Welcome to part II of Frontierland. Sorry that I missed a post yesterday - I was trouble-shooting a few issues with our iMac. I've started getting some emails from readers - and I'm really glad that those who are giving me feedback are finding the posts useful. I can't wait to get into more detailed posting - but I want to make sure you at least have a place to come and read a run-down of everything available to you in the parks before we start focusing on some other things in detail. I'm looking forward to reading some more emails and comments from you in the not too distant future. Don't forget, I am on facebook (look for and then hit like on the "Disneyland Dreaming" page) and also on Twitter @auDisneyDreamer and I welcome your questions, comments and feedback on those pages :-)
Let's focus on the entertainment, shopping and food available in Frontierland...
The Golden Horseshoe stage also known as the Golden Horseshoe Saloon or Golden Horseshoe Review opened in 1955 - when Disneyland originally opened. Over the years, it has been been home to many shows all with a distinctly western theme - in a cabaret style setting. The exterior of the building is much the same as it was in 1955 and the interior features a stage, orchestra pit and a 'mile-long bar' that is in fact built to 5/8 scale! In 1999 and 2000, the show featured was called "Woody's Round-Up Show" and featured characters from Disney's Toy Story! The show changes regularly and I would highly recommend that you attend this show during your visit. Check your park map or guide or ask at customer relations in Main Street for show times! oh, and the other thing about the Golden Horseshoe is it is a restaurant - so you get dinner (or lunch) and a show!!! It is counter service food (not a restaurant) but great food for the family. Kids who have never attended a dinner-show will really enjoy this experience! It's good old-fashioned family entertainment!
Other dining options in Frontierland include Stage Door Cafe, Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, River Belle Terrace and Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue.
- The Stage Door Cafe serves corn dogs, fish and chips and chicken breast tenders - great for a quick bite.
- The River Belle Terrace is popular for all meals and snacks throughout the day. For breakfast I'd suggest the popular Mickey Mouse Pancakes - but you may prefer bacon and scrambled eggs. For lunch or dinner the Terrace serves a grand selection of sandwiches served on soft baguette rolls and served with "southern baked beans" and a side of your choice. Meals are reasonably priced.
- Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante boasts to have some of the best Mexican cuisine North of the border. The name of the restaurant roughly translates to Ranch of the Square. The restaurant is decorated with beautiful fountains, Mexican glass lanterns and you will sit comfortably on the patio with bougainvillaea trees all around you. Meals are slightly more expensive than other options in Frontierland - but worth the extra dollars.
- The Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue is the best option for family dining in Frontierland. An all-you-can-eat lunch that includes cornbread, ranch beans, coleslaw, ribs and barbecue chicken is bound to please your family. There are vegetarian options available on request. Dessert is also available for an additional cost. You will be treated to music that will keep you toe-tapping and hand-clapping during your luncheon here. It is recommended that you book in advance for this option either through your travel agent, the Disney Dining number (which is, unfortunately, an international call) or at guest relations during your visit.
Shopping cravings can be cured in Frontierland at one of five stores - The Spirit of Pocahontas Shop, Bonanza Outfitters, Westward Ho Trading Company, Pioneer Mercantile and the Silver Spur. You can find a variety of merchandise from Pocahontas and Toy Story in these shops. Also, a variety of western paraphernalia can be found in these shops. Once again, all the stores are wonderfully appointed and they are an attraction in their own right and well worth a look.
In Frontierland, guests may have character encounters with a variety of characters in this area of the park. Two of the most popular characters are Woody and Jessie from Toy Story. If possible, try to greet them as early in the morning as possible. Sometimes, guest relations are able to tell you a day in advance where certain characters are making an appearance and you can plan your day around a certain greeting!
Well, that's a brief run down on the magic of Frontierland. We'll move on to Critter County next. One of my favourite places in the park - and home to Winnie the Pooh and friends!!
Until next time, Have a Magical Day.
Love,
Michelle
xxx
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Disneyland California - Frontierland (part I)
Before I start writing about Frontierland - I'd just like to give you a quick reminder to find me on facebook by the Disneyland Dreaming page - make sure you hit like! OR if you prefer twitter you can find me @auDisneyDreamer - hope to find you on there soon!
Frontierland is themed to the Old West in 19th Century America. Home to some of Disneyland's most famous rides, Frontierland was also one of the five original themed lands when the park opened in 1955. In this post we will have a brief look at the attractions of Frontierland - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Frontierland Shooting Exposition, Pirate's Lair and the Mark Twain Riverboat.
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| Big Thunder Mountain Railroad |
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| The runaway Mine Cart |
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| Some of the scenery of the Mountain |
The Frontierland Shootin' Arcade is a infra-red light shooting gallery. Originally, the guns in the shooting gallery shot lead pellets when the attraction opened in 1971 but due to dangers and cos associated with this, Walt Disney Enterprises moved to the infra-red technology. There are 97 targets in the shooting gallery that are animated when shot. The scene inside the shooting gallery include a jail, hotel, bank and cemetery.
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| The Columbia |
Frontierland, NewOrleans' Square, Critter County all surround the Rivers Of America. A river that is home to the attractions of the Mark Twain River Boat, The Columbia Ship, Canoe Tours and the Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyers Island. During peak periods, both the Mark Twain River Boat and Columbia (a pirate ship) sail a round trip of the Rivers of America. The Mark Twain River Boat is a paddle steamer style boat. It is also used in the night time show, Fantasmic (that I will discuss in a post in the near future). The Columbia (pictured) is a sail boat - and when it is used in Fantasmic you will see it as Captain Hook's ship, complete with a crew of pirates and Peter Pan fighting Hook himself! It takes between 20-30 minutes to cruise around the Island, but you will get to see some scenery that you cannot see from anywhere else in the park. It is a great ride for the whole family to partake in and their are provisions for those with disabilities and in wheelchairs (and those with prams) to make this accessible. However, the canoes that you can board near the rafts that take you to Tom Sawyer's Island are only accessible to those who are able to board via walking. The canoes are just like those you saw in Pocahontas - you will board them and paddle your heart out the whole way around the Island - it takes longer than the River Boat or the Columbia but it really is enjoyable and will be a great way to rid little ones of any excess energy they may be carrying.
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| Some of Tom Sawyer's Island |
To travel to Tom Sawyers Island and the Pirate's Lair you need to board a raft. The rafts leave frequently to and from the Island with more rafts travelling in peak periods than in off-peak periods. The Island is great to explore with bridges, caverns, tunnels and the wreck of a sailing vessel. This Island was formally known only as Tom Sawyer's Island but now incorporates the "Pirate's Lair" - a tie in with the amazingly popular Disney franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean. You will enjoy some wonderful photo opportunities on the Island - allow yourself an hour, maybe more to spend out here. If you are travelling with children, this will be one of the highlights for them - particularly adventurous young pirates!!
In the next post, we will look at the food, entertainment and other attractions in Adventureland! I hope you've had a great weekend!!
Until the next post, Have a Magical Day!
Love,
Michelle
xxx
Why Am I Doing This??
It seems to be the question I've received the most over the past few days. I'm not writing this blog for money or fame. I'm writing this blog to genuinely help people who want to have the perfect Disney Vacation.
Here in Australia, it is hard to find a travel agent who can provide you with advice from their own personal experience - particularly in regard to Disney Holidays. While I'm no expert and I definitely can't advise you on specials that travel agents may be able to offer you - I can offer you something completely different and possibly more useful. What I can offer you is knowledge from my own personal experiences. Experiences that involve the Disney Parks, Accommodation and Airfares. But more importantly, I want you to read my blog and be inspired to partake in a Disney Holiday.
People have often asked how can you afford a Disney Holiday? The answer is simple really. You need to set yourself a target and work toward it. Buy your airfares through an agent or the web 12 months in advance (when they should be fairly reasonable) and set aside an amount of money each pay toward your vacation. Prices for park entry, accommodation and most food is available online so there should be very few surprises when you arrive at your destination.
