Hello D23! Disney, You Just Made Me Want to Book a Trip!

Here's a look at the temple sections being added to the exterior of the soon to come Indiana Jones Adventure at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Look at all this design detail! I mean, c'mon- if this doesn't convince you that Imagineering will put its best foot forward on this revamp of the great Dinosaur attraction, nothing will. Can't wait for a brand new Indiana Jones! 

(Photo from Drew Smith, found at WDWMagic.)

Days of Disney Past: Videopolis at Disneyland

On this day in 1985, Videopolis opened at Disneyland. When the new team of Michael Eisner and Frank Wells took over the leadership of the Walt Disney Company, job number one for the duo seemed to be "Make Disney cool again". The concept art here certainly worked!

This super high technology dance club was the most quick and easy addition of the new projects. It brought the crowds into a little used space in Fantasyland, but it was only the first move in a succession of big time hit attractions. Captain Eo starring Michael Jackson would open in 1986 and the first ever attraction based on Star Wars, the incredible Star Tours, would open in 1987. The next big splash was the fan favorite Splash Mountain. With almost one new attraction a year for the first four years, it seemed as if the gifts from the suits and the Imagineers would never slow down. But it did. The next big attraction was the Indiana Jones Adventure (and I was there opening weekend).

Will Disneyland see another season of heavy investment under Josh D'Amaro? Here's hoping! 
 

Disneyland Resort Introduces The Master Plan

It seems everyone who is anyone has been talking about Disneyland Forward and what is really on line post Coco, Avatar / Pandora, and the Avenger's Campus expansion. (Notice Walt's park is left out of much of the discussion. Hmmm.) Almost immediately, I remembered  the original and perhaps grander plans for Anaheim's second Disney park- long before the suits under Michael Eisner (with Robert Iger, by the way. ) cut the very heart out of the expansion project once the 2 billion dollar amount to build it was realized. Mind you, this was just for the park, and it did not include any resort hotels or what would become Downtown Disney. (I wonder where Josh D'Amaro was at this point in his Disney career. Anyone know?)

As we all know by now, in its place, Disney built the much cheaper and ultimately disappointing California Adventure 1.0- a Disney park disaster equivalent to Disney's quick and dirty direct to video animated classic sequels. Simply said, the park stunk. For me, the first visit anticipation of a new Disney park was ruined by the final product- and I was not alone in that assessment.

Fans knew it stunk, and deep down, I believe suits knew it as well- even if the folks working with them and the Imagineers weren't bold enough to stand up and say so. The hip and edgy contrived sibling was a test tube baby created by sharp marketing folks loaded up with charts, facts, and figures. In other words, it was a heartless disaster playing on the loyalty of Disney fans for a quick buck. (Want to see just how cheap the first version was? Go to my multi-part series here to see the concept art for the original park. It's truly "Bargain Basement Imagineering" at its worst / best. You'll be shocked at what the suits passed off as a Disney quality experience.) As we all know, eventually, the suits under Iger admitted the failure and approved a huge investment to make the park one which was no longer an embarrassment. 

In contrast to the opening day version, I love California Adventure 2.0. Mostly. The whole Twilight Zone Tower of Terror into Guardians of the Galaxy mishap aside, I see it becoming a pretty wonderful and complete Disney worthy park in another half decade or so. Oh wait! There's also the Pixar Pier mess, and the cheap Big Hero 6 overlay. Well, going forward, once the Disney Imagineers continue to add great attractions as well as remove the remnants of what was first created, seen mostly in the Hollywood Land, the park should look terrific and be filled with unique must-see adventures. Maybe. Yet, along with many other hard core Disney park fans, I've never forgotten the park we should have seen built: Westcot.

Let's now dig into what surely would have been an instant fan favorite as well as bring even more lucrative park festivals to the West Coast.   

This piece highlights all of the planned expansion.

Lots to see, so click on it for the largest size.

Could they pull off an Epcot type park in California? In Florida, the Imagineers had "the blessing of size". This clearly was not the case in overly crowded, slam packed Southern California, particularly in the neighborhood right around Disneyland. The great enduring success of the original Disney kingdom brought with it lots of cheap motels and services, fast food restaurants, and traffic that overwhelmed the streets. Available land was snapped up by investors as soon as the new park was a huge success. This meant almost immediately, the area became a blistering eyesore Disney and the City of Anaheim tried to remedy ever since.  

