Unfortunately, all good things must come to a close. I have been thinking about this for a while now (which explains my absence from posting), and have finally made one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make: the decision to close the doors to WDW Central.

As upset as you may be, think how I feel. I have put literally hundreds if not thousands of hours into this site.

The reason is simple: I am entering a new point in my life, and I need to move on. I need to lift the commitment that this site gave me. Don’t get me wrong now – I’ve enjoyed every second of it! However it’s time for me to move on to other things that occupy my time as well.

Let me make something perfectly clear: I WILL NEVER DELETE THIS SITE. After all the work that’s been put into it, I wouldn’t dream of deleting it. It will continue to sit here and hopefully be an inspiration to more fans throughout the years through the posts, comments, pages, and more.

I urge you to read through the archives and see what’s here for you. Read through the old posts and you just might find something amazing. Feel free to link to the blog as usual. The more people coming to read it’s archives the better. The more knowledge and magic I can spread through these many posts the better.

Once again, I am truly sorry to let this wonderful community go. But – it’s just time.

If you’re interested, I can now ONLY be found through the following:

Almost Productive (Tumblr) & Flickr

I encourage you to follow me there. You can read my INTRO post on my Tumblog to read more about this change in my life. If you have any questions, I am always available through email: tcwmatt [at] gmail.com MY TWITTER ACCOUNT WILL EITHER BE FAIRLY INACTIVE OR DELETED.

Feel free to comment on this post and share your thoughts. Once again, I am deeply sorry for this decision, but it’s the right one. I know it.

Final Statistics, as of 7:05PM, September 27, 2010:

WDW CENTRAL, Dedicated to the legacy of Walt Disney & In Honor of Austin:

TOTAL VIEWS: 94, 203
BUSIEST DAY: Sunday, April 4, 2010 with 484 Views
TOTAL POSTS: 229
TOTAL COMMENTS: 672
TOTAL CATEGORIES: 13
TOTAL TAGS: 1,132
TOTAL SUBSCRIBERS: 49 (posts & comments)
TOTAL BLOCKED SPAM: 4,728

THANK YOU, READERS FOR MAKING THIS A MAGICAL COMMUNITY OF DISNEY FRIENDS. You will be missed.

#21When I first got the news that the Spaceship Earth “Epcot” signage and wand were to be removed, I wasn’t happy. I had never seen the ball without them, so to me, this was shocking. But not for long.

Since I had never seen it before the wand and other needless glitz, I was horrified at the thought of all that leaving. To me, it was a part of Spaceship Earth, and without it, things would be plain and boring.

Boy, I’m so glad I was wrong! When I saw that enormous “golf ball” for the first time after the decluttering, I was amazed. Saying it looked great would be a horrible understatement.

If I had to describe the clean Spaceship Earth in adjectives, it would be only the following – simple yet majestic.

That’s why it’s the iconic structure for such a brilliant park as Epcot. Inside it’s reflective silver shingles an adventure awaits.

Photo by JNad

#20In the wonderful world of wait times, some folks often wonder how Disney manages to constantly keep an accurate wait time up for guests. And that’s where the infamous red card comes in.

If you’ve ever been the “chosen one” to hold the Red Card, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Every so often, a cast member will scan the magnetic card and give it to one lucky guest. Then when said guest gets to the end of the line, another cast member scans the card, which updates the ride’s wait time.

“This card is used to help provide you with the most accurate wait time. Please hand the card to a cast member at the end of the line. Thank you.”

The fate of the ride wait time is in your hands. Now doesn’t that feel awesome?

Photo by mrkathika

Make kids go on things they’re scared of
You know what? I think we should take little Suzie on the Haunted Mansion! That’s genius – and as the parents are dragging her through the door, she could be kicking, screaming, and crying for another reason. She probably just has to go to the bathroom, she’ll be fine.

I’m not really sure what are going through parents’ minds as they drag their terrified son or daughter on a potentially scary ride. Maybe they think it’ll cure their fears if they go on it at a young age. Maybe they just want to ride it and don’t care. Maybe they haven’t heard of the Baby Swap.