The other question that I have been asked lately is where are you going with this blog? Well, here's the plan. I want to give you a run-down (like I've done so far) of each of the "lands" at Disneyland in California, before we move to the California Adventure Park and the Downtown Disney Precinct. I'll also cover the Disneyland Hotel. We'll then move to Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea. After we've completed an initial run-down on each of these parks, I'll start focusing on doing in depth articles on more specific things - character dining experiences, accommodation options, in-depth looks at certain rides. I'll also aim to do some day plans to help readers get the most out of their days at the parks.
I look forward to sharing this information with you over the course of this blog - which I hope will be a long and fulfilling journey.
Until Next Time, Have a Magical Day.
Love,
Michelle
xxx
Here in Australia, it is hard to find a travel agent who can provide you with advice from their own personal experience - particularly in regard to Disney Holidays. While I'm no expert and I definitely can't advise you on specials that travel agents may be able to offer you - I can offer you something completely different and possibly more useful. What I can offer you is knowledge from my own personal experiences. Experiences that involve the Disney Parks, Accommodation and Airfares. But more importantly, I want you to read my blog and be inspired to partake in a Disney Holiday.
People have often asked how can you afford a Disney Holiday? The answer is simple really. You need to set yourself a target and work toward it. Buy your airfares through an agent or the web 12 months in advance (when they should be fairly reasonable) and set aside an amount of money each pay toward your vacation. Prices for park entry, accommodation and most food is available online so there should be very few surprises when you arrive at your destination.
The other question that I have been asked lately is where are you going with this blog? Well, here's the plan. I want to give you a run-down (like I've done so far) of each of the "lands" at Disneyland in California, before we move to the California Adventure Park and the Downtown Disney Precinct. I'll also cover the Disneyland Hotel. We'll then move to Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea. After we've completed an initial run-down on each of these parks, I'll start focusing on doing in depth articles on more specific things - character dining experiences, accommodation options, in-depth looks at certain rides. I'll also aim to do some day plans to help readers get the most out of their days at the parks.
I look forward to sharing this information with you over the course of this blog - which I hope will be a long and fulfilling journey.
Until Next Time, Have a Magical Day.
Love,
Michelle
xxx
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Disneyland California - Adventureland (part II)
Adventureland has quite a variety of shops, food and character greeting opportunities located within it. Should you wish to eat at a restaurant, I'd suggest taking the five minute walk over to New Orlean's Square or back to Main Street U.S.A., however, should you wish for something easy to eat or that mid-afternoon coffee, Adventureland is sure to please you.
The Bengal Barbeque offers a variety of kebabs, bacon-wrapped asparagus, fruit topped dishes and coffee. The prices are reasonable - between $6-$15 + tax (USD). There are tables nearby for standing or sitting, however, we always tend to try and find a bench nearby and watch the passers by - it also makes for a good place to discuss the game plan for what attraction to visit next.
The Tiki Juice Bar is located right next too The Enchanted Tiki Room Attraction. Dole sponsor the Enchanted Tiki Room and from this bar you can get a Pineapple Juice or a Dole Whip (soft serve ice cream). The prices are once again reasonable for a theme park - but the queue is always quite long!
You will find a character greeting spot for Aladdin located within Adventureland. Make sure you check the sign or your park map for details. Aladdin is normally here with Princess Jasmine but from time to time the Genie has been known to make an appearance.
There are three main stores in Adventureland. The first is Adventureland Bazaar. There is a variety of souvenirs and knick-knacks based around the movies of Aladdin and The Lion King. They also stock clothing and hats inside this store. I really love the way this store is decorated and even the way the stock is presented! Make sure that you have a look inside! The Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost stocks merchandise related to the Indiana Jones Franchise. The South Seas Trader store stocks Hawaiian shirts, sunscreen (if you have forgotten yours) and other tropical related items. The shops are worth a look in - if only for the way they are decorated!
That's the run-down on Adventureland. If you have any questions - please don't hesitate to ask!! The next post will be based around Frontierland - I can't wait!
Until the next post, Have a Magical Day.
Love,
Michelle.
xxx
Disneyland California - Adventureland (part I)
It seems that my parents and many of their generation have fond memories of watching a show on television called "The Wonderful World of Disney." In its time, it had various names but basically featured the same thing. Walt would host the show from one area of the park and they would watch rides, live action and their favourite cartoons as well as shortened versions of animated feature films - and occasionally they would split a film across two episodes. From listening to people talk, the most exciting land was Adventureland (some will argue they enjoyed Tomorrowland more). For me, I think the sounds, the smells, the narrow pathways and the attractions of Adventureland make it as exciting as it is. In this post, we will look at the rides of Adventureland and in the next the restaurants and non-ride attractions.
Adventureland is designed to be an amalgamation of the jungles of Africa, Asia, South America and the South Pacific. It is full of trees and plants as well as lost of wooden structures, Tiki poles and the shops represent huts and has a 1930s feel to the area.
As you cross the bridge from Main Street U.S.A. into Adventureland, you will encounter stalls on your right hand side and the Enchanted Tiki Room to your left. The Enchanted Tiki Room was one of Walt Disney's favourite attractions in the park. It was originally designed to be a restaurant where guests would be serenaded and entertained by the animatronic figures of birds. This however, wasn't too be and the attraction has under gone minor changes but is still much unchanged. The attraction opened in 1963 and was the first attraction to use Audio-Animatronics - a design patented by the Walter Elias Disney Enterprises (WED Enterprises). The attraction sees guests enter a courtyard and be entertained by Hawaiian music and guests are entertained with rhyming verses performed by the representations of Hawaiian Gods. A drumming pattern beckons guests to enter. Guests enter a room and take seats on benches and face the centre of the room - where they are looking directly at a fountain. Guests are entertained by four, very life-like Macaw birds named Jose, Michael, Pierre and Fritz. Each has their own unique colouring and personality. The four are joined by a cast of 150 audio-animatronic talking, singing and dancing birds, flowers, the magic fountain, drums and totem poles. On a hot day, this is a great attraction to beat the heat for 15 or so minutes - the room is fully air-conditioned and was the first Disneyland attraction to be fully air-conditioned due to the computer that controlled the Audio-Animatronics. Little kids may be fidgeting toward the end of this attraction - but it will be enjoyed by young and old alike. This is one of our favourite things to do after a big meal in the park - or while waiting for the caffeine from that most recent coffee to kick in!
On one of our first visits to Disneyland, Dad and I spent quite a while exploring and navigating the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House. At this point in time, it was not a walk-through attraction, rather it was more like a playground that had ladders and platforms and you could climb and explore at your own pace. Now, it has been renamed Tarzan's Treehouse. It features interactive activities and scenes from Disney's animated feature - Tarzan. The walk-through can take as little as 5 minutes if you don't stop to look at anything, however, the scenes inside the room of the treehouse and at it's base are interactive and quite beautiful to look at, so allow at least ten minutes. Young children will love this attraction and there are never any queues - however, it may be a little crowded at times. You also get beautiful views across to Frontierland and Critter County from the top floor.
For thrill-seekers, Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye is a great ride - with really extensive queues. This ride does utilise the Disney FastPass system but even then you can expect a 10-20 minute wait on a good day (we'll discuss FastPass in a future post). The ride queue is great as guests walk through the queue, there is video footage introducing the plot line not too mention the fact that you are walking through the Temple - with mock-ups of the trap doors and tricks designed to stop people from getting inside - just like Indy would face! Guests board a battered military-style vehicle that lurches, rocks and jerks through the ride. The ride travels through the Chamber of Destiny, Cavern of Bubbling Death, The Skull Room and many others before reaching it's rather incredible finale. The ride lasts just over 3 minutes and will definitely frighten little ones! Make sure you prepare them in advance for this! Utilise FastPass because the 90 minute plus wait isn't worth it - especially when the ride is constantly breaking down!!
