WirelessPhreak.com

 

Experience the Magic is a tag line for the Imaginefun.net website and Minecraft server. To level set for all you folks out there like me that have heard of Minecraft but never played, Minecraft is often described as a ‘sandbox game’. This means that it’s a virtual land where users can create their worlds and experiences, using building blocks, resources discovered on the site, and their creativity, but that simple definition does not do justice for what the folks at ImagineFun have built. Masekegamer and SinxMC started the Minecraft Disneyland simulation in early 2018 and since then their team has grown to over 60 Imagineers, Developers, Builders, Managers, Park Coordinators, Cast Members, and even Tour Guides.

 My first time logging in I was super overwhelmed and amazed all at the same time. Some of the controls were not intuitive for a Minecraft noob like myself, but I will try to cover that later. The graphics and the scale are second to none. The detail of every part of the park is meticulous even down to how many times a ride cue wraps. Just walking around Disneyland was jaw-dropping, but finding out there are actual functioning rides, that was a game-changing moment. Enough talk let's discuss how to connect to the servers so you can check it out for yourself.

So first off you want to check out the site https://imaginefun.net/. Once on the site navigate to the connect link at the top of the page. They did an excellent job producing a how-to video on setting up and connecting to their Minecraft server https://imaginefun.net/connect. It was straightforward even as a Minecraft noob, but once connected that is where it got a little dicey for me. I was using a mac, but for any PC or Mac using the java Minecraft client is pretty much the same. 

Pro Tips:

• Make sure from the Minecraft launcher you install Minecraft 12.2.2 this will give you the least buggy and smoothest experience. 
• Join their Discord server, ImagineFun is not just a game but has become a community. They have over 21,000 members on their Discord server.  To be honest this is where I got most of my information about how to enjoy the game. The people are super nice and helpful. https://discord.gg/disneyland
• Once you start feeling comfortable in the game check out the Support section on the discord server and start playing around with the mods and shaders to make Disneyland look even more real. 
• You will want to sync the Monecraft account you play with to the discord account you are using. You can do this by typing /syncdiscord and following the direction on the screen.
  
• Different membership levels will allow you different perks.

Commands to Start Out:

1. / or backslash.  This command will get you into chat from chat you can invoke other commands that you will need to know. 
2. /rp This downloads and enables the resource pack so you can see all the custom work the ImaginFun team has done to create the world.
   
3. /audio from within chat, you can type the word audio this will post a link in chat that you can click on. when you click on it a window will pop up in Minecraft to launch a browser or copy the link. Either one you choose will take you to a webpage that will serve park audio specific to your gameplay. It provides the audio on rides, and the ambient music for the different lands you walk through. The audio adds an immersive aspect to the Disneyland experience.
4. /warp This command will allow you to jump to a different land, rides, and shops throughout the park. As an example, you can type /warp fantasyland.
5. /rides Will present you a list of open rides you can warp to. Yes, the rides go down for maintenance just like the real Disneyland.
6. /shops This will present a list of shops you can warp to.
   
7. /server This will list the active servers that are up and running. If you are trying to catch up with a friend or want to be on a less crowded server this is where you can choose what sever you want to play on. Just as an FYI when you go to a new server you will need to reconnect to a new audio session using the /audio command.
8. /msg [player] or /pm [player] Allows you to send a message in-game to another player.
9. /tpa [player] Allows you to teleport to another player on the same server.
10. /trade [player]  Allows you o trade items with another player.
11. /ignore Ignore a player obviously.
    
12. /vote This allows you to vote on multiple Minecraft ranking severs and you get coins.
13. /cointrade This command will allow you to convert your currency into different types.
14. /sb This command was a godsend I hated the floating server status window on the right site. This command toggles that on and off.
    

Play Mechanics:

So this was probably one of the simplest but most frustrating things to figure out, how to get on a dang ride. To get on a ride you will need to walk up to the loading platform. On most of the platforms, they will have a timer telling you how long it will take for the ride car to spawn/show up. Once the car shows up you walk up to where you want to sit and right-click the mouse. This will get you on the ride and start the ride audio. 

If you want to get off the ride you can select the left shift button that will drop you off the ride and allow you to warp somewhere else. 

There is so much more you can do on this server, I don't want to spoil all the fun. I suggest you join the Discord server to learn more about the ever-evolving game and community. Get your Disneyland fix, save a lot of cash, and tell Covid to kick rocks.

