Wait A Minute! The Magic Kingdom's Frontierland is Now Set in 1927?

Tiana's Bayou Adventure will be the BIG push for anyone heading to Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom in 2024. But with the installation of the new "Tiana Foods watertower", does this really mean that Frontierland is now centered on the year 1924? This is really a mistake for the current Imagineering team that wants to erase the Tony Baxter and team masterpiece. 

What happened to the 1800's? It's fine if Splash Mountain is no more- or is it- but please do not destroy what is the themed land dedicated to the pioneering spirit of the Old West back in the days of the brave men and women who made their way across the land. Is this a precursor to the filling in of the Rivers of America and the closing of the Riverboat? Lord, help us if it is.  Princess and the Frog has some pretty great elements, but it does not take place of one of the Magic Kingdom's opening day lands.

Will I enjoy the ride? Of course- it's built on the carcass of one of Imagineering's best achievements. I'll love the visuals, the music, and the thrills. Does that mean this transgression of design detail doesn't bother me? Absolutely not. 

Come on, Charita Carter and Carmen Smith- You can do better than this.

Pride, Sexuality, and the Gospel of Jesus

Gay, Straight or something else on the spectrum? Atheist, Agnostic, or Adherent to a particular faith, or adherence to none. Dr. Christopher Yuan writes a mesmerizing book that successfully addresses the idea of healthy, holy sexuality. Reading it will help the LGBTQ+ reader understand the perspective of those who don't understand them and visa versa, people of faith and people of no faith. It's a book that addresses the Bible, Christianity, Pride, Brokenness, and who can follow the call of Jesus Christ. It was an eye-opening journey which brought many questions to light and made me consider what it meant to look at complex issues from multiple sides of the equation. Read it if you want your world view stretched.

Is This the New Ride System for the Avengers E Ticket?

Long rumored, hinted at, finally announced, and not built. At least not yet. With a property as precious as Marvel, the Disney Imagineers- and more importantly, the suits that run the show- had better do a great job with the Avengers Campus E Ticket attraction for California Adventure and Hong Kong Disneyland. (Will it come to Avengers Campus at Walt Disney Studios Paris? Probably not but you never know.)

However... I have a feeling that the BATMAN: Knight Flight attraction at Warner Brothers Adu Dhabi might have beaten Disney to the punch. The ride system is used to full effect in this cutting edge attraction. Incorporated with full sets and a thrilling storyline, I believe this to be the ride system or a variant that we'll soon find in the Disney Parks. 

The competition is still for tourist dollars- and Disney can't afford to try to recover from either the lack of opening day enthusiasm for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge or Spider-Man Web Slingers attractions. Can they do it or will they blunder it big time?

You decide for yourself if they've already been beaten. Look at the video below and determine the thrill factor for yourself... including whether or not you'll journey to the Arabian Peninsula to ride it for yourself.

(Video by Denis S.)

Ditching Disney

Goodbye Walt Disney World! Our hard earned vacation dollars and our mileage points are not taking us to Central Florida or not even anywhere Disney. Everything is in the discussion stages, but most likely a few must see spots in Europe are on the agenda. Goodbye to park reservations, crowded busses, 7:00 am lines at entrance gates, Genie+, and overpriced meals. Hello, some planning appropriate to wherever we go... along with lazy days at museums and cafes and taking in the sights. It's time to discover the real world again.

(Photographer unknown.)

Congratulations to Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure!

All it took was one visit to the great theme parks at Universal Orlando Resort to see that Islands of Adventure was the park to be reckoned with! Now, the attendance results of all the parks in Florida prove it. Sure, attendance figures reveal that Walt Disney World's iconic Magic Kingdom is still in first place, but the younger sister at Universal is posting some impressive numbers as it sits at Number Two... and climbing. Islands beat out the three newer Disney theme parks- Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Very impressive! All this is found on the 2022 Theme Index, published by AECOM (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations, and Management) and TEA (Themed Entertainment Association).

It's not just Harry Potter that's pulling out some magic. Next door at Jurassic Park, it's breathtaking Velocicoaster is drawing them in as well. It's frightening but fun, pulling in guests of all ages for the ride of their lives. Somewhat more family friendly, the newer Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure leaves riders smiling the whole way, and wanting to get back in line for one more ride. When you have to choose between Motorbike and Sidecar, it's a tough choice!

Toss in the absolute best Spider-Man attraction ever (Sorry Disney Imagineering!), some great places to eat and drink, and a spot right next to City Walk, well, Islands of Adventure is well worth your time and money. It's fresh, exciting, and always improving. 

