12-26-2012, 04:14 PM
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Willing victim of the Disney Snowball Effect...
Okay so after a coffee and lunch break I am back! 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 13,454
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 Belated Merry Christmas and early Happy New Year to you! It seems like only yesterday that it was Halloween and now the year is almost over. I think that 2012 has zoomed by. The bedding is very cute in both the PPH and DLH rooms. Even the white comforters and pillow cases have Mickey icons on them (but you have to look really closely to see them). One great thing about those mini-fridges is that they tend to get cold very fast. In the past they sometimes got too cold, and my water bottles would freeze. Now (and last year) they seem to have regulated the temperatures enough to get my water cold in a hurry, but not to the point of being frozen. Yes, all of the PPH rooms in which I have ever stayed - going all the way back to my very first PPH stay for New Year's Eve 2000 - have had some sort of sofa bed thingy. The sofa beds have changed styles over the years, but they all have them (even though I think the PPH people will tell you that they "cannot guarantee" that your room will have one, but I guess they have to say that). The sofa beds are interesting contraptions. Molly/bumbershoot knows what I mean - she took detailed photos in a past TR from a couple of years ago, showing exactly how you assemble them. Well, my first day didn't go exactly the way I'd hoped because I was soooo tired and because I was sad about my friend Shawn completely ignoring me (and I still have no clue why) and blowing me off, when she had previously told me that she would come to hang out with me (even for a meal). This meant that I was missing out on Goofy's Kitchen too, which is a longstanding tradition for me/us. BUT I did eat those gingerbread cookies (did you see the photo above, with the slightly chubbier gingerbread man and the slightly more svelte one?) and I discovered that peppermint ice cream was being sold in DCA too. So it was not a totally wasted morning/afternoon! Interestingly, given that the prices of everything keep increasing all over DLR, it is noteworthy that the gingerbread cookies have not gone up in price in a while. They have pretty much been holding strong at the $3.99 price for a long time. Isn't that odd (in a good way)? Everything else climbs up and up the price ladder, but the gingerbread cookies with mouse ears stay the same! Yes, Jackie and Bob were wonderful to show up. They live about 15-20 minutes away (not in Anaheim) so it is not a far drive, but they both had to work the next day. I just felt bad because I knew they felt bad FOR me that my (cough) "friends" keep doing these screwy things to me. They're a great couple, though. They've been together a long, long time. Yes, can you believe the madness? Earl of Sandwich ran out of the peppermint brownies (and the strawberry shortcake)! Plus, they gave Jackie the totally wrong sandwich/wrap, and they ended up making a mistake on one of my future orders too (which shall be described in a later installment). Originally my plan was to devote a whole evening to eating a Cannonballs! sandwich and a Haagen Dazs Peppermint Bark Dazzler together, in one sitting, and then heading to the GCH lobby to enjoy the Dickens carolers. Well, I got the Cannonballs! and I got the Dazzler - just not together, and not in the same evening...and I never made it to the GCH lobby to enjoy the carolers!  I am currently working on the first installment of Day 2 - which was, by far, the best day of my whole trip for a few reasons! STAY TUNED!!!
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 Christmas Time Trip Reports "The Evil Chair & The Peppermint Cone of Death - A 2010 Christmas Tale" (begins on Page 83/Post #1244; ends on Page 110/Post #1641) "Aunt Betty's Weepy, Wacky, Wonderful Christmas Trip to Disneyland- Dec. 2011" (begins on Page 189/Post #2825; ends on Page 213/Post #3181) CHRISTMAS PHOTOS OF CARS LAND & BUENA VISTA ST. - 11/12/12 (begins on Page 222/Post #3328; ends on Page 231/Post #3464) "Candlelight & Cannonballs! (MANY MARDI GRAS MASK PICTURES!) -12/9/12 - 12/12/12" - begins on Page 235/Post #3524 (in progress!)   Halloween Time Trip Reports"The Return of the Masked Mouse & His Diabolical Twin- Halloween Time 2011" (begins on Page 145/Post #2170; ends on Page 155/Post #2312) Other Trip Reports:  Catalina Island/Avalon - My Solo Day Trip, in Photos (LOTS of Photos!)- 7/21/12 |
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12-26-2012, 04:31 PM
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#3557 |
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Willing victim of the Disney Snowball Effect...
Okay so after a coffee and lunch break I am back!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 13,454
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PHX -
I forgot to mention in my reply to you above ^^ that I was out walking around last night (how sad is that? Walking around by myself, at night, on Christmas), looking at the gorgeous trees and lights and enjoying the crisp, in-between-rainstorms air, and I stopped at 4 places - FOUR PLACES - looking for peppermint ice cream. They either had no peppermint ice cream at all, or they only had the Slow Churned kind. No one had the 'real' ice cream - the kind that is sold in Disneyland and in California Adventure. They didn't even have tags on the shelves for the real ice cream, so I don't think any of these places ever carried it this season at all. I finally caved in and got a carton of Slow Churned, just to have something pepperminty in my freezer for this year. It's not bad, of course - Dreyer's ice cream is never bad - but it tastes more like toothpaste than ice cream! And it is not pink enough!As I mentioned above to Bret, I don't know if this is now going to be a trend - maybe Dreyer's is now only shipping the Slow Churned stuff to the stores in my area?  - but it may end up that the only place I can get the 'real' peppermint ice cream is when I go to Disneyland! Imagine that! Madness, I tell you! Madness!
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Christmas Time Trip Reports"The Evil Chair & The Peppermint Cone of Death - A 2010 Christmas Tale" (begins on Page 83/Post #1244; ends on Page 110/Post #1641) "Aunt Betty's Weepy, Wacky, Wonderful Christmas Trip to Disneyland- Dec. 2011" (begins on Page 189/Post #2825; ends on Page 213/Post #3181) CHRISTMAS PHOTOS OF CARS LAND & BUENA VISTA ST. - 11/12/12 (begins on Page 222/Post #3328; ends on Page 231/Post #3464) "Candlelight & Cannonballs! (MANY MARDI GRAS MASK PICTURES!) -12/9/12 - 12/12/12" - begins on Page 235/Post #3524 (in progress!) Halloween Time Trip Reports"The Return of the Masked Mouse & His Diabolical Twin- Halloween Time 2011" (begins on Page 145/Post #2170; ends on Page 155/Post #2312) Other Trip Reports: Catalina Island/Avalon - My Solo Day Trip, in Photos (LOTS of Photos!)- 7/21/12 |
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12-26-2012, 06:29 PM
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#3558 |
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Authentic
I hear an infant cry and it's letdown city I would kiss their little chinchilla lips off! 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Utah
Posts: 20,998
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Wow, great update! The Cannonballs! photo is making me hungry!! Note I didn't forget the !
 The PPH rooms look really nice. I still love the lifeguard Mickey lamp.  Wonder if they sell those? Our house has a nautical theme and it would look so so cute. DH got a two Disney lithographs framed for me for our media room and that lamp would be perfect.I'm sorry you were feeling blue.  Hope you had a very Merry Christmas. It's snowing here like mad so I'm catching up on reports and am going to update mine. It's weird looking at hot Florida pics when it's snowing and 20* out. 
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 me  DH  DD16  DD14  DS11  Riley Guinness Our numbers are 1, 5, 17, 33, and 1901. A very magical day at Disney trip report http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3096743 A rabbi, a priest, and a pastor board the Wonder: a Disney Cruise pre-trip reporthttp://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3060546 Life is too short for self-hatred and celery sticks: a DVC trip report http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3003243 Strike yer colors, you brazen wench! No need to expose yer superstructure! Nov 27-30! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2839173 |
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12-26-2012, 08:07 PM
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#3559 | |
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Willing victim of the Disney Snowball Effect...
