I think it's a woman. And it's amazing that the only way to date these pictures on Main Street is to look at the hair and clothing styles. Shows how little that part of the park changes (on the out side).

Same on the outside but nothing like I remember from childhood. Back when the Penny Arcade was a place spending time in - and the candy shop - oh the candy shop. The way to make more shopping money is not always the best way ya know.

Not to derail the thread - and I suppose this could have gone in the things people used to wear thread but oh my - what an outfit this must have been!

Not a press release but I called to see if I could get balcony seating for Fantasmic and the girl I said they were told no more balcony seating after July. I asked her about the rumor (I called it a rumor) and she said that they were told it was closed for refurbishment with no reopen date and there was no more balcony seating after July. Take it for what you will.

And no, we did not get seats. 1 seat here and there. Bummer - we wanted to take a Fantasmic virgin to see it from up there. And we've never seen it from up there. Oh well.

I agree, the insides have changed a lot. Mostly, all the stores look the same, they have lost their indivedual personalities.

As far as the seating for Fantasmic!, I still mantain that front and center on the ground is still the best viewing. Up close and personal, you can feel the heat from the fire, the mist from the water screens, and the fog rolls over you if the wind is right. The balcony is great because you get reserved seats and desert, but it's too far away to be emmersive. But that's just me.

I really, really really hope this is not true. We were there a few weeks back and it's just a great vantage point during anytime of the day and, yes, a nice quiet place to be. If it's removed, there goes just another bit of Vintage Waltness. :rolleyes:

I'll miss it, but I'm not horribly broken up about it if it's true. I just hope they find somewhere else to house the collections they have up there, they've always got something interesting.

It IS a great vantage point at any time, and a nice quiet spot. But it has nothing to do with vintage Waltness. Walt never saw the place, and did not envision it as a public part of Disneyland. Losing it as a public space does nothing to compromise Walt's vision of the Park.

If anything - - though I think the current Pirates entrance is an improvement - - the double staircases, the bridge, and the entire "sunken" queue in front of Pirates are contrary to the way Walt designed this corner of Disneyland.

I agree with you 100% on this. A balcony visit should NOT be a person's first experience with F! It is a wonderful and decadent viewing opportuntiy, but it is not the immersive experience that I feel F! is when viewed down on the river's edge.

This change may be contrary to the original design, but I feel that it is one improvement that should stay - regardless of what becomes of the apartment/balcony and F!

Oh, I completely agree. I dare someone to tell me I want Disneyland frozen at Nineteen Sixty Walt Seven when I clearly view many post-WD changes (e.g., the Pirates entrance) as improvements.

Some other things to do with F! are, imo, dastardly detriments, such as the new cobblestone and separate-from-NOS waterfront. Bah.


But it's nothing to do with what was pure Walt, and everything to do with what sux and what don't.