Rethinking Disneyland's Winnie the Pooh Ride

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Just maybe the Disneyland Traveler was wrong. That's right, I said it, wrong. On a regular basis Disneyland's Winnie the Pooh ride in Critter Country gets punished in forums and discussion boards. And for years I have stuck up for the little ride and said I rather enjoyed it. After all, it's not Pooh's fault that it was misplaced, stuck across from one of the ultimate E-ticket attractions in Splash Mountain and replaced what many feel was a beloved classic Disney attraction in Country Bear Jamboree. If the Pooh ride were placed over in Fantasyland where it belongs, then it would fit right in with everything else they have going on over there in that part of the park.
Disneyland's Winnie the Pooh ride is bright, colorful, and cheerful, just fine for what it is, an enjoyable small dark ride. And then this morning happened. Looking through a MiceChat forum someone posted a video of Tokyo Disneyland's version of Winnie the Pooh. Whoa! That ride beat the Disneyland version from here to Tokyo and back again.
It's been said that since Disney doesn't actually own the Disney parks in Japan, the actual owners - OLC (Oriental Land Company) doesn't have any problem handing over Disney imagineers, in their licensing agreement with Disney, big dollars for state of the art attractions at a spare no expense cost. With Winnie the Pooh in Japan, it shows.
Check out the video below and enjoy a much superior Winnie the Pooh attraction.

Picking A Month To Go To Disneyland

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The excitement continues to build for the biggest summer season of all at the Disneyland Resort. Will this be the biggest since the 50th Anniversary celebration in 2005? I think so. Calculating and careful marketing on the part of Disney has fans of the resort building to a fever pitch for the relaunch of DCA and especially Cars Land featuring the biggest most highly anticipated attraction probably since Indiana Jones - Radiator Springs Racers. Yep, this summer is going to be a monster. And as I have previously stated, getting trampled under foot is not my idea of a good time. At my age, being the first to do anything isn't all that important anymore other than maybe being the first one in the bathroom here at the old homestead in the morning.
So pick a month, any month, when would be good time to plan a trip? Going over my past trips as I do in writing this blog I can see for the last several years we tend to have made our trips in the spring March - April - May time frame or mid-September. That seems to have been the pattern since 2008. Time to shake it up a bit.
Now, this summer is out for reasons stated though Mrs. DisneylandTravel and I have made several trips in June and July over the years. A word to the Disney wise out there. If you want to go in June, watch the annual pass blackout dates. One of the worst times to visit the park are those days in mid-June right before the SoCal pass holders with summer blackouts dates kick in. All of them, thousands of them, hit the parks before they are kicked out for the summer. A 50 minute wait to get on Pirates is no fun at all. Surprisingly, we have had pretty good trips in July including the 50th Anniversary celebration. With a large segment of local pass holders kept out, you are dealing with primarily vacationers and those with high end annual passes. Not bad at all providing the weather remains comfortable (and we have been fortunate with our summer time weather I must say).
In this blog, I may have mentioned once or twice (or 20) that I am not a Halloween person. Why we have made so many September trips is beyond me as we seen to hit the park in mid-September right when the now named Halloweentime starts up. Nice to see, but enough already.
When I think of all our trips over the years, maybe our most special trips have been during Christmas. The week right before Thanksgiving when everything is decorated and the holidays are just getting started is a great time to go. Been there during this week maybe two or three times. It's really quite enjoyable. Even better are the first two weeks of December. The holidays are in full swing but it is still considered a low season before the Christmas school break starts. A great time to go if the weather cooperates. Yes, it does rain in Southern California and the first major rain storm seems to target sometime in December.
So that's what I am hoping for - a trip right before Thanksgiving week or the first two weeks in December. There's a lot going in the life the life of the Disneyland Traveler outside of Disney that could prevent this from happening but it is always good to dream, and hope, and plan, and maybe even scheme a bit to make that next trip to Disneyland.

One Year As The Disneyland Traveler

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Happy Memorial Day everyone. Before you move on to your holiday activities, don't forget to stop a minute and remember those who serve in the armed forces and those who have served and sacrificed in the preservation of our freedom. It's easy to overlook. Don't.
This is the one year anniversary for the Disneyland Traveler Blog. The first post was made on May 28, 2011. Are Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I planning to go out and celebrate? Nah, I may go out and get a pizza for dinner. Half price night at the local Round Table.
To those who have read and spent some time with this blog over the last year, a sincere 'Thank You' is expressed to all. I don't know who all of you are but hopefully something in here gives you a few moments of enjoyment or provides something of interest. The good folks at Google (where this blogging tool comes from) provide some background statistics of how many people visit this site and its continued growth gives me some momentum for going forward. During the first month of its existence about 350 visitors stumbled on this blog, half of them I probably either knew or was related to. In this last month, there were about 3500 visitors to this blog and more than 14,000 views during the year. Wow! Again, I have no idea who reads this stuff but I am appreciative.
The whole purpose of the blog was to provide an outlet to share some thoughts about something that interested me - Disneyland and Disney as a whole. Not sure why as I do have other interests but Disney just seemed like a fun thing to write about. It also helps keep me young as the end of my life is much closer than the beginning now. Imagine, at my age, anytime I want I can write about a cartoon mouse or an ill tempered duck. My hope is to provide some information, some entertainment, some food for thought, if there is something in here you haven't agreed with what I may have said, I am perfectly OK with that. Sometimes I read something I wrote some time back and even I don't know where I was coming from. I have written a lot of things and I'm sure missed the mark many times but every once in awhile, I make a hit. I guess all of this is an exercise in writing skills and style and I'm not even getting graded for it.
I hope you continue to enjoy the adventures of The Disneyland Traveler. There's more to come. 