Okay so after a coffee and lunch break I am back!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 13,454
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Quote:
Welcome back!I can't help but giggle at the Cannonballs! sandwich name. There is no reason for it to have an '!' at the end of it. For that matter, why is is called "Cannonballs!" with that 's' at the end? Why not just call it "The Cannonball"? I feel like I need to stomp my foot when I say it.At one point my friend Jackie and I asked someone at Earl of Sandwich why there was an exclamation mark at the end of the name. The employee tried feebly to emphasize the power of this sandwich by punching her fist at the air...maybe to imply "Pow! Boom! Cannonballs!" Who knows? I just find it funny.The PPH rooms got their remodel/redecoration after the last time you stayed there, correct? I remember you said you stayed at the PPH in the past and didn't really care for it. Don't get me wrong - the PPH is certainly not worth what Disney wants to charge for it (sans any kind of discount), but at least the decor has been updated and freshened up. Interestingly, I've noticed that when I've stayed in PPH park view rooms on the higher floors (like the 11th or 12th floors), there were chocolates brought to the room (the ones in foil with character pictures on the front). When I stayed in this 6th floor park view room on this recent trip, not only did the room look a teeny weeny bit less 'kept up' than the higher floor rooms but I never got any chocolates! Could it be that the higher floor rooms are taken better care of, and the guests get better service? There was one day when I came back to the room and the bathroom did not look as neat as it would normally look after housekeeping got done with it. The bath mat and shower curtain were kind of askew. They even left the faucet in the tub running a little bit, which was not the norm! Plus, one of the lamps did not work at all. That's a good question, about the lifeguard Mickey lamp. Isn't/wasn't there a website at some point that exclusively sold retired furniture and things from various Disney hotel rooms? I remember going onto a site like that a few years ago, and saw some things from the Disneyland Hotel as well as items from some of the WDW hotels. I cannot recall the name of that site, though. I'm not even sure if it still exists. I was blue for a while at DLR. I'm not real pleased with how some of my "friends" treat me, and this little episode seemed to come out of the blue. But, as I mentioned, I was not going to let it ruin my trip. I was not going to let it turn into another sad trip. So I made myself snap out of it - and Day 2 was probably the best day of the entire trip! I had about as merry a Christmas as I could have, being by myself. I watched some TV Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel and also on this other channel called Ion (which I never knew existed until recently). I am finally over the cold I picked up at DLR so I feel much better. I went out walking around after dark, to see lights and pretty Christmas trees in picture windows. I went on the hunt for peppermint ice cream (which was pretty futile). I can imagine that it is very odd looking at your WDW pictures when it is a winter wonderland outside! I guess that kind of snowy weather definitely lends itself to TR updating and reading! Stay tuned - I've just completed Part 1 of Day 2, which I am about to post, and there are some pictures of very pretty flowers coming up! Vibrant, vivid, stunning flowers!
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Christmas Time Trip Reports"The Evil Chair & The Peppermint Cone of Death - A 2010 Christmas Tale" (begins on Page 83/Post #1244; ends on Page 110/Post #1641) "Aunt Betty's Weepy, Wacky, Wonderful Christmas Trip to Disneyland- Dec. 2011" (begins on Page 189/Post #2825; ends on Page 213/Post #3181) CHRISTMAS PHOTOS OF CARS LAND & BUENA VISTA ST. - 11/12/12 (begins on Page 222/Post #3328; ends on Page 231/Post #3464) "Candlelight & Cannonballs! (MANY MARDI GRAS MASK PICTURES!) -12/9/12 - 12/12/12" - begins on Page 235/Post #3524 (in progress!) Halloween Time Trip Reports"The Return of the Masked Mouse & His Diabolical Twin- Halloween Time 2011" (begins on Page 145/Post #2170; ends on Page 155/Post #2312) Other Trip Reports: Catalina Island/Avalon - My Solo Day Trip, in Photos (LOTS of Photos!)- 7/21/12 |
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12-26-2012, 08:21 PM
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#3560 |
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Willing victim of the Disney Snowball Effect...
Okay so after a coffee and lunch break I am back!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 13,454
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Here is the first installment for today, and hopefully it is not the last installment for today!
Candlelight and Cannonballs! Aunt Betty’s Do-Over Christmas Trip (Sun., 12/9/12 – Wed., 12/12/12) Day 2 - Monday, December 10, 2012 - Part 1 Have a holly, jolly Christmas; It's the best time of the year I don't know if there'll be snow, but have a cup of cheer. Have a holly, jolly Christmas; And when you walk down the street Say Hello to friends you know and everyone you meet. In the last segment of this TR, I met up with my friends Jackie and Bob for a brief visit. I introduced them to Cars Land and Buena Vista Street; made sure we got some tasty Ghirardelli samples; and we rode Soarin’ – the first of only 3 rides I went on through the entire trip. We also tried out Earl of Sandwich – the first of a few visits I made to that location over the course of my DLR stay – which was mostly a good experience, but with a couple of flaws (namely, they gave Jackie the completely wrong sandwich/wrap, and we found it difficult to know exactly what to order from the menu board stationed outside the restaurant, as it did not have any descriptions or ingredients listed). Finally, although I was very sad and down about my usual Disneyland companion, Shawn, basically bailing out on me just by inexplicably ceasing all communication, I fell asleep with the promise of a new day – a better day – in my mind. By the way - just to go back to Day 1 for a minute - I think I neglected to mention that Jackie treated me to my Earl of Sandwich Cannonballs! (yes, it has the exclamation mark at the end of it) meatball sandwich. It was a last minute thing – I wasn’t expecting it. In fact, I was reaching for my wallet to get out the money to hand to her when she said she would treat. Because I didn’t see the receipt (and all of our sandwiches ended up on the same order/bill), I can’t recall exactly how much the sandwich was. I don’t think Jackie realized that she could use her AP to get a 10% discount, so I am guessing that my sandwich – after tax – was somewhere in the range of $7.53-ish? Maybe? Does that sound about right? The tax in Anaheim is still 7.75%, if I recall correctly, so I should be in the right ballpark on that $7.53 price (again, this was without benefit of the 10% AP discount). In any case, it was a fairly good deal for a relatively substantial sandwich. I could probably spend a good $9.00 just getting a simple hot dog in the parks, and I would be spending more than $12 just to get a flimsy hamburger with a few onion rings and a small drink at Taste Pilots’ Grill in DCA. Somehow – even though Earl of Sandwich’s sandwiches are costlier and smaller than a Subway foot-long sandwich (which usually runs about $5.00 plus tax) – they still seem to be a GREAT value and bargain at Disneyland Resort. In fact, I would venture to say that if Disneyland or California Adventure decided to start making meatball sandwiches to-go, they would be less substantial and more expensive than the Earl of Sandwich Cannonballs! sandwich. Anyway, we’ll revisit Earl of Sandwich later. As I previously mentioned, I told myself that Day 2 – Monday, December 10, 2012 – would be a good day, and that I would not let myself get depressed about my ‘friend’ backing out on me. I was going to make the most of the day. I was not going to let it go to waste. So, as long as I wasn’t sick or in terrible pain I was going to enjoy being at DLR to fully soak up all the holiday-ness that I could manage. This was/is my absolute favorite time of year, after all, and this is my only holiday celebration for the whole season. I was very fortunate to even be taking this trip this year, when I really didn’t think it would happen. I was not going to waste it by being mopey. And it would turn out to be a good day, indeed. I think I’d venture to say that Day 2 was the best day of my entire trip. Sure, I loved seeing my friends on Day 1 (I so rarely see them)…but I was not myself. I was sluggish and not in great spirits. I wasn’t in my ‘groove.’ However, Day 2 proved to be much better in many ways. Not only did I tell myself that it would be a good day (which goes a long, long way in setting up one’s outlook, frame of mind and attitude), but it actually turned out to be an awesome, highly productive day - for me, that is. What is “productive” for me is likely going to be very different from what you all consider to be productive for your own DLR trips! For me, “productive” means taking lots of photos – and fairly good ones, at that – enjoying a favorite snack, accomplishing a couple of personal photographic goals (like getting better shots of certain things than my last attempts at the same subjects a couple of years back), finally getting the chance to see a beautiful ceremony I have been wanting to see for years and…scoring a $50 Disney gift card!? (More on that gift card coming up!) I awoke on Monday morning (December 10th) to find a stunning sunrise outside my Paradise Pier Hotel window. Ahhhh…nature’s beauty is truly something to behold. How could a day not be great when it starts out like this? I love a California (Adventure) sunrise!  I waited a couple of minutes to see if the color of the sky got any deeper or paler. Then I think I used either the “Vivid” setting or the “Sunrise/sunset” setting on my camera for these next two pictures – I can’t recall which. Those settings are there to use, so I figured I might as well use them!  Oh, what a beautiful morning! Oh, what a beautiful day!  After getting a decent night’s sleep, I felt refreshed, renewed and ready to take on the day. I noticed that the clock in my room was about 8 minutes slow, with no obvious way to adjust it. I had to keep cross-referencing the time on the TV news channel I was watching and on my phone. The reason why I needed to keep a close eye on the time was because I had to be somewhere at a certain time. I had a 10:00 a.m. appointment and I didn’t want to be late! Where did I have to be at 10:00 a.m.? Let’s backtrack… About 3 weeks before my DLR trip was set to commence, I received a postcard in the mail from the Disney Vacation Club. I’ve received mailings from them before – various brochures and catalogues and things – which I have just set aside. I like Disney brochures and booklets, so I keep them. But knowing that I cannot buy into the DVC at this particular point in time, I’ve never really looked through the books in depth. This specific postcard was different. This time the DVC folks were acknowledging that I had an upcoming stay at one of the Disney hotels (I guess they got the information from the Disneyland Resort reservations system), and they were inviting me to make an appointment to come in and meet with them while I was at DLR, to learn about DVC and receive a $50 Disney gift card! To be honest, when I first got the postcard in the mail I just set it aside too and didn’t think much of it. At some point I picked it up again and re-read the text and fine print on the postcard because it seemed too good to be true. Yes, they really were sending me an offer to simply go and meet with a DVC person to receive a gift card. I’ve heard of guests being approached by DVC people at Disneyland Resort – specifically in the Grand Californian Hotel lobby – in the past, and invited to participate in the same sort of thing to receive a gift card at the end of the presentation. I had never heard of anyone receiving a postcard in the mail with that offer, though. I’m sure it’s happened, but I was not aware of it. While I was definitely curious to learn more about DVC and how it works – because so many people on the DIS are members - I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time, and I didn’t want to be dishonest and lead anyone into thinking that I could or would buy into DVC at this stage of the game. I wouldn’t ‘trick’ anyone just to get a gift card. But…again, DVC invited ME. I did not seek out a meeting with a DVC person. So I thought about it and thought about it. I called the toll-free number that was on the card and mentioned that I had received this postcard and gift card offer. I was very up front with them from the beginning. I made it clear that I could not buy into Disney Vacation Club right now or in the near future, but I was truly interested in learning about it and how it worked for possible future use. I told them I didn’t want to waste their time, but the card DID invite me and offer a gift card. I asked the Cast Member on the other end of the line if it would be pointless for me to come in, or if it would be okay for me to do so. She double-checked with another Cast Member in the office to be sure that the postcard I mentioned was legitimate (she hadn’t heard of it, but the other person she asked was aware of it), and then came back to tell me that it would be fine for me to come in. So I booked a 10:00 a.m. appointment at the Disney Vacation Club offices (which are situated on the Disneyland Hotel property) for Monday. On Monday morning I walked over to the DVC building via the ‘backside’ of the Paradise Pier – in other words, I did not take the short cut – and arrived a few minutes early. I handed over my postcard and was promptly seated in a separate little room, so I could watch a couple of DVC promo videos. I was also given a small cup of Starbucks coffee and a little package of Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies. A lovely Cast Member named Annmarie greeted me, and then explained all about DVC. Again, I made sure to tell her that I could not currently buy into DVC so she was very aware of where I was coming from. Annmarie explained the basics about DVC and how the points system works, and I must admit – for a family, couple or even for a solo person like I am – that it is tempting. I can totally see why so many people are buying into it. Heck, if I were in the financial position to do so right now, I would be buying into it at the lowest point level. It is something that definitely pays off after a couple of trips. Disney Vacation Club is really for people who LOVE Disney. If you are in a situation where you know for a fact that you will be visiting Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort or other Disney Resorts at least twice a year, for at least a night or two, DVC is well worth it for the monthly price you pay. I was also shown one of the model rooms/villas at Aulani, which was right next door to the DVC offices, and it was fantastic! When the presentation was over, Annmarie gave me a free tote bag, some DVC booklets and my $50 Disney gift card. She told me to let her know as soon as I got in a position where I could consider buying in. As we walked out and said our goodbyes, Annmarie was asking me what I was doing for work at my former (long-term) job. I told her, and she suggested that I try to work ‘there’ – or for Disney in general. Annmarie said, “Why not? You have a great smile and a good disposition and demeanor, and you love Disney.” I didn’t want to bore her with the details, so I gave a very short, vague answer. But little does she know that I would love to work there! I think that working for some aspect of Disney – behind the scenes, or in a creative office setting rather than in the parks – is probably my true calling. That is probably what I should have been doing all along. And it’s not like it’s a pipe dream, totally out of reach. They do hire people, after all! However, in my particular circumstances, relocating to Orange County – which is what I would have to do – would be very tough at this point in time. The jobs in Burbank and Glendale (which are a bit closer to where I am, but still not that close) are largely not park-related. They are mostly focused on other areas of the Disney empire. I think that my real niche/strong suit would Disneyland-related jobs, but not actually in the parks. Anyway, it was nice to know that another Disney employee felt that I would be a good Disney employee too! I took my tote bag and booklets and decided to drop them off in my Paradise Pier Hotel room before heading to the parks. The gift card would stay with me (just in case!). My free tote bag, Milano cookies, DVC booklets and Disney gift card envelope…    On my way back to the PPH I made a quick stop in the Walt Disney Travel Company to pick up their latest travel books (which are free). I hadn’t done this in about 4 years, even though I had been meaning to on the last several Disney visits. If you are someone who likes to collect Disney travel-related books so you can read up on all of the magic at DLR, WDW and on the Disney Cruise Line, the Walt Disney Travel Company is a good place to stop in for such books. They are not wimpy 2-page brochures. The Cruise Line book, especially, is quite substantial. The DLR and WDW books have gotten a little thinner over the years, but they are still a good size. As soon as I