Reliving Fond Memories
Page 3 of 3
The Animal Kingdom is a great idea for a park, though it still has allot of growing up to do. The ambience and design is inventive. I enjoyed the Kali River Rapids, all the Indian architecture around the place. It was a warm day, so the animals were hidden, asleep mostly.
One problem with coming on the off-season is the park closes before dark. I missed seeing the entire place lit up. I could see the castle from the distance as I traveled around the resort, but I wanted to see the flickering lights in the Mansion, Main Street alive with chaser lights and high-stepping music.
When the operating day was over, I would board the monorail and visit the resorts spaced around the lake. A personal favorite was the Polynesian Resort. I think it reminded my wife and I of a large Tahitian Terrace. Though it’s thatched hut tiki atmosphere is a bit musty, the restaurant was swell, and there was a great sense of liveliness about it. It was there when the park opened, and has that late 60’s/early 70’s flavor to it. I could easily see Roy Disney relaxing in one of the rattan lounges enjoying a scotch mist. We would have drinks in the lounge, and figure out what to do next in the resort.
I confess that Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island don't do much for me. It is simply a mall with Disney window dressing. I didn’t travel three thousand miles to go to a Virgin Megastore! I did take the trouble to check it out, but quickly left when a bar band somewhere along the waterfront began to play "Cold as Ice". Thank you, that is all!!
Though Disney World is magnificent, I must confess that it is the smaller, hand carved feel of Disneyland that still captures my heart. Will it ever take the place of Disneyland? No, not for this Disneyland fan. The landscaping of the original park melding purpose and atmosphere is unparalleled. Walt’s fingerprints are everywhere in evidence. There is a more complete sense of submersion in a three-dimension experience. It is the scale that allows it. Disney World is so huge I am lost in it. I am just amble through acreage of lawns, moats, bridges and spewing geysers. In Disneyland, it truly has a park feel. Walt’s passions and hobbies made manifest.
Disney World comes close, but cannot match that. But it has it’s own strength, that of volume and variety. There are different parks to match different moods. The monorail is not a mere toy as in Disneyland, but an actual transportation system. I can be in Fantasyland in the morning, then on the Ganges in the afternoon, looking at monkeys climbing over the ruins of a Hindu Temple, race on the Test Track at twilight and walk the streets of Hollywood in the evening. Or go to a concert or movie at night. The choices are multiple and varied. At the end of each day I was exhausted. I looked through the maps and realized there is always more to do the next day.
I returned from WDW feeling like I had just been to one long belt busting thanksgiving dinner. Will I go to Disney World again? You bet I will. I can taste it already.
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-- David Mink
Reliving Fond Memories is posted the third Wednesday of each month.
The opinions expressed by our David Mink, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted June 19, 2002
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