Last updated 2/1/10

 

 

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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)

Honey I Shrunk the Audience

 

 

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)

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:

Updates to the refurbishment schedule....Added Picasa Slideshow Viewer (whenever a picture has an arrow button on it, click on the arrow to begin the slideshow).

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Splash Mountain Splash (the latest Disney news bites)

 

Proving once again that its hard to keep a dead man down, Disneyland brings back Michael Jackson's Captain EO to the Magic Eye theater for a "limited engagement" beginning in February 2010 and sends Honey I Shrunk the Audience packing probably for good.  Once EO completes it run a new attraction will be put in the theater which most likely will be Walt Disney World's Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor which is something of an interactive live show on the order of Turtle Talk with Crush.

Captain EO closed in April 1997 at Disneyland.  By the time it left it was tired, dated, attraction playing in front of small groups of people.  You can see the non-3D version of film out on YouTube but after you see it once, you'll know why it was put out to pasture.  In the end, except for a few cool dance moves by MJ, its really pretty silly.

 

 

Get ready...Fall 2010, the Epic Mickey video game makes its debut.  No more Mr. Nice Guy as Mickey hits the steampunk world.

      

 

 

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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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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

it's a small world closes 1/14/10 - 1/28/10 to remove the holiday overlay

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 for refurbishment (I would expect this will also shut down performances of the Jedi Training Academy)

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 closes 2/1/10 - 3/11/10 for refurbishment

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 

Award Wieners closed through 4/16/10

Golden Zephyr closed 2/16/10 - 4/2/10


Silly Symphony Swings
scheduled to open 4/28/10
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World of Color debuts late April 2010. 

 

Buena Vista Street (DCA's version of Disneyland's Main Street) scheduled to begin construction January 2010.  I believe this construction project will push the front gate turn styles out several feet - probably somewhere around where the letters that spell out "CALIFORNIA" now sit.

The Timon parking lot (the last remnant of the original Disneyland parking lot) is now officially closed and is being converted into a portion of the massive new Cars Land (scheduled to open in 2012)

Paradise Garden Grill (replacement for the defunct Burger Invasion) and Boardwalk Pasta & Pizza (which will replace the current Pizza Oom Mow Mow) open May 2010.  To make room for additional dining seating, the adjacent S.S. Rustworthy will be removed.

Mulholland Madness closes January 2010 for re-theming and returns as Goofy's Sky School

 

Other

The Disneyland Hotel is set to begin a 3 year renovation (approx. 1 tower per year beginning in 2010).  The big change is removal of the fake balconies and windows that open with a slick new blue solid window plus flat screen TVs, amenities for business travelers, and a new modern interior.

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

   

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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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