The First Theme Park Photograph

Sometimes the best family photos come from a place that's not a Disney theme park! Here's proof- my oldest son and his first visit to a theme park: Sea World in San Diego, California. My wife captured this photo, and it has remained one dear to my heart for all these years...

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Walt Disney World vs. Universal: September 2021 Trip Report, Day Five: A Private Tour of Rise of the Resistance and An Old School Imagineering Fan Encounters Universal Orlando

Rise of the Resistance was the attraction I most wanted to experience, but if I'm being honest, I was just as excited, maybe even more so, to go down the highway and see what Universal Creative did with Harry Potter. It had been years since I had been to Disney's main competitor, but I'd followed closely the buildout of the parks, attraction by attraction, all the new hotels, and City Walk. 

After successfully getting boarding group number 13 on our first day at Disney's Hollywood Studios, we knew what we had to do for our second day there. In fact, we ended up with boarding group #3- pretty impressive I'd say- and we had our son to thank. Fastest fingers in the West. 

Our first view of the First Order. Hmmm.

With such an early boarding group, we had to move quickly, so we high tailed it to the park, walking straight into Galaxy's Edge and right into the fully empty queue. There was no Rey, no BB-8, and absolutely no flight with Lieutenant Bek. Due to an outage with the first segments of the ride, we were ushered rather quickly into a Cast Member entrance and right into the room with the big reveal, seen above.

So effective is the conceit of being taken into space, that I was slightly surprised to realize this scene was actually in a ground level building. And then I thought, "Of course, it is! This is not real!" Well done, Imagineering! We were the only prisoners in our cell, and we were the only passengers in an escape pod. It was our very own private tour, and not a single cast member stepped out of character. Being alone trying to escape was an entirely new experience. 

We exited the attraction once more in awe as to what Imagineering had accomplished. Rise of the Resistance may not be what hard core Star Wars fans may have wanted,  but no one being objective can deny the ambition behind it. 

Still smiling after our second ride.

Wandering through Galaxy's Edge, we came full circle and decided a second ride on Star Tours was in order. New scenes and old seamlessly integrated on another thrilling ride with one of our favorite droids. I know Disney desperately wants to reinvigorate The Muppets, but I'd have no objection to letting Piggy, Kermit, and friends move to another area of the park so that the Star Wars world could encompass Star Tours. Will that happen? Probably not.

The Tune In Lounge is just not worth your time.

Wondering what to do next, we opted stopped for a drink and some shade at the Tune In Lounge. Be warned: It's very small, the drinks are expensive, and it is not easy for any party bigger than two people to sit together. It was our first and last time there.

Cool redo of the Monster Sound Studios building

but a disappointment.

Count me in as a big fan of the new Mickey Mouse animated shorts! They're witting and charming and irreverent. Vacation Fun began well until I started seeing slices of episodes found on Disney+ making the backbone of the film attraction. Yes, they were clearly in a rush to find a use for this theater and bring something kid friendly, so why couldn't they go the extra mile and create entirely new content? This left a very bitter taste in my mouth. On the other side of the park, Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy is mediocre, but at least it is entirely new.

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway was over an hour wait, and at this point the sun was blazing. Sadly, we passed it by, perhaps my one regret on this trip, and instead jumped onto Toy Story Mania. Though not originally a fan of it, the small shooter ride has grown on me a little bit, but the queue has to be relatively short for me to agree to wait. Admittedly, I do find breaking virtual plates quite fun. 

Moving on to Walt Disney Presents, this gallery remains a must-do stop. The models are always of particular interest to me, and the one of Spaceship Earth caught my eye. Oh, what EPCOT Center was- and will never be again. 

Our Disney adventure was ending.

At about 12:30pm, we decided it was time to leave the park, pick up our bags at Old Key West and head to Universal Orlando. The process was quick and easy. First, we opted for a roundtrip ride on the Skyliner before we departed our resort via Uber. In no time, we arrived at Universal. All I can say is "Wow!"

Everything you'd want and need 

at a price you can afford.

