Which Attraction Is Better Where? Tomorrowland Edition

Walt Disney World would not be here if it were not for the “Happiest Place on Earth,” Disneyland. The two parks share many attractions, amongst other things.

Disneyland's Tomorrowland Hub Signage

Often, when attractions are on both coasts, there are slight differences, and those variations are usually big enough to make a certain attraction better than another. Sometimes, the attractions are almost identical, which is, to me, ideal. Being on a ride on one side of the country and knowing for certain that the grass is greener on the other side can make the experience that much less exciting.

So I’ve decided to make a list of sorts, naming of the attractions that exist at both resorts, citing which ones are better, worse, or the same.

Today, I’ll go through Tomorrowland. In the future I’ll do an entry on the other duplicate attractions, not specificaly in any order. Tomorrowland just has the most cross overs.

Walt Disney World's Tomorrowland Hub Signage

Space Mountain: Disneyland is by far the better mountain of the two. With it’s refurbishment taking much longer and having been much more extensive, the California version of this attraction is smoother, darker, and all around more fun. The new sound system installed on its Florida counterpart is a sad attempt at an “improvement,” and with the Disneyland version having speakers inside the “rockets,” Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain just seems cheap.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin/Astro Blasters: The scenes and almost everything else are the same at both parks, except one small difference: the guns and how they are mounted. In Disneyland, they are attached to a long cord, while at the Magic Kingdom they are mounted onto the ride vehicle. For me, this difference means I can get a much higher score in California because there is more freedom of motion, so for that the decision goes to Disneyland as the superior version.

Autopia/Tomorrowland Speedway: Tomorrowland Speedway seems like a copout. It’s just pavement and some speakers that make it sound like you’re on a raceway. There’s nothing to look at except the other drivers who you’re racing at a whopping five-miles-an-hour. The theming is nonexistent. So, again, the Disneyland version is better. It’s got more foliage and just a more exciting track in general. They both need some sort of update, though.

Astro Orbiter: This one goes to Disney World. Disneyland’s is on the ground, at the front of Tomorrowland, whereas Disney World’s is on elevated above the platform to board the People Mover in the center of Tomorrowland, providing a great view of Cinderella’s castle, the Contemporary resort, and the rest of Tomorrowland. How many version of Dumbo do we need? (three, apparently).

The People Mover: This one os more of a rhetorical question. Obviously, Disney World’s version is better, because it still exists, and for that I am grateful. Disneyland’s version of the ride went down years ago, and now the track just sits there, vacant.  Something needs to be done!

Port Orleans: It's Huge

I've been down here in Orlando, living the Walt Disney World life for a couple of months now. I've done just about everything I can do, with the exception of The American Idol Experience, because I'm a male and I'm not under the age of 15.

Oh. I also haven't gone to all the resorts at the Walt Disney World...Resort. There's a lot of them, and let's be honest for a second (all that other stuff I've written is a lie. This second, right here, this is going to be the truth second, so you better read what I intend you to read in the allotted time. Or your lollygagging will turn my truth into more lies. Lies!), making the choice between Rock N' Roller Coaster, even for the 42 time, or walking around a resort you'll never be able to afford to stay in, Rock 'N' Roller coaster seems like the clear winner.

It isn't always though. This time I went to Epcot first. Food! I got a bratwurst at Somerfest. Then I hopped on a bus and headed over to the Port Orleans resort, getting off at the first stop at the French Quarter, not knowing the marathon I was getting myself into. The place has like eight bus stops. Besides the Aligator Bayou, anything less would have been too small.

Some background: when I was a senior in high school, on spring break I did a service trip to Nawleans, touring the city and fixing up some houses. I apologize to the people's houses I wrecked with some cut rate dry-walling, and I thank the city of New Orleans for being so amazing. I fell in love with the wounded city, and I was looking forward to seeing how Disney captured its essence in resort form. It's already done a great job in land form with New Orleans square, which kicks Liberty Square in the pants, if you were wondering.

Welcome!

My first stop was the French Quarter. I enjoyed it immensely. It helps that Florida has the same, heavy weather that New Orleans and its swamps have, getting you in the right state of mind. They did a great job making the walkways feel like streets, and the buildings feel like crammed apartments. The water features were a sparkling touch. The pool, with its serpent, was a prime example of good theming, and the alligators surrounding it with their jazz instruments were a nice touch. Not as cool as the Polynesian's volcano, but it fit the resort well.

Then I took the pontoon over to Riverside, the grand daddy section of the resort. It had a magnificent lobby, retail store and quick service restaurant, with a mill theme. Then, like aforementioned, there was the Alligator Bayou. The flora and fauna were great, but the buildings were just buildings.

Later, I got to the sections themed after southern mansions, forgetting about all the sub-par stuff that preceded them. I've always loved southern mansions, with their grand stair cases, pillars, sprawling front yards, and weeping willows. Mostly this is due to my love of the film Forrest Gump. The pool was alright, not the best I've seen, but it also went well with the theme.

After the hike around the Port Orleans campus, I was a wee bit bummed that if I ever were to stay there, it would be a long while, and that it'd probably be just as long before I get to visit the Big Easy itself. But for now, the resort, and the square in Disneyland will have to do.

Day Five, Gettin' in the Jive

Out of all the days that preceded real training, today was probably the second most important one, next to traditions, where I got my Cast Member name tag.

Me and my uni

Why? Because today is the day that I got my costume and got the final news on where I will be actually working. Turns out I got almost exactly what I wanted: I'll be working at Ice Cream and Popcorn carts and the Nut Wagon in Fantasyland. At least that's what I'm going to be trained for.

Since I got here, my work location has been my biggest question. I wanted some type of outdoor cart from the start, and that's what I got. Originally, I was not too keen about working at the Magic Kingdom. I wanted basically any other park. Like I've mentioned, Disneyland is the park that inspired my Disney devotion, so when I go to the Magic Kingdom, it seems almost sacrilege to me.

I don't feel like that anymore, so you can hold your white steeds. I've seen the light, and after being here for a couple days appreciate the Magic Kingdom for what it is: a inferior imitation of Disneyland, that is not Disneyland. I'm joking, kind of. It's it own thing and I'm learning to appreciate that. After seeing The Magic, The Memories and You!, the MK definitely went up a couple notches on my respect notch pole thingy. And, like I've said before, with the Fantasyland expansion, it'll be almost on par with its california forefather.  

Spaceship Earth has nothing to do with this post,
but I went there and took picture, and I think it's
gorgeous, so I'm using it. Deal. 

But back to Day 5. It was a day that started off at 4:50 for me. I had to be at Disney University at 7:15, which means I actually had to be there at 7:00, so I had to catch the bus that arrived there at 7:04, which got to my complex at 6:25, which meant I had to be at the bus stop by 6:05, which meant I had to leave my apartment at 5:55, and before all that I had to make myself breakfast. It was an early morning.

When I got to the Disney U, I met with my group and we got to tour the Magic Kingdom, getting to know the place we would work, and would no doubt be asked thousands of questions about.

While touring the MK, we got to go on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, which I swear has a problem with its laser guns, because I keep on getting super low scores, and that's not how I do it at Disneyland. We also got to go on The Haunted Mansion, which stalled halfway through.

Then we had some computer training, which was as fun as computer training can be (Hint: it can't be fun). Finally, it was off to costuming where we got to get our threads. I'm pretty psyched that I got a simple uniform, and though the colors are odd, I get to wear shorts in the summer and a nice warm jacket now, and it's not horrendous, so I can work with it.

Tomorrow, I begin my first day of legitimate training, where I have to wear my uniform and all. I'm pretty pumped.

California Adventure in California. Why? Because.

Yesterday, the big cement CALIFORNIA letters were removed from the entrance of California Adventure, beginning the remodeling of the California Adventure entrance. 

A sketch of the future entrance at California Adventure 

So, what did the imagineers think to change the entrance to? A retro, 1920's look.

Apparently, Hollywood Studios over at Walt Disney World exists in a 1920's bubble, because California Adventure's proposed entrance looks identical to the one in Orlando.

