MoonRakerSCM
Well-Known Member
I too follow the freedom chickens. Screengrab from last night-
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The Miscellaneous Thought Thread
- Thread starter mickEblu
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TP2000
Well-Known Member
Aren't they great?!?
I was thrilled to check in on them this morning and see that last night's storm had cleared out, and our young squire Shadow had gone out to get some breakfast for his lady hunkered down in the nest. Look at this beautiful fish Shadow caught down at the lake this morning, and brought back to Jackie! If you go to this timestamp on the live feed, you can see the fish flopping around a bit as Shadow wakes up his lady friend for breakfast in bed!
For those unaware of this SoCal celebrity couple, they live up at the resort community of Big Bear Lake about 60 miles northeast of Disneyland up in the San Bernardino Mountains. Here is quick video of Shadow this morning after Jackie left the nest for her morning constitutional, and the fresh breakfast he caught came back to life and startled him.
Shadow's wingspan is about 5.5 feet, and Jackie's wingspan is even bigger at 6 feet wide. The nest itself, high up in a sturdy tree, is about six feet in diameter and is about five and a half feet deep.
I just love Bald Eagles. They are such a proud and powerful and unique symbol of our great nation! I'd love it if Disneyland could get a Bald Eagle back in some sort of show or attraction. I really miss this guy in particular!
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PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
I will never understand the whining that there are no more farm animals.
Anyone over the age of seven in the Midwest could tell you that goats aren't worth getting excited about, unless they're somehow MUCH more exotic in California than they are elsewhere.
Anyone over the age of seven in the Midwest could tell you that goats aren't worth getting excited about, unless they're somehow MUCH more exotic in California than they are elsewhere.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
But if you are a middle class child (and their parents) growing up in the goatless suburbs of SoCal, or the goatless suburbs of Seattle or Sydney or Seoul, a real farm with a battalion of spunky goats is exotic and hilarious high drama!
The goats and the other animals at the Big Thunder petting zoo were incredibly popular. Not a flashy E Ticket or thrill ride, just a fun and unexpected way to spend 10 or 15 minutes of your day at Disneyland. Part of the tapestry of what makes Disneyland in particular so charming and fully developed.
This reminds me of the discussion we had a few days ago about the recently vague projects and unfunded Blue Sky things that Josh D'Amaro keeps teasing without any real commitment. Their recent proposals for their parks is usually a "land" with one (1) hulking E Ticket based on recent and HR-approved IP, surrounded by a few merchandise locations and Mobile Order pickup windows as the "land". There's no movement, no layering of attractions, no infill with C and B Tickets and unique little exhibits and offerings.
The goats were adorable. And yes, if you were visiting Disneyland from your farm in rural Nebraska they were easy to skip or scoff at. But those types of small things and unexpected offerings were what made Disneyland so wonderful.
You can't just have a theme park that is only a series of E Tickets and mandatory App-based transactions. Or at least you shouldn't try and do a theme park like that. Disney used to try harder and knew it was putting on a show in its parks. That seems to be slipping away surprisingly fast now with this current executive leadership.
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Disney Irish
Premium Member
They aren't anymore exotic than any other goat across that nation. Heck growing up in California just visiting any one of the County or State fairs during the summer you'd see thousands of goats. Goats are even so common in California they are employed by the state -
So yeah they aren't really worth getting excited about other than some fond memory of visiting that area as a kid.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
You're telling me that SoCal, a place full of everything, doesn't have ANY petting zoos anywhere? No fairs? I find that hard to believe.But if you are a middle class child (and their parents) growing up in the goatless suburbs of SoCal, or the goatless suburbs of Seattle or Sydney or Seoul, a real farm with a battalion of spunky goats is exotic and hilarious high drama!
The goats and the other animals at the Big Thunder petting zoo were incredibly popular. Not a flashy E Ticket or thrill ride, just a fun and unexpected way to spend 10 or 15 minutes of your day at Disneyland. Part of the tapestry of what makes Disneyland in particular so charming and fully developed.
This reminds me of the discussion we had a few days ago about the recently vague projects and unfunded Blue Sky things that Josh D'Amaro keeps teasing without any real commitment. Their recent proposals for their parks is usually a "land" with one (1) hulking E Ticket based on recent and HR-approved IP, surrounded by a few merchandise locations and Mobile Order pickup windows as the "land". There's no movement, no layering of attractions, no infill with C and B Tickets and unique little exhibits and offerings.
The goats were adorable. And yes, if you were visiting Disneyland from your farm in rural Nebraska they were easy to skip or scoff at. But those types of small things and unexpected offerings were what made Disneyland so wonderful.
