Zootopia 2- Witty Sequel!

Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps are on a roll! Zootopia 2 is everything the suits needed it to be, and the whole afternoon in the theater was much more fun than anything found in Moana 2... or even Frozen 2. In fact, it was much more enjoyable than just about anything the Walt Disney Company or even Pixar has put on in years. Yes, the kids laughed and so did all the adults. 

Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin are the strongest pair of lead characters since Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi showed everyone how it was done in the animated Rapunzel film, Tangled.

Zootopia 2 may not make you look at snakes in an entirely different way, but it is a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Bring on the next part of the series. Honestly, now I'd like to go to Shanghai Disneyland and see the Zootopia world in 3D. That is saying something!

Notable and Quotable: Jelly Roll

 "“The way shame sometimes shows itself is not always the way we expect it to be. We think shame is somebody in the streets on their knees, with their head down. But shame sometimes is pride. Sometimes shame is just bravado. Behind real bravado, I can normally find shame. I can normally find guilt. I can normally find insecurity. I was the biggest, the loudest, the toughest, the meanest, the growliest, the fattest. There’s normally deep inside of that a really, really small, insecure human. I was that, for sure."

                                                        Jelly Roll

                                                                       from an interview in Men's Health

Gifted musician and recent massive weight loss champion Jason Bradley DeFord, aka Jelly Roll shows some incredible insights. Reflection and growth await all of us if we work at it. And for those who believe in Jesus or want to investigate his claims, we can discover a God who works on our behalf:

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 34:4-8

Venetian Gondolier Makes The Day

 One of my favorite photographs! While visiting the totally unique city of Venice, we went for a stroll through the narrow winding streets. As we turned a corner, this was what greeted us. I quickly grabbed my camera, just hoping he'd stay in that exact position. And he did! So, now a much larger, clearer, and more detailed photo of this hangs in our home. What memories! (If you want to see all the photos from this trip and read about our adventures, go to this post.)

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Because I Wanted to Show You How Much I Love You

For years of praying and asking, all I ever got was one very simple answer placed deep in my heart, "Because I knew you'd be obedient." I could never get more than that, and it felt like I'd hit a brick wall. I had to be fine with that answer. It's been almost two decades that I received that answer every time I went to the Lord in prayer and asked why God chose me to be involved in something so powerful and yet so dear to my heart. Unexpectedly, it changed a couple of weeks ago. This time, it was "Because I wanted to show you how much I love you". Finally, it all made sense. Being obedient to do something I did not want to do- and honestly, something I fought against for six months- became something that has brought me much joy and much humility. Who am I? No one special, that is for sure! But our God? So amazing!

Dine or Ditch: Animal Kingdom's Nomad Lounge

What words come to mind when you first think of Disney's Animal Kingdom? What feelings hit you as you approach this beautiful park from the dry parking lot? As a huge fan of Imagineering and Disney theme park design, its design is stunning. As a them park guest, as I walk to the entrance, there's this sense of relaxation and adventure at the same time. Quite the accomplishment, I'd say. That's only the  beginning.

The unique mix of high octane thrill rides in beautifully calm and peaceful environments give the fourth Disney park in Florida its unique feel. Shops are now filled with plush and merchandise available in other parks, but there are still plenty of unique items in theme to each land. (Watch for an upcoming series of articles on the creation and evolution of this incredible park. The stories behind it and the concept art are really worth your time.)

Unexpectedly, from Day One, the quality and variety of food options here is only rivaled by those high end places found in Disney Springs. (Used to be that EPCOT Center's World Showcase held that distinction years ago, but there's been a notable downgrade in dining while the festival food booths risen to prominence.) That said, of all the places in Animal Kingdom with great food, Nomad Lounge is the best of them all, unless the ultra fine (and very expensive) dining of Tiffins is more your style. 

But Nomad Lounge may not be for everyone.

Look at the menu outside in front to make sure this is your style.

Check out the Society of Explorers and Adventurers reference.

The current star attraction of Disney's Animal Kingdom is Flight of Passage in The World of Avatar / Pandora themed land. If your follow the very early morning crowds to get there, you'll walk right by the Nomad Lounge, so pay attention. You'll need to be intentional to return here and not forget it in the midst of some great attractions that are waiting for you: Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest will soon be joined in the forthcoming Tropical Americas land with an Encanto dark ride and a new version of the Indiana Jones Adventure. 