When trying to expand Disneyland, it speaks to the ingenuity of the greatest Imagineers that they embraced these tight space restrictions as a design challenge, using it to spark creativity towards a greater goal. This is the exact thinking encouraged by Walt himself. It all makes Disneyland just so charming. The park is full of attractions, shops, and restaurants in layers to be discovered all around by park visitors. 

In Florida, the extra land certainly allowed wider walkways and larger gardens, easing guest flow and making for a showier presentation, but it also created a park environment where large, iconic buildings almost seem to float relationally disconnected from one other. All that space became a huge plus for a park design as ambitious as EPCOT Center, but in contrast, it became a crutch of sorts, a pretty serious detriment when it came to the overall design and feel of the Magic Kingdom.  

Original site plan model for the Anaheim expansion project.

The site plan map. 

Take notice of the original plan for the lake.

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Disney in California had to expand to accommodate its ever increasing crowds. How do you build an all encompassing Downtown Disney, new hotels, and a brand new theme park with so little room? That "blessing of size" didn't exist in Anaheim, so the key question had to be asked: Could that fairly compact slice of land available for the second EPCOT type park build out actually become an advantage? Clearly, that's up for debate as Westcot was never built, but I would say unequivocally, the answer is yes. As with the expansion to "Walt's park", the tight space limitations for Westcot ultimately demanded a very unique and exciting version of Florida's second Disney theme park.

By necessity, the design of this park would have to be different than its older brother, and it was. Anytime people look backwards, things could be done better. So it was this time as well. The Imagineers had learned from the past as well, listening to feedback given as EPCOT Center had been around a few years. The issues regarding families with young children and those seeking thrill rides would be addressed this time around. Not with a character infusion, however. The whole park would feel fresh and different- and in at least one very significant way that would make today's money hungry suits at Walt Disney Company wish they would have followed through and built it. I won't tell you what that is right now, but trust me, you'll surely recognize it when you read it.

As seen above, this wouldn't be the first time

Disney Imagineers considered a golden hued

Spaceship Earth.

As with EPCOT Center, the Imagineers planned the new Anaheim park would include two main segments blended together. Future World would be complete with a new golden version of the iconic Spaceship Earth- here called Spacestation Earth. The new name and color of the icon wouldn't be the only twist from the original. This time, the giant 300 foot sphere would be in the center of a small lake with the international focused World Showcase regions of the park encircling it. 

Not only would this huge building be the centerpiece of the park, it would be seen from all over Orange County- something that didn't occur with Disneyland's larger structures. Aside from the viewing the Matterhorn, no structure could be seen from outside the park. This grand vision for Westcot's icon would become a focal point of a bigger battle with the city of Anaheim, its residents, and the Company all waging war against each other with different opinions and angles on what should and shouldn't be built. In fact, Disney also played the city of Anaheim against the city of Long Beach with its plan for the proposed California version of Tokyo's rightly acclaimed DisneySea park... but that's another story to be told at a different time.

A vision in gold.

Many local residents and Anaheim government officials weren't too thrilled with this design choice as it was viewed by them as the company celebrating and showcasing its dominance over the city and the surrounding neighborhoods. Nightly fireworks were an issue for some already. This would be too much Disney in their face for them to handle.

The residents of the surrounding neighborhood fought against Disney's plans, with the giant golden spherical icon only providing a focal point for the community build its case. The epic and much publicized battle eventually assisted the Walt Disney Company in ditching their more expensive plans- something they were happy to do after overbuilding hotels at Disneyland Paris- to build a different kind, a cheaper kind, of theme park. And the city got Disney California Adventure instead.

Westcot's icon would have dominated the skyline, but on the plus side, the glittering, golden sphere would have been an instantly recognizable advertisement for the larger than life new park. In an effort to address those concerns as well as the growing building costs, the sphere was later replaced by a large spire. Certainly less inspiring and definitely less majestic, the spire was more in line with what both sides truly wanted. Cheap, quick, easy to build. In other words, it reeked of the Sun icon for California Adventure 1.0. (That park once had a spire proposed as well!) But back to the Westcot and the attractions that were supposed to be...

More ideas on how to make this new Spaceship Earth unique.

Naturally, this portion of the park would highlight the future. The prevailing idea here was to build a park that glanced at the future but intentionally would be constructed without shows or attractions that had to be updated to represent an ever-changing world. Again learning from the past, the Imagineers had already discovered how difficult it was keeping tomorrow in Tomorrowland. Or Future World in Epcot.

