To Infinity and Beyond: The Future of Walt Disney World

[DisneyManOne]

Magic Kingdom
Fantasyland
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As previously established, Mr. Toad will be making his triumphant return to the Magic Kingdom. As for the ride that took his original place, however...Needless to say, it needs an update. Ever since it opened back in June of 1999, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has received mixed reviews, oft being compared to Tokyo Disneyland's epic Pooh's Hunny Hunt. Well, I say we revamp this ride to be on par with Tokyo.

I plan to make the most of the small footprint the ride occupies. As you can see in the picture, the current ride takes up less space than its predecessor, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

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This is something I plan to remedy with this new version of the ride. In fact, here's a blueprint I made up of what the new ride will look like. And I'll explain all the numbers as we go through the ride-through.

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Right off the bat, the changes are obvious. The show building is made more "wooden" and "forest-like", getting rid of the former "castle" motif that's still prevalent currently. The interactive queue would remain as is, but the loading area is where things would change. The current green wall and giant brown book would be replaced with a giant mural depicting a map of the 100 Acre Wood, in the style of the iconic map from the film.

The honey pots guest ride in will also get a tune-up. They'll still look the same, but they'll be re-fitted with the same kind of swivel technique used in Mystic Manor, which allows them to face any direction, as well as a platform that tilts the vehicles to simulate drops...which we'll get to later...

Anyways, once all are aboard their honey pot, they pass through the storybook and enter the Hundred Acre Wood. Much of the first half of the ride takes inspiration from Tokyo, so be prepared for lots of things that are similar to Hunny Hunt. The first thing guests see is Mr. Sanders, followed closely by Winnie the Pooh floating past the Honey Tree (1). He tells us "I've got a rumbly in my tumbly. It must be time for something sweet!"

However, he floats right up past the Honey Tree, and soon flies right over our heads as we head further into the Hundred Acre Wood on a “rather blustery day”.

And as if the picture wasn't any indication, the overall look of the ride has changed as well. The character animatronics will be changed to look more like those at Tokyo. Over there, the character animatronics not only blink and move their mouths, but they actually look like real stuffed animals! As for the scenery, the 2D cutouts will be gone forever, replaced with full-fledged 3D sculptures (especially in the case of the Heffalumps and Woozles scene).

Anyways, as we pass through the Hundred Acre Wood, wind blows through the wood, occasionally sending our honey pot whirling and spinning about. Heading north, we pass by Gopher's hole (2). He pops up and says "If I was you, I'd think about skedaddlin' out of here...." He heads back into his hole and finishes his sentence: "...'cause it's Winds-day!" As Gopher says "Winds-day", a bunch of leaves pop up from his hole. Turning right from Gopher's hole, we pass by Rabbit's house (3). His vegetables are in perfect order...but Rabbit isn't. Rabbit is desperately hanging onto his clothesline to avoid blowing away into the wind. "Why me? Why me?" he gripes.

Nearby Rabbit's house is the home of Kanga and Roo (4). Kanga is desperately holding on to Roo's kite, lest he blow away. "Hang on tightly, Roo!" she calls up to him. But Roo isn't fazed in the least. "Look, Mama, look!" Roo shouts ecstatically. "I'm a kite!" From there, we proceed to do a circle around Owl's house (5), caught in the middle of the windstorm, rocking back and forth as if it were shaken by the wind. And poor little Piglet is seen near the top of the ladder leading up to the house, desperately holding on to avoid being blown away. Also, the picture of Mr. Toad and Owl will be seen at the base of the tree, as if the wind has knocked it down there.

Pooh flies past us once again, wishing us a Happy Winds-day as he flies by, heading past the home of Eeyore before passing through the nearby trees. Coincidentally, the home of Eeyore is our next stop (6). Eeyore is just sitting outside his little stick teepee. Suddenly, we hear Pooh call "Watch out, Eeyore!" as he floats past, knocking his stick house down to the ground. Eeyore simply states "If you ask me, he'll never reach that tree."

At the exit to the room, we pass by a pair of swinging doors, decorated to look like forest foliage. To our right, in front of a tree, is a clump of bushes. Suddenly, Tigger pops out from the bushes and says "Come on, everybody! Let's bounce together!" (7) Now, this is where things start to get interesting.

Built into the honey pots is a new Kuka-arm system. This allows the pots to actually move up and down, like it was actually bouncing, unlike the current "bucking-bull"-esque bouncing movement. Anyways, this new take on the Tigger scene utilizes screens that surround us on both sides, like Tokyo's version. However, instead of him singing his song, the song plays as an instrumental as we follow Tigger around. Tigger bounces from one screen to the next. However, as we make a right turn, we see him bounce so high...but he doesn't come back down. The sound of angry buzzing doesn't help much, either… As we make a right turn, we find out what happened. We see Tigger, clinging on to a tree branch, with a beehive on his head. Is he fazed? Nope. Instead, looking around, he smiles and says "Phew! I almost bounced right outta the ride!" (8)

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Passing underneath Tigger, we pass through another pair of swinging doors and find Tigger and Pooh outside Mr. Sanders (9). The moon shines high overhead as Tigger says "Watch out for Heffalumps and Woozles. They steal honey." "Steal honey?" Pooh repeats, obviously worried. "Yep, sure do." Tigger responds. We find ourselves heading towards the front door of Pooh’s house. Inside, we find Pooh, fast asleep, his faithful balloon sitting right beside him (10). Suddenly, our car stops. The room fades away and a starfield forms. The balloon turns into a Heffalump head. Pooh starts to float away. All the while, we hear the sound of Tigger's ominous warning: "Heffalumps and Woozles...Heffalumps and Woozles steal honey...beware...beware!..."

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Heading further into the starfield (11), we find that it does indeed give way to that bizarre dream-world. The eerie yet catchy refrain of the honey thieves' theme fill the air.

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Many new effects and gags are scattered around the room. Heffalump-Bees and hot-air balloons with eyes on them fly above our heads. As we enter, a quarter of honey pots sing the song, warning us of the horrors that await us (12).

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Woozle-headed jack-in-the-boxes pop right out of their boxes and laugh at us (13). We pass by a mirror, where a different effect happens us, often involving us getting playfully tormented by these creatures (14). We pass by a honey tree with three Heffalumps at the top of it. We nearly get trapped in a whirlpool of honey. A Heffalump with a very engorged stomach wearing a boater hat spins around and around, sucking up as much as he can. If we time it right, we pass right underneath him! (15) A hot-air balloon carries Pooh over to it, but a gust of air within the hole of the tree blows him away (16).

We even pass by a Heffalump and Woozle band, using their bodies as their instruments, accompanying a couple dancing about in a pool of honey (17).

Along a wall, a Heffalump and a Woozle change colors and patterns (18). Soon, we escape the madness via a very unusual transport. We turn to face a Woozle soldier, lighting a fuse on top of a Heffalump (19). The resulting blast launches us backwards through a large tunnel made from a Heffalump's trunk (20). As we pass through it, the sounds of thunder are heard as lightning flashes along the tunnel walls and we see a projection of Pooh flying past on an umbrella. At the end of the tunnel, we once again face forward and head back into the 100 Acre Wood. However, we find that this isn't the 100 Acre Wood we began the ride in. It has now become victim to a flood-inducing rainfall.

This is basically like the Blustery Day scene, but we’ll seem to be higher due to the flood. Our honey pots will also seem to float along the water. In fact, the surrounding track will be made over with effects that really make it feel like floating on water. Anyways, once we enter the flooded wood, the first thing we see is Pooh, who is sitting on a tree branch that we go under. He sits with 10 honey pots as he says “Oh, no! I must rescue my supper!” (21)

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Passing under Pooh, we set off to see how the other residents of the Wood are holding up. Seeing as how their residencies are unavailable at the time, this leads to an all-new immersive experience. The things the characters float on have an LPS system, so it truly feels like we're really floating along with them. First, we pass by Piglet, standing on a chair, bailing water with a saucepan. He floats right out of his house towards us (22). Next, we pass by Owl, sitting on a rocking chair, still talking about his relatives (23). Then, we pass by Eeyore, sitting on a doorframe (24). "First the wind, and now this..." he moans. The final group we float by are Tigger, Kanga, Roo and Rabbit, sailing along in a turned-over umbrella, which Tigger rows (25). Much like before, Roo isn't fazed. "Whee! This is fun!" he says. Rabbit, on the other hand, is far more anxious. "Goodness gracious!" he says. Then, things take a decidely darker tone. First, we pass by Pooh, stuck head-first in a spinning honey pot. Then, we pass by Tigger and Piglet, the former is trying to save the latter from a log (26). “We’ll save you, Piglet!” cries Tigger. “Oh, hurry, Tigger!” says Piglet. “It’s a very big waterfall!” And just as Tigger says "...Did you say..."waterfall"?" you plummet down one, getting spritzed when you land.

Now, of course, there's no way we could possibly stage a real waterfall drop in such a small space. So, here's what we'll do. The blog Pure Imagineering provided this revolutionary idea as part of their Pocahontas ride concept.

Basically, this is a concept similar to the Anti-Gravity Room at The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. Like the Spidey ride vehicle, the pots tilt, skewering our sense of perspective as we enter a new room. In the new room, we combine the set, physical effects, and film footage to simulate falling down when, in fact, we’re on flat ground. As we enter the room where the Virtual Waterfall is, there’s a cloud of mist, which segues us over to the Virtual Waterfall. The Virtual Waterfall is a traditional screen, showing first-person perspective footage of falling down into a lake. We do not actually see the waterfall in this footage...just a fall from a cliff into a lake. The further we go, the closer the film footage zooms into the lake. Between the honey pot and the screen, there are water jets. The water jets are angled at the screen. They create a sheet of water that skewers our sense of perspective, and looks like the waterfall, itself. At the end of the Virtual Waterfall, water cannons shoot up a burst of water right in front of the honey pot, indicating that we’ve hit the lake, and are now coming back up to the surface. Sure enough, we see trees, and rocks, and shoreline... Basically, it's just like the picture, but in the opposite direction, as seen in my blueprint above.

As we come back to land, a happy, joyful instrumental of "Winnie the Pooh" starts up. It's the same instrumental heard here...

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We see a rainbow spread across the sky above our heads (27). We see that our Hundred Acre friends are throwing a party (28). “Hooray!” they all yell. “Hooray for Pooh, too!” pipes up Piglet. “Speaking of which, where is that silly ole bear?” asks Tigger. "Over here, everyone!" Pooh replies from inside the honey tree. "But you can start the party without me." (29)

And with that, he happily starts to enjoy his favorite treat. Finally, replacing the storybook pages we pass through before unloading is a giant animated storybook page, featuring the characters waving goodbye and text reading, of course, "The End" (30).

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With this new version of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh comes a slightly-expanded 100 Acre Wood. I want the Forest to stretch right to the edges of the Castle Wall that separates Storybook Village from the Enchanted Forest.

First of all, Hundred Acre Goods, the Pooh-themed store that serves as the ride's exit point, will be turned into a cottage.

The interior, while still featuring the same wares, will be update to better reflect the cottage theme. Heck, the window display could feature the famous Pooh stuffed animal and the magic book!

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Nearby, in the current location of Storybook Treats, which, in my plans, would move to where the rarely-used Friar's Nook is located, is Rabbit's Garden, a counter-service area serving healthy goods, like fruits, vegetables, salads and the like, as well as sweets from Kanga's kitchen, like Disneyland's popular Tigger Tails.

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Phew, this one took a long time to work on. I hope you liked it. And feel free to provide feedback, too!

 

[DisneyManOne]

Magic Kingdom
Fantasyland
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Small World Plaza

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Let's face it: the current placement of "it's a small world" at the Magic Kingdom is horrible. It basically condenses the ride's iconic and glorious facade and tries to shove it down in an indoor setting, which obviously doesn't work. That's why I'd like to take the opportunity to move "small world" across the park and spruce it up so that it can finally stand proudly among its brothers around the world.

Just nearby Pete's Silly Sideshow, separated from Storybook Circus by beautiful brick gates that take the place of the unneeded yellow tent, the turn-of-the-century circus transitions into an open-air esplanade of childhood wonder and intrigue, as designed in the abstract mind of Mary Blair. The golden spires and fanciful shapes of a magnificent palace protrude high above the treetops of Fantasyland, setting the scene for Small World Plaza, the “happiest” sub-area thus far. Topiaries in the shape of animals from around the world fill the colorful gardens and planters, while quirky instrumentals of that ever-famous tune constantly fill the air, each time portrayed in a different form of instrumental from a different culture.

With this new addition comes an opportunity to finally deal with a huge eyesore: the service road bridge that the Walt Disney World Railroad passes under. Given the bridge’s close proximity to the re-located “small world”, the bridge will be painted and decorated in a style to the bridge that marks the entrance to Hong Kong Disneyland’s version of the ride.

Not only that, but the railroad itself will receive a new track layout for this section of the park. The track will be expanded so that it can glide through the plaza, pass through the “small world” facade, like it does in California and Paris, then make a left turn so it can stop at the Storybook Circus station. And, of course, the track leading to the roundhouse will change so that it loops around the show building before connecting to the current track. And on top of that, the lake that dominates most of the land on the other side of track will be shrunk in size and re-routed so that it can still connect to the river.

Sitting at the farthest end of the plaza, Small World Palace is the appropriate focal point of Small World Plaza, a glistening, abstract castle representing various symbols from around the world, from the Eiffel Tower to the Golden Gate Bridge. In the center of it all is the smiling face of a googly-eyed clock tower that rings off every fifteen minutes with a parade of "dancing" dolls representing a different country of the world. Inside this magnificent palace is the "happiest cruise that ever sailed," itself, "it's a small world". With the moving of this beloved Magic Kingdom ride will come some new additions to the classic ride. Let me explain what I mean…

Our attention is first pulled towards that of a large fountain in the shape of the globe, topped by a boat filled with smiling children. On board, each child represents a different nation: Saudi Arabia, China, England, Australia, America, etc., whilst Renaissance-era flags bearing the title of the attraction and its slogan protrude from among their two-dimensional shoulders. "Welcome to the happiest cruise that ever sailed!" In a narrow flowerbed semi-circled around the globe are additional flags, each painted with the ride's name written in a language other than English (ex. "que le monde est petit", "es is eine kleine welt", etc.)

Beyond this fountain is a path that points the way towards Small World Palace, the not-so-humble abode of our impending adventure. Quirky instrumentals straight from the 1964-1965 World's Fair fill the air. The magnificent spires of Small World Palace stand tall above the surrounding plaza, a lasting tribute to the universal concept of peace on earth and goodwill towards men (especially when the palace is decorated for Christmas). The palace is decked out in pastel shades of pink, gold, blue and white, the exact same color scheme Disneyland's Small World had when it was sponsored by Mattel.

From within the palace walls, the triumphant sounds of that all-too-familiar song ring out, majestic fountains spewing on either side of the crystal-clear lagoon in the forefront. Topiaries crafted into the shape of various animals serve as a perfect compliment to the various landmarks and familiar icons crafted into the palace walls. Front and center is the smiling golden face of the iconic Clock Tower, the Rolly Crump-designed landmark. As with other takes on the venerable tower, every fifteen minutes, the constantly churning cogs and gizmos on the facade begin to protrude and sound off like a cuckoo clock, halting the ongoing music. With a dramatic drumroll, a sextet of musical tin soldiers emerge from the tower's walls, signaling a parade of dolls to emerge from the tower's base and circumnavigate the smiley-faced structure to the tune of the titular song. Each doll represents one of twenty-four countries, dressed in garbs respective to their country. At the conclusion of the parade, the Clock Tower concludes with a series of gongs and chimes in beat with the current time (like a grandfather clock), the time itself displayed from an opened-panel beneath the tower's "face." Intrigued, we dart towards the palace.

