30 Days of Disneyland - Day 18: Favorite Band/Vocal Group

Day 18 - Favorite Band/Vocal Group

I am a band nerd. I played trumpet in junior high and most of my freshman year of high school before switching over to TC Baritone. So I'm kind of a band nerd. I love marching bands - though we never had one when I was in high school, and the closest thing they have now is a drumline. I love orchestra. I love BIG BRASS and DRUMS! I love music, and I love it done well.

And, of course, the Disneyland Marching Band has all of that and more. I stop and listen every time, watch their different mini shows... I love listening to them play. And they all have the joy of music showing on their faces.

When I played in high school we had a chance to do the Magic Music Days at Disney in Disney World. We played on stage at EPCOT and it was so much fun. We even got to warm up back stage where they record music! It was incredible. So I just love everything about Disney music. Very thankful for the experience.

Honorable mention has to go to the Dapper Dans. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this barber shop quartet that is a signature feature on Main Street USA. I love me a good harmony, and they are always spot on. They're another thing that I make sure to stop and listen and fangirl over when walking down Main Street.


Oh, and 88 days till Disneyland! w00t!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 17: Favorite Live Show

Day 17 - Favorite Live Action Show

Hands down it's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular which is found at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It's on par with a Broadway show and is just as entertaining no matter how many times you view it. As I posted a couple of days ago, The Genie character makes or breaks this show - and I've never seen a Genie flop yet. Jafar is also deliciously evil and humorous. They steal the show from Jazzy and Al, that's for sure.

The music is the familiar songs from the movie plus an extra one that was originally for the movie but got canned - I believe it's now in the Broadway version of Aladdin (which is different to the movie and this show at California Adventure). There are rumors going around that this show may not be around much longer - they tried pulling it a couple of years ago but due to the response from fans they reopened. Rumors say that FROZEN may take its place, so I'm hoping to see Aladdin one more time (if it is truly going away, which does make sense what with the Broadway show a hit now and all).



And we're officially under 3 months to go. I spent the majority of my day getting my park admissions bought. Good way to spend the day, but dang I'm poor again! It'll be worth it, though!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 16: Favorite Parade

Day 16 - Favorite Parade

My favorite is still Wat Disney's Parade Of Dreams. Erin and I saw it when we went to Disneyland in 2006, it was such a sweet parade and I admit I got weepy! It was a great way to tribute the wonderful films and characters of Disney film. Walt's legacy if you will. It was created for the 50th anniversary and it worked. Soundsational is a good parade now, but I still miss this parade.



Oh and we've hit the THREE MONTH MARK! I have got to sit down and finalize an itinerary with my travel buddies, and get my park admission ordered... and my photopass+ preordered... Thinking I'll do that next week as I have a wedding to shoot this weekend. 90 days to go! w00t!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 14: Favorite Face Character

Day 14 - Favorite Face Character

This is difficult as typically I don't do a lot of characters at Disneyland outside of Character Meals, and I typically go for non face characters when I do that (conversing with face characters is always awkward for me). If we were talking Walt Disney World it'd be easy as I crush hard for a certain Prince Naveen I met back in 2010. But we're talking Disneyland...

So I am going to, once again, cheat a bit and not go with one that you can meet but is no less a FACE CHARACTER. And that is Genie from the Aladdin Show playing at Disney's California Adventure. He is freaking HYSTERICAL in the show (of course he is, right?) and with the little bit of "improv" they allow him each show is just a tad different than the last. The improv is what makes the show so awesome, and the character so loveable.

I've seen the show a handful of times and Genie never disappoints. I really wish you could meet him after the show like you would at a real stage door or something. It'd be AWESOME. But I could see where that would create bottle-necking issues. Plus the poor guy does several shows a day and would be exhausted! But I would love to meet him "in character". They have several genies that rotate, and each one is fantastic in his own right.

So, I cheated, but I'm not sorry. I love love love this character.



