Actually, I don't recall anyone saying anything about France prior to the reno. In fact, most talk about France seemed pretty neutral to me. Other than Le Mans of course. I will say, and I believe most everyone here agrees, the area is nearly perfect except for those vines which I am sure we can live with for now.
France Renovations
- Thread starter Zachary
- Start date
^^^
Actually that person was me, in my early posts when I first joined.
The stringing vines from one of the "castle" turrets....Yes please, let's get rid of those. Otherwise, the place looks absolutely wonderful.
Just GIVE ME MY DAMN COQ AU VIN back!!
Est-ce trop demander?? Gardez le stand français du festival Food & Wine ouvert!!!
Actually that person was me, in my early posts when I first joined.
The stringing vines from one of the "castle" turrets....Yes please, let's get rid of those. Otherwise, the place looks absolutely wonderful. Just GIVE ME MY DAMN COQ AU VIN back!!
Est-ce trop demander?? Gardez le stand français du festival Food & Wine ouvert!!!
I don't know if anyone has noticed this, but I noticed...get ready, as this will surely blow your mind...street actors around France! Yes, street actors, most of whom were dressed as fancy French chefs, were walking around the Wild Reserve-side entrance plaza and in the middle of the hamlet, saying things in French (or English things in French accents) to guests passing by. This is something we've longed for for a long time (similar to how it was when the park first opened), and we finally have street actors bustling through the streets of Aquitaine. And I must say, they really do bring an amazing amount of immersion to the area!
I'm not the big of a fan of the vines but I guess I'd actually have to see them to say for sure. They way they all come down from the one spire of La Belle makes it look like a giant Maypole! Now using the barrels with the poles in them as the anchor points is a neat idea.
I can't be at the park this year (again). Just wondering if the vines you guys are talking about are the ones strung from the turret of the one building to the barrel poles?? I don't see any other vines in the pics.
If it's the ones strung from the turret: UGH! It looks like fake green garland or something. Definitely distracts your view from the very nice work they've done there lately! Just my personal opinion from looking at the pics here. They make the place look WAAAY too busy. Personal opinion, as always. Sometimes it's better to allow the eye and the mind to see beauty on their own...without overdoing it. It IS possible to over-decorate a 'Christmas tree'....
If it's the ones strung from the turret: UGH! It looks like fake green garland or something. Definitely distracts your view from the very nice work they've done there lately! Just my personal opinion from looking at the pics here. They make the place look WAAAY too busy. Personal opinion, as always. Sometimes it's better to allow the eye and the mind to see beauty on their own...without overdoing it. It IS possible to over-decorate a 'Christmas tree'....
Taken 6/24/13
What was wrong with this? Come on Busch... can't you just leave something amazing for once? Not instantly destroy it again? Give it some time to sink in!
Evan said:
Taken 6/24/13
What was wrong with this? Come on Busch... can't you just leave something amazing for once? Not instantly destroy it again? Give it some time to sink in!
Yeah, that doesn't look nearly as bad (although I don't like the look of that 'fake green garland' anywhere). At least in this pic, it's not 'in your face'.
Add some more barrel posts around the area (not in the walkway, of course), and add more of those cafe tables and chairs. They could run low-hanging patio-type lights (nothing too large or gaudy...something subtle with a soft light) from barrel post to barrel post...not from that high turret, but rather just above maybe 7 feet high above the table areas. It would light up the place beautifully at night, and give it a cozy atmosphere after dark. I think it could really take on a nice ambiance if done right. Just throwing that out there.
ETA: looking back at the other picture showing the added fake green garland: it really looks like pine garland in the picture. Totally out of place. Like they left a Christmas decoration up and forgot to take it down or something. Hey, I know they tried to make it look nice. But a good artist (or even an author) knows when to STOP adding to their work...and officially announce it as 'complete'. Those shingles seriously need replacing, btw...
Those guys have been there since Food and Wine. I saw them roaming the coffee stand on both of my F&W runs. I figured they worked at the stand serving the food. French accents were just the icing on the cake.
