Disneyland Update and News: New Arrivals at DLR

Since my last update, many new things have opened throughout the Disneyland Resort. Since then, a new restaurant, new store, and the brand news Games of the Boardwalk have opened. Even the maps are new, showcasing all the new stuff in the resort. In this update, you'll hear all the news, plus a review of Disneyland's Celebrate: A Street Parade. On the sadder side, Yamabuki is closing. Let's go! (Please note that all photos in this update are found on MintCrocodile's SmugMug account.

Bibbidy Bobbidy Botique
This may not be that exciting, but still it's new. This store is more or less like Club Libby Lu. More info and pics will follow in a future update. Stay tuned!

The Celebration Ranch Roundup and BBQ

From what I hear, this place's food is excelent. But, the price is very expensive. The new retaurant offers a limited buffet which features BBQ foods. Charcter entertainment, as well as singing from non-chacter people keep the diners entertained during thier meal. Over all, it sounds really great. But is the price just too expenisive? Will this be around for only a little bit of time? Time will only tell...

Celebrate: A Street Party
Now I know Al Lutz and his followers may have scared you about the new parade/show at DL, stating it was horrible and not worth while. Many people are saying it's a cobination between Block Party Bash and the PartyGras stuff DL had years ago. In my opinion, it is some laid back entertainment that DL sorely needs. I mean let's face it, DL is all about the hustle and bustle. It can sometimes be overwhelming, with so many rides and whatnot. It's more stiff then DCA, if you get what I'm saying. The show brings energy to DL, and it's just plain fun! If you haven't seen it go to YouTube. You might be pleasantly surprised!

DCA: Paradise Pier's New Offerings
The photos speak for themselves. Work being done in the pier:


Also, the Paradise Pier sign (beautiful!) and the Sunburst where Mickey's head use to be have climbed up to the roller coaster. (This picture is old: Most of the sunburst has been painted.)


Meanwhile, the wheel is painted, the gondalas are up, and Micjey will start appearing in sections until it the Fun Wheel opens next month. (It got delayed due to rain).New lighting is also neing tested.


Games of the Boardwalk: NOW OPEN!!!
Another thing to add to the list of new at DCA: the Games of the Boardwalk have open for business. A full article about this will follow later this week.

Also, for future reference, all new rides at DLR will get an update onto themsleves. So you can expect next month a full update to be devoted to Mickey's Fun Wheel, as well as the regularly schedualed update. Until then, this is PirateGuy 815 with the Disneyland News!

GH Weekly Roundup: Week of March 30

*Editor's Note: I've been good about it recently, but between the end of the quater at school, me working my ass off, and Spring Break just around the coner, I've been distracted. So, the GH column appears today and the DLR Update will appear tomorrow.

I begin this week's update with breaking news. I have just found out this info, so it's a good thing I did procrastinate. It was rumored for a long time that Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing)'s days on GH were numbered. Seeming as I don't like him, I thought this was good. But in light of the current sitch with Cluadia and Micheal, this may pose a threat to Cluaduia's life. But anyway it's now official: Ric is taken off. But it may not be so bad: he's now on as a recurring role. So is Megan Ward (Kate Howard).

So, with the current Claudia problem, she has decided to become pregnant to svae herself, even after Sonny said he didn't want another kid. Does she look like a good mother? This kid, if born, will need a whole lot of therapy.

And the Micheal scenes (or the hand scenes) were great. I really feel for everyone, I can't imagine what they're going through. When Micheal's hand moved, I gasped with Carly. I really can;t wait for him to wake up.If GH keeps this up, I predict that it will slowly get better.

Now let's go to a storyline that I haven't talked about much. The younger actors on GH are interacting which brings me bakc to the days with Dillon, Georgie, Sage, and the rest. Though I don't like Johnny and Maxie together, and this new Ethan guy (who may be Holly's son. I hear she's also returning to town. Hmmm...) really bugs me, I can't help but reminisce about the days when I first started watching GH.

So, in short, I'm getting this feeling that GH is moving toward something big. I don't know what it is, but I;m getting this feeling. Are we moving out of this bubble of despair and failure the writers have set? Let's hope next week is better.

"Whatever Happened, Happened"

What a suiting title for yet another great episode of Lost. The title relates to 2 things: we learned that nothing can change the future, and that all along these people were back in the 70s. I think. Wait... oh forget it, my head hurts.

