Showing posts with label differences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label differences. Show all posts

December 22, 2012

The Lovably Anachronistic Monorail

Monorail Disney California Adventure Disneyland Condor Flats
It's a busy morning at Disney California Adventure, and we're enjoying a stroll through the little backwater airstrip of Condor Flats. There's a faint rumbling. In a flash, Monorail Blue (Mandy) zips in and out of sight -- gone in a blink. You can almost hear the futuristic train saying, "'Scuse me -- pretend I'm not here -- Sorry!"

The clash of themes isn't a bad thing; it's just part of Disneyland Resort's unique character as the world's most amazing concentration of creativity in a small space.
Mandy Monorail Disneyland resort esplanade Downtown Disney
Mandy heads from Downtown Disney to Tomorrowland.

Sometimes you have completely coherent zones like Cars Land and New Orleans Square...and sometimes you have a monorail zipping past Alice in Wonderland, a steam train, real-world Harbor Blvd., 1930's Hollywood and Condor Flats -- right before it burrows through the Grand Californian and stops in Downtown Disney near the pyramid entry to Rainforest Cafe.

Walt Disney World's Monorail passes through Epcot's Future World because it was designed that way from the beginning. Disneyland's Monorail crosses Condor Flats because it has to. Completely different atmospheres and experiences spring from that acreage-based distinction between the resorts. I love both results.

November 12, 2012

It's a Quaint World After All (Plus Fish Heads & Crumbs)

Disneyland Resort Signpost sign signs downtown directional
Standing on the esplanade between Disneyland and Disney Calfornia Adventure (and right on the very border of Downtown Disney) we can gaze up at this signpost and realize that we don't need any further directions. There's no way to get lost. Everything is right here.

There's never been a place that crams so many wonderful and varied experiences into such a small space as Disneyland Resort. West coasters tend to adore the advantages and energy of such a tightly packed vacation land just as folks who grew up with Walt Disney World love their resort's vast spaces and breathing room.

Have you ever introduced a cross-country friend or relative to "your" resort when they're accustomed to the other one? It can be an eye-opening experience. And that's our excuse for a segue into this week's Fish Heads & Crumbs...
Fish Heads Crumbs Disneyland comic walrus Plunk nephew
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