Downtown Disney!

For this blog I went to Downtown Disney and the thing that I love about Disneyland, is that no matter what time of year it is I always get the feeling that it is Christmas time!! Tonight was a very cold, crisp night which helped to add to the Christmas spirit, and as Ashley and I walked through downtown, I was captivated by how bright the streets where simply because of all the Christmas lights that were hung on every tree. The Christmas lights helped to make the streets glow, rather than having a bunch of harsh pools of light coming from street lamps lining the pathways. Walt Disney's original idea for Disneyland was based off of Griffith Park in Los Angeles, because he wanted to create a place where both adults and children could go and enjoy the park together. This idea spilled over into the making of Downtown Disney and I believe that with that idea in mind, they accomplished what they set out to do. There are various gift shops, toy stores and restaurants who all have lighted neon signs over the door, however the presence of the Christmas lights reflecting on the glass windows gives the stores a warmer, magical, more inviting feeling, and it also makes the temperature outside feel warmer because of the memories Christmas lights make me think of.

The first place that I came upon was the Rainforest Cafe, which has always been one of my favorite places to eat in Downtown Disney. I am captivated by the architecture and the way that the restaurant was built. Going off of the name, Rainforest Cafe, the stones with the ancient drawings on the outside, and the trees surrounding the cafe added to the ambiance of the restaurant. The open flame torches on the top as well as the fire inside the building completed the Rainforest feeling. Generally, the lighting is dim which helps to create an intimate feeling. I'm glad that they didn't add any spotlight lighting to the outside of the building to brighten up the name of the cafe. I believe that if they would have added additional sources of light other than the flames from the top of the building, it would have given the outside a superficial feeling. I believed what they were trying to accomplish because even before stepping into the Cafe, this building looks like nothing else in Downtown Disney. Inside the lighting is dark and warm, making it seem as if you are deep in the jungle somewhere. There are no harsh fluorescent lights, and no obscene colors. The low light almost creates a sense of mystery or intrigue, while at the same time, there is enough light so that people can see/enjoy their food! 

The House of Blues was one restaurant/bar that I had trouble believing. From a distance the place looks deserted and plain. The outside looks more like a log cabin, rather than a bar. The real House of Blues clubs are all modeled after a sports bar like feeling, and there are even some country western themed House of Blues, however, I feel like this picture doesn't represent either of those ideas. The neon blue signs are a step in a better direction, however, they are so small they don't really contribute to the lighting of the building, and from a distance they become hard to read. The lighting inside the House of Blues is even darker and uninviting. All of the lights are tinted blue, which gives the space an almost creepy feeling. For a place that is usually known for undiscovered bands to come and play their music, I would have liked to see more "playful" lighting inside, rather than dark and shadowy. I think that they could have used other colors to their advantage besides just blue, and in doing so it would make the place seem more alive and funky. With just a couple source lights from the ceiling the room felt flat and claustrophobic. There is nothing inside that captures my attention and makes me want to come back again.