Hotter than Hades - a Halloweentime 2015 trip report (finished 12/6)

I love the pumpkins for the various lands and your pictures are great

superkick555 said:

I love the pumpkins for the various lands and your pictures are great

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Thank you. I had a new camera for this trip, only used it in Paris before. I was moaning a lot about my beloved baby dying, but those pictures are really a lot better.

Day 16 part 1: The Calm before the Storm


Jackie's joining me all day, her husband Nick is coming for the party later.

We go through the Main Street shops checking for pins and bump into some kids trading. They keep us up for a good 10 minutes. The mom keeps apologizing. But hey, they're having fun. That's what matters. If the little ones and new traders are not having fun the hobby will eventually die.

First stop Pixie Hollow!



Tink spots the parasol and doesn't quite like she's not on it. Well unfortunately they have added some new girls to the list, but no pixies. Otherwise I would have really considered getting a new one, I swear. She forgives me when she sees I at least have Tiana - she wears green after all.







No line at the Fantasy Faire. Funny enough I still haven't found Aurora, so we give it a try.

Nope, same visitors as usual.







In the store we bump into more Japanese traders and two kids eyeing the boards. I can't resist and drop a Paris Snow White pin on the board which the little girl snatches up in a heartbeat. The dad realizes I've done this on purpose and comes over to say thank you. I find a pin to trade for her brother too and in turn her dad gives up one of the new Hidden Mickeys from his lanyard because we made his kids smile. At the risk of repeating myself... I'm probably too old school, but for me pin trading is about the fun and not who can get more expensive pins in the least amount of time.

Syd check at New Orleans Square.



A couple of lanyards later we're a little hungry and decide to stop at Bengal Barbecue.

Safari Skewer.



Chieftain Chicken Skewer.



Hmm... in my memory these things were way larger. Granted I wanted a snack only anyway, but still...

Some more trading til Nick arrives. We get our wristbands in Frontierland.

On the way to Carnation Cafe - yes, I really want another picture.



Baked Potato Soup.



Don't ask me what hit me to try this at like 50 degrees Celsius. May have been the idea I needed something filling cause we were going to do lots of walking.

I liked it a lot, but would have enjoyed it way better at reasonable temperatures.

Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken.



Definitely more matching for the temperatures. Overall I think I liked the soup a little better.

We had been smart and had gotten a locker earlier in the day - not surprisingly everything sold out now. We grab our costumes, change and put on some make up. We had really planned on more elaborate face makeup, but gave up due to the heat. It was hard enough to keep the little bit we used on our skin.

Day 16 part 2: Toontown Pre-Party


Three goals. Jackie wants Minnie and Mickey, Daisy and if possible the munks. I only need Daisy, I got the rest done.

As usual the Mickey and Minnie line explodes fast. Jackie keeps the spot while Nick goes trick or treating and I visit Goofy.

Goofy correctly figures out who I am, but wonders where my other half is.



Umm... mice hunt.







Now guess who we are?



Jackie decides we need to say hi to Goofy before hopping in line for munks and Daisy.

We are Siamese if you please...



Donald's line moves way to fast, I'm in front way before the switchover. He does a doubletake when he sees me and runs off trying to hide, but I manage to persuade him I'm a good kitty.



Finally Daisy comes out.



Nick hasn't re-appeared from the Trick or Treat lines yet - looks like they're going through all houses this year. So Jackie has to give up the spot in the munks line.









I'm really glad to have met her, but I would have liked it better if they had put her in an original costume like the others had. Unless I am very wrong this is her old Jamboree outfit. Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.

One of the witches.



We wait for Nick to come back. Useless trying the munks line now. We need to get to the front of the park to the Villains. Everyone really wants to meet Hades and we need to go against traffic flow now. We need to book it there now to stand any chance to time it right.

Vala said:

My next trip is actually pretty soon. A friend is going to the San Francisco area for study for a bit and we're meeting in Disneyland over Easter. March 23 to April 4.

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Yay! Always wanted to go in the spring. Maybe I'll make a trip down and get over my fear of characters by osmosis, with you there at the same time!

Jennafoo said:

Yay! Always wanted to go in the spring. Maybe I'll make a trip down and get over my fear of characters by osmosis, with you there at the same time!

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I'm good at osmosis. My boyfriend at least tolerates characters meanwhile - as long as you don't try to get him close to the Stepsisters that is. They gave him permanent trauma in Paris when he didn't think fast enough and didn't declare he was with me right away. lol

Day 16 part 3: Hunting for Hades


The line isn't even as bad as I feared. That might just about work out that we hit the switch.







The girls come out first. No Maleficent though, Lady Tremaine has her spot. HUH???





The line moves too fast. Half way through we start letting people go in front. Why does this always happen when you don't need it???

Unexpected help comes from a group who went to line up without wristbands somehow. Now they made it to the front and are causing a fuzz cause they're being denied a photo.

We just make it... second group to see the boys. But only Ratcliffe and Jafar! Normally not something I do, but the Japanese don't care either and seeing Nick really never asks to see a character and asked about Hades this is a class A emergency, so I will admit that we don't exactly made it quick.

Ratcliffe.





Jafar.



In the end even Nick sacrificed himself and took a series of pictures cause the third stop was still empty.

They tell us to wait.

Then suddenly a CM who doesn't even work the area decides to grab the Queen of Hearts who's been roaming and puts her in the third spot. Umm... no. Please.

He pretty much pushes us in to take a photo.



You can tell from our faces: nope, we were not happy.

I politely ask if we can please wait for Hades now - no one was in line behind us anyway for some reason, I think a couple of people actually left upon seeing the Queen - but the CM who put her there rudely tells me no. I have already opened my mouth to show him some kitty claws - this isn't even your area obviously, who died and made you king??? - when the actual head of the area walks past and tells him "let them wait." I guess she saw us trying really hard to get Hades and not be obnoxious at the same time.

Less than three minutes later I see blue hair moving in the crowd. Thank god.








We drop off candy in the locker.

Main Street projections have started when we get out again.



Nick's second wish is Bullseye, but he also likes the candy trails. We walk through Piratepalooza on the way to Big Thunder, that way we get both.

The chipmunks are very happy to see us - we think they overlooked our tails and mistook us for a pair of girl munks. Happened with some CMs too. Such enthusiasm for a pair of kitties would be unusual.





Projection near Village Haus.



Unfortunately Bullseye just leaves when we're half through the line. We ask and are given a time when the CM recommends to come back to catch him.

Big Thunder Ranch treat trail.



Nick eventually has to give up and leaves, he had a long day at work.

We do treat trails until it's the time we've been told to come back.

Unfortunately Bullseye seems to have been kept up by an emergency, he's taking his sweet time to come back. We almost are at the front of the line and no Bullseye, so back it is. Half way through the line again we decide to split, I go to the back again. No sign of him coming out, no announcement he's coming... two people in two spots maximize our chances.

This little spiel goes on for almost an hour with six or seven switches. Even the Cast Members notice. One tells me: "Thank you for being so fair." Well what's a girl to do? There's 4 groups waiting for Bullseye at the front at times. Eventually everyone but us has given up when Bullseye finally arrives. Yee-haw!

There really seems to be an issue of some sort. We were only 5 people to the front when he came out. When it's only two groups ahead of us the CMs start telling people that Bullseye will be leaving shortly.

Day 16 part 4: Cats & Dogs - The attack of Pluto!


Back to Piratepalooza. Jackie wants to get all characters in pirate outfit.

We're lucky, Pluto comes out a couple of people before us. A comment from the Photopass lady makes him realize that omg, there's kitties lurking in the dark!

He runs off, tries to hind behind some curtain, runs back out again and... (note the look on the face of the Photopass lady. )







We really died laughing.

Trying to convince Pluto we are really behaving.





Doesn't quite work.



I found "the spot" though, that convinced him to let us get away at least.



Goofy had meanwhile joined him which we hadn't even realized.





Yo ho yo ho a Pirate's Life for me!



We ask the CMs about Donald and they say he'll be coming in 15 minutes, just make another round. More candy for Nick it is.

