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

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 16, 2012 – Part 10​

On the last update, we just looked around Jingle Jangle Jamboree where it was in the Festival Area right by Big Thunder Ranch. The JJJ is a very nice activity to do a lot of different activities during the Holiday season at DL. There were games, crafts, character meet & greet and the stage where Billy Hill and the Holiday Hillbillies were playing. We didn’t stay too long since my DA wanted to do other things that night so we moved on over to the former Reindeer Round-Up area right at the cottage.

We just left JJJ and now at the cottage at Big Thunder Ranch. I always like to go inside the cottage to see the Holiday decorations inside. It is also decorated during the Halloween season with a lot of different decorations. I haven’t been inside the cottage during the Holiday season in a while and it was a perfect time to go inside while we were in the area.

There were a lot of small Christmas trees inside the building. How many trees can you see in the pictures?

That’s a lot of reindeers on the shelves

The kitchen

The fireplace with a Santa picture

The main Christmas tree inside the cottage

Top of the cottage with more pictures of Santa and his reindeers

After leaving the cottage, I had to get pictures of the reindeers made out of sticks which was very neat.

After looking around Big Thunder Ranch where they didn’t have the reindeer’s this year which was really sad that they mostly have the reindeers at Disneyland in the past. I first heard that Disney was not bringing back the reindeers which is really sad and it would have been nice if they had the reindeers. The JJJ was really neat but I am a traditional guy during the Holiday season at DL where it would have been nice to have Reindeer Round-Up instead of JJJ.

While we were leaving, the Hillbillies were playing right on the other side of Big Thunder Ranch

We walked down towards Frontierland right by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad which will be closed in a couple of months during my visit in November. As we know already that BTMRR is closed for a 10 month refurbishment where the tracks will be replaced and a nice touch up just like the Matterhorn last year where it was down for a lot of months last year.

There was all so a JJJ sign right by BTMRR where the Reindeer Round-Up sign use to be during the Holiday season.

Now we are right in Frontierland right by the Rivers of America. We decided to head on over to Haunted Mansion Holiday to go on it since it is fun to ride during the Holiday season. While we were walking down on over to the HMH, I had to find as many wreaths down the way.

Wreaths at the Mark Twain/Columbia dock

The Golden Horseshoe had its garlands on the building like every year during the Holiday season

There were a lot of strollers right at the entrance of Pirates of the Caribbean.

A look at New Orleans Square with the Holiday decorations and I did came back to it later that day so there will be more pictures of it. Just like the last year in 2011 where there were Mardi Gras masks on the light poles and on the buildings.

There was a band playing Mardi Gras music

When we got over to HMH, there was a long line that was outside of the queue. My DA didn’t want to wait in that long queue. I told her that the queue was not being used during that time when we saw it. It was about 10 to 15 minutes to go through the queue. She didn’t want to do it so we just skipped it. But we did get FP’s for HMH so we can come back later that day to go on the ride.

We got FP’s for HMH and our time was around noon so we had some time to kill until it was time to head on back to HMH to go on the ride.

While we were in the area of NOS, we decided to go on the DLRR. But I will get to that on the next post so stay tune for the DLRR on the next post.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 16, 2012 – Part 11​

On the last update at DL, my DA and I were at the cottage at Big Thunder Ranch seeing all the decorations and just got FP’s for Haunted Mansion Holiday that day since the line for HMH was quite long. We could have stayed in the line but my DA didn’t want to wait in the line. So we are off to our next attraction which was right at NOS.

When we got the FP’s for HMH, we were right by the NOS station and one of the trains was at the station. So we decided to go on the DLRR since the train was at the station.

While we were walking through the station, I had to get pictures of the Christmas wreaths at the station. I do enjoy looking at the Christmas wreaths at the NOS since it is two of the four stations that are decorated during the Holiday season which the MS station is one of them including the NOS station.

