June 15
 

That's the now official opening date for all the DCA changes.

It's a Friday.

So are we going to have a LoT Meet?

I think the last of this kind we had was for Nemo Subs, back in 2007.

And I will not go within 100 miles of DCA for approximately 9 months after that.

Be interesting to see how crowded that Sunday is (with only SoCal Select blacked out).

One suspects that the GCH entrance may be heavily enforced that day.

WOOHOO! My pass (as well as That Guy and Lisa) expires the 16th.

I hope you all have a great time and I'll be looking forward to photos and reviews.

Guess we should go then

So the soft openings will be....

Probably before June 15.

I, too, could easily wait till the end of summer. But if there's a LoT meet for something new at the Resort, that's always fun ... and worth dealing with crowds. I can't recall we've ever done such a thing for DCA stuff ... but ...?

Probably.

I may call in sick to my farmer's market that day...

Aren't you coming out? Did you not enjoy our company?

something I will be going to.

I have to wash my Marsupial that day, sorry.

I wonder if I'll be brave enough to attend with the 3 kids we're inheriting for June. (I'd wait for later, if it were just me. But... 2 of the 3 are boys under 12. I'd like them to see Cars Land before they leave!)

I guess DCA is gonna be closed to the public on June 14.

Now that you mention it, there was this one guy........

There.

Madz and I are in - if I leave her at home this time she may murder me in my sleep.

I'll ask for the day off.

But how else am I supposed to torture her?

I assume I'm getting an AP soon, so Peanut and I are in.

In for craziness. :cool:

Though we'll all be at previews, yes?

The problem is soft openings tend to be during the week with short notice, making it difficult to plan for days off and such.

Yeah, €uroMeinke gets a bit rambunctious at the park.

In the FWIW department, from Al Lutz's March 2 article on the Leap Year promo:

And from his February 21 update (yeah, I'm a little behind on my reading):

Interesting Al article. Heheh, seems while everyone was having a jolly good time, Disneyland came close to anarchic failure. Great story all around.

I'm so glad the boneheaded, dare-I-say Pressler-era management choices didn't wreck a great time apparently had by all. And when we say "all," we now mean a record-breaking 106,000 in Disneyland/DCA combined, according to the article. And I think Al's certainly right in saying if this kind of thing happened on a typical summer or Christmastime day, the mood in the park would not be nearly as festive and gay.

I think this would have been SUPER FABULOUSLY AWESOME if it happened at the same time as Gay Days.

Anyway, Al's article also claims the DCA AP previews will be the weekend before June 15 - not weekdays - so why don't we plan something for then?

The ap previews have been by lottery lately.

That's for a single attraction. I can't see how they could do that for a new land and a new park entrance.

Ropes. And a phalanx of orange plastic stick wielding vest wearers.

Where does it say that? The one Kevy linked to says 10-12, which is Sun-Tue. Cast previews are Wed-Sat.

But if he elsewhere specifically says June 10-12, and the 10th is a Sunday, why not plan this shindig for that very Sunday? :cool:

I can't imagine that they're going to have an open free for all AP preview. There are just too many people with them now. I'd guess they do some sort of lottery and stop people at the entrance to the area.

Well, personally I find it way more fun to do this kind of thing with a group - so my vote, if they do lottery, would be to pick an actual operating day and just be there at DCA rope drop.

Maybe we should wait on the AP Preview meet until Disney actually announces dates (as opposed so planning based on pure speculation).
Meanwhile, the 15th is a go.

Seems to me this will shake out naturally without so much early wrangling. We'll all enter the lottery, obviously, and there should be enough of us on each day to hang out together.

Hope so, anyway - it would suck if there's one person left on their own on a certain day.


And - who wouldn't want to be there the 15th anyway for happy crazy fun times?

I'm all for happy crazy fun times. I think I'll ask for the 15th off.

Ditto. There haven't been nearly enough crazy fun times in DCA.

Only ones that come to mind are my first visit - when suddenly the crappy park got not so bad once we got drunk on wine.

And the first California Screamin' ride in the pouring rain about a year ago.


Overdue for more.

Where's that Storybookland Canal Boats picture?

ToT opening was pretty cool too if I recall correctly.

