Leaderboard

The only thing worse than finding a cockroach in your cheeseburger: finding half of a cockroach in your cheeseburger.

Disney has released new concept art for the Napa Rose restaurant renovation at the Grand Californian Resort! https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/first-look-new-concept-art-for-napa-rose-at-disneyland/ Today at Destination D23, Disneyland Resort culinary director John State unveiled a never-before-seen artist concept rendering of the enhanced patio space from Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which is currently closed for an exciting renovation. Fans had the chance to get a first look at the restaurant’s al fresco dining option, with Disney California Adventure park serving as the backdrop for a unique culinary adventure. When it reopens, the award-winning Napa Rose will offer an elevated dining experience, blending timeless Craftsman design with a fresh take on modern Californian sophistication and warmth, and immersing guests in a way only Disney can do. Elegant New Patio Seating The outdoor patio is being thoughtfully enhanced to welcome more guests for al fresco dining. Imagine settling into a comfortable seat surrounded by lush greenery and soft lighting, the California breeze enhancing the flavors of your meal. The space invites you to relax and savor each bite while taking in the beautiful outdoor setting. Two new fireplaces will cast a warm, flickering glow across the patio, adding a cozy and inviting touch to the atmosphere. As the sun sets, you can gather around the fire, reflecting on your Disney day and enjoying the ambiance. About Napa Rose Napa Rose has long been celebrated for its refined California cuisine crafted from the finest ingredients, and the restaurant will unveil a brand-new menu designed to delight every palate. Over the course of the restaurant’s long-standing history of pairing exquisite food with the finest wines, Napa Rose is known for its extensive wine collection, featuring 1500 labels that range from rare vintages that are no longer sold to the general public to bottles from small, family-owned California wineries.

Interesting about Chance. Obviously, they priced the market just wrong. I figured they might be significantly cheaper than RMC and Gerst or other "cheaper" competitors, but obviously not enough. Shame. I don't entirely buy the staffing shortage idea, only because Holiday World somehow manages it, and has a much smaller labor pool than downtown Louisville. It has something to do with pay and atmosphere. I know KK can only pay so much, but surely they can find a grand total of 4 more employees (2 more for Lightning Run and 2 more for Wind Chaser (as needed)).

Omg that health inspection report. Dude that's brutal. Dead roaches are bad enough, but live roaches in plain view indicate a pretty bad infestation. There are thousands of them.

Ooooooh crap. More awesome food to drool over. The 20,000 Leagues & Haunted Mansion bar setups looks great, too. And yeah ..... the food.

Glad you had a good time. Yeah, FR though.

Big Bear Mountain is a family coaster. It's designed for kids 3 foot 3 to enjoy. That's why it didn't blow you away. The land was cleared to make construction possible. It will eventually grow in.

Well, I FINALLY made my first visit to Holiday World. WOW. I will join the chorus of people singing its praises. What a charming, well-kept, well-run park. As I entered the park, I was greeted by all the team members in a super friendly way. And as I made my around the park, its cleanliness, fun themes, and overall operations were stunning for a such a small, family-run park. I was stunned they were running 2 trains on Voyage and Legend, despite minimal lines. AND the Voyage had like 6 team members checking the train -- although they still somehow managed to stack trains frequently, the operations were mostly smooth. I focused on the coasters. Sure wish I could have done night rides! The Voyage. I actually wasn't terribly impressed on my first ride. I was in the very front of the very first train and although I was impressed by relatively smooth it was, I just wasn't blown away: not a lot of air. Definitely partly the product of sky-high expectations. AND THEN I rode the back and THEN the coaster warmed up. Holy crap! To me, this is more a backseat ride (although there is no "bad" seat that I can find in 8 rides.). The spaghetti bowl turnaround at the back is one of the most out-of-control feelings I have ever experienced in a coaster. It's up there with the quadruple down on Lightning run and the end turns on El Toro, as great mayhem. Each ride I appreciated The Voyage more, focusing more on its unrelenting speed, floater (and pops) of air, and its incredible length and design. It's a top 5 for me now. And kudos for the loving care Holiday World shows this ride -- they spend a ton of time taking care of it, and it shows. Legend. As a sign of my old age, the back seat was just a little too uncomfortable for me, but I loved how raw and rough this coaster is (in the good way, as designed vs. rough b/c of crappy maintenance.). Enjoyed it much more in the front seat, especially the second half. But I didn't love it. My bias is more towards airtime machines than laterals and I still found myself having to ride a little more defensively than I'd like. Still, a very good ride. Love the backstory and the bell ringing. Raven. Man, I had waited for this coaster for a while, given its legendary status. Again, my expectations sorta messed with me, and having ridden it third, it was a hard comparison to the mighty Voyage. I imagine it is stunning at night. I loved the layout, especially the third drop into the woods (massive air in the back, but sadly I kept thinking about the enthusiast who fell). I see they have retracked big sections, but they didn't quite yet reach that final right hand turn before the final turn -- that thing is BRUTAL: literally flying into and out of a pothole. I only did 2 rides on Raven because the pothole was nearly a chiropractic spinal cracking everytime. Loved the station and it's a fun, excellent ride. Thunderbird. This was the surprise hit! Yes, the value of low expectations-- AND it's a great design! yes, I was one of the idiots on here complaining when this ride was announced 10 years ago, saying it was not a great fit for the park: too much money for a gimmicky ride. Happily I was wrong: the theming is great, the launch packs a bunch, and the layout is superb. Probably the best wing coaster I have been on, possibly except for Gatekeeper ( I have also done Wild Eagle and X Flight). Love the use of the valley and the woods. Really super fun and re-rideable. Overall, just loved the park and how it's run. I know Paula is long-gone and they went through some family drama, but I still found everything excellent

