You know, I’ve been thinking.
Excitement filled the air last October. Remember it? The GREAT press event? Jay Rasulo and Al Weiss showcasing all the great new additions to Walt Disney World? The magic of Soarin’ over California and the Motor Cars Stunt Show at MGM.
. . . and now newer additions, such as Cinderellabration.
These are all new experiences that will hopefully enhance our vacations.
But then I thought. . . these are all clones. These are all things already in existence. These are things already dreamed up. . . and hardly improved on. Take the Land, for instance. Soarin’ over California will retheme The Land, whereas the clone should actually fit into the original attraction.
You might call me a pessimist. I call myself an idealist. A dreamer. Sometimes it takes a little awareness just to get things right. . . and in that sense, I am an optimist.
But one thing is for certain: Things are getting a little dark underneath that Disney cloud. No, a lot dark.
Behind the opening of Mission Space is the tiny amount of space used. . .the McDonalds-style post show for kids (is this what “family entertainment” has come to?). Behind Test Track is a lame post-show with such music as “Like a Rock” versus Disney originality ("Fun to be Free"). Behind Imagination are unused space and dull scenes.
Meanwhile, the most photographed area of Walt Disney World (the World of Motion Transcenter) has been replaced by. . . essentially nothing. And the most creative playground in the world. . . is upstairs in a glass pyramid. Rotting.
That’s done now. But the plague is spreading elsewhere. Rumor has it that Spaceship Earth will be replaced with a new screen technology attraction.
What’s this, now? 50 animatronics gone from Horizons, 25 from Imagination (three added back after one million complaints), roughly 25 from the Land, 180 from the World of Motion. . . and our last classic, in-spirit omnimover attraction – Spaceship Earth – to be lost, or fallen victim to the cutbacks in rehabs?
The first mental reply might be, “Give it a chance. Let’s see what they do with it.”
What then, folks? The damage will already be done, too costly to reverse. We’ve seen what current management has done, and they do not have my trust. How can I trust the management that attempted to erase Figment from the Imagination? What then??
Now on to seasonal attractions. Carousel of Progress, Timekeeper, and the Wonders of Life (Body Wars, Making of Me, and, my favorite, Cranium Command).
One: Carousel of Progress. This attraction was the ONLY attraction Walt Disney told his Imagineers to keep. His pride and joy. Keep in mind this is only rumor, but Cast Members have reported that when Stitch opens, Progress may go down. For good.
Which would be surprising; after all, Walt Disney management is filled with people who value this tradition and classic. But is Disney willing to go so far to shut this down for good? All this despite its successful attendance ratings since its full-year operation in October without any additional advertisement?
At this point, Wonders of Life has been shut down with areas slowly being removed. On one of the most crowded weekends at Walt Disney World, Fourth of July, the pavilion remained closed. What is to replace it? Nothing. . . yet. And when it finally gets replaced, I have no doubt current management would not care to keep the family and peaceful atmosphere of the pavilion, but rather devote the whole thing to a new craze, a new thrill, rather than keeping a thrill ride to itself (i.e. Body Wars only a small part of Wonders of Life) . . .again, this is a prediction based on track records.
And you may respond to this: "Wonders of Life is old and outdated." This doesn't mean we don't value it. I definitely promote a reworking of the current pavilion, but the fact is we do NOT have new attractions being built with such care to detail and the experience - the essence, the SINCERITY, the Walt Disney - no, not today. And therefore I find the great humor and originality of "Cranium Command" and the bright, spirited Sensory Playhouse as superior as a family attraction to what's next door.
Yet, we have new attractions being built. Most of which? Clones. No, not new Walt Disney World exclusive and magical experiences. . . .clones. Clones that will come in, clones that have been brought in for the purpose of making a cheap new addition to rack in the guests.
This is NOT to say these clones are BAD attractions. This is to say that Disney has the wrong focus when it comes to a NEW attraction. Do you get what I’m saying?
No, this problem isn’t with Walt Disney Imagineering. I’m sure if Imagineering were left to itself, Walt Disney World would get ORIGINAL attractions once again. Such great things as NEW TOMORROWLAND (Timekeeper, Alien Encounter, etc), TOWER OF TERROR (now a clone itself elsewhere!), and SPLASH MOUNTAIN.
But all of these projects needed a great budget. Great management.
We don't have that.
Certainly, great new attractions are coming into play. PhilharMagic and Stitch are excellent and exciting remakes of attractions. . . but where is the ORIGINAL character? Mission Space is original and hi-tech, but there isn’t even QUEUE space. . . and to make matters worse, speakers and vents can be seen in that cramped area. Compare that to the seasonal Wonders of Life with not a vent or speaker in sight!