A Closer Look At - The Jungle Cruise

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I really do like The Jungle Cruise. I should give it a little more respect though. Too often a trip on The Jungle Cruise becomes an afterthought, something to do when you are waiting for your Indiana Jones fast pass time to open up, something to do just because, well, except on very busy days, the line is generally short.


But The Jungle Cruise is much, much more. I've probably got more pictures of my Jungle Cruise excursions than almost any other attraction in the park (the Mark Twain and the Rivers of America is right up there as well with photos). The ride is an original going back to opening day 1955.  It's actually a ride that is not based on a Disney movie but rather the Humphrey Bogart classic - The African Queen. Over the years, the jungle canopy is so developed that it is its own eco-system. There is very little landscaping maintenance required in the expanse of the jungle. And the ride itself is usually an employable trip even if you have seen the same sites and heard the same lame ol' jokes a hundred times over.

Notice I used the word 'usually'. Occasionally, you can get a clinker of a trip. Sometimes when its crowded I swear the skippers have a side bet going on about how fast they make the round trip through the jungle. The boats seem to fly with barely a second to take in some of sites. Then there is the skipper himself or herself. Some are better than others. The sound system on the boats generally isn't very good. If you have a skipper that doesn't have a clearly defined voice, then the muffled sound is sometimes difficult to hear as you try and catch the jokes. A few years ago I think I wrote in a forum that females tended to make the worst JC skippers because there voices just didn't seem to be as clear or forceful. I've dropped that sexist remark from my observations. I've had plenty of male skippers who have dropped a dud of a trip as well.
But if you get the right skipper, one that really does enjoy his or her role, then The Jungle Cruise is one of the most fun things you can do in the park.


A few more random thoughts about The Jungle Cruise. We will go on the ride at least once and probably twice on every trip we make. Someone said if I wanted to enhance my Jungle Cruise experience, go on the ride at night. I did. It was kind of the same only dark.
And as many times as I have been on that ride, I didn't know the bird in the cage above the entrance to the ride was real until the last year or so. Always something to learn. A Jungle Cruise movie starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen has been in serious discussion for quite some time. That sounds like it would be a winner.
Anyway, I have The Jungle Cruise as a solid D-ticket attraction and an absolutely must do on every trip to Disneyland. Here are a few more Jungle Cruise pictures followed be an Asianjma123 YouTube video that takes you through the whole ride.

DCA 'Letters' Find A New California Home

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DCA Original Entrance - A Disney Photo

Well, Disney didn't have a use for them anymore. The semi iconic letters that stood in front of the Disney California Adventure entrance for 10 years have found a new home. News up here in Sacramento has Disney donating the letters that spelled out CALIFORNIA in the esplinade to a non-profit organization called Friends of the California State Fair which in turn will install the letters on the California State Farirgrounds (Cal-Expo) sometime later this year. This years state fair has its run in July so the installation will be done sometime after this years state fair.
The non-profit organization will have to pay for the shipping and installation of the letters donated by Disney so there will be some fund raising efforts surrounding this project. Although Disney park fans complained for years about the tacky entrance to the DCA park, people had no problem crawling all over the letters and having their pictures taken with the various pieces of the alphabet so in that respect having the letters come to life in a new location should insprie some degree of nostalgia for northern California residents who attend the fair in future summers. A nice touch.

The Suffering of Sahar Gul

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I just read a news report about a 15-year-old girl from Afghanistan that was held captive and brutally, systematically tortured for 6 months by her in-laws.  Sahar Gul has finally been freed, and is being sent to India for treatment.  Her husband is in hiding, but her mother-in-law and sister-in-law have been arrested. I'm sure, as women, they will be severely punished. Call me a cynic, but I doubt they'll be searching too hard for her husband. He will probably just end up re-marrying some other poor girl and getting away with his crimes.

It sickens me that this kind of abuse commonly exists in parts of the world. The Taliban may no longer be in control of the government in Afghanistan, but the mindset and lack of respect for women remains. Why hasn't the UN community worked harder to effect change?

The girl was rescued after her uncle reported the torture to local police. I'm glad he finally stepped in to help, but I wonder, what took him so long?  Are women so devalued in that society that a person would hesitate to put a stop to this level of abuse? Six months is an eternity for someone enduring this kind of agony on a daily basis.

Officials noted that this case was an extreme, one of the worst they've seen.  The fact that any level of abuse is deemed acceptable by a society is disturbing. According to news reports, the government rarely follows up on the abuse cases that are reported to them. I'm grateful that this young girl has finally escaped from the hell she was in, but I can't help but think about the thousands of other Afghan women who are still suffering.

I'm Not Really A Waitress

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I treated myself to a pedicure today, and went with one of my all-time favorite shades: I'm Not Really A Waitress by OPI.  It's the company's biggest selling polish, and for good reason: it's the perfect shade of red with a nice shimmer to it.  Even my husband noticed. Not too shabby!

It's back to school tomorrow for my high schooler and middle schooler, after a long Christmas break. They're less than thrilled, as you might imagine, but I'm looking forward to getting back into our usual routine.

AS SEEN ON TV: Review of Eggies

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I love buying "As Seen On TV" products and trying them out at home. Sometimes, I'm pleasantly surprised at how well the product delivers on its promises.

This was not one of those times.

