Dear Santa,
Unlike other years I’m writing to you this year for a friend of mine. It’s a very close friend and I know that this friend is too shy to write you a letter so I thought I would write you instead and tell you what I think I would like to wish for my friend.
My friend is Walt Disney World and as you may know, Walt Disney World has a number of wonderful things for everyone but especially the four theme parks; The Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.
I have a wish for each one of these theme parks and I think my wishes would be the same wishes for my friend so please try hard to make my wishes come true.
For the Magic Kingdom I wish that for 2010 that guests will be treated to a special nighttime party that is not connected to any holiday and that this party runs three nights a week starting in March and running thru Labor Day.
We can call it “Mickey’s Surprise Party” and the party would have wonderful shows in front of the castle and in tomorrow land.
There would be special fireworks shown on these party evenings and of course special treats like hot chocolate and cookies.
Also, there will be special character meets and greets throughout the park.
But here’s the best part”¦.for every party a guest will purchase a ticket and that ticket will have a tear off attachment that will be entered in a raffle each night and five party guests will be given a one-day golden fast pass good for up to 5 people in their traveling party.
The number will be picked randomly during the party and announced at the end of the fireworks display. Oh and one more thing”¦.this guest will also be given a one night stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite.
I think that would be a wonderful new addition to the Magic Kingdom.
For EPCOT a wish I have had for so many years is to see the re-opening of the Odyssey Restaurant and for that restaurant to offer the signature entrees from each of the World Showcase Sit-Down Restaurants.
If the restaurant was able to do that then the guests who have been unable to get Advanced Dining Reservations at their favorite restaurants could still enjoy their favorite entrée.
This has been a wish of mine for years and we know that there is always room for another sit-down restaurant in EPCOT.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has certainly gone through a lot of changes lately.
My wish for this theme park is to do something long overdue and that is to close down The Great Movie Ride and change a lot of the scenes that are really a bit too old for the younger guests to understand.
My thoughts are that some of the earlier movie scenes have pretty much seen their day and perhaps it is time to bring into this attraction some movies that are not 40, 50, or even 70 years old.
That is my wish for the Studios.
My wish for the Animal Kingdom has also been on my mind for a long time.
I think that the Animal Kingdom needs a dark ride that takes guests on a journey through Mythology with a special focus on Mythological creatures like the Minotaur, the Unicorn, and other creatures we have found in fantasy.
If not that then how about a Soarin’ type ride that shows guests what an eagle sees when flying or what a dolphin sees while swimming in the ocean?
Anyway Santa, those are my thoughts and wishes for my friend. I know granting wishes is a very tough job but if anyone can do it you can.
What I like about these wishes is that I think Mr. Disney would have liked them too.
Merry Christmas Santa.
I love your wishes, Mike! I especially like the AK one. They really do need some more E-ticket attractions in that park and a Soarin’ knockoff with animal movies would be awesome! Oooh, or maybe an Epcot-like attraction/dark ride where you traveled through different areas of the world and observed animals in the natural habitats! That could be cool.
And, as one of the few people who actually go to go to a Pirate and Princess party when they existed, I loved the party ide, too. The P&P party was one of my favorite events. So, they wouldn’t even need to invent a new party, they could just bring that one back!
Great post!
Thanks Jessica
For the Great Movie Ride, I rode it when the park opened in 1989 and then just a few years ago and what I noticed was that in 1989, the end scene with the clips was timed to fit lots of great movies and their memorable quotes or action. But, years later, the same amount of time was given, but so many new clips were mashed in together with the old that it was a mess, too quick to appreciate any of them.
Admittedly, I haven’t ridden it in a few year so maybe they extended it or deleted enough clips to make it work better, but if they haven’t, something should be done there. I know it would be hard to lengthen the ride because more cars are coming through, but…something, maybe slow the ride down a smidge so the end scene can fit more. It’s not like tons of people are lining up for it anyway. Let those of us who love movies, enjoy it.
Nick,
I always thought that TGMR would be one of those attractions that would always be changing every so often…it seems that the only thing that is changing is the film at the end of the attraction.
Thanks for the note.
Regards,
Mike
Hi Mike, great article, but I must disagree slightly with the wish for the Magic Kingdom (apart from the opportunity to stay in Cinderella Castle, that is!).
My last but one visit to WDW in October 2007 was marred by the early closure of the Magic Kingdom on several nights for the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party event, which is lovely for those wishing to attend the party, but not quite so lovely for those guests who have travelled an awfully long way, (in our case, from the UK), for a limited stay at the World, and who want to make the most of a long day at the parks.
