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Stitch's Great Escape!
He's Loose!
Inspired by the Academy Award-nominated film “Lilo & Stitch” this new
Magic Kingdom attraction details events occurring before the motion picture.
It features the turmoil caused by the misbehaving character
“Experiment 626”, (aka Stitch), when he was first discovered.
Upon entering Stitch’s Great Escape! guests are enlisted by the Galactic
Federation Grand Councilwoman to provide additional security for the nabbed
alien. Watch out! Authorities have underestimated Stitch’s capacity for playful
mischief. Havoc erupts and guests get caught in the middle of the mayhem.
Sights, sounds and smells add to the pandemonium.
Stitch’s Great Escape! has some of the most sophisticated
Audio-Animatronics® technology ever developed by Walt Disney Imagineering.
A 39-inch-tall version of Stitch is one of the most complex creations of
its size. Stitch has more than 350 detailed parts and over
40 separate functions. Also featured are two "plasma cannons" that
follow Stitch's DNA whenever and wherever it may move.
The new attraction replaces
ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, which
closed on October 11, 2003.
Fast Facts:
Ride Height Requirement is 40
inches.
Show Duration: 15 minutes
The attraction offers Disney's
FASTPASS.
INTERCOT Alert: Stitch's Great Escape includes
brief periods of total darkness, loud noises and over-the-shoulder seat
restraints; some effects may frighten young children.
Fun Facts:
Stitch is the first Audio-Animatronics figure to spit.
The alien language seen throughout the Prisoner Teleport Center was inspired
by designs created for the opening scenes of "Lilo & Stitch." Graphic
artists with Walt Disney Imagineering turned the designs into a practical
alphabet that can be decoded into English.
"Skippy," an alien seen previously in The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter
attraction, returns in a new role in Stitch's Great Escape!
The two "plasma cannons" that track Stitch's DNA were inspired by devices
seen in "Lilo & Stitch." Each weighs more than 1,600 pounds.
Walt Disney Feature Animation produced all of the attraction's character
animation. Many of the animators who worked on "Lilo & Stitch" partnered
with Imagineers for Stitch's Great Escape!
Stitch Encounter Sneak Preview (10/23/04):
 Outside
the entrance into the galactic federation prisoner transport center. Wait to
this point was 30 minutes. (Click photos to enlarge.)
 The
basic concept behind Stitch Encounter is that we have volunteered to be
guards in the teleportation facility. The worst of the worst in the galaxy
are sent here and we are to take care of them. You go to the level one
teleportation chamber where a criminal is transported in.
 You
are called to duty when an emergency happens and we are transferred to the
high security level 3 teleportation chamber. There Stitch is
teleported in. The guards think that because he is so cute, they can lift
the force field... And of course, they are wrong and Stitch proceeds to
wreak havoc. The Stitch audio-animatronic is very well done with fluid
movement, and the transportation chamber, while reused from Alien Encounter,
contains a few new special effects.
 Overall,
the ride is much tamer than Alien Encounter and more family friendly,
however about a third of the show is still in the dark, which will count out
the younger set. Even during the pre-show, leading up to the escape itself,
we
saw a number of parents with younger kids bail out.
Stitch Encounter is a solid replacement but no overall stunning surprises
for those who have done Alien Encounter previously. Moreover, more
interesting effects could have been added to the show itself.
For more information on the dark portion of the ride (if you don't mind losing
the surprise), see the spoiler below.
Attraction Photos:
Opening Day Celebration
Nighttime View
Front of Show Building with Sign
Queue
Entrance
Escape Free for Zero Days - Keep up
the good work!
Orientation
Preshow Area
Galactic Federation Sign
Artist Rendering
Spoiler:
In his travels around the room in the dark,
Stitch steals a chili
dog from a guest and belches on your neck with hot breath and the smell of
chili/onions. He also bounces on your shoulders at one point during the show.
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