New Orleans Square is getting Flattened

[mickEblu]

Just once I'd love to wake up to Disneyland news I'm excited about.

As it sits right now, the west side of the park is dang near perfect. Obviously that's gonna change when Tiana moves in, and Galaxy's Edge did change the feel of the ROA/Hungry Bear Restaurant- but I'm not sure WDI can do better aesthetically than what's there now.

They definitely didn't do Tomorrowland any favors when they got rid of the planters that used to surround the Peoplemover track supports. Or Mansion any favors when they got rid of the wall planter to 'save space', only to put benches there a year later when they realized it's a valuable area to have seating and that Galaxy's Edge was a dud.

Wasn't the current Pirates entrance design done by Tony? So this would be another Baxter design to leave Disneyland.

Agree. I’m not sure the bridge and courtyard are going away though. I What is there to gain by removing the bridge? I can see why they would want to remove the second Tarzans treehouse or the entire attraction (although I’d hate if they did) but what is there to gain in removing only the bridge/ courtyard? It only makes sense if it’s a package deal with some of the treehouse space but they could still have the queue snake over that way through the courtyard.

 

[Mickeyboof]

Wow- if true, they have a LOT of work to do before May 28th when Fantasmic reopens. I imagine the flattening will not be as dramatic as we could imagine in such a short timeline. Or it’ll be a badly themed quick mess!

Speaking of imagaine…. I wouldn’t mind if the pirates queue experience somehow entwined with Tarzan’s tree… new story, new environment…

 

[mickEblu]

Wow- if true, they have a LOT of work to do before May 28th when Fantasmic reopens. I imagine the flattening will not be as dramatic as we could imagine in such a short timeline. Or it’ll be a badly themed quick mess!

Speaking of imagaine…. I wouldn’t mind if the pirates queue experience somehow entwined with Tarzan’s tree… new story, new environment…

That’s about 10 weeks to do the walkway. Sounds like more than enough time. Then they have another month + on top of that to finish the POTC queue.

 

[mickEblu]

I hope they do the POTC queue justice. It’s currently the classiest queue at the park.

 

[Too Many Hats]

Is there any reason Disney can't one day return the planters to the front of the Haunted Mansion? Or is the company so incapable of acknowledging errors that this will just, like, never ever happen and I should resign myself to it?

 

[Phroobar]

Is there any reason Disney can't one day return the planters to the front of the Haunted Mansion? Or is the company so incapable of acknowledging errors that this will just, like, never ever happen and I should resign myself to it?

The company IS so incapable of acknowledging errors that it will never ever happen and you should resign yourself to it.

 

[Phroobar]

So whatever happen to the new planter / entrance for Tomorrowland? Do we get a box and green area forever?

TDA: "Oh look shiny thing!.....Squirrel!"

 

[PiratesMansion]

I guess I never really thought about how weird the Fantasmic staging area is during the day. It does have the unintentional effect of clogging traffic throughout the area and I never gave it a second thought.

My main concern with this redo is that it might result in making it harder to get a good viewing spot for the show and/or that they will somehow find a way of creating a WOC-esque situation where it's harder than it should be to get a good viewing spot.

Which, now that I'm talking about it: Disney, you missed a huge opportunity to do something about that WOC arena during the pandemic and long WOC closure, but you do you and continue to ignore obviously problematic infrastructure I guess.

 

[mickEblu]

I guess I never really thought about how weird the Fantasmic staging area is during the day. It does have the unintentional effect of clogging traffic throughout the area and I never gave it a second thought.

My main concern with this redo is that it might result in making it harder to get a good viewing spot for the show and/or that they will somehow find a way of creating a WOC-esque situation where it's harder than it should be to get a good viewing spot.

Which, now that I'm talking about it: Disney, you missed a huge opportunity to do something about that WOC arena during the pandemic and long WOC closure, but you do you and continue to ignore obviously problematic infrastructure I guess.

It probably will make it harder for Fantasmic but I think the priority obviously has to be the pathways functionality the other 14 hours of the day as I’m sure you’d agree.

What could they do with WOC arena? It’s not an area I ever really pay much attention to so I’m curious.

 

[Too Many Hats]

The company IS so incapable of acknowledging errors that it will never ever happen and you should resign yourself to it.

I appreciate your candor.

 

[Macro]

We also did have that one poster who gave us the secret code TIMBER when referring to the treehouse. Yeah, it’s not looking good for the treehouse right now

Was that "timber" or "timberrrrrrr"? Hopefully not the latter. Some wood does need replacement.

If they demoed the treehouse and rearranged the entrance to Pirates then they could end up with an area they could use to help with queues for Indy or Pirates. My concern is that they could then add Pirates to the lightning lane system.

I'd think the reason Pirates isn't a lightning lane ride now is because they have to fill the entire indoor queue at all times. But with extra space they might not have to do that anymore. They tried Pirates with fastpass years ago but had to give it up because if the indoor queue wasn't fully utilized then it clogged the waterfront area even worse then it does now.

