Trip to OC, Pt. 3

The last time I was at Disneyland was December 2016, when my friend Kevin and I dined at Club 33. Nine years later, we were in Garden Grove touring the Stanley Ranch Museum, just minutes from the Disneyland Resort. “We should go to Disneyland!” my spontaneous friend cheerfully chirped. “No…I can’t leave Willis that long and it’s too late in the day to spend that kind of money,” I responded in my best Debbie Downer voice. I will admit that I considered it; there are a handful of things I haven’t experienced that are new to me that I’d be curious to try (the new train route around the Rivers of America, the Walt animatronic, and lowest on the totem pole is Star Wars Land). As a compromise, I threw out, “We COULD have lunch at Storytellers!” While we wouldn’t actually be in the Park, we’d still experience my favorite Disneyland Hotel (The Grand Californian) and get a decent meal. Easy-peasy, right?



As Kevin’s car turned the corner onto Disneyland Drive, I will admit I had a flood of emotions, thinking about all of the special memories that had been created during my too-many-to-count visits to the Disneyland Resort. Pulling into the Grand Californian Hotel, Kevin told the cast member at the gate that we were going to eat at Storytellers. No problem — next thing we knew, we were being directed to valet parking. Entering the hotel was so familiar - the oak tables inside the entrance with the beautiful dragonfly stained glass lamps were still there! A chalkboard calling out the Halloween season was positioned in the lobby.



The dramatic ceiling with Craftsman-style lighting still impresses:



I want one of these sooooooo badly for my home!



Signage celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Disneyland was hung over the fireplace:



A Nightmare Before Christmas display with Sally and Jack was also in the lobby:



with Zero off to the side:



This was an odd display; I suppose it is a nod to Dr. Finkelstein, but could have used a little more whimsy or at least the character itself to give more appropriate context.



We made out way to Storytellers, anxious to get something to eat as neither one of us had eaten all day.



We had about fifteen minutes to chill until the restaurant opened at 4pm.



What does one do? Take photos…



and selfies to commemorate the occasion.



Kevin had attempted to make a reservation online, but none were available. We figured the hostess would let us have a walk-on spot since we were there at opening and just two people.

Think again. When we reached the hostess after waiting in line for a bit, we were cheerfully told we need a reservation. Explaining that there were none to be had, she (once again) cheerfully told us it didn’t matter what time we put in, just make a reservation, get back in the line, and then she might be able to get us a table. The message was clear…we are not interested in deviating from the system even if it sounds stupid, so please get out of line and leave me alone.

Kevin checked the app again…same thing. No spots available. Period. By that time, we said screw it and just went to Downtown Disney. After easily passing through the security checkpoint between the Grand Californian and Downtown Disney (something new for me), I noticed Paseo:



Which had been Catal last time I was there. This was a rare occasion where the Resort chose to drain the color in a building instead of bumping it up.



We settled on Ballast Point Brewing Company, which was a more than serviceable choice Afterwards we had ice cream at Salt & Straw:



…which had been Haagen Dazs when I last visited. This change of vendor is definitely an upgrade.



The exterior of the World of Disney store was much simpler than when I last saw it:



Compared to October 2013:



I do love these “lanterns” though; you know that with me it’s all about the light fixtures.



Then we got to the Esplanade. It was light somebody had vomited a rainbow. I cannot imagine a more tacky looking tribute for Disneyland’s 70th. Well, I probably could, but wouldn’t want to entertain that possibility.



The one positive about this monstrosity were the tiny little tributes to the individual lands. I doubt that most of the Resort guests even notice them.







While I took photos, Kevin contemplated life…and the new turnstiles into the park, which are now huge plastic shields.



The DCA gates had Oogie Boogie on top for the Halloween season:




Disneyland had the same ol’ Mickey and Minnie pumpkin heads above their entryway:





I was happy to find that my 50th anniversary paver with Doug was still there. We spent A LOT of time at the Park back in the day.



After the brief sentimental journey, it was time to head home, taking a few pics of all the 70th anniversary displays on the way back to the GC valet:





I kind of liked the art for the doors…but would have preferred a more restrained color palette.



While Kevin got the car, I snapped a few more shots at the GC:



When his car was brought up and we got in, he informed me that since we didn’t eat at Storyteller, the valet desk staff had told him the price for parking his car at the GC would be $70. Validation from a Downtown Disney vendor is only good in the DD parking lot. Kevin explained that we had attempted to eat at Storytellers but the restaurant was full. The staff took pity on him and waived the charge, which was a huge relief. Still…I don’t think that was much of a sacrifice for the execs of the Disney Corporation.

Was it nice to be back? Yes. Was I reminded of why it has been nine years since my last visit? Yes.