When Gallagher's lesser brother lobbed marshmallows into the crowd with a tennis racket? The level of celebrity that park was reduced to...:rolleyes:

Did anyone else catch this potential detail about the Carthay Circle bar (again from Al's February 12 update):

What was that sound I just heard? It sounded strangely like € scurrying out the door to be first in line at Carthay Circle.

I'd bet that € has them beat in the cocktail crafting department. :cheers:

I have little doubt he won't be alone among this group beating a path to this particular lounge.

I'm in!

The new AP Lounge!

And my little dog Kimchi too!

I'm in.

My boyfriend is taking me to the Cast previews, so I can't wait to talk my head off about all the spoilers!

J/K

I'll bite my tongue till June 16th :)

Nomadic loungers in search of a new homestead.

Some video of the Flying Tires tests over the weekend, shot from the Funwheel. They had an inflatable ball in there among the vehicles at one point, just like the old Flying Saucers.

Of all of the new attractions, I am most worried about this one. It has a very low capacity (hourly throughput), a steep learning curve, and I suspect it will be prone to breakdowns (just a concern on my part - nothing I've read). I WANT it to succeed, I am just really concerned about the long-term prognosis for this attraction.

Yep, which is why I intend to ride it as much as I can, while it lasts. (I actually LIKED the Rocket Rods before they realized they had to slow down on the curves to prevent the cars from flying off the track.)

Errr, don't you just move the lever and bump into things? Is there more to it than that?

From what I understand, direction is determined by joystick movement, but movement itself is determined by shifting of the weight of all "tire" occupants. I hope my understanding is a mis one, because I can't see how such a thing will work in a real life theme park environment.

I can't help but wonder...is your wife satisfied with your sexual performance?

VGDM! :evil:

You lean to move, you use the joystick to spin.

Sounds easy enough in theory, but I have read more than online report about how it takes more than one ride (3-5) to get used to how maneuver. While this seems like no big deal to AP's for whom multiple visits renders this detail fairly moot, it doesn't bode well for irregular visitors*



*Visitors who do not come very often, not visitors like CoasterMatt :D

Thanks again for your kind words.

does that mean I'll have to get someone to grab my lever for me?

I was just looking at Dateline Disneyland. Is it just me, or does the Radiator Springs Racers track look like a slot-car track?

They have to get A LOT of complaints to shut down a ride purely for guest annoyance. I think Super Star Limo is the only example, ever. I figure if there's enough bumping action, people aren't going to be super pissed that they didn't go in the direction they wanted.

My prognostication of a short life is based on multiple factors - see my original post on the topic. Don't get me wrong: I WANT it to succeed!

Is there any way to in-supersize my photo above (or convert it to a link)? I didn't realize how big it is. Sorry if it is annoying anyone.

Put it in a spoiler tag.

I like the big photo. Makes me feel like I'm on the ride. I like that because I doubt I'll be able to ride it more than twice this summer. I'm gonna let the crowds have at it, and ride more regularly once the hoopla dies down. (Unless it sucks as badly as I'm told Test Track does)

The post would still be as wide, which is (IMO) the problem.

Only when the spoiler is opened. Then when done looking you can close the spoiler and the problem goes away.

Riding in a giant slot car would be freaking cool!

It is essentially a slot car track.

Instead of big metal fin standing up above, the bus bar is down IN the slot between the roadtrack.

!

Hmm... I always thought it came the same width. I just tested and you are correct good sir. I learnt something new today - thank you?

Now, would some if some admin type person would please wrap that picture in some spoiler tags, I would be most appreciative!

Eh just keep posting and bump it to the next page

Here at Lounge of Tomorrow, we pride ourselves on only the finest of Administrative Staff

Yes. It's exactly the same ride as test track. Same as how Indy sucks because it's the exact same vehicles and track layout as the supersucktacular Dinosaur ride in Animal Kingdom. /visiblerolleyes/

(I like the big photo, too. Check out the cool track lighting hidden on the backside of the reflector posts!)

And our fine fine Administrative Staff Support.

If you can't be an Administrator be an Administrative Supporter.

Tangent...I wonder if any of the dental techs spotted me singing along to the theme from Grease when it played while I was in the chair yesterday.



And if you know why I went on that tangent (I have to assume katiesue does), you're a better person than those that don't.

Snort, riff on Grease mojo!