92 days to go!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 13: Favorite Piece of Architecture

Day 13 - Favorite Piece of Architecture

I'm kinda cheating because this is more "art" or "sculpture" but I say it counts. My most favorite piece of Disneyland (and Disney World for that matter) is the Partners Statue. It sits in the center of the hub at the end of Main Street USA. Its backdrop is Sleeping Beauty's Castle (Cinderella's at WDW, of course), and it's Walt showing Mickey the Kingdom. I visit this statue several times during my trip. It's one of my first stops my first day - so that I can greet the two who "started it all" - and I always always always make sure to take a moment on my last night to reflect. I know it comes dangerously close to idol worship - or maybe that's what it is - but I just like to honor the man who taught me from a very early age through his works to dream big and make it happen. He is the source or joy and inspiration, he encouraged creativity and imagination... and even so many years after his death he continues to inspire. So I always go by both the statue and when I'm at Disneyland I stop by his apartment over the firehouse, just to say thank you.

And I'm going to make myself weepy if I continue, so I won't go further in my hero worship tonight.


93 days to go!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 12: Ride You've Gone On Most

Day 12 - Ride you've been on most

I have Haille Rae to thank for this one, the Haunted Mansion easily wins this award. I've done it back to back to back. I don't recommend it for your sanity, especially since the timing seemed to be too perfect and we ended up with the same ghost EVERY TIME WE RODE (didn't matter if it was back to back, or several days in between). Totally creeped me out, but Haille loved it! She thought the ghost just liked her best and that's why he kept sitting with us. I just thought it was super weird! LOL


We're at 94 Days till we're in Southern California!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 11: Favorite Disney's California Adventure Attraction

Day 11 - Favorite Disney's California Adventure Attraction

I love Grizzly River Run. It's one of the few attractions I not only will go on but that I enjoy. It's very similar to Kali River Rapids, but I think you get wetter? I'm not sure. I also love how close as spectators we can get to watching the people come down the mountain and get soaked (sometimes the audience can get wet, too). The theming is much more fun (there's not a forest fire going on so it smells better), and it's a ride that I can safely say will not make me sick. Unlike the other big ticket attractions/rides in DCA, this is right up my alley.

I got to ride it the first time with Haille Rae in 2011. She wanted to go on the water ride so bad! Every time we watched a video on youtube or on the planning DVD about it she was all "oh yeah, that's the ride!" so it was on our list of must tries. So glad we did. She was a little nervous when we first started down the river, but as we splashed our way around her laughter and squeals were proof she was having a blast. She thought it was hilarious that I was getting soaked (she was not as amused that she did NOT get as wet) because I was complaining that I was going to be cold - I had clothes in the car that I ended up changing into as the sun went down and I was still very wet. It WAS February after all.

Haille still talks about that ride - oddly enough she does not like Splash Mountain, the drop messes with her tummy. I can't wait to ride it again as OMG! I know I'm going to need a lot of water rides to keep me from melting in the September heat (my besties just have to all have summer birthdays. jerks)!

**This video can make you dizzy. But it's the best one I could find (I didn't look hard, though). You've been warned.**

We're at 95 days till we're in SoCal. Very excited to watch the countdown go down down down down... I think I have about 35 days until I can begin to do ADRs, but I'd have to check and make sure. I think I have a basic itinerary mapped out as well... just gotta finalize details. I feel so behind and yet I know I'm on track so I'm in the panic/don't panic faze/rut. Oy!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 10: Favorite Extinct Attraction

http://www.yesterland.com

Day 10 - Favorite Extinct Attraction

There's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow! Sadly, this World's Fair attraction that made its home in Disneyland does not exist on the west coast, but it CAN be found at Walt Disney World, so it's not lost forever. I finally got to see it in all its glory in October there.

But I wish it was at Disneyland. Where Walt walked. It is, after all, one of his proudest attractions.


