So Long to Snow White's Scary Adventures

Tomorrow will mark the end of the life span for another Fantasyland ride at WDW.  Snow White's Scary Adventures will close its doors forever, and the evil queen/hag will have to find a new haunt.  With regard to this closure of yet another Fantasyland original, I must reflect on the impact that this closure will have on the park and on me personally. 

First, I don't think that too many people will be crying over the closure of this dark ride because it is not a huge crowd favorite.  In addition, the effects on the ride have become dated.  I doubt that the closure of this ride will encourage the horror and outrage that so many felt over the closure of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.  This is an interesting point because Mr. Toad had about the same quality of special effects as Snow White's Scary Adventures does.  Perhaps it was Mr. Toad's catchy song or the nostalgia that this ride has come to represent.  I too find myself in the camp of fans that was distraught over Mr. Toad's exit, but I feel indifferent over Snow White's leave taking.   It is hard to pinpoint the reason for these varied feelings.  Mr. Toad was not a technical marvel, but I still love to ride it at Disneyland whenever we go to that park. J. Thaddeus embodies some part of all of us though if you think about it.  Whenever you want something really badly, how many times can your behavior emulate that of Mr. Toad and his love of the motor car.  Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was just pure fun and fancy, while Snow White re-told the story of the movie, or at least attempted to do so.  Mr. Toad did not attempt to re-tell the story of the cartoon; it told a new story where you end up in hell.  How many rides at Disney World send you to hell?  This campy storyline and overall ride concept is just a great deal of fun; whereas, Snow White's ride is just bland.  Sure, the Witch tries to kill you with a boulder, but there is just something about driving that motor car, spinning the wheel, being merrily on your way to nowhere at all. 

So, after reflecting on Snow White's exit, I am not too sad about the loss of the ride.  However, I wish that the ride were leaving so that a better ride could be put in its place.  I know that people need to be able to meet and greet the characters, but should that need cause the sacrifice of a dark ride?  I will have to reserve judgement on Fantasyland until the new forest area opens up later this year.  If the rest of the area is as beautiful as the Storybook Circus area, I doubt anyone will be disappointed with the new addition.  Until then, farewell Snow White and your scary adventures! 

Balloons!

Disney World: An Olfactory Oasis

          If you are a Disney World fan, you undoubtedly know what I mean when I refer to the smell of pirate water or Splash Mountain water.  While these smells are not the most fragrant aromas on Earth, they are a signal to me that I have completed the long journey to the World.  For fans new to the Disney World craze, the water to which I am referring makes its home in any of the Disney World water rides.  All of these rides have water with a very distinct smell.  I have no idea what creates the smell, but whatever it is; it is magical.  It is kind of a cross between stale water, maybe mildew, mold ???  You might be thinking that I am crazy, but take a whiff of any water ride at WDW, and you too can behold the powerful magic of the water smell.

            The pirate water smell is not the only smell that is unique to Disney World.  There are many smells that can tempt your nostrils and get those olfactory senses going.  For example, there are many smells that are associated with Soarin’ in the Land Pavilion in Epcot.  These smells are a little more conventional than the pirate water smell.  When you fly over the orange groves in California, you can smell the delicious scent of oranges.  When you soar over the forest or the ocean, those smells also stimulate your senses.  In fact, the entire Land Pavilion has a certain smell to it that probably emanates from the food court area. 

Since we are in Epcot, it would make sense to discuss the smells present in Spaceship Earth.  The most obvious and well-known smell in this ride is the smell of Rome burning.  This is such an EPCOT Center smell.  It has been there since the beginning, and I think various Disneyphiles would launch into a riot if it were to be removed at any point.  Epcot is just full of tasty smells associated with all of the fine dining establishments throughout the World Showcase.  The various rose gardens also create lovely smells as you stroll through Future World right outside of Journey into Imagination.

Before we leave Epcot, I would be remiss in not mentioning a smell that is long gone but not forgotten.  Of course, I am referencing the smell of oranges in the much-loved Horizons ride that closed many years ago.  This smell has been imitated on Soarin’, but it is just not exactly the same.

As we leave Epcot and board the monorail, the smells continue.  The monorail has a very distinct odor that, again, I cannot identify, but I know it when I smell it.  Sometimes, I will catch a whiff of something in the real world that is like this smell, and it just brings me back to WDW again.  Now, after exiting the monorail at the Magic Kingdom, my absolutely favorite smell is that of the popcorn that is being freshly popped on Main Street.  This smell always makes me want to eat popcorn even if I am stuffed. 

Continuing on our journey down Main Street, the Confectionary always beckons to passersby with the tempting scent of tasty sugar treats of all kinds.  We always make a little detour into this store in order to take in the smells and the sights.  As you make your way around the Magic Kingdom, you will also smell many other tasty treats.  For example, Frontierland smells like hamburgers and turkey legs.  I am not a fan of turkey legs, but the hamburgers smell so good.  They always make me crave that for my meal. 

After you leave the Magic Kingdom, perhaps you want to take a quick stop at the Polynesian to get some Kona coffee.  This smells absolutely delicious.  This would be considered a normal type of smell to like, but there is another smell in the Polynesian that might seem odd to your average park guest.  I love the smell of the lobby at the Great Ceremonial House.  It has to be something to do with the water in the plant arrangement in the center.  It smells sort of like the pirate water.  I cannot get enough of that smell! 

These are just a few of the many, many smells that grace the grounds of WDW.  I could go on and on, but I will save those for another article.  Disney should bottle those scents some way so that guests could take them home.  For example, candles would be an excellent idea.  Even shirts with scents or stickers or stamps with various scents would work.   I would buy Rome burning and the pirate water smell as well as the orange smell from Soarin’ or even the smell of the pies from Philharmagic.  Even if you aren’t in WDW now, I hope your day is filled with the scent of happiness and success!  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!