The print media were to meet at 12:00pm to collect our press passes and receive our media "Welcome Bag" with all kinds of goodies in it. Since I had about an hour and a half to kill, coffee and a few times on Tower of Terror were in order. At promptly 1:30pm, Meg Crofton, Walt Disney World President stepped up to the podium and spoke of the new attraction and how it's new interactive game approach will keep the guests coming back for more, and how it was extensively play tested so guests of all ages will enjoy the game. After the short speech, the media was invited to try their hand at the new attraction.

After the media rode the attraction, there was an interview opportunity with some of the Walt Disney Imagineering team who helped plan and build the new ride. I had a chance to speak to Kevin Rafferty, Senior concept Writer and Director of Walt Disney Imagineering. Due to time constraints only a few questions could be posed. I asked Kevin about the new "Ride Vehicles" and how they differed from others in the parks. They are called "Carnival Game Trams" and unlike other people movers on property, they will turn around as they move through the attraction. I also asked about the computer software and just how complex it is to keep the ride moving. He explained how everything is in real time, and the amount of computing power for all the games to operated properly, over 150 computers are simultaneously talking to each other to keep track of the shooters, the targets, and of course the position of the ride vehicles. He also says that Mr. Potato Head is the most complex audio-animatronic on property with the most dialog and animation programming. He is so advanced that he actually looks at you as he speaks! He can even remove and replace a body part, his ear.

Next I spoke to Chrissie Allen, Senior Show Producer and Director of Walt Disney Imagineering. I asked her how long Toy Story Mania was in the planning stages. She said just less than three years, starting in the fall of 2005. The reason for the new attraction was that Walt Disney Imagineering wanted to know how we can build the next generation, interactive game ride. It started when two of Disney Imagineers, Kevin Rafferty and Robert Coltrin were walking through Paradise Pier at Disney's California Adventure when they came up with the idea of how it would be great to play midway games with the Toy Story characters in an interactive game. So Disney Imagineering went to carnivals and fairs to see just what games people were still playing, and they found that most were playing the same games most played as kids. Even the queue line which has all the games and toys as props and pictures we remember as kids, was taken from all the toy story movies. In all, dozens and dozens of Imagineers from California and Florida collaborated on this new, fun attraction.

After speaking with the Imagineers, I just had to return for another go at improving my last score. If there is anything negative I could say about the new attraction is this: Disney just might have to build two of them on property, because judging from the reactions of the media and pass holders from last week, this new attraction is going to be a huge hit and the lines will be long. They might need another one to handle the crowds. I for one think the attraction is just a blast and plain fun to ride. It is addictive because when you get off, you cannot wait to go back on so you can try to beat your last score! The official opening date for the ride will be May 31st. I'm hoping that Disney will throw in a few "Soft Openings" in the meantime; I know I can beat my last score!