The Court of Angels Is Important To Disneyland
Those who follow the Disneyland rumor mill are no doubt aware of the reports that on September 28, 2013, the Court of Angels (Court des Anges) in New Orleans Square is slated to close as part of an expansion of Club 33. Per these rumors, the Court of Angels will become the new entrance to an expanded Club 33, and although it’s as of yet unclear whether the courtyard itself will be retained, informed speculation suggests that it is logistically impossible to keep the courtyard as-is and add the necessary accessible entrance to this location.
While I feel that it’s very unlikely that the Court of Angels will return in any recognizable form once Club 33 completes its expansion, I want to reiterate and stress that at this point, its closure is just rumor. I don’t want to be rumor-mongering over something that is potentially false rumor, but I feel that the overarching topic here is one that’s worth discussing regardless. If it returns, I will be beyond happy, and reminded that many of those who work for Disneyland also cherish the parks. If the Court of Angels disappears, it will really come as no surprise. Disney has shown that it views the area as expendable, transforming it into an ornament shop each of the last several Christmases, and using it for Pirates League last Halloween.
Some in the Disney community have suggested a campaign to “Save the Court of Angels,” with petitions and that sort of thing. That’s not the purpose of this article, and I don’t believe any such campaigns have a remote chance of success at this late stage. Unlike sentimental attractions even casual guests have cherished memories of, the Court of Angels is something that likely goes unnoticed by large swaths of the general public. Therein lies the problem. On paper, the Court of Angels is expendable because it serves no quantifiable function and average guests won’t even know what they’re missing.
There’s nothing particularly noteworthy about the Court of Angels for most guests. It doesn’t house an attraction. It has no strong ties to Walt Disney history. In fact, I’d hazard a guess that some of you reading–even those who have visited Disneyland before–have never even heard of the Court of Angels.
The Court of Angels is “just” a tucked away serene and quiet spot. It’s just the most beautiful corner of the most beautiful land in Disneyland. It just embodies everything most of us love about the Disney theme parks: gorgeous details and beauty for no particular reason, save for that incredibly important reason that those aforementioned qualities are exactly what set Disney theme parks apart from other parks. For many guests, these “Disney Details” and themed environments are what gives Disney theme parks their allure. We come back time and time again, and spend countless hours wandering places like World Showcase or Cars Land not because of anything on a park map, but because of the ambiance of simply being there.
The significance of these details isn’t lost on those working for Disney, either. I have countless Disney coffee table books featuring art and analysis from Walt Disney Imagineering that illustrate exactly how important those details are to the overall guest experience. The Disney Parks Blog even has a recurring piece called “All in the Details,” showing off the heavily-detailed quality of the parks. And they’re right to tout these details, as they are important. While the Disney parks might be just as popular with average guests so long as they didn’t get rid of the castle, Dumbo spinner, or Mickey Mouse meet & greet, many within the Company know that appealing to the lowest common denominator by making business decisions only on the basis of the ‘average guest’ is a slippery slope with long term consequences.
While I have little doubt that many individuals working for the parks understand the importance of these details, in the grand scheme of operations, actions speak louder than words. In terms of actions, in recent years it has become clear that some of these details are not as important as is stated. A corner with some pretty flowers or a water fixture but no defined function is actually dead space. As fans, we always hear that the “Accountaneers” are to blame for this–the folks who pore over spreadsheets and study reports on retail profitability per square foot.
Honestly, I don’t know if the supposedly “evil” Accountaneers are to blame, nor do I care. I think it’s fairly undeniable that various elements of the parks that could best be described as beauty for the sake of beauty have proportionately decreased over the years, while the proportionate square footage of dining and retail has increased over the years. Regardless of the cause for such a shift, to me, the decrease of one and increase in another says everything that needs to be said.
