Disneyland kicked off its Diamond Celebration on May 21, 2015. It’s hard to believe it’s been 60 years since Walts vision became a reality and the first visitor entered the park. In true Disney style, they have whipped up some very exclusive food offerings that will only be available during the celebration.

I had the chance to interview Disneyland Chef, Cain, about some of the special food items. Then stay tuned for more coverage from the opening days of Disneyland’s Diamond Celebration.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onPMv9Cl0yU?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

 It’s finally happened. My kids don’t want me to dress in a costume for Halloween. That would be, to use a direct quote, “Totally embarrassing.” It used to be our thing. When they were little and I could pick out their costumes, I got the chance to show my Winnie-the-Pooh love by dressing us all as characters. When I was pregnant with my son, Ben, my belly rounded out my Pooh Bear costume perfectly. It was a magical year.

Then my kids had their own opinions on what they were for Halloween. We’ve seen Troy from “High School Musical,” Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” and our fair share of pirates and princesses. When this phase hit, I would resurrect my roller-skating waitress costume, year after year.

This year, my daughter is all about the 1950s, since she saw “Grease” a few months ago. So she and her bestie are dressing in vintage clothes from that era for Mickey’s Halloween Party, at Disneyland Resort. At 13, she’s too old to go trick-or-treating – nothing worse than a group of teenagers coming to your door and clearing out your candy stash – so this is her only big Halloween festivity.

 Mickey’s Halloween Party is a special ticketed event at Disneyland Resort that runs 12 nights in October. (Go to [disneyland.com] for ticket prices and a schedule.) They close down the park and transform it into a spooktacular Halloween party. The best part: The kids get to trick-or-treat at DISNEYLAND! It’s an absolutely mind-blowing experience. Also, guests get to experience things that only happen at Mickey’s Party, such as their special Halloween fireworks show and a Costume Party Cavalcade Parade. Adding to the fun: It’s the only time that adults are allowed into the park in full costume. Hooray! But, um, not per my kids. So no dressing up for me… except for … my Minnie Mouseish costume at Mickey's Halloween Party. Check out my photos:

Tick or Treat stations throughtout the park.

My son and I on the tram into the park

My daughter's friend posing with Duffy at Big Thunder Ranch.

Dapper Dans singing Halloween-themed songs at Big Thunder Ranch

Although my daughter will no longer go trick-or-treating, my son, who is 10, is still heading out to collect what always turns out to be too much candy. So this year, we are gong to participate in the Halloween Candy Buy Back Program. It allows kids to sell their candy to a local dentist to earn cash – which I suspect will simply be used to buy candy. The sweetest thing is that this year the program is teaming up with Spry and Operation Gratitude. Together they will work with participating dentists to collect children’s Halloween candy to send to the U.S. troops overseas, along with toothbrushes and other oral care items. Just go to [halloweencandybuyback.com] and enter your zip code. A list of local dentists will be provided.

            I do miss the days of dressing up and hitting the neighborhood with my kids, each year holds sweet memories for us. Anyone need to borrow my roller-skating waitress costume? I’m rolling with the changes but, sadly, not rolling door to door with my kids anymore. 

(Watch my interview with Mary Poppins herself, plus some clips from the show.)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUcEwz0S-xw?feature=oembed] 

Mary Poppins the Musical started its four-week run at The Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Friday night. The hit Broadway musical first premiered in London in 2004 and has swept through the world performing in the most delightful way to over seven million guest.

"It the best of both the book and the movie," Stephanie Leigh, who plays Mary Poppins in the OC run, told me.  With all the classic songs written by the Sherman Brothers for the movie–Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Spoonful of Sugar, Let's Go Fly a Kite, Chim Chimmery–and fantastic new songs like "Practically Perfect" that fit seamlessly into the story of our favorite flying nanny, Mary Poppins.

If you're a fan of the movie Mary Poppins the stage show will deliver the same toe-tapping, sassy goodness you love from the film, plus stunning sets, colorful costumes and fantastic little surprises–at one point Bert tap dances on the ceiling!

My daughter, Emily, and I enjoyed every magical minute.  It's the kind of show where we kept elbowing each other and smiling.  At one point Emily whispered in my ear "Thank you for brining me to see this, Mom. I love it!"

