Restaurant Changes on Main Street, U.S.A.,at Disneyland Park:

We love it when our favorite spots expand,and there are some big changes coming for Main Street, U.S.A.,in 2012. Here's what you can look for:

The Blue Ribbon Bakery is moving and getting a new name:Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, from the "Mary Poppins" song, "Oh, it's a jolly holiday with Mary..."The bakery moves to the Plaza Pavilion (at the top of Main Street, U.S.A.) with plans to open in early January. In addition to the bakery and espresso offerings, the new menu has some delicious new tastes, such as an Angus roast beef salad with blue cheese, a Caprese sandwich with tomatoes, Buffalo mozzarella, basil, butter lettuce and garlic aioli on toasted focaccia bread, and a classic pastrami reuben on rye.

Carnation Cafe is expanding with more indoor seating- the Blue Ribbon Bakery move is part of that expansion plan, as Carnation Cafe spreads out to take over the space and offer more air-conditioned seating. Work starts in January, and they'll have a new menu that will showcase longtime favorities (and we've heard it inculdes milkshakes).

Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor is getting a little makeover, too, and adding root beer, Coca-Cola and orange cream floats to the menu. And the block makeover wraps up at Resfreshment Corner-construction starts early next year.


Disenyland will never be complete...Dr Lee

Thanksgiving at the Disneyland Resort:

Drumsticks,stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravey-we're already dreaming of a delicious Thanksgiving dinner without turning on the stove. And Disneyland Resort has more than a dozen spots for turkey day.
"A Disney Family Thanksgiving Feast" is a cornucopia of delectable tastes, served from noon to 6p.m. on Thursday, Nov.24,2011 in the Grand Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel. The ballroom will be transformed for the harvest, with Chip & Dale and other Disney friends joining the fun-don't forget your camera!!

From roast breast of turkey and prime rib to stuffing,sweet potato souffle,fresh cranberry orange relish and smashed potatoes and gravy, you'll be transported to your mom's table. Add fancy fresh salads, artisan cheeses,smoked salmon and poached shrimp, and you've got something for everyone. Save room for pumpkin and pecan pies,tarts,cookies and other sweet endings.

Kids get their own buffet with favorites such as pizza,mac and cheese,chicken and fresh corn.

Cost is $71.99 ages 10 and up, $20.99 ages 3 to 9, free under 3 (tax and gratuity extra). Four-hour complimentary parking included ($6 per hour after four hours).

In the parks, there's everything from turkey and trimming at Ariel's Grotto, Wine Country Trattoria and Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Disney California Adventure park to traditional goodies at Cafe Orleans, French Market, Carnation Cafe,Plaza Inn and Blue Bayou in Disneyland park.

In the resorts,head to Steakhouse 55 or Goofy's Kitchen at Disneyland Hotel, Napa Rose and Storyteller's Cafe at Disney's grand Californian Hotel and Spa, and Disney's PCH Grill at Disney's Paradise Pier Hoyel.Guests love the roasted butternut squash soup with creme fraiche at Steakhouse 55.

I am full just typing this,yummy...Dr Lee

Snow White's house for sale:

The home of Adriana Caselotti, the voice of Snow White from Walt Disney's first half full-length animated feature film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," is for sale.

Caselotti designed and built the Larchmont Village home where she and her husband J. Dana Costigan lived. The Los Angeles community is near the Wilshire Country Club.

The home was built in 1976 and is now on the market for $995,000. It was originally put on the market nearly a year ago at $1.5 million, according to Kirk Gerou of Prudential Realty.

Gerou said he took over the listing two months ago and the price was reduced.

The two bedroom home is built primarily of cedar wood and has a definite Asian influence outside, including a wishing well in the Japanese Tea Garden styled exterior.

A tropical themed painting by Disney artist R. Mitchell is inside the living room and will stay with the house.

The classic film came out in 1938. Caselotti died in 1997. Gerou said her heirs decided to sell the house.


A part of disney history...Dr Lee

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort begins November 14,2011..

Now that all the ghosts and ghouls are heading back inside the Haunted Mansion, it's time to get ready for Holidays at the Disneyland Resort!!
From November 14 thru January 8,2012 the Disneyland Resort transforms into a winter wonderland, with twinkling lights, fireworks and even snow!! Here's a peek at some of the holiday festivtites we're getting ready for this year.

Mickey's Toontown will debut an 18-foot cartoon-style Christmas tree in front of Toontown City Hall, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse will each have their own Christmas trees at their homes.

At The Disney Gallery on Main Street,U.S.A., "All Aboard for A Grand Circle Tour of the Trains of Disney!" will display vintage and new art celebrating Walt Disney's love of trains.

In Disney California Adventure Park, a holiday addition to the "World of Color" nightime water spectacular will feature Lanny and Wayne, Santa's techno-savvy elves from the "Prep & Landing" holiday specials.

Phineas and Ferb will be throwing a rockin', rollin' holiday party on the streets of Disney California Adventure Park, inviting guests to join the fun.

Along with all the new and exciting touches, guests favorites like "A Christmas Fantasy" parade, the nightly snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A., "it's a small world"Holiday, Haunted Mansion Holiday and Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle will also be returning this year.


Love Chistmas at The Disneyland Resort...Dr lee P.S. Happy Holidays

Vault 28 celebrates 5-year anniversary:

Since opening on Nov.12,2006, Disney Vault 28 in the Downtown Disney District has offered shoppers a wide variety of trendy clothing and gifts- with an upscale Disney edge. The "28" in the name of the contemporary style boutique gives a nod to 1928, when Mickey Mouse first came to life. The eclectic store is themed as an abandoned bank that was converted into a boutique. It features an ever-changing mix of clothing and accessories for men and women as well as a select range of gifts and home accessory items.


Like shopping at the Downtown Disney District...Dr Lee

Guide books:

When visiting the Disneyland Resort and if you are not flunt in English, no worries. Here at the Disneyland Resort, guide books come in different languages.

1...Deutsch * German

2...Portugues * Portuguese

3...Espanol * Spanish

4...Chinese

5...Francais * French

6...Japanese

7...Korean

8...Italiano * Italian

9...and of course, English.

So were ever you call home, your stay at the Disneyland Resort will make memories for a life time. From the start of your day and throughout all that you decide to see,ride,explore,smell,taste,drink,share with those with you,"Your Guide Book" will inform you about all that is there for you to enjoy.
However, if at any time you need something, stop any Cast Member you happen to see and ask them for more information. Remember, City Hall is located on Main Street U.S.A. and is always ready to assist our Guests.

Bar is open...Dr Lee retired, June 20, 2007 5:30 p.m. age 55th birthday

It's official: we have a new princess!!

By proclamation of the powers of Disney, Rapunzel, star of "Tangled," is now an official Disney princess.

In a London celebration hosted at Kensington Palace on Oct.2 2011, Rapunzel was crowned the 10th Disney princess joining Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Snow White and Tiana.

Since the November 2010 release of the movie, Disney's 50th full-length feature animated film has become one of the top 10 grossing Disney movies of all time, ahead of "Toy Story," "Beauty and the Beast," "Cars," and "Toy Store 2." Due to the overwhelming popularity of the film, it's no surprise that the No.1 sellling Disney princess costume this season at the Disneyland Resort is Rapunzel.

What a great movie...DR LEE

Disney's haunting Halloween history:

Today we know it as Mickey's Halloween Party- the only opportunity for guests of any age to dress up in halloween costumes at the Disneyland Resort. However, the popular after-hours trick-or-treat party was called Mickey's Halloween Treat! when it debuted in 1995. It ran for two years and then resurfaced at Disney California Adventure Park in 2005 as Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party. The party moved back to Disneyland Park in 2010 and adopted its current name: Mickey's Halloween Party.

The Walt Disney World Resort has been hosting a similar event since 1995, called Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. What started as a one-night event at the Magic Kingdom quickly grew in popularity, transforming into multiple-night party that includes a pre-parade ride of the Headless Horseman from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." As the sounds of the horse's clip-clops echo down Main Street, U.S.A.,Guests anxiously await a glimpse of the beheaded ghost as he searches for his head.

Disney villains:

Ursula: Villain? Little ol' me? Preposterous! Certainly I've been called some very unflattering names-"nasty,"-"witch"- but really, I'm simply misunderstood. I want what every merperson wants-happiness. Oh, and of course Triton's kingdom, too, but I'm worth it, aren't I?

Hit Film..."The Little Mermaid" (1989)
Likes...eels,the color purple,the perfect spell
Dislikes...Mermaids, singing fish and crabs


Maleficent:the Mistress of All Evil, I am without equal or peer.

