tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post3535419308513062296..comments2024-02-08T07:33:49.907-08:00Comments on Re-Imagineering: A World of TearsMr Bankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12952506736745891323noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-10713080554997990592010-01-08T03:43:41.846-08:002010-01-08T03:43:41.846-08:00Sorry, "It's a Small World" is one o...Sorry, "It's a Small World" is one of the most boring rides at Disney. With the repeating sound track of that deathingly annoying song, and happy go lucky dolls dancing around, I felt like jumping off the boat!! I've been to DisneyWorld 4 time and Euro Disney once, and I never once realized that it was trying to send the message of saving rainforests or uniting the world. I just thought...hey look, dolls that move and sing. It was cool as a child, but now everything sings and moves on its own! People don't go to theme parks to get a lecture on how the world needs to be perfect. We go for entertainment. Get over it people! Designs change! I don't hear people complaing about the changes done to Space Mountain, and someone obviously spent a lot of time creating the original. Times change...and the Disney characters are entertainment. I'd rather be Mickey hunting, than staring at the same boring dolls the whole way through the ride!!! I was excited to hear about the change. If want to help the world, I'll donate my money to actually saving the rainforests or to starving children instead of spending my money to go watch some dolls singing about it.Crystalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-25828461600129590952009-11-24T01:05:29.242-08:002009-11-24T01:05:29.242-08:00What an interesting read, I came here because I go...What an interesting read, I came here because I googled Mary Blaire .I am from Germany, have never been to a Disney Land,but always wanted when I was kid. Now that I see these cool designs I would love to take a look at it but then ,they probably don´t exist anymore... what a pitty!Petranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-21365421288086318312009-08-23T19:54:18.735-07:002009-08-23T19:54:18.735-07:00What is wrong with Americans today!!? Don't th...What is wrong with Americans today!!? Don't they realize that it is not all about them? This whole ride was suppose to expose them to the world around them, not disney. There is enough commercializing in Disney World already I'm sure they can do without being reminded yet again that there is merchandise to buy at the amusement park. I must shake my head and be ashamed for what they have done to a perfectly wonderous ride. <br /><br />And I'm sorry folks I don't think America deserves to be in the mix until we stand up for our own country and get it together, because we are nosediving, and fast. There is so much I want to say and I am not going to write 20 pages like I could on the topic, so I will take my leave. I just hope they aren't able to make the changes, although I'm sure they already have...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-11518474721876439362009-08-20T06:11:20.291-07:002009-08-20T06:11:20.291-07:00With Walt "out of the way" these oblivio...With Walt "out of the way" these oblivious-upstarts are getting away with whatever they want. This 'cross-theming' idea is as stupid as blocking the Grauman's Chinese Theater weenie with that totally out of place Sorcerer's hat at the Disney-MGM park.<br /><br />As much as I love Disney theme parks, isn't there enough commercialism throughout the parks without defiling the wonderful idea of what UNICEF really stands for?<br /><br />And putting a "hooray for USA" section in there is as dumb as putting a California Adventure in California.Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-78701157515811208692009-03-10T01:08:00.000-07:002009-03-10T01:08:00.000-07:00I rode the new version last week for the first tim...I rode the new version last week for the first time since the redo. Once I saw the pinocchio cut-out around the second turn I knew we were in trouble. I wanted to give the new version a chance but it was simply awful. How can the same Imagineers create a masterpiece in the new castle walk-thru and turn around a deliver a piece of junk like this? I don't believe Lassiter is the golden boy that will save disney. His new attractions lack any originality. Everything so far is a rubber stamp knock-off of his movies. Monsters, Nemo, and a whole land dedicated to the movie Cars. Sounds more like a Universal Park than Disney.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-91232134434486530412008-07-05T18:49:00.000-07:002008-07-05T18:49:00.000-07:00"If the Disney characters were to appear anywhere,..."If the Disney characters were to appear anywhere, it's in the Asia/China section, as "happy meal" toys being individually bagged on whimsical assembly lines by shackled rows of happy Asian children under a smiling smokestack. I think Mary would like that."<BR/><BR/>Hah, yes.. so true, in a way that kind of kicks you in the gut.<BR/><BR/>I think if this is carried out, I won't be able to go on the ride without bursting into tears.<BR/><BR/>I can't even imagine what Hooray-for-USA would look like.. The United States doesn't really have the cultural richness of other countries. I can only see dozens of star-spangled banners and sequins in a startling red, white, and blue eyesore. The grand finale of the celebration of the world.. As if we're not bigoted enough.<BR/><BR/>And destroying a rainforest to make way for America.. that's just sad and ironic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-12953575608497559062008-04-25T00:07:00.000-07:002008-04-25T00:07:00.000-07:00you know, i understand more clearly now why people...you know, i understand more clearly now why people are upset about this change.