The bottom floor of the Innoventions pavilion at Tomorrowland now features the Dream Home. Harking back to Walt Disney's original conception for the land, as well as to the Carousel of Progress attraction that occupied its space for many years, the new exhibit showcases new and emerging technology in an engaging way. Guests can play with many of the high-tech gizmos, such as the interactive video puzzle that magically appears on the surface of the dining room table or the electronic musical instruments available in the "back yard." They can also interact with members of the Elias family--Elias was Walt Disney's middle name--the fictional, relentlessly perky clan who has inexplicably opened up its futuristic home to Disneyland's teeming masses. Other wonders in the Innoventions Dream Home, about 65% of which represents technology currently on the market, include: a kitchen presided over by a computer named "Lillian" (which was the name of Walt Disney's wife) that responds to voice commands and offers recipes in a monitor embedded beneath the counter; a "magic mirror" that superimposes virtual clothes over the projected image of whomever stands before it (although, wouldn't it be easier to just hold up an actual article of clothing in front of a real mirror?); and a 3-D printer that copies and conjures dimensional items. It's all quite intriguing, but the implacable Disney traditionalist in me pines for the Carousel of Progress (which is still sending audiences in circles at Florida's Magic Kingdom).

Capitalizing on the Indiana Jones frenzy fueled by the release of the sequel a few weeks ago, Disneyland has peppered Adventureland (which already features the wonderful Indiana Jones Adventure) with all kinds of Indy goodies. With the aid of an available archaeologist's map, guests can find clues and artifacts hidden along the Jungle River Cruise and throughout the land. An Indy doppelganger periodically appears on rooftops to battle one of his enemies. And a new Indiana Jones show solicits young audience members to help solve a mystery. I was more than a bit surprised to see the Indy character connect with a few swings to the face of his female nemesis in the show. (In fairness, said nemesis kneed Mr. Jones in the crotch first. Ouch!) Has Disneyland descended to the depths of WWE-style, simulated male-on-female violence? What's next? An enraged Donald Duck putting a chokehold on a defenseless Daisy? Apparently, I wasn't the only one taken aback by the Vince McMahon histrionics. Glenn Kelman, a senior show director with Disney, says that the show will be retooled in response to guest feedback. Starting the week of June 21, the Indiana Jones character will "struggle with, push, and shove" the female baddie instead of directly hitting her. And Donald Duck will be sent to anger management classes.

As to future plans, Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, offered a few tidbits about the extensive makeover of Disney's California Adventure that began with the opening of Toy Story Midway Mania. The much-anticipated Radiator Springs Racers attraction that will anchor the new Cars Land will use (as-yet-unidentified) breakthrough technology to pit guests in two ride vehicles against each other as they rev through scenes from the Pixar movie. "Until the very end, you won't know who is going to win the race," Rasulo says. Confirming that the ride will have some similarities to Epcot's Test Track, the Disney executive didn't say what role, if any, guests would play in controlling the vehicles and determining the outcome of the race. Although ground will break shortly, Rasulo says that the ambitious Cars Land will be the final component of the park's transformation to open and won't debut until 2012. The main gate changes and radical makeover of the front of the park will also be among the last things to open. And while he didn't give firm dates for The Little Mermaid Ride or Disney's World of Color Lagoon show, Rasulo did say that about every 18 months there would be something new at the resort's second park; look for those to open in 2010 and 2011. The Little Mermaid dark ride will focus on the movie's music, he notes. "When completed," Rasulo says, "Disney's California Adventure will feel more immersive and richer. It will have more heart."