The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Distorian]

I don’t think Disneyland will be at all affected with a decline of California declining population. I don’t know why people would move to other states. Most would move back eventually.

No?

 

[PiratesMansion]

Even if California suffers a lasting population decline, it's not like there will suddenly not be tourists coming to Disneyland or suddenly won't be obsessive locals.

I imagine it would take a larger more sustained decline to really begin to make any sort of impact on the park.

 

[DLR92]

No?

I read articles of some Americans thought by the green was green on the other side. One moved to Texas and the other one moved to Florida. All regretted moving there.
I had the same talk with my parent. My dad moved to Minnesota to be with his side of the family and my mom want to think about moving to Arizona. She pressured me to move along. I told her in her face-NO way I am moving out of California. If I had to, I rather think about moving OUT of the country. I blurted out I rather move to Australia than move outside of California.

I read another article how when some Californian move out, other Americans are replacing them. Particularly Utah. I can’t remember exactly. I thought that was interesting.

 

[Distorian]

I read articles of some Americans thought by the green was green on the other side. One moved to Texas and the other one moved to Florida. All regretted moving there.
I had the same talk with my parent. My dad moved to Minnesota to be with his side of the family and my mom want to think about moving to Arizona. She pressured me to move along. I told her in her face-NO way I am moving out of California. If I had to, I rather think about moving OUT of the country. I blurted out I rather move to Australia than move outside of California.

I read another article how when some Californian move out, other Americans are replacing them. Particularly Utah. I can’t remember exactly. I thought that was interesting.

Anecdotes are not evidence. Provide an actual study with data that proves the average Californian who moves out of the state returns down the road.

As someone who has left California and loves the state, even I will not be moving back. This isn't even simply for political reasons but rather cost of living in the state is completely unreasonable (not that the two are unrelated). People who are fleeing high gas prices, high rent, and high crime are not going to return to that after settling in places where those issues are not as abundant, no matter how perfect the California weather is.

 

[TP2000]

I am too simple to understand why this is a bad thing in an area where there are housing and water shortages.

Well, there is some good news there!

For the first time in over 50 years, California is finally adding a major reservoir to its once-vaunted State Water Project. Most of California's reservoirs were built in the 1920's to 1960's. The last major reservoir to come online was Lake Orroville in 1968, when the California state population was just under 20 Million people.

There were other big reservoirs prepped and planned for the 1970's and 80's, but they were all cancelled due to budgets or Sacramento bureaucracy or environmental protests. Sometimes all three at once. Meanwhile, over the next 50 years the population of California doubled to 40 Million. The Sites Reservoir in northern California near Red Bluff is finally under construction, and will add 1.5 Million acre feet of water storage and be completed in 2032.

As for right now this spring 2026, looking ahead to the dry six month long summer season for California, the state reservoirs are at 121% of average for this date. Over 31 Million acre feet in storage currently and plenty of water for the next few years, assuming not another drop falls next winter.

Good news, good news, good news! Water that Bougainvillea!

 

[Disney Irish]

First manned missions for Artemis launched today...

NASA Launches Manned Artemis Mission Around The Moon

NASA launched a mega rocket headed to a swing around the moon on Wednesday, marking a return manned journey beyond Earth’s orbit for the first time in more than a half century. Broadcast and cable networks carried the launch, but in contrast to the Apollo launches of the 1960s and 70s, the...

deadline.com

Live updates: NASA launches Artemis II astronauts toward the moon

Follow live updates on NASA's Artemis II moon mission. Get the latest from Kennedy Space Center and find information on timing and how to watch the rocket launch.

www.nbcnews.com

LIVE: Artemis II Launch Day Updates - NASA

Live updates for launch of NASA's Artemis II test flight will be published on this page. NASA’s launch broadcast coverage is airing

www.nasa.gov

 

[TP2000]

Even if California suffers a lasting population decline, it's not like there will suddenly not be tourists coming to Disneyland or suddenly won't be obsessive locals.

