The REAL Problem with Disneyland

After watching a 1960s movie of Disneyland, I came to the conclusion that the real problem with today's Disneyland is not the fault of Imagineering, but with the attendees themselves. People in the 50s and 60s dressed and behaved better. They treated others with respect and cordiality as they themselves expected to be treated. Todays attendees can be rude and sometimes disgusting. Making out in the middle of Disneyland is paramount to doing it at a children's movie. How base can you be? Making out with your girlfriend on a dark ride? Well, just count it as soft-porn for the security people watching with infrared. During the summer months, I wonder if people even care how they look and act sometimes. Not to mention the amount of cleavage for children to see at every turn. And flashing for ride photo snaps? Well, remember, everything makes it to the Internet. Count your little lapse in judgment equal to... well you know, don't you?

Technology also has really ruined much of the rides for me. People do not have enough sense to turn off flashes... even when told to do so numerous times. Now, really, how much sense does it make to use a flash? Will a flash make the shot of the fireworks display brighter?

I have no problem with video cameras, seeing that I use one to record ride experiences myself--they are quiet, and provide little distraction to the attraction. However, it is important to keep the video light off, and polite to keep the playback monitor closed.

Unfortunately, there is nothing Disney can do about this decline of mankind's morals or attitude. And I am afraid, being what humanity is becoming, it will only get worse with time. One could only wish for a day to get away from it

Fort Wilderness

How long must we endure the closure of Ft. Wilderness? I wanted to show my kids how they lived during the Cavalry days, only to find the doors locked and barred from entry. Now I have heard that one kid got hurt shooting one of the guns, and most probably the politically correct crowd wants to burn all historical records regarding the frontier as they did with turning the burning cabin into a pristine living accommodation.
Luckily, the fort was still open at Disney World, they have yet to succumb to pressures of the few. While there I recorded as much footage as I could so I could edit an if-it-were-still-open-this-is-what-it-would-look-like video for my kids to watch during homeschool. If a compromise would help open the fort, then remove the guns and keep the tableaux dioramas such as the blacksmith shop, corral, and offices. An escape tunnel would be fun as well. But come on, don't just close it indefinitely!

Fantasyland Architecture

I could never pick a "favorite land" whenever I was taken by my parents to Disneyland. I always loved each for its various offerings. Now that I am old(er), I have come to love Fantasyland more than others. Not so much for the rides as I do for the "look". The fantasy architecture is right out of a storybook, and sometimes I find myself stopping to gaze and admire. My favorite time is dusk-- sitting in front of the Pinocchio exit and watching the view in the provided photo. The Matterhorn in the background transports me to Switzerland while the clock tower acts as an artificial moon against the darkening sky. Oh to build a small version of this scene in my home backyard! I absolutely love it! I especially appreciate the attention to detail to the windows, wallpaper, shrubbery--basically, everything!
The only addition I would like to see to Fantasyland is a return of the original Captain Hook Pirate Ship and Skull Rock. I would place it in the lake across from Small World and carry the Fantasyland genre around the bend to the theater and transition toward a Neverland theme. Through Skull Rock could be a walk-through path with scenes of Peter Pan imitating Captain Hook in heavy reverb. Tigerlily, stoically waiting her demise with the tide, is seated in the water while Captain Hook is seen having difficulties with the crocodile and Smee in a rowboat trying to help.
This would be a nice area for parents to beat the heat, seated upon rock benches and admiring all the cascading cave waterfalls.

Great Moments Lost

Nothing said "Walt-made" more than Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. So you can image my severe disappointment when they shortened his speech, then changed the end music away from Ju­lia W. Howe's, Battle Hymn of the Republic, eliminated the opening slideshow for historic context, and the coup de grâce, replacing Lincoln with something resembling Grant reciting the Gettysburg Address. Worse yet, it employed historically inaccurate pillars and audience applause sound effects. Ahem, this was a memorial service for the thousands of troops that died at Gettysburg. This was not a campaign speech. Now Walt Disney had the foresight of having Royal Dano recite the Gettysburg Address. Why they did not use it rather than the revised current version is beyond me. Today the Main Street Opera House is showing the history of Disney. Fine. But hopefully, we will see a fully restored version of the original. And (if Disney takes the Lincoln speech to heart) restore the original music as well. The Battle Hymn of the Republic is still a part of American history, and the whole message of Lincoln's speech is "liberty", not "relinquishment".