Which brings up a bigger issue, in that California Adventure is like Hollywood Studios in more than just that one way. Both parks have a "Tower of Terror" attraction, "Toy Story Midway Mania," "Playhouse Disney—Live on Stage!" (soon to be some Disney Jr attraction) and "Muppet Vision 3D." That's quite a few attractions for two parks that are supposed to be different.

The current entrance at Hollywood Studios in Orlando

Now, the two parks do differ in quite a bit of ways, having different landmarks designating each park, but that would detract from my point.

If you've looked through my past posts, I'm not the biggest fan of California Adventure. I've always though that it's like been the U.S. pavillion at EPCOT, just on a full-size park scale with a billion dollar price tag. If people want to see California in California, then they'll take a drive around the state they're already in. And the things that intrinsically make California Adventure what it is are either run of the mill (Grizzly River Run), or the opposite of what should be in a Disney park (Paradise Pier in general).

So what are the best parts about California Adventure? The things that are most like Hollywood Studios. "Tower of Terror" is the most thrilling ride at both parks in Anaheim, the new entrance is going to be fantastic, and "Midway Mania" always has the longest line in the park.

Besides that, nearly everything that's going into the re-theming of California adventure that isn't Cars Land (Which is also rumored to be moving into Hollywood Studios in the near future) is to make it looks like a 1920's Hollywood. HOLLYWOOD. The park wants to be Hollywood Studios, as it should be (a Rockin' Roller Coaster in CA wouldn't hurt). So just let it.

DCA's Version

When Disney and MGM split ways, Disney missed a great opportunity, because at that point, they could have switched the names of the two parks, "MGM Studios" being renamed "California Adventure," and "California Adventure" becoming "Hollywood Studios." The park in Florida could have expanded, making it more than just a half day park, and the one in California would have a less specific theme to work with, giving it more freedom and making it a better all around park.

But alas, they didn't, and it probably would have cost a lot if they had, seeing as at California Adventure they'd probably have to take out Grizzly River run (shucks) and retooled all the other California inspired areas of the park.

WDW's version

But one thing still rings true: the Hollywood part of California Adventure seems to be taking over the rest of the park, and rightfully so. It's got the most potential and one of the best rides. And if, as an LA Times article discussed, phase one of the California Adventure upgrade/expansion is successful, phase two will go into effect, making the Hollywood portion of the park even bigger, with a Hollywoodland era around the "Tower of Terror" speculated to be built along with a  Club 33-esque Carthay Circle Theater club.

I'm not complaining that California Adventure is becoming a Hollywood Studios West (even though Hollywood is in the West), in fact my feelings are the opposite. If the California Adventure is going to copy Hollywood Studios with such dedication, it should just pull a Magic Kingdom and do a blatant loose interpretation of it. I don't think anyone would be sad to see the park stop going along with an uncreative theme thought up by a money crazed, cheap CEO who is remembered in such a negative light.

Believe...That the Holiday Fireworks Show Could Have Been Better

It's that time of the year again, and all that other cliched jazz. Not that you'd be able to tell in Southern California right now. Disneyland has quite a bit of work for them the day after Thanksgiving, getting the park to look like it's located in some inhospitable midwestern location that's appealing for about 25 days of the year.

It really is one of the most wonderful times to visit the park. With its gigantic christmas tree, nightly fallings of fake snow, wreaths, hand made candy canes, and hundres of other little things that make Disneyland one of the most festive places during the holiday season.

The show

Yet not everything about the holiday overlays makes me jolly. As I previously discussed, the holiday overlay at the Haunted Mansion spooks me, but not in the right way. In short, some things about the Christmas time at Disneyland are an improvement, and some aren't.

Under the category of going from great to good would have to be the holiday fireworks show, "Believe...In Holiday Magic." After waiting for over an hour, so we could views the show from the perfect spot, I was sad to find out the fireworks display was not what I expected. In all, the show was too short, and lacked a good story.

Over the years I've been lucky enough to view "Remember... Dreams Come True" a couple of times, and unfortunately for all other firework displays following it, it's the standard I use to evaluate. This means that I'm disappointed by just about every local fireworks show, but being dissatisfied with a Disneyland show, that was something new.

