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

Woo hoo!:woohoo: Nice finish. Now onward to WDW for Halloween fun!:banana:

Bret, I don't know if you noticed, but I mentioned it twice in the Christmas Superthread that I picked this week's theme (DLR Christmas trees) specifically so you could participate in it. I had originally intended to use another theme for this week - I have all the themes mapped out way in advance, and I have specific reasons why I choose certain themes to fall in certain weeks. (It's all very carefully thought out and planned!)

But then I realized that you would be at WDW for the next Theme Week Monday (10/29), and you may still be recovering/getting back to your usual routines after your WDW trip by the Monday after that (11/5). Assuming you won't have any time to post photos for next Monday's theme while you're having fun at WDW, I wanted to be sure that we got to the Christmas tree theme while you were still around so you could share your photos! You were one of the biggest participants in "Tree Quest" - I just couldn't do that theme week without your contributions!
 
Nice wrap up Brett. Love the Matterhorn pics. Have fun in WDW!

Thank you Angela.


Great way to finish this TR Bret. Looking forward to reading about your WDW one....not long to go now.


See you real soon!!

Thank you PiO. Hopefully this trip will be a good one.



Woo hoo!:woohoo: Nice finish. Now onward to WDW for Halloween fun!:banana:

Bret, I don't know if you noticed, but I mentioned it twice in the Christmas Superthread that I picked this week's theme (DLR Christmas trees) specifically so you could participate in it. I had originally intended to use another theme for this week - I have all the themes mapped out way in advance, and I have specific reasons why I choose certain themes to fall in certain weeks. (It's all very carefully thought out and planned!)

But then I realized that you would be at WDW for the next Theme Week Monday (10/29), and you may still be recovering/getting back to your usual routines after your WDW trip by the Monday after that (11/5). Assuming you won't have any time to post photos for next Monday's theme while you're having fun at WDW, I wanted to be sure that we got to the Christmas tree theme while you were still around so you could share your photos! You were one of the biggest participants in "Tree Quest" - I just couldn't do that theme week without your contributions!

Thank you Sherry. Now it's onward over to WDW for Halloween and the Food and Wine Festival.

I did read your post on the Christmas Superthread after I posted my pictures of the Christmas Trees. I do appreciate about changing your theme when I am at WDW this week.

Maybe if I have some time, I will post some pictures of the next upcoming theme for 10/29. I will always be on my iPad or iPhone checking on how everyone is doing here. I also got to update my trip of what I have been doing. In two weeks when I get back from WDW, it will be time to go back to the DLR for the Holiday season which we are looking forward to the most with CL and BVS being decorated. This is going to be a fun year at DCA and find all those trees, wreaths, etc. decorations this year at DCA.

Thank you Sherry.
 
I just got back from WDW a few days ago during the [post=46633896]Boo to You...and Food & Wine Too! - October 26 to November 2, 2012[/post]. Right now I have a lot to cover since I will be at DL in less than two weeks which I am getting excited. This past trip was during the Halloween season at WDW including the Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT. There is a lot to cover from this trip which the highlights of the trip were from Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and the F&WF at EPCOT. The one that was the best was the Party for the Senses event at EPCOT. It is an event at EPCOT where it is held every Saturday during the festival which lets you try a lot of different food and beverages from each of these different restaurants chefs from WDW and around the world. I also got to meet my favorite chef on the Food Network Robert Irvine. There were a lot of things that I want to tell on this post, but this is just part of an example of what is to come from this past trip to WDW. My last DL trip was in August during [post=45841399]I'm Racing Back to Cars Land with Bro and his Girl in Tow![/post] where I went with my DB and his GF to enjoy a nice relaxation trip and get to see CL and BVS.

Now I am planning my pre-trip for November 18-20, 2011 during the Holiday season at the DLR.

Cast: Me Bret 30 and my DA 60

This will be my fifth trip to DL this year (Mar 2-4, Mar 23-25, June 9-12, & Aug 13-15). My DA 3rd trip to DL this year (Mar 2-4 & June 9-12).

