View Full Version : A Ghoulishly Glorious Night at Disneyland şoş Oct. 2011 PTR has begun
Belle Ella
11-08-2010, 10:58 PM
welcome to the madness that has become
Belle Ella's Never Ending Trip Report!
take 2.5
Much to the surprise all involved (mainly myself), what started out as a simple pre-trip report on a pair of friends' first Disneyland excursion together (minus the parents) has magically transformed before our eyes into something much, much more. Now nearly 2 years in the making and there have already been 3 real-time trips to the Disneyland Resort (not to mention one attempt of failure, that will never be), 2 more time-traveling trips to the past, thousands upon thousands of photos, and 200+ pages of trip details, planning tips, and all the best kinds of nonsense and chit chat imaginable totaling over 3,000 posts! But we're on a roll and we passed the point of no return aaaaagggggeeeeesssss ago.
If you're brand-spanking new to my home away from home, here's a crash course on what to expect while flying Air B.E.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/3460999764_59e75500ac.jpg
Me!!
Don't be fooled by what you may hear from others. This report is all about me, by me, and for my eyes only!
Wait, that's not right. Not by a long shot. While you'll only find detailed (and by detailed I tend to mean long winded with a habit of wordy posts multiplied time a gazillion by my obsessive-photo taking skills that are borderline DLR-stalkerish) reports of trips made by me it is my firm belief that this is the most community-filled TR that you will find. No just spitting out facts to be found here, or counting off one-by-one my days in the Parks. We thrive on discussion and want to hear from you! Is this sounding at all like an infomercial to you yet? :rotfl: I know, I know. I find myself funnier than I actually am. Are you are up to the daunting task of experiencing all the insanity yourself, from the beginning? Than check out BE's never-ending fun ** 4 completed TR's ** Thousands of Photos (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2103191)
But we forgive you if you'd rather just stick to the here and now. Just familiarize yourself with the basics and you'll be good to go!
My name is Jessica, but you're more likely to see me referred to as Jazz, Frack, or simply Belle Ella 'round these parts. I'm a 24 year old California transplant (via Washington state) and I'm roughly a 6 hour drive from Disneyland (ahem, or 5 if I happen to be driving like my mother). My favorite Disney movie, and character as well, is Snow White as seen in my current avatar selection to your left. Besides all things Disney and Disneyland 2 obsessions of mine that you are likely to encounter often are as follows (and in no particular order): San Jose Sharks hockey and Twilight. Oh, there's also that whole Disney-photo obsession that I have going on ... But who am I kidding, it's not that big of an obsession. :laughing: And certainly, most importantly of all, I must quote myself:
Just a word of warning to everyone, I love to talk. I am a babbler by nature, so be prepared for some long posts down the road. If that's your thing, awesome :thumbsup2 and if it's not your thing ... feel free to ignore the words and enjoy the pretty-pretty-pictures! :rotfl:
I think it might be wise to add my new found fondness for parentheses in future editions. Hm.
But the one thing that is always, 100% certified, and guaranteed is that when there is a Disney trip involved, there will be more pictures than anyone knows what to do with! And have no fear! Those handy-dandy clickies acting as Fast Passes to the reports will make their appearances in Take 2.5 as well ... starting now!!
:wizard: Your FastPass to my Disneyland Adventures :wizard:
A Ghoulishly Glorious Night at Disneyland - October 2-5, 2011
PAP Trip #6
Official PTR (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42784282&postcount=1280)
Jazz Takes on the Star Tours 5K - September 2-5, 2011
PAP trip #5
Official PTR ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41695435&postcount=947) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41730428&postcount=968) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41814744&postcount=1020) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41905934&postcount=1072) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41998396&postcount=1100) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42393411&postcount=1146)
Day One ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42608982&postcount=1163)
Day Two ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42610780&postcount=1172) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42621175&postcount=1181) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42635895&postcount=1189) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42672996&postcount=1203) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42676181&postcount=1204)
Day Three ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42734319&postcount=1211) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42735605&postcount=1212)
Day Four ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42741806&postcount=1219) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42742323&postcount=1220) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42742675&postcount=1223) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42749040&postcount=1239) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42757861&postcount=1245) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42758794&postcount=1249)
Day Five ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42759272&postcount=1251)
Jazz Becomes a DIS Diva - March 4, 2011 - March 7, 2011
PAP trip #4
Day One ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40259652&postcount=834) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40293399&postcount=843) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40305346&postcount=863) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40939723&postcount=899)
Day Two ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41279088&postcount=907)
Day Three ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41608637&postcount=916) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41623715&postcount=928)
Day Four ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41652897&postcount=936)
Jazz's yet-to-be-titled 2 day TR - January 23, 2011 - January 24, 2011
PAP trip #3
TR currently on hold, indefinitely
Day One ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40027519&postcount=802) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40039838&postcount=811)
Day Two ...
Jazz's Rockin' New Years - December 31, 2010 - January 4, 2011
PAP trip #2
Day One ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39458030&postcount=399) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39460108&postcount=400) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39489905&postcount=453) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39515386&postcount=471) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39521063&postcount=490) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39542831&postcount=499)
Day Two ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39549875&postcount=503)
Day Three ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39553335&postcount=513) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39561632&postcount=517) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39561904&postcount=518)
Day Four ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39703884&postcount=643) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39710549&postcount=652) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39719392&postcount=671) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39744055&postcount=680) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39745277&postcount=690)
Day Five ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39759184&postcount=701) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39777186&postcount=722) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39786785&postcount=755) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39854715&postcount=765) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40006109&postcount=781) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40024302&postcount=789)
Day Six ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40025646&postcount=794)
Jazz's Very Merry Holiday - December 5-8, 2010
PAP trip #1
Day One ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39194294&postcount=114) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39195347&postcount=118) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39197334&postcount=119) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39197818&postcount=128)
Day Two ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39199890&postcount=142) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39206786&postcount=145) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39217091&postcount=164) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39222364&postcount=168) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39268909&postcount=199) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39321098&postcount=212)
Day Three ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39337955&postcount=238) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39338638&postcount=243) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39339406&postcount=249)
Jazz's Scary Adventure - September 23-27, 2010
Day One ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38883758&postcount=3) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38889089&postcount=10)
Day Two ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38890084&postcount=12) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38890309&postcount=13) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38890460&postcount=14) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38890478&postcount=15)
Day Three ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38890610&postcount=16) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38890620&postcount=17) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38890637&postcount=18)
Day Four ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38893976&postcount=20) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38894003&postcount=21)
Day Five ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38894334&postcount=24)
Day Six ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38894344&postcount=25)
Frick & Frack's Bogus Journey - September 8-12, 2009
Day One ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33576474&postcount=460) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33580258&postcount=461) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33592409&postcount=465) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33600092&postcount=472) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33605118&postcount=478) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33618455&postcount=484) / 7 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33633385&postcount=485) / 8 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33637769&postcount=487)
Day Two ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33685683&postcount=492) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33686688&postcount=497) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33778847&postcount=507) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33809435&postcount=511) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33824767&postcount=516) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33836545&postcount=522) / 7 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33837217&postcount=525) / 8 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33837625&postcount=527)
Day Three ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33842829&postcount=531) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33861853&postcount=536) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33867728&postcount=539) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33977555&postcount=549) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35044238&postcount=557) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35046113&postcount=558) / 7 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35051702&postcount=564)
Day Four ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35072182&postcount=575) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35076190&postcount=576) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35076765&postcount=577) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35085111&postcount=585) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35092123&postcount=589) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35094829&postcount=591) / 7 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35095126&postcount=594) / 8 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35095530&postcount=598)
Day Five ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35109023&postcount=602) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35120455&postcount=606) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35134082&postcount=608) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35160880&postcount=613) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35194594&postcount=624) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35208146&postcount=638) / 7 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35219193&postcount=646)
Day Six ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35229048&postcount=656)
Frick & Frack's Excellent Adventure - March 2009
Day One ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31105051&postcount=111) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31109173&postcount=115) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31111141&postcount=122) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31120044&postcount=134) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31122496&postcount=137) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31126876&postcount=140)
Day Two ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31146910&postcount=146) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31147933&postcount=156) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31157864&postcount=157) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31160697&postcount=158) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31204559&postcount=169) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31208210&postcount=177) / 7 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31245440&postcount=188) / 8 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31245775&postcount=190) / 9 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31247121&postcount=195)
Day Three ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31323792&postcount=205) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31401511&postcount=212) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31401751&postcount=214) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31401971&postcount=215) / 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31402130&postcount=216) / 6 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31402914&postcount=217) / 7 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31402748&postcount=218) / 8 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31402914&postcount=219) / 9 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31403049&postcount=221) / 10 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31424971&postcount=239) / 11 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31425160&postcount=240) / 12 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31431183&postcount=244) / 13 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31432058&postcount=245) / 14 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31432553&postcount=246) / 15 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31432553&postcount=247) / 16 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31432553&postcount=248) / 17 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31432553&postcount=249) / 18 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31432553&postcount=250) / 19 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31432553&postcount=251) / 20 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31432553&postcount=252) / 21 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31432553&postcount=253) / 22 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31432553&postcount=254) / 23 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31435622&postcount=255)
Day Four ... 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31437311&postcount=259) / 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31437820&postcount=260) / 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31451224&postcount=278) / 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31452328&postcount=280)
I hope you'll stick around! I do love the company. Even if it's just to say Boo :scared1:
Thank you!!
:grouphug:
Belle Ella
11-08-2010, 11:13 PM
So, to start us off, I am re-posting this year's Halloween Time TR. September 2010. So please bear with me if you've read it already! I will be leaving out the PTR though, since that would be silly!
Belle Ella
11-08-2010, 11:14 PM
Howdy folks! Are ya'll (yes, I said ya'll -- deal with it) ready for another Belle Ella Disneyland Trip Report? Well, tough luck if you're not because I am officially getting under way. I can't stand the waiting anymore and I know it will still be a while before I get to the good stuff. So here we go ...
Jazz's Scary Adventure - Day One
Day One - September 22, 2010
For the faithful who have been following along for some time now, you'll know that everything was supposed to kick start on the 23rd with a wake up time of 2a followed by the 5 1/2 to 6 hour drive from the place I call home followed by as much Park time as I can muster. But you'll also know that I had a moment of weakness just before leaving, which is the main point for any and all newcomers to my Scary Adventure. I had just gotten home from work on the 21st (a Tuesday) when I popped into the website for the Howard Johnson, the hotel I would be staying at and saw that a new date had opened up for their infamous Entertainment Rate -- the 22nd! The very next day and the night before my first planned Park day. It was just falling into my lap at my weakest moment. I absolutely had to call and reserve another room for the single night. $57 is well worth a full nights rest any which way you slice it in my book. So where does that leave me other than finishing a mad scramble to make sure everything would be packed and ready in less than 24 hours.
Fast forward to Wednesday morning and I got to sleep in until 7 before showering and finishing up the rest of what I had to pack followed by the loading of the car and the goodbyes to the family and pets. It was a shame though. I'm always worried about forgetting to bring something which is why I am an obsessive packer who literally spends weeks on the task. I didn't forget any of the usual necessities like a toothbrush, pajamas, socks or the like. No, I forgot my wonderfully bedazzled Lime Green Mickey Head that I spent so much time working on to distinguish myself as a member of the DIS. I suppose it just wasn't meant to be. My time would eventually be too consumed as it was. O probably didn't have the few extra minutes to spare to chit chat if I was recognized, although it's always a pleasure meeting everyone (or it has been with those I have met).
Before embarking on the long drive I did have to swing by my local Credit Union branch so I could take in my spoils from Miss Piggy. That there put an extra $100 or so into my Disneyland spending 'account' which I was grateful for. I was officially on my way no later than 9:15a with an estimated arrival time of about 2:45 according to my wonderful GPS, affectionately known as Gretel, who kept recalculating as I have a hard time staying on the speed limit. There's never much to say about the drive. I hop on 680 to 580 and eventually to 5 for 300 or so very long miles and it is just about the most boring drive in existence. I think the only thing that comes close in my mind was a small road trip I took across Texas which is flat as can be. At least California has hills, even if some are few and far between. I made one pit stop along the way at the Lost Hills exit. You have to love it when gas stations and eateries are brand new and have clean bathrooms. I do at least.
The excitement finally kicked in as I got closer and closer to the Grapevine. It's my first real sign that I'm 'almost' there. Maybe not close-close, but close enough in my mind that I can start the celebratin' all over again. And no, I totally did not take this while driving ... :rotfl:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5034312099_2fd8ec9f18.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5034312099/)
My family will never get how I can drive straight through with my only stop being for a single gas and restroom break. But then again, they aren't me. The sooner I get myself to Disneyland, the better! Even if the day had absolutely nothing in store for me I would still go about it all the same way. But at least this time I wasn't leaving at the butt-crack of dawn. Although his time I had to deal with lots and lots of sun in my face and I have never been a fan of driving with sunglasses on. But somehow I survived without getting blinded, crashing into anyone, or getting pulled over (because ticket free is the way to be). The hardest part was only having Gretel for companionship. She's bossy and not so great at conversation, but I digress. Eventually I came across a particular sign of beauty and if weren't for the fact that I was driving in my car I would have busted out in a feverish happy dance, all I could do was a restrained imitation thanks to my seat belt. I like to think I made excellent time, as always! Leaving just after 9a was a wonderful idea. There were two small spots of congestion but other than that I had nothing but the open seas before me.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5034932950_94a6c10a71.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5034932950/)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5034312873_4f60af6e09.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5034312873/)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5034319169_8ff027c29d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5034319169/)
Now, I have mentioned my destination before and gone over it in the PTR, but here I go again. The Howard Johnson on Harbor Blvd., my home away from home since March 2008. My main reservation was for 4 nights (September 23rd-27th) in a Deluxe Queen but for my first night I would be checking into a Standard King. Oh, what a glorious thing King sized beds are, especially when you have them all to yourself and the mountain of pillows you like to sleep with, and no cats to fight for real estate with. The room was on the first floor of building #2 which is in the back of the property by their Garden Pool. In fact, my room had a view of the pool. For anyone who is wondering I didn't get bothered by any pool noise. Usually any external sounds are diluted by the A/C units, which are not loud but certainly not quiet by any means. I view them as more of just white noise and absolutely wonderful on a hot day. Check in went easy enough and I was able to take my luggage back to my room right away, which is always a pleasure.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5034931582_3bb86eac71.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5034931582/)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5034313187_3787b0b5d9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5034313187/)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/5034313371_806b09ac94.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5034313371/)
^ loved having the double sink to lay my toiletries out on
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5034313813_27019b3061.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5034313813/)
^ view of the pool from my room
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5034934700_f854dbd0e0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5034934700/)
^ parking lot entrance to building #2
The photos didn't turn out but the room also included the dresser/TV cabinet, a desk, coffeemaker, mini-fridge, and a microwave I wasn't expecting until the following night. There was no need for me to unpack since I would only be in the room the one night but I got out the things I would need for my first day in the Park and just took a few minutes to relax. This of course included some checking in here on the DIS and uploading the few photos I had taken already. The decision on what to do next was a tough one. Being so close to the resort makes you want to head straight to the Park. Or should I say being so close to the resort makes me want to head straight to the Park? Either way it was torture to do what I did next: not go into the Park!! I could have without taking away from my 5-day hopper as I had a Give a Day voucher to use. I had already made plans to use it for Fast Passes on Saturday when I would see Jason, but I wanted to go in right then and there! I guess settling for Downtown Disney isn't too bad a trade when you think about it.
Taking my first steps down Harbor ... everything just felt 'right'. I swear it was almost as if I was picking up right where I left off last year, only minus something or two. The walk doesn't take me long, even with a few stops along the way to take photos. I was sad to see that there were generic Anaheim banners up all over the place save for a few of the 'Celebrate Today' banners that have been around for a while now. I like it better when all of Harbor just screams out Disney at you.
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The best part about the walk on Harbor is the crosswalk. You all know the one I'm talking about. Or at least, those of you who have made the walk know the one I'm talking about. Sure, I could have crossed over down closer to the hotel but I would have missed out on looking out across the street at the wonderful Disneyland resort sign that ushers you in towards the ART pick-up/drop-off, tram pick-up/drop-off, and of course the Esplanade. The sight still makes me giddy every time I see it.
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Before I get to my DTD wanderings, here are some obligatory photos I just had to take while walking across the Esplanade and being taunted by the gates just beckoning me to come inside. But at least I got my first look at Halloween decorations!
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kaoden39
11-08-2010, 11:44 PM
:wave2:
Belle Ella
11-08-2010, 11:47 PM
:wave2:
:wave2: Right back at you!
DizNee Luver
11-08-2010, 11:51 PM
Well YeeHaw......you're back in the saddle again!! http://www.pic4ever.com/images/2gwb921.gif
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 12:00 AM
Well YeeHaw......you're back in the saddle again!! http://www.pic4ever.com/images/2gwb921.gif
:lmao: Love it, Laurie!!
and psssst ... I got your name right today!!
DizNee Luver
11-09-2010, 09:23 AM
:lmao: Love it, Laurie!!
and psssst ... I got your name right today!!
:goodvibes Yes you did!! :rotfl:
mvf-m11c
11-09-2010, 12:41 PM
It's nice to see your TR back up again Jazz
Very nice pics of your TR, can't wait to see more pics of your TR in September.
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 12:44 PM
Day One - Continued
I couldn't hang around the Esplanade, staring at Disneyland for too long. I would have been far too tempted to go in right away which would force me to use my GAD voucher for a ticket if I still wanted some Park time before my planned departure on Monday morning. After my very short photo spree and falling in love with the Snow White World of Color banner I finally started to make my way towards DTD, a place that I surprisingly don't visit often. I'm usually so focused on getting around DL and occasionally DCA with frequent trips back to my hotel that the only times I have ever really taken the time to explore DTD were when I stayed onsite at either the Disneyland Hotel or the Grand Californian, both of which haven't happened in a few years. For the first time I would have all the wandering and meandering time that I required before getting back to the HoJo for a full night of rest before going into the Park for a change. I started out by taking a few photos of the smaller WOC banners on the light posts. I am absolutely in love with the design of them, and it certainly doesn't hurt any that Snow White is featured on them, which always seems to be a rare occurrence. She can be very hard to find on things, even though she really started it all. The banners were also getting me psyched for seeing WOC with my own eyes in just a few short days.
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My first actual stop along DTD, however, was of course the World of Disney super duper store! That place is so huge and has just about everything I could ever want, and I do want everything. Even without looking at the actual merchandise there is so much to see everywhere you turn. Can you say "A million times better than the Disney Store"? Two things caught my attention more than any others, however. The first is something that you wear, and after purchasing it, I did end up wearing it the following day! It was a Jack Skellington/Nightmare Before Christmas dress and I fell in love with it the second I saw it. Not bad for a girl who generally abhors dresses. The second was their display of the Dooney & Bourke bags, particularly the sketch design. I cannot tell you badly I wanted to buy one then and there, but I promised myself if I had any money left come Monday I would at least by the cheapest of them, the wristlet! I mean, my Aunt did give me a gift card and order me to use it on myself and something I really, really wanted! I spent a good 20 minutes ogling that display, I did. Funnily enough, I didn't think to take a photo at the time. But I did take a few of the store itself!
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After World of Disney I can't say I did much that was exciting. I simply walked down DTD, once or twice going into a shop or two, just to look. I loved being there simply because it's part of the Resort, but truthfully it's not really my kind of thing. It's like a big mall outdoors and I just never picked up the shopping all day gene, or even the window-shopping gene. As I like to say in jest, my mother never really taught me how to be a girl. Sitting at home after the fact I am wishing I had purchased some bath salts or something at Basin -- it sounds so relaxing, but I didn't, so I'll move on. I did get a sudden urge to go in while walking by Merceline's Confectionery. They were busy making some of the Pumpkin Apples which is what drew my attention in the first place. I did say I needed to try one, did I not? But right then wasn't the perfect time. I hadn't eaten much because of the drive and I doubt a candy apple would have been the best first choice so I figured I would just look and then try to find someplace to eat.
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Being as hungry as I was I had to decide where to eat. Since I had never eaten anywhere in DTD it was a hard decision to make. Eventually it was my cravings for pizza that won out and I ended up eating at Naples. I was trying to get photographs of the mosaic outside the restaurant before going in and when I did one of the managers was there and 'tested' me with a few questions about the Bay and Mt. Vesuvius. Luckily I knew the answers. Of all the luck, my bio-dad was stationed in Naples, Italy for a spell a few years ago. After being seated with my menu I had to decide what to eat. I wanted to try something new, but I didn't want to not be able to eat, if you know what I mean, and I was craving pizza so that was a given. Eventually I settled on a bruschetta starter (shrimp, cannellini bean, tomato, arugula, and lemon vinaigrette garnished with olive puree) and an individual pepperoni pizza to go along with my ice water (because I gave up soda 2 weeks before this trip for anyone who is new to the madness). The pizza was wonderful, but I don't think I would ever get the bruschetta again. I thought I would go about this trip and photograph any and all food that I ate. Funny how the only food porn I got on my first day was of the one thing I didn't find that appealing. But I ate most of it regardless. The pizza on the other hand was delicious, but I couldn't finish it all. They did box the rest up for me and I took it back to the hotel to enjoy later since it was a late lunch/early dinner already. That being said, I have to say the service wasn't all that great. I felt a little forgotten about half of the time. But it didn't quite bother me that much. I was seated outside, the weather was nice with a cool breeze and they turned the little heat towers on while I was eating and that felt wonderful. I just sat there and watched people walk by and closed my eyes and relaxed. I think it's safe to say that I wont be going back though.
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I didn't hang around DTD much longer after that to be honest. The drive had zapped my energy and you know that feeling that you get when you eat a lot of food? I was ready to fall into a food coma, but the walk back to the HoJo went about just as slow as I could make it, which is still pretty fast for someone like me. Back at the HoJo I planned on getting into my bathing suit and sitting poolside for a while but I ended up settling for a relaxing bath and a good book! That's a great way to wind down and relax muscles that are still sore from being confined to a car for 5 1/2 hours. Of course I got my laptop time in, DIS included, called my family to let them know I made it there fine and got ready for bed munching on some more pizza!
All in all it was a rather uneventful day except for the fact that I was at Disneyland!! Maybe not inside, but I was there and that was what counted. It was a great way to start off the trip, knowing the next morning I would be able to sleep in and start my day off on the right foot!
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 01:59 PM
It's nice to see your TR back up again Jazz
Very nice pics of your TR, can't wait to see more pics of your TR in September.
Thanks Bret!
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 02:00 PM
Jazz's Scary Adventure - Day Two
September 23, 2010
I really, really, really love how what was originally supposed to be my first day in Anaheim turned into my second. What a blessing in a very, very, very obvious disguise! As opposed to waking up at 2a to begin the drive from the my home in the Bay Area, I got to sleep in and wake up well rested and ready to begin my day. If I were to tell you that I woke up at 6a and considering the fact that Disneyland didn't open that morning until 10a you might be curious as to why I didn't sleep in later. The answer is twofold, really: (1) 6a is the normal time I start work in the morning and being up around this time (or before) comes very naturally to me and (2) because I still needed to check out of room #1 and into room #2. It would be so hard saying goodbye to that King sized bed, but you gotta do what you gotta do. After showering and getting everything I would possibly need ready I gathered up my belongings and made my way back to the hotel lobby. I was keeping my fingers crossed that maybe, just maybe, my room might be ready and I could go take my things back and do a little unpacking rather than waiting to do so right before bed. I wouldn't be so lucky this time, but that was really alright. At least they can store your luggage for you until your room is ready for you later in the day. After doing so it was still well before 9a, and with nothing better to do I figured I would make my way towards the Esplanade and take some photos while waiting for the Park to open. The security check would be opening up around that time since the 23rd was a Thursday which means Magic Morning. It was a tempting thought to use my MM that day, but I'm glad that I didn't. It worked out much better for me in the end. And so I set off down Harbor and across the busy street towards that beloved entry arch that tells me I have arrived!
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Now, everyone has their theories on what day is the best choice to use for your MM (of course, this only refers to those of us not staying on site who only get the one MM). A very common one that I hear is to do it on the earliest day that you have available, their argument being that you'll be more tired at the end of your trip and you would hate to miss a MM because you slept in. Let me just say this week was a prime example of why I refuse to follow this rule. Mine is a little different: Go on a Saturday -- only a Saturday and no other day. Why, do you ask? It's simple really. Saturday is the earliest opening time available that offers a MM, especially true during the off season, such as September. This means that the MM hour is even earlier and just as you probably wouldn't want to get up that early, many others would be thinking the same thing and if you can get yourself up and there, you wont regret it. It also being a weekend means that the crowds will be higher than during the week so it's better (in my mind) to get as much as you can done before the crowds hit so you'll still feel productive at the end of the day. Does this make sense to anyone? Well, I hope so and as I made my way toward the security check point this rule for me was 100% solidified. The line waiting to get their bags checked was well past the tram/ART loading station and beyond. It was ridiculous. I have never seen that many people lined up at a regular opening. Compared to what I would go through on Saturday when I did use my MM it was a nightmare. Yes, there were regular entry people mixed in here and there, but it was still crazy. I wish I had gotten a photo of it. I could hardly believe it. I'm fairly sure every Thursday/Tuesday are not like this during the off season but this is what I witnessed and it didn't look like much of an advantage to me. In fact, it had me worried about crowd levels would be like later during the day.
As I said before, however, I was simply there to take photographs. I wanted each and every one of the WOC banner designs and a few others as well. There were so many people in the Esplanade and the line was inching it's way towards the California letters though I don't believe it made it that far. It did, however, make weaving in and out of them without people thinking I was trying to cut them in line rather difficult but I managed as I always do. Maybe I just look nice so people figure I wouldn't do that :confused3. That would be surprising since everyone at work always thinks I look mad or something. Maybe I do at home, but I don't think that's possible at Disneyland!!! Eventually when the MM guests started making their way in the regular entry lines started to build up and up and up. Of course, knowing about the gates that switch over from MM to regular entry I positioned myself near gate 13 so that I would be there to hop in line at a seconds notice and not be stuck behind a whole group of people. Worked like a charm, it did.
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Sometime between 9:30a and 9:45a they started letting us regular entry folks in as well, although we were held at the end of Main Street for rope drop (or as I like to call it, rope wind since they don't actually drop any rope). You might be wondering how they know the difference between the MM guests and the regular entry guests and the answer is rather simple, really. The rope didn't block off all of Main Street, they had one walkway open and CM's stationed there along with some of the Disneyland Security folk to watch who went through. You had to have a colored slip of paper that was given out at the MM gates or your hotel key if you were staying on site in order for them to let you through. See, simple! The rest of us just had to wait for the magic hour and the music to start before we could go be unleashed on the Park! I just wish people knew how to follow directions or really took a minute to think about things. When they wound up the rope they asked us all to stay put since the Park was still not officially open and then gave off their safety talk about not running, etc. But of course, as soon as you get the wave forward with the music, there's always people who feel like they need to mow everyone else around them straight down to the ground. Beautiful!! But I got a high four from one of the CM's wearing a Mickey Mouse glove -- not to be confused with a high five since Mickey Mouse only has 4 fingers! Altogether it was a high nine ;)
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My first destination once leaving Main Street should not be a surprise to anyone who has ever read my Trip Reports in the past. I veered off to my left and made my way to New Orleans Square via Adventureland. Normally I would get a ride in on the Jungle Cruise and Indiana Jones before hitting Pirates and then the Haunted Mansion but my plans were slightly changed due to the time of year. First of all, Indiana Jones was closed for the day which was no big deal, I had been factoring that into my planning all along but it still sucked to walk by knowing I wouldn't get the chance that day. The second reason has to do with the fact that the Nightmare Before Christmas takeover of the Haunted Mansion comes complete with Fast Passes and I wanted to make sure I stocked up throughout the day because I had a feeling that it would be a popular attraction. Boy was I right. But as luck would have it, while walking up to the Haunted Mansion Holiday what were we greeted by? A CM telling us they were having some ghost problems and would be open shortly. That was the bad news. The good news for 3 of us was that when asked if that meant the FP's were closed as well (as is usually the case I believe) the CM answered that they would be as soon as he walked over there and closed the gates. ;) Well, he took his sweet time getting over there and a grand total of 3 of us retrieved our FP's before he closed the gate. I was obviously one of those three. It gave me the time to go ride something else and come back later and not have to wait in line. I suppose it would have been better had I been able to grab the FP and then walk on, but if it wasn't meant to be it wasn't meant to be. And of course, because I'm me, I took some photos from the FP distribution area.