The Jungle Cruise is meant to represent the rivers of Asia, Africa and South-America. Guests are taken on a voyage using replica tramp-steamers and have a tour-guide. The ride takes it's inspiration from the movie "The African Queen" and although Walt wanted to use real animals, he decided against this once he was informed that real animals would probably hide and sleep all day! There are Animatronic animals throughout the ride and your "Skipper" will guide you through your tour. The jokes told are a little corny and the ride itself can be good or completely awesome depending on the person you have navigating the ride for you. I have to admit, I was fascinated with the highlight of the trip, "the backside of water" when I was younger! Who would have thought that travelling behind a waterfall could be so exciting?? The original ride opened in October 1971 and has remained relatively unchanged since. The boats have been repainted and slightly altered but the animals themselves are unchanged. This is a great ride for families, particularly large groups travelling together as you'll all be able to ride together on the one boat - with each boat seating between 15 and 20. I thoroughly recommend you ride at least twice to be able to see everything and if the ride happens to be open at night during your visit, I really recommend that! The ride is very dark with minimal lighting and your "Skipper" will be using a flashlight!! It's great!!!!!
Michelle's Magic Tips for Adventurland:
The first tip is to utilise the Fastpass facility for Indiana Jones. If you are unfamiliar with the Fastpass concept, I will write an entry about it very soon. Make sure you pick up your pass early in the day - it will definitely help cut the queue times!
The second tip - if you are travelling with strollers or people unable to navigate stairs, they probably won't be able to enjoy the Tarzan Treehouse! However, they may enjoy coffee or a snack at a nearby cafe or restaurant - or to grab you a table for lunch whilst you enjoy the attraction. The attraction tends to be busiest during the lunch hours (12-2) as people use it as downtime to settle their tummies before they explore another adventurous ride!
Finally, enjoy the Tiki Room when your group needs some downtime or some time out of the sun. Not only will it thoroughly entertain you and your group, but you'll be out of the sun, in the cool (or if it's cold, you'll be in a warm room and likewise in shelter if it is raining) and you can sit down for a quarter of an hour and just relax. Young adventurers may find the attraction a little bit long - but with some forewarning that this is a show and that you can't talk during it - they will more than likely be fine and entranced by the Animatronics - just like you!
That's the four main attractions in Adventureland. I will post soon about the non-ride attractions and shops in Adventureland.
Until next time, Have a Magical Day.
Love,
Michelle
xxx
Adventureland is designed to be an amalgamation of the jungles of Africa, Asia, South America and the South Pacific. It is full of trees and plants as well as lost of wooden structures, Tiki poles and the shops represent huts and has a 1930s feel to the area.
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| The exterior of The Enchanted Tiki Room |
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| One of the many birds who will sing and dance for you! |
As you cross the bridge from Main Street U.S.A. into Adventureland, you will encounter stalls on your right hand side and the Enchanted Tiki Room to your left. The Enchanted Tiki Room was one of Walt Disney's favourite attractions in the park. It was originally designed to be a restaurant where guests would be serenaded and entertained by the animatronic figures of birds. This however, wasn't too be and the attraction has under gone minor changes but is still much unchanged. The attraction opened in 1963 and was the first attraction to use Audio-Animatronics - a design patented by the Walter Elias Disney Enterprises (WED Enterprises). The attraction sees guests enter a courtyard and be entertained by Hawaiian music and guests are entertained with rhyming verses performed by the representations of Hawaiian Gods. A drumming pattern beckons guests to enter. Guests enter a room and take seats on benches and face the centre of the room - where they are looking directly at a fountain. Guests are entertained by four, very life-like Macaw birds named Jose, Michael, Pierre and Fritz. Each has their own unique colouring and personality. The four are joined by a cast of 150 audio-animatronic talking, singing and dancing birds, flowers, the magic fountain, drums and totem poles. On a hot day, this is a great attraction to beat the heat for 15 or so minutes - the room is fully air-conditioned and was the first Disneyland attraction to be fully air-conditioned due to the computer that controlled the Audio-Animatronics. Little kids may be fidgeting toward the end of this attraction - but it will be enjoyed by young and old alike. This is one of our favourite things to do after a big meal in the park - or while waiting for the caffeine from that most recent coffee to kick in!
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| The entrance to Tarzan's Treehouse |
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| The Treehouse |
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| Bridge in the Treehouse |
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| View from the top into Frontierland - and Big Thunder Mountain! |
On one of our first visits to Disneyland, Dad and I spent quite a while exploring and navigating the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House. At this point in time, it was not a walk-through attraction, rather it was more like a playground that had ladders and platforms and you could climb and explore at your own pace. Now, it has been renamed Tarzan's Treehouse. It features interactive activities and scenes from Disney's animated feature - Tarzan. The walk-through can take as little as 5 minutes if you don't stop to look at anything, however, the scenes inside the room of the treehouse and at it's base are interactive and quite beautiful to look at, so allow at least ten minutes. Young children will love this attraction and there are never any queues - however, it may be a little crowded at times. You also get beautiful views across to Frontierland and Critter County from the top floor.
For thrill-seekers, Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye is a great ride - with really extensive queues. This ride does utilise the Disney FastPass system but even then you can expect a 10-20 minute wait on a good day (we'll discuss FastPass in a future post). The ride queue is great as guests walk through the queue, there is video footage introducing the plot line not too mention the fact that you are walking through the Temple - with mock-ups of the trap doors and tricks designed to stop people from getting inside - just like Indy would face! Guests board a battered military-style vehicle that lurches, rocks and jerks through the ride. The ride travels through the Chamber of Destiny, Cavern of Bubbling Death, The Skull Room and many others before reaching it's rather incredible finale. The ride lasts just over 3 minutes and will definitely frighten little ones! Make sure you prepare them in advance for this! Utilise FastPass because the 90 minute plus wait isn't worth it - especially when the ride is constantly breaking down!!
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| Entrance to the Jungle Cruise ride |
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| Just some of what you can expect to see on the Jungle Cruise |
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| One of my favourite photos! Such a feel good moment! |
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| You'll understand this shot better when you are on the ride! |
The Jungle Cruise is meant to represent the rivers of Asia, Africa and South-America. Guests are taken on a voyage using replica tramp-steamers and have a tour-guide. The ride takes it's inspiration from the movie "The African Queen" and although Walt wanted to use real animals, he decided against this once he was informed that real animals would probably hide and sleep all day! There are Animatronic animals throughout the ride and your "Skipper" will guide you through your tour. The jokes told are a little corny and the ride itself can be good or completely awesome depending on the person you have navigating the ride for you. I have to admit, I was fascinated with the highlight of the trip, "the backside of water" when I was younger! Who would have thought that travelling behind a waterfall could be so exciting?? The original ride opened in October 1971 and has remained relatively unchanged since. The boats have been repainted and slightly altered but the animals themselves are unchanged. This is a great ride for families, particularly large groups travelling together as you'll all be able to ride together on the one boat - with each boat seating between 15 and 20. I thoroughly recommend you ride at least twice to be able to see everything and if the ride happens to be open at night during your visit, I really recommend that! The ride is very dark with minimal lighting and your "Skipper" will be using a flashlight!! It's great!!!!!
Michelle's Magic Tips for Adventurland:
The first tip is to utilise the Fastpass facility for Indiana Jones. If you are unfamiliar with the Fastpass concept, I will write an entry about it very soon. Make sure you pick up your pass early in the day - it will definitely help cut the queue times!
The second tip - if you are travelling with strollers or people unable to navigate stairs, they probably won't be able to enjoy the Tarzan Treehouse! However, they may enjoy coffee or a snack at a nearby cafe or restaurant - or to grab you a table for lunch whilst you enjoy the attraction. The attraction tends to be busiest during the lunch hours (12-2) as people use it as downtime to settle their tummies before they explore another adventurous ride!
