Surprise Disneyland

Obligatory Christmas Tree Picture

Sometimes the stars align and fortune smiles on the lowly Disney fan and good things happen. Our company has a small office in the Los Angeles area just over the coastal mountains near Malibu.  The Networking Team was called upon to help the office move down a floor requiring  a rework of their networking infrastructure allowing me a chance to travel to L.A. Ordinarily,  The our plan is to go down mid week to prep, then execute the move on Friday evening and Saturday morning.  If all goes well we have Sunday off and return to the office on Monday to clean up the unknown, unknowns.  The move went very well so I had the Sunday off.  Of course, being overcome by the special kind of crazy that lies within many Disney fans,  I invited a friend and a Coworker to go with me to Disneyland.   What a magical place Disneyland is.

Main Street, Disneyland decked out for the holidays.

Many of the same attractions exist in both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom, however, there are a few Attractions that you can only find in Disneyland now.  Some of these attractions opened when Disneyland first opened in 1955 and some of them remain among my favorites to this day.  Every time I go, which unfortunately is never as often as I would like,  I try to hit at least one of these Opening Day attractions.  Last time I visited Disneyland, I went with Mr. Toad on a wild ride through the English country side and the streets of London.

Tomorrow Land

A bit of Garland and lights.

My choice for this trip was Snow White's Scary adventure. The issue I have with both the 7 dwarfs Mine Train and Snow Whites Scary adventure is the abruptness of the story telling.  Both attractions seem to be buzzing along and suddenly stop mid story with a "and they all lived happily ever after" ending.  Snow White's Scary Adventure went from a scene with the evil queen to the end of the story with out any of the messy "waking Snow White by the Prince" business.  This kind of surprised me, simply because Disney Imagineers have always been the ultimate story tellers within attractions.  Honestly, I liked both attractions. I feel the 7 dwarfs Mine train's ride vehicle is a bit cramped but the ride is fun with the roller coaster aspect and the state of the art animatronics,  but the story seems to have let the attraction down a bit.  Snow White's Scary adventure doesn't have the state of the art animatronics. All the Snow White attraction in Disneyland has going for it is the story telling. It was good as far as it went but there wasn't enough, and I could see how some smaller children might be frightened by some of the scenes in the attraction.  Mr. Toad was a better attraction in my estimation.

Small World at Disneyland looks very different.

Awesome

We can all agree that Disneyland is a magical place.  In Disneyland, Walt and his Imagineers laid the foundation for all the Disney Theme Parks all over the world.  I would love to go do Disneyland anytime of year.  However,  the holidays in a Disney park are especially magical.  The holidays bring things to Disneyland has that I wish the Magic Kingdom would adopt. We all have experienced the ear-worm that is the Small World attraction.  You leave the attraction humming the Sherman brothers song so firmly stuck in your head that you might thing that surgery would be the only way to extricate it.  I love the attraction.  The animatronics are not as complex as other attractions but that hardly seems to matter when you have hundreds of them all operating at the same time.  Now imagine taking that all of that movement and music and overlaying a holiday theme on top of it.  My poor excuse for writing skills cannot really do justice to the spectacular show that visitors to this attraction get.  Think of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights on a smaller scale with.. well... actual animatronic dancers all through the attractions.  Maybe I am easily impressed, but I was in awe of the whole thing.  I wish that Disney could do a similar overlay at the Magic Kingdom.

All these internal Small World pictures were taken without flash.  

I took a lot of pictures.  I couldn't get over how neat it was.

Haunted Mansion. Frankie Enoch took these photos. My battery was gone.

In New Orleans Square sits the Disneyland version of the Haunted Mansion.  We fast passed this attraction because the standby wait was consistently 60 minutes or longer throughout the day. Those of you out there that are familiar with the Haunted Mansion Know that there are 999 happy haunts that are always looking for one more to join them.  During the Holiday season, Jack Skellington and the demons and ghosts from Halloween town take over the Mansion and make it their own.  Oogie Boogie, Lock, Shock and Barrel, along with Jack and Sally claim residence in the the Mansion bringing Danny Elfmans wonderful music to life.... Or death as the case may be.  Some of the old haunts are still there but with a new song to sing or a new twist to their performance. Even the ball room has a huge holiday tree... at least a huge holiday tree in spirit.  I love the original Haunted Mansion.  Transporting this attraction to Halloween town only makes the experience even more fun for the Holidays.  Disney needs to bring the Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion overlay to the Magic Kingdom.

The Whole Nightmarish Gang

Till Next Time Jack.

