Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for discussion of the June 19th Reliving Fond Memories column on Phil Harris at: <a href="News-ID200030.asp" target="_blank">http://LaughingPlace.com/News-ID200030.asp</a>.
Originally Posted By donkthemagicllama Great article, but I was a bit confused at the end when it talks about the monorail being a great transportaion system between all the parks. Unless there have been huge changes since I was there in May 2001, it only connects Epcot, MK, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary and the Parking lot. You can't get anywhere else at WDW on the monorail, can you?
Originally Posted By BusterGracey No, it only goes between MK, Epcot and the Resorts. It's still a great long ride through the property. I wish it did hook up all the parks...
Originally Posted By Illuminations Thanks, I enjoyed the review. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself in our park! I hope you enjoyed World Showcase at night, my personal favorite. Sorry you missed COP.
Originally Posted By BuzzLightyear84 Nice article. Sounds like you had a really great trip. As a WDW veteran, I'm glad to hear that had an open mind about the resort and appriciated it for the wonderful place that it is. I hope you can get the chance to come back to WDW soon.
Originally Posted By Judy from Boise Yes ! My exact sentiments. At DL I feel enveloped by the park, at WDW the feeling is diluted by sheer size. However the ability to stay for a week and leave wanting more is pretty incredible ! I do love them both, but DL is the charmer that has my heart forever !
Originally Posted By iluvdisneyland I loved this article immensly! It was so interesting to read another's opinions of their first time at WDW. And, amazing enough, it was my exact sentiments on the place! MK and WDW is awesome, but DL is where my heart is.
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct Great article David. Well written. I love these types of pieces. I had the opposite experience in May of 2000 when I went to Disneyland for this first time in 30 years. I would love to hear more impressions of your trip.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Great article! I also agree with you. I grew up in Souther California too, and Disneyland was a staple. So visiting WDW was wonderful, but Disneyland will always be my first Disney park, and the one I have the most fond memories of.
Originally Posted By kennect I guess everyone has a really fond spot in their heart for DL....Walt's park that he walked the streets and groomed to his perfection...It could never be duplicated....One would be crazy to think it could be....But WDW has some things that no other Disney park could ever duplicate...Most importantly land mass...Walt's one last effort, a place where land and size didn't matter...A place where there was enough land to do whatever Disney wanted to do...Well, like it or not it seems that the Fl. park and resort is the place...While I enjoyed the article I got the feeling it was rather brief since there are so many many things about the resort that weren't mentioned...Even I sit in shock thinking as to how big WDW has become, it is bigger than life itself in some ways...It is hard to make a trip there and take advantage of everything it has to offer...Everytime I go I plan to do certain things but when I get there I am caught up in the vast size and scope and lose all thoughts of anything that was previously planned...But there are a few things there that really make the place special regardless of the fact that DL is your first love...Most notably in my mind is the Cirque show "La Nouba"...World class entertainment at a Disney resort...In my mind it doesn't get much better than this....Then there is the AKL...When we were there a few weeks ago a couple from overseas that we met said, "there is no other place in the world that offers such an experience outside of Africa". WDW may be big and stretched out but that was the idea to begin with...To have enough land to do what ever Walt wanted to...Well Walt is gone but I feel he wouldn't be to dissapointed to learn what has been done there...Epcot might not have turned out to be his dream but still the Fl. property has done a pretty good job of keeping the Disney spirit alive....I just hope David visits again soon and has a chance to get into it a little deeper and find some of the really special things that make the place a pure pleasure to visit...
Originally Posted By bwanabob Thanks for the great article, David. I enjoyed reading about your thoughts on WDW. I'd love to read more.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I envy those of you that can put your feelings so magically into words. I sometimes have trouble identifying my feelings much less describing them. I am scaring the heck out of 54 years old and yet I still feel like a kid when at WDW. Being that age I grew up a card carrying member of the Mickey Mouse Club and remember the shows that had portions of it coming from Disneyland (and my first true love, Annette). Since I never saw, and the chances are I won't get the chance to see Disneyland itself, I have been able to easily make the Magic Kingdom in Florida, my Disneyland. When my children were little (all grown up now) no words are available to describe the fun and warm feelings that I got from the place. I have taken handicapped people there and have seen that same look of amazement on their faces and kind of renewed those emotions in me. But still I can't really define them. I went by myself for the first time this past March and, although occasionally saddened when family memories forced their way in, I was able to have a fun time and still feel unburdoned by life. I know that without Walt around the dream is really just a business. But, what a business. How many places have made so many people so happy. It helped me through many low spots and I'm sure it has others as well. What other "park" could justify a wedding chapel because people have such a positive attitude about a place that they want to associate one of lifes more important moments with it. One can only hope the "the management" realizes that when any of the Disney parks stops providing that feeling, the need for them will be considerably less. If all we want is just a high tech ride Universal fills the bill as well. Disney is much deeper than that, it is in all reality a state of being. A special place, a happy place on both coasts.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<One can only hope the "the management" realizes that when any of the Disney parks stops providing that feeling, the need for them will be considerably less. If all we want is just a high tech ride Universal fills the bill as well. Disney is much deeper than that, it is in all reality a state of being. A special place, a happy place on both coasts.>> Exactly, Goofyernmost! I love Disney not for its attractions, but for the feeling I get when I'm there. The atmosphere, the cast members and the attractions all combine to make every visit magical. Walking around in Universal doesn't bring a tear to my eye. The minute I glance Cinderella's Castle from the lagoon or monorail, I get a lump in my throat and I have to fight the urge to jump up and down like a five year old. I will NEVER get that at any other theme park. Disney parks evoke special feelings and memories for millions. It's why its my favorite place on earth!
Originally Posted By gmaletic Very, very good article. Although Disney World's size is certainly its most notable quality, I appreciated that the author pointed out my favorite aspect of Florida's Magic Kingdom, and that is its spectacular Main Street and Castle. Disneyland's smaller, toy-like entranceway has its charms, but Florida's always takes my breath away. If you haven't yet made the trip out from California, you're really missing out.
Originally Posted By kennect It's nice to know there are so many that really do have fond memories...I often get the feeling while there that so many families are visiting due to the fact they have children and this is a must do...I love to hear those people talk about lumps in theirs throats at the site of something...I am a hardcore addict and everytime I visit, there are so many things that find a tear in my eye or that lump...Call me hopeless, call me anything but yet there has never been anything like Disney that can get that response from me....
Originally Posted By smctopia It was very interesting reading your article. I've been to WDW 17+ times and I had the opposite experience last year when I went to DL for the first time. It was fun to "compare and contrast" everyting but both can be enjoyed. Hope you get to go back to WDW someday and I hope I can go back to DL someday! Visit Walt Dated World <a href="http://members.tripod.com/mouseketeer_alison/" target="_blank">http://members.tripod.com/mous eketeer_alison/</a>
Originally Posted By CP173 An excellent article, David. I first visited WDW on my honeymoon. Back then, there was only the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and it still felt like there was more than we could hope to do in a week. I've since been there 10+ times. When you return, I encourage you to give Pleasure Island one more try. Skip the kiddie bars and go straight to the Adventurer's Club. I believe it to be the best realization of Walt's original vision of the Enchanted Tiki Room: Animatronics and alcohol. Take the time to read the captions on all the "artifacts" and see all the shows in the library. If only they'd drop it into Anaheim's Downtown Disney. I still like Disneyland better than WDW: it has Walt's fingerprints all over it.
Originally Posted By MissCandice Dude,I must have missed this back when it first showed up on LP,but great article!
