I just don’t get it!  I have friends out in California who tell me how much better Disneyland is than Disney World.  Walt Disney himself walked through his creation, Disneyland, after all.  It is classic!  However, I’ve heard many devotees of Disney World say that the California counterpart pales in comparison.  I wholeheartedly stand up and say…not true, people, just not true!   I am in neither camp.  Disneyland and Walt Disney World are both very special places.

Walt Disney World is actually Disneyland’s counterpart when you think about it.  Yes, Walt’s dream was to do things better the second time, to have the luxury of size and to carry out some of his ultimate dreams, such as EPCOT (or is that EPCOT Center…or modern day Epcot….with the hand and the wand?).  My favorite theme park in Florida is Epcot and, of course, California doesn’t have an Epcot.  Disneyland has a MAGIC unto itself.  There’s something awe inspiring about knowing that this is the place my parents dreamed about coming to when they were kids.  They watched Walt Disney, marketing master, promote Disneyland on TV and knew that one day they would just have to ride those tea cups!

This is where it all began!!  Without Disneyland, Walt Disney World wouldn’t exist.  If you’ve already been to Walt Disney World, I believe you will find it fascinating to compare and contrast the common attractions.  Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland is much more elaborate.  Heck, there’s even a great restaurant that your ride vehicle floats through, peacefully.  Now if they would only serve you appetizers on the way through, eh?

Disneyland Resort (including Disneyland, California Adventure, Downtown Disney and the resort hotels) is fantastic because it is all within walking distance.  I’ve stayed at the Grand Californian and it is the ultimate to get up, and be in a theme park moments after a leisurely breakfast at La Brea on your short stroll over there!  The Grand Californian makes it easy with a guest entrance to California Adventure.  But if you’d rather hit Disneyland park first, that is almost as easy!  I’ve been known to crisscross the two parks (and Downtown Disney for lunch) all day long.  Want to go on Soarin’ Over California first thing in the morning to avoid the lines?  Jump off the ride and you can be at Disneyland park faster than you can say biddity bobbity boo!

Disneyland and California Adventure do have many attractions that you just can’t find at Walt Disney World.  Indiana Jones Adventure, Pinnochio’s Daring Journey, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin, Alice in Wonderland are a few that I think are not to be missed at Disneyland park.  At California Adventure, I wouldn’t miss Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular, Disney Animation, California Screamin’ and Disney’s Electrical Parade!

The other thing I just LOVE about Disneyland is that it can be covered in a shorter period of time, thus allowing you to enjoy the amazing state of California.  One of my all time favorite trips began in San Francisco followed by a short drive to Napa Valley for a balloon ride over the vineyards.  Then, we hit the road and headed to Disneyland.   The stretch of highway offers some breathtaking views.  We stopped off in quaint little towns.  Even the rest stops were pretty.  Hollywood, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm and Legoland are all in the vicinity of Disneyland.  You won’t be wondering what to do next.

This is a great time to visit Disneyland as it is celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary!  So if you’re considering a Disney trip, don’t rule out Disneyland.  I wouldn’t call her the Evil Stepmother.  In fact, she has more of a Fairy Godmother feel to me! 

Joanne - Joanne@MouseFanTravel.com

I just don’t get it!  I have friends out in California who tell me how much better Disneyland is than Disney World.  Walt Disney himself walked through his creation, Disneyland, after all.  It is classic! < more... >

There’s a fun song written by the famous Sherman Brothers who wrote many songs for Disney movies and attractions.  Remember "there’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day…"?  Oh my Mickey ears, now I have that song in my head!  How about another Sherman Brothers’ song…"it’s a world of laughter…."   Okay, you get my digression.

The song I really want to to quote is "Making Memories"!

Now we shoot whatever we see; Night or day in color photography; Candid shots are barrels of fun; Takin’ pictures by the light of the sun; Smile, hon, look at the camera; Hold your breath and say cheese; And with every single shot we take, we are making memories…

This is the theme song for this blog entry!  Feel free to hum it, if you know it, while reading the info below.

I don’t know about you, but I love looking at photos.  I love to take them.  I even occasionally scrap them into what I consider mini works of art.  When you’ve been to Walt Disney World as many times as I have though, you find yourself not taking the traditional photos: Spaceship Earth, Cinderella Castle, Tree of Life, etc.  How many times can you shoot these icons?  Although the fine folks at Disney do occasionally change them up to keep it interesting.  (I did take a photo of Cinderella Castle after the golden makeover!  I’m working on a "Many Faces of Cinderella Castle" scrap page that includes the pink cake, a big crane that was up through my whole vacation one year, and a great night shot during Wishes, when the lighting make the castle look like the Sorcerer’s hat…fantastic!)