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At that point I was off to my next destination! Or was I ...
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 02:16 PM
Day Two - Continued
After returning my camera to it's rightful place around my neck I was about to head off to ride POTC to keep at least one part of my morning tradition alive, but as luck would have it the ghosts were feeling a little playful and decided we could all come see what Jack and Co. had done to the mansion. I haven't been on the Holiday version since 2003 and to be honest I could barely remember any of it. The only thing I had to go off of were a few photos and the soundtrack that I have at home, which I didn't even listen too much compared to "Grimm Grinning Ghosts". Most people usually fall into one of two categories: you either love HMH or you hate it. I guess there is that third group for people like me who can't say they hate it, but can't say they love it either. I most definitely prefer the regular HM to the holiday version and here's why: it's more cohesive than HMH. I don't know what it is, but from trying to rhyme words that just don't sound good at all to music that is just choppy and doesn't flow, it looses a lot of what is so catchy about the Haunted Mansion! I also don't like how bright it is with all of the black light and whatnot. Being able to see the ceiling really takes away from the whole experience. This isn't so say I didn't enjoy the ride or go on it frequently. I would just prefer the regular HM if given the choice between the two. I do like the fact that it can be changed and 'spice things up', so to speak. So like I said, I don't love, it I don't hate. I just am. Here are a couple of photos!
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Here's a question I have for anyone who has been on HMH: You know when you are exiting and there's the Sally saying "Hurry back, hurry back". Does anyone else always think she should say "Don't forget to bring your Sandy Claws hat" and not sack? I don't know why, but it bothers me every time. Sack just sounds funny. But I'm getting slightly off topic again. Or am I? This is my TR, I suppose anything I choose to add would be 100% on topic, correct? But let's get back to my morning!
So, next up was POTC. I hope the ride didn't feel slighted that I chose HMH over it as my first ride of the day. Normally POTC comes before HMH in my circular ride tour of JC, IJ, POTC, HM, JC, IJ, POTC ... you get the picture. I'm not very adventurous normally when it comes to what I ride or the things I do. I love NOS and I would spend my entire day in the area with a few quick bounces over to Adventureland very easily and without complaint. Or at least that used to be the case, but that's a story for another day entirely. ;) Back to POTC! It's always great in the morning when the POTC lines are super short, as in walk on short, and the line was! I got on right away and I had the front of the boat all to myself. It was wonderful. What was even more wonderful was the fact that the CM's operating the ride were being vocal that morning about no flash photography on the ride. I even got a little look-at since I had my camera out, but I knows, I knows! I know how to take a photo without flash, although they very rarely come out. But they don't look so hot with flash anyway, so it's not as though I'm losing anything, right? It would be a theme throughout the day on POTC and it's really the first time I can remember in a very long time where there weren't multiple flashes going off every now and again. I was a very happy camper seeing as flash photography on dark rides is my biggest pet peeve.
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It was bitter sweet as our boat passed by the dining area for the Blue Bayou. My original plans had me with a lunch reservation for 11:30 that day but I was trying to cut back on some things and ended up canceling said reservation. Jason talked me into rescheduling for the weekend rather than outright canceling and now I would have to wait until Sunday before eating at my favorite restaurant. A few more days worth of waiting is better than a few more months of waiting, or however long it will be before I get back (and I'm hoping for a sooner rather than a later).
As soon as I got off Pirates I had to make a pit stop back at the FP distribution for HMH. The line was already getting up there in wait time so soon after opening and I didn't want to be caught without a FP when I wanted to ride it again. Plus, I wanted to bring one home as a souvenir. While there I took a few more photos of the statues found there. It's amazing how much work is put into the details of a place that's not used throughout the entire year and these statues are beautiful. My favorite is the Griffin, similar to the one that's near the loading area inside the ride, although I find the one outside not as mean/scary looking.
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With a brand new HMH FP I went ahead and used the one I grabbed from earlier for my second ride through of the day. It would end up being one of the best ways to cool off during the entire weekend, which was incredibly warm ... er ... hot, and this day especially since I didn't have my Indy option!! After my second ride through on HMH I started to pick my way towards the back of Fantasyland so I could find the Villains photo-op. This is what I was really, really, really looking forward to about a Halloween Time visit -- the chance to get photos with some characters that I either will never see again, or have been extremely elusive during my previous trips (case in point, Honest John!!). There were really only 3 characters that I absolutely had to see and anything on top of that would just be icing on the cake. Do you have a guess who those characters were? I'll give you a clue: one was already mentioned and the other are characters (well, really character if you wanna get technical about it) from my favorite movie!!
Give up yet? Or did you guess? Here's my list of the only 3 I had to get:
1. John Worthington "Honest John" Foulfellow
2. The Evil Queen
3. The Old Hag
Now you'll just have to see if I was successful or not and I suppose we can start right now. It's a tough gamble with the villains, they switch out rather frequently and every time that I got into line the villains had switched out by the time it was my turn. Thankfully the line is not as bad as PFF and all of that gets and there are some trees that provide shade, but in my opinion also make it hard to get a decent photo at times without flash which can end up drowning you out. I think I waited about 10 minutes, it wasn't too bad. And for my first stop I got to see ... The Queen of Hearts, the Old Hag, and Cruella de Ville! I love seeing any and all characters, but there's something about the face characters that is just pure awesomeness. Cruella really is quite the character. It was wonderful to watch her interact with kids, asking them if they had any dogs and if so what breed they were, being disappointed with their choice in breed half the time. She'd ask them to "stay" and "come here" only to realize they didn't know those commands yet. And to me she recommended blowing up her photos, putting it in a fur lined frame, and hanging it on my mantle. I don't know if I'll follow through on that one though, lol.
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Now before I move on I have to ask this: am I the only one who feels awkward in photos. Not just character photos, but any photo with me in it. I never know what to do. I suppose it has to do with all those years I literally ran away from anyone with a camera. :confused3
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 02:26 PM
Day Two - Continued
After my little rendezvous with Cruella, the Hag, and the Queen of Hearts a little bit of my Disneyland ADD kicked in. I can never quite make up my mind about what to do in advance, I just go from place to place even if it means walking from one Land to another on the other side of the Park only to decide once arriving that the ride or attraction I wanted to see was located at my starting point. This always leads into why I end up walking so much at Disneyland. I was over in the back of Fantasyland and I decided to walk along that back walkway towards Frontierland, you know, the one that goes by Big Thunder. Every time I walked by I made a mental note to myself to stop by the Big Thunder Ranch and take some photos of what they had decorated for Halloween but it never quite seemed to happen. I did get a few (and I mean very few) of the decked out carriage they have there.
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Another sight to see along the walk was Pocahontas! It wasn't the first time I have seen her in various locations around Frontierland, but I normally see her standing out in front of the Pioneer Mercantile shop near the main entrance. Either way, she knew how to find the shade and I found her talking two two little girls about what Tribe they must be from and where their village is located. It's kind of nice to see characters out without any 'handlers' and in somewhat obscure places. People tend to walk right on by more often than not in my experience. I almost stopped to see if I could get a photo but with the very few people who were around I didn't feel like asking one of them to use my camera for a moment. It wasn't as though there was a line and somebody behind me who would still be there if you know what I mean. But I did stay to watch her talking with kids and enjoy the shade for a short while before moving on. And it wasn't until I started to move on that my next real destination came to me, rather than aimlessly wandering back towards NOS which seems to be a gravitational pull for me.
Main Street!
Yes, if I had known this beforehand I probably would not have cut back through Frontierland which means I also would have missed out on seeing Pocahontas so it all worked out in the end. I wanted to go see if Mickey or any of his pals were out in their costumes at the moment. Being in my Halloween type dress I figured I wanted as many of the Halloween and Villain characters as I could get. That's sound reasoning, right? Or am I the only one who wants to coordinate clothes with the characters? :rotfl: After I made my way to Main Street I took a little break to watch the Dapper Dans perform in their special Halloween Time attire. I really kind of like the orange and black look. I love taking the time to watch them perform now and again, all of Disneyland's live entertainment has never let me down. And what was most exciting of all was that they sang "Grim Grinning Ghosts"!! So even with the HMH up I still got a taste of the original, and they did a great job with it.
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I didn't stay to watch them perform for too long before I started back towards the end of Main Street to do some character hunting. But of course, by the time I got there all of the character lines had been 'closed'. Perfect timing, huh? And it was vampire Pluto and Witch Minnie and Wizard Mickey. Aw, shucks. All I know is I journeyed to Main Street and got no photos with costumed characters. Yet. I would just have to keep coming back again and again and again. I suppose I could have found a bench in the shade to sit on and wait for some characters to come back out to be sure I got my photos but I settled for getting a photo in front of the Giant Mickey Pumpkin!
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After that my magnetic pull kicked back in and I had no choice but to go back to NOS, not that I was complaining. As I was wandering through the streets the Royal Street Bachelors were coming out from off stage and I figured it would be nice to sit in the shade at the French market and listen to some music in the process. And I got some Mardi Gras beads in the process. For my birthday. I know, I know, technically my birthday was on the 10th which was almost 2 weeks before this trip but I was still celebrating my birthday and if that meant wearing a birthday button, you're darn right I was. I only remembered to get it a few minutes beforehand when I was on Main Street. Funnily enough everyone saw me multiple times over the weekend with my birthday button and so I am spreading around the love for celebrating your birth month, not just your birth day ;)
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It wasn't long after I sat down that I realized how hungry I was, which meant it was time to go find lunch! But I didn't want to grab a churro or something, I wanted to sit down somewhere and actually eat. Somehow, during my two trips last year, I skipped over eating at Rancho del Zocalo and I love eating there. So needless to say, it didn't take long before I made up my mind and started to make my way back to Frontierland. At least it got my mind off the fact that I could have already eaten at the Blue Bayou by this point. I ended up getting a tostada salad which was good but doesn't come close to the ones they serve up at this wonderful Mexican restaurant just down the street from my house. For the first time I even got one of their little desserts to try, the plate of cookies in the coffin. I wanted to keep the coffin as a keepsake but I just didn't have room for it with me since my camera and everything pretty much took up all I had. It was a shame I hadn't rented a locker yet at that point, which I usually do daily. since I don't like to lug everything around with me all the time. The best part of my meal was sitting next to the bird bath fountain they have along the entrance to the restaurant. The birds were out and loving it and I was loving their company. I really enjoyed getting to see the decorations they had up for "Dia de los Muertos" or Day of the Dead. There aren't too many in the restaurant itself but you'll walk by the rest of them displayed at Zocalo Park on your way out. They aren't something I see every year and they are beautiful and it was nice to read a little bit about it all.
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After I was finished with my lunch and finished taking photographs I made my way back for a second cruise through the jungle. I don't know why I love it so much, but those corny jokes are just awesome to me. Maybe that's the only sense of humor I can really get. I know I sure feel out of place when everything my family says just flies right on over my head. I kind of liked it this year, I heard a couple of new jokes for the first time. But that just meant I couldn't say everything right along with our Skipper. Such a tragedy that was. You know what I wonder ... Have they ever had a Skipper named Skipper? I think that would be funny. You'd probably also know who's mother was a Barbie fan as a kid I suppose (or am I the only one who remembers Skipper?). For the first time when the ride was over I even remembered to ask for a map. I'm really excited about having that, I can't even tell you.
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Now I have to ask, what is your favorite corny joke from the Jungle Cruise? I have too many to name to be honest. Would you think I'm crazy if I said all of them? :lmao:
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 02:27 PM
Day Two - Continued
As I have already established, I really, really, really wanted to get as many character photos on this day as I could. I didn't want to worry about it later on in the week so I made my way back towards Main Street. This time I was actually able to get some character photos, although I missed out (once again) on any of the costumed characters. The only line that was still open was for Pinocchio and Gepetto, which I got into even though I really love my photo from last year with the two of them plus Gideon. Although, this only reinforced my absolute need to find Honest John and get a photo at some point during these 5 days, or else. Now, I wasn't able to get my camera out fast enough, but you'll see an adorable little girl in one of my photos dressed as Cinderella. Poor thing got the shock of a lifetime when Pinocchio picked her up while she wasn't looking and tried to put her in the trashcan! Poor thing was terrified but then laughed it off. Pinocchio did get a lecture though and proceeded to sit on the ground in frustration before playing with a little boys toy car. The characters during this trip were feeling particularly devilish, I must say!
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After I was done getting my photo taken I debated sitting around to wait for more characters to come out, preferably costumed but in the end my Disneyland inspired ADD had kicked back in and I had the urge to go spend some time wandering around a part of the Park that I don't normally get too: Tomorrowland. I originally thought about getting my Galactic Space Ranger(ess) on and hit up the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, but just my luck, the ride was down. You mean I walked all that way for nothing? Well, of course not. I never do such a thing. I decided to continue my stroll through Tomorrowland as a via point on my way back to the Villains photo op. I was passing right on by the Nemo subs and an idea popped into my head. The first one was that a 20 minute wait was really not that bad, considering I had never been there before with a wait time under an hour for this particular ride. Then I remember what it was like the first and only time I had been in the subs: I felt like I couldn't breathe. I was fine when I could stick my head and camera as close to the porthole as possible, but otherwise there was just not enough space down there for me and it was really uncomfortable. My second though was the one that won out: Why not try the "Observation Outpost"? For those of you who don't know what it is, it's a special room that they made to go along with the ride so that people in wheelchairs or who can't access to actual subs for whatever reason (say, someone who suffers from claustrophobia) can still experience the ride somehow. It is not the same thing. Think of it as going to see a movie where you'll just happen to be watching video of what everyone on the ride sees. You don't need a special Guest Assistance card or anything in order to experience the Nemo voyage this way, all you have to do is ask the CM near the front of the line about it and they direct you in through the exit ramp of the ride where another CM will get you set up and leave you to your movie. One day I would like to try actually going into the subs again, but I don't think I could do it every single time. Getting in and out was just too much for me and it's nice to know that in the future, rather than skip out on Nemo entirely, I can still get the experience in somehow.
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So after the movie-viewing of the Nemo subs was over I had to go back outside. Did I mentioned I was sitting on a bench in an air conditioned room? I didn't want to leave, and it wasn't even close to being the hottest day of my vacation. Not by long shot. I did remember where I was heading before I got side tracked and from there it wasn't too long of a walk back to the Villain hot spot in Fantasyland. This time there were only two characters out when I arrived, Judge Claude Frollo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Jafar from Aladdin. It was so neat to finally see some characters that I had truly never seen before, even if my photo with the Queen of Hearts was the first time I saw her. But the Villains were still in rather evil moods and did not stay for very long! I had enough time to snap off a photo or two of Frollo before they left and were replaced by Cruella (again) and the Evil Queen (yes!). So that was two Villains down and only one more that I desperately wanted. No, strike that. That left only one more I desperately needed.
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After visiting the Villains for the second time that day I chose to take a different route back towards my home sweet NOS. Instead of walking through the back of Frontierland I decided to walk through the heart of Fantasyland and walk across the drawbridge of the Castle for the first time! I'm glad that I did because I happened to see a couple of Princesses walking about. I'm always talking about how much I missed the days of the Princesses being around the Castle for photos. It's just a better atmosphere than silly PFF. Ariel was on the right near Snow White's Grotto but since she was already starting to walk away I decided to stop for a photo with Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. It would have been cute to see her out with Suzy or Perla like I did one year, but I suppose this was better than nothing.
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And then just like that I returned on my march back over to NOS where I got in another round on POTC and then used up one of my HMH FP's and I'm glad I could. Other than first thing in the morning there was always a line for HMH. Even though every other ride available was a walk on. I don't know what it is that makes HMH more popular, especially considering it's a lower crowd season, but I suppose it's just the novelty of it. Although it's funny how many people I overhear who didn't even realize there was a Holiday version of the ride. I am so much of an obsessive over planner sometimes that I can't believe some people can actually just show up and not have any idea what to expect.
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Now I'm really excited about one half of the two photos I'll put up next. You wanna know why? Well, I'll tell you! It's because I finally got a photo with a costumed character :goodvibes It only took the better part of the day, I'm telling you. Ever time I made my way back to Main Street it was always just as the characters handlers marked off the end of their lines. I wish they could at least stagger when they did that so those of us who come up too late don't get the short end of the stick and get nada. Who did I get to see this time? Why, Mickey Mouse!! Minnie was out as well and I so wanted to get a photo with her in her costume, but by the time I finished getting my photo with Mickey they had closed off her line so I had to settle for a photo of her.
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Wait, I obviously can't count. That's three photos I posted there, not two! Well, you know what I meant, right?
I was kind of trying to wind up my day at this point. For some reason I was already tired and I knew I had to get up early to make it to Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast at 7a so I didn't want to get back to the hotel too late, even if the Park was only open until 8p that night. I figured I had enough time to get a couple more rides in, grab some grub, and head back to the hotel so I could get the key to my new room and do some actual unpacking rather than rifling through my luggage to grab only what I would need. So while I was in the area I took some time to get a photo taken in front of the floral Mickey before making my last trek to Adventureland NOS of the day.
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While walking down Main Street some bright idea finally came to me that I cannot believe I hadn't thought of before. Here it goes: I was wearing my Jack Skellington dress. Jack and Sally are out for photos during Halloween Time. I had to get a photo with Jack and Sally while wearing my dress. If I didn't there would be something wrong with the world. Well, I went ahead and asked the CM at the wait time board near the Hub and she went ahead and gave me the remaining times that they would be out. I am so, so, so glad I remembered to ask although I only wish I had done it sooner. If you are going during Halloween Time and want a photo with Jack and Sally, here is a word of warning to you: find out what time they will be out and get there early. Every day I was there they had a line long before the characters even came out. I managed to get into the tail end of the line, but it involved a lot of waiting. They took a little bit of time with every person who came through and it was fun when they noticed who was on my dress and we came to the conclusion that it was all Sally's doing because she's really ingenious that way!
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I did get my final ride on POTC and Jungle Cruise after that.I wanted to hurry up and get food so I didn't tempt it with anything more than that!
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For dinner I stopped by a usual favorite haunt of mine at Disneyland, the Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner. I used to love stopping there for a special Disneyland Cherry Coke. Somebody please remind me why I gave up soda before this trip again. Because at this point it was feeling like a really dumb decision. But I did stick with my guns and stay soda free for yet another meal. I just ordered chili in a sourdough bread bowl and thanks to some wonderful DIS'ers who had a thread on this a while back I remembered to ask for the bread and chili separately. What a wonderful decision that was. It meant that even when I was finished eating my chili I could take the remainder of my bread bowl with me to sustain me for the walk back to the HoJo. It must have been a sight to see, me carrying a bread bowl around everywhere. There were a few laughs about it along the way with some strangers, but we all decided that it was a wonderful thing to have!
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Having the bread bowl to snack on during the walk made it much more enjoyable. It's one of the farthest on Harbor, not that I usually mind, and eating gave me something to do I suppose. It didn't take long once there to get my luggage and go all the way back to building #2 for my new room. It was on the second floor with a view not worth remarking on, at the very end. Boy would that be a fun walk on certain nights. But that's OK. I expect to do a lot of walking at Disneyland, a few extra yards to the hotel wont make or break me. It was a Deluxe Queen and the beds were wonderfully comfortable and I had the refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker again. I got everything unpacked, picked out for the morning, set alarm clocks and all that ... jazz. :lmao: I also did some researching on the interwebs to make sure that I would be prepared for the next night when trying to find out how to check in for the Premium Seating and dessert boxes for Fantasmic! with Jason. But more importantly at the moment I had to get some sleep. I had breakfast at 7a all the way at the DLH and I wanted to be ready to leave no later than 6:15a so I wouldn't have to rush the walk.
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And just like that, the sun had set on the second day of my Disney vacation!
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 02:36 PM
Jazz's Scary Adventure - Day Three
September 24, 2010
It's time to begin my first big day! I could easily sit here and argue (amongst myself) what constituted a big day versus a little day on this trip and I suppose this is how I broke it down: If I have a reservation made at any time that day, it is a big day. It's a very simple rule to follow which meant Thursday (the previous day) and Monday (my last day) would theoretically be my little days. It's also funny how that works out to any day I was planning on hanging out with Jason fell into the big days and any day that I didn't expect to see him at all fell into the little days. Just a coincidence! I think. But that's a tangent to dive into on another day I suppose, which probably means never.
So! Where to begin? Friday, Friday, Friday. I had a lot planned for myself on Friday although they fell at opposite ends of the daily spectrum. First I had Goofy's Kitchen to look forward to for breakfast at 7a and then the next planned event wouldn't take place until the evening when I met up with Jason before getting out seats assigned for the Fantasmic Premium Seating (+ that lovely dessert box). But ... waking up at 5:30a meant I needed to keep my mind off the evening plans, lest I start to make myself very, very, very nervous as I was bound to do. There was no point in ruining an amazing breakfast now, was there? The 5:30a wake up time was extremely easy for me (5a is my routine wake up at home) and I even woke up 2 minutes before either alarm clock went off (I don't know about you, but I use two because I'm so paranoid I wont hear one go off). That's skill right there! I do this at home as well, I think my body has a better internal alarm clock than any mechanical one I've ever met to date. From the brief time that I wore my pedometer I believe that the walk from the Howard Johnson to the lobby of Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel is pretty darn close to being a full mile. I wanted to be able to take my sweet time getting over there, hence my wake up time.
It was an interesting 'packing' morning for me as well. I was debating on what things I wanted with me in the Park that day because I would be renting a locker. The original plan was for me to bring my small telephoto lens with me to try and get some more variety out of what I was shooting, and I also wanted to bring in things like my sweater (in case I got cold after Fantasmic and for my walk to the hotel), some glow sticks/bracelets (because wearing glow sticks/bracelets at night is awesome), and a few other things as well. Trying to fit everything into my camera bag was pretty interesting and I ended up having to just carry the camera myself while her home was overrun with odds and ends, and other nick-knacks. It was what I like to call a balancing challenge. But I seem to think I made out alright. I made my goal of being out the hotel door no later than 6:15a and I was off on my peaceful stroll across the resort. And of course I took a few photos along my way, including an uninterrupted view of the California letters. One of my goals the past year has been to get a photo before they are eventually removed. It looks as though I was successful this year!
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If anybody was ever wondering, as I know I did on my first walk to Goofy's, all you have to do is keep walking straight after the Esplanade, and through DTD, and underneath the magical hat and Goofy's Kitchen is straight ahead. I much prefer walks where the destination isn't blocked by 10 turns to the right with a couple of left turns thrown in for kicks. It is very easy to find! I got to the DLH Convention Center where the restaurant is located directly to the left and with 15 minutes until they started to check us in for our reservations I took my time to get a few photos of the things there to see and I also remembered to grab some pennies for my cousin/friend who makes jewelry out of them. I cannot wait to see what she'll make for me with my Snow White pennies. ;)
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Now, here's the deal with Goofy's for this year's TR. I'll write about my experience although I know a few of you have already heard it. I'll share the photos afterward. Sound fair? Peachy!
OK, so I've eaten at Goofy's only once before and even though this was my second dining experience there, it was also my first solo so as much as I knew I loved GK I have to admit that I was apprehensive about the whole idea. I didn't think I would be getting a single photo of myself with a character and would that be worth it for the meal that I don't normally eat (of course, I mean breakfast). I had eaten at GK on my actual birthday back in 2009 and it was just an amazing time with wonderful one on one character interaction. Does anybody remember Dale bringing me a tablecloth to use as a jacket because I forgot mine? Well, that is an image that sticks out in my mind, vividly. I would have been happy if I got half of the experience that time with this meal. Everything started off well. They checked me in and I paid for my meal before sitting down in the lobby to wait for my photo with Pluto. Funnily enough, I wasn't the only solo diner there, although she had no interest in getting photos with the characters so I am curious as to why she was there. But I didn't bother to ask as it wasn't any of my business! I didn't have to wait long for my photo with Pluto and to be taken to my seat towards the back of the restaurant, but still near the kitchen which is where I like to be. I know one question some people have about going solo for a character meal is what to do with your purse (for us ladies) or any other belongings. Truthfully, after a CM brought me out a glass of water (18 days soda free at this point, and going strong) I didn't give leaving my camera bag behind on the other chair at my table while I went to check out the food being offered. I felt comfortable enough just walking away and there are plenty of CM's in the area who seem to be on top of things. Either way, when I came back with my plates of food everything was right where I left it. The buffet was yummy as ever. I tried a little bit of this. A little bit of that. I actually remembered to dig in to some PB&J pizza which was a lot better than I thought it would be. But I still prefer the fruits and breads to anything else. So the food was great as usual, my water glass was refilled magically ;) and I got time to eat before the characters started coming out. Goofy was the first to drop by although it certainly wasn't his only visit to my table. We attempted to dance a little but he's tall and I'm ... 'fun-sized' ... so it was hard to work around. But fun! In the end, fun is what counts. The CM who brought me my water was gracious enough to take a few photos for me. Any time she was in the vicinity she offered to help out which was very nice. But of course when Baloo, Wendy, and even Gideon all came by to say hello nobody was around to take a photo. Even the tables near me hadn't been seated yet, save one, and they were just returning from gathering their food so I felt awkward about asking for their help a moment or two. Instead I just got a couple of solo character photos! They are nice to have as well. Eventually Gideon and Baloo came by my table once more and as a new table had just been seated right next to me, Gideon had the idea to ask them to take a photo which they did and from there they offered to do so if any other characters came around which I truly appreciated. Most of us who are eating there would always love to lend a hand for a photo. I know I would if somebody asked me. I honestly didn't have a bad thing to say about the meal at that point. Except for the entrance by two characters I wanted to see more then anything:
- Honest John, who I am sure I have mentioned I have been dying to see for years on end now. I was seated near a door that the characters kept popping in and out of and the second he walked through the door I practically shot up out of my seat I was so gosh darned excited!
- Snow White, no explanation needed. Right?
Did I get a photo of or with either one of them? No, of course not. Every time I saw these the characters in particular they never even made it to a table. There was a group of girls, maybe 20 or so, who were going up to them in the middle of the kitchen area to do photo rounds which made it really hard for the rest of us, patiently waiting our turn. And there's only so long i can sit there once I'm done eating, and I'm not the type to go do exactly what they are doing just to get a photo. I also, it seems, prefer to suffer in silence and I didn't even say anything to a CM. I suppose that makes me passive-aggressive?
But alas, I did enjoy my breakfast. To date I have many Snow White photos and I knew I had a good chance of seeing her at a later place and time, such as the PFF, but with Honest John, a character I have never seen out before, I was slightly devastated. I left the restaurant crossing everything I could cross that I would get to see him sometime before I had to go home again.