walked into the WDTC office – I mean, the very second – a CM at the front desk (there were two of them), who I felt was a tad on the brusque side, quickly said, “May I help you?” I hadn’t even gotten fully through the door yet. I kind of nodded my head in the direction of the travel books and said, “I just wanted to pick up a couple of those books.” The WDTC CM said, in an annoyed tone of voice, “Okay, but we don’t have the 2013 books. We only have 2012.” I said, “That’s okay. I’m fine with 2012. Sometimes, if you call the Travel Company phone number and ask for the travel books, they will send you books from the previous year – not even the current year – so at least you have the books from this year!” She kind of forced a smirk and looked away. She made me feel a bit uncomfortable, as though I was doing something wrong or bothering them somehow by stopping in to get the free books that are available to the public. I established that the WDTC CM probably sounded that way because there are likely many people who come through those doors to get free books. The WDTC people could easily keep them behind the counter if they wanted some control over who takes them, but they leave them out in the open for everyone. Plus, it’s not like I wasn’t staying onsite. I was an onsite guest! I grabbed my DLR, WDW and DCL books and high-tailed it out of there because I felt like I was being glared at, like I was a thief in a watch store or something. I tossed the WDTC books into my Disney Vacation Club tote bag with the DVC books, and onward to the PPH I went to dump everything! These are the 2012 Walt Disney Travel Company books…  I deposited all of my various Disney books and materials in my PPH room, and it was time to hit the parks! Which park would be my destination? Disneyland (since California Adventure was where I spent most of my time on the previous day)! On my way out of the PPH front entrance, I stopped to admire my favorite tree!  And when I crossed the street to get to the Grand Californian Hotel, I stopped to admire the flowers…   I stopped in Acorn Goods and Gifts (or is it Gifts and Goods?) in the GCH and spotted these amazing nutcrackers, which were brand new on the merchandise circuit this year. The only one of the collection that they did not have in stock was the popular Santa Mickey nutcracker, because it was flying off the shelves, but I did see it later on in the trip…   After a quick peek in World of Disney in Downtown Disney to see what I might want to buy with my $50 gift card, I marched to the security tents. I got one of those ‘overly cautious’ security CM’s who wanted me to unzip every single compartment of my bag – usually they are fine with just 2 pockets being unzipped. This one wanted to be extra, extra sure, I suppose…because I clearly look like a trouble-maker, I guess. I have been known to wildly wave my winter scarves around and injure small children just by quietly sitting in a chair, after all. Of course the security folks would want to be extra sure that I wasn’t up to shenanigans! Once inside Disneyland, I took a photo of something that everyone else has taken a photo of (but I never have). This is hardly a clever or original idea on my part, but I figured that I’d better have a photo of this for my own collection since so many before me (hello, deejdigsdis!) have captured it.  Once past the tunnel, I spotted the Candlelight Processional (Ceremony) set-up. It had been there in 2011 when I was at DLR, but I hadn’t gotten any photos of it then. I think that some of the seats for it did not go up until later in the day, as to not completely block foot traffic walking around Town Square.  The narrator’s golden podium…   A beautiful golden wreath on the golden podium!  Lovely yellow poinsettias…   These flowers below were truly some of the prettiest and most vibrant flowers I had ever seen in Disneyland. It’s funny – if you see them from afar you don’t realize exactly how stunning they are. It’s only when you get up close that you see the amazingly rich colors! I didn’t even think the flowers were real at first. A young couple came up and asked if I would take their photo in front of the flower arrangement, and they said that the flowers were all real. So I got up close to inspect them.  The contrast of the red, green and snowy white was just awesome! The mix of textures is very involved, too!     Simply gorgeous! Wow! Honestly, I almost couldn’t tear myself away from these flowers! They were so striking.  Up next, in Part 2 of Day 2, I finally heed the siren’s song of the peppermint ice cream, and I have an awkward encounter with some total strangers as we share a table. Then, I arrive at the Disney-fied version of the Big Easy, where I begin a photo frenzy!
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Christmas Time Trip Reports"The Evil Chair & The Peppermint Cone of Death - A 2010 Christmas Tale" (begins on Page 83/Post #1244; ends on Page 110/Post #1641) "Aunt Betty's Weepy, Wacky, Wonderful Christmas Trip to Disneyland- Dec. 2011" (begins on Page 189/Post #2825; ends on Page 213/Post #3181) CHRISTMAS PHOTOS OF CARS LAND & BUENA VISTA ST. - 11/12/12 (begins on Page 222/Post #3328; ends on Page 231/Post #3464) "Candlelight & Cannonballs! (MANY MARDI GRAS MASK PICTURES!) -12/9/12 - 12/12/12" - begins on Page 235/Post #3524 (in progress!) Halloween Time Trip Reports"The Return of the Masked Mouse & His Diabolical Twin- Halloween Time 2011" (begins on Page 145/Post #2170; ends on Page 155/Post #2312) Other Trip Reports: Catalina Island/Avalon - My Solo Day Trip, in Photos (LOTS of Photos!)- 7/21/12 |
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12-27-2012, 12:16 AM
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#3561 | |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 4,736
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It's amazing that you are able to get a room upgrade for the third year in a row at the PPH. I understand that it was a long first day and you are still able to get photos of the room inch by inch which was really amazing. Just saw and read your last update to your trip report on day 2. I did comment about your sunrise photo as one of my favorite of all your pictures that you have showed on your pre-trip report. It will be a long time when I stay on property again at the DLR. If I do, it will most likely be at the GCH since my DA enjoyed staying at that hotel more than the other two hotels. Good to hear that you were feeling great on day 2 during your trip. Nice pictures of leaving the PPH and over to DL MS to take pictures of the CP as well as the flowers around the stage area. Your recent updates to your trip report have been great and inspiring. Great update on your 2nd day during your December trip. Same here. I don't know if DCA served the peppermint ice cream at the former Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream shop at the California Zephyr. I mostly don't go for ice cream at the parks which I only get the Dole Whip at DL. At least both parks now serve the peppermint ice cream during the Holiday season at both parks. I wasn't able to go to Clarabelle's during my trip and see if there was the peppermint ice cream sign which they were selling it. They might have sold it during my trip. Glad to hear that you were able to have the peppermint ice cream at DL this year. It was also fun to have the peppermint ice cream during my trip after you have been saying that I should try it after all these years. I will have it next year when I go back in November or December. Maybe they will have the peppermint ice cream next year at your grocery stores. I was about to try the restaurant during my last month trip but on Saturday my DA and I had leftovers from the ESPN Zone that Friday night that we didn't want to eat at any restaurants that day. I will remember to mention that to my group that we should eat at Earl of Sandwich. Oh yeah, I was going to tell you about my upcoming trip to DL next month. We made a reservation at Goofy's Kitchen on Sunday the 13th for breakfast. If I did mention this to you awhile ago, my aunt BF daughter wanting to meet a lot of Disney characters and the perfect character breakfast to have it is at K which is your favorite character breakfast.
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 (Premier Pass Holder & D23 Charter Member)All my Completed TR & pics of Disney Parks on one thread DD2 First Trip at the Happiest Place on Earth - Jan. 12 to 14, 2013, A Day at the Walt Disney Studios and Archives and Disneyland - May 3 to 5, 2013 Pictures of my Trip to the DLR on Jan. 12 to 14, 2013 Videos of my Disney Trips on Youtube |
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12-27-2012, 03:07 PM
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Willing victim of the Disney Snowball Effect...