I also love technology.  The idea of Disney’s Photo Pass is inspired!  If you’ve ever been to Walt Disney World, you know that at the front of the parks there are photographers who will take your photo in front of the icon o’ the park.  I usually pass these fine cast members up unless I’m in a big family reunion group.  When I’m with my usual traveling companions, I’d rather not spend the time in line at the end of the night waiting to get my photo.  Well, Disney’s Photo Pass eliminates that line entirely!  You get a card from the photographer the first time you have a photo taken of you and your family.  Continue to give the card to a photographer throughout your vacation.  All your pictures are grouped together in one account.  When you get home, you may view your photos online, using the number on the back of the card, and forward them to your friends and family and order professional prints…very slick!

Oh, my friends, it gets so much better!!!  There is now a new service called Disney PhotoMovie.  I admit, I play with programs like Powerpoint and set my photos to music but THIS service kicks it up about a thousand notches.  You have the Magic of Disney in your corner now.  And for the introductory price of just $49.95, you get a professional DVD that can include any photos taken by photographers in the parks AND your own photos that you upload!  You can make a different chapter for each theme park.  I’m bouncing just thinking about it!  You get theme park music, video from around property and characters like Stitch who bites through your photos during transitions.  The result is an amazing, personalized keepsake of your vacation!  Disney has examples on line at www.disneyphotomovie.com.  Go there and look at it.  You’ll have to have one!

I haven’t been this excited by technology like this since my family and I "made" a Star Trek episode at Universal Studios on the day Gene Roddenberry died.  Perhaps I’ll show you that one day.  Then again, maybe I should keep my acting skills under wrap.  I wouldn’t want to be inundated with acting offers.  All I know is that when it comes to "Making Memories", Walt Disney World is the best.  When it comes to capturing those memories to look back on for years to come, the folks at Disney are always thinking!

Joanne - Joanne@MouseFanTravel.com 

There’s a fun song written by the famous Sherman Brothers who wrote many songs for Disney movies and attractions.  Remember "there’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day…"?  Oh my Mickey ears, now I have that song in my head! < more... >

It’s that time of year again when Storm Troopers are posted on the roof of Disney’s MGM Studio’s entrance and you can hear Star Wars music all around the park – yep Star Wars weekends are back again.  This weekend (5/19 – 21) was the first of 4 Star Wars weekends at Disney’s MGM Studios.

Last year was my first visit to a Star Wars weekend and it quickly became one of my favorite things.  I ended up going to 3 weekends last year and have been looking forward to going again this year!  I grew up with the first three Star Wars movies – wishing I could be Princess Leia and go to Endor and hang out with Ewoks.   Then I got to go see the next 3 movies with my son.  Now we get to go down to Disney and relive the excitement of the movies.

Different Star Wars characters are all over the park but Mickey Ave is your best place to catch most of them, plus Star Wars music is playing here all day.  Each weekend also features a few Star Wars celebrities and they will also be on Mickey Ave, but you need to be at the park when it opens if you want to be able to get a fastpaass in order to get an autograph from one of them.  This year there was also a big improvement from last year and that was turning Soundstage 1 into Wicket’s Warehouse for all your Star Wars shopping needs.  This was so much better then trying to squeeze into Tatooine Traders.

Of course the other spot in the park for Star Wars fun is over by Star Tours where you can find more characters, watch the Jedi Academy, and of course ride the ride.  You can even find Jedi Mickey!   Many guests even dress up as their favorite characters, some look really close to the real thing too.  We saw one group of guests today that looked so good that kids thought they were cast members and were asking for autographs!

I am not a big parade person but I really enjoy the Legends of the Force Motorcade.  Unlike other Disney parades this one makes it way through the park early in the morning so be sure to get to the park before 11:00 if you want catch it.  I don’t know if it is just me or not but the park feels like a totally different place during Star Wars weekends.  I look forward to going down for the next 3 weekends!

