New Holiday 'Dreams' at Disneyland Resort

"World of Color - Winter Dreams," an all-new holiday version of the popular "World of Color" nighttime spectacular, will begin nightly performances on Paradise Bay in Disney California Adventure Park on November 15, helping to kick off the 2013 holiday season at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA. "World of Color - Winter Dreams" will feature some of the main characters from the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated movie Frozen.

Disney's Frozen comes to theaters November 27, 2013. See the trailers HERE!

Adventure Is Out There! Ellie's first adventure.

"From strangers, to friends, to family..." We live by this. Almost a year ago we joined a social club, Neverlanders SC, not knowing what the outcome would be. We just knew that we all shared the same love for Disney. In a matter of months we all grew closer to each other and shared a bond that family shares. New members joined our family and we grew even bigger and closer. As the one year anniversary almost hit its mark, the founders Cyndee and Angel told everyone they had a surprise on September 22nd. We were all excited, but two of us were clueless! We both kept trying to guess what it could be. For close to 3 months we were in anticipation awaiting the day we'd be surprised. Never ever did we expect this whole planning, dedication and heartwarming event would be for just us three. September 22nd comes and Amanda and I wake up in excitement get dressed faster than ever and wait for Jimmy to come to our place so we could leave. This was the first time Jimmy asked to ride with us, which was kinda odd, but we thought nothing of it. Already fashionably late we arrive to the location and noticed some of our friends vests in the car which was kind of odd, but again didn't question it. We walk in to Up theme song playing in the background, we see Travis taking pics from inside a kids replica of the Up House and we see almost everyone including our northern landers and Vegas friends. In total shock I couldn't figure out what was going on. I couldn't figure out that the event that had been planned for months was our very own Up themed baby shower put on by our family. Tears were everywhere. It was the most beautiful feeling in the world! To see strangers who became family throw this for us and put in so much work, time, love and effort to make it so special was simply beautiful. There were Up houses everywhere, there was a Fentons ice cream sign cut out of wood and hand painted, paradise falls jars hand written and full of gum balls, decorations made by our crafters, a stage full of baby presents, delicious smell of food filling the air, but most importantly family that loves us surrounding us. We played games that had us laughing in tears!! Have you ever played put the plunger in the toilet paper roll? Have you ever tried tying your shoe laces with a balloon inside your shirt trying not to pop it? We have! Ellie, Amanda and I are blessed to have this family! They have been there since our love first blossomed to the whole pregnancy and every special moment that is yet to come. Sept 22nd is a day we will always remember. We cherish the love and family we have. Adventure is out there! Thank you to everyone that participated and made this the most special baby shower ever!

September Adult Meet

 Every month the NeverlanderSC usually have one official adult meet and one official family meet.  This blog is about the adult meet that took place on September 28, 2013.  All of our adult meets are day long meets where as our family meets are usually night time meets.  We always have an itinerary for our adult meets so we know what we are doing for the day and we try our best to stick to it.  This months itinerary was done by Vero. 

Most of our adult meets begin with us meeting at the esplanade between 8:00am and 8:30am.  Todays meet started a little late because a lot of us were at a surprise party for one of our fellow Neverlanders Michelle, aka Mickey.  Breakfast today was at River Belle Terrace.  This is a special spot to me because it was where we ate on our very first meet. 

After breakfast we rode Indiana Jones.  It was only a ten minute wait which was a nice way to start the day

Our next ride was the Haunted Mansion.  This time of the year the mansion is transformed for the holidays to celebrate the Nightmare Before Christmas.  I've never seen the movie, I know that's crazy, but I do love the mansion like this.  This year is the 13th year of them transforming the mansion. It was only about a 15 minute wait which is nice because, like most of you know, its one of the most popular attractions this time of year.

After leaving the mansion we headed for The Jungle Cruise.  The wait was 30 minutes which is unusual for this ride but when you have great people to talk to in line, the wait doesn't seem so long.  As most of you know your level of enjoyment on this ride comes down to the guide on the boat.  Get a good one and it make you feel like its the first time you rode it.  Get a bad one and its just a boat ride.  We got lucky and got a great guide named Laura who had us all laughing. 

After the Jungle Cruise we decided to stray from the itinerary so that one of our own could get a picture she really wanted.  Melissa, who has Maleficent as her patch, had not gotten her picture with her favorite character yet this year so we wanted to make that happen.  So we headed for the Conjuring a Villain in Big Thunder Ranch to see what we could do.  Our first attempt we got The Evil Queen which is great, but not who we were looking for.

