Radiator Springs Racers - A photo review

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If you're expecting Radiator Springs Racers (RSR) to be like Test Track, you'll be half-right. The part that's right is that the technology is the same, and yes, there's a section that goes fast. But it doesn't go AS FAST as Test Track, and it's a shorter race time. But there's good news counter-balancing those bummers: you aren't just going fast, you are really racing (sometimes you'll win against the other car, sometimes you'll lose). And the parts that aren't a race are an actual dark ride - it's way more interesting than the inside parts of Test Track.

Instead of empty warehouses, cardboard cutouts, and heat lamps (like you'd see at Test Track), in RSR you will find full-sized CARS cars that wink and blink and move and talk - animatronics. You basically drive outside town and then into town while on the ride (yes, the town is also built just outside the ride, but you accept the fakeness of that), enduring a few adventures and seeing familiar friends.

Then you meet up with the car in front of you (or maybe the one behind you) and have a friendly race. It's a fun ending that offers thrills without needing to take up too much real estate (which is at a premium here in Anaheim).

My overall verdict: this ride is great. Much better than Test Track. Maybe that's because I like dark rides and animatronics in general, but I rather suspect it's just a better ride, better realized, and better themed. Definitely worth the long wait in line (FastPass is better if you get there at park opening to snag one. And single-rider line is not a bad option, either).































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Kevin Yee is the author of numerous independent Disney books, including the popular Walt Disney World Earbook series and Walt Disney World Hidden History.

Book Review: Voyages of Imagination

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I don't often use this blog for "mission drift" conversations, but I'm making an exception this time for a Star Trek book. An author named Jeff Ayers contacted me recently, since he's doing research for a book on Disney park rides he's already got a contract for, and in our conversation he mentioned a previous Star Trek book he's written. Before you say "big deal, there are a lot of Star Trek books", you should know that this realization is precisely the point. Ayers's book is a compendium of the OTHER Star Trek fiction that's been written. All of it. Voyages of Inspiration costs $45 retail (Amazon often has it on discount) or $14 by Kindle. It's a whopping 800 pages because it takes time to discuss every last Star Trek book in existence! 



If you have read Star Trek fiction before, you know what a monumental task that is. There are hundreds of books in existence. Not every fan of the series (any of the Star Trek series!) was also a reader of the fiction, but I was. For many years, I bought every one of the books on the market. That marks me as a geek. Perhaps I ascend to the uber-geek status by absolutely loving Ayers's compendium. It's not just a summary of the books both known to me and new to me. It's also a backstory of the books, one by one. Ayers took the time to contact every author, and since he almost always succeeded, he has author quotes and the "inside story" on what it took to make every book a reality, the anguish over plot points, the interactions with Paramount, and so on. For a fan of the books, this is dessert on the wonderful meal of the books.

I must point out that I was sent a review copy of the book. I no longer buy every Star Trek book, but even if I were not sent a free copy of the compendium I would be interested in it, particularly in the Kindle price. I was amazed at how many memories came flooding back when paging through the book. Memories of both the books (plots) themselves and the less-tangible memories of the pleasure I had when reading them those years ago.

Good books "take" you places; this one was no exception for me. It may have been taking me back to my own reader-experience over the years, but it was still a journey [insert "to boldly go" joke here!]

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Kevin Yee is the author of numerous independent Disney books, including the popular Walt Disney World Earbook series and Walt Disney World Hidden History.

Carthay Circle Theater restaurant - Review

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Part of the fabulous revitalization of Disney's California Adventure is the new restaurant Carthay Circle Theater, which is positioned right at the end of Buena Vista Street (essentially, in the 'icon' spot of the park, so you see it right when you come in). It's an upscale restaurant, expensive, posh, and very tasty. You'll want to try it at least once.



Reservations are accepted, but I can't judge if they are needed. I would have said they should be needed, but we saw lots of empty tables upstairs. Maybe they don't have the operational details figured out yet? I've heard a few horror stories about the service sometimes taking forever, so go in with an extra dollop of patience.

The lobby and bar are downstairs, but you go upstairs to dine. The walls are richly appointed; you feel like Hollywood royalty of the 1930s up here, which is the whole point. In that, it resembles the Brown Derby restaurant in Disney's Hollywood Studios, which is also kind of the point. Here at Carthay, you'll find lots of sub-rooms that give different levels of privacy. Don't miss the murals in the ceiling of the main dining room (and while you're looking around, watch for the Snow White stuff in the lobby, since Carthay Circle (the real one) is where that movie had its premiere.

But you're here for the food. We had the house biscuits (white cheddar, bacon, jalapeno and apricot honey butter - yum!)

The Korean Pulled Pork Sandwich ($18) was delectable, but small in size.



The Kobe Beef Cheek Sliders ($19) were even more delectable, but, well, small in size.



Our kids tried the tacos and the sloppy joe's style sliders - both were tasty, but overpriced.




There's a trend in my review, obviously. The food is expensive. You shouldn't come here starved and hoping to get big portions, but rather hoping for fine dining and upscale flavors. I knew to expect that, and wasn't disappointed at all. But with my kids in tow, I won't be back often. It was more of a single experience rather than something I'll do frequently.








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Kevin Yee is the author of numerous independent Disney books, including the popular Walt Disney World Earbook series and Walt Disney World Hidden History.

Club 33 - Review and photos

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Do you know about that poorly-kept secret known as Club 33? It's a members-only club in Disneyland, in New Orleans Square (most of the second floor), and it actually lets you buy and drink alcohol! I've visited it twice before, but had the chance again on my recent California trip, so it was worth a quick mention here online. You have to know a member to get reservations; the general public can't cajole their way into this one. The list to join the club is very long and it takes years (and once you do join, it takes literally thousands of dollars).



The entrance is near the Blue Bayou. You press a button, state your name, and if you're on the list, you're buzzed in. The downstairs is just a small landing; there's a staircase and a glass elevator. You've got to ride up your first time!

Upstairs is a hallway to the right leading to the Trophy Room, a smaller dining room with dead animal head "trophies". The vulture is wired up to be an Audio-Animatronic, since Walt liked the idea of entertaining while people ate. And one chandelier has a microphone in it to let servers listen in to patrons, and then magically appear when people mentioned that they lacked salt (or whatever). This was never put into use; it's just a remnant.

Down the other hallway is the main dining room. On your way you'll pass an antique harpiscord and the full bar (drinks are about $10 each, but you'll want to gloat that you drank alcohol inside Disneyland, right?)

If you're here for a lunchtime buffet, those appetizer, salad, and dessert stations will be lined up along the hallway here. Otherwise, you pass to the main dining room.

After your meal, you can venture out to the balconies and look around New Orleans Square from a whole new perspective you've never seen before!

It's a great experience, and if you get the chance, leap on it. Everything is expensive (plan on $80/person without alcohol), but this is one of the most exclusive things you can do at a Disney park. You may even want to buy a few tokens with the Club 33 logo on them on your way out.


















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Kevin Yee is the author of numerous independent Disney books, including the popular Walt Disney World Earbook series and Walt Disney World Hidden History.