Welcome to July! In this week’s mailbag, staff writer Steve Russo answers some reader mail in response to his recent imaginative article “The Interview,” where he postulated how Walt Disney would react to the Disney of today if he were still alive.
Arnold B. writes:
EXCELLENT! After the first couple of questions, I was actually in the frame of mind that I was reading Walt’s own words. I agree completely with the sentiments you expressed regarding the parks, and believe that Walt’s own responses would have been quite similar. Your column has become one of the highlights of my week on MousePlanet. Thanks and congratulations.
Thank you for those very kind words. I had toyed, for a while, with the idea of an article on how Walt would feel about the parks today. The idea of putting into his words was a bit risky, but I thought it was worth trying. I appreciate you letting me know it was worth it.
Bob B. writes:
I liked your interview except for how Walt Disney felt about the lack of a city of tomorrow. I think he would have been disappointed and would have rather seen Walt Disney World as a major city of tomorrow versus four theme parks etc. I have often wondered what really would have happend if Uncle Walt had not passed away and had been able to build his EPCOT. In my warped mind that would have been magic.
While I was writing this “interview”, I knew I would have to wrestle with Epcot – the reality versus what we know was Walt’s dream. My take on this (and mine alone) is that Walt would recognize why the designers deviated from his plans – and he would have understood and appreciated it. With this knowledge, he would have assessed his chances of pulling it off at something less than a sure thing. But… he believed he would have been persistent and kept trying and that, ultimately, he had enough faith in his own abilities to believe he would have pulled it off. At least that’s what I tried to convey.
Jenny writes:
I really enjoyed your column and I agree with most everything. I would bring Hunchback back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. But another big point of mine (and don’t call me a grouch) is I would love to see adult-only dining sections at table-service restaurants. Walt Disney World is such a honeymoon destination, and there are those of us who don’t like paying $25+ per person for a meal, then being surrounded by children who are melting down or who have never been taught to stay in their seats. Last trip to Boma we had to struggle to keep a small child out of our purses! I would even PAY more for such.
Adult only dining, huh? I was about to suggest some of the more upscale restaurants (California Grill, Yachtsman Steakhouse, etc.) but, I realized that I’ve seen a fair number of children there as well. I may just be lucky, but we really haven’t experienced anything extreme with melt-downs or the purse burglar you described.
It’s Disney World and children are going to be a part of it. In my experience, most (certainly not all) problems can be traced to the parents. A child melting down is too often over-tired from a full day at the parks without a break. A child misbehaving (your purse burglar is an example) can easily be controlled through parental discipline and control. Unfortunately, the best we can do is grin and bear it and hope that a few of the parents get the message and control their little darlings or see to it that they get their afternoon naps.
Michael A. writes:
I really enjoyed your “interview” with Walt Disney. It was very good, and I was very impressed. I think he would have interviewed just the way you presented it. It’s sad he died way too young. Seems everyone (I’m 56) around the turn of the century smoked and died of cancer at an early age.
My first trip to WDW was in 1978. I was so impressed I’ve been every year since. I can’t imagine anyone not loving it there, but I’ve met a few that don’t. You think there’s got to be something wrong with them! I’m glad Disney still keeps the parks up to the same standards as in the beginning. It still looks and feels like always, doesn’t it?
Just one other thing. I always have gone in September, after Labor Day, around September 7 or so, but this last September it was actually crowded! I was in shock to wait in line more than 30 minutes on some attractions. Has something changed about September? When do you think it’s the least crowded?
I’m glad you enjoyed “The Interview”. I can’t tell you how long I debated writing that before I actually decided to do it.
September was crowded, huh? Just guessing here but I’ll bet you a Dole Whip it had something to do with the free Disney Dining Plan offered last year – and again this year. That’s a great deal for those that take advantage of it, and there seem to be many who do. It’s great business for Disney and brings in crowds to what has historically been a slow month. It’s not so good for folks like you that used to cherish the “slow times”.
It’s hard to pick a “least crowded” time of year anymore. By offering special deals (free dining) and events (Food and Wine Festival, Flower and Garden Festival, etc.), Disney has successfully smoothed out those peaks and valleys that occurred in park attendance. You might consider December (before Christmas week), January-February (prior to President’s week), and any Winter-Spring week without a Spring Break scheduled somewhere (are there any like that anymore?).
Connie La T. writes:
I recently visited the World in December 2007, and now I have come to prefer Disneyland. Perhaps it is due to recents experiences at both. At Disneyland in October 2005, it was a much less crowded time; except for Veteran’s Day, a Friday, we had the parks to ourselves. Disneyland has some unique rides that WDW does not, including the following:
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Small World Holiday
Haunted Mansion Holiday
A better dip in Pirates of the Caribbean
A more unique offering of characters — my niece met a knight from Sleeping Beauty Castle
Storybook Canal Boats
Santa’s Reindeer Park behind Frontierland
Even Mickey’s ToonTown is far superior to the Magic Kingdom version. They have more rides and attractions to enjoy.
Disney’s California Adventure has:
Disney’s Aladdin-A Musical Spectacular
Grizzly River Rapids
A Bug’s Land (very cute)
Ariel’s Grotto
California Screamin’
Disneyland doesn’t have unreliable buses; everything is within walking distance (I think this is the best part). When I visited the Magic Kingdom, the holiday decorations were a disgrace — plastic trees.
My next Disney vacation may be Walt Disney World for my 50th birhday in 2011, but I hope to visit Disneyland/Disney’s California Adventure sooner. I miss the ‘Land.
And let us not forget the Disneyland Resort hotels. The Disneyland Hotel has a great theme and the furnishings in the rooms are decorated with park sketches and maps. Plus, Tinker Bell sprinkles her pixie dust across the room. Then there is the amazing Neverland pool complex. Being a Tinker Bell fan myself, I fell in love with this resort.
I also love the Grand Californian Hotel. You cannot beat walking right into the park from your hotel. Plus, they have an indoor and outdoor fireplace. After enjoying the jacuzzi, you can sit by the fire and journal your memories in a Passporter book while enjoying a Mickey ice cream bar. Now I want to go back.
That’s a great email, and I’ll grant you most of those, but… at the risk of starting a real war… Walt Disney World does have:
- A better Tower of Terror
- Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster Starring Aerosmith
- The Great Movie Ride
- Muppetvision 3D
- Expedition Everest
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilamanjaro Safari
- Legend of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo the Musical
- Mickey’s Philharmagic
- A much bigger castle
- Epcot, Epcot, Epcot
- World Showcase
- Illumination – Reflections of Earth
- Test Track
- Mission: Space
- 2 Water Parks
- How many more restaurants?
Wanna talk theming? Wilderness Lodge? Animal Kingdom Lodge? Yacht and Beach Clubs? Polynesian? Pop Century?
OK, that was kind of fun. Bottom line? They’re both great and I think each resort offers a lot of similarity and just enough distinction to make visiting both a lot of fun. Disneyland also has the added factor of being the place that Walt built… and walked. I think we’d find passionate fans of both resorts and I’m not turning down a visit to either.
