Monday, October 13, 2008

Disneyland - Status Report - Yesterday - Plaza Pavillion Rebirth

Hi Ho, Everyone! Just back from the Park after a busy week that kept me from posting. Bad Mike!

Yesterday was a busy day at Disneyland with an estimated 55,000 or so guests enjoying HalloweenTime. We had some strong winds toward the late afternoon and throughout the evening. The wind was strong enough to blow out one of the gas torches at the entrance to the Tiki Room. Indeed, if there still were a Skyway attraction, it would have been shut down.
Over at the Jungle Cruise, things were hopping during the early afternoon! The queue was long enough that the upstairs queue area was opened and filled with guests. It warms this old skipper's heart to see that the attraction can still pack 'em in after all these years. Even at its longest, the line rarely takes more than 15-20 minutes to get through, since experienced boat loaders can get about 40-45 people per boat (not including lap-sitters). This makes the line progress well.

The Park looks nice with its HalloweenTime decorations. Mickey and Minnie were actually quite dapper when I saw them on Main Street just north of the Mad Hatter shop. Minnie sported a purple witch's hat and matching dress. Her beaux, of course, matched her, with a nice purple coat and a smart top hat. As always, the guests were anxious to say hello to them.

Plaza Pavillion is in the midst of a rehab. Its kitchen is being updated so that it may soon be serving food once again! This is cheerful news. More importantly...could this new kitchen also be used for a Tahitian Terrace restaurant facility??? Stay tuned Adventurers and Adventurettes! If you follow this blog at all, you'll know we're kinda partial to the old Tahitian Terrace around here and it is terribly missed.
Now I'm not saying it is coming back, but the chances have gone up slightly with the attention being given to the Plaza Pavillion kitchen. So there.
And, finally, speaking of rehabs, I can only imagine what the heck is going on with the Small World. Let us keep our collective fingers crossed that this beloved attraction remains as true to the original as possible when it reopens.
Well, I am outta here for now. I'll try and get you all some new cast member photos this week!
--Mike

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bring back Tahitian Terrace!! It was a great compliment to Adventureland...and for that matter entertainment for the JC skippers.

Katella Gate said...

I'd like to know what kind of menu they have in mind, and what studies were done that indicated to TDA that another sit down restaurant was needed.

Not that I mind, when I went to the Park with my Annual Pass (I averaged 2x a month for several years)I would almost always stay the full operating hours and eat TWO sit-down meals, so an additional restaurant would be most welcome.

But it was my understanding that the "market" wasn't interested in full or cafeteria restaurants, hence, so many were closed. Is this a reverse in guest expectations, or were the previous "studies" ginned-up to get the answers Pressler wanted to see??

Where's Kevin Yee when you need him?

The Blue Parrot said...

IIRC, the kitchen is being overhauled for use during an upcoming renovation of New Orleans Square. I think it's intended to be used as a prep facility more than anything.

As for bringing back the Tahitian Terrace, would be nice. But it just cant support the number of guests needed to really work on a regular basis to convince the Accountanteers that it can make enough profit.

Now reopening the Plaza Pavilion as a buffeteria along the lines of the French Market? That just might fly seasonally... but not on a regular basis.

Anonymous said...

"Yesterday was a busy day at Disneyland with an estimated 55,000 or so guests enjoying HalloweenTime"

Huhhh never been to disneyland yet but 55,000.Wow it has to be crowded...
Thx for the post keep up the good work.

Greg Gladden

Coro said...

Sounds like a terribly fun place to be. It's really too bad that I live in Singapore.

Mike said...

The Disney folks have definitely indicated that the rehab is in connection with the New Orleans Square rehab, but having seen it myself, it sure seems like they're doing a bunch of construction (at considerable expense) for a "prep area"). Besides that, how do they plan to safely transfer prepared food from the Plaza Pavillion all the way around to New Orleans Square (even if they truck it around the access road behind Main Street)? Who knows. The fact that they are spending money to do anything inside the Plaza Pavillion is at least somewhat heartening.

Jessi said...

I'm new to this blog and I just love it! Thanks for writing such an entertaining blog!

Mike said...

Jessi,

Welcome and many thanks. I'll keep posting this stuff and hopefully my four (4) readers will remain moderately satisfied.

--Mike

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Great Trip report, thanks! I'm with you "Bring back Tahitian Terrace!". Katella, I got about 2 times a month and yes the park needs another sit down venue.

I was at the park last December 28th, it was the most crowded I've ever seen it, a mad house indeed....