Finally, enjoy the Tiki Room when your group needs some downtime or some time out of the sun. Not only will it thoroughly entertain you and your group, but you'll be out of the sun, in the cool (or if it's cold, you'll be in a warm room and likewise in shelter if it is raining) and you can sit down for a quarter of an hour and just relax. Young adventurers may find the attraction a little bit long - but with some forewarning that this is a show and that you can't talk during it - they will more than likely be fine and entranced by the Animatronics - just like you!
That's the four main attractions in Adventureland. I will post soon about the non-ride attractions and shops in Adventureland.
Until next time, Have a Magical Day.
Love,
Michelle
xxx
Disneyland California - Fantasyland (part II)
Having covered all the rides and attractions in part one, this post will focus on the shops and eating places throughout Fantasyland. Fantasyland is so full of Disney magic that even the shops and eating places have something just that little bit special about them.
One of the newer additions to Fantasyland is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Little Princesses can delight in having their hair and makeup done before slipping into the costume of their choosing! Being a Princess young at heart, rather than body, I can't tell you from my own experience what this is like. But having spoken to little Princesses in ride queues and throughout the park, they do feel extra special. There is a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique located inside Fantasyland and also one within the Downtown Disney precinct. Having witnessed how the Cast Members and other guests treat the "Princesses" for the day, it looks like something any little girl would want - but it may stretch the vacation budget a little. Prices range from $49.95 - $205.85 + tax (USD). The base package includes hairstyle, makeup a Princess sash, a purse and body jewels. Other packages include nailpolish, wand, shoes, and a beautiful Princess Dress of their choosing (the dresses alone are worth $40-$100). The top package also includes a portrait package. The minimum age for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is 3 years old and the "Princess" will need to be accompanied by someone 18 or older at all times throughout the experience. They do request that the "Princess" has clean hands and nails and a fresh face prior to arrival - but what Princess doesn't make sure she is perfect all the time? Little men will probably feel a little left out so the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique offers a Knight Package for boys that includes a hairstyle with coloured gel and a shield and sword for $12.95 + tax (USD). However, keep an eye out for my Adventureland post in the future because their is a Pirate package for young and adult alike that may entertain our young male scallywags more so than being a Knight for the day.
You won't be short of shopping experiences in Fantasyland. Along with the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique you will also find The Castle Heraldry Shop, Fantasy Faire Gifts, Le Petit Chalet and the Mad Hatter. Each of these shops is unique an cleverly decorated - an experience of its own. Andrew really enjoyed the Castle Heraldry Shop - where you can have your surname searched on a database and have your crest printed out - not to mention the array of swords and other medieval style paraphernalia that you can buy in there! Definitely one to leave Dad in while you wander through the other stores. The Mad Hatter sells, well, hats (as well as other keepsakes). Everywhere you go in any Disney Park you will see people in Mickey Ears or a Disney cap or a crazy hat - some are very reasonably priced. On our Honeymoon we picked up our Mickey Ears with embroidery on the back for about $15 + tax (USD). Fantasy Faire Gifts and Le Petit Chalet are two of my favourite Disney stores. I love wandering through, looking at everything and trying to convince Andrew that I "absolutely need this." Each of the stores is beautifully appointed and has more than just goods to look at.
There are currently two eateries in Fantasyland. The Troubador Tavern and Village Haus Restaurant. The Troubador Tavern is located next to the Princess Fantasy Faire stage and provides some reasonably priced, very large snacks that are great for lunch while watching the show. You won't fin the Troubador Tavern on your park guidemap, but if you want to find it - just locate the Princess Fantasy Faire and you will find it right at the entrance. You can have a Bratwurst Hotdog here that is served with options of sauerkraut on top and a side of apple slice or chips - and it's under $7 (USD)! You can also choose from baked potatoes with toppings of brocolli and cheese, bacon and sour cream or barbeque chicken. Once again these retail for under $7! They also offer corn on the cob and a few other snacks. As well as soft drinks and water. The Village Haus Restaurant offers your fairly normal take away options of burgers, fries, pizza and salads. Most options cost less than $10 and they offer kids meals that tend to retail for under $8 including a drink. Two great eateries in the one land. BUT, my personal favourite Disney treat is often located just near the entrance to It's A Small World. The Churros Stand. Churros is a long donut of sorts covered in cinnamon sugar and served warm. It's absolutely delicious and from recent memories they retail for about $3.00 - BARGAIN! A great morning or afternoon pick me up - or great to have while standing in a queue (just make sure it's not the queue for the Tea Cups!).
Also in Fantasyland are the opportunities for meeting some Disney characters. Pixie Hollow is home to the Disney Fairies. There are currently seven Fairies that are core to the Disney franchise. Tinkerbell, Silvermist, Rosetta, Fawn, Iridessa, Vidia, Terence (who is male and hands out pixie dust to other fairies). There are normally 3 Fairies in Pixie Hollow for guests to greet. You follow a trail of what appear to be giant green leaves (to make you think that you are Fairy-sized) and when it is your turn, you will be called into Pixie Hollow and have your own private meeting with the Fairies.
In the Fantasyland Theatre, they are currently featuring Disney Princess Fantasy Faire. This experience is all encompassing enabling young and old alike the opportunity to learn to wave and dance like royalty, have a Fairytale read to them by one of the Disney princesses and then walk to Royal Walk to meet the Princesses. The queue here can be really long but it is definitely worth it. The three Princesses you get to meet will be completely random - so you might get to meet Ariel, Snow White and Mulan or Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Rapunzel! It's really exciting - especially watching the little "Princesses" partake in the activities.
This is basically the end of the run down of Fantasyland. I hope it's been useful - if you have any questions, post a comment and I'll do my best to answer it in a future post. We are going to tackle Adventureland in our next post!
Until next time, Have a Magical Day!
Love,
Michelle
xxx
One of the newer additions to Fantasyland is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Little Princesses can delight in having their hair and makeup done before slipping into the costume of their choosing! Being a Princess young at heart, rather than body, I can't tell you from my own experience what this is like. But having spoken to little Princesses in ride queues and throughout the park, they do feel extra special. There is a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique located inside Fantasyland and also one within the Downtown Disney precinct. Having witnessed how the Cast Members and other guests treat the "Princesses" for the day, it looks like something any little girl would want - but it may stretch the vacation budget a little. Prices range from $49.95 - $205.85 + tax (USD). The base package includes hairstyle, makeup a Princess sash, a purse and body jewels. Other packages include nailpolish, wand, shoes, and a beautiful Princess Dress of their choosing (the dresses alone are worth $40-$100). The top package also includes a portrait package. The minimum age for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is 3 years old and the "Princess" will need to be accompanied by someone 18 or older at all times throughout the experience. They do request that the "Princess" has clean hands and nails and a fresh face prior to arrival - but what Princess doesn't make sure she is perfect all the time? Little men will probably feel a little left out so the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique offers a Knight Package for boys that includes a hairstyle with coloured gel and a shield and sword for $12.95 + tax (USD). However, keep an eye out for my Adventureland post in the future because their is a Pirate package for young and adult alike that may entertain our young male scallywags more so than being a Knight for the day.
