tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532444148062348802024-02-07T08:47:20.053-08:00My Unauthorized, Irreverent Disney DiaryStraight Writing From The House of MouseDeirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-33613321288914001302011-03-24T09:57:00.000-07:002011-03-24T09:57:19.961-07:00Magic Kingdom Guide Book Now Available for E!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZcPfKenEFEqlCxJwixpW4V6aGCkiiBUCOnDKwlf-ZI4_hpJJimm2SsvnVA02E9MMyLWjkFdhtb4silsIeYmXxjLMBj4Fys08X0A6A_UczO_cDv1_cIBl2bEsnHYb2bGjnyj4_N35zYw/s1600/cover02_RH-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZcPfKenEFEqlCxJwixpW4V6aGCkiiBUCOnDKwlf-ZI4_hpJJimm2SsvnVA02E9MMyLWjkFdhtb4silsIeYmXxjLMBj4Fys08X0A6A_UczO_cDv1_cIBl2bEsnHYb2bGjnyj4_N35zYw/s320/cover02_RH-2.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first in my series of Disney guidebooks by SWM Press is now available!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span itemprop="description" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is the first in a series of guidebooks that will enable you to navigate the wilds of Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort with confidence. If you want cool information, an honest opinion and a dose of wicked humor, this guidebook is for you. If you cry when someone tells you they don't like The Lion King, put this down. This is not the book for you. Go buy an official Disney book.</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">The paperback version will be available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble by May 1st. Currently you can upload this book for the low price of $4.99 directly from Smashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44049 You can download a variety of formats for upload to your Kindle, Nook, iPad, Sony EReader, Kobo, PC, or handheld device. The book will be available for direct purchase on your Kindle, Nook or iPad on April 11th, 2011.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">My Disneyland guide should be ready for E by May 1st. In addition I will have a humor book based on my trips to Disney coming out in the fall.</span></span></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-55600339923981036932011-01-30T16:49:00.000-08:002011-01-30T16:49:39.357-08:00Proof That God Hates The New Tiki RoomJanuary 12th, 2011, hot off the presses from Lake Buena Vista (aka Walt Disney World), a fire broke out in the attic area of the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction at 5:30pm. The sprinklers sprayed, the guests were evacuated, no one was injured, the firefighters doused the flames, big win all the way around.<br />
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So why is this a "Whack-A-Doodle Wednesday" story and why does God hate the Tiki Room? Because God loves me and understands, like I do, that the Tiki Room is an abomination that must be cleansed from the Earth.<br />
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Why the Tiki Room hate so early in the morning? I should clarify, this is the NEW Tiki Room. The original Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland is fine. No problems there. However in Florida, some whanker thought, "Hey! We can stuff Iago the obnoxious parrot from Aladdin into this attraction along with the more sedate (but unpopular) Zazu from The Lion King and rework it! It's SYNERGY! They're birds, right? This show is birds, right? BAM! We have synergy and product placement and it's right by the new Aladdin's Flying Carpet ride. See? We can sell a butt load of bird toys we wouldn't be able to move other wise. See? It's brilliant! Give me a raise!"<br />
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So they re-did the ride. The obnoxious Iago has taken over the Enchanted Tiki Room "Under New Management" with his wise cracking, Hollywood Agent manner with the staid Zazu to act as a foil. He also has the good sense, in an audio animatronic way, to look embarrassed.<br />
<a href="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/disney-tiki-room.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-801" height="404" src="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/disney-tiki-room.jpg" title="Disney-Tiki-Room" width="600" /></a><br />
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I dislike this attraction and it's not just because they raped a classic for potential stuffed animal profit. It's because it was done so badly. Don't take my word for it. Cory Doctorow from the blog BoingBoing agrees with me. In fact he says "I took my two-year-old daughter to the Tiki Room last week and within seconds, she was whimpering and saying, "These are the bad tikis. Don't like them. Where are the real birds?"<br />
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That pretty much says it all. The show itself is not well done, the jokes aren't funny and Iago is annoying and a bit scary. I know I'm not alone in wishing the place would dissolve on the spot. Well, God evidently heard our prayers. New rumors are surfacing that Iago was damaged beyond repair by the fire in addition to water damage on the perch that the birds are attached to. It seems Zazu sustained bad water damage as well. That seems to me, if the rumors are true, that the new birds were the target of this fire, Iago in particular.<br />
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No official determination on the fires origins have been made. However, I say "make lemonade out of nasty, feathery lemons" and make this attraction into something special. If you don't want to go back to the original show, you can add new, original characters with a clever script. I call shenanigans on this whole "synergy" concept of plugging in minor characters just so you can sell plush toys and pencils that haven't moved before. If you look at the Muppet 3D show at Disney Studios, you will see they invented a character named Bean the Bunny who is the catalyst of the whole show. He is cute, engaging, sells stuffed toys (Hell, I bought one!) and doesn't take away from the whole classic Muppet experience. Do that people! Please let the idiot parrot remain fried and bring us a new character. I would like to suggest a stunning, peacock-blue parrot named Apollo.Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-35543732966696577652010-08-27T08:45:00.000-07:002010-08-27T08:45:08.601-07:00Vinylmation - Good or Evil?<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;"><a href="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/400156099000.jpeg" mce_href="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/400156099000.jpeg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-510" height="300" mce_src="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/400156099000.jpeg" src="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/400156099000.jpeg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="400156099000" width="300" /></a>What is Vinylmation? I was thinking the same thing when I first saw these little critters. This past March, I was spending a lovely sunny day browsing through a shop on Disney's Boardwalk, a deluxe resort next to EPCOT. I was actually looking for a swim suit, which they don't seem to sell anymore for women. Same with underwear. No swim suits or underwear for us! I guess Disney doesn't want to think about "lady parts" and wants to completely ignore the fact that when Disneyland first opened the "Wizard of Bras" lingerie shop was operating on Main Street.<br />
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Anyway, these ... things caught my eye. I had no idea what they were. Was it a doll, an action figure, a paperweight? The Cast Member I asked had no idea. I figured they were just the "new thing". A clever marketing gimic designed to separate us from more of our cash. Little did I know how insidious and genius this marketing gimic was!<br />
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There was one figure that caught my eye:<br />
<a href="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/par3-3.jpg" mce_href="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/par3-3.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-511" height="164" mce_src="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/par3-3.jpg?w=300" src="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/par3-3.jpg?w=300" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Par3-3" width="300" /></a>I admit, it was the pseudo writing theme. I know it's suppose to depict sketch animation but it was close enough and I thought it would look good on my desk. I went to find it and.....I was perplexed. You see, each series has its own tray that holds about twelve or twenty four smaller boxes. Each box is marked with the series it comes from and nothing else. That's right, you have no way of knowing which figure is inside the box.<br />
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Well, that's easy, I'll just open the box and see! Nope, now the evil becomes clear. The boxes are all glued shut. There is no way at all to determine which figure is inside which box. Basically, it's a grab bag. They guarantee that each figure is in the tray, somewhere, along with a "mystery figure" but you have no idea of knowing where it is.<br />
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Each figure is $10 retail. NOW the plan of Marketing genius raises its head. I must say that even though I hate this with a passion, Disney really needs to give a raise to the person who thought of this idea because from a business stand point, it's a money spinner. Picture this: Kid walks in to store with parents, sees cool figure and wants it. Wants it bad. Wants it now. Parents buy one but.... yup, it's the wrong one! Now the melt-down ensures. So they go back to buy another one and another one. Those $10 boxes can sure add up! If you want, they will sell you the whole damn tray so you can have a complete set but that is $120!<br />
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Don't think you can deftly pry the lid off, take a quick peek and then move on to the other one. Why? Because the figures are sealed inside mylar packets! Foiled again! You just need to buy the box and hope for the best. Did I try it? Hell no! My momma didn't raise no fool! Besides with my luck, I would get the lamest figure in the whole set. In my case, I would get the "stoned bear" from Park #3<br />
<a href="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/par3-5.jpg" mce_href="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/par3-5.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-512" height="164" mce_src="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/par3-5.jpg?w=300" src="http://sargentspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/par3-5.jpg?w=300" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Par3-5" width="300" /></a>I know, I know, it's the bear from the now defunct Country Bear Jamboree and before you start writing me e-mails, I realize that tired show is still going at other parks but it's dead at Disneyland and that's what counts. They replaced it with Pooh. Not so sure it was a good trade but at least the tubby little cubby of a bear didn't sit on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, smooshing it into extinction like at Walt Disney World and for that I'm thankful.<br />
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Update: I just returned from Disneyland a few weeks ago. I went with my sister and her family and guess what they kids wanted? Yup, Vinylmation figures! Did they get the ones they initially wanted? No. Did my sister buy them more? No. The ones they did get they were happy with BUT it seems Disney has instituted a new system. I am assuming it grew out of many a "I got the stoned bear!" tantrum. It is a limited trade rule. Basically there are three figures in a clear case. If you don't like the figure you picked you can either (a) trade for another grab bag pick but if you don't like this one you are SOL and no you don't get to keep both unless you pay for both or (b) you can trade for one of the three figures on display. These figures change each day but if the one you like is in the case, you are sure of getting it. It's kind of like the lottery that way. Also like the lottery, life rarely works that well. Honestly, it seemed to me the Vinylmations chosen were rarely the "popular" figures. Nine times out of ten, stoned bear is going to be one of the three choices. The moral of this story? Choose at your own risk.<br />
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To me, Vinylmation figures are the perfect example of shallow American consumerism. Honestly, look at them. Do they do anything? Do they serve any purpose other than instilling in you a need to buy more so you can "collect them all"! People, there are times when collecting something just because the masses are collecting it, doesn't translate into "collector dollars" down the road unless you operate on a fast turn around schedule. Don't believe me? Hey, I have a box full of Beanie Babies I can sell you!<br />
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My advice? Say no to pointless marketing ploys designed to keep you coming back like a crack addict to buy more and more and more. If you want a souvenir go by a plush Mickey or better yet, a shot glass! That has many uses and I highly recommend it. It's a brilliant idea Disney but I'm not falling for it. I'm going to stuff wax in my ears so I can't hear your siren's song as I go about my day. You can keep your tons of pins and trading cards and Vinylmation figures. I'll just spend my money on something else unless of course you know for SURE which box has the sketch animation figure in it.</div></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-62134375476203117982010-08-19T12:27:00.000-07:002010-08-19T12:27:11.017-07:00Celebrate! A Street Party ParadeI love Disney. I just want to reiterate that. I have enjoyed all the parades I have seen at the parks but this was the worst thing I have ever seen at Disney. I am so glad I didn't camp out on the sidewalk to see this. My family and I were on our way out of the Park to grab some dinner at Downtown Disney when we saw the parade coming so figured we would wait and watch it. <br />
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I realize Disney has seized on this "Celebrate" theme for the year. "What are you celebrating?" is their tag but I don't want a parade that evolves around a marketing concept. Instead of impressive floats with characters going past you, you have average "traveling platforms" that stop in certain spots where costumed cast members dance in the street, encourage people around to wave their hands and the characters boogy down as well.<br />
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The music is a mish mash of pop, jazz, and rock ala elevator muzak style. In the words of my nephew "This is dumb! It's all Hannah Montana, Jones Brothers crap." In the words of his little sister "This is booorrrrrrrring! Can we go? This is LAME!" and this is from the girl who loves Selena Gomez and watches Wizards of Waverly Place religiously.<br />
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I have to agree. The parade was dumb, lame, idiotic and a total waste of my time. We cut through the shops, beat the parade to the front and left for dinner. I would advise you to spend your waiting time on World of Color and go on some rides while the chumps are camping out waiting for this snooze fest. I just hope that Disney will go back to what they do best - huge glorious floats with glittering characters waving at us as the whole line sails by.Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-63354180490090266652010-03-22T07:10:00.000-07:002010-03-22T07:10:08.676-07:00Sleeping Beauty Castle - The Walk Though<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsgEsahnaOqb218qLr-9yxyTgSDZmz5Hedsoz3l7nsTAxEGgEkYvZ54IToJrpiv_k1FaZH_xD0Iiuqf-A873xYlt-iSSHRfRrKnwn6IYF2MTAV4guSpach3ULlsLEftgmWpvZdIA8g3g/s1600-h/IMG_1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsgEsahnaOqb218qLr-9yxyTgSDZmz5Hedsoz3l7nsTAxEGgEkYvZ54IToJrpiv_k1FaZH_xD0Iiuqf-A873xYlt-iSSHRfRrKnwn6IYF2MTAV4guSpach3ULlsLEftgmWpvZdIA8g3g/s320/IMG_1883.JPG" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>When I was a little girl, I wanted to live in Sleeping Beauty's Castle. It seemed so pretty and magical. I thought it would be lovely to see inside, then I found out that I could. Over to the side there was a small out of the way door. You could climb up inside the castle and look at diaramas from the film that mainly featured dolls dressed up like the movie characters. It was cool.<br />
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Then after 9/11, the castle diaramas closed. They said it was security and renovation. Perhaps they thought they were out-dated (they were) or not very popular (they weren't) but I still loved them. Year after year I would look with longing at the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1269218551_0" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: pointer;">closed door</span> until I just forgot about it altogether. Then like Aurora waking from her enscrolled sleep, the door opened and the diaramas were back but with an updated twist.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU5TbPd61VDLKCp3C9Kpb3_tpcVRyJxhSR-BLIAJYQdvs8jntQuy4Yyxjcw_D3IR3IoOvdSBGuuIS2PaTXLqgAq7vKua0QgKqPkgBSwfppqLnE_mAY9HrYoU8h5bOgPkbTUvyiNBo3lQ/s1600-h/IMG_1884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU5TbPd61VDLKCp3C9Kpb3_tpcVRyJxhSR-BLIAJYQdvs8jntQuy4Yyxjcw_D3IR3IoOvdSBGuuIS2PaTXLqgAq7vKua0QgKqPkgBSwfppqLnE_mAY9HrYoU8h5bOgPkbTUvyiNBo3lQ/s320/IMG_1884.JPG" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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It seems to be there are more of movie scenes to look at. It may be because of the time that has passed but instead of the cheesy dolls, they have more lifelife scenes, LED light effects (twinkles, head of Maleficents staff, etc) and cool little things that could be missed if you weren't paying attention. Example: When you enter the dungeon area (it is more dungeon themed than just a corridor) you pass a barred window where you see the shadow of one of Maleficents pig guards with a spear, walking down some stairs and talking to himself. It almost puts you into the fortress, trying to find Prince Phillip.<br />
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I am sooo glad they rescued this wee but mighty attraction. Just because something isn't a fast <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1269218551_1">thrill ride</span> or you get to shoot at something, doesn't mean it is without value.</span></span></span></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-80393124968264786252010-03-16T06:56:00.001-07:002010-03-16T07:02:00.054-07:00The Adventures of Bun in WDW<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Allow me to introduce you good gentles to Bun (The Softest Bunny in the World):<br />