An almost hidden view of this adult hideaway.

First come, first served walk up style seating is not my favorite, but I had a hunch this place would be worth waiting for. It took about 40 minutes to get seated, so we patiently waited nearly and enjoyed the surroundings and grabbed some photographs of what is quickly becoming my favorite Disney park in Florida.

The drinks or the appetizers- which ones are better?

Definitely the Bangkok Chicken Wings!

Sequestering inside out of the sometimes harsh Florida sun may be a treat for many people, but I cannot resist the allure of a patio. I was not disappointed! In some ways, it reminded me of favorite places in Hawaii. Not a bad comparison at all. There were no island breezes however. It was a quite hot afternoon, and the covering was a welcome one. The waterside seating was extremely comfortable, and the vibe felt a million miles away from Walt Disney World as well as the real world. Just perfect!

Leaving us just the right amount of time to settle in and look around, our server returned to take our drink order. 

Lamu Libation (left and front) and Tempting Tigress (right and rear).

The adult drinks of choice varied in flavors and success, but they did not vary in price. Each one was enough guarantee that we had one drink each. As expected, there was a rum based drink (my choice), one with vodka, one with gin (normally my choice), and another with tequila. Concurrent with the rest of our trip, we all took turns trying each other's choices. 

My wife chose the Lamu Libation, African Rum, Cruzan Banana Rum, and Guava Purée with Orange, Lime, and Pineapple Juices topped with more rum. My son's choice was obvious as he likes something much stronger and far less sweet: The Tempting Tigress- Bourbon, Allspice Dram Liqueur, Tamarind, and Lime Juice.

This is a drinks and small plates establishment. Most all of the adult beverages were priced as if they were meals! It's a trend I still can't get used to, so plan on spending in the neighborhood of $40 per person plus tax and tip for one small plate and one alcoholic drink.

The Night Monkey- dark rum, guava puree, 

coffee simple syrup, lime juice and a touch of cilantro.

Time to place an order for something to nibble on. We certainly were not rushed to do so, but I always like having something in my system when I have a drink. It's pretty rare actually that I do drink, maybe one drink every 6 to 8 weeks when we're meeting friends, and that's about it at best. I will admit, it's different on vacation, though. I still will only have one drink an evening. Your mileage may vary.

What a difference traveling without small children!

An entirely more relaxed experience.

Featuring true to life flavors of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, the menu was surprising in its variety and depth. But it was definitely not an extensive menu. Nor were the portions meal sized even if they cost the same as a full meal. 

 

The Grilled Chicken Satay skewers were very good, but they paled in comparison to the incredible Bangkok Chicken Wings. I could eat these all day long! Crunchy, sweet, and even a bit tart, these were addictive. I'd say these are every bit as good as the ribs at Morimoto Asia or the very tasty ones at the now demolished Luau Cove. (Both recipes here.) In fact, they may be the best thing I ate on the trip whether we were at Disney or at Universal Orlando. 

The Cuban Frida Sliders hit the spot, but I'd rank them below the Chicken Satay skewers, holding steady at last place of our three small plates. The meat was very good, and the Yuka fries did have a nice and very different flavor than the expected regular or sweet potatoes.

Cuban Frita Sliders

I should mention that the bread service was a solid choice. So were the vanilla dessert churros we finished with, which also came with a small container of melted chocolate. The starters and ending were secondary to the main small plates both in size and flavor. Anywhere else, these would both be considered excellent, so that is saying quite a bit.

 

Sharing the facilities.

This is a very strange thing to admit: an unexpected highlight was my restroom stop. Why? Diners have to pass through Tiffins to get there.  This gave me a chance to peek into each of the dining rooms, even if it was rather quickly.

This room is truly beautiful!

There was barely anyone in this very expensive establishment, so the wait staff was fine to let me wander a bit. Some rooms were more elaborate than others, but each was special in their own way. Filled with Imagineering art and exotic artifacts, it was quite elegant and certainly a new high bar in Disney dining. And yes, even the bathrooms were beautiful. 

Nomad Lounge is a unique entry in Walt Disney World dining and holds an interesting place in the choices, but is it a Dine or Ditch?