Oh, and if you're keeping count of how many days left till I fly out to Disneyland - we're at 96 days. 96 days until I board a plane at the buttcrack of dawn, travel something like 8 hours, get to a hotel and nap while I wait for my bestie and her hubby to make it to the hotel that night (they have to travel something like 6 hours after working all day). 97 days until one of my closest online friends makes it to the hotel (and hopefully she will be able to rest and recoop and be ready for an evening of fun)!!! We're getting SO excited for this trip! It's going to be epic.

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 9: Favorite Frontierland Attraction

Day 9 - Favorite Frontierland Attraction

Anyone who knows me knows this answer - I would hope, anyway. It's the ride that at WDW for my 24th birthday Erin and I sat and rode it five times in a row (four of those we didn't even get off the ride as there was NO LINE. BEST DAY EVER!). Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is the first Disney coaster I tackled back in 2001. Dad was determined to break me of my fear of the things. We were on the high school band trip and he didn't want to do the rides I wanted to go on (Jungle Cruise, Pirates, etc). He won the argument as we took a vote with my friends. I'm so glad I lost that argument.

Big Thunder is the kind of thrill I can handle. It's fast-ish, high up-ish, and I feel well contained in the seat. Another great thing about this ride is that it's different in each park. The effects and storyline is different at Disneyland compared to the one at WDW, but both hold true to the overall theme. Disneyland's just got a huge refurb where they've added new effects using new technology and it looks AWESOME. I cannot wait to ride this ride in September.



We're 97 days away from Disneyland! And it's Donald Duck's 80th birthday today! Happy Birthday to my most favorite of Disney characters, without Donald there'd be no Disney (just ask him, he'll tell you)!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 8: Favorite Mickey's ToonTown Attraction

Day 8: Favorite Mickey's ToonTown Attraction

I have a confession - I've never spent much time in Toontown. There's not much that has interested me, and what does the crowds ruin (basically I just want to take pictures). I really feel the whole section is just one big attraction even though I do know that there are individual rides as well as Mickey and Minnie meet and greets at their homes. I just don't feel the need to take in those rides... but with two newbies coming along on this trip I'm sure we'll be spending a bit of time in the area.

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 7: Favorite Critter Country Attraction

Day 7 - Favorite Critter Country Attraction

WE ARE IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS OF OUR COUNTDOWN!!!!! You know what that means, DOUBLE DIGITS DANCE!

I am SO excited! 99 days out always seems to make it official. We have a few things left to do - like get an itinerary, and get the ADRs nailed down. Tickets to the parks need to be bought... but the countdown is on!

Anyway, back to the daily post...

Critter Country's main attraction is the only one I could choose for favorite attraction. It's SPLASH MOUNTAIN for crying out loud! I was terrified of this ride as a child, high up places and water at the bottom was not my idea of a good time. But my dad made me go on it as a teenager and I've been hooked ever since. It's the best way to cool off during the heat of the day - and September is going to be in the 80s so this Alaskan girl is going to want to ride it more than once!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 6: Favorite Adventureland Attraction

Day 6 - Favorite Adventureland Attraction

Ah, Adventureland... that quirky and fun section of the park that lures you in and is super crowded by the end of the day thanks to queues that go out into the walk ways... but we love it anyway.

Favorite attraction is definitely the Indiana Jones ride. It's the same technology (and track) as the Dinosaur ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, but it has Indiana Jones! The story is more fun and there's a lot more to see.

And it terrified Haille Rae both times she's ridden it due to the large snake (she said it's grown). So we'll see how the newbies handle it in September. *evil laugh*

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 5: Favorite New Orleans Square Attraction

Day 5 - Favorite New Orleans Square Attraction

Another ride that is a total "duh!" for me. I love the Haunted Mansion. It's a nice sit down ride that has so much charm, and who doesn't love the spooky Ghost Host? This ride holds a special place in my heart because it's Haille Rae's favorite ride, and even though she isn't coming with me this time (first time in a lot of years she won't be with me at DLR... it will be weird!) I know that I'll be thinking of her... hopefully, though, her favorite ghost (the one that ALWAYS sits with us, creepy!) doesn't continue to follow me around. I'm slightly creeped out that only one of the hitchhiking ghosts seems to sit with us each time on this ride!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 4: Favorite Tomorrowland Attraction

Day 4 - Favorite Tomorrowland Attraction

Tomorrowland is probably my least favorite land in either Disneyland or Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. There just isn't much that interests me, though at night it's awesome all lit up. A photographic delight.

