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

I'm late to the end but nice wrap-up.

Here's to your WDW trip....and nice new lens!
 
Bret, I was at the Frozen Fandemonium too! We were seated a few rows back from where you were, but more toward right of the center of the stage. We had a good view, but again it would have been better if the floor was sloped. The stories that Bobby and Kristen Lopez were telling were hilarious! We loved seeing Kristen Bell and Josh Gad singing their songs from the movie! You got some great pictures. I'm not sure if you know this, but we saw Ginnifer Goodwin and Lana Parrilla from "Once Upon a Time" in the audience. They were in the same row that John Lasseter and the filmmakers were in.

We also went to the Silly Symphonies concert that @HydroGuy went to. That was a great show, and I'm a little surprised that Leonard Maltin (who hosted it) signed some autographs after it. We ended the Expo with Eric Goldberg's "Animation Academy" at Center Stage, which was fun to watch, and getting Joe Rohde's autograph. Joe is an absolutely amazing person. Then that night we went to Disneyland and saw Paint the Night, Disneyland Forever, Fantasmic, and Space Mountain. We flew back home from LAX the next morning.

I had a blast at the D23 Expo and it's an experience I'll remember forever. We had some missteps as well, but there were so many other great things. We saw plenty celebrities, Disney Legends, Disney artists, and many, many amazing costumes!

I hope you have a great time at Walt Disney World too, Bret!

That is nice that you were at the Frozen FANdemonium as well. It was a nice seminar but I don't think it was worth the 3 hours wait but we were happy that we got to move up closer after that problem with the seating. That was neat that all those different celebrities were there for that seminar.

I didn't have time to see the Silly Symphonies seminar and glad to hear that it was good. That was good that you were able to go back to DL that night and see the nighttime shows.

Glad that you had a great experience at the D23 Expo. You planning on going to the next D23 Expo?

I'm hoping for the same thing and have a great time at WDW. Looking forward to the F&W Festival as well as Diagon Alley at UO.


Not to prolong this thread, I know you are trying to wrap this up but, this came out 4 days ago:

http://www.slashfilm.com/disneyland-changes/

It leaves Big Thunder Mt. Railroad but, WOW! :faint: I'm not that crazy about Star Wars. :sad2:

Not good news to read but thank you for the link Denise.


I'm late to the end but nice wrap-up.

Here's to your WDW trip....and nice new lens!

Thank you PiO. Even though the Expo didn't go as planned but we had a great time.

Looking forward to the trip in 11 days which won't be too long until the trip. I am looking forward to trying out the f/4 during the trip. But I might use it less except for up close shots and shows as well since I plan on taking a lot of pictures with the Tamron and Tokina.


It looks like I will be going to the DLR during the Halloween season after all. I will be going down this Saturday 10th to Monday 12th with my dad. This will be perfect to use the f/4 during the trip. I won't do a trip report but will take pictures of the decorations.
 
It looks like I will be going to the DLR during the Halloween season after all. I will be going down this Saturday 10th to Monday 12th with my dad. This will be perfect to use the f/4 during the trip. I won't do a trip report but will take pictures of the decorations.

Look forward to it.
 
It has been a while since I have been on my Disneyland trip report but with everything going on it is tough. Mostly I would write up a TR for the trip but this will be all about pictures and details of the holiday season at the Disneyland Resort along with Star Wars Season of the Force opening day. I have been so busy with work and basketball that I am still trying to finish up my Walt Disney World trip report back in October.

This was a tough trip which DAF who goes with me during the holiday season at the DLR since she is not doing well. She missed the WDW trip last month and she couldn’t make it either. But she did tell me to go during the holiday season as well as the opening day of Star Wars Season of the Force. Originally, I was supposed to go on the 13th to 15th, but I made a last second change of a few days before the trip to move the day back by one day so I could be at DL during the opening of SWSotF. I’m glad that I moved it back one day on Saturday 14th instead of going on Friday the 13th.

