Day 1

For me, no feeling on Earth compares to that of waking up – way too early in the morning – and coming to the groggy realization that the day has finally come for THE Disneyland Vacation.  This year was no exception, and while my alarm was set for 4:30 AM (!), it was the only day this year that I had no trouble jumping out of the bed. One hour later, we were out the door, and just a short while after that, breakfast (or an airport McDonald’s version of it) was served… the fairies even came out at Denver International Airport to wish us “Bon Voyage!”

The highlight of Day One?  World of Color, hands down, without a doubt.  We had a great day prior to our preferred dining reservation at Ariel’s Grotto before the show… we were even upgraded to a theme park view at the Paradise Pier Hotel (where we were, unfortunately, only spending one night), but that show topped it all.  Yes, we did have to line up in a crazy pile of people and wait, on our feet, for over an hour… but the end result?  PRICELESS.

As I’ve said before, World of Color reminds me of my beloved Fantasy Waters show, now gone, from the Disneyland Hotel. But, I really had no idea how magnificent and grandiose World of Color would really be… sitting just feet from the spray of the fountains.  It is mesmerizing and captivating.  My best tip for enjoying the show is to splurge for a preferred dining package, get to the “line” (mass of people) early, and walk really fast (read: politely sprint without having the World of Color “guards” catch you) to the front rail in the preferred dining section.  Trust me, it will be worth the wait, the cattle prodding, and the strange looks when you find your spot and do a little victory dance.

Day 2

The only other excitement that can rival waking up to go to Disneyland, is the first day you wake up at Disneyland.  As Five for Fighting said, “It’s a nice day when you wake up in Disneyland.”  Yes it is… and our second day dawned with great anticipation for what was to follow.  We actually spent a bit of the morning repacking our essentials and making the quick trip from the Paradise Pier Hotel to the Grand Californian.  No experience rivals staying at the Grand Californian, in my opinion.  If I were oh, so terribly wealthy and could live anywhere in the world, I would pick the Grand. 🙂

We got a bit of a surprise at check-in here to, as they had us booked in a room with one king bed.  When we requested to be moved to a room with two queen beds, the only option they could find was to move us to a standard room in the new DVC Villas wing with a “semi-theme park view.”  Fine with me!  Our view was actually of the back of Muloholland Madness, but we could still see Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Ariel’s Grotto, the Zephyr, and part of the pier!  In fact, at night, we could hear World of Color and see part of it! 🙂

The highlight of Day Two was meeting Tinker Bell and her friends in Pixie Hollow.  Yes, I’ve done this once before, and call me crazy, but this is an extremely magical experience for me, and I even got a special treat this time… because Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue had come out just the day before, Tink AND Vidia were appearing together in front of Tink’s teapot house.  Plus, Silvermist was still greeting fairy fans in the area just before you get to Tink.  It was wonderful.

Tink and Vidia told me lots of stories about their adventures on the mainland and even taught me how to properly drink tea at a tea party.  These memories, and the pictures that accompany them, rank as some of my favorites from any Disney trip… EVER.  It was especially lovely to have Tink and Vidia treat my mom and me like any of their other guests, even though we are slightly older. 😉  The Hollow was even decked out in full regalia from the new movie – too fun!

Coming up next Tuesday… Spending my birthday in the Land.

The season finale of Jonas LA aired tonight, and now it feels like Summer 2010 is officially over.  It was a pretty good summer actually… much better than the rest of the year, and Jonas LA might just have been my favorite part.  I know, I’m probably a little old to list Jonas as my favorite band, tv show, and crush, 😉  but it’s just so good!  I’m not completely sure, but I think being a teenager was supposed to be a lot more like that and a lot less like the years that I lived through.

Summer is all about being irreverent, carefree, maybe even a little magical.  That’s why, every Sunday night, for the past 20-some weeks, I made a point t sit down and spend 30-minutes with Nick, Joe, Kevin, Stella, and Macy.  Ahhh yes, that was time well spent.  Doesn’t everyone need 30-minutes a week to step out of reality?  Okay, okay, so I may have extended my love for all things Jonas beyond that 30-minutes… but is it really my fault that La Baby makes such a fabulous ringtone?  Or that the Jonas LA album is the perfect anthem for summer driving?  Surely you can’t fault me for spending lazy summer afternoons floating away on crisp, cool, California waves with a Jonas to be named later…  Oh, and seeing the actual Jonas clothes at the Studio 365 store at Disneyland?  Well, that was just a bonus.