It works... Donald and Pluto switch.





I may be a kitty but there's a duck in the UK who really loves you!







He's also not quite convinced of our intentions... but this time they stopped them from aiming the cannon at us.



We've pretty much made our must do's, but it's parade time. Doesn't make any sense to go and check out the Monsters Inc. Dance Party. Oh wait, neither of us has met Jack Sparrow in ages. Let's try the other pirates line.

Day 16 part 5: Pirates and Princess Party


The riverboat dock. The pirates line always moves very slow, but I've seen it way longer than that.



Also with Paint the Night running instead of the usual cavalcade they have made the decision not to send these characters on a break. Works for me.

When we've reached the open part of the queue area the fireworks go off. The music is piped in and while of course we don't see Zero fly in general the view was 1000 times better than what I had from the "preferred viewing" 48 hours ago.





Again our timing works well. We're the second party to meet Jack. Would have been first if we hadn't let one group in front of us, but it was too risky.





Jack doesn't think we're too dangerous kitties... he tells me to pounce, but I end up doing more of a bunny hop. Trust me honey, you don't want to be on the receiving end of a pounce I do! He says as much, which prompts me to tell him I'm a kitty in training, I'm a bunny normally. It's true, you just left before the White Rabbit's cousin could meet you last year.



Photo taking in the area.









We take the shortcut to Fantasyland, intending to head for the dance party. Oh, the princess line isn't even that bad. And Pocahontas is out. That probably still won't work, but let's try. I get in line while Jackie checks on the dance party.

When she comes back it's almost my turn. She says she only saw the parade dancers and a DJ, no other characters. Okay, princesses it is.

The princesses are split in pairs this time, like back then when there were several stations in DCA. I like that. You have to choose which pair you want though.

As predicted there's a switch a couple of people before us. The new pairs are Tiana and Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White and MULAN.

Worst combination to choose from ever. Jackie starts laughing at the look on my face, goes to a CM to check - no more switches, last change - and tells me she doesn't want a picture, go see the first pair and she'll get in line again so we can get the second.

The CMs go around and ask who you want to see. No one seems to want Mulan, so a quick line jump for me.



Snow White is intrigued to meet a kitty.





I don't normally do that (well not unless it's one of the princes or Flynn).... can I have a picture with Mulan alone please? I never expected to meet her here and while I love you Snow White, she's my favorite. Mulan's stunned, Snow White obliges and moves away.



I find Jackie in line and off to Tiana we are. Well and Sleeping Beauty too.





The closing announcement comes just as we pass the Hub.



At the exit they're still handing out Dove chocolates too.

A way better night than Monday. I'm just sad Nick missed Bullseye.

Day 17 part 1: The Empty Room


Thursday. Pin release. No Ariel and no Alice puzzle either. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the stupid Ariel pin is a quarterly series. The quarter ended last week. *sighs*

We walk past the Plaza when we hear thumping. It's the munks, banging against the windows and waving. We wave back - we love you too!

Some steps further Rafiki scares us to death when he peeks out of the bushes to play hide and seek.

##

Perla and Pooh are standing on the porch, also waving madly.

We look at each other and take a closer look. The place is absolutely empty! What on earth... :\:

We finally figure out that they have brought forward the park hours. Apparently they scheduled Plaza accordingly, but no one opened reservations that early. I know because I tried - couldn't get a reservation earlier.

Beeline to check in it is. They have computer problems and can't find us, but yes we can go in.

There's like three tables taken, yet they try to sit us at a booth. Ummm. No. Sorry. I don't mind another area, but no booth. Three years ago the place was packed, Andrea and I didn't get to see a single character cause we were stuck in a booth and the characters couldn't actually get through. And if I am not very much mistaken this is exactly the booth where poor JJ had the same problem some weeks ago.

The server doesn't quite understand why this is an issue, but tells us to wait. Now I certainly don't mind that because the characters are all standing around in the serving area, hugging everyone coming in and happy for each bit of attention.

Suzy.



Jackie being photobombed.







Max is that bored, he even tries to help people selecting their food.