I imagine it would take a larger more sustained decline to really begin to make any sort of impact on the park.

That's true to an extent. It's just the specific demographics of the people who are now leaving has changed. They aren't working class or lower on the economic ladder, they are mostly middle and upper-middle class families. They are the exact demographic that can afford a Magic Key for the whole family, or at least an annual visit paying $200+ per ticket.

It primarily lower-middle class singles were leaving by the tens of thousands each year, the local Cadillac dealer wouldn't be worried. He'd still sell plenty of Escalades.

But if primarily upper-middle class families were leaving by the tens of thousands each year, the local Cadillac dealer would be very worried. The sales of Escalades would begin to slow.

California has already lost 300,000+ middle and upper-middle class people in the past 5 years, and the pace of departures isn't stopping. At some point, it's going to impact Disneyland's business model based on middle and upper-middle class families.

 

[TP2000]

First manned missions for Artemis launched today...

NASA Launches Manned Artemis Mission Around The Moon

NASA launched a mega rocket headed to a swing around the moon on Wednesday, marking a return manned journey beyond Earth’s orbit for the first time in more than a half century. Broadcast and cable networks carried the launch, but in contrast to the Apollo launches of the 1960s and 70s, the...

deadline.com

Live updates: NASA launches Artemis II astronauts toward the moon

Follow live updates on NASA's Artemis II moon mission. Get the latest from Kennedy Space Center and find information on timing and how to watch the rocket launch.

www.nbcnews.com

LIVE: Artemis II Launch Day Updates - NASA

Live updates for launch of NASA's Artemis II test flight will be published on this page. NASA’s launch broadcast coverage is airing

www.nasa.gov

I can't wait to see them get there! I was going to drive down to San Diego today originally, to start Easter vacation. But then at a sociable this past weekend the topic of this moon shot came up and I changed my plans so I could be in front of my biggest TV screen today through tonight!

I'm ordering a pizza pie from my favorite local pizza parlor and opening a bottle of Malbec and will toast to our great nation FINALLY returning to the moon! On to Artemis III, as fast we can! Beat the Chinese!

LIVE: Artemis II Launch Day Updates - NASA

Live updates for launch of NASA's Artemis II test flight will be published on this page. NASA’s launch broadcast coverage is airing

www.nasa.gov

 

[TP2000]

When Artemis IV lands on the moon, and the first lady astronaut (you just know it will be a woman for our return, and she better be ready to be fabulous!) steps out of the SpaceX lander and back onto the moon and plants the next American flag there , I would hope Disneyland would set up viewing in Tomorrowland like they did for Neil Armstrong in '69!

Of course the TV screens will be bigger and much better. Look at those old 29 inch Zeniths they set up on the stage flanks!

This link has a fun story from Disneyland hostess Connie Swanson Lane, who was there in Tomorrowland in '69!

Disney Broadcasts Apollo 11 Moon Landing in Tomorrowland at Disneyland - D23

While Disney created its own missions to the moon, Apollo 11 astronauts walked on the moon for the first time on this historic day in 1969.

d23.com

 

[Disney Irish]

That's true to an extent. It's just the specific demographics of the people who are now leaving has changed. They aren't working class or lower on the economic ladder, they are mostly middle and upper-middle class families. They are the exact demographic that can afford a Magic Key for the whole family, or at least an annual visit paying $200+ per ticket.

It primarily lower-middle class singles were leaving by the tens of thousands each year, the local Cadillac dealer wouldn't be worried. He'd still sell plenty of Escalades.

But if primarily upper-middle class families were leaving by the tens of thousands each year, the local Cadillac dealer would be very worried. The sales of Escalades would begin to slow.

California has already lost 300,000+ middle and upper-middle class people in the past 5 years, and the pace of departures isn't stopping. At some point, it's going to impact Disneyland's business model based on middle and upper-middle class families.

