Disneyland - Big Thunder Ranch Petting Zoo

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/disneyland/big-thunder-ranch-petting-zoo/

My love for animals is pretty consistent. I am always glad to see animals, always want to touch them, but am also likely to worry about them.

We would sometimes see references to a petting zoo without it being there, so I think there was a gradual buildup and acclimatization before it became what it is today, and I suppose it may change again.

We saw goats, sheep, a horse, and donkeys. One of the biggest letdowns with a petting zoo is when the animals aren't that interested in being pet (or fed for some attractions) because they get too much contact.

There was a little of that here, but not as much as you might think, because they seem to rotate the animals. We looked around on our way between Frontierland and Fantasyland once, and then came back later to pet animals. It was a different horse when we came back, and the donkeys were gone. There are pens where the animals can be seen but not touched, and other areas where they can be touched. They do get rests. Other animals mentioned as being at the ranch that we did not see include cows, pigs, turkeys, and even reindeer at times, but we did not see these.

(Also, the horses always have a handler, which I'm sure is a safety issue, but is good for the welfare of the horse as well.)

This does not guarantee that every animal is longing for attention, but at least one goat moved to be closer to me, and I felt good about that.

Disneyland - Mickey and the Magical Map

We don't generally go to a lot of shows. We did our first time in California Adventure, because it was really hot and we were looking for ways to get out of the sun, and it was fine, but we're more into riding rides.

I first started to get interested in the Fantasyland Theatre when I saw that they had a Snow White show, though it was not playing when we were there. Later it changed to Mickey and the Magical Map, and the key thing that made me feel that we needed to make an effort to see it was finding out that King Louie was in it. My sisters love him.

They also love Junior, so not only was his appearance a nice surprise, but this shot is a good example of the way they incorporate animation into the show, which is also live action.

Animation and performers take you to various locations for musical numbers. There are also special effects, like bubbles and confetti.

The premise is that apprentice Mickey was trying to finish creating a map, and the last blank spot is trying to escape being painted, so it uses the map to transport itself, and Mickey pursues. You may not remember the sorcerer whom Mickey was apprenticed to as being a mapmaker, but that's how it goes.

In the end, Mickey has sympathy for the spot's desire to not be painted over, but leaving it there is what makes the map magical, so it all works out, and becomes time for a splashy musical number.

It was fine. The shows aren't our thing, but they did a good job with it, and attending shows can build in a rest break.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/entertainment/disneyland/mickey-magical-map/

Disneyland - French Market Restaurant

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/french-market-restaurant/

The French Market restaurant is another one that was new to us. We had thought about checking it out before, because this is one of the restaurants where you can get live entertainment. We were there fairly late, and only for a snack. We wanted to try two things that were new to us: the mint julep and the beignets.

Both can also be purchased at the Mint Julep Bar, which is quick services instead of sit down.

We're more likely to go back for the beignets than the mint julep. We tried both regular and pumpkin varieties (the pumpkin is seasonal), and they were good, though I had thought they would be more melt in  your mouth. I don't really have any basis for comparison though, for how they would be in, for example, New Orleans. It does seem appropriate that after The Princess and the Frog that you can get beignets in New Orleans Square. I think the beignets are better than the fritters, which are also an offering in that area.

We also have no basis of comparison for the mint julep, alcoholic or otherwise. This version is non-alcoholic. We didn't love it either. The first sip was really strong and pungent. After that it was better, whether because the palate adjusts or the stronger flavorings sit on top, I don't know.

The primary flavors were mint and citrus. It probably would be refreshing on a hot day, but so are lots of other things.

Those don't sound like glowing reviews, but we tried these for curiosity, and that's a reasonable thing to do.

Disneyland - Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/big-thunder-ranch-bbq/

The most expensive place we ate on this trip was at the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ.

Yes, that is knowing that eating in the park is expensive in general. We did not eat at Blue Bayou this time, but I believe it would still have been the most expensive. It can still be a good value.

We went for the lunch buffet. That includes unlimited ribs, chicken, coleslaw, beans, and cornbread. There were free refills on drinks. The dinner buffet adds corn on the cob and sausage.

You are paying for atmosphere and entertainment. There is music and singing and the cast members do a good job of including the children. The decor is great. Even the little touches like the drinks being served in Mason jars was a nice touch. It gives you the feeling of a ranch.

You are also getting a lot of food, and the food is pretty good. The meat was tender and flavorful. I was especially impressed with the chicken breast, as I often don't like white meat, but this was good. And they will keep bringing it, so it is possible to get your money's worth, if these food choices work for you.

It was not ideal for us. I am the only carnivore in my family. Between them my sisters had three pieces of meat, so we really only had one bucket, even though we could have had more. (I thought of it as my chance to stock up on protein.) I do not like baked beans or coleslaw, so I did not try those. They were reported to be okay. We all had cornbread. (It was fine, but mine's better.) We did not get the full value of the meal.

That doesn't mean that other people wouldn't, so that's something to consider when going. You can sit down, be entertained, and eat as much as you want, with them bringing the food to you. That can be a great experience. It is going to be more expensive, and one of the places where it is appropriate to tip.

I am glad we tried it once, but we probably won't do it again just because of the factors I've already mentioned.

If you do go, it is additional money to get the desserts, but those are pretty good values because they are huge.

Disney California Adventure - Lucky Fortune Cookery

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disney-california-adventure/lucky-fortune-cookery/

This is my new favorite.

The first time we ate at the Pacific Wharf, you have one space with a lot of tables surrounded by room for three restaurants. One was the Pacific Wharf Cafe, where you can get Boudin Bread Bowls. There were also signs for a Chinese restaurant and a Mexican restaurant, but for a long time they weren't open.

