ev'rybody has a laughin' place

let the (money) memories begin

2012-02-10T18:43:00.009-07:00

It has already been a month since our trip to the Happiest Place on Earth, and I am wishing I could go back in time 30 days and relive our magical week. Actually, I was recently able to do that in a small, slightly unusual way. The credit card bill came due, as it unfortunately always does, and so I was going over the charges. But at least for this time, pulling out the receipts to reconcile with the statement has never been so fun! All the great memories of meals, souvenir purchases, and associated fun experiences we enjoyed were brought to mind, as I recalled the details of each day.

Here's just a smattering of some events that those little white receipts titled “Disney Parks – Let the Memories Begin” brought to my mind’s eye:

Breakfast on the patio of the River Belle Terrace overlooking the Rivers of America, while the pirate band entertains a small group gathered in front of the Pirates of the Caribbean entrance. Kids enjoying their Mickey Mouse pancakes, while I think of Walt sitting here enjoying his own breakfast and this same view countless times.
Frozen lemonades along Small World Way on an unseasonably warm January afternoon, while observing the major facelift beginning on the majestic Matterhorn Mountain. Too bad we can't enjoy a trip down the left track during this visit.
Racing with Treyson around Paradise Pier to find a popcorn cart to grab some buttery goodness for our snack while we got ready to enjoy our first ever viewing of World of Color. The snack of choice for our second viewing a few nights later was a cinnamon roll and hot chocolates.
Kyla getting her Minnie ears at the Mad Hatter on Main Street just before rope drop, while I secure a reservation for a grand circle tour of the park aboard the Lilly Belle for later that morning.
At the end of that same day and back in nearly the same spot, stopping at the Churro cart in Town Square, after enjoying Mickey's Soundsational Parade and the Remember... Dreams Come True fireworks spectacular earlier that evening.
Getting Dole Whips and a Dole Float at the Tiki Juice Bar just before hearing the birds sing words and the flowers croon inside their tropical hideaway.
Hitting up all 3 eating establishments in the wharf to satisfy everyone's distinct cravings for dinner one evening -- broccoli cheese soup in a fresh bread bowl from Pacific Wharf Cafe, chicken teriyaki and rice from Lucky Fortune Cookery, and beef and chicken tacos from Cocina Cucamonga.
While everyone else is finishing their lunches of pizza and pasta at Redd Rockett's, I slip over to experience a nostalgic return engagement of Captain EO.
After enjoying our cruise visiting the children of the world, I find a fabulous Disneyland park map puzzle in the it's a small world Toy Shoppe. Along with some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse toys that Dallin chooses, it is the perfect souvenir to pick up with our gift card (thanks, Meg!).
And finally, picking out some yummy Pooh Treats at Pooh Corner to help cheer up our last walk out to the front of the park to say goodbye for this trip.

Ah, what fun, magical memories were made!

the lilly belle

2010-07-22T19:06:00.005-06:00

Thanks to information provided to us by Zac we were lucky enough to take a trip around Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom via The Lilly Belle. The Lilly Belle is a Parlor Car that occasionally makes an appearance behind one of the steam trains. At the Main Street station we asked one of the conductors if we could ride in the Lilly Belle. To our surprise she said, "Sure, we can do that right now." I've heard that usually you must make a reservation at least one day in advance due to the fact that a conductor needs to be available to ride in the car with you. We excitedly followed the conductor onto the platform where she led us to the end of the train. I can't speak for Curt, Paul or Alison, but I felt like a VIP as envious eyes watched the conductor open the bright red, brass plated door which read Lilly Belle, and we stepped across the threshold. The Lilly Belle was decorated by Lillian Disney herself, unfortunately Walt never got to see it. Here are some pics from our very special trip around the park.

A picture of Walt and Lillian.

A Hidden Mickey in the carpet.

We even got special tickets for our trip.

Next time you're there, make sure to see if riding in the Lilly Belle is an option. It was amazing! Thanks again to Zac for all the great intel on this little known Disneyland gem.

better late than never, right?

