January 2002 Update
(posted 1/25/2002)

"Back so soon?" they asked me at the gates. "Why, yes. I like California." I thank Disney every time I visit DCA and notice they didn't recreate any earthquakes or gang riots.

I spent most of my DCA time just wandering around and watching entertainment. There are tons of things to see in this park. It's like walking around EPCOT and just taking in all the sights and sounds. Some of the highlights from my trip:

• Pacific Warf Mariachi Band - These guys were very funny. They would come out and play for about 15 minutes during the day. They did beautiful Mexican tunes and a variation of Tequila (60s instrumental) which was great fun. I enjoyed watching them the several times I saw them, but I never learned their name.
• Groove 66 - This all vocal group was found all over the park. They did "air" inspired songs over at Condor Flats, and then I listened to them perform alot of mixed pop tunes in front of Golden Dreams. They do everything with vocals, including percussion. Their human "drum machine" did an excellent job and they did some songs I would not have imagined were doable without a background music track.
• Jamba Wizards(?) - I don't think I have their name correct, but they were a group that did amazing acrobatics. Watching them limbo, balance bottles on sticks, and climb safely on chair on top of chair on top of chair was great fun. They were amazingly good at what they do. Even their jump rope routine was stunning.
• Road Trip - The band "Party Central" that travels behind the classic Woody car (playing on the trailer) is one of the best I have heard. They cover everything from "modernized" Beach Boys tunes to the best dance hits from the 80s and beyond. I had so much fun hearing them do everything from Wil Smith's Wild Wild West to Madona. As they cruise to and from their performance location, they often play Lowrider and draw a large crowd behind them. Great fun. I caught their (different) shows several times. They do a version of the 70s tune Carwash that will make you like Disco.

And, of course, there were the character shows: Chip and Dale in Redwood Creek, Donald Duck near the bay, Goofy's beach show at the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Monsters Inc., and various other random autograph sessions.

They had moved the Monsters, Inc. show further away from the winery. It is now located where Santa Claus was set up at the base of Grizzly Peak.

...more to come as I think of things.