And The Mickey Goes To.... (2012)

We are smack in the middle of award season culminating with the Academy Awards sometime in March (not sure when, I seldom watch the show and if I do, it's probably because Mrs DisneylandTraveler made me).  I think Woody Allen used a variation of the following line many years ago in his great film Annie Hall "I can't believe it, they give an award for everything....".  The Disneyland Traveler is no different as I pass out my Mickey awards for 2012 that looks back at The Disneyland Resort in 2011 (note: in my world, you can win the award over and over again). So here we go with some fun.

Best Disneyland Resort Table Service Restaurant (inside the park)....and the Mickey goes to ... The Blue Bayou.  Yeah... the meal is expensive, especially at dinner, and the food may not justify the price, but the Blue Bayou is all about the setting.

Best Multi-Media Show ... and the Mickey goes to .... Fantasmic (beating out World of Color and A Christmas Fantasy Parade)

Best Cup of Coffee in park....  and the Mickey goes to .... The Market House (there isn't even a close second).

Best Dark Ride.... and the Mickey goes to.... Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin.

Best Interactive Ride Where Points Are Awarded .... and the Mickey goes to.... Toy Story Mania (too bad the wait is so long that you can't really play over and over again)

Best Sweet Treat ... and the Mickey goes to...  Dole Pineapple Whip (or Float)

Best Food That Comes Out Of A Cart... and the Mickey goes to... The Chocolate Covered Banana

Best Food Item Less Than 5 bucks... and the Mickey goes to... Safari Skewer (bacon wrapped asparagus) from Bengal BBQ

Best Animatronic.... and the Mickey goes to... Abraham Lincoln (watch the hand movements amazing).

Best Cast Member Uniform (Outfit The Disneyland Traveler Would Be Least Embarrassed to Wear.... and the Mickey goes to.... the Soarin' Over California jumpsuit

Best Show with Live Performers.... and the Mickey goes to.... Billy Hill and the Hillbillies

Best Beer Served in DCA... and the Mickey Goes to.... Karl Straus Red Trolley Ale

Best Counter Service Restaurant (Cafeteria Style).... and the Mickey goes to... The French Market

Best Counter Service Restaurant (Walk Up Window Style).... and the Mickey goes to... Cocina Cucamonga... (tough vote in this category but the chicken tamales are really good and you can get a beer to wash them down with....)

Best Counter Service Restaurant That Only Serves One Food Item....  and the Mickey goes to.... Corn Dog from The Red Wagon... ( I had to sneak a Disneyland corn dog in here somewhere)

Best World of Color Dining Package... and the Mickey goes to... Ariel's Grotto - dinner package

The Kurt Russsell Achievement Award for an Actor Who Shows Up In Disney Movies Over and Over Again.....and the special award goes to.... Johnny Depp.

Best In Park Retail Store.... and the Mickey goes to...  Off The Page

Best New Attraction Opened in 2011.... and the Mickey goes to.... Star Tours.... (yeah, a remake of an existing attraction but its changed enough to consider it all new.... I haven't been on it but all those people who rave about it can't be wrong).

Best Ride That's a 1955 Park Opening Original.... and the Mickey goes to....  The Jungle Cruise

Best Ride That Represents the Creative Genius of Walt Disney... and the Mickey goes to... Pirates of the Caribbean

Special Disneyland Lifetime Achievement Award....a tip of the scorcer's hat and the special award goes to Chef Oscar at the Carnation Cafe... 56 years and still going strong (and still doesn't know when he's going to retire).

Best TV Show On A Disney Owned Network... and the Mickey goes to.... PTI (Pardon the Interruption) ESPN (thanks Tony and Mike for all the entertainment)

Best Restaurant Downtown Disney... and the Mickey goes to... Naples (pizza to die for).

Best Downtown Disney Quick Snack Food... and the Mickey goes to.... Beignets - Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen Express

Best Disney Movie of 2011... and the Mickey goes to... Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (slim pickings in 2011 and I haven't seen The Muppets.  I reserve the right to change my vote later).

Best Themed Ride (Disneyland)... and the Mickey goes to...  The Haunted Mansion

Best Themed Ride (DCA)... and the Mickey goes to.... The Hollywood Tower of Terror

Best Ride in Either Park (Ride of the Year)... and the Mickey goes to... Pirates of the Caribbean

Best Park Character.... and the Mickey goes to.... Mickey Mouse, of course

******

Check back on Monday when I post my 2012 Irate Donald Awards for the worst of the Disneyland Resort in 2011.  I would have posted those awards first but then I would be accused of being negative and a curmudgeon (both of which are true).