Look Out Disneyland Here we Come 7A

Our long time friend standing proud
to welcome us home.

I have a life long friend.  He has a special place in our family.  His name is Mickey Mouse.  I joined his club, The Mickey Mouse Club, when I was a kid.  I watched the show every day after school.  It was both entertaining and presented you with knowledge.  My mom insisted we went to Disneyland in 1955.  We returned every year to see the changes, the evolution and the 'Disney Plussing'. As the years went by and I grew up I learned that my mother was a big Mickey Mouse fan.  She too grew up with Disney only in the theater.  She was born in 1928, the same year as Mickey. Because of this she felt a special kinship. We are going go visit this friend really soon. We are heading for the Disneyland Hotel for a weeks stay.  If you have read any previous posts, you will know we are collectors of Disney memorabilia.  Not just collectors but maniacal collectors.  When we leave for our vacation we have  a prominent Disney presence.  Matter of fact we have to raid the Harry Potter room (the cupboard under the stairs) for Disney items that we take on every trip. Over the years, we have gathered many items that we carry with us on Disney trips and also on other trips.  

So many snacks so little time

The case we use the most on our adventures is what we call the 100 Year Bag.  It was purchased from the Disney Catalog by my mother.  The bag was a commemorative of a 100 years of Disney Magic.  This is not a shoulder bag, it is like a carry-on sized bag.  We use it to carry all our snacks for all our trips.  It holds bags of chips and jars of salsa.  Boxes of crackers for my wife can be put in one of the many pouches.  It holds hot peppers and hot gairdiniera pickled vegetables all for dear old dad. Is it full yet? No, we have plenty of room for granola bars and candy for the twins. My mom got this bag for us when she ordered many Disney items monthly from the Disney Catalog.  She ordered so much she had her own private shopper with Disney.  She was considered a Best Guest. 

Bless you mom you gave us so much!

When we first begin to get ready to go to Disneyland, we gather up things that we need for our visit when we get there.  For dad and mom that means backpacks.  When the twins were babies and toddlers, the carrying of a backpack was easier.  It could hang on the stroller.  Later, we needed to carry it backpack style.  In 2001 when Disney California opened, we found a backpack we loved. It had adequate pouches to drive security people crazy.  It has water bottle pouches on both side. Plenty of space for sweaters when the weather changes. This portable home had one drawback, it could carry so much it could get heavy.  To compensate it had a lumbar waist belt to help distribute the weight on your hips. 

An oldie but a goody

The next backpack does not have as much space or as many spots for carrying stuff.  It is more compact.  This means you'll have to go back to the hotel for your coats and sweaters.  It doesn't have zipper pouches or dedicated spots for water bottles, but it is lighter. We also have the matching carry bag which is good to bring to the pool.  Since we like spending time at the pool when we spend summer days at the Disney Resort Hotels, we need an extra bag.

I love the Mickey representation

Been to the many pools of the Disneyland Resort.

At the Disney swimming pools they provide everything you might need except a suit.  Their towels are large and lush.  When the children were young and not strong swimmers, we were happy to find that Disney supplied floatation vests.  This allowed my children to enjoy the many Disney pools. The first was the Olympic sized pool at the Disneyland Hotel that was removed when the expansion and rededication of the area for Downtown Disney happened. They have enjoyed the Redwood Pool and the slide and the Mariposa pool at the Grand Californian Hotel.  Not to be left out the old Peter Pan pool at the Disneyland Hotel because of these flotation vests.  Now they can swim.  Like the Treasure of Sierra Madre, if you asked my twins it they needed a towel they would in unison, "Towels! We don't need no stinking towels!"  That is because they had always brought their favorite Disney character towels.  A Princess or Arial for my daughter and a Buzz Lightyear for my son were most often chosen.  Of course, they had to have a bag. They left their first bag at home and it was replaced in December of 2002.  The new bags hit the store marked with the date of 2003.  We had to get one.

The twin's pool bag.  Thank you Nonna.