Never come to an agreement about anything
“What do you want to ride next?” “Oh I don’t know, maybe Thunder Mountain.” “Well I want to ride Pirates again.” “Well you know Figment probably doesn’t have a wait.” “Yes but that’s in a different park.” “Well do you want to go to Epcot?” “No.” “Fine then.” “I’m hungry.” “Want some popcorn?” “Hey look, it’s Pirates!”

Sure it can be hard to decide what to do, but at least make a decision. I mean there’s only so many hours in a day, and you shouldn’t spend all of them choosing what to do. Just pick something and do it. Then you’ll actually get things accomplished.

Never take a break
The next idea people get is to run themselves ragged. They want to cram all these things into one vacation, they want to cram having fun into a certain time frame – which doesn’t work.

It’s important to take breaks. Breaks are what keep you happy in the heat and crowds. Without breaks it won’t take long for your whole party to feel exhausted and miserable. Sit on a bench, go inside a gift shop, get some ice cream, whatever – it will help!

Be disappointed if you don’t do everything
Depending how often you visit the World and how long you stay, chances are you’re not going to get to do everything you want each trip. And you know what? That’s okay!

Do as much as you can (while still keeping your sanity), and whatever doesn’t get done you can do next trip. Don’t burn yourself out over something that minuscule. Just do what you can and enjoy every second of it.

Let weather ruin your day
“Aw man! It’s raining! This means everything is going to close. We might as well go back to the hotel now. This is awful.” No, it’s not at all bad – it’s actually a very good thing.

Quick rain showers do a few things: they clear the parks, they cool you down, and they force you to get out of the heat and enjoy a few indoor (but no less fun) attractions.

What do you think?
These are the top 5 things I see folks doing in the Parks that make them miserable. What about you? Do you do these things? Do you like Grumpy? Share with me.

#19You can see it coming from a mile away. It’s those dreaded Florida afternoon showers that get everyone soaked, cold, and miserable. But something awesome happens when the storm ends.

That’s right – the clouds blow away, the sun comes out, you can feel the humidity rise as the storm is now over. But what’s so awesome? The fact that everyone is gone.

Yep it’s true that those rain showers really clear the crowds. It starts raining, and it’s like the floodgate keeping all the little guests in suddenly opens and people pour out of the park.

Sure it’s now uncomfortably humid, but look on the awesome side. You now have the park close to yourself. Now stroll through that empty park and enjoy yourself.

Photo by Joe

#18YUM. Just look at that ice cream cone. It’s wet coolness is just glistening in the hot sunlight. The instant you put your tongue on that it will be an absolute paradise. All your troubles will slip away.

What’s even better than simply having some of those delicious Disney desserts you ask? Simple – getting them for free.

If you go to Disney parks on your birthday (and are wearing that infamous pin), it’s true. Not only will you hear “Happy Birthday!” one hundred times, but maybe – just maybe you’ll get some special surprises.

More common if you go into sit-down restaurants, the waiter will bring you a complimentary dessert on your birthday.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the sweet treats as you eat yourself into bliss.

Photo by shereeny

Ellen’s Energy Adventure
Alright so maybe the jokes are a little corny, and maybe the effects are a tad outdated. But still this is the ultimate place to get refreshed.

Including the pre-show, it lasts an astonishing 45 minutes – giving you plenty of time to rest the weary leg muscles and soak up as much air conditioning as you can.

Spaceship Earth
Another long one here. Lasting about 25 minutes from start to finish, Spaceship Earth is a great relaxer. This ride also stops fairly frequently for handicapped guests, etc. so that might get you even more time to cool off.

If you’re bored one day, do what I do: just change the language and listen to the spiel in French, Spanish, or Portuguese. Very entertaining.

Club Cool
While not necessarily an “attraction”, Club Cool is located near the Fountain of Nations at Epcot.

Not only is it an indoor area where you can cool off for as long as you want, but also they have fountains of soft drinks from around the world – for free and with unlimited refills. It’s really one of the hidden gems at Epcot.

3D/4D Films
That’s right – Mickey’s PhilharMagic, It’s Tough to be a Bug, MuppetVision, & Honey I Shrunk the Audience Captain EO all last fairly long and are very cool. If you get my draft…er drift. Plus the wonderful smell of apple pie doesn’t hurt either!

Where do you go? Of course there are many more attractions and other places that are great for cooling off – what are your favorites?

