Random Ramblins About the Company I [Somtimes] Love
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:24 pm
OK, this thread has spawned from something being discussed in the Sleeping Beauty platinum thread that I admittedly started, and began thinking about. I ended up thinking so much about that I just had to make a separate topic about it. So this thread's alternate title will be: Flanger-Hanger's ranking of what he likes or feels the biggest connection too with the Walt Disney Company.
1. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts: It came as a surprise to my forum friend Dusty (aka Mike), that this is what I care about the WDC the most. This question relates to one which my non Disney fan friends ask alot when they hear I've taken 12 sperate vacations to WDW since 1996, "just why do you care about it so much?", "isn't it the same?", "how can you like going to see a five foot tall rodent costume?", the answer is this:
It's alive, It's magical, it's, by golly, the best thing ever!
It sounds crazy at first but it indeed is. WDW is a place that exists in reality and at 30,000 acres, is quite big (as big as Boston or San Fran in fact). It constantly changes, for better or worse, over the years in not just new attractions but also in some basic things we see in nature such as trees and plants growing over time. It is a place that involves all your senses that can take you just about anywhere, from outer space to inner space.
Comparing it to films, the resorts are more visually impressive than anything a camera can project,, because your THERE, SUROUNDED by lakes, hotels, themed attractions, restaurants, transportation systems, guests, all of which come in various shapes and sizes (especially the guests). Visiting a Disney resort, I like visiting a dream city, where smiles are genuine, it doesn't smell or look like crap (personal opinions for certain things aside) and you feel more at home than you do in your real home. This may sound like nostalgic garbage to some of you, and perhaps it is. The parks can be quite mean to you, with humidity, blisters from walking around all day, jerk like Cast Members and Guests occasionally a ruin the fun, as can having no reservations at restaurants (curse you DDP!!) and painful attractions like Sounds dangerous Staring Drew Cary, The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management, and Stitch's Great Escape, but for the most part the overall experience is so dazzling you can forgive the more terrible management choices. But I complain because I care/love, and that's what the internet is for isn't it?
If you consider the parks "merchandise" or "weak imitations of the films there based on" your not looking at the broader picture. Why anyone would dare compare Snow White's Scary Adventures to the movie it's based on is ridiculous in the sense your comparing apples with oranges. A 2 1/2 minute "C" ticket level dark ride is not meant to be compared to a 84 minute movie. Each is a different experience with it's own interpretation required for the environment it's placed in. One may obviously seem superior to another but you might forget just what are you going to do once each experience is over. Once a movie is done, it's done. Once an attraction is over you have (especially at WDW) have a billion other options to choose from, including theoretically, the option to go parasailing and still technically be in the property of the resort.
Another thing to remember is that there are many attractions NOT based or tied in to any Disney property including: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, The Haunted Mansion, Carousel of Progress, Space Mountain, It's a Small World, Mission: Space, Spaceship Earth, Countdown to Extinction (name change to represent a movie ignored), Expedition Everest, etc. and that these attractions are some of the most mesmerizing experiences you can have. Plus the resorts (deluxe and DVC in particular) are like there own wonderful getaways in their own right, and it would take many pages more to really describe their experiences.
Of course regarding the Theme Parks, I have only really mentioned WDW (and seemingly just MK at that). I have not yet had the privilege of visiting others (but I will some day of course). If I had a choice between seeing Seeping Beauty in 70mm or going to Tokyo Disney Sea for a day, I'd take the second choice (If you still can't understand why, go look up pictures on google and you'll see what I mean).
The WDW resort was/is a place I went to alot when growing up and I certainly have a stronger emotional attachment to it than any Disney film and care about it more. I've read about people crying at WDW because of emotions they felt (dehydration and loosing money from your wallet aside) during such thins as fireworks shows or seeing their child meet Mickey for the first time. It sounds odd but all I can say is, take a trip to one yourself and you might better understand what I'm trying to say here.