I love Deviled Eggs and egg salad, and my kids like hard-boiled eggs as a snack. Lately, I've been buying the Eggland's Best Hard-Boiled Eggs, which come already cooked to perfection and ready to eat.  Still, wouldn't it be great to achieve that kind of perfection at a fraction of the cost, along with the satisfaction of making them myself?

Enter "Eggies", plastic containers that are supposed to allow you to make hard-boiled eggs without the shells, so you can skip the messy peeling process altogether. No more cracked shells, no more burnt fingers!  Sounds too good to be true!!

Yeah. Hold that thought.

Here's the "official" photo of the product, and what the finished product is supposed to look like:
Oh, how delectable these egg appetizers look! So perfect, and with no peeling!

I bought the Eggies system for only $9.99 at the Bed, Bath & Beyond store. I had a coupon for 20% off, so the actual cost was closer to $8. What a bargain, right?

Wrong.

I followed the directions exactly.  In the commercial, they make it look super-simple, just crack the raw eggs into the eggie containers and drop them into boiling water. Nope--first you need to grease the inside of each and every Eggie with oil nonstick cooking spray, which is a time-consuming task. There were TWO sets of written instruction specifically warning you not to skip this step. Unfortunately, you can't just spray the cooking oil into the Eggies. According to the directions, "you must coat the insides of top and bottom pieces with cooking oil before each use. If using cooking spray, spray a paper towel and wipe the inside of each piece, do not spray directly into the Eggies." 


The Eggie is actually comprised of four separate pieces: a Lid, Collar, Bottom Half and Top Half.  After you've carefully greased the top and bottom pieces, you put them together and secure them with the collar. Then you crack the egg into the Eggie, screw the lid on, and place it into a pan of warm water. The instructions say, "Ensure that they are floating." They were.
Then you bring the water to a boil and cook them according to the chart enclosed (varies based on size of egg and level of doneness you want. It's 15 min for a large hard-boiled egg).

I did all of that. And here are the mutant Eggies that emerged.

Poor little Eggies. They emerged as "half eggs", looking more like Coneheads from the old Saturday Night Live skit than the perfect ovals shown on the box. Some were difficult to remove from the Eggie container (the instructions say to use a utensil to loosen the egg around the edges if they are not releasing).  They were all rubbery, oddly-shaped, and inconsistent in terms of doneness.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION:  Save your money!  Eggies aren't worth the "bargain" price. Either take the time to hard-boil and peel your eggs the old-fashioned way, or splurge on the pre-cooked, already-peeled version from Eggland's Best. They retail for around $3 for a bag of six eggs.

Newsweek's Downward Spiral Continues

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There was a time when I used to enjoy reading Newsweek.  Then came the rise of 24-hour news channels and internet news sites, all providing stunning visuals and breaking news in real time. Weekly news magazines like Newsweek quickly became outdated dinosaurs   The only way for Newsweek to compete and try to stay relevant was to offer in-depth, thoughtful analysis. But, with the rise of political blogs, they lost even more ground.

Now, the folks at Newsweek are just plain desperate.

Their latest cover poses the question: "Why Are Obama's Critics So Dumb?"  Since when did elitist name-calling become a substitute for well-researched journalism? The editors at Newsweek are not even trying to pretend that they're a legitimate source of news anymore. I can't decide if it's more sad than pathetic.

This cover story is just the latest in a long line of questionable choices made by the Newsweek editorial board.  They've taken heat in the past year for their gleefully unflattering covers of Tea Party favorites Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin, but those weren't the worst of it.
For me, the most egregious "jump the shark" moment for Newsweek came when they photoshopped a 14-years-dead-and-gone Princess Diana, digitally aged to appear 50 years old and walking alongside her son's soon-to-be wife, Kate Middleton. A new low that even the sleaziest tabloids have not attempted. Disgusting.

It was a blatant ploy to exploit the late Princess Diana's enduring popularity as a taken-too-soon icon. Almost a decade and a half after her death, Newsweek still couldn't resist going to the well one more time, disregarding the unseemly fact that it was the media's unhealthy obsession with capturing Diana's image that led to her tragic death.

Spotting a Fake PayPal Email -- Don't be fooled!

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I received an email today that was structured to look as though it came from PayPal.

Here's a screen shot (click on the photo to see it larger):


Fortunately, I've heard enough warnings about "phishing" emails to be on the lookout for messages like this one,  that try to trick recipients into clicking on bogus links that will harm your computer and/or attempt to trick you into giving a 3rd party website your PayPal password and account info.

A few tip offs that this one was a fake:

-- It wasn't sent just to me, but to "undisclosed recipients"

-- They did not address me by my first and last name anywhere in the email

-- The return address appears to be from "Service@PayPal.com", but if you click "Show More" for the Sender, the full email address is revealed as noreply@netlogmail.com

-- If you hover over the links embedded in the email, you'll see that they won't take you to a secure page on the PayPal website. Instead, they direct you to another website entirely--one that will likely harm your computer the minute you click the link.

What really annoys me about this email is that they have the nerve to include "helpful" information on how to avoid fraud--and the link they provide to show you their Security Tips takes you right to the same bogus website as all of the other links.

If you receive an email like this, and you aren't sure whether or not it is from the real PayPal site, follow these simple steps:

1.  DO NOT CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS IN THE EMAIL

2.  Forward the email to spoof@paypal.com   Don't send the email as an attachment, and don't change the Subject line....just forward it to PayPal and they will contact you as to whether or not the email is legit or a spoof/scam.