After getting some "inside information" we knew that Maleficent was the next character out we wait her for and finally Melissa got her picture.  This picture is of her husband Jimmy, who was relieved that Mel finally got her picture because it was his fault that she had not gotten it earlier in the week.  He had to get a haircut. LOL


Lunch was next so we headed for Jolly Holiday Bakery and The Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner.  Half the group went to one and half to the other.  I had a Mac N Cheese hot dot from the Corner and it was delicious. 

After lunch we headed to DCA and went right for Grizzly River Run.  It was a 40 minute wait so we had plenty of time to talk and joke around in line.  As your can tell by the second picture.

If you notice, none of us are wearing our vest.  Its really weird now not having them on at the parks.  They are a part of us now.  If you did not know their are lockers located next to the fastpass distribution area that are free for 2 hours so you can leave your valuables safe and feel free to get as wet as possible.  I want to point out the person who got it the worst was the good looking guy in the bright green shirt, me.

Next up was California Screamin'.  Only 5 of us wanted to ride.  The ride was basically walk on.  Everyone knows they decide before the ride what they are doing for the picture.  This ride it was by Luke and he said "lets just look like we are bored".  So that's what these photos are.  In this picture its Luke and his dad Skyler.

This picture is of Johanna, Cehcee, and me.


Next up were the Silly Symphony Swings and Goofy's Sky School.  Today was the first time Vero went on Goofy's Sky School and I am guessing it was the last. 

After that we went on The Little Mermaid before heading back to Disneyland for dinner and our activity.

Dinner and the first part of the activity took place at Pizza Port in Tomorrowland. 

After dinner it was now time for the meet activity.  This months was created by Rosemary and Neil, aka FindingMickey.  There were 4 teams of 4 members.  I was part of the Beards of Sin team, which won the best name bonus.  Part 1 of the activity was a Disney trivia test.  Each team had 30 minutes to complete 55 questions.  Part 2 of the activity was a scavenger hunt mixed together with brain teasers. 

In the end the winning team consisted of Dana, Johanna, Angel, and Cyndee.  It was a great activity and a huge thank you has to go out to Rosemary and Neil who did a ton of work to put the whole thing together.

This is the final group shot of the evening with everyone who participated in activity.  That's a good looking group of people if I do say so myself.  In the picture Rosemary, Neil, Jessie, Justin, Sammi, Luke, Skyler, Angel, Cyndee, Amanda, Michelle, Johanna, Dana, Cehcee, Vero, Rick, Efrain, Anthony, Justin, and Travis. I think I got everyone.

Then it was time for some adult beverages at Traders Sams.  Here we are cheering the birthday girl Michelle.

Selfie with Johanna, Michelle, and myself.

Rose Mary, me, and Michelle

Group picture of the ones who enjoyed some good laughs and some good drinks.


In the end it was another great meeting of the Neverlanders SC. 

Disneyland, the only constant is change.

So the last few weeks I have read a lot of internet jargon about "Court of Angels" and Starbucks. Mostly negative, about how they can't take something away that has so much history, and how can they add a corporation to the park! Let me address the Starbucks first, so my wife and many Landers love the #CupOfJo so this is an exciting change. From what I have seen they are maintaining the Market House name just adding "sponsored by Starbucks" much like the Enchanted Tiki Room sponsored by Dole, or many other sponsorships around the park that have come and gone. Since it's inception Main Street was a living shopping area with different store fronts, brassieres anyone?! So to me Starbucks is jut going with the tradition started since 1955. Now the Court of Angels, it's a beautiful and quite corner of the park where many have been proposed too. I get that, I do....but, the Club that Walt wanted now needs expansion and upgrade and this little nook has to change. Some gripe is that a part of the park that was created for everyone is no being changed to an eletist entrance, most of the ones saying that have not dined at club 33 (This is coming from someone that felt that way about the club till I walked in and my skin turned into chicken skin, knowing Walt built this and never saw it) Change is constant, when expansion is needed sometimes things are lost that is how Walt wanted it: "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."-Walt Disney

This is a great post from 2006, Thanks to Andy Castro for posting it: http://imagineerebirth.blogspot.com/2006/06/disneyland-is-not-museum.html?m=1

THOR: Treasures of Asgard Coming to Disneyland

THOR: Treasures of Asgard to Debut at Disneyland November 1, 2013

Astrophysicist Jane Foster has been studying the "Bifrost," a cosmic bridge that allows Thor to travel between the Nine Realms, including Earth. She has determined that the Bifrost is set to open again in Southern California and has pinpointed the precise location at Innoventions in Disneyland Park.

