Jumbo Santa eraser

The entryway for Flik's Fun Fair is decked out for the holidays. While much of DCA does not have a lot of decorations, Flik's Fun Fair does have some neat decorations. From the cheesy Santa eraser topper to the lights to the candy canes and more it is all an oversized holiday adventure.

Sorcerer tree

Outside the Fantasia Shop in the Disneyland Hotel is this cool little tree. What a great idea for a tree topper! The hotels are all decked out for the holiday and as you can see the shops get into the act as well. So if you are looking for a unique look for your tree here's an idea...

And a side note - Subsonic Radio has revved up their all holiday station so you can listen to holiday music from the Disney parks day and night from now till Christmas! It is the perfect cure for those of you that already have heard the same 20 tracks on the radio 50 times each by now.

Mickey wreath

Thanksgiving is behind us and it is time for Christmas! In Toontown this great Mickey Wreath hangs from a number of the lampposts. So where can I get one of these for my lamp out in the front yard? It would make a great addition to the neighborhood...

Happy Thanksgiving!

For all of the readers here in the US - Happy Thanksgiving! So why in the world are we headed to the Port Orleans Riverside resort today? Well, for a number of years the family used to down around Thanksgiving. The crowds were traditionally light except on Thanksgiving and the Friday after. To avoid the rush we would always eat Thanksgiving dinner at Dixie Landings/Riverside - they shut down all the different food stations and just served up the traditional turkey. It was always a tasty meal and fun to explore a different resort for a couple hours. So no matter where you today, hopefully you are having a very enjoyable holiday.

Westerhn Pacific 804-A

Western Pacific 804-A has a notable place in railroading history. It lead the final run of the legendary California Zephyr train in 1970 between Salt Lake City and Oakland. The Imagineers pay tribute to the train with a recreation of 804-A and a pair of the cars from the train.

The original 804-A has been gone for over 30 years but a shell of another nearly identical locomtive was bought from Via Rail in Canada and provided the basis for Engine-ears Toys, Baker's Field Bakery, and Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream. Be sure to keep an eye out inside the bakery for a mural with 804-A and the California Zephyr inside.

A side note for those of you looking for an excuse for a train trip - Amtrak revived the route in 1983 and it still runs today. While the route has changed in places you still can ride from Chicago to Oakland...

Transported by beams of light...

In the future, packages will be sent to distant worlds through beams of light... As you leave Space Mountain and return to Tomorrowland there is an all-too-short post show with archeologists sending alien dinosaur bones by beams of light. It if mighty hard to get good photos of this area but this is the receiving port where lab retriever has already retrieved a few bones for a quick snack. Is it just me or does the yellow sticker have a Death Star looking logo?

Desktop: Take a break in Morocco

In the Morocco pavailion there is a lovely courtyard (I swear it has a name but I'm drawing blanks...) that is perfect for a short break. The tile work is wonderful, as is the architecture and wood work. Throw in interesting lighting and a soothing fountain and it makes for a quiet and relaxing corner of Epcot away from the crowds.

Flying Saucers have been spotted...

Yet another tribute banner hanging from Innoventions paying honor to Tomorrowland rides of the past. The Flying Saucers were a crazy yet shortlived ride in the 60's. I could try to describe them here but you can read up and see photos over at Yesterland where Werner Weiss have it
covered. There has been rumor that this sort of a ride might make a comeback in DCA, I don't know the latest and greatest on that rumor but at one point I believe it was in the big master rebuilding plan...

Flash pictures

See, now the flash works so much better if you don't point it at your eyes! Rizzo is demonstrating the dangers of flash photography to the world on this sign over at the Studio 1 store. Some people, er, rats just never learn...

Some light reading

For all your that devour books Minnie has a few on her shelf in Toontown. My Fair Mouse, Of Men and Mice, A Minnie Course on Geneology... And you have to love those bookends. The pottery is an interesting touch, not sure if Minnie took a class on it or what the story is, will have to do more research the next time I'm down there I guess...