Guest Relations
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A lot of our devotion in Disneyana lies in a little bit of devotion to the child in all of us.

A lot that was unbelievable in our childhood lives has come to pass in our adult years.

There was a mythical and fantastic quality to watching a Disney film or walking through a Disney park as a child. The idea of living in the year 2000 had almost the same quality.

When I was a kid, Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom and the sci-fi shows didn't mean the future as much to me as the year 2000. It not only represented the change that comes with no longer having to start a year with the number "1," but also the change of the future.

Here we are. The year 2000.

Still sounds strange a couple of days after ringing in the new year, but it figures we'll all get used to it as we get ready for the next 100 years.

When you reflect upon the last century, 100 years can seem more plentiful than 101 Dalmatians ... especially when you look back at the century through our love of Disney.

Just think that 100 years ago, Walt Disney hadn't even been born yet. There weren't any Disney movies. Even if there were, the first movie theater wouldn't be built for another five years.

There weren't any Disney parks, and parks with roller coasters didn't have themes yet. There was no reason to fly to Florida to see Disney World, and even if you wanted to fly, it would have to be by balloon or blimp. The airplane was still three years away.

Few phone, few lights, few motor cars and not much luxury. Like Robin Crusoe, U.S.N., it was as primitive as can be.

Truly amazing how far we've come in just the last century, and think of where we're going in the next 100?

Perhaps we won't be watching Disney movies, but Disney holograms instead. When you go to "Mission to Mars" at Disneyland, you will actually go to Mars. After the cryogenically frozen body of Walt Disney is found, the first Disney production actually headed by Disney himself in 150 years is released.

I was kidding about that last one, of course. But I'm not kidding in wishing you the happiest of new years.

Disney's Laboratory: This is shaping up to be quite an experimental year for Disney on the animated movie front.

Fantasia 2000 is only a beginning, and a welcome beginning it is. I'll tell you about it after I see it at the temporary IMAX theater here in L.A. this weekend.

From there, there is the very promising Dinosaurs which promises to knock us off our feet. On top of that, a Tigger movie, too, which should please the Pooh fan in my future wife.

Great to see Disney not so much willing to take risks, but realizing that its audience yearns for risks and groundbreaking material. After all, if they weren't, then Hanna-Barbera would be a highly successful motion picture studio.

Though, to be frank, I'm not all that excited for the two releases at the end of the year. 102 Dalmatians should have been left at 101 and Kingdom in the Sun just doesn't seem all that interesting.

Something Disney Fans Would Like to See: Fantasia 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 ... etc.

Something Disney Fans Would Not Like to See: The Mighty Ducks 102. Had enough trouble getting through the first three.

What if It Was a (Different Kind of) Disney Movie: Toy Story 2 would be Roy Story 1 and detail how Roy Disney managed to save classical music from the "Hooked on Classics" people. You know, the guys who did the Disco version of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

Until next time ... 103 Dalmatians would be a sign of the Y2K bug.

Guest Relations is normally posted every other Friday.

The opinions expressed by Chris Reed, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future of Disneyland and the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.

-- Posted January 7, 2000