Poised For The Return Of Jack Skellington

Come Monday, Disneyland's classic Haunted Mansion attraction will be shut down for about 3 weeks for its annual right of passage - the transformation to the Haunted Mansion Holidays which will take over from about mid-September until just after the first of the year. I explained my preference for the overlay version over the traditional HM in a previous post - Haunted Mansion Holidays - The Argument Ensues. Basically, it comes down to this, I prefer the color and clever whimsy of the Tim Burton holiday version over the drab grey traditional version (even though I am no fan whatsoever of The Nightmare Before Christmas movie on which the overlay is based). 

But today its a remembrance of what the 3 week closure of the Haunted Mansion is all about. It brings to a close of Disneyland's summer season and the transition into fall and Halloween immediately followed by Christmas. Gone are the long warm days and nights as we move into the ever so gradual transition to shorter days (and shorter park hours) and welcomed cooler temperatures. Especially in the evenings, the ever present shorts and t-shirts are replaced by pants and sweatshirts or jackets.

Yeah... I look forward to Haunted Mansion Holidays because the air conditioning in my house will no longer need to run 24x7, stepping outside will actually be comfortable, and there is always return of college and NFL football.

I like it when Jack Skellington makes his return because I know I will no longer have to sweat like a pig. I like it right up to the point I will inevitably utter the phrase "man its cold outside, I can't wait till it gets warmer".

Pirates Running Amuck In The Court of Angels

The photo above found on the internet is of the Court of Angels, a lovely semi-secluded area tucked into New Orleans Square in Disneyland. On a busy day, people seek a respite here where generally it is more tranquil and serene, away from the pulsating throng of the crowds. People have been known to propose marriage in this spot. If I had it to do all over again, its a thought worth considering.

So Disney, in its never ending quest to use every square foot of its Disneyland park as an opportunity sell you something, now has a better idea for the Court of Angels. Fill it full of kids sitting in chairs getting made up as pirates. It's called Pirate League and has been very successful with its run in Walt Disney World. Think of it as the pirate companion of the Bibbidi-Bobbidy-Boutique where young girls get made up as princesses. Now young boys (or even young girls) can get a pirate makeover at about $30 - $35 a pop.

From what I gather, this is mostly a test run as Disney tries to determine the popularity of kids wanting to get made up as pirates (duh!) and perhaps find which of the little shops in New Orleans Square might have just the right amount of space should Pirates League go permanent (duh!). 

So another piece of Disneyland charm gets lost in the never ending pursuit of Disney sucking every available dollar from one's bank account or added to one's credit card bill. Charm out - Profits in.

The Haunted Mansion and a Picture of 3 Hitch-Hiking Ghosts

Annie Leibovitz's photograph of 3 ghostly residents of the Haunted Mansion

Annie Leibovitz's photographs have been gracing magazine covers & spreads along with museum walls for close to 50 years now. She is the pop generations most iconic photographer with some of her most memorable work being celebrity layouts in Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair magazines.

In recent years, Annie has worked with Disney in capturing classic memorable scenes with a pretty impressive list of models. Like this one - the 3 hitch-hiking ghosts of the Haunted Mansion featuring the popular actors Jack Black, Will Farrell, and Jason Segel.

Annie Leibovitz at work with Jack Black, Will Farrell, and Jason Segel
A Disney Parks Blog Photo

Disney Parks Blog posted two articles related to the photo-shoot this past week.  You can view the posts linked here and here.  For me, it's just fun to watch an extraordinary artist at work with something that must be incredibly fun.

Photographer Annie Leibovitz sets a shot - A Disney Park Blog Photo

Disney also produced this little video during the photo-shoot:

Scenes From Pirates of the Caribbean - Ooops

Yeah, yeah, yeah..... you hear it every time the boat leaves the dock. It goes something like this "keep your arms and legs inside the boat at all times and please no flash photography or video lighting". Well, I for one, tend to heed Disneyland's warnings. After all I'm a guest in their house (albeit at a steep price) and willing to play by their rules. That's just the way I was brought up. Of course, we all know there are people who try bend if not outright break the rules of Disneyland everywhere.

