Second All in One Disneyland TR Thread - Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout Review 5/30-6/2

Another quick update from my trip last week after Anime Expo.

After I watched the 9:30pm Disneyland Forever fireworks at It's a Small World Plaza, I started to head on over towards Main Street Hub to meet up with Alison and Fran to watch the 11pm Paint the Night parade. But before I head on over to Main Street Hub to meet up with them that night, I had to get some shots of the castle when I had my tripod and gorillapod with me. It can be a pain to carry all that equipment on my back but it is nice to have it with me to get those kind of shots.



After getting a few shots around the SB Castle, I head on over towards the Hub and saw Alison and Fran and met up with them. We had about half an hour until the 11pm Paint the Night parade started, Alison and I got our tripods all set up for that night. She was looking forward to using the tripod during the parade while I used my tripod to videotape the show while I had my camera in my hands.

While we were setting up, Alison had trouble setting up her tripod that night. We were able to extend the legs that night but we had some trouble folding it back up when the parade was over.

I moved my tripod on the other side to get some shots of SB Castle and Partners Statue.


The three of us were at the back ot he area where we were able to see the parade come down on MS. Luckily the parade starts from MS Town Square during the second parade while the first one starts from IASW Plaza to MS TS.


Before the parade started, I gave her some tips on what settings I used for Paint the Night parade. There were parts of the parade where you don't have to use high ISO at nighttime since the lights from the parade are all what you need for lower ISO. There were times when I set the ISO at 800 to 5000. The aperture is another important part for taking nighttime shots but I didn't have to go all the way to f/2.8 where there were times where I set it at f/3.5. The shutter was around 1/80 to 1/100 for most part.

I looked at a few of Alison's pics while she was taking and I was impressed with her shots that night.

The 11pm Paint the Night parade is now coming from MS TS and it did took a while until it reached us. Alison and I were all about taking pictures while Fran watched the show. Here are some pics from that night.






















Very interesting when the Belle float passed by, we didn't see the Frozen float. I was surprised that the Frozen float was not active during the parade. This was the first time not seeing the Frozen float. Something must have happen for it to not run that night. When watching the parade, this felt like what the parade would be like at Hong Kong Disneyland where they didn't have the Frozen scene.







After the parade was over, we started to pack all of our stuff and we had some trouble folding up Alison's tripod. Some of the legs were sticking and she just put it in her ECV bag.

Before we head on out of the park, Fran had to stop at the Disneyana store on the way out to look at some merchandise. Then we went to the Newsstand Information since they had some of their merchandise that Fran bought at the Disney stores. This is a smart idea to have DL hold the stuff so they won't have to carry it around with them. They must have at least 5 bags of stuff to take back to their car and they were able to get all of them on their ECV's.

We parted ways that night which it was time for me to head on back to Best Western Anaheim Inn while they head on back to their car. I remember that they got back to their house so late at night around 2am.

I had a great time to hang out with Alison and Fran if it was only for a short time. I was able to just go around the DLR that day from eating at UVA Bar and Cafe for the lamb burger and getting some shots from the GCH, DCA and DL. It was a short time on Sunday after finishing up at Anime Expo. My other party members that worked with me at Anime Expo didn't get back to Sac until midnight. It was a good thing I didn't go back to Sac where they went back.

I still have Monday which I was able to do some things the next day before I head back to Sac so I might write up a mini report last Monday.

I was hoping you would post some pictures of your Lamburger, just so I wasn't the only one who did so! I took so many more pictures, I will post them soon, but I think I went crazy with shots!

franandaj said:

I was hoping you would post some pictures of your Lamburger, just so I wasn't the only one who did so! I took so many more pictures, I will post them soon, but I think I went crazy with shots!

Click to expand...

Here is my Lamburger that day.


Here is my video of Paint the Night last Sunday 7/5/15

Great shots of PtNP.

Looks like you had a great time shooting at DLR this trip.

Great pics of Paint the Night...can't wait to see it next month!!!

Where did you get the lamb burger?! And how did you get those great seats for the parade? That was so cool the way it was coming right at you!! And lucky you getting to hang out with Fran and Alison!

