Ariana Grande + John Legend = Disney's New Celebrity Duet

Things I was not happy to learn about today:

Ariana Grande and John Legend are, most likely, doing the "celebrity duet version" of "Beauty and the Beast" for the new live-action film.

PC: Seventeen

Grrrr.

Okay. Here's the thing. Celebrity versions of iconic Disney songs are nothing new. While I think Demi Lovato's version of "Let It Go" was probably one of the only versions where the Disney-version actually did better (which...Idina Menzel. Yes.), there's usually a celebrity-version that soars to the top of the charts and gets a lot of radio airplay. Christina Aguilera did a version of "Reflection" for the Mulan soundtrack, (there was also a 98 Degrees song that played at the end of the film), Carrie Underwood recorded "Ever Ever After" for Enchanted, Vanessa Williams did a version of "Colors of the Wind" for Pocahontas, and, in the early '90s, apparently Peabo Bryson was the go-to guy for Disney.

I remember his version of "A Whole New World" with Regina Belle playing on the radio, and I definitely remember his version of "Beauty and the Beast" with Celine Dion. That was an "it" song of the early '90s:

Look at the '90s style!

Still. John Legend? I approve. And I'm sure that when Disney was thinking back on this version, they may have thought, "Wow! We had Celine Dion! A great 90's pop-star and total diva. Who's an equivalent now?" and yes, Ariana Grande is a logical, equivalent choice.

But...I don't know. She did a cover of "Zero to Hero" for the We Love Disney album and...maybe I'm just overly picky, but I was not impressed. I'm sure this is a minority opinion, but it was lacking something for me. Yes, it was technically perfect, and the choir in the back definitely helps with the soul, but it fell flat. There's some emotion missing, some deeper connection with the lyrics that makes me hesitant about tackling "Beauty and the Beast."

No More "Good Morning" For Disney World's Magic Kingdom

Last time, I blogged down memory lane about the opening ceremony at the Magic Kingdom and how much I loved it.

Sadly, if you never got a chance to see the new opening in person, you won't be able to now. 

(c) Disney

Now, guests no longer gather outside the park gates and wait for the Mayor of Main Street to come out and Mickey Mouse and friends to roll up on the Main Street Train.

Nope. Now, you get to hang out on Main Street for an hour before the park opens and see the opening ceremony in front of the castle. 

Before I go any farther, take a look at the new opening ceremony below:

*sigh*

Let me first say this: I know why they made the changes. There have been a couple of security incidents at Disney lately (with two separate individuals trying to bring guns into two of the parks) and, between that and the Orlando nightclub tragedy, it's easy to understand why Disney would want to tighten up security.

And, to be honest, I can easily see how having guests congregate in a small, confined area in front of the main gate could be a security nightmare. So, from that perspective, I get it. (Again, crowds at Disney aren't usually that great at park opening -- but still.) 

But, making changes for security reasons doesn't mean there aren't other ramifications. Let's start with...

The Cons:

• The focus of the opening show has shifted from Main Street USA and the Mayor to Cinderella Castle and the royal herald -- a clear shift from democracy to monarchy. In a theme park called "The Magic Kingdom," perhaps not that big a deal but...a little troubling nonetheless.
• If you think it's lost on anyone, Disney, that by allowing guests on to Main Street up to an hour early when nothing else is open, you've left guests with nothing else to do but shop...well, you're not fooling anyone. I was always surprised that Main Street was always open after the park closed, but not before...so I guess we've opened it up on both sides now. A shameless, transparent capitalist ploy. (So that part of democracy is still safe, I guess.)
• This is a bit shallow, maybe, but this new song is not nearly as catchy as the old medley which included snippets from "Good Morning." 
• This is probably the biggest deal for me: the old opening was centered around the Walt Disney World Railroad, and the steam engine pulled up to the station and all the characters got off. That steam engine? Was Walt's pride and joy, and was always a sentimental (and subtle) way of acknowledging his presence and honoring him. Taking away the railroad...takes away a piece of Walt. 
• THERE IS NO MORE FIRST FAMILY. Bringing a little extra bit of Disney magic to one special family by letting them help open the park? For shame, Disney. The magic should always be the focus. 

The Pros: (because there are a few pros...)

