August 23-24

[Elk Grove Chris]

I originally had not planned on going to the parks on this weekend. It kind of just happened. My Daughter and I drove down to Long Beach on Friday to move her into her new apartment. At least it was only on the second floor with no elevator, not the fourth floor with no elevator like her dorm room last year.

A couple weeks back my Wife said she and my son would fly down and that I should take him to the parks while she and my Daughter did apartment stuff. No arm twisting needed.

Then she told me my Brother might meet us for lunch on Sunday, he would drive in from Barstow. Cool.

They came in on the late Jet Blue flight, since my Daughter did not have any furniture yet, they spent the night with us in Anaheim. Had to stop at In-n-Out since we had not eaten for a long time after huffing all the boxes up stairs. Place was packed at 9:15.

We checked in to the Desert Inn and Suites around 10:15. Nothing fancy, but quite clean and right across the street.

Saturday, August 23

Just me and the boy, this would be a ride heavy visit. He doesn’t quite enjoy the shows that much just yet at 13.

Both parks opened at 9, so we got to sleep in, sort of. I wake up at 5 no matter where I am. Decided to forgo the breakfast at the hotel, it was pretty blasé last time, only real downside to this place, well, they have a tiny inside pool too, but we rarely use a pool at hotel, so no loss.

We headed to DTD around 7:30 to get some coffee and some pastries, ugh nothing open until 8 except Starbucks, no thanks. No early birds at CA, MM peeps were lining up at DL.

Ice cream shop was open so at least we got some Peet’s coffee. They decided to wait for La Brea to open, I headed back to get my Son’s ticket for the next two days. My AP was still good until January.

I got half of a Panini from la Brea-hit the spot.

MM for DL so we decided to do CA first, not too many people in line. Most headed for Carsland after rope drop. We headed for the Pier.

World of Color platforms were out for a testing.

Screamin was a walk on, second car out.

Screamin was still a walk on second time around.

We headed to Toy story next, maybe about a 7 minute wait.

Headed out to DL, checked FP time for RSR, return time was 11:00 at 9:30. I wanted to get one for the evening, so we headed to Buena Vista Street.

Walked over to Dl, easy getting in, maybe 5 minutes at gate. Where was everyone? I was expecting huge crowds since no one was blocked.

We headed to Tommorowland and got FPs for Space Mountain. Return time was 11 at 9:45. Standby was only 10, so yeah.

Star Tours was next, 10 minutes later and we were on. Luggage scanner not operating. Vader-Wookiee Planet-Leia-Corsucant.

My Son grabbed a bench at the Hub to take a break.

I hoofed it back to CA to see what was going on with the RSR FPs. Even at 10:45 the return time was not as late as I had hoped. Decided to grab them now just in case we missed out completely, return time was 3:30-4:30.

Once I was back to DL, we headed to Adventureland, grabbed a FP for the Temple of the Forbidden Eye. Still not a whole lot of people in yet.

Pirates was a walk on, they had just opened both sides and we slid right on in.

The Colombia was backing out for her day on the Rivers of America.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was basically a walk on. First set of bats were not moving. Everything else looked great.

Had to move with some purpose, our FPs for Space Mountain were set to expire in 15 minutes. Made it with 3 minutes to spare, short wait to get on.
Did standby for BTMRR, about 10 minutes and we were on again.

HM was basically a walk on at 12:30. Only one knucklehead talking in the stretching room, usually there are a few.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Ok, had another close one. FPs for IJA were good at 12:35, lunch reservation at Café Orleans was at 1:00. Got another FP for IJA right before we got in line.

Got off ride right at 1, oops. Got to the podium around 1:05, they were very accommodating considering we were late, we only has to wait about 10 minutes for our table. Sounded like walk-ups were only waiting 30 minutes.

We were both pretty hungry since we split breakfast.

My Son had a cup of gumbo to start, I had the French onion soup. Both good, not hot though. We shared some pomme frites and the chicken sandwich, both excellent.

We were stuffed.

Crowds were picking up a bit, but not terrible. Always seems more congested on this side of the park.

Got on the train at the New Orleans station around 2, we disembarked at Tomorrowland

Slowly walked toward Space Mountain. Rested a bit in the shaded corridor, grabbed a FP, return time of 6:30 when pulled at 2:25.

