Disappointing Boysenberry Funnel Cake at Knotts Berry Farm 2018

     Going to Knots Berry Farm for a boysenberry funnel cake has become one of our Disney vacation traditions. We ride the Anaheim Resort Transportation to Knotts, shop a while and then stop and eat the funnel cake.This funnel cake is not your regular size funnel cake. It is very big with a huge amount of boysenberries and a huge swirl of ice cream. In the past we have gotten one each but learned that is way too much so we buy one and share. It is a perfect amount of delightfulness!

    This year was no different. We spent the day at Disneyland, then in the afternoon decided to head over to get our boysenberry funnel cake. We shopped some then went into the little restaurant that sells the funnel cakes. Sadly I cannot remember the name of it. I just know it is after the shops closer to the park enttance

    The wait to get your funnel cake is usually long but it is well worth it. You also get to watch them make your funnel cake.

     As I watched the guy make our funnel cake this year I notice that one of them came out a bit over done. Then the next one was too. I told my mom they looked a bit burnt but she said it was probably ok, it just looked that way. I agreed and did not want to wait anymore so didn't say anything to the guy working. In years past the people cooking them would have thrown those out and started over. This guy did not. I figured it would be ok.

    They put our berries on and our ice cream. We took it over and sat down to eat. The berries were delicious and the ice cream was great too but the funnel cake portion was very crispy. It felt like we were chewing rocks. I kept thinking I should go ask for another one since we paid quite a bit for it but decided I just did not want to wait on them to cook another one.

     We ate our crispy cake and totally enjoyed the boysenberries and ice cream but the funnel cake was not at all good. 

    A couple of days later we got one at Disneyland and it was delicious even though we had strawberries instead of boysenberries.

     We will go back for our funnel cake next time, however we will ask them to give us another one if they burn ours.

+Knotts Berry Farm
+funnel cake
+boysenberry
+ice cream

Pirates Sell Wenches, Not Chickens! What Would Walt Think?

     Well Disney did it, they gave in to the whiners and changed the "Red Head" scene. Now they have a woman there and they are selling chickens, paintings and other non-piraty items. Yes she says "its the rum they want." and instead of shouting "who wants the redhead." The pirates shout "we want the run." but, it took several times for me to catch that. The thing that caught my eye were the chickens, painting and such.

     Pirates are swashbuckling, ransacking, looting and stealing sorts, not so nice sort of folks, they do not sell chickens. That just takes away their roughness.  They also now have the wenches selling items in the auction. No wait, is this really what Walt wanted? Is this what he saw? I do not think it is. This is not his vision.

    When he was introducing his new attraction he even mentions that the pirates have all of the rum but they are most interested in the wench auction. This was Walt's vision, he found it amusing and so do many of those who love what Walt gave to us.  I really do not think he is happy that the pirates no longer sell wenches.

    I really do not even know why Disney did this, I don't know what group they were catering too but Walt wanted his pirates to be tough and fierce. Chickens and paintings are not fierce. Selling the wenches was a part of Walt's vision, his park, his attraction. I do not believe he would be happy that part of his vision is gone.

Clip of Walt on Pirates of the Caribbean

Lost Camera at Disneyland Returned: Faith in Humanity Restored Because of a Facebook Pay it Forward and a Little Pixie Dust

     On July 3, 2018, the first day of our Disneyland vacation I lost my camera. I reported it as soon as I discovered it was gone. I went to lost and found the night it was lost. I called them on a daily basis to see if it had been turned in. It never was. Due to the kind act of a random individual paying it forward my camera was returned.

     On July 3 we entered Disneyland Park for our first day of fun. I had planned to video our trip this year and create a vlog. I started my video recording the Disneyland Railroad. We decided to get off at Fantasyland and watch Mickey's Magical Map. I used my phone and camera both there. Well I think I used my camera. I have several shots so am not sure. Then we went on Alice in Wonderland. We stopped at the restroom and I knew I had it with me as I waited for my mom and aunt outside the restroom near Alice. Then we headed to Pizza Port for lunch. When I put my bags down I realized that my camera was gone. I went back to the area where we ate, asked if it was found in Pizza Port and at all of the carts in the area. I back tracked everywhere we had been. My camera had not been turned in.

     I file a report with Lost and Found. They told me usually expensive items get turned in. So I had high hopes that they would call me.

    We went on to enjoy our day, I took pictures with my phone which were not the quality I was used to but better than nothing.

     At the end of the day my mom and I went to lost and found outside the park and waited for an hour to find out that it had not been turned in. At that point my hopes were dashed. I did not have much hope it would be tuned in. I figured someone found it and decided they made quite the find so they kept it. I was crushed. I had SD cards in there with memories and well, I really love taking pictures and loved my camera.