Some of the attractions are very much the same as their Walt Disney World Counterparts.  Star Tours was awesome.  Much of the new cannon has been incorporated in the attraction without any spoilers to The Last Jedi.  It is very much the same as Star Tours in Hollywood Studios. (As a quick side note, I was able to see the Hollywood sign as we drove to Disneyland from Malibu.  Cool, Huh?) The Pirates of the Caribbean attraction was, in most ways very similar to Pirates in the Magic Kingdom save for the fact that Disneyland Pirates adds more scenes to the tale.  I think the Disneyland Pirates is a better version, but there is no way that I will not visit the Pirates attraction at Walt Disney World.  This classic attraction will never go out of style for me. We rode the Matterhorn and Space Mountain. Both attractions were a blast.  Space Mountain may have been one of the first Roller Coaster attractions I ever road when we visited Disneyland when I was 10. The Matterhorn was unfinished business for me.  When I was young and visited Disney,  we didn't have enough E tickets to ride the Matterhorn.  I fixed that a couple years a go on the trip preceding this one by riding the Matterhorn attraction at last some 40 years after my first visit to Disneyland. Another big difference between the Disneyland and the Florida parks is the fact that most of the queues are outside.  The weather in Southern California permits a comfortable wait, for the most part, outside of the attractions.  A down side to the outdoor queue location is the fact that it tends to block the walkways if the main switchbacks fill.

At the end of the day, which park do I think is better?  Well, I would have to answer Walt Disney World.  Disney World has so many more attractions and so many other experiences that Walt's Florida Project's Gift of Space makes possible. I really loved Disneyland.  The original park will always hold a place in all our hearts.  But, Walt was about change and updates and while you get some of that in Disneyland, Walt Disney World has the room to make it happen.  Given the chance I will always go back to the original Disneyland park, and I would like to visit California Adventure again. But I dream of going back to the lands in Florida for the food, the attractions and everything that goes with them. °O°


As a postscript to this lengthy entry, I wanted to thank my friend Frankie Enoch for Haunted Mansion pictures. My phone battery was depleted by the time our fast pass rolled around and she took the photos for me.

Also, I wanted to mention that all the pictures taken in the dark rides were made with available light.  No flash was used to take them.  It is most irritating to me to see flashes from cameras in dark rides, so if it comes down to getting a photo and using a flash, I will always choose not to take a picture.

The Case for Santa Claus.

Once Upon a Time Santa

In 1897, 8 year old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a short letter to the editor of the New York Sun.  In the letter Virginia posed one simple question.  "Please, tell the truth; is there a Santa Claus?"  At that time, veteran  news man Francis Pharcellus Church provided proof for the existence of Santa Claus in his response to Virginia.  His response  has become one of the most reprinted editorial the newspaper industry has ever seen.  Like Francis, I think Santa exists.

Santa exists in the millions of people that go out of their way to help.  Santa exists in the person that volunteers his time and at his own expense travels to places were disaster has torn neighbor hoods apart.  Santa lives in a parents smile when seeing their new born child for the first time. As truly as love exists, at truly as generosity exists, as truly as friendship exists, So Santa Claus truly exist.

We live in divided times.  Our politics have torn us apart.  We have lost the middle and we live in a country of extremes.  We may even be engaged in the destruction of ourselves.   With our world getting hotter and rouges nations threatening our sundered nation with nuclear confrontation, we are hard pressed to keep our belief in the ideas of compassion and love and giving and in our belief of Santa Claus.

But I still believe.  I believe there is goodness in all people.  I believe we can be a generous people again.  I think our vast capacity to love one another can and will overcome our current propensity for selfishness.  So yeah, I do believe in Santa Claus.  I believe in what he represents.  I believe in the twinkle in a child's eye when they talk with Santa.  The spirit of  the one Santa Claus exists in all the Santa Clauses you see at this time of year.

When my children were of the same questioning age as Virginia, I told them straight up. Yes, Santa exists. His Christmas presents are greater than the new toy or video game that you just unwrapped. Santa's Christmas present is the spirit of giving, the spirit of love and the spirit of joy that we feel at this time of year and all the year round.  So I will shout to all that will listen, echoing Francis' word.  Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.


You can read Francis' editorial by following this link.

http://www.newseum.org/exhibits/online/yes-virginia/

Thanksgiving Time

Every year, about this time I set my fingers to the keyboard to talk about the things for which I'm thankful.  In these dark times, one might think that there would be less for which to be grateful. I find myself among those people that think that the world has provided me with so many things for which to be thankful, I cannot count them all. To be honest, during dark times we should reflect on what we love and what we are given more than ever.  We all have things that were given us to which we have a deep emotional connection, and for these things I am truly grateful.

First item on my list is pretty simple and more complex that about anything I know.  I am grateful simply to be alive.  Just being alive is a miracle in many ways.  If you count the number of ways a human body can break down and stop functioning or the ways others around us can accidentally or on purpose take our lives, I am in wonder sometimes that I still exist on earth.  Many of you know that a couple of years ago I had a life threatening event.  Blood clots prevented the flow of blood to my lungs.  It could have killed me.  It did not die, however, thanks to the love and prayers of my friends and family and the skill of the doctors and nurses that cared for me.  If you are looking for proof that prayer works then just look at me.  I am still here today because my friends and family loved me and the doctors and nurses loved life enough to dedicate their time to knowing how to preserve it.  How can I not be grateful to these people. I would be completely remiss if i didn't include the emergency responders that stabilized my condition and got me to the hospital and for the dedicated people at Lifeline that flew me to Indy for treatment.  Without all of these fine people, I would not be here.

