Opening Ceremony – For DisNerds?

Posted on by

Around here, my family happens to be a big fan of the Olympics. For the next two weeks, I can tell you what our TV will be tuned to – anything Olympic related.

Tonight is the opening ceremony: the lighting of the torch, the introduction of nations, and of course, the performance directed by film director Danny Boyle. But I have it on good authority some classic characters – who, by the way, were later adapted into Disney productions – will be involved. being a fan of anything that can be tied to Disney, I can’t wait to watch!
How about you? I’d love to hear feedback, especially after the ceremonies of your thoughts!

 

 

So Now What, Mr. DisNerd?

Posted on by

I want to start off with a sincere thank you to readers of this blog. Your follows and “likes” on the blog itself, Facebook and Twitter have meant the world to me, as have your comments and participation here.

It’s been a great beginning.

When I started this blog journey a few months back, I started with a desire to tell stories from the perspective of a fan; not a cynic, not an all-encompassing news outlet, not a focus on one aspect of Disney. I love sharing stories with a personal slant, as well as observations I make from a DisNerd’s point of view. I have plenty to say and talk about, and I’m not going anywhere. As long as you all keep reading, I’ll keep sharing. However, in writing, I found something else I’ve enjoyed just as much:

Other people’s stories and perspective.

I realized whenever I posted my thoughts on a subject, I wasn’t alone. Others had their own opinions and experiences, and I loved reading those as much as I enjoyed writing my stories. I’ll admit that The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge was not just an exercise in a near-daily writing for me; it was also an exercise in getting people talking about Disney. I guess it’s nice to know we’re part of a bigger community. Call it what you will: Disney fans, geeks, nuts… I prefer DisNerd of course, but regardless of what we’re called, we’re our own Disneyfied family.

With that being said, I have plans to continue writing with that in mind. While the regular blog entries and stories aren’t going anywhere, I also plan on more “challenges” and posts that pose questions to readers in an effort to engage loyal readers and newcomers alike. As well, look for the occasional picture, quote or little tidbits of trivia or fun on a regular basis. Look for the possibilities of more giveaways as well, as supply and opportunity arises!

Feel free to message me via Facebook or Twitter with questions, comments or ideas. I’ve also created an account with Formspring at http://www.formspring.me/COADisnerd to answer any questions readers may like to pose. In turn, I may post the reply on the Confessions of a DisNerd blog and pose the same question to everyone else – just another way to keep the feeling of a DisNerd community going!

I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with all of you and sharing the love that a man and a mouse started!

Happy Birthday, Disneyland!

Posted on by

Welcoming words indeed.

 

57 Years ago today, Disneyland opened its gates for the first time to select (and not so select – tickets were easily duplicated!) invited guests, and the world got its first glimpse of a true phenomenon. Though the day proved to be hectic to say the least – overcrowding, freshly poured asphalt sinking high heels into Main Street, jumbled broadcasting – there was truly nothing like it, and the public, if not the critics, ate up every minute of it. What could have turned into one of the biggest follies the Disney company had ever known turned into success instead. As hard as it is to imagine in today’s information age of instant everything, this was truly a first glimpse of everything. With no internet fan sites providing inch by inch sneak photos of construction progress, criticisms and skepticism, all the public had to go off was occasional updates from the Disneyland TV show and the reputation of Disney: both the company and Walt himself.

But that was enough.

What many couldn’t fathom in their own mind was captured perfectly from Walt’s imagination and put into action in wonderful ways. Guests could fly over London with Peter Pan. Go for a spin in a teacup. Visit the old west. Pretend they were on a safari in the deepest jungles of Africa. Visit the far off future of 1986 – imagine the wonders of life by then! Relive an Americana so perfect it could only exist on Main Street, USA. This wasn’t a cheap park built off of roller coasters and ferris wheels  – it was the first true theme park.

While nothing ever ran as smooth as expected, the park only gained in popularity as time went by. Ten years later, the worldwide sensation was even more sensational, and once again, those who weren’t there gathered around their televisions to celebrate.

