BE's Never Ending TR -- That kind of ... Ended? Or did it?

[DisneyStitch626]

I totally didn't even remember the dolls. Now that I see some pictures, some of it looks a little familiar, but the version we saw this last time seemed more like it. Maybe I just blocked out the dolls completely?

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Oh by the way, the box I am sending you is almost ready. Just need one more thing. I threw a couple random things in there just to make it more worth sending. I hope you like it all. I should have it in the mail by Friday, I hope.

 

[Belle Ella]

I don't even remember the dolls period so I don't think I even went through the walkthrough when I was younger at all. I haven't been able to find what it was lkie before they did the dolls, but those were there from 1977 to 2001.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

They must have been what I saw then back in 1996, but I just don't remember them. It must not have been the greatest then, I guess. I really enjoyed it this time though. Not sure if I got any pics of it though. I really need to go through those! Some days I've been through a 100 times, and others I've just browsed through a few times.

 

[Sherry E]

Hey, hey, hey -- It's time to start another day! Day 4, coinciding with January 4 which makes counting so much easier, was set to be a solo day for me as the BF had to go back to work and what else would I do with myself for the day but go to Disneyland?! Well, there was one other thing I had to do -- say hi to a pretty awesome DIS'er that we all love. For anyone who has been following along for some time now may remember that I was hoping to go mid-December during the time Sherry was visiting DLR with her PPH stay but plans had to be switched around. I was really bummed about not meeting her. She's such a huge part of what makes the DIS so super-special and well, I wanted to be able to say hi in person!! It was great to get to meet her and we spent a good 20, maybe even 30, minutes chit chatting about everything. Here's to hoping that someday in the future we can meet up in Disneyland where we might actually remember to get a photo together!! You think with the sheer number of photographs we can take between the two of us and how we both have a habit of photographing everything that one of us would have thought about but. But of course we were too busy chatting for it to even be considered!

Eventually we did have to say goodbye and I was back on the road and on my way to Disneyland with an ETA of 10:30 once traffic and parking time was taken into consideration. And I got to park on the Mickey level, which was a first for me. Exciting times! For some reason I like getting to experience each level for myself, just to say that I did.

That's me, that's me!! I saw that you'd posted this yesterday but I had no time to comment.

Anyway, it was great to meet you too! And thank you for the nice words. It was dual purpose because I could meet you and then give you your stuff and the item for Michele. Did you ever end up attempting to get batteries to put in the watches (just for the fun of watching the things spin around the dials!), or are they still just...dead? I do think they are so cute, though - spinny things or not!

(Speaking of which, that reminds me that I got some kind of odd e-mails out of the blue yesterday from someone who was asking me about selling watches and how much to ask for when selling. I have not sold watches in years, and haven't even attempted to sell them in at least a couple of years. I wrote back and answered the questions, and then he wrote back again with some kind of 'bordering on too personal' questions...It was kind of weird.)

And yes, I'm just as guilty of not taking photos when I met you. I'm 2 for 3 with not taking photos of DIS'ers I meet. I at least got a couple of photos of the girls I met in November. But when I met Liza/funatdisney in December - nothing. And I didn't even think to bring my camera outside when I met you!! Just in a different mind frame, I guess! Too funny.

You never know - we may still end up at DLR at the same time eventually (maybe during Halloween or the holidays) - if we don't end going there together at some point.

Yep, I think you'll be safe to catch the Halloween party if you go on a Thursday and stay for the weekend. Even though I still the days of the week for the party have changed slightly over the last couple of years (when the party moved to DL), I think it's a safe bet that Friday will always be in the mix, and IF they start the whole Halloween season later this year and the party gets a later start in the month of October, they may try to make up for starting late by adding in extra days (like a Saturday or Sunday). It will be interesting to see if they go with a September 30th party start date, an October 7th party start date (both Fridays), or if they will simply start the party on October 1st, regardless of the fact that it's a Saturday. I think they should go with 9/30. That makes the most sense to me.

 

[kaoden39]

You know Jazz and I really need to connect!!

 

[Belle Ella]

Ack, so much to do, trying to keep this short and hopefully get another update today as well.

You know Jazz and I really need to connect!!