The people in my life are a constant reason for me to be grateful.  I start with many of my like-minded friends that I have contacted through my many interests.  I have many friends that I have never meet that belong to the same Facebook groups to which I belong.  I hope someday to meet the wonderful folks that populate the MouseJunkies group.  These guys keep my love for Walt and his theme parks fresh. Many deliver the news of changes to the parks. They allow me to live vicariously through their photos and experience. Some have allowed me the honor of seeing into their everyday lives by befriending me outside the group.   Thank you one and all for accepting me into this tight community of Walt Disney World Fans.

The next group I want to thank are the folks that I have met through the course of my everyday life that allow me glimpses into their world nearly every day.  I have reconnected with some old classmates and friends from when I was younger.  I see posts from the area I grew up.  I've learned much about Crawford Counties contribution to the Civil war through these generous folks. I keep touch with the people I grew up with and see how teachers and friends from university are doing.  I am grateful to all of you for allowing me into your lives.

Family is everything.  Am so grateful to have both my parents alive and my mother in law still alive.  We have ventured to Alaska together to celebrate my Dads 80th birthday.  The beautiful Caribbean has welcomed us to celebrate my mothers birthday last February.  My mother in law joined us for a Florida adventure last May. In addition to the constant love they show me, I am so grateful I can still take my parents and in-laws on adventures.  My wife and I visit them as much as we can and It makes me happy to see them all.

I am grateful for my sister and her husband.  We get along well and enjoy each others company.  We plan to spend time in Europe next year with them.  I am thankful for my wife's brother and sister along with their spouses.  My wife's bother and I are, in may ways, alike.  We enjoy many of the same things and have many shared opinions.  Her sister is a kind woman that I enjoy being around. They both chose very wisely when picking spouses.  Both my sister-in-law Vivian and  brother-in-law Joe are amazing people.

I think the importance of being grateful for employment isn't out of place.  I am very grateful I work for a company that pays me enough to feed, house and educate my family with enough spare money to take an adventure from time to time.  I am grateful that I have interesting work to do and what I do makes a difference to the people I work for.  That people appreciate what I do and that I make a difference in what I do provides me with a sense of satisfaction and some contentment. I very thankful for the benefits.  Without my health insurance I'm sure that I would be bankrupt form my recent heath issues.

Finally, I am so blessed with the my family.  My daughter travels the world helping refineries run more efficiently.  My son works locally in retail.  Both are better children than I deserve.  They are funny caring adults now pursuing their own dreams, yet they haven't forgotten where they come from.  All parents should be so lucky.  My wife, of whom I grow fonder and prouder every day, has helped our public library stay relevant in this age of technology. Her brains and drive have given her the ability to, in many ways, revolutionize the modern public library.  Beside all that, she is my best friend.  She gets my jokes, most of the time.  She is quick to laugh and to forgive.  God knows I mess up enough.  Her constant "half full" attitude to life is infectious and has made me a better parent and a better person.

In short, I have a good life.  I hope I never loose sight of how lucky I am and remain grateful for everything that I have been given through out the year, not just when I take the time to state the things for which I am grateful. During this time of thanksgiving, I hope all of you are blessed by God and find happiness through the year.  My wife always told me this and I choose to believe it.  Everything works out for the best.  The world may appear to be a dark place. But in the fullness of time I believe that through our efforts things will work out for the best.  And may what ever God you worship bless you and even if you don't worship any God, I hope you find blessing, peace and contentment where every you are and wherever you go.

Changes to the Magic.

I Miss my Colorful Friend.

Time has passed since most of the streets of America have been torn down to make way for Galaxy's Edge. I lamented the loss of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights when I learned that it would not return to Hollywood Studios.  I made peace with the loss of the Dancing Lights some time ago because of anticipation for the New Star Wars and Toy Story lands that were to occupy the land that this icon of the holiday season formally sat.  I wrote a post about it some time ago.  Change is inevitable and required for the most magical place on earth to remain the relevant and entertaining place it is today.  I miss the dancing lights and was lucky enough to see them one last time before they closed in 2015.  Two years have passed and work is proceeding on Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story. Both come closer to completion.  The plans for both these area's look exciting and appealing.

Now, our friends at Disney have released another round of closures and changes that span almost all the parks.  In the Magic Kingdom, Disney will build the Tron Coaster in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. The Tron Coaster is to be built where the Tomorrow Land Speedway currently sits.  In Epcot, Ellen's Universe of Energy will be replaced by a Guardians of the Galaxy attraction, and The Great Movie Ride will be replaced by a New Mickey Mouse attraction.  All of you are probably already aware of these changes and there are much better sources than my blog for changes at Walt Disney World.

* (I have since learned that Tron will be built behind the Tomorrow Land speedway next to Space Mountain.)

