It's Flashback Friday.... didn't I just do one of these two days ago? This week went by fast!
As I was searching for photos of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Happy Birthday), I came across these pictures from a year ago. Seeing the excitement and pure happiness my Little Guy has in these pictures made me smile.
I took these pictures while we waited and watched the Pixar Play Parade at Disney California Adventure. Let's take a look through my then one year old's eyes shall we?
Here it comes!
Want to join in? It's easy! The only rules are that it must be a Disney flashback. Your flashback can be from 20 years ago or 1 month ago. It's your flashback so have fun with it.
Please grab the flashback button (copy and paste the code above) to help spread the word, and leave a direct link below to your flashback post. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to say hello to some of the other Disney Flashbacks.
For weeks we've been walking around boarded up walls to enter Disney California Adventure, but those days are gone. Friday guest were greeted with a brand new entrance to go through.
I love the blue tones they chose to paint it. I think it looks really nice and is a huge improvement.
Did you know that if you walk up Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure, there is a newer place to take your photo? Look for the red roofed gazebo with nautical bunting hanging above. Do you see it at the very end there? Let's get a little closer, shall we?
Ahhhh there we go. The Mickey shaped life saver at the front of the gazebo makes for a great spot to take a photo.
If you go earlier in the day you can find Mickey there to greet you too.
Little One showing Mickey the roller coaster.
Don't worry if you don't see Mickey out though because he takes turns with Duffy. Duffy is just across the way in his own photo area. The Little One got his picture with Duffy first, then we rode Mickey's Fun Wheel, while waiting for Mickey to return after Duffy was done taking pictures. If you want to know when one or the other will return for photos, you can ask the cast member that is the character handler that day. They will give you an exact time of that characters return.
The Animation Building in Disney California has a brand new animation loop.
I've always been a fan of relaxing in the lobby of the Animation Building and watching all my favorite movie clips. For the last couple of weeks the screens have been blank, but last weekend the new loop started back up. The Little One and I paid a visit the other day to see the changes, and after sitting there for two full loops before leaving, I do believe I may like this new loop a little more.
Hunchback of Notre Dame is no longer included (I have always been a fan of Clopin), but many current favorites are now included in the loop.
Here is the order in which they play:
Little Mermaid
Beauty and The Beast
Fantasia
Bambi
Finding Nemo
Snow White
The Incredibles
Jungle Book
Toy Story 3
Cinderella
Mulan
Monsters Inc.
Ratatouille
Lilo and Stitch
Tarzan
Pinocchio
Alice in Wonderland
UP
Lady and The Tramp
Tangled
Dumbo
Lion King
Cars
Pocahontas
Sleeping Beauty
Aladdin
Peter Pan
And then a remix of all the movies at the end.
Below are a few photos from the new animation loop, but it is really worth a visit for yourself as different images surround the whole room.
Lots of concept drawings are now included throughout the loop, which is very interesting to see how your favorite characters came to life.
One thing is certain... it will remind you how many great movies Disney/Pixar have put out over the years.
Disney Junior Live on Stage officially opens this Friday March 25, 2011 at Disney California Adventure, but my little one and I got a preview while at the park today. Take a look...
A new marquee for Disney Junior Live on Stage.
The show is exactly the same as when it was Playhouse Disney, but this time Jake and The Never Land Pirates take the place of My Friends Tigger and Pooh.
For those of you who never got a chance to see it before, the show is based around Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy all prepare a surprise birthday party for Minnie. Along the way Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, and Jake and the Never Land Pirates inspire each of the Clubhouse gang in the preparation for the party. With each short story from your favorite Disney Junior shows comes songs and audience interaction.
Which brings me to Jake and The Never Land Pirates. If you are a fan of the show as we are, then you will love this section of the show.
We get introduced to everyone with the opening theme song of the show. It's hard to not bop along, okay I'll admit it, I sang along too.
We then watch Jake, Izzy, Cubby, and Skully seek out Captain Hook and Mr. Smee to get back their stolen treasure chest. The audience is then asked to help chase the villains away by making crocodile chomps with their arms.
Once the treasure chest is recovered, everyone is awarded with gold doubloons that fall from the sky.
The new addition to the show fits in perfectly, and I think is actually more fun. I am a little biased though... I may not be Jake and The Never Land Pirates target audience, but I do love the show too.
The whole show is just under 25 mins and everyone sits on the ground (there are a few benches along the walls for adults).
Don't forget, the show officially opens this Friday March 25, but if you are in the park before then, check to see if they will be doing some more soft openings.
Updated 3/24/2011
My friend Michele from Power Shots Photography sent me this video she took, to share with my readers of the Jake and The Never Land Pirates segment. Thanks Michele!
