A Tale of Two Fantasmics

Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland both possess versions of Fantasmic, but which can claim the title of superior show?  This is a difficult question because both Fantasmic shows have their merits.  

On a recent trip to Disneyland, we viewed Fantasmic on the Rivers of America, and the show was indeed spectacular.  The use of the actual Mark Twain Riverboat as well as the Sailing Ship Columbia add a certain level of realism and grand scale to Disneyland’s Fantasmic that is just not matched in DHS.  The sheer size of the Rivers of America and the set for Fantasmic in California really just give this show more staying power than the one in Florida.  In addition, the fact that we could walk up to the railing of a bridge and simply watch Fantasmic without having to make the death march down into the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater amongst hundreds of screaming adults and children really made the entire experience far more palatable to me. The crowd flow control in Disneyland was also far more organized than it is in Florida.  I do not blame Disney for this issue in Florida; I blame the guests.  The Disney castmembers clearly state where you should go and where you should not go, but people do not listen.  They feign ignorance and just keep walking wherever they please.  In Disneyland, the visitors seem to be more locals who know how to walk around the parks without causing painful gridlock in congested walkways.  Also, Disneyland is simply a smaller park with less capacity, so there are fewer people present in the park than in WDW.

Now, I did enjoy Disneyland’s Fantasmic, but I did not really enjoy having to stand for the duration of the entire show.  The DHS version wins with regard to seating; I like being able to sit down and enjoy the show.  I can even take better photos because I am sitting and not balancing by leaning up against a rail.  As I stated earlier, the logistics of getting to Fantasmic in Florida are absolutely miserable.  When the castmembers open up the theater, visitors do not follow their directions.  People start pushing and shoving, and they are just generally rude.  At one viewing, I actually had a man push his way through the crowd and then fall on top of me.  He was angry that I was standing where he wanted to stand.  That is just ridiculous.  If everyone just followed directions and let the castmembers do their jobs, the walk into the amphitheater would be far easier.

With regard to both shows, I just can’t get enough of Fantasmic.  I love both shows, and I cannot say that I like one show more than the other.  However, there are certain elements of each show that are superior to the other.  In Disneyland, the whole Peter Pan/Captain Hook sequence is excellent.  There are pirates swinging from the Sailing Ship Columbia; the crocodile chases after Captain Hook; and there are explosions.  This scene is very well done.  On the other hand, the Pocahontas scene at DHS leaves something to be desired.  I would rather see the Peter Pan sequence in Florida.  In California, the jungle scene with the “monkey boats” is less exciting than it is in Florida.  The music is better in Florida, and the entire scene is more enjoyable.  I also prefer the end of the show in Florida where Sorcerer Mickey is stationed high atop a mountain conducting the fireworks.  In Disneyland, he is standing on top of a building on Tom Sawyer’s Island.  The Disney World version is just more exciting and brings a more spectacular end to the entire show.

Finally, if you are going to see Fantasmic at DHS, please invest in the dining package.  You can eat your meal at one of the Table Service establishments in DHS, and then you can proceed to a special viewing area for Fantasmic.  It is a much less stressful way to view the show, especially if you hate waiting in the mob of people that forms at the entrance to the amphitheater before the show.  We enjoyed dinner at Mama Melrose’s Italian Restaurant, but there are other dining locations that participate in this program as well.  Disneyland did not have a similar plan; this park only gave the option of a dessert party of sorts.  You could pay $60 a person for a variety of snacks and desserts.  This was very overpriced, and it did not even include a meal.  We went to see the second showing of Fantasmic on a fairly crowded day at Disneyland, and we did not have a problem viewing the show.  I would not pay $60 a person just for dessert.  You can easily view the show without this special plan.

Overall, Fantasmic is a must see in Disneyland or in Disney World.  It combines all of the excitement of fireworks with the storytelling prowess for which Disney is well known.   The effects are excellent, and the performers do a spectacular job every night they perform the show.  Make sure to catch this journey into Mickey’s imagination at Disneyland or Disney’s Hollywood Studios the next time you make the trip out to one of these parks.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

Disneyland Trash Cans!