We do, we do! I have so much stuff to give you Got any free time next week?

Sherry -- I'm sure that will not be the only time we will ever see each other. I am determined to see you at Disneyland sometime. Hopefully this year, we'll just have to see how things work out. And thanks for your thoughts on October!

 

[kaoden39]

Ack, so much to do, trying to keep this short and hopefully get another update today as well.



We do, we do! I have so much stuff to give you Got any free time next week?

Sherry -- I'm sure that will not be the only time we will ever see each other. I am determined to see you at Disneyland sometime. Hopefully this year, we'll just have to see how things work out. And thanks for your thoughts on October!

Yeah next week is good for me. I am everyday but Wednesday and Thursday.

 

[Belle Ella]

Yeah next week is good for me. I am everyday but Wednesday and Thursday.

Alrighty! Sounds like we can make next week work. I'll message you in a little bit and we can work out details!

 

[kaoden39]

Alrighty! Sounds like we can make next week work. I'll message you in a little bit and we can work out details!

Sounds good to me!!

 

[Belle Ella]

So where did I leave off? Oh yes, I had just seen Snow White, Aurora, and Ariel walk by. So where I wanted to go next was, well, the bathroom. Partly because it's somewhere we all need to go every now and again but more importantly because I had decided to go on a Bathroom Sign Quest of my own in order to make a little collage to hang up in my own bathroom at home someday. Disney decorating, totally me. Although if I haven't mentioned it before I can't quite take the credit for it. One of our beloved DIS'ers had done this and posted photos on Facebook not too long ago which acted as my inspiration. So Tina, Billy Fan, you rock! I decided to start off with the nearest bathroom not only to me at that moment but to something else that I would be interested in doing. So I chose Adventureland!

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Now that I am home I realized that I only took photos of all the women's bathroom signs. So I guess I'll have to finish the second half of this Quest at another date so I can level the playing field and get photos of the men's signs as well. So while I was in the area I took a couple more photos, including a window similar to those you'll find up and down main Street as a tribute to important people in Disney history.

Harper Goff was one of the first imagineers and was a huge influence in the design of Disneyland​

So with 1 bathroom sign under my belt and a couple of new photos of Adventureland I kept my feet moving towards NOS, a land that I had yet to stop by this particular day. I was greeted by all of the Holiday decorations that had been up since November. It was interesting to me, going around the park and seeing where decorations were still up and where they weren't. Really only Main Street was devoid of most of it's decorations. There was still plenty left up everywhere else, at the very least enough to know they were Holiday decorations.

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I had come here specifically for one reason: to ride POTC. The wait was listed as 5 minutes so there was nothing to talk me into skipping the ride for later. I ended up with a 10 minute wait, not that that was bad either, and I even got the front row all to myself! And funnily enough I got another comment directed toward me regarding my camera, this time it wasn't because I was taking photos, but because I was about to. We had just gotten on the boat and someone behind me said something to me about not taking flash photos. I guess there was something about me that just said I was going to use my camera on the ride. I didn't mind it, really, since flash photos on dark rides drive me insane as well, but I hadn't even made an offense yet. I kindly mentioned that I had no intentions of using flash to which I got a funny look. Yes, it's very possible to take photos without flash! There is a reason that I purchased a DSLR and why I wanted a new lens even if it wasn't cheap. Yes, I can take photos on dark rides without flash. It's not really that complicated.

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After POTC I took a little time to wander around through the shops, keeping my eye out as always for CM's with pin lanyards on but wasn't very successful in finding anything I wanted. And of course I took photos, this is what I do. A couple of the photos were directly related to my two current Quests: the Bathroom Sign Quest and Mask Quest!

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I wanted to walk by Haunted Mansion, which I knew would be officially closed today as the holiday overlay is removed. Finally, the real HM would be coming back to us all even if I would still have to wait a while before I got to ride it myself again. I couldn't believe it had been over a year since the last time I got to ride it!

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By this point I was dying to have some lunch, but where to eat? I was determined to eat continue my trend of eating somewhere new with each trip. Well, right across from HM is the Harbour Galley. I thought about eating there but continued on my way toward Critter Country while debating on what I really wanted to eat. For some reason I decided to look at the FP machines, even though I had no intention of setting foot on that ride anytime soon.

