Disney’s New Realm

Passersby were curious, no doubt. They tried to peak behind the curtains that for weeks covered the windows of the new Club Disney at the Promenade at Westlake shopping center.

Most folks had to settle for glimpses of light and little hints of what was going on inside. Most folks had to just be patient and wait for the grand opening scheduled for Friday morning.

But Ben Christopher and Darin Fryklund are two kids with connections. The two 9-year-olds from Santa Barbara recently accompanied a member of the press on an escorted tour of the facility--a 24,500-square-foot site designed for children up to age 10 and their parents, which the Walt Disney Co. plans to replicate at sites across the U.S.

Even though Ben was fighting a cold, he wasn’t going to miss a trip with his best friend to the Magic Kingdom’s satellite facility at the corner of Westlake and Thousand Oaks boulevards in Thousand Oaks.

Officials stress that Club Disney activities, based on Disney characters and stories, are intended for parents and children to participate in together--despite the possible inclination of adults to wander off to Bristol Farms, Barnes & Noble or other Promenade shops.

Rather than a daylong tourist stop, Club Disney is intended as a two- to three-hour visit for local residents or those living up to 30 to 40 minutes away by car--just one stop in a day of family outings, rather than something to plan a day or weekend around such as Disneyland or Walt Disney World.

Club Disney is also the first of what will be a string of regional entertainment venues around the country.

Jay Rasulo, senior vice president of Disney Regional Entertainment, said Disney chose Thousand Oaks for its launch pad because of its proximity to the company’s corporate headquarters in Burbank, and the demographic makeup of the city.

“We wanted to select a community close to our headquarters so we can get the entertainment right before we move forward,” Rasulo said. “We also wanted a community that is full of young families.”

The boys were greeted at the door by spokeswoman Andrea Borda, who led them past the front desk and the cubbyholes where children are asked to deposit their shoes.

First stop on the tour was the Pooh ‘N You site, a life-size replica of Winnie the Pooh’s village, intended for tots. Guests listen to stories of the chubby little bear, pick carrots from Rabbit’s Garden and bounce around like Tigger.

Next up was the Team Time game room, which proved a hit with Ben and Darin. Arcade-size games such as Goofy Golf encourage parents and children to play together. Ben and Darin tried their hands at Duck-a-Puck, a Disney version of air hockey that plays off the “Mighty Ducks” movie title.

The Jungle Climber, a 30-foot-high, multilevel clubhouse, was next on the tour. Children climb up and then slide back down by way of either the full 30-foot spiral tube slide or a shorter one for the less daring.

“Wow” was the boys’ collective response upon seeing the slide. Unfortunately, the site was still under construction. But they vowed to return for the ride.

Borda said Club Disney cast members would be stationed at either end of the slide at all times to help ensure safe departures and arrivals. In all, Borda said, Club Disney will have 50 to 75 staff at any given time, with a maximum capacity of 850 guests.

The Mouse Pad, a computer room at the base of the Mickey Mouse sorcerer’s hat, is near the bottom of the slide. The room offers 16 full-color IBM computers with speakers and a collection of 15 educational software programs and access to 25 family-oriented Internet sites.

“Titles go from baby CD-ROM to age 10,” Borda said. “We found that children are amazingly aggressive with them. They don’t have the fear the adults have.”

Next to the computer room is the Applaudeville Theater, where children can dress up as a variety of Disney characters and participate in a fantasy fashion show, with the parents as paparazzi.

Ben got into a dalmatian suit with Darin opting for the Capt. Hook look.

“A fashion designer comes out and elicits the help of Disney fashion models [kids] and their agents [parents],” said Rodrick Pauley, the creative mind behind the Applaudeville activities. “They’re taken through rehearsal. They learn how to blow kisses.”

The theater is also the site of several other 30-minute staff-led performance events including a dance party featuring the Lion King Limbo, the Mickey Macarena and the Roger Rabbit Bunny Hop.

After refreshing themselves with a couple of Mickey-shaped ice cream sandwiches in the Club Cafe (which will be stocked with kid fare as well as items from La Brea Bakery, the Cheesecake Factory and Bristol Farms), Ben and Darin made their way to the Curiosity Castle, a maze of mirrors with surprise characters showing up around certain corners.

They charged and screamed their way through the maze several times before taking turns coaxing odd sounds out of a bell tower. Somehow they didn’t expect to hear a “moo.”

Adjacent to the castle is the Character Creations room where children work on art projects, with local artists occasionally hosting classes. Then it was on to Animation Alley, where guests will fiddle around creating the stuff for which Disney is famous. And next to that is the Wizard’s Lab, where children participate in hands-on science experiments.

Among the subjects for children to tackle are ghostly holograms, a voice modulator, a chamber for shadow tricks a la Peter Pan, and a weights and measures area.

To round out the tour, Ben and Darin got a look at six Disney-themed birthday party rooms such as “101 Dalmations” and Winnie the Pooh.

Outside the building, the boys passed by the then-unfinished storefront window of the Club Disney retail shop. Visible through the curtains were mannequin busts sans Mickey hats and Mickey shirts.

“I hope they have more than just naked people,” Darin said.

“Is this a family place?” Ben added.

Maybe waiting a couple of weeks for the grand opening wouldn’t have hurt.

BE THERE

Club Disney will be open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tue.-Thur., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun. General admission is $8; $7 seniors. Because parking space is limited at the Promenade, Club Disney will provide shuttle service to and from adjacent lots for Friday’s opening day and through the first weekend. Signs at parking-lot entrances will direct visitors to nearby lots. Long-term plans for easing parking congestion are being discussed. Call (805) 777-8000.