Here’s a question - anybody ever work for a Disney Store? I’m wondering what the differences would be between working at the park and working in the real world, particularly in training, benefits, perks, etc.
Esprix
Esprix, my 21st b-day is the 14th of October. I will hopefully be going to DL for that occassion. I might have to go the week before. Maybe I’ll see you there.
I’m leaving for WDW in 12 hours. Yay!ºoº
Good news! Atlantis, the Lost Empire has received a glowing review from critic Gregory Weinkauf of New Times L.A.. The film has already opened here in L.A. at the Disney-owned El Capitan theatre in Hollywood. It opens next Friday elsewhere.
Anyone been to the “new” Tiki room in WDW? It is “under new management” and I think it has for a couple years. (at least 2 now) It sucks! I never got to see the original Tiki room, but I did see the new one, and it was the corniest show I’ve ever seen in my life. I’d have to say that the best show I saw was The Little Mermaid at MGM. Now that was a cool show. Bug’s Life’s show was ok, but it freaked me out :).
They had to do something with the Tiki Room, 'cause it was floundering. Incorporating Zazu and Iago wasn’t great for DLP APs, but it was something to rejuvenate the attraction. Hell, they’re talking about getting rid of Country Bear Jamboree altogether - I’d rather see them re-vamp that with something from “Tarzan” or “Lion King” than have it destroyed completely.
Esprix
Well, if it’s any reassurance to you, Esprix, they’ve been talking about that for at least four years now that I know of. First they were just going to get rid of the Christmas Bear Jamboree. Then it was the whole show. I know they ditched part of the old show due to accusations of racism, but… :shrug:
Anyway, if they’re on their regular time schedule, it’ll be another 3-4 years before any definitive decision is made about CBJ’s fate.
I mean, I started working for Disneyland in 1987, and there were talks then about getting rid of the Electrical Parade, and when did that finally happen? 10 years later? 11?
I’d say that the chances of Country Bear Jamboree closing in the next 18 months are very good unless the movie (starring Christopher Walken!) does really well and rekindles interest or DCA sucks all the development money away from Disneyland.
It has been years since CBJ pulled significant crowds. In fact, for the last event I ran in the park we purposely used CBJ because we knew it would never be more than half-full.
Winnie the Pooh is a cash cow for Disney and has been for several years. The powers that be are very eager to give Critter Country a Pooh makeover.
The “New Management” version of Tiki is an abomination, but I agree that they had to do something. The DL Tiki room is in pretty bad shape (but Dole is finally throwing a fit) but I have to admit that it didn’t exactly pull the crowds through.
By the way, did you know that Jerry Orbach (from Law & Order) is the voice of Pierre in the WDW Tiki room?
Who was also, of course, the voice of Luminere the candlestick in “Beauty and the Beast.” He’s a heck of a performer.
A movie? About Country Bear Jamboree? OMG! How weird!
Esprix
I went in January and again in October of last year. In October my mother came down for the day to join us for the day so we went to Epcott. Having been there before I got two samples of Beverly and handed one to dear old mom. I pretended to drink mine telling her that it was very very good. She drank it and made a really funny face. Laughs were had by all. Well at least by me.
Marc
A few of us got into line to get our pictures taken with Arial (The Little Mermade) in the Magic Kingdom. For some reason while we were in line all the women had to go do something so they handed me the camera and said “Get a picture.”
Ok, cool I’ll do it. Apparantly her handler didn’t like the way we looked because he told us “Don’t touch Arial” before we got within arms reach. I thought that was pretty crummy but it was the only bad experience I’ve ever had at the park.
Marc
Yeah, well, you trying being a curvey long-haired buxom redhead in a shell bikini top and a fish tail who can’t move from where she’s plopped and see if you aren’t a little leery of men who come to get their picture taken with you.
Esprix
That has GOT to be one of the worst ideas for a movie I have ever heard. I like the CBJ, but a feature film? Ya gotta be kiddin’ me! Did anyone see the TV movie based on the Tower of Terror? I didn’t and I never will. I heard it was awful.
Yeah, Ariel’s position isn’t one that makes for good defense. Most of the costume characters have it pretty rough.
An acquaintance is currently working at DCA as a character escort. She doesn’t know why, but they have had a recent spate of teenaged boys coming up to characters and after playing nice, punching them in the head.
FYI, I’m heading to DLP this coming Sunday June 17, the day after the LA Dopefest in Redondo Beach. If anyone’s going to be around… 
My goal for the day is to ride Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride for the very first time.
Esprix
Must be nice to still have a MTWR to ride at all: DisneyWorld took out the one here a couple of years ago, replacing it with a ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ ride.
You need to use a new abbreviation (might I suggest DLR or just DL) as I thought for a moment that you were jaunting off to Disneyland Paris for the weekend.
I thought DLP was acceptable? Since what was Disneyland is now Disneyland Park, and the combination of Disneyland Park, Disney’s California Adventure (DCA) and Downtown Disney (DTD) is now collectively known as Disneyland Resort (DLR)? I thought the freaks didn’t like it if you just called it Disneyland…
PC-ness among the Disney set - next on Oprah!
Esprix
The Disney website agrees with you.
DLP, DLR, DTD, I know what you mean. (And I thought ‘Paris’, also.)
It’s fun talking to the tourists who go to all the Disney Resorts:
“Well, Monday, we went to EPCOT, Tuesday was Blizzard Beach and Pleasure Island, Wednesday we did MGM, today was Animal Kingdom, and tomorrow we’re going to Disney.”
“Um, you mean the Magic Kingdom?”
“Yeah, that’s what I said.”
:rolleyes:
And did I have a great time. Nothing like trying to move 10 people around Disney World(that is, 7 adults, one 9 y.o., one 3 y.o., and a 2 m.o. baby). That was quite a job. We usually closed the parks, which meant that we slept until 10 or 11 the next day. We were so worn out, we didn’t even get to do everything that we wanted. No Islands of Adventure.
All in all, I would say that this little one week experience was not lacking. Family trips are one of those gems that should not be taken for granted. Everyone agreed though; we love the dry heat better than the humidity.