Stitch update and Brave review

Considering the work stress I've been under, the fact that I was at the beauty shop for 4 hours Saturday and went and saw Brave on Sunday, I'm pretty surprised I got any stitching done this weekend, but I did! I planned on starting Sleepy Hollow this weekend, but I got so far with my little Highland girl, I just couldn't stop on her (and she kind of resembles a zombie right now with the missing eye).



On to Brave - I've been anticipating this movie for a really, really long time, ever since they were having director troubles. I've already got my Animator's Collection doll and the Merida Disney doll for my collection and the thought of the pins at Disney World had me all excited. I've been really trying hard not to get the three plush triplet bears. But the most important thing is the fact that Disney finally has a Scottish princess and I was just completely over the moon about it!

I've discussed my art past, my feelings about the second and third generation Disney movies, and how long it took me to come around to the CG side (which, in my mind, used to be comparable to the Dark side). And, as far as Pixar movies go, I'm still a bit on the fence about them...the CG is so "pungent", that it pollutes the amazing storylines and I just haven't been able to get past it. At least with Disney CG, they still meld in a bit of actual hand-drawn appeal. Take Tangled for instance, it has become one of my favorite movies of all time! It really is a gorgeous piece of art (and for ME to say that about CG, the sky MUST be falling!).

The funny thing about anticipation, you build something up so great in your mind, by the time it actually happens, you find yourself a bit disappointed. Granted, I did really like Brave, but I didn't LOVE it. My problem is, I get too distracted by the surrounding art, even the backgrounds, and if the story isn't strong enough or the characters aren't appealing enough, the CG starts to distract me. They did spend a lot of time on character animation and it showed, but I think that the fast moving horse-riding was meant more as a distraction from the fact that the backgrounds were absolute crap.

I really wanted to absolutely love Merida, but I just couldn't. Her little brothers were the highlight of the movie and they had very little screen time. I also kept having flashbacks to Brother Bear through the entire movie. Don't get me wrong, there were some absolutely hilarious moments, and seeing naked animated butts was as funny as it was shocking. I can't say I've ever seen a naked animated butt! There was a definite call for the PG rating!

The soundtrack, on the other hand, was really amazing! The music was gorgeous and I found myself listening more to the music than to the characters. The soundtrack is a definite MUST have!

Once it comes out on Blu-Ray, I'll definitely get it (as I do with every Disney/Pixar movie), and I will actually watch it again to make sure how I feel about it, but I won't pay the $8 to see it in 3D again. But, don't take my word for it, judge for yourself (but you might want to forgo the 3D price).

I think I'll watch Tangled (yet again). I need to be reminded that CG can be good, even if it will never match the perfection that is the classic hand-drawn - the TRUE art form of animation, even if it is lost forever. If CG will continue to strive for the hand-drawn appeal, like Tangled did, then maybe there is hope for CG yet!

Stitch update and reviews

I spent the entire weekend finishing our 2010 Disney picture DVD's, but I did manage a tad bit of stitching:


That's right! A face is appearing and I'm so excited!

I also spent the entire weekend catching up on my behind movie DVD's, and since I haven't done a review in a while, figured I'd share (but they are gonna be brief).

First up, the only movie I watched was The Woman In Black

I love Daniel Radcliff (yeah, I know, it's shocking I'm a Potter fan, it's SO out of character for me), but I especially love Ciaran Hinds (my first Wentworth and another Potter alum). It was a typical gothic horror in every since of the word...instead of the gore or the in your face horror, it's all about the noise factor, a loud scream or crash at the right moment will cause even the strongest of constitutions to jump, and jump I did, many times. But also with gothic horror, it never ends the way you expect, and this was no exception! It was good, but not fabulous and I hate to admit I was a bit disappointed in the ending, but, hey, I still want a romantic ending, even in a gothic horror! Radcliff's ability to pull off playing a father also didn't work for me. Maybe in a few years!

Next up, Green Wing:

I was a bit put off in the very beginning by the Python-like humor, but it didn't take me anytime to get attached to the characters and I got to the point where I didn't even notice the humor! It was a really great show and I hated to see the ending! It was filled with amazing actors, a true ensemble cast!