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Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 02:37 PM
Day Three - Continued
What can I say, there was only so much sitting around at Goofy's Kitchen that I could handle that morning. I did have an extremely important errand to run before I could secure my spot for entrance. Friday wasn't a MM so everyone would be on an equal playing field. That's my kind of morning (unless, of course, I'm the one who has MM access). As previously mentioned tonight was the night I had gone ahead and splurged on the Fantasmic Premium Seating package although we all know we refer to it as the dessert seating since it does indeed come with desserts, drinks as well if you want to get picky about it! And I am picky about it, so I'll just call it like it is. So I made a mad dash to the Guest Services window to the left of the Disneyland entrance because if I wanted my excellent seat for the show tonight I would need to pick up my ticket. Getting the ticket from the CM that morning was rather uneventful. She didn't look too pleased to be there and of course as soon as she asked for my confirmation number I realized that I had left it in the hotel like a genius, but she was finally able to find it although I can't remember if she needed the card I used for purchase or my ID. I think she used my ID because I swear she looked up the wrong name (since my last name is hyphenated). But I could be talking nonsense right now. Who would know, really. The good news is that I had my ticket and she instructed me again on the procedure for checking in to pick our seating arrangements and then what time to show up for the show itself before handing me over a ticket that is identical to my PH minus the fact that the print side has my name and information from purchase on it. Now, I had a solo ticket, but I wasn't supposed to be doing this one solo. At least not in theory at this point. Jason and I had paid for them separately and we would meet up while in the check in line as soon as he arrived after work. It was just under 12 hours or so to the approximate meet up time, which meant a lot for me to do while on my own! The exciting news for the moment was that Indiana Jones would be open for business today, and my plan was to get on that as much as I could.
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Shortly before 9a the gates opened and the wonderful magical wand swish greeted us all as we passed through the turnstyle which would mean they would have the rope set up at the end of Main Street to corral us all in for just a few minutes more. But that was alright with me. The good thing about rope wind (remember, I will no longer call it rope drop) is that for someone like me who gets right to the front of the rope, you can get a couple of nice people-free photographs, which we all know I love and will camp out for 10 minutes at a time to achieve. And once again I have to wonder to myself why on earth is it so important for people to run after we're given the go ahead? As this wasn't a MM the CM there stressed the fact that we were the first one's here. There was nobody in line for rides. So there is no need to run.
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Similar to the day before, and any other day, I knew my first destination would be to the right. I was partially debating about just jumping right on IJ before moving on, but the strategical part of my brain was remembering one thing: HMH FP's. I wanted to stock up on them during the day so that I could (a) experience it on my own and (b) be sure to still have 2 left over when Jason arrived and we picked our Fantasmic seats for something to do before showtime, or even after. Well, you know, provided I didn't decide then and there I hated his guts or anything. You never know with these things. ;) And since of course there is no line first thing in the morning I decided to walk straight on after grabbing a FP to save for later.
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As soon as I left the HMH I hightailed it right back over to Adventureland so I could pick up right where I left off last year with Indiana Jones. How I love thee. Being so early in the morning I decided to bypass my usual routine of going in through the exit with my Single Rider Pass and just go in as standby. It couldn't hurt, there was nobody there. At at least this way I was able to get a couple of new photographs which is the only reason I will ever willingly get into the stand by line again. I could reasonably go with FP's again if it was a matter of sitting next to someone, but otherwise SRL is the only one for me.
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As I left IJ I continued my criss-cross of favorite attractions by skipping back into NOS so I could get on Pirates. I attempted to photograph each of the pirates in the entrance, but they didn't turn out as I had hoped so maybe another year! There's not much else to say about it. I did get the front of the boat which was pretty stellar. I do like to sit in the front of the boat on POTC. Since I did comment on the changes to HMH, although that is only for a particular season during the year, I have to say that I don't mind the additions to POTC to tie them in to the movies of the same name (we all know the ones). I know a few people who abhor it and I just don't get it. To me it doesn't take anything away from the ride, and if anything I had maybe ridden it a handful in it's original form, none of which I can remember. The new Pirates 'franchise' or whatever you want to call it is something I'm kind of growing up with alongside every kid out there. I don't know, just thought I would put that out there for anyone to agree or disagree with.
Sadly, no photos to share this time around.
After exiting out into NOS I was planning to just wander around the shops for a minute when I heard a little commotion and realized that it was almost time for the Jambalaya Jazz Band to perform with Princess Tiana and the Mardi Gras dancers. I definitely wanted to watch this one so I started to slowly walk around towards their little make-shift stage out between the French Market and Rivers of America. Jazz always has to watch the Jazz band, there's just no way around it. It was fun to watch and the girl has a great voice. Fun, fun, fun all around. I especially loved it when the little kids got to get up on stage and dance with them. They were so thrilled! It made me wish I was still that little.
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By this point, I hate to say that I almost lost what I did for the next 3 hours or so. Normally my photographs tell me what I'm doing and when I'm doing it. Because I take so many I have at least one from every time I get in line. It makes writing reports easier for those people like me who start to forget a few little details now and again. But for now I actually have my thinking cap and I think -- no -- I know that I swung around back by Main Stree to see if I could spot a costumed character or two not realizing what would be going on at the moment. And of course the Disneyland Marching Band were playing on the steps to the Main Street Station, and a little kid was even helping Mickey Mouse do the conducting. It was cute for the few moments I hung around. If I couldn't get costumed characters I figured the next best bet would be to go find me some Villainous friends, and I was successful indeed! I had barely situated myself in line and went to go get a photo of the Villain nearest me when I was face to face with the Evil Queen pointing down at me. "You," she said, "You have returned to see me, yes?" :woohoo: Have I mentioned before how much I love being recognized by characters who have seen me before? I was about ready to jump for joy I was. But of course she had taken her leave by the time I made it back up to pay my respects. But I did get a promising dance from Captain Hook and well ... Gideon decided to say hello as only Gideon can.
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Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 02:38 PM
Day Three - Continued
It was still early enough in the afternoon that I was off doing my own thing after running away from Gideon -- er -- I meant saying goodbye to Gideon. I had a real purpose this time. I would head directly to Indiana Jones and see if I could pull a repeat of last years' performance of 8 times in a row on my favorite ride ever. And not only 8 times in a row, 8 times in a single hour. Oh, how I love you Single Rider Line!! You have completed my life. Even if I have some things slightly out of order I do know this: at just before 1p I made my first long hike down the exit ramp for my first journey. As always I got through the queue fast as lightning and before I knew it I was hopping in the 'jeep', ready to keep an eye out for snakes. And then when the ride started, I should have realized my mission wasn't going to be possible. The ride kept stalling. Over and over and over we'd have to sit a little too long at one point. You know that point where Indiana Jones is hanging from the rope when the ball is supposed to start rolling towards you? Yeah, we sat there for a minute or two once. It kind of took the suspense right out of it. My understanding is that the culprit was because they were sending the vehicles too close together so they had to stop somewhere to space them out. Well, it makes sense to me, but probably not when I try to explain it. But after getting off I went again, and again. But then I had to give up. I was already half an hour into my quest and I had only finished ride #3. It clearly was not going to happen. But that was alright, I was enjoying myself.
From here on out I can't remember the exact order of things that I did, but I assure you I made at least one mad dash back to Main Street to see if I could find any costumed characters (no luck), got one more ride in on Indiana Jones, POTC and HMH (while still remembering to collect the FP's to make sure I would have 2 later in the evening). Annnnnnd! I remembered to do something new that I have read about but was not allowed to do last year because of safety concerns until they fixed the issue. Well, the issue was fixed and after asking a couple of CM's before boarding the Mark Twain I was taken up into the Wheelhouse! It was a fun trip around the ROA. The CM up there was from San Jose, a place I don't know well except for my beloved Sharks team, but we talked about the Bay Area a lot and about the safety door they had to install which was why I was told no when I asked last September. It was a lot of fun. And I was put in charge of ringing the bell and sounding the whistle. Let me just say, I really need to keep my day job. I didn't do a great job. Heck, I slurred the whistle more than once. But I got a good laugh out of it, for sure. It was a fun experience, I got to sign the little guest book and take home a couple of little certificates for the experience. Add in a photo and I finally get to cross off another item from my never ending to-do list.
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I also had to sit down for a bite to eat at some point and decided to try out Cafe Orleans for the first time in a few years. Normally it is a restaurant that I would have made a reservation for but the problem with that is I never know when I'll be hungry and want to eat. Luckily I didn't have to wait very long to be seated so I didn't feel too bad about not having a reservation. I had a seat outside next to a tree which was nice and I had a great view to watch (and listen to) Tiana, the Jambalaya Jazz Band, and the Mardi Gras dancers. Great entertainment to go along with my meal. I got the "Crescent City" Salmon Salad which is delicious, and I even got a birthday beignet. So, so, so delicious that was. A very peaceful lunch. Not rushed, not forgotten about. A moment to be relaxed. I wouldn't get too many from that point out.
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Add in some more Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Pirates and Indy and you've pretty got the majority of my day right there. I could go on nothing but those 4 rides all day, every day, and be happy as a clam. Well, at least this was true as of September 24. Who knows how that would change over the coming days ;) And of course there was one midday break back to my hotel to air dry my clothes, and cool off!
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Now, I need to interject here and say sometimes it's hard for me to start these posts off, let alone keep them rolling or even come to a close in a way that I like, the words just don't come to me right away. This may be short, this may not be short, we'll see how it goes.
Friday was an interesting day for me. Sure, I was busy doing my normal things at my normal pace but I was a little antsy. Not that being antsy is new to me. Given my anxiety I'm always antsy. Some days are just worse than others, and Friday was one of those days, no doubt. Partially because due to some things that were going on very close to my departure date for this trip (that some of you may be aware of, you know who you are) I began second guessing this whole idea of meeting up with anyone while I was there by myself. Was it going to be a good idea? Was it going to be a bad idea? I really had no idea. Between Facebook and here at the DIS Jason and I had been talking about this trip, possible plans, and completely random things for over 2 months and it was agreed that if anything was awkward we could at least do the Fantasmic dessert, say goodbye and that was that. Sooooooooo, it was a little nerve racking.
Check in time for the seating wouldn't start until 8p but people can start lining up as soon as they want. It's usually best to wait until the special event CM's start roping the section off so you know you're in the right spot. I was chilling in NOS around that time and at 6:15 when they were starting to set up I decided that rather than go ride another ride and get in line with whoever might already be there I might as well just try and relax, take a breather, and just ... wait. That wasn't the plan originally at all and I know a lot of people would balk at the idea of waiting for the check in as long as they would be waiting on the ROA but it really is a different situation entirely. I wasn't sitting on the ground, I could stand, sit on the railing, see the sights and hear the sounds, grab a churro if I wanted. For anybody who has ever been curious the check in podium goes near the Churro cart that is right across from the Haunted Mansion. It was fun to see the people drop by to ask about the line and decide if they wanted to stay or go catch a ride or two. The time passed quickly enough although it was stressful to wait. I get myself worked up over things and all the while the what if's started to run through and they wouldn't shut off. So there was waiting, and waiting, and waiting. 7:24p was the first word that I got that Jason was at the Park. He was waiting for the tram but still had to pick up his ticket, but of course Guest Services was already closed at this point where I had picked up my ticket and I got a call from him a little past 7:30 about where else he should be able to pick them up. My understanding was that he could pick them up at City Hall and I believe that was the golden ticket ;) Of course I was getting antsy and wondering just how close we were going to cut it to the check in time since I was the very first in line. The CM's were awesome about it though. Even before he showed up they marked me down as 2 people and then just moments before they started writing down our seating assignments I turned around and guess who was there?
The funny thing is, I don't think either one of us said "hello". We just started talking with a "perfect timing" quote from me. It was funny, no introductions necessary. It was just like 2 old friends running into each other and picking up a conversation where they left off. No need to be nervous. So it was literally seconds later the CM asked for our tickets so he could write out seating assignments down and gave us the time to come back and we had a half hour to ourselves to do what we wanted to do which ended up being: Haunted Mansion Holiday (thank you FP's) and the SRL on IJ before making our way back to check in with just 2 minutes to spare. Hey, it was perfect timing around and as it turned out we were the last two to be seated. I didn't mind having more time to snack on my desserts. I knew off the bat I wouldn't be able to eat everything and was looking forward to taking it back to the HoJo with me to enjoy later.
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I wish I knew what to say about the seating for Fantasmic. It was a new experience for me in so many ways. It was further back than where I normally sit so my eyes could take in more, and I wasn't viewing through my camera's viewfinder. Talk about a personal shocker for me. But I wanted to actually experience Fantasmic this time around, and I did. I definitely did. I could always answer specific questions about it, but really, I have no words right now (1 weeks later, lol) ;) And Snow White's float lit up just in front of us. That alone made my day since she is usually past me by the time it lights up which always makes me sad. We all know how much I love Snow White. And we even stayed in our seats to watch the fireworks. Which were amazing as always, no matter the view.
I have to say it was a quiet evening for the most part. We went on POTC directly after it was over, trying to figure out how to balance our trays without knocking the lids off. I don't know if we're just special or what but I could never get mine to stay on for too long. It was frustrating. So we decided to go see if they would fit in my locker on Main Street and then get in a few more rides before calling it a night. They fit with a little maneuvering of all my belongings and after a brief discussion over the travesty it is that I have never been on (a) the Matterhorn or (b) BTMRR, he somehow talked me into both. Although guess who dodged a bullet.
I'll give you a clue ... ME! We walked by BTMRR first I believe and it was shut down for the moment and I can't remember if we walked down to the Matterhorn or not but it was decided that my reprieve wouldn't be for long and that the day of judgment would be the next day, Saturday. I didn't want to stay until closing at midnight that night because of my MM plans the following morning which meant being ready to leave the hotel before 6a in my crazy world. We were able to hit up one more ride that night, which was a perfect way for me to close out the evening, by going on Indy again.
It was a rather quick goodbye after that. We went back to my locker to pick up the dessert trays and I'm sure anybody in the vicinity got a laugh as I tried to pack everything back into my bag somehow and balance my camera and the tray in my hands. How on earth I made the walk back to the hotel I still do not know. But like I said, the goodbye was fast. I think we both decided we weren't axe murderers or anything by that point :rotfl: and we planned on meeting up after MM was over in Toontown for Morning Madness. Since I had an extra voucher I had offered it up if he was interested and the plan was set. We had all day Saturday to hang out and do whatever.
If only I knew how exhausting a day it was going to be before I woke up!
Rachael Q
11-09-2010, 04:57 PM
Woohoo. Welcome back.
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 07:31 PM
Jazz's Scary Adventure - Day Four
September 25, 2010
It's very hard to put into words my jam-packed Saturday was like. I can't even come close, but I suppose I'll try. I figure it's better to just start at the beginning, right?
Saturday was going to be a rather busy day. First of all, it would be my Magic Morning (as I've already given my theory on why a Saturday morning is the best day to use your MM option when you only have one) and I would follow that up with Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness since I would be right in the area without making a mad dash in order to get the most out of my time. I was also planning on meeting up with Jason again during MTTMM and hanging out for the day, redeeming my GAD voucher for the FP's, and finishing off the night with an early dinner at Ariel's Grotto and then watching World of Color. I think it's safe to say that Saturday was always going to be my busiest day from the moment I started planning, but only in the best of ways.
So let's back track to wake up time. I'm pretty sure it was about 5a with both the radio alarm and my cell phone going off to make sure that I actually got up. It's a trick that I have to use at home on occasion. My cell phone goes off first, underneath my pillow so I'll be sure to hear it, and then 5 minutes later the actual alarm clock, either across the room or somewhere where I'll actually have to move to turn it off. It hasn't let me down yet and I have a job where I have to wake up very early. But I'm also an early bird as opposed to a night owl. I can't say that I got much sleep, but the excitement usually holds me over long enough to make it back to the hotel for a quick nap and change of clothes in the afternoon. But if you're wondering why I actually get up that early, it's pretty simple: I refuse to let a second of my MM go to waste. I don't want to be at the tail end (or even halfway through) the line waiting to get into the Park, I don't want to walk with a crowd, however small it is, heading back to Fantasyland, and I don't want to waste time in lines if I don't have to. So this all boils down to one fact: I will be the first one there. And so I am. Or, so I was. Let's just put it this way: it was still dark when I left the hotel to hang out at the security check tent where I just passed time playing Solitaire on my iPod and chit-chatting with the CM's about the D23 event. There were a lot of people trying to cross the Esplanade to get to the DLH. But otherwise I was there by myself for quite a while. Even when people did start to show up for MM I was very happy to see that my plan was working out in my favor. There were only a small handful of us and although I couldn't see how many people were waiting on the Resort side, I knew it couldn't have been nearly as bad as Thursday. Not by a country mile, literally.
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I wish I had actually counted how many of us there were, because the crowd was so small that I could have easily done so without getting lost in my head with numbers. We barely reached the first flower beds. It was definitely nice compared to Thursday's line that stretched all the way to the California letters. I had no trouble at all taking a spot right next to the gate, and it took a solid 5 minutes or more before anyone else got into line behind me. Have I mentioned how comforting I find it when my paranoia pays off? Well, it's nice. Let's just leave it at that. The time went by fast enough and before I knew it we were counting down to our Magical Morning and they were scanning us into the Park. I must have been tired because I didn't have the usual pep in my step that helps me fly down Main Street, but it was a nice surprise when I was the only one going straight towards Fantasyland. It felt as though everyone was veering to the right towards Tomorrowland. You wouldn't get any complaints from me there. What would I possibly want to do in that direction? The Nemo subs? Well, I've already discussed my small claustrophobia problem there and now that I know about the Outpost I had no qualms about saving that for later in the day since I wouldn't have to wait in the stand-by line. So I was alone crossing the drawbridge into Fantasyland and I even had a moment to spare to stop for a photo rather than attempt it while I was walking so I could still be the first one on Peter Pan.
If you're new to my TR's, here is where I show you my beloved crowd-free and people-free shots. I treasure them since they can be hard to come by unless you like to hang around 10 minutes for one photo, lol :rotfl:
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There isn't much more to say about my MM at this point. I made my tour of Fantasyland, going on everything except what was closed and Dumbo. My first destination was Peter Pan's Flight and I followed that up with Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and then Snow White's Scary Adventure and I was actually the first person on all 3. It was that uncrowded. I didn't choose to go through the rides a second time this year, although i certainly could have. I preferred to spend the rest of my hour just walking around and taking photographs although I still didn't take many. It was a relaxing MM for once rather than a quick and blurry one for me.
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Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 07:35 PM
Day Four - Continued
I sincerely hope that this new trend of having more photos than things to say isn't horribly apparent. I'm slightly self-conscious about this shift in my TR style, but this is what happens when you are too busy having fun to remember what on earth happened. I prefer things this way though, compared to previous trips where all the unpleasantries were what stuck with me the most. I loved Frick to death but there were so many things that I still have a hard time letting go of.
So back to my Magical Saturday morning! The minutes of my MM were ticking down which meant I was chilling around the walkway to It's a Small World where the CM's held us up until it was time for MTTMM to begin. Funnily enough one of the CM's ended up 'borrowing' my MTTMM voucher to make an announcement to the small group of us already gathered there about what we needed to gain entrance. Did this make me feel a little special? Why, of course it did. And do you think I was the first person into Toontown? Why, of course I was. I have a fascination about being first for things. I wish I could explain it, but we all have out little tics and vices, right?
There's not much to say about my MTTMM experience this year. I had already seen the little ceremony that Mickey & Friends put on last year and cute as it was I can live without seeing it again until the day I have children of my own who will be enamored by it. I was more interested in getting character photos without waits and photos without being interrupted so I set off on my mission while waiting for Jason to show up as I had given him one of my extra MTTMM vouchers the previous night. As it turns out I do get distracted easily, but that's what happens when I have my camera with me and I'm not busy talking.
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Eventually Jason got there and the photographs promptly stopped at that point. There was just too much to do! Here's what I remember: we did stay in Toontown for a short while to catch the end of the little show since he's never seen it (and so he could get an Honorary Citizen badge) before making our way to wherever it was we needed to go to redeem my GAD voucher. I didn't know if I could do the whole thing anywhere inside the Park so it was back to the ticket booths where the first of multiple headaches were to take place. The CM who took my voucher apparently didn't hear me mention that I already had a PH. So she processed it as admission! She was handing me a ticket and I barely knew what to say. I could have sworn I told her I wanted to redeem it for FP's and even if it slipped my mind you could at least ask right? She didn't seem very pleased about it when I told her that I had no use for admission. She was kind of a sour face about the whole thing and I just wanted to get out of there. Of course that wasn't going to happen because fixing the issue was going to be a waiting game and a pain in the you know what.
:rolleyes1
But it all worked out in the end. That's what matters and what I will choose to focus on. Sadly that was the easy part. When it came to redeeming the pass she handed to me at that point, things got dicey! After getting me a new Birthday button since I left mine at the hotel we found ourselves at the Guided Tours gazebo to get the actual FP's thinking everything was going to be easy going from that point on. So, so, so not the case.
The.
Printer.
Broke.
Yes, you heard me. The printer broke. Or something like that. All I know is that our FP's were not printing. At one point it was suggested to try going over to DCA to get them printed but it was subsequently shot down because the system was saying that they had printed, but the printer had a completely different idea. So we waited. And while we waited we were on the receiving end of 3 attraction readmission passes as a way to make up for the inconvenience. Those were new to me! I had never even seen them and hadn't heard much about them either, even here on the DIS. The thought of not having to wait in lines was definitely a plus. At the time they were still trying to figure out what to do about the GAD FP's and it was becoming clear that we wouldn't be getting them. So you know what we got instead? 6 more readmission passes good for anything other than World of Color. It didn't matter if the ride was an FP attraction or not. And they were all ours. The CM's even went out of their way to point out that each pass was good for up to 6 guests and we could always grab 4 random people in life if we were so inclined.
Talk about things working out in the end. We went from possibly having 6 FP's that weren't good for many rides I was interested in to having 9 readmission passes for anything we wanted short of the show we would already have FP's for courtesy of our dinner plans.
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I wish I could say I remember what we used them on. But I do remember this: we had far more than we ended up needing! Especially because once nighttime fell the CM's ended up handing them right back to us to use again. And again. And again. And again. This was also the day that I promised I would go on both the Matterhorn and BTMRR for the first time. I wont lie, I was a little terrified. Maybe not convulsing like I might have been before my first time on Splash Mountain, but the nerves were there for sure. But I said I would go for it and not back out, and that's what I did. My thoughts on the Matterhorn are torn. I had fun, but I think it's just a little too rough for me. I got tossed around like a rag doll, no joke. My poor knees have bruises still to prove it. But I didn't hate it. That's what counts right? As for BTMRR ... My Indiana Jones obsession had better watch out. I freaking love BTMRR. LOVE it. Loved it. Will continue loving it. I could do that over and over and over and not get tired of it, I think. And I had a lot of time to make up for since I had never been on it before.
All in all, here's the list of rides we did the whole day:
- Matterhorn x3
- BTMR x5
- IJ x4
- Jungle Cruise x2
- HMH x3
- Soarin'
- Monsters Inc.
- POTC x4
- Nemo
- Storybookland Canal Boats
I think I have to be forgetting a thing or two, and of course you have to add in my solo tour of Fantasyland that morning. I like to think it was a productive day for rides for me. I don't think I'd ever done that many if a whole trip before, let alone a singe day.
Back to the readmission passes -- looking back I wish we had thought to take full advantage of them ever time we used one and brought a group of 4 with us. As it was, we only happened t do this once, on our last ride of the evening: BTMRR. The stand-by line wasn't moving because they were only running one side which meant they were only letting those of us wit FP's on so we called out for a party of 4 and brought in a group of girls with us. I still had 3 more passes left and afterward we ended up giving them one more to sue on whatever they liked before closing. It felt good to do so. And they were so excited to go and use it for Space Mountain. Spreading the Magic feels good! I would have given another one (or two) away but I really wanted to keep them as souvenirs for whenever I get around to making a scrapbook. Someday. I'll miss not having an envelope full of them for my next trip.
There were a couple of others firsts for me on Saturday. It was the first time this trip I made my way to DCA and it was also the first time I went on Soarin' and the Monsters Inc. ride. The second one I felt silly about, but considering how little time I generally spend in DCA I suppose it makes sense. Soarin' I stayed away from because I don't like heights and have a small case of motion sickness. But it wasn't bad at all. It was relaxing in fact. But I found that I did have to look at the side of the screen at least once to kind of ground myself so I didn't panic. It worked though! Let's see, we also checked out the Boudin Bakery tour (which makes me want to stop by the Boudin Bakery in San Francisco), and I got to see Aviator Goofy!!
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Speaking of characters did I mention that I finally, finally, finally got to see Honest John ... er ... John Worthington Foulfellow!! It was like waking up on Christmas morning as a kid and opening the one thing that you wanted more than anything. I was jumping up and down I was so excited. It was the only photo I wanted at that moment. I even bypassed the Queen of Hearts who was not pleased with that decision. ;)
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OK, is my remembering ADD bothering you yet? I hope not. I'm just typing what I remember as I remember it. Next up: Ariel's Grotto for our WOC dinner. I have decided I'm not one for doing meal reviews so you'll have to live with this: it was delicious. And heck, the service was fast. Before we knew it our entrees were brought out which was all the better for me. On days when I'm too busy doing things I don't like being holed up in a restaurant with slow service. Before I knew it, we were being presented with these beauties:
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When it came to WOC I can't remember exactly where we were located within the reserved dining section, but I'm pretty sure we went for the railing at the very front of it. I didn't want to be standing behind anyone really tall or anything like that so the railing was perfect for me. It was nice to sit down after the let us into the viewing are and just chit chat until the pre-show started. I certainly enjoyed it, and I wish I could describe it. It was just plain old fun. WOC itself ... I'm speechless, really I am. I didn't go into it with high expectations because I didn't think it could ever compare to the absolute love I have for Fantasmic but I was completely blown away. I really don't have the words. And I cried. Yup. I did. Anyway, I did get a few photos so I thought I would share.
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We were walking out of DCA and through the Esplanade when the RDCT fireworks started. They had completely escaped my mind! I didn't think I would get the chance to see them again and at that point something occurred to me: I had read many times before that some people love watching the fireworks from BTMRR and we were presented with the challenge of getting there in time. I didn't think I had and gas left but somehow we made our way down Main Street and into Frontierland before they ended. We didn't quite make it onto BTMRR but it was close enough and a very nice view, for sure! It was at that moment that the plans for Sunday night were formed. We were going to try and score WOC FP's and make it back to BTMRR in time for all of the fireworks. It was going to happen.
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kaoden39
11-09-2010, 07:44 PM
Wow you are good!! You got this up quick!!
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 08:06 PM
Wow you are good!! You got this up quick!!
Well, it does help that I have it all saved in a Word document ;)
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 08:07 PM
Jazz's Scary Adventure - Day Five
If I thought Saturday was hard to put into words, I should have figured Sunday would be as well. It will probably continue into Monday now that I'm really thinking about it. All 3 days went into what made this my best trip ever. Heck, in my relatively short and uneventful life it's not unbelievable that this was probably the best weekend ever. So this will be short, sweet, and to the point. I may have a couple of anecdotes to throw in, but for the most part it will be photos, and not a lot at that.
The plan for Sunday was briefly hashed out Saturday night after WOC. It was just too amazing to only watch once so the plan was set in motion to try and get FP's in the morning and then attempt pulling off the trifecta: WOC, RDCT, and concluding the evening with Fantasmic. Who knew if we'd even be able to pull it off knowing that our WOC/RDCT Saturday night was more of a chance thing than actually planned out. Considering we also wanted to be able to watch RDCT while on BTMRR ... well, I wasn't going to cross my fingers. When you push yourself as hard as I did on Saturday and when you are as sore as I was on Sunday that is just one sprint you don't want to consider. Sunday was supposed to be the relaxing day!
But to start off there was a breakfast at the Plaza Inn with Minnie & Friends that a certain someone was almost late too ;) I'm really, really glad that I made the decision to do M&F on a Magic Morning. I had been a little nervous about how they get you in without your ticket having MM access since I had used mine the day before and as an AP holder Jason doesn't get MM access to begin with. But it was really a non-issue as I had been reassured when inquiring about it here on the DIS. Even taking my time to get to the gate I was still only the 3rd party in line. But it was nice not to stress about being there first! In the end it wouldn't have mattered if I had taken even longer to get there. Jason was running late and then got held up on the tram so I ended up waiting a few extra minutes after they started to let us in but we got to the restaurant with no issues at all, got our photo, paid for our meals, and got our food! Nothing exciting there. Funnily enough, I keep getting seated at the same exact spot whenever I do this character meal. We got the exact same spot as Frick and I had last September. But we'll not reflect on that any longer. The highlights from breakfast? A boy at the table next to us arm wrestling with every character who came by and getting to see a new character: Rafiki!
