California Adventure - Sunshine Plaza

Sunshine Plaza is currently undergoing some massive refurbishments and will have changed significantly since my visit. For all the updated information visit the official Disneyland webpage at http://disneyland.disney.go.com or the Disney Parks Blog at http:// disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/


Sunshine Plaza was the area you first walked into as you went through the turnstiles at California Adventure. Obviously, this has now changed, but I'll give you a little bit of background information anyway!

The "old" entrance to California Adventure

The postcard style design of Sunshine Plaza

The concept behind the architecture and decoration is that it is mean to evoke a sense of stepping into a California postcard. Guests walk under a miniature version of the Golden Gate Bridge which actually serves as part of the monorail line. Sunshine Plaza is also home to the replica of the California Zephyr - a train that houses this areas two counter service food outlets - Baker's Field Bakery and Burr-r-r Bank Ice Cream. The plaza is also home to the park's two largest souvenir outlets - Greetings from California and Engine Ears Toys.

Since my visit last year, this area has now begun its major transformation into Buena Vista Street. Disney Imagineers have replaced the front entrance turnstiles to evoke a 1920s feel. To my understanding, at the time of writing, the California Zephyr has been removed, as has the Golden Gate Bridge. These will be replaced by a recreation of the Carthay Circle Theatre (that housed the 1937 premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves) an this will serve as the visual focal point for the park. The new Buena Vista Street is designed to represent the 1920s when Walt Disney first arrived in Los Angeles. Also to be included in the overhaul of the entrance to the park will be Red Trolley's that take guests from the entrance to outside of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride. The Red Trolley's (that you may remember seeing in Who Framed Roger Rabbit) are being based on the iconic Red Trolley's produced by Pacific Electric many years ago.

I am so looking forward to going back and seeing the overhaul! The next post will focus on Paradise Pier - I can't wait to share the rides, attractions and entertainment with you! (2 of my all time favourite Disney attractions are located in Paradise Pier - and one attraction that I have vowed to never ride again! Stay tuned!)

Until next time, Have a Magical Day,

Love,
Michelle
xxx

California Adventure - Part I

Disney's California Adventure opened in 2001 and since its opening has added new attractions and had several refurbishments - and at present is adding a new area with new attractions that I can't wait to share details of in a further post. The opening of California Adventure turned the Disneyland area and the hotels surrounding into the Disneyland Resort. The 22 hectare theme park is built upon the area that the old Disneyland car park occupied. There is now a multi-storey car park available for resort guests that doubled the parking capacity previously available. 

Originally, there were plans for a version of EPCOT to be developed to be built where California Adventure now stands. These were scrapped and this allowed the idea and development of California Adventure to grow. The idea of the park is to celebrate California through different areas of the park - Sunshine Plaza, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, The Golden State, A Bug's Land and Paradise Pier. Throughout the following entries in this blog, I look forward to sharing with you (as we did in previous entries about Disneyland), a brief run down of each of the lands and the attractions, food and entertainment that stand out. 

Michael Eisner stated in his dedication of California Adventure in February 2001:- 

To all who believe in the power of dreams, welcome. Disney's California Adventure opens its golden gates to you. Here we pay tribute to the dreamers of the past: the native people, explorers, immigrants, aviators, entrepreneurs and entertainers who built the Golden State. And we salute a new generation of dreamers who are creating the wonders of tomorrow, from the silver screen to the computer screen, from the fertile farmlands to the far reaches of space. Disney's California Adventure celebrates the richness and the diversity of California... its land, its people, its spirit and, above all, the dreams that it continues to inspire.

So, our next few blogs will focus on the different areas of California Adventure. We'll start with Sunshine Plaza.

Until Next Time, Have a Magical Day.

Michelle

xx

Disneyland California - Tomorrowland (Part I)

Well here we are, the last land on our Disneyland California adventure. Of course, we'll eventually come back and visit some rides, attractions and shows in more detail but for now, this is our final stop.

Walt Disney was notorious for thinking about the future and really wanted to keep people informed about science and technology advancements. Tomorrowland was a way of incorporating his love of all things 'future' into his dream theme park. Tomorrowland opened in 1955 and was one of the original lands of the park - however, in California, Tomorrowland is now in it's 3rd generation. The Disney Imagineers have always wanted to keep Tomorrowland from becoming dated -  however with how fast technological advances are being made, it is often hard for them to keep up.

In the queue for Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters

Young and old will really enjoy Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters. We first came across the attraction at Tokyo Disneyland and found that the California version to be just as enjoyable. This attraction features both a ride and shooting gallery component and you receive a score. The story is that you have been recruited by Star Command and you are helping Buzz Lightyear to defeat him. The queue area is filled with colourful depictions on the wall and an oversized fully animated Buzz and a giant etch-a-sketch! The scaling of this is to make you feel as though you are 'toy' sized. You board your 2-seater ride vehicle from a moving walkway and are positioned with a laser gun in front of you. Also, in between you and your ride buddy is a joystick - your vehicle is able to spin 360 degrees! You have a dashboard that displays your score. The aim of the ride is to shoot your laser pointer at the hundreds of targets that are around the ride - different coloured and shaped targets equate to different point values! (From memory: roung targets are 100 points, square targets are 1000 points, diamond targets are 5000 points and triangle targets are 10000 points) The ride also has a feature that if the ride has to stop due to mechanical difficulties or to let a disabled passenger on, the laser guns and targets are still active enabling riders to gain 'bonus points'. This ride is one of our favourites, but it seems to be a favourite with everyone else too!! It is a fastpass attraction, however, if you are willing to ride first thing in the morning or during the night time entertainment, you will get on the ride much quicker.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and the Monorail track

The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is a truly unique experience. Young and old will appreciate everything about the ride - except the queue which is always long and at my last visit did not have fastpass. The Submarine Voyage originally opened in 1959 as part of the second stage of Tomorrowland. The ride was reopened in 2005 and has been re-themed to capitalise on the success of the Finding Nemo film. Guests enter the queue area - which is referred to as the Nautical Exploration and Marine Observation (NEMO) Research Centre before boarding one of the 8 yellow submarines. Guests are required to climb down a narrow spiral staircase to get into the submarine. There are 40 observation portholes on each submarine. Guests are able to view a lively underwater environment featuring coral, seaweed and one of the first characters they see is Darla, the fish-killing niece of the dentist in Finding Nemo. The story of the ride is that you are setting out to seek an active, underwater volcano. The Captain of the sub states that the vessel needs to dive in order to avoid a storm overhead. Bubbles appear over the porthole and you pass into a cavern. It is in this cavern that the majority of the ride takes place, however, I won't spoil the details for you except to say that yes, all your favourite characters from the film make an appearance and that you won't be disappointed. Eventually, you come back to the coral and vibrant colours of the reef and come to dock to disembark. Each ride takes about 15 minutes where you are enclosed in the submarine. An alternate experience is available for those with phobias or disabilities - ask about this at the Town Hall on entry into the park. Australian travellers will find some interesting points about the ride. The boarding area is meant to represent an Australian harbour, however, I have never seen one like this anywhere in my travels around our country. Also, the narration of the Captain's voice is a rather melodramatic Australian accent that you are bound to have a chuckle at!

Space Mountain by Day

Space Mountain is one of Disneyland's biggest draw cards. The white-domed building is famous for its unique architecture and the unique ride contained within it. The steel rollercoaster within the iconic building isn't overly fast or overly scary but provides its adrenalin rush by utilising a synchronised soundtrack and the added advantage of being a rollercoaster in the dark! Guests board the ride from the 'launch' platform. We timed the boarding of guests and noted that they can get people off the ride and boarded in 20 seconds. It worked out to be a rather large amount of guests per minute and with an average wait time of 30 minutes all day that works out to be A LOT of riders. This is a fastpass attraction and it definitely won't disappoint!

Space Mountain by night

The Astro Orbitors ride is definitely a ride to take if you want a little cuddle time or if you have a child with you as two adults only JUST fit inside the rocket (wait until I am able to tell you a story about the Magic Kingdom equivalent of this ride, very funny!). Similar to the Dumbo ride in Fantasyland, you circle a central structure and control your altitude with a lever. A fun ride for all, I remember riding the older version of this ride with my Dad way back on my first visit in 1993.

