I was pondering what else I could write about on this blog, and I've settled on the obvious- I worked at WDW for over 8 years, so how about some park tips? These are in no particular order, just writing them down as they come to me.
*This might be an obvious one, but drink a lot of water- especially in the summer! The Florida heat is brutal. Don't forget to take rests!
*Always look up! Disney has amazing theming, and if you never take the time to notice your surroundings, you'll breeze right past a lot of fun details. For example, have you ever seen the old timey telephone on Main Street? The next time you see it, pick up the receiver and hold it to your ear- you can listen to a turn-of-the-century party line! The Christmas shop in Liberty Square has three distinctly different rooms representing the homes of 3 families: a German family, a musician's family, and a wood carver's family. The Confectionary has plans for candy inventions on the walls. If you go see MuppetVision 4D, don't forget to look at the back of the theater- the Swedish Chef is there!
*The Confectionary as well as the candy shops in Downtown Disney and in Frontierland sometimes have free samples of fudge on the counter, so pop in and check. Plus, you can always count on a free square of chocolate at Ghirardelli's.
*The shops on Main Street are all connected so you can cut through them if you want to avoid street crowds.
*If there is a character you particularly have your heart set on, don't leave it to chance. Make it a priority to find out when and where that character will be meet and greeting, and don't wait until the last second to seek him or her out.
*If your little girl is being treated to both the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique as well as a special dinner, do make sure your reservations are at least two hours apart- you don't want to chance stressing out because the BBB sometimes runs behind.
*Don't wait until the last minute to pick your souvenirs! More than once I've made the mistake if waiting too long to pick what I want, and by the time I've decided, it's too late. Remember, you can have your items sent to the front of the park for free.
*If you've been walking around the parks all day, it feels really good to dip your feet in the pool when you get back to your hotel.
*The first thing you should do with your family before the trip, is decide what attractions or other experiences are your priority, and then focus on making them happen. You will not be able to see everything, so it's best to decide in advance what everyone's must dos are.
That's all for now. If I think of more, I'll do another set!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
Why Once Upon a Time?
So why do I love Once Upon a Time so much, anyway? Well, first you have the obvious. I'm a Disney geek. OuaT is produced by Disney and borrows a lot from the films we love which I've pointed out in an earlier entry. The stories aren't exactly like their Disney counterparts, but where is the surprise in that? The new and unexpected twists and turns are what make the show so fun. Who knew Snow White once lived as a bandit and works a bow and arrow like a pro? Who knew the evil queen had mommy issues? Who knew Jiminy Cricket was once a man? I also get a huge kick out of all the Disney references they toss in.
OuaT is filled with some of my favorite story elements. For one thing, it's like a big mish mash of a fanfiction crossover. You have a scene in which the Evil Queen from Snow White is conspiring with the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland and Captain Hook from Peter Pan! Rumpelstiltskin falls in love with Belle from Beauty and the Beast! Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood are best friends! Rumpelstiltskin uses the Mad Hatter and Dr. Frankenstein to manipulate the Evil Queen! It's so intriguing how all the various stories are intertwined. I used to dabble in Disney crossover fanfic myself. I started a crazy story called "The Great Disney Switch" when I was 13, which you can read here if you are curious: http://angiebelle-randomwritings.blogspot.com/2012/03/great-disney-switch.html
Ouat has great potential for fish-out-of-water situations which I've always loved. You have all these characters from folklore and pop culture interacting with our world. The contrast between their worlds and ours are a big part of the show's appeal. I was tickled, for instance, at Belle's introduction to iced tea and hamburgers or Aurora's reaction to Emma's contemporary jacket or Emma trying to attack a dragon with a gun. The whole concept of fairy tale magic in our world is delicious. Any sort of magical elements in a story will hook me though.
While fairy tales and magic are a big part of OuaT, they are not even the only reason I watch. The series also has strong emotional ties. The characters are real people, not cardboard cutouts. No one is entirely good or entirely bad. They are human....heightened reality, sure, but still human- even the villains. The magic, if you will, of the show is that it takes these characters who have done truly awful, unforgivable, things and then turns around and makes you feel for them and care about them! The Evil Queen isn't just a vain, sadistic ruler. She's Regina, a broken woman who spent her whole life being manipulated. Often times, the non-magical character relationship moments are my favorite. The characters are all in one mindbogglingly dysfunctional family, and the way in which their situations unfold just draws you in and leaves you wanting more.
