> Disney, the man, was genuine, however much of a negative light revisionist history would like to paint him in. He and his team of animators DID make "Snow White" in spite of everyone projecting critical and financial doom. It IS a genuinely magical film, not an exploitative product of commercialism, and Disney and his miraculously talented animators went on to EARN every bit of the money they raked in for their efforts. Disney, the modern empire? Coasting on a dead man's well-deserved legacy.
>

I'm totally with you, Sam. I have a tremendous respect for Walt Disney, but modern Disney? Grrr. :p Although I would say that one more recent film was inspired... Fantasia 2000, which I adore. Of course, one of Walt's relations had to really push for that to be made... heh.

I'm going to elucidate on one of the horrid theme park 'updating' travesties... now, some of the new stuff has been okay. The Winnie the Pooh ride, replacing Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disney World, is wonderful and makes me sniffle from nostalgia, because they use the classic Pooh. :) But a lot of newer theme park stuff has been, to put it mildly, sux0r. It's the worst when they try and 'update' an old attraction.

The Enchanted Tiki Room. Cute audio-anamatronic bird show with realistic birds, singing flowers and totems, and fountains and a thunderstorm at the end. And lots of catchy songs! ('In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki roooom...') A classic.

In come the new Imagineers. The job title belies the actual IQ (Imagination Quotient) of these people. What do they do to the Enchanted Tiki Room?

They add Iago and Zazu.

WHAT??

First of all, Iago and Zazu are not even from the same MOVIE. Secondly, their audio-animatronic versions look like their cartoon selves. Imagine how utterly stupid this looks next to the realistic birds. Then scrap all the classic songs, throw in Iago singing a corrupted version of some Aladdin songs, shorten the show dramatically to FIVE MINUTES, and... GAH. :p

The only part of interest was a fairly neat looking new audio-anamatronic tiki goddess, who not only looked good but also fired a lighning bolt at Iago's feathered tushie. Hah.

Fortunately, the Disneyland Enchanted Tiki Room remains untouched. Phew. And they'd better keep it that way... visitor complaints do influence them, you know. :)

Perfect example of the new Disney v.s. classic Disney. Grrr.

Sosi"dang, now I want to buy a Dole Whip from the stand outside the Tiki Room"qui