Returning from Disneyland

       We just arrived home after a wonderful trip to Disneyland!  We arrived on Saturday, and we came home late Wednesday night of this past week, which allowed us time to explore all of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.  We ate at the Blue Bayou, Storytellers Café, Steakhouse 55, Carthay Circle, Wine Country Trattoria, Café Orleans, Rancho Del Zocalo, and the Carnation Café.  Needless to say, we experienced some fine culinary masterpieces at these restaurants. 

         We also spent time in Carsland, which is just as intricately detailed as everyone says it is.  It really feels like you are stepping into the movie. Radiator Springs Racers is both an exciting ride and a nod to the detailed storytelling that we have come to expect from Disney.  We went on this attraction three times, and I highly recommend it.  The quality of the audio-animatronic Cars is top notch, and the ride is thrilling, but not too wild.  The setting for the queue is beautiful, and it is easy to forget that the mountains are really sculpted and did not occur naturally.  We just enjoyed walking around Carsland when all of the neon was glowing and the music was playing.  This area has added some much needed ambiance to California Adventure. 

          Speaking of ambiance, Buena Vista Street is absolutely stunning.  We walked in all of the stores and really felt transported back to the 1920s when Walt Disney Productions was still just a dream in its infancy.  This area of the park is exciting and filled with so much detail.  I know that I will find even more of these details on future trips to the Disneyland Resort. 

Another highlight of the trip to California Adventure was dining at the Carthay Circle.  This restaurant was beautiful, and the food was unbelievable.  I ordered the mushroom risotto, and my husband ordered the steak.  The quality of the food and the service really made us feel like we were important people dining at a star-studded establishment.  We will definitely return to this restaurant on future trips to California. 

           On this trip, we divided our time between California Adventure and Disneyland.  Walking into Disneyland for me is always so strange because I go to Disney World so much.  I expect to see certain things, but then, instead of Cinderella Castle, I spot the Matterhorn.  Instead of seeing the Peoplemover, I just see empty tracks.  There were several times that we exited a ride and I was ready to go in one direction but realized that this direction would not be correct because I was not in Florida. 

      Overall, I truly enjoy my trips out to the original Disney Park.  I love seeing the old photos of Walt and the Imagineers that are hanging all over the parks and the resorts in California.  When you walk though Disneyland, you can definitely feel Walt’s presence.  I know that many people say that, but it is so true.  I like looking at the lantern in the Firehouse, and seeing it lit reminds me that Walt Disney is still present in spirit in all of his parks.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

Disneyland Bound

            Like any serious Disney fans, we have had the desire to visit the original Happiest Place on Earth in California, and we made that pilgrimage last year during the Christmas season.  We enjoyed ourselves so much that we are going back to Disneyland in just two short weeks.  Unlike our last trip, we will have three and a half days to explore the parks.  Last time, we had such a short trip that we felt so rushed.  There were many attractions and areas that we simply did not have time to visit.  This year, we are looking forward to examining all of the details that make Disneyland such a special place.

            I am most looking forward to riding the classic rides that are similar to their Florida counterparts but also very different.  For instance, Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland is far superior to its Florida cousin.  The attraction is so much longer and tells a more cohesive story, not to mention the level of atmosphere that the Blue Bayou restaurant creates as you first embark on the ride.  We plan on riding Pirates many times just so we can take in the entire environment that has been so meticulously created.  Of course, I am also looking forward to seeing my old friend Mr. J. Thaddeus Toad.  I loved that ride as a child at WDW, and I am always excited to take a journey down the road of nostalgia. In addition, we love walking into Disneyland and feeling right at home on Main Street; it is so similar to the Magic Kingdom in Florida, but also so very different.  It is a very odd feeling, but not an unwelcome one.

            As for rides that only exist in Disneyland, we really enjoy the Casey Junior Circus Train.  We will fight our way to the caboose because that is the best seat!  Also, the Indiana Jones Adventure is exciting and does not exist in Florida.  I also can’t wait to ride the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes.  I know that sounds sort of boring, but I cannot help but feel like I have stepped back in time on this type of ride.  We had so much fun paddling the canoe and just seeing the Rivers of America from a different angle.  The Storybook Land Canal Boats are also such a nod to the exquisite use of tiny, intricate details that make Disneyland so special.

