I had full intentions of writing about my experiences at the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, but with the announcement of yet another attraction at Walt Disney World closing I thought I would write about my thoughts on the big changes happening at my favorite Disney theme park. I will be very honest the latest closing announcement- The Backlot Tour- hasn’t stirred any type of emotion in me at all. I’ve ridden it once in all of my trips to Walt Disney World and it wasn’t the most spectacular thing I have ever experienced, but it was fun. I really enjoyed the part at the end because at the time it had costumes from the film Oz showing and I loved getting to see the all the outfits up close and personal. Outside of that…weather it is there or not doesn’t actually bother me too much. My reaction was very much the same when the announcement of The American Idol Experience closing was made. I never actually visited that attraction. I quit watching the show a long time ago, and I didn’t really understand why it was still an attraction in the parks to be perfectly honest- so for me personally I wasn’t sad to see it go either.
Of the latest closings this year the one that bothered me the most was The Maelstrom. I only discovered the ride last year, but I loved it all the same. Truthfully weather the ride was in Norway or not wouldn’t effect if enjoyed the pavilion or now, what bothers me about this change is that it is being turned into a Frozen themed ride rather than a ride that will continue to educated guests about the history of Norway- which is the purpose of the World Showcase. I’m not sure if those making the decisions remember that the World Showcase is there to honor and educated guests about the different countries represented. Last I checked Arendelle, Anna, Elsa, and Olaf were all fictional and if we needed to know anymore about them we could go watch the special features on the Frozen blu-ray, but I digress.
Even though all the changes coming don’t make me especially happy to a degree in the back of my head there is one thing keeps me hopeful- “Keep Moving Forward”. It is my favorite quote by Walt Disney. I don’t think anyone can truly know if Walt Disney would be turning in his grave, or doing cartwheels of excitement over the changes being made at Walt Disney World, but I believe that he would be pleased that park has continued to grow and change. Change is NECESSARY. If that weren’t the case Walt Disney World would consist of only the Magic Kingdom. It wouldn’t have grown into the beast of a theme park it is today, and people would spend their entire lifetimes saving to visit. Are all the changes being made great? No not in my opinion, but they are happening and they will continue to happen. So while we may all each be upset about different things happening, in the midst of your upset please keep this in the back of your head- Walt Disney World has to keep evolving and changing. It might not be a homerun every time, but they can learn from their mistakes and try again later. I just think we get so caught up in being upset we forget that progress doesn’t come without mistakes and sometimes you have to try several times before you succeed.
“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious…and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” –Walt Disney
