Our 3rd Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November - November 22nd - 25th, 2013 Post #3416

[mvf-m11c]

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, now is the time to write my TR for that night on Friday Nov. 19.

I left off at when I returned back to BW Stovalls around 4:00pm. I used that time to rest up and get all my camera equipment for the two nighttime shows at the DLR. Than it was around 4:30pm and it was time to head back to DLR. I am not even thinking about using the ART system since it does take awhile for the bus to come so I just kept walking. I was considering of getting a ticket for that night since my legs were hurting but it was fine.

I went to DL around 4:45pm and it was time for the flag retreat on MS USA. Its been awhile since I was at the Flag retreat since I am back in my hotel room resting up for the nighttime shows.

After the Flag Retreat, I got a good spot right at the entrance for the 2nd "A Christmas Fantasy" parade right by the Christmas Tree by the Disney Showcase store. I also got to see the lighting of the Christmas tree on MS USA. It looked even better when the lights turn on.

I talked to this nice family that was right next to me for the parade and they have never to DL during the Holiday season and they were very impressed with the Holiday decorations. They also was wondering what was WoC and I told them the details of the show and how to get a FP for the viewing area. They were happy about the show and were planning on doing it the next day at DCA. Than it was time for the 5:30pm "A Christmas Fantasy" parade. I thought it looked even better at night than the daytime. But the video quality of my video was not better than the daytime. But it was enjoyable to see the parade again.

(Sry, the image quality is very poor at night)

When the parade was over I put all my equipment away and in my backpack and it was time to head on back over to DCA and get ready for the 9pm WoC show. I also remember to see ElecTRONica that night.

 

[skiingfast]

Bret on the ballroom float, are the candles "lit" with real flames?

 

[mvf-m11c]

After watching "A Christmas Fantasy" parade, I head on over to DCA for the 9pm WoC show. It was around 5:45 when I got to DCA from DL after seeing the parade. This was also the last time to see the CALIFORNIA letters at night for the last time.

Than I realize I have just a few minutes until the opening of ElecTRONica, but it was already crowded and a sudden I was start to feel hungry and decided to get something to eat. I was going to miss the opening of ElecTRONica if I have done that. I wasn't filled up by the WoC picnic and I wanted to eat something hot than just cold chicken. So there was barely anytime to go to Pacific Wharf, I decided to eat at Taste Pilots' Grill and had the X-3 Rocket Ribs meal which is the 3 ribs and flyby fries.

After I finished up the meal, it was already time for ElecTRONica opening at the main stage. It was really crowded so I was right next to the kiosk. It was really interesting the first part of the opening. Since it was over, I decided to wait until it died down at ElecTRONica since it was already crowded.

And after it was finished, I decided to go check-out the WoC area. So I headed over to Paradise Pier and see that the CMs are getting the viewing area ready for the 9pm WoC show. I also showed my viewing area for the 9pm WoC show with the blue FP. I am hoping that this is a good spot to videotape WoC for future shows.

I was way too early for the viewing of the 9pm WoC show, so I decided to head on back to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot and see ElecTRONica. When I first seen ElecTRONica pictures from Sara thread, I thought it was another version of Glow Fest. But it was a great idea to promote the movie TRON Legacy coming next month (just like the TRON rail aka Monorail Coral at WDW). It was a nice enjoyable experience during ElecTRONica and it was great. I have went back to it later during the night after WoC so I will write the rest down later.

After seeing the overlay of ElecTRONica, it was around 6:45 and it was time to head on over to Paradise Bay and get ready for my viewing area for the 9pm WoC show. When I got to the viewing area, the barricades were not out and all the CM's are running around to get everything set up. So I waited around the light tower and took some more pics around Paradise Pier. I went up through the bridge of PP and took some more pics around the bay before I head on back to the blockade.

