We finally found the new Big Al sculpture, with the help of friends. We'd gone looking for him last week but I'd thought he was in a different place, and we apparently walked right past him without seeing him because we were focused on something else.
He's situated in the Disney Vacation Club space just across the #GrandCalifornianHotel entrance into #DisneyCaliforniaAdventure . The lockers have been moved further up the path, and they're free for 2 hours while you go on Grizzly River Run. 1/2
Our friends discovered that if you wave a Magic Band or touched Big Al with it (we didn't quite figure out what the trigger was), he would talk or sing. Pretty cool. #CountryBearJamboree#DisneyCaliforniaAdventure 2/2
@kurtsh Trader Sam's is kind of kitschy. I'm not a fan of Lamplight, either the food or the setup. I love Tiana's but it can be limiting for some because there's a lot of spicy stuff. Craftsman Bar is essentially the same as the Grill, except it's table service. Golden Horseshoe is the same as Stage Door, I think.
NEED TO TRY:
✅ Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar (DL Hotel)
✅ Lamplight Lounge (Pixar Pier, DCA)
✅ Tiana's Palace (Fantasyland, DLR)
✅ GCH Craftsman Bar (GCH)
✅ Golden Horseshoe
@kurtsh With the various celebrations and food festivals, there are also often new things to try at familiar places or at dedicated food kiosks. Right now, there's stuff for Season of the Force, with a few more things added as of May 4, and shortly, all the PixarFest stuff will be added too.
We found out that they've had a new bread that's been available since last Thanksgiving - sweet potato bread, with apricot butter and cranberry relish. Gorgeous and delicious. Both accompaniments were so good. A much better offering than the prior focaccia bread.
Washington Apple martini with yet a different garnish - I've never gotten a dried slice of apple before. 1/4
For my third course, I had the "Smiling Tiger Salad" - spicy beef, shrimp fritters, and lemongrass-coconut vinaigrette. Been loving this dish ever since we had it for the first time in a vintner's menu, and then they added it to the regular menu.
My second cappuccino of the night but this time, it didn't have mushrooms in it. 😀 But I got biscotti on the side!!!! #NapaRose 3/4
The lobby of the #GrandCalifornianHotel has extensive decorations for #LunarNewYear , more than I've ever seen before. There's a backdrop for a photo op, beautiful flowers, and even gorgeous bamboo floral displays.
The combination of #ChipAndDale and #gingerbread means I bought an ornament and a pin last night. So cute. I love when they include the little #HiddenMickey in the logo of the #GrandCalifornianHotel . Nice touch having the bites taken out of various pieces!