Leave My Favorite Attraction Alone!

Lee Beatens puts on his comfy shoes and tells Disney to back off

- Lee Beatens, February 20, 2011

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Do you have a comfortable pair of shoes?

Now, I don't mean those $500 orthopedic marvels with the $300 arch supports in them. I mean a real, old, beat up, comfy pair of shoes. Like that pair of runners you've had for 10 years which your family is trying to make you throw away. You know the ones. They just slip onto your feet so nicely and it's like walking on a cloud. Yup. THAT pair of shoes!

It's funny how something that has seen its better days can elicit such a strong response. For example, just reaching for that old, beat up, comfy pair of shoes can make us feel comfortable and relaxed.

Maybe it's because we remember where we've been while wearing them. Those shoes are a link to good memories and good times!

It's a Comfy Shoe World

Theme park attractions can elicit the same response. We all remember the first time we rode Pirates of the Caribbean. We know all of the lines and every pirate on sight! Or how about our first ride on It's A Small World: Who can forget that song? We all have our favorite dolls! And every time we visit the Magic Kingdom, we just have to risk the wrath of the Tiki Gods!

And then things start to change. Our spouse throws out our old, beat up, comfy pair of shoes.

Disney Imagineers can be like that spouse. By changing, or worse yet, removing, our favorite attraction, they are in effect throwing away our good memories and good times!

Now we see Jack Sparrow popping up in PotC. We see extra dolls added to IASW (Disneyland). And then the Tiki Room comes Under New Management. You likely have your own examples of unwelcome changes.

Of course, it's a matter of taste as to whether some changes are welcome. Some people are so in love with Jack Sparrow that they wouldn't mind if he popped up and replaced Tigger in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh!

So we have to say, and accept, the phrase: "Each to his own."

The Tricky Calculus of Change

This is brought home with the loss of Mickey's Toontown Fair at Walt Disney World. An entire land, gone forever! Those with children are probably most upset about this change, and waves of nostalgia are already sweeping the Internet in lament of this lost Land.

On the other hand, the changes scheduled for Disney's California Adventure are eagerly awaited. The re-theming of almost every ride and attraction to a more Disney-like style has been met with almost universal praise! And people are virtually wetting themselves waiting for Cars Land to open.

The point to ponder for Imagineers is whether a change will really make an attraction BETTER. Rabid theme park fans rarely accept change for change's sake!

So what are the Imagineers to do?

Here's my short list: Bring back The Skyway; Fire (no pun intended) the New Management at the Tiki Room; and never mess with Snow White, Disney's first Princess!

In other words: Leave MY favorite attractions alone!

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