3. Delete the email

You can read more about how to avoid Phishing scams at the real PayPal site HERE

Have You Seen The Lion King In New York City?

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The Lion King has been playing to many sold out audiences in New York City and around the world for over 11 years now. The winner of six Tony Awards in 1998, The Lion King tells the classic story of the young royal Simba and the tribe of the wonderful African Pride Lands brought to life on the beautiful New Amsterdam Theater stage.

The Lion King is based on the original film and stars Kissy Simmons as Nala and Dashaun Young as Simba. The music is by Sir Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi with costume design and direction by the great Julie Taymor.

If you are interested in seeing The Lion King in New York City or have an interest in other Broadway Shows, Applause Theater Service can help you secure great seats at excellent prices. We would be happy to suggest some wonderful restaurant dining options for you as well.

Applause has been in the ticket business for 22 years now and is an offically licensed agency of every Broadway Show in New York City. We are open for business seven days a weeks, 365 days a year.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Theater Service 311 west 43rd street, suite 601
New York, New York 10036
local phone 212-307-7050
toll free 800-451-9930
web site www.applause-tickets.com

Don't Forget The Lion King on Broadway

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When it comes to shows on Broadway, Disney sure knows how to put on a spectacular. The Lion King is one of three Disney shows currently on Broadway and happens to be one of my favorites. I always said if I died after the opening number I would die happy. The Lion King tells the story of a young lion cub named Simba who struggles as he takes on the responsibilities of becoming an adult and becoming the future king.
With Music and Lyrics by Sir Elton Jon and Tim Rice, and the direction of Julie Taymor The Lion King is a show sure to please all ages and is not to be missed while in New York.
Don't waste time, Hurry and call Applause Theatre & Entertainment Service today for the best seats at the best prices!!!!!!!


Applause Theatre & Entertainment Service
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York NY 10036
212-307-7050
1-800-451-9930
www.applause-tickets.com

Now Is The Best Time To See Disney's The Lion King On Broadway

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Now in it's celebrated 12th year on Broadway is The Lion King.The show which opened to rave reviews is still selling out nightly on Broadway. The Lion King won seven 1998 Tony Awards including Best Musical and first opened at the newly refurbished New Amsterdam Theatre on November 13, 1997 before moving to the Minskoff Theatre in June 0f 2006. Not being the biggest Disney fan in the world I wasn't exactly looking forward to seeing the show when it was first announced. I mean how were they going to pull this thing off? Beauty and the Beast was one thing but we are talking about a show with a bunch of singing and dancing hyenas. Well not only did they pull it off but to this day it is one of the most thrilling spectacular achievements that I have ever seen On or Off-Broadway. In fact The Lion King is still one of our most requested shows here at Applause. This is a show that the whole family will love. Call now to get your tickets to see The Lion King on Broadway. It is theatre at it's finest.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Follow us at http://twitter.com/applausetickets
Facebook: Applause'>http://www.facebook.com/pages/Applause-Theatre-Entertainment-Service-Inc/62615021333?ref=ts">Applause

Now Is The Best Time To See Disney's The Lion King On Broadway

To contact us Click HERE
Now in it's celebrated 12th year on Broadway is The Lion King. The show which opened to rave reviews is still selling out nightly on Broadway. The Lion King won seven 1998 Tony Awards including Best Musical and first opened at the newly refurbished New Amsterdam Theatre on November 13, 1997 before moving to the Minskoff Theatre in June 0f 2006. Not being the biggest Disney fan in the world I wasn't exactly looking forward to seeing the show when it was first announced. I mean how were they going to pull this thing off? Beauty and the Beast was one thing but we are talking about a show with a bunch of singing and dancing hyenas. Well not only did they pull it off but to this day it is one of the most thrilling spectacular achievements that I have ever seen On or Off-Broadway. In fact The Lion King is still one of our most requested shows here at Applause. This is a show that the whole family will love. Call now to get your tickets to see The Lion King on Broadway. It is theatre at it's finest.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Follow us at http://twitter.com/applausetickets
Facebook: Applause Theater and Entertainment Service,Inc

Disney's The Lion King Is Still A Crowd Favorite

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Can you believe it's been almost twelve years since The Lion King first burst onto the scene? Back in 1994 Disney made their first foray onto Broadway with Beauty and the Beast which ran for over thirteen years. Not too bad for a show no one ever thought would make it in the first place. Following that triumph they embarked on what would become their biggest hit too date. Once again no one though that The Lion King would be come the worldwide hit it has become but Disney proved everybody wrong. Not only that but it beat the odds-on favorite Ragtime for the Tony Award for Best Musical. Which by the way is returning to Broadway this fall. Maybe it will win for Best Revival next June. That is of course Disney doesn't bring Aida back. I seriously doubt it but stranger things have happened. Regardless The Lion King should be here for a very long time and continue to delight audiences of all ages for years to come.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

Follow us at http://twitter.com/applausetickets
Facebook: Applause Theater and Entertainment Service,Inc

Carthay Circle Restaurant Now Accepting Reservations

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Angus Steak Cobb Salad - Carthay Circle Restaurant
A Disney Parks Blog Photo

Disney Parks Blog just posted that the new Carthay Circle Restaurant on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure is accepting reservations for June 15 and beyond. From the looks of the 256 seat restaurant based on photos that have been released and the menu put together by Napa Rose Chef Andrew Sutton, this is going to be one expensive dining experience but one that promises to be a memorable one. Sometime in the next few days will come post to this blog where dining at the Carthay Circle Restaurant goes on my official Disneyland Bucket List. Expecting Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I to spend about $200+ on this one.

