On the importance of attraction names
 

So I'm at lunch with my whole department yesterday when conversation (through no fault of my own) turned towards Disney. One coworker, "M", was discussing his recent visit to DCA. He turns to another coworker, "W", and says, "Yeah, well you told me that Hollywood Hotel thing isn't scary." W, initially confused about what attraction he was talking about, eventually remembers the conversation and looks surprised. "You were scared by that?" They go back and forth for a while, I'm laughing all the time.

Then, during the back and forth, someone mentions DCA again, and W says, "Wait, that's not in the California place. I've never been to the California thing." M says, "But you told me about that ride and said it wasn't scary." W: "I was talking about the one in Disneyland, you know, that ghost...haunted..." At this point I step in, "The Haunted Mansion?" "Yeah, that one."

So apparantly W told M that the Haunted Mansion isn't scary, M shows up and decides that it was ToT that W was talking about. Hillarity ensues.

Ah, small brained people....

Hmm, both of these folks are rather intelligent. Just a bit of miscommunication between people who don't know either park as well as most of us do.

That's what I ment. I was being a t-i-c egotist. :)

This is what needs to be done: someone must make a DL map with the actual attraction names replaced by the common incorrect name. The Haunted House, Star Wars... I can see the t-shirt already.

I like the Pirate ride.

Sigh...My mother in law, who goes to DL three or four times a year, still calls BTMRR, "Runaway Mine Train." :rolleyes:

I like Disneyland Resort's Grand Canyon Hotel... the last time I was there, I saw Mickey the Mouse.
:D

I still get email from people asking me if I know that the Country Bears are gone. Up until it reopened I had people asking me if I knew that Space Mountain was closed.

When the subs open in the summer there are going to be a fair number of people who visit the park and are unaware that they were ever gone.

It is good to be reminded occasionally that for most people the fact that I could probably name the proper name for every attraction, store, and dining location at the Disneyland Resort is just as pointless and geeky as being able to name the on base percentage for every player on the 1983 Seattle Mariners.

Hmm, I wouldn't go as far as saying it's just as pointless. My above example alone is enough to show that being able to accurately identify an attraction has some practical usefulness (and would have saved my poor coworker quite the fright).

I'm seconding this post. Seems every time I talk to a total muggle they ask me about the skyway or something that's been gone at least 10 years. It's always "is that really gone? I heard it was gone. I didn't believe it. I thought it was just down for the day when I was last there." These are the people that go to Disneyland, get in the first line they see, and are pleasantly surprised when they end up on a ride.

For many people that don't have kids, Disneyland is about distant childhood memories, so the conversation ends up like that old Chris Farley bit: "Oh, you like Disneyland? Hey, do you remember that theater with the movie all around you? Do you go on that? That was awesome."

No, maybe not quite so pointless. Though to most people they'd be pretty darn close.

Though your coworker who rode ToT can hardly blame the other coworker. Unless she was scared by something other than the drop (in which case she probably would be scared by Haunted Mansion anyway), the ride pretty much shows you exactly what you'll be experiencing before you get on it.

Kind of like riding Dumbo and then afterwards saying you didn't realize it would go in circles.

I've walked all the way down that street and into the lobby when the line is short never having witnessed the doors opening. The cycle time on that ride can get really long, especially if a shaft is not operating.

But in conversation it seemed what scared him most was not the dropping but the uncertainty of when it would end. I think he could have handled one or two drops, it was the up and down with no clue to how long it would go on that got him.

I miss that. It's amazing how many details I remember from when I was younger, given that we only went once a year.

My pet peeve -

"Magic Mountain" for either Space Mountain or the Matterhorn. :mad:

And right in the center:

Cinderellas Castle!

Naw, never mind. No one would ever make a mistake like that.

Out here at the Studios (and I'm sure at DCA), it's very common to be asked where to find "The Muffets." That one really curls my spine, but, whatcha gonna do?

And yet, why are our affectionate and common shortcuts, that are nonetheless wrong, any different? Teacups anyone? When's the last time you called it The Mad Tea Party?

Ok, most of our nicknames are just shorthands, but this common one said by insiders all the time is 100% wrong (and the word "Tea" does not make it right ... remember: the word "Haunted" is part of Haunted House.)