After meandering a bit through a series of switchbacks, past animal-shaped topiaries, wavy-hedges, and colorful flowerbeds, we make our way down to the covered docks of the aforementioned lagoon where brightly-colored boats gently pull in and out of the densely-populated harbor. The loading area takes its inspiration from Paris’ ride, with green gates, staircases and arches to sail under, and best of all--it’s all covered to shield guests from the harsh Floridian elements. Being gestured to the first row by a friendly dockhand in a straw hat and polo shirt, we patiently wait our turn to set sail with the happiest crew to ever sail around the world. Finally, our own boat floats into position, allowing us to board. As our boat departs from the dock, an unseen woman states, "Welcome to It's a Small World! For your safety, please remain seated throughout your voyage, keeping your hands, arms, feet and legs inside the boat. And please, watch your children. Thank you." This same safety spiel is played several more times and in multiple languages, including but not limited to Japanese, German, French, Mandarin, Maori, Cantonese, and so on. As our boat draws closer to the palace, John Debney's sweeping instrumental of the Sherman Brothers classic begins to draw closer and closer, gradually overpowering the quirky instrumentals of the World's Fair.

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In a mere matter of seconds, we gently drift inside the palace walls for our tour of the world as seen through the eyes of a child, starting with the Hello Room. Like the Paris attraction, the Hello Room is a simple straightaway into the main show building beyond. Mary Blair-styled flowers bear greetings in various languages. At the end of the Hello Room is a stylized banner reading "Welcome", held up by four birds.

The titular song, having been heard in instrumental form for the past few seconds gives way to its first sung incarnation: Scandinavian. Passing under the banner, we drift into the expansive continent of Europe, where the song is sung not just in a British-accented English, but also in Scandinavian, French, Italian, German, Spanish, etc. From the "heavens" above, clowns in hot-air balloons, acrobats on tightropes, and children attached to balloons soar about in hectic directions, a visual compliment to the scenes below.

Immediately facing us is Scandinavia, represented not through ice and snow, but through colorful mountains, giant flowers and hills given the markings of abstract Swedish art, also done in the Mary Blair-style. A large clock-like sun overlooks the area (actually telling the time), whilst Scandinavian children sing the titular song from opened-songbooks, swaying in perfect unison. Shimmering waterfalls pour down from an overhead ice-skating rink where a boy and girl in warm, winter clothing go for a perpetual skate. More children do a traditional Scandinavian folk dance, accompanied by a three-piece band. Norway finds its representation in the form of a Viking ship swaying back and forth upon the high seas, a trio of Viking children singing from on deck. Non-Frozen trolls, a la Maelstrom, happily pick flowers and relax under the clock-like sun. Nearby, a musical band of toy soldiers guard the gates to Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens.

On the other side of the canal, we are treated to a glimpse of the United Kingdom, starting with the Emerald Isle of Ireland, represented through a multitude of massive shamrocks, a glistening rainbow, clogging Irish children, and several leprechauns, one leprechaun poking in and out of a large pot of gold. Closely following Ireland is Scotland, represented by a bagpipe-player atop an old tower. In the background, a strange goat-like creature munches on a kilt from a plaid-colored hillside ridden with ancient castles. In time with the music, the goat and the hillside change colors. Nearby, the massive serpentine neck and head of the Loch Ness Monster protrudes from the waters, slowly rocking from side to side. From atop the beast's nose, a child sits a boat, his telescope pointing directly towards the monster's eye. London Bridge appears up ahead, topped by a double-decker bus filled with children, a pair of flag-waving boys sporting the colors of their favorite football team, and guarded by two beefeaters, who stand in front of the towers. Just to the right of the bridge is a checkerboard-colored Big Ben with a rapidly-spinning clock. A large checkerboard laid out before the skyline plays home to several large chess pieces, including a stylized-king and queen whom spin around wildly. Directly above London Bridge hangs a smiling crescent moon, stood upon by three carolers, almost hidden among the aforementioned tightrope-walkers and hot-air balloons.

Passing beneath London Bridge, we stumble upon France to our right and Germany to our left. Germany finds its representation through a Bavarian-style house with a clock tower, and three singing children below the clock face. In the foreground, an Oktoberfest-type polka-band provides accompaniment for dancing German children whilst a train filled with toys chugs by along the vast mountain range. A large dachshund-inspired slinky toy stands on top of the train, wagging its tail and panting. Nearby, the Netherlands is marked by a series of colorful windmills, giant flowers, and wooden shoe-wearing children clicking their heels from within giant flower buds. A girl with a shepherd's crook conducts a trio of ducks quacking in time with the music. The windmills of the Netherlands make a seamless transition into the Windmills of La Mancha, situated upon the grassy hills of Spain. And who should we find but Don Quixote on wooden-horseback, tilting at one of those windmills. After all, he believes windmills are ferocious giants! Quixote's faithful squire, Sancho Panza, also on a wooden horse, looks on in alarm. Under a gazebo, a girl in an elaborate dress clicks castanets as she twirls, a Spanish boy on the guitar nearby. Our views of Spain soon change to Italy, where the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Colosseum, and seaside homes of Venice appear. Naturally, a large gondola appears right nearby us in the canal, rocking back and forth with its pilot on board. Several Italian girls sing the song from opened songbooks, swaying with the music.

A bridge spans across both sides of the river, upon which three more singers appear.

Back on the right-hand side, France is marked by the Eiffel Tower, decked out in shades of red, white and blue. In the forefront, a slew of cancan dancers "weeing" and "ooh la-la-ing" in time with their kicks perform a routine. A ballerina spins around in circles with her dance partner, much to the enjoyment of a nearby French poodle. As a nice nod to history, under the Eiffel Tower is a doll representation of Mary Blair, the woman who served as the inspiration for "it's a small world".

Passing under the aforementioned Italian bridge, The Alps of Switzerland welcome us with the mighty Matterhorn, not to mention a yodeling-boy and several cuckoo clocks marked by bell-ringing dolls in lederhosen and mountain goats rocking their heads from side to side. Back on the left-hand side, Greece is seen, marked by flying pegasus horses overhead, the Parthenon, Mount Olympus, and a pair of sheep listening to the pan flute-stylings of their master. As we prepare to depart Europe, we pass through a cave beneath Russia's Saint Basil's Cathedral where a trio of Cossack dancers twirl in circles to the musical accompaniment of a fez-wearing bear playing a street organ. On the right-hand side of Saint Basil's, the nearby mountains serve as a backdrop for the Red Square, where a group of girls dance. Nearby, Russian musicians provide an eerie musical transition between Europe and the next scene: exotic Asia.

Asia will be the same as the current scene, but with a few changes. First of all, with Russia and Greece moved to Europe, we have Nepal making its Small World debut, with Mt. Everest and a cartoonish Yeti. In addition, China’s presence is expanded with a view of Shanghai’s skyline on the coast, a boat passing along in front of it. Nearby, the Philippines are represented via two umbrella-twirling girls singing from a gazebo. On a platform in the background, behind the Chinese acrobats and the panda, are two kids performing with a traditional Chinese dragon. Nearby the hanbok children, Korea gets further representation via a boy and a girl singing from atop a boat. The song itself alternates between Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Indian, Korean, Thai, and Tagalog, depending on what country you float past. Passing beneath through a Tori gate, we enter the next major show scene...the Middle East.

We are transported into a bazaar straight from the pages of 1,001 Arabian Nights...well, sort of. Much of the Middle Eastern segment is enclosed within a close-knit passageway covered by overhead tarps and tapestries. Israel finds its representation in the form of a boy and girl dancing beneath a wedding canopy, the boy wearing a Hebrew prayer shawl and the girl wearing a wedding dress, moved over here from the Asia scene. On the adjacent side, a boy clutching a magic lamp sings in Arabic with a child-like genie who also sings in Arabic. A trio of boys in desert-protective clothing stand with their arms folded, swaying and singing in Arabic. A belly dancer and several sheep point the way to a fruit-filled marketplace. On the left-hand side, the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx (rocking its head back and forth) appear alongside a boy playing drums atop a pink camel and multiple veil-wearing girls playing tambourine, naturally representing Egypt. A mysterious throne room of sorts entangled by a googly-eyed snake sits on the right-hand side following the marketplace, the residence of a Cleopatra-lookalike reclining on a sofa and giving us a wink.

Tribal drums fill the air as the desert setting subdues into that of the colorful jungles of Africa, where technicolor animals and children alike jam out to the titular song on both sides of the canal. However, there is a stark contrast between both sides.

To the left, we have a tropical rainforest being absolutely pelted by an ongoing thunderstorm, and to the right we have a jungle jamboree that has thus far stayed in the sunshine. Starting with the left, we find umbrella-shaped trees amid the falling "rains," several exotic birds chirping and crying out everytime thunder strikes. Many of these tropical birds spin their heads in complete circles, roll around in their eggshells, or perform other weird feats, all surrounding a beady-eyed crocodile clutching an umbrella that is far-too-small for its body. The crocodile (who appears to shake his head "no") is neighbored by a flower-spotted leopard with a much larger umbrella (who shakes his head "yes") as well as several frogs residing in a lily pad-filled pond, two flower-spotted giraffes swaying in the background foliage, and a series of huts painted with tribal mask-type markings and fronted by a trio of tribal musicians in ceremonial masks. An African elephant (who appears to be pink) perpetually sprays "water" from its trunk, unintentionally creating a heart-shaped fountain as it frolics in the rain. Multicolored chimpanzees connect the two sides of the canal via overhead vines, leading our attention to the right-hand side.

First and foremost, a pair of hyenas wildly laugh at the rainy misfortune of the animals across the way, closely neighbored by a black and green-striped zebra, a flower-spotted rhino, and a green chimpanzee pounding away at their own individual bongos. Additional frogs and a secondary crocodile float amid the swampy waters in the foreground, whilst several African children sing the song in English from an island, joined by a red and yellow lion hosting a flute-playing boy atop his head. A sheltered-dance floor features several African girls dancing in a circle, also singing in English. A droopy-eyed hippo covered in flowers rests near the exit of the scene, gleefully being pecked by a couple of "peck-peck birds" on its back. Two more flower-spotted giraffes also appear in the dense foliage. Before departing from the scene, we pass beneath the head of a pink African elephant swaying its head back and forth, several children sitting on its tusks and playing instruments. In fact, those four giraffes actually flank the elephant.

Our next stop takes us to the Islands, starting with Australia's Great Barrier Reef tastefully mixed with the other regions of the Pacific Ocean. Greeting us first are several mermaids singing the song in gurgled English, joined by several other underwater creatures donning sunglasses, straw hats, and leis. An arch made of water leads the way toward the left-hand side of the canal: Australia. Starting with the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, we see a collection of Easter Island-type heads surrounded by a line of platypuses shaking their eggs like maracas, a kangaroo and her baby rocking back and forth, a Crocodile Dundee-type boy waving a boomerang at a puppy-like dingo, and several koalas munching on eucalyptus trees protruding from the water. An Aboriginal boy sails the high seas in his canoe, while several other Aboriginal children perform the song on instruments, including that famous didgeridoo. Uluru, the major butte seen in nearly all images of the Outback, makes an appearance here, as does the skyline of Melbourne.

On the right-hand side, Hawai'i and Polynesia find representation in the form of rapidly-shaking hula dancers, a boy on a teetering surfboard, and Polynesian boys spinning around in the flames of twirling volcanoes. Tiki heads and tribal masks line the water's edge, leading the canal path into the mouth of a Tiki Room-like structure, our entrance into Latin America.

Latin America is an exact replica of the current Latin American scene in the ride, save for the addition of an Incan temple with children in Incan garbs placed in between the spinning penguins and the Andes, as well as a new adobe-built archway dividing Latin America from the next scene: North America, located where the Islands--which, as you'll remember, has moved before Latin America--would be in the current version of the ride. Children in the garbs of a Mariachi band sing in Spanish from atop the archway, but are quickly drowned out by the sounds of the song being sung in American-accented English. To our right, coyotes yip and yowl from atop red-rock buttes and clifftops, welcoming us to the Old West.

A Plains Indian Chief pounds a drum from a nearby butte, joined by several Native American girls dancing and a trio of large kachina dolls opening and closing their mouths. A Conestoga wagon appears nearby, shortly thereafter backed by a small western diorama featuring a saloon, hotel, and bank. Several cacti wearing bandito clothing rock back and forth among the desert rocks, while saloon showgirls perform a kickline on the saloon's rooftop, a cowboy tipping his hat to us from in front of the hotel. A horse and mustachioed cowboy roast weenies over a crackling campfire, subduing the right-hand side of the scene into the Midwest where rolling green hills, twirling sunflowers, and a colorful barn house appear. A smiling horse takes several children on a hayride, while a trio of scarecrows move their heads back and forth in time with the music.

Back on the left-hand side we are treated to the sights and sounds of Canada, where a child dressed as a Mountie waves at us, a smiling moose standing nearby. A pair of Kwakiutl totem poles move their "wings" up and down, standing in the foreground of a tree-capped mountain range. An ice-skating rink painted with Kwakiutl symbols also resides in the foreground, two hockey-playing children engaging in a match. In an alcove above the mountain range, an Eskimo and a polar bear are seen sitting upon blocks of ice, each with a fishing pole in their hand. Behind them, an igloo sits atop another mountain, with a red-and-white barbershop pole emerging from it. I guess you could say that makes this little alcove the North Pole. Nearby, a large ship stands tall, its sails billowing in the breeze. Children dressed as sailors sing proudly from aboard the ship. One kid sits up in the crow’s nest, waving to us.

At the end of the room is the Golden Gate Bridge, which spans from the end of the Canadian scene to the end of the Midwestern scene. Flanking the bridge on both sides are buildings from two different cities. On the left-hand side, San Francisco. On the right-hand side, New York City, complete with the Statue of Liberty. Passing under the bridge, we come face to face with the Hollywood Hills, which serves as the exit of this scene, backed by searchlights. On a platform in front of the iconic Hollywood sign, a couple dressed to the nines waltz about, while four chorus girls (two on either side of the couple) sway in time to the music, as the canal passes through a replica of the Hollywood Bowl built into the mountain and into the next scene. The ride's only hidden Mickey is created by the searchlights when cast upon the ceiling. The Hollywood Bowl serves as our entrance into the Finale.

Almost all the children of the world have gathered together in this room, tinted with blue, purple, gold and white, singing the song in English unison. All the children wear white to symbolize peace and unity in a world that can at some times be so divided. Again, no real changes apart from the new color scheme, but before we leave, we pass beneath a large sun taken straight from the World's Fair version, a bird-carried banner beneath it reading "Come Again". Our boat then drifts through the Goodbye Room, a passage similar to the Hello Room, filled with Mary-Blair esque flowers emblazoned with various farewells in various languages. We then drift back outside, return to the loading dock, and depart to continue our day at the Magic Kingdom.

No voyage around the world is complete without a trip through Small World Imports, a Mary Blair-esque toy store held within a circular building that specializes in dolls, appropriate considering that “it’s a small world” itself is filled with dolls. If this kind of shop sounds familiar, that’s because it’s a direct lift of the “it’s a small world” Toy Shop that used to grace the exit of Disneyland’s version of the iconic boat ride. This is the place to go if you want to collect the Animators’ Collection Small World dolls, made for the ride’s 50th anniversary back in 2014.

 

[Suchomimus]

In the background, a strange goat-like creature munches on a kilt from a plaid-colored hillside ridden with ancient castles.​

That “goat” would actually be a Highland cattle.

 

[DisneyManOne]

That “goat” would actually be a Highland cattle.