Photo by janoimagine

#17Many argue that it’s the intense rides that make Disney. I beg to differ. While those are fun, it’s definitely the peaceful relaxing attractions that you’ll enjoy most. For instance, the TTA.

Say whatever you want about how awesome Tower of Terror or Space Mountain is – but I’ll be completely satisfied on the zippy Tomorrowland Transit Authority, aka the People Mover.

It’s almost as if all your cares go down the drain as you are zipping along the twisty magnetic track observing the crowds, lines, and rides. And the fact that it’s half air-conditioned doesn’t hurt either.

It’s a blast through the future and an awesome attraction that should never be missed.

“Paging Mr. Morrow – Mr. Tom Morrow. Your party from Saturn has arrived. Please give them a ring.”

Photo by Joe

As you should know, Michael Jackson’s “Captain EO” is returning to Epcot’s Imagination Pavilion in just a couple of days. But is this a good thing or a bad one?

Here are some comments (both views) under the Orlando Sentinel article:

Arguments against EO

“This guy is one of the worst role models in recent memory. I am shocked and saddened by Disney’s decision to honor a man who should be utterly forgotten. Disney should know this.”

“Wow WDW, this is your answer to Harry Potter? An old video you had sitting in the back closet? Wow good luck with that.”

“Michael — come back! All is forgiven…NOT! I am embarrassed for WDW.”

Arguments for EO

“Captain EO isn’t about Michael Jackson’s personal life! It is a 3D movie that is entertainment. If you don’t like MJ, don’t go see it.”

“I love this movie… I’m so glad they brought it back… No matter what your feelings are about Jacksons personal life you can’t argue that he is one of the best performers in history.”

“Stop Hating on Michael Jackson. He was a troubled soul who had a horrible home life who was always trying to recapture his childhood.”

Now I wasn’t going to share my opinion on this but I think I will. I don’t want EO back. It had it’s run, now let it go.

I know most people will disagree with me. But I’d still like to know – what’s your opinion? Duke it out in the comments.

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Does Epcot even need re-imagining?

Some would say yes. Others might disagree. But let’s think of Walt’s original idea for Epcot – it stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, but that’s not really what it is. Some complain that Epcot is not what it used to be – and while that’s true, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worse now.

What I Would Change and Why

While I’m not a huge fan of Epcot82′s philosophy to completely change it back to the original idea because most things there now are bad, I do think some change would be good.

Re-Think Innoventions
It’s just horrible. It’s the sorriest mash-up of random ideas piled into two buildings I’ve ever seen.

First we have a bunch of “going green” type things like Don’t Waste It!, Smarter Planet, and Environmentality Center. Then we have absolutely random stuff like Segway Central, The Great Piggy Bank Adventure, and Slapstick Studios.

I don’t know about you, but to me these ‘attractions’ don’t even sound tempting. It’s like Disney had a bunch of lame ideas and thought that if they combined them all it would become cool. Well, it didn’t.

I’m not sure what could replace it, but I’m sure Disney could think of something. Maybe create a mini futuristic world inside the two buildings. Maybe have one building a world of the past and one a world of the future – and make it incredibly realistic. Anything.

Re-Improve Figment
(You know I couldn’t miss this one). I think you’ll be surprised to see me say that I don’t think Figment needs to be destroyed. I do think, though, that that it could be greatly improved. The storyline is fine.

But they need to spruce it up – a lot. Give it a fresh coat of paint, open up the pyramids again, switch out a couple scenes and add some really cool, modern effects – not a disappearing butterfly! Then it might get some guests.

Help Nemo & Friends
I’m not really sure what’s wrong with this one. It’s a fine attraction – good effects and a storyline to a great movie. All that’s missing is the guests and I honestly don’t know why they are never there.

Keep Mission: SPACE
My thoughts on this one are simple – keep it. It’s set far in the future and deals with futuristic things. It actually relates to Epcot in that way.

I know people complain that “not everyone can handle it”. Well you know what, not everyone can handle Tower of Terror but it’s still there and going strong!

No, it shouldn’t be re-imagined – just Improved

I have a feeling if Disney totally started over on Epcot that they would ruin it. So no – it shouldn’t be re-imagined…but it should be improved in different areas, and greatly improved too.