GD, ha!

visible Greasy mojo to GD!

If for some reason we do happen to have a meet....include me please, will be trying to get the day off, but who knows with the Mouse House. All CM's might be needed for the crowds that are expected that weekend. We have been warned (over and over again)!

I included you. DID SOMEBODY NOT INCLUDE DIANE? NO?

You're included.

Damnit: I am sick of the miniature thread so I need to bump away.

Bump

Bump again

Yet again

Yeah, it's annoying. Sorry.

Don't mind me.

Nothing to see here. Move along.

Crap: ten more posts to go.

You would think I could write something more creative...

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

A friend - dead ringer for Darryl Hannah - worked one summer for the Carthusian monks who make chartreuse liqueur. She stayed in their worldwide sales office while the monks toiled in the factory.

As was customary, she was entitled to a small quantity of chartreuse liqueur daily as a part of her compensation. She came to enjoying this daily lift in her day with Brother Baldemar, who brought her daily allowance (though he never imbibed himself). He was one of the younger novices who was just a few months away from his 20th birthday when he could become a full-fledged monk.

Over the months, their friendship grew and they became quite close, discussing their life's goals, dreams, and philosophies. While they did not always agree, they always respected and honored each other's opinions and views.

As his 20th birthday approached, he expressed some curiosity as to what he was going to forgo in his life as part of his vows. He nervously shared that he was curious what the intimacy of a woman would be like, confessing that he wanted to experience a woman's touch just once before he sealed his vows.

It may have been that she had more than her daily allowance of chartreuse that day, but she leaned forwarded and touched her lips to the novice's. Their kiss was light and tender, but their shared passion soon warmed as she enjoyed his soft warm lips. Soon, her palms were exploring the the smooth strong back of the young curious novice and his nervous trembling hands started to tentatively touch her body.

They dismissed themselves to a little more privacy and she started to disrobe. He sat enthralled as she slowly revealed more of her ready body to him until she stood bare, exposed to his innocent eyes. She then approached him and tenderly freed him of his robes and undergarments.

Soon, the full lengths of their bodies were pressed together and she began to kiss him in a frenzied passion. He made a hungry noise and she could feel his manhood pressing against her.

He slid inside of her in one swift move. While this may have been his first time, she guided him slowly to maximize their pleasure. She looked in his eyes and saw the pure animal lust that only a man in this situation can portray. Their rhythm started slow, but their tempo naturally increased as their passion grew to a fever pitch. His inexperience melted away as he thrust his manhood to drive her pleasure to new heights; heights she never knew existed. Soon they both reached a plateau where they were lost in a haze. He lay panting on top of her, his heaving chest matching her own pace, and they slowed together in a natural harmony.

That's not the end of the story.

Captain's log, stardate 9522.6: I've never trusted Klingons, and I never will. I could never forgive them for the death of my boy. It seems to me our mission to escort the Chancellor of the Klingon High Council to a peace summit is problematic at best. Spock says this could be an historic occasion, and I'd like to believe him, but how on earth can history get past people like me?

Let me give it to you straight.

Long ago, some hipsters were digging on the Disney scene and started hanging out at one of their crash pads. But one real cool hep kitten there got the boot. So we picked up our bags and hit a new joint, but man that place was loaded with ickies who really put a funk in our groove.

Then the hipsters got wise to the fact that while Disney was cool, there was a whole swanky world out there and it was time to build our own digs – the Lounge of Tomorrow, where we could groove on Disney and all the other swank and hip things of the world.

We’re cool with those other Disney pads; a lot of swank hipsters still hang there. This place is extra, it’s the side of bacon – and we like it that way.

If you want to be hip to our swank manifesto – here’s what you gotta know:

After leaving the hit program Miami Ink because of a dispute with her fellow cast members, Kat Von D moved back to Los Angeles to open her own tattoo shop and was offered a spin off show. Initially, she hired her close friend Amber "Pixie" Acia to be the shop manager, and her good friend Corey Miller as the tattoo artist. After considering many more artists for the job, Von D hired Hannah Aitchison and Kim Saigh to work for her as well. The cameras follow her as she opens the shop, while capturing everything that unfolds in between.

