Originally Posted By mstaft Rode the swan boats once. I found them enjoyable, peaceful and relaxing, with unique views of the MK especially as they went around Swiss Family Island Treehouse. (At least I remember Island being part of the name.)
Originally Posted By tonyanton re: post 60...this makes sense as Tokyo Disneyland has a similar large (if not larger) hub/moat layout like the MK, but the waterways by Tomorrowland are more like shallow pools than a "real" moat in the MK.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt From what I remember TDL doesn't have a canal that circles the entire Hub. I believe that WDW's MK is the only park that has this feature.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<To me the canal winding around Central Plaza only makes sense if you consider that boats used to travel there. It's a visual treat to have the waterway, but it probably would have never built if the Swan Boats weren't a part of the original plan.>> I agree that the moat and waterway probably would never have been there if the Swan Boats were not part of the original plan. I also think they should bring them back. In many respects they are like the "subs" at DL. Just as labor intensive and it looks like they should be there. I think they add a lot to the area.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<What if they had, like, "Attack" Swan Boats?>> Why? Did DL put in "attack" Nemo subs?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>To me the canal winding around Central Plaza only makes sense if you consider that boats used to travel there. It's a visual treat to have the waterway, but it probably would have never built if the Swan Boats weren't a part of the original plan.<<< Even so, the water feature adds a nice texture to the area.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Disney seems to love these sorts of things. A similar attraction was planned for WESTCOT called World Cruise that would have had five stops around the park, and EPCOT has the Parisian style Friendship Boats in World Showcase.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn Maybe bring "boats" back as Pixie Hollow-themed crafts, making the guests feel "fairy-sized"
Originally Posted By smctopia Walt Dated World was able to bring together several Disney fans to help the owner of the former Snow White Swan Boat. Check out the pictures here: <a href="http://www.waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id42.htm" target="_blank">http://www.waltdatedworld.brav...id42.htm</a> Visit Walt Dated World <a href="http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com" target="_blank">http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com</a>
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>From what I remember TDL doesn't have a canal that circles the entire Hub. I believe that WDW's MK is the only park that has this feature.<< That is correct. There are shallow pools and moats.. primarily around the castle, in the Adventureland and Tomorrowland areas ONLY. And because they are shallow, the waters are pristine clear and you can enjoy the rocky or tiled bottoms of them, as opposed to the MK's waterways being muddy and overall.. less frequently cleaned. For the record, TDS does have a river that circles around the park, which is the Steamliner's route.
Originally Posted By RobinsonCrusoeEsq Aloha! I remember the Swan Boats fondly. The actual name of the attraction was "Plaza Swan Boats." When I was a young lad of ten or so, I remember a group of "suits" with nametags walking around the hub area by the Plaza Restaurant. My parents were reading a map or something, so I followed the execs for a bit to see what they were talking about. Once pointed down to Swan Boats and said, "You see, in Disneyland, we didn't have enough water. So here (MK), we wanted as much water as possible because it is cooler." Then he pointed to the two immense fountains that used to mark the entrance to Tomorrowland and added, "see the fountains? The water creates a cooler atmosphere here than in Disneyland." It was my first meeting with Imagineers! But from then on, I noticed how water features are used in the parks. On the same subject of the Swan Boats, remember how at DL Storybookland opened as "Canal Boats of the World," with no landscaping whatsoever because of lack of funds in '55? Well, ditto at WDW. Only they were supposed to be the "Fantasia Gardens," and some of the topiaries for that concept are still there (the sea serpent, for one.) Due to dwindling funds in the summer of 1971, the ride was put on hold. When the Boats finally did open, you guessed it, zero Fantasia. The good news was that no good idea ever dies at WED, and the Fantasia Gardens finally saw the light of day as the mini-golf courses in the mid-90s.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN That is a great story Robbie. I wish the swan boats AND cascading waterfalls were still there at Tomorrowland's entrance. It made for a more slick and dynamic entrance. Thank God we still have the same architectural entrance at TDL's Tomorrowland, with working water fountain jets at water level as well.. Everytime I am in TDL, I just miss the old feel of the MK's tomorrowland. The rocky entrance now is just so uninspired and blad.
Originally Posted By tonyanton Don't forget the "lost" fountains and pools of Adventureland, specifically in Caribbean Plaza(now all uninspired planters) and the Tiki Room exterior (reduced in size for the magic carpets).
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Oh trust me.. none of the cutbacks in show and theme quality are lost on me. When I see how nice the carpets ride has turned out at Tokyo DisneySea and what lost possibilities the MK has suffered, it's just disheartening.
