Visiting the Disneyland resort during the holiday season is purely magical. The transition at the Haunted Mansion (See Episode #3) and the overlay at It’s a Small World are apparent examples of Holiday theming. In addition, the Disneyland and Downtown Disney hotels are great examples of “Disney” decorating detail. I had the opportunity to visit the Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian. I visited in December 2011; not all of the Disneyland Hotel Construction was completed, but you could hardly notice.
I did my best to capture the best of both. Including a trip to Trader Sam’s for a Red-Nosed Zebra and Mele Kaliki-Moca
The Little Mermaid: Ariels Undersea Adventure As the excitement and anticipation of the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom New Fantasyland continues, we can get a sneak peek at one of the new attractions with a quick visit to Disneyland Resorts California Adventure.
Originally planned for Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom in the mid-1990s, “The Little Mermaid” dark ride was “Shelved”. Researching the history of the attraction I uncovered some very interesting things, including the virtual ride-through of the “attraction never build” on the 2006 DVD version of the Little Mermaid.
The Little Mermaid Attraction was revived when the Disney California Adventure and WDW Magic Kingdom expansions were announced. The DCA version of the attraction opened on June 3, 2011, replacing the Golden Dreams Theater and the WDW version will be part of the fantasyland expansion phase 1, to open in 2012.
While the rides will be almost identical the attraction in Florida will have a much more elaborate theme as the Queue will lead to Prince Eric’s castle. Hope you agree the attraction looks to be well worth the wait.
mickey’s ToonTown Fair at Walt Disney World may be History, but you can still visit Mickey and all his friends at Mickey’s ToonTown in Disneyland park.
Welcome to Sam’s Disney Diary Episode #4 — Disneyland’s Toontown
To Quote Walt Disney “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” That statememt is true for all of the Disney Theme Parks.
As the excitement of “New” Fantasyland moves more to reality in Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom It’s hard not to reminisce and remember Mickey’s Toontown Fair Mickey’s Toontown Fair in Florida officially closed in February 2011 to make room for Storybook Circus opening in early 2012. If you Miss Toontown fair, don’t worry, according to story Toontown Fair was the vacation home of Mickey and the Gang. In reality Mickey lives in Disneyland California ToonTown. Not only does Mickey have a house but you will find Minnie’s House, Donald’s Boat, Chip and Dales’ Tree house, Goofy’s House, Gadgets Go Coaster and Rodger Rabbits cartoon Spin.
In this episode of Sams Disney Diary well take a quick look at Disneyalnd’s ToonTown. If youi enjoyed this edition of the Diary check out episode #2 Disneyland’s Fantasyland.
Hope you like this quick look at Disneyland Toontown!!! and if you miss Toon Town fair, consider it another reasn to visit Disneyland!!
Sams Disney Diary Episode #3 – Disneyland’s Haunted Holiday
This past fall, I was lucky enough to visit Disneyland, and Every September, the Disneyland Haunted Mansion is transformed into the Haunted Holiday.
From mid-September until early January, the Haunted Mansion is taken over by Jack Skellington and Friends. The holiday overlay blends the settings and characters of the original Haunted Mansion with those of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The Haunted Mansion typically closes for two and half weeks in September so it can be converted into the Haunted Mansion Holiday. The overlaid attraction is then open to guests from late September through early January before being closed again during January so the overlay can be removed. The combination of Halloween/Christmas theme allows the overlay to run the full Halloween to Christmas season.
The Haunted Holiday overlay takes place every year at Disneyland (And Tokyo Disneyland)
You won’t find it in Walt Disney World!! It’s been around since 2001, on a recent trip I was able to visit Disneyland while the overlay was in place. Needless to say, it was quite a treat. (Now to visit closer to Christmas… The Small World Holiday looks fabulous!!!!)
Disneyland Fantasyland vs WDW Magic Kingdom Fantasyland
With all the talk and focus on the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland expansion (2011) a recent trip to California made it the perfect opportunity to compare Disneyland and Walt Disney World Fantasyland “Before” the massive expansion at Walt Disney World, currently under construction. It’s difficult to do a direct comparison ride for a ride, some attractions like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh are great Disneyland attractions, but they don’t reside in Fantasyland “per-say” but in another land altogether. Or in the case of Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, it’s in a completely different park, but I’ll save that for another show.
