Disneyland vs Disney World Part I

Recently, I went on a trip to Walt Disney World.  It was my first time there in over 21 years.  There have been quite a few changes since I was last there.  And there are many differences to Disneyland, which I consider my home park.  Now that I’ve been to both resorts within the last year, I feel qualified to discuss the differences between the two and the pros and cons of each park.

Let’s start with the Magic Kingdom, which is essentially a copy of Disneyland.  First, the Magic Kingdom is a lot bigger than Disneyland.  Disneyland is essentially a circle which is pretty easy to navigate, and you don’t have to walk more than a few feet to get from one attraction to the next.  Magic Kingdom is not like that at all.  There were stretches when we were walking and the only thing nearby were restaurants or shops.  And with all the forks and different paths, it was quite easy to get lost or not know where you were.  We almost missed an entire section of the park because we couldn’t figure out how to get there.  Advantage: Disneyland

Now let’s look at the individual rides within the park, starting with the big rides.  Space Mountain at Disneyland is my favorite ride.  It is so much fun and I have the entire experience memorized.  Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom is very different than its California counterpart.  First, there are two tracks in Florida, which are slightly different than each other and very different from Disneyland’s.  I have to say they are much better.  Disneyland’s track is very circular, to say the least, while Magic Kingdom offers two tracks that have much more variety.  Secondly, the cars are quite different between the two.  Disneyland cars can sit riders side by side and have music in the headsets that is timed to the ride making it seem more thrilling.  The Magic Kingdom cars sit riders single file, have no music, and are rather uncomfortable.  Finally, the Magic Kingdom takes your picture at the beginning of the ride, while Disneyland snaps it at the end.  Overall, I have to give the edge to Magic Kingdom due to the longer and better track, although I much prefer the cars at Disneyland.

On to another mountain ride, Splash Mountain.  The edge here is clearly with Magic Kingdom.  First of all, the logs are much more comfortable in Florida, and you can sit side by side.  Also, they don’t sit so low in the water, so water doesn’t constantly splash in from the sides.  It makes riding at night much more pleasant.  Finally, the ride is a little longer and the storytelling feels a little more complete.  Disneyland’s Splash Mountain is a fun ride, but I enjoyed it a lot more at Magic Kingdom.

Next up, we have Thunder Mountain.  This ride feels almost identical in both places, with one glaring omission.  There is no dynamite chewing goat at Magic Kingdom.  For that reason alone I have to give the edge to Disneyland.

Pirates of the Caribbean is next on the list.  Pirates at Disneyland is iconic and a wonderful ride.  It’s an 18 minute cruise with some fun drops and state of the art animatronics.  Pirates at Magic Kingdom is a five minute rushed copy that doesn’t come close to living up to the original.  It’s a very disappointing ride.

Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom, however, is a slightly longer cruise than Disneyland.  I love the Jungle Cruise.  It’s one of my favorite rides.  Both rides are very similar with only small differences between the two.  For instance, there are no piranhas at Disney World.  And even with the added length, many of the scenes were the same at Magic Kingdom.  But I have to give the edge to Disneyland for a couple reasons.  First, it’s the original, and second, I’ve never had a rude guide there before.  Our guide in Florida was kind of rude and sarcastic in a mean way.  It really ruined the experience and we never made it back to try it again.

The next ride to compare is Haunted Mansion.  I kept hearing how the Haunted Mansion at Disney World was much better than Disneyland, but, honestly, they felt pretty much the same to me.  The order of some of the scenes was a little different, but both rides are equally enjoyable.

Comparing It’s a Small World is another clear advantage for Disneyland.  That ride is a classic, and as annoying as you might think the song is, you can’t deny the charm and good feelings the ride produces.  Bringing the ride from the 1964 World’s Fair, it was a remarkable achievement for its time, and it has withstood the test of time.  The ride at Magic Kingdom is a disappointing copy.  It’s shorter, darker, and less charming.

The Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin is an interesting ride to look at.  The rides are nearly identical in both places with only a couple noticeable differences.  The first is that the laser guns at Magic Kingdom are affixed to the cars whereas the guns at Disneyland are tethered by a cord and can be moved around easier.  Magic Kingdom, however, does have one video scene that is fun and adds a layer of storytelling to the ride.  But the guns on the Disneyland version give it the edge in my book.

