Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #52 Clogged 2015 6 out of 10

                Clogged   2015   6 out of 10

This cartoon is all about Minnie Mouse.   The cartoons in this series that center around the different cultures of the world have in general been my less favorites of the series.  In this cartoon Minnie Mouse is in Holland and is desperately trying to save one of her flowers that is dying by giving it water from an uncooperative windmill. The cartoon centers on Minnie's efforts to get the windmill going to provide the flower with much needed water.  It had a couple of good sight gags as Minnie tries everything under the sun to save her flower.  

This cartoon can be found on Disney Channel and Disney Online

Planning a Trip to Disneyworld: Part 2 in a Series: Ranking the Disneyworld Theme Parks from a Disneyland Passholder point of view.

Each persons list will be a little different.

Everybody has there own favorites for their own reasons.

Here is my list ranking the Walt Disneyworld Theme Parks in order of which ones I'm the most excited to see.  

This list is coming from a Disneyland Annual Passholder --so that is a factor in my choices.


1.  Epcot

                                   (Picture from Pinterest) As an Adult Epcot has the most to offer.  It is basically two theme parks crammed into one.  First there is the Futureworld section which features such great things as the Living Seas  (which is better than many aquariums)  Thrills in the form of Test Track and Mission Space (for those that can stomach it).  The classic old school Epcot attractions like  Spaceship Earth, Universe of Energy and Living with the Land and the super fun DCA transplant that is Soaring Over California.    And then there is the World Showcase.   Imagine many of the cool countries of the World all around a big lake.  You could spend hours in each land taking in the cultures. Exploring the shops and tasting the food and drink of those places.  Epcot is hands down the best theme park for adults.   You could spend the day in France and England and not even feel like you are in a theme park.  With the restaurant choices in World Showcase --one could eat in a different country ever night of the week.

The Disneyland Passholder Factor: Epcot is like a whole new world to a Disneyland Passholder.   Really the only repeat attraction is the amazing Soaring Over California  --which is such a great ride that it is a bonus to have this attraction at Epcot.

2.  Animal Kingdom

                               ( Picture from Pinterest)

The last time I was at Animal Kingdom was at least 9 years ago and Expedition Everest, which looks like one of their best rides was still being built.  Even without this attraction Animal Kingdom was one of my favorite places I've ever been to.  I could literally spend the whole day on Kilimanjaro Safaris which gives you a different experience each time you ride it.  And if I got bored for some reason on this incredible ride I would go on the Indiana Jones clone  Dinosaur over and over again.   The animal exhibits are incredible and I love this place more than the World Famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal park (which I've visited many times over the years ).  If you need to cool off Kali Rapids is fun as well (even though not as fun as Grizzly River Rapids in DCA).   And then there is Everest!!  the ride I could see being built the last time I was there...    I can't wait!!!

The Disneyland Passholder Factor:  Other than It's Tough to Be a Bug  (a great 4-D show featuring A Bug's Life characters --which I actually saw at Animal Kingdom  --before A Bug's Life even came out)  --this theme park is an original.

3.  Disney Studios   

                  (Picture from Pinterest) On my first visit to Walt Disneyworld --way back in the day this theme park (then Disney-MGM Studios) was my favorite theme park.   Then it was a brand new experience and the World Showcase didn't hold the same enticement that it does today.         It had Star Tours with a cooler entrance. It had Muppets 3-D (DCA hadn't been built yet).  The Great Movie Ride and the Backlot Tram Tour (that pretty much doesn't exist anymore.    I got my picture with a sexy cut-out of Jessica Rabbit.   It had the Indiana Jones Stunt Show based on my favorite movie of All-Time and a bunch of other cool stuff I had never seen before.   Later they added Tower of Terror (the Orlando version is much better) and Rockin Rolling Rollercoaster.   I'm still totally looking forward to visiting  Disney Studios --but it is pretty much the same place I remember with the new additions being things I've seen in California.

