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The Miscellaneous Thought Thread
- Thread starter mickEblu
- Start date
"A construction fence surrounding a large parking lot next to Downtown Disney on land Disneyland has identified as the future home of a major theme park expansion has raised a host of questions about the unannounced demolition project.
Why is Disneyland digging up the parking lot next to Downtown Disney? What’s going on behind those construction walls? Has Disneyland started building a third theme park?
The answers are far less interesting than anything your imagination can dream up.
Disneyland is removing trees that have impacted the Stitch cast member parking lot and resurfacing the asphalt, according to Disneyland officials. Work crews are repairing irrigation lines, replanting trees, laying new asphalt and repainting the parking lot.
The Stitch lot is expected to reopen this fall and remain a cast member parking location, according to Disneyland officials."
"The Downtown Disney renovations and the Stitch employee parking lot resurfacing project are not part of the DisneylandForward project. No construction work has begun on DisneylandForward as Disney continues to submit development approvals to the city as part of the specific plan process."
www.ocregister.com
Why is Disneyland digging up the parking lot next to Downtown Disney? What’s going on behind those construction walls? Has Disneyland started building a third theme park?
The answers are far less interesting than anything your imagination can dream up.
Disneyland is removing trees that have impacted the Stitch cast member parking lot and resurfacing the asphalt, according to Disneyland officials. Work crews are repairing irrigation lines, replanting trees, laying new asphalt and repainting the parking lot.
The Stitch lot is expected to reopen this fall and remain a cast member parking location, according to Disneyland officials."
"The Downtown Disney renovations and the Stitch employee parking lot resurfacing project are not part of the DisneylandForward project. No construction work has begun on DisneylandForward as Disney continues to submit development approvals to the city as part of the specific plan process."
Is Disneyland building a third theme park? Not yet
Disneyland is resurfacing the Stitch cast member parking lot next to the Downtown Disney outdoor shopping mall.
www.ocregister.com
chadwpalm
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
David Warner died at age 80.
David Warner, who played villains in 'Titanic' and 'Tron,' dies at 80 | CNN
Warner, who was also in "The Omen" and "Mary Poppins Returns," died from a cancer-related illness, his family said.www.cnn.com
chadwpalm
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
This and the long wait times for Monster's Inc. are why these smaller attractions shouldn't have lightning lane. Their wait times don't warrant it and by adding lightning lane it causes guests to think they need to use it to get their money's worth thus making the standby times even longer.
They should allow you to cancel at Carnation and probably even Blue Bayou. I’ve cancelled with the hosts days of with no issues in the past.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
They did, it's just frustrating that it's still on the app. Apparently their system was in breakfast mode and it would have to be put in later.
The Plaza Inn dining package that Guest Relations told me was cancelled is also still in the app.
In line for Plaza Inn partially to make sure my dining package was actually canceled but also because the park is slammed and mobile order for anything that appeals to me has return windows too far away for my level of hungry. So non-mobile order Plaza Inn it is.
I really should have stayed back in my hotel. I'm exhausted from the last two days and hot and cranky. But Apparently they just couldn't cancel my reservations without me walking in the gate, so...
BuzzedPotatoHead89
Well-Known Member
Hopefully you’ve been able to beat the recent heat and still have a somewhat pleasant trip…as a local always interested in hearing Disneyland/SoCal trip reports.
Sorry to hear this. It’s annoying for sure. I don’t understand why you weren’t able to cancel your reservations last night. I thought you have until midnight the day before?
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
The trip has been great for the most part. Mainly it's an issue of me doing a ton even before Disneyland and being tired even from that, and of course running myself ragged at the parks. I've been in SoCal for nine days and before DL I did VIP tours at Warner Bros & USH, toured the Getty center, went to SeaWorld, the SDZ Safari Park, and Knott's. Then I spontaneously added Adventure City and Castle Park for funzies (have to get those missing roller coaster credits, you know). All while taking a summer class online. I regret nothing, but it certainly takes a physical toll.Hopefully you’ve been able to beat the recent heat and still have a somewhat pleasant trip…as a local always interested in hearing Disneyland/SoCal trip reports.
