Wreck It Ralph to Replace Buzz Lightyear!

Refreshing Disney attractions and reusing current spaces versus mostly building new ones means constant changes. But will the pending removal of a Buzz Lightyear attraction create a stir and disgruntled guests to the castle parks? Who knows. But Tokyo Disneyland is taking out Buzz and replacing him with a new shooter attraction based on the fun film Wreck It Ralph. Nice concept art, by the way. Maybe the other parks like Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom will follow suit. He's already gone in Hong Disneyland. Oh, those Imagineers! What will they do next. D23 cannot come fast enough!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company)

Turning Red: Meilin Does It

Meilin from Turning Red absolutely does it. Certainly Aladdin and Abu do it. My favorite Disney character Buzz Lightyear was forced to do it. Every protagonist in most well done films do it. 

Pondering the meaning and purpose of our lives, what lies ahead, and how to navigate it is something each man or woman must consider. Why? It's programmed into us to think beyond the here and now! Check this out:

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."  (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Folks that only live for the moment go from one experience to the next, be it the travel to come, the next paycheck, the upcoming party, or even the next adventure in sex. And mankind as a whole has come to see there's just so much more than what's in front of us. And that, friends, includes eternity.

Age is sneaking up on me, and I find myself considering the future more often than not. This means coming to grips with regrets, giving myself grace, being thankful for my life, staying hopeful, and choosing to bless and not curse the people God brings into my life. I guess it is true that faith, hope and love are the most important things. 

What journey is God leading you on? Where will it lead?

Getting Buzzed at Disney World

You do not have to go to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival to get buzzed at Walt Disney World, and here's the proof! All you've got to do is show up at Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios at just the right time. Mission accomplished!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Old Frontierland Map

Ever since my recent visit to Disneyland, I've been on quite the kick of how wonderful Frontierland is! (Yes, I'm still working on that trip report. Almost done- it's worth the wait.) 

The revised Rivers of America made me take a fresh look. But it also made me think about the past when the Wild West really lived up to its Disneyland opening day experience. So, take a look at this souvenir book map from my 1957 Disneyland guide. 

This early Frontierland looks like Davy Crockett's world come to life. What a great place to explore! I couldn't have been the only one as I bet young future Imagineers and cartoonists were inspired by the old The Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland and its Rainbow Caverns. Think about the design of Carsland's Radiator Springs Racers. (If you've ridden it, you know what I'm referring to. If not, I won't spoil it.)

Exploring caves, the authentic Indian village, the fort on Tom Sawyer Island or the whole western landscape by mule or train made for quite a day of adventures! I loved paddling a canoe or taking a cruise on the river. (Still do!)

I'll quote myself from an earlier post here: "There was something very hands on about the place, be it shooting rifles, searching for the perfect coonskin hat, or hanging on to the ropes while crossing those pesky barrel and suspension bridges of Tom Sawyer Island. Nowadays, hands on tends to mean "hands on the controller" as Toy Story Midway Mania and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin take prominence at the Disney parks. Sure, those rides are fun, and the parks need this kind of variety, but the simple pleasures of simpler times also have their place. Yet, these kind of smaller attractions are no longer built. With their absence, we are also missing a part of homespun Americana and the opportunity to embrace our own imagination."

Other parks beyond the castle ones should think about what these old school attractions could bring. Tokyo Disney Sea has its fortress explorations, and it is well beloved. Animal Kingdom's Pandora would have been a perfect place for an island to explore. Maybe the next expansion to the area will do just that. Here's hoping!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Adventureland's Big Game Shooting Gallery

Here's a blast from the past. Disneyland had not one but two shooting galleries in the 60s through the early 80s. Really! No, Buzz Lightyear doesn't count...

In 1962, Adventureland added the Big Game Shooting Gallery, and it stayed in operation until the early 80s. The sounds of shots firing into the jungle were just a precursor to the action on the Jungle Cruise nearby.  Just a fun diversion, nothing more. But you'd never find one today- especially at Disney's Animal Kingdom!

If You Had Wings, Had Wings, Had Wings...

In a retro sort of mood today... 

I kinda want to fly away to some tropical isle, grab a drink of vibrant colors and stick my toes in the sand.  Watch the sun go down while some steel drum band plays.

But since its impossible today, I'll just settle for humming a little Disney tune I've always loved, If You Had Wings. The chestnut Tomorrowland attraction was one of the main reasons I went to that side of the Magic Kingdom park, and I was smitten by my first ride. Eastern Airlines had a winner on its hands. Like so many beloved Walt Disney World attractions, its gone now.

Its unique combination of props, film, atmosphere and music was later duplicated for Epcot's El Rio del Tiempo but the Imagineers were mandated to destroy another classic in recent years due to a character invasion. Gran Fiesta Tour is just not quite as enchanting...

Iron Man or Tron?

What's it gonna be? Tron Light Cycles from Shanghai Disneyland or a brand new Marvel Iron Man based thrill ride? Disneyland's Tomorrowland has long been in need of a revamp. The problem is the place is a thematic mess as it stands now. Nemo, Buzz, Star Wars, and on and on.

