Staff writer Mark Goldhaber had a little April Fools fun last week with his article, “Kingdom Hearts and Steampunk Coming to Magic Kingdom?” He caught a few readers with his creative prank, including those who wrote in below. Did he catch you?
Gary writes:
You got me! I was so excited by seeing your ‘devious’ article, that I neglected to go for my first cup of coffee. I sat at my desk, read, got excited, read some more, got even more excited and started calculating my savings to make the trip to see this wonderful vision, then got to the kicker – I totally forgot that today is April Fools Day.
Note to self – drink coffee THEN begin the day.
Phillip writes:
Happy April Fool’s Day! An excellent column, delivered with an absolutely straight face, as any great prank needs. I appreciate your wit and style and look forward to all the misguided hate mail your column will no doubt generate. Please keep up the great work!
Chris F. writes:
What a hoot! Good job. But I do wish I could buy a keyblade of my very own.
Bill T. writes:
Okay, you got me. I thought it sounded a bit out there (even for Disney).
Jennifer S. writes:
Excellent job, Mark! You actually had me until I got halfway through the article! It’s 10:40am my time and you are the first one to get me today. I’m going to forward your article to my Disney-fan office mate now.
Joe L. writes:
You got me but good! I was about to call my Disney Friends and let them know about the travesty that Disney would be messing with the Speedway. Very funny Mark; Very funny!
Richard P. writes:
CLASSIC! I am a Disneyland maniac and I have only been to the Magic Kingdom twice. I thought, wow if they are going to do something this goofy (sorry) it would be in Orlando. Then I suspected something when you mentioned Astro Orbiter and the disaster that the Jules Verne theming of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland was (I personally liked it, but it didn’t change anything but the paint). Still a great column and terrific April Fools! I am still laughing about the Gummi and Treasure Planet references!
Brian J. writes:
You had me going for a minute. Then I remembered what day it was before I got halfway through the article. It’s just plausible enough to sound believable.
Holly A. writes:
I just had to share that my son was totally stoked about the Steampunk Tomorrowland then he got to the end of the article and was so disappointed! You got him good! Although I think some of the steampunk idea would liven up Tomorrowland.
Gina writes:
I am the April fool I lapped every word up with a pit in my stomach! Got me!
Tim C. writes:
You know, you really had me going there after reading your April Fool’s column. I and even my Dad thought it was for real. It really would be nice to have a Kingdom Hearts themed area as part of the Fantasyland expansion and maybe that Steampunk makeover for Tomorrowland, but it was all just a FIB fanks, er, THANKS to you !
In fact, the last time I was at Disney World, I went to the big store in Epcot’s Japan Pavilion to see if they had anything Kingdom Hearts related. Well, I searched high and low but to no avail. Then I finally asked someone about my dilemma and they had a good reason why they don’t carry Kingdom Hearts stuff. I don’t remember what it was because I was too stubborn to believe it.
Well, I humbly appreciate you for something believably elaborate fabricated from the recesses of your fertile imagination. In other words: Thanks. A lot.
Teena writes:
You totally had me. I was ready to tell my 11-year-old son who loves Kingdom Hearts games. Bummer. Magic Kingdom needs to do more for the little boys; we’re sick of everything being about the princesses, fairies, etc…
Mark responds:
Thanks to all for enjoying the foolery! It was a lot of fun putting the article together. Believe it or not, I actually don’t know much about Kingdom Hearts. I did some research while writing the article and gathered just enough so that I could make the story plausible. To my mind, the best April Fool’s prank is the one that’s so believable that you don’t realize that it’s a joke until someone tells you. I’m glad that I was able to provide some April Fool’s Day fun for you. I haven’t had that much fun putting together an article in a long time.
Sandy writes:
You failed to mention how on the west coast, steampunk and Kingdom Hearts will be the center of an entirely new theme park to be built on a former strawberry field.
Because of all the effort being expended at DCA, no work will begin on the third gate until at least 2013, and that will depend on how the makeover in Florida is accepted, so it’s not a dead-certain thing.
Kristi writes:
Loved the article! Where oh where did you get the Mechanical Kingdom picture? I happen to be in the steampunk culture and a Disney nut and would love to get a bigger copy of that picture.
The Mechanical Kingdom artwork came from an actual post on the Disney Parks Blog that was linked in the article. The pin event that I referred to was actually not made up. Those pins should now be available for purchase at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Finally, readers share musical memories with staff writer Chris Barry in response to his March 19, 2010 article, “Top 5 Walt Disney World Musical Moments.”
Suzie writes:
I love reading your Top 5 lists! But how could you leave “There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” from the Carousel of Progress off of your list? I love that song and always have it humming around in my head for hours after leaving the ride. I’ve been known to spontaneously burst into the song – much to my children’s horror!
I also love the music of Fantasmic and, at Disneyland, am usually a little teary-eyed when Mickey appears at the end in his sorcerer’s outfit on Tom Sawyer’s Island as the music swells, and then the Mark Twain comes around the bend with all the characters. Such a great moment!
The great thing about all of the music is that when you catch a few strains of it at home, in between trips, you can close your eyes and for a few seconds you’re there again! Thanks for the memories!
It was hard to leave out many different songs. “The Rain, Rain, Rain.” from Winnie the Pooh. “Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirates Life For Me” from Pirates of the Caribbean. “Laughin’ Place” from Splash Mountain. There’s so many, but thus, that’s the problem with a list!
I’m right with you. The music really does take you there, no matter where you are.
Andrew writes:
May I add a couple of music moments to your Top 5?
1) The music they have chosen for “Fountain of Nations” at Epcot is particularly memorable and fits the fountains perfectly. I loved one piece so much (Yanni’s “Standing in Motion”) that I had to purchase it on iTunes… and I use it whenever I run (along with Reflections of Earth, of course).
2) I wouldn’t call myself a big Aerosmith fan, but when your stretch limo starts taking off from 0-60 in 3 seconds and the music starts blaring, I can’t help but grin (and laugh) from ear to ear… all the way to the end.
Thanks for such great lists! I look forward to them all.
The fountain music is pretty awesome and very well chosen. I think I might smile no matter what was playing when that limo takes off, but you’re right. It is cool to have some classic rock blaring as you blast off.
Christi C. writes:
I loved your article. Just thinking about some of my favorite musical moments brought a tear to my eye. All of my downloaded ring tones are Disney themed from the Epcot Future World theme, Carousel of Progress to (and I know it is not technically music) to the Monorail Recording…”Please stand clear of the Door.” I don’t even mind being on “Hold” with Disney so that I can listen to some of the tunes!
The best part about calling Disney and being on hold are the tunes. I totally agree.
Randy K. writes:
All of your picks were right, because you can’t go wrong with nearly any choice. However, your article wonderfully caught the Walt Disney World spirit.
You’re so right. It is hard to go wrong. Wherever I go, the music always seems to fit just right.