The Disneyland Passholder Factor:  Before DCA this place was so different and unique to me.   Now many of my favorite things from this Theme Park are things that I can visit all the time. The best features at Disney Studios are at the Disneyland Resort. Toy Story Mania,  Star Tours, Tower of Terror, The Muppets 3-D and Fantasmic.   Being a Disneyland Passholder --this place is no longer as unique--but I'm sure we will still have a blast there --doing the stuff we don't have on the West Coast.


4.  The Magic Kingdom

                              (Picture from Pinterest)
           The Disneyland Passholder Factor:

For someone that has never been to Disneyland --this park will probably be there number one theme park.  It does get the biggest attendance of any theme park each year.   I grew up with Disneyland however.   I used to work at Disneyland and have been an Annual Passholder ever since.  The Magic Kingdom is the one theme park that if I had to skip one on my trip --I would have to select,  solely  based on the fact that despite being more spread out it is basically the same Theme Park as Disneyland.  Pirates at the Magic Kingdom doesn't even have drops.   Everything is just slightly different like a weird dream.   There is no Matterhorn.  There is no Indiana Jones.     I'm looking forward to seeing the things that are different here ---like Stitch's Great Escape the replacement for the much better Alien Encounters and the new Fantasyland.  I want to see all the things that aren't at Disneyland.   And the Haunted Mansion because it has some differences.

What is your ranking and why?

Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #54 Doggone Biscuits 7 out of 10

Doggone Biscuits   7 out of 10

In this cartoon Mickey Mouse is going away for a month and leaves Minnie in charge of Pluto.  Minnie can't resist giving Pluto his favorite treats that are extremely fattening despite Mickey's warning to only give him one every once in awhile.   This plot could lead to a serious discussion on obesity an the people that allow and enable their love ones to become obese ---but this is cartoon review so I'm not going to go there.    Instead what we get is a decent cartoon about Minnie trying to get Pluto back in shape before Mickey returns home early and this is no small task become Pluto looks like a beached whale.   Minnie tries everything to whip Pluto back into shape which leads to some interesting sight gags.

Mickey returns and somehow Pluto is in even better shape than when he left.  

This cartoon can be found on the Disney Channel and Disney Online.


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Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #53 Goofy's First Love 7 out of 10

Goofy's First Love 2015  7 out of 10

 The Cartoon opens with Mickey, Donald and Goofy in a diner.  Goofy has fallen in love and Mickey and Donald decide to help him be more presentable before he asks her out.   This leads to attempts to give Goofy a makeover, get him into shape and a cameo from Scrooge McDuck.   Nothing really works, but Goofy declares that he has earned a big lesson as a result of their efforts and that is that he should just be himself.   He approaches the Goofy looking waitress to profess his love and then there is a silly plot twist at the end.   It was a solid cartoon with Goofy as the main character --but not one of my favorites featuring this lovable dog. 

The cartoons can be found on the Disney Channel and Disney Online

Disney Animated Movie Review: #10 2014 Planes 7 out 10

Planes 2: Fire and Rescue  2014  7  out of 10

Dusty Crophopper finds out that he has a bad gear box that can't be replaced and has to give up his life as a Racer in this sequel to Planes.  After and accident that puts his towns airport in jeopardy unless they can find another Fire Fighter Dusty volunteers to get certified and help out.  When he goes for Firefight training he gets involved in an adventure in fighting fires with some other Planes.

Animation:

The animation is surprisingly stunning.    The visuals of this Disney Toon Studios movie was top notch and probably one of the better parts of the film.   Some the firefighting scenes are beautiful and I would recommend this film for a family movie night for the animation sequences alone.

The Story:

The Story was very average and underwhelming and probably one the weaker aspects of the film.  Unlike a Pixar movie this  spin off from Cars just seems ordinary.  It isn't a story that there was a huge demand or interest in,  which is probably why it didn't do huge numbers at the box office.   I can't imagine people watching Planes --which was extremely derivative of Cars in both story and subject matter and saying  "I hope they do a sequel where he fights fires instead of racing".   There is nothing wrong with the story...it is well paced -- it just isn't must see subject matter.