2010-06-17T07:55:00.001-06:00

I am ashamed that it has taken me four ridiculous months to post about our February Disneyland trip. Buuut.... whatcha gonna do. There will be a series of posts because we did so many amazingly magical things, a few we'd never done before. So stay tuned. This is just a smattering of pictures to highlight the magic.

Paul and Alison in their yellow teacup.

Curtis and Paul doing...???

Curt and Paul in line for delicious Dole Whips. Mmmm.

Alison and I on the Disneyland Railroad.

Make a wish!

Looks like they're ready for Splash Mountain!

I know I am!

The Fab Four at Big Thunder After Dark!

Alison and Paul in line for Alice In Wonderland.

Help! It's a runaway teacup!

Our knights in not-so-shiny armor.

All of us with the Wonderland gang.

Waiting for the Tiki Room...

In Tarzan's Treehouse.

Dinner at the French Market.

The Mad Tea Party.

Everyone enjoying the carousel.

Curt and Paul momentarily forgot that this is Disneyland and there are no zombie hoards to fight off.

Curt and I on It's A Small World.

In our orange teacup.

Enjoying some well deserved Pooh Treats from Pooh Corner.

Curt and Paul in the LEGO store in Downtown Disney.

More Dole Whip yummy-ness.

The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness!

Alison and I petting a magic goat at Big Thunder Ranch.

Dinner at the Blue Bayou.

Alison and Paul at the Golden Horseshoe.

Curt and Paul at the Shooting Expo in Frontierland.

Yep. That looks about right.

With the Matterhorn, that was unfortunately closed.

Paul and Curt, BFFs.

Each time we go it seems to be more magical and fun than the last time. I don't know how Disney does it, but keep it coming! More Disney magic to come.

it's a small world

2010-02-11T16:43:00.007-07:00

I stumbled across this holiday promotional video on the Disney Parks blog and it tugged on my Disney heart strings. Seriously, I was a little misty in the eyes after watching this little gem. I'm sure it'll touch your Disney soul as it did mine. Enjoy.

Go ahead, watch it again.

rainbow of color at California Adventure

2010-01-30T21:26:00.002-07:00

Last week Disneyland and California Adventure weathered some pretty heavy storms, but it was worth it just for this photo. This is such an amazing picture!

Captain EO returns

2009-12-18T15:52:00.004-07:00

After much speculation over the months since Michael Jackson's death, Disney finally made it official that the King of Pop will be returning to Disneyland for a "limited engagement" starting in February.

Personally, I think this is a good idea. The current show in the Magic Eye Theater ("Honey, I Shrunk The Audience") has outlived its useful life. When we saw it last year, the theater was much less than half full, while the park in general was packed. Hopefully this blast from the past will provide some new enthusiasm to what has become, in my opinion, the area of the park that needs the most updating. Hopefully, Disney is / will be working on a new show experience worthy of "the future" for this space, once Captain EO retires for the 2nd time. In combination with an updated Star Tours, this would provide much reason for hope of a renewal of Tomorrowland.

So, what do you think? Will the chance to once again watch (or watch for the first time) Captian EO, Hooter, and the rest of his motley crew "change the world" cause you to try to make a special trip to Disneyland?

Oh, and one more FYI: Speaking of Disneyland homecomings, Mr. Lincoln is returning to the stage in the Opera House as of today.

halloween haunts

2009-10-21T13:40:00.002-06:00

Happy Halloween! From the gang at Disneyland.

star tours II

2009-10-09T07:50:00.000-06:00

At the Disney Expo last month, Disney announced the renovation of the classic Star Tours ride. Even though many fans think the original ride shouldn't be tampered with, I agree with Disney. Star Tours needs a bit of an update and a re-vamp. I'm looking forward to the new ride in 2011.

halloween screams firework spectacular

2009-10-05T11:17:00.004-06:00

I am envious. There's no other way to put it. This fireworks show looks completely amazing! Disney really knows how to pull out all the stops and somehow they keep making everything bigger and better. My favorite part is Zero flying over the castle.

muppet marketing

2009-10-01T07:32:00.004-06:00

Look closely at who is riding Dumbo in these couple of shots taken recently inside Fantasyland.

