3 posts tagged “disney”
This December we made our annual holiday trip to Walt Disney World for a quick weekend getaway. Everyone that really knows me can bear witness for my love of Disney theme parks and property, I'm the kind of theme park guest that will actually start picking up litter if improbably disposes their food wrappers in the grounds. During the busy holiday season at Walt Disney World I sit back and take the time to thank the cast members (cm) I come across for making the magic happen. It's not a easy chore pleasing the every whim of an anxious public, hungry for a quality entertainment experience after having shelved out $74 for park admittance. Most hourly cast members still don't earn much money. Surely' not the amount their talents are worth.
Victor and I decided to have lunch at the Columbia Harbour House quick service restaurant in Liberty Square, the place was a mad-house of hungry customers and screaming children... you could see the strain on a few cm's faces but they tried their best not to let it show when it came time to interact with them. While waiting for our food I noticed a wooden sign in the back kitchen prepping area that read "Because nice matters, just try your best." and it's refreshing to know management is taking type that stance rather than forcing or threating cm's to be happy or else.
Victor and a few others have pointed out some cost-cutting measures Disney has implemented around the Magic Kingdom gone are the days back in the early 90's when buildings throughout property would receive a fresh paint of coat. I saw both high traffic and hidden away areas that required some sprucing by the maintenance crews, fading signs, chipping paint, and signs of wood rot. Also most noticeable by the everyday guest the holiday decorations around the Magic Kingdom where kept to a minimal this year. Mostly focused on Main Street the other lands had no visible sign of holiday decor on attraction facades. Disney not decking all the halls really let Victor down this year... in addition to that Disney management decided not to run the holiday version of the Country Bear Jamboree again for the second year in a row. That's usually not a good sign.
So despite all that we still enjoyed ourselves in Walt's Magic Kingdom and at the end of the day, as always, I wish I wouldn't have to leave.
A few more of our trip photos:
This isn't the only reported incident of scattering ashes on Disney property according to the L.A. Times back in November 1998 a family requested extra time on the Haunted Mansion towards the end of the day to hold a private vigil for a deceased seven year old boy. According to the article Disney granted the familes request and that evening the cleaning staff reported unusual dusty powder strewn across the ride track. Disney has never officially confirmed the practice of the spreading ashes has ever occurred, but bear in mind Disney has also never allowed a person to be officially declared dead on company property either. (as it requires a licensed doctor to declare one deceased) Nonetheless there has been three recent unfortunate deaths at Walt Disney World in Florida during the last month.
With an estimated sixty-two million annual guest visiting the domestic Disney parks every year such problems are bound to happen, especially with elder guest dying from natural causes or people with undiagnosed impairments. But to get back on subject it'll be nearly imposable to identify guest spreading ashes if they so choose. A Disneyland spokesperson told the L.A. Times on average the company receives two request per year from a family wishing to spread ashes in the park, the answer is always the same. No, of course. Plus it should added that spreading cremated human remains on private property without consent is a misdemeanor. With cremations gaining popularity in the United States we may be hearing more about this phenomenon.
- In 67 year old ride operator at the Animal Kingdom was stuck by a moving ride vehicle after entering a restricted area, hitting her head and later dying from her injuries.
- A 71 year old man lost his balance at the Magic Kingdom and fell to the pavement, later dying from the injuries he sustained.
- Last Saturday an elderly man riding on the Disney Transit buses to the Magic Kingdom with his family suffered a heart attack. The bus operator pulled over near the entrance to the Magic Kingdom parking lot where EMS was dispatched, although they where unsuccessful at resuscitating him.
Personally, I wouldn't mind having my ashes left at Walt Disney World and I'm sure there's thousands of other feeling the same. Undoubtedly it's a special place where people have created many fond memories. Why not be interred inside the happiest place in earth?
Related Link:
L.A. Times: Woman seen scatting ashes at Disneyland
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts was commissioned by the U.S. State Department to create a welcome video to be shown to incoming foreigners arriving at our national airports Disney executive Fred Tio directed as crews scoured the nation gathering footage of smiling faces and grand open vistas. The material is rather outstanding despite some location discrepancies where three scenes of Horseshoe Falls also known as Niagara Falls are shown, which technically is considered Canadian soil. Oops... There's also a bit of controversy and hypocrisy on the U.S. State Department blog comments section (as to be expected) regarding the video and it's attempt to mask our national problem with poverty and current situation with the federal governments treatment of illegal immigrants. As for a bit of Disney trivial: The instrumental arrangement used in the film was originally created for use at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida for the theme parks nightly fireworks display Illuminations in the World Showcase Lagoon.
Just as I'm starting to feel better chilly temperatures are reaching further south tonight as the low is expected to be around 27° . Booo...
Related Links:
