Will Disneyland's Plaza Point Holiday Shop Celebrate My Culture Too?

The Plaza Point store looks nice! In my culture, we celebrate Christmas and especially Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus. I'd love to see some ornaments that reflect my culture and not just Santa or the Easter Bunny. Can we have that at Disneyland, Imagineer Kim Irvine?

(Photograph copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

First Splash Mountain, Now the Jungle Cruise

Of course, Disney's Jungle Cruise adventure was created with a 1950's American viewpoint. Disneyland is, after all, an American theme park created during that decade. Each country creates its attractions- be it theme park or museum - based on its individual world view. That said, it was time for some updates to the beloved original attraction- and it does stand to be more respectful of native peoples. Hopefully not at the cost of humor, however. Self-importance does not make for a fun attraction.

My main concern centers on the fact that recent revisionings of classic attractions, as well as those not so classic such as California Screamin', have brought less charm, less cohesiveness, and less of just about everything good to the affected attractions. The Jungle Cruise is just too well done and too iconic to screw up. Imagineer Marc Davis added just the right touch of humor to this Walt Disney masterpiece. And he left just enough premise to get the attraction going without guests having know the story top to bottom, beginning to end, as they ride. 

I like the idea of adding a skipper as an Audio-Animatronic but will the new story and vignettes be more like a new self referential version of California's Tropical Hideaway or Florida's Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen? I hope not. Whatever you do, Disney, don't fall into the trap like you did with Pirates of the Caribbean- just make it good this time!

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)