<BR/><BR/>and at first i didnt really understand but then i thought, "oh ****, they might change ours too" (WDW CM) and I got pretty upset... heh<BR/><BR/>I did read somewhere, and I am not exactly quoteable on this but I am pretty sure-that an Imagineer said there won't be any sign of Mickey or Minnie in the ride, and I thought I heard the USA part was a rumour too.<BR/><BR/>Is there any solid fact behind these parts of the rumours? Are we sure about it?<BR/><BR/>Maybe it's wishful thinking though.<BR/><BR/>Also WHAT? Removing the rainforest is another thing I don't quite understand.<BR/><BR/>I am a Small World hostess, ok, and I have never seen any evidence that we would need to change the attraction to boost attendance. It's very popular! So isn't Disneyland's version the same?<BR/><BR/>What I'm trying to get at is, what is the motivation? I know people are saying merch, but quite honestly, how would placing Mickey in IASW boost his merch sales? lol as if Mickey needs boosting??? As if this will really boost any characters, since they are already popular characters I can't really see the need to place them in yet another ride to boost popularity? And Id like to point out that the concept designs have already been sold in pin form, the card on the back claiming that this was an abandoned concept...I own them #._.#<BR/>My point being that they could seel IASW styled characters anyways because they would sell on their own without being added to the ride. In WDW, there isn't even a shoip near IASW so where would said merch go?<BR/><BR/>Im not arguing anyone's point really, just saying that it doesn't really make sense to me that it's a valid reason...<BR/><BR/>thanks for bearing with meKristyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05875531992009157918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-22855636093665847642008-04-23T01:32:00.000-07:002008-04-23T01:32:00.000-07:00Pixney?Disnar?You must stop this foolish and ill-c...Pixney?<BR/><BR/>Disnar?<BR/><BR/>You must stop this foolish and ill-conceived modification before it becomes a repellent reality.<BR/><BR/>It is a truly awful idea, a complete violation of the concept of the ride and a scar on the face of beauty itself.<BR/><BR/>The ride, as originally conceived, is one of the most beautiful works of art I ever experienced.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-82317983007519156322008-04-10T08:26:00.000-07:002008-04-10T08:26:00.000-07:00Personally, and I am not alone in this opinion, I ...Personally, and I am not alone in this opinion, I believe that, although it is traditional and has wonderful scenes and art and is a must do while at Disney, Its A Small World After all can become, well, rather boring at times. The type of ride you go to once in your couple of day stay in the park. The addition of the characters, if stylized like the company has proposed, would, for me, be an enhancement and make the ride even more enjoyable. It would also increase my appreciation for the original creators design(I rather like the picture of alice posted in the news), seeing how such a template and style could be applied to multiple themes. The proposal alone and news of what was done in HKDL has already peaked my interest and desire to return to see the classic rise with this addition. Although some of the original rain forest should be maintained, the addition of an American section would also be enjoyable and a great tribute to the diverse cultures of the USA and North America. A true representation of the entirety of humanity brought together. Undoutably, the idea has potential for renewed interest in the Ride, transferring its legacy and enjoyment to New Generations of children as well as teaching that a very harshly criticized and disliked culture (that of the US) is itself part of this Small World and increasing attendance and satisfaction of the the ride itself and the park in general. The proposal is one which should be viewed with understanding as coming from a person trying to add on to a great legacy. A policy in which its merits and deficiencies are rationally and reasonably, discussed, not censored and reprimanded as coming from a fool as some news media, editorials, and commentaries of late have portrayed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-15794413295483823542008-04-02T00:15:00.000-07:002008-04-02T00:15:00.000-07:00It's pointless, unneccesary, and a horrid, horrid ...It's pointless, unneccesary, and a horrid, horrid idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-23993754645932302122008-04-01T12:15:00.000-07:002008-04-01T12:15:00.000-07:00I agree totaly. There is a place for pixar and pla...I agree totaly. There is a place for pixar and plastic but to be honest, small world couldnt be more different. Keep your love of America (I say your as i'm English) out of it and keep the art and the love as far away from the drills and merchise as possible!<BR/><BR/>Having only been in a copy of IASW in EuroDisney I cannot possibly say whether the current version is good or not, but it should be saved if only for the memory of Mary Blair!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-65140554736293759692008-04-01T09:04:00.000-07:002008-04-01T09:04:00.000-07:00If they wanted to do a tribute to America based on...If they wanted to do a tribute to America based on the same kinds of stereotypes as they use for the rest of the world, I think having people's fat asses getting their boat stuck in the ride was just the thing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-81704687204525314112008-03-29T23:42:00.000-07:002008-03-29T23:42:00.000-07:00Absolute sacrilege.Absolute sacrilege.