California Adventure's Return to Excellence and It's "Bargain Basement Imagineering" at Opening

While some Disney fans like me think California Adventure has become a misguided mess (Pixar Pier and the like), others who were around at opening of the park in 2001- me included- know its not nearly the disaster now as it was then. When the announcement of a full re-envisioning was announced, anxiously awaited Imagineering to bring a bit of class to the park with Cars Land and Buena Vista Street. Yet, after a great rebirth, it seemed the park had mostly lost its way. In fact, I haven't even seen Avengers Campus or San Fransokyo because I just don't care. And count me in as one who loves Big Hero 6!

Those of us that still appreciate old school high quality projects are awaiting a sparkling new Coco boat ride, perhaps a greatly themed Pandora, and maybe even new additions to Avengers Campus. Will these balance out the cheap makeovers the park has been given since its amazing rebirth in 2012? Here's hoping! 

Let's look back on what was actually built come opening day. Why? First, it will help us appreciate the transformation and put it all in perspective- even if more recent decisions have made some of us question what the suits were thinking.  

As you'll see by looking at the concepts for the park version 1.0, the painters brush can be unintentionally (or intentionally) deceiving! Secondly, due to the cost-cutting measures of the leadership of the time, it reminds us what poor foundations the Imagineers are stuck working with while they continue trying to expand this greatly improved park. So, join me now as we go back in time to the opening of California Adventure through the artist's lens...



As we look at concept art from the first incarnation of California Adventure, let's compare what we saw in the preview center versus what the park really looked like to an opening day guest. Many visitors, myself included, expressed displeasure at what was found at this new park. So did the media and for a good reason.


Let's begin with the park entrance. The tile murals flanking the sides are really well done. The CALIFORNIA letters are a unique touch and both together clearly communicate this is not Disneyland. It's not a bad design, there's just no follow through. When the Disney advertising experts have to create a fictionalized version of the entrance for promotional purposes, this should be the first clue that the park has some serious problems and design flaws.

It is what we encounter once walking past the turnstiles that shouts "bargain basement" design. Looking right through the gates brings a very ordinary looking area, nothing to entice a visitor who is considering a day at this park.

The Sunshine Plaza reigns as the ugliest and least original park entrance area in Disney's history. Yes, this includes the even less imaginative Walt Disney Studios in Paris! Framed by an out of place replica of the Golden Gate Bridge, the environment matches a low budget outlet mall, appropriately setting the stage for what is found in most of the park.

The Sun fountain is an interesting structure, but it really belongs in an open garden at a hotel, in the midst of a walkway from the parking area or just someplace else. Not large enough in scale to impress, not a fitting centerpiece for the park. In some ways, it is appropriate. This is big and flashy with a contemporary edge- but it lacks substance.

Moving on, let's head to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. At first glance, it is a pretty Disneyesque area, a more playful version of the main drag at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The centerpiece, and clearly the highlight at opening, is Disney Animation.

Frankly, this is one impressive showcase! Beyond the park's signature flight simulator attraction, this gem is filled with the kind of care in execution that should have been found all over the park. The Animation Courtyard has an impressive layout that dazzles, and The Sorcerer's Workshop, including Beast's Library, feels like a walk-thru dark ride, drawing guests in further and further inside. It's easy to spend an hour here just watching the transformation in the library. Well done, Imagineers! In a nod to the Studios old working animation area, The Animation Academy truly provides a fun and informative demonstration of the art of the wonderful and ageless 2-D process. (Below is altogether different concept for Disney Animation.)

Beyond this great little attraction is where the troubles begin. Wandering around the rest of this land, guests discover raw steel and bland walls lie behind the great looking storefronts. Even the seemingly impressive Hyperion Theater is really just one great optical illusion. Just a big box but one with state-of-the-art facilities inside. However, it is a facility with no lobby and no restrooms!

Nearby, the past its prime MuppetVision 3D show is found. Not too thrilling an idea or presentation. It's a quick retread from Florida to save some cash- and an attempt by Disney to relaunch a very tired but admittedly once charming franchise.

The worst of the (Back) lot, however, is the only dark ride found here in 2001. In one of the oddest moves ever for a Disney park, the Imagineers designed and built the strange Superstar Limo attraction. The building housing the ride is at once quirky and likable to some degree, but the experience inside is just plain bizarre. Hosted by an on-screen agent who seems like someone you'd never let your children be alone with, the limo ride takes you through a tongue in cheek and trendy Hollywood filled with animatronics of "B" list celebrities from the Disney Studio. It quickly became the laughing stock of the theme park industry and a symbol of everything wrong with California Adventure. Less than a year from its premier, this ride quickly disappeared forever.

