When Disney Meets Star Wars: Star Wars Celebration Anaheim

When World's Collide.  

Disney meets Star Wars at the Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim.   This quick little photo blog features a few pictures from my weekend trip to Star Wars Celebration.

It looks like Disneyland has made its way across the street and invaded the Star Wars Convention.

Frozen Slave Leai has Hans Solo in Carbonite

Things are about to get a little Goofy at the Star Wars Convention now that Disney owns Star Wars.   This Goofy is from the booth Disney was promoting the upcoming Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Of course Disney XD's  amazing animated Star Wars Rebels show had a big presence at Celebration this year.  One of the highlights of the weekend was a Premiere screening of the first episode of Season 2 that filled up 3 hours early.

I was lucky enough to caught the Trailer on the big screen during the closing ceremonies  seen below

Tangled Leia

The rest of my Star Wars Convention photos will be over on my Movie page.

Part one can be found here....with more to come over the next few days

http://bradgeekness.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-star-wars-celebration-photo-blog-part.html

Ultimate Epcot: If money was no object --What would you add to Epcot: Part 1 Canada

Epcot was one of my favorite parts of our trip to Disneyworld ---but many of its attractions are feeling old and outdated (Universe of Energy --i'm talking to you)  and with Captain EO closing and the classic Norway ride making way for Frozen---it got me thinking.  What would I change at Epcot if money was no object?

 I thought this would be a fun little interactive new weekly blog where I will post my thoughts and then ask what you would like to see  "If money was no object"  Think big....Like Carsland or Harry Potter big.   I figured I would start with Canada and tell you what I would add "If money was no object".   Some of my ideas you may love----others you may absolutely hate.....  Feel free to chime in with ideas of your own and each weeks topic.

Okay so let's start with Canada.  I really wish I was an artist so that I could draw my ideas as well, but alas it wasn't meant to be.  I came up with an idea years ago for an entire Star Wars theme park that I envisioned out in Las Vegas---before Disney took over that I really wish I could just visit. Sorry I'm drifting off the subject.

Oh Yeah Canada.  Sorry Ehh!

Canada was simple.   The only Disney Property that screams Canada is Brother Bear and more specifically the two Moose characters that were voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas of SCTV fame.    Basically reprising their roles as Bob and Doug Mackenzie if they were a couple of Moose

Nothing says Canada more than SCTV and the Mackenzie Brothers (other than Hockey that is you hosers)

"So if money was no object"  I would build a version of Grizzly River Run themed to Brother Bear.  It would heavily feature the Moose characters from the movie.   Imagine if the two Moose opened a Rafting company in the Great White North?   

Grizzly River Run is a great ride and would be a welcome addition to Epcot and the often overheated Florida.   How cool would it be to have a giant mountain behind the Canada Pavilion.  The ride would be basically the same as the one in DCA.  I would make the ride longer and add an indoor dark ride section.   Think a water ride designed like Radiator Springs Racers--where it would have some rapids --then a indoor section with Animatronics characters (like Splash Mountain) and then end with the big spinning drop featured in the California version.

Here is a blog I did about Grizzly River Run ride back in 2007 for more pictures from Grizzly River Run.

http://braddisneylandblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/grizzly-river-run-photo-blog-march-2007.html

What do you think?    

What would you put in Canada to plus or add to it "If money was no object"?

Next Week I will Share my Ideas for England.....(It is going to be really expensive and somewhat controversial

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Disney's Hollywood Studios Pictures of the Week: Since it it Star Wars Celebration this Weekend in Anaheim

From my Wife's  Photography Page

http://blondepixalsphotography.com/

The Backside of AT-AT

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Exploring World Showcase at Epcot: Part 2 England

The next stop in our tour of World Showcase is England.

England has no rides or attractions unless you include the Rose and Crown Pub as an attraction which I do.    

We had dinner reservations in Italy so we didn't get a chance to eat here on this visit, but stopped at the outside beer stand to grab a nice cold Stella before touring the country.