The train at the station was the E.P. Ripley Engine #2 with the Excursion car set

On the other side of the NOS station is a Christmas wreath of the station.

The train left the NOS station and we are on our way towards Mickey’s Toontown Depot. It is so fun to go from NOS to MTT since you go through Splash Mountain and right by the Rivers of America.

It so fun to see the Riverboat inside Splash Mountain with all those different characters.

It was a little busy around Critter Country where it was lunch time and there were a lot of strollers around the area when we were on the train.

Passing by the Festival Arena where the Jingle Jangle Jamboree is happening

We now were at Mickey’s Toontown Depot and we didn’t get off since we plan on riding the train all the way towards the Tomorrowland station. We had to wait awhile until the train could leave the depot and head on over to the Tomorrowland station.

When we left the station, it is always fun to see IASWH going by.

It was a little busy around IASW Plaza where there were quite a number of people.

The queues for IASWH was not that long where it was a short wait time.

We rode the DLRR all the way towards the Tomorrowland station. It was a little busy at the Autopia which does get a lot of guests to ride the cars. But we weren’t planning on riding the Autopia.

For the DISers that have followed my trip reports in the past knew what ride we were going on during that time. If you have guessed the monorail, you are correct. I am a huge fan of the monorail and railroads at the Disney parks and the one that I have to do all the time when I am at DL is ride the DL Monorails. We plan on riding the front or back cabin of the monorails so we knew that we would have to wait awhile unless we get to the TL station when there is no one in the area.

So we have walked from the TL Railroad station and head on over to the monorail station.

We walked all the way towards the Monorail station which is quite a long walk. On the way, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage was running all the Subs during that time.

A look at Matterhorn Mountain which is so amazing to see every time from the TL Monorail station

We were at the end of the station where we got a chance to ride in the back of the monorail. We didn’t have to wait that long since Monorail Red was approaching the station. Monorail Red still had the Cars Land theme faces on the front of the cabin. They call Monorail Red Manny. My DA didn’t like the voices of the monorails when we rode them during the summertime. So even during the Holiday season towards November that the faces were on.

During my trip this month, the Monorails took off the face which is nice to see the original monorails.

We got to go in the back of Monorail Red or Monorail Manny. It is so fun to ride in the back of the monorails. But we prefer to ride up front most of the times when we ride the monorails.

We have now left the TL Monorail station and now heading on over towards the Downtown Disney station. When we left the station, Monorail Blue or Mandy they would call it was entering Tomorrowland.

Now we are at Disney California Adventure

Passing by Mad T Party area at Hollywood Land

When we were entering Buena Vista Street, I took a picture of the turnstile area instead of getting a picture of the Carthay Circle Theater. Mostly I get a picture of the CCT when we ride the Monorail but it was nice to get another picture of something else that I don’t have. It was a little busy around BVS during that afternoon.

We are passing through the Grand California Hotel which I like to stay when I am staying on-site at the DLR.

After going through the GCH, we are now approaching the DTD station where it is another place to enter the park instead of entering DL through Main Street.

That’s it for this post and I will have more from the Monorail.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Catching up.

WOW! You've posted a heap of pictures. I love the wreaths at JJJ and around DL.

It does look busy at IaSW. And I love your pictures of the monorail ride. I really felt like I was on the circuit with you. Do you stay at the GCH often?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Catching up.

WOW! You've posted a heap of pictures. I love the wreaths at JJJ and around DL.

It does look busy at IaSW. And I love your pictures of the monorail ride. I really felt like I was on the circuit with you. Do you stay at the GCH often?

I was a little surprise to see that many people at IASW Plaza where the queue for IASWH was not that long. It was nice to ride in the back of Monorail Red. We always have to ride the monorail every time we are at DL and have to ride the front or back. I would prefer the front and talk to the pilot. I have only stayed at the GCH two times in my life which was in 2001 when the GCH opened as well as DCA. Than in 2010 during the Halloween season. Right now with the prices at the GCH, it will be a long time until we stay on property.

