The Magic Never Ends

While chatting with the cashier at the grocery store the other day, she told Caity that she had been a few times to Disneyland and that it felt new and different every time.    And she is absolutely right.   I have been 5 times now over the years and it was a different experience every single time.   There is always something new to experience and this trip was no exception.

For disclosure I was at a media event and my travel, hotel and park pass expenses were covered by Disney.  I did bring along my family to share the experience and see the fun through their eyes.  This was Tara’s first time at the Magic Kingdom and it was a delight for all of us to see it through her eyes.  Caitlyn loved remembering what she had seen and done when she was there at pretty much the exact age Tara was now.

One of the amazing things about Disneyland and the California Adventure park is that the new things don’t feel new…..it is like they have been there all along.

Patrick and I stood scratching our heads trying to figure out what the entrance to the California park looked like 5 years ago and were stumped.  Buena Vista St. looks like it has been there all along and the AMAZING Carsland looks quite happy where it is now.

 

Everything always looks and feels just right and that is the magic of Disney.

Being a media trip, we were invited to check out the Fantasy Faire, which is the newly revamped Fantasyland add on and the premier of the great new show Mickey and the Magical Map.  We had also arrived smack dab in the middle of grad week and the insane Monsters Inc., 24 hours of fun which is the kick of for their Monstrous Summer.    There was a LOT going on.

We covered a lot of ground on this trip, I don’t even know where to begin.  I think telling you about the new show; Mickey and the Magical Map is probably the best point.

Disney knows how to put on a show and Mickey in his Sorcerer’s Apprentice mode is so fun. It was a treat for all of us to see the mischievous side of the beloved mouse again.  The show takes place in the newly refurbished Fantasyland Theatre.  The show is a mixture of live singing and dancing and the magic of the ‘map’ which fills the stage.  We also meet a reluctant blank spot that doesn’t want to be coloured by an overly enthusiastic Mickey who then chases it through the map and brings us to many wonderful locations where we meet (again) King Louie from The Jungle Book, Rapunzel and Flynn from Tangled, Sebastian from The Little Mermaid and many more.

I took Tara with me as my special guest and she loved every single minute of it.

Disney knows attention spans of kids and never goes over that time.  They keep the pace fast and the music loud and the scenes colourful.

It was loads of fun.

Tara and I finished our evening at a private event at Fantasyland where we had the luxury of going on rides like Peter Pan and Snow White and – Tara’s favourite – the Carousel over and over again WITH NO LINEUPS.  It was awesome.

I will share more of our experience in later posts, including a look at staying at the Grand Californian vs an off site hotel.