waltography
Well-Known Member
Obsessed. I love this.
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The Miscellaneous Thought Thread
- Thread starter mickEblu
- Start date
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
I still insist the place peaked in 1995, then again in 2015.
If I could go back to the park and resort exactly as they were in 2015 I would in a heartbeat.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
It's funny you mention 2015. I was at a sociable this weekend and we were talking about vacation plans for this summer. Disneyland came up, and several folks (including me) had warm memories of Disneyland circa '15. The 60th!
But I was thinking about it later, and there was a dark side to the 60th. Cue foreboding music, if you are so inclined...
Remember when the 60th kicked off and TDA and their executives were entirely unprepared for the onslaught? Not since the infamous Halloween radio stunt in the mid 1990's had a day at Disneyland gone so badly. People started camping out on Harbor Blvd. the day before to secure a spot to get in. On the actual kickoff day the parks were packed beyond capacity, and yet tens of thousands of more people were still trying to get in, or just find a place to park. Harbor Blvd. and Katella gridlocked for hours. The Esplanade was a miserable sea of angry people. No one knew what was happening, and no one had a plan. TDA panicked and locked everything down around 8pm, and then it got ugly.
I can make fun of the user-unfriendly Disneyland Hulu Mobile Order Mandatory Fun+ App all day long. But at least it prevents the bad planners and excutive idiots in TDA from recreating the disaster of a 60th Anniversary kickoff again. So maybe, just maybe, they learned something and after four different Disneyland Presidents in the past decade they keep writing it down on a Post-It Note for their replacement?
Post-Mortem: Three Things Disneyland Could Have Done Better at the 24-Hour Party
www.themeparkinsider.com
It’s 3 a.m. at Disneyland, and the wait for Space Mountain is 75 minutes
ANAHEIM After spending much of the day at capacity, Disneyland re-opened its gates with a little more than three hours to spare in its 24-hour day. Park guests like Robert Llanos of Tustin spent ho…
www.ocregister.com
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brb1006
Well-Known Member
I've recently decided to rewatch the Playhouse Disney/Disney Junior preschool series "PB & J Otter" on Disney+ and currently up to Episode 10 of the series. I forgot how charming the characters are and it's chill setting.
However I just recently learned that the series isn't called "PB & J Otters" which I believed since I was a kid. This is some Berenstein Bears type of situation for me!
Anyway, I been rewatching the series by using the Japanese Dub option from Disney+ and boy do the Japanese voice actors put more effort into voicing the characters. The Japanese voices for Peanut, Pinch Raccoon, and especially Jelly Otter (the violet otter in the logo) is super adorable.
Jelly is actually my favorite character of the show.
I blame this series for my love of Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches that I always have for lunch since childhood.
However I just recently learned that the series isn't called "PB & J Otters" which I believed since I was a kid. This is some Berenstein Bears type of situation for me!
Anyway, I been rewatching the series by using the Japanese Dub option from Disney+ and boy do the Japanese voice actors put more effort into voicing the characters. The Japanese voices for Peanut, Pinch Raccoon, and especially Jelly Otter (the violet otter in the logo) is super adorable.
Jelly is actually my favorite character of the show.
I blame this series for my love of Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches that I always have for lunch since childhood.
If I could go back to any year it would probably be 1969 to see TL 67 but also to be to see a new POTC/ HM in their infancy with all original effects working properly and as intended by WED. I don’t imagine I’m missing much by not seeing the original iterations of the Matterhorn or BTMRR.
As for as peak Disneyland, for me I’d still say the late 80’s/ early 90’s. All of my memories of showing up to Disneyland as a kid on an off season weekday and enjoying an empty park are Pre Indy. Splash was brand new. Skyway still in operation. The further you go back the more Walt/ Wed’s touches can be be felt.
I can see why you pick 1995 though. I was 12 when Indy opened and it blew my mind. I was already a full blown super fan of the park by then and it was the first time I was really aware of a brand new E ticket being added to the park. I specifically remember a great trip in summer 1995 where I went to DL with a friend/ neighbor. His mom took us and his sister to the Disneyland hotel for his birthday and we went to the park for two days. It would be the first time going to the park consecutive days and the first/ last time I stayed at the Disneyland hotel until my one year wedding anniversary in 2014. First time eating at a table service restaurant at DL-Carnation Cafe. Well second if you count Club 33 when I was 6. (My family and parents weren’t rope drop or table service at DL kind of people. And they definitely weren’t stay the night at the hotel to go a theme park the next day again kind of people. We’d go maybe 1-2 times a year and get to the parks around 11am to noon.)