While staying at Universal Orlando's version of a budget resort moves you outside" the bubble", for $140 per night including tax, it is a vast improvement over what you'll find at Disney's All Star Resorts or Pop Century. In fact, this would also be true of Universal's gorgeous Royal Pacific Resort as well, but more on that in a few paragraphs.

Spacious and fresh.

The Dockside Resort is fresh, cool, hip, and appeals to the crowd that was clearly lacking at Disney: young professionals and blue collar workers in their 20s and 30s. Most with no kids or some with teens who were bored by princesses and wanted something more edgy. People were excited to be there, and it showed. The energy level was high- and it wasn't just because of the huge Starbucks in the spacious lobby. 

Our room was well appointed, very clean, and had every amenity we wanted or needed. It was a 30 second walk from the elevator to the large quick service restaurant/cafeteria and maybe a two minute walk from there through the main lobby to the bus stop. Around the corner from the lobby Starbucks was a nicely appointed bar, so there's options for everyone's drink of choice. 

After continual disappointment with Disney's busses, it was a pleasure to be able to board a Universal bus with never a wait of more than 5 minutes. Yes, five minutes- and when we left the parks after a long day there or at City Walk, the busses were actually lined up waiting to take guests to their hotels. Multiple busses for our resort lined up waiting to take us home. Let that sink in. They anticipated how they could best serve us. That, my friends, is excellent service. Service I used to find at Walt Disney World. Bravo, Universal!

Not quite wasted away but still as much fun without the regrets!

Once we got the lay of the land, we grabbed our bus and dropped off at City Walk. By this point we were quite ready to eat, and after walking around to see what our options were, an early meal at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville won out. What a terrific choice! My coconut shrimp was the best I'd had in years, and my margarita (what else, right?) was terrific. Both my wife and son really enjoyed their dishes and drinks as well. Service was relaxed and playful, and the atmosphere was family friendly but not childlike. Best of all was the ending: It was one of the least expensive sit down meals during our vacation at about 2/3 the cost of anything at Walt Disney World. I was quickly becoming a fan of this universe- but the true test would be the attractions and theming at the parks.

We'd have dinner here at the end of our first full day.

Beautiful skies and an exciting but relaxing environment.

The layout of the parks and City Walk was wisely put together. The Universal Studios park was on the far right side, Islands of Adventure on the left, and City Walk straddled a central lagoon right on the middle. The shopping and entertainment district is also hip, loud, in your face, and absolutely a lot of fun. Even though Halloween Nights was going on, the crowd coming in was polite and orderly. Again, this was the demographic we did not see at Disney. Even the beautiful Disney Springs had more older folks and much younger families revealing the gap in between. Both entertainment areas are uniquely their own. City Walk has two innovated miniature golf courses. Disney Springs has a tethered hot air balloon flight. Comparing the two is quite impossible. Oranges and apples as it were.

After walking off our delicious dinner, I shared with my son that I wanted to see Universal's Royal Pacific Resort so I could compare it to Disney's Polynesian. We boarded a launch for a nice quick cruise out of the lagoon and down a small manmade river before arriving at our destination. Again, service was fast and consistent, and we never had to wait for more than one boat. 

Overlooking the bridge to the entrance.

Simply beautiful!

The comparisons continued. I love Disney's Polynesian Village Resort; I love the Hawaiian Islands (and the Aulani); and I love all things tropical. The bar was already rather high. I was not expecting to love the Royal Pacific Resort, but I did. 

Was it the astounding price? Comparing the same date and similar rooms to that of the Polynesian, rack rates were $311 vs. $718 per night before tax. Really. A four hundred dollar difference! That's a lot of nice meals or a few theme park tickets.

The lobby surrounds a beautiful outdoor garden courtyard.

The surroundings immediately drew me in. The atmosphere here is lush, secluded feeling, and peaceful. The very lovely entrance gardens are terraced, evoking the feeling of a quiet and ancient tea plantation. 

