Since you are from California you will be very familiar with wildfires. My dad lives in a similar area up in British Columbia where it gets very dry in the summer and every year there are fires and many of them are started by people thoughtlessly (selfishly) tossing their cigarette butts out their car window. There is a huge fine if you are caught doing so. People lose their homes, wildlife is forced from their homes as well, it creates terrible air quality which aggravates people with health conditions such as asthma. Now, I'm not trying to blame all fires on smokers or say that all smokers cause fires but there are those out there like the jerk from my report that feel that they can just disregard others in order to indulge in their addiction and that just is not right.
Yeah, we definitely have the wildfire risk. A couple years ago there was one in the hills above our house. Our home was right at the corner of the voluntary evacuation area, so we ended up spending an evening gathering all of the things that were super important - medical records, photos, family heirlooms - in case it switched into a mandatory evacuation. In reality, our house wasn't at much of a risk (it would have had to burn thru many many blocks of homes to get to us), but problem is in a mandatory evacuation, you aren't allowed past the barricade once you leave! It lasted for a couple days until they got it under control, but it was crazy coming out the front door and getting into my car, while I could see a fire burning above the house!
As the bus was driving towards Hollywood Studios music from the Harry Potter music started playing. I was baffled as to why Harry Potter music would be played on a Disney bus. I asked Mom if Disney was trying to drive people to Universal by reminding them of Harry Potter. At that point the mom from the family sitting across from us stated that she thought Harry Potter was at Hollywood Studios and that is why she was so pumped for the park. I was sorry to break it to her that she would have to travel about 30 minutes up the I-4 to Universal Studios if she wanted to see Harry Potter attractions. So any ideas why Harry Potter music was being played on a Disney bus?
I know! The first bus I took to DHS I was also very confused about the HP music. I guess they figure it's just film music, but yeah, a bit strange to play it at Disney. And that mom - wow, I hope she was kidding! That would be horribly upsetting!
While in line we talked to a family that was visiting from LA and compared the two parks. I stated that I didn't like it when they duplicated rides/lands at the different parks because it makes the parks less unique and reduces the allure of travelling to each one. I get that some of the classic rides will be the same or similar but I don't like it when they put the same new attractions at multiple parks. At least as of now there is enough unique stuff still at all the parks that I still want to visit them all but I hope that as years go on that they don't all become cookie cutter with the same attractions. The LA family said even if there are the same attractions they will still visit WDW as it is bigger and a resort vacation vs
Disneyland which is a one day visit for them. What do you think? Is it okay for Disney to put the same attratcions at all the parks or do you want things to remain unique?
For the attractions, it sort of is a mixed bag for me. When I visit WDW, it means I don't need to spend time riding those rides (like Soarin, Toy Story Midway Mania, etc) and can focus on the unique ones. But it also means they spent money and effort on duplicating rides, rather than building whole new ones and new experiences. Even at Disneyland Paris there were several rides which were identical to the Disneyland CA version. But I have started more appreciation of the atmosphere in the parks, both at DLR and WDW. And WDW is definitely a destination for me, a place where I can escape for a longer trip. Disneyland is a great temporary escape for me - like if I'm having a bad day at work or something I know I can go to Disney on the weekend and at least forget about things for a couple hours. But I never really got into the Disney Bubble there.
I went to look at the merchandise they were selling in the lobby and the cast member put this Pascal on my shoulder. It's legs wrap around the strap of your bag.
Very cute!
For those of you that don't know Trattoria Al Forno has a character breakfast "Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast". The chacracters at this breakfast are Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, Ariel and Prince Eric!!! What a great group of characters. I have to say that I was most excited for this meal out of all our reservations for the trip.
I'm trying to decide between this meal and the Cape May Beach Buffet at Beach Club for the morning I leave on a cruise. I will be staying at Beach Club... I guess I still have 7 months to be absolutely sure!
Flynn was hilarious and dropped out of the parade and came and leaned against the wall by our table talking about how he needed a break and these royal duties were too much work.
That is awesome! so in character!
When Flynn made his way to our table he sat right down and said "he had been meaning to come visit us for awhile".
I knew Mom was most looking forward to seeing Flynn as before the characters even started visiting she asked me what she could say to him. I told her to ask him if he had been to the Snuggly Duckling lately and reminded her that it was the bar where all the thugs hung out in Tangled. Well, that is just what she did and they had a conversation about how Rapunzel keeps him so busy with all his "Royal Duties" that he never had time anymore to visit the Snuggly Duckling. He said that when he did try and sneak out Maximus was always watching and would stop him. We then talked about how Maximus needed to find himself a girlfriend so he would be distracted/cut Flynn a break and Flynn could sneak out. We decided that Pascal might know a good girl for Maximus as he is always flitting about all over the place.
OMG - I love it! Such a great character meet!
I seriuosly debated not sharing the photos of me from this breakfast as I look terrible in all of them but I decided to suck it up.
Oh, I don't think they're that bad. I think what is more important is how you look like you are enjoying yourself. But I totally get being self-conscious - especially when I'm next to these gorgeous princesses!
So this couple in front of us was taking pictures, no problem, I take pictures too, but the lady was putting her phone up above her head and obstructing the view of the family behind us. I can see how it would have been really annoying to constantly have a phone raised up into your view of the show. The dad in the family was grumbling the whole time. I thought I would be kind and tapped the lady in front of us on the shoulder to kindly ask her to lower the phone a bit but she either didn't notice or deliberately ignored me. I made eye contact with the dad behind me and he smiled in thanks and shurgged as he knew there was nothing to be done. Somehow Mom was oblivious to the unhappy family behind us and had no idea why I was tapping the shoulder of the lady in front of us. After she told me I shouldn't get myself involved in that type of situation. I was just trying to help! Anyways, my philosophy on taking photos during shows/fireworks etc, I keep my camera in front of me so as not to obstruct the views of others or distract them with my screen. If I can't get decent photos at a particuar show because of that then oh well, I don't want to ruin somebody elses experience just for photos. I would never dream of sticking my phone or camera up above the height of my head to get photos during a show, so rude.
Argh, it's so annoying with people that inconsiderate! On rides I use the rule of keeping my elbows to my body, so I can still move around and aim the camera, but it doesn't go into other people's line of sight. And during shows/fireworks, I just put my camera no higher than my head. If I want to take photos so badly, it can obstruct my own view, not someone else's! Oh, but in Paris, these was this one guy who put his phone on a Selfie Stick, and held it up high when he was sitting in Row 5 of the theatre, so everyone behind him was obstructed! He even had the light on at first! OMG, it was bad!