     I called lost and found every other day only to hear those same words "so sorry but we do not have anything that matches that description." I went back to all of the places I had been that first day to see if somehow someone had turned it in. I went to City Hall, I did not stop looking. I watched everyone in the park to see if they had my camera bag on their shoulder hoping to find me there. But nothing

    We earned enough points to go on a Walt Disney Studios Tour so I called that day too, still no camera. I was sad because this was a once in a lifetime thing and I had to use a phone for my memories. But I made the best of it and had a good time still with hopes that somehow my camera would appear.

     Finally almost two weeks later our trip was over. I called lost and found one last time in hopes my camera was there, it was not. We returned home and I called on the 16th which was two weeks from the say I lost it to see if it was there. Disney told me it was not and that it most likely would never show up since it had been so long. They apologized and I was very mad.

     I was mad at myself for leaving it but also wondered if maybe someone had picked it up while I sat there. I was not sure, I just knew that I lost faith in humanity as a whole. I was upset that someone like myself who would have taken it to lost and found had not found it. I would never in a million years keep something like that if I found it.

     I was still very sad about my camera but decided that it was gone so I needed to forget it. Then on July 23, 2018 I checked my phone to find that I had several messages from my friend Steve. He had posted a screen shot text of a camera and case asking if it was mine. WOW it was!  I could not contact the woman who posted it so he shared the link to my Facebook messages and I was able to contact her. In the mean time he had called her.

    This amazing woman, Noelle,  had been given my camera by her friend who found it on the 3rd but had headed home that same day and was not sure what to do. Noelle had looked at the pictures on my SD cards, found a license plate number and called my mom. She did not have to follow up on the call because my friend Steve and I had contacted her.

      She also put a post on Facebook asking all of her friends to share the post. She wanted to find me, she wanted to pay it forward.  All of her friends shared, their friends shared and somehow my friend saw the post. Then the ball was rolling for my camera to be returned to me.

    My friend Steve said he was on Facebook and the post with the picture of my camera was there in his feed. He saw it and just KNEW it was my camera. He took a screen shot of the post so that it did not disappear because  much of the time messages in a facebook feed will disappear once you leave the page. He has no idea why it was on his feed because he does not know Noelle. After he saw this he  started messaging me.

    I talked to Noelle proving that I was the owner and she placed my it in the mail on July 24, 2018.

    I believe it was a miracle, and maybe a little magic from Walt Disney, that my friend saw the post. I believe that it is a blessing that this amazing woman wanted to pay in forward and find me I also am thankful that her friend who wasn't sure what to do asked her what to do and then Noelle went on to return my camera to me.

    My faith in humanity has been restored because one amazing woman took the time to find me and  wanted to pay it forward and maybe just a little Pixie dust was sprinkled about too so that my friend saw her post.

+Disneyland
+lost camera
+found
+returned
+faith in humanity

Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarf Soap Collection

      This collection is from way back in 1970. My uncle and aunt gave this to me for my 2nd birthday. I am not sure where they purchased the set but I imagine at Disneyland because back then most Disney products were purchased there.

     We lost my uncle a couple of years later so this set has a lot of sentimental value.

     The soaps were of course at one time in mint condition however since I was only 7 when they were given to me I did not realize their importance and did not leave them in the box. I wanted to display them. I did not want to use them because then they would not hold their shape.

     Doc lost his feet and Happy lost part of a foot. Dopey lost his head but I was able to put it back on. I am curious if anyone else out there in this world has a set like this.

     +Disneyland
     + Snow White and the Severn Dwarf  Soap Collector Set

   

Final Farewell Carousel Inn and Suites in Anaheim California

     In the summer of 2016 we were told that The Carousel Inn and Suites would be closing for good. We had been staying there every summer since 2005. The Carousel had become our California home. When we went to Disneyland we always felt like we were home when we arrived. It was heartbreaking to hear they were closing our home.

     They are not just closing down our home but also tearing it down. They are tearing down one of the most beautiful buildings across from the parks. For what? A walkway from a parking area. Sorry but that is just sad. Many jobs were lost and many people lost a wonderful place to stay.

     The Carousel closed in the fall of 2016. Then in the summer of 2017 it was boarded up but still standing. This year however when we arrived we found it very well destroyed. The room we stayed in is gone, the Pizza Press building is gone. Most of the tower is gone.

     I created this final farewell to The Carousel picture video showing her in her splendor and sad final days.

   Farewell Carousel

   

Disney Pixar Fest-Fun Foods

    We tried a few of the Disney Pixar Fest menu items but found that not many of them appealed to us however there were a few items we found absolutely delicious. Well at least I did.

