A New Finale for Spaceship Earth

Thanks to poster IMDREW on the always excellent WDWMagic Boards, we have a new piece of concept art for a proposed ending to Spaceship Earth, the centerpiece icon of Epcot. The attraction every guest just has to ride was on schedule for a brand new revisioning by the Imagineers. Of course as the story goes, COVID-19 hit, and the plans were put on ice. 

Will Imagineer Zach Riddley ever tell us that the ride will be back on schedule for a refresh? Who knows. One thing is certain: For better or worse, EPCOT Center is gone, and the new park filled with Intellectual Properties continues its transition. Once it was all about education and entertainment at Future World (with Journey Into Imagination, World of Motion, Horizons, and Universe of Energy) and the cultures of many nations at World Showcase. Now the park is just another home to Frozen, Donald Duck, Ratatouille and soon Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. 

It's much too late to reverse course, I'm afraid. But I'm sure the suits are happy with the coming uptick in turnstile numbers. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)
 

Nice View of Remy's Ratatouille Adventure

Leave it to those wonderful folks at WDWMagic to bring me one of my favorite photos of the progress of Remy's Ratatouille Adventure! The direction the suits are taking Epcot may not be my favorite, but so far, this entrance to the new addition in France's pavilion gives me a small glimmer of hope. The detail looks like something you'd actually see in Paris. World Showcase is perhaps my favorite spot in all of Walt Disney World. I hope the suits and Imagineers work together to keep some integrity to the original vision.

(Photograph copyright WDWMagic.)

How Tokyo Disneyland Does Beauty and the Beast

Well, Tokyo Disneyland has released a series of photographs of their stunning new Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast attraction. And it is just as incredible as the Imagineers could make it. Boy, is it depressing that the largest of all Disney resorts just gets a charming meet and greet and a high end restaurant. 

This seems to be just the way it goes. Oriental Land Company demands and pays for the best- and they get it. Every other park gets some version of the beloved Disney animated film, but nothing can compare to this.

These images make me sad and mad. Don't we American Disney park fans deserve better?

Yes, Ratatouille will be a lot of fun, and Epcot's World Showcase needs an attraction that is good and innovative. But don't you now wish the suits would have added this attraction to the France pavilion instead? I sure do!

Wanna see what Disney has done with Beauty and the Beast in their other resorts? Go here.

Should you eat at the very expensive Be Our Guest in Florida? Check out our Ditch or Dine review here?

(These photos are from various sources on the web, but they were found on the always great WDWMagic site.)

Plans for Russia at World Showcase

Take a look at this beauty! OK, one day, I should probably finish my mega article on the proposed Russia pavilion for World Showcase at Epcot. But not today. I will, however, share this piece of concept art showing the once planned sled ride through the Russian countryside. No doubt the Imagineers plans were grand and expensive with more than one real attraction, several eateries, plenty of shops, and a variety of cultural entertainment. But what a draw to the park this would have been. It would have been show stopping!

The addition of the Ratatouille ride to France is one I'm looking forward to as it is my favorite Pixar film, but it has always been the shows and attractions based on the history and culture of the people that have made World Showcase a place I can spend days in. Bring on Brazil or India or somewhere else, but please give us more than beloved animated characters and iconic Marvel properties into my favorite Florida park. Dig deeper, strive harder, take risks. In a world where "cancel culture" is taking over, it is time to remember our real history- both good and bad- and celebrate the positive with hope for the future. Isn't that what EPCOT Center was all about?

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Cool Blues of Cinque Terra

In the long ago and far away category, our trip to Europe in 2007 yielded sweet memories and some equally sweet photographs! We began our trip in Paris, including a visit to Disneyland Paris and the disappointing Walt Disney Studios Paris. We even came upon the French premier of Ratatouille going on across the bank. But then it was on to the real adventure- exploring Europe!

We had scrimped and saved for ten years for this 21 day trip. And it was worth every penny! We had planned to see Italy, Germany, the U.K., France and Wales. Flights were cheap once we got on the continent. (The full trip report with many, many photos is here.)