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I found Bun at the gift shop upstairs at the Dolphin hotel. They had 3 sizes available and I thought the "Momma Bear" size was just right. My companions started coming up with names including "Bun", "Bun Bun" and when in France or when feeling saucy "Mlle. Le Boon". So Bun is here to share snacks from around the World with you. First is from the Magic Kingdom:<br />
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The Infamous Dole Whip: ala Bun, you can see the white swirl of vanilla like Buns fur. In my opinion the vanilla cuts the tart pineapple, to make the taste perfect.<br />
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Now over to the Polynesian for a Lapu Lapu:<br />
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Had to get Bun out of this picture because the pineapple was having a bottom malfunction. The lovely booze was leaking out of the bottom. The bartender said that sometimes they core them a little too deep. He made me a full drink in a glass and set it by the pineapple. This is a "grown up drink". No frozen fruit flavors just booze and juice in toxic amounts but they make you happy!<br />
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A quick trip to Animal Kingdom gives Bun one of the yummiest frosty drinks of the trip, the Yak Attack over at the Yak and Yeti.<br />
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It is a mango daquiri with myers rum float and a berry swirl. Just yummy goodness! The ones in the actual bar were better than the ones at the outside "to go" counter. I think the ones at the bar had more berry swirl in them.<br />
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Now on to Epcot World Showcase. Canada didn't have anything worth drinking so we went straight to England for Guinness and Fish & Chips (or in my case, fish and veg)<br />
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The nice chewy breakfast beer was lovely as always and Bun approves of the malt vinegar for the fish and chips!<br />
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France brought lovely White Star champagne:<br />
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Bun loves White Star and mentions that it is lovely with chocolate croissant! The Parisians were not too happy with Bun for posing with the bubbly. Honestly, you have room to talk, eating cheese that smells like feet. Bun was too much of a lady to say anything. She does recommend the croissant, really!<br />
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Japan has wonderful yummies such as sake (hot or cold), Pocky (thin cookies covered in Strawberry or Chocolate with crushed almonds or chocolate cookies), Botan Rice Candy (you eat the thin rice paper the chewy, slightly sweet candy is wrapped in and Kari Gori (snowcones with yummy flavors such as strawberry, tangerine, honeydew melon or a stripe of all three).<br />
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Morocco did not yield any drinks other than tea but Bun found a lovely rug to recline on so I could bring her pistachio baklava. Not too sticky, very nice taste.<br />
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Norway has two yummy items. First in the Krigla Bakery there is the Gravlox sandwich (lox, cheese, hard boiled egg) with a cloudberry horn and viking coffee:<br />
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The sandwich was hearty, the fish was lovely though the whole grain toast may be a little to dense for some American tastes. I thought it was great. The Cloudberry horn was wonderful and better than similar items in France because the cream is not as sweet. The Viking coffee was good on a cold day but not really strong and certainly improved the taste of the coffee. Aquavit, on the other hand is plenty strong as Bun can attest to!<br />
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<br />
Mexico rounded our day with a trip to "The Ditch" - where all the best tequila lives. While there were some yummy marguritas we tried including Blood Orange, Cucumber and Prickly Pear (yes they have tasting flights) but I went straight for the really good sipping tequila, no training wheels (lime & salt) for me! By the 3rd round I could see that the Ditch was starting to do Bun in.<br />
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<br />
By the time we got back to Animal Kingdom Lodge, Bun was ready for a little rest:<br />
[IMG]<img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb284/princessaurora_dis/Bun/DSC00133.jpg" width="400" />[/IMG]<br />
Yes Bun is a light weight but she is a bunny after all even if she is the Softest Bunny in the World!</span>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-9243047742894483412010-03-13T09:31:00.000-08:002010-03-13T09:31:57.707-08:00Bibbidi Bobbidi BoutiqueI must admit, I was scared of this place. I will say here and now I am vehemently opposed to "Glitz Pageants" for little girls, think that sexualizing them and making them look like 19 year old street walkers is not only twisted but just more legal spank material for pedophiles. I had seen a similar type of shops at DTD "Libby Lu's" (now mercifully closed) that had little girls walking out with heavy make-up, sprayed and teased glitter hair, looking like they were ready to work the red light district in Bangkok. Also the BBBoutique in Florida is more over the top in my opinion so I walked into this one with trepidation.<br />
<br />
Where is it? Oh yeah, it's in Fantasyland. Once you go through the castle, turn to your left. There is a gift shop there and the boutique is in the back. So I walked in and... I was surprised as in pleasantly surprised. The little girls were actually leaving looking like... LITTLE GIRLS!<br />
<br />
I talked to the cast members there. They obviously LOVE their job, love giving the girls makeovers but stress that they don't like the ho look either. The nail polishes are pink, not red. The color pallets for the make up are natural shades and light shades. If they see make up going on too thick they blend it, tone it down or take it off and start over.<br />
<br />
See? The girls can get some pretty make-up, nails and have their hair done without the trash. Some packages go have little hair pieces. They told me that most girls choose on that matches their own color hair though some do pick a funky pink, purple or rainbow color. These are NOT paired with ultra teased, sprayed and glitter gunked real hair.<br />
<br />
This is a beauty experience I can get behind. They have 3 packages:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #060e33; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Girls 3 years old and above can choose from three hair styles — Fairytale Princess, Disney Diva and Pop Princess — available in three packages:</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><ul style="list-style-image: url(http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_v0200/en_US/_global/icons/bullet.gif); list-style-position: outside; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><li>The Coach Package includes hairstyle, shimmering make-up, princess sash, princess cinch sac and body jewels — $44.95, plus tax.</li>
<li>The Crown Package includes hairstyle, shimmering makeup, princess sash, princess cinch sac, body jewels and nail polish — $49.95, plus tax.</li>
<li>The Castle Package includes hairstyle, shimmering makeup, princess sash, princess cinch sac, body jewels, nail polish, princess gown of choice, wand, shoes and portrait package courtesy of Disney's PhotoPass® Service (assorted prints in themed folder). Determined by the choice of princess gown and shoes, price ranges from $195.85 to $205.85.</li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Adult ladies can do this as well but if you go for the Castle package, you don't get a big girl dress, you get a little girl dress. I thought it would be fun to do this, get the make-up/nails done, then gift the dress and shoes to another little girl. Think of the Disney Magic!</span></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-5336050558557430022010-03-12T06:34:00.000-08:002010-03-12T06:34:20.090-08:00Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln - The Triumphant Return<div style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As everyone knows, the first showing of Great Moments with Mr Lincoln was at the 1964 Worlds Fair in New York. It has been in and out of Disneyland since it's arrival in 1965. Mr. Lincoln was always the comfortable shoe for me. I admit, I hardly ever saw it except if it was really hot outside and I wanted the air conditioning, or it was too cold outside or I was tired and wanted a place to rest, Mr. Lincoln was always there for me. Even when I made a huge hog out of myself, demolishing the buffet at Club 33, and couldn't ride any attraction without hurling, Mr. Lincoln was there to give me solace and rest for my distended stomach.</span></div></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Two years ago I decided I wanted to visit my old friend Abe and noticed he was gone. Yes gone and replaced with an entertaining film starring Steve Martin and Donald Duck. It was fine but it wasn't Mr. Lincoln. I asked a cast member, why Mr. Lincoln was gone. He didn't know. I just wanted to know who the Commie was that did away with President Lincoln. I have an idea it was Eisner who did it before he left.</span></div></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So now Mr. Lincoln is back, bigger and better than ever before. Disney has melded the best of all of versions of this show into one. In the lobby, you can watch the Steve Martin/Donald Duck movie that use to play in the theatre. It is a fun movie with clips of past shows, attractions and shops and is an excellent way to kill time between Mr. Lincoln viewings.</span></div></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There are also amazing pictures of Lincoln on the walls as well as a 20 foot model of the Capital that one talented, crazy guy carved from stone. The workmanship is amazing. It is perfectly in scale and he made it all by hand. Brilliant!</span></div></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A pre-movie shows clips of Royal Dano, the iconic Lincoln actor who Walt had to have as the voice of Lincoln. He is wonderful. I am so glad that they use his voice for the show and what a show it is. It is stirring, inspiring, sad, glorious, just like out Country. They have kept the ballad "Two Brothers" along with Civil War photos that illustrate the song. The look of the show overall is very "Hall of Presidents" from Magic Kingdom.</span></div></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lincoln is the most advanced audio animatronic figure to date, even better that Jack Sparrow. While he does "defy gravity" when he stands, the facial expressions are amazing. His new skin (which is less reflective) is more lifelike and his hair is more realistic. He truly is a marvel of modern engineering. While having Lincoln stand without an arm to assist him (push him into a standing position like real people do) looks robotic, everything else is dead on. Kudos to all the hard work that went into bringing our 16th President to life and reminding us of our darkest hour as a Nation and how we can overcome adversity. </span></div></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Do me a favor and visit Mr. Lincoln. He may not be flashy but he is difficult to ignore.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div><div></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-91142069095517284852010-03-04T22:26:00.000-08:002010-03-04T22:26:47.370-08:00Our First Trip To Club 33<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Way, way back in the long, long ago - there was a mysterious door. A door you might not give a second glance to. It almost blends into the background. It is set back on a dusky street in the French Quarter of New Orleans or New Orleans as it might have been without the alcohol, hookers, trash and debauchery. For this French Quarter exists in Disneyland and this door stands next to the Blue Bayou restaurant. This is Club 33.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziQ5DMTpVoj_g3YbRf7uV6keiNyknARdYeGkIjG0Ez2mAKKWdHZDJkUbfWkMET0fovK3swkn_slNxu5HWHafN3yiLogtrTNHCve77s5_o81EbowksAxvGbaL8T5ANhfF7Ui4d2SbXYJs/s1600-h/33door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziQ5DMTpVoj_g3YbRf7uV6keiNyknARdYeGkIjG0Ez2mAKKWdHZDJkUbfWkMET0fovK3swkn_slNxu5HWHafN3yiLogtrTNHCve77s5_o81EbowksAxvGbaL8T5ANhfF7Ui4d2SbXYJs/s320/33door.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Club 33 is a private club within Disneyland. You ring a buzzer next to the door, give your name to the host and they confirm your membership reservations and buzz you in. The Club covers most of the upper floor over New Orleans Square and is the only place in Disneyland where you can get alcohol. While this is not much of an issue anymore with the opening of Downtown Disney (DTD) and Disney's California Adventure (DCA), before those areas were built it was a big deal.</span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><!--StartFragment--></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Let's go back in time shall we? It was the mid-1980's. A few friends and I managed to gain entrance to the coveted club owing to a "friend of a friend" connection. Isn't that always the way? We were young, excited that we were doing something so exclusive and most importantly, we were going to drink booze in Disneyland. At the time, you had to take the monorail over to the Disneyland Hotel if you wanted to grab a nip at the bar and come back to the Park. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We were giddy when we were buzzed in and the door opened for us. Now WE were the people going inside the mysterious club while others looked on in longing and envy. The lobby is very small. There is a podium where the host stands, an old fashioned Victorian glass elevator and a set of stairs that curve up to the next floor. We took the elevator.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><!--StartFragment--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Club 33 serves lunch and dinner. When we went the first time, lunch was a buffet. We arrived around 11am and they were still serving some breakfast items. We ate and ate and ate. We had deviled eggs and ham and caviar and eggs benedict and rare roast beef and cream puff swans and wee cakes. We ate through brunch and into lunch proper. Oh, did I mention that lunch was all you can eat? We ATE! The food was amazingly good. Let's face it, the food in the Park is pretty much.... bad and YES that includes Blue Bayou. Some places are better than their counterparts but in no way is the park's food something you would pay for outside the Park. Club 33 is really good food.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The other perk of Club 33 is that your admission to the Park and parking are included as long as you purchase a meal at the Club. Lunch was the best deal as it was the all you can eat buffet for $40 a person (NOT including booze). We ate and drank for 3 hours straight. We were young, skinny and had metabolisms like rabid squirrels. We ate until we thought we were going to be sick and then we ate some more. The sin of Gluttony, in all its glory, was on grand display at our table that day. At the end we really thought we would hurl if we ate one more thing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Club also encompassed some very interesting things. First, the Ladies ROOM. I went into one of the stalls and saw.. a chair:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuM7sNUEsYBUtVgsi2Y1dDz0zFlex_TtKaTJwmVNATSkxyE2dbu72XAxN689MPq7KpAacTiEP9mcirvxQ7foT_IVQU3o8mJowe8vWcbCD5w6MFRNRQokI14grRgWN2QEYgXgydzonY_ks/s1600-h/disneyland-nffc-club-33-bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuM7sNUEsYBUtVgsi2Y1dDz0zFlex_TtKaTJwmVNATSkxyE2dbu72XAxN689MPq7KpAacTiEP9mcirvxQ7foT_IVQU3o8mJowe8vWcbCD5w6MFRNRQokI14grRgWN2QEYgXgydzonY_ks/s320/disneyland-nffc-club-33-bathroom.jpg" /></span></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Yes it is a Victorian styled chair for you to sit on and yes, when you lift the seat there is a toilet bowl there. I really didn’t expect to feel like you were doing your business while sitting in your living room. I even made my girlfriend take a picture of me sitting on the chair (with the seat down). It takes a real friend to do that for you!</span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We had a wonderful, magical time. I will warn you that eating that much food leads to adverse side effects. Here we were - young, thin, fit and that food kicked our ass. We looked at each other, glanced in the direction of the Matterhorn, turned green and all agreed to ride the train and then go watch Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Those seemed like the best attractions for our bodies at the moment. I swear even Mr. Toad would have caused us to lose our lunch on a three year old at this point.</span></span></div><!--EndFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><!--StartFragment--> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Currently the membership list is closed and the waiting list is over 8 years. A non-corporate membership costs (you need to sit down now) an initial membership fee of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">$10,450 and an annual fee of $3,275. So if you want to be a member, get on the list now and start saving your pennies. Also if you are one day late paying your annual dues, your space is given away to the next person on the waiting list.</span></span></span></div><!