You see, I had this dream earlier this week. I think it was a result of being at Walt Disney World during Mousefest and being surrounded by festive holiday atmosphere: It was early Christmas morning; like about 3:30 and everyone was still asleep. Not me. I tiptoed down the stairs and peeked at the tree. Yup. Santa had come; and he had left me presents!
I know which ones were mine. They were all wrapped up in special Disney Christmas wrapping paper with Belle (in the blue dress of course) standing in front of Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle, Epcot’s Spaceship Earth, Disney-MGM Studio’s Sorcerer’s Hat, and Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life.
Well, I just couldn’t wait for all the sleepyheads in the house to wake up and come downstairs, so I started helping myself to my pile of gifts. I was thinking, “Boy that trip to see Santa at the mall last week really paid off!”
Have you seen that movie Elf with Will Ferrell? That was me last week on Santa’s lap. I had a huge list for Santa. He said he would do his best because I had been a good boy this year. Well, good enough at least. Let me tell you what Santa had left me.
Magic Kingdom Gifts
There were a few presents under the tree wrapped in paper covered with images of Cinderella’s castle. They had tags that read “To Mike, From Santa.”
I opened the first one, and was I excited. This first gift stated that starting in 2007 Magic Kingdom would be taking steps to protect those guests who purchase tickets for such events as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
These steps will work towards making sure that the only paying guests will be allowed in the park during the party hours. Apparently the crowd levels for these parties have been much higher than the alleged cap. It’s obvious that the “non-paying guests” are among those in attendance. Hopefully that will now change. Not a bad gift.
I opened the second present and it was an enhancement of the scenic areas that guests view as they circumnavigate the Magic Kingdom on the Walt Disney World Railroad. In recent years these areas have been run down and ravaged by a few hurricanes. Wow, I guess the forestry areas will get thicker and the many scenes will get an upgrade and the experience will be like it was some twenty years ago. Hurrah!
The third gift is that Magic Kingdom will have Extra Magic Hour mornings Monday through Friday. What a great idea. This will work especially well for young families who need access to the Fantasyland attractions before the large crowds converge on this theme park. Imagine getting a head start on the general public from Monday to Friday. That works for me. What a great gift. Thanks Santa.
Epcot Gifts
Oh look, wrapping paper adorned with Spaceship Earth. Let’s see what those presents have to offer.
Here’s an awesome gift; an Epcot parade. Wow I’ve been waiting for this gift for a long time. Hmmm, this parade will have an obvious international flare and will make its way around World Showcase. Oh, that Santa—he always knows what to get me.
Wait. This next gift must be a joke. However if it’s not then it could be my favorite gift so far. This gift is the end of the staggered operation hours for Future World and World Showcase. Now they will open and close at the same time. Now I can work my way back from World Showcase to Future World. Cool.
The third present was interesting. Although I hadn’t asked Santa for this gift, I kind of found it to my liking. Imagine the Omni restaurant re-opening to offer the best of all the Epcot restaurants. You won’t have to go to Le Cellier for New York strip steak or Chefs du France for Lobster bisque. The Omni restaurant will offer the best entrees from all the World Showcase restaurants.
What great gifts.
Disney-MGM Studios Gifts
Well I was so thrilled with my Magic Kingdom and Epcot gifts that I almost forgot that I had more gifts to open. I turned my attention to the Disney-MGM Studios gifts, which were wrapped in paper that had Mickey’s Sorcerer’s hat on it. What could possibly be waiting for me?
OK, this first gift is amazing. I’ve been asking for this one for years, and Santa finally came through. Finally, the ABC Theater is back in business with a new rendition of Superstar Television. I can hardly wait. I had so much fun way back when with this attraction was in its heyday. Every time I visited this theme park I made sure I took in at least one show of Superstar Television. I can hardly wait to see what shows will be included in this revived attraction.
I thought one of the gifts I asked for from Santa was a bit too much. Boy was I wrong. It was my next gift. You know that abandoned theater on the outskirts of big City Streets? Well my next gift is the revamping of that structure into an enclosed theater, and the attraction in that theater is a show featuring the Muppets. The show will consist of the most famous Muppet songs and bits from the Muppets television show, Sesame Street, and the Muppet movies. This isn’t just a gift to me but to all Muppet fans.
Santa knows I love the Sorcery in the Sky fireworks show, and so he has given me a special gift. Sorcery in the Sky returns to the Disney-MGM studios theme park and will be shown a dozen times each month. On those nights that Sorcery is shown Fantasmic will not. I can hardly wait.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Gifts
I’ve never been really excited about Disney’s Animal Kingdom, so when I visited Santa Claus I gave him a list of things I would like for Christmas regarding this theme park. Maybe is a few of these wishes came through I would learn to love the park. I was curious as to what my Animal Kingdom gifts were going to be. They were wrapped in paper that had the Tree of Life on it. So let’s see what we have here.
Well, well. Finally, I had asked Santa for this particular gift but never thought he would be able to deliver on it. This is a special gift: The Animal Kingdom’s Beastly Kingdom portion of the park finally undergoes development and the first attraction is similar to Kilimanjaro Safaris except that the journey takes guests through a mythological savannah where guests will come across famous mythological creatures like a unicorn, a phoenix or perhaps even a minotaur. I’m sure a dragon will show up too. The journey will be both outside and inside as there will be caves and mountains to explore. This is a huge gift.
The second gift is a no-brainer. Two new sit-down restaurants added to this theme park; one in Africa and one in Asia. The African restaurant should be similar to Boma in the Animal Kingdom Lodge not necessarily a buffet but having an African flare to it.
Of course, the sit-down restaurant in Asia will offer flavors from the East. As a matter of fact I think this gift will come true in 2007.
The last Animal Kingdom gift is twofold: First, there will be a general widening of the bridge to Discovery Island. Second, there will be some retooling of the access paths to and from Camp Minnie-Mickey. That is long time coming.
Stocking Stuffers
Oh yes, there were some stocking stuffers that we must not forget. Let me take down my stocking, sit down, and see what goodies await. Among my stocking stuffers were:
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Fastpass for Pirates of the Caribbean. The last two films plus the upcoming film has given this attraction a boost and the crowds have been such that at least one queue side should be made available for Fastpass when needed. I hope it’s the left side.
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After a few years of teasing us, the Haunted Mansion finally gets its Haunted Holidays makeover and we finally get to see some of the characters from The Nightmare before Christmas.
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Hmm, also in my stocking is a gift that is the removal of the video games in Innoventions and making that a true showcase for the inventions of tomorrow.
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Epcot entertainment is next including return of the Living statues and other Epcot entertainment.
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No longer will Streetmosphere be limited to Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard. We will find them everywhere in Disney-MGM Studios, including an attraction or two. I like this one.
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I hope it’s not too late for this one: Sounds Dangerous is to be replaced with an adaptation of High School Musical. Wow.
Imaginary or Real?
Of course sooner or later I had to wake up. And once my eyes opened up, the gifts were gone. Was I just dreaming? Would this dream come true? Will Santa ever deliver on my list? I guess time will tell. Some people don’t believe in dreams.
But wait. Aren’t we in the midst of a Year of a Million Dreams? Haven’t we been told that Disney Parks are where dreams come true? So there’s hope. One thing for sure and that is even if Santa can deliver only a few of these gifts they will go a long way towards helping us to…
…Remember the Magic.
Next Time
So what were my impressions of Mousefest 2006? This time, it’s personal. I’ll share it all with you when next we meet.
Class dismissed.