Standby 25 minutes-yeah, ok, game on.

My Son wanted to check out Innoventions since he had not seen the Captain America stuff. Ooh, big lines in there, he was ok seeing the stuff from afar. Played a few games.

Headed to Star Trader, he was looking for a new backpack. Did not find anything he wanted too badly since he was spending his money.

Made our way back to the train station. Sweet, train is there and no line. Eh, train was empty, not good. Issues on the track and they made everyone get off the train. Empty train departed, conductor said another train would be by in 5 minutes.

10 minutes.

15 minutes.

We were just about to leave our bench when a train came by. We were not that disappointed, the rest was nice and we got to talk about our adventures earlier in the day. We headed to New Orleans Square via the Grand Canyon.

We headed over to CA to use our FP for Radiator Springs Racer. Carlsand was not that crowded for 4:00 on a Saturday. Took us about 10 minutes to get on the ride, misters in line felt good. It wasn’t particularly hot for the day, for August anyways.

RSR single rider line was closed off, saw why as we walked in, line was almost all the way back to the entrance.

Karl Strauss rest was in order. Water for the lad.

Screamin standby line 10 minutes at 5:00, thank you very much. Ok, felt a little hotter now.

Arial-walk on and nice and cool inside.

Pixar Play Parade outside Arial at 5:45 or so-nice rest in the shade, no benches on the shade side though. I really like this parade, lots of fun elements.

We did a little more shopping, in the CA Hollywood back lot. Picked up an Olaf phone case for my Wife.

Did a little more shopping in DL-ran into the parade at 6:30, ducked through the shops. Got a text from my Bro, said he was going to be in town tonight, not tomorrow, did we want to meet him for dinner. Sure thing, told him we would meet him in DTD around 7.

We made our way over to Space Mountain and used our FP, 10 minutes and we were on.

Still not super busy-FPs were gone but standby wait was only 35 minutes at 6:30.

We took a ride on the Monorail to DTD to meet Bro-dinner at House of Blues. Wait was only 20 minutes and we had not eaten there in some time, so we gave it a shot. Food and service were good, nothing spectacular. Bass was blaring from downstairs.

My Son and I shared some pasta, filled us up fine. We finished about 8 and I asked him if he wanted to go close the park. Nopes, his leg was hurting a bit, so was my back from all the moving yesterday so I was ok with that. We had a great day, no need to carry on in pain.

Rode back with my Bro to the hotel, we could have walked faster, he parked on the wrong side of the DTD lot, almost all the way to Katella. It was a hike.

Nice thing about the room we had, two queens and a pull out sofa. My Son offered him the other bed, but he said no, knucklehead didn’t bother to pull it out though and his 6 foot 1 frame was hanging over both ends, quite funny.

Great day.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Really beautiful pictures---Thanks for sharing!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Really beautiful pictures---Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Cheshirecatty, glad someone is enjoying them. Always fun to take!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

August 24-Sunday

Both parks were open at 8 today, was hoping it would thin the crowds out a bit. Not really, about the same crowd as yesterday. Seemed to pick up a bit more around noon though compared to Saturday.

We were lined up at DL right at 7:30, maybe 10 people back from the gate.

Everyone was let in around 7:45, held up around the Hub.

Rope dropped at 8, we walked briskly towards Space Mountain, more than few people started running. Worst thing we saw all weekend, so pretty good guest behavior overall. Grabbed a FP on the way in. We were on the second car out.

Star Tours was a quick five minutes and on. Vader-Hoth-General Akbar-Corsucant. Ok, I really hate when someone talks during a ride, or sings along too loudly. But this time is was pretty funny. When General Akbar appeared someone in the front, in a pretty good Akbar voice yelled it’s a trap!

We did Buzz next, basically a walk on. I got creamed. Made up for the beat down I handed out yesterday on TSMM.

Made our way over to Adventureland. IJA was not running yet, doh.

Jungle Cruise was also a walk on-great skipper, even heard a few new jokes. He was adding a lot of IJA lines making the spiel a bit fresher. There were maybe 10 people total on our boat.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was also not running yet, doh again.

