Something Done Disney!

Cinderella's Castle a few holidays ago.

Recently, I have spent time in my blog expressing concerns about Pandora. I watched the dedication the other day, making my desire to visit Pandora a lot less predicated on whether I fit on the attractions or not.  Pandora looks beautiful and I wanna go and see it for my self.  Also, I think its about time I climbed down from my soap box and took a few moments to comment on some of the new, amazing and wonderful attractions at the most magical place on earth. I have to preface my comments with the fact that I've not been able go to Animal Kingdom or The Magic kingdom for about a year and a half.   Both of those parks have received new night time shows over the past year and, sadly,  all I can do is experience the new shows vicariously through Youtube and the Video Blogs I follow.  Let me just say that if watching the night time spectaculars on Youtube can bring a tear to my eye and thrill me as much as they have, then I might need to bring a defibrillator with me when I get to see them in person.

Some time ago anticipation for the new Rivers of light show in Animal Kingdom grew almost to the breaking point.  Each test cause a delay and each delay raised anticipation.  However, I'm Glad Disney took the time to get it right.   Its a beautiful show full of boats and water curtains, Projections and live performers.  I really can't wait to see it in person.  I suspect I will choose to do a Dinner show with Rivers of light and try out Tiffin's.. I haven't heard of this restaurant but the menu looks wonderful.  While I don't think there would be any bad places to watch, I want a good place to see the show.

I loved wishes.  I was kind of melancholy when it ended it long run at the Magic Kingdom.  But thankfully Happily Ever After is a worthy successor to Wishes.  This experience has more fireworks, more projections, great music and (spoiler alert) in a nod to Wishes, Tinkerbell flies again!   What Disney has done with the projections on the castle are nothing short of jaw dropping and the spectacular in the skies above Cinderella's castle is Beautiful with more shells and fireworks that wishes had.  I shed a tear when I watched. OK, those that know me know I get very emotional when it comes to watching Disney fireworks.  Wishes had the ability to transport me out of this complex world of worries, politics, and strife to a place of magic and wonder that even an old guy like me can find the place in which I can get lost for some number of minutes. Happily Ever After, I'm happy to observe has the same potential to whisk folks away to a land of magic and joy. I cannot wait to see Happily Ever After live at the parks and how much more wonder the Disney's Imagineers will add During the Holidays.  The goose bumps are rising now just thinking about it.

Not all changes are for the worse.  If fact, Disney seems to realize that if they are going to take something loved by people, Imagineers need to replace it with something even more magical.  On the horizon is Star Wars land and Toy Story land in Hollywood studios.  We had to sacrifice for these new amazing locations with the removal of the streets of America and the Loss of the Osborne spectacle of dancing lights. But Disney's track record for replacing beloved attractions with something more amazing is very good.  So I count the days till I can wander down the streets of some Star Wars world and take control of the Millennium falcon.  You can sign me up for that experience right now.