Author: Jennifer Hall

There is so much going on at Disneyland right now….

We all know that Walt Disney World is a pretty awesome place with four parks, two water parks and over 25 Disney resort options.  There is lots to do and see and experience!

With that being said, Disneyland is pretty awesome right now as well!  We even have a few new experiences that Walt Disney World doesn’t have!  So I decided that I would write a little bit about what I know from experience at Disneyland and what I’m looking forward to for the remainder of 2017!

Max Pass is a GO!

The Disneyland resort launched MaxPass in July (much to the dismay of many California residents) and I LOVE IT!

MaxPass is an electronic fast pass system based in the Disneyland mobile app.  Visitors can pay a $10 per person per day fee and have access to fast pass availability on their smart phones. Disneyland still offers the kiosk fast pass option with the cards as they have done in the past, but now fast passes are linked to your park ticket and the kiosk cards are just a reminder of the time.  Unlike Walt Disney World, where you can choose up to three in advance, MaxPass only allows one choice every 90 minutes.

     

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re a Disneyland Annual Passholder with a signature pass level or higher, the best news is that it’s all free for you!  Have you experienced MaxPass?  What do you think of it?

I helped free the Guardians of The Galaxy from the Collector’s museum!

You say Tower of Terror and I say Tower of what? Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout opened in May of this year and IT’S AWESOME! The plot behind the attraction is you helping Rocket rescue the Guardians of the Galaxy from the collector’s collection.  While the ride experience is the same as Tower of Terror, the queue is all new and there is a ton of production behind the story line.  There are 6 different production which you can experience if you’re willing to wait in multiple lines.  Get ready to rock out with Rocket and help him out because his hands don’t scan! Check out the video of the pre-show.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c32Mt6oEB8

(Photo via Mouseplanet)

Want more awesomeness? They have added a whole new production for the Halloween season called Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark! Find out what happens when the other “collections” go loose in Tivan’s gallery!  I’ve done it but I’ve promised Rocket I’ll keep it quiet until all of the guardians are safely out of the building.

RunDisney came back in a BIG way!

If you have read some of our previous articles, then you might know that the Neverland Press team are big fans of RunDisney. With the disappointing Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend race experience and the lack of information regarding the 2018 Star Wars – Light Side race weekend, it had appeared that Run Disney west coast was about to crash and burn. So I was a little skeptical of what was going to happen during the Disneyland half weekend. While there is no official word on Light Side yet (as of 10/13/17), the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

This year, RunDisney decided to celebrate Pixar with an Incredibles themed 5k, a Monsters University 10k and a Toy Story themed half marathon.  As big fan of the Toy Story franchise, I was in heaven.

During the Tinkerbell half weekend, RunDisney decided to cut the character stops or turn them into “selfie stops”.  Naturally this caused an uproar with the runners, so they added a few as the weekend went on during each race.  During the Disneyland half weekend, the character interactions were everywhere!  From Pixar Play parade floats and dancers to Mike, Sully, Roz photo stops and Toy Story characters, great courses and even a run through Angel’s Stadium, the spirit of Pixar was everywhere!

The weather left a lot to be desired with extremely hot temperatures all weekend and even moving to “red flag” status during the half marathon (which is one step shy of cancelling the race) as the morning got hotter. But from the expo to the medals to the awesome announcing team (with amazing costumes this year I might add), we all had an amazing time and this will go down as probably my second favorite RunDisney event.

Our fabulous race announcer Andrea Kooiman!
Team Shenanigans celebrates an amazing weekend!

This is Halloween, this is Disneyland Halloween!

Twas the nightmare before Christmas and all throughout the house, not a creature was peaceful… not even a mouse!

Sorry Florida!  Haunted Mansion Holiday belongs to California (and Tokyo) and it’s BEAUTIFUL!! Since 2001, each year as we approach Halloween, Disneyland dramatically transforms the Haunted Mansion into a Christmas wonderland for Jack Skellington and tells the tale of Sandy Claws!