Disneyland is full of one-of-a-kind attractions that make fantasyland a must-do for any Walt Disney World fan. Some attractions you know and love like: Peter Pans Flight, Dumbo, Mad Tea Party, it’s a Small World (The same but very different) and for now snow White’s Scary Adventure.
While other attractions are old school for Disneyland fans they are refreshing and charming to Walt Disney World fans. Attractions like Casey Jr’s Circus Train, The Storybook land Canal Boats, The Alice in wonderland adventure, and Mr. Toad.
Sam’s Disney Diary is a way for me to share my experience traveling to various Disney-related locations with a family of 5. My passion for Disney Parks started long ago and has since been shared many times with my family. It’s the one place we can all agree is truly “Magical”.
Disneyland Fantasyland | WDW Magic Kingdom Fantasyland | Disneyland vs Walt Disney World | Mr ToadStorybook Circus Phase II Construction as seen on March 13, 2012 from the Great Goofini lift hill.Entrance to the Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini. When you visit make sure you checkout the back of the sign, notice anyting “familiar” to the area?Dumbo the Flying Elephant as seen during the March 2012 soft opening of Storybook Circus phase 1.. Notice construction walls behind… stay tuned for much mroe.Disneyland Fantasyland | WDW Magic Kingdom Fantasyland | Disneyland vs Walt Disney World | Mr ToadDisneyland Fantasyland | WDW Magic Kingdom Fantasyland | Disneyland vs Walt Disney World | Mr Toad
Sams Disney Dianry is a way for me to share my experience traveling to various Disney related locations with a family of 5. My passion for Disney Parks started long ago and has since been shared may times with my family. It’s the one place we can all agree is truly “Magical”. I hope you enjoy this first edition, highlighting our recent trip to the Disney Family Museum.
November 2011 – Just finished my tour of the Disney family museum, my reaction….
I needed more time!!!!
The story of Walt’s life has been told many times, on DVD, in books, articles, and various publications. His life has been documented in many short films and extended documentaries, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them all. That said there is a special touch here at the Disney Family Museum that makes you feel connected. The museum is in the presidio of San Francisco, near the golden gate bridge, and takes up one of the five original barracks buildings build by the US army in the 1890s. The museum also includes a café and gift shop (of course).
Upon entering the building, the ticket desk is the first thing you find. Side Note: Most local hotels have a pamphlet that include a $3 off admission ticket – There is also a AAA discount at $5 a ticket (making admission $15 per adult & $7 for 6-12, under 6 free)(Pricing as of November 2011)
Attending with a group of 5 including 3 kids a $5 per ticket discount is always welcome. The Tickets include bold type that can be a little intimating. NO Cell Phones, No Photography, No Strollers, No Backpacks, No Food or Beverage! That’s a lot of NOs and with a toddler, some big ones. (i.e. No Strollers) But March on we will…
Sams Disney Diary Episode #1 – The Disney Family Museum
The museum covers the life of Walt Disney in amazing detail that frankly, I didn’t know existed. The tour starts in the trophy room (The only place in the museum you can take pictures), that room includes the snow white and the seven dwarfs special academy award. The trophy you have seen in video footage of Walt with Shirley Temple “I bet your so prod Mr. Disney…” The Trophy room also includes furniture from Walt’s Disneyland apartment, a great touch.
After getting our tickets scanned and hands stamped, the stamps allow you to leave and re-enter, and with a toddler, we did.
As any Disney fan knows, the story starts in 1901 in Chicago and moves to Marceline, Missouri; Kansas City then back to Chicago. To chronicle those moves the museum uses original animation with Walts voice to describe family thoughts and reasoning. The audio was edited from lots of sources, most of which I recognized, but some I hadn’t heard before. The moves were broken into three sections and each had its own set of artifacts and pictures. Each also had a unique video board, each framed to look like one of the artifacts, the animation was great and most important. It held the attention of my Toddler! The first exhibit also included a replica of a Red Cross ambulance like the one Walt drove in France to support the war effort (WWI). Of note is Walt’s passport from 1917, and as the story goes, the birthdate is 1900, the original being alerted by Walt so he could join the war effort a year early.