Then, I finally got around to watching the fourth series of Being Human:

I was putting this off...the last series ended pretty badly and this series went from bad to worse in the first episode! But I stuck it out and was glad I did! Whenever you have a major character change in a much-loved show, there is a 90/10 chance the new lineup will never measure up. But once it was all said and done, I had forgotten about the old ones (no pun intended). The writing is what saved this show (and an even hotter vampire doesn't hurt!).

As of right now, I am halfway through Wire In The Blood:

So far, I have to say, it creeps me out a bit...I don't know if it's the music or the fact that he's an Asperger with a menigioma (way too close to home). I'm not a fan of Hermione Norris either, although she seems to appear in all my favorite shows...Spooks, Kingdom, Cold Feet, I don't know why that is! She must be attracted to well written scripts!

So that's it for my holiday weekend! Really NOT looking forward to going back to work tomorrow, but who is! Hope the Queen's Jubilee went off without a hitch (and I can't WAIT to watch it), and no one tell me the results of Soccer Relief because I haven't seen that either! The isle's hottest guys (Mark Owen in particular!) from music to sports to movies on one pitch (and my pitch as well, Man U!)...well, I can't say out loud how that makes me feel and I better stop thinking about it or I'll never get any sleep!

Have a good week everybody and I have GOT to get caught up on reading blogs! I am SO far behind!

Pecos Bill Review - why I keep mentioning it...

Of the four theme parks in Disney World, Magic Kingdom has the worst selections of restaurants unless you love character meals or counter service (which I typically don't). But there is one notable exception...Pecos Bills Tall Tale Inn And Cafe. It's halfway between Frontierland and Adventureland, so the theming changes as you move through the seating area. Now, there really isn't anything different about Pecos Bills, it's your typical Burgers and Chicken Strip kind of counter service:

Everybody wave hi to Am's ponytail!

BUT, and I do mean B-U-T, there is one menu item that has held me captive since as far back as I can remember! I get it numerous times every trip and I can't get enough! What is this magical mystery meal item, you ask? A taco salad...yes, you read that correctly a taco salad! What makes it so special? Well, where Pecos Bills differs from most other counter service restaurants in Walt Disney World (although there is a couple that have them), is what's called a "fixin's bar". So, picture if you will, A typical taco shell bowl with just meat in it (because that's all you get with your order), but then picture yourself walking over to the fixins bar and loading it up with whatever you want as high as you want!!! From past dining reviews you know I typically order the same thing...but taco salads at Pecos Bills are a whole other ballgame!!

There are probably a half-dozen more pics, but my eyes are crossing looking for them!! This up-coming trip will be no exception, but now that I'm blogging, it might be different...I might even do a live "build a salad" blog or something! Am laughs at me for my Pecos obsession, especially considering the excellent food at Disney World and I get all bent out of shape over meat in a shell!! She's tried them a couple of times, but she doesn't get it (it's because she uses cheese sauce instead of shredded cheddar...completely changes the dynamic...I've tried to tell her this, but her answer was just to use both cheeses...cheese sauce does NOT belong on a Pecos Bill salad!! The build is this (and this is precise science): layer of shredded cheese, tomatoes, salsa, more shredded cheese, more tomatoes, more salsa, more tomatoes, more salsa, and more shredded cheese and tomatoes on top for presentation! It's the only combination that truly works!!

So, there you go...another meal review! I haven't ventured out of the Magic Kingdom much on these reviews, but it is my favorite park, so that's probably why!

Wa Wa Wah....but a review instead

Well, I got too excited too quick...I forgot one major necessity in October planning...the release dates for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! I kind of need those so I know which parties we are going to and then everything kind of goes around the parties! That's what I get for skipping a year, my internal Disney planning guide is off!

So instead, and since now MNSSHP is on my mind...how about a review of the absolute best party Disney puts on - Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!

