Category Archives: Fantasyland

Casey Jr. Circus Train Comin’ Round the Track!

5 Comments Posted by on August 29, 2011

Casey Jr. was the first ride we ever took Theo on. I can’t remember exactly why we chose Casey Jr.–maybe because it was Kevin’s thing about trains and it’s a train that’s actually a Fantasyland ride rather than a trip around the Magic Kingdom. I think it seemed more ride-y. And it seemed like perhaps not the best idea to put a 6 week old on his own elephant on Dumbo.

Here he is:

OMG he's so tiny!!!

And then here he is at 2 and 1/2:

Such a big boy!

You know what would have been a cute idea? Taking a picture of him there at age 1. Oh well. That’s what photoshop is for, right? Revisionist history?

Anyway, Theo is now very into trains so it wasn’t a surprise that Casey Jr. was on his to-do list.

Or at least is was once we introduced him to it. In line.

I love its sign because the painting on the train reminds me of one of Theo’s favorite books, the Little Red Caboose. Also, it is necessary to supervise children at all times.

Words to the wise

There are a number of different cars that you can ride on, or in, or whatever. The cars toward the front are open-aired little chariot thingies.

This is the kind we rode with Theo his first time.

Towards the back there are animal cages that for some reason, kids go ape about. Get it? Ape? Hahaha, I’m so funny. Anyway, kids tend to race to these, and then some sad looking adults end up cramming themselves in there too and it’s just not pretty.

Perhaps these are more spacious than they look, but I'm not really interested in finding out.

As I said above, one of Theo’s favorite books is the Little Red Caboose, and conveniently, Casey Jr. has a little red caboose on the back. Or as Theo pronounces it, coo-boose.

Ride coo-boose! Ride coo-boose!

We actually waited another cycle to ride the caboose. It was already full when we first got to board, so we just asked the cast member if we could wait for the next train to ride the caboose. She said it was no problem and we just waited behind the yellow safety line at the exit.

Theo is schooling Daddy in the proper ways to drive a coo-boose

Use both hands, Daddy!!!

A good thing to know is that Casey Jr. is pretty connected to the Storybook Land Canal Boats. They come around right by the queue.

They always wave too, or at least the cast member does

And I don’t want to freak anyone out, but it’s a scientific fact that Disneyland has at least one ghost and I’m not talking about the Haunted Mansion. I’m talking about the ghost that haunts Casey Jr.. How do I know this? Because I got a picture!!!!!

I call this "Close Encounters of the Aperture Kind"

Scary, dude. But not as scary as Pinocchio.

And now, let’s take some bets on how long it takes for someone to search for “Disneyland ghost” and find me.

Anyway, The Storybook Canal Boats take you through Storybook Land in miniature, and Casey Jr. basically takes you around that via the land route, which is faster and (sorry, boats) more exicting.

It’s so close to the canal water that it has its own life preserver ring.

But really, how deep can it BE?

There’s quite a bit of decorative foliage, like the ride name in flowers. You also go through a lovely floral display representing the Silly Symphonies, and talk about something quite possibly lost on the next generation. I’ll have to track that down.

It's like Mickey except it's not Mickey

And incidentally, back on the King Arthur Carrousel post I talked about how the Disneyland site itself says that animals from the carrousel were moved to Casey Jr. which as you look at it seems patently untrue, given that a giant carrousel giraffe would stick out like…well…a giant carrousel giraffe on this ride. So I believe what moved are perhaps the stationary seats or some decorative panels.

Also you may notice that we got in line for this ride when it was light and got off in the dark, and the pictures here are out of order.

Anyway, Casey Jr. was surprisingly fast. Like, who takes their 6-week-old on a ride like that??? Heh. So the main problem with photographing on Casey Jr. is that pretty much all of my pictures turned out like this:

And this one is pretty much the best of the bunch. No joke.

So with a lack of other compelling and informative pictures, I’m going to have to sign off now, except to say…

Search for Disneyland Magic? I love that Disney doesn’t abandon their old movies and shorts. Yes, my SRM reveals that the Silly Symphonies were released between 1929 and 1939, and the people who saw them live also enjoyed the now recognizably racially insensitive Song of the South in the theater, but the Silly Symphonies are still represented here on Casey Jr. and in the Mouse-Next-Door on the Silly Symphonies Swings (formerly the Orange Stinger, which I actually really liked, so boo hoo). Anyway, while Disney does pile up the new, they haven’t entirely abandoned the old. It was magic then and it’s still magic now.

