My Disney Experience

Disney always promotes the whole 'My Disney Experience'. So I thought that I would share my favourite Disney Experience.

So My favourite experience is tough. I am stuck between two actually so am going to share them both. However, they are both from the same trip so I am going to count them. Both were from my first trip to Disneyland for the 50th anniversary from May 5th- 12th 2005.

The first one was when we first walked in my dad told me about this 'Hidden Mickey' phenomenon. During then, they had the 50 Mickey logos hidden throughout the park. I still remember looking every which way looking for these must-seen Mickeys. For me, the one I can still vividly remember is on Splash Mountain right before the the First drop on the right side of the opening for the drop was the Hidden Mickey.

The second one was the first night we went to Disneyland. It was a long night already as I was only 7. I was sitting on the curb of Main Street half asleep and suddenly it got darker on Main Street and I got confused and a little scared because it was dark. Then out of nowhere the Main Street Electrical Parade started! I was shocked! My jaw basically hit the ground i was so amazed. My eyes were wide just in shock of what I was watching. This memory happened almost 10 years ago and I still remember as if it happened yesterday. 

These two experiences are why I love Disney so much.

While these were mine I asked one of my friends what her favourite Disney Experience. She said that in 2006 she was at the Not So Scary Halloween Party and got to ride Dumbo with Chip. While on the ride she would talk to Chip to just to keep company. She said she remembers it so well she can't believe it was 8 years ago. 

So what I want to know is, what is your favourite Disney Experience?

Disneyland Skyway

I know this is a little late but had some problems with the photos. Better late than never though!

This time I am going to talk about what I would do with the old Skyway Station in Fantasyland. What? You don't know about the Fantasyland Skyway Station? I don't blame you, most don't unfortunately.

The Skyway was a ride that had opened in 1956. You would use one of your D Tickets to go from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland or Vice Versa. The Skyway had been a bird's eye view of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland so was a relatively popular attraction. There was a small problem in 1958 when the designs for Matterhorn were finished as they had realized that where the imagineers wanted to put the Matterhorn was right in the middle of the way. They decided to use this to their advantage to add holes through the Matterhorn making it cheaper for them. The imagineers then did something unimaginable in making the Matterhorn without even closing the Skyway once! Then in 1994 the Skyway closed for one reason. It wasn't a death, it wasn't cost but it was because the posts needed refurbishments but the only way to refurbish the post inside the Matterhorn was to take down the Matterhorn, repair the post, then rebuild the Matterhorn. So they had to choose between taking down the Matterhorn, or getting rid of the Skyway. Sadly it was the latter.

The Tomorrowland station was destroyed with the line going across. What's left of it can be see easily if you know what you are looking for and what it is you are looking at. On you way to the Disneyland railroad Tomorrowland station stop look at the side of Innoventions and there is a metal blue staircase that leads up to the PeopleMover track. That was used as an emergency exit for the PeopleMover but also double as both the entrance and exit of the Skyway station. It would peer out over the walkway to go across to the fantasy land station. The stairs were left in as when it was taken it out, the PeopleMover was still in use (for less than a year, but was still in) and then replaced with Rocket Rods where it would also be used. 

(The stairs showing all that is left of the old station)

The Fantasyland station wasn't destroyed but was completely gutted of everything. It was then surrounded by trees and unused by everyone. It is still intact hidden away (for now at least) in the back of fantasyland. There are two easy ways to find it if you want to. The first way is to go to the exit of Casey Jr. Once you get there keep walking towards the Big Thunder Ranch. On your right hand side, there will be a little pathway with a chain going across it. If you were to go up that pathway (which you can't), you'd be at the fantasyland station. Open the doors and you are inside to the building that hosted half of this ride. The other way is if you are at the Village Haus restaurant, just walk straight across the path and you will hit that same chained off pathway. 

(Pathway that leads up to Fantasyland station (entrance seen there from lighting) at night)

Now, what would I do with it. Well the only thing that could really have anything done too is the fantasyland station as there is nothing else that can be revived. What I would do is open it back up to the public, but what I'd put in it as a museum/ blast to the past with that was in here. I'd open the main doors that the carts would come in and go out of so guests could see what the view would look like on it. I'd also include a cart that people can go in to experience how it would feel sitting in one if they couldn't previously experience it. Include a couple of posters, sketches, scale models, wall art, etc. and you are set for an exhibit that can stay for a long time. And when it does get boring you can use it like the blue sky cellar but instead of showcasing the future, you showcase the past. So then bring in stuff from America Sings, or the People Mover, or Bear Country Jamboree, or so on and so forth.

The other option that I would do if the first idea isn't feasible is I would demolish the station. While it has history and I love seeing it every time I go, that's taking up space that could be used for an attraction that can't be made otherwise as there's not enough space. For example, if you have read a recent mice age article about Star Wars land it explains how they might be instead taking out Toontown and Big. Thunder ranch instead of changing Tomorrowland. If that was the case it would fit perfectly for them to take it out to make more space. Although I'd rather the first option, if it doesn't work I'd rather the second over nothing.

Until next time! 

