IF I WERE KING
In Michael Broggie’s Walt’s Words of Wisdom, he noted that as a 12-year old boy he asked Walt
Disney directly the question as to why he could accomplish so much. Walt
replied by saying:
“Somehow I can’t believe there are many heights that can’t
be scaled by anyone who knows the secret of making dreams come true. This
special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four Cs. They are
Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Constancy, and the greatest of these is
Confidence. When you believe a thing, believe it all over, implicitly and
unquestioningly.”
Think about that one a bit. Great stuff.
Curiosity. Often, when working on a project I am called upon
to conduct the key stakeholder interviews. The interviews are meant to be
candid and confidential and are summarized in such a way as to help inform the
project team and produce the best results. I like to call this the Curiosity
phase.
One line of questioning that I like to use during the
Curiosity phase is a simple challenge. For a brief moment, they will become the
queen or king of the empire that we are planning for and they possess enormous
powers and prestige to make things happen. What do you want to happen? It
usually gets a chuckle but it also liberates the participant and can release a
very constructive dialogue. Then they are back to normal. Poof!
Walt Disney was a guy who
had the power and prestige to make things happen. As I noted in Walt and the Promise of Progress City:
“In 1960, Bradbury suggested to
Walt that he should run for mayor of Los Angeles because he was the only man
who knew how things work. Bradbury really believed that Walt understood the
issues, especially when it came to public transit. Bradbury said, “I’m all for
making Walt Disney our next mayor…the only man in the city who can get a
working rapid transit system built without any more surveys, and turn it into a
real attraction so that people will want to ride it.” Walt’s reply was, “Why
should I run for mayor when I am already king?”
With this column, just for the fun of it I have decided to
challenge myself and to ask the question, “If I were king of the North American
Disney theme parks and I could do just about anything I wanted. I didn’t have
to worry about politics or budgets. I just have to do the right thing as I see
it. What would I do?”
This column is my response. I challenge to you with the same
question. What would you do?
Let’s start with the Mothership – Disneyland.
As we enter Walt’s
original creation, the only park that he actually walked through, I think
everybody would agree that there is a special charm that has never been
duplicated. Main Street USA seems timeless. Although the buildings are painted
different colors, the signs advertise different merchants, and what goes on
inside of the buildings has changed considerably, the overall feel, the
combination of good urban design patterns, and the rhythm of the facades
remain.
I will be the first to
that I really like Main Street USA. You will often find me sitting on the
Wizard of Bra porch watching the passing parade. If I owned a time machine, I
would travel back to the days when the stores reflected the activities of a
small town, thereby reinforcing the illusion. I will have my minions keep
working on that invention.
With that said, there
are three changes I would like to see my minions implement immediately. The
suggestions may be subtle but I feel they are important. First, I would fill in
the gap between The Mad Hatter and the
seasonal store on the other side of the street. There is the gate where the
parade enters and exits as well as a “temporary” wall that has been there since
the park opened.
Back in 1956 this gap was originally planned to be the
entrance for International Street. Walt
Disney wanted to build a winding path of Old World facades with little shops
and experiences. There was a colorful sign placed right where the entrance was
to be. The idea of an internationally themed experience would later be
considered for many projects such as one in Kansas City as well as the World
Showcase in Epcot.
For little while, you used to be able to buy a cup of
coffee, grab a seat, and watch the other guests entering the park. During the
50th Anniversary the space was used for a huge collage of guest
faces that morphed into a giant Mickey Mouse. Today, the space stands empty. It
is time to fill in the gap. Space Mountain has
taken up a bit of the real estate back there but I think this could be the
portal to an intimate, magical experience along the lines of Ollivanders in The Wizardry World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure in Florida. Disney has spent
a billion dollars on this technology and this would be a good place to use it.
Another priority is something that I think is long overdue.
It is time to dedicate a window on Main Street to Harrison “Buzz” Price. I have
gone into great deal about the importance of Buzz Price’s advice to Walt and
Roy Disney here and here. Main Street would not be there if it were not for Buzz.
According to Disney there are three tests that must be met
to achieve this honor. First, you must be retired. Second, you must have
achieved the “highest level of service, respect, and achievement.” Finally,
there must be “agreement between top individual park management and Walt Disney
Imagineering, which creates the design and copy contents.” Buzz has met all of
these tests. It is about time.
While we are at it, isn’t it time for a window for Alice
Davis? The dolls in it’s a small world
and the figures in Pirates of the Caribbean would look less magical if it weren’t for her
costumes.
The third change may be subtle to many but it has always
bugged me and I want to return to Walt’s original vision. Walt and Imagineer
John Hench understood the art of placemaking and the importance of the sidewalk
café. The café provides a unique setting that is special to cities and,
according to architect Christopher Alexander, creates “a place where people can
sit lazily, legitimately, be on view, and watch the world go by.” A proper café
must be near a busy path.
The hedges along the Plaza Inn need to be trimmed. They are too tall. Walt and Imagineer John Hench
knew that you had to place the seating on a slightly elevated platform so that
you create another people watching opportunity. Those are some of the reasons
why John Hench designed this facility the way that he did. It was so important
to Walt he even highlighted the site plan during one of his television
broadcasts. Right now the hedges are too tall and obscure the view. Bring out
the shears. Off with their heads!
I know I said I wanted three things but there is one more
thing I must add. I shall miss the Carnation Plaza. For those who remember, the
Carnation Plaza was the center of activity back in the day. I remember one year
in the mid-1980s where they brought out the world’s greatest surviving big
bands. I bought a season pass just to take advantage of this opportunity. One
after another; Artie Shaw, Myron Floren, Glenn Miller’s band, etc. playing
while the audience danced and ate ice cream. Can one of the old timers remind
the young bean counters how much ice cream was sold before they tore out that
facility?
