Weekend Update

I'm still recuperating from the super MiceChat extravaganza known as the Gumball Rally. I had the privilege of greeting the teams as they returned to turn in their game cards. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed giving "high fives" to the tired but happy competitors. To each and every person involved in the Gumball Rally, from the planning staff to the spotters to the competitors, I extend my heartfelt thanks for a wonderful weekend.

As I sit here putting the finishing touches on the Weekend Update, I'm looking out the window at a very beautiful Southern California spring day. It's really starting to feel like summer is almost here. I also know that summer is approaching when I start making travel plans. I'm working on the final arrangements for our next trip to Walt Disney World. We'll be traveling to Florida in early June with a group of MiceChatters for our annual trip to celebrate GayDays. I can't wait.

I'm certainly not a globetrotter like TDLFAN is, however. He's been to Disneyland Paris recently, and he's giving us a look at the New Generation Festival there.

We have some photos this week of the kick-off for Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month in Los Angeles. (There is a Disney connection.) Speaking of Disney connections, we take a trip to an Orange County restaurant that also has Disney provenance. I'm definitely going to have to check this place out in person.

Finally, we're taking a very special road trip with SummerInFL. She has been looking forward to this trip for quite awhile. Today she shares photos from Day One.

Thanks for visiting the Weekend Update. Now go out and explore!

TDLFAN celebrates the New Generation Festival at Disneyland Paris


Welcome poster.

Entering Disneyland Paris.

Main Street USA.

Horse Drawn Carriage in operation.. a rare sight at the US parks. [Correction: TDLFAN has asked me to change this to "a rare sight at WDW". - Editor]

One of the many decorative New Generation character ornaments on Main Street USA.

Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant.

Popcorn anyone?

Let's shop!

Candy Shop.

New Generation merchandise.

Big Thunder Mountain.

New Generation Show at Hub gets underway.

Ratatouille makes a pass at Minnie Mouse.

Tiana and Prince make an appearance in a rousing "Going Down the Bajou" showstopper.

Show ends with a blast of firework sparklers.

Wall-E can be seen on the Character Train on Main Street daily.. among other Disney friends..like Ratatouille, Incredibles, Minnie, Donald, goofy, Lilo etc etc.

Space Mountain.

After the rainstorm on Main Street..

La Parade des Reves (Parade of Dreams) gets underway.

Ariel and Eric.

Tiana and Prince are now also a part of the Parade.

Princesses finale.

Fantasyland.

Tiana and her frog.

A look back at the Disneyland Hotel as we leave the park.

A quick glance at the Walt Disney Studios Park's main entrance.

The new Toy Story Play area already shows on the Studios map, opening in the summer of 2010.

The Disney Village is our last stop of the day before saying "Adieu!" to Disneyland Resort Paris.

Los Angeles celebrates Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month in May


The City of Los Angeles kicked off the Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month on April 30th at City Hall with some new honorees and a month-wide celebration. Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa was on hand to honor Dr. Don T. Nakanishi with the Spirit of Los Angeles award, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong with the Dream of Los Angeles award, and Lisa Ling with the Hope of Los Angeles award.

Master of Ceremonies was David Ono of ABC 7

Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa honors the Asian & Pacific Islander American Angelenos.

A Japanese Candy artist was on hand creating incredible designs.

The Walt Disney Company is also a proud supporter of many community events such as this.

Orange County's Hidden Gem of French Cuisine


If you're in search of a fine dining experience that is just as themed as Disneyand, all you need to do is head north on Harbor Blvd into Downtown Fullerton. THE CELLAR, serving French Cuisine is actually located IN the cellar of an old building. The entire restaurant was designed and built by Mr. Gene White, one of the craftspeople who constructed The Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

An old mural on the wall hints to where The Cellar is located.

Walk too fast and you just may miss the entrance to this cozy restaurant.

The interior is charming, dark, intimate, rich with detail.

It may be hard to see but even the ceilings are detailed.

A single rose decorates each table.

For starters, the Lobster Bisque is quite heavenly.

The fun is always the reveal of your food right before your eyes.

A special of the evening, filet mignon with lobster tail.

The steak and lamp chops are excellent.

Creme Brulee is an excellent finisher.

Since 1970, The Cellar has maintained an unparalleled tradition of gracious European cuisine and service. This romantic and elegant rendezvous was conceived, designed, and built by artistic craftsmen from Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean. Since then it has been the crown-jewel of Fullerton, being the most truly unique fine dining restaurant around. Reminiscent of Old Europe, The Cellar Restaurant, located in the basement of Fullerton's historic Villa del Sol, is accessed via a flight of dimly lit stairs. This world-class restaurant retains all of its architectural and ascetic beauty from its early conception and building.

Official Website

The Everglades look much more different than I expected. I was thinking it would look more like African plains with water. Instead, tall trees hug the road and everything is super green.

This is better, nothing but fields of water and grass for miles..

We stopped at the Big Cypress Nature Preserve to check out the scenery and stretch our legs.

This circular area contained noises of the night, some I recognized, others I hope to never hear, like an alligator.

I am here, or was there, am there, oh, you get the idea..

We were told the smallest working post office (in the U.S.) was located in Ochopee, FL, we actually drove past it and had to make a u-turn to stop for a visit. It was open and there was a woman working inside listening to a radio.

That's right, panther's crossing here!

While briefly stopped for road construction I was catching up on the many air boat advertisements we passed along the way.

We also passed through a very large Indian reservation, the Miccosukee Indians had their own casino, naturally.

After brushing the outskirts of Miami we stopped at the Keys Welcome Center before hitting Key Largo. The woman behind the counter was really nice and recommended some great places to eat while we were in Key West.

Goodbye Miami, hello island paradise.

The further into the Keys we got the more unusual things started to become.
Have to admire a man who finds multiple uses of plastic.

Blue water! I have a feeling we aren't in Tampa anymore..

We stopped at a restaurant called "Lazy Days", the view was amazing and food was great! I would avoid the potato salad though.

On the road again...

The train tracks in this photo is what's left of the Overseas Railroad which was built by Henry Flagler, it extended all the way to Key West until a hurricane blew down parts of it, some people know it as "The Storm of the Century", it was a devastating Category 5 hurricane in 1935.

7 Mile Bridge

We arrived just in time for dinner, lugged our suitcases up to the room and took a little drive around the city to check things out.

What a great way to start off the weekend but with a stop at this famous landmark.

We ended the first night enjoying the view from our room and eagerly awaiting the following day of exploration.

Next week we will visit the "Old Town", pet a Hemingway cat and eat at a very famous Duval St. bar!

Looking for up-to-date reports from Disneyland
including photos, gossip, park schedules and more?

Visit these MiceChat columns each week:

Every Monday: Dateline Disneyland

Every Friday: In the Parks

And that brings us to the end of another week. Our photographers have just enough time to reload their cameras before we see you all again next weekend. Thank you to all of our wonderful readers, and as always, a huge thank you to our amazing team of global photographers, spies, and gossips:

Denise nbodyhome Preskitt (mousesteps.com)
SummerInFL
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
CaptPhoebus
Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
Fishbulb
PhotoMatt
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom
Ken Eslick (DisneylandPostcards.net)
ichigopara

Special thanks to TDLFAN for sharing his beautiful photos.

Your Editor - Rixter

Where have YOU been recently? We invite you to share your photos of theme parks or any other destination that may be of interest to our readers. Please feel free to contact me via MiceChat Private Message (screen name Rixter)
or send me an email: [email protected].

It is readers like you who make MiceChat such a special place.

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