The Tomorrowland Autopia at Disneyland and the Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom are really only similar in the fact that you get to “drive” cars around a track.  But the track at Disneyland is far superior and much more enjoyable than Magic Kingdom.  There is more scenery and props and it feels longer.  Another notch for Disneyland. 

The final ride I will be comparing in this post is Peter Pan.  I rarely ride Peter Pan at Disneyland because the line is always long, but from what I remember, it is identical to the one at Magic Kingdom.  So this one is a wash.

The standings after looking at rides that appear in both parks is 6 for Disneyland, 2 for Magic Kingdom, and 2 ties.

Now, there are some rides and attractions which are only featured in Magic Kingdom.  These attractions include the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, and Stitch’s Great Escape.  There are also two attractions which used to be at Disneyland but no longer are like the Country Bear Jamboree and the Peoplemover.  The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a great ride and gives Magic Kingdom a significant boost.  The Monsters Inc Laugh Floor is also very fun and interactive and something I would be inclined to do again.  Stitch’s Great Escape is not very enjoyable overall.  I would not do that again.  And I very much miss the Peoplemover and Country Bear Jamboree at Disneyland.  Peoplemover was one of my favorites and I continue to lobby to bring it back.  Overall, this set of rides gives an edge to Magic Kingdom.

But I would be remiss if I didn’t look at rides at Disneyland which are not featured at Magic Kingdom.  That list begins with Matterhorn and Indiana Jones.  Those two right there should be the cherry on top for Disneyland, but then you add Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride on top and you make an even stronger case.  These are three of my favorites with the Matterhorn being such an iconic experience at Disneyland that it felt weird without it at Magic Kingdom.

Taking all this into account, I have to give Disneyland the overall edge in this instance.  If I had to choose between just Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom, I would choose Disneyland.  That doesn't mean I didn't love my time in the Magic Kingdom, as sharing the visit with my lovely girlfriend made the entire experience absolutely incredible. There will be more on that and looks at the other parks that make up both resorts later, but for the sake of time, I will end this post here and call it Part I.  Look for Part II sometime in the near future.  I hope you enjoy and feel free to leave your opinions and thoughts in the comments.

Living the Cubicle Life

So for the next year I am working in temporary cubicle space instead of my private office.  Our building is being renovated so we all have to move out until construction is done.  We have been in the cubicles for a few weeks, but today was the first day full of student meetings.  After today and the first few weeks I have some observations about life in the cubicles.

First, there's really no windows in the cubicles, or in the building we're in.  This might not seem like a big deal, but it really is.  When you can't see outside for a lengthy period of time, it really wears on you.  I had to just go stand outside a couple times today to make sure it was still there.  Casinos can get away with not having windows because people are distracted with the gambling and the drinking.  Buildings with cubicles need windows so people don't go insane.

Second, I get very restless throughout the day and sometimes I just need to stand up.  In an office, that's no big deal and people don't notice most of the time.  In a cubicle, everybody sees when you stand up.  And when the people next to you are meeting with students, it gets awkward quick.

Finally, I play music during the day.  I like to sing and dance along to the music.  In an office, no one can see or hear you, most of the time.  Sometimes I do just belt it out and then the people in the hall could hear me.  But I've managed to keep my singing under control for the most part.  I sing just soft enough to not be heard.  Either that or people are just too nice to say anything.  The dancing, however, got the best of me the other day.  Like Gloria Estefan said, eventually the rhythm is going to get you.  And it got me.  So I started dancing because I was feeling it.  And everybody noticed.  Not that that's a bad thing, but still, everybody noticed.

So those are just a few things that I have observed.  Check back throughout the year for more!

Learning about Nanotyrannus

Last night I spent five hours watching National Geographic shows about dinosaurs, reading about dinosaurs online, and watching TED talks given by experts in the field.  I've always been fascinated by dinosaurs and try to continuously learn more about them.  Last night's foray was inspired by the mystery of the Nanotyrannus.  The Nanotyrannus is a proposed species of predatory dinosaur.  I say proposed because there is much debate among paleontologists as to whether Nanotyrannus actually existed.  In theory it is a smaller version of T. Rex which had longer arms and hunted in packs.