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On my way our of Critter Country and toward NOS my decision was made. I decided to eat at the Harbour Galley and tried their salmon salad. It was alright, but I don't think I would get it again. If I was going to go anywhere for a salmon salad I would go to Cafe Orleans. Now, the sign said something about addition dockside seating but I just sat down at one of the tables right in front of the counter where you order. I couldn't really figure out where the rest of the seating was right away! Of course, as soon as I finished eating I decided to venture a little to the right of the service counter and I finally figured out where the seating was! I had never known that there was this little area right by where the Columbia and/or Mark Twain get docked. It's a very relaxing little area, and wonderful when the sun is a shining!

Joseph Barrel was the owner of the original Columbia



I haven't been able to find out anything if Ezekiel Talbot was a real person yet







... to be continued ...​

 

[tdashgirl]

Disneyland never announced a permanent closing and never provided an official reason. There was widespread speculation on the Internet that the reason was due to security concerns. More likely, the reason was cost.

I totally remember that going around the internet - that Disney closed down the castle walkthrough after the 9/11 attacks due to security concerns. People were (understandably) quite paranoid after 9/11. Interesting that the yesterland website prefers the "cost" explanation.

 

[tdashgirl]

Missed your latest installment while I was posting!

at the flash camera comments on POTC. I agree, it's really not hard to take photos without flash. I have a basic point-and-shoot and even I know how to turn off the flash

I've never eaten at the Harbour Galley either -- or noticed that seating!

 

[Belle Ella]

I totally remember that going around the internet - that Disney closed down the castle walkthrough after the 9/11 attacks due to security concerns. People were (understandably) quite paranoid after 9/11. Interesting that the yesterland website prefers the "cost" explanation.

Surprisingly enough the latest thing that I read was that Disney came clean about closing it because it was outdated and not up to par with what it should be and other attractions as well as the fact that it didn't connect with what you see in the movie very well and had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11 and all of that. This is what I am more inclined to believe and that maybe 9/11 and the paranoia and the decline in attendance just made it happen sooner than originally intended. Because yeah ... looking back at those photos from before they closed it down it's kind of disappointing!

 

[tdashgirl]

Because yeah ... looking back at those photos from before they closed it down it's kind of disappointing!

9/11 might have been their excuse. I could swear I read in the news that week that DL had shut down access to the castle. But who knows right? I agree, the old version has nothing on the new version

 

[Belle Ella]

Here's one of the articl/blogs that I read: http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/sleeping-beauty-cast-3013/

OK, I'll respond to your other post later. I'm so behind getting ready for class!!

 

[tdashgirl]

Here's one of the articl/blogs that I read: http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/sleeping-beauty-cast-3013/

OK, I'll respond to your other post later. I'm so behind getting ready for class!!

Interesting reading Have a good day!

 

[kaoden39]

Oh wow. It needed to be done.

 

[Belle Ella]

Alright, home from dance class (Latin/Salsa) and I don't have to be at my ECE class until 7p! That's a long break right there.

Missed your latest installment while I was posting!

at the flash camera comments on POTC. I agree, it's really not hard to take photos without flash. I have a basic point-and-shoot and even I know how to turn off the flash

I've never eaten at the Harbour Galley either -- or noticed that seating!

I don't know if it's that they didn't realize that you could actually turn off and not sue flash or if they were maybe trying to spare me the pain of having horrible blurry and dark photos. I know a lot of P&S these days can take pretty darn good photos in the dark, but not all of them can. But really, my camera doesn't look all dinky or something!

I always walked right by the Harbour Galley. Even if you don't eat there (it's just rather plain counter service, nothing to write home about) you should still just wake a walk along the dock to take a peak around there. It's a great spot to get a close up photos of the Columbia if she's there and I suppose the Mark Twain if they switch. And another big plus is that it's quiet!!

 

[Belle Ella]

Before I decided to move on I tried very hard to get a photo of me with the masthead of the Columbia in the background. Let's just say that did not go over well. I tried again and again and again with each photo turning out worse than the last one. I guess this was the downside tot he area being relaxing and quiet -- there was nobody there to take a photo for me! So I settled with this one even though the whole thing isn't in the background.

