Mickey Mouse Monday! Retirees, Basketball and Anne Geddes

Alrighty folks! I woke up early today, partly to have some time with Thor before he went off to spend the day in a basement, and partly because we got an early entry into Disneyland.

Upon arrival, the registry desk told us we got a few days that we could go into the park an hour early...whoot! Today was the big day. I walked around for a bit then went to stand in line. when I saw just how many other people got in early I was amazed. It seems that if you stay in any one of the hotels you get in early. That's a lot of people. But hey.

Another surprise, the last time (years ago!) I got in early we only got as far as Main Street. This time we got to go into Fantasy Land and Tomorrow Land. The other lands were closed until regular opening, but some folks were a bit upset about that.

I learned that the last employee to be hired by Walt still works in New Orleans Square, Ernie the guitarist. I actually took his photo last week or so, scroll down and you can see Ernie. The folks at Guest services weren't sure if Ernie was the longest current employee, but they all were betting on it.

I was also told that former employees/retirees meet once a month, wear their badges and hang out to reminisce about Walt, the old days and working with the guests.

In the waiting time I talked with one of the guys who works in Adventure Land. He told me a few secrets about Indiana Jones, and also that, "No", there are no secret tunnels or a town under Disneyland, only a few access tunnels for maintenance. However, there is a basketball half court in the upper section of the Matterhorn. It was built as a favour to building and maintenance crews, who still, occasionally, use it after hours.

Later I was out in Down Town Disney in the Anne Geddes store. This is the only Anne Geddes store in the world, so far... Soon Anne Geddes will have stores within a store at Dillard's across America. Also if you are in SoCAL during the weekend of December 8-9, Anne will be in the store to sign books (limit 5). (8th: 4-6 p.m., 9th: 2-4 p.m.)

Mickey Mouse Monday!- Dia De Los Muertos!

¡Disneyland está celebrando a diá de los muertos! Hopefully Babelfish translated that correctly for me! In the patio by the shooting galleries in Frontierland, Disneyland has put up a very vivid, colourful floral display celebrating the Day of the Dead. A Latin American holiday honouring ancestral dead. Want more info and photos on the celebration and nearby Zocalo Restaurant?
click here!

Mickey Mouse Monday! Finding Nemo Subs!

Thor and I decided to make a pilgrimage to check out Finding Nemo Submarine Adventure, or whatever it is called....Finding Nemo.

Replacing (finally) the pond and subs that have been there stagnate for years. With a new bright yellow paint job and plenty of hype, we wondered...

Is the Finding Nemo ride worth the wait? click here to find out more

Mickey Mouse Monday!

Halloween is upon us, even over at Disneyland. According to their flyer:

"Mickey's Halloween Treat is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween Disney Style!" A private costume party for little kids where they can play with the characters, ride the attractions, participate in interactive games, listen to "spirited" music, and trick or treat as they roam through California Adventure.

They are advertising a "new nightly character cavalcade", although I haven't been there to experience or give a review, yet.

Dates for this event are:
October 4, 11, 18, 25, 30, and 31 6:30 - 10:30 p.m.
October 5, 12, 19, and 26 7:30 - 11:30 p.m.

You can pre purchase tickets for a reduced price at DISNEYLAND.COM/MHT or by calling (714) 781-4400. Doing so will save you $10.00 per person!

Prices are $29.00 per person advance order or $39.00 at the door the night of the event. There is limits on how many guests may attend the event, so they suggest pre-sale tickets.

ALSO: Be it noted that although they are in full swing with the holiday, YOU MAY NOT WEAR YOUR COSTUME INTO DISNEYLAND PARK. wah! That said, we saw plenty of little princesses and Peter Pans, pirates, and such, the day we were there, so who knows how they decide what exactly is a "costume".

New Orleans Square is all dolled up for the holiday. The Haunted Mansion is open for spooky fun with "The Nightmare Before Christmas" decor all about. This is one of my favorite times of the year. The story line and design is awesome, I love Tim Burton and Disney does it right. Jack Skelington is fabulous. The decorations should run through early January.

Out in Adventure Land, Woody's Halloween Roundup is celebrating with "tricks, treats, live stage adventures, sing-alongs, crafts, cookie decorating, and more!"

Woody's Halloween Adventures: Daily 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Woody's (regular?) Adventures: Daily 11:00 a.m., 12:00, 1:00, 2:45, 3:45, 4:45 p.m.

The Parade of Dreams begins nightly at 7:00 on Main Street.

Jedi Training Academy in Tomorrow Land: Daily 10:30, 11:35 a.m., 12:40, 2:25, 3:30, 4:35 p.m.

Disney Princesses will enjoy:

Princess Royal Walk: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Royal Coronation: 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:15, 4:00, 5:00 p.m.
Royal Crafts: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Story Telling by a Princess: 10:55 a.m., 12:05, 1:45, 4:30 p.m.
All in Fantasy Land

On Tom Sawyer's Island: Become a Pirate! Search for treasure, take the pirate oath, and live like a pirate all day long! The Pirate's Lair runs daily: 11:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m., last raft leaves for the island at 5:30 p.m. Get there early.