You can't just have a theme park that is only a series of E Tickets and mandatory App-based transactions. Or at least you shouldn't try and do a theme park like that. Disney used to try harder and knew it was putting on a show in its parks. That seems to be slipping away surprisingly fast now with this current executive leadership.
There's nothing special about goats. There's nothing distinctly Disneyland about goats. I don't doubt that they were popular, but children also love playing in boxes.
It's one thing to miss the area; it's another to watch people lose their minds about how there were goats, and now the goats are now no more, and I'm sad
.MoonRakerSCM
Well-Known Member
FYI the LA County fair got rid of its entire agriculture program in the mid 2000's. I recall that trip quite well as we went toward the livestock area... entered the awning area that usually housed cow milking demonstrations, pigs, sheep sheering, and everything else... and in place was a massive empty hay floored space featuring a single cow in a small pen with plywood cutouts of cartoon cows saying "Moo you!".
I've heard that they started rebuilding a livestock program last year, but the LA Fair has been crap for 20 years and nothing will change that. It's nothing more than a trashy carnival with mediocre fair food.
Most street fairs and other events have shyed away from animals due to perceived diseases and dangers from them.
So, long story short, yes, people here in SoCal have no idea what animals are and goats absolutely are a novelty to many.
I've heard that they started rebuilding a livestock program last year, but the LA Fair has been crap for 20 years and nothing will change that. It's nothing more than a trashy carnival with mediocre fair food.
Most street fairs and other events have shyed away from animals due to perceived diseases and dangers from them.
So, long story short, yes, people here in SoCal have no idea what animals are and goats absolutely are a novelty to many.
Disney Irish
Premium Member
LA County Fair brought back the live stock area in 2022, after it being gone since 2007. So it was only gone for 15 years.
Livestock at the LA County Fair returns after 15 years
Competitions ended with the 2007 fair, but animals and farmers are back. Columnist David Allen makes hay with the news.
www.dailybulletin.com
So there were only 8 years where Disneyland had some form of live stock that the LA County Fair didn't. I wouldn't call that SoCal people not knowing what animals are or having never seen a goat.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
There's also a cottage industry of children's books and YouTube videos about goats. I fail to see how Disneyland had to provide goats FOR THE CHILDREN!!!111 or whatever.
Disney Irish
Premium Member
I'm honestly surprised there isn't some online petition to bring back the Disneyland goats the way some are talking about them.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
It's what Walt would have wanted!
TP2000
Well-Known Member
There are several petting zoos in OC, and the Orange County Fair every July and August is fabulous and full of livestock and barn animals. Disneyland also used to have a petting zoo at the Big Thunder Ranch, and it was really fun to visit.
There's nothing special about goats. There's nothing distinctly Disneyland about goats. I don't doubt that they were popular, but children also love playing in boxes.
It's one thing to miss the area; it's another to watch people lose their minds about how there were goats, and now the goats are now no more, and I'm sad
People are funny that way, aren't we? Disneyland used to have a lot of live animals on display in the park back in the 2000's and 2010's; the goats, donkeys, a few peacocks, a big dairy cow, all the horses on Main Street, a specific calico pony that lived in the Indian Village on the river, they used to have a handler display real snakes and exotic insects in the Tarzan's Treehouse area, they used to bring in live reindeer down from Alaska for Christmas and put them outside Santa's cabin in Frontierland, the Presidential Pardoned Turkeys would live out their years at the Big Thunder Ranch after their last minute reprieve
, they had live Cockatoos in Jungle Cruise queue, etc.Now in 2024 the only live animals in the park are the horses for the streetcars on Main Street. All of the other animals are now gone, done in by budget cuts, or perhaps budget shifts. And victim to a growing lack of showmanship.
I think that's a shame. Different types of live animals have been a part of Disneyland since 1955, and now there are only a couple horses left. Instead of petting goats and sheep and donkeys, we're now left tapping at the App throughout our visit. That's not an improvement in the overall Disneyland experience, in my opinion.
This is a silly yet memorable type of thing you can not get on an App, even if you pay extra for Lightning Lane A La Carte....
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
Well, which is it? Were the goats at Disneyland uniquely special and non-existent elsewhere, or were they not special at all because there were goats elsewhere? It can't be both.
Blah blah things already said in a previous post blah blah.
You don't say. No one could have ever guessed. What a spectacular insight.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
I don't want to jinx it, and I'm only half joking here, but I'm surpised that Disneyland hasn't been a target for PETA protestors yet. Does PETA know Disneyland still has live horses used to pull tourists up and down Main Street with?