View attachment 914674

And yet population was on the rise again last year -

California’s population increases — again | Governor of California

www.gov.ca.gov

https://www.ppic.org/publication/californias-population/

California now sits at only ~9k away from its highest ever population hit back in 2020. So these "decreases" that you talk about are really short lived, and are part of the fluctuations that have been happening for a long time. Some leave, more come in, same as in decades past. And estimates have it that it'll hit 40M population by the end of next decade, even with the exodus that you highlight. So I think Disneyland will be just fine.

 

[coffeefan]

Looking at the Census data for metro areas from 2025 is interesting, and should be a boon to all those "Disney is buying up property in Texas for a Disneyland!" rumors we all love so much.

While the LA Metro area lost 62,454 people last year, the Metro areas of Texas had this one-year change in 2025:

Houston metro gained 126,720
Dallas-Ft. Worth metro gained 123,557 people
Austin metro gained 53,796
San Antonio metro gained 38,402

Lone Star Disneyland coming 2031! My barber's bus driver who is married to a realtor told me!

That's nice. Instead of Disney, can we convince the Angels to move to Texas? Austin or San Antonio would be perfect. It would be nice to have that land available for DLR expansion.

 

[TP2000]

And yet population was on the rise again last year -

California’s population increases — again | Governor of California

www.gov.ca.gov

https://www.ppic.org/publication/californias-population/

California now sits at only ~9k away from its highest ever population hit back in 2020. So these "decreases" that you talk about are really short lived, and are part of the fluctuations that have been happening for a long time. Some leave, more come in, same as in decades past. And estimates have it that it'll hit 40M population by the end of next decade, even with the exodus that you highlight. So I think Disneyland will be just fine.

The point remains, California's population is declining when the population of the nation is increasing.

Where would you rather operate a theme park that caters to middle and upper-middle class people?

• LA Metro Area (Disneyland) = Decline of 62,454 people in 2025
• Orlando Metro Area (Disney World) = Increase of 75,711 people in 2025
• Dallas Metro Area (Six Flags Something, I Assume) = Increase of 123,557 people in 2025

https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5798624-these-us-counties-are-shrinking-fastest-new-census-data-shows/

 

[TP2000]

That's nice. Instead of Disney, can we convince the Angels to move to Texas? Austin or San Antonio would be perfect. It would be nice to have that land available for DLR expansion.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see California lose another major league sports team or two in the next few years, and the Angels could definitely be among them. It's increasingly a case of when, not if.

The demographic and population shift out of California is well documented, and losing a major league sports team goes hand-in-hand with losing your upper-middle class and wealthy citizens to other states. Just look at Oakland.

But if, or when, the Angels do leave for Las Vegas or Nashville or Austin, they aren't going to use that property for a magical third theme park. It's an area already surrounded by 5-story podium charmless apartments and shoebox condos, and it's going to be an uphill battle to get it zoned for a theme park. Even if, and it's a GIANT IF, Disney would want to spend the money for a high-capacity 5,000 riders per hour mass transit system running the two miles between Theme Park #3 and The Disneyland Resort.

 

[TP2000]

I am too simple to understand why this is a bad thing in an area where there are housing and water shortages.

The other good news , aside from the stellar condition of California's current water supply, is that rents are actually decreasing in 2025 for much of Southern California.

That happens when people start leaving in big numbers, as even upper-middle and middle class families leaving allows rental houses to come up empty, which naturally puts downward pressure on smaller rental homes or modest apartments rented by working class families or young singles.

Rents decline in 62% of Southern California cities

Across the 53 Southern California cities in ApartmentList’s study, rents dropped in 33 of them over the past year.

www.ocregister.com

• Los Angeles County: 85% decliners, with rents down in 11 of 13 cities. Median rent off 1.6%, with rents of $1,832 for one bedroom and $2,403 for two.

 

[TP2000]

Okay gang, let's get some fun going here! It's spring, the hills are bursting in green, this weekend is Easter, we've got astronauts on the way back to the moon, and they're building new rides at DCA! That's certainly enough to celebrate and have some fun, don't you think?!?

