Oh, Just My Parents Having a Ton of Fun at Disneyland's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, and other bits

 My parents just got done visiting the Disneyland parks in California.

Without the kids, both young and not-so-young! :P

They experienced Galaxy's Edge during the reservation period and just after with walk in ability.  In short, they really enjoyed this new section of the park.  My Dad didn't like how you get there and it's mainly shopping experiences.  The second ride hasn't opened yet, so that might help balance Galaxy's Edge.  My Mom didn't complain about this fact and just loved the ambience.  Everyday we got texts from them showing how much fun they were having.  So cute!

They built lightsabers and droids, waiting to do this after the reservation period, which wasn't crowded!  In fact, I've been noticing all these videos and blog posts in the last couple days commenting on the overall lightness of crowds between both parks.  My Mom said a Disneyland Cast member thought this might be because of blackout dates and raised prices.  My parents were texting us about this and how they were getting on all these rides.  Ironic, because my brother, sister-in-law, baby niece, Mom and I were originally going to visit Disneyland this June, but with the date changes to Galaxy's Edge we moved the trip to April.  And, low and behold, the crowds are crazy good this time of year!!  Is it the passholder blackout dates? Not having the second ride open?  All the discouragement with price hikes? Waiting for less crowds, assuming it would be crazy busy?  Who knows?

A lot of things are sold out at Galaxy's Edge.  Personality chips for the droids.  Extra crystals for the lightsabers.  With the light crowds how did these things sale out?  They over planned in some areas and under planned in others.

Disneyland California needs to lower prices.  They're the highest out of all the parks.  Right now I could get into Tokyo Disneysea for only $66.51 for a single park, current exchange, and $201.33 for 4 days, all year around.  And they have lowered after 3pm and 6pm prices.  And the Tokyo parks are amazing!!!!

Disneyland got greedy, plain and simple.  Right now, with Summer prices, it's $199 for single day park hopper, and $149 for non-park hopper.  You'd have to be crazy to pay that, but sometimes that's all you can do when planning a trip.  With hike in AP prices, seasonal ticket pricing, etc, Disneyland is pricing out families who should be their priority.  Walt Disney would be disappointed.  Not what he envisioned.

Still, I can't wait to go.  It will be interesting to see how crowded it is this Autumn.

(PS, my Mom just wants to note how kind, helpful, and friendly the cast members are.)

Impressions of the English Cotswolds: Charming Cottages and Villages

This last trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland I went on four day tours.  Last trip I did day excursions through the Disney Cruise Line.  This time I sought out local tour companies to see what each had to offer.  Essentially a day tour is based in a city, operated by a tour company, and for that day you go where the tour goes.

In Bath there's a touring company called Mad Max Tours.  They have five itineraries, and Bath is the central location where all these tours start and end.  There's options of visiting the Stonehenge and several other close sites.  My Mom and I wanted to see the Heart of the Cotswolds.  When you go on the tour you get a guide and are bused around on a 16 seat coach.

We visited Castle Combe, Bibury and its Arlington Row, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Malmesbury, Tetbury, and a drive through the countryside.

The Costwolds are charming.  Romantic.  The scenery filled with beautiful trees, rivers, villages, and picturesque homes.  This is where you can find quaint English cottages.

Castle Combe is a charming little village.  We visited early morning and walked up and down the street.  There's not much to do, unless you'd love a quiet place to relax and read a book.  Still worth a stop just to see the homes as there's a wonderful charm and feel to Castle Combe.

Bibury is a cute little village.  There's restaurants, small gift shops, the post office is in a gift shop (that's how small Bibury is), a river, and Arlington Row (a particular row of homes that are quintessential Costswolds).

Bourton-on-the-Water: a rural village with a large river and bridges.  Beautiful.  This was my second visit here as my first was a couple years ago.  My first visit had beautiful weather.  This last visit had pouring rain.  Not quaint, romantic rain.  This rain fell in buckets, so my Mom and I sought refuge in gift shops, as there are plenty.  Rain seemed to follow us that day, coming in spurts followed by sunshine and white clouds.  So I've seen Bourton-on-the-Water in two ways.  Sun is better, always, but the Cotswolds are still nice in the rain.