Coleen - Coleen@MouseFanTrael.com

It’s that time of year again when Storm Troopers are posted on the roof of Disney’s MGM Studio’s entrance and you can hear Star Wars music all around the park – yep Star Wars weekends are back again.  This weekend (5/19 – 21) was the first of 4 Star Wars weekends at Disney’s MGM Studios. < more... >

There comes a point in every Mouse Fan’s life when you think, “As much as I love experiencing the Magic of Disney theme parks, I want a little something more.  I want to be part of the Magic!”  That is exactly what happens when you take one of many behind the scenes tours offered at Walt Disney World.

In the past year and a half, I’ve been filled with the giddy glee of getting the inside scoop.  Okay, admittedly, I’m a Disney junkie and watch every cable special on the theme parks.  I’ve also been fortunate enough to dance in a Disney parade and dine at the exclusive Club 33 at Disneyland (more on these adventures later).   I may know a little more than most park goers, but the three tours I took certainly gave me an education about the inner workings of Walt Disney World… and were just a whole lot of fun!

Being a big kid at heart, the first tour I took combined two of my favorite things (cue Julie Andrews), Christmas and Disney…and even better…..Disney at Christmas time.  The Yuletide Fantasy tour demystifies the Disney decorating process for the holiday season.  The tour begins at Epcot.  Your guide shares different Christmas traditions and origins of decorations from various countries.  At Disney MGM Studios, you get a glimpse of the huge amount of work that goes into The Osbourne Family Spectacle of Lights.  Then bouncing back on the bus - and yes, I literally bounced - you head to Magic Kingdom.  They take you through the backstage area and then onstage to talk about the “big tree”  and Main Street decorations.   A brief stop at the Grand Floridian had us craving something sweet — after we checked out the life sized gingerbread house!  The grand finale of this tour takes you to Holiday Services.  Imagine rows upon rows of ornaments and a workshop with cast members working like elves on lovely decorations…pretty cool!

About five months later, I was back at Walt Disney World and ready for another tour.  I had been eyeing the Segway ever since it made its first appearances in the parks.  I watched as they unveiled "it" for the first time on Good Morning America some years ago and thought it looked like a blast.  Well, this tour proved me right!  The Around the World on a Segway tour interested me because of the potential of two new experiences.  I was going to be able to try to ride one of those new fangled things and I was going to see World Showcase before it opened.  The tour begins inside a classroom where your two guides introduce you to the Segway with a DVD on how it works.  Then, you immediately get on one.  Don’t worry, no one finds their balance immediately.  When I stepped on mine, it felt like a scene from Urban Cowboy.  It bucked under me and a small jolt of panic went through my body.  Luckily, the cast members are right there to make sure you don’t fall.  It doesn’t take long to get the hang of it.  In no time, we were cruising around World Showcase.  The guides take you through a few tight spots so you have time to practice maneuvering it – these things turn on a dime!  I enjoyed seeing all the service trucks hanging around the World Showcase as the cast members were getting ready for opening.  Before I knew it, the tour was over.  My only thought was, “Can I do it again???”  I told you…I am a big kid!

This March, I took the Keys to the Kingdom tour.  I have been considering this tour for years but have been hesitant because I wondered if it would spoil the Magic.  The answer is a resounding NOPE!  The Magic isn’t spoiled like that science experiment you have in the back of your fridge!  This tour gave me even more respect for Disney’s the attention to detail.

You begin on Main Street in the learning about Walt Disney and his park.  Of course, that is oversimplifying it.  There’s so much detail in this tour; I couldn’t even begin to tell you!  You receive a headset that allows you to hear your guide without disturbing the other guests in park.  Our guide wore the costume that was originally designed for the guides at Disneyland.  We toured Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean in our own boat with our guide pointing out some of the history and story behind the attraction (and of course, the hidden Mickeys!)    We headed backstage to see how the floats for the afternoon parade are stored, and then to the backside of Splash Mountain!  We left the backstage area just in time to see some performers step over the parade sight line.  The line in the sidewalk indicates where guests can no longer see them and when they can stop dancing.  It’s entertaining to watch them stop immediately as they step over it.    The break for lunch at the Columbia Harbour House made me an immediate fan of this overlooked, counter service, restaurant.  Order the tuna salad.  You won’t be sorry!

After lunch we headed onto Haunted Mansion and then….to the part of the tour everyone was waiting for…. the Utiladors!  I don’t want to give away anything, but I found the system of utility corridors pretty fascinating.  Ask your guide to let you hear the garbage get sucked through the system!  The tour ended and we headed back out into the Magic Kingdom a little more "in the know".