Corvyn

New Frozen Ride

This isn't like a normal post I make. This one is more of an opinion than anything else. But please remember, this is just MY opinion and don't take it personally or as a threat!

As you may be aware, it was announced that there would be a new ride in Epcot about the movie 'Frozen'. Like many others, I found this exciting news as it's not just a new ride but also a Frozen ride that everyone has been waiting for for a while. So I thought that'd I had to read this article instantly! I opened it up and I was thoroughly disappointed. I read that it was going to be replacing the Maelstrom, the Norway ride in the World Showcase. I thought that this was a terrible idea for a few reasons.

First off, Maelstrom was a great ride. I know what you are all thinking... "But Corvyn, wait times and popularity was dropping like flies!" Yeah, I know it was... But that's common with rides 25 years old... The easy way to fix it is do what they did to Star Tours in Disneyland. Close it for a year long refurbishment and re-open it and you'll have an hour or two lineup at the beginning wig then a slow decline in the line wait like all rides. It was never an E-ticket attraction and never will be so you can't expect wait times like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Radiator Springs Racers. But an advantage is that there is new dark rice technology as you could see in Alice in Wonderland or Seven Dwarfs, screens used realistically to see like animatronics. This technology is fairly new in the Disney Parks and is the perfect solution for the Maelstrom.

Second, Frozen doesn't link to Norway properly. Frozen is based in Norway, but it's a fake Norwegian city. If you wanted to travel to Norway you couldn't co to Arendelle. You could, however go to Oslo and see some things that you can see in the Maelstrom ride. Putti the frozen ride in the world showcase would be like turning France's world showcase into Beauty and the Beast. Again, based in France but not a real city. It doesn't work as the point of the world showcase is to point out different and showcase different countries around the world. Not fake cities used in an animated movie based on a real country.

Third, I feel different movies should have gotten rides first. While Frozen is huge and all I felt like there is a better use of the money for different movies to get a ride. The perfect example is the Lion King. Before Frozen, Lion King was the most popular movie grossing wise there was for Disney. It still doesn't have a ride in Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort or Disneyland Paris. It was the biggest movie for 20+ years with no ride while they are announcing the Frozen ride less than a year after the movie came out. Another example would be The Jungle Book or Mary Poppins or Beauty and the Beast. All big movies with no ride.

I think these three reasons are all I need to explain my reasons to why I think this ride will be bad. Until next time!

Corvyn

Pin Trading

As part of being a Disney fan I like collecting Disney collectables including pins. Pin trading is a favourite thing of mine to do and I recently discovered online forums and databases. I really like the one forum as it also has an ask section where you can ask an expert about pin trading and also the parks! It's a really neat thing to get advice so easily! Check it out! Click here

Disneyland Paris: the good, the bad and the ugly

I recently had the opportunity to visit Disneyland Paris for a few days. Be forint going I had been to both Disneyland and Disneyworld so I had an idea for comparisons on different things. I just left the other day and noticed a few things about the park. Some things were good, some things were bad, and some things were ugly bad. ( Side note: I don't mean to offend anyone with this post it's just my opinion)

The good:

1. Big Thunder Mountain. I normally wouldn't put an individual ride on this list but I have to say this is the best Big Thunder Mountain ride. It is nice as you actually start  at the river bank and go under the river to the mountain. The track layout was nowhere near similar to the ones at the other park so a nice surprise!

2. Space Mountain Mission 2. This is the only other ride that I have individually. I came into the queue with the expectation of this one being the best Space Mountain ride there is. And my expectations were correct! When I went it was relatively empty so never had to wait more than 20 minutes for it. The launch off at the beginning was weak but was really normal speed. Then you went into darkness and then into outer space where you could see planets. One word: WOW! In Disneyland you can barely even see anything but with this one they have illuminated planets and an asteroid! What a different experience!

3. Uniqueness. One of my favourite parts of Disneyland Paris is the uniqueness of certain rides. An example is Casey Jr.'s mine train. In Disneyland it is a small train ride around storybook land. In Disneyland Paris, it was the same train but more like Gadget's go coaster or The Barnstormer as a slower kids roller coaster but still fun for all ages. Another ride example was Phantom Manor. While very similar to the Haunted Mansion, (same stretching room scene just different pictures) it had a different technique and in some places were actually kinda creepy in some places. And the best one, as of right now, Star Tours is still the original one! I personally liked the old ones story line better but the interactive-ness of the new one. I have a feeling that it will change in 2015 when they incorporate the Cantina in a new Star Wars land. That's why Captain EO and Buzz Lightyear's Pizza Planet is closed for good.)

The bad:

1. The queues. The problem with the queues were how wide they were. If a ride was closed and just reopened it wasn't in an orderly line but more of a mob mentality while in Disneyland the queue is only wide enough for one or two people so people don't push past while Disneyland Paris had queues 3-4 people wide so you just went and hoped you were together.

2. Food. I know I can't really complain about the food and the prices as it is Disney but it is even more overpriced than other parks. We went to a cafe restaurant which would be similar to Taste Pilots Grill or Cosmic Ray's Starlight Diner. I got the chicken strips and fries and for 3 strips and a few fries it cost me 12 euros (approximately $16 USD). All in all not a good food experience.

