Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[DougK]

I deleted the posts that were discussing the definition of "wife beater t-shirts" and which group of people wore them. No problem with discussing the lack of dress code.

Mom, thank you for explaining. I feel like I am missing something when I see or hear that posts were deleted but often there is no way to figure out why. While I don't think you should have to waste your time going into a lot of detail, a short explanation like you just gave is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

You would be surprised how much of a positive effect an enforced dress code has on children's behavior. I say start with enforcing a dress code before we start shutting down dining options to families with children. I also believe that more, shall we say, eclectic menus weed out a lot of the people that shouldn't be there. Free dining or not.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I just went and read Epcot Explorer's Twitter feed and Instagrams from today. He seems absolutely overjoyed with Disneyland; Hans & Otto are climbing the Matterhorn, the Disneyland Band is playing on the bow of the Mark Twain (the very same boat Walt and Lillian had wedding anniversary parties on), he just rode the 16 minute long Pirates of the Caribbean and then rode Indiana Jones Adventure immediately after and it left him blabbering with joy, then encountered the giant dinosaurs on the Disneyland Railroad, etc., etc..

And of course it's one of those typically gorgeous SoCal summer days in Anaheim with cloudless blue skies, a light sea breeze, no humidity, and temps hovering around 78 degrees all afternoon. And he's now imploding into a quivering heap of Disney geek overload. Disneyland bags another one.

Where it will get interesting for him is when he returns to WDW and then looks at those parks with an entirely new point of reference.

He's now discovering the joy of a Fantasyland with 48 rides instead of three...


I first went to DL in 85 or 86. I felt the same sense of weirdness and estrangement that EE feels. You know the architecture, the music, even the rides and the lay of the lands...but everything is different. This gets me defensive in DLP, but DL is Walt's park, so you accept it. Then a sense of wonder sets about you, as you are slowly sucked into its charm.

 

[Wikkler]

I can picture it now...
The Country Bear Rap Battle, where Henry and Golden Gums McGrowl battle it out in the slums of Atlanta.
They will also theme Frontierland to match and all the restaurants will serve Purple Drank.

 

[crispy]

Here's something that I know has been discussed before, but I didn't know it had actually been implemented. Checking the Disney website, a one day ticket to Magic Kingdom now costs more than a one day ticket to the other parks. Has there been an official explanation for this? Is it because of the new Fantasyland? Is it because they think charging $99 a day for tickets to the other parks would be the breaking point for guests? The price difference isn't large (roughly $5 a ticket) so it seems almost weird to do it in the first place.

On another note, I have a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old revolting because I told them no Disney in October. I may now end up doing a split stay because they are really excited about the new Fantasyland. I am so weak!

 

[Wikkler]

According to the websites of the two official domestic Disney Resorts, Fantasyland in Walt Disney World has 12 attractions:

1. it's a small world
2. Peter Pan's Flight
3. Mickey's PhilharMagic
4. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
5. Cinderella Castle
6. Enchanted Tales with Belle
7. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
8. Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
9. Mad Tea Party
10. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
11. Casey Jr. Splash & Soak Station
12. The Barnstormer

While Fantasyland in Disneyland has 13 attractions:

1. Casey, Jr. Circus Train
2. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
3. King Arthur Carrousel
4. Pinnochio's Daring Journey
5. Snow White's Scary Adventures
6. Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
7. Peter Pan's Flight
8. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
9. Mad Tea Party
10. Alice in Wonderland
11. Storybook Land Canal Boats
12. Matterhorn Bobsleds
13. it's a small world

It's not the "huge difference" you're all making it out to be, and in 2014 they'll be the same...

 

[culturenthrills]

This has been discussed to death and it wasn't because of teen thugs hanging around Pleasure Island. That's an urban myth perpetuated by @jt. (Say, whatever happened to @jt?)


This has actually been a recent problem at CityWalk which is directly across the street from Dr. Phillips High School. CityWalk has been offering free Saturday night DJ dances down by its waterfront and its been attracting the generally wealthier, generally white kids from the Dr. Phillips area as well as the generally poorer, generally black kids from Pine Hills, Oak Ridge and the L.B. McLeod areas. Sadly, they don't mix well.

