Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing!

Well, the Tiki gods have finally spoken, and the Tiki Room will return to some of its former glory at the end of this summer.  This change is due to the fire that took place earlier this year at the attraction.  It will be nice to see this classic attraction again, especially for Disney World's 40th anniversary.  

Personally, I really never did like the Under New Management Tiki Room that replaced the Tropical Serenade.  Now, this may stem from the fact that I have an aversion to change, but I really think that the new show lacks the heart and quality that the old show possessed.  In spite of my declaration of dislike for this version of the show, I do enjoy the Tiki goddess of disaster that comes out during the show.  I think that this effect is well done, and it adds some excitement to the show.  However, I really do hate Iago.  He is annoying and mean, and I do not even think that he is entertaining.  I will be glad when the Tiki Room reopens, and we can see what the imagineers have cooked up.  I hope that it is not an attempt at a lame recreation of what was formerly there.  Walt knew what he was doing; don't question it.  For now, I will thank the Tiki gods for getting rid of Iago (hopefully for good) and wait for the new/old Tiki Room to re-open in the not too distant future.

Wishes!!!!!

Take a look at these lovely fireworks!  These never get old to me.  I wish I was there right now!

We're almost there!

This is the absolute best feeling!  You are almost there; the welcome sign is within your reach.  No matter how many times I make this trek, I still well up when I get close to this sign.  I don't think that it is actually the sign at all, but it is all that this welcome sign represents to me.  When we cross through these gates, we enter the land of today, tomorrow, and yesterday.  We leave all of our worries and troubles behind and for a little while, we can be unburdened by all the difficulties of regular life.  Everything is clean and organized once you pass through this sign.  There are no hovels or dilapidated buildings.  There is nothing upsetting.  

Let me give you some background on why this is so important to us.  We live in New Orleans, and things here are better than they were directly following Hurricane Katrina, but everything is definitely not back to normal.  There are still buildings with water lines that have been boarded up and abandoned.  There are still areas of town that have been untouched since the storm.  Needless to say, this is very depressing.  I am sick of looking at all of the destruction and ugliness.  Now, my area has come back relatively well.  My house is fine, but I love the verdant flowers, trees, and lovely scenery that surrounds Disney World.  If we could stay here forever, I would.  Hey, maybe one day we might. 

For now, I will just have to content myself with passing through this gateway into another place where we can have fun, forget our worries, and just concentrate on participating in the magic that is so palpable in this little slice of heaven nestled in central Florida.

Tom Sawyer's Island

I always love to visit Tom Sawyer's Island when I go to the Magic Kingdom; however, we don't always make it there due to some scheduling conflict.  On our last trip, we boarded a raft and sailed over to this mysterious island.  My favorite part of the entire island is the Fort.  The best part of the fort are the guns that are positioned in the rifle roost.  All of the guns used to make an excellent shooting noise when you pulled the trigger.  Sadly, not all of the guns seem to be working anymore.  Luckily, as we made our way around the fort, we discovered some guns that did make that satisfying shooting sound when we pulled the triggers.  The fort is so peaceful when the parks are fairly low on capacity.  We just sat at the old checkerboard and played a game (which I lost).  I also like to check in on the soldiers who have been working since back in the 1970s when they made their home at the fort.  I wonder if they ever get tired of doing the same thing over and over again.  The soldier who is usually resting on his bed was still snoring away as usual.  I hope that no one ever gets the bright idea to alter this little slice of heaven.  I hope that it remains untouched so that I can always go back and take a tour of a piece of Disney World that has been left as it should be.  It offers excitement and thrills but also relaxation and a wonderful view of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

The bridge that will take you to the fort.

Getting some shooting practice!

Excellent View of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!

Another excellent view of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!

Working hard!

We created our own hidden Mickey!

Sleeping the day away!

The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness!!!

New Horizons for You and for Me!

Check out this suitcase from the end of Space Mountain.  This suitcase can be found right before the moving walkway that takes you back up to Tomorrowland.  If you inspect the stickers on this case, it should be obvious that this traveler has clearly visited the gone but not forgotten ride, Horizons, that used to exist in EPCOT Center.  This ride was a look at the world of the future.  This view was not an apocalyptic view; it was a sunshine and rainbows view of all of the things that could be possible.  The song that played throughout the attraction told the riders that "if we could dream it, then we could do it." 

I really enjoyed this ride because it was audio animatronic based, which is honestly a rarity nowadays with all of the modern focus on technology and 3-D screens and movies.  This ride offered guests that ability to see the future in several different types of environments.  People could farm in the desert and communicate over many thousands of miles via very cool technology.  This creators of this ride also paid a great deal of attention to detail.  If you want an interesting look at this ride, hop on over to Hoot and Chief's site, the Mesa Verde Times, in order to read the story of their adventure and see this ride from a completely different vantage point. 

Anyway, Horizons just could not last because with all rides or experiences that focus on the future, eventually the future becomes the present and then the past.  It is very difficult to keep up with this type of ride.  Instead of constantly updating this ride, the powers that be at Disney decided that its popularity had run its course.  Eventually this ride was shut down and completely razed.  Now, in its place sits a fun thrill ride, Mission Space.   While this ride may offer big thrills, it does lack the heart and story that were present in Horizons.  Now, all I can do is sit and listen to my recording of the music, and think to myself, "if you can dream it, then you can do it; yes you can, yes you can!"

Vintage/Retro/New Disney T-Shirts

These shirts are a lot of fun!  They incorporate some vintage colors and design styles with some clever new tongue and cheek humor.  The first shirt in the top left hand corner is Goofy asking when the 3:00 parade is. I like the blatant, but good humored sarcasm that is presented on this t-shirt.  Next, the monorail shirt advertises the Spanish version of "Please stand clear of the doors."  I own this shirt, but it is an earlier incarnation where the artwork and words are in red.  Next, there are a few shirts that sport an old school Mickey with some clever sayings.  One shirt that is particularly fun was sold out at this location in Hollywood Studios.  This shirt had a simple drawing of a giant turkey leg in the center, and the words on the shirt read, "turkey leg."  Enough said!  Anyway, these shirts are a nostalgic throwback to colors from years gone by with a modern sense of humor.  They are a fun addition to any Disneyphile's closet of park fashions!