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To be honest, this was the shortest time I've spent at M&F! I think we were in and out with food, photos and fun in about half an hour. So in all reality we could have had 30 minutes of Magic Morning to ourselves, but that didn't really fit into the plan. So instead we made out way over to the DCA gates (practically getting trampled over by the scavenger hunt participants on our way out of DL) where we patiently waited to get in and get our FP's and get out. I wasn't really sure what to expect on how they were going to line everyone up but after entering they made a line to the right of the turnstyles where a CM would lead you to the FP queue so there would be no running. We were 3rd in line and had our FP's in no time at all.
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The ride list isn't really that important but I remember squeezing in another round on Soarin' before we made our way for the rest of the day back to DL where I got to get my photo with my second (and last, sadly) costumed character. I'm still a little bummed that I never got more. I mean, it was Halloween Time and all! But I had the worst luck and was always there after they closed the lines. But I like the fact that I'm Donald Duck's height, so all is still right with the world.
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There were plenty of rides throughout the day, but there was only one horrible mistake: the Jungle Cruise! I have never seen a line longer than 10 minutes (which was more like 5) and if either of us had bothered to look up we might have been prepared. But of course, who ever looks up to see if the 2nd floor of the queue is in use? Of course it was packed because of the scavenger hunt and we didn't realize this until we were going up the stairs. Fun times! What was fun, however, was listning to everyone work out their strategies for the ride and go over their questions. Especially when there were a couple (or at least one) that I could answer off the top of my head: what is labeled on the barrels above the first sign of danger (or something like that). The group behind us was guessing things like explosives and whatnot. I really wanted to turn around and tell them apples, but I zipped my lip and kept on moving! There are also a couple of other photos from one of my new favorite rides ;)
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Now, I have this theory: I believe that Indiana Jones felt threatened by new found love for BTMRR. Why, you ask? Because the one thing I have been begging IJ to do for the past year that just has not happened finally did! I have been on this ride more times than I can count, love it to pieces, but I've always wanted to be on it when it breaks down. Call me silly, but i have. I just wanted to see everything with the lights on to see the details and preferably get to walk out on my own two feet! Well, sadly only one wish was granted, but it was good enough!! Especially when our vehicle came to a stop at the beginning of the bridge. Perfect spot if you ask me, unlike Jason who was one vehicle behind (single rider) and didn't get the fun view that we did. I have no idea how long we were there for, but it was long enough for a CM to dash between vehicles to let us all know that if they couldn't get the ride back up in a couple of minutes we would all get to walk out, but if they did get it back up we were welcome to stay on for another run through. I was crossing my fingers so hard but in the end we were back moving, and the lights stayed on for a little while longer. I now laugh at the fact that I was ever afraid of IJ. What was I thinking?! But I did take a couple of photos ...
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I wish I had more to say about that afternoon. It wasn't as fast paced as the day before, but it was still jam-packed and fun as can be. We had a delicious late lunch at Blue Bayou and got out waterside table after a pretty short wait and the food was delicious as always and the company was infinitely better than it has been in the past. We may have snuck in another ride or two before we made our slow walk back over to DCA to go see WOC again. We ended up with a view further in the back after talking with a CM about where her favorite views were from the blue section. She even took us in to the viewing area before they started to let people in to show us where she would go. I think it turned out to be solid advice! We were right against the railing just to the right of some space they have reserved for guests with wheelchairs and the like in the back of the blue section near the entrance to the viewing area. It was pretty perfect and I actually liked the view more than I did from where we were the night before in the preferred dining section. I was able to see the everything and really take in the heights that the water would reach. I'm still speechless about the visual aspect of the show. Disney definitely went above and beyond. I just can't wait to see how it changes as time goes on.
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We didn't hang around much after WOC ended. I still don't know how we had any energy at all, but we started our mad dash back to DLso that we could try watching the fireworks from the one place I wanted to: BTMRR! We just missed it the night before, but I really wanted to be on the actual ride this time. And we made it! There will always be something Magical about watching the fireworks from the Castle, but if you ever have the chance I highly recommend timing it so that you are on BTMRR. You wont be disappointed. The big difference is that on BTMRR the fireworks are all that you can see in the sky and it's just incredible, phenomenal, or whatever your best adjective is here.
That was 2 out of 3 for the trifecta and we almost missed the final piece. We had actually decided to skip Fantasmic and hit up some rides and our first stop was POTC, but after getting exiting we came out to NOS just as Fantasmic was beginning and decided to duck under some rope into a rather empty viewing area and we got to watch my favorite nighttime show that DLR has to offer. It just has something that to me RDCT and WOC just can't come close to capturing, even though I love them both as well.
And a fun little side note, after making sure to bring a while bunch with me, I only remembered to break out the glowsticks this one night! Shame on me, right? They were fun while they lasted because I love glowsticks, but I wish they came out in photos, lol. Flash does nothing for them. But look who finally got a photo together!
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There's so much about this day and this weekend in particular that have to be left unsaid, simply because I wouldn't know where to begin. So, you'll just have to use your imagination I suppose. Sunday was bittersweet though. As wonderful as the day was it was going to come to an end at some point which was going to mean saying goodbye to someone I really didn't want to say goodbye to and there's no other way to put it: it just sucked. But because the best thing is to look on the bright side I was ending the night with a new amazing friend at the very least, and closing out a close-to-perfect weekend.
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 08:07 PM
Jazz's Scary Adventure - Day Six
With a weekend as full and exciting as Saturday and Sunday were, waking up on Monday knowing that I was back to being on my own and it being departure day had me feeling a bit blue. On the upside, however, I got to sleep in since neither Park would be opening until 10a. But sleeping in for me still isn't sleeping in very late since I'm pretty sure I was up no later than 7:30a considering I had to gather up all of my things, store my luggage, and check out of the hotel. Such a sad, sad, moment it was. The worst part was the fact that I wanted to hit the road no later than 1 or 2p and I was planning one being in DL for only 2 hours at the least. 2 hours!! Can you imagine it? But sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
I got to the gates around 9a and I have one thing to tell you: it was hot!! I had been prepared with all the talk of Monday getting into the 100's, but I really had no idea. It wasn't even 10a yet and already it was so much hotter than it had been at any other point so far while I had been there. When I was asking for hot weather in the weeks leading up to my trip I never expected it to get this hot, but for that moment at least I could be thankful that my plans wouldn't have me staying the full day. Or would they?? It's unfortunate but there is not that much shade when you are waiting to get into the park, but at least when they let us in for rope drop half of Main Street was in shadow so we had someplace cool to relax before braving the sun again.
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The best solution that I had to beat the heat other than staying hydrated was to spend every minute that I could on a ride that had a way of cooling off. This meant any ride that was indoors such as POTC and HM or even my new favorite, BTMRR, where you are moving fast enough to create a breeze that feels great in the heat. Not to mention the wonderful waterfall where you can drench yourself just before the rush begins. Or the person sitting next to you. And it really hit me at that moment how much it was going to suck being on my own again, even if only for 2 hours. But there's no pretending here. I was not going to be content with just 2 hours worth of Disneyland before I left for home. Not a chance. So I made the insane decision to stay until closing at 8p and drive home all night. It shouldn't be a problem as I kept telling myself, I work overnight until 6a on no sleep, surely I can drive until 2a or so. I was glad I made this decision when I got stuck on POTC an extra 10 minutes or more because the lift at the end of the ride stopped working. I had gotten 2 rides done in the span of an hour. I needed more time than that!!
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After the decision was made, it was just a question of what to do. I had been texting Jason for most of the morning, envious that he was somewhere with air conditioning, and when I told him of the change in my plans, another small plan was cooked up that involved him coming out until closing after he got off work, even if it would only be for an hour. That would be better than nothing right? I just didn't want to think about the fact that it would mean saying goodbye again, because that was hard enough the first time around. So at that point it was just an hourly countdown until he got there and I decided to go see if there was a crazy line for PFF since I had yet to get any Princess photos, let alone with Snow White! The line was short and one of the women in line was passing a spray bottle down the line for anyone to use since it was so hot. Needless to say she was everyone's new best friend, it was such a wonderful idea! Unfortunately my wait was in vain as there was no Snow White. I told myself it was OK, that I would come back, but it never actually happened. So ... no Snow White this trip!! I did see Tiana, Belle, and Ariel, however.
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At that point I had to go back to beating the heat the ride-packed way. I hit up all of my favorites, like IJ, JC, even the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters for the first time this trip where I got my highest score to date. That made me very happy.
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So, somewhere about this time I get a text about a particular fountain that I used in the "Where am I" game on the Community Board that I had been playing for a while before some stupid changes made me stop playing. Now, if I had read the text right away I may have gone over to the fountain in question (more like the bird bath at Rancho del Zocalo), but instead I decided to cross off another thing on my mental to-do list and try one of the Mickey Pumpkin apples so I made my way over to Critter Country. I was in the middle of taking a photo of the new Tigger Tails and upon moving to get out of someone's way when I turned around and guess who had left work early and was standing right behind me? I think it took me a minute to process and knowing how jumpy I can be I'm surprised I didn't jump or start or something. It was the absolute last thing I expected, but ... well, it just made my day. No other way to put it.
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But from this point on the rest of the day, much like the weekend was a complete and total blur. I remember we sat and finished off the apple for a short while. I remember going on BTMRR four times in a row and the CM's recognizing us again and again, and again, lol. And well ... that's really all the detail I can actually pick out. I almost got talked into going on Splash Mountain again, but then I realized it was 6p and there was no way I would be able to dry off before my drive home and I was not going to sit in my car for 6 hours in wet clothes. Before I knew it it was time to make the walk out of the Park where we would have to say goodbye again, but at least this time it wasn't rushed. That's not to say that saying goodbye again didn't suck. In a way it was worse because this time I knew I would be driving home and we really wouldn't see each other again the next day. But it was a better goodbye as well, sealed with a kiss and all (but that's all you will get out of me here and now). He walked with me back to the hotel and helped me get my luggage in my car which really meant this whole vacation had come to a close and you had better believe I did not want to come home.
The drive home didn't even go as expected. I had just made it over the Grapevine when everything from the weekend caught up with me; the excitement, the heat, you name it. I just could not go any further. Thankfully, now I have Gretel which means finding a place to spend the night would be as easy as pushing two buttons and I was able to find a Best Western that was only 9 miles away from the gas station that I had to pull into to get me off the road for a few minutes. I made it and I had a place to sleep for one last night, or at least to try and sleep, and I could drive home in the morning with something to eat. The room was nicer than the HoJo but man, did I miss their beds. This one was hard as rock, but again, at least it was a place to rest my head, rehydrate, and relax before I left in the morning, just in time to make it home by noon.
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Without further ado ... The end!!
Thanks for sticking with me!!
:hug:
kaoden39
11-09-2010, 08:11 PM
Well, it does help that I have it all saved in a Word document ;)
Yeah that might make a difference.:rolleyes1
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 08:15 PM
Yeah that might make a difference.:rolleyes1
Only a very small one though, lol!
Rachael Q
11-09-2010, 10:51 PM
Only a very small one though, lol!
Smart move. I always type mine directly into the thread. It would make a lot more sense to do a word document.
kaoden39
11-09-2010, 10:54 PM
And maybe some fun too because you can play with it a bit more that way.
merrrydeath
11-09-2010, 10:55 PM
Well I for one enjoyed browsing through that again. Maybe you should always repost your trips every few months :rotfl:
Belle Ella
11-09-2010, 10:56 PM
Well I for one enjoyed browsing through that again. Maybe you should always repost your trips every few months :rotfl:
Haha, glad you think so. But at the very least I'm finally adding my original links to the OP. Which is a start.
Belle Ella
11-15-2010, 05:53 PM
Well, I just have to pop back in here for a quick few seconds. If all goes well and according to plan (even with the car theft drama thrown in) I may be 1 month away from my first of 2 December trips, and my first AP. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for sure. Life has a way of surprising me lately, so we'll see what happens.
kaoden39
11-15-2010, 06:00 PM
Well, I just have to pop back in here for a quick few seconds. If all goes well and according to plan (even with the car theft drama thrown in) I may be 1 month away from my first of 2 December trips, and my first AP. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for sure. Life has a way of surprising me lately, so we'll see what happens.
Psst...I saw something I want from Disneyland on Sherry's trip report. Can we make a deal?
Belle Ella
11-15-2010, 06:10 PM
Psst...I saw something I want from Disneyland on Sherry's trip report. Can we make a deal?
Of course, Michele! Just say the word. Or an FB message, lol. :goodvibes
kaoden39
11-15-2010, 06:12 PM
Of course, Michele! Just say the word. Or an FB message, lol. :goodvibes
Thank you!! What do you think of my new signature?
Belle Ella
11-15-2010, 06:17 PM
Thank you!! What do you think of my new signature?
Call me blind, but what is it? And as always you've got your holiday smiley dudes.
kaoden39
11-15-2010, 06:19 PM
Call me blind, but what is it? And as always you've got your holiday smiley dudes.
It is a pet rock that Kody gave me. His name is Herman.
Belle Ella
11-15-2010, 06:23 PM
It is a pet rock that Kody gave me. His name is Herman.
That's kind of awesome! :thumbsup2
kaoden39
11-15-2010, 06:24 PM
That's kind of awesome! :thumbsup2
Thank you. I thought so.
canadadisney
11-15-2010, 11:11 PM
Again, I must tell you, I love your reports and your love of DL!
Belle Ella
12-01-2010, 12:40 AM
Again, I must tell you, I love your reports and your love of DL!
:hug: Aw, thank you!! I can't believe I didn't see this sooner.
Hopefully I will be working on the next installment soon. The exact dates are still unknown, but I should be getting my AP sometime during the week after Christmas!
Markie Mouse
12-01-2010, 01:39 AM
I know you probably get asked this a lot but what camera are you using? Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous. The colors, extremely low noise level, and sharpness are of professional quality. Im guessing you are a pro photographer but you still need a good camera to get those pics. Sorry Im a Camera salesman and have been looking to get a new DSLR and was wondering what kind of setup you have. And did I mention I love you trip pictures!
Belle Ella
12-01-2010, 09:59 AM
I know you probably get asked this a lot but what camera are you using? Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous. The colors, extremely low noise level, and sharpness are of professional quality. Im guessing you are a pro photographer but you still need a good camera to get those pics. Sorry Im a Camera salesman and have been looking to get a new DSLR and was wondering what kind of setup you have. And did I mention I love you trip pictures!
Thank you!
I'm definitely not a pro by any means, I'm still learning a lot about photography but it's something that I love (especially at Disneyland). I've been shooting with a Nikon D40 for the past 2 years now and I absolutely love it as my first DSLR. Treated me well, it has.
Markie Mouse
12-01-2010, 10:31 AM
Maybe I should buy a book on photography then because my pics with my Sony a55 don't even come close to looking that good. Feel free to check out my TR and tell me what I'm doing wrong with my camera. LOL. Im looking forward to any future TR you have because they are very detailed and the pics help immerse everyone into your experience.
Belle Ella
12-01-2010, 10:58 AM
Maybe I should buy a book on photography then because my pics with my Sony a55 don't even come close to looking that good. Feel free to check out my TR and tell me what I'm doing wrong with my camera. LOL. Im looking forward to any future TR you have because they are very detailed and the pics help immerse everyone into your experience.
It would be a good place to start. I highly recommend a basic digital photography class if you can ever find the time (I know, not always feasible, especially with family). I learned so much from the course that I took which really helped my photography. It got me to step away from shooting auto and setting functions myself which can drastically improve the quality. Two very important things to learn about are aperture and shutter speed. I know there's a pretty awesome photography board somewhere here on the DIS with some highly knowledgeable individuals who might be of help as well.
I actually have at the very least 1 upcoming trip, at the end of December. I should be down in SoCal the week after Christmas which is when I'm planning on getting my AP for many trips in 2011 but I'm wheeling and dealing to make a second Holiday trip sometime before Christmas. No idea if it will work out but here's to hoping.
Markie Mouse
12-01-2010, 11:13 AM
Awesome! My daughter Bella loves looking at your TR too because she says she likes Snow Wipes pictures. LOL. I'll be there on Dec 8th through 13th so hopefully I can get some good photos while there.
Belle Ella
12-01-2010, 12:40 PM
Awesome! My daughter Bella loves looking at your TR too because she says she likes Snow Wipes pictures. LOL. I'll be there on Dec 8th through 13th so hopefully I can get some good photos while there.
:goodvibes Aw. That's so cute. Tell her I said thank you! And good luck with your photos and I sure hope ya'll have a magical time next week!
Belle Ella
12-02-2010, 07:37 AM
Well, I'm not sure I'll be writing a PTR for this particular trip, but a kind of last minute change of plans has me leaving for SoCal on Sunday afternoon! I am going down to visit my BF and seeing as we both love Disneyland and it's right there it would be silly of us not to go. We'll be spending all day Monday at Disneyland and I will spend part of Tuesday and Wednesday there while he has to work (boo!). Looks like this time next week I will officially be a PAP holder.
:goodvibes
Belle Ella
12-02-2010, 05:18 PM
:woohoo:
I have made the decisiont hat tomorrow after work I am dropping by my Credit Union to pick up a 3-day PH that I can pay for in cash. This way, if it ends up working out, I can have one final MM before taking the AP plunge. It's so exciting. I'm really hoping that when I upgrade the PH that I can still keep it since it should be de-activated. It's a souvenir as far as I'm concerned. We'll see.
kaoden39
12-02-2010, 05:51 PM
:woohoo:
I have made the decisiont hat tomorrow after work I am dropping by my Credit Union to pick up a 3-day PH that I can pay for in cash. This way, if it ends up working out, I can have one final MM before taking the AP plunge. It's so exciting. I'm really hoping that when I upgrade the PH that I can still keep it since it should be de-activated. It's a souvenir as far as I'm concerned. We'll see.
I got really lucky last trip, I got a ticket for my GAD and the store let me keep it. I was thrilled I also kept all of my parking lot passes. I am geek like that.
Belle Ella
12-02-2010, 05:55 PM
I got really lucky last trip, I got a ticket for my GAD and the store let me keep it. I was thrilled I also kept all of my parking lot passes. I am geek like that.
You aren't alone. I love keeping little things. And I even remembered to grab a Jungle Cruise map back in September. I've wanted that one for a while. But I keep parking stubs, everything. And I always make sure to go home with at least one FP from every ride I used an FP for. I don't care if someone sees it as a waste. I like them.
Now wait, are you saying you got to keep your GAD ticket when you upgraded to an AP? I'm totally spacing but I didn't think ya'll used your GAD things for tickets, but the other things. Or did they just give you the ticket for show? I'm really hoping that if I ask for it, I can keep my PH.
kaoden39
12-02-2010, 05:59 PM
You aren't alone. I love keeping little things. And I even remembered to grab a Jungle Cruise map back in September. I've wanted that one for a while. But I keep parking stubs, everything. And I always make sure to go home with at least one FP from every ride I used an FP for. I don't care if someone sees it as a waste. I like them.
Now wait, are you saying you got to keep your GAD ticket when you upgraded to an AP? I'm totally spacing but I didn't think ya'll used your GAD things for tickets, but the other things. Or did they just give you the ticket for show? I'm really hoping that if I ask for it, I can keep my PH.
No, I got the pin hat gift thing. When redeeming for that at the store they gave me a ticket with Goofy on it and it was supposed to be redeemed for the gift but she let me keep mine.
Belle Ella
12-02-2010, 06:17 PM
No, I got the pin hat gift thing. When redeeming for that at the store they gave me a ticket with Goofy on it and it was supposed to be redeemed for the gift but she let me keep mine.
Ahhh! OK ;) I gotcha. That's pretty cool right there. I love holding on to things like that. I keep telling myself it's because I'm going to scarpbook it all someday. But who am I kidding. I just want it!
kaoden39
12-02-2010, 06:21 PM
Ahhh! OK ;) I gotcha. That's pretty cool right there. I love holding on to things like that. I keep telling myself it's because I'm going to scarpbook it all someday. But who am I kidding. I just want it!
Mine is in my wallet still. That way if I want to look at it I just pull it out. Lame I know.
Belle Ella
12-02-2010, 06:35 PM
No, not lame at all! My PH from September is still in mine. I love looking at it. Makes me feel all kinds of better.
kaoden39
12-02-2010, 06:41 PM
No, not lame at all! My PH from September is still in mine. I love looking at it. Makes me feel all kinds of better.
I do that with my AP too.:rolleyes1
Belle Ella
12-02-2010, 06:48 PM
I can imagine I will be doing just that with my AP once I actually have it in my hand! Ooohohohohoh. I'm so excited. For everything. Not just the AP. Just the whole thing.
kaoden39
12-02-2010, 06:51 PM
I can imagine I will be doing just that with my AP once I actually have it in my hand! Ooohohohohoh. I'm so excited. For everything. Not just the AP. Just the whole thing.
Of course you are.
Belle Ella
12-02-2010, 06:56 PM
:goodvibes
kaoden39
12-02-2010, 07:33 PM
:teleport:
Belle Ella
12-02-2010, 07:43 PM
I really like that one. Wish I was there already. Or I could teleport there. Or disapparate. Yeah, that would be awesome.
kaoden39
12-02-2010, 07:47 PM
I really like that one. Wish I was there already. Or I could teleport there. Or disapparate. Yeah, that would be awesome.
Wouldn't that be nice?
There are a few smilies that I love that is one and these are another few.:duck::bored::hyper2:
becstr
12-02-2010, 08:21 PM
Glad to hear you are heading back! Can't wait to see your pictures of all the Chrismas decor!:)
Belle Ella
12-02-2010, 08:44 PM
Glad to hear you are heading back! Can't wait to see your pictures of all the Chrismas decor!:)
Yay! Thank you. I'm so excited. Hopefully this will be the first of many visits to SoCal to see my BF and make a pit stop at Disneyland! I want 2011 to be amazing.
Belle Ella
12-04-2010, 10:11 AM
:headache: Everything in my life has decided to throw things at me, but even with my car being stolen for the second time in the span of 1 month nothing is stopping me from this. I even picked up a 3 day Park Hopper at my Credit Union yesterday. I'll give MM on Tuesday a try and if it doesn't work out (or even if it does) upgrade to my brand new AP after!
I leave tomorrow. :banana:
mvf-m11c
12-04-2010, 11:14 AM
Have a great trip to DL this week Jazz. :santa: I'm sorry to hear about your car.
kaoden39
12-04-2010, 01:47 PM
Have fun girly!! I hope you feel better!!
Belle Ella
12-04-2010, 10:13 PM
Have a great trip to DL this week Jazz. :santa: I'm sorry to hear about your car.
Thanks Bret!
Have fun girly!! I hope you feel better!!
And thank you Michele. I'm already feeling somewhat better, but that may be because I've been taking Dayquil all day. We'll see how well I make it through tonight and how I'm feeling after my drive, lol. I already told Jason that I may just pass out the second I get there. But hey, the plan is to relax and watch movies.
Alrighty!! Departure is tomorrow but I wont be checking in until ... well, I don't know. As soon as I shut it down I'll be packing her away and will not be checking in before I leave in the morning after work and a (hopefully) 2 1/2 hour nap. I hope to come home with tons of memories and tons of pictures!
klexen
12-04-2010, 10:58 PM
Alrighty!! Departure is tomorrow but I wont be checking in until ... well, I don't know. As soon as I shut it down I'll be packing her away and will not be checking in before I leave in the morning after work and a (hopefully) 2 1/2 hour nap. I hope to come home with tons of memories and tons of pictures!
Oh you will... You will. It will be like :wizard: :goodvibes
kaoden39
12-05-2010, 01:15 AM
Drive safely. And just have fun!!
Belle Ella
12-05-2010, 08:41 PM
Oh you will... You will. It will be like :wizard: :goodvibes
You know ... Sometimes I'm just not so sure. ;)
Drive safely. And just have fun!!
Thanks Michele! I got here all in one piece. And I didn't get lost or fall asleep behind the wheel. Not a once. Good thing, right?
kaoden39
12-05-2010, 08:43 PM
You know ... Sometimes I'm just not so sure. ;)
Thanks Michele! I got here all in one piece. And I didn't get lost or fall asleep behind the wheel. Not a once. Good thing, right?
Very good!!
And with no GPS?
Belle Ella
12-05-2010, 08:44 PM
Very good!!
And with no GPS?
Haha. Yeah, right. I borrowed my dads brand new GPS (that he's getting for Christmas :rotfl:).
kaoden39
12-05-2010, 08:47 PM
Haha. Yeah, right. I borrowed my dads brand new GPS (that he's getting for Christmas :rotfl:).
:rotfl:
I was thinking as I was typing that it was too bad yours was stolen with your car. We keep ours inside.
Belle Ella
12-05-2010, 09:38 PM
:rotfl:
I was thinking as I was typing that it was too bad yours was stolen with your car. We keep ours inside.
Well, thankfully I didn't keep my GPS inside my car. Just the cradle for the windshield mount. I wasn't going to drive down here with my GPS in my lap. Then I definitely would have crashed.
kaoden39
12-05-2010, 09:42 PM
Well, thankfully I didn't keep my GPS inside my car. Just the cradle for the windshield mount. I wasn't going to drive down here with my GPS in my lap. Then I definitely would have crashed.
Oh that sucks. I wonder if you can buy a replacement cradle? Maybe on amazon.com, you can find almost everything on there.
Belle Ella
12-06-2010, 09:13 AM
Oh that sucks. I wonder if you can buy a replacement cradle? Maybe on amazon.com, you can find almost everything on there.
That's the plan. If not from amazon.com we can or sure from Garmin's website. We just haven't ordered a new one yet. I spaced out and thought my mother had ordered one and so I didn't. Turns out I misunderstood her so it will be a while yet before I get it, lol.
Happy Monday! Guess who will be at Disneyland today!
DizNee Luver
12-06-2010, 09:37 AM
Have a great time at Disneyland Jessica!!!! :cool1:
Belle Ella
12-06-2010, 10:55 AM
Thank you Laurie!
We're having a very lazy morning. Just now starting to get ready :rotfl: So far Phase 1 of getting me to 'relax' on a Disney day is wokring. Normally I'm so go go go go go go go go go. I'm trying not to do that since tomorrow I will officially be an AP holder.
FlameGirl
12-06-2010, 01:13 PM
I can't believe I missed you by one day.
Belle Ella
12-07-2010, 08:37 PM
I can't believe I missed you by one day.
Aw, that's such a shame, huh?
Guess what everyone? I have an AP!!
kaoden39
12-07-2010, 08:42 PM
Aw, that's such a shame, huh?
Guess what everyone? I have an AP!!
:cool1:
where's_my_prince
12-07-2010, 08:43 PM
a duffy and a AP?! this is definitely a awesome trip!
cannot wait for your TR!!!!!
mvf-m11c
12-07-2010, 08:51 PM
Guess what everyone? I have an AP!!
:thumbsup2
Belle Ella
12-07-2010, 09:06 PM
a duffy and a AP?! this is definitely a awesome trip!
cannot wait for your TR!!!!!
Yup, a Duffy and an AP. I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it!! I got back from the Parks so we could eat dinner and I couldn't stop bouncing around just knowing that I can now go whenever I want. And Duffy gets his new outfit tonight. He's going with me tomorrow to see the big Duffy. I would have taken him today but he needed clothes!!
where's_my_prince
12-07-2010, 09:09 PM
Yup, a Duffy and an AP. I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it!! I got back from the Parks so we could eat dinner and I couldn't stop bouncing around just knowing that I can now go whenever I want. And Duffy gets his new outfit tonight. He's going with me tomorrow to see the big Duffy. I would have taken him today but he needed clothes!!
this post made me giggle!! i love it that you love your duffy so much!!:woohoo::woohoo: big Duffy is so adorable! (and he gives the best hugs)
Belle Ella
12-07-2010, 09:57 PM
this post made me giggle!! i love it that you love your duffy so much!!:woohoo::woohoo: big Duffy is so adorable! (and he gives the best hugs)
Duffy does give the best hugs. And he's my new profile picture on Facebook. :goodvibes
kaoden39
12-07-2010, 10:01 PM
Duffy does give the best hugs. And he's my new profile picture on Facebook. :goodvibes
I noticed that and I love it!!