Have fun on the Happiest Minecraft server on the Planet.

Here is another classic Carthay Circle favorite I found on the ohmy.disney.com blog. The Double Pear Martini is a very light and sweet pear cocktail that if you haven't tried you need to. This is the perfect cocktail on a hot day while relaxing in the cool dark Carthay Circle Lounge.

The Double Pear Martini:

• 1 ounce Double Cross vodka
• 1 ounce Absolut Pears vodka
• 1 ounce Kern’s Pear Nectar
• 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1/4 ounce Monin agave nectar
• Garnish: 1 Chilean baby Pear

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass. Add ice and shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a Chilean baby Pear.

Since the parks have been closed Disneyland has been publishing some of their delicious and popular recipes online. I stumbled across their Manhattan recipe from Carthay Circle in DCA and it is one of the best I have had. So I wanted to share. Enjoy!

The Carthay Manhattan:

• 2 Oz Rye Whiskey  (If you don’t have Rye Whiskey, you can use Bourbon or blended Whiskey)
• 1/2 Oz Sweet Vermouth 
• 3 dashes of bitters 
•  Garnish (A cherry, usually) 

Stir it with some ice and then strain it into a lowball glass.

Gingerbread Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup “fancy” dark molasses *make sure it doesn’t say cooking, blackstrap, unsulphured, or lite
• 1 egg
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. ground cloves
• 3 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 3 tsp. ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract 
• 1/2 cup of water 