I welcome change for the most part. However, I have to admit to some sadness that the Great Movie Ride has ceased operations.  No more will we hear Robert Osborne praise some of the greatest movies of the 20th and 21st century.  We have had our last glimpse of Gene Kelly swinging form the lamp post in Singing in the Rain or Boggie sending Ingrid Bergman off to safety in Casablanca.  From Dorthy and the Munchkins to Sigourney Weaver and the USCSS Nostromo, I will think fondly of the Late Great Movie Ride. I will even miss the cheesy performance by the cast members in the middle of the attraction.

Replacing the Great Movie Ride particularly is saddening to me because of how Disney plans to replace it.  I would love to see an attraction dedicated to the Mickey.  After all, Walt said that it all started with a mouse.  But the current iteration of Mickey Mouse doesn't sit all that well with me.  I suppose the animators are trying to recapture some of the feel of Walt's old Cartoons.  But, well, for me it just doesn't work. I'm not fond of how these iconic Disney characters are portrayed.  Some may love the newer Mickey cartoons.  I am not among them.

I usually accept changes.  In all most all cases Disney has replaced attractions with more exciting or more entertaining attractions that the ones removed. I guess I will wait and see what happens with the attraction that replaces the great movie ride.

Pretty Happy Bunch of Folks.

One picture that is taken most at Disneyland.

After reading a few of my past blog posts,  a reader might get the impressions that I'm very unhappy every minute I'm away from the Disney Parks.  Actually, nothing could be further from the truth.  I will admit some ennui when I face some of the vast expanses of time between my visits, but for the most part and maybe more than average, I'm a pretty happy guy.  I have a great family and a good career that affords me the ability to support my family with enough extra to slip down to the happiest place on earth from time to time.  I was able to provide both my children a collage education and while my son may be off to a slower start, both are happy and terrific people. I have the love of my family and the friendship and respect of the people I work with. So, yeah, I'm a pretty happy fellow.

Imagine, if you will, how much more happy I am when I get the opportunity to go to Walt Disney World.  Sure, like many of you here and for lack of a better word, I am obsessed with the land of the mouse found in Florida.  I do enjoy, perhaps more than many, the fireworks at the end of the day or a great meal served after full day of magic and fun. I particularly enjoy combining the two with a Dinner show reservation.  Revisiting the lands at Walt Disney world gives my happiness that is layered on top of my already blessed life.

At Disney World I find magic above and beyond the happiness I have at home.  Who doesn't need more magic in their lives in these times?  Even when we have a good attitude our we know our world has many issues with which to contend. Today, we are faced with Global Warming, Strange Politics and a new found distrust of science that I find almost impossible to explain. We cannot ignore what is going on around us.  We have to face each issue and do our part to be part of the solution. I do my best to combat these hard issues and the problems of our world both big and small can threaten to overwhelm us.  Yet, I am very grateful for the opportunity to escape  time to time into  a immersive trip to Walt Disney World.  I know the issues will still be there when I get back but, well I can come back recharged to face them after a few days away.

This blog is a part my Disney escape.  Each time I talk with you in the blog, I know I'm speaking with like minded people.  No matter your politics, or your stance on Global warming, I know all of you love Disney.  From our Leader, Bill and his lieutenants, Randy and Carol, Mark, Arthur, through the countless others that contribute to this page, I can be back at Disney world in an instant.  I know my writing isn't perfect.  I know I'm pretty much a hack when it comes to putting words to electronic paper.  But I'm pretty sure that doesn't really matter.  You won't judge me too harshly and

you are kind enough not to be overly critical in your comments. I hope you enjoy some of what I write.  At least I hope it makes you smile or think a little from time to time.

A Great Disney Weekend, Even Though I Wasn't at Walt Disney World.

Flower and Garden Festival in May.

A great Disney Weekend?  How can this be when you are still stuck in West Central Indiana?  What could you possible find to get your Disney Groove on when you are hundreds of miles form the Magical Place on Earth.  Sometimes it isn't easy.  There are days when desire for a great Disney vacation stretch before me like a dark road and makes my positive outlook on when I will eventually have an opportunity to visit Disney World difficult to maintain.  Last Mays trip to The Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot helped a lot.  But I still want to immerse myself in Disney for a longer period of time.

Fortunately for me, My fourth of July weekend was filled with Disney Entertainment. The first couple of days were not so remarkable.  I was able to to get my Disney fix from the Blogs and Vlogs that I read and watch.  Keeping in touch with what is going on in the World helps me with the long dark stretches of no Disney.  Things sort of changed on Monday.  My wife, my son and I decided we needed a movie day.  What better movie with which to start than Cars 3.  Cars 2 was a disappointment to me. To me it seemed that Cars 2 was a vehicle to capitalize on Larry the Cable Guys popularity. I have to say, I wasn't a fan.  My son goes so far as to say that Cars 2 really isn't a Cars movie and that the producers just made a math error naming the new movie.  Cars 3, on the other hand, recaptured some of the old magic that Cars 1 had.  Yes, the story was a bit predictable, but I was able to find those old emotional attachments to the old Characters and find new reasons to love the new characters in the film.  Cars 1 was better, but I still enjoyed Cars 3.