Back about forty years ago, I bought a camera strap for my 35mm camera.  It was sturdy 1 1/2" strap.  This made it very comfortable because it was wide.  It had an elastic inner storage which held three film canisters for 35mm film.  I used it for a year or so.  The only thing I hated was the length.  Standard for the time when around your neck it located the camera in the middle of your chest.  The next year when I returned to Disneyland, I went to the Kodak Corner to purchase another identical strap.  I figured I would hook them together and wear the camera Bandelero style.  However, they did not carry the black and white, they were now red and black. so I bought it anyway. Those straps were the pinnacle of form fits function.  It has lasted 40 years and has been on three 35mm SLR's and three digital cameras.

1000 of pictures & 1000 of compliments.

Who goes anywhere without a computer.  So many places offering WiFi.  Disneyland Hotel offered in-room computer connection early on.  Back then it was supplied to your room via ethernet cable.  We have always carried a computer to stay in touch with sports scores, world news, and emails from friends.  Now we have iPhones, iPads, and four computers.  I have one of each of these items. I needed a case to carry them.  A very good friend gave me the best computer case ever.  Not only because it has space for the computer, iPad, and power cords, it is a Mickey case.  I carry this case with double pride.  First, the person who gave me this is as big a Mickey fan as me, and it reminds me of Mickey Mouse and Disneyland everywhere I go.  So many people comment on this carrying case.

Too cool for school, thanks Mrs A.

Does anyone remember the Fly n' Buy?  Yes, you got it.  This shopping area was located in Condor Flats in Disney California Adventure.  In 2001, I purchased the most obvious symbol of a a tourist, a fanny pack.  I bought this because it held Fast Passes, batteries, insulin, and Park Hopper or Annual Pass.  When the the twins were young, I carried all their Disney related items too.

Best fannypack ever!

Too bad I didn't leave some money in it.

The Harry Potter room has yielded those items essential for another trip to the Disney Resort.  We will be there next week at this time.  Have you ever, when you planned your trip, wondered what will be the first thing that you will do?  Well the next post, we will explore what the different individuals in our family want to do first at Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure.  Until then peace and we'll see you in the parks.

Look Out Disneyland Here We Come

Daddy I'm Hungry, California Adventure

As the song goes, "You make the change.  You rearrange me till I'm sane." Pink Floyd.

I'll miss the Wave Fountian and California songs the most

Across the way from Disneyland, where we parked when I was a kid is a separate theme park initially named California Adventure.  I wrote about the park in Time Machine Travelogue on March 30th's post.  The new park was not an overwhelming success.  There were some grand ideas.  Soon after they opened things started closing.  Most of them were restaurants. You literally could not walk a hundred yards without finding an eating place.  Restaurants were tucked into every corner.  The first time we went to California Adventure we planned to eat at more economical sites.  Saving our big ticket meals for Downtown Disney.  I'm sure that the reasoning was to give as many guests as possible options.  If you were spending four days at one of the Disney Resort Hotels, you wouldn't eat every meal at California Adventure.  The park also had shorter hours not opening until 10:00 AM and closing at 9:00PM.  So the grab and go was mostly the type of restaurant.  Of the different areas of California Adventure, the Hollywood Studio is a good place to stare.  There was a spot we passed up the first time we went there and that was a mistake because it soon disappeared.  Hollywood and Dine, clever play on words eh. It was themed to be a commissary located on a Hollywood Studio's back lot.  However, it was just a food court.  You travel hundreds of miles and spend hundreds of dollars to eat at food court.  I don't think so.  Like all mall food courts it offered different food choices. They all had clever names though.  There was a burger joint called Wilshire Bowl.  If you want pizza, the Villa Carpi would be there for you.  Hungry for Chinese food?  Then, Don the Beachcombers would be your stop.  If you wanted a $8.00 tuna fish sandwich step up to Schwab's Pharmacy.  You never know you might be discovered by an agent and made a movie star.

A very good dog

Cross pollination corperaton style

We walked away and opted for Award Wieners, a gourmet hot dog stand and the french fries were great.  At the time it had very limited sidewalk seating, but an area that was part of the Muppets 3D attraction's queue was reassigned for table seating. Originally, they had Soap Opera Bistro.  It was like dinner theater with the backdrop of ABC daytime soap operas. Scenes and sets from familiar daytime shows were used by actor/ wait persons serving up food and involving the guests in the drama. Port Charles, All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital were the shows that were used.  It too closed and reassigned as a stage show. Now no food is served there.

