Book review from the blog of Suzanne Rowe Ogren - check it out!

http://www.srogren.blogspot.com/2013/11/kudos-for-cotton-candy-road-trip.html#links

It's always a pleasure to hear from fans of the book, to learn how it's affected them, how it allows them to take a trip back to simpler times, how it moves them spiritually - or generates inside them the deep desire to take off on their own vintage amusement park road trips!  So it was delightful to learn my friend, fellow author and actor Suzanne Rowe Ogren, wrote a lovely review of my book on her blog.

Take some time and visit Suzanne's site and get to her know her!  She's a fascinating lady, with many wonderful stories of her own to tell.  And, as a vintage amusement park superfan, you can imagine how thrilled I was to learn about her past at Walt Disney World, where she worked for many years, as costumed characters, inside the Haunted Mansion - the list goes on and on.  Her husband, R.J. Ogren, worked there as an Imagineer - are these folks cool or what?

But don't let me ruin the surprises.  Give her blog a read and find out for yourself!

It's rainy and cold in Chicago. I want a margarita. And I know which one I want. Hint: Mexican pavilion in Epcot.

Sometimes it's really very simple.  You wake up, it's cold and damp and rainy outside, it's only 48 degrees.  You are shivering.  You turn on the TV and your local news has some guy who's a mixologist on and he's concocting a margarita in honor of Cinco De Mayo on Sunday.  You notice it's a basic margarita recipe, save for the inclusion of vanilla bean-infused triple sec (which you think is a very good idea).  You talk to our hubby about what you've just watched and you plot a way to make such a margarita over the weekend.



Then you ponder other margaritas you've had in your young life and realize you may have had one of the most spectacular ones ever just about two years ago.  It was at Epcot in Disney World, in November, 2011.  You were happily ordering your dinner at the San Angel Inn, the nifty restaurant inside the Mexican pavilion, right near the Gran Fiesta tour boat ride featuring Donald Duck, Jose Carioca and Panchito. 



Then you saw the drink menu and something popped out like in a pop-up book and had you hooked.

The drink that haunts your waking moments on a cold, rainy Chicago day is the Orange Mango Fire Margarita and it is exactly what it says it is (from the menu online): El Mayor premium Tequila, ginger liqueur, orange juice, mango, fresh lime juice, a hint of tabasco sauce, served on the rocks with a Tajin chili powder rim.  It is $12.50 and you tabulate how may you could have for $100, but you don't order that many because one is sufficiently heady enough.

The Disney Food Blog (WHY DON'T I HAVE THIS JOB???) wrote about it back in 2010, when it was offered at the other World Showcase Mexican restaurant,  La Hacienda de San Angel (http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/09/27/review-epcots-la-hacienda-de-san-angel/).  Here is their photo of the drink:

This is all you want.  It is citrussy and spicy and packs a wallop.  This one drink has it all.

You do your level best to be back at Epcot within months.

One Man's Dream, shared with so many.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/attractions/walt-disney-one-mans-dream/

While tweaking some of my Cotton Candy writings, a few events jumped off the pages as having more than a little impact.  One of them was part of a trip that almost didn't happen, touring through a park that's way too new to actually be included in the book.  But I'm adding it as a sizely sidebar because it meant so much to me.

"Walt Disney: One Man's Dream" is an exhibit that'll be running indefinitely at Disney Studios in Walt Disney World.  I highly recommend, no, I urge you with the strength of a team of stallions carrying a large man in a chariot, you MUST take in this exhibit and this film.  If you're a Disney fan, if your'e an artist, if you're a dreamer, it may very well change your life.  It changed mine.

Must. Hold. Self. Back. From. Purchasing. Entire. Line. Of. Goodies.

Can I tell you just how much I love the retro-inspired artwork of Shag? there's no way I can qualify or quantify how it appeals to me. He's got a new line of goods to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Walt Disney World and I can't find one single thing that isn't spectacular. I especially love his nod to the Contemporary and Polynesian Hotels.

Shagtacular!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/07/behind-the-scenes-shags-40th-anniversary-art/?sourcecode=15580&CMP=SOC-WDWFY11WDW_SocMedFBDC010041

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/06/shags-40th-anniversary-collection-debuts-at-walt-disney-world/

"Grim Grinning Ghosts Come Out to Socialize"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IPFGGVZ1eg

The Haunted mansion at Walt Disney World has undergone a facelift, with a new, interactive cue area and now this. As I'm still going through my New Orleans notes and as this just popped up for me through a Facebook friend, I would be remiss if I didn't post it. This might be the very best Imagineering upgrade of any Disney ride ever. And right now it's only at Walt Disney World, so the original Haunted Mansion at Disneyland remains untouched (which I think is a good thing; I'll never forget how the original effect delighted my Mom those forty years ago)

Enjoy!!

He'll sell no amusement park before its time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wTcH49N-8A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Before I go in-depth into my maiden sojourn to NOLA this past weekend and my wonderful visit to Carousel Gardens, I just had to post this commercial from 1971 for Walt Disney World, narrated by Orson Welles. I TOTALLY remember this spot -- and how hippy trippy it was.

Happy (almost) 40th, WDW!

Ack! I want them all!!!!!!!

In honor of the 40th birthday of Walt Disney World, they're rolling out the swag -- and it's beeyouteefull!!! Technically, we visited WDW last year and it wasn't quite yet 40, but I'll still make mention of it in my book (without it being one of the forty parks visited for the book). But I AM making mention of the swag right now. Oh it's so wonderfully retro-cool!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ben and I have a few favorite places on earth, that spark the romance and make us feel like we're gawky teenagers at the homecoming dance. Disney is, was, and always will be one of those places.

