I've been unusually busy lately, so kindly forgive the lack of recent updates.

Halloween has come and gone again (mmm, apple cider cupcakes...), and the Halloweentime crowds are gone. The mini Zonie Invasion appears to be over, though I suspect it'll be back with a vengeance as Christmas approaches. It is my honest opinion that if someone built a theme park in Phoenix, it'd rake in a tiny fortune.

Christmas decorations have, once again, started to appear in the park. The castle already has sparkly fake snow caps and icicle lights, and New Orleans Square's transformation began a couple days before Halloween. Toontown is nearly done. It's a good thing Disneyland's decorations are among the most beautiful I have ever seen (and when you have a design background, you see a lot of good stuff!), since "Christmas creep" really is tacky. I know I say that every year even though I don't actually celebrate Christmas, but it's the truth.

Most of the Halloween decor is gone, with the exception of a few window displays. It's not like I mind, since the color scheme works for Thanksgiving, too.

Sharp-eyed visitors to Fantasyland just may spot a brand-new hidden Pixar character, though I won't say which one or where. If you're smart, you'll figure it out.

Alice is down for rehab, earlier than anticipated. Given the recent improvements it'll probably be better than ever when it's ready to re-open later this month. It's a Small World Holiday is set to open later this week. The planned rehab is still on (read Al Lutz's MiceAge column for the nice version, or http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/disney-dirt/churros-anyone/ for a snappier take on the situation). While I have never actually seen IASW boats get stuck, I have it on good authority that this does happen with increasing regularity.

Spotted in Town Square: Cruella de Vil giving the thumbs-up to a guest in a long leopard-print coat. I wonder if "Cruella" could see the guest's "Faux, Not Fur" lapel pin!

It has come to my attention that a few of the dozen or so people who actually read this blog have made a few guesses as to my real-life identity. There are a number of AP's who fit my general description. I know a few of them, and I am sure of the speculation because one of them mentioned a comment from a cast member that struck her as bizarre but which I recognized as a reference to this blog. Nobody who knows me offline knows I keep this blog, and I am very careful about what I post. Identifying details are always worded very, very carefully or left out entirely. Put simply, you'll just never know. And really, who doesn't have something better to do anyway? ;)

That's enough out of me for now...see you at Disneyland.