Lord Vader, Disney, & Other Short Takes

This Short Takes edition starts off with the great Blue Sky Disney Blog speculating that if George Lucas is finished making Star Wars movies, would he sell the characters to Disney? What I fabulous idea. Star Tours is now easily the most popular attraction in Disneyland and will be for some time to come. It seems like the time would be right.....but it's going to cost......

As usual, Disney did well when it announced its quarterly profits last week. Its greatest strength, once again is ESPN......the shakiest part of the company - films......The Disney Channel always does well with profits but I have yet to see Phineas  & Ferb (or Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers, or High School Musical).....I have no interest in any of it.....sorry.

The best announcement that could come out of this year's D23 Expo? - confirming the rampant rumor that Innoventions would be turned into the Stark Expo.....if I were to attend this year's Expo, where would I like to be? - maybe the first aid station after traditional die-hard Disney fans find out just how big Marvel is going to be going forward.

Did I read somewhere that next year's John Carter on Mars is approaching the 300 million dollar mark with its budget?.....Wow!......talk about sticking your corporate neck out.....now we know one of the reasons the 250 million dollar Lone Ranger got canned by Disney.

Back to the parks, I wrote about Food On A Stick back in early July, I neglected to mention the best food on a stick to walk around with on a hot day - the chocolate covered banana......it might even be just a little bit good for you.....never quite got the appeal of the Mickey ice cream bar, then again, I tend to be lactose intolerant.....the new entrance to DCA will now direct you to the backside of the Soarin' Over California show building.....welcome to the Magic......speaking of show buildings, I never gave it much thought but the show building for the Finding Nemo subs is beneath a portion of the Autopia......also, I had know idea that there was a live cockatoo in a cage above the entrance to the Jungle Cruise....the things you learn.....

Corn Dogs & Other Short Takes

I like that Disney is providing healthier options with your meals like sliced apples instead of potato chips with your corn dog. Somehow I get the feeling that by the time you ingest that corn dog, a small bag of chips just isn't going to matter anymore. The apples do help cut through the grease though......Which is the better corn dog, the Little Red Wagon on Main St. or Corn Dog Castle (newly re-opened) in DCA? I know people who swear by one or the other and that's the only corn dog place they will go to when they're at the park - corn dog snobs......

Speaking of food, when its warm, freshly made and all nice and toasty on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, the infamous churro is a wonderful walk-around snack. But if you get one that's been sitting around awhile, well, they tend to go down hill fast......Disney castmembers are some of the finest workers and people you will ever encounter - but not all of them......Best bathroom in Disneyland? I'm leaning towards the ones at the Hungry Bear - spacious, clean, and well cared for by park custodians......The worst? New Orleans Square Railroad station runs neck and neck with the bathrooms at the Adventureland entrance.......Does any walk around park character make more appearance time than the Mad Hatter? That guy is everywhere all the time.

Is there any reason why the Fantasyland Skyway to Tomorrowland boarding station still exists? The ride has been gone for almost 20 years and its not coming back (unlike the People Mover, which I predict will come back some day)......Everyone told me I just had to go on the Jungle Cruise at night. I did. It's dark out there......The words 'Vinylmation' and 'abomination' are very similar.....I think I own 7 pins.

I need to take a shot at DCA before I close this post but it gets harder all the time - ElecTRONica, that's all I got.