DDW does Disneyland! - 6/28 Complete w/ Grand Finale of WDW Food Photos!

[SRiley1985]

I'd love to see bonus pics too!

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

What an awesome report of your trip to DL and DCA! We haven't been to DLR since before the big expansion at DCA. World of Color was a new baby the last time we were there. My biggest regret was not dining at Napa Rose and after reading your review and seeing the pictures, I feel even worse about it.

Please more pictures! Space Mt. Ghost Galaxy could be my all-time favorite Disney ride!

 

[awfullybigadventure]

I would love, love, LOVE to see all the pictures! Pretty please with sugar on top!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied! I would've definitely understood if you had wanted me to skip the 'extra' lands, but I'll be sure to include them now.

And if you would've preferred skipping straight to the food, don't worry - it shouldn't be too long before the final Disneyland Park update, and the food action will pick up once we leave Disneyland.

I'm thinking about going to Disneyland next year. I'd love to see the pics!! I love your reviews and pictures!

I'm glad you're enjoying the reviews and pictures! Hopefully this resort is presenting some of the real benefits of a DLR trip (from the unique food options to the incredible history of Disneyland Park to the breathtaking enhancements at DCA).

What an awesome report of your trip to DL and DCA! We haven't been to DLR since before the big expansion at DCA. World of Color was a new baby the last time we were there. My biggest regret was not dining at Napa Rose and after reading your review and seeing the pictures, I feel even worse about it.

Please more pictures! Space Mt. Ghost Galaxy could be my all-time favorite Disney ride!

We may have gotten to see the DCA expansion (and eat at Napa Rose), but I would've loved to ride Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy! Space is already one of my favorite DL rides, but the overlay sounds perfect (and spooky enough!) for Halloween.

Clearly, the solution is that we both need to head back to DL. But in the meanwhile, I'm glad you're here and enjoying the updates!

I would love, love, LOVE to see all the pictures! Pretty please with sugar on top!

The next update (with the bonus pics) will be up later tonight.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

From the western half of the park, we made our way over to Fantasyland. It's really hard for me to compare the Fantasylands of MK and DL right now. MK's is currently receiving more attention because of New Fantasyland, which almost feels like WDW's answer to Cars Land and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

You probably weren't expecting this (or maybe you were ), but I decided to include some of my favorite pics from my New Fantasyland visit in December.

Prince Eric's Castle basically houses the same Little Mermaid ride you'll find at DCA.

Gaston's Tavern is where you can find Red's Apple Freeze from Cars Land (LeFou's Brew), cinnamon rolls from Main Street Bakery, and roasted pork shanks.

Be Our Guest Restaurant: the place where beasts roam freely and the grey stuff is delicious (if you're lucky enough to get a dinner ADR). That reminded me of this BuzzFeed article - 15 signs you're a Disney World addict.

The interior windows are so cool.

The food here gets mixed reviews, but I enjoyed the tuna niçoise salad and passion fruit cream puff. Both were excellent for quick service fare.

To my surprise, Enchanted Tales with Belle really impressed me (especially the audio-animatronics). This isn't something I'd do every trip, but I highly recommend seeing it at least once.

Even considering all of New Fantasyland, I would be hard-pressed to say MK's Fantasyland is better. DL's Fantasyland is both cohesive and well-themed - it feels like a charming Bavarian village, complete with its own Alpine peak. (More on the Matterhorn will be coming later.) MK's Fantasyland unfortunately lacks cohesion. You've got the new Tangled Toilets on one side, New Fantasyland on the other side, and in between you've got Old Fantasyland, with its relatively cheap 'tent' facades for Peter Pan, Small World, and PhilharMagic.

Another thing about DL's Fantasyland - it has more rides than MK's (even including the unopened Mine Train). DL has the Matterhorn, Casey Jr. Circus Train, five classic dark rides (Peter Pan, Snow White, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, and Mr. Toad), four classics that can be found in MK (Dumbo, Carrousel, Mad Tea Party, and "it's a small world") and the Storybook Land Canal Boats (partially shown below). In addition, a new show (Mickey and the Magical Map) just opened in DL.

"it's a small world" has a much nicer facade at Disneyland, and the ride includes Disney characters that have been subtly incorporated throughout the journey (well, most of them are subtle).

My last DL Fantasyland pic is from the Mad Tea Party (my favorite classic Fantasyland ride). Disneyland's version doesn't have a roof over it, but I actually prefer MK's for its fast-paced soundtrack (which further enhances the 'madness' of the experience).

Overall, both Fantasylands are strong and will always be iconic lands of their respective park (and from what I've heard, the Fantasyland in Disneyland Paris is the strongest anyway). However, both lands are surprisingly different, and they each offer something unique. DL's feels timeless and classic, with a festive Bavarian atmosphere and a strong lineup of attractions. MK's Fantasyland offers immersive new experiences, but parts of the land are inconsistent. It's hard for me to call a winner, so I'll say you simply have to see both.

One more thing - I might not have food pictures, but I can provide links to other places that have pictures! DL's Fantasyland has some interesting food locations, such as the new Maurice's Treats in Fantasy Faire. I'd like to try it next time, especially after reading this review from Disney Food Blog. The twists sound very tasty, as does the Boysen Apple Freeze (which seems like it might be a better balance of sweet/tart than LeFou's Brew).

 

[emmysmommy]

Your DL Fantasyland and MK Fantasyland comparison was AWESOME! MK certainly gives DL a run for the money with the new FL - especially the wonderful job they did with the Little Mermaid ride.

Did you see the low tech walk through Sleeping Beauty's castle attraction at DL? Also, one thing at DL that I wish they hadn't changed was re-designing Ariel's grotto into Pixie Hollow. Bring back the red-head! I miss Ariel with fins in the park.

You may know this... Was the original submarine ride part of Fantasyland? The Nemo submarine ride is in Tomorrowland but seems out of character there.

Again, love the update!

 

[Roma]

I am loving all your park pictures! It is making me so excited to visit later this year .

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Ah I am loving these comparisons! They are making me SO excited for Disneyland!!!! Question: the Casey Jr. Circus Train...that's for little ones, right? Isn't it hard for adults to fit on? I totally would go on, but my dad and my brother might not take too kindly to squeezing on a "kiddie train."

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Your DL Fantasyland and MK Fantasyland comparison was AWESOME! MK certainly gives DL a run for the money with the new FL - especially the wonderful job they did with the Little Mermaid ride.

Agreed that it's much harder to compare the two Fantasylands now. Before, DL's was clearly superior (and it still might be!).

Did you see the low tech walk through Sleeping Beauty's castle attraction at DL? Also, one thing at DL that I wish they hadn't changed was re-designing Ariel's grotto into Pixie Hollow. Bring back the red-head! I miss Ariel with fins in the park.

Nope, the walkthrough is another thing I missed (clearly 2-3 days isn't enough time to see everything). But I do remember seeing Ariel's Grotto several years ago - I've got some pics that I can throw in.

You may know this... Was the original submarine ride part of Fantasyland? The Nemo submarine ride is in Tomorrowland but seems out of character there.

It's an interesting story - the subs were always part of Tomorrowland. They opened in 1959 as part of a major Tomorrowland expansion that also included the monorail and...the Matterhorn! Yep, the Matterhorn was originally considered to be a Tomorrowland attraction - I bet that wasn't the answer you were expecting. But you're right - Nemo seems like an odd fit where it is, and honestly I've got some issues with Tomorrowland as it currently stands.

Again, love the update!

Thanks so much! And here are the Ariel's Grotto pics from our first trip.

I am loving all your park pictures! It is making me so excited to visit later this year .

I really hope you enjoy Disneyland! It may be small, but there's still so much to enjoy that you can't find at WDW.

Ah I am loving these comparisons! They are making me SO excited for Disneyland!!!! Question: the Casey Jr. Circus Train...that's for little ones, right? Isn't it hard for adults to fit on? I totally would go on, but my dad and my brother might not take too kindly to squeezing on a "kiddie train."

I'm sure you're going to love DL! As for the Circus Train, I didn't actually ride it, but it definitely looks like something that adults can ride (even if little kids enjoy it most). It travels through Storybook Land (like the Canal Boats), so if you decide to skip one, you can always do the other.

 

[awfullybigadventure]

Wow! I have no idea DL's Fantasyland had all those rides! I really must go now!

 

[emmysmommy]

You never let me down Mr. DDW! You have the answers! I've been watching the Behind the Scenes of Disneyland today since you have me thinking.... There's so much I don't know.

I'm looking forward to your next update.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Wow! I have no idea DL's Fantasyland had all those rides! I really must go now!

I know, it's amazing how much DL packed into a relatively small land! That's a pretty common theme throughout DL - the lands are smaller than their respective counterparts in MK, yet they still feel like they have more to see and explore.

You never let me down Mr. DDW! You have the answers! I've been watching the Behind the Scenes of Disneyland today since you have me thinking.... There's so much I don't know.

I'm looking forward to your next update.

There's always so much stuff to learn about all the Disney parks - I wish I could be this committed to non-Disney information! The next update is coming up soon, and it's full of information (but not necessarily happy info).

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Nestled behind DL's Fantasyland is another land that MK doesn't have: Mickey's Toontown. Many of you might remember that MK had a Toontown of its own (Mickey's Toontown Fair) until February 2011. However, this land never compared favorably to DL's Toontown. When MK's version opened in 1988 (as Mickey's Birthdayland), it was intended to be temporary, and it always looked that way (especially in comparison to MK's six well-established lands).

DL's Toontown, on the other hand, definitely feels like it was built to last.

The star attraction here is a wild and crazy dark ride, Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin. It's not one of my favorites, but it's still something substantial that you can only find at DL (at least when ignoring the international parks).

That's all I've got for Toontown. I didn't spend much time here, but I definitely believe DL's Toontown does its job extremely well.

And that brings me to Tomorrowland, the last land that I want to discuss in-depth. Between DL's and MK's Tomorrowlands, it's hard for me to pick a favorite...because I kind of dislike both!

Tomorrowland has always been a struggle to maintain due to its concept. It originally represented Walt's vision for the future, but the decision was made to keep updating it so the land wouldn't feel like "Yesterdayland". DL's Tomorrowland received major refurbishments in 1967 and 1998, while MK's Tomorrowland received its major refurbishment in 1994.

Let's start with MK. MK's Tomorrowland had a lot of things going for it, and that's because the 1994 refurbishment was great. This refurb changed MK's Tomorrowland into "the future that never was", a vibrant inter-galactic community inspired by science fiction writers such as Buck Rogers. Tying Tomorrowland together was the TTA, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (aka the PeopleMover), which provided narration telling you where you were (such as the Interplanetary Convention Center or Rockettower Plaza). The attractions were also somewhat unexpected, such as the Timekeeper and the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (perhaps the scariest attraction ever in MK).

The PeopleMover is still a great place to relax and enjoy the view.

You can even see Cinderella Castle from it!

The 1994 theming of Tomorrowland still exists throughout the land. I love it, and I wish all of Tomorrowland shared this aesthetic.

Eventually, the 1994 theme was diluted. More and more Disney/Pixar toons were added (Buzz Lightyear, Stitch, Monsters Inc., etc). For me, all of these toons take away from Tomorrowland's carefully-crafted theme, with the biggest offender being Stitch.

You see, I loved the attraction that Stitch replaced (Alien Encounter). It absolutely terrified me when I was 7 years old, but three years later it was the coolest thing (complete with marvelous special effects and a captivating story - a perfect fit for Tomorrowland). Stitch does nothing for me at all, and I think he ruined a unique and suspenseful MK attraction.

Then there's Space Mountain. I love Space Mountain a lot, but riding the Disneyland version in '08 largely ruined Florida's for me. MK's coaster is so rough, I'm always worried that the ride will give me whiplash. They could've fixed that by fully replacing the track (DL did this for Space Mountain from 2003-2005, and they're currently doing it for Big Thunder Mountain), but instead, MK's 9-month update focused largely on the queue area (they added simple video games to the queue - yay?).

On the bright side, I've always liked this retro Starport sign that was installed with the 2009 refurbishment.

Another bonus for MK's Tomorrowland is that Astro Orbitor is actually elevated. You'll see Disneyland's version shortly.

Overall, MK's Tomorrowland has quite a few flaws. Space Mountain has a great track layout, but the refurbishment was underwhelming compared to DL's. The 'toons' in the land somewhat bother me, especially Stitch. Carousel of Progress needs an update badly (the last scene is so outdated), and finally, the speedway area is ugly and not very futuristic. The positives, though, are the PeopleMover and elevated Astro Orbitor.

And that brings me to Disneyland. Disneyland's rocket spinner was originally elevated (just like MK's), but that changed with the 1998 update of Tomorrowland. Instead, Astro Orbitor was moved to the land's entrance, so it's quite visible from the hub.

That picture was from our first trip, and apparently the Astro Orbitor has been repainted since then (moving away from the bronze color scheme that dominated Tomorrowland in 1998; even Space Mountain was painted bronze). Still, I'm not a fan of Astro Orbitor's location, since I think it loses something by being placed at ground-level.

So what took Astro Orbitor's place in the center of Tomorrowland? It's this unusual icon called "the Observatron". Personally, I'd rather have Astro Orbitor back up there - I rarely saw this thing moving or doing anything interesting, and I think Tomorrowland could use some more kinetic energy.

Speaking of kinetic energy, guess which classic Tomorrowland attraction is missing from DL? It's...the PeopleMover! DL's PeopleMover is another casualty of the 1998 renovation. It was replaced with a cheaply made thrill ride that was constantly closed due to technical difficulties - it closed after about 2 years, leaving the former PeopleMover track empty. You can still see parts of the track across the land - it's so sad. Videos of this former attraction are available online - it's called Rocket Rods.

Fortunately, DL's Tomorrowland is full of kinetic energy in other ways. The Disneyland Railroad stops here, as does the Disneyland Monorail. You can also see the Autopia (DL's speedway) and the Finding Nemo submarines traveling nearby. Even the Matterhorn is visible from TL (as you can see in the Observatron photo).

Like the toons in MK's Tomorrowland, I don't think Nemo is a great fit. That said, at least the submarines are still operational here! (I'm not a huge fan of the attraction - it feels a bit too long, IMO, but it would be weird to see it removed permanently.)

Nemo isn't the only strange character you'll find in Tomorrowland - the land is also home to Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Captain EO, and (temporarily) an Iron Man exhibit in Innoventions! It might work better if there were more visual elements tying the whole land together, such as this mural.

That brings me to my favorite part of Tomorrowland (on either coast) - DL's Space Mountain. I just love this ride. It's not as thrilling as WDW's, but I think the ride is better in every other way.

The track is smoother. The special effects are better (such as the re-entry tunnel). The ride has a popular Halloween overlay (you know, those magical things that Disneyland always gets but WDW never gets ). Most important, though, is the on-board soundtrack. It was composed by Michael Giacchino, who's also responsible for the soundtracks of The Incredibles, Mission: Impossible III, Ratatouille, Up, and several other blockbusters and TV shows. The soundtrack is phenomenal, and it's perfectly synched to the ride (it's very reminiscent of The Incredibles!). If you want to check it out, click here.

This pic was taken from the queue in the loading area - take a look at the speakers surrounding each seat!

Space Mountain is the best part of Tomorrowland for me. In fact, I'd say DL's Tomorrowland has a stronger set of attractions than MK's. Plus, it's so cool that the monorail actually boards here and takes you directly to Downtown Disney! (If you want to ride from DTD to Tomorrowland, you'll need a valid park ticket.)

So why is it hard for me to say that DL has the winning Tomorrowland? Because I can't get over the flaws it has: the absent PeopleMover, the ground-level Astro Orbitor at the land's entrance, and (most importantly) the lack of visual cohesion. None of the other lands at DL have this problem, which is why it makes Tomorrowland stand out. On the other hand, MK's 1994 aesthetic is actually pretty cool, but I wish the land lived up to its potential with a stronger set of attractions (Stitch and Monsters Inc. don't really cut it, IMO).

Perhaps Tomorrowland will be getting some help pretty soon. I've read rumors of major enhancements coming to DL's Tomorrowland - perhaps an Iron Man attraction, or something Tron-related? If any of this materializes, then I think DL would definitely have the stronger land. Now if only they could bring back the PeopleMover...

 

[emmysmommy]

I'm on the same page as you with Tomorrowland! How is Stitch or Monsters Inc Tomorrowland at MK? And why is Nemo and Autopia in Tomorrowland at DL? (I agree that Nemo fit perfectly for the space and the use of the submarines but still...) My thoughts mirror yours. No cohesiveness, but rather a bit confusing with the selection of attractions for each land. I do love the People Mover at MK though!

The Innoventions pavilion at DL has had some great futuristic activities but then it will throw something in there that is purely sponsor pandering like the lame video games they had awhile back!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I'm on the same page as you with Tomorrowland! How is Stitch or Monsters Inc Tomorrowland at MK? And why is Nemo and Autopia in Tomorrowland at DL? (I agree that Nemo fit perfectly for the space and the use of the submarines but still...) My thoughts mirror yours. No cohesiveness, but rather a bit confusing with the selection of attractions for each land. I do love the People Mover at MK though!

The Innoventions pavilion at DL has had some great futuristic activities but then it will throw something in there that is purely sponsor pandering like the lame video games they had awhile back!

I'm so glad you understand where I'm coming from regarding Tomorrowland. It's not that I didn't have fun there - it's just that Tomorrowland is below par when compared to DL's other amazing lands (such as Adventureland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, and Main Street).

In a way, DL's Tomorrowland reminds me of the old DCA. It has lots of strong attractions, but the whole is less than the sum of its parts. Some cosmetic updates (and a PeopleMover!) would go a long way in tying the land together - and I wouldn't mind if DL lost Innoventions in exchange for something else.

 

[Quin]

While it would be nice to have more cohesive external architecture/design elements to visually tie in the 1950s vision-of-tomorrow look, I'll disagree as to the appropriateness of the various attractions. Unless you are going to create a separate 'Movie-tie-in Land', Buzz, Monsters Inc, & Stitch do belong in Tomorrowland. Technology moves so fast that without massive annual refurbs Tomorrowland can't offer multiple attractions with new/emerging technology. But one of the great remaining unknowns for the future is going to be the interaction between humans and alien civilizations, whether from other worlds (Buzz, Stitch) or other dimensions (Monsters). I have no intention of ever doing the current Stitch attraction, but I can't say that it doesn't meet the Tomorrowland theme criteria.

Autopia, of course, was part of Walt's early vision. When he was creating the original DL the concept of children being allowed to independently drive motor-powered vehicles was VERY futuristic. ESPECIALLY before they created the middle guide rail system! It would fit better in the current Tomorrowland if its design elements blended better; cars that look more like yesterday's idea of the future or personal rockets or something and a racetrack that was less Nascar and more Galactic. And whether we like it or not, the darned thing is wildly popular; kids will stand in line for hours to ride it despite the heat and the noise and the smells. Or maybe because of them.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

While it would be nice to have more cohesive external architecture/design elements to visually tie in the 1950s vision-of-tomorrow look, I'll disagree as to the appropriateness of the various attractions. Unless you are going to create a separate 'Movie-tie-in Land', Buzz, Monsters Inc, & Stitch do belong in Tomorrowland. Technology moves so fast that without massive annual refurbs Tomorrowland can't offer multiple attractions with new/emerging technology. But one of the great remaining unknowns for the future is going to be the interaction between humans and alien civilizations, whether from other worlds (Buzz, Stitch) or other dimensions (Monsters). I have no intention of ever doing the current Stitch attraction, but I can't say that it doesn't meet the Tomorrowland theme criteria.

Autopia, of course, was part of Walt's early vision. When he was creating the original DL the concept of children being allowed to independently drive motor-powered vehicles was VERY futuristic. ESPECIALLY before they created the middle guide rail system! It would fit better in the current Tomorrowland if its design elements blended better; cars that look more like yesterday's idea of the future or personal rockets or something and a racetrack that was less Nascar and more Galactic. And whether we like it or not, the darned thing is wildly popular; kids will stand in line for hours to ride it despite the heat and the noise and the smells. Or maybe because of them.

I can see why the toons are in Tomorrowland, but I still don't like all of them. Buzz is the one that I think works best, since his attraction has that nostalgic sci-fi vibe that Tomorrowland currently embodies. The Monsters show could be in Pixar Place at DHS, but at least it has an 'alternate energy' storyline that's somewhat futuristic. Stitch is just a sanitized version of Alien Encounter that was supposed to capitalize on Stitch's popularity, except the attraction lost its punch and wow factor as a result (just because they can do a character overlay, doesn't mean they should). And if Alien Encounter had to go (for being too intense), it could've been moved to DHS (as a sci-fi/horror/special effects experience). Nemo is too present-day to be in Tomorrowland, but (as previously acknowledged) at least it kept the submarines alive for a few more years. Ironically, Wall-E would be a great fit - why doesn't he have a substantial presence in the parks yet?

Tomorrowland is never going to keep up with cutting-edge technology; not even Future World at Epcot can keep up. But Disney had found a great solution with the "future that never was" that inspired MK's Tomorrowland redo. They could've kept things retro-futuristic, based on an idealized version of the future that we know won't ever exist. Instead, Tomorrowland ended up getting diluted with present-day characters. That's not changing - I just wish TL had a unifying look to tie the whole land together. This is a bigger problem at DL than MK - DL's Tomorrowland is full of clashing styles (and the lifeless PeopleMover track is a constant downer), whereas the other lands in the park appear more polished and unified. It only stands out because the other lands in the park were such a pleasure to stroll through.