No, the show isn't perfect- after all, the writers and creators are all human too! Not to mention, every fan has his or her own ideas on what it should be like, and they can't please everyone. However, at this point, I'm so invested in the story and the characters that I will follow through until the end even if everyone else decides they've "jumped the shark." Right now we are in the summer hiatus before season 3, and I -for one- cannot wait to find out what happens in the next chapter of this epic tale!
Friday, May 10, 2013
More Disney references
Well, goodness, I have completely forgotten a few more references on Once Upon a Time, so here is an addendum to my previous post!
Rumple and Belle echo a conversation between Belle and the Beast about the dungeon being her room (Only the Beast leads her out of it while Rumple leads her to it).
There is a clock, a candelabra, and a teapot in the background during the "Skin Deep" episode.
Archie's dog is named Pongo for Pongo of 101 Dalmations.
The magic mirror is blue like the genie from Aladdin and that episode specifically mentions the kingdom of Agrabah.
Personally, I'd love to see an episode in which the characters directly reference their Disney counterparts!
Rumple and Belle echo a conversation between Belle and the Beast about the dungeon being her room (Only the Beast leads her out of it while Rumple leads her to it).
There is a clock, a candelabra, and a teapot in the background during the "Skin Deep" episode.
Archie's dog is named Pongo for Pongo of 101 Dalmations.
The magic mirror is blue like the genie from Aladdin and that episode specifically mentions the kingdom of Agrabah.
Personally, I'd love to see an episode in which the characters directly reference their Disney counterparts!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Disney references in Once Upon a Time
I mentioned before that I am completely obsessed with the tv show Once Upon a Time, right? It's a natural fit for a Disney fan, combining all sorts of storybook characters into one giant mish mashed fanfiction. Then there is the added bonus that the show is on ABC and actually produced by Disney, therefore they have access to the entire Disney canon! Granted the stories on the show take a very different path than their Disney counterparts, but they love to throw in little tributes to the films. I'm going to see how many of them I can remember.
Snow White:
The most obvious one here is the names of the dwarfs. In the original versions of the Snow White story, the little men are are just alike, generic figures with no names. It was Walt Disney who decided to give them distinct personalities, and the classic names we remember from the film are all there in the tv show. Fun fact- here is a way to remember the names of the 7 dwarfs: 2 D's (Doc and Dopey), 2 S's (Sleepy and Sneezy), and three emotions (Bashful, Happy, and Grumpy).
We occasionally get a snippet of a song. The episode "Tiny" has the dwarfs singing "Hi Ho." In "Heart of Darkness" Snow White is heard humming "With a Smile and a Song" right before whacking a bluebird! In the same scene, she's also wearing the famous red hair bow.
Dopey wears his signature purple hat.
Cinderella:
Before Billy the auto mechanic meets his grisly fate, he reveals that he was once a little mouse named Gus who lived with Cinderella- it's Gus Gus! Poor Gus Gus...
Interesting fact: In the Disney films, Prince Charming is actually the name of Cinderella's prince, not Snow White's. Snow White's prince is known in the film only as The Prince. Backstage at Disney, they refer to him as Snow Prince.
Sleeping Beauty:
I'm not 100% certain, but I think all the names: Prince Philip, Aurora, and Malificant are specific to the Disney version. Malificant in the Onceverse also borrows her look a bit from the film with the horns, but lacks the green skin and wears purple instead of black.
Pinocchio:
Jiminy Cricket being Pinocchio's conscience is really a feature of the Disney film. In the original book, he is killed off almost immediately.
Beauty and the Beast:
Obviously this one is my favorite, but I think it wins the record for the most direct tie ins to the Disney version. Here we go:
The most obvious is the names. Belle, Gaston, and Maurice are all Disney specific.
Belle wears both her signature dresses, the golden gown and the blue dress.
Then, course, everyone gets the reference of the chipped cup to Chip, although the objects don't come to life here.
When Gaston bursts in and tries to reclaim Belle, Rumple turns him into a rose. Belle asks who was at the door, and he replies, "Just an old lady selling flowers" which is directly out of the Beauty and the Beast prologue. "One winter's night an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in exchange for shelter from the bitter cold."