I’ve only scratched the surface of the many tours offered on property.  I plan on hitting them all one by one.  And of course, I’ll keep you updated!  These tours are a wonderful addition to your Walt Disney World vacation.  I, however, would especially recommend these tours for Disney veterans!  Please keep in mind that there are a few with minimum age requirements. 

Don’t worry; it won’t change the Magic for you.  You’ll come out with a newfound respect for Walt Disney World.  You’ll feel immersed in Magic.  Isn’t that what your Disney vacation is all about?

Joanne Cascone
Joanne@mousefantravel.com

There comes a point in every Mouse Fan’s life when you think, “As much as I love experiencing the Magic of Disney theme parks, I want a little something more.  I want to be part of the Magic!”  That is exactly what happens when you take one of many behind the scenes tours offered at Walt Disney World.

In the past year and a half, I’ve been filled with the giddy glee of getting the inside scoop.  Okay, admittedly, I’m a Disney junkie and watch every cable special on the theme parks.  I’ve also been fortunate enough to dance in a Disney parade and dine at the exclusive Club 33 < more... >

I’ll admit it.  I’m a little spoiled.  At least that’s how I feel whenever I check into a Disney Resort’s concierge room.

For those who aren’t familiar with them, each of Walt Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts (the Grand Floridian, the Polynesian, the Contemporary, the Wilderness Lodge, the Boardwalk and the Yacht & Beach Club resorts) offers a special level of service.  They call it ‘Concierge.’  And I don’t think I can go back to a ‘regular’ room again.

I’ll admit it.  I’m a little spoiled.  At least that’s how I feel whenever I check into a Disney Resort’s concierge room.

For those who aren’t familiar with them, each of Walt Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts (the Grand Floridian, the Polynesian, the Contemporary, the Wilderness Lodge, the Boardwalk and the Yacht & Beach Club resorts) offers a special level of service.  They call it ‘Concierge.’  And I don’t think I can go back to a ‘regular’ room again.

I can’t think of a better place to enjoy Mother’s Day than Disney.  Which is why this was the 3rd year in a row I spent the day in the parks.   The only thing that could have made it better would have been having my mom here to enjoy the day with me, but having a whole day where my son has to do what I want to do without a single whine was nice.  

I had done the special Mother’s Day Brunch in Epcot in the past and while it was good it didn’t have anything that I really loved so this year I decided to start my day off with one of my favorite Disney treats – Tonga Toast!  After satisfying my sweet tooth at Kona it was a short walk over to the TTC to hop on the monorail to Epcot.  Besides the Flower and Garden festival there was one main reason to head over to Epcot and that is for the free photo.  There seemed to be quite a few changes this year.  First it was hard to find a photo location.  Then I guess Disney decided to give photopass a little nudge because instead of having the photo mailed out to everyone they gave us a photopass card and a voucher for the free picture.  You could only use it for that specific picture but it was a free 5×7.  The only drawback was that you had to pick up the picture before leaving the park and if you were picking up after 3:00 there was only one location to do so and man was it packed! 

After finally getting my picture it was back to the monorail and to my favorite park, the Magic Kingdom, to get my most favorite Disney treat – Dole whip!  It was quite warm and sunny so a cool Dole whip was just what I needed.   Disney is doing some rehab work in that area of Adventureland so there were less places to sit.  It was strange to enjoy my Dole whip and then not be able to ride Pirates of the Caribbean afterwards.  I can not wait until that reopens and I really can’t wait to see Dead Man’s Chest!  A few rides and some people watching later I made a Mother’s Day wish at Snow White’s wishing well and it was time to head home to really relax.  I hope everyone else enjoyed their day as much as I did!  

Coleen Bolton 
Coleen@MouseFanTravel.com

I can’t think of a better place to enjoy Mother’s Day than Disney.  Which is why this was the 3rd year in a row I spent the day in the parks. < more... >

Choose your destiny and journey to a "galaxy far, far away." Come face to face with your favorite Star Wars™ heroes and villains, test your knowledge of Star Wars trivia, or take flight in Star Tours — the ultimate Star Wars thrill ride — during Star Wars Weekends at the Disney-MGM Studios. Plus, catch some of your favorite Star Wars celebrities as they appear every weekend for a series of exciting events.

Dates:
May 19, 2006 - June 11, 2006, 9:00AM - 10:00PM

Location: Disney-MGM Studios

Additional Information

* Theme park admission is required.

Choose your destiny and journey to a "galaxy far, far away. < more... >