 

Fifty-seven years later, Disneyland is still going strong. Sure, other parks have opened, mistakes have been made along with achievements, but the magic is still there. I see it in the face of my child. I see it on the heads of full grown adults wearing hats shaped like Goofy. I hear it in the laughter and screams of someone enjoying a ride, whether it be the first or one hundred and first time for them. I feel it in my heart. I walk through the gate, and part of me is home.

So happy birthday, Disneyland. You’ve come a long way, and always have a long way to go. There’s plenty of imagination left in all of us, and can’t wait to see what the future holds for the young and young at heart.

And as always, thanks, Walt. I’ve said it before and will say it again: Some stars just refuse to fade.

A DisNerd Giveaway

Posted on by

NOTE: The entry period for this drawing has ended as of 9:00AM PST, July 23rd.

Congratulations to COADisNerd reader Andrew on winning the signed book!

(How the winner was chosen – all names were compiled, and randomized with numbers on a list through random.org . At that point, a sequence generator was generated through random.org as well; the first number in that sequence was the winner!)

Dave Smith is a pretty big name in the world of Disney. As the company’s chief archivist, Dave has been the go to guy for all sorts of trivia and information. I still remember the district trivia competitions during my days working at The Disney Store – we would be reminded that if there were any dispute over the validity of a question, Dave was sitting by the phone ready to answer any questions. Of course, no questions were ever asked, as the questions and answers were provided by Dave himself; and they weren’t easy.

Dave Smith is probably best known for his ongoing “Ask Dave” column that started in the now defunct Disney Channel Magazine and currently appears on the archives page of Disney’s D23 site. After many years, Dave has compiled many of his “Ask Dave” questions into one book – Disney Trivia From the Vault.

You’ll Even Find a Question From Me in There!

This is a highly recommended book for lovers of Disney – the questions and answers range from personal history of Walt, theme parks, movies and the company itself. Having full access to the archives, if there was an answer to be found, Dave would be the one to find it.

And now, dear readers, I have a copy signed by Dave to give away exclusively to readers of this blog!

All you have to do to enter is simply comment on this blog entry with a reply to the following question: What question would YOU ask Dave? Maximum number of times your name will be entered in the random computer generated drawing is one; multiple comments do not buy multiple entries. And of course, my family members are not eligible. Any obvious spam posts (ones that WordPress itself recognizes as spam) will be deleted and not eligible as well.  This contest will remain open until 9:00 AM PST on Monday, July 23rd, at which point a name will be drawn using random.org. The winner will be announced on the Facebook fan page by first name (and last initial if necessary) as well as notified by email. As an FYI, no worries – I will never put your name on an email list of any sort. Any questions, do not hesitate to contact me!

Good luck everybody – can’t wait to share this book with a lucky winner!

The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge – Day 15!

Posted on by

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 15 – Your Favorite Castle/Park Icon

This one’s not tough at all. Nothing comes close. Not in beauty. Not in meaning. It’s not the tallest, not the biggest, not housing a ride, but a true icon: Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

Nothing more beautiful in the park, even at night.

I’ve repeated a few times what it means to me to hear Jiminy Cricket singing “When You Wish Upon a Star” as you walk through, but it bears repeating. As you pass through, whether walking into Fantsayland or leaving the park, for that moment, if you pause and listen, you begin to truly believe your dreams WILL come true. It’s not just the song, it’s the location. You can look into a world of Fantasy or out onto the streets of yore, but either way, for just that brief moment, all is right with the world.

The castle is quaint – any bigger, and the Matterhorn would be dwarfed – the perception would be ruined. As it is, it’s perfect. It’s the obligatory picture shot. It’s the spot to see fireworks in front of. It’s the location of Lord knows how many wedding proposals. What little girl hasn’t looked upon Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, imagining it was their royal home? I know mine has. Maybe that’s the reason she never wants to leave. She doesn’t want to leave her home. And who knows? Someday it might be. After all, When You Wish Upon a Star…..