The Lowdown:

Tickets for Mary Poppins start at $22 and special packages are available.  Head on over to Segerstrom's web site, here, to order.

Showtimes:

Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 pm

Saturdays 2 pm and 7:30 pm

Sundays 1 pm and 6:30 pm

Tuesday through Friday

When I got the invite to come and cover the opening of the new section of the Aulani Resort in Hawaii, I knew I couldn’t come without my kids. I had covered the opening of Aulani (see the coverage here) and PROMISED my kids I wouldn’t come again without them.

I kept my promise.

The kids are here with me along with my big brother, Rob. We are having a blast and taking in every Hawaiian moment before we have to head back home tomorrow.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQNUAGUuFdg?feature=oembed] 

Cars Land in Disney's California Adventure is approaching the  halfway mark of completion. Set to open in 2012, Radiator Springs will open in the 12 acres right next to Bugs Land and the Tower of Terror.  "We are literally brining Radiator Springs to Life," said Mary Niven, Vice President of Disney's California Adventure, at the  "topping out" ceremony for Radiator Springs Ridge.

Topping out is a tradition in the steel industry where the highest point on a new structure is christened by placing a special white beam, signed by members of the construction crew–and in this case at Cars Land, a live tree and American Flag as well–right at the very tippy top of the tallest peak of the steel frame.  The highest point  of Radiator Springs Ridge is 125 feet up at what will be Cadillac Range.   The Ridge will be the home of Radiator Springs Racers the "E" ticket ride in Cars Land.

The whole ceremony, from the lifting of the beam to the placement of it on the Ridge, took about 20 minutes and as soon as it was secured the 250 or so construction workers who have worked on the Ridge since March let out a "Hooray!"  It felt like a monumental moment in what is becoming a chain of monumental moments at California Adventure. Starting with the debut of World of Color this summer and now the construction of Cars Land, Ariel's Underwater Adventure and the redesign of the entrance it feels like  California Adventure's transformation is happening right before our eyes.

Here are my exclusive photos of the Cars Land construction site  from today's ceremony.  I was only allowed to photograph Radiator Springs Ridge.

At 430 feet across, Radiator Springs' Ridge will take up almost half of Cars Land.

It will be the largest rock work structure in all of Disneyland and Disney World.

More than 250 construction workers took part in the ceremony today.

They've worked since March on The Ridge.

The signed white beam and little tree were mounted at the most visible part of Cars Land.

Once the Peak is completed make a note the beam, tree and flag  will be part of the tail fin of the 1959 Cadillac.

Marcy and me after the topping off Ceremony.

Model of Cars Land courtesy of Disneyland.

I don’t know about you, but I go back and forth.  Sometimes I think life is all about “The Big Picture” things.  Reaching for our dreams. Setting goals then achieving them. The biggies: Births; Marriages; Deaths. Then, sometimes I think life if all about the outtake.  Life’s small pleasures.  Sometimes, especially when I’m really hungry, life seems to boil down to the little things, like–Disneyland’s corn dogs.  

I know that sounds crazy. Superficial.  Fattening.  But, have you ever had a Disneyland corn dog?  Well, please don’t judge me then.  On Friday I spent the day at Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival for OC Family.  I took photos, put together a Whrrl report, interviewed Guy Fieri (who, I’m guessing,  probably shares my corn dog theory), and talked to Disney-types about what exactly goes on at the 40 day festival. 

To see my video of the day, click here.

One of the Disney-types I talked to was Gary Maggetti, Disneyland’s Director of Food and Beverage.  If there’s one thing about Gary (besides looking a lot like David Duchovny and having a voice that would make James Earl Jones sound like a prepubescent boy) it is he can tell a story.  He really gets into it.  When he mentioned he had a “Disneyland Corn Dog STORY”  I hit record on my FLIP and let him have at it. So, even if you aren’t into corn dogs (like that’s even possible), here is a great little story. (Plus he tells us where to get the delicacy while the park is being redesigned.)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N29y12uDVp4&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&w=853&h=505]
 

I suspect the answers to life lies, like most answers, somewhere in the middle.  Right between “climb the highest mountain” and the Disneyland corn dog. 

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For more of my unsound theories and random observations, check out my newly reconstructed “About me” page.  It includes things like: “I have a theory that biscotti is a mafia-backed baked good because I haven’t ever met anyone who likes them, yet they are everywhere” and the more earnest “Someday I hope to be the person my mom thinks I am.” 

This is a kite that waved and the confetti that floated above Disneyland’s Main Street during a ceremony for two Disney legends– Richard and Robert Sherman.  Two pretty remarkable men you’ve probably never heard of, but who wrote the soundtrack to many of your childhood memories.

You can read my full story here.

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While I was editing the photo, this song by Patty Griffin came to mind: Patty Griffin’s Kite Song.

Next time you’re walking down Disneyland’s Main Street, instead of focusing on the Castle in front of you or the art, t-shirts and gifts that fill shops, look up at the names on the second and third story windows.  There is a real person behind each one. A real Disney legend.  Having a Main Street window dedicated to you is Disney’s highest honor.

See list of names of honorees and what they did for the Magic Kingdom, here. 

Last week two men, brothers, were given their own window on Main Street and in Disneyland-style, there was a whole lot of hoopla that accompanied it.  The Sherman brothers, Robert and Richard, are responsible for a whole pant-load of your childhood memories.  Though you’ve probably never heard of them, their music has been a soundtrack to much of your childhood, and now your kids’ childhood.

Honestly, I didn’t know who they were when I was invited to the dedication of a window in “New Sounds for a New Century” window (right next to 20th Century Music Shop).  So the brilliance and magnitude of their contribution to not only Disneyland, but our lives, unfolded as the fanfare danced, sang and waved in front of me.

The Sherman Brothers were simply referred to as “The Boys” back in the days when Walt Disney was making films like Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Aristocats and creating Disneyland rides like “it’s a small world” and “The Tiki Room.”  Why?  Because “The Boys” were the “go to guys” for Walt when he needed the perfect song, and they delivered–they wrote the songs for all these and more. Over 150 songs for Disney in total and winning two Academy Awards for songs from Mary Poppins.

In fact, The Sherman brothers wrote more motion picture scores than any other musical team in history, like ever! Plus the scores to some of your favorite rides.  Let me run some by you now: “it’s a small world,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Winnie the Pooh,” “The Wonderful Thing About Tigger,” ‘The Tiki Room (theme),” “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,””Bear Necessities,” I Want to Be Like you,” “Spoonful of Sugar,” “Supercalafragalisticedpialadoshus,” Whew! All these songs (and more), from two men.

Tom Schumacher, Head of Disney Theatrical said during the ceremony, “They are part of our family…our collective family, but also our personal family. If you were born in the last half of the 20th Century, you were raised by The Sherman brothers.” Looking at the list of songs, there’s no question that is true.

One of the brothers, Richard Sherman, was at Disneyland for the window dedication, the other, Robert, was in London working on the stage adaptation of Mary Poppins. The mood on that unseasonably hot March morning was happy, optimistic and clever: just like a Sherman Brothers’ song. Every now and then a big gust of wind would toss up the confetti and sounds of the music, again adding whimsy, just like their music.

As Disney Big Cheese, followed by Disney Head Honcho, followed by Disney Suit-type got up to speak about The Sherman brothers, it became wonderfully clear that these men are truly Disney legends.  They deserve not only a window on Main Street, but also our heartfelt thanks for sharing their gift of song to us.

(The lettering on the door reads simply, “Two Brothers Tunemakers, 

Will write your tune for a song.” )

After Richard Sherman said his “thank you’s” and told his Walt Disney stories (“No one loved the park more than Walt.”) he concluded with a reference from the movie Mary Poppins, when George Banks is reflecting on his life he says this, “A man has dreams of walking with giants to carve his niche in the edifice of time.” Richard said, “I think Bob (Robert his brother) and I have now carved our niche.”  Well, yes, I think that is safe to say.

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Other Disney News:

Disney’s promotion for 2010 Give a Day. Get a Disney Day (see my video here), has been a huge success! It has already reached 1,000,000 volunteers! So if you haven’t signed up for it yet, you’ve missed your chance to get a free day at Disneyland this year.  But, on the bright side 1 million people have volunteered!  See, there’s always a bright side.