Last updated 5/17/10

 

 

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EXPLORE DISNEYLAND

Main St.

Adventureland

New Orleans Square

More Disney "Land" pages coming soon.

 

 

Disneyland Photo and Trip Report Pages

June 2009

December 2008

November 2008

November 2007

June 2006

July 2005

February 2004

October 2002

 

 

DISNEY DIGITAL
ART GALLERIES

.Park Scenes

 

Family Pictures

 

 

DISNEYLAND LISTS

Ten Best Attractions in Disneyland Park

1. Pirates of the Caribbean

2. Space Mountain

3. Splash Mountain

4. Indian Jones

5. Fantasmic

6. Finding Nemo

7. Thunder Mountain RR

8. Jungle Cruise

9. Matterhorn Bobsleds

10. Disneyland Railroad

 

 

Least Favorite Attractions in Disneyland

Storybook Canal Boats

Mr. Toads Wild Ride (it isn't)

 

 

Favorite Queuing Lines in Disneyland

Indiana Jones

Star Tours

Buzz Lightyear

Space Mountain 

 

 

Off the beaten path gems not to be missed  in Disneyland

Mickey's House in ToonTown

Asimo in Innoventions

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (currently closed)

The Disney Gallery

 

 

Attractions in Serious Need of an Upgrade in Disneyland 

Star Tours  (Coming 2011)

 

 

Wastes of Valuable Space in Disneyland that could be replaced

Innoventions (other than Asimo the robot)

Fairytale Theater

Most of ToonTown (except Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin and Mickey's House)

 

 

Favorite Sit Down Restaurant in Disneyland 

Blue Bayou

Carnation Cafe

 

 

Favorite Counter Service  Food Places in Disneyland 

Hungry Bear

Tomorrowland Terrace

French Market

 

 

Favorite Snack Places in Disneyland

Dole Pineapple Juice Bar

Bengal BBQ   (for the bacon wrapped asparagus only)

Red Wagon Corn Dog Cart

 

 

Favorite Food to Eat While Walking

Chocolate covered banana

The  churro

Cream Cheese Jalapeņo Pretzel

 

Least Favorite Place to Eat in Disneyland

Village Haus (Fantasyland)

Rancho del Zocalo

 

 

 

DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE LISTS

Ten Best Attractions in California Adventure

1. Soaring Over California

2. Toy Story Mania 

3. Aladdin

4. California Screaming

5. Grizzly River Run

6. Tower of Terror

7. It's a Bugs Life

8. Muppets 3-D

9. Turtle Talk with Crush

10. Playhouse Disney

 

 

Least Favorite Attractions in California Adventure

Mulholland Madness

Monsters Inc.

 

 

Favorite Queuing Lines in California Adventure

Tower of Terror

Tough To Be a Bug waiting area

Muppets 3D

 

 

Off the beaten path gems not to be missed  in California Adventure

Toy Story Zoetrope

 

 

Attractions in Serious Need of an Upgrade in California Adventure

Muppets 3-D  (Coming)

 

 

Favorite Places to Eat in California Adventure

Wine Country Trattoria

Taste Pilot's Grill

Pacific Wharf Cafe

 

 

Dining Disappointments in California Adventure

Ariel's Grotto

Pizza Oom Mow Mow (closes 2010)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAMILY PHOTO MEMORIES

 

Memories 2009

Memories 2008

Memories 2007

Memories 2006

 

 

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Recent Website Changes:

News about Aladdin, a talking Mickey, and a slick new car.

Special Note:  Disney-Smiles now in maintenance mode as a brand new website endeavor is being prepared to launch this summer

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Splash Mountain Splash (the latest Disney news bites)

The Genie gets a reprieve.  Aladdin was scheduled to be permanently shut down August 15 at Disney's California Adventure's Hyperion Theater.  It was to be eventually be replaced by Toy Story The Musical which currently plays on Disney cruise ships.  Naturally fans of Aladdin voiced their displeasure over the change and this time Disney listened.  The removal of the Aladdin show has been postponed for the time being.  Either that or the show that played on a small stage on board a ship didn't translate very well when placed in the cavernous Hyperion Theater and the fact most people who have actually had seen Toy Story The Musical didn't give it very good reviews.

