I'm wondering how much more some of the people on the boards want removed? The wand, the tiles, the "tombstones"...what's next? How about we just gut all the parks and start over and have votes on what goes in? No one ever really seems happy here with anything that is going on.
LOL :lol: It's true! I used to have a link in my signature to a thread from an Apple rumor site where people were whining and complaining about a new product Apple had introduced a number of years ago. They were predicting this new product was doomed to failure and was a terrible idea. It was called an "iPod."
I do think that some people complain an awful lot considering that they're supposed to be big fans of this place. Me, I much prefer to praise Disney. I think the parks are awesome, I'm excited about the recent changes and new attractions, and I think things are moving in absolutely the right direction.
I didn't care much about the wand either way, but I understood the objections to it, but honestly, the look of the LaL stones has always bothered me, since the day they went up. It's very rare for me to disagree with a decision of Disney's, and this is one I did happen to disagree with. I love the idea, and I'm so glad you and your son will have that tile in the parks (what a meaningful memory for him!) but I do wish that they would redesign and relocate the stones now that they have a final count of the tiles. All of you who purchased tiles should have those tiles remain in a conspicuous location, and you deserve for them to look as attractive as possible.
So naming a whole resort area after a dead man is somehow different?:shrug:
I think it's just about the feel of it. When I look at the Partners statue in the MK hub, I don't think of it as a somber memorial to a dead man; I think of it as an uplifting and magical way of honoring someone great. The same thing with "One Man's Dream" - I walk out of there thinking about what an impact he made on the world and how full of possibility the world is. By contrast, if you visit someplace like the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall, it feels somber. Looking at all those names just weighs on my heart.
To me, LaL in its current incarnation feels more like the Vietnam Memorial than it does like the tributes to Walt in the parks. Even if everyone on there were alive, the overall design of the stones automatically conjures up images of memorials and graveyards. I've thought so from the first time I saw them. That's great for the Haunted Mansion, but the idea of LaL is to be cheerful and inspiring like Walt's statue.
It totally could accomplish that, but I think a redesign is necessary for it to feel more like a contribution to the park (a legacy, if you will) and less like a war memorial.
Like, what if they took the images and arranged them on new structures to form larger images? Like giant Mickey Mouse ears or something? That could instantly transform something somber-looking into something that all guests could enjoy looking at and those with tiles could take pride in being part of.
-p.b.