Ooh ooh

We're no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of
You wouldn't get this from any other guy
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

We've known each other for so long
Your heart's been aching but
You're too shy to say it
Inside we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it
And if you ask me how I'm feeling
Don't tell me you're too blind to see

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

(Ooh, give you up)
(Ooh, give you up)
(Ooh)
Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)
(Ooh)
Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)

We've know each other for so long
Your heart's been aching but
You're too shy to say it
Inside we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it

I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Fellow Citizens:

I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America.

Previous to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.

INGREDIENTS

6 slices good-quality smoky bacon, such as applewood smoked bacon
Salt and pepper
1 pound whole wheat short-cut pasta
2 skinless chicken breasts, lightly pounded
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling
1/2 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
4 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, quartered lengthwise and very thinly sliced
2 rounded tablespoons flour
1/2 cup cloudy apple cider or chicken stock
2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
1 1/2 cups shredded extra-sharp white cheddar cheese
1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
Chopped flat leaf parsley or celery greens, for garnish

PREPARATION
Pre-heat the oven to 375°F.

Arrange the bacon on a slotted broiler pan or on a rack placed over a baking sheet and bake until crisp, about 15 minutes. Chop and reserve. Switch on the broiler and position the rack in the center of the oven.

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Salt it, add the pasta and cook for 1 minute less than the instructions indicate, or until just shy of al dente. Drain and return to the pot.

While the pasta is working, heat a grill pan or cast iron griddle over medium-high heat. Drizzle the chicken with EVOO to coat lightly, then season evenly with paprika, salt and pepper. Grill the chicken for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Transfer to a cutting board and halve the pieces lengthwise, then thinly slice them crosswise.

While the chicken cooks, melt the butter in a medium size saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until light golden brown and very soft, 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for 1 minute. Whisk in the cider (or stock), then add the milk. Bring to a boil and cook, whisking, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, 3-4 minutes. Add the thyme and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir in the cheese until melted.

Add the chicken, bacon and sauce to the pasta and transfer to a casserole. Broil until bubbling and browned, about 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley or celery greens.

Serves 6

Okay: all done

You are having way too much fun!

Wait that recipe sounds good, what's it called?

I wish June 15's weather would be just like today's.

I don't remember. I think I found it on Rachel Ray's site: it was the second one down on a search for "Mac & Cheese"

Or reset your post per page setting. Mine was fine at least 10 posts ago.

At least it's more inventive than her Late Night Bacon "recipe"!

Kevy sounds like one of those sketches where some guy is twiddling the dial on his radio.

New update from Al about the openings. Along with all the DCA updates, he also reminds about the Matterhorn opening on 6/15. The new sleds also come with a new height requirement of 42" (it used to be 35").

They just announced that Silver CM Passes will be blacked out for the entire month of June.

So we're lining up at midnight? Or will that be too late.

Wow, they're really getting ridiculous with the blockout dates. Is that the whole resort or just DCA?

The whole resort.

Bummer about no AP previews. And I don't really think I can make it to the Magic Entry early thingies and also make it to work on time. Oh well. Surprisingly, perhaps, I don't really care.

Curmudgeon alert - - and with the proviso that I say when I love things as well as when I don't. [cough]Floating Leota, Jungle Cruise piranhas, Little Mermaid ride [cough] - - but I hate DCA, and don't much care what they do with it. All the new stuff is nice, but it's like lipstick on a pig.

From what I've seen, the Carthay Circle Theater exterior is underwhelming as a theme park centerpiece. Perhaps it's like the difficulty of doing miniature water, but because the walls of the tower are so blank, the scale seems really tiny and not forced-perspectivy. The entrance will be very pretty, certainly better than the old one in every conceivable way - but also underwhelming compared with just about every other Disney park in the world. It's behind walls, so hopefully I'll be proven wrong when all is revealed.

Cars Land is looking very pretty, and I do want to sample the rides and explore the area. But I'm in no hurry. I'd rather wait till the crowds die down a bit. If a decent opportunity doesn't present itself by Disneyland birthday, that will be the day then. And likely my last at the Resort for a while. My AP expires the next day, and I don't plan on renewing for a while. It barely paid for itself this past year.

I think I'm most excited about Ghiradelli of all the new DCA offerings. Ice cream sundaes ... <<droooool>>. But DCA bores me. It's a failed concept of the most generic theme park imaginable ... and making it prettier, and with some better rides is not going to change its very nature.

