The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Disney Analyst]

Does it take Federal approval to ditch Daylight Saving Time? Parts of Indiana and all of Arizona and Hawaii have been ignoring Daylight Saving Time for decades. I never knew they had "Federal" approval for that, I just assumed it was up to State legislatures only.

Hmm... I'll go Google.

I had thought (based on what was reported) it needed some sort of approval from them? Could have been wrong.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I’m a Burbank man, myself.

Unfortunately we don't get non-stops into Burbank. I'm all the way in Baltimore; we are extremely lucky we can get Ontario. Seasonally, we can also get non-stops into Long Beach, which absolutely would be my choice coming in. I have been to Long Beach... don't ask me why Southwest chose that airport for non-stops (not that I'm complaining).

 

[TP2000]

Unfortunately we don't get non-stops into Burbank. I'm all the way in Baltimore; we are extremely lucky we can get Ontario. Seasonally, we can also get non-stops into Long Beach, which absolutely would be my choice coming in. I have been to Long Beach... don't ask me why Southwest chose that airport for non-stops (not that I'm complaining).

I completely understand! I put together an itinerary to go to DC later this year to celebrate the 250th ; my Congressman got me a Capitol tour and a White House tour ticket, I'm going to do several of the Smithsonian museums, have a steak and martini at the Capital Grille on Pennsylvania Ave. and look for politicians canoodling with their summer intern in a corner banquette, etc., etc.

And the flight options out of San Diego and LAX were surprisingly awful. Lots of weird departure times on small single aisle planes. I finally found a 787 on United to Dulles, but that is NOT my first choice in airline.

 

[Disney Irish]

Does it take Federal approval to ditch Daylight Saving Time? Parts of Indiana and all of Arizona and Hawaii have been ignoring Daylight Saving Time for decades. I never knew they had "Federal" approval for that, I just assumed it was up to State legislatures only.

Hmm... I'll go Google.

Each state can opt out of DST, but its not permanent, only Congress can approve the complete removal of it as its part of the Uniform Time Act of 1966.

https://www.ncsl.org/state-legislatures-news/details/daylight-saving-time-ends-on-sunday-heres-what-to-know

 

[TP2000]

I had thought (based on what was reported) it needed some sort of approval from them? Could have been wrong.

No, you aren't wrong! The quick Google search was quite interesting actually, and I understand now why the reporting out of Vancouver was likely that the West Coast states were "awaiting Federal approval" for this.

It turns out... You do not need Federal approval to exempt your state from Daylight Saving Time and stay on Standard Time the whole year round. But any state does need Federal approval to exempt themselves from Standard Time and stay on Daylight Saving Time the whole year round, which is what it sounds like BC is doing.

It also turns out Indiana no longer exempts part of its state from Daylight Saving Time. Apparently that changed about 20 years ago, but I definitely remember it being a thing in the 1990's when I had business travel with Indiana clients via O'hare. The only two states currently exempting themselves from Daylight Saving Time is Arizona and Hawaii, plus a gaggle of our Polynesian and Caribbean territories. All of those places already have plenty of sunshine.

If Washington and Oregon and California wanted to stay permanently on Standard Time, then the Feds wouldn't care and those states could do that themselves whenever they'd like. But the law is written that to ditch Standard Time, that takes approval by the Federal government and Congress.

I guess it kind of makes sense, when the de facto time is "Standard Time".

 

[TP2000]

Each state can opt out of DST, but its not permanent, only Congress can approve the complete removal of it as its part of the Uniform Time Act of 1966.

https://www.ncsl.org/state-legislatures-news/details/daylight-saving-time-ends-on-sunday-heres-what-to-know

Oh, you have the Google too?! Isn't it great!

 

[Disney Irish]

Oh, you have the Google too?! Isn't it great!

I actually knew this one (like much of the stuff I discuss) off the top of my head. I even had the link saved.

So no I didn't Google it.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Sounds like LAX arrival is locked in. But if you are doing a red-eye back home, it really doesn't matter. LAX might be the better bet for that, just in case your flight is delayed or something its a bigger airport with more amenities.

Honestly, the actual airport terminal experience isn't bad at LAX. The Tom Bradley International terminal is downright swanky, and has some of the best lounges in the country.

It's getting to/from LAX terminals that is the nightmare. Once you are through TSA, its not bad at all.