The crowning moment of my great Disney weekend came last night.  My wife found the feed to the July the fourth fireworks live stream and suggested that we stream it to our TV and watch it.  What could I say?  Of course, I want to watch it and with my wife as well.  If Disney knows anything, its how to put on a good fireworks show.  The rockets were beautiful with wonderfully colorful fountains of fiery roman candles shooting from the sides of the castle.  Great blooms of mortars exploded from all around the Lagoon.  It was simply gorgeous.  My only criticism of the live feed was either the Director had made a mistake or they were trying to go a bit to artistic by superimposing the long feed from the Polynesian resort over the close up of the castle.  That was just a minor thing that only slightly affected my enjoyment of the Fireworks.

So,  I was able to find some Disney this weekend.  I think I will make it a few more months.  I will find my way back soon and I will find the immersive experience I seek. Until then, I will continue to use my tricks to get my Disney Fix.  I will continue to read the blogs.  I will continue to Vicariously enjoy trips to Disney through the pictures and posts in this group.  You guys will keep me posted as to what is going on and what changes and I will find peace enough to survive till my next trip.

Tale as Old as Time. a Quick Review of The Live Action Beauty and the Beast.

I don't claim to be much of a movie expert.  I have a degree in theatre, but that's about it.  I know what I like about movies and what I how I want them effect me, and I cannot claim that the things that move my emotions will move everyone the same way.  We are all individuals and our past perceptions will affect how we see the world.  Now, All that being said, I would like to take a few minutes to talk about Beauty and the Beast.

I was not a child when I saw the animated version of the film. I was a full grown adult and had kids of my own when the animated version debuted 1991. The animated Beauty and the Beast came out during what I consider the  second Golden Age of Disney film making.  This delightful movie came out during the same era as the Little Mermaid, The Lion king and Aladdin. All of these films are, in my eyes, some of the best animation available.  So, it was with a great deal of enthusiasm and no little trepidation came over me when I heard that Disney was making a live action version of this classic tale.  When the movie came out the reviews were good, but not spectacular like I had expected.  Instead of having my expectations ruined by a sub par movie. I chose to wait until we could get the movie from our local Library.  (My wife is the Tech Team Leader there and we get the Blu-rays very soon after they come out).  While I'm sure most of you have already seen the live action Beauty and the Beast, I saw the movie last night.

I will start by saying that I entered into my viewing experience with a much more open mind having had a few more months to consider the movie.  I did my best to try to accept the move for what it was and not  prejudge it Agaist the animated version.  This was an almost impossible tasks.  Yet, within minutes of starting the film, I was feeling the same emotions I felt with the animated film.  The Beasts back story was better in the live action film and to my pleasant surprise Emma Watson can sing.  I teared up with the first notes of Bon Jour and almost sang out loud the words to Be Our Guest both beautifully rendered by the Live Action Cast.  The new songs were also delightful making the music one of the Highlights of the movie.

I was also very fond of how beautiful everything in the move was.  The sets were spectacular and perfectly provided a place and time for the magic of the movie.  The CG characters were wonderful. Cogsworth and Lumiere were gorgeous and I was especially taken with the interplay between Lumiere and his Feather duster.  It was wonderful stuff. All the occupents of the castle where wonderfully rendered and fit in with the story.  They all looked like the belonged in the world that the director was creating for us.

I don't know if anyone noticed but The Beast and Belles lives where very much in parallel.  Both lost their mothers at an early age, and both were products of their surviving parents. Belle was compassionate and Inquisitive like her father.  The Beast was arrogant and quick to anger like his father.  I love that the live action movie spent time talking about the influence of the Beasts mother and how she had sewn the seeds of goodness in the beasts heart. Even though the Beast only spent a few years with his mother, I believe she was mostly responsible for the Beast finding love and compassion enough to let Belle go back to his father.  Speaking of Belles Father, My son said, and I might have to agree with him, that Keven Kline was too good for this movie.  I thought he played belles father perfectly.

I did have a minor issue with the film.  The Black Death was during 14th Century.  Shakespeare wrote his stuff in the 17th century.  Belle's Mother died of the Plague and later Belle and the beast both quote Romeo and Juliette. Hmmmm.  Oh well, its a minor thing and that I can forgive.

At the end of the day, I don't think live action movie was quite as good as the animated movie.  I freely admit that I could be a little prejudiced against the live action move from the outset. But I still enjoyed it.  I felt in many ways the live action movie explored the characters to greater depth.  The animated Beauty and the Beast was such a wonderful magical surprise that the Live action movie couldn't compete against.  If you haven't seen it. Get the blu ray however you can.  Buy it. Rent it or borrow it from your local library.  It is well worth seeing.

Answering the Eternal Question - Why Do I Go?

Me at EPCOT in May.