• If everything on Main Street is open, that means Starbucks is open. And yes, our first stop is usually Starbucks because it's damn good coffee and if I woke up extra early to see the magical opening ceremony, I'mma need caffeine. Disney Days are long days. 
• The Fairy Godmother is front and center.
  Now--this is a purely selfish "pro." When my husband and I retire, we fully intend to move to Orlando and work for Disney. Since my dreams of being a princess are long gone, my new dream -- no, goal! -- is to be the Fairy Godmother at the Magic Kingdom. My shorter stature will come in handy, I'm already a little "plump" (no willowy princess figure here!) and my chubby cheeks were born to be rouged up and peek out from under a blue hood. (I am 100% serious, y'all.) I want to wear the blue robe, sign autographs, bring smiles to kid's faces...and ride in parades. And now the Fairy Godmother gets to go out on the balcony of the castle and wave a magic wand and help open the parks? Okay. I'm on board with that. (For purely selfish reasons.)
  Do you hear that Disney?! In about 30-35 years, I'll be your Fairy Godmother -- I'm starting my job application now. 

"Good Morning!" Magic Kingdom!

Okay. If you know me, you know how much I love the opening ceremony at the Magic Kingdom. Like, it is, in my opinion, one of the most magical experiences you can do in Disney -- maybe even more so than the fireworks at night.

Okay. That might be pushing it a bit, but fireworks can be crowded, which tends to dampen the magic for me just a bit.

But the Opening Ceremony? Part of the reason why it's so magical is because it happens about 10-15 minutes before the park opens, and it's just not that crowded. I mean, by normal standards, yes, it will be crowded. But compared to the crowds around 11 a.m.? So. Much. Space.

Okay. Let's take a short trip down memory lane: October 2015. Since Food & Wine is on, it's basically "peak" travel time, or close to it, so Magic Kingdom opens at 8. I had everybody out front of the hotel, waiting for the buses at 7. (You never know when they're going to arrive!) So we're there in plenty of time, 7:25 a.m. to be exact:

Look at that beautiful dawn-light!

At 7:42, the Mayor of Main Street arrives. I love this part. Why? Because it's such a rose-tinted-nostalgic look at the past, at small-town-USA. Yes, I know that not everything was hunky dory during the 1930s, but gosh-darn it, I'm on vacation. It's also very democratic (more on that in a minute) -- an elected official, of a small-town, coming out to meet everyone?

The Mayor isn't alone though -- he brings out the Main Street Singers and they all "sing" a magical medley, including "Good Morning" from Singing' In The Rain. 

It all seems very quaint and wholesome and magical -- without being hokey. Which is hard to believe, I know. I feel rather hokey just writing it. But it's one of those things that you have to experience to believe, I think -- or else be really familiar with Disney magic. 

But the most magical part? That's at the end. The Disney World Steam Engine pulls into the station and all your favorite characters arrive -- as well as the Family of the Day. (Disney: It is my goal to *BE* Family of the Day one day.) Then, together, everyone counts down from 10 to officially "open" the park -- it's not as hokey as it sounds, I promise!!! And then fireworks go off and...it's a mass stampede to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (or whatever ride just opened). 

It's not something I remember seeing as a child -- maybe they didn't do it back then? maybe we just had the "old-fashioned" rope drop -- and I'm not even sure they do it at Disneyland. But my husband and I did it on our first trip, and we make it a priority to do it every time we go. 

Well, we did make it a priority. There's a new opening in town, it does not quite have my seal of approval. 😒 Read more about the new ceremony in Part II, and check out a video of the "old" opening ceremony below: 

Disney Fashion -- Golden Globes Edition

I'm not normally one to obsess over fashion trends and who-was-wearing-what at the latest awards shows -- but when you invoke Disney Princesses....I'm going to at least take a look.

And people love to invoke Disney when it comes to awards show dresses -- some are a bit silly and there's more to "princess fashion" than Disney.

But Maisie Williams (a.k.a. Arya Stark from Game of Thrones) won the Disney Princess Award of the Night, IMHO:

PC: Maisie Williams' Instagram

The caption reads: "channeling belle with a side order of tiana."

That top knot! That yellow dress! That posture!

Slay, girl. Slay.

Runner-Up goes to Zoe Saldana in her Cinderella-esque gown -- although that might just be a coincidence.