In this new Epcot, there were Future World type pavilions to be found, but the topics were generic in nature: the Land, Living, and Science, making it easier to present an entertainment focused approach. More difficult topics such as energy and transportation have been left behind in favor of considerably lighter, fantasy-based fare. Some attractions and Future World environments were based on ideas once proposed but discarded for Florida, particularly those of Imagineer Tony Baxter. This included the content of the original glass based towers for The Land. (I've got it somewhere on the blog but can't find it. The man has always proposed great projects! Look at his unbuilt concept art for Fantasyland here.)

Additionally, in stark contrast to what was built in Florida, California's forward looking area would view what was to come through much more whimsical eyes- including those of Figment and Dreamfinder in a newer take on the classic Journey into Imagination. For good measure, the Imagineers would also toss in a shimmering version of Horizons and a fresh presentation of the Wonders of Life. Now looking backward, those beloved signature attractions would be very welcome in California where the Disney theme park fanbase is much stronger, more nostalgic, and more receptive to old school attractions.

Beautiful, golden, and expensive.

"FuturePort" is what the concept art named it.

From the base of the park's centerpiece was Ventureport, guests could explore these attractions and smaller exhibits, but it was also the main departure point into a newly reimagined World Showcase, now known as the Four Corners of the World.

A spire in place of Spaceship Earth.

The nighttime view.

The initial success of EPCOT Center gave the Imagineers a chance to objectively look at the park from a constantly changing guest dynamic. The original thought in design was that adult park visitors would be the core audience. In World Showcase, guests would be enthralled with the opportunity to explore other cultures through food and drink and travelogue films without the need for Disney character meet and greets or a large number of theme park rides. As Disney looked at the facts, they soon discovered families with younger kids were almost as much a part of the park's guest roster as the Magic Kingdom. This meant kids were more easily bored with watching travelogues than adults and need something else. More rides - including those for children as well as some thrill rides- were part of the order for the new Westcot.

                         

Latin America in World Showcase.

Space restrictions also forced a new look at this portion of the park, and in the process, something entirely new and interesting came together. Instead of individual countries being represented, now they were clustered together into continents. There's pros and cons to this newer approach. The pros are fairly easy to describe: more countries can be represented within a smaller space. The cons? It's not as easy to get "lost" in an individual country, feeling the full depth of the place.

One of the very best aspects of World Showcase in Epcot is the ability immerse deeply in an experience. Getting lost in the back streets of Morocco, the quiet hidden nooks of France and Japan or the lush backwoods of Canada would be much more difficult to accomplish at Westcot. There would always be new cultural icons acting as lures to the next area, and the inherent risk of sensory oversaturation would be a concern. 

According to Imagineer Tony Baxter, who once gave a lengthy talk on the project, (look here for the transcript), it was more than a best of recreation of what worked well in Florida. Much more. One of the most exciting parts of the Four Corners was a major attraction called The World Cruise. Imagine getting on board a boat at 5 various ports of the world and experiencing a bit of culture, mystery and romance on a 45 (yes, 45!) minute journey on the park's waterways. This excited me, as Disney boat ride attractions tend to be my favorites in any park, be it Pirates of the Caribbean, It's A Small World and the watercraft in the castle parks, El Rio Del Tiempo in Epcot, and Na'vi River Journey at Disney's Animal Kingdom. (Wow- Could this be a hidden reason why Disney's Hollywood Studios is my least favorite Disney park in Florida? Never thought of that before! Bring on Coco for California Adventure- can't wait!)

Back to the World Cruise. Along the journey in between ports, boats would enter a series of colorful, rich, indoor panoramas talking about the culture and history of the continents explored. Think about the show scenes of Spaceship Earth, the now-defunct World of Motion, mixing in Audio-Animatronic actors depicting historical events and references important to that society. The epic nature of this attraction cannot be overstated. This was Disney Imagineering going above and beyond what they had already accomplished at Walt Disney World. It'd be something unique and compelling. 

All of Asia in one easy to access area.

Red Square and Paris next door to each other- only in Westcot- 

or in Putin's dreams.

Kids rides would be cleverly incorporated into the park's landscape via smaller "B" and "C Ticket"level attractions. Travelogues to highlight regions of the world? Of course, those would make the cut. 