Disney, having made the standard for telling stories with fireworks, achieved near perfection with "Remember," using Julie Andrew's narration, the "E-Tickets in the Sky" segment, it was so much more than just fireworks, even with the fireworks. There was fire, lasers and more. With "Holiday Magic," I was honestly just as thrilled with the lighting of Cinderella's castle. The fireworks show left me wanting so much more. I actually waited for a while in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle, just to make sure it was actually over. Unfortunately, it was, and I was left with a kind of void.

I guess even Disney can't bat 1000. They're no Pixar.

What's been your favorite fireworks show of the past? Does any part of the holiday overlay at the Disney parks leave you disappointed?

Retro Disney Creates Nostalgia, Even for the Young

I recently turned the ripe old age of 20, the anti-milestone of milestones: no longer a teen, not yet of drinking age. I'm still a young person, but for some reason I have nostalgia for Disney history that I haven't even been alive to witness, and I don't seem to be the only one.

Disney merchandise for rides that no longer exist

Retro, or vintage, Disney is extremely trendy right now. It could be because of the down economy, which some say causes people to look to the past for comfort. This is not the case for me because I have yet to join the workforce and fully realize what a hole we're in, but I still look with admiration towards the things of Disney past, and Disney seems to be quite aware of this. Or it's that Disney also has released some exclusive merchanidse to celebrate their 55th anniversary.

With their Disney gallery, one of the first things you stumble upon when walking under the Disneyland Rail Road's berm, models of the original Disneyland, sketches of past Disneyland attractions are displayed along with paintings of what made Disneyland iconic when it opened in 1955. In the store, you can buy the prints, take them home, put them on your wall, and be constantly reminded of Disneyland past.

Or you can buy the $75 vintage pin/lanyard combo, designed after all the original Disneyland merchandise. Head down to D-street and you can buy retro-Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, or Flying Saucer t-shirts.

Maybe you're not at the parks. You could go to the Disney store, where their bags are modeled after the classic versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, or pop in one of the Walt Disney Treasures DVD's.  If you've got a Wii, you could play the new Epic Mickey video game, where Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Mickey's predecessor, is a main character involved in the gameplay. The creator of the game, Warren Spector, laboriously went though the Disney archives while researching the game.

New merchandise, old look

Or you could just wait for the Jon Favreau directed "Magic Kingdom" film, about a family trapped in Disneyland over night that discovers the rides come to life when the sun goes down. In a recent interview with Geek Time Radio, Favereau discussed how he looked to Walt's original Disneyland and vision for inspiration:

"I've got to watch every Disney property. I started with 'Steamboat Willy' working my way all the way up. I really want to focus on the classic stuff like 'Dumbo,' 'Steamboat Willy,' all the early black and white Mickey Mouse cartoons -- all the Fantasyland stuff. I think there was something timeless about what Walt [Disney] did, and I want to explore, not just Disneyland, but Walt’s vision of Disneyland. If you look at his concept art it diverges a little bit from what the park turned into over time; but if you look at his original concept art and really explore what that world is, I think there is something really fun and magical to be done there," Favereau said.

Or you could watch one of Walt's ultimate pet projects: "Fantasia"on BluRay, a format on which it was recently released, or watch the Sherman brother's documentary, "The Boys," also having been recently released for home viewing.

I've never been on the Flying Saucers, nor was I around for Oswald, or the opening of Disneyland. With Disney's new marketing scheme subtlety focusing on the Disneyland of the past, it's left me longing for the old days. Those old days, that for a young person like me, would be completely new.

Disneyland More Popular than Walt Disney World? Technically.

According to the O.C. Register, Walt Disney World, on average, had a lower rise in attendance than the Disneyland Resort did this year.

DCA's World of Color

This is probably because California Adventure's opening of "World of Color," the terrific new nightly water show.

Or it's because Disneyland is better, at least as a concise Disney park. I've always held this theory, but numbers don't lie, and they say that I'm right.

Other speculation is that WDW attendance is being siphoned off  by the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter section at Universal's Islands of Adventure. This is probably also true. If it is, it wont last for long. Disney World will eventually open something that far outshines the wannabe Fantasyland "world" at the Universal park.

But look at the statistics on how the opening of the Wizarding World at Universal and the opening of "World of Color" at DCA. According to the OC Register's article, "Universal Orlando’s attendance jumped 36 percent since the opening of the Harry Potter-themed attractions in June" while according to Bob Iger, President of Disney, "California Adventure had a 20-percent leap in attendance since the debut of the “World of Color” show in June."



"World of Color" is a integral part of the DCA update happening in California, but it's not the main feature. Over at Universal, "Harry Potter" is their big shebang, their E-ticket attraction. It's the big thing getting people to walk through their gates. But it only raised Universal's attendance 16 percent more than a nightly water show, that can only be experienced twice in a single day for about 40 minutes total. I think that says a lot about the attractiveness of the things Disney does and thow Universal does things.   

"Harry Potter" world will always attract people, but it will never be comparable to anything Disney does. Attendance will even out, and WDW will reign supreme once again. With the rumors of an Australia section coming to Wild Animal Kingdom or a reproduction of DCA's soon to be opened Cars Land at Hollywood Studios, Universal's Islands of Adventure will once again be a footnote to WDW in Orlando.

Innoventions: A Waste of Tomorrowland Space

Tomorrowland is a place, that at one point, represented the future. It's the land that is made over the most often, the last time in 1998. Since then, not a whole lot has changed. The Rocket Rods came and went rather quickly, "Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlasters" has moved in, "Space Mountain" got a new track, and that's about it.

Innoventions: A big building with a tiny, tiny punch

The land hardly represents any type of "Tomorrow." From the dated "Astro Orbiter," which takes its design from "Dumbo The Flying Elephant," a 1955 original ride, to "Autopia," itself an original ride, Tomorrowland's name is becoming almost ironic: Captain E.O. has just moved in, an attraction that was most popular in the 1980's. "Star Tours," which will reopen next year, is based on a movie where the first words of the introduction read "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far way."

Which brings us to Innoventions. Sheesh. I haven't checked it out in a while, but had to last time as the group was on a mission to experience every attraction on the map. I'll probably never check it out again.

Thinking harder than I needed to

The first stop on Innoventions is a cheesy ABC programming commercial disguised as a game show. I was lucky enough to get picked as a contestant, but alas, the show was rigged, and  ended in a tie. Funny enough, I already watch "Modern Family" and "The Middle," so the commercial was wasted on me. The third show, "Wipeout," I will never watch, because I have that thing called taste.

Then it drops you off in the new "House of Tomorrow," which itself is a disguise for a Microsoft ad. In every room, a Zune, a product available today that sales show will probably not have a tomorrow.  In other rooms, computers running Windows. Embedded in a table, a large touch screen whose controls were less then functional. And in the kitchen, well, I don't know what was in the kitchen because it was broken. Apparently, technology is still sporadically functional in the future.

Up to the second floor, and I can see what my face will look like when I'm 60, or what it would look like if my face was wax and it was a hot day. Such cool technology. That was sarcasm. I can buy the FatBooth app and do virtually the same thing.

If that's not your thing, you can maybe play some dated Disney video games, or check out the new Honda CRZ's, which a Honda spokesperson will happily try to sell to you.

If you're lucky, you might get to see Honda's ASIMO show, you know, that robot that was cool like 5 years ago?

This pin may be less vintage than you think

It's not that I'm anti-product placement. Disneyland was built on the concept and I appreciate what it can bring to me, the guest. But when it feels like the attraction you're on is a commercial, that is overstepping the boundaries.

The whole concept for Innoventions is a hard thing to keep current. Technology becomes dated so quickly, that to keep up something boasting it has "the technology of tomorrow" and live up to that claim, the thing would have to be updated monthly, which is not something that can realistically happen.

Really, Innoventions is just the tip of the ironic iceberg. Tomorrowland is anything but a land about the future. It's in dire need of a makeover. a makeover that will hopefully replace Innoventions with something a tad bit more exciting, put something fun on the empty PeopleMove/Rocket Rod's track (Light Cycles!), update the engines of Autopia's vehicles to some sort of hybrid or Hydrogen model, and make the land more about "tomorrow."

At the very least, make it something we will even remember tomorrow.