At the Magic Kingdom, we have something officially called Tomorrowland Transit Authority, or TTA, but most everyone I know defiantly calls it The Peoplemover. This is technically wrong, but it is emotionally, historically, spiritually right.

I just couldn't help myself

Fun with context

Hmm, my attempt at a reason for "Teacups" being ok is that the ride vehicles ARE teacups. Much the same way we could say in a few months "let's ride the Subs". Or even better, "the Train", which doesn't use the word "train" in it's formal name, the "Disneyland Railroad".

"Hey, after Fantasmic!, we can hit Omnimovers, and then Logs. If the line for Logs is too long, maybe Beehives."

"I want to ride Boat, then Boat, and then maybe after lunch we'll have time for Boat, depending on how we feel."

Train's a great example. But then why is Haunted House so unbearably wrong? (I cringe whenever I hear it, which is far too often).



Next time we're all at the Park (btw, how does Sunday, Xmas eve, sound to anybody???) ... let's refer to all the rides by their vehicles and see if we can understand what we're talking about!

I think it's a uniqueness thing. "Haunted House" is a generic. The whole point of the Haunted Mansion is that it ISN'T a carnival Haunted House. It's THE Haunted Mansion.

Oh, and "Train" is so un-generic, isn't it?

I'll grant "The Disneyland Railroad" is not the masterpiece of imagineering, but "Train" (a word not even in the attraction title) is as generic as humanly possible ... and we regulars say it all the time.




Not making excuses for the lametards who say "Haunted House," just pointing out the inconsistencies of human nature.

Yes, but the ride is generic. Sure, it's a really spiffy example, but it's not unique, and certainly not the most spectacular example (even when it first opened) of a train, so it's not as big of a deal. The Haunted Mansion was a first-of-its kind wonder, so it's more of a big deal to separate it from lesser examples.

I think a more interesting exercise would be spendng the day calling the attractions only by their proper names. Of course, we seldom venture past Main Street these days so neither would be much of a challenge... "Let's go to Bar"

One difference would be that we do it through knowledge and in circles we know it would work. I say teacups too, but when talking to people I know will understand what I mean. If I am talking to someone I know it taking their first trip I'd use the correct names for the most part. When writing park updates I try (though sometimes slip) to always use the proper names for attractions since I know many people reading aren't all that familiar with the parks (and it is weird to say Matterhorn Bobsleds instead of just Matterhorn or The Adventure of Indiana Jones instead of just Indy or Honey, I Shrunk the Audience instead of "oh yeah, that's still there, isn't it?").

Others use the wrong names out of ignorance and in ways that cause confusion no matter who they are talking to.

Every "specialization" creates its own vocabulary and Disney geekdom is no different. It is a badge of initiation and exclusion. It is to be part of a group to say and understand "even though the line for Pooh is short I'd never ride that. Let's get a fastpass for Indy, and Splash since it is standalone, and then go kill time on TSI until it is time. After that some of us want to eat at R2P2 so we'll take the train around later let's all meet up back at the hub."

Some people use that as a bludgeon against people who wouldn't understand it and others try to use it just when among "friends."

I can probably come after Hanukkah dinner with my parents. I may even bring latkas

LMAO!

Well I want to ride 'carved wooden benches on wheels' :p

Oh, and they tell me disneyland has a caterpillar ride. :D

Did anyone ever stop calling it Tomorrowland Terrace? And no one is going to say "Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage," it's like bad Engrish.

My family always called the Skyway "The Buckets," and Adventure Through Innerspace "Monsanto."

Monsanto
Teacups
Mansion
Pirates
Space
Splash
Thunder
Train
Alice
Snow
Pan
Toad
Twain
Pooh
Castle
Canal Boats
Small World
Circlevision
Honey (or HISTA)
Buzz
Matterhorn

I think the ONLY time I actually use the correct name is when the name is only one word.

Autopia
Monorail

No No No!!!!

What's wrong with you people! You are being far to transparent. How will you ever keep your elitist clique rap if you use words like:

Pirates and Splash?

You must use names which are more...... unique!

Sinker, Soft Opening, Goat, Acid Trip, Lilly, and Buggies for example.

If members of the general public can keep up, well you're just not doing your job.

