From Tim Chatlos on November 14, 2012 at 9:07 PM
Thank you for sharing some of their thoughts. Really fascinating stuff to read. I hope some of the principles they discussed continue to be implemented in the parks today. The importance of music to theme park attractions seems to have been lost in recent years. So when something like "Compass of Your Heart" from Sindbad's Storybook Voyage I am very encouraged that the art of theme park music is not dead yet. Hopefully we'll see more original music (not just music from movies or television) in the parks in the coming years.

From James Anberlin on November 14, 2012 at 9:25 PM
Agreed with Tim; original theme park music needs to come back. Great article Robert!

Also, you have a typo under the American Adventure heading ;^) (hint: scene)

From Robert Niles on November 14, 2012 at 9:36 PM
Fixed. Thanks.

From 84.56.106.246 on November 15, 2012 at 4:52 AM
"[Disney Legend] John [Hench] used to get upset about that. He said 'the parks are not about escapism. they're about reassurance' - that things can be done right, that you can talk to a stranger in a public place, that a public place can be clean,"

Wait, so if i live in a place where actual public places are clean and strangers are no people that make me feal some kind of class anxiety or whatever, theres no need for theme parks?
Maybe thats why there are so few in Europe. But then, there are parks in Japan too, and they have the cleanest and safest big cities in the world.

From O T on November 15, 2012 at 5:49 AM
Great article and I share the hopes of Tim for more original music/songs. Take the latest that Disney brought us, the little mermaid ride. It's the movie in 3 minutes but it doesn't add anything. Disney should be about telling stories and need to expend those stories in the theme parks. Same with the new projection show. Paris has a story version but Orlando get's a best off collection and no story.
I also hope they fix Epcot. Maybe adding a scene at the American dream show with Walt, fixing the Imagination pavilion, rip Ellen's energy crisis and make something new and open the pavilion next to it, it was fun!

From Dan Heaton on November 15, 2012 at 8:36 AM
That's a really interesting point about the Imagination ride. I think the new version is okay on its own, but it's very sad when compared to the original. They've wasted an opportunity with that space.

I expect that after the Magic Kingdom work is done, they're going to have to focus on some issues in EPCOT. They've updated Test Track, so now they need to figure out what to do with Imagination and Energy. Those could be upgraded into something great without spending crazy money since the infrastructure is already there.

From Anon Mouse on November 15, 2012 at 9:13 AM
They can over think a ride or a concept. "Figment and Dreamfinder" are not the most creative idea for characters in an attraction. It is just weird (hey you, the guest, you have no imagination or dreams so we brought some plain vanilla version to you, yawn). I never felt a connection. And they ruined the Imagination pavilion with their changes. They turned an entertaining attraction into a educational attraction for 3 year olds.

The EPCOT description is strange. Theme parks are supposed to be clean. What was he thinking? No one speaks with strangers. Wanna dime? Disney charges a bundle for their version of society. I will never consider it as a model for real community.