This has been a really discouraging week of Walt Disney World news for me. It’s nothing new though. Numerous weeks lately have brought discouraging news from Walt Disney World. I never really thought of myself as a “Foamer” or fanatical Walt Disney World enthusiast (I rather like the Haunted Mansion’s added queue area and think Mission: SPACE is exceptionally entertaining). But, this week I have come to appreciate that I most likely am, a “Foamer”, at least when it comes to Walt Disney World anyway. And I should embrace this new awareness and act on it. I need to recognize that Walt Disney World is no longer for me. Either it has outgrown me or I it. Nonetheless, Walt Disney World and I do not share the same concept of “Disney” any more. I know that I am not alone with my thoughts that Walt Disney World is no longer what I expect, but I will bring to a close my wishes that it were.
This week, I experienced the new Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction. It was not for me. I’m not going to go into all of the reasons why I didn’t enjoy it; I’ll just say…It was not for me. I read with bewildered disbelief of a press event to announce new benches at Fantasmic! this week. A show that I and countless others know needs aid. But, then I understood that the benches were not for me. The Studios Fantasmic! most likely isn’t even for me. I saw on a popular unofficial website this week the millions of dollars that have been poured into roads and buses at Walt Disney World while the Magic Kingdom continues to present the stalest of entertainment offerings, Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade. At this point, I recognize that neither the parade nor the infrastructure work is for me. Parks Blog posts about cinnamon rolls and pins, in truth, tell me rather straightforwardly, from Disney, that Walt Disney World is not for me. I finally get it!
Walt Disney World is no longer in the theme park business! It’s a RESORT! It’s in the hotel business! Fastpass Plus, RFID, Next Gen, Enchanted Tales with Belle, none of that is FOR ME! All of this is to build on the resort/hotel business brand. I’m not the consumer (Guest) that Walt Disney World is trying to attract! Disney isn’t building at Walt Disney World for me! The quicker I and others like me grasp this, the better we will all be! But, there’s a positive optimistic idea that washes over me as I come to terms with Walt Disney World no longer being for me: Disney DOES have parks for Guests like me! Disneyland U.S.A. is for me! Tokyo Disney is for me! I don’t have to feel doom or gloom or depressed over news from Walt Disney World. Disney does still create “magic” for “Foamers” like me! I’ve been to Disneyland…I’ve been to Tokyo…I have those amazing feelings when I enter those parks. I’m so keyed up to visit the new DCA later this month (More than I’ve ever been for New Fantasyland). I just need to accept it! The “magic” is not in central Florida any longer for me, but I shouldn’t begrudge others their Art of Animation Resort or their Sorcerers card game! There’s Disney for all of us!
My fantasy of a better Walt Disney World is dead. And, it should be dead! I can now understand that MY better Walt Disney World was always mine and mine alone. I was selfish. I was looking for something that would never be real. It was unhealthy. I encourage other “Foamers" to recognize the same! And now, I’m moving on… Adieu Walt Disney World… I’m going to Disneyland!
@TheVolant on Twitter...
This week, I experienced the new Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction. It was not for me. I’m not going to go into all of the reasons why I didn’t enjoy it; I’ll just say…It was not for me. I read with bewildered disbelief of a press event to announce new benches at Fantasmic! this week. A show that I and countless others know needs aid. But, then I understood that the benches were not for me. The Studios Fantasmic! most likely isn’t even for me. I saw on a popular unofficial website this week the millions of dollars that have been poured into roads and buses at Walt Disney World while the Magic Kingdom continues to present the stalest of entertainment offerings, Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade. At this point, I recognize that neither the parade nor the infrastructure work is for me. Parks Blog posts about cinnamon rolls and pins, in truth, tell me rather straightforwardly, from Disney, that Walt Disney World is not for me. I finally get it!
Walt Disney World is no longer in the theme park business! It’s a RESORT! It’s in the hotel business! Fastpass Plus, RFID, Next Gen, Enchanted Tales with Belle, none of that is FOR ME! All of this is to build on the resort/hotel business brand. I’m not the consumer (Guest) that Walt Disney World is trying to attract! Disney isn’t building at Walt Disney World for me! The quicker I and others like me grasp this, the better we will all be! But, there’s a positive optimistic idea that washes over me as I come to terms with Walt Disney World no longer being for me: Disney DOES have parks for Guests like me! Disneyland U.S.A. is for me! Tokyo Disney is for me! I don’t have to feel doom or gloom or depressed over news from Walt Disney World. Disney does still create “magic” for “Foamers” like me! I’ve been to Disneyland…I’ve been to Tokyo…I have those amazing feelings when I enter those parks. I’m so keyed up to visit the new DCA later this month (More than I’ve ever been for New Fantasyland). I just need to accept it! The “magic” is not in central Florida any longer for me, but I shouldn’t begrudge others their Art of Animation Resort or their Sorcerers card game! There’s Disney for all of us!
My fantasy of a better Walt Disney World is dead. And, it should be dead! I can now understand that MY better Walt Disney World was always mine and mine alone. I was selfish. I was looking for something that would never be real. It was unhealthy. I encourage other “Foamers" to recognize the same! And now, I’m moving on… Adieu Walt Disney World… I’m going to Disneyland!
@TheVolant on Twitter...