• All Aboard! (From "Main Street Station") Eddie Sotto 0:29
• I See the Light Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi 3:44
• The Mad Tea Party / The Unbirthday Song Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, James Macdonald & Jerry Colonna 4:31
• Gaston Jesse Corti & RICHARD WHITE/JESSE CORTI 3:40
• Down in New Orleans (From "The Princess and the Frog") Dr. John 2:25
• Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me) Pat O'Malley, Xavier Atencio, Paul Frees, The Mellomen & Thurl Ravenscroft 5:44
• I've Got a Dream Mandy Moore, Brad Garrett, Tangled Ensemble, Zachary Levi & Jeffrey Tambor 3:11
• Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (An Actor's Life for Me) Walter Catlett 1:40
• True Love's Kiss Amy Adams & James Marsden 3:12
• A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes Ilene Woods & Cinderella's Mice Chorus 4:34
• Married Life Michael Giacchino 4:10
• I'm Late Bill Thompson 0:42
• The Bear Band Serenade (From "Country Bear Jamboree Show") Pete Renoudet 1:45
• Part of Your World Jodi Benson 3:15
• Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke & The Pearly Chorus 2:03
• The Nutcracker Suite  Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Leopold Stokowski & The Philadelphia Orchestra 2:36
• In Summer Josh Gad 1:54
• When Will My Life Begin Mandy Moore 2:32
• Hakuna Matata Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver & Joseph Williams 3:33
• Heigh-Ho The Dwarf Chorus 2:46
• Arabian Nights (Soundtrack Version) Bruce Adler 1:19
• I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors) Rachel House & Auli'i Cravalho 2:42
• Dig a Little Deeper (feat. The Pinnacle Gospel Choir) Jenifer Lewis 2:47
• Try Everything Shakira 3:16
• Under the Sea Samuel E. Wright 3:15
• Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus & Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu 3:28
• Soarin' (From "Soarin' Over California") Jerry Goldsmith 4:42
• Bella Notte (Soundtrack Version) Bill Thompson, Disney Studio Chorus & George Givot 2:40
• Shiny Jemaine Clement 3:05
• Beauty and the Beast Angela Lansbury 2:46
• I Wan'na Be Like You Louis Prima, Phil Harris & Bruce Reitherman 4:02
• It's a Small World (From "It's a Small World") Disney Chorus 5:04
• When I See an Elephant Fly Jim Carmichael, Cliff Edwards & The Hall Johnson Choir 1:47
• Let It Go Idina Menzel 3:44
• Kiss the Girl Samuel E. Wright 2:43
• I Just Can't Wait to Be King Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson & Laura Williams 2:50
• You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! (Soundtrack Version) Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Paul Collins, The Jud Conlon Chorus & Tommy Luske 4:24
• Grim Grinning Ghosts (From "The Haunted Mansion") The Melomen, Paul Frees, Betty Taylor, Bill Lee & Thurl Ravenscroft 5:33
• The Bare Necessities Phil Harris & Bruce Reitherman 4:49
• Love Is an Open Door Kristen Bell & Santino Fontana 2:07
• One Jump Ahead (Soundtrack Version) Brad Kane 2:22
• If I Didn't Have You Billy Crystal & John Goodman 3:37
• Belle Paige O'Hara, RICHARD WHITE/JESSE CORTI & The Chorus of Beauty and the Beast 5:09
• Woody's Roundup Riders In the Sky 1:53
• The Ballad of Davy Crockett The Wellingtons 1:41
• I've Got No Strings Dickie Jones 2:22
• Whistle While You Work Adriana Caselotti 3:23
• Cruella de Vil Bill Lee 5:03
• Mother Knows Best Donna Murphy 3:10
• A Pirate's Life (Soundtrack Version) The Jud Conlon Chorus 0:29
• Happy Working Song Amy Adams 2:09
• Poor Unfortunate Souls Pat Carroll 4:51
• I'm Wishing / One Song Adriana Caselotti & Harry Stockwell 3:06
• A Whole New World (Soundtrack Version) Lea Salonga & Brad Kane 2:40
• Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat Scatman Crothers, Phil Harris & Thurl Ravenscroft 2:03
• I'll Make a Man Out of You (Soundtrack Version) Donny Osmond & Chorus - Mulan 3:21
• How Far I'll Go Auli'i Cravalho 2:43
• A Spoonful of Sugar Julie Andrews 4:09
• We Know the Way Opetaia Foa'i & Lin-Manuel Miranda 2:21
• Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah (From "Song of the South") James Baskett 2:19
• Touch the Sky Julie Fowlis 2:31
• The Music Lesson / Oh, Sing Sweet Nightingale Ilene Woods, Oliver Wallace, Paul J. Smith & Rhoda Williams 2:06
• Where You Are Christopher Jackson, Rachel House, Nicole Scherzinger, Auli'i Cravalho & Louise Bush 3:30
• Circle of Life Carmen Twillie & Lebo M 3:59
• Be Our Guest Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach & The Chorus of Beauty and the Beast 3:44
• Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo (The Magic Song) Helena Bonham Carter 1:22
• When You Wish Upon a Star Cliff Edwards & Disney Studio Chorus 3:15
• Thomas O'Malley Cat Phil Harris 2:37
• Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Kristen Bell, Agatha Lee Monn & Katie Lopez 3:27
• What a Dog / He's a Tramp Peggy Lee & Oliver Wallace 2:24
• What's This? Danny Elfman 3:05
• La vie en Rose Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra 3:24
• Almost There Anika Noni Rose 2:24
• For the First Time in Forever Kristen Bell & Idina Menzel 3:45
• An Unusual Prince / Once Upon a Dream (Soundtrack) Mary Costa, Bill Shirley & Sleeping Beauty Chorus 3:29
• You're Welcome Dwayne Johnson 2:43
• Just Around the Riverbend Judy Kuhn 2:27
• Something There Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Jerry Orbach, Angela Lansbury & David Ogden Stiers 2:18
• Colors of the Wind (End Title) Vanessa Williams 4:17
• Scales and Arpeggios Robie Lester, Susan Novack, Gregory Novack, Victor Sweler & The Mike Sammes Singers 1:45
• I Wan'na Be Like You (2016) Christopher Walken 3:01
• The Little Mermaid Medley (From "Journey of The Little Mermaid") Howard Ashman, Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, Phillip Lawrence & Chris Edgerly 9:56
• Some Day My Prince Will Come Adriana Caselotti 1:54
• 999 Happy Haunts The Happy Haunts 7:39
• Jolly Holiday Dick Van Dyke & Julie Andrews 5:24
• Main Street Electrical Parade Walt Disney World 4:32
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame Disneyland 4:03
• Following the Leader (Soundtrack Version) Bobby Driscoll & Paul Collins 1:42
• Fixer Upper Maia Wilson & The Cast of Frozen 3:02
• Un Poco Loco Anthony Gonzalez & Gael García Bernal 1:52
• The World Es Mi Familia Anthony Gonzalez & Antonio Sol 0:50
• Oo-De-Lally Roger Miller 0:59
• The Tiki, TIki, Tiki Room Fulton Burley, The Mellomen, Thurl Ravenscroft & Wally Boag 2:38
• Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite (Music Inspired by the Disney Themed Land) John Williams 4:57
• Into the Open Air Julie Fowlis 2:41
• Painting the Roses Red / March of the Cards The Mello Men & Kathryn Beaumont 2:48
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Theme (From "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror") Richard Bellis & Marious Constant 1:42

This year we decided to try out Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland. We didn't know what to expect and even though we didn't dress up or wait in line for candy, we still had a great time. All the rides were pretty much walk on and the decorations in the park are really fun.  The spooky music lights and fog really changes the way the park feels. Also the Cadaver Dans and the fireworks show were really well done.  We missed the Parade (not really parade people) but again if you're only going for the party you can pretty much fit in all your favorite rides.