The Rose and Crown serves typical English food like Bangers and Mash and Fish and Chips and the inside section has a cool pub vibe.  It also has outdoor seating that looks out on the lake and the other countries.  

 One of the best things about World Showcase and England  in particular is the cast members.  Strike up a conversation with a cast member and dive further in the feel of that country--because they are actually from England.   The English accent is by far my favorite and is a one of the little details that makes the countries so cool to visit.  Ordering a beer from a couple of cute English girls makes the beer taste even better. 

 

The England section has many British shops located in the stylish old English village buildings.

The stores carry everything cool from the BBC.   Monty Python, Beatles, Rolling Stones shirts and Dr. Who gear.

Sherlock Holmes

Because it was the Flower and Garden Festival England was featuring topiaries Captain Hook, Peter Pan and that infamous Croc.

If a Pint of Beer isn't your thing....The Queen's Table sells Twinings tea and British treats.

Have a spot of tea and wander through a British garden and then stop for a photo op with characters like  Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland the always delightful Mary Poppins

(Mary Poppins photo by wife at  http://blondepixalsphotography.com/) 

England also featuring a British Rock Band that plays classic rock tunes and has a quick service restaurant called the Yorkshire County Fish Company that basically serves Fish and Chips. 

UP Next we make our way to France and check something off my DisneyWorld Bucket List)

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Animal Kingdom: Picture of the Week

My pick for Animal Kingdom Picture of the Week.

This colorful food truck from Animal Kingdom

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Magic Kingdom Picture of the Week: Tomorrowland in the Distance

My Magic Kingdom Picture of the Week

Tomorrowland in the distance.

Tomorrowland looks a lot different in the Magic Kingdom than it does in Disneyland and with the extra space the park has to work with it seems like it is miles away in this photo.

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Disney Vacation Tip #3 : Don't be too much of a Clark Griswald

This weeks Disney Vacation Tip:

Don't be too much of a Clark Griswald.
Disneyworld has created an environment that is setup for the Clark Griswald's of the world.  When you go to Disneyworld you can plan your Fastpasses several months in advance online.   
And you better make your dinner reservations ahead of time or good luck getting a table at that restaurant you really want to go to.
We stopped by the Polynesian and without reservations it was pretty much quick service only for us.
Disneyland hasn't completely embraced this type of over planning yet , but I'm sure it is coming soon.

The problem with this is that it can feed into the already over planning OCD vacation goers.  Having your entire vacation planned to specific hours of the day can become more of a burden and therefore less enjoyable and make you feel like you have a gun to your head trying to stay on schedule.   

No time to stop for pictures at the Grand Canyon kids --we need to get to the world's second biggest ball of mud by 2:30pm before our Fastpass runs out.  

I'm an over planner myself and a Disneyland Passholder so I fell right into this trap.   Just like my previous advice of taking a day at the Pool --it is okay not to have to be at the park the second it opens.   That was a hard lesson to learn.  My OCD was kicking into overdrive and I was up at around 6:30 in the morning and ready to go.   I was waiting for people to wake up.  After all being a Passholder I know that the best time to get some of the big attractions in is early in the morning.  I've gone to Disneyland at opening on a Sunday morning and been able to get about 6 to 7 attractions in before the crowds and hr long queues start to happen.  The rest of the family wanted to sleep in???  We are on vacation after all.  It was a hard concept for me to grasp.  We are wasting good park time I thought.   Hell this is no longer a vacation.  It's a Quest. It's a quest for fun.

So my tip for this week is too leave the Clark Griswald that is wanting to exert itself at home and relax and enjoy your vacation. Despite Disneyworld's system that feeds into the over planner and OCD people of the world like myself.   Take it easy...  So what if you miss the world's biggest ball of mud.   (You can see that next time).  Your family doesn't need to be whistling Zip Dee Da Doo Dah out their you know what's .  Don't be such a Clark Griswald and maybe your family will have a better time.

Until next time.....See you all at Wally World  (I mean Disneyworld and Disneyland)

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