Let me take you back to March of 1994. I’m in the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. And because my then-wife Michelle had just begun having contractions, the staff in Maternity had quickly admitted her. And since I wanted to keep both sets of would-be grandparents aware of what was going on in this pre-cell-phone era, I went off in search of a pay phone. Which the woman working at the admissions desk said was downin the lobby.
So I hustled down to the lobby, made two phone calls (One to Massachusetts — where my parents lived — and another to Hawaii — where Michelle’s parents were living at that time) and then was about to head back up to Arnold Palmer’s Maternity unit when … Well, I just got this weird feeling that someone’s eyes were on me. So I looked up. And what did I see?
A 30 foot-tall version of the Genie from Disney’s “Aladdin ” hanging directly overhead. He had been installed in the lobby of the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children just a month or two before Michelle had been admitted to have our daughter Alice. And I have to admit that — during this incredibly stressful time in our lives — I found having the Genie’s big blue face beaming down at me extremely comforting.
Anyway. Jumping ahead a decade or two now … I was in Orlando again earlier this year and suddenly felt in the mood to drop by Arnold Palmer Hospital and see my big blue friend again. Well, I walked into the lobby, I noticed that the kid-sized version of Cinderella Castle which used to anchor one side of the hospital’s lobby was still in place …
Photo by Jim Hill
… that giant genie was gone! And in his place was a large hot air balloon being piloted by Donald Duck.
Photo by Nancy Stadler
So what had become of the genie? According to a plaque on the wall, through the generosity of the employees of Arnold Palmer Hospital and Orlando Health …
… the Genie was summoned out of his lamp with a warm smile and outstretched arms to welcome visitors in 1994. In November of 2005, he returned to his lamp to make room for some of his special friends.
Photo by Jim Hill
“Some” ? Try 16 different Disney characters in a brand-new fairy tale setting. With a giant beanstalk bursting through the floor and then climbing toward the top of this three-story atrium.
Photo by Jim Hill
Mind you, it took over 3,500 man hours (not to mention the artistic efforts of Imagineer Joni Van Buren. Who sculpted all 16 of the Disney characters on display here) to transfer this corner of Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children into a medieval-inspired magical garden. And many of the characters on display here symbolize special characteristics such as friendship (which is signified by Mickey and Pluto) …
Photo by Nancy Stadler
… while Peter Pan symbolizes courage and triumph.
Photo by Nancy Stadler
… while Dumbo is supposed to represent all of the babies that have been born at Arnold Palmer Hospital over the past 34 years.
Dumbo and a particularly big baby. Photo by Nancy Stadler
Me personally, while I love how the Imagineers turned the hospital’s information desk into a tournament tent …
Photo by Jim Hill
… or those personality-filled sculpts that Joni did of Fifer, Fiddler …
Photo by Jim Hill
… and Practical Pig.
Photo by Jim Hill
Those bronze-tone versions of the Seven Dwarfs who are looking down on the lobby from the hospital’s second floor are pretty sweet as well. (Please note that the dwarfs seem to be hauling an awful lot of luggage. That’s because these “Snow White” characters are supposed to represent all of the young people who have been successfully treated at Arnold Palmer and thus get to go back home & resume their normal lives.)
Photo by Jim Hill
And how can you not love a kid-friendly space that — instead of a Hidden Mickey — has a blink-and-you’ll-miss-her Tinker Bell?
Photo by Nancy Stadler
Then when you factor in those Small World-like toy soldiers who stand watch over this miniature version of Cinderella Castle …
Photo by Jim Hill
… as well as that sailing-theme play area …
Photo by Jim Hill
… located right off the lobby …
Photo by Jim Hill
… it’s hard not to see this new version of the lobby at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children as an improvement over the original. But even so, I still miss that giant genie who used to loom over this room …
Photo by Jim Hill
… and I wonder: Does anyone know what became of this enormous piece of character art after it was pulled down in 2005? Do any of you folks know?
Your thoughts?