Through the Looking Glass: A Trip to the Original Magic Kingdom

            Just as Alice stepped through the looking glass to explore the world on the other side, Mark and I boarded a plane that took us to Disneyland, the original “Happiest Place on Earth.”  In preparation for the trip, we read many books and talked to others who had made the journey.  The prevailing suggestion, nay warning, from my fellow Disney fans was “don’t be disappointed! Disneyland is so small!”  Now, I know that Disneyland is much smaller than its counterpart in Florida, but I have to say that I was anything but disappointed with my trip to California’s original Magic Kingdom

            After a very long flight and then layover, then another flight, and then a shuttle ride, we finally made it to Disneyland.  I was so excited to see the place where Walt walked, a place in which you can feel Walt’s presence in all of the little details.  On our first day, we only had a few hours, so we visited DCA.  This park is full of construction walls, and it was quite difficult to navigate through all of that construction, but overall, this park was small and just a little disappointing.  There really wasn’t that much to do there.  However, we thoroughly enjoyed The Little Mermaid Ride, and I loved the ambiance of the Paradise Pier area.  After strolling around the park, we had dinner reservations at the Wine Country Trattoria, which was delicious.  Seating was outside, which would have been lovely, but it was very cold and windy that night.  We opted to eat at this restaurant because we wanted to take advantage of the World of Color Dining Package. 

            After dining, we decided to head over to ElecTRONica, which was a lot of fun.  I enjoy the TRON movies, and I really like the soundtrack and the look of TRON Legacy, so this was a must-see for me.  Sadly, we did not get to see Laserman, because his performance conflicted with World of Color.  I really want to see him on a future trip though.  We also rode the Mike and Sully Monsters Inc. Ride, which was a cute dark ride.  Eventually, we made our way back over to the World of Color area to find out where we would be standing.  We had a great view of the lagoon, and we didn’t even have to wait very long for the show to start.

            Now, I read a lot of Disney sites, and I know that World of Color is much loved, and I have even read where someone said it was just “life changing.”   Sorry to disappoint, but this show did not do it for me.  There is no original story line, and it basically is water and lights as well as Disney animated films projected on water screens.  I want original story: something interesting that makes me care and cheer for a hero.  I want large musical numbers with that “feel good” cliché Disney song.  I like that sort of thing: think Wishes or Spectromagic.  World of Color was just not my cup of tea.  The technology behind the dancing water fountains is something that is very cool, and I enjoyed seeing the show; however, I will not be running back to see it again. 

            After a night at DCA, we returned to our hotel to await the big reveal of Disneyland.  The next morning, we awoke early, boarded our shuttle, and then we quickly arrived at the Magic Kingdom.   This was a very surreal experience because I  have watched the People and Places: Disneyland show so many times.  I know what Disneyland circa 1957 looks like, but I really had no idea what a modern Disneyland would be like.  When we walked through the tunnel, it was so odd because we have been through the same tunnel in Disney World hundreds of times.  When you look to the right, there is Exposition Hall, now the Town Square Theater, but in Disneyland, there is Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.  The colors on Main Street are very different from Disney World as well.  There are more Earth tones, and the colors seem more muted in CA.  Also, the stores in Disneyland have a great deal of detail.   They are highly themed, and they are an attraction unto themselves.  Disney World’s Main Street has less of a small town feel than that of Disneyland.  After first walking in, you can’t help but notice the huge difference in size of Sleeping Beauty Castle and that of Cinderella Castle.  I have to admit, that while Sleeping Beauty Castle is charming, there is not sight as beautiful as the spires of Cinderella Castle.

            One thing that really struck me about Disneyland was the close proximity of all of the lands to one another.  In just a few steps, you could be in Adventureland or Frontierland.  We enjoyed being able to keep walking to a minimum as we explored the park.  We had two full days in Disneyland, so we had to move quickly and efficiently.  We did not want to miss anything. 