The story picks up after the war when Walt returned to Kansas City. In Kansas City Walt started the not so successful Laugh-O-Gram, after that failed attempt at a studio Walt backed up, and headed for Hollywood. The museum moves to the second floor, but, in true Disney fashion, getting to the second floor is part of the story. The elevator is elaborately decorated as a period railroad car delivering guests from Kansas City to Hollywood. (Nice Touch)
The entrance to Hollywood includes a great video wall of vintage Alice comedies and exhibits ranging from person letters from Walt to Roy. And elaborate listening stations describing the history of the Alice Comedies. A nice entrance to Hollywood!
The next room moves to vintage Oswald. As is well documented losing the rights (and people) to develop Oswald Walt needed to set on a new direction. The famous dialog is chronicled: “Mortimer… No Walt, Mortimer won’t to… how about Mickey.” What struck me most about this room wasn’t the wall of Steamboat Willie drawings (346 hand drawings in all, that account for only 15 seconds). No not the exhibits that allow you to add sound. No not the vintage Mickey plush & Watches. What struck me most about this room was by far a simple piece of paper, (OK It’s a replica) but, if you are Disney fan you have seen it before! The oldest know drawing of Mickey Mouse. The one that you have seen in many documentaries, there it was… Brown paper, creases and all… WOW!
After Mickey? The silly symphonies of course. The next room details the technology advances made through the silly symphony series. Including a detail look at the collaboration efforts behind the three pigs (Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf) to the color advances of the ugly duckling. All of which lead to the “Risk and Success”… Snow White. My 10 year old daughter found a few hands on exhibits in the snow whiter area very interesting, specifically a hand cranked example of making a cartoon with picture after picture of snow white making here move)
In the snow white room an original snow white book stands out… opened to the first page it’s signed… “To Diane with love from daddy, Walt Disney” Priceless. Thanks Diane for sharing that with the world!
Of course Show White is the foundation for many more productions. They are chronicled here, Pinocchio (and the multi-plane-camera), Dumbo and Fantasia. This section of the museum also provided a large screen with seats showing fantasia (Sources Apprentice, keeping the toddler somewhat happy, a stroller would have made mom and dad happy)
The Studio Strike and WWII make the next exhibits a little less than exciting, but an important part of Walt’s history.
The “Ribbon of video” in the next exhibit features live action films Walt was personally involved in. It also includes many interactive booths to explore the catalog.
The Segway between the live action and the next exhibit feature a glass pavilion with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge – The only place on the tour that you can take pictures. On a clear day it’s beautiful! (My visit, not so clear)
What you see next is simply “The Bench”
The next room, by far, is the most anticipated. Living up to that anticipation entering the room just took my breath away. This beautiful space features items that I’ve seen in books, but never expected to see with my own eyes. The first thing you see… WOW!! There it is… The Lilly Belle, THE train from Walt’s house! All the cars, exactly how it looks in all the pictures, the seats worn – as though Walt was riding on them yesterday! What an overwhelming experience, this took some time to digest. In addition, the history and articles associated are outstanding. As you move down the sweeping ramp past the train you start to see concept art and models for Disneyland, and ultimately a scale model of Disneyland with the most unbelievable detail imaginable! It’s not an exact model, but more Walt’s vision of Disneyland… around 1966. Most of it is what exists today, only a few items didn’t make the park, and as Walt always said, the park will never be completed. The stage coaches have since been replaced by splash mountain and critter country. The detail is just amazing, as would be expected from any Disney project. From the animals on the jungle cruise ride – don’t worry, they are wearing their trunks, to the working Dumbo and carousal, to the Matterhorn mountain. I could have stayed here all day.
The exhibit leads to work on the 1964 world fair, more live action and animated films and his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow… The Gallery floor design looks a lot like an early Epcot map. Walt’s live is in full swing, so much happening at once.
Then you move to the next exhibit, it’s a simple one, and emotional one. A small console television cira 1960s, with a special bulletin announcement; The World had lost an Icon. Opposite the small console TV are editorial cartoons from around the world and telegrams of condolence to family….
It’s touching… simple, and touching… and can be emotional, I needed to walk back to the Disneyland model, it looked a little different this time, I looked a little longer, noticed a little more detail.
After taking a little time with I headed back towards the end, but this time closed my eyes as I walked past the news of Walt’s death. Leaving with the images of the Disneyland Model are just so much better… after all I didn’t pay to be upset. The final gallery is a video wall that captures the life of Walt Disney, and a very fitting end to the museum.
In summary: I wish I had more time, and I wish I had a stroller!!! That’s the best way to summarize the experience!!!