So in preparation for the party we were looking for Disneyland's Mickey's Halloween Party handout so we could plan our night but all we could find was the Disney World handout. So even though it is officially Christmas time in the parks I wanted to post my scans of the 2018 Mickey's Halloween Party flyer to hopefully help out any fellow newbies next year.

Korean Sauce (Beef Dip)
Ingredients:
1 c. Soy Sauce
1½ c. Water
1 T. Ground Black Pepper
3 T. Sesame Seed Oil
1 t. Ground Red Pepper
½ t. Cayenne Pepper
1 T. Fresh Garlic
1 T. Corn Starch


Preparation:
Mix all ingredients except corn starch.
Bring to a slow boil over medium heat.
Add corn starch to thicken.


Safari Skewers
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh asparagus (thick stalks)
1 pound bacon (regular cut)
1 lemon
Skewers








Preparation:
Cut asparagus and bacon into thirds. Wrap bacon around asparagus pieces, and skewer (place the pieces on horizontally and not lengthwise - be sure to pierce the end of the bacon to prevent it from unraveling).

Place on outdoor grill, turning frequently. Squeeze some lemon juice over the skewers while grilling.
Skewers are done when bacon is thoroughly cooked, and slightly charred around the edges.
Squeeze some extra lemon upon removing from the grill.


Spicy Beef Skewers
Ingredients:
1 c. Soy Sauce
1 1/2 c. Water
1 T. Ground Black Pepper
3 T. Sesame Seed Oil
1 t. Ground Red Pepper
1/2 t. Cayenne Pepper
1 T. Granulated Garlic
3 T. Cornstarch
18 1-oz. pieces Sirloin Beef Chunks
6 Bamboo Skewers


Preparation:
Combine all of the ingredients above and bring to a boil, adding cornstarch to thicken. Soak the bamboo skewers in water to avoid burning. Place 3 pieces of beef on each skewer and cook on the grill 3 minutes on each side or until desired doneness. Brush with sauce and serve.

Yield: 2 3/4 cups sauce
Servings: 6


Tahitian Sauce (Chicken Dip)
Ingredients:
4 Whole Cloves
1 T. Red Wine Vinegar
1 c. Ketchup
½ c. Crushed Pineapple
½ c. Pineapple Juice
½ c. Brown Sugar
½ c. Soy Sauce
¼ c. Orange Juice Concentrate
3 T. Water

Preparation:
Simmer cloves in vinegar for 5-10 minutes. Strain cloves and add other ingredients.
Bring mixture to slow boil over medium heat.


Tonkatsu Sauce (Chicken Marinade)
Ingredients:
1 c. Teriyaki Sauce
1 c. Soy Sauce
1 T. Red Wine Vinegar
1 c. Brown Sugar
½ c. Sherry Cooking Wine
2 Whole Bay Leaves
1 T. Ground Black Pepper
3 T. Grated Fresh Ginger Root
2 T. Fresh Garlic, finely minced







Preparation:
Mix ingredients and marinate chicken overnight in your refrigerator.

Another off the menu Drink the Adult Dole Whip is so good. I think it taste better then the real thing. You get the familiar Dole Whip taste, but there is an undertone of vanilla that just takes it to the next level. 

The Old Kungaloosh is a delicious drink at Disneyland Hotel's tiki bar Trader Sams.  it's made with vodka, coconut rum, Midori and pineapple juice. I wasn't sure about the Mdori but it adds a subtle layer that balances the drink out perfectly.

Enjoying Disneyland is different for everyone.  There are different ride preferences and different priorities whether you're old, young, or have kids; whether you flew around the world for a one-time experience or if you go to Disneyland frequently.

For my wife and I, enjoying the park when we were younger meant going hard for 16 hours to ride every ride as many times as we could.  Back then we'd only go once every 5-10 years. Now that we are a little bit older and were lucky enough to justify an annual pass this year we turned from young-go-hards to Disney pros. I am not saying we are the best at Disneyland — as if that's even a thing — but we have found time to enjoy the intricacies Imagineers and cast members put into the park.

