First look at the new version of Games at the Boardwalk, and some quick updates
Welcome to a special Wednesday edition of "In the Parks".
Today's focus is the "Games of the Boardwalk", which opened up to guests yesterday in its new, upgraded version. But there will be other tidbits, and of course, Baby Ducks, and even "Pre-teen" Ducks, which are great to see, as they survived the "Circle of Life" issue the first week of their lives.
Games, will that be Cash or Credit?
The new, more "Disney" themed Games of the Boardwalk opened on Tuesday. and there are more changes than just some "theming".
While some of the games are pretty much the same, the systems that operate the games have been upgraded to a much more secure computerized system, similar to many other Amusement Parks/County Fairs.
The first step is the use of "Play Cards", which are purchased from a machine. This has a few benefits for the company. First off, CM's no longer handle money, which prevents theft. Also, the machine can handle Credit/Debit Cards, so Disney can access a larger pool of guests, aka more impulse buying. Disney is using the same system they offer at the ESPN Zone.
The cards start at $5, and are sold in $5 increments. All games cost $2.50 a play (one weird exception). Unlike most locations, there is no discount for larger purchases. $50 gets you 5,000 points (basically a point is worth one cent), and $5 gets you 500 points.
Also, all the new games (with the exception of the Fishing Game) use computers to determine winners and what prize they get. CM's are required to use a cordless scanner to scan the bar codes of the prizes handed out to winners.
This is important to the company, as they can easily watch over both the cash flow, and prize redemption, and make sure there are no abuses in the system.
So lets look at the games, going from left to right...
The first game is "Goofy About Fishin' ".
This game is pretty similar to the prior version. The nice thing is, everyone wins. You randomly pick a fish out of the "stream", and then see which of the three colors are on the bottom. You get the prize that matches up with the colored dot on the bottom of the fish.
This is more than likely the best game for families with small kids. They might get lucky, and win a big prize, but at least they get a small prize to take home.
Note, all the prizes are from the "Fiesta" company, which is well known for supplying Amusement Parks with prizes. None of the prizes are Disney themed, but they do match the basic theme of the game.
Fiesta Toy plush toys and stuffed animals. Teddy bears zoo and jungle sea life reptiles North American animals and more plush toys.
The second game is "Dumbo Bucket Brigade", which is a "water pistol" race game. Aim the water stream at the target, and the first one to the top wins a prize.
Next is Casey at the Bat. This game is a throwing game, where you need to place a baseball in a specific circle. This is also the one game where there are two price points. You get 3 balls for 250 points, and 8 balls for 500 points. But be careful, only one prize can be won each game play. So while you get two extra balls when you spend 500 points at one time, you can only win one prize, which might happen in the first or second throw.
The fourth game is a return game, but this time themed to "Bullseye Stallion Stampede".
It is a race game, where you roll a ball up a ramp, trying to get it to land in a high level hole, instead of a lower level one. The winner gets a prize, but in this game, the more players in the race, the larger the stuffed animal will be.
Overall, the area is nicely themed, the light fixtures are a nice touch.
And the pricing is reasonable (Many games were $3 in the original format).
While the games are not for everyone, the addition of "Disney" themes and much better looking facades has definitely plussed the area.
Mark VII Monorail Update
Well, Monorail Red has lost its "half" Windows, and they have been installed on Monorail Orange.
Monorail red around 3:30 PM on Tuesday, the only Monorail running, but with "Full" Windows
Monorail Orange started to allow guests to board this evening, after being signed of by the state agency DOSH.
It is expected that ONLY Monorail Orange will be on the tracks for the next few months, with a second Monorail hopefully available for the summer.
As I mentioned on Friday, be prepared for one-way trips and other restrictions if you want to ride the Monorail.
Some news and info updates....
First off, good news for Disneyland West Side CM's, they did move the Smoking Section to take it farther away from the temporary "Roach Coach" location, which is needed, as the New Orleans Square Basement Kitchen area is closed for major refurbishment.
The Bridge near the castle that both I and Al Lutz featured this week has had some minor painting, as the bare plywood got ONE coat of paint on one side of the plywood. But no primer, and clearly you can see the grain.
The plywood is needed for safety reasons, as the lattice work is rotted out, and a child might have fall into the water. But why did the lattice get in such poor condition in the first place?
And why did it take almost a week before they even tried to paint the plywood?
Cost of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
While only the merchandise section of the new store has opened, here are the prices of the makeovers...
