Originally Posted By FerretAfros I'm surprised that the buildings in the old parking lot are so far along already! Looks like a lot of great progress is being made I'm glad to see that the ugly backside of the T-Rex restaurant will be obscured by other buildings. It always looked like they were hoping to make it look like the vaguely-themed Indiana Jones show building behind DL's tram stop, but ran out of money partway through. It looks like the new buildings will either make that a backstage area, or at least block most of the views from far away
Originally Posted By dagobert Recently I came across the following picture. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/DD-Restaurants.jpg">http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/...ants.jpg</a> Trader Sams is listed among the bars and restaurants coming to DS. Do you think Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar was originally Trader Sams Tiki Bar? Maybe the success of the bar in Anaheim prompted Disney to open one at WDW as soon as possible and so they chose the Polynesian Resort. Or was it always the intention to build it there, since it fits so perfectly.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think that it was either always part of the plan, or a fairly recent addition after the success of the Trader Sam's Grog Grotto in the Polynesian, which is often very crowded and has a line out the door. Trader Sam's has its roots in the old Adventurer's Club at Pleasure Island, so it makes a lot of sense for that venue to come back in some sort of new format. Hopefully this will take some of the pressure off of the Polynesian location, so guests at the hotel are able to use it more easily The Hangar Bar was one of the first things announced (along with the Boathouse restaurant) for the Disney Springs redo, and it only recently got the awkward Jock Lindsey/Indiana Jones tie-in that nobody will recognize I'm also curious about some of the other names in that photo. Walt's Place will obviously be Disney run, but this is the first I've heard of it; I doubt it will be similar to the Walt's in DLP, but that was my first thought. It's interesting that character dining is returning to DTD, since the original Chef Mickey's (now in the Contemporary) was there in the 80's, but the area has been largely character-free for many years. And I have no idea what "Disney Burger" is, but given their reputation for terrible burgers throughout the rest of the resort, I have very very low expectations for that one; it will (presumably) be nice to have a quick, cheap-ish, counter service option though, since so many of the additions seem to skew more expensive and slower
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I think that it was either always part of the plan, or a fairly recent addition after the success of the Trader Sam's Grog Grotto in the Polynesian, which is often very crowded and has a line out the door. Trader Sam's has its roots in the old Adventurer's Club at Pleasure Island, so it makes a lot of sense for that venue to come back in some sort of new format. Hopefully this will take some of the pressure off of the Polynesian location, so guests at the hotel are able to use it more easily<<< Given the success of the Anaheim location, I wonder why Disney didn't build a bigger on at WDW. Judging from pictures Grog Grotto looks rather small. I don't know what the Adventurer's Club was, but I know there was a huge complaining when it closed. I would compare Trader Sams with DLP's former Explorer's Club in Adventureland, now Colonel Hathi's Pizza Outpost. The Explorer's Club wasn't a bar, but a beautiful sit down restaurant. It's a shame Dinsey had to convert it into a fastfood restaurant. I read about that comparison on a blog about Disney Parks. Maybe I can find it.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>The Hangar Bar was one of the first things announced (along with the Boathouse restaurant) for the Disney Springs redo, and it only recently got the awkward Jock Lindsey/Indiana Jones tie-in that nobody will recognize<<< Although only Indiana Jones fans will get the tie in, it's still a cool bar with great theming. Indy fans will like it because of the connections to the films and regular guests will enjoy it due to the beautiful look and theming. So I don't mind the Indy connection, in fact I really like that. >>>Walt's Place will obviously be Disney run, but this is the first I've heard of it; I doubt it will be similar to the Walt's in DLP, but that was my first thought.<<< Walt's at DLP is a very beautiful restaurant, but I'm not sure if DS would be a good setting for that restaurant. However if they modify it to that setting, it could work. I found the article that compares Reader Sams, Adventurer's Club and Explorer's Club. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.parkeology.com/2011/06/set-course-for-adventure.html">http://www.parkeology.com/2011...ure.html</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Given the success of the Anaheim location, I wonder why Disney didn't build a bigger on at WDW.<< If I'm not mistaken, the WDW location actually has more seating than the indoor part of the DL one. There is a huge patio at DL where they often have live Hawaiian music, but it's rather bland when compared to the interior of the bar. Some people were worried that the larger space would lose some of the charm and appeal, but that doesn't seem to be the case >>Although only Indiana Jones fans will get the tie in, it's still a cool bar with great theming.