Punctuated by palm trees of various types and other tropical flowers, Loews has certainly created a tranquil resort that takes your breath away.  The pool we saw was large and stylish and seamlessly integrated. The boat dock setting took me to the South Pacific- including a seaplane resting on the river- while winding paths and walkways invited a stroll under the moonlight. Each restaurant and bar was inviting with menus that were fairly priced. What more could you ask for? I did not need a castle view. 

The downside? Now I am torn about where to stay for our next visit! Disney's extras for resort guests are diminishing at a quick rate, and service is getting sloppy in some ways. Costs are rising, making a nice meal very, very expensive. Do I really need early access to the parks? Probably not. Uber makes transportation a snap. I think I've talked myself into the answer.

So far, I was quite impressed with "his resort", as my son refers to Universal. The true test for this Imagineering fan would be the parks. I'd heard Universal Creative had knocked it out of the park with all things Harry Potter, and I was excited to find out for myself. The Studios would be our next full day which meant Diagon Alley and the acclaimed Escape from Gringotts. I couldn't wait!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Friends and Family in Good and Bad Times

Ran across this old black and white photo as I was looking for some pics for a recent memorial service. Looks to be about 2010 at our oldest daughter's wedding. Thought I'd post it here for some keeping for later. Friends who are family- in the good and bad times. God is always good!

A Universal Glimpse of Things to Come

Can Universal Creative compare with Walt Disney Imagineering? This old school Imagineering fan finally got to see for himself. The results of their work with Harry Potter is impressive, no doubt. Truthfully, I was surprised by what I found, partially delighted and partially very dismayed. Walt Disney World has always held a special place in my heart. But now...

Stay tuned. I've been delayed by a lot of work and an untimely death in our circles of friends, but I'm planning to get to this as soon as I can.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Concept Art for a New Magic Kingdom in Asia

Is Bob Chapek planning for a new Magic Kingdom? Very well possible, as the man is not known for leaving any money making venture unturned. Certainly a major new theme park is the crowing achievement for any Disney CEO. So, what exactly is this piece of concept art? It is a piece for a new Asia Magic Kingdom. The artist is a Sklar, but it's not Marty Sklar. It's Andy Sklar. He was once part of an association of designers called Coroflot. 

Here's another piece of Andy's concept art- a proposal for Epcot for the Coral Reef Lounge. Obviously, the Living Seas has been invaded by Nemo and Friends at this point in time, soon to be surrounded by Moana as well. 

Will there be another Magic Kingdom is Asia? Certainly, but it's not the only location being looked at, I can guarantee you. No doubt China's population can make it worthwhile. Former CEO Robert Iger has already mentioned there are plans for other parks there. Again, you can bet Bob Chapek will want another kingdom as a feather in his cap.

Years back, I was the first to uncover some rare concept art for a proposed Dubai Disneyland. That was June 2014, and other sites took notice even as I took down the concept art as asked. They say sometimes lightning strikes twice! And I suppose it did.

The art above may be older, but you can rest assured yet one more Magic Kingdom is coming sooner than later to compete for guests. 

Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland will be followed by __________________.  Where? My guess is India!

What is yours?

(Art copyright Andy Sklar.)

The King of Disney's Fright-Filled Attractions

Vintage Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. (And I bet you expected something about the Haunted Mansion today, right?) It's a Disneyland favorite, and now the only ride with this theme in the Disney park empire. With the double tracked version of the ride in Florida's Magic Kingdom now long gone (R.I.P.), Mr. Toad also makes his home in Disneyland Paris, but only as the master of Fantasyland's fish and chips restaurant. 

From the GREAT Yesterland site.

This vintage photograph shows Disneyland's Fantasyland in its early charm. Even though the top photo's black, we know and can see the colorful buildings, and tournament banners, and pennants created a fun medieval environment to celebrate the joys of childhood.  Like large swaths of the park, the land has gone through so many changes and additions over time. The entire revamp of this fantasy world debuted in 1983, replacing the original theme into the European village we all know and love.

