Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt As most LP regulars who post in the DLR section of the boards probably know I made my first trip to the resort in four years this past week. Rather that writing a lengthy trip report I thought I’d briefly comment on my observations while there with the hope they that might be interesting to others who don’t live in the area and haven’t been to DLR or haven’t visited in a while. The Good: • Whatever DCA lacked on opening day has been more than made up for with the much hyped transformation. While I know that it’ll never match Disneyland in the hearts of most fans, I personally prefer it to its predecessor. • Disneyland Park looked spiffy. There were a few places where I noticed some general wear and tear, but the park’s overall appearance was good. • DLR cast members were stellar. Four days at the DLH, DTD, DL, and DCA and not one surely, rude, or inattentive cast member. Service was absolutely top notch with smiles from enthusiastic Disney employees all throughout the property. • Cars Land is, in a word, spectacular. To get the full impression of the Cadillac Range I highly recommend having breakfast at Flo’s and dining on the terrace overlooking Ornament Valley. The only other restaurant in DLR with a view this good is the Blue Bayou. • Both the Carthay Circle restaurant and lounge did not disappoint. For dinner I ordered the quail and it was outstanding. The décor and service were superb. Had I not been surrounded by screaming babies and Mickey hats I could have easily been dining in Chicago or San Francisco. It really is that good. • World of Color and Magical: I loved both of these shows. In fact, I liked them much more than I thought I would. Who would have thought that water fountains or the umpteenth iteration of the traditional Disney fireworks show could be so entertaining? • The DLH redo turned out great. The rooms are nicely decorated, the beds are comfortable, and the pool area is very nice and much larger than it looks in pictures. I even took a couple of turns on the monorail slides. The entire property has a lot more detail and a much more uniform theme than it did before. The Bad: • I love children, I really do, but there ought to be a set of rules that every parent should be required to abide by. One of them should be to not take babies into movie theaters or Disneyland. I’m not talking about 3 year olds. I’m talking about babies that are teething, nursing, screaming, and just generally fussy. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and kindly leave Little Precious at home with the sitter. • Why do people tour DLR in groups of more than 3 or 4 people in the middle of the crowded summer season? There were several instances where we encountered log jams due to families of 8 – 10 people with every generation in their party, including babies in strollers and elderly grandparents in wheelchairs, blocking traffic. • Strollers, strollers, strollers everywhere. What was once the graceful entrance to Tomorrowland is literally nothing more now than a parking zone for strollers and Fastpass distribution. It was so chaotic in this area when I was there that I started wondering if Disney is going to have to start designing their parks to accommodate all the strollers and Hoverounds. God help us if Disney is forced to allow Segways. The Ugly: • Big Thunder is in serious need of a Matterhorn rehab/paint job. The queue area is full of broken effects and the water around Dinosaur gap is stagnant and looks disgusting. I’m thinking that there must be a big rehab being planned in the next year for this attraction. • Captain Eo was… well… embarrassing. In my opinion it’s probably the worst attraction at the resort… even worse than Innoventions. • I had high hopes for the Red Car News Boys, but I'm sad to say that the show is lame. The problem with this presentation is the superficial storyline about coming to California (it’s the 1920s on BV Street, remember?) and fulfilling your dreams. The performers certainly try hard, but unfortunately the whole thing is hopelessly cheesy. • Merchandise at DLR has hit a new low. My traveling partner commented that “every store sells the same junk” and it’s true. Even the new Elias & Co and the shops in Cars Land pretty much sell the same mediocre park merchandise. I went into Sarge’s thinking there might be some cool military surplus stuff to buy (or at least look at). Nope. The curio shop is the same: more contemporary Disney character t-shirts and souvenirs.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Awesome write up, Hans. Did you see any of the Streetmosphere characters? Aside from the News Boys?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I did. We met a lady (not sure of her name) who strolls the area and sits in the park with her small lap dog (a puppet). She was very engaging and happily posed for pictures. We also spotted the courier on her vintage bike and the police officer. Unfortunately I didn't see the cop until the last day when we were on our way out. He seemed to have some sort of comedic routine and was entertaining a small group near Oswald's Filling Station. Another thing worth mentioning about the Citizens of Buena Vista Street, the News Boys, and the cast members in the area is level of detail and authenticity of the costuming. This is probably the classiest thing built at DLR since New Orleans Square.