Eventually the server comes back and takes us to a table at the opposite end of the room. Still better than drama in a booth. I don't quite get why that - all other tables were at the other end and in the same area - but okay.

Pooh visits first.





Minnie.





Hook.





Rafiki - we tell him he made us go in, making him insanely proud.





Eeyore - not in a photo mood.







Jackie tries to cheer him up. His response?



Now Mr Rafiki did have something to say about this too...

Day 17 part 2: Rafiki vs. Eeyore


Rafiki comes running back as soon as he notices us playing with Eeyore.





Turns out he does not like competition one bit.





Even going Matrix on poor Eeyore and pretty much tossing him out of the closeby door!





In the end I find myself playing referee and separating them. Jackie can keep Eeyore, I'm staying with Rafiki. Problem solved.

Tigger.



Some repeat visits - we're still waiting for Dale.







Dale - as always late.



On the way out Rafiki seems to have taken a cue from me and acts as referee when Chip and Hook get in a fight.







Jackie goes to move the car while I walk over to New Orleans Square. Not that I hold out much hope for Syd showing today, but I am not giving Mr Murphy that much advance notice.

No Syd, but Cupcake. Yay!







Some pin trading later we switch over to DCA. Maybe we can catch Stitch at the Visa Meet this time.

Day 17 part 3: Visiting DCA again


It's Minnie and not Stitch at the Visa Meet.





Another visit to Olaf's Meet - three people in line this time.



They're just doing the last call for the Singalong. Now do I want? No I don't, but in the interest of scientific research...

Umm. I bet you never thought you'd hear me say this - but with the exception of people sticking microphones under your nose overall I like the Paris version much better.

Entrance and lobby are nicely done and themed, that's better in Anaheim.





But Paris has more action on stage. Here we have a Royal Historian, an apprentice and Anna, Elsa and Kristoff being on stage for 2 minutes - okay, maybe 5 for Anna.



















At least less snow made picture taking easier.

Jackie has to leave. Before that we go and check the Main Street march along of the Diamond Characters again - my new friend at City Hall had recommended in the morning to be at the parade gate after that and "yell." Yeah, as you can imagine that worked really well - not. I go back in and tell her - she asks me to come back tomorrow morning, she'll check on something.

I decide to get in line for Aladdin. Could well be the last time.























And now for the Tiki Room Reject...

Day 17 part 4: Dinner at Plaza


Churro while being on afternoon duck watch.



I'm meeting my friends Doug and Mel later for dinner, but they're running a little late. I grab quick food and look for a parade spot.

Corn Dog.



Parade picture spam reloaded.









































Flag retreat.

No duck. Seriously, it's not like I am looking for Mr. Walrus! Though at the going rate I'd probably find the Walrus sooner.

I wander back to New Orleans Square for the last set of the Bootstrappers.



Night time photography and some rides on Buzz before Doug and Mel get in.





Playing around with camera settings.





I actually never had Dinner at Plaza before, can you believe that? There's a really crazy line to get in, but it moves fast.

Diamond Anniversary Chocolate Cake.



Yes, that was as good as it looks.

Plaza Inn Specialty Chicken.



I will admit, I was disappointed. Everyone has been raving about this for years, but for me it was nothing special at all. May be a cultural thing - here I mainly get grilled chicken, barbecue style. I really rarely get this kind of fried chicken.

We chat for a while and make Haunted Mansion our last ride of the night... man that was a line to be in.

Day 18 part 1: Waiting for T


My last cup of T for a while... JJ and I have different plans for Sunday. I know, I know. Shock and horror.

She's running a bit late today so I do the usual round before she comes in.

Rosetta finally is at Pixie Hollow.



Walk up again. As I so didn't expect to see her again I don't even have the drawing out and have to go and dig for it.





Let's try Toontown again. One day I have to be lucky with Steamboat Willie.





Minnie's line is actually shorter, let's go see Minnie first.





More Fantasia reshoots. *sighs* I ask a CM if Steamboat Willie is ever coming out and get the "I don't know" which got a little too common for my taste lately.







JJ texts - meet up at Pirates to check out which Bootstrappers are performing today. Any guesses? No Syd.