The Coach Package includes hairstyle, shimmering make-up, princess sash, princess cinch sac and body jewels - $44.95, plus tax
The Crown Package includes hairstyle, shimmering makeup, princess sash, princess cinch sac, body jewels and nail polish - $49.95, plus tax
The Castle Package includes hairstyle, shimmering makeup, princess sash, princess cinch sac, body jewels, nail polish, princess gown of choice, wand, shoes and portrait package courtesy of Disney's PhotoPassŪl Service (assorted prints in themed folder) (Price range determined by the choice of princess gown and shoes.) - Ranges from $195.85 to $205.85
Disney Parks will more than likely have much less profit this year
Yes, even after the cost cutting savings, such as Management and Entertainment cuts, and a much closer look at operating hours.
Orlando Sentinel - Another analyst downgrades Disney on Tourism Central Florida
Selected Photos from Darkbeer.Smugmug.Com
Looks like the extended hours have stopped the painting on California Screamin' until after Peak Easter Break.
Yes, 3 PM on Tuesday, it is THAT Empty at the new Celebration Roundup and Barbecue!
Well, that should do it until Friday, when the regular "In the Parks" will be posted at MiceAge.
As always, we truly appreciate you checking MiceAge on a regular basis. I will be at Yamibuki's Saturday night for the "last" meal. I have eaten here prior to Disney buying the hotel (the former Pan Pacific/Emerald Hotel), and will truly miss the great Sushi they served!
Today's focus is the "Games of the Boardwalk", which opened up to guests yesterday in its new, upgraded version. But there will be other tidbits, and of course, Baby Ducks, and even "Pre-teen" Ducks, which are great to see, as they survived the "Circle of Life" issue the first week of their lives.
Games, will that be Cash or Credit?
The new, more "Disney" themed Games of the Boardwalk opened on Tuesday. and there are more changes than just some "theming".
While some of the games are pretty much the same, the systems that operate the games have been upgraded to a much more secure computerized system, similar to many other Amusement Parks/County Fairs.
The first step is the use of "Play Cards", which are purchased from a machine. This has a few benefits for the company. First off, CM's no longer handle money, which prevents theft. Also, the machine can handle Credit/Debit Cards, so Disney can access a larger pool of guests, aka more impulse buying. Disney is using the same system they offer at the ESPN Zone.
The cards start at $5, and are sold in $5 increments. All games cost $2.50 a play (one weird exception). Unlike most locations, there is no discount for larger purchases. $50 gets you 5,000 points (basically a point is worth one cent), and $5 gets you 500 points.
Also, all the new games (with the exception of the Fishing Game) use computers to determine winners and what prize they get. CM's are required to use a cordless scanner to scan the bar codes of the prizes handed out to winners.
This is important to the company, as they can easily watch over both the cash flow, and prize redemption, and make sure there are no abuses in the system.
So lets look at the games, going from left to right...
The first game is "Goofy About Fishin' ".
This game is pretty similar to the prior version. The nice thing is, everyone wins. You randomly pick a fish out of the "stream", and then see which of the three colors are on the bottom. You get the prize that matches up with the colored dot on the bottom of the fish.
This is more than likely the best game for families with small kids. They might get lucky, and win a big prize, but at least they get a small prize to take home.
Note, all the prizes are from the "Fiesta" company, which is well known for supplying Amusement Parks with prizes. None of the prizes are Disney themed, but they do match the basic theme of the game.
Fiesta Toy plush toys and stuffed animals. Teddy bears zoo and jungle sea life reptiles North American animals and more plush toys.
The second game is "Dumbo Bucket Brigade", which is a "water pistol" race game. Aim the water stream at the target, and the first one to the top wins a prize.
Next is Casey at the Bat. This game is a throwing game, where you need to place a baseball in a specific circle. This is also the one game where there are two price points. You get 3 balls for 250 points, and 8 balls for 500 points. But be careful, only one prize can be won each game play. So while you get two extra balls when you spend 500 points at one time, you can only win one prize, which might happen in the first or second throw.
The fourth game is a return game, but this time themed to "Bullseye Stallion Stampede".
It is a race game, where you roll a ball up a ramp, trying to get it to land in a high level hole, instead of a lower level one. The winner gets a prize, but in this game, the more players in the race, the larger the stuffed animal will be.
Overall, the area is nicely themed, the light fixtures are a nice touch.
And the pricing is reasonable (Many games were $3 in the original format).
While the games are not for everyone, the addition of "Disney" themes and much better looking facades has definitely plussed the area.
Mark VII Monorail Update
Well, Monorail Red has lost its "half" Windows, and they have been installed on Monorail Orange.