--EndFragment--> <br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-80407107706622866372010-02-28T19:49:00.000-08:002010-02-28T19:56:40.584-08:00Tokyo Dining - Sushi & Sake or Thank The Gods It Isn't California Roll<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well this was my last day at Epcot and I hadn't planned for a sit down lunch since I was having dinner at Victoria & Alberts at 8:30pm. However it was POURING rain so I decided I would check out Tokyo Dining. I figured they might be able to get me in without a ressie since the rain was keeping people away. </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">They sat me right away, gave me a window seat and were sooo polite! I didn't bring Bun with me due to the excessive rain however I had a very good time none the less. </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">First let me clarify a few things about sushi. This will save you from looking like a dork in a real sushi bar: </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">* California Roll is NOT real sushi! That isn't even real crab in there. It is crab flavored white fish. It was invented to help Americans with their "weird food fear". </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">* Wasabi is NOT to be heaped into the bowl of soy sauce and stirred until it is a muddy paste! STOP IT!!!! It is insulting to the sushi Chef. Both the wasabi and soy are to lightly accent the fish. When you do the sludge thing, you are saying you want to taste wasabi and not the FISH. </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">* Some pieces of sushi (that come with their own sauce) are NOT to be drug in soy sauce. </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">* NEVER stick your chopsticks in a bowl of rice. That indicates an offering to the dead. Either use a chop stick rest or place them sideways across the bowl of rice. </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">* If you are dipping sushi in soy, pick the piece up with your chop sticks and touch them to the soy "upside down" so the top of the fish touches the sauce and not the rice. If you place it in the soy rice end first, it will tend to fall apart. </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">* You will receive a warm washcloth before eating. This is for wiping your hands NOT for taking a BATH!! </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also must say that I eat many things white people don't eat. I eat organs (like brains and sweetbreads), I eat live things, I eat things that move, I eat things that smell so rank it makes Mickey cry (like Durian). Doesn't mean I would eat Durian again but I try it. One of my favorite sushi offerings is Ama Ebi. They did not have any but they are raw sweet shrimp with the heads deep fried. one sushi chef I know calls the heads "Japanese French Fries". They are WONDERFUL!!!! One Chef also took the brain out after chopping their little heads off and gave it to me with a thin slice of lemon. It was still pulsing. YUMMY! </span></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyway, I ordered some hot sake (for such a cold day) and the following sushi dishes Maguro (Tuna) - they didn't have Toro which is a higher grade of tuna belly, Sake (Salmon), Unagi (Eel) and Ika (squid). They were out of Conch (you know those big shells Hawaiians blow) and Octopus. :sad1</span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was very decent sushi. Not as good as the places in San Francisco but it was on par with your average sushi place. Some of the cuts of fish were a little on the thin side but the prices were a little lower than I have seen in sushi bars so I guess it evens out. Sushi can be an addicting and pricy enterprise. I have been known to eat $75 worth of sushi by myself. I also love Uni (Sea Urchin Gonads, which they didn't have) which is pretty pricey. This is a definite return for me even if they have "dumbed down US food" like California Roll and that abomination Philidelphia Roll on the menu. That Philly roll is GROSS! Cooked salmon, cream cheese and rice in a roll. BLECH! Had it at a place in Oakland (a friend ordered it) and I think it was near as bad as Durian and that is bad. Here if you are not a true Japanese sushi person or not an adventurous eater they have tempura, teriyaki and *shudder* California Roll. Have at, more conch for me however, please try one thing for me. Use chopsticks, not a fork. Really it isn't that hard, I learned when I was 8. Just try for me. Promise?</span></span>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-63066977074009706392010-02-27T10:21:00.000-08:002010-02-27T10:28:34.712-08:00Partners - A Story of Statues<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you can see from the picture at the top of this blog, Walt & Mickey are partners in creative work, in Disneyland, in life. The bronze "Partners Statue" was installed in Disneyland in November, 1993. It is located in the circular hub in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. It is also surrounded by small bronze statues of Chip & Dale, Goofy and the White Rabbit among others. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0Z5TCf0NFLVyj5UtNz0zamCcksMFEsGV1HpK8LVHXB2Gh3GPNzcuRyFdxvHzNin0NjIEr5MHfper4K1KJ4kF9WVXhfi6eZsZR6CTiJ4MbUZLs9P2463_C2czUVM4RB6zNHBsr4WlD0w/s1600-h/DSC00491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0Z5TCf0NFLVyj5UtNz0zamCcksMFEsGV1HpK8LVHXB2Gh3GPNzcuRyFdxvHzNin0NjIEr5MHfper4K1KJ4kF9WVXhfi6eZsZR6CTiJ4MbUZLs9P2463_C2czUVM4RB6zNHBsr4WlD0w/s320/DSC00491.JPG" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A copy of these statues were added to Walt Disney World in front of Cinderella Castle in June of 1995, dedicated by Roy E. Disney</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The "Partners," statue was sculpted by long time Imagineer artist Blaine Gibson. During the Halloween season, pumpkins sporting cut outs of Disney characters surround the hub with Walt's statue in both parks. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">Blaine contributed his sculpting talents to such attractions as the Haunted Mansion, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Enchanted Tiki Room. He also sculpted the faces for all of the Presidents for the Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom. Current President Barak Obama was his last. Mr. Gibson is currently 90 years old.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">The Magic Kingdom opened on October 1st, 1971 and this plaque commemorated all that had gone into furthering Walt's dream. </span> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb031j2lUZWo3QGwXjXacgseSoEHUTbMkPZSuNxElv888hpGkDosYw7Ovk4b5lmCLyrhxnYMNvZ8H5s3hKdPGzhTFvP5kMM1HEwxzwLd8K3VQK1vjd5_OERVnuVIjSXt5-HDO84hmo8Ho/s1600-h/IMG_1710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb031j2lUZWo3QGwXjXacgseSoEHUTbMkPZSuNxElv888hpGkDosYw7Ovk4b5lmCLyrhxnYMNvZ8H5s3hKdPGzhTFvP5kMM1HEwxzwLd8K3VQK1vjd5_OERVnuVIjSXt5-HDO84hmo8Ho/s320/IMG_1710.JPG" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plaque above reads: Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney and to the talents, the dedication and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring joy and inspiration and new knowledge to all who come to this happy place ... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn together. Dedicated this 25th day of October, 1971. Roy O. Disney </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roy, Walt's brother, partner and "money guy" died 2 months after this dedication of a stroke. However Blaine preserved his presence at the Park he finished for his brother. While not as commanding as Walt's statue in front of the castle, this one conveys the more casual demeanor of Roy. The<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "Sharing the Magic Statue" of Roy O. Disney seated with Minnie Mouse is located on a bench near the park's entrance. The statue was dedicated in October of 1999 by his son, Roy E. Disney, who recently passed away from cancer. He was just shy of his 80th birthday.</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LnmVltZYpn0pKhGuZ7JX7ty24v3yzzsWXO00-Ndi7FprMja7Mw05R2c3PpmdciIfKZvtPHS_gATxCzxif6KT86zFs-npKkBMX-gcsfUVsK62RJZ62bhr8AKnVU59Bt9hWAjMk58EDmE/s1600-h/roy_me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LnmVltZYpn0pKhGuZ7JX7ty24v3yzzsWXO00-Ndi7FprMja7Mw05R2c3PpmdciIfKZvtPHS_gATxCzxif6KT86zFs-npKkBMX-gcsfUVsK62RJZ62bhr8AKnVU59Bt9hWAjMk58EDmE/s320/roy_me.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Here is me and "Pal Mickey" sitting next to Minnie and Roy.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only are these statues reminders of the great men who gave us the best playgrounds on Earth but are inspirations for what we can do if we dream it.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-80064703990562445182010-02-25T15:52:00.000-08:002010-02-26T07:57:43.569-08:00Grim Grinning Ghosts Come Out To Socialize - The Various Mansion Flavors From Abroad<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Today I thought I would give everyone a brief intro to the Haunted Mansions that live in the non-USA parks. The Haunted Mansion is the only attraction that is in a different land in each Park. Well we know the original Mansion is in New Orleans Square and the WDW Mansion is in Liberty Square but what about the other ones and how are they different?</span> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-r56EMhT37N3pvWzd-6v9gOl5W5RSeHRWJcfe-er5s7_m2DA5gs39u3FUgf7KSYCGwF8WrCEagzRckZcZ9_ydVrdSH1QMNJHUq1n0FrsFTJamkpyM-7TjTmUfiLwvF_eSjJA4K11iNPQ/s1600-h/tokyomansion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-r56EMhT37N3pvWzd-6v9gOl5W5RSeHRWJcfe-er5s7_m2DA5gs39u3FUgf7KSYCGwF8WrCEagzRckZcZ9_ydVrdSH1QMNJHUq1n0FrsFTJamkpyM-7TjTmUfiLwvF_eSjJA4K11iNPQ/s320/tokyomansion.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Haunted Mansion: Tokyo Disneyland (Fantasyland): opened 1983</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look familiar? No, it's not the Haunted Mansion in WDW but you really can't tell these two apart from the outside at a glance. The exterior is a copy of the Florida Mansion with a little more "wear and tear" however the ride itself is located in Fantasyland. Why? My guess for the exterior is that is was quick and cheaper than developing something original. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The land placement issue has to do with Asian culture. The departed spirits of their ancestors are very much a part of their lives. Many families have Butsudan (shrines) in their homes to honor their ancestors. "Ghosts" in Japanese lore are not friendly or humorous. These spirits are vengeful, evil, jealous, angry. They are not the same as their ancestors or other spirits in the world around them. The Haunted Mansion is in Fantasyland because Disney came at it from the point of view that these ghosts were make believe. They were not real and thus were in Fantasyland.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ride itself is mostly the Florida ride but with a few changes such as a room filled with cobwebs & spiders, a free floating spirit in Madame Leota's room and the old attic treatment with the "Bride" and the beating heart that freaked me out as a kid is here.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmld81s5qMhGtP8R0WcklupYpUzNnmjY1b36XAawMYNEYeHQ51XUKu91G-zwtHU5YAad5az1cVddE17QUE43x4E5vG8cSaHhuMS45xTNi8-WIubCA22u-YP7YREgSha52qHdlnu-wxcU/s1600-h/phantom_manor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmld81s5qMhGtP8R0WcklupYpUzNnmjY1b36XAawMYNEYeHQ51XUKu91G-zwtHU5YAad5az1cVddE17QUE43x4E5vG8cSaHhuMS45xTNi8-WIubCA22u-YP7YREgSha52qHdlnu-wxcU/s320/phantom_manor.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Phantom Manor: Disneyland Paris: formerly EuroDisney (Frontierland): opened 1992</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I know, it looks like the Psycho house which is kind of cool. Actually this was inspired by the original Haunted Mansion sketch from Harper Goff in 1951 when Walt thought of having a walk-through Haunted House off of Main Street. He pictured a church with a graveyard and a run down house up on a hill. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLXBNbtFWMEUF47Dqt6Lk55X6zSl8vhLbvZIqJUw_WmLr3olG8WYKsIQayhlvLLA0S-W-ZQozAcOCJaKCi3h9hhnIjp1b0oDlC9a-u3vBa6CjW7O65qj8HOgnPrEvKkfi22GvJ5SBrMc/s1600-h/HISTgoffsketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLXBNbtFWMEUF47Dqt6Lk55X6zSl8vhLbvZIqJUw_WmLr3olG8WYKsIQayhlvLLA0S-W-ZQozAcOCJaKCi3h9hhnIjp1b0oDlC9a-u3vBa6CjW7O65qj8HOgnPrEvKkfi22GvJ5SBrMc/s320/HISTgoffsketch.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEdueAQNSRBoGQBUA3iJtX7duoUHAxSFN6fyljs0PbOvTicEjnYo3YjpoQq3x20aACLJ5NAbkR2qhJmF0tjK9rnA2OmgsOV-wup1kr0vEFPowiC21_HGJKct3BgOrjfxEaGUwBVJLaAk/s1600-h/history_conceptsketches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEdueAQNSRBoGQBUA3iJtX7duoUHAxSFN6fyljs0PbOvTicEjnYo3YjpoQq3x20aACLJ5NAbkR2qhJmF0tjK9rnA2OmgsOV-wup1kr0vEFPowiC21_HGJKct3BgOrjfxEaGUwBVJLaAk/s320/history_conceptsketches.jpg" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now you can see how the Mansion evolved and I think it is nice they were able to find a Park to use this first concept in. This is also the first Mansion that has a very definite story line. It is based loosely on Phantom of the Opera (written by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Gaston Leroux - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a Frenchman) but with a western twist to fit the Thunder Mesa (Frontierland) feel. </span></span></span><br />
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The basic story has <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Henry Ravenswood, who struck gold in Big Thunder Mountain, build this victorian mansion for his wife and daughter Melanie. The gold dried up, his daughter wanted to marry someone he didn't approve of, then an earthquake buried Henry and his wife. No one heard from the family again. Later the story surfaced that on Melanie's wedding day, a mysterious phantom appeared, lured the groom to the attic and hung him. Melanie, not being able to find her groom slowly went mad, wandering the house in her tattered wedding gown, waiting for her groom. The Mansion became over run by spirits and demons enacting a parody of the wedding party she never had. Her singing is heard through the Mansion at night. The earthquake also cut through the old, abandoned mining town (which for some strange reason is in the Mansions backyard).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a friend who actually went to Disneyland Paris and gave me her views on the ride: </span><br />
The obvious difference from the beginning is the exterior. Not only the design of the Mansion but how it is obviously derelict with weeds, peeling paint, shuttered windows. This is genuinely creepy especially at night.<br />
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The stretching room shows various portraits of the daughter in some scary, creepy situations. This Mansion also utilizes an elevator so it does "stretch". The scene at the end in the copula shows the Phantom hanging the groom and not just a hanging body.<br />
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The effects from the hall through the Doombuggies are pretty much like the original. As you travel past the suit of armor you see familiar items with an overlay of either the girl appearing and disappearing or the Phantom doing the same thing.<br />
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Madame Leota is there for the seance but instead of general lingo about conjuring spirits to ring bells, she is talking about calling ghosts to a ball that specifically references the Bride and the vanished groom.<br />
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The ballroom is pretty much the same only with the addition of the bride and a laughing Phantom. When you enter the brides bedroom (attic), you see the bride now as an old lady crying in front of a mirror while a music box plays. Another Phantom of the Opera touch.<br />
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This is where it gets really different. When you go into the graveyard, you see the Phantom with a dead dog instead of the live caretaker, you go underground into catacombs and see the busts singing Grim Grinning Ghosts. You now enter the western ghost town with shoot outs, a dead Mayor (with the original ghost hosts voice), a saloon with ghostly showgirls, gamblers and bartenders. At the end you still get a ghost in your car and Little Leota telling you to hurry back and bring your death certificate. Same things as the original ride but the theming is a wine cellar from the Mansion. All and all it was pretty cool since so much of it was different, you can judge it as another attraction in a way and not compare it too closely to the original.</div></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6IYfPaTShIJ4fe0sEiojkxPJofkvMCUfc4x7uBbINl9UNovJyhYmsFnvcg42XL34mxOP7UhYZCEXJY67MA7HJJkqp8IHkJyutMR8Uq2ApCuKbYhh40JWwbxPV4LlKriBhKk3FMpc99g/s1600-h/Mystic-Point-Hong-Kong-Disneyland_48058007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6IYfPaTShIJ4fe0sEiojkxPJofkvMCUfc4x7uBbINl9UNovJyhYmsFnvcg42XL34mxOP7UhYZCEXJY67MA7HJJkqp8IHkJyutMR8Uq2ApCuKbYhh40JWwbxPV4LlKriBhKk3FMpc99g/s320/Mystic-Point-Hong-Kong-Disneyland_48058007.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mystical Manor: Hong Kong Disneyland (Adventureland/Mystic Point) - Opening 2013/14</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We can only speculate on what this ride will eventually be as it is not open yet. I have heard two rumors as for as location. It will either be in Adventureland or a new land called Mystic Point that still will have an Adventureland feel. There IS an Adventureland in this Park (will be writting about it later) but at the moment I can not get definite confirmation on the location.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Imagineer insider did tell me this ride would be the first to have NO GHOSTS. I am assuming it is a similar culture issue, just like Japan. This ride will take you on a dark ride tour through the Manor of Lord Henry Mystic, an Edwardian adventurer and explorer. His Victorian home rests on a jungle hilltop and all hell breaks loose when his mischievous monkey opens a cursed music box. It's always the monkeys......</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There will a pre-show introducing the monkey and the music box. The doombuggies will be replaced by turn of the century horseless carriages. The manic monkey opens the box and the magic that is released brings the artifacts of the Manor to life.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The planned rooms are a music room, a Greek room, a conservatory, a Norse room filled with cold wind and smoke, an armory where an animated cannon blasts the ride vehicle backward, the Egyptian room (I'm sure there will be mummies), a tribal room that resembles the Tiki Gods from the Tiki Room, a Chinese room and then the return to the end where the Monkey traps the magic back in the box and returns things to normal.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However in spite of the issues with opening Mansion, Hong Kong Disney DOES have something no other Disney Park has - a real haunt. Not Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party but a real scary haunt like Knotts Berry Farm or Magic Mountain with haunted mazes, spook houses (including a haunted hotel on Main Street). As you remember Walt talked about putting the Haunted Mansion at the end of Main Street. It was later moved to it's own land of New Orleans Square. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you think I am joking about the Haunt, watch the promo (this one is in English) for the 2009 event. American kids would wet their pants going by how uber-PC Disney is in this country with not making anything "too scary". Well unless you count the now defunct Alien Encounter (read my previous blog on that).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mqZTvSa_nY&translated=1</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the Tokyo Mansion is pretty standard, the Paris and Hong Kong one sound pretty cool and make me want to take a trip abroad to see them for myself. Maybe some day!</span><br />