Everyone one does Disneyland differently but we have found a system that works for us and lets us ride all the rides we want to normally by noon. So this is how we do it.

First key is to plan a trip on days that aren't expected to get too busy.  We like to use isitpacked.com and undercovertourist.com crowd prediction calendars.  The next key is to get to the park early.  I don't mean when its still dark, and at opening is already getting busy, so somewhere in-between.

Since about 2015 Disney instituted a security check point to ensure everyone enjoys a safe visit.  That will be your first line.  And it makes the day a lot brighter to be extra nice to the security officers as well as having any bags open and clear of contraband.  Nowadays we don't bring bags into the park at all, even my wife leaves the purse at home.  Only items that we can carry in our pockets, which is usually credit cards/Disneyland ticket in a wallet, a phone, sunglasses, and sometimes an expandable shopping bag that clips onto a belt loop if we know we're going to buy souvenirs.  Again, no kids. And on that note, find a line with the least strollers and backpacks and you'll breeze through security.

Normally the park opens at 8am and we will arrive around 7am (although always check because times vary day-to-day, including Extra Magic Hour and Magic Mornings). That gets us through security and a good place in the line without waiting for hours. Also, the majority of families with kids aren't at the gate that early. We feel you families - its hard enough to get our adult-selves ready.


Then you'll get in line to enter the park.  We normally pick a line in the middle of the gates because they tend to move slightly faster. Strollers slow the line down as do first-day visitors because they get a picture taken.

Disneyland actually opens its front gates about 15 minutes prior to the actual opening time everyday. This allows them to start moving people through to the back of the park without stopping at Main Street shops.  They keep the park roped off either at the end of Main Street stores on a normal day, or around the entrances to the lands in the Plaza if you're enjoying an early morning such as Magic Morning (3 or more-day park hopper) or Extra Magic Hour (Disneyland Resort guests).  If you're at the park for an early morning, only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are open.  People will queue up at the rope in anticipation of a magical morning!

Now to the meat of the morning.  The majority of visitors will sprint to the castle to get in line for Peter Pan (please walk in the park!).  Who voted Peter Pan the "Best Ride Ever", I don't know.  I mean I love it, but I love every ride.  If you want to ride Peter Pan without waiting 45+ minutes then do head that way and watch for the line that usually forms out towards the drawbridge on the right. It will seem long but the cast members "release" the line in stages as it fills.  If you don't go to Peter Pan first thing, another option is to hit Peter Pan right after fireworks in the evening.


Immediately after or instead of Peter Pan, we usually go straight into Tomorrowland.  This land is very popular and will become extremely packed as the day goes on, but in the early morning it's usually fairly empty.  Of course you'll want to take advantage of Fast Passes or Max Pass.  We usually book a fast pass for Space Mountain right away.  With the old fast pass system this means you walk all the way to the entrance in the back to get a fast pass.  Then we'll hop on Star Tours once or twice while the wait is 10-15 minutes and do Astro Blasters (walk on as many times as you want).


Next its on to New Orleans Square on the opposite side of the park.  You really get your steps in at Disneyland!  We always ride Pirates of the Caribbean first and as many times as we can.  Ever since Johnny Depp visited the ride its become a bit more popular.  After Pirates we ride Haunted Mansion. Then Pirates or Haunted again if the wait times are 20 minutes or less. At this point its usually time for Space Mountain (around 9:15 maybe) and that means we can get another fast pass!  We usually get a Big Thunder Railroad fast pass which allows us to walk directly on the ride - no waiting in the 30 minute line.  Nice right?  Then we head back over to Tomorrowland to ride Space Mountain.  If we can get another reasonable fast pass for Space Mountain or Star Tours (11 or 12 am), we do it.

Then we head to Fantasyland to ride the original kiddie rides in the castle area.  Fantasyland is usually pretty empty by this point because the Peter Pan overflow rush is over and visitors are hitting the bigger rides we've already done.  Also, since these rides are older the AC does not work as well in lines and LA is hot.  Riding in the afternoon tends to be a bit warm in line.

