Weekend Update: Sleeping Beauty, New Zealand, Paris, Animal Kingdom and Postcards!
I had a blast putting the Weekend Update together for you this week. We have a nice mix of Disney photos plus some worldwide photos to broaden our horizons.
First up, PhotoMatt uses one of his mind-blowing lenses to capture the new Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through at Disneyland like it has never been photographed before! Ian Parkinson is back this week and he has photos of Napier, New Zealand - famous for its art deco architecture. Then we're off to Paris with CaptPhoebus. We almost get into Disneyland Paris with him. SummerInFL has a photo essay on the quiet spots of Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida.
We finish up the Update this week with vintage postcard images from darkfairycthulu. Read to the end and you'll find out why I have that crazy "freecreditreport.com" song bouncing around in my brain.
This week we'll start on the West Coast:
Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through
Disneyland, California
PhotoMatt brings us his take on the newest version of the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through this week. He uses one of his magical lenses this time out and we really love the feel it gives to this wonderful attraction.
Yesterland Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through
MiceAge contributor Werner Weiss has a great Yesterland feature on the 1977 version of the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through which can be viewed HERE.
Napier, New Zealand
Ian Parkinson takes us to the fascinating art deco city of Napier in this week's installment of his New Zealand photo report.
Quote:
Napier (Ahuriri in Māori) is a port city in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. It has a population of 57,900 as of the June 2008 estimate.
Napier is a popular tourist city, and has one of the most photographed tourist attractions in the country, a statue on Marine Parade called Pania of the Reef. Her statue is regarded in Napier in much the same way that the Little Mermaid statue is regarded in Copenhagen. In October 2005 the statue was stolen, but it was recovered a week later, largely unharmed.
Napier's major tourist attraction is the town itself, which draws Art Deco and architecture enthusiasts from around the world. The rebuilding period after the 1931 earthquake coincided with the shortlived and rapidly changing Art Deco era and the Great Depression, when little 'mainstreet' development was being undertaken elsewhere. As a result Napier's architecture is strikingly different from any other city; the other notable Art Deco city, Miami Beach, has Streamline Moderne Art Deco. The whole centre of Napier was rebuilt simultaneously. In many ways it resembles a film set as it has whole streets of 'in period' buildings, but it is a real city and the buildings are original.
Napier is a popular tourist city, and has one of the most photographed tourist attractions in the country, a statue on Marine Parade called Pania of the Reef. Her statue is regarded in Napier in much the same way that the Little Mermaid statue is regarded in Copenhagen. In October 2005 the statue was stolen, but it was recovered a week later, largely unharmed.
Napier's major tourist attraction is the town itself, which draws Art Deco and architecture enthusiasts from around the world. The rebuilding period after the 1931 earthquake coincided with the shortlived and rapidly changing Art Deco era and the Great Depression, when little 'mainstreet' development was being undertaken elsewhere. As a result Napier's architecture is strikingly different from any other city; the other notable Art Deco city, Miami Beach, has Streamline Moderne Art Deco. The whole centre of Napier was rebuilt simultaneously. In many ways it resembles a film set as it has whole streets of 'in period' buildings, but it is a real city and the buildings are original.
Paris, France
This week, CaptPhoebus heads off to Paris and we almost get inside Disneyland Paris.
Arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport.
Some sights around Paris. First up, Avenue-des-Champs-lyses.
Then, the River-Seine.
The Palais-Royal
The Arc-de-Triomphe
Hotel National des Invalides.
La-Defense-District.
Then on the horizon, an oddly familiar hotel becomes visible.
The entry to the parking lot for Disneyland Paris.
Disney Village.
What is this? A working Speedramp to make the journey to the park a bit easier?
The Disneyland Hotel.
Which includes the entryway to the Park.
