New Orleans Square is getting Flattened

[CaptinEO]

Didn't say they would have had time to make permanent dining areas (and wouldn't for those area anyway).

The question is, is it EVER acceptable at Disneyland to turn New Orleans Square into the Del Mar Fair. I say no, say yes, we disagree.

And masks have not been required for several months outdoors...and yet these are still here.

I think guest comfort and experience should be priority number one and I'm glad they had extra tables for the benefit of their guests. But youre right, now its a year later. There should have been more appropriate seating by now.

 

[TP2000]

Let's assume that is 100% true. So this mess was created to allow a couple of dozen people to not wear a mask?

That rounding error benefit hardly seems like a worthy trade off to the horrible lack of theme and downgrade to the entire area.

I would argue that is even a more telling example of horribly misplaced priorities.

I agree that this was a horrible downgrade in theme. But I guess the TDA priority in 2021 was to add as many "Designated Dining Areas" into the park as possible, to allow people to take off their masks and relax a bit. I guess if an area was only park benches, it didn't count for Sacramento's Covid police. But if there was at least a couple of tables involved next to the benches, then it was considered a "Dining Area" and was exempt from California mask mandates.

Although, apparently if you labeled a park bench a "Designated Dining Area" and it was at least kind of near a restaurant or other table area, then it would pass muster by Sacramento Covid police.

I guess they did this all over the park? But this particular area in New Orleans Square was just one of the least attractive and most tacky.

I just Googled "Disneyland Designated Dining Areas" (first time for everything!), and I'm getting a ton of photos of these types of areas. Some are fine looking, if a bit odd. But some are just downright tacky.

A personal favorite... the curb in front of the Plaza Pavilion dining patio was also a Designated Dining Area. So take your mask off! Because... The Science says you can.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

I don't see how creating designated dining areas correlates with fair-style choice of tables. Did we run out of iron benches when it came time to Add to Cart?

 

[TP2000]

I don't see how creating designated dining areas correlates with fair-style choice of tables. Did we run out of iron benches when it came time to Add to Cart?

From a theme and showmanship perspective, I don't get it either.

But we have to remember that Disneyland had been closed for over 13 months. The closure was sudden, and then it was extended several times and was rather indefinite for many months. And it only impacted California theme parks, while other American theme parks all reopened in 2020. The financial and operational impact of that government closure of California theme parks into 2021 should not be under estimated.

When they were finally allowed to reopen the park by Sacramento, there was a long list of rules that Sacramento euphemistically called "Guidance". We had several long threads here back in '21 about them, with all the Sacramento PowerPoints and constantly updating/evolving State of California websites discussing the "Guidance". Those threads were often hysterical, because it was better to laugh than to cry!

They were desperate to get the park reopened, and shove as many mask-free zones into the park as possible. They also had to remove over 50% of the dining capacity on established outdoor patio areas to obey Social Distancing rules in Sacramento's Guidance. So they had to push dining capacity out into walkways, and also turn as much of the park into a mask-free zone as possible to allow for better customer service. The way they could do that is by labeling and creating as many "Designated Dining Areas" as possible. Thus, they turned much of the park's plazas and walkways into food court dining areas.

In many places, it was messy and tacky. But at least they could get the park open again.

The problem is that it's no longer the spring of 2021. It's now the spring of '22. Covid is over, there are no mask mandates, and they are going to bring back Fantasmic! and World of Color soon. So sell those used tables to the local swap meets and taco stands and regain Disneyland's traditional style and class and showmanship.

 

[TP2000]

Now that I've Googled "Disneyland Designated Dining Areas" for the first time in my life, I can see what they were doing based on the info I got yesterday.

Here's the Red Rose Taverne, Hosted by Minute Maid in Fantasyland. Look what they had to do to the patio capacity in order to reopen Disneyland. There's hardly any tables and chairs left to sit on, because Sacramento had strict rules about Social Distancing in outdoor dining areas.

Versus how that same patio looked back before Covid, when it was packed full of tables and chairs.

https:///wp-content/uploads/2017/02/village-haus-restaurant-00.jpg

Thus, you got weird replacement tables far beyond existing restaurants. Or using the big viewing areas for shows that were no longer happening, like Fantasmic! and World of Color. They apparently have tables everywhere now! But the ones they got for New Orleans Square are the tackiest, and look the most out of place. They need to be removed ASAP! It's no longer 2021 and the Guidance is gone!

NOTE TO TDA: You can stop this nonsense now. It's over.

 

[TP2000]

I'm now laughing because... how did we not talk about this hilarity already?!?

The Guidance said you can only eat or drink in Designated Dining Areas; Sacramento mandated that you can not walk around Disneyland eating a churro or sipping a Dole Whip. And you can only take your mask off if you are actively eating in a Designated Dining Area. So...