As we stopped in Cinque Terra, Italy, the day was hot, humid, and sunny and bright. Very hot. The cool blues of the water below called out to me. But what was a guy to do without a swimsuit? Hmm. Thankfully, I remembered I had wisely packed some multi-purpose synthetic trunk style underwear and was in fact wearing them that day. So, I ducked into a nearby cave after watching a few men go into it fully dressed and then come out in their swimwear. 

Once I got past my shyness, I was rewarded! The water was crisp and refreshing! Eventually, I discovered this cluster of small fishing boats, so I grabbed my camera and headed back into the water. What you see is the end result.

After that swim and some time on the beach, we headed way, way, way up the cliffs to a small restaurant and had a late lunch. With a summery salad, a little pasta, and a glass of wine, me and my favorite gal enjoyed a slice of Italy that stays with us to this day!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Will Remy's Ratatouille Adventure Look Like This?

Look at these straight on images of the models once prepared for EPCOT Center's World Showcase, particularly the France pavilion. Notice how the backdrop "wall" looks three dimensional but in reality is only a flat wall rising above the main building? 

It may seem like a small question or even one that doesn't make sense. Yet, when you look at the back of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland, Cars Land at California Adventure, or Expedition: Everest from behind at Disney's Animal Kingdom, it's obvious there is a newer philosophy behind these major buildouts versus the standard of Imagineers and company suits of old.

Back of Cars Land from Laughing Place.

Back of Expedition: Everest from Theme Park Guy.

Sure, guests forget all about the backsides once they are inside the respective parks. But it's not like in the old days under Walt. And I'm glad early post-Walt leadership held onto his values or the iconic Space Mountain would look like something you'd find in one of those Chinese Disney rip off theme parks!

(Top Photographs and Models copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Haunted Mansion Restaurant?

The Haunted Mansion restaurant? There's rumors of one coming someday to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. It may never happen, but something close did come within reach. At least it was once considered. 

The Haunted Mansion as you've never seen it in 3D. In the Fall 2009 edition of D23 magazine,  a piece of concept art which appeared displayed guests doing down to the infamous banquet hall for a bite. Very up close and personal. Your eyes are not deceiving you.  

That really is an Imagineering concept for the once proposed 3D version. Had it been built,  guests would don the glasses to see things in a very different, eerie light. There's no Omnimover, but instead a vehicle chain would looks very similar to what you would have found in EPCOT Center's Horizons attraction.  

Before Phantom Manor made its ghoulish debut in Disneyland Paris' Frontierland  in 1992, the Disney Imagineers created this long abandoned new twist on an old favorite as an idea for Tokyo Disneyland. The Tokyo Mansion was already very strangely placed in Fantasyland, so why not try a brand new idea for the Japanese park or for Paris? In my opinion, thankfully, smarter heads prevailed. They held off until a fresh concept- a Frontierland based Phantom Manor came into view for the French park. And it's a winner!

Instead of throwing 3D glasses on existing rides and calling them new, I would rather advocate we one day have  a version of the Haunted Mansion where the Doombuggies travel into some new rooms, expanding the attraction length and repeatability using a trackless ride system a la Ratatouille or Tokyo's Beauty and the Beast.

Would Hong Kong Disneyland's Mystic Manor go 3D eventually? Probably not- it already has it all. Even the videos of the attraction circulating on the web prove it is a unique and worthy experience all its own. First, there's a great and very original story using the trackless free roaming system we've loved from the beginning when from Pooh's Hunny Hunt debuted. And that Danny Elfman music! Certainly Mystic Manor is the attraction that finally placed that poor little under built Chinese park on the Disney fan map. It doesn't need the 3D at all.

For now, it does not look like the incomplete Shanghai Disneyland resort has a ghost filled attraction on its roster. That doesn't mean something won't happen one day. Strange things always do.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Whys of Walt Disney World

When I look at what's happening at Walt Disney World, I'm often left with more questions than answers. Sure, it's still a great place to visit, but you'd have to close your eyes not to have some pretty serious questions about its future.