Second, we learn about what happened with Kate. Did anyone else find that this was the saddest episode since the death of Charlie? Anyway, she met Sawyers daughter, and the kid's mom who we already know she knew. Kate then had an epiphany that SHE needed Aaron, and that Aaron did not need her, he needed is Grandma and his GRandma needed him. Is this making sense?

Back on the island, little Ben is alive, but barely. So, what do they do? Kate brings him to the Others, with Sawyers help. But Sawyer is doing this for Juiliette. Excuse me? How could you talk like that to the woman you use to sleep with? It's not even like you had a viscious brake-up. Maybe he suspects somehting went on between Jack and Kate off the island. Which brings me to this question: Could Kate be pregnant???

Anyways, Richard Alpert brought Ben into the temple, but we didn't see anything inside. Perhaps we will next week we will, considering it's pretty much a Ben-centric episode. It's like back in the old days. I think we'll also get to see what happened to Sun and Hurley, as well as Ben (maybe even Desmond?) in the coming weeks, which will probably bring us to the season finale.

And the best scene from the night: Old Ben waking up, and finding a very much alive Locke welcoming him to "the land of the living". I just wish that he could have shot Ben at that moment. But the first thing I learned about TV- never kill off the people you hate, the show may get bland without them.

Top 3 Questions I want Answered:
1). What will Ben "be judged for"?
2). What is inside that temple?
3). Where the hell are Bernard, Rose, Vincent the dog, and all the other survivors, or are they dead?

General Hospital Weekly Roundup: Week of March 23

I'd like to start this column in a different way (that means no complaining about the bia-tch we all know as Robin). I will speak about the rumors swirling around casting cuts. It's RUMORED that Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Weber), Rick Heart (Ric Lansing), Greg Vaughn (Lucky Spencer), Megan Ward (Kate Howard), and Leslie Charleson (Monica Quartermaine) maybe getting pink slips. WTF???

GH has done a fine job of screwing up. We get new, crappy charcters (Kate, Olivia, and especially Winifred, just to name a few) while they kill off important charcters like Alan and Emily, and get rid of Laura, Anna, and Bobbie. It's a sad day in daytime, and if they go through with this, I fear for the rest of the show. The inevitable question is if GH will remain in a few years?

Now on to happier things... wait a tick, there are none. We have Ric who's blackmailing Claudia. Wait, actually, Ric can get fired. I'm sick of him already. Does it even bother him that she's married to his brother. Probably not, just look at all the other women he's screwed that had previous relations with Sonny. Not only is that terribly disgusting, but I'm sure that's not the healthiest choice either.

Now Claudia wants to kill Ric, but she's hit a small roadblock: if he dies, a DVD will be sent to Sonny. What's a woman to do: I'm hearing pregnacy is her only option. Not to mention that Jax is currently liying to Carly about this. I hope all this ends when Micheal wakes up in a few weeks. Yay!

Speaking of amrriage, it's back to Robin. This week, I actually thought she was going to get help for her PPD. HA! I was wrong. I'd really like to replace this storyline with an HIV angled storyline. You know, a mom living with HIV would be much better then this crap we get. It would also teach people, too.

Biggest story of the week: Rebecca has something on her breast. OMG! I don't mean to be rude or offensive to anyone out there who has breast cancer- it's a terrible disease and I don't wish it upon anyone. But this may be a huge step forward in revealing that Rebecca is actually Emily! Let's hope she is! GH would finally get something right. (Along with Helena's Return!!)

Let's hope next week is better.

Disneyland Update and News- CARSLAND!!!

Hello everybody! I know this is an unscheduled post, but I can't keep this in any longer. As you may know, my Disneyland Update and News columns don't come until the first Tuesday of each month, but I have been sitting on this for way too long. Plus, next week I'd like to start talking about Paradise Pier construction and retheming, and show you pictures of the process. So, let's get started on the biggest thing to hit The Disneyland Resort since 2001: Carsland.
(Please note that all concept art in this update is owned by Disney and is subject to change).

Carsland: An Overview

Here's what Disney has to say about it in the Blue Sky Cellar:
"Blending the legendary adventure and excitement of Route 66, California's love of Cars, and Walt Disney's legacy if innovative storytelling, Carland recreates the memorable town of Radiator Springs Disney*Pixar's animated film Cars. Route 66 was once the only auto route connecting Chicago to sunny LA. It represented the freedom of the open road, the migration west, and the dream of a brighter tomorrow in the Golden State for thousands of new arrivals in CA. That dream revs back to life in Carsland."