We stopped at Jolly Holiday for a quick bite. We split a chocolate muffin and egg and bacon croissant. So much bacon I almost choked on it, some got lodged in my throat, bit of a scary moment. I channeled my inner Ron Swanson and powered through it.

Made it in time over to Space to use our FP around 9:30, standby was 30 minutes.

We headed back over to Adventureland to see if IJA was up, yep. Grabbed a FP.

Standby IJA at 10 minutes, yep, we will take some of that.

Ok, BTMRR was running now, standby was about 15 minutes at 10:00.

We hit Pirates next, about 10 minutes to get on. Definitely more people here this morning compared to Saturday, but still not that bad.

We used our IJA FP, on in about 15 minutes. Love that queue, always feels colder once you enter the cave section.

We did Haunted Mansion next, basically a walk on. Strangely quiet in the stretching room, quite refreshing.

Ok, last ride, BTMRR-15 minutes and on.

We had some more shopping to do, picking up a few things for friends. Out the gate at noon, goodbye DL.

Headed over to Ralph Brennan’s to meet the ladies for brunch. Great food and service as always. They even let us order off the menu items, awesome.

Nice short trip, not as many people as I expected added to the magic. Lucky me-I am back in 3 weeks for 2 solo days around Dapper Days.

 

[whoever]

Beautiful photos. Put mine to shame. I really need to take more than one lens into the parks...

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Thanks

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

Wanted to say thank you so very much for posting such wonderful pictures I am in total awe of your Pirates pics! You have a fantastic eye for the details and you make me feel like I am "there".

Still 443 sleeps until my next visit............not that I'm counting

 

[mom2rtk]

Beautiful shots as always! Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Thanks Minnie Sue Oz

Thanks Janet

 

[kylie71]

Great report, and Amazing pics as always, Chris! Thank You!
as always I like to steal a few for screensaver's!

--Lori

 

[KCmike]

Chris this was a wonderful series and looks like you had a great time. You had some really unique angles and images that I've never seen before. Nicely done sir! How did your daughter's move in go?

 

[DisneytheKid]

Thanks for the quick trip report! I really liked the photos on California Screamin

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Great report, and Amazing pics as always, Chris! Thank You!
as always I like to steal a few for screensaver's!

--Lori

Thanks Lori

Chris this was a wonderful series and looks like you had a great time. You had some really unique angles and images that I've never seen before. Nicely done sir! How did your daughter's move in go?

Thanks Mike, we had a great day and a half.

Move in wasn’t too bad, only two flights of stairs this time, not four! I think I have now put together enough Ikea furniture to be a rep on the side.

Thanks for the quick trip report! I really liked the photos on California Screamin

Thanks Disneykid-ride shots are fun, more often than not I am quite surprised with what I capture, I do not look through he viewfinder at all, I concentrate on holding onto the camera.

 

[ricardol]

Your photos were Amazing!!!!!!! Without even knowing you I can see you enjoyed every single one of those photos.

Can you share your Camera setup?

Thanks for the report!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Thanks Ricardol

I shoot with a Canon 7D.

I use a Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM prime for dark rides.

I use a Sigma 10-20mm f/4 EX DC for most of my ride shots and about half of all other shots.

I use a Canon 24-105mm f/4 L IS for all other walk around shots.

 

[ricardol]

Thank you for sharing!

So that's why the dark rides photo are so great.

Congrats!

 

[KCmike]

Thanks Ricardol

I shoot with a Canon 7D.

I use a Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM prime for dark rides.

I use a Sigma 10-20mm f/4 EX DC for most of my ride shots and about half of all other shots.

I use a Canon 24-105mm f/4 L IS for all other walk around shots.

Hey Chris what camera did you have before the full frame jump? Are you happy with the jump?

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Mike the 7D is a cropped sensor, not a full frame. I was shooting with the 40D before. I thought long and hard about the 5D III, the full frame and increased ISO would have been nice, but I just couldn't justify the price for what I use it for. If I had more time to maybe do some paid photo jobs on the side, maybe, but it didn't interest me enough to think it out.

 

[KCmike]

Your right. I guess my mind was was thinking 6d & 7d as being both full frame and should have known better. Wish I could find my way back out West sometime soon but it looks as if next year will be the earliest.