Originally Posted By danyoung >To get the full impression of the Cadillac Range I highly recommend having breakfast at Flo’s and dining on the terrace overlooking Ornament Valley.< I did exactly this, and was kinda sad when my breakfast was over. Good eats, and a totally cool atmosphere!
Originally Posted By ecdc Love this write up! Couldn't agree more with everything you said. There's a raging debate in various internet circles about a growing "adults only" movement for certain places like movie theaters and restaurants. It's basically between those who think everyone has to endure children anywhere and everywhere, no matter what, and those who think most places are great for kids, but there's a few places it'd be nice to not be interrupted by screaming or crying or running around. I'm a parent, I love my kids TO DEATH! But I'd also love it if a movie theater opened that didn't allow anyone under 18 [insert Fred Willard jokes here] or if certain Disneyland restaurants, maybe even on only certain days or at certain times, had adults only policies. Granted, maybe that's stretching it a bit--it is Disneyland after all Also totally agree w/ your merchandise comments. It could be so fun to discover different shops with radically different offerings. Instead...they're all basically just satellites of the World of Disney store. It's a real shame and missed opportunity for the park.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Granted, maybe that's stretching it a bit--it is Disneyland after all >> I don't think it is stretching at all. Disney Cruise Line has adults-only restaurants, lounges, pools and even an adults-only beach at Castaway Cay. If they can do it so can Disneyland and Disney World.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 The problem is not just at Disneyland or Disney World, it is everywhere. Just came back from the supermarket where there were kids screaming at the top of their lungs and people shopping with their carts on the left while looking at stuff on the right which completely blocked the aisles and they were oblivious to the crowds gather in both direction trying to get by. I think we have become a society where common courtesy is just about missing.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>I don't think it is stretching at all. Disney Cruise Line has adults-only restaurants, lounges, pools and even an adults-only beach at Castaway Cay. If they can do it so can Disneyland and Disney World.<< I didn't know that. Sign me up. My kids are old enough to watch a movie in the room while we go to a nice meal or the lounge. Disneyland, time to make Steakhouse 55 or Napa Rose kid-free after 7PM
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<My kids are old enough to watch a movie in the room while we go to a nice meal or the lounge.>> Or take advantage of the entertainment DCL provides for kids at no extra cost. The only problem most parents have is getting their kids back to the cabin!! <<A Disney Cruise Line vacation gives families many ways to play together and separately. With practically an entire deck devoted to kids, there's non-stop fun each day from 9 a.m. to midnight for five distinct age groups. Kids ages 3 to 7 make magic at Disney's Oceaneer Club. Kids 8 to 12 explore the universe at Disney's Oceaneer Lab. Teens enjoy their own private hangout at a New York-style coffeehouse. And with the kids practically begging to join their new friends each day, parents can engage in a little fun of their own, from relaxing in an adult-only pool area, to daily activities like wine-tasting or cooking demonstrations.>> Source: <a href="http://cruises.about.com/cs/cruisingwithkids/a/disneycruise.htm" target="_blank">http://cruises.about.com/cs/cr...uise.htm</a>
Originally Posted By TP2000 >>"Just came back from the supermarket where there were kids screaming at the top of their lungs and people shopping with their carts on the left while looking at stuff on the right which completely blocked the aisles and they were oblivious to the crowds gather in both direction trying to get by. I think we have become a society where common courtesy is just about missing."<< I encounter that in public a lot, and I have devised two responses that work wonders. When a parent has screaming bratty kids causing a scene in public and bothering my experience, I give them a well-practiced look that is a combination of slight annoyance and sad pity for the decisions they have made in life to live their chosen lifestyle in such a pathetic manner. It's obviously a lifestyle they have chosen for themselves, but it's just so pathetic that you have to take pity on them. I get a sheepish grin back and they swat at their children and shush them up. It generally works until I leave their area, and then their chosen lifestyle falls apart again and their kids devolve back into screaming and destruction. As for shopping carts blocking my way, I give them a moment to finish their label inspection. But if they fail to notice me after a few moments I smile and say "Excuse me, please", and they snap out of their trance and say "Oh, excuse ME" and jump to move their cart out of the way and I pass by with a nod and another smile. It works like a charm every time.
Originally Posted By danyoung >...and people shopping with their carts on the left while looking at stuff on the right which completely blocked the aisles and they were oblivious to the crowds gather in both direction trying to get by.< I see this all the time, and have no trouble pushing forward and saying loudly "Excuse me!", with just a hint of a tone in my voice that really says you people are IDIOTS!!!