Limiting my "Whys" to three per park, let's start with what once was my favorite American theme park: the woefully neglected and underdeveloped Epcot.

Cheap, cheap, cheap!

• Why didn't the Imagineers use the amazing original ride system from Universe of Energy to lead to a loading dock for the new Guardians of the Galaxy coaster? Certainly, they could have created an incredible experience that would have made good use of one of the most innovative transportation systems ever. Two rides for one. No brainer.
• Why has World Showcase lay dormant for so long? Aside from a few new restaurants and the Frozen overlay, practically nothing (let alone perfect) has been done. Ratatouille should be only the beginning of growth. We need new countries added. Brazil. India. Russia. Just about anything.
• Why has Imagination been left in its sad state? Can't anyone with some clout turn this once beloved ride and exhibit hall into something stunning again? (Oops, that's another question.) Letting the park's beloved mascot be represented by this mess is a crime worthy of punishment. Call in Fuji Film and the Japanese. They seem to know how to do things right

My Magic Kingdom questions are limited to ones I'll share for now. 

Could be so much more!

• Why hasn't Space Mountain's track been fixed or replaced? The iconic adventure sports a ride so rough that it feels like something from an old sidewalk carnival versus the cutting edge ride it was at opening.
• Why didn't the suits allow Imagineering to build the major "E Ticket" attraction Japan is getting based on Beauty and the Beast? It should have been part of the whole New Fantasyland complex. As it stands now, Belle's meet and greet is very sweet, but there's not enough meat for the rest of us to get a satisfying experience. Gaston's turkey legs are not enough.
• Why hasn't Frontierland been expanded with some smaller attractions that round out the time spent in that land? There needs to be more to explore. Bring Nature's Wonderland and the covered wagons back from the dead and to the East Coast.

As it stands now, Disney's Hollywood Studios needs so much more than I can say. But I'll honor my three questions promise for this park as well.

Love Mickey but this should not be his new home.

• Why kill The Great Movie Ride? This is probably the one that most bothers me. Yes, they should and could have updated it over time with better Audio-Animatronics and newer film choices that would have honored the classics but kept it fresh. I chalk this up to laziness and lack of vision for the larger picture.
• Why have they not placed Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway into an enhanced Animation area?  Animated films, be they Disney or Pixar, computer rendered or hand drawn are the backbone of Disney's film division. Animation should be honored and celebrated. No one should know this better than the suits. 
• Last one is a toss up. Do I ask what took so long to bring an Indiana Jones area (including a blockbuster ride) to the park or why it's taken so long to get tired old theater shows replaced with something new? Like I said, the park's a mess, and the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will only make the shortcomings more obvious.

I'll leave Animal Kingdom alone for now, but in exchange I'll throw in a few for the resort at large:

• Why is Disney building generic looking resorts at the expense of theme? Premium prices for lesser quality experiences. 
• Why have they allowed the disaster of Fast Pass and on line booking requirements remove the laid back feeling of visiting the resort? It was much more fun in years past when not everything had to be decided months in advance.
• Why are the nicest restaurants in the parks now only premium character dining locations? The Crystal Palace, the Land Grill Room (aka The Good Turn) and others are now reserved only for the elite with cash to burn. It already costs a wallet full of money to go to Disney. Just rubbing our noses in it, I'd say. 

There's my "Whys" for Walt Disney Walt. Disneyland is next.
(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

First Visit to EPCOT Center

There's an old saying that there's nothing like your first time. It happens to be true when I speak about our first visit to EPCOT Center. In an unexpected twist, it almost instantly became our favorite Disney park. This was the park as originally envisioned, not the one chock full of intellectual properties and animated characters. No Frozen, no Guardians of the Galaxy, no Nemo, no Ratatouille.

Back then, World Showcase opened the same time as Future World, so we entered the park and almost walked right past Spaceship Earth and directly to the Mexico Showcase. Almost. Of course, we were not immune to the charms of the future world as portrayed by Disney. In fact, I remember clearly just staring at the huge silver sphere. Couldn't take my eyes off it, but we had to stop and get to the World Key Information Stations inside Earth Station to book meal reservations. Super easy, super fun and reasonably priced. 