The Saturn V structure is next to the Astro Orbitors

Autopia is a mild but fun ride that has consistently long queues. The original version of the ride debuted in 1955 and remains today in a larger capacity. Sponsored by Chevron, guests board one of three types of car. Dusty is an off-road style car, Sparky is a sports car and Suzy is a VW Beetle style car. You drive on a 'track' and similar to bumper cars you only have the one pedal and the steering wheel. The track is a metal guard rail in the middle and it is quite a challenge to drive these cars without hitting the guard rail. Disney attempt to enforce a no-bump policy but their is always some twat who enjoys running up the back of the car in front, near the end of the ride while you wait to disembark and give you hot-rod to the next in line. I really enjoy this ride - it's a two seat per vehicle ride and it pretty relaxed. The ride lasts close to four minutes and the track has some cute scenery. If you're lucky in queue, the Disneyland Cast Member may give you a special drivers license. It's a unique souvenir that is often reserved for children but if you ask, they are more than happy to give you one!

The Disneyland Monorail currently has two stations - one inside the park, located in Tomorrowland and one outside the park located adjacent to the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. It's a fun way to see some scenery of both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure and you are seated in air-conditioned comfort. A little tip: avoid the monorail during peak times of opening, evening and lunch time. Try and ride during the afternoon parade time. Also, if you ask the attendant nicely, you may be able to ride in the often unused rear car- which is lots and lots of fun!

I was always a fan of Disney's 3D film Honey I Shrunk the Audience that used to show in the theatre in Tomorrowland. It has recently been replaced by a limited season of Captain EO starring Michael Jackson. Everything about the film makes it a must-see attraction. Captain EO was the brain-child of George Lucas and was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. As well as starring the fabulous Michael Jackson, you will also see the famous faces of Anjelica Huston and Dick Shawn! The story, soundtrack, special effects, costumes and characters are so enjoyable that on every visit to a Disney park in recent years we have made sure to see it more than once! They make sure they play the soundtrack loud like they would have done when it was originally shown - and the distorted bass sound may upset some little ears! But, if you haven't seen this before and it is still being shown during your visit, make sure you go! It's a little piece of history!

Star Wars fans will not be disappointed by Star Tours, a motion simulator ride that is set in the Star Wars Universe. The ride story is that you are a space tourist taking a tour with 'Star Tours.' I haven't been to Disneyland since the new version of Star Tours has opened but I believe the new one is incredible - the old one was amazing too! In the queue, you will see various audio-animatronic figures including R2-D2 and C3PO. The queue area is one of the most detailed in the park and you won't mind waiting in the (always lengthy) queue as you will be thoroughly entertained. The new ride has various plot lines and apparently has so many combinations that you are rarely going to get the same story line twice! I can't wait to go back and ride so I can fill you all in o the details.

That's it for the rides - stay tuned for the next post when I fill you in on the shopping and non-ride attractions in Tomorrowland.

Until next time, Have a Magical Day.

Love
Michelle
xxx

Disneyland California - Mickey's Toontown

On the visit that inspired my love of Disney and it's theme parks, September 1993, a brand new area had been opened at Disneyland. Mickey's Toontown is roughly based on the fictional area of the same name in the 1988 Disney classic, Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The buildings in Toontown are colourful and stylised and represent everything 'cartoon.'

This land is always amazingly crowded as it caters to families with younger children and those who are young at heart. There are no big thrill rides in this area - rather a cleverly put together land that is completely interactive and leaves you smiling constantly.


