FInally pounded out a blog entry.
It's not about hotels, but I wrote it with this thread in mind. It's more about understanding what made Disney parks a cultural icon.
http://www.july171955.com/b2evoluti...s_are_all_about_charlie_&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
I must say I enjoyed reading your blog.
I agree with your analysis.
I especially like and agree with this paragraph if I may quote you.
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"This is what made Disneyland and Walt Disney World cultural icons. It all started with a mouse, but it isn’t about a mouse. It’s about the human race and our dreams and aspirations. Disney parks at their very best crystallize what the western (and probably most of the eastern) world hope and dream for, what we remember in our hearts and aspire to and presents it to us interactively."
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I too am concerned about the future of WDW. I agree that too many budget cuts are taking place.
When we took our youngest 2 to WDW in 1986 Bob was 5 and Cathy was 3.
Epcot has always been Bob's favorite park since the first day we went there.
But now a lot of the educational value that was a part of Epcot has been lost and I truly miss it.
The pre show at Living seas is gone. We loved the film that was at the Living Seas which helped demonstrate the importance of the oceans. Not only as a source food but also a source energy and minerals.
And don't get me started about why in the world they would put Ellen in Universe of Energy show and ride. What were they thinking? (JMHO)
Horizons is gone.
Replaced with Mission in Space.
World of Motion which taught us all about man's quest of how to get somewhere faster is replaced by a ride called Test Tract.
In all fairness Test Track is a pretty good ride and I do like the props in the queue and I think many learn about the tests and crash tests that cars are put through.
Wonders of life is closed... perhaps forever.
For me that is really sad. It has always had so much potential.
The original JJI is gone and has been replaced twice. The newest is still a poor remake.
At least the current version of JII has a little bit more about Figment and a remake of "one little spark."
The original was so much better.
My youngest two children were 3 and 5 years old the first time they rode the original JII and they learned so much about Imagination and how it works without even knowing they were learning.
The original JJI helped guests learn about a "FIGMENT"---"a figment of Imagination of course."
I do know that when Kodak sponsored the original Figment Disney signed a contract that the ride would be redone before the year 2000.
But the 2ed JII was extremely poor. I felt, that ride had no "imagination" at all.
Anyway I seem to be straying a little from your Blog entry but I am trying to tell you I agree. Some changes are good a lot have been not so good and some even bad. I do applauded WDW for helping us dream, helping us open up our imaginations and yes for helping us learn. I agree it is not about a brand name.
Thanks for sharing your Blog.