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</div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-53811345128101196982010-02-22T14:47:00.000-08:002010-02-26T08:06:01.930-08:00Yak & Yeti - Tibet, the Dali Bunny & an Attack by a Yak<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Well today was my day at Animal Kingdom. Initially I had decided to just grab some counter food (something I rarely do) but everything (including the counter by Yak & Yeti that serves things in cute colored Chinese food boxes) looked either greasy, unhealthy or too large a portion. I will be 100% happy with package delivery if they will shlep my left overs back to my room. I know they won't do it but.....<br />
<br />
So I decided to try to get in at Yak & Yeti when they opened. I've found that if you check in for a non-ressie time right when they open (11am usually for lunch and 5 or 5:30 for dinner at most places) that you can be seated.<br />
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While the place was empty, they were not taking any walk-ins for tables. I am thinking they had lots of ressies for 20-30 minutes later HOWEVER you can eat at the BAR without the ressie as they serve the full menu.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRienYsIc15zOeM5yXnEPLlMazBmYt0IG43DJXMqILP7j-qoOo0rgCZIsE2FVEofi-qKC594urE2W3dQmVNXuKlQEBxqxGDlSwmqSiJIbvFSFoNquByr0hdJIeXWrjiVf4vrH3w1AMRc/s1600-h/IMG_1816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRienYsIc15zOeM5yXnEPLlMazBmYt0IG43DJXMqILP7j-qoOo0rgCZIsE2FVEofi-qKC594urE2W3dQmVNXuKlQEBxqxGDlSwmqSiJIbvFSFoNquByr0hdJIeXWrjiVf4vrH3w1AMRc/s320/IMG_1816.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">This is the view from the bar. I decided to start with a drink I heard a great deal about - the Yak Attack. This is a mango daiquiri with more rum and a berry swirl. I decided to have Bun try some.<br />
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Who is Bun? Well, Bun is The Softest Bunny In The World and I found him at the gift shop at the Dolphin Resort. He went drinking around the World with me and now he was on Safari (in his protective plastic bag).</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVmP-g9zpx7qW2Vo1WFWBYMNcqtAD-1nCieYn3dAzLx1O8a3rNw6Gd6L6A7lGZ_5j7VamaBqYK5dO_OHsJL1MoEBaqvE0Ml5dXtukPiaJ4ivtuXGRJBBc4isG_oRPMAlBX-63vxxIO40/s1600-h/DSC00158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVmP-g9zpx7qW2Vo1WFWBYMNcqtAD-1nCieYn3dAzLx1O8a3rNw6Gd6L6A7lGZ_5j7VamaBqYK5dO_OHsJL1MoEBaqvE0Ml5dXtukPiaJ4ivtuXGRJBBc4isG_oRPMAlBX-63vxxIO40/s320/DSC00158.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">That drink was sooo fruity good! In fact, while they do sell them around the corner from the counter food place outside, they aren't as good. Maybe the bar one gives you more of a berry swirl. I compared and these won. YUMMY! Bun agrees.<br />
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I decided I would order some food and the bartender suggested the American Kobe Burger but since I was lower carb, I ordered it without the bun, medium rare. It was sooooo good.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmwIL6OyTgilNZ51Zl9b8Hg07BjxGlN7DrmYHD644pAOHc4a4n3kjpFx95tuRc_P6HB5_tl_TFpDSmMi2DtUfPbdWbwIHkquwN8JVQpdXvKaZHR1WoMaV6sPcqw2Gavyw6A-2ejcLQNE/s1600-h/IMG_1815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmwIL6OyTgilNZ51Zl9b8Hg07BjxGlN7DrmYHD644pAOHc4a4n3kjpFx95tuRc_P6HB5_tl_TFpDSmMi2DtUfPbdWbwIHkquwN8JVQpdXvKaZHR1WoMaV6sPcqw2Gavyw6A-2ejcLQNE/s320/IMG_1815.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It was tender and juicy and full of flavor. I cut pieces, wrapped them in lettuce and ate them with the onions and tomatoes with a little bit of dressing. The nice bartender even brought me more lettuce. The fries were also wonderful. True, I only ate half due to the carbs but they were amazing! I'm so glad McDonald's is out of the park. These are tons better than Mickey D's! Next trip I am coming here again for sure!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-5397133789676642362010-02-20T21:53:00.000-08:002010-03-12T06:54:48.058-08:00Rose & Crown Dinner - Attack of the Killer Squirrel<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">OK, well this was kind of weird. I need to back up, let's go back in time - whoooooo whoooooo whoooooooooooooooooooooo<br />
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OK, 2 months ago I was talking to Beth at Dreams Unlimited and making my table ressies. I know things were late but I had just gotten the word I was going to WDW from my cadre of traveling companions known as "The Singing Marys" but that is another story.<br />
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Anyway, I wanted to get right in for lunch at Askershus first thing, like 11 or 11:30 BUT they were full and the only time they had was 1:45pm. I wanted dinner ressies at Rose and Crown but their only time was 5pm. Ummmm, that is only 3 hours after eating a HUGE buffet lunch.<br />
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We were going to grab some counter service but that is usually iffy or nasty. Beth said to keep the ressie just in case so we decided to use it.<br />
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OK, going back to the present and first person since my traveling companions like to be mysterious to protect their public sector and Disneyland jobs. (They were the ones singing show tunes out to the bus later tonight - OK that is for later..)<br />
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So I check in and am seated right away over by the water. I contemplate boggarting the table for the next 4+ hours but figure I will get heaved out by a bouncer by at least 7pm.<br />
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I wasn't that hungry but I figured I would get some little bits to tide me over since I was staying for Illuminations. I start with a cup of the potato and leek soup. SOOOOOOOoooo yummy!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujOmh_u6wD6JLC41FvMdQ25piVCtiiQKK5F_ColffDUHoywniaPUOxkAcgJVOtP4Hb7E6svDY-jWoE-iJkspeqlyWJ7L7XRR5BpLK3VNeehAqpiwdk66G2pZpsqcDuJeRnSFQM4m3p7o/s1600-h/IMG_1801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujOmh_u6wD6JLC41FvMdQ25piVCtiiQKK5F_ColffDUHoywniaPUOxkAcgJVOtP4Hb7E6svDY-jWoE-iJkspeqlyWJ7L7XRR5BpLK3VNeehAqpiwdk66G2pZpsqcDuJeRnSFQM4m3p7o/s320/IMG_1801.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was soooo into eating this that I forgot to take a picture until it was nearly gone. It was lovely in taste and texture. Creamy with that lovely sharp onion leek taste that mellows with the cream.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
Now after the soup, movement caught my eye down by my foot. It was a squirrel. <img alt="" border="0" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.wdwinfo.com/images/smilies/squirrel.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" title="Yoshi" /> (It says something that I could even FIND THIS EMOTICON) If you know anything about me you know that squirrels are out to get me. They are the evil minions of Satan I tell you! One lobbed a wee lemon at my head once and also tried to run off with a pair of my knickers. So when I looked down and saw the squirrel by my foot I started calling it a minion of Hell and threatening to whack it and make it into a wee hat.<br />
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The squirrel, whose name is Brian!!, jumped up on my table, looked it me with his beady black souless eyes, twitched his nose and ran over to the wall using my dining companion as a spring board. <img alt="" border="0" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.disboards.com/images/smilies/eek.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" title="EEK!" /><br />
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I realize I probably looked like a crazy person. OK, I looked like a crazy person but you've never had your thong snatched by a rodent OR have a squirrel hang its furry butt over the power line and try to piddle on your cats head! There is a reason why I am crazy.<br />
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The server explained that the cheeky little bugger, who they have named Brian, has made this his private playground. They shoo him off but he comes back. They always come back..... Minion of evil..... <img alt="" border="0" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.wdwinfo.com/images/smilies/rolleye11.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" title="" /><br />
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For my entree I decided to get the fish & chips but since I am low carb I told her not to bring any bread to the table and to substitute veggies for the chips. I told them it didn't matter what kind of veggies, I will eat them all.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMizdy0gRDEMUTebIcEzqQdGkDwPkogjl2tMcEynzoFBef4lnTCQzPfNlxSy4deekZ9YPRXoEFL9MmRITm4VTfmtMYCWS4P-lHGLmY1edxAnhL2dxucEV4wBJi0lxGljEWr0C5z-CVqtE/s1600-h/IMG_1800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMizdy0gRDEMUTebIcEzqQdGkDwPkogjl2tMcEynzoFBef4lnTCQzPfNlxSy4deekZ9YPRXoEFL9MmRITm4VTfmtMYCWS4P-lHGLmY1edxAnhL2dxucEV4wBJi0lxGljEWr0C5z-CVqtE/s320/IMG_1800.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It was soooo good. I took off half the yummy batter to lower the carbs and calories. The fish was so flaky, the batter was light, the veggies were perfectly seasoned. I just couldn't eat it all so I took it to go. I wish I could have had dessert. Next time this will be a definite return and with an empty stomach so I can have sticky toffee pudding.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-72884384966948361922010-02-19T12:13:00.000-08:002010-02-19T12:13:25.768-08:00The Walt Disney Family Museum - San Francisco, CA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSZATVrqUobQfAqd0_ltvMGo68A6qHFE1QAWsu1Y897LCyflPbZPY1eIXowcDh6y6YnQlIWOmtu24_iTYZ9Nptu9yYvnYpPRw7c3s5p5t-kdhCguKu4_2Pvo7VehIQq895zqjrX54i2g/s1600-h/22654_296081114923_694134923_4661070_8345804_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSZATVrqUobQfAqd0_ltvMGo68A6qHFE1QAWsu1Y897LCyflPbZPY1eIXowcDh6y6YnQlIWOmtu24_iTYZ9Nptu9yYvnYpPRw7c3s5p5t-kdhCguKu4_2Pvo7VehIQq895zqjrX54i2g/s320/22654_296081114923_694134923_4661070_8345804_n.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Thanks to fellow Disney Geek Will R. who took this picture and yup, that is me on my iPhone. We are total geeks)</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a dark and stormy night. Actually it was an overcast, lowering day but our hearts were full of giddy joy as myself and three stalwart companions breached the battlements of the Walt Disney Family Museum in honor of fellow Disney Geek Will R's 21st+ turn around the sun.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This wonderful museum to "All Things Walt" was built in the Presidio, a former army base by the Golden Gate in San Francisco. Why San Francisco for a museum about Walt? Well, firstly this museum is about the Man, not just The Mouse and was paid for with Disney family money. The Disney Corporation did not build this. Walt's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, lives in Napa with her husband, LA Rams football star & former Disney Studio CEO, Ron Miller. Together they own and operate the award winning Silverado Winery in Napa. Thus the museum to her Fathers memory in the area where they live.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszsjehqMhDRbUgfsuY2Ul7ZSaYHF-3z8YjDPbIM-OTNGVjnAOnnvdS6ybeqjmJlbULeD-pPvKRlplBHKfpJJxu74B6dJU5fO1K6GoYkKxgrugEDvnMDP6Bv6tX0DI_VwApP1gFMOCKvY/s1600-h/u1222156uz8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszsjehqMhDRbUgfsuY2Ul7ZSaYHF-3z8YjDPbIM-OTNGVjnAOnnvdS6ybeqjmJlbULeD-pPvKRlplBHKfpJJxu74B6dJU5fO1K6GoYkKxgrugEDvnMDP6Bv6tX0DI_VwApP1gFMOCKvY/s320/u1222156uz8.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This museum is inspiring, tasteful and widely encompassing. It fills 2 floors and starts with Walt's birth and childhood in Marcelline, Illinois. It features tons of family photographs, an ambulance similar to the one Walt drove as a teen in WW1 in France.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see his early animation works (Laugh-O-Gram Studios), his partnership with Roy, the live action Alice Comedy films, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, the loss of rights to that character and the birth of Mickey Mouse. You see cells from Snow White, Walts special one of a kind Oscar for that film which included one standard Oscar statuette along with 7 small ones on "stairs" next to it. This Oscar was presented to Walt by Shirley Temple. There is a section that discusses color mixing, ink & paint, original cells and the infamous Multi-Plane Camera (of which they have one and yes it is HUGE).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You go through the Wars Years, the War Shorts (including the infamous Der Fuehrer's Face), </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Fuehrer's_Face, realism in animation shows itself in Bambi, Walt's pet project that was way before its time - Fantasia and the revival of the Studio with Cinderella.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see Walt's hobbies such as polo, pictures from his vacations with Lillian to Europe and South America where he worked on live action shorts. There are family mementos, watches, pictures, lots of interesting things that give you a peek into the life of Walt. However, the Museum does not gloss over the rough patches. It documents The Strike in detail. How betrayed Walt felt and the feelings from the workers on the other side. It should be noted that not all of Walt's people went on strike and not all of them felt work conditions were not fair. However the Studio changed after that and so did Walt.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are pictures of Walt at home, making sundaes for his daughters (Diane and Sharon) and their friends. The most thrilling part for me personally was seeing the original Carolwood Pacific Railroad cars. This was a live steam powered train that Walt would drive, give people rides on and ran on a track in his backyard of his Holmby Hills house. It seems animators Ollie Johnston and Ward Kimball had their own backyard trains which got Walt obsessed with his.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see the birth of Disneyland. There is a special miniature Disneyland that includes all the rides (and only the rides) that were either original to Disneyland or that Walt worked on. Thus the most recent ride is Pirates of the Caribbean. If you look above the firehouse on Main Street, you see the lamp in the window that is always kept on, just like at the Park.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is an area devoted to the television shows such as The Mickey Mouse Club, The Wonderful World of Disney and The Wonderful World of Color. As we travel by a replica of Walt's office at the Studio and the planning of Walt Disney World, especially Walt's vision for EPCOT, you know where this is going and it is not a happy place.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walt Disney died of lung cancer on December 15, 1966 in Burbank. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGSS7_SMaTyH37yQX1cmuBMbvaJH0opq107oluq1HZLnRNXj9F8RkpzHcHqNGWhz-P3OvyluelKCriLTi2uidhmhhmKAwPQqebkqDYDLt-wiq9ffpW8a3Cg9sUtscAl4o25QnAQoIgMY/s1600-h/wdf_mickeycrying.JPG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGSS7_SMaTyH37yQX1cmuBMbvaJH0opq107oluq1HZLnRNXj9F8RkpzHcHqNGWhz-P3OvyluelKCriLTi2uidhmhhmKAwPQqebkqDYDLt-wiq9ffpW8a3Cg9sUtscAl4o25QnAQoIgMY/s320/wdf_mickeycrying.JPG.jpeg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However in spite of the sadness that this great talent has gone, you are left uplifted by the body of his work that lives on and brings joy to so many people.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a shame that Walt's daughter Sharon did not live to see this as she passed away in 1993. There are so many things that fill this museum that it really does take a day to take it all in. Tickets are available on-line and are timed for entry however when the weather is bad and tourist season is low (winter), there is never a problem getting tickets.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They also have a theatre which features one Disney film a month along with films on special topics and seminars. If you are peckish, they have a counter that sells lovely sandwiches, salads, cookies, lemonaide, etc.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adult admission is $20, Seniors and Students (with ID) are $15 and Children 6-17 are $12, Children under 6 are free with Adult paid admission. These prices are MORE than reasonable for a day of one of a kind entertainment. If you are a Member, free admission is one of the perks. Memberships are priced from $55 - $500.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are in Northern California, this is not to be missed. It is TONS better than wandering around the Haight looking at aging hippies. Trust me, you will love this!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://disney.go.com/disneyatoz/familymuseum/index.html</span>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-12464808991693411852010-02-18T08:50:00.000-08:002010-08-19T17:05:16.254-07:00Kona Cafe/Poly - Why Eating Here Might Not Have Been A Good Idea<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Well, this was Tuesday and my first Epcot day. It was drizzling in the morning which then resolved itself into rain by 11am. My original plan was to do all of Future World, then go to DTD, have lunch at the Earl of Sandwich or Raglan Road and then have dinner at House of Blues with a hang out at Pleasure Island for a bit.<br />
<br />
However after walking around all day in a hoodie and getting rained on (umbrellas and plastic ponchos that make you look like bags of produce are for the weak and the sober), I decided to have dinner at Kona Cafe at the Poly. I had heard from this Board that the Tuna Oscar was really good so I decided to try it.<br />
<br />
I was also on a quest for Pineapple Bread. I have been dreaming about this since I had breakfast at Ohanas 4 years ago. After wringing out my socks on the monorail, Hey, my shoes & socks were SOAKED, I was an hour early.<br />
<br />
I had an adult beverage, looked around, wondered WHY on God's Green Earth anyone would pay tens of thousands of dollars for a giant Imeron red painted dolphin, and made some notes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoMWPYLA6Ff2h3aq_nX4X6fXlYU5-XfiS5QoS-5eFm1j4JgL8litliVFctuc50obzI0LHvXXOHPDVDfgR36YUEESJfscOdNKzPA1WlNLQ-71ka_zuJ9EkqzmQ0lyHup-2YpQWd8aTFqA/s1600-h/IMG_1777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoMWPYLA6Ff2h3aq_nX4X6fXlYU5-XfiS5QoS-5eFm1j4JgL8litliVFctuc50obzI0LHvXXOHPDVDfgR36YUEESJfscOdNKzPA1WlNLQ-71ka_zuJ9EkqzmQ0lyHup-2YpQWd8aTFqA/s320/IMG_1777.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was seated right when the restaurant opened, ordered Kona coffee and here is where things got weird. It seems there is a bit of a pineapple bread grudge match between Kona Cafe and Ohana. When I asked my server about pineapple bread she said they had it. I asked her if it was the same as Ohana because that is what I want. I just loved the soft, sweet, sticky bread with the pineapple on the bottom. She said that theirs was freshly baked and that Ohanas is flat and comes in a box.<br />