Wolfgang where did you go

Many changes have happened in the Paradise Pier region of California Adventure.  The legendary Wolfgang Puck was a Southern California chef.  So with his name recognition a restaurant at California Adventure seemed like a great idea.  They built a lavish interior setting and the food I'm told was phenomenal.  We knew that we were returning with the sponsor, my mother, in December so we would wait.  Bad idea it was doomed to failure.  Most restaurants suffered this fate and soon Wolfgang was gone.  It went through a change and became Ariel's Grotto, a character dining experience.  We have been to this dining spot when my daughter was into Disney Princesses, especially Ariel.  They have a unique menu option.

All the characters are dressed in sailor attire

For a single price you receive a starter, main course, and dessert item, and you have different choices in each category.  You get to mix and match while characters like Mickey, Minnie, and Chip and Dale circulate mingling with guests for photos.  When you arrive, Ariel, seated in a clam shell, is there for personal photos.
At one time, there was an agreement between Disney and The McDonald's Corporation.  You remember all those toys given out in Happy Meals?  There was a couple of McDonald's french fries places in Disneyland.  Burger Invasion was a limited menu McDonald's at the west end of Paradise Pier.  It was closed when the mutual agreement was dissolved in 2007.  However, Paradise Pier was changing.  Pixar was taking over.  One of the best changes was the opening of Toy Story Midway Mania.  To make room for this addition two walk away food service spots needed to be closed.  Malibu-Ritos and Strips Dips "N" Chips were removed.  The chicken strips and fish and chips were moved to Bountiful Valley Farms.  My family enjoy the chicken strips and the fish and chips.

If you're hungry for this go to the Stage Door Cafe in Frontierland

Ooo fried food

Never ate here and now its gone

I wonder what they will replace it with

I always thought they were not from this Earth 

The have reassigned the area where Pizza Oom Mow Mow and Burger Invasion and replaced them with Paradise Garden and Grill and Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta.  I haven't had an opportunity to eat at them when we went to the parks for One More Disney Day on Leap Day this year.  The choice for us on the afternoon and evening we spent at DCA was the newly reopened Corn Dog Castle.  It was a great treat to take the edge off while you're waiting for one of The Wonderful World of Color water and laser show.  And it was fantastic and cold on the February Night.

Pizza pizza everywhere

Couldn't they just put in a different attraction

My wife's sister could believe over $30 for five corn dogs

My wife always takes first bite

 The food court concept did not disappear when Hollywood and Dine closed down.  The Pacific Wharf area was a food court al fresco.  There is no inside dining but there are plenty of outdoor seating.  Also in that area is a beer wagon and a margarita shack.  The margarita place was named Rita's Baja Blenders. The anchor restaurant is the Pacific Wharf Cafe`.  It is reminiscent of the restaurants of Monterey and San Fransisco.  The San Fransisco sour dough bread has been famous for over a 100 years.  The best bakery for it in the City is Boudin Bakery.  Thousands of people have carried home sour dough from Boudins all over the world.  Airports have seen the arrival of loaves of this bread around the United States and many countries of the World.  They, of course, have clam chowder served in a hollowed out bread bowl along with sandwiches and salads.  Also, they serve breakfast and have great breakfast pastries.

Take a couple of loaves back to your room or home

Something strange also occurred in this area.  They stayed with the with the food court concept, however the restaurants switched sides.  They serve food court styled dishes.  Luckily, I live in California and have many locally owned restaurants that serve much better food of these genres.  The Mexican food place is called Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill.  I have seen plates ordered by others and the food is appealing looking. I suppose you could grab a margarita or a beer and have a relaxing break.