Yes, it appears some of our favorite Muppet friends have decided to venture outside the Muppet*Vision 3D theater, and have made their way across the esplanade to check out Walt's original park.

There's Gonzo with a few of his chicken friends. Looks like Sam the Eagle also decided to analyze the aerodynamic genius of Dumbo's ears -- but I am sure he is claiming to anyone that cares to listen that an eagle's wings are superior in every way. Some Muppet penguins (or are they the rats?) can also be seen.

Back in California Adventure, here's Fozzie and Gonzo taking a shot on Toy Story Midway Mania.

What's going on you ask? The Muppets will be featured prominently in the parks 2010 marketing campaign, and these were some of the shots captured during recent commercial filming sessions. They will be encouraging everyone to "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" by volunteering in your community in order to earn a free ticket to the parks.

It seems the whole gang put in some service hours, and so got to enjoy their Disney Day, including a ride in the Fire Engine down Main Street.

villains run the show

2009-09-23T15:39:00.010-06:00

If you haven't seen the new commercial promoting this year's Halloween Time at Disneyland, click on "videos" at the previous link.

My favorite part is Hades lighting the fireworks with his hair.

And then Jafar, with his Mickey balloon, enjoying the show with the rest of his villain friends out on Main Street... He-he!

This new "Halloween Screams Fireworks" show will reportedly include a huge inflatable Jack Skellington over the castle, and his dog Zero flying down from the Matterhorn.

Also new this year is an overlay of Space Mountain, called "Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy". Captain Hook sure seems to be enjoying it!

summer nightastic... was it worth the wait?

2009-09-09T20:51:00.003-06:00

As mentioned in a previous post, the new Fantasmic! dragon finally made it's debut, only two and a half months late. Here's everyone's favorite Disneyland tour guide, TJ, to fill us in on the details.

new fantasmic! dragon

2009-09-04T11:48:00.002-06:00

After months of technical difficulties and hang-ups the new and improved dragon has finally made an appearance. Looks pretty great!

disney cloud of magic

2009-09-02T07:45:00.002-06:00

love that mouse

2009-03-27T07:01:00.000-06:00

Here's a collection of delightful Mickey pics I found. I sure do love that little mouse.

we have a winner!

2009-03-23T19:47:00.006-06:00

"When you think about it, there's so much in life worth celebrating!" Such as winning a prize! I entered a chance to win a Disney vacation as part of the "What Will You Celebrate?" marketing campaign going on at the Disney Parks this year. And, guess what... No, unfortunately no vacation, but I did win a new pin to add to my collection. Yes, that's right, I am the proud winner of a "What Will You Celebrate? Tour Collector Pin". It came in the mail recently and here is a peek at the beauty. Definitely a keeper!

that looks familiar...

2009-02-05T12:12:00.002-07:00

Lately I've been painfully remembering the Happiest Place On Earth and all the fun that I've had there. This is a slideshow of various places, objects and attractions around the park. Can you tell where all the pictures were taken?

lucky lucky me

2008-12-29T19:21:00.003-07:00

Since I was unable to make it to the magical place this holiday season Disney has conjured quite a celebration as a way to say, "The park just isn't the same without you, please come home." I think the news footage says it all.

Merry Christmas from Disneyland

2008-12-24T16:16:00.006-07:00

As a followup to Meg's previous post, here are a few more shots of this magical time of year at one of the most magical places around. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Welcome to Main Street, all dressed up for the season -- here are a couple shots of nearly the same view down Main Street by day and after dark:

California Adventure also gets dressed up, courtesy of Mickey and the Bugs:

Enjoy a cruise around the world to celebrate Christmas in any language on "it's a small world":
...and a hope for the true Christmas Spirit to touch us all:

disneyland junkies

2008-12-07T12:06:00.006-07:00

Well it's that time of year again. Christmas at Disneyland. Curtis, myself, Alison and Paul have gone to this magical place the last two Decembers and since we're not going this December we're all having some massive withdrawals. We brought it upon ourselves so there is no one to blame. What were we thinking? Going two Christmases in a row. *sigh*. Even though I wish we were heading south in a week, I'm so thankful that we have been able to go the last two years with our BFFs. Here is a slide show of some wonderful Christmas highlights from our 2007 trip. Enjoy and Happy Disney Holidays!