Belle loves to read just as in the Disney film and as in the Disney film receives a library for a gift. In fact, Rumple presents one to her twice both in Storybrooke and in the Fairytale world.
Did I leave anything out? Is there something you caught that I missed? Let me know! I love this show so much, and it is even better when you are a Disney fanatic. There's a chance I might be able to make it to a big Once convention in Orlando this November. If I make it, I'll be sure to blog about it! I'm also going to the D23 Expo in August- woohoo!
Snow White:
The most obvious one here is the names of the dwarfs. In the original versions of the Snow White story, the little men are are just alike, generic figures with no names. It was Walt Disney who decided to give them distinct personalities, and the classic names we remember from the film are all there in the tv show. Fun fact- here is a way to remember the names of the 7 dwarfs: 2 D's (Doc and Dopey), 2 S's (Sleepy and Sneezy), and three emotions (Bashful, Happy, and Grumpy).
We occasionally get a snippet of a song. The episode "Tiny" has the dwarfs singing "Hi Ho." In "Heart of Darkness" Snow White is heard humming "With a Smile and a Song" right before whacking a bluebird! In the same scene, she's also wearing the famous red hair bow.
Dopey wears his signature purple hat.
Cinderella:
Before Billy the auto mechanic meets his grisly fate, he reveals that he was once a little mouse named Gus who lived with Cinderella- it's Gus Gus! Poor Gus Gus...
Interesting fact: In the Disney films, Prince Charming is actually the name of Cinderella's prince, not Snow White's. Snow White's prince is known in the film only as The Prince. Backstage at Disney, they refer to him as Snow Prince.
Sleeping Beauty:
I'm not 100% certain, but I think all the names: Prince Philip, Aurora, and Malificant are specific to the Disney version. Malificant in the Onceverse also borrows her look a bit from the film with the horns, but lacks the green skin and wears purple instead of black.
Pinocchio:
Jiminy Cricket being Pinocchio's conscience is really a feature of the Disney film. In the original book, he is killed off almost immediately.
Beauty and the Beast:
Obviously this one is my favorite, but I think it wins the record for the most direct tie ins to the Disney version. Here we go:
The most obvious is the names. Belle, Gaston, and Maurice are all Disney specific.
Belle wears both her signature dresses, the golden gown and the blue dress.
Then, course, everyone gets the reference of the chipped cup to Chip, although the objects don't come to life here.
When Gaston bursts in and tries to reclaim Belle, Rumple turns him into a rose. Belle asks who was at the door, and he replies, "Just an old lady selling flowers" which is directly out of the Beauty and the Beast prologue. "One winter's night an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in exchange for shelter from the bitter cold."
Belle loves to read just as in the Disney film and as in the Disney film receives a library for a gift. In fact, Rumple presents one to her twice both in Storybrooke and in the Fairytale world.
Did I leave anything out? Is there something you caught that I missed? Let me know! I love this show so much, and it is even better when you are a Disney fanatic. There's a chance I might be able to make it to a big Once convention in Orlando this November. If I make it, I'll be sure to blog about it! I'm also going to the D23 Expo in August- woohoo!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
A Beauty by Any Other Name
Twenty-one years ago, Disney released a film that introduced my favorite character of all time. It didn't start out that way. For a while, three animated heroines bobbed up and down on a current- Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine each taking a turn as the highest ranked. I couldn't make up my mind which I liked best. However, it wasn't long before one of them found her special place in my heart as number one.
Belle of Beauty and the Beast is so much that I am and everything I wish I could be. I'll admit it- part of the reason I adore her is superficial. She is the only Disney heroine with hair like mine, the only one I even remotely resemble, but she is so much more than her physical appearance. When the entire village sings about how odd Belle is, I feel for her. I know people think I'm odd too, and I go back and forth between just wanting to feel as if I belong and wanting to stand out and be embraced for my differences. Like Belle, I have walked around with my nose in a book. I beamed when friends back in my school days would on occasion call me Belle. Like Belle, I tend to be off in my own world, forgetting to pay attention to my surroundings.
In 8th grade, I participated in the ensemble for a production of Cinderella. Another girl playing a townsperson decided to make her entrance in the opening number with a book in hand, reading as she walked. I wished so much I had thought of that myself that I decided to pretend to read over her shoulder so that I could be Belle-like too!