Really? It always looked like a goat to me.
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Magic Kingdom
Fantasyland
~~~~~
Wonderland

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The final major change that I'd give Fantasyland is the addition of yet another sub-land: Wonderland. Based upon the hyper-realistic world of Walt Disney’s 13th animated film, Alice in Wonderland, Wonderland brings us into a realm unlike any other.

Aesthetics​

Wonderland would be the fifth sub-area of Fantasyland (the other four being Storybook Village, Enchanted Forest, Storybook Circus and Small World Plaza); and to further reinforce how different it is from the other four sub-areas, the entire area is completely surrounded by a 25-foot-tall hedge. Incorporated into this landscaping masterpiece will be roots, vines, flowers and small easter eggs that fans of the film can look for. There are three distinct openings in the hedge, making the entrances/exits to Wonderland. The first is located when you reach Fantasyland from the Hub, the second connecting directly to the pathway adjacent from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and the third nearby Mickey’s Star Traders in Tomorrowland.

On top of that, each entrance is themed accordingly. The Hub entrance will transport guests through the hedge and into the Queen of Hearts' royal courtyard. The Fantasyland entrance will allow the guests to "fall" down the rabbit hole, blending in perfectly with the nearby 100 Acre Wood. Finally, the Tomorrowland entrance will transport guests through time into Wonderland. This transition is important, because the Tomorrowland facing side of the hedge will include modern, futuristic and metal accents that complement Tomorrowland's theme. Overall, these transitions are important, because they will further immerse guests in the world of Wonderland.

Stepping into the aforementioned clearing, we are immersed into a realm of pure imagination. The realistic trees and foliage of the Enchanted Forest subdue into curious topiaries, giant leaves of varying colors, oversized mushrooms, twisted trunks, and bonsai tree-like growths emitting from all manner of locations where one would not normally expect to find a tree. Plastered on tree-fronts are finger-shaped signs pointing in all directions, whether they be up, down, side-to-side, below, above, etc. And right from the start, the grinning face of the Cheshire Cat greets us, pointing to a clearing in this unnatural wood. His ghostly appearance alone can only mean one thing - we’ve fallen down the rabbit hole and into the peculiar world of Wonderland, leaving the general sanity and order of the rest of Fantasyland behind us. Alice, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum all wander about like a bunch of lunatics. There are no boundaries here. Just plain, good old-fashioned fun.

Where better to begin our tour of Wonderland than with a Disney park staple:

Mad Tea Party

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Shielded from the elements by an overhead glass canopy with an intricate design, a la Paris, we hop aboard a teacup for a mad spin around a massive, twirling teapot inhabited by the eternally-tipsy Dormouse. Paper lanterns and stringed-lights illuminate the "dance floor" as night falls upon Wonderland, creating a magical, yet eerie glow. As with other versions of the flat-ride, we are able to control the speed and "spin" of each teacup via a wheel in the center of the "brew." For guests of a younger age, this attraction is a must-see, similar to a certain flying elephant back at the circus, but for guests our age who get dizzy easily...well, we'll pass.

Alice in Wonderland
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Just steps away from the Mad Tea Party is one of Disney's most unique dark rides. This Disneyland classic would be the perfect way to transport guests into Lewis Carroll's zany world of anarchic mayhem. Built within the confines of a grass-topped cavern, complete with giant mushrooms growing out of it, (similar to what’s in the picture above), take off aboard the back of a caterpillar on a journey through surreal sights, dazzling colors and madcap music as you retrace the steps of Alice and her adventures in Wonderland. Stops along the way include the White Rabbit's house, the Golden Afternoon garden, the Tulgey Wood and the Queen of Hearts’ court, all culminating with an unbirthday celebration in our honor. The ride building also serves as a way to conceal views of the backside of Dumbo's interactive queue. Also built into the cavern that houses the ride is a door leading seemingly nowhere, the doorknob of which is known to strike up conversations with unsuspecting passers-by!

The Mad Hatter

Sitting nearby the ride is the Mad Hatter shop. Held in a quaint cottage, the shop sells a wide array of Disney-themed hats and clothing, including the ever-popular Mickey Mouse ears. Like The Chapeau back on Main Street, we are allowed to have our names embroidered on any hat, but for a small fee, of course. An interior mirror in the shop for trying on hats often provides quite a jump scare when the Cheshire Cat mysteriously appears on the other side of the looking glass, bouncing his head around before quietly disappearing into oblivion.

Cheshire Cafe

Of course, found in another cottage nearby the Mad Tea Party is the Cheshire Cafe. This is the place to go before you begin your adventures here in the Magic Kingdom, because this stand offers cereal, pastries, muffins and fruit available, along with yummy slushies, strawberry punch, and other refreshing beverages.

But, if a bigger meal is what you’re after, just head next door.

Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall

Replacing Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, this Tokyo Disneyland favorite would certainly make a splash here at the Magic Kingdom. The Queen of Hearts is holding a banquet in Wonderland, at her castle, and you're all invited! The theming is impeccable, with a giant doorknob marking the entrance to the dining area, flanked by card soldiers. Stained-glass windows depict characters from Alice in Wonderland. As for the food, service here is buffet-style, so there’s a wide variety of foods to choose from, some of it elegant, some of it rather wacky. Fantastically themed, whimsical and serving up great food, this is a great place to eat! And on top of all that, between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., the Banquet Hall plays host to an afternoon tea session...but, since this is Wonderland, after all, the tea doubles as an unbirthday party, hosted by Alice, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare themselves! Basically, I'd just take the offering currently found at the Grand Floridian and move it over here.

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Although we've covered most of Fantasyland here, there's still one more minor addition I'd like to deal with. It involves Fairytale Garden, found on the outskirts of Wonderland. Well, I'd like to turn it into a little something I call...

Storyteller's Nook

Storyteller's Nook encloses the former Fairytale Garden space, and turns it into a mysterious old library lit by candlelight. This is a place where the storytellers of the kingdom come to weave some of the kingdom's most well-known tales. And as given by the inordinate amount of bizarre props being strewn over the stage, this is only proof that storytellers have indeed gathered here. Led by Lord Elias and Lady Lillian, a troupe of storytellers retell several classic Disney stories in 25-minute shows with the help of two apprentice storytellers and actual characters from the stories they tell, as well as the musical accompaniment of a trio of minstrels (on guitar, flute and tambour, respectively).

As you can see in the pictures below, I'm basically renewing a concept from Disneyland's old Fantasy Faire (the one that used to be held at Fantasyland Theater). Their costumes will even look the same as the old days! Oh, and if you're interested, there are plenty of videos showcasing the old Fantasy Faire, so if you want a sense of how these characters will act, I highly suggest watching them.

Lord Elias and Lady Lillian are in the background; the apprentices are in the foreground.​

Each story is presented through makeshift props, minimal set pieces, and of course, humorous slapstick, song, and dance. Unlike Disneyland’s Royal Theatre, more than two stories are retold here throughout the day: Tangled, Frozen, Cinderella, and for boys, Aladdin and Hercules.

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Plus, at the end of the show, guests are invited to come up on stage and meet the characters themselves. In addition, the storytellers themselves are also on hand, ready to meet with anyone who wishes to meet them, too.

 

[DisneyManOne]

I'm back, my friends. And over the course of my brief Christmas break, I've decided to go back and update one of my ideas. This means that our sojourn through Tomorrowland will have to be delayed for one more post, because this idea revolves around Fantasyland. I've decided to go back and update one of my previous ideas and turn it into a full-blown sub-area.
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Magic Kingdom
Fantasyland
~~~~~
Arendelle

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Stretching northward, the Tudor and Bavarian facades of Storybook Village transition into a fjord reminiscent of 19th century Norway. Chalets and shops typical to a seaside village in the Scandinavian region line the streets (reindeer-tracks embedded into the pavement) as we cross a footbridge and enter the frosty kingdom of Arendelle. In the misty mountains to the north, Elsa's ice palace glimmers in the shimmering sun, while the cozy alleys and close-knit streets lay adorned in wood-carved trolls and vikings in the stead of shopfront decor, a la Epcot’s Norway Pavilion.

For this, I was largely inspired by @Imagineerland's New Orleans concept for his Magic Kingdom: Dream Version post. To be frank, this would take up the same space, if my estimations are correct. Anyways, with what I'm shooting for--a small, fully-explorable Scandinavian town--it should fit in such a small footprint. In keeping with the small footprint, I would design it more like the Hong Kong Disneyland concept (pictured above) rather than the much larger Tokyo DisneySea concept.

The waters of the Rivers of America create a “natural” fjord for Arendelle. The calm lagoon basks in the glow of the overhead sun, its dancing reflection cast across the land. Two paths--one from Fantasyland a new path from Liberty Square that is built along the water nearby the Haunted Mansion. The expanded interactive crypts would have to be removed for this to work. When you emerge from the Liberty Square path, you'll find Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post (& Sauna) sitting amid a grove of tall pines, always seeming to have a year-round “big summer blowout”. The friendly shopkeeper sells us any and all things Frozen. Oaken’s backyard sauna, clearly built to resemble the Gol Stave Church of Oslo, Norway hisses and trembles from the steam within, often accommodated by a chorus of friendly “Yoohoos!”

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Both pathways to Arendelle meet at the foot of a timbered bridge leading into Arendelle itself. Arendelle Castle, the humble abode of Queen Elsa and Princess Anna, is situated to our right; standing as yet another major castle in Fantasyland. At first glance, a flurry of snowflakes appear to constantly flow heavenward from the highest tower, perhaps the doing of an unseen Queen Elsa. Regal bunting bearing the back-to-back silhouettes of Elsa and Anna lead a cobblestone road to the threshold of the castle, where the gates are indeed open. But before we explore the castle, we’ll continue to the left of the bridge; to explore the shops and eateries of Arendelle in all its magical splendor.

http://cdn7.*****.com/wp-content/uploads/frozen_kingdom-of-arendelle-800x498@2x.webp​

The Troll's Keep is first seen upon crossing the bridge into the northern side of town. This is a small shop based upon the Troll's region; specializing in handmade clothing, miniature trolls and other items pertaining to the Scandinavian culture. The neighboring Restaurant Ved Elven (That's Norwegian by “Restaurant by the River”) overlooks the fjord from a dockside dining area, its menu consisting mostly of Norwegian fare; lefse for breakfast and meatballs for dinner. Arendelle Treats fills the air with the enchanting aroma of freshly-baked goods, but mostly the favorite of Elsa and Anna - chocolate.

The frozen - literally - fountain in the heart of town marks the entrance to the lavish and celebrated Crown Jewel Theater, noted for its soaring clock tower-turned glockenspiel. Once at our seat, we are invited to relive and retell the story of Frozen, as narrated by Erik and Aria, a comical duo of historians. On-screen lyrics and surprise appearances by Anna, Elsa and Kristoff make for a perfectly wonderful event: For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, the popular show moved over here from Disney's Hollywood Studios. A spectacular chorus of “Let it Go” culminates in an indoor-snowfall, respectively.

A quick trip inside Arendelle Castle would make any fan go crazy, as the castle itself is the respective home of Royal Reception, a meet and greet area. After meandering a bit through the spacious halls and chambers of the Castle, we are led towards one of two rooms where Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf are waiting, ready to share "warm hugs" with all those who come to meet them. In fact, at certain points throughout the day, guests can help Elsa spread a little magic at the town courtyard, in the form of an impromptu "flurry" descending onto the streets.

At the far end of the village is the mighty North Mountain, where Elsa's ice palace resides. The North Mountain is truly a glorious natural sight, and the perfect place for photo ops. Oh, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled: you may see the Walt Disney World Railroad pass by on a rocky bridge in front of the mountain. Just nearby is a building made out of stone, with a giant stained-glass window in the middle of it all. This, of course, serves as the respective home of Frozen Ever After.

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That’s right, I’d move this EPCOT attraction over here, thus moving a ride that doesn’t mesh with the reality of its current placement, into a world where it does fit, in an area where Disney movies come to life. The premise is that you’ve arrived in Arendelle just in time for “Summer Snow Day”, where Elsa will use her magical powers to make it snow during the hottest part of the year. Drifting through an icy willow forest, we soon find ourselves in the mysterious expanse of Troll Valley, followed by a mountain top climb to Elsa’s ice palace where she sings that iconic song. Arriving back in town by means of a small drop down the mountain, the Summer Snow Day festivities continue as Anna, Elsa and Olaf give us a musical send-off. But, I would also take the opportunity to “plus” the ride and give it a more coherent storyline. Here’s the changes I’d make.

First and foremost, I’d change the ride vehicles from boats to sleighs, embroidered with Scandinavian designs. I’d do this because I want “small world” to remain Fantasyland’s major boat ride.

Anyways, the ride would begin much like it currently does--with us passing by Olaf and Sven (our sleigh would actually rotate, a la Omnimover, to face them) and the Trolls, who would be found on both sides of the track. But from here, things would get different. After passing through the dimly-lit troll valley, we glide through a dark forest, where the glowing eyes of the wolves menace. We make it through however and see Anna on her sleigh on the left, greeting us. She tells us that she's going up to the North Mountain to pick up Elsa, so that the Summer Snow Day festivities can begin in Arendelle. We pass under a snow-covered rock arch and come up upon Wandering Oaken’s, where he stands on the porch and offers us his winter sale. In the windows, we see projections of his family in the sauna, waving. We float into a nearby barn and meet Kristoff and Sven, and then emerge into the Crystal Forest, filled with pointed ice spikes and Olaf and Anna pointing our way to visit Elsa.

From here, we head up to the second floor of the attraction: Elsa’s ice palace. Above us are ornately carved ice arches. At the top, we turn left to a wall of pointed ice arches looking out over the frozen mountain landscape, just as a very familiar song begins. Through a swinging set of doors, we finally arrive. This take on the ice palace would be far more extravagant than the Epcot version. Here, the palace will actually form in front of our very eyes. In front of us is a large automated set piece of the palace which actually grows in front of us in time to the music, as Elsa, who we see projected in the balconies, uses her powers. We then float underneath it and the huge ice chandelier above, pulsing with the music. Then we continue out of the tower and under the icy arches and to the next scene, where we see Elsa on her balcony completing the song. As we pass her by, we hear Anna calling to her, telling her she’s needed back in Arendelle. And so, the ride ends like it currently does: we pass by Marshmallow and the Snowgies, head down the mountain and return to Arendelle, where Anna, Elsa and Olaf bid us farewell.

Built into the mountain's rockwork, Olaf’s Holiday Hearth celebrates the splendor of the season - each season in fact, from the summer to the spring. Each holiday is showcased in a unique and interchanging collection of ornaments, miniature villages and handmade decor. The glistening, ice-crafted tree of Olaf’s Frozen Adventure twinkles come December, its glistening lights casting an illumination for the impressive display of nutcrackers, boselwood trinkets and tiny villages awash in the Christmas spirit.

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So, what do you guys think? Do you prefer Arendelle as its own sub-land, or would you like if I kept Frozen as part of Storybook Village?

 

[DisneyManOne]

To help give a better view of my vision for the new "northern" section of Fantasyland, I whipped up this amateurish sketching.

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Of course, Pinocchio would be elevated so that access to the Utilidors is still used, and Arendelle will largely be shielded by trees to prevent any intruding viewpoints from Frontierland. Also, I tried to make sure this wouldn't intrude on the firework launch zone and avoid any potential disaster.

And I'm sure you've noticed the "new addition" marked in yellow. Well, I realized I still have room for one more building in Arendelle. And I'm gonna need you guys' help to help me decide. I have two choices I'm flip-flopping over. Either I could move For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration over here from DHS...

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...or I could set up an ice-skating rink, much like the one that used to be part of Frozen Summer Fun

Personally, I'm leaning towards moving the Sing-Along over here, mainly because I absolutely adore the Historians (particularly the two seen in the video above), but I'd like to hear what you guys have to say on the matter.