From a distance, it’s difficult to tell that there has been an overlay added to the regular Haunted Mansion attraction.  But when you get close to the mansion and see the exterior décor and interior sets that have been replaced, it’s like an entirely new attraction!  There is even an entirely different queue which sets the tone for Jack’s adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every aspect of the Nightmare Before Christmas story line is included in some form on the attraction.  Sally, Zero and even Oogie Boogie make a few appearances. One of my favorite parts of the ride is the ballroom scene.  They add a gingerbread scent as your doom buggy passes over the joyous holiday chaos happening below and the one of a kind gingerbread house on the center table.

(Photo courtesy of the Disneyparks Blog)

   

The Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction will be open in Disneyland until very early January 2018!

Well that’s all folks!  Stay tuned to part 2 of my Disneyland update to see what’s happening over at Space Mountain and how Cars land and California Adventure celebrates Halloween!  Oh yeah.. Christmas season is coming too!!  I’m so excited!

My (very first) D23 Expo Adventure!

I have to admit.  When I began to plan this blog post, I had a completely different direction was going to go in.  But after my first visit to the D23 expo this weekend, the direction has changed.

I’ll just get it out of the way now and let you know that my experience didn’t go the way I had hoped it would. Maybe I did it wrong? I dunno. I’m hoping the readers of this blog can help me figure it out.

If you haven’t been to the D23 Expo, its held every other year in Anaheim, CA at the convention center.  It’s the ultimate Disney fan event.  D23 is the official Disney fan club. It began in 2009 and has blossomed into a massive group of Disney enthusiasts. Membership is required and open to anyone. They offer different levels of memberships – some of which cost money.  Since I live in southern California now, and because I’m a member, it was a no brainer – I needed to go.

I’ll admit – with a hectic schedule, the only day I could go for sure was Sunday. I figured that it would be a little less crowded and I’d have more opportunity to experience the expo.

Photo courtesy of InsidetheMagic.net

The entire weekend is filled with all things Disney from Pixar to Star Wars and everything Disney pop culture related.  Set up of the “exhibits” are done big and exceed most “comic con” events in my opinion.  There are celebrity signings, animation and event panels, concerts and shopping options. Sunday couldn’t come fast enough!

Let me take a quick step back and give you some of the awesomeness (announcements) that came out of the Disney parks panel event that occurred on Sunday.  These announcements only fueled my excitement for Sunday’s adventure!  I think we can all admit that we LOVE Disney parks and the changes (some of which have been in the works already) are very exciting.  USAtoday.com did a great job at laying out all of the announcements. (https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2017/07/18/disney-parks-d-23-expo-announcements-new-rides/489404001/)

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
We’ve known for a while that new 14-acre Star Wars-themed lands would be coming to both Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. The expo revealed models of the highly anticipated lands and more details, including that they would be named Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Both will open in 2019, with the California version debuting first. Visitors will be able to interact with characters such as Kylo Ren and BB-8, dine at the Cantina, and otherwise geek out in the highly immersive, sci-fi havens.

Star Wars-themed hotel
For those who just can’t get enough of the galaxy far, far away, Disney World visitors will soon be able to sleep among wookies and Jedi knights. Calling it Disney’s “most experiential concept ever,” Chapek announced that a new Star Wars-themed luxury resort will invite guests on a multi-day voyage aboard a starship. Every window, the parks chairman promised, will have a view of space.

Epcot makeover
Epcot, which opened in 1982 and has been showing its age, will be getting a lot of Imagineering love. In its initial inception, the park struck a serious tone and had an edutainment focus geared largely to adults. The company plans to continue injecting more whimsy into Epcot.