Whilst I am deeply envious of those folks living in the USA who are able to visit WDW frequently, please spare a thought for those poor souls who can only get there every 3 years or so, and who thusly would like to spend lots of time in the Magic Kingdom. Us Disneyphiles advocate and wholeheartedly support the “get there for rope drop, leave mid-afternoon for nap, go back for evening” plan – but this is impossible to follow if the Magic Kingdom is then chucking out guests from 6 or 7 p.m. to enable party guests to be there!
The parties are truly wonderful, I have been to both the Halloween and Christmas events before now, but is running them for the major part of the year really such a good idea? Financially, (for Disney anyway!), yes – but from a guest experience point of view, maybe not so good.
Anyway, rant over, sorry for taking up so much space with my humble opinion, and once again, thanks for a really interesting article.
Keep ’em coming!
Silvercat.
Hi Silvercat,
To go beyond what your saying, many guests have remarked as to how each year these parties seem to start earlier in the calendar year.
What this means is that it requires more planning time to get what you want out of your vacation.
Regards,
Mike
Hello Mike,
I’m a little late getting to read this blog, but I was struck by the way you refer to WDW as a good friend. I also think of WDW as a good friend that I know well, who knows me well. That’s why I keep going back!
I agree 200% with your idea of Odyssey offering an international menu. Personally, I think if it did offer this, the place would become one of the most popular spots in the World very quickly. Look at the success of Boma and Tusker House! I myself would make a special trip just to visit it!
The Great Movie Ride has always been one of my absolute favorites. I agree that a few of the scenes could use a total facelift, like the first scene, the Alien scene and maybe even the Sorcerer’s Apprentice film clip. However, many of the other scenes are part of Hollywood legend, and I’d have a hard time saying good-bye to them.
Thanks for an insightful article!
A. D. Johnson
-Littleton, CO
Thanks for the note A.D.
Regards,
Mike
Awesome Mike!!!
ps. Good luck this weekend!!
Thanks Andrea,
Mike
I love your wish for AK. That would be so cool. I know my family wouldn’t miss a ride like that for the “World”. As for the Great Movie Ride, I agree. It is time to update it or get rid of it totally. Today’s kids think this ride is boring( I know mine do). They should put some kind adventure ride. Hey Maybe a new Marvel Comic ride. That would be cool. Great Blog. Hope your wishes come true
I’ve got to go with Peggy with regards to the wish about The Great Movie Ride. I love the scenes with the older movies–if parents were exposing their children to them, the scenes would never be too old for younger guests to understand. My 13 year old is quite familiar with those old films–in fact, when he was in kindergarten, he wanted to dress up as Don Lockwood from Singing in The Rain. I think that any kind of exposure to the classics can only do good!
Good point Lynne.
Mike
Wow, Mike! You should become a Disney park planner! I think your ideas are great! The AK idea of an eagles’s eye view or a dolphins view would be very interesting… and then of course the idea of the golden fastpass and a night in Cinderella’s castle sounds good too… 🙂
One can only dream Jennifer!
Mike
Mike, Your wishes sound fabulous !! Hope someone from Walt Disney World thinks so too. We’ll all just keep wishing too.
Thanks for putting so much time and imagination into yet another blog…I so look forward to every one you post. Thanks for telling Santa what sound like great wishes!
Thanks Bonnie!!!
Mike
Mike,
Walt Disney World is a very magical place, to be sure. However, I’m sure that there are many of us that would like to see some new surprises in the coming years. Some of the attractions in all four parks are getting a little “long in the tooth” for long-time guests and very dated for the younger crowd. So, I share your Christmas wish for something new–something different and exciting–in each park.
Merry belated Christmas from soggy New Jersey! Here’s wishing for an even more magical 2010.
Neil
Thanks Neil.
Change is good.
Mike
Hello there Mike,
What a wonderful list of wishes, I truly hope Santa read your list and can get the elves working on them.
Thanks for the great work on your blog, your stories and thoughts are so insightful and enlightening.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth,
Thanks for the kind words.
Regards,
Mike
Dear Mike-
While I like your wishes for the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom parks I have to say I disagree with your wish for Hollywood Studios Great Movie Ride. While it may be true that some of the movies featured in the attraction are old they are classics however and should be introduced to new generations of park guests. It might only take a small clip from the film to spark someone’s intrest.
I sincerly hope that is only a wish and not a plan currently in the works.
Good point Peg….I just hope interest does not wane….a few changes here and there may be worth it.
Mike
Hi I surley Agree with all your wishes I think they are great. I would like to see everything you wish for also. Thank you so much for sharing your wishes. With us readers. Thank you Jeanette
Great article as always. And I love the wishes. Let’s hope some of them come true very soon!