New Orleans Square and Tahitian Terrace, 1973
It's time for a few more beauties courtesy of Mr. X, circa 1973. We're getting down to the last of this batch, I'm sorry to say. Meanwhile, let's enjoy today's offerings.
I don't have nearly enough photos of New Orleans Square, so I was happy to see the first two examples. Mr. X was obviously taken with the wrought-iron details of NOS. Or maybe he wanted a view of the exterior of the Blue Bayou restaurant, where it's always night. Or he liked that "Stroller Parking" sign. Yeah, that's probably it. There's some great 1973 fashions to enjoy, too.
Taking random photos will get you some looks from the passers-by, apparently. A sweeper is dead-center, I wonder if anybody will be able to ID him?
Next we shimmy on over to Adventureland for this very nice shot of the sign over the Tahitian Terrace - home of Polynesian-inspired food and an exciting show featuring fire dancers and plenty of pretty ladies. I see at least one "tiki baby" hangin from the eaves. Whoever that guy is in the lower right seems to think that HE is the subject of this photo. He's so vain!
THANK YOU, Mr. X!
12 comments:
Yay! Vintage pics of the future Tiana Land!
I do love this era for Disneyland. It reminds me of childhood visits to the park, with my family.
That vain guy is walking into the Tahitian Terrace like he was walking onto a yacht. At the end of the day, I bet he flew his Learjet up to Nova Scotia, to see the total eclipse of the sun.
Thanks you for these wonderful 70s pics, Major and Mr. X!
1) Wow, great 1973 fashions is right, Major. So many bright, saturated colors and patterns. I especially like the yellow outfit on the young girl on the right. And on the right edge, that toddler in the... whatever kind of pattern that is, onesie. Plaid? Checks?
Oh, and the wrought iron looks nice, too.
2) There's quite a crowd building up outside the Blue Bayou, waiting to be seated. Judging by the long shadows, it must be about supper time.
3) I like that intricately carved shield (?) below the Tahitian Terrace sign. And, vain or not, that guy in the lower right is the only one looking directly at the camera. So yes, he is indeed the subject of this photo. Mr. X should have centered the shot on him instead of the restaurant sign. A big, and rare mistake on Mr. X's part. ;-)
Thank you, Mr. X. And to you too, Major.
Beautiful classy …. Movie set classy New Orleans Square before it becomes BAYOU’S EDGE ….. and the elegant “moonlight dining all day” BLUE BAYOU ….. before it becomes LUIS’ JAZZ CAFE FOR HUMANS …… or the RESTAURANT reservation LIGHTNING LANE lobby : “ Eat first while the food’s still hot!!” Pay extra and get a table while everyone else eats standing up!!” Pay extra for a better Disneyland experience than everyone else!!…..” CHILDREN : your parents don’t love you if they don’t buy LIGHTNING LANE…….”
I knew Walt’s Disneyland would eventually start to vanish …. I just didn’t realize it was going to happen so soon …
Grump ! Grump! Grump! …. Don’t bump the Grump!
Beautiful photos of a good year. I lived in LA from 71 to 74. Then moved back to Tucson. Went to the park several times a month during that period. LA and the freeways were a bit too much, so back to familiar ground.
Mike, and vanish it did, but the memories didn't, thank our lucky stars.
Thanks Mr.X and thank you Major.
I’m happy to see NOS, railings and all. These are from the era when I was visiting twice a year, so peak Disney for me.
Just noticed the bulls head on the TT ridge pole, which seems a little odd. So much detail on those shields.
I mourn the advent of Bayou’s Edge.
Thanks Major & Mr. X.
JG
TokyoMagic!, argh, I wish I loved “The Princess and the Frog” more… it has many good things in its favor, but in my opinion it is very flawed too. Are they really turning the whole land into a PatF theme? I always look like I am walking *off* a yacht. Slightly queasy, unsteady on my feet. I’d fly up to Nova Scotia to see a total eclipse of the Sun if I could!