What about thrill rides for the teens? A roller coaster in the form of a slinking dragon moving through lovely Chinese mountains was on the agenda. That would scratch that itch. Then, they tossed in handfuls of smaller exhibits to be explored, numerous and varied artists providing traditional cultural entertainment, smartly designed children's play areas, and a simulator attraction or two. You now get the idea of what the Imagineers planned to fill out the park's roster of major "E Ticket" type attractions. This clearly re-Imagined version of World Showcase wouldn't be met by the cries of "There's too few rides, no thrills, and nothing for my kids to do!" There was even talk of an attraction or two based on the three major religions of the world in their own version of the Middle East- complete with a reflective "peace garden". This is something Disney wouldn't have the guts to do now in our politically correct but extremist charged, global neighborhood. Even if they pick us this park idea for the previous strawberry field acreage, that peace garden would never see the light of day.

There was one other discovery to be found at Westcot- one I found delightful once I got past the cash grab aspect - was the ability to stay overnight in the country or region of your choice.(Yes, there it is. I know you see it now!) Popular buildings posing as landmarks during the day (and blocking out the city of Anaheim just beyond the park) would not just house new attractions, gift shops, and pricy restaurants, they would also be the home to expensive premium hotel rooms, making this the first Disney park to truly allow guests to stay within it. 

I'll close this article with some back and white pieces of rarely seen concept art for the Westcot park created by Conceptual Design Group in Irvine, (now in Trabuco Canyon) California. (One more is at the top of this post.) These tell only part of the Westcot story, but it's a good place to end.

Would the brand new Westcot have been the hit Disney needed in order to successfully expand the Disneyland Resort and keep the cash flow moving? Without a doubt, but Michael Eisner and his suits (including Robert Iger) got cold feet and opted for California Adventure instead. Will fans ever see Westcot on that third plot of land down the street on Harbor Blvd.? Of course not! The Walt Disney Company that created EPCOT Center is gone. At least in the U.S.A., the company is more interested in shoving its latest acquisitions and film characters into the parks, hoping our wallets will thin out as we purchase cheap souvenirs. They've proved what they think by changing the iconic Twilight Zone Tower of Terror into just another attraction to sell their latest film and by placing the incredible looking Star Wars Land in Disneyland versus in the third park where it belongs.

Even though a new version of Epcot was once planned but vetoed by the suits for Disneyland Paris (the concept art is here on the blog somewhere), it could eventually end up in China. Maybe even at Shanghai Disneyland, where the always present Chinese government could proudly show the world why they are supreme. Or perhaps in the upcoming Disneyland Abu Dhabi where oil money is always plentiful so costs won't get in the way. Again, that's a story for another time and place- just as Westcot as we know it is a piece of history and an opportunity missed.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Indy's Temple Takes Shape

Thanks to Bioreconstruct, we can see that Countdown to Extinction aka DINOSAUR at Disney's Animal Kingdom is quickly becoming the temple entrance to the new Indiana Jones Adventure. This will be the next in a series of temples in Walt Disney World. First, there are those in the Jungle Cruise at the Magic Kingdom. Next we have the pyramid and interior temples at the Mexico pavilion at Epcot. Now, this. We can debate whether or not Encanto and Indy fit, but the look and feel of Tropical Americas aligns perfectly with the park. Is it just my vivid imagination or is Disney's Animal Kingdom becoming the new World Showcase one step at a time?
 

Notable and Quotable: Michael Eisner

“I'm not wild about the fact that it is so expensive now to go to Disneyland or Disney World.”

                 Michael Eisner, Former CEO of The Walt Disney Company

Neither are we, Michael. And this is only the beginning of what he has to say to Graham Bensinger of In Depth.  

Should we even care about what Eisner says? Yes, and incoming leader Josh D'Amaro should pat attention. Eisner's the man who brought a second golden age to Disney animation as well as theme parks. Think The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King. On the park/ themed entertainment side, he brought us Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Pleasure Island and Euro Disney aka Disneyland Paris. This all includes Splash Mountain, Star Tours, and the Indiana Jones Adventure attractions among many others. (Yes, he brought us Disney California Adventure, but I'll forgive him for that, since he also brought Tokyo DisneySea!)

Watch this segment of the interview below:

Goodbye to Countdown to Extinction / Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom

It's over and now in the past. The original Countdown to Extinction at Disney's Animal Kingdom was ambitious in some ways and lazy in others. Stealing the exact same track layout as the great Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland was the lazy part but helped contain expenses in a park that was built way over budget. But from there on out, it was a pretty clever and unique take on the dinosaur world. 

Imagineer Joe Rhode and his team brought a great respectful vibe by housing the attraction in a museum, only to counterbalance it with adding much humor to the preshow. OK, sometimes it was cheesy. Very cheesy. I mean, Dr. Grant Seeker? 