MNSSHP is a private ticketed event (thank god...the park would be packed otherwise) that takes place in the Magic Kingdom on selected nights in Sept and Oct (and now even the first couple of days in November!). Basically, the park transforms into a "spooktacular" (I love that word!) place where a lot of characters are out for pictures (one of the few times all seven dwarfs are out together), some even wearing their Halloween costumes. There is trick-or-treating and a lot of guests dress up as well (but like hell we ever would - I stopped doing that at 10...long story for another blog), the absolute best parade and fireworks shows that Disney does, a Villains stage show (it's Halloween-loween everybody!), Stitch has his own dance party, special creepy lighting and music, the rides are all operating, the stores are all open (let the pin frenzy begin) and have special party only merchandise...in a word...awesome!!! There is even an Event Party CD you can buy that has Mickey's Boo To You Parade music, the Villains Dance Mix and Mingle, and, of course, Hallowishes, the fireworks show. I play that all the time!!

I have also been to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and it was wonderful, but, we're not "Christmas" people. I can say I've been and seen it, but there is no need for me to do it again other than for my Mother's sake because she loves Christmas (another reason I question my lineage). But without further ado:

Main Street USA becomes forboding:
2010

2005

The Haunted Mansion gets spookier:
2010

2009

The Hitchhiking Ghosts join in on the fun:
2010

Maleficent takes charge of Cinderella Castle:
2010

And your local "Ghost Host" blows everything out of the sky!:
2010

2007

2005

Those are just a few highlights throughout the years. This upcoming trip will make our 11th and 12th MNSSHP parties (or at least mine...I had one Oct trip up on Am although she's got a Flower and Garden festival up on me) and they will be no less magical and I'm as excited about them as I was the first one!! Seeing the Headless Horseman ride out to start the parade, listening to Madame Carlotta's ghost interacting with visitors outside of the Haunted Mansion (not to be confused with Madame Leota who is inside the mansion), running from store to store trying to get the framed pin set and Am (as per usual) saving the day and keeping me from going postal because she ALWAYS finds them, Am and I singing Halloween-loween everybody out loud, praying that Am doesn't corner another guest (again) and ask for a picture with them (again) because their costume is cool, and best of all...taco salads at Pecos Bills! (ok, one of these things are not like the other ones but explanation coming up!).

So, there you go...Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! If you're ever at Disney World in Sept-Oct, you definitely can't miss this event!

Here's a video of the Villains Dance Mix and Mingle...everyone should have this song stuck in their head! Besides, Maleficent rapping...come on! And I'm not a Cruella DeVille fan, but that chick can boogie!! You gotta love it!! I picked a clip from a couple of years ago simply because they changed the show last year and since I haven't seen it in person yet, I can't review on it.

WDW Restaurant Review - Artist Point

OK, so I know I've seemingly fallen off the blog radar as of late, but it just couldn't be helped. Remember the doozers from Fraggle Rock? Well, they are building tons of construction walls around my head and are constantly hammering on it with their tiny little doozer hammers! You'd think after two weeks they would have built a skyscraper by now!

But that is not the purpose of this particular blog. I'm gonna try my best to get out a review since it's been so long. My second favorite sit-down restaurant is Artist Point inside the Wilderness Lodge (of course...were you surprised?). It continues the Northwest theme with both the decor and menu but at the same time it's one of the more sophisticated restaurants on property. Kids are there in limited quantities, but they are out of place and subsequently seem to realize it because they are on their best behavior.

But without further ado, it's picture time! Here's my meal from 2005 when Am and I were there:

Cheese plate (didn't enjoy):

Caesar Salad:

Pork Chop and Tillamook Mac and Cheese

Best Berry Cobbler ever!

Funny story about my 2006 solo trip...I guess they thought I was a restaurant critic, sitting by myself and taking pictures of the food. I did notice that they were quite attentive during dinner, but when I got back to my room and I had a message from the restaurant manager hoping I enjoyed my dinner and if I had any questions or comments I could call him on his direct line or cell phone! I didn't call him back, but I felt really guilty!! Here's those pics:

Portobello Mushroom Soup (normally I hate fungus, but this is amazing!):

Pork Chop and Tillamook Mac and Cheese (I'm nothing but a creature of habit!):

Berry Cobbler (once again):

But there you go! Another Disney restaurant!

Resort/restaurant review - Indian Burial Ground Resort

I've had enough dealing with Ferg-id and his erratic moods.   It's time to get back into full Disney mode!

