The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Suspirian]

All of those fall under the category of family entertainment. The Fly most certainly does not.

Controversial but I actually enjoy when Disney leans away from considering “family” all the time i feel like it stagnates them. Its why we got a Haunted Mansion movie that was just a collection of popular actors in CGI soup.

 

[Consumer]

Controversial but I actually enjoy when Disney leans away from considering “family” all the time i feel like it stagnates them. Its why we got a Haunted Mansion movie that was just a collection of popular actors in CGI soup.

That's what Touchstone was for. The Disney brand is something specific and it's the reason Disney is worth anything.

 

[mickEblu]

The revitalized menu was great. They actually had really nice burgers and flatbreads as you mentioned. Then it just got dumbed down and worse.

This is my worry for Tiana and San Fran Tokyo as well. Seems Disney likes to get their good opening PR and then degrade over time.

Now you have situations like the Blue Bayou and Carthay menus being unrecognizable and IMO unappetizing.

I’ve already heard some reports that the Gumbo is pretty nasty. The problem is they re going for a home run in a setting where it’s just not possible to pump out that quality consistently with the volume of orders they get. If that’s the route they were going and quality was paramount they should have offered no more than 2-3 menu items.

 

[mickEblu]

I disagree. The last thing Disneyland needed was more cartoons edging out variety. The area is well done, but I’d pick the return of a mellow dance and concert venue any day. The arguments against it were valid, not dumb; it’s just a matter of what one wants from Disneyland. I’m not a fan of the cartoons barging into every area—and I LOVE classic animation.

I have to agree here although I agree with Consumer that’s its one of the best things they’ve done of late and was executed very well. With that said perhaps one of the weirdest little factoids about myself as a longtime Disneylander is that I don’t have one memory at Carnation Plaza Gardens. Not even a memory of glancing over at it. Granted I became an AP in 2013 right after it was axed but nothing in my first 30 years as a regular guest. Kind of annoying. I do have a cool picture of my 2 year old self with my parents under that canopy though.

 

[Rich T]

I have to agree here although I agree with Consumer that’s its one of the best things they’ve done of late and was executed very well. With that said perhaps one of the weirdest little factoids about myself as a longtime Disneylander is that I don’t have one memory at Carnation Plaza Gardens. Not even a memory of glancing over at it. Granted I became an AP in 2013 right after it was axed but nothing in my first 30 years as a regular guest. Kind of annoying. I do have a cool picture of my 2 year old self with my parents under that canopy though.

This is definitely an age-related area. I’m in my 60’s and have wonderful memories of the jazz and swing bands that used to play there, and how my parents would just relax there and dance in the evenings, giving my siblings and I permission to keep doing the rides until late at night.

Carnation Plaza Gardens was a big part of what Disneyland meant to me. It even predates the pancakes at River Belle Terrace!

 

[mickEblu]

This is definitely an age-related area. I’m in my 60’s and have wonderful memories of the jazz and swing bands that used to play there, and how my parents would just relax there and dance in the evenings, giving my siblings and I permission to keep doing the rides until late at night.

Carnation Plaza Gardens was a big part of what Disneyland meant to me. It even predates the pancakes at River Belle Terrace!

That’s a good point. My earliest memories of DL are from the mid to late 80s when I was five years old. I’m guessing Carnation Plaza Gardens was probably dead by the 90s and beyond?

@Rich T LOL at the pancakes comment.

 

[TP2000]

I’m guessing Carnation Plaza Gardens was probably dead by the 90s and beyond?

As I remember it, that's when it got its second life; the late 1990's. That's when 'Swing Dancing' became a minor SoCal dance craze, and young folks started swarming the place on Saturday nights during the late 90's into early 00's.

By the 50th Anniversary, it was a well known hangout and became a real scene. It sort of took off from there, until it got to this rather staged and over-rehearsed version of itself in the 2010's where the people were doing planned choreography instead of just organic and unrehearsed dancing on a date.