Once again, I was going during the Avenger’s Marathon (debut last year in 2014) which was quite crowded that first time, so I expected it would be the same thing like last year where it will be busy on Saturday and Sunday. Plus I got to take into account with Monday the opening date of SWSotF which will draw a lot of Annual Passholders.

During the trip, I rented some new equipment to use since I am going solo. The items that I rented for the trip was a Nikon D750 Full Frame body along with a Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 FF lens. I have wanted to try out these two items for a while now since I use a Crop Sensor body and lenses. This was my first time trying a FF lens and the 14-24mm f/2.8 lens. These two items are like the holy grail of taking pictures at the Disney Parks. So it was special to try out these two camera equipment. What better way to try them out during the holiday season as well as the opening of SWSotF.

I started the day with DCA first over DL since the 2pm “A Christmas Fantasy” parade was going on and went around to look at all the new Christmas decorations. Most of the Christmas decorations at DCA are the same from the last few years with Buena Vista Street and Cars Land that debut in 2012.






The only difference is that the Carthay Circle Theater has not have any Christmas decorations this year with the Diamond Celebration going on this year.


The BVS Christmas tree is nice to see the last few years.




Over at Hollywood Land, the regular Christmas decorations are back up again with garlands and wreaths.








Right by the Frozen Sing-Along, the trees right around the Frozen area were decorated.




Olaf’s Snow Fest is back again during the holiday season.


Last time to see the front entrance of Aladdin A Musical Spectacular before it is changed to that Frozen show in the near future.


Santa and his sleigh are back again


I went on over to A Bug’s Land and the giant ornaments along with the Christmas lights are back again.


The front entrance of ABL


I head on over to Grizzly Peak Airfield to see if there was any Christmas decorations and there was which was nice to see something different.






I didn't go all over DCA but I was able to go around to see what other lands that I missed during the trip.
 


After being at DCA, I was now in DL to see the second show of ACF parade at 4:30pm. When I looked at Main Street and see how much of a difference it is during the Diamond Celebration which does not feel like the holiday season at the DLR. At least MS is decorated but it wasn’t the same. You can see that there was no garlands above the streets of Main Street due to Paint the Night parade units. It was disappointing to not see the garlands above the streets.


The Christmas tree looks completely different this year with Diamond Celebrations color on them which gives it a different feel this year from the previous years.


There are wreaths up this year with the Diamond Celebration logo. The Diamond Celebration logos were up during the Halloween season.


This was also the first time during the holiday season with the side walkway when MS is busy with the parades and fireworks.


Now it was time for the 4:30pm A Christmas Fantasy parade. I was hoping that there wouldn’t be any more changes to the parade since they completely changed it last year with the Frozen float that is part of Mickey’s Soundsational parade.




When Santa’s Mail Room unit appeared after the Toy Solders, I saw that Donald was on top of the roof where Duffy was last year and Chip and Dale were at the back of the mailroom. I didn’t see Daisy which she used to be on this unit. So there was the first change to the parade.




















Here was the second change of the parade which the jeep had Chip and Dale. This year, they had Jessie and a Toy Soldier.




The third change to the parade was the removal of Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket Cricket and Geppetto. There were three Toy Soldiers on top of Santa’s Toyland unit.












I will post more later on from my trip last weekend.
 


Nice holiday shots Bret.

Thank you Angela.


Wow Bret, fabulous shots! Cannot wait to see the parks next week. :woohoo:

Thank you Jenny. Hope you have a great time next week.


nice pics, do you have any tips for carrying a dslr around the resort?

Thank you @superkick555 I would definitely bring a DSLR around the DLR if you want to get all sort of pictures. Not only pictures of the decorations but with the characters, family, etc.
 
After A Christmas Fantasy parade, I head on over to the Hub to see what the Castle would like first. But when I looked at my spot for Disneyland Forever fireworks that I was originally planning on seeing that night and saw that there were already people staking out on the curb 4 hours before it started. So that was no brainer for me to not stake out a spot that night for DF fireworks.

