We got to Denver’s Union Station around 8:30am and had to wait for it to open at 9am, but once it opened we pretty much went right on the train. I had to wait for Dad and Mik to go around to a ramp up to the platform and then we were slowed down again waiting for his turn to be brought up on the hand-cranked lift. The ramp thing was kind of annoying because they would not let me go with them and then when I got up to the platform no one could tell me where to stand and wait for Mik and Dad to come up.
The Christmas Carol Train Tour starts by boarding the train and walking through some train cars with exhibits about the making of Disney’s animated 3D movie Christmas Carol that is coming out in November 2009. The exhibits also included some of Chares Dicken’s original manuscripts, etc. on loan from the Charles Dicken’s Museum in London, which I have actually been to. Anyways the exhibits were pretty cool. Some of the stuff is things you often see as bonus features on DVD releases, such as concept art and video clips of the actors talking about the making of the movie, but it was a much cooler atmosphere to see these things.
For one, the Concept Art was shown on screens in photo frames and the scenes slowly changed. Secondly, there was actual models on display, such as the maquettes and models for several of the characters and Big Ben. Lastly there was a display of actual volume space the actors act in to create the 3D animation very realistically.
After going through the train there is a blow up theater building that shows a preview of the Christmas Carol movie. The preview is in 3D just like the movie is going to be available in. The preview included the scene of Scrooge at his office and the ghost of Jacob Marley visiting Scrooge. The 3D is pretty amazing and while the story has been done in movie format many times, this does seem like a very worthwhile remake due to making it 3D.
The train tour was very worth going to. It might have been worth 4 hours in L.A. if we had had the time, but I am glad we were able to do it Denver. It was certainly worth it when we did not have to wait at all.
After the train tour we went to a nearby coffee shop and Mik watched shows on my computer while Dad and I just hung out. We then went to an afternoon movie at a nearby theater after finally convincing Mik that it was better than sitting at the coffee shop any longer. We went and saw Disney’s Up in 3D. It was not that great, but the 3D was interesting and it was way better than sitting around at the coffee shop waiting for it to be game time. Also, we ended up finding the Hard Rock and I got a pin for my Hard Rock Café collection. I know if I had planned I could have gotten a lot of them on the trip, but I did not budget for them and it is kind of more fun when we just happen upon them instead of trying to fit them in.
1 comment:
I agree. The Disney's Christmas Carol Train Tour is a must see if it comes to a city near you. It is a first class promotional event as only Disney could do. You forgot to mention the character morph stations on the train where you can morph your facial features into one of the Christmas Carol movie characters and e-mail the resultant image to yourself. I know you had trouble using it, but I think it is a cool item on the train and there were like 20-something stations so there really wasn't much of a wait to use.
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