I don't suppose you guys are going to be around when I'm there in Sept?

dhorner233 said:

I don't suppose you guys are going to be around when I'm there in Sept?

Click to expand...

When are you there in September?

franandaj said:

When are you there in September?

Click to expand...

Sunday, Sept. 20 - Friday the 25th. I got Dapper Dan convention rates so I'm staying at the Disneyland Hotel for the first time in my life!!!!!!!!

Simply Amazing shots Brett!! Thanks for the update!
I will be there Sept 5 - 11, if anyone ill be around....

--Lori

Brett-- when do you leave for D23? Looking forward to another update.

--Lori

I have been away on the boards since I am in Vegas. It is not for pleasure but for business these last two weeks. I am about to head back home to NorCal tomorrow night which I am looking forward too. The weather in Vegas is quite hot but not that hot as I have thought while coming in July which can be in the 110 range. But for most of the trip, it has been in the low 100's.

PrincessInOz said:

Great shots of PtNP.

Looks like you had a great time shooting at DLR this trip.

Click to expand...

Thank you PiO.

We had a great time taking pictures of PtN parade.

wiscbugs said:

Great pics of Paint the Night...can't wait to see it next month!!!

Click to expand...

Thank you @wiscbugs You will enjoy seeing the parade next month.

dhorner233 said:

Where did you get the lamb burger?! And how did you get those great seats for the parade? That was so cool the way it was coming right at you!! And lucky you getting to hang out with Fran and Alison!

I don't suppose you guys are going to be around when I'm there in Sept?

Click to expand...

I got the lamb burger at the UVA Bar and Cafe at Downtown Disney. We had a fun time watching PtN parade that night on Main Street.

I don't plan on going in September since I have the trip next month and the WDW trip in October.

dhorner233 said:

Sunday, Sept. 20 - Friday the 25th. I got Dapper Dan convention rates so I'm staying at the Disneyland Hotel for the first time in my life!!!!!!!!

Click to expand...

That is great news that you will be staying at the DLH for the first time in September.

kylie71 said:

Simply Amazing shots Brett!! Thanks for the update!
I will be there Sept 5 - 11, if anyone ill be around....

--Lori

Click to expand...

Thank you Lori.

Hope you have a great time at the DLR in September.

kylie71 said:

Brett-- when do you leave for D23? Looking forward to another update.

--Lori

Click to expand...

I leave on August 12th (Wednesday) and will be till August 17th (Monday). I will try to do an update during the D23 Expo trip.

After another great night at the DLR where we were able to watch the new World of Color – Celebrate, it was the last day of the trip which is always the saddest part of any trips. While it was tough to leave during the Diamond Celebration, I was there not too long ago after I was in Vegas and made a quick trip during the Diamond Celebration. It was a good opportunity for me to go back and get some things that I have missed during the trip like some specific merchandise that was not available and want to get more pics of the new nighttime shows.

On that Monday morning, the park opens at 8am during any busy time during the summertime. Since we flew that day, our flights are not until later that Monday night around 9pm which gives us almost less than half a day in SoCal until we head home. Even though it is sad to leave, I felt like I am ready to go back home to NorCal since I have been there 6 of 7 days in SoCal which is crazy after driving home from the Vegas business trip and flying back. We didn’t get up early that morning but we did get up and started to pack all of our bags. We check out of the room early that morning and brought all bags to the lobby so we didn’t have to come back later that day afternoon to check out.

Before we head on over to the parks, we went to have breakfast on the second level of Captain Kidd’s restaurant. When we had breakfast or continental breakfast, it was packed that we had trouble finding a table that morning.

After having breakfast, we head on over to the Disneyland Resort to do our first activities that morning.

While passing through the security check point, the next text for the contest was up and was Storybook.


We head on over to DL since there were some things that we didn’t do during the trip.


We got there a little late that morning but it wasn’t that crowded like any time of the day around 8am to 9am. The day was quite nice and not that cloudy which is always nice when in Anaheim. There are times when it was cloudy but not that cloudy.


