The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (137 page)

Buena Vista Street A
menities

Buena Vista Bugle

[
FastView:
 
First printed in 2012 to explain
DCA
’s many changes to Guests.  These days, expect seasonal and special editions only.  Papers are usually available in the racks near
Mortimers
.
]

During
Disneyland
’s youth, Guests could read copies of
The Disneyland News
, a periodical distributed by
Disneyland paperboys
.  The paper’s editor,
Disneyland
publicist
Edward T. Meck
has a
tribute window
on
Main Street
above the
China Closet
. A very young
Marty Sklar
was also an editor.

The Disneyland News
was launched when
Disneyland
opened in the mid-1950’s, and initially cost a dime.  It contained articles crafted to promote
Disneyland
attractions, shows, and events, and made a nifty souvenir to bring home, whether you hailed from Bakersfield, Dubuque, or Peoria.  By spring 1957, however, the paper had folded.  Although one-off editions were printed from time to time, usually to promote a major event,
The Disneyland News
was never again printed on a regular basis.

In light of
DCA
’s rededication on June 15, 2012, and all of the changes it had experienced during its reconstruction between 2008 and 2012, it made sense that
DCA
would release a newspaper not only to promote certain attractions, shows, and events, but also to communicate to Guests what was happening, what was new, where to find certain attractions and foods–in sum, to reintroduce even seasoned Guests to the new-and-improved
DCA
.

Greetings
Buena Vista Bugle
!  Although
DCA
could have given its paper the straightforward monker of
The DCA News
, the park instead selected a name with personality, with character, with moxie, by gosh! 
The Buena Vista Bugle
trumpets
DCA
’s news in colorful 1920’s period prose.

The masthead of this four-page paper (
The Buena Vista Bugle:  Official Publication Disney California Adventure Park
) visually echoes the masthead of
The Disneyland News
.  There are feature articles, columns by food critic
Inglebert Irving
,
The Buzz with Gayle & Gail
, entertainment guides, tips, and advertisements.

Of course, the entire paper is a charming advertisement, designed to guide Guests toward
DCA
eateries, shops, and and events, particularly those that are under-attended and under-appreciated.  As they say–there’s no such thing as bad publicity!  And the tips offered are genuinely helpful.  Many Guests don’t know about
Disneyland
’s
Package Check Service
, for example, or that they can
Ask Otto
for resort info–locations, times, etc.–by calling (714) 520-7090.

The Buena Vista Bugle
is a breezy, fun read and it’s free, free,
free
!  Pick up your complimentary copy on
Buena Vista Street
, especially at
Mortimers
or at the
Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café
, when you enter the park.  Reading the
Bugle
is a nice way to start your
DCA
day, sipping a coffee, noshing a pastry, and reviewing the paper with your family and friends.

The
Buena Vista Bugle
office is next door to
Elias & Co
. Unfortunately, it’s a façade; you can’t drop in to watch the
Bugle
rolling off the presses.  You
can
scan the paper’s one high-tech element, a QR code on the bottom left of page four, to connect to
DCA
news via FaceBook and Twitter.

Although originally meant to be a short-term publication to acclimate Guests to the new
DCA
, the newspaper’s popularity might extend its life into 2014 and beyond. As 2013 closed,
DCA
was still printing seasonal and special editions.  My one regret whenever I read
The Buena Vista Bugle
is that my father, a military and civilian newspaper man, didn’t live to visit
DCA
and read its paper.  Although very ill, Dad had followed with interest all the updates about the building of
Buena Vista Street
, especially the
Red Car Trolleys
.  He would have loved
Buena Vista Street
, and he would have loved its newspaper.
Did You Know?
  You can still follow
Disneyland
news, not via a paper, but online at
www.disneylandnews.com
.

Chamber of Commerce

[
FastView:
 
The equivalent of
Disneyland
’s
City Hall
,
DCA
’s welcoming
Chamber of Commerce
offers information and many services.  Buy
Disney Dollars
and exchange currency here.
]

Disney
spent years–and more than a billion dollars–renovating
DCA Park
, so when the transformation was complete,
Disney
held a rededication ceremony in June of 2012.  There’s a commemorative plaque at the base of the flag pole on
Buena Vista Street
, just as you enter the park, that presents, side-by-side, the dates of the original
DCA
dedication by then-Chairman and CEO of
Disney
,
Michael Eisner
, on February 8, 2001, and of the rededication by present
Disney
Chairman and CEO
Robert Iger
on June 15, 2012.