In the early years of the new park, it was a thrill ride in a whole new vein from Universal's Jurassic Park. The difference was necessary if Disney was going to stand out from its main dinosaur competitor. It was dark, scary, and exhilarating! When they renamed the attraction to match a new movie, it was a bad move and the beginning of the end. Letting effects go missing, toning down the scare factor, and seeing maintenance become less and less, it was clear Disney suits were planning a change.

I'm very sad to see Disney give up on dinosaurs, but I'm excited for the transition of the land to Tropical Americas. The new Indiana Jones Adventure will surely be a great one, and an Encanto attraction - does it really fit either?- should be charming. It's a kid friendly dark ride this park needs so badly. The land should be beautiful and fit in well with what's in Africa and Asia and Discovery Island- something Chester and Hester's Dinorama never did accomplish.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Dine or Ditch: Animal Kingdom's Nomad Lounge

What words come to mind when you first think of Disney's Animal Kingdom? What feelings hit you as you approach this beautiful park from the dry parking lot? As a huge fan of Imagineering and Disney theme park design, its design is stunning. As a them park guest, as I walk to the entrance, there's this sense of relaxation and adventure at the same time. Quite the accomplishment, I'd say. That's only the  beginning.

The unique mix of high octane thrill rides in beautifully calm and peaceful environments give the fourth Disney park in Florida its unique feel. Shops are now filled with plush and merchandise available in other parks, but there are still plenty of unique items in theme to each land. (Watch for an upcoming series of articles on the creation and evolution of this incredible park. The stories behind it and the concept art are really worth your time.)

Unexpectedly, from Day One, the quality and variety of food options here is only rivaled by those high end places found in Disney Springs. (Used to be that EPCOT Center's World Showcase held that distinction years ago, but there's been a notable downgrade in dining while the festival food booths risen to prominence.) That said, of all the places in Animal Kingdom with great food, Nomad Lounge is the best of them all, unless the ultra fine (and very expensive) dining of Tiffins is more your style. 

But Nomad Lounge may not be for everyone.

Look at the menu outside in front to make sure this is your style.

Check out the Society of Explorers and Adventurers reference.

The current star attraction of Disney's Animal Kingdom is Flight of Passage in The World of Avatar / Pandora themed land. If your follow the very early morning crowds to get there, you'll walk right by the Nomad Lounge, so pay attention. You'll need to be intentional to return here and not forget it in the midst of some great attractions that are waiting for you: Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest will soon be joined in the forthcoming Tropical Americas land with an Encanto dark ride and a new version of the Indiana Jones Adventure. 

An almost hidden view of this adult hideaway.

First come, first served walk up style seating is not my favorite, but I had a hunch this place would be worth waiting for. It took about 40 minutes to get seated, so we patiently waited nearly and enjoyed the surroundings and grabbed some photographs of what is quickly becoming my favorite Disney park in Florida.

The drinks or the appetizers- which ones are better?

Definitely the Bangkok Chicken Wings!

Sequestering inside out of the sometimes harsh Florida sun may be a treat for many people, but I cannot resist the allure of a patio. I was not disappointed! In some ways, it reminded me of favorite places in Hawaii. Not a bad comparison at all. There were no island breezes however. It was a quite hot afternoon, and the covering was a welcome one. The waterside seating was extremely comfortable, and the vibe felt a million miles away from Walt Disney World as well as the real world. Just perfect!

Leaving us just the right amount of time to settle in and look around, our server returned to take our drink order. 

Lamu Libation (left and front) and Tempting Tigress (right and rear).

The adult drinks of choice varied in flavors and success, but they did not vary in price. Each one was enough guarantee that we had one drink each. As expected, there was a rum based drink (my choice), one with vodka, one with gin (normally my choice), and another with tequila. Concurrent with the rest of our trip, we all took turns trying each other's choices. 

My wife chose the Lamu Libation, African Rum, Cruzan Banana Rum, and Guava Purée with Orange, Lime, and Pineapple Juices topped with more rum. My son's choice was obvious as he likes something much stronger and far less sweet: The Tempting Tigress- Bourbon, Allspice Dram Liqueur, Tamarind, and Lime Juice.

This is a drinks and small plates establishment. Most all of the adult beverages were priced as if they were meals! It's a trend I still can't get used to, so plan on spending in the neighborhood of $40 per person plus tax and tip for one small plate and one alcoholic drink.

The Night Monkey- dark rum, guava puree, 

coffee simple syrup, lime juice and a touch of cilantro.

