Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I guess there was a media preview this morning. Inside the Magic has report with plenty of pictures: <a href="http://www.insidethemagic.net/2013/03/inside-fantasy-faire-as-disneyland-unfurls-new-princess-meet-and-greets-and-storytelling-surrounded-by-delightful-detail/" target="_blank">http://www.insidethemagic.net/...-detail/</a>
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 Thanks for the pics Hans! I think that area looks really cute, and I am glad they finally did something with it. I also really want to try those garlic bagel twist thingys they are selling there.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt You're welcome Princessjenn. The area looks small. I'm envisioning it being difficult to navigate whenever there are shows happening in the theater.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I think the whole area looks great. Looks just like Fantasyland. Particularly the Pinocchio ride area. You really can't blame Disney for going all out on an area like this, it's going to be tremendously popular.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>I guess there was a media preview this morning.<< There sure was! Didn't you see this? <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/showpic.asp?filename=http://laughingplace.com/files/live/big/0015991-56237.jpg&caption=Fantasy+Faire+at+Disneyland+has+soft+opened+today%21" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/s...today%21</a>
Originally Posted By mawnck >>So, what happens there at night? Any dancing?<< Spooks come out for a midnight spree.
Originally Posted By ksargen 1) I still want to know if the "secret" bathroom is in there. *LOL* 2) Dancing, as mentioned in the "Behind the Magic" article, is on hold. They're still having it in Downtown Disney, but they want to know if the new Faire will hold up at night, or if they'll be looking to fill that entertainment space then. My guess is, it's going to be a lot of logistics to deal with, because of parades, fireworks, etc. and that queue is going to get backed up a lot in the beginning.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt >>So, what happens there at night? Any dancing?<< "Spooks come out for a midnight spree." LOL!!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt >>I guess there was a media preview this morning.<< "There sure was! Didn't you see this?" I sure did Doug!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "I still want to know if the "secret" bathroom is in there. *LOL*" According to Inside the Magic it still is.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros If the bathroom survives the makeover, I doubt it will be much of a secret any more. Even in recent years, it always seemed to attract a pretty big crowd; I bet that will get worse once there's actually some foot traffic through the area. As for swing dancing, I wouldn't be surprised either way if they kept it or removed it. It seems like a strange fit in a storybook village (heck, it was a strange fit for a Victorian park too), but they could do it. They will likely need to clear the meet & greet out for the nightly fireworks shows (that side of Carnation Gardens was always cleared, prior to the construction), so they may just shut it down for the night. This would give them an opportunity to change the area's use after dark. Then again, with the logistics of using the stage for 2 completely different things, they might just say it's not worth the hassle.
Originally Posted By TP2000 1940's swing dancing makes as much sense in a 1905 Victorian era small town bandstand as an Elvis impersonator in a black leather getup performing in Frontierland's Golden Horseshoe saloon. Oh, wait, that actually happens... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1--Y9OyBZ8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...-Y9OyBZ8</a> How about an Elvis impersonator performing in a 1905 Victorian small town bandstand? Er... that happens too. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m44japOCgE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...4japOCgE</a> Well, good thing Plaza Gardens was never really a part of 1905 Main Street USA, and was instead a broader part of The Hub, just past the flaming tiki torches and elephant tusks, the old Oregon Territory log fort, and the all-plastic house from Monsanto sitting in the shadow of a Swiss mountain. ;-) This new Fantasy Faire really cleans up this corner of the park, presents a cohesive story and image, is lavished with details and fine Imagineering, and will be wildly popular with the vast majority of people who visit Disneyland. Swing dancing would work nicely in Paradise Gardens in DCA. It's a shame they didn't build a venue for it on Buena Vista Street somewhere. But it's best that it's no longer at Plaza Gardens, as that never made any sense.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Swing dancing would work nicely in Paradise Gardens in DCA." This. I'm wondering why that hasn't happened yet. Is it because of WOC?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I don't think the bandstand in Paradise Gardens is big enough for a swing band. It's plenty of space for the 4-6 piece groups they have up there regularly, but it would be very cozy for a 20-piece ensemble. Plus, the eating area directly in front of the bandstand has several rather large planters that have built in benches, working as seating for 4 tables each. Since the planters are permanent and in the middle of the potential dancefloor, it would be pretty tough to do the swing dancing around them. Not to mention, I doubt they'd want to reduce the seating capacity at the park's largest food location right around dinner time.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros That said, I think that the Paradise Gardens area would be a perfect fit for swing dancing. It's just a shame they didn't think about that (or likely even consider that it would ever be removed from Carnation Gardens) when they were building the area. It would be relatively easy to tear out the planters and reconfigure the stage, but I don't see them making that kind of investment for something with such a limited appeal.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "I don't think the bandstand in Paradise Gardens is big enough for a swing band. It's plenty of space for the 4-6 piece groups they have up there regularly, but it would be very cozy for a 20-piece ensemble." I think you're right. I'm guessing that the managers of DTD won't want the swing dancing to be removed. I'm sure it generates crowds that otherwise wouldn't be there driving business at that end of the complex.
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>For me, entering the meet and greet would BE the thing that went horribly wrong. << Heh-hee ... my favorite post for the week! I keep reminding myself .. It's not like there was room for a ride, over a Meet+Greet. Ever since they removed the food stand that was there ... the place was never the same. A dead spot, really. Barely using the tent for entertainment throughout the day .... So, while the Dinsey characters can eat dust, for all I care .... what they've done now .. is a huge improvement over what it was for more than a decade. And, no, that was not a typo - preceding the word 'character'.
Originally Posted By oc_dean ^^^ I thought I'd just add a little explanation why I have issues with Disney characters - particularly the ones who don't wear rubber heads - They don't suspend disbelief for me. They are real people underneath who, by huge contrast .... put on a "1-demensional" show .. with a big wide plastic smile, a little wave from their hands .. and say "Have a happy Disney day". They may have a few little rehearsed lines .... but they make it feel more like a "fake Disney day" for me. I keep my "Disneyland day" more real by experiencing the surrealistic environments that feel more "real" for me. Only time Disney characters suspend my disbelief .... are the ones who are fully qualified actors and actresses who get into character ..... and make you believe they are THEM - within their act ... whether their shows are 20 or 45 minutes.
Originally Posted By oc_dean One time I did burst into laughter, and feel like one of them was real ... Is a video when the Mad Hatter went into a rage over the tacky tarps that were just put into place, over the ride. I loved it. But then some people had to ruin that moment by complaining .. and the video was removed. It was one of those uncanny, unforgettable funny moments. But the characters are more like AA's (which is why I prefer to keep my distance - they are a big bore) ... they just say a few lines ... that could come right off a recording, with their mouths moving. And some speaker hidden somewhere. The big question will be .. Who will be more "real"? The princesses ... or Clopin, and Figaro?