We only had to wait a few minutes, but we stayed busy by watching a terrific kaleidoscope of images previewing the wonders we'd soon encounter.  Just the presentation and the surrounding area felt fresh, optimistic, and inspiring. The future wasn't scary. It was approachable. We made our way to the front of the line and to the screen. 

This truly was a touch of something new. In fact, in 1982 touch sensitive computer screens were something of a rarity. The Bell System (at divestiture the attraction would then be officially sponsored by AT&T, the company I worked for at the time) and its branch Bell Laboratories really were bringing us the future of communication. Moments after a young woman came to the screen to help us with our meals choices, we were on our way. 

Deciding to bypass Future World for the time being, we strolled into Mexico.  It and China next door just seemed to beckon us compared to Canada and the United Kingdom. The lone Mayan pyramid and the small cantina on the glistening lagoon gave us no hint to what we were about to experience.

Until the changeover from El Rio del Tiempo to the Gran Fiesta and perhaps one day Coco, the sights, sounds, and feel of Mexico made it our favorite place in all of World Showcase. I won't bore you with the details of El Rio del Tiempo, but I will tell you, we were enchanted by it and wished it had lasted even longer than it did. It was planned to be much, much longer but budgets were blown past, and time was running short. (If you want to see lots of art and images plus links to video etc, just search on the site for "Cinco de Mayo" or go here for one of many posts.) 

Having visited Baja California, Mazatlan, and Acapulco, I have aways had a soft spot for the country. The gentle boat ride by an active volcano gave the pavilion a touch of glamour and mystery. Something the new version of the ride replaces with cheap marketing. It's too bad, but it was foreshadowing of what was to come. We wandered around the pyramid under the moonlight, so glad we were returning for lunch later in the day.

Naturally, we followed along the promenade and continued on to China. For younger readers, it's important to remember that at the time, few people were given the ability to travel to this country, thereby making a visit to a fairly accurate representation of the landmarks of the country all the more alluring. Meeting the nationals who were privileged to work there was a plus. 

There were no Disney themed items to be found in the shops of World Showcase, only authentic goods right from the countries represented. It was as close as an authentic experience a traveler could get without hopping on an airplane. Needless to say, we were again stunned by the beauty of the landscaping and architecture, thrilled by the 360 movie, Wonders of China. Dreams of traveling there were lit inside.

Making our way around the lagoon, we stopped at Germany and Italy, winding up at the American Adventure. We were very impressed by the show, (Disney always makes you proud to be an American) but disappointed there was nothing else to represent our country. Fast food? That's it? Disappointing to say the least, but there was still much to explore. The view back to Future World and Spaceship Earth- wow, this park was huge.

We chose to head back toward Mexico for lunch as we had waterside dining reservations at the San Angel Inn Restaurante.  It was dark, cozy, romantic- and we so enjoyed the margarita, queso fundido, and our main course. It was my first taste of Mole Poblano and not my last, becoming a new Mexican favorite. We ended our lunch with another cruise on the river, heading back into Future World from there.  

The afternoon crowds were heavy back in the other end of the park, and it was fairly easy to get to the big ticket attractions of Future World. First stop, Journey Into Imagination. My father-in-law worked for Kodak at the time and for his entire career, so we had heard great things about what Disney came up with. In a word, magical! Figment and Dreamfinder were delightful and will always be the "hosts" of the park.  (I cannot tell you what a bastardization of the original attraction this new version is. You'd have to experience it to know.) Before I became a collector of sorts of Disney park memorabilia, I purchased a Figment of my own. I have him to this day. Magic Journeys in 3D (a new thing!) was a great second attraction to the pavilion, and the Image Works was just plain fun. We stayed almost two hours- something you could not pay me to do now.