I head on over to see the new additions for Star Wars Season of the Force at Tomorrowland with Star Wars Path of the Jedi, Hyperspace Mountain, Launch Bay, & Galactic Grill. I knew that it might be a long shot to see Hyperspace Mountain but when I read on Friday night that there were some lucky guests to be able to ride Hyperspace Mountain before it was open to the public on Friday so it might be worth a shot to check it out.




When I head on over to Hyperspace Mountain, there were some people on the upper level and I asked the CM’s if it was open for the CM preview and they told me that it was open to anyone who wanted to go on. But I knew that the wait time was going to be in that hour range. I plan on riding it on Monday so it was not worth riding it just yet.


Star Wars Launch Bay was not open that day and they told everyone that it will be open on Monday.


I saw that the TL Lemonade stand right next to the entrance of Launch Bay selling the BB-8 droid sipper along with the X-Wing Fighter glow clip


I got a BB-8 sipper that night which they were sold out on Sunday afternoon until they were restocked on Monday.


I then head on over to Mickey’s Toontown to take pictures of the holiday decorations which are interesting to see every year except for the ugly plastic trees.












Now I went on over to It’s a Small World Holiday




The IaSW clock show was going on every 15 minutes at night.




I head on over to SB Castle to look at the decorations more closely and at least there was something than nothing on the castle during the holiday season with a wreath covering the 60th logo and garlands. Most of the 60th Diamond Celebration on the castle was the same.




After that, I head on over to DCA to get a few pictures before the 9:30pm Disneyland Forever fireworks started. It was a good thing that I didn’t wait that long for the fireworks since I can see it on another trip while I can get pictures of the Christmas decorations.




BVS Christmas tree






 
The Christmas decorations at Cars Land is back again and hasn’t changed much from the previous years.












Inside Sarge’s Surplus Hut








Santa Mater is back again














I was able to watch DF fireworks from IaSW Plaza which was crazy and the CM’s didn’t allow any guests close to IaSWH or even ride it during the fireworks. I have heard from the people talking that there was something wrong backstage so the back area was closed off. I remember that when DF was over, the guests were not allowed to go on IaSWH until after 30 minutes when the fireworks was over. So there must have been something going on backstage to keep people from riding IaSWH.




After that night, I took some more pics around DL until I called it for the night since I was tired from the driving to SoCal that Saturday morning.
 
It was Sunday and it was another busy day at the parks. But the morning is the best time to go but DL was quite busy that morning half an hour until it opens.


The first thing I did was head on over to the Haunted Mansion Holiday since I haven’t rode it during the Halloween season when I went back in early October.






This year’s gingerbread house






After riding HMH, I head on over to ride Jingle Cruise. There was a waiting queue for about 5 minutes but it wasn’t that long when I got on the ride.


















 
After riding Jingle Cruise, I head on over to It’s a Small World Holiday to ride it since the mornings are one of the best time to ride it. There were time during the trip that IaSWH wait time was in that 40+ minute wait time area where the queue was extended to the other side of the parade rout.




























I then head on over to New Orleans Square to get my regular holiday decoration pictures.
















 
I love all the pictures you posted and that you pointed out the differences between this year and last. The Star Wars overlays look great! I'm looking forward to hearing more about them from you!
 
Nice pictures, Bret.
The night time ones are spectacular.

Hope that things are okay with DAF. Send her my best.
 
I love all the pictures you posted and that you pointed out the differences between this year and last. The Star Wars overlays look great! I'm looking forward to hearing more about them from you!

Thank you TK. Every year Disney does something to the decorations at the DLR. This year with the Diamond Celebration, DL didn't feel like the holiday season this year especially with SB Castle not decorated that well.


I love your photos. This one made me laugh out loud (I've never seen Jingle Cruise shots before)

Thank you @Canadian Harmony.


Nice pictures, Bret.
The night time ones are spectacular.

Hope that things are okay with DAF. Send her my best.

Thank you PiO.

The body and lens did make a big difference on the shots including the nighttime shots as well.

She is doing good.
 