top 10 in october

2008-10-21T19:31:00.000-06:00

So, of course, our Disneyland trip was absolutely amazing! I think the only thing better than combining Halloween and Disneyland is combining Christmas and Disneyland! I think it gets better and better every time I go. Here are my Top 10 from the trip:

1. Going with Zac. The last time we were at Disneyland together we looked like this...

And the time before that, we looked like this...

Pretty good eh? It was so great spending time with him. Since he lives in Seattle, we don't get to see each other a lot. Good times were certainly had. Zac receives the prestigious award of "Fast Pass Runner", there were many others up for it, but he went above and beyond and he definitely deserves it. So Zac, Congratulations!

2. Watching Staci re-discover the magic of Disneyland. She hadn't been for about 12 years or so. I especially loved her encounter with Pluto (there was a previous blog post documenting the event). Disneyland certainly brings out the child in all of us.

Minnie, Curtis and Stace at breakfast.

Me and Stace with our ears...oh and Zac's head. Nice.

3. Meeting Jack and Sally. That's right! I actually met Jack Skellington and Sally! It was incredible!

4. Making more magical memories with Curtis. This was our 3rd trip to Disneyland together and I never get tired of seeing his inner child come out (even more than usual), especially his excitement about seeing the monorail and his disappointment when we couldn't ride in the front.

5. Getting absolutely soaked on Splash Mountain! It was hot! Unseasonably hot, so Splash Mountain was very popular. One day, we rode it 3 times.

This was our 1st trip down Chickapin Hill and Curt got some good footage. Even when it's too dark to see anything, I love hearing us scream and yell when we get soaked.

6. All the characters dressed up for Halloween!

7. Zac carrying Eeyore around and giving "first person" accounts of what Eeyore thought of different rides and attractions. The voice was perfect, I wish we'd got it on video.

Eeyore was the only character that Zac really wanted to get a picture with so at Minnie's breakfast we hunted him down.

8. Seeing the whole park decked out for Halloween! Everything was super fantastic!

Me and Curt with the great Mickey pumpkin.

The Haunted Holiday Mansion.

Me and Stace on Main Street USA.

9. While waiting in line for Peter Pan and Mr. Toads Wild Ride I asked an interesting question and, although everyone gave a great answer, Zac's response was my absolute favorite.

10. And last, but certainly not least. Curtis and I upgraded to annual passes! That's right! We are annual passholders to the happiest place on earth! So of course we're planning a couple more trips within the next year. All my dreams really can come true.

Thanks to Curtis, Zac and Staci for making this Disneyland trip a magical memory.

disney blues

2008-10-18T22:46:00.002-06:00

Don't let the title scare you. This is not a gloomy post about the letdown of having to go back to "today" after having spent some time in the world of "yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy". No, as Walt said, "Around here, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

And, that is exactly what is happening at Disney's California Adventure (DCA), Disneyland's neighbor just across the esplanade. DCA is a fun place, but it just doesn't have the same magic that envelops you when you walk inside Disneyland. However, the Imagineers are planning to sprinkle a lot more pixie dust over DCA very soon.

On Monday, a preview center known as "Blue Sky Cellar" opens inside DCA to showcase some of the many planned changes coming to the park over the next several years. For your own virtual tour, check out all the great photos from the folks over at micechat.com:
http://micechat.com/disneyland-news/california-adventure-fix/

the magic is reborn

2008-10-11T15:24:00.003-06:00

For those who haven't been to the Happiest Place On Earth for some time, the magic of Disneyland can simply fade away. But Disneyland is in the business of making magical memories everyday, for young and old alike. I am happy that I was able to capture this magical moment and that the magic for Staci has been reborn.

