Boldly, I'd like to say that sometime in 2016, we will discover that the Oriental Land Company (OLC), owner and guardian of the Tokyo Disney Resort, will announce something big. Really big. If you remember, they have been talking with outside sources regarding a third theme park for the resort. Frozen was a shoe in for Tokyo Disney Sea, and a whole new revision was coming to the dated Fantasyland for Disneyland proper. Those are still a go, but here's my prediction: The third park will be announced, and it will include Star Wars Lands- emphasis on the plural- as well as inserting many Marvel attractions into the landscape of it. What better way to retain the crown of "Best Disney Parks on the Planet" than to add a third park to the mix? As is most often the case, the OLC will take just about anything built in the American parks and improve upon it. Star Wars fans will clamor for more than what they can find in Disneyland or the soon to be renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios, and their desire for more will be met by the Japanese. This keeps Tokyo at the Disney destination above Shanghai Disneyland and the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
Great Shanghai Disneyland map
courtesy the always great Disney and More.
Arrogance and out of control egos remind me that we in the U.S. will be electing a new President soon. The front runners of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump certainly are a match for Iger as well as our current executive in both categories. Each are smug, prideful, and without remorse for some of their actions. I truly hate election years with a passion as they seem to divide our country and only emphasize how lost we are, a nation that pushes God to the curb all the while shouting out his name. Hypocrisy at its best/worst. The results of the election are one prediction I will not make. It seems too close to call at this point. This thing is certain, it's time to repent before God for thinking we can run a nation well without His help.
Gardens and restaurants will flesh out
a fairly small but impressive attraction roster.
There's more than a few projects on the home front, and I even have some predictions and hopes for those. My wife and I have taken down a wall in our kitchen that divided it from our dining room. Our house is rather small but really suited to us. We really can only work on it on the weekends, so it will take some time before its finished. Should be nice though. I predict that by Spring we'll just be finishing it up, but it will make those big family meals all the more enjoyable.
There's more to do inside our house. It's very obvious it is old and well worn, but it is full of happy memories as we've laughed and cried together over the years. New carpet, new wood, new paint, working on the bathrooms, and cleaning the garage. Working in the back yard is on our list as well. the gardens need a lot of work, and we'll be adding some additional outside lighting. All the better for those patio parties!
Retro and sweet.
More vintage Disneyland disappears in 2016.
Partying is high on the list at the Disney parks as the advertising department makes the most of every opportunity Particularly this year at the original Disneyland as it continues its 60th Anniversary celebration. Lots of closures are coming in a few days, but the huge crowds will still come as well as the bloggers ready to document these historic changes to the park. Star Wars Land comes at a very high price tag. Not just for the actual land and attractions but in historic loss as well. Only a fool would predict a lack of success for this project. I won't be among them.
Harry Potter conquers California.
Success is assured at Universal Studios Hollywood as it opens its West Coast version of Harry Potter's Hogsmead. The Forbidden Journey is bound to delight guests- and I will probably be among them, forgoing Disneyland during its year of closures. I'm not a big fan of Universal on the West Coast, but my prediction here is that they will have to figure out how to capitalize on the success with so little land available to them. I'd expect a lot of "Old Hollywood" to soon disappear in the years ahead.
Success is also assured in Florida. While Disney has basically rested on their success in the last decade, Universal has upped its game, making the Mouse finally take notice. Islands of Adventure just keeps getting better, and we will take out two days out of our Disney agenda to see the competing parks. Cabana Bay seems to be our top choice for our stay, maybe Sapphire Falls, perhaps even causing us to not stay on the Disney property at all next time. For the same price as All Star Sports, the whole execution of the theme of either is more in line with a top line resort at Walt Disney World.
Disney may be the king in Florida, but with a new water park and perhaps even a third theme park on the horizon, Universal Orlando is becoming the prince to watch and rather quickly. Competition is good for the paying guests! Here's my Universal Florida prediction: A third theme park is unofficially announced and with it comes with another piece of Harry Potter real estate in the mix, requiring three days to see it all. Something respected and desired like Lord of the Rings could be added to flesh it out. How do you take bites out of an elephant like Disney? One theme park resort expansion bite at a time.
How will Disney respond? Slowly as always, but at least the plans are announced and work is starting soon. Star Wars Land is on the way as we all know. Toy Story Land opens first and is a rather quick addition to build. Here's a bit of wishing and hoping: Build a Pizza Planet, and make it worthy of its name this time. Toss in a real dark ride along with the expanded Toy Story Mania. It's time for the Imagineers to be given free creative rein in making this area of Disney's Hollywood Studios the Fantasyland of the park that the suits intend it to be. They won't, so it won't, but it least make it better than we expect. Please.
Kong's returning in a big way!
The new Sapphire Falls resort. Watch out Disney.
Toy Story Land is only the beginning.
The long overdue nighttime show at Animal Kingdom.
It had better be great!
Once this incredible land opens, here's my prediction for what they will do next at Animal Kingdom. Ready? Absolutely nothing. Zero. Zilch. Disney suits will go back to resting on their laurels for this park. But this time, they may have a very good reason. Not only do they have to complete Disney's Hollywood Studios reimagining, they may actually do something substantial with Epcot.
Do you remember what EPCOT Center was stunning?
Grand visions of EPCOT Center.
Now only a distant memory.
Russia will not be coming to World Showcase.
The suit's vision for the park is as small as this image.
Karen and Richard Carpenter.
Great music never goes out of style.
Captain America vs. Iron Man.
I know whose side I am on.
The year in film doesn't seem too promising to me, but truth is, I'm always pleasantly surprised. Captain America: Civil War is a must see for me. I love that Steve Rogers was a hero even before he looked like one. This alone makes him a worthy guy. (I'd put Tim Tebow in that category as well. With or without an NFL contract, the guy puts his faith in action and lives a life worthy of the calling he's been given. It's overdue for the sports world to celebrate more real men like him than some of the thugs found in too much of professional sports.) I did not predict Ant Man to be good, but I was wrong, so what do I know.
Time for some personal predictions and goals for the new year. Confession time: I do not always live like I want. At this point in time, I've spent too much time in front of a screen, and that has to change. I predict it will still be a struggle... along with my time management, my weight, and balancing a busy life with two jobs. Add to the list strengthening my marriage and honoring my wife more than I do, well, it's a very full list.
I will head to South Dakota with my church to serve at a local reservation.
Although I will travel quite a bit for work, I won't predict where my personal travels will take me. I won't even promise to finish the 100 plus articles I've started including the ones which include our incredible trip to Switzerland, or places in the States, or even the Disney Dark Ride series. (I'm leaning toward Mr. Toad's Wild Ride next.) But I can promise I'll try. Unfortunately, I fall flat on my face too many times, and I have too many regrets and fears. But thankfully, even if I'm flat on my face, I usually end up praying.
Let me close this article by quoting some encouraging words from the Scottish pastor and writer Oswald Chambers:
"You shall
not go out with haste,…for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel
will be your rear guard. — Isaiah 52:12
Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future
with Him."
I'm looking forward to a new year with you! Thank you for reading, and see you tomorrow!
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)
Security from Yesterday. “…God requires an account of what
is past” (Ecclesiastes
3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God
has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our
yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the
memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays,
and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual
growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very
shallow security in the present.
Security for Tomorrow. “…the Lord will go before you….” This is a gracious
revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He
will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures,
as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our “rear guard.” And God’s hand
reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.
Security for Today. “You shall not go out with haste….” As we go forth
into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful
delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out
with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our
yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have
lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this
destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the
past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.
I'm looking forward to a new year with you! Thank you for reading, and see you tomorrow!
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)
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