<br />
OK, so she brings me this HUGE load of bread:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUq1iVK13QjSQjv_iunU5Fogo7jNns3ntswb6P_Kjxq6BgeWpmJB2Q6T9QPA6qDgTMpfl48i2IcX7AMrTBYbysZVBK0JydFkgrSZVGhGkT3U2Nr1kJCOV5hpnW_RPvhWNrHF8hybDahqs/s1600-h/DSC00074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUq1iVK13QjSQjv_iunU5Fogo7jNns3ntswb6P_Kjxq6BgeWpmJB2Q6T9QPA6qDgTMpfl48i2IcX7AMrTBYbysZVBK0JydFkgrSZVGhGkT3U2Nr1kJCOV5hpnW_RPvhWNrHF8hybDahqs/s320/DSC00074.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">It was fresh baked but looked NOTHING like Ohanas and it is WAY too many carbs for me. I asked her if it has the pineap<span class="quicksearch_bubble" id="searchBubble" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://www.disboards.com/images/misc/searchlight_bubble.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; height: 26px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -25px; position: absolute; width: 26px;"></span>ple on the bottom. She said it has pineapple in it and there is macadamia nut butter.<br />
<br />
Ummmm, SHE LIED! This is NOT Pineapple Bread. It is nice, sweet, soft bread. A bit like that Hawaiian bread you can buy at the store but better. The butter was nice but it was NOT what I wanted and NOT what I asked her about and there was NO pineapple in it at all. It was just sweet bread. PERIOD.<br />
<br />
My coffee comes. It isn't Kona. I don't drink coffee as a rule but I was cold. It wasn't that Nescafe crap but the check only listed the coffee as $2.50 and that didn't sound like Kona which should have been 3x that amount. Of course I didn't find out about this until after the meal.<br />
<br />
So I decided to deal with the MOUND OF CARBS and waited for my Tuna Oscar. Here is how it looked when it was delivered:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXTp6d0twroqnk_UPFI2knRcfn30uC9MzN657LFNEcFb45nbVjWMhyoRuGadiqCGyNdNideW6fJNxuNRK-97sF9EuZGJadbzXbjEcdRQLlA66Ar6l8IPSTGiyzQk6EBwuPw3ZtXZf5W0/s1600-h/DSC00075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXTp6d0twroqnk_UPFI2knRcfn30uC9MzN657LFNEcFb45nbVjWMhyoRuGadiqCGyNdNideW6fJNxuNRK-97sF9EuZGJadbzXbjEcdRQLlA66Ar6l8IPSTGiyzQk6EBwuPw3ZtXZf5W0/s320/DSC00075.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Tuna Oscar - served with fried green tomatoes, tempura-fried jumbo lump crab, and wasabi hollandaise $22.99 ($23)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
This dish looked amazing. Then I tasted it. ummmm, damn. This Chef is smokin crack!<br />
<br />
OK, first the Tuna (seared rare which is perfect) is blackened. NOWHERE on the menu description does it say that. There is just so much wrong with this I don't even know where to start.<br />
<br />
First I think what the Chef was going for was a take on a Southern Fav with a "tropical twist". What am I talking about? Does this plate remind you of something? How about cajun catfish with fried green tomatoes and hush puppies?<br />
<br />
So working with that concept he blackened the tuna, replaced the hush puppies (deep fried cornmeal balls) with the tempura crab, added asparagus for the whole "Oscar" concept and wasabi to the Hollandaise to give it an Asian flair.<br />
<br />
Why is this wrong? Let me show you the plate after I moved things around:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99OSeASzAMbsYc01VjTmVH2PyZZz85rLmvzhJvls8KZyFjp38sVPlYFd1gyG-v2OmZiKCA-ZGh4xxaZEdY4Wh5_jsEV3qFBXScnCWd4j8xHnce32mNoEu1RATE0xSRGGvue8kEHG-LVk/s1600-h/DSC00076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99OSeASzAMbsYc01VjTmVH2PyZZz85rLmvzhJvls8KZyFjp38sVPlYFd1gyG-v2OmZiKCA-ZGh4xxaZEdY4Wh5_jsEV3qFBXScnCWd4j8xHnce32mNoEu1RATE0xSRGGvue8kEHG-LVk/s320/DSC00076.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">First as far as presentation, the tuna is not sliced. Seared tuna is usually sliced thin after it is cooked. You are presented with two HUNKS of tuna that you have to slice yourself. The slicing actually improves the texture of the fish and hacking at it yourself with your not-so-sharp knife doesn't work.<br />
<br />
The red pepper spice on the tuna DOES NOT WORK! It is WAY too spicy and completely detracts from the fish. You can't taste the tuna at all. When I brought this up to the server, she looked at me like I was high and offered to..... take it to the kitchen and WASH IT OFF FOR ME!!!!!!! Let me say that again, WASH IT OFF! WASH MY FISH!!!!! ***??!!!<br />
<br />
I told her, no thank you, I would just scrape it off and could she bring me some more sauce and a steak knife since this knife was in no way sharp enough to cut the fish like it should be sliced.<br />
<br />
The crab lumps were light, lovely and cooked perfectly. The Green Tomatoes were nice but not the same as they make in Georgia. I did take a doggie box to have leftovers for breakfast (including half of that carb monster bread).<br />
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I give this a B-. This will not be a return next trip but I am glad I went. The service was spotty, the food was ill conceived and the server lied to me on numerous occasions, denying me the Pineapple Bread that I sought for so long. Perhaps next time I will go to the podium at Ohana and ask for some to go. Does anyone know if they do that?</span></span>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-77917958428398516082010-02-17T19:32:00.000-08:002010-02-17T19:35:31.219-08:00What is Wrong with Parents? Kids vs. Bars at DisneyWhat is the drinking age in your State? 18? 21? Most States are 21 including California and Florida. We all know that it is illegal for a minor to drink or even hold alcohol. I am hoping we all agree with this.<br />
<br />
How many of you would go to your neighborhood watering hole/dive/bar/whatever, take your 5 year old with you and then sit them at the BAR next to the drunks? If you are normal I would say none. <br />
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Now how many of you would go to Disneyland Resort or WDW, take your 5 year old with you to a BAR and sit them on the stool AT THE BAR? I'm willing to bet there are more of you that would do that and right now I am calling you out as a bad parent.<br />
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If it is not ok to take Timmy to your local dive and sit him at the BAR (not a table) why is it ok to do so at the Mouse? Because it is DISNEY?! All of a sudden that makes it ok?<br />
<br />
I know there are some people out there who think rules are made for everyone else but not for them and especially not for their special child. Sorry to ruin your day but your kid isn't special and neither are you. In California it is ILLEGAL to have a child at the BAR. I found out that while it is not illegal in Florida, what kind of message are you sending your child? Think about this for a minute.<br />
<br />
Bars are places where grown ups go to drink fermented fruits and grains, let their hair down, perhaps curse, debauch, try to get laid, etc. This does not change just because that bar is now at the Polynesian or the Grand Californian. There are some places where it is just not appropriate for children to be.<br />
* Strip Clubs<br />
* Bath Houses<br />
* The Adult Film Awards<br />
* The French Quarter during Mardi Gras and....<br />
* BARS<br />
<br />
I am so happy to report that the Rose & Crown pub in England at Epcot took out all of their bar stools! YAY! Now the kids can't sit at the bar, they have to go to the tables where they belong. However, not all of the bars have picked up on this.<br />
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This past trip I was at the Tune In Lounge and a family that was waiting for a table at the eatery next door decided to sit at the bar. While they are waiting, Dad wants a drink and sits their two tykes at the bar. So I turn to the kids and ask them "Are you going to order a beer or a shot of whiskey? Now make sure when you get back to school to tell everyone at Show & Tell that Mommy & Daddy took you to a BAR at Disney!" At that point Dad paid for his drink and Mom drug the kids over to a table, where they belonged. There was seating available so trying to tell me there was nowhere else to sit while they waited for their table was bogus.<br />
<br />
I know, I'm a dick. Actually, no I'm not. I was being the adult. The fact that these parents could not walk 5 more feet to sit down on the chairs provided is not my problem. They are the ones setting the bad example for their kids by letting them know it is OK to sit at a bar before you are legally old enough to drink. They are saying that drinking is a family activity, like waiting in line to get autographs from Princesses or taking a picture with Mickey Mouse.<br />
<br />
We should be teaching children to be responsible adults and part of that is the reality that there are some activities/areas that are for grown ups and not for kids. Period. Please think about the message you are sending to your child when you allow them into an adult environment and understand that when you bring your kid into my grown up house, I will not change my language or behavior because you were the one who decided to be a bad parent and take your kid to a bar.Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-26316316710059604282010-02-16T21:01:00.000-08:002010-08-19T16:47:12.161-07:00Blue Zoo - Dolphin (WDW)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I have heard from Disney friends and foodies that this is an exceptional dining establishment. Todd English is the celebrity Chef with his name on the door and I have heard wonderful things about his seafood so I decided to try it.<br />
<br />
As it is located over at the Dolphin, it is a little bit of a trek to get to. The Swan & Dolphin Resorts are on the water between Epcot & Disney Studios. It should be noted they are not owned by The Mouse and as a result do not accept Disney Dining.<br />
<br />
I got there right when they opened and was seated right away. The restaurant itself is gorgeous and my server was very fun and professional.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKJk0JTBYeRKM_cOnr65qLxRCKt3TQ7AC0d5k9weHAjJyZ6FQ8QB58wQ_Oe0fA93XgIqYRrDSUHQIV7mR6eONHkZYE9jv0Zxs9GB2fHgPhPZ2mCHzrP0JVDsYX3k9oGYgDoHiFx08dyE/s1600-h/IMG_1765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKJk0JTBYeRKM_cOnr65qLxRCKt3TQ7AC0d5k9weHAjJyZ6FQ8QB58wQ_Oe0fA93XgIqYRrDSUHQIV7mR6eONHkZYE9jv0Zxs9GB2fHgPhPZ2mCHzrP0JVDsYX3k9oGYgDoHiFx08dyE/s320/IMG_1765.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">For cocktails I started out with a Cable Car. This was a recommendation from my server and it was delightful. It is a rum drink with a cinnamon rim and an orange twist. It is not too sweet, more of a twist on a "grown up drink" rather than a frothy, frozen "girlie drink".</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc_UQOUE8ryLI5YxIvtnsYbZZwmkZ6oWIIaB5wHmEojgk7UcTHHqH5aAM2XaFvdn4kN9mNBOe6r3bYj7Iyw68JdAa8c8v53VFWM6kT6rq34n1xEHh3HJ9L4Sq17P5J9ZfNjTuOp1KrBY/s1600-h/IMG_1764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc_UQOUE8ryLI5YxIvtnsYbZZwmkZ6oWIIaB5wHmEojgk7UcTHHqH5aAM2XaFvdn4kN9mNBOe6r3bYj7Iyw68JdAa8c8v53VFWM6kT6rq34n1xEHh3HJ9L4Sq17P5J9ZfNjTuOp1KrBY/s320/IMG_1764.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I ordered my Main Dish:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> <br />
Simply Fish - Our daily selection of finest fresh fish selected from coastal waters around the world, simply grilled on our teppenyaki grill. Served w/ choice of sauce...warm crabmeat, dijon mustard & chives or cucumber vinaigrette or red curry coconut, parsley & lemon. - $32.00 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sauce supplements: lobster $5.00 or caviar buerre blanc $8.00 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74AT0irvTTlJT5Pwpwk3Adq9pB3zIZ8Xel-TolUgo3zuqsOnZVk8TFh5OerefMfkUjw-uRJDMiO9lNE5ZcEnFAzAri9aqYfL8DYeftg9GckRTrtbIBdDAtfU09aJSeTYGmjj_4ddb14M/s1600-h/DSC00056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74AT0irvTTlJT5Pwpwk3Adq9pB3zIZ8Xel-TolUgo3zuqsOnZVk8TFh5OerefMfkUjw-uRJDMiO9lNE5ZcEnFAzAri9aqYfL8DYeftg9GckRTrtbIBdDAtfU09aJSeTYGmjj_4ddb14M/s320/DSC00056.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">They had a choice of four fish to choose from. I chose the one I had never heard of before - Covina. It is a thick fish, almost cod like in appearance. I ordered the crabmeat/dijon sauce and had them add the chunks of lobster to it for an additional $5. This was the best $5 I spent. The pieces were large and succulent. However, ... Houston, we have a problem.</span><br />
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Fish, unless it is sushi, should flake when it is done and be moist. The edge of my fish was lovely but when I went to break it in the middle the fish would not budge. I thought "o no he didn't". This is exactly what I said to the server when he came to check on me.<br />
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My fish was raw. Not moist, not undercooked, it was 80% raw. This should NOT happen especially at this level of dining establishment and one that prides themselves on fish. The Chef really needed a boot in the junk. The server asked if I wanted another fish. I told him, no I would give the Chef the opportunity to get this right and ordered the covina again.<br />
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In the meantime, the Chef sent over this appetizer:</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-5nXeoc2bC_KMq5XCdHpqzYJV25slfr6lF0oVsCHoy7F9_sKB1Mm9KsUkOmIA3uAy4sdBH8hnAyKMAQk2sowZpWcQbfy8RBFUMN_8ep7zXIcu-4SsX9fdAX4WT2O111qYvfFrIlDBBU/s1600-h/DSC00057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-5nXeoc2bC_KMq5XCdHpqzYJV25slfr6lF0oVsCHoy7F9_sKB1Mm9KsUkOmIA3uAy4sdBH8hnAyKMAQk2sowZpWcQbfy8RBFUMN_8ep7zXIcu-4SsX9fdAX4WT2O111qYvfFrIlDBBU/s320/DSC00057.JPG" /></a></span></div></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Teppan Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops - Served with a braised beef short rib, and silky cauliflower puree. - $14.00<br />
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This was amazing. I know the picture is blurry but I was so into eating I near forgot to take the picture. I cut each of the scallops in half. They were on the strip of short rib. The scallops were perfectly cooked as was the beef. It was tender and juicy. The cauliflower was so creamy and paired so well with this mini "surf and turf". This was an amazing dish! A+.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">So my fish returns:</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRu8AeeEBFRkft0arI8jWMefRnRKMfoQKDtd0Q0pYR8Vo1Qct1q74WRhTmtjtuBDXop95nJY1snWC3RqYrQm9ZBwkBz3Q_uORN2Wvx0PCL8GzgcO4Qt3vavdHZg7CJwB3z6BJnoEIzmM/s1600-h/IMG_1767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRu8AeeEBFRkft0arI8jWMefRnRKMfoQKDtd0Q0pYR8Vo1Qct1q74WRhTmtjtuBDXop95nJY1snWC3RqYrQm9ZBwkBz3Q_uORN2Wvx0PCL8GzgcO4Qt3vavdHZg7CJwB3z6BJnoEIzmM/s320/IMG_1767.JPG" /></a></span></div></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The flavor was delicate, the sauce was soooooo yummy. Creamy with lots of crab and lobster, just amazing but... I couldn't cut the fish. It was cooked but there was skin on the bottom and I couldn't cut through it. I though perhaps my knife was not serrated. Nope. I couldn't get through the skin with a buzz saw.<br />
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I told the server that the taste was good so I was keeping it as they did offer to replace it. The manager came over, told me the fish was a new menu addition and it must have been "stressed" when it died which is why the skin was so hard to cut. The Chef has pulled it from the menu for the evening. Stressed when it died = impossible to cut skin? Huh?! Ummm, I've fished. You either catch fish with a line or a net or a cage. They are all equally stressed so unless they tortured this fish for fun, I fail to see how a fish being "stressed when it died" has anything to do with my dinner.<br />
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I asked the manager if the Chef cooked it during his prep this afternoon since it was new. He said no. I told him that Todd English would have. Gordon Ramsey would have. If a Chef is working with a new dish and new ingredient, they should cook it first to see how it works.<br />
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My entree and the appetizer were on the house so I just paid for my drink and a good tip for my waiter. I would go back here on my next trip in a heartbeat.<br />
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Why? The scallop was amazing, the service was stellar and the manager did the correct thing and "made it right". Hopefully this was a learning experience for their Chef when he gets new items. Next time I think I am going to order their Soy Lobster and am looking forward to it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</span></span></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-67866411197768199552010-02-05T19:42:00.000-08:002010-02-05T19:51:44.298-08:00Magic Kingdom - Fantasyland (WDW)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Cinderella's Golden Carousel</span></u></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: initial; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 1.5pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 1pt;"><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT THRILL LEVEL</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – None<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">WAIT TIME</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – Low<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b><u>KID GRADE</u></b> – <b>(G)</b> Suitable for all ages.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT RATING</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – <b>(C+) </b>If you like going around in a circle.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Let's face it, a merry go round is a merry go round. This one is prettier than most but it is still the same thing. A bit of trivia for you: the white horse on the outside with the gold ribbon is Cinderella's horse. The absolute BEST way I have found to ride this ride is with a fabulous guy wearing a pointy Princess hat.</span></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Dumbo's Flying Elephants</span></u></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: initial; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 1.5pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 1pt;"><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT THRILL LEVEL</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – None<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">WAIT TIME</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – High<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b><u>KID GRADE</u></b> – <b>(G)</b> Suitable for all ages. This is a time tested favorite!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT RATING</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – <b>(C+) </b>Again if going around in a circle is your idea of a great time, you will love this. Personally I have found most adults just find it a few minutes of respite because now their kid is having a good time.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">This is one of the Holy Grail rides of tiny tyke land. All the little kids want to ride Dumbo and it is a pain in the.. donkey. Why? Because there are only a handful of elephants that fly for a specific amount of time. This makes the ride very slow loading. If you want to ride without standing in the sun for over an hour, this is what you have to do.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Get your family up, dressed and going EARLY in the morning. No excuses. Poke them with something sharp if you have to. Get them to the Magic Kingdom at least an hour before it opens. They will open the front area of the Park and then have the "rope drop". When the rope drops, go STRAIGHT TO DUMBO!!! Do not get something to eat, don't stop to pee, GET TO THAT FLYING ELEPHANT! This way you can ride right away, get off, get back in line and ride it a 2nd time. See? Wasn't that fun? Now we can ride some of these other rides in Fantasyland.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">The things you do for your kids....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">It's A Small World</span></u></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: initial; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 1.5pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 1pt;"><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT THRILL LEVEL</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – None<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">WAIT TIME</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – Low<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b><u>KID GRADE</u></b> – <b>(G)</b> Suitable for all ages. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT RATING</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – <b>(C+) </b>OK, the ride is entertaining but that song will haunt your nighmares.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">This is a poor imitation of the original ride at Disneyland. Disneyland's is better. The whole line is a topiary extravaganza! The pop-out dolls and animated clock are iconic. Magic Kingdom gets a tent. whee. This really is a fun ride. Walt debuted this at the 1964 Worlds Faire in New York. It is sweet, infectious and the song will imbed itself in your brain and never leave.</span><br />