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“Magical” Fireworks

12 Comments Posted by on August 27, 2011

Nobody does fireworks like Disney. Nobody. In fact, every time I watch a fireworks show somewhere else I’m left wanting, thinking “can’t you coordinate the music and the fireworks? You can shoot off more than one at the same time before the finale. That’s IT???” for some little civic fireworks show that probably cost a huge amount of money. Disney has raised fireworks to an art form, not only with music and timing, but with ground effects and lighting as well. Not to mention the classic Disney soundtracks.

This summer’s fireworks show (it changes, btw) is called “Magical.” How convenient for my search for Disneyland Magic, hunh? Still looking for that–think fireworks may be part of it? I do. Anyway, there are many places to view the fireworks. In the past it didn’t really matter where you were in the park. Then on Disneyland’s 50th birthday in 2005, Disney pumped up fireworks to a whole new level. They closed parts of Fantasyland, brought in a lot of lower ground effects centered on the castle, and projected images onto the castle and Matterhorn. For that show, a spot in the hub (circle at the end of Main Street) was the ideal place to watch.

Magical had some castle involvement, basically lights and castle low fireworks, but honestly I think any area in the park where you can get a clear view and hear the music is a good spot. Watching from the Fantasyland side is great, and if you can time yourself to get on a Storybook Canal boat at just the right time, it’s amazing. But that’s tough, since you could end up watching from the line. Still, we usually end up on good old Main Street.

20 minutes before--not too crowded, plus zoom lens!

Fireworks viewing can be brutal (it especially was for the 50th birthday show). If you’re a short person like me, it can be very advantageous to stake out a spot 20 minutes beforehand, more if it’s crowded or if you seem to be in a premium location. Many people sit down at first.

Like us

Theo, where are the fireworks going to be?

You’ll notice that there are ropes running across Main Street in a few locations. They do rope off some walkways so that in lulls in the show they can shuffle people in various directions. It’s quite organized so pay attention–one route takes you to ALL lands in the rest of the park, the other takes you to ONLY the exit.

This line went to all the lands

Anyway, I’ve found as a short person, it’s helpful to be right up against one of those ropes. The gap of people not in front of you really helps.

Theo and his sandwich demonstrate Shelby's preferred location

They dim the lights and the castle starts to light up in different colors.

Ooooohhhhhh

They used to have Tinkerbell start every show, but now they sometimes shoot some fireworks off pre-Tink, like in Magical.

I AM AN AWESOME PHOTOGRAPHER!!!

Funny story: when Kevin was a wee lad, he and his mom would stay to watch the fireworks while his dad and dad’s friends went off to “Help Tinkerbell start the fireworks.” Yeah, they’d just go on Space Mountain. Heh.

Anyway, Tink does come flying out! Yay!

She comes in from the right and goes behind the castle, so I didn't get a picture of her until she was on this side.

This part sort of freaked me out a little bit, and not because of my crappy photography.

No, Tinkerbell! Don't get shot!

Fortunately, Tink survives, just like she manages to do at every show. Then they do the fireworks, like pretty colored things.

Pretty colors!

This is an example of a castle effect that doesn’t make as big of an impact if you can’t actually see the castle from either side.

These are the fireworks we can't see from our backyard

Other stuff happens, and apparently they do the up and down color things a couple of times.

Trying to take pictures and enjoy the show at the same time is very difficult.

They light up the castle in different colors. This one looks a little…hellish.

Cool high fireworks

Despite the look of abject disinterest, Theo actually really liked the show and would burst into applause every now and then.

Strangely enough, other people weren't clapping at the same things he was clapping at

And then the big surprise! Oh, I should probably take a moment to talk about the soundtrack. It was super-cool and centered on the magical moments in Disney movies, like when Pinocchio gets turned into a real boy and Cinderella turns into all kinds of awesome so she can go to the ball (in glass shoes–talk about being careful not to step on any toes, heh heh). Anyway, there’s of course this moment:

It's Dumbo!! (in case you couldn't tell from my stellar photography)

Dumbo whirled around the castle. I’ve never seen anything flying other than Tinkerbell so it was a nice surprise.

Whirling and twirling way up in the blue...

...elephants fly and so can you!

As of yesterday it seems like Dumbo is Theo’s new favorite ride. Which kind of bites a little because the wait is always really long.

Dumbo’s flying ears reminds me of the day we got our second beagle, Digory. Our first beagle, Scout (RIP *sniff*), was very wary but for one time and ONLY this one time, she actually chased him (from then on out, he always tried to chase her).

Dumbo-eared Digory!