After looking around at New Orleans Square, I head on over to Big Thunder Ranch at the backside of Frontierland to see one more time Big Thunder Ranch before it goes away next year for Star Wars Land. Even though it is nice that Star Wars Land is coming to DL, it is tough to see BTR going to be part of Yesterland. So it would be nice to see it one more time.

After BTR wasn’t decorated that well during the Halloween season this year, I knew that BTR wasn’t going to be very decorated like last year during the holiday season. It was tough to not see Halloween Carnival this year without the pumpkin carvers, villains meet & greet, etc. this year Jingle Jangle Jamboree.


The cabin is not opened which is disappointing to see.


The Festival Arena was closed as well which used to be Jingle Jangle Jamboree during the holiday season.


Over at Big Thunder Ranch, it is decorated for the last time during the holiday season.










A last look at Big Thunder Ranch BBQ




It was sad to look at Big Thunder Ranch for the last time and it was tough to see it go since I am so used to going by at the backside of Frontierland.

I got some more random pictures on Main Street while I was taking pictures.








A look at the Christmas tree on Main Street Town Square






The snowflakes above the turnstiles at DL


I head on over to Downtown Disney to look at the Winter Village which was not open during my visit.


Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink is back again








 
When I finished up at Downtown Disney, I head on over back to DCA to get some pictures of the holiday decorations at Paradise Pier. At first, I went on back to DCA to see Viva Navidad! Street Party at 1:45pm. But when I got there and got my spot, the CM’s told everyone that the show was cancelled that afternoon. It was a shame that it was cancelled that afternoon which I was looking forward to seeing that show that afternoon.

I didn’t get much pictures at Viva Navidad but I was able to get pictures of Paradise Pier viewing area of the Christmas presents.










It felt like Disney toned down on the decorations on Paradise Pier viewing area for World of Color – Winter Dreams with less of the presents in the area.


It looked like it was going to rain that afternoon which it was supposed to but it didn’t rain the whole day which was great.


I decided to head on back to my hotel to rest up since I will have a busy night by meeting up with Alison (@franandaj) and Fran that night to see the 9pm show of F!. So I head on back to the room and rested up for 3 hours until I went on back to the park that night.

When I went back to DL around 6pm, I went back to DL to take some long exposure shots on Main Street.




I went on over to the Emporium area to see the fifth Enchanted Window which is the Frozen window.




First thing I did was head on over to Tomorrowland to see if Hyperspace Mountain was open for a soft opening just like on Friday and Saturday and once again there was another soft opening of Hyperspace Mountain. But the wait time was 60 minutes which was quite long that night. But that is nothing compare to today which is in that 80 minutes to 120 minute wait time.


Then I head on over to New Orleans Square to meet up with Alison and Fran since they were in that area. We head on over to the French Market to have dinner there since they haven’t had dinner as well as I.

After we finished dinner, we head on back to Tomorrowland to ride Star Tours. It was a long shot for the new ride scene from Star Wars Episode VII would be on Star Tours that night. Alison and I rode Star Tours that night while we waited for Fran at the Star Traders store.


The First Order Storm Troopers are in the Star Trader store


After we finished up in Tomorrowland, we head on back to New Orleans Square to see the 9pm Fantasmic! show. This will be the last time to see F! when the Rivers of America will be closed for a year and a half for Star Wars Land which the RoA will be drained.


Here are some pics from the 9pm F! show that night.
















After F! was over, we all started to head on out of the park that night. I was coming back the next day for Star Wars Season of the Force opening day while they are coming back the next day as well which is nice that we might be able to hang out again.


I had a fun night hanging out with Alison and Fran of having dinner with them at the French Market, riding Star Tours and to see F! that night.
 
Another lovely night. Although.....I am surprised that you don't have any pictures of your time with Fran and Alison.....and what about dinner???? How else am I going to lick the screen for the French Market food???:rotfl:

Love the night time shots. Sorry that F! will be disappearing for at least a year. It really is a great show by the RoA.
Loving what you're capturing.
 

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