The biggest 'attractions' in Toontown are Mickey and Minnie's houses. Mickey's house is a walkthrough attraction and when you finally reach his living room, you'll join a queue and meet the famous Mouse. I love the houses as they encapsulate everything that is cartoon and fun. When we first went to Disneyland in 1993, you met Mickey Mouse on Main Street with all the other wandering characters. As much as I dislike saying it, this walkthrough and meet and greet doesn't live up to my expectations. However, there is a way around queuing to meet the famous Mouse. If you are a guest at one of the Disneyland resort hotels, you will receive a booklet on check-in with some coupons inside. One of these is for a Magic Morning in Toontown. Whilst the rest of the park opens at 9 - Toontown normally opens at 10. For that one hour, guests of the resort hotels are let inside Toontown, are treated to a special show, are given one of a kind buttons to wear and get to meet the characters themselves! We were lucky enough to be in the park early, right on nine and got to meet Mickey before the show. We avoided the queue and still got in that special cuddle. But Mickey isn't the only character available to resort guests in the Magic Morning - Goofy, Donald, Pluto and Minnie are all in attendance too! Minnie's house is much the same as Mickey's house - but with a girly spin. Little ones will love walking through these attractions - and if you choose to queue to meet the characters - it will definitely be worth it for the smile on the little ones face!

Hanging out with The Mouse!

Other walkthrough attractions in Toontown include Donald's Boat and the Chip 'n Dale Treehouse. Although these are designed for youngsters - the young at heart will have equally as much fun. Donald's Boat has a variety of hands-on activities that you can participate in - Andrew's favourite is pulling the rope to sound the horn. The Chip 'n Dale Treehouse is much like the Tarzan's Treehouse attraction in Adventureland. However, this walkthrough, self-paced attraction is designed for the younger guest so watch out for your head and your shins!

Goofy's Playhouse is designed for children 2-5 years of age. It encompasses Goofy's "backyard" and has crawl-throughs, climb-ons and slides of all shapes and sizes. Children will happily spend an eternity exploring and playing here and the inside of Goofy's house is sure to entertain young and old. When visiting this area, pay attention to the detail that the Disney Imagineers have put into designing this area. Everything from the cleverly disguised fire-extinguisher inside Goofy's House to the "crops" Goofy is growing in his garden. As a little bit of trivia, prior to becoming the Playhouse, Goofy's house was named "Goofy's Bounce House" the entire inside of the house was a jumping castle. It is one of my fondest memories of Disneyland. I'm sad that it went, but I am happy that children have an equally enjoyable activity in the form of the Playhouse.

Gadget's Go-Coaster is a roller coaster based on Gadget Hackwrench from the animated television series Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (admit it, you're singing that catchy theme song in your head!). This is the only ride remaining at Disneyland to be based on a Disney Afternoon telelvision series and interestingly enough it opened 3 years after the cartoon was cancelled. The concept of the "Go-Coaster" is that it was built by Gadget and the coaster trains reflect this by looking as if they are built with acorns and scavenged parts. The coaster is designed for children and whilst sitting side by side would be comfortable for most children, it was a definite squeeze for Andrew and I. The coaster travels through Gadget's salvaged items that include a spool of thread, a soup tin and a comb and the coaster also travels over a small lake. Toward the end of the ride, cartoon type frogs will squirt water at guests (I am yet to get wet by them!). The caster is great fun, but often has a little bit of a queue. Whilst the wait time will not rival that of bigger attractions it is best to ride during the early morning or later in the evening.

Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin is one ride you won't mind queuing for as the area that you queue in has quite a bit to look at. In saying that, this is a fastpass attraction and the standby queue is outside, in the sun. So ride early morning or late at evening if you can. The queue winds past offices with voices and shadows, past doorways and you eventually end up in a car garage. You'll enjoy looking at all the different things in the line. Make sure you have a look at the number plates hanging on the wall in the queue line. It took me a little while to figure out but they are code-like for various Disney things or slogans. Whilst I won't spoil the fun for you, my favourite is CAP 10 HK (Captain Hook). The ride itself is like a cross between a Fantasyland Dark Ride and the Mad Tea Party. The steering wheel of the yellow taxi cab you board functions similarly to that of the centre disk of the teacup on the Mad Tea Party Attraction. The ride ventures through various scenes of the Who Framed Roger Rabbit movie and the first scene of the ride features cans of "DIP" that are actual props from the movie. The ride may not be suitable for those who are prone to motion sickness or children who dislike the dark. The ride, although you can control the amount it spins will still spin a little without you even touching the steering wheel.

In Toontown you will encounter four main food outlets. These are Daisy's Diner, Pluto's Dog House, Clarabelle's Frozen Yoghurt and Toon Up Treats. Whilst most places in Toontown stock your usual hot dogs, chips, burgers and drinks, Clarabelle's Frozen Yoghurt offers sandwiches and subs for under $10 and frozen treats for $4-5. It's a nice alternative to the other options if you are wanting some variety.