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-44142293917641605262008-03-28T06:29:00.000-07:002008-03-28T06:29:00.000-07:00The USA is a great country and it does not need ad...The USA is a great country and it does not need additional help in promoting Americana. Millions of people visit the US intending to visit Disneyland. Why the hell would there be a need to reemphasize it?<BR/><BR/>The Christmas scenes was bad enough with the 'glazed-eyed' characters. This is one ride that should be untouchable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-38248924778534836452008-03-27T18:32:00.000-07:002008-03-27T18:32:00.000-07:00I find the USA rah rah section a bit much. The Di...I find the USA rah rah section a bit much. The Disney characters aren't as troubling. I saw a short clip of the new characters in a Hong Kong preview and they aren't all that bad. They are just the Small World Kids dressed in Disney costumes. Now putting Stitch in there seems more out of place, but dressing up those dolls in familiar costumes seems harmless. The patriotic portion does seem to be missing the point of the ride... especially since it takes away part of the ride. So I say, leave the rainforest and I'll give you the Disney characters. Seems a fair and harmless trade off.jmaruyamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02045716844092234684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-18532696631306552732008-03-26T22:59:00.000-07:002008-03-26T22:59:00.000-07:00Is there somone who works at Disney that can make ...Is there somone who works at Disney that can make sure, without fail, that they read this? Like maybe Tony Baxter, Marty Sklar, Lassiter, Bob Iger...?ickymousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05418505343827543515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-28512172331581768632008-03-26T21:15:00.000-07:002008-03-26T21:15:00.000-07:00Making ANY changes to IASW is unimaginable!!! If D...Making ANY changes to IASW is unimaginable!!! If Disney wants to pay tribute to America, they should not have removed "America Sings"and put in that other worthless attraction!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-37760515087907755802008-03-24T08:56:00.000-07:002008-03-24T08:56:00.000-07:00So... I am trying to see both sides of the issue, ...So... I am trying to see both sides of the issue, but it is sooooo hard.<BR/><BR/>I love America, but why put an American sequence in an American park? I feel the same way about California Adventure being in California. Why replicate something that you are already surrounded by?<BR/><BR/>They should keep the Disneyland Small World as is, because it is so much better than Florida's anyhow, and put the America sequence in a non-American park...sharkiepatronushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05678739280941370297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-3533442516920462642008-03-21T13:04:00.000-07:002008-03-21T13:04:00.000-07:00NOI!NO!NO! Disney Do NOT add to It's a Small World...NOI!NO!NO! Disney Do NOT add to It's a Small World!!!! You Spoiled the Tiki Room in Florida- This would do the same! I have been going since 1972. This would be a travisty. Why change what is wonderful? Use your ideas to create a NEW ride-Leave A Small World ALONE!!!!!!<BR/>Pat from ArizonaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-73009731466445981162008-03-21T10:49:00.000-07:002008-03-21T10:49:00.000-07:00As many of you already know, comedian Steve Martin...As many of you already know, comedian Steve Martin worked at Disneyland as a teenager. He recently wrote an autobiography "Born Standing Up", and three deleted passages appear exclusively on Amazon dot com, which sells his book. One passage is particularly relevant to this topic. Here I excerpt a portion of what Martin wrote:<BR/><BR/>"Ten years later, after the Beatles, drugs, and Vietnam had changed the entire tenor of American life, I returned to the magic shop at Disneyland and stood as a stranger. As I looked around the eerily familiar room another first came over me, a previously unknown emotion, one that was to have a curious force over me for the rest my life: the longing tug of nostalgia....Even now when I visit Disneyland, I am steeped in melancholy, because a corporation has preserved my nostalgia impeccably. Every nail and screw is the same, and Disneyland looks as new now as it did then. The paint is fresh, and the only wear allowed is faux. In fact, only I have changed. In the dream-like world of childhood memories, so often vague and imprecise, Disneyland remains for me not only vivid in memory, but vivid in fact."<BR/><BR/>The Disney corporation should guard its legacy steadfastly for future audiences. Longstanding attractions like IASW are the unique shared experiences that tie generations together, and should be left largely intact. <BR/><BR/>If these rumored changes are true, the result would be abhorrently tacky and destroy that timeless continuity which makes Disney theme parks so special.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-53424121271476896232008-03-20T09:06:00.000-07:002008-03-20T09:06:00.000-07:00I understand why Mary Blair and her family might b...I understand why Mary Blair and her family might be taken aback, but I don't understand why anyone else would get so worked up about this. It's a ride made primarily for 5 year olds! What's the big deal? If anything the ride was decidedly short of US representation. A single depiction of a cowboy and Indian at the end of the ride? How non-PC is that in this day and age? Also, can anyone tell me why the rain forest room was completely covered when the Christmas decorations were added every year, and why didn't anyone get upset about that?