Disney theme parks have lost their way

“To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past…and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America…with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” These were the words of Walt Disney at the opening of Disneyland in 1955. Since then, Disneyland and its several spin-offs including Central Florida’s Disneyworld have veered far afield from Walt’s dream back in the innocent 50s. The parks have become havens for the rich only. A normal family cannot afford the prices which top $100 a day, plus parking, plus innumerable gift shops with overpriced objects, plus very average food at very expensive prices. The annual passes which began at about $100 a year with some blackout days now are pushing $1000. The latest assault on a family’s pocketbook is a charge to park at the on property hotels, which before the parking charge, begin at well over $300 per night plus admission to the parks, other things cited above plus transportation. Walt Disney envisioned Disneyland as something the average family could enjoy. His successors have lost sight of that vision.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

1. A few, brief thoughts on the need for school resource officers (RSOs). Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri’s numbers are a little askew when he speaks of having to fund sick leave and vacations – he estimates 31 additional hires. Sick leave – yes; vacations – no. Schools are closed over two months each summer not counting holidays. RSOs should be hired on the same basis as educators – you work your vacation around the school calendar – this would chop probably a quarter million or more off the tab. And Pinellas County Commissioner Pat Gerard expressing frustration over underfunding by the legislature? How long have you been in government, ma’am? Unfunded mandates or underfunded mandates are as old as government itself. Imitate private enterprise and sharpen your pencils folks.

2. Just a little over six months ago (TBRR 8/6/17) we were heralding the completion of the never-ending Druid Road construction west of Belcher Road. Now, we somewhat patiently await the completion of Druid Road construction that is snarling traffic east of Highland Avenue.

3. We bow to some readers who question the wisdom of year-round daylight savings time (TBRR, Feb. 25). Frankly, we don’t care whether it’s EST or EDT as long as it’s constant year round.

4. Idle thoughts: three people/things we could care less about: Stormy Daniels, the Scientology Network and who says what at whatever performing arts award show.

5. You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember the modernistic Clearwater Chamber of Commerce headquarters on Clearwater’s bluff – the site is now a part of the downtown library footprint.

Sports, the media and other stuff:

6. The man who turned a few record racks in his Dad’s drugstore into an international giant, Tower Records, has died. Russ Solomon was 92. There is a neat bio on his company you can find on some of the history outlets. Well worth a viewing.

7. The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to go into the season with a four man rotation. That worked well for the Cleveland Indians some sixty years ago when the four were Mike Garcia, Bob Lemon, Herb Score and Early Wynn. We’re not so sure about Archer, Eovaldi, Faria and Snell. We give it a month – or less.

8. NCAA Notes: It was tough seeing our alma mater USF’s women’s team get vanquished in the first round of the tournament. As we noted last year (Rants 4/1/17) and as Tom Jones opined last week, there needs to be some sort of arrangement where ESPN’s Dick Vitale works some of the key games of the NCAA Tournament. There is no greater ambassador for the game.

9. That crusading metropolitan “news” source, the 5:05 Newsletter strikes again: The U.S. Senate heard testimony detailing the threats posed by Russian interference in our democracy. The probe included the ads they bought on Facebook. We cannot allow Russia to deploy misleading propaganda to unfairly influence a U.S. presidential election. That’s the U.S. media’s job.

10. Our baseball guys are going to create a little controversy over the upcoming season. Each week of the season, we’re going to look at one of the 30 teams and pick their best player and pitcher since the arbitrary year of 1950. As the season runs a little less than 30 weeks, we’ll cheat and, like the old days, have doubleheaders on the weeks of Memorial Day, 4^th of July and Labor Day; up first next week (in mostly alphabetical order) – the Angels.

Noted baseball soothsayer Achmed Walled predicts:

First, Achmed Walled (pronounced wall-ED) does not see a World Series in the Ray’s future. Now on to less sure predictions: In the Senior Circuit, Achmed likes the Nats, Cubs and Dodgers to take their divisions with the Brewers and Rockies securing wild card spots. His falling off a cliff team is a tie – the Cards and Diamondbacks. In the American League, our mystical man from the east likes the Yanks, Indians and Astros to take their divisions with the rejuvenated Twins and the always tough Bosox taking the wild cards. Our crack prognosticator and former tube jockey says to look for the Rangers to circle the drain this year.

UP NEXT: The Angel’s best; modern day Don Quixotes; telephone home invaders