The only shopping available in Toontown is at the Gag Factory and Toontown Five and Dime. Inside the store, a gag contraption hangs overhead. Suspended gloves travel on a track, pick up a 'gag' from inside the gag machine and drop them off at an undisclosed location. It always captures my attention and I've watched many children stop in their tracks to watch it. Inside this store you can purchase the usual picture frames, keychains, clothing and other common Disney souvenirs. However, within this store you won't find any Princess merchandise - it is mainly related to Mickey Mouse and his friends and the occasional Roger Rabbit piece. Also in this store is a station where you can make your own charm bracelet - it's a nice touch!

Getting ready to blow up the fireworks factory!

What else can Toontown offer you? Well, I mentioned above that the land is mostly interactive - what I didn't mention is that it offers some fantastic photo opportunities. The Fireworks factory has an explosives box that you can press the handle on and sound effects, lights and smoke come out the top of the building. When you open the door to the electricity station a large noise, strobe lighting and smoke come out. There are ample interactive things to do around Toontown (it's just a matter of finding them!!). The other must-see in Toontown are the cars, Mickey and Goofy's cars are just in the street - climb on in and have your photo taken!

Mickey's Car at the Toontown Gas Station

Goofy's Parking job...

I've rolled this land into one post - it's the smallest land in the park but packs a punch! Looking forward to sharing Tomorrowland with you next!

Until next time, Have a Magical Day.

Love,
Michelle
xxx

Disneyland California - New Orleans Square (part I)

New Orleans Square is themed around 19th century New Orleans. A similarly themed area can be find in Tokyo Disneyland. Interestingly, New Orleans Square is not actually a square - rather a collection of streets  that twist and turn around shops, restaurants and the original Pirate's of the Caribbean building. Attractions in New Orleans Square include the Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Princess Tiana's Mardi Gras Celebration. There are also a great range of shops and restaurants in the land, that we'll explore futher in New Orlean's Square (part II that will follow this post).

If you haven't caught at least one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, you are definitely in the minority. This was the very last attraction that Walt Disney himself participated in designing. It opened in spring 1967 just three months after his death. Guests board boats amongst glittering fireflies in a quaint bayou. As you set sail, on your right you will see the Blue Bayou restaurant (see the second part of the New Orleans Square blog for info about this). You pass quiet houseboats and on the verandah of one is an old man, rocking gently back and forth. There is the quiet strumming of a banjo playing famous tunes like "Oh! Susanna" and "Camptown Races." I won't tell you exactly what happens next except that you will pass many famous scenes from the movies - except that the ride was built long before the first movie!!! Let it be known, my favourite part of this 15 minute ride is cruising along between a pirate ship and a fortress with "cannon balls" splashing in the water, lighting and air effects simulating a fight! You'll just adore this ride - young children may be a little frightened, but a little forewarning that it is "just pretend" will probably help you along. Generally, the during busy periods, this ride has excessive queues and will be quietest early mornings and late evenings - especially during the evening parade times and Fantasmic! showings. However, during quieter days, the queues will rarely be longer than 15 minutes.

The Haunted Mansion has been another family favourite ride since 1967. Many people will be familiar with the Haunted Mansion movie starring Eddie Murphy that was released not too long ago, and like Pirates of the Caribbean, the film was based on the ride. Guests enter the queuing area through a pair of beautiful gates and queue along side beautiful gardens and some rather funny tombstones (make sure you read them, they are so funny!). Guests enter the mansion and stand in a portrait gallery - and the portraits start to stretch. Is the floor lowering or the ceiling raising? I'm not going to tell you, but it's a pretty cool effect regardless. What happens next in this room is something you have to be there for - I don't want to ruin the surprise. A wall opens and you exit the portrait gallery to board your 'doom buggy.' The 'doom buggy' will take 2 adults or 2 adults and a small child through the Haunted Mansion where you will see some amazing special effects, awesome audio-animatronics and will be singing the tunes of the Haunted Mansion for the rest of the day. I'd love to give you more details but I really don't want to spoil what I think is the most visually spectacular attraction at Disneyland! Although you would anticipate the ride to be quite scary - it isn't too bad and will mainly leave you smiling from ear to ear. You would be wise to warn small children about potentially 'scary' things - but all in all they will probably enjoy everything once you are beyond the portrait gallery!