My trip is not until the third week of November which is getting close. Right now we are now getting our plans ready for our 2nd Annual Holiday trip to DL in November. This is the 3rd year in a row that I am going to the DLR during the Holiday season in November. In the past my DA and I go to the DLR during the month of December during the Holiday season. Mostly it is for my birthday, but with basketball season starting up in mid to late November, I have missed a lot of games in December the last two years mostly from my WDW trips. So once again, we are going to DL during the Holiday season on the first weekend of the Holiday season (technically it is since the Holiday season starts on the 12th and not on the weekend of the 9th to 11th). The last two years during the Holiday season in November has been great with less crowds and get to see it early is even better than going in December. But I do have missed seeing the Holiday decorations in December like my DA and I have been doing for years. But with everything going on in the world for me and my DA, this was the best time to go during the Holiday season. Our main objective for my DA and myself during that week is to enjoy the Holiday season at the DLR like we always do. Also I plan on videotaping "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks and "A Christmas Fantasy" parade. I was lucky last year that it didn’t rain when I was videotaping both shows. I was considering doing the Holiday Tour at DL, but my DA said that she doesn’t want to do it since we have done it back in 2009. I had no problem with that, but she said that we will do it one day in the future. Like every year during the Holiday season, I will be participating Sherry E Holiday Quest that she started a couple of years ago which was the Tree, Wreath, etc. These quests going around the DLR to look for these specific things are always fun to do and I am looking forward to this year with the new DCA and the new lands at BVS and CL.

I will be driving down from Sacramento to Anaheim with my DA. It is nice to fly after flying on my last trip, but I do bring a lot of bags and camera equipment so it does make sense to drive down in just 7 hours. It just not worth paying the extra money for extra bags and getting a rental car. We will be driving down to SoCal in my DA Honda Civic. We always use my DA Honda Civic since she is so comfortable driving in it. We were able to make it to Anaheim with one stop of gas. We will stop at Livingston (close to Merced) that is always on my way to Anaheim to see my grandmother. Than after we stop at my grandmothers house, than I will head on over to Anaheim. The plan time for us to leave to my grandmothers house on Thursday Nov 15th at night. Then we will leave first thing in the morning on Friday and head to Anaheim. I few leave around 7am, we should be there around noon. I want to have extra time so we can see the new Holiday decorations at Cars Land and Buena Vista Street.

We will be staying at Best Westerns Stovall's Anaheim Inn. I have stayed at BWAI a lot these last few years since the hotel is close to the DLR and it is cheaper than staying at Best Western Park Place Inn where it is our favorite hotel to stay at. The reason I selected this hotel instead of getting BWPPI was that it was cheaper and it is only a few hotels down from the crosswalk. My DA didn’t like BW Stovall’s since they AC was so loud and I remember that BWAI had something similar to it. So I hope that she will like this room.

We will be in the park for all three days of the trip and our plan is to come back to Sacramento around noon. We also are planning to upgrade my DA back to the Deluxe Annual Pass like she got last year. The reason that she didn’t renewed her AP this year is that she didn’t go to DL in August with my DB and his GF. Plus she got free one day PH tickets from the Coca Cola game during the CL preview contest. So we will be using one of the tickets and upgrade it to the AP when we get to DL on Friday the 16th. Even though the DAP is $469 we can save some money on the one day PH ticket to the AP which is about $100 off.

Our goal for this trip is to enjoy the Holiday season at the DLR. The main thing is to see the new Holiday decorations at Buena Vista Street and Cars Land. This is something that we have been looking forward to the most ever since BVS and CL have opened this summer. I knew that BVS and CL would get Holiday decorations, but we didn’t know how much until the DLR announced the decorations at the two newest lands. I will be planning on taking a lot of pictures of the Holiday decorations at BVS and CL since this is the first time seeing those decorations. I also plan on watching and videotaping “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks and “A Christmas Fantasy” parade. This also might be the last year to watch those two shows at DL since DL might make these two shows as part of a party event like MHP at DL or the parties at WDW MNSSHP or MVMCP. I won’t like if DL makes these two shows as part of a exclusive event after these shows are part of DL during the Holiday season. But we’ll have to wait and see what it is like next year. It will be bad that I can’t get the DLR hotels since they don’t add there Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving. We are also eating at the Carthay Circle Restaurant during this trip since we didn’t get to eat at that restaurant in June during the preview. So we will be looking forward to eating at the CCR. Plan to see WoC and might see it in the dining area of PP since we are eating at the CCR.

Right now, we are not going to set a plan up until we decided of what we want to do at DL. But here are some plans that we will be doing on this trip.

