Originally Posted By Lil Mermaid I enjoy sitting at the exit of Buzz Lightyear watching the couples (mostly younger couples) fighting on the way out because one of them "cheated". The girl is always walking about 10 feet ahead of the boy with her arms cross while the boy chases her "are you serious!??". Most entertaining.
Originally Posted By Pollyana hummmm I haven't tried cheating. How do I do that. My best score isn't all that good. But I keep trying.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 "But I must admit, we are addicted to Buzz Lightyear. Love shooting at the targets." You know, I love Buzz Lightyear too - it's a lot of fun. But I probably would enjoy the ride just as much if it wasn't themed to some cartoon, and was instead themed to something a little more realistic that would fit better into Tomorrowland. The same could be said of the technology coming to Midway Mania - why the need for more Toy Story. I'm sure it would be just as fun if it had more of a generic Midway theme.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <I'm sure it would be just as fun if it had more of a generic Midway theme.> Me too. Disney today seems fearful of creating original characters for the theme parks.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Whatever happend to that bouncing little...whatever it was...with the springy tail?
Originally Posted By Lil Mermaid **whispers to polly** take over the control for where you car points. Whenever my husband lines up a target, I swirl it into the other direction. DH gets so upset...i love it!
Originally Posted By TheParsec How about Mission to Mars? That was a Great Ride, when I was little I really thought I was going into space!
Originally Posted By wahooskipper No Jim...I'm thinking his name was something like Marsupilami or something like that anyway. There was a lot of hype for him, maybe in the early to mid 90s but then he just sort of vanished. I'm thinking I remember him being "introduced" during either the Christmas parade or one of the World of Disney intros.
Originally Posted By Pollyana lilmermaid..that is soooo bad...i must try it! we will be there in March....
Originally Posted By imadisneygal I remember Marsupilami!! I think he was around the same era as Disney Afternoon Live? I think it was right around the time I started working at Disneyland. I am SOOOO glad you came up with his name, I would never have remembered it!
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Marsupilami wasn't a true Disney character though. He was licensed, and Disney basically lost it, so they were no longer able to use him. I don't think they really knew what to do with him in the first place though...he started off in the show "Raw Toonage" (along with Bonkers the Bobcat who also got his own show). Marsupilami's show only lasted 13 episodes.
Originally Posted By LogDog You guys want a park that makes you think? Come join me at Nietzsche Land! We'll all meet in front of the Hall of Existentialism.
Originally Posted By Socrates Going back to #12: "OK, perhaps that is a bit long for a motto, but that is what it seems like. Disneyland somehow miraculously managed to become what it is today based on the types of entertainments it is now almost totally lacking in. People don't change. But what this company has decided to offer has." People don't change? Since Disneyland opened, we've had the rise of fast food, cable TV, the Internet, video games, and "USAToday". Plus fewer traditional families and more women in the workforce. And all of this hasn't changed anyone? Socrates "The unexamined life is not worth living."
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 A business has to adapt in order to survive. If that business does not adapt it will cease to exist. Disney is adapting to what is needed to flourish in today's theme park environment. They are maintaining a decent balance of educational fare /historical content/ new thrills. But they have to keep that balance or risk losing customers to other organizations. Remember, the hardcore Disney fan that frequents sites like these, might make up at most 5% of Disneyland's clientele, the rest are families, individuals from the U.S. who are looking for entertainment. The 95% is who Disney is going for , not the 5% die-hard.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Fair point William, but remember, in the early 50's Walt was told an amusement park with a roller coaster and ferris wheel would close during a year. Well, Disneyland is now planning it's 55th anniversary and has 11 parks around the globe - so I don't buy it. At least DL has the Billy Hill group and TDl has a show in their saloon - both fill up. And yet WDW and DLP have turned into rubberhead meets and restaurants! I'm sorry, I don't buy it. I believe education and entertainment can and do go hand in hand. Slowly, virtually everything I love about Disney is getting thrown away.
Originally Posted By Pollyana I feel your pain, Dave. I am concerned about a few of the park classics. Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise. Both have seemed to have lost their luster, and the lines for these attractions are very short. I hope they are left alone. As much as I enjoy the updates, I go to Disneyland to ride the classics.
Originally Posted By pecos bill Another case in point that I frequently whine about here, is what happened to the main street arcade. Remember when that area was filled with dozens and dozens of unique old amusement machines? It was fun and educational in the sense of actually using something from a bygone era. It has embittered me to watch the machines be taken out and replaced with shelves packed with the same generic Disney junk that can be found anywhere in or outside the park. For me, Disneyland has lost much charm, be it educational or retail, you see it in many of those little details, but they really add up, and the overall impact is quite detrimental. When I visit the park, I am constantly reminded,(by those same little details) that it is run by a huge, multi national, corporate conglomerate.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA ^^^Good point, pecos bill. My brother and I used to enjoy playing those old arcade games, looking at the old flicker machines. It was fun. Arcade games were also in Bear Country -- remember those? They seemed to be custom made just for that arcade. And then there were some shooting galleries in New Orleans Square -- near the exit to Pirates of the Caribbean. I imagine it wasn't a 'profit center' and it cost money to keep those games running, but again, that's what made Disneyland the multi-texured experience that is was.