In other ways, Belle is very different from me. She is far more courageous and selfless than I could ever be, and I greatly admire her for it. She gave up her freedom for her father's. She stood up to the Beast, and later she stood up for the Beast when Gaston riled up the town. Belle is no wallflower. She is not afraid to speak her mind, and she is not afraid to defy popular opinion. I love how she has some sass and attitude. When the Beast yells at her in her room, "You can't stay in there forever!" she yells right back, "Yes, I can!" In the Broadway show, the Beast orders her to be hungry, and Belle points out just how ridiculous that is.
My latest obsession is the Disney produced fairytale mash-up television fantasy Once Upon a Time. Last year, my favorite episode was, of course, the one that brought Belle, played by the lovely Emilie de Ravin, into the show's narrative, "Skin Deep." In this version, Rumpelstiltskin takes on the role of the Beast, and it works perfectly. Rumple hates himself for the monster that he believes he has become, but Belle reaches out to him and sees the goodness in his heart. She isn't scared of him, and he has never met anyone quite like her. It's heartbreaking when he sends her away because he can't believe someone could love him. She calls him out on it, not believing for a second that he would choose his power over love but rather that he is too afraid to accept the idea that someone might actually love him.
Belle's love of books is also transposed to Once Upon a Time's take on her, and it is used to even greater effort. Belle uses knowledge and books to find a monster and later a pirate. Her ability to read another language saves a life. She is strong in this show, not afraid to decide her own fate.
Sometimes among the vast world of fictional characters, we find one that truly resonates with us. For me, that one is Belle. Belle is my muse, my spirit, my aspirations. She is beautiful both inside and out. Several years ago, my mom bought me a name necklace that says "Belle" instead of "Angela." Sometimes, people ask me why I wear a name that isn't mine. I like to think that it's a little reminder of my own inner Belle.
Belle of Beauty and the Beast is so much that I am and everything I wish I could be. I'll admit it- part of the reason I adore her is superficial. She is the only Disney heroine with hair like mine, the only one I even remotely resemble, but she is so much more than her physical appearance. When the entire village sings about how odd Belle is, I feel for her. I know people think I'm odd too, and I go back and forth between just wanting to feel as if I belong and wanting to stand out and be embraced for my differences. Like Belle, I have walked around with my nose in a book. I beamed when friends back in my school days would on occasion call me Belle. Like Belle, I tend to be off in my own world, forgetting to pay attention to my surroundings.
In 8th grade, I participated in the ensemble for a production of Cinderella. Another girl playing a townsperson decided to make her entrance in the opening number with a book in hand, reading as she walked. I wished so much I had thought of that myself that I decided to pretend to read over her shoulder so that I could be Belle-like too!
In other ways, Belle is very different from me. She is far more courageous and selfless than I could ever be, and I greatly admire her for it. She gave up her freedom for her father's. She stood up to the Beast, and later she stood up for the Beast when Gaston riled up the town. Belle is no wallflower. She is not afraid to speak her mind, and she is not afraid to defy popular opinion. I love how she has some sass and attitude. When the Beast yells at her in her room, "You can't stay in there forever!" she yells right back, "Yes, I can!" In the Broadway show, the Beast orders her to be hungry, and Belle points out just how ridiculous that is.
My latest obsession is the Disney produced fairytale mash-up television fantasy Once Upon a Time. Last year, my favorite episode was, of course, the one that brought Belle, played by the lovely Emilie de Ravin, into the show's narrative, "Skin Deep." In this version, Rumpelstiltskin takes on the role of the Beast, and it works perfectly. Rumple hates himself for the monster that he believes he has become, but Belle reaches out to him and sees the goodness in his heart. She isn't scared of him, and he has never met anyone quite like her. It's heartbreaking when he sends her away because he can't believe someone could love him. She calls him out on it, not believing for a second that he would choose his power over love but rather that he is too afraid to accept the idea that someone might actually love him.
Belle's love of books is also transposed to Once Upon a Time's take on her, and it is used to even greater effort. Belle uses knowledge and books to find a monster and later a pirate. Her ability to read another language saves a life. She is strong in this show, not afraid to decide her own fate.
Sometimes among the vast world of fictional characters, we find one that truly resonates with us. For me, that one is Belle. Belle is my muse, my spirit, my aspirations. She is beautiful both inside and out. Several years ago, my mom bought me a name necklace that says "Belle" instead of "Angela." Sometimes, people ask me why I wear a name that isn't mine. I like to think that it's a little reminder of my own inner Belle.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Our anniversary day at Disneyland
I forgot to mention- after our first day in the parks, we were greeted with the sight of yummy anniversary cookies in our hotel room. Score one for Candy Cane Inn!