Monorail red around 3:30 PM on Tuesday, the only Monorail running, but with "Full" Windows
Monorail Orange started to allow guests to board this evening, after being signed of by the state agency DOSH.
It is expected that ONLY Monorail Orange will be on the tracks for the next few months, with a second Monorail hopefully available for the summer.
As I mentioned on Friday, be prepared for one-way trips and other restrictions if you want to ride the Monorail.
Some news and info updates....
First off, good news for Disneyland West Side CM's, they did move the Smoking Section to take it farther away from the temporary "Roach Coach" location, which is needed, as the New Orleans Square Basement Kitchen area is closed for major refurbishment.
The Bridge near the castle that both I and Al Lutz featured this week has had some minor painting, as the bare plywood got ONE coat of paint on one side of the plywood. But no primer, and clearly you can see the grain.
The plywood is needed for safety reasons, as the lattice work is rotted out, and a child might have fall into the water. But why did the lattice get in such poor condition in the first place?
And why did it take almost a week before they even tried to paint the plywood?
Cost of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
While only the merchandise section of the new store has opened, here are the prices of the makeovers...
Quote:
The Coach Package includes hairstyle, shimmering make-up, princess sash, princess cinch sac and body jewels - $44.95, plus tax
The Crown Package includes hairstyle, shimmering makeup, princess sash, princess cinch sac, body jewels and nail polish - $49.95, plus tax
The Castle Package includes hairstyle, shimmering makeup, princess sash, princess cinch sac, body jewels, nail polish, princess gown of choice, wand, shoes and portrait package courtesy of Disney's PhotoPassŪl Service (assorted prints in themed folder) (Price range determined by the choice of princess gown and shoes.) - Ranges from $195.85 to $205.85
Disney Parks will more than likely have much less profit this year
Yes, even after the cost cutting savings, such as Management and Entertainment cuts, and a much closer look at operating hours.
Orlando Sentinel - Another analyst downgrades Disney on Tourism Central Florida
Selected Photos from Darkbeer.Smugmug.Com
Looks like the extended hours have stopped the painting on California Screamin' until after Peak Easter Break.
Yes, 3 PM on Tuesday, it is THAT Empty at the new Celebration Roundup and Barbecue!
Well, that should do it until Friday, when the regular "In the Parks" will be posted at MiceAge.
As always, we truly appreciate you checking MiceAge on a regular basis. I will be at Yamibuki's Saturday night for the "last" meal. I have eaten here prior to Disney buying the hotel (the former Pan Pacific/Emerald Hotel), and will truly miss the great Sushi they served!
Total Comments 38
Comments
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Thank you for the update! My 3.8-year-old daughter is going to like the fishing game, especially since she will win.
Regarding the photo above the quote, "Yes, 3 PM on Tuesday, it is THAT Empty at the new Celebration Roundup and Barbecue!"
When (if ever) will Disney suits have the humility and courage to admit that they obviously made a bad pricing mistake and lower the ridiculously high prices for this BBQ?
Disneyland executives should realize that they are not Sea World's costly Discovery Cove; rather Disneyland attracts well over ten million people each year primarily by providing a wonderful, magical experience for mostly middle-class families. Financially excluding prudent people from a fun, highly visible party makes guests feel left out, and that damages the their overall Disneyland experience.Posted 04-08-2009 at 07:08 AM by jcruise86
Updated 04-08-2009 at 07:17 AM by jcruise86 -
So now Woody is in the Boardwalk Games, Toy Story Mania, it's a small world, parades, as a walk-around character, and the Celebration thing in Big Thunder Ranch. When is it going to be enough!?
I really like the new Boardwalk Games though. The attention to detail is amazing and will most likely be a sign of things to come in that park.
As for the Celebration Roundup, it just shows how massively out of touch Disney is with the average person. I mean $36 per person for lunch outdoors! That's well over $100 for a family of 4 during a time when people are cutting every expense out of their budgets. I was really excited about this outdoor area myself... until I saw the price.Posted 04-08-2009 at 08:04 AM by Athlonacon 
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If the average family eats at the BBQ place, whoever buys the food won't be happy for the rest of the day...
Great update!
Posted 04-08-2009 at 08:59 AM by SouthHrbrBlvd -
Thanks for the update!Posted 04-08-2009 at 09:07 AM by WheresMickey - Boy I really get the complaints of the $36 price for BTR. That is a lot of money for food especially if you have a large family.
But, when you consider the pricing at the at the other park eateries maybe it's not that far off the mark. You have to take into account that it's all you can eat. Plus you have roaming characters plus you get a show.