Overall, Disneyland has a beautiful Fantasyland. I could not wait to visit Mr. Toad or Casey Jr. or the Storybookland Canal boats.  Those were my favorite three rides from Fantasyland.  I also enjoyed Small World with its Christmas overlay.  Everything in Disneyland was just a little bit smaller than Disney World, but the attention to detail was definitely evident in everything from the landscapes to the delicately painted murals inside the Mr. Toad ride.  Casey Jr. was great fun, and we sat in the caboose.  We also saw the unused area that was supposed to be for the now defunct Light Magic Parade.  Fantasyland was significantly better in Disneyland than in Disney World.   However, I think that will change a bit when New Fantasyland opens in Florida later this year.

As for the rest of the park, we enjoyed the far superior Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and we also liked rowing the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes around the Rivers of America.  The Haunted Mansion Holiday was so detailed and so much fun; I wish the East Coast visitors could get to see this type of attention to detail. 

On the whole, Disneyland was excellent; it was charming.  Is it small?  Yes.  Is it still full of magic and many things to do?  Yes.  Will I go there again?  Yes.  Will I opt to go there instead of Florida? No.  I say “no” to that last question because I like the variety that Disney World offers.  I can go to EPCOT.  I can explore resort hotels; I can go to the Animal Kingdom.  I can’t do those things in Disneyland.  Also, the Disney World Resort offers more of a feel of escapism that Disneyland simply cannot offer.  The CA park is in the middle of the city, and Disney World is literally its own World.  I am far from done writing about all of the wonders that I experienced in Disneyland.  Check back for more about dining, Fantasmic, crowds, merchandise, and much more.  Until then, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

Disneyland, Here We Come!!!!

Well, the time has arrived for us to make the pilgrimage out West to the original promised land: Disneyland!  I can't wait to see how different Disneyland will be from Disney World.  I know that Disneyland is much smaller, but I am hoping to experience the charm that I hear is so palpable in Disneyland.  We have reservations for Blue Bayou and World of Color Dining.  I can't wait to see World of Color.  I have heard that it is fantastic, but I think it will be hard to give me a night show that is more moving than Fantasmic.


I am also looking forward to riding the original Pirates of the Caribbean as well as an old favorite, Mr. Toad.  Last night, I was watching the People and Places show that features Disneyland, USA.  I hope that Disneyland still retains some of the attributes that made it so ideal in the late '50s.  Of course, I cannot wait to ride the Matterhorn and see Sleeping Beauty Castle.  As beautiful as this castle will be, I know that I cannot love anything more than Cinderella Castle lit up at night or shiny in the morning dew.  Nothing could possibly be that beautiful!

Now, even though we are making a trip out to the West coast, we are still going to be in Disney World for New Year's weekend.  I can't wait to make the comparisons between the two parks.  I plan on writing a lengthy article detailing what I see as similar and different and better and worse.  Please check back for that trip report.  Until then, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

Happy Belated Birthday Walt Disney!

I just wanted to tell Walt a happy 110th birthday and say thank you for all of the dreams that you have inspired!  Keep moving forward!

Are You Game? We were! MouseAdventure 2011 World Explorers

Are you game?  That’s the question that was posed to us as we embarked on our first MouseAdventure Quest in Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 12.  Mouseplanet.com sponsors this event, and the whole point is to solve quests and respond to questions in order to compete in a scavenger hunt.  My husband and I formed a team called the Wedway Peoplemover Posse.  We even made shirts to commemorate the occasion. 

We arrived at the Studios just as the sun was peaking up, and as we parked, we were able to size up the competition.  Everyone looked very well prepared and ready to go.  We started to get a little nervous because we had only read about the event online.  However, we did have all of the necessary supplies, which included a variety of different colored pens, a clipboard, tape, a stapler, and a pencil.  We felt prepared, but when we saw our fellow competitors, our confidence was a little shaken.  These folks had all competed in previous MouseAdventures, and some had even come from California to compete in a Coast to Coast Challenge.  These teams looked very intense, and we even saw some people stretching.  Mark and I looked at each other with questioning glances; “should we be stretching? What did we get ourselves into?” 

