Bengal Barbecue: Great Use of Tight Space

Sporting one of Disneyland's most whimsical bits of signage, Bengal Barbecue is one of the park's most unusual counter service food options. Tucked to one side of Adventureland's busy promenade, it features several varieties of skewers, including beef, chicken, vegetable, and the truly you-don't-see-that-everyday-at-a-theme-park Bacon-Wrapped-Asparagus. Mickey Pretzels and other snacks are also available, and the prices are reasonable.

The West Coast Sorcerer Hat

Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World are both "blessed" by giant sorcerer hats, each paying a tribute to the most famous sequence from Walt Disney's Fantasia.

The stylized West Coast version isn't nearly as controversial as its larger Florida cousin, mainly because it doesn't block the view of a beloved landmark. In Anaheim, the hat merely serves as a whimsical entry marker for the Disneyland Hotel. It essentially lets guests know they're leaving Downtown Disney and entering the hotel grounds.

It's a cute piece of pop art, and it sparkles effectively at night. It doesn't, however, quite fit the 60's retro theming of the DL Hotel's recent remodeling. If and when it's replaced with a different sort of entry symbol, I doubt many guests will miss it much, as it's always felt like a temporary place holder. Then again, who'd have guessed the Florida hat would have stuck around as long as it has!

The Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes

With Splash Mountain looming in the background, one of Crockett's canoes passes the Fantasmic stage on Tom Sawyer Island.

 If you drop by Disneyland during the canoes' limited operating hours--and the sun's not too scorching--be sure to give this adventure a whirl. You'll get some great exercise (these are genuine trackless, people-powered canoes) and unique, up-close views of river landmarks you can't get from the Mark Twain or Columbia.

I love the ride's entry sign, too. It looks so charmingly, perfectly rustic (and that real forest background certainly helps) that the modern-day safety advisories don't disrupt the old-time atmosphere at all. It all just looks "right" with that classic Disneyland balance of history, fantasy and function.

Photos by Lana Whitham

Alice in Wonderland's Curious Signage

There's nothing quite as Fantasyland-ish as an eyeful of Wonderland leaves. That's a nicely-designed sign, too. Although, sometimes these ride descriptions get a bit too literal...

Is it really necessary to point out that the ride vehicles are oversized caterpillars? I honestly don't think anyone in line is expecting to board a normal-sized three-inch-long caterpillar...at least, I certainly hope not. Ah, well, it's a fun bit of signage nevertheless.

Photo by Lana Whitham

Beware of Gloating Wildlife

Could this be the most blunt sign in Disneyland? Once you've hiked all the way to Critter Country to see Splash Mountain, odds are good you're going to find yourself tired, hot and thinking of snacks. There aren't a lot of dining options in this remote cul-de-sac, and as you head up the ramp to the Hungry Bear Restaurant, the first thing you see is this smug little tree muncher rubbing your predicament in your face, as if envisioning his share of the profits.

I  like the concept of the animals finding ways to profit from human visitors. Disney should install related carvings throughout Critter Country; A troupe of opportunity-seizing entrepreneurial  critters could be a great way to tie the whole area together.

The Bridge to Paradise Pier

Of the two entry paths to Paradise Pier, the main bridge delivers the most dramatic and fun sense of traveling back in time to an old-fashioned boardwalk. As you pass under the welcome sign, the atmosphere invites you to slow down, enjoy the moment, and pause to watch the coaster launch a few screaming trainloads up its first peak.

Disneyland Resort, due to its compact size, doesn't get a lot of opportunities to play with wide open spaces. Paradise Pier is an exception: it's one of the few spots on property where guests get a good look at an attraction (in this case, California Screamin') from a distance as they approach.

Once considered by many to be the worst idea ever shoehorned into a Disney park, Paradise Pier has blossomed into a charming, relaxing and beautiful corner of the resort. With room still available for another big attraction or two, the Pier's future looks brighter than ever.

The Board of Suspense

It appears near the entry to every Disney park, and sends cold chills down the spines of Disney fans worldwide.

It's the Closed Attractions Board! Don't you hate that moment when you first spot the sign and--holding your breath--you move closer to see which rides are closed...er, being refurbed....are currently unavailable.  "Currently unavailable" sounds much nicer than, "in pieces" or "temporarily dismantled."

Looking ahead, I have to face the reality that, sooner or later, Radiator Springs Racers is going to have to go down for a routine refurbishment. When that happens, it'll be interesting to see how much the downtime hurts DCA's attendance. Disneyland's got so many great rides that it can easily hold up while a huge E ticket like Big Thunder goes under the knife. DCA's a different story. Having an E Ticket like Grizzly River down hurts the younger park's offerings much more severely. When the time rolls around for Racers' first refurb...ouch.

Splash Mountain: A Tony Baxter Masterpiece

 

How many people have passed through the barn door entry to Splash Mountain since its 1989 opening? One thing's for certain: no one who enters this incredibly fun (and mega-popular) adventure leaves without some free Splash Mountain water as a souvenir.

I've always enjoyed the way the building provides a smooth transition from reality (well, Disneyland reality) into the ride's animated fantasy world. The queue winds through the convincingly real-looking barn setting while written quotes from the Br'er Rabbit tales foreshadow the adventure up ahead. Before guests know it, they've stepped from the barn into the "underground" rabbit burrow tunnel leading to the loading platform.