Our next-to-last day of the cruise was our final sea day onboard the Disney Treasure--a chance to enjoy the some more of the ship's many venues at a leisurely pace while savoring some of the best bites available. Palo Brunch is my favorite dining offering onboard. While it is an adult exclusive, additional-cost experience not included in the base cruise fare, it is absolutely worth the time and money. Everything you see on the above menu is included in an all-you-care-to-enjoy experience that is top notch! Elissa-friendly cheeses included! The brunch features some of the classic breakfast options like a mega Mickey Waffle... And fancy Eggs Benedict... But there's also lunch-ish options for those (like me) that would rather go for the savory, heavy options, like this fantastic Eggplant Rolatini. Palo's brunch Chicken Parmigiana (with a heavenly risotto below) is quite possibly one of the best things you could ever consume on a Disney ship. The traditional Lasagna Bolognese is amazing too! The Wild Mushroom Ravioli was right up my alley! And you can't go wrong with their pizzas and calzones! Don't forget to save room for dessert. Over in the Hero Zone, a live game was playing out like a human version of "Hungry, Hungry Hippos." Ever seen a DCL Keel Coin before? They had these replicas available to purchase onboard. Periscope Pub is one of the ship's themed lounges and becomes the vessel's sports bar when major sporting events are being televised. Inspired by Walt Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the venue is filled with Disney details, some more subtle than others... The numbers on this gauge (5989, 5990, 687, 688, 705, 706 and 718) represent the hull numbers of each of the DCL ships in the fleet (plus one). This overhead display features the silhouette of fish and sharks overhead as time goes on... The image capture for this was recorded in the tank at The Seas with Nemo & Friends in EPCOT. I love the menu design! Look at these beer taps! I love this design. It wouldn't be a 20,000 Leagues lounge without a model of the Nautilus. Some very neat details line the shelves of the Periscope Pub... Lots of Jules Verne to be found throughout... Very unique details found within. "The Narwhal" features Kraken Black Spiced Rum, Cointreau, Lime, Orgeat and Ginger and it was very much my kind of drink. The Outis Daiquiri looked great too. Even the entryway is themed! I stepped outside to enjoy the sunset... It was dazzling. I enjoyed more opportunities to be a goofball. Our next night in Worlds of Marvel restaurant was the Marvel Celebration of Heroes. This is a new, second show for the venue that debuted with the Disney Treasure. Groot is hosting a celebration of heroes (as the title states) and while he prepares, the restaurant is filled with music from Peter Quill's Zune. They've got delicious skewers. And tuna poke! And pasta purseittes! Deadpool's first appearance on a DCL ship! Beef Wellington for the win! Can't go wrong with a rack of lamb! Wolverine!!! Dessert here was wonderful. Another new towel animal greeted us in our stateroom before the evening show. The Tale of Moana was our evening's show--a brand new retelling of the animated film's story brought to the stage at sea for the first time. The show was excellent! Very true to the original film with some clever staging, great sets and effects and even a new song brought in from the outtakes of the original album! Did I buy all of the Haunted Mansion Parlor sodas during my visit... Maybe... I finally sat in the chair! Tons of details hidden on this bookshelf... Haunted Mansion Parlor transforms throughout your visit in many, many different ways. There's a hidden drink on the menu that requires you to solve a Haunted Mansion-themed challenge to access... It is served on a very familiar piece... Very familiar indeed. Portraits in the Parlor are familiar to those found in the rest of the Haunted Mansion, but unique to this venue. They too transform over time. The ways they change vary throughout the evening... It wouldn't be the Haunted Mansion without some ghostly ballroom dancers floating around... Candle Man found (look it up)! Check out these beer tap handles! Haunted Mansion Parlor is not simply a lounge themed to the Haunted Mansion, but an extension to the Mansion itself. This door, the entrance to the venue on the ship, can actually be seen inside of the classic attraction's ballroom. We had some time to enjoy Jungle Cruise out on the Funnelvision... Another great day completed with one last day ahead of us!

