Walt Disney World Resort: Behind the Scenes

"Walt Disney World Resort: Behind the Scenes" is just plain fun, particularly for Disney World fans, guests, or cast members (all of which I am)! This special allows viewers to revisit Disney World and learn more about it, such as its history and how some of the attractions work. I guarantee that if you're a fan, you will smile at least once when watching this special. I know I did after I watched it recently, and I've seen it around five times! My favorite parts of this special include its segment on Epcot's Test Track (an area I worked at frequently), how they approached George Lucas to become involved in the Disney parks, and the notion of putting more hotels on property and making them unique, not like matchboxes.

One thing I found interesting was how much credit the people interviewed for this special gave to Disney CEO Michael Eisner for revitalizing the Disney Company. As I'm writing this review, he is under intense scrutiny and criticism from Roy Disney and many Disney fans. I find it kind of odd that people are so willing to criticize Mr. Eisner for the box office failures of "Treasure Planet," but yet they don't give him credit for such things as "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and Disney-MGM Studios. I, myself, am hesitant to completely criticize or commend Mr. Eisner on the successes or failures of Disney projects, as I'm just not sure what control he has over them. So with regards to the praise for Mr. Eisner in this video, I'm not entirely sure if they're exaggerated, but I find it's a welcome change compared to all the criticism I read about him on the Net everyday.

With all that said, this special is just a fun and interesting way to look at Walt Disney World. It can be a little long and repetitive (maybe because I've seen it too much), but it's still a great way to rekindle those fond Disney memories. Keep an eye out for it on the Travel Channel.

My IMDb Rating: 9/10

I really enjoyed watching this special today on the Disney Channel. It's a behind the scenes look into Disney World - the history, the construction, the attractions, the competition, pretty much everything. They take it one park at a time. First Magic Kingdom, and how it is divided into 5 lands. We learn why they are what they are. Then they talk about Epcot, MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, and all the hotels/resorts they built on the property.

I learned that Disneyland was built before Disney World. I never knew that. Walt Disney needed a larger area for a bigger and better park and chose Florida when he flew over the perfect location. This special really gives you an insiders look into the inner-workings of the parks. We get special access into the control room of the Haunted Mansion and the daily parades. We also get a detailed look into the Tower of Terror including a glance at the elevator shaft no one's allowed to see. We learn that Disney is still number one in Central Florida. None of the competition has come close to recreating it's magic and appeal.

I've only been to Disney World once (last year) and I'm planning on going back this summer. This special gave me a lot of ideas how to spend my next trip. 5 days was just not enough to experience all Disney World has to offer. I wasn't too impressed (or rather scared) by the Haunted Mansion last time, but this show explained how much detail and planning went into the ride, so next time I'll appreciate it more. I never got to do Mission Space or the Star Wars ride. Now I know all about them and will make them a priority next time. Also, there is a nightly fireworks show that would be incredible to see in person. I gained a greater appreciation and respect for the sheer size of Disney. What a massive undertaking it was to build it. And it's constantly being improved.

I would recommend this show to just about anybody. I benefit from it because I saw all the stuff I missed last year and now have an opportunity to get the most out of Disney. If you've never been there, this is a great history lesson and a way to pretend you've been there. If you're a Disney fanatic, there may be some trivia here you've never known about before. Everybody will enjoy this special. It's very informative and fun and shows a side of Disney you may not have seen before! :)

9/10 only because I wish it were longer!