Even though San Fransokyo Square is technically a new land in California Adventure, the blueprint is obviously quite familiar to longtime park visitors. Visiting the square is like seeing a friend who’s gone through some major life changes; you know them, but you keep noticing little differences everywhere. Each time I walk through the square, […] Read more…
I’m back again with another round of snapshots! Thanks so much to those who keep reaching out to share how much you enjoy this series. I love it too – it’s really fun to dig through my library and rediscover photos I haven’t used in blog posts. Let’s see what I found this go around. […] Read more…
I think it’s safe to say for most of us, this year has been a lot. For me, that’s definitely true. A grandparent’s funeral, a close friend’s wedding, a 460 mile move, travel to new places, and a new role within my same work team…it’s been great and terrible at the same time. But in […] Read more…
For me, ride storytelling starts long before you hop into a vehicle. Each room/area of a queue has the opportunity to immerse you in whatever world you’re entering, sharing details you actually have time to absorb while you’re standing around waiting for your turn. One of the rides that had a long, elaborate queue to […] Read more…
Happy trunk or treat! (Or if you’re not in Cars Land at the moment, happy Halloween!) The candy supply is running low, Oogie Boogie’s tired, and the castle rooftop is ready for snow. But today, let’s savor the last moments of this year’s Halloween season with a quick look back at some spooky decor throughout […] Read more…
As I was organizing some folders on my computer recently, I realized it has been a while since I shared some snapshots! To refresh your memory (or for anyone who’s new here), from time to time I like to share photos I’ve taken that won’t necessarily fit into a blog post; I just think they’re […] Read more…
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been hearing there are a lot of interesting things going on at the Worldwide Engineering Brigade (WEB). They’re having an open house today at their Avengers Campus location…should we stop by? Our tour of the facility starts in the courtyard. This whole building houses a program funded by […] Read more…
California Adventure 1.0 was a little confusing. There were big, clearly defined lands, like Paradise Pier and Sunshine Plaza. And then there were weird, little lands that were sometimes referred to as their own thing, and sometimes referred to as part of the larger “Golden State” region. Golden State was the most “California” part of […] Read more…
This summer has been HOT. With long heat waves, one of the resort’s two water-based thrill rides under construction, and much of Downtown Disney‘s shaded bar space behind walls, it was hard to get much of a break from the brutal California sun. But even with the high temps, the Disneyland Resort was shining with […] Read more…
My favorite roller coaster in Disneyland is Space Mountain, without a doubt. I love whirling around in the dark, feeling like you’re going faster and faster as the turns get tighter. But before boarding a rocket ship, Space Mountain riders go through a large and winding queue, with some interesting views along the way. Let’s […] Read more…
Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion. We’ve been invited by a ghost host to tour this mysterious estate in New Orleans Square. Shall we enter the gates? Our tour beings in the gardens. There’s a strange organization here; despite the mansion long being abandoned, the exterior and landscaping are in pristine condition. Apparently a […] Read more…
Pixar Pier is one of those instances where Disneyland didn’t exactly design from the ground up. Instead, Paradise Pier broke apart, with the boardwalk area getting some new coloring and details – but the bones were there. That’s largely why so much of the concept art is remarkably accurate compared to most imagery we see […] Read more…
Some queues in Disneyland are brutally boring; weaving back and forth in close proximity with absolutely nothing to look at. Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin is not one of them. Let’s take a walk through downtown Toontown. First, our tour takes us down the avenue. There are so many cute doorways with colorful front lights […] Read more…
With the weather heating up and the California rainy season finally coming to an end, I’ve got summer on the brain. I’m so ready for beach afternoons and mudslides! But springtime is pretty magical at Disneyland too, with flowers of every color blooming and warmth before the sweltering heat sets in. If you’ve got a […] Read more…