This long time Disney Imagineering lover become a huge fan of Universal Creative- and I can't wait to see what comes next to all their parks. Imagine what Epic Universe will bring!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

A&M Records Drops the Ball on the Carpenters

A&M Records did not know how to market their uber successful artists Richard and Karen Carpenter, and here's more proof: Take a look at this U.K. only 1976 ad for the duo's latest album A Kind of Hush. (The album that included a lilting remake of the title song by Herman's Hermits came out on this day 47 years ago.) Just look at just how poorly the Carpenters are represented. 

Yes, after the mesmerizing Horizon album, the much less ambitious A Kind of Hush was a softer, Adult Contemporary focused collection. Even the incredible I Need to Be in Love was without the edge of prior releases. The album was definitely not Top 40 material or execution- but this ad is just over the top bad. It is almost mocking the artists. Is it as bad as this advertisement a few years prior? What do you think?

I've written extensively about their music, album by album, and how each affected their career and their life. Each album review is filled with statistics, what was happening in the world of music, and rare photos. Since there are stories about my life mixed in, you'll also get a glimpse of what it meant to grow up in Southern California during the 70s. 

On the Insights blog, there are also numerous stand alone posts about Karen and Richard Carpenter highlighting different aspects of their career, recordings, and life. There's many unique photos to be found here as well. I was honored to be interviewed for Randy L. Schmidt's excellent Carpenters: An Illustrated Discography.

Below is the list of my "Revisited /Fresh Look" reviews and those that came a decade earlier. 

My Revisited / Fresh Look at the albums:

Offering / Ticket to Ride
Close to You
Carpenters 
A Song for You 

Now & Then

The Singles 1969 - 1973

Live in Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

 

My Initial Reviews of the albums:

Offering/Ticket to Ride

Close to You

Carpenters

A Song for You

Now & Then

The Singles 1969-1973

Live In Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974-1978

Christmas Portrait

Made in America

Voice of the Heart

An Old Fashioned Christmas

Time (Richard Solo)

Lovelines

Karen Carpenter (Solo)

As Time Goes By

 

The Forgotten Walt Disney World Resort

There's a Walt Disney World resort that guests totally forget about. And it's quite a beautiful place as these photographs prove. I know I have not thought about this place until recently. Have you been there? Or do you even know about it? Let's take a look at this place. I can assure you that it may make you look more than once to trying to get a reservation.

The Golf Resort- a premium destination.

The Shades of Green resort was once known as the Golf Resort. Back in 1973 when it added rooms and was no longer just a clubhouse for the courses, it was the premier location to play a few rounds, stay in a peaceful environment and enjoy all the associated amenities of a resort that was not geared toward children. The resort may have been off the monorail route and a bit of a distance from Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, but that was part of its secluded charm. Think of a resort that had the original Disney Village vibe (the predecessor to Disney Springs), and you'll get an idea of how it all felt.

In the mid 1980's, the number of resort rooms doubled in size and the name was changed to the Disney Inn as an attempt to get more non-golfers to stay at the intimate resort. Later in 1994, the U.S. Military was pleased to lease and later purchase the resort as a new Armed Forces Recreation Center. The name was changed to Shades of Green to reference the color of uniforms all soldiers wore from different branches of the military.

The lobby waterfall at Shades of Green.

The rustic waterfall area of the lobby reminds me a bit of the original waterfall in the center of the Polynesian Village. Instead of a tropical theme, there's a Rocky Mountain look reminiscent of the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Denver. It's a peaceful place, a very relaxed environment giving the resort and elegant and restful flavor.

The photos above and the video below come from the excellent WDW Explore and Chill video site. Be sure to check it out for other great tours after you've finished touring Shades of Green. Enjoy!

Animal Kingdom's Kilimanjaro Safaris vs. Kenya's Real Thing: How Do They Compare?

Animal Kingdom's opening day centerpiece attraction remains one of the park's must-do rides. Kilimanjaro Safaris combines incredible landscapes and an ever changing crew of creatures both big and small. It's a brisk 18 minute adventure, but how does Imagineering's epic attraction hold up next to a real live African safari? Did Joe Rhode's team pull it off? Let's see how they compare.

Beautiful family- inside and out!

My son and his family left Nairobi, Kenya for a 140 mile trip to the edge of the Serengeti National Park in Kenya. They chose to save for and then splurge to take their sons on a two day overnight excursion. (And of course, being my kid, my son has been on Disney's version of a safari several times!) How did it all measure up?