When I am on vacation or doing something fun, I don’t want to have to be in planning/business mode. The current way the Disneyland Resort is set-up post pandemic forces visitors to be on their phone with the app making and checking multiple reservations. This allows them to have lower staff counts while still charging the same (or higher) prices. No thanks. While it’s easy to criticize the Disney Corporation, I also realize that the state of the world and how people function now plays a large part to this shift, too. The reliance on “smart phones” for living and short attention spans as a result of social media are all contributing factors. A corporation has to do what a corporation has to do. However, as consumers, we all have a choice as to where we spend our money, right?

See more of my Disneyland (vintage and contemporary!) photos at my main website.

Is That All There Is? DCA 23rd Anniversary

I had the opportunity to visit Disney California Adventure on May 18, 2001, just a few months after it opened (hard to believe it’s been 23 years!). I was part of a behind-the-scenes tour of all the dining facilities that were part of the Disneyland Resort second gate. One of the dining managers in my department was friends with Mary Nivens, who was Senior VP at the Disneyland Resort at the time, thus our tour. What did I think about DCA? As soon as the tour was over, I went home. I didn’t ride a single attraction nor did I take any photos. If you know me, that speaks volumes. I kept thinking of the Peggy Lee song, “Is That All There Is?”

It wasn’t until April 2002 that I returned with camera in hand and began to document the second gate. True to Walt’s quote about change, none of what you see in these photos remains at DCA today. Below, you can see the stationary California Zephyr, on of my favorite aspects (designwise) of the new Park.



Because of their ownership by Disney, there was significant cross-promotion going on for ABC programs, especially the soap operas.



One of the restaurants at DCA was titled, “Soap Opera Bistro,” featuring themed dining areas based on the sets from your favorite ABC soap operas.



These tile murals at the entrance were gorgeous.



An overhead view showing the first incarnation of Paradise Pier, before Pixar took over.



These imposing elephants at the Hollywood Pictures Backlot were an homage to the ones used in D.W. Griffith’s silent epic, “Intolerance” (1916).



Whoopi Goldberg in DCA? That’s right. Where the Little Mermaid attraction now resides, guests once entered a theatre to watch a film entitled “Golden Dreams,” starring Whoopi as Calafia, the Queen of California. She lost her thrown when the theater was torn down for Ariel in July 2009.



Was there ever a need for Fastpass for It’s Tough To Be A Bug!?!



Over at the Hyperion Theatre, a Reader’s Digest version of the Broadway show Blast! was playing.



In 2004, I returned for my birthday and posed with Minnie in the Condor Flats area.



The Tower of Terror was the first big draw to be added to the Park in 2004, followed by Monsters, Inc. This aerial view is from August 2006.



In other news, I just realized that DCA, James Dean, and Lana Turner also share the same “birthday.”





See more Disney California Adventure photos at my main website.

Tower of Terror Comparison

Because I was not a fan of drop rides, I avoided the Tower of Terror attraction like the plague. The first time I saw it was in 2002 when I was “backstage” at Walt Disney World in Orlando; it had opened July 22, 1994.



When three-year-old Disney California Adventure in Anaheim was struggling, the Tower of Terror attraction was viewed as the Park’s savior when it opened May 5, 2004. It was truly the first “wow” ride that Anaheim’s second gate could boast about. Still, it lacked the attention to detail and lavish opulence of its east coast counterpart. The exterior bore little resemblance to the Southern California landmarks that Orlandp’s version was based on (The Los Angeles Biltmore, The Chateau Marmont, and The Mission Inn). Compare the center balcony detail from Orlando:



…inspired by the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood:



Not so distinctive was Anaheim; just plain with purple paint representing the lightning damage:



According to Wikipedia, Anaheim’s architectural style was “Pueblo Deco,” but that was truly stretching it. The windows looked too modern and the odd large box-like shape on top seemed like a poorly planned addition. This place would look more at home in Vegas. Orlando definitely was superior at evoking an old Hollywood hotel. Orlando also had a more extensive outdoor queue, with a winding path and overgrown gardens that give guests time to build anticipation and suspense before entering the lobby area.







In Anaheim, you had a short queue area to the right:



…and to the left. And that was it.



What about the interior? Orlando:





…which was inspired by the Los Angeles Biltmore:



The Anaheim version:





At first glance, both seem ornate, but the Orlando version looks more authentic and less like a movie set. It has been years since I’ve been on either attraction (Anaheim’s closed for retheming in January 2017), but I do recall that the Orlando version’s “elevator” went  horizontal (taking you through the hotel) before it rose to the top for the big drop. That was a nice touch. I guess if the U.S. had to sacrifice one of these, it’s a good thing it was the Anaheim version. Here are the ghosts from Orlando beckoning me to return. It’s only been… thirteen years!



See more WDW Tower of Terror photos at my main website.