Post #347658 by Tom Slick on Tue, Dec 4, 2007 12:40 AM

I have to admit, I wasn't going to join in this post due to the harshness of the title, but after reading through it, I see people feel the same way I do in alot of different ways.
My major complaint(s) with the way the park is being ran and operated are:

1. ALL restaurants should be first come, first served, period! Why make it more difficult with months in advance booking? When you pay your admission, go make your reservations at that time! F@CK a 1-877-dine number to call months prior to your visit to the park. If Im there today, I expect to eat today(at a good restaurant)! I found that out the hard way after arriving at the park this past summer, and I was livid!

2. Tomorrowland Used to be cool, but for the last 12 years or so, its been the ghetto of Disneyland.No kiddie boats, no Subs,no rockets, no peoplemover,no circlevision, and finally the Space Mountain Remodel that had it shut down for a while...Well, Thank God for Space Mountain reopening. But what happened to the real feel of "The Future"??? Monsanto, McDonald Douglas, and all the other independent sponsors really made this area successful back in the days! It wasn't just fun, but you actually LEARNED things. Hall Of Chemistry, ATIS, Rocket to the Moon, House of the Future and the uses for plastic... need I say more?

3. What happened to "Theme" merchandising in the park? Its all the same shit at every stand you go to! The same hats, shirt prints and LED night toys at every cart across the park no matter what land you are in!

4. Great moments with President Lincoln....Its now indefinately shut down, currently home to some of the Disney Gallery models(since the closing of the Disney Gallery atop the Pirates of the Caribbean loading area). Future is uncertain with the area that used to Hold Great moments with Mr. Lincoln, but rumors are a possible current Disney movie interactive animatronic show. There is no more respect for this Country's founding fathers as it seems the only reason people(especially tourists) seem to remember "Some" of the dead presidents, its because they are on our printed currency. Disney execs are losing the "lets learn about this, and still have fun" type attitude, to make room for the merchandise machine. Learning doesn't sell very well, but apparently Nemo does!

5. Political Correctness is bullshit and it has become a disease in American Society. There were people like the character "Uncle Remus" who existed. Instead of hiding the truth, how about keeping it semi-real and not burying it all? Pirates pillaged, plundered, raped, and killed for profit. Now everyone is being brain washed into thinking Pirates were all like the non blood spilling Johnny Depp character. I know Pirates of the Caribbean ride never showed blood or direct rape, but also,as a kid, you never saw the darker more cynical side of the ride, not until you were older and realized there wasn't a tooth fairy and easter bunny afterall... History it seems, is being rewritten in all aspects of life and Disneyland should give you the first clues to a reality check. Bring back the woman in the barrel, the men chasing the women WITHOUT plates of food in there hands, and bring back the original Captain "BlackBeard" of the Wicked Wench! Bring Back Indian Village with real jewelry stands and dance shows. It was educational as well as entertaining. Bring back the can-can dancers at the Golden Horseshoe Revue. Bring back the burning cabin with the laid out settler that had arrows sticking out of his back. Bring Back TOM SAWYERS ISLAND with the Fort. Bring back the Founding of America, it's only a "Theme" park, so no need for PC, right? Frontierland can't be what it is(was) without a Frontier, now can it?.....

I guess the point I am trying to get across is that I think Disneyland has taken the timelessness feel and dated it all...Nemo, Updated Pirates version,Star Tours, ToonTown,Pirate Island etc..etc...Florida's Disneyworld has tossed away Toads Wild ride, and completely rewritten the Tiki Room starring Gilbert Gottfried featuring songs by the miami sound machine. Then I can only speculate to see Eddie Murphy added with his movie family to the Haunted Mansion at either(or both) of the parks in due time....

Sorry for the rant, but it disturbs me, and its not Disneyland's fault they make these changes...It is because of US, as a whole...Its our religions, it's our somewhat shameful, yet powerful historical past, it's our grudges we hold on to...It's our intolerances towards others differences that eats away at America like cancer, and is absorbed at all media levels including Disneyland.
The park still has a glimmer of magic to it, but it is just that. Almost as if Tinkerbell has all but ran out of pixie dust...