The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 16, 2012 – Part 12​

On the last update at DL the two of us just got on the Disneyland Monorail going around the DLR. We always have to ride the DLR as one of the rides that we must do every time we come to the DLR. It is and will always be my favorite ride over all the other rides at the Disney parks. We were in the back of Monorail Red. We have just got to the Downtown Disney station and waiting to leave the station and back to the DLR.

We are approaching the DTD station.

We were passing by the Lego store at DTD which had the Lego Disney characters on the outside of the building.

We have arrived at the DTD Monorail station and we are riding the monorail all the way back to the DLR since we like to ride the monorail roundtrip. It was very nice where we had the back cabin to ourselves from the TL Monorail station to the DTD station. The CM’s didn’t open the door so we had the back to ourselves which is nice to have. Mostly they let some other guests to fill up the cabin.

Now we were leaving the DTD station and on the way back to DL.

I got a picture of the Esplanade and a look at DCA. It wasn’t that busy at DCA where there were a few people going through the turnstiles.

But at DL, there were quite a lot of people that were entering the park.

Now we are back at DL and through Tomorrowland

A look at Matterhorn Mountain

A look at IASWH

There were quite a number of people going on Storybook Land Canal Boats

We were now back at the TL Monorail station and it was time to get off the monorail. For people who don’t know about the DL monorail, you are able to ride it round trip from the TL all the way back to the TL station. But if you come from DTD station, you have to get off at the TL station.

Another good tip of riding in the front or back of the monorail is to get in front at gate 1 for riding up front or gate 5 riding in the back of the monorail. If you are up at those gates, you can ask the CM’s if you can ride up front or back. The last one is that you can tell the CM’s that you will want to wait for the next monorail and ride up front or back if you want to get in. I have done this a lot ever since I have been at DL and we still love to ride up front or back in the monorails.

After getting off the monorail, we started to head on back towards New Orleans Square to go on Haunted Mansion since we have FP’s to use that day. Since we didn’t go on HMH earlier that day, our next best option was using our FP’s and get on the ride quickly than waiting to get on in the stand-by queue.

During that time, it was getting a little cloudy that day where it looked like it was about to rain. But there were some clouds and some blue sky that day which we don’t know what it going to happen.

A look at the Fantasyland Faire under construction which is the former Carnation Plaza Gardens

Now passing through Frontierland and they had the Holiday decorations.

Pioneer Mercantile store

A lot of the rides around Frontierland and NOS started to pick up with more and more people in the park. Over at Pirates of the Caribbean the line look quite long.

It was quite busy around NOS and it did look the same over at HMH.

The wait time for HMH was not that long while looking at the wait time was at 15 minutes which was not that long. But my DA didn’t want to wait awhile in the standby queue. So we hand our FP’s to the CM’s and we are now in the FP queue for HMH.

While walking on over to the mansion, I had to get some pictures while we were walking through the queue.

Now we are approaching the front door and on our way inside the HMH.

That’s it for this post and there will be more pictures from the HMH.

 

[PrincessInOz]

[On the last update at DL the two of us just got on the Disneyland Monorail going around the DLR. We always have to ride the DLR as one of the rides that we must do every time we come to the DLR. It is and will always be my favorite ride over all the other rides at the Disney parks. We were in the back of Monorail Red. We have just got to the Downtown Disney station and waiting to leave the station and back to the DLR.

My DS used to love the monorails so much that all he wanted to do was ride it all day. We had to factor in a monorail ride every other hour, in between the other attractions, to keep him happy.

Another nice set of detailed pictures. How's the iPad working out for you as a download device for the pictures?

 

[mvf-m11c]

My DS used to love the monorails so much that all he wanted to do was ride it all day. We had to factor in a monorail ride every other hour, in between the other attractions, to keep him happy.

Another nice set of detailed pictures. How's the iPad working out for you as a download device for the pictures?

