PrincessAuroras Weird & Freaky Time in the House of Mouse - Final Installment

[PrincessAurora]

PrincessAurora – Out of work DotCom Engineer, please give me a job before I am forced to sell crack to your kids. Kidding! Not really. Does anyone know if George Lucas is still married?

Catwoman – Television/Movie Writer Extraordinaire. Owns the largest collection of rare Dutch bottle caps known to man as well as a Roomba, Scoomba, Xbox and PS2.

In the words of the Mad Hatter “Begin at the beginning and when you get to the end…….. stop.” So that is what I will do. Catwoman and I have been best of friends for years. We went to school together back in “the day” which translates into “when dinosaurs roamed the Earth or BBSTV – Before Big Screen TVs”. At the time, she had an Annie Lennox thing going with the really short hair and the biker clothes. I have to admit I was a little afraid of her. It was all an act. She is REALLY Serena Kane and the butt kickin Catwoman persona is just an act. I mean, for crying out loud, she likes stale peeps!

Anyway, each year we celebrate our birthdays together as they are both in October (and YES I am older). Grrrrrrrrrrrrr, pretty princesses don’t like to admit that. Anyway, we were off to the original House of Mouse for a day of fun and sun. This was also the day of the “Big Game”. Which “Big Game”? Well the Michigan vs. Ohio State College Football game – GO BUCKS! – the oldest and most bitter rivalry in College ball. Can you see where this is headed? Catwoman is from the Midwest (who woulda thunk it?) and her hubbie Racer X is from Ohio. We have now all fallen under Racer X’s charismatic spell and are rooting crazily for the Ohio State Buckeyes during College Football season.

That morning as we leave Catwoman’s abode, which I call “Stately Wayne Manor”, Racer X gives her a necklace of Buckeyes (yup, you heard it – real buckeyes) to wear and rub and all sorts of male, sports, superstitious nonsense. But it doesn’t matter because we are off to the Mouse! I figure that wearing a necklace of buckeyes is no more weird than wearing my lime green DIS badge. At least her necklace worked and mine didn’t. Either that or NO DISers were in Disneyland that day or just too in awe of the Princess to say anything. Don’t just stand and stare, people pay me for that – come over and say howdy! That is free! However I will save the football talk until later. The game is going on all afternoon and Catwoman has her handheld device to monitor the score with.

Every time I go to Disneyland now, it seems that my mind is overlaid with what use to be there. The clutter free approach to the pay gates from Harbor Blvd directly into the parking lot. If you were lucky, you got to park in “Alice”, unlucky and it was “Winnie the Pooh” for you. Standing in the parking lot, waiting for the tram to pick you up and take you to the entrance of the Happiest Place on Earth.

Now that parking lot is gone and DCA sits in its place. The off ramps are different and funnel into a multi-storied behemoth of a parking structure with escalators. So very different from my first trip at 8 years old when my father made my sister and I lay down in the backseat with coats over our heads so it would be a surprise of where we were going. Nowadays it would be an Amber Alert if a cop saw that and a ticket for no seat belts/car seats. How many of you actually laid down in the BACK WINDOW of the car while it was moving? Raise your hands. How many of us are still alive? Raise your hands.

Enough of memory lane, I purchase my ticket and the cast member gives me the Resident discount. I currently live in Oakland but I did live in LA for 14 years so that counts for something. I thought it was cool that I got a little off the ticket price. It was Disney Magic! We enter the gates, suck up the holiday (pre Thanksgiving) atmosphere and decide to make a beeline to Space Mountain, get a Fast Pass and then head over to Pirates. I hadn’t gone on Space Mountain since they revamped it and the same for Pirates. I am a Pirates purist and wanted to see if the Johnny Depp/Jack Sparrow addition would make me nasty cranky.

It didn’t but I will tell you what DID make me nasty cranky – the women behind us in the boat. They talked and talked and TALKED. They wouldn’t stop talking. I was seriously considering just turning around and joining in the conversation since they were bringing us all into it but didn’t want to be a huge PMS Princess on my very first ride. I’ve never had this problem at WDW. It is also really difficult to write notes in my trip report journal in the dark with the talking cows mooing at us all. Mooooooooooooooooooo. That makes me feel a little better. I was half expecting them to tell us how Happy Cows come from California and that is why our cheese is superior.

I will say that the 3 Jack Sparrows I saw were unobtrusive. The first one in fact was one of the BEST animatronics figures I have ever seen and it did NOT take anything away from the ride. I think Walt would be OK with it. They added a “waterfall” effect with Davy Jones that was cool but lost on me since I haven’t seen Pirates 2 yet. I heard it was weak and I am just going to rent it. I was happy that my favorite ambassadors of Pirate Girl Love (Anne Bonny and Mary Reade) were still on the wall in their entire arm huggin, hippy, busty, pirate girl glory. Grrrrrrrrl Power! I felt a need to be a little radical there especially with having to deal with the chatty cathys for ¾ of the ride.

We made a clean get away with our wet bums and out into the 80-degree sunshine. These are the days I do love Southern California. We head out across the plaza and over to Snow Whites wishing well. I just love throwing quarters into it and pretending that a Prince will really come for me even though I know its all a whole bunch of bull hooky. I take a picture for a nice couple and smile at them. I’ve been bitter lately at the lack of men that are available for me, meaning (a) not gay, (b) not married, (c) not living with their parents in the basement without a car, (d) not unemployed. I think I am going to take Holy Orders and become a nun or maybe I can just join the Pirate Girl group. On the other hand, I know what a pain in the patoote women are in relationships so I don’t think that will work either. Maybe there will be some Mouse Magic in my relationship future! When you wish upon a star!!!

We head into Fantasyland after I take a peek at The Mouse heading up a marching band that is coming through the castle gates and out towards Main Street. I DO like the fact that you can still walk directly through the castle here.

I have a wild hair and drag Catwoman on the Storyland Storybook Boats. I haven’t been on these in YEARS. DECADES even. As we stand in line we talk about cheery things like relatives and earthquakes and how do skanks like Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie and the rest of those beaver flashin, dumb as dirt, need to eat a sandwich girls even manage to exist in life, let alone thrive?

But as my special reward, guess which boat we got? No really, guess…. I’ll wait…..
Yup, Aurora! How cool is that? I didn’t have to bribe the boat people or anything. We got a boy boat person which is sounding really funny as I’m typing this and not in a ha ha way. Umm, how about a male boat operator! THAT’S IT! This is Disneyland and they don’t make you swim the Storybook Channel to escape Communist Repression. That is over at Universal Studios.

They are still using the same basic ride script that I remember when I first rode this. I was eight. Now I am one hundred and eight so this is a pretty old script. My favorite part of “that really does not make sense” is the very first part. You sail into Monstros mouth – oooo scary – you know Monstro, he is the whale in Pinocchio. The boat operator talks about how the whale swallowed the little puppet boy and his geriatric creepy dad because who builds his own little boy out of wood? I’m just sayin. So Pinocchio and Geppeto build a fire to get Monstro to sneeze and here is where it gets weird. The boat dude says “And Monstro sneezed so hard he sneezed his tail right off and now we are in Storybook land!”

DUDE! OK, there is the obvious question – where is the whales tail? I mean that was a big tail, it was a big whale and the houses in Storybook land are soooo wee that a HUGE sneezed off tail would stick out like a sore thumb or a GIANT WHALE TAIL! Where is it?

Second, as a child, that was kinda scary and creepy for me. I wasn’t even thinking of the man/puppet thing as that is something to keep the parents up at night but the carnage of ripping his whole tail off was a little traumatizing. Couldn’t they have found a nice, non-violent way to get you into Storybook land? I mean this ride is geared for small ones up to 8 or so.

Most of the wee houses are the same that were around when Walt was here. They did add a very cool Agrabah area and I always liked the wee London Park and the 3 pigs houses. Now for the big question – does anyone even REMEMBER that 3 windmills short and do we care? WHY are the windmills taking up valuable real estate when they could make a wee dwarves cottage or something for PRINCESS AURORA! No one cares about the windmills. Ditch ‘em.

Well after that walk down memory lane it occurred to me that the last time I rode in the Aurora boat, I was in college and I rode with Merlin Jones aka T.H.S.O.D. If you have no idea who this is, Google him. Catwoman & I swapped Merlin stories for a bit and then decided that food was in our future. Since the food in Disneyland sucks unless you are eating at Club 33, we opt for Downtown Disney, which I recommend. This time Catwoman tells me to choose so I go for La Brea Bakery because if you can’t have Boudins sourdough bread, La Brea is the next best thing.

We sit down for a nice lunch and Catwoman pulls out her super secret Superhero/Villain device to check the score on the Ohio/Michigan game – GO BUCKS! The game is just starting so we can relax a bit.

Here is a little overview of what we ordered:

I got the Roast Beef Sandwich on Sourdough with horseradish - $12.95 with a glass of Pinio Grigiot.

Catwoman ordered the Ham & Cheese panini - $10.50 with a side of asparagus and a glass of Chianti.

Both of the sandwiches were very good as was the wine. HOWEVER, the oil and balsamic for bread dipping were nasty. They were too young and pretty much sucked. Too bad. The wine was also served WAY too cold. Remember, CELLAR TEMP everyone. Do NOT ice down wine unless it is ice wine or champagne. I ruins the flavors and is a real good way to cover up swill because everything tastes alike when it is ice cold. If you don’t believe me, drink an ice cold can of Coors. Now wait a bit until that chill is off and THEN taste it. Yup.

Well, we have a little time until our Space Mountain fastpass time. Catwoman wants to do some shopping and see a Brand New ONE OF A KIND store that just opened in DTD. I should have known this would not be good…………

NEXT TIME: How much does underwear cost, the new Space Mountain, why ice cream is scary.....

 

[disneegrl4eva]

great tr so far...looking forward to the rest...you had me cracking up at the whale tail.....

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

Another TR from the great one. As far as this SW geek knows, George Lucas is still single. Maybe you can convince him to do a new ride film for Star Tours.

I'm also gathering that the store in question is Vault 28.

 

[eatmypixiedust]

LOL! It was fun to read your trip report Can't wait to read more!

 

[tink38]

How many of you actually laid down in the BACK WINDOW of the car while it was moving? Raise your hands. How many of us are still alive? Raise your hands.

Uh. Yeah. That would be me. Great to have you writing again! Thanks for posting this on the other board. I'd have missed it otherwise.

 

[PrincessAurora]

PrincessAurora – Pretty, pretty Princess who is looking for a Prince Charming. All the better if he comes in the form of George Lucus flying the Millennium Falcon.

Catwoman – Television/Movie Writer Extraordinaire. Little Dutch girl who is often mistaken for Italian. Loves her husband, her dogs and feeding them pizzle. O wait, it’s me that likes to do that. Racer X HATES it!

After a few wrong turns we find it – Vault 28! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (those are angels singing BTW). This is the only store of its kind on Planet Earth, well at least for the time being. It is all Disney, high-end merchandise. There was the COOLEST bra & panty set with Snow White on it. It was her “scared” face from when she was running through the forest, which turns out, to be not very scary, Snow is just a wimp. Guess how much? Lets see, I get my bras at Target for $16 and my panties for about $12. A Victoria Secret bra will run about $35. This TINY bra with no padding, no underwire, no secret spy camera and average coverage panties - $100. Yup – ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for a TINY bra and panty set but its cool because it has Snow White on it. For that much money it should come with dancing boys or a pass to see the Mouse in private or something. The rest of the clothes, artwork and jewelry are in the same vein.

Now I had this REALLY COOL pair of Lulu Guinness sunglasses that I bought at Epcot in February. They were stolen in July. I hate that person. I put a curse on the glasses. I hope they are enjoying their horrible luck, non-existent sex life and social diseases. So I need new glasses. They had some Betsy Johnson glasses. http://www.ladoreboutique.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LB&Category_Code=BJ These are the ones I bought only my zippered lip shaped case is pink. Catwoman is evil! Shhh, don’t tell her! Also don’t tell Batman that she is married to Racer X either.

She enticed me into this store and tempted me with $100 panty sets and then I bought glasses. I DID get 4 Vault 28 tote bags for FREE. I’m thinking of using them as Christmas gifts, because I am cheap and have no real job. YET! I am looking! If anyone wishes to utilize my skills I also write KILLER food reviews!

We make off with our huge booty, not OUR booties that are NOT huge at all but the booty of purchases we just made. So we gather our treasures and make our way back to Space Mountain and back through security. This prompts a recollection Catwoman had of the wonderful TSA airport security in the Midwest.

I guess there is a thing in Michigan called canned bread - http://www.mainegoodies.com/gourmet/cannedbrownbread.shtml?gclid=CImblqiWkYkCFQRDYwodaU80AQ Here is an example from Maine. Now I was born and raised in California. I’ve never lived anywhere else and God willing, never will. To me, Canned Bread is a weird freak of nature, like lemurs. I would like to try it since everyone in cyberspace seems to be raving about this. Catwoman assures me that it is a staple that has achieved cult like status.

Now we all know the 3-1-1 rule at the airports now. If you don’t, leave your cave and read up on it. That is liquids are only allowed on in 3 oz. containers or less, in a 1-quart size zip lock bag and only 1 bag per passenger. There you go, 3-1-1. First we get the color-coded GrrrAnimals Terror warning system and now we get this for our shampoo. Uncle Sam, I am a loyal citizen who loves her Country and I will pay you a mound of cash if you run a background check on me, put me on the good kids list and let me go on the plane with my water and not having to take off my shoes. This Christmas I am going to Jersey (don’t ask) and I am wearing Uggs. You wear those barefoot and I REALLY don’t want to put my bare feet on that grungy carpet and………

OK, I’m sorry – back at the point. The security guys had no idea what canned bread was and they were perplexed. It didn’t look like a liquid but how do you know? They shook it gently, they cocked their heads while listening. Catwoman is smart. She would never yell, “Don’t do that! It’s C-4!!!!!!” Security guys have no sense of humor. I might, if I was drunk on tequila and doing the goat dance. (don’t ask) No I wouldn’t but its fun to think about while you are line and chuckling to yourself. After consulting with their superiors, whom also did the light shake, shake, shake, they determined it wasn’t liquid and let it go.

Now I want some canned bread!

So onwards to Space Mountain we go! I never ride Space at WDW because it has no music and makes me sick. Really. I have to sit for about 20 minutes and then eat a Mickey ice cream sandwich to feel better. The music makes the difference. I wont tell you what I usually do on this ride since this is a family board. Suffice it so say I promised Miss Catwoman that I would remain with my hands and feet inside the car at all times. BTW – in this original version you sit side by side and not what we Californians call “Matterhorn style” which always creeped me out, even as a kid. Something about sitting between someone’s legs. I won’t go there. I need some wine. Just a minute….

Alright I’m back. The ride was really pretty good. Fast, smooth, cool music, nice effects BUT there was one terrible omission. The chocolate chip cookie was gone. Poof. GONE! That is just not right!

So after we wobble off the ride, I sit down and Catwoman pulls out her secret device to talk to the Legion of Doom or the Justice League – take your pick – and finds that it’s the 2nd quarter and Ohio leads Michigan 14-7. GO BUCKS!

It seems that this year there is more drama at the “Big Game” than usual. I asked for the run down, since I am new to this Ohio State cult, and got the following information:

“The Ohio quarterback is the fav to win the Heisman Trophy this year. (Which he did by the way in a HUGE landslide), Michigan’s coach died and they are in this “Win one for the Gipper” moods which can either fire them up OR screw with their heads so bad that they make mistakes.”

O Kay. GO BUCKS!!!!!

Well now we hustle our little bee-hinds over to the Haunted Mansion to have our Annual Tim Burton fix. Since I usually only do Disneyland once a year and since its usually during the holidays, I haven’t seen a “normal” Haunted Mansion in about 4 years.

WDW does not get this makeover nor does any other park. It’s a long story involving the weird Burton guy, contracts, lawyers, etc. I am an odd duck with this ride. I REALLY like this Mansion overlay for the Holidays and I REALLY hate the movie. HATE IT! I have tried to watch it 3 or 4 times. I have TRIED to like it. I can’t.

I know Burton is all weird and artsy and freaky and stuff. I liked FrankenWeenie, Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands but this is just not right. The film is disturbing. I like Jack and Sally as characters. I love Zero. But the film is plain disturbing and if I had kids I wouldn’t let them watch it.

I explain to Catwoman about how people at DL are more interactive at the Mansion, screaming at the body, etc and how that is frowned on in Florida. Why am I boring her with this? Because…… we are invading WDW in APRIL!!! She needs to be prepared. CONSTANT VIGILLANCE! OK name that book/movie!

The ride was fun and the only thing to mar my experience was some yahoo taking flash pictures of Madame Leota in the crystal ball and blinding me. God Melly, I hope that wasn’t your beautiful bride because I did indicate that I wanted “a table for one” in the next flash picture.

We say good-bye to all our creepy new friends and head back out into the sunshine. We decide since the dole whip place does NOT have vanilla so I can’t get a swirl cone, grrrrrrrrrrrrr, that we will head over to that huge waste of real estate, DCA. There is Soarin, which is about the only thing that is worth it over there. They really should have listened to me and built a World Showcase. Sigh

As we are walking down Main Street I saw the scariest thing. Ice Cream. Well, it wasn’t ordinary ice cream but some abomination called “Fantasia” ice cream. It is a train wreck of banana / cherry / pistachio flavor.

Umm, BLECH! Not only does it have some nasty mixes of tastes but the color has to be seen to be believed. As if that wasn’t all, this little girl is licking her cone, letting her baby brother lick the cone and then licking where HE LICKED IT!!!! God, I am turning into Howard Hughes right here and now but that CREEPS ME OUT! Someone on the web with too much time on their hands came up with this:

How to make Fantasia ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery
1. sweet cream ice cream with pistachio syrup
2. banana
3. cherry pie filling
4. roasted almonds
This isn't 100% because Cold Stone doesn't have pistachio nuts. The almonds work almost as well.

Well I didn’t have time to think about that right now. We were off to DCA and the heart stopping excitment of the fruit market.

TOMORROW: THE BIG GAME, Tube Top Horrors, Monsters Inc, and what happened to the little bear.

COMING SOON: Napa Rose, Fireworks, Men wearing salmon and so much more! Be here or be Andy Dick.

 

[AJA55]

I’m so glad to hear someone disturbed by the whole Monstro thing. You know what disturbed me when I was kid? The whole concept that you could actually stay alive inside a whale’s tummy. (shudder)

I think pretty silver duct tape would look good on cows.

Never had caned brown bread?!?!?!? We always had it when camping. Yum, with or without raisins?

As usual….love your report.

 

[PrincessAurora]

Never had caned brown bread?!?!?!? We always had it when camping. Yum, with or without raisins?

As usual….love your report.

Hey - Since I've never had it I wouldn't know but usually think raisins cook into things are of the Devil. Plain out of the package are fine. Cooked raisins, cherry pie filling (not fresh cherries) and garbanzo beans are all of the devil.

OK, off to write the next part before I pour myself into bed. May be getting a touch of something.

 

[PrincessAurora]

Well we are in DCA, which is mostly deserted as usual BUT we head over to ride Soarin’ The ride is a religious experience that I never get tired of riding. Especially when you can see my house after you break through the clouds. We wait for the next go round so we can sit in the front row. Those dangly feet bug me. Gee, there sure are a lot of things that freak me out, bug me or creep me out. I would go to therapy but I am still broke. I am collecting change for WDW. Now I just need to figure how to get it to the bank because its HEAVY and I refuse to give someone part of my change money to dump it into one of those counter machines.

Catwoman is in the mood for some fruit so we head over to the fruit market. Whee. This section of DCA is about as much fun as watching the tortilla machine making tortillas at the Mission Tortilla exhibit. I mean if you REALLY want to see that, go eat at Chevy’s.

I pass on the juice since a wee half bottle is $4.50. A little girl gets a juice box and is so proud of herself that she managed to get the straw in on the first try that she does a little Happy Hamster dance. Get your minds out of the gutter!

With healthy goodies in hand, CW checks in with the League of Dooms website and finds that after halftime the score is 28-24, Ohio – GO BUCKS! Now she is starting to worry. That is mighty close and she knows that her hand device is behind in game action. Calling Racer X would do no good since he went to the local bar with Speed, Pops and Chim Chim and they are NOT picking up the phone. Spritel is home with Trixie washing all her toilets. I always hated that kid.

I start thinking about where TVs are. Hmmm, the bar in the Grand Californian? Someone’s other handheld device. Then CW gets a brilliant idea. ESPN Zone. All they have is sports and TVs and since this is the “Big Game” we should be able to catch the end of the game.

Just then a girl sporting the biggest Yoo Hoo's in the bayou walked by. I know, what does that matter? Well how it matters is that Ms. Bayou 2006 needed a little more material to her top. I wonder if she is friends with Paris and Co? Maybe a possum ate half her top. I was going to continue staring some more and wondering if parents want their kids to get an advanced education when the tube top went by. A TUBE TOP!!!

Ladies, didn’t we kill all of these after that fashion disaster called The 70’s? Not only are tube tops ugly but this gal was wearing a bra. With her tube top. Tube top, bra, straps. “Well, at least she was covered” was the best thing I could think to say. Ladies, who wears a tube top, let alone a tube top with a bra? Dim people Don’t be one of these people. Help stomp out lycra abuse in our lifetime.

Finally after some more poking, I convinced the Cat Gal to leave this place of death, contagion and un-natural sleep (Name that play) and go to ESPN Zone and watch the GAME! I love football. I don’t mind!

So we leave and just in time too. The High School Pep Rally comes by on a little float thing. What is this? It’s sad. Depressing and sad. It seems that Disney puts their B List parade performers over at DCA to give them experience for the big leagues. Now the actors themselves weren’t bad. It isn’t their fault that they are given such embarrassing material. I cheered in school. This was just sad and loud. VERY LOUD. The saddest thing was that the audience didn’t care. They were not really paying attention at all. We beat a hasty retreat.

We get over to ESPN Zone with our ever-weighty bags and see that the game is on the screens outside. It appears that all the people watching are Ohio fans due to their red colors. Ohio is still leading but Michigan is very close. Still one more quarter and its anyone’s game. This was one of the most amazing games I have seen. We head inside and watch in the sports bar where we can be a bit louder.

Well Ohio won, the crowd goes wild and back in a sports bar somewhere Pop goes sailing though a plate glass window, dripping with too much beer and Racer X is going his own studly version of the Happy Hamster Dance. CW finally gets to talk to him and tells him we saw the end of the game as well. I think they would both be kissing their digital devices if they could. Don’t tell Batman.

Well I am feeling a little funky, I have lots of cleaning to do before my Christmas trip on Wednesday and also need to finish this report. I am going to cut it short tonight so I can have some pasta with butter and garlic. Pack Carbs when you are sick. Your body needs the fuel! Then have a shot of Nyquil and have a little extra sleep. My white blood cell soldiers need the extra rest so they can kick the bacteria’s donkey.

Next time Monsters Inc, my food review from Napa Rose, “Diligently Selected Cheeses”, fireworks and Salmon men.

Cheers all!

 

[Disney owl]

Thanks for sharing

 

[PrincessAurora]

Cheers all!

Greetings all! I’m returning to the land of the living with more Disney cheer. When last we left off, Ohio had just won the Big Game – GO BUCKS! We decided to head back to DCA to ride the new ride Monsters Inc. My ex-roommate Dot did some costuming work on this ride so I wanted to ride it. I figure anything would be better than “Superstar Limo”, the uber sucky ride of grand suckness that had inhabited this space for a blessedly short period of time.

You see kids; this is what happens when you take drugs. You come up with REALLY awful ideas to waste a ton of money on and then chain people in a basement and make them build it. It was oh so funny at 2am when you were in a YooHoo and Funyins coma but in the clear light of sober day. Shudder*

Let this be a lesson to all you kids out there.

This is a typical “dark ride”. The characters and set design was better than most but it is really for kids from 3-12 and big fans of the film. You see Mike, Skully, a trashed Harry Hausens, evil Randall and everyone looking for Boo. There is a neat scene with all the doors. Nice animation for what it is. Not great, but a really good kids ride and it beats hell out of “Superstar Limo”.

OK, we rode it; we can say we rode it, now we are hungry. I will say that I was looking forward to our birthday dinner at Napa Rose. However both of us forgot our cameras so pictures are not forthcoming this time. L

We were a little early so we took a seat in the lounge. As I was perusing the menu I saw “Diligently Selected Cheeses”. This wording struck me as hilarious. I wanted to know how diligently were the cheeses selected? I believe we ordered cocktails but I am not so sure since I was so obsessed with the cheese issue.

We were seated quickly and I was anxious to see if Chef Scott could knock Chef Gray (from Citricos and now Narcooses) off his pedestal. We both ordered the chefs tasting menu.

We ordered 1 glasses of Italian Rose Regale champagne, which has a subtle sweetness, and a taste of roses. It is lovely and I thought it would pair well with our selections.

It started with an Amuse Bouche of Cauliflower tartar, with raw ahi tuna and meyer lemon. It was AMAZING! A definite A+. Catwoman and I both dried tears of joy. If this is the shape of things to come Chef Gray was goin’ down.

The Appetizer was 2 sections of Split King Crab leg on a bed of greens with pink grapefruit drizzle and a tempura avocado slice. I gave this a B+. I thought the execution was confused, the tempura avocado was just a strange pairing and since crab and avocados have a slight sweetness but are also bland they need a little kick. There was no kick forthcoming. CW gave it an A- as the avocado didn’t bother her as much.

Next was a mushroom and frisee salad with ****ake, Portobello and Chanterelle mushrooms tossed with a 20 yr old port balsamic and a leek puree. I love mushrooms! This dish was another mess. I couldn’t even finish it and usually when eating at places of this caliber, there is no food left in evidence. I gave it a B+. There was just something missing, another level. It was just a bit bland. Dear God in heaven, I am getting flashbacks to Bistro de Paris with their beautiful but bland food.

Next was a filet on a bed of pureed mash with winter root veggies. This was a lovely dish. A solid A. The steak was cooked exactly right – Medium Rare – and all the flavors worked well together.

For dessert there was a small cake with blue cheese ice cream and some syrup. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more specific. I am allergic to blue cheese so they were going to substitute vanilla. The problem was our server didn’t bring our plates and since the color of both ice creams looked the same I needed the server to make sure it wasn’t blue cheese which caused it to get a little melty in the time it took to round up my server. I hate melty ice cream. They replaced it. It was good. Not crying tears of joy but good. CW said that the blue cheese ice cream really made it so it might be more of an A for people that can eat blue cheese. A solid A-. Chef Gray is still God.

Now at one point during our dinner a large party was seated next to us. It appeared to be a celebration dinner. The older gentleman had a bottle of Fairy Tale Curvee from Iron Horse. I have heard soooooo much about this on the WDW Food Boards we did look on the wine list but it wasn’t there. They must have brought their own.

We go back to our Vintners Tasting Menu and as we are finishing our entrees and Silverado wine (the Disney vineyard), the older gentleman leans over and asks us if we would like some champagne.

Wow, not wanting to look like pigs, we sort of looked demure. His wife jumped in with "Of course they do". I said "That is very nice of you. That would be lovely." The waiter brought us two glasses that he proceeded to fill. I told him that I heard all kinds of wonderful things about this wine from the DIS Board. He said he liked hearing that because HE MAKES IT!!!!

Yup, we were talking to Mr. David Munksgard, winemaker for Iron Horse!! I found out that this wine is only available in select Disney places (Grand Floridian, Wedding Pavilion, Cruise Line) so we were so lucky to get a glass and it was soooooooooo good.

Catwoman introduced herself as a TV writer/Producer on a hit TV show and invited him to the set next time he was in town. I assured her it wasn't dorky for her to offer.

They were lovely people. They sang happy birthday to us, we sang happy birthday to his son. We made some nice Disney friends.

He gave me his card and invited me to come by the winery in Sonoma. As I live in Oakland, its about 2 hours to Iron Horse. I think there is a trip in the future!

I had intended to finish it but my intestines are still in an uproar. Good news is no more fever so back to bed with me.

Next time: Fireworks, goth girl cast member and the train because that is what you ride when you are full and exhausted.

 

[AJA55]

Aurora….I will agree with the devil garbanzo beans. But I’m afraid I will have to replace raisins with lima beans and cherries with that be-deviled goose liver!

I may have to order “diligently selected cheeses” just so I can say that and have it really mean something.

 

[PrincessAurora]

We returned to DL for the evening fireworks. We figured that we had enough time to ride the train around the park, which is what you do when you are bloated on food. We figure first train, second Fireworks and last Indy because everyone says to do big rides right before closing.

We caught the train over in Fantasyland and had a lovely conversation about my last trip to WDW with 2 lovely ladies. Its always nice to make friends whether in a restaurant or in line. We get on the train and get relax. As we pull into Tomorrowland, I think of Melly and her boys Calvin & Tommy (if you have no idea who I am talking about go to the WDW Trip Report Boards and look up 1,000 Happy Haunt and any trip report she has written). I can just picture Calvin in Autopia bump car mayhem out on the Autopia track. It was a nice moment. Mel, you really need to get away from your beautiful bride and meet us in April!

We chug onward. Now here is where it gets cool. Disneyland has the Grand Canyon and Primeval World on their train ride. It is a little old but it ROCKS and no other park has it. First you pass the Grand Canyon in all of its vista glory. The rocks are dotted with REAL animals. Yup, no animatronics here, real animals. Well they are dead but Uncle Walt had them killed and stuffed for your viewing pleasure and gee aren’t they purty! I like the skunk family best.