Which brings me to this YouTube video by Asianjma123, shots of inside Pirates of the Caribbean with full video lighting. Yes, this would be a no-no but I'm kind of glad to see a video of Pirates in all its glory when most non-lit videos fail to do it justice. This is not a full ride through but what can be seen looks great. Pirates of the Caribbean is my favorite ride in Disneyland, even after all these years.

Revisiting the Haunted Mansion & the Hatbox Ghost Mystery

While I was looking at YouTube videos produced by The Disneyland History Institute (disneyhistoryinstitute.com) yesterday, I had forgotten about one of their more famous videos that was extremely popular awhile back with Disneyland fan websites. In this video, DHI explores the mystery of the legendary Hatbox Ghost, perhaps the most memorable Haunted Mansion character that doesn't appear in the ride at all. The mystery of the Hatbox Ghost is one of those behind the scenes things that makes Disneyland so amazing. The Hatbox Ghost appeared in Haunted Mansion publicity images, in books, and on HM cover art, but he never existed in the attraction itself. Or did he?

Here is where the Disneyland History Institute steps in and gives their take on the mystery of the Hatbox Ghost and provides visual evidence that yes, for a very brief time, the legendary ghost was present in the attraction. For fans of Disneyland history, this is a great video.

Disneyland Dining - Cafe Orleans

Walt himself enjoying a cup of coffee at the Cafe Orleans - A Disney Parks Blog Photo

Its surprising that when I talk about Disneyland's Cafe Orleans I often get the response "I've heard of it and know where it is but I just haven't bothered to go in there yet". Yes, the Cafe Orleans is the New Orleans Square table service restaurant people kind of conveniently forget about as they make their plans to go to the neighboring Blue Bayou. Often times, when the Blue Bayou is booked up for the day, a trip over to the Cafe Orleans will allow you to get a table in a relatively short amount of time as a walk-up guest (though, as with all Disneyland table service restaurants, its always a good idea to call ahead for dining time).

I've had some people tell me that the didn't even know where the Cafe Orleans was. Really?  While the entrance (which has recently been moved) may be small, unassuming, and a bit out of the way, the restaurant itself  has quite a presence with the dozens of tables and chairs that sit on an outside dining patio with a wonderful view overlooking the Rivers of America from New Orleans Square.  (Oh, that place.....) The Cafe Orleans also has an inside dining section but from a quick view, the larger dining section is what you see outside.

For Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I, it took many trips before we actually made it into the Cafe Orleans.  If we were going to splurge on table service dining in New Orleans Square, it was the Blue Bayou or nothing.  That and the fact, the cajun inspired menu of the Cafe Orleans didn't really match Mrs DLT's sometimes rather bland palette.  Then one day a few years ago, we just decided we wanted to eat lunch at the Blue Bayou.  This was one of those times we didn't call ahead and so we were politely told the restaurant was booked up for the day.  Darn it!  And then we made the choice, let's just go try the Cafe Orleans.  We were seated in about 30 minutes, maybe less.  I waited while Mrs. DLT marched her way through the New Orleans Square shopping establishments.

Old entrance to Cafe Orleans across from the Blue Bayou

Once we were seated, we were greeted with one of Disneyland's best food offerings. We ordered Pommes Frites as our appetizer.  You can call them Pommes Frites if you want but for us Americans, these are garlic fries and for me anyway, they may be the best I ever had which is saying something for Disneyland food.  Served nice and hot, the fries are liberally coated with a delicious mixture of garlic, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and a little olive oil.  They are also served with a cajun dipping sauce but I have always enjoyed them better without the accompanying sauce.  While you are enjoying your fries take a good look at the neighboring tables around you.  At least half of them will have a basket of these fries.  Many Disneylandphiles know a really good thing.

Since Mrs. DLT isn't a fan of spicy foods, she usually opts for the legendary Monte Cristo sandwich.  Cafe Orleans delivers this popular favorite for several dollars cheaper than the neighboring Blue Bayou.  If you never had one, try it here and save a few bucks.  They aren't for everybody mostly because these things are so rich and decadent, I think its kind of hard for one person to eat a whole one.  What is a monte cristo?  Think of it as ham, turkey, and swiss cheese served between two pieces of french toast, then deep fried, covered in powdered sugar, and served with some kind of jelly.  Wow!  Who came up with this concoction?  But it is good in a perverted kind of way and you can see why they are a favorite and have been on Disneyland menus for years and years.  If you eat one, you just kind of have to put the number of calories and fat content out of your mind.  When Mrs. DLT go the monte cristo route invariably, a chunk of it is bagged and taken to go.