Princess Tiana's Mardi Gras Celebration is a street parade and party featuring characters from "The Princess and the Frog." There is a small marching band that set up overlooking the Rivers of America and Princess Tiana, the band and some dancers parade down from the back of New Orleans Square. The show lasts 15 minutes or so and the Princess often stays to sign autographs and for photos after the show! Check the show times - as it's great to see!

Stay tuned for the shops and restaurants in New Orleans Square! The Blue Bayou is a not-to-be-missed restaurant and I'll give you some details in the next post!

Until next time, Have a Magical Day.

Love,
Michelle
xx

Disneyland California - Critter County (part II)

Well, this week has been really quite crazy!!! I hope tonight I'll be able to get a few posts up!! Can I remind you to find us on Facebook by searching Disneyland Dreaming and like the page!! I'm looking forward to meeting up with all of you on there - and I'm loving the emails and questions you have been asking me! I can't wait to answer them in upcoming posts!

So, back to Critter County.. Home to Winnie the Pooh and his friends but also home to some fantastic food and shopping.

One of my favourite places to eat in Disneyland is the Hungry Bear Restaurant. Located next to the Rivers of America and surrounded by lush vegetation it's a great place to sit and enjoy lunch or a snack - particularly on a hot day! There really is something for everyone here - and reasonably priced too! Burgers served with either grapes or French Fries range in price and style and start at $7.99. There's even a veggie burger for those who would prefer a meat-free alternative! There are salad options and dessert options as well!! I absolutely love the sweet treats here!!! It's also a great place to grab a coffee or tea - especially if you've just come off Splash Mountain and had been waiting a while before hand!!!!

The Harbour Galley in Critter County is a counter-service food outlet that sells a variety of food - that varies from the usual burgers and chips. Here you'll pick up seafood chowder, chilli and soups all served in bread bowls as well as salads and sandwiches. The prices are similar to the Hungry Bear Restaurant but may suit your group a little better after a few days of burgers and chips at other places within the park.

There is also a wonderful food cart in Critter County that offers pieces of fresh fruit, crisps and drinks - a great snack cart that has something for the whole family.

Shopping in Critter County definitely doesn't disappoint. Tucked way in the far back corner of the park, Pooh's Corner is an amazing store! Not just a clothing and toy store, it's also a bakery and confectionary store! Andrew and I were absolutely thrilled when we were browsing this store to find a Disney Cast Member making Mickey Mouse Candy Apples behind a glass window - she smiled and showed us the process from start to finish! It was amazing and the amount of effort that goes into making the hand-made treats is unbelievable! Young and old will find this store absolutely amazing! They sell the most amazing cookies and home-made treats in this store themed both around Mickey and friends as well as Winnie the Pooh. One little treat at this store is the range of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans that they stock - and the fact that you can mix and match them however you like! I can't rave about this store enough! There are a couple of other stores at this end of the park, but in my opinion - Pooh's corner just blows them away!!!

Under that beautiful exterior is an apple - an expensive but delicious treat!

Next up, we'll be visiting New Orlean's Square! Can't wait to share some of my favourite parts of this area of the park with you!!

Until next time, Have A Magical Day!

Love,
Michelle
xxx

Disneyland California - Critter County (Part I)

Well, I'm sorry for the lack of blogging over the last few days. Starting a new job made me rather exhausted, but I'm sure this week coming I'll get on top of things! Thank you to those who have sent e-mails. I'm really enjoying your feedback and can't wait to deal with your questions in posts once we're done covering Disneyland in California.

This post is about Critter County. The smallest of the lands in Disneyland - yet a place that your whole group will enjoy. The area was first called the Indian Village and featured Native American shows and attractions based around Native American culture. Opened in March 1972 it was renamed Critter County in 1988. Based around a forest area, the vegetation is varied and gives the area a forest-type feel. It is a great place to sit and rest for a few minutes on a hot day as there are plenty of areas in the shade.