When I was a little kid, I always wanted to ride the Monorail, DLRR and Casey Jr. Circus Train. Trains have always been my favorite rides and I still go on the DLRR and Monorail every time. I haven't rode Casey Jr. in a long time and maybe one day in the future.

Thank you PiO. It is very hard at the DLR since I am uploading the pictures from my iPad. When I am at the parks waiting for the nighttime shows the 4G on my iPad and iPhone doesn't run properly since there are a lot of people that are trying to get on the web. But these last few trips have been good to get on the internet and upload those pictures to flickr. It will take some time to upload pictures while I am at the parks. It also does take a lot of data to upload those pictures. I have the 2GB plan and trying not to use all of it on uploading pictures or videos when I am on the ESPN app.


The next update will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 16, 2012 – Part 13​

On the last update at DL we are now in the queue for Haunted Mansion Holiday. After a long morning where we have rode the Disneyland Railroad and the Monorail, it was time to go on the HMH. We could have rode it that morning but the line was a little too long for my DA. So we waited to use our FP’s to ride the HMH that day.

We were now entering the HMH and during the Holiday season like on the outside, the inside is decorated with garlands and bows.

Now we enter one of the rooms where we are taken down to the ride. The portraits on the walls are replaced with the Nightmare Before Christmas portraits.

Now it was all black and the portraits are stretching

There is Jack on the ceiling

Now we have exit the room and now walking down the room with the portraits with the Holiday pictures.

The statues that appear to turn and follow the guests with their gaze.

We were waiting to get on the ride and in the Doom Buggies, but there were a lot of people that were waiting to get on the ride so we had to wait awhile.

We got in the Doom Buggies and now on the ride. More pictures from HMH with my DSLR camera. Some of the pictures turned out blurry while some of them turned out well. It was very hard to control the lighting while riding on the ride while it was all dark.

Zero was a little blurry down the hall

Madame Leota floating in the séance room

Now we are entering the ballroom which we were looking forward to seeing what the gingerbread house looks this year.

A look at this year’s gingerbread house in the Haunted Mansion Holiday which is modeled for Jack Skellington. It was a very tall gingerbread house which had a lot of little detailed pumpkins and a nice stairway to the house on top of it. This was tall than the last few where the other gingerbread house in the past have become so unique by moving. This one didn’t moved at all. It was all tall and well detailed.

Here is Gingerbread from 2011 which the gingerbread house opens up

2010 Gingerbread house which Jack pops out

Every year at the HMH, there is always a new gingerbread house in the ballroom which makes it so unique where the ride experience will be different. I know that the ride is the same over the years when it debut in 2001. It is fun to ride it and go through the ballroom to see what new gingerbread house is up. The gingerbread house during the 2012 year is okay where the last few years have been impressive.

That’s it for this post and I will have more from HMH.

 

[PrincessInOz]

You've done well with the HM.

 

[mvf-m11c]

You've done well with the HM.

Thank you PiO. There were some pictures that were so blurry that I couldn't put them on the trip report.

The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 16, 2012 – Part 14​

On our last update we are now in the Haunted Mansion Holiday and on the ride. It is fun to ride the HMH during the Holiday season which it is decorated during the Halloween season and Holiday season at Disneyland. It did taken a while to get on the ride since there was a line through the portrait hallway going to the Doom Buggies. Now back to the HMH.

We just passed by the gingerbread house in the ballroom and now passing by the rest of the ballroom.

You can barely see in this picture that this was the Ballroom Christmas tree which you can barely see it.

Now entering the addict where there are a lot of presents

Now entering the graveyard

There is Santa

And Zero

The statues in the graveyard had pumpkins on their heads

Oogie’s Holiday Tricks and Treats roulette

There is a dynamite right in front of us

We got out of the Doom Buggies and on our way out of the HMH. But on the way we saw Santa in his sleigh.

