a real, important-looking camera too!)
Hatcher is an adorable bitty thing. She seemed quite interested in talking to the mom bloggers about her project, Get Hatched, a section of DisneyFamily.com that offers “A chick’s guide to life.” Hatcher said something about wanting to connect with moms and blah, blah, blah. I was too busy nodding and smiling to really understand the words that were coming out of her mouth.
Disney CEO Bob Iger chatting with the mom bloggers
For some reason, all of the VIPs who stopped by the mom blogger area seemed to come directly to me. So, I also met Geena Davis, Jodi Benson (the voice of Disney’s Ariel), and Disney CEO Bob Iger, as well as a bunch of other Disney muckety-mucks. Marcy from The Glamorous Life asked Iger if he reads blogs, to which he responded something like, “I do read blogs. I am on the computer a lot. I like to stay on to on top of what the mom community thinks about Disney. You are the pulse of that community, so if you all are not happy with what Disney is doing, then moms are not happy with us. Our goal is to keep moms happy.”
Jason Segel from “How I Met Your Mother”
Other celebrities in attendance included Jason Segel who plays Marshall Eriksen on my favorite TV sitcom, “How I Met Your Mother,” Jamie Lee Curtis, actor/comedian Wayne Brady, and my grade school crush, John Stamos (yes, he IS hot in-person), among others.
The Show
A lot of people are equating Disney’s “World of Color” with the Bellagio fountain show in Las Vegas. Let me put it this way, if Bellagio is a four on a scale of one to 10, “World of Color” is a 10. Yes, it’s that good. Clips from Disney movies (from “Fantasia” to “Toy Story” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”) are projected onto a screen formed of water. The show is beautiful, colorful, fun, touching, and at times, breathtaking…what more could you ask for?
A scene from “World of Color” featuring Ariel
The day after the premiere, I had a chance to sit down with some of the Disney minds behind the “World of Color”. Chuck Davis, the technical producer of the show, said, “Our goal was to give people something they’ve never, ever seen before.”
The show starts with Tinkerbelle and Walt Disney’s quote, “Every child is blessed with a vivid imagination” flying across a curtain of misty water. According to Steve Davison, vice president of parades and spectaculars for Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment, that’s exactly what the show is all about.
The show is intended for an audience of all ages. Sayre Wiseman, a show producer for “World of Color” proudly told a story about how after her hard-to-impress teenage son saw the show for the first time, “He said, ‘Wow, Mom! That was incredible!’ And I don’t think it was because I’m involved with the show. I think he was really just blown away.”
Davison promises the show will always evolve. He said, “Scenes may come and go. I don’t want “World of Color” to be stuck in time.” Disney plans to include special scenes for holiday celebrations too. Davison said, “New Year’s Eve will be like no other now.”
I am pictured above (second from left) with some of my new mom blogger friends
The After-Party
I would have enjoyed the “World of Color” all that much more if I hadn’t been shivering, in need of using the restroom, and starving throughout. So, the minute the show ended, I was on a mission to resolve those issues. Appetizers gobbled, potty break taken, hot pink Mickey sweatshirt purchased, I was able to relax and enjoy a couple of hours of kid-free, all-out fun!
My glowing blue martini at the “World of Color” premiere party
The rest of Disney’s California Adventure park was closed besides Paradise Pier, which is where I partied down with my fellow bloggers, media members, and a few lingering celebrities. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning as I rode California’s Screamin’ roller coaster (no line, of course) and then one of my favorite Disney rides, Toy Story Mania (FOUR times!). There was dancing, live bands, carnival games, petite savory snacks, delectable desserts, and glowing blue martinis. Disneyland truly knows how to throw a party! I can’t remember an evening when I’ve had more fun!
Join the Fun!
The 25-minute “World of Color” will be presented twice nightly throughout the summer, at 9:00 pm and 10:15 pm. (It will continue beyond the summer as well, just not as frequently.) There are a few ways to secure a spot for watching this magnificent show.
FASTPASS
You can obtain a FASTPASS to secure a spot to watch the show. The FASTPASS for “World of Color” will be available each morning at the Grizzly River Run FASTPASS terminals. You can insert your park ticket into the terminal to obtain a FASTPASS ticket for the show, and you will be assigned a specific show time. As with other FASTPASS attractions, a limited number of passes are available for “World of Color”. When all of the day’s FASTPASS allotment has been distributed, Grizzly River Run terminals will convert back to distributing the Grizzly River Run FASTPASS tickets.