In a bit of poor planning, the Backlot's main street becomes a dead end, so let's cross back over to Condor Flats, a recreation of a California desert airfield.

Condor Flats effectively marks the entrance to The Golden State district, the portion of the park that truly strengthens the California theme. The airstrip is a small area to be sure, but it houses the park's signature attraction, Soarin' Over California. All the quibbles of the queue and its minimal theming aside, this film experience is the emotional heart of the park. Californians are rightfully proud of their state and its stunning diversity of landscapes. The photography is exhilarating, the musical score heightens the mood, and the ride mechanism impresses to thrilling results. It is the single standout attraction in the park. This crowd pleaser should not have been duplicated at any other resort. Period.

The true icon of this park, and one that for the first time is positioned to please hotel guests instead of park visitors, is Grizzly Peak. No expense was spared in creating an authentic and beautiful mountain environment. The rockwork created by the Imagineers ranks with the best of their efforts, including Big Thunder Mountain and the younger Expedition Everest. The landscaping is superb. The network of waterfalls, winding paths and viewing areas makes this part of the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area the most beautiful location of the entire Disneyland Resort. 
(Below is an amazing piece of artwork. Like the others, makes sure you click for a larger image.)

The setting for the Grizzly River Run is spectacular and "E" ticket worthy. However obvious short cuts have been taken with this attraction, starting with the design of the watercraft. The promotional poster below shows a whitewater excursion with an authentically styled raft. Somewhere between concept and execution, the attraction ended up with standard theme park fare circular rafts. Certainly the same company that could imagine and engineer leading edge ride systems for other attractions could find a way to build an authentic raft that was safe while providing the desired thrills!

Further cost-cutting took place by the exclusion of animatronic animals. Every other nature-based attraction designed by Disney uses them to good effect. From slow moving rides like The Jungle River Cruise to the high speed adventures of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, there is simply no excuse for their absence except budgetary restraints. It's still a very fun attraction with terrific views of the park (and the less than beautiful city of Anaheim), but it could be so much more than it is.

Guests quickly noticed a trend in this new era Disney park: there may have been discounting on the attraction detail, but no expenses were lost when it came to the shops! California Adventure has some Disneyland quality shopping areas, and the Rushin' River Outfitters (below) is no exception.

Continuing a trend that began with Disneyland itself, the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is a new take on the original park's Tom Sawyer's Island. Both provide plenty of fun as well as an area where younger visitors can run free. It is a nicely themed playground but not much more.

The limited number of attractions and cutbacks aside, this region of California Adventure provides the immersive environment that Disney guests are accustomed to finding at the parks. If only the rest of the small park had this much charm and care taken with it! The glaring shortcomings are only heightened when we enter into the San Francisco area, one far removed from the Golden Gate Bridge we found at the park entrance.

This tiny little sliver of San Francisco houses only restrooms, leaving guests who expected an elegant area such as New Orleans Square in a state of shock. In place of a fully realized cityscape, we find Golden Dreams, the film tribute to the history of the state. Originally envisioned as Circle of Hands, it was intended to be a heartwarming multimedia presentation of the brave men and women who settled and worked the land. Budget cuts again derailed the project. We are now left with a small scale but warm and politically correct vision of history. Unintentionally, this show is also one of the best arguments for Disney to stop using its a film stars as part of their attractions.


As we move around the bend, the beautiful Golden Vine Winery comes into view. Of course, so does the Pacific Wharf food court, Bountiful Valley Farm, and the surprising Paradise Pier.

The winery area charms guests with a sophistication not found elsewhere. Of course, like Napa Valley itself, we find a couple of pricy restaurants among the park's vineyard. Attractions? Oh yes, Seasons of the Vine is here- yet another film, this one highlighting the process of the art of winemaking from field to table. It is a slice of Epcot Center, an undiscovered gem. The music and photography perfectly capturing the area.

Across the way on this side of the bay is the Pacific Wharf. What could have been a wonderful setting for some California themed Disney attractions is reduced to mostly a food court with a couple of bakery tours using short films to tell the manufacturing story. The educational aspects of the park are important, however, they needed to be balanced out with traditional Disney attractions to justify the full ticket price.