I know most probably would say Space Mountain as their favorite, but that ride terrifies me (more so the single rider one at WDW than the two-seater at DLR). So I'm going to go with one of the cutest rides they've got - Buzz Lightyear. This is very similar to the one at WDW, but it's fun and air conditioned... and you get a ride picture... so, that's all I got.

Besides, I love my Zurgy!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 3: Favorite Fantasyland Attraction

Day 3: Favorite Fantasyland Attraction

It's definitely the Matterhorn. I was five the first time I rode it. It's one of the few rides I remember vividly (or at all). So very thrilling! I got to take Haille on her first Matterhorn ride in 2011 - and she LOVED it. It broke down the next year and we never got to ride it with her again... oh well, in a few years I'll take her again and we'll go.

Sadly, it will be under refurbishment when we go in September. I cannot begin to tell you just how bummed that makes me. Aimee and Wess need to experience this ride!

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 2: Favorite Main Street Attraction

Day 2 - Favorite Main Street Attraction


I've only seen this attraction once, I was five, and Lincoln malfunctioned and "died" on stage. And yet, it's still one of my favorites. It is one of Walt's greatest achievements, one of his favorite attractions, and it's my favorite American leader. I am a big fan of the Civil War era history, yet another thing Walt and I have in common I suppose.

I WILL see this attraction come hell or high water this time around. I'll go by myself if I have to.

30 Days of Disneyland - Day 1: Favorite Land

Day 1 - Favorite Land

Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A. is by far my favorite section in the park. I know that seems silly considering it's just shops and ice cream... but I love the atmosphere. I love that it's how you have to enter the park. I love the smells, the lights, the architecture... the fact that Walt walked and lived there... and in some ways still does.

Sure the whole park is Walt's park. It's the one he saw built to "completion" (though he said DLR would never be completed, that it would always be changing), it was the one he visited... the one he dreamed about... and Main Street is where it began... because it was a tribute to his childhood. Where he lived and grew up. Sure it's the "Disney version" of such places, but who wants to live in the real world when you can live in Disney's land?

I love stopping by Walt's apartment to say hello (and goodbye on my way out of the park at the end of the trip). The light is ALWAYS on in memory of the man behind the mouse, behind the magic. I love having breakfast (Mickey Waffle tradition!) at The Carnation Cafe. I love stopping at the Confectionery and watching them make the different candied treats (and the smell, OMG!). The streetmosphere, the trollies, the trains, the music! I CAN'T WAIT!

(Also, I've not seen the Lincoln attraction since I was 5, if I don't get to see it this trip I'm going to have a tantrum. Erin, Aimee, Wess... you've been warned!)

To all who come to this Happy Place... Welcome!

Getting ready to start my next 30 days challenge, this one focusing on DISNEYLAND! Seems it's only fitting to do this since in about 106 days I will be on the plane headed for Southern California for a week of Disney and FRIENDS! I haven't blogged much about the trip and I need to get it into gear and get going on it. I AM excited about it, I just haven't felt the inspiration to blog about it... I blame my Once Upon A Time obsession for sidetracking me. (Seriously, still not over it ha ha.)

It's getting close and so the excitement is ramping up. Erin and Wess have gotten their airfare (I did months ago as I used miles and the flights I originally wanted had filled up their miles quota so I had to find another set of flights that worked and I snagged them as soon as I could). I also talked my friend Aimee into going. She and Erin have the same birthday. I "met" Aimee online over 10 years ago when we were both blogging on GreatestJournal (a livejournal like blog site). We'd found each other through our Star Wars fandom, and then realized we had a lot in common. We both loved our pug dogs, loved Star Wars, obsessed over DISNEY... and a friendship was born. We've never met "in real life", but we always talk about meeting - and it's normally a trip to WDW that we assumed would be how we finally made it happen.