TDA literally slapped little signs on all the benches around the park labeling them "Designated Dining Area" so people could sit down on them and take off their masks. And Sacramento couldn't do a thing about it, so long as you were sitting on a bench with a "Designated Dining Area" sticker on it! So darn funny, and such a perfect distillation of the bureacratic insanity we've all had to deal with for the past two years.

That's on the Big Thunder Trail, across from the old Marlboro Country smoking area. There's not a restaurant anywhere near this bench. But if you sit on this bench, you can take off your mask. Guidance based on The Science!

Page 7 of The Guidance...

o Park visitors are permitted to eat and drink only in designated dining areas. Concession stands must be accompanied by additional designated and shaded eating areas. Food and/or drink consumption is NOT permitted while queuing or using rides and attractions, including cinematic attractions.

https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-amusement-theme-parks--en.pdf

 

[TP2000]

You know what, you are absolutely right. With things getting so bad, I'd much rather have an overdone/tacky object for Kim to brag about.

Regardless of some of her design choices she actually DOES care. And overdoing things is a better alternative to not caring.

Just quoting you for truth.

Again, I've poked fun at Ms. Irvine and her often over-wrought designs in the past (although, to be fair, I think some of that comedy was the silly script she had to read prepared by some WDI Communications intern). But I have much respect for Ms. Irvine on the whole. She is truly dedicated to her craft, and to her favorite theme park.

Seeing what the alternative is for Disneyland in this thread, if it were run by bureacrats instead of artists, gains Ms. Irvine a newfound appreciation from me for her lifetime of work.

 

[TP2000]

Here's an update from Brady McDonald, and his wife will cry at Guest Relations if this doesn't pan out to her complete satisfaction...

Disneyland plans to launch a two-month project to improve traffic flow in New Orleans Square at a notoriously crowded pinch point near Pirates of the Caribbean ahead of the return of the “Fantasmic” nighttime spectacular along the Rivers of America.

The New Orleans Square work will start after the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction closes on Monday, March 14 for a seasonal refurbishment and is scheduled to be complete before “Fantasmic” returns on May 28, according to Disney officials.

Changes to the Pirates of the Caribbean queue route will help traffic flow around the attraction and New Orleans Square, according to Disney officials. The Pirates of the Caribbean extended queue will no longer flow along the waterfront walkway toward Haunted Mansion after the work is complete, according to Disney officials.

All “Fantasmic” viewing areas and platforms along the Rivers of America will remain unchanged with trees and additional green space added after work is complete, according to Disney officials.

Some of the raised platforms and stairs along the Rivers of America near Pirates of the Caribbean will be lowered as part of the New Orleans Square work, according to Disney officials.

The work on New Orleans Square traffic flow has a similar mission to Project Stardust — but is not part of the 2019 program that sought to relieve pedestrian pinch points throughout Disneyland. Project Stardust took a comprehensive park-wide look at Disneyland operations, infrastructure and crowd management with an eye toward improving efficiency, traffic flow and access.

Disneyland to improve New Orleans Square traffic flow before ‘Fantasmic’ returns

The work will start after Pirates of the Caribbean closes on March 14 for a seasonal refurbishment and be complete before “Fantasmic” returns on May 28.

www.sbsun.com

 

[TP2000]

In that article above, these two sentences seem to be the key for our discussion here...

All “Fantasmic” viewing areas and platforms along the Rivers of America will remain unchanged with trees and additional green space added after work is complete, according to Disney officials.

Some of the raised platforms and stairs along the Rivers of America near Pirates of the Caribbean will be lowered as part of the New Orleans Square work, according to Disney officials.

So far, so good! Now that I have been convinced the tacky Costco snack bar setup was just a panicky and ill-thought addition caused by Covid that has overstayed its welcome, I'm looking forward to this.

I have long thought those final viewing terraces in front of Cafe Orleans were overdone. They act like concrete bunkers, and the small additional viewing capacity they offer isn't worth it. They block the view of the river from New Orleans Square itself, and vice versa. Smash 'em back into the ground and add some more greenery here!

Heck, get Kim Irvine involved while you're at it!

 

[smooch]

I am intrigued, hopefully this ends up looking good and genuinely reducing traffic in that area. Hopefully Disney doesn't try to use this as an excuse to attempt to add Lightning Lane to POTC, as others have said previously in this thread.

 

[Too Many Hats]

So far, so good, indeed. I'm heartened by the mention of trees and green space. Let's hope they also show Pirates some love during its downtime. It was looking pretty rough back in December.

I'm telling myself it's a good sign that Tarzan's Treehouse is still on the app, and hasn't been mentioned elsewhere.

 

[britain]

I miss when the bridge was new and we got to go upstairs to the Disney Gallery.