Okay so after a coffee and lunch break I am back!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 13,454
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Thank you again for the kind words and compliments. I got lucky with those sunrises too! (There is another sunrise or two coming up in future installments.) There have been times when I've stayed at a Disney hotel (even the GCH) in the past and the sunrise wasn't quite as dramatic. As you know, sometimes they are really striking, and sometimes they just aren't. If it's kind of a weak/pale sunrise or sunset to begin with, then using the "vivid" or "sunrise/sunset" setting on the camera won't help it out too much. It kind of has to start out by being a good sunrise or sunset, and then any additional settings will only enhance it. I think I also got very lucky with the PPH tree pictures this time around - as you mentioned a while back, they looked better than in previous years. I'm not sure if that was because the bulbs on the light strands had been changed, or if somehow I just managed to get better pictures. I really don't know what happened with that! But you're right - I noticed it too. You can definitely see more of the tree's blue-greenish glow (which is what it looks like in person) in these recent photos I took than in my previous ones.Wow! So you decided to go with Goofy's Kitchen after all? I definitely remember when you were trying to decide which character meal to do on your upcoming trip. Your DA might like a 'quiet' meal like the Storytellers Cafe Critter Breakfast, and the characters seem to have a lot of fun at Surf's Up - but at the end of the day, Goofy's has the largest selection of food. Everyone should be able to find something to eat because there are so many choices in the buffet. So I think that the combination of the variety of food with the characters is a good blend. It's a good mix. Yes, there are not as many characters at Goofy's as there are at Minnie & Friends, but there are characters and there is a big buffet! Plus, Goofy's usually has a couple of Princesses mixed in with the other classic characters. I hope that Goofy's is a success for you! I don't know if you ever eat at Subway, but a foot long sandwich at Subway is less expensive than a smaller-sized sandwich at Earl of Sandwich (just for comparison's sake). Earl's sandwiches are not foot-longs, but they are decent sizes. However, you can use your AP to get a 10% discount (it's only 10% because this is not a Disney-owned restaurant) on the food at Earl of Sandwich. So if you were just to buy a sandwich at Earl alone - no sides, no drinks, no dessert - the sandwich would be under $7.00 with the AP discount, and about $7.53 or so without a discount. I will be posting more about Earl of Sandwich in upcoming installments, because I went there two more times during my trip, but I think that overall it is a good addition to DLR. The prices are reasonable. You don't have to get sides or drinks if you don't want them. The sandwiches are more substantial than a lot of what you would get (for more money) inside DL or DCA. And the food is pretty good for "fast food." Plus, the sandwiches are tightly wrapped in foil and put in a carry out bag when you order, so it is very easy to take back to your hotel room. And if your hotel happens to have a microwave, you should be able to heat them up (though not in the foil, of course!). Just check those sandwiches to be sure they are what you ordered, as they tend to make mistakes! If Clarabelle's was selling the peppermint stick ice cream on 11/12, I think that they had not put the sign up yet so maybe nobody knew. Otherwise, they must have started selling it as the season carried on. To be honest, when I walked into Clarabelle's and Trolley Treats (both in November and December), they were both pretty empty. All of the crowds seemed to be gathered over in the Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe (in fact, it was so crowded that I couldn't even see the gingerbread house that is supposedly there for the holidays). The lines were soooo long for FFPC, and I don't think that will change because people love that it's a Starbucks. This means that the Market House on MS will soon have ridiculous lines too, which is unfortunate. But it was odd that no one seemed to really be paying attention to Trolley Treats or Clarabelle's either time I walked in to check them out. I'm sure they must be crowded now, though, in the crazy post-Christmas/pre-New Year's week. I almost forgot to mention - I thought of you when I was walking around NOS, taking mask pictures! I had gotten only some mask pictures back in 2010, but I apparently skipped over a lot of them. I don't know if I just didn't see them or what happened?  Also, I think that Disney added in even more masks around NOS since I last took those photos two years ago (I didn't pay too much attention to them in 2011), or they relocated them to areas which were more visible. I wanted to go back and do a better job with the pictures - I knew I could get all of the masks this time, and get much better photos than my previous attempts. But as I was looking at every single mask, I was thinking, "Bret would probably know - were these masks here last year? Was this mask here last year?" I know that you - unlike a lot of other folks - will actually pay attention to what is new, what is missing, what has been moved, what has changed, etc.
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Christmas Time Trip Reports"The Evil Chair & The Peppermint Cone of Death - A 2010 Christmas Tale" (begins on Page 83/Post #1244; ends on Page 110/Post #1641) "Aunt Betty's Weepy, Wacky, Wonderful Christmas Trip to Disneyland- Dec. 2011" (begins on Page 189/Post #2825; ends on Page 213/Post #3181) CHRISTMAS PHOTOS OF CARS LAND & BUENA VISTA ST. - 11/12/12 (begins on Page 222/Post #3328; ends on Page 231/Post #3464) "Candlelight & Cannonballs! (MANY MARDI GRAS MASK PICTURES!) -12/9/12 - 12/12/12" - begins on Page 235/Post #3524 (in progress!) Halloween Time Trip Reports"The Return of the Masked Mouse & His Diabolical Twin- Halloween Time 2011" (begins on Page 145/Post #2170; ends on Page 155/Post #2312) Other Trip Reports: Catalina Island/Avalon - My Solo Day Trip, in Photos (LOTS of Photos!)- 7/21/12Last edited by Sherry E; 12-27-2012 at 03:22 PM. |
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12-27-2012, 05:28 PM
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#3563 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 134
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Hey Sherry!
Sorry i have been MIA. I haven't forgotten about you and I was thinking about you during your trips. The past month and a half have been a whirlwind of craziness. Work was a nightmare getting things done...my mom was in the hospital and still needs surgery but coming up with that money will be a miracle so...stress, stress, stress...then one of my sisters puppy dogs got sick and passed away 5 days before Christmas...factor in traveling and all for both holidays and before you know it a month and a half have passed ...sheesh!!! I'm slowly making my way through your report and loving every minute of it and the pictures are as always beautiful!! Thank you for taking so much time and care into taking them. I loved the gingerbread house pictures. My sister teaches math and when she teaches geometry she does a gingerbread house project where the kids design and build/decorate their own houses. They can get quite creative  Glad you had a good time (at least as far as I've read) on your trip. I'm going back to read some more 
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Dawn
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12-27-2012, 06:07 PM
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#3564 |
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Luver of all things Disney!
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Philomath, Oregon
Posts: 8,702
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I'm glad you told me about the Santa Mickey Nutcracker....we found it at the shop across from the Emporium in all their holiday stuff. Derek purchased it for me!!!
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12-27-2012, 08:34 PM
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#3565 | |
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Mouseketeer since birth!
I am lucky to have kids who also love Disney and a husband who loves it (and us) enough to humor my passion! 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Blazing Heat, AZ
Posts: 2,134
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I have done two DVC phone tours (for gift cards) after they sent me postcards. I would love to buy in, but the number of points I would need to go every year or two are high because we need to sleep 6, which puts us into a 2-bedroom unit almost everywhere. Buying that at GCH is $$$$$$$. Bring on the peppermint! PHXscuba |
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12-28-2012, 12:51 AM
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Willing victim of the Disney Snowball Effect...