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| My Mickey Ears with embroidery. |
There are currently two eateries in Fantasyland. The Troubador Tavern and Village Haus Restaurant. The Troubador Tavern is located next to the Princess Fantasy Faire stage and provides some reasonably priced, very large snacks that are great for lunch while watching the show. You won't fin the Troubador Tavern on your park guidemap, but if you want to find it - just locate the Princess Fantasy Faire and you will find it right at the entrance. You can have a Bratwurst Hotdog here that is served with options of sauerkraut on top and a side of apple slice or chips - and it's under $7 (USD)! You can also choose from baked potatoes with toppings of brocolli and cheese, bacon and sour cream or barbeque chicken. Once again these retail for under $7! They also offer corn on the cob and a few other snacks. As well as soft drinks and water. The Village Haus Restaurant offers your fairly normal take away options of burgers, fries, pizza and salads. Most options cost less than $10 and they offer kids meals that tend to retail for under $8 including a drink. Two great eateries in the one land. BUT, my personal favourite Disney treat is often located just near the entrance to It's A Small World. The Churros Stand. Churros is a long donut of sorts covered in cinnamon sugar and served warm. It's absolutely delicious and from recent memories they retail for about $3.00 - BARGAIN! A great morning or afternoon pick me up - or great to have while standing in a queue (just make sure it's not the queue for the Tea Cups!).
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| Andrew enjoying a Churros - near It's A Small World! |
Also in Fantasyland are the opportunities for meeting some Disney characters. Pixie Hollow is home to the Disney Fairies. There are currently seven Fairies that are core to the Disney franchise. Tinkerbell, Silvermist, Rosetta, Fawn, Iridessa, Vidia, Terence (who is male and hands out pixie dust to other fairies). There are normally 3 Fairies in Pixie Hollow for guests to greet. You follow a trail of what appear to be giant green leaves (to make you think that you are Fairy-sized) and when it is your turn, you will be called into Pixie Hollow and have your own private meeting with the Fairies.
In the Fantasyland Theatre, they are currently featuring Disney Princess Fantasy Faire. This experience is all encompassing enabling young and old alike the opportunity to learn to wave and dance like royalty, have a Fairytale read to them by one of the Disney princesses and then walk to Royal Walk to meet the Princesses. The queue here can be really long but it is definitely worth it. The three Princesses you get to meet will be completely random - so you might get to meet Ariel, Snow White and Mulan or Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Rapunzel! It's really exciting - especially watching the little "Princesses" partake in the activities.
This is basically the end of the run down of Fantasyland. I hope it's been useful - if you have any questions, post a comment and I'll do my best to answer it in a future post. We are going to tackle Adventureland in our next post!
Until next time, Have a Magical Day!
Love,
Michelle
xxx
Friday, June 24, 2011
Disneyland California - Fantasyland (part I)
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| Cross the draw-bridge - and enter a whole world of Fantasy! |
As you walk across the drawbridge (yes, it was once raised and lowered. On the 17th July, 1955. When children ran across it for the official opening of the park), the overwhelming sights, smells and sounds of Main Street are quickly replaced with new sights, sounds and smells. Half dream land, half fairytale land, Fantasyland provides something for everyone to be delighted with. Toward the rear of the Castle tunnel, on your left will be the entrance to the castle walk through. This requires the navigation of stairs - so probably isn't suitable for those with wheelchairs or prams. As you climb the stairs, walk through and down the other side, animated figures, pictures and figurines tell the story of Sleeping Beauty - probably not one for the boys, but little princesses (and those young at heart) will love it!
The first Disneyland ride I ever went on, after my train trip around the park, was Dumbo the Flying Elephant. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was so little at the time, and making that elephant fly high up into the sky is one of my fondest memories. If I remember rightly, Mum, Dad and I all crammed into one elephant - I doubt we'd be able to do that anymore, given that Andrew and I find it quite snug next to one another!
Little ones, or those young at heart will really enjoy the Storybook Land Canal Boats and the Casey Jr. Circus Train rides. Storybook Land is a slow boat ride with a captain who narrates the journey for you. You travel through canals of water with miniature versions of your favourite story scenes right beside you. As you float past, you'll see Pinocchio's village, Toad Hall, the Sultan's Palace from Aladdin, the town from peter Pan, the Dwarfs Cottage and mine from Snow White and many other special surprises. If you're lucky, young children may get to sit beside your captain or on the front part of the boat - don't be afraid to ask! The Casey Jr. Circus Train is so endearing to young and old. The track travels around a similar area to that of the Storybook Land canal ride but instead of narration, you listen to the famous Casey Junior song from Dumbo. The ride even includes a small hill - that Casey Jr has to really "believe" in to make it over the crest and down the other side. This ride usually has very small queues - but is definitely worth it. The Monkey cage is my favourite to ride in - a Disney Cast Member will be happy to take a photo of your group if you all end up inside the cage together!
Some people can't see the attraction of a carousel, but even the hardest to inspire (like my Andrew) will enjoy the King Arthur Carousel in Fantasyland. To my understanding, the carousel was built in 1875 and had operated in Canada prior to being moved to Disneyland for it's opening in 1955. It has four courses of horses - that, in according with Walt's wishes are all jumpers (that is, they all go up and down). There are big horses and small horses as well as some stationery sitting areas. Make sure you have a look at the Sleeping Beauty motifs around the top - they are just beautiful. The horses are all hand-carved and built in the late 19th and early 20th century. Even if you aren't a fan of the carousel - make sure you take a ride on a little piece of history!
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| The Carousel |
Just near the carousel is the "Sword in the Stone". Each day (several times), Merlin hosts a ceremony to see who shall be "King for the day." Obviously, the newly crowned King is the person able to pull the sword out of the stone. Ask a Cast Member for details about times.
Fantasyland is famous for it's "dark-rides." It took me a little while to figure out what they meant, was it "dark" like the Grimms brother's fairytales or was it "dark" as in lacking light? As it turns out, it's the latter. The rides are enclosed. The dark rides are Alice in Wonderland, Mr Toad's Wild Ride, Peter Pan's Flight, Pinocchio's Daring Journey and Snow White's Scary Adventure.
Alice in Wonderland sees guests board a caterpillar to be taken on a journey through the story, from Alice's point of view. The ride goes through the scenes at a frantic fashion, mimicking closely the fast-paced nature of the animated classic. There is, as always, a few sneaky appearances from the Cheshire Cat. The ride becomes a little scary when the Queen of Hearts threatens to cut off Alice's head (the famous "Off with her Head" makes an appearance). The ride finishes with the guests travelling through the scene of the Mad Tea Party. The White Rabbit ducks as a giant cake explodes - due to a dynamite candle. Keep an eye out though - Alice only makes one appearance on the whole ride - in the singing flower garden, to the visitors right. This ride is charming as it originally opened in 1958 and hasn't changed too much. It is important to not expect the thrills or effects that you will find in other attractions in the park on these dark rides. If you take them at face value, as rides that are almost 60 years old and the vision of Walt himself, you will thoroughly enjoy them!
Mr Toad's Wild Ride is one of the few rides or attractions that still remains that was operational on opening day. The ride is based on Disney's adaptation of The Wind in the Willows. Guests enter Toad Hall and board miniature 1900s colourful cars. The cars are named after characters from the film. The journey begins when passengers crash into a library, then, narrowly avoiding a suit of armour you break through a set of doors to find an interior hallway of Toad Hall - in complete disarray. The ride ventures through the dining room, Mr Rat's house, the docks, London, Winky's pub and the town square. The final scene you travel through is a tongue-in-cheek depiction of Hell - that was not inspired by or reflects either the book or movie. The room is heated and small devils bounce up and down. Granted a redemption, riders return to the area they originally boarded and disembark. Andrew and I were surprised that how "adult" we found the content of this ride on our last visit. However, young children would probably ignore the sub-text of the ride and just enjoy the characters and chaotic nature of the ride. My advice for this ride would be to send someone to test the ride first - then decide if it is right for your group or not!
I'm going to address Snow White's Scary Adventure and Pinocchio's Daring Journey together. If the children you are travelling with have seen the movies, you should be fine - however, I have witnessed many children coming off these rides crying or cowering because the content has frightened them. When you look at the facade of Snow White's Scary Adventures, look up. Standing at the window is the Wicked Witch and she opens and closes the curtains from time to time. I was fascinated with this when I was younger and every time we walk past now, I still find myself being guided by Andrew as I watch that window. Both these rides follow the same concept as the other dark rides. You board a vehicle (that normally seats 4 comfortably) and the vehicle will be themed around the movie. You travel through famous scenes from the movie - and some are frightening! I'm not going to write too many details about these rides on here - just enjoy them. They are great for the whole family - provided little ones are given some warnings!
