Disneyland in Winter

Before I continue recounting our adventure in Austria, allow me a short digression to blog about our third Disneyland visit (hey, we bought the Annual Pass so it's our honour-bound duty to make sure to get our money's worth), and to share some tips.  Disneyland in winter promised to be a different experience, so off goes our little entourage.  


Our hope that the bitter biting cold and wind will put off other visitors vanished before we entered the parking lot.  Disneyland is packed on ALL weekends, full stop.  But perhaps that's not so bad, because we really needed the body heat from the people around us to keep warm that morning.  My extremities were almost frost-bitten before lunch time.  


This time, we headed straight for the Walt Disney Studios and went on the Cars Rally (aka "a 2-year old boy's wet dream come true"), Slinky the Dog roller coaster, the Aladdin & the Magic Carpet ride (it has Fast Pass! so skip Jumbo and go for this one, as they are basically the same ride with different packaging.  Thanks, PC for the tip!), the Phantom Manor (recommended: the spooky effects at the waiting area were much better than the ride itself, which is actually quite mild), caught a show (Mickey's Winter Wonderland, but our Mickey fell down while ice-skating and hurt himself so he was rendered immobile half the show), watched a "movie" (Cinemagique, with real-life effects.  Not too bad, especially if you are seeking warmth away from the cold outside) and admired the Christmas-themed decorations on Main Street.  

The magic of Cars.  Ju was enthralled and speechless the first 5 minutes of approaching the ride.

Luigi's shop.  Heck, even *I* was star-struck.

Recommended: The Phantom Manor ride.  The whole recreation of a dilapidated manor was perfect down to the smallest detail, plus the spooky effects in the waiting area inside the house impressed even the jaded YL.  The ride itself is mild, and even Ju was enjoying it, even though he kept saying he was "scared". 

Mickey's Winter Wonderland, an ice-skating song and dance routine

The Sleeping Beauty Castle was lit up by thousands of tiny lights like snow.

Main Street was also very festive

We had pretty good luck with our meals this time.  Usually meals at Disneyland means indistinguishable pizza, pasta, burger & fries.  The Cafe des Cascadeurs at the far end of the Studios serves the usual fare but in a rather authentic 50's American diner setting.  (And I'm a real softie for 50's American tunes)  The Blue Lagoon serves good fish and Creole food in the midst of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, in a moon-lit tropical setting. 

 The Blue Lagoon restaurant, inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.  You could see the boat loaded with people going by, waiting for their next drop or surprise  

 It was cold, but it's Disneyland!