Penguins - 2, Sabres - 0

We once again have good news and bad news. Lets start with the bad news first. The Penguins have lost Gary Roberts to injury. Gosh, the bodies seem to be piling up as of late. He suffered a broken left fibula in the 2nd period. Showing what a warrior he is, he refused a stretcher and skated off the ice with the help of teammates. The loss of Roberts is a big blow in terms of intensity and leadership. The left fibula is a non-weight bearing bone and if it's a clean cut, Roberts might be able to return within 2 months time. He will be reevaluated though. Luckily, Ryan Malone came back from his infection. The question is now who gets the call up to replace Roberts.

On to the good news... did you know the Penguins are 12-5 in their last 17? What? Really? No way! The way they've been playing? But they are. It hasn't been pretty but they are winning games and in the thick of the playoff race. And out of nowhere, Ty Conklin has claimed his spot as the Pens' number 1 goaltender. Ty Freakin' Conklin! He's 4-0 and got his first shutout as a Penguins last night. He played very well and looks to be starting the Winter Classic on New Year's Day.

Next up in the Winter Classic in Buffalo! Bring on the outdoors and those spiffy powder blue jerseys!

Fantasy In The Sky!!!

The New Year's fireworks at the Magic Kingdom are pretty popular. So popular, in fact, that the park usually closes in the morning on New Year's Eve because it reached full capacity. I wanted to see them myself but I didn't want to have to deal with those crowds. Thankfully, Disney came to the rescue. Disney is doing 3 nights of New Year's fireworks, so people can see them without having to squeeze themselves among a billion people. Tonight was the first showing so I went to see them. Something was very peculiar about them though. They were called "Fantasy in the Sky." Now that name brings back many memories. Fantasy in the Sky was the first Disney fireworks show I ever saw. It was the one that introduced me to that magic. It's since been replaced by Wishes. But this couldn't be THE Fantasy in the Sky, could it? I figured it would be a different show, using an old name.

I was wrong.

11:50 pm came and the Magic Kingdom turned dark. And just like that, a very familiar song played. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. I couldn't believe it. This IS Fantasy in the Sky!

The second star to the right shines in the night for you...



I have not heard this music in almost 5 years. I never thought I would hear it played in the park again. It was surreal and my eyes just began to water up. Now this wasn't the old show exactly. It was updated to bring in today's fireworks effects but there was no doubt, this was the Fantasy in the Sky we all knew. Even the way the castle lit up was the same. I will say it now and I may get some heat over it but Fantasy in the Sky is better than Wishes! I mean it! With the updated effects to bring it on par with Wishes' effects, it became clear to me which was the better show. The music makes the fireworks show and Fantasy in the Sky has better music. It taps into timeless Disney songs while Wishes consists mainly of a bunch of people chanting "Wishes! Wishes!" and constant interruptions by Jiminy Cricket. The music of Fantasy in the Sky really grabs you and holds on. I am so happy to be able to have relived Fantasy in the Sky tonight.

But that wasn't the end of it. The New Year's fireworks were more than Fantasy in the Sky. When Fantasy in the Sky ended, only a few moments remained until midnight. It was then I was introduced to what may be the greatest fireworks effect of them all... the perimeter fireworks. For those who don't know, perimeter fireworks don't just appear behind Cinderella Castle, they envelop the entire Magic Kingdom! Disney only brings out the perimeter fireworks on special occasions and this was one of them. The Magic Kingdom's countdown puts Time Square's to shame. The countdown was done through perimeter fireworks somehow writing numbers in the sky. So all around you, the numbers 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 were blasted into the sky. Perimeters must be seen to be believed. It is incredible to be there, surrounded by fireworks in all directions. Wow, just wow!







Happy New Year, indeed!

Penguins - 4, Capitals - 3 (OT)

It was redemption for Sarge. After being the goat in regulation for two costly turnovers that turned into Washington goals, Sergei Gonchar scored the game-winner off a beautiful play by Sidney Crosby in overtime. It was another odd night of scoring with guys like Taffe, Sydor, and Brashear scoring goals. Conklin played rather well. I wonder if he's taking the number one spot away from Sabourin. The Capitals played a really well puck possession game. Why is it that with a team filled with so much talent do the Penguins insist on playing dump and chase? Carry the the puck in! And quick looking for the perfect play. Shoot the puck!

Lieutenant Dan!

Gary Sinise rocks at the Candlelight Processional!

Merry Christmas!