Magical Moments

2008-10-07T00:39:00.005-06:00

Curtis here. What could be more magical than The Happiest Place on Earth? The answer is nothing! Monday was D-Day! We are here at the park experiencing the magic. There will be more to come as we continue through our journey.

Today's Bottom 3 -

The Heat. Yeah, it was hot today. Not like the usual December weather that we experience.
The People. It was more crowded than I imagined the perfect day at Disneyland would be. 2b. Waiting in line to get our tickets at the Park. (It was a long and painful wait.)
Not having our best Disneyland friends Paul and Alison being here with us. 3b. Not being able to go on It's a Small World. (because it's closed)

Today's Top 3 -

(We spent some time in California Adventure so...) California Screamin'
Soarin' Over California
Pirates of the Carribean

goofy clears his name...

2008-10-01T01:47:00.006-06:00

The controversy all started a couple years ago when Curt, myself, Paul, and Alison were enjoying a magical trip to Mickey's place. One evening, we found ourselves trapped by a parade in an inopportune corner of the park. It was then and there that speculations arose and those speculations have since caused many heated conversations about where Max, Goofy's son, came from. I am happy to announce that we have cleared Goofy's name and any vicious rumors that have been a product of the previously mentioned speculations.

how many rides in one day?

2008-09-28T19:42:00.004-06:00

Have you ever done Disneyland "commando" style? Is it possible to ride everything in one day? If you go during the off season when crowds are lighter, have some knowledge of the park, and make use of Fastpass, I would say yes.

Here is a list of attractions (in order) that I was able to do during a one-day visit on a Monday in early December a couple of years ago (we spent about 12 hours in the park):

Dumbo
Alice in Wonderland
Mad Tea Party
Peter Pan
Pinocchio
King Arthur Carrousel
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Matterhorn (Fantasyland side)
Matterhorn (Tomorrowland, or "left track", side)
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Autopia
Train from Tomorrowland to New Orleans Square
Tom Sawyer Island
Big Thunder Mountain
Mark Twain Riverboat (in the wheelhouse with the captain!)
Splash Mountain (with Fastpass)
Tiki Room
Horse-Drawn Streetcar from the Hub to Town Square
Space Mountain (with Fastpass)
Buzz Lightyear
Indiana Jones (with Fastpass)
Train from Main Street to Toontown
Haunted Mansion Holiday (with Fastpass)

So, a grand total of 23 attractions in one day (counting two rides on both the Matterhorn and the Steam Trains). Also note that we completed the Disneyland mountain range (Splash, Big Thunder, Matterhorn, and Space) all in the same day.

In addition to all of the attractions, we had a nice leisurely lunch at Rancho del Zocolo, saw a few characters, had a delicious dessert of Dole Whips, and camped out for a front row seat to watch the Christmas Fantasy parade in the evening. So it wasn't as if we were running and rushing between everything. We did take advantage of Early Entry to get in to Fantasyland an hour before official park opening, and made use of Fastpasses on several of the more popular rides.

So, what is your top one-day attraction count? On my upcoming trip I wonder if I will be able to hit 30? But, again, I won't be doing it commando-style. Just enjoying the magic during a hopefully very slow mid-week day in October!

grim grinning ghosts...

2008-09-10T12:11:00.004-06:00

Enjoy a ghoulishly delightful tour of

The Haunted Mansion Holiday!

haunted halloween

2008-09-09T19:46:00.006-06:00

It's that time of year at the Disneyland resort. Halloween creeps in and takes over! The Haunted Mansion closed on September 2nd to install the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay and will reopen on September 25th. The Haunted Mansion is one of my favorite attractions and when it teams up with Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas it's phenomenal! Here's some pictures after Jack Skellington has flown in and taken over the mansion.

secrets of 33

2008-08-05T13:06:00.016-06:00

In this post, I'll be talking about the very elite and exclusive Club 33, located in New Orleans Square and tucked away upstairs from the Blue Bayou Restaurant. It was originally intended to be a private dinner hall, where Walt and his brother Roy would meet and entertain potential Disneyland backers, corporate leaders, and celebrities. It is still in use for that purpose to this day. Along with being the only place within Disneyland to serve alcohol, it is also an exclusive club, whose membership fee is $7,500 with $2,825 in annual fees and a waiting list of up to ten years. However, the lure of belonging to a club that Walt himself intended to use for entertaining dignitaries is very strong to most Disneyphiles.