Hit Film..."Sleeping Beauty" (1959)
Likes...dragon,fire
Dislikes...heroic mice,knights on white horses


Queen of Hearts..."Your Highness of Hissy Fits" for being the "overlord of outbursts" and the "ruler of rage." You should be warned my dear, "if I lose my temper, you should lose your head!!!!! Understood?

Hit Film: "Alice in Wonderland" (1951)
Likes...red,hearts,croquet
Dislikes...people,spades, diamonds and clubs

Love the Disneyland Resort during the hoilday season...DR LEE

Disneyland Mine Train:

Before there was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a roller coaster that hustles about, there was a battery-powered mine train that rolled along in that same stretch of Disneyland, an attraction that its former cast members fondly remember. Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland was the first major attraction added at the park following its summer 1955 opening.
"Walt's choice was, right after Disneyland's first summer, "What do we do next? We'll do a railroad. They're easy to design and build."
The train took guests on a journey through Rainbow Caverns; it eventually was expanded to include a trip through Nature's Wonderland including visits to Beaver Valley, Bear Country and the Painted Desert. The landscape was barren desert with large boulders; there were geysers, a wooden bridge over the water and large bears, one in the water with a fish in it's mouth. The men who worked the attraction as attraction hosts formed a club, the Order of the Red Handkerchiefs. Part of their costumes were red handkerchiefs, worn around the neck, then that costume was changed,and then this red handkerchief were carryed in their pockets. At first, the attraction hosts did live spiels, that was changed to a recording and the attraction hosts would focus on driving the trains.
This was Walt's Disney favorite park attraction: When he brought guests to Disneyland, he would take them to the Golden Horseshoe to watch the live show then have the guests take a mine-train ride.
Disney also used to walk the track to keep an eye on the auto-animatronic animals that populated the attraction.There are still signs of the long-gone attraction. Along the banks of The Rivers of America are some of the original tracks, coming out of two tunnels. Along the trail next to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad sits the pond that was home to Bear Country, along with the other side of the two tunnels.
Many of the buildings around the waiting line for Big Thunder are the same ones from the mine Train. That area is still referred to as the town of Rainbow Ridge, like it was for the original Mine Train attraction.
The attraction closed in 1977, because of the attraction's limited capacity and the park's desire for an attraction with more thrills. Also, there was rarely a line for Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland during its last years.
Once a year, cast members gather for dinner and to swap stories about working on the attraction. Because of the cast members dwindling numbers, it now allows anyone who worked on the west side of the park while the Mine train was opened to join. Early next month, in an Anahiem hotel, the stories will fly again.


I remember as a kid, riding this attraction...DR LEE RETIRED, BARTENDER

Gingerbread House:

Each year, Entertainment designers create one of the most anticipated Halloween Time decorations-the gingerbread house in the Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction. And this year is no exception.
Every year is a new challenge to outdo last years creation. This year, something new was added,gumdrops that light up...taking our guests into the eerie world of Jack Skellington. The foundation of the 6-foot house is made of wood and wired for animation. It then goes to the Disneyland Resort Central Bakery, where it is meticulously adorned with 500 pounds of gingerbread, 10 yards of fondant and miles of frosting and oversized candies.
To commemorate the 11th season of the holiday overlay based on Tim Burton's "the Nightmare Before Christmas," a new line of pins are now avaiable. These pins are replicas of each gingerbread display from the past decade. The Haunted Mansion Hoilday Gingerbread Mystery Collection will debut Oct.8,2011.


Love Halloween/Christmas time at the Disneyland Resort...DR LEE

Hawaii Disney Cruise:

Due to an overwhelming response to its first Hawaiian itinerary, Disney Cruise Line is adding a second Hawaiian cruise from Los Angeles to its 2012 schedule. The Disney Wonder will sail through the breathtaking beauty of the Hawaiian islands, where Guests can experience the famous beaches of Waikiki on Oahu, see the views from high atop the summit of Haleakala Crater on Maui, take in the lush tropical gardens and waterfalls of Kauai and, on the Big Island, explore the natural wonders of the world's most active volcano.

The 15-night Hawaiian itinerary, which includes nine days at sea, departs April 29,2012. The newly added 14-night Hawaiian itinerary, with eight days at sea,departs Oct. 14,2012.

Disney Cruise Line offers an array of itineraries departing from the West Coast, including cruises to the Mexican Rivera,Pacific Coast and Alaska.


sounds amazing.....brings back memories from my cruise on the Disney Magic, April/May 2008?? DR LEE

P.S. Oct. cruise sounds nice??