I know Uni security has always been tight about getting rid of unaccompanied minors after a certain time of night at Citywalk. I have seen them do it.
There will always be troublemakers no matter where you go. I have seen more annoying drunks at Food and Wine than I have ever seen at Citywalk or PI.

 

[Wikkler]

Also, according to their websites, Walt Disney World in total has 127 attractions while Disneyland has 84.
More attractions my butt.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

According to the websites of the two official domestic Disney Resorts, Fantasyland in Walt Disney World has 12 attractions:

1. it's a small world
2. Peter Pan's Flight
3. Mickey's PhilharMagic
4. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
5. Cinderella Castle
6. Enchanted Tales with Belle
7. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
8. Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
9. Mad Tea Party
10. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
11. Casey Jr. Splash & Soak Station
12. The Barnstormer

While Fantasyland in Disneyland has 13 attractions:

1. Casey, Jr. Circus Train
2. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
3. King Arthur Carrousel
4. Pinnochio's Daring Journey
5. Snow White's Scary Adventures
6. Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
7. Peter Pan's Flight
8. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
9. Mad Tea Party
10. Alice in Wonderland
11. Storybook Land Canal Boats
12. Matterhorn Bobsleds
13. it's a small world

It's not the "huge difference" you're all making it out to be, and in 2014 they'll be the same...

Cinderella Castle is not an "attraction", and neither is the water play area, really. I'd also take the Matterhorn over Sing Me a Story with Belle.

 

[Clamman73]

Here's something that I know has been discussed before, but I didn't know it had actually been implemented. Checking the Disney website, a one day ticket to Magic Kingdom now costs more than a one day ticket to the other parks. Has there been an official explanation for this? Is it because of the new Fantasyland? Is it because they think charging $99 a day for tickets to the other parks would be the breaking point for guests? The price difference isn't large (roughly $5 a ticket) so it seems almost weird to do it in the first place.

Watch them next year just raise the price of the other Parks to be the same as MK...nobody detects a real price increase b/c MK doesn't go up, and it stays under $100 for all parks for another year...another wool over the eyes Disney moment...

 

[Californian Elitist]

Also, according to their websites, Walt Disney World in total has 127 attractions while Disneyland has 84.
More attractions my butt.

Disneyland and California Adventure have more rides than all four WDW parks combined. That must be what people are talking about.

 

[TalkingHead]

According to the websites of the two official domestic Disney Resorts, Fantasyland in Walt Disney World has 12 attractions:

1. it's a small world
2. Peter Pan's Flight
3. Mickey's PhilharMagic
4. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
5. Cinderella Castle
6. Enchanted Tales with Belle
7. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
8. Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
9. Mad Tea Party
10. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
11. Casey Jr. Splash & Soak Station
12. The Barnstormer

While Fantasyland in Disneyland has 13 attractions:

1. Casey, Jr. Circus Train
2. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
3. King Arthur Carrousel
4. Pinnochio's Daring Journey
5. Snow White's Scary Adventures
6. Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
7. Peter Pan's Flight
8. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
9. Mad Tea Party
10. Alice in Wonderland
11. Storybook Land Canal Boats
12. Matterhorn Bobsleds
13. it's a small world

It's not the "huge difference" you're all making it out to be, and in 2014 they'll be the same...

Yeah, Casey Jr. Splash and Soak Station instead of the Matterhorn is a perfectly acceptable trade-off.

Not to mention the trade-offs for Storybook Land, Mr. Toad, Alice...

Or the façade of Small World, the condition of their dark rides...

Yeah, you're right, it's very close.

 

[NoChesterHester]

We travel with children and eat out at restaurants a lot. We expect them to be well behaved at all establishments, but they definitely understand the difference in an upscale restaurant. The suggestions that kids should be banned from somewhere in Disney (outside of a bar) is lunacy. However... I don't necessarily have a problem with a time cutoff. Late diners (after 8) = an adult only crowd. Kind of cool idea.