Okay so after a coffee and lunch break I am back!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 13,454
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Welcome back! I really appreciate that you took the time to come back here and check in, with so much going on. Thank you for the very kind words and compliments. I have a lot more of this TR to do, so stay tuned! I'm so sorry to hear about all the stress that's been happening with your family in the last couple of months. I'm sure your sister was heartbroken about her dog - pets are family members and loyal companions. Is this the sister who loves Christmas and listens to Christmas music year-round? I hope your mom is okay.  I can imagine how creative some of the gingerbread houses get these days, coming from the minds of kids like the ones your sister teaches! Gingerbread 'houses' seem to take on many forms these days. A lot of them are not even really houses anymore, but I guess we can still call them houses like we call a CD an "album." I like that Disneyland Resort is now doing several different gingerbread houses or creations: there is the gingerbread Mater at Flo's in Cars Land; there is the gingerbread Cozy Cone model at the Cozy Cone in Cars Land; there is a gingerbread version of Snow White's cottage in Carthay Circle on Buena Vista Street (which I did not get a photo of); and supposedly there is a gingerbread house at the Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe on Buena Vista Street (but if there is, I didn't see it because there were so many people blocking the counter). And then you have the gingerbread houses at Storytellers Cafe and at White Water Snacks at the Grand Californian Hotel - it's a regular gingerbread-palooza! Yes, I had a mostly good trip this time around - despite being dumped by yet another friend and totally missing out on Goofy's Kitchen, I just made myself get out there and do things I wanted to do. As usual, I didn't have time for it all though. It is a good thing I did that Cars Land holiday day trip in November and got a lot of photos, because I wouldn't have had any extra time for that on this December trip! Quote:
That's the Showcase store, where I saw them. That's the one place that the Santa Mickey nutcrackers had not yet sold out when I was looking around (although I wonder if, by now, they have sold out?). I was surprised they still had any in at that point, since they sold out at the China Closet and at Acorn at the GCH. I'm glad you got one of the Santa nutcrackers. Liza ended up getting one too - after we left you we stopped in Disneyland before heading home and she picked one up in the Showcase shop! Quote:
I'm not getting any younger, so if I decide to make a stab at working for Disney at any point it will have to be in the next 2-3 years or so. But as I mentioned, I think my specific strong suit would be Disneyland-related jobs...something to do with Disneyland, but in an office...as opposed to just general Disney jobs. I am trying to stick with what my actual strengths and areas of expertise are, after all! Yes! I was thinking the same thing! I thought to myself, "Well, it can't hurt to sit in on this presentation for DVC because so many people on the DIS discuss it or ask about it." I thought it would be beneficial to learn more about it for that reason, as well as for my own personal reference. Yep - because of the number of people in your group you would have to buy a higher point level (lots more $$$), but at least if you got a GCH Villa, you would probably only need one Villa and not two. And you could also use points to stay at the PPH or the DLH. But it's not cheap. It was kind of reasonable when Annmarie broke it down for me and explained what I would need to get if I were buying in as a solo traveler. It didn't sound all that outrageous given the number of times I would want to go over a two- or three-year period. But I can't buy in now, sadly. The peppermint is coming in the next installment - and that is when I had my awkward table-sharing experience with strangers! See, when I bought the cookies the day before and sat down, I was alone at my table. But not so when I bought the ice cream. Not so at all!
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Christmas Time Trip Reports"The Evil Chair & The Peppermint Cone of Death - A 2010 Christmas Tale" (begins on Page 83/Post #1244; ends on Page 110/Post #1641) "Aunt Betty's Weepy, Wacky, Wonderful Christmas Trip to Disneyland- Dec. 2011" (begins on Page 189/Post #2825; ends on Page 213/Post #3181) CHRISTMAS PHOTOS OF CARS LAND & BUENA VISTA ST. - 11/12/12 (begins on Page 222/Post #3328; ends on Page 231/Post #3464) "Candlelight & Cannonballs! (MANY MARDI GRAS MASK PICTURES!) -12/9/12 - 12/12/12" - begins on Page 235/Post #3524 (in progress!) Halloween Time Trip Reports"The Return of the Masked Mouse & His Diabolical Twin- Halloween Time 2011" (begins on Page 145/Post #2170; ends on Page 155/Post #2312) Other Trip Reports: Catalina Island/Avalon - My Solo Day Trip, in Photos (LOTS of Photos!)- 7/21/12Last edited by Sherry E; 12-28-2012 at 12:56 AM. |
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12-28-2012, 02:12 AM
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 4,736
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I did say awhile back about the Christmas tree at PPH looks very nice this year than in the past. The pictures of the tree this year turned out really well with those bright colors. We decided to have breakfast at GK during our upcoming trip in January. I was leaning towards the Plaza Inn for Minnie's Character breakfast at the park but my DA didn't like the selection of food at the Plaza In than at GK. I did mention Storyteller's Cafe, Surf's Up and Ariel's Grotto as the other choices, just like the Plaza Inn, GK offers more different variety of food to eat than at the others. I was also thinking of AG since DD2 (which will be her first time to visit DL) wanted to meet Cinderella and the best character restaurant was AG that would have her. But the food selection was not that good so it made our decision easy with GK. When I read your past TR at GK, I had to go back to GK one day and have a character breakfast. Even though I did character breakfast at the Plaza Inn, it would be great to have a young child to experience with them. I will be looking forward to eating at GK and you made it an easy choice with your experience at GK. I eat at Subway a lot in town since I am eating healthy foods. I looked at the prices at Earl of Sandwich and they are really expensive. Ever since Earl of Sandwich opened at DTD, I have heard great reviews about it and I wanted to try it one day. It only depends on my group that they want to eat at Earl of Sandwich since they don't want to walk a lot at the resort. We are going to eat at GK during our trip since it is a good place to have a character breakfast. We'll just wait and see if we eat there or not. I did mention that to them but they aren't that interested that much. It nice to hear that there is a discount at Earl of Sandwich since the DL AP website doesn't show the AP discount. When Earl of Sandwich opened, I would assume that the menu at allears.net is updated and as of now it is not even updated. At least you got a picture of the menu so I can see what they have to offer. There is a microwave at the BW hotels so it is nice to have a microwave. The DLR hotels should have at least a microwave in the rooms. Thank you for the info Sherry. That was very odd to hear that Clarabelle's and Trolley Treats were empty during your trip. NOS the last couple of years have added masks during the Holiday season which did make sense to match the theme of Mardi Gras. As you know that I do miss the string of Christmas lights over NOS alley right by the Blue Bayou and Club 33. Even though they did add string of lights over NOS the last couple of years after one year they took it down that one year in 2009. At least they have some that are over the alley's but they aren't the same like in the past. Glad that you had the opportunity to go to NOS this year and get to see NOS Holiday decorations. I will be looking forward to your pictures of NOS. I did see some masks that were up from last year at NOS and some of them were moved to new locations while some were there from last year. This year, I didn't get close up views of the masks like last year since I was concentrating all my time at CL & BVS decorations.
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(Premier Pass Holder & D23 Charter Member)All my Completed TR & pics of Disney Parks on one thread DD2 First Trip at the Happiest Place on Earth - Jan. 12 to 14, 2013, A Day at the Walt Disney Studios and Archives and Disneyland - May 3 to 5, 2013 Pictures of my Trip to the DLR on Jan. 12 to 14, 2013 Videos of my Disney Trips on Youtube |
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12-28-2012, 07:52 PM
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#3568 | |
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Willing victim of the Disney Snowball Effect...