Personally, I have no major issues with DL's Autopia. It's one of those attractions that makes sense for nostalgia's sake - plus, it has an interesting track layout that winds throughout the land (passing sights such as the futuristic-looking monorail). MK's Speedway (with its Nascar theme) strikes me as the bigger problem, but I'm definitely not arguing its popularity.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

After circling the park, we finally made our way back to Main Street.

My mom still wanted to get a dessert somewhere, so her eyes lit up when she saw this "bakery" sign from across the hub.

It's a Jolly Holiday (bakery) with Mary! Yep, Main Street has a Mary Poppins bakery, right where Crystal Palace would be located in the Magic Kingdom. I went in to find something my mom would like, while she enjoyed this view from the outdoor seating area:

Inside, I waited in the queue and enjoyed the various Mary Poppins details...

Here's the AllEars menu. This place offers sandwiches, salads, soups, and pastries (several of which are available at other DL locations), but I wanted to pick out something unique. As soon as I saw it, I knew what to get...

Behold, the Matterhorn Macaroon! This coconut confection is an impressive, mountain-shaped mound of flaky, buttery goodness. Complete with a snowcapped peak that seemed to be made of white chocolate (with extra coconut flakes to finish it off), this is another item that I regret not ordering for myself. Since my mom loved the pure coconut part but was less enthusiastic about the white chocolate coating, that meant I got to taste some. It was great.

This seems like a good time to discuss the Matterhorn a bit more. Originally opened in 1959, this was the first full-length steel roller coaster ever built.

The Matterhorn's age is impressive, but you can definitely feel it on the ride. This thing jerks you around even more than WDW's Space Mountain - it's more painful than thrilling, IMO. Also, I didn't like the seating layout. This ride received new bobsleds just last year, and I thought that would be a good thing. It turns out that the new bobsleds are similar to WDW's Space Mountain rockets, except the seating was even less comfortable to me. I'm not even that tall (5'10'' or 5'11''), but I think this ride would be a nightmare for people with long legs.

So for me, the Matterhorn is nicer to look at than to ride. But it's a major part of Disneyland's history (and roller coaster history in general), so I still appreciate it.

Plus, the mountain is full of secrets. Apparently there was (is?) a small basketball court inside for certain cast members! Also (this isn't a secret, but it's still pretty cool) do you see anything interesting in this Matterhorn pic?

Mountain climbers can frequently be seen scaling the Matterhorn!

Overall, we had a great time exploring Disneyland Park. The park has so many great things you can't find in MK or WDW, from attractions (Space Mountain with on-board audio, full-length Pirates, Indiana Jones Adventure, Matterhorn, Mr. Toad, Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, Roger Rabbit, etc) to food (such as Bengal Barbecue skewers, Rancho del Zocalo, Monte Cristo sandwiches, and the Matterhorn Macaroon!). The park might not be perfect, but it's pretty close to it. And as Walt once said, "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."

Next up - we head to DCA for a bite!

 

[vettegirl]

Just caught up on your review! Just got back from Hawaii, catching up on dis!

 

[CaliBear]

Just catching up. I missed a lot of great updates, and I also love the non-food pics but you have made me very, very homesick. I'm really looking forward to a trip home at Christmas.

I love that Monte Cristo sandwich you had (last trip?) but you ate it wrong! You're supposed to share the sandwich and a basket of pommes frittes. Then we can talk about decadent!

I'm actually not a fan of the Hungry Bear. I was as a child, but the last time I went I didn't care for my burger so now I tend to go for the gumbo in NOS or tomato soup and grilled cheese at Jolly Holiday. That Matterhorn macaroon looks awesome. I may have to try that!

Speaking of the Matterhorn, I'd hate for them to take it out. We always played "I spy the Matterhorn" on our trips to DL growing up. But it is the jerkiest ride ever. Every time I ride it I say "never again"- until some visiting friend wants to go and give it another try.

I have never eaten at Rancho del Zocalo since I eat Mexican food all the time at home, but I may give it a try since I've seen so many positive reviews on the boards.

Finally, I agree with you about both Tomorrowlands, but DL's Jedi Academy in TL completely pwns the one in DHS for the stage alone.

sorry for such long comments, but you gave a lot to think about! Thanks for the reviews!