I totally agree that the dress code at the signature dining places is way too lax. We occasionally spend that kind of money at a restaurant and we expect a world class experience - including the other diners. Getting dressed up a little is part of the experience and ambiance.

I also LOVE the idea of a tiered menu. DDP can order from the top section - further down is for cash or up charge. Give us a reason to spend what you are asking.

 

[The_Mesh_Hatter]

According to the websites of the two official domestic Disney Resorts, Fantasyland in Walt Disney World has 12 attractions:

1. it's a small world
2. Peter Pan's Flight
3. Mickey's PhilharMagic
4. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
5. Cinderella Castle
6. Enchanted Tales with Belle
7. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
8. Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
9. Mad Tea Party
10. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
11. Casey Jr. Splash & Soak Station
12. The Barnstormer

While Fantasyland in Disneyland has 13 attractions:

1. Casey, Jr. Circus Train
2. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
3. King Arthur Carrousel
4. Pinnochio's Daring Journey
5. Snow White's Scary Adventures
6. Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
7. Peter Pan's Flight
8. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
9. Mad Tea Party
10. Alice in Wonderland
11. Storybook Land Canal Boats
12. Matterhorn Bobsleds
13. it's a small world

It's not the "huge difference" you're all making it out to be, and in 2014 they'll be the same...

Only about 8 of those Disney World ones are actual attractions. You include Storytime with Belle and the Casey Jr. play area but not the new show and Princess Fairytale hall that opened in Disneyland's own Fantasyland expansion. And you also forgot to include the Mickey's Map show in Disneyland's Fantasyland theatre. Regardless of what you count as attractions, Disneyland's Fantasyland still has more by a long shot.

 

[TP2000]

According to the websites of the two official domestic Disney Resorts, Fantasyland in Walt Disney World has 12 attractions:

1. it's a small world
2. Peter Pan's Flight
3. Mickey's PhilharMagic
4. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
5. Cinderella Castle
6. Enchanted Tales with Belle
7. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
8. Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
9. Mad Tea Party
10. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
11. Casey Jr. Splash & Soak Station
12. The Barnstormer

While Fantasyland in Disneyland has 13 attractions:

1. Casey, Jr. Circus Train
2. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
3. King Arthur Carrousel
4. Pinnochio's Daring Journey
5. Snow White's Scary Adventures
6. Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
7. Peter Pan's Flight
8. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
9. Mad Tea Party
10. Alice in Wonderland
11. Storybook Land Canal Boats
12. Matterhorn Bobsleds
13. it's a small world

It's not the "huge difference" you're all making it out to be, and in 2014 they'll be the same...

The problem is that WDW's Fantasyland now incorporates rides in what used to be Toontown. Disneyland still has a separate Toontown, with five attractions, but those aren't counted in the Fantasyland total like they are now for WDW's Fantasyland. Also, the WDW website designers are fibbing a bit and overhyping some stuff that isn't actually an "attraction".

Storytime With Belle is an "attraction" in WDW's eyes, but Disneyland knows the larger and multi-offering Princess Fantasy Faire complex is wonderful but it's really just a meet n' greet on steroids and not an "attraction", so it doesn't even get counted in the Disneyland total.

When you consider that the WDW website counts Cinderella Castle as an "attraction" at WDW even though it houses no actual attraction, and are counting the Casey Jr. Soak Zone fountain as an "attraction" in WDW's Fantasyland, plus have counted the old WDW Toontown rides as part of Fantasyland now, you would actually end up with the following total if the Fantasyland/Toontown/Storybook Circus complex were compared evenly between the two coasts;

Fantasyland/Toontown/Storybook Circus Attraction Total
Disneyland: 17 Attractions
WDW: 10 Attractions (11 Attractions when Mine Train opens in 2014)

 

[George]

Disneyland and California Adventure have more rides than all four WDW parks combined. That must be what people are talking about.