The Cafe Orleans Monte Cristo sandwich.  Good luck trying to finish it.

I'm a crepe guy.  What the Cafe Orleans serves that you cannot get any place else in either park are crepe dishes.  I've had both Seafood Crepe and Chicken Gumbo Crepe and have enjoyed them both.  Both are quite filling with the cream sauce on the Seafood Crepe being, to me anyway, the little richer dining experience of the two.  You can't go wrong with either.

Seafood Crepe - Cafe Orleans Disneyland

I haven't tried it yet but I'm told the French Onion Soup is also very good so that is on my list of things to try next time I am at the Cafe Orleans.  French Onion Soup and Pommes Frites, that'll work.  At the top of this post is a picture of Walt Standing in front of a copper coffee pot.  The pot is still in the Cafe Orleans taking a prime spot in the inside dining portion of the restaurant.  Look at this  photo, go to the Cafe Orleans and look at the actual pot.  Make the connection.  You will be glad you did.

Haunted Mansion Holidays - The Argument Ensues

A few weeks back I posted an entry on MiceChat about how I preferred the overlayed Haunted Mansion Holidays attraction over the traditional Haunted Mansion.  MiceChat has tons of readers and a good amount of people who post regularly.  A few people agreed with my assessment of the attraction.  Most disagreed.  A few, as has a tendency to happen on MiceChat, jumped all over my case forcefully stating that to go with anything other than the traditional Haunted Mansion ride was somewhere in between blasphemy, heresy, and the opinion of a boob.  Hello, I'm boob.

One of the MiceChat moderators tacked on a survey poll to my post and I think, the last time I looked, those that preferred the traditional HM over the holiday version was a little over 2 to 1 favoring the traditional with about a hundred people casting votes.  Actually, the holiday version fared better than I thought with the voting the way the discussion started off.

I gave my reasons for enjoying the Haunted Mansion Holidays a little bit in a previous post on this blog.  The main reason is I really enjoy the color and life that is brought to the attraction that is mostly shrouded in various shades of gray most of the year.  Of course the MiceChat HM traditionalists jumped all over that comment with (paraphrasing) "It's a Haunted Mansion.  It's supposed to be dark and gray you boob".  Point well taken but I will stand by my reasoning.  In another thread on MousePlanet about the HM I made the contention that when I get on the traditional HM, my mind tends to wander.  I think about what me and Mrs. DisneylandTraveler might want to do next, where we might go to eat, how my dog and cats are doing back home without me.  I've been on the ride so much that it just becomes something to do rather than enjoying it for what it is.  That feeling is on me I freely admit but it's fair.  You get on the HM because most of the year, it's pretty much a walk-on, it's long, and if it's hot outside, it's nice and cool in there.

But the holiday version makes me pay attention to the surroundings, what's around the next bend, enjoying the soundtrack.  Instead of resting my eyes as I might want to do in the traditional version, the holiday version dazzles my eyes.  I'm not a fan of Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas movie - didn't care for it at all from what I can recall.  I'm not a fan of Jack Skellington and feel his presence in the park and especially the merchandise shops is a bit of an intrusion.  But I like the ride - really like the ride.

And as I mentioned before, while I'm not big on Jack Skellington, I do like his portrayal of Sandy Claus, a delightful Christmas twist.  Where does the Haunted Mansion rank as one of your "must-do" Disneyland / DCA attractions in it's traditional form?  For me it's pretty well down the list.  But when the holidays roll around, a viewing of Haunted Mansion Holidays becomes an essential.  That's the power of the holiday overlay.

Let's Have Lunch - Club 33 Perhaps?

I mentioned in a previous post that my friend from work, Mike, had his birthday lunch at Club 33 last week in Disneyland.  No, he is not a Club 33 member.  Yes, he does have connections.  He's probably eaten there at least a half dozen times or so from the time I began working with him about 12 years ago.  He always brings back pictures for me to ogle over.  A dastardly deed to be sure.