 

[spacemt354]

Very detailed project so far as always, DisneyMan

That seems like it opens up a ton of space -- my only question would be is it in the fireworks fallout zone?

 

[DisneyManOne]

Very detailed project so far as always, DisneyMan

That seems like it opens up a ton of space -- my only question would be is it in the fireworks fallout zone?

That's the biggest problem I've had with this idea thus far. The launch zone itself is the large square on the field, but the fallout zone risk is too great. In fact, this picture even labels the area as a fallout zone.

Truth be told, one of my biggest motivations with a full-fledged Arendelle sub-land was to give the Railroad some much-needed decoration, so that way, it's not just a train ride through swampland. And anyways, Frozen Ever After's queue is based on the town itself, anyway. So, if it is a hazard, I'd just leave Frozen as part of the cul-de-sac. It's honestly for that reason why I haven't removed Frozen from the cul-de-sac post to begin with, anyways. I think I'll can this idea to be on the safe side. I'll leave the posts here, just because I like the idea so much anyway.

Expect the first part of Tomorrowland to be around soon.

 

[DisneyManOne]

Magic Kingdom
Tomorrowland
~~~~~
Part 1: Avenue of the Planets

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Tomorrowland is one of my favorite aspects of the Magic Kingdom; a bright and shiny look at the future, as envisioned by 20s and 30s pulp-science fiction. However, when TRON Lightcycle Power Run comes, it will bring a whole new style along with it: arching glass canopies. Since I don't want either to clash, I would find a way to blend both Deco-Tech and glass canopy together.

With this new blend of styles, Tomorrowland becomes more alive than ever. This new, thriving metropolis isn't just conceptual place, it's a habitable one. People and robots live, work, and play as one in this urban landscape. With this new refurbishment, Tomorrowland now is more alive than ever. Bridges, catwalks, and escalators have created an entire navigable second floor, creating an area that can be explored and viewed from many vantage points with people passing over metallic bridges. This second floor is achieved by a new form of topography. As the guests pass through Fantasyland, the pathway gradually rises (as the Tomorrowland pathway descends) so by the time you enter Tomorrowland from Fantasyland, you are on the 2nd level. Pretty cool, huh? The 2nd walkway is the way to go should you decide to visit Astro Orbiter, and it also provides some dramatic views inside the TRON Lightcycle Power Run. In fact, even the ground floor will become somewhat of an upper floor, because with this land-wide refurbishment, the Speedway will actually make a circle around the Astro Orbiter area, right underneath the walkway! Otherworldly rock formations are nestled up along the banks of the Hub's waterways. The land is alight with neon shimmering off of metal and crystals glowing and pulsing.

As such, my Tomorrowland posts will each focus on either a different section or attraction of the land. For this post, we'll detail the land's main entryway, the Avenue of the Planets.

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The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter

One of the scariest attractions to ever be put on Disney property was what awaited guests inside the Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center: the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, a show that used "3D sound" and in-theater effects to scare the living daylights out of park guests, centering around a man-eating alien that broke loose and menaced the spectators in the dark. It was through the use of this 3D sound that people were able to feel like the alien was right behind their backs.

Needless to say, this did not sit well with some guests. As @MANEATINGWREATH said about it in his 2016 Dream Resort thread, "it was in the wrong park at the wrong time". Well, I would bring this cult classic back, and give it a heavy re-working somewhere between the two versions on the intensity scale. I never saw the original, but I know it was popular and scary and would be celebrated if brought back. This would be a relatively easy restoration, because so much of the infrastructure is still intact between versions.

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The Timekeeper

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I, like many people, believe that Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor does not belong in Tomorrowland.. So, in the former space of the attraction, I'd bring back the attraction that replaced it: The Timekeeper. Much like how Captain EO was brought back after Michael Jackson passed away, I'd bring back this beloved Circle-Vision 360 film to honor Robin Williams, who provided the voice for the titular Timekeeper. In this attraction, which takes place in the Metropolis Science Centre, the Timekeeper sends his droid 9-Eye (voice of Rhea Perlmann) through time via the time machine at his side. From there, we're transported through time, from the age of the dinosaurs into the future. At one point, we encounter Jules Verne and H.G. Wells and actually transport Jules Verne into the future along with us. However, this film will be a bit different from what you may remember. The Timekeeper looks better than ever thanks to a new HD film (while the scenes remain the same to accommodate the Robin Williams/Rhea Perlmann dialogue; they're all new and reshot in the "seamless" style coming to the China pavilion. Even the Jules Verne actor is different!) with new in-theater effects and magic. This whimsical attraction would be perfect for Tomorrowland, and to me, I don't know why they closed it down in the first place.

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Dreamflight

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Just past the Timekeeper is the sweeping-glass facade of Innovation Hall, a significant museum in Tomorrowland that celebrates the many achievements that we, as humanity, have made over the years. Today, they’re honoring one of the most ingenuitive creations ever made: air travel. And to celebrate, the staff at Innovation Hall invites you to take a journey sure to put you on Cloud 9: Dreamflight.

Dreamflight originally dazzled guests at the Magic Kingdom from 1989 to 1998, until it was replaced by Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. But now, with the advent of Tomorrowland III, the Imagineers decided to restore this ride to its former glory. In essence, Dreamflight is a classic Omnimover dark ride filled with animatronics and song. In robust Epcot style, Dreamflight tells the story of Man's history of aviation in a stylized pop-up book form, from the early days of barnstorming to the modern days of international air travel, climaxing with a high-speed flight through the future of air travel. Tying the ride together is an insanely catchy score composed by Edo Guidotti. The only major change the ride will receive will be, obviously, to remove all references to Delta. In addition, the original "airport" queue area will be replaced with a museum-based queue featuring exhibits and dioramas depicting moments in the history of aviation. At the edge of this queue is a "time travel portal". When you step through it, you're at the 1920's-runway loading area.

 

[DisneyManOne]

Magic Kingdom
Tomorrowland
~~~~~
Part 2: Autopia

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The Tomorrowland Speedway is a ride that people wonder why it's still here. Sure, it's a nice ride for kids, so they can feel like they can actually drive, but why let this giant go-kart track sit in the middle of Tomorrowland? Honestly, it seems to intrude more on Fantasyland than it does Tomorrowland. Well, I suggest saving this ride's reputation by giving it a 21st (or is that 22nd) century makeover!

First of all, the stretch of path that encompasses Auntie Gravity's and Mickey's Star Traders will be decked out with more Deco-Tech ornaments, blending in with the nearby Avenue of Planets. Surrounding the northern leg of the track are lush trees and foliage, thus removing any views of Fantasyland. The only thing visible should be the hedge that leads towards Wonderland. The ride's new loading station is inspired by Paris' station; made to look like a Deco-Tech pagoda of sorts.

For the most part, I'd just basically take after @Imagineerland's excellent Electric Autopia concept. Rather than driving typical automobiles of the modern world, we hop into miniature "hovercars," another Disney first. To create the sensation of hovering, each Buck Rogers-inspired vehicle is suspended above the ground via a set of tracks on either side of the vehicle. This means that each car is given its own "canal" of tracks, preventing the vehicles from ramming into the sides of one another, but not necessarily the cars in front. Additionally, the cars are powered by electricity rather than gasoline, another concept that may have a domination on the future of the automobile industry. Stylistic highways and futuristic landscapes grace the show area of Autopia, taking us past electronic billboards and thundering waterfalls. The new plan features a lot of curves, overpasses, diverting tracks, and caves to drive through. The feature element is a raised loop of track out over the main path of the land, bringing some dynamic action on multiple levels to the land. A tall rocket sits right in the middle of the loop as well.

However, one change I would make towards the idea is to extend the track, so that it goes underneath the pedestrian walkways and makes a loop around the Astro Orbiter. In fact, the pathways around that area would be slitted, so guests can see the cars passing underneath.

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Well, that was a rather short post? So, expect to see Part 3 of Tomorrowland up a little later tonight.

 

[DisneyManOne]

Guys, I've gone back and once again looked at my Arendelle sub-land. Yes, it is in the vicinity of the fireworks fallout zone, but I once asked @Imagineerland about this, and he offered the solution of just closing it up to guests; much like how Disneyland's Toontown closes early. So, who knows? Maybe I'll put it back into my ideas after all. Tell you what: I plan to give you an updated ride on the WDW Railroad. You'll find out then if the idea was saved. For now, let's continue our sojourn through Tomorrowland.
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Magic Kingdom
Tomorrowland
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Part 3: The Back Half

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As I said in my first Tomorrowland post, the major difference found in the back half of Tomorrowland is that the sweeping glass architecture that will come with TRON Lightcycle Power Run will be spread throughout this back half, blending in seamlessly with the Deco-Tech. Space Mountain will finally get rid of that ugly "Video Arcade" exit area, and the entrance will be re-themed to the glass canopy as well. Don't worry -- the iconic structure of the mountain itself will remain unchanged.

As for the rest of the back half, well...let's dive in, because there's three big things to talk about.

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ShowBase 2071

Let's face it: the Tomorrowland Stage is one of the worst aspects of the current Tomorrowland. So, I think we give it a sprucing-up by turning it into something similar to Shanghai's Tomorrowland Stage. Shielded from the elements by the large canopy sweeping through this part of the land, this should be a good place for guests to get away from the hustle and bustle of the park. With this new stage should come new entertainment. I should start off by saying that I, like many other people, am not the biggest fan of the "dance parties" here at the Magic Kingdom. So, the Incredibles Dance Party is definitely out here. Maybe we could bring back the shows that used to run at the Galaxy Palace Theater, like Galaxy Search, basically an "intergalactic talent show", as I've heard.

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Cosmic Ray's Starliner Diner

Disney is no stranger to the concept of revolving restaurants (Garden Grill has been an EPCOT mainstay since Opening Day), but I think it would be nice to bring the concept to some of the other parks. Case in point: Starliner Diner. This is an all-new table-service restaurant here in the Magic Kingdom. Ever since the expansion of Wonderland, Cosmic Ray decided to close his Starlight Cafe and move on to bigger and better horizons. Thus, he opened up this swanky new hot-spot, sure to bring in all-kinds of life-forms. This restaurant is designed to look like a Deco-Tech flying saucer, referencing Ray's alien background, complete with Deco-Tech fins (the same kind that line the track of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority) along the edges.

On the inside, it looks like a high-class nightclub, or the futuristic equivalent of such. The food offered is served in a style similar to Garden Grill, wherein the various entrees and sides are served all at the same time in a family-style platter. Plus, since the restaurant revolves, expect to see dramatic views of Tomorrowland and the rest of the Magic Kingdom from above.

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And not only did Cosmic Ray set up a new shop; his good friend Sonny Eclipse is still with him, singing catchy lounge ditties to entertain diners.

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Access to this restaurant can be found two ways: one through see-through escalator tubes and wheelchair ramps; and the other through the new elevated pathway that I told you about in Part 1. With both the rotation and the colorful dynamics of the canopy, Tomorrowland will get a far more interesting backdrop for its back-half.

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You know, although I hate to leave things on a cliffhanger, I think I want to stop things here for now. I'll talk about the third major change to the back-half in its own separate post, mainly because it's going to be a big one. See ya then!

 

[DisneyManOne]

What is the third new change coming to the back-half of Tomorrowland? Well, it involves a tried-and-true classic. Yes, I am talking about...
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Magic Kingdom
Tomorrowland
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Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress is one of the most beloved attractions in the park. First opening with the World's Fair in 1964, it went on to play an engagement at Disneyland, before setting up shop here at the Magic Kingdom, where it has continued to run ever since. However, the elephant is in the room. The show hasn't been updated since the 90s. This means, that even in our modern world of amazing technological breakthroughs, the Carousel still sings the praises of "car phones" and "laser discs". Well, I say we go all-in and give this ride the break-through it so righteously deserves.

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First of all, with the new look for the back-half, the Carousel will lose its 70s "Saarinesque" look and be given a make-over similar to its original 1964 version (The dome they use here looks very similar to the design of the canopy).

As for the show itself, instead of making 20-year jumps; we'll make 50-year jumps. We'll begin, as always, with the turn-of-the-century, then jump to the 50s, then to the 2000s, and then to the distant future of the 2050s. And by the way, I was inspired for most of this by the works of @spacemt354 and @mharrington, so big shout-outs to them, as this project will be based on both their Carousel-inspired works.

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(As we wait for our show to begin, we watch a video loop in the queue. It's the same loop as before, showing clips of Walt detailing the ride before it went to the World's Fair.

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At last, the theater rotates around and the doors open, letting us in.)

PROLOGUE
(Once all are seated and the Cast Member has given his/her spiel; the lights dim and the curtain opens. An instrumental version of "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow", as our narrator, John (voiced here by Rex Allen, Jr.--who I've heard sounds just like his dad), welcomes us to the show.)

JOHN: Hello, folks, and welcome to Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. You're in for a real treat today. You see, most carousels just go around and around without getting anywhere. But on this one, at every turn, we'll be making progress. And progress is not just moving ahead. Progress is dreaming and working and building a better way of life. Progress is a commitment to people. A commitment of making today and tomorrow the best time of your life. It wasn't always easy. At every turn in our history there was always someone saying "Turn back. Turn back." But there is no turning back. Not for us. Not for our carousel. The challenge always lies ahead. Although our show changes, we still revolve around the same theme: namely, progress. And as long as man dreams and works and builds together, every day will always bring a great big beautiful tomorrow. May the century begin.

(Then, we hear Rex Allen's original voice sing that iconic song...)

"There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow, and tomorrow is just a dream away.
Man has a dream, and that's the start.
He follows his dream with mind and heart.
And when it becomes a reality,
It's a dream come true for you and me.
So there's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow, just a dream away!"

(As a chorus picks up the song, our theater turns towards the first theater.)

ACT ONE: THE 1900s
(Our first stop is an average home of the 1900s. The family patriarch, John, is sitting in a rocker, wearing a smoking jacket and holding a pipe and newspaper. The dog, Rover, lies faithfully by his side. John joins in on the singing as the chorus fades out. The song ends, but plays on as background music in quiet violin form. Through the windows the audience see that it's a bright sunny day outside. Birds are chirping in the springtime air. John notices the sound of the birds and begins to address the crowd.)

JOHN: Ah, just listen to that sound. When you hear the chirp of a robin, you know spring is in the air. What year is it? Oh, just around the turn of the century. And no doubt about it, things couldn't be any better than they are today. Yes, sir, buildings in the city are towering twenty stories or more and moving pictures are flickering up on a screen. We call them picture shows. Also, we have about some 8,000 automobiles in this country and we can travel from coast to coast by train in no less than a week. I even heard tell of two brothers named Wright who are working on some newfangled flying machine. (He chuckles to himself) It'll never work. Meanwhile, around the home, we have the latest and greatest: gas lamps, a telephone and the latest design in cast iron stoves. Also, that reservoir keeps five gallons of water hot all day on just three buckets of coal. Yep, sure beats chopping wood. And isn't our new icebox a beauty? Get a load of that. Holds 50 pounds of ice. (The icebox opens, revealing ice, bread and milk) Milk doesn't sour as quick as it used to. Also, our dog Rover here keeps the water in the drip pan from overflowing. It wasn't too long ago we had to carry water from a well. But now, thanks to progress, we have a pump right here in the kitchen. (The pump handle on the sink magically moves and water starts to flow) Of course, we keep a bucket of water handy to prime it with. Yes, sir, we have everything to make life easier. (John looks over to his right, the audience's left, where the first of the rotating dioramas appears. A woman, the mother whose name is Sarah, dressed in an apron, is ironing a shirt, while her young daughter works beside her. In the background is a large pantry with bags of food.) Say, Mother!