While a ride that ends in Hell is a very odd choice for a Fantasyland favorite, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride creates fun and thrills as it sends its riders on a crash course to the devil's final home of eternal torment. Unlike the ride, in reality when Jesus returns to rule and reign, the devil is not the master but instead the prisoner- and there is not an ounce of fun to be had. The last book of the Bible, Revelation, Chapter 20 tells us:

 "...and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

Disneyland's Toad poster

is a bit of false advertising!

After reading this, the Bible's very famous words about Jesus make sense- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:16-17)

In a sense, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride may be the most frightful of Disney Imagineering's scary attractions. It rightfully takes its place among the Haunted Mansion, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Phantom Manor, and the defunct Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour in Tokyo, and equally dead and missed Alien Encounter. You can find out more about each of these on the Insights blog- if you dare.

(Art and photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Always My Girl

The phrase may be politically incorrect these days, but that's just too bad! You're still my one and only love- and always my girl. I knew it in 1981 when this was taken, and I know it now. Love you!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Bringing Life to a Dry and Thirsty Land

We’ve been studying through the book of Isaiah on Sundays. It is a stark reminder for us who follow Jesus to rely on God and not the methods or politics of man. It’s also a great encouragement that God is for us, always paying attention, and always willing to work on our behalf when we call out to Him.

Sunday November 7 is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. It’s an important and personal day for our church family because we are deeply invested with brothers and sisters in a region where being a follower of Jesus comes with great risks. As a church, we have travelled there many times to serve alongside them, minister to them, and support them in all we can.  We laugh, we cry, we pray, and we rejoice together as families do. What a gift!

The work of our friends is very fruitful, and hundreds of people who believe in a different god come to faith in Christ and are discipled. Yet, many times the local people will not even consider hearing a reading from the Bible. This all raises an important question “In this spiritually dry land, how can they minister effectively without the written Word?”

Jesus provides the answer to this question in the Gospel of John: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,  even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17) 

In Biblical times, the scrolls containing God’s Word were owned by a select few as they were very expensive and not widely available. Most all the people were illiterate. When Jesus sent out The Twelve and the Seventy-Two in His power and authority- the first short-term mission trips- they went out in obedience, and God blessed them. The ministry of the Lord prevailed and the number of believers grew to epic proportions. This is due to the obedience of the believers who went out in their neighborhoods, towns, and all over the world, proclaiming Jesus and doing exactly what God told them to do. Despite their lack of access to the Word, they did not go out unprepared. They carried God Himself, the Holy Spirit, the very Author of the Scriptures, who lived within them and supernaturally empowered them for the work of the ministry. Today, our overseas family in goes out in the same manner- in obedience to God and in the power of His Holy Spirit. God is not limited by man’s need or shortcomings! In fact, He is glorified through them.

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land,

    and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,

    and my blessing on your descendants.”    

 (Isaiah 44:3)

The Book of Acts records the Sanhedrin were amazed by the courage of Peter and John because they were unschooled but realized they had been with Jesus. What a testimony where God got the glory! The Apostle Paul states we are not lacking in any spiritual gifts as we await Jesus’ return (1 Corinthians 1:7). The Holy Spirit is a person not a power, so we can ask Him for what we need. When we travel overseas, if we don’t know what to do, we seek God and ask, and He gives us wisdom in the moment (James 1:5). This includes God’s Holy Spirit bringing Scripture to mind exactly when we need it. We’ve seen this time and time again, both His direction and His protection. Our God is incredible!

 Our friends serve in a spiritually parched world of great risk and under great scrutiny. There are times the authorities step in, and even though this is troubling, they move forward with confidence in God. How many times they must have this Scripture come to mind: 

“And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12)

Today, I ask you to commit to pray for our overseas family! They need us- and we need them! They help keep our hearts focused on the eternal things of God. In our brave, new world, our thirsty and spiritually dry land, we too minister in difficult times. We need God to give us strength, wisdom, and to work through us as we obey His commands to love our neighbors and share the Gospel message of hope, love, and salvation with them. Just like believers of old and our friends on the other side of the world, He will give us what we need as we step out in faith! Yes, His love stretches to the ends of the earth- and He loves the people of Metro Denver as well!