Will Fantasyland's King Arthur's Carousel be the site of a viral protest by PETA at some point?
thehill.com
Will Fantasyland's King Arthur's Carousel be the site of a viral protest by PETA at some point?
PETA targets Kansas company over carousels with animal designs
PETA wants carousels to no longer have horses and other animals. It wants Wichita’s Chance Rides to take the lead.
thehill.com
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
I don't want to jinx it, and I'm only half joking here, but I'm surpised that Disneyland hasn't been a target for PETA protestors yet. Does PETA know Disneyland still has live horses used to pull tourists up and down Main Street with?
Will Fantasyland's King Arthur's Carousel be the site of a viral protest by PETA at some point?
TP2000
Well-Known Member
It was both. The goats at Disneyland were a fun and unique little thing in the middle of a busy and spectacular theme park, and in the 155,000 square miles of the massive state of California there are also other fun petting zoos with goats.
Mentioning the recent history of live animals in Disneyland, now almost entirely gone, is not supposed to be that upsetting.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
Are you sure? You're the one who sounds like you need a hug from all the animals gone sad feelings postings.Mentioning the recent history of live animals in Disneyland, now almost entirely gone, is not supposed to be that upsetting.
Nothing fun or unique about goats to anyone over the age of seven, and I have to imagine that if your family had opinions on sitting on the ground, they probably wouldn't have hung around goats for funzies.
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
There are several petting zoos in OC, and the Orange County Fair every July and August is fabulous and full of livestock and barn animals. Disneyland also used to have a petting zoo at the Big Thunder Ranch, and it was really fun to visit.
People are funny that way, aren't we? Disneyland used to have a lot of live animals on display in the park back in the 2000's and 2010's; the goats, donkeys, a few peacocks, a big dairy cow, all the horses on Main Street, a specific calico pony that lived in the Indian Village on the river, they used to have a handler display real snakes and exotic insects in the Tarzan's Treehouse area, they used to bring in live reindeer down from Alaska for Christmas and put them outside Santa's cabin in Frontierland, the Presidential Pardoned Turkeys would live out their years at the Big Thunder Ranch after their last minute reprieve
Now in 2024 the only live animals in the park are the horses for the streetcars on Main Street. All of the other animals are now gone, done in by budget cuts, or perhaps budget shifts. And victim to a growing lack of showmanship.
I think that's a shame. Different types of live animals have been a part of Disneyland since 1955, and now there are only a couple horses left. Instead of petting goats and sheep and donkeys, we're now left tapping at the App throughout our visit. That's not an improvement in the overall Disneyland experience, in my opinion.
This is a silly yet memorable type of thing you can not get on an App, even if you pay extra for Lightning Lane A La Carte....
Another Baxter quote- in an interview he talked about how important it was to have the Submarines, because anyplace you can fly on an elephant, ride a submarine, and meet the president is a pretty unique and special place.
Having live animals takes it a step further, because they're real. Having a sense of reality in the park goes a long way towards making the experience believable, and helping suspend disbelief in the experiences that are entirely not real. Plus- people of all ages light up at the sight of live animals. I means kids love that kind of stuff. I'd bet a number of people left the park with the petting zoo as a highlight, not the multi million dollar attractions. Sometimes it's the simple things people connect with the most.
Frontierland is certainly worse off than it was since we lost Big Thunder Ranch, because of course you'd expect to see real animals in Frontierland. And that's not even getting into the Nature's Wonderland rock work we lost.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
I doubt Baxter is torn up by the loss of goats, or put them in the same league of importance as the subs, Lincoln, etc. I really don't think he accidentally left off "and see the running of the goats" when he gave that famous quote.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
I'm just chatting on a Disneyland message board where we chat about Disneyland.
I seem to have a hit an unexpected nerve for you by mentioning Disneyland's history of live animals throughout the park, including goats.
Funny you mention that; the "young ladies and gentlemen over the age of 12 don't sit on the floor in public" rule of decorum was instituted by my grandmother, my mother's mother. And she was a rather prominent horsewoman, trained in dressage, who knew her way around the barnyard as comfortably as she knew her way around a fancy department store.
Thinking back to 2010's visits, I'm remembering my younger sister enjoying the Big Thunder Ranch. And she's a very successful professional woman who lived most of her life in an urban area.
Goats are fun for anyone, I would think. Unless you are visiting Disneyland from a farm or rural area, then I don't blame you one bit for skipping a 10 minute visit to the Big Thunder Ranch and focusing instead on E Tickets and Fantasmic!.