{"id":53151,"date":"2017-05-23T12:00:13","date_gmt":"2017-05-23T16:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=53151"},"modified":"2022-04-09T01:04:14","modified_gmt":"2022-04-09T05:04:14","slug":"mouse-memories-remembering-disneylands-springtime-roundup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/mouse-memories-remembering-disneylands-springtime-roundup\/","title":{"rendered":"Mouse Memories: Remembering Disneyland\u2019s Springtime Roundup"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This is the first entry in an ongoing series I am calling \u201cMouse Memories,\u201d in which I will look back at specific momentous occasions that took place at Disneyland Resort in years past, as well as extinct events, decorations, attractions, merchandise and beyond.\u00a0 I will also share personal stories, recollections and photos from some of my more noteworthy trips to the Happiest Place on Earth.\u00a0\u00a0 Today’s subject is the\u00a0gone-too-soon Springtime Roundup.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As most avid followers of Disneyland-related<\/a> news are aware, construction is currently underway on an elaborate new Star Wars-themed land<\/a>, slated to open in 2019. \u00a0(Disney\u2019s Hollywood Studios in Orlando will also receive its own version of the new land.)\u00a0 \u00a0To prepare for such a massive addition to the beloved Anaheim park<\/a> means that certain operations will be disrupted, while some activities will become distant memories.<\/p>\n

One such casualty of the Star Wars project\u00a0was the Big Thunder Ranch area of Frontierland, which permanently closed its barn doors in January 2016.\u00a0\u00a0 The Ranch was home to a petting farm<\/a> and a popular barbecue restaurant<\/a>.\u00a0 Also notable — and yet often overlooked by Disneyland visitors — were the themed celebrations that took place there over the years, focusing on Halloween<\/a>, Christmas<\/a>, the patriotic holidays<\/a> of summer, beloved characters<\/a> and a general Western hoedown<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Springtime<\/p>\n

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Tucked away from much of the cheerful chaos that guests often encounter throughout the park, Big Thunder Ranch became a surprising hub of seasonal revelry.\u00a0\u00a0 One of the more recent manifestations of the Ranch, albeit a short-lived one, was the\u00a0whimsical Springtime Roundup, which spanned the\u00a0vernal months of 2014<\/a> and 2015<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Near the entrance,\u00a0a large heart-shaped wreath presented the perfect spot for photos.\u00a0\u00a0 I had to wonder if it was originally destined to be part of a possible \u201cValentine Roundup\u201d that never came to fruition.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Like its autumn<\/a> and winter<\/a> counterparts (each of which I will explore in future Mouse Memories installments), the Springtime Roundup\u00a0showcased the wonders of the season in splendidly rustic fashion.\u00a0 All around the Festival Arena space were crisp colors, faux flowers, gardening accoutrements, painted eggs\u2026and bunnies.\u00a0 Lots and lots of bunnies.\u00a0 Leaping bunny graphics. \u00a0Stuffed bunnies.\u00a0 Disney character bunnies<\/a>.\u00a0 A bounty o\u2019 bunnies. \u00a0I suppose the rabbit is the official mascot of spring by way of Easter, but I have to believe there must be a baby chick or two chirping in protest, somewhere out there.<\/p>\n

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The attention to detail is always something to behold at Disney parks.\u00a0 Notice the appropriately weathered and worn look of this rooster.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Bunnies!<\/em><\/p>\n

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Garland festooned\u00a0with carrots…<\/em><\/p>\n

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The purpose of this location was rather unclear, but I enjoyed the adorable bunny basket on the left.<\/em><\/p>\n

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It’s an artistic bunny, channeling his inner Picasso!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Springtime<\/p>\n

This shelf featured gardening accessories and crates of artificial apples, lemons and pears.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The soft green and pink cotton candy was a nice complement to the spring color scheme.<\/em><\/p>\n

Every version of the Roundup, for any holiday or season, offered a handful of themed food items, of which cotton candy was a staple.<\/p>\n