For the day of our actual anniversary, we decided to start our day with breakfast at Storyteller's Cafe in the Grand Californian. The buffet was tasty but fairly standard, however, we had a great server. Not only was he friendly and very chatty, but when we returned from our first round of food, he had taken it upon himself to bring us a plate of fresh, hot Mickey waffles- yum! Our characters were Meeko, Chip, Dale, Koda, Kenai, and....Terk (as I sing "One of these things is not like the others...") Not all the characters made it to our table before we left, but oh well.
Our second day, we planned to be the reverse of the first day- spending most of it at DL with an evening return to DCA. Because we had spent a good chunk of time at DL the year before, we took a more casual approach for the day. Therefore, my coverage of this day will be a bit less play by play.
"It's a Small World" was already decked out for the holidays, and neither of us had ever seen it that way, so it was one of our first stops. It's fun to hear a new song mixed in on a classic attraction, but both of us felt a little uncomfortable that Christmas was basically imposed on every country when many of them don't celebrate it. (I know "Jingle Bells" doesn't specifically mention Christmas, but still...)
We spent some time in Toontown which I've always thought was leagues ahead of the one that used to be in WDW. I had to visit the treehouse home of my two buddies, Chip and Dale, and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin is always a favorite. We practically walked right on.
We did some cave exploring on Tom Sawyer's Island, oh- excuse me, Pirate Island....eh, it will always be Tom Sawyer's Island to me, although I did enjoy the effects they've added.
I insisted we meet Merida from Brave since I had not been back to a Disney park since the film premiered and hadn't had the chance to pose with her before. She was a total hoot with her Scottish accent. When we told her we were celebrating our anniversary, she asked if my mother had picked him out!
The Haunted Mansion had it's holiday version up and running too. This time, the makeover got enthusiastic thumbs up from us, although I missed some of the classic elements that had been temporarily removed. The Nightmare Before Christmas made for a good fit though.
My other must do character interaction was Wreck it Ralph and Vanellope Von Schweetz. We loved the film. They were hanging out- appropriately enough- in the Tomorrowland Arcade. Due to poor luck with timing, Vanellope left just as we were getting to the front of the line. We got our picture with Ralph and then had to return later and get in line again for Vanellope. I don't know why DL has them posing separately. They would be a lot more fun to interact with if they could play off each other.
They had real "vintage" Fix it Felix machines in the arcade. They cracked me up- anyone who didn't know better would think it was a real arcade game from the 80s! The machines were distressed to look old, and they had a copyright mark for 1982.
The lack of long lines meant I was able to go on both Space Mountain and the Matterhorn without making Derek wait too long for me. Space is so different since they changed it a while back. The new version is very fun but definitely more dizzying. Matterhorn has new vehicles, but I couldn't tell if there was a huge difference in the ride experience. It had been a while since I last rode it. Indiana Jones- one of my favorites and a ride Derek is willing to go on- was sadly on a scheduled rehab period during our visit.
When it was time for our evening entertainment, we picked a spot in Fantasyland to watch the Christmas parade. It was soon apparent that we should have watched from Main Street where the parade actually steps off from. We just barely made it back to DCA in time for our dinner reservations at Carthay Circle Restaurant.
I had heard great things about Carthay Circle and couldn't wait to check it out for myself. The theming was exquisite. Despite most everyone wearing casual theme park clothes, we felt a bit under dressed. The place emulated the 1930s movie palace for which it was named and felt elegant and refined. The walls were decorated with photos of Walt Disney with various celebrities.
We ordered the cheddar jalapeno biscuits that I had heard so much about- they were delicious although different from what I was expecting. They were more like filled fried dough than what I would describe as a biscuit. My main course was a unique version of ravioli. I enjoyed it very much. I don't remember exactly what we ordered for dessert, but I think it was something chocolate and yummy. The couple next to us appeared to be regulars. They were discussing the menu as if they had been there several times before.
Eating in the restaurant got us reserved viewing for The Wonderful World of Color. We got to enter a section right in the center. How nice it was for this 5' 3.5" girl to be able to see the show without periodically jumping or balancing on my toes as I did last time! I also got a kick out of watching all the "Glow with the Show" mouse ears blink in unison with the show.