We rope dropped and ran to Splash and were the first ones in line. We rode BTMRR and Dick Dale’s Space Mountain a couple times each. I want to say that was the trip I discovered how much better BTMRR is at night. Waited God knows how long to get on Indy and absolutely LOVED it. Nobody had ever seen anything like it. The queue with the ATT decoders was an attraction on its own. I think it was the first time I even realized that annual pass holders existed. We were behind a couple 20- 25ish year olds guys in line for Indy we began taking to and I was flexing about the fact that I had been to Disneyland 20 or so times. I remember one looking to the other and saying “ya what year?” As if to say they go that many times a year. I can remember the way they were talking about the ride and let’s just say I wouldn’t be surprised if they are members here. Hahah. It was also my first time riding the People Mover on what would be it’s last month or two in operation. It was a summer night and the energy in Tomorrowland with the bands playing below at Tomorrowland Terrance was contagious. All in all - a very memorable trip. Hmmm, maybe Disneyland did peak in the Summer of 95. Lol. No fast passes or phones. Just 12 years olds running around the park having a great time while his mom and sister did their own thing for the most part.
I’m really happy to see the positive reviews of the recent Indy refurb. I’m hoping it rekindles the way I felt about it back then and brings it back from “the dead” for me. But I’d probably need the doors to work and for the the motion of the vehicles to be cranked back up to opening day mode for those feelings to come back. I’d also have to stand in standby for two hours with an ATT decoder. With that said I could at least seeing it becoming part of the rotation again.
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truecoat
Well-Known Member
So, I was leaving Disneyland a couple of weeks ago and was one of the last people out in the park. Some people were still taking pictures by the castle and as I started towards Main Street, I spotted Ratatouille! I couldn't believe it! Here he was living and breathing and coming right out of the gutter. I assume he was late to get a Turkey leg near Walt's statue but who knows? The security guard pretending to be custodial by holding a reacher apparently didn't see him. I asked, "Did you see that?" She said she didn't see anything, I asked her again since she was standing right there. Nope, she saw nothing. I said there was a rat that ran out of the drain into the middle there. Her only comment was that she could believe it.
The point of the story is...rats could have chewed up the trams, I saw personally saw one.
The point of the story is...rats could have chewed up the trams, I saw personally saw one.
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
That was Mortimer Rat. He lives in the enchanted Land of Fill.
Now you know why there are cats at Disneyland.
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PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
In far more irritating Space-related news (and they better stick to the advertised end date):
Well I guess we couldn’t feel more differently on these two new bits of Space Mountain news. Haha
Why do you care about the Hyperspace news though? Is that when you’ll be at the park?
truecoat
Well-Known Member
That was Mortimer Rat. He lives in the enchanted Land of Fill.
Now you know why there are cats at Disneyland.
Yeah, cats can catch mice and other rodents but they are not good with rats.
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
I was once asleep on the couch. Our cat Tucker brought in a huge rat with a long tail. He climbed up on me and dropped it on my chest. "Here is a present for you!" Fortunately it was dead but some of it's entrails were coming out of it's body. Thanks cat!!
CaptinEO
Well-Known Member
More Dollywood thoughts:
After going to Dollywood I don't see myself ever being a Disneyland regular.
I haven't been a passholder of anything since March 2020.
For 200 dollars I got a season pass that included 2 tickets, free parking, and discounts. It in fact covered our 2 day vacation perfectly without my wife needing any separate admission.
The park was just in immaculate shape. I've never seen a theme park this clean ever. Whether you were in a queue line, boarding starion, walkway, or restroom, the park was amazingly clean.
The scenery of the park is amazing. Practically any outdoor area is postcard worthy, with the only exceptions being the cheesy 1950s themed area and "Fair" area.
The rest of the park be it the entrance area, old west country themed areas, and wildwood grove were picture perfect. With lots of beautiful scenery be it from the theming, plants, or surrounding hills.
The Cinnamon Bread was excellent and worth the hype. The all you can eat "Aunt Granny's" sit down was pretty good and was super cheap for being the park's premier restaraunt (26 dollars for all you can eat, 4 sides, 3 entrees, drinks, and dessert). In fact every restaurant we visited in Tennessee gave us so much food, it's so different than what I'm used to in California.
In terms of rides, imagine prime Disney (not current Disney) level maintenance but on coasters. The things that makes the park better to me than any Six Flags or Cedar Fair park is how unique the rides are in addition the scenery they are in. The coasters all did things different than any coasters I have been on before. You can tell Dollywood makes custom builds and doesn't get prebuilt models from coaster vendors like Six Flags and Knotts.
We went on this amazing launching wooden coaster in the mountains, a coaster with launches forwards and backwards with a neat layout, got to be in the wings of an eagle, a dark ride coaster, etc. Nothing felt run of the mill.
The kids areas with flat rides even offer a number of unique rides in addition to the standard fare.
We went on the weirdest ride we've ever been on called Mystery Mine that was an exercise in physical and psychological torture. I don't know what they were thinking with this ride. This was the only ride I disliked and would not recommend, but again, unique.