Butting up to the Wharf is Bountiful Valley Farm, showcasing the agricultural impact of the state. Aside from yet another film, this one a clone of an additional 3D attraction from Florida, guests to the area are left without much to do except viewing tractors and watching a quite unimaginative fountain. In the age of "bargain basement" Imagineering, it's Disney storytelling at it's sorry best.

Controversial. Cheap and tacky. Off the shelf. Not what Walt would have wanted. Paradise Pier is all these things and more. And less. Much, much less.

Once guests had experienced the limited number of attractions in the other areas and the truly good live entertainment to be found, many headed toward Paradise Pier hoping to round out their day at Disney's recreation of a seaside amusement area.

The California Screamin' coaster stands tall over the area, and it is a roller coaster ride very worthy of a Disney park. Unfortunately, it is just a coaster- no great theming to be found here. No journey to outer space, no wildest ride in the wilderness, just an exposed track reaching for the sky. It is fun, day or night, but there are no Disney touches to be found except the giant glaring Mickey head. In this new fangled park, big, loud and obvious has mostly replaced the charming nuances of designers from earlier generations.

The rest of Paradise Pier is fleshed out with carnival games, kiddie attractions, swing rides, and an impressive Ferris Wheel. There's truly nothing magical or Disney here, yet the advertising department thought this was one of the best areas to show to promote the new park. What were they thinking? The public was not fooled, and the executives at Disney were left with an embarrassment on their hands.

Which brings us back full circle to the Blue Sky Cellar, housed in the old Seasons of the Vine building. Yes, it seems Disney is seriously trying to redeem itself by re-Imagineering the park. Starting with the areas that guests complained about the most, the makeover has started. The entrance to the park will be reworked. The Hollywood Backlot will get more improvements. The Pier will be a challenge but will still be a carnival. Plans even exist for a wonderful new land and a couple of great attractions worthy of the Disney of old. Will we see them? Will the proposed changes turn California Adventure from dud to star?

What can we learn from the "Bargain Basement Imagineering"? Concept art can be deceiving, and budgets can be reduced.  Disney has learned some important lessons from trying to fool us as they did in 2001. Now, after some serious recent disasters, they are going back to the basics of good design and Imagineering quality we saw in 2012... and I, for one, can't wait to see what lies ahead in the future! It may even make me return to the park once again. 

(All art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

And So D23 Begins...

Disney had better to something fantastic! 

“After Saturday night we’ve got two reveal rooms because Josh D’Amaro is going to be doing a lot of announcements and those reveal rooms will be opening Sunday morning. We love repeat visitation, as you know, so you’re going to have to come back Sunday if you want to get in there and see some really cool sh** that is brand new and is on the horizon.”

”With that, I know you’ve all been hungry for something beyond Blue Sky. Blue Sky is really fun, but you know what? Building, delivering, putting shovels in the dirt is even better. So that’s what this year is all about and the next decade is all about.”

-Imagineering's Bruce Vaughn

Here we go...

Otherworldly Disney Springs

What I really want to write about today I cannot. So instead, here's a pretty sweet nighttime photo of Disney Springs and the namesake water area. In the daytime, it's an absolutely lovely blue/teal color. When the sun goes down, it's almost otherworldly. Think Pandora / Avatar mode. In many ways, Disney Springs is almost like a fifth park. The combination of great places to dine and terrific watering holes of the adult kind combine with great shopping to make a perfectly fun and relaxing several hours slide by. It was just what Walt Disney World needed. A resort type atmosphere with a festive twist.  

A true trip report to come...

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Our Latest Trip to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort

Returned a few days ago from a trip to Central Florida. Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort were both on our to do list. This was the first time we stayed at a Universal hotel for the entire trip. I'm looking forward to sharing photos and full blown day by day reports, but I haven't even finished our trip to Italy and France. Maybe I'll do this trip in smaller chunks. Lots to tell both good and bad. That said, I have over 2,100 photos that will make for some great "Design Detail" posts in the future!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Details on The Walt Disney Studios Paris Expansion

Here it is- a very detailed look at the expansion plan for Walt Disney Studios Paris. There's been lots of speculation about what would join the Frozen themed land and its clone of Epcot's popular Frozen Ever After.  As you can see for yourself, one of the largest lots is used for a Lion King themed land and one for Avatar. While I understand the need to re-use some expensive, existing Imagineering work, I'm more excited about Simba and friends coming to the second gate in Paris.

