The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[CaptinEO]

Ever look at the Disneyland subreddit? It's practically dogma over there that CMs must never be held responsible for poor behavior, no matter what. Blame low pay, oppressive work schedules, rude guests -- but never the CM. It's such a bizarre aspect of the "fandom."

I have. I also remember message boards back in the day were like this too. Always so funny.

Again, most CMs are delightful. But CMs are just people, like everyone else. And it's increasingly noticeable that some CMs lack professionalism and behave in a manner that would probably get them scolded at a McDonald's or Target. Let's not bend over backwards to excuse this behavior or forbid ourselves from even discussing it.

I agree. Like if an employee is rude they are rude, I am not going to cut them some slack just because they happen to be in a themepark I like. I'm glad you share this opinion, when I would bring up this hypocrisy on other sites people would get outraged.

Not saying every CM needs to be smiling and going out of their way to make everything magical 24/7, just want them to not be rude.

I always see the fantasmic crowd control people yelling at crowds aggressively and always find it funny.

Again, I've worked at a themepark (six flags) and dealt with large crowds and sometimes you get rude people but I was never rude back to anyone and kept a decent attitude. Not saying it was an amazing job but crowds come with the territory.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Because he's hairy.

Ohhhhhhh....that makes sense.

 

[Rich T]

Happy Halloween, everyone! Here’s a good bit of new park-related spookiness: TPW just posted extensive coverage of Efteling’s new haunted attraction, Danse Macabre. Includes a full POV and a tour of the incredibly-themed gift shop.

Efteling is #1 on my park bucket list, and this new ride has me getting more serious about planning a trip. It’s a combo animatronic concert, flat ride/dark ride with just a touch of madhouse (and Alien Encounter-like chills) and a lot of brilliant theatrics and all-around fantastic, first-rate theming.

And what a dark, twisted story!!!! (Efteling's website has an English-translated synopsis)… but paired with the most adorable ride mascot I’ve ever seen. Kinda forms a haunted trilogy with Baron and Dutchman.

Best ghost animatronic ever.

Was happy to learn there’s a fully-themed accessibility version offering an immersive video recreation for those who can’t (or don’t wish to) ride.

It all looks brilliant. I really hope to experience it in person one day!

 

[Phroobar]

Happy Halloween, everyone! Here’s a good bit of new park-related spookiness: TPW just posted extensive coverage of Efteling’s new haunted attraction, Danse Macabre. Includes a full POV and a tour of the incredibly-themed gift shop.

Efteling is #1 on my park bucket list, and this new ride has me getting more serious about planning a trip. It’s a combo animatronic concert, flat ride/dark ride with just a touch of madhouse (and Alien Encounter-like chills) and a lot of brilliant theatrics and all-around fantastic, first-rate theming.

And what a dark, twisted story!!!! (Efteling's website has an English-translated synopsis)… but paired with the most adorable ride mascot I’ve ever seen. Kinda forms a haunted trilogy with Baron and Dutchman.

Best ghost animatronic ever.

Was happy to learn there’s a fully-themed accessibility version offering an immersive video recreation for those who can’t (or don’t wish to) ride.

It all looks brilliant. I really hope to experience it in person one day!

That ride looks amazing. I love the spinning and tilting it does. All the AA characters in the windows are cool. It's like you are waltzing in the air. Why can't Disney do that?

 

[Rich T]

That ride looks amazing. I love the spinning and tilting it does. All the AA characters in the windows are cool. It's like you are waltzing in the air. Why can't Disney do that?

I’m thinking this ride system could be used to great effect in the CoP space. My fear is that a certain entertainment corporation could dumb it down with an IP, avoid any themes that might cause an inkling of stress in … anybody… and make the ride’s message “Magical self esteem wishes make special dream memory community enchantments.”

 

[Phroobar]

Fortunately it will be twenty years before Disney uses that tech. They just figured out trackless vehicles and the Spiderman ride system.

 

[Misted Compass]

I’m thinking this ride system could be used to great effect in the CoP space. My fear is that a certain entertainment corporation could dumb it down with an IP, avoid any themes that might cause an inkling of stress in … anybody… and make the ride’s message “Magical self esteem wishes make special dream memory community enchantments.”

Intamin's promo video shows the ride platform having a diameter of 18 meters.
Now if only there was a space, preferrably an empty one, at WDW that could fit a circular stage of that size...

 

[Rich T]

…Intamin's promo video shows the ride platform having a diameter of 18 mete
Now if only there was a space, preferrably an empty one, at WDW that could fit a circular stage of that size...
View attachment 823532

Perfect! And now I also want this ride system as DLC for Planet Coaster 2.

 

[Phroobar]

I guess this one is a little big.

They would probably replace Buzz Lightyear with Moana in Space.

 

[tanc]

New LLP thing or whatever seems like a better deal at Disneyland. Yeah, it's extremely expensive but it includes park hopping and more rides than MK.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

New LLP thing or whatever seems like a better deal at Disneyland. Yeah, it's extremely expensive but it includes park hopping and more rides than MK.

LL in general works better at DL. You're lucky if you get three rides at WDW. I was getting 5+ rides at DL.

 

[truecoat]

If I had looked, I could have found something like this on the WDW side but made my own. That Encanto building is nice sized.

