The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[PiratesMansion]

I'm just chatting on a Disneyland message board where we chat about Disneyland.



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 who knew her way around the barnyard.

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!.

And I cannot picture frolicking with the goats or even watching them from afar unless you were accompanied by a small child, hence my bafflement at the idea that you appear to be very earnestly saying that Disneyland was a more special place when it had goats of all things.

 

[SuddenStorm]

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.

The quote was talking about the importance of the park having diverse and unique offerings.

You doing okay? It's fine that you didn't appreciate or care about the various live animals across the resort. I disagree, and think that diversions like that enhance the overall experience. Disneyland is an inherently personal experience and everyone goes for different reasons- but your posts feel like they're in bad faith and not like you're trying to engage in an actual discussion.

 

[PiratesMansion]

The quote was talking about the importance of the park having diverse and unique offerings.

You doing okay? It's fine that you didn't appreciate or care about the various live animals across the resort. I disagree, and think that diversions like that enhance the overall experience. Disneyland is an inherently personal experience and everyone goes for different reasons- but your posts feel like they're in bad faith and not like you're trying to engage in an actual discussion.

I agree with the other animals; I do not understand a Disney board of adults talking about, with utter seriousness, how Disneyland was better because it had goats, i.e. the most common and unappealing of all animals.

It's Disneyland, not a petting zoo. C'mon.

 

[SuddenStorm]

What is disappointing is that the huge transition to Galaxy's Edge probably could have fit a version of the Big Thunder Ranch. Maybe they could have made GE two entrances instead of three? Or redone the Big Thunder Trail to still have a version of the Big Thunder Ranch Zoo and BBQ.

 

[TP2000]

And I cannot picture frolicking with the goats or even watching them from afar unless you were accompanied by a small child, hence my bafflement at the idea that you appear to be very earnestly saying that Disneyland was a more special place when it had goats of all things.

I would stop by the Big Thunder Ranch quite a bit, often on my own as I did my weekend walk through the park in the 1990's-2010's. I liked seeing the goats, and seeing the children delight in the goats. It was wholesome and just made you smile.

I particularly got a huge kick out of the Presidential Pardoned Turkeys that were displayed there for years in the 2000's-2010's. Whoever on the Disneyland marketing team came up with that gimmick; sending the turkeys to Disneyland to live out their days as the Happiest Turkeys On Earth, deserved a huge raise! Why they don't still do that is beyond me. It was hysterical and very clever, and so fabulously American!

And when the turkey arrived from Washington DC, they'd put it on a float and parade it down Main Street to its forever home in Frontierland. Hysterical!!!



It became such a hit that WDW stole the idea after a few years, and the White House would send one bird to Anaheim and one bird to Orlando. But Disneyland's PR team invented it and came up with the idea first.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I'm sorry that you West Coasters were deprived of the excitement and wonder of barnyard animals, given how incredible they apparently are to many of you.

The idea that Disneyland, a place full of extraordinary things that can't be experienced anywhere else, was made better by the presence of a glorified petting zoo, perhaps the most ordinary thing imaginable and with nothing to offer anyone over the age of seven, is truly a fascinating one.

Such Wonder! YOU ARE IMMERSED!!!

 

[mickEblu]

The quote was talking about the importance of the park having diverse and unique offerings.

You doing okay? It's fine that you didn't appreciate or care about the various live animals across the resort. I disagree, and think that diversions like that enhance the overall experience. Disneyland is an inherently personal experience and everyone goes for different reasons- but your posts feel like they're in bad faith and not like you're trying to engage in an actual discussion.

Why is it so hard to believe that having the goats/ Big Thunder Ranch etc made Disneyland and Frontierland a more well rounded and richer place? It’s this level of playing obtuse or willful ignorance that I don’t understand. I have to assume he understood the correlation between your Baxter quote and the point you were trying to make. It’s absolutely not in good faith. The 6x visit Disneyland expert from Chicago strikes again!

 

[PiratesMansion]

Why is it so hard to believe that having the goats/ Big Thunder Ranch etc made Disneyland and Frontierland a Disneyland more well rounded and a richer place? It’s this level of playing obtuse or willful ignorance that I don’t understand. I have to assume he understood the correlation between your Baxter quote and the point you were trying to make. It’s absolutely not in good faith. The 6x visit Disneyland expert from Chicago strikes again!