Sing along now: "Just make believe you're a tiny little seed..." The Land is our favorite of the original Future World attractions that are still in the park. Up until the point Horizons debuted a few years later, this is where the future was in Future World. The Listen to the Land boat tour was the perfect way to share the latest in farming technologies to the public. This was a case of "Edutainment" at its best. 

The film Symbiosis was preachy at times, but the cruise through the greenhouses made learning fun. Kitchen Cabaret brought it home for the kids. The silly presentation about nutrition, while enjoyable, was not on par with the much better Audio-Animatronic musicals found in the Magic Kingdom. However, it wasn't meant to be a headline attraction either. (The replacement, Food Rocks, was even less effective.)

Starting with the following morning when we would return for a second full day at EPCOT Center, breakfast at The Good Turn would become a tradition until it became too expensive or too difficult to book. We always enjoyed the warm Florida sun streaming through the greenhouse dome, and intentionally stretched our meal time long enough to rotate into the darker showroom of the boat cruise. It's in the hidden places such as this that Future World has its own unique charms. The future should be warm and hopeful, and it always was in the way Disney chose to present it back then. Now, it's just cartoon filled and silly.

The Living Seas wouldn't come until later, so we wandered through Communicore (now Innoventions). We passed through both East and West, and we decided to make that area part of the next day. Back then, EPCOT Center was a two full day park. Now we still go for two days because its our favorite, but it doesn't hold as much substance. Anyway, we were among the first to vote for The Person of the Century poll. Kind of a fun thing to throw in there. My bet was Disney didn't like the results, and the show- and announcement of the winner- soon disappeared.

A journey deep into Spaceship Earth was a perfect way to continue our trip. It was very impressive, and I was pleased to see my employer was represented by such a fine attraction. The changes over the years have not always taken away from the grandeur- until a new ending filled with monitors on the ride vehicle.  Such a pity.

Across the way, we went into the Universe of Energy. It's inherent surprises did the trick they were designed to do, (who doesn't love dinosaurs?), but it was next door's World of Motion that we really loved. Everything about it was Disney Imagineering at its best.

Let me be clear- I love old school Audio-Animatronic adventures like Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. They rely on story to bring the thrills and surprises. World of Motion easily held its own with these classics. From the train being held up (in a nod to the never built Western River Expedition) to the policeman on motorcycle behind the billboard, the attraction built to a grand finale- a ride through the city of the future. Humorous, informative and very repeatable. (Gary Owen's narration was incredible in his signature style.) Motion became a three ride a day attraction for us, and we did it again several hours later after nightfall.  

Upon exiting and by then knowing the song "It's Fun to Be Free" by heart, we stepped into the Transcenter for the Bird and Robot / The Water Engine show followed by the automotive displays, a nice nod to the sponsor. 

I'm all for thrill rides-  and I love Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad- but there is something about these older lengthy and leisurely attractions like those mentioned above that really take you out of present day reality and into another realm. This is something Disney does better than just about anyone, but this fact about immersion is almost lost on the current batch of Imagineers... and park guests trained to run from ride to ride! Without the balance of all kinds of attractions, the audience is limited. This is why parks like California Adventure 1.0 and Animal Kingdom are not as popular as they could have been. 

Evening meant a return to World Showcase starting with Canada. The signature attraction, "Oh, Canada!" had nothing on its Chinese counterpart. This was not the case when we viewed "Impressions of France".  Superlatives are not enough, so Imagineers and Budgeteers, after all these years, isn't it time to update the film and give it a technology upgrade as well? It's a masterpiece. So is the pavilion it is built around. A late night stroll through "France" and then around the promenade basking in the glory of a beautiful Florida evening was the perfect way to end our first visit to EPCOT Center. Thank God Ratatouille is an add and not an "instead of"!

We'd do it again the next day, this time starting in Future World and then working our way through World Showcase, beginning with Canada. The changes over the years would not always please us, but this one single theme park is still the reason I return to Walt Disney World. There's nothing like it.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Disney Skyliner Concept Art

Fresh off the press! Concept art for the Disney Skyliner- art for the cabs and art for the stations at Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and for the Caribbean Beach Resort.