EDIT: I walked by today and saw the Crepes and Coffee sign from Food and Wine still up. Are they still serving the festival dishes? I might just make a quick pit stop there again if that's the case.
Actors have slowly very slowly been added. It first started with the addition of traditional Beer Maidens in Oktoberfest. They served beer at the stand by the pretzel shop and they had real accents and outfits. Then it was the Vampires at Open Casket. They were in full costume with supposedly real Transylvanian accents. Now they have French Waiters working at the Crepes & Coffee stand that greet you in French and assist you as needed.
Yes, Crepes and Coffee stayed.
Those are actually faux ivy vines with patio lights attached and some random bundle of twigs tied up. I can see the logistics of having low hanging garland being an extreme issue. How will service trucks get through the area? So honestly, I don't think having anything low hanging is ideal especially over a main pathway. Perhaps just patio lights at the Crepes and Coffee stand only or around the sides of the main pathway but not going over the pathway.
EDIT: They added the twinkling lights from Christmas Town to some of those faux vines which I think is a neat effect, just the vines should go now
Yes, Crepes and Coffee stayed.
Those are actually faux ivy vines with patio lights attached and some random bundle of twigs tied up. I can see the logistics of having low hanging garland being an extreme issue. How will service trucks get through the area? So honestly, I don't think having anything low hanging is ideal especially over a main pathway. Perhaps just patio lights at the Crepes and Coffee stand only or around the sides of the main pathway but not going over the pathway.
EDIT: They added the twinkling lights from Christmas Town to some of those faux vines which I think is a neat effect, just the vines should go now
Yes, the lights should only be where the tables are, but not crossing the pathway. If hanging patio lights aren't possible, maybe some french-type streetlights scattered on either side of the walkway where the tables are (although I can foresee a wiring problem there). I'm just thinking some soft (almost dim) lighting on either side of the pathway around the tables, and more tables on both sides as well. I think it could make for a good rest/meeting/dining area. Especially after making the climb up from Ireland.Party Rocker said:
I can see what I'm thinking in my head. Expressing it in words is proving difficult. lol
Maybe the vines are only for Illuminights. I honestly liked the vines when they weren't all over the place (during f&w) What they have now is...is...HOOPLA!!!!
It's been stated before that they are only for Illuminights:
ivybrit said:
Party Rocker said:Actors have slowly very slowly been added. It first started with the addition of traditional Beer Maidens in Oktoberfest. They served beer at the stand by the pretzel shop and they had real accents and outfits. Then it was the Vampires at Open Casket. They were in full costume with supposedly real Transylvanian accents. Now they have French Waiters working at the Crepes & Coffee stand that greet you in French and assist you as needed.
Yes, Crepes and Coffee stayed.
Those are actually faux ivy vines with patio lights attached and some random bundle of twigs tied up. I can see the logistics of having low hanging garland being an extreme issue. How will service trucks get through the area? So honestly, I don't think having anything low hanging is ideal especially over a main pathway. Perhaps just patio lights at the Crepes and Coffee stand only or around the sides of the main pathway but not going over the pathway.
EDIT: They added the twinkling lights from Christmas Town to some of those faux vines which I think is a neat effect, just the vines should go now
The waiters will continue through illuminights....ah, and the service trucks have no issue driving through the village with the vines up.
The Aquitaine waitstaff and the Aquitaine Village Band are two of the best groups of people I've ever met at the park. They're all absolutely fantastic and, in light of what happened today, I wish them all the very best wherever their future endeavors take them. Both the Aquitaine Village Band and the Aquitaine waitstaff have their final day on August 11th. Swing by and thank them for being awesome.
I should note that the Aquitaine Village Band performs on the same schedule as the IllumiNights shows so, if you haven't gotten a chance to see a full performance yet, by all means, please do so.
I should note that the Aquitaine Village Band performs on the same schedule as the IllumiNights shows so, if you haven't gotten a chance to see a full performance yet, by all means, please do so.
Those guys are awesome. They are always dancing throughout Illuminights.