Note: This post is part of a 15 Day challenge with questions referring to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. For more information, or to see all 15 questions, please refer to the introductory post, The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge. As stated in that post, I am not the creator of the challenge – just a willing participant!
Day 9: Your Favorite Park
For some more traveled readers, this one may not be as easy. For me it’s a no-brainer. Even with California Adventure taking many steps in the right direction, nothing will ever be able to nudge the original park out of my heart and mind.
I Know You’re Shocked.
Really… I don’t think any other words are necessary.
Note: This post is part of a 15 Day challenge with questions referring to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. For more information, or to see all 15 questions, please refer to the introductory post, The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge. As stated in that post, I am not the creator of the challenge – just a willing participant!
Day 8: Your favorite hotel or resort.
I’m not a hotel snob. I’m far from it. I need a clean room and a bed to be happy – mind you, the more comfortable the bed, the happier I am. The most important thing for me is location and cost. Due to that criteria, I’ve stayed at many of the hotels up and down Harbor – just a few more before I’ve tried them all! The point being, I don’t need a Disney-owned property to make me happy when on vacation. In fact, I’ve only stayed at the Paradise Pier Hotel and couldn’t even judge the others. That’s fine by me, though. I doubt either of them would take away from my favorite place to stay when visiting The Land.
The Candy Cane Inn
To me, there’s nothing that says Disney to me more than a stay at The Candy Cane Inn. I’ve stayed there since I was very young. The place looked much different than it does now, but it still had candy canes at the front desk! While not on Disney property, its close proximity (on Harbor Blvd) makes for a pleasant walk. And while the Cane offers a shuttle, for me, the walk has always been a part of the experience; perhaps that’s one reason I hold it in high respects. Walking down Harbor, taking in the smell of Anaheim air (you know, that, muggy, misty, early morning smell you get while walking near Disneyland? It’s very distinctive…), watching my little girl run and race to each star on the Anaheim Walk of Fame, just to end on Walt’s star… it’s definitely a part of the routine I love when staying there.
Of course, if it wasn’t a good hotel with courteous staff, it would all be for naught. The rooms are small and quaint, but comfortable. The staff is friendly: Edd, the hotel’s resident ambassador is there to great guests every morning as they eat their continental breakfasts (which, I may add, is one of the best continental breakfasts around), chatting up the children about Tinker Bell, showing off his collection on his lanyard. It’s a very homey, independently owned hotel, and very much worth the stay if you can afford it.
Not to mention, free candy canes!
Now it’s your turn? Do you have a favorite place to stay when you visit a Disney park? Can’t wait to hear your answers!
Note: This post is part of a 15 Day challenge with questions referring to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. For more information, or to see all 15 questions, please refer to the introductory post, The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge. As stated in that post, I am not the creator of the challenge – just a willing participant!
Day 7: Your favorite parade, show or attraction that is no longer in the park.
Oh, Tomorrowland. How you torture me so. Your empty Peoplemover track is a reminder of Yesterland – so much gone from a different time, removed for the sake of progress, yet leaving us reminders of former glory. I miss the “iconic” look of Tomorrowland: The Rocket Jets spinning high in the air, the brightly colored Peoplemover Vehichles passing through, guests lining up to be shrunk by something or someone other than Rick Moranis, Skyway Buckets overhead…
Anyone else hoping that one day the holes in the Matterhorn are just magically “unplugged” and it was all some horrible dream?
Yes, the Skyway takes the cake as the ride I miss most and want back. What a grand way to travel! I remember going on this ride with my sister when I was younger – the first ride we ever took without parental supervision – and just marveling at the sights below. Of course, at a younger age, the height I remember looking down from was greatly exaggerated, I’m sure, but at that point, I felt on top of the world. In high school, I saw the Main Street Electrical Parade from the best point of view ever: A Skyway bucket. I remember how I thought to myself, “I’m going to have to remember this one. Others need to see this view!” Alas, ’twas not to be. The Skyway closed in 1994. The tunnels in the Matterhorn were sealed up, and the Fantasyland station was left standing as a reminder that makes me nostalgic to this day.
I’ve included another video for viewing in today’s entry; this one taken by Kevin Yee on the Skyway’s final day of operation. The quality isn’t the greatest, but with the accompanying music, it definitely captures the feel of what it was like to ride it; especially when passing through the Matterhorn to the Tomorrowland side, looking out on a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.
Walt said Disneyland would never be complete as long as there was imagination left in the world. But in my imagination, if this ride is ever able to make a comeback, it may feel just a touch more complete.
Well, that’s it for today’s selection for the challenge! What is your favorite ride from a bygone time? I’m sure there are a plethora of answers out there, and I can’t wait to hear!