Try the carne asada and chicken tamale

The other mainstay of every mall food court is Chinese food.  At one time they had a gourmet fortune cookie window connected with the restaurant.  However, I didn't see it anymore now that they have switched sides.  The Lucky Fortune Cookery is like many mall places.  We all have eaten at restaurants like Panda Express which this food resembles.  Traditional rice bowls contain rice and a choice of entrees.  Chicken, beef, or tofu is served with different sauces like Teriyaki, Mandarin orange, spicy Korean, and Thai curry.  However, with so many food choices I think I could find something better.

Pacific Rim Foods

With all the current retheming that is going at what used to be called California Adventure and now called Disney California Adventure is an area known as Condor Flats.  In that area, the is an excellent food choice, Taste Pilots Grill.  They have good old fashioned American cuisine.  Barbecued ribs, Angus hamburgers, and french fries and onion rings.  It also a short from the Grand Californian Hotel so it is a good first stop when you reenter the park after your swim.  The put in space-age self-serve electronic kiosks so that you could place your order.  I don't know if these will be removed now that the area will be reassigned.  One thing that has already flown away is the rocket busting through the front of the building.

Where good taste is rocket science

As we get ready for our annual Summer visit and the opening of Cars Land, we will get pictures ready to show the transformation to the new Walt Disney's era California.  Please comment if you want any special pictures or information.Try these links

Look Out Disneyland We Have 50th Anniverary Pins Two

Let's Visit the Golden Rides

I offered to send him this picture after he stepped in front

The Golden Rides at Disneyland's 50th Anniversary celebration were a reminder that there is continuity for all of us who ever visited the park.  Rides have come and gone but luckily some of the originals remain.  I am always amazed at some of the changes that have occurred.  Some of them are for the better and some aren't.  Some have worked and remained and some just faded away.  Does anyone miss the Rocket Rods.  Many of the attractions also received upgrades.  One of the original attractions that has changed over the years is the Jungle Cruise.  Scenes have been added.  There is a story that Walt Disney once overheard a mother telling her child that they didn't need to ride the Jungle Cruise again because they rode it last time.  This is said how he came up with the idea of plussing the attractions.  It is the subtle changes that keep the rides fresh.  Different animals where added over the years.

The Congo Queen

The cruise steams on multiple rivers in the World.  Elephants, tigers, even piranhas have been added.  Hippopotami have endured gunshots to scare them a way from the boat.  Then, the guns where holstered and now they have returned.  The new two story boat house to hold the waiting queue made it feel like you are readying for a cruise in a different era.  The steamers are named for the rivers they sail.  There has been many changes that plussed this attraction. The jokes that the Skipper tells even change depending on their personal style.  This can make every ride different.  However when we pass by Schweitzer Falls,  I wait for the classic joke of all time, "Look to your left and you'll see the backside of water.

We all drive a little Goofy

When I was a kid growing up in Southern California, there was a change that was occurring that actually brought the Future.  Therefore, this July 17, 1955 original has literally driven us into the Future.  Even before President Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway Act, some of us were already driving on the highways of tomorrow.  The Tomorrowland Autopia gave us young drivers freedom to motor freely.  Too freely then perhaps because the cars weren't confined by the center block to control over steering.  The sightseeing over the years have been futuristic.  Driving along seeing the Monorail track looming overhead gave the ride a guarantee you were seeing the future.  The cars have been changed and the queue has been improved in 2000.  I am convinced that 90% of California Drivers leared to drive on the Autotopia.  Next time, you pull through a drive-thru at any fast food place look around and notice.  Does this causeway remind of something?  I bet you'll go, "It's the Autopia."

Grinning like a Cheshire Cat

In 1983, the New Fantasyland was introduced.  The architecture changed.  Gone was the tent-like  Renaissance festival look and the Black Forest Bavarian took over.  Some of the attractions were moved and updated but they remained loyal to the original Disney themeing.  When my brother and I visited Disneyland as children, we loved to ride the Mad Tea Party.  We loved to spin it as fast as we could.  That dizzy feeling was so cool as we walked away.  In those days, the cups only had a strap across the opening.  Now of course now there is a door.  Moving it over near Alice in Wonderland made a lot of sense.  It too has been plussed with party lanterns adding to the ambiance.

