Great and even-handed article in the New York Times (go figure!) on The Line Between Homage and Parody at Disney (ESPN’s parent company), focusing on the new movie, Enchanted. One bit jumped out at me:
Because Disney’s characters are so well known, tweaking them even slightly could result in indelible damage. A decade ago, Disney updated the birds in the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction at Walt Disney World and still hasn’t heard the end of it.
Count me in that group – the new Tiki Room, featuring Iago from Aladdin, is beyond annoying, and of course by changing the attraction, they eliminated the nostalgia angle for those of us who went there as kids.
But that aside, I generally enjoy a little self-parody. House had a scene earlier this season where Dr. House is using the janitor as a sounding board, and the janitor says out of nowhere, “It’s lupus,” a reference to the fact that that disease is suggested – and, until last week, is wrong – in every single episode. If you can make fun of yourself, you can show viewers/readers that you don’t take yourself too seriously.
As for whether the Princess Line was a good idea or not – well, aside from the cited $4 billion in revenues, ask me when my daughter is four or so. I think my wife already made her an appointment at the Bippity Boppity Boutique for sometime in 2010.
I was in the Tiki Room a couple years ago, and I swear I couldn’t tell any difference. I didn’t even notice the Iago thing.
Then again, I did notice one major difference. Unlike when I went the Tiki Room 20-25 years ago, I noticed that this time is was a pretty good spot for a nap.
Ah, the Tiki Room. My parents always tell they story of when I was in there at 4 years old, and they looked over and I was gone–apparently I was standing over in the aisle dancing around like an idiot (my wife, for obvious reasons, can’t get enough of that one).
I used to get really angry when people walked out of the old show…now that they’ve ruined it, I just pass it by while my wife says, “I’m sorry, dear.” I think the one in Anaheim is still intact, but I’ve never been to Disneyland.
By the way, we tried Raglan Road or the first time last weekend–the bread pudding WAS about the best I’ve had, but I was disappointed by the shepherd’s pie…decent, but I missed the corn and cheese–are those American touches? Also, it was lukewarm, at best. The Guinness was terrific, of course.
Oh, and I went to my first churrascaria (Texas de Brasil) the day before for Thanksgiving dinner. I was really impressed with the layout of cold and hot sides, the service, and the atmosphere (and the fact that they didn’t feel the need to pander by serving turkey). I was not impressed with my ability not to totally stuff myself. I’d love to go back at some point, but I’m afraid I need to sit down and come up with an eating gameplan lest I eat myself into oblivion once more.
And is Young for Garza a good deal for the Rays? Young takes way too few pitches for my liking, and it doesn’t seem like he’s going to start anytime soon…
Ah, that’s why I didn’t notice the change. Maybe the changed the one at Disney World, but not Disneyland, which is the only one I’ve ever been to.
Keith, I love that you watch House.
Also, Disney should be more careful about killing nostalgia. Isn’t anything sacred?