It's a very "Dine" if you're willing to spend a good amount of your hard earned cash for what amounts to a lengthy pit stop versus a full meal. If you hate theme parks or desire a break in touring and running from attraction to attractions this is the place for you.  I'd also say this is a go if you like the idea of Tiffins but don't want to pay the over the top prices. 

It's a definite "Ditch" this option if you have young children in your party. They will not appreciate the exotic flavors found here. Nor does the menu cater to the littlest park visitors. It's also a "Ditch" if you're wanting a hearty meal to sustain you. You will not find it here on Nomad Lounge's very limited menu.

Want more Dine or Ditch?

Check out these other reviews:

Raglan Road at Disney Springs

Sci-Fi Dine In at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom

Garden Grill at Epcot

San Angel Inn Restaurante at Epcot

 

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at Universal Orlando City Walk

Mythos at Islands of Adventure

Cafe Orleans at Disneyland

 

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Days of Disney Past: If You Had Wings

How well would Eastern Air Lines and the Walt Disney's Imagineers work together to create an attraction that is still talked about 50 years after its creation? Pretty darned well, I'd say! In fact, this sweet little free attraction (in the days of A thru E Tickets) in the Magic Kingdom  influenced many other beloved rides in Walt Disney World. 

Opening about 8 months after the initial Florida park, If You Had Wings took guests on an around the world tour... of places that were on Eastern Air Lines' routes, of course! Playing off that company's slogan, The Wings of Man, the ride was a highly enjoyable new era dark ride. Using props, clever lighting, rear projected film and an incredibly catchy theme song- sing it with me now, this was one you'd have to ride multiple times to discover everything that was going on.

From the sponsoring company's standpoint, the goal was to make guest book trips on the airline. There was even a travel desk at the end of the attraction's exit so guests could do just that. How's that for high end shopping synergy? Disney wanted an attraction that brought in the numbers. Conveying the sense of discovery and adventure was key. The ports of call were mostly the Caribbean, Mexico, and a very compelling but brief look at New Orleans. (Who didn't love that shadow projection of the musicians?) The ending was a precursor to the speed tunnel room, but this time used to imagine guests taking off to exotic locations.

Seriously, this was one attraction I was very excited to show my wife when we went to Florida for her first visit to the World. She didn't enjoy it quite as much as me, that would be impossible, but it did whet her appetite a bit for traveling the globe.

On our second visit to Walt Disney World, the opening of EPCOT Center was the centerpiece of our trip. I was thrilled to get the If You Had Wings vibe while riding the beautiful and mysterious El Rio Del Tiempo (R.I.P.) in the Mexico showcase. I was quite sad to read the Imagineers had planned a much longer boat ride but that budgets were slashed. When you added the fact that the showcase was mostly indoor and you could have queso fundido at the San Angel Inn Restaurante, this World Showcase pavilion was one of my instant favorites. (My Dine or Ditch review of the eatery can be found here. Great photos too.)

But back to If You Had Wings. Unfortunately, the attraction would only last a little less than two decades. Replacements were If You Could Fly, Delta Dreamflight, and Take Flight, each offering charming variations on the theme with or without a corporate sponsorship. Eventually, the entire space was gutted for the still very popular  Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. It wasn't a bad move, but it did bring Disney / Pixar  characters into the land of the future.

Disney's Too Clever Not to Share Wine & Dine Marathon Logos

Who doesn't love the penguins from Mary Poppins? (Who doesn't love Mary Poppins is an even better question. Without a doubt, the sequence where they appear in the film is the highlight of the movie. But I digress...) The logos from the 2026 RunDisney Walt Disney World Marathon are just too good not to share!

Perhaps the Aristocats is your favorite instead? Well, here you go!

The Three Caballeros work well, too.

Is there anything to be Grumpy about? No, not really!
 

A One and A Two...

These were new to me today. For my records only...

Pretty Rare Piece of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Concept Art

I love all the new Disney coasters like Epcot's great Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind,  Disney Hollywood Studios sweet little Slinky Dog Dash, and Disney Animal Kingdom's  much older Expedition: Everest, but I always go back to the castle parks' classic Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as the one I can't resist! The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness has staying power! My favorite one is at Disneyland Paris, with its lets go under the river beginning, but the U.S. parks have pretty great versions as well.