Critter County is home to one of Disneyland's most famous rides - Splash Mountain. The ride is a log flume attraction and is based on the 1946 Disney film, 'Song of the South.' The ride is mainly peaceful with a few small drops before the climatic 52 foot, 45-degree and 65 kilometres per hour drop. The ride follows Brer Rabbit who decides to leave his home in the Briar Patch to find his 'laughing place.' Of course, there are some troublesome parts - when Brer Rabbit is pursued by Brer Fox and Brer Bear - however, there is a mighty happy ending and some catchy songs that you will be singing all day. The ride is 11 minutes in length and features the most animatronic figures of any ride at Disneyland. You will board a log that seats 7 people - 5 people one behind the other and 2 side-by-side in the back. You will get wet on this ride - wetter in the front than in the back. Packing a small towel for afterward will be handy - and also, don't ride late in the day in winter unless you have a change of clothes or the weather is unseasonably warm! There is a fastpass available for this ride and I recommend you use it unless you are going to ride it first thing in the day - Splash Mountain is notorious for having a queue longer than 60 minutes. Oh, and don't forget to smile going down that big drop, there is a camera strategically placed to catch you at your best - it's bound to give your group a chuckle after the ride!

Riding a Honeypot

In 2005, Disneyland opened the very popular 'Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' ride. It exists in Critter County and replaced the old 'Country Bear Jamboree' attraction. The ride is about 3 and a half minutes in length and is a dark ride - similar to those in Fantasyland. Guests board the ride in the open and travel in golden honeypots. The ride travels through the Hundred Acre Wood and travels past all the favourite characters. The ride vehicles then travel past the Heffalump and Woozles dream sequence that utilises some pretty cool holographic effects. The ride ends with a party scene before arriving back in the outdoor load area. This version of the ride isn't as high-tech or modern as the equivalent at Tokyo Disneyland but will be enjoyed by young and old alike. The queue times for the ride are occasionally longer - but for the most part are less than 20 minutes on the majority of days.

In Critter County, you will also have character greetings with Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet. They appear on a trail where you get to meet all four at once. Staff will be more than happy to take photos of your group with your own camera, as well as the Disney Photo Pass photographers who will take professional shots that will appear on the website for you to download later.

That's the two main attractions and the major draw cards of Critter County. We will focus on the shops and other attractions in Critter County in the next post.

Until then, Have a Magical Day.

Love
Michelle
xxx 

Disneyland California - Frontierland (part II)

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

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.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The runaway Mine Cart

Some of the scenery of the Mountain

Hold on to your hats because Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is going to get your adrenaline pumping and it will most definitely put a smile on your face. Big Thunder Mountain originally opened in September 1979 and is an indoor/outdoor rollercoaster through some rather rugged terrain. The back story of the ride is that once upon a time gold was found in Big Thunder and of course the town became popular and was thriving. An earthquake struck the town and the town was abandoned. Some time later, the old mine trains of the town were found to be running on the tracks - on their own! The Big Thunder Mountain Mining Camp was established to enable tourists to ride these runaway trains. During the three and half minute ride, guests will travel in their mine car through the abandoned town and into the rocky terrain of Big Thunder Mountain. During the rollercoaster ride, guests will climb three hills and take sweeping turns and twists through the mountain. There are some wonderful views of the park from the top of the hills - but they won't last long. The ride itself has it's own picturesque scenery which guests are sure to love. The ride has a safety bar restraint which comes across your lap and their are some height restrictions for this ride. Guests in a wheelchair must be able to get in and out of the cars to be able to ride.

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.

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.

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

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 - 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.

My Mickey Ears with embroidery. 

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!).

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

Airfares....

Sunrise on the plane - January 19 2011

I guess, this is what we get for living in one of the best countries in the world. Being away from everything often means rubbish airfares. However, in the volatile market we are currently experiencing, there are some absolute bargains to be had.

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!

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. - 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:

Cinderella's Fairy Godmother (she was so lovely!!! )

Minnie Mouse

Andrew and Pluto with the Main Street Fire House in the background

Alice and The Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland

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

Sleep Beauty Castle at night!