Sunday, July 12, 2015

Two From September, 1971

Have any of you GDB readers out there ever taken a guided tour? I know they still offer the tours, but wonder how many people partake. I could be the "annoying guy" (a role I was born to play), and ask stupid questions, just like I do here! 

I was a little surprised that the guide's name tag doesn't have just her first name. "Tracy", or whatever; (it says "A. Bronwyn" - if you know her, have her write in. She's probably a GDB reader!). It seems like being a guide could have been a fun job, if you had the right mind set. Throw in a few erroneous "facts" for extra laughs. "The Mark Twain was the first steamboat to break the sound barrier, which of course helped win the vote for women". "There is a bomb shelter under Sleeping Beauty Castle, just for Walt Disney and his family, with enough food and water to last 10 years". Stuff like that.


Meanwhile, over at the Flower Mart... nothing is happening! As usual. I've always wondered if Walt and/or the Imagineers ever had any other ideas for luring guests down West Center Street? I love the Flower Mart because it is nostalgic, but admit that I probably would have walked right past it - unless my mom forced us to take a look (which she would).


12 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-

I work with someone who's a former Disneyland tour guide. I'm sharing today's post with her, but she's on vacation until July 26th, so won't be able to share any comments from her until it's outdated. But I'm certain she'll have some interesting things to say - especially in response to your "sample questions"-! (Perhaps she's heard some others equally whacky - and not asked for 'fun').

I've never really paid too much attention to the layout of flowers in the Flower Mart carts, but I see a number of pieces of 'fruit' arranged in and around the vegetable/fruit scales hanging along the perimeter of the cart's overhang. Frankly, I think I'd rather be seated at the alfresco area of Carnation Ice Cream Parlor, wolfing-down some fabulous cool ice cream product. Flower shopping is for "Moms".

Thanks, Major.

K. Martinez said...

I've never taken a guided tour of Disneyland. I always assumed the information they provided was of the generic kind you'd find in the park publications sold at the Park. And it does cost extra, right? Not worth it to me unless it was a special behind-the-scenes (not available to general visitors) tour.

Nanook, Flower shopping is for "Moms"? At Disneyland, the first thing I want to do when I get inside the gate is shop for fake flowers. Who cares if the lines are building up and becoming impossibly long for Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain. Its the fake scented flowers that I come for. The Matterhorn will just have to wait.

Unknown said...

The "A." on her name tag looks like a castle to me since it's in a different color than her name. And Bronwyn, well that's about as Celtic as you get. Unless you were joking around, Major, which you never, ever do.

I can't remember if plastic flowers were ever really popular or whether Walt just wanted something to fill up West (and East) street. I can't remember my Mom having plastic flowers around, but we did have some plastic holly to decorate with at Christmas.

And flower shopping is for "Mums".

I'll just slink out over this way...

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, I am surprised that you have never mentioned your tour guide friend before! You need to interview her or something. "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?". Yes, they apparently sold fake fruit in the Mart at some point. I would like to carry a bushel of plastic apples around all day (I'm sure they shipped the stuff to your home, of course).

K. Martinez, at this point I would be very surprised if a tout provided any info that I hadn't heard before. In a way it might be fun just for the experience, but it does cost extra. After reading your comment, I can just imagine you hunkered down in West Center Street all day!

Patrick Devlin, DOH! Of course that is a castle. Somehow you figured that out with a low-quality jpeg, while I actually looked at the high0quality original scan. I blame chupacabras.

Nanook said...

@ Patrick Devlin-

I didn't know your "Mom" was British. Touché.

Chuck said...

I think Walt and the Imagineers installed an outstanding attraction for luring guests down West Center Street. I've been there many times myself...

http://davelandweb.com/mainstreet/images/westside/50s/KTPBK_56_N04B.jpg

K. Martinez said...

Chuck, somehow after reading your comment, I correctly guessed what the outstanding attraction was before I even opened your link. Excellent!

Dean Finder said...

I think the removal of the flower mart was a real loss for DL and WDW. At least in WDW, they could have made it profitable by selling flowers to guests that would be delivered to the hotel rooms.

Nanook said...

@ Dean Finder-

That idea easily applies to both parks. (Whether folks would go for such a thing is another question). But then again, that's where the marketing genius of Disney comes into play. If anyone could figure out a way to make it work, it's Disney.

K. Martinez said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
K. Martinez said...

I have to wonder if they actually ran at a profit or loss on the Flower Mart during its final years. I would think that the outdoor dining extension of the Carnation Café has a better ROI for that area. Same goes for East Center Street with its Main Street Fruit Cart. People have to eat so food is always in demand. I've always purchased some fruit or beverage from the Fruit Cart multiple times and dined at the Carnation Café at least once every vacation trip I've taken to the DLR. Truth be told, I've never stopped to look at the Flower Mart much less buy any of the "man-made" flowers from it when it existed. Neither did my mother, sisters or friends I went to the Park with in those days.

It's possible a single flower "cart" might work. Who knows. What I'd really like to see is a "Artists Alley" on East Center Street. Now that I would go to and possibly purchase something.

Anonymous said...

Major:

I too am connected to a number of former tour guides of the 70s and have posted the picture on my Facebook account asking for input. So far, surprisingly, I'm coming up dry. Maybe Nanook will come up with information on our 'mystery lady'.

KS