I'm not one of the many grown adults getting excited over goats, and I'm fine with that.

Also, you can talk to me, you know? I'm right here.

 

[TP2000]

Note To Self: If I ever change planes in Chicago again, do NOT mention goats to a local!

 

[mickEblu]

I'm not one of the many grown adults getting excited over goats, and I'm fine with that.

Also, you can talk to me, you know? I'm right here.

Hi, how’s it going?

I don’t feel that some of your posts/ conversations of late have been in good faith and I’d rather not waste my time. You also seem a little edgy. Haha

 

[SuddenStorm]

I would stop by the Big Thunder Ranch quite a bit, often on my own as I did my weekend walk through the park in the 1990's-2010's. I liked seeing the goats, and seeing the children delight in the goats. It was wholesome and just made you smile.

I particularly got a huge kick out of the Presidential Pardoned Turkeys that were displayed there for years in the 2000's-2010's. Whoever on the Disneyland marketing team came up with that gimmick; sending the turkeys to Disneyland to live out their days as the Happiest Turkeys On Earth, deserved a huge raise! Why they don't still do that is beyond me. It was hysterical and very clever, and so fabulously American!

And when the turkey arrived from Washington DC, they'd put it on a float and parade it down Main Street to its forever home in Frontierland. Hysterical!!!



It became such a hit that WDW stole the idea after a few years, and the White House would send one bird to Anaheim and one bird to Orlando. But Disneyland's PR team invented it and came up with the idea first.

This is brilliant- and helps cement the park as a piece of legitimate Americana, as opposed to a chintzy locals amusement park in Southern California.

It's sad that TDA has been working awfully hard to eliminate the Americana aspects of Disneyland over the last decade. The place will be worse off for it.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

I'm not one of the many grown adults getting excited over goats

Yet you are, caps and all.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I'm just saying: if you talk to literally any adult that hasn't been going to Disneyland since they were in the cradle, and tell them that you sincerely miss the goats, they will deservedly look at you like you have four heads.

Hi, how’s it going?

I don’t feel that some of your posts/ conversations of late have been in good faith and I’d rather not waste my time. You also seem a little edgy. Haha

Well, hello! See, that was easy! Feeling's mutual.

Eh, who's deranged, the many lamenting the loss of goats, or the handful of others who find the specific grievance to be a bit over the top or absurd? Perhaps a bit of column A, a bit of column B.

I am genuinely surprised at how many people feel like Disneyland got their goat when they removed the petting farm of all things and stand by what I said above.

This is brilliant- and helps cement the park as a piece of legitimate Americana, as opposed to a chintzy locals amusement park in Southern California.

It's sad that TDA has been working awfully hard to eliminate the Americana aspects of Disneyland over the last decade. The place will be worse off for it.

And to me, goats are emblematic of a chintzy local children's amusements, of a place that might have pony rides and a pumpkin to pick out at Halloween, but not of a place like Disneyland, a place that aspires to be something more.

To me, the complaints about the loss of other things make more sense, but when it gets boiled down to/oversimplified as I miss the goats or I'd take the goats over SW:GE, flawed though that area is, that's when it seems a bit crazy to me.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm just saying: if you talk to literally any adult that hasn't been going to Disneyland since they were in the cradle that you sincerely miss the goats, they will deservedly look at you like you have four heads.

Well, hello! See, that was easy! Feeling's mutual.

Eh, who's deranged, the many lamenting the loss of goats, or the handful of others who find the specific grievance to be a bit over the top or absurd? Perhaps a bit of column A, a bit of column B.

I am genuinely surprised at how many people feel like Disneyland got their goat when they removed the petting farm of all things and stand by what I said above.

And to me, goats are emblematic of a chintzy local children's amusements, of a place that might have pony rides and a pumpkin to pick out at Halloween, but not of a place like Disneyland, a place that aspires to be something more.

To me, the complaints about the loss of other things make more sense, but when it gets boiled down to/oversimplified as I miss the goats or I'd take the goats over SW:GE, flawed though that area is, that's when it seems a bit crazy to me.

