What I Miss At Disney World

(I started to write this before the sad incident at WDW and recent horrific events in Orlando. As always I want to focus on the positive and not the negative.  This post is a reflection of MY personal experiences.  Please keep that in mind and any comments should be about what I have written and not about recent circumstances.  Thank you.)

After nearly five years my family is finally taking a much needed week long family vacation.  It has initially been my goal to do this for my birthday, but that clearly wasn't going to work out with school, so we scheduled some time this summer to return to my happy place, also known as the Happiest Place on Earth, Disney World.

This is where my husband and I honeymooned back in 1996.  It's where we spent our first anniversary.  Where we traveled regularly before my son was born (and when finances were better for our family).  We even had Annual Passes one year.  (And we used them to the best of our ability; logging in nearly a month's worth of days over the year.)

I wanted to take my son from the moment he was born, but didn't pull it off until he was nearly 3 and still in diapers.  (Children under 3 get into the parks for free).  As an anniversary gift, I treated my family to the Atrium Club (concierge level) at the Contemporary.  We were spoiled rotten and I loved every minute of it.

Now as we head back down after a "long absence" (at least in my mind) there are so many changes and new attractions.  (Which will translate into long wait times; even with Disney's Fast Pass plan.) I'm sure I'll love most of them (if not all), but there are some things that have disappeared over time and that I'll miss.  If you are a real Disney addict, you'll know what I mean.

They are in no particular order:
  • The Earful Tower:  Once THE icon for Disney Hollywood Studios (back when it was Disney/MGM), it was eclipsed by "The Hat" for years.  The Hat came down and eventually so did the tower.
  • The purple (and pinkish) "twirly" things that were in the center of Future World at Epcot.  Some moved, some did not.  There was just something about them that captivated me. (You can see part of one in the photo)
  • Horizons:  This slow moving ride into the future was one of the first attractions my husband and I did on our honeymoon, so there's great deal of nostalgia there.  But there was more to it than that.  Mission: Space (it's replacement) may be "cooler," but Horizons was quintessential Disney.
  • Tapestry of Nations Parade:  Giant puppets, huge drums and that infectious (and ongoing) melody.  Plus, it was the only parade in Epcot.
  • The background music at Tomorrowland from my first few visits along with the "page" for Mr. Tom Morrow.  Not saying that the current background loop isn't good, but I loved the one that included Behind the Waterfall (Paul Speer/David Lanz), Bubble Shuffle (Larry Carlton) and Down to the Moon (Andreas Vollenweider)
  • Wonders of Life Pavilion: it's still there but not being used (except for special events).  It used to host 3 attractions (Body Wars, The Making of Me and Cranium Command), plus a host of hands on items relating to health and well-being.  Now would be the perfect time for a renovation.  (The incredibly dated Cranium Command is just screaming to be turned into an Inside Out attraction.) Nothing makes me sadder than seeing unutilized (or underutilized) buildings and Epcot has more than its share.  (Odyssey and Millennium Village; I'm looking at you!)
  • Camp Minnie Mickey at Animal Kingdom was a relatively quiet place to get to meet and greet Disney characters.  Yes, there are still plenty of other places, but this one seemed to me to be less crowded and more manageable.  I'm a non-Avatar fan. (Didn't see the move back in 2009; how many people remember it at this point?)  I miss this oasis.
  • All beef hot dogs at Casey's Corner.  Casey's Corner is still there (and still as packed as ever, I imagine), but the hot dogs are "healthier."  This means hot dogs contain chicken (which I cannot eat due to my poultry allergy).  I've always wanted to hang out and have a hot dog there, but no can do.
  • The Diamond Horseshoe Review has reopened, or so I've heard, but for the longest time it was shuttered.  I long for the day when you could go in a see a little show and get a pre-made sandwich.  I guess I should be grateful that I got photos the last time we were there (when it was open) and my husband was picked on and got a nice big "kiss" from one of the show girls.  Was it hooky?  Yes, but it was Frontierland fun.
  • Being able to explore the Streets of America.  Quite often the only "quiet" place in the Hollywood Studios.  I was a big fan of the Singing in The Rain umbrella (especially when it worked)!
  • I loved the music and the kilts of the men of Off Kilter who used to perform at the Canadian Pavilion (rock and bagpipes CAN go together).  The living statue who appeared in France and Italy always made me laugh. Kristos, the "alien" contortionists fascinated me. Although there are some new wonderful live entertainers in, these are three that I particularly miss.

While I'll always mourn the loss of the above; there are plenty of things that have been replaced that needed it.  For that I am grateful and it also means another blog post may be on the way soon!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Have Taken America Back

Image
Back to a time when all men (and women) are not created equal.  Where women's healthcare is determined by men's laws and not by medical professionals. Where education tells only the "winning" side of the story and truth does not matter.  Where banning and burning books is a social event.  Where people who are "different" than those in power can be mocked, shunned and hurt with no real consequences. Where lies are acceptable and integrity is  just a word on a page We have moved into a time where rage is the rage.  Where hate is not just normal, but accepted and even cheered. Where leaders can ask to have their "enemies" killed and no one will bat an eye.  Where it's "funny" to see someone struggle.  Where felony is applauded. Where compassion is not shown and caring for others is looked down upon. We have taken America back to a time of pain and suffering for many.  Back to when the "haves" can have and the have nots don'
Read more

It's Not About Starbucks (or is it)?

Image
  About a block and a half from my home in a major intersection.  At the southeast corner (which is nearest to me), is an empty building.  Back in 1995 it was a Bank of NY (I remember this because they didn't shovel/de-ice their parking lot well and my husband fell and broke his ankle one Monday morning.  I recall this clearly because we were not yet married and it was the first day of a new job for me.  I had gotten on the bus to work and he was catching a later one; only he never got there.  Instead he ended up laying on the ground until an employee came to open up the bank.  Then he had them call an ambulance AND my mother who took control of the situation until I arrived home that night blissfully unaware of what had happened that day.)  It eventually became a Chase Bank; the second one in my small little town.  It eventually closed.  I'm not sure when but it's been empty for quite a long time.  (I do know that it was open in 2005 because the night before my son was bor
Read more

As Is

Image
  Today I want to discuss what I think it is a relatively simple concept, but may be difficult for some, even an attorney who might have once, over a decade ago won a  prestigious award  for young lawyers .  That term is "AS IS." As you may know, I volunteer in a thrift shop.  Everything we sell, from all the donations we receive, is "as is."  The items are not brand new.  They are not perfect.  That doesn't mean they aren't any good or worth something. They are sold "as is."  Buyers should go in knowing that. (After all you are shopping in a thrift shop!)  In some cases, particularly when we are offering higher end products, we will actually write on the price tag, "as is." Such is the case of two designer purses that I purchased from there this summer.  (I'm a purse-aholic!  Don't look in my closet.)  They were reasonably priced (especially when you consider the name brand), but each had an "as is" clearly marked o
Read more