Inside Innoventions, Foster and her team are preparing for the opening of the Bifrost with the installation of THOR: Treasures of Asgard, a collection of objects brought to Earth straight from Asgard. After viewing the exhibit, guests will be invited to enter a chamber where the Bifrost will transport them to Asgard for an audience with Thor himself!

Limited Time Magic

Starting today you can take home a special poster celebrating the release of 'Iron Man 3' on Blu-ray September 24 as well as ABC's new TV series 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' while supplies last!

The Neverlanders Scarf

The Neverlanders scarf-

The scarf is an idea that is derived from Soccer Supporter Culture. Since the early 1900's predominantly in England, club supporters have worn them with their club colors, crest, players names, and many more reasons. A scarf is something you cherish and is worn with pride. So when Cyndee and I came up with the idea of making a Neverlanders scarf it was with that in mind, something the members and supporters of the SC could wear with pride. So this years scarf has the Colors of the Mouse, our Club name, Mickeys face (It all started with a mouse), his hands signaling 1313 (Which is the MM for Mickey Mouse or address of Disneyland 1313 Harbor Blvd) and Our SCs Crest. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did in creating it.

Angel

Becoming Neverlanders: Anthony & Dana's Journey

Dana
We like Disney, All things Disney. Ok, maybe "like" is an understatement. Disney is a way of life for us! Our son's middle name is Elias just like Walt himself, thats how much we love Disney. Disney has always been a huge part of my life. Movies, characters, and annual trips to Disneyland since I was very young. I've been a pass holder for 12 years now and I'm married to Anthony, an ex Disney cast member who also has a love for Disney like I do. One day I came across an instagram user with Neverlanders SC on their profile and immediately I was excited to learn about it. I wondered what they were about. In all the years Anthony and I dated we had been going to Disney at least once a week and I had never seen this group at the parks but was intrigued and had to learn more. I mentioned this Social Club to Anthony and he researched and started reading on anything he found related to the Neverlanders. He came across the forum and got all the members instagram handles. We proceeded by adding all the members on Instagram and little by little started interacting with them. Soon enough Anthony started communicating with one of the founders, Angel, through email and text messaging. One day, at Disneyland we crossed paths and recognized eachother, we said hello talked a bit and went on our way. It felt like a total bromance was created that day between Angel and Anthony. Shortly after that encounter, Anthony got a text from Angel inviting us to join on their Disney day.

Anthony
From that point on Angel and I kept in contact. After being invited to hang out once, we got invited to hang out with the Neverlanders at Disneyland a handful of times. This helped Dana and I build relationships with other members. We started getting invited to Neverlander functions that normally are only for Neverlanders. They considered us friends and didnt mind us joining on the fun. We enjoyed their company and everything was going great. I not only felt like I was making new friends but it felt like a family to me. We started trusting these people with our son. We hung out for a few months and put in effort and time to get to know everyone. We eventually got invited to our first meet, which typically are for members only with a couple of guest spots. While hanging with them we got to see some Neverlander "proposals" to join the SC. If you've never seen the Neverlander proposals on Instagram when someone gets invited then you're missing out! The proposals are special moments for the ones being invited. The Neverlanders dont just simply ask "Do you want to join our club?" They think it through, plan and surprise whoever they are asking. It's truly a special moment that will stand lasting in everyone's memories til the end of time. 

 

Our Proposal
So how were we asked? Well, we were asked the weekend of D23 and it was such an amazing moment and way to be asked. Friday morning we saw all the members posting on their instagrams, a picture of themselves by the mail box with the caption "second star to the right and straight on til morning" Confused and curious by all this we asked a friend/member what it meant and she said it had something to do with D23. Monday comes and we finally got to see what it all meant. Our mailbox had been bombarded with post cards. Every member customized their own post card asking if we would like to join their family. Without any hesitation we said YES!

Ever since then we have had some of the best times with these people. All strangers at one point have become family. We spend entire days with these people and are willing to let our son be around every single one of them without a worry in the world. Each one of them has a special place in our hearts and we stand by them through thick and thin. The best advice that we can give when it comes to joining this family is.. BE YOU! We may appear to be intimidating but we're not. We are all down to earth people who love Disney. I promise you one thing, not a single one of us will turn down a hello, question, or even a picture. All you have to do is try, like we did.

Dana, Anthony & Nixon