Imagineer Ed French created this piece of concept art back in 1980. He expertly captured the sun washed rock work of the main peak in the background and the ride's train in a whole new way then seen in most other renderings. 

There's something else unique about Ed French. He's very involved in an organization trying to better the world. Check out Ethnos360!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Chilling Reminder from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

These words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. chill me to the bone: "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it." 

As a follower of Jesus, this incredible leader still makes an impact. I believe the only hate we ever saw in him was his hate of injustice. 

He also stood strongly in support of the State of Israel: “The whole world must see that Israel must exist and has a right to exist – and is one of the great outposts of democracy in the world.”

In a world that is increasingly moving to full hatred against this nation, we must heed the words of John the beloved apostle:

 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.  Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.  But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

1 John 2:9-11

We cannot do these things in our own strength if they are to be done rightly and for long term impact. We must first be changed inside so we can move forward with the right heart and attitude. How? Dr. King shares the secret:

“By opening our lives to God in Christ, we become new creatures. This experience, which Jesus spoke of as the new birth, is essential if we are to be transformed nonconformists … Only through an inner spiritual transformation do we gain the strength to fight vigorously the evils of the world in a humble and loving spirit.”

                                                                        Martin Luther King Jr.

 

Faith solely rooted in God's love was the ultimate driving factor in all Dr. King accomplished. That was his legacy. What will be yours?

First Snow of the Year

This one is specifically for my family in warmer regions who think it snows here in Colorado from October through April nonstop. They hear about our 65 degree ways in November and December and even sometimes later in January, but they tend to forget it. Me, too, for that matter! So, here it is on the 19th of the month, and our first real snow of the year. I must be getting acclimated. I'd say it's about time.

Riding the Camels at Epcot

Riding the desert sands of Morocco? Where is that at Walt Disney World? It's certainly not at Epcot's World Showcase pavilion, even if it is one of the most highly detailed of all the country representations at the park. No, this is the real Morocco. Some friends of ours took this camel expedition as part of their travels to Europe and North Africa. Pretty amazing!

The Song That Made Me Love Linda Ronstadt

Every teenage boy in the late 1970's knew Linda Ronstadt. Her string of hits were legendary, and her looks were just as alluring. The 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind brought Buddy Holly's smash That'll Be The Day to a new generation. As was her tradition by this point in her career, remakes were her ticket to the very top of the pop charts, as evidenced by Heat Wave and Tracks of My Tears. And it brought her sold out crowds when she performed in town. 

I knew she was talented and full of spunk and grit to go with that voice and her physical charms, but I didn't always know what an absolutely great singer she was. Until Blue Bayou. This was the one that made me sit up and listen. Those deep and sultry alto notes alongside that simple arrangement made for one terrific listen. A listen that led to another and another and another. One album after another, she drew me in. But Blue Bayou was the gold standard for her to beat. My respect for her voice was only surpassed when she recorded the first of three albums featuring classics from the Great American Songbook. What's New, the first of the bunch, was the best of the bunch and made my wife and I drive all the way to see her where she kicked off a tour to support the album. What a voice, and what a night!

It's About Star Wars Time!

Disney has done something I thought they would never do: Admit changes needed to be made to their Star Wars themed lands. The home of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the new location Batuu, is a very well done planet, but it is lacking. And the suits and Imagineers are fixing that- at least at Disneyland. They're not about to touch the mega- "E Ticket" attraction, but instead, smaller projects will bring more of the original film trilogy into the park. 

John Williams iconic score will play inside the land, bringing an important piece of atmosphere long missing. Those much loved original trilogy characters Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo, and Princess Lea get into the mix of existing, mostly newly introduced citizens.  

Updates the to land itself include additional decor which reflects the first three George Lucas blockbuster films.

It's about Star Wars time.

(Photo copyright Mark Taft.)

Coco Boat Ride Area Expanded for Disney California Adventure

Disney CEO in the making Josh D'Amaro spoke about the Coco boat attraction for Disney California Adventure as one that would take its inspiration from Disneyland's classic Pirates of the Caribbean. That's a great piece of marketing fluff! What part of this could actually be real? We know there's severe space limitations in California, but Fantasyland is filled with them, and look how beautiful that area is!

So, what are those great Disney Imagineers actually up to? What will they build? 

