There are some words in the English language that stir emotions in people the second they are said. One example of this is the word mouse.
People who stick strictly to the denotation of the word might instantly be filled with such strong, negative feelings a shiver might be sent up their spines as they recall situations in which they encountered a mouse. Others, like me, might get a sense of joy.
This joy does not come to me because I have great childhood memories playing with mice. I get happy because my brain is wired to immediately think of a specific mouse.
As you might have guessed, I am talking about the “Big Cheese” himself: Mickey Mouse.
There are very few people, if any, in America who are raised with absolutely no knowledge of Disney. Disney is and has been a household name for decades.
If you do happen to be one of those who were born under a rock and has recently decided to emerge and begin living, here is a little background.
Walter (Walt) Elias Disney had a dream of a land where children could go and be free from the troubles of the real world. Beyond children, he also aspired to make this land a place where adults could and would become kids again, even without realizing it.
Disney succeeded and Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955. It was built right in Anaheim, Calif., and had very little room for expansion.
Disney’s dream was not over. He began to dream bigger dreams and eventually bought a large area of swampland in Orlando, Fla., that would become Walt Disney World, opened to the public on Oct. 25, 1971. Unfortunately, Walt did not live long enough to see his largest project come to life.
Walt Disney World, as many people know, is huge. Since it was built on barren swampland, there were no buildings to prevent it from growing. To this day, there is very much land set aside for future projects. Beginning last year in fact, Walt Disney World’s Fantasyland inside of its most iconic park, The Magic Kingdom, was surrounded by a construction wall as a sign that it would soon expand. This expansion has gotten mixed reviews from Disney fans.
I went on my first trip to Disney World when I was in fifth grade. It was, as for many people, a dream come true. The first sight of Cinderella Castle (and yes, it is Cinderella Castle, not Cinderella’s Castle, as many think) will even take the breath away from the hardest-hearted person.
Without knowing it, our progression from ride to ride seems to be the same we have followed each time we have gone since. That progression always includes a stop in Mickey’s Toontown Fair, which is exactly what it sounds like it would be.
In this section of the park, guests can walk through the large, cartoon-like houses of the famous mouse couple and even meet most of their favorite characters. It is definitely not the best section of the park, but it is a classic stop on our agenda. At least, it was, because it will soon be closed due to the expansion project.
Toontown will be replaced with a circus-themed area which will feature two Dumbo rides to accommodate the swarms of people who flock to this attraction. The Snow White ride located inside the castle will be replaced with a hall in which guests can meet their favorite Disney princesses.
There will also be a Little Mermaid ride and a restaurant themed after the ballroom where Beauty and her Beast shared their famous dance.
As a huge Disney fan, I was unsure of these changes the first time I heard of them. It seems Disney is trying to keep up with, if not trump, Universal Orlando with its newest addition, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
However, now that I have heard the full plan and seen the drawings of the plans, I couldn’t be more excited to return to Disney World and take in all these new experiences.
The new plan removes a land that was, in my opinion, mediocre, and replaces it with a land that will be breathtaking if it lives up to the pictures drawn up for the unveiling of the project.
The new Fantasyland is scheduled to open in phases beginning in late 2012, so if you have never been to Walt Disney World, then go. If you have been to Walt Disney World, then you go, too.
Jay Ballard is a freshman majoring in chemistry. He can be contacted at [email protected].