Did the Moose out front tell you?

Walt Disney World has announced the opening date for thew 4D show, Zootopia: Better Zoogether! The new show will open in the Tree of Life Theater on November 7th, 2025, replacing the former "It's Tough To Be A Bug" show inspired by "A Bug's Life." In addition to the new show, Judy and Nick will begin meeting guests in the park in a designated location near the Tree of Life. https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/zootopia-better-zoogether-opening-date-announced-at-disney-world/ Zootopia: Better Zoogether! brings some of our favorite stars to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park from the Walt Disney Animation Studios films Zootopia and Zootopia 2, including your favorite ZPD rookie cops, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Zootopia: Better Zoogether! Opening Date It’s time to clap your paws and click your claws because the all-new new 4D show Zootopia: Better Zoogether! opens Nov. 7 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. What to Expect at Zootopia: Better Zoogether! When you migrate over to the Tree of Life Theater, you’ll find you arrived just in time to the main stage for the Zoogether Day festivities with familiar furry faces and new friends, like Heidi Howler – a slick-talking wolf who hosts the Zoogether Day LIVE! broadcast with excitement, energy, and quite a bit of howling. Awooooo! Zoogether Day, a celebration of unity amongst the diverse biomes across the city, will be recognized with special performances such as ice-skating spectaculars from the heart of Tundratown! Synchronized swimming direct from Marsh Market! Tiny mouse drone shows soaring over Little Rodentia! And of course, a musical finale by superstar Gazelle – all of which we’ll see from the livestream watch party. With talented cast from the films like Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman returning to lend their voices to these beloved characters, and contributions from filmmakers Jared Bush (who helped write the script) and Byron Howard (who directed the animation – all of which was done by the talented artists at Disney Animation) working closely with the Walt Disney Imagineering team to bring the attraction to life, Zootopia: Better Zoogether! brings us all deeper into the beautiful world of the animal metropolis explored in the original Zootopia as well as the new feature, Zootopia 2, coming to theaters November 26. Speaking of diving deeper into the world of Zootopia, keep an eye out for more information coming later this fall about special previews for cast members, Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members alike. Now that’s something to howl about! Judy and Nick Character Greetings at Animal Kingdom Not only will you see Judy and Nick at Zootopia: Better Zoogether! but the pair will be greeting guests at Discovery Island near the Tree of Life at the Zoogether Day Gathering Spot. You’ll find them sporting new looks from Zootopia 2, and they’ll be delighted to give you a hug and shake your paw. Fun Fur the Whole Herd This new 4D show at the heart of the Tree of Life is the perfect addition to a wild day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Zootopia: Better Zoogether! is a reminder that the natural world is profoundly interconnected, and we are no exception. We are called to take actions and make choices that benefit our worlds – from Savanna Central and Tundratown to the far-flung corners of our beautiful planet. So, get ready to slither, crawl, stampede and swim to Walt Disney World this November … all Zoogether!

I wonder how much is management vs training. Bugs can happen anywhere with improper cleaning, but I still can't imagine 5 inches of coleslaw on my arm. That would have to have gotten into the glove as well, right? *Side-eyes bacon pretzel fury, or whatever it's called now*

I never get food at the park unless there is a pass holder reward for a free item during a food festival but you may want to reconsider eating at the park. Dragon Fire Grill was shut down by the health department and the report is not good: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/inspectionDetail.asp?InspVisitID=10899193&id=6133177

There's no delay. Construction appears to be on schedule. The official announcement should be late August or early September.

Glad you had a good time!