 

World of Color at Disney's California Adventure is nearing completion and is scheduled for official opening in June 11.  To view the show you will need to get a showpass (similar to a fastpass) first thing in the morning for that evenings performance.  It is believed there will be 2 shows nightly through the summer.  Also, even with a showpass, you will not be allowed into viewing areas early to stake out a prime spot.  Instead, viewers will be queued up in a waiting area then allowed into the viewing area about 20 - 30 minutes before showtime.  The has a viewing capacity of about 9000 people.  Here is the latest video from Disney Parks Blog

 

 

World of Color viewing park / ampitheater is now open.

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What would it be like if a Mickey that wandered around a Disney parkcould actually speak to people?  Take a look at what is currently being tested.  This is only a test run and not currently shown in any Disney park.

 

 

 

 

Disney posted some kind of secret photos of the new Radiator Springs Racers the big E-Ticket attraction featured in the new Cars Land (opening 2012)

 

 

Mean while over at the Disneyland Hotel, the three year face lift continues as work on the "Dream" tower (the new name for the old Sierra tower) continues.  Some people think the new blue windows make it look like an office building but I kind of like the clean look.

 

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Upcoming Disney - Pixar Theatrical Releases

      

Toy Story3 June 2010

 

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Our Next Disneyland Trip

Now hoping to be able to make a trip to Disneyland sometime during the week of May 23rd before sister's annual pass expires.

Our trip to Walt Disney World postponed from last year may be on again this year at Christmas.  There is a link below for our planning that went into last year's aborted trip but stay tuned for exciting changes as a new year gives us another year to change our minds. 

Click HERE  to go to our Walt Disney World Trip pages...

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Disneyland History

Click on button below to enter into information related to Disneyland History.

 

Disneyland History

 

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A 10 Minute Trip Around Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure.

 

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Refurbishment, Closure, and Construction: Information & Updates

Disclaimer:  The following information is gleaned from various sources on the Internet.  While they are pretty accurate, 100% accuracy cannot be guaranteed.   Always check with the Disneyland Resort for current information - rides and attractions are subject to close without notice. 

Disneyland

Indiana Jones Adventure closes 6/1 through 6/3 for refurbishemt

Monorail closes 4/19 and 4/20 for refurbishment

Tomorrowland Terrace closed through 7/2/10 to put in a new kitchen (Jedi Training Academy and other Tomorrowland Terrace stage entertainment continues to perform)

Splash Mountain closes 5/17/10 - 5/27/10 for refurbishment.

Star Tours closes 7/26/10 for upgrading to the new Star Tours 3D.  Scheduled to open 5/10/10

 

 

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Disney's California Adventure 



Wine Country Trattoria closed through 6/9 for remodeling.  The new WCT will feature upstairs dining and a new counter service facility downstairs.

Silly Symphony Swings
scheduled to open 5/28/10
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Blue Sky Cellars closes 6/3 through 6/9 install the Voyage of the Little Mermaid exhibit.

Silly Symphony Swings Under Construction

 

 

 

 

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Pictures From Our Latest Trip

Click on green arrow to start photo slideshow

 

Here is a map of the Disney's California Adventure makeover.  Be sure to stop by the Blue Sky Cellars exhibit to see what's in store for the new and improved Disney's California Adventure. 

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 Disneyland Commentary

  Disneyland Traditions and Superstitions

I have to admit I hadn't given it any thought but in reading a Disneyland website forum the other day, the topic was put out there "Do you have any superstitions or traditions that you follow on a trip to Disneyland?"  I was amazed at the amount of responses with things like "always enter the park from the left side tunnel" to "look up at the light above the firehouse and say 'good-night & thank you" to Walt" to "always stopping at the Main St. Cinema to see a few minutes of Steamboat Mickey" to "making Peter Pan's Flight the first ride of every visit".  It really was quite a list.  And then I thought about whether I have any traditions or superstitions.  I guess the answer would be "no" but its never to late to start making some.

And while I don't have any traditions or superstitions, I guess (or I should say "we" for Lisa and me in many cases) there are some very definite tendencies we have that could be formed into actual traditions.  Generally speaking, while we tend to enter the park through the tunnel closest to the turnstile we enter in, I think we almost always exit the park from the right hand side tunnel closest to the city hall and the firehouse.  I would like to think its because, especially if its after dark, it gives me the chance to look up at light above the firehouse when it can really be seen.