We were now back at New Orleans Square and we decided to go on back to Disney California Adventure to use our FP’s for Radiator Springs Racers. When we got the FP’s for RSR and came back to our scheduled time it was down and not running. But we were told that we can still use our FP’s later that day which was nice to hear from them. So we head on out of DL and over to DCA.

While we were walking on out of the park, I had to get some pictures at NOS with the Holiday decorations. At the HMH, the wait time was already at 20 minutes.

A few pictures of the Holiday decorations at NOS which had masks, flowers, and musical instruments which was neat. During the 2011 Holiday season, they added those masks and instruments last year which was a nice addition to the Holiday season.

Stars and moons decorations in the trees right by Café Orleans

The buildings had garlands, wreaths and a lot of Mardi Gras necklaces on the buildings

Now we are passing through Adventureland and saw that Indians Jones ride was closed for a major refurbishment. The ride was opened a week after we left so it was nice to hear that it is up and running again. But not for us during this trip.

While we were walking down in Adventureland, I had to stop at the Tiki Juice Bar to get a Dole Whip Soft Serve. This is my favorite dessert at the DLR where I have to get one every time. It was early that day when we got one but I didn’t care of getting it this early sot the two of us have shared the Dole Whip Soft Serve.

My DA was eating some of the Dole Whip Soft Serve while I was on my camera and taking pictures of the Holiday decorations at MS. It was getting a little busy around MS and we both knew that it was going to be a busy day at DL where it is a Saturday and draws high crowds.

That’s it for this post and I will have more from DL and what we have done later that afternoon.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 16, 2012 – Part 15​

On our last update we rode the Haunted Mansion Holiday and now we are exiting Disneyland and we are heading on back over to Disney California Adventure to ride Radiator Springs Racers. It was a fun day at DL where we did quite a number of rides like IASWH and HMH. We are now heading on back to DCA to ride RSR while we weren’t able to ride it that morning when it was down.

We are now walking down on MS all the way to the exit. I like to take pictures of the MS buildings with the Holiday decorations. The decorations are so fun to look at including the window displays which are decorated during the Holiday season or Halloween season. We didn’t spend a lot of time looking at the window displays or decoration since my DA wanted to get back to DCA and ride RSR.

The park started to get a little busy that day while more and more people are entering the park from MS.

Window displays with Christmas decorations

The Dapper Dans right at the Firehouse

City Hall with the Christmas wreaths and garlands on the building

It was past noon and it was getting a little busy that day

A look at the flowers right close to City Hall

City Hall

Now we were about to exit DL and back to the Esplanade. It was getting busy at the turnstiles where there are a lot of people that were entering the park.

The two of us are now back at the Esplanade and now heading on over to DCA to go on RSR. Over at the turnstiles at DCA, it was not as bad as DL where there are more people that are heading on in the park.

Now we are back at DCA and now heading on over to Cars Land to ride RSR. On the way, I got more pictures of the Holiday decorations at Buena Vista Street.

A look at the flowers right by the Red Street Car Trolley station at BVS

We are now back at Cars Land and heading on over to ride RSR. When we got our FP’s that morning, we were hoping that RSR would be open. But it was down that morning and even during our time for the FP’s which was closed. So we were told to come back later that day and use the FP’s which was nice. I know that the CM’s are telling the guests that they can use the FP’s as on the schedule time but since it was closed during our time we were allowed to come back later that day and go on RSR.

All of the Holiday decorations at Cars Land are so amazing to look at but it will be even better when you are there at night. I was able to be at CL at night with the Holiday lights on and I knew that my DA would like to see it too at night.

Right by Town Hall

We just passed by Town Hall and now we are right at the entrance of RSR. When we looked at the time, the wait time for RSR was all the way up to 150 minutes. It was quite long after it was down for most of the morning.

We showed our FP’s to the CM’s at the entrance and we are allowed to go in the FP queue. We have rode RSR when the AP preview happened in mid June 2012. I still remember those days when my DA and I were at CL during the preview and we rode RSR a lot. Well we didn’t ride it like over 10 times during the two previews that we have paid for but it was fun to go on it.

