So today I woke up (first at 2:30 in the morning because the Dane was scaring the crap out of the rats and, in turn, me, because they were wrestling in their cage and he didn't want them arguing. Peter, the peacemaker.) and went to my day job and dealt with the usual suspects, then went on my Disney news blogs to see a couple of things: one, the French pavilion in Epcot is getting a makeover, and two, the Magic, the Memories, and You is retiring to make way for something allegedly better.
Now, I personally cannot imagine anything better than sitting in the vicinity of Cinderella Castle and watching pictures and videos of the day's guests projected onto the castle while a tear-jerking song plays. I have never been able to tell if I've even made it onto the castle because you would probably have to be smack dab up against the castle to really make out the faces properly, but it's a nice sentiment and I will sit there and watch it several times in a row if I'm there on the right night. But I trust Disney and I know they will take this wonderful creation that I love to share with my nearest and dearest and turn it into something even better. Probably, anyway. I'd say there's a 99.9% chance of success with this one. If you're a betting man, them's some good odds. That's just how much faith I put into Disney's ability to continually making things even better than they are. I don't know how they do it, but bless them for making it happen.
It's okay to be sad that it's leaving the form as we know it and changing into something new. I'm sad, too, but I can tell there will be at least a few select Negative Nancys that will throw a hissy fit because Disney is throwing off their perfect schedule with the audacity to make changes. Stop being ridiculous, Nancys. You are at the most magical place on Earth. Shove a premium bar in your mouth and shush.
This happens any time Disney makes any significant change. I remember reading about the protests (yes, picket sign type protests) when Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closed in the Magic Kingdom. Many of said protesters swore to never come back to the parks if they closed it. Never mind the fact that if you ask any child nowadays who Mr. Toad or Ichabod Crane is, many of them will just look at you weird. *I* hardly even know who Mr. Toad is, if not for a few Sing Along Song VHS tapes growing up I probably wouldn't have had a clue. That's why they took his space and turned it into Winnie the Pooh, someone that many children and adults can recognize and enjoy. Will there be protests when The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is evicted? Maybe. Will I be one of them? Probably not, and I love Eeyore.
I understand we all want to preserve our childhoods as the sand grains of time continue to slip away from us and the Disney parks make up a big part of many childhoods. It certainly does for mine. We want to be able to take our children and our grand children and our great grand children on the same attractions we've found ourselves enjoying since we could remember. But can you possibly imagine how outdated the parks would feel if we still preserved them in their 1955 and 1971 (and so on) states so that we could do just that? I mean, can you really imagine people still enjoying the mule rides and being amazed by the Monsanto House of the Future? We just landed on Mars the other day, folks. Do you think people would still be queuing up for their 40th time on Rocket to the Moon?
Per Walt's request, "[Disney] will never be complete. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in this world." Attractions will close, parades will end, shows will change, and the sun will still rise in the east and set in the west. It will be okay, Negative Nancys, I promise you.
I am going to try to channel the faith I have in Disney to make better changes into my own life. Man, that would be miraculous, wouldn't it? There's a Disney shirt that says "This area is being refurbished for your future enjoyment." I should have gotten that when I had the chance.
Till then, friends.
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