When "Maynard" shows up in his Tiki Room uniform and nametag, dancing with "guests" on his break or after his shift, that's when you know this concept has jumped the shark. Could any other CM get away with eating/riding rides/dancing/sitting down "on stage" with guests??? Why was Maynard allowed to do this? Why wasn't he asked to change into street clothes, and enter the park with a free CM comp ticket to obey the rules?

 

[CaptinEO]

All of those fall under the category of family entertainment. The Fly most certainly does not.

I don't know, a lot of marvel and star wars films are in the PG13 realm, which already excludes a family demographic.

 

[CaptinEO]

I’ve already heard some reports that the Gumbo is pretty nasty. The problem is they re going for a home run in a setting where it’s just not possible to pump out that quality consistently with the volume of orders they get. If that’s the route they were going and quality was paramount they should have offered no more than 2-3 menu items.

I don’t think that the Blue Bayou has had a problem with the number of tables in the other 50 years it has been running. I’ve had many great meals there, and bread and gumbo were included with your meal even. Either they can’t get their staffing right for the kitchen or they are just cutting out entrees that would cost more to prepare, or both. Even as recently as 2018 I’d get excellent food and service there.

 

[mickEblu]

I don’t think that the Blue Bayou has had a problem with the number of tables in the other 50 years it has been running. I’ve had many great meals there, and bread and gumbo were included with your meal even. Either they can’t get their staffing right for the kitchen or they are just cutting out entrees that would cost more to prepare, or both. Even as recently as 2018 I’d get excellent food and service there.

Right but that’s a sit down restaurant with no mobile order. I’d imagine French Market pumps out more food in two hours than Blue Bayou does all day. It’s not all coming from the same kitchen right? Anyway, I just think 8-ish options is too many for a popular quick service spot when you’re going for authenticity/ quality.

I’m perfectly happy with the gumbo at Cafe Orleans. It’s consistent and “theme park good” and that’s fine by me.

 

[NobodyElse]

This is definitely an age-related area. I’m in my 60’s and have wonderful memories of the jazz and swing bands that used to play there, and how my parents would just relax there and dance in the evenings, giving my siblings and I permission to keep doing the rides until late at night.

Carnation Plaza Gardens was a big part of what Disneyland meant to me. It even predates the pancakes at River Belle Terrace!

While it was known for the jazz and "big bands" (as well as local high school bands and choirs), by fondest memory was stumbling upon "Roger McGuinn and the Byrds" one night in the early 80's. Totally unexpected, and a real treat.

 

[CaptinEO]

Right but that’s a sit down restaurant with no mobile order. I’d imagine French Market pumps out more food in two hours than Blue Bayou does all day. It’s not all coming from the same kitchen right? Anyway, I just think 8-ish options is too many for a popular quick service spot when you’re going for authenticity/ quality.

I’m perfectly happy with the gumbo at Cafe Orleans. It’s consistent and “theme park good” and that’s fine by me.

Oh for some reason I thought you were talking about Blue Bayou! My mistake! Agreed on quick service options being better with a slimmer menu. In N Out has that down.

 

[CaptinEO]

Controversial but I actually enjoy when Disney leans away from considering “family” all the time i feel like it stagnates them. Its why we got a Haunted Mansion movie that was just a collection of popular actors in CGI soup.

At one point I liked this, but when it came to the parks it seems DLR went full in on Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar for the last 20 years and I’m just ready for more traditional Disney stuff. I’m a man and I like Star Wars (I know that was Disney’s pitch for buying the brand) but I’m not sure I needed a whole land of it. I’m thankful at least we got runaway railway which feels like a great fit for the Disney branding.

 

[TP2000]

While it was known for the jazz and "big bands" (as well as local high school bands and choirs), by fondest memory was stumbling upon "Roger McGuinn and the Byrds" one night in the early 80's. Totally unexpected, and a real treat.