Up next Flanger-Hanger reveals what Herbie Rides Again, Hanna Montana, Cinderella, The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin, Zorro, and V.I.N.CENT have in common. He can't tell you now because he doesn't know yet what they do.
1. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts: It came as a surprise to my forum friend Dusty (aka Mike), that this is what I care about the WDC the most. This question relates to one which my non Disney fan friends ask alot when they hear I've taken 12 sperate vacations to WDW since 1996, "just why do you care about it so much?", "isn't it the same?", "how can you like going to see a five foot tall rodent costume?", the answer is this:
It's alive, It's magical, it's, by golly, the best thing ever!
It sounds crazy at first but it indeed is. WDW is a place that exists in reality and at 30,000 acres, is quite big (as big as Boston or San Fran in fact). It constantly changes, for better or worse, over the years in not just new attractions but also in some basic things we see in nature such as trees and plants growing over time. It is a place that involves all your senses that can take you just about anywhere, from outer space to inner space.
Comparing it to films, the resorts are more visually impressive than anything a camera can project,, because your THERE, SUROUNDED by lakes, hotels, themed attractions, restaurants, transportation systems, guests, all of which come in various shapes and sizes (especially the guests). Visiting a Disney resort, I like visiting a dream city, where smiles are genuine, it doesn't smell or look like crap (personal opinions for certain things aside) and you feel more at home than you do in your real home. This may sound like nostalgic garbage to some of you, and perhaps it is. The parks can be quite mean to you, with humidity, blisters from walking around all day, jerk like Cast Members and Guests occasionally a ruin the fun, as can having no reservations at restaurants (curse you DDP!!) and painful attractions like Sounds dangerous Staring Drew Cary, The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management, and Stitch's Great Escape, but for the most part the overall experience is so dazzling you can forgive the more terrible management choices. But I complain because I care/love, and that's what the internet is for isn't it?
If you consider the parks "merchandise" or "weak imitations of the films there based on" your not looking at the broader picture. Why anyone would dare compare Snow White's Scary Adventures to the movie it's based on is ridiculous in the sense your comparing apples with oranges. A 2 1/2 minute "C" ticket level dark ride is not meant to be compared to a 84 minute movie. Each is a different experience with it's own interpretation required for the environment it's placed in. One may obviously seem superior to another but you might forget just what are you going to do once each experience is over. Once a movie is done, it's done. Once an attraction is over you have (especially at WDW) have a billion other options to choose from, including theoretically, the option to go parasailing and still technically be in the property of the resort.
Another thing to remember is that there are many attractions NOT based or tied in to any Disney property including: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, The Haunted Mansion, Carousel of Progress, Space Mountain, It's a Small World, Mission: Space, Spaceship Earth, Countdown to Extinction (name change to represent a movie ignored), Expedition Everest, etc. and that these attractions are some of the most mesmerizing experiences you can have. Plus the resorts (deluxe and DVC in particular) are like there own wonderful getaways in their own right, and it would take many pages more to really describe their experiences.
Of course regarding the Theme Parks, I have only really mentioned WDW (and seemingly just MK at that). I have not yet had the privilege of visiting others (but I will some day of course). If I had a choice between seeing Seeping Beauty in 70mm or going to Tokyo Disney Sea for a day, I'd take the second choice (If you still can't understand why, go look up pictures on google and you'll see what I mean).
The WDW resort was/is a place I went to alot when growing up and I certainly have a stronger emotional attachment to it than any Disney film and care about it more. I've read about people crying at WDW because of emotions they felt (dehydration and loosing money from your wallet aside) during such thins as fireworks shows or seeing their child meet Mickey for the first time. It sounds odd but all I can say is, take a trip to one yourself and you might better understand what I'm trying to say here.
Up next Flanger-Hanger reveals what Herbie Rides Again, Hanna Montana, Cinderella, The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin, Zorro, and V.I.N.CENT have in common. He can't tell you now because he doesn't know yet what they do.