Iger
’s rededication statement is engraved above the dedication dates.  It’s similar to
Eisner
’s original remarks, but more condensed, more universal. 
Iger
’s words indicate clearly that between 2001 and 2012,
Disney
figured out how to best celebrate “daring dreamers such as
Walt Disney
” and “the richness and diversity of California” while giving Guests a true, honest-to-goodness
Disney Theme Park
experience.

Beyond the flag pole, beyond
Oswald’s
, on your left as you head down
Buena Vista Street
, is a handsome little brick building that is part of the new
DCA
’s commitment to delivering superlative service to Guests.  Where
Sunshine Plaza
was vibrantly tacky and disjointed,
Buena Vista Street
is classy and well organized.  Where
Sunshine Plaza
offered Guest Services, an under-staffed counter as bland as its name, where Guests often felt like intruders,
Buena Vista Street
offers the
Chamber of Commerce
, a beautifully themed Guest Services building where visitors to the 1920’s community are warmly welcomed by helpful Cast Members.

Just as
Buena Vista Street
is
DCA
’s equivalent to
Disneyland
’s
Main Street
, a fully realized, welcoming entrance land, so
Buena Vista Street
’s
Chamber of Commerce
is a mirror of
Disneyland
’s
City Hall
.  Do you need to convert your money to
Disneyland Dollars
?  Or to change foreign currency?  Do you seek maps or entertainment guides?  Do you need information?  Do you have special requirements?  Do you want to share a compliment or complaint about
DCA
?  Pick up a
Birthday Button
?  The
Chamber of Commerce
is the place to go.  (It’s also the place Guests invited to take surveys are led backstage to complete the surveys via computer.)

The visual differences between the former
Guest Services
and new
Chamber of Commerce
are telling. 
Guest Services
was dull-looking, windowless, and tucked away; it seemed uninviting, like it was trying to hide from the world.  The
Chamber of Commerce
, while set back from the main street, beckons invitingly with its cheery red awning, delicately fashioned stone and brick work, large expanses of glass, and colorful tiles.  The plush red velvet ropes make Guests feel like valued VIPs.  “Come on in,” the
Chamber of Commerce
’s exterior seems to say.  “We’re here to serve you!” 
Did You Know?
  A Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and business people.  Its goal is to provide local businesses with a voice and with influence in the community, and to provide networking and charitable opportunities.  The
Disneyland Resort
and its hotels are members of the
Anaheim Chamber of Commerce
.

First Aid

[
FastView:
 
Treatment for non-emergency ailments, and triage to outside medical facilities if needed.
]

Located next door to the
Buena Vista Street Chamber of Commerce
,
DCA
’s
First Aid
site is the place for Guests with
non-emergency
illnesses and injuries to report.

With its dark
purple and pale violet hues, the
First Aid
building, while elegant, stands out from its surroundings–and when you’re seeking medical help, that’s a good thing.  Note also the white crosses painted on the windows of the entrance doors.

First Aid
is
not
an Emergency Room.  It’s for minor illnesses and injuries, which could include headaches, blisters, slight cuts or scratches, sprains, and mild sunburns.

For severe afflictions–fainting,
heart attacks or strokes, serious cuts or abrasions, broken bones, burns, etc.–
don’t
try to go to
First Aid
.  Instead, flag down the nearest Cast Member and ask for help.  They will coordinate care and response.  You can call 911, but alert Cast Members as well to avoid confusion and delays when emergency personnel reach the resort.

The interior of
DCA
’s
First Aid
station is bright and clean, with long benches where Guests can sit and wait, and efficient-looking Cast Members behind the reception desk against the far wall.  The glass doors of
First Aid
slide open automatically when you approach, making it easy for Guests in wheel chairs or with limited mobility to enter the premises.

Should a Guest need to be transported to a local hospital for further care,
DCA
’s
First Aid
connects directly to a backstage corridor. 
Did You Know?
  To the right of
First Aid
, painted on the north exterior wall of the
Los Feliz Five & Dime
, is a tribute to the
Disney Brothers
.  Can you and your companions find it? 
Did You Also Know?
  Unlike
Disneyland Park
, where
First Aid
and the
Baby Care / Lost Child Center
are adjacent, at
DCA
the
Baby Care / Lost Child Center
is deeper in the park, at
Pacific Wharf
. 
Did You Also Know?
  When
Walt
was a young man, he served in France with the American Red Cross.  Though only a teenager, he drove supply trucks and worked in a canteen motor pool at the conclusion of World War I.

Lockers