  • Guardians of the Galaxy attraction
    A new E-Ticket attraction based on the popular Marvel franchise will take over Ellen’s Energy Adventure in the former Universe of Energy pavilion.
  • Ratatouille attraction
    Coming to the France pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase, the new ride will be based on the popular Disneyland Paris attraction. That 4D ride shrinks visitors down to the size of Remy, the gourmet chef who happens to be a rat, and sends them on an adventure using sophisticated trackless vehicles.
  • New mission for Mission: Space
    In addition to sending passengers on a mission to Mars (which will be getting new media), the Epcot attraction will offer a toned-down experience that will take guests on an orbital adventure above Earth. Younger kids will be able to blast off on the revamped ride, which will reopen later this summer.
  • Space-themed restaurant
    Next to Mission: Space, Epcot will be adding a table-service restaurant that will transport diners to a space station high above Earth. It promises to have great views.
  • New film for the China pavilion
    A new in-the-round movie about China will be presented at Epcot’s pavilion. It will use a new digital “Circle-Vision 360” film and projection system that will replace the circular theater’s multiple screens with one seamless screen and image.Magic Kingdom Additions
  •  Tron ride
    Next to the Star Wars-themed hotel, perhaps the most exciting new announcement made at the D23 Expo was about the Tron attraction coming to Tomorrowland in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. It will be based on Shanghai Disneyland’s Tron Lightcycle Power Run, which is arguably Disney’s most intense and best themed roller coaster. Using cycle-like cars, launched trains will blast riders into the videogame-like “Grid” of the films.
  • New theater and show
    The Magic Kingdom will also be getting a new live show in a theater that will be based on an early 20th-century Kansas City playhouse. Located on Main Street, U.S.A., it will complement the area’s architecture and theme, which is tied to Walt Disney’s boyhood town.Hollywood Studios Additions
  • Toy Story Land
    In addition to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge coming in 2019, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open Toy Story Land in summer 2018. Capitalizing on the existing Toy Story Mania attraction, the land will invite visitors into Andy’s backyard for adventures among his playthings. It will include a new Alien Swirling Saucers ride featuring the green aliens from the movies.
  • Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
    The curtain will come down on The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In its place at the park’s centerpiece Chinese Theatre will be a new ride-through attraction based on the hip, retro-style Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts broadcast on the Disney Channel.According to Walt Disney Imagineering’s Kevin Rafferty, the E-Ticket ride will feature a “sing-able and lovable theme song” and will be presented in “2-and-a-half-D.” The breakthrough concept will present dimensional media without the need for 3-D glasses. He adds that passengers will step into the flat movie screen and onto a train – presumably a runaway locomotive – that will be operated by Goofy.
  • Disney Riviera Resort
    A new Disney World hotel will be part of Disney Vacation Club, the company’s membership-based vacation ownership program. It will be located near Epcot.
  • Disney Skyliner gondolas
    Moving visitors around the vast property has always been a challenge for Disney World. Instead of expanding the monorail system to address the need for more capacity, the resort is building a gondola system. It will connect Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios with some of the hotels near those parks (including the new Disney Riviera).Minnie Van service
    Another new transportation option will move Disney World guests from door to door using “Minnie Vans” (great name!). They will use an Uber-like ride-hailing service.Disneyland Resort Additions/Changes 
  • Marvel Land
    The Guardians of the Galaxy ride that recently opened at Disney California Adventure will expand into a full-fledged Marvel Land. Chapek said that attractions based on The Avengers and Spider-Man will be part of the superhero mix.
  • Pixar Pier
    With Cars Land, A Bug’s Land, and Turtle Talk with Crush, Pixar has long been prominently represented at Disney California Adventure. Soon, Paradise Pier, which is already home to Toy Story Midway Mania, will be transformed into Pixar Pier. The Incredibles and Inside Out will be added to the mix at the “seaside” boardwalk.
  • Pixar Fest
    In 2018, Disneyland Resort will celebrate Pixar Fest. Disneyland Park will feature the returning Pixar Play Parade and a Pixar-themed fireworks and projection show, while Disney California Adventure will bring back the Paint the Night Parade.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see Toy Story land and the Skyliner system!

Ok, Back to my Sunday adventure…

I met up with fellow Disney enthusiast and friend Dave Koch  He is one of the hosts of the Mickey Dudes Podcast.  He was in for all 3 days and was lucky enough to attend the massive parks panel on Saturday. We headed over to the convention center around 7:45am (arrived around 8am) and worked our way to the line to get though security. The line started way past the convention center around to the old arena and Katella Ave and then weaved its way in a crazy fashion back to the entrance road from Harbor blvd. Luckily the line consistently moved and it only took about 45 minutes to get in.  If you had looked at it, you would instantly think 2 hours.

The cast members kept the line to get in organized and fun. Kudos to them.

When we finally got in, the reality of the event set in. Big Elaborate set up but limited or no availability to experience. Those exhibits that you didn’t need a “pass” for had lines that rivaled opening day Guardians of the Galaxy/Pandora wait times.

