Magic Highway U.S.A... It doesn't get much better than this.

You've gotta see this.  1950s and 60s views of future transportation systems were so optimistic and wonderful.  Sadly, few of these predictions have come true.  However,  I am hopeful that soon my family car will be able to separate into two pieces, allowing my wife to head to a high-rise shopping center in one direction while I head to work in another direction.  Of course I'll be following color-coded highway lanes to glass tubes under the ocean on my way to my office-in-the-sky.

I love when I happen upon something on YouTube that I was not entirely aware of previously.  This was part of a 1958 "Disneyland" TV episode narrated by the great Marvin Miller and directed by the legendary animator, Ward Kimball.

Atop Cinderella Castle

 
A few years back I would occasionally be asked to go to the top of Cinderella Castle to check on and/or photograph something.  As you can imagine, the views are amazing.  I felt like that guy in old videos on top of a tower during park construction taking time-lapse and still photography.  How cool of a job that would have been.

A vew to the north from just above Cinderella's Royal Table.

I had assumed in earlier years that there was a nice little elevator to the top of the tallest spire with a room for Tinkerbell to relax in until the fireworks.  Of course the spire is far too narrow for any such thing.  There is however an elevator that goes to what is now the Castle Suite, which was then a small office and small storage space.  From there a door leads to one level of rooftop on the east side of the castle facing Tomorrowland.   Metal ladders bolted to the ground and walls lead you from one level of rooftop to the next.   

A small wooden door at the base of the tallest spire opens to a tall narrow shaft with another metal ladder leading to the top of the spire.  Harnesses are required if you wish to ascend to the highest point of the castle.  At the top of the very tall ladder is a wooden door which opens to a small wooden platform hardly large enough for two people to sit on.

It's great to sit up there and take in the views.  You can see for miles.  It was a joy to see the Magic Kingdom and distant Epcot all at the same time. 

5 Excellent New Disney Rides Announced

How do they come up with such great ideas?? 

Remember in elementary school when you had to match up things in the left column with things in the right column?  This simple process has proven to be a great way to help Disney executives think of things that will really reach young guests.  No need for heritage, legacy, timelessness, originality, or vision when you can stick the latest pop culture trend on an "outdated" attraction.  This is something we can all be excited about.

In an effort to make Disney rides more "relatable" the following new and/or improved rides at Disneyland and Walt Disney World are being created .

1] The High School Musical Autopia
Troy, Gabriella, and the rest of the gang need to take their drivers ed behind-the-wheel driving tests and so do you.  Plywood cutouts of your favorite Disney Channel singers will sing as you drive around the course.  The old Autopia has just always needed more pop music and dancing, right?

2] Hannah Montana's Scary Adventure
Disney will be gutting any reference to Snow White in what is currently Snow White's Scary Adventure.  Miley Cyrus is much more important to the pre-teen scene than that old Snow White movie.

3] Country Bear Jamboree:  Under New Management
Uh oh.  Stitch has teamed up with Randall from Monsters Inc. to manage the Playhouse.  Crazy things are guaranteed to happen.

4] Muppet Babies Hang-Gliding Adventure 
Soarin' has always been missing one thing:  A set of characters.  So our favorite toddler versions of The Muppets will be added.  Kermy and pals will show you the beautiful state of California from high up in the sky as they sing their new theme song, "Muppet Babies, We'll Make Your Hang-Gliding Dreams Come True...".  One really exciting thing about this new adventure is that The Land will look like the famous Muppet Babies nursery.  60-foot fiberglass Nanny legs with striped socks will be installed in the middle of the pavilion.

5] Hidden Mickey Hunt
Yep, it's the ride we've all been waiting for.  More than 100,000 Hidden Mickeys decorate this all-Mickey ride.  Every single object inside is actually a Mickey shape.  And it's a video game.  Shoot your Hidden Mickey Finder Laser and see if you can find more Hidden Mickey's than the person sitting next to you.  Even the ride vehicles themselves are, you guessed it... large Hidden Mickeys.  We'll all happily say farewell to Pinocchio's Daring Journey and The Great Movie Ride, both of which are making way for this magical and innovative new ride.