16 Comments Posted by Shelby on October 12, 2011

This is one of those things that I never knew about before I started this blog, much like the Lilly Belle. The tender seat is a seat directly behind the steam engine.

It's right next to the Fireman in this picture

Like the Lilly Belle, the tender seat is a “hidden” attraction subject to availability. Also like the LB, you approach the cast member at Main Street Station and just ask if you can ride it. Not every locomotive has a tender seat, and most importantly, they don’t run it when it’s hot. Because you’re sitting in front of a boiler and when it gets hot, it gets SERIOUSLY HOT.

The steam engine is 5/8ths scale of a regular steam engine. It runs quite literally on fire:

Dude, that's like ACTUAL fire at the bottom there

The whole engine part is really complex and if you’re not a train nut (like me), the best word to describe it is…

Shiny!

The train is run by two cast members–the fireman, who is in charge of the water levels that drive the steam:

This guy builds and repairs authentic antique steam engines as a hobby. No joke.

…and the engineer:

This guy was a cast member for well over a decade before he moved into this position

Here’s a better look at the tender seat:

That's Me!

And here’s a closeup of the shiny things that make the train go:

Oooooooohhhhhhhhh

The speedometer is up on top. It’s nice to know that they don’t go like 60 miles an hour, although it would be pretty awesome if they went 60 miles per hour.

Let's keep it slow, guys.

And another extremely important instrument is the pressure gauge. There’s something really important and relevant about this little feature, but I can’t for the life of me remember what it is, so I’ll just toss up a picture and let you train buffs go at it (and let the others use their imaginations).

Important!

Many people looked my way in jealousy. I rubbed it in by taking a picture of all of the people behind me.

Cause I'm nice like that

This part I thought was interesting. There’s little numbers at the station and each train can be a different length. The numbers indicate where to stop so the train aligns with the handicapped platform.

Now that's precision!

Overall the tender seat ride was FABULOUS!!! It’s important to keep in mind that it’s adult-only, and for two people, and very dependent on availability and weather. I ended up waiting about 40 minutes for my ride, but it was totally worth it.

Woo hoo!!!

Main Street Disneyland Railroad, DLRR, how to get on the tender seat at Disneyland, riding the tender seat Disneyland, tender seat Disneyland, train secrets

There will be a post here

Leave a comment Posted by Shelby on October 11, 2011

I know, right? I’ve got jury duty on Tuesday the 11th (so, today for those of you who are reading today) and it’s the kind where you sit in the room and wait and wait and wait for them to call your name and if they don’t then eventually you get to go home. BONUS wifi! I’ll write a post whilst waiting for my civic duty, so watch this spot!

Everything Else

Disneyland in 1992

3 Comments Posted by Shelby on October 10, 2011

My in-laws (the actual physical people, not the Mouse-in-Laws) found a Sunset magazine from 1992 with a fabulous article about Disneyland. It has all kinds of helpful tips and such.

Now 1992 is my college era. I graduated from high school in 1991 (so yes, I’m either “that young?” or “that old?” depending on your perspective ;)) and I went to college and grad school in the Midwest, so I lived in the Midwest for 8 years and basically missed the 90’s. However, in 1990 and 1991, I went a lot, so this article was particularly poignant for me.

For realz, people--check out the hair on Canoe Guy!

Now the 90s weren’t as unfortunate for hair as the 80s (so let’s be real, nothing will ever beat 80s hair. I’m positive that the hole in the ozone layer was made significantly bigger by all of the Aqua Net from those mile-high banks) but this guy is definitely stylin’. The article advises being there at rope drop (something I haven’t done yet) and recommends the “Mickey Mouse flap jacks” (also known as PANCAKES ’round these parts).

OMG it's a mullet!!!

No, there isn’t half of a canoe you can paddle–that’s actually where the magazine picture was split. And what’s with the skirt of the woman on the right?

Dude, that's a lot of watermelon

And there’s the guy with the hair and glasses again. According to the article, they visited the park “five times” which clearly makes them experts. And according to this page, their biggest piece of advice is to get there 30-60 minutes before the park opens. Which again, I’ve never done, and seems a bit extreme–but then again, no fast passes back then either.

Don’t miss Disneyland’s newest ride–Splash Mountain! Apparently an hour after opening but not 10:30 is good time to go. If you’ve scoped out the whole park 5 times, that is.

Kids were not immune to bad taste. Check out that fanny pack.

Also I love the water on the bottom right. That area is now Downtown Disney.

Did you know that dinners at the Blue Bayou Restaurant run from $13-$18.10? Let’s just say that they are no longer $13-$18.10. And speaking of money, it’s gonna cost you $27.50 to get in, so budget wisely!

And at the end of the day, don’t forget to catch the fireworks! There are over 250 of them, and the show lasts approximately 6 minutes. The best vantage point for both the fireworks and Fantasmic!, the newest nighttime show, is on the balcony in from of the Disney Gallery.

Which is no longer the Disney Gallery.

And finally, top off your evening with the world famous Main Street Electrical Parade!

What a joyous day at Disneyland :).

Everything Else

Mickey’s Halloween Parade

7 Comments Posted by Shelby on October 7, 2011

One of the fun aspects of Mickey’s Halloween Party is the parade. They really do try to give you extras to make the additional cost worth your money. I absolutely loved the parade. This post is for those of you living vicariously through me.

Vampire Mickey starts us off.

I'm invited!

A Mummy, some striped-stockinged witches, and an oddly dressed woman come next.

What is UP with that hair in the back?

The Costume Shop float comes next. This has cast members pretending to try on costumes by adding various boas and hats and whatever while singing.

No actual costumes are changed here.

Then there’s the little pumpkins. These are adorable and introduce the next group of dancers. First:

Pirate Pumpkin!

Followed by:

Pirates!

Peter Pan and Captain Hook were in that group too.

Next up is the pumpkin with the princess-y hat.

Princess-y hat

At least I’m assuming it’s a Princess-y hat, because right after that were:

Princesses!

The princesses were all twirling and dancing so I had a hard time getting a picture of them.

At least Snow White looks good

I have several of these:

She kind of looks like Thriller-meets-Flashdance here

Round ’em up, it’s time for:

Yeehaw!

There were cowboys and cowgirls spinning around, and also:

Woody! Much less fuzzy in person.

I wasn’t sure what was next when I saw this guy

Hunh?

But it made a lot more sense when various monsters from Monsters, Inc. showed up.

Actually fuzzier in real life

I did manage to catch Sully’s backside.

Also fuzzier in real life

Then there’s a car with some characters from the Nightmare Before Christmas and also some honorary guests. I’ve always wondered how you get chosen to be a guest who rides in a parade car.