diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/client/SceneDirector.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/client/SceneDirector.java
index 14ddd92c4..d6b5c742e 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/client/SceneDirector.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/client/SceneDirector.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: SceneDirector.java,v 1.8 2001/12/04 00:30:27 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: SceneDirector.java,v 1.9 2001/12/14 01:51:45 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.whirled.client;
 
@@ -304,10 +304,8 @@ public class SceneDirector
      * to enter. */
     protected SceneModel _pendingModel;
 
-    /**
-     * The id of the scene for which we have an outstanding moveTo
-     * request, or -1 if we have no outstanding request.
-     */
+    /** The id of the scene for which we have an outstanding moveTo
+     * request, or -1 if we have no outstanding request. */
     protected int _pendingSceneId = -1;
 
     /** The id of the scene we previously occupied. */
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneManager.java
index 38e07e2e1..8acc6215c 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneManager.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: SceneManager.java,v 1.8 2001/11/12 20:56:56 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: SceneManager.java,v 1.9 2001/12/14 01:51:46 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.whirled.server;
 
@@ -40,12 +40,25 @@ public class SceneManager extends PlaceManager
      * Called by the scene registry once the scene manager has been
      * created (and initialized), but before it is started up.
      */
-    protected void postInit (
+    protected void setSceneData (
         RuntimeScene scene, SceneModel model, SceneRegistry screg)
     {
         _scene = scene;
         _model = model;
         _screg = screg;
+
+        // let derived classes react to the receipt of scene data
+        gotSceneData();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * A method that can be overridden by derived classes to perform
+     * initialization processing after we receive our scene information
+     * but before we're started up (and hence registered as an active
+     * place).
+     */
+    protected void gotSceneData ()
+    {
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneRegistry.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneRegistry.java
index e50d18b47..cb705ab3e 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneRegistry.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneRegistry.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: SceneRegistry.java,v 1.11 2001/12/13 07:23:25 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: SceneRegistry.java,v 1.12 2001/12/14 01:51:46 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.whirled.server;
 
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ public class SceneRegistry
             // stuff; we'll somehow need to convey configuration
             // information for the scene to the scene manager, but for now
             // let's punt
-            scmgr.postInit(scene, model, this);
+            scmgr.setSceneData(scene, model, this);
 
             // when the scene manager completes its startup procedings, it
             // will call back to the scene registry and let us know that
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/client/SpotSceneDirector.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/client/SpotSceneDirector.java
index 1f2fa9ff3..950963047 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/client/SpotSceneDirector.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/client/SpotSceneDirector.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: SpotSceneDirector.java,v 1.1 2001/12/14 00:12:32 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: SpotSceneDirector.java,v 1.2 2001/12/14 01:51:46 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.whirled.spot.client;
 
@@ -22,6 +22,24 @@ import com.threerings.whirled.spot.data.Location;
 public class SpotSceneDirector extends SceneDirector
     implements SpotCodes
 {
+    /**
+     * This is used to communicate back to the caller of {@link
+     * #changeLocation}.
+     */
+    public static interface ChangeObserver
+    {
+        /**
+         * Indicates that the requested location change succeeded.
+         */
+        public void locationChangeSucceeded (int locationId);
+
+        /**
+         * Indicates that the requested location change failed and
+         * provides a reason code explaining the failure.
+         */
+        public void locationChangeFailed (int locationId, String reason);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Creates a new spot scene director with the specified context.
      *
@@ -39,9 +57,15 @@ public class SpotSceneDirector extends SceneDirector
 
     /**
      * Issues a request to change our location within the scene to the
-     * location identified by the specified id.
+     * location identified by the specified id. Most client entities find
+     * out about location changes via changes to the occupant info data,
+     * but the initiator of a location change request can be notified of
+     * its success or failure, primarily so that it can act in
+     * anticipation of a successful location change (like by starting a
+     * sprite moving toward the new location), but backtrack if it finds
+     * out that the location change failed.
      */
-    public void changeLocation (int locationId)
+    public void changeLocation (int locationId, ChangeObserver obs)
     {
         // refuse if there's a pending location change
         if (_pendingLocId != -1) {
@@ -76,6 +100,7 @@ public class SpotSceneDirector extends SceneDirector
 
         // make a note that we're changing to this location
         _pendingLocId = locationId;
+        _changeObserver = obs;
         // and send the location change request
         SpotService.changeLoc(_ctx.getClient(), _sceneId, locationId, this);
     }
@@ -85,6 +110,17 @@ public class SpotSceneDirector extends SceneDirector
      */
     public void handleChangeLocSucceeded (int invid)
     {
+        ChangeObserver obs = _changeObserver;
+        int locId = _pendingLocId;
+
+        // clear out our pending location info
+        _pendingLocId = -1;
+        _changeObserver = null;
+
+        // if we had an observer, let them know things went well
+        if (obs != null) {
+            obs.locationChangeSucceeded(locId);
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -92,9 +128,24 @@ public class SpotSceneDirector extends SceneDirector
      */
     public void handleChangeLocFailed (int invid, String reason)
     {
+        ChangeObserver obs = _changeObserver;
+        int locId = _pendingLocId;
+
+        // clear out our pending location info
+        _pendingLocId = -1;
+        _changeObserver = null;
+
+        // if we had an observer, let them know things went well
+        if (obs != null) {
+            obs.locationChangeFailed(locId, reason);
+        }
     }
 
     /** The location id on which we have an outstanding change location
      * request. */
     protected int _pendingLocId = -1;
+
+    /** An entity that wants to know if a requested location change
+     * succeded or failed. */
+    protected ChangeObserver _changeObserver;
 }