I've been back to Disney World Many times.  I never miss a chance to go to Disney World anytime I'm in Central Florida or to Disneyland when I'm near Los Angeles.  I think of Disney Vacations past and future all the time.  Sometimes I wonder if I'm obsessed or weird or just plane crazy in a small way. Perhaps its all of these things. I can never be quite sure of why I am so attracted to Walt Disney World.  My family enjoys Walt Disney World so, for the most part, they are tolerant of my obsession. But even so, while most dream of cars and homes and retirement if they were to win the lottery, I dream of finding ways to go more often to the most magical place on earth.  We spend a lot of Money and time on my obsession and while I intellectually won't allow it to damage our financial situation, nor will I allow it to prevent me from going on other vacations, one of the motivations behind going somewhere other than Disney World on vacation or preventing financial ruin by constant visits to WDW is the hope that sometime in the near future, I can connive my way back to Disney World.

Obligatory "Welcome to the World" Picture

But, why do I always want to go back so much?  What attracts me time and time again to Disney world.  What makes this place better than any of the other wonderful places I have been lucky enough to visit.   My career has taken me over much of North and South America.  I have visited Istanbul and loved it.  I plan on going to Europe next spring on a true once in a lifetime adventure through the Mediterranean sea.  I really can't wait to go.  But in spite of my self, I still mourned the death of my planned solo trip to Walt Disney World for Christmas this year.  How can this be?  What is it that drives me to such thoughts.

Superficially, I can make a long list of reasons why I love Disney World.  The attractions are so much fun.  The food is really great.  The immersive experience is incredible.  In what might be a bit less superficial, the cast members always do their best to make visitors feel the magic of Walt Disney World.  One time, without us asking, a cast member spend an hour trying to get us a better rate on our room.  Other members cast as servers make the theme of restaurants come to life. Yeah, the mechanics, technology and logistics of Disney World are amazing.  The shows and spectaculars are awesome. But, without the people that work there, Disney World would not be the place it is.  It would be Diminished and not as much fun.

Epcot Spaceship Earth

The rides and the restaurants and the hotels are just a part of what keeps me coming back again and again.  What makes me spend the money and makes me return to Walt Disney theme parks whenever I can resides deeper in what the parks do for me.  I can leave this world of stress and pressure and enter the timeless world that Walt created beginning in Disneyland.  I go because I don't have to be as much of an adult.  In Disney World I can take a break from my Job and embrace feelings and emotions that watching the fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom draw from me.  I can, for a short time be a Pirate on the Caribbean or Fly over London like Peter Pan.  I can soar over the World and see and smell many of the amazing places that I might never get to visit.  I can test a race car of my own design.  Wonders, to many to count, make me long for my next visit and new wonders to be experienced keep me motivated to come back again and again.  I can't wait to see Pandora. The new Star Wars land and Toy Story land really need me to come down to Florida and test the attractions before they open. I am just waiting for the invitation.  Am I a bit jealous of the people that live down in Florida, that have annual passes and go to Walt Disney World  all the time?  Yeah, I'm a little jealous of them.  I am, however grateful for the posts that people like Mark, Ronnie, Arthur, Randy and other annual pass holders put on Facebook. The posts take me to the World for a brief time.   Many vloggers help let me escape to Walt Disney World for 10 minutes through their eyes of their cameras.  I am grateful for the books, like Bill's "Mouse Junkies" that allow me to read and plan and find the best way to spend my precious Disney time.  These guys and gals keep me sane or, at the very least, help me control my special kind of insanity.

The Spire at Hollywood Studios

So what does all of this mean?  I'm not sure I know really.  I'm not entirely sure I want to know exactly what keeps me coming to Disney.  I've loved Disney since My parents dropped me off at the local Theater to watch Snow White. I have said in past blogs that Disney World keeps me young, allowing the 10 year boy in the 58 year old man to go outside and play.  That, while important, is only a part of why I go.  I was raised on Disney.  I fed my kids imagination on Disney. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised that I have a love for Disney and his parks. I know for sure that I am not the only one.

Something Done Disney!

Cinderella's Castle a few holidays ago.

Recently, I have spent time in my blog expressing concerns about Pandora. I watched the dedication the other day, making my desire to visit Pandora a lot less predicated on whether I fit on the attractions or not.  Pandora looks beautiful and I wanna go and see it for my self.  Also, I think its about time I climbed down from my soap box and took a few moments to comment on some of the new, amazing and wonderful attractions at the most magical place on earth. I have to preface my comments with the fact that I've not been able go to Animal Kingdom or The Magic kingdom for about a year and a half.   Both of those parks have received new night time shows over the past year and, sadly,  all I can do is experience the new shows vicariously through Youtube and the Video Blogs I follow.  Let me just say that if watching the night time spectaculars on Youtube can bring a tear to my eye and thrill me as much as they have, then I might need to bring a defibrillator with me when I get to see them in person.

Some time ago anticipation for the new Rivers of light show in Animal Kingdom grew almost to the breaking point.  Each test cause a delay and each delay raised anticipation.  However, I'm Glad Disney took the time to get it right.   Its a beautiful show full of boats and water curtains, Projections and live performers.  I really can't wait to see it in person.  I suspect I will choose to do a Dinner show with Rivers of light and try out Tiffin's.. I haven't heard of this restaurant but the menu looks wonderful.  While I don't think there would be any bad places to watch, I want a good place to see the show.