I'm going to do a review of a resort I've never actually stayed at, but I've taken tea at several times, The Indian Burial Ground Resort, or, as most people know it, The Grand Floridian Resort And Spa.

I guess I should first explain why I call it The Indian Burial Ground Resort!  Ever been to a place that gives you a "vibe"?  My spidey-sense is stronger than most people.  Most Asper-girls typically have stronger than normal senses;  hearing, vision (except in my case, I have keratoconus so my vision totally sucks), smell, taste, touch, and some have a stronger sixth sense as well (a higher than normal sensitivity to energy, not psychic, 98% of psychics are fakes).  But this energy sensitivity is why Asper-girls aren't keen on people...their energy can be overwhelming and also why we are good judges of character - you can lie through your teeth about who you are, but your energy can't be faked.  Another reason why a lot of Asper-kids don't like to be touched...they don't understand why people make them feel weird so they shy away from people coming near them...I'm still that way, I don't like to be touched, I'd prefer people keep their juju to themselves!  But I digress.

Now, to clarify, I've never felt or seen a ghost at the GF, it's just a negative vibe over the whole complex...like Gettysburg or New Orleans or The Biltmore or Arlington or Key West or any other site with a history.

Moving on...Here it is from the beach at the Polynesian - it's modeled after the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego (another famously haunted location BTW).

Here's the tea room:

Here's our spread...depending on what package your get, you get different options,  but we usually do the Grand Tea.  Normally I prefer a dark black tea, but they have a special Garden View blend (that you can also buy in a tin to take home, as well as all the other teas they sell) that is pretty similar to a Lady Grey with the citrus-y Bergamot flavor, but it has hints of Assam and Keemun as well.  I'm a total tea snob and I really love this tea...that says a lot!

We've done it several times and plan on doing it again this trip since we didn't do it last time.  It's definitely well worth the experience!

If you'd like to peruse the choices, here's the direct link at All Ears for the menu.

Now, as far as the resort itself goes, Am and Matt stayed their for their anniversary and she loves it (but keep in mind this is a girl who's not only been to the real Hotel del Coronado, but the Queen Mary, the Biltmore, The Winchester House and numerous other haunted locations...and has no problems, she actually enjoys them...need I say more?  And people say I'm the weird one!).

So there you go...The Indian Burial Ground Resort!  If you have no qualms about high energy locations, give it a shot!  It is a beautiful resort, it has some great shops (and it's own private Basin store), but, if you are like me, just spend an hour in the tea room...the lingering energy wears off pretty quickly once you get back into a park!

Lodge walk thru video and other Disney sites

I can't believe I never noticed these before! All Ears net is definitely the best Disney fan site!

Here is the video for Wilderness Lodge:


I have to tell you, I have tears running down my face right now! I could smell the smells when the doors opened, feel the fire from the fireplace, feel the resin/other people's hand slime from Humphrey's nose, smell the weird chlorine/moldy smell coming from the bridge inside as well as the geyser outside, got itchy in my pockets through the gift shop, got growls in my stomach from the romp through Artist Point, and just got a general feeling of "I want to go home" (when you arrive at a Disney resort, the first thing they say to you is "welcome home").

As a point of note, the music that you hear on both this video and the one I posted for the Polynesian is the actual BGM (Background Music) from these resorts! Most people don't even notice the BGM in Disney, but it's everywhere! It makes the atmosphere and it's changes are what mark your progression from one area to another more than the scenery, people just don't realize it! For those that do go, next time you are in the Magic Kingdom and are walking under the area that transitions from Adventureland to Frontierland or from Adventureland to Liberty Square or even from Liberty Square to Frontierland, see if you can tell the difference in the music, these are the areas where it is most noticeable to me! Wow, off topic again.

All Ears doesn't have a video for the Contemporary. I tried looking on YouTube for a suitable substitution, but alas, none were available. Apparently, people have never heard of image stabilization!

In case you were wondering (probably not), there are several sites I visit when planning a Disney vacation and even daily just for Disney information and I thought I would share these with you.

In the planning sense, I've already told you about All Ears.net, but there is also the Official Disney World site, of course, and The Dis, which I mainly use for their message boards (I don't typically post much, but I do read, and usually get pissed off because people get on my nerves, but that's another story).