I still get misty every time I see this.

And with that, dear readers, we conclude The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge. As I have stated on the official Confessions of a Disnerd Facebook Page, I’m not going anywhere – I’m just getting started. Next week I plan sharing exactly where I see the blog going from here, as well as a fun giveaway! I’m excited to be on this Disneyfied journey with all of you!

Until then, I ask you to share: What’s your favorite icon in any of the parks?

The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge – Day 14

Posted on by

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 14: Your Favorite Place To Eat In the Park

This one is harsh – especially for a Disney foodie. There are few places I don’t like to eat in the park. I’m a fan of Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port and their shareable Count Down Chicken Fusili. The Monte Cristos in the Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans – artery clogging goodness, along with the overall atmosphere of both spots. Village Haus in Fantasyland? Love the decor and the yodeling music that goes along with it! Skewers at the Bengal Barbecue? Yes, please! Jolly Holiday bakery? Practically perfect in every way! Corn dogs from the Little Red Wagon? Don’t mind if I do! If you were to ask my daughter, any place that sells a kids’ power pack is at the top of her list. Until someone offers to get me into Club 33, that one won’t even be an option.

So many decisions, but if I had to narrow down to one (and for the sake of this post I must)….

 

It’s Just Plain….Beautiful.

 

It only makes sense that my favorite dining spot in The Land would be in my favorite land. There’s an elegance to the place that’s quaint – not over the top or cheesy – but a true elegance. On winter nights, sitting outside beneath a space heater, watching snow fall on the hub… it’s beautiful. And of course, there’s the food. Now I’ve never had a character breakfast, so I can’t attest to that meal, but the fried chicken is superb. Many evenings the scent wafts into Tomorrowland answering the question of “Where shall we eat?” to passers by. While the prices are slightly higher (of course it IS Disneyland), the food is very shareable; in fact, I’ll be the first to admit I couldn’t finish a dish on my own!

Where’s your favorite place to eat? Is it because of the food, the atmosphere, or both? I love hearing from all of you!

 

 

The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge: Day 13

Posted on by

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 13: The thing you like to take a picture of at the parks that isn’t a character.

Honestly, there’s so much I was unsure what I should pick – until I started looking through my pictures and realized there’s one icon that is definitely used more than others: The Matterhorn. There are just so many angles to take pictures from, so many perspectives! Instead of using many words today, I’ve decided to let some of my pictures from past trips speak for themselves.

A view from the Submarine Lagoon – Only things missing are Skyway buckets!

 

The view from Alice in Wonderland – truly a wonder.

 

Almost the same spot as from Alice, only from the ground and with the Monorail!

 

Even with scaffolding on the mountain, I love to take pictures of it – this one from Pixie Hollow!

 

A view from an elephant…

 

I love how it peeks out over the top of Peter Pan’s Flight!

 

Perhaps my favorite picture I’ve taken of the mountain – love how it blends with the faux range of Pinocchio’s village yet still towers over all in its majesty.

 

And with that, I leave it to your answers – who else has a favorite thing to photograph in the parks?

 

 

 

The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge: Day 12

Posted on by

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 12: A Character You Have Always Wanted To Meet (But Never Have)

I really have met just about every character at the park that is used on a regular basis. Thanks to the opening of the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree, I’ve even had a chance to meet Horace Horsecollar, so I can cross him off the list! If you ask my daughter, the answer would probably be Pocahontas – the only one of the ten “official” Disney Princesses she has yet to meet. Guess the colors of the wind aren’t included in The Princess Fantasy Faire. However, I do have a desire to meet a particular character. One of my all time favorites, along with Mickey, Donald and Goofy. A character that I know exists, but is almost never seen in the park with the exception of parades and garbage cans.

Give a Little Whistle!