JB, I feel like my sister had some bright yellow outfits at around that time (she would have probably been about the same age as that girl). I don’t know *what* you call that pattern on the toddler’s outfit. Pop art? Supper time? Sup-sup-suppertime! I really wonder why that guy is looking at the camera and grinning. I asked Mr. X, who said he had no idea who that person is. Maybe the guy was already grinning about something and just happened to glance in Mr. X’s direction?
Mike Cozart, I’d love to go to a cafe for humans. I qualify! Finally a place where I belong. Your idea of paying extra to sit and eat is brilliant, and I am now going to nominate you for TWO windows on Main Street. I saw a headline a few days ago (but did not read the article) about how wait times are up 20% since the addition of Lightening (!) Lanes. Ugh. Don’t bump the Grump? What about the Noid??
DrGoat, you should have moved right next to Disneyland, then the freeways wouldn’t have been a problem! See? I have all the answers. Never mind that I know nothing about your situation. My advice still stands.
JG, I think there was a single year that I went to Disneyland more than twice, and I remember thinking, “OK, I love Disneyland, but three times a year is pushing it”. Not sure what to say to the people who go there 150 times a year. I think that bull’s head appeared in an auction a few years back, wonder what it fetched? “Bayou’s Edge”, ha ha.
Major... At this time, I was visiting daily and getting paid for it. LOL If Summer of 73, I was working canoes. That said tho, I can tell you I recognize that sweeper...just wish I could recall his name. He was very friendly and worked in the area so we would always have a few words to say, especially when I'd be on crowd control. He was permanent staff like me. Good to see him again!
I'll confess, I've grown into one of the dwarfs. Grumpy KS
Tokyo, that grinning guy was heading to a meeting with an underworld spy after spending time with the wife of a close friend. We can't see his apricot scarf, but it is there somewhere.
Major, you are right, 150 times a year is too much for anything. The only places I go more than 150 times a year are work and home and sometimes I even get tired of home.
The extended standby times as a result of Lightening Lane are part of the plan to make the basic visitor experience so miserable that you will pay anything they ask extra just to get to do something other than wait in line for rides, for food, for water or drinks, for a place to sit, for the restroom etc.
That's probably the next innovation, Lightening Lane for the toilets.
JG
JG, ha! With my luck, I’d get Lightening ;o) Lanes for the washrooms—all in the morning....and all my meals and drinks for the evening. Sign me up—here’s my money!
Sue
KS, it’s different when it’s part of your job! No surprise that the name of the sweeper has faded after 50-ish years, I figured it was a long shot anyway. I feel like we’ve ALL become Grumpy!
JG, I’ve never worn anything apricot-colored in my life. I have to admit that when I hear the word “apricot” I often think of Carly’s famous song. What I don’t get about the concept of the Lightening Lanes is that *regular* customers could also be out there buying merchandise and food instead of cooling their heels in lines. During my last visit, I waited in the line for Big Thunder; the standby line did not move for sometimes 7 or 8 minutes - maybe longer - at a time while hundreds of Lightening Lane people strolled past. At a certain point it was just insulting. Everyone around me was grumbling about it. I would have been on the ride in 20 minutes rather than 45.
Sue, I hope to never need a Lightening Lane for the bathrooms!
Major, i had the same experience on BTRR, I counted 10-for-1 as a rule. and it was insulting. It was easier to see there since the merge was out in the open. Other attractions it was less obvious and in Wookie World, these were outright hidden in the design.
I've always pronounced it "A"pricot because I'm a hick and I think of fruit, not a color, when I hear "AHH"pricot, I think of the song, which apparently was about Warren Beatty. I have only the vaguest idea who he is, and I only know about Carly Simon because that wretched song played everywhere for so long, but it is kind of funny to think of it again, especially in today's post.
And from this day forward, I will always spell it "Lightening Lane". We should have t-shirts.
JG
I don’t understand why the Suits haven’t added food/drink and souvenir kiosks all along the attraction queues. Heck, kill a couple birds with one stone. TAKE my money!
Mr. X, thank you for these terrific pictures of my favorite places in Disneyland. Thank you, too, Major, for letting us vent (and laugh about it).
Sue
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