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Guests\u00a0created their own\u00a0bunny-emblazoned keepsakes at the Crafts station, and played games at the game stations.<\/p>\n

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Pluto sported his best rabbit ears…<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Easter Bunny’s photo backdrop…<\/em><\/p>\n

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While characters dressed in theme-appropriate attire can usually be found\u00a0around Main Street’s Town Square\u00a0during\u00a0the major seasons at Disneyland Resort<\/a> such as Halloween Time<\/a> or the Holidays<\/a>, sometimes they wore different outfits\u00a0exclusive to\u00a0the Roundup.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Not only were Mickey and Minnie<\/a> looking quite dapper in their spring pastels, but Pluto donned special rabbit ears and the Easter Bunny held court and posed for pictures.<\/p>\n

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Flowers conceal the banner advertising the Amazing Egg Decorators…<\/em><\/p>\n

In a recent article<\/a> I\u00a0listed\u00a010 tips to help finesse the Egg-stravaganza egg hunt at Disneyland Resort.\u00a0 Oddly enough, when the Springtime Roundup was in existence it was one of the only\u00a0places where there were no eggs hidden for the hunt, which seemed to be quite deliberate on Disney’s part but was never explained.\u00a0\u00a0 That is not to say that there\u00a0was an egg shortage — in fact, quite the opposite was the case.\u00a0 There were eggs aplenty at the Roundup, but they were the mini-masterpieces of The Amazing Egg Decorators<\/a>, including “egg artisan” extraordinaire Ray Brown, one of the talented folks who created equally amazing character pumpkin art<\/a> at the Halloween Roundup and Carnival every year.<\/p>\n

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Many of the decorated eggs were safely\u00a0displayed in a case protected by — what else? — chicken wire…<\/em><\/p>\n

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But helpful Cast Members were happy to open the doors\u00a0to the case so egg observers could get a better look.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Mercifully, the intricately crafted,\u00a0mostly oval, objects used for the art were not real, as the Southern California\u00a0heat can be quite punishing on humans and eggs alike \u2013 but they were no less effective as a canvas than their gourd equivalents in the fall.<\/p>\n

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Not exactly what I would call an “egg,” but close enough…<\/em><\/p>\n

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A pair of unlikely friends…<\/em><\/p>\n

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The promise of meeting famous Disney\u00a0bunnies and basking in\u00a0spring’s delights is always\u00a0appealing, but my absolute favorite part of the\u00a0Springtime Roundup was, indeed, the skillful work of The Amazing Egg Decorators, just as I was partial to The Incredible Pumpkin Carvers during Halloween Time.\u00a0\u00a0 Since\u00a02015, I have been hoping that the Disneyland Resort powers that be would find another place for the Egg Decorators (and Pumpkin Carvers) to set up shop — even if they relocated to Disney California Adventure or Downtown Disney — but, alas, it is not to be.\u00a0\u00a0 Rumor has it that there were discussions with Disney about bringing back the Carvers (and, presumably, the Decorators too), with alternate stations suggested as possibilities, but that nothing could be worked out.\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe someday we will see not only a return of the egg art, but also a return or re-imagining of the Roundup, in any iteration.<\/p>\n

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Do\u00a0you remember the Roundup?\u00a0\u00a0 Were you able to visit the Springtime Roundup in 2014 or 2015?\u00a0 Do you agree that it should make a comeback?\u00a0\u00a0 Do you think that Disneyland Resort should do more as far as Easter- and spring-specific activities, or is the Egg-stravaganza enough? Share your thoughts in the comments.<\/em><\/p>\n

Did you like this article? Make sure to share it with your friends! Check below for easy ways to share!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  This is the first entry in an ongoing series I am calling \u201cMouse Memories,\u201d in which I will look back at specific momentous occasions that took place at Disneyland Resort in years past, as well as extinct events, decorations, attractions, merchandise and beyond.\u00a0 I will also share personal stories, recollections and photos from some…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":128,"featured_media":53173,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4319,1685],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-disneyland-travel","category-disneyland-parks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/128"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53151"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56421,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53151\/revisions\/56421"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}