Disneyland Paris is the most beautiful castle park in the world. Will the Studios ever compete? No, they just can't with its awkward layout and scattered themes. But it can become a pretty good companion park- and right now, it is the bottom of the barrel of all the Disney parks in the world. Avengers Campus is a good beginning, but it's just not enough.

(Image from Passport Wonderland.)

Walt Disney World Circa 2022

Long, long time readers of this blog may remember me as a past contributor way back when! Mark had generously allowed me to guest post from time to time, but life has a habit of getting in the way. Anyway, I recently made a return visit to Walt Disney World after a seven year absence and Mark asked if I would be up for a report. Long story short, I obviously accepted!  Obligatory warning...this is not meant to be a comprehensive review, but more a general and scatter shot look at my overall park experience.

We arrived in Orlando on a Saturday morning after a 16 hour flight from Hawaii. These long journeys are becoming tougher on the old body, but we did well enough to immediately head to Disney Springs after dropping our luggage off at the Yacht Club. I was curious to see the differences as Disney had just begun the change over from Downtown Disney back in 2015. 

To begin with, the crowds at the shopping district was absolutely crazy! This was the heaviest concentration of bodies I would see anywhere in Disney throughout the entire trip! Combine the weekend with the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, and it's understandable. The years have definitely added a lot of stores and restaurants to the mix, giving the place a more vast and less intimate feel. I preferred the smaller, more spread out vibe, but hardcore shoppers will definitely love the wider selection. 

I was really hoping for a more thematic tie into the idea of Disney "Springs" and "Source of Inspiration" concept to really differentiate it from the original downtown concept. But one thing they got right was the Christmas tree decorations. Focusing on specific movies/themes, the attention to details is worth taking time to appreciate. The Coco and Moana trees were particularly impressive.

I had decided early on that my wife and I were going to stay at three of the Disney resorts....Yacht Club, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the Wilderness Lodge. The new park entry system means not only do you need to have entry tickets, but you must also reserve a specific park for the day. We opted not to park hop this time, so I booked based on where we were staying (ex: it's best to go to Animal Kingdom while at its namesake lodge due to closer proximity). Best laid plans went out the door once our 60 day dining reservation window opened up. I'm not sure if Covid was the culprit, but booking restaurants was an veritable nightmare. I was up every night at 12:00 am, fingers at the keyboard, ready to stake my claim. New and popular eateries like "Space 220" and "Cinderella's Castle" couldn't be had on any day. Even long time favorites as "Sci-Fi Drive Inn" & "50's Prime Time Cafe" were unavailable throughout our stay (we were eventually able to lock down Space 220 & Sci-Fi due to last minute cancellations). I began looking for any and all openings available times and then changing park reservations to match the reservations. We ended up going to the same park two days in a row and not following the logical conclusion of booking parks closest to our hotels! It was a frustrating experience that left me bewildered...

Epcot was first up to bat. We had eight days in Orlando, so some parks got short changed (Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios were both one and done), but I gave Epcot three whole days. I wanted and needed the extra time to shoot this vast place. Back in 2015, Mark had expressed disappointment in the lack of Epcot pics, so I was determined to correct this situation. 

I had gotten sick the last time and it really slowed down my late hour photography. Unfortunately, the same thing happened this time around with my wife catching a bad case of the flu. I ended up feeling lousy a few days later. With the amount of people packed into the parks AND tons of sick children coughing and sneezing, the odds were excellent that we would catch something.

World Showcase is my favorite area in Epcot, but that place is incredibly hard to shoot at night without crowds because it is so darn huge. Trying to get from country to country in the last hour or so before closing is almost impossible. 

France, in particular, was extremely challenging due to "Remy's Ratatouille Adventure". The path to the ride has a beautiful fountain smack in the middle which makes it a popular photo op for visitors (Imagineers refer to this as a "weenie"). The first night I waited until almost closing to head back there but a cast member informed me the area was closed. Undaunted, I went back 90 minutes earlier the second time and found it still packed with people. Disney photographers usually stake out the best photo spots so I decided to shoot a little to the left once the area cleared. I waited patiently for an hour and still a steady flow of folks stopped to pose in front of the fountain (it's actually a great time to people watch as you see visitors from around the world). I finally saw a small window of opportunity and set up my tripod. I wish the Gusteau sign was positioned a little higher as it's slightly obscured from a lower angle. I took an additional shot to better view the details of the signage as well as the Remy figure in the fountain. Overall, I was happy with the results!

