It’s an art-deco styled restaurant and bar based on the Carthay Circle Theater here in Los Angeles, one of the most famous movie palaces of the golden age of Hollywood, not to mention the location of the 1937 premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!
We lifted our noses teasingly, and strutted right on in towards the bar, where we oohed and ahhed over a menu of vintage cocktails, like the Pimm’s Punch, the Classic Dirty Martini, and my personal favorite -- the very delicious Hemingway Daiquiri.
We even shared a Lobster Pad Thai Roll snack to sample the food, and made a plan to come back with dinner reservations one day, to try the Jalapeno Cheddar Bacon Biscuits – raise your hand if all four of those words make you salivate…
Twenty minutes later, I’d determined that Carthay Circle Lounge is a great place to sit back, put your pinky up, and sip something delicious. It’s décor is simple – black and white photographs, long curtains, stained glass windows – but believe me when I say that the place oozes class. And for the cherry on top of the proverbial sundae, if you listen every so closely, you can even hear the jazzy renditions of your favorite Disney tunes over the lounge speaker.
Oh Carthay Circle, you know just how to win this Disney Dame’s heart.
After our jazzy good time, on our way to the Ladybug Boogie in Bug’s Land, we were delighted to run into a very special guy!
And then something very unexpected occurred. Leigh stopped, cleared her throat, looked to her fellow Dames, and made an announcement.
She was ready to try something new.
She was ready to leave the past behind.
She was ready to plunge thirteen stories in the baddest elevator you’ll ever board.
Allow me to give some context so that you know just how special this moment was: For the past two years, I’ve made many unsuccessful attempts to get Leigh to ride Tower of Terror. She has always been very clear that she would have to be “blacked out and carried on” if it was ever going to happen. And don’t think I didn’t consider that option. ;-)
I’d begged. I’d pleaded. I’d blackmailed. Still, I’d always managed to end up walking by that architectural gem of a hotel, fantasizing and thinking to myself, “one day…”
I had no idea it would come so soon. But boy was I glad it did.
She was very nervous in line – she paid close attention to all details around us for clues about what she would soon encounter. She made many references to being crazy, and even one about death by Disney ride. She repelled our attempts at distracting small talk. And after the library video, I just knew she was going to run immediately for the chicken emergency exit. But our girl was on board!
She’d made up her mind, and she wasn’t turning back.
She did SCREAM BLOODY MURDER FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY as we buckled up pre-ride, though. But we forgave her for that. ;-)
So how did she fare, you ask?
She. Loved. It.
She enjoyed every bit of the Tower of Terror, and was so excited that upon exiting she threw her hands up in one of those college girl “whoooooo!” moments, and promptly fell down a few stairs.
But I’d never seen someone so happy to have conquered a lifetime fear. And I’d never been so happy to see someone do it. So we decided to celebrate at the Mad T Party happening just beyond the ride, where we were immediately met by the out-of-control fun, the out-of-control color, and the out-of-control madness that lies inside!
We quickly took in the amazing sights – Tweedledee and Tweedledum on stilts, Alice doing lead vocals for the band onstage, and our favorite part, the very festive bar in the corner, entitled Drink Me.
And when the Dames see a sign that says “Drink Me”, well…we do as we’re told. ;-)
We had a great time dancing under strobe lights to the music of the band, who sang everything from Top 40 Hits like Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” to oldies but oh-so-goodies, like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”...
...and we even took out a few minutes to play the games in the Alice in Wonderland themed arcade, which is, I’m just gonna say it, WAY more fun than the Tron themed one that lived there before.
And when it was time to go home, we were truly sad to leave Wonderland and the time of our lives.
I even finished the weekend off with a nostalgic Facebook post noting that “the amount of fun I had with my girls should be a crime in the State of California.” But there’s only one place in the world you can have fun that big anyway.
And I’m guessing you know what it is. :-)
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