:)

That's not the correct full name.

And don't forget canoes.

"Buckets" seems to still be a popular term for the Skyway, even though the ride vehicles changed from the bucket style years before they were shut down.

As SM pointed out, funny stuff, but what's even funnier is this: I think it's the only ride acronym that has become a full-fledged pronounceable name, and that's what I usually call it. I think GD does say "GRR" on occasion, but we mistakenly assume he's growling.

What about IASW (pronounced Ee-ass-wah) ?
IJATTOTFE (Ee-jatta-toe-fee)
TMAOWTP (Ter-mao-tep)

Wow, I have a serious acronym disability. I know It's A Small World, but those other two? Are they attraction names? (I come up with "I Just Ate The Tower of Terror For Example" and "To Make An Omelette With Terrible Puppets.") I'm sure I'll feel stupid when I figure out what they really are, if I ever do.

Hahaha, the retardedly unweildy names:
Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye
and
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Classic examples of how not to name attractions.

HISTA is a very funny, real-world example. We actually say it. Because attaction names should not be more than four words. D'uh.

That, too, is not the official name of the attraction. That may be the name of the pre-show movie but the ride is just Indiana Jones Adventure, well under the four-word limit.

I beg to differ Alex. Perhaps they've now shortened the name officially, but when the attraction opened ...it was most certainly "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Foribben Eye." The name was everywhere. (I don't have a park map from 1985 though ... maybe I'll look for a photo of the original sign.)

I think in Walt's Day, the only attraction to buck the four-word limit was "Mine Train thru Nature's Wonderland" - and yes, that was an unweildy name.


(Other tongue-twisters like The Disneyland Alweg Monorail nevertheless came in at four words or less.)

A little bit of research seems to back up iSm: "Disney A to Z" from 1996 calls the attraction "Indiana Jones Adventure; Temple of the Forbidden Eye" (that's a semicolon), the latest edition of the official book shortens it to "Indiana Jones Adventure."

Here's a reminiscence article from Frank Anzalone about the opening day ceremony. The publicity materials there said just Indiana Jones Adventure.

Here's the alphabet decoder card they gave out in 1995 which just says Indiana Jones Adventure.

The attraction poster.

Here's the original sign.

That, so far as I know is still the sign, but without the AT&T sponsorship.

Most of the early promotional material I can find pictures of just say Indiana Jones Adventure (and the current Disney materials label it as such) I don't doubt they promoted "The Temple of the Forbidden Eye" but I wonder if it was officially part of the name or more of a subtitle.

But if it was then the official unwieldy name was Indiana Jones Adventure: The Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

(Somewhat strangely, Dave Smith lists it as Indiana Jones Adventure; Temple of the Forbidden Eye in Disney A-Z.)

Regardless, I'm pretty sure the official name now, which is what we're talking about, is just Indiana Jones Adventure. The full name is used for everything else on the attractions page at the Disneyland Web site and this is how it is listed there. Same with official Disneyland press releases which also tend to be overly formal in referring to rides (probably because of lawyers).

Hmm, that is all well and good but what did the other letters have to say about it?

Well, Abe be C.D. (chronically depressed,) 'e 'aff H.I. (hormonal imbalance.) J/K! Ellen, Opie queue, are restive. UV! Aks, "Why, Zee?" Zee says, "It's too sunny, here's your glasses," and they go on ToT. L8r, they join Em for lunch at R2P2. What about W? Really a question we should all be aksing, isn't it?

It is funny that he went with the German, isn't it?

I think people like us are the only ones who care about these details.

I knew I'd feel dumb for not being able to recognize these acronyms. (My psyche really balks at them in any context.)

I know I started another thread about it, but this is a good time to remind folks that Walt Disney World is about to launch a new attraction whose acronym is MILF. (Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor.)

So? Do you have a problem with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front? ;)

I thought it was Mickeys I'd Like to Find
(ya know.. those darn hidden ones)

Today at Universal, I heard a guest refer to "Backdraft" as "Backfire"

What dorks. I just LOVE that Backlash ride. :D

I don't think anyone has mentioned the worst one of all:
(IMHO)
Autotopia :mad: ARG!!!

Heheh, yeah, that's a winner I hear too often.