The ride itself is the now standard combination of motion control vehicles and large screen projections. Because I get motion sickness on these type of rides, I cannot fairly assess the enjoyment factor...haha! My wife did give it two thumbs up and crowd reaction tells me this one is a hit. I do miss the more traditional use of audio-animatronics and 3D props, but time's a changing as they say.

We had dinner the first night in Italy at "Tutto Italia Ristorante" (our fave Via Napoli was near impossible to book) with my wife's friends. Excellent service and the spaghetti with meatballs were good. Definitely on the more expensive side, but worth a try.

The opposite holds true for Space 220... I would go back in a heartbeat. Disney is at its best when going full throttle on the "immersive" experience and Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald and company did a stellar job. Rocketing off from earth to an awaiting space station, no expense is spared getting visitors to buy into "dining in space". The interior is luxurious with lots of space and massive windows. And those views...a glorious planet Earth surrounds the restaurant with the occasional astronaut or two free floating pass as you chow down on your space rations.

As with most of the indoor dining options, prix fixe menus are now the norm rather than the exception. These preset menus became popular during Covid, and have stayed around after restrictions were relaxed (I suspect in large part because the restaurant has to handle less food choices and forcing customers to choose an appetizer and dessert helps the bottom line). 

Sue tried the steak salad while I opted for the "Spaceghetti & Shrimp". We also ordered a side of Truffled Herb Parmesan Potato Wedges and a "The Milky Way" (chilled espresso, spiced brown sugar syrup, caramel, cream, & a Milky Way). Everything was good, not out of this world (no pun intended), but an overall solid meal. It will be the space station theming that brings you back, not the food.

 

Germany was one of those areas I didn't get to photograph at night initially so I made an effort to grab some shots. Unfortunately, I couldn't wait until it was empty as I had to make my way to France. 

Biergarten Restaurant was another place that was impossible to book (openings did pop up on our day at the park), so I asked a cast member if I could go inside to take pictures. While I cannot rate the food or service, the indoor theming and feeling of being in a German village remains one of the best examples of immersive dining.

Our next park was the Magic Kingdom. I originally booked it on another day when Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party didn't take place. But we could only get reservations for "Be Our Guest" and "Cinderella's Castle" on a day the party occurred, so I forked over an additional $300.00 for the hard ticket event (since this was our only day at MK, I hated the thought of exiting MK by 7:00 pm). The question is was it worth the extra bucks? Mileage varies depending on the individual. I have some friends who actually love it and have no issue with the extra cost. For myself,  I wouldn't do it again (this was my second go around). Sure "free" hot chocolate and cookies are great, but there is only so much one can consume (and believe me you won't get anywhere to making back the price of admission). 

Prior to the evening event, I made a point to visit both "The Hall of Presidents" and "Carousel of Progress". These are two attractions which would have had zero interest for me as a kid, but love the concepts and execution as an adult. Okay, I also really wanted an opportunity to shoot both shows again with different lenses. I sat through the presidential show twice to photograph it with both a wide angle and telephoto lens.

I failed to get a center seat at Carousel so most of my images were at an angle from the left side of the stage. The first three acts still hold up well, but it's the fourth "present day" scene that still proves problematic (similar to what Tommorowland faces). I always smile when they talk about the latest video invention....laserdiscs (I was an advent supporter of this long dead format). I tried going back later in the evening, but the show shuts down early. I'm fairly certain this was my last time viewing this nostalgic classic and wonder how much longer Disney will keep it around. I had promised myself to shoot Liberty Square in the evening with less crowds, but never had the chance to get back there after the parade.

After resting most of the morning at the hotel, Sue joined me for lunch at "Be Our Guest Restaurant". I was mighty impressed during our first visit, but less enraptured this time around. While the food was mediocre at best in 2015, the now forced 3-course prix fixe does it no favor. We both had the chicken which was mildly tasty and a bit dry. Our waiter mentioned they had changed chicken suppliers recently and this batch was more moist! I wonder what the prior birds tasted like. The signature "Try the Gray Stuff" also rated out rather bland, dessert wise. Give me a chocolate shake from Sci-Fi Dine In any day of the year. My main goal was to take more photos of this still astounding restaurant, but alas, the overall dining experience was a bit of a disappointment. 

