Happy Birthday DCA!

Happy birthday #DCA! You've come a long way baby.

A photo posted by Mike (@no1here) on Feb 8, 2016

Have a Magical Merry Christmas from Walt's Magic Kingdom

Disneyland Flashback

1950s #Disneyland. This is from an old family photo album.

A photo posted by Mike (@no1here) on Nov 11, 2015

From A Galaxy Far, Far Away to Disneyland - Star Wars Land

Star Wars Land was announced this past weekend at the #D23Expo in Anaheim. The lands will be built simultaneously in both Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida. Big Thunder Ranch will be razed to make way for the immersive new experience.

Two major attractions have been announced to go along with themed restaurants and shops. This is likely just the first phase of the project, which could eventually lead to an even larger experience in years to come. There will be heavy emphasis on the new Star Wars movies that are being released over the next few years. We can hardly contain our excitement. The project will likely be competed in 2019.

Disneyland Turns 60!

July 17th marks Disneyland's 60th anniversary. The park first opened in 1955 and quickly set records with a number of people showing up to the park. Over the years the park is continue to grow and change. Walt Disney once said, "Disneyland will never be complete, as long as there is imagination left in the world." New attractions and improvements on existing rides have continued. The recent additions of the Hatbox Ghost to the Haunted Mansion and the new effects inside Peter Pan's Flight, are a great example.

Up until the early 80s, guests relied on ticket books with A through E tickets. "A" ticket attractions were simple rides or shows such as the street cars on Main Street. An "E" ticket ride was a bigger attraction, such as the Matterhorn, Big Thunder or Space Mountain. In 1982, the unlimited passport was introduced allowing visitors to experience all rides and attractions with the single admission. There are currently 58 attractions at Disneyland.

With the addition of Disney California Adventure in 2001 and the Paradise Pier Hotel, the entire resort became a true destination for people to visit from all over the world. Disneyland's Diamond Celebration will continue through the end of Summer 2016 with many more surprises and announcements to be made along the way.

Disneyland Memory Monday - Cascade Peak

It was part of Nature's Wonderland Mine Ride and then became scenery along Rivers of America until the Summer of 1998 when the mountain went away forever. Some before and after shots can be seen on this blog. This is by far one of the pieces of decor that is missed most by Disneyland enthusiasts, probably right after the Captain Hook's ship from Fantasyland. Funny, because most people probably never thought much about it, until it was gone.

Finding Nemo Submarine Adventure

We've loved this ride since the first day it opened.  Scratch that, since before it was even announced it was going to be there.  I can remember when Finding Nemo first came out in theaters and was a smash hit, thinking that it would make the perfect ride in the (at the time) vacant lagoon in Tomorrowland at Disneyland.  We watched and waited in anticipation for the ride to be completed and yes, you may have guessed it - we waited in line for 3 1/2 hours on the opening day to be some of the first people to ride it.  Yes, then we went back a couple days later and waited another 3 hours.  The kids loved the ride that much.  It really is a cute ride, even after 3 1/2 hours of waiting in line.

It's great for families with kids of all ages (only thing to note is there is one short scene where the lights go out and there's a pretend electrical issue - this could scare some smaller children).  Be prepared to climb down the very narrow curved staircase to enter the boat.  There is also a non-moving special viewing area for handicapped guests.

The technology used is state of the art and is actually tough to figure out how they make certain effects work.  For those curious, there are silk screens with images/videos projected on to them to give the effect of the actual characters moving around and swimming with you under water blended with actual underwater scenes.

We've now been on this ride dozens of times since it opened, but one time that stands out in my mind as just really neat was the time that the fireworks were just beginning as we were loading in to the submarines.  It was a Disney Magic Moment.  Riding Finding Nemo at night time is also a different experience than during the day because in the beginning, the lagoon is lit up with colorful lights and it adds to the magic of the ride.