For news and general Disney updates, I check, almost everyday, sometimes several times a day, The Official Disney Blog, WDW Magic, Stitch Kingdom, Mouse Steps, and Orlando Theme Park News.

Oh, and I guess I should add, there are two main podcasts I listen to, WDW Today and WDW Radio Podcast, both of which are downloadable on iTunes.

When I just get back from a trip though, I suffer from Post-Disney depression and pretty much stay away from all these sites, but eventually, I find my way back on them. Last year, I rarely got on any of them, just enough to keep updated with the new renovations in Fantasyland (the Magic Kingdom is going through it's largest expansion since it's opening) and any other massive changes, but the day to day stuff I haven't been keeping up with and I've stayed away from the Dis almost entirely! It was really hard not going to Disney World last year and I think, no matter my situation, from now on, I'm not going to miss a year again. It affects me in a way that recharges my "life batteries" enough that I can make it through whatever for at least a year and since I skipped a year, I've been running on dead batteries (which might be my problem) - yes, Disney is THAT powerful (see next blog).

Resorts past - Disney's Polynesian Resort

You thought I'd shut up about WDW didn't you? Just been too busy lately! Plus, this is gonna be a hard blog to do because I still haven't made it up to fixing the 2010 pics yet, so these pics are all raw and it's harder to dig through them! But alas, I'm gonna give it a go!

The second resort review is Disney's Polynesian Resort. We stayed there on my last trip in 2010. It's another one of the three monorail resorts besides The Contemporary and The Indian Burial Ground Resort (ok, Am, I know, The Grand Floridian). But The Poly and The Contemporary have something else in common, they were the only two resorts open when Disney World opened on...anyone...anyone...Bueller...October 1, 1971.

Although it is a deluxe resort and has been upgraded numerous times, it still has that 1971 feel to it, if that makes sense. The rooms decorations may be new, but the room itself feels old...I guess that is what I'm trying to say. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful! The main Ceremonial House is fabulous! Again, like most all the other resorts on property, you have to walk from the building that room is located in to the main house where the restaurants, gift shops, lobby, concierge, etc, are located, and depending on where your building is, than can be a walk and it is out in the elements (another reason why I love the Lodge so much).

Front Desk Main Ceremonial House (feel the 70's?) (again, Am, you don't want your butt in my pics, don't walk so damned fast!):

Lobby at the Main Ceremonial House:

Our favorite Tiki's behind a register:

But, it is a monorail resort, so you have instant access to the monorail, but as an added bonus, you are within walking distance to the TTC (Ticket and Transportation Center) where the resort monorail changes over to the Epcot monorail, so instead of riding the resort monorail and switching once you arrive at the TTC like you have to at the Contemporary, you can just walk directly there and hop on an Epcot monorail or, if your room is closer to the TTC than the Ceremonial House, hop on a Magic Kingdom Monorail (the resort monorail loops through the Magic Kingdom if you are closer to the main House). We were about centered between the two, so some days we walked and some days we rode. Good thing Am has an excellent sense of direction! I'd never found my way back and forth through all that foliage!!

Our room:

Beach (and Am's feet - I'm sure she had a reason to take this picture like this, but it turned out good, so I'm posting it!) - oh and a bit of Disney trivia...when Walt first started buying up land for Disney, the land he was buying was all swamp. They dug up a lot of the swamps and made lakes out of them, but at the bottom of the muck, they found sand! White, beautiful sand which now lines the beaches of the water-lined resorts (although, after all this time, I'm sure they ship sand in, but it's a nice story):

Walking daytime and Am butt shot:

Walking at night (yes, it was that dark - Am's pic...she's not comfortable with taking night shots):

I'll eventually be doing a restaurant review of Kona, which is in the Ceremonial House, but we have eaten there several times, and it was what prompted us to stay at the Poly in the first place. But this trip, the meal was sub-par, which was unusual, and it was enough that we won't be eating there this time (even the sticky wings were bad and Kona's sticky wings are heavenly!).

Oh, I guess I should add, for those that don't know, you don't have to be staying in a resort to eat at their restaurants...at Disney, you can eat anywhere you want so long as you have a reservation, and dining reservations at Disney are a must! But more on that at another time.