One of the most popular exhibits this year was the Scrooge McDuck Money Bin where you could jump into the money just like he did.  Nope, not for me. Apparently they gave out all of the wristbands, tickets or passes for the money bin in less than 30 minutes after the expo opened.  Keep in mind that the event lasted from 9am to 7pm and we were inside by 9:25am

Photo courtesy of D23.com

Ok.. sad but lets see what else we can go do…
Sign after sign and announcement after announcement, all passes have been distributed for the day.  You even needed a pass to go to the Disney Dream Store but you had to come back later in the day.

What did I get to see?
There was a gorgeous model of what Star Wars:  Galaxy’s Edge will look like when completed. It looked amazing and only took 30 minutes to get through the line.

Dr. Dan of Dancakes was at the expo.  Dancakes is pancake art and he does an amazing job.  We watched him start a “Sleeping Beauty’s castle” pancake but moved on hoping to see the final product later on.  I can’t find a photo but here is one of Genie from Aladdin that he did.

Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/drdancake

There was a large section of Disney art, pins and collectible re-sellers that really didn’t seem to have much of a crowd on one side of the convention floor. We got to walk around – Some neat items but I wasn’t in the market.

All in all, I left feeling like I got no value for the $72 ticket. I feel like there is too much demand with too little opportunity.  How do you get around that?  There was zero chance I was going to arrive on site at 4:30am like some did for Saturday’s panels.  If that is the level of dedication required to fully experience D23, then its just not for me.

What do you think I could have done to experience more of what the 2017 D23 Expo had to offer?

 

 

It’s Time for the Great Fastpass Debate!

It’s no secret that Disney fans LOVE “Fastpasses”! I know I do.

We at the Neverland Press would like to announce the very first discussion in the Great Debate series – Fastpasses – electronic or paper?

For some time now, Walt Disney World has utilized the “Fastpass+” program where you can book your fast passes in advance by using the “My Disney Experience” app available for iPhone or Android.  Disneyland has continued to utilize the paper Fastpass system that both US parks used many years ago.

      

It does need to be mentioned that Disneyland announced the new Maxpass program earlier this year where park goers can book their Fastpass options in advance using the Disneyland app for a fee under $20.00. Maxpass is set to begin in late 2017. Walt Disney World does not charge a fee but has restrictions on how many Fastpasses you can choose at a time and you are limited on how far in advance you can book them.

So our questions to you –
Do you prefer the electronic Fastpass option or the original paper Fastpass option?
Would you pay the fee to have the option to choose Fastpasses in advance at Disneyland?

You can participate here by commenting below or on our Neverland Press Facebook page!

Please remember to keep this a friendly discussion. Mickey would prefer it that way and everybody has their own opinion on how they enjoy their Disney vacations.

 

A Day at the 2017 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

When I first found out that I would be relocating to Southern California, the first Disney thought that came to my mind was I would finally get to experience the Disneyland version of the Food and Wine festival.

As an experienced Walt Disney World resort visitor, I have visited the Epcot based Food and Wine festival MANY times.  What can I say, I’m a fan…

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  I knew the Disneyland resort to be smaller and I know what the fall Epcot festival brings to the table (Hehe get it.. to the table?).  The food, the concerts… the sometimes comfortable weather!  This was going to be tough to beat but I went in with an empty tummy and an open mind.

 

I should be open and honest and let you all know that I’m not an alcoholic beverage fan. Alcohol puts me to sleep and I don’t think Disney would like for me to take a nap in the park. So I did not taste any of the beer or wine – But I did explore the festival and I found some amazing food options and a different focus on food compared to the Walt Disney World festival.

The Epcot festival is centered about the World Showcase and highlights food from the countries (and then some) that are represented along the showcase lagoon.  The California Adventure Food and Wine festival is focused on California dishes and mixes in some of the cultures that make up the state.  There were 11 different festival marketplace options and each offers a variety of items.  Each option offered three or four choices and some offered a signature non alcoholic beverage. They even offer a tasting passport if you like to collect the stamps of the marketplaces you have visited.

“Nuts about Cheese”
“Olive Us”
“Bacon Twist”
“Seafood… Sustained”
“Off the Cob”
“L.A. Style”
“Sweet and Sourdough”
“I Love Artichokes”
“Lemon Grove”
“The Onion Lair”
“Garlic Kissed”

As much as I love food, I’m not a foodie.  I have not experienced all of the menu items but with a few days left in this years festival, I’m going to be making a return trip before the festival ends on April 16.