Anyway, at that point I decided to put the camera down and enjoy the show. That’s one thing about this blog I’ve found is that when you’re documenting something, you really don’t get to enjoy it very much. I always wonder about people who just videotape everything in the park on their vacation. Yeah, the memories are great, but watching everything through a tiny screen instead of in real life just seems so much like you’re missing a big part of that Disneyland Magic.

Anyway, Disneyland shoots off some fabulous specials fireworks like heart-shaped ones and even ones that explode in happy faces in multiple colors. At the end of the show, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty end up in this fireworks equivalent of a dance-off with one turning the castle and fireworks blue and the other pink. UPDATE–Reader Correction: Apparently I did not spend enough time 1) listening to the soundtrack and 2) re-watching my Disney movies, because a reader corrected that the fight is between the fairies from Sleeping Beauty who are fighting over the colors like in the movie. I haven’t seen the movie since 19something, so there ya go. Hm, what does it say about me that I immediately thought it was like a deathmatch between Cinderella and Aurora? 

They do manage to work out their differences in the end.

Ooooohhhhhhh

And I watched the finale with my own two eyes :).

But this is my favorite fireworks picture ever. Actually my favorite Mickey picture too! Kevin snapped the following shot on Disneyland’s 50th birthday, May 6, 2005.

And THAT, my friends, is Disneyland Magic.

Everything Else, Fantasyland, Main Street , , , , ,

Storybook Land Canal Boats

6 Comments Posted by on July 18, 2011

I’m not really sure why this is, but for years, and I mean YEARS, I totally avoided the Storybook Land Canal Boats. When I was really little I was afraid of the whale, but when I was in older (high school) I just thought it was lame. In fact, I thought it was the lamest ride in Disneyland. I’m really not clear where all that vitriol came from, because now that I’ve ridden it again I find it quite charming.

The Storybook Land Canal Boats is a guided tour through various Disney story locations created in miniature. You get to ride on a boat and be disproportionately huge compared to the recreations.

Maybe I’ve just developed a greater appreciation for miniature things after several visits to the most amazing model railroad layout in the universe, Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany. It’s beyond remarkable. I’m serious–you have to watch this video. I could spend a week there. And it’s funny as hell too.

Anyway, Storybook Canals. So the attraction is denoted by the floral signage on a small hill.

Park your stroller by the giant lighthouse

At this point on this particular visit, Theo was getting very wiped out. He did get to ride his preferred method of transportation

"Daddy head! Daddy head!"

But his energy was seriously flagging.

"Daddy forehead!"

You all climb aboard a boat, and this is one of the few rides where not only can you sit however you like with no restraints, you can actually sit ON the vehicle rather than in it, if you choose. Theo thought that was a great idea for about 0.2 seconds and then he flipped out.

We hadn't even started moving yet

Your cruise director also sits rather haphazardly on the boat as well.

Our cruise director, Julie!

You then go through the mouth of a whale, which doesn’t look in the least bit realistic, but when I was little looked very menacing and scary.

Open wide!

Not as menacing as Monstro from Pinocchio, but close.

Once you get through the whale, you start to see little scenes from various stories, like this one.

I totally can't remember what this one is

It’s also a ride that’s difficult to photograph.

I do remember this one is Aladdin’s lamp.

Hey, Genie!

The Storybook Canals are actually really connected to Casey Jr.’s railroad, mainly because on Casey Jr. you travel right past most of the Storybook Land.

Casey Jr. comin' round the track

The princesses are very highly represented here.

I definitely recognize this one--Sleeping Beauty!

Can't remember what this one is though

Ariel’s post-ocean life is also displayed. I don’t recall ever seeing a good view of Prince Eric’s castle, but honestly  I haven’t seen the movie in a LONG time, even though we own it.

Out of the sea

You even get to see King Triton under the sea!

It's like a castle but it's under water

And those are pretty much all of the pictures that turned out even remotely good. Did I mention this one’s a tough one to photograph? Also, I think it looks like an entirely different ride in the daylight. The little lights and stuff were very cool, but I’ll have to go back during the day and shoot it again.

Fantasyland

The Magic, The Memories, and You!

6 Comments Posted by on July 10, 2011

As a part of their year of memories or whatever it’s called, Disneyland created a new nightly show. Disneyland shows never disappoint me, and this one was no exception. In fact, it’s completely stunning. The show is projected on the facade of “it’s a small world,” but unlike the psychedelic  frantic Christmas thing they do, it’s actually really amazing. The feature of the show is photos of guests from that day. So you–YOU–could be a part of this show!

How many photos, you ask?

500.

I’m not kidding. The pictures go by REALLY fast, some much faster than others, and there are lots of them at the same time. Honestly it would be very, very easy to miss yourself in the show. Like “I’ll just look for the cute kid with Goofy!” and realizing that there are 43 cute kids with Goofy and 27 ugly ones in the show. Just kidding about the ugly. Mostly.