<BR/><BR/>I find the analogy of art reflecting reality in regards to the US scene replacing the rainforest scene to be rather insulting. The US isn't destroying the rainforests, it's the developers in the nations that contain the rainforests that are doing that. Yeah, I know, US interests, blah, blah, blah. My 5-year old doesn't care and would appreciate at least one familiar US scene more than the rain forest scene.<BR/><BR/>One other thing; doesn't each room represent a CONTINENT rather than a ecosystem? Thinking of it that way, the rain forest is really out of place. A US scene prior to the finale makes sense because you would be "returning home" before the big multi-cultural party in the finale scene.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-60083782095908574182008-03-20T08:47:00.000-07:002008-03-20T08:47:00.000-07:00When I was a child I took the ride and noticed rig...<I>When I was a child I took the ride and noticed right away that the only US characters were the cowboy and Indian discretely inserted into the grand finale. When I asked my Mom about the omission she said “American puppets don’t belong in this ride… in this ride you leave America to go see the rest of the world. When we went to the Grand Canyon last year, we didn’t take pictures of our own house because home really isn’t part of the part of the trip.” I was very satisfied with the answer.</I><BR/><BR/><I><B>How is it a mid-60’s housewife and a 6 year old boy get this instinctively and the well-paid professionals at Disney don’t?</I></B><BR/><BR/><BR/>The above by <I>Anonymous</I> really captures how I feel about the proposed changes. <BR/><BR/>Maybe the USA room could have miniature animatronic Doodletown Pipers endlessly singing "Up With Everything." Wouldn't that be swell?dirtworshipperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07965841238227696209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-73348998572485184542008-03-20T00:23:00.000-07:002008-03-20T00:23:00.000-07:00There is little doubt that Disneyland is indeed th...There is little doubt that Disneyland is indeed the home of Mickey Mouse. I have no problem with that. However, most attractions have a coherent theme that does not allow for Mouse placement. The theme of Small World is links between children of the world. It is no more about promoting Mickey than is Pirates of the Caribbean. And putting Donald and Mickey into Small World makes about as much sense as putting Donald into Pirates. <BR/> Disneyland has also always been unabashedly American, again not a problem for me, from the earliest days of the Park with Main Street and Frontierland and on to Rivers of America and New Orleans Square. But what is the need to add yet a Salute to America in an attraction that primarily celebrates children of rest of the world, including the children of many of the guests? <BR/> If there is such a need, what other attractions could use a bit more patriotism? Will Disneyland some day end up having the same commercialized patriotism that see in the ostentatious flag displays of car dealers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-18558127967544052002008-03-19T22:19:00.000-07:002008-03-19T22:19:00.000-07:00They don't need to put Disney characters in the ri...They don't need to put Disney characters in the ride. Once you get off the boat you're a few yards next to Toon-Town that has all of the characters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-30254322387118698672008-03-19T22:02:00.000-07:002008-03-19T22:02:00.000-07:00In 1978, LEGO launched itself into a whole new wor...In 1978, LEGO launched itself into a whole new world when it introduced the now-iconic "mini-figure" into its sets and began a nearly 20-year run of brilliantly-designed, mini-figure-scale sets.<BR/><BR/>One of the things that was, subconsciously or otherwise, great about the mini-figure was that it was a generic person. Regardless of what color the pants or shirt, or whether the head was topped with a hat or snap-on LEGO hair, the face was always the same: A simple, yellow smiley face.<BR/><BR/>A happy, harmonious smile on a yellow face, not representing any one type of real-world person but rather all people. All living together in Legoland or in castles, in spaceships, on pirate islands and so on. <BR/><BR/>Happy.<BR/><BR/>And while the faces would, from time to time, be adorned with a goatee or eyelashes to fit the theme of the set, these extra bits were always added to the basic smiley.<BR/><BR/>Until the mid-'90s, when LEGO screwed itself by adding big, white eyes with pupils. Sunglasses. Furled brows and angry looking eyebrows. Crooked mouths.<BR/><BR/>Suddenly, Legoland became an edgier place, justified, LEGO would say, by the need to compete with dollars being spent on video games.<BR/><BR/>This was a ridiculous notion: As kids, we split our time between playing outside, building with LEGO, and playing the Atari.<BR/><BR/>No surprise, then, that LEGO's run of success started to wane at just about the same time.<BR/><BR/>And while LEGO can't touch the worldwide penetration of the Disney brand, even with it being one of the most recognizable brands in the world, there's a certain parallel here that strikes me.<BR/><BR/>This news / rumor is saddening and maddening all at once.<BR/><BR/>I can't really say anything to add to the spot-on sentiment that many people have addressed in this thread, but I will happily add my disdain for even the consideration by Disney of this horrible, awful idea.Louhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09093762519549805218noreply@blogger.com