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</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">I must say the BEST time I ever had on this ride was at Disneyland in the 80's. We had an AIDS fundraiser and riding this with a boatload of drag queens, singing along was the most magical thing EVER!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Mad Hatter's Teacups</span></u></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: initial; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 1.5pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 1pt;"><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT THRILL LEVEL</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – Medium<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">WAIT TIME</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – Low<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b><u>KID GRADE</u></b> – <b>(G)</b> Suitable for all ages but evaluate how they deal with spinning<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT RATING</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – <b>(B)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> A fun ride if you like spinning like a looney</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">It's really not fair for me to review this ride because I hurl. I hate spinning in circles and I hate spinning fast. I avoid this ride like the plague. So I will turn this over to my Disney Companion "Dot " for her analysis of this ride:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">I really like spinning fast. Watch the teacups and head for the fastest spinners. Some are better than others. Spreading your weight out so you are not all clumped in one place also helps for maximum spinage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">I give this ride a solid<b> B</b> but the waiting and break-down factor can slip it to a <b>B-</b>.</span> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Peter Pan</span></u></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: initial; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 1.5pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 1pt;"><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT THRILL LEVEL</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – Medium<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">WAIT TIME</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – Medium<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b><u>KID GRADE</u></b> – <b>(G)</b> Suitable for all ages unless your kid is freaked out by the dark or flying over Lodon.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT RATING</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – <b>(B) </b>Just for the sheer kitch and nostalgia. I mean honestly, who doesn't like flying in the air in a pirate ship?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Peter Pan was always one of my favorites from Disneyland. They show more of the story on this ride than the original Disneyland version so I do like this one better. You can’t beat seeing everything from in the air in a sailing pirate ship. This was one of my favorite rides when I first went to Disneyland at 8 and still is.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">While the ride cars (pirate ships) do not hold many people, the ride is short and they are quick to load. At peak times there can be a wait of upwards of 45 minutes. I personally think this is the best ride in Fantasyland. How can you miss with flying out of Wendy's window, sailing over the streets of London, soaring over Neverland (please, not NeverNeverland) and watching a swordfight at the end between Pan and Hook? It's the best.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">One of the mermaids in the lagoon sequence looks a bit like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Hmm. One small, picky geek note of an error on this ride. Peter Pan is set in late Victorian/early Edwardian London. When you are flying over London, look down. You will see streets filled with cars (headlights). There were no cars in Peter Pan’s London. Barrie wrote Peter Pan in 1902. The Model T Ford rolled off the line in 1908. Even with this issue, I give this ride an <b>A-</b></span><br />
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</b></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Kid Grade (G): Suitable for all ages. Kids will either love the flying or be a bit scared. It is perfectly safe but the "buoyancy" of being suspended from the top of the car may set very small children on edge. Only minor scary scenes. Nothing objectionable.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Pinocchio's Daring Journey</span></u></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: initial; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 1.5pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 1pt;"><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT THRILL LEVEL</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – None<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">WAIT TIME</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – Low<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b><u>KID GRADE</u></b> – <b>(G)</b> Suitable for all ages. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT RATING</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – <b>(C)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Pinocchio is not my favorite story. Let's see, a creepy old guy builds a little boy puppet to keep him company, a blue fairy brings the puppet to life and the puppet goes wild. He is inconsiderate, goes truant from school, smokes, drinks, barely escapes turning into a donkey only to go on a voyage of redemption to try to find the father figure he lost.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">We see the dancing puppets, Pleasure Island, the blue fairy, Monstro the Whale, all the good bits with little of the scary, dark and depressing parts of the movie/book.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Snow White's Scary Adventures</span></u></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: initial; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 1.5pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 1pt;"><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT THRILL LEVEL</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – None<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">WAIT TIME</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – Low<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b><u>KID GRADE</u></b> – <b>(G)</b> Suitable for all ages unless your child is freaked out by the dark, menacing trees or other "spooky" things.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT RATING</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – <b>(C) </b>This is really pretty dull. Sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">When this ride was first designed for Disneyland it was always intended to be from Snow White's point of view. As a result, she wasn't in the ride. As the ride says, you see her "scary adventures" so there are lots of Evil Queens, warty hags, apples, scary trees, and falling rocks. If your kid wants to see Snow, this is not the ride for them. If they are freaked by the dark and scary things, like the Evil Queen trying to poison them (remember YOU are Snow White) then skip it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">True, the refurb threw in more dwarves and one shot of Snow but it doesn't change the fact that the ride is not all goodness and light and singing critters. Make sure your kid understands. For solo adults, pass it. It's boring.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Winnie the Pooh</span></u></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: initial; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 1.5pt; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 1pt;"><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT THRILL LEVEL</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – None<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">WAIT TIME</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – Low<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b><u>KID GRADE</u></b> – <b>(G)</b> Suitable for all ages. <o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Only minor scary scenes. Nothing objectionable.</span></o:p></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #e6e6e6; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">ADULT RATING</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – <b>(B)</b> if you are into Pooh<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Here in WDW, Pooh created quite a stir. He evicted staple Fantasyland ride Mr. Toad. If you still want to ride Mr. Toad, you can do it at Disneyland. At Disneyland, the rotund bear evicted his kin (The Country Bear Jamboree). It seems Pooh brings ride destruction in his honey lickin' wake. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">All and all this was a nice ride (although I still miss Mr. Toad). The ride depicts Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. The cut-outs were bright and the animatronics were decent for a Fantasyland ride. There was a variation of movement to the ride. You would bounce<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span>when Tigger was there, you felt like you were floating on water when it was raining, etc. There are a few tiny scary elements in the storm but it is not anything Mom can’t fix by being there. Teens may find it slow but I think it's just plain fun. I give this a <b>B+.</b></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div></span></span></span></span></span></span>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-49940335377680957142010-02-04T09:24:00.000-08:002010-02-04T09:24:40.647-08:00WDW Resorts: The Value, the Moderate and the Deluxe - Why Do We Care?<div style="text-align: center;">RESORTS OF THE WORLD</div><br />
My first trip to Walt Disney World was in 1998. After growing up in California, I was unprepared for the vast acreage The World encompasses. In my opinion, staying on property is a MUST. The Disney Magic starts when you cross on to property. I am not making this up, the second you pass under the Walt Disney World arch, the signs are bright, there is no litter, things are cleaner and happier and I swear a little sunnier. This feeling continues into each part of your vacation, giving you a little taste of Stepford only without the evil robots. A themed resort, in various price brackets, is essential to the complete Disney experience. <br />
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For that first trip we were on a budget and stayed at a value resort. Values are the steerage class of the Disney properties. However this means steerage on a luxury liner as opposed to a freighter. You still will get a better experience than staying at the Holiday Inn in Kissimmee (which I also have done). We stayed at All Star Music.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQ5s_cpAS671YmLOcPXbPOXNuT4EeJubUG6A30oSWCuaSx8Lj2nJwLVCfZpdfMEZlEypZ9I5Cd3nQLHmNTraIBVdMxwLaN8QUgspbwgLXdrGM0nRu5Ge8-pGFKEpMaI52moNDh7GVYK8/s1600-h/all+star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQ5s_cpAS671YmLOcPXbPOXNuT4EeJubUG6A30oSWCuaSx8Lj2nJwLVCfZpdfMEZlEypZ9I5Cd3nQLHmNTraIBVdMxwLaN8QUgspbwgLXdrGM0nRu5Ge8-pGFKEpMaI52moNDh7GVYK8/s320/all+star.jpg" /></a></div>At the time of our trip the only Value properties were All Star Sports and All Star Music. All Star Movies was in the process of being built and Pop Century was only a glint in an Imagineers eye. The down side of the Values are the small size of the rooms, the amount of screaming kids, the distance to any of the parks and the lack of a sit down restaurant.<br />
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When I stayed at All Star Music, I was not bothered with any of the down sides. The rooms are small, that is true. However if you are not spending a great deal of time in the room, the size really doesn't matter. The rooms are about the size of your average Motel 6 but are clean and do have the small Disney touches. Are there screaming kids? Sure, the value resorts are the prime destination for families on a budget but if you are in the parks during the day by the time you get back (and have a night cap at the bar) most of the kids are passed out anyway.<br />
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Sure, there is no sit down restaurant but that just gives you the opportunity to eat at other resorts and check them out for future stays. The rooms are all "outside" access meaning the doors are fronting an outdoor breezeway like a Motel 6. Only the Deluxe resorts have rooms that are in hallways like "regular" hotels.<br />
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My next trip was to a moderate resort, Port Orleans (now renamed Port Orleans: French Quarter).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8365Q-_p0NzHIxaUlzpBsgxx5354zwQjcEBXgmIkxFvu3JxYLBbdka5K5eWQ-cpfMctMfOlHny3XVyk1Jg-LWhgyDmMHtx4RKmtM7_ZFGf_pKEWOrZNDyd0ZFbFu8BU1_sdzHm4ogEA/s1600-h/port-orleans-fq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8365Q-_p0NzHIxaUlzpBsgxx5354zwQjcEBXgmIkxFvu3JxYLBbdka5K5eWQ-cpfMctMfOlHny3XVyk1Jg-LWhgyDmMHtx4RKmtM7_ZFGf_pKEWOrZNDyd0ZFbFu8BU1_sdzHm4ogEA/s320/port-orleans-fq.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The moderates, Port Orleans, Dixie Landings (now Port Orleans: Riverside), Caribbean Beach Club and Coronado Springs are the equivalent of 2nd Class and give you a little more comfort without paying a Deluxe price. They each have a sit down restaurant with the exception of Port Orleans: French Quarter. Bonfamille's closed in 2000 so guests can use Boatwrights, the sit down place over at Riverside which is a 5 minute walk away. These two resorts are "sister" resorts and share facilities. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of the four resorts, my favorite is Port Orleans: French Quarter. It is the smallest of the moderates which is in your favor if you have tired kids at the end of the day. You don't have a long walk to the bus stop. The theming is beautiful, romantic and they have the coolest themed pool with a water slide in the shape of a sea serpent. Both of the sister resorts share a boat to Downtown Disney which makes for one nice, relaxing bit of transportation. Disney does provide free bus service but let's face it, during the busy times you are going to be standing and packed in with a bunch of grumpy adults and screaming kids. It's like BART/Metro at rush hour. No fun.</div><br />
I moved up to the First Class Deluxe resort experience in 2001 and have not looked back. I have stayed at Wilderness Lodge for my past four trips and it is truly my home away from home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfnZePAPNzGf2dVMeSKEBHOEFygqSUFjeNZAJaIqVjhbWdZDdm0qkrlgv94RyUjDQ02DZVygqYt0FwvV9NgMftwthJQpEYp7oipWn6bmussO3EejSwSPVu3pNPsaqxPDg72vdgzQzkpw/s1600-h/wilderness_lodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfnZePAPNzGf2dVMeSKEBHOEFygqSUFjeNZAJaIqVjhbWdZDdm0qkrlgv94RyUjDQ02DZVygqYt0FwvV9NgMftwthJQpEYp7oipWn6bmussO3EejSwSPVu3pNPsaqxPDg72vdgzQzkpw/s320/wilderness_lodge.jpg" /></a></div>You can see why I just don't want to go back to a Value resort if I can at all help it. The Deluxe resorts all have extra theming, amenities, one gourmet restaurant at least, inside room access, executive levels and a secondary sit down restaurant as well.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">THE MAGIC KINGDOM RESORTS</span><br />
Wilderness Lodge has Artist Point as it's gourmet restaurant, Whispering Canyon Cafe (which is anything but whispering), boat transport to Magic Kingdom as well as the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness.<br />
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The Grand Floridian, a Victorian Seaside getaway, has Victoria & Alberts (one of the finest 5 star restaurants you will find) as well as Citricos & Narcooses as its gourmet dining places and 1900 Park Fare as its secondary eatery. Yes, they have more but the GF is the flagship Deluxe resort so they are entitled. They are also on the monorail route to the Magic Kingdom as well as the Ticket & Transportation Center where you can catch a monorail to Epcot. The monorail service is shared with the Polynesian and the Contemporary resorts as well The Grand Floridian also has boat service to Magic Kingdom.<br />
