Disney takes animatronics to the next level

Posted | Contributed by supermandl34

Disney's Imagineers have fashioned a prototype of the next generation of audio-animatronic figures that's a far cry from Walt's childhood hero, the animated president Liconln. In fact, it's a 20-foot-long smiling dinosaur named Lucky that is fully mobile and can interact with guests -- through the help of a hidden operator. The creature, which grunts, hisses, bats his eyelashes and even signs autographs in the shape of a clover, made his debut test-run at Disney's California Adventurelast week.

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Disney California Adventure

Wouldn't it have been easier to put a midget in a dinosaur costume? Ala Barney? ;)

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

Probably, but its probably more exciting to interact with a 20ft dinosaur than another person in a suit.

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1. Millennium Force
2. HypersonicXLC
3. Alpengeist*** This post was edited by coasterdude04 8/29/2003 11:38:48 AM ***

Sounds like West World is just around the corner

I actually saw this thing roaming around in the Hollywood Backlot area when I was at DCA last week. It is pretty cool. I never got close enough to hear it talk or hiss or what ever it does but I saw it walking around.

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Bob Hansen
Resident Airtime Whore

Sounds more like that crazy park in that old episode of the Simpsons.

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Mac Forever.

I got the chance to see Lucky and all I have to say is WOW!

It's to bad that his stay in Cali was only temporary.

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DH

I thought IOA already had something like this in their JP section?

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

These figures are untethered and self-contained. IOA's Trikes were attached to the floor. They're gone now, anyway, to my knowledge. At the very least, the attraction is closed and they don't have any intent of opening it soon.

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
May the Schwarz be with you.

The part I was thinking about was there the "zookeeper" would stand next to some dinosaur and it would sort of bumble around inside its "pen." That's gone?

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Yes. That was Triceratops Encounter and the attraction entrance, as of last week, was boarded over.

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
May the Schwarz be with you.

I guess I'll never see that then. It was closed for seasonal repair last November when I was there.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

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