It was around 7:30 and the CM's just brought out the barricades, but they didn't allow anyone in the viewing area. I would assume that this time of the year that they won't be doing the WoC pre-show since I read from a TR about not having the pre-show. I read from and talked with 3TinksAndAnEeyore (Stephanie) about the change to the guests who are going into the viewing area. When it was around 7:50pm, the CM's start letting the guests in the viewing area. When I went to the blue section line, the line was changed towards the entrance by the bridge FP viewing area. I was kind of surprise that they changed it to the bridge area for the blue FP entrance. Than I was wondering if they would let us in the viewing area. But they said that we have to wait around 8:00 and they didn't let us in yet.

Than around 8:15, they start letting the guests in the viewing area. It was a longer wait than I expected to go in the viewing area, I thought it was stupid to wait this long, but without the pre-show, it does make sense to let the guests in the viewing area. I got my spot for the 9pm WoC show and there was no one there until 30 minutes until the show was about to start when the last second guests showed up.

I will post the pictures from my viewing spot for the 9pm WoC show later.

Thx for reading my almost completed TR.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret on the ballroom float, are the candles "lit" with real flames?

I don't think they are real flames on the candles. It almost feels like they are real when you watch the video of the parade. But mostly it is just lights illuminating the flames from the candles on the ballroom float.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Now is the time to post my WoC viewing area pictures from Nov. 19 for the 1st show. The chart that Disneyland 1951 was great and I will try this spot again if I don't want to wait an hour for a good viewing by the bay.

I will post the TRON segment encore just in a few minutes.

 

[mvf-m11c]

When the 9pm WoC show was about to be over, than the WoC TRON Segment Encore started to play. I have not seen the TRON segment since I don't want to spoil myself when I see it. It was even better than I have expected and it was worth seeing the WoC show again with the TRON segment.

Nov. 19 WoC TRON Segment Encore on my youtube. Hope you enjoy the WoC TRON Segment Encore







When the WoC TRON Segment Encore was over, I packed all my equipment and start to head back to Hollywood Pictures Backlot. But first I went over to Paradise Pier and see the Christmas Tree during the night. It was even better at night than during the day.




Than I head back to Hollywood Pictures Backlot and to enjoy ElecTRONica. More and more people are not started to partying by Monsters Inc. Than I went to see TRON Legacy 3D Exclusive Sneak Peak.

It was great to see the Sneak Peak of TRON Legacy and I am now committed to see the show when it comes out next month. Than I just more pics around the Hollywood Pictures Backlot and stayed during ElecTRONica for just a half an hour until it was time to go back to DL during the Holiday decorations.










I left DCA around 10pm and I went over to DL and to take pictures of the Holiday decorations around the park. Most of the people are leaving after the fireworks and the 9pm F! show.

But first I am going towards the ROA and see how bad it is during the 2nd F! show at 10:30pm, but most of the spots around the ROA were already filled up. So I walked down towards NOS and see the Holiday decorations around NOS. As I have told on my pp about less decorations in NOS this year than the last few years.






Here is my last years pics and what a big difference from last years to this years.




After going through NOS with the decorations, the DLRR was not that crowded and I just hop on board the C.K. Holliday with Holiday 5 car set and the Lily Belle. I took the ride on the DLRR until we got to Toon Town Station. And than it is time to take pictures of IASWH and also got to see the projections on the attraction.
















I will post the rest of the pics on that night later tomorrow.

Hope you all enjoy the pics during my Holiday solo trip.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I have too many photos on this page and now it's time to post some links towards my videos. The video is IASWH. I have videotape and took pictues of IASWH. It is always the same but it does not get tired for me of seeing all the different decorations. I need to shrink it down so I can start a new page, it takes too long to reload with all these pictures on this page.

IASWH Part 1

IASWH Part 2

 

[skiingfast]

Bret do you have video of the projections?

Also how about the night parade?

 

[skiingfast]

Your IASW night photos are awesome. This is one thing that make A DLR Christmas way better than in the MK.

Though I always wish DLR would get a Osborne Lights although IMO it should go down Hollywood Blvd and of course ElecTRONica is there this year.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret do you have video of the projections?

Also how about the night parade?