The entrance to Club 33, nothing more than a door and a plaque with the number 33 on it.

There are various origins that have been claimed for the name "Club 33." One says that Club 33 was named for Disneyland's 33 sponsors at the time, one of which was Chevron. Another explanation is that Walt Disney chose the name simply because he liked the way "33" looked. Another, given by a Club 33 employee, says that since Walt wanted to serve liquor in the Club he had to obtain a liquor license — which requires a full street address. Walt, wanting to protect Disneyland's alcohol-free status, didn't want to use the park's Harbor Boulevard address, so he ordered that all the buildings in New Orleans Square (then under construction) be given addresses. According to the employee, "33" was chosen because Walt's lucky number was 3. One explanation, arguably the most common, is that "33" when turned on its side bears similarity to two letter "M"s, as would stand for "Mickey Mouse." In actuality, it was the address assigned to the door by chance — all of the buildings in the square have addresses, but they are internally-designated numbers. To enter Club 33, a guest must press a buzzer on an intercom concealed by a hidden panel in the doorway. A member needs only to insert his/her membership card in a slot near the buzzer and the door will open. A receptionist will ask for their name over the intercom and, if access is granted, open the door to a small, ornate lobby. Guests have the option of going to the dining level via an antique-style glass lift. The lift is an exact replica of one Disney saw and fell in love with during a vacation in Paris, but the owner of the original refused to sell. Undaunted, Disney sent a team of engineers to the Parisian hotel to take exact measurements for use in the creation of a replica; even a sample of the original finish was taken so that it could be duplicated. A staircase to the second level wraps around the lift.

This is a picture of the lift from upstairs.

The second level has two dining rooms. One room has dark wood paneling; the other room is more formal but has a lighter environment.

Once at the dining level, guests can view antique furniture pieces collected by Lillian Disney. Walt Disney also handpicked much of the Victorian bric-a-brac in New Orleans antique stores. The club is also furnished with props from Disney films. There is a fully functional glass telephone booth just off the lift that was used in The Happiest Millionaire and an ornate walnut table with white marble top that was used in Mary Poppins.

A video capture from the film on display atop the table shows actors Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber and David Tomlinson standing immediately to its left. A newly-installed bar prepares drinks for members and their guests.

A harpsichord which was rumored to have been an antique was in fact custom-built for Lillian Disney specifically for use in Club 33. The underside of the lid features a Renaissance-style painting that was actually done by Disney artists.

Elton John has played this harpsichord and it can be played by anyone who sits at it. Walt Disney also wanted to make use of Audio-Animatronic technology within Club 33. Microphones in overhead lighting fixtures would pick up the sounds of normal conversation while an operator would respond via the characters. Though the system was never fully implemented, it was partially installed and remains so to this day. An Audio-Animatronic vulture is perched in one corner of the club's "Trophy Room."

The microphones are clearly visible at the bottom of each of the room's lighting fixtures. The animal trophies (Walt inherited them from a friend), for which the room was named, have been removed by Disney family members.

Disneyland guests participating in the "Walk In Walt's Footsteps" tour are provided entrance to the lobby of Club 33. The tour guide will provide a brief history of the club and explain some of the artifacts in the lobby. The tour members may be photographed in the lift, but are not allowed upstairs. This is the Main Hall of Club 33.

This framed map hangs in the Main Hall. Amongst the figures around the edges are many characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

This picture, also in the Main Hall, is an original Haunted Mansion painting, circa 1951. One of the first concept paintings of Disneyland.

These are Marc Davis' original "stretching room" paintings from The Haunted Mansion.

These are rare sights in Disneyland that few people get to see from this perspective. These are shots taken from the balcony of Club 33 overlooking New Orleans Square.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into the elite world of Club 33. I've been thinking about putting my name on the waiting list... just in case. Some day I hope to get a chance to dine at Club 33, even if it's only as a guest.

the countdown begins!

