3 posts tagged “disney”
Finally went to Disneyland this weekend. After going to Disney World nearly every year of my existense on Earth, I couldn't help but feel disappointed by some of the stuff I saw, especially in Tomorrow Land. First of all, the park is showing all 50 years of it's age. Matterhorn needs to be repainted. Somebody needs to go on garbage detail because I saw bottles, bottle caps, plastic bags in places where it clearly shouldn't be (stll looking at you, Matterhorn). The Wedway People Mover (is that still it's name?) seemed to be closed down. The video on Star Tours -- christ -- they really need to reshoot the Flight video. The people look like they're from the 80s (which they probably are) and the special effects are about as good as what's in the orinal Star Wars. Space Mountain also needs to be rehabbed. It looks old old old...
Disneyland is not a museum, someone once said (Walt?).
Now I haven't been to Disneyland since I was pratically a baby, so it was all very new to me. Our family went to Disney World (again and again and again). You can certainly see the mistakes from Disneyland that were fixed in the Magic Kindom. What a difference experiences makes.
More impressions:
- Shocked at how small Cinderella's castle was...the one in Orlando is humongous compared to this one
- LOVED the Indiana Jones ride...so cool.
- The rehabbed Pirates of the Carribean kicked ass. It didn't ruin the overall attraction in the slightest...also great new music (from the movie soundtrack).
- Great fireworks display at night. It's a completely synchronized audio/visual display of fireworks, drawing inspiration and audio samples from many of the park's most popular rides. I especially loved the Haunted Mansion part of the show...I need to find audio of the ride somewhere...
I'm so thinking of buying a season pass...
In case you're a little too scared that the refurbishing of the Pirates of the Caribbean will destroy one of Disney's most treasured rides, I think you can now stop holding your breath. Here's a high-ish quality video of some of the ride's changed scenes. It's good to know that Disney didn't try to de-Drunkify Johnny Depp Jack Sparrow, either.
Fun fact: During a hot, swamp-assy day inside one of Disney World's theme parks, there is nothing like the feeling of when you first walk into the entranceway of a ride and you're hit with that good ol' industrial strength Disney Air Conditioning. Maybe it's just the hot weather. Maybe it's just me. But Disney World has the best air conditioning ever. Ever.
I want on a pilgramage of sorts to the Walt Disney Company Headquarters today. It's weird that it's in Burbank, California. The Valley. This is the center of the Disney world...where it all started, where decisions are made. Funny, because the only thing I new growing up was Walt Disney World in Orlando...I never knew that the center of power was out here in Cali. I couldn't help but feel disappointed by what I saw today. It was...whatever. Kind of bland an unassuming, except for the Disney Animation buidling below, which looks freaking awesome.
At Disney they make sure a guest is fully immersed in their fantasy world...with zero outside distractions getting in the way of that total immersion. Shouldh't they do the same thing for the people that work there?