Honestly other than this dining issue (and the fact that MaxPass and the older version of the app were a lot more functional than the current Genie/mobile order-heavy app) DLR has mostly been great. Not a fan of Smugglers or Spider-Man but if they'll take people out of line for better rides I'm fine with it. My LL for Rise is soon, first ride, I'm excited!
Maintenance hasn't been 100% perfect but some of the things I remember people griping about appear to have been fixed. Mostly the park and resort are still functioning ok from my perspective despite Disney's best efforts to overcomplicate things.
My friend got maybe two hours into our first day before declaring DL superior to WDW. Other than a knee issue she's having a blast. WDW Pirates is her favorite ride, and because of a lot of timing issues over the past two days she still hasn't done it yet (she also hasn't done Small World anywhere EVER). Hopefully both will be rectified today.
I didn't realize until I got here just how much I missed California. I'm sure I could never afford to live here, and even if I could I'm not sure I'd want to, traffic and all. But as a tourist the state really is the gift that keeps on giving.
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PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
Apparently they "fixed" that issue at some point. My guess now is that the app will freeze you out of anything 24 hrs out.
Well did you at least try the patty melt at Carnation?
Best ride so far?
Best meal/ snack so far?
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
@PiratesMansion So sorry to hear about your dining issues. Sounds like BS. Hopefully the rest of your trip has at least been okay. Drink plenty of water and get some rest in when you can.
BuzzedPotatoHead89
Well-Known Member
Glad you made it to the Getty, it’s definitely an underrated experience! For your next trip if you haven’t been the Getty villa in Malibu is great too and a hop/skip/jump from Santa Monica.
Excited to hear how your friend likes IASW and the superior version of Pirates. Also interested in knowing what made her proclaim Disneyland as the “superior” park so soon into the trip. I always assumed it was part my California/Walt-centric bias so it’s always interesting to hear others say the same.
Living in California is a double edged sword. In some ways it’s a punch to the gut (costs, traffic, etc.) but as a native it’s also still home at the same time. At this point I also can’t see myself leaving the SoCal region for multiple reasons, even though we know many friends that have left for the appeal of neighboring states.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
That's just maddening. Purely inexcusable, especially when you take your vacation time you are paying for to stop by their own "Guest Relations" head office and are told by a perky kid in a plaid vest "Sorry, I can't reach anyone by phone. Try calling the Help Line again yourself. Have a magical day!"
Stuff happens, I get it. Even the best customer service outfits have an App glitch or a hassling experience occasionally. But the difference is when the customer takes their own time to try and resolve the issue with the official Customer Service department and they get nothing but more hassle and non-answers from humans allegedly trained in "World Class Guest Service".
If this happened at the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage, or the Fletcher Jones Mercedes Service Center in Newport Beach where they treat you like royalty just for an oil change, or any other number of high-cost experiences, your technical troubles would have ended the moment you began talking to a real human at a customer service desk.
But at Disneyland now with their ongoing technical issues? Even the humans say "Sorry, we're closed. Try again later."
You forgot to add the word Guest. It's... World. Class. Guest. Service.
They treat us as Guests in their own home, remember.
We're also immersed.
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
Yeah, the service line being closed is insane. I’m assuming it’s due to staffing, but come on.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
We're having a fabulous SoCal summer. It's been cooler than normal all over California this summer, so the usual dry 87 degrees in OC (that already feels heavenly compared to the Midwest and East Coast in July) is down around 82 or so.
Enjoy it! And get your friend on Pirates and Small World, pronto!
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Agreed! I am driving up to The Getty with some friends in September for a visit before I move out of state in the fall. I haven't been to The Getty in over five years, so I'm excited.
It's really a wonderful gem, all for free and compliments of Getty Oil!