I loved wishes.  I was kind of melancholy when it ended it long run at the Magic Kingdom.  But thankfully Happily Ever After is a worthy successor to Wishes.  This experience has more fireworks, more projections, great music and (spoiler alert) in a nod to Wishes, Tinkerbell flies again!   What Disney has done with the projections on the castle are nothing short of jaw dropping and the spectacular in the skies above Cinderella's castle is Beautiful with more shells and fireworks that wishes had.  I shed a tear when I watched. OK, those that know me know I get very emotional when it comes to watching Disney fireworks.  Wishes had the ability to transport me out of this complex world of worries, politics, and strife to a place of magic and wonder that even an old guy like me can find the place in which I can get lost for some number of minutes. Happily Ever After, I'm happy to observe has the same potential to whisk folks away to a land of magic and joy. I cannot wait to see Happily Ever After live at the parks and how much more wonder the Disney's Imagineers will add During the Holidays.  The goose bumps are rising now just thinking about it.

Not all changes are for the worse.  If fact, Disney seems to realize that if they are going to take something loved by people, Imagineers need to replace it with something even more magical.  On the horizon is Star Wars land and Toy Story land in Hollywood studios.  We had to sacrifice for these new amazing locations with the removal of the streets of America and the Loss of the Osborne spectacle of dancing lights. But Disney's track record for replacing beloved attractions with something more amazing is very good.  So I count the days till I can wander down the streets of some Star Wars world and take control of the Millennium falcon.  You can sign me up for that experience right now.

What Hath Disney Wrought - A Big Person's Rant.

Me at my biggest. (Sort of Santa like huh?)

You have to be kidding me, right?  The reports I've read about Pandora are fake news, right? Disney Certainly can't be lowering its standards for big people.  What is this talk of test chairs and of folks being asked to leave a ride because they are too big.  The 7 dwarfs mine train is bad enough.  The cars are small and cramped but I can fit in them.  But now, for the first time I can remember, Disney is coming out with a ride that won't accommodate everyone!  I thought I had enough of that at Universal.  Many people out there will say, "Well just drop some weight. It's not Disney's fault that your fat."  They don't walk in my shoe. Its damn hard for some of us to loose just a few pounds.  As bad as I hate to admit it,  I think big people are becoming a lager (pun intended) part of the population. I'm big, but otherwise i'm in good health.  I have no heart conditions, I have no back problems. As hard as Disney has hyped Pandora, one would think that they would be able to let everyone on the ride.  I remember my disappointment when I couldn't ride the Harry Potter ride.  I assumed, wrongly of course, that they had made accommodations for larger folks.  I may be jumping ahead of my self,  Maybe I'll be OK to ride.  Pandora isn't open so maybe they will fix the issue before I get the opportunity to go. I still love Disney.  I look on this as a difference of opinion rather than a deal breaker for future trips. But, please, I beg the Imangineers at Disney to keep us big guys in mind.

No Christmas Disney for me and Comparing Universal and Disney.

Selfie at Spaceship earth.

Well, Its kind of official now.  My Christmas solo trip to Disney World will have to be put on hold.  My heart aches a little but postponing it will be for a good cause.  We booked a Cruise for next year to the Mediterranean. While I have officially set foot in European soil, our trip to Istanbul an number of years ago could hardly count as a comprehensive exploration of the old world.  This trip will give me more of a chance to see cities like Barcelona, Venice, Rome, and Florence, just to name a few of the ports that we will be visiting.  The trade off was at least close to equal. However,  Last week we did slip down to Orlando on a family vacation.  My daughter's work makes it unpredictable when she will be around for vacations so, since she and my son wanted to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, We came to the consensus that Orlando would be our destination.   Fortunately for me, because we had plenty of time to explore the parks at Universal, My family indulged me with a day at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.  It was great.  I love the colors and topiaries all over the place.  Don't bet me wrong,  I liked Universal too.  Spiderman may be my all time favorite thrill ride and Dudley Doo Right's log flume ride is one of the best of its kind.  I know that Popeye and Bluto's bilge rat barges is among the best rides ever. That being said, there are few things that set Disney apart from our friends at Universal Studios. I would like to take a few moments to contrast the two theme park giants in Central Florida.

There be Dragons at Epcot.

Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley

My first observations is strictly one that may not affect most people, at least people of normal size.  I don't consider my size to be normal by any means.  I'm a big guy.  My son is bigger. We have never found a Disney ride that could not accommodate me or my son.  We were unfortunate enough to ride in the same car on the 7 dwarfs Mine train once and while it was very cramped and extraordinarily uncomfortable, we were able to strap our selves down and do the attraction.  On at least 3 attractions in Universal, My son couldn't ride the attraction and I just small enough to ride on several others.  I didn't attempt the Hulk, even though there are accommodations for bigger people on that coaster, also, I went through the line for the harry potter ride at Islands of Adventures a couple years ago only to find out I couldn't fit.  I was concerned about Escape from Gringotts but I was able to ride that attraction.  Along those same lines,  I was afraid I ruptured my spleen on the Revenge of the Mummy attraction (my new all time least favorite attraction supplanting the Primeval Hurl attraction at Animal Kingdom).  I don't feel much need to do that one again. At the end of the day,  When I compare the parks Disney is much friendlier to larger people.

