A New Time

Some personal reflections on the future of Disneyland.

Disneyland, with the start of Star Wars construction, is entering a new period of history. I believe the first new period of time within my memory.

 I barely remember Disneyland up to the 50th anniversary. Since the 50th, Disneyland has not changed much. Most of the major changes to the resort came to California Adventure. At Disneyland, change was mostly limited to new entertainment, bringing back old classics such as the Submarine Voyage, Great Moments, and the Castle Dioramas, and plussing existing rides, such as with Ghost Galaxy, the 2010 refurbishment of the Rivers of America, Murphy the dragon, and the new final scene of Big Thunder. 

Now, Disneyland is about to go through one of the biggest expansions in it's history. I don't agree with it, but it's happening. As part of this, we lost the back end of the River, Big Thunder Ranch, and what I will probably miss the most: quiet, crowd-less evenings in Critter Country and on Big Thunder Tail. Once Star Wars opens, they will probably be just as insane as the rest of the park. It will also have an influence on the overall theme or feel of Disneyland: It's the first land based off of only one franchise. Even the relatively specific lands of New Orleans Square, Critter Country, and Toontown encompassed multiple smaller themes/stories. And those three are all small. Star Wars will be around the same size as Frontierland, Fantasyland, or Tomorrowland.

I'm scared for my Disneyland. It feels like it is changing so much, and that it's going to feel like a completely different ten years from now. It's very, very nerve-wracking not knowing what your favorite area of your favorite theme park since childhood will look like in a year.