Appreciate the input. LAX and Long Beach are the only two area airports I've been through. LAX isn't the worst airport I've been to (Boston Logan wins that title, and I consider Dulles to be a hellscape) but lately I've found ways of going one way via a different airport...like "oh, let's start out in San Diego and fly in there..." Last trip was with my parents and we went to Aulani after, which we've done a few times. We go out via Long Beach.

Lounge access with United would be the reason to fly out of there (I did that on a prior trip; I have their credit card and Southwest's, and United is really the only major reliable airline out of BWI besides Southwest, which takes up 70% of the airport). I did that back in October 2024. But right now United is running significantly more than Southwest.

Probably going to adjust my dates. I have knee surgery upcoming on April 1 and was trying to see if I could make it out before the procedure. It doesn't look like it, so I'm looking at May so I'm at the 6-7 week mark.

 

[TP2000]

I actually knew this one (like much of the stuff I discuss) off the top of my head. I even had the link saved.

So no I didn't Google it.

And you even knew to correctly refer to it in casual conversation as the Uniform Time Act of 1966. That's impressive stuff!

Each state can opt out of DST, but its not permanent, only Congress can approve the complete removal of it as its part of the Uniform Time Act of 1966.

 

[Disney Irish]

And you even knew to correctly refer to it in casual conversation as the Uniform Time Act of 1966. That's impressive stuff!

Its my tech brain my friend.

 

[TP2000]

Appreciate the input. LAX and Long Beach are the only two area airports I've been through. LAX isn't the worst airport I've been to (Boston Logan wins that title, and I consider Dulles to be a hellscape)

Oh @Figments Friend , we have another Logan fan!

I have actually rewired my brain so that Dulles is fun for me, only because of the opening scenes of Airport '75. I just pretend that I'm about to see Charlton Heston greet gorgeous stewardess Karen Black at one of the mobile lounges, or that Myrna Loy is going to surreptitiously order a Boilermaker at the airport bar, and then it's fun for me. Glamorous, even!

but lately I've found ways of going one way via a different airport...like "oh, let's start out in San Diego and fly in there..." Last trip was with my parents and we went to Aulani after, which we've done a few times. We go out via Long Beach.

Lounge access with United would be the reason to fly out of there (I did that on a prior trip; I have their credit card and Southwest's, and United is really the only major reliable airline out of BWI besides Southwest, which takes up 70% of the airport). I did that back in October 2024. But right now United is running significantly more than Southwest.

Probably going to adjust my dates. I have knee surgery upcoming on April 1 and was trying to see if I could make it out before the procedure. It doesn't look like it, so I'm looking at May so I'm at the 6-7 week mark.

SoCal is blessed with many completely normal airports, and a couple of them like Long Beach and John Wayne are actually some of America's best!

When JetBlue abandoned Long Beach, and right after they spent all that money to upgrade it, it made Long Beach that much more difficult to use for good connections. It's a shame, because physically and logistically it's a fabulous little airport.

If you get the chance, use John Wayne Airport (SNA) for a Disneyland itinerary. It's even closer/handier/nicer than Long Beach for a Disneyland Resort District stay. But it's a tad pricier because of that, and also just because it's Orange County.

 

[SteveAZee]

Question for locals:

I can get non-stops via LAX or Ontario. Which is better for DL? It looks like I may have to come in via LAX (not happy about that one because of the Uber pickup area) because of flight times, but I can get a red eye back via Ontario.

I'm flying into LAX in a couple months to visit DL. What's the problem with the Uber pickup area?

 

[Distorian]

How is their new airport coming along? It looked like an impressive "rebuild from scratch" project when I first heard about it a year or so ago.

The new terminal at Lindbergh Field (San Diego) is very nice. So many good options besides LAX out there! And now that you can get 787 service non-stop to Japan and Europe out of Lindbergh Field, LAX is easy to forget about. I've got a travel plan in '26 that goes out of LAX, but that's only because I wanted to fly Swiss Air for a splurge.

I was told the new PeopleMover at LAX would be done by the time of my Swiss Air flight, but I see it was just delayed (again) to "late 2026".

I was just there over Christmas and the only sign of the renovation I saw was the concept renderings hanging on the wall. That said, I'm a fan of the sleek, modern design with its midcentury inspiration. It's also very much needed. As much better as Burbank is to fly into than LAX, its reached its capacity. Every time I fly through there the pick up area is a mess so this will all be a welcome change once completed.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I completely understand! I put together an itinerary to go to DC later this year to celebrate the 250th ; my Congressman got me a Capitol tour and a White House tour ticket, I'm going to do several of the Smithsonian museums, have a steak and martini at the Capital Grille on Pennsylvania Ave. and look for politicians canoodling with their summer intern in a corner banquette, etc., etc.