SARAH: What is it?

JOHN: I was reading about a fellow named Tom Edison, who's working on an idea for some kind of snap-on electric light.

SARAH: Electric lights, huh? Sounds like quite the breakthrough. Imagine--no more having to deal with kerosene and gas.

JOHN: This is my wife, Sarah. (chuckles) She sure can get to the core of the apple.

SARAH: But now that we have this new washday marvel, it takes only five hours to do the wash. Imagine! Used to take two days at least.

JOHN: That's right, folks. Now Mother has time to do other things, like...

SARAH: Like canning and freshening up the oven and the stove?

JOHN: (chuckles) Yes, Mother.

SARAH: Ovens don't clean themselves, you know.

JOHN: I know. (chuckles) And they probably never will. But no one can improve on nature for drying clothes.

SARAH: Excuse me, please, while I go get the wash off the line. It looks like it's about to rain cats and dogs.

(Rover barks at the comment and the diorama disappears.)

JOHN: Oh, don't worry, Rover, she didn't mean real cats and dogs. Besides, it's not going to rain today. How can it rain if my lumbago isn't acting up?

(Lightning flashes and the audience hears thunder while the lights dim for a few seconds. Rain starts to fall outside.)

SARAH: (sing-song; offstage) I told you so!

(Lights come back on.)

JOHN: My, my, just listen to it come down out there. Oh, well, the cistern was low on rainwater anyway. Now, around our home, entertainment is improving as well. For example, with the advent of the stereoscope, my son, James, and I can now see and learn all about the latest events in the world. But he'll have to ask permission first if he wants to look at it alone.

(The diorama on the audience's right lights up to display a young boy, John's aforementioned son, James, using a stereoscope beside an oil lamp.)

JAMES: Wowee! Look at that!

JOHN: Now look here, young man, if I told you once, I told you a thousand times, ask my permission to look at my expensive stereoscope. That's not a toy, you know!

JAMES: Ooh! Is that Little Egypt doing the hoochie-koochie, Dad?

JOHN: Oh, yeah, that's one thing I forgot to mention. She's the main attraction at the World's Fair out in St. Louis. (clears throat) Now, James, please put that away this minute before your mother finds it and get back to your homework, okay?

JAMES: But Dad...

JOHN: This minute! (The diorama disappears) Now, where was I? Oh, yes. We don't have an opera house in town, but we do have the next best thing: one of those new talking machines. What a beauty! It plays music right here in our home.

(The left diorama opens again, this time displaying Grandma sitting in a rocker, listening to music on a phonograph machine. A parrot is sitting on a perch beside her. The record plays "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" in an operatic style.)

PARROT: (squawks) She keeps that thing going all day. That tenor's driving me nuts. (Squawks again) Progress!

(The diorama disappears.)

JOHN: Of course, there are times when the younger people have their own ideas of fun and entertainment, too. (The right diorama reopens, revealing John's daughter, Jane. She's sitting at a vanity, fixing her hair. She's only wearing her undergarments, but in the 1900s, the undergarments were more modest than today's outer garments, so the scene isn't--nor should it be--offensive. Flowery, feminine music comes on for the daughter.) Take my teenage daughter, Jane, for instance. She's getting ready to go to a dance at the other end of town on one of those new electric trolleys.

JANE: Oh, Papa.

JOHN: What is it, Jane?

JANE: All these people! I'm indecent!

JOHN: Don't worry, they're friends!

JANE: Well, thanks for letting me go, Papa.

JOHN: Okay. But you be home by 9:00 sharp, daughter. Understand?

(The flowery music dies for obvious reasons.)

JANE: (dejectedly) Yes, Papa.

(The diorama disappears.)

JOHN: You know, all this talk about progress has made me work up quite a thirst. I think I'll take a trolley across town myself and meet the boys at the drug store soda fountain for a cold sarsaparilla. Oops, sorry, I forgot. We're drinking root beer now. Same drink, different name. Well, I guess that's progress for you. Which reminds me...

(The song starts up again and we rotate to...)

ACT 2: THE 1950s
(Now, we're in a more modern kitchen. John is sitting a booth set up against the kitchen wall, holding a Niagara Falls fan. Rover is on the floor in front of him. The overall decor is now very 50s-like. Basically, this is the 40s set, re-used. I've heard there wasn't much different in house design between the 40s and 50s. Can anyone correct me if I'm wrong? There are fewer exposed electric wires, due to the fact that they are well hidden.)

JOHN: Whew, boy! Hottest summer we've had in years! Well, we sure have come a long way since the turn of the century some fifty-plus years ago. Yep, we're at the halfway point of this century, and life couldn't be any more easier. Thanks to progress, we have a lot more luxury in our home and our daily lives. Television came into our lives around the time the 40s ended, and it's quite fun. In fact, we're one of the few people in town to have a color television. That means when we watch, it's not all in black-and-white. TV has become such a fad now a days, they've even invented something called a TV diner. Fast, ready to go meals that we put into this new device called, a microwave oven. (A microwave oven, with a TV dinner inside it, lights up and spins around.) Oh, yeah, you know something else that's new? A new term on the radio. Fellow says, we've got something now called the "rat race". Did you ever hear that one? It sure describes my life. I'm involved with something now called commuting. I drive into the city for work all day, and then turn right around and drive all the way back. And the highway is crowded with other rats doing the same thing.

SARAH: (from off-stage; condescending) That's why it's called progress, dear.

JOHN: (to Sarah) Yeah, I guess you're right. (back to us) Oh, and have you heard these rumors? The Russians may be sending a satellite up into space; and I've heard our country may try to one-up them by walking on the moon. (Chuckles) That's never gonna happen. And if it does, well, I'd much rather be here on solid ground. Say, Jimmy?

(James appears behind left scrim, watching a television broadcast of the New York Yankees.)

JAMES: Yeah, Pop? What is it? Dang, the Yanks are taking it to the Cardinals. Mickey Mantle is just unstoppable.

JOHN: Son, have you helped your mother with the picnic basket?

SARAH: No, he hasn't.

(Sarah appears behind the right scrim, packing the bags.)

JOHN: Oh, I nearly forgot. It's such a beautiful day out, that Sarah's decided to take the family out for a picnic in the park.

SARAH: It's going to be a real nice time...that is, if someone helps me out here.

JAMES: But mom, the game's almost over...

SARAH: Well, I may just forget to pack those Jell-O packs you like so much, or I may replace your soda with a diet No-Cal soda.

JAMES: Ugh, I'm coming! Gosh, why can't Jane help?

JOHN: (to James) James, now don't bother your sister. (to us) She's preparing for her date to the drive-in theater, I guess she's too good for us now....

(Rover barks. Jane appears behind the left scrim, talking on the phone)

JANE: Oh, that Dan, he's such a show-off. Leave it to the hot-rodders, am I right? Are you going to the movies with him tonight? Yeah, ain't that a bite? I'd be peeved to be seen in public with him, too.

JOHN: Sounds like Jane's having boyfriend troubles in the fabulous 50s. With all these hot rod cars these kids drive around these days, it's easy to be impressed, but it's hard to find the right one. Something wrong, Jane?

JANE: It's nothing, Dad. Steve just he thinks he's Elvis and he doesn't want to chip in the 50 cents for the movies.

JOHN: (Chuckles) Well, darling, the best advice I can give you is look for the quiet and humble ones. After all, that's what your mother looked for.

SARAH: (from off-stage) Now, John, you weren't so quiet yourself...you always had to be right.

(Rover barks.)

JOHN: Rover, don't interrupt while Sarah's interrupting. I guess I don't remember that part of our courtship.

(Lights up on James, watching "Dateline Disneyland" on the TV.)

JAMES: Hey, look at this!

WALT DISNEY: To all who come to this happy place, welcome, Disneyland is your land"

JOHN: How about that? Ol' Walt's opening up a theme park. Let me tell you folks, that fella Walt has some good pictures out as of late in the theaters. And he's constantly pushing the limits of progress, and heading into tomorrow. Well, I guess that's something we both have in common: a bright outlook for the future ahead. After all...

(The song starts again and we rotate to...)

ACT 3: THE 2000s
(We are in a home found in the early 2000s. It's a beautiful fall day.)

JOHN: Welcome to Autumn here in the new millennium! I never thought I'd live to see the day when our planet celebrates being here for 2,000 years, but yet, here we are. And let me tell you: the world has changed a lot. Heck, just in the last few decades alone, progress has reshaped basically every part of our life. Everything is automated these days. Even....

(From off-stage, we hear a toilet flush, followed by a very familiar voice.)

ORVILLE: No privacy at all around this place!

JOHN: (to Orville) Sorry, Orville. (to us) Yeah, that's our perennial houseguest, old Uncle Orville. Drifts in here from time to time. Takes our hospitality for granted. (whispering) Too bad he's not looking at the "Help Wanted" ads. (normal voice) And speaking of taking things for granted, it's amazing to see how much we do just that. There's lots of things in life to celebrate. The Red Sox finally broke the Curse of the Bambino and beat my old Cardinals in the World Series. Now if only the Cubs can win. (Chuckles) But that'll never happen, anyways. We have these new movie screens called "IMAX". The screen is so big and real that it almost feels like you're in the movie! And with the 3D glasses, it makes it even more amazing! And that's not even touching all the ways that our home has seen progress since this century began. The World Wide Web has brought so much innovation into our home. Heck there's even these search engines, where you can look up anything in the world, and in just seconds you get information on it. I doubt if they can sustain it. Yeah, we're living on easy street these days. And the world is growing in population each and every day. We may even hit 7 billion people on this planet, and now, we can communicate from anywhere in the world. Here, just watch. Say, Sarah...

SARAH: Yes, John?

JOHN: How about we check in and see how Jane's doing in college?

SARAH: She's doing fine. In fact, I was just about to talk with her.

(Lights up to reveal Jane in her dorm on the left side of the stage. Her computer is equipped with a real camera, making her appear on Sarah's computer.)

JANE: (annoyed) Honestly, dad, why can't you just text me, instead of calling all the time?

JOHN: (chuckles) Calm down, Jane. I'm just showing our friends here the power of the inter-webs.

JANE: Dad, it's called the internet. I thought you were supposed to be up-to-date on progress?

JOHN: I am, but it's moving faster than ever nowadays, and I'm having trouble catching up!

JANE: (chuckles) Looks like when I go on winter break, I'm gonna have to show you how to use e-mail...for the third time, might I add.

SARAH: (chuckling as well) Your father and your e-mail...

JOHN: (defending himself) Hey now, who's the guy who set up that automatic voice-mail contraption, huh?

SARAH: John, for the last time, the voice comes with the answering machine. I asked you to record your voice, remember? You certainly like to talk a lot...

JOHN: You're not helping my case, Sarah. (to us) You know, it's not just communications that have been improved with progress. The games we play are also improving, as Jimmy could probably tell you...

(Jimmy is revealed stage right, playing his video games on an old PlayStation.)

JOHN: Say Jimmy, how are you liking your "video games"?

JAMES: Oh, they're awesome, Dad. They're certainly better than that old dinosaur "Pong".

JOHN: Hey now, Pong is better than the junk currently sold on the shelves. And besides, all you do is sit inside playing those games. Whatever happened to going outside?

JAMES: Aw, Dad, I still get outside. I can still beat you in basketball, you know.

JOHN: You got me there, champ. (to us) Oh, and I almost forgot: these days, it's much easier to keep in touch with your friends and family, thanks to something called "social media".

SARAH: I just love that "Face-book" site. It's how I was able to find my night job, remember?

JOHN: Yes, dear. I remember. How come nobody likes my posts, anyway?

GRANDMA: (from off-stage) Because you post about progress by the time everyone already knows about it! What really sells are these funny cats videos that I post.

JOHN: Gosh, I guess I never keep up with the times. Well as we head on into the 21st century, in this technological age, progress is moving faster than ever. We're going to have a lot of visionaries in the 21st century, that's for sure, and everything and anything we could imagine, is just a dream away. Come on, you know the words. Let's sing further into the 21st century!

(The song starts. We rotate.)

ACT IV: THE FUTURE (2050s)

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(We find ourselves in a "house of the future", with the distant silhouette of Progress City behind it. The entire family: John, Sarah, Jane, James, Rover, Grandma and Grandpa are here. It's Christmastime; and snow is falling in the background. For the most part, this should look like the current scene (pictured above), only more "futuristic.")

FATHER: "If we can dream it, we can do it." That's the motto that I've stuck to as we head towards the future, and by golly, it still rings true. We're approaching a bold new era of new innovations and discoveries that'll make our lives even easier than before; but until then, we're just enjoying a nice family Christmas.

JAMES: Hey, I've got an idea for the future: a way to make Grandma give me back my virtual reality headset.

SARAH: Now James, don't you start up again.

JAMES: She's had it for hours, Mom!

JOHN: Your mother's right, Jimmy. Let your grandma have fun with it.

JAMES: I wonder what she's doing with it?

SARAH: Well, plug it into the TV and we'll find out.

(The TV reveals a space simulator.)

GRANDMA: I've always wanted to know what space looks like. When I was a little girl, I used to dream of being an astronaut. Did I ever tell you about the time I got to go on the International Space Station?

JOHN: You sure did, Grandma, and it keeps getting better every time!

JANE: (sitting with a guitar (as in the early days of the WDW Carousel), plunking out the melody of "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow") Is it any wonder why I plan to become an astronaut like you?

GRANDPA: You know something, you kids sure do got it easy these days. Not only do we have these wireless communications, but transportation is getting so much better. That PeopleMover sure is something else. (chuckles) Say John, remember when we used to be part of the "rat race"?

JOHN: (chuckles) Like it was yesterday, Pop. In fact, that's a relic we still have to this day. Not even progress can stop traffic jams!

GRANDPA: Y'know, while we're sitting here, warm and cozy, I can't help but feel mighty sorry for all those people out there that bucking traffic and those crowds; trying to get home for the holidays. Y'know, every city should have a PeopleMover in it. Who knows? If enough come by, traffic jams could be a thing of the past.

JAMES: Say Dad, when's your specialty gonna get done cooking?

JOHN: Calm down, you two. It takes a lot of time for me to patent my omelettes superb avec jambon.

JANE: Known in other circles as "ham and eggs".

(Rover barks.)

JOHN: Watch your mouth, Rover. And as for you two, whatever happened to respect for your elders?

GRANDMA: (to John) I was thinking the same thing when you were growing up.

(James and Jane laugh at Grandma's comeback.)

JANE: Say, Mom, would you mind turning the TV back to satellite? I want to see the New Years celebrations.

JAMES: Is it that time already?

JANE: Well of course! Matter of fact, it's past that time in half the world.

JAMES: Wow, the awesome things they teach these children nowadays.

JANE: Very funny, James.

(Various news channels play in succession.)

VARIOUS NEWSCASTERS: Celebrating the New Year here in London, a large crowd has gathered. (Channel changes.) Tremendous pace as happy Parisians welcome the New Year- (Channel changes.) A happy holiday spirit fills the evening. We still have several hours before midnight here in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World but already people from all over the world are celebrating-

GRANDMA: Oh my goodness! Look at that.

EVERYONE: (Ad lib reactions) Wow! Sensational! That's great!

JOHN: You know, I feel like sending up some fireworks myself.

SARAH: We really do have a lot to celebrate, and not just things, either.

JOHN: It's the whole quality of our lives.

JAMES: Hey, it's great you two feel that way.

SARAH: Why shouldn't we?

JAMES: The world is getting more complex.

JANE: Really?

GRANDPA: Well, today is always more complex than yesterday. Always has been.

JOHN: But it's more exciting too. We have so many more choices.

SARAH: I think that's the best part.