2008-07-23T12:05:00.000-06:00

the interviews

2008-07-23T12:00:00.001-06:00

Welcome to another fantastic post from the Happiest Place on Earth! And yes, it's another video. Curtis was such a great camera man and conducted these interviews about our Disneyland experience.

retro attraction posters

2008-07-15T15:25:00.001-06:00

disneyland geekdom

2008-06-21T10:34:00.002-06:00

While attending Disneyland Curtis, Paul, Alison and myself discovered a few things about ourselves that had, until recently, laid dormant. We had no idea of the inner desires that were just waiting to be released. So there we were, about to unknowingly slide down the slippery slope of Disneyland Geekdom. And we've never been happier. I think the following video pretty much sums it up.

the magic continues 2007

2008-06-14T23:43:00.005-06:00

I know this video is already on my other blog, but it certainly has a home here too. As a recap, these are some highlights from our December 2007 visit to The Happiest Place On Earth! Relive the magic!

all our disney friends

2008-05-25T01:05:00.003-06:00

There's nothing quite like getting your pic with the disney characters and I think we pretty much got 'em all with just a few exceptions. Disneyland has one flaw and one flaw only. Once you've been and realize how magical it is, you then realize how lame life is when you're not there. *sigh* We love you Walt!

fantasmagoria! two thumbs up!

2008-05-10T15:48:00.004-06:00

Fantasmic! is one of the best attractions at Disneyland, definitely in my top five. Fantasmic! has been a favorite among Disneyland-goers since it opened over 15 years ago. Disney never ceases to surprise me and every time I watch that mouse up there conducting the water I get a little tingly. There's nothing they can't do. Enjoy this great video of Fastasmic!

What is your favorite ride/ attraction at Disneyland?

more magic trivia

2008-04-06T22:19:00.003-06:00

This is another set a tasty little tid-bits. Enjoy the magic.

-The Snow White figure in her ride wasn’t part of the attraction until it was rebuilt in 1982. Originally, the heroes of the Disney stories did not appear in their own rides. The idea was that the guests took the place of the characters, so it would make no sense to see the characters. To this day, Mr. Toad does not appear in his own attraction.

-The Disney Family crest adorns the front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. It can be found right above the drawbridge entrance. The drawbridge was once functional, though it was only lowered on two occasions: once during the grand opening in 1955 and a second time in 1983 when a renovated Fantasyland was rededicated. At the 1983 ceremony, two of the same children from the original dedication had been invited back, this time as adults, to again be the first to cross the drawbridge.

-The Matterhorn was the world’s first steel tubular roller-coaster. Steel coasters existed before, but they had flat steel tracks rather than a tube, as virtually all steel coasters have today. It was designed and built with help from Arrow Dynamics, now, one of the world’s largest coaster companies. Due to its unique design, a special oil lubricant had to be created for it called the “Matterhorn Special”-it was made just for Disneyland.

-Peter Pan’s Flight was originally designed as a roller-coaster. To convey a sense of being Peter Pan, who flies around quickly, Walt wanted the attraction to move fast along the ceiling; it would have been the world’s first suspended roller-coaster. It was decided that such speed would make the sets and characters pass by in a blur. Show, for Walt, would win out over thrills.

vip tour of alice in wonderland

2008-03-25T20:57:00.002-06:00

In December, we were lucky enough to get an exclusive, behind the scenes, VIP tour of Alice In Wonderland. Now, not just anyone can get this kind of access, but because we're such loyal Disneyland patrons we were invited to see Alice In Wonderland like no one has experienced before. And now I'm sharing this Disneyland jem with all of you.

park update

2008-03-15T20:32:00.007-06:00

I'm going to hand this blog entry over to "TJ" and his great video about the massive updates in the future for Disney's California Adventure. Great things are happening. Get your trip planned!

tasty bits of trivia

2008-03-03T22:14:00.006-07:00

--Disneyland projects faux swamp fumes in the Disneyland Railroad’s Primeval World to complete a sense of atmospheric immersion and give the illusion of “being there.” The Candy Palace and Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street emit the odor of fresh candy into the street via “smellitzers”. This trick is also used in Soarin’ Over California where travelers experience the scents of pine trees, ocean salt, and orange groves.