After Fantasyland we like to take the path by Red Rose Taverne and head back to Adventureland/New Orleans Square.  Maybe get a fast pass for Indiana Jones at this point.  Watch that ride though as it frequently breaks down throughout the day.  It's usually repaired within the hour. We can ride Big Thunder, Pirates, and Haunted again as these are favorites.  Alternatively you could also ride Jungle Cruise, the Mark Twain Riverboat, or head around to Critter Country.  Splash Mountain is a good ride in the afternoon, cuz you will get wet.  But the line will get long so if you want to ride this one, around noon is a good time or take advantage of single rider.


This is a good time to eat and we like Bengal Barbecue a lot in Adventure Land. There are many eateries in Disneyland to choose from and that's another blog post!

The remainder of the morning/early afternoon we'll wander around and ride maybe The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Autotopia, and other Fantasyland rides we may have skipped if the line was long, like Alice in Wonderland.  We may also visit Toon Town.  Around 3 or 4pm you might want to hop on the Disneyland Railroad and take a lap or two around the park.  It's a good way to give your feet a break and cool down.  The best place to get on (with the shortest line) that we've found is in Tomorrowland.  We also love to ride the Monorail but usually time-it to when we want to go to Downtown Disney or if we're hopping to California Adventure.  Its nice in the evening too and since the Monorail does not have AC, it could be taken out of commission during hot days for safety reasons.


Of course there are a few rides we don't really care to ride (which may shock some readers so please be warned!).  We don't ride the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage...bad experience...and we typically only ride Matterhorn Bobsleds and It's a Small World if we're visiting with others who haven't ridden or really want to ride these.  So these are missing from our tour on purpose.  From experience, Matterhorn line will get a very long during the day/evening and either riding in the morning or getting a fast pass are the ways to go. 


In the afternoon and evening you'll notice the park is much, much busier. Because you had a perfect Disney morning and hit all the rides, this is a good time to slow down and enjoy shops on Main Street, do some shows, read about the park (all in AC - LA is still hot).  We also like to do the Tiki Bar in the evening and get a Dole Whip.  If you're planning a show or parade, you'll usually need to start saving a seat at least an hour ahead of time.  You can always walk up last minute but you're not guaranteed a good spot.


Of course the key to all of this is to use the Disneyland app or any of the other wait time apps available to monitor ride times.  Don't wait if the ride is too long - get a fast pass and ride something else in between.

And think about investing in an annual pass if you are going to visit the park more than six days in the year.  At the end of 2016 we knew we had a couple trips lined up so we did the math on buying several 3-day park hoppers versus the annual pass.  At the price of a 2017 3-day park hopper pass (approximately $315), an annual pass (approximately $600) broke even for us if we went 6 days or more.  To do the math as prices adjust each year, just take the amount of the passes you would normally buy, divide by the total number of days visited in the year.  Then take the current annual pass price and divide by the same number of days to compare which is better.

We've ended up going 20+ days in 2017.  Tons of money saved on tickets....don't ask how much spent in support of the habit!

A delicious evening at Trader Sam's tasting some secret menu drinks. I will post the recipes as I find them in this post so keep checking back.

1. Krakatoa, this isn't a secret menu item but gets an honorable mention due to its excessive rum content.


2. Old Kungaloosh, delicious drink it's vodka, coconut rum, midori and pineapple juice. I wasn't sure about the midori but it ads a subtle layer that balances the drink out perfectly. It was 9 out of 10 Recommend.

Everybody has heard of secret menu items at Disneyland, and almost every eatery has at least one.  So myself and some friends have started a living document to track and rate the secret menu items we run across.

Just got back from Disneyland and with rumors of guest Wifi in the park I thought I would do a little war walking. I didn't bring a sophisticated set up, just an android phone running Wigle connected to an external battery.  Also I didn't make a point to map the entire park so this is just a sample of the first half of the first day.

As of 4/25/2017 it does not appear that Disney has rolled out park wide guest access, but the infrastructure is impressive. Again this is a very small data sample, but perhaps the 161 networks that where not broadcasting an SSID could be the pre deployed guest network. Also it looked to  be a Cisco wireless deployment based on the mac addresses of the radios.

Guest network or not Disneyland has an impressive wireless infrastructure, and providing guest wifi for a property as large and as densely populated as Disneyland will be an impressive feat of engineering.


SSID                                 # of APs        Icon
WLAN-TWDC                 198              
no  SSID                           161               
ShowNET-TWDC            33                
Disney Guest                    13                
Internet-TWDC                10                
Disneyland_Resort           6                  


The captive portal for Internet-TWDC

The Blue Bayou Gumbo Recipe

Step 1: Brown Roux
Ingredients: