News Paradise Pier Becoming Pixar Pier

[bluerhythym]

YouTube comments: "Incredibles Land looks amazing."

They literally only showed two entry archways, both about as plain as can be. If you can take anything away from the Pixar Pier situation: the true Disney magic is happening on their social media marketing teams.

 

[fctiger]

Oh I would have noticed. There is literally nothing to recommend about GW other than Disneyland is within walking distance.

I think I get what you’re saying, but one could pretty much say the same for most dining establishments inside the parks at DLR, especially Disneyland. Relatively few of them are notable for their design or their menus.

I’m old enough to remember Pre-DLR expansion when the place was as dry as bone and the best one could do if you wanted to unwind was jump on the Monorail and hit one of the depressing old bars at the DLH. The Cove Bar, with its views of the Pier and wide veranda where bar patrons were on full display to passers by in a Disney park in Anaheim, was something of a novelty when it opened. Despite it’s low key atmosphere I’m not surprised it took off once people finally discovered it.

Like I said its nothing inherently wrong with it, it was just nothing more than a outdoor bar. At least with the Lamplight Lounge they're trying to set a mood and wanted to provide a different atmosphere. Cove bar was fine if you wanted to drink, nothing wrong with that but I don't think there was anything special about it. I think the success with the Cathay Restaurant and that bar being in a classier setting convinced them a better atmosphere would get people staying longer and buying more drinks.

And I don't disagree about some of the plain restaurants in the park but there was at least a spectrum meaning you can go from average (Coke Corner on MS) to highly themed (Blue Bayou). I think if one thing DCA 1.0 had going for it is that they had better themed restaurants but I guess because so many of them were table service.

 

[Mikomike12]

Yikes, that snow globe is cringe worthy!

How?

 

[fctiger]

YouTube comments: "Incredibles Land looks amazing."

They literally only showed two entry archways, both about as plain as can be. If you can take anything away from the Pixar Pier situation: the true Disney magic is happening on their social media marketing teams.

Thats true but it already better than the cheap queue CS was stuck with since its debut. I agree none of this is anything to get excited about but it does put into view just how cheap a lot of this area was originally done when a new queue is a big highlight.

 

[Professortango1]

This may sound snarky but trust me when I say it’s not: Just curious of how many times you’ve dined at Blue Bayou. I eat there and at Café Orleans a few times a year each and, while I enjoy both, I find the quality of food and service is noticeably better at Blue Bayou.

I totally agree with you about your other recommendations. Rancho Del Zocalo is another personal favorite of mine.

On Pixar Pier: Incredicoaster entrance looks great.

I've eaten at BB probably about 20 times. Last times was about 5 years ago or so. When they took the croque madam of the dinner menu, sealing the deal of going to Cafe Orleans over Disney's Swampforest Cafe.

 

[Professortango1]

You avoided the question.

I answered it. I'd recommend a dozen other places, including Lamplight over BB. All BB has is ambiance, which a one-time visitor can experience on PotC. They get the great ambiance, and a better meal elsewhere. Two experiences rather than one mediocre one.

 

[dweezil78]

I answered it. I'd recommend a dozen other places, including Lamplight over BB. All BB has is ambiance, which a one-time visitor can experience on PotC. They get the great ambiance, and a better meal elsewhere. Two experiences rather than one mediocre one.

I still enjoy BB, but it lost lots of points when they decided to make the salad and gumbo a separate upcharge item — and the salad isn’t even as good anymore! Way too lettucey, trying to make you feel like you are getting more bc you’re paying extra.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Yikes, that snow globe is cringe worthy!

The snow globe is fine.

 

[TROR]

Y'know if you replace the "Pixar" with "Paradise" and the Pixar ball with a sunburst, that entrance signage would improve dramatically.

 

[dweezil78]

It all honestly looks really nice in person, at least from afar. I was pleasantly surprised. Some panoramic action for ya....

 

[TROR]

I don't think it looks bad per se, but I don't think it's either improved or really equal to what was before. Definitely less photogenic, for sure.

 

[mickEblu]

It all honestly looks really nice in person, at least from afar. I was pleasantly surprised. Some panoramic action for ya....
View attachment 291369

The last time I saw the land from the same view I thought it looked good but wow those red scream tunnels are not very photogenic.

 

[dweezil78]

I don't think it looks bad per se, but I don't think it's either improved or really equal to what was before. Definitely less photogenic, for sure.

The main entrance to the pier, in particular, looks far more extravagant and ornate than it used to. I'm excited to see it at night.

Last thing I will say is... mannnnnnnnn are the cutting this all close. Clearly a good amount of work still be to done. Next 48 hours are going to be some long days and late nights. I can't believe there's any chance of this being all done for those people who paid $300 for the preview on Friday.

 

[Kram Sacul]

The last time I saw the land from the same view I thought it looked good but wow those red scream tunnels are not very photogenic.

Even when they were blue the “scream tubes” have never looked good. At least they serve kind of a function now with actual effects in them but yeah, fugly.

 

[TP2000]

I agree none of this is anything to get excited about but it does put into view just how cheap a lot of this area was originally done when a new queue is a big highlight.

EXXXACCCTTLYYY! This is what I've been thinking since they announced it at D23 Expo.

This is not the grand opening of New Orleans Square in 1966, or the debut of Cars Land in 2012. But since this entire area has looked so junky and cheap and stucco-clad since it opened in 2001, this is all a nice improvement for Paradise Pier.

 

[mickEblu]

Even when they were blue the “scream tubes” have never looked good. At least they serve kind of a function now with actual effects in them but yeah, fugly.

Yeah the blue tunnels were nothing to look at but you if you weren’t looking for them they kind of blended into the sky.

 

[TP2000]

I can't believe there's any chance of this being all done for those people who paid $300 for the preview on Friday.

The Incredicoaster works obviously, and the repainted Ferris Wheel works.

And Lamplight Lounge looks ready to go, and they have a valid liquor license so that's half the battle won already.

That spinning ball thing is done. The new snack bars look done, or have been open for a month already. The midway games look done.

What isn't done is the Bing Bongs candy shop and maybe that bandstand thing next to it. And the lamp animatronic on top of the entry sign.

Otherwise, all of the major things that people paid $300 for are all done and ready to go; rides, snack bars, overpriced AP cocktail lounge, midway games, and wacky spinning ball. The only thing really missing is John Lasseter, but I imagine he didn't get an invitation for Friday night's party.

 

[dweezil78]

The Incredicoaster works obviously, and the repainted Ferris Wheel works.

And Lamplight Lounge looks ready to go, and they have a valid liquor license so that's half the battle won already.

That spinning ball thing is done. The new snack bars look done, or have been open for a month already. The midway games look done.

What isn't done is the Bing Bongs candy shop and maybe that bandstand thing next to it. And the lamp animatronic on top of the entry sign.

Otherwise, all of the major things that people paid $300 for are all done and ready to go; rides, snack bars, overpriced AP cocktail lounge, midway games, and wacky spinning ball. The only thing really missing is John Lasseter, but I imagine he didn't get an invitation for Friday night's party.

Yeah, but point being, there's still work going on -- even if it's in the details. That means people doing the work and the tools they use to do it will still be all around the pier. I understand the stuff works, but it seems like even the queue for IC is still not quite there.

 

[TP2000]

Yeah, but point being, there's still work going on -- even if it's in the details. That means people doing the work and the tools they use to do it will still be all around the pier. I understand the stuff works, but it seems like even the queue for IC is still not quite there.

True.

I look forward to spending Friday night with a cocktail on the side table watching the breathless updates roll in from the Tweeter.

But I imagine an army of custodians and gardeners and painters and preppers are swarming around Pixar Pier right now at Midnight as we sit comfortably in our homes commenting on it all. Obviously, this isn't how they thought it would look on June 22nd when they announced it a year ago, but I doubt people will be stepping over extension cords and walking around piles of landscaping bark and pallets of boxes when the place opens for the Friday night party or the Saturday morning park opening. Disneyland has always been good at masking the reality of things.

 

[TP2000]

A reminder that in the grand scheme of things, this messy and behind-schedule Pixar Pier project is nothing compared to how they did stuff in Walt's day.

This splashy grand opening ceremony for New Tomorrowland was held in late June, 1967. With an army of slim and attractive ride operators in their new mod body-hugging uniforms representing each new ride or restaurant, which could never happen with today's, um, larger CM's....

But never mind those Goodyear boys in their skintight astropants, or the GE and CircleVision girls in their miniskirts.

They didn't just have some rabid AP's and neckbeard bloggers who had paid $299 to impress, they had some of the biggest names in American Industry who had poured millions of dollars of their own money into this new land; General Electric, Coca-Cola, Monsanto, The Bell System, Goodyear, McDonnel-Douglas, etc.

But the land wasn't entirely ready. GE's Carousel of Progress had been moved from the 1965 World's Fair and was ready to go, and the Bell System's CircleVision was ready and basically an update from its earlier incarnation in the same building. But Goodyear's PeopleMover didn't open until July 2nd. McDonnell-Douglas Flight To The Moon (another update in the same space) opened July 10th. And Monsanto's Adventure Thru Inner Space, one of two all-new rides in the New Tomorrowland, didn't open until August 5th, 1967, six weeks after the grand opening.

New Orleans Square had a grand opening in July, 1966. Again, there were no rabid AP's or neckbeard bloggers, and everyone looked more attractive and better dressed than today. Walt was hosting Mayor Shapiro of New Orleans to cut the ribbon on Disneyland's first all-new land.

But in July, 1966 it was just a collection of shops and two restaurants (Cafe Orleans, French Market). The real stars of the show, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Blue Bayou, wouldn't open for eight more months, until March, 1967. Even though Walt had announced the entire project on national TV two years earlier on his Wonderful World of Color program. Oops.

When it opens to the public this Saturday morning, Pixar Pier will be freshly hosed down and the new rides will be operating. The landscaping may look suspiciously brand new, and a gift shop or snack bar may remain closed for another two or three weeks. But the main rides and restaurants and gift shops will all be open and operating, and the Disneyland Resort will survive.

Walt wouldn't even blink, since this was how they opened new lands in his day. And if Walt showed up in a not-quite-completed Pixar Pier this weekend, he'd probably be more upset about who was enforcing the dress code out at the entry tunstiles.