That’s My Opinion
When I was approached by MousePlanet about writing this column, my first reaction was panic. What angle could I give it? Was there a niche I could I fill? When Mike Scopa left to pursue other interests, there was a need for a column relevant to Walt Disney World… but what kind of column?
Unfortunately for me, Mike had left some fairly large shoes to fill. He was a mainstay here for seven years and, like many others, I had been one of his avid readers. What niche did Mike fill? As I thought more about it, it became apparent that Mike wrote what he felt about all aspects of Walt Disney World. He had no special view that could easily contain his subject matter. It varied far and wide but, throughout all his work, there was one constant: he offered his opinions. Mike told us why he enjoyed a certain resort… or attraction… or restaurant. He offered his view of what the “Disney Zone” is and why it doesn’t work for everyone. He offered his opinions on all things Disney and we read them and agreed with him… usually. On several topics, we may have taken exception because, in our personal judgment, we felt his opinion was flawed. No matter. These differing opinions are what makes our world go around—and what makes for fun discussions of our favorite parks, attractions or restaurants.
So now you’re probably asking yourself, “Who is this Russo guy and why should I care about his opinions?” Well, if you listen to my wife, you probably shouldn’t. However, I do have a fair amount of Walt Disney World background and experience, a significant number of opinions and absolutely no shyness or hesitation in sharing them. In fact, I’ve planned dozens of Disney World vacations since our very first trip in 1984. Since becoming Disney Vacation Club members in 2000, we’ve been visiting the World anywhere from one to three times annually. Our trips have included just my wife and me, now “empty-nesters,” up to an extended group of 12. We’ve stayed in off-site accommodations as well as each class of Disney resort, from Value to the DVC Villas. Our trips have included every age group from a 15-month-old (our grandson) to an 85-year-old (my father), and everything in between. I’ve been part of both the Stroller and Wheelchair Brigades. You’re as likely to find us at the California Grill as you are at Pecos Bill’s. We’ve traveled in rental cars, Mears buses, Town Cars, limos and on Disney’s Magical Express. We’ve even been known to take an occasional trip (gasp!) offsite to visit Sea World or Universal Studios Orlando. And we’ve been known to praise and/or complain about any or all of the above.
Walt Disney World is very special to me. I’ve traveled quite a bit but, it’s the one place I return to most often. It never fails to take me away from the problems and stress of the real world and put me someplace extraordinary. That feeling starts when I get off the plane at Orlando International Airport and it continues when I catch my first sight of those purple road signs. It’s there in that dewy smell of a Florida morning, the “Good morning” I share with a complete stranger in the hotel hallway, and the kindness and willingness to help that I sense from each cast member I deal with. For me, it is truly a magical place. Writing about it just seems natural.
If it’s Disney World facts you’re looking for, they’re easy to find elsewhere. If you need to know the number of triangular panels covering Spaceship Earth, you can find that easily (it’s 11,324). Likewise, you can visit any number of Disney-related Web sites and learn the Magic Kingdom’s operating hours for the Wednesday of your stay. If facts are what you need, go no further than Mark Goldhaber’s weekly Walt Disney World Update, published here at MousePlanet each Monday. Mark does a wonderful job of keeping everyone up to date on all the happenings at Walt Disney World—from new announcements to rehab schedules to news stories.
If you’re looking for the transportation options that will take you from the Boardwalk to Pioneer Hall for the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, you’re looking for facts and you can find them elsewhere. If, however, you’re looking for the best transportation option from the Boardwalk to Pioneer Hall, you’re looking for an opinion—and you’ve come to the right place. I’ll tell you what the best moderate resort is for a family of four. I’ll tell you where to get the best hamburger on property. I’ll also tell you why you need to get to the Magic Kingdom at park opening. And I’ll never be wrong because these will be my opinions. (By the way, in order: bus to the Magic Kingdom and take the boat to Fort Wilderness; Port Orleans—French Quarter for its theming and size; Beaches & Cream with Big River Grill a close second, and; you can ride more of the popular rides in the first hour and a half after opening than in any other 90-minute period in the day.)
