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!

Another OUAT cast gush post

Stuff like the posts by Sean Maguire (Robin Hood) today just make me happy. With the fan wars going full bore in this summer hiatus of the show, due to the whole Neal's dead and CaptainSwan is happening now, it can get very frustrating to be a fan and read the hate. A lot of it is typical back and forth between what ship is better (SwanFire, CaptainSwan... SwanQueen... blah), and others are just maddening (rumors of a certain actor being "mistreated" by cast and creators, rumors of same actor causing issues on set which resulted in getting fired, and of course the whole "Captain Hook's character is the poster child for Rape Culture" crap).

I've been wanting to rant about the whole Captain Hook/Colin O'Dognahue hate for a while... but I won't be getting into that fully tonight. This is more the whole "Michael Raymond-James deserved better from his castmates" posts that I've read ever since Quiet Minds. Granted, the actors that are most referred to in those rants are the ones who have only referred to MRJ's character when talking about the scene and haven't come out and said much if anything at all about MRJ except to say they'd miss him. Colin O'Donaghue being the exception when he replied to a tweet early on in the aftermath to something Michael had tweeted about working with Colin.

However, that somewhat changed tonight with Sean and Michael's tweets today. Sean obviously does not fit the mold that folks are trying to force the OUAT cast into. As being these hateful, high schoolesque people who don't care about each other and have cliques. I'm sure any set has their share of cliqueish manners, but the OUAT cast seems to genuinely enjoy each other's company and friendship. And if we're going to take our favorite(s) at their word then who's to say it isn't true?

Sean and Michael obviously had a friendship on and off set. Sean, of course, playing Robin Hood who befriends Neal in the Season 3 premier and ultimately helps Neal get back to Neverland to help save Henry. They had a small scene in Season 3B (basically Hood is glad to see Neal survived the Neverland thing, but is sad to hear that Neal and Emma and Henry were once again separated). Interestingly enough I don't recall watching a lot of interaction between the two on twitter, but I was fairly unaware until very recently of the entertainment to be had watching this cast on Social Media. LOL
 
Sean is, in a way, replacing Michael on Once come next season (this is more an assumption on my part, but he definitely got MRJ's screen time for 3B). His character is going to find himself in a love triangle similar (if not even more tragic) to what Nealfire-Emma-Hook had. And I've seen a little bit of flareup from the Swanfire side... which is understandable. I've even felt that twinge of... jealousy? against the men who get to keep going on the show... It's me being selfish of course, but I do feel that Neal/MRJ had more to give the show... but it just couldn't happen with the direction the story was going. Rightly, or wrongly (time will tell on that).

But here's the thing. After it all happened fans started making up a lot of crap to somehow justify hating on certain people. The Once Cast was vilified for not "protecting/standing up for" a fellow cast member who was "forced off" the show. Ignoring for now that the actor supposedly "abused" by the powers that be came out and said his peace about it (he understood the decision, was okay with it, and has nothing but love for cast, crew, and creators), fans have basically started seeing conspiracy upon conspiracy as to how awful life was on set for this guy.

Yet we're seeing time and again on social media the cast continue on as they had before Quiet Minds. For someone so "disliked" for whatever reason, he certainly gets a lot of love from the people who supposedly "betrayed" him.

So why is that? Perhaps it's because what happened with the character of Neal and the development of his story happened exactly - or nearly so - as what the actor and creators have said. Perhaps, instead of freaking out on the people who worked with MRJ, fans should just realize that these things happen on television shows. And, let's face it, if you're a fan of MRJ you KNOW it's bound to happen. He either plays a very unlikeable guy, has a tragic storyline (that typically lands him in jail lol), or he dies... or there's a combo of those things.

Hopefully when the new season of Once is upon us, and the miniseries of Sons of Liberty (Michael's new project) airs the emotions of this past season will have passed or at least died down. I keep telling myself that all it will take is Michael getting a new something on TV for me to get over Neal not being on OUAT. I'm less angry about it than most, but I'm no less bummed about his death... and wishing/hoping that he will somehow not be dead ha ha. But, ultimately, I don't vilify anyone for the decision. It's their story and without it I'd never know about some of the awesome actors on there (MRJ being the main one I'm thankful for OUAT for).


I'm rambling so I'll stop ranting for now. I have VBS brain. Hopefully I can get my brain back so I can be more coherent.

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!

Why I love the OUAT Cast - reason 5,823

I love how supportive they are of one another - even after an actor has left the show (though in my heart I really really really hope we have not seen the last of MRJ/Nealfire on Once). Michael Squared (as I've decided to call them lol) are both two of my favorites on and off the show. Great actors.

Just had to get my fangirl moment in there.

Because I haven't *at all* fangirlled today over the news of MRJ's new project... nope, not even a little bit. /lying Okay, I may have interrupted VBS with a not so silent "OMG! *SQUEE!*" when the news hit my twitter feed. Yay for the soonish finally happening and we know what to expect. And GET THIS! He's not going to DIE or have a super tragic storyline... or be a douchey bad guy! OMG! My dream! ha ha!

/fangirl

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!)