The Humor:

It had its moment and some decent jokes ---it just again wasn't on the level of Pixar's films.   I liked the voice talent used for the film like the always great Patrick Warburton.   I believe the voice talent added to the average story and made the film better. Wes Studi as the Apache Helicopter was also great.

The Music:

The Music that was used in the film was great and added a lot to the story telling again making an underwhelming story more enjoyable. Escpecially the music used during the first big fire that they try and put out.

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Planning a Trip to Disneyworld: Part 1 in a Series : Top Things I'm most excited about for this trip

Planning a trip to Disneyworld can be almost as fun as going there.
The excitement and anticipation just builds and builds as you count down to your trip.   I will be heading to Disneyworld with my wife and her kids for the first time ever in March 2015.   And being the Disney fan that I am I can't wait for them to see it.  I've personally been to Disneyworld 3 times- but my wife has never been there and I'm really excited for her take it all in and experience it.
 I'm a planner so I'm going to be doing a series of blogs about the anticipation for the trip over the next few months.   

I may Post some  Disneyworld Videos that I've watched on Youtube while making possible my to do list.  

Being a local of Southern California with an Annual Pass to Disneyland --my must see list won't be the same as someone that isn't familiar with Disneyland.  For example there is really no need to spend our time on rides that are just clones of their West Coast counterparts.   So if things like Space Mountain are not on my list that is why. 

1. Expedition Everest:   (Pictures from Pinterest)

The last time I was in Disneyworld this still being built.  So it is by far the ride or attraction I'm the most excited to go on  (even if the Yeti never works).   I can't wait to walk through the line and take a ton of pictures of this iconic ride and attraction 

2.  Kilimanjaro Safari   (Pictures from Pinterest)

This is far and away one of my favorite rides and attractions in Orlando.  I love this ride and it feels like a totally different experience ever single time you ride it.  This is one of the reasons that Animal Kingdom is my favorite park at the Disneyworld resort. You can get some amazing pictures on this ride and see something new ever time you ride it.  It is probably 15 times better than taking an actual Africa Safari.

3.  Visiting the Polynesian Resort: (Pictures from Pinterest)

My Love for Tiki is almost as big as my Love for Disney.   So a return to the Polynesian Resort is a must.    Plus I also have a Tiki Blog...and can't wait to post pictures of it.   I would stay here if we could afford to...Hopefully we can on some future trip.

4.  Tuto Gusto Wine Bar in Epcot (Pictures from Pinterest)

Ever since we saw that this place opened we knew that we had to go here and check it out.   I love Epcot and the fact that every country is like New Orleans square in Disneyland in its detail and depth.   (We also do a Wine Blog so stopping at the Italy Wine bar is a must see)

5.  Dinosaurs : The Ice Room at the T-Rex Restaurant in Downtown Disney and the Dinosaur ride at Animal Kingdom

(Pictures from Pinterest)

By the same folks that do the Rainforest Cafe... the T-Rex Restaurant looks amazing.  Who wouldn't want to eat in an ice cave.   The Ride at Animal Kingdom is basically Indiana Jones with Dinosaurs.

6.  Test Track:   Tron Style  (Pictures from Pinterest)
Test Track is a great ride and they basically just redid the whole thing to look like Tron  (without officially calling it Tron).   A must ride attraction at Epcot.   The last time I went to Epcot --the ride I was most excited about was Mission Space....Until it made me sick....Test Track was the surprise ride that I loved.

7.  Festival of the Lion King  (Pictures from Pinterest)

A must see show for anyone that love the music of this iconic Disney film.   Best thing this side of seeing the actual Broadway show.

8.  Rock'n Rollercoaster (Pictures from Pinterest)

I've only ever been on this ride once before...and I remember loving this fun indoor coaster that has a twist and a fun soundtrack

9.  Tower of Terror (Pictures from Pinterest)

Hands down this version is way better than the California version.  
The section that moves in a way an elevator shouldn't is worth admission to the park

10.  The Living Seas

The Living Seas Attraction at Epcot revivals must aquariums that you can visit.  I love this place and can't wait to check it out again.

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Disneyland Picture of the Day: Photo Fun with Chip and Dale