Now we are going through the queue and it was quite long at the stand-by queue as well as the single rider queue. It must be at least 50+ minute wait to go through the single rider queue if it is passed through the bridge.

Going through the queue of RSR is so fun and so much to look at from Stanley’s Oasis. But I do enjoying looking at all the different signs.

The natural spring

The water tower

We went through the FP queue which took about 2 minutes to get from the FP queue all the way to the regular queue. There were a lot of people that were I the single ride line and the regular line.

It took about 10 minutes to get from the FP queue to the regular line and got in the car. We had a yellow racer and were in the back of the car. I did videotape the ride and most of the video was all blurry so I scrap the video when I have watched it when we got back home form our trip. I wanted to get a front row spot but we settled for the back. I was really disappointed that the video didn’t turn out well. But at least the two of us had a great time riding RSR.

During the ride, we went through Ramone’s House of Body Art Work building which is a nice but we would prefer Luigis Casa Della Tires instead.

When we got off the ride, I had to get a picture of the photopass of the two of us. I really messed up of looking at the wrong direction while riding RSR.

After riding RSR we are now exiting the ride and it is so fun to look at Cadillac Range this close.

That’s it for this post and I will have more from DCA and CL.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Somehow, I missed the update with the scrumptious Dole Whip! I love the Float version of it....but it is also one of my favourite things to get at DLR. I just wish we could get something similar in Oz.

Great update. Sorry that the video didn't work out in RSR but you and your DA looked like you were having so much fun!

I really love your detailed pictures of the surrounds, Bret. Great job as always.

 

[ACDSNY]

My internet has finally stayed up long enough for me to catch up on your TR. Nice pics!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Somehow, I missed the update with the scrumptious Dole Whip! I love the Float version of it....but it is also one of my favourite things to get at DLR. I just wish we could get something similar in Oz.

Great update. Sorry that the video didn't work out in RSR but you and your DA looked like you were having so much fun!

I really love your detailed pictures of the surrounds, Bret. Great job as always.

Some people say that I should go with the Dole Whip Float but I do enjoy the Soft Serve more than the float since I get more of the soft serve ice cream where you get about half of that from the float. But I had both in the past and I did had one during my January trip. It would be nice if there was a place that would sell that in town or I am not looking enough.

Thank you PiO. It was fine that the video didn't turn out well since I have videotaped RSR a few times. We were having a great time and this is one of our favorite rides at DCA with MFW, Soarin, and TSMM.

My internet has finally stayed up long enough for me to catch up on your TR. Nice pics!

Thank you Angela.


The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 17, 2012 – Part 16​

On our last update we finally rode Radiator Springs Racers during the afternoon while it was down for most of the morning. We only had to wait about 10 to 12 minutes to get through the FP line and on the ride. We didn’t get the track that we wanted which was towards Luigi’s and went through Ramone’s. But we were glad that we were able to go on the ride. Now we just have left riding RSR and back to CL for the two of us.

We just got off RSR and off back to CL. We still have another opportunity to ride RSR at night when we went for a 2nd time to get FP’s. Our time was at night just around when the park closes at 10pm. So we would be able to go on it one more time to call it for the night. We were both excited that we will be able to ride it again that night.

On the way out of RSR, I do enjoy watching the racers while we are exiting the ride.

The lines for RSR are just as bad when we got off the ride.

While leaving RSR, the wait time for the stand-by queue was only 120 minutes. So it was a 30 minute difference when we entered the ride and now it is only 120. Just shows you what specific times to go on the ride and going around noon is not a good idea.

Before we left Cars Land, we went around the land again to look the Holiday decorations.

I still enjoy looking at the Cozy Cone Motel with the Holiday cones which is unique during the Holiday season.