Yep, it’s been a good summer spending Sundays with the Jo Bros.  I can’t believe it’s over… summer and the show that is.  It’s true, I might have even shed a tear at the end of the episode… it seems I get a little sentimental about things like this.  These are the special moments in life that are important to cherish and tuck away for a cold, snowy day a few months from now.  And, yes, I’m watching that last episode for a second time right now and have to stop just to watch Joe tell Stella he loves her… this is good tv.  That acoustic version of LA Baby at the end of the episode was pretty spectacular too. 🙂

So, here’s to summer- that it will come around again quickly – and here’s to Jonas LA… to Joe and Stella finally getting a kiss, to Macy and Nick building a great foundation, and to the city “Where dreams are made of…”  Thanks for the sweet summer memories.

When, Disney announced their new Fairies line a few years ago, the highlight of which was to be a series of computer-generated animated movies, the Disney purists squawked and I jumped for joy. 😉  Okay, yes, I do consider myself to be a bit of a purist – please don’t mess with the Disneyland Hotel, please bring back the PeopleMover, and can’t we all just remember that it was started with a mouse?  But, I was okay with tweaking Tinker Bell’s classic character for a new generation, particularly if it meant all things Tinker Bell would soon be flooding the market.

Countless books and three movies later, I’m still a fan.  It’s okay with me that Tinker Bell talks, that she has a life outside of Peter Pan – I mean what woman doesn’t deserve that?! – and that she has a whole new cast of supporting characters.  The newest film in the series, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue, delivers just as much heart-warming enjoyment as the rest.

The incorporation of new movie elements in the on-line world of Pixie Hollow

I was a bit skeptical of bringing human characters into the new world of Pixie Hollow, but Disney created such an endearing child in Lizzie, Tinker Bell’s new human friend, that I just couldn’t resist her charm.  I like that the message is simple: everyone needs a friend, believe in your children, help your friends.  I love that Vidia – the notoriously “villainous” fairy – discovers that even she needs a friend, and that the audience is fully emerged in her transformation.

At the D23 Expo last year, John Lasseter talked about wanting to maintain a hand in the production of the Tinker Bell films, I was pleased to see his name role past in the credits of the new film as “Executive Producer.”  I was pleased to hear the passion in his voice about these movies and the heart-felt message behind them.  I think Disney has done a great job with this brand and I’m excited to see what comes next.  I hope that the on-line world of Pixie Hollow maintains a permanent niche in the world wide web of Disney.  I also hope that after the proposed fourth, and last, Fairies film is released that, at least, the book series will continue.

I urge the skeptics out there to spend a little time in the video world of Pixie Hollow and discover the lessons to be learned and the beauty to be enjoyed when they are there.  So, gather a pinch of faith, trust, and pixie dust, and take a chance on this beautiful series… I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Welcome to NaBloWriMo, Rays of Disneyland style!  For those of you that aren’t familiar with NaBloWriMo, it’s a challenge to write one blog post a day, every day in the month of October… YIKES!  I’m going to do my best to keep up, so here’s the plan:

Mondays will continue my Classic Disneyland Hotel series, highlighting my favorite parts of the resort that have now slipped into Yesterland.

Tuesdays are Trip Report Tuesday, and I’ll share some great memories from my recent birthday and Destination D trip.

Wednesdays will remain Wordless, and I hope to throw some “vintage” pics into the mix.

Thursdays are sure to be spooky as I explore Halloween Festivities around Disneyland.

Fridays are still Fantasmic Five Friday, so get ready for some random Disney fun!

Saturdays and Sundays are a Disney free-for-all.  You can expect anything and everything pertaining to all things Disney.

While I figure out what I’ve gotten myself into, get ready for a fun-filled, memory-packed October at Rays of Disneyland!  Oh, and don’t forget to share your Disney Dreams over on the Disney Bucket List page!