Islands of adventure (note the Disney Gear)

Gringotts Diagon Alley.

My second observation when I compare the two parks is maybe much more subjective.  It seems that Universal found something great with the Spiderman ride and then Universal copied for many of their other attractions.  Escape from Gringotts, Transformers, were both "4D" adventures like Spiderman.  There are some differences in the track configuration and all the rides I mentioned were among my favorites, but when we rode the  Race Through New York attraction, the 3D affects had taken their toll.  In my case, my belly started to bubble after Escape from New York.  By the way, My son couldn't ride Escape because of the seat belt.  I had more attractions that I wanted to do,  I would have liked Shrek and Minion Mayhem, but the 3D damage was done.  All of us in the family were all a bit queasy and of the same mind about leaving the park.  A few rides at Disney have made me queasy as well.   I rode the Primeval Hurl (Primeval Whirl) once and turned white.  I won't do the Mad Hatter's Tea Cups at magic kingdom and Mission Space intense mode left me queasy as well.  All of these are spinning attractions and round and round is not my cup of tea (pun very much intended).   But,  Disney wins this category in my eyes for having more varied attractions than Universal and I already know which Disney attractions to avoid.

Via Napoli

Finally, I feel the food is much better at Disney.  Disney seems to go out of its way to hire world class chefs to run the kitchens in Disney world.  On this trip, We ate at the Boathouse, Morimoto's Asia and at Via Napoli.  My mother-in-law complained a bit about the the crust of the pizza at Via Napoli but she is uses to the mid west crust that has an almost cracker like consistency. Cracker like isn't a perfect description but the crust here at home is crisp and nice.  Personally, I found the crust on the pizza very good, a little crisp with some soft chewiness that set Napoleon pizza apart form other pizzas. I had wonderful steamed clams at the boathouse.  While I would have liked them to be a bit bigger, they were tasty with a wonderful briny broth that was full of flavor.  At Morimoto's we did the Sushi Pagoda.  The fish was wonderfully presented with both sashimi slices and Nigiri sushi.  This is my own opinion and you can take it for what it is worth, but the oysters served on the Pagoda were not as good as local Gulf coast oysters would have been.  They tasty but small and a bit grainy. Not gritty per se but not as creamy and lovely as fresh gulf coast oysters can be.  Still, over all, the Sushi Pagoda was fun and delicious.  

Morimoto's Asia

In Universal we really ate at Antojitos in city walk at the Leaky Cauldron in Universal Studios and Mythos in Islands of adventures.  The food at the Leaky Cauldron was tasty.  I had the beef and lamb stew with a frozen butter beer.  I originally ordered the regular unfrozen version but my daughter liked the regular better so I traded with her.  The stew was served in a bread bowl and was kind of expensive.  It tasted good.  the lamb and beef were tender and still juicy and the veggies were not cooked to oblivion. The sauce was a Guinness based gravy that was really tasty.  My biggest issue with the meal was the portion size.  I got maybe 3 chunks of meat with a few veggies in a bread bowl that was barely carved out.  The bread is self was rustic.  I didn't care for it much.  At Mythos we were to share an order of calamari.  It is so easy to over cook calamari and Mythos managed to over cook it by a lot. In addition to the squid being rubbery it wasn't very fresh and tasted fishy.  We sent it back.  The manager was kind enough to remove it from our bill so I have no complaint about the service.  The Lamb burger I ordered for my lunch was juicy, flavorful and delicious.  I really enjoyed it.  Antojito's in City walk was our dinner before we went to see Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2.  Everything there was delightful.  I got mole enchiladas that were tasty and fresh.  Be sure to order the table side Guacamole. The server creates it table side, so you can add as much or little heat as you like.  The Guacamole was creamy and perfectly seasoned.  I could eat vats of the stuff with the chips they served at the beginning of the meal.  At the end of the day I would rate the dinning we had at Disney better.  The service was comparable at both locations.  The servers were fast and friendly and engaging at both locations.  I just think that Disney's food was tastier and perhaps even a better value that what you get at the Universal restaurants and Universal was a bit less consistent with the food.

Hogwarts express

So there you have it.  For the most part, I believe Disney gives you better value and more diverse experience that Universal.  Universal is fun and a great Vacation destination.   Many of the experiences at Universal are amazing and perfect for kids, teens and adults.  Universal has some of my favorite rides, but Disney, in my estimation, gets the nod simply due to the immersive experience, especially if you stay on site. I can say truthfully that I will be back to both parks, just not as often to Universal, and unlike Universal, I dream of my return to Disney.