My memory may not be yours!

[CuteAsMinnie]

[QUOTE=Imagineer1981;1366047
As the parks change and grow I think we all need to be open minded to the fact that what was once our classic memory, may not be the next generations.[/QUOTE]


Very well said!

[snifflesmcg]

The first time I ever saw SSE, it was without the wand (I had seen it in 88 & 89). It was a long another 14 years since I had seen it again and it was with the wand. Personally, I like the wand. Sad to see it go.

PS-First time my BF saw it, it was with the wand.

[SpecJoe Magic]

Even though I prefer it without the wand (I grew up going to Epcot during the 80s), I understand the other point of view. I think this is an example of the situation that Disney faces on a regular basis. It's a balancing act of adding new things to entice new visitors versus keeping classic things to appease those of us who have visited WDW many times for many years. I think Disney achieves a good balance for the most part.

[NJDad]

My daughter's first visit saw the castle look like a birthday cake, and my son's first saw Epcot with a wand. He's sad that it's coming down.

['Guest' of the MasterControlProgram]

Here are my thoughts in reverse order:

I don't see myself keeping my daughter (+future siblings) up to date on the latest news of WDW. She/they will decide on their own some year if they are into WDW enough to follow the happenings day to day. And by that age, I presume that the reaction to change will be different. Anything I find out I'm keeping to myself so they will be surprised by what's new. The unknown and unexpected can still be a good thing, even in our 24/7 world. For her first trip coming soon, she'll be 16 months so this is all moot at the moment.

Secondly (my first thought) ... anyone pay attention to the souvenirs and such that depict SE? Any solid objects or pictures of the wand? I can't think of any. The opening splash for Epcot on the disney website doesn't even have the wand. But if you click on the attractions link and pick epcot, a little video player window opens and shows a slideshow of scenes inside SE with an exterior shot featuring the wand an monorail yellow (I think) as the first and last shots. Anyhow, hasn't anyone ever noticed or questioned this? Interesting, no? I guess the writing was on the wall for a while. Changing the one lil' spot on the web site is the quickest and easiest thing to do. Heck, even the old transportation map that I last saw in Nov 2003 and the newer style 3d-ish maps that appear everywhere (like in the AAA catalog, the pic from disney's web site, the various ticket counters in hotel and restaurant lobbies along I-drive and maingate) show a plain SE. Double hmm...

[Imagineer1981]

Walt said that every year the parks would continue to grow and change and become more beautiful, and I think thats the main point for this discussion, not so much wand vs no wand, but that things change, and how we need to be open to it (positive or negative), because what was your classic memory may not be someone elses

[Marker]

I've see it with and without, and so have my kids. When I told them they were taking the wand and hand off, they had a bit of a disappointed look. They said it was kind of like taking a step backwards.

Personally, I rather like the hand & wand. Nothing at all wrong without it, but I think it adds a little pizzazz.

Either way, with or without, it's not going to have a great effect on my Epcot or
WDW experience. Whether there is a wand or no wand, or if they put a Sorcerer's hat on it, I'll still enjoy my time there. I won't be mad, I won't be angry, I won't be sick, and it won't ruin WDW, or make me want to just stay home, it'll just be something different.

You know, my classic memories of WDW do not include Disney's Animal Kingdom or Disney/MGM Studios...but I don't think they should remove them either.