            On our last trip, we spent just a few hours in California Adventure, so we really did not see much of that park.  Now, with the addition of Carsland, there is so much to see and do that we will be spending more time at DCA.  We cannot wait to ride the Radiator Springs Racers as well as just take in the details of this new land.  Also, we are going to dine at the Carthay Circle one evening, so I am sure that will be a wonderful experience as well. Buena Vista Street was under construction on our last visit, so we will also be able to explore that whole new area on this trip.

     All in all, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to return to Disneyland and explore uncharted territory as well as re-visit old favorites.  We just have to wait two more weeks, and speaking on behalf of my husband and I, we are ready to go right now!  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

       

This Ride Has Gone 101

“Looks like Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear are causing some kind of commotion down stream.” “Playful spooks have interrupted your tour.”  These spiels may sound familiar to you if you have ever had a ride in Walt Disney World go 101.  What does that mean?  Well, going 101 is castmember speak for the ride breaking down or having some sort of technical difficulty.  Sometimes, we have heard these announcements when a handicapped person is having trouble loading, and the castmembers have to stop the ride so that these guests can safely load.  When a ride breaks down and we get stuck, you might think that we are upset or irritated at the delay; however, after so many trips to the World, we always welcome a ride break down.  When this happens, the castmembers will help you evacuate the ride to the nearest safe location.  This means that you get to see backstage sections of the ride that you would never normally see.  This is always a welcome occurrence for my husband and I. 

            We have been evacuated off very few rides considering how many times we visit WDW every year.  One memorable experience occurred on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  The ride stopped when we were very close to pulling into the station, and we waited for a few minutes.  After the delay, a castmember approached our train, and he told us that we would have to exit the ride.  There were very specific instructions for disembarking.  We had to follow the row in front of us, and we had to stand in a certain spot actually on stage in the ride.  We had to wait until the exact moment we were instructed to walk, and then we had to follow the leader to the exit.  This was very exciting, but I wish we had been deeper in the ride so that we could have seen more of the ride itself.  As we were leaving the ride, we were given fastpasses that could be used for any ride throughout the park; this token was intended to compensate us for having to spend precious time stuck on this attraction.

On one trip through Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, we were delayed in the ride, which will provide you with a great boost to your score.  We just kept shooting until we had both reached the maximum score, and we both proudly became Galactic Heroes.  After a while of being stuck, eventually the house lights came on, and we could really see many different parts of the ride that are normally concealed by the semi-darkness.  It was neat to see the ride in this way.  We have also seen Space Mountain with the lights on while we were riding through on the Peoplemover, which is a ride on which we have been delayed many, many times.

On our most recent trip, we were stuck on Pirates of the Caribbean, and the boats were stacking up behind us.  It looked like we were going to be stuck in those caves for a pretty long time when a castmember came out and told the crew on the boat in front of us that they were going to have to perform the “boat dance.”  We wondered what this was, but our questions were soon answered when we saw the crew swaying back and forth to unstick the boat.  After a few minutes of synchronized movement, the boat eventually unstuck, and we were able to continue our journey.  This boat actually became stuck several times during our ride, but now we knew the secret boat dance, so all was well. 

One ride I would never want to be stuck on is Expedition Everest.  We were chatting with some other guests while waiting in line, and they were discussing their experience of being stuck on this ride.  They told us how they had to climb down hundreds of steps to make it down the mountain.  I think that I could successfully do this; however, I would never want to travel down the tiny steps that sit on the side of the very tall lift hill at the beginning of the ride.

Even though getting stuck on rides might seem like a real letdown, try to see the positive side.  You will get to see exciting backstage areas, and you will get to view the ride in a new light, sometimes literally.  Maybe one day, you will be like us and actually hope that the ride goes 101!  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!