There are times during the year when I’ve been away from Disneyland for a few too many months that a strange feeling washes over me. This is the time when I start to notice the tell-tale signs that I don’t just WANT to visit the parks… no, I NEED to visit. Those of you who live far enough away from Disneyland that you only make it there a few times a year may recognize some of these distinctive symptoms…

1. Hidden Mickeys start to appear in the most mundane of places… the coffee spill on my desk, the pattern on my office building’s ceiling… well, you get the idea.
2. I can’t help myself from calling my dog names like Pooh Bear, Tinker Bell and (most appropriately) Stitch.
3. When I’m working late I keep checking my watch for 9:25, waiting for the fireworks to start.
4. During afternoon rainstorms I can’t go outside without a bright yellow poncho.
5. If it’s not a Monte Cristo, I won’t eat it.
6. I end all of my phone conversations with friends, family and customers with “Have a Magical Day…”
7. I find that it’s easier to find my clothes in the morning if they are neatly organized in my suitcase.
8. The Cast Members at the Disney Store not only know me by name, they know how many days, hours and minutes are left until I leave for my next vacation… and stop bothering them with my favorite Disneyland stories.
9. I can’t figure out why the local bus schedule doesn’t list the times for the Monorail and tram service.
10. When I’m listening to the Soarin’ Over California soundtrack, I can’t panic because I can’t remember exactly which part of California I am soaring over…

It’s funny what triggers memories in our minds… sights, smells, sounds can all recall such strong emotions and memories. For me, these are usually Disney memories… what a surprise! But, recalling some of the sweetest moments in life is a great way to get through a long day. One of my favorite feelings is when an unexpected memory pops up into an otherwise ordinary day, bringing with it a healthy dose of Pixie Dust.
The supermarket down the street from my office building sells their version of a flavored latte. While this is a far cry from that gourmet coffee most of America is addicted to (admittedly myself included), I often find myself sneaking out for an afternoon supermarket coffee break simply because the vanilla latte smells just like the Main Street Bakery.

Have a favorite Disney memory to conjure up? Share it here!

If you’ve ever tried to fit one of those large Disneyland planters or bronze statues into your suitcase after a trip to the park, you can understand the desire to have your own piece of the magic.  Well, those of us who are more than the casual Disney fan (and you know who you are…) there are some really fun ways to bring the magic home, especially in the garden.  I’ve had a lot of fun over the past few weeks cleaning out a completely overgrown plot of earth and turning it into my own Disney escape.

One of my favorite places to start browsing for great garden gear is the Disney Shopping website.  Each year they have a new and fun selection of reasonably priced garden accessories, sprinkled with a healthy dose of pixie dust.  But, the creme de la creme of my Disneyland garden is the “official” Disneyland Rose.  In 2004 Jackson & Perkins started selling the vibrant orange-pink roses bred exclusively for Disneyland.  The Disneyland Rose is a wonderful treat for any Disney fan who wants to bring home the magic.  The light, fruity fragrance and cascade of wondrous blooms seem to have fallen right off the page of a fairy tale.

Regardless of the accessories, or even the plants, the most important part of a Disney-themed garden is to add elements that remind YOU of your favorite Disneyland moments.  For me, a white bistro table harkens the patio seating at the Carnation Cafe and a wishing well bird feeder takes me straight to Snow White’s Grotto.

Have a piece of the Disney magic in your home or garden?  Share it here!

Quick Note: My favorite podcaster, Paul Barrie from A Window to the Magic, will be speaking at this year’s National Fantasy Fan Club (NFFC) National Convention in Anaheim July 15-20.  If you are attending NFFC make sure to see Paul in action.  If you weren’t planning on attending the convention but would like more information, click here.

One of my favorite memories of being a child at Disneyland is of feeding the Koi fish at the Disneyland Hotel.  This somewhat hidden treat definitely deserves to be sought out by children of all ages.  Tucked beside the Wonder Tower and Horseshoe Falls, the hotel’s Koi pond is a wonderful gem.  Twice a day, in the mornings, Cast Members open a small gate and let children (or excited adults) kneel on a wooden pier and feed handfuls of fish food to the eager Koi.  These peculiarly large “goldfish” take the food with such gusto it seems they could suck your hand right off!  Never fear, however, these gentle giants are, of course, harmless and the sensation of having their lips suctioned to your hand is not likely to be repeated.

One of my favorite aspects of Disneyland is the tiny details that are often overlooked but always a special treat when discovered.  From the meaningful stories of the windows on Main Street to the hundreds of hidden Mickeys throughout the park, it’s clear that at least a portion of the Disney Magic is in these clever details. 

As fate (or coincidence) would have it, A Window to the Magic podcast features the Indiana Jones attraction on this week’s show.  Patrick Hurd provides amazing trivia, fact and interviews on this terrific ride.  I definitely recommend checking out A Window to the Magic podcast #149 for more reasons Why I Love… Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye.  

This post is the first of what I hope will be a continuing series geared at sharing my favorite elements of the Disneyland Resort. In honor of this weekend’s much anticipated blockbuster, I’d like to take this opportunity to express Why I Love… Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

If you are an Indy fan, this is the ultimate experience… you actually get to be a part of the adventure that makes these movies what they are. As the story goes, this attraction takes place in the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, where guests only have one mission: Do Not Look Into the Eyes of Mara. As your car goes careening toward the idol herself, it is, of course, impossible not to look her in the eye, and so the adventure begins. I LOVE this ride because the effects are so amazing! At one point your ride vehicle enters a long, rather unsuspecting, corridor, only to find that it is booby-trapped with “arrows” (think the temple that leads to Indy’s sought after artifact in Raiders of the Lost Ark). The quick blasts of air that shoot out at your car are so convincing, you’ll probably find yourself ducking and jumping to miss the “shots.”

The theming on this attraction is what sets Disney apart. As you enter the queue, you know that you are entering a completely different world, removed even from the Magic Kingdom in which it resides. And yes, Indiana himself evens makes a cameo appearance in the ride. In fact, look for him three times in the temple.

Quick Tip: This attraction was actually constructed on top of the old Eeyore parking lot. In the projection room part of the queue, turn back before you exit to see a special souvenir from the old parking lot.

At the beginning of the queue, look for an actual vehicle from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade