Disney Pook-A-Looz

In one of my Alice posts, I shared this picture of some Alice in Wonderland toys I hadn't seen before called Pook-A-Looz:


Well, I have good news for everyone who doesn't live near Disneyland! These cute Pook-A-Looz toys are now available at Disney stores everywhere! They have several fun Disney characters including the Alice ones. I was at the Disney store at the mall last night and came across them:

They are all so cute! They also have other Pook-A-Looz items like notebooks and water bottles.
You can also find Pook-A-Looz toys online, check out the link below:

Disney Pook-A-Looz Online!

I like the Cheshire Cat (which I got), Winnie the Pooh, and Peter Pan! Which Pook-A-Looz are your favorite?

Easter Merchandise at Disneyland!

Easter is this Sunday so I thought I'd share pictures of some of the Easter merchandise that is on the shelves at the shops at Disneyland!

On the right top shelf in the picture above, there is an egg dish that you can use to show off your dyed Easter Eggs! I want to get one!

Thumper is here for Easter!

This would look cute on any door!

There are also several Disney Easter pins on sale. My fiance's parents got me this one:

Have a great Easter weekend everyone!

Downtown Disney Bear

The Build-A-Bear Workshop in the Downtown Disney District has a new bear!


It is exclusive to Downtown Disney and is a great souvenir because you get to make him yourself. His ears have Mickey Ears on them as well as on one of his paws! Another paw says Downtown Disney on it.
For those of you who haven't been to Build-A-Bear, it's a fun experience to get a stuffed animal there. First you pick out your bear and an employee helps you stuff him.


You get to give him a cloth heart and then pick out clothes and accessories. Finally, you go onto their computer and name your bear and they print out his or her birth certificate! It really is a fun outing and children really enjoy it. I have taken my sister several times! They also do birthday parties.

They have Build-A-Bear Workshops all over the country so if you're out of state you can probably locate one near you. The Downtown Disney bear is only available in the Downtown Disney District however so if you're in the area, stop by Build-A-Bear and take a look.

Hi! I'm Downtown Disney Bear!

Disney's California Food and Wine Festival- Coming Soon!

Disney's California Food and Wine Festival is coming up! The resort banners have been changed to advertise it:


The festival which takes place at California Adventure, starts on April 16 and goes until May 31st.

The festival includes seminars and demonstrations and of course lots of food and wine to try! So mark those calendars and take a look at this Disneyland link for the schedule and details of the upcoming festival:
Disney's California Food and Wine Festival

the new Alice in Wonderland

Woo-hoo! A second post today to finish off Alice Week! I thought for this post, I'd focus on the new Alice in Wonderland. In the movie, Alice returns to Wonderland as a young adult. I saw the film and enjoyed it but I have to admit I'm a bit biased- I love anything that involves Johnny Depp and Tim Burton! Here is a link to it's movie trailers for those who haven't seen it yet!

Alice In Wonderland Trailer

When I was at the D23 Expo last year, there was a display of props and items from the film. I had some phone pictures I took that I thought I would share:

Mad Hatter's Chair!

Anne Hathaway as the White Queen

This picture didn't turn out very well! Bah- phone pics! But it is a stand in for the March Hare.

Mad Hatter's Hat!

You can find a lot of merchandise for the new Alice in Wonderland at the stores at the Disneyland Resort. Here are some of the items available for purchase:

Shirts and mugs

I like this shirt!

Surprise! Disneyland is selling OPI nail polish! The color is called 'Off With her Red!'

Bmariposa21 had a good question on the last post that featured Disneyland merchandise. The question was if Disneyland items can be found online. The answer is that some of them can be found online but usually not right away. A lot of times the merchandise will become available online a little while after it has been at the park. Here is a link to some Alice In Wonderland merchandise that is currently available on the Disney Store Website.

Alice In Wonderland Merchandise Online

Here is a link to Disneyland Merchandise site:

Disney Parks Merchandise

My favorite thing about the new Alice In Wonderland is that it exposes children to the story of Alice and the strange characters she meets in Wonderland. When you think about it, we are already in 2010 and the kids who are 10 years old now were born in 2000. Many of these children have not seen those animated classics that many of us grew up watching. I still remember this one time that I was in line for the Pinocchio ride at Disneyland. There was this mother and son ahead of me and while they were waiting the mother was quickly trying to summarize the story of Pinocchio because her son did not know who he was! So that's why I am glad they came out with this film. Hopefully this exposure will increase children's interest in watching the animated film which is being rereleased this Tuesday, March 30th or even in reading Lewis Carroll's books!

So that wraps up Alice Week! I hope you enjoyed it!

"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

Adventures in Wonderland

This quick post is to let you know a couple more things about Alice!

First of all, I wanted to mention Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the novel by Lewis Carroll. While writing about the animated Alice In Wonderland in previous posts, I tried to be careful not to call it the original. This is because there is only one original and it is the book. It is in the book where these wonderful characters were born and Wonderland was introduced to us. Carroll also did a sequel to the book called Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. He also wrote the poem, "Jabberwocky".
If you have any interest in reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or Through the Looking-Glass, they are usually available for only a couple bucks at bookstores or you could check them out at your library.


Secondly for this post, I wanted to give you some YouTube links to clips from the Disney channel television series "Adventures in Wonderland" (1991-1995). The show is about a modern day Alice (90s modern that is!) who visits Wonderland by going through her bedroom mirror. Not sure if any of you remember this series but I used to watch it all the time!

Adventures in Wonderland Link 1

Adventures in Wonderland Link 2

Adventures in Wonderland Link 3

Mad Hatter's Musical Chairs

So for today's Alice Week post, I thought I'd share information on a Disneyland location where you can meet characters from Alice in Wonderland!
Coke Corner is a place on Main Street that I go to often because they can add syrup flavors to your soda there and I love me some Cherry Sprite! They also have Mickey Pretzels, hot dogs, and chili. Yummy!
On my visits to Coke Corner, I have sometimes come across characters like the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts! This is because occasionally during the day, the Mad Hatter will show up outside to host an amusing game of Musical Chairs! Kids (and sometimes adults who are all kids at heart!) are selected from the dining tables to participate in the game. There is a pianist there too who provides the music. The Mad Hatter is usually the host but all the characters may vary. Most of them are usually from Alice in Wonderland and could include Alice, the Queen of Hearts, and the White Rabbit. Sometimes Peter Pan joins in as well!

The Mad Hatter explaining the rules of Musical Chairs

White Rabbit, Alice, and the Mad Hatter
Picture taken while waiting to get my Cherry Sprite!


The guy in bright green is Peter Pan!

All of these characters are a treat to see and meet because you usually only see them in the parades. After the game of Musical Chairs, you are able to meet some of them and take pictures.

The Mad Hatter hosts great parties!


The Queen of Hearts!

Although the time to meet them is still limited, the lines are usually a lot shorter than the typical line to meet a character. So if you, a friend, or family member love Alice in Wonderland and really want some good photos, stop by Coke Corner or City Hall and find out if they are going to be hosting Musical Chairs with the Mad Hatter that day. It usually starts around 2:30pm but this can change. (This activity is not listed in the "Shows & Live Entertainment" time sheet given out at the Disneyland entrance which is one of the reasons it is not as busy!) After finding out the time, you can get there before it starts and get some snacks and soda while enjoying the game and get some great pictures out of it!

The White Rabbit!

Here is a video of the game I found on YouTube. Just click on the link:
Musical Chairs with the Mad Hatter Video

Mad Hatter Shops and Photo Spots

Besides the Wonderland rides, there are other places at Disneyland that are also Alice In Wonderland themed.

Two of these places are the Mad Hatter shops where you can find a large assortment of hats including a variety of Mickey Ears! You can even get your name stitched on your Mickey ears for a small fee. There is a Mad Hatter shop right next to the Main Street Opera House not far from the entrance to the park. If you want to get your hat in the morning so you can wear it during your day at Disneyland, this one is conveniently on the way to all the rides.

Another Mad Hatter can be found right next to the Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland. While trying on hats at this shop, you might see the Cheshire Cat's face looking back at you from some of the mirrors!


Outside of the shop you can find two great photo spots. One of them is a teacup you can sit in while having someone easily take your picture without all the spinning. The other spot is a mock entrance to the White Rabbit's House.


In addition to these places, there are also a couple of picture spots to the side of the Alice in Wonderland ride. There is a White Rabbit statue you can take a picture with and a Cheshire Cat!


If you walk past these spots, you'll reach the Wonderland themed restrooms! I don't have photos since of course you can't really take pictures in there, but in these restrooms the stall doors are painted like playing cards.
Lastly, one of the rooms at the World of Disney store is Alice in Wonderland themed. The World of Disney is located in Downtown Disney and you do not need a park ticket to shop there. In the room with all the stuffed animals, the walls are painted with scenes from the animated classic. Here are some photos from this room:






You can find Alice in Wonderland in several places in the Disneyland Resort! Make sure to stop by these spots for shopping and photos!

So Disney Quick List:
Alice in Wonderland Photo Spots:
Cheshire Cat & White Rabbit- On the side of the Alice in Wonderland ride in Fantasyland, facing the Matterhorn.
TeaCup- Near the front of the Mad Hatter shop in Fantasyland.
White Rabbit's House Entrance- On the side of the Mad Hatter shop in Fantasyland by the Mad Tea Party.
Mad Hatter Shops: One next to Main Street Opera House and another next to the Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland.

Wonderland Rides

A couple weeks ago, on March 5th, Disney's new Alice in Wonderland was released in theaters. The film was directed by Tim Burton and stars big names like Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, and Helena Bonham Carter. The film takes place several years after Alice's first trip down the rabbit hole. Now a young adult, Alice returns to Wonderland and finds that they need her help.
I went to see the movie recently but before going to the theater, I thought it would be fun to run over to Disneyland and go on the two rides based on Disney's 1951 animated classic, Alice In Wonderland. These two rides are "Alice in Wonderland" and the "Mad Tea Party." They are both located in the same area of Fantasyland, near the Matterhorn and the entrance to Storybookland.

Alice in Wonderland
On this ride, you get to ride in a caterpillar and experience Alice's journey to Wonderland.


You follow the White Rabbit through the rabbit hole, meet the Cheshire Cat, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Queen of Hearts and more! The ride is kid friendly and enjoyable for the whole family. The ride usually has a long line but is worth the wait. If you want to try to avoid longer lines, try doing this ride earlier in the morning or in the late evening and late night.


Mad Tea Party
The Mad Tea Party was actually one of the attractions from Disneyland's opening day. It has since then been enhanced and moved to it's current location next to Alice In Wonderland ride. It is probably one of the most popular and recognized rides of Fantasyland. The spinning teacups are fun for everybody! However, those who suffer from motion sickness may want to sit out on this one. The line for this ride can be long on busier days but usually the wait is not too bad because the line moves pretty quickly.


With the release of the new Alice in Wonderland and the upcoming re-release of the animated classic on March 30th, the park has some great Alice merchandise at the shops.

There are Alice costumes for girls and Cheshire Cat stuffed animals.


There is also a new set of stuffed animals that I spotted at the World of Disney in Downtown Disney called Pook-a-Looz. I wanted the whole set of the Alice in Wonderland ones! But I settled for just the Cheshire Cat for now!


Several of the Disney shops have Alice In Wonderland inspired tea and tea sets.


Finally, several of the Disney candy shops including Marceline's Confectionery in Downtown Disney have a yummy caramel, marshmallow treat- Cheshire Cat Tails!


Well that's it for today! Stay tuned for the next post which will be about those other Alice spots around Disneyland!

So Disney Quick Notes:
Alice In Wonderland (ride)
Where: Fantasyland, near the Matterhorn and the entrance to Storybookland.
Who: Fun for all ages.
Lines: Usually has a long line but can sometimes have a shorter wait earlier in the morning or late evening/late night.
Mad Tea Party-
Where: Fantasyland, near the Matterhorn and the entrance to Storybookland.
Who: All ages but not for those with motion sickness.
Lines: Wait usually not too long since the line moves pretty quickly.

Alice Week!

So with Disney's new Alice in Wonderland out in theaters, I thought it would be fun to have this week's blog posts be about all things Alice at Disneyland!


I will talk about the rides that are based on the animated Alice In Wonderland as well as post pictures of Alice spots around the park and all the new merchandise that can be found at the stores. So hold on to your hats, pour yourself some tea, and enjoy Alice Week!

Fess Parker Winery

Today, I was sad to discover that Fess Parker had died. He is best known for playing Davy Crockett on ABC's "Disneyland" TV show in the fifties. It was in this show that the popular song, "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" was introduced. Fess Parker gained a lot of fame for this role and was at Disneyland's opening day ceremonies. He also starred in Daniel Boone and in Disney's Old Yeller.
Later in his life, Fess Parker purchased 714 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley in Southern California and with the help of his family, he opened the Fess Parker Winery. I've been saving pictures from my visits there for a blog post and after hearing about Parker's death, I wanted to share them now.
Fess Parker Winery is located in a beautiful area with a vineyard and a wonderful view.

In the vineyard

In front of the winery

The winery has plenty of good wine for you to taste and a Davy Crockett theme that is enjoyable for Disney fans. Several framed pictures of Fess Parker as Davy Crockett are on the walls.



Going along with the Crockett theme, all the wine glasses have the winery's coonskin cap logo on them and they have wines with names like Crockett and Frontier Red.

2006 "Crockett" Syrah

Enjoying some of their wine in one of their logo glasses.

Their shop sells Fess Parker's movies and even some cute coonskin cap wine toppers.


The wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley received a lot of attention after the release of the film Sideways in 2004. Fess Parker Winery is one of the wineries featured in the movie but it's under the name of Frass Canyon.

Wineries direction sign

Fess Parker Winery can ship wine or merchandise to you even if you live out of state and if you really like their wine, you can join their wine club and get wine shipments from them throughout the year. My fiance's parents have been members for a long time and they receive their shipments in the Midwest.
Check out the winery's website for more information:

Fess Parker Winery Website

So if you are looking for something Disney related to do this weekend and want to avoid the Spring Break crowds at Disneyland, head out to the Santa Ynez Valley and visit the Fess Parker Winery. And while sipping your wine, take a moment to remember Fess Parker. He is a Disney legend and although he has passed away, he will live on forever through his films, his work with Disney, and his wine.

This is my favorite picture/artwork at the winery. It is signed by Fess Parker.

Fess Parker's window in Disneyland's Frontierland.