DCA Pictures of the Day: One Bear Two Angles

One of the things I enjoy the most while hanging out at the parks is when you see something familiar from a different point of view.   The Grizzly Bear at the top of Grizzly River Run is the centerpiece at DCA and you can see it from many different angles.   Here are two interesting pictures from a our recent trip to the parks.

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Pixar Play Parade Photo Blog: Part 4 Green Army Men, Buzz Lightyear and Mater

Finishing off the Pixar Play Parade we have the Toy Story & Cars sections. 

  Leading the Toy Story Float into action are the Green Army Men.   They are scouting out the parade route to make sure it is safe for the other floats.

Following the Army men come the Little Green Men.

Then Buzz doing a flyby of the Carthay Circle

Up next the rest of the Toy Story Gang

Jessie is aiming her water canyon at you rustlers.

 Speaking of Rust:  Here comes Lightning McQueen and Mater

I think we are about to have a Zoolander moment

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Exploring World Showcase at Epcot: Part 8 : China

We have made it around the World Showcase to China.

As I mentioned before World Showcase should be an all day adventure--but since we hit Future World first we started running out of light.   As a result we got to see China at night.   The family was really dragging their feet by the time we got to China and everyone was ready to call it a night.  I guess next time I need to put the family on an endurance training schedule before our trip.  Or if we can have a schedule that wasn't back end loaded with Cheer Comps so we didn't have to try and do 4 parks in 4 days--they may have held up better.

The main attraction in China is the Circle Vision 3-D film Reflections of China--which used to be in Disneyland back in the day.  It is a good film that shows you some interesting footage of the country --but it is an old film and could probably use an updated version or perhaps my suggestion in the upcoming Ultimate Epcot post.

The Main structural feature in China is this replica of the Temple of Heaven.

China also features shops like all the other countries -where you can delve deeper into the culture.  And as entertainment throughout the day they have entertaining acrobats.

We were all tired -but not too tired for a little silliness.

China features two restaurants:   The first restaurant the Nine Dragons -which is a full service restaurant is considered by many Disney World guest to be one of the most disappointing restaurants in World Showcase.  I've never personally dined there on any of my trips so -I can't confirm nor deny that opinion. The other restaurant is the Lotus Blossum Cafe ---which I've heard good things about.  That is a quick service restaurant that serves American style Chinese food.

Up next ---my thoughts on Ultimate Epcot " If money was not a concern " what should be added to China.

Check out Part 2 of our Disney Discussion on our Podcast

http://www.superfantasticterrific.com/super-fantastic-terrific-show-10-disneyland-fun-and-star-wars-news/

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Disneyland vs Disneyworld: The Castle Battle

Castle Battle: Sleeping Beauty vs Cinderella

Photo by  my Wife @

http://blondepixalsphotography.com/

I’m a Disneyland Pass holder so if you have noticed I’ve trended in the direction of the California parks in this attraction battles so far.

This battle in my opinion there is a clear winner.   
Let’s take a look at the two castles.

Sleeping Beauty’s Castle:

Disneyland’s Castle is a total icon.   It is the first Castle and one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.  Disneyland’s castle uses forced perspective to make it look further away as you enter the park.  It is a scaled down version of a castle.  The castle opened in 1955 and was inspired by an actual castle in France.

Cinderella’s Castle:

 When you have grown up visiting Disneyland’s castle and see the one at Disneyworld for the first time it is a shocking site.  Disneyworld’s Castle is well a Castle.  They had a lot more space when they built this castle and this time they went for wow factor.  This castle is over 100 feet taller than its counterpart in Disneyland.

Photo by  my Wife @

http://blondepixalsphotography.com/

Disneyland’s castle has a walk through Sleeping Beauty attraction that features dioramas like those seen in the windows on Main Street – that tells the story of Sleeping Beauty.

Disneyworld’s castle has a restaurant and a dream suite.
That is right people have actually been lucky enough to stay in 
Disneyworld’s Castle.

The Restaurant -known as Cinderella’s Royal Table is located on the second floor of the castle.   I ate there over 15 years ago and it was a really cool experience that should be done on one of your visits to the park --if only so you can say you ate in the castle.

The Winner:  Cinderella’s Castle

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http://blondepixalsphotography.com/

So despite being an icon Disneyland’s castle can’t handle a candle to Disneyworld’s.  I guess Sleeping Beauty married the wrong Prince

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Nostalgia vs Cheesiness: A look at the Universe of Energy in Epcot

I’m a Disney fanatic (otherwise I wouldn’t be blogging about).  

So I hold a lot of things in the parks dear to my heart and view them fondly with a nostalgic reverence.

When I visited Epcot in the spring with my wife and her kids it was interesting to see things through someone else’s eyes.  One of the kids wanted to see Captain EO at the Imagination Pavilion.  I love Captain EO.  I fondly remember going to see it back at Disneyland until it was replaced by Honey I Shrunk the Audience.   I remember being excited to see it again when it returned to Disneyland after Michael Jackson’s death.     So when one of the kids’s wanted to see it—I was all in.   As we left the ride my wife turns to me and just said “That is so cheesy”.      For me it is a classic attraction.  A Nostalgic gem.   She didn’t have memories of Captain EO in that way –so for her it was just a cheesy 80’s music video.   (Blasphemy)

Well after this we were going to head into World Showcase –but one of the kid’s wanted to see Universe of Energy (I guess I made it sound better than it is).   I remember liking Ellen’s Universe of Energy 15 years ago.   I remember thinking it was funny and entertaining.   After we went on this attraction I guess my memories were just misplaced Nostalgia.   The Universe of Energy hasn’t aged well.   I could have not even mentioned it and taken the family directly into World Showcase and we could have had more time there –instead I feel like we wasted time on an outdated attraction.   I think Disney knows it is outdated as well.  In fact they pretty much warn you before you go on the ride –letting you know that it is a 40 plus minute attraction.   (Yikes –we should have run for the hills).    The ride wasn’t funny to me anymore—it just seemed super long and dull.  The one section that I remember the most with the Dinosaurs was still decent –but you basically see the same thing that you see on Disneyland Railroad in California –with about half the scenes not included.  It was kind of a cheesy waste of time now.  I remember it being so much better. 

I know that many Disney fans get their panties in a bunch whenever an old ride is scheduled to be replaced.  Look at how upset many people were when Maelstrom closed.  Maelstrom was fun –but it was old and maybe a Frozen update of that ride will be a good thing.   Aside from my Ultimate Epcot discussions on how you could improve Epcot “If money was no object”   --maybe Universe of Energy just needs to replaced with anything better and more entertaining.  

Is this ride a Nostalgic ride for you---or is it just old and cheesy?

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