Stow-on-the-Wold is more of a central market town.  We went right to the center where there's a lot of restaurants and shops.  I wandered through an art gallery and an old book shop, followed by a quick stop buying sweets.  This was where we were supposed to get lunch, but my Mom and I decided it was better walking around and getting a big dinner back in Bath.  Food is nice, but I didn't want to spend the hour and a half in a pub getting food.  I wish we had more time here.

Malmesbury is a small town, and here we walked through the church lawns looking over gravestones, passed through the market cross, and down the street.  Didn't get to see much.  Had enough time to stop in a shop where I got Cath Kidston hand cream (the grapefruit and ginger is divine), and then to a pastry place to get cookies.

Tetbury is another town with a market center, cottages on the outskirts, and beautiful countryside.

I loved the Cotswolds.  I don't know how I'd feel living there, but a visit is always nice, and I loved seeing a contrast perspective of what the Cotswolds have to offer.  We only got a taste.  Here a quick stop.  There a quick stop.  And there's other noteworthy towns and villages we didn't see.  There's only so much you can do in a day.  Still, I loved seeing the Cotswolds in sun and rain.
 

Impressions of a Second Visit to Bath, United Kingdom

Last month I was able to visit Bath for a second time, the first being last Autumn.  Crazy, so crazy.  And I do feel very fortunate.  My Mom and I went on many trips this last year, and this trip was our last hurrah.  We decided to visit the UK again, making a stop in Wales before puddle jumping to Ireland.  Bath was our first stop.

We enjoyed Bath so much last time we wanted to visit again.  Logistically it made sense, but I just love the area.

So what did I think after a second visit?  Did it live up to the highs of the first visit?

Yes.

It was different this time around, because it wasn't all new.  It felt familiar.  Homey.  Since we did all the historical stuff last time, this time we wanted to take it in, enjoy the ambience.  There was a quick trip to the Cotswolds, more on that tomorrow, mixed in with wandering.

Last time my Mom and I choose to stay in the Apsley House Hotel, a mile and a half out of city center.  We did so because we wanted to stay in a Georgian historical home.  It was fabulous.  I loved it.  But this time we wanted to stay closer to the center, so I found APEX hotels, which was perfect!  And so close to everything.  Both hotels are nice, and I'm glad we got a contrast of experiences.

Bath.  I love Bath.  I love the feel of the place.  The history.  The architecture.  We did the hop on/hop off bus again, both routes.  Nice overview, noticing different things this time around.  Ate at the charming Pump Room.  It rained a bit while we were there, but that's okay because we brought umbrellas, and it's the UK, it rains.  If you don't get rained on during a UK trip, you're not doing it right. :P

I loved walking around the center just as things were closing, close to the Roman Baths, listening to the street performers.  One afternoon it was a couple of trumpeters.  The next afternoon an Opera singer, her voice resonating off ancient walls.

I'm so glad we went again.  Next time, if we're able to go again, I would like to do day trips to the Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Wells, and Cheddar Gorge, which is close and possible.  My Mom and I wanted to experience the Cotswolds more.

When planning a trip to the UK it's hard to pick where to go as there's so much to see.  London is a must.  Oxford chaotic and interesting.  Chester charming.  York fun but spooky at night.  And the Lake District.  I'd love to stay a week in the Lake District in a cottage just taking it all in.  And there's so much to see in Scotland.  Bagpipe music is so fantastic.  But Bath.  I highly recommend Bath.

Toy Story 4, mini movie review

 

Rating: A

When I heard that there was going to be another Toy Story movie I honestly rolled my eyes.  "Seriously? Another one?" I thought, and went about my day unfazed.  A little time later the trailer came out, and I was still not excited.  What could they do more?  Does this story about toys need rehashing?  How is this not going to be a simple repeat, just with a new kid?