True, but it is a mixed thing. Having just spend last week tromping around Anaheim, I had never really thought about the sheer number of carnival attractions in DCA (Bug's Land and Paradise Pier have a ton). So, WDW does have that going for it. However, DL's FL has a LOT more to do than WDW's. It is not close. Though, I am happy the Matterhorn is out in Anaheim and my son won't drag me on it too often. Very, very bumpy. The Map show was very nice. Not as nice as FoTLK or FNTM, but better than any live entertainment I've seen in MK for a while. All that being said, WDW could use a few more rides....

 

[Wikkler]

Cinderella Castle is not an "attraction", and neither is the water play area, really. I'd also take the Matterhorn over Sing Me a Story with Belle.

I'm not the one making up these numbers, Disney is.
And Walt Disney World considers the windows at the castle and the Splash and Soak station to be "Attractions"

Disneyland and California Adventure have more rides than all four WDW parks combined. That must be what people are talking about.

Without the water park slides and the carousel at Downtown Disney, that still adds up to 102, ahead of Disneyland's 84 count.

Only about 8 of those Disney World ones are actual attractions. You include Storytime with Belle and the Casey Jr. play area but not the new show and Princess Fairytale hall that opened in Disneyland's own Fantasyland expansion. And you also forgot to include the Mickey's Map show in Disneyland's Fantasyland theatre. Regardless of what you count as attractions, Disneyland's Fantasyland still has more by a long shot.

At Disneyland's newly-remodelled-to-copy-WDW's website, they're counted as "Entertainment"...
For some reason a fancy mirror makes the Belle thing an attraction.

So the new stats adds up Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland to 10, counting Soak & Squirt, and Disneyland's Fantasyland and Toontown to 20, counting the various characters' houses and Donald's Boat, but excluding the castle crap.

Ok you win, I lose, you stay up, I snooze.

 

[Computer Magic]

We travel with children and eat out at restaurants a lot. We expect them to be well behaved at all establishments, but they definitely understand the difference in an upscale restaurant. The suggestions that kids should be banned from somewhere in Disney (outside of a bar) is lunacy. However... I don't necessarily have a problem with a time cutoff. Late diners (after 8) = an adult only crowd. Kind of cool idea.

I totally agree that the dress code at the signature dining places is way too lax. We occasionally spend that kind of money at a restaurant and we expect a world class experience - including the other diners. Getting dressed up a little is part of the experience and ambiance.

I also LOVE the idea of a tiered menu. DDP can order from the top section - further down is for cash or up charge. Give us a reason to spend what you are asking.

These examples will increase Disney profits without MM+. These are the things Disney should be considering. Get additional profits by offering a better experience.

When spending over $150 for two on a meal, we like to dress a little nicer. We hate walking into Yachtsman's and seeing the dining room full of children running around, Crayons on the floor and a high chair. I get better service and food at Texas Coral. Nothing wrong with Texas Coral as long as my bill tells me I'm at Texas Coral.

One of my pet peeves (not signaling you out) is everything at Disney have to have a kids experience. At times adults try to be elite over those without kid in tow. I've seen it at parades, meet and greets. Hey I have a kid and you don't so I should be served first, get the better seating, etc. I've even heard it okay to have kids only experience but not adult only experiences. Shortsighted.

 

[Californian Elitist]

True, but it is a mixed thing. Having just spend last week tromping around Anaheim, I had never really thought about the sheer number of carnival attractions in DCA (Bug's Land and Paradise Pier have a ton). So, WDW does have that going for it. However, DL's FL has a LOT more to do than WDW's. It is not close. Though, I am happy the Matterhorn is out in Anaheim and my son won't drag me on it too often. Very, very bumpy. The Map show was very nice. Not as nice as FoTLK or FNTM, but better than any live entertainment I've seen in MK for a while. All that being said, WDW could use a few more rides....

What does the type of ride matter? A ride is a ride. Carnival-type rides are most fit for Paradise Pier's theme.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

To fill the desire to have adult only experiences at WDW, maybe they should build a specific nighttime entertainment area with bars and dance clubs.