2022 saw the return of Mickey's Very Expensive....er, Merry Christmas Party after a Covid induced hiatus. I last saw this in 2015 and not much has changed. In fact, it's pretty much the same parade with no new addition or changes. I once again staked out a position in front of the Main Street Christmas tree facing Cinderella's castle. Because it's such a prime viewing spot, I had to camp there a good two hours before the parade start. The good news is that it afforded me some decent pics, the bad news is cost me our reservations at Cinderella's Castle (for which I had to prepay $160).

The snow effects on Main Street is still pretty amazing, giving the parade that extra "Christmas" vibe. We attended the earlier show, but it's common knowledge the 11:00 pm time is less crowded.

Our first two nights was at the DisneyYacht Club. If you prefer a more laid back, less noisy resort, this is a good choice. Rooms were nice with very minimal Disney accents. At night, the area is quite beautiful, especially the view of the lighthouse overlooking Crescent Lake. The one negative was the "Pumpkin Spiced Latte" from the Market @ Ale & Compass. It ran around six bucks and was truly terrible! Across from the Yacht Club is the Boardwalk Resort. I stayed there in 1996 when it first opened, but the place is really a ghost town at this point. I know there are ongoing plans to revitalize the area, so hopefully things will improve.

Disney Hollywood Studios was another one day only park. DHS had the most changes since our last visit. The company went on major acquisition binges with Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars so it's a forgone conclusion these expensive properties would make their way into the parks big time. 

The E-Ticket attractions here are Guardians of the Galaxy: Rewind & Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. It's these rides that lead me down the rabbit hole of Genie+ and Lightning Lane. Disney World has an app which is very useful and well designed for smart phones. Tickets, lodging, dining, ride times, and just about anything else you need to know is all tied into your device. The app does include a standard Genie (think free D23 membership level) which helps plan your day based on interests and favorites. To book high demand rides like Guardians and ROTR,  you need to pay extra per day for Genie+. It can range anywhere from $15.00-$25.00 depending on the day. We averaged about $20.00 per person when we chose this option. Think of Genie+ as "Fast Pass", only with a premium attached. On top of that, Disney has shrewdly designated certain rides as top tier demand which requires you to purchase Lighting Lane access (yep, another added cost). So for those two rides, we paid an extra $20.00 per person. In the end, a ride like Guardians, in addition to the daily park entrance ticket, will cost you approximately $40.00 more per guest if you want to avoid long lines. For me personally, it really degrades the entire park experience. It feels like Disney is out to fleece you at every turn. Perhaps younger generations with little to no experience on how Disney parks use to operate, are more willing to accept it as part of the vacation experience. My wife's friend basically boils it down to how much you value your time at Disney. If waiting 90 minutes for a ride is not your cup of tea, then Genie+ and LL might be the way to go. To pour salt on the wound, I had my eyes closed for most of Guardians because it was another motion control rides employing large video screens! For those who can handle this type of ride, you will definitely love it! 

Fortunately, the other Lightning Lane purchase, Rise of the Resistance proved just the opposite. More of an actual ride with a better mix of video screens and physical staging, this was an incredible experience. It proves Imagineers can still take things to the next level, given the right properties and budget. 

On a side note, Disney's ride queue plays such an important role in the overall immersive experience. One of the pitfalls of Genie+ and LL is that we often whisk pass this setup in a hurry to get to the ride vehicle (I'm guilty of this). I can't help but think how this dilutes the ride by not giving the mind time to accept the premise and buy into the idea we're about to board a space ship. Walt and his Imagineers understood this so well when building the original Disneyland. 

I should have wrote about Star Wars: Galaxy Edge as a park before giving my thoughts on Resistance. But, never fear, this is another major hit for Disney. Obviously no expense was spared and this is a land that Hollywood Studios desperately needed. The theming and attention to detail is perfect, with the payoff being a full scale model of the Millennium Falcon. Like the castles, this is an iconic landmark that guests will immediately gravitate to. Set up against a backdrop of alien buildings and landscape, the Falcon is a sight to behold.

After the Falcon, the next most impressive ship would be the First Order Tie Echelon. Located towards the back of the park, this area is much less crowded and a little easier to get pics without too many people.

I was a big Star Wars fan when the original trilogy was released. The prequels and sequels dulled my passion considerably, so it is no small feat that Galaxy's Edge impressed the heck out of me.

