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Two New Restaurants Now Open at DCA

July 2, 2011 By Daniel Hale

Direct form the DPB!

Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure park continues to debut new experiences. Fans now are lining up to take a dive under the sea in The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. But as a foodie, I was just as excited to see my favorite Corn Dog Castle, right next to the attraction, back in business – that spicy dog is a must.

Now two more quick-service restaurants have opened in Paradise Pier for lunch and dinner, side by side with 900 shared seats.

At Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, on-stage kitchens turn out flatbreads, pastas and freshly tossed salads. Our top choice is the BBQ chicken pizza with applewood smoked bacon, smoked Gouda, mozzarella, red onions and cilantro. You can go for traditional cheese or pepperoni, and there’s also a Portobello mushroom and spinach flatbread with pesto, artichokes, mozzarella, ricotta-salata and Pecorino Romano cheeses.

Pasta fans can dig into classic spaghetti and meatballs, pasta tossed with chicken in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce, or five-cheese ravioli with pesto and toasted pine nuts. Three salads are on the menu, and our favorite is the field greens with Craisins® dried cranberries, raisins, caramelized pecans and a basil vinaigrette. There’s also a hearty chicken Caesar and an Italian chef salad with provolone, salami, capocollo, fresh mozzarella, cured ham, roasted peppers, olives and greens in a red wine vinaigrette.

On a hot afternoon, sip a Bud Light or Peroni and watch the world go by.

Next door, Paradise Garden Grill has a Mediterranean spin with varieties of skewers and kabobs – lemon-oregano chicken, beef kefta, grilled steak or veggie and tofu served with rice pilaf, cucumber salad and grilled pita, with your choice of sauces to make it your own: Moroccan chili tomato, chimichurri, tandoori-spiced yogurt and tzatziki (a yogurt-cucumber-garlic sauce). A classic Greek salad with grilled pita also is on the menu. For kids, there’s a grilled chicken skewer or a beef kabob, both served with choice of sauce. Grown-ups can pair their lunch or dinner with a Belgian-style Blue Moon or Boston-brewed Sam Adams beer.

Filed Under: News/Rumors Tagged With: Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, California Adventure, Paradise Garden Grill

Is “Brave” Merida the Next Disney Princess?

July 1, 2011 By Daniel Hale

Is Rapunzel going to have to step down from her high pedestal above Cinderella, Belle, Aurora and Snow White in “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade”?

I know not.

I know nothing of this Merida, except that she is a princess.

But being a princess alone is not enough to be one of the Disney Princesses ™. I’ll refer you to the “Dissed By Disney” rant I wrote back in February if you seek a “for instance”.

Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom.

In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman and is granted an ill-fated wish.

Now you know as much as I do.

So if Merida wishes to enter to Royal Disney Clique, all she really needs is two major things:

1. Box office numbers. Pixar’s track record for telling great stories, kinda makes this a given.

While “Cars 2” is being considered a “not great” sequel, the “not greatness” of it is being pinned on Disney’s record with sequels rather than Pixar’s record with stories. Many of the complaints I’ve heard (none of which came from true-blue Disney fans) were that this was expected when Pixar married itself to Disney.

2. She needs to get herself a man. Unmarried princesses don’t make the cut.

After doing some research, a.k.a. racking my brains, the only Disney Princess that makes the husband factor an open question is Pocahontas. Clearly she does not marry John Smith, in fact, in “Pocahontas II” she dumps that fool in favor of John Rolfe (in a very transparent effort for Disney to be at least a little historically accurate).

At the end of that movie, she’s seen sailing off into the sunset with Rolfe. Historically, Pocahontas does marry John Rolfe, which, to me, makes her as much his wife as original Greek mythology makes Meg (Megara) from “Hercules” a princess, so there you go.

But I digress…

So assuming Merida fits the requirements of the Disney Princess line, the question is, where in the Disneyland Resort will she fit in?

Yes, she’s digital like Rapunzel, but she’s a Pixar character. Rapunzel is pure Disney magic and doesn’t stand under the Pixar banner, so I wonder what the deal is going to be, don’t you?

Seeing as Pixar has dug itself into Disney’s California Adventure Park like P.T. Flea, it begs the question. Will Merida rule DCA alone, single and proud, or will she buckle to social convention, hook up with some dude and join the Princess club in Disneyland?

I mean, Pixar Princesses Atta and Dot are nowhere near the Disney Princesses.

They’re ants though– they’d get Raid in the face or squished.

I’m pretty sure that  Mulan can’t take that cricket anywhere near Cinderella, though it’s perfectly okay for Cinderella to hang out with rats. Hypocrite.

Disney/Pixar’s “Brave” won’t hit theaters until summer next year. That’s a whole year for them to figure it out, if they haven’t figured it out already.

All we can do is wonder.

Of course if “Brave” sucks, we’re talking about nothing here.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LepcCZi_zk8

Filed Under: Editorial, News/Rumors Tagged With: California Adventure, Disney Merchandise, disneyland, feature, Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, movies, Pixar

Disneyland Grad Nite Moves to Disney California Adventure

June 24, 2011 By Daniel Hale

From the Disney Parks Blog:

In 2012, Grads will have more time, more flexibility and more room for their celebration at the Disneyland Resortincluding the opportunity to enter Disneyland park or Disney California Adventure park at any time during their Grad Nite visit. Students will receive a park hopper ticket allowing them a full day to experience both parks!

In addition, 2012 Grads will now receive a special FASTPASS option to use during their visit and a private showing of “Fantasmic!” to kick off the exclusive private party that begins when Disneyland park closes.

Beginning in 2013, the private party will move to Disney California Adventure park where Grads will enjoy all the newest offerings including an exclusive “World of Color” viewing and the new Cars Land.

 

Here’s hoping your graduate in 2012!

Filed Under: News/Rumors Tagged With: California Adventure, disneyland, Grad Nite

Laserman: R3CONF1GUR3D

June 17, 2011 By Daniel Hale

Programs!  Prepare to be dazzled by new music, new choreography, and additional mesmerizing, mindblowing lasers!!!  Sorry no sharks.

 

Tonight, DCA will premiere  Laserman R3CONF1GUR3D.  Man Vs. Technology.  The intelligence of one must bend to the will of another.  It’s a challenge of control… But who will survive?  My guess? Little girls with hula-hoops!

Filed Under: News/Rumors Tagged With: California Adventure, elecTRONica, laserman

Disneyland Price Increase

June 13, 2011 By Daniel Hale

Over the weekend the Disneyland Resort raised their ticket prices. Significantly.  Nothing new as this is an anual event although the last price increse was less than a year ago. 

Ticket Ages 10+ Ages 3-9
6-Day Park Hopper $271 $251
6-Day 1-Park Per Day $256 $236
5-Day Park Hopper $266 $246
5-Day 1-Park Per Day $251 $231
4-Day Park Hopper $249 $231
4-Day 1-Park Per Day $234 $216
3-Day Park Hopper $224 $208
3-Day 1-Park Per Day $209 $193
2-Day Park Hopper $173 $161
2-Day 1-Park Per Day $158 $146
1-Day Park Hopper $105 $99
1-Day 1-Park $80 $74

 

Base Ticket admits guest to one theme park each day of use. Park choices are: Disneyland, Disney California Adventure.

Park Hopper option entitles guest to visit both theme parks on each day of use.

All tickets expire 14 days from the date of first use.

Theme Park Annual Pass Options

Premium $499
Deluxe $379
Southern California* $269
Southern California Select* $199

*Valid proof of Southern California residency required for purchase and use.

Filed Under: News/Rumors Tagged With: California Adventure, disneyland

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