When it ended, the park was basically closed for the day, so we said good night and headed to Downtown Disney to choose a special anniversary memento. It took us literally until store closing, but we finally settled on a Stitch big fig in our of our honeymoon in Hawaii.
The next morning, we ate our bagels, and headed back to San Jose. Till we meet again, Disneyland! Hopefully sooner rather than later!
For the day of our actual anniversary, we decided to start our day with breakfast at Storyteller's Cafe in the Grand Californian. The buffet was tasty but fairly standard, however, we had a great server. Not only was he friendly and very chatty, but when we returned from our first round of food, he had taken it upon himself to bring us a plate of fresh, hot Mickey waffles- yum! Our characters were Meeko, Chip, Dale, Koda, Kenai, and....Terk (as I sing "One of these things is not like the others...") Not all the characters made it to our table before we left, but oh well.
Our second day, we planned to be the reverse of the first day- spending most of it at DL with an evening return to DCA. Because we had spent a good chunk of time at DL the year before, we took a more casual approach for the day. Therefore, my coverage of this day will be a bit less play by play.
"It's a Small World" was already decked out for the holidays, and neither of us had ever seen it that way, so it was one of our first stops. It's fun to hear a new song mixed in on a classic attraction, but both of us felt a little uncomfortable that Christmas was basically imposed on every country when many of them don't celebrate it. (I know "Jingle Bells" doesn't specifically mention Christmas, but still...)
We spent some time in Toontown which I've always thought was leagues ahead of the one that used to be in WDW. I had to visit the treehouse home of my two buddies, Chip and Dale, and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin is always a favorite. We practically walked right on.
I insisted we meet Merida from Brave since I had not been back to a Disney park since the film premiered and hadn't had the chance to pose with her before. She was a total hoot with her Scottish accent. When we told her we were celebrating our anniversary, she asked if my mother had picked him out!
The Haunted Mansion had it's holiday version up and running too. This time, the makeover got enthusiastic thumbs up from us, although I missed some of the classic elements that had been temporarily removed. The Nightmare Before Christmas made for a good fit though.
My other must do character interaction was Wreck it Ralph and Vanellope Von Schweetz. We loved the film. They were hanging out- appropriately enough- in the Tomorrowland Arcade. Due to poor luck with timing, Vanellope left just as we were getting to the front of the line. We got our picture with Ralph and then had to return later and get in line again for Vanellope. I don't know why DL has them posing separately. They would be a lot more fun to interact with if they could play off each other.
They had real "vintage" Fix it Felix machines in the arcade. They cracked me up- anyone who didn't know better would think it was a real arcade game from the 80s! The machines were distressed to look old, and they had a copyright mark for 1982.
The lack of long lines meant I was able to go on both Space Mountain and the Matterhorn without making Derek wait too long for me. Space is so different since they changed it a while back. The new version is very fun but definitely more dizzying. Matterhorn has new vehicles, but I couldn't tell if there was a huge difference in the ride experience. It had been a while since I last rode it. Indiana Jones- one of my favorites and a ride Derek is willing to go on- was sadly on a scheduled rehab period during our visit.
When it was time for our evening entertainment, we picked a spot in Fantasyland to watch the Christmas parade. It was soon apparent that we should have watched from Main Street where the parade actually steps off from. We just barely made it back to DCA in time for our dinner reservations at Carthay Circle Restaurant.
I had heard great things about Carthay Circle and couldn't wait to check it out for myself. The theming was exquisite. Despite most everyone wearing casual theme park clothes, we felt a bit under dressed. The place emulated the 1930s movie palace for which it was named and felt elegant and refined. The walls were decorated with photos of Walt Disney with various celebrities.
We ordered the cheddar jalapeno biscuits that I had heard so much about- they were delicious although different from what I was expecting. They were more like filled fried dough than what I would describe as a biscuit. My main course was a unique version of ravioli. I enjoyed it very much. I don't remember exactly what we ordered for dessert, but I think it was something chocolate and yummy. The couple next to us appeared to be regulars. They were discussing the menu as if they had been there several times before.