This is what Carsland is supposed to look like. The buildings will house stores and restaurants. Filmore's will be a natural shake stand. I'm guessing like a Jamba Juice and a place to probably sell fruit.The Cozy Cones will be fast food locations. Corn dogs and such. Flo's V-8 Cafe sounded like a buffeteria style place but I'm not sure. Kevin did say they were going to tell more of Flo's back story in there. She was once a singer in an all girls group, etc. Lizzy's would be the souvenir shop. 3 rides are currently planned for the area. They are Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, Luigi's Roamin' Tires, and the big E-Ticket, Radiator Spring Racers.

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree

I don't have too much info about this ride. All I know is that it's being considered "an outdoor darkride" due to it's lush themeing. As mater sings, you swing around the junkyard and avoid hitting stuff. I'm trying to get more info on this.

Luigi's Roamin' Tires

I'm really looking forward to this ride. Anyone remeber the Flying Saucers at Disneyland in the 60s? We'll they're being redone and rethemed to flying tires. It sounds really cool, and looks it too! More pics below:


Radiaotr Springs Racers: The Crown Jewel of Carsland

Here's the plot:
While Cars Land will be 12 acres, RSR will be 6 acres of it.

The back story for the ride is Stanley, who is a Stanley Streamer, was crossing the desert and almost ran out of water when he stumbled upon an oasis (springs). After filling up he was so thankful he decided to stay and help other travelers and eventually Radiator Springs grew (get the name now).

SO, the queue will begin at Stanley's Oasis. The concept art shown had lots of water, splashy play area, etc BUT Kevin Rafferty said they went another direction...but the queue is still in Stanley's Oasis. He also said the ride happens in three acts.

ACT I
Once aboard the car (which he said would have eyes), the Sheriff comes on the radio and gives you the safety spiel and indicates you will be heading for the race and off you go for a nice leisurely drive through Ornament Valley on the way to the race. You enter a tunnel (dark ride portion) and suddenly you are running straight into Mac with his horn blaring and you swerve out of the way careening toward those two tourist cars who move out of the way...quickly you approach a railroad crossing and you see the light of the oncoming train and hear it yet you pass over the tracks quickly flying past the billboard where the sheriff is waiting. He tells you to slow down or you'll blow a tire and that won't help you win the race. He then tells Mater to escort you to the race.

Mater enters driving backwards talking to you. Of course, being Mater, he's more interested in taking you tractor tipping. So next you are honking loudly at the tractors, they tip, and of course Frank, the harvester, is after you. You speed away to get away from Frank.
ACT II
Slowing down the pace, you enter Radiator Springs (Still inside the show building) and immediately encounter Lizzy and Red (Lizzy may say something or be sleeping and Red will be watering flowers), drive by Flo's V-8 Cafe with Filmore and Sarge who say something that plays off the Hippie and Military dichotomy, eventually encountering Sally and McQueen who appear in a forced perspective set and tell you one of two things. Either you need new tires or you need a new paint job. If tires is your narrative, you continue into Luigi's where Luigi tells you Guido will give you new tires. The car lifts up and is dropped down as the tires are changed. Meanwhile, the car behind you gets the new paint narrative. So into Ramone's you go to be sprayed with new paint. It sounded like a water spray to me but I'm not sure. Then both cars leave their shops and Sheriff appears to tell you the starting line is just ahead.

ACT III
At the starting line is the first time you see the other car. Luigi does his "One for the money" countdown, Guido waves the flag and you are off. You exit the show building for the high speed race which you can see on the concept art. Kevin did mention there would be geysers and other effects on this portion of the ride. Doc does talk to you on the radio on this portion because he is your crew chief.

NOW the new part, on the last straight away both cars will dip down underground and enter "Tail light caverns." The art makes these cave formations look Carlsbad Caverns with huge 1950's Cadillac tail fin lights hanging from the ceiling and sticking up from the floor. (They originally planned for spark plugs but John Lasseter suggested tail lights). At the end of the caverns you encounter Mater, McQueen, and Sally where they reveal that they are all winners because they made some new friends. The winner of the race is randomized and so are elements of the race. And back to the unload area you go.


Ok, I know it's a long update and there's a lot to take in. Still, I should be back either next Tuesday or the Tuesday after that to bring you more info. Untill then, this is PirateGuy 815 with the Disneyland News!