Penguins - 4, Bruins - 2

Didn't catch the game but some things jump out from the recaps. Roberts, Laraque, and Conklin as the stars of the game? Wow... it is a bizarro world. Malkin seemed to show once again that he's every bit as good as Crosby. And there was good news and bad news about Mark Eaton. The good news is his shoulder injury wasn't that serious. The bad new is he suffered a far worse knee injury yesterday. The Pens may have lost their best defensive defensemen for the year. With the loss of his shot-blocking ability alone, our goalies will be sure to face more shots now. There are a lot of rumors floating around about finding Sid a legitimate winger. Names being thrown around are Marian Hossa, J.P. Dumont, and Kristian Huselius. Wow!

Disney Goes Vietnamese

I visited Disney's Animal Kingdom for the first time in who-knows-when today. The park was actually opened late tonight, until 8 pm. Can you believe that? So I finally got a chance to see Animal Kingdom at night. It was very nice and peaceful. Almost eerie, too. But that wasn't the coolest thing I did there. I decided to try out the new Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Asia. I must say that it is quite nice. It has a variety of Asian dishes, including one that shocked me. While going through the menu, one item jumped out at me... Pho. Disney has Pho now??? For those who don't know, Pho is a traditional Vietnamese soup with beef and rice noodles. Never did I think I would see the day that Disney would serve Vietnamese food. I was tempted to try it but I already had some earlier in the week. Odd, over 5 months in Orlando and the first two times I would see Pho on a menu would happen in the same week. Instead, I had the Shaoxing Steak and Shrimp, which consisted of skirt steak, tempura-battered shrimp, jasmine rice, stir-fried vegetables, and a chili plum dipping sauce. It was excellent! Absolutely delicious. The shrimp was perfect and the steak practically melted in your mouth. I will definitely eat here again. The Yak & Yeti has become my restaurant of choice now at Animal Kingdom. It's one of the better Asian restaurants Disney has. Epcot's Nine Dragons has some serious competition now.

Osborne Lights

I thought I'd share a recording I made yesterday of The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at the Disney-MGM Studios. Pardon my jerky movements at times, I was getting bumped by people. The Streets of America get pretty crowded for the lights.

Islanders - 4, Penguins - 2

The Penguins once again displayed their inconsistency. Sabu was horrible. More and more, the talk of Ray Shero making a move gets louder and louder. Something is up. Be prepared.

New Little Mermaid Video

There's a new video out for The Little Mermaid on Broadway and it's the best clip yet. It shows the best musical scenes from the show and finally reveals Sebastian's costume!

Check it out!

Penguins - 5, Bruins - 4 (SO)

This game was just INSANE! The whole game was just crazy. Crosby and Malkin have their way with the Bruins in the first period. Laraque and Chara's failed attempts to fight. Crosby finishing up the Gordie Howe hat trick by bloodying Andy Ference. Crosby fighting? And not only fighting but winning? The whole game seemed to be going the Penguins' way. But then we were reminded that the Penguins can't play a whole game. Although we escaped with a win, we should hang our heads for giving up a 4-goal lead. The game should have never made it to overtime. But Kris Letang becomes the hero again. He's 3 for 3 in shootouts. This guy has some wicked moves. Why is he a defensemen? Seriously, maybe we should be looking at him to be Crosby's wingman.

Kris Letang > Ryan Whitney

Let's hope Mark Eaton is ok. If we lose our only true defensive defensemen... we are in some deep trouble.

Top 5 Fireworks Shows

The fireworks shows are some of the best things Disney has to offer. After a long day at the parks, you're treated to a magnificent spectacular, bringing together all the magic you experienced that day. These leave a lasting impression on those who see it. Some of them are alone worth the price of admission into the parks Throughout the years, I've been fortunate enough to see many of them. These are the best five that I've seen. No shows that I didn't see in person made the list, else Disneyland's amazing "Believe... in Holiday Magic" would be there.

5. Fantasy in the Sky - Magic Kingdom

This is probably a sentimental pick. Compared to the fireworks shows today, Fantasy in the Sky is dated. But it was the first Disney fireworks show I ever saw and that memory will always stay with me. My eyes still light up every time I hear its version of "The Second Star to the Right."

4. Magic, Music, and Mayhem - Magic Kingdom

This is the fireworks show from Disney's Pirate and Princess Party and I think they are the best Magic Kingdom fireworks around. Instead of using original music, it taps into beloved Disney ballads and the exciting soundtrack to Pirates of the Caribbean. It's also the only pure fireworks show that tells a story. The "Part of Your World" sequence alone is enough to make it my favorite at the Magic Kingdom, but throw in an insane pirate battle over the castle and it's just mind-blowing.