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| The Matterhorn Mountain |
Fantasyland lays claim to the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Finally, the adrenalin junkies have something to cheer about! Opened in 1959, the bobsleds have a purpose built mountain complete with waterfalls, snow on the top and an illustrious Abominable Snowman. I recently learnt that this yeti-like character has a name - Harold! This ride features two tracks - the Tomorrowland track and the Fantasyland track - I'm sure you can guess that the tracks are named after what side of the mountain their queues start on. Each track is slightly different. Passengers sit one behind the other in the bob-sleds. Each sled can take up to 8 passengers at a time. You may get slightly wet when the ride splashes into pools of water near the end of the track. The ride is not intended to wet you, rather, it uses water as a breaking mechanism. It is rumoured that inside the mountain is a basketball court and break room for Cast Members. Also, I have never witnessed this, but many people have claimed to see Mickey Mouse, Goofy and 2 mountain climbers scale the mountain. If you have been to Disneyland and have seen this and have a photo - let me know!! I'm so curious!
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| Teacups!! |
Entitled Mad Tea Party, I think this ride is more commonly known as "the Tea Cups!" The ride's theme song is the Unbirthday Party music from Alice in Wonderland. The most exciting part of the ride is the mad dash everyone makes when the Cast Member opens the gate to let you on. Everyone has picked out the cup they want based on colour, pattern or how fast they saw it spinning on the previous run. When you board your cup, close the door and before the ride starts, take a look at the giant teapot in the middle. The Dormouse will pop out occasionally! The ride itself is pretty tame. It's the control you have over the spinning motion that can make it a real doozy! Andrew likes to spin as fast as he can - he even has a special technique now. Just watch your step getting off! You will be a little woozy! A little tip - this version at Disneyland is the only uncovered version of the ride. It cannot operate in the rain as the water makes the cups unable to spin. At all 4 other Disney resorts, the ride is under a canopy or cover to prevent the ride from needing to close during rain!!
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| The "It's a Small World" building with the Disneyland Express going through |
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| Hourly the clock has a parade of animatronic figurines! |
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| The buttons I wrote about on a previous entry got us a private boat! Cast Members definitely treat you "extra special" if you are celebrating something!!! It's a Small World is one of those rides that you either thoroughly enjoy or really despise. It's a must do, at least once. Purely so you can say you've done it. The ride takes guests on a journey through the continents of the world with nations represented with animatronic singing dolls dressed in national costumes and doing activities that represent their culture. The boats tend to get backed up and the ride can often take 10-15 minutes to get through - all whilst singing a really repetitive song. The ride is visually spectacular and enjoyable for young and old. Those who have played the Epic Mickey game for Nintendo Wii will recognise the building and ride concept from early in the game. Well, this post has been quite long and full of information. I'll give you more of a Fantasyland run down in my next post - plus some Magic tips to make navigating this area of the park a little easier! Until the next post, Have a Magic Day Love, Michelle xxx |
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Airfares....
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| Sunrise on the plane - January 19 2011 |
The only reason we decided to take our holiday to Florida at the beginning of this year is because in Late September/Early October last year, there were some absolute bargains to be had. We travelled for $1336.36 each return to Florida. We flew with V Australia on the Boeing 777 aircraft. We flew Sydney-LAX-Orlando. On the way over we had a 3 hour stop in LAX, and once clearing customs and security, only made our connection to Orlando with about 30 minutes to spare. On the way back from Orlando, we had a 12 hour stop in LA so we hired a stretch limo for the day (that worked out about $85 a person) and toured the sights for 6 hours! The cheap airfare was really competitive with some of the Asian Airfares that were around at the time - and for just over $600 each way we weren't complaining.
Remember that peak periods in America tend to be June, July and August, plus Thanksgiving through to New Years. We travelled from the 19th January - 6th February. The longest wait we had for any ride was about 40 minutes. It was FANTASTIC!
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| Approaching LAX - January 19 2011 |
When we travelled for our Honeymoon, we were there in peak period. We booked at the last minute and our flights were about $1500 each. However, we only flew Sydney - LAX (you are now seeing what an absolute bargain our Florida tickets were!!).
If you are looking for a potentially less expensive option to get your Disney fix, might I suggest that you look into flying Jetstar to Tokyo?? We flew in December 2009 for $1200 return - $600 each!! $300 each way!! Tokyo Disneyland is a smaller version of the one in California and has it's own unique flair - but the Tokyo Disney Sea park is out of this world!! (Can't wait to blog about this one later!) Disney Sea is one of my favourite Disney Parks - I'd rate it top 3! Plus, the Japanese people are so lovely and accommodating - not to mention their economy could really do with our tourist dollars at the moment!
Michelle's Magic Tips:
Have some money saved in the bank for a trip that you intend to take in the next 6-18 months. You used to be able to tell when the sale fares would hit, as it used to be the same time every year. Now, with the introduction of internet booking, when you see a bargain fare, you need to be ready to book then and there! If possible, try and travel outside of peak - this tends to rule out December and the first week or so of January - and for your sanity, try to not travel in the Northern Summer (June, July and August). Also, watch out for Spring Break.
Otherwise, if you can't just book, spur of the moment, plan as far ahead as possible. If you are happy to pay agent fees, by all means see a travel agent and talk deals!
Happy Bargain Hunting!
Until Next Time - Have a Magic Day
Love,
Michelle
xxx
Disneyland California - Main Street U.S.A
Each Disney Park has similarities. Each has it's own version of the famous Disney Castle. They have similar rides. And mostly, a similar layout. However, each park is distinctly different with a different feel.
Disneyland in California is the original Disney Park. It opened on July 17th 1955 (however, some people will tell you that it opened on 18th July - it's a long story) and it is the only of the Disney Parks that Walt Disney had direction over the building of. I wish that I had've been alive or had the opportunity to meet Walt Disney. It seems that he had a mind full of hopes and dreams that he never gave up on - and in essence the Disney Parks are still carrying forth that tradition.
Over the next few blog entries, I will take you through each area of Disneyland in California. We will begin with Main Street U.S.A. and then continue with Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Adventureland and Critter County. Following these lands, we will take a hop, skip and a jump (because you will be too excited to walk once you are inside the parks and running is not allowed) over to the California Adventure Park. Toward the end of July, I will began writing about Walt Disney World, in Florida before moving on to Japan's Disney Parks in August.
(In advance, I apologise for some of my dodgy photography, I get so excited when I'm at the Parks that I want to capture everything but at the same time, I want to embrace everything all at once. Since these photos were taken, we have invested in an SLR that takes a much nicer photo - which you'll get to see when we get to blogging about Walt Disney World!)
These two images, are two of the first things that you will encounter on any visit to Disneyland. Most people who have visited the parks would say that I have them around the wrong way - but I have put them in this order for a reason. I want you to remember, that this is not a theme park. Rather, you walk under the archway, and, like the sign says, you enter a new world. A world where there is a blur between fantasy and reality, between current and future, and also a blur between present and past. When seeing my images and reading my words on this blog, remember that you are not hearing, smelling or sensing any of your surrounds - this all encompassing nature is what makes Disney the best at what it does.
This second image - Disney's pride and joy and Walt's best mate, Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney once said, "Let's not forget, it all started with a Mouse." A Mouse that he dreamt up on a train trip, that had a personality unlike any other character of it's time. Speaking of trains, the brick building you can see in the background of the image is Mainstreet U.S.A. station, one of the stations on the Disneyland Railroad - one of my all time favourite rides at the park. Oops, tangent. Back to where we were, this garden must appear in a gazillion tourists photographs around the world - particularly those who wait and wait and wait and get that illustrious shot with the train pulling into the station in the background. It's the perfectly manicured lawns and plants that give away that you aren't just at any theme park - this is a Disney Park. Attention to detail separates the Disney experience from any other.