Fillmore’s Taste-In Fuel with the rustic looking holiday decorations

So we exited CL while it was a little busy around the area and we decided to head on out of the park since we have dinner and seeing the Christmas tree at Buena Vista Street light up that day. I do enjoy watching the Christmas tree light up at Disneyland Town Square and was looking forward to seeing it that night.

Another look at the Christmas tree at BVS

Before we left DCA, we stopped at the stores to look at the merchandise so we wouldn’t have to get something later that night. But I also used the time to look around the stores for any Christmas trees for the quests. I have mostly got all the lands around DCA and I need to get the inside of the stores.

Here are pictures of the Christmas trees inside the Elias & Company store

Another tree on the 2nd floor where you can see the dolls in front of the tree

Santa with the main Christmas tree inside the Elias & Company store

There were a lot of mini trees at the Santa meet & greet area with a lot of Christmas merchandise and decorations.

Now we are walking on over to the Los Feliz Five & Dime store which is connected to the Elias & Company store. On the way over to the Los Feliz Five & Dime area, there was another tree at the toy section of the store.

Garlands and wreaths are over the Los Feliz Five & Dime store

We did look a while at the merchandise in the Los Feliz Five & Dime store but there wasn’t anything that we have to get. So we exited the store and now underneath the Hyperion Bridge. The BVS Christmas Carolers were singing to the guests.

The next store that we head on over was Atwater Ink & Paint which had some trees in the store.

Than we head on over towards the Kingswell Camera Shop that had one tree right at the door entrance.

After going through the stores and we didn’t find anything that was worth buying so we head on out of DCA and back to the room to rest up. We needed the rest so we can come back to DCA to see the Christmas tree at BVS light up, have dinner at the Carthay Circle Restaurant and see World of Color. It was not that busy around DCA where a lot of people are coming in as well as exiting the park.

So we head on out of the park and through the turnstiles. Mostly when I leave through the exit of the turnstiles, I had to get a hand stamped and see what Disney character I get. But since I have an AP, I don’t even need to get one but I do like getting one because of the character guess.

We exited the park around 1pm which wasn’t a long day at the DLR. But we were there since 7am just to get FP’s for Radiator Springs Racers. We were able to do a lot of different rides that morning to the afternoon and it was time for a break after a long morning. The plan was to come back later that day for the two shows and dinner. We are looking forward to eating at the CCR since we weren’t able to experience it during the preview in June. So this time we are looking forward to the food and the inside of the restaurant.

That’s it for this post and I will have the next update of what we have done at DCA that night.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Love the trees.

Glad you managed to get on RSR. That's gotta be my favourite ride in DCA now.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Love the trees.

Glad you managed to get on RSR. That's gotta be my favourite ride in DCA now.

Thank you PiO. It does take a lot of looking around for those trees at the DLR.

We were fortunate to ride RSR during that time while most of the day it was down and the wait time was so long. It's fun to ride RSR and it would have been nice to ride it during the January trip but we had a young child which she wasn't even tall enough to ride it. Maybe when we go back one day with her that she will be able to experience RSR.


The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – November 16, 2012 – Part 17​

On the last update, we just finished going around Cars Land and were leaving the park so we can get some rest for the nighttime at DCA for the lighting of the Christmas tree at Buena Vista Street, Carthay Circle Restaurant for dinner and World of Color. We also got a few pictures of the Christmas trees inside the store which I am looking for during the quest. Now back to the trip report and find out what happened later that day.

When we got back to the room around 1pm, we took a nap so we can be all rested up when we head on back to DCA for the nighttime events. We always need a break in the afternoon since we can enjoy the nighttime shows. The thing that we are looking forward to the most was the CCR where we have never eaten at than restaurant since it opened in June.

It was around 4pm that day and we started to pack all of our stuff for that night including the tripod where I will be videotaping World of Color. Since it is during the Holiday season at the DLR, WoC will have it’s Holiday segment “Prep and Landing” at the beginning of WoC. It debut in 2011 and it is showing again this time.

