The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Distorian]

Honestly everything after the hippo pool is kind of a dud. I like the inclusion of chimps, but the fact it's just a repeated gag from the earlier gorillas makes it less interesting. I understand why they removed the tribe, but their removal has left a huge hole in the attraction. Would it have been less problematic if they had replaced the African cannibal headhunters with a hostile uncontacted Amazonian tribe? Given that there are plenty of such groups down there, would it be seen as a racist caricature but a realistic depiction of the jungle's inhabitants? There really ought to be more threats to the cruise throughout the ride.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I'm curious to know the reason they bothered putting it back up despite people's general preference for the older sign. It's no skin off their back either way. It'd be an easy way to please Disneyland fans with no apparent cost to Disney.

The sign was looking rough.

Id rather they preserve it backstage somewhere, and put a replacement up that looks the same.

Though it was the carnation logo that's now owned by nestle... I wonder if they can't use that version of the carnation logo.

 

[CoastalElite64]

 

[SuddenStorm]

The Beefy Fritos Burrito for $1 was incredible.

I won't eat at McDonald's anymore except for the $1 any size McCafe coffee- it's just way too expensive.

 

[Rich T]

The Beefy Fritos Burrito for $1 was incredible.

I won't eat at McDonald's anymore except for the $1 any size McCafe coffee- it's just way too expensive.

All fast food is coming down to “is this still worth it?” Which, for me, has narrowed the list down to Chick-Fil-A and In n’ Out, because it helps a lot when the staff members actually look happy to be there.

 

[D.Silentu]

All fast food is coming down to “is this still worth it?” Which, for me, has narrowed the list down to Chick-Fil-A and In n’ Out, because it helps a lot when the staff members actually look happy to be there.

It really is the question. In the recession of 2008 most fast food places eliminated positions to help cut costs. They never rehired them, so fast food hasn’t been fast in a long time and now it’s not cheap either.

 

[mickEblu]

All fast food is coming down to “is this still worth it?” Which, for me, has narrowed the list down to Chick-Fil-A and In n’ Out, because it helps a lot when the staff members actually look happy to be there.

Agree but Chick Fil A has kind of fell off for me. Not sure if it went downhill or there are just so many better chicken sandwiches near me now. While In N Out may not be the best burger in the world it's fresh and cheap. Neither of which we can say about Chick Fil A. I can get a box with two piping hot fried chicken sandwiches (they call them sliders but they are huge) on a soft n lovely potato bun with crinkle cut fries at Daves Hot Chicken for $15 and its much better quality too. And the their sauce is great. I prefer Raising Canes too. Just make my own sandwiches with the Texas Toast and tenders.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

I only do McDs these days if I am driving somewhere and NEED some protein for the morning. Drive thru for two sausage egg mcmuffins and drink.

 

[mickEblu]

I only do McDs these days if I am driving somewhere and NEED some protein for the morning. Drive thru for two sausage egg mcmuffins and drink.

Those sausage n egg McMuffins are much better if you pop them in the toaster for a few minutes I've learned. Hard to do on the run though hahah

 

[Distorian]

Agree but Chick Fil A has kind of fell off for me. Not sure if it went downhill or there are just so many better chicken sandwiches near me now. While In N Out may not be the best burger in the world it's fresh and cheap. Neither of which we can say about Chick Fil A. I can get a box with two piping hot fried chicken sandwiches (they call them sliders but they are huge) on a soft n lovely potato bun with crinkle cut fries at Daves Hot Chicken for $15 and its much better quality too. And the their sauce is great. I prefer Raising Canes too. Just make my own sandwiches with the Texas Toast and tenders.

I think y'all might just be experiencing California prices. Here in the Midwest a Chick Fil A sandwich meal is about $9 and I can get a McChicken, large fries, and a drink for around $4 if I use the app.

 

[Rich T]

Agree but Chick Fil A has kind of fell off for me. Not sure if it went downhill or there are just so many better chicken sandwiches near me now. While In N Out may not be the best burger in the world it's fresh and cheap. Neither of which we can say about Chick Fil A. I can get a box with two piping hot fried chicken sandwiches (they call them sliders but they are huge) on a soft n lovely potato bun with crinkle cut fries at Daves Hot Chicken for $15 and its much better quality too. And the their sauce is great too.

Dave’s sounds awesome! I’ve had good luck at the Chick Fil A near me and at MCO (and the Chick Fil A at the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport is, for me, the single best thing about that airport.)

I agree about In n’ Out; It’s not my favorite burger, but it’s high quality. Plus, the fun energy at In n’ Out is a huge reason I go there. When I go to Chick Fil A or In n Out, it’s always with the expectation of good customer service based on my previous visit. People like to go where they're treated well, and it amazes me how many businesses get that one basic truth wrong.

 

[D.Silentu]

I’m a longtime fan of In-N-Out, but this seems as good a time as any for a quick PSA: ask for your fries ‘light well’, they’re much better.