Disneyland's Disney Gallery: Fascinating and Educational

"Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln" was Mr. Disney's personal favorite, and for that reason, I always save a visit to the Opera House for last when I visit Walt's Magic Kingdom.

Since 2005, when "Great Moments" was temporarily replaced by "Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years" for Disneyland's 50th and "Great Moment's" refurbishment, the lobby of the opera house has transformed into the Disney Gallery, with fantastic models and a wealth of information about the park's inception, opening day, and everything else that's happened in its 55 year existence. The Disney gallery has been around for a while though, its old space having been taken over by the Dream Suite.

It's the little things that make the gallery great

I have to say, none of the models are quite as great as the "Disneyland of Walt's Imagination" at the Walt Disney Family Museum, but the smaller models, this time of Sleeping Beauty's castle and Splash Mountain were great, as well as the model of Disneyland on opening day. I love seeing the intricacies of the attractions and land marks, and models have always caught my attention. Someday I hope to get into trains like Walt, and at an early age, my father did.

Then there are the artifacts, like the early sketches for attractions around the parks, pictures of forgotten attractions, and one of the coolest pieces of Disney history, the bench from the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round where Walt first imagined building the Happiest Place on Earth.

Then there's the gift shop, where you can buy special edition Marty Sklar autographed books, apparel unique to that shop, and prints of some of the great artwork the gallery has on display. Oh how I wanted to get a couple of those prints, but adding more junk to my nomad-esque lifestyle would do me no good. Maybe later, when I have an actual income.

Walt's Bench

It's a great thing that Disney sees value in recognizing its past finally, something I feel it forgot in the 90's under Eisner and his inflated ego. Of course, I would love to see the Disney Family Museum and the Disney Company get along, but the company did some terrible things to Ronald Miller, wounding his wife and Walt's only biological child Diane in ways that will never heal.

But the company has a vast amount of artifacts from walt, and it's great they found some places to display them. An attendant told me of two display cases from "20,0000 Leagues Under the Sea" that the company had taken out of storage, refurbished, and used in the gallery. It's great that they still have the Steve Martin/Donald Duck hosted film playing in the gallery, giving vistors to the opera house the best of both worlds.

To me, there is nothing more fascinating than the history of the Walt Disney company and Disneyland, and being able to learn new things about it while in Disneyland is a great treat, and something more people should take advantage of.

Who thought this was a good idea?

One thing that seemed a little out of place though: a section of the wall devoted to the great musicians of our time: Elvis, The Beach Boys, Michael Jackson...and Miley Cyrus. C'mon Disney, we get she's your brainchild, but that's insulting to the artists who share that wall space. Maybe now there's that incriminating video of her on TMZ, Disney might try to distance itself from the troublemaker's new 18-year-old image. Overall, Disney doesn't seem to have the best track record when it comes to turning young girls into celebrities. Better stick with the gender making pu the majority of the photos that aren't of Hannah Montana.

The Lighting of Sleeping Beauty's Castle

While waiting for the "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks show at Disneyland, I got to see the lighting of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. I shot the whole thing on my iPhone, and now you can watch what I saw. Enjoy!

Goodbye, Disneyland

I sit now at Gate 1 in John Wayne Airport, waiting for my flight back to Phoenix, and back to real life. It's a total bummer, but it's also a relief of some sort. I do Disneyland hard, like self-administered-sleep-torture-famine-hard.

The first, rainy night at the park

When I go to Disneyland, there is nothing more important to me than Disneyland. I throw my basic human needs aside. I literally forget I'm hungry until it becomes too blatantly obvious that I need to eat that I am forced to stop a moment and acknowledge I'm not a humanoid. I do Magic Mornings after staying in the park until midnight, and if I shop, until 1 or 2.

This trip, I got off the plane at 9:30, my mom parked the car at the hotel, and we ran to Disneyland for the remaining two hours it was open. We got so much done, for mother nature was on our side in kind of a backwards way: it was raining. I saw it as the elements separating the diehards from the tourists, shortening the lines for my obsession's delight. We got Autopia, Small World, Casey Jr., Dumbo, Indiana Jones, Thunder Mountain and Haunted Mansion Holiday in in just two hours. Then we shopped and got back to the room somewhere around 2:00 am.