DAW wanted to go on some rides that we didn’t go on during the trip like Pirates of the Caribbean.


The Disney Dream Suite still above PotC.


When we rode PotC, I used the telephoto lens to try out and it was kind of difficult to get those shots even with the settings at 6400 ISO, f/4 and a shutter of 1/50, it was so dark that it was difficult. This is where a f/1.4 prime lens would come into play for the dark rides like PotC which is one of the darkest.


















After we rode PotC, DAW wanted to go on another ride that morning and we looked at what other rides to do and the one that was close around PotC was Many Adventures with Winnie the Pooh at Critter Country. So we head on over that direction and once again, I was playing with the telephoto lens to get all sort of different shots.




The Ward Kimball passing by on the bridge


A duck right in the area that morning.


Pictures from Winnie the Pooh ride that morning with the telephoto lens.












After we got off Winnie the Pooh, we went inside Pooh Corner which is a nice store to go when getting off Winnie the Pooh or Splash Mountain which is at the end of Critter Country.


After we walked through the store, it was time to have lunch since it was close to the afternoon. That will be it for this post and stay tune for the next part that afternoon at DL.

After we went on a couple of rides that morning, it was lunch time and we were starving. We didn’t eat much at Best Western Park Place Inn during the continental breakfast since it was busy. When we looked at all the different restaurants around the west side of Disneyland, I told DAW that we should eat at the French Market. I haven’t ate at the French Market since the October 2014 trip with PiO (@PrincessInOz) and Alison (@franandaj). I barely eat at that restaurant which I do have some favorite restaurants that I do eat at the DLR. But this time, it would be something that DAW would eat as well. I showed her my phone with the menu and she had no problem with it so we head on over to the French Market at New Orleans Square.

When we got to NOS, the French Market had a line. So we had to wait a while to go through the queue until we got our food that afternoon.


The Jambalaya Jazz Band was performing right by the French Market and we stayed to listen to good Jazz music.


When we got our food, we sat outside and boy we were starving that afternoon. DAW got the Jambalaya which she had to ask the CM’s to make a special one since she couldn’t eat specific ingredients in the jambalaya. For me, I had the French Market dip.


When we finished lunch, she wanted to go on It’s a Small World. But since we were in NOS, we had to walk all the way to the north side of the park where IASW is located.

I always enjoy going through the backside of Frontierland to Fantasyland where Big Thunder Ranch is located and it is fun to get some shots from the backside.




Big Thunder Mountain Railroad


Got to see the Dynamite Eating Goat from the backside of Frontierland.


A look at Matterhorn Mountain from Fantasyland while we walked on over to IASW.


We made it over to IASW and it was already noon.


A few more up close shots of the façade of IASW


The Ernest S Marsh Engine #4 passing by.


We boarded a boat and I still had the telephoto lens on my camera for all the ride.
























After we finished riding IASW, we had to go on one of my favorite rides and it was a surprise that we haven’t even rode it for most of the trip but it was a must for me. That will be for this one and stay tune what that ride is later that afternoon.

Nice shots with the telephoto lens!

Looks like a fun morning! Now that I've seen WoC, I need to go back and look at your pictures. But I need to do that from my computer and not my phone. I've been so busy this week that I haven't had much time on the computer, only the phone. I can barely keep up with my own TR!

What a fun morning with the telezoom lens.

Great shots!

Amazing shots, Brett!
How was the French Dip at the French Market? I have not eaten there in YEARS!!

--Lori

Hi Bret,

Finally getting to see your recent reports. LOVE the pictures of the Diamond Celebration. It makes me feel like I’m there too. This year we have season passes for WDW so we won’t be back to Disneyland until 2016.

Great pictures of the hatbox ghost. Those popcorn buckets are great! Bulky, but really fun.

A FOUR hour wait for the PtN Parade. I’m awfully glad you did. The floats are stunning! I don’t think I’d want to be Tink flying for the entire parade though ;-)

THANK YOU for uploading the parade and fireworks videos!! The castle overlay is beautiful at night. I really like your long exposure shot of the Fantasy Faire.