We catch a store set of the Dapper Dans instead and then nip into the Barbecue where Miss Chris and Tex kindly pose for a photo with us.



Town Square again. The lovely lady at City Hall had given us a time where she had been informed Donald would show at least for a walk around around the Square. I was really trusting her on that cause she had phone around forever to get this. Just wait at the exit. Okay. Exit it is.

JJ grabs my small camera cause there's no chance she'll get a picture of us walking with the large one. We wait.

And out come... all characters in Diamond outfits minus Daisy, but plus Cruella. WHAT????

And they pose for a group shot. Grrrr.... and I tucked the large camera away to be prepared for the walk. It lasts all but thirty seconds and they are in again.





That wasn't quite what I was told was happening.

I approach the "manager" of the area and ask... only to be very rudely told that they had already told "my friend at City HalL" that this was the maximum they could do. Umm... I am very sorry for actually asking you to do your job and ask you a character question, but that was not the message that was related to us. Otherwise I wouldn't have asked. JJ heard. In fact JJ had been dealing with bouncy little "I'm gonna see the du-huck" me for hours.

Back to City Hall to let "our friend" know. She's as stunned as us, disappears to phone around again and tells us tomorrow, after Soundsational, for sure. It better be - that's my last chance.

Off to DCA. Of course we're way too early and get prime spots at the stage - but it's my last night with Dormouse. Sue me, I'm a fangirl.

We take turns in spot guarding and getting food.

Grizzly Peak area photos.







Rescue Dog on duty.







Food from Smokejumpers Grill. Halloween something Spiderweb Burger.



Ice cream hauled back to T stage... thankfully they had cups this time.



Some time later I decide to put on the Caterpillar outfit again... then everyone tells me "you got to have your picture taken with the Frozen characters." Okay then... This is more funny if you're a Mad T Party fan I guess.



Elsa gives me a really weird look. "I think you followed the wrong rabbit, the Mad T Party is across the street." Thumbs up for that reaction.

Day 18 part 2: The last cup of T


I'll spare you the introduction again, I posted enough pictures.





Dormouse and Caterpillar have some gossip to share among each other...













Yes, it would definitely be "one of those nights"...















"Do you guys come here often?"











And then it happens. I can't even tell you the song title - for once my attention was completely on Mad Hatter.

JJ realizes what's going on first, elbows me like crazy and tells me to "drop the camera!!!" Huh?

The song has a line "take my hand" and Dormouse is actually reaching out to take mine! He rarely gives handholds, so this is really special. And what does Miss Genius manage? Finger tip touch a la ET and I pull my hand away.

This gets me a "yeah, fine, whatever!" - typical Dormouse reaction - a completely stunned JJ who's not sure if to start laughing or have a bad conscience that it didn't occur to her to warn me that if he does take hands it's during that song and the overwhelming urge to find the next rabbit hole to hide in.

In hindsight I now see the funny side. It was way more funny that way than if I had actually taken his hand. Besides that, JJ didn't have her camera ready anyway. It summed up my "relationship" with Dormouse well... the first year Zombie Dormouse tried to eat me, the second year he screamed at my head, the third year I refuse to take his hand - maybe I should be worried about next year at this rate. But that very moment when I realized what I had done there's only one word for my state of mind: HORRIFIED.

Set's over.

Day 18 part 3: Mad T Party continued







I can understand Caterpillar oh so well.









Figures - just when I am beginning to memorize the sets - minus handhold opportunities - and start taking the pictures I want the trip is over.



I even got that one... the last three tries before I always cut off March Hare.











Dormouse wouldn't be Dormouse though if he'd let the handhold incident rest... I knew something was up cause that part so hadn't happened the nights before...







At least I managed to get those shots. After screwing up so badly I would not have been the least bit surprised... but apparently I only have handhold issues with people, camera in hand works fine...



Caterpillar wants to be like Mr Hatter.







Let's be planes!



During "Living on a prayer" Hatter does a longer handhold and some shorter ones, kind of like high fives. He ends up taking my hand as well, and for some odd reason this time I don't pull away. Okay, scratch that... I apparently have Dormouse handhold issues.