It was extremely satisfying getting so much done in so little time, especially since I had nothing to do that entire day, as my late class was canceled, and I skipped my other one, and got at the airport at 4 for my 8:50 flight If I had known earlier how free my day would have been, I would have gotten a flight that arrived somewhere around 2 pm instead of 9:05.

So now the whole trip is over, and the blogging about the trip and resting my body will begin. I would have gotten some blogging done if my hotel hadn't charged for WiFi, but alas, it did. I now return to a normal life, a life of full night's rests, free of fastpasses and running around gigantic parks, and, sadly, free of Disneyland's magic. It's a relief to be able to rest, but after I get a good night's sleep, I'll be wishing I was waking up in Anaheim again.

In only a couple of hours...DISNEYLAND!

I'll see you guys in a couple of hours!

The flight leaves at 8:50 and gets there at 9:20, an hour long trip cut in half. My trip to Disneyland starts out with magic! Or, if you're picky, a flight from Mountain time into Pacific time.

We've got 5 day passes that start today: it was only slightly more moola for five days than it was for three, so we'll also be hanging out at the park on the day of our departure: Saturday.

I'm not going to lie, I couldn't sleep, and then when I finally dozed off, I woke up early because I was so excited! Just like the classic (to me) Disneyland commercial! I feel just like a little kid every time I go to Disneyland, and just about every time I talk about it. It makes me seem a bit nuts every now and then, but that's ok, everyone's a little nuts!

Right now, to get psyched up for the trip, I've got Disneyland 50,  Happiest Homecoming On Earth, The Official Album of the Disneyland Resort playing, and it's almost making the time go by slower!

This time, my family, girlfriend and me have a plan of attack: to partake in every attraction listed on the map, in both parks. I'm excited for this because I love setting goals and accomplishing them, and there are many attraction in both of the parks that I haven't experienced in a long while.

What am I most excited for? WORLD OF COLOR! I have yet to see it, and we have picnic reservations to see the show, so we're guaranteed a good view. The holiday overlays and fireworks show look to be pretty spectacular as well!

Tonight we'll probably check out  ElecTRONica, since it's open so late, and hopefully take a stroll down Main Street! There's so much to do, and we've got 3 and-a-half days to get it all in, leaving us a perfect amount of time.

It's been almost 2 years since I've been to the park, a long period for someone as obsessed as I. It'll be great, and our hotel is right across the street from the park entrance, next to the McDonald's!

We'll be there on Thanksgiving, which I think is perfect. If there's anything I'm thankful for, it's Walt's vision being brought to life at Disneyland!

It's All in the Details: Disneyland's Manhole Covers

I'm obsessed with attention to detail. I've talked about it before, and how that obsession is a factor in my love for the Disney parks.

Walt, and the people who run the parks today (for the most part) share the same obsession. Just walking around the park, you may not notice the little things here and there, but every once in a while, things will pop out at you.

Last time I was in Disneyland, I noticed that all the manhole covers in the park are customized with Disneyland written on them.

Now, most people probably do not notice this, but it's just one of the many little factors that contributes to why Disneyland as a whole is the happiest place on earth.

Most other cities also practice in the customization of man holes, putting the city name or emblem on them. When Disneyland goes ahead and does it, it helps relay the feeling that you're not just in an amusement park, but a different city, a different time, or a different world.

It's those little things that make the big thing the best thing.

Taking your experience to the next level: Disney Park Tours

So you've been to the park dozens, maybe hundreds of times. You can describe the scenes from the Haunted Mansion down to the finite details. You pose for every on-ride-photo. Sometimes, you put a blindfold on and see how far you can get in the park with just your memory as navigation. You're running out of things to do.

A tour guide enlightens her audience on
"Disney's Keys to the Kingdom tour

What's next? Time to book a tour with the plaid patterned Disney tour guides. What tour is best for you? Depends on how much time you want to spend. For beginners, there's the "Welcome to Disneyland Tour." It's 2.5 hours and goes through the two parks and Downtown Disney. 