Next time around, CaptPhoebus takes us on a tour of the French park.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
SummerInFL shares this great photo essay on some of the quieter things to do at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Animal Kingdom is filled with hidden trails and passageways. There are many that loop and wind around The Tree of Life but none that gets you as close as the one near It's Tough To Be a Bug. To find it, go to the entrance for It's Tough to Be a Bug and follow the path to the left of the line, this one will veer off to the left while the queue line for the attraction will go to the right.
What you will discover is an endless trail of carved animals and breathtaking views.
It also creates a wonderful photo opportunity for your family where you don't have to fight all the other visitors of the park.
Every time I look at this tree I see something different, it's truly a masterpiece.
This beauty extends to all of Animal Kingdom and my family easily fills up an entire day enjoying all of it's many treasures.
From the local flavor of the Village Beatniks...
...to the fun, interactive attractions.
And did I mention the animals?
Now that's just scratching the surface of this park, they also offer Broadway style shows, festive parades and characters around every corner. You just never know who or what you might run into.
More vintage postcard images from darkfairycthulu:
Quote:
Over 50 rides and attractions and one GIANT pool!
Official Website
Quote:
Coney Island started in the 1870s as an apple orchard farm owned by James Parker, who realized that his location along the Ohio River was a profitable location to attract people looking to visit. The orchard was sold to Ohio Grove Corporation and was officially renamed "Grove Park, The Coney Island of the West," and opened June 21, 1886. In 1887, the Grove Park name was dropped and the park renamed to "Coney Island."
...
Coney Island has resurrected itself as a traditional amusement park, with familiar rides such as the "Tilt-A-Whirl" and bumper cars, as well as carnival games and musical shows. Over a period of time, the park's management is attempting to restore the heyday image of the property.
...
Coney Island has resurrected itself as a traditional amusement park, with familiar rides such as the "Tilt-A-Whirl" and bumper cars, as well as carnival games and musical shows. Over a period of time, the park's management is attempting to restore the heyday image of the property.
Quote:
Back in the 1960s and 1970s we used to have a house in Wrinkle Point in West Dennis, MA. From time to time Dad would take us to dinner at Thompson’s Clam Bar in Harwichport at Wychmere Harbor. I loved going there. My sisters and I would beg for a Shrimp Cocktail and lobster. Dad would usually give in. Back then it seems a shrimp cocktail cost a fortune, but its rather reasonable to have one these days.
Quote:
Throughout high school, in the summer, I worked at the largest restaurant on Cape Cod, Thompson's Clam Bar, which served 2000 dinners a night sometimes and employed over 200 college kids. It served all kinds of seafood at reasonable prices, they had a playground for the kids while the parents waited for a table, a bar with a clam shucker, and a line of cars stretching half a mile up Snow Inn Road to Route 28.
I worked there from 1977-1979, and it was legendary. When we hit 2000 dinners a night, there was always a 2000 party. These were first held at Thompson's Field, 49 acres of forested land owned by the family, with massive kegs, Dirty Birds, whisky punch and debauchery. My first summer there, five guys got arrested brawling with the HPD. I was 15! Hence the obvious t-shirts that followed: Free The Clam Bar Five. And that same summer, t-shirts for one of the many off-work parties, you paid four bucks, all the beer and burgers you could eat illegally by the water.
I worked there from 1977-1979, and it was legendary. When we hit 2000 dinners a night, there was always a 2000 party. These were first held at Thompson's Field, 49 acres of forested land owned by the family, with massive kegs, Dirty Birds, whisky punch and debauchery. My first summer there, five guys got arrested brawling with the HPD. I was 15! Hence the obvious t-shirts that followed: Free The Clam Bar Five. And that same summer, t-shirts for one of the many off-work parties, you paid four bucks, all the beer and burgers you could eat illegally by the water.
Quote:
HARWICH PORT -- Generations of diners once flocked to Thompson's Clam Bar at the entrance to Wychmere Harbor, drawn as much by the intimate view of the boats as anything on the menu.
But now a chain-link fence bars the entrance to the restaurant, which last month became a private dining hall for a members-only club. A smaller, cafeteria-style version of the clam bar has opened on Route 28, one that many diners say is a poor imitation of a culinary landmark.