A ride for a Princess

There is one thing that is always thrilling, looking through Sleeping Beauty Castle and seeing the King Arthur Carousel.  The Carousel has been a constant in Fantsyland.  Walt Disney it is said had fond memories of the carousel at Griffiths Park. He scoured the country looking for carousel horses.  Most of them needed refurbishing.  But the attraction always has been beautiful. When my children were young, they both enjoyed the ride.  However as the years went by my son enjoyed it less.  Probably most boys do.  My little princess loves to ride it to this day.  She is not the only one I see a lot of teenage girls on one of those steeds riding like Mary Poppins and Bert.

If you arrive for Early Entry or a Magic Morning, you should go straight for Fantsyland and get in line for this attraction, Peter Pan's Flight.  The line for this ride can back up in a hurry, and why not.

I'm Flying

This ride allows you to sprinkle on your Fairy Dust and fly away from London and soar to Neverland like Peter Pan.  The movie Peter Pan came out in 1953 and was the first movie that I ever remember going to.  Boys love adventure and Peter Pan had it all.  He lived in a magical place, Neverland, with a gang of Lost Boys.  He has friends that are Indians, Mermaids, and a pixie named Tinker Bell.  He has sword fights with pirates that included their captain, Captain Hook.  He lost his hand to a Crocodile that loved the taste and pursued him after that looking for another hand out.  I have known a lot of grown men who are Peter Pans never wanting to grow up. We rode Peter Pan's Flight eight times before the Twins were able to secure a ride in the Golden Pirate Schooner.

Ride 'em Stitch

There is no more iconic Disney attraction than dumbo the Flying Elephant.  This ride outwardly recognizable. There are no other flying elephants around.  Dumbo was always cool because you got to operate him. If you wanted to go up and stay up you could. There use to be only eight Dumbos at one time now there are sixteen. They cannot put more Dumbos into service so the wait time can get long sometimes. But as the line moves and you near the front, you are watching and anticipating your turn. Then someone comes along and hands you a large black feather. The same kind of feather that gave Dumbo confidence he could fly. This Magic Feather is your ticket for your flight with Dumbo. I'm glad Stitch is enjoying his Dumbo ride. What about you Stitch fans?


The next attraction was from the Wind in the Willows.  It was a segment of a two part film called The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.  

"Merrily, Merrily Now We Go Totally Perpendicular"

The Ichabod segment was shown yearly on or around Halloween because it was an adaption of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Everyone knows the story of Ichabod Crane.  It was a delightful story told by Bing Crosby.  However, I never really saw the Mr. Toad segment until it was released on video.  On the ride you drive recklessly much like Mr. Toad did.  You crash through everything in the house then continue out into public.  You then meet a train in a tunnel and you get to experience the heat when you land in Hell. While you are motoring along, you have the background music from the Mr Toad segment, "Totally Perpendicular."  We always ride this attraction early also. 


Lastly, we have the Storybook Land Canal Boats.  This is a voyage through a mini depictions of Disney films and shorts. 

Generally there is a pretty girl operating the Canal Boats

The "Lilliputian effect" viewing the miniatures as you sail along.  The other amazing thing about the attraction is the landscaping.  Bonsai styled trees are in place.  Everything is to perfect scale.  They use succulents to create a patterns and designs. You cruise though Monstro the Whale's Mouth from Pinocchio to reach Storybook Land.  Which canal boat did they refinish to be Golden?  It was the the Tinker Bell, of course.  
This brings us to the end of the Golden 50th Anniversary pins.  Disney knows how to celebrate.  They knew that everyone of would want to celebrate and remember his event. That is why this collection is so memorable.  Soon, we will investigate another set of pins hat was sold during the 50th Anniversary, the Magical Moments pins.  Thank you for reading and if you have a special pin request please leave me a comment.  See you soon in Disneyland.

Time Machine Travelogue Nine

Field Trip to Washington D.C.

The time machine is ready to go again.  I have experienced some minor difficulties in the retro circuitry since it was last used.  I have been pouring over the schematics in order to solve the problems.  Having a time machine is everybody’s dream.  If only people without a time machine knew the problems involved in owning and operating this sophisticated piece of equipment, they wouldn’t dream of having one of these.  I, after this weeks down time, have seemed to find the main problem.  It is a targeting of the GPS coordinates not retro chronometer.  It seems that the time machine cannot easily return to the same spot on the Earth’s surface too many times in a row. 