Great ride pictures from RSR. It’s one of our favorite rides at DCA. WOC – I so agree that Frozen doesn’t need to be absolutely EVERYWHERE at DL/DCA. I really like the addition of the projection screen. It adds a nice depth for the show.

You sure had good seats for the second PtN Parade! Your pictures are GREAT.


I hope to be much better about checking to see if you’ve done updates. I always enjoy your report. Thank you for taking the time to post them.

TK

dhorner233 said:

Nice shots with the telephoto lens!

Click to expand...

Thank you Denise. I was satisfy with the telephoto lens that I am ready to buy my own. But first, I still have to try out the 2.8 for the D23 Expo trip next week. Can't believe the D23 Expo trip is next week.

franandaj said:

Looks like a fun morning! Now that I've seen WoC, I need to go back and look at your pictures. But I need to do that from my computer and not my phone. I've been so busy this week that I haven't had much time on the computer, only the phone. I can barely keep up with my own TR!

Click to expand...

It was a fun morning which we were able to do some of the things that we wanted to do. Glad to hear that you were able to see WoC - Celebrate. I thought it was a nice tribute to Walt Disney where some people like it and some don't. I can understand why people like the original one and have high hopes over the next version where Winter Dreams is nice but not as good as the original. You have been busy lately with everything going with Jenny, Fran, etc. I always enjoy reading your trip reports.

PrincessInOz said:

What a fun morning with the telezoom lens.

Great shots!

Click to expand...

Thank you PiO. The f/4 is not that bad where I think it is enough for me for Disneyland including the nighttime of the parade. It might not be good for dark rides like the f/2.8 but it still did its job.

kylie71 said:

Amazing shots, Brett!
How was the French Dip at the French Market? I have not eaten there in YEARS!!

--Lori

Click to expand...

Thank you Lori.

The French Dip was nice at the French Market. It wasn't outstanding but it was nice to eat at the FM. You should consider that when you go next month.

tksbaskets said:

Hi Bret,

Finally getting to see your recent reports. LOVE the pictures of the Diamond Celebration. It makes me feel like I’m there too. This year we have season passes for WDW so we won’t be back to Disneyland until 2016.

Great pictures of the hatbox ghost. Those popcorn buckets are great! Bulky, but really fun.

A FOUR hour wait for the PtN Parade. I’m awfully glad you did. The floats are stunning! I don’t think I’d want to be Tink flying for the entire parade though ;-)

THANK YOU for uploading the parade and fireworks videos!! The castle overlay is beautiful at night. I really like your long exposure shot of the Fantasy Faire.

Great ride pictures from RSR. It’s one of our favorite rides at DCA. WOC – I so agree that Frozen doesn’t need to be absolutely EVERYWHERE at DL/DCA. I really like the addition of the projection screen. It adds a nice depth for the show.

You sure had good seats for the second PtN Parade! Your pictures are GREAT.


I hope to be much better about checking to see if you’ve done updates. I always enjoy your report. Thank you for taking the time to post them.

TK

Click to expand...

Hi TK,

I haven't seen you lately on the boards and it is nice to see you back on. That is nice that you have AP's for WDW this year and you would have loved the DLR 60th Diamond Celebration. Are you thinking of going in early to mid next year so you are able to see the new nighttime shows? I am planning on going to WDW in October during the Halloween/F&W Festival this year. You can follow my pre-trip report http://www.disboards.com/threads/ri...food-wine-as-well-ptr-oct-16-23-2015.3423946/

The Hatbox Ghost is a nice new addition to the HM and the popcorn buckets are nice this year from the balloons, mine car and Cinderella Pumpkin Coach.

Yup. A four hour wait to see PtN Parade. I know that it was long but I had other people to talk to including the guests around us which was fun. It is nice to talk to other people while waiting for the parade that night.

Your welcome. Glad you like the videos. I am going to do more long exposure shots while I go on more Disney trips including the WDW trip in October.