Check out the new Disney Bucket List section of Rays of Disneyland and help us build the biggest Disney Bucket List ever!  Share your Disney dreams and accomplishments with other fans!  Have fun!

While Disneyland is celebrating its 55th Anniversary this year, when I arrive at the Happiest Place on Earth in two short weeks, I have my own milestone to celebrate.  This trip will mark 20 years of visiting Disneyland for me!  It may seem like a silly thing to keep track of, but it means the world to me.

35 Years of Magic

20 years ago, I remember sitting in my second grade desk, counting down the hours until Spring Break started and I would be setting off for my first trip to Disneyland.  While the trip got off to a rocky start… our flight was delayed hours due to snow in Colorado, and I found out on my first plane ride that I would get to enjoy air sickness for the rest of my life.  But, all the bad memories aside, I will never forget the feeling of walking up to those park gates for the very first time.  I was in awe.  In 1990, Disneyland was celebrating its 35th anniversary, so the park was decked out with all the appropriate regalia.  The giant Disney “shadowbox” that now resides in the Disneyland Hotel, was prominently placed in front of the turn-styles, and that alone was enough to keep me entertained for hours.  But, the Land was waiting on this early-entry morning, and, boy, was that a different experience from the Magic Mornings of today! [Read the rest of this entry…]

A little bit of Disneyland in my backyard with these wonderful Disneyland Roses!

Well, with airline tickets booked, hotel reservations made, and Disney tickets in hand, I finally feel like my fall trip to Disneyland is a reality. When D23 announced that they wouldn’t be holding an Expo event this year, I was pretty disappointed, but when I found out that they would be hosting a special “Destination D” tribute to Disneyland’s 55th anniversary, I was pleasantly surprised.

I had my vacation booked long before D23 announced that tickets would go on sale for the Destination D event on June 12th, and when I started to hear internet buzz that this event was limited in space and would probably sell out quickly, I panicked. What if I planned my vacation around an event that I couldn’t even get tickets too?! Well, the big day came and my feverish race to hit the “click here” button and buy my tickets was nothing less than hysterical… especially considering it is now four days later and tickets are still available 😉

So, with my highly coveted (if only by myself) tickets victoriously mine, I couldn’t be more excited for September to come. What’s more, I will be celebrating my birthday in Disneyland the day before Destination D and plan to rock the first-ever, official D23 Disneyland Scavenger Hunt the day after Destination D!

I’m really looking forward to the more intimate setting of this event, versus the crowded convention center of last year’s Expo. And, while I’m sure Johnny Depp won’t be making any surprise appearances this year, spending 2-days with Mousketeers, Imagineers, and Disney Legends sounds like just the trick to ease my melancholy mood of late.

So, here’s to the countdown! 😉

Disneyland execs recently announced that there will be a major “refurb” and update to the pool area at the Disneyland Hotel.  That’s okay, I guess.  I mean I love the Neverland Pool with its projection of Tinker Bell into the water at night and Captain Hook’s ship sitting in the center.  And, heck, I still miss the lagoon at the hotel with the paddle boats and “underwater” arcade.  However, when I learned that this “refurb” would include the removal of the waterfalls and koi ponds, I, admittedly, cried.

I grew up going to a much more elaborate Disneyland Hotel.  The Disneyland Hotel of my generation was a true destination.  Remember the Monorail Cafe? The Bonita Tower? The white sand beach surrounding the pool? And, perhaps the most memorable part of all… the Fantasy Waters show.

In the spirit of preserving my memories of the old Disneyland Hotel, this is the first of a series of posts about my favorite parts of the hotel that have slowly slipped into “Yesterland.”  First up – Fantasy Waters.

Disney’s Wonderful of Color, the new nighttime extravaganza at California Adventure, premiered a few weeks ago, and, wonderfully, Disney live-streamed the event on Ustream.  I had a “front-row” seat at my computer 🙂  And, I loved it.  Not, however, because it was big and bold.  Actually, I loved it because it reminded me of a much simpler show that was very special in my childhood… Fantasy Waters. [Read the rest of this entry…]