Reliving Fond Memories
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Disney World is…well, another world. From the moment I opened my eyes in the All-Star morning till they fell asleep exhausted at night, I was in the arms of Mickey. Where I sleep, eat, transportation, the company handles everything. I look in all directions, and everywhere is Disney World. I am on Planet Mickey. There is no Orlando, no other places to visit. I am helpless; there is nothing for me to do but smile.

Main Street looked fantastic. It is Disneyland’s Main Street all grown up, after electricity became the norm for the country. It is more ornate, with more gingerbread. Whereas Disneyland’s Main Street is in the midst of change brought on by new technologies, Disney World’s Main Street is the exuberance of a new age that has successfully made the change. It is exultant with possibilities and hope for a better tomorrow.

Tony's Italian Restaurant in Town Square was a peachy dining experience. The delicate lacey décor reflected the Lady and the Tramp theme well. It also perfectly suited the ambience of Main Street. The food wasn’t bad, either! This is the kind of restaurant that becomes "our place", an establishment that we will regularly frequent when we return.

Another pleasant surprise was Splash Mountain. About double the size of ours, it stays allot closer to the South of the South stories. This is, after all, the South. The story is much easier to follow, much more cohesive and entertaining than our mountain (though that will not stop me from riding it!)

I have been a fan of the Remus stories since childhood, and it was nice to see the timeless fables of the critters in the Briar Patch brought to life so fully.

I do miss the Country Bear Jamboree at home, so it was good to see it again, in its original incarnation (Much better than the replacement shows).

Liberty Square has its charms, but doesn’t come close to the nuances of New Orleans Square. This is too bad, because the idea of Liberty Square is great, a celebration of the cradle of our national history. The Liberty Tree outside the restaurant was very nice, and some of the building fronts were thoughtful. I wish there were more ambiences, but it was missing a real sense of place, like NOS.

Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion is a howling good time. I had seen the photos of the House of Usher exterior over the years, and was not moved. But seeing it in person, stately on the banks of the Rivers of America, it does have a somber, creepy, atmosphere. The new headstone of Leota moving and peeking at the crowd is a great addition to the cemetery. Disney World’s take on a favorite attraction was one of my more satisfying moments.

Tomorrowland was super, and I really liked the Flash Gordon look. It felt like a sci-fi, wind up spaceship tin toy from the 1930’s. A frustrating disappointment was the Carousel of Progress being closed. This was one attraction I literally hadn’t seen since I was a child. But now it operates seasonally, and I missed out.

One word about Alien Encounter: Yahoooo! Great job. Creative idea. I felt like I was strapped in a James Cameron movie.

Buzz Lightyear was a very cool zap-em-up interactive ride. I hope that he flies in to Disneyland's Tomorrowland soon.

I did get a chance to ride the new Pooh ride. It is mucho enjoyable. The attraction is cute and true to the flavor of the stories. Riding with me was a family with a seven-year-old boy. When the car began hopping along with Tigger, the kid was in rapture. That is whom this ride is designed for, and it is wildly successful.

A singular treat unique to Disney World is dining at Cinderella’s Table within the castle. It was great to eat a nice dinner and watch Fantasyland spin below us through gothic windows. The restaurant was like an island of peace in the midst of the tumble of the park, similar to The Blue Bayou.

I must say, though, that without a shadow of a doubt, my most impressive moment at WDW was riding the Tower of Terror. This attraction restored my faith that WDI could still create a stunning, original and thoroughly ambient attraction. The details, the story, the effects, right down to the doorknobs and knick-knacks, were all well thought out and creative. The big band sound (ala The Shining) crackling eerily from hidden speakers on the unkempt grounds is unsettling. I was totally captivated the moment I walked into the dilapidated lobby. The 1920’s California Spanish style, complete with wrought iron and hotel logos decorating everything from lamps to ashtrays, is intoxicating. Luckily the park was not crowded, so we walked out the exit and right back on it.