RSR is one of my favorite rides as well which the wait time is something I don't like to be in but the queue makes up for it which is all unique. I thought Disney went overboard with Frozen in all the three new nighttime shows. I thought they shouldn't add the Frozen "Let It Go" scene on WoC - Celebrate since it is already on the WoC Winter Dreams version. But Disney is still piggybacking on the success of Frozen. Even with the Frozen Fun earlier this year wasn't enough for Disney to put it back in for a long part of the show on both WoC - Celebrate and Disneyland Forever fireworks. The projection screen on MFWoD is a nice new addition to add more projections. I still miss the circular LCD screens when it came out of the water.

It was nice to see the parade that night from that spot.

Thank you TK. I always appreciate you checking out my trip reports over the years.


The next posts of the May/June trip report will be up shortly.

After we rode It’s a Small World, it was time to do our next attraction that afternoon. The one ride that I haven’t done the first two days was the Monorail which I normally go on this ride every time I go to Disneyland. I always like to end the trip with riding the Monorail as the must do ride. Since we were at the backside of Disneyland, it didn’t took too long until we arrived at Tomrrowland.

It was not that busy that afternoon at Tomorrowland or the rest of DL. I can understand people wanting to be there at night for the new nighttime shows at DL and Disney California Adventure. We did spent about 4 hours just to see Paint the Night on the first night and watch Disneyland Forever fireworks after the parade passed by on Main Street. This time in early August, the wait time shouldn’t be that bad during the early parts of the summer in late May/early June.

When we got to Tomorrowland, I got to take more shots with the telephoto lens and what better way to use the telephoto lens is at the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at the Mine Seagulls.


We walked up the ramp and it wasn’t that busy that afternoon which is to be expected until later during the day when the wait time can be in that 10-20 minute range. The FNSV Subs are looking very nice after it’s long refurbishment last year.


Monorail Mark VII Blue passing by over the FNSV Lagoon and this will be our ride when it pulls into Tomorrowland Station.


Lucky for us, we got the backside of the Monorail which is one of my favorite places to ride on the Monorail just like riding in the front. It is nice to ride the back or front on the Disneyland Monorails where you can’t ride in the front on the WDW Mark VI Monorails. It would be nice if that happens again.


When leaving DL, Monorail Mark VII Red is now entering DL just right next to each other. It is rare for me to see both Monorails go by each other especially when one leaving DL and entering DL.


A look at the front entrance of DCA Buena Vista Street. Mostly I always get the Carthay Circle Restaurant but it is nice to see the other side.




We didn’t get off at Downtown Disney which we rode the Monorail roundtrip.




We got off the Monorail and down to the bottom from the TL Monorail Station.


Once again, got another up close shot of the Mine Seagulls.


Since we still have some time until we had to leave the DLR and catch our flight home to Sactown, we can still go on some more rides or see some shows that day. The next ride that we haven’t done yet is the Disneyland Railroad which is another ride that I like to go on when I am at DL. So that was our next one. The Tomorrowland Railroad Station is the closest in our area and we head on over in that direction.


Since I had the telephoto lens on, it was a perfect opportunity to get pictures of the Grand Canyon and Primeval World. When we went in the tunnel, I had so many problems taking pictures with the telephoto lens where the focusing was not correct along with the lighting of the ISO. SO I made a lot of errors on taking pictures. Here are some of them that turned out well.





First we pulled into Main Street Station.

We didn’t get off the train since we were planning on riding it all the way back to Tomorrowland.

The ride around the park is around 20 minutes which isn’t that long and it is fun to ride around on a nice day at the park.

After we got off the Disneyland Railroad, my cousin that met up with us on the first day of the trip for the stakeout of Paint he Night told me to go to the Jolly Holiday Bakery to get the Castle stein mug. I didn’t get that during my first few times and this time it was a nice stein to get.

The stein mugs at the Jolly Holiday Bakery

I also took some other pics while I was in the Jolly Holiday Bakery from the cupcakes and all the promotions of the 60th Diamond Celebration.




After I got the stein at the Jolly Holiday Bakery, it was time to head on to our next place that day before it was over.