A surprise traveler at the
Minneapolis  Airport.

If you follow the previous trips, you should remember that many of them have ended up in Disneyland.  Therefore, I need to choose an alternate location.  This time it is easy, 2008.  The location Washington D.C. will be far enough away from Disneyland to not cause any difficulties. 

In 2008, my twins went on an eighth grade field trip to Washington D.C. and New York City.  They were attending the k-8 elementary school that my wife and I both worked at.  This allowed us to be chaperons on the trip.  Going on a packaged field trip does not allow a lot of flexibility.  Everyday is planned. 

The trip did not start well.  The connecting bus that was to shuttle us to the nearest airport broke down in the schools parking lot.  Luckily, many parents were there delivering luggage and saying their goodbyes, they loaded the students into their personal cars and drove them to the airport.  We were ready to fly to Minneapolis?  It was a connecting flight and layover and we were on our way.

The first days side trip was to Mount Vernon, the home of our first President, George Washington. I know some of the students were not as interested in the history.  But history was constantly there.  Everyone knows that George Washington was the Commander in Chief of the American forces during the Revolutionary War.  Also he was the First President of the United States that he helped to create.  However, he considered himself as a farmer.  In the 1700’s, farms were self-sufficient.  They grew and raised everything they needed.  George’s farm had a winery, distillery, and smokehouse.  The living history was incredible.  Displays were there to show you how they lived, prepared food, and even slept.  Speaking of sleeping it was time to go back to the hotel and sleep.

Mt Vernon

George Washington Had a Farm

Foggy Potomac View

Home and Hearth

Food preparation

Cozy Kitchen

Well-stocked Pantry

Historical Carriage

Is this a "National Treasure" Trip?

Farm Outbuilding

There is so much on a trip like this.  The second day, we were seeing our government buildings.  It is magical to stand anywhere near these buildings.  The ghosts of the past fill you with a sense of awe.  The buildings, like the United States Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the White House not only represent the three branches it symbolizes the stability of our country.  

The United States Capitol Building

"I am Only a Bill, and I'm Sitting Here on Capitol Hill"

When you see this remember all the great
Americans who have served here

This is so impressive in person.

As you may have already observed, I am relying on mostly pictures to tell the story of this field trip.  They say that one picture is worth ten thousand words.  With all these pictures, I wish I was being paid by the word.  The US Capitol is incredible.  It is hard to believe that people can go into that building and fight with each other over simple things. However, it has happened since they first occupied the building.  Men voted for some of the best laws this country stands for and, unfortunately, the worst.  Every school child who ever saw School House Rock knows "I am only a Bill and I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill." However they should remember that that any Bill that passes through both the House of Representatives and the Senate are housed in this building.  But from here it goes to the President's Desk in the White House.

House available every four years

We the people are the landlords

A home to be proud of.

Here live the people's choice to lead Our Country.

Look, here is my daughter future home when she's President

Those aren't roofers.  Those are military snipers

guarding the White House.

We all know the third branch of our government is the Supreme Court.  Here too there have been and will be decisions made that change our lives.  As an educator, the Brown v. the School Board of Topeka, Kansas changed things for the better.  Without these branches who knows chaos would ensue.

Athena would be proud

The Supreme Court resembles the Parthenon in ancient Greece.  The Parthenon was built to honor the goddess of wisdom, Athena.  We hope that the men and women of this body use the gift of wisdom.

The time machine is letting me know that we need to return to the present.  In a subsequent trip however, we'll return for more of this field trip.  So get your boarding passes ready. Also check out the other time trips we have taken.  I'll soon be readying the time machine for a trip to this destination and others.  Thank you for flying with us.

I am looking for a name for the time machine.  Please leave the name you think it should be called in a comment.  No prize will be granted.  Only the fun of your imagination.

I would like to thank my daughter and son for their great photography skills.  All pictures in this blog are courtesy of them.