In terms of upselling they have a skip the line pass that is reasonable (50 dollars I think). We did not purchase this. Both days we went, besides maybe 2ish busy hours in the afternoon, all rides were 15 minutes or less besides Lightning Rod which when operating was about 45 minutes. It seems in the morning the park is dead and once it hit 4pm the park is also dead.
I never felt like I was rushing. We were visiting shops and relaxing/eating and enjoyed our themepark experience never worrying about lines or planning.
Customer service was just next level and was my favorite thing about the park. We both just felt so taken care of by the staff. They were so friendly and talkative and relaxed. In fact the park guests were also incredibly friendly and relaxed.
Staff would strike up actual conversations with us frequently and ask how our day is going how we liked the park etc or would tell stories or jokes. We had a tram driver deliver the best standup routine that made a tram full of people forget about how we were in the freezing cold. Everyone from ride ops, retail, food, etc was amazing.
Again, I get the Dollywood and Disneyland have very different offerings and budgets. The reason I say this comparison is Dollywood's customer service reminds me of what Disney used to be.
You can have a park with a high amount of demand and focus on customer service and the guest experience.
I realized at this stage in my life I'd rather go somewhere that treats me well and values me, than somewhere that has "cooler" or "more advance" rides. Positive experiences keep me coming back and leave lasting memories.
After going to Dollywood I don't see myself ever being a Disneyland regular.
I haven't been a passholder of anything since March 2020.
For 200 dollars I got a season pass that included 2 tickets, free parking, and discounts. It in fact covered our 2 day vacation perfectly without my wife needing any separate admission.
The park was just in immaculate shape. I've never seen a theme park this clean ever. Whether you were in a queue line, boarding starion, walkway, or restroom, the park was amazingly clean.
The scenery of the park is amazing. Practically any outdoor area is postcard worthy, with the only exceptions being the cheesy 1950s themed area and "Fair" area.
The rest of the park be it the entrance area, old west country themed areas, and wildwood grove were picture perfect. With lots of beautiful scenery be it from the theming, plants, or surrounding hills.
The Cinnamon Bread was excellent and worth the hype. The all you can eat "Aunt Granny's" sit down was pretty good and was super cheap for being the park's premier restaraunt (26 dollars for all you can eat, 4 sides, 3 entrees, drinks, and dessert). In fact every restaurant we visited in Tennessee gave us so much food, it's so different than what I'm used to in California.
In terms of rides, imagine prime Disney (not current Disney) level maintenance but on coasters. The things that makes the park better to me than any Six Flags or Cedar Fair park is how unique the rides are in addition the scenery they are in. The coasters all did things different than any coasters I have been on before. You can tell Dollywood makes custom builds and doesn't get prebuilt models from coaster vendors like Six Flags and Knotts.
We went on this amazing launching wooden coaster in the mountains, a coaster with launches forwards and backwards with a neat layout, got to be in the wings of an eagle, a dark ride coaster, etc. Nothing felt run of the mill.
The kids areas with flat rides even offer a number of unique rides in addition to the standard fare.
We went on the weirdest ride we've ever been on called Mystery Mine that was an exercise in physical and psychological torture. I don't know what they were thinking with this ride. This was the only ride I disliked and would not recommend, but again, unique.
In terms of upselling they have a skip the line pass that is reasonable (50 dollars I think). We did not purchase this. Both days we went, besides maybe 2ish busy hours in the afternoon, all rides were 15 minutes or less besides Lightning Rod which when operating was about 45 minutes. It seems in the morning the park is dead and once it hit 4pm the park is also dead.
I never felt like I was rushing. We were visiting shops and relaxing/eating and enjoyed our themepark experience never worrying about lines or planning.
Customer service was just next level and was my favorite thing about the park. We both just felt so taken care of by the staff. They were so friendly and talkative and relaxed. In fact the park guests were also incredibly friendly and relaxed.
Staff would strike up actual conversations with us frequently and ask how our day is going how we liked the park etc or would tell stories or jokes. We had a tram driver deliver the best standup routine that made a tram full of people forget about how we were in the freezing cold. Everyone from ride ops, retail, food, etc was amazing.
Again, I get the Dollywood and Disneyland have very different offerings and budgets. The reason I say this comparison is Dollywood's customer service reminds me of what Disney used to be.
You can have a park with a high amount of demand and focus on customer service and the guest experience.
I realized at this stage in my life I'd rather go somewhere that treats me well and values me, than somewhere that has "cooler" or "more advance" rides. Positive experiences keep me coming back and leave lasting memories.
waltography
Well-Known Member
I was gonna say the same.
Stay away from me in Space, but bring on the overlay.
waltography
Well-Known Member
God bless Dolly, truly. What a shining beacon of humanity. She’s as close to our modern mythology surrounding Walt as any living person, to be honest.
I was gonna say the same.
Single Rider on Space is so invasive. Lol
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
Rats are everywhere around Disneyland, and have been since it opened.