 

[el_super]

I guess I never really thought about how weird the Fantasmic staging area is during the day. It does have the unintentional effect of clogging traffic throughout the area and I never gave it a second thought.

My main concern with this redo is that it might result in making it harder to get a good viewing spot for the show and/or that they will somehow find a way of creating a WOC-esque situation where it's harder than it should be to get a good viewing spot.

I haven't looked into what is going on, but I just assumed that if anything was bring removed, it was the small section of "raised" platform between the main Esplanade Road and Cafe Orleans/French Market:

That small platform has capacity for only a couple hundred people, so out of the 10,000 normally estimated for Fantasmic, it's a rather small number. It does take up a lot of space though, and has stairways on both sides of it, which makes routing traffic (and maintaining an emergency entrance/exit) difficult during Fantasmic. By removing it, they can push the crowd up a little further toward the river, and make more room for traffic entering/exiting New Orleans Square during the show.

But all of that is just speculation because again, I haven't looked into any of it. Does make some sense though as any other rerouting or "flattening" would require massive work that couldn't be completed in two months time (with rehearsals in between).

 

[Disney Analyst]

I haven't looked into what is going on, but I just assumed that if anything was bring removed, it was the small section of "raised" platform between the main Esplanade Road and Cafe Orleans/French Market:

View attachment 625987


That small platform has capacity for only a couple hundred people, so out of the 10,000 normally estimated for Fantasmic, it's a rather small number. It does take up a lot of space though, and has stairways on both sides of it, which makes routing traffic (and maintaining an emergency entrance/exit) difficult during Fantasmic. By removing it, they can push the crowd up a little further toward the river, and make more room for traffic entering/exiting New Orleans Square during the show.

But all of that is just speculation because again, I haven't looked into any of it. Does make some sense though as any other rerouting or "flattening" would require massive work that couldn't be completed in two months time (with rehearsals in between).

I believe they are also flattening the courtyard / ramps around POTC.

 

[el_super]

I believe they are also flattening the courtyard / ramps around POTC.

I guess they could .... I still haven't looked into it. But there would be almost no benefit to doing so. The bridge was built to create a grade separation for the Pirates queue, which would still be an issue if they removed it. Additionally the bridge contains storage areas for Fantasmic that would need to be moved.

Maybe as others have said it would make sense if they are ultimately planning to tear out the Treehouse and build a new queue for pirates on the east side, but that would take a lot longer than two months.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I guess they could .... I still haven't looked into it. But there would be almost no benefit to doing so. The bridge was built to create a grade separation for the Pirates queue, which would still be an issue if they removed it. Additionally the bridge contains storage areas for Fantasmic that would need to be moved.

Maybe as others have said it would make sense if they are ultimately planning to tear out the Treehouse and build a new queue for pirates on the east side, but that would take a lot longer than two months.

I could be wrong, re-reading the MiceChat article, it may just be the levels in the Fantasmic viewing area, and of course removing the ill trees from the courtyard (likely to be replaced with new ones).

 

[WDWJoeG]

I could be wrong, re-reading the MiceChat article, it may just be the levels in the Fantasmic viewing area, and of course removing the ill trees from the courtyard (likely to be replaced with new ones).

Saw these today.

Disney 2022: We Don't Even Pretend to Care AnymoreTM

 

[TP2000]

Saw these today.

Disney 2022: We Don't Even Pretend to Care AnymoreTM

Oh, Gawd. I knew it was getting bad, but I had no idea it was this bad.

How? Why? Who approved it?

And when do they install the Coke machine in the matching anti-theft cage next to these tables?

 

[TP2000]

I just stared at those photos from @WDWJoeG again.

What in the holy hell is going on at Disneyland?!?

 

[D.Silentu]

I try and do my best to avoid hyperbole, but this really is a step backward.

 

[nemofinder22]

I haven't looked into what is going on, but I just assumed that if anything was bring removed, it was the small section of "raised" platform between the main Esplanade Road and Cafe Orleans/French Market:

View attachment 625987


That small platform has capacity for only a couple hundred people, so out of the 10,000 normally estimated for Fantasmic, it's a rather small number. It does take up a lot of space though, and has stairways on both sides of it, which makes routing traffic (and maintaining an emergency entrance/exit) difficult during Fantasmic. By removing it, they can push the crowd up a little further toward the river, and make more room for traffic entering/exiting New Orleans Square during the show.

But all of that is just speculation because again, I haven't looked into any of it. Does make some sense though as any other rerouting or "flattening" would require massive work that couldn't be completed in two months time (with rehearsals in between).

This is what I assumed as well, given the time frame and Disney construction time aka slow. Plus going down a level you hit the Fantasmic! light tower pits which I debut they wanted touched or messed with.

Saw these today.

Disney 2022: We Don't Even Pretend to Care AnymoreTM

I just stared at those photos from @WDWJoeG again.

What in the holy hell is going on at Disneyland?!?

These park/school campus tables have been around since the park reopened last April. I'm honestly surprised they have been out this long let alone at all, they look absolutely terrible along the ROA. On the flip side we got a hilarious "Karen" moment at these tables. LOL