Contributing writer Chris Barry kicks off this week’s mailbag by answering a couple of letters in response to two recent stories, ” My Disney Top Five – Top 5 Places to Retreat to at Walt Disney World ” (May 15, 2009) and ” Top 5 Things I Need to See at Disneyland ” (April 17, 2009).
Bryan S. writes:
I love reading your articles and this one especially brought to mind the feelings of being alone in the parks even though there are thousands of people surrounding you. I used to have season passes, so I have had plenty of time to find those little places along the way. I had a few more for you that you might find interesting.
One of the places that I find is always empty is the Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros in World Showcase. No matter how busy the park, I always smile when I walk up to the line for the ride and see that there are only a few people or no people in front of me. We have often had boats to ourselves.
The second place is in the hill gardens in Japan. This is such a tranquil place but it is still surrounded by the pavilion as well as people going into the stores and watching Matsuriza, which is also a great background noise to the waterfalls, plant and tree life and fish that are in this area.
Another place is a little side street right off Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. Coming into the park, facing the castle, it is half way down the street on the right side. It is usually only occupied by two or three people, or completely empty. It is amazing how this place is so quiet even though the craziness of shopping and pictures is only happening a few feet away.
The last place is the Magic of Disney Animation courtyard and store. Sure Playhouse Disney is here along with the Little Mermaid, but go into the store at the end of the courtyard where all the drawings are done and you will find a place that is never really busy. Every time I have been in there, it always feels quiet and if I need more privacy I just follow the hallways to where all the Oscars and older drawings are kept and there will be no one as everyone quickly passes this place up to get to the attractions. So good.
Thanks for letting me share this with you. Great article and keep them coming.
Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad to hear you love reading my articles because I love writing them. The Fiesta Tour is one of my favorites also and I always find it empty or nearly empty. It’s a smile generator for sure. Your other choices were spot on as well. I’ve walked the gardens in Japan and into the Animation building and felt removed from the craziness. I have to admit, I always say I’d like to sit somewhere on Center Street, off of Main Street at the Magic Kingdom and chill out for a spell and I never do. I’ll make a point of doing so on my next trip this fall.
Charles H. writes:
A little late I know in regards to your article but I wanted to put my 5 things to do also. My family and I have been to Disneyland countless times and right now I am missing it. There is definitely a feeling of magic that I can’t imagine would be anywhere else.
1. The Disneyland Railroad during the day and at night! There is nothing like looking down Main Street while the whole place is lit up, its breathtaking no matter how many times you see it.
2. You have to visit the Walt and Mickey statue and just slowly look all the way around, again magical.
3. Pirates multiple times.
4. Fantasmic, get a bread bowl or turkey leg, camp out for a few hours and soak in New Orleans Square, Tom Sawyers Island and Haunted Mansion as the park gets dark.
5. I agree whole-heartedly with seeing the light in Walt’s Apartment, it’s special.
It’s never too late to talk about the magic. Thanks for responding. I have to agree with your choices. I will make it out there sooner or later and all of these lists will assure me a magical time. Thanks for reading.
In the next group of letters, staff writer and photography expert Frank Anzalone answers a few pieces of fan mail, including two from readers with a similar request.
Tony R. writes:
Ok, it’s been since October, sir… So first, Happy Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Valentine’s Day. Now then, where is that next set of outstanding Disney desktop photos my good man? I’m still waiting for you to take the perfect photo of the Ward Kimball for me. Awaken that inner shutterbug and flex that creativity man!
Heather writes:
We really need some new desktops. Please fix us up!
It IS time for some new images, isn’t it? I know the last batch of desktops was for the holidays… and time is just flying by! I am going to Disneyland at the end of April, visiting during the Food and Wine events at Disney’s California Adventure. As always, I have camera in hand. You never know what I might come up with! I DO appreciate your kind comments and your ‘nudge’ to get out there more. You have placed the quest in front of me – I better get clicking!
Do you have a “wish list” of some image(s) that you would like to see for desktops? I have so many Disneyland and Walt Disney World images in my archives, perhaps I can make that happen for you. Give me some ideas! Let me hear from you!
Brigette J. writes:
I ran across your article after doing some searching on the Internet. My husband, stepdaughter, sister, and I were one of two families from Indiana who were flown out to Disneyland in 1995 to help open the Indiana Jones Adventure ride.
We have very fond memories of our trip – as my husband and I were newlyweds (we will be celebrating fifteen years of marriage this year in October. Brandon heard about a contest that was held at a local Indianapolis Mall by WFMS, a local radio station, to find the “Real Indiana Jones.” Of course, your name had to be “Jones” and you had to be from Indiana.
He and I competed with other Indiana Jones families to try to be the closest to the real Indiana Jones (egg toss, tricycle riding, etc). Unfortunately for us we did not win the crazy competitions. The Larry Jones family from Indianapolis did. However, there was also an “honorary” family that could go too, and that family was chosen by drawing. We entered, and our name was drawn. So both Indiana families had a last name of “Jones,” but our group was the only group to have children, my stepdaughter, Kristen.
We flew out of Indy to go to Cincinnati where we switched planes. We got out of Cincinnati just in time to beat a major snowstorm in March. We flew to Los Angeles where it was nice and sunny and 80 degrees. We stayed an entire weekend, and participated in an Indiana Jones Parade down Main Street, Disneyland. The Larry Jones family rode in a jeep at the front of the parade, and several “California Joneses” were between them and our family who rode on a huge float down Main Street. We all received Indiana Jones hats, and specially made T-shirts that said, “I’m an Indiana Jones” and Disneyland. We all then got to take a ride on the new Indiana Jones Adventure Ride.
My stepdaughter, Kristen was five, and this was the first time that she got to meet Mickey Mouse. This was quite an adventure for us, and a very special treat – since we were poor newlyweds. Kristen is now almost 20, and we have two daughters of our own – Cassondra (9), and Kareline (5). We have taken Cassondra to Disney World in Florida, but Kareline has never been (we are hoping to take a trip to Florida in the near future).
I have lots of pictures and video from that trip. It is a cherished memory. We were also sort of minor celebrities as the local newspaper sent a reporter to interview us – and we made front-page news.
Just thought I would share with you this wonderful memory of our time at Disneyland from one of the real “Indiana Joneses.”
That was a fun couple of days… and thank you for sharing your story! What a fun time for your family!
Finally, staff writer Andrew Rich answers a reader question about MouseAdventure.
Mike T. writes:
A great day, thanks for all your efforts. Here’s an idea. Next time, give each team a dozen business cards with your web site address on them so that when park guest ask us what we are doing, we could hand the card and you would have new web site users.
Thanks for writing and I’m glad you had such a great time at our Day at the Park event. We’ve previously explored the idea of “what the heck are you doing?” business cards for our teams to give out to curious day guests, but Disney tends to frown on anything they deem distribution of literature. However, you’re welcome to give away your small MousePlanet button — we’ll happily replace it for you back at MouseAdventure Central — and each button has the Web address of MousePlanet printed on the back.