The pictures all come from PhotoPass photographers during the day and get digitally entered in at night. I actually found that out after my photo session, which happened to be on my last visit before summer blockout. But when my pass is working again, am I going to spend the day getting my picture taken by every PhotoPass photographer I can find in an attempt to get in the show?

Of course I am. What blog do you think you’re reading?

The show starts like every other–the Magic Voice Of Disneyland’s Version Of God comes booming out of the speakers about 15 minutes beforehand telling you that the show will be happening and they’re going to turn down the lights for it so please don’t trip over anyone. The Voice then provides periodic reminders in a tone just one level below Monster Truck Rallies, and then finally the lights do go down and Small World turns white, which is really weird because it never looks like that.

Oh em gee, what happened to Small World?

It can be tough to find a place to stand. I ended up precariously balanced on the edge of that platform thingie (technical term) sort-of by the churro cart but farther down, but on that side.

You know the one.

Then I used my zoom lens a lot. The disadvantage of my position was a pole in front of me, which will be painfully obvious in all of the photos in this post. Sorry.

The show is technically a projection show, but it’s an animated projection. First a bunch of vines grow up from the ground.

Someone get a weed whacker--it's taking over Small World

At various stages, people’s pictures start appearing. Now honestly, it would really be impossible to try to look at all the pictures to see if one is you, since the facade is pretty big. My advice is that if you know you’re in the show, get there early, get an elevated spot, and video the whole thing. Am I going to be doing that?

Of course I am.

After the vines grow, Tinkerbell flies across leaving a trail of pixie dust

I just missed getting a shot of Tinkerbell herself

Oh wait, maybe it’s bubbles. Kind of looks like bubbles. My memory is so bad. Anyway, two things are definitely true: One, at one point Tinkerbell DOES come out and spread some pixie dust around, and Two, I didn’t get a picture of it.

The Dumbo comes out, and Small World really manages to look not-Small-Worldey.

I also just missed getting a picture of Dumbo

There are times when they focus more on guest pictures than Small World effects

There's like a billion princess pictures

And sometimes when the effects focus more on Small World itself.

These colors are awesome

There are lots of different ways to present the pictures, like in clouds, for example.

The clouds float around

Many of the scenes depicts Disneyland rides. Some of them more than one.

The hitchiking ghosts from Haunted Mansion are over on the left, as well as Minnie in a tea cup

And then one of my most favorite women in the entire universe, Julie Andrews, comes out to sing.

In every task that must be done...

This one was one of my favorites–the effect features what looks like scaffolding and Goofy and his friends start building.

If you wear a Goofy hat, you may get in this scene

There’s a great Pirates of the Caribbean scene.

There's also a cool Haunted Mansion scene with dancing skeletons, but once again, I missed getting a picture of that

This next one was my most favorite of all. They make Small World look like the castle. And seriously, it looks so real I had to go back later and see if the shape of Small World is actually the same as the castle or if it was just that good.

It was just that good

Another cool effect was when they “drew” Small World and then “colored it in.” I’m using the quotation marks appropriately here.

No actual drawing or coloring took place

Then there was more growing things. I think these are rose vines and are supposed to represent Sleeping Beauty, but don’t quote me on that. And don’t “quote” me on that either.

These pictures were flying around

Then the facade got white again and we got several old, sepia-toned pictures and videos. These aren’t actually from that day, but are boilerplate from pictures people submitted over the internet when Disneyland was looking for pictures like this last year to put in this show.

The one in the middle is a video of, I don't know, the tea cups or Autopia or something iconic like that

It was blow out the candles time, again with a guest-submitted video prior to the show.

"My wish is...to go to Knott's Berry Farm!"

Then the pictures totally started flying.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

There were integrated pictures throughout the show, but this last part (we’re near the end, btw), they just started throwing them out there like a rapid-fire machine gun.

This is where you'd need a video to see yourself

Then they made Walt out of pictures.

It is Walt, I promise

Then there were several more pictures, and the whole facade lit up.

WOW!

And just like that, the show is over. The lights come on, and Small World turns back into Small World again. And then depending on the schedule, it becomes the world’s biggest bottleneck as the fireworks come on a short while afterwards and everyone needs to either stay on the side of Small World or get on the other side of Fantasyland because the main part of Fantasyland closes for the fireworks. We headed over to Autopia, where we got to see the fireworks from the ride itself. That was pretty cool.

Expect another post on this one once I get myself into the show, ladies and gentlemice. Count on it ;).

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