(Copyright Mark Taft.)

Fall Color Shines

With an unseasonably long Autumn, the color even in our front yard is just amazing. On a cloudy day, the variety still shines through. Even the dying grass leaves a light tan color. We don't really know what we're doing in the garden, but regardless, the Fall color is just beautiful this year. So thankful to God for our humble home.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Walt Disney World vs. Universal: September 2021 Trip Report, Day Four- Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs

 

Almost our last day at Walt Disney World of perhaps our shortest trip ever. Having never done this before, we saved one third of our time away for Universal Orlando. What a great move on our part, but more on that later. 

What's not to love about the Magic Kingdom? All the classic Disney Imagineering attractions are found there, and aside from Pirates of the Caribbean and maybe It's A Small World, the superior versions of those shared by both the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland mostly reside in Florida. 

The main objective for the day was doing some old favorites (like the beloved Peoplemover) and letting my son see New Fantasyland, particularly Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Then, we wanted to have a drink at Trader Sam's Grog Grotto and check out the Polynesian Village Resort before heading off for Disney Springs if possible. This necessitated an early start only accomplished by bus.

If You Had Wings... sorry, wrong attraction!

I was prepared to strongly dislike the paint scheme on Cinderella Castle. I didn't, but I certainly didn't love it. The original palette of gray/white/blue, colors designed by Imagineer Herb Ryman, remains far superior, more royal and elegant, to what came after it- including the infamous 25th Birthday "cake" makeover. 

We queued to go right at the end of Main Street into Fantasyland by the Mad Tea Party. Upon rope drop, we realized the newest Magic Kingdom coaster was not operating at opening, so we quickly moved on to Peter Pan's Flight while it was a 10 minute wait. Wise move as the park became quite full later in the day and the wait was 40 minutes or more. While they stopped for sunscreen, I walked around nearby taking photos of the area and peaked inside It's A Small World to see the clock's new paint job. Very nice!

It's these added touches that make me appreciate Florida's mansion.

In quick succession after our pit stop was Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Jungle Cruise. The recently made over Disney boat ride- a classic since opening day- held our longest wait of the day at just about 30 minutes. 

While I prefer New Orleans Square at Disneyland to Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom, it was time to admit that the Florida Mansion is superior to that of the California home of 999 happy haunts. Even without the Hat Box Ghost. It's not to say it's perfect, but its strengths outweigh the weaker areas. 

The Dutch Gothic Revival style home is intimidating to eerie effect. The interactive queue is an unnecessary addition, but the physical ride portion inside the mansion is longer and much more elaborate. The end of ride walkway past the crypt is a nice touch. It's grand but humorous and totally unexpected. The attraction is also available in its original form year round, and that my friends, is a big plus. Where Haunted Mansion Holiday wears thin, the original classic version stands the test of time. 

You have to ride the new version and decide for yourself.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Jungle Cruise. Which of these "E Tickets" are not better in the Magic Kingdom? Only one- the truncated pirate adventure. We got on them so quickly, one after another. 

Monkeys. Why does it have to be monkeys?

With the only real wait being for the Jungle Cruise, it was amazing how much we did in so little time. What about all the changes to this opening day attraction? Absolutely nothing special. Lots of monkeys and low on creativity. If it wasn't for the rest of the classic attraction, I wouldn't bother riding again. Sadly, our skipper was really wimpy, too soft-spoken, seemingly bored, and just uninterested in giving us a great experience. His puns were delivered without energy or style. He wouldn't last ten minutes in the jungle. A very unconvincing presentation. All these factors combined took us right out of the story, turning our should be classic adventure into just another leisurely stroll through any mid-size city's botanical gardens. The new contemporary story is noticeably forced and unnecessary- like much of modern Imagineering when it tries to be relevant instead of remembering what it does best. Your mileage may vary. 

From the top of the underrated Swiss Family Treehouse.

