AVP
02-16-2010, 08:36 AM
I happened to be in Disney's California Adventure last night around park closing, and got a chance to watch as the technicians prepared the World of Color platform for that evening's test run. This testing happens almost nightly, but it's the first chance I've had to see it and I wanted to share some photos.
We didn't get to see any testing of the actual show elements, but got to watch as they lowered the show platform, did some quick tests of the various fountains, and performer an alignment of the front/center projectors. The images you'll see on the water screens did not appear to be actual show film, but a test pattern or screen saver.
DCA was scheduled to close at 8 last night, but park hours for all but the Paradise Pier section were extended to 9, which put some pressure on the testing schedule. While we were snapping the last few photos, a handful of Disney folks - including World of Color show producer Sayre Wiseman - came over to politely shoo us out of Paradise Pier so they could get on with the real test. Click on any image below to open a MUCH larger version - enjoy!
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/96978-2/WOCTest1-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/96977-1/WOCTest1-021510-AVP.jpg)
The West and Center sections of the platform are in the "show" position, the East (closest to the camera) section is still at the "maintenance" level.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97007-2/WOCTest2-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97006-1/WOCTest2-021510-AVP.jpg)
Fountain test. Notice the show lights to the right are up and lit. These are the lights that appear to be encased in clear bubbles.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97011-2/WOCTest3-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97010-1/WOCTest3-021510-AVP.jpg)
We've moved to a new vantage point next to Ariel's Grotto. West and Center sections are underwater; East section still on surface.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97015-2/WOCTest4-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97014-1/WOCTest4-021510-AVP.jpg)
Most of the fountains are spraying straight up, but some are spraying forward or to the side. Not sure of this is intentional, but a pair of technicians eventually took a boat out to the platform and appeared to be making adjustments to some of the nozzles.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97023-2/WOCTest6-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97022-1/WOCTest6-021510-AVP.jpg)
Testing another set of fountains, and you can see another nozzle is aimed right at the viewing area.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97027-2/WOCTest7-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97026-1/WOCTest7-021510-AVP.jpg)
Some of these fountains can shoot water higher than the top of the Sun Wheel.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97031-2/WOCTest8-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97030-1/WOCTest8-021510-AVP.jpg)
Testing the front/center mist screen. The spotlights are still on at this point.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97035-2/WOCTest9-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97034-1/WOCTest9-021510-AVP.jpg)
A closer look at the center section at "show level."
We didn't get to see any testing of the actual show elements, but got to watch as they lowered the show platform, did some quick tests of the various fountains, and performer an alignment of the front/center projectors. The images you'll see on the water screens did not appear to be actual show film, but a test pattern or screen saver.
DCA was scheduled to close at 8 last night, but park hours for all but the Paradise Pier section were extended to 9, which put some pressure on the testing schedule. While we were snapping the last few photos, a handful of Disney folks - including World of Color show producer Sayre Wiseman - came over to politely shoo us out of Paradise Pier so they could get on with the real test. Click on any image below to open a MUCH larger version - enjoy!
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/96978-2/WOCTest1-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/96977-1/WOCTest1-021510-AVP.jpg)
The West and Center sections of the platform are in the "show" position, the East (closest to the camera) section is still at the "maintenance" level.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97007-2/WOCTest2-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97006-1/WOCTest2-021510-AVP.jpg)
Fountain test. Notice the show lights to the right are up and lit. These are the lights that appear to be encased in clear bubbles.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97011-2/WOCTest3-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97010-1/WOCTest3-021510-AVP.jpg)
We've moved to a new vantage point next to Ariel's Grotto. West and Center sections are underwater; East section still on surface.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97015-2/WOCTest4-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97014-1/WOCTest4-021510-AVP.jpg)
Most of the fountains are spraying straight up, but some are spraying forward or to the side. Not sure of this is intentional, but a pair of technicians eventually took a boat out to the platform and appeared to be making adjustments to some of the nozzles.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97023-2/WOCTest6-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97022-1/WOCTest6-021510-AVP.jpg)
Testing another set of fountains, and you can see another nozzle is aimed right at the viewing area.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97027-2/WOCTest7-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97026-1/WOCTest7-021510-AVP.jpg)
Some of these fountains can shoot water higher than the top of the Sun Wheel.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97031-2/WOCTest8-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97030-1/WOCTest8-021510-AVP.jpg)
Testing the front/center mist screen. The spotlights are still on at this point.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97035-2/WOCTest9-021510-AVP.jpg (http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/97034-1/WOCTest9-021510-AVP.jpg)
A closer look at the center section at "show level."