Wanna Dis,
Sorry for the delayed and lengthy response. I've been away from my computer for awhile but still want to address your questions...
wannab@dis said:
Why do you want to relive your old memories through your kids?
Is there something really bad about that? As a child, I was thrilled with Santa Claus. Forgive me but now I relive those memories of Santa through my kids. Yes, that personally gives me joy but that's not why I do it. I do it because I believe it will give
them joy. The same can also be true for their experiences at WDW. I enjoy seeing them take joy in things that excited me as a child. There is nothing wrong with that.
wannab@dis said:
Shouldn't you want them to create their OWN memories and you enjoy seeing them discover their own experiences?
Yes, I do but allowing them to create their own memories and discover their own experiences is not exclusive to new attractions. Sure, my children can develop great memories on attractions I didn't experience as a child and I want them to do so. But in addition to that, wouldn't it be grand for them to develop experiences on attractions that also meant something to me as a child? You bet it is! Remember that for my children, who had never been on them before, those attractions
are new. And just because some of those attractions are not the newest and most technologically up-to-date does not invalidate the experiences my children have on them nor make their memories less significant. You see, those experiences and memories are now
owned by my children! It is
their experiences not just mine. And just think, when they’ve had their own experiences on those favorites of mine, we--parents and children--have a shared experience!
wannab@dis said:
Why not let them experience everything that Disney has to offer today.
I do, but that doesn’t mean that older attractions have no value. Can you stand another Christmas related example? Think about how you celebrate Christmas (assuming that you do
). Do you celebrate Christmas only with
new traditions? Probably not. More than likely, you observe some traditions with your children today that your parents observed when you were a child. At the same time, you may have also embraced some new traditions and have integrated them with the old. When it comes to Christmas traditions, both old and new can be valid, valuable, and memorable. IMO, the same can be true for WDW attractions. Both the new and the classics can be valid, valuable, and memorable. Why not let them experience those as well?
wannab@dis said:
I had never ridden Alladin, but I rode it many times on my last trip because that was my little girls favorite ride. I would take that any day over dropping by a museum to see Horizons. Just different viewpoints. *shrug*
Here is the thing, you don't have to choose one over the other. As for me, I would take my children on both Aladdin
AND Horizons (if it were still there) because I think it is possible for them to have a rewarding experience on both. Would they prefer Aladdin over Horizons? Probably, but that does not mean that they wouldn’t also have fun and develop memories/experiences on both. (My three year old loves SSE, for goodness sake, and it is no Aladdin!)
wannab@dis said:
It also seems that the ones that "long for the good ol' days" are the ones that are NEVER happy with anything done today. Coincidence? :veryconfu
I think you are painting those posting favorably on this thread with too broad a brush. I’m one of those who sometimes “long for the good ol’ days” but, at the same time, I look forward to new rides and experiences (Can’t wait to ride EE in May!) and I’ve enjoyed most of the new stuff put in WDW in recent years (except SGE and DinoRama). My favorite ride these days? Soarin (one of WDW's newest.) I, for one, welcome change, if it makes sense and isn't arbitrary (I loved Toad but I think Pooh is a better ride.) But closing a ride and not replacing it is lame (20K, Skyway) and closing a ride and replacing it with an experience that is inferior to the original is inexcusable (SGE).
Indeed, we have different viewpoints. Yours seems to be that new is better. I'm fine with that. My viewpoint is that new is great but sometimes so is older. I say there is room for both. :wave: