August 28, 2013

Wednesdays with Walt : Tiki Tiki Tiki Realms Celebrating 50 Years of Enchantment at the Disney Gallery

As long as I can remember one of my favorite Disneyland traditions has been visiting Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland. In fact, I visit Jose and the crew at least once during each of my trips to Disneyland and I can't really imagine Disneyland without them. The amazingly catchy music created just for the occasion by the Sherman Brothers only adds to the magic and it is no surprise to me that it has lasted fifty years as a sentimental favorite among those of us who love Disneyland. As this slide show explains, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room has a rich history and much to celebrate. So, the next time you are at Disneyland be sure to stop by for a visit. Grab a Dole Whip and sing along with the birds. And don't forget - it is a great place to cool off on a hot day or to rest your feet. One more thing... If you can, stop by when Tiki Maynard is in. You'll be glad you did. 

The Tiki Tiki Tiki Realms Celebrating 50 Years of Enchantment exhibit can currently be seen in the new Disney Gallery location inside the Disneyland Story and special merchandise is also currently available for purchase, including impressive artwork and great Shag items such as handbags, coasters and pin sets.

Unknown Artist
Herb Ryman
John Hench
Colin Campbell
Marc Davis
Marc Davis
Colin Campbell
Rolly Crump
Colin Campbell
Marc Davis

Jim Michaelson

And, here is a peek at the merchandise available in the Disney Gallery... 

The Bird Sing by Shag ($325)
Pele and Petey by Shag ($3,500)
Mystical Tikis by Jimmy Pickering ($300)
In The Tiki Room by Doug Horne ($300)
Pele Goddess of Fire and Volcanoes by Doug Horne ($300)



August 21, 2013

Wednesdays with Walt : Everyone Loves A Parade! (Full Videos)

Street parades have been a beloved Disneyland tradition since Opening Day. In fact, the most vivid memories I have of my first visit to Disneyland in 1986 (as a nine year old girl) are mostly of watching the Totally Minnie daytime parade and my favorite parade, the Main Street Electrical Parade, later that evening. While I know that parade time is an awesome time to enjoy the rest of the parks, I never let a trip to Disneyland go by without seeing a parade go down Main Street USA.

This summer the Disneyland Resort is offering two major parade experiences:

In Disneyland park guests can currently enjoy the sights and sounds of Mickey's Soundsational Parade. This memorable and festive parade begins with a drumming Mickey Mouse and continues with beloved characters from such unforgettable Disney classics as Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Three Caballeros, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, The Lion King, Jungle Book, Tarzan, The Princess and the Frog, Peter Pan and Mary Poppins. My favorite parts of the Mickey's Soundsational Parade are Mickey and Minnie's grand entrance to the "Mickey Mouse Club March" and Mary and Bert riding bicycle carousel horses alongside energetic chimney sweeps as they sing and dance to "Step In Time". It is approximately 18 minutes long and can be seen on a parade route which travels from it's a small world to Town Square. 

In Disney California Adventure park guests can experience the very playful and fun Pixar Play Parade. The current version of this popular Pixar parade starts off with Sully and some of his monstrous friends from Monsters University and continues with memorable characters from the Incredibles, Finding Nemo, A Bug's Life, Toy Story and Cars. The parade ends with Mater helping out cast members with a little extra crowd control. My son and I both really love this parade as huge Pixar fans, especially during the hotter summer months when being squirted with water is a welcomed surprise. Past versions of this parade have also included brothers Remy and Emile from Pixar's Ratatouille and the very popular Lightning McQueen from Cars and Cars 2. The parade lasts approximately 14 minutes.

The two videos below were filmed on August 12, 2013 for My Adventures in Disneyland and include both Disneyland Resort parades in their entirety. Enjoy!