And the flight options out of San Diego and LAX were surprisingly awful. Lots of weird departure times on small single aisle planes. I finally found a 787 on United to Dulles, but that is NOT my first choice in airline.

Dulles is a hub for United, so that's why you were finding flights. That airport is terrible, though. Passenger pick-up/drop off isn't big enough for as large as they built that airport. BWI is bigger and the airport is overall smaller. If you're on D terminal...lordy. The other terminals have access via the subway. D terminal still uses these mover things that look like sand crawlers from A New Hope. They take FOREVER. My luggage beat me back to bag claim last time. TSA takes forever unless you have precheck (fortunately I do). The one time I also sat on the tarmac for an hour because the jet bridge malfunctioned. That's not even mentioning the traffic around the airport, which I think rivals LAX; it's terrible. They didn't build enough ways to get into the airport; once again, BWI was better planned.

But it's basically the option if you're doing DC. I wouldn't fly in or out of Reagan specifically because of what happened last year with the crash from the army training grounds; it is FAR too close for comfort. BWI, somehow, is the busiest airport in the region in terms of passenger traffic (Dulles is busier for international travel, but it blows my mind BWI has more overall passengers), but is a much, much easier airport. The disadvantage, though, is it's not as accessible to DC, even though Dulles isn't technically in DC either. I pretty much only use BWI unless I have a reason to use Dulles, partially because BWI is 40 minutes from my house and partially because it's just much easier.

That being said, the staff at both Dulles and BWI are wonderful. TSA is even friendly, which is saying something.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I'm flying into LAX in a couple months to visit DL. What's the problem with the Uber pickup area?

Unless you pay extra for Uber black, you can't be picked up directly at the terminal. You have to go to a designated area, which requires either walking or taking a bus.

Last time I avoided this by booking with a third party company that had their own drivers. It worked fine, but I would love to avoid coming in via LAX strictly for this reason.

 

[Distorian]

Not that Rock'n'Rollercoaster was an exceptionally good ride, or that I dislike the Muppets, but the idea of replacing a 70's band that had a 90's resurgence with a 70's IP that had a 90's resurgence just feels extremely lateral. As bizarre as a Disney coaster themed around Aerosmith is, there's an incredible charm in that which is just missing from a Muppet overlay. Truthfully the retheme should be to a more contemporary artist, but the sad reality is rock'n'roll died decades ago and there aren't any major bands that could service the ride. The music is predominantly singular artists now, mostly women, singing pop. Even though Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter would both be major draws, at least for foreseeable future, they're not rock'n'roll. Olivia Rodrigo is the closest contemporary artist to a rock star, but I think her popularity is already passing. This just leaves us with Electric Mayhem, a 70's hippie band that, frankly, feels even more outdated than Aerosmith.

 

[mickEblu]

I think you might be surprised at the crossover between those two demographics. Especially for The Gays over age 50.

Oh, the dinner parties I've been to...



Sadly, no. I was doing my usual Not Church Sunday Morning, then laundry, then Target Run just for the excitement, then meeting friends at the fave Japanese Steakhouse in town kind of Sunday. Several hundred miles away.



I tried to get my Sister and her boys interested last summer, and this past Christmas, and they've just drifted completely away. (From Disneyland, not me) Both of the nephew's wives are now expecting (both boys have always been incredibly competitive!), so in a few years there will be Great Uncle TP2000 to take the next generation and get them indoctrinated early.

I'll make another push for this Easter vacation, as La Jolla is on the itinerary and I go down first and stay late to open/close the house for everyone. But unfortunately, I just don't give a crap about the new Marvel stuff in DCA, and there's nothing new at Disneyland enough to lure me in on my own. Paint The Night? Oh, suddenly it's 2017!

Don't worry though, I'll head back there sooner than later. Maybe if the Soarin' 250 film is really good?! When does that open again? By July 4th, I would imagine. But what's the opening date exactly?

I believe it’s July 2nd for new Soarin. I forget have you been on ROTR and MMRR?