Pictured here are the two of us with Cinderella's Castle lingering in the background. Walt Disney World is technically a tad too young to be included in my book as one of the forty parks, but I'll find a way to finagle something about the place. It was one of Walt's last dreams -- and that's good enough for me.

Disney almost did WHAT?

Did you know the future of Disney's atmosphere characters was in peril? Apparently it was. In an effort to hold down costs, the parks were planning to do away with the atmosphere characters, instead only having the "meet and greet" photo ops, where families wait in line to be photographed with their favorite characters.

How many different ways would this absolutely suck? Several, in my book.

One of the main ways California Adventure just didn't work in the beginning was that there were very few characters inhabiting it. We walked through the park and Ben, especially, was struck by the lack of character, which adds a special level of magic to a Disney park.

"I mean, how can this be Disney without at least a few Fab Fives walking around?" queried Ben, referring to Disney's five main characters: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto.

When you visit Disneyland, you expect to see the characters walking about, waving at the kids, posing for pictures and occasionally receiving a kiss from a cute little girl in pigtails (well, it's been a while since I've worn pigtails, but...). To see Minnie and Mickey walking down Mainstreet is to know that's where they live. Having atmosphere characters adds a certain layer to the space, creating more of a sense that you're in their particular world. You're in a place of wonder, where the fantastical can be found around every corner.

The news about this plan found its way to the Internet and the blogosphere and people went wild. Apparently many a well-placed post and email found its way to the suits at Disney and the cutback plan has been scrapped. Hopefully for good.

Spectacular!

Thanks God, for cameras with nighttime fireworks functions!! This glorious bouquet was taken in November at Walt Disney World, during a visit we had planned for almost a year to celebrate Ben's birthday. We had dinner at Cinderella's Castle immediately prior to the 'works. We almost didn't make it back to view the display in time as we decided we wanted to go back into the Castle to take a photo of the bathroom. Because when would be the next time we'd ever get to do that (Note: the photo didn't really turn out but that's okay because the bathroom is just, well, a bathroom).

Luckily, we did get back in time, and parked ourselves right in front of said castle.

Glorious.

WDW will turn 40 later this year; I can't completely include it in my book as one of the forty parks, but I can still tell you about it, by gum.

Pardon me for the schadenfreude...

but I'm not going to miss this Disney World attraction. Not too much. No, sir:



When we visited WDW in November, I made a remark to my hubby after leaving this attraction that it was, oh, pretty much an abomination and should be stopped. The original Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland dates back to 1963 (just like yours truly; it's a good year). Some folks felt its twin at the Magic Kingdom was dated, so they gave it a facelift back in the 90s.

Well, by adding in the wise-cracking Iago character from "Aladdin" and utilizing period music,like "Hot, Hot, Hot", what ended up happening was this "new" version felt even more dated. Because the original is a Disney classic, directly overseen by Walt himself. And you don't mess with what Walt himself hath touched.

So I'm sitting here, sipping some tea, trying not to feel too giddy about the news that a fire has closed the WDW attraction indefinitely. Apparently, the damage was pretty severe. And that severe damage included Iago, who's gone on to animatronic heaven (or elsewhere that's, um, a little more on the "Hot, Hot, Hot" side, where irritating cartoon sidekicks are sent).

I say bring back the classic version and let Iago and his sassy face go down, along with the horrific Superstar Limo ride from California Adventure, as the things Disney really shouldn't talk about in pleasant company.

Where in the world is that Pam Turlow and why hasn't she been posting on her blog?

Doing research, in a way.

Earlier this year, Ben and I purchased a trip to Walt Disney World. Then the economy got itchy and jobs got tight and I came very close to canceling the trip. At the very last, and I do mean last minute, we decided it was more important to go than not to go. Besides that, everything was paid for, including food and tickets, thanks to some gift cards and Disney Visa points, plus the cancellation fees would've been just plain dumb for us to have to pay and there would be much crying and gnashing of teeth - especially on Ben's part, as this was a Birthday Extravaganza in the planning for him for at least five years.

So we went. The past week was spent away from computers, away from TVs (except for those that were set up at various rides to show guests what to expect or to spell out safety requirements)and away from things that have sapped us both of our energy, our sense of play, and our usual happy demeanor.

In a way it was research, but more so it was pure escape and fantasy and relaxation. When I tour the parks for the book, I'm ion writing mode, book mode, information absorption mode, so I don't enjoy the parks as I would as a simple, paying customer.

Will I include WDW in my book? Yes, in a way I will. As I plan to include Disneyland.

"But these are huge, well-funded mega parks, Pam! You can't do that! Plus, WDW turns 40 NEXT year, not THIS year! Stop the insanity and get back to the small parks where you belong!"

But if it wasn't for Children's Fairyland, the small fairytale-themed park, there wouldn't be a Disneyland. And if Disneyland never existed, Walt's dream of Disney World would never have been realized.

While they may not have their own chapters, or be counted as one of the 40 parks, both Disney parks will find their way into the book because what Walt Disney brought to the world, places where children and adults could play together, where imagination has its own "happy place", is inextricably linked to the souls of all vintage parks. Disney's spirit has definitely infused itself into the fiber of the message behind my book. And for that, I'm ever grateful. And homage will be made.

We believed in our idea - a family park where parents and children could have fun- together. Walt Disney