    
Green Alien Pasta 

The Green Alien Pasta at Pizza Port in Tomorrowland replaced the spaghetti which I thought was sad, why not have both? Regardless though I thought it was delicious. They use a spinach sauce and add peas to this dish. It had a different flavor that I cant' describe. You will have to try it for yourself. My aunt liked it and my mom said it was ok. My mom might have liked it better if they hadn't gotten rid of the spaghetti she loved to make it. As for me, I absolutely loved it!

Funnel Fries

One of my other favorite Pixar Fest foods were the Funnel Fries. They can be found in Disney's California Adventures (DCA) at Award Wiener in Hollywood Land. These delicious fries are a sweet funnel cake fry with whipped cream topped with fruity pebble cereal. My mom and aunt liked the funnel cake part but I loved the cereal and whipped topping as well. I think the funnel cakes had an icing on them too. This desert is a must! Make sure to eat a small meal because they are filling.

I wanted to try both of these items again but never made it back to them because there is just too much to eat at both parks.

There was one item that my mom and aunt tried but I did not because I figured it would be to hot and spicy for me.

Temperamental Taste Shifting Corn Dog

The Temperamental taste Shifting Corn dog from Corn Dog Castle at Paradise Gardens Park in  (DCA). This corn dog has pepper jack cheese and two spicy hot dogs inside. The tastes did shift but both my mom and aunt decided part of it was too spicy and they really did not enjoy it.

I hope to make it back to the parks before all of the good food treats are gone. I will try some different things but will also try the items that I love such as the Alien Pasta and Funnel Fries! 

Cafe Orleans: Gumbo, Pomme Fries and Monte Cristo

     This year we once again ate our delicious gumbo at Cafe Orleans We had made a reservation to eat the gumbo at Blue Bayou because we did not see it on the menu of Cafe Orleans anymore but found out that they no longer sell it in a bowl but do have a cup an appetizer, it is the "soup of the day". So we cancelled out Bayou reservation because, well the sandwich is $8.00 cheaper at Cafe Orleans. Plus we love the fries.

     The gumbo is one of my favorite foods. We did pay $7.00 for a cup which was a bit high. I thought that it would not be filling however we found that it was plenty of gumbo.

     There were three of us so we shared a Monte Cristo and fries. We ended up leaving the fries because the soup was so filling.

 So if you want some delicious gumbo and a Monte Cristo sandwich, just hop on over to Cafe Orleans in New Orleans Square Disneyland! It is a fabulous meal!!

+Cafe Orleans 

+Disneyland

+gumbo

+Monte Cristo Sandwich

Lost/Stolen Camera at Disneyland

     On July 1, 2018 around 11 AM I lost my camera. I am completely heartbroken. I usually am so careful so really have no idea why I left it.What is even worse is that someone might have found it and said "oh look at what I found, a nice camera and I am keeping it."

     We had been on just a few rides on the first day of our trip. My mom and aunt had to use the restroom next to Alice in Fantasyland. I sat on the bench and put it down next to me. When we got to Pizza Port to eat I noticed it was gone. I had my other bags but not my camera. I went back to where I had set it down, called immediately to report it lost and then asked if one was turned in all around where I had been.

     So far on July 7 my camera has not been turned in. I was really hoping that it had been picked up by an honest person. I still hope that somehow it is sitting somewhere at an attraction where the cast members did not follow the rules and put all lost item in their bins However it is not looking good at all.

    I have a lot of memories on the SD cards and the camera was a semi-professional Canon so it was not cheap. I loved my camera and love taking pictures. I am extremely sad that someone might have found it and kept it. I would not do that. I mean those are my memories and I want to take pictures for the rest of my vacation. How could someone just keep it?? I do not understand.I am not that kind of person.

     I still have hope that an honest person found my camera, but that hope diminishes with every day that passes and no camera. I have my phone but it is not the same.

Pixar Fest Means No More Spaghetti at Pizza Port

     Every year we come to Disney Resort. When frequenting a place often you usually have favorite foods. Well my moms is the spaghetti in Disneyland's Tomorrowland at Pizza Port.

     We looked forward to our Pizza Port visit, the Alfredo for me and spaghetti for my mom. My aunt loves the Alfredo but decided to try the spaghetti. When we got to the counter we noticed they did not have the spaghetti but rather a green pasta dish. I asked if they had spaghetti and they said they did for kids but the chef replaced the adult version with Alien Pasta for Pixar Fest.

      Nothing is more disappointing than expecting something only to find they no longer have it. What is surprising is that they could sell spaghetti for kids but not adults...and a pasta pace that does not sell spaghetti, really??

