The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[TP2000]

Well don't know if that would work in today's multinational conglomerate world.

"Carnation Cafe presented by Nestle" doesn't have the same ring.

Carnation is the brand, and they've been owned by Nestle' since the 80's. Nestle' was buying up everything in the 70's and 80's, as was Kraft, the original Land Pavilion sponsor out at Epcot.

The Carnation sponsorship of Carnation Cafe lasted into the late 1990's, 15 years after Nestle' bought them.

Here's that same building in 1996, from the brilliant Werner Weiss. It just seems more homey and charming this way.

 

[TP2000]

Pre-Cocktail Hour Musing (Happy Friday!)...

When did Carnation stop using the "From Contented Cows" tagline? I remember it on the old Burns & Allen program, with a giant smiling cow bursting through the screen and Gracie's kitchen cabinets stocked full of Carnation condensed milk.

In the 1950's and 60's, commercial sponsorships of TV programs were less than subtle.

 

[TP2000]

More Pre-Cocktail Hour Musings (Happy Friday!)....

I wonder why they just plastered over the original Carnation Company signage back in the late 1990's? Was it cheaper to do it that way, or was someone in authority at WDI actively trying to save park history?

That was the depths of the Paul Pressler and Cynthia Harriss misery era, so it was probably just a way to save money on the remodel. But, I'd like to think someone did it on purpose to save the original marquee and signage...

 

[Disney Irish]

Carnation is the brand, and they've been owned by Nestle' since the 80's. Nestle' was buying up everything in the 70's and 80's, as was Kraft, the original Land Pavilion sponsor out at Epcot.

The Carnation sponsorship of Carnation Cafe lasted into the late 1990's, 15 years after Nestle' bought them.

Here's that same building in 1996, from the brilliant Werner Weiss. It just seems more homey and charming this way.

View attachment 910770

Oh I'm aware but 2026 sponsorships are a WHOLE lot different than the 1980s or even 1990s.

Nestle would want their name front and center not just the brand.

 

[Disney Irish]

Pre-Cocktail Hour Musing (Happy Friday!)...

When did Carnation stop using the "From Contented Cows" tagline? I remember it on the old Burns & Allen program, with a giant smiling cow bursting through the screen and Gracie's kitchen cabinets stocked full of Carnation condensed milk.

In the 1950's and 60's, commercial sponsorships of TV programs were less than subtle.

Google says, 1984 when Nestle bought them they phased out the slogan.

So thank Nestle....

 

[Misted Compass]

More Pre-Cocktail Hour Musings (Happy Friday!)....

I wonder why they just plastered over the original Carnation Company signage back in the late 1990's? Was it cheaper to do it that way, or was someone in authority at WDI actively trying to save park history?

That was the depths of the Paul Pressler and Cynthia Harriss misery era, so it was probably just a way to save money on the remodel. But, I'd like to think someone did it on purpose to save the original marquee and signage...

There's a lot of signage in the park that's just been plastered over. A few years back there was that one directional sign in Tomorrowland that fell off and revealed the previous one from the 80s. You have the Mary Blair murals entombed behind the current ones too.

 

[TP2000]

Okay, it's 7! Happy Friday! It's now a beautiful spring weekend, and I'm headed down to a fave restaurant to kick off a sociable weekend with very old, old friends. Wherever this early spring weekend finds you, out West where spring has sprung early, or out East where winter looks to be hanging on mercilessly, I hope you enjoy it!

Please know, however, that as wild and crazy as I may still be at my age, AT LEAST I DO NOT BEHAVE LIKE THIS...

 

[Figments Friend]

This is great to see.
Who knew that original sign was still there until now…?
Just imagine what other hidden remnants of Disneyland’s past are hiding just under a surface…

-

 

[Disney Irish]

This is great to see.
Who knew that original sign was still there until now…?
Just imagine what other hidden remnants of Disneyland’s past are hiding just under a surface…

-

Yes, one wonders -

 

[Distorian]

I hope this happens.

California bill would create 'roadmap' to reintroduce grizzly bears

California legislators presented a new bill aimed at creating a "roadmap" to reintroduce the grizzly bear to the state's ecosystem.

www.usatoday.com

 

[MK-fan]

Look at all these shows back in 1994, oh how times have changed……

 

[NobodyElse]

Carnation is the brand, and they've been owned by Nestle' since the 80's. Nestle' was buying up everything in the 70's and 80's, as was Kraft, the original Land Pavilion sponsor out at Epcot.

The Carnation sponsorship of Carnation Cafe lasted into the late 1990's, 15 years after Nestle' bought them.

Here's that same building in 1996, from the brilliant Werner Weiss. It just seems more homey and charming this way.

View attachment 910770

So, back in the olden-times, Walt and Co. took on many sponsors (and operators) out of financial necessity. Then at some point (Probably quite early on) there was a concerted effort to let those contracts lapse and move the ownership and operations of specific spots in-house.

I think Sunkist was the last company to exit.

 

[disneyC97]

Here's a better look at that area showing how open and visible the Motor Boat Cruise was until Light Magic. Or as good as a look as we can get from the blurry Kodachrome aerial photos of the 20th century. This shot is of the dock and ride entrance during the Nixon Era, over 5 years after the Small World Mall opened up the northern flanks of Fantasyland in '66.

View attachment 910340

Compared to the area today, that is far more landscaped and sloped into the Light Magic terraces, plus the trees have had another 50 years of TLC by the Disneyland Horticulture team and natural growth.

View attachment 910342

From the Small World Mall area, the view is obscured by the Light Magic terraces, plus the parade lighting towers the big trees, and all the various Churro carts and whatnot the walkways of Disneyland are now littered with.

View attachment 910344

And then when you are walking around that area today right in front of the dock, the old dock entrance area has been obscured by new structures, like that gift shop/snack bar thing that never seems to be open.

View attachment 910345

The Small World Mall was called that because it was, quite literally, just a giant, flat, wide-open mall that stretched from the Matterhorn to the Small World ride. Here it is in the late 1960's.

View attachment 910346

Daveland Vintage and Current Disneyland Photo Index

Current and vintage disneyland photos at daveland featuring adventureland, fantasyland, main street, frontierland, tomorrowland, and other areas from the anaheim theme park

www.davelandweb.com

And the trees on the IASW roof…was a cool look.

 

[Distorian]

So now that we're bombing the hell out of Iran, how long do we give it until Disneyland Abu Dhabi is canned?

https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/04/travel/travel-advisories-middle-east-air-disruptions

The day nears.

 

[SuddenStorm]

This is great to see.
Who knew that original sign was still there until now…?
Just imagine what other hidden remnants of Disneyland’s past are hiding just under a surface…

-

Remember a few years ago when a sign fell off in Tomorrowland, revealing old signage? In the Space Mountain exit by the theater.

 

[MK-fan]

Remember a few years ago when a sign fell off in Tomorrowland, revealing old signage? In the Space Mountain exit by the theater.

I’m sure the Mary Blair Ceramic Murals are under the Lightyear spaceships mural.

 

[MK-fan]

The day nears.

Do people on this site want an Abu Dhabi Disney park?

 

[BrianLo]

Do people on this site want an Abu Dhabi Disney park?

I do, but I’m probably off on an island.

The US has a fairly strong bipartisan bias against all gulf states for different reasons. This park isn’t being built for Americans, so it’s really moot.

 

[coffeefan]

Do people on this site want an Abu Dhabi Disney park?

I do because of the possibility that some of the attractions Miral funds make their way over to Disneyland. For example, from Shanghai, WDW got Tron, and DCA is getting the Pirates ride system.