JAMES: In fact, I just heard that that colony on Mars is almost complete! Who knows? Maybe we'll find a new planet to settle on someday.

JOHN: And that's the really exciting part. You never know what's on the horizon. And it goes to show you that progress only happens when we dream big, inspire others, and dedicate ourselves to our goals. The future is bright and it's just a dream away.

(The timer dings.)

SARAH: Oh, speaking of good things, sounds like it's time for our omelette superb avec jambon.

(Rover barks.)

JOHN: See, even Rover's enthusiastic about the future! Alright fella, I get the message. And yes dear, you're right. Progress is always there; ready to guide us to new horizons. (to us) Say, how about we show you what may be in store? Just give us a few minutes; and we'll give you a guided tour of our hometown: Progress City.

(As the song starts up again; we rotate towards what used to be the Unloading theater. Now, as in the old days of the World's Fair; what was once a blank stage has turned into a staircase leading up towards...)

EPILOGUE: PROGRESS CITY

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(For the first time in years, the full, uncut Progress City model is here for us to view. We head up the staircase and head inside the dome at the top of the Carousel building. In fact, the blueprint above should give you an idea for what I'm looking for here. From above a railing, we see it: Progress City; a world inviting, wonderful, and full of hope for the future. Our Carousel family is not here with us physically, but we hear their voices narrating this epilogue. An instrumental of "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" plays underneath this epilogue.)

JOHN: As you can see, folks, every time it seems that we've gone as far as we can, progress always finds new ways to surprise us.
Now our whole community goes to work at the click of a switch. Honestly, it seems like that "great big beautiful tomorrow" we keep singing about is here and now!

SARAH: Everything you see in Progress City is possible today in any city, even where you live. We have all the latest ideas to help cities look better, and to make them better places to live and work in.

JOHN: Remember when we talked about transportation? Well, in addition to our PeopleMover, we also have own transporters. Flying cars have become the norm here; and they're quite a wild ride. And we have other sorts of vehicles, too. In fact the heart of Progress City's transportation is our rapid transit system that's controlled by computers. I get to work in half the time on a high-speed monorail. Sure beats traffic jams.

(Rover barks.)

JOHN: Easy, Rover. He's complaining because electric vehicles are so quiet. He misses being able to bark at passing cars.

JANE: And going out for a day on the town is also more convenient. And getting there is only half the fun. Today, our whole downtown is completely enclosed. Whatever the weather is outside, it's always dry and comfortable inside.

JAMES: Yeah, they call it a climate controlled environment.

SARAH: Say, do you see that building far off to your right? That's our power plant. Here in Progress City, we're always trying to find new and efficient ways to use energy. We're using all sorts of energy: solar, wind, hydroelectric, you name it. It sure beats burning fossil fuels.

GRANDMA: And next door, is Industrial Park which really looks more like an attractive city park, thanks to beautiful lighting and landscaping.

GRANDPA: And speaking of parks, outdoor lighting has added hours to our recreation time. We have night lighted stadiums, ball fields, and golf courses. Ah, I just love to slice the old five-iron. I'm in the 80s, myself...my golf score, that is.

JOHN: And on top of all that, we even have our own amusement park! It's not exactly Disneyland or anything, but it is clean and bright and lots of fun.

JAMES: Look! A plane's about to leave the airport!

JOHN: Just look at it go! And imagine how convenient air travel will be in the future.

JANE: I've always wanted to see the world. Maybe in the future, air travel will be so quick, we can travel from one end of the world to another in just minutes.

GRANDMA: I always did love world traveling.

JOHN: No kidding, Grandma. In one year, you managed to travel around the world, take up tennis, and even organize your high school reunion. Incredible!

GRANDPA: Who knows, champ? Maybe we'll all take a flight ourselves.

(Rover barks.)

JOHN: Now calm down, Rover. We'll always come back to Progress City. And we hope you folks will come back too. But right now, it's time to go.

SARAH: But remember, everything you've seen here in Progress City is possible today. So if you know any cities looking for a fresh new look, tell them about ours.

JOHN: Well, folks, we certainly hope you've enjoyed your time here on Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. Please gather all your personal belongings and exit through the doors located to the left. Have a great big beautiful day, and remember, tomorrow is just a dream away.

("There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" plays as we exit through the doors, and walk down a ramp leading down the side of the theater, similar to the blueprint seen above.)

~~~~~​

And there we have it: a new and improved take on Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress! What did you guys think? Feel free to leave some feedback and constructive criticism for me. And until next time, remember: tomorrow is just a dream away!

 

[DisneyManOne]

Now that we've seen all the new sites and sounds that the Magic Kingdom has to offer, let's take a tour of the park through another means: namely, by train.

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Magic Kingdom
Mousecellaneous
~~~~~
Walt Disney World Railroad Refurbishment

​

On-board the Walt Disney World Railraod, we'll be given a scenic, grand-circle tour of the Magic Kingdom aboard one of four authentic steam engines.

Now, my biggest complaint with the railroad is that it's mainly just a train ride through errant swampland with nothing to look at. This is something I plan to remedy; with new bridges to cross over, new views of the park to look at, and a few new surprises along the way. So, let's see what the railroad has in store for us.

~~~~​

Our journey begins right here on Main Street, U.S.A. at Main Street Station. A charmingly ornate railroad station, this friendly facade welcomes guests to the Magic Kingdom, its tunnels below sending them into the park for a day filled with fun. All of a sudden, we hear it...the call of a steam whistle and the chugging of wheels. The Walt Disney World Railroad has pulled into the station!

"Your attention please! The Walt Disney World Railroad, now leaving for a grand circle tour of the Magic Kingdom, with stops at Frontierland and Fantasyland. All passengers, board!"

With that, we hop aboard the train, ready for a trip unlike any other. As we board, we hear the voice of one of those typical old-timers, one who's been on many a train and knows the way trains work and the local landscaping and color by heart. He gives us a friendly welcome.

"Hello, folks! Welcome aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad! We’re now embarking on a grand circle tour of the Magic Kingdom, with stops at Frontierland and Fantasyland—and featuring stops at the Grand Canyon and the Ice Age. We got a lot of travelin’ ahead of us, so remember: for a safe trip, you need to stay seated, keeping your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the train. And please, watch your children."

"¡Hola todos! Bienvenido a bordo del Walt Disney World Railroad! Le llevaremos a una excursión de gran círculo del parque, con paradas en Frontierland y Fantasyland. Por su seguridad y la de otros, por favor permanezca sentado con las manos, brazos, pies y piernas dentro del tren, y por favor asegúrese de vigilar a sus hijos. Gracias!"

As the train chuffs out, the country-laden twangs of "Casey Jr." from Dumbo (basically, an extended version of the song heard in the video above) fills our ears. This serves as underscore for our journey. As soon as we depart from Main Street Station, the voice of our guide comes on again.

"You know, I've been riding these rails for quite a spell, and I find there's no better place to travel than right here at the Magic Kingdom. By the way, we’re traveling on pure steam power. This old locomotive is descended from the mighty trains that powered the golden age of steam. And just like me, it’s a little old-fashioned", he says with a chuckle. Suddenly, a fierce roar sounds from out of nowhere.

"Golly! Did you hear that? Where else but at the Magic Kingdom can you travel from the charm of a turn-of-the-century American town to the untamed jungles of Africa, Asia, and South America? We're traveling through the wilds of Adventureland, where you might run into all sorts of savage creatures and mysterious locales. There's all sorts of wild beasts roaming these parts: like lions, tigers, and even tiki birds. Sure can get wild around these parts."

Moving further ahead, we pass through a tunnel designed to look like it's part of the temple where Indiana Jones Adventure is situated. Indeed, the tunnel is deeply ornate and richly-detailed. In fact, you may even see one of the EMV vehicles barreling their way through!

"Seems to me like we're passing right through an old temple. I've heard tell that none other than Indiana Jones is somewhere inside there, trying to see if there are any artifacts to study. He'd best be careful!

And speaking of people ready for adventure, don't be surprised if you run into Captain Jack Sparrow while you're here. He’s hidin’ out among those scurrilous Pirates of the Caribbean. Everybody best be on the lookout—ya never know just what may show up. But if your travels bring you to Adventureland today, be sure you come with an extra dose of bravery."

Indeed, the Pirates of the Caribbean pass-through is also detailed. We're seemingly passing through Castillo del Morro. Cannons sit in their holsters, ready to be blasted at intruders. Dimly-lit torches light the way. Snatches of "Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me" can be heard if you've got a good ear.

The jungle foliage gradually transforms into foliage commonly found in the wild frontier.

"Well, shoot! It looks like we've reached the wild west of the Magic Kingdom: Frontierland! This outpost is home to the covered wagons, cowpokes, and Country Bears. And we’ve got our own mountain range of excitin’ adventures. You might catch a runaway mine train at Big Thunder Mountain, or hop on over to Splash Mountain and join Br’er Rabbit for a 50-foot drop straight down into the briar patch. Or, if you're really darin', you can scale Thunderbird Peak and see if you can spot that elusive Thunderbird.

We’ve reached Frontierland Station, everyone, so sit tight until we’ve come to a complete stop. This station not only serves Frontierland, but it's also the place to stop if you want to head to Adventureland. If you’re disembarking here, please carry your strollers all the way off the platform before you unfold ’em. That’ll help make room for the new passengers joinin’ us. For those of your continuin’ on with us, we’ll be resumin’ our trip in just a moment. This is Frontierland!"

As we pull in, a bluegrass version of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" plays (much like at Disneyland, when we pull into each station, a certain music sting plays).

"Hello, folks! If you're just joinin' us, welcome aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad! We’re just about to head off for Fantasyland, and then onward to Main Street, U.S.A. We got a lot of travelin’ ahead of us, so remember: for a safe trip, you need to stay seated, keeping your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the train. And please, watch your children."

"¡Hola todos! Bienvenido a bordo del Walt Disney World Railroad! Estamos a punto de partir hacia Fantasyland, y luego hacia Main Street, U.S.A. Por su seguridad y la de otros, por favor permanezca sentado con las manos, brazos, pies y piernas dentro del tren, y por favor asegúrese de vigilar a sus hijos. Gracias!"

Soon, we're chuffing outta Frontierland Station and towards the vast wilderness.

"As we head into the American wilderness, we’ll pass by the dusty desert town of Tumbleweed. Keep your eyes peeled for the runaway mine trains of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Runaway trains… now I ask you — is that any way to run a railroad?"

Soon, we find ourselves passing along Columbia Gorge, offering dramatic views of the Rivers of America.

​

"Y'know, I feel right at home here in the prairies and forests of the American wilderness. These woods haven’t changed much since the days when settlers started headin’ west! Nowadays, the rails can carry us safely through the wild, and a trip that used to take months can now be made in just a few weeks. There’s plenty of deer, antelope, and elk that feed along the banks of the river. And naturally, plenty of early settlers decided to put down stakes and live here too. Of course, those early settlers weren’t the first to make their home in this wild frontier. These native tribes of Plains Indians were living, hunting, and trading for centuries before we ever came along. They were the first to tame the wild horses of the American plains — long before our big ol’ iron horses started chuggin’ through these parts."

At the edge of Columbia Gorge is a rocky tunnel, serving as our transition to Fantasyland.

"We’re almost out of the woods, folks. We’re comin’ up on the most magical of lands: Fantasyland — a place where any dream can come true! This is the place where some of your favorite Disney stories come to life like never before. In fact, we're just about to pass by Arendelle, the place Anna and Elsa call home!"

Yep, I'm keeping Arendelle! Indeed, we pass along a trestle along the rocky rostrum of the North Mountain. To the left of the train, you may catch a glimpse of Elsa's ice palace. To the right, you'll see the bustling town of Arendelle itself, ready to welcome all guests.

Leaving Arendelle, we traverse through a dense forest, with even more trees.

"Y'know, Arendelle isn't the only place you can visit in Fantasyland. You can also visit such locales as Neverland, Wonderland, and the 100 Acre Wood. You can also dive under the sea and meet the Little Mermaid; or see Rapunzel's story come to life before your eyes; or explore the Beast's castle; or drive a motorcar with Mr. Toad; or hear the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame; or follow Pinocchio on his epic quest to be a real boy; or journey into the Seven Dwarfs' diamond mine, where a million diamonds shine. Whether you’re a pixie, a princess, or just an everyday dreamer, there’s always something special about Fantasyland."

Soon, we approach that service passageway (which, I may remind you, has been transformed into something "Small-World" esque; serving as our transition to Small World Plaza, where we pass right through the ride's iconic facade.

​

"We're now about to pass by the happiest cruise that ever sailed, “it’s a small world.” This trip around the world as seen through the eyes of a child has been entertaining generations of people ever since it first opened at the 1964 New York World's Fair, and the song has gone down as one of the most beloved of all Disney songs.

If you’ve been riding trains as long as this old-timer, you may remember the days when the circus would come to town on the local railway. Well, the circus is here, and it’s set up permanent headquarters as the Fantasyland Storybook Circus. This is the place to fly high with Dumbo, or join Goofy on the Barnstormer — a frolicking ride of circus acrobatics and coaster thrills. This station is also your gateway to the rest of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Now, please wait until the train has come to a complete stop, gather your belongings, and carry your strollers away from the platform before you start unfoldin’ ’em. That way, we can start loadin’ up for the next leg of our trip. For those of your disembarking, please watch your step, and thanks for traveling with us on the Walt Disney World Railroad. Join us again real soon. If you’re stayin’ aboard, our next stop is Main Street Station."

​

As we pull in, we hear a fully orchestrated version of "Casey Jr." (direct from the Dumbo soundtrack--the same thing you hear when you pull into Toontown at Disneyland).

​

"Hello, folks! If you're just joinin' us, welcome aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad! We’re just about to head back to Main Street, U.S.A. Now, everyone stay seated, and keep your hands and arms, feet, and legs inside the train at all times. And please, keep an eye on your children."

"¡Hola todos! Bienvenido a bordo del Walt Disney World Railroad! Estamos a punto de regresar a Main Street, U.S.A. Por su seguridad y la de otros, por favor permanezca sentado con las manos, brazos, pies y piernas dentro del tren, y por favor asegúrese de vigilar a sus hijos. Gracias!"

Chuffing out of Fantasyland Station, we head towards Tomorrowland.

"Folks, ahead of us lies the future! Well, I guess we all know that… What I mean to say is, we’re headin’ into Tomorrowland—where anything that's everything is possible. Winding below us to your right is the Autopia—where drivers of all ages can get behind the wheel of a car, and no license is required. If you’ve ever wanted to become an astronaut, then you might want to stop at Space Mountain, where they got some new-fangled flyin’ spaceships that’ll launch you into the deepest reaches of space. And you can ride ’em if you got the mind—huh, and the nerve.

Yes, anything is possible here in Tomorrowland. But now, I'd like to show you something that you can only see here on the Walt Disney World Railroad. We are about to pass along the rim of the Grand Canyon. Before we go in, I'd like to warn you: it’s a mighty long drop to the canyon floor, so for your safety, stay seated with your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the train. Be sure to watch your kids, and no flash pictures, please."

​

A trip along the rim of the Grand Canyon provides passengers with a glimpse at one of the world’s longest dioramas, a re-creation of the flora and fauna of Arizona’s great abyss. To Ferde Grofé’s “Grand Canyon Suite,” curious wildlife examines our train in hesitant caution, unfamiliar with such strange creatures as ourselves.

"That was the Grand Canyon as we know it today. But it wasn’t always that way. Quiet now, as we travel back in time. Back to the great sweeping plains of the Ice Age...land of the mighty mammoth."
​

​

​

This is the world that once was; a world that trembles beneath giant feet… Strange mammals and hulking creatures thrive among the subtle populace of early man. Sabre-toothed cats and monstrous wolves stalk unsuspecting prey. The mighty mammoth, towering mastodon, ancient buffalo and wooly rhinoceros graze along the frozen tundra. Hunters have cornered a mammoth, ready to close-in on the trumpeting beast, all while nearby “innovators” discover fire… This is the dramatic stage that sets the fantastic Ice Age World, a kingdom lost to time itself…

As we emerge, the voice of our guide comes back on again...

"Wasn't that exciting? But after all that travelin', it’s nice to come home to good old Main Street, U.S.A., the gateway to the Magic Kingdom. Inspired by the small-town dreams of a young Walt Disney, a walk down Main Street is like steppin’ back into the early years of the 20th century. Of course, ours is a Main Street of the imagination, a charming, nostalgic tribute to a bygone era of barbershop quartets, horse-drawn trolleys and charming store windowfronts.

We’ve made a complete trip around the Magic Kingdom. For those of you who’ve been on board for the whole journey, thanks for puttin’ up with me these last few days. We sure hope you’ve enjoyed your travels with us and that you’ll come back and see us again real soon! If you’re stayin’ with us, we’ll be headed for Frontierland next. If you’ll be leavin’ us here, stay in your seat ’til we come to a full stop. And remember to gather all your personal belongings (includin’ the younguns if you got any), and step carefully from the train. For those of your travelin’ on, we’ll be on our way again in just a few minutes."​

 

[Bullseye1967]

Thank you very much! And please, feel free to post any feedback you have.

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Magic Kingdom
Main Street, U.S.A.

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We begin, as always, with a trip to the Magic Kingdom, the park that started it all. And we begin with an idea that has always held a special place in my heart. Since the Magic Kingdom was Walt's last dream, I think it would only be fitting to restore the original version of Walt Disney: One Man's Dream (which is now Walt Disney Presents).

I would place this exhibit inside the Town Square Exposition Hall. Not only will this offer plenty of space for the exhibits and the movie theater, it actually brings the building full-circle, because from 1973 to 1992, the Exposition Hall played host to The Walt Disney Story, basically the predecessor to One Man's Dream.

For the most part, Walt Disney: One Man's Dream will remain the same as it did back in Disney's Hollywood Studios, albeit with its look re-done to match the Exposition Hall theme. Red carpeting, golden walls, basically what the Exposition Hall looks like right now. Even the plaques detailing the exhibits would change to fit the theme, with wooden panelings and old-timey fonts.

​

Just beyond the rotunda of the Exposition Hall, you'll find the iconic "logo wall" (pictured above), serving as your entrance-way into the exhibit. The exhibits would be more spaced-out to fill the space of the building, but they would still take you through the history of Walt and the studio. In addition to some of the old exhibits, new exhibits from D23, the Walt Disney Archives and the Walt Disney Family Museum would find their homes here, too. I wouldn't mind seeing a copy of the WDFM's excellent "Disneyland of Walt's Imagination" diorama.

​

Heading to the right at the northern-most edge of the exhibits would be the entrance to the theater. The entrance would be warmly-lit, with curtains hanging over the automatic doors. I would also take the opportunity to restore an old bit of The Walt Disney Story: an elaborate mural (as originally painted by Bill Justice), featuring the various animated characters that Walt helped bring to life in his time.

Basically, this but without the characters from 1970-onward (excluding the Winnie the Pooh characters, of course, because they were around before Walt passed on.)​

This mural would sit in-between two sets of automatic doors leading into the theater, decorated like that of an elegant movie-house from the early days of nickelodeons. It is here, of course, that we watch a film about the life of the man who started it all, narrated by Julie Andrews and Walt himself!

​

Not only would this exhibit be moved, but it would also play host to two gift shops. Firstly, when you exit the theater, you exit out into a small shop called...

Walt's Hobbies

​

This is a charming toy store, inspired by the toy stores of decades gone by. As the name implies, it is a tribute to the childlike qualities of Walt Disney. This shop sells model trains, doll house accessories, and other fine miniatures, combined with photos and memorabilia pertaining to Walt and his interests. Of course, these items are relatively simple when compared to the varying items of significant value - and importance - found at the shop nearby...

The Disney Gallery

​

In a private collection of portraits, paintings, caricatures and sculptures, The Disney Gallery serves as a showcase for the artwork of Walt Disney Imagineering and Animation, past and present. Special displays show rare storyboards from the Walt-era films, and Q&A sessions with Imagineers and artists happen on the occasion. Plus, if your wallet's fat enough, you can purchase some of the items on display!

Where would this store be located, you ask? Well, you know how you can enter Curtain Call Collectibles via a wheelchair ramp running along the right-hand side of the building? Well, that's where that particular pathway will enter into. Essentially, the exhibition would take up most of the building, and the theater and the two shops would form one long column leading down towards the ramp.

This is the best idea I have ever heard in regards to Disney parks. It really does belong on Main Street USA.

 

[DisneyManOne]

This is the best idea I have ever heard in regards to Disney parks. It really does belong on Main Street USA.

Thank you very much! I've always thought it would be a nice addition to the park.
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Magic Kingdom
Mousecellaneous
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Characters at a Glance
​

The Magic Kingdom is the place where the worlds of Disney come to life before your very eyes. As such, it's only fitting that you should meet up with some of your favorite characters here. In this post, I'll show you which characters I believe should be meeting; and where.

First of all, on Main Street, U.S.A., you'll be able to find the likes of the Excellent Eight: that's Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale meeting guests in Town Square. It seems only fitting to begin your day by rubbing shoulders with the most popular Disney characters.

In addition to them, you'll also find characters like Scrooge McDuck, Ludwig von Drake, Huey, Dewey, Louie and even Oswald the Lucky Rabbit!

The Hub will play host to various meet-and-greets throughout the day. So, keep your eyes peeled--you never know who may show up! For this, I was reminded of something that happened on my first trip back in 2002. A whole group of random characters, led by Mickey and Minnie, would go out into the Hub for a meet-and-greet session, then re-gather on Castle Forecourt Stage for a group photo. I think it was a nice idea, so I'd bring this element back.

In Adventureland, you'll find characters right off the bat. The wooden gazebo found nearby Skipper Canteen, overlooking the rivers of the Hub, would play host to "Jungle Friends": characters from The Jungle Book, The Lion King and Tarzan. Throughout the day, you'll see Baloo, King Louie, Colonel Hathi, Rafiki, Timon and Terk; alongside their human friends Mowgli, Tarzan and Jane.

​

A few feet away, Moana can be found in the South Seas-inspired garden that has replaced the Magic Carpets of Aladdin.

At the Adventureland Bazaar, you might come across Aladdin, Jasmine and the Genie.

You may come across Indiana Jones just outside the entrance to the Temple of the Forbidden Eye. But he doesn't really get out much; mainly because he's too busy exploring.

Captain Jack Sparrow is known to make appearances on-board the Black Pearl, and he often comes down to the mainland to teach eager buccaneers how to be pirates.

A whole host of characters can be found in Frontierland. The likes of Woody, Jessie, Bullseye, Pocahontas, Meeko, Kenai, Koda, Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Bear, Br’er Fox and the Country Bears themselves--Big Al, Liverlips McGrowl, Shaker and Wendell--all make appearances here.

Nothing in Liberty Square...unless you count the Muppets.

In Fantasyland, the character cup doth runneth over. This is the land where characters live; so it's only fitting that you could meet a whole bunch of them.

In Storybook Village, you can meet many characters; often nearby their attractions. Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Phoebus, Clopin, Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Tinker Bell, Mr. Toad, Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket and Geppetto all can be found here.

​

In addition, the likes of Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Little John, Friar Tuck and even Merida from Brave can often be found wandering the streets of Storybook Village.

UPDATE: I also want to bring Merlin back to the park. In addition to meeting guests, he also hosts the Sword in the Stone Ceremony, where he invites guests to come up to the Sword and test their strength. Whoever pulls the Sword out becomes King (or Queen) for the Day!​

​

​

Rapunzel and Flynn can often be found in front of the waterfall that the infamous tower sits upon.

In Arendelle, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf can be found inside Arendelle Castle. But I told you that already. But, if you want to continue to meet royalty, look no further than Princess Fairytale Hall. Cinderella, Elena, Aurora and Tiana can often be found here. Plus, as an added bonus; Charming, Phillip and Naveen join their respective princesses after the Festival of Fantasy rolls through the Magic Kingdom.

In the Enchanted Forest, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore and Rabbit can be found meeting guests beside their ride; occasionally joined by Owl, Kanga and Roo; and in extremely rare cases, Christopher Robin may show up!

Snow White, Prince Florian, and the Dwarfs often meet guests in front of their cottage (although Dopey tends to show up more than the others do).

Belle and the Beast can often be found greeting guests in a room next to Be Our Guest Restaurant inside the castle; occasionally joined by Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts and Chip. Back in the village, Gaston delights guests; while a new Streetmosphere element brings other characters from the village, like Lefou, the Bimbettes, the baker and the bookseller, for example, to life.

If you want to meet the Little Mermaid herself, just go to Ariel's Grotto.

Pete's Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus will now play host to some rarer characters (I believe I already told you that).

Of course, in Wonderland, you'll be able to meet a whole slew of characters: Alice, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

In Tomorrowland, the likes of Buzz Lightyear, Stitch, and the Big Hero 6 gang call this land their home.

UPDATE: @AceAstro has reminded me of another well-known character: PUSH, the Talking Trash Can. I'd definitely bring him back. He was a riot!​

And I guess that's pretty much it off the top of my head. If you have any suggestions, let me know. All right, guys, get ready. Our final post for the Magic Kingdom will be coming up next. It's the return of a beloved classic...but what it is...I won't say for now.

 

[AceAstro]

In Tomorrowland, the likes of Buzz Lightyear, Stitch, and the Big Hero 6 gang call this land their home.

My only suggestion would be to bring my love, Push the Talking Trashcan, back. Otherwise, this all looks great!

 

[DisneyManOne]

My only suggestion would be to bring my love, Push the Talking Trashcan, back. Otherwise, this all looks great!

How could I forget Push? Yes, I'll have to add him back to the list. Anyways, here's the last major change I'd make to the Magic Kingdom.
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Magic Kingdom
Mousecellaneous
~~~~~
SpectroMagic: Colors Combined

