This week’s mailbag kicks off with a series of letters answered by MouseTales author and MousePlanet writer David Koenig addressing his recent article about the remnants of closed attractions in The Lost World.
Scott C. writes:
Having been a student and collector of Walt Disney World history since the early 1970s, this is the type of article that I really enjoy. Please keep them coming. And yes, I have your book. Boy, if people only realized how different those days were: four-hour waits for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Space Mountain, zero hotel availability months in advance… I could go on.
Again, nice article. You know one could embellish each of these topics and it could become a nice series of articles.
Four-hour waits… no hotel availability… ah, the Good Old Days! I’ll have a Disneyland version coming in the next few weeks.
Jim writes:
For your information, the old Norway Viking ship was dismantled earlier this week!
Yikes! I’ll have to go pay my respects to the remains tomorrow!
Steve DeG. writes:
Nice article! I’m sure you’ve already been informed, but the section on the Fort Wilderness trains has a couple misleading statements. There wasn’t just one “train,” there were actually four trains. The locomotives still exist, but are now in private hands. Also, the locomotives weren’t “replicas,” they were actual steam engines built by Disney (technically, MAPO). Also, there is evidence the train ran into at least 1980 (link to a photo of a Fort Wilderness train ticket from 1980, at FortWildernessRR.com).
Keep up the good work!
Mike R. writes:
Great article, but you missed a few at Disney World: Things like Alien Encounter, If You Had Wings, Mickey Mouse Review, and of course the original GM exhibit in EPCOT; if Disney were smart they would place a highlight from that amazing attraction on the train ride at either park. Walt used to talk about the word “plussing”– adding things to existing rides to make them better.
When I was a kid, my uncle was working for Disney and he showed me the mockups for something called The Great River Expedition in an attraction called Big Thunder Mesa and something called Adventures in Science. I say bring back the People Mover at Disneyland and use those Adventures in Science concepts with updated ideas.
Here’s a trivia question for you: What is the only Disneyland attraction that still exists that had a separate admission ticket of 75 cents and was not included in regular Disneyland ticket books? The answer is The Enchanted Tiki Room!
Thanks for the note. The article was addressing the remains of past attractions where there currently are none. I left out the four examples you cite, among many others, because they all have active replacements (Stitch, Buzz, Philharmagic and Test Track, respectively).
In the next letter, copy editor Lani Teshima answers a reader’s question about his Walt Disney World marathon registration.
Greg S. writes:
I am registered for the 2009 Disney Marathon. I debated not running at all after suffering a stress fracture in my foot a few weeks ago. I may still run the marathon but I would like to ask if I can run the half marathon on Saturday either by formally transfering my registration from the “full” to the “half” or by just showing up wearing my marathon number?
If not the half marathon, could I run the 5k on Friday? If either of these are viable options, please advise me as to what I should do to accomplish this. We have the travel plans finalized and if I can, I would like to run either the half or the 5k as opposed to being an “observer”. Many thanks.
I’m so sorry to hear about your injury! What a bummer, when you were right in the thick of training. Since it’s a stress fracture, though, it may be that your body decided that those extra marathon-training miles were more than it wanted to deal with. Have you had a chance to talk to your family doctor or a sports physician to see if it is still possible to run the marathon in a month?
Back many years ago when the half-marathon and full marathons were held on the same day, it was possible to finish at the half instead of going the full distance. Although they didn’t openly condone it, the organizers held a small handful of extra half-marathon medals aside at the half-marathon finish line to give to people who were wearing the full marathon bib.
Unfortunately, ever since they changed the events so that they were held on two separate days, things have gotten much tighter. Technically, you cannot switch from one to the other, especially given that at this late time there are no openings for the half anymore. While it’s possible to take a doctor’s note with you to the fitness expo to see if you could plead your case, I have a feeling they will say no. The disclaimer form they have applicants sign seems to be worded more and more rigorously every year.
The 5K registration is also already closed.
You might consider contacting them at 407-938-3398 to see if you could speak to someone about this. Perhaps you’ll wind up talking to just the right person who is willing to make a special exception for you. Good luck!
Greg replies:
First of all, thank you for taking the time to read and reply! I really appreciate your time. Yes, it’s disheartening for all the training to slip out from under me and I do plan to pick another marathon or two in 2009 so that I have another goal “around the corner.” I’ve already had X-ray and MRI to confirm. I’m getting better and back running approximately three to four miles. The discomfort is going away little by little.
I’ll try and call the number but I certainly understand if they can’t accommodate me. It would be unreasonable to open themselves up people asking for changes; that could be crazy. My family is still making the trip in January. My wife is running the half and my daughter is running the 5k so I’ll support them. Thank you so much for all your time and assistance.
Finally, the mailbag received some letters in response to last week’s mailbag where we shared one mother’s experience at the Jonas Brothers’ book signing.
A reader writes:
My girls and I were also highly disappointed at the lack of security that Disneyland implemented that morning. We teach our children that there are rules that must be followed, and if we break rules there will be consequences. Well, that morning at Disneyland the only consequence was people getting rewarded for breaking rules. They were allowed to line up before 1 a.m. They were holding places for people and were coming and going as they pleased. It was completely disheartening as a mother to see how security did not hold up the rules and flat out closed their eyes to rules being broken.
As an example of this, after the line “closed” I believe an off-duty Disney employee (he had 3 teenagers with him) was talking to a Disney security officer. After a few minutes the girls snuck into the line. My girls were shocked. I went to the security officer and told him it was not fair to allow these girls to get in line after they had “closed” the line and had sent a bunch of other girls away. The security officer looked me in the eyes and said “I know nothing”. The guy said “As long as they don’t go in front of you;” I was in disbelief. My girls saw how these “adults” did not uphold rules and actually broke them. As a mother I felt like crying. I was so sad that my daughter’s had to witness this.
We didn’t get a wristband either. My girls did see the brothers in the park. The brothers waved and smiled at them. That was very nice.
Greg H. writes:
Oh please! I work at a ballpark and making sure everyone is happy is difficult. When guests have certain expectations it is difficult to meet those in some circumstances. Invariably someone is disappointed and believe me it is recognized, regretted and discussed in meetings. Disney is looked up to as the epitome of entertainment and organization. We here at the ballpark all go to Disneyland often. Everyone admires the professionalism, thoroughness and planning at Disney.
It is regrettable that this woman’s family was disappointed but, if viewed from the management, I am sure that the Disney staff did not like the faux pas either. To me it was a bit of overkill. With children myself, I understand her love of her children, but none of us can control all in our life.
I hope she enjoys the rest of her adventures with the mouse.
