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One of the great
adventures involving Expedition Everest, the new thrill attraction
at Disney's Animal Kingdom, is the one embarked upon by merchandise
designers. Their thrill was conjuring the look and attitude of
the yeti, a star attraction of Expedition Everest and a creature
whose existence is one of legends rather than physical encounters.
Working in collaboration
with Walt Disney Imagineering (responsible for the overall development
of the attraction), the Disney merchandise design group sought
to bring to the shelves of Serka Zong Bazaar -- the gift shop
located at the exit of the attraction -- a line of goods with
an authentic feel and theme . . . yet with recognition that no
one knows what the creature would really be like.
"Not knowing what
the yeti's total personality would be like made this a project
that was a lot of fun for the design group," said Megan Kachur,
the Disney's Animal Kingdom merchandise product developer. "Is
the yeti purely one-dimensional -- the legendary protector of
the sacred mountain? Maybe. But maybe not.
"Aaron Babcock,
the product developer who was involved in the initial design
work, decided to explore that possibility -- what the creature
might be like if there were more to it than ferocity."
That design adventure
has produced a profile of the yeti as everything from a critter
that you don't want to mess with . . . to a furry friend to cuddle
with. And in between: a cool dude who just likes to chill out.
The "cutesy yeti," as
Kachur describes the furry-friend persona, is a playful yeti
portrayed in a snowball fight on pastel-colored fitted T-shirts
for girls. "He's smaller, baby-like, round, very harmless."
"Elevate Your
Fear," it says on merchandise that depicts the "cool dude," extreme
sports yeti snowboarding across jerseys and hats. "He's broad-shouldered,
muscular, athletic in build and shape," Kachur said. "He has
no fear." (And if that's not the way the yeti makes you feel,
you can opt for a shirt that simply proclaims, "Scream Like A
Girl.")
And then there
is the merchandise -- photo holders to shirts to drink mugs to
beach blankets -- depicting versions of the protector yeti. There
are fuzzy white slippers and a plush backpack with arms and legs
-- "actually an extension of a doll." And there's a fluffy hat
that suggests the yeti is munching the wearer's head. Also yeti
binoculars that provide the user a yeti's-eye view of the world.
The shop showcases
not just the yeti but the Expedition Everest story and drama
in well over 100 items ranging upward from a logo post card ($1)
... to a smartly styled nylon jacket featuring a mountain-climbing
logo at the peak of the merchandise line (about $75). In between
there are patches and key chains, headwear and backpacks that
celebrate the theme of mountaineering.
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