Crispy Firecracker Duck Wings - Carthay Circle Restaurant
A Disney Parks Blog Photo

Jamaican Jerked Kingfish - Carthay Circle Restaurant
A Disney Parks Blog Phot0

Finally, the ultimate in decadence....

Fried Banana Split Monte Cristo Sundae - Carthay Circle Restaurant
A Disney Parks Blog Photo

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Disneyland's Tomorrowland - Reaching for ... Futility

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"A vista into a world of wondrous ideas, signifying man's achievements.... A step into the future with predictions of constructive things to come. Tomorrow offers new frontiers in science, adventure, and ideals, the atomic age, the challenge of outer space and the hope for a peaceful and unified world."


Walt Disney's Dedication of Tomorrowland - July 17, 1955
The world was much different when Walt Disney dedicated Tomorrowland in 1955 than it is today.  There really was a world of tomorrow in space exploration, earth exploration, science, and technology.  The future was as big as imagination would allow it to be. But it's 2012 and Walt Disney has been dead for 45 years or so. The future is still unknown in the big picture of it all but in today's world things change rapidly, too rapidly for anyone to keep up let alone a theme park. The Dell notebook computer I am typing this blog entry on right now is probably a year a old and was outdated by the time I got it out of the box. Everyone has a cell phone but its lifespan is about as long as it take to learn how to use it. Manned space travel is coming to an end probably because someone figured out "wow! this is expensive". The deepest trenches of the oceans have been explored and for the most part it's been discovered that it is cold, dark, and kind of boring down there. Advances in medicine and science occur so fast that it boggles the mind and unfortunately the driving force may be said to be for the betterment of mankind but often its "there's a lot of money to be made in this stuff".
For years, Disneyland was able to fit Walt's dreams and vision of a land of Tomorrow with it rides and attractions. But everyone knows for the last couple of decades Disneyland's Tomorrowland has deteriorated into a mish-mashed collection of rides and attractions, most having nothing to do with tomorrow at all.


Stand on the upper of level of the Innoventions building and survey the Tommorland landscape. To the left is what most people feel is Tomorrowland's best attraction, Space Mountain, an imaginative ride not based on a movie (what a concept!). It's great but here we go. Off to the right is Autopia, still a great ride for kids and a popular one, but it has nothing to do with tomorrow other than kids actually do grow up and drive cars in their futures. Next to it is Finding Nemo's Submarine Voyage. The subs WERE great once upon a time but now they get to explore what basically is a cartoon.
Speaking of cartoons, a little further down is Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, a really good ride that Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I enjoy thoroughly, but is it a ride of "tomorrow"? No, Buzz Lightyear when you come down to it, is a toy. 

Across from Buzz sits the recently rebooted and great Star Tours with its impressive motion simulation 3D technology. Lines are long again and people love it. With 56 possible story combinations, its a way to get people hopping back on again and again. But Star Tours is based on the Star Wars movie franchise and the creative mind of George Lucas, not Walt Disney. Accompanying Star Tours is the Jedi Training Academy which allow kids to have a great time interacting with Star Wars characters. Even if your an adult, it's fun to watch as you sit out on the venerable Tomorrowland Terrace.

Then there's Captain EO, a refugee from the 80's, that was a bad idea to bring back to Tomorrowland and everyone knows is going to be given the boot sometime in the near future. Does anyone even go in there anymore to see the silliness of it all?
And there's Innoventions itself which is supposed to be all about tomorrow but other than ASIMO, the amazing robot built by Honda, what goes on in there is essentially a big commercial for companies like HP, Microsoft, and Yamaha that pay Disney big money to pay the light bill in there.
So what's the point? The point is there is little tomorrow left in Tomorrowland. The theme of the original land is obscenely askewed. There will probably be a Marvel attraction based on the Avengers somewhere in Disneyland (or DCA) at some point and a lot of people look to the cavernous, under-utilized Innoventions building as a likely piece of real estate to acquire for a major attraction. But again, there is nothing tomorrow about The Avengers though comics certainly do have the ability to bend time and space.
Here is the thought of a heretic - just dump the concept of a Tomorrowland. To theme to that name is an effort in futility. Rides and attractions cost millions (even hundreds of millions) to build. Why try to strap them to an unachievable effort in Tomorrowland theming? CHANGE THE NAME for crying out loud. I don't know the name yet, I'm sure one will come to me but there has to be something better than Tomorrowland that will allow the popular attractions of Space Mountain, Nemo subs, Autopia, Buzz Lightyear, and Star Tours to co-exist with Marvel's The Avengers.
Now some may think this is sacrilegious going against a land that Walt Disney himself put into his park but the time has come. I wrote yesterday in a forum that many will think the dumping of a conceptual Tomorrowland would have Walt spinning in his grave. But Walt Disney has been dead for 45 years and at this point, I believe he is done spinning.
  

My Disneyland Bucket List - Item #4

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I said I was going to do it. When Disney announced that is was now accepting reservations for the new Carthay Circle Restaurant in California Adventure, I knew it had to go on the bucket list. Now if I were I a betting person, and I'm really not, I'd be willing to wager a meal in this new high end restaurant is going to make a meal at the Blue Bayou seem like a deal so for Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I, we'd have to look at our projected park budget. If we were going on the cheap, a meal at CCR may not be practical as a meal there probably is going to equal and entire days food budget and maybe then some. But sometimes we really do treat ourselves and this where Carthay Circle dining experience comes in. It's going on the bucket list. We may not go on our next trip (hopefully later this year) but we are definitely going to eat there.
We have eaten at every table service restaurant in Disneyland and DCA, we can't leave CCR out. 