Of course Dormouse being Dormouse during that set he even does a callback... pretends to take my hand from a little distance and then he pulls away. Yeah, I guess I earned that.







Show's over. We quickly run to the meet line. March Hare stops again to compliment me. Hatter is doing high fives, gives me one, then stops when he gets a better look of me, keeps holding my hand mid high five and says: "oh wow." JJ almost dies laughing next to me. She's a Hatter girl and for some reason the Dormouse girl is okay taking the hand of her guy. But again that comment really meant a lot to me... made me feel better for making our carpet look like I slaughtered a butterfly.

A quick shopping round later JJ says goodbye. No more Tomorrowland Terrace. I really hope that "refurbishment" will end eventually.

Day 19 part 1: A second chance for the Critter Breakfast


Nick and Jackie are coming to say good bye. We go for the Grand Californian again, that breakfast is one of Nick's favorites.

Why are you taking pictures of me while I eat?



Oh there's a bear behind you.

It was really really quiet, the bears played with us forever.

Signing - of course I had given them the drawings as gifts last visit...



Don't mind the pen, I grabbed a CSI one from the exhibit out of my bag by accident and Koda was so fascinated, he insisted on using it.









Then Kenai realizes Jackie is in line for salmon.



Growling contest for food.



Munks stopping by... more playful than last time, but absolutely no contest to the bears.



Meeko checking out my pins. He wasn't quite happy that he wasn't really featured on the Pocahontas Anniversary ones.



Bears coming back.



Now Dale. He's running late. Anyone see a pattern? Somehow we always end up waiting for a munk.





He does apologize profusely. As if I wouldn't forgive you anyway.

Day 19 part 2: The Curtain Call


A stroll through Disneyland later - thank you Disneyland app for chasing us to Critter Country... all three phones were saying Rabbit was meeting, so we figured this time the app couldn't be wrong! - Stuart has caught up with us, he also insisted on coming to say good bye.

For once the Incredibles are where they're supposed to be though. And they even brought Frozone.



It's too hot to even try and pin trade, so after some chatting we decide to make Aladdin our farewell activity for this year. Nick likes it, Stuart hasn't seen it in a while and there's air condition. Enough selling points even if I hated it which I most certainly don't.



























Just like it ended on the DVD!



We're going to Disneyland!















And a special little encore.

Day 19 part 3: Paint the Night again after all


Newsboys - I guess temperatures went down two degrees, the shows are back on.





Stuart has to leave. Jackie, Nick and me keep waiting for Goofy - again the app is horrendously wrong.





Everyone is getting hungry again. We decide on Tortilla Joes. Not our best idea ever - takes forever to get a table, the service is slow and Nick is even served a glass of ice tea with something swimming inside it.

Chicken Nachos.



I run off a little early because you know, someone said Diamond Donald is coming out. Of course... pumpkin. Grrrr.

When Jack and Nick come in Diamond Mickey, Minnie and Pluto are out at the floral Mickey again. I run back, try to find out with the handlers. Yes, Donald may be coming back out. Jackie and I go back to the door, Nick stays outside... until he comes back to us saying that a Cast Member asked him who he was waiting for, he told them "Donald" and was told Donald would come out on Town Square "in a couple of minutes" for sure.

Three guesses who never shows. And seeing we ended up guarding a bench for Paint the Night again we seriously were on watch for another couple of hours. Three weeks in the park and no Donald. At the going rate I might really have been off better hunting for that Walrus!

When the sun disappears the temperatures don't drop slightly, they fall so badly that we start freezing and take turns buying blankets, hats and hoodies. I doubt we went past 25, but after those 40 degree heat it felt like we were sitting in a cave in an iceberg.

So... Paint the Night. I still stand by my original opinion, but at least it photographs pretty.





































Good bye hugs with Jackie and Nick. I hate getting sniffy.

Last nightshift and of course... no Donald. #TeamWalrusRules

You know, I actually stopped by today because I was specifically thinking: "I hope Vala got to see the duck on her last day!" Sad that that miracle did not occur.