Since today is a holiday, I’ve taken the day off from The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge. For those who are looking for a little Disney tinge for the fourth of July, I thought I’d offer up the following options:
From the movie/Wonderful World of Color television series “Johnny Tremain,” I give you the Sons of Liberty:
If you’re feeling a bit nostalgic, here’s a show from Yesterland – See how many characters you can spot that are now in Splash Mountain! (Courtesy of my friend David “RU42!”)
And last, what Fourth of July would be complete without fireworks? (Thanks for this one too, Dave!)
Note: This post is part of a 15 Day challenge with questions referring to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. For more information, or to see all 15 questions, please refer to the introductory post, The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge. As stated in that post, I am not the creator of the challenge – just a willing participant!
Day 6: Your Favorite Parade
I’ll be honest. I’ve never been a huge fan of parades. Sure, they’re fun and have great music a lot of the time; they’re also a great way to see characters you may not be able to meet elsewhere in the park. However, to me, waiting for and watching parades are taking up valuable time that can be spent elsewhere – like a less congested Fantasyland or Tomorrowland. There are rides to ride, people!
That being said, I do have a fondness for some parades. Of course, I’m a fan of the Main Street Electrical Parade (later to be titled Disney’s Electrical Parade, but let’s face it – Main Street, USA is its rightful home and always will be!), with its sparkling lights and electro-synthemagnetic musical sounds – it’s a classic, and a pretty one at that! I still remember being able to watch parts of it from overhead on the Skyway, but that’s a post for a different day. The latest offering, Soundsational is pretty fun, too. It embraces the idea of a parade over show stops, with great music and fun interactions. One of my daughter’s favorite activities is riding on my shoulders after the parade is over and following the last float down Main Street. What daddy couldn’t appreciate that?
There is, however, one parade, that seems to catch my attention more than others: A Christmas Fantasy Parade.
And the soldiers actually play their trumpets!
I think perhaps it’s just because I am an absolute nut when it comes to Christmas. The entire season is magical for me – throw in Disneyland and I’m just plain enchanted. The parade itself, with the oft repeating music, marching soldiers, dancing snowmen, ice skating Mickey and Minnie, Santa and so much more, is a spectacle to behold. Add in the factor that this is an annual occurrence; it gives me time to miss it and discover it new the following year! Now that I’m a parent, it’s even more fun to enjoy with my little girl; to keep our eyes out for whoever may be coming up next to spread the Christmas cheer!
“Have a Tiggery Christmas and a Poohriffic New Year!”
I will admit, there is one part of the parade I’m okay with missing: the reindeer. Yes, they’re cute and entertaining, but when you’ve seen this after working at the Disney Store for countless Christmases, you tend to be a little concerned:
*SHUDDER* I guess there’s one part of Christmas and Disney that just doesn’t do it for me.
Alright, dear readers, now it’s your turn. Do you have a favorite parade? If so, feel free to share below!
*Quick note – I’ll be taking tomorrow, July 4th off from the Disneyland Challenge, but be sure to check in for a few Independence Day themed video links!
Note: This post is part of a 15 Day challenge with questions referring to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. For more information, or to see all 15 questions, please refer to the introductory post, The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge. As stated in that post, I am not the creator of the challenge – just a willing participant!
Day 5: Your Favorite Snack
Oh, Disneyland. What a dream you are for foodies. Almost anywhere in the park, you can follow your nose to something. From the lovely scents pouring out of the Candy Palace on Main Street, to the buttery aroma of fresh popped popcorn, followed by the cinnamon & sugar mixture that is a churro, there are no shortage of quick bites and snack foods in Disneyland. The Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor is a favorite, with the specialty sundaes that our family of three often shares. No trip is complete without a souvenir bucket of popcorn for the ride home. At some point, you can be guaranteed we’ll be stopping at a cart for a Mickey shaped ice cream bar or frozen banana. The bigger question as far as snacks are concerned is:
What snack don’t I like at Disneyland???
Nope. Can’t think of one. So we’ll just go with my favorite of them all:
Pineapple Goodness!
Whether you choose to have it as a float (with pineapple juce), or just by itself, Dole Whip – that heavenly frozen concoction sold at the stand that has longer lines than many rides – just cannot be beat. The tangy/sweet flavor of a mix of pineapple and soft serve has served as a delicious cool down on many a warm day for many people. I realize it’s not popular for everyone, and to those people, I want to say one thing:
Thank you for making the line a few people shorter.
Dole whips have taken on almost a cult following, with people looking for copycat recipes and locations away from the parks that serve it. I have yet to find a location where I live, and have not tried to make my own, but I pay tribute in a different way:
Now I take Dole Whip with me (in spirit) wherever I go, thanks to the awesome designs of Richard Terpstra!
Yes, it’s the only time I’ve paid homage to food with a t-shirt, but being a DisNerd, it only seems natural…. and I haven’t saved up to buy the churro t-shirt yet.
Confessions Of A DisNerd 