Sue and I booked two of our favorite restaurants at Hollywood Studios....Sci-Fi Dine In and 50's Prime Time Cafe. My wife was still feeling lousy so we cancelled Prime Time. However, we did make it to Sci-Fi for lunch. We ordered chocolate and vanilla shakes and let me tell you....those were the best shakes I've ever had in my life. Seriously, I would go back to Orlando just to have another of these delicious ice cream treats! I still think the concept and overall theming of this restaurant is one of the best (even compared to the newest extravaganza Space 220). The trailer and advertisements on the big screen are a blast and the landscape beyond the drive-in has a magical look that makes me want to hop the wall and explore the country side. 

I did a quick run though Toy Story Land, an area that the kiddies will enjoy! Very similar to "Bug's Land" in Disneyland, the rides are well designed and on the level of merry-go-rounds. Very cute, but no where on the level of Galaxy's Edge.

The last major change/addition to Hollywood Studios since 2015 was Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. Replacing my much loved "The Great Movie Ride" (I'll admit it was showing age and needed a major overhaul) was a daunting task. It's a no-win scenario for the most part unless the Imagineers came up with a home run. 

Sad to say, it looks like most of the budget went to Rise of the Resistance. Runaway Railway is a pleasant ride geared towards children. It's a "dark ride" spruced up for the current generation, but with none of the dramatic storytelling the best of those attractions had to offer (think Peter Pan, Snow White, and Pinocchio) . 

I can understand not wanting to get rid of an iconic building like Grauman's, but the Chinese theater seems an ill match for this newest ride. It reminds me of how Tower of Terror was refitted for the Guardians Mission Breakout. It has an underlying feel of cost saving moves designated by bean counters.

Since we're on the subject, another classic ride that got booted in favor of a character/movie property was Norway's Malestrom. My favorite ride in Epcot, it perfectly captured the more fantastical and mythical aspects of Norwegian culture. While "Frozen" makes sense from a business point of view (very popular with the kiddies), I can't help but feel it takes away a little more of what made Epcot unique. There may come a day when Walt's personal dream park becomes indistinguishable from all the rest.

Our next accommodation for 3 nights was Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. I first stayed there in 1996 and just visited the lobby in 2015 (a mistake I rectified on this stay). Wilderness Lodge is still my favorite hotel, but AKL is awfully close. One of the advantages over Wilderness is that it is a much quieter and older crowd. A lot less children for sure. Strangely enough, we didn't eat at any of the restaurants at either here or the park. We loved the food on our last trip, but making dining reservations was such a hassle this time around that it definitely impacted our choices.

Both Wilderness and AK Lodges (along with Disneyland's Grand Californian) were designed by Denver architect Peter Dominick ( had wrongly assumes that Imagineer Joe Rohde was in charge) so I can see why these three hotels are among my most favorites. There are similarities between Wilderness and here but I dig the feeling of continuity. There is enough differences to give each place their own personality with profound respect for the source inspiration. 

I cannot fault AKL one bit. Although I've yet to see a giraffe come walking by by window, this is truly Disney accommodations at its finest!

Disney's Animal Kingdom was my second most anticipated park following Epcot. I've grown to appreciate the artistry and skill invested into this fourth gate, but its limited hours was always a negative. With the opening of Pandora, AK finally has a reason to stay open into the evening. Just to see the Tree of Light lit up at night is worth the admission price alone. I do think the tree photographs better in the day but that could be more of a testament to my sometime mediocre skills as a "photographer"!

Before entering the park, we stopped off at the Joffrey's cart outside the entrance for a really great cup of coffee (and this is coming from a Hawaii boy who drinks 100% Kona brew) and the best $6.00 chocolate covered doughnut ever! Yep, $6.00! But in Disney World that's equivalent to chump change...haha!

AK doesn't have much of an entry hub like Magic Kingdom. You pretty much head out to the areas of your choice (my faves being Africa and Asia). If you're there in the morning, be sure to hang out near Garden Gates Gifts for the daily appearance of DiVine. This hired performer on seven foot stilts never fails to impress. Highest kudos to Disney's audio-animatronics, but something about a real person in fantastically done makeup and costume can outdo those robots any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

We arrived in Pandora - the World of Avatar in the early afternoon. To say the place was packed would be an understatement. We went ahead and did Genie+ and LL for "Flight of Passage". This cost us an additional $35.00 each by the time we purchased both options. The overall experience is quite impressive. Think California Soarin' on steroids ala James Cameron. The nature of the ride doesn't allow for photographs, but this is one instance where the ride is better appreciated with one's full attention. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Na'vi River Journey, a rare misfire for the Imagineers. While the scenes are pretty, it's nothing we haven't seen before in terms of technology. What really hurts this ride is a lack of storytelling. It's just a boat passing a bunch of random scenes (the ride may fair better among guests who have a stronger connection to the film than I do). 