Imagine if you will an entire land dedicated to the part of California that was influenced by the beautiful culture of Mexico. Its art, its architecture, its food, its music. Now imagine it all as an area of expansion for Disney California Adventure. It could be the equivalent of New Orleans Square in Disneyland.

What do I wish they would build? An indoor restaurant and an Epcot-ish mini Mexico pavilion with perpetual nighttime.  

Directly above is the official concept art for the Coco expansion. At the very top of this post is a piece I created with the help of several AI engines. One of the major differences between the two is my inclusion of a restaurant on the banks of the lagoon's boat ride. Think classic  Blue Bayou in California's New Orleans Square or even the San Angel Restaurante at Epcot's Mexico pavilion. The Gran Fiesta Tour may be the attraction there, but the true calling card draw is the waterside dining under a beautiful moonlit sky. Something like this will probably not happen as space is severely limited back in that corner of the park. But I wish it would. Don't you?

 

But let's imagine even more! How about making the Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta area into an extension of the Coco themed area? At the very top of this article is the new Los Amigos Plaza Restaurante. The elaborate courtyard is shown above.

Last but not least, let's re-Imagine Goofy's Sky Skool as The Three Caballeros Sky School, adding to attractions themed to this expanded land in the park. The new colors of the flight tower and the beautiful new arch lend a bit of flare to the surroundings. As far the ride itself, it's time to enclose a part of it and add in the three friends in Audio-Animatronic form. Donald Duck, and friends Panchito and Jose Carioca could sing and serenade us away from danger. Or so we think! It could be a total upgrade from what's there now and without too much work.

The little sister park next to Walt Disney's original castle park needs something this spectacular and this charming! The suits seem to have lost their way when it comes to making this park feel richly cohesive. Cars Land is a no contest smash, but the rest of the additions since have seriously been lacking, at least in my opinion. Not one single addition since 2012 has become a must-see for me, even though I love the film Big Hero 6. Will a Coco attraction do the trick to make me come back? Yes, maybe, but the ride and expansion had better be good! And an indoor restaurant will certainly affect my opinion on it, and a fully rethemed area would only make it better!

(Official concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

I Want This Man's Job!

Go to over 40 countries? Check! Go to every single continent? Check? Create a documentary on your findings and entice the world to tune in? Check! Yes, I want this man's job! Who is the man? The lucky man in question is Texan Dave Stotts, and he's the one who has created the series Drive Thru History. You can finds it on Prime.

This guy is also a man with a purpose. He takes a deep, hard look at the impact of Jesus Christ all around the world. Telling stories that are inspiring but totally honest, he travels as he speaks on the impact of the Twelve Apostles, other believers, and those who use the name of Christ to then kill indigenous peoples in order to gain their treasure and their land. He holds nothing back. This specific series is subtitled The Ends of the Earth- How Christianity Changed the World. 

The twenty episodes are 25 minutes each. Each area of the world is covered. The photography is just as breathtaking as the stories Dave tells. Just to keep things even more interesting, his journeys are taken in a wide variety of cool cars and other modes of transportation.

Like I said, I want this man's job! Where do I apply? 

Disneyland's Dirty Secret in 2026

Walt Disney's original kingdom holds a big dirty secret that they don't want let out to the public. It's one that's hidden in most all promotional materials but talked about within the halls of the Company's suits as well as in Imagineering. What is it? The park's Tomorrowland is an embarrassment and no longer worthy of the Disney name. Yes, the land of the future was barely finished in time at opening. Yes, the "new" Tomorrowland of 1998 was not an improvement over the 1967 version, and yes, Disney's been teasing a new entry is coming ever since, well, forever. 

Disneyland may be the original and the one with the most charming Fantasyland as well as a beautiful New Orleans Square and Rivers of America, but on the other side of the park, it's a mess.

The skeleton of the beloved Peoplemover hangs as a grim reminder of previous greatness and innovation. Or if you're younger, it's a reminder of the short lived Rocket Rods, a great attraction killed by budget cuts and short-sightedness. The useless Carousel of Progress building is a huge wasteland. Star Tours belongs somewhere else- if only they had a land dedicated to the Star Wars franchise. The centerpiece  Rocket Jets are uselessly grounded, making Dumbo more appealing. As beautiful as the land's lagoon is, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has run its course.