Belle Ella
12-07-2010, 10:05 PM
I noticed that and I love it!!
:goodvibes I can't wait to see that PhotoPass picture. I'm getting another one tomorrow with my Duffy too.
kaoden39
12-07-2010, 10:10 PM
:goodvibes I can't wait to see that PhotoPass picture. I'm getting another one tomorrow with my Duffy too.
Sounds great. I love Duffy and I really want one too.
Rachael Q
12-08-2010, 03:56 PM
An AP, a Duffy, a D&B bag and a DBF who likes Disney, what more could a girl ask for?
Belle Ella
12-08-2010, 10:33 PM
Sounds great. I love Duffy and I really want one too.
He's the cutest. I took him with me today and just wait until you hear all about it. ;) You should get a Duffy for yourself whenever you get to go next. Or really, just let me know before I go down again at the end of the month and I can bring him to you.
An AP, a Duffy, a D&B bag and a DBF who likes Disney, what more could a girl ask for?
Another D&B ;)
But really, there's nothing else. Well, OK, that's a lie too. Now that I'm home (sigh) I have to face the car reality. So as soon as that is resolved for good this girl will have all she can ask for.
So, if you can't guess already I am back home. It feels good to be home but at the same time it doesn't. I've got some unpacking to do and laundry to get started, food to eat and pets to cuddle with to cheer me up. I'm excited to post my photos though!
where's_my_prince
12-09-2010, 12:30 AM
what d&b bag did you get?
seriously so anxious to see your pictures!:yay:
DizNee Luver
12-09-2010, 08:29 AM
Welcome home!!! Sounds like a very good trip.....even though it was a short one.......can't wait to see pics!!!
kaoden39
12-09-2010, 09:19 AM
He's the cutest. I took him with me today and just wait until you hear all about it. ;) You should get a Duffy for yourself whenever you get to go next. Or really, just let me know before I go down again at the end of the month and I can bring him to you.
Another D&B ;)
But really, there's nothing else. Well, OK, that's a lie too. Now that I'm home (sigh) I have to face the car reality. So as soon as that is resolved for good this girl will have all she can ask for.
So, if you can't guess already I am back home. It feels good to be home but at the same time it doesn't. I've got some unpacking to do and laundry to get started, food to eat and pets to cuddle with to cheer me up. I'm excited to post my photos though!
Oh I think I may take you up on that. I am going to need my Duffy fix.
I hope the car business can get resolved pretty quickly.
Belle Ella
12-09-2010, 01:12 PM
what d&b bag did you get?
seriously so anxious to see your pictures!:yay:
Sadly, I didn't come home with a new one. I'm thinking I may not be able to walk away without one when I go back after Christmas. Here's to hoping for Christmas money! I want one of the Princess ones next, either that or the larger white sketch bag.
Here's a quick one to hold you over ...
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1335.snc4/162782_10150132659968496_686398495_7945046_4724441 _n.jpg
Welcome home!!! Sounds like a very good trip.....even though it was a short one.......can't wait to see pics!!!
:hug: It was, very much so! I can't wait to go back.
Oh I think I may take you up on that. I am going to need my Duffy fix.
I hope the car business can get resolved pretty quickly.
Anytime, Michele. Just let me know before I go so I can plan it out. I've gt some coupons to use!!
where's_my_prince
12-09-2010, 01:33 PM
Sadly, I didn't come home with a new one. I'm thinking I may not be able to walk away without one when I go back after Christmas. Here's to hoping for Christmas money! I want one of the Princess ones next, either that or the larger white sketch bag.
Here's a quick one to hold you over ...
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1335.snc4/162782_10150132659968496_686398495_7945046_4724441 _n.jpg
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh so adorable!!!! such a cute photo jazz!!! and your Duffy got clothes!!!:lovestruc
Sherry E
12-09-2010, 01:36 PM
That really is an extra cute photo with you and Duffy!! (Well, the two Duffys, to be exact.)
Belle Ella
12-09-2010, 01:43 PM
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh so adorable!!!! such a cute photo jazz!!! and your Duffy got clothes!!!:lovestruc
He did get clothes! I picked them up for him on Tuesday so he would be all ready for his big day on Wednesday. There's definitely more to come.
I have a new Photoshop so I'm trying to get a handle on that so I can start editing my photos and get started.
That really is an extra cute photo with you and Duffy!! (Well, the two Duffys, to be exact.)
Little Duffy met big Duffy!
kaoden39
12-09-2010, 03:11 PM
Thank you I will take you up on it. I think that is just too sweet.
Belle Ella
12-09-2010, 04:51 PM
Look Michele, you were post #100. It feels so strange to be only at 100. Oh well.
I just edited photos from Monday (6th). Tuesday's will take longer since that was the day I took my DLSR. But I think I will start my TR either tonight or tomorrow afternoon when I get off work if anyone is interested, lol.
I have a book to read that I have been waiting a very long time for!!
kaoden39
12-09-2010, 05:51 PM
Look Michele, you were post #100. It feels so strange to be only at 100. Oh well.
I just edited photos from Monday (6th). Tuesday's will take longer since that was the day I took my DLSR. But I think I will start my TR either tonight or tomorrow afternoon when I get off work if anyone is interested, lol.
I have a book to read that I have been waiting a very long time for!!
Too bad you weren't there through today. Family Force 5 is playing at HOB in DTD and they are in Disneyland today. Wouldn't that be a kick?
Belle Ella
12-09-2010, 06:34 PM
That it would be!
kaoden39
12-09-2010, 06:46 PM
That it would be!
Nadaddy and Crouton are posting pictures on twitter on DCA.
wvnative
12-09-2010, 07:49 PM
LADIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know, I know. lol
Jazz, so glad you got to go again. We're hoping to go again in March when I plan to get us AP's as well so we can go again in November.
kaoden39
12-09-2010, 07:51 PM
LADIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know, I know. lol
Jazz, so glad you got to go again. We're hoping to go again in March when I plan to get us AP's as well so we can go again in November.
Hi there stranger!!
Belle Ella
12-10-2010, 07:40 AM
LADIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know, I know. lol
Jazz, so glad you got to go again. We're hoping to go again in March when I plan to get us AP's as well so we can go again in November.
Hey, hey! Good to see you again 'round these parts. It's so awesome to see us all getting AP's lately. Makes me all giddy inside.
OK, when I come home from work I shall begin with my brand new TR!!
where's_my_prince
12-10-2010, 10:49 AM
Hey, hey! Good to see you again 'round these parts. It's so awesome to see us all getting AP's lately. Makes me all giddy inside.
OK, when I come home from work I shall begin with my brand new TR!!
:cheer2::cheer2:
Belle Ella
12-10-2010, 04:53 PM
Psst ... Before I begin the new TR I have a secret to share. Look at my signature!!
Sherry E
12-10-2010, 05:00 PM
Psst ... Before I begin the new TR I have a secret to share. Look at my signature!!
I can see it but it's half cut off. I noticed that with the last ticker you had too. Does it look that way on your screen, where you can only see half of it?
Anyway, woo hoo! Jazz's Rockin' Eve is coming to a town near you!!:cool1:
Belle Ella
12-10-2010, 05:07 PM
I can see it but it's half cut off. I noticed that with the last ticker you had too. Does it look that way on your screen, where you can only see half of it?
Anyway, woo hoo! Jazz's Rockin' Eve is coming to a town near you!!:cool1:
Ack. It's doing that for you? Boo. It did for me until I cut a line of text out. I guess I'll take out Mr. Wizard smiley and that should do the trick. We've got a line limit to our signatures, right?
I love the names you come up with. That will probably make the final cut! But I officially got the time off approved today, and I think the plan is to drive down on the 30th and drive home on the 4th. I know NYE will be insane, but if I prepare myself for it all should be well right? I told Jason that I really want to see the fireworks at DLR for NYE. Even if it means doing nothing but sitting on Main Street all day and doing nothing else.
Sherry E
12-10-2010, 05:24 PM
Ack. It's doing that for you? Boo. It did for me until I cut a line of text out. I guess I'll take out Mr. Wizard smiley and that should do the trick. We've got a line limit to our signatures, right?
I love the names you come up with. That will probably make the final cut! But I officially got the time off approved today, and I think the plan is to drive down on the 30th and drive home on the 4th. I know NYE will be insane, but if I prepare myself for it all should be well right? I told Jason that I really want to see the fireworks at DLR for NYE. Even if it means doing nothing but sitting on Main Street all day and doing nothing else.
Yes - I only see the top half of the ticker, going horizontally across. I think there is a limit to the signatures, but I'm not sure what it is. I know that every now and then I see things in people's signatures that are half-cut off too, so it happens a lot.
Strangely, I tend to come up with better titles or slogans for other people's TR's than for my own!:rotfl2: I have no clue why, but sometimes I just look at a TR and something pops into mind right away. And that was the first thing I thought - "Jazz's Rockin' Eve." I will be honored if it makes the final cut!!
I think that as far as NYE goes, knowledge is a huge part of the battle. Many people probably go in with blinders on, not having any clue what they are in for. At least you've heard the stories of what to expect - so if it doesn't turn out to be as bad as what you've heard, that'll be awesome!! And if it does turn out to be a hideous, scary mess, you'll have Jason with you and you guys will be able to escape somewhere where it isn't as bad (like my friend and I sought refuge in Tomorrowland when we finally escaped Main Street). Quite possibly, DCA won't be as bad as DL is on NYE. And if it is, you can lounge around the hotels. I think there are more options nowadays of what to do on NYE at DLR than there were back when I did NYE. That's not to say that it won't still be a madhouse, but at least you will go in expecting the madhouse.
At least you'll be able to say you did NYE at DLR. You'll have that experience. You'll be able to directly compare the pre-Christmas crowds with the post-Christmas crowds. And even if the lines are so abysmal that you can't get on any rides (worst case scenario), at least you did plenty of rides on your pre-holiday trip and back in September!!
Make sure to take advantage of all the hungover guests who are sleeping in on January 1st and head to the parks in the morning!! That's quiet time! Then about noon-ish, the sleeping giants come to life!!:rotfl2:
klexen
12-10-2010, 05:54 PM
I know NYE will be insane, but if I prepare myself for it all should be well right? I told Jason that I really want to see the fireworks at DLR for NYE. Even if it means doing nothing but sitting on Main Street all day and doing nothing else.
Sounds like a plan to me. I don't care if we have to wait on Main Street all day for a good spot. I think it's going to be worth it. We'll just have to go in that day knowing we're there for one purpose, and that's all we need to worry about it. We'll have all the other days to do whatever we want to do. I'm soooo excited! :goodvibes
Belle Ella
12-10-2010, 08:32 PM
Guess who's back at it again?
Well, if you guessed Jiminy Cricket you would be wrong, so I sure hope that your guess was little old me because I'm actually here to do something I didn't think I would get to do anytime within the next 5 years (or more) and it's actually twofold! I officially get to write a Holiday TR and write it as a Premium AP holder to boot. If that's not exciting (and I fully recognize that it's probably more exciting for me) then I don't know what is. What I do know is that I finally got to really enjoy the Holiday season at Disneyland, not that sour-faced brat tainted trip I took back in 2003 where I was too put off by my parents to really do anything but lounge around the GCH.
But this trip wasn't just about Disney, but about taking advantage of my days off to go see my boyfriend, Jason. I just can't complain about the proximity to the Happiest Place on Earth and always plan to take advantage of it when I can. I've sure got my priorities straight, huh? :rotfl:
So ... let's get down to DIS-ness!
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q178/SharksGirl91086/MerryHoliday.png
Technically Day 1 (or departure day) isn't one worth mentioning. I take that back, it's not completely true, it's just not the focus of my Trip Report because DLR wasn't involved and therefore I'll keep it to myself. But I can say this: it was a long day! I had to work overnight Saturday on no sleep and got off at 6a on Sunday, December 5 with the intentions of taking as long of a nap as I dared before loading the rental car (my stolen car drama is a tale for another day if you haven't already heard it) and hitting the road. I was thinking I would probably be leaving sometime around noon but as it turns out I was too excited to sleep. I was awake no later than 8:30a and very antsy to hit the road. I'm pretty sure I was on the freeway no later than 9:30a and ready for a long drive. A very long, and a very boring drive. But the good news is that boring means uneventful and uneventful means I got there in one piece, barring my extreme exhaustion. But for the most part I was too tired to care. All we did was relax, eat, watch Aladdin and some TV shows before I was ready to completely pass out for the night which is not as easy as I would like it to be when I am exhausted. The plan for the next morning was simple: relax and get ready for our one and only Disney day together whenever we felt like it. I didn't know if I could do it, but I was going to try my hardest not to stress out about getting everywhere right on time (or better yet, early) for the first time.
Again, easier said than done.
I started off Day 2 much earlier than I intended. As exhausted as I was and as early as I fell asleep I was in for a restless night. I wanted to wake up no later than 7:30a simply for the fact that I needed to get used to being awake during the day again, but I woke up on my own sometime between 4 and 5a and I could not fall back asleep. Eventually the sun would rise and the slow morning would continue with the best breakfast ever (brown sugar pop tarts and orange juice) and getting ready. I can't tell you how strange it was when Park opening rolled around and I wasn't already at the gates waiting to enter. I have no idea what time we actually left, but my best guess was that it was around 9 or 9:30a. Might I also add that for the first time since splurging on my wonderful and trusty worthy Nikon back in 2008 I would be leaving the DSLR behind and taking on a day at Disneyland with nothing but my small little Nikon L22 P&S? I didn't think it would even be possible, but I did! I like to think I was successful with the whole 'taking it easy' aspect to begin the day, but I might be biased. Eventually one thing would then lead to another, we hit the road and at 10:11a I was about ready to jump out of my seat in the car when I saw this ...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5247077669_c677cf0a86.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247077669/)
home sweet home at last
This was my first time parking in the Mickey & Friends structure and I am so confused by how they actually direct people where to go. The layout makes no sense to me but I just know that it works and even I can get in and get out (but that's another story for another day). I just remember that we parked in Goofy's level and before I knew it we were off to hop on a tram and go to DISNEYLAND!! Nope, I wasn't excited at all! After getting through the bag check quickly we hoped into a very short line and entered the park. I was already getting excited from what decorations I could see before entering and after that magical little whistle of entrance I was definitely in my happiest place.
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We ended up heading towards Adventureland as our first destination, determined to hit Indiana Jones first thing but of course as luck would have it the ride was down and we decided to go for my new favorite ride ever, BTMRR after grabbing a couple of fast passes for HMH knowing that we would need them later in the day. The line was already insane so we would come back later when we could skip the madness. Things weren't starting off with a bang at this point because as we got to Frontierland we found that BTMRR was also down! Just our luck. It wasn't the end of the world but I had been so excited for those two rides before anything else. We decided then to 'settle' for POTC, as if this were really such a hard thing to stomach!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5247682840_ca3c02831d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247682840/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5247080301_67a1b02a29.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247080301/)
A five minute wait it definitely was not, but I suppose they can't fit the word "walk on" in that little wait time display, can they? I did learn something new about POTC, something that (a) I didn't know was completely possible and (b) I feel rather idiotic for not noticing before, but at the very end of the ride when the pirates are shooting at one another I did not realize that the very last guy who aims his gun at you shoots water! How it is possible in all my years of experiencing this ride I did not notice this little fact just boggles my mind. And it was something I would learn first hand more than once over this 3-day span.
After POTC we decided it was worth checking to see if we could make a reservation for BB later that day. Have I mentioned in the past how much I love, love, love BB? While Jason inquired about seating I decided to just look at the decorations in NOS and grab a couple of not-so fantastic photos with my P&S.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5247681974_0bb93d1176.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247681974/)
I love this color scheme in particular, one guess as to why
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I've always had a little trouble making same-day reservations at BB but we were in luck and we would get to have a delicious lunch at my favorite restaurant ever at 2:15p. In the meantime we made our way back to IJ to see if we would have any luck this time or if the ride was still down. Thankfully it was not and we even hard a pretty short wait. I even got to drive. If that doesn't scare anyone off, nothing ever will! ;)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5082/5247083777_6c3791fb99.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247083777/)
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I'm sure we all have our favorite 'door' when it comes to IJ. For me, I just love trying to guess which one it will be. I really like the purple gate simply because that chamber is the one that has the 'stars' above. I still find it fascinating that wall movements and lighting tricks can make that single track and single chamber feel like 3 completely different ones.
... to be continued ...
Sherry E
12-10-2010, 09:43 PM
Off to a rollicking start!!
I wish you wouldn't say that your photos with the P&S are not-so-fantastic. I think you are too hard on yourself. To begin with, if you didn't say anything like that first, I guarantee that none of us reading your TR would even think of it. It wouldn't even cross our minds, i.e., "Gee, that Jazz is really slipping. Her photos are not so fantastic this time." We probably wouldn't even give it a second thought that you used a P&S. And secondly, if you think your P&S photos are not so fantastic, what does that say about the rest of us and our photos?:rotfl2:
From what I have seen so far, your photos are great - the colors and composition are lovely!
I wonder if you agree - as magically enchanting as DLR is during the holidays (why did I just feel the need to say "magically enchanting" in a Lucky Charms leprechaun 'magically delicious' kind of way to myself?), I actually like what they do over the turnstiles for Halloween much better. Overall, as a whole, of course, I love the holidays at DLR beyond reason and certainly more than I love Halloween Time. But if we are only talking above-turnstile decor, I think the character pumpkins are much more clever and interesting to look at than the snowflake motif they've got going now, which I find kind of lackluster. Does that make any sense?:rotfl2:
I'm so glad to hear you got in another Blue Bayou meal!
mvf-m11c
12-10-2010, 09:54 PM
Very nice pics Jazz. :thumbsup2
Belle Ella
12-10-2010, 10:01 PM
Off to a rollicking start!!
I wish you wouldn't say that your photos with the P&S are not-so-fantastic. I think you are too hard on yourself. To begin with, if you didn't say anything like that first, I guarantee that none of us reading your TR would even think of it. It wouldn't even cross our minds, i.e., "Gee, that Jazz is really slipping. Her photos are not so fantastic this time." We probably wouldn't even give it a second thought that you used a P&S. And secondly, if you think your P&S photos are not so fantastic, what does that say about the rest of us and our photos?:rotfl2:
From what I have seen so far, your photos are great - the colors and composition are lovely!
I wonder if you agree - as magically enchanting as DLR is during the holidays (why did I just feel the need to say "magically enchanting" in a Lucky Charms leprechaun 'magically delicious' kind of way to myself?), I actually like what they do over the turnstiles for Halloween much better. Overall, as a whole, of course, I love the holidays at DLR beyond reason and certainly more than I love Halloween Time. But if we are only talking above-turnstile decor, I think the character pumpkins are much more clever and interesting to look at than the snowflake motif they've got going now, which I find kind of lackluster. Does that make any sense?:rotfl2:
I'm so glad to hear you got in another Blue Bayou meal!
:rotfl: I am so, so, so hard on myself with my photos. I wonder if the other DSLR owners feel the same way when it comes to using a P&S. I just can't help but look at the photos and think just what I would have done differently if I was using my DSLR be it in the shutter speed or aperture or even the focus. And not being able to go in and fine tune everything while editing just drives me bananas. I suppose I'm a little OCD that way. I do like the convenience, but I don't think I want to try the leave the big camera at home thing very often in the future. I'll mention it more later on in the TR but I had so many of those moments where I was just kicking myself for not bringing it with me because I could have gotten a shot that I would have died for.
But thank you, Sherry!!
And I do agree with you about the decorations at the entrance. While I don't have anything against the snowflake design it feels a little disjointed to me from the decorations you see once you've entered and it seems a little ... I dunno what word I'm looking for. But it doesn't feel cohesive for me in the way that the pumpkins did for Halloween. The orange was everywhere. During the Holidays you don't really have that snowy/icy white/blue color scheme very many places. Once you've entered and when you're on main street it's all reds and greens, garlands, wreaths and lights. I think I'd love it even more if they did something similar at the entrance.
I'm glad I got another BB meal in as well! Although we both came to the conclusion it will probably be better to do dinner next time. We never finish everything we order and I would lave to take it with me but that's not really practical when you've still got hours and hours of Park time left.
Very nice pics Jazz. :thumbsup2
:goodvibes Thank you!!
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 12:21 AM
After a ride through IJ we made our way across DL to Fantasyland and towards IASWH. I had never, ever, ever seen the Holiday version of IASW before and I really wanted to at least one. I was sure it would be busier than I would be willing to get in line for more than once but I did have to at least once. My one condition though was that we had to go into Fantasyland from the Castle! I absolutely love to see SBC decorated for the holidays. It is absolutely beautiful, even in the daytime. I especially love the snow.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5247082275_7317c114b2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247082275/)
Walking through Fantasyland was as wonderful as always, even if it was as crowded as always minus the fact that Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was down. Here was something that I forgot to check in all the last minute packing and planing of getting this trip together: ride closures! Go figure, right? But that's alright. Other than IASWH it was pretty much an unspoken rule that we wouldn't be hitting up any of the Fantasyland attractions.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/5247683966_54e194a32b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247683966/)
But on to IASWH. I think I really like it more than the regular IASW. I think it may have something to do with the Christmas songs sung as well as the "It's a small world after all..." that give my parents nightmares. I think my favorite part was definitely the underwater scene where the "Jingle bells..." becomes "Jingle shells...". That was just too cute. The holiday version is so colorful and I loved the decorations and lights. The holiday version just makes IASW so much better for me. Very nice. The only thing that ruined the ride (and yes, I am exaggerating) was not having my DSLR with me. I really wanted some better shots from inside the ride but had to settle for what I had with me while making a mental note to come back on either Tuesday or Wednesday and make sure I got some then.
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i spy with my little eye ... an elephant pretending to be a bear
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After that we went back to Frontierland to finally get on BTMRR. Well, first we grabbed FP's for it and then hopped into the standby queue for the heck of it. It was a short wait (shorter than the 15 minutes posted) and well worth it. We were both a little saddened to see that the waterfall at the top of the first hill was shut off. Sure, it was a chilly day, but half of the fun for us is getting our hands full of as much water as possible and trying to soak one another. Oh well. It was still fun regardless. This would be the first of many (OK, only 6) rides on BTMRR and we kept track of every row we sat in. It always ends up working that we get one particular row a couple of times. Chance. Let's see ... we got 15, 8, 10, 10, 9 and 7. I don't really like the very last row very much. It felt much more subdued back there to me, but I'm pretty sure that's because you're the tail end to go up the hills and so it just feels slower. Or am I just crazy?
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After BTMRR we used our FP's for HMH before going on another favorite of mine -- strictly for the corny jokes. That's right, the infamous Jungle Cruise! As sad as I am to say it though, this was probably my worst experience on JC ever. It started out well enough. While we were getting into the boat I randomly quoted one of the jokes out loud ("...watch your head and mind your step. and if you miss your step and hit your head, please mind your language. Disneyland is a family place...") and the CM helping me in got a little chuckle out of that. Too bad our skipper was the most boring skipper in the universe. I really wanted to fall asleep. I have never wanted to fall asleep on JC ever. But the worst part? I got another lesson in spraying water that I didn't know about. I have never actually seen the baby elephant at the end of the ride with Trader Sam spray water before. Well, not only did I see it this time, I was sprayed full force in my back. GOLLY! That water was cold. I got pretty wet. I'm very glad I turned around at that second, otherwise my camera would have gotten a shower and that would have sucked. There has to be a first time for everything and this was the first time I couldn't wait to get off of that darn boat!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5247690178_ec03ed82d6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247690178/)
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http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5247086945_73439e4650.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247086945/)
... to be continued ...
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 11:14 AM
By then we decided it was time to walk over to NOS to check in for our 2:15p lunch at BB. We did stop for a PhotoPass picture in front of the castle, something we also wanted to do again at night, but had to do during the day as well. It's one of the few photos that we got together. And maybe I'll share it later down the road when we get the PhotoPass CD. I can't wait to see them all. But as for BB, we checked in and asked for a waterside table which we were perfectly OK to wait for. The CM didn't even give us the standard 45 minute wait I hear all the time. We got 15-30 minutes and a party sitting next to us got 45-60 minutes but they had a very large party. When we were finally taken to our table we seated next to another large party right at the water. There had to be over 7 people. I had always thought they wouldn't accommodate parties larger than 4 by the water, but it was nice to be proven wrong if it were ever something I wanted to consider. What more can I say about our lunch at BB. It was wonderful as always, especially because I ordered my absolute favorite: the cajun blackened salmon and gumbo to start. Delicious! Too bad I scarfed down a lot of bread before our food arrived because once again I only hate about half of it. There was too much food! I have come to the conclusion that I would rather eat at BB as the last thing I do before I leave so I can take home some leftovers. Jason seemed to agree with me as he didn't finish his Monte Cristo sandwich either. I like to think I have somewhat bright ideas on occasion, lol.
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Back to the rides we went after BB and we ended up going over to IJ to use our FP's from earlier. We also went back on BTMRR a couple of times for good measure. But by this point the weather was really starting to bite! Well, I only mean that it was getting colder and our sweaters were still in Jason's car because we hadn't felt like renting a locker. We were going to need them soon. So we decided to walk back towards the trams and the car to get them before continuing on for the night. We had plans to watch the fireworks, although we had yet to decide where from, and we wanted to try and fit in the parade as well. Of course, by this time people were already lined up along Main Street for the parade and there wasn't a lot of sitting room left on the curb. I ended up staying to stake out a good spot for us while he went off to go get our sweaters. It seemed like a good plan to me. To keep myself busy while he was gone I chatted with the people sitting near me and took photos of what I could while staying seated while it continued to get darker and colder.
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I loved actually being on Main Street to watch all of the lights come on as they happened. We also got to watch the Main Street Marching Band go by as the went by for the Flag Retreat ceremony which I have yet to ever take the time to watch. But, really, Main Street is gorgeous when all lit up on any day of the year, but the holidays just make it that much more breathtaking. As for me ... well, my wait got a little lonely but it was OK. He was gone for what seemed like forever, but he made it back before the parade would start with the added bonus of my sweater! I really need it by that point because I was fuh-reeeeee-zing! And I was told that I might end up having to sit in the back seat on the drive home because he had to give someone a ride. Uh ... what?! But that was really the last he mentioned of it and we settled in to watch the parade which I was so excited to see! It's been a very long time since I got to sit and watch a parade at Disneyland, seeing as I never had any desire to do any more than listen to Celebrate! as I walked by. And the Christmas Fantasy Parade did not disappoint. But once again I was left longing for my DSLR. It was a shame I decided to leave it behind on the only day I would be there at night!
But here are some photos anyway!
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http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5247704716_4fb6453c6c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247704716/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5247102073_446f2058a6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247102073/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5082/5247101045_b1b0d6d72d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247101045/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5247709652_833b5c3968.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247709652/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5247708884_252e9e1835.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247708884/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5247105665_291f6766c3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247105665/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5247711238_2ba33f7ee7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247711238/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5049/5247710692_6329423272.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247710692/)
... to be continued ...
Sherry E
12-11-2010, 11:26 AM
I only have a quick second to pop in. I'm going to start the Christmas thread, Part 2, really quickly (in case Part 1 reaches its limit while I am gone, and it might because the pages are moving faster and it's getting closer to that 250-page mark) and post something in my TR, and then I won't have time to get back onto the DIS until I get back home later in the week (either late on Wednesday or possibly Thursday, but we'll see;)).