And therein lies the biggest problem with Pandora, and Avatar in general. I genuinely love most, if not all of James Cameron's films (T2, Aliens, The Abyss, True Lies, even Titanic), but his biggest movie, Avatar did not connect with me on an emotional gut level. One of Cameron's greatest strengths (besides stunning visuals and effects) has always been his emphasis on strong character development and making the audience care for their cinematic journey. While Avatar does this to a limited extent, the "Dances with Wolves" theme feels too familiar and cliche. The director's 3D work is a beyond reproach, but may have impacted Cameron's attention to storytelling. The end result is while Pandora is a beautiful addition to AK, emotionally....it leaves me uninterested. I always thought Avatar was a strange fit for Disney with it's more adult themes, but I can see the appeal of having the highest grossing movie as part of your stable. I would have preferred a mythical themed land hinted at when AK was initially launched.

 

Ultimately, Pandora has and will continue to bring crowds so it can definitely be deemed a success. And regardless of the subject, the Imagineers once again proved they are the king of the hill when it comes to new ideas and technological developments. But alas, like a tasty dessert, it's all empty calories. 

The last day at WDW was spent at Epcot. By this time, Sue and I were pretty exhausted between park hopping and battling colds. I brought the camera, but really wanted to just enjoy and soak in my last time at WDW.

One of the unsung areas at World Showcase is the American Adventure. I always gravitate to colonial architecture so I wanted to make sure I got an image or two of this building at night. And while the audio-animatronic show was closed (hopefully for renovations), the Voices of Liberty were there performing a melody of classic Christmas songs. 

Much like the Food and Wine event,  Epcot's International Festival of the Holidays has the countries serving up small size portions of local cuisine. We were scheduled for lunch in an hour, but America's sampler was too good to pass up. Hot moist turkey smothered in brown gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry, and string beans was pretty much one of the best meals we've ever ate at a Disney park. They should be serving this at Be Our Guest (never mind that it's a French restaurant).

After devouring our turkey bites. we leisurely strolled on over to Japan for our lunch reservations at Teppan Edo. This was our second time here and it was stellar as our previous visit. I've really missed teppanyaki since moving to the Big Island so I look for any chance to book a meal that involves Japanese chefs putting on a show and serving up culinary delights. Our chef was world class and the food "oishi" (I ordered the steak with shrimp). An added bonus was the restaurant using udon style noodles rather than standard brussel sprouts for the side dish. Our table was treated to an extra special kind of volcano....a smoking Mickey! From start to finish, this was an amazing dining experience and indicative of what WDW can offer when firing on all cylinders. Ironically, Teppan Edo was one of the few places that had open dining spots pretty much anytime.

After lunch, we walked around checking out the Christmas traditions of the various countries before heading back to our final resort stay....Disney's Wilderness Lodge.

It has become somewhat of a tradition to stay at this resort for the last leg of our vacation. It's as close to home as it gets for us. I remember the first time seeing this lodge on television, it was an episode of Family Matters where Urkel wins the science fair and a trip to WDW. The resort looked so over the top amazing that I thought it had been built on a set specifically for the TV series. Imagine my surprise when I saw "Filmed on location at Disney's Wilderness Lodge" during the closing credits (this was during an era where internet was non-existent so information about all things Disney was no where near accessible as today). Who would have thought I would be writing about this very thing 27 years later for "Insight & Sounds"!

I end this guest blog with mixed feelings. WDW and the Disney parks in general have become increasingly expensive over the past 10 years with no end in sight. The "nickel and diming" from Genie + to special event tickets make it harder to see value and not feel like one is being gouged. I have no doubt a Disney vacation will be the realm of the rich and upper middle class before too long. There are moments and flashes where the magic returns, but it has become fewer and farther in between. It's still bitter sweet that this was my my last time in Orlando. But I do take with me some great memories, and luckily, there is no additional charge. Have a Happy New Year everyone!