Letters to the Editor
Page 5 of 7
In December Rick West took a trip to Walt Disney World and wrote about the good and the bad in his West Side of the Kingdom column
Wow, I can't believe what you said about Countdown to Extinction. It is my favorite Disney thrill ride. I agree that there is a lot of darkness, but that's what makes it scary and exciting because we don't know what's coming up next. The dinosaurs are massive, and the sound effects along with the speed of the cars make it a very exciting and fun ride. I do agree with you that the new Tiki Room is garbage, but give CTX another look and ask yourself at the end if you had fun or not. --Anon
New Tiki Room show is awful. CTX was too dark, but is not horrible. Can be made better. --B
Never had I agreed with someone more then completely disagreed in the same article. Having just been to Disneyland and riding Indy I was appalled over how bad CTX was. You are exactly right it is an embarrassment to Animal Kingdom to have that ride. Maybe they will continue to work on it. But in regards to the Tiki Room, you could not be further out in left field. Was the original very cool-a great example of Audio-Animatronics, yes. Was it outdated, hard to understand, YES! The last times I had been to WDW, more than 3/4 of the people actually got up and left in the middle of the show. The new tiki room while not perfect at least keeps people in their seats. I even laughed during the show. --M
I guess that I am one of the few people who liked Countdown to Extinction when I rode it in '98. Due to all the negative comments that I'd heard, I was prepared to not like it, and was surprised when I did like it. Perhaps we hit it on a good day when things were working they way they are supposed to. Could it be better? Of course, but I didn't think it was a terrible ride, like many seem to. As for Tiki, Under New Management, I do agree that it is a very weak show. The basic concept of the new birds thinking the show needs to be livened up is a good one, but it is simply poorly executed. Some of the song choices do not work in that environment, and the ending just fizzles, instead of building up to a dramatic climax. I'm anxious to hear what people think of the new show in Tokyo Disneyland and if it updates the show in a manner that stays true to the experience Walt Disney intended. --DB
I was at WDW last month for the first time in years and was absolutely horrified at the new Tiki Room show! To make fun of a classic attraction that was a personal and profesional triumph for Walt Disney is inexcusable. The fact that this slap in the face was executed in such a low-class, cynical and mean-spirited way is particularly hurtful. And the mid-90's pop music that reminded me of a bad wedding reception forced me to visibly cringe in my seat. I did happen to encounter a host at this show who was very helpful in directing us to a good parade viewing spot, so I stopped by City Hall to leave a compliment. I also left a complaint however for the tacky, tactless and unkind new Tiki Room show. I pray to God that others have voiced their displeasure and that the new Tiki Room show will not appear at Disneyland. I would not mind a Tiki Room update for the 21st century, so long as it is done in the spirit of gracious hospitality and timeless style that Mr. Disney used to create the original show. If they can't do that, then I would prefer they just keep the same circa '63 show, even with the current cobwebs and state of mild disrepair. --T
Are you crazy? Did you catch CTX at a bad time? I went on my honeymoon 10/98 and it was pure magic. Tower of Terror is my favourite ride at any park, anywhere, and I love the new drop sequence as does my wife and the rest of my family who went in 9/99. As a kid the Tiki Room thrilled me the first two times i saw it. the next ten times I generally passed it up. It may be not what Walt wanted. but it's in the direction of what most Disney fans are after now. Ashamed of those who made it? A little overboard don't you think. No hard feelings, just wanted to tell you not everyone feels the same way as you. --JP
I LOVE THE NEW TIKI ROOM! The old one is so boring. The new one is funny and charming. I didn't run into anyone who didn't like it. CTX is also a great ride, and it was a lot better summer 1998. A lot of problems have occurred in that ride.....it is obviously no Indiana Jones Adventure. --D
Went to WDW a couple weeks ago and I too was disappoined with the new drop sequence on the Tower of Terror. I had been waiting to go on it for a while but it just wasn't as good as it used to be --Anon
In March Stuart Kuramoto wrote a Guest Column about seeing the Main Street Electrical Parade (MSEP) at Walt Disney World after so many Disneyland viewings.
Thank you for that truly heart inspiring story. I sat hear in my office and shed many a tears reading it remembering my fondest memories of that famed parade. On a day when I am dealing with some very difficult personal issues, it was so nice to run across your story and transport myself home to my favorite magical place with a parade I remember so well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your beautiful story. --A
Wow!! What an article!! I wish I had been there too!!! I cried as I read this and the memories came flooding back!!! I miss MSEP sooo much!! Thanks for the memories!!! --AF
I am from PA but have a great fondness towards Disneyland and the MSEP. I too was saddened that it left CA, saw Light Magic and knew it would never last. I was excited when I found out it was coming to WDW since we had plans to go twice last year. I saw it twice in Sept and had the same feeling you just wrote about. We also had plans with our friends to go during December, what a treat to get to see another two times, this time with Christmas music blended in with the familiar MSEP music. This was really a treat. I am glad a new generation of Florida visitors gets to see the best parade Disney ever made, but I do hope it goes back to Disneyland with some new floats in the future. --P
I really enjoyed your article about your recent MSEP experience at WDW. I can totally relate. My husband and I are annual passholders at Disneyland from San Francisco. I used to take the MSEP for granted, until it was gone. However, I did watch it everytime we went down to DL. DL is not quite the same at nighttime with out the parade. All of the parades that have followed (w/the exception of Mulan) really stink. I did get sucked in to buying the $10 Commemorative light bulb from the MSEP, though. I am also collecting the WDCC MSEP figurines, too. Anyways, we went to WDW in June 1999. I must have went through the same emotions you did when I saw that parade. After seeing the parade, my eyes too swelled up. I didn't think I could get that emotional over a parade. I really miss it, too! Again, thanks for your article! --LS