You didn’t answer my question and you didn’t ask how I was doing. How rude. No but seriously, everything good? Seems like the smallest things have been setting you off.

 

[Skip]

At DL in years past, characters would often hop on the carousel or Dumbo. Alice and the Hatter would often ride the Mad Tea Party.

I can imagine Ariel taking a trip on her own DCA ride… and falling asleep from boredom.

For what it's worth, this still happens. On our last visit, we saw Mad Hatter and Alice ride the Tea Cups. Mary Poppins and Bert rode the carousel.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Note To Self: If I ever change planes in Chicago again, do NOT mention goats to a local!

Hey, I'm in Chicago! I'll gladly tell you about the time goats at Rafiki's Planet Watch in AK almost pooed on my feet when I was five. Well, I guess I just did. There's not much else to tell.

A goat did cause our Cubbies to not win the World Series for 108 years, so I can why we Chicagoans might be a bit touchy about the subject.

 

[Disney Irish]

I'm sorry that you West Coasters were deprived of the excitement and wonder of barnyard animals, given how incredible they apparently are to many of you.

The idea that Disneyland, a place full of extraordinary things that can't be experienced anywhere else, was made better by the presence of a glorified petting zoo, perhaps the most ordinary thing imaginable and with nothing to offer anyone over the age of seven, is truly a fascinating one.

View attachment 767490

Such Wonder! YOU ARE IMMERSED!!!

Honestly I think nostalgia plays a big factor here. Had there not been a petting zoo in Big Thunder Ranch for them growing up no one would be lamenting how Disneyland doesn't have goats. I also think it comes down to the Big Thunder Ranch itself being lost not the goats themselves. Well maybe the goats and other animals a little bit, but primarily the area.

To me I go to Disneyland to see things I primarily don't see in the real world, the fantastical. Having grown up going to petting zoos and regular zoos and such I don't really lament the loss of barn yard animals at Disneyland. As I can go see those things anytime I want for cheaper at a place not 20 minutes away from me, there is a little regional zoo near me with a petting zoo. And since I cannot see a life sized version of the Millennium Falcon in real life, to me that is more exciting than a petting zoo.

The only thing I would lament in the area is the BBQ, as I never really got to experience it as much as I would have liked.

 

[Consumer]

PiratesMansion hates goats so much I’m starting to think he’s the reincarnation of Caligula.

 

[Rich T]

The dynamite-chewing goat on Big Thunder is the single greatest character in Disneyland.

I miss the petting zoo because it was sweet, relaxed, well done, and had a basin to wash to your hands in before exiting. Buzz Lightyear should have one of those.

 

[Rich T]

I'm sorry that you West Coasters were deprived of the excitement and wonder of barnyard animals, given how incredible they apparently are to many of you.

The idea that Disneyland, a place full of extraordinary things that can't be experienced anywhere else, was made better by the presence of a glorified petting zoo, perhaps the most ordinary thing imaginable and with nothing to offer anyone over the age of seven, is truly a fascinating one.

View attachment 767490

Such Wonder! YOU ARE IMMERSED!!!

This actually looks more enjoyable than Galaxy’s Edge. I would rather see a mule than Kylo Ren.

Animals are awesome. For all ages. Their presence adds a gritty reality to any park. The horses on Main Street are one of my favorite things in DL. I love the lunch-pilfering pigeons.

I’m not saying Galaxy’s Edge wasn’t worth building (in theory). I’m saying the petting zoo was well done— a small attraction that added charm and variety to Frontierland, and, yes, was a GREAT experience for families with small children, a demographic that makes up a sizable chunk of Disney’s customer base.

It always felt like a cute temporary attraction, holding down the space until something cool like Discovery Bay or Geyser Mountain came along.

But, no, we got Galaxy’s Edge. I’m not saying keep the goats instead, but I do wish we could have a do-over on the new land; I don’t think the end result was worth spending all that money and shortening the river.

It’s okay to miss the little things. Goats, Pack Mules, the bizarre foot-shaker machines on Main Street, the meatball subs at the Pirate Ship, the pancakes at River Belle… it was all charming and fun.