Characters:

Mickey at his house in Toon Town. Minnie strolling Toon Town 'till 6:00 p.m.
Whinnie the Poop (to most toddlers, Pooh to the rest of us) and all his friends hang out near his ride in Critter Country, just beyond Splash Mountain. 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Princesses in Fantasy Land 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Buzz Lightyear in Tamale (tomorrow) Land 10:00, 11:00 a.m., 12:00. 2:45, 3:45, 4:45 p.m.

Fast Passes are only available for the following rides:
Autopia, Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones, Roger Rabbit, Splash Mountain.

Also, the River Belle Terrace restaurant is completely boarded up and closed for renovations currently. It is supposed to reopen late October/November with an all new menu???

Coming next week: Finding Nemo Subs! review.

We're blighters and beggars and ne'r do well cads

Yesterday a friend of mine and I went to Disneyland. The Happiest Place on Earth. The theme park of our childhood. The envy of 10 year olds everywhere. It took us forever to get there, but then if you live in SoCAL you know that no one should ever drive the 91 for anything. EVER. Nuclear holocaust headed your way and the 91 is your ONLY escape route? Forget it and take the hit. You were going to die eventually anyway. At least this way it would be fast.

We finally get to the happiest place on Earth and realize, "It's Spring Break!" Yeah! A gazillion people are here today! YEAH! No one likes standing in line for "120 minutes from this point" like I do. HOLY HANNAH break out the balloons this is FUN!

Let me back up just a tad. We arrive at said "happy place". It's 3:30 by the time we are frisked, cavity searched, metal detected, x-rayed, shoe removal-ed, virus scanned, (o.k. so I exaggerate here... the rest is REAL) ticketed and allowed to stand in our first line of the day - the bathroom.

On the tram from the parking structure we met a family from Wisconsin who were there for the first time. How bad do I now feel for these folks and their three tiny kids who are now here for probably the only time in their lives and will now wait (in your best "Sandlot" voice)
FOR EV ER! to ride each and every "attraction"! I bleed for these people. $50.oo to stand in a Disney-freaking-line! Yo ho my sorry Pirate! This is absurd!

Add into the mix that these folks are seeing Disneyland -the theme park that started them all, the one that sets the bar, for the first time and they are greeted by rusted poles on the Monorail, peeling ceilings in the Pirate's of the Caribbean, and torn and stripped wallpaper in the Haunted Mansion to mention only a few 'problems'.

This is not the Disneyland we grew up with. It's a mess. In the coffee/cookie/hot cocoa shop on Main Street (right next to the fruit stand and the lockers) we stood under very filthy fire sprinkler heads (hello Health and Fire codes) while we waited to be waited on. As we looked up at the dangling dust flowing off the sprinkler heads like moss in Magnolia trees we also noticed that the fruit holding glass display jars obviously hadn't been dusted in a good year or 2. They belonged over at the haunted mansion with all the other old dusty stuff. Problem is: this dust and grime is real. When it's my turn I lean over and whisper to the gal waiting on me, "Is there a manager available?" "No, can I help you?" "Well, I am just noticing how the place needs a little attention in the cleaning department." "huh?" "Well, the shelves over there are draped with hanging dust as are your sprinkler heads; and the fruit jars behind you are so thick with dust we can't see the fruit through the top of the jars." "Oh." (play elevator music here, maybe "Ceilings...nothing more than ceilings...") "O.k. then! Well my work here is done. You have a nice day now." "Um, o.k. ma'am, you wanna bag for that?" "No, no thank you, bye now." Problem solved. I am sure they are cleaning it up as we speak.

This year mark's Disneyland's 50th year in operation. A gynormous celebration is to begin on May 5th. There have been ads and flyers and promotions sent out to pretty much every Californian and probably the same things are being used to bring in the tourists from out of state and country. Walt Disney is rolling in his grave. I enjoy the fact that I am blessed enough to afford an annual pass. I really like going there just for dinner and sight seeing. I think Disneyland can bring a lot of happiness to people. But for heaven's sake, these people are making a huge profit off of sentiment and hype. Back in the day Walt made sure things were perfect. PERFECT! It was a true fantasy land. No one ever saw a mess, rust, dust, real rodents, decay, repairs or the construction. It was behind decorative wood barricades, painted prettily to conceal the mess and usually with some story line to match whatever the theme of that area was. Now it's a huge blue or grey structure, of wood, but just there -looming- with a large sign saying they'll be glad to take your money while maintenance is being had. We're all being had.

C'mon Disney. Get it together. I know that you are succeeding on the out of state market and foreign tourists. But hey, after a while, they too will get tired of the steadily declining product you are selling and tell their friends. It's a Mouse Trap.

P.S. Highlight of the day was Scott. A low on the totem pole employee who went out of his way to make my friend and I extremely comfortable in an embarrassing situation. Thanks Scott. If Walt were alive, you would get a promotion. You know what Disneyland is -or was- all about.