You're kidding?! Did they do their big songs from The Byrds, like "Turn, Turn, Turn", etc.?

I can't imagine that Disneyland management in the early Reagan Era would let them do "Eight Miles High", would they?

 

[mickEblu]

As I remember it, that's when it got its second life; the late 1990's. That's when 'Swing Dancing' became a minor SoCal dance craze, and young folks started swarming the place on Saturday nights during the late 90's into early 00's.

By the 50th Anniversary, it was a well known hangout and became a real scene. It sort of took off from there, until it got to this rather staged and over-rehearsed version of itself in the 2010's where the people were doing planned choreography instead of just organic and unrehearsed dancing on a date.



When "Maynard" shows up in his Tiki Room uniform and nametag, dancing with "guests" on his break or after his shift, that's when you know this concept has jumped the shark. Could any other CM get away with eating/riding rides/dancing/sitting down "on stage" with guests??? Why was Maynard allowed to do this? Why wasn't he asked to change into street clothes, and enter the park with a free CM comp ticket to obey the rules?

Wow I have no recollection. Then again in the 90s I was a kid, went to the park 1-2 times a year and probably never went on Saturdays. Attendance was so much more predictable back then. Off season weekday you were Golden. I only went to Disneyland about 5 times in the 2000’s.

LOL @ Maynard. It’s a good question.

 

[NobodyElse]

You're kidding?! Did they do their big songs from The Byrds, like "Turn, Turn, Turn", etc.?

I can't imagine that Disneyland management in the early Reagan Era would let them do "Eight Miles High", would they?

They leaned heavily on all those songs. From what I recall, McGuinn was the only original Byrd in attendance, but his voice and 12 string Rickenbacker were unmistakable. They really sounded good.

 

[TP2000]

Oh for some reason I thought you were talking about Blue Bayou! My mistake! Agreed on quick service options being better with a slimmer menu. In N Out has that down.

Yeah, but In-N-Out also has their ridiculously detailed Secret Menu to order from too.

I forget who it was, but back during Covid when I would delight in breaking Governor Newsom's 9pm Curfew Rules by leaving my house at 9:15pm and driving down the hill to the extremely busy In-N-Out across the freeway to order a shake just to prove I wouldn't obey a ridiculous curfew, there was someone here who kept trying to get me to order the Neapolitan Shake from the secret menu. But I never had the guts to do it, since I was already breaking the law by being out after Governor Newsom's Curfew with millions of other Californians.

 

[CHOX]

Disneyland vintage SUBMARINE VOYAGE 1972 WED WDI prop documentation photo book | #1832208904

PLEASE NOTE : due to size and weight limitations this item CANNOT be shipped nor combined with other purchases. Please read entire description and auction termsFrom Disneyland comes this very thorough

www.worthpoint.com

Oh my god, who bought this? This is like my dream right here. This exists?! It looks like it’s a book detailing a Submarine Voyage refurb in the 70’s. If the photo of the drained SQUID (!!!) are anything to go by, this probably has everything dry.

It looks like a website has all of these photos posted. The quality makes it look like it’s been sitting in a chest in grandma’s basement for 50 years but you’re getting more detail out of these photos than any video shot with a camcorder from 1996.

https://www.disneydocs.net/_files/ugd/5db718_32dd11ed69b94a8da9ccaaa211448444.pdf

This is good stuff. I have been wishing for something like this for years!

 

[Parteecia]

there was someone here who kept trying to get me to order the Neapolitan Shake from the secret menu. But I never had the guts to do it,

Do it. You'll never look back.

ETA I'll bet you've gambled more money on a new unknown cocktail. The best part is getting a different flavor every time you move the straw.

 

[Consumer]

I have a week off for Thanksgiving so I'm trying to figure out what to do. Flights to go home to California for the holiday round trip would be about $650. Alternatively, I could drive to Walt Disney World and spend two days at the park for about the same cost. Honestly, I don't plan on doing either, but it's fun to weigh options.