The station at the Studios perfectly matches the entrance turnstiles and their retro-California groove! Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, here we come.

Over at the Caribbean Beach Resort, their station also blends wonderfully to its surroundings. It should be fun to see the villages from the air.

The Epcot station is at the International Gateway. Upon inspection, you'll see it gives a taste of France. Just in preparation for the new attraction based on Ratatouille. 

The Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts will also have stations, but that concept art has not been shared yet. Stay tuned.

Speaking of toons, the cabins themselves are a bit of inspired fun. I'm sure this will be quite a popular transportation mode once it opens up!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

New Hope for Walt Disney Studios Paris

Poor maligned Walt Disney Studios Paris! It's saddled with a poor layout, no real sense of focus, and most unfortunate of all, being right next door to the most beautiful Magic Kingdom ever created! As with many lesser projects, beautiful concept art can still be created by Imagineering, as this piece from Christian Hope shows. (Love the name, by the way.)

While Disneyland Paris is consistent in theme and execution, the Studios park is hit and miss: There's the gorgeously themed area surrounding Ratatouille right around the corner from the minimally themed Toy Story area. Then you've got the rather fun and cute Crush's Coaster - still an obvious box however- next to the carnival like attractions and landscapes of the rest of Toon Studios. (The simple little Cars area right next door to the Aladdin spinner!) 

Help is on the way in the form of Marvel. Or is it? Certainly the here and now landscapes of the Avengers does not lend itself to an interesting atmosphere. God forbid the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror changes to Guardians of the Galaxy! The building is found directly in the center of it all, the main focus of the park sight lines  But alas, we may be headed that way. Time will tell.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Smelling A Rat(atouille) in Epcot

Here's an interesting tidbit of news that is sure to delight some, dismay others, and one that will certainly be met with all kinds of fan speculation: According to an insider on the great WDWMagic site, a new attraction is being planned at Epcot for the 50th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World. 

The good news? It should be an incredible, people pleasing attraction. The winning Disney film property is either Beauty and the Beast or Ratatouille in the France pavilion in World Showcase. Regardless of how loyal EPCOT Center fans feel, the character invasion is taking hold of the park. But let's be honest, this park needs a facelift with new attractions, greater capacity, and a clear focus. Something it hasn't had since the 90's.

The once planned Audio-Animatronic show for Paris. 

Now turned into an exclusive Mystic Manor type attraction for Tokyo Disneyland.

The downside? Seems that the rather weak and undernourished Walt Disney Studios Paris will be losing one of its few original attractions. It's still a dismal little park. More bad news? It also seems Tokyo Disneyland will remain the only home of the greatest Beauty and the Beast attraction ever. Could they place it in the Florida Magic Kingdom and expand the New Fantasyland? Yes, they have the room. Will they do it? Probably not.

This concept art (above) shows an Audio-Animatronics show for Disneyland Paris that was never built, as that style of Disney attraction has sadly gone the way of the dinosaurs. (See article here.)  

Beauty in Tokyo: A vast improvement over Frozen Ever After!

Tokyo's super "E Ticket", perhaps even an "F Ticket" is a castle tour filled with all the best the Disney Imagineers can do. Music, mystery, adventure- and a family friendly people eater to boot. Imagine exploring Beast's Castle along the lines of an excursion through Hong Kong's Mystic Manor or the Haunted Mansion. Cool, huh? You'll just have to go overseas to do it- a disturbing trend of placing groundbreaking, breathtaking attractions in other countries, one that continues on with Shanghai Disneyland. 

Discarded French attraction concept.

(By the way, if you want to explore all the ways Beauty and the Beast has impacted the Disney world, check out my mega-post here.)

Anyway... Frozen Ever After is bringing in the crowds even if it is a rushed remake of the old Maelstrom attraction in Norway and uses only a slightly altered boat route adding about 30 seconds and one new show scene compared to its predecessor. But suits at Disney have taken notice. And fans that did not experience the great original park are all too happy for more characters to invade- or they are just so desperate for attractions that they have to wait for this one. 

