Originally Posted By Mr X What really blows me away about that too, Lee, is that they conduct on-site "dress rehersals" which are utterly unnecessary and didn't even used to be done at all at TDL until recently. Sure, a boat show or a parade or something needs to be "run through" for logistics and all that...but I'm talking about non-moving atmosphere shows...but the creative staff is so dumb they think they MUST rehearse it at 7:00 in the morning right under the hotel balconies. Does kinda kill the magic imo...plus you have some crazies taking pics with telephoto lenses, putting them on the net, and pointing out which uncostumed performer is "Mickey" and which is "Donald"...etc... Real magical. Most of that though, in my opinion, is not the fault of the hotel location, but rather the rigid insistance that things MUST be done a certain way (dress rehearsals, by and large, are not necessary "on the street", but they do it anyway). As for the rest, deliveries or whatever, I'm fairly sure they could restrict those parts of the park that are in view...if they really wanted to.
Originally Posted By leemac <<There is practically no view of Main Street at all since the train station blocks it.>> That was the point. It was about immersion in a particular period of time. This is a Victorian hotel that offers glimpses of Victorian architecture (ie. Main Street) to set the scene. To be fair that illusion at the MC is destroyed by the hunking big chunk of rock at the back of the lagoon. By saying MSUSA is completely blocked isn't the truth. What you can't see is the street itself. Do you need to see people? I'm surprised that you have had a view at the GC where you can see through the trees clearly enough to see trucks. The placement of every room at the GC was deliberate to give a view without the intrusion of overnight clean-up. The horticulturists visited every room too to make sure there was sufficient shrouding.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Does kinda kill the magic imo...plus you have some crazies taking pics with telephoto lenses, putting them on the net, and pointing out which uncostumed performer is "Mickey" and which is "Donald"...etc...>> Really? I'm not familiar with any Japanese fan sites but the thought that anyone would deem that to be responsible behavior is beyond me. I know there are these groupies for performers but that seems to be taking it too far. There is a guy that stayed in a different MC room every night of the tech runs-throughs for Mythica and then posted them on the web. He could reach the steamer building with some huge telescopic lens and picked out individual people. Rather disconcerting. You don't expect to be "on-stage" at 4am.
Originally Posted By Mr X I think I'd prefer if the hotel were somehow over the train station...a view down an empty, lit up main street would be excellent. Again, they could get around the "problem" by simply implimenting certain policies on "on-stage" areas. For one thing, they could schedule all maintenance and deliveries so they occur only in the dead of night (I dunno, 3:30am to 5:00 maybe?). Same for MiraCosta, of course.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<It was about immersion in a particular period of time. This is a Victorian hotel that offers glimpses of Victorian architecture (ie. Main Street) to set the scene. To be fair that illusion at the MC is destroyed by the hunking big chunk of rock at the back of the lagoon. By saying MSUSA is completely blocked isn't the truth. What you can't see is the street itself. Do you need to see people? I'm surprised that you have had a view at the GC where you can see through the trees clearly enough to see trucks. The placement of every room at the GC was deliberate to give a view without the intrusion of overnight clean-up. The horticulturists visited every room too to make sure there was sufficient shrouding.>> I couldn't see any part of Main Street with the park view I had during my first visit in the Disneyland Hotel. All I saw was the Main Street Station to tell you the truth, and it wasn't impressive at all. I suppose that the rooms on the top floor offer a better view, perhaps a bit of the Town Square buildings if lucky. And regarding the Grand Californian, there was a report on a different board that talked about the rotting and removal of some trees near the hotel. Perhaps this was why I was able to see the trucks and cars driving around?
Originally Posted By Mr X Yup...I've seen all that stuff Lee. Of course, these fans are only a small portion of the fan "base", but they are quite crazy...for real. And they can be mean too...I've heard of crazy fans telling other crazy fans to "stay away" from THEIR favorite performers. Creepy. Seriously creepy.
Originally Posted By Mr X "Stay away" meaning "you can't watch that person as they perform...it's only for ME!" kinda thing (not stay away literally. But probably that too.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<I think I'd prefer if the hotel were somehow over the train station...a view down an empty, lit up main street would be excellent.>> That would have been great. But I don't think the main entrance of the park would have looked as pretty with the Disneyland Hotel placed over the train station or behind it. The beauty of its placement is that it blocks all of the views of the inside of the park, increasing your anticipation as you approach the gates. But then again, a perfect view of Main Street and the castle would have been very magical indeed.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<To be fair that illusion at the MC is destroyed by the hunking big chunk of rock at the back of the lagoon. >> But there are actual volcanoes near authentic Mediterranean harbors; Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius come to mind. I think Mount Prometheus looks majestic in the background of Mediterranean Harbor and adds a touch of antiquity and charm to the port of call.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ Then it is architecturally inaccurate and mixed geography. If Med Harbor is really based on Portofino (and there are some Venetian influences in the architecture so an ecletic mix is conceivable) then the volcano is out of place as I believe the furthest volcano north in Italy is Amiata in Tuscany (several hundred of miles further south). Vesuvio dominates Napoli and Etna is on Sicily. i'm not sure I have ever heard a volcano be described as "charm[ing]" though!