Out of obligation I went.  Dragging my feet a little.

Boy did I have fun!

Andy is in college, and the homage he receives is that of nostalgia and background retailing.  Not too much.  Just enough.  Bonnie is the toys new kid, and they're all still wonderfully together, except for Bo Peep, who we haven't seen in quite awhile, but she wasn't Andy's toy, she was his sister's, and out of no where she disappeared.  I felt her loss back when, but moved on.  Bonnie is the focus now, and she's growing up a little.  Not growing out of toys, but entering a new phase in life: Kindergarten.  In order to cope with this transition Bonnie creates a toy out of trash and unknowingly brings it to life.  Forky.  A spork with doodads.  Forky has an identity crises, and in the midst of a road trip there's much insanity mixed with hilarity.

Toy Story 4 is a charming movie filled with warmth.  There's friendship, forgiveness, love, second chances, all the Pixar good stuff.  And plenty of jokes.  Seriously a ton of "laugh out loud" moments with a giggle here and there.

And we finally find out what happens to Bo Peep!  She's doing well.  Real well.  She's tough.  I really love what they did with her character.

There's plenty of new characters mixed in at a steady rate, adding to the story instead of overcrowding.  The new characters are interesting and fun.    One of them has me laughing on the inside right now just thinking about them.  But all the classic characters are there as well, fully utilized: This is their story.

So, without giving too much away, Toy Story 4 is a nice new chapter.  A great family film.  Worth seeing many times. 

MPAA: G

It's the Little Things That Make a Difference

I can't take credit for this, as I found this magnet at a gift shop a while back.  It's the little things that make a difference.  They seem small, but added up make all the difference, but it's still good even if only one can be managed.

I still struggle.  Have off days.  Battle insecurities (pretty much all the time).  Self doubt.  Etc.  But even so I've been working on the little things.  The seemingly quiet moments that bring peace, joy, and a smile.

This is a good list.  Some items I'm better at than others.  Some I really need to work on.  But overall this list is positive and good:

Eat Healthy

Serve Others

Make Mistakes

Forgive & Forget

Listen to Learn

Go Play Outside

Drink More Water

Wish on a Star

Be Brave & Kind

Shine Bright

Ten simple but profound goals.

Ten wonderful ways to live.

How Tokyo Disneyland Handled a Parade in the Rain

 In the American Disneyland parks a parade is canceled if there's rain.  Too dangerous for the dancers and other reasons.  My first day at Tokyo Disneyland had super cold, rainy weather.  I wanted to see the parade, but assumed it would be canceled.

But it wasn't!

They announced a short version of the parade with beloved characters would be coming down the route.  (And this must have been in English because I understood the message).  I was hanging around Western Land, Tokyo Disneyland's version of Frontier Land, when the parade came down the route.

Short but sweet.

All the characters wore see through rain protection covering.

The song that played is special for rainy weather, a really cute J-Pop song.  Really, it's so nice the Japanese parks have a way for theme park goers to enjoy the parade, despite the weather.

Super nice.

 And below was the parade on another day with much better weather.

It was more like a street dance party where the floats rolled out with the dancers, and they just stayed put in a single spot for quite a long time. I watched about 15 minutes, realizing I actually liked the shorter version much better, and left.  Still fun.

Pokemon Detective Pikachu, mini movie review

Rating: C+

So . . . I finally saw Pokemon Detective Pikachu yesterday, which is how far behind I am with the movies I want to see, and managed to find a theater showing it.  If you haven't seen this new Pokemon movie yet, finding it in the theater will be a challenge, but it might be available on DVD in August, possibly for streaming in July (but don't quote me on this).

Many, many thoughts.

Tim Goodman, played by Justice Smith, once inspired to be a Pokemon trainer when he was a kid, dreams that faded as reality hit, and now he works in insurance.  In a world where pokemon live freely, appearing everywhere, Tim has become jaded.  He gets a message that his father has passed, traveling to Ryme City, a safe haven metropolis where pokemon and humans live in harmony.  It is here that Tim meats a Pikachu, hot on the case, insisting Tim's father is alive.  But what makes this encounter truly remarkable is that Tim and this pikachu can communicate and understand each other.

The Good:

The first half of the movie is really solid.  Great humor.  The introduction into a live action Pokemon world is brilliant.  Seeing Pokemon wander around, marvelous.  The way the filmmakers captured this reality is beyond what I could have imagined.  Really creative and fun.

Tim Goodman is such a great character, and I really like Justice's portrayal of him.  The only solid element in the entire movie.

The first half of the movie really was great.  It makes me want to see more movies in this realm.  The possibilities of so many stories.  I liked the fact that Tim wasn't a Pokemon trainer.  That he was dubious towards Pokemon, led into a World he didn't want any part.  The relationship between Tim and the pikachu detective is really well done.

I know some people were bothered with Ryan Reynolds voicing Pikachu, as all they see is Deadpool, but as I haven't seen that movie (no one should be surprised, though I need to see the PG-13 version (Yes, I'm a prude :P )), the Deadpool relation didn't bother me.

Pikachu really is cute!  And very well animated.

Also, I enjoyed the cinematic score.  A nice balance between orchestration and game electronic type tones.

The Bad:

Pretty much the last half of the movie.

And this is where I hit my typical conundrum where I have to be very cryptic so as not to spoil anything.

I have issues where the plot led, and the real villains ultimate choices regarding humans and Pokemon.  Just the logic behind a certain plot point.  How is this true evolution?  Really?  For him, yes, for others, no.  Doesn't make sense.  And there's flaws in that scene with what happens to him verses others.  And that's all I can say.  I think I just said too much.

Okay, and super cryptic.  So, there's this episode of Full Metal Alchemist.  Don't know if it's in the original series or new one, as there's a remake to resemble the manga (like what's now happening with Fruits Basket).  It's either the 3rd or 4th episode with this girl and a dog, and this girl feels neglected by her father, who is trying to get animals to talk.  And there's this monkey who can talk, and what happened to this guys wife.  So, I can't even outright say what happened in that episode without possibly spoiling the movie, but that episode made me sick.  Like, I was seriously nauseous afterward.  Just thinking of the episode makes me feel ill.  Something in my core rejects it.  And I stopped watching that show.  Couldn't bring myself to finish.

This movie left me feeling the same thing.

Instead of leaving the movie feeling joyous, I left feeling creeped, disgruntled.

Back to the movie as a whole: The first half of the movie was fun and brilliant, the second half a let down.

If you love Pokemon, you might like it.  Don't take my word.  These are just opinions.  You may find the entirety of this movie interesting.  I just wish I liked Pokemon Detective Pikachu more.

MPAA: Rated PG for action/peril, some rude and suggestive humor, and thematic elements.
 

The Quirky Tokyo Disneyland Spring Celebration, Easter 2019

Tokyo Disneyland once again brought the magic.

Yesterday I blogged about DisneySea's Easter celebration which is full of cuteness.

Tokyo Disneyland had its own theme where eggs are on the loose, and everything is fun, zany, and quirky.  I love that both parks took such different twists on Easter and Spring.  At first, when I saw this Easter stuff online, I didn't know what to think.  It was kinda weird!  But being there in person, seeing the eggs all throughout the park, I grew to appreciate the little egg creatures, usatama, and their sense of humor.  I grew to love the crazy Disney character outfits.

It's all fun.

Very imaginative.

And it was fun finding eggs throughout the park pulling pranks and whatnot.

The ultimate egg hunt.

Springtime at Tokyo DisneySea, 2019

 Last week Tokyo DisneySea finished their Springtime Easter 2019 celebration which lasted from April 4th to June 2nd.  It's a two month event full of cuteness.  The Tokyo Disney parks are expert at theming and celebrations.

Every season they go full out with decorations, costumes, shows, and merchandise.  When I visited in October 2015 the current theme was a "spooky yet elegant Halloween," which was really cool. Their Summer DisneySea theme is all about Pirates.