Jiminy, you elusive cricket. Why don’t you ever come out to meet me? I’ve seen you on parade floats – I’ve heard you make appearances at private parties. Yet, no regular visits. The biggest reason I can think of is the idea, that next to Pinocchio, the supposedly miniscule cricket is a behemoth. There’s no “Cricket Hollow,” where, like Tinkerbell, it can be believed that guests are shrunk down to his size. And no, I don’t believe his popularity is big enough to warrant it. It would just be fun to get my picture taken with the fellow.

Yet, he’s in the park regardless. As stated by me so many times before, you hear his voice underneath Sleeping Beauty’s Castle convincing you that dreams come true – all it takes is the wish on the star. He guides your ride vehicle on Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, trying to be the conscience the little wooden head so desperately needs! (Look out! You’re going the wrong way!) He’s on one of many bronze statues that surround the Partners that started it all – a testament to dreams coming true. And of course, he’s there as the face of “Environmentality,” making sure we treat the earth with the respect it deserves – in this case, by throwing our plastic water bottles in properly marked containers (one of my daughter’s favorite things to do at the park, believe it or not!).

Always Let Enironmentality Be Your Guide!

He’s just not out for pictures and autographs. Maybe I’ll start wishing on a different star for that one.

Now it’s your turn! Anyone else out there have a favorite that they’ve yet to meet at the parks?

The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge: Day 11

Posted on by

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 11: Your favorite person (face) character to meet at the parks.

I never really was a big character person. Until I had a kid. A kid who LOVES characters. Then everything changed. Yes, we are now one of the autograph seeking, wait-in-line families who will turn on a dime if we see a character walking past – as long as it’s not a villain. So then, I have to ask the question, who would be my favorite? The answer would lie within another question. Who is my favorite to see my daughter interact with?

The princesses, are, of course, awesome. As are the antics of Alice and the Mad Hatter. However, through all the interactions, my answer would have to go back to my little girl’s favorite:

Peter and my Goose.

Peter will always hold a special place in our heart.  He was her first true favorite character. She was so obsessed with Peter, I commissioned a good friend to do a painting reflecting this. Notice how her eyes never leave Peter, although she’s flying over Neverland. More to the point, she’s flying with him! At the park, Peter has that same effect.

Notice Pinocchio? Another early favorite!

Even To this day, he’s still a favorite of hers. Of course, what child, be it boy or girl, doesn’t dream of flying to Neverland? What adult doesn’t dream of being a kid again? Perhaps it’s because we see him so rarely, but Peter’s interactions with my kiddo are my favorites to watch. He gets down on her level, acts as much the kid as she is, and just has fun! What’s not to love about that?

What about you? Do you have a favorite face character to meet?

The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge: Day 10

Posted on by

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 10: The Attraction You Avoid.

At first I thought to myself, “should I just leave this entry blank? I mean, I don’t purposely avoid anything I can think of. Of course, I have favorites and ones I’m not heartbroken if we don’t visit, but avoid?? No such thing. Then I realized, there is one area. One that I didn’t even think of, because to me, it’s less of an attraction and more of a pointless commercial.

 

More advertising than innovative.

 

I had hopes for Innoventions when the “New” Tomorrowland opened. I think this was partially due to the fact that this was the building that housed the Carousel of Progress and America Sings, and, well, I was just happy to see it getting used again. I have never felt so let down by an attraction in my life, and this is coming from someone who rode the Rocket Rods. I don’t know what I was expecting. Maybe more “hands on” exhibits, like a science museum. Instead, we were treated to video games, computer software, and a virtual tour of a GM plant. Disney has tried to add more from time to time, and a few times I have gone back in, only to want out rather quickly. I realize this sounds harsh coming from someone who loves Disney as much as I claim; but I love them because they’ve usually exceeded my expectations. Alas, this was not one  of those times.

 

Until a new attraction replaces it, it’s not so beautiful for me.

 

I hold out hope that an expansion will come soon, that something worth seeing will soon be in that area. I even have my own ideas of a show that would work within the building. But until something new and different happens, I’ll just have to keep waiting.

How about the rest of you? Anything in the parks you avoid on your trips?