I haven't tried BTR yet but I will, but I have spent well over $100 for my family to eat at the Blue Bayou many, many times and felt it was money well spent because of the food and atmosphere. Maybe in a different way this may seem worth the money for a different type of Disney eating experience.
Of course I could be wrong.Posted 04-08-2009 at 09:11 AM by RikiTiki66 - if Disney would lower the food cost people would spend more on merchandise. Along with smaller portions give smaller prices. I budget food for our week long visit and tell the kids if we save $ on food we will spend the savings on merchandise.
We orginally had PS for the celebration BBQ for next week but cancelled due to the outrageous cost for a family of 4 not to mention Disney considers anyone over 9 an adult. There is no value in a 10 year old eating 2$ worth of a 36$ meal. Especially when they are still a "kid" and won't get the goody bag. How sad for 10 year olds. Doesn't sound like the makings of a celebration to me.Posted 04-08-2009 at 09:24 AM by Olly Olive Oliver -
I think that the prices are a bit high on the BBQ ranch, I do think that a 3 PM on Tuesday picture may not be accurate on how popular this may or not be.
I think that looking at dinner time on a weekend will be a better judge of things to come.
Posted 04-08-2009 at 09:51 AM by ni_teach -
About the bridge and plywood: it's probably overly simplistic, but wouldn't a couple of 2x2's and a miter saw fix the problem permanently? Seems like by the time you get the plywood, measure it, install it, then paint it, you've invested more material and 80% of the time to do it right. Just a thought...Posted 04-08-2009 at 10:12 AM by kindagoofy - Maybe they should market it as $36 for your family's own meeting with Woody and JessiePosted 04-08-2009 at 10:25 AM by Turboman
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The games of the boardwalk look great!Posted 04-08-2009 at 10:39 AM by luke7059 -
I think they should install a lunch at the Celebration Bar-B-Que that is smaller portions, no additional portions, and a cheeper price. And lowering the price for the kids over all.
Also, I suspect that the condition of the bridge is much more complicated and will require quite a bit of work. This would exxplain the patch as the work orders are placed. But even simple work orders take a while, and with the management cutbacks I bet work orders are pileing up......Posted 04-08-2009 at 10:46 AM by rstar - Would be nice to see some before and after shots of the boardwalk games.Posted 04-08-2009 at 11:12 AM by Skippy
- Thunder Ranch was probably my favorite place to eat in the park 10 years ago. The food was reasonably priced and filling. There is NO chance that I would eat there at the current prices. Absolutely not. I would expect to pay closer to $8/child and $15/adult with no additional helpings and no drink or dessert included. This is an informal outdoor BBQ, not Napa Rose for goodness sake. When you consider the pricing at Cafe Orleans or Rancho Zocalo, I just do not understand where they are coming up with these Roundup prices, they are entirely unrealistic. I hope the empty tables speak volumes and we'll see the prices come down to earth.Posted 04-08-2009 at 11:56 AM by Tinkbelle
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Hmmm... Spend $100 for dinner at the Blue Bayou, or at Thunder Ranch...
No contest - BB with a table on the water.
I was really bummed out when they closed the original BTRBBQ, and Rancho Del Zocalo is a poor substitute. The pricing is ridiculous.Posted 04-08-2009 at 12:19 PM by Whatever -
Great update! Thanks!Posted 04-08-2009 at 01:02 PM by llama5492 -
Nothing says Victorian era theming like debit card machines and barcoded prizes...
Awesome pictures of everything! I especially love the baby ducks and Maggie the cow!Posted 04-08-2009 at 01:31 PM by PEZZ Lightyear -
Great update! Thanks. The games look great! Very nice and much better from what was there.Posted 04-08-2009 at 01:38 PM by sassy*tink - I've been wondering what the new games section was like, so thanks for the update! I'm going to have to play the baseball game in my grumpy baseball shirt and hat. As for the BBQ, no way, Jose! I'd like to see a pasta restaurant!Posted 04-08-2009 at 01:41 PM by whamo
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My wife and I would eat at the old BBQ every visit to Disneyland(about 15 times a year). It was where we had our wedding night dinner 15 years ago. The price was reasonable, around $14, and many times there was entertainment on the stage. We now have a family and cannot afford the new price point. It's a shame that we can't take our family to a place that holds so many woderful memories. At least we can walk by and stare.Posted 04-08-2009 at 02:23 PM by J.J. -
I'm sorry if I sound silly, but I thought the BBQ was just one serving, not All-you-can-eat.
Anywho, great pictures and I can't wait to get back to the parks!Posted 04-08-2009 at 02:34 PM by WannaCub