Originally Posted By Mr X Meh...that's rather silly honestly. How many European castles do you find at the end of any Main Streets in the U.S.A.? It's a theme park, if it works it's fine.
Originally Posted By leemac <<How many European castles do you find at the end of any Main Streets in the U.S.A.?>> At least 2?
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<Meh...that's rather silly honestly. How many European castles do you find at the end of any Main Streets in the U.S.A.? It's a theme park, if it works it's fine.>> I agree. Not everything has to be accurate. It's a Disney park, for pete's sake .
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<Then it is architecturally inaccurate and mixed geography. If Med Harbor is really based on Portofino (and there are some Venetian influences in the architecture so an ecletic mix is conceivable) then the volcano is out of place as I believe the furthest volcano north in Italy is Amiata in Tuscany (several hundred of miles further south). Vesuvio dominates Napoli and Etna is on Sicily. i'm not sure I have ever heard a volcano be described as "charm[ing]" though!>> Porto Paradiso is based on the architecture of Portofino, but that's about it. Porto Paradiso is an imaginary fishing village created by WDI and not a real place . And I think some volcanoes do look very charming in the background of harbors or bays. They look rather tranquil and alluring when they're not causing mass destruction.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "And I think some volcanoes do look very charming in the background of harbors or bays. They look rather tranquil and alluring when they're not causing mass destruction." Like Hawaii!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Really? Haven't stayed there but it did look remarkably unremarkable when I walked through the lobby earlier in the summer. It is right on the busiest street in Dubai and attached to a mall so it certainly didn't feel grand to me. I know the brand is meant to stand for excellence (I've never stayed in one myself) but it didn't particularly inspire me. It just seems odd to me that people would go to somewhere like Dubai and then not stay on the beach.<< Well... to be honest, I didn't have a choice in the matter, but I was quite impressed by the simple elegance and the service was outstanding. Less is more if you will, and I suppose you would never lower your standards even for curiosity purposes. If I had it my way, I too would have loved to stay at the BurjAlArab, but it's simply too expensive and I really not one to have a preference of being by the water or not. But the water park outside of it sure was fun... what's the name of it.. Wadi??
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan I would love to stay at the Burj al Arab one day if I ever visit Dubai, but it is incredibly expensive. I read the prices range from $1000 for the cheapest suites to $28000 for the presidential suite.
Originally Posted By leemac <<But the water park outside of it sure was fun... what's the name of it.. Wadi??>> Wild Wadi. Not bad place but not really enough to do. Their Master Blaster slide is a lot of fun though - it has some many slides I lost count (I'd guess over 15 interconnected). I prefer Crush 'n' Gusher but it was fun nevertheless. And when it is 45 degrees still at 5pm you need that water.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I suppose you would never lower your standards even for curiosity purposes.>> My policy has always that I expect a certain standard when I travel for work. I don't want to have to worry about matters like dry cleaning, laundry, 24 hour room service, gym, pool, etc. Therefore I invariably do stay at deluxe hotels when I'm away with work especially when it is for an extended period. Leisure is a little different but I still tend to stay in the same class although I'm always up for a boutique experience rather than the chains that I'm used to.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<My policy has always that I expect a certain standard when I travel for work. I don't want to have to worry about matters like dry cleaning, laundry, 24 hour room service, gym, pool, etc. Therefore I invariably do stay at deluxe hotels when I'm away with work especially when it is for an extended period. Leisure is a little different but I still tend to stay in the same class although I'm always up for a boutique experience rather than the chains that I'm used to. >> I share the same mindset as you, Lee. I always stay at chains like Grand Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, or the Four Seasons when I am on business trips. During my vacation trips, I tend to stay at more exclusive and expensive hotels. As far as I can remember, I've always had a preference for luxury hotels (minimum 4 stars) and couldn't stand anything lesser in quality. Staying in at least 50 different 5 star hotels over the years has really affected my taste when it comes to excellence and class.