Disneyland Traveler Finally Sees The Avengers

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I've been excited to see Marvel's The Avengers for months now. I was not alone as 19 days after its world wide release and a week after its release in the United States, the movie has already raked in over a billion dollars in box office receipts. I had to hold off my viewing of the film at the theater because.....well.....I have a problem with crowded movie theaters and claustrophobia. Crowded theaters limit my ability to enjoy movies.
With that in mind, I saw the movie yesterday, a Monday afternoon. Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I took in a 2:00pm matinee in a 3D theater with about 10 people watching the film including us. Just the way I like it. I had no doubt the movie would deliver the goods after reading other reviews the last couple of weeks. It did. Was it a great movie? Well, I wouldn't call it great but it was solid storytelling (almost like reading a comic book), very entertaining, and really pretty funny in spots since you can't take this stuff too seriously. Not a great movie but a very, very good movie that will keep most viewers riveted to the screen. 
The Hulk steals the scenes he is in with the mild mannered Mark Ruffalo giving the perfect counter balance to the raging monster. Robert Downey Jr. gets the best lines as always (though the wise guy act is wearing a little thin). The 2 Chris's - Hemsworth and Evans get to flex their muscles. And Scarlett Johansson is Scarlett Johansson for better or worse.
When the Blu-Ray home video packages come out in what my guess is mid September, Mrs. DLT has already said we are going to pick one up. This is the kind of movie where you just really want to see all the bonus features you can get. To get a large cast together to make a successful movie is never an easy feat. All credit goes to director Joss Whedon and Marvel producer Kevin Feige. Marvel runs a tight operation with their films and it shows with a classic movie experience that is The Avengers.
A billion dollars and counting. Disney's Bob Iger really did know what he was doing when laid out the big bucks to bring Marvel Entertainment and Marvel Studios under the Disney umbrella. These are fine days to be a Disney accountant.

PS - the scene that is shown after the credits is priceless. That's the poster I want to see.
Marvel's The Avengers is a solid E-Ticket movie. Can't wait for the ride.

Betting On Pixar - A 'Brave' Prediction

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Merida from Pixar's Brave - A Disney Parks Blog Photo

I can't say that I have been particularly impressed with the still publicity photos and YouTube trailers for Pixar's new Brave movie which will open June 22nd. That changed yesterday when I saw the 3D preview in front of Marvel's The Avengers. The trailer was stunning and convinced me that Brave will be a winner. Brave marks the return of Pixar in bringing an original story to the screen. We last had the dreadful Cars 2 and previous to that was the astonishingly well made Toy Story 3 but Brave marks Pixar's first original film since Up. And if were I betting man, Up would be a good benchmark for Brave as would Ratatouille. A lot is made of animated movies that feature female leads and their relative success. I believe Merida from Brave will transcend that bias or at least put up a good spirited fight.
Up brought Pixar its customary Oscar for best animated film (Cars 2 was not even nominated). It was a solid box office performer with global appeal. So that is where I kind of seeing Brave ending up and that certainly isn't a bad place to be. When all is said and done, I think Pixar and Disney will pat themselves on the back for this film. A great story, beautifully filmed, with memorable characters is always the best place to start. I couldn't say it before yesterday but now I am looking forward to seeing Brave come to life on the screen.

Oh! By the way, Disney announced it was putting in a Brave Meet and Greet with Merida and friends over by it's a small world in Disneyland and adding a Brave promotional segment to World of Color in Disney California Adventure. This should come as a surprise to.... nobody.

Bad Baby Names: Shame on you, Beyonce & Jay-Z

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A baby is a miracle that takes 9 months to grow and a lifetime to nurture....and then you go and name her "Blue"??? 
There oughta be a law against that. Truly.

What is this crazy sickness that comes over people--especially celebrities--when they have a baby?  The quest to find a name that is "different" and "unique" and "unlike anything else out there"....it says far more about the prospective parents than it does the child..

It tells me that the parents are feeling the pressure to have their child carry on the family tradition and become a standout in life. It's as if they don't trust their child enough to achieve any sort of notable achievements on their on--the child isn't given an opportunity to "make a name for themself" because Mom and Dad have already done it for them. And that's sad.

I think celebrities get so caught up in the fact that their child is growing up with the pressure of having a famous parent (or two), they believe it's better to start out with a name that SO outlandish and different, the child can't help but be set apart from everyone else.

Wow. Do they have that little faith in their new bundle of joy? 

Is it so difficult to imagine that if their child were named Michael or Jennifer, it could have any less spectacular a future than, say, a little Romeo or Apple?

Congratulations on your new daughter, Beyonce' and Jay-Z.  I hope she has a wonderful and happy life, despite the unfortunate name you've chosen to saddle her with.

TV review: I Cloned My Pet

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I watched this show last night with my daughter. 
Dear lord. 
I love my pets, I truly do, but these folks were so, so, so far over the top in their obsessions with their dogs.  One man said, "When Wolfie died, everything that was special about me went with her."  
Is this guy serious? EVERYTHING that made him special--all of his unique qualities and attributes and talents--evaporated when his dog died. Really? 
One woman described her dog as her "soulmate." Another woman featured on the show said her deceased dog Trouble "was the love of my life." 
Pets offer unconditional love, and yes, they hold a very special place in our hearts.  But if you think a canine is the one being on Earth who is meant for you as a mate, above all others...you need to get yourself some counseling. 