The ugly:

1. Theming. To me, theming throughout a ride or a land is crucial and one of the most important parts of Disneyland to me with the imagineers. To me, it was lacking, hardcore. An example was Big Thunder Mountain. Even though I loved the ride the theming through the queue was awful. It may be hard as the ride isn't right there as they use that to their advantage in Disneyland. In the queue they have a small little shack and indoors a small collection of mining supplies. And outside at the Wheelchair entrance or you can see from the fast pass queue was a steam engine in the water to add to the age of the times. But that was it. Overall pretty disappointing with the theming as it didn't have that Disney magic.

2. Size. They promote that they have over 50 attractions and that's just barely the case. In the Walt Disney Studios park, which is similar to California Adventures or Animal Kingdom, there were much less rides. They only had 17 rides throughout the whole area that I'd say was a little larger than the World Showcase or the size of California Adventure without the Carsland expansion. Even the Disneyland Park only had about 40 rides with a majority of them being in Fantasyland.

All in all I was not disappointed but not impressed. I'm glad I went once and I don't know if I will go again (All though next year they will have the Cantina to join Star Tours).

Fantasyland Secrets & History

Here we go! Fantasyland time!

Secrets:


1. Every few minutes, the Evil Queen (Queen Grimhilde, Snow White's Stepmother) peers through the curtains and glares ominously out her window. She can be found above the Snow White attraction in Fantasyland, easily seen from the Peter Pan queue across the courtyard.


2. Leonardo da Vinci's famed Mona Lisa appears in the pile of loot on Pleasure Island on Pinocchio's Daring Journey.


3. Keep an eye out for Shelock Holmes' silhouette hidden in one of the windows on Mr. Toads Wild Ride.


Fun Facts/ trivia:


1. The drawbridge was only closed and then open twice. The first time was opening day. The second time was when the 1983 fantasyland renovation finished.


2. The four castle dark rides (Peter Pan, Snow White, Pinocchio, and Mr. Toad) were all open on opening day. Their original outer design were more like carnivals as in they were tents. In 1983, they change the outer facade to look more like castles.


3. The Matterhorn was originally going to be called candy mountain as it would be a mountain ride through candy. Walt Disney thought that was too 'cheesy' and didn't want it. He decided to make the Mattehorn once he saw the actual mountain while filming Third Man on the Mountain.


History:


1. An old attraction that no longer exists is the skyway. It would go in between fantasyland and tomorrowland. Few remnants remain if this attraction however. One is the garden in the back of Mr. Toads Wild Rode. That used to be a tower for the ride. Another one is the old building that the skyway would go into. It can be seen in between Village Haus and Casey Jr. On the north side, there is a food vendor in front of it but you can still see the pathway and part of the building.


2. Dumbo was originally going to have an entire land within Fantasyland (like Flik's fun fair in Bugsland). There was going to be a dark ride, the dumbo ride, a show and one other thing. It was later scrapped and it only became the one ride.


3. This is a bit of history and fun fact. The castle was originally going to be the other way. They had a small model of the castle and some imagineers were playing around with the pieces. They heard Walt coming so quickly out it back together. However they put it together backwards. Walt liked it better like this so it stayed like that and put it in the park. Imagine standing in fantasyland looking to the castle. That was originally going to be the front.

Winnie the Pooh has been on enough adventures

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is located in Critter Country and is never ridden on anymore by about 90% of people. It's really only ridden by people who have never been on it or people who want to see the bear country jamboree secret. Winnie the Pooh first opened in 2003 replacing Bear Country Jamboree (BCJ). It was a big problem for many people that BCJ was closing to become a Winnie the Pooh ride. Many were nervous that this wasn't going to be a good change and a lack lustre ride. Well they were right. Winnie the Pooh hardly ever has a line up longer than 30 seconds. It says five minutes but it isn't true. The queue is from you walking through the queue. Something needs to be done with this ride.

What I would do is take it out and put in a new ride. No doubt about it. I wouldn't even suggest a new update. Just remove it. Since it is in Critter Country you can use that to your advantage making a ride about the cubs from Brave, or make a ride about the Lion King. I would personally suggest the Lion King as it is the most popular movie they have made (grossing wise). It could be made as a musical show theatre like the way it is in Disneyworld and redo the building to be a theatre like it formerly was. The advantage with doing it as a show is that all the songs in the Lion King are known by everyone. The show would also be beneficial as California Adventures has Aladdin but Disneyland has no real show throughout the park.

The other suggestion would be to create it as a ride like it is with Winnie the Pooh now. The ride vehicles could be different animals throughout the movie like Zebras or Rhinos, etc. it would be easy to resell the story from all the movies, just the first or create a new story about what happens after the film and what we don't see in the movie. Either way, the ride would still be great and a hit as there is no ride nor reference to the Lion King throughout the entire Disneyland Resort.

Either way, I suggest making a Lion King ride to replace The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. I will be back later today with the Secrets & History post.