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I realize that it's rude for people to bring babies into theaters and restaurants like Carthay Circle where it's spendy and ruins the atmosphere. But some people are seriously going to fault a parent with cranky kids in the grocery store? Seriously??? What do you want them to do? Leave them home alone or pay someone to watch their baby or small children every time they run an errand? And just cause a kid is crying or fussy or causing a scene in public doesn't necessarily mean the parent is useless and the kid is a brat. Every kid gets tired and cranky. And yes, every child at one time or another, has thrown a tantrum no matter what a parent's parenting skills are like. And it's a very stressful thing to endure, and it's worse when you have strangers giving you looks. I wouldn't take a baby to any movie, or my 4 year old to an adult movie, and if we go to a restaurant, I'll go early so it's mainly families around us. But if I'm at the grocery store, and my 4 year old is tired and starts crying cause I won't buy him some toy he saw on a commercial at grandma's house, if you give me a look, you might find just find out the full rage of CuriousConstance! Sometimes it's surprising just HOW judgmental people can be, sheesh.
Originally Posted By danyoung Constance, all I can do in these situations is go back to my own childhood, where my 3 brothers and I were always perfect little angels. Seriously, I'm sure we acted up from time to time. But Mom & Dad were very clear in their expectations - knock it off or face the consequences. Most of the time we didn't want the consequences, so we knocked it off. But if we had to be taken outside for a swat or two, well, that just made it clear what was expected the next time the problem came up. Too many times you see the kids running crazy and the parent doing his/her best to just ignore them, no matter how irritating they're being to those around them. And THAT'S what I object to.
Originally Posted By fkurucz I'm with constance on this one. Noisy kids at the grocery store don't bother me, as I'm not there for the "experience". I do agree that in other venues a tantrum throwing kid has no place. Unfortunately, Disneyland is not such a place. As others have pointed out, when a small child gets tired it will be whiny. That said I don't recall any time we've been in the BB with screaming toddler a few tables away. I think most of those families have the common sense to dine elsewhere.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "I'm a parent, I love my kids TO DEATH! But I'd also love it if a movie theater opened that didn't allow anyone under 18 [insert Fred Willard jokes here] or if certain Disneyland restaurants, maybe even on only certain days or at certain times, had adults only policies." I'll advocate for the occasional adults only day in Disneyland. Yeah, even the return of the People Mover is more likely, but one can dream. "people shopping with their carts on the left while looking at stuff on the right which completely blocked the aisles and they were oblivious to the crowds gather in both direction trying to get by. I think we have become a society where common courtesy is just about missing." This isn't a new thing. "But some people are seriously going to fault a parent with cranky kids in the grocery store? Seriously??? What do you want them to do?" Is it too late for abortion? I kid.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Well, I'm a generation older than most here but we rarely took our children out in public when they were young (other than day care). I just didn't like the stress of trying to manage two young children while also trying to shop. It was stressful not only for those around us; it was stressful for the kids and us too! When the kids were young we went to Drive-In movies and nothing else... partly because they didn't cost much, partly because we could take the kids without bothering anyone. We grocery shopped at a Warehouse style grocery store that was open 24 hours a day (this was before the day of 24-hour Wal-Marts ever few miles). We liked the low prices, but HATED the crowds. We waited until Sunday night at about 10:30 PM when we knew the crowds would be low and the kids fast asleep and had the teen-aged neighbor come over to watch them while we shopped. As for Disneyland (in our case Disney World) I had a hard a fast rule... the kids would go to WDW when they were old enough to walk it on their own two feet! I despised the thought of carrying them in 90-degree heat and I despise strollers even more. So they never went to WDW until they were about 7 years old. Oh well... they survived just fine without it! When I look at families with young children at WDW a very large percentage of them seem to not enjoy it much at all... why bother?
Originally Posted By Manfried Strollers and wheelchairs. Way too many of those at the park. Of course Tomorrowland is not helped with that cancer of the rocket jets in the front that Tony Baxter did and has never admitted he screwed up. Big Thunder. My understanding from insiders is that it is getting the Matterhorn treatment this next winter. What would be nice would be to see them make it longer and actually have a finale that takes the railroad all the way out to the Rivers of America.
Originally Posted By Terminus >> But I'd also love it if a movie theater opened that didn't allow anyone under 18 << UltraLuxe has 21 and over theaters. There's one at the Anaheim Gardenwalk. I highly recommend it.
