Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I wonder what people think when they visit DL for the first time and find that there's nothing in the Castle but a pair of tiny gift shops and a Sleeping Beauty Barbie doll exhibit.
Originally Posted By crazycroc The first time I went to Disneyland, I expected to find carnival rides. No kidding. I hadn't ever even seen it on television at the time, so I envisioned carnival rides, county fairs, etc. Of course, I got to see that next door a few trips later.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Whenever I look up those steps it looks empty. So is it still open? Does it have a view?<< It does have limited hours (mostly open during evening hours on the weekends), but it's been open fairly regularly since the start of WOC last summer. There's a rope that they pull across the bottom of the stairs if it's closed, so you can tell from a distance, without having to go up there. The view is nice, though not particularly memorable. There's a lot of foliage from GRR on two sides, and the bar on the third, so there's not too much that way. TOT is visible over some buildings, and you can see the Pier if you're against the railing and look to the side. I guess the area probably has a pretty good view of the Carsland construction (and will have a great view right down the main drag once it opens), but I don't think I've actually been up there in daylight to see, so it's mostly darkness.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>...a glut of restaurants was one of the main criticisms of DCA 1.0 .. and what are going to build ... OHHH ... ANOTHER restaurant!<< The criticism is that there were so many restaurants and not enough attractions. The crowds never materialized, so they closed down restaurants. With all the new stuff, there may be a call for a new restaurant now. But only time will tell. >>...what do guests discover ... as [they] approach this attractive building - "Oh .. another restaurant. How common."<< What's inside Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom? Ah, yes, a very popular restaurant.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>...a Sleeping Beauty Barbie doll exhibit.<< When was the last time you were up there? The Barbie dolls were retired in 2001. There's a new walk through, based on Eyvind Earle's art now. <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/Lotion-View-778.asp" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/L...-778.asp</a>
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Alright, so what the heck is a Fern bar? I just google imaged it, and I'm more confused than ever. "Sleeping Beauty Barbie doll exhibit." Lol, hans, But the barbies are lit from behind with pretty lights and pixie dust!
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance By the way, my new favorite thing is searching for different things on goodgle images, it's so fun! Some people are such dorks!
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance I'm tellin ya, try searching for Severus Snape, look at the drawing and ridiculous things people painstakingly made of him. Look at this one, Ha! <a href="http://th08.deviantart.com/fs11/300W/i/2006/178/5/6/PLAYWITCH__SEVERUS_SNAPE_by_Cupid12203.png" target="_blank">http://th08.deviantart.com/fs1...2203.png</a>
Originally Posted By gadzuux >> Alright, so what the heck is a Fern bar? << A very good question - and a very good answer. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fern_bar" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fern_bar</a> Fern bar From Wikipedia Fern bar is an American slang term for an upscale or preppy (or yuppie) bar or tavern catering to singles usually decorated with ferns or other "fussy" plants, as well as such decor as fake Tiffany lamps. The phrase came into common use in the late 1970s or early 1980s. An early establishment that many consider the world's first fern bar, not to mention the birthplace of the lemon drop martini, was Henry Africa's in San Francisco, California. The bar was started in 1970 at Broadway and Polk Streets by out-of-work veteran Norman Hobday, who by his own account "took the opium-den atmosphere out of the saloons" in favor of "antique lamps and Grandma's living-room furniture." By some accounts Hobday copied the concept from another restaurant, Perry's, which opened several months earlier and was made famous as a singles "meet market" by Armistead Maupin's novel, Tales of the City. Typical drinks served included wine spritzers, Lemon drop martinis, frozen daiquirÃs, Harvey Wallbangers, and pina coladas. Franchises sometimes labeled "fern bars" include T.G.I. Friday's, Bennigan's, and Houlihan's. Fern bars were a gathering place for well-dressed "upscale" young men and women, initially during the sexual revolution of the 1970s and later the yuppie era of the 1980s, pejoratively felt to be more interested in seeing each other and being seen than in simply drinking and talking, as might be expected in a more typical dive bar. ========================================= I've lived in SF since the 70s, and have seen this whole era come and go. I could write a book ...
Originally Posted By gadzuux It's a gay bar for straight people. Who want to get laid. Tonight, if possible.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance "It's a gay bar for straight people. " Hmmm, I'm going to have to sleep on this.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "When was the last time you were up there? The Barbie dolls were retired in 2001. There's a new walk through, based on Eyvind Earle's art now." The last time I went through the Castle walk through was probably around 1978. I'm guessing what's up there now is improved over what I saw back then, but still a let down to anyone who has never been to DL before. With that said, I don't see what's wrong with DCA's centerpiece being a restaurant and lounge. DL Park should be so lucky.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Hans, you should check out the new SBC walkthrough. It's a little gem, IMO. The lighting, the music, the atmosphere all combine to make something pretty nice.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt OK Dabob, I'll check it out the next time at DL. Hopefully no one will catch me going in or out of the attraction.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA And isn't the Sleeping Beauty walkthrough down? Rather than up? I always remember walking down a long flight of stairs to get to the first scene. Or did I dream it all?
Originally Posted By dl1956 btw, Henry Africa, originator of the fern bar mentioned a few posts back, passed away in SF this week.
