Earlier this year we took Little Bob on a trip to Florida. We visited Legoland, which we hit at its slowest days of the year and got to experience the Ninjago ride seven times without any wait, the FL State Fair, and of course, Walt Disney World. After being able to zip through the relatively quiet Legoland, Little Bob was a bit overwhelmed by the crowds at Disney, but for the most part he handled it well. His favorite section was probably Tomorrowland (TL), where we spent a fair chunk of our day. I was lucky enough to have been part of a few family trips to Disney when I was a kid, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how some things were practically unchanged, and disappointed in a few that did.
Even though Little Bob wasn’t ready for either, Space Mountain and the Astro Orbiter (which I remember as being the Mars orbiter) were virtually unchanged. The Speedway was one attraction we never rode, as it was basically a go-kart ride we could have cruised back home. Aside from the cars being painted like Cars movie characters, it was unchanged. So was the People Mover, which I’m not proud to admit was always one of my favorites, and it was with Little Bob. For such a nothing-burger of a ride I guess the appeal is that it makes for a good breather from everything else, just giving a relaxing ride around TL, getting to see the cool model prototype city that Walt had designed that resides around Space Mountain, and most importantly, short lines. We didn’t visit The Carousel of Progress either, and I’d be curious to see what they would have today. I remember noticing one change in visits that took place in the 70s vs. the early 80s, where the mother went from sitting at a desk writing to sitting at a personal computer in 1984. Maybe today they would just show the entire family staring at their phones or tablets and completely ignoring the audience.
But the two that disappointed me were the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. While riding on them I could tell that Disney had rebuilt them over the infrastructure that had been in place for the Panoramic Theater and the old “Eastern Airlines If You Have Wings”. For obvious reasons neither one is still around in the form I remember. The panoramic theater, while impressive, would probably feel dated today. And I don’t recall being too fond of having to stand the entire time. And Eastern Airlines is as much a relic of decades ago as is air flight being an unaffordable luxury beyond the reach of many Americans. I get that they both had to change, but it’s the direction that they went that was disappointing.
First, let’s get out of the way that both were entertaining – we all loved both of them. The Monsters Inc Improv-style comedy performance was well done, and Buzz Lightyear’s alien-blasting ride was fun as well. What was disappointing was the direction that these rides went. When I was younger Tomorrowland was about looking to the future. Now it seems to be focused on basing its rides on the most popular Disney animated movies. And don’t get me started on how 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea has been replaced by something featuring The Little Mermaid. But to be honest I’m not sure I have anything constructive to offer as to what differences would actually work.
Like I said, TL is supposed to be about a vision of the future, but how futuristic can you make it look while still retaining the character that always made it such a fun part of Disney? And at the end of the day, the job of an amusement park is to make money. If changing over some classic rides to match movies that are popular with the parks’ younger visitors is what they choose to do, so be it. Unlike what Disneycorp has done to once proud franchises like ESPN and Star Wars, Disney World was still good, simple, family friendly fun. There wasn’t so much as a hint of toxic Leftism, and judging from the crowds, its many visitors felt the same way.
Of course, the fact that Disney World is no longer future-facing is as much a product of how Hollywood no longer is, either. Today’s sci-fi movies are either looking at a dystopian future (Ready Player One, Hunger Games, etc) or tired lecturing, as with Star Wars. I kind of liked it better when space exploration and technological progress were seen for the positives that they are – now the only future that our creative minds in Entertainment seem to be able to envision is the horrible kind of world showing what life would be like if we put them in charge.
Now that I think of it, while this post has been somewhat critical of Disney, I think it’s a bit unwarranted. While it may no longer be the Disney that I loved as a kid, at least it’s still focused enough in being fun that it can become a place that Little Bob can love as a kid.
And hopefully a few of you recognized the title of the post as a tribute to this Iron Maiden classic.
The Week In Radical Leftism returns next week. By the time you’re reading this I’ll probably be on my way back home from a relaxing vacation with the family. I spent the last week mostly avoiding reading anything regarding currents events or may be remotely political. I hope I didn’t miss anything!
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Cross posted from Brother Bob’s Blog
We visited Disneyland almost every year from the one it opened, when I was under 10.
While I loved Tomorrow land, dad was unimpressed.
There was this little home of tomorrow that had ALL of the modern conveniences.
But dad thought it was shabbily made and wouldn’t last.
(He was right, it was the 1st part of TL to go.)
I loved the ride where you were shrunk down to atomic level.
I think Space Mountain is in it’s place. (or the line for SM, anyway.)
Never been to the FLA versions.
Good memory lane post.
@Nanny G: Thanks Nanny! Yeah, if you get a chance I highly recommend visiting the FL site!
@Brother Bob: You havent missed a thing Bob, the left is still nutz , and confused as to why they are impotent.
Without the weekly post someone had to dedicate a song, thanks for picking up my slack.