Walt Disney World Resort celebrates 40 years:

On Oct. 1,1971, Walt Disney World Resort welcomed its first Guests, fulfilling Walt Disney's dream for a built-from-scratch, all-encompassing family vacation destination. Adventureland, Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square and Tomorrowland all gleamed that fall morning as the first Guests streamed into Magic Kingdom Park and its two hotels.
The resort, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary throughout the month of October, today has grown to include four theme parks, two water parks,four championship golf courses and a shopping and dining district. Its Cast Member population has soared from 6,000 to 62,000.
To celebrate this milestone, Magic Kingdom Park is rolling out special anniversary merchandise and memorabilia(much of it adorned with the famous Flordia Orange Bird), a special fireworks show and a character cavalcade culminating in a celebration at Cinderella Castle on October 1,2011-complete with a sing along.


Disney World is fun...DR LEE

Halloween Time :

No tricks-only treats...

Halloween Time is back at the Disneyland Resort through Oct. 31, featuring specialty food, drink and merchandise offerings that are scary good.

Just Desserts:
Resort bakeries are serving pumpkin-spice Halloween Time cupcakes- a perfect treat to reward yourself after riding Ghost Galaxy. If gingerbread is more your taste, head to Cafe Orleans for Haunted Mansion Holiday beignets. At select table service restaurants, delicacies come served in a ghoulish Donald Duck demitasse (that's a fancy French word for "half cup").

Spooky Snacking:
A coffin, Jack says, makes a fine popcorn bucket! Find them in New Orleans Square and Frontierland, or Ghost Mickey popcorn buckets throughout both parks.

Runaway Brain:
Oh,no! A monstrous Mickey Mouse has jumped out of his classic 1995 animated short, joined by Minnie, Donald,Goofy and Tinker Bell sporting villainously cool costumes. Find them on coffee mugs,pens,yard flags and more.

Pumpkin Mickey:
Bring home Mickey's gourdesque likeness in ornament form, or on a unique candle votive. Specialty merchandise is available at Disney Showcase,Pioneer Mercantile,Off the Page and World of Disney.

The Disneyland Resort takes Halloween to a new level of family fun and memories....Dr Lee

Embarking on a new fantasy:

The D23 Expo at the Anahiem Convention Center, held Aug. 19-21 was bigger and better than ever this year, featuring new merchandise and opportunities to meet popular Disney artists. There were plenty of surprises, too. One of the biggest came when Tom Staggs, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, announced that the boundaries of Fantasyland at Disneyland Park will be expanded with a new experience called Fantasy Faire.
The project will transform Carnation Plaza Gardens Stage into a storybook village where Guests will be immersed into the stories of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Tangled." Surrounded by fairytale cottages and pavilions, Guests will travel to the heart of the village square-Tangled Tower. The village will come alive with activities and entertainment, including a Royal Ribbon Parade where Guests can dance and interact with their favorite Disney princesses. And at night, the Fantasy Fairs Stage will feature the classic music and dancing offerings that Guests have loved for years.

Disney is all about change...DR LEE

Halloween Time ,Disneyland Resort:

Halloween Time returns to the Disneyland Resort from Sept.16 through Oct. 31, 2011, and villainous surprises await Guests at both parks. Here's your briefing on all things bewitching.

Seasonal decor and entertainment:
Both parks will be spookily adorned, with special atmosphere entertainment along Main Street, U.S.A. and at Big thunder Ranch Barbecue. Classic Disney villains will make appearances at Disneyland Park along with other favorites dressed in their spooky best.

Food,beverage and merchandise:
Did someone say pumpkin spice latte? They're back along with seasonal treats from the resort's bakeries and candy kitchens. Fact: they're enjoyed more while wearing a Halloween-inspired Mickey ear hat.

Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy:
The green glowing exterior should be your first clue something's amiss. Creepy creatures are haunting Space Station 77- prepare for a close encounter like no other.

Haunted Mansion Holiday:
This is Jack Skellington's 11th year of decking the mansion halls. If the first 10 were any indication, one thing's certain: the goblin king's cooking up a mean gingerbread house.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror:
You know this "tall" tale happened on Halloween night in 1939, right? "Drop in" and refresh your memory.

Micky's Halloween Party:
On select nights, Sept. 30 through Oct.31, everyone's invited to scare up a costume and trick-or-treat across Disneyland Park. It's the exclusive place to see the boo-tiful Halloween Screams fireworks.


My costume this year will be, A Bartenter,Ha-Ha...DR LEE