Mr. Getty sold Getty Oil's holdings to Texaco, before Texaco got bought by Chevron. But I use a Chevron station near the freeway a lot, so I use those fill-ups as a way to thank Mr. Getty for his gift up there on that West LA hill.
Agreed. I think the average Disney fan who "gets it" inherently feels the Walt touch at Disneyland. That's why it's so different for them if they are used to WDW.
Be careful, I used to say the same thing. Once you start thinking about it, and do a little research, it's surprising how quickly SoCal loses its grip on you. I'm following other older OC friends, and two sets of younger neighbors who had young children, who all left for other states in the last year.
The development I'm moving to in Utah already has a complete set of SoCal expats welcoming me with open arms.
waltography
Well-Known Member
You've packed quite the trip for yourself! Good on you for hitting lots of the themed entertainment highlights outside of Disneyland; I was just at Warner Bros the other day for the first time doing the tour and I loved it (especially as an Abbott Elementary fan). How was the VIP experience at USH, did you think it was worth it? I'm considering getting it when Super Nintendo World opens next year since I rarely go to USH these days.
And I'm excited for you and your friend to ride Rise! I took my parents to ride it for the first time this past weekend and they couldn't stop raving about it, hope you enjoy it too.
DrAlice
Well-Known Member
Nope, I didn't remember. Apparently, neither did they!You forgot to add the word Guest. It's... World. Class. Guest. Service.
They treat us as Guests in their own home, remember.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
I did! I liked it and probably wouldn't have ordered it without your recommendation, so thanks for the heads up!
The rest of the trip has been great for the most part! Trying to keep hydrated as best I can.
Yeah, definitely the most frustrating "customer service" I've dealt with in a long, long time.That's just maddening. Purely inexcusable, especially when you take your vacation time you are paying for to stop by their own "Guest Relations" head office and are told by a perky kid in a plaid vest "Sorry, I can't reach anyone by phone. Try calling the Help Line again yourself. Have a magical day!"
Stuff happens, I get it. Even the best customer service outfits have an App glitch or a hassling experience occasionally. But the difference is when the customer takes their own time to try and resolve the issue with the official Customer Service department and they get nothing but more hassle and non-answers from humans allegedly trained in "World Class Guest Service".
If this happened at the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage, or the Fletcher Jones Mercedes Service Center in Newport Beach where they treat you like royalty just for an oil change, or any other number of high-cost experiences, your technical troubles would have ended the moment you began talking to a real human at a customer service desk.
But at Disneyland now with their ongoing technical issues? Even the humans say "Sorry, we're closed. Try again later."
You forgot to add the word Guest. It's... World. Class. Guest. Service.
They treat us as Guests in their own home, remember.
We're also immersed.
It wasn't perky kid, though. It was a perky woman at LEAST in her late fifties. Made it sting more.
I think a lot of it was the weather-she was thinking of WDW July weather and was fretting a bit, until she got here and she immediately embraced SoCal weather! There are also a few places where she's noticed more detail and been very appreciative of it. She has favorably compared PPF and Space to their WDW counterparts, among others.
I get the love/hate relationship with home states. Lots of people have left Illinois for a bunch of reasons, but I'm surrounded by states I have no interest in living in and I really don't mind IL. There are some perks to it after all (Chicago! Proximity to eastern and southern states!).
For Universal VIP, it depends on what you're looking to get out of it. It advertised an extended Backlot tour, and for me that was a big selling point. I was picturing more things that you couldn't see at all on the normal tour (ex: Warner Bros. Deluxe Tour took us through the costume warehouse, mill, a TV show Soundstage set, and prop warehouse). What actually happened was we were in a fancier vehicle and got to get out and walk around the Jaws, western, and War of the Worlds set. Everything else was the same as the regular tour. That was a bummer.
That said, the park was absolutely slammed, so the expedited ride access and unlimited Express passes were very, very helpful. The included meals were also very good and included some characters at lunch (first Lucy, then Dracula).
If they sell an unlimited express pass, you could probably save some money and just get that instead, but ultimately I enjoyed it and was happy I did it.
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