After a quick meal, I took a stroll to the treetops and rewarded myself with a Dole Whip. The Swiss Family Treehouse is an old school styled attraction that lets guests really imagine what it would be like to be in another time and place. It's rich and imaginative, allowing you to get lost in the story and linger. This is something missing from so many attractions designed by younger Imagineers without training from classic mentors before them. Do they just want to thrill us or slap the quickest ways to infuse an intellectual property into a previously built area? Maybe they have no choice. Not every story needs a villain nor does something have to go terribly wrong. The variety of attraction types and emotional connecting points is part of what made the first three Disney parks remarkably balanced and layered. 

The land of the future?

On to Tomorrowland! It needs Tron Light Cycle Run and very quickly. Not only am I very excited to ride it, but I want to be able to take a trip on the Walt Disney World Railroad again. Most importantly, Space Mountain needs to have its track replaced. Badly. It's more than rough and the equivalent of Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds. It is a painful ride. Nearby, Buzz was a brief amount of fun, but the clear winner was easily the classic WEDWAY Transit Authority Peoplemover. Traveling above it all and getting some great views brings a fresh perspective on how great the Magic Kingdom can be. 

All that was really left was Fantasyland, the newer rides there, a trip through It's a Small World, and Mickey's Philharmagic. Surprisingly, our son really enjoyed the Dwarf's mine train ride! After a fairly quick 25 minute or so wait, we were on. It was zippier than he expected with its tight curves and gently rocking cars, and I think that surprised him. I still don't like the use of projected face animatronics, but again, I'm fairly old school.

It's what inside that counts.

Our son was only mildly impressed with Ursula on Ariel's Undersea Adventure, but the attraction as a whole was not worth any additional comment. Pretty neutral on New Fantasyland as a whole. Aside from the coaster, it seemed the new buildings and landscaping promised something not worth the actual experience contained inside. Walking by Be Our Guest Restaurant didn't even register a response. That is telling! The area should be a standout as it represents one of Disney's most beloved films. But he is not the 6 year old girl that is the target audience here. After sampling a variety of items at Gaston's Tavern, we moved onto the last two attractions of our visit. 

This photograph is very similar to an image

that represented the attraction in early promotional materials.

Even after all these decades, It's A Small World remains one of my favorites. I am not immune to its simple charms. The themes of harmony, loving your neighbor, and genuinely appreciating cultural differences are needed more than ever in our fractured, broken, and lost world (which is in need of a Savior- but that's a different conversation). Mickey's Philharmagic still seemed fresh, and I can only wait to see the addition of Coco and how it impacts the show.

The entrance gardens are better than I thought they would be,

but the new lobby is still a loss of epic proportions.

Leaving the park at about 2:45pm for the Polynesian, this was perhaps my least amount of time at the Magic Kingdom ever. We stopped at the front for a photo or two. Then after debating monorail or boat, it was a short breezy cruise to my once favorite Disney Resort. 

Being on the water traveling is one of my favorite experiences at Walt Disney World! This was a trip where we didn't ride the monorail once, and surprisingly, I didn't miss it at all. The Skyliner may have filled that gap. Hard to say, but I know each trip with each group is different, holding unique experiences. Unfortunately, we were offered a two hour wait for a spot inside Trader Sam's Grog Grotto. Nope. There's not a single restaurant or bar on the property worth that. In its place, it was off to Disney's Springs. Stopping to use our Disney Experience app to book our locations for drinks and a meal, we hit the jackpot!

I'm not the only one that loves travel posters!

I find them all over the Disney parks,

and as you'll soon see, they're all over Universal Orlando as well!

The suits and Imagineering hit a grand slam home run with Disney Springs. I now see it as the 5th park on the property. It is worth your time in even the busiest schedule as it is the home of some of the best places to eat and shop on the property. (This used to be Epcot, but the food has been mostly watered down to American palettes and the merchandise is now less appealing- more geared to all things Mickey and in places you don't expect.) 

Of course, there's the requisite World of Disney store, but beyond that, this is the place you want to go for some unique merchandise in a setting that is sophisticated yet fun, themed but not over the top in your face. For those of you who have been to Universal Orlando but not Disney Springs, think of it as the "Anti- City Walk", and you'll get the idea. Be forewarned: the place is just packed on the weekends!

Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar was a spot we couldn't get into last visit, but this time being midweek, it was a very short ten minute wait. This Indiana Jones themed location was just what was advertised. Great execution of the story with tons of detail referencing his adventures, an exotic drink menu, solid appetizers, and an interesting and engaging wait staff. 

We decided to set aside a couple of hours to walk around, enjoy the setting sun on the lake, and do a little souvenir shopping. It was a pleasant break from the non-stop theme park environment. Dinner was next.

This was what I had wanted to experience since it first opened...

The Edison. Wow. Look, I just love the food at Morimoto Asia and had a blast (and a great meal) at Raglan Road, but dinner at this steampunk restaurant and bar was at the very top of my Disney Springs must-do list from the day it opened. Vintage turn of the century era Paris and the city's Discoveryland at the French Magic Kingdom rank as some of my favorite atmospheres. Finding a place absolutley steeped in this look, complete with staff in the mood specific suits and live jazz set the stage for a great evening together. We all agreed it was one of the best places in either resort. You have to explore the restaurant to see all the individual very creative touches they put in it. A very thoughtful design!

... and I was not disappointed!

The menu's limited but excellent and innovative in taste and presentation. The drinks were unique and delicious (and pricey). The service is friendly but top notch.  I wont go into any more detail about the actual meal. This isn't the great Disney Food Blog.

SO good!

Live entertainment only adds to the excellence of it all. The in house band, a trio, was smoking hot, even taking modern day pop hits and putting them in an inventive jazz combo arrangement that made me stop to place where I've heard the song before. I'm huge music fan, everything from the early 20th century to present day. This blog is called Insights and Sounds for a reason, but it took me awhile to recognize Meghan Trainor's sharp and funny Dear Future Husband in a very convincing, authentic sounding flapper era arrangement. Well done! The lead vocalist song stylings were the icing on the cake.  All said, it was the kind of night at The Edison that I had in my mind long before it actually materialized. I'd go again in a heartbeat. And you should as well!

Tomorrow would be our last day at Disney. We settled on the Studios to get one more ride on Rise of the Resistance. Would we get on? Then, it was off to Universal Orlando so my son could show us "his" parks. What would an old school Imagineering fan discover? Plenty!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Siblings Three

Growing up oh so fast! But what great kids they are!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Led Zeppelin and the Carpenters Together?

Two diametrically opposite acts together? Sweet Karen Carpenter and hard rocking Led Zeppelin? What's going on? Well, the question is answered in this new release of MOJO magazine. They're both represented on the cover, but it's the article where Richard Carpenter gives an extensive interview in support of his upcoming book by Mike Cidoni Lennox and Chris May- Carpenters: The Musical Legacy that surprises. The article has a killer tagline quote: "We were high ego and low self-esteem." Should be a fascinating book!

Rarely Seen Indiana Jones Stunt Show Art

In a park with so few attractions, the absence of the Indiana Jones Stunt Show stands out. It is a huge people eater- even if it is one of the remaining original attractions from 1989. And it desperately needs an update. Back then, the Disney-MGM Studios was all about what went on behind the scenes, and this exciting presentation brought guests inside those beloved movies with Harrison Ford. Now, it's all about riding the movies. Behind the scenes is no longer new and fresh, but that side of the park remains as it was. Both somewhat charming but also old and stale. For now.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Will Disneyland's Plaza Point Holiday Shop Celebrate My Culture Too?

The Plaza Point store looks nice! In my culture, we celebrate Christmas and especially Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus. I'd love to see some ornaments that reflect my culture and not just Santa or the Easter Bunny. Can we have that at Disneyland, Imagineer Kim Irvine?

(Photograph copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Fun on the Farm

The Disney Parks aren't the only place to celebrate Fall! Colorado like many states, is filled with great locations to enjoy the sun and the harvest with your family. Anderson Farms is one of the best!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)