One of the shows I watched centered around a unique fossil showing a battle between a Triceratops and a tyrannosaur of some sort.  Both creatures suffered mortal wounds during the battle.  The fossil of the tyrannosaur is what caused the most confusion, though.  It was too small to take down the Triceratops on its own and had characteristics that made it unique from a T. Rex.  The finding of this fossil led scientists to look at other fossils that were assumed to be juvenile T. Rexes.  Upon closer look, these scientists believe that these fossils are in fact a different species, the Nanotyrannus.  Watching the show, their reasons made sense.
- The brain cavities in the smaller specimens were a different shape and make up than the full grown creatures.
- The smaller skulls had more teeth than the larger skulls.
- The teeth found in the smaller specimens were different than the larger ones.
- The arms on the smaller creatures were larger and attached differently

All these signs pointed to the existence of Nanotyrannus.  It all made perfect sense to me.  So I went online and started reading, and that's where I discovered how heated the debate was.  There seems to be clear factions that either believe or don't believe in Nanotyrannus.

Then I remembered a TED talk I saw a while back.  This talk was all about why we don't see baby dinosaurs in museums.  It was given by Jack Horner, who is a very well respected name in the field.  He claims that when scientists find a specimen that is even slightly different from other specimens, despite having some similarities, scientists want to consider it a completely different species.  But they fail to look at growth patterns and bone density.  He says the easiest way to determine if a skeleton is from a juvenile or adult is to cut into the bone.  Juvenile bone is spongier while adult bone is more solid.  He looked at a series of different different species and by looking at the bones was able to hypothesize that dinosaurs previously assumed to be separate species were actually juveniles of other species.  One of these species was the Nanotyrannus.  He says that those bones claiming to belong to Nanotyrannus were actually juveniles, lending credence to the fact that they were actually younger T. Rexes.  This also sounded incredibly believable, so I don't really know what to think.

I want to believe that Nanotyrannus existed because it sounds cool, but I really don't know.  I lean towards whatever Jack Horner says, since I recognize his name as the technical advisor for Jurassic Park.  Clearly he must have done something to earn that right.  And since we have no way of truly knowing how long dinosaurs lived, we really don't know what full grown means.  Obviously we can hypothesize based on the fossils we have found, but no one can say with 100% certainty.  Until then, the debate over Nanotyrannus will continue.

Why WALL-E is My Spirit Robot

I'm sure many of you are familiar with idea of spirit animals, but I believe that we all have a spirit robot too.  What is a spirit robot, you ask?  Well, much like a spirit animal, a spirit robot is a robot from television or movies that embodies the personality and soul of a person.  Robots can be protective like the one from Lost in Space, aggressive like the Terminator, or transformative like Optimus Prime.

When thinking about which robot most embodies me, a few came to mind such as R2-D2, Kevin from Saved by the Bell, and most obviously, Number 5 from Short Circuit.  Number 5 is the one that most people would probably associate with me just based on both of our desires to collect input.  We're both very curious creatures.  But when starting to look a little deeper, another robot comes to mind, WALL-E.  Why WALL-E?  Well, here are some reasons.

1. He's also very curious.  He's fascinated by every little thing and is always looking to learn new things about his world.  I'm very much the same.  I am naturally curious about just about everything.

2. He appreciates the little things.  As a result of being so curious, he is able to appreciate little things that other may miss, like the beauty of a fire extinguisher in space.  I, too, often discover things that others may miss and appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the world around me.

3. He sees the world differently than anyone else around him.  In a world filled with other robots concerned solely with their directives, WALL-E sees the treasures in the trash like light bulbs and Rubik's cubes.  I often get funny looks from people as I describe something that I see or make a connection to something that is completely abstract and different from what others see.  And I'm writing about spirit robots.  How many other people do you know who would write about that?

4. He is a collector.  Some may even say he is a hoarder.  His home is full of things he has collected from the trash.  I am also a collector.  Most of you know about my pin collection, but I also have a collection of hats, ticket stubs, Legos, and a variety of other knick knacks that I have seen and decided to keep.  Like I said, I am fascinated by the world and I collect things that showcase that appreciation.