Of course, Mark and I do not fear a challenge, and we were ready to compete, being as both of us are very competitive people.  We said that we would just compete for fun, but that idea was gone once we were five minutes into the first challenge. Before our breakfast, we had to take Troop photos and receive some of our game materials.  We were given a sash (like a Boy Scout merit badge sash) as well as some other key pieces to solving our first quests.

After gathering our materials, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast at the Backlot Express Restaurant.  We were able to chat with our fellow competitors and get a feel for what the adventure would be like.  After our conversation, we were very excited to get started.  We had been looking forward to this event since last year, when we decided that we would compete this year.  After chatting and eating, we all drew close so that we could hear the rules and any other last minute changes to the game.  Some of the rules include: no cell phone use; no asking castmembers for help; no digital camera use; no separating from your team members, except to go to the bathroom.  These are just a few of the rules; there were many more, but once we heard them all; we were ready to go!

Our games began with a “Scatter quest.” For this quest, we were given two cards that required us to search Sunset Blvd and the Streets of America in order to find words that completed fill in the blank questions.  Then, we had to count the letters in the words and use the letters to form another word.  Once we discovered the answers to each scatter, we had to return to Mouseadventure Central, which was located near Echo Lake.  After returning our cards, we received our actual game packets.  This is where the fun really began.

Once we assessed our challenges and organized our materials, it was time to decide which quest we would attempt first.  Just to give you an idea of the quests, one of the challenges was to compare pictures of celebrities with those of the metal busts in the courtyard near the Great Movie Ride.  After we compared the faces to pictures, we then had to use the names in order to solve a cipher.  Then after we solved this problem, we had to use that information in order to figure out a question.  Then, we had to use more information located in this courtyard in order to answer the question.  Each quest forced us to comb the Studios for minute details that we would have otherwise overlooked.  We ran around the park many, many times in order to find clues and answer quests. 

This adventure might sound like more work than fun, but we had a great time.  We love solving puzzles and examining the minutiae of the Disney Parks.  The cost of this event included breakfast and all of our game materials.  It was approximately $90 a person.  For some, this might be a little costly, but I think that the intricacy of planning this event and the quality of the game materials was worth the price.  As for the teams, there were about 40 teams ranging from 2-4 players.  Everyone had such a wonderful time, and this was an opportunity to meet fellow Disneyphiles like us.  As long as our schedules allow, we will definitely do this event again next year.  If you are interested in seeing the results of this event or some pictures, you can visit http://www.mouseplanet.com/9800/MouseAdventure_World_Explorers_III_Recap .

            If you are crazy for Disney and love brainteasers and puzzles, this event is definitely for you.  Be aware; this is not for the faint of heart or the casual park guest.  You have to be ready to be truly challenged if you participate.  I can’t wait until next year!  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

Preparing for the Mouse Adventure!

            Last year when we made the trek to WDW around this time, we noticed that there were several people on Animal Kingdom who seemed to be on a scavenger hunt.  We asked a pair of competitors what they were up to, and they informed us that they were doing something called a Mouse Adventure, which is a scavenger hunt that is put on by a website called Mouseplanet.  At that moment, I vowed that I would also participate in this scavenger hunt whenever it occurred again.  Well, this weekend is it! 

            My husband and I registered for the event as soon as we could, and we have been looking forward to competing for months.  Our team name is the Wedway Peoplemover Posse!  We love old school Disney, so it was a no brainer to call ourselves by this name.  We have made our t-shirts, and collected every office supply that we could possibly need: clip boards, post-it notes, pens, pencils, tape, a stapler, etc.  We want to be prepared because we are just a little competitive.  I keep telling myself that this event is just for fun, and I do not need to worry about being victorious; we’ll see how that goes! 

            The event will take place at Hollywood Studios at 7am on Saturday, November 12^th.  I don’t know what type of questions we will have or who we will meet, but I am so excited to be in my favorite place with other fellow Disneyphiles.  Luckily, we will arrive in the World on Friday morning, so we will get to experience the Food and Wine Fest before it ends.  Also, we will go to Fantasmic and try to cram in as much time at the parks as possible without interfering with the Mouse Adventure. 

            Well, I am going to finish packing, and I will let you know how it goes!  I hope we make a respectable showing.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!