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The Polynesian does not have a gourmet restaurant per say but they do have O'hana (which has a great character breakfast) and Kona Cafe as well as a luau called the Spirit of Aloha at Luau Cove. They have a white sand beach, waterfalls and a general tropical islands flair.<br />
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The Contemporary (or the giant toaster as I like to call it) has California Grill as it's gourmet destination with a great view of the fireworks, Chef Mickey's (a character meal venue) and The Wave, a new upscale sit down eatery. It is "modern" as modern was envisioned by Walt in the 1960's. It is modular construction (each room section was built individually and craned into place) and has the monorail running straight through the building. It also has a talking elevator.<br />
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All of the above resorts also rent water craft such as wave mice, sail boats, have fishing trips, parasailing AND get to see a little electric water parade in the evening.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">THE EPCOT RESORTS</span><br />
The Boardwalk boasts many great eateries as well as a functioning Boardwalk with shops, games and entertainment. The best of the restaurants is the Flying Fish. There is also Big River Grille & Brewery, ESPN Club, and Kouzzina (by Cat Cora).<br />
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The Beach Club has Cape May which sports character dining for breakfast and a clam bake for dinner. It's sister resort, Yacht Club has Yachtsmans Steakhouse as its gourmet dinner destination.<br />
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These three Disney resorts have the Friendship boat that takes guests to the International Gateway of Epcot in World Showcase and makes a trip to Disney Studios as well.<br />
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In addition to these three Disney properties there are also two hotels that are not owned by Disney but are still included in our little family. The Swan/Dolphin resorts are run by Sheridan & Marriott. However the hotels contain all of the bonuses of a full Disney resort except for some of the theming. It is more a "real nice hotel" as opposed to a mountain get away or a tropical paradise. As a result you can get some great deals. The food here is also very good and includes Kimonos sushi bar (the only place in the World you can get real sushi and that does NOT include California roll) and Todd English's Blue Zoo.<br />
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The final deluxe is really out on it's own and is the newest to the deluxe family. Animal Kingdom Lodge is next to the Animal Kingdom and while it only has bus transportation available it does have something the other resorts don't have. Wild animals. You can see animals from the resort viewing areas and from Savannah view rooms 24/7. Their gourmet restaurant is Jiko (one of my favs) and their secondary buffet dining is Boma. They also have a fabulous bar. The design of their lobby is similar to Wilderness Lodge and the Grand Californian in Disneyland. All have the same designer and they are amazing!<br />
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You may want to count pennies and say "we only sleep in our rooms so why not get something cheap at Downtown Disney and save that money for the Park?" Why? Because you will regret it. Unless you live locally and can go whenever you want, this is a trip most of us do not make often. The transportation of an off property hotel is spotty at best and takes longer. Sure you can rent a car but you will have to PAY to park if you are not staying on property. See? The extra money is creeping in there anyway so you might as well stay on property. If you are on a tight budget, stay at one of the All Star resorts or Pop. It just makes things so much easier and cheaper in the long run. You can snag some great package deals, plan your meals ahead of time and still have the bit of Disney Magic when you return all tired at the end of the night. This is the magic that just makes you happy to be alive and makes you feel that dreams really can come true.Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-90507317294257991662010-01-31T09:39:00.000-08:002010-01-31T16:57:03.216-08:00The Haunted Mansion: Past, Present, Burton and Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmjMX0WPFJUICmIgUjZb16Gq0aWURaiM-IE7TjaAKOGV875NfeB0RWDdelUNNCneIa8_ih-gJEfqJ6hPodN04oXdUPa-mU4oGdXBnsm7B6w6MNHfINnp-hN_q2tighdYMqFZCXhsOWZw/s1600-h/HauntedMansion%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmjMX0WPFJUICmIgUjZb16Gq0aWURaiM-IE7TjaAKOGV875NfeB0RWDdelUNNCneIa8_ih-gJEfqJ6hPodN04oXdUPa-mU4oGdXBnsm7B6w6MNHfINnp-hN_q2tighdYMqFZCXhsOWZw/s320/HauntedMansion%5B1%5D.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Haunted Mansion opened in Disneyland on August 9th, 1969, fourteen years after the opening of the Park itself. While Walt supervised the attraction through various incarnations, he never saw it opened to the public as he died December 15th, 1966.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PAST</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a child, before I made my first trip to Disneyland at eight years old, I heard stories of the Haunted Mansion. The kids on the playground would talk about the things they heard. Of course these were things gleaned from reliable sources like someone's cousin's brother and being kids we KNEW they were true. We heard the Haunted Mansion glowed green in the dark. That it was so scary a man had a heart attack on the ride and died. We heard that Walt Disney was one of the ghosts in the graveyard, the one pedestal statue that was broken and there was a detailed story line about Master Gracey and his bride.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, one of the things you learn when you grow up is not to believe everything you hear.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to all the stories of dead people and glowing houses I was too damned scared to go inside the Haunted Mansion when I was eight. That had to wait for my next trip a few years later. Even on that later trip, I was TERRIFIED of the bride in the attic. She creeped me out even as a teen and I didn't want to look at her.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also learned that:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- the Mansion never has glowed in the dark, green or any other color. This fable may have originated from an album that we had:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7-XkLFzv3spGW_5cwbdeGvCAwZqQN7_Pi1a76_0kl3fjMiyDPjxYAg3StbVI-iwu1kJyPcRI_hj2iXNrlZxW86Dyjbp6ONlWJ-Tyj8TRm_YaUi1y-NtnGXE2fst1eN6jD3nYXaGKa14/s1600-h/HauntedMansionALBUM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7-XkLFzv3spGW_5cwbdeGvCAwZqQN7_Pi1a76_0kl3fjMiyDPjxYAg3StbVI-iwu1kJyPcRI_hj2iXNrlZxW86Dyjbp6ONlWJ-Tyj8TRm_YaUi1y-NtnGXE2fst1eN6jD3nYXaGKa14/s320/HauntedMansionALBUM.png" /></span></a></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The album not only depicts the Mansion as having a green cast to it but has the story of Master Gracey (which we will talk about later).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- no one died in the Mansion of a heart attack from fright</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- the broken bust in the graveyard is Thurl Ravenscroft, the voice of many Disney attractions and the voice of Tony the Tiger. He died in 2005 at the age of 91 so in a way that is his ghost singing to you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- there was NEVER a specific story line fleshed out for the ride when it was developed. Yale Gracey was one of the two Imagineers that worked on the ghost effects for the mansion and the ensuing story appears to be an homage to him. A myriad of stories have sprung up in the ensuing years around the mansion as far as story lines go, including one with a sea captain and the brief book (a dozen pages) that were included with the above record album. In the words of animator Marc Davis </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We really don't have a story, with a beginning, an end, or a plot. It's more a series of experiences building up to a climax. I call them experience rides."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE PRESENT</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the years moved on, the Haunted Mansion has captured a special place in my heart. I love the ride with all of its details. The decor, the sounds, the cast member costumes, the WALL PAPER!! Gods I would love a house like that especially with that wallpaper.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After being so comfortable with the original antebellum Mansion in my home park:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi481s0MDJeTT4tYSZnn7-7Yg3KmGkG0dVqyGjHKwTUZroDCKVRByGU2vJx55wcQzHgHH3a2YwBOyMV6OoPdNlymFXcP2bfG0ee0G1qctQg_nhqZVjfIZpl-Ep8E8G4OI2kCrk1jjnlAkw/s1600-h/800px-Haunted_Mansion_Exterior.JPG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi481s0MDJeTT4tYSZnn7-7Yg3KmGkG0dVqyGjHKwTUZroDCKVRByGU2vJx55wcQzHgHH3a2YwBOyMV6OoPdNlymFXcP2bfG0ee0G1qctQg_nhqZVjfIZpl-Ep8E8G4OI2kCrk1jjnlAkw/s320/800px-Haunted_Mansion_Exterior.JPG.jpeg" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made a trip to Walt Disney World (the World) in 1998 and had my view of the Mansion challenged by the Florida version in the Magic Kingdom. There is no New Orleans Square. They have Liberty Square and that is where you will find their Mansion. It is styled after the Dutch/colonial houses of the upper New York area. To me, while pretty, it isn't as creepy. Judge for yourself:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyMc4zvBOEnGWxuKfvSVliUu8vCcIUoC4bGuk9ZEEBNnyWRLq58QvtKPSv7csfQXwBQC5JWVVwJqJCkrnb97MWa3zNaF9_PEhILUPyQGhrzECwH7MgIpF4I-QOcD_6tWPZs0bxRmbahs/s1600-h/HM_WDW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyMc4zvBOEnGWxuKfvSVliUu8vCcIUoC4bGuk9ZEEBNnyWRLq58QvtKPSv7csfQXwBQC5JWVVwJqJCkrnb97MWa3zNaF9_PEhILUPyQGhrzECwH7MgIpF4I-QOcD_6tWPZs0bxRmbahs/s320/HM_WDW.jpg" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aside from small differences inside the ride (you are actually inside the Doombuggies when you travel down the entrance halls with the changing portraits) and the expansion of a few scenes. It is basically the same ride.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One change is the cemetery. Just like Disneyland it is on the outside before you enter the building. While both have humorous stones and both (such a sad addition) have tombstones of Marc Davis, beloved animator and one of the original "Nine Old Men". He animated such characters as Alice, Cinderella, Aurora and Maleficent.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9TBsvy4sec5ljT4dGTXZhogNPF0Hb-f5JakdUOkweWq14SEBIERvTiCyXUCD0F221d4kYnbtDKvFzVzlZ2PgHA2Mr0Ikp-I45KshZNxg-LAtF3HhCWVCMm-M2xBwxeesGDEEXEvijWs/s1600-h/TombstoneDavis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9TBsvy4sec5ljT4dGTXZhogNPF0Hb-f5JakdUOkweWq14SEBIERvTiCyXUCD0F221d4kYnbtDKvFzVzlZ2PgHA2Mr0Ikp-I45KshZNxg-LAtF3HhCWVCMm-M2xBwxeesGDEEXEvijWs/s320/TombstoneDavis.jpg" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What this cemetery does have is an animated Madame Leota tombstone.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K7fq5BSuJpYL1n0mCXIhFnm8MvoANbgixjGRk6LvLrzi2ysFQFkYI1WHL2Bsvs8uTd0amzwkloEyrEh_bdYxx57VWoyoL-Trnbm_fMPJlEEgVveAEYfKwdO6vbRt29ClFDSvwxFq4YM/s1600-h/madame+leota.JPG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K7fq5BSuJpYL1n0mCXIhFnm8MvoANbgixjGRk6LvLrzi2ysFQFkYI1WHL2Bsvs8uTd0amzwkloEyrEh_bdYxx57VWoyoL-Trnbm_fMPJlEEgVveAEYfKwdO6vbRt29ClFDSvwxFq4YM/s320/madame+leota.JPG.jpeg" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you watch, her eyes will open, then close again and they are yellow! It is kinda creepy. This is why it always pays to pay attention to the Disney detail.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another part of the Florida Haunted Mansion lore was "The Infamous Ring". Many stories sprung up about a wedding ring hurled from the mansion by Gracey when he caught his wife with another man or the Bride hurling her ring out of the window before killing herself, the list goes on and on. Guests hear through the grapevine that the ring is embedded in the cement at the exit of the ride and HERE IT IS!!! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgham2n9djIr38DsaL7gqinJ6uNRwY0zzkHlttP5x7rPZjTvQCMqH3FtaXRD8fV9ZAylar9yy0fUCaHLj8vwWcl86SKa4fRU_Be7o-JQDLXJNRSRZ9n7QByIX_4AdyG11rDFj-joKFCOys/s1600-h/HM_Ring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgham2n9djIr38DsaL7gqinJ6uNRwY0zzkHlttP5x7rPZjTvQCMqH3FtaXRD8fV9ZAylar9yy0fUCaHLj8vwWcl86SKa4fRU_Be7o-JQDLXJNRSRZ9n7QByIX_4AdyG11rDFj-joKFCOys/s320/HM_Ring.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actually it isn't a ring. What guests have been looking for, talking about and holding up exiting guests with their hunting and picture taking is... a stanchion. A small pole if you will that was sawed off and left what looked like a ring. Guests have tried to dig it out (to no avail). Disney finally got sick and tired of explaining this was NOT a ring, the story was BS, it was a pole, having people block the exit with their HUGE ... cameras so a few years ago... they poured cement over it. There ya go, no more ring.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other difference between the two parks is the level of guest interaction. In California we tend to have more creative, play along audiences. Also a great many locals who are involved in the entertainment industry and have Annual Passes. It is a tradition with TONS of people to recite the Ghost Hosts lines when you are in the stretching room elevator and when the lightening strikes and the hanging body is reveled to scream like mad in the dark! It's fun! We LOVE it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guess what? The Florida people are NOT amused. They like their ride, staid, traditional and no screaming please. They get really pissy if you do it. I think they are thinking "Look at those California wackos with their sense of Park entitlement, trying to spoil all our fun with their screaming." Florida people, honestly we are not trying to piss in your Cheerios. This is how we role in Cali and if you come to Disneyland, you will see what I mean. About the park entitlement, that is true. Our park is better, Walt walked there, be jealous and deal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE BURTON</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another thing to be jealous about is Christmas in Disneyland at the Haunted Mansion. Each year since October 3, 2001, the mansion gets a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay. Florida doesn't get this. Sorry. If you don't want to go to LA, you can go to Tokyo. They are the only two parks that have this holiday change over.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUMtc7on6ZsHd90dvYn3HNQkJGiTwhXOfmg4tA99oGbHjwXxCAD9TcZJ79zmJ6JZU0M_pRMwOIvaN11ZAMVoEI_sbznQwkHv98lk8KwJ5a37yw05TMFzFblHBQsZdBEnupq4GyipXhgM/s1600-h/DisHauntedChristmasSmall.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUMtc7on6ZsHd90dvYn3HNQkJGiTwhXOfmg4tA99oGbHjwXxCAD9TcZJ79zmJ6JZU0M_pRMwOIvaN11ZAMVoEI_sbznQwkHv98lk8KwJ5a37yw05TMFzFblHBQsZdBEnupq4GyipXhgM/s320/DisHauntedChristmasSmall.gif" /></a></span></div></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I will say right up front I HATE The Nightmare Before Christmas movie. So many of my friends like it and I have tried. I watch it, try to get through it, try to like it and... I don't. It is creepy, disturbing and I wouldn't let little kids watch this on a bet. Tim Burton is pretty predictable in his style and that style has many disturbing elements. I could go on and on but this isn't about his weird ass movie. That being said, I LOVE the re-do of the Mansion. It brings all the best parts of the movie to the fore without the disturbing bits. The characters are more fun and "lovable". </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In March I will get to see the Classic Mansion for the first time in years. Why? The overlay is active from September through January and as a result I have not seen the Disneyland mansion in its regular guise for over 5 years, maybe longer. I tend to visit the park around my birthday (which is in October) so the only "classic mansion" I've been able to see is at WDW. The irony.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE FUTURE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have heard that in my absence of Classic Mansion, some changes have been made. They have re-tooled the attic scene and the Bride that use to scare the pants off of me. They have re-imagined her as a black widow, marrying rich men and then killing them for their dough. I can't wait to see it. What so many of us appreciate about all the attractions that Disney makes is their ability (for good or bad) to re-invision them, keep them new, fresh, relevant and timeless as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know, once you have gone to your "Great Reward" after this life, it might not be so bad to hang out at the Haunted Mansion. As the Ghost Host says "There's always room for one more."</span></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-29907460315198366112010-01-29T21:14:00.000-08:002010-08-19T16:49:24.544-07:00Tangierine Cafe - Morocco/Epcot<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Today I decided to try some counter food in Morocco. I decided to get the lamb platter with an ice tea and baklava. If you are on the dining plan like I was, they don't let you pick your dessert. You get their pick of baklava and I have to say the lamb scared me. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Don't get me wrong, I love lamb but there were these big cylindrical things that were turning around and people were cutting slices off them. It reminded me of Soylent Green (points if you saw that movie when it first came out!) only it was in strip form and not cracker form.<br />
<br />
I ADORE lamb - this was a spam like lamb product. I'm sure it was lamb or mostly lamb but had the look and pressed consistency of spam so I am now scared but I soldiered on. It came with hummus (the ONLY way i will EVER eat garbanzo beans, usually I just flick them at people), tabuli and cous cous. There was also a light yogurt sauce on the lamb.<br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> All that being said, while I would have liked real, non spam pressed lamb MUCH better, this was not bad. I especially liked all the sides. GRADE: B<br />
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Word to the wise, do NOT do what this weenie in front of me did. What did he do, you ask? He looked at the menu, saw all the "ethnic" food, got in line and ... ordered a HOT DOG! What is WRONG with you? Why do I care? Because you are in Morocco and if you want nitrate infused beef/pork left over parts go to AMERICA! It's NEXT DOOR! It's like ordering a hot dog in Akershus. Why? It's a waste to eat at a place when you don't like the food. <br />