Tomorrow I'm setting the magic cruise control on a safe-n-sane 82 and driving across the desert to San Diego to open up the beach house for Easter vacation before the family arrives on Saturday. Fun!

I hope all of your Easter baskets are full of your favorite chocolates (no weird fruit fillings), and/or I hope your Passover brisket comes out beautifully, and may we all remember that Skin Is A Gift! and we apply at least an SPF 30 before we hit the beach or the courts with our winter-white complexions!

It's Spring and Easter Vacation! Mr. Presley and Miss Fabares, could you honor us with a road-trip song, perhaps?

 

[Distorian]

I've decided to save time on frivolous arguments on this site, I will henceforth be using AI to write all of my objections to unintelligent posts.

 

[Disney Irish]

The point remains, California's population is declining when the population of the nation is increasing.

Where would you rather operate a theme park that caters to middle and upper-middle class people?

• LA Metro Area (Disneyland) = Decline of 62,454 people in 2025
• Orlando Metro Area (Disney World) = Increase of 75,711 people in 2025
• Dallas Metro Area (Six Flags Something, I Assume) = Increase of 123,557 people in 2025

https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5798624-these-us-counties-are-shrinking-fastest-new-census-data-shows/

Except your point is moot, and even outdated. California population is back on the rise (will break its population record in the next couple years) and LA County is STILL the most populated county in the nation (even the article you posted says so) by a healthy margin. So these declines are short lived and not as long impactful as you believe.

Populations fluctuate and shift, have since the beginning of the human civilization when we were hunter/gathers. And will continue to do so as people move from one area to another and back again for every reason imaginable.

And if the local population declines to the point there is no more locals going to DLR (will never happen but lets say it does), well Disney will then focus on tourist and turn DLR into more of the tourist destination rather than cater to locals. As there will always be tourists that want to come to California just like every coastal state. So again DLR will be just fine, and I don't think Disney has any issue or worry with operating it there.

 

[coffeefan]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see California lose another major league sports team or two in the next few years, and the Angels could definitely be among them. It's increasingly a case of when, not if.

The demographic and population shift out of California is well documented, and losing a major league sports team goes hand-in-hand with losing your upper-middle class and wealthy citizens to other states. Just look at Oakland.

But if, or when, the Angels do leave for Las Vegas or Nashville or Austin, they aren't going to use that property for a magical third theme park. It's an area already surrounded by 5-story podium charmless apartments and shoebox condos, and it's going to be an uphill battle to get it zoned for a theme park. Even if, and it's a GIANT IF, Disney would want to spend the money for a high-capacity 5,000 riders per hour mass transit system running the two miles between Theme Park #3 and The Disneyland Resort.

View attachment 914715

The Los Angeles Angels of Austin.
I would like to see it happen.

 

[AJFireman]

But if, or when, the Angels do leave for Las Vegas or Nashville or Austin, they aren't going to use that property for a magical third theme park. It's an area already surrounded by 5-story podium charmless apartments and shoebox condos, and it's going to be an uphill battle to get it zoned for a theme park. Even if, and it's a GIANT IF, Disney would want to spend the money for a high-capacity 5,000 riders per hour mass transit system running the two miles between Theme Park #3 and The Disneyland Resort.

Now I don't think they would ever build a theme park at Angels Stadium either but the City has or is still looking at adding a Autonomous Gondala system between ARTIC and Disneyland for 2028 Olympics. But from what I gather its a foreign startup company called Swyft Cities and has only one small system in place at amusement park. They have had many US cities interested (One being Irvine) over the years but none have been built so will Anaheim be the first and get it in place by then I doubt it.

 

[Distorian]

Disney has gone so far in sacrificing their brand in favor of profit that they are not actively platforming a film that was literally designed to mock their brand. Unhinged. If D'Amaro wants to fix Disney, re-establishing brand recognition needs to be his first objective because the Walt Disney Company has completely lost it.