The Disney Dish: Disneyland's Near Miss with McDonald's & Park News

Remembering Disney Legend Alice Davis

• 💔 The episode begins by honoring the late Disney Legend Alice Davis, a renowned costume designer for attractions like "It's a Small World" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."
• 🎨 Alice Davis was instrumental in establishing Disney's costume manufacturing and refurbishment processes and was recognized as a Disney Legend in 2004.
• 🍻 Jim Hill shared personal anecdotes about Alice and her husband, Marc Davis, highlighting their vibrant personalities and storytelling abilities.

New Offerings at Top of the World Lounge

• 🎆 Disney's DVC members can now enjoy the "Enchantment at the Top" dessert party at the Top of the World Lounge, Villains Lair, at Bay Lake Tower.
• 🍹 This event includes a dessert buffet and, notably, an open bar for guests aged 21 and up, a rarity in Walt Disney World.
• 💰 Priced at $89 per adult, the party offers a unique vantage point for Magic Kingdom fireworks.

Reflecting on Park Attractions and Future Development

• 🚠 The Magic Kingdom Skyway, an original attraction, is remembered for its open-air gondolas and the fond memories it holds, despite its closure.
• 🏗️ Construction continues on the new Polynesian DVC tower, with recommendations for guests to request specific buildings for better views and proximity to amenities.
• 🤔 Discussions arise about the potential expansion of the Skyliner system, with user surveys indicating strong guest satisfaction, but current leadership appears hesitant to invest.

Guest Feedback and Attraction Surveys

• 📊 Disney is actively surveying guests about their feelings towards attractions, using categories like "boring," "dated," "iconic," "personal favorite," "immersive," and "insensitive."
• 💡 This feedback aims to guide refurbishment decisions, with examples like the update to Snow White's Enchanted Wish highlighting the impact of projection technology.
• ❓ A key question is whether Disney will act on survey feedback, especially regarding attractions perceived as dated or insensitive, or if cost-benefit analyses will dictate future investments.

Historical McDonald's & Disney Partnership Talks

• 🤝 The episode delves into the history of McDonald's and Disney's potential theme park partnerships, starting with Ray Kroc's 1954 letter to Walt Disney.
• 🍔 Kroc proposed a McDonald's in Disneyland, but a disagreement over fry pricing (10 cents vs. 15 cents) led to the deal falling through.
• 🕰️ In 1987, McDonald's proposed building a replica of an original 1950s McDonald's inside Disneyland for the "Blast to the Past" event, which was also declined.
• 🍟 Despite these early rejections, McDonald's food items were eventually sold in Disney parks through various deals between 1997 and 2007, and a more extensive partnership was established in 1996.