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I'm glad I tried this lamb dish but next time I will try the fish & chips next time for counter service just because the pressed lamb/chicken scared me.</span></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-82595666201766923872010-01-28T22:46:00.000-08:002010-08-19T16:57:25.627-07:00Raglan Road - Downtown Disney<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">First the restaurant is BEAUTIFUL, just gorgeous. All dark wood and cool hanging light fixtures and a wonderful bar. Now here was the main downside. As lovely as this place is, it was VERY crowded, packed with kids and they were LOUD! This was the ONLY bad kid experience we had this trip. There was one table that gave a BABY metal utensils (KNIVES) to bang together, flail around and I could hardly hear myself think. The "parents" just ignored this. In addition to annoying everyone around them, the baby could have severely injured himself but do the parents care? Nope. Not at all. Maybe they figured that they had so many kids that if they lost one, oh well. Bad parenting really gets me.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6N3ZqTjC2xu6TgyCKaSmZEsXgocCSOarUHMOpAOCITq7P6f6-aHxvuHQdOvXS_9UqUyLOabRIGHE3CKjeSWXm_fZ2d-tXHtZ56mRH0nSUWo9ElXMaMJT4o_MdCHTfU8F23XBDUuHho7c/s1600-h/RRSoup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6N3ZqTjC2xu6TgyCKaSmZEsXgocCSOarUHMOpAOCITq7P6f6-aHxvuHQdOvXS_9UqUyLOabRIGHE3CKjeSWXm_fZ2d-tXHtZ56mRH0nSUWo9ElXMaMJT4o_MdCHTfU8F23XBDUuHho7c/s320/RRSoup.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b> Down the Middle</b> - a hearty Irish tomato and vegetable broth $5.50<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was really nice. Light but flavorful. Translucent onions, small bits of veggies, not too overpowering.<br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9opnz96igkLF_CUJc1rTzgj5CBbHdX6PDQPaELOK_W65cGmFalOjipoRT1AyTsJlH9KUqombRxG8blJpSzx39N5r4Qt4HC9odYSjJFWzsK04Uc5Uok8RU1-Ph9z7uRozFwhpoob97BqE/s1600-h/RRSalad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9opnz96igkLF_CUJc1rTzgj5CBbHdX6PDQPaELOK_W65cGmFalOjipoRT1AyTsJlH9KUqombRxG8blJpSzx39N5r4Qt4HC9odYSjJFWzsK04Uc5Uok8RU1-Ph9z7uRozFwhpoob97BqE/s320/RRSalad.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b> Goats Town</b> - Herb-crusted grilled Irish goat's cheese salad served with fruit compote $12.00<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This was a really nice salad but the berry compote was a bit sweet.<br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRR3tcI1DovGt830ZxUG3AzJ1fAEhFBdUpExaR1JW45gr-HQSTVAv7m_hvRmPl_fjR6Ajo-vgqH6x0g9aDvj-Vcm555utx0BJBRcaDov2EBgVfuefSvWQDSMsOI3Mecp5GwMF1rm1KK-Y/s1600-h/RRStew.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRR3tcI1DovGt830ZxUG3AzJ1fAEhFBdUpExaR1JW45gr-HQSTVAv7m_hvRmPl_fjR6Ajo-vgqH6x0g9aDvj-Vcm555utx0BJBRcaDov2EBgVfuefSvWQDSMsOI3Mecp5GwMF1rm1KK-Y/s320/RRStew.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b> Beef Stew</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The word on this dish is the beef was tender and the gravy was really good. However what was missing with this and with my soup was bread. They don't bring you any and that is a real minus. GRADE: B<br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-zjE6W-P-dQGAY3s648biNwftEQVUxg3oh_SLzIofcNmHe0n9uijVY1Kq30fnHUjcg07uHL3IRzFryXl37oaw158cYMsH2JiVMOIT_RuZOG6_9Na4PQNnY5fBHME0q2cEI9s_kMdIVc/s1600-h/RRChicken.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-zjE6W-P-dQGAY3s648biNwftEQVUxg3oh_SLzIofcNmHe0n9uijVY1Kq30fnHUjcg07uHL3IRzFryXl37oaw158cYMsH2JiVMOIT_RuZOG6_9Na4PQNnY5fBHME0q2cEI9s_kMdIVc/s320/RRChicken.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b> Celtic Chique</b> - baby chicken finished with a light apple cider glaze. $15.95<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sorry the picture is blurry but the camera refused to focus. The chicken was good, especially the glaze but the meat wasn't as flavorful as the chicken I make. The potatoes were OK but nothing special, nothing added. Just a nice dish, nothing to make it a standout. GRADE: B<br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQhTksbw2GQ9uMi-BXPu2fsekXiTmIoyaKl2cl9eYVKYSZ3-uy9xJiqHiZSy2Hj6tqDl9yLQh8HtZbyE2g4xSbQSfXggRl5mMdLVWg-mVxg3J8b7r_OvitaN8QGOYohoOFraRXDBx1UU/s1600-h/risotto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQhTksbw2GQ9uMi-BXPu2fsekXiTmIoyaKl2cl9eYVKYSZ3-uy9xJiqHiZSy2Hj6tqDl9yLQh8HtZbyE2g4xSbQSfXggRl5mMdLVWg-mVxg3J8b7r_OvitaN8QGOYohoOFraRXDBx1UU/s320/risotto.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b> Herb/Leek/Mushroom Risotto</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I think that I should have gone with my first impulse and had the Baby Back Ribs in Guinness and honey glaze for an entree even though it is a starter for two but I went against my first impulse. Never do that. This risotto dish was a total train wreck. It had some kind of lawn clippings on it and shavings of cheese. It was disappointed. WHY is it that every time I'm at the World, my last meal is bad or not as good as X. The green beans on the side I ate which is a bad sign because I usually hate green beans. It's not that they were amazing but that they were better than my entree The leeks were not properly sautéed and they used too much of the green of the shaft.<br />
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Leek Anatomy 101: When cooking with leeks, you want to use the white part on the very bottom by the roots and a bit of the light green section but not too much. As the leek gets greener, it becomes more bitter.<br />
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Well this was the problem with my dish. It was too bitter and too overpowered by the leek. I could hardly eat it (even afterwards and that is UNHEARD OF). GRADE: C-<br />
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Well due to my lack of food intake while drinking my cider I am getting a little buzzed. I get up to use the ladies room, got really confused by the Gaelic names on the doors and walk into the men’s room. "hmmmmm, a line of drinking fountains - guess I am in the wrong place". Fortunately there were no occupants at the time BUT when I opened the door the urinals were right there directly in front of me so if anyone opened the door to enter the bathroom, people in the hall could see men standing there peeing - just saying.<br />
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I will add that the presentation of the fish and chips is awesome. It is in a paper cone and the cone is inserted in a metal spiral thing. At first I thought they were the missing breadsticks. They remove the paper cone and then dump the fish and chips on your plate. They looked good....<br />
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OVERALL I would give this place a B. I feel that I didn't make the best food choices and as a result would give it another chance. Maybe if I sat somewhere else or came a little earlier. I will save it for my solo return trip as my next trip is shorter and pretty much booked. We'll see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-7858776208668840362010-01-27T13:57:00.000-08:002010-08-20T17:40:40.450-07:00Citricos - The Grand Floridian<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Off to one of my favorite places, CITRICOS!!! We were seated promptly and our server Danny greeted us, got our drinks and gave us menus.<br />
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Now things started to take a bad turn. My fav items were gone. No Fois Gras Ravioli, no Duck Breast and no Rack of Lamb. I asked Danny about the items. He gave a good dance about keeping things fresh and animal rights activists and the price of lamb and stuff. Well I told him to see if Chef Gray could make the Raviolis for me anyway since I knew they had Fois Gras at V&A and they share a kitchen.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Then the bomb hit.. Chef Gray was gone! I can't believe it. It seems that he is going to Narcooses in two weeks and the Narcooses chef is now at Citricos!!!!!!!<br />
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OK, I am thinking - the reason I have not gone to Narcooses before was the total lack of enthusiasm by foodies that I trust and now their Chef is at my Fav place??!!!!!!<br />
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God this can't be happening. I went on and on to Danny about how Chef Gray is a God (which he agreed with) and got the distinct feeling that some of the menu changes were due to new chef issues.<br />
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We ordered. The Manager came over to try to talk me out of going to Narcooses on my next trip. I told him that I am following Chef Gray. No offense but he turned this place around and I am following the food. He said to give them a try. Ok, here is for trying.<br />
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APPETIZERS<br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9D4qZTqehlaYfg4YyMJD3DR8VbW776eHs3vA3A4X3v1SZPtKsoAlicT1QcxItNHDvjt8pPUnlw4_IDzW4mQXjBwDLvl8syS9ClXEZT_NxQZCJmimyw8HL3_7Q1SJdo4_FNHHu8CzGxo/s1600-h/CSalad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9D4qZTqehlaYfg4YyMJD3DR8VbW776eHs3vA3A4X3v1SZPtKsoAlicT1QcxItNHDvjt8pPUnlw4_IDzW4mQXjBwDLvl8syS9ClXEZT_NxQZCJmimyw8HL3_7Q1SJdo4_FNHHu8CzGxo/s320/CSalad.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b> Warm Goat Cheese Salad</b>: Arugula, Frisee, Lardons, and Marinated Tomatoes - $9</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The presentation makes it a bit difficult to get some cheese in every bite. The filo is crispy and the cheese marries well with the bacon and the grilled tomatoes. GRADE: A-<br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Fu6W_beDcWN7FRuSIYMGQGZoGoA-SV1jGDb9RJlwfleA1r4VCtmJHvC6b1ZM2xp2uW762ggNEuiHw7Tno03nfFdAbhigpcYaPejIBUvB8AK8SZi8SeWc7aVgWAVk8wUoFFzdYY8MwHw/s1600-h/Crab.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Fu6W_beDcWN7FRuSIYMGQGZoGoA-SV1jGDb9RJlwfleA1r4VCtmJHvC6b1ZM2xp2uW762ggNEuiHw7Tno03nfFdAbhigpcYaPejIBUvB8AK8SZi8SeWc7aVgWAVk8wUoFFzdYY8MwHw/s320/Crab.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b> Gateau of Crab</b>: Jumbo Lump Crab and Orange Fennel Coulis - $12<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This is very creamy and altogether a plate of yum. The crab was large, flavorful and the orange sauce was a lovely compliment. GRADE: A<br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">At this point, Chef Anthony came by to try to convert me to his fan club. I am sure he is a nice person. Younger, tall, dark hair, I'm sure he is talented but had the tude of "I know this chick really wants Chef Gray cooking so I'm going to try to be nice but not try that hard." Try away. The winning is in the cooking so get back in the kitchen and cook! Cook like the wind. I am so not being moved. Chef Gray is nice and tells stories and ...damn.<br />
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ENTREES:<br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOTMVuXRz-pHtHc1-aF3v5KEzAw5Rwvfiv8xGWYXIWXyLoZIRaarXnUKeTun3tm36XN9mXBTxEENwHRcAk6GDnCFeErH_uLBn3_j7AWlYrlwkN-n1OWrmS8VEfqnOerNy31EJbIkNi_4/s1600-h/Swordfish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOTMVuXRz-pHtHc1-aF3v5KEzAw5Rwvfiv8xGWYXIWXyLoZIRaarXnUKeTun3tm36XN9mXBTxEENwHRcAk6GDnCFeErH_uLBn3_j7AWlYrlwkN-n1OWrmS8VEfqnOerNy31EJbIkNi_4/s320/Swordfish.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b> Grilled Swordfish </b>with Vegetable Pearl Pasta and Red Pepper Coulis - $32<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Very nice. Fish is perfectly cooked and the red pepper gives a nice accent to the firm fish. GRADE: A-<br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ-bmB_U5AzXRL0bLLqrsJx_Eolwnzk5C2wDO24U4MHzdmK__l7g-WDvfJfOc423_r6paMb7PQ_p_gWx6nJYK9JGCiK_ayTeR6lyaUcLHVhCraPuC2bGFc3OK_2F3_3lcHdR5jPV8M98/s1600-h/Tilefish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ-bmB_U5AzXRL0bLLqrsJx_Eolwnzk5C2wDO24U4MHzdmK__l7g-WDvfJfOc423_r6paMb7PQ_p_gWx6nJYK9JGCiK_ayTeR6lyaUcLHVhCraPuC2bGFc3OK_2F3_3lcHdR5jPV8M98/s320/Tilefish.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b> Pan Roasted Orange Tilefish</b> with yellow tomato-pepper compote and spinach risotto - $31<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Very nice. Fish is perfectly cooked and the red pepper gives a nice accent to the firm fish. GRADE: A-<br />
This was very light and lovely. Fish can be hit or miss for me and this I completely finished. There was one flavor that was missing that would push it over the edge into the "I'm crying it is so good" territory and that is the yardstick that I am using. GRADE: A-<br />
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DESSERT:<br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg709sThySIm2JUGv0VHdxK2catCC5YjFt_W4_j03t8-Xn3D-uxSwxniU1G0WmwpiEhz3KTwO1fLu2AtXbJ9azExBjN0to-GFFICVfMFiu8QQxigOw3_2bcBWTUqjQ9f8SbNZWMhXqlI1c/s1600-h/CinderCake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg709sThySIm2JUGv0VHdxK2catCC5YjFt_W4_j03t8-Xn3D-uxSwxniU1G0WmwpiEhz3KTwO1fLu2AtXbJ9azExBjN0to-GFFICVfMFiu8QQxigOw3_2bcBWTUqjQ9f8SbNZWMhXqlI1c/s320/CinderCake.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
Citricos Cinderellabration, Bittersweet chocolate mousse tart with orange sauce - $8<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This most unfortunately named dessert was very nice and creamy. The Chocolate crown was edible. The tart had chocolate wings with oranges on them. I asked Danny if this presentation was an homage to "Soarin" since its original name at DL is Soarin over California and we grow oranges here and there is an orange grove in the ride and there is orange sauce, etc. Danny thought that was a neat idea but didn't know. WHY didn't he know or someone figure that out? GRADE: A-<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI_qVu-jLkMNc6MgzjTaCSkl8KBSjiyC0AklYo6b93-dj2GsJtEO0XYm_RznZHjIozZ61Wie96fwCi4kQBqLBIHu8pPH2igwDOAhO4FgR5WkX83OXnK-ZmuxAhZv9-AcXIGHUx2OFbag/s1600-h/Lcheesecake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI_qVu-jLkMNc6MgzjTaCSkl8KBSjiyC0AklYo6b93-dj2GsJtEO0XYm_RznZHjIozZ61Wie96fwCi4kQBqLBIHu8pPH2igwDOAhO4FgR5WkX83OXnK-ZmuxAhZv9-AcXIGHUx2OFbag/s320/Lcheesecake.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Lemon Cheese Cake</b> with raspberry sauce: $8</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This was nice and light . Not really heavy and overpowering in the lemon flavor. GRADE: A-<br />
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Danny also brought us a bottle of Evian and 3 paper cups to go (we were heading over to MK to watch Wishes) and I thought that was really nice.<br />
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Overall, the food is still very good. It was the best place we ate at this trip with Jiko and Akershus and Artist Point very close behind. However none of these items made me cry. When I return for a shorter trip next year, I will try Narcooses now that Chef Gray is there though would not eliminate this from rotation in the future. Only time will tell if their new Chef will step things up. Currently Citricos has fallen to #2 behind Napa Rose at the Grand Californian for the first time. (I don't include V&A since it is in a category all of its own).<o:p></o:p></span></div>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653244414806234880.post-44448726182938721272010-01-27T12:06:00.000-08:002010-08-19T17:02:59.069-07:00O'hana Character Breakfast - Polynesian<a href="file:///Users/deirdresargent/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image002.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="13" src="file://localhost/Users/deirdresargent/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image002.gif" v:shapes="_x0000_i1025" width="13" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well after the bland fest in France, the next morning we headed to the Poly for luau Lilo & Stitch Breakfast fun. I have never done a character breakfast and didn't know what to expect.<br />
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We were seated pretty promptly though I thought the picture spot was LAME! They give you a ticket for your family to get a picture in front of...... tikis. Yup, tikis. Whee. At Akershus, they at least had pictures with Ariel. No character, just tikis. Lame. We passed<br />
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Now let me say that I have never been addicted to coffee. I will drink it on occasion but do not turn into a grumpy, sludge monster if I don't get coffee. Guess who needs coffee in our party? Yup, cousin George. Let's call him Grumpy.<br />
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The server didn't get to our table fast enough. OK she was a little slow and is it just me but I really think most of these servers are the oldest servers in The World. Just an observation.<br />
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So we are finally greeted, drink orders taken and then the coffee wait begins. O God, will it never end! PLEASE bring us coffee as I am dying here. Grumpy with no coffee is scary.<br />
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The characters were Stitch, Lilo, Pluto and The Mouse himself! As I am writing in my trip report book, Stitch snuck up behind me and scared me. Bad Stitch! I thought that the whole Stitch thing would annoy me but he was really fun to watch and play with. Grumpy didn't play much since he still needed coffee.<br />
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Now came the food (sorry, no pictures, we were too busy eating). They bring you a big wok with the regulars - scrambled eggs (good but a little loose/wet if you don’t like that, they may need to cook them more), bacon (very good), sausage (didn't try but heard from they were a little spicy but good), Home fried Potatoes (didn't try but heard they were good), Mickey Waffles (not as warm as I would like but fun), bread basket with biscuits, cinnamon roll and PINEAPPLE BREAD! OH MY GOD! This stuff was sooooooooooooo good. I had them bring more and then I took it with me. I snacked on this all day. It is a soft yeasty roll type bread with crushed pineapple on the bottom. It's really good warm but just as yummy cold. A little sticky but I can deal.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Pluto was very funny and then I got to see the MOUSE! He was wearing his Hawaiian shirt with a lei. I told him that he is my fav and that I love him. He got all embarrassed. I swear I will mud wrestle Minnie for The Mouse. OK, I'm getting a little carried away and weird but it is early in the morning on the west coast. Mickey signed my book and that made my morning. Lilo never came by which was fine with me since I really don't care about her. It’s all about the Mouse.<br />
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Grade: Overall Food = B-, Pineapple Bread = A-, Characters = A, Noise Level = B (Actually pretty good table spacing and not a lot of screaming), Kid Activities = B (They had a parade with noise makers)</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span>Deirdre Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17597253359703566617noreply@blogger.com0