3. Fantasmic! - Disneyland

While Fantasmic! isn't a pure fireworks show, it definitely belongs in this category. What can be said about Fantasmic! that hasn't been said before? It's an incredible show bringing together fireworks, water effects, fire effects, characters, action, and a wonderful soundtrack. There are two versions of Fantasmic! I went with Disneyland's over the one at Disney-MGM Studios, since it's better and easier to see. Peter Pan and pirates beat out Pocahontas any day.

2. Remember... Dreams Come True - Disneyland

One word describes Remember... wow! Remember was the perfect show for Disneyland's 50th anniversary. It paid tribute to what Disneyland was through 50 years. Remember sent you on a journey through all of Disneyland's classic attractions, including Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, Star Tours, Indiana Jones, The Enchanted Tiki Room, and so many more. Through amazing effects tied to each attraction, you practically did everything in the park through the fireworks. And Tinkerbell's flight... pure magic!

1. IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth (Holiday Version) - Epcot

The regular version of IlumiNations is not good enough to make this list, but its holiday version not only makes it but claims the top spot. The regular version hurts itself with a rather dull couple minutes of just globe projections. The holiday version tacks on an additional 5 minutes of fireworks that more than makes up for the dull part. At the end of the regular show, the voices of the world make one final wish and the most haunting rendition of "Let There Be Peace On Earth" is played. The sequence is so well done, it send shivers down your spine. The most amazing effect of the flying dove is created through lasers and you are treated to a giant crescendo of fireworks. While Remember has much better effects, IllumiNations trumps on it on the emotional factor. This show is absolutely chilling and must be seen.

Rangers - 4, Penguins - 0

Wow, that was the worst game this year by the Penguins. That was worse than the 8-2 beatdown in Philly. At least they showed some fire against the Flyers. The Pens seemed like they didn't even bother to try tonight. How does one of the most dynamic offenses in the league only get 5 shots through two periods? It was like they decided not to play this game. I don't know what to think of this team. It's not looking like a playoff team at all.

Penguins - 3, Islanders - 2

It wasn't their best game by any means, but I guess a win is a win. Conner James was actually called up to play the game today. I wonder how long he'll stay up. Tyler Kennedy was the star of the game with 3 points... Tyler Kennedy?? He's starting to look like this year's Jordan Staal.

Senators - 4, Penguins - 1

Martin Gerber - 1, Penguins - 0

That about sums it up.

Flower Power Out For 2 Months

The Penguins announced today that Marc-Andre Fleury will be out with a high-ankle sprain for 6 - 8 weeks.

.
.
.
*gulp*

CuJo, anyone?

Gutless and Classless

That's what the Flyers team, organization, and their fans are. They have and will always be the lowlifes on the hockey world. Cowards, that's all you can call them. Ben Eager, you can't hide forever. Big George will find you and he WILL break your face.

Until then, I will just relive this glorious scene of you getting the snot beat out of you by a 41-year old Gary Roberts.

Farewell to the Wrecking Ball

A bit of news came by this weekend that I failed to discuss. Mark Recchi is no longer a Penguin. He was picked off on re-entry waivers by the Atlanta Thrashers. (BTW, haven't the Thrashers learned their lesson about picking up aging vets yet?) Recchi will always be remembered as one of the Penguin greats, a potential future Hall-of-Famer. But lately, he just doesn't have it anymore. His hands are gone. So many times this season, we've seen a pass gift-wrapped for him and he fanned on the shot. Also, his presence seemed to have an adverse effect on the youth on the team. Is it really a coincidence that the Pens have played so much better without him in the lineup? Remember how well they played when he was lent to the Hurricanes in 2006? This team must be put in the hands of the youth. They are the present and the future. Mark, you will always be fondly remembered, but it was time.

I've Been Dreaming Of A True Love's Kiss...

*in excited James Marsden voice*

GISELLE!!!

Penguins - 2, Canucks - 1 (SO)

Unbelievable! The Penguins complete a sweep of Western Canada, beating the Oilers, Flames, and Canucks. I wasn't able to catch most of the game but I see the shootout. I love Kris Letang! There, I said it! This guy is a defensemen? He's got better moves than the majority of snipers in the league. That's two games he's won for us now. Dany Sabourin is making everyone feel better about the goaltending situation, but I really hope Fleury comes back soon. The little celebration the team did at the end around the Letang was great. This is now looking like a real team, just like it was last year.

