Awaken the Anticipation

President John F. Kennedy once said, "Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." There is no denying that change is in the air at Walt Disney World. From the additions of Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios to the World of Pandora descending on Animal Kingdom and even the Norwegian Frozen makeover at Epcot, Disney is constantly looking forward to the ever-changing future. In five years, Disney will be attracting families to the parks like never before for reasons beyond just meeting Mickey Mouse or seeing Cinderella Castle.

For me, this is an exciting endeavor and a feat I cannot wait to see how they pull off, but for quite a few folks who proudly call themselves Disney fans, this reality forces them to stand at a crossroads by asking this question: is all this change a good thing for the resort? Some point to the fact that Disney is ridding the parks of some classic attractions in favor of these new experiences. Others cry blasphemy that something not inherently Disney like Star Wars is bringing in so much attention to the resort. While these sentiments are completely valid, I believe that people who are upset over the proposed changes coming to WDW are missing the point of these additions, and that point is to continue the legacy of Walt Disney for brand new generations.

Walt once stated, "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." Walt was a man obsessed with progress. Think about one of his many crowning achievements, the Carousel of Progress. His vision for the future has been revolutionary since the beginning, and that enthusiasm for a better tomorrow daily influences the imagineering occurring throughout WDW. The company is never more like Walt than when they innovate.

Therefore, when Disney announces something new on the horizon, instead of thinking about what it is not, I challenge you to think about what it is. For example, when it was announced that Anna and Elsa were going to take over Norway in World Showcase at Epcot, the uproar was tremendous from fans worldwide. While I understand the frustration, I have remained rather excited for the Frozen addition. Of course, it is not Maelstrom, but it is a unique attraction that will attract unprecedented family presence to Epcot. Furthermore, consider Pandora- The World of Avatar coming to Animal Kingdom. The cost was the loss of Camp Minnie-Mickey, but the addition is a potentially game-changing area that will revolutionize the use of technology in theme parks globally. It is so easy to focus on the tiny details of the losses, but just because something is leaving the parks doesn't mean that the replacements have no chance of being equally memorable or maybe even exceed expectations.

To me, it seems as if the people most upset about these changes are the ones that would just assume the parks never change at all. I totally understand the personal connections to the classics like Maelstrom, Camp Minnie-Mickey, or the Backlot Tour, but Disney must evolve. Just as Kennedy proclaimed, we cannot become so enamored by the past that we completely discount the future. I implore you to simply give these additions a chance. If Disney never did anything to change, they would not be the worldwide leader in theme park entertainment. What makes Disney so special is their willingness to adapt and give the people what they want. If you really despise these additions as much as you claim, remember that nothing is forcing you to experience them when they open, and do not prevent others from potentially discovering a brand new favorite at the parks.

Listen, I love the Disney classics as much as the next person. It would be incredible if they could somehow add new attractions while also keeping the classics, but that is simply not how the innovation happens. Disney wants to ensure that generations to come have so many reasons to visit the parks for years upon years. The way you do that is never resting on your laurels.. This is why I am thoroughly excited for everything coming to the resort in the next few years, and I think you should be too.

We must embrace the unknown when it comes to these new additions. People are afraid of what they don't understand, but let's not underestimate Disney. If these new additions arrive and they disappoint, you have all the right in the world to complain and state your unpleasant opinions, but until then, allow Disney to work their magic. For now, awaken the anticipation and keep an open mind, but be warned: if you do this, you may just find yourself enjoying these new additions.

-Cody Fleenor