Eating in the restaurant got us reserved viewing for The Wonderful World of Color. We got to enter a section right in the center. How nice it was for this 5' 3.5" girl to be able to see the show without periodically jumping or balancing on my toes as I did last time! I also got a kick out of watching all the "Glow with the Show" mouse ears blink in unison with the show.
When it ended, the park was basically closed for the day, so we said good night and headed to Downtown Disney to choose a special anniversary memento. It took us literally until store closing, but we finally settled on a Stitch big fig in our of our honeymoon in Hawaii.
The next morning, we ate our bagels, and headed back to San Jose. Till we meet again, Disneyland! Hopefully sooner rather than later!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Disneyland 1st anniversary trip, Part 1
Here we go- a long overdue Disneyland trip report!
After nearly a year since moving to CA and leaving WDW, Derek and I finally planned a return to my childhood park- Disneyland! While WDW saw me through my first decade of adulthood, my youth was spent at Disneyland. For our first anniversary, I felt as if I was going home.
My mascots on this trip were little Stitch who took posed for pics all over our honeymoon in Hawaii and Erik Sock Monkey in memory of my friend's little boy who lost his short battle with cancer a few months ago.
We decided to make the drive from Northern CA- about 6 hours, and one of the most boring drives ever with nothing but miles of farmland for long stretches. We kept ourselves entertained with my collection of Disney cds. We stopped for lunch at a random collection of restaurants and hotels in the middle of nowhere. The place we chose had all the walls lined with vintage lunch boxes and thermoses ranging from Star Wars to Fraggle Rock and everything in between- that was a hoot.
We chose the Candy Cane Inn because it had free breakfast, free parking, and a walkable pathway to the parks. It had many good reviews. We didn't find it particularly special- theming was minimal at best, the breakfast was bare bones basic and there weren't really any extra perks, but the rooms were clean and the bed was comfortable, and that's all that really mattered.
It was too late in the day to bother going to the parks, so we headed to Downtown Disney to explore shops and choose dinner. Browsing shops is really more my thing than Derek's, but he patiently let me explore World of Disney where I took mental notes of what I wanted. I was impressed with the amount of new adult sized Disney Princess t-shirts- Belle in particular. We walked up to several restaurants, but they all had really long wait times that we weren't willing to settle for. We decided on a quick service location- the Jazz Kitchen express- where I had the New Orleans version of a meat pie, and we ordered some beignets for good measure- yum.
We woke up bright and early the next morning, with plans to grab a quick bite at the continental breakfast before heading to Disney's California Adventure for opening. Candy Cane Inn breakfast is about as simple as you can get- the only hot item was a machine in which you can toast your bread on a bagel. Other than that, your options were cereal, pastries, fruit, and yogurt. On the bright side, it meant we didn't have to feel stuffed.
Our Plan was to be at DCA for opening and make a beeline for Carsland to get fastpasses for Radiator Springs Racers. When we got there, we discovered a huge line being set up along the side of the building just for fastpasses. The rest of the crowd was waiting for the park to open. The fastpass line was so long that instead of getting in it, we decided to try our luck with the standby line.
Our risk paid off. We got on the ride with only about a half hour wait. By the time we finished, the wait time outside was 120 minutes! We both agreed that the ride was absolutely amazing! While the track was very similar to Epcot's Test Track, it had a much higher element of magic as it recreated Radiator Springs. The audio-animatronic figures of the Cars characters were incredibly lifelike and enormous. I would have loved for the fast part to be longer, but for the most part, it's a huge hit.
Carsland itself is a big hit too. We spent a good hour just hanging out in that area of the park. I'm not even a huge fan of the films, but the details were so fun- the baby tractor "petting zoo", the Cozy Cone, the posters on the walls of Flo's Cafe. They had the Christmas decorations up already. Even the statue of the town's founder had a Santa hat on.
Once all the Cozy Cone kiosks were open, I insisted that we try the apple slush drink- I had read that the concoction was exactly the same as Lefou's Brew, the new specialty drink in WDW's new Fantasyland. Since who knows when I'll get to return to FL, this would have to do. It was really delicious! It tastes like frozen apple juice and a sweet marshmallow foamy topping.
Derek didn't feel like waiting in line for Luigi's Floating Tires or Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, so we decided to swing by The Little Mermaid ride. On our last visit, it was brand new, and we waited over an hour. This time? Only 5 minutes! Woohoo! While a cute ride, there is no way it was enough payoff for the wait we had the first time.