Newsweek's Downward Spiral Continues

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There was a time when I used to enjoy reading Newsweek.  Then came the rise of 24-hour news channels and internet news sites, all providing stunning visuals and breaking news in real time. Weekly news magazines like Newsweek quickly became outdated dinosaurs   The only way for Newsweek to compete and try to stay relevant was to offer in-depth, thoughtful analysis. But, with the rise of political blogs, they lost even more ground.

Now, the folks at Newsweek are just plain desperate.

Their latest cover poses the question: "Why Are Obama's Critics So Dumb?"  Since when did elitist name-calling become a substitute for well-researched journalism? The editors at Newsweek are not even trying to pretend that they're a legitimate source of news anymore. I can't decide if it's more sad than pathetic.

This cover story is just the latest in a long line of questionable choices made by the Newsweek editorial board.  They've taken heat in the past year for their gleefully unflattering covers of Tea Party favorites Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin, but those weren't the worst of it.
For me, the most egregious "jump the shark" moment for Newsweek came when they photoshopped a 14-years-dead-and-gone Princess Diana, digitally aged to appear 50 years old and walking alongside her son's soon-to-be wife, Kate Middleton. A new low that even the sleaziest tabloids have not attempted. Disgusting.

It was a blatant ploy to exploit the late Princess Diana's enduring popularity as a taken-too-soon icon. Almost a decade and a half after her death, Newsweek still couldn't resist going to the well one more time, disregarding the unseemly fact that it was the media's unhealthy obsession with capturing Diana's image that led to her tragic death.

The Lion King on Broadway

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We took the kids to see The Lion King on Broadway this afternoon at the Minskoff Theater in New York City. It was a great show. The theater is small, and the actors often come out into the audience throughout the performance, so there was not a bad seat in the house. They have booster seats available for kids, but the seats are offset from row to row, so sightlines are excellent.

Having seen the movie more times than I can count, I know the story very well, and thought that I would be a little bored.  Was I wrong!  Yes, the plot was very familiar, but I was in awe of the ingenious costumes.  Designed by the brilliant Julie Taymor, the costumes more than met the challenge of making African animals come to life on stage. The entire production was so well done.

It was FREEZING in the city today, so we didn't venture too far afield this time. We parked at the garage in Port Authority, and had lunch there at Villa Pizza before venturing out into the frigid, windy weather. The theater wasn't letting patrons in just yet, so we killed some time at Broadway souvenir shop just across the street, where we could watch to see when the theater was allowing the audience to go in. Once inside the theater, there are big windows on the upper level overlooking Times Square--a great place to "people watch".  There was a panhandler down below on the street outside the theater, holding a big cardboard sign that said, "Need Money For Weed. Why Lie?"

I love New York.

1-800-FLOWERS Buyer Beware!

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At left is a picture of the gorgeous floral arrangement my husband gave me for Valentine's Day.  He ordered it more than a week in advance from 1-800-FLOWERS, and had them sent to me at the office.

What's that you say?  You don't SEE a picture of flowers here?


Ah, yes. That's because THEY NEVER ARRIVED.

Of course, things happen, especially today, the busiest floral delivery day of the year. The problem is, the customer service at 1-800-FLOWERS is non-existent, especially on Valentine's Day.  They are "so super busy right now!" and tell you to email them before disconnecting you.  A cheery recording also advises you that they are "up to their elbows in floral deliveries, and may not be able to check the status of your order until tomorrow!"

Seriously?  They have ONE JOB--to deliver flowers.

Of course it's the thought that counts, and I love that he wanted to surprise me, but Valentine's Day is the absolute worst day of the year to try and send flowers.  And, if you ever do want to send a floral arrangement, it's best to avoid the big chains like 1-800-FLOWERS or Telefora. 

It's worth it to take the extra minute or two to Google a local florist that is nearby to where your delivery is going.  I always do that--for birthdays, sympathy arrangements, anything--because it helps support local business owners, and you always get top-notch service because they want your recipient to be happy.  Most local businesses count on word-of-mouth referrals, and they take extra special care of recipients in their own delivery area. You also get more for your money because you avoid the fees associated with the referrals from a national chain.

Happy Valentine's Day to you....and to 1-800-FLOWERS: you stink!

UPDATE: The specific florist that was handling the order and failed to deliver was New City Florist in New City, NY.  They have lousy reviews online, including the one I just posted.  They are almost 10 miles away from the delivery address--a 20 minute drive. Not the closest floral shop by a long shot. Lesson learned!

Massacres in Syria

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American-born journalist Marie Colvin was killed last night in Syria, not long after she filed a report about the horrific killings that have been taking place at the hands of government military forces. CNN showed some highly-disturbing video of a two-year-old boy who was hit by shrapnel and badly wounded. Medical care is non-existent in the war zone, and Colvin had to stand by and watch helplessly as the boy died from his injuries.
The video was proof positive that the Syrian government has been lying about the areas they are targeting. Innocent men, women and children are being gunned down every day. With the death of Colvin, we have lost a valuable window into the atrocities thwre, but perhaps now the world will start paying attention and DO something to stop these killings.
You can read more about Colvin's tragic death here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-02-22/syria-journalists-killed-assad/53200730/1

iPhone 5: Pipe Dream or Coming Soon?

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So, is there a new iPhone on the horizon, or is it just a baseless internet rumor?

It depends on who you ask.

According to this report from International Business Times, we could see a new the iPhone 5 during the latter half of this year, with new features such as expanded memory, a better camera, and larger screen.