<< I agree, and that's likely due to how late the Indy theme was added on. I would guess that most guests will be completely unaware of the connection, rather than knowing there's supposed to be something there and just not understanding what it is. Overall, the theme looks really well done I just get annoyed when they keep naming things in the format of "Person's Adjective Noun". Pinocchio's Village Haus; Min & Bill's Dockside Tavern; Goofy's Sky School; Ariel's Undersea Adventure; Mater's Junkyard Jamboree; Jock Lindsey's Hanger Bar. It's lazy and way too pervasive these days. Even when the characters are obscure or created just for the park (Min & Bill, Chester & Hester, Julius Katz), it really doesn't seem all that original and doesn't add anything noteworthy to the experience It seems like the most evocative names are ones that are much more broad and don't need a name to understand. Pioneer Mercantile; Tropical Imports; Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. When they do feel compelled to include a character name, it seems much more effective when done in a different format, like Mamma Melrose Ristorante or Cheshire Cafe I realize that most of these examples are perfectly fine attractions/shops/restaurants on their own merit, but the names just bother me. It seemed like nearly everything that came out of the DCA redo included a name, and it just gets to be a mouthful and quite monotonous. They don't really expect that guests are going to call them by their full titles, do they?
Originally Posted By dagobert Now I get what you mean. The bar would still be cool when it would just be called The Hangar Bar. I'm biased here, because I'm a big Indy fan, so I find it great that they added Jock Lindsey. It's just a small addition, but adds a lot for fans who know Jock from Raiders. I agree on all your other examples. It isn't necessary to add a character's name to certain things.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "It seems like the most evocative names are ones that are much more broad and don't need a name to understand. Pioneer Mercantile; Tropical Imports; Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. When they do feel compelled to include a character name, it seems much more effective when done in a different format, like Mamma Melrose Ristorante or Cheshire Cafe" I'll give you the others, but Pioneer Mercantile and Tropical Imports both sound pretty generic and totally lacking in personality. Give me Jock Lindsey's over thoses.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>...but Pioneer Mercantile and Tropical Imports both sound pretty generic and totally lacking in personality.<< Perhaps lacking some personality (in the sense that they don't reflect an individual), but I think those names do a great job of describing the shops. You immediately know what to expect from it, without having to decipher if the proprietor is a character you're supposed to recognize, and then parse out where you're supposed to know them from. Yes, they're a little simplistic and old fashioned (much like "Matterhorn Bobsleds"), but that doesn't make them any less effective at letting you know what it is. They're certainly a lot more clear than Pooh Corner, Chef Mwanga's, or Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Cafe
Originally Posted By dagobert Menu and backstory for Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar have been revealed. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/08/more-delicious-details-for-jock-lindseys-hangar-bar-opening-this-fall-at-downtowndisney/">http://disneyparks.disney.go.c...ndisney/</a> Backstory >>>At the core of Walt Disney Imagineering is great storytelling: as the tale goes, Jock made a home at this waterfront property in the 1940s after discovering this charming little town while flying Indiana Jones over the Sunshine State in search of the elusive Fountain of Youth in 1938. As a member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, Jock often welcomed his globetrotting friends to his hangar for a drink and fun times. Now Jock and Indy may be gone, but his legendary adventures live on at this exotic watering hole. And that’s what gives the place its charm – and a creative menu of adventurous tastes. <<< Menu >>>Along with beer and wine, start with clever cocktails such as Reggie’s Revenge and The Fountain of Youth featuring Florida vodkas; Hovito Mojito and The Bitter Barkeep with Peruvian Pisco; Anything Goes with an Asian spirit that packs a little heat; The Aviator’s Flight and The Scottish Professor, and that Cool-headed Monkey with African spirits. Each of the small plates has a delicious twist, and they’re great for sharing. Dr. Elsa’s She-Deviled Eggs are brined in beet juice with lump crab filling. “Good” Dates feature goat cheese-stuffed dates with Marcona almonds and pickled veggies. Snack of Ra gives a taste of Africa with salads and dips served with injera (bread) and naan crisps. Tanis Tacos are filled with falafel, shredded lettuce and cucumber-tomato salad. The pretzels come with house-made mustard and beer-cheese fondue. A little more substantial are the Rolling Boulder Sliders with three spice meatballs on mini-buns with yogurt sauce. Or Brody Brats, grilled bratwurst with mustard and pickled cabbage. Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar’s take on chicken wings features spicy Asian wings (called “Lao Che’s Revenge”). And “Squid! Why’d It Have to Be Squid” is fried calamari flatbread with spicy harissa.<<<
