Hidden Mickey Monday!

The last holiday Mickey of the year, is the classic Mickey plates in the Haunted Mansion, turned nightmarish by Jack Skellington. This Mickey can be found in the Holiday Haunted Mansion in the ballroom scene, and the plates are moved to different settings occasionally.

Hidden Mickey Monday!

Today's Mickey can be found on the dancing ballerina float during the Christmas Parade.

Hidden Mickey Monday!

During Christmastime at the Disney Parks, there are a ton of hidden Mickey bulbs hanging on trees and garlands.

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This Mickey can only be found during Christmastime on the North Pole float of the Christmas Parade!

Disney Freebies Friday!: Jingle Cruise Poster

For a limited time, this Jingle Cruise Poster highlighting the attraction's transformation for the Holidays was given out at the end of the ride! The print is really good quality, like the lithographs available in the park.

My favorite little detail is the cowboy silhouette shooting a candy cane at the hippo!

Jingle Cruise

This year is the first time Jungle Cruise has celebrated the Holiday season! Each boat has been renamed  and decorated for Christmas! The skippers have updated their jokes to incorporate this time of year, and you can Jungle all the way on tours departing daily.

My favorite joke so far has been: "I asked for Hungry Hippos for Christmas this year, guess I should have been more specific."

Disney Details: Matterhorn Operators

Did you know that if you look up at the operation booth once you have boarded the Matterhorn, you might see some familiar (and sometimes not Disney-related) characters?
Plushes and figurines get moved around from time to time, but this season I spotted a big Bumble! 

(Probably a distant relative of the Matterhorn's resident Yetti)

Hidden Mickey Monday!

Happy December! Christmastime is in full swing in the parks now. Last year was Buena Vista Street's first big Christmas celebration. The huge tree at the end of the street featured some themed ornaments, like this trolley car with a little Mickey peeking out the window!

Disney Details: Coke Lightbulb

One of the many reasons I love Disney parks is their attention to detail. This little lightbulb is outside the Coke shop on Main Street. I just love how they wouldn't break the pattern and made this bulb half and half!

Hidden Mickey Monday!

Today's Mickey can be found among the fairy dust tiled into the Disneyland Hotel flooring!

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This Mickey silhouette can be found at the Storyteller's Cafe located in the Grand California Hotel. As far as I could tell, just this one lantern had the Mickey in it. 

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This classic Mickey can be found on the back of some of the napkins given out at quick service food stations in the park. It's so easy to overlook this little Mickey.

Disneyland Recipes: Mission Foods Cinnamon Mickey Crisps

Today's recipe card is from Mission Foods. I'm a sucker for any food that is Mickey-shaped and these crisps are delicious!

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This is one of the many ever-changing, ever-moving hanging Mickey topiaries. Sometimes they can be found on Main Street or along the Downtown Disney District. Although they are a bit obvious, I love the extra work done to make them into Mickeys.

Souvenir Spotlight Sunday: Build your own Droid!

New at Star Traders in Tomorrowland, is a build your own droid station. Similar to the build your own light saber station, you can customize your very own droid. There is a variety of colored bodies, heads, legs, and character hats you can choose from. It's a lot of fun to make your own little droid friend!

Disneyland Past Days: Candy Corn Acres

One of the things I miss most about DCA before the remodel was Candy Corn Acres during Halloween. The Sunshine Plaza beneath the Sun Icon was transformed into a candy corn farm. It was a really festive and creative play on growing candy corn. I miss DCA having more Halloween spirit, hopefully someday Buena Vista Street will transform for Halloween. Pictures were taken during Halloweentime 2009.

Jerrod Maruyama

Jerrod Maruyama is one of my favorite digital illustrators, he is a huge inspiration. So I was super excited when I found out he was going to do a signing at the Wonderground Gallery in Downtown Disney this month. Ever since the popularity of his hipster Mickey print, the gallery has featured a lot of his illustrations. My favorite print I had signed was his Haunted Mansion print.

Hidden Mickey Monday!

Each year at the pumpkin patch at the Thunder Ranch there is bound to be a hidden Mickey or two!

Souvenir Spotlight Sunday: A Hitchhiking Ghost will follow you Home!

Literally...

These new Hitchhiking Ghost antenna toppers are the cutest!

Navigating Disney Tips: Mickey Ears

Almost everyone gets a special pair of Mickey ears as a souvenier while visiting the park. Some people can be wary though of buying souveniers until the end of the day so they don't get lost or damaged during the course of the day. Recently I found out that there is no need to worry about wearing your Mickey ears though. As long as you don't cut off the fabric tag on the headband, Disney will replace a broken pair from that day for free! (with receipt) 

Just another great example of the outstanding customer service at Disney Parks! ;)

Disneylandscaping: Tomorrowland

Did you know that most of the plants grown in Tomorrowland are actually edible? 

Varieties include fruit trees, cabbages, chilies, herbs, and more.

Disneyland Recipes: Mission Foods All-in-One Breakfast Burrito

Disney's California Adventure used to be home to the Mission Tortilla factory, which I really miss visiting. Today's free recipe card was a handout from the factory. 

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This Mickey (although the photo was taken during the holiday season) can be found in the Haunted Mansion, in the bridal room with all the wedding presents. It's hard to see this Mickey without a light or flash, but it's one of my favorites! The clock is usually placed on the right-hand side just when you turn from the ballroom into this room. Haunted hunting!