Personally, Ratatouille is my absolute favorite Pixar flick, but I'm rooting for Beauty and the Beast, my favorite classic Disney animated film. The Rat might be a better fit, but who wouldn't love the Tokyo version-  an attraction that will be the envy of the West? Aren't we tired of getting cheaper second rate attractions at Epcot instead of those that are truly world class? I am- and at least from reviews and film I've seen, Remy's adventure in Paris is not as good as it should be. Good? Yes. Great? No.

If the Imagineers and suits expand France as they did Norway, to bring a brand new attraction, I'm ok with that. There should be room at the top right of the pavilion towards the U.K. showcase. However, if they get rid of Impression de France, I will be very angry. I'm not getting my hopes up. The track record for what the suits have done with Epcot lately is not good. That's what really stinks.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Seeing Double

Due to operator error- let's just call it what it is- you dear readers have been seeing double if you've come to us from the Disney News Central site. The post you want regarding the addition of the Ratatouille attraction to Epcot's France pavilion will appear tomorrow. In the meantime, browse the blog for all the articles you come here for: Insights and Sounds on a variety of topics.

A Rat's Life

A wonderful film, a beautiful soundtrack. Ratatouille continues to be a Pixar film I just love! It's almost ten years old now, but the adventure of rat chef Remy in the kitchens of Paris has all the makings of a classic. Michael Giacchino's score evokes evenings in the City of Light without coming across as too sweet a valentine or as a mockery. One listen to "Dinner Rush" sums up the entire soundtrack rather nicely. French recording artist Camille brings just the right flavor to "Le Festin", an original number you'd swear was a classic tune from years ago.

If there was ever an attraction to make me want to visit the miserable Walt Disney Studios in Paris again, this is it. I'd even take it in World Showcase at Epcot- as long as it did not replace the old but lovely Impressions de France. (Toons are already in the park. I'm just going with the flow...)

The Definitive Ranking of Pixar Movies

Warmly, but with absolutely no apologies to Kelly Lawler at USA Today who posted a totally different list with the same title, here's my ranking of the greatest (and least) of Pixar films. With an agreement that we can all lovingly disagree, your list will probably vary:

You're cute but your story is too heavy handed.

15. Wall-E
A preachy, mostly charmingless tale of two robots with only eyes for each other. The human race be damned. I'll take my Starbucks and my computer when I choose, thank you very much.

Oh no, there's some, ugh bugs, to work out of the story.

14. A Bug's Life
Even for an attraction that has to use film as its main medium to tell a story, I find this Animal Kingdom attraction based on this movie pretty terrific. But then, it's only 6 minutes at best. This film is boring, boring, boring. Had it not followed up Toy Story, it would have flopped.

I am woman. Hear me roar.

13. Brave
Beautiful scenery. Good main character but undeveloped secondary ones. Convoluted tale of feminism. Merida does win points for being a strong female in spite of some bad choices to accomplish her independence and make her point.

In my beautiful balloon.

12. Up

The powerful but depressing opening scenes give way to a tale of two odd friends. There is so much potential but it's wasted as the story becomes a fantasy filled with speaking dogs and an entirely unnecessary villain. Kudos for using an old man as a lead character.

 I see dead batteries.

11. Cars 2

Loses some points for a less than original script, but the cars are lovable, making it a great daddy and son Saturday matinee movie. Not sure if chapter three is even necessary. Out of gas?

That was it?!?

10. Inside Out

There was much potential for this to be a truly great film. But as I said a few posts earlier, the film just isn't much fun. So much for the second wave of Pixar greatness... at least for now.

Who needs a dog when you have Bullseye?

9.  Toy Story 2

Terrific storyline and characters we all know and love. Jessie's sour attitude is quite annoying, but Bullseye saves the day. Ride on cowboys!

Frat brothers.

8.  Monsters University

What's not to love here? Collage age Mike and Sully are just as much fun as their older selves. If there ever was a buddy movie with plots twists and turns we didn't expect, this is it. Not quite as good as the original but every bit as creative.