Both are running now. We have still not tried the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill but part of that is that I ate at Lucky Fortune twice.

I love Chinese food, but that is not really what this is. However, I also like rice bowls pretty well, and that is what you have here.

The bowls come in cardboard takeout containers. You do get chopsticks and a fortune cookie.

There is rice, and your choice of beef, chicken, or tofu for your protein. Then you choose your sauce: Mandarin Orange, Spicy Korean, Teriyaki, or Coconut Curry.

My sisters had the Teriyaki chicken, and didn't think it was that great. I had the Coconut Curry chicken, and I liked it so much that when my sisters went to Award Weiners on a different day I bought my lunch at Lucky Fortune and carried it all the way to Hollywood Land to eat with them. I really liked it.

I knew it would have made sense to try one of the other sauces, but I wanted the Coconut Curry again. I really liked it. I bet it would be good with beef.

There is always that tug between trying something new and sticking with the things you like, but this time trying something new really worked out.

Disney California Adventure - Flo's V8 Cafe

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disney-california-adventure/flos-v8-cafe/

I should have taken pictures of my food here. I had not initially decided to do restaurant reviews. I had taken pictures at Apple Pan and Canter's, but they were new to us, as touring Los Angeles was, and I had written about Disneyland in detail before. I think the experience at Earl of Sandwich, which happened the night we ate at Flo's, is what made me think that the new eating places in the park should be reviewed.

I had taken pictures of the the decor, because this was our first time inside and the decorations were great, but also, the food is really good. You may look at park prices and feel like you are paying for atmosphere, and that is partially true, and worthwhile because they do great with the atmosphere, but also the food is generally really good. We went to four places we had never been before, and that's when I started to think that I should do restaurant reviews.

The food is sandwiches and pies and shakes, very much like a classic '50s diner. The car theme is added to a music theme, because "Flo" had a singing career. The list of songs are all car-themed, but there are records decorating the Christmas tree. The pies are set up to look like mini hub caps. It is a little bit "Happy Days", but it is 100% Cars.

I had a sandwich and it was really good. It is not the type of food that we would normally choose. I was drawn to it for two reasons. One is that I saw a reference to mashed potatoes when I read about it, and I love mashed potatoes. They were there, but I ended up getting one of the entrees that did not have it, possibly because it felt more like park food.

That being said, the Roast Beef and Cheddar had a perfect balance of meat and cheese and the horseradish aioli had great flavor. It would have been really easy for it to be too dry or too pungent or something, and I was amazed at how well-made the sandwich was. I should be used to them offering great quality over and over again, but they keep doing it in new ways.

The other thing was that I saw that there were two listings and I thought that meant that both the diner looking building on one side and the cones on the other served the same food, but that the diner was sit-down and the cones were to go. Actually, the diner does both sit down and to go, with indoor and outdoor seating. The Cozy Cone Motel are snacks that we wish we had tried because they sound pretty cool.

The other thing that is worth noting about California Adventure is that it is very common that any restaurant will be open for breakfast and have a separate menu for that, and also more likely that there will be alcoholic options, though probably not for breakfast. (We generally only eat lunch and dinner in the park.)

Anyway, I know that I can recommend the roast beef, but the food can be recommended in general, all through the Magic Kingdom and the California Adventure both. It's just one more of many things that Disney does right.

Downtown Disney - Earl of Sandwich

 http://www.earlofsandwichusa.com/

You may notice a surprising lack of pictures for this review. Even the photo that is included was not intentionally a photo of the Earl Of Sandwich sign; it is a photo of the Christmas tree and ice rink that happened to include the sign. (The sandwich shop is right by the ice rink.) The reason for this is that I was very unhappy with my experience there, and so by the time I got my sandwich I had no interest in taking a photo of it.

The sandwich was not bad. I had the Original 1762, and it was okay, though having had similar sandwiches at Canter's Deli and at Flo's V-8 Cafe (which I will get to in a different post), if I were to rank them, this would come in third. So it was a good sandwich, but I had better on the same trip. My real problem was with the service.

We got in line. Our friends ordered together and my sisters ordered together and I ordered separately. I did not really think about that at the time, but at the end of the line I noticed that they had both been given buzzers, and I only had my receipt. I guess that could have been because they both had multiple people on their orders, or it could have been because they both ordered sides and I did not. It only sticks out to me now because it took so long to get my sandwich.

I was in the middle of the orders. They all had their food long before I did. People who entered after us had their food before I did. I eventually asked, because I thought I must be missing something, and the person just said it was going to be a while. He didn't check or ask - he just seemed to know that my order was going to take longer - but their was no explanation for it.

I feel that if it was a known thing that my order would take longer, I should have been told that. I didn't ask for anything to be kept off or added extra. I did say "wheat" when asked if I wanted it on white or wheat bread, and that was the only thing that I could think of that might have slowed it down, but again, if wheat is something that makes it take longer, they should have mentioned that. I have been trying to eat more whole grains, but I was not so committed to it that I would have chosen to wait longer.

My other thought was that maybe they made some mistake and had to start over, but again, that would be a good time to give a heads up to the customer, apologize, give an estimated time, and just provide basic communication as a key component of good customer service. I have had places offer free stuff, which is not expected or required, but it shows that they care and want you to have a good experience.

This was a bad experience. The great customer service that is experienced inside the park has not been the rule for Downtown Disney, and I had already known that, but usually it is just normal, and this was worse than normal.

Due to that, my impression of Earl of Sandwich is bad, and I cannot recommend them. I was the only one who had that bad of an experience, but that means that I know that it is possible, and that they don't care when it does happen.

Disappointing.