Time to place an order for something to nibble on. We certainly were not rushed to do so, but I always like having something in my system when I have a drink. It's pretty rare actually that I do drink, maybe one drink every 6 to 8 weeks when we're meeting friends, and that's about it at best. I will admit, it's different on vacation, though. I still will only have one drink an evening. Your mileage may vary.

What a difference traveling without small children!

An entirely more relaxed experience.

Featuring true to life flavors of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, the menu was surprising in its variety and depth. But it was definitely not an extensive menu. Nor were the portions meal sized even if they cost the same as a full meal. 

 

The Grilled Chicken Satay skewers were very good, but they paled in comparison to the incredible Bangkok Chicken Wings. I could eat these all day long! Crunchy, sweet, and even a bit tart, these were addictive. I'd say these are every bit as good as the ribs at Morimoto Asia or the very tasty ones at the now demolished Luau Cove. (Both recipes here.) In fact, they may be the best thing I ate on the trip whether we were at Disney or at Universal Orlando. 

The Cuban Frida Sliders hit the spot, but I'd rank them below the Chicken Satay skewers, holding steady at last place of our three small plates. The meat was very good, and the Yuka fries did have a nice and very different flavor than the expected regular or sweet potatoes.

Cuban Frita Sliders

I should mention that the bread service was a solid choice. So were the vanilla dessert churros we finished with, which also came with a small container of melted chocolate. The starters and ending were secondary to the main small plates both in size and flavor. Anywhere else, these would both be considered excellent, so that is saying quite a bit.

 

Sharing the facilities.

This is a very strange thing to admit: an unexpected highlight was my restroom stop. Why? Diners have to pass through Tiffins to get there.  This gave me a chance to peek into each of the dining rooms, even if it was rather quickly.

This room is truly beautiful!

There was barely anyone in this very expensive establishment, so the wait staff was fine to let me wander a bit. Some rooms were more elaborate than others, but each was special in their own way. Filled with Imagineering art and exotic artifacts, it was quite elegant and certainly a new high bar in Disney dining. And yes, even the bathrooms were beautiful. 

Nomad Lounge is a unique entry in Walt Disney World dining and holds an interesting place in the choices, but is it a Dine or Ditch?

It's a very "Dine" if you're willing to spend a good amount of your hard earned cash for what amounts to a lengthy pit stop versus a full meal. If you hate theme parks or desire a break in touring and running from attraction to attractions this is the place for you.  I'd also say this is a go if you like the idea of Tiffins but don't want to pay the over the top prices. 

It's a definite "Ditch" this option if you have young children in your party. They will not appreciate the exotic flavors found here. Nor does the menu cater to the littlest park visitors. It's also a "Ditch" if you're wanting a hearty meal to sustain you. You will not find it here on Nomad Lounge's very limited menu.

Want more Dine or Ditch?

Check out these other reviews:

Raglan Road at Disney Springs

Sci-Fi Dine In at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom

Garden Grill at Epcot

San Angel Inn Restaurante at Epcot

 

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at Universal Orlando City Walk

Mythos at Islands of Adventure

Cafe Orleans at Disneyland

 

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Do Not Go to Disney World in 2026!

As you plan out your year, don't let Disney's hype machine trick you into thinking that 2026 is the year to go to Walt Disney World. It is not. Stop and think about it before you leap and spend all that money. The Magic Kingdom may be the most attended theme park in the U.S.A., but an enjoyable day there will be impacted by the huge expansion going on. Frontierland has become a world of walls since they demolished the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island to create a new area based on the Cars franchise. Piston Peak may end of being beautiful, but for now, it's a mess. The whole left side of the park is one huge crowd trying to navigate to Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Once Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens, it's only going to get worse. If you're a first time visitor to Walt Disney World, this will not make your visit memorable for the right reasons... nor will an iconic castle surrounded by scaffolding while it is being painted back to its original 1971 perfect color scheme.

There's more to Disney World than the Magic Kingdom you might say.  And you're right about that. Yet of the other three, two of the other parks, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom, both have major construction going on. Each of these parks have a minimal amount of existing attractions but there's walls o'plenty as well. A whole new Monsters Inc. land is replacing the Muppets at the Studios- and the Muppets are in fact replacing Aerosmith at Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. If stage shows are your thing, a day at the Studios could be satisfying. But if not, that's a lot of pressure to put on the rest of the ten whole attractions (or less) at the former Disney-MGM Studios. It's just not worth your money.

