Disney has been doing a lot of
excellent things recently. I'm really quite pleased - even on the most recent visit, I noticed a TON more upkeep. It's really awesome.
On the things I haven't been too happy about. . .
1. Enchanted Tiki Room - Under New Management
Can you say not fitting, weak, and insulting? Now that Iago and Zazu are in Philharmagic, I'd say do something else with Tiki. Too bad Stitch is going in AE - they could have added him in Tiki to get lines up and add classical flavor (ingredient) back.
2. Food Rocks, Test Track, and Imagination
While Food Rocks is the strongest of the three (as in it stays dedicated to nutrition), they all replaced classic attractions with MUCH shorter rides with half quality. Imagination is the worst. Test Track I'd say is in the middle, but it still doesn't have the whole motion concept. Or quality. I've found these three a shame. I think the one with potential was Test Track; if only 'Motion' could have stayed, and then add the thrill ride. WoMotion was what EPCOT was about. . . . Test Track is generally weak.
3. Chester and Hester's DinoRAMA
This thing is probably the worst of all. I mean, carnival games? Milking the guests pocketbooks? This is the reason why Walt built the theme park - so it WOULDN'T be like this. The area, to me, is ugly. It's cute and clever as a carnival, but seems most unfitting. I mean, at least they could offer more Disneyesque prizes. But this hole place gets me sick.
4. Goofy's Dancing Jamboree
Hmm...I might tie this with Dino-Rama. That place . . . was just ugly. The color scheme is unfitting. The show is fictionized. It's lost autheticity. Teach kids to dance at Fort Wilderness . . . Toontown Fair . . . but please. I walked out of that building during a show for the first time ever. And the shows there used to be GOOD.
5. Songs and Audio-Animatronics
We're severely losing both. Mission: Space has a theme song, but personally, I don't find it that flavorful as far as Disney/EPCOT goes. I applaud the step in the right direction, but I really hope to see more originality in style and memorability in theme for the future. Animatronics - I hope they're making a comeback. But we've lost hundreds of these effective story-tellers.
Those are the main things. There are other topics like Management and Security that Disney
MUST get its act together on.
But I thought it would be fun to talk about the good stuff!
1. Little Projects - like Kitchen Karnivale
This was a surprise! Seeing a large-sized tribute to Kitchen Kabaret is a DREAM! Everyone write in - express how happy this makes you feel. Things like this really morph the visit.
2. Carousel of Progress and Timekeeper
They're now open - with decent guests! I applaud managment and operations for reopening these two attractions seasonally - and maybe while AE is closed! And I could only hope for beyond. It shows great strength in management.
3. Magical Gatherings
A promotion based on Walt's vision of the theme park - that's MAJOR strength right there! Philharmagic and Wishes were OUTSTANDING. And I am excited to see the new attractions coming in the next few years!
4. Lucky the Dinosaur
Breakthrough in Audio-Animatronics. THIS is good! I hope it clears the way for more Animatronics to come to the park. I'd pay double admission to AK just to visit Lucky for a minute. Wait. . . don't get any ideas, Disney! :lol: (just kidding
)
.
5. Shops and Merchandise
YES!! Main Street Gallery is BACK! I love that place. . . and the other shops, too. And don't forget - Disneyland is NOW getting a new version of Disneyland Forever that might make it here! Let Disney know you love this merchandise. . . who knows, with things like Kitchen Karnivale, getting soundtracks of old attractions, along with DVD footage that Disney has lying on the shelves, may not be as hard. THAT would be the best!
Note - all of the new projects have been taken on under Jay Rasulo. The other ones have been generally taken on from the time prior...I won't mention names. I hope Rasulo can take a look at the bad decisions of the past, and continue to balance classic attractions with new, beneficial attractions that increase attendance while keeping truly in tune with the theme park purpose.
This isn't to say everythings going to be happy and jolly - I can only hope Gemini doesn't change the meaning of EPCOT. I hope that attractions like Spaceship Earth can stay, while attractions like Wonders of Life can be refurbished - and I don't mean Toy Story and stuff like that.
Alright..time for lunch.
. There's a free building called the Metropolis Science Center across from AE where Stitch could have been!
