The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (179 page)

Schmoozies
(S)

[
FastView:
 
Smoothies and other beverages hot and cold.
]

In the lexicon of Hollywood and L.A., “to schmooze” is to make charming small talk in the hope of forming connections with, or getting favors from actors, agents, directors or execs.  It’s a Yiddish word that more generally means to chat casually in the hope of gaining a social or business edge.

Attendees at Hollywood parties and premiers are constantly schmoozing; you never know who might give you your next big break, cast you in their film or show, buy your scri
pt, or green light your picture.

More than almost any other industry on the planet, the entertainment world is all about whom you know and who
m you owe–and who knows and owes you.  Social networking is imperative.  Careers can rise and fall based on good or bad schmoozing.

In the
DCA
lexicon, a
Schmoozie
is a far less important thing.  A
DCA
Schmoozie
is in fact a mere frothy trifle, a rich, colorful smoothie or chocolate-coffee concoction made to order for each Guest.

Schmoozies
occupies a corner on the north side of
DCA
’s
Hollywood Boulevard
.  The snack counter is housed in a building that mimics the famous (though now run-down) Crossroads of the World building at 6671 Sunset Boulevard, but with a severely truncated tower and exaggerated, swooping curves that are almost cartoon-like, and without the original’s famous neon-limned, globe-topped obelisk.  The beverages, not the architecture, are the real draw of this snack counter.

If you’re not in the mood for anything exotic, you can purchase a hot tea or a juice for
around $3.  Chocolate lovers might be tempted to order the small or large
Ultimate Hot Cocoa
for $2.89 or $3.19 respectively.  It’s supposed to be a heady chocolate blend with whipped cream topped by chocolate shavings, but it looks and tastes the same as the cocoa sold everywhere else throughout the park.

Coffee
aficionados
will pay out anywhere from $2.69 to $4.19 each for coffee, cappuccino, and espresso and iced or hot mochas and lattes.  For 59 cents, add a shot of almond, caramel, hazelnut, Irish cream, or vanilla flavoring.

The
Schmoozies Smoothies
are the divas here, tasty customized drinks made to order for you.  Each smoothie contains fruit and low-fat yogurt.  Peruse the ingredients listed for each smoothie, and if you see something you don’t like, ask the Cast Member behind the counter to nix it from your drink.

There’s
Make Mine Mocha
(the only chocolate and coffee confection–delicious!), the
Dynamic Duo
(bananas and strawberries),
Mango Madness
, and
Three Berries and a Banana
(a play on the title of
Disney
’s
Touchstone
movie
Three Men and a Baby
).  What are the three berries?  Blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries.  All four smoothies sell for $5.29 each.

Relatively new to the
Schmoozies
menu is the
Malibu Mocha Frappe
($5.39), a decadent chocolate concoction that used to be a star player at the now-defunct
Bakersfield Bakery
(
Sunshine Plaza
).  A highly recommended indulgence.

So if you’re
craving more than the typical juice, soda, or water in
Hollywood Land
, with its varied and reasonable selection,
Schmoozies
is the best bet for quenching your thirst.

Located pretty much in the heart of the district, it’s a convenient stop whenever you’re ready to take a break from the attractions and shops.  Relax on
benches on
DCA
’s
Hollywood Boulevard
or in the studio backlot area just north of
Schmoozies
.  Don’t expect to be treated like a V.I.P., though.  Even when lines are short and crowds light, Cast Members behind the counter sometimes seem abrupt or bored, too busy, apparently, for any schmoozing. 
Did You Know?
Walt
was never a schmoozer.  There’s an artfulness to schmoozing that was alien to
Walt
’s nature.  He could be genuinely charming, but he was too direct to engage in Hollywood games and politicking.  If
Walt
agreed with you, he agreed with you, and if he didn’t, he didn’t.  Once, when a banker refused
Walt
’s request for more funds,
Walt
threatened to take his business elsewhere.  In his eyes, it was shabby to offer loans when a company was doing well but not when it needed a financial shot in the arm.  As
Walt
described it, such methods were like giving someone an umbrella only when it was sunny, instead of when it was raining and an umbrella would be most welcome!  In later years, when some balked at the proposed expense for the
1960 Winter Olympic
opening pageantry,
Pageant Chair Walt
said they could either do it the
Disney
way, or he could step down as chairman.  They did it the
Disney
way, and needless to say, the opening ceremony was a grand success.  People didn’t back
Walt
and work with him because he was a schmoozer.  You either believed in
Walt
’ vision and let him take the lead, or you didn’t.  To their credit, most did. 
Kid’s Eye View:
  They’re terrible.  Bad service.  Blech!