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>As a member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers...<< I love the SEA backstory, and how it connects various things throughout the Disney theme park empire, but I don't think that this guy is worthy of being included among their members. Indiana Jones is already a member, and the former Adventurer's Club had lots of connections to SEA, so this just seems a little too close to the existing backstory. All of the other members exist in their own realms, so I'm disappointed that they're adding one that's so close to the others That said, I think that Trader Sam's could have incorporated SEA very well if done properly. It would have made for a slightly different vibe from the existing locations, but no less cool
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I hate these publicly presented 'backstory' pieces. Sure, write them internally Imagineers, but why let us read them? It's like going to a play, and before the show, an actor is handing out a one-sheet explaining his character's motivation and background. If Jock's is really well done, as I'm sure it will be, then the back story (off a restaurant - insert eye roll) will be inherent. Let me experience it! A backstory - good grief! <---(spoken like the lead elf in 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer')
Originally Posted By dagobert I love the SEA backstory, but I've never heard of it until now. That's really cool how so many attractions and restaurants are connected inside the Disney Parks. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201508/4685/">http://www.themeparkinsider.co...08/4685/</a> <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Society_of_Explorers_and_Adventurers">http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/S...enturers</a> <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20140621/18738/10-disney-rides-connected-secret-society">http://www.themeparktourist.co...-society</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Part of what makes SEA so interesting is that everything for it is so secretive, yet hidden in plain sight. They're the reason for the capitalization in the name of Tokyo DisneySEA; their storyline is hinted at around the park (Fortress Explorations has their crest in several prominent places, for example) but never directly acknowledged. For the first 10 years of the park's existence SEA was very subtle, but the new interactive Fortress game and the tie-ins at other parks in recent years have made it a lot more prominent (relatively speaking). That Theme Park Insider article does a good job of highlighting a lot of the references In addition to the theme park personalities, eccentric billionaire Mr. Whitmore from Atlantis: The Lost Empire is also a member of SEA, and can be seen in one of the group portraits in Mystic Manor. Additionally, Leonardo da Vinci, Captain Nemo, and Indiana Jones are supposed to be members, as representatives of their respective areas of TDS Since all of the known members are so prestigious and from such disparate locations, it just seems strange to me that they would also include a random bush pilot like Jock Lindsey who is directly linked to Indy (especially when another aviator has already been shown in the SEA portraits). It would be like letting Michelle into the Illuminati just because Beyoncé got in...
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>It's like going to a play, and before the show, an actor is handing out a one-sheet explaining his character's motivation and background.<< I've had this floating around in the back of my head all day, and I think it's a great analogy. Sure, it's a good thing that the designers have the backstory, but it really shouldn't be shared with the audience; if done properly everybody will be able to pick up on it from what's built in the park. The backstories that actors create often seem pretty amateur and lack meaningful depth, as an attempt to add texture to their performances. WDI's backstories give us people with names like Bullion, Hightower, and Mystic, just in case we couldn't pick up on the context clues. Seems like they're about on par with each other. Luckily, most actors keep their backstories to themselves
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA < Luckily, most actors keep their backstories to themselves> As well they should.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Depends on how accessible that art form is to the common person. When I lived in Minnesota I was a subscriber to the Northrop Auditorium Dance Season. The program for these performances generally included both a backstory and synopsis of the story being presented. As someone who was just learning about dance and wanted to know more, I found the information invaluable.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Roadtrip, a synopsis of a show makes sense to me. Like at the opera. Which for some reason is still different than publishing a backstory of a restaurant.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I do see the difference. A restaurant really shouldn't be in-accessible to the common person. On the other hand, I had no freaking clue what the Adventurer's Club at WDW's Pleasure Island was supposed to be about until I read about it. The first few times I visited I walked around for a few minutes, felt like WTF? and then left. Learning the backstory was a great advantage for me. I went in and spent about an hour there. I now knew what was supposed to be going on. So when I STILL left saying WTF? I never bothered going back again.