Penguins - 3, Flames - 2 (SO)

What a finish! That was some crazy, exciting hockey at the end of last night's game, concluding with Kris Letang deking out Kipper for the win in a shootout. Some of the Penguins looked great last night. Ryan Malone is finally looking consistent. Gary Roberts was very angry and it showed. Jordan Staal is visible on the ice again. The one sour note? Marc-Andre Fleury left the game in the first period with an injury. No word on how severe it is yet. Let's hope it's nothing serious. Max Talbot was hurt as well.

Penguins - 4, Oilers - 2

It's really true, the Penguins refuse to play the first two periods. Down 2 goals going into the 3rd, they all of a sudden went "Ok, time to play." They showed some scary offensive power in the 3rd dropping 4 goals on the Oilers in a 7-minute span. Imagine if they did that all game long. In his first visit to the land of Gretzky's dynasty, Sidney Crosby seemed to have his way with the Oilers, getting 3 assists on the night. Marc-Andre Fleury was so close this time to scoring. Keep on trying, Flower! With 5 wins in the last 6 games, is this the turnaround we've been waiting for?

Pirates DVD Event

So Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End came out today on DVD and Blu-ray and Walt Disney World decided to make a little event out of it. A month ago, I got the passholder newsletter telling me about a special pirates promotions. On December 4th at the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney, Disney would be giving away free gifts to the first 700 people to buy the movie. The gifts were a pirates watch, a pirates stein, and a limited edition lithograph with an actual piece of the sailcloth from the Empress Ship. There would also be some limited edition pirates pins on sale. The store would open at 6:30 am.

I made a horrible assumption. I had thought that only passholders knew about the promotion. And because of that, I couldn't imagine that many people in line for this event. I mean, how many passholders will be in the area and willing to get up that early for this? I was mistaken. Passholders weren't the only ones who knew about it, cast members did as well. That changes everything. There's an unlimited supply of cast members in the area and a lot of them are crazy enough to wait for this. I had gotten to the World of Disney store just before 6:00 am not expecting a crowd, only to see about 200 people already waiting in line. Some were there since last night. By the time the store opened, that number more than doubled. But you know what? It was fun! Disney actually had a band of pirates come and sing pirate songs and Christmas carols to the people in line. They were really good! There were even some people dressed as pirates in line. Some cast members were selling hot chocolate to people. I actually got bumped to the front of the line because I was a passholder. Nice! The store actually had Jack Sparrow do meet and greets inside. I bought the Blu-ray version of the movie, got all the free gifts, and got one of the pins. After my purchase, I went and met Captain Jack. I posed with the Blu-ray. It was so funny! All and all, I spent about 2 hours waiting to get the movie but the experience was a blast and I would love to do another event like this.

Penguins - 3, Coyotes - 1

Why is it that the Penguins only decide to play the 3rd period of games? Do they just enjoy the thrill of the final period? Things weren't looking so great during the first two periods, where the powerplay looked abysmal, being given all these chances and having nothing to show for it. With him gone, it's become so evident how important Sergei Gonchar is to the Pens powerplay. But then in the 3rd, they just came alive. Is Jordan Staal becoming a playmaker now that he has his own line? Funniest moment of the night was Marc-Andre Fleury's attempts to score a goal into an empty net. He wanted it so badly and the Penguins defensemen kept taking the puck from him. Hilarious!

Maple Leafs - 4, Penguins - 2

Well, that was a quick streak. Didn't see the game so I can't say much about it. Let's hope the Penguins start a new winning streak soon.

Regis and Kelly

Guess who I saw filming the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade today?

Penguins - 4, Stars - 1

The Penguins showed no rust after a week long layoff. In fact, they showed a lot of hunger. They seemed to thoroughly outplay Dallas in every facet of the game as they cruised back to .500. Seriously, who are these guys? They do not look like the team that has been struggling earlier this season. They look like a team with a lot of chemistry and that's oozing confidence. They look like last year's team. I really like these line combinations. Army and Malone work well with Sid. Sykora seems so natural with Malkin. And it looks like Staal is back and looks great paired with Roberts and Kennedy. Even Ruutu and Laraque are looking good. It's only been a few games so I don't want to get too excited yet, but things are looking good. Let's see how they fare against the Maple Leafs tonight.

It sure looks like Mark Recchi is on his way out of town. Recchi was a great Penguin and I hoped that he could have ended his career here but he just doesn't have it anymore. This team has been going on all cylinders ever since it was handed over to the young guys. Recchi just no longer has a place on the team.