"We're disappointed," George Adamik of Pearl River, N.Y., said after lunch at the new clam bar. "It's a Cape Cod tradition.
But now a chain-link fence bars the entrance to the restaurant, which last month became a private dining hall for a members-only club. A smaller, cafeteria-style version of the clam bar has opened on Route 28, one that many diners say is a poor imitation of a culinary landmark.
"We're disappointed," George Adamik of Pearl River, N.Y., said after lunch at the new clam bar. "It's a Cape Cod tradition.
LINK
Don't forget to check out the PostcardJunkie blog for more great images.
Looking for up-to-date reports from Disneyland
including photos, gossip, park schedules and more?
including photos, gossip, park schedules and more?
Visit these MiceChat columns each week:
Andy Castro's Dateline Disneyland
David DarkBeer Michael's In the Parks
By the way, if you didn't read Al Lutz's column this week, you'll want to do it now:
Special thanks to MickeyMaxx for coming to my rescue this week and putting some of the column together for me.
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:
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom
TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt
SummerInFl
PhotoMatt
Fishbulb
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
Postcard Images by darkfairycthulu
A very special thank you to our wonderful guest photographers Ian Parkinson and CaptPhoebus for sharing their vision with us.
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: oceansiderick@gmail.com.
or send me an email: oceansiderick@gmail.com.
It is readers like you who make MiceChat such a special place.
Don't miss a single one of MiceChat's Featured Blogs (including the Weekend Update). Add our feed to your favorite feed software or site:
MiceChat: Featured Disney Blogs
MiceChat: Featured Disney Blogs
I want to bunk with JL, too.
Total Comments 13
Comments
-
Thanks for another great Weekend Update Rixter and all the contributors!
The upclose shots of the Tree of Life were great, and I can't wait for more of Disneyland Paris next weekend!
Posted 02-28-2009 at 01:42 AM by MasterGracey
-
awesome update!!! Napier is one of my favourite places in the world!! i hope you went further north and maybe even through Rotorua on your trip!!Posted 02-28-2009 at 02:34 AM by aussiedave -
I loved all the destinations this week. I wish I was packing my bags now!!!Posted 02-28-2009 at 09:16 AM by sir clinksalot -
Great pictures everyone!Posted 02-28-2009 at 09:18 AM by WheresMickey -
Awesome reports that's all I can say..
I'm really digging those old postcards..
Posted 02-28-2009 at 10:32 AM by cositaluvsmickey -
WOW! What a fantastic update!
I'm ready for a trip to New Zealand!!!
Love all the pictures and looking forward to Disneyland Paris next weekend.
-DustyPosted 02-28-2009 at 11:32 AM by Dustysage -
WoW
The entry to the parking lot for Disneyland Paris
It does really tell you ......YOU AT DISNEYLAND!
And Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk
I think it was "A" ticket in the old days
I think now it would be a "B" ticket!
ThankYou ,still enjoy old postcards......Posted 02-28-2009 at 12:10 PM by Eagleman -
You can read all about my trip to New Zealand and see more photos and video here :-
New Zealand 2008
IanPosted 02-28-2009 at 02:08 PM by Ian P -
Oooh, a teaser. I'm loving it. Can't wait to see Disneyland Paris.Posted 02-28-2009 at 05:14 PM by CaptPhoebus -
Those are some great pictures of the tree of life. It's so clever how they incorporate life into the wrinkles of the bark.Posted 03-01-2009 at 01:05 AM by Goover -
Thank you for putting Coney Island Ohio in your update. Also when Coney Island closed it moved to Kings Island. The rides at the park today are not the same ones when the park closed.Posted 03-01-2009 at 07:20 PM by MickeyMoose -
Thanks for the update.Posted 03-02-2009 at 04:04 PM by Barbossa -
great updatePosted 03-08-2009 at 03:04 PM by saphron37
