"Cracker Pop"

[merlinjones]

Hey, I just coined this phrase in another thread, but I especially like it. Maybe it'll stick!

It describes the Walt Disney World style tacky 80's-90's postmodern icon architecture often cheaply erected with sculpted stucco and airbushed paint. The kind of icky building that makes you want to "Share the Magic!"

Things like the Sorcerer Hat at Disney/MGM, the big wand at EPCOT, the All-Star Resort Hotels, the ESPN club in Anaheim, the Hat outside Disneyland Hotel, the DL cone and lamppost tram center, the Team Disney buildings, the Hat animation building at the Studio, Disney Studios Paris, etc.

It seems to be someone's idea of "fanciful" cheap architecture for the masses, a lowbrow spin-off of postmodern architects like the one Eisner used all the time. It's not the same as 50's roadside kitsch, it's totally 80's.

What are your examples of "Cracker Pop"?

[RumRunner31]

Well, it sounds like we'll be getting a whole lot of "cracker pop" in the form of Mickey ears in the Esplanade pretty soon.

[Opus1guy]

What are your examples of "Cracker Pop"?

I consider the cheaply stuccoed facades of the street buildings between Golden Dreams and Grizzly whatever at California Adventure...to fall into that category. Looks like something you'd find at a cheap amusement park. Unfinished and no attention to detail.

Aaah heck. Most of California Adventure is Cracker Pop.

[AwesomeMan33]

will mouse ears beable to fit on that big head?

[merlinjones]

EW - - big mouse ears are definitely "cracker-pop."

So is the roller coaster with the Mickey-head icon or ironwork filled with "hidden Mickeys" and those gross confetti-like parking lot marquees at DL - - and the Downtown Disney leafy Monorail station. Cheep!

[patattack]

like a supermarket center from the 70's-80's?
just ugly outdated architecture?

i think anything after the 60's and some 70's turned out pretty sick, thats why walt disney world looks "off" compared to our chic disneyland<3
tomorrowland is kinda wannabe modern i think its kinda cracker pop

[merlinjones]

For me, 1967 Tomorrowland was gorgeous ultramodern - - 1998 Tomorrowland was "catpoo frugly" - - and what we have now is a big inbetween mess.

[patattack]

yes the 1967 was beautiful to bad i wasnt alive though, i just have pictures

i cant wait for the 2009 refurb!

[2DieFR]

Maybe this doesn't apply, but my head went "cracker pop" the first time I saw the swans.

[merlinjones]

The Disney Cruise ships are filled with that confetti-like "cracker pop" design. and renaming the Disneyland Hotel Towers Magic and Wonder and DisneyDollars is definitely "cracker pop" talk.

[merlinjones]

>>Maybe this doesn't apply, but my head went "cracker pop" the first time I saw the swans.<<

Me too! that's upscale "brie & cracker pop"!

[MasterGracey]

Some examples of "Cracker Pop"

There's quite a bit in DCA -
- The neon signage in Sunshine Plaza.
- Sam Andreas Shakes
- "a bug's land" marquee
- All of Paradise Pier and Route 66
- San Fransisco facades


Other "Cracker Pop" around the Resort -
- Paradise Pier Hotel
- Downtown Disney's "Larger-Than Life Garden" theme (i.e.: the fake oversized birds-of-paradise lightpost planters, etc)
- The cheap walkway vendors in Downtown Disney
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Princess Fantasy Faire

[TiaDalmaFan]

The kind of architecture and design you're talking about sounds more like Googie 2.0.

"Cracker pop" sounds like something rednecks drink while watching TV in their trailers.

[merlinjones]

>>The kind of architecture and design you're talking about sounds more like Googie 2.0.<<

Googie was more fun and interesting for me, this stuff tends to be colder and more cluttery - -basically it's 80's Hallmark postmodernism. MasterGracie's calling it!

>>"Cracker pop" sounds like something rednecks drink while watching TV in their trailers.<<

Or what they drink while staying in a hotel of this design (in bedazzled Pooh t-shirts).

[patattack]

Or what they drink while staying in a hotel of this design (in bedazzled Pooh t-shirts).

*shivers*