     We did try the Alien Pasta and I loved it. My mom and aunt thought it was ok. My mom was still bummed that they did not have her spaghetti. She had looked forward to it all year. There is nothing more disappointing than to be ready for a certain dish but it is no longer served.

     My mom did finally get some spaghetti the next day in California Adventure Park at Boardwalk Pizza.

   

Disney Memories-Pre Vacation Excitement Memories With my Kids

     It is a week before our annual Disney vacation. I remember when this time arrived my kids and I would be so excited and we would say each day "this time next week we will be on the road heading to California." We will be about to Victorville or wherever we would be at the time we were talking about it.

     It was so much fun as we would talk about what we would be doing every moment of the day when we arrived in California. We would say things like "in 8 days we will be walking into the parks. We will be throwing our cares away as we enter and listening to the music as we walk to the check point." Or we would think ahead to what else we might be doing at the moment.

     Our pre vacation times were almost as fun as the actual trip. We had so much fun just talking about what we were going to do. Of course we never really had any plans, we always took each moment as it came.

     Now my kids have grown and no longer go with us every year. It is sad to not have those fun time together, it is sad that we can't talk about how it will be in a week when we are at our favorite place. Our happy place. Now I just think of it on m own and have my memories  but still sad that they are just memories.

Winter Disney Vacation

    We have taken an annual trip to Disney Resort in Anaheim since  the summer of 2004. When we started going it was my mom, my two sons and myself on the trip. As time went on the vacation included my grandma until she passed away in 2006, my aunts and sometimes cousin and his family.

    Once my kids reached adulthood they were no longer able to go. My oldest had not been in 4 years and the youngest 2 years. My mom, aunts and I still make the trip every summer.

     This past winter however we decided it was time to take a winter trip to Disneyland. Both of my kids were able to come along with my grandson and his mom. It was nice having both of my kids there again and also having my grandson and his mom. It was special sharing the winter beauty of Disney Resort.

     Disneyland and Disney's California Adventures are much different in the winter months. We went Jan 3-6 so thought we would miss the Christmas and New Year busy season but yet be able to see the holiday decorations. We were wrong about missing the busy season. It was busier then than it is during the summer months.

     The busy parks did not stop us from having a fantastic time. The decorations were beautiful, from the huge Christmas trees to Nightmare Before Christmas and the artificial snow after the fireworks.

    We love Nightmare Before Christmas so that was one of our favorite scenes! My little grandson was amazed.

     My grandson who is 5 years old was not excited about the drops on Pirates of the Caribbean and scared on Soarin but I think Radiator Springs Racers might have upset him most of all. His mom and dad told him that it did not have drops however once the race began he was mad at them. He said "you told me there were no drops!" So he was not fond of the race portion of that attraction. He loved Dumbo though so go figure.

     Our winter trip to Disney Resort was amazing. It brought back special memories of going to the parks when my own kids were young adding new family members to our special time!

     It is busier that time of year than the summer months. It was worth the crowds and busy season.

Carousel Inn and Suites: Still Standing

     Last year we had to find a new place to stay in Anaheim because our beloved Carousel Inn closed down. It was supposed to be demolished but it still stands.

     We did not look at the building last year because it was so sad to think of this place we had called home in California for the past 13 years was boarded up and abandoned.

     During out January trip to California however we drove by The Carousel and I looked. It was sad seeing such a beautiful building boarded up and vacated. It is also sad that every night the lights are on like she is waiting for someone to visit her lonely rooms.

     I wonder why The Carousel Inn is still standing. I hoped that it might mean they decided to open her up again to those who miss visiting but, that is highly doubtful.

     I am not sure what is harder though, seeing the building there all sad and lonely or the thought of looking over and it is no longer there.

Wizard Acrobats Tomorrowland Disneyland

     In July of 2003 my mom and I took my sons to Disneyland for the first time. They loved it and so did we. It was the first time we spent more than two days in a row at the park. There was also a new park, Disney's California Adventure Park. But this is not about that park.

     We love pizza so decided to eat at Pizza Port in Disneyland. While there some entertainment because to take place. We decided to see what was going on and discovered the Wizard Acrobats. Talk about an amazing show. They could dance, entertain and were excellent acrobats! Not bad to look at either!

     We were able to see them twice and actually meet some of them one of the visits. We visited for  while with Jemma and found him to be a sweet man.

     I wish I had my video camera with me back then but I did not however I was able to take some still shots which I used to create a fun video. Some of the sots are a bit grainy but that is due to the scans. This was before digital photography.

     Wizard Acrobats Photo Video