Space Mountain is the land's only redeeming factor. It's time to get ride of everything else and start fresh. Imagineering could have some great ideas. Will we see something at the 2026 D23? I doubt it, but I'd love to be wrong.

(Top photograph from DocumentDisney.)

A Better Experience Than What Disney Offers

Let's continue the new year together by thinking about others instead of ourselves. There's a great joy in serving, in having your eyes opened to something and stepping in to make a difference. The simple act of our obedience in taking action can lead to surprising, life changing results. (Usually, it changes us just as much as the people we serve.) Yet, we do not do this alone. God is always working: 

“Look among the nations, and see;

wonder and be astounded.

For I am doing a work in your days

    that you would not believe if told."

Habakkuk 1:5

Put God to the test. Ask Him to open your eyes to where you should make a difference and then walk in with your heart open. It may be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life!

Battle of the Castles: Ranking All The Disney Park Castles

Ever since Walt Disney opened his beloved Disneyland in 1955, no other structure has come to better represent a theme park than a castle. The Anaheim location changed the history of themed entertainment for good. Since that opening year, five other castle styled Disney parks have opened all over the world. Next up was Florida's Magic Kingdom in 1971, the first of four major parks in Walt Disney World. 

The first overseas park Tokyo Disneyland, opened its gates in 1983 in the beautiful country of Japan. A decade later on a different continent, EuroDisney aka Disneyland Paris made its debut in Europe in 1992. Two more Asian parks were next: Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005 and Mainland China's park in Shanghai opened in 2016. It will celebrate its ten year anniversary on June 16th. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will join the line-up in approximately 2030, the first Disney park in the Middle Eastern part of the world. Will it have its own castle? No one knows except the Imagineers working on the project. My guess is definitely yes. It's the icon of every park in the Disneyland mold. 

As a hard core theme park fan, it's only natural to rate and rank similar attractions and experiences in various similarly styled parks. And that is what I am going to do right now. 

We'll explore each castles' strengths and weaknesses, taking note of what makes them unique and notable. Will my ratings match yours? 

Special Mention: Beast's Castle, Tokyo Disneyland

An official photograph from the Oriental Land Company, owners of the Tokyo Disney Resort.

Contents: One sole attraction, The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast.

Strengths: Never before has this classic story based on Disney's animated film been so wonderfully told. Riding giant tea cups, guests journey into the castle and relive its memorable musical highlights. All within a full size, full scale building. Incredible!

Weaknesses: This is perhaps the most difficult attraction to experience in all of the Disney parks. Guests queue for hours and special purchase to ride passes sell out within minutes. 

#6,  Tokyo Disneyland

This gorgeous photograph by friend Len Yokoyama captures the beauty of Japan's Cinderella Castle at night. 

Contents: This lovely palace was once the home of perhaps the most frightening of all Disney attractions- Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour. The walk through attraction ended with a chilling encounter with the Horned King from The Black Cauldron. Villains are no longer in vogue in Tokyo, so it's now been replaced by the princess friendly Cinderella's Fairytale Hall. There are no shops or restaurants inside the castle itself.

Strengths: Cinderella Castle in Tokyo is the centerpiece of the best Magic Kingdom styled park in the world. The attractions are in top notch shape and the line up represents the best of Disney world wide as well as some attractions unique to the resort. The only remaining  Splash Mountain is here as is the incredible Pooh's Hunny Hunt.  

Weaknesses: Although it is smaller than its big sister in Florida, the main structure and design of the castle is a carbon copy. The shades of brown do provide some differentiation, but for a park as incredible as this one, it deserves its own unique representation. 

#5,  Shanghai Disneyland

Thanks to the now defunct Westcoaster, we have this eye opening shot of Shanghai's massive Enchanted Storybook Castle. 

Contents: Everything you want in a castle is here. The Royal Banquet Hall is a sit down restaurant that hosts the Disney characters. There's a small shop and the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where kids can be glammed up as their favorite princess for a price. 

Strengths: The interior of this castle- the largest of all in the Disney kingdoms- is quite remarkable. Large beautiful windows flood the interior with sunlight, and there is plenty of space to stretch out and explore. Enchanted Storybook Castle boasts not one but two attractions.  The“Once Upon a Time” experience is a walk through attraction exploring the story of Snow White. The other is a boat ride that goes around the castle gardens and into the structure itself, Voyage to the Crystal Grotto. 

