Editor's Report - Aug 25, 2003

Editor's Report
Page 1 of 1

by Doobie Moseley (archives)
August 25, 2003
Doobie on three new things that have made him happy.

Three New Things to Make Doobie Happy

It's been a good past few days for my Disney world. I'll tell you why...

1) Napolini
Back in the day, there was this great little deli at Disney's California Adventure called the Wine Country Market. It was unique in Disney theme park eateries (to the best of my knowledge). Instead of buffeteria or table service, it was a market with grab-and-go food like pre-made sandwiches, salads, deserts, baguettes and cheese, etc. It quickly became my favorite place to eat in the Resort. Unfortunately, when Mondavi left, so did the market. It's been replaced by a sit-down restaurant, the Wine Country Trattoria.

But, once again, there's a deli in the Resort. Located right next to (and connected to) Naples, just a few steps from the Mickey and Friends tram drop-off, is Napolini. It features many of the same type of items - including sandwiches, salads and a few sweets - but it adds hot food as well including pizza by the slice, hot sandwiches and pastas. And there's a large soft drink selection (including my favorite - Orangina). There are a few tables inside, but the food is meant to be grab-and-go. Rebekah and I tried it on Sunday. I ordered the pizza before I read the menu too carefully and realized I had many more vegetarian choices. Naples pizza isn't my favorite, but it's ok. But I'm anxious to try more. Rebekah had one of her favorite Naples treats, the buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad. However, here they offer it in sandwich form as well which was great (I tried it, too). But next time - it'll be the Slivered Potato Pinini (hot pressed sandwich).

Napolini is a sister restaurant to Naples. The looked to share a kitchen, so if you've eaten at Naples, you know what to expect. I'm extremely happy to see a quick service place like this open up in Downtown Disney. I've been looking at the "coming soon" sign over the past few weeks, and seeing the doors open on Sunday made Doobie very happy!

2) Magic Quizdom
I don't consider myself a Disneyland history expert. At one time I used to read everything I could on Disneyland's history, and some of that has stuck so I've been able to win a trivia contest or two. But I don't live the stuff the way some people do. Two of those people are Kevin Yee and Jason Schultz, and they've put together a book called Magic Quizdom: Disneylandia Minutiae Semper Absurda. Now, if you're someone that thinks the question "In what year did Fantasyland have its major overhaul?" is difficult - this may not be the book for you. However, if you consider that kid's stuff, then you're ready for Magic Quizdom.

The book is divided up into lands with each land having Easy, Medium and Difficult questions. The Easy and Medium are multiple choice. The Difficult are not. After all the questions for a given land come the answers. But the best part about the book - and the thing that makes it attractive for Disneyland trivia experts and neophytes alike - is the answers are given with explanations. Each answer is about a paragraph long and gives further information on that answer. So you can read it as a Disneyland history book and learn quite a lot about the park's history. Or, if you want to challenge yourself, try your hand at the questions. I'm able to get most of the Easy and Medium ones. And maybe about half, or even less, of the Difficult ones. This is a Disneyland fan's Disneyland history book. And by the way - the Fantasyland overhaul was in 1983.

Magic Quizdom is available at The LaughingPlace Store for $17.49. But I'd be recommending it even if it weren't :)

3) Indigo Michael Frost
I first met John Frost in 1995 at a meet of rec.arts.disney fans at Disneyland. Not too long after that we became Disneyland buddies, and ultimately best friends, spending many, many, MANY hours at the park together. John helped start LaughingPlace.com writing several stories for us including the long-running column Dispatch From Disneyland. A couple of years ago John met a woman, moved to Nevada and got married. And about nine months ago, that woman, Stacey, got pregnant. On Thursday, John became the proud papa of Indigo Michael Frost. John, Stacey and their new son are doing very well. Congratulations to the Frost family.

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-- Doobie Moseley
-- Posted August 25, 2003