 

[CastAStone]

I agree that this was a horrible downgrade in theme. But I guess the TDA priority in 2021 was to add as many "Designated Dining Areas" into the park as possible, to allow people to take off their masks and relax a bit. I guess if an area was only park benches, it didn't count for Sacramento's Covid police. But if there was at least a couple of tables involved next to the benches, then it was considered a "Dining Area" and was exempt from California mask mandates.

Although, apparently if you labeled a park bench a "Designated Dining Area" and it was at least kind of near a restaurant or other table area, then it would pass muster by Sacramento Covid police.

I guess they did this all over the park? But this particular area in New Orleans Square was just one of the least attractive and most tacky.

I just Googled "Disneyland Designated Dining Areas" (first time for everything!), and I'm getting a ton of photos of these types of areas. Some are fine looking, if a bit odd. But some are just downright tacky.

A personal favorite... the curb in front of the Plaza Pavilion dining patio was also a Designated Dining Area. So take your mask off! Because... The Science says you can.

Laughing at “designated dining area” on every curb and stair even vaguely near a Mickey bar stand was one of the highlights of my trip last fall. I assumed it was a Covid related thing but at that point they’d done away with outdoor masks (most places) so they were just kinda…there.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Just quoting you for truth.

Again, I've poked fun at Ms. Irvine and her often over-wrought designs in the past (although, to be fair, I think some of that comedy was the silly script she had to read prepared by some WDI Communications intern). But I have much respect for Ms. Irvine on the whole. She is truly dedicated to her craft, and to her favorite theme park.

Seeing what the alternative is for Disneyland in this thread, if it were run by bureacrats instead of artists, gains Ms. Irvine a newfound appreciation from me for her lifetime of work.

Imagineer Zach Riddley who is over the EPCOT renovation would be blessed to get this much respect!

 

[TP2000]

Imagineer Zach Riddley who is over the EPCOT renovation would be blessed to get this much respect!

As someone who was once a huge fan of EPCOT Center, I can't even look. Seriously, I tried to tiptoe into one of those threads a month or two ago, and I just clicked away quickly. It was painful. I wasn't emotionally prepared.

I'm not sure I'll ever return to that park, to be honest.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

As someone who was once a huge fan of EPCOT Center, I can't even look. Seriously, I tried to tiptoe into one of those threads a month or two ago, and I just clicked away quickly. It was painful. I wasn't emotionally prepared.

I'm not sure I'll ever return to that park, to be honest.

I'm willing to give it a chance because it was once my favorite Disney park- but other than World Showcase, I admit it is a big mess without a focus.

 

[DavidDL]

I've never known a Disneyland without the elevated areas throughout New Orleans Square so I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little sad to see them go. But, I am also interested to see how the area will look once they are finished. Of course I hope it comes out looking nice but if the changes they made to NOS buildings during the Club 33 refurb are any indication of what to expect, I won't have my hopes up too high.

 

[mickEblu]

I've never known a Disneyland without the elevated areas throughout New Orleans Square so I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little sad to see them go. But, I am also interested to see how the area will look once they are finished. Of course I hope it comes out looking nice but if the changes they made to NOS buildings during the Club 33 refurb are any indication of what to expect, I won't have my hopes up too high.

It should turn out fine. It sounds like they are just flattering the areas with stairs and not touching the green spaces or at least replacing the planters that are touched. But I get the trepidation.

 

[TP2000]

I'm willing to give it a chance because it was once my favorite Disney park- but other than World Showcase, I admit ii is a big mess without a focus.

That's probably a much healthier way to look at it. I'm going to try and get there in my mind.

But it was just such an incredible and elegant place in the 1980's. To see what it's devolved into is just... sad.

 

[Figments Friend]

As someone who was once a huge fan of EPCOT Center, I can't even look. Seriously, I tried to tiptoe into one of those threads a month or two ago, and I just clicked away quickly. It was painful. I wasn't emotionally prepared.

I'm not sure I'll ever return to that park, to be honest.

You did the right thing my friend.

Epcot is a hot mess, and has been for the last few years.
The biggest atrocity currently is the floating eye sores on World Showcase lagoon.
I'm sure you have seen photos by now, but those barges are far worse in person.
It is appalling how far that Park has fallen...but fools like me still keep hoping things will improve.
EPCOT Center is in my DNA....since 1983.

One positive -
The horrid 'Leave a Legacy' graveyard of stone monoliths that used to clutter up the entranceway were finally removed and the area has been restored to a close representation of its former glory.
Very nicely done, too.
The new lighting display on Spaceship Earth is also quite nice...although I'd prefer it being not so bright and not permanent.
So, not a total loss.

There are still some bright spots, and there still exsists small moments of the 'original Epcot'.....but it still has a LONG way to go to become the great Park it could be again.
Sticking a Marvel roller coaster into the empty hull of a gutted pavilion is NOT the answer.

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