We head on out of Best Western Anaheim Inn where we are staying and it was a nice night where it was a little cloudy. There is a possibility that it might rain that day so we brought our ponchos and umbrellas just in case if it did rain that night.

It takes about 7 minutes to get from BWAI to the Esplanade and it was a little busy around the area while most of the people are heading on over to DL while there is barely anyone going through the turnstiles at DCA. But we weren’t planning on going to DL since we have those activities to do at DCA.

We were back at DCA and BVS, we head on over towards the Christmas tree so we can see it all light up.

When we got there, it was not even time for the light up of the Christmas tree. But the other lights around BVS were on while the tree wasn’t. There were even CM’s around the tree preventing anyone from getting closer to the tree. So we waited right by the Trolley Treats store on the outside waiting for the Christmas tree to light up.

We have seen the Christmas tree at DL light up which is very exciting to see every time during the Holiday season. Now this time will be our first time seeing the Christmas tree light up during the Holiday season which is its first year.

The Red Car News Boys just finished with the show at the CCT and passing by the Christmas tree.

We waited around the Trolley Treats store area until it was time for the Christmas tree to light up. We waited around the area until it was around 5pm. The CM’s let the guests around the tree and a lot of guests were heading on over in that direction to see the Christmas tree light up.

The Christmas tree light up with Christmas music playing at the same time.

After seeing the Christmas tree light up at BVS, we still had some time to kill until it was time to head on over to the Carthay Circle Restaurant for dinner. So we head on over towards Hollywood Land and over towards Cars Land from the other side.

At HL, it was a little quiet while the Mad T Party was getting ready for that night. It was getting cloudier that day and we knew that it was going to rain. Hopefully it won’t rain during WoC where I have experienced a rainy day while watching WoC.

We were passing by the Tower of Terror which is fun to look at night

When we passed by the ToT, we were on the backside of A Bugs Land where a lot of people don’t know that this is one of the nicest ways to enter CL from ABL. I haven’t been to ABL with the Holiday lights on at night which is nice to see.

The three giant Christmas ornaments are still there and look nice

We entered CL and now looking at the decorations at night which is so fun. My DA didn’t see it the other night since she was resting up after dinner at the ESPN Zone. My DA was so amazed with the Holiday decorations at CL along with the neon lighting during the regular days at CL.

We walked down towards Town Hall and see the lights on the building as well as the Christmas tree with rims at the decorations.

We can’t forget about Stanley who is all decorated with a Santa hat and a sack of toys in the back of his trunk.

Over at RSR, we wanted to see what the wait time was for RSR. Unfortunately, RSR was down again during that time around 5:15pm. This was really a bizarre day where RSR broke down a lot that day. Good thing that we were able to ride it in the afternoon and we still had another opportunity to ride it again later that night.

We asked the CM’s about RSR and they said that it was down at that time. They weren’t letting any guests to go through the queue to enter the ride. So we walked down in Radiator Springs and looked at all the Holiday decorations where she hasn’t seen them yet.

The Radiator Winter Curios shop

Flo’s V8 Café

Now at the Cozy Cone Motel with the Cone trees and lights. For some odd reason the lights on the cone tree and the cone stars were not on. I thought that it was a glitch or something was wrong at the Cozy Cone Motel.

We head on over to the Lobby of the Cozy Cone Motel to get another picture of the Gingerbread house of the Cozy Cone Motel

Along with the Christmas tree inside

After looking around the Cozy Cone Motel, we walked down on out of CL and had to get a few more pictures of the buildings with the Holiday decorations. The one that I am impressed with is Sarge’s Surplus Hut with the Americana colors on his buildings as well as firework lights on top of it. Plus it had a Christmas tree on the side of the building.

Than we passed by Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree which is decorated with Christmas decorations including a Christmas tree made out of tires.

That’s it for this post and I will have more from DCA that night.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks Bret.

Right now.....I wish I were there.