Last week's lunch for Mike and his wife began with a trip to the salad bar where he promptly had a plate of lobster tails, crab claws, chilled shrimp, cheese, and oh yeah, some green leafy stuff.

He proceeded on ordering up some mighty fine looking lamb chops served over creamy polenta while his wife ordered a delectable sable fish which is similar to cod.  Both had high marks for their entrees enjoying them completely.

And it doesn't stop there.  On Mike's dessert plate he showed off the obligatory macaroon with mickey ears, a delicious looking chocolate eclair, and one of my all time favorite desserts, creme brulee.

Can it get any better than this?  This lunch set Mike back about 200 bucks after a cocktail, tax, and tip were added but as an invited guest of a Club 33 member, they also got free admission to the park.  It's actually a pretty good deal.  Mike and I live several hundred miles away from Disneyland but someday, just maybe, we may find ourselves both in Anaheim at the same time.  He'll hook me up.  I think a trip to Club 33 is on my bucket list.

A Pirates Life For Me

Continuing our tour on what Disneyland has to offer, it's time to give a special shout out, nod of the head for my favorite ride, attraction, or whatever you want to call it - Pirates of the Caribbean. A creation of Walt Disney himself, POTC shows the best of Disney imagination, creativity, and attention to detail. It is quintessential Disneyland ride. After 40 some-odd years of operation, every time I take a ride on one of those boats, I am sure to see something I have never seen or noticed before.

It was many years ago but I can recall as a small child, the first time going down that unexpected drop, the darkness, the bit of a thrill, the getting a little wet!. It's a memory I will never forget. And then the ride begins! Can you imagine building a ride that lasts over 13 minutes in 2011? It's something that will never be done again. The Little Mermaid in DCA just opened up clocking in at a whopping 2 minutes and 30 seconds or so. Goofy's Sky School? Another 2 or 3 minute ride. Even the great (and I mean great) Toy Story Mania is probably less than 5 minutes (although I am far too busy on the ride itself to actually time it). An effort like POTC  (or Haunted Mansion for the matter) will never be duplicated. Even the WDW Magic Kingdom POTC is much shorter than the original. The cost to build a ride like the original POTC would be staggering not to mention the space requirements. At full capacity, the ride can load 3300 guests an hour. It's still tops in both parks for the number of guests that it can handle.

And even though it's been tweaked over the years with the last major refurbishment bringing the new "politically correctness" and the inclusion of the Captain Jack/Barbosa animontronics, the ride has always remained true to its story line. As for the Pirates theme itself, well, you can argue the point. The real pirates romanticized in the ride (and the movies) really were cut-throats, murderers, thieves, drunkards and generally led a debaucherous life that would appeal to few with modern sensibilites and the glory days of pirating was relatively short running from the late 1600's to the early 1700's.

But history aside, what Disney has done with the POTC franchise is marketing genius. They took Walt's original concept and for almost 50 years, ran with it. The rumor is out there that POTC will close from Labor Day to Thanksgiving Day this year for refurbishment. It's amazing to read about how many people would consider postponing their trip with the ride closed. It is that good.

What The Heck Is Pommes Frites?

If you asked any Disneyland regular (the kind that actually eat in the park as opposed to bringing in a backpack full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches) and mentioned Pommes Frites to them, you may begin to see drool start to seep from the side of their mouths. They know. Pommes Frites are the garlic fries served at the Cafe Orleans in New Orleans Square. Well prepared french fries doused with vampire repelling garlic, parsley, parmesian cheese, and probably a bit of olive oil, this appetizer meets all the essentials of something memorable to eat - great tasting, wonderful  aroma, visually appealing, and fattening as all get out. It is served with something like a cajun mayonnaise dipping sauce but these things are so good on their own, they don't need anything else. An order of pommes frites is sizable so splitting an order would be recommended. It is one of the great food treats in the park.

As mentioned, it is listed as an appetizer on the menu so you may feel compelled to order an entree at the table service Cafe Orleans. If you want to continue down the path toward artery clogging indulgence, try the rich and decadent seafood crepe or completely bizarre monte cristo sandwich. The Cafe Orleans doesn't get its due sitting right across from the Blue Bayou but its a fine place to eat and much cheaper than its more high profiled neighbor. The food is good, the pommes frites are memorable.