Polarfox's Disney Update Center is the place where you can find out his latest tips and commentary on The Disneyland Resort in California and the Walt Disney Company. Also feel free to check out classic features such as: Disneyland Tips and Disneyland Dating Tips.
08.09.04 - Is Disneyland Losing It's Grip of Being (One of) America's Greatest Theme Park?
During the past week I've been criticized more than once about my family's obsession with Disneyland. Family relatives and friends have made many comments such as, "aren't you tired with Disneyland yet? Wouldn't you rather be at Magic Mountain? You should try going on a cruise." Personally, my family trips to Disneyland are mainly just habit and convenience. It has always been a location that members of my family enjoy and actually don't get tired of. I have cousins who will ride the same ride a million times and won't pass up an opportunity to go. I blame the obsession on Disney magic. During the time spent at Disneyland, we do tend to forget about all the big business that surrounds the parks and enjoy the family outing how Walt Disney wanted it to be. Of course as we all know, Disneyland has been far from meeting the "golden" expectations that will soon mark it's first 50 years in opperation. It's true that much has changed in the past 10 years, but not all changes were good. Some changes were bittersweet and some were just plain bad news. So with all the criticism about the worth of Walt's first Disney theme park today, can we really consider it America's greatest?
Mistakes are easily made in big business. Anytime there is money involved, the wrong strategy can devestate the outcome. After reading the many articles of Disneyland enthusiasts, you can come out with a general idea that Disneyland began losing its touch when it lost its vision. Disney execs thought they could profit from cutting around the corners and using a "less is more" approach. The parades got cheaper, the rides got cheaper, and with it even the service began to sour. Now looking at today I hope thos execs see that all those dollars they tried to save is just being spent on repairing all the damage that has been done. Of course those old execs don't care. They've done their job and have long walked out the door with their hard earned money.
Fortunately, as long as there is the dream - the vision just as inspiring as Walt Disney's - then Disneyland will always survive in our hearts. Within these next few years I hope to see Disneyland restore itself back to the vigor it once cherished. We shall watch with hopes that Matt Quimet's team will suceed in making Disneyland the greatest once again. Then hopefully more people will be able to appreciate the magic that really is Disneyland.
08.06.04 - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Status
Disneyland - I recieved another update from my cousin Pete. Staff members have been informed that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen again in about two weeks. There's still plenty of worry about the seemingly bad luck attraction. Regular guest are torn between wanting to see fixed up or torn down.
Most official sites still have BTMRR listed as closed indefinitely so there is no official confirmation about the ride's reopening. Some worry that BTMRR's problems may cast a bad shadow for Disneyland's 50th anniversary. As mentioned before, the lack of Disneyland E-Ticket attrractions is going to significantly hurt the parks value to park guests. While it may still get numbers from Annual Passholders, Disney will find less people wanting to visit their parks and their dismal growing attractions when they can visit SeaWorld or Universal Studios - each with new attractions to attract summer audiences.
At this point I would like to see the attraction totally rehauled once Space Mountain reopens. With the space coaster back online next November, resources can be spent on trying to save BTMRR's poor reputation. If the park executives pull it off right, they may be able to have a brand new version of BTMRR up by 2007. Oh nice, that will be the year of my graduation.
08.04.04 - Where are all the E-Ticket rides?
Disneyland - I got a phone call this morning from my cousin Pete who's currently visiting Disneyland this week. He teased me about seeing one of the trains on California Screamin' boost outta control. Of course this never happened. The coaster in DCA - one of the park's only E-ticket rides - has had technical problems for the past few years. This summer has proved that the ride is in much needed refurbishment since it has been closed for days at a time now. With major complaints from park guests, it is clear that DCA cannot afford to shut the ride down for a long period of time. The plan was for the Tower of Terror to stand alone as a powerhouse E-ticket attraction and allow other E-Ticket rides to refurbish one at a time to keep a balance in open attractions. With the ToT leaving an unimpressive opening summer, those plans have been scrapped. Currently, the only E-ticket worthy rides at DCA are California Screamin', Soaring Over California, Grizzly River Run, and now the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. That's only four major rides! Pete noted that Grizzly River Run also closed down today which would only leave two E-ticket rides to satisfy and entire park of guests.
To make matters worse, Disneyland isn't doing any better with E-ticket attractions either. With Big Thunder Mountain Railroad out of commission until mechanical issues can be permanently solved and Space Mountain with another year to go before the 50th debut, the only "coaster" ride left in the park is Matterhorn Bobsleds. Although Splash Mountain is open, it's not known for it's reliability to stay open consistant enough to cover for the other E-ticket rides. Even with it's recent renovation, Pete reported that the Indiana Jones Adventure was having it's fair share of technical difficulties as well closing down for a few hours in the afternoon. Unless you count the Rocket Rod's short run in 1998, the Indiana Jones Adventure has been the last E-ticket attraction built. It debuted in 1995 making it almost a decade since Disneyland has seen a new E-ticket ride. With Matt Quimet's team on it's way to incorporating a new slogan, "rides, rides, and more rides," Buzz Lightyear hopes to make a good hit next year to become a new E-ticket ride. Much recovery is needed since The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction did not make itself E-ticket in Disneyland as it has in other parks. Other E-ticket worthy attractions in the park are of course Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, and Peter Pan's Flight (questionable).
The Future?
There is always hope in all Disneyland fans that Disneyland will continue to grow like it was supposed to. Fortunately, Disneyland President Matt Quimet is on a mission to do just that. Within the past year, he's been trying to persuade more funding to the park from the financial superiors. Already there are plans up to renovate the submarine lagoon and bring it back into action (a move Tomorrowland desperately needs to keep it from looking like a ghost town). Rumors float around about having "Finding Nemo" overlay with the original subs, but Quimet has more ambitious plans including an entire makeover using inspiration from Tokyo DisneySea's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction. Whatever the decision, hope to see changes in the sub lagoon within the next few years.
More vacancy in DCA as Who Want's to Be a Millionaire - Play It! ends its run officially latter this month. This leaves three consecutive buildings in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot vacant for future planning: Millionaire stage, SuperStar Limo, and Hollywood & Dine restaurant. Current ideas being tossed around for the space include a Monster's Inc themed dark ride and even the Aerosmith Rock n' Roller Coaster. Either speculation is bound to be a hopeful E-ticket attraction to meet DCAs demands.
Well that's it for today. I will check in again tomorrow with Pete and hopefully have a few more updates.
Links
Thanks to the following websites for their reliable resources and dedication to the Disney dream.
Inspired by:
This site is part of the MousePlanet galaxy!
Polarfox is not associated in any manner with the Walt Disney Company and does not claim any intellectual property rights associated with Disney.
