[Ready2Go]

Narnia Attraction Takes Visitors on a Journey

Orlando Sentinel

By Jerry W. Jackson

October 27, 2005


Disney-MGM offers a peek behind the movie magic.

Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando will open a new attraction in December called Journey Into Narnia: Creating The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

The walk-through attraction will offer visitors a peek at the props and some of the story line from the Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media's film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The movie, based on the C.S. Lewis book, premieres nationwide in theaters on Dec. 9 and the attraction will open the same day, Disney spokesman Charles Stovall said.

Fans of the seven-book Narnia series are eagerly awaiting the movie, and a Narnia attraction probably will be popular as well, said Vivian Bush, 27, of Houston, who describes herself as a "serious Narnia fan" since she read all seven Narnia books at the age of 7.

"I would go [to the new attraction] if I were going to Disney World, but I probably wouldn't make a special trip," Bush said.

She said fans are eagerly awaiting the $100 million live-action and computer-animated film with special effects. "I'm really looking forward to that," she said.Paul Martin, 24, who runs a Narnia Web site from his home in Grand Rapids, Mich., said he's going to see the attraction as well as the movie, and will gladly make a special trip.

"It sounds really cool," said Martin, a lifelong fan of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Journey Into Narnia is the first new attraction at Disney-MGM Studios since the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show debuted in May as part of the Happiest Celebration on Earth marketing campaign at Disney parks worldwide.

In the new attraction, which will take 10 to 15 minutes to walk through, guests will enter the frozen world of Narnia, Stovall said, and see behind-the-scenes moviemaking magic in the epic film.

Visitors will enter through a giant wardrobe, just as the children do in the movie version of Lewis' classic, and will exit through a gallery of elaborate creatures, costumes and props from the movie.The attraction is going into the former Haunted Mansion movie set on Soundstage 4 on Mickey Avenue. That attraction, based on the 2003 Eddie Murphy movie, closed in 2004 and was recently used for special events, including the Happiest Celebration media gathering this year.

Florida Education Commissioner John Winn is scheduled to be at Disney-MGM Studios today, along with four young actors from the film and a group of elementary school students, to help announce plans for the attraction and to promote a statewide children's literacy program.
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[bumble]

Now that is something that I want to see! And we just might go that weekend to see the Christmas lights anyway:) Thanks for the info :)

[jenbarnwell]

That sounds so cool, wonder if it will be open when we go in January

[PrincessJill]

Awesome!!!!! I can't wait!!

[dznygrl]

OMG I AM SO PSYCHED FOR THIS MOVIE!!!!!

Cast members will probably get to see it for free, but not until it's been out for a while...and I don't think I'll be able to wait that long!!!!

Getting to see all those props/sets would be sooooo cool. From everything I've seen, it looks like they are FINALLY going to do justice to these fantastic books!

[Cavey]

I hope it's up long term--at least for most of 2006.









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[quakercub]

It should be. Haunted Mansion exhibit was there for I think about a year. I'm sure they'll do the same thing with Narnia. Especially if they're planning to film the other six books. Does anyone know if they're doing that?

[Cavey]

The trailers suggest this is the first movie of a series. Though I don't know if they'll do all seven books--Oh, I hope they do!

[RowdyRAider]

Originally Posted by dznygrl

OMG I AM SO PSYCHED FOR THIS MOVIE!!!!!

Cast members will probably get to see it for free, but not until it's been out for a while...and I don't think I'll be able to wait that long!!!!

Getting to see all those props/sets would be sooooo cool. From everything I've seen, it looks like they are FINALLY going to do justice to these fantastic books!

I wish we would get to see the film for free, but alas, we don't have THAT much of a discount LOL

If ya'll think the props and sets are going to be sweet, wait till ya'll get to meet and greet the White Witch! Oh yes, we now have a character from Narnia. She should make her debut about the time the movie premieres December 9th. She's extremely beautiful, and simultaneously very frightening to encounter. Was a pleasure to meet her!

[Ready2Go]

Originally Posted by RowdyRAider

If ya'll think the props and sets are going to be sweet, wait till ya'll get to meet and greet the White Witch! Oh yes, we now have a character from Narnia. She should make her debut about the time the movie premieres December 9th. She's extremely beautiful, and simultaneously very frightening to encounter. Was a pleasure to meet her!

Would this be her?

[MissDisney]

Could be very interesting -- I don't know much about the books, though!

[royorb1]

Sounds great, it will open on our 2nd to last day at WDW!

[lovemysons]

I am so excited!! I can not wait to walk through the wardrobe! But, I must confess, I don't think I'll be lining up to meet the White Witch. She scares me silly.

[Ready2Go]

Originally Posted by lovemysons

I am so excited!! I can not wait to walk through the wardrobe! But, I must confess, I don't think I'll be lining up to meet the White Witch. She scares me silly.

But you are already silly.

[RowdyRAider]

Originally Posted by Ready2Go

Would this be her?

Yep. That's her alright. Just be careful when you meet and greet with her.