​

SpectroMagic was probably one of the best forms of nighttime entertainment in Disney park history; taking the basic concept of the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade and making it more elegant; more grandeur. What other parade do you know of has its soundtrack done in 3/4 time, instead of 4/4? Well, anyways, for SpectroMagic's return; I'd turn towards an idea that a user named @RadiatorSpringsRacer came up with a few years ago. It's called SpectroMagic: Colors Combined!

Here's how RadiatorSpringsRacer devised the concept: "How will this work? The thought is to have different parade units - whirlyballs, costumes, parts of floats, etc. basically covered in pixels - or rear-projected - so that they can completely change their appearance at any time. In effect, the entire thing is a display.

​

There would be an art station open at the park until a couple of hours before the parade starts, in which guests could pick a paper template for whichever paintable unit they wanted to design, and then get to work. Disney's done this sort of thing before with LuminAria; why not plus it? (If you're familiar with the process of putting textures onto a 3D model, this concept should be easier to visualize.)
All the submitted paintings, after being properly checked, sorted, scanned and what not, would be cycled through along the parade route.

Guests' designs could be linked to their MagicBands, and an alert could also be sent to each guest's MDE app to let them know where to sit/stand along the route to see their design(s) in action. Can you imagine the character interaction possibilities of this sort of thing? "Thank you for making this for me!" "Your painting looks wonderful." "I love the red/blue/gold/etc." "Say, this reminds of the time [insert event from movie here].""

SpectroMagic: Colors Combined will ultimately be not just a cavalcade of art and color, but a tribute to each person's individuality and imagination; their power to express themselves and bring to light everything that inspires them. In keeping with the theme, the plan is to mostly feature characters who paint or who are known for being artistic/creative. For the sake of character interaction, new versions of all Made With Magic accessories will be released for the parade that can sync with wearers' MagicBands.

Jiminy Cricket will return as host for the parade, but joining him is a special co-host: Woody from Toy Story. He's enthusiastic and unafraid while still having a kind of warmth to him, and the fact that he's a toy that a child plays with ties beautifully into the theme. Ten minutes before the start of the celebration, and again with "just a few" to go, they'll address the guests:

JIMINY: Walt Disney World guests young and old, this is your SpectroMagical host, Jiminy Cricket. We here at the Magic Kingdom have been pouring over all the great art that you did up today, and we can't wait to see it glow out there on the streets. Come on out and paint the night with us. You'll see Mickey Mouse and his lovable friends, the enchanted wonders of Ariel's undersea kingdom, the pulse-pounding adventures of the Big Hero 6, the bizarre dream-worlds of Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh, and so many more of the magic worlds of Disney. Now, for those of you that painted something for us, I'll hand it over to tonight's creative director, my pal Sheriff Woody.

WOODY: Howdy, everyone! Welcome to the show! If you drew up some artwork, make sure you head over to where it's set to show up if you haven't yet. And remember, when your creation gets close to you, anything you're wearing that's Made With SpectroMagic is gonna sparkle in a bunch of different colors depending on what you made - sort of like it's doing right now! In my time as a toy I've seen a lot of great imagination, and I think all yours is right up there with it. Say, Jiminy, how long until we step off?

JIMINY: Just about ten minutes. See you then, folks!

Opening Unit

As the lights dim, we hear a very familiar sound...

On this magic night,
A million stars will play beside us,
Cast a spell of light,
Glimmering, shimmering, carousel-ling
'Round the world tonight,
A symphony in SpectroMagic.
Pure enchantment lights our way!

Woody chimes in once more: "This is our playtime...where with a spark of light, a rainbow of possibilities, and a special touch from each of us, the unforgettable characters and moments of Disney stories are painted to life."

Jiminy finishes the introduction thusly: "And now, the Magic Kingdom proudly presents, in ten million bright hues of musical light...the magic worlds of Disney...as colors combine to make some...SpectroMagic!"

The first float of the parade is exactly the same as the original...the trumpeters' float.

In front of the trumpeters are six SpectroMen. Their names: Lightcap, Waxxee, Twinkle, Piccolo, Glitterflow, Tyedye. Each has a SpectroMagical art tool (paintbrush, crayon, marker, pencil, etc.) affixed to one of their arms, and they can change the colors of any accessories the guests are wearing with a cheerful wave.

Oh, and by the way, I recently came across the backstory for these whimsical light-keepers. Here it is:

The Spectromen are keepers of light. They hold the parades magical light and transform it for you in the midst of the night. They come from a land called Light Spriation where everything is filled with rays of light and magical bursts of color. They were always afraid to come out of hiding and share their magical light, until one day, Mickey, the Spectromen King, asked if they would join him in a nighttime festival of magic and light, and come and bring the magical light for everyone to see. Scared to confront people, they hesitated. After much consideration, the Spectro Men agreed. They brought along their magical Spectro Balls and Light-Trumpets to spread the joy of their magical light to everyone. Mickey controls the light they magically create and powers the parade through his Electro-ball, changing it from night to day, or crystal to multi-color.​

The story of the SpectroMen has never really been told, or even mentioned. Creative Entertainment uses back-stories, as well as Walt Disney Imagineering, to help create the ride, show, or parade. Like who, what, when, why and where. The SpectroMen aren’t really scary (as many considered them to be), just misunderstood creatures of the night that just want to bring you their power of magical light.

Following them is a new unit: a series of Knights. They look like the knights in Tokyo's DreamLights parade and the "horses" they ride actually "trot".

Following the knights are four moreSpectroMen - Holo-Brite, Lo-Beat, Rapstar and Opera - on the whirly-balls.

