As of July 2, Captain EO is now re-open at all the Disney Parks worldwide (not including Hong Kong). I just want to go on record now that I believe with almost 100% certainty that once it’s limited re-engagement finish’s its run, it will be replaced by a new 3D attraction themed around TRON. The timing is almost too good for it not to be true. In fact I believe that a TRON attraction has been in the works for some time, and that the Captain EO return is just a bonus. Honey, I Shrunk the Audience is long in the tooth and entirely irrelevant in today’s zeitgeist. Had Michael Jackson not passed away a year ago, I think HISTA would still be running, and would end it’s run sometime within the next year to make way for a TRON attraction. The runaway success of the Captain EO Tribute at Disneyland convinced the company to reissue the film worldwide. Since converting the theater back to “EO Mode” is a pretty simple process overall, it’s a good way to get those butts in the seats that HISTA can’t pull in anymore. Once EO finishes it’s run, TRON will move in. My bet is we will hear something in October or perhaps February (both are historically times for Disney to make Parks announcements). I suspect Captain EO will run at least through 2010, and depending on when they want the TRON attraction to open, it may run all the way to the summer of 2011.
Captain EO is a good choice for now, but Disney really needs something to fully replace HISTA and make EPCOT’s 3D show a big deal once again. TRON is the perfect fit for the pavilion. The idea of virtual reality and computer games fits well with “The Imagination Institute”. It shouldn’t be too hard to integrate Kevin Flynn into the mix. He is as much of a fictional visionary creative mind as Philip Brainard (Flubber) and Wayne Szalynski (HISTK), just in the realm of video games.
Plus, it would be a great excuse to re-open The ImageWorks, rechristened as Flynn’s Arcade.