Friday
When we get to the DLR, I will start the Tree, Wreath, etc. Quest that Sherry E have started and look for any Christmas decorations, treats and merchandise. We will be heading towards DCA to see the new decorations at BVS and CL. I’m still debating on seeing “A Christmas Fantasy” parade that day since I want to see it on Saturday. That will be decided on the day we arrived. I also planned on seeing “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks at 8:45pm. But I am also thinking of not seeing the fireworks that night since we want to watch the Sacramento Kings play the Atlanta Hawks in Sacramento. If we do, we will be watching the game from the ESPN Zone where we like to watch sports games. This will also be another TBD.

Saturday
Go to DL early that morning and go on HMH, IASWH, & SLCB before the crowds pick up later that day. All three of the rides will have Christmas decorations on the ride. I know that it will be a walk on if you do it first thing in the morning since most of the people will be doing the big rides.

We also plan on going back to DCA that day to see more of the Holiday decorations and go on our usual rides. That day we will also be eating at the Carthay Circle Theater and we might get tickets for WoC that night if we don’t go to DCA first thing in the morning to get FP’s for WoC and Radiator Springs Racers. These are all talk right now and they will change when we get closer to the dates.

Sunday
Just like Saturday, I will do the same thing over again and go on the Christmas decorated rides and take pictures of the Holiday decorations. Go on some of my favorite rides if we have the time. This day will be mostly be a photography day of the Christmas decorations.

I will write more about my TR and ask for any advice of what I should do with my time at the DLR during the Holiday season.

Thank you
 
Bret -

You know I always appreciate your dedication to the various Quests! You're the best Quest participant because you stick to it and don't give up. I think a lot of other people would have started some Quests and then given up a couple of hours into them.

Anyway, isn't it exciting to know that this year there are all new Quest goals in CL and on BVS? All new trees and all new wreaths to be found! All new window or store displays. It sounds as though the tree/photo spot in the Paradise Pier area is going to be back again, which is good because they need something holiday-ish in that area overlooking the boardwalk. But since Santa is going to be located in the department store on BVS, I guess that there will be characters at the PP location instead of Santa.

There's even a Christmas village at the ice rink in DTD!

I still can't figure out why the hotels are not fully decorated before Thanksgiving. It seems like - since November 12 is the advertised official start date of the season - the hotels should be decorated then too. The whole resort - including the hotels - should be decorated at the same time.

Some folks have said that the GCH tree does not go up until the day after Thanksgiving, while others have claimed that the GCH was decorated on the weekend before Thanksgiving. It can't hurt to look in the lobby when you're there!

This year, because there is so much going on for the holiday season and Disney is really going to promote it, maybe they will make more of an effort to get the hotels ready too.

Last year someone said that the Paradise Pier Hotel Christmas tree was up when the season began on 11/14. I'm heading over to DLR in 6 days (Monday), and I am going to peek into the PPH and see if the tree is there. If it is there, maybe you can dash across the street to the PPH during your trip (if you have time) and get some quick photos of the tree? It's a gorgeous tree in person, but it never translates well in photos. The pictures never seem to capture the blue/green 'glow' of the tree. I would be interested to see if you can manage to get some really good PPH tree photos!
 


Bret,
Your wrap up for the August trip was very nice and well thought out. It sounds like you accomplished a lot of what you wanted to do.

The upcoming trip sounds really nice and you will have a lot of time with your DA to enjoy the parks and decorations.
 
Looks like you have a great trip planned with your DA! I'm depending on you and Sherry to provide my DL/DCA fix for this year. :santa:
 
Sounds like you've got another great trip planned. Looking forward to seeing the parks all decorated from your pics. :thumbsup2
 


Hi Bret. Like I mentioned to you in my TR, I still have a lot to go back and catch up on around here, but at least now I'm caught up on your current PTR for your upcoming trip. :thumbsup2
 
Bret -

You know I always appreciate your dedication to the various Quests! You're the best Quest participant because you stick to it and don't give up. I think a lot of other people would have started some Quests and then given up a couple of hours into them.

Anyway, isn't it exciting to know that this year there are all new Quest goals in CL and on BVS? All new trees and all new wreaths to be found! All new window or store displays. It sounds as though the tree/photo spot in the Paradise Pier area is going to be back again, which is good because they need something holiday-ish in that area overlooking the boardwalk. But since Santa is going to be located in the department store on BVS, I guess that there will be characters at the PP location instead of Santa.