I just wanted to say that "disjointed" is a good word for the snowflake turnstile decor. I certainly think that 'flakes have their place in any kind of Christmasy, wintry overlay, but you're right. The coloring is a bit disconnected from what's going on elsewhere in the park. It doesn't match Main Street. It doesn't match NOS. It doesn't match ToonTown. It almost feels to me like they didn't want to do anything character-oriented in that spot for the holidays, so they just stuck the snowflakes there so it didn't look empty.
But if they could do such clever, interesting character pumpkins for Halloween Time and put those above the turnstiles, I don't see why they couldn't do character snowmen - or snow people. That way they could keep the snow theme, but it would be much more interesting to look at.
I love those portly snowmen in the parade!!
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 12:02 PM
I only have a quick second to pop in. I'm going to start the Christmas thread, Part 2, really quickly (in case Part 1 reaches its limit while I am gone, and it might because the pages are moving faster and it's getting closer to that 250-page mark) and post something in my TR, and then I won't have time to get back onto the DIS until I get back home later in the week (either late on Wednesday or possibly Thursday, but we'll see;)).
I just wanted to say that "disjointed" is a good word for the snowflake turnstile decor. I certainly think that 'flakes have their place in any kind of Christmasy, wintry overlay, but you're right. The coloring is a bit disconnected from what's going on elsewhere in the park. It doesn't match Main Street. It doesn't match NOS. It doesn't match ToonTown. It almost feels to me like they didn't want to do anything character-oriented in that spot for the holidays, so they just stuck the snowflakes there so it didn't look empty.
But if they could do such clever, interesting character pumpkins for Halloween Time and put those above the turnstiles, I don't see why they couldn't do character snowmen - or snow people. That way they could keep the snow theme, but it would be much more interesting to look at.
I love those portly snowmen in the parade!!
:woohoo: Sherry's going to Disneyland!! Sherry's going to Disneyland!!
I would so love to see some snowmen characters at the turnstiles. That could be so cute. And I know it would get me super excited just waiting to get in. Or ... how about some gingerbread characters! ;)
What I love most about those snowmen is that they make me think of the 7 Dwarfs, lol.
Sherry E
12-11-2010, 12:12 PM
:woohoo: Sherry's going to Disneyland!! Sherry's going to Disneyland!!
I would so love to see some snowmen characters at the turnstiles. That could be so cute. And I know it would get me super excited just waiting to get in. Or ... how about some gingerbread characters! ;)
What I love most about those snowmen is that they make me think of the 7 Dwarfs, lol.
Yes, great idea! They could certainly borrow the gingerbread character motif of some of their merchandise and put big ginger-people above the turnstiles! Ginger people or snow people would be so much better than what they've got now, and it would fit much better with what they do for Halloween.
Thsoe parade snowmen do have little personalities of their own. I just love their chubby cheeks!!
Anyway, I started Part 2 of the Christmas thread, so I will be anxious to see who posts the first photos in it (I may not find out until I get back!).
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 12:15 PM
I wont lie, I'm tempted to go do it right now :lmao: Just to be first, lol. Too bad I still have to edit all of the photos of decorations I took on Day 2 which was my DSLR day. I cannot wait to see those ones.
Sherry E
12-11-2010, 12:17 PM
I wont lie, I'm tempted to go do it right now :lmao: Just to be first, lol. Too bad I still have to edit all of the photos of decorations I took on Day 2 which was my DSLR day. I cannot wait to see those ones.
Do it!! Get in there with something! Take something from your TR and copy it over there!:rotfl2: No one else is posting yet, I don't think. You'll be the first!!
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 12:27 PM
:rotfl: I did. I just couldn't help myself. And I'm almost finished with typing up the last bit of Day 1 so I had the rest of the photos already listed out, lol.
where's_my_prince
12-11-2010, 12:45 PM
awesome TR so far Jazz!!!!
i noticed a giant stuffed duffy on the parade float;)
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 12:46 PM
awesome TR so far Jazz!!!!
i noticed a giant stuffed duffy on the parade float;)
Yup! He was keeping Donald Duck company!!
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 12:49 PM
Here are a few more photos from the Christmas Fantasy parade!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5247110665_d02580a83f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247110665/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5247110175_cab45e1f73.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247110175/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5247109733_fbca7bde88.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247109733/)
it's snow white!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5247109339_50b60287dc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247109339/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5247714592_c33459cd65.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247714592/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5041/5247111727_f553780e4d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247111727/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5247111361_7f4138e885.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247111361/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5247113861_304b2bfba0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247113861/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5244/5247113377_4aff7eded2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247113377/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5247715092_2801388fd3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247715092/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5247714844_d7729b42b4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247714844/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5247115619_62f5375597.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247115619/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5243/5247717452_7cc039be99.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247717452/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5247717028_a02b8e4871.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247717028/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5247719412_1bb1c1361e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247719412/)
After the parade was over the rest of the night was about 2 things: getting photos in front of the castle and the tree, and getting a few more rides in before heading out for the night. I have no idea what order they went in but I remember we definitely hit up BTMRR (which is when we realized the Park closed an hour later than we thought originally) and JC. If you have never been on the Jungle Cruise at night, you are sorely missing out. Everything on that ride is so much better in the dark! The CM's have more fun, the jokes are funnier ... everything is just better! Our skipper was probably the best I've ever had and I remember Jason hanging back to say something to the CM's as we were leaving. They were very quick to say that JC at night is the best time to stop by and I'll stand by it!
Somehow I was still awake enough to stay past 8p, despite waking up before 5a with very little sleep over span of the weekend. Before we left we did make sure to get a PhotoPass picture in front of the castle and the big Christmas tree. I can't wait to see them on the account, so you'll have to wait as well. I have one more trip to fit on there before I even think about ordering the CD.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5247718958_de78a4870c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5247718958/)
Now, before I close out Day 1 I do have one last thing to mention. That pesky little 'friend' we had to give a ride home too and who might end up kicking me to the back seat. When we got back to the parking garage there was a surprise waiting for me in the front seat -- my very own Duffy!! I didn't get a photo of him safely buckled in the passenger seat, I was too excited to give him a big teddy bear hug! He was the best surprise of the weekend (or the weekend in my crazy schedule)!! I had completely forgotten that we had made a quick stop by DCA to check out some prices on the Mr. Potato Heads and I just had to point out Duffy while we were there. He's so cute and cuddly! I have to say we both (Duffy and I) kind of dozed off on the drive while listening to Christmas music. It was the perfect ending for the day, it was.
kaoden39
12-11-2010, 01:28 PM
I spotted Jiminy Cricket on a float didn't I? That is great. I have never seen him at the park at all. Not in a parade or anything.
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 01:33 PM
Yup, you sure did! I was so excitied to see Jiminy Cricket!
kaoden39
12-11-2010, 01:37 PM
Yup, you sure did! I was so excitied to see Jiminy Cricket!
Great minds think alike!!
Interesting email I got. There is another website that has a store that they sell park things. I am sure you know the one. It had Duffy outfits from WDW. Like a Canadian one, a Chinese one, etc. They were so cute!!
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 02:08 PM
They had those outfits at DCA. I remember seeing ... 5 in all? The sailor outfit, the Canadian one, the Chinese one, a Mexican one, and some baseball clothes. Too bad they didn't have a Christmas outfit for Duffy that was seperate from the smaller Duffy bear that came with them. That would have been cute. I hope they come out with more soon.
kaoden39
12-11-2010, 02:10 PM
They had those outfits at DCA. I remember seeing ... 5 in all? The sailor outfit, the Canadian one, the Chinese one, a Mexican one, and some baseball clothes. Too bad they didn't have a Christmas outfit for Duffy that was seperate from the smaller Duffy bear that came with them. That would have been cute. I hope they come out with more soon.
I am sure they will. There is a huge market for them. It makes me glad I sew. My Duffy will have a wardrobe.
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 02:18 PM
It's reason enough for me to give sewing a try. Duffy needs new clothes. But I'll probably mess everything up. I'm generally no good at making things. I'll just wait to see what they come up with.
kaoden39
12-11-2010, 02:21 PM
It's reason enough for me to give sewing a try. Duffy needs new clothes. But I'll probably mess everything up. I'm generally no good at making things. I'll just wait to see what they come up with.
You light be amazed at yourself.
amamax2
12-11-2010, 05:07 PM
*Sigh*
Loving your TR, as always, Jazz. I always feel so warm and fuzzy afterwards, if the makes sense...like a good novel.
If I'm not overstepping in making this comment....It is so cool to see the contrast in the picture with Jason from this trip compared with the last trip. In those, you could see the relationship was new - you both seemed extremely happy - but like you didn't really know how to be with each other - how close to stand in the picture, where to put your hands, etc. In this one, you clearly are so comfortable now.
And your pictures are AMAZING - I cannot believe what you can do with a camera. You make me feel completely inadequate....hey, maybe your TR doesn't make me feel so warm and fuzzy after all. :rotfl:
Can't wait for the next installment!
It's reason enough for me to give sewing a try. Duffy needs new clothes.
At least some pants, poor thing. I was shocked that you only bought him a top and were parading him around like that. :rotfl2:
Keep it coming, pretty please.
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 06:01 PM
*Sigh*
Loving your TR, as always, Jazz. I always feel so warm and fuzzy afterwards, if the makes sense...like a good novel.
If I'm not overstepping in making this comment....It is so cool to see the contrast in the picture with Jason from this trip compared with the last trip. In those, you could see the relationship was new - you both seemed extremely happy - but like you didn't really know how to be with each other - how close to stand in the picture, where to put your hands, etc. In this one, you clearly are so comfortable now.
And your pictures are AMAZING - I cannot believe what you can do with a camera. You make me feel completely inadequate....hey, maybe your TR doesn't make me feel so warm and fuzzy after all. :rotfl:
Can't wait for the next installment!
:goodvibes
AW. You've put a big old smile on my face. I'm glad you enjoy it! I know how I feel after a really good book so that's pretty high praise. And don't worry, it's not overstepping. ;) Especially since it's true. We were still getting to know each other back in September (was that really almost 3 months ago?) and a lot has changed since then. So glad you love the pictures! I know what you feel about them making you feel inadequate at times. I get the same feeling from others which is probably what really made me cave and ask for a new lens for Christmas! It's a fun thing to learn a little more about.
Working on the start of day #2 right now! There will be tons more photos this time around.
At least some pants, poor thing. I was shocked that you only bought him a top and were parading him around like that. :rotfl2:
Keep it coming, pretty please.
:rotfl: That's too funny. Even more funny is the sailor outfit didn't come with pants! I'll have to get the safari outfit next time so we can be ready for Indy. Then he'll have shorts!
kaoden39
12-11-2010, 06:17 PM
Honestly if you learn to sew the pants are the easiest things to make.
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 06:23 PM
Honestly if you learn to sew the pants are the easiest things to make.
Alrighty!! I think my resolution this year will be to learn to sew, and make some pants for Duffy!
kaoden39
12-11-2010, 06:25 PM
Alrighty!! I think my resolution this year will be to learn to sew, and make some pants for Duffy!
I'll look for an easy pattern next time I go to a store that sells patterns.
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 06:29 PM
I'll look for an easy pattern next time I go to a store that sells patterns.
Yay. That sounds awesome, Michele!
Just seconds away from posting the start of day 2!
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 06:30 PM
Day 2 was going to be the first of my 2 solo and shorter Disney days. The problem with my 'weekend' being during the week when it came to visiting Jason was the fact that he has to work during the week. Alright, alright, somebody might have 'taken a day off' on Monday but he did have to go back to work on Tuesday which left me to fend for myself during the daytime until he got off. My original plan was to attempt to make it in time to enjoy one last Magic Morning before becoming a first time AP holder, and I had pre-purchased a 3-day Park Hopper for this very reason. Well, let's just say by the time I woke up and even felt like doing anything close to getting ready to get going in the morning this just wasn't going to happen. Oh well, at least I had the option! But I did get up eventually. After breakfast (another morning of delicious Pop Tarts and orange juice) we both got ready and said goodbye. I definitely think I got the better deal! Disneyland beats going to work any day of the week. But hey, considering he's had Disney days while I've had to work ... let's just say we're even now. ;) But I did have every intention of leaving early so we would have time together after he got off work.
I had four goals for myself for the day, and they were as follows:
1. Upgrade my PH to a PAP.
2. Take my DSLR and get as many decoration photos as I could.
3. Meet up with fellow DIS'er merrrydeath who was there with her mom.
4. Get an outfit for Duffy. I wasn't going to bring him with me for a day with nothing to wear!
I suppose I could also add 'not getting lost' to the list, but I just didn't feel like including it. I've always been somewhat directionally challenged and this would be my first time driving to DLR for the day and using the parking garage on my own. I was a little worried I would get lost. But then I remembered I have a GPS. That thing has been a lifesaver for me and I had no trouble at all getting myself to the Mickey & Friends parking structure. I was actually excited to park on the Daisy Level and instead of using that card they give you to keep track of where I parked I decided to take a photo instead. I like Daisy Duck. Too bad I didn't keep the photo, lol. I got there pretty close to general opening and unlike the previous day when we hopped right on to the trams I had to wait, and wait, and wait as 3 trams filled up before I was able to get on. It was a shame because I was one tiny little person and I could have easily fit on one before then because there was room for one person every now and again but I don't like pushing my way through people like that. I had to remind myself: I will soon be an AP holder, there's no need to be in any kind of a hurry. The good thing was they had the trams lined up one right after another so it wasn't really that long before I was on board and all ready to go.
The lines were nice and short at the turnstiles and before long I was walking down Main Street with a quick stop to get a locker! I had no idea that they had re-done the lockers on Main Street and now you get to pick your own code. I'm pretty glad about that seeing as I could never remember them before. But the buttons for pushing them on the locker don't always register very well, I noticed. After texting Meredith to let her know I was there and find a time to meet up my next stop was the AP Processing Center at the Plaza Pavilion to upgrade my PH to something I never thought I would be able to call my own, an AP! I even made the call to go all out for the Premium AP so I would never have to worry about blackout dates and the free parking as well. It will still pay for itself considering how much use I plan to get out of it over the next 12 months. It's just a shame that we Northern California residents can't do the payment plan option as well as Southern California residents. But that was why I saved up money beforehand. Smart thinking, Jazz! Smart thinking. I guess I picked the best time to go in and upgrade. There was no line and I was able to just walk right in. It was hard not to skip over the the counter so we could get started. Who am I kidding. I totally skipped. The actual process of upgrading went smoothly. The CM didn't ask that many questions, just which AP I was upgrading to, what day I activated my PH and where I went first, Disneyland or DCA. They were all very simple questions to answer and I didn't mind at all. I was getting an AP for crying out lout. She could have had a list of questions and I wouldn't have cared. The next thing I knew I was getting my photo taken and she was handing over my brand spanking new AP!!
I snapped this pictures on my way out ...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5252485292_e63aa2b59c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5252485292/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5251876619_e772c9364e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251876619/)
The first thing I did was text Jason to let him know I officially had it in my hands and then I was just dying to go use it already. I was very tempted to simply walk back out of the Park and then back in just so I could use it for the first time, but I settled for using it to get a FP as soon as I could. What ride I would grab an FP first was a pretty easy decision. I just had to get one for BTMRR! I have become addicted to that ride. In fact, I think it has officially eclipsed my love for Indy which I did not think would be possible. Kudos to Jason for getting me to actually get on. So off to Frontierland I went!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5252486846_743cf212e4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5252486846/)
There it is!!
Along the way I stopped to enjoy some appropriately themed Christmas decorations that I absolutely adore!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5208/5251877407_b9500a1f93.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251877407/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5251877817_0e32840299.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251877817/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5252486574_608927e832.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5252486574/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5041/5252487182_f474a0d159.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5252487182/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5252487518_d435321076.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5252487518/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5252487812_2911352fe8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5252487812/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5161/5251879881_a0346ec583.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251879881/)
In the meantime I had heard back from Meredith and she and her family were in Toontown after they finished a tour of Fantasyland so I told her to let me know where she was headed afterward and we'd try and meet up. As for me? Why, I was heading to see my still-beloved Indy! I went ahead and stood in stand-by again although today I could definitely take advantage of the single rider line. But the posted wait was only 10 minutes so I figured why not. And it only ended up being about 9 minutes (I entered the queue at 10:20a and got in the vehicle at 10:29a), and I got to drive again! It's safe to say the white was actually shorter than that seeing as I stopped on occasion to try and get a photo, letting people pass me by, but that's just a technicality.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5249/5251880385_3afc882528.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251880385/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5252489012_c8bbaf4852.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5252489012/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5082/5251880889_16091b292f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251880889/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5252489548_8913cea64b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5252489548/)
On my way out of IJ I noticed I had a text from merrrydeath who was over at Santa's Reindeer Round Up so I went off on my way to go say hello! I took a couple of photos before I spotted her and her mom and then after that we just had to decide what to do. I had met her before when we went to a Rocky Horror showing back in October so it was fun to see her again and her mom was very nice!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5252490116_d0328370ed.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5252490116/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5252490780_4e9fed08dc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5252490780/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5162/5251882817_7b5ea2237d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251882817/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5251883329_924ee98158.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251883329/)
We ended up walking back to NOS where we first went on POTC. I completely remember the very end of the ride where I was telling Meredith how I never noticed that pirate shot water from his gun until the day before when once again, I was directly in the line of fire! Go figure, right? After hat we took the back way (towards the bathrooms) while heading over to HM to grab FP's and then just walk on anyway. We even stopped to take a couple of photos at the Court of Angels before heading over to HMH. I'm kind of sad they are using the Court of Angels as another little shop area. It's such a wonderful place for photos. Why can;t they either keep using it as a photo spot for Tiana, or at the very least have a PhotoPass opportunity over there. It's gorgeous. At least the ornament racks didn't get in the way of a couple of photos.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5246/5252492516_2feaeb131d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5252492516/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5251884659_c81ab760c9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251884659/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5251885081_0c91ba51f3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251885081/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5208/5251885571_0211317b81.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251885571/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5251885993_52d0da6d33.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5251885993/)
... to be continued ...
kaoden39
12-11-2010, 06:49 PM
I think that I love the themed wreaths the most.
Belle Ella
12-11-2010, 07:26 PM
What I loved the most should be in my next updated ;) But I love that it wasn't just generic wreaths everywhere, but that each one tied in with the land it was found in!
Belle Ella
12-12-2010, 06:43 PM
By the time the three of us exited from HMH Meredith and her mom were going to head off and get lunch. I was very tempted to join them when they asked, but I really wanted to get in some of that picture taking that I told myself I was going to do and the more I put it off the the less likely I knew I would be to get anything at all. So, we parted ways with plans to meet up again sometime before they had the Holiday tour and I had to leave for the day. We thought it would be cool to do a PhotoPass photo together, although at that point we had not decided where.
So I was back on my own at this point and since I was already in NOS I figured there was no better place for me to start photographing the decorations. It's hard for me to say I love the decorations in one area more than another, but the decorations in NOS are definitely up at the top of my list if I absolutely had to rank them. I just love the color schemes and the use of the masks. The whole area just seems to sparkle to me!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5281/5255450713_086d1a5098.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255450713/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5256064126_6259d8f047.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5256064126/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5281/5255451659_154cb29a32.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255451659/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5255452193_e66fe15dd6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255452193/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5256065638_1dbbe5eb82.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5256065638/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5256066458_747a7ea659.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5256066458/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5255454145_5f98db1974.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255454145/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5255454651_4beba3a2a7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255454651/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5255455139_52f17894d8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255455139/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/5255455669_34aebf658a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255455669/)
Just gorgeous!!
I couldn't go too long in between rides, however, and after that I had to go check out BTMRR where I got the very last row all to my lonesome. I still stand by my belief that the very last row in the very last car (15) is the slowest of them all, but some CM's seem to disagree with me, lol. Either way, I still love this ride! And you know what happened this day that didn't happen the previous day when I was there with Jason? The waterfall was working!! It just reinforced my idea that they probably turn the water off on the colder days, but it's possible that it was just not working. I had to text Jason to let him know what he was missing out on, lol.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5255456163_8b8d648af6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255456163/)
After BTMRR I went back to take some photos of the reindeer at Reindeer Round Up since I didn't get any before when I went to meet up with Meredith. This wasn't the first time I had seen Reindeer, but it's still not something that you see every day. And they are just too cute! There was even an extra little reindeer friend, only he wasn't a reindeer at all!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5255457253_69c22b793c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255457253/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5202/5255457787_089903d34f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255457787/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5255458721_abfc7c1524.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255458721/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/5256071858_d9c8fdd249.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5256071858/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/5256073340_cb83a13cbe.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5256073340/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5255461835_5f179f27d4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255461835/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5255461309_0b3f3a7e57.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255461309/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5041/5256070936_536f8607c1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5256070936/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5255462657_dedcf7d9e9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255462657/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5256075784_a233064710.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5256075784/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5255463521_781e9d1926.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5255463521/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5256072354_93d5472448.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5256072354/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5256212992_6a8676fb89.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5256212992/)
it's pluto!
... to be continued ...
kaoden39
12-12-2010, 06:55 PM
Hehehehe!! I love that picture of you and reindeer Pluto. I must admit I stole all of your pictures of the masks and posted them on tumblr. I had to share them with some WDW fans that have never seen DLR and NOS.
Belle Ella
12-12-2010, 11:21 PM
I can always count on Michele to be reading!! :hug:
Hehehehe!! I love that picture of you and reindeer Pluto. I must admit I stole all of your pictures of the masks and posted them on tumblr. I had to share them with some WDW fans that have never seen DLR and NOS.
:thumbsup2 No worries, so long as you let me know. I absolutely love those masks and I wish I had photographed them all, but I didn't. But hey, I'm going back so I can remedy that. And with a new lens as well!! NOS is just gorgeous -- anytime of the year!
DizNee Luver
12-13-2010, 12:09 AM
Beautiful pictures as always!! Reading your report & seeing the pictures makes me crave the holidays at Disneyland even more so.......heavy sigh. I'll just have to live thru these TR's to fill that need for now.
FlameGirl
12-13-2010, 07:33 AM
And with a new lens as well!! NOS is just gorgeous -- anytime of the year!
What kind of lens are you getting? I actually rented a lens to teat drive it for my trip and fell in love with it. Hard. :)
Belle Ella
12-13-2010, 09:32 AM
Beautiful pictures as always!! Reading your report & seeing the pictures makes me crave the holidays at Disneyland even more so.......heavy sigh. I'll just have to live thru these TR's to fill that need for now.
Thank you Laurie! Do you have any idea if/when you'll be able to get in a Holiday fix of your own? Some day, some day!
What kind of lens are you getting? I actually rented a lens to teat drive it for my trip and fell in love with it. Hard. :)
I'm getting a Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 for Christmas and I am so excited about it. I've borrowed someone's in the past and I am just dying for one of my own. I'm so excited to have it in time for my New Year's trip. I'll really have an excuse to go crazy with photos, just 'testing it out'! :rotfl:
FlameGirl
12-13-2010, 09:40 AM
THAT is the exact lens that I rented. I luuuuuuurved it. I'm looking into buying it now too. :)
Belle Ella
12-13-2010, 10:03 AM
THAT is the exact lens that I rented. I luuuuuuurved it. I'm looking into buying it now too. :)
:goodvibes Awesome to hear you loved it!! I am just giddy knowing I'm actually going to get it. I haven't gotten a new lens in a very long time but I really want to branch out from the kit lens it came with. It's served me well but there's only so much you can do with it, you know?
FlameGirl
12-13-2010, 10:17 AM
:goodvibes Awesome to hear you loved it!! I am just giddy knowing I'm actually going to get it. I haven't gotten a new lens in a very long time but I really want to branch out from the kit lens it came with. It's served me well but there's only so much you can do with it, you know?
The kit lens is nice but I totally get it. And I found that especially at DL where so much that I wanted to photograph was dim at best, having that nice wide aperture really made for dream shooting.
I'm currently working a deal with the place I rented it through to purchase it - they said they'd give me credit for renting it toward the purchase price. :woohoo:
Belle Ella
12-13-2010, 01:42 PM
The kit lens is nice but I totally get it. And I found that especially at DL where so much that I wanted to photograph was dim at best, having that nice wide aperture really made for dream shooting.
I'm currently working a deal with the place I rented it through to purchase it - they said they'd give me credit for renting it toward the purchase price. :woohoo:
I would sure hope they would do that! Otherwise it would be like paying for it twice, lol. But it's a perfect lens for Disneyland. I had totally forgot about the lens for a bit and looking at your photos and Laura's as well completely reminded me that I wanted a new lens. So I will be prepared for Disneyland this time!
FlameGirl
12-13-2010, 01:51 PM
That's nice of you to say. :goodvibes:
Belle Ella
12-13-2010, 02:19 PM
:goodvibes
kaoden39
12-13-2010, 02:55 PM
Of course I have been here. I am a faithful follower!!:goodvibes
Belle Ella
12-13-2010, 03:02 PM
Of course I have been here. I am a faithful follower!!:goodvibes
:hug: Yay!
kaoden39
12-13-2010, 03:06 PM
:hug: Yay!
princess:
DizNee Luver
12-13-2010, 04:18 PM
Thank you Laurie! Do you have any idea if/when you'll be able to get in a Holiday fix of your own? Some day, some day!
Mike says the next time we plan a trip, it will be during the holidays.......so whenever that is.......lol
Belle Ella
12-13-2010, 04:22 PM
Mike says the next time we plan a trip, it will be during the holidays.......so whenever that is.......lol
:thumbsup2 Well, at least it's a start!!
RedRosePrincess
12-13-2010, 05:35 PM
Your pictures from NOS are gorgeous! Can't wait to see more. :goodvibes
Belle Ella
12-13-2010, 05:39 PM
Your pictures from NOS are gorgeous! Can't wait to see more. :goodvibes
Thank you!! :goodvibes
Belle Ella
12-13-2010, 08:54 PM
Isn't Pluto just so adorable with his little reindeer antlers on? He's so festive. I did take another photo at Big Thunder Ranch since they had another PhotoPass opportunity right at the entrance (I think I'm a little too old for Santa photos -- that just would have been creepy) before going to the other side for some more photos. I think I ended up spending a good 10 minutes just debating about whether or not I should grab some food while I was there. I have been dying to try some of the BBQ from Big Thunder Ranch, but in the end I decided against it. That's what my next trip is for. When I don't have my DSLR in my hands. That would just be messy! One thing I did forget to photograph were these little placards they had posted with little reindeer facts. They were very cute!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5049/5259068895_953566d7d7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259068895/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5259678250_8bd75ef101.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259678250/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5259678994_18c23e7a88.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259678994/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/5259679494_03811e3ece.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259679494/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5127/5259679990_877baa65f3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259679990/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5244/5259071651_e5f61284a5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259071651/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5124/5259072087_41ac63a01e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259072087/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5259072675_3db8479a23.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259072675/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5208/5259681998_0dfe7b2572.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259681998/)
When I was satisfied with what photos I got for the time being I continued up the little side path towards Fantasyland so I could get photographs of the wreaths that decorate the plaza and promenade right in front of IASWH. While walking by on our way to IASWH I made a mental not to come back and photograph each and every one of them. They are all different, and some very clearly correlate to different Countries, parts of the world, etc. They fit in very well with the theme of IASW. There was a really big flaw in my plan to take these photos at this particular time: the sun was out and it was warming up fast! Let's just say I was regretting the decision to wear a long sleeved thermal for the day. Especially since the promenade area is all sun and hardly any shade at all. I got pretty warm!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5259073697_89f3e8b2e2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259073697/)
good ol' u.s.a.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5259074101_4ae0cb5129.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259074101/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5259075025_a554e5a4bc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259075025/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5249/5259088033_bbd609c7ce.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259088033/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5082/5259088537_419eb87a1f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259088537/)
england
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5167/5259697816_76b5f9b070.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259697816/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5001/5259698330_c732589feb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259698330/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5202/5259698980_59911bc56a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259698980/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5259090675_d3b0c500bf.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259090675/)
my guess would be china
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5259700190_287d00295f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259700190/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5259700768_4fe87a6036.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259700768/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5259701352_1461f1124d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259701352/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5259093397_c008356002.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259093397/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5259702776_9425064a16.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259702776/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5202/5259094569_4c9e48fd25.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259094569/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5259704036_4aac758e52.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5259704036/)
... to be continued ...
kaoden39
12-13-2010, 09:08 PM
I love how the color schemes change as well as the designs. I sincerely hope Disney pays the designers well because they really deserve it.
tdashgirl
12-13-2010, 09:35 PM
It's just a shame that we Northern California residents can't do the payment plan option as well as Southern California residents.