Let’s head over the bridge into Adventureland. The obvious
opportunity is to reopen the Tahitian Terrace. For over 30 years you could dine on some “authentic”
Polynesian food and watch a show featuring hula dancers (one for the dads!) and
a fire dancer. Good times. It is a
beautiful, intimate space and it added a bit of exotica to the land. With a new
Hawaiian resort, Disney finally has the cross-promotion necessary to justify
any expense these days.
There is an opportunity to dream big over in Frontierland.
For those that have visited The Walt Disney Family Museum and viewed the model
of the Disneyland of Walt’s dream, you will notice that there is a hill that
crosses over the railroad track and expands Frontierland over on the other side
of the berm. This may be an opportunity.
There also seems to be a lot of land if you combine the Big
Thunder Ranch and Festival arena and then
plow down the soon to be obsolete Fantasyland (aka Wonder Bra) theater.
Disneyland is just screaming for another E-Ticket attraction now that the Disney
California Adventure expansion is winding
down. I don’t have a preference other then a family friendly, highly themed
attraction with a super high capacity. Could they pull something off that was
not tied into another property like many of the Disneyland classics? Does WDI
still have it in them?
Next door in Fantasyland I struggle to figure something that
I would change. Lately, the park has continually “plussed” the classic dark
rides such as Snow White’s Scary Adventures.
Keep that up.
I could be convinced to bring back an old favorite.
Fantasyland was one of the destinations of the Skyway. The building is a shell of its former self but it
stills stands. Walt was onto something with the original attraction. He knew
that people have a fundamental instinct to climb up to some high place and to
look down and survey the world. This attraction met that challenge perfectly.
As king the thought of bringing it back must certainly cross my mind. I may be
powerful but those folks over at OSHA will still meddle. Not sure if I want to
pull the trigger just yet. What do my minions desire?
When I look at the entrance to Tomorrowland from the Plaza
Hub all I can do is shake my head and try
not to tear up. What is the Astro Orbitor doing in a hole in front of an abandoned PeopleMover beamway? Why isn’t the spinner up on top of the
tower soaring through the clouds where it belongs?
Why did somebody move the ice room set from Superman to block the entrance and then paint it an awful
color? What does this mean? And is there a theme to Tomorrowland anymore? It
used to be the world in 1986. Then it became the “World on the Move.” Now it
is….
To the right is Star Tours. Okay it is a bus terminal for space travel. Got it. Fits the theme of
Tomorrowland. Buzz Lightyear. Oh
he is a spaceman(?). Got it. Space Mountain. Perfect. Belongs here. The (un)Official
House of Energy Usage and other random
displays in Innoventions? I guess
Walt did have a display for the Crane Bathroom of Tomorrow display and retro is hip so there is an opportunity
to make lemonade out of this lemon. The Innoventions exhibit can go and this prime piece of real estate
can become something wonderful. And while we are at it, I think the time for Captain
EO has come to fly his last mission. What
looked campy and old is starting to just look old now that the new version of Star
Tours has arrived.
We all know we want the PeopleMover back. Is there one among you who disagrees? The PeopleMover
in Florida is great but the grade changes
and the interaction with the Monorail makes the track layout in Disneyland superior. Bring it back. It added
a kinetic energy and the opportunity for a preview of the wonderful things in
store.
If this cannot be done then I would recommend the following.
For many, our collective image of an urban future would look something more
like the spaceship in Wall-e or the
world of Blade Runner. Large
electronic signs, a gentle push toward conformity, bright, safe colors, and all
of the sharp edges have been removed. Imagine the underside of the PeopleMover
beam coated with a digital sign display.
Something similar the Freemont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas but on a
smaller scale.
Time to check out some ideas for the new additions – New
Orleans Square, Critter Country, and Toontown.
What I would like to see for New Orleans Square is a return
to small unique shops. After experiencing the clever shops and the mix of
exclusive merchandise at The Wizardry World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, I was impressed.
You wanted to spend time in the shops and you knew that if you found something
you better buy it because you will not know when you will be back again. New
Orleans Square used to have the One-of-a-Kind Shop featuring beautiful antiques. Disney never expected
the store to be a big moneymaker. However, it sure added to the atmosphere and
gave Lillian an outlet to sell some of the stuff she didn’t want anymore.
Unless somebody at Disney allows me to spend the night at the Disney Suite when
I was a mere mortal, I would prefer to have the Disney Gallery back and to
share that splendid view with other guests.
As we wander back toward Critter Country, the change I would
make should be pretty obvious. The MBA experiment known at Winnie the Pooh must be retired. We understand why the attraction
was built - a chance to sell Pooh plush. The changeover may have even sold a
few more of those disgusting Tigger Tails but compared to the version in
Florida and the one in Tokyo, it seems Anaheim got the short stick. Even on the
busiest days there is no line. No wonder.
Those who read Samland frequently know that I have a soft
spot for Toontown. I feel it was a great addition to the park and exceeds in
design compared to its function as a reliable place to see the characters. The
queue for Roger Rabbit may be one of the
best in any Disney park. There is little I would change. Maybe it is time to
turn the effects on the Miss Daisy back
on. Poor Chip n Dales Treehouse
could also use a remodel.
I debated long and hard on whether or not to comment on
Disney California Adventure. I have decided that it is still too early. I am
please with what is proposed and have enjoyed watching the project
progress. I will soon pack my
dirigible and take a flight over Walt Disney World. In the meantime, what would
you do?