There's even a Christmas village at the ice rink in DTD!

I still can't figure out why the hotels are not fully decorated before Thanksgiving. It seems like - since November 12 is the advertised official start date of the season - the hotels should be decorated then too. The whole resort - including the hotels - should be decorated at the same time.

Some folks have said that the GCH tree does not go up until the day after Thanksgiving, while others have claimed that the GCH was decorated on the weekend before Thanksgiving. It can't hurt to look in the lobby when you're there!

This year, because there is so much going on for the holiday season and Disney is really going to promote it, maybe they will make more of an effort to get the hotels ready too.

Last year someone said that the Paradise Pier Hotel Christmas tree was up when the season began on 11/14. I'm heading over to DLR in 6 days (Monday), and I am going to peek into the PPH and see if the tree is there. If it is there, maybe you can dash across the street to the PPH during your trip (if you have time) and get some quick photos of the tree? It's a gorgeous tree in person, but it never translates well in photos. The pictures never seem to capture the blue/green 'glow' of the tree. I would be interested to see if you can manage to get some really good PPH tree photos!

Thank you Sherry. The Quests that you mention these last few years are very fun to do. I am looking forward to getting pictures of BVS and CL for this upcoming trip.

No question that I am looking forward to the new lands at DCA with BVS and CL. This is new to everyone and hasn't been done yet and my DA and I are looking forward to all the decorations at both lands during this upcoming trip. I was glad to hear that the tree at PP wasn't moved and still at its same location.

I remember the ice rink at DTD and will look at that as well. I won't be ice skating at the ice rink since we have limited time during our trip. We do plan on going in DTD during the trip since we will be eating at the ESPN Zone on Friday night to watch the Sacramento Kings play.

This is always confusing me all the time that the DLR hotels are not decorated after Thanksgiving. The hotels should be decorated when the Holiday season starts tomorrow.

If the tree is not up in the GCH for your upcoming trip tomorrow, I will look at the GCH lobby to see if the tree is up. Like you said that it wouldn't hurt to look at the GCH lobby to see if the tree is up or not.

Disney is really promoting a lot for this Holiday season with CL & BVS all decorated during the Holiday season. We'll just wait and see if the hotels are decorated this week.

I haven't been to PPH during the Holiday season since I am not staying there or not at BW Stovall's which is on the way to the DLR. I will wait to hear from you if PPH is decorated. If so or not, I will try to go on over there to see if they have the tree in the hotel. I have seen your pictures of the Christmas tree at the PPH and it looks very nice.


Bret,
Your wrap up for the August trip was very nice and well thought out. It sounds like you accomplished a lot of what you wanted to do.

The upcoming trip sounds really nice and you will have a lot of time with your DA to enjoy the parks and decorations.

Thank you Alison. It was a nice trip in August with my DB and his GF. We did accomplish a lot of things that we wanted to do on this trip.

This is my favorite time of the year to go to the DLR with all the Holiday decorations up and the activities. My DA and I will have a great time this week.

Looks like you have a great trip planned with your DA! I'm depending on you and Sherry to provide my DL/DCA fix for this year. :santa:

Thank you TK. I will do my best of getting all the pictures of the Holiday season at DL and DCA. I will also be looking forward to Sherry pictures too.


Sounds like you've got another great trip planned. Looking forward to seeing the parks all decorated from your pics. :thumbsup2

Thank you PiO. Hope you will like these pictures while you are enjoying my pictures from my WDW trip.


Hi Bret. Like I mentioned to you in my TR, I still have a lot to go back and catch up on around here, but at least now I'm caught up on your current PTR for your upcoming trip. :thumbsup2

There is a lot to cover from my June and August trip since you didn't want to see them since you want to be surprised. Glad that you had a great trip to DL.


Just less than 5 days away till my trip to DL during the Holiday season.
 