Boxed Picnic Meal with Reserved Viewing
Beginning June 11, 2010 (date subject to change), you can go online and order a special boxed picnic meal that includes “World of Color” Reserved Viewing. All picnic meals with “World of Color” Reserved Viewing are priced at $14.99. Picnic meals may be ordered online – or by walk-up purchase, subject to availability, at the Sonoma Terrace, Golden Vine Winery. They are not available for order via the 714/781-DINE line. Reserved viewing tickets will indicate return time, location and show time. You can choose from four selections for grown-ups and three options just for kids.
Prix Fixe Meals with Preferred Viewing
Prix fixe meals are available at both Ariel’s Grotto and the newly redesigned Wine Country Trattoria restaurants, and they come with “World of Color” Preferred Viewing. You can order from a varied menu of seafood, meat and vegetarian options at Ariel’s Grotto (current price: $36.99 for adults; $20.99 for children ages three to nine) or a selection of Italian cuisine at Wine Country Trattoria (current price; $39.99 for adults; $18.99 for children ages three to nine). Prix fixe meals must be reserved, at 714/781-DINE. Keep in mind that Ariel and the other princesses will not be present for the “World of Color” meals but will still be joining diners for breakfast and lunch.
Should you go see Disney’s “World of Color” in-person with your own eyes? Ummm….hello…YES! Until then, check out this video to get a taste of the show.
Do you have any thoughts or questions about Disney’s “World of Color”? Leave a comment below! (Oh! And…next time I am given an opportunity to meet with celebrities, what questions would you like me to ask? I need some help!)
A note from the Travel Mama: I received free entrance to Disneyland as well as accommodations and some meals as part of the media preview of Disney’s “World of Color”.
Tags: bob iger, disney, teri hatcher, world of color
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Great to meet you at the event! I purposefully stood in the back so I didn’t have to ask questions of the celebrities. I had some things prepared for the Round Robin interviews, but I had no idea who was going to be there.
Next time, I say we ask them impertinent questions like, “Who’s going to win the world cup?” and “Botox vs. Chemical peel…any thoughts?”
Oh my gosh. I’ve been to some preview/VIP events but nothing are remotely fun as this one. Disney definitely knows how to do it right!!!!!
Awesome! I’ve loved the Disney light shows in the past–can’t wait to see this one. One thing I DON’T like is there’s nowhere to sit. Did they resolve that issue for this location/show? Thinkin’ that’s how they do Fast Pass/reservations, etc, but would love to know…
Lisa
P.S. Can’t wait to meet you in a week in NYC! Woot!
It was great to meet you! I didn’t get a chance to go to Glow Fest, but I’m going tomorrow! Thanks for the report
Let’s keep in touch. Did you check out my husband’s company?
Suz
How is Bellagio a 4 on scale when it has more fountains and is in a lake that is 6 times larger than Paradise Lagoon. The Bellagio Fountains also shoot over 460 feet while the World of Color shoots up to 200 feet. Something about your statement on scale doesn’t make sense because I have seen both World of Color and Bellagio and can tell you that Bellagio overwelms the audience with scale while World of Color is very small with compact fountains. I would rate world of Color a 4 on scale and Bellagio a 10 on scale. Moreover, the mist projections were terribly blurry, the colors gimmicky and tacky, and the fire just over the top. World of Color belongs in Vegas because it has the “tacky” factor while Bellagio Fountains belong at a resort.
Hi Andrew,
Sounds like you really like the Bellagio Fountains! I like them too, I just prefer Disney’s “World of Color” show. To each their own!
Wow, Colleen!! My friends are friends with celebrities. That is so cool. Can’t wait to be the “helper” on the next trip.
How did you ever get an opportunity like this and how can I have an amazing experience like this?
Jada
Jada –
Travel blogging does not pay well but it does come with some AWESOME perks. (Like getting to attend the World Premiere of Disney’s World of Color!) Disney also did a giveaway for tickets to the red carpet event and show – I believe through Twitter and their Facebook Fan Page.