Fastforward to Christmas of 2013. Aimee posted on facebook a video of the Wonderful World of Color water and light show at Disney's California Adventure and she was saying how she so wanted to go to DLR but didn't know when it would happen - if it ever would (she lives on the East Coast). I popped on and said she should come with us for her birthday. She thought I was joking. But I said I was serious! We had the room booked and ready to go, all she'd need to do is get airfare and park tickets and she'd be set! It was 10 months away it was doable.

After staying up WAY past my bedtime (which means she TOTALLY skipped hers ha ha) I convinced her to at least THINK about it. A few days later she'd made up her mind, she was going to do it! She has her airfare now, so I say it's official. We are SUPER excited - and she and Erin have become buds online as well... so I think I'll end up being outnumbered here pretty soon! haha!

Anyway, Aimee's been doing a first timer at Disneyland Meme on her FB so I figured I'd do a Disneyland meme on my blog... thankfully this is NOT my first time so I know what to expect and how to get things done! ;)



 30 Days of Disneyland!

Day 01: Your Favorite Land
Day 02: Your Favorite Main Street Attraction
Day 03: Your Favorite Fantasyland Attraction
Day 04: Your Favorite Tomorrowland Attraction
Day 05: Your Favorite New Orleans Square Attraction
Day 06: Your Favorite Adventureland Attraction
Day 07: Your Favorite Critter Country Attraction
Day 08: Your Favorite Mickey’s Toontown Attraction
Day 09: Your Favorite Frontierland Attraction
Day 10: Your Favorite Extinct Attraction
Day 11: Your Favorite Disney‘s California Adventure Attraction
Day 12: The Attraction You Gone On Most
Day 13: Your Favorite Piece of Architecture
Day 14: Your Favorite Face Character
Day 15: Your Favorite Atmosphere (Fur) Character
Day 16: Your Favorite Parade
Day 17: Your Favorite Live Show
Day 18: Your Favorite Band/Vocal Group
Day 19: Your Favorite Fireworks Spectacular
Day 20: Your Favorite Restaurant
Day 21: Your Favorite Food or Beverage
Day 22: Your Favorite Shop
Day 23: Your Favorite Thing to Collect
Day 24: Your Favorite Disneyland Memory
Day 25: Your Favorite Picture from the Park
Day 26: Your Favorite Cast Member Costume
Day 27: Your Dream Job
Day 28: Your Favorite Time to Visit
Day 29: Your Favorite Aspect of Disneyland
Day 30: Your Favorite Walt Disney Quote about Disneyland

Disneyland in 250 Days

Dealing with a countdown to DisneyLAND can be so frustrating. There isn't as much planning to do for a SoCal adventure compared to when one goes to Disney World. Reservations for hotel have been made, we're staying at the Peacock Suites (you may recognize that hotel as the one I've stayed at when going to DLR with Haille Rae and family) and I wanted to make sure that we could get one of the two bedroom suites. If there's one thing that bugs me about Peacock is the round about way they do their responses to any emails you might send them asking for information. They are partnered with Shell Vacations and so their emails all go to an office elsewhere. So they give very generic answers, or tell you to call the hotel directly. One of the reasons I email questions is so I don't have to call.


But it's a minor complaint, and I'm very excited to be staying there again.


Now it's just a wait to book the rest. Airfare this spring. Special meal reservations to be booked in June or July (along with the photopass+). Not a lot of planning involved. We'll have 5 days in Disneyland, 1 at the beach and hollywood, 1 for universal studios, and 1 for the San Diego Zoo.


So until then I just gotta keep myself busy. Which shouldn't be a problem with the Olympics in something like three weeks? and then the Iditarod in March.