Main Street U.S.A.
As you admire Mickey in the garden and the sound of the steam train in the distance, you are drawn with the crowds under the archways and into Main Street U.S.A. As you can see, Main Street is actually quite wide, with what appears to be tram tracks down the middle. The buildings are quite old fashioned in style. The street is designed to represent Walt Disney's home town of Marceline, Missouri at the turn of the century. At the end of the street stands Sleeping Beauty Castle. Sleeping Beauty Castle stands at the end of Main Street in Disneyland Paris and also Disneyland Hong Kong as well - however in Tokyo Disneyland and Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, the castle is actually Cinderella's Castle. Mainstreet U.S.A. is home to Town Hall (which houses Guest Relations), a Fire House (that above it, is Walt Disney's own apartment - a lamp is kept lit in the window in his memory), a cinema, a gallery, several restaurants and cafes as well as a significant amount of souvenir shops. As you enter Main Street, you come to a town square with a flag pole. This area is popular for character sightings so have your camera ready! As you head down the stretch toward the Castle, you will notice the smells and sounds around you change as the scenery does. The bakery and confectionary shops actually pump smells into the air and the music changes to match the stores around you. Make sure you read the names on the second floor windows of the stores on Main Street. These names, although utilised in a fictional context, are there to pay tribute to cast members, Imagineers and friends of Walt Disney. It's a really great concept!
Michelle's Fast Fact: Main Street U.S.A.
If you are celebrating ANYTHING while you are at the Park, go and see Guest Relations in the Town Hall on Main Street. We had big button-style badges that said "Happily Ever After" and "Just Married" whilst on our Honeymoon. Everywhere we went, Cast Members congratulated us and more than once, our buttons got us to the front of the queue with the aide of a kind staff member! They seem to have these badges for everything - birthdays, anniversaries, family vacations. Just pop in and let them know! You can also make restaurant bookings and character dining bookings at guest services.
Michelle's Must Sees: Main Street U.S.A.
My own personal suggestion for first time visitors, is a suggestion that my Mum "forcibly suggested" to Dad and I on our first visit to Disneyland in 1993 (sorry Mum - but you were definitely right in the end!). Walk under the archway, climb the stairs to Main Street Station and board the train for a full round journey of the park. It sounds silly but it is the absolute best thing that you can do. Not only do you get acquainted with the park and get to see some of the rides and attractions as you go past on a steam train but the round trip has a few surprises. The first surprise is the train pulls into a tunnel and you go inside the Critter County favourite - Splash Mountain. You are able to see the audio-animatronic figures, hear the music and if the timing is right, see some fellow visitors cruising past in a log! The second surprise is a journey back in time, through the Grand Canyon to the time of the dinosaurs. The settings are so detailed and the animatronic dinosaurs are a delight to young and old! You'll be back at Main Street before you know it. The round trip takes about 20 minutes but it is a great orientation ride - and family and friends who aren't anticipating the surprise will just love it!!
My second suggestion is allow yourself time to explore the shops - most days the park opens earlier than the rides and you can go no further than the end of Main Street. The shops have some amazing things in them - not just for buying but the way they are decorated! My one purchase suggestion for adults and children alike - buy an autograph book (or bring one with you) and make sure you have a pen. Characters you meet and greet around the park are all able to sign autographs! Even as a fully grown adult, I still delight in collecting autographs from characters! Most of the autograph books now have a photo slot - it becomes a keepsake all of its own. Here's a few shots of some of the characters Andrew and I met in the Main Street U.S.A precinct on our visit in July 2010:
My third suggestion - ride one of the Main Street Vehicles. They are all designed to reflect the turn-of-the-century feel of Main Street. My favourite is the fire engine or the double-decker bus. However, sometimes there are horse drawn cars, horse-less carriages and other vehicles that do laps of the stretch between Main Street Station and the Sleeping Beauty Castle end. They will normally take you one-way from either the station to the Castle or vice-versa. However, more than once, we had a kind driver allow us to stay on for a full circle!
My final suggestion is to enjoy the small park in front of the Castle that features the "Partners" statue. This statue of Mickey and Walt is one of my favourite things to admire in the park. In this park, on our Honeymoon in July 2010, they also have the Disney Photo Pass people who are happy to take a group shot of your family or group and give you a card so you can access your photos online later. I wish we had've taken advantage of this more on our Honeymoon as we have very few shots of us together as a couple.
Make sure you take time to explore the shops, admire the gardens, greet the characters and stop for that all-important shot of the Castle on Main Street. Despite their being no rides or big attractions on Main Street, it truly is amazing in terms of the amount of detail placed into absolutely every store, shopfront and garden. In a future post, I'll write some details about parades and the best viewing points - Main Street is definitely one of my favourite places to watch the parades!!
Until next post, Have a Magic Day!
Love,
Michelle
xxx
Disneyland in California is the original Disney Park. It opened on July 17th 1955 (however, some people will tell you that it opened on 18th July - it's a long story) and it is the only of the Disney Parks that Walt Disney had direction over the building of. I wish that I had've been alive or had the opportunity to meet Walt Disney. It seems that he had a mind full of hopes and dreams that he never gave up on - and in essence the Disney Parks are still carrying forth that tradition.
Over the next few blog entries, I will take you through each area of Disneyland in California. We will begin with Main Street U.S.A. and then continue with Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Adventureland and Critter County. Following these lands, we will take a hop, skip and a jump (because you will be too excited to walk once you are inside the parks and running is not allowed) over to the California Adventure Park. Toward the end of July, I will began writing about Walt Disney World, in Florida before moving on to Japan's Disney Parks in August.
(In advance, I apologise for some of my dodgy photography, I get so excited when I'm at the Parks that I want to capture everything but at the same time, I want to embrace everything all at once. Since these photos were taken, we have invested in an SLR that takes a much nicer photo - which you'll get to see when we get to blogging about Walt Disney World!)
This second image - Disney's pride and joy and Walt's best mate, Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney once said, "Let's not forget, it all started with a Mouse." A Mouse that he dreamt up on a train trip, that had a personality unlike any other character of it's time. Speaking of trains, the brick building you can see in the background of the image is Mainstreet U.S.A. station, one of the stations on the Disneyland Railroad - one of my all time favourite rides at the park. Oops, tangent. Back to where we were, this garden must appear in a gazillion tourists photographs around the world - particularly those who wait and wait and wait and get that illustrious shot with the train pulling into the station in the background. It's the perfectly manicured lawns and plants that give away that you aren't just at any theme park - this is a Disney Park. Attention to detail separates the Disney experience from any other.
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| Main Street U.S.A. - Sleeping Beauty's Castle in the distance |
Main Street U.S.A.
As you admire Mickey in the garden and the sound of the steam train in the distance, you are drawn with the crowds under the archways and into Main Street U.S.A. As you can see, Main Street is actually quite wide, with what appears to be tram tracks down the middle. The buildings are quite old fashioned in style. The street is designed to represent Walt Disney's home town of Marceline, Missouri at the turn of the century. At the end of the street stands Sleeping Beauty Castle. Sleeping Beauty Castle stands at the end of Main Street in Disneyland Paris and also Disneyland Hong Kong as well - however in Tokyo Disneyland and Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, the castle is actually Cinderella's Castle. Mainstreet U.S.A. is home to Town Hall (which houses Guest Relations), a Fire House (that above it, is Walt Disney's own apartment - a lamp is kept lit in the window in his memory), a cinema, a gallery, several restaurants and cafes as well as a significant amount of souvenir shops. As you enter Main Street, you come to a town square with a flag pole. This area is popular for character sightings so have your camera ready! As you head down the stretch toward the Castle, you will notice the smells and sounds around you change as the scenery does. The bakery and confectionary shops actually pump smells into the air and the music changes to match the stores around you. Make sure you read the names on the second floor windows of the stores on Main Street. These names, although utilised in a fictional context, are there to pay tribute to cast members, Imagineers and friends of Walt Disney. It's a really great concept!