 

[Distorian]

Speaking of fast food, I just saw an ad for Mandalorian and Greed toys at Burger King. I was under the impression Disney had a deal with McDonald's.

 

[Disney Irish]

Speaking of fast food, I just saw an ad for Mandalorian and Greed toys at Burger King. I was under the impression Disney had a deal with McDonald's.

Back in 2018 Disney redid their deal with McDonald’s so it’s non-exclusive. So they have advertised with many fast food companies since then even if McDonald’s is their primary partner.

Current advertisements in 2026 -

Mando and Grogu at Burger King
Toy Story 5 at Papa John’s

 

[Rich T]

Speaking of fast food, I just saw an ad for Mandalorian and Greed toys at Burger King. I was under the impression Disney had a deal with McDonald's.

While trying to find an answer to this online, I learned McDonald’s current Happy Meal toys are themed to a Netflix animated Strangers Things spin-off. Because apparently both McDonalds and Netflix think Stranger Things is an appropriate franchise for children.

 

[Disney Irish]

While trying to find an answer to this online, I learned McDonald’s current Happy Meal toys are themed to a Netflix animated Strangers Things spin-off. Because apparently both McDonalds and Netflix think Stranger Things is an appropriate franchise for children.

In all fairness Stranger Things: Tales from 85, which is animated, is TV-PG, so it is for kids the same as many animated shows these days. As for appropriateness, that is up to the parent.

Even the original Stranger Things was TV-14 for Seasons 1-4, while not for young kids it’s still age appropriate for older kids that may still be getting happy meals.

Season 5 was darker, but that is to be expected for a finale season where every kid in the show ages up to high school, and so did the audience.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

A couple of friends who stopped going to Disneyland because it's crap are reporting in with a visit today.

Telling me the new transition to and end song of Paint the Night is literally the worst thing they've ever heard and has destroyed all good will on the planet.

 

[Rich T]

In all fairness Stranger Things: Tales from 85, which is animated, is TV-PG, so it is for kids the same as many animated shows these days. As for appropriateness, that is up to the parent.

Even the original Stranger Things was TV-14 for Seasons 1-4, while not for young kids it’s still age appropriate for older kids that may still be getting happy meals.

Season 5 was darker, but that is to be expected for a finale season where every kid in the show ages up to high school, and so did the audience.

I disagree about season 4: I think the Vecna murders were so gruesome and graphic (not to mention the opening slaughter that led to the pre-show warning in light of recent real-world events) that I wouldn’t recommend it for any youth young enough to be getting Happy Meals.

Between the murders and the focus on Hopper’s tortuous Russia ordeal, I had to nope-out of the series after the first batch of Season 4 episodes.

I know the animated Stranger Things series is for older kids and probably isn’t darker than Troll Hunters or the Jurassic World show…

But, seriously… (In Daffy Duck’s voice): “THIS is a HAPPY Meal?!?!?!?

 

[Disney Irish]

I disagree about season 4: I think the Vecna murders were so gruesome and graphic (not to mention the opening slaughter that led to the pre-show warning in light of recent real-world events) that I wouldn’t recommend it for any youth young enough to be getting Happy Meals.

Between the murders and the focus on Hopper’s tortuous Russia ordeal, I had to nope-out of the series after the first batch of Season 4 episodes.

I know the animated Stranger Things series is for older kids and probably isn’t darker than Troll Hunters or the Jurassic World show…

But, seriously… (In Daffy Duck’s voice): “THIS is a HAPPY Meal?!?!?!?

Everyone is different, that is why I said it’s up to the parent whether it’s appropriate for their children.

I didn’t personally feel that Season 4 was really any worse than 1-3, but to each their own.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

They've already replaced track, structure, pretty much everything that can be replaced multiple times.

I don't see why the ride has to come down, be modified, whatever unless something extreme or catastrophic came about.

This was sort of inspired by talking to some actual DL CM friends and they were the ones who originally brought it up. They have no insider knowledge of anything or anything like that they just have noticed being present at work every day that year over year, it keeps having more and more issues.

And I mean we’ve kinda seen that from the outside two. It’s gone into unplanned emergency refurb twice in the last three years. If nothing else, it’s needs are becoming more frequent.

And so far Disney’s been committed to keeping it and doing the work with it. I just wonder if it’s starting to go into this pattern of issues springing up big enough to send it into unexpected refurb and the windows between planned refurbs seemingly getting shorter if there’s gonna be a time in the near future where they can’t patch it up anymore and have to make some decisions.

I don’t know, I’m not in the park as often as some of you are. I just thought it was interesting that some of my DL CM pals were commenting on it’s increasing maintenance needs and themselves wondering if it may be approaching its twilight years. It is after all essentially a prototype coaster and is one of the oldest steel coasters operating in the world (top 15 oldest for steel I think). I would not be shocked if it’s lifespan is hitting it’s final years. Like you said they’ve replaced what can be replaced, but what are they gonna do if and when it becomes something that can’t be replaced, or at least not without having to essentially rebuild it?