5. He can make people laugh.  Sometimes he does this without even trying.  I can definitely relate to this.  People have been laughing at me and with me for years.

6.  He likes to dance even though he looks awkward doing it.  See the laughing at comment from above.  I have no rhythm, in fact I probably have as much rhythm as a robot, but I still like to dance.

7. It takes awhile for people to appreciate him.  Because WALL-E is so different from everyone else around him, people often treat him differently, often shunning him.  But he stays true to himself and eventually people and bots see him for the wonderful person with the huge heart he is.  I also feel like I am a difficult person to like and that people don't give me a chance when they first meet me.  But if they give me a chance and spending some time getting to know me, they will see how awesome I really am.

8. All he really wants is someone to share his world with.  He is so excited to show EVE his trinkets, and he wants so badly to hold her hand and dance with her, imitating the movie he has been watching for years.  That's all I want, too.  I know that I'm unique and interesting and see things differently, and I wish I could describe the look I constantly see on people's faces when I talk to them.  That look is starting to wear on me.  I want someone to look at me with love and appreciation, and want to hold my hand and dance with me, like WALL-E.

And that is why I think WALL-E is my spirit robot.  What about you?  Have you thought about who your spirit robot might be?  Feel free to share if you have.

And the Greatest Disney Animated Movie Ever is...

The Lion King

Well, this isn't much of a surprise.  The Lion King was the favorite at the beginning of the tournament and it took down all challengers.  The championship match wasn't really that close with The Lion King winning 7-3.  While this might not be my favorite Disney movie, the people have spoken.  Here's the final bracket.

I want to thank everyone who read and voted throughout the tournament.  This was a fun one for me.  But now it's over and I've already started thinking about next year's bracket.  We will be looking to decide who the greatest movie badass is next year, so if you have any suggestions for who should be included, please send them my way.  Until then, keep reading this blog and my pin blog!

Greatest Disney Animated Movie Championship

After weeks of voting, we're left with the top two overall seeds in the tournament.  I guess we could have skipped all the early rounds and went right to this, but what would be the fun in that?  The Final Four matches were both close as expected.  In fact, at one point both matches were tied at 4.  But then The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast pulled away for the wins.  So here's the current bracket.



There's not much to say about the final matchup.  Both films are worthy of the top spot.  They are both beloved by all and contain memorable songs and characters.  Personally, I enjoy both of the films.  I don't really know how to distinguish between the two for purposes of voting.  Although, Belle is one of my favorite princesses.  I still think The Lion King will hold serve and come out on top as I predicted from the very beginning, but my predictions haven't been entirely accurate so who knows.  Let's vote!


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Greatest Disney Animated Movie Final Four!

The Final Four is set!  And just like I thought it's an all 90s-era field.  Granted, all of the movies that made the Final Four are really good and there's a reason they were all high seeds, but I still thought one of them might go down before this point.  There were some close calls, but not close enough.  And none of the Elite Eight results were particularly close.  I do think that the voting results have a lot to do with the demographics of the voters as well.  Most of my friends who likely voted are around my age and we all have an affinity for those movies from our childhood.  So it's not too surprising that the Final Four is comprised of movies from the five year range 1989-1994.  Here's how the bracket shapes up now.



As for the two semifinal matchups, here are my thoughts.  In the first matchup Aladdin goes up against The Lion King.  From the beginning, The Lion King has been the odds on favorite to win the whole tournament.  And of these four movies I think Aladdin is the least admired, which isn't to say it isn't beloved, but I don't hear people gush over Aladdin like the other three participants.  For that reason I think The Lion King advances easily.

The second matchup should be a little closer.  Beauty and the Beast is heralded as one of the best animated movies of all time.  It's blowout win against Cinderella showed that when it comes to princess movies, it is the clear number one.  The songs are memorable, the animation is beautiful, and the story is timeless.  It should be the favorite to advance.  But The Little Mermaid is the movie that resurrected the Disney brand.  After a down period in the 80s, The Little Mermaid was released and restored Disney's crown as the top dog.  And a lot of people love and cherish that movie, myself included.  It is one of my all time favorites.  The songs are equally memorable from this movie, and the story is wonderful.  Not to mention it has one of the best villains of all time.  I could honestly see either of these two movies winning.  So let's find out who will!

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