Mission Space has boosted Epcot’s attendance. But, like Body Wars, it will dip in attendance as years go by, simply because there is no attachment factor. No “home” identification – it’s a ride based on thrill and emotion that can be thrown away for the next best thing in twenty years. Original concepts such as the “Carousel of Progress” still live on and are regarded as true classics. Pirates of the Caribbean. . . Haunted Mansion. Because of their quality. Their work effort. Extreme focus on detail. Themes. Story. Song.
We’re not getting this anymore. And the problem comes when Disney is closing down MORE classic attractions – with no assurance that it will make them any better.
That’s the problem. A problem circulating around the whole Walt Disney Company. Cheap, cheap, cheap has brought in great FAILURES: 2-D animation has cut back in traditional aspects of quality, story, and song – merely by the decisions of management – the same management that fired 2,500 employee artists who brought your favorite (original!) characters to life in the first place. Same thing with films. AND television. More blunders that have made the Disney news. It’s not Imagineering. . . it’s not the animators. . . it’s not the Cast Members. God bless them all. It’s the people who give the final decision. People. . . like Michael Eisner. . . who need to leave now.
The great blunder of putting Iago and rap music in the Enchanted Tiki Room that has created virtually no new great audience. The shame of putting a cheap, “plastic” Goofy dance show in the classic and family-fun Diamond Horseshoe Revue (a replacement that could have easily been put in Wonders of Life). It’s sickening.
I’m not about to sit and see Walt Disney’s treasured “Progress” go in the trash-heap. I’m not about to see Timekeeper replaced by Toy Story characters who have an attraction next door. I’m not about to see the peacefulness and thematic relevance of the Land and Wonders of Life ruined by cheap additions.
And beyond this, the detail being chipped away. The cutbacks. . . evident. The show. . . being ruined in this small way or the other. The classic Magic Kingdom Cast Members being laid off or quitting because management is replacing them with college kids, many of whom don’t truly care about their job.
We have problems. It makes me sad to think that I have to feel distressed and untrusting of the Walt Disney Company. . . but even worse to think about what it’s doing.
I don’t know about you, but the Grizzly Bear will be roaring loud.
(For recent "Call to Arms" threads, check out the Wonders of Life situation at http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=41041 and the Land situation at http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=40423 ).
Excitement filled the air last October. Remember it? The GREAT press event? Jay Rasulo and Al Weiss showcasing all the great new additions to Walt Disney World? The magic of Soarin’ over California and the Motor Cars Stunt Show at MGM.
. . . and now newer additions, such as Cinderellabration.
These are all new experiences that will hopefully enhance our vacations.
But then I thought. . . these are all clones. These are all things already in existence. These are things already dreamed up. . . and hardly improved on. Take the Land, for instance. Soarin’ over California will retheme The Land, whereas the clone should actually fit into the original attraction.
You might call me a pessimist. I call myself an idealist. A dreamer. Sometimes it takes a little awareness just to get things right. . . and in that sense, I am an optimist.
But one thing is for certain: Things are getting a little dark underneath that Disney cloud. No, a lot dark.
Behind the opening of Mission Space is the tiny amount of space used. . .the McDonalds-style post show for kids (is this what “family entertainment” has come to?). Behind Test Track is a lame post-show with such music as “Like a Rock” versus Disney originality ("Fun to be Free"). Behind Imagination are unused space and dull scenes.
Meanwhile, the most photographed area of Walt Disney World (the World of Motion Transcenter) has been replaced by. . . essentially nothing. And the most creative playground in the world. . . is upstairs in a glass pyramid. Rotting.
That’s done now. But the plague is spreading elsewhere. Rumor has it that Spaceship Earth will be replaced with a new screen technology attraction.
What’s this, now? 50 animatronics gone from Horizons, 25 from Imagination (three added back after one million complaints), roughly 25 from the Land, 180 from the World of Motion. . . and our last classic, in-spirit omnimover attraction – Spaceship Earth – to be lost, or fallen victim to the cutbacks in rehabs?
The first mental reply might be, “Give it a chance. Let’s see what they do with it.”
What then, folks? The damage will already be done, too costly to reverse. We’ve seen what current management has done, and they do not have my trust. How can I trust the management that attempted to erase Figment from the Imagination? What then??
Now on to seasonal attractions. Carousel of Progress, Timekeeper, and the Wonders of Life (Body Wars, Making of Me, and, my favorite, Cranium Command).
One: Carousel of Progress. This attraction was the ONLY attraction Walt Disney told his Imagineers to keep. His pride and joy. Keep in mind this is only rumor, but Cast Members have reported that when Stitch opens, Progress may go down. For good.