Derek doesn't care too much for coasters, so I grabbed a fastpass for California Screamin', and we checked out this little "museum" near the winery. It was part real life demonstration center for the new Carsland and part Radiator Springs exhibit- they even had an old guestbook on display signed by car themed celebrity parody names. They also had a viewing area for a Cars short about Mater and his time machine- very funny.
I had not had the chance to get to California Screamin' on the last visit, so I was glad to return. So fun! It was actually longer and more intense than I remembered.
We decided to do lunch at the excellently themed Flo's Cafe- a 50s style diner for car customers- advertising the best in oil, ha ha. The food was very good and quite a big meal for a quick service location. We both chose turkey slices with gravy.
We left Carsland to explore other areas of the park. We had been there just the previous year, so our must see list wasn't terribly long- just the new stuff. One of those new things was a Newsies inspired musical revue on Buena Vista Street I'd read about. With it's Broadway style singing and dancing, the show naturally received raves from me, especially when Mickey joined in. With him now being able to blink and move his mouth, it was annoyingly hard to get a good picture.
Let me take a moment to say how much I absolutely loved Buena Vista Street! It echoed Disney's Hollywood Studios (aka MGM) back in FL but represented a slightly earlier Hollywood, the one Walt saw when he first arrived. The streetmosphere folks were more believable and less goofy than their Florida counterparts (except Goofy himself of course).
The theming of the area was great- really stepping back in time. From the names of the shops to the old fashioned Christmas decorations, the imagineers didn't miss a detail. I got a kick out of everyone wearing Oswald the Lucky Rabbit ears. I'm so glad Disney got the rights to him back.
We next wandered into the modern Hollywood part of the park. Monster's Inc had an almost non existent wait time posted so we hitched a ride. I always forget just how good that one is! I still think there ought to be a coaster based on the door room scene though.
We headed into the animation building and paced through it pretty quickly. Derek had never seen Turtle Talk with Crush in WDW to my surprise so we got in line. The set up here is much better. They can fit more people, and it has real theater seats instead of standing blocks. The show itself is about the same, although I noticed that Crush now brings out a Buzz Lightyear toy instead of a bikini top which I thought was funnier.
Over at the Hyperion Theater, guests filed in for the next performance of Aladdin- perfect timing as it started soon. We had to sit in the balcony, but the view was still decent. I had seen the show before, but Derek hadn't. It really is an impressive production for a theme park. What a shame that Aladdin and Jasmine don't fly over the audience anymore. I do love how Genie is always up on the latest pop culture jokes.
I wanted to catch another show- Minnie's Fly Girls- so we found ourselves in Condor Heights and grabbed fastpasses for Soarin Over California. Yes, we have ridden the one at Epcot many times, and once you have flown over the real Hawaii in a real helicopter, pretending to fly over CA seems a little silly, but hey- it's still fun.
We gathered in front of the little platform for the show. Once again great fun- Minnie's fly girls were dressed like 1960s Pan Am stewardesses and sang some great ditties. At one point, they were asking people where they wanted to fly, responding with an enthusiastic, "We go there!" I stood right up front, so they asked me! I had to think for a second and settled on Ireland. Then they sang a medly about all the countries they fly to. When they got to Ireland, they smiled right at me.
After the show, we decided to grab snacks. I picked a chocolate dipped Mickey shaped marshmallow. We nibbled on our goodies while watching the talents of "Five and Dime"- a 1920s jazz group. We then found spots for the Pixar Play Parade featuring an insanely catchy theme song and nearly every Pixar character.
Hearing that Carsland looks amazing after dark, we went to admire all the neon signs. I talked Derek into hopping onto Mater's Junkyard Jamboree since the line was so short. He was afraid the spinning would be too much, but we both handled it just fine.
We decided to take advantage of Disneyland Park's later hours. Our desire for some dinner led us to the Big Thunder BBQ which neither of us had tried before. The food was all you care to eat and comparable to WDW's Hoop De Do menu, although the later has a few tastier items. Big Thunder doesn't have the fried chicken or the strawberry shortcake. The entertainment was a few rodeo characters singing Christmas tunes with guitar or piano accompaniment.
We finished the night catching rides on a handful of Fantasyland classics. Getting those out of the way would give us more time for other things the next day. We caught a glimpse of the fireworks as we headed out for the night. The next day was our actual anniversary.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)