by Mike Lunsford, Editor

Let me start this editorial with a confession: I love Disney World. I’m not one of those sycophants who loves all things Disney, I’m not obsessed with mouse ears on my clothing or using Disney movie quotes in my regular life, I just really love the theme park and surrounding resort area. It’s easily one of the cleanest places I’ve ever been in my life. Some may call it sterile and that takes away the ambiance of a place. I personally have never seen a pile of puke or a dirty diaper left by the pool (looking right at you Six Flags) and as far as I’m concerned, that is NOT a bad thing. The trees are always trimmed, the trash is always taken care of appropriately, and the people who work there genuinely seem to be interested in doing the best they can to serve you. 

Disney World also has an atmosphere that no other place has been able to replicate. When you’re on a ride or in a themed area, you feel immersed.  You ARE in that place, not just a cheap facsimile. You can attribute this to Disney’s famous fine-eye for detail. This extends beyond the parks themselves and into the hotels on property as well. You truly feel like you’re in a different world.

Just recently I returned from Disney World in Orlando, Florida with my family. This marks my 6th visit since I was a teenager. What is my point in writing this article for all of you “geek pop culture” fanatics out there? Disney in recent years has found a way to integrate itself into the geek pop culture world with it’s purchase of both Marvel Studios and LucasFilms. Their original cast of characters and properties are already embedded in our collective societal DNA so the new additions only add to their relevance. As a writer and editor here at ComicsOnline, I felt it was my duty to convey why you should also spend your hard earned money at the Mouse Empire based on my experiences.

• Disney World and Disney Land respectively are on the verge of a HUGE overhaul. They are adding some incredible features that will make just about any geek worth their salt giddy with excitement. 
  • At the Animal Kingdom theme park, Disney is less than a year away from unveiling their Pandora portion of the park. Inspired by the box office smash Avatar, this park will feature floating islands, bio-luminescent plants, and much more from the Sci-Fi hit.                                     
  • Both Hollywood Studios in Florida and Disneyland in California are working Star Wars Land. As described by CEO Bob Iger,” [Star Wars Land will be] occupied by many inhabitants; humanoids, aliens and droids … the attractions, the entertainment, everything we create will be part of our storytelling. Nothing will be out of character or stray from the mythology.”
  • Executive Disney Imagineer Scott Trowbridge stated, “our intent is to make it feel as if you just walked into one of the movies… Bringing Star Wars to life in the physical world gives us the opportunity to play with a whole bunch of things we’ve never done before… to really engage all of the senses. What does that street feel like? What does that animal smell like? What does blue milk taste like?” The attractions that have been revealed thus far
    • The chance to fly the Millennium Falcon.
    • An experience that puts you in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. 

      

  • Hollywood Studios in Florida is expanding their “Toy Story Mania” ride into a full fledged Toy Story Land. It will include rides, restaurants, and other interactive experiences. The rides announced so far
    • Slinky Dog Dash – A family-friendly rollercoaster. The story of the ride goes something like Andy decides to use his roller coaster building set and sets up a ride in the backyard and puts Slinky Dog on the tracks.
    • Alien Swirling Saucers – an attraction themed around “the Claw” and Little Green Aliens where you are attempting to escape capture in your space rocket.
• If  you’re a Star Wars junkie like myself, you’ll appreciate the Star Wars Launch Bay in the mean time. There are movies to watch, great memorabilia from all of the films to see, and an expansive store in which to buy all of your gear. Oh…and these guys

• Let me gush about them both for a second: Kylo Ren is menacing, scary, and acts like a dick, just he should be.  Chewie on the other hand…I didn’t think I would genuinely be excited about meeting someone dressed as a character from my childhood. I was very incorrect. As soon as I said “Hi, Chewie” and he barked and growled at me (and it was the actual voice) I couldn’t stop smiling. 

• Little girls have always dressed up at Disney but now there’s an added twist. For years, boys have been Jedi, Storm Troopers, pirates, and princes whereas the girls were simply princesses. Of course, there are still princesses…but with lightsabers and blasters. It sounds simple, just a small prop change, but it speaks volumes of our changing culture. Girls can have swords now! Sure, they could always have swords, but “princesses don’t carry laser swords, sweetheart,” has been the attitude of the past. Now, I dare you to tell a little girl that a princess can’t be a Jedi, too. Or, for that matter, a Sith. I saw a little girl dressed as Elena of Avalor (another awesome take: Disney’s first Latina princess) who was wielding a Kylo Ren crossguard lightsaber. This princess certainly doesn’t need a knight in shining armor to save her. She’s got this on her own. I think that this has a lot to do with the casting of Daisy Ridley as the Jedi-in-training hero Rey in the new Star Wars trilogy. The franchise embracing this new inclusive thought process proves that they believe that any person can be a hero. It has given the green light to all of their fans to be the hero. Both boys and girls can choose their own path now.

• With the recent completion of converting Downtown Disney to Disney Springs, the resort has put much more of their signature attention to detail into their shopping and restaurant district. Before, it was essentially a strip mall by the lake. What we experience now after it’s renovation is a destination similar to the theme parks. You can experience a greater variety of food, shopping and entertainment.
• The food. Goodness gracious. If you pack your days as full as my family and I do, you’ll end up walking about 10 miles a day while at Walt Disney World. It’s entirely possible that this much walking did little to no good for my health as we ate like kings on our vacation. Of course there are the standard pizza, burger, fries and chicken finger places but anyone who knows the score is aware that there are countless restaurants and stands that have game-changing eats. Some of the highlights:
  • Captain Cooks in the Polynesian Resort. I had the coconut curry meatballs. They were incredible.
    
  • When traveling through World Showcase in Epcot, make sure you stop at the German pavilion. The Karamell-Küche is a shop that specializes in deserts made with caramel. You must stop there and get something. Anything. It’s all amazing. And for that matter, make sure you get a bratwurst from the Sommerfest. 
  • Another World Showcase must is the Boulangerie Patisserie in France. There is that bit of stereotypical French attitude as the cast members are authentic (I personally love it), but the food is amazing. Their deserts are a must have and if you’ve never had a sandwich on fresh-made French bread or a croissant, you should definitely stop in France. 

    

I’m no Disney shill, I get nothing from them for sharing my love of Disney World. I feel that the place gets a bad rap for it’s price and what you get for your money. It’s not cheap to go, but the experience is immersive. People will spend hundreds to get autographs or pictures with movie or TV stars. In comparison, this is a family vacation where EVERYONE in the family is entertained, well fed, and gets to feel the exuberance of childhood again. If one can afford it, it is something you’ll never forget. I am fortunate that I can experience this wondrous place with my family. If you can make it happen, you won’t be disappointed, especially with all that is changing in the coming years. 

…

Whether it’s commentary on great geeky vacation spots, reviews of comic books, video games, or movies, we’ve got you covered at ComicsOnline.com. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our podcast on iTunes for everything geek pop culture!