Happiest place on earth: Can Disney World remain magical as time passes?

The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.

by Avah Fetzer

Assistant Editor-In-Chief

I recently took a trip to Disney World, and was surprised when I became hit with a wave of unfamiliarity. I was unsure whether this was because some of the parks are in dire need of an update, or if it was just the result of growing older. Bradley weighs in on this debate when discussing each of the four main Disney World parks.

Magic Kingdom

I remember being 12 and walking down main street with the largest twinkle in my eyes because of how magical that moment felt. However, when I went again six years later, it just didn’t feel the same. The vibe of it all just felt a little too familiar, which took away from the magic of this park. Making a stop to this park on the last day of our trip, I felt like it didn’t have much to offer anymore. It felt outdated in terms of what was presently there; many of the attractions felt like they were geared towards older audiences and didn’t have much that is trending for younger children. I didn’t realize how unpopular of an opinion this was. Abby Meister (12) says this is her favorite park due to the large amount of “events and rides and food.” While Magic Kingdom isn’t specifically known for their food and events, it doesn’t mean they aren’t still great. After all, the park is huge and is often associated with nostalgia. Disney is expected to make renovations on Splash Mountain and release the new Tron ride in the next couple of months, hopefully refreshing some of the park.

Animal Kingdom

Another park that I didn’t find as interesting was the animal kingdom. This park is expected to be pretty boring to people that aren’t fascinated by nature and animals. Although there are some key aspects of this park such as the characters who ride around on the boats, themed character meet and greets, and good shows, there is still a lot of room for improvement. Meister claims it was probably her least favorite because “Once you’ve been there once it kind of gets repetitive.” However, I do think Disney has been making attempts to keep this park interesting for all ages in the last couple of years. For example, the opening of the Avatar area has brought in a lot of traffic, and Disney is starting to close down old rides, making room for new ones.

Hollywood Studios

As a park that was an underdog for a while, Hollywood Studios has really improved in the last couple of years. Between the addition of Toy Story land and the Star Wars area, the park has become a fan favorite, especially from many younger kids. I feel like when it comes to debate over the most thrill rides, Hollywood Studios wins by a long shot. Between the Tower of Terror, Rock n Roller coaster, and Slinky Dog dash, the park has more to offer for older children and teens. It is still not perfect as Cole Fetzer (9) says he “didn’t like Tower of Terror.” Many of the older rides start to feel less exciting as Disney is adding newer ones. I feel like this park will only improve more as it is still a fairly small park and likely has physical room to grow. I wouldn’t be surprised if this park eventually outruns the others.

Epcot

While Epcot is more about the unique food and beverages in each country of the world showcase, there are not a whole lot of rides in the park. Although this may be what makes it or breaks it, Epcot is still the favorite for many people. English teacher and Disney enthusiast Mrs. Watts describes that it is her favorite because, “It has the best food and attractions” and is “much more geared toward adults.” Even with the lack of rides, this park is still home to my absolute favorite, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This is another ride in the dark but is still nothing like Space Mountain and Rock n roller coaster. Sociology teacher Mrs. Waller explains how it is a roller coaster “that makes you feel like you are hurtling through outer space in one of the smoothest, fastest rides [she has] ever ridden!”, which truly describes it perfectly. However, the best part is that around Christmas time, they play C

Waller and her family pose near the Guardians of the Galaxy ride in Epcot. Image provided by Mrs. Waller.

hristmas music during the ride, which makes it ten times better. Epcot has also recently introduced other new rides such as Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and is expected to come out with a new area soon that features some of the newer Disney movies such as Moana and Coco.

So, is Disney world outdated? Yes, there are some pieces of the theme park that need remodeling. However, even some of those outdated rides are still necessary. Watts explains, “These rides also provide such strong nostalgia for people who have been traveling there their whole lives”. She continues, “Sometimes, ‘outdated’ still has a place.” Many of the classic rides and shows have remained like many of the rides in fantasyland of Magic Kingdom. These rides bring nostalgia to those adults that have been Disney fans since their childhood, which carries memories. Despite the classic rides being upheld, Waller adds, “It definitely seems like Disney is aware of outdated rides and is trying to update!” Disney often sees the comments people leave and are changing rides as time passes and fans’ interests change.

Whether you are a roller coaster fan or enjoy to see the shows and eat the food, Disney world truly does have something for everyone. I am looking forward to seeing what the future of the theme park holds. After all, it still remains as the happiest place on earth despite what the time ahead of us looks like.