 

[Distorian]

If it weren't for the presence of Carthay Circle Restaurant and its already embracement of Snow White, I would argue Disney should open up a Snow White Cafe in Hollywoodland based on the now sadly closed Hollywood location. I suppose it could still be done in DHS. Not that this was a particularly amazing restaurant, but the murals were worthy of preservation and it would be neat to have seen them transversed to the park somehow. Not so much because they looked good (they honestly look off and I'm skeptical they were actually painted by real Disney animators) but because of the history and its ties to Walt Disney.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Thoughts/experiences/etc. from my weekend trip:
-87 degrees in February was wonderful after weeks of 30-and-below weather in the Midwest.
-Maybe I'm just unobservant, maybe they really have been making strides in maintenance, but I saw a lot of little effects working on attractions that I had never seen before. Some of them were of course broken the next day, but it was nice to see them.
-The best food I had this trip was all leftover from Lunar New Year, which definitely makes me want to go back next year for the full experience.
-Speaking of: Lamplight Lounge has a cringe theme, but it has a really nice outdoor patio, and both of the meals I've had here recently (got the Chilaquiles for brunch over Christmas and the Chef's Special Mongolian Beef this time around) were real standouts.
-Lucked into a Rise experience where there was NO-ONE in the outdoor queue...then that continued into the first room...then another...and I didn't find the end of the line until the first of the "locker rooms".
-Monday was a nice, lightly crowded day. The walkways certainly didn't give a hint of that, even at DCA, but except for Space Mountain, Guardians (down a shaft), and maybe another ride or two, most rides were down significantly from normal. Rise sat around 35 minutes most of the day, RSR stayed around an hour. Probably the slowest day I've ever experienced at the parks.
-Speaking of Space Mountain, it seemed like something was up last night. There was a HUGE Lightning Lane return line last night and the CMs were constantly announcing something to the effect of "we can't make the line faster if you don't move to fill the empty space." The vibes were off.
-Also, I don't know if this is a training issue, dumb luck, or something else, but all of a sudden the loading CMs at Space are constantly asking me to sit in the front seat, i.e. the one with the least leg room for someone visibly tall and fat. I spoke up the second time onward, but I'm not sure why this is suddenly a thing when it had never happened to me previously.
-Walking into the Toy Story Lot from Katella >>>> Walking into the Toy Story Lot from Harbor.
-I went to Animation Academy in part to show support for an animated show with a live animator...only for our character to be Remy and our drawings were a bit, well, off-model. It looked like Remy had a child with one of the hyenas from the Lion King, and no, I'm not just talking about my own drawing here.
-The Cars Land bathroom is weirdly small for the traffic it gets.
-The most unreliable attraction of the weekend was surprisingly the monorail. Every time I tried to ride it, it was closed. I also saw the maintenance vehicle out on the track, something I'd never seen before.
-Wondrous Journeys remains an S-Tier fireworks show. Paint the Night I enjoy but is wearing on me a bit. Still haven't seen the 70th WOC.
-Soarin' over California was the reason for this trip. In my head, it was a superlative experience, heads and shoulders above World. Only to discover when I rode it that...it lived up to my memories and then some. Of course, time has passed, and the bad CGI in places are more noticeable, as are some cringy moments of interjectory dialogue ("FORE!!111), and it was visibly not made yesterday.

And yet there's something so beautiful, relaxing, reassuring, and optimistic about it that it just carries me away. It's the only attraction I can think of that is truly peaceful to me. The score is perfect, the scents more frequent and noticeable (at least to me) compared to World, dare I say it's a bit contemplative. I got to experience it four times over the weekend and could have done with four more, it's that good of an attraction and that important to me. I hope the US version is able to recapture the formula, but given that I've done World many times and at least 10 flying theater attractions across the country-often put together by the same people-and nothing has lived up to the OG even if the visuals are better and the experience is longer, I'm not sure that anything will. Maybe that's just nostalgia, which is a powerful drug, but nonetheless I maintain that there's something special about the original film. I hope that someday we will get to a point where it will be a year-round option beyond a couple of months, naive and optimistic that wish likely is. If anything, I'm glad I got to have it back for even a few days. Hopefully at some point I will get to experience it again.

 

[mickEblu]

Really Target? Your store is the size of a theme park and you cant dedicate one small stand for brand new movies? Silly. Went to Target this morning before work to pick up Zootopia 2 for the kids and they only sell blu rays online now. Kids have been asking me to buy it for weeks but I would not be suckered into paying the same price for digital only. Anyway, Walmart is getting my business now.