I'm currently using an old Blackberry, and while I do like having a keyboard, there are several features my phone doesn't have that I wish it did.  So, I've been thinking about getting the iPhone, but I don't want to buy it now and pay too much if a new and improved version is to be released within a few months.

I happened to be near an Apple store this afternoon, and asked one of the salespeople if there was any official word on when the iPhone5 would be released.

To say that he was a bit "testy" about it is an understatement.

"iPhone5?  There IS no iPhone5. There's no "five" anything. It's just a rumor. There are people out there that make their living spreading rumors like that. If you want an iPhone5, I've got a bridge over in Brooklyn I can sell you real cheap, too, if you've got the cash."  

Sheesh. Sorry I asked.

I told him that I was trying to avoid what happened with my iPad: I purchased it at the end of December, and by early March, the iPad2 came out, and I felt like I'd gotten screwed out of all of the new features. He said that if I'd purchased a first generation iPad within a month of the new iPad2's release, I might have been able to convince a store manager to do an exchange for me, but that since it was more like 3 months, that's just too bad.  "Technology is constantly being updated and upgraded," he said. "Three months is a long time when it comes to technology."

No, no it isn't. Not when you're paying hundreds of dollars. He shrugged his shoulders and smirked. "Well, that's just how it is. If you want to know when something new is coming out, look for announcement on Apple.com.  Anything other than that is just a rumor."

I still haven't decided whether or not I should wait a few months to see if a new iPhone is announced, or if I should go ahead and get one now.  The one thing I have decided, though: I won't be buying it from that guy.

Luca Comrie

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I couldn't resist blogging this photo of Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie's new baby boy, Luca. It seems like most celebrities these days either end up selling their "first photos" to the tabloids or hiding their baby under a massive blanket everywhere they go.   It's refreshing to see a proud new mom showing off her baby for no other reason than the little stinker is just too darn adorable to keep covered up. What a sweet face!  
Welcome baby Luca!

Spotting a Fake PayPal Email -- Don't be fooled!

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I received an email today that was structured to look as though it came from PayPal.

Here's a screen shot (click on the photo to see it larger):


Fortunately, I've heard enough warnings about "phishing" emails to be on the lookout for messages like this one,  that try to trick recipients into clicking on bogus links that will harm your computer and/or attempt to trick you into giving a 3rd party website your PayPal password and account info.

A few tip offs that this one was a fake:

-- It wasn't sent just to me, but to "undisclosed recipients"

-- They did not address me by my first and last name anywhere in the email

-- The return address appears to be from "Service@PayPal.com", but if you click "Show More" for the Sender, the full email address is revealed as noreply@netlogmail.com

-- If you hover over the links embedded in the email, you'll see that they won't take you to a secure page on the PayPal website. Instead, they direct you to another website entirely--one that will likely harm your computer the minute you click the link.

What really annoys me about this email is that they have the nerve to include "helpful" information on how to avoid fraud--and the link they provide to show you their Security Tips takes you right to the same bogus website as all of the other links.

If you receive an email like this, and you aren't sure whether or not it is from the real PayPal site, follow these simple steps:

1.  DO NOT CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS IN THE EMAIL

2.  Forward the email to spoof@paypal.com   Don't send the email as an attachment, and don't change the Subject line....just forward it to PayPal and they will contact you as to whether or not the email is legit or a spoof/scam.

3. Delete the email

You can read more about how to avoid Phishing scams at the real PayPal site HERE

Thinking of Celebrating Administrative Assistants Day? Not so fast.

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Actually, for most "Administrative Assistants" this is "Oh my god you think I'm a secretary?!? I hate my life" Day.

I remember many years ago, my first job right out of college, I worked as an Editorial Assistant at a magazine. I shared an office with another college grad about the same age as me, and we were the two hardest working, lowest paid people on staff.  What made it worth it for me was holding onto the promise of bigger things to come: a promotion, job growth, the hope of moving up and actually making the most of my college education, which I knew I would spend the next 10 years paying off.

I will never forget the look on my co-worker's face when her boss walked in with a bright pink coffee mug filled with flowers, a garish mylar balloon attached to the handle. (Ironically, this was commonly marketed as a "Pick Me Up" bouquet.)

My co-worker had attended one of the top Journalism programs on the East Coast, graduating with honors and several writing credits under her belt.  Instead of feeling appreciated for a job well done, the well-intentioned flowers presented to her on "Administrative Assistants Day" made her realize just how low on the totem pole she was, and that her chances of staying on staff long-term and getting promoted were slim. Instead of an "up and coming" young colleague, she was seen as "support staff" for the rest of the editors.  She started updating her resume that very evening.

We both moved on not long after that, to higher paying jobs where we made it clear from the beginning that we were looking to move up the ladder. Yes, receptionists and secretaries and administrative assistants play an important supportive role in business, and deserve to be appreciated...but before you buy those flowers, think about whether or not your recipient truly sees themselves that way.

Goofy and The Art of Vacationing

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Some think he is slow, dim-witted, well, goofy but indeed Goofy is my favorite of the Disney Fab Five (for the uninitiated that's Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto).  He works, he struggles, he fails, but always seems to keep a pretty good attitude, a quality we can all benefit from.  A little while back the Disney Parks YouTube channel posted a video of our friend Goofy making the most of his Disneyland vacation.  Needless to a our slow, dim-witted, well, goofy friend seems to be doing a lot better than I am these days. Enjoy The Art of Vacationing.