Hollywood
Land Character Meetings and Performers

Guests who are fans of
Disney
characters are likely to encounter them at
Hollywood Land
.  Given the district’s Hollywood and studio themes, it makes sense that
Disney
celebs
of all sorts gather here. 
Aladdin
and
Jasmine
sometimes appear near the
Hyperion Theater
, and anyone from the
Incredibles
to
Mickey
and
Minnie
can be seen strolling the street and pausing for meet-and-greets. 
Sofia the First
, for example, might be found near
Off the Page
, meeting her fans and posing for photographs, and you might see
Jake
of
Jake and the Never Land Pirates
.

You never know who you might run into on
DCA
’s
Hollywood Boulevard
or in the backlot area, so be sure you and your little ones have your
Disney
autograph book handy or, if that’s not in your budget, have a simple pad and pen on hand.  Bring a camera too, if you can, so you can snap photos of your favorite character and even pose with them to capture the moment forever.  If a
Disney Photographer
is on hand, ask them about the
Disney PhotoPass
option.

Although you can run into just about anyone on the boulevard, if you prefer to plan your star encounters, refer to the
DCA
Entertainment Times Guide
to see what character appearances are scheduled.

The outdoor
Hollywood Pictures Backlot Stage
just south of
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue
, used to present performances of
Drawn to the Magic
, an interactive
Disney
character show, every day.  In later years, the show changed to a high-energy dance-off called
Disney Dance Crew
, but that proved to be only mildly popular, and was discontinued in early 2012.  The only triumph associated with
Disney Dance Crew
was
talking
Mickey
, who continues to appear, but on
Buena Vista Street
.

Presently the
backlot stage serves as an arena for
student performers
who used to appear at
Disneyland
’s
Carnation Plaza Gardens
, which were transformed into a
Fantasyland
extension.  See the
DCA Entertainment Times Guide
for student show times at the
Hollywood Land
backlot stage.

Even though the
Disney Dance Crew
was kaput, for a brief time Guests could still dance with
Disney characters
inside
Stage 17
near the
Monsters, Inc.
attraction.  The show, which opened in summer 2012, was called
Dancin’ With Disney
.  There was a DJ, and music videos, and a varying roster of
Disney characters
appeared, dancing and interacting with Guests. 
Dancin’ with Disney
didn’t garner any more rave reviews than
Disney Dance Crew
did, but small children enjoyed the music, characters, and spectacle.  The word in late 2013 was that
Dancin’ with Disney
was history.

In June of 2010
DCA
introduced
Glow Fest
to its summer night lineup, a family-friendly street-party environment where world-music performers, dancers, and DJs entertained Guests with a variety of tunes and dances. 
Glow Fest
soon became the far-better,
TRON
-themed
ElecTRONica
, and in summer 2012, that dance party was replaced by nighttime extravaganza (and best party of all) the
Mad T Party
.

The
T Party
is rich with
Alice in Wonderland
characters.  The
White Rabbit
serves as DJ. 
Tweedle Dum
and
Tweedle Dee
– you can tell them apart by the names tattooed on the backs of their heads – are MCs.  Even the playing cards from the story get in on the act, appearing as dancers in the
Hottest Deck in Town
.  The
Mad T Party Band
, an extremely popular live band, is composed of
Alice
(lead singer),
Mad Hatter
(lead singer),
Caterpillar
(keyboard),
Chesire Cat
(drums),
Dormouse
(lead guitar), and
March Hare
(bass guitar).  The resort selected its most talented musicians and performers for this gig; some of them have been associated with
Disneyland
for more than a decade.

Your best bet for seeing, if not meeting,
Disney
characters
, is to attend one of this district’s shows, whether the
Aladdin
musical at the
Hyperion
, or
Disney Junior – Live On Stage!
And if you want to see
Rod Serling
of
Twilight Zone
fame, just head south to the
Tower of Terror
!

Pacific Wharf

Pacific Wharf At-a-Glance

Attractions:
 
The Bakery Tour
,
Bay Area
,
Mission Tortilla Factory
(RIP May 31, 2011)
,
Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar

Gear:
 
Embarcadero
,
Laod Bhang’s Pin Traders

Grub:
 
Al Fresco Lounge
(S),
Boudin Bread Cart
(S),
Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
(L, D, S),
Dulce Aventura (S) (RIP)
,
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
(S),
Lucky Fortune Cookery
(L, D, S),
Mendocino Wine Bar
(S),
Pacific Wharf Café
(B, L, D, S),
Pacific Wharf Distribution Co.
(S),
Rita’s Baja Blenders
(S),
Sonoma Terrace
Beer Garden
(L, D, S),
Wine Country Trattoria at the Golden Vine Winery
(L, D)