With only 1 day away till my trip to the DLR during the Holiday season and after looking at Sherry pictures, I do have a lot to cover this weekend. Not only with BVS and CL having the Christmas decorations, I also have to go to DTD and see the ice rink. I was sad to hear that the Christmas tree at DTD is not there this year. There is a lot to cover this weekend. I also have to go to DL of course to see the Jingle Jungle Jamboree which is new for the Holiday season. But it is just using the Festival area of the back of BTR just like they used it during the Halloween season.

i also heard a rumor from a friend of mine that Santa might make an appearance at the GCH. Mostly he makes an appearance after thanksgiving, but this will change a lot if he is at the GCH and maybe the tree will be up by then. So I will also be going to the GCH lobby to see if the rumor is true.
 
With only 1 day away till my trip to the DLR during the Holiday season and after looking at Sherry pictures, I do have a lot to cover this weekend. Not only with BVS and CL having the Christmas decorations, I also have to go to DTD and see the ice rink. I was sad to hear that the Christmas tree at DTD is not there this year. There is a lot to cover this weekend. I also have to go to DL of course to see the Jingle Jungle Jamboree which is new for the Holiday season. But it is just using the Festival area of the back of BTR just like they used it during the Halloween season.

i also heard a rumor from a friend of mine that Santa might make an appearance at the GCH. Mostly he makes an appearance after thanksgiving, but this will change a lot if he is at the GCH and maybe the tree will be up by then. So I will also be going to the GCH lobby to see if the rumor is true.

Have a wonderful time with your DA. I'll be looking forward to your trip report when you return. :goodvibes

TK
 
Wow your trip is coming up quick! OK, I have been wracking my brain, what is SLCB????

Have a great time!
 
Have a great trip Bret. Catch you when you get back (unless you're Dis-sing whilst you're away).
 
Hi everyone. Got here safely and waiting for Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks. Here are some pics from today.


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Looks like you are off to a wonderful trip. I especially like your photo with the light post and the Carthay Theater. Top notch :thumbsup2
 
WOW! CL looks so great for the holidays! We're heading down to see it all in early Jan, this makes the anticipation even harder! :crazy2: I'm on board, following along. Cheers!
 
Nice pics! I love Mater with his Christmas hat.

Thank you Angela.


The CL decorations are great. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you PiO.


Looks like you are off to a wonderful trip. I especially like your photo with the light post and the Carthay Theater. Top notch :thumbsup2

Thank you TK.


WOW! CL looks so great for the holidays! We're heading down to see it all in early Jan, this makes the anticipation even harder! :crazy2: I'm on board, following along. Cheers!

Glad that you like the pictures from this past weekend at the DLR during the Holiday season. You will like it a lot.


I'm finally back from this weekend at the DLR during the Holiday season. I have a lot to show but I will get to the trip report when I get closer to finish my WDW trip from a couple of weeks ago. Here is a small recap of this weekend.

We got to see BVS and CL with the decorations and they were very nice. Got to watch Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks and looked at the decorations at night which is great as usual during the Holiday season.

Yesterday, we got to do a lot where we got to ride RSR twice that day with FP's. There was no way we were willing to wait in the stand by line that day. RSR was down most of the morning where we didn't go on RSR until noon.

We got to ride TSMM with no wait time (TK I know that you would have easily gone it over and over that morning). I would have never imagine it in a million years that TSMM at DCA would have a walk-on when the park opens. Good thing that CL is taking most of the guests away from Paradise Pier in the morning.
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Got to ride MFW and Soarin at DCA. Later at DL we got to ride the HMH and IASWH which are great as usual. Got to ride the DLRR and the monorail that day. Later that day we had dinner at the Carthay Circle Theater which we were looking forward to. Also we watched World of Color that night.

Today was the last day which was picture day and rode HMH again as well as BLAB like I usually do on a DL trip. I will write up the trip report later on but I will show you pictures from my DL trip.

Here are some pictures from Friday including some trees, wreaths, garlands for the quests. Thank you Sherry for showing your pictures of your trip last Monday. Also I didn't see the tree up at the GCH this weekend. Also the Christmas Village at DTD isn't that spectacular as mentioned where I have seen stands that were selling Holiday merchandise right around the Ice Rink.

From Cars Land
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Stanley statue
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Christmas tree inside Flo's V8 Cafe
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Right by Lizzie's Curios Shop
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Cozy Cone tree
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Inside the Cozy Cone Lobby
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Sarge's Surplus Hut
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Mater's Christmas Tree
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Fillmore's Christmas Tree
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Luigis Casa Della Tires
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Cars Land Season's Speeding Sign
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I will have more posted later on.
 

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