Over at Disney's Animal Kingdom, construction walls on the way to Expedition: Everest showcase just how little there is to do in this park. DINOSAUR will soon depart for good with a ride based on Encanto and a new Indiana Jones Adventure one the way. They open in 2027 at the earliest. Animal Kingdom is a gorgeous park, but it's better to wait when it all comes together.  The park's replacement for It's Tough to Be a Bug, Zootopia: Better Zoogether is not something worth visiting for. It's the same old 3D show in the Tree of Life Theater with a quickly thrown together story that feels cheap and self-serving. 

That leaves Epcot. If you're in the mood for a food festival, go early in the year. Otherwise, skip it as well and wait until 2027. Aside from a Soarin' film about America that will certainly stay around longer than they say, nothing new is coming in 2026, so hold out.

If you must go on vacation, head somewhere else in the States or travel to a different part of the world. The real world has so much to offer. You'll not be disappointed in visiting other cultures and interacting with the people, trying new foods, and seeing important historical sites. Disney can wait. Trust me, you'll be happy you did.

Memories of Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama

Early next year, Dinoland U.S.A. is fully set to close. Dinosaur aka Countdown to Extinction bites the bullet as the suits at the Walt Disney Company concede that the world of dinosaurs belongs to Universal's Jurassic Park franchise. This includes the earlier closure of  Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama.

 

While I consider this area a total failure solidly on the same level as California Adventure 1.0 to the Walt Disney Studios Paris at opening,  I do have some happy memories. The top photo on TriceraTop Spin is a family favorite. 

The photo directly above is a funny one. Our wonderful friends took a ride on Primeval Whirl, a cheap carnival ride that made us laugh while we slammed into each other at every curve. 

No, I won't defend this as the art of Imagineering, but the land had some clever elements to make up for the unimaginative rides. Still, glad to see it go in favor of Tropical Americas. The beautiful Disney's Animal Kingdom may just remain the best Imagineered and most consistent park in Disney's Florida kingdom. 

(Photographs by Mark Taft.)

Living Out My Inner Indiana Jones

One of my favorite parts of being a private tour guide is taking people to new and exciting, even exotic places. As you can tell from this latest photo, I had a chance to live out my inner Indiana Jones. I never thought I'd ever do something like this!

“What no eye has seen,

    what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”—

    the things God has prepared for those who love him—

1 Corinthians 2:9

The desert air was crisp and clean, but it certainly was very hot! 

My granddaughter asked if the camel was smelly. He was not. In fact, this gentle animal allowed me to stroke his neck and pat his hump. Normally, I don't post too many photos of my tours as they include other people. I won't invade their privacy. But this rare solo photo was one I had to include just for my personal satisfaction. Hope you don't mind the indulgence!

When Is Your Imagineering Book Coming Out, Tony Baxter?

Journey into Imagination, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Star Tours, Indiana Jones Adventure, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, and yes, Splash Mountain. The list of these incredible attractions make super fans lists of Disney Imagineerings's greatest park hits. Recognize the face? Of course, you do! It's Imagineering's legend Tony Baxter. He remains one of the best old school or new school Imagineers ever. Period. 

Look- Bob Gurr and Rolly Crump have done it.  Marty Sklar and Bob Weis jumped in. Randy Bright wrote one of the best long ago. Even the legendary John Hench dove in with an amazing one. Of course, others have written about the greats in Imagineering. All said, it's time for Tony to spill.  Don't you think?

Bored With Disney But This Excites Me

At D23, when it comes to the theme parks, the Disney suits promise one incredible experience after another. Sometimes they deliver. Many times, projects are cancelled, and even sometimes, projects are a bust. Imagineering may come up with incredible ideas but they are often budgeted to death. California Adventure 1.0, Hong Kong Disneyland at opening, or Walt Disney Studios Paris come to mind? Maybe you're still stinging a bit like I am over the "new" Epcot. 

Now, they're ready to take on Disney's Animal Kingdom with new attractions. Sure, it's sad they gave up on dinosaurs and Countdown to Extinction aka Dinosaur. But who came blame them? Universal owns Jurassic Park / Jurassic World and they own dinosaurs just like Disney owns mermaids.  

Which all brings us to Tropical Americas. I'm not too trusting that the suits will do Encanto justice. This isn't Tokyo Disney Resort and the Oriental Land Company. What should certainly be a ride on the scale of Haunted Mansion may end up being another Ariel's Undersea Adventure. Yet, with Epic Universe on the way- the one everyone is excited about and for good reason- it is an encouraging sign that Imagineer Joe Rhode has been brought back into the fold to map this expansion out. And then there's Indiana Jones.

