Save the Rainforest - Keep "it's a small world" a classic.

[mousechild]

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

Good point. I suppose it's true that Ellie sort of steals attention away from Trader Sam. However, I never felt while on the attraction it was much of an issue. I didn't feel bombarded with stuff - it felt natural and in-theme. Interesting take on the situation, though.

Look its not a deal killer but it is an addition that took place only to add something. It was sort of plussing run amok. And that's what happens all too often now. Plussing just for the sake of plussing, not to elevate the story or improve scenes that were a bit stark or perhaps add things n that got cut during earlier budget planning. The water explosions are a great plus IMHO, ellie, was a subtraction through addition.

And this of course is what you are talking about with IASW. The addition of characters just to add. This thread is specifically about the rain forest scene , but if I remember correctly you are also not in favor of the addition of the Disney characters as well.

[lazyboy97O]

The biggest problem with these changes is that it continues the trend of Disney looking down upon its guests. In Disney's eyes guests today are incapable of enjoying themselves with pre-established characters and being walked through a three act story (I wonder what the "something goes horribly wrong" version of "it's a small world" will open?)

Maybe Disneyland is complete, because Disney seems to act as if imagination is dead quite a bit lately. Guests are thought to have no imagination and have to be walked through everything, and Imagineering seen as is merely a plant that processes the 2D world of film into physical space.

Originally Posted by dl1955pounds

The work that Disney has done in the past few years has been really good, and I look forward to seeing their take on Small World.

Like those major changes that were made to Spaceship Earth after its soft opening?

[pussnboots]

I did one too, for the heck of it. You can even buy it, which is cool in theory, but I wouldn't if I were you.

[lazyboy97O]

Re-Imagineering has a new entry featuring MasterGracey's "Save the Rainforest" logo. I also recommend the one regarding Spaceship Earth version 4, which deals with talking down to guests.

[aashee]

Wonderful creation pussnboots!

Originally Posted by pussnboots

I did one too, for the heck of it. You can even buy it, which is cool in theory, but I wouldn't if I were you.

[serviceelevator]

I toyally agree with you MasterGracy the art and uniqueness in It's a small world should stay the way it is!!!
No Disney characters will make it any better!

[Coheteboy]

Do you guys know if the rainforest scene is going away for good good? Or would they at least keep the scene.. but make it smaller?

[pianoman13]

good post MG(havn't seen other's posts yet) and I agree, I won't get into any details or arguments because i'm sure they've all been said already, but I'll make my sig the save the rainforest "logo"

[GhostHost2]

Originally Posted by lazyboy97O

Maybe Disneyland is complete, because Disney seems to act as if imagination is dead quite a bit lately. Guests are thought to have no imagination and have to be walked through everything, and Imagineering seen as is merely a plant that processes the 2D world of film into physical space.

There is imagination left in the world, but there isn't any imagination left at WDI and in the Disney execs that control WDI.
John Lassiter, we are counting on you to save Disney and bring imagination back.

Originally Posted by pianoman13

good post MG(havn't seen other's posts yet) and I agree, I won't get into any details or arguments because i'm sure they've all been said already, but I'll make my sig the save the rainforest "logo"

Thanks to this comment, I finally got a signature.

[pianoman13]

-this post is to find out if my sig is working-
edit: YES!

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by mousechild

Look its not a deal killer but it is an addition that took place only to add something. It was sort of plussing run amok. And that's what happens all too often now. Plussing just for the sake of plussing, not to elevate the story or improve scenes that were a bit stark or perhaps add things n that got cut during earlier budget planning. The water explosions are a great plus IMHO, ellie, was a subtraction through addition.

I gotcha, and I totally agree with the idea that plussing for the sake of plussing isn't a smart idea.

It seems like WDI and Disney like to throw around Walt quotes and ideals like party favors to justify decisions they make... it would be really great if they actually understood what those Walt quotes meant. It isn't hard to, either. All you have to do is look at Walt's work and you get a pretty solid idea what all of those quotes about 'plussing' and 'opening new doors' and 'never complete' really mean.

Originally Posted by mousechild

And this of course is what you are talking about with IASW. The addition of characters just to add. This thread is specifically about the rain forest scene , but if I remember correctly you are also not in favor of the addition of the Disney characters as well.

I'd like to point out that this thread isn't ONLY about the Rainforest scene. It's about the addition of random characters, too. "Save the Rainforest" is just the slogan for this campaign for positive change... but its not intended to ignore the character additons or to say that they're okay. Because they aren't.

[CASurfer65]

Originally Posted by lazyboy97O

I would love it if one, just once, a member the "all change is good" birgade would adress the concept of positive and negative change instead of merely mocking those who disagree.