The point of this article thus is not to start a campaign to save the Court of Angels that is likely predestined for failure. Instead, it’s to remind one another, and maybe those who make the decisions or those who view the parks as figures on a spreadsheet, that things like the Court of Angels are incredibly important to the Disney theme park experience. It’s the little moments we treasure just as much as a ride on Space Mountain, and it’s the little details that become indelible parts of our memories from visits to the parks over the years. These little things might seem superfluous on paper, especially when the alternative is expanding a private club that can generate $35,000+ on each new member it’s able to accommodate, but they are what help define our days in the parks, and what keep us coming back.
Monetization and profitability are critical elements of the theme park business, but there also is a long term price to be paid for maximizing short term profits at the expense of the guest experience. There are only so many supposedly superfluous ‘fatty’ experiences that can be cut before you get to the bone. It might be too late for the Court of Angels, but here’s hoping other details and quiet corners aren’t similarly lost in the same manner. In the face of potential new retail and dining, the details shouldn’t always be viewed as “the fat.”
As for the Court of Angels, now seems like a good time to look back and share those memories we all have formed there over the years. Our memories of it are pretty simple–it’s a place we visit to slow down during the day, usually to just sit on the steps and look around. At night, it has been one of our key points of mischief. Like vagrant loiterers, I can’t count the number of times I’ve felt the slow tap of a security guard’s foot as he waits for me to finish “just one more” 30 second exposure of the Court of Angels. My favorite memory of it, oddly, is not when it was serene at all, but on the first Disneyland 24-hour day at about 3 am when the place was littered with napping guests. It felt like the aftermath of a war, and was bizarre at the time. Now I laugh at the memory, thinking about just how dedicated many of those fans were to spending 24 hours in Disneyland.
We intend to see the Court of Angels once more before September 28, 2013 (as you can tell, I need some more shots that are of the details, and aren’t fisheye! ;)). Here’s hoping that’s not our last memory of the place!
Your Thoughts…
If you have formed memories from the Court of Angels, I encourage you to share them in the comments. Even if not, share whether these little “Disney Details” are important to you.
What no one mentioned is that Club 33 is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act/ADA. There are steps that members & guests are required to climb in order to use the elevator in the lobby of Club 33. Since it is not possible to use those steps when confined to a wheel chair or a scooter, Disneyland by law must make modifications to the lobby and entrance into Club 33, in addition to the expansion of Club 33.
Mr. Disney himself said that the park will never be finished and will continually change. While it is understandable for us to be upset with some changes that are made at Disneyland, there is no stopping progress and I can assure you that trying to get TDA or WED to scrap their plans would be a useless waste of time, you’ll just end up frustrated and angry. The only thing we can do at this point is enjoy the Court of Angles while you can, nothing lasts forever.
There’s the possibility that this compliance can be achieved via the shop that is also closing, so there is still the chance that the Court of Angels will not be lost.
As for the rest of your comment, I often see this type of thing in response to complaints about change, and while I generally agree, it’s important to remember what the word “progress” connotes. “Change” and “progress” aren’t the same thing, and while I’d consider expanding Club 33 change, I would not consider it progress. Expanding Club 33 is a way to increase profits without improving the guest experience. It is not progress.
Things change, and we must get used to them, but it doesn’t mean we need to lie down when changes are made that don’t seem like progress. The guest-management feedback loop is an important one, and I would encourage people to respectfully voice their opinions on any changes to Disney parks with which they disagree.
Knowing Walt himself wanted his new apartment to be in New Orleans Square, adjacent to Club 33, and touring that apartment when it was open to the public before it became the Dream Suite, was the foundation, the anchor to my Disneyland, centered right there. Walking those quiet streets before guests spilled out of the train station. I feel pretty depressed about these changes. I took the Walt’s Footsteps tour; Club 33 felt noisy and crowded.
Really hope it stays open for guests. I go there every time I visit, I even proposed to my fiancee here.