Buddy movie of a different kind.

7.  Cars

Is is Doc Hollywood in car form? Sure, but that storyline has been told for decades. Owen Wilson is terrific as the lead ego propelled racer who learns the lessons of true friendship. A winning film for those who don't care about being politcally correct. Bonus points for being the film that produced one of the best "lands" from Disney Imagineering since New Orleans Square at Disneyland. 

You've got a franchise in me.

6.  Toy Story

The first and perhaps the best loved. Buzz Lightyear is a revelation.   Optimistic and lighthearted with a good dose of nostalgia tossed in. The heartstrings don't get fully pulled until two sequels later, but boy, what a tug!

Ah, Paris!

5.  Ratatouille

One of my personal favorites. The story is unexpected, the main characters strong, and the atmosphere and musical score totally mesmerizing. If you've been to Paris, you understand. 

Could strong fathers be a key to Pixar's success?

4.  Finding Nemo

A strong loving father and a special needs son that both find their way home. You have to have a heart of stone to not like this film. Populated with an oceanful of great characters.

Who says you have to be young to be cool?

3.  The Incredibles

A Pixar film for adults that have survived (and thrived through) a midlife crisis. Discovering yourself and your partner amidst marriage drama, changing bodies, and the sometimes joyless responsibilities of being a parent. Sophisticated stuff for an animated film made enjoyable by a great plot line and dazzling environments. The perfect Pixar film for a series. Can't wait for the second one!

Is it just me or should this be a Disney roller coaster attraction?

2.  Monsters Inc.

Billy Crystal in the part he was designed for! Turning an old story on its head, Monsters Inc. creates a charming world all its own. One we are sad to leave when the time comes. 

It's ok- we've all grown up, Andy.

1.  Toy Story 3

By the time this film came out, the characters were beloved world over. The climax of the film is as gripping as anything Disney has ever done. It's at that moment we viewers realized these characters had a well earned place in our lives. The art of storytelling at its Pixar best.

(Art copyright Disney/Pixar.)

Walt Disney Studios Paris: The Little Park with an Identity Crisis

It's not for lack of trying. It's for lack of trying hard enough. With the truly incredible remake of Disney California Adventure, the woefully under built Walt Disney Studios Paris theme park is now the bastard child of sorts in the Disney theme park collection.

Following the Michael Eisner disaster era of post- EuroDisney / Disneyland Paris, build them on the cheap, this park continues to suffer from a poor beginning, desperation in expansion, an uncertain future, and the sheer misfortune of sitting next door to the most beautiful Magic Kingdom ever built. 

As with any Disney park, including the now lost Epcot, the disaster of Florida's own Studios park, or the beautiful but lacking Animal Kingdom, there are "nice" attractions to be found among the ruins of potential greatness.

Crush's Coaster is a fun-filled zippy excursion through the world of Nemo, but its big box exterior and less than fully executed interior still make it a second rate attraction. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is also fun but as its straddled with the same design as that found in California, by its very beginning it's far less than it could have been. Rock n Rollercoaster looks every bit as thrown together at the last moment as it was, yet, these three attractions do provide some thrills for those wanting more of an adrenaline rush than can be had at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad next door. 

Aside from a film based avant grade "sophisticated" theater show, the park's rounded out by a very sorry Studio Tram Tour and the kiddy amusement park rides of Toy Story Playland. It's certainly not a compelling mix- and faced with a one day only choice, a wise park goer would opt for the park next door. Nor does it make Disneyland Paris a destination resort.

Although, in the current Disney world where Trader Sam's Grog Grotto is better executed than the most current Walt Disney World attractions, perhaps the Imagineers have hit it out of the park by creating the Bistrot Chez Remy. This popular but pricey and very well themed restaurant, is the French equivalent to Be Our Guest in Florida's Magic Kingdom. As with the Grog Grotto, the Paris stop and Florida's Fantasyland eatery are attractions all their own, luring guests who have now forgotten Disney used to be in the attraction business long before it was in the restaurant one.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)