Happy anniversary to… me. Holy cutbacks, Batman! Is it true? Has it really been a year already? This column will appear on February 27 and, looking back, my first column was published on February 22, 2008. So here we are one year and 26 columns later—did anyone think it would last this long?
I have to admit, when I first signed up to write a bi-weekly column, one of my thoughts was, “Can I really come up with enough ideas to keep this thing going?” I guess the jury’s still out on that. What this gig has given me is newfound respect for my predecessors, Mike Scopa and Sue Holland. Sue wrote a bi-weekly column for MousePlanet (Everything But the Parks) for about two and half years; Mike wrote his (Scoping the Parks) for five years. That’s a long time to be coming up with fresh ideas and churning out these words. But… it gets even more impressive.
If we take a quick look at the MousePlanet archives, current staff writer, David Koenig, has been turning out a monthly column since 2000—nine years; Wade Sampson has been producing a weekly column since early 2006; and Mark Goldhaber has been writing the weekly Walt Disney World Update since December 2002. My measly one year looks pretty puny amongst the group of Lou Gehrigs (or, more appropriately, Cal Ripkens) around here.
But, hey… this is, after all, my column so I’m celebrating my first year in operation with all the ups and downs that came along with it. I can still remember fondly the annual anniversary shows that Johnny Carson used to put on for the Tonight Show. I loved those and, even though I won’t have an Ed Ames flinging a tomahawk at a cowboy cutout, I’m putting on my tux and seating Ed McMahon on the sofa. Hi-yo. Let’s take a look back at the last twelve months.
That first column was appropriately called “Introduction” and was my attempt to humorously introduce myself to you, the reader. Looking back at that column, I’m hard-pressed to find any humor at all but, it does contain a bit of a mini-review of two recently enhanced attractions: Haunted Mansion and Spaceship Earth. It was shortly after this column appeared that I received an email from Mike Scopa congratulating me and offering some words of advice—something along the lines of “you will never have everyone agree with you so don’t expect it.” Boy, was he right.
At any rate, that first column introduced the theme, or voice, I was to use: an opinion piece. I’m still not sure exactly how that happened or precisely where the column title, That’s My Opinion, came from. To be perfectly honest, I was never that comfortable with it. It always seemed just a tad pretentious to me, as if my opinion actually mattered. Unfortunately, I was not blessed with a catchy name that leant itself to a column title like Scopa’s “Scoping the Parks” or Goldhaber’s blog called “Mark My Words”. What would I use? “Russo’s Ruminations?” “Steve’s Slants?” Ugh.
So until I become cleverer (is that even a word?), or one of my readers sends in a catchy name, I’m stuck with “That’s My Opinion” which does have a benefit to it: opinions, by their very nature, can’t be wrong. This gives me a built-in escape hatch for just making this stuff up as I go. How cool is that?
On the other hand, if you’ve got an idea, I’d like to hear it. We’ll hold a contest of sorts, sort of a “Name That Column” competition. Send me your entries and, if I find one I really like (and MousePlanet agrees), I’ll use it. I’m not independently wealthy like the guys on MouseStation so I can’t really offer a great prize. What I will do is send the lucky winner an autographed copy of my book (and I can hear you now, “What’s second prize? Two books?” Har, har.)
My second column took a look at a (then) future attraction, the American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I was not, and am not, a fan of the television show so I took a dim view of its outlook at a theme park. I questioned whether guests would want to give up a large section of their park day to take in one of these shows, or an even larger chunk to audition for one. I have a suspicion I may need to backpedal on that prediction but, we’re a bit too early in its operation to form any conclusions just yet.
The only real measure of a column’s “success” is the amount of feedback I receive from the readers. I should probably qualify that as positive feedback but I’m a desperate man—negative feedback is just as good. Didn’t someone once say “It doesn’t matter what they’re saying as long as they’re talking about you”? Anyway, the most reader response received over the first year was regarding April 2008’s “Park Peeves” column.
In “Park Peeves”, I shared my slightly irreverent names for those guests who do rude or stupid things while in the parks. “Stupid” may be a bit harsh—they’re just “overwhelmed.” Keep in mind, I’m not talking about you or me—heavens, no. I’m referring to those “other” guests that are the Dead-Stoppers, Bull Rushers, Center Talkers, Esca-Waiters and Menu-ally Challenged. I received scores of email regarding that column and many of you offered some very imaginative additions to the list.
I took a bit of a chance in June 2008 with a column simply titled “The Interview”. I had sometimes wondered what Walt would think if he were to walk around Disney World today. What would his reactions be to what has become the reality of his vision? I attempted to capture that in a fictional interview and I really wrestled (or rassled, if you prefer) with the questions and answers. Many people wrote to say they really enjoyed that column. A few wrote in to take exception with my ideas of what Walt might say but, that’s OK. As I said before, they’re opinions—we’ve all got ‘em.
The very next column, called “The Right Age,” was another risk—opening the can of worms that surrounds the discussion of when a child is old enough for that first trip. After a recent visit to the World with my 3-year-old grandson, I thought I might need to change my opinion on this, but after re-reading the article, I think the bottom line is still correct—it depends and will vary from child to child.
The next couple of columns addressed the beginnings of some cutbacks at Disney World: the “re-imagining” of Pleasure Island (I think we’re still waiting for the outcome on that one) and the cutbacks in Fantasmic! showings at the Studios. I revisited that one more recently after a less-than-stellar experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this past January.
I then took a stab at evaluating the Disney Dining Plan over two articles and another two articles focused on the “The Best of Disney World,” cleverly (and that is a word) sub-titled “Part 1” and “Part 2.” Quite possibly the highlight of the year, for me anyway, was the column about the “Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure.” Not only did I get to interview an Imagineer, I was able to experience the attraction with one of its designers.
If anyone has the desire to read any of those columns mentioned, or you just enjoy reading something that will make you squint and go “Huh?”, you can find them here.
So… what’s in store for the future? What do I think the next twelve months of articles will look like? I have some ideas,but it’s hard to be precise. I’m certain that a few columns will be devoted to reaction to some new Disney announcements—potentially some new attractions, extensive refurbishments (can you say Space Mountain?) or additional cutbacks if our economy keeps sinking further. I’m really rooting against that last one.
You’ve probably heard of the mysterious “Are You 23?” promotion (link) that has us all scratching our heads and wondering. After the hype it’s generated, all I can say is that it better be good. Either way, I’m betting it will be good fodder for a column.
It’s probably almost time for another look at Park Peeves. I’ve made several trips to the World since that last column appeared and have an entirely new set of things that annoy me to no end. Sheesh, I think I’m becoming Andy Rooney. I’ve also saved some of the excellent suggestions that you’ve sent in to add to my own list. If you have some ideas for columns you’d like to see, send them in. I’ll do what I can if something looks interesting and doable or enough people request something.
So… there it is. The first year is in the books (so to speak). I’m popping the champagne corks (and don’t we all think of Mickey’s Philharmagic when we read that?), tossing the confetti and greasing up the keyboard for another year.
Thanks to everyone for staying with me this long (well, those that actually stayed). Thanks to those that read and those that took the time to write and tell me if I’ve knocked one out of the park or have gone down swinging. It’s all appreciated. I mean that.
And… that’s my opinion. What’s yours?