So let’s get started. During my most recent visit to Walt Disney World in January, I was very eager to experience the new versions of two of my favorite attractions. Both had recently been through extensive rehabs and they are two Disney World classics: the Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot’s Spaceship Earth. While the Mansion had reopened back in September 2007, Spaceship Earth was just recently placed into preview mode (or “soft opening,” if you prefer)—its official reopening was, at that time, still a month away. After riding both attractions multiple times, I came away with slightly mixed feelings.
The modifications to the Haunted Mansion are a clear homerun for the Imagineers. The improvements are obvious almost immediately upon entering the attraction. In the stretching room, the ghostly voice now seems to be circling the room, speaking from a spot right over the guests’ heads—and the improvement in the quality of the audio is easily noticed and appreciated. The same can be said of the soundtrack throughout the ride—it’s easily more understandable than its predecessor.
The Imagineers have also done a masterful job in cleaning up the Mansion, while still leaving the tons of needed dust and cobwebs behind. Every scene seems to have been given a fresh coat of color and better lighting, making them all appreciably more viewable. They’ve also done an exceptional job of integrating several new touches: paintings that morph to something different when lightening flashes; an attic stairway that goes nowhere—and everywhere; a murderous bride; a floating head… and much more. It’s somehow been made creepier without becoming scarier for the younger or more timid among us.
It seems that the changes incorporated at the Haunted Mansion are being applauded, justifiably and almost universally, by its many fans. Unfortunately, the story is just a bit different over at Epcot.
Spaceship Earth is, and has been, the flagship attraction of Epcot. While it has probably been surpassed in popularity by Test Track, Mission: Space and, most certainly, Soarin’, Spaceship Earth remains the icon for the park—the single, most identifiable symbol of Epcot. For many people, myself included, it was often the first ride of the day when visiting Epcot or, quite possibly, the first ride of the trip. The familiar journey through the history of human communication was comfortable and reassuring—the “old shoe” of Disney attractions. Re-riding it was never an issue. The recent rehab, however, brings both good and bad news.
The good news is that most of the changes are positive—very positive. There are several new scenes which update the attraction nicely. While many have a nostalgic preference for the dulcet tones of past narrators, Walter Cronkite or Jeremy Irons, the new soundtrack, featuring Dame Judi Dench, is crisp, easily heard and very understandable. If there’s a gripe, the new narration doesn’t seem to have the stirring dialogue of its predecessors. Many have also interpreted the new simplicity in the script as being “dumbed down.”
Each attraction scene has been cleaned up, painted or otherwise freshened. Many scenes have new additions or enhancements. The new audio-animatronics are remarkable. Their sweeping gestures and the smoothness of their movement resemble a certain yeti over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, if on a smaller scale.
The stage is set shortly after boarding the ride vehicle. Your vehicle makes the first climb of the attraction and, as you make that first turn, you encounter the new “caveman” scenes. The improvements there keep you looking forward to each subsequent scene for what’s changed. This anticipation has you glued to the edge of your seat for the first half of the ride as you pass by newly enhanced existing scenes and, ultimately, through some brand new scenes depicting computer use and development in the 1970s. Unfortunately, the good news stops there.
The last half of the ride, the downward trip, begins in familiar fashion as your ride vehicle swivels and you are presented with a view of our planet as seen from an outer space vantage point. As you move downward, a new, blue LED star field is overhead. The rest of your reentry is then consumed by interacting with a touch-screen display in each car. You are asked a series of questions about your preference for life, work and leisure in the future. After a bit of time to digest your answers, you’re presented with an animated view of your future. It’s personalized from your responses and by the insertion of your face(s), from a quick photo taken of everyone in your ride vehicle as the ride began; inserted as replacements for the faces of the animated characters. While I’ve seen evidence of this working, in our multiple rides we were given the faces of those in surrounding cars or no overlay at all—just the cartoon character’s face.
There’s nothing particularly wrong with this exercise. The first time or two, it’s kind of fun. Unfortunately, I don’t think it will hold up very well over time—and that ‘re-rideability’ of Spaceship Earth is, or was, one of its most endearing qualities. While it’s still there during the first part of the ride, I believe it’s sorely missing during the last part.
From my description, it might seem that I’m totally down on the Spaceship Earth rehab—I’m not. The changes and improvements made are significant and certainly appreciated by the ride’s many fans. I just don’t think it’s the Haunted Mansion’s homerun—more of a solid double off the wall.
Well… that’s my opinion. What’s yours?