Okay so after a coffee and lunch break I am back!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 13,454
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I hope that Goofy's Kitchen works out for your group. I think I am fine with it because I am so used to it. Others may feel differently. At least you can get a 15% discount there, so that helps! Earl of Sandwich is a little bit more expensive than Subway and the sandwiches are not as large as Subway's, but Earl is still a really good deal for anything on a Disney property and they are pretty tasty sandwiches! The meatball sandwich is good, and my friends said that the Mediterranean Chicken wrap and the Chicken Chipotle sandwich were really good. I also tried the holiday sandwich (which Liza mentioned in her recent TR), but I will save my opinion on that for later! Yes, be sure to get your 10% AP discount at Earl - I think my friend forgot to use her AP there. It's not a Disney-owned restaurant, which is why it's only 10% off, but it's better than nothing. At least Earl of Sandwich is close to ESPN Zone (which you and your DA are used to going to), so your family can easily walk over to Earl and see the menu. Okay, so I am not losing my mind - some of those masks in New Orleans Square were added in since 2010. I knew I couldn't have overlooked all of the ones I found on this recent trip. I may have skipped over some of them 2 years ago, but I wouldn't have skipped that many. NOS will never look right to me without that light canopy from several years ago. As you said, at least they put some lights overhead now but they are not as bright as the old light canopy. I'm about to post another TR installment, and the first of the mask photos will appear.
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Christmas Time Trip Reports"The Evil Chair & The Peppermint Cone of Death - A 2010 Christmas Tale" (begins on Page 83/Post #1244; ends on Page 110/Post #1641) "Aunt Betty's Weepy, Wacky, Wonderful Christmas Trip to Disneyland- Dec. 2011" (begins on Page 189/Post #2825; ends on Page 213/Post #3181) CHRISTMAS PHOTOS OF CARS LAND & BUENA VISTA ST. - 11/12/12 (begins on Page 222/Post #3328; ends on Page 231/Post #3464) "Candlelight & Cannonballs! (MANY MARDI GRAS MASK PICTURES!) -12/9/12 - 12/12/12" - begins on Page 235/Post #3524 (in progress!) Halloween Time Trip Reports"The Return of the Masked Mouse & His Diabolical Twin- Halloween Time 2011" (begins on Page 145/Post #2170; ends on Page 155/Post #2312) Other Trip Reports: Catalina Island/Avalon - My Solo Day Trip, in Photos (LOTS of Photos!)- 7/21/12 |
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12-28-2012, 08:01 PM
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#3569 |
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Willing victim of the Disney Snowball Effect...
Okay so after a coffee and lunch break I am back!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 13,454
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Here is the first installment for today, and hopefully it is not the last installment for today!
To those of you who can only pop in here every few days or so, be sure to glance at the posts that have come in since you were last here as I’ve shown detailed photos of my Paradise Pier Hotel room, explained in detail about my first Earl of Sandwich experience, shown pictures of delicious gingerbread cookies with mouse ears, explained my meeting with the DVC people and stumbled upon possibly the most beautiful flower arrangement ever in Disneyland! Candlelight and Cannonballs! Aunt Betty’s Do-Over Christmas Trip (Sun., 12/9/12 – Wed., 12/12/12) Day 2 - Monday, December 10, 2012 - Part 2 City sidewalks, busy sidewalks Dressed in holiday style In the air There's a feeling Of Christmas Children laughing People passing Meeting smile after smile And on ev'ry street corner you'll hear In the last segment of this TR, I arose in the morning to find a beautiful sunrise washing over most of California Adventure outside my Paradise Pier Hotel room window; I met with a lovely Cast Member at the Disney Vacation Club office and received a $50 Disney gift card and a tote bag for my time; I stopped in at the Walt Disney Travel Club office in Downtown Disney and picked up some travel books, which didn’t seem to go over well with the CM behind the desk; and I headed to Disneyland, where I found a gorgeous flower arrangement at the front of the Candlelight Ceremony (Processional) stage. I continued to examine the flowers at the CP stage up close, trying to be sure they were real. The nice couple whose photo I took believed they were real flowers, and we saw a bee or two buzzing around them which would seem to support that belief! Lol. I guess that it must have looked strange to passersby to see a few people looking so closely at a flower arrangement. Then again, if you recall, I am the one who was eliciting confused expressions and quizzical comments from fellow guests back in 2010 as I climbed under and around people to get to window displays and paused to take photos of plants and secret Christmas trees. So, basically, I am no stranger to people thinking I’ve lost my mind when I take pictures. Lol! Soon there was a very small group of people gathered ‘round to inspect the flowers too!    I finally tore myself away from the CP flowers and made my way to another type of plant in Town Square. (This was the same sort of poinsettia basket that was in Downtown Disney last year, but this year I didn’t see any poinsettia baskets in DTD at all.)     An almost-empty Main Street! I have noticed more and more over the years that Mondays are not too crowded in December at DLR. Tuesdays are more crowded.   At that point I decided to give into the craving for Peppermint Stick ice cream (which I adore), since Gibson Girl Ice Cream was just a few feet away. I have ordered it in the peppermint candy-encrusted cone before, and I have ordered it in the cone covered in red and green sprinkles. This time I decided to get the red and green sprinkled cone. I didn’t get any photos inside of Gibson Girl, but it was not crowded. I didn’t find it to be crowded in November either (which was another Monday). Compared to what the lines in Gibson Girl used to look like, this was astonishing. It could be that Mondays are just great days to get ice cream during the holidays, or it could be that since the makeover of California Adventure was completed more people are getting their ice cream over there (though I didn’t really see anyone in Clarabelle’s on Buena Vista Street). Whatever the case, it was only a minute or two before the sweet peppermint-y delight was in my hands. Those of you who read my “The Evil Chair and the Peppermint Cone of Death” TR from December 2010 know that I can tend to be a bit clumsy and calamitous with an ice cream cone and a camera. I established that I would try to get pictures once again, but I would have to be seated to do it. I was not going to repeat my ‘trash can trick’ from 2010 because no good would come of it! So I made my way to “my” table by the Market House – the one at which I sit when I eat goodies. This is where I sat on the previous day (Day 1) with my gingerbread cookies. This was where I sat in November when I ate my ice cream. This was where I sat in December 2011 when I munched on cookies and drank coffee. This is where I sit if I need to check messages on my phone. This same table is usually available for me when I need it, and I like sitting there because it is tucked way in the back so if I am messy with my food I can kind of inconspicuously wipe my face or my lap or whatever, without an audience. So yummy!    As you can see, my ice cream was beginning to melt. In fact, it was melting rapidly although it was not tremendously warm outside (and you know that if I am saying it was not tremendously warm – being as much of an anti-heat person as I am – it was not tremendously warm. It was comfortable). I realized that I would probably have to begin scarfing down the ice cream or risk it melting all over my hands and clothes. I hadn’t planned on eating it quite that fast, but I was going to have to do it because it was dribbling down my hands at a rapid pace. Out of nowhere an older lady – a very nice lady – approached me and asked if the other chairs at my table were going to be used. I said no, she could have them. I suppose I was expecting that this lady was going to take the chairs from my table and bring them to her own table. She did not do that. Maybe I had misunderstood what the lady was asking, or maybe I hadn’t heard her clearly. Well, color me surprised when the lady plopped down at my table and joined me! Lol. I – quite literally – had peppermint ice cream on my face and hands, and in my mouth, and was trying to eat in peace with some semblance of dignity and orderliness. Now I was in the presence of a stranger. Well, I am not averse to interacting with strangers at Disneyland – I do it on practically every trip. I just wish that it hadn’t been when I was scarfing down the melting ice cream. Maybe she is going to just sit