Which would be surprising; after all, Walt Disney management is filled with people who value this tradition and classic. But is Disney willing to go so far to shut this down for good? All this despite its successful attendance ratings since its full-year operation in October without any additional advertisement?
At this point, Wonders of Life has been shut down with areas slowly being removed. On one of the most crowded weekends at Walt Disney World, Fourth of July, the pavilion remained closed. What is to replace it? Nothing. . . yet. And when it finally gets replaced, I have no doubt current management would not care to keep the family and peaceful atmosphere of the pavilion, but rather devote the whole thing to a new craze, a new thrill, rather than keeping a thrill ride to itself (i.e. Body Wars only a small part of Wonders of Life) . . .again, this is a prediction based on track records.
And you may respond to this: "Wonders of Life is old and outdated." This doesn't mean we don't value it. I definitely promote a reworking of the current pavilion, but the fact is we do NOT have new attractions being built with such care to detail and the experience - the essence, the SINCERITY, the Walt Disney - no, not today. And therefore I find the great humor and originality of "Cranium Command" and the bright, spirited Sensory Playhouse as superior as a family attraction to what's next door.
Yet, we have new attractions being built. Most of which? Clones. No, not new Walt Disney World exclusive and magical experiences. . . .clones. Clones that will come in, clones that have been brought in for the purpose of making a cheap new addition to rack in the guests.
This is NOT to say these clones are BAD attractions. This is to say that Disney has the wrong focus when it comes to a NEW attraction. Do you get what I’m saying?
No, this problem isn’t with Walt Disney Imagineering. I’m sure if Imagineering were left to itself, Walt Disney World would get ORIGINAL attractions once again. Such great things as NEW TOMORROWLAND (Timekeeper, Alien Encounter, etc), TOWER OF TERROR (now a clone itself elsewhere!), and SPLASH MOUNTAIN.
But all of these projects needed a great budget. Great management.
We don't have that.
Certainly, great new attractions are coming into play. PhilharMagic and Stitch are excellent and exciting remakes of attractions. . . but where is the ORIGINAL character? Mission Space is original and hi-tech, but there isn’t even QUEUE space. . . and to make matters worse, speakers and vents can be seen in that cramped area. Compare that to the seasonal Wonders of Life with not a vent or speaker in sight!
Mission Space has boosted Epcot’s attendance. But, like Body Wars, it will dip in attendance as years go by, simply because there is no attachment factor. No “home” identification – it’s a ride based on thrill and emotion that can be thrown away for the next best thing in twenty years. Original concepts such as the “Carousel of Progress” still live on and are regarded as true classics. Pirates of the Caribbean. . . Haunted Mansion. Because of their quality. Their work effort. Extreme focus on detail. Themes. Story. Song.
We’re not getting this anymore. And the problem comes when Disney is closing down MORE classic attractions – with no assurance that it will make them any better.
That’s the problem. A problem circulating around the whole Walt Disney Company. Cheap, cheap, cheap has brought in great FAILURES: 2-D animation has cut back in traditional aspects of quality, story, and song – merely by the decisions of management – the same management that fired 2,500 employee artists who brought your favorite (original!) characters to life in the first place. Same thing with films. AND television. More blunders that have made the Disney news. It’s not Imagineering. . . it’s not the animators. . . it’s not the Cast Members. God bless them all. It’s the people who give the final decision. People. . . like Michael Eisner. . . who need to leave now.
The great blunder of putting Iago and rap music in the Enchanted Tiki Room that has created virtually no new great audience. The shame of putting a cheap, “plastic” Goofy dance show in the classic and family-fun Diamond Horseshoe Revue (a replacement that could have easily been put in Wonders of Life). It’s sickening.
I’m not about to sit and see Walt Disney’s treasured “Progress” go in the trash-heap. I’m not about to see Timekeeper replaced by Toy Story characters who have an attraction next door. I’m not about to see the peacefulness and thematic relevance of the Land and Wonders of Life ruined by cheap additions.
And beyond this, the detail being chipped away. The cutbacks. . . evident. The show. . . being ruined in this small way or the other. The classic Magic Kingdom Cast Members being laid off or quitting because management is replacing them with college kids, many of whom don’t truly care about their job.
We have problems. It makes me sad to think that I have to feel distressed and untrusting of the Walt Disney Company. . . but even worse to think about what it’s doing.
I don’t know about you, but the Grizzly Bear will be roaring loud.
(For recent "Call to Arms" threads, check out the Wonders of Life situation at http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=41041 and the Land situation at http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=40423 ).
