So I'm now in charge of Walt Disney World. What changes should I make?

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Nice article Steve. And good point about previous attractions having the non-stop loading/unloading areas that kept the line going compared to todays stop and go loading areas. It's surprising they don't use the non-stop more often.

But I'm most behind your idea for resort transportation. My last visit to WDW was in 2003 and while it was a great visit, I didn't have a car and the worst part of the visit was getting from point A to point B. One day it took almost an hour to get from Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom Lodge using the shuttle service available. I do appreciate the service and the CMs were great, but your idea of light rail would've made my visit even more enjoyable. At least I wouldn't be remembering how long it took to get around the resort each day. Thanks again for the article.

Nice article Steve. And good point about previous attractions having the non-stop loading/unloading areas that kept the line going compared to todays stop and go loading areas. It's surprising they don't use the non-stop more often.

But I'm most behind your idea for resort transportation. My last visit to WDW was in 2003 and while it was a great visit, I didn't have a car and the worst part of the visit was getting from point A to point B. One day it took almost an hour to get from Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom Lodge using the shuttle service available. I do appreciate the service and the CMs were great, but your idea of light rail would've made my visit even more enjoyable. At least I wouldn't be remembering how long it took to get around the resort each day. Thanks again for the article.

Thank you for the kind words.

Yeah, the omnimovers are the best. We do need more of them.

Regarding the light rail system... it's so easy for me to sit back and tell them how it should be implemented but I really have no idea of the planning needed or the cost involved. It's kind of like when people ask for a monorail at Animal Kingdom Lodge with no inkling of the cost needed for that much beam. But... the scope of the column was that I'm in charge so I figure I can do whatever I want, right?

I'd love to read an article by someone that really understands the engineering and costs of a light rail system to see if it could make sense at WDW. And wouldn't a light rail system be great there?

"I’ll leave the Magic Kingdom essentially untouched. There’s a lot there I wouldn’t mess with mainly because it was created by Walt himself."

What examples of this are there? I once asked Disney Archivist Dave Smith how much of Magic Kingdom was designed by Walt and he said "virtually none" of the park was designed before his death. Only the placement was determined.

"I’ll leave the Magic Kingdom essentially untouched. There’s a lot there I wouldn’t mess with mainly because it was created by Walt himself."

What examples of this are there? I once asked Disney Archivist Dave Smith how much of Magic Kingdom was designed by Walt and he said "virtually none" of the park was designed before his death. Only the placement was determined.

What I was referring to are the attractions that Walt had a hand in before his death: Pirates of the Caribbean, Carousel of Progress, Jungle Cruise, etc. I probably misspoke when I said "created by Walt himself". He really didn't "create" anything at the MK but, much of it wouldn't have been created without him.

One much cheaper solution would be to put in more walking and biking paths. There are some places that if you wanted to, it would be easy enough to walk, but you can't because there's no path, or no footbridges over canals.

Wouldn't it make sense to let people walk from Magic Kingdom to the TTC? But you can't.

What I was referring to are the attractions that Walt had a hand in before his death: Pirates of the Caribbean, Carousel of Progress, Jungle Cruise, etc. I probably misspoke when I said "created by Walt himself". He really didn't "create" anything at the MK but, much of it wouldn't have been created without him.

Makes sense. Thank You!

One much cheaper solution would be to put in more walking and biking paths. There are some places that if you wanted to, it would be easy enough to walk, but you can't because there's no path, or no footbridges over canals.

Wouldn't it make sense to let people walk from Magic Kingdom to the TTC? But you can't.

I totally agree. We're DVC Members and the Boardwalk is our home resort. One of the many reasons we enjoy staying there is the ability to walk to both Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. You don't need to worry about bus schedules, crowded buses, traffic (if you're driving), etc.

I'm not sure about biking paths though... It seems like it may be an accident waiting to happen.

Changes I would make if I were in charge:

MK:bring back the original Tiki Room Show
make Pirates as elaborate (or better) than the DL version
add more sights of interest to the WDW Railroad
add more sights of interest to the Rivers of America
put a dark or thrill ride in the Ariel's Grotto & Pooh's Playful Spot space
add an E ticket ride (like Roger Rabbit) to Mickey's Toontown Fair
add several more table service restaurants

Epcot:remove Innoventions for something really innovative
get rid of Honey I Shrunk...
do something with the Wonders of Life pavillion
add more countries & thrill rides to WS

DHS:Get rid of Lights, Motors Action! and replace with a thrill ride
update the Great Movie Ride
get rid of Sounds Dangerous and the yet to open American Idol:eek:
update Indiana Jones
update Star Tours
update Muppet Vision
get rid of Honey I Shrunk Movie Set and add a thrill

DAK: get rid of Rafiki's Planet Watch and build a new area for animals & thrills
(Australia or South America)
Bulldoze DinoLand USA (except for Dinosaur & The Finding Nemo
theatre) and build something worthy of a Disney park

I agree with the OP on the transportation changes!!!

