I recently discovered Disney Corp.'s Mission Statement. It is sublimely simple, yet ethereal in nature. Their Mission Statement: To make people happy. While this is goal seem impossible on the whole, I think Disney Corp. has lost focus on that goal. I understand the need to answer to shareholders and their demands for a return, however, as to "make people happy" seems to be taking a back seat to the Almighty Dollar.

This last summer entry prices raised, as did all merchandise and the already sky high food prices in the monopoly controlled dining experience. (another rant for another day) This time I would like to offer some quick tips and hidden nuggets of knowledge and perhaps some sage advise.

First, to help Disney's bottom line, I would suggest that the remastered films on DVD be released on the big screen. There are millions that have never seen Snow White, Bambi, Fantasia, Pinocchio, Oliver and Company, The Jungle Book, Robin Hood, Peter Pan, the Aristacats, or the hundreds of original Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck on the BIG screen. Even Walt himself re released Snow White after World War II. This would a low overhead and quick return that would indeed make people happy. But why limit this revival to the animated features and shorts. Remaster some of the great Disney hits like 20,000 leagues under the see, Old Yeller, Pollyanna, the original Parent Trap with Haley Mills and Maureen O'Hara, Escape to Witch Mountain, The Apple Dumpling Gang, The Black Hole, That Darn Cat, The Love Bug and all the others that are great Disney Classics. Simple, yet true to their mission statement: to make people happy. After the theatrical release, then the remastered DVD sales, with all the special features. One could easily get Haley Mills to do commentary on her films.

I know, this is thinking so far out of the box, it's in its own universe. But hey, that's the kinda guy I am. I am always thinking of new and better things for Disneyland and DCA, alas, I do not work or am associated with Disney's Imagineering. Ce La Vie.

At the Disney Parks, Disneyland has no Main Street Parade to speak of at the moment. The Parade of Dreams is down. Arial's Grotto (both parks) are closed for refurbishment, and at DCA the Electrical Parade is gone. I would in the interim, since the original parade on Main Street is surely archived, simply move the parade to Main Street until the next parade is ready. At least there would be nostalgic entertainment while the next feature is being organized.

Then again, I don't have ANY pull with Disney Corp. nor its designers, planners, etc... I am just one guy with a themed environment design background with a few suggestions. If I were to suggest these directly, well, I would have to place bets on how fast it made it to the round file.


The Knight Hawk