Dear Disney - Please Don't

Dear Disney Imagineers,

While listening to The Unofficial Guide’s Disney Dish with Jim Hill (http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unofficial-guides-disney-dish/id452620851), I heard a most disturbing rumor. Over the course of this fascinating and amusing conversation between Disney fan favorites Len Testa and Jim Hill, it was mentioned that you have a really bad idea in mind for The Country Bear Jamboree.  Please, please abandon this horrific concept.

Sincerely,

Teri

What is this atrocious idea, you ask?  Believe me; it was so bad that I double-checked the date, just to make sure it wasn’t an April Fools' prank.  According to Jim Hill, Disney is considering revamping The Country Bear Jamboree into – wait for it – A-Bear-ican Idol. 

Now, I know that not everyone holds The Country Bear Jamboree in the same high esteem that I do.  Walt Disney World executives obviously don’t, if the lack of upkeep that attraction receives is any indication. But A-Bear-ican Idol?  Really? 

Here’s the basic concept: the bears perform country hits, and the audience votes on the winner.  Let’s set aside my well-established love for this classic attraction. Let’s even leave off mention of the much-derided Country Bear Vacation Hoedown. Instead, let’s discuss the wisdom (or lack thereof) of this particular makeover.

1. American Idol – We already have one WDW attraction based on this non-Disney property.  Do we really need another?

2. American Idol – Surely this phenomenon is waning. What’s the point of hitching your wagon to a fading star?

3. I get that Disney is all about the interactive experience right now – interactive queues, voting options, choose your ending (missing Horizons as I type that, by the way) – but the term “overkill” is starting to seem appropriate.

What do you think?  Do you actually like this idea?  Do you want to see a change – any change – to CBJ? Or do you think Disney should just give this classic attraction a refurbishment and invest time and resources into completely new rides and attractions?  Speak your piece over at https://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Shameful Secrets

Come on; you know we all have them. In addition to being Disney Dorks, I mean. There are things about Walt Disney World that we are ashamed to admit we like, even to other Disney fans. There are also things we don’t particularly care for but are reluctant to criticize, for fear we will be painted with the Disney heresy brush. I, however, can’t take the confines of my Disney closet any longer and am coming out. Deep breath; here we go:

I love the Country Bear Jamboree. I love nearly everything about it; the holding area where you wait for the show (the claw marks in the floor completely convinced me as a child that these were real bears), the theater, the songs, and the critters themselves. I sing along with every song (and not quietly, either). I cry when I leave. I was furious when they did the Vacation Hoedown makeover, and cheered upon the return of the original show. I don’t even like it when the Christmas overlay contaminates my beloved bears. I remember when there used to be a lot of CBJ merchandise (I will not start ranting about the homogenization of Disney merchandise here, however badly I want to) and I would give just about anything for a great big stuffed Country Bear of my own (Henry with Sammy wrapped around his hat would be awesome). Go ahead and laugh; you know you want to.

On the other hand, I’m not a big fan of the WDW parades. Well, the daytime ones, anyway. Spectromagic (or the Main Street Electrical Parade, or whatever its current incarnation) is pretty cool, but never seems to be running when I visit. I consider the parades a great time to go ride attractions because the lines will be shorter, but the hassle of navigating around them to get through the park goes a long way to canceling this benefit out, in my mind. I did like Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade the time I was in it however. That was sweet.

I never had a Dole Whip until I was in my 30’s. Now I just adore them.

I could take or leave Mission: Space and Test Track. They were interesting enough the first couple of times I rode them, but they just don’t have the repeatability factor that I want out of an E-Ticket attraction. To quote evil Willow (for all of you Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans): “Bored now”.

I want to like the films in the countries around World Showcase; I really do. I feel as though if I were truly worldly and cosmopolitan, these would appeal to me. Truth be told though, they remind me of the films we’d watch in high school Geography class. While those are great for getting out of class, they aren’t want I want to see on vacation. World Showcase needs some decent attractions!

I can’t walk down Main Street USA without skipping. And crying. And singing. Loudly, I might add.

I love Fantasmic, but I can’t stand the wait to see it, and the crowds when leaving. Now that Disney has reduced the number of performances, these issues have escalated to the point that I generally just don’t bother with the hassle anymore. This makes me angry with Disney. (I can’t believe I just said that.)

Other than Dinosaur, I don’t like Dinoland USA at all. I get that they were going for a theme, and I’ve heard the quote from the Imagineers; “Do you know how much it cost to make it look so cheap and tacky?” My response is: “Yes, but why would you want to?”

It drives me nuts to hear people make Disney mistakes. It’s Cinderella Castle, not Cinderella’s Castle. The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom are all part of WDW; Universal and Islands of Adventure are not. You cannot monorail from the All Star Resorts to the Magic Kingdom. My husband sometimes has to physically restrain me from berating – er, I mean correcting guests who say these things.

My final secret: there are things at WDW that I’ve never done. And not just new stuff, either. I’ve never been to Tom Sawyer Island. I’ve never seen Cirque du Soleil. I’ve never eaten at a lot of the better Disney restaurants. I guess this just gives me a reason to go back!

Okay, I’ve fessed up. Now it’s your turn. What are your shameful Disney secrets?

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