Would you re-imagine Epcot? What would you change?

Photo by Joe

#16We have wondered before why T-Rex is so expensive. I’ve blabbed my thoughts that you’re not just paying for the food here – you’re also paying for the theming. And part of that is the meteor showers.

Now I honestly think that the meteor showers are awesome. While it is noisy and a bit distracting (so beware – if you’re looking for a nice quiet meal, this is not the place to go), it is still so neat to watch.

The effects are great and it’s even more entertaining if they occur when your water is trying to talk. I just think it’s a nice little addition to an already awesomely-themed restaurant. Don’t you?

Photo from here.

So here’s a little info about the music geniuses behind it all and a quick showcase of the awesome music itself.

Bruce Broughton

Bruce Broughton is one of the creative minds behind the music heard in the theme parks. More specifically, he was the composer for the following:

• O Canada! Film – 2007 Arrangement (World Showcase, Epcot)
• Spaceship Earth (Future World, Epcot)
• One Man’s Dream (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
• Ellen’s Energy Adventure (Future World, Epcot)
• Honey, I Shrunk the Audience! (Future World, Epcot)
• The Timekeeper (Extinct – Tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom)
• The Making of Me (Extinct – Future World, Epcot)

These are arguably some of the best themes in the parks. Spaceship Earth, Ellen’s Energy Adventure, and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience are some of my all-time favorites.

Sherman Brothers

Another theme park legend (among other things) here, Robert and Richard Sherman are responsible for so many catchy themes of the theme parks. There include:

• “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” (Carousel of Progress, MK)
• “It’s a Small World” (it’s a small world, Magic Kingdom)
• “One Little Spark” (Journey Into Imagination, Epcot)
• “Chim Chim Cher-ee” (Great Movie Ride, DHS)
• “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room” (Enchanted Tiki Room, Magic Kingdom)
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (All Songs)

As a matter of fact it was “One Little Spark” that made me realize the complexity of the theme park music. I posted this on #ConfessFriday on Twitter one day. I got back a couple of responses, but one that stood out to me was by @ThemeParkDaily who said this:

“Not nerdy at all, lots of Disney Park music is technically brilliant.”

Very true, I think. Now let’s take a look at our final composers.

Xavier Atencio + Buddy Baker

More commonly known as “X” Atencio, he and Baker composed one of my favorite tunes and rides – “Grim, Grinning Ghosts” in The Haunted Mansion. X also wrote the lyrics to “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)”, while Baker arranged the music for Impressions de France.

Your thoughts?

It’s sometimes hard to recognize and appreciate the Disney theme park music because it is always so well integrated and themed that we don’t consciously notice it. But that’s what makes it work so well, and that’s why it’s so complex.

What are your thoughts? What is your favorite music in the parks? Share your thoughts on all this in the comments.

I’m about to tell you a secret. If you’ve been in a “vacation rut” it’s almost guaranteed to make your vacations more fun + memorable. It’s simple & easy to do. Here it is -

Do something brand new each time you go

It almost sounds too simple, right? But it’s a time-tested idea (by me) that is proven (by me) to be very effective. It can be hard at first, but trust me it’s well worth it.

If you don’t know where to get started, just pick one thing you’ve never done. This could be anything from an attraction, a parade, fireworks show, restaurant, event, or anything in between.

For example, a couple trips ago my family and I did something totally new – we took a break from Epcot, headed over to Wilderness Lodge for an awesome lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe, and then took the boat from there to the Magic Kingdom.

It’s simple, but it works.

Once you do one different thing, it will put some life back into your vacation. Then for the next trip you’ll want to try something else new – and before you know it, not only will you have had a blast on many trips, but you will also have discovered and explored tons of things at Disney you never thought about before.

So what are you waiting for? Go try something new and see what extra magic you will discover.

Photo by Joe P.

#15What a clever contraption, isn’t it? The Walt Disney World Monorail System is always one of my favorite rides. Zipping along at 40mph with it’s wonderful smells and views takes you to vacation mode.

In case you haven’t already memorized those wonderful monorail lines that take you to your happy place, here they are: Red, Coral, Orange, Gold, Yellow, Teal, Lime, Green, Blue, Silver, and Black.

Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas.

Photo by Tom Bricker