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Topic: Disney World's "Hall of Presidents"

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-22-2009 11:06 AM

We were in Disney World last week and saw the latest version of "The Hall of Presidents." For anyone unfamiliar, it starts off with a film which is synchronized across three screens and then ends with a roll-call of all of the U.S. presidents, who are represented by (very realistic) animatronic figures. The show had been closed for about six months to revamp the presentation, and add Pres. Obama to the lineup. They also gave George Washington a speaking part which is a new addition.

Of course I was particularly interested in the projection of the film segments. It looks AWESOME compared to the previous version. The old version used film which had wear and dirt, and the images were dim and not always lined up properly from screen to screen. The new pictures are clear, bright and sharp and the registration from one screen to the next is perfect.

I assume the show uses digital projection in some form or the other but does anyone know any of the details? Anybody else seen the show?

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Mike Olpin
Chop Chop!

Posts: 1852
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 09-22-2009 11:10 AM

Disney has been updating a lot of their attractions to digital projection, most recently the water screens on Disneyland's Fantasmic show. They are also on track to open a new edition of Star Tours with digital 3D in 2011.

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Phil Hill
I love my cootie bug

Posts: 7595
From: Hollywood, CA USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 09-22-2009 02:44 PM

I did many film (and some video) installations for several Disney venues (including the film version of the waterfall Fantasmic). I'm glad they have seen the light of converting to video.

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Charles Greenlee
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 801
From: Savannah, Ga, U.S.
Registered: Jun 2006

posted 09-26-2009 04:38 AM

Wow, I've seen Famtasmic on video, a recording, and I must say it looks awesome. I can only imagine it's even more mind blowing in person. I'm sure this was old enough to be your original fil footage Phil. I hope to go in Jan-feb sometime. Incidentally, I like the Obama bot. Regardless of your opinion of the real person, (which is your business and not for political discussion in the forums) his animatronic figure looks so real. It's a marvel to watch. There again, I'm only seeing recorded footage of it. I'm sure in another 40 years, there will be something better and our version will look silly. Like watching the Carousel of Progress of 1964, which nowadays may look cheesy. Of course I still like it.

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