That's an interesting idea.
As a former CM, and a person who really does appreciate what Disney has brought into the world, I have my definite opinions about certain things that happen at my old stomping grounds...my home away from home for about ten years while I worked there.
Will people agree with what I post on a board like this? Some will, some won't. But I too think it's cool to discuss change. And I think it's cool to discuss change from a positive, and negative, perspective.
I know that Disney himself wanted the park to be a place that evolved as time moved on. And it's fun to discuss, and debate, what changes we think are true to his vision, and which aren't. None of us will ever know completely, I guess.
As a former CM, and an avowed "purist," I'd probably be deemed a dinosaur by many in some of the ideas I have about the park, because I do believe some things should largely stay as is.
There will always be that sense of "inner child" that I have within me though, and I still dig attractions like IASW.
I know for many, once they become an adult it isn't cool to like IASW, so it will always be the attraction that some people to diss because of the song, the kitschy aspect of it, or whatever.
But IASW was one of the attractions I worked as a CM and I consider it a Disney treasure. And I can't remember a day I worked there that people didn't flock to the attraction, both young and old. Of course, the line wasn't as long some days as others. Many times it was practically a walk on.
But so was Matterhorn on occasion.
The numbers of people boarding IASW though suggested a fairly consistent interest in the attraction.
Again, many will diss it because it's the thing to do. Joke about the song, minimize the attraction as a fluff piece, not take it real seriously. Some have said "it's just IASW."
I see it as more than that though.
It sounds like Walt made some changes to it to cut costs (according to one person here on this thread) when he brought it to Anaheim.
Even so, he still brought it here, so it was an important enough attraction to him to see it added to his park, and when you see him talk about it in archival footage, the message the attraction is supposed to bring forth is quite clear. And he seemed to look upon the attraction in a special way.
I get the sense that Walt had a real quality about him that had a real connection to that inner child also.
While many will see it as an attraction not taken seriously by adults, it was adults who created the ride, and Disney was right behind them.
Did they create it only for children? Somehow I doubt that. But that's my opinion. I can only go off what Walt said about creating a place that kids and adult could enjoy together.
Is it possible that had Walt remained alive he would have had it torn out by now? Maybe.
But maybe not.
Can it stand a face lift? Sure.
I think that updating the attraction is a great idea. I don't agree with putting the animated characters in there among the children of the world though. But that's my opinion.
I think real dimension could be added to the sets, and some of the AA features could be upgraded. But adding other elements such as the animated Disney characters to it is unnecessary in my opinion.
I'm sure no one loved his animated characters more than Disney himself, but for whatever reason he left IASW as a dedication to the children of the world, for young and old to enjoy, and left his beloved characters out of it.
But who knows? Had he lived, he might dig these suggested changes too.
We'll never know.
Sometimes change is good, but it's okay to discuss what changes people like, and which ones they don't, and leave it at that.
In closing, a friend of mine who has consistently considered IASW "cheesy" recently admitted that he really does like it. And I think a lot more people do like the attraction than will admit. For some, joking about it is the thing to do, but I believe many of them would be pretty bummed if they ever took the attraction out. I know when I mentioned the changes to my friend, Chris, he was like, "why are they doing that??" I jokingly responded by saying that I didn't think he cared about IASW. It was then that he admitted that it isn't all that bad, and that it does bring back fond memories.
And I think that's what Disney is about. Making new memories, but also bringing back the old memories. This will require making changes, as Walt, himself, would have wanted. But I think it will also be keeping some things authentic too. Especially the classics.

[Disneyland Daddy]

Originally Posted by aashee

Count me out of any protest. I don't mind being against something but I'd refuse to be a filthy picketer.

Come on Chad - SCRUNGE!!!

Originally Posted by DisneyIPresume

I was thinking the same thing. Although I was thinking on Harbor Blvd at the Timon entrance. As long as we get the proper permits and keep it civil there's absolutley nothing Disney can do to kick us out.

As well, I have seen T-Shirts, but has anyone given any thought to Bumper Stickers? We don't take Bumper Stickers off of our cars every day - and we do change clothes daily (hopefully ).

Just a thought.

[Coheteboy]

It just kinda came to me.. I was thinking about It's A Small World in my life. Was there a time that I didn't like it? Yes. Was there ever a time I wanted it to go away? Never.

I probably enjoy IASW much more frequently now that I'm older, so the thought of it being only for kids isn't quite accurate. As a kid, it wasn't something I was interested in because I was a boy and it was a ride with a ton of dolls. hehehe. But since I was a band geek, I knew a good song when I heard it and IASW is definitely a GOOD song. Even if you do tire of it.

This post doesn't really add much to the debate. I just felt like putting it out there.

[BigPigletFan]

I was hoping there would be a campaign! Thanks MG for the extras.