Oh, I found the best video of a walking tour of the Polynesian at the All Ears site! i ran across this quite by accident! I use the All Ears site probably more than any other Disney site, BTW, particularly the menus. I look at them and decide where we are gonna eat. I am definitely gonna check and see if they have vids for both the Contemporary and the Lodge!



So, that's it! Another review down! I think next time I'll do Port Orleans French Quarter since I seem to be going in a pattern here, which will be my first moderate resort review.

Disney Restaurant Review - Le Cellier

You can't talk about Disney World and NOT mention the food! That's just crazy! What a better way to start with this series of reviews than with my personal favorite, Le Cellier Steakhouse, which just happens to be, in all places, in the Canadian Pavilion in Epcot. OK, I already know what you're thinking, "how can Canadian food be the best food Disney World has to offer?". Honestly, it's probably not the actual "best" food...Le Cellier is about more than just the food (although I'd be hard-pressed to come up with many better places on property), but it also has great theming, and in Disney, theming (as you'll come to realize with me is very important in every aspect) is just as important as actual food taste. Like it's name, it's set in an actual cellar atmosphere. The seating is divided into the regions of Canada and each region's server is actually from that area of Canada (as with all of World Showcase in Epcot, the CM's - remember? Cast Members?) are from the actual countries they are working in, so Canadians are in Canada, Britain are in the UK, Chinese are in China, etc. Most the food is likewise shipped in from that particular country (and the rest is grown right on Disney property - which is why your tomato might look like a Mickey head!).

The Canadian pavilion has some of the nicest CM's in all of Disney World, hands down. I don't know if that's just because Canadians are generally nice people (shout out to my Canadian friends!) or what, the UK Pavilion is second (only because I encountered a particularly nasty CM in the tea shop one year I still haven't forgotten you chick), while the Mexican and the Moroccan are the worst (nothing against those nationalities, I don't know why they are always the worst!), which is a real shame because the Moroccan pavilion is my favorite! It's stunning! Which is why I can overlook the rude CM's! Kill with kindness...

Here's some pics (yes, we take pictures of our food...those on the DisBoards won't be shocked by this, but we didn't start until '05, so the pics start there):

The best thing about Le Cellier, is three things: pretzel bread, cheddar cheese soup, and ice wine. Now, if you go during the Food & Wine Festival, you can get these things without actually making a reservation at Le Cellier! At the Canadian booth, they always have all three of these items (although they do shift from the Inniskillin to the Vidal Ice Vine year to year and I prefer the Inniskillin). But without further ado:

Now, when it comes to the main course, I always get the same thing...year after year...without fail...Canadian Prime New York Strip. Am gets different things upon occasion, but I'm a creature of habit and comfort and the New York Strip is what I like, so it's what I get (medium rare with a faint sound of "moooo")! You can litterally cut it with a fork it's so tender! But here it is through the years:

no '99 or "04 pic, but here's '05:

'06

'07

I couldn't get a ressie for '08, so didn't eat there that year, but here's '09:

and lastly '10 (you thought I was kidding when I said I got the same thing every year, didn't you? I do the same thing at every restaurant we eat at...wait until I do the Pecos Bill review! I have on average 2-4 Taco Salads per trip!!):

did get risotto that year instead of Yukon golds...that was different and got au gratin potatoes in '09...I'm a wild one who does live on the edge occasionally!!

It's the hardest restaurant to get ressies for, I'm online 3 am on the dot at the 120 day point and, even then, like in '08, I still couldn't get in. Now that they've gone signature though (takes two dining credits instead of one - a whole 'nother discussion for another time), maybe it will be easier.

So that's it! My favorite Disney restaurant and my first Disney dining review! My head can't take anymore now, and as much as I hate to admit it, looking at these food pics is making me sick instead of making me hungry and I don't ever want that to happen where Disney food is concerned! Migraine is still lingering and may be trying to make a comeback.

So, from Am and her last Disney German Steiff bear (his name escapes me, but he enjoyed his meal too!) in Le Cellier in '10 (you thought I was going to put up a picture of me, didn't you? Silly people!)...till next time!