I don't have the video projections on IASWH since when I got to TT around 10:30pm the show was about to begin and I had no time to videotape it. I also was very tired that day and I just couldn't stay for the whole day since I need to get up early for the character breakfast at the Plaza Inn.

I have part of it on youtube. I need to upload the 3rd part of the parade later this week. But it will be up shortly. Here are the two links for the 2nd parade at 5:30pm on Nov. 19. A Christmas Fantasy Parade 5:30 Show Part 1, A Christmas Fantasy Parade 5:30 Show Part 2

Your IASW night photos are awesome. This is one thing that make A DLR Christmas way better than in the MK.

Though I always wish DLR would get a Osborne Lights although IMO it should go down Hollywood Blvd and of course ElecTRONica is there this year.

I completely agree with you Matt. It is a shame that the MK doesn't have IASWH and HMH at WDW. I got to see how MVMCP is during the Holiday season in less than two weeks and I am excited to see it. But DL during the Holiday season will always be my favorite no matter what.

Yea, it would be nice to have a Osborne Lights style event through Hollywood Backlot Pictures which is almost close in the same category just like at DHS. But with ElecTRONica, there is no point of having the Holiday decorations up this year.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I am planning on finishing my TR during my trip since I am taking my time with all my pics and videos. Here is the rest of the night that I was at DL during the Holiday season. After looking at all the Holiday decorations on IASWH, I head on over to TL and took some pics of the FNSV and the Monorail station.






After looking at the FNSV lagoon, I went through the shortcut towards SB castle by the Matterhorn mountain area. And it was time to take the pictures of several different angles of the castle from front to back.


















After taking pictures of all the different angles around the castle, I decided to head on back to Frontierland and get some pics of the Holiday decorations and see the merchandise at the Bonanza Outfitters store.




Frontierland Shootin' Exposition with the Holiday decorations


After seeing Frontierland with the decorations, it was time to head on back over to BW Stovalls and rest up for the night, but I got to take a fiew more pics of MS with the Holiday decorations and the Light up merchandise cart.


/



Than I head straight on back to my hotel at Stovalls. For that day on Friday Nov. 19, I got mostly everything done during that day with the parades, ElecTRONica, WoC with TRON segment and got to do all the rides that I want to do during my visit.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Now I am posting my last part of my TR of my solo trip to DL Nov. 18-20. And this is the one that a lot of you DISers are waiting to hear about my experience at the Plaza Inn character breakfast.

I got up at around 6:20am in the morning so I could get to DL during MM. Yes, I am going to MM with my AP since I have a reservation at Minnie and Friends character breakfast at the Plaza Inn. This was a great tip by some of the DISers on the board that you can enter the park early even without a MM ticket or staying on-site. I left the hotel around 7am and head on over to DL main gate. It was actually raining a little bit during the first part of the morning but it won't get any better later during the day.


When I got to DTD, there were a few people who were going to DL during MM. I thought there would be less people during the raining day, but right now it is about average in my opinion. Than when I got past the security, there was no one by the CALIFORNIA letters and this was a good time to get the last look at the letters during the Holiday season and the new entrance for the future.










Now after I finished taking the pictures of the CALIFORNIA letters, it was time to go have a nice breakfast at DL. I got to the left side of the main entrance where there were a few CM waiting for the reservations. They told me that I was here for MM, I should go to the center entrance is where they let the guests in for MM. But I told them that I was here for the character breakfast at the Plaza Inn. When I told them that I was dining by myself and had a reservation, one of the CM was dazing out. I assume that the CM thought it was kind of weird for myself to have a character breakfast. But I told them that I was also here for some autographs from the characters. Than I walked in the park and there was some guests walking down but not too many. Than I head on over to the Plaza Inn for my character breakfast.












Now I checked in at the booth and my time for the character breakfast was at 7:20am. I was right on the left hand side of the restaurant. It was not that crowded and the atmosphere was even better. When I had breakfast, I almost tried everything inside the restaurant. I love the mickey shape waffles. But they were small, I thought they would have the big size mickey shape waffles. As for the characters that I got to see, I have met Chip, Dale, Minnie, Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, Fairy God Mother, Max, Captain Hook, Brer Fox, & Rafiki. The best part is when Dale arrived and I had my iPad out checking out the weather for the day and he tried to play with it but he cant work it well. Than he took a nap on the chair. For the autographs I got Chip, Dale, Minnie and Pooh for my dad's colleagues daughters. I didn't get a picture of the autograph books, which were the princess pink ones. When it was around 8am when the park opened, it was time for me to go out and have some fun of taking the last pictures of the day.








Here is another tree for the Tree Quest




After finishing at the Plaza Inn for the character breakfast, I only had about 3 hours left until I head back to Livingston and see my grandmother. When I got out it was still raining, but luckily it was just sprinkling so far. So the first thing I did was go to FL and get on PP. The good thing about is that I just got on in less than 3 minutes. It is a fun ride and it is even better when you ride it first thing in the morning.




I will finish the rest of my TR later tonight, I am about to have dinner. I hope you enjoyed reading my dining experience at Minnie and Friends character breakfast just by myself. I also want to thank Goofy_Mom so much for helping me with the information at the Plaza Inn for the character breakfast. This might be my only time in my life that I will do a character breakfast solo, but you don't know what might happen in the future. Hey I might have a character breakfast at WDW in less than two weeks. But who knows. .

 

[tksbaskets]

I really enjoyed hearing about your solo-character breakfast. Too bad the weather was so poor. I'm glad you rode Peter Pan. One of my favorite rides.

Hope you had a tasty dinner!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Now it is time to finish the rest of my TR on Saturday Nov. 20.

After I have finished PP, it was started to rain a little bit harder and I went toward Pinocchio Daring Adventure ride and took the picture of the ride vehicle.




After when I put on my poncho, I went back back toward the castle and took some pictures on the left side of the castle.






After that I head on over to towards Adventureland and than head on over to NOS and see the Holiday decorations before I head on over to HMH.






Than I head on over to HMH and there was no one there. I had to wait until another family showed up in the line. And also here is another ride vehicle pic when I was on the ride with nightshot. If I have took it with a regular shot, it would turn out blurry.








Than I head out of HMH and went back toward the backside of NOS. It started to rain even more and more but it was still not raining like crazy. I head on over to POTC. Here is also the pic of the ride vehicle of POTC with the nightshot.








After POTC, I head on over to the Frontierland backside and took some more different pictures.






Than I was back in FL and just walked around towards IASWH.








I would say that this is my favorite pic of the monorail during my visit.


This will continue shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

After going around FL, I head on back over to Tomorrowland and see how crazy it is during a rainy day.








After walking out of TL, it was time to go over to DCA and take my last picture of my ride vehicle quest. The last ride vehicle pic I need was Soarin. But first I took some more pics around MS before I left the park.




Than I walked outside and see that more and more people are now coming into the park. I got inside DCA around 9:35am It was still raining outside while I head straight in DCA. The first thing I did when I got in the park was head on over to Soarin.






Here is my last pic of the ride vehicle of Soarin on my ride vehicle quest.


After I finished Soarin, I head on over to GRR and get my souvenir WoC FP. After getting a blue FP just like on Friday, I would assume that I would get the same FP color. When I got my FP, it was for the blue section for the 9pm WoC show.

Than I went back to the main entrance and started to buy some of my holiday merchandise at Greetings at California. I bought the classic Disneyland t-shirt with the Santa hat, light up ghost lanyard, recycle tote bag and a nice red tote bag for my mom.

When I finished up my shopping at the store, I exited DCA and the next thing I did was go to DTD and see the rest of the Holiday decorations. After DTD, I went toward DTD and the DLH to see the Christmas Tree.




Than I went back to BW Stovalls and it was around 11:00 when I got back to the hotel. Than I started to pack all of my stuff in the car and than the weather started to get even worse when I was about to leave DL. It was around 12pm when I got all my stuff in the car, but before I head back home. I had to stopped at my DBGF apartment in OC to take some stuff back home to Sacramento.