You're getting slow in your old age Steve: there were 112 posts in this threads before your curmudgeonly-ness came out :)

I predict that crowds will not die down, at least not in the traditional sense, for years. Every boy in the country owns toys linked to the Cars franchise, and all the boys I know have t-shirts and shoes and blankets and dishes and backpacks and toothbrushes and oh yeah lots of Cars branded hot wheels, tracks, etc. I'm not kidding, this is way bigger than anything ever, an unprecedented juggernaut, and it's going to be a DCA game changer.

I'm with CP on this one. Since my last name is the same as Lightning's I notice all the merchandise. And it's right up there with Star Wars, Batman, Superman etc. There's a whole younger generation of kids that are growing up on it.

That's 2.5 BILLION dollars.

Hahaha, Star Wars not even in the mix anymore.

I always suspected that Cars, much more than Toy Story, was a film designed to sell toys. It's a pleasant movie, but just one of only 2 Pixar titles I don't like well enough to have in my stable at home. (Oh, nor do I have Cars2, which I haven't seen yet - but word of mouth on that one is abominable - so I guess it will be 3).

If that's the case I wonder if it will be enough to make a noticeable dent on crowds at Disneyland.

I wonder how long before the first angry guest screams at the CM when their "flying" tire doesn't move enough?

Since it reportedly takes 98% of a ride cycle to even figure out how to move the thing, I predict that will happen within the first hour of operation. ;)

Teeheehee. Dent.

If you have a valid DL AP as of May 1, you can enter to win a sneak peek at Cars Land on June 11.

Sorry, I was looking in the DL forum for things on DL.

Looking where things belong? You must be new around here.... :D

Pizza (Homemade.)



(well, that's What's for Dinner - where else would I put it? :evil: )

I like bacon. It's like candy but it's meat!

I'm going to Disneyland!

Are you going on June 15?

Maybe.

Maybebaby.

Got my cast preview days locked in.

So excited !! :D

Hmmm Didn't know you were a cast member :snap:

See you in November!

I'm trying to figure when the best time might be to check out the revamped DCA.

I have a feeling that the 15th will be an unbareable mess. They expected that to be the case on DCA's opening day in 2001, which didn't materialize, but I have a feeling that this one will be different.

The weekend may be just as bad as many M-F people get their first day off to go.

The next weekday chance is Monday, all APs are allowed then, so that's bad.

My thought is Wed. the 20th at park opening at 8:00 am (yes, it will now have the same hours as DL!). This allows 5 days for those who are really excited to get their visit out of the way, it's mid week, and the lower two AP levels are blocked. And it's still early enough to not have summer season and kids out of school crowds yet. Plus it gives the park time to figure things out going full speed, and reports about how crowds are doing.

Does that sound logical? It's also possible that the crowds will be close to the same on all days for the next 300 days or more.....

This.

Go early, stay late, embrace the chaos.

No one will be going to the revamped DCA: it'll be too crowded.

I can't wait for the insanity and madness on June 15th. Now that I'm newly unemployed I am so looking forward to the chaos on June 15th.

I may wait till Disneyland Birthday.


Boy, I'm just not as into Disneyland as I used to be, and a vamped DCA (aka Lipstick on a Pig) is of interest, but a month's delay is not a big deal for me.

Since my pass expires that weekend and I don't have the $$$ to renew I'll be braving the crowds on the 15th.

We are unable to make it into the park on Friday, but we have fun news for anyone who does. We have a hotel room at the Disneyland Hotel that night and the following night. (We are kickin off my niece and nephews' arrival for the month, crowds be damned on Saturday and Sunday.)

So for all you weary crowd-fighting masses, we will have monorail pool access starting around 3 pm Friday. Come join us for a splash.

Awesome!

Yahoo!


My pass is "valid thru 6/17" so it should be good all weekend.

June 15th is a blockout day for SoCal and SoCal Select passes.
June 16th is blocked out for all but Premium

Hmmm, wonder if I should take my premium pass out for a spin before it expires two months later. I don't see me going much while my bf is passless, and I've really no desire to be at the Resort during DCA madness ... but the monorail pool? Yes, I find that more alluring than the opening of Cars Land. :D

Prophetic as always KB.