--A lamp burns in Walt’s honor above the Fire Department, in what had been his private apartment. Furnished in a rich victorian style and maintained even today, this apartment enabled Walt to work late and start quickly the next day during Disneyland’s construction and early years. New Orleans Square was designed to be a new apartment, but he died before he could move in.

--The skeletons in Pirates of the Caribbean were originally real specimens, but have since been replaced by artificial facsimiles. Reproductions of skeletons were not convincing in the 1960s, so actual ones were obtained from the University of California Medical Center where they had been used for research. Later, when they were replaced, they were returned to their originating countries and given a proper burial.

--Club 33, as it’s known, was intended to be a place for Walt to host visiting dignitaries and executives from sponsoring companies. The 33 original sponsors of Disneyland reportedly gives the club its name, though this claim is often disputed. Unfortunately, Walt died before Club 33 opened.

--There is a whimsical sign at the base of the drop on Splash Mountain. Riders whizzing by at 40 mph may not always notice it, but there is a signpost to the right side of the logs as they splash down from the drop. The sign reads: “Drop in Again Sometime.” Disneyland took great pride in the fact that Splash Mountain featured the world’s tallest and steepest drop for a flume ride when it opened.

--The Rivers of America was inaugurated with actual water samples from some American waterways, such as the Mississippi River. A similar strategy was used in “it’s a small world,” which claims that guests navigate “The Seven Seaways” around the globe. To lend credibility to the claim, Walt inaugurated “it’s a small world” by dropping in water samples from each of the world’s oceans.

hats off to you

2008-02-23T01:25:00.005-07:00

Disneyland is one of the only places where people can wear completely obscure "noggin blockers" and the only thoughts others have are, "I wonder if they got that at the Main Street Emporium or The Mad Hatter....hmmm?". If only we could freely wear these types of "head flare" in our everyday lives and be as widely accepted as we are inside the world of Disneyland. I guess we can always dream of a better tomorrow.

the magic continues

2008-02-19T22:50:00.004-07:00

Here is a delightful little video Curtis put together from our December '06 visit to "The Happiest Place on Earth". Make sure your speakers are turned on, the music is the best part. Enjoy!

year of the mouse

2008-02-17T21:56:00.002-07:00

Last week, as you all know, was the chinese new year. Disneyland was getting into the action with Mickey and Minnie posing under colorful lanterns in their Asian-inspired costumes and making appearances on Main Street in their "Year of a Million Dreams" costumes. Here's everyone's favorite mouse celebrating The Lunar New Year.

grape jelly & dancing

2008-02-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

So, this morning I woke up and thought to myself, "I'd sure like to eat breakfast at the grape jelly bar." For those of you who were with me, you know what I'm talking about. For those of you that weren't, it was an amazing eatery in Downtown Disney that we came to know and love as the "grape jelly bar". It had the most amazing country potatoes and sausage and waffles with marinated berries. Mmmmmmm. This is a little video of Alison dancing down the stairs after a scrumptious breakfast... and then Paul just walking down them.

the big cheese

2008-02-03T23:57:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is. The grand puba of character pictures. The one, the only, Mickey Mouse, posing with yours truly. Many children had their hearts broken, and some noses, as we elbowed our way to the front of the line for this photo op. Looking back, it was absolutely worth it to get our picture with "the big cheese".

snow capped castle

2008-01-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

We were at Disneyland in December with Paul and Alison and, needless to say, it was even more magical than usual. The whole park was decked out in Christmas. This was the first year that Sleeping Beauty's Castle has snow and icicles as part of the holiday decor. Here's a picture of Curt and I on the drawbridge. We just got soaked on Splash Mountain so if we look a little disillusioned that's why.

Here is Paul and Alison, also a bit wet, standing in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

it all started with a mouse

2008-01-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

"To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."

-Walt Disney, 1955