Please don’t take this spot away. I’m an a.p. and this is a beautiful spot . I take pictures here such a tranquil little spot . It’s a staple
We were just at Disneyland the other weekend and a cast member (@ the ornament shop in from of the Court) confirmed the shop is closing and the Court will be closed off to be part of a Club 33 expansion. We love the court, its beautiful and peaceful as you described. Every holiday season we take Christmas pictures there. Many people miss this quiet little spot. Although I hope that somehow the information/ rumors are wrong, we heard it first hand. Can’t stop progress…and considering the buy in to be a Club 33 member, its not surprising an expansion is in the works. My $0.02 is that’s its cool having the hidden yet obvious entrance to Club 33, painted in “no-see-em” green.
Thank you for your article and wonderful photos! My husband & I had our first photo taken on these steps when we were first dating in 2005…then returned on our wedding day for some portraits as husband & wife after our Fairy Tale Wedding at the DL Hotel Rose Garden in 2007. Sadly the waterfalls from the DL Hotel are now gone and it seems our favorite staircase may also be gone…we’ll have to make another trip before the 28th!!!
It’s not rumor. Disney is expanding Club 33 at the expense of this charming public courtyard, quite possibly the most beautiful and serene spot in Disneyland park.
At this point it has yet to be confirmed, and it’s only speculation as to whether the Court des Anges will be lost or retained, so yes, it is a rumor.
Unless you have a link to an official announcement and the a copy of the plans for the expansion…
The last time I went to Disneyland was when I was 8, so I didn’t remember this place, but my parents lived in California for several years – they didn’t know it was called ‘Court of Angels’, but they recognized it from the pictures immediately. My mom said this is one of the things that made Disneyland special and magical, because they have these spaces that complete the feeling of being in Disneyland – they don’t serve any specific “purpose” but they add so much, immeasurable amounts, to the experience. I hope it stays so that I can have memories of it one day, but if it doesn’t I hope Disney realizes that getting rid of these kind of things won’t pay off in the end.
Although disappointed I am reminded that this is a reflection of the things in life we take for granted, because we expect they will always be there. I cherish the black and white photos I have taken there in the court and now they will mean even more now. The beauty of it isn’t exactly the space, its beautiful, but maybe, just maybe it is simply the feeling we get when we step into the courtyard. Its a feeling for me of stopping time, of paying attention to the quietness that eludes us in so many places elsewhere in life. Sometimes its easy to lament what is taken from us instead of taking time to soak in the things that perhaps might be taken sooner than we expect.
Court of Angels has always been one of my favorite spots in the park. I can’t tell you how many memories i have there. I’m devastated.
Thanks for documenting Court of Angels in all these great photos!
I am absolutely heartbroken by the impending demise of Court of Angels. Not only is it my favorite place in ANY Disney park (even Tokyo DisneySea!), my husband and I are among the hundreds or maybe thousands of couples who became engaged there and will never be able to go back.
I know you say you’re hopeful that other details and quiet corners won’t be similarly lost, but this was pretty much the last one at Disneyland. First they took away the Disneyland Gallery and its peaceful courtyard and balcony. Then they replaced the quiet corner that was Carnation Plaza Gardens with Fantasy Faire. About the only out-of-the-way place left is the seating area for the Hungry Bear Restaurant. It really changes the character of the park, putting the focus on wringing every last dollar out of every single corner and making it impossible to escape the crowds.
It would indeed be a sorry day if the Court of Angeles were to disappear. Up until a few years ago, our main Disney Park experience was WDW. We go every year a a DVC member. A number of years back we were fortunate enough to visit Disneyland a couple of times. It was after the second visit that it occurred to me that WDW was actually Disneyland-Lite due to the enormous attention to detail at Disneyland, especially in the Court of Angeles area. Hopefully the rumors are not correct and this wonderful area can be saved.