Weaknesses: While certainly a landmark in the park, it's massive size causes it to lose in the charm department. Additionally, the boat ride should be a true E Ticket, but instead the journey is through simple gardens with props of statues instead of Audio-Animatronics and has a rather lackluster ending, downgrading its ranking. Making matters worse, this huge castle promises something wonderful on the other side but instead leads into a Fantasyland that is the least cohesive and ambitious the company has ever built. There's not even the classic It's A Small World to be found here. It's a strange mix of attractions. The atrocious appearance of the Alice in Wonderland maze, Tim Burton style, sits nearby traditional European cottages. 

#4,  Disneyland 

My photo above captures Sleeping Beauty Castle in its wintery garb. 

Contents: This castle has no restaurant but it does hold one walk through attraction focusing on the story of Sleeping Beauty, the animated film that was in production when Disneyland was being built. It's beautifully done and lovingly crafted using old school movie techniques with layers upon layers of charm. There is the Castle Candy Shop which used to be home to my father in law's favorite treat, chocolate licorice. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is in one of its wings, ready to transform kids into castle royalty all for a hefty price. 

Strengths: Walt Disney actually walked on this drawbridge and through the castle. There's something so special in this that it almost feels as if his presence is there. As the first one, it holds a tender place in my heart as the one where it all began. The countless times I've walked through at night while "When You Wish Upon A Star" played makes it a sentimental favorite. Walking through the castle leads guests into the most charming of all Fantasylands, a European inspired courtyard and into gardens and attractions based on fairy tales and a mini Alice in Wonderland area. 

Weaknesses: It's small. The tiniest castle of them all, and it feels like it. 

#3, Hong Kong Disneyland

A lovely photograph with no one in sight!

Contents: Originally, this castle was built on the cheap, a straight up replica of what was found in California. The suits said it was to honor the past, but fans could tell it was just a ploy to cut costs. Wiser heads eventually realized the park needed to be rebranded with a new icon. In place of Sleeping Beauty Castle, the new Castle of Magical Dreams was built on the skeleton of the previous structure. 

Strengths: The mountainous backdrop to the castle gives Hong Kong Disneyland's icon the most gorgeous setting ever imaginable. The color scheme is beautifully designed and the Imagineers created something beautiful from what they had to work with. 

Weaknesses: There's not much inside, only a small character meet and greet area and a shop. Additionally, this park's Fantasyland is very weak in its attraction list even if the other land's (Mystic Point and World of Frozen) are quite unique and ambitious. What is there is charming and detailed, created to perfectly fit in with the park's lush landscapes.

#2, Magic Kingdom

My photo from a less recent visit before they painted it a putrid pink.

Contents: There's no attraction to be found here, so the headliner is Cinderella's Royal Table, a character dining experience that offers rather good food for this theme park and wonderful views of the nightly fireworks show from its leaded glass windows. Of course, here is the original Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. 

Strengths: Imagineer Dorothea Redmond created the beautiful mosaic murals that tell Cinderella's story. A beautiful fountain rests in the courtyard. Perhaps its greatest plus is the fact the castle can be seen from the Seven Seas Lagoon as park visitors are making their way to the Magic Kingdom. 

Weaknesses: The once shaded and beautiful area in front of the castle has been replaced by astroturf with many of the trees removed. Also removed is the moat waterway that used to host the Plaza Swan Boats attractions. This relaxing journey offered kinetic energy as these graceful craft took riders on the canal past the entrances of each land and in and around the Swiss Family Tree House in Adventureland. 

#1, Disneyland Paris

Even a dreary gray day in Paris can't diminish my photograph of the greatest Disney castle of them all.

Contents: Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Castle) is not the largest but it easily packs the most rewarding of experiences, including two ways to tour it. There are two shops for trinkets to purchase and one sit down restaurant in its inner courtyard but not inside the castle itself.

Strengths: The design its unique, never to be duplicated. Based on the look of the movie it's drawn from, the hillside it sits on feels like France's  incredible Mont Saint Michel. The interior of it is no less spectacular. A tour upstairs takes guests past hand made tapestries and stained glass windows designed using Old World artisan techniques. The viewing gallery into the courtyard provides an outlook unavailable in any other park. Perhaps the self-guided tour under the castle is the most incredible. A full sized fire breathing dragon is found in the caverns below at La Tanière du Dragon makes this a one of a kind attraction not found anywhere else. Bringing even more magic, the Disney Imagineers designed a secret entrance to the lair beyond the visible ones exterior signs point to. Where is it found? Look inside the Merlin l'Enchanteur shop for a hidden pathway from a nondescript door just  inside. 

Weaknesses: The castle is in France, and the competition with other real French castles means that many people will never see it!

There you have it! The Disney park castles ranked bottom to top. Each are incredible in their own way and worth a visit.  How would you have ranked them?

Has My Ship Sailed?

When I first began the Insights and Sounds blog many years ago, 18 to be exact, it was never intended to be "All Disney All the Time". That's just not where my heart was. I certainly was tempted at times to go that route as so many folks were doing because of all the perks of being invited to special events and such. But I'm glad I stuck to my guns. 

Later, I also toyed with the idea of monetizing the site and then decided against that. You have little control of ad content on your site. Sadly, I've also seen un-family friendly material- actual pornography in the truest sense of the word- show up on family friendly sites I used to visit. One great one never recovered. All due to hackers I suppose, but it is unfortunate that there are those who want to expose children to such things.

Maybe most importantly, I wanted to be able to freely write about what I wanted to write about at any given time. Music, issues of faith and more. Or I chose not to write at all, as evidenced by stretches of time when there just wasn't anything of interest worth blogging about.

You Tube vlogging has now surpassed traditional blog sites. I do not have a face or a voice for video, so that is not a route I am going to follow. 

We will see what happens in the future. I certainly have many more things to write about and have some great posts planned. Will readers follow along or will they jump ship? Hard to say I guess.

Come back tomorrow for my first big Disney related post of the year...

Do Not Go to Disney World in 2026!

As you plan out your year, don't let Disney's hype machine trick you into thinking that 2026 is the year to go to Walt Disney World. It is not. Stop and think about it before you leap and spend all that money. The Magic Kingdom may be the most attended theme park in the U.S.A., but an enjoyable day there will be impacted by the huge expansion going on. Frontierland has become a world of walls since they demolished the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island to create a new area based on the Cars franchise. Piston Peak may end of being beautiful, but for now, it's a mess. The whole left side of the park is one huge crowd trying to navigate to Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Once Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens, it's only going to get worse. If you're a first time visitor to Walt Disney World, this will not make your visit memorable for the right reasons... nor will an iconic castle surrounded by scaffolding while it is being painted back to its original 1971 perfect color scheme.

There's more to Disney World than the Magic Kingdom you might say.  And you're right about that. Yet of the other three, two of the other parks, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom, both have major construction going on. Each of these parks have a minimal amount of existing attractions but there's walls o'plenty as well. A whole new Monsters Inc. land is replacing the Muppets at the Studios- and the Muppets are in fact replacing Aerosmith at Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. If stage shows are your thing, a day at the Studios could be satisfying. But if not, that's a lot of pressure to put on the rest of the ten whole attractions (or less) at the former Disney-MGM Studios. It's just not worth your money.

Over at Disney's Animal Kingdom, construction walls on the way to Expedition: Everest showcase just how little there is to do in this park. DINOSAUR will soon depart for good with a ride based on Encanto and a new Indiana Jones Adventure one the way. They open in 2027 at the earliest. Animal Kingdom is a gorgeous park, but it's better to wait when it all comes together.  The park's replacement for It's Tough to Be a Bug, Zootopia: Better Zoogether is not something worth visiting for. It's the same old 3D show in the Tree of Life Theater with a quickly thrown together story that feels cheap and self-serving. 

That leaves Epcot. If you're in the mood for a food festival, go early in the year. Otherwise, skip it as well and wait until 2027. Aside from a Soarin' film about America that will certainly stay around longer than they say, nothing new is coming in 2026, so hold out.

If you must go on vacation, head somewhere else in the States or travel to a different part of the world. The real world has so much to offer. You'll not be disappointed in visiting other cultures and interacting with the people, trying new foods, and seeing important historical sites. Disney can wait. Trust me, you'll be happy you did.