It really is :mad: Funny thing - I was on the Disneyland.com website today checking out the hopper prices (for DD15, and for her friend that she's bringing) and if you put a 3 day hopper in your shopping cart, a pop-up comes up that says "hey, did you know if you spend $143 more you can upgrade to Deluxe AP?" I thought that was funny. :rolleyes:
Belle Ella
12-14-2010, 10:41 AM
It really is :mad: Funny thing - I was on the Disneyland.com website today checking out the hopper prices (for DD15, and for her friend that she's bringing) and if you put a 3 day hopper in your shopping cart, a pop-up comes up that says "hey, did you know if you spend $143 more you can upgrade to Deluxe AP?" I thought that was funny. :rolleyes:
I think they were trying to tell you something ... that you weren't spending enough money!! ;)
I love how the color schemes change as well as the designs. I sincerely hope Disney pays the designers well because they really deserve it.
Everything is always so perfect! It's just like the schemes of each of the different parts of the world inside IASW. No two areas are exactly the same.
Belle Ella
12-14-2010, 01:01 PM
Before we move on here are a few more of the wreaths decorating the promenade in front of IASW ...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5261363494_5a0fa3210f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261363494/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5261364040_2f7d8f76ee.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261364040/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5260758479_a1e0cb899a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5260758479/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5250/5260759139_48ba658e5f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5260759139/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5207/5261366060_8d988a014f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261366060/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5261372586_72bf5b6979.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261372586/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5243/5260771757_5957ef7530.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5260771757/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5260773883_6233580617.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5260773883/)
hello canada!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/5261379416_e78e2691e0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261379416/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/5260774587_713fde514e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5260774587/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5261381108_37cfb6da7d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261381108/)
I don't always know exactly what is running through my mind when I decide where to go next. There is usual no other rhyme or reason than I felt like it, but since I was already in the area I grabbed the second best Disneyland snack according to me (churro) and veered to the left towards Tomorrowland. Actually, the whole reason behind this venture to my least-loved-Land was to keep an eye out for the penny machine located in the Little Green Men store. I am still on a pressed penny mission for my cousin who is using them to make jewelry and this one in particular had been out of commission during my last trip so I thought I would try again. Alas, no luck! It still wasn't working and at least this time they had some yellow tape covering the coin slot. I have a feeling I wont be very successful getting her entire list of pennies at this rate!
At that moment in time there wasn't anything to hold my interest in Tomorrowland so I just kept walking back towards the Castle. And you'll never guess who what duo I saw there! No really, I want you to guess, even though you'll probably see the photo before you even read this. I just like to give everyone an unfair advantage I guess, lol. But there must have been a magnetic pull on me toward Sleeping Beauty Castle because Snow White was out! The strange part, however, was who she was accompanied by. It's a shame I hadn't gotten there a few minutes earlier (darn my cousin's pressed penny quest!) so I could have gotten a photo before they left. But here she is, Snow White out and about with her stepmother, The Queen!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5260775625_9455a18039.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5260775625/)
That really brightened my day even more!
After seeing Snow White and The Queen out I was very much in the mood to get a couple of character photos. I ended up taking a route back to the lockers that took me through the shops so I could escape the sun (and keep an eye out for CM's with pin lanyards for trading) where I had to stop and take a photo of this tree and the adorable ornaments.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5261381990_b78dce08c3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261381990/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5261382280_5f2de5d7cc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261382280/)
I just loved it, and I especially loved that it matched the clothes that it was on display with as far as the color scheme went. But can you see why I photographed that particular ornament? It totally reminded me of the DIS!
Now I have no idea what I went to get from my locker, but I do know that my next stop was to see which characters were out in the winter finery! I remember how bummed I was back in September when I didn't get every one of Mickey and friends in their Halloween costumes and I really didn't want that to be the case again for Christmas. But if it were my goal would be to get photos with Mickey and Minnie for sure, even if it meant getting into the longest line imaginable! Luckily for me, this wasn't the case. The first character that I saw was a very tiny Minnie Mouse and her line was pretty short so I hopped in to say hello.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5260777075_6092c8eddf.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5260777075/)
Can you spot who is in the background? Of course it was Mickey Mouse! He had just popped back out from off stage and was moving with a purpose towards City Hall which meant he had no line yet! Talk about good timing, right? I was so excited. I hung around after I got my photo with Mickey to try and get some solo shots of him in between kids which can be a tricky thing to do since it technically looks like you're taking photos of other peoples children. :( Which I most definitely don't do, but it can be a tricky line to walk if you want solo character photos which I absolutely love to have. But I also don't want anyone to think I'm some creep or to get in trouble or anything. Is there any rule stated somewhere that you can't take a photo if your family isn't with the character, lol. One of the CM's spoke up and asked me if I was with the family who was running up to see Mickey while I took a couple of quick photos over their heads, which is what I told her I was doing. No harm no foul and if anyone ever does give me grief about it I have children-free photos to show if necessary. But I never want to be in the way so I left after that seeing as I got the photos that I wanted.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5260777675_2cbf2d7fff.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5260777675/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5261384518_49b26d5b2b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261384518/)
After seeing Mickey and Minnie I was content with my character photos for the time being which meant it was time to get a few more rides in. I was still trying to keep out of the sun so I meandered through the shops along Main Street once more, stopping to take photos every now and again of particular trees that I really adored. Just like the decorations that vary throughout the different Lands, the decorations in these shops all varied as well and I thought they tied in nicely to whatever they sold.
Like these that adorned a tree at the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor ...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5261384928_a4fe250548.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261384928/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5250/5261385438_c22ee10fbb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261385438/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5260779987_2728115242.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5260779987/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5261386296_ab132c0311.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261386296/)
i finally remembered to get a photo or two of "penny"
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5001/5261386718_21e2ba1f9a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261386718/)
And what would be more fitting than these from the tree at Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner ...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5261387054_99c01a0bbc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261387054/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5261387410_f53e409349.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5261387410/)
... to be continued ...
DisneyStitch626
12-14-2010, 01:13 PM
[FONT="Century Gothic"]A five minute wait it definitely was not, but I suppose they can't fit the word "walk on" in that little wait time display, can they? I did learn something new about POTC, something that (a) I didn't know was completely possible and (b) I feel rather idiotic for not noticing before, but at the very end of the ride when the pirates are shooting at one another I did not realize that the very last guy who aims his gun at you shoots water! How it is possible in all my years of experiencing this ride I did not notice this little fact just boggles my mind. And it was something I would learn first hand more than once over this 3-day span.
I just have to comment on this before I get any further. When I first went to DL in '96, I know there was a pirate at the end that shoots water, cause I got hit in the face with it! Then this time I thought they had taken that away, cause we didn't see it once, and we went on that ride 6 or 7 times I think.
Belle Ella
12-14-2010, 01:16 PM
I just have to comment on this before I get any further. When I first went to DL in '96, I know there was a pirate at the end that shoots water, cause I got hit in the face with it! Then this time I thought they had taken that away, cause we didn't see it once, and we went on that ride 6 or 7 times I think.
So you learned the same way I did!! He's still there, it's definitely not a new pirate but I just never knew he shot water before. :rotfl:
DisneyStitch626
12-14-2010, 01:25 PM
I'm kind of excited to find he is still there, cause I waited for it every time, but nothing. It must be a rare thing to happen and we both just got lucky! Lol
Belle Ella
12-14-2010, 01:37 PM
You and me ... we're special ;)
kaoden39
12-14-2010, 02:38 PM
I love the tree from the Gibson Girl. The old fashioned ornaments are so beautiful.
Belle Ella
12-14-2010, 02:46 PM
Isn't it?! I loved the color pallete most of all. It really made me want ice cream, even if that would have been a horrible idea for me.
kaoden39
12-14-2010, 02:50 PM
Isn't it?! I loved the color pallete most of all. It really made me want ice cream, even if that would have been a horrible idea for me.
I so understand it though. And the Coca Cola Corner all of the reds? I love Coca Cola Corner and their chili bread bowls. Yummy.
Belle Ella
12-14-2010, 02:52 PM
I so understand it though. And the Coca Cola Corner all of the reds? I love Coca Cola Corner and their chili bread bowls. Yummy.
Oh those are so yummy! I was tempted to get one right when I was done taking that photo, but in my next update you'll see why I didn't. I love them even more now that I can get the bread and chili separate so even once the chili is long gone I can munch on the bread bowl and carry it around with me.
kaoden39
12-14-2010, 02:54 PM
Oh those are so yummy! I was tempted to get one right when I was done taking that photo, but in my next update you'll see why I didn't. I love them even more now that I can get the bread and chili separate so even once the chili is long gone I can munch on the bread bowl and carry it around with me.
I didn't know you could get it separate. Oh that is the way to go for sure.
Belle Ella
12-14-2010, 02:58 PM
I didn't know you could get it separate. Oh that is the way to go for sure.
I didn't either until someone mentioned doing that here on the DIS. So I asked back in September and they did it for me! I got a lot of comments while I was walking around with an empty bread bowl in my hands on my way out of the Park that day. It was nice to munch on for my walk back to the HOJO.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5037640161_abf8d0211a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5037640161/)
kaoden39
12-14-2010, 03:04 PM
I can bet that you got a few funny looks over that one indeed. I will have mine that way next time. It would be great to have the bread to pick at later.
Belle Ella
12-14-2010, 04:04 PM
It may have looked funny, but it was the smartest thing I did all day!
tdashgirl
12-14-2010, 09:02 PM
I didn't either until someone mentioned doing that here on the DIS. So I asked back in September and they did it for me! I got a lot of comments while I was walking around with an empty bread bowl in my hands on my way out of the Park that day. It was nice to munch on for my walk back to the HOJO.
Yes! I learned that tip on one of the threads here too :thumbsup2
Belle Ella
12-14-2010, 09:07 PM
Yes! I learned that tip on one of the threads here too :thumbsup2
We're all full of handy dandy information on the DIS!
Belle Ella
12-15-2010, 03:02 PM
Sigh. I'm a little bummed out right now regarding my photos from the rest of Day#2! I've been editing them and something just felt 'off' but I couldn't place what it was. Well, I finally figured it out. For some reason I changed my ISO to 1600 and I forgot to change it back. The photos are still great but it's definitely there.
AHHHH!
I'm so glad I'm going back right now. I can fix this and have a new lens to play with.
Sherry E
12-15-2010, 09:21 PM
:banana::wave2:
Belle Ella
12-15-2010, 09:28 PM
:banana::wave2:
Sherry!!! :banana::banana::banana:
amamax2
12-15-2010, 09:35 PM
:banana::wave2:
Sherry!!! :banana::banana::banana:
Ok, I just have to say, every time I see someone on this side of the DIS post the little banana emoticon, I almost fall off my seat laughing.
On the WDW side, trip planners talk about something called the "banana dance." Seriously, go do a search over there. Then be prepared to forever let this guy go.
PS Welcome home Sherry!
Belle Ella
12-15-2010, 09:39 PM
Ok, I just have to say, every time I see someone on this side of the DIS post the little banana emoticon, I almost fall off my seat laughing.
On the WDW side, trip planners talk about something called the "banana dance." Seriously, go do a search over there. Then be prepared to forever let this guy go.
PS Welcome home Sherry!
:lmao: I don't think I want to check!
Belle Ella
12-15-2010, 10:41 PM
Well this is just poopy! I had the majority of my next update completed and my internet shut down and of course I didn't have it all copied :rotfl:
I suppose I'll just try again tomorrow.
amamax2
12-16-2010, 12:15 AM
:lmao: I don't think I want to check!
Good call. Keep the innocence..kids grow up too fast these days. :rotfl:
Well this is just poopy! I had the majority of my next update completed and my internet shut down and of course I didn't have it all copied :rotfl:
I suppose I'll just try again tomorrow.
Well, that stinks! :hug:
TheColtonsMom
12-16-2010, 10:41 AM
Well this is just poopy! I had the majority of my next update completed and my internet shut down and of course I didn't have it all copied
I suppose I'll just try again tomorrow.
__________________
After having this happen one too many times I started writing mine offline then copying them here...way too much work to re-write and I always feel like the "lost version" was better.
Belle Ella
12-16-2010, 04:56 PM
It doesn't happen to me often enough for me to go through the hassle of typing it in another format. It's just easier to here because it will auto-link things for me at the click of a button. I have more problems with my word processors crashing than I do with my internet. I usually just copy it as I go along so if it crashes I can just paste it again (and most of the time Firefox will relaunch with my text still there) and don't always have a problem with it.
Belle Ella
12-20-2010, 12:20 PM
OK, so I haven't been in a TR update kind of mood lately. I'm wondering if anyone other than 'the usual suspects' is still interested in me finishing this, lol.
mvf-m11c
12-20-2010, 12:24 PM
I been away at WDW for over a week and you got most of your TR done. I read most of your TR and see that you had a great time down there. All of your photos of the wreaths and trees are very nice and glad to read your TR Jazz.
Hawleys
12-20-2010, 12:49 PM
OK, so I haven't been in a TR update kind of mood lately. I'm wondering if anyone other than 'the usual suspects' is still interested in me finishing this, lol.
As a longtime lurker and very occasional poster on your thread, I will speak up for all the folks who have been checking every day for an update. :)
Hoping for more...
Belle Ella
12-20-2010, 01:05 PM
I been away at WDW for over a week and you got most of your TR done. I read most of your TR and see that you had a great time down there. All of your photos of the wreaths and trees are very nice and glad to read your TR Jazz.
Thanks Bret! I hope you had an awesome time at WDW! I'll have to go check out your thread on that (and a happy belated birthday by the way!!).
As a longtime lurker and very occasional poster on your thread, I will speak up for all the folks who have been checking every day for an update. :)
Hoping for more...
I have a serious case of the winter blues I do, and it has effected my TR! Glad to see you're still checking in! I hope everything is going well for you.
I'll see if I can get up the next part that never was today. If I'm going to finish this TR now would be best before my insane week of work and Christmas kicks in. Then it wont be long before I'm on my way back to SoCal!
kaoden39
12-20-2010, 02:09 PM
I know a great way to get over the winter blues. Work on your trip report.:rotfl:
Sorry I couldn't resist.
Belle Ella
12-20-2010, 02:15 PM
:rotfl: You think that will do it, Michele? Well, alrighty. I'll give it a go. Plus I have put on some Christmas tunes and I am going to try and put up our tree (fake) all by my lonesome. We'll see how this goes and if I'm left without any broken bones (or more sprained fingers) when all is said and done.
kaoden39
12-20-2010, 02:18 PM
:rotfl: You think that will do it, Michele? Well, alrighty. I'll give it a go. Plus I have put on some Christmas tunes and I am going to try and put up our tree (fake) all by my lonesome. We'll see how this goes and if I'm left without any broken bones (or more sprained fingers) when all is said and done.
Looking at all those pretty Christmas decorations in the pictures is bound to brighten your day. Good luck with that tree and I think you have amazing spirit doing it yourself.
Belle Ella
12-20-2010, 02:18 PM
Here are a couple more of my photos from my stroll along the shops of Main Street. I wont lie, I took these ones as an excuse (not as though one is really needed) to look at sweets I knew I couldn't eat but wanted anyway a little longer.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5265403294_6034bd2acf.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5265403294/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5264796229_35167607a0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5264796229/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5264796537_6cdf5ce8e0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5264796537/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5207/5265404216_6f44194d94.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5265404216/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/5264797201_64ef37ede5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5264797201/)
Around this time I sent Meredith another text to see when she wanted to meet up for a PhotoPass photo. She and her mom had the Holiday tour booked for later that afternoon and I would be leaving shortly thereafter so the sooner the better. It turns out they had just left Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and were going to make their way to the Enchanted Tiki Room. It was pretty perfect, logistically speaking, since we were both in the same vicinity and wouldn't have to cross the entire park to meet up again. And of course, I love the Tiki Room and always will. There's just something fun about singing birds and flowers that just makes me smile, tap my foot, and sing along! I actually ended up spotting them on Main Street which is usually a hard thing to do considering how many people there are at any given moment. I'm sure it helped knowing what they were wearing, lol. When we got to the Tiki Room a show had just started so we had plenty of time to grab some Dole Whips (or the float in my case) and be fascinated by the fact that the whip part is hollow.
If memory serves me correctly her mom had never been to the Tiki Room before so it was fun to see her reaction to it and watch her foot bounce along to the music. But hey, mine was too. Like I said, I love it! But I think another reason I love it so much is because of the song they sing while you're leave. Can you think of a reason why?
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5265404748_50e0c0fd90.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5265404748/)
Heigh Ho, heigh ho, it's out the door you go,
We hope you've all enjoyed the show heigh ho, heigh ho,
Heigh ho heigh ho, heigh ho, keep marching in a row,
Don't stop to look or read a book heigh ho, heigh ho,
Heigh ho heigh ho, heigh ho, just lift your feet and go,
You sing this song, you march along, heigh ho, heigh ho,
Heigh ho heigh ho, heigh ho, step lively not so slow,
Come back again we'll see you then, heigh ho, heigh ho,
Heigh ho heigh ho, heigh ho, make room for our next show,
There's boats outside go take a ride heigh ho, heigh ho,
Heigh ho heigh ho, heigh ho, it's out the door you go,
We hope you've all enjoyed the show, heigh ho, heigh ho!
So once we left the Tiki Room we started thinking about where to go for our PhotoPass picture! I'm starting to think this would be a fun idea for any time I meet DIS'ers at DLR for the fun of it. And maybe some day I will have my LGMH again (which I somehow managed to lose before my trip in September 2010). It was a rather had decision, trying to figure out what photo spot we wanted. I already had a few in front of the Castle and in front of the Christmas Tree but we ended up going for the Partners Statue at the Hub which would work as the best of both worlds because the Castle is in the background. But of course once we get there we find it completely overrun with people! It looked as though a huge tour group had stopped there for a bit and we couldn't even find the PP photographer for a minute. But of course once we did he was able to clear some space in front of the statue so we could get our photo in. Now, this was one of the most bizarre encounters with a PP photographer I have ever had, although I can't decide if this was a good thing or a bad thing. Normally I have a hard time figuring out what to do in photos -- I tend to kind of freeze and just stand there whenever I have my photo taken which is a big reason why I prefer to stay behind the camera. I think Meredith has told me she's the same way about feeling awkward in cameras. Well, this particular PP photographer ended up posing us which was pretty hilarious actually. Bizarre, but hilarious, if you can have both at the same time.
Maybe when we order that disc we'll share it with you all! But for not it will have to wait until January ;)
Now it was time for me to enjoy a couple more rides! I was already watching the clock until I needed to leave and I had to make sure I got in another round of BTMRR so I went to redeem my Fast Pass! The one thing that I really loved during this trip was that the FP for BTMRR took you directly to the stairs, rather than what I experienced back in September of having to walk side by side with those on standby all the way to the little 'bridge' and then joining them in the same line. Once again I got row 10! I think I have come to the conclusion that I like the first row of each car, but I suppose I'm not really that picky.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5264797837_63db4482d1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5264797837/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5264798197_ddec7df1a5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5264798197/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5264798579_9ca44bd468.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5264798579/)
I took a little time to myself to browse through the shops in Frontierland as well. I was mainly keeping an eye out for some Christmas ornaments but I didn't find too many that I wanted. Although, in retrospect, I wish I had grabbed a couple of their mini sets for small trees now that I have found mine and it's sitting in our living room as a temporary replacement for the larger tree we have yet to put up (5 days before Christmas). What I did walk away with were some Christmas cards to send out. But of course, I didn't think to photograph them. But they are in this photo, just to the left of the tree!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5161/5264798919_6d48c7450c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5264798919/)
Up next was a little bit of a variance for me. I really miss the fact that I didn't get to really enjoy my first Christmas at DLR back in 2003 when my family and I were staying at the Grand Californian and I really wanted to stop by to just sit in the lobby for a while and see the Christmas tree. So I figured that if I was to do that, I might as well stop by DCA as well. And besides, wasn't one of the goals for the day to get Duffy something to wear so he wouldn't have to run around all nakey with me the next day? Well, of course it was, so I hopped, skipped, and jumped my way across the Esplanade to use my PAP for the first time at DCA!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5265406458_839a5373f8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5265406458/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5001/5265406806_3cdaee297a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5265406806/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5264800557_6a42fc2e03.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5264800557/)
Now, is it just me or is there anyone else out there who hopes that when this big expansion with Cars Land is all said and done that they can put a little more effort into the seasonal decorations over at DCA? Well, that sure is my hope, it is. I was pretty focused on my deisre to get back to Paradise Pier so I could see Duffy and get him something cute to wear. But I was so, so, so unbelievably exited when upon my arrival the Green Army Men were out and training some new recruits for Andy's toy soldier army. I have been dying to see them out at DCA with my own two eyes for quite some time now. What an awesome surprise it was!! And entertaining to boot!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5264800263_8517131591.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5264800263/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5264799937_4b26a6b68d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5264799937/)
But I was successful at finding Duffy a new outfit! He now gets to wear his little Sailor clothes like "Big Duffy". I just wish DLR had a wider variety for his wardrobe. There wasn't a lot to choose from, and they didn't even have any Christmas wear for Duffy! I find that to be a tragedy, I do. But seeing Big Duffy was so much fun! I have yet to see how they turned out on the PP card, but they are some of my favorite from the day for sure.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/5264800801_0aa91ba36b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5264800801/)
... to be continued ...
kaoden39
12-20-2010, 02:34 PM
I love all of the Main Street decorations.
Aren't those shops in Frontierland fun? I love them so much. I usually visit them at least once during every trip. I could spend a day in all of the shops in Disneyland. I think I did last trip. There are some shops that always seem way to busy for my taste, one of the main ones for over crowding is the big one in Tomorrowland. And upon typing this I realize that all of the shops in Tomorroland seem to be over crowded.
Belle Ella
12-20-2010, 02:44 PM
I don't venture over to Tomorrowland often, especially not the shops, but what I usually find very, very, very crowded is the one right next to te POTC exit in NOS! That is insane with all of the NBC stuff. But the construction of the Frontierland shops is just too cool between the support beams, the uneven wooden boads on the floor. It's very fitting! And usually not very crowded at all.
kaoden39
12-20-2010, 02:52 PM
I don't venture over to Tomorrowland often, especially not the shops, but what I usually find very, very, very crowded is the one right next to te POTC exit in NOS! That is insane with all of the NBC stuff. But the construction of the Frontierland shops is just too cool between the support beams, the uneven wooden boads on the floor. It's very fitting! And usually not very crowded at all.
You are so right about the NOS shops. I think that the theming in Fland is amazing. There is always something that interests me in there. Heck, I can find things I want in any of the shops, now buying them is another story. I swear the next time I go I am buying myself things.
Belle Ella
12-20-2010, 03:07 PM
I didn't do a lot of shopping for myself this year, surprisingly. Most of what I bought were gifts requested by others for me to pick up for them. I did get Duffy his clothes and then the Christmas cards, but that's really it. I kind of wish I had done a little more for myself.
kaoden39
12-20-2010, 03:10 PM
I didn't do a lot of shopping for myself this year, surprisingly. Most of what I bought were gifts requested by others for me to pick up for them. I did get Duffy his clothes and then the Christmas cards, but that's really it. I kind of wish I had done a little more for myself.
I am always buying for everyone else, and I did get more this trip than I normally do but that is another story. But, I think on my next trip I want to get the kitchen stuff. I want to do my kitchen in Mickey Mouse.
Belle Ella
12-20-2010, 11:35 PM
I love the kitchen stuff. I kind of buy stuff like that in spurts so when I move out I'll be all set!! Yeah, my place will be overrun with Disney. And I'm sure I wont be living 'alone' but anyone else will just have to deal with it. :rotfl:
kaoden39
12-20-2010, 11:43 PM
I love the kitchen stuff. I kind of buy stuff like that in spurts so when I move out I'll be all set!! Yeah, my place will be overrun with Disney. And I'm sure I wont be living 'alone' but anyone else will just have to deal with it. :rotfl:
Well, I hate to be a brat, but why would you need the cooking stuff?:rotfl:
Sorry.:flower3:
TheColtonsMom
12-21-2010, 12:49 AM
Well, I hate to be a brat, but why would you need the cooking stuff?:rotfl:
Sorry.:flower3:
ROFL:rotfl::rotfl2::rotfl::rotfl2:
Belle Ella
12-21-2010, 07:45 AM
I don't recall saying anything about using them. ;) They would be strictly for show.
And who knows. maybe some Disney magic will inspire me to cook. Uh ... yeah!
kaoden39
12-21-2010, 08:18 AM
I don't recall saying anything about using them. ;) They would be strictly for show.
And who knows. maybe some Disney magic will inspire me to cook. Uh ... yeah!
:flower3:
amamax2
12-21-2010, 10:15 AM
Well, I hate to be a brat, but why would you need the cooking stuff?:rotfl:
Sorry.:flower3:
Oh my gosh, I immediately thought the same thing! :lmao:
Yay, you are writing again! Please keep going......
Belle Ella
12-24-2010, 09:43 AM
:rotfl:
Well, I stand by wanting it all! ;)
Thank you for the comment, and I do plan on continuing but the next installment looks like it will have to wait until after Christmas. I'm hoping to complete this TR segment on Monday, but for sure before I leave for SoCal again.
Belle Ella
12-27-2010, 06:27 PM
With a new sailor outfit for Duffy in hand I was on my way again. My thinking was to head back to Disneyland for the last couple of hours before I needed to hit the road, but while walking out of DCA I passed the GCH special entrance and decided that since I was there what better time to mosey on through and lounge in the lobby for a short while. I always stalk about how much I adore that hotel but I haven't actually set foot inside in over three years. Good idea? Yes! I somehow managed to not get lost and before I knew it I was relaxing and taking in the GCH's beautiful and ginormous Christmas tree.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5265408762_62b414bc8c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5265408762/)
I couldn't tell you how long I sat there and relaxed, but when I felt that it was time to leave that's exactly what I did! Well, I take that back, I hit up the gift shop and then I left. But of course when I left I went straight to Downtown Disney to do some more shopping!! I had been given a task by some friends back home to look for some specific items to pick up for Christmas gifts and I needed to get photos to show them before I left so they could get back to me before my last day about what to buy and what not to buy. I must say I was quite successful in this endeavor! I didn't actually buy anything right then and there, not even for myself, although I did make a few mental notes. Not that I usually follow through with those.
It was getting closer and closer to the time I needed to take my leave so I made one last quick dash over to Disneyland to get some fun in before I left. Who knew what I would be able to get done with my remaining hours the next day before leaving meant going home, home. You know, with that pesky 6 hour drive. My first "last list" ride was Indiana Jones, of course. But I got a little side tracked on my way over by some festive music!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5124/5297795529_63a0e29f42.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5297795529/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5123/5298392922_390363a426.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5298392922/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5298393574_5be1c25067.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5298393574/)
Did I mention it kept getting closer to quitting time? After IJ I was racking my brain for anything I needed to do that I had not yet done and came to this conclusion: I hadn't been down to Critter Country. Like, at all! I wanted to see what the line for Pooh Bear and friends was like but I was pretty sure it was insane (and of course, it was) and I wanted to just take a peak around. I was getting close on time so I didn't go too crazy with photos and now that I know what I know about the stupid things I did with the settings on my camera they would have been pointless regardless.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5249/5297797265_e90e133997.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5297797265/)
I snooped through Pooh Corner and decided against getting any sweets for the road because that would just be silly. But I started a new tradition regardless! I usually stick to what I know and eat at the places that I love and never venture to anything else. Well, where's the fun in that? So my new goal is as follows: eat at at least one new place for each visit (and I don't mean day). PAP trip #1 became my chance to finally grab something from Bengal BBQ which obviously meant I had to make my way to Adventureland. I've always wanted to grab something from Bengal BBQ on numerous occasions but it just never happened so yay me!! But I totally pulled a dine and dash though (and I don't mean in the "running the check" kind of way). As soon as I was done eating I was making a mad dash back towards the trams so I could hit the road.