This year, Disney is offering the “Sip and Savor Pass” for Annual Passholders.

For $45, you get a nicely designed lanyard and laminate with eight coupons which can redeemed for food items and non alcoholic beverages. You also get a personal (and very accessible) laminated menu for quick reference.

It’s no secret that Disneyland loves its AP holders and they even offer decorative collectible buttons when you visit the AP booth at the festival and special festival photo opportunities. I was lucky enough to get a visit from everybody’s favorite chef, Remy! So it wasn’t a decision I thought about for too long.  I bought one and it was completely worth it. I’ll have to double-check my math, but I figure the value to the pass to be at about $52.

The first item that I tasted came from “Off the Cob” – Sweet Corn Nuggets with Beef Chili.  Loved it.  Beautifully presented and each flavor mixed together well.  Do I sound like a foodie yet?

I’ll admit, I’m a comfort food girl!  It a no brainer that I needed to visit “Bacon Twist” for the Smoked Bacon Mac & Cheese and then “Garlic Kissed” for the Grilled Beef Tenderloin Slider.


Please Don’t tell my running coach about how much I ate or that I did squeeze in dessert!  How could I not?  One of the most popular items at the 2017 festival is the Milk Chocolate Sourdough Bread Pudding with Vanilla Bean drizzle!!!  NOM NOM NOM!

By FAR my favorite item was of the liquid variety. I had the opportunity to have an Orange ice tea with Orange peel and Boba which is essentially Tapioca balls.  They are very popular in Bubble tea if you have had one at your local mall.  The flavor in this beverage was more than perfect.  I wanted orange and that’s what I got.  The Boba gave the tea a very distinct texture and it was sooooooooooo good!

The festival is very family friendly and included some local entertainment and culinary seminars as well as wine tastings. The festival tends to get crowded on the weekends – but as a non drinker, it was also nice to see most everybody there to experience the festival and not turn it into an opportunity to get drunk. They did have some nice merchandise options for purchase as well.

     

It’s obvious that Walt Disney World delivers a bigger product and more value as far as entertainment with the major label concerts but I don’t want to discount Disneyland. Its its own adventure and I definitely think I’ll be back for more in 2018!!

Welcome to Anaheim Resort Transportation! All Aboard!

If you’ve ever been to Walt Disney World and have stayed at one of the 20+ resorts on property, then I’m sure you’re familiar with the Disney Transportation bus system. Disney operates its bus system 365 days a year from the resorts to the parks and to Disney Springs. This makes it much easier for families to take vacations to Disney and not have to rent a car and pay daily parking if they are staying at a Disney resort.

With the growth and development of the Anaheim, CA resort area, there was a need for a system similar to the Disney Transportation system.

:::Cue the dramatic entrance music:::
Welcome to the Anaheim Resort Transportation!

art_logo_2014

(Courtesy of Anaheim Resort Transportation)

Originally known as the Anaheim Resort Transit, it was established in 1994 and officially changed to the Anaheim Resort Transportation in 1998. In 2010, Disney adopted the company to become an official transportation option for visiting guests.

Although Disney has only 3 official hotels on Disneyland property, there are more than a dozen other “Good Neighbor Hotels” available for guests of the Disneyland Resort. Some of these hotels can extend as far as 1 mile from the resort. The A.R.T. bus system allows guests who do not want to rent car and pay for parking, the opportunity to ride a clean, easy to spot bus to Disneyland and California Adventure parks.  The bus will drop you off right in front of the esplanade between Disneyland and California Adventure!

anaheim_resort_transit_28051

I had the opportunity to experience the ART during my trip to Disneyland for the Star Wars Half Marathon weekend in January.  I was a little unsure about getting to and from from hotel but what I found was helpful staff members, a clean bus, and some much needed relief for my wallet and legs (after running 32.4 miles the weekend before).

art-map

There is a free trip planner as well on the website which can help figure out how to get to the happiest place in California as well.

The ART system is available for a fee.  Tickets can be purchased at many of the hotels, online or via the ART app available for download on both Apple and Android operating systems.  For more information, visit www.rideart.org.