Oh and add something equal or better than DisneySea as a 5th park!

One much cheaper solution would be to put in more walking and biking paths.

I'll second this -- biking to a park would be a great way to start the day!

I totally agree. We're DVC Members and the Boardwalk is our home resort. One of the many reasons we enjoy staying there is the ability to walk to both Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. You don't need to worry about bus schedules, crowded buses, traffic (if you're driving), etc.
Like you we are DVC members at the Boardwalk. Best resort possible because of location. A path from AKL to AK might entice me to stay at this resort. At least with the Contemporary you can walk or monorail to the MK.

Great article. Got me to thinking what changes I'd like to make. These of course are hypothetical w/no regard to feasibility. And they're designed to make the parks better for us the guests, not more profitible to Disney the company:

Animal Kingdom:
Open up the Beastly Kingdom that was promised back in 1995.
Put in each land a large, indoor, air-conditioned rest area; something to get out of the heat.

Disney Studios:
The Studios deserately needs more rides, particularly for little kids. To that end, I'd put in some classic dark rides, possibly the Monsters, Inc. ride from Disney's California Adventure or a couple whole new rides tied to Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin or one of the other recent Disney classic animated movies or a Pixar ride (The Incredibles seems wide open to an attraction. Don't know why there isn't one somewhere yet). Maybe a Mary Poppins carousel; we were watching that the other day and my kids thought that would be a good idea.

Epcot:
I agree with bringing back Horizons and Wonders of Life. I'd also open up the Italy gondola ride and German Rhine River tour originally planned for World Showcase. While we're at it, maybe a dragon-themed mini-roller coaster for Japan?

Magic Kingdom:
BRING BACK MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE!!! Should've never closed in the first place. Scrap Stitch's Great Escape and put in a Meet the Robinsons-themed dark ride. That movie seems to fit in perfectly with the ideas in Tomorrowland.

I'd reopen River Country seasonally, even if I had to use chlorine water instead of lake water. Seems like WDW needs a third water park in the summer and I liked the theme.

I totally agree w/revamping the reservations system and having frequent visitor rewards. I'd also keep the Year of a Million Dreams program going indefinitely.

My final change would be resort-wide and might make some people upset. But I'm in charge, at least for the next minute and a half. I'd quit selling autograph books, forbid characters from signing autographs, and quit having them stand stationary outside and having a line form up. They'd meander from Point A to Point B, stopping to wave, shake hands, and maybe pose for a quick photo. There are already enough lines to stand in. Exceptions would be Mickey in his house, Judge's Tent at Toontown Fair, and the Character Connection at Epcot. But lines forming in the already-clogged streets of the parks would end.

Great article. Got me to thinking what changes I'd like to make. These of course are hypothetical w/no regard to feasibility. And they're designed to make the parks better for us the guests, not more profitible to Disney the company:

Animal Kingdom:
Open up the Beastly Kingdom that was promised back in 1995.
Put in each land a large, indoor, air-conditioned rest area; something to get out of the heat.

Disney Studios:
The Studios deserately needs more rides, particularly for little kids. To that end, I'd put in some classic dark rides, possibly the Monsters, Inc. ride from Disney's California Adventure or a couple whole new rides tied to Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin or one of the other recent Disney classic animated movies or a Pixar ride (The Incredibles seems wide open to an attraction. Don't know why there isn't one somewhere yet). Maybe a Mary Poppins carousel; we were watching that the other day and my kids thought that would be a good idea.

Epcot:
I agree with bringing back Horizons and Wonders of Life. I'd also open up the Italy gondola ride and German Rhine River tour originally planned for World Showcase. While we're at it, maybe a dragon-themed mini-roller coaster for Japan?

Magic Kingdom:
BRING BACK MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE!!! Should've never closed in the first place. Scrap Stitch's Great Escape and put in a Meet the Robinsons-themed dark ride. That movie seems to fit in perfectly with the ideas in Tomorrowland.

I'd reopen River Country seasonally, even if I had to use chlorine water instead of lake water. Seems like WDW needs a third water park in the summer and I liked the theme.

I totally agree w/revamping the reservations system and having frequent visitor rewards. I'd also keep the Year of a Million Dreams program going indefinitely.

My final change would be resort-wide and might make some people upset. But I'm in charge, at least for the next minute and a half. I'd quit selling autograph books, forbid characters from signing autographs, and quit having them stand stationary outside and having a line form up. They'd meander from Point A to Point B, stopping to wave, shake hands, and maybe pose for a quick photo. There are already enough lines to stand in. Exceptions would be Mickey in his house, Judge's Tent at Toontown Fair, and the Character Connection at Epcot. But lines forming in the already-clogged streets of the parks would end.

Thank you.

Y'know, I can't really disagree with any of your changes although... I'd have to give some more thought to that last one. It's been a while since we've had to stand in one of those 'autograph lines' and I'm sure things have changed. Maybe there's a better way to do it that we just haven't thought of yet.