And ... that was all she wrote!
For My second Disney day!
Sherry E
12-27-2010, 06:55 PM
I tell ya, those chairs in the GCH lobby/lounge area are deceptively comfortable, aren't they? You could literally just sit and sit and sit and lose track of time. And they are just perfectly situated around the ginormous tree - that's something that differs greatly from the layouts in the PPH and the DLH. In the GCH, you can actually relax and watch the happy families getting their photos taken with Santa; you can actually watch the carolers or listen to the pianist up close. It's a much more welcoming, cozy environment.
I had that goal of trying a new place to eat on every trip, too, at one point! Great minds think alike!!;) It's a really great idea! I think my plan got derailed when everything went kaplooey in 2009 and I made only day trips. Prior to 2009, though, I wanted to eat at a new place each time. I had planned to resume that goal on this last trip (I was going to try the PCH Grill), but it fell through.:mad: Well, it sort of fell through and sort of didn't....
What did you eat at Bengal BBQ? I haven't eaten there in years but I enjoyed their chicken skewer thingy. The prices are a little steep for portion size, but what else is new at DLR?
I can't wait to hear about your New Year's adventure.
kaoden39
12-27-2010, 08:04 PM
Hmm I haven't stayed in the GCH yet....
Belle Ella
12-27-2010, 08:45 PM
Michele - Even if you just go and take some relaxing time out of your day simply sitting in the big comfy chairs in the lobby it is totally worth it to me. That place is just gorgeous.
Sherry - If I could I would never ever, ever, ever leave that lobby!! Well, except for the necessaries, but then I would pop right back. And if, for some godforsaken reason, you were to get tired of those deceptively comfortable chairs in the middle of the lobby that's when you excited things up and go for the little alcove with the fireplace!! I didn't get to peek around there this particular time but you'd better believe I'll take some extra time out for it this time!! Especially because it looks like I might be able to squeeze in a little more time than I originally though depending on if I get homesick or not. But that's a story for another day.
But that open lobby = incredible. I wasn't too impressed with the DLH when I stayed there as far as a lobby was concerned and I've never even stepped foot inside PPH so I can't comment there, but the GCH is just how things should be.
I should probably get a place in mind that will be this trips new eatery lest I forget while I'm there. Have I mentioned that my mental notes don't always pan out so well? I really liked what I got bat Bengal BBQ but I couldn't remember what is was for the life of me. Some kind of skewer, I'm sure!! :rotfl:
Only a few more days until I leave for New Years!!
Just got to finish one day of the pre-Christmas TR!!
And pack ... :eek:
kaoden39
12-27-2010, 09:03 PM
I do want to stay there just once at least.
Belle Ella
12-27-2010, 09:06 PM
And you have my full support for that!! If it's a possibility it should be done at least once. I'm hoping some good luck will come my way and I can pull off a stay there this year to get some MM time! And well ... just to stay there again.
kaoden39
12-27-2010, 09:12 PM
And you have my full support for that!! If it's a possibility it should be done at least once. I'm hoping some good luck will come my way and I can pull off a stay there this year to get some MM time! And well ... just to stay there again.
I have never stayed there. I have stayed at both of the others.
Belle Ella
12-27-2010, 09:26 PM
Haha, we should do our own version of a girls trip and splurge.
At least in our dreams.
kaoden39
12-27-2010, 09:29 PM
Haha, we should do our own version of a girls trip and splurge.
At least in our dreams.
It may only be dreams.:rolleyes:
Belle Ella
12-27-2010, 09:31 PM
Eh, that's better than nothing.
kaoden39
12-27-2010, 09:41 PM
Eh, that's better than nothing.
I figure that I will never get to stay there. At least not for years.:sad2:
Belle Ella
12-27-2010, 09:43 PM
Unlikely? Of course. Same goes for me. But never say never.
^ Trying to be positive today. My family thinks I'm a Debbie Downer.
kaoden39
12-27-2010, 09:46 PM
Unlikely? Of course. Same goes for me. But never say never.
^ Trying to be positive today. My family thinks I'm a Debbie Downer.
I am sorry for some reason I am feeling more on the skeptic side. But, then I start to think of the other nice hotels in the area that are that much cheaper.
Belle Ella
12-27-2010, 09:47 PM
:rotfl: Believe me, I am too. I just like to tell myself otherwise to keep me happy. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
kaoden39
12-27-2010, 09:56 PM
:rotfl: Believe me, I am too. I just like to tell myself otherwise to keep me happy. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
Yeah, I know. I hate to be terrible but, Scotty is spending nearly $3,000 on a bicycle. I feel like I want to spend as much on me. See, I am being bad. So, then I think of all of the things I can spend that money on.
Belle Ella
12-27-2010, 10:27 PM
Do you think you'll ever get to spend anything like that on you?
Anyway, it's part of why I have Miss Piggy. Sure, change doesn't add up as quickly as we'd like but ievery penny counts! Haha. Right now she's going towards either a stay at GCH or I'm starting my Disney Cruise fund.
kaoden39
12-27-2010, 10:32 PM
Do you think you'll ever get to spend anything like that on you?
Anyway, it's part of why I have Miss Piggy. Sure, change doesn't add up as quickly as we'd like but ievery penny counts! Haha. Right now she's going towards either a stay at GCH or I'm starting my Disney Cruise fund.
No, I won't spend that much and you know it. I was thinking that if I split the money up. Like a nice camera and the trip.
After all the camera is so I can take better pictures at his races.;)
Belle Ella
12-27-2010, 10:37 PM
I knows, I knows. Have you ever throught about someday doing the cheap hotel for most of your stay but splurging for one night at the GCH? That way you could officially stay there and it wouldn't have to completely break the bank. It's pretty much what I did in 2007 when I was pre-celebrating my 21st birthday. No way could I stay there for a full trip but I chalked up for the one night. I'm thinking if I'm ever going to do GCH on my own again, nows the time to do it if I can get any kind of AP or PIN rate. Even if only for one night.
kaoden39
12-27-2010, 10:47 PM
I knows, I knows. Have you ever throught about someday doing the cheap hotel for most of your stay but splurging for one night at the GCH? That way you could officially stay there and it wouldn't have to completely break the bank. It's pretty much what I did in 2007 when I was pre-celebrating my 21st birthday. No way could I stay there for a full trip but I chalked up for the one night. I'm thinking if I'm ever going to do GCH on my own again, nows the time to do it if I can get any kind of AP or PIN rate. Even if only for one night.
I have indeed thought of that.
I really do want a good camera though. So, I am looking at SLR's but, I have no clue what I am looking at except expensive.
Belle Ella
12-27-2010, 10:58 PM
I can totally understand the need for a good camera ;) If you're seriously considering an SLR do you want to go all out or just something simple? My compact SLR was cheaper than other options, still is as far as I'm aware, and hasn't let me down yet. A lot of P&S are pretty awesome though.
kaoden39
12-27-2010, 11:03 PM
I can totally understand the need for a good camera ;) If you're seriously considering an SLR do you want to go all out or just something simple? My compact SLR was cheaper than other options, still is as far as I'm aware, and hasn't let me down yet. A lot of P&S are pretty awesome though.
I hate our P & S. I definitely need a new one. And I am pricing SLR but they seem kind of pricey. And I don't know what is good and what isn't. Any help would be appreciated.
tdashgirl
12-27-2010, 11:52 PM
What did you eat at Bengal BBQ? I haven't eaten there in years but I enjoyed their chicken skewer thingy. The prices are a little steep for portion size, but what else is new at DLR?
I agree - Bengal has a couple of things going against them IMO. #1, the skewers are really small for the price and not as filling as other things I've had at the resort for the same amount of money. #2, location. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing the tiki torches and hearing all the sounds of Adventureland, but my oh my that corridor is one of the worst crowds-wise in all DLR. What a nightmare, it is so hard to walk and so very hard to get a seat to eat there, especially when holding a whole bunch of CS food :rotfl:
Hmm I haven't stayed in the GCH yet....
you can always hang in the lobby :thumbsup2 I've heard it said by many people that the lobby is one of the best things about the hotel, and it's totally free!
But that open lobby = incredible. I wasn't too impressed with the DLH when I stayed there as far as a lobby was concerned and I've never even stepped foot inside PPH so I can't comment there, but the GCH is just how things should be.
Yeah, the DLH has those towers with lobbies, and when I stayed there last October no one really hangs out in the lobby except to get the free coffee in the morning - it's nothing like the GCH.
I figure that I will never get to stay there. At least not for years.:sad2:
You never know :) I didn't think I would either, but when they did the the 5 for 3 deal, we were able to stay at the GCH for only a bit more than we usually spend. Still a splurge, but not that bad of one.
Yeah, I know. I hate to be terrible but, Scotty is spending nearly $3,000 on a bicycle. I feel like I want to spend as much on me. See, I am being bad. So, then I think of all of the things I can spend that money on.
hehehhe, even if you don't spend 3000, maybe a bit can go towards something you really enjoy? :)
kaoden39
12-28-2010, 12:20 AM
I agree - Bengal has a couple of things going against them IMO. #1, the skewers are really small for the price and not as filling as other things I've had at the resort for the same amount of money. #2, location. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing the tiki torches and hearing all the sounds of Adventureland, but my oh my that corridor is one of the worst crowds-wise in all DLR. What a nightmare, it is so hard to walk and so very hard to get a seat to eat there, especially when holding a whole bunch of CS food :rotfl:
you can always hang in the lobby :thumbsup2 I've heard it said by many people that the lobby is one of the best things about the hotel, and it's totally free!
Yeah, the DLH has those towers with lobbies, and when I stayed there last October no one really hangs out in the lobby except to get the free coffee in the morning - it's nothing like the GCH.
You never know :) I didn't think I would either, but when they did the the 5 for 3 deal, we were able to stay at the GCH for only a bit more than we usually spend. Still a splurge, but not that bad of one.
hehehhe, even if you don't spend 3000, maybe a bit can go towards something you really enjoy? :)
I am thinking about a camera. So, I am looking at them.
Belle Ella
12-29-2010, 09:56 AM
Michele - I know you'll get something totally awesome and that you love!!
OK, so today is kind of the do or die day. I've got to start and finish my final Pre-Christmas Disneyland day!
Sherry E
12-29-2010, 10:09 AM
Seriously, get to it, woman!!:rotfl2::rotfl2: Enough of this delay!;)
You've got another major DLR trip a-comin' (tomorrow is the day, right?), and from what I read, it could even be extended into a much longer trip?? That TR will be an epic. So we've got to savor the last morsels of this one while we have it.
Belle Ella
12-29-2010, 10:15 AM
I'm typing about as fast as my poor little fingers will let me!!
But tomorrow is the big "I hit the road" day. I wont leave here until like 3p since I get off work at 2:30. But I will officially be in SoCal tomorrow and then Disneyland on Friday!! And as luck would have it I don't have to go back to work next Friday so depending on how long I can stand to be away from home I may stay down for a few more days to get more time in with Jason and of course Disneyland while he's back at work.
:goodvibes EPIC, yes!
Belle Ella
12-29-2010, 10:58 AM
Let's just say that my last and final day did not get off to a good start. First of all there was the whole goodbye thing again. They. Just. Plain. Old. Suck. But of course they are necessary when Jason had to go back to work and I would have to hit the road for home-home before it got late. Stupid 6-hour drive! So first there was the whole waking up thing, then there was the whole making sure everything was packed thing, then there was the goodbye, and then there was me trying to drive to Disneyland on my own again. A reasonable person would think that after making the drive twice before already (once as a passenger and once as a drive) and with the help of good old trustworthy Gretel I would make it there no problem, right? WRONG! Not only did I miss one freeway junction and waste a precious 15 minutes getting back to the direction I was supposed to be going, but I also missed the lane to get into the right parking structure and had to figure out what to do from there! Needless to say I was a bit frustrated by the time I eventually got myself parked. But at least I had my companion for the day to keep my stress levels low because this was not how I wanted to start my last day.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5202/5303102793_fe6bcc3edb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303102793/)
say hi to duffy!
But hey, the point of all the trouble is that we did get there, and that's what it's all about right? I had to make a note of where we parked (Goofy 7E) and thankfully the rental car has that fancy type key that makes it beep or the lights blink so you can find it in a parking lot, I don't know what I'll do when I have to use a regular old car for the job, and then we went off to wait for the trams! There was barely anybody there this time, unlike the day before, so Duffy and I were able to get on right away, and we didn't even have to share a seat!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5303696404_cf311a3d4c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303696404/)
duffy's first tram ride
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5303103839_5c2c1c433c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303103839/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5303697612_f0878183b8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303697612/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5303105131_e00340339e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303105131/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5303698798_5a2f04ca3e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303698798/)
Anyone notice a theme yet? Yes, the rest of this TR will be extremely Duffy-heavy!
So, we were off and while walking through the security check point to enter the Esplanade I got my first Duffy comment! The CM who checked my bag just gushed over him. I felt like a very proud mommy! I wont lie but I was so paranoid about my AP this morning. It was the first time I used it to get into the parking garage and it would be the first time I would use it as my first ticket of entry into Disneyland for the day! I kept checking that I had it with me over, and over, and over, and over, and over ... you get the idea. I just had to know that I really had it, that it wasn't all a dream, and that I hadn't lost it because let's face it -- that would totally be something I would do! But of course I did have it and we got in easy-peasy and Duffy got to stroll down Main Street for the first time.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5303106233_4b6f6c3bb7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303106233/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5303106807_49ab2fb79d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303106807/)
Our first stop? Adventureland!! Duffy and I had some mother-Duffy bonding to do and I had to share with him one of my all time favorite Disneyland adventures: Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye! I decided to even show him my favorite trick-of-the-trade and use a Single Rider Pass, not that the wait was very long or anything but because that's how we roll! Duffy even got to drive for his first experience on Indiana Jones, what a lucky little bear. I figured he would do OK though and so did the CM who helped me buckle him in. He's a brave little bear and loved it just as much as I do!!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5303700472_39e1aa71f6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303700472/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/5303107895_53aa86f995.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303107895/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5303701608_b9528de9c9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303701608/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5303108987_59bc7b8662.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303108987/)
Up next I decided that Duffy had to go meet the Princesses whom I hadn't even taken the time out to visit yet. I had always had my shotest waits at Princess Fantasy Faire early in the morning right at opening so we were off to Fantasyland but we decided to stop for a photo in front of the Castle along the way since there was a PhotoPass photographer who looked a little lonely. We just had to brighten her day!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/5303109569_017a6e8d80.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303109569/)
After the photo we continued on our way to the back of Fantasyland to see the Princesses. And at 10:07, when we got into line, I was reaffirmed in my decision to go first thing because there was barely anybody there. We waited a total of 20 minutes which was more to do with the Princesses taking their time with each family than the fact that there were a lot of people there. Duffy got to meet Ariel, Belle, and his personal favorite, Tiana! He might be a little biased though because Tiana absolutely fawned all over him.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5303703260_b01538dba4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303703260/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5001/5303110555_77b512dbff.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303110555/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/5303111121_3195ebec53.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303111121/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5246/5303704906_f04d50c09c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303704906/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5167/5303112173_7e9869c8f1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303112173/)
As we were leaving PFF we decided to take a little peek-sy into Toontown to see the Christmas decorations and Duffy got his photo in front of his first Christmas tree!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5303112753_aa7a51be42.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303112753/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5303113355_edbf0f638c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303113355/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5303117587_243a72ca8a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303117587/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5303711350_e2e545121d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303711350/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5046/5303118687_d73cbc24bd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303118687/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5001/5303712334_ab2f878652.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303712334/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5303119673_dfd1e8210d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303119673/)
... to be continued ...
Sherry E
12-29-2010, 11:28 AM
"Mother-Duffy bonding" :rotfl2::rotfl::rotfl2: Too cute. I wonder if Duffy is getting used to all this attention from women?
Where is Jasmine? She should be popping in for this segment of the TR, for sure!
I know what you mean about the PhotoPass people looking lonely. Sometimes you do occasionally see one who looks like they really just want anyone to come up and ask for pictures. We found one over in DCA on this last trip who was so excited to have some 'subjects' (she even said, "Yay! Someone wants a picture!) that she ended up taking way more photos that any other photographer ever has. She had time to do it, so she shot off a bunch of them, including the "balloon photo," which no other photographer would give me.
PhotoPass folk need friends too!:lmao:
Belle Ella
12-29-2010, 11:39 AM
Duffy is a total ladies-bear! He loved the Princesses and the Princesses loved him. I think we'll have to make another stop to say hi (and hopefully see Snow White to boot). But everyone loved Duffy (except two mischievous little characters who you will just have to wait and see ...;))
Jasmine had better stop by! This day is totally dedicated to her!!
Is it silly of me to say that my dream Disneyland job is as a PhotoPass photographer? :rotfl: But I will always make it a point to stop and keep a PP photographer company if they look too lonely, Duffy stands by me on this assessment!!
amamax2
12-29-2010, 11:42 AM
Lovin' this installment! Jazz, you are adorable! And I am so glad you had Duffy with you so it wasn't so lonely without Jason.
[FONT="Century Gothic"]
duffy's first tram ride
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5303103839_5c2c1c433c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303103839/)
As a mom, though, I do have to make one little ol' comment about this picture: tram rules clearly say that the littlest passengers are to ride towards the middle of the seat, not on the outside. ;) :rotfl2:
Belle Ella
12-29-2010, 11:44 AM
Lovin' this installment! Jazz, you are adorable! And I am so glad you had Duffy with you so it wasn't so lonely without Jason.
As a mom, though, I do have to make one little ol' comment about this picture: tram rules clearly say that the littlest passengers are to ride towards the middle of the seat, not on the outside. ;) :rotfl2:
:rotfl: I know, I'm a horrible mommy, huh? But I was just trying to help him feel like a big-boy bear!
Belle Ella
12-29-2010, 12:00 PM
Just to round some things out, here are a couple (meaning two) more photos of the Christmas decorations from Toontown!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5303120171_4893a5cdc9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303120171/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5303713692_cd15bbdc8a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303713692/)
So there I was taking photographs around Toontown while somehow managing to keep a hold on Duffy (I made a promise he would not be 'put away' for a second of this day) when all of a sudden I see Goofy strolling around with his handler in his winter finery, looking for a good place to 'set up shop' for some photo time! Well, I personally love Goofy and it was a perfect time to introduce Duffy to his first 'Fuzzy'. And boy oh boy, did Duffy have fun! He and Goofy already have a secret handshake! They go way back, these old pals.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5127/5303113853_8ddab39c96.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303113853/)
me and duffy waiting to say hi to goofy
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5303114649_be5283f9ba.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303114649/)
the handshake
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5303115145_0242826065.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303115145/)
Man, saying goodbye was a bummer too! He's my favorite dance partner out there, haha. But we couldn't just stand there so I decided it was time to share another of my all-time favorites with little Mr. Duffy the Disney Bear -- Big Thunder Mountain. He handled Indiana Jones like the pro that he is so it was only fitting so we took off towards Frontierland, only on the way we passed by Santa's Reindeer Round-Up and had to pop in for a quick second to say hello to Pluto and some reindeer. I even found another lonely PhotoPass photographer so we stopped to say hello in exchange for a couple more photos. Duffy needed the full experience with plenty of photographic proof!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5303708768_eb7670e6f0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303708768/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5088/5303709384_acd8d2fe96.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303709384/)
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http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5303949020_65b360448f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303949020/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5303357935_92944be544.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303357935/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5303951172_efa23c160d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303951172/)
When we had finished our chatting and photo-taking we continued up the way so Duffy could experience his first roller coaster. And just because he looked right at home I had to take plenty of photos of his first experience and his surroundings. It's a good thing he isn't camera-shy or we would have been in quite the pickle!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5164/5303951708_fdb68b1245.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303951708/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5281/5303360657_6769bb454a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303360657/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5303953238_d3ddf97d34.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303953238/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5303953886_fab2561381.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303953886/)
look who's on big thunder!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5303362541_6d4f895ac6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303362541/)
duffy loved it as much as I do!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5303955092_f6e91e7ecd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14076660@N02/5303955092/)
As we got off Big Thunder it was decided that it was the perfect time to cross the 'pond' (of cement) and take Little Duffy to go meet Big Duffy. I was also reminded that I needed to make a purchase for a friend's daughter in the form of some Mr. Potato Head parts. So it was settled and we started the long trek over. Of course we only ended up being side tracked by a couple of mischievous little chipmunks! Silly Chip and Dale. And they were in fine form this wonderful afternoon. I have never seen them act up so much but it was a hoot to watch. There was a group of girls in front of us in line and they kept pushing each other out of the way and running through the shop behind them so they could have the ladies all to themselves. Of course, when it was Duffy's turn guess who got a little jealous of all the attention to the little sailor bear?
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duffy's second christmas tree photo while waiting to see chip and dale
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we do not kick duffy!
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if duffy can't see you, you can't see duffy
Thankfully my little bear was a good sport about it all but we really needed to go see Big Duffy, stat! So off we went to California Adventure!
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... to be continued ...
Sherry E
12-29-2010, 12:20 PM
Who was the person who knew to keep snapping photos of you with Chip and Dale while they were making mischief with Duffy? Was it a PhotoPass person holding your camera? I was going to say that they need to be commended because some of the (less lonely) PhotoPass people will only shoot one or two pictures and stop at that, if they are trying to move the people along. This person knew to catch all the action as it was happening, which is the best thing to do with Chip & Dale!
amamax2
12-29-2010, 12:23 PM
:rotfl: I know, I'm a horrible mommy, huh? But I was just trying to help him feel like a big-boy bear!
It's always such a hard call between protecting them and letting them spread their wings (paws?). :thumbsup2
Sshhhh...I will admit (but only here) that we let our kids when they were little sit on the outside, too, and just held on tight to them. We always called the tram the "first thrill ride of the trip." Of course, once they discovered BTRR and the like, the tram became a big old yawn.
Oh my gosh, that whole Chip and Dale sequence is hilarious! But what a special memory for Duffy.
If I don't get back on here again today, have a fabulous trip!!!! And I so look forward to the epic Epic of epicness TR.
Belle Ella
12-29-2010, 12:28 PM
Who was the person who knew to keep snapping photos of you with Chip and Dale while they were making mischief with Duffy? Was it a PhotoPass person holding your camera? I was going to say that they need to be commended because some of the (less lonely) PhotoPass people will only shoot one or two pictures and stop at that, if they are trying to move the people along. This person knew to catch all the action as it was happening, which is the best thing to do with Chip & Dale!
It was a PhotoPass photographer. She was real good about it, maybe because she was getting lots of practice with the groups before me. I think she caught a couple on her camera but then when she switched to mine they kept right on going with their antics so she kept on taking photos. It was so much fun! And the CM who took the photos while we got our photos with Goofy managed to get a small one when Goofy was giving Duffy the super-secret handshake. They did good!
It's always such a hard call between protecting them and letting them spread their wings (paws?). :thumbsup2
Sshhhh...I will admit (but only here) that we let our kids when they were little sit on the outside, too, and just held on tight to them. We always called the tram the "first thrill ride of the trip." Of course, once they discovered BTRR and the like, the tram became a big old yawn.
If I don't get back on here again today, have a fabulous trip!!!! And I so look forward to the epic Epic of epicness TR.
I wont tell if you wont tell! But there was plenty of hand-holding and he did great! ;) I can imagine the Tram will become less than ideal for thrills after experiencing the likes of BTMRR!
Thank you so much! I'll be sure to check in while I'm there and I can't wait (well, I can, haha) to share it with ya'll.
mvf-m11c
12-29-2010, 12:59 PM
Very nice photos of you and Duffy Jazz. Can't believe that you were at DL just a few weeks ago and now you are going to be at DL tomorrow. Can't wait to hear your new years TR.
kaoden39
12-29-2010, 01:07 PM
So very cute.
Belle Ella
12-29-2010, 01:10 PM
California! California!
Little-Duffy wanted to go back to see Big-Duffy straight away so that's what we were doing when we passed by a third lonely PhotoPass photographer and keeping with our new tradition of never letting a PhotoPass photographer be lonely we stopped and kept her company for a while. She had a lot of questions for Duffy that we were very happy to help her out with. She was a big fan too and wanted to know if we were on our way to see Big Duffy, which of course we were! The two had to meet at least once, of what I hope to be many more to come. And then we got to our photo taking. First Duffy was ready for his close-up!
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As we continued on our journey to see the Big Duffy we strolled through Pacific Wharf I promised that one day I would take him to the real thing that inspired that little area and we would take a day trip to San Francisco. I vow to keep my word although it will have to wait until 2011.
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I'm sure Duffy was getting impatient with all of my impromptu stops along the way to meet his idol but I'm always good for my word, even if it takes a little longer than originally anticipated. Was meeting Big Duffy all Little Duffy imagined it would be? Of course it was!! Even Big Duffy was super excited about it.
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As we took our leave with promises to come back to see Big Duffy in the future Little Duffy was kind enough to remind me to go do my shopping before I forgot and it was too late since we would be heading back to Disneyland right after. In return he let me take one more photo of him at DCA until he can make his return in 2011.
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Once we got back to DCA I knew I needed to get something to eat, and it would be better to be something simple so I didn't have a recurrence of my last trips drive home. That just wouldn't do. After much pondering I decided to go to Frontierland and Rancho del Zocalo because it's just yummy although I only settled on some tortilla soup which was just yummy squared! Part of the reason we settled on Rancho had to do with the fact that we had some Fast Passes to use for Big Thunder before we left and with the clock tick-tocking away before we had to leave we needed to make sure we got to use them.
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A plan had to be made at this point what to do with our remaining time because my goal was to be on the road no later than 2p. The list went as follows: Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones and Jungle Cruise!! And somehow we were able to fit them all in. Thankfully the lines weren't long and we had a FP for Haunted Mansion so we could get on straight away. And rather than show Duffy the entire queue for Indiana Jones we ended up using another Single Rider Pass to expedite things.
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Surprisingly, walking down Main Street on our way out wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I think the fact that I knew I would be coming back in only a matter of weeks (in fact, as of typing this post I leave for SoCal tomorrow!) helped ease the sadness a little bit. It even made the prospect of a 6 hour drive seem small. I'm sure that not making the drive on my own helped immensely. But alas, we had one last stop in Downtown Disney to make.
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downtown disney on our way out
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Duffy and I were very content by the time we got our butts planted on the bench seat of the Tram. It had been a pretty great, albeit short, day at Disneyland with good, if not quiet, company. It took me a fair few minutes to locate the correct car (and again I'm a little nervous about finding my own car without the aid of the smart key) but it didn't take too long to stow away the purchases and get buckled in safely for the drive home.
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I wish I could say the drive was uneventful, but the days earlier luck picked right back up where it started. I wont go into detail but we got our fair share of traffic, accidents along I-5, and of course the heavy pounding rain. But so long as we made it home safe and sound we would be good for another Disneyland trip!!
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Until my next Disney adventure, I bid you adieu!
Belle Ella
12-29-2010, 01:15 PM
Very nice photos of you and Duffy Jazz. Can't believe that you were at DL just a few weeks ago and now you are going to be at DL tomorrow. Can't wait to hear your new years TR.
Thanks Bret! I can hardly believe it either. But I'm still in disbelief about having an AP. I still pull it out of my credit card case to look at just to make sure it's real. Now hopefully doing this wont contribute to the possibility of me misplacing it in the future (knock on wood). I can't wait to share the next trip with everyone. PAP trip #2 here I come!
So very cute.
:goodvibes Thank you Michele!
Did I mention I'm a total kid at heart? Duffy helped me rediscover it even more!!
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