Imagineers are hard at work on prepping the spot which will take over Innoventions. An announcement should be forthcoming. Disney has got to make some quick decisions to battle the new Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, and the upcoming 60th anniversary of Walt's original kingdom will give the suits a perfect excuse to say it is not because of Harry. After all, Disney can't admit they are playing catch up.

In a perfect world, both attractions would make its way to California. If a third theme park at the Disneyland Resort is gong to be Marvel themed, give us Tron now, Iron Man later. Regardless, I have a soft spot for Frontierland, and I'm hoping Tony Baxter's new project isn't cut back because of the expense to bring something fresh to Tomorrowland. Gosh, just think. Disneyland may need those new Main Street back alleys after all!

(Photograph copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Frontierland- When the West Was Simply Wild

Love these old souvenir books! This great little map is from my 1957 Disneyland guide. Doesn't this Frontierland look like Davy Crockett's (or wannabe Davy Crockett's) dream? It sure was mine! My mind races back to others times and places just looking at it, and my imagination starts to work in full color. I know I wasn't alone in this bit of play. The old The Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland and its Rainbow Caverns certainly had its impact on John Lasseter and the design of Carsland's Radiator Springs Racers.

One aspect I really enjoyed about the younger years of the park is that Disney allowed you to create your own adventures. Sure, stories were told- and often times they were of a company film- but especially in Frontierland, we were encouraged to exercise our own imagination a bit. There we could explore caves, an old fort, the Indian village, or even an entire western landscape by mule or train. Paddling a canoe or taking a cruise on an old steam wheeler took us places where we didn't know what lay ahead. Great fun!

There was something very hands on about the place, be it shooting rifles, searching for the perfect coonskin hat, or hanging on to the ropes while crossing those pesky barrel and suspension bridges of Tom Sawyer Island. Nowadays, hands on tends to mean "hands on the controller" as Toy Story Midway Mania and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin take prominence at the Disney parks. Sure, those rides are fun, and the parks need this kind of variety, but the simple pleasures of simpler times also have their place. Yet, these kind of smaller attractions are no longer built. With their absence, we are also missing a part of homespun Americana and the opportunity to embrace our own imagination.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland Paris' Le Visionarium

This painted mural at Disneyland Paris stood near the entrance to the excellent and elegant Le Visionarium attraction. In some ways, this was the emotional and philosophical centerpiece of Discoveryland, paying tribute to great visionaries of the past. A few years ago, this was replaced with a smaller but very popular version of Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlasters. It's too bad, really. 

 

The good news is you can find a video of the stateside version of this attraction at this YouTube link.
(Photo copyright Mark Taft.)

Toy Story 3: Heroes and Friends

With a convincing blend of nostalgia and freshness, Toy Story 3 is another win for John Lasseter and all the folks at Pixar.

The third film in the franchise is not without its humor, but it is on the light end of the scale, Barbie's metrosexual Ken and the linguistically transformed Buzz Lightyear notwithstanding. Instead of humor, the emphasis is on heart- and this is where the film triumphs. In fact, it is safe to say that "heart" is the main element in each of the Pixar films. You just love the characters and their relationships.

There isn't a single misstep in the film. Only one missed opportunity. The Three Peas in a Pod (above) seemed ripe for both character development and marketing opportunity. Just one man's opinion.

There are too many morals in the story to calculate, making Toy Story 3 an excellent primer for reinforcing right from wrong as well as reminding viewers that often the most manipulative and evil among us are those that seem the nicest at first glance. Sad but true.

Just as in real life, in Toy Story's reel life, actions do speak louder than words. In this aspect, Woody and Buzz Lightyear are commendable heroes and true friends until the tearful end. They give their all for those around them, always believing the best but never sacrificing the truth. Like millions of fans, I'll miss them.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company/Pixar)

When the Future was Forward Thinking

What was it about the 1967 version of Disneyland's Tomorrowland that inspired so many? If you look at this piece of Imagineering concept art, you'll catch a small glimpse and begin to understand the passion of those older Disney park fans that saw this version in real time.

Here is the McDonnell Douglas sponsored Flight to the Moon adventure, a prominent first version of the Peoplemover, and off to the far right, a freshly rendered version of Space Mountain. Much like Epcot's original version of Future World, the future has never seemed so thrilling, hopeful and inviting!

What do we have today? Potential- but little representation of what is to come. Buzz Lightyear (My favorite space ranger!) and Nemo take up prime property, the space flight to other planets is now a restaurant, tracks from the Peoplemover sit waiting for something to come, with all of it housed in an architectural environment consisting of a mish mash of styles and outdated 80's concepts.

Myabe this last visit to Disneyland and California Adventure reignited my passion to see Tomorrowland return to its glory days. Or my mid-February visit to Walt Disney World and its sci-fi version in the Magic Kingdom. If nothing else, both reminded me what the Walt Disney Company can achieve when they put their mind to it- and what they don't when they focus first on synergy and cross-marketing.

Let's keep looking forward as we continue our explorations of Tomorrowland on Monday mornings.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)