When I picked up the stuff at my DBGF apartment, I was heading straight towards Livingston. I got there around 7pm that night. Than the next day I left around 8:30am and got back to Sacramento around 10am. Just in time to watch the football games.

This was a great trip just to be solo and got to take a lot of different pictures of the Holiday decorations. I also got a lot of pics for the Tree and Wreath Quest that Sherry has put together on the Christmas thread. I also got to get all the pics of the ride vehicles at the whole entire DLR. The character solo breakfast was nice, but I would not do that again just by myself. It would be better if I have someone else with me. Overall, the solo trip was better than my solo trip in March 2010.

I will do another solo trip one day next year, but I don't know which month to go. I will be going to DL in August for the D23 Expo with my DA. I want to do another trip before the D23 Expo and go on the new rides (Star Tours 2 & Little Mermaid Ride). But I will see if I can get another trip done. If I did another trip, I was thinking about late May to early June before the heavy summer crowds.

Now it is time to plan my WDW Holiday Trip Dec 10-17 and hope that you can follow my WDW TR. This will be my first time to WDW during the Holiday season and I just can't wait to go in less than two weeks. I need some advice before I go to WDW in two weeks.

Thank you for reading my TR.

 

[tksbaskets]

You sure seem to be making the best of a soggy day at DL. I like your monorail picture too.

Thanks for sharing
TK

 

[Goofy_Mom]

Hi Bret!! You're more than welcome for the Plaza info. From the angle of your pictures it looks like we had the same table. What do you think?

from this angle, if you were to look to your left you would see the main food area, behind you would be an open area and the tree would be in the window.

I like you pictures, so far my favorites are the CA letters with no people, the night time castle shots (if you blur your eyes just a little, they really do look like icikels) and the night shot over FNSV.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi Bret!! You're more than welcome for the Plaza info. From the angle of your pictures it looks like we had the same table. What do you think?

from this angle, if you were to look to your left you would see the main food area, behind you would be an open area and the tree would be in the window.

I like you pictures, so far my favorites are the CA letters with no people, the night time castle shots (if you blur your eyes just a little, they really do look like icikels) and the night shot over FNSV.

Yea what a coincidence, I think you are right that we are almost exactly at the very same table. But I was more close to the corner when I did the solo dining. That is a very nice picture of your kids with Captain Hook at the Plaza Inn.

I can't wait to read more of your TR and see your pics. I read that you said that it was a madhouse last week. But it looks like you have done everything you want to do during your trip.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

Yea what a coincidence, I think you are right that we are almost exactly at the very same table. But I was more close to the corner when I did the solo dining. That is a very nice picture of your kids with Captain Hook at the Plaza Inn.

I can't wait to read more of your TR and see your pics. I read that you said that it was a madhouse last week. But it looks like you have done everything you want to do during your trip.

We did have a great time, DS had a blast. On our last day he was asking if we could "see Mickey Mouse and ride more rides". I'll have to write one day at a time. My pictures aren't as "professional" as I would have liked, most of the time I'm hanging onto DS's leash and it's really hard to shoot one handed when the other hand is being yanked. So, try not to laugh too hard

What did you think of elecTRONica?

 

[mvf-m11c]

We did have a great time, DS had a blast. On our last day he was asking if we could "see Mickey Mouse and ride more rides". I'll have to write one day at a time. My pictures aren't as "professional" as I would have liked, most of the time I'm hanging onto DS's leash and it's really hard to shoot one handed when the other hand is being yanked. So, try not to laugh too hard

What did you think of elecTRONica?

Why would I laugh at your pictures or anyone else pictures. It is always nice to see pictures of DL during someones TR. I have seen Sherry's during her trip a few weeks ago and some of them were blurry but it is good to see pictures when I read the threads.

I thought ElecTRONica was a little bit more like Glow Fest but with the advertising of TRON Legacy. With all the alcohol going around during that time at night and the partying. I am not that type of a person who likes to drink and partying. But I did like the TRON Legacy 3D Sneak Peak and Flynn's arcade was also nice.