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Upcoming Disney - Pixar Theatrical Releases

             Alice in Wonderland March 2010  (uh-oh!)           

Toy Story3 June 2010

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Our Next Disneyland Trip

No current plans unfortunately.

We were going to make a trip to Walt Disney World awhile back but these uncertain economic times put that trip on hold.  It is a daunting task to plan a trip to Disney world when you live 3000 miles away.  Below are pages that were created in preparation for the trip. 

But click HERE  to go to our Walt Disney World Trip pages...

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Click on button below to enter into information related to 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

Thunder Mountain Railroad closes 4/26/10 - 5/16/10 for refurbishment

Monorail closes 4/19 and 4/20 for refurbishment

Thunder Mountain Railroad closes 5/8/10 - 5/16/10 for refurbishment

Corn Dog Wagon closes 1/4/10 - 5/4/10 for refurbishment (4 months? Huh?  It's a wagon!)

Tomorrowland Terrace closes 1/4/10- 5/4/10 to put in a new kitchen (Jedi Training Academy and other Tomorrowland Terrace stage entertainment continues to perform)

Rivers of America closes 1/4/10 - 5/6/10 for drainage and refurbishment.  This refurbishment will also halt all ROA attractions - Mark Twain, Columbia, Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer's Island, and Fantasmic

Matterhorn Bobsleds closed through - 3/11/10 for refurbishment .  Also closes 4/12/10 - 4/16/10 and 4/19/10 - 4/23/10

Star Tours closes permanently October 2010 to be replaced by an updated 3D Start Tours sometime in 2011.

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Disney's California Adventure 

Silly Symphony Swings Under Construction

World of Color Testing with synced audio

Other

The Disney Vacation Club Villas have now opened (9/23) at the Grand Californian.  From studios to a two story 3 bedroom suite with an upstairs lounging area with a pool table and view of the DCA park, these units look very nice.  Yes, they are timeshares.

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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

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 

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Dave Anderson:  Web Design & Authoring, Technical Support

Lisa Anderson:  Text Editor, Principal Photographer 

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