From that point on, it's a world of singing geese, evil plots, bees, laughing places and scary drops. The getting-soaked finale actually draws you more completely into the story; it's the price you pay for escaping the fox's lair!

Tony Baxter, the genius and magician behind Splash Mountian, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Star Tours, The Indiana Jones Adventure, Disneyland's New Fantasyland and much, much more recently announced that he's moving from full-time Imagineering to more of a consulting and mentoring role. Tony, thank you for all the great memories, fun, thrills and true magic you've given the world. You have worked wonders and delighted and inspired millions of people. You are amazing.

Toontown: Horace Horsecollar's Gym

The thoroughly-pummeled punching bag signage for the Horace Horsecollar Gym dangles above the heads of Toontown guests. On clear days like this, the town's design -- with no real foliage visible behind the rooftops -- creates a neat illusion: the sky looks like a painted backdrop.

Estelle over at This Happy Place Blog posted a great 2007 shot of a rare Horace (and Clarabelle) appearance during a Walt Disney World parade. Terrific costumes -- I hope we get to see them in the parks more often. In the meantime, it's nice to see the good Mr. Horsecollar officially acknowledged as a Toontown business owner.

Indiana Jones Fastpass

Today we take a look at the Fastpass waiting time display tower for the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye -- and what a wild, goofball, ramshackle-looking construction it is. Disneyland's Adventureland is more or less themed around the idea of Western civilization sticking its nose into places and situations where it doesn't belong, and that goes double for the Indy ride's entry area.

What a gloriously intentional mess this thing is. By all rights, it should look awful, but its crazy angles and mismatched materials make it all the more fun to look at. It's also a great foreshadowing of the chaos that awaits ahead, and a clue that the archeological camp you're about to enter is not run by the best-funded or most well-organized explorers on Earth. Call me paranoid, but if you put your trust in those guys, there's a very good chance something is going to go horribly wrong...

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

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...

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WDW 1993: Splash Mountain Signage & Statues

We're temporarily moving from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom for this bit of our 1993 tour, to check out a few wonderful exterior details around Splash Mountain. All these elements are still present in 2012, but fans may be able to spot the differences between then and now.

Here's the statue of Brer Fox, Brer Bear and Brer Rabbit as it appeared in '93, with a natural-looking finish.

And Brer Rabbit looks for adventure atop one of the best signposts on earth.

We've discussed before which resort's Splash Mountain we find superior (Spoiler: It's WDW's). More focused storytelling was one factor that swung the vote.

I wish we'd spent more time in the Magic Kingdom back in '93. In our defense, though, this group of Disneyland regulars just couldn't stay away from Epcot for more than half a day!

More from 1993 WDW soon!

Tractor Crossing

It seems Sheriff has made guest -- and livestock -- safety a top priority, as he's placed the world's most cheerful warning sign near Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and Petting Zoo.

We hope someday Radiator Springs might actually feature an occasional wayward tractor moseying its way along Route 66 -- radio-controlled, perhaps? With all the fun we've seen in Cars Land this summer, we'd say anything is possible.

Sunday Signage: The Mad "T" Party

I don't fit the target age group for loud techno dance clubs, but I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to DCA's Mad "T" Party. The experience begins with this amazing animated pocket watch -- one of the most mesmerizing entry signs I've ever seen. It serves as a vivid preview of the wild visuals and lighting effects awaiting down the neon rabbit hole.

What I found upon entering made me smile. Well done. For others like myself, who usually aren't into this sort of thing, I suggest treating "T" Party like a walk-through attraction, if you can handle the music volume. Enter down the rabbit hole and proceed on through, admiring the bizarre sights and sounds within. Then head on back to Cars Land for some great 60's Motown tunes and a milk shake at Flo's.

If you're looking for a loud, surreal dance club themed around a Blade-Runner twist on Alice in Wonderland, you couldn't ask for a more effective, colorful (and well-performed) realization of that very concept!

Where Lightning Got Sentenced

Near the courthouse, right where it should be, stands the famous "Happy Place" spot where Doc Hudson sentenced a horrified Lightning McQueen to hard labor community service while Mater requested $32,000 in legal fees. The courtyard has been "prettified" since Radiator Springs regained its rightful place on the map at the film's finale, and now boasts tail light flowers (love the tire planters) and a bench for human guests.

Here's a side shot to show the spot's placement in the town. It's 7:20 A.M. during Extra Magic Hour, and it seems 95% of the early visitors to Disney California Adventure are in line for Radiator Springs Racers, which leaves the rest of the town open to relaxed, crowd-free touring...until 8:00, when the general public enters en masse. The place is completely believable as a historic, once-forgotten stop along Route 66; it's hard to believe those telephone poles were just installed a few months ago.

Sunday Signage: King Triton's Carousel

King Triton's Carousel may not be the most thrilling ride at Disney California Adventure, but it sure has a first-rate sign welcoming guests aboard. Have you ever seen Ol' Triton so overjoyed to see humans?

Maybe it would have been more in-character to have him scowling down at anyone entering...and then, during the ride, a life-size audioanimatronic of the Sea King could lunge up from behind a boulder and fire thunderbolts over riders' heads while bellowing, "GET OFF MY CAROUSEL, HUMANS!!!" That would have been awesome.

Getting back to reality, King Triton's Carousel is a fun feature of Paradise Pier, and was actually one of the few opening-day DCA attractions suitable for small children. Its location -- tucked off to the side between California Screamin' and Toy Story Midway Mania -- keeps the waiting lines short, and that's good news for guests!