Convenience:

• This depends on your home base. Orlando can be reached at a maximum of a 5 hour flight from the Continental US. To get to  Kenya takes more time from most locations with a high percentage of people with disposable income. (Remember, travel is a privilege  the common people of the Majority World do not get to enjoy.)

Expenses:

• Roundtrip airfare from cities in the U.S.A. to Kenya average about $1000 per person. Flights to Orlando are much less for those in the States, more for those from other countries. 
• Price for the experience itself- One day tickets to Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom currently range from $109 to $189 per person. An average price for a one day safari not including transportation to the main departure station is $155. Two day safaris begin at around $300 per person.
• Lodging and food in both locations is extra.

Tour Guides:

• There's no comparison here. In Florida, you'll currently get whomever Disney employs at the park, be it Susan from Lake Buena Vista or Joe from New York City. The knowledge base may be similar, but as a tourist you can't get a better experience and flavor for what you're experiencing than with an African local. Animal Kingdom once had a cultural exchange program (similar to the one used for the World Showcase locations at Epcot) but that went by the wayside long before COVID took hold of the world.

Gorgeous and 100% Kenya.

Closer shot.

Vehicle:

• The photographs above show a typical van-like transportation style. They opted for a tour company that took a different approach. (Photo below).    

Bit of a bumpy road.

This type of transport was more expensive, but it had definite benefits, namely a smaller crew of tourists on board and a more personalized tour.  

Disney's open air train.

To be fair, Walt Disney World designers had to come up with a way to get thousands of people on the park's most ridden attraction. So this trade off makes a lot of sense. They did an incredible job, but you are sharing your safari with about 35 or so more guests. 

The real location in the Serengeti National Park.

The Setting:

With 110 acres to play with, Disney Imagineers created an open area full of twists and turns and changing landscapes in order to provide the most authentic experience for their animal stars as well as their guests. Imagine taking all of the Magic Kingdom and making it fair game for an open air, no cages allowed zoo. In reality, wisely placed barriers in various forms of disguise keep guests at a safe (and unreachable) distance from predators. There's no such safety value to speak of on the real safari, only adding to the thrill- or should I say "threat"?

Animals:

This is why you go on safari! 

Big cats abound in the Harambe Wildlife Reserve.

Big cats abound here, too.

While it is true you may not see all the animals you want on Disney's safari, the same can be said for a real life adventure. The photograph above reveals a photographer must use a zoom in lens to get this close to his subjects. But then again, you might be surprised. Look at the photos below from the real thing.

No zoom lens this time!

Not in use here either.

A lone zebra a few yards away from the vehicle.

What about the King of Beasts- the lions? Well, in the Disney version, they are perched a la Simba on a great rock high above everyone. This not only ensures a view for the guests but for the animal as well.

Disney's pampered felines.

Photo from DisneyInsiders.com

Overseas, yes, my family was able to see the real thing. No restraints, no cages, no protection. This provided a thrill that even Expedition Everest cannot match. 

Lions close by- and no zoom lens either.

In the real world of East Africa, visitors who can travel there get the full on experience of interacting with the people who live and work there. 

Zoom in to read the message on his beaded belt.

If you go to Africa, you'll have a chance to visit the Maasi people in their home village. (My family loved this part of the safari!) They'll eat local food and shop for unique crafts and authentic souvenirs. These make for memories that last for a lifetime.

My grandsons making some new friends!

Back in the Disney World...

My personal photo from Walt Disney World in 2018.

A visitor to Walt Disney World will most likely see more animals on their 18 minute safari than they would in the real world. But that's ok- this is a theme park, and it is designed to give guests the essence of the real experience without the headaches and hassles. 

The Disney experience.

Photo from Carrie On Travel.

In the Disney World, the memories will happen too. But they'll be mixed in with numerous other things like character greetings, different E Ticket attractions, and man-made Intellectual Properties on display. Did Disney do a real life safari justice? Absolutely, no question. Yet no one can replicate the beauty and majesty of God's incredibly diverse, and very real, creation. 

(Family photos copyright Mark Taft.)

On The Kenyan Road

You can bet we will never see this at Disney's Animal Kingdom! My son and his family are visiting her parents in Kenya. Oh, the stories they'll have to tell! Life and culture is just so different there. Here's a very real piece of life for those who call this part of the world home. Outside the city of Nairobi, a walking trail depicts the life of Jesus in a beautiful artistic way. If you look closely, you can see the Scripture reference: Mark 15:16-17, which says, "The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him."

Delayed for a few years because of COVID, it's a three week journey of family time, many meals, and a good amount of exploration. Before they return home, they'll venture on a real Kilimanjaro Safari with their boys to complete the time. Definitely an adventure of a lifetime!