Here is hoping that December of 2009 will remedy this great error!
Hats off to Imagineering for bringing back this great and wonderful presentation! Can't wait to see it once again. Bravo Disneyland!

I was not disappointed. The new Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is brilliant! The only drawback was that they shortened his speech.  I would have rather had the extended, full speech, and taken much of the slideshow in the waiting area.

Poppinsland

If California Adventure is ever renovated, I would like to propose a new land called Poppinsland or Dickensland. Since the Timone parking lot is more pain than gain, It could possibly go there (time to add a Pluto level to the parking structure).

The gist of the idea is based on Mickey's Christmas Carol with the usual Dickens Tudor architecture and a prominent Scrooge McDuck posing for pictures. The buildings, like Main Street, contain various guilds of confectionery, sweet meats, crafts and pubs to enjoy Bangers and teas. Of course we need some street screever drawing some beautiful sidewalk art, a few chimney sweeps on the roof breaking in to dance, and, of course, a Bert one-man-band dancing and singing some great old tunes. Perhaps a rare glimpse of a flying Mary Poppins at dusk?

Christmas will be extra special in that there will be artificial snow, real choirs singing traditional hymns, candles, holly, and wreaths everywhere with freshly squeezed hot cider imported from Oak Glen. An attraction can include a dark ride through the three spirits of Scrooge McDuck's Christmases. There can also be the creation of "Soarin' over Britain" to the swelling overture of Mary Poppins and/or Peter Pan with sweeping views of Ireland, London, Yorkshire and Scotland.

Update:  I cannot be disappointed with the upgrade to California Adventure. They did a masterful job. It is far more enjoyable now with the vintage architecture. My change would be to not make it two parks, but rather, extend Main Street through that huge expanse of nothing between. Would like to see some old-time movie theaters showing classic, silent movies with a real silent movie organist. Perhaps one of those big Wurlitzers with all the sound effects.

Though I did not get my Poppinsland, wish, Carsland is not too bad.

Return of Circle-Vision 360

With todays digital, high definition projection possibilites, this would be the perfect time to revisit Circle-Vision 360. I personally would like to have Circle-Vision installed in the Golden Dreams Theater in California Adventure, and see an end to the lifeless spirit-guide Whoopee film. Look at the beautiful architecture of this theater―it begs for an audio and visual surround experience! Which, to me, has far greater impact than donning headache-inducing 3D glasses!

Sponsored by a possible airline company, the films presented could have the beauty of nature as its universal theme rather than specific locations. A good example of content can be seen in the BBC film series Planet Earth. This then would keep with Walt's vision of using current technology to amaze and educate the public. Changes can be made based on holidays, such as American history locations during July, WWII locations during Memorial and Veterans Day, and Christmas around the world in December.

The theater would use HD content via synced computer playback through multiple DLP projectors. Titles would run throughout the day so that people can return to find something new every hour. There will be no seams in the 360° Firehawk screen, but would be a continual circle of overlapping video. Perhaps PIXAR could be employed to render a shortened version of their current film project in 360°? The possibilities are endless, and can be changed as new content is created.

I would also provide a store where you can purchase Blu-Ray disks that have selected films that can be viewed on your home theater. Pressing the arrow buttons allow you to change your point of view. This will encourage you to take the magic home!

Alas, it has been turned into The Little Mermaid ride... Oh, well.

Geppetto's Workshop

If Disneyland is using the defunct Skyway to Tomorrowland buildings for anything, its certainly not for the benefit of their patrons.
I propose that these buildings in Fantasyland be turned in to Geppetto's Workshop. Here, artisans of wood and other materials create custom puppets and cuckoo clocks as those seen at the end of the Pinocchio dark ride as well as the movie. A long ramp running toward the west can accommodate wheelchair access.
Personally, I would like to see a return of Skyway to Tomorrowland, only with fully enclosed gondolas and set decorations of interest on the roofs. However, I can understand the apprehension of such a return. Too many "whatifs" for comfort.