Photo from Picasa

If you are one of the many fans of ABC’s “Lost” you are likely already mourning the impending end of the series. Of course, with the premise of the show centering around plane crash survivors who are stranded on a strange island, the story had a limited shelf life from the beginning. The show has been a huge hit for ABC since its premiere in September of 2004 and has developed a cult-like following. Due to the intricate details and ongoing storyline, fans are very wrapped up in the show and are devastated to see it conclude in May of this year. They are so distraught over the idea of being completely cut off from the show that some have developed a plan to help the series live on in a way.

Some Relief for Anguished Lost Fans

There has been much discussion online as of late, about how the fans can continue to get their fix of “Lost” once it has aired its last episode. Some of the more avid followers have devised a plan that involves ABC’s parent company, Disney, or more specifically Disneyland. The idea that they have generated involves changing the theme park area known as Tom Sawyer Island into a “Lost” experience, including themed rides, displays and setting. In this way fans could immerse themselves in all things “Lost” whenever they are feeling wistful for their favorite adventure drama.

In with the New

Proponents of the plan argue that the Tom Sawyer theme, while fairly relevant when the park opened its gates in 1955, has become outdated. Changing the area to the “Lost” theme would likely draw large crowds for some time. In fact, with a new batch of rides and attractions it would probably not only be fans of the show flocking to the area. Park goers have long been drawn to new attractions, whether they knew of the theme or not and the concept of the show is certainly an interesting one to translate into an outdoor adventure playground.

Out with the Old?

It is certainly true that the park has evolved over the years, adding new attractions as ideas evolved and new stories became popular. Star Wars, Indiana Jones and others have been incorporated over the years and with much success. On the other hand though, the park has also remained true to its roots. There are still many of the old attractions which date back to the opening, including Tom Sawyer Island, which, according to JustDisney.com, was designed by Walt himself. Even with all its modern draws, there is something to be said for the historical charm that Disneyland holds. There is a sense of nostalgia that comes with riding the same rides and walking the same streets as the first park goers did.

A Toss Up

So after much consideration I have concluded that I am still up in the air about the idea, not that my opinion holds any weight in the matter. The fans who have come up with the concept have surely been inventive, a trait that Walt himself held dear, but this new idea will also become old, possibly even sooner than the last. What do you think about the concept?

This 2007 photo shows HandsOn Network volunteers cleaning up a neighborhood. Image from Flikr.com.

We have all heard the president calling for everyone to be good citizens and do volunteer work. Now, there’s a little extra incentive from Disney, who is running the “Give a day, get a Disney day” promotion. Disney has teamed up with the HandsOn Network, which is part of the nation’s largest volunteer network, the Points of Light Institute, to encourage people to volunteer.

The Los Angeles Times says 1 million people who do volunteer work through a HandsOn Network participating organization will get a pass for a free one-day admission to either Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., or Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. To be eligible for the free passes, volunteers must sign up through DisneyParks.com.

Not so fast

The promotion is available starting Jan. 1 2010, but you can already read about the program on the Disney parks web site and the HandsOn Network site. Of course, you can sign up to do volunteer work now, but you won’t be eligible for the free Disney theme park pass. So if you’re looking to save cash now on a Disney vacation, you’ll have to sit tight for a while.

The HandsOn Network can help you find centers where you can volunteer, but it also has a toolkit for starting your own volunteer project through the organization. You can also read other service volunteers’ stories to see what kinds of projects HandsOn Network can hook you up with.

Disney marketing campaign

While Disney’s partnership with the HandsOn Network will no doubt end up helping a lot of needy people and programs, the Walt Disney Co. will probably see some benefits from the promotion as well. The program appears to be somewhat of an extension of this year’s advertising campaign slogan “What will you celebrate?” AllEars.net reports:

Give a day, get a Disney day (image from flickr)

“In 2010, we want to recognize and add one more reason for celebration: the contributions people make to their communities every day,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We want to inspire 1 million volunteers – people who will invest time and energy to make their own communities and neighborhoods a better place.”

The program might drum up a little profit for Disney theme parks. After all, admission passes don’t cover food and all the other goodies available for sale in the parks. And perhaps friends who get the free passes will talk others into joining them.

Back to the important stuff

Of course, the best news about this partnership promotion is that the HandsOn Network, if all goes as planned, will get 1 million new volunteers. That means more people to help in soup kitchens, tutors for school kids and all kinds of other positive action across the country.

Furthermore, it is getting the name of the HandsOn Network out there. Since Disney announced its promotion, many people have learned about HandsOn Network. I have faith that a lot of people will sign up to volunteer through the HandsOn Network because of this promotion, regardless of whether they get a theme park pass or not. And for those who want something in exchange for their day of service or just a free pass to Disneyland, here’s a perfect opportunity.

The current economy is a troubling thing, and a lot of people are worried they’ll have to start getting payday loans to cover the most basic of costs, or cut almost all spending entirely.  The good news is that there are ways to save on just about anything.

Typically, one of the industries that are more or less recession-proof is recreation. Cinema revenue hasn’t yet been down this year, in spite of the worst recession in living memory. There’s been a cash crunch in nearly every other major industry. Some industries like retail and manufacturing have been laying off workers by the bushel.  Some people worry that the annual vacation is going to have to be canceled. You don’t necessarily have to cancel that vacation – you may only have to  change destination and theme.

A wealth of options for recreational travel may just be closer than you think

In the current economic climate, it may indeed be prudent to cancel the plans for a family flight out to California to go the beach, Disneyland and Sea World.  There are plenty of other recreation options available to you that are economical, just as fun, and can even be educational if done right.

For those of us who are city and suburb dwellers, we like our major metropolitan areas. The bright lights, the convenience of all that handy stuff, but we often neglect something – The Great Outdoors.  You may not even need a wealth of payday loans in order to go there.  Hiking trips are also great for the family because it can also teach your children about nature conservation, responsibility, and hey – it gets them out in the fresh air and away from the PlayStation or Xbox for a few days.

Turns out it’s a lot cheaper than Disneyland, and the work is done for you

For the cost of the plane tickets for normal travel, you can outfit a family of three or four with enough gear to camp out for a week, in relative comfort.  Also, it pays to do your research. Most state parks with camp sites available have online maps which will tell you which campsites have what amenities and what the fee is for an overnight stay, or if there is one.

Many parks have free campsites, but the site may not have any features to it whatsoever except clearings and fire pits.  Also, there are campsites that are close to national monuments.  Remember to definitely be safe, make sure trash and any and all leftover food is put away and in containers that don’t leak the scent, and leave the camp a little cleaner than you found it.  One of the most aggravating sights for veteran outdoors people (campers and hikers) is to come across a litany of soda cans left behind. You can be fined for leaving trash if you get discovered by a park ranger. Also, be extra sure to extinguish any camp fires.

State parks on rivers often have raft packages and tours that are available for very reasonable rates and many are located around lakes too.  You may not have to drive too far if you look online.

Just remember, if you’ve taken a trip, then found you have some sort of emergency leaving you short on funds, you can get help with payday loans.