Michelle's Fast Fact: Main Street U.S.A.
If you are celebrating ANYTHING while you are at the Park, go and see Guest Relations in the Town Hall on Main Street. We had big button-style badges that said "Happily Ever After" and "Just Married" whilst on our Honeymoon. Everywhere we went, Cast Members congratulated us and more than once, our buttons got us to the front of the queue with the aide of a kind staff member! They seem to have these badges for everything - birthdays, anniversaries, family vacations. Just pop in and let them know! You can also make restaurant bookings and character dining bookings at guest services.
Michelle's Must Sees: Main Street U.S.A.
My own personal suggestion for first time visitors, is a suggestion that my Mum "forcibly suggested" to Dad and I on our first visit to Disneyland in 1993 (sorry Mum - but you were definitely right in the end!). Walk under the archway, climb the stairs to Main Street Station and board the train for a full round journey of the park. It sounds silly but it is the absolute best thing that you can do. Not only do you get acquainted with the park and get to see some of the rides and attractions as you go past on a steam train but the round trip has a few surprises. The first surprise is the train pulls into a tunnel and you go inside the Critter County favourite - Splash Mountain. You are able to see the audio-animatronic figures, hear the music and if the timing is right, see some fellow visitors cruising past in a log! The second surprise is a journey back in time, through the Grand Canyon to the time of the dinosaurs. The settings are so detailed and the animatronic dinosaurs are a delight to young and old! You'll be back at Main Street before you know it. The round trip takes about 20 minutes but it is a great orientation ride - and family and friends who aren't anticipating the surprise will just love it!!
My second suggestion is allow yourself time to explore the shops - most days the park opens earlier than the rides and you can go no further than the end of Main Street. The shops have some amazing things in them - not just for buying but the way they are decorated! My one purchase suggestion for adults and children alike - buy an autograph book (or bring one with you) and make sure you have a pen. Characters you meet and greet around the park are all able to sign autographs! Even as a fully grown adult, I still delight in collecting autographs from characters! Most of the autograph books now have a photo slot - it becomes a keepsake all of its own. Here's a few shots of some of the characters Andrew and I met in the Main Street U.S.A precinct on our visit in July 2010:
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| Cinderella's Fairy Godmother (she was so lovely!!! ) |
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| Minnie Mouse |
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| Andrew and Pluto with the Main Street Fire House in the background |
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| Alice and The Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland |
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| Partner's Statue - Walt and Mickey |
My third suggestion - ride one of the Main Street Vehicles. They are all designed to reflect the turn-of-the-century feel of Main Street. My favourite is the fire engine or the double-decker bus. However, sometimes there are horse drawn cars, horse-less carriages and other vehicles that do laps of the stretch between Main Street Station and the Sleeping Beauty Castle end. They will normally take you one-way from either the station to the Castle or vice-versa. However, more than once, we had a kind driver allow us to stay on for a full circle!
My final suggestion is to enjoy the small park in front of the Castle that features the "Partners" statue. This statue of Mickey and Walt is one of my favourite things to admire in the park. In this park, on our Honeymoon in July 2010, they also have the Disney Photo Pass people who are happy to take a group shot of your family or group and give you a card so you can access your photos online later. I wish we had've taken advantage of this more on our Honeymoon as we have very few shots of us together as a couple.
Make sure you take time to explore the shops, admire the gardens, greet the characters and stop for that all-important shot of the Castle on Main Street. Despite their being no rides or big attractions on Main Street, it truly is amazing in terms of the amount of detail placed into absolutely every store, shopfront and garden. In a future post, I'll write some details about parades and the best viewing points - Main Street is definitely one of my favourite places to watch the parades!!
Until next post, Have a Magic Day!
Love,
Michelle
xxx
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| Sleep Beauty Castle at night! |
New Beginnings..
I can't believe I'm actually doing this. It is something that I have thought about and processed in my mind for many months now and today I just decided to 'bite the bullet.' So here I am. Welcome to Disneyland Dreaming. My guide to Disney Parks that I am going to write based on my own personal experiences and trips to Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea.
So, who I am I? I'm Michelle. I currently live in Canberra, but grew up in Sydney, Australia. I am married to Andrew and although we share a lot in common, the places we have been together, with the fondest memories, are all Disney related. We had our first Disney experience together in Japan in 2009. We Honeymooned in Disneyland in 2010 and in January 2011 we embarked on a family vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida. How do a young couple who are yet to have children have a family vacation you ask? Well... we travelled with my parents, and Andrew's Mum (plus a friend of ours tagged along as well)! I had also had two Disneyland trips when I was 6 and 11 - and I am hoping that Mum and Dad will have some input down the track for navigating the parks with younger kids!
I wish there was a way to describe to people who haven't previously visited a Disney park, what you experience once you get through that turn-style at the entrance. It is more than a theme park. It's like a new country, a new world, a new universe! Everything you experience from the start of your day to the end is unforgettable. There are so many things that Disney do, that you just don't find anywhere else. While the pictures look pretty to the person who hasn't attended a Disney park before, you have no idea about the sounds, the smells and textures around you! It is a full, multi-sensory experience that is unlike any other.
What I intend to achieve through this blog, is an outline of my personal experiences that will hopefully inspire you, your partner and your family to want to plan your Disney holiday. Or, if you are already in the planning stages, to give you some tips and tricks that may make your holiday, just that little bit more special.
I'm happy to answer any questions through this blog - and if I can't answer it, I might be able to point you in the right direction of your answers.
This first entry, is going to be the start of a great adventure! For me, this is my first blog and my first real experience in writing anything to do with travel. But I am so passionate about this, that I hope my enthusiasm makes up for any potential shortcomings in my writing style.
Have a Magical Day - until the next entry,
Michelle
xxx
So, who I am I? I'm Michelle. I currently live in Canberra, but grew up in Sydney, Australia. I am married to Andrew and although we share a lot in common, the places we have been together, with the fondest memories, are all Disney related. We had our first Disney experience together in Japan in 2009. We Honeymooned in Disneyland in 2010 and in January 2011 we embarked on a family vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida. How do a young couple who are yet to have children have a family vacation you ask? Well... we travelled with my parents, and Andrew's Mum (plus a friend of ours tagged along as well)! I had also had two Disneyland trips when I was 6 and 11 - and I am hoping that Mum and Dad will have some input down the track for navigating the parks with younger kids!
I wish there was a way to describe to people who haven't previously visited a Disney park, what you experience once you get through that turn-style at the entrance. It is more than a theme park. It's like a new country, a new world, a new universe! Everything you experience from the start of your day to the end is unforgettable. There are so many things that Disney do, that you just don't find anywhere else. While the pictures look pretty to the person who hasn't attended a Disney park before, you have no idea about the sounds, the smells and textures around you! It is a full, multi-sensory experience that is unlike any other.
What I intend to achieve through this blog, is an outline of my personal experiences that will hopefully inspire you, your partner and your family to want to plan your Disney holiday. Or, if you are already in the planning stages, to give you some tips and tricks that may make your holiday, just that little bit more special.
I'm happy to answer any questions through this blog - and if I can't answer it, I might be able to point you in the right direction of your answers.
This first entry, is going to be the start of a great adventure! For me, this is my first blog and my first real experience in writing anything to do with travel. But I am so passionate about this, that I hope my enthusiasm makes up for any potential shortcomings in my writing style.
Have a Magical Day - until the next entry,
Michelle
xxx
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