I have yet to make the trip to the west coast, but I can say from your numerous trip reports that the Court of Angels is very near the top of my list of reasons I want to visit Disneyland. Hearing how you discuss this area it reminds me of my favorite parts of the Magic Kingdom like the Side street on the east side of Main Street or the porch with the rocking chairs in Liberty Square or my favorite, the quiet area on the left side of the Morocco Pavilion.
I hate to think that the Court of Angels will be missing from my first trip to Disneyland.
I’ve been seeing little things that individually are of little to no “value” to most guests. Indeed when someone brings up napkins or small courts with no content fellow Disney fans can even be dismissive but it’s the loss of these little touches together that remove some of the magic. These are the things that I feel like were done for no reason but to make me smile. These things made me feel like a guest. As they go away and I’m left with rides, retail spaces and restaurants I feel more like a ticket holder…and I can feel like a ticket holder anywhere.
I COMPLETELY AGREE!!!!!
Coleen and I celebrated or 30th wedding anniversary at Disneyland Resort Thanksgiving weekend back in 2010. At that time we experienced the Court of Angels in all it’s Christmas finery…it was gorgeous.
I first saw the court in 1967 and even as a teenager I thought this was a remarkable place. Through the years it grew to be one of my favorite spots in the park. It’s hard to explain the hold it has on me. Walking into this space is like going back home and seeing that your old bedroom is still there…like it was when you left it.
This little piece of Disneyland Park is essential to the illusion that the imagineers are trying to project. Losing it would take away that much magic. It would be sad to see it go…
There have been countless occasions when we have passed through New Orleans Square and stopped in the Court of Angels. It’s one of those special places to stop for that spontaneous picture that ends up becoming a family favorite. It feels real. It feels authentic. It is important to guests because it is one of those corners that draws your attention away from the crowds for a few moments. It’s one of those places where we stop and reflect on just how blessed we are to be traveling together as a family and to put our vacation into perspective. The quiet corners of Disney may not be huge contributors to Disney’s bottom line, but they do contribute to the overall guest experience by allowing guests to become that much more immersed in the authenticity of the themed land they’re in. It’s nice not to see a churro cart around every corner. It’s great to have a vantage point that is out of the way. It gives you time to stop and smell the magic.
This has always been my favorite spot in Disneyland. It is so beautiful and so romantic. It seriously breaks my heart that this will no longer be a part of our DL vacation. First the Art Gallery with the beautiful courtyard and now this!? Why can’t the standard DL guest have secret little magical spots too?
For starters, your site and photography are amazing. Disney IS the details. It’s what sets them apart. Living in Central NJ there is no shortage of places within a couple hours drive to take my family to go on “rides”, but nothing amerces you in the theming the way just a small corner court yard at Disneyland, or a bridge over a little stream at the Polynesian can. It’s what makes us save the ever increasing amounts of money to keep going back. My wife and I each have gone to Walt Disney World several times growing up. We lived in AZ for 5 years and went to Disneyland 3 times. Last year we took our 6 year old daughter and 2 & 1/2 year old son for their first time to WDW. On our first night I took my daughter down to the beach and we watched the Electrical Water Pageant. I did that with my parents when I was 5. It was one of those amazing “Wonder Years”/ “Lion King” full circle type of moments. I will never forget it. I apologize for being so long winded here. To your point, I hope the powers that be realize that it’s those moments, that shared history, and those details that have most us thinking about our next trip just seconds after we’ve left. There aren’t many places can honestly say that.
I am hoping to finally get to Disneyland in 2015 and this spot was way up on the list of ‘must-do’s’. I am hoping beyond hope that someone in the suits sees sense and retains this area.
I know money makes the world go round, but its also the root of all evil.
This (like fastpass+ …grrr) is Disney kow-towing to those that spend top dollar and seming to forget the people who grew their businesses with repeat visits over several generations of family.
I will continue to hope that I will get to lay eyes on the Court someday.
Great article, and wonderful photos, Tom. I must admit that in my only trip to Disneyland in 2001 I did not visit the Court of Angels, but I hope I get to when I return to the park the next time.