Happiest Blog on Earth...PIRATES!

Hey gang, sorry I missed my self-imposed blog deadline last week. But you see, there was this HUGE emergency I had to take care of, and then there was that urgent phone call I had to make, oh, and then I had to rush my friend to the…ok, well, those are not true at all! The truth is I got wrapped in to trying to sort out the details of the new Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast website that Tuesday came and went and I didn’t even realize it! The pitfalls of getting old..I mean, of being busy! Cuz, I’m NOT old…

So, what shall we talk about this week? Hmm, Pirates is a theme suggested by Lisa from Babes In Disneyland for her weekly blog hop. So, how about Pirates? Arrr! That be a right talk fer a salty ol’ sea adventuaaar like me!

Well, you come looking for salty old pirates eh? So let me tell you a story… a story of pirates, and ships, and swash buckling (what ever that means), and the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow! That’s right, I’m talking about the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California! One of my top three favorite attractions at the Resort, and one that Joyce and I never miss (that is, if it’s not closed!).  Ever since my first visit to the Disneyland Resort in 2007, Pirates of the Caribbean has been one of my all time favorite attractions, and to be completely honest, I have no idea why. I mean, other than it’s such an immersive, entertaining, well presented and completely realistic experience. But other than that, no clue.

So, I’m sure that you all know the story of the Pirates, so I won’t bore you with the details, but I will say that like Disneyland itself, this attraction has undergone a few upgrades to keep the story current and fun. When I first started going to the Resort, they had just introduced the ghostly image of Davy Jones telling us only the brave or foolish (not sure which one I am!) would go any farther. Now it’s Black Beard from On Stranger Tides giving us a sound warning. But, like the adventurous souls we be, our boat alters no course! YIKES!

Now, as I mentioned earlier, this really is one of my all time favorite attractions and for some reason, strikes a cord deep inside my heart. No, not in THAT way! In that, “makes you feel like a kid again” way that just makes me happy all over! I seriously can’t put a label on just exactly what it is about this attraction that I love so much, so I’ll just say it’s everything. Walt Disney set out to create not just another amusement park for people to enjoy, but a place to create memories. That may sound like a simple thing but it’s anything but simple. The memories he creates through his beloved Park are deeper than just fun, they’re connections to innocence. Maybe that’s why I love Pirates so much. When Joyce and I are sitting in our boat, I can FEEL those connections all around me. Almost as if…the attraction is haunted by the happy memories of countless families! Ok, too much? NAH!

Anyway…as many of you know, Joyce and I host Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast (hmm, I think I MAY have mentioned that a few times!), and if you’re interested in watching a fun video, check out episode 32, it’s our video podcast showcasing Pirates of the Caribbean and a few other adventures at the Disneyland Resort! Thanks for reading. And for forgiving me for missing last week. Oh, and for that drink I spilled on your carpet over the Holidays! Just kidding. Or am I??

~~~ Al



Duffy the Pirate Bear!!



The Happiest Blog On Earth - Getting Ready

Wow, it's hard to believe that it's October already! I love Fall for many reasons, one of the biggest is we FINALLY have a chance at day time temperatures BELOW 100, and overnight lows far enough to start what we like to call, Fire Pit Season. We love sitting in our backyard, a cozy fire blazing in our fire pit, billions of stars above. But I think, what I love best about Fall is that it represents the anniversary of my conversion...to a Disneyland Fan! 


It was September of 2007 when Joyce and I made our first trip together to the Happiest Place On Earth. In the four years now that we've been making the trek to the Disneyland Resort, we've visited in just about every month, every season really. But by far my favorite it Fall, right around the end of September to the end of October. Truth be told, the end of October is my all time favorite because the weather is perfect and, well, it's our wedding anniversary time. So, why have I shared this with you? Because, my magical readers Joyce and I are heading off to Disneyland near the end of October to celebrate our 15 year wedding anniversary! 


We thought long and hard about where we wanted to celebrate 15 wonderful years of marriage and both agreed there was only one place we wanted to be - Disneyland (ok, so it really took us about 15 seconds to decide!). Where better to celebrate the best day of my life but in my favorite place on earth, with my favorite person. Oh, and believe me, the Disneyland Resort IS the best place to celebrate anything. They go WAY above and beyond to make certain you feel special. Joyce and I have shared many things over the years, but the one thing that we share that has enabled us to spread magic to others is our love for Disneyland and Walt Disney. 


So, take it from me, if you're looking to find a place to celebrate your love, or your birthday, or that job promotion, or winning the big game...well, you get the picture, look no further than Disneyland. And if you're not sure, why not check out our latest video podcast. We've started a series we call "Through The Eyes Of The Mouse: Relaxing At The Disneyland Resort". In this series of special videos, we take you on a people watching-relaxing trip through the Disneyland Resort, and you don't even have to wear shoes! In this second of the series, we take you to Mickey's Toontown and Adventureland. If you'd like to see the first part, check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/talespodcast. And be sure to check out Tales From The Mouse House - Disneyland Podcast in iTunes, or at www.talescast.com. ~~~ Al 

Disneyland in the Fall