A reimagined SpectroMagic title float comes into view next, writing the parade's logo before our eyes once again. Two SpectroMen, Prismatix and Harmony, chatter about on balls affixed to the float, much like the setup of the original. The float itself is composed of fountain-like golden tubes that spew liquid color, which change hues in time with the logo. Along the bottom is a silver ribbon studded with light patterns.

Following them are more SpectroMen on whirly-balls, as well as Mickey's iconic float. But this time, the crystal ball Mickey stands over will feature selected artwork. Upon seeing whatever new artwork comes into view, Mickey will remark about it.

Paintable Items: Whirly-balls, SpectroMagic logo, crystal ball

Music Unit

Following this is the music unit. It will remain the same as it was during the original run of SpectroMagic, but the instruments will be much more animated. Each instrument's bells, strings, etc. glow a different color when that instrument is played. Also, Genie's baton is replaced by a paint brush.

Alice in Wonderland Unit

Following behind the music unit is a new unit themed around Alice in Wonderland. Tulgey Wood makes up the front of this float - Alice is flanked by a few trees, with animatronic creatures sitting on their branches. The Cheshire Cat makes mysterious remarks about the guests' painting on the trees.

The butterflies from the former garden unit walk behind this float, alongside the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts.

The next float in the unit involves Queen of Hearts' rose bushes, whose roses are all continually changing color as the playing cards paint them. Yet more cards surround the float, and they can use their brushes to paint any accessories the guests are wearing.

Paintable Items: Tulgey Wood trees; butterflies' wings; roses

Hunchback of Notre Dame Unit

Several of Quasimodo's handmade wooden figures dance around his replica of the Notre Dame cathedral, which he and Esmeralda stand on top of. A rendition of "God Help the Outcasts", done in the style of "On This Magic Night" is heard throughout this unit.

Paintable Items: Wooden figures, Notre Dame windows

Inside Out Unit

On a float designed to look like Headquarters, Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust stand at their control panel. Behind them, the Islands of Personality proudly stand. Memory orbs of different shades circle around this float. Here's where the guests' imaginations really can come in handy: The memory orbs can be projected to show guests' drawings of their favorite memories; and the Islands can be projected with drawings of what they believe represent Family, or Friendship, or Honesty, etc.

Paintable Items: Orbs, Islands

Little Mermaid Unit

Following this float is the Little Mermaid unit. The giant swimming fishes and the "bubble fishes" lead the way, as they did before. The hull of the sunken ship at the front of Ariel's float is now filled with treasure--treasure that the guests have painted. Behind Ariel's float, Sebastian conducts an orchestra of fish.

Paintable Items: Bubble fishes and giant swimming fishes; Ship's treasure

Winnie the Pooh Unit

Riding on a giant wave of color-changing honey, high above guests' heads is a giant mobile of Heffalump balloons. There are four different balloons in the mobile, each one carrying a different character--one carrying Tigger, one carrying Piglet, one carrying Eeyore and one carrying Rabbit. Behind them all is another Heffalump balloon carrying Pooh. Of course, all five characters will react to the different artwork.

Paintable Items: Balloons

Big Hero 6 Unit

On top of a stack of Big Hero 6 comic books, Hiro is testing a modification of his now-famous Microbots - they now light up! This is achieved through a spherical volumetric display similar to the one seen on Mack in Disneyland's Paint the Night. At the front is Fred, spewing fire of several different colors. A second float consists of a giant open book, turned inward so that its pages are displayed on either side of the route. Honey Lemon and Wasabi battle a generic enemy on either side, playing along with the different backgrounds displayed in the books. Gogo Tomago and Baymax split the two floats on foot - or, in the former's case, on wheels. Gogo's outfit dazzles as she spins, Wasabi's blades glow, Honey spews colored smoke from her capsules, and Baymax can show his surroundings on his hyperspectral camera.

Paintable Items: Microbots, book pages

Tangled Unit

The majority of this unit is made to look like Rapunzel's tower, bordered by all the creative endeavors she took on while she was kept there - pottery, candles, paper maché, etc. Its walls display several of the guests' paintings at a time. Rapunzel herself is carried high by her expanse of astoundingly long hair, which flows to the bottom of the unit and lights up as it does in the film.

Paintable Items: Tower wall

Fantasia Unit

Another old favorite returning; this one receives no real changes, apart from new elements that guests can paint.

Finale

As the previous float fades out of view, the parade's ending theme fills your ears.

Music surrounds us
Laughter that found us
Twirling around this
Carousel of light and laughter!

We shall remember
This moment together
Let this night forever
Live in our dreams!

On this magic night,
A million stars will play beside us,
A special spell of light,
Glimmering, shimmering, carousel-ling
'Round the world tonight,
A symphony in SpectroMagic.
Pure enchantment lights our way!

Music surrounds us
Magic around us
Twirling around us
Carousel of light and laughter!

Though we say goodbye
We cast a spell that won't be broken
Let this night forever
Live in our dreams!

The first thing we see in the finale is an audio-animatronic Dumbo, who hovers about in special blue-and-magenta garb. Behind him is Casey Jr. (For this float, I'd honestly re-use the Casey Jr. float from Disneyland Paris' Wonderful World of Disney Parade, albeit without Dumbo atop him, because in this parade, he's in front of him...)

Onboard the passenger cars of the train are some of the characters who appeared in the original SpectroMagic: Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Brer Bear, Fifer Pig, Fiddler Pig, Practical Pig and the Big Bad Wolf.

Following behind Casey Jr. is a princess-based float. Heralded by couples waltzing romantically to the music. For these dancers, I'd have their costumes basically be those used for the Main Street Electrical Parade; albeit with the female dancers' gowns altered so that they can pick up their skirts with ease. Since I want the dancers' clothes to be items guests can paint; I'd like some of the choreography to be them spinning around or showing off the designs; and I know how sometimes, the skirt of a dress is picked up so that the details can be shown more clearly.

Anyways, the float itself is a castle balcony on which Snow White and Prince Florian, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Aurora and Phillip and Belle and the Beast waltz. The float should look something like this...

Joining the fun are the Seven Dwarfs. Some of the Dwarfs will march about on the ground, and the others will be on the float. Naturally, the Dwarfs have decorated the towers with sparkling jewels. On occasion, the Dwarfs on the float will even use their mining tools to pop one of them right off the wall for further inspection! Some of the smaller characters take turns popping in and out of the towers' windows - Jaq and Gus, Tinker Bell, even Duchess' kittens. The Three Fairies float towards the back, and Flora and Merryweather consistently fuss over whether to paint the guests' accessories pink or blue.

Inspired by, but not identical to, the boat from Steamboat Willie, a black-and-white vessel comes sailing in on a rainbow sea of paint, parting it into waves. Donald Duck is at the controls, which include a whistle whose tone harmonizes with the parade music. Minnie, Daisy and Pluto are also on the boat, dancing happily. The boat's wheel and smokestacks move in time with the music as well.

Following behind the boat is a float from the original SpectroMagic: the carousel float.

Surrounding the carousel are Mary Poppins, Pinocchio, Gepetto, Aladdin, Jasmine, Peter Pan, Baloo, Timon and the like.

Behind this is one last float. This final float features larger-than-life art supplies - crayons, paintbrushes, paint cans, sheets of paper, watercolors, etc. - as well as an easel. There'll also be a few blocks with Disney Infinity textures, as a small homage to that game. Jiminy and Woody, alongside Buzz and Jessie wave goodbye to guests.

Paintable Items: Train cars, dancers' outfits, picture panels on the carousel canopy, easel

On this magic night,
A million stars will play beside us,
A special spell of light,
Glimmering, shimmering, carousel-ling
'Round the world tonight,
A symphony in SpectroMagic.
Pure enchantment lights our way!

"So long! I'm Jiminy Cricket..."
"And I'm Sheriff Woody..."
"...in SpectroMagic: Colors Combined!"
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Well, that's pretty much it for my ideas for the Magic Kingdom. But, before we get to EPCOT Center, there's one place I'd like to take you first. What that place is, you'll find out in the next post.

 

[DisneyManOne]

Mousecellaneous
Disney Square

​

In my honest opinion, the Transportation & Ticket Center is severely outdated and really isn't all that warm and inviting. It's just another boring concrete jungle that gets you from one place to another. Because of this, I say we give the TTC a little TLC. And with this upgrade comes a new name.

By land, sea, or air - not forgetting a genuine, bona fide, electrified, six-car Monorail - the main hub of Walt Disney World is the resort’s heart of transportation and travel: Disney Square. The air is filled with wonderful, atmospheric music, all Disney standards and classics orchestrated into charming and enticing instrumentals. Lush gardens, thundering waterfalls, tall pines, and a magnificent fountain set an inspired threshold to the Magic Kingdom, just across the Seven Seas Lagoon. At the heart of the Square, a bronze statue of Sorcerer Mickey conducts the colored waters of the Fantasia Fountain, an ornate viewpoint, with its marching broomsticks and jumping fountains. Surrounding the fountain are bronze statues of some other beloved Disney characters: Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Simba and Rapunzel. In front of this fountain is a stylized circular flowerbed; with the initials "WDW" written in white flowers; on a field of flowers shaded in the four official colors of Walt Disney World: lavender, lagoon blue, mint green and pumpkin orange.

​

Walt Disney World should be all about immersing guests in a world of magic; and concrete jungles just aren't magical. As such, Disney Square immerses guests in a natural oasis of beauty and wonder. The ticket booths are given the "Main Street" treatment, as seen in the picture above. In fact, you could say that about most of the other buildings: the restrooms, the ATM stations, every building is re-themed to look as thought it was part of "Main Street": natural and beautiful. If the Polynesian represents Adventureland; the Wilderness Lodge represents Frontierland; the Grand Floridian represents Fantasyland; and the Contemporary represents Tomorrowland; then Disney Square represents Main Street, U.S.A.

​

Everything about Disney Square is natural and beautiful. The ferry station is re-themed as a more fanciful, 19th-century glass boat station; while the ferries themselves are re-themed as resplendent riverboats. The bus station is turned into a charming Art-Deco station. The coffee stand is re-themed as the Square Bakery, a perfect place to get an early morning energy boost before a day of fun. Mickey's Gift Station is turned into a smaller Emporium; providing guests some little souvenirs and snacks. It's also the place to go if you forgot anything before you head to the park (i;e autograph books), or if you want to get a last-minute souvenir for your friend.

And finally, we have the big gun: the Monorail Station. Standing tall over this natural world of wonder is the new Monorail Station: the epitome of high-class. I'd design this station along the same lines as that of Paris' Disneyland Hotel...

​

Running through three different fences through this "lobby" of sorts are the three lines of the Walt Disney World Monorail: the "Resort" loop, which services the Polynesian, the Grand Floridian, the Magic Kingdom and the Contemporary; the "Express" loop, which goes directly from Disney Square to the Magic Kingdom; and the "Epcot" loop, which goes from Disney Square to Epcot.

Speaking of the Monorails, let's talk about those briefly. Recently, these iconic modes of transport have undergone various incidents (most notably, the recent "door open" thing). With that, I say it's high-time we retire the current fleet and install a new, sleeker fleet. Goodbye, Mark VI. Hello, Mark VIII! (And if you're wondering where Mark VII is, that's at Disneyland; the fleet that looks more like the original fleet.)

The Mark VIII will still retain the iconic style of its predecessors (the famed white body with the identifying-color stripe running across it). There will be 14 of these monorails, and every single color in the current fleet will be used: Red, Coral, Orange, Peach, Gold, Yellow, Lime, Green, Teal, Blue, Silver and Black. Now, as you can see I only listed 12 colors. What of the other two? In honor of the new fleet, I'd like to bring back two retired members back into service: Monorail Purple...

​

...and Monorail Pink.

Both Pink and Purple were retired from service due to the infamous crash of 2009. But I say, we should welcome these two back to the fleet, bringing the total up to 14 monorails (trust me, we're gonna need 'em come peak season).

The new monorails will be six cars long, with a wrap around sunroof on each car, connecting the two side windows with a smooth, circular curve of glass. The first and last cars will have the pilot’s cabins, along with a passenger compartment; the second and fifth cars will be open and spacious to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers more easily, with benches on each end of the cabin, and on the side walls.

Finally, the two middle cars will adopt a similar style to the current monorails, split into two compartments, each containing two facing benches and enough room for more passengers to stand.

​

And now that I've shown you around Disney Square, why don't we hop aboard one of the new Mark VIII monorails as we head off for...

EPCOT Center

​

 

[Suchomimus]

I didn’t know WDW had its own official colors.

 

[DisneyManOne]

I didn’t know WDW had its own official colors.

You can thank Louis Mongello for providing that bit of information in his WDW trivia book.
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Before we begin our walk-through, let me give you my thoughts on what EPCOT Center should represent.

The Mission of EPCOT Center​

EPCOT Center is essentially a celebration of what it means to be a member of the human race; with one side celebrating our scientific and technological breakthroughs, and the other celebrating our world's diverse culture. It also provides a great sense of hope and optimism for the future. The topics it covered: The oceans, the earth, energy, transportation, communications, the human body itself. They all seemed like they were the pillars that were important to the future. There were two other pavilions though, and they always felt like they were the most important ones. Horizons, which was the future, and Imagination, which I felt was the linchpin. I know that at one point I went through the scripts of each original pavilion and noted multiple references to "dream" and "future" throughout them all. Both of those pavilions were among the favorite of most Epcot fanboys, and it was because they were truly something special. Most of the old pavilions fell into a similar format. Through knowledge gained by understanding the history of a technology, and through the dreams we have for the future, we can work together to accomplish anything.

EPCOT Center's Future World was not about "Here's the future, come look at it". Not really. Sure, there were attractions that presented the future, but Future World was about inspiring people to help build the future. Yes, by the mid-90s much of Future World was outdated, and it's hard to remain on the bleeding edge of technology that is moving at such a rapid pace. But that was never the point! Update/remove/replace, it doesn't matter, but what Disney has done is remove what made the original place so special to people. In fact, you could sum up the original Future World experience in just one word:

WE.​

The original Future World gave us the feeling that we're all in this together, and that it's part of our mission, every one of us, to build the future. It wasn't "Hey, look at what the smart people at <insert corporation> are doing to build the future for you." For example, look at these quotes from early EPCOT Center attractions. See how inclusive they all are?

"If we can dream it, we can do it."

"Tomorrow's Child -- charting a brand new new way, for the future world is born today."

"For we welcome you now to take the first steps into that future. We welcome you to The Living Seas. We welcome you to Sea Base Alpha."

"We all have sparks, imaginations.
That's how our minds, create creations.
For they can make, our wildest dreams come true.
Those magic sparks, in me and you."

"Ladies and gentlemen, General Motors now invites you to share the challenge of the future. We need you to help us shape tomorrow's mobility."

"Energy, there is no living without you,
we must keep learning about you.
Now is the time to find how to."

"The seasons come, and the seasons go,
nature knows everything it has to know.
The earth and man, can be good friends,
let's listen so our harvest time will never end."

See how everything in there is inclusive? It was what we could do, together, as one human race, to make the future better. That is one of the things that I really feel is missing today.

Hopefully, we'll be able to restore this place to something similar to its original glory; combining the best of the early days with the best of the current days. And don't think this will spell the end of IP inclusion at the park: IPs can work well if they blend in with the pavilion at hand--Ratatouille and The Three Caballeros stand out in particular. We'll try to find the happy medium; try to please both purists and innovators (to coin a phrase), have edutainment and Disney IPs stand together in easy harmony. So, stick around: our journey through a brave new EPCOT Center is about to begin!

Is it just me; or does anyone else get strong IllumiNations vibes from listening to this song? I mean, that's why I chose this song to ease us in.​