Now, this is something I am excited about! A brand new story that isn't Disneyland's original or Tokyo Disneysea's next chapter. Perhaps this new adventure will feature new effects previously unforeseen in the States. Thinking specifically here of Jack Sparrow's first appearance in Shanghai Disneyland's incredible Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure or Mystic Manor's artifact transformation when that magical little music box is opened. 

They'd better get it right this time. Most of Epcot's revisioning fell flat, and Disney's Hollywood Studios needs more help than what's planned. if they want to counteract the Universal problem. Indiana could be just what the doctor or should I say professor ordered. I'm hoping it is!

This Real Life Indiana Jones Solved One of History's Greatest Mysteries!

Add this to the "When Real Life is More Fascinating Than Fiction" files: Imagine being a female archeologist in the mid-1900s when men ruled the profession. Then consider what it felt like to be hired by arguably the most powerful government on earth, The Vatican. Add to this the more than enormous task of being challenged to find and authenticate the bones of Peter, one of the most famous disciples of Jesus and Rome's first pope. This is the true story of a small, brilliant Italian Margherita Guarducci. The fictitious archeologist Indiana Jones has absolutely nothing on this woman!

The woman's work and her fierce determination to discover the truth at any cost lie in the heart of the account The Fisherman's Tomb by lawyer and author John O'Neill. Admittedly, Ms. Guarducci comes in rather late in the story, but she plays a rather important part. 

Texas oilman George Strake funded the entire secret excavation. He was contacted by the head of the Roman Catholic Church at the time, Pope Paul VI and asked to fund it in secret, which the devout Texas agreed to do- for decades. With the help of Father Walter Carroll, a young priest, the trio builds at team who begins searching for Peter's remains.

This true story is told against a backdrop of World Wars I and II. The entire saga is filled with intrigue, politics, almost miraculous events and more as friends and enemies within the Vatican itself battle for the credit of what is- or isn't- discovered.

Margherita Guarducci's book, The Tomb of St. Peter, tells her story and covers her findings in detail. (I have not read it.) O'Neill's book reads like the suspense novel it could be, except for the truth of it all.

If you've read my trip report on Rome (here), you'll know these books lead to a magnificent journey available to any traveler who puts in the effort, The Scavi Tour. You'll go under St. Peter's Basilica, bypassing the huge lines, joining a small group of ten to twenty people to the Necropolis. A fully underground Roman street and cemetery filled with ancient buildings, tombs, and one of Christendom's most sought after discoveries.  

After reading the book and seeing it all for myself when at the Vatican, the only question I have is, "Why isn't this a movie?" 

The Connection Between Epic Universe and The Indiana Jones Adventure

Stop the press! Be it the original at Disneyland, the newer one at Tokyo Disneysea, or the one coming to the Tropical Americas section of Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Indiana Jones Adventure is one show stopping, high energy, thrill ride of a different kind! I've posted seemingly endless pieces of concept art for this attraction, but only recently did I discover this beautiful piece. Where did it come from? 

An artist named Christopher Bradley, who has worked for Disney- among others- and who is now also responsible for those intriguing "portal" views for each of the lands at Epic Universe. (I can't wait to do an "When Reality is Better Than (Imagineering) Universal Creative Art" once that park opens.) 

Really lovely!

Mr. Bradley is also responsible for a great piece of art for Hong Kong Disneyland's iconic Mystic Manor, shown above. 

Looking forward to seeing what's next from this great artist!

My Single D23 Prediction

D23 arrives in Anaheim, California this weekend! The showcase of what's new and what's next for the Disney creative teams is always a highlight of that year. Except the last two conventions which were a bust from any imaginable angle. Robert Iger (and previously the short-lived Bob Chapek) along with Josh D'Amaro, gave us nothing but teasers. This year should be different, especially with Epic Universe looming in 2025.

Here's my singular prediction: The bulk of the biggest wow moments park expansions and additions will be for Florida's Magic Kingdom. Why? This one is pretty easy I think. In the USA for decades, Walt Disney World's first park has reigned supreme as the top attendance, most visited park. With Islands of Adventure and its star attractions- like Velocicoaster, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure,  Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey- continuing to gain in popularity as a vacation choice, the suits and the Imagineers are not just going to give up the crown to the Mouse's most ferocious and successful competitor. It'd look pretty bad for Disney if a Universal park moved to number one in the States.

So... Beyond Big Thunder Mountain will be only the beginning. But expansion is coming, leaving major additions to Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the California parks in the relative dust.