 

[DrAlice]

LL in general works better at DL. You're lucky if you get three rides at WDW. I was getting 5+ rides at DL.

Yup. I think this is because of the "pick your LLs a week before you go" insanity that occurs at WDW. Honestly, as a DL-er, the WDW LL experience was the worst part of our WDW trip. It was stressful and confusing. I hope that pre-booking thing never comes to DL.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Yup. I think this is because of the "pick your LLs a week before you go" insanity that occurs at WDW. Honestly, as a DL-er, the WDW LL experience was the worst part of our WDW trip. It was stressful and confusing. I hope that pre-booking thing never comes to DL.

That is one of the things I enjoy about coming to DL. WDW requires a ton of planning. DL it's just kind of like "hmmm...what do I want to do today?" "Oh, cool, this line is short, let me do that" "other park looks less crowded, lemme do that" "oops, that ride is down, I'll go do this one instead."

I only had two ADRs this past trip. I mostly did walk ups. Pulled out my phone like "cool, what's available?" It was very nice.

I can get away with doing a bit less planning at WDW than the average guest, but only because I'm hyper familiar with the place. Like I had a solo day back in June, went over to Epcot to ride Guardians, decided it was too crowded, and went to AK. My brother is autistic, so for the most part, I also don't buy LL if he's with me because he's got a DAS; I only buy the individual one for Guardians to ride it multiple times. I also know how to get away with not having it at Epcot and Animal Kingdom.

Oh, and before this prebook thing, it was getting up at 7 am. I don't do mornings, lol. I much prefer just walking into the park and grabbing a LL.

 

[TP2000]

Southwest just announced they'll be starting non-stop flights from BWI to Long Beach next year.

Thank the maker. Now LAX won't be THE option for getting to DL from here.

Long Beach is a lovely little airport! I used to fly out of there a lot back when JetBlue had their SoCal hub there, but when JetBlue moved to LAX I stopped flying out of Long Beach (and stopped flying JetBlue because LAX is evil). It's the second best airport in SoCal for a Disneyland trip, right behind John Wayne.

Even after all its snazzy expansion and sprucing up the past few years, you still walk out onto the tarmac and walk up to the plane at Long Beach. When you arrive in Long Beach, as you step out through the plane's doorway, don't hesitate to wave and smile big to absolutely no one in particular and pretend you are The Beatles arriving at JFK in 1964. I did that anytime I arrived in Long Beach, and no one ever caught on.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Long Beach is a lovely little airport! I used to fly out of there a lot back when JetBlue had their SoCal hub there, but when JetBlue moved to LAX I stopped flying out of Long Beach (and stopped flying JetBlue because LAX is evil). It's the second best airport in SoCal for a Disneyland trip, right behind John Wayne.

Even after all its snazzy expansion and sprucing up the past few years, you still walk out onto the tarmac and walk up to the plane at Long Beach. When you arrive in Long Beach, as you step out through the plane's doorway, don't hesitate to wave and smile big to absolutely no one in particular and pretend you are The Beatles arriving at JFK in 1964. I did that anytime I arrived in Long Beach, and no one ever caught on.

I have actually been there! We went to Hawaii after a DL trip (my parents also own at Aulani...and I'm not a dummy; I'm not saying no to that) and took Southwest from Long Beach to Honolulu. SOOOO much easier than LAX. First time I'd ever walked up on the tarmac to a plane. I didn't have any problems flying out of LAX this past time, probably because I flew out at 11 pm, but part of the reason I flew into San Diego was to avoid LAX.

Southwest operates like 70% of BWI's traffic, so it's basically our default airline. I'm not kidding when I say there's 12 non-stop flights daily to Orlando. I have their credit card and earn rewards so it makes flying cheaper for me.

I also have United for any place I can't get to with Southwest. They do okay flying out of BWI, but primarily operate out of the hellhole that is Washington Dulles.

 

[Too Many Hats]

“Is there a strike happening that we don’t know about?”

“Can we sue Bob Iger?”

Overheard at Disneyland this morning, as rope drop guests search for something to do while Indy, Pirates, Mansion, Big Thunder, and Rise (among a few other attractions) are all down (and still down, as of 8:40).

I’d be more forgiving if this seemed like a one-time thing. But the exact same thing happened a month ago when I visited at rope drop. What’s up with this?

At least the pirate band is out. Love these guys.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Overheard at Disneyland this morning, as rope drop guests search for something to do while Indy, Pirates, Mansion, Big Thunder, and Rise (among a few other attractions) are all down (and still down, as of 8:40).

I feel like those are the ones that are always down.

 

[Too Many Hats]

I feel like those are the ones that are always down.

Yeah. It’s weird. Didn’t used to be like this. I wonder if there’s a recurring issue on that side of the park? Seems coincidental these attractions are all adjacent.

Indy, Mansion, & Big Thunder opened at 9. Pirates opened around 9:45. Rise opened around 11 or 11:30.

 

[Too Many Hats]

I rode the railroad this morning and we experienced a sudden stop and momentary delay leaving the Tomorrowland station. As a result, the audio began playing a minute or so before the train actually left the station.

So we heard the scary Primeval World music during the Grand Canyon scene, and then the joyful Main Street music during the Primeval World scene. Those deer and wild turkeys have never seemed more sinister, and that T-Rex and Stegosaurus have never appeared more dapper.