Next we go back in time to the Primeval World. This is all WAY before Jurassic Park but the dinos are really cool. It is all tranquil until here comes the meteor! Gee that really sucks for you Mr. T. Rex. Go Mammals! Well after that exhilarating ride, we get off the train at Main Street Station and decide to look for a place around the giant Christmas tree to watch. As we are departing, what do I see? A GOTH GIRL CAST MEMBER! I am appalled. The first thing in my head was “Go home and wash that stuff off your face”. I thought Disney had the really strict dress code but then I see a male cast member with FACIAL HAIR!!! It is just not a mustache but a beard and mustache. This is throwing off my whole Disney reality.

We watch the great fireworks show. It is just so warm and fuzzy that it really makes you feel like you can do anything and that wishes can come true. * Sniff* The snow starts falling but one of the blowers is plugged and big glops of soap foam are landing on people which is kinda funny. We high tail it over to Indy when we see this guy wearing a “pink” shirt that says “Tough men wear pink”. I turn to Catwoman and say “No they don’t and that’s salmon”. Perhaps very pale shades of Blush or Bashful (name that movie) but never bright pink and never salmon unless you live in the Bahamas. Racer X would not be caught dead in salmon.

We get to Indy and the standby line says 25 minutes so we figure that is fine and we get in line. We are sandwiched between rowdy 20somethings singing really bad drunken songs. This is a bad omen. As we make our way through the bottom part of the line I know this is not 25 minutes. We are not even in the straight area, let alone even into the temple yet. The line is stopped for awhile and then there is an announcement: “MSRE OsoufOD KDFHOIUW DHFDI DSI($# G ODOI SDFUOW MMMM SKNMSNM{ SNKNSK” or at least that is what it sounded like to me. I figure that the Legion of Doom is trying to send Catwoman a secret message or something but she looks as confused as I am.

I guess that brilliant idea of go on big rides right before the park closes is a BAD idea because 50 million other people have already heard that. So they ALL went to Indy right after fireworks, swamping the line and now it is an hour. There is no way we are waiting for an hour so as soon as we move back towards the front, we make our stealthy escape.

As we head back down Main Street, CW stops at a Churro cart to get some water for the road. A little girl has just gotten a churro and asks if I want a bite. I tell her “No thank you but that was very nice of you to offer”. Wow. Disney does turn us all into Stepford people and I love it. Can I live here all the time? We skirt the street crowds by heading through the stores and get some of the chunky soap bubble snow on us as we exit the Emporium.

Before we leave, we pause outside the firehouse and look up into the 2nd story window. That was Walt’s apartment. They have kept it the same since he died and they always keep the light burning in the window 24/7. Not only in his memory but to light his way home.

Thank you Walt for your Wonderful World. I’ll see you all in April when I take Catwoman on her first trip to WDW.

 

[spazzyjazzy]

Perhaps very pale shades of Blush or Bashful (name that movie)

STEEL MAGNOLIAS!! I love that movie.

I love your TR Reports. I am curious to know which show Catwoman works on....

 

[PrincessAurora]

I'll ask her and see if I can. Maybe I can post hints.

I am at my sisters in Joi'sey right now and reading parts of this to my Mom who is freaking out that my nephew is listening. "O no! You said dancing boys!"

Merry Mickey Christmas everyone!

 

[TwingleMum]

Great report Aurora! Come on let us guess Cat Womans job, purty please?? If you want you can PM us and the tape can self destruct in 5 seconds.... Is it on a Disney owned network????

 

[giftcard]

"Constant vigilence"?
Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire!!!!

Great trip report!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I think I am going to take Holy Orders and become a nun or maybe I can just join the Pirate Girl group.

My friend and I are starting a combination convent / pirate ship. We'll be the best nun pirates ever! Feel free to join the crew!

 

[PrincessAurora]

Wow, Pirate Nuns! I am SOOOOO up for that! AND I have the perfect pirate outfit.

Catwomans show is NOT on ABC, though she has written for Mouse shows in the past. It is on Tuesday nights, prime time and funny as all hell. Nominated for Emmys and popular with common folk and Kevin Smith fans alike.

OK, that is giving you a road map - you have to know it now.