But you know that stuff. You could probably give the tour yourself. You actually did that one time, and you really convinced those people you were the real thing. Good job with the plaid skirt, by the way, that was authentic. So now what?

I personally haven't done it yet, but for the pros, there's the Backstage Magic tour.  You get to see the behind the scenes operations at all four the Walt Disney World parks. At 6-8 hours and $250 a person, it's for the truly dedicated.

If that's not for you, there's around 20 other tours available to you at the Walt Disney World resort, each with their own specific focus.

The classic tour guide look

I have a confession: I've only been on one tour. I'm 19, I've only had so much time. This coming Spring/Summer when I will be participating in the Disney College Program at The World, I hope to get as many of them under my belt as possible.

The one I have taken was the "Walk In Walt's Footsteps" tour. We got to see up close a flower from the Tiki room, took a peak of Club 33's lobby, were enlightened about half-basketball court in the Matterhorn and overall had a great time. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and exciting. If this tour was an indicator of the caliber of quality the other tours exhibit, I hope to experience every one of them.

Have you been on a Disney Parks tour? Which tours do you hope to go on?

Happy 55th anniversary, Disneyland Hotel!

Today, one of the most storied hotels in the history of lodging turns the ripe old age of 55.

Not that it has very much time to celebrate, seeing is it's currently going through an enormous renovation.

The Disneyland Hotel of the 1980's

The hotel has always been a great place to take a break from Disneyland, offering free entertainment to those who don't go through Disneyland's gates.

It's been a staple of my visits to Disneyland for as long as I can remember. Having dinner at one of its restaurants before Downtown Disney offered so many options, navigating one of the remote control boats in its mini harbor and enjoying The Fantasy Waters show, the predecessor in a small way to "World of Color" at DCA.

Or maybe taking a walk behind water at the hotel's waterfall feature, or watching in wonder the hundres of beautiful koi swim around in their giant koi pond. My family never missed a character breakfast at the Monorail cafe.

In fact, the last time I took a trip to Anaheim we staid in the hotel. We had the good luck to be upgraded to a suite right over the waterfalls, with a great view of the koi. I'm glad we did, as the alluring fish were one of the first old features to go during the renovation. (See the pictures I took from the room here)

Right now, the park is under heavy construction, putting in new suites such as the Mickey and Pirates of the Caribbean suites.

I can't forget how I used to salivate over the Disneyland hotel pool when I was younger. The plans for the new pool almost made me salivate to the point of dehydration.

There have been many Disney hotels built since, from the Grand Californian that went up with DCA, to the Grand Floridian at Walt Disney World, but nothing will ever compare to the original, in every from it has taken over the years.

What are you most excited about concerning the renovations and what will you miss most at the Disneyland Hotel?

Disney Mountains: Splash Mountain

Today marks the 18th birthday of Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, the second of three Splash Mountains to have been built at the Disney Parks.

Splash Mountain at Disney World during refurbishment 

The ride, based on the now banned-in-the-U.S. "Song of the South," was built at the original Disneyland in 1989 to muster more foot traffic in the often empty Critter Country area of the park, and to incorporate audio-animatronics from the lightly attended America Sings.

Ever since, the ride has enjoyed great popularity and often long-waits, especially in the heat of summer.

Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
For many, "Song of the South" is a movie they know little to nothing about, but that doesn't matter, as the dark ride portion of the attraction tells the story. The music also provides some fine entertainment, making you forget that the only way to get off the ride is to be dropped into the briar patch.

Br'er rabbit's escape from the claws of Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear is always a fascinating story to watch develop, even if you know nothing of Uncle Remus and his stories.

While the finale, with all the different critters singing "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" on the steam boat always puts a smile on my face. Almost as good is watching them sing it while on the Disneyland/Magic Kingdom Railroad. You don't have to get wet or wait what through what is often a 60 minute line.

To me, it doesn't matter that the movie is not a story I'm super familiar with or that parts of the ride seem a tad bit out of place. The complaint could be put out there that it's a very basic log flume ride, but I feel that the great songs and characters that take you through the flume make up for the ride's lack of uniqueness.

How do you feel about the fact that the rides based of a little-known movie or that it's a generic log flume?