When we first enter Disneyland on the first day of a trip we almost always walk up Main St., make the left hand turn and head for New Orleans Square (or we'll take the train over there) and make a ride on Pirates our first ride (it could be second if there's no wait for Indy).  And if Pirates is the first ride, we almost always make the short walk over to the Haunted Mansion and make that our second.  This seems right since they are the two most elaborate rides the Walt Disney actually had a hand in creating.

Speaking of train rides, we always make at least one complete full circle trip on the Disneyland Railroad (though Lisa cringes every times she goes through the primeval world diorama - hasn't changed in 50 years - and it looks it). 

As for the rest of the rides, we always go on the Jungle Cruise, Mark Twain, it's a small world, and Buzz Lightyear.  While we have other favorites, almost everything else is optional depending upon the weather and how long the line is.  At our age, "riding all the rides" isn't really a priority anymore.

As far as the other attractions, we will always go into the Enchanted Tiki Room to see the birds (and enjoy a pineapple float beforehand though the quality of those treats may have deteriorated through the years).  At least once each trip we will stop into the Golden Horseshoe to see an always fun performance by Billy Hill and the Hillbillies.  When it re-opens in December, we will make a visit to the Disneyland Opera House to see Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln on each trip,  Hmmm....Tiki Room, Golden Horseshoe, and Lincoln....3 places I've been in with my parents and I'm in my middle 50's.  Outside of Buzz, you could probably throw in all of the above though I'm not sure if mom and dad made it to the Haunted Mansion.  I guess there is something to tradition after all.

For food, I will always get a safari skewer (bacon-wrapped asparagus) from the Bengal Barbeque, eat a frozen banana and at least split a churro with someone.  Since we've made three trips to Disneyland over the last year we have had a chance to sample other dining places and the Carnation Cafe, French Market, and Blue Ribbon Bakery all have a chance to become dining traditions.

Its hard to have traditions over at Disney's California since the park is not even 10 years old and still not fully developed but we always go see Aladdin (though my understanding this elaborate stage play is renewed on a year by year basis and may not run forever).  Unless the weather is ridiculously cold, we will make it though the Grizzly River Run and we love the Pixar Play Parade along with with Turtle Talk with Crush.  Even though we've seen the shows plenty of times, It's Tough to be a Bug and Muppets 3D generally will be seen on every trip.  But a must add to the traditions list is Toy Story Midway Mania, one of the best rides in either park.  We don't have any dining traditions over at DCA but I think we both enjoyed our meal at the Wine Country Trattoria and enjoy the chicken sandwiches from the Taste Pilot's Grill. 

So that's it for now.  Before we make our next trip, I plan to sit down and come up with some real traditions if not outright superstitions.  What could be better than to touch this or pick up that from Disneyland on every single visit? 

 

Commentary Archives

Commentary - Disneyland Holidays

Disneyland - Why Go Back

The Strange Case of Oswald the Rabbit

A Mouse Loses His Voice

DCA - Not Just and Afterthought Anymore

Things I Haven't Done

   

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More Disney Links:

DISNEYLAND ATTRACTIONS  

          DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE ATTRACTIONS  

RIDES FROM 1955

 

 

DISNEYLAND FOOD AND DINING  

          CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE FOOD AND DINING  

                    DOWNTOWN DISNEY FOOD AND DINING   

 

DISNEYLAND RESORT HOTEL GUIDE  

 

HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH: DISNEY WHINES, GRIPES, & COMLAINTS 

 

Great Disney Links:

MousePlanet.com

LaughingPlace.com

DisneylandNewsToday.com

WDW News Today

WDWNTube  (Submitted videos relating to Disney and the Disney theme parks)

BlueSkyDisney.blogspot.com

ocresort.freedomblogging.com  (Orange County Register Around Disney blog)

AllEars.net

Yesterland.com

Disneyland.com

More links coming

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Contact Me:

If you see any problems or see something you would like changed you can use the email link below to contact me.  Also, if there is something you would like posted, please pass it on and share.

email:  dbanderson3@sbcglobal.net 

Who we are:

Dave Anderson:  Web Design & Authoring, Technical Support

Lisa Anderson:  Text Editor, Principal Photographer 

 

 

 

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