Progress, Bah

They say that progress is a good thing.
But with progress comes change.

And here are some things I wish would not have changed.

At Disney's Animal Kingdom:

Then: Tarzan Rocks
Now: Finding Nemo, the Musical.

Nemo is a great show, but I sure do miss Tarzan's Phil Collins' tunes and the skaters.

At Disney's Hollywood Studios:

Then: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire-Play It
Now: Toy Story Mania

TSM is a great attraction! I just wish they had put it elsewhere and kept WWTBAM, my co-favorite thing at DHS and one of the very few adult-oriented attractions at WDW.

Then: Residential Street
Now: Lights! Motors! Action!

Residential Street was bulldozed to make way for the Stunt car stadium. When it comes time for the Osborne Lights, you really miss it. Now those millions of light are crammed into the Streets of America. It's a bit over-whelming.

Toy Story's Green Army Men
The guys used to do a really cute street show.
Now the guys only show up in the Block Party Bash and to sign autographs.

Over at Universal Studios:

Then: Kongfrontation
Now: The Mummy.

I have to admit that I missed Kong all together. We moved back to Florida when this attraction was just closing. But from what I have read about it, I'm pretty sure that I would have liked it better than the Mummy.

Beetlejuice vs The Ghostbusters.
This was my favorite street show and I never missed seeing it when we were at US.
Please, please bring them back!!!

-> New Blog Title<-

I have thought about changing the title for a while as I am not a true Theme Park Junkie, but rather, more of a 'specialist'.

Confession # 9: I Like Apples AND Oranges

Someone posted a rant against Universal Studios in one of the on-line Disney newsgroups I read.

Was there last week....What a rip off ... Disney World was much better, it did have a lot more class...

It's a bit like comparing apples and oranges.

Disney World and Universal Studios ARE different.

Disney World's operating theme is "The Happiest Place on Earth".

Universal Studios' operating theme is "We are not Disney".
Okay, okay, it's really "Where Blockbusters Come to Life".

Universal is not shy about making fun of themselves and the place down the road.

Disney pretty much ignores the place up the road.

Disney is more kid-oriented, but Universal does have lots of kid-stuff too.
In fact, over in IOA there is one ride that you HAVE to be with a kid to ride!
And when 'The Wizarding World of Harry Potter' opens next year, well, that will blur the line even more.

I have to confess that there are shows, rides, characters, etc that I really prefer about one place or the other.

For example: I'll ride Expedition Everest (WDW) but not The Hulk (US-IOA);

I much prefer Jurassic Park River Adventure (US-IOA) to Splash Mountain (WDW);

I'll stand in line to see "It's Tough to Be a Bug" (WDW) but not "Shrek 4-D (US);

The Tower of Terror (WDW) has it all over Dr Doom's Fearfall (US-IOA).

I like Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (WDW), but Men in Black (US) is better, and Toy Story Mania (WDW) is even better yet!

I have to admit that (most) Disney Cast Members are much more personable than (most) Universal employees.

Not counting Beetlejuice (US), who is in a class all his own.

And I'll take Pluto (WDW) over Scooby Doo (US) any day.

But overall ... Viva la Difference!

The Snoozical Kingdom

In an on-line Disney discussion group, someone asked:
If they were staying off-site, where would be the best place to take a quick nap at WDW ?

Well, the group consensus was:
The Carousel of Progress.

My hubby once fell asleep sitting upright in the Enchanted Tiki Room.

His snoring was just a fraction of a decibel lower than the show's audio, which was ear-splitting.

We were gonna leave him there, but an observant Cast Member made us take him with us.

(Photo: allears.net)

Test Track

Test Track is one of my three favorite things at Epcot.

(The others being Soarin' and Off Kilter)

So imagine my dismay at this recent story in The Orlando Sentinel:

GM's Last Lap On Epcot's Test Track

Disney is not about to close Test Track, no matter what happens to GM.

But. Since the Mouse House IS a business after all and Disney does pay attention to the bottom line, something will have to happen to make up the difference.

And that's what worries me.

Experiencing the American Idol Experience

I attended the first Passholder Preview show of Disney's brand-new American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

I am not a fan of the television show, have watched it only two or three times, but I'll admit that I really enjoyed the Disney version. But then I do like Disney World's live shows ... The Festival of the Lion King is a MUST SEE ... and I still mourn the passing of Tarzan Rocks.

But I digress.

The 3 performers at my show varied in age as well as musical genre, which made it very entertaining, IMHO.

Yes, I'll be going again. Soon.

The NEW Tree House Villas

If you've ever taken the water taxi from Downtown Disney to Port Orleans, you've passed the Tree House Villas.


Well, the original, older ones (like above) have been torn down. They had been heavily damaged during the hurricanes of 2004.

The ones you see now are newly constructed ( FAQ ).

Today was the 1st time I had seen them in person (from the Sassagoula River).

They look remarkably like the older ones but have obviously new bases, which lessen their 'environmental footprint'.

I am so glad that Disney didn't just let these unique habitations just moulder away.

It almost (but not quite) makes up for the Bay Lake Monster.

The Great Indoors

The following is from an on-line Disney discussion site in response to a question regarding Disney's Wilderness Lodge:

We have never stayed at WL, but we love to visit. The lobby is the best of any Disney Resort at WDW. The theming of course is of Wilderness and the resort is made to look like it is of Wood, though I suspect it is not.

This just tickles me.
The author is correct though; the Wilderness Lodge does have the best lobby of all the Disney resorts. And it's even better at Xmas.

The Lodge theming is that of an early-1900s Northwest National Park lodge, and is patterned after the one in Yellowstone NP.

The fireplace in the lobby is a recreation of the 2-billion year-old strata of the Grand Canyon with over 100 colors in hues of green, magenta, buff, red, black and brown, as well as fossilized remains of prehistoric plant and animal life.

There is also a HM in the fireplace!

H/T: WDW Info

And no, the lodge is not made of wood. It is constructed of molded, colored and hand-painted concrete.

The huge stone blocks which appear to form the lodge's foundation are also concrete, as are the 'stone' steps.

These rocks, and the ones that surround the geyser, are hand painted to look natural, right down to the lichens, mold and algae stains (some are now the real thing).

H/T: Eric & Jennifer

Disney's Wilderness Lodge: Official site
Trip Advisor: Reviews

The Bay Lake Monster

The Bay Lake Monster is one of Disney's latest creations.
It's officially known as the Bay Lake Tower and is the newest DVC resort.

By itself it probably would have been very striking.

But.

Disney is building it right next to the Contemporary Resort.

Photo: Disney/artist concept

There had been a rumor that the new DVC resort would be built to resemble the Contemporary, only slightly smaller. Now that would have worked very well, IMHO.

Building the very large, and architecturally different, Bay Lake Tower so close to the Contemporary Tower, makes for an overall unpleasant visual. It diminishes both, especially the Contemporary.

A Disney icon is lost to 'progress'.

MVMCP

I attended my first
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
this year.

The parade was fun; the hot chocolate was hot and plentiful; snow fell on Main Street; the dance parties were great fun to watch; the fireworks were spectacular (Tink flew right over our heads); and the castle was absolutely stunning.

And I loved the special Cast Member Mickey Mitts (red instead of white)!

We (sis & I) missed seeing 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, tho, because after the 1st show (which was so packed, there was not even standing room in the back), one of the performers became ill and the next show was canceled. Then we got busy with the rest of the festivities and didn't to check if the show was back on.

Maybe next year!

Photo: Deb Wills / Allears.net