for a minute to rest and then leave, I thought. Wrong. A young person – maybe a teenager, but I didn’t turn around to see – walked up to the table and was standing behind me, chatting back and forth with the lady at my table about something or other. I was in between them. The teen left. Not long after that a man and woman – who I assume were a couple – ‘joined’ us at the table. They took the empty seats that the first lady had ‘reserved’ for them. I am pretty sure that one of them was the child of the lady, but I couldn’t tell which one. Right off the bat I got ‘vibes’ from the woman in the couple. She was not happy about something. She seemed to be shooting me looks as if to say, “Why are you at OUR table?” At least, that’s how I felt. She seemed to be a bit curt with the older lady – who was either her mom or her mother-in-law, I am guessing – and was talking in a tone that suggested she was annoyed that the lady chose to sit at a table with a stranger! The man in the group, however, was friendly and was trying to make conversation since we were all suddenly sharing a table together. We sat in uncomfortable silence for a minute and I continued to try to finish my ice cream as it dripped down my hands and on to my pants. The man commented that it may have been better to get a cup. The last thing I wanted to do was talk or expose my sloppy eating to strangers, but it was too awkward to sit there quietly. The older lady tried to chat, asking me if I have ever tried a Dole Whip (which is what she was eating). I said yes, but I like actual pineapple better than the Whip. Then the conversation segued into where we all lived and where we were all staying on our DLR visits. The younger lady (closer to my age) continued to sit silently, as though she was stifling what she really wanted to say. And the man continued to crack an occasional joke to break the ice. I continued to try to finish my ice cream. I have never been so happy to be done with a peppermint ice cream cone as I was at that moment! Lol. Don’t get me wrong – the lady who originally approached me was very nice and friendly. I’m sure they were all friendly. It’s just that we were all in this awkward situation in which I wanted to eat in peace and (I think) the daughter or daughter-in-law couldn’t figure out who this strange woman was at THEIR table, and made it known with her body language. I wolfed down the last bit of cone, hastily rubbed my hands on some napkins and said, “Well, I’m off to find a restroom to wash my sticky hands!” The older lady instructed me where to find a bathroom (I didn’t ask, and I knew where to find one). The man laughed. I bid farewell to my table buddies and wished them all a happy holiday/merry Christmas. The older lady and the man said goodbye. The younger woman said nothing. I can only imagine what she must have said after I was out of earshot. I could not get away from there fast enough! Lol. I high-tailed it away from MY table and found a bench to sit on so I could check my face for peppermint residue. Animatronic duck alert for PHXscuba!    I just love that the drivers of the Main Street vehicles honk out the holiday tunes as they go down the street. You can almost always expect that one of them will be honking out the familiar “Jingle Bells” cadence, while the more daring drivers will occasionally try “Deck the Halls” or “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”  Flowers that lean more towards a Valentine’s Day color scheme than a Christmas one…    Mariezp is the first DIS’er I know of to take photos of the popcorn machine dudes, several years ago. As is the case with mostly everything else in Disney parks, the popcorn dudes are themed according to their locations…  Random pretty flower photo…  After pondering for a moment the various things I wanted to accomplish on this DLR trip, I knew what my next destination would be. And it would be New Orleans Square. New Orleans Square is one of the best places in Disneyland to begin with, but during the holidays it is so much more so. Disneyland decorates NOS with beads and feathers and whimsical jesters here and there. The real stars of the show, however, are the masks. Anyone who has visited New Orleans Square during the Christmas season knows about The Musical Instrument Masks. These Mardi Gras-inspired masks (usually anchored on trumpets or other instruments) adorn assorted lampposts on the outskirts of NOS and well as in the back alleys, and they are a sight to behold. The masks are mystical, colorful, intriguing, mysterious and individually themed. When you study the masks up close, you begin to notice that they all seem to have their own personalities. Two years ago I took photos of only some of the masks, and they were not particularly great photos at that. I think I missed seeing some of the masks on that trip, for some reason, and I also think that Disney has added in more masks to NOS’ décor since then. So this time I made it my own personal goal to see every single mask on every lamppost – each side of each lamppost is slightly different too – and take photos. Plus, I knew I could take better pictures of these masks now than what I took two years ago. I really wanted to hone in on the details, colors and themes of each mask. It was my mission. For example, here is a garden variety picture that I took of a mask in NOS on this trip…this is more like the kind of photo I would have taken a couple of years ago.  And here are better, more detailed, shots…still not exactly what I wanted, but a bit better…    This was just the tip of the Mardi Gras iceberg, as my Mask-a-Palooza would continue. I was determined to get even better pictures – would I succeed or flounder miserably? Up next, in Part 3 of Day 2…masks, masks and more masks!
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Christmas Time Trip Reports"The Evil Chair & The Peppermint Cone of Death - A 2010 Christmas Tale" (begins on Page 83/Post #1244; ends on Page 110/Post #1641) "Aunt Betty's Weepy, Wacky, Wonderful Christmas Trip to Disneyland- Dec. 2011" (begins on Page 189/Post #2825; ends on Page 213/Post #3181) CHRISTMAS PHOTOS OF CARS LAND & BUENA VISTA ST. - 11/12/12 (begins on Page 222/Post #3328; ends on Page 231/Post #3464) "Candlelight & Cannonballs! (MANY MARDI GRAS MASK PICTURES!) -12/9/12 - 12/12/12" - begins on Page 235/Post #3524 (in progress!) Halloween Time Trip Reports"The Return of the Masked Mouse & His Diabolical Twin- Halloween Time 2011" (begins on Page 145/Post #2170; ends on Page 155/Post #2312) Other Trip Reports: Catalina Island/Avalon - My Solo Day Trip, in Photos (LOTS of Photos!)- 7/21/12 |
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12-28-2012, 09:32 PM
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#3570 | |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 4,736
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Quote:
That is nice to hear about the food at Earl of Sandwich. For that price and size, the food must be really good. I know that Earl of Sandwich is not owned by the Disney Company and is an independent company that is renting space at DTD. I was wondering why the DL AP website hasn't been updated with the new restaurant. I always thought that Disney would update everything that is new to the resort. At least they have the 10% discount so the AP holders can save some money. My DA that goes with me to DL a lot is not coming with me for this upcoming trip. It is my dad sister who came with me and my DB to WDW in October/November. I did mention her in my WDW trip report which is taking awhile to complete. I know that they don't like sports so we won't be eating at the ESPN Zone during this trip. I looked at my pictures from my 2010 trip and there were masks on the light poles at NOS. I didn't get blow up pictures of them but I know that there were some in 2010. There weren't that many masks up at NOS during that year while in some areas had them. There were barely any masks up until last year where they added a lot of masks in NOS. Here is a picture from 2010 and you can barely see it that there were some masks on the light poles.  NOS during the Holiday season hasn't been the same since they took the light canopy down and replaced it with string of lights which doesn't make it more Holiday. Great pictures of the flowers around Main Street Town Square and the Hub. Interesting to hear that you got your ice cream early that day during your trip. I thought that you would get it at night since it is fun to have ice cream at night than during the day. Nice pictures of the masks at NOS. I will be looking forward to your pictures of the Holiday decorations at NOS.
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(Premier Pass Holder & D23 Charter Member)All my Completed TR & pics of Disney Parks on one thread DD2 First Trip at the Happiest Place on Earth - Jan. 12 to 14, 2013, A Day at the Walt Disney Studios and Archives and Disneyland - May 3 to 5, 2013 Pictures of my Trip to the DLR on Jan. 12 to 14, 2013 Videos of my Disney Trips on Youtube |
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