I didn't mean to decapitate her!​

Continuing on I went back to Frontierland and BTMRR to grab a 3rd and final FP. I wanted to do a bit of a Thunder marathon before I left and use my FP's to do so but with the return window for my 3rd FP being after 2:35 I decided to cut it off at 3 since so I would still have time to leave when I planned to. There was still more that I wanted to do.

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Next up I decided to go check out the line for the Rapunzel meet & greet which I knew someday before I had to head home I would do one way or another even if I had to wait in one of the longer lines. At least I don't have to stress about my time anymore because I know I can come back again, and again, and again. And again, for good measure. I took the BT trail towards Fantasyland which gave me the perfect opportunity to get another photo for my women's bathroom sign quest.

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When I got to the queue for the Rapunzel meet & greet the wait was posted at 30 minutes, which was totally doable! I didn't actually time how long the wait was, but I was too busy taking photos of everything that I probably wouldn't have cared if that 30 minutes turned into 60 or more. I like what they've done with the area although the way they have her hair travel around on the outside of the buildings does bother me a little. It looks more like some funky log than hair. But what is to be expected, it has to hold up in all weather conditions, right? For anyone who has seen the movie, the inside of the meet & greet is totally cute! It's made to look like the tower that she lived in complete with her wall paintings! So bright, so colorful. Your photo is taken in front of the floating lights.

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On my way out I just absolutely had to stop for this next photo. I loved the view. My next goal in editing is to take out the wires so it's nothing but blue sky. I've just been too lazy to do so just yet. Maybe one day.

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I still had hopes of seeing my missing Princesses by the Castle once more so I continued on through Fantasyland and through the Castle towards Snow White's Wishing Well and what would you know, I was greeted by a large group of people which could only mean one thing: there were characters about! For once I had absolute perfect timing. Snow White and the Queen were posing for photos and it looked like I would actually get my turn!! I probably squealed like a 4 year old, I was that excited. But my excitement did get a little nervous. You never know how long they are going to be in one spot for photos before they have to leave. And I had only gotten myself into the line for autographs and photos when 2 other characters showed up and everyone got a little distracted.

Everyone look at the camera!​

My favorite Peter Pan!! Wendy was there too, but unless you are new to my TR's you should know that I love this guy. And of course he was up to his usual antics, only this time he got Snow White and the Queen involved as well. I couldn't begin to tell you what this adventure was all about, but I do remember snail shells being involved. Since I wasn't getting the photo I wanted at that particular moment I took advantage of something else I love to photograph -- characters just being characters!

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I wont lie. Those of us still waiting in the Snow White/Evil Queen line were getting a little anxious. I have been dying to get a Snow White photo for quite some time now so I was definitely in the anxious crowd. But at least I could still enjoy watching the interaction with the kids. It really makes you wish you could still be one of them. But I did get my photo! I did, I did!! This. Made. My. Day.

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Oh, and before I left I couldn't pass this one up of the Queen posing with a little girl.

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When I finally kept on walking back towards the Hub I happened to cross paths with Fairy Godmother and I just couldn't pass up another character photo opportunity so I followed along with her as we discussed the beauty of the Castle while choosing the perfect location.

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Now, when in the area and you see a PP photographer with seemingly nothing to do the Jazz-rule is to say hi and get your photo taken!! As it was, I would see this particular PP photographer over and over and over, not just on this day but over the remained of my stay. It was pretty funny to me.

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While we were on this particular side of the Castle I remembered another bathroom sign that I needed to get a photo of. Sadly, this one is in need of some TLC! I don't think I shall use it in this state for the collage that I plan on making. It's so sad, you don't see this around Disneyland all that often.

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And luckily for me and my quest my next destination (BTMRR for my 3-peat) would take me past yet another bathroom sign that I still needed.

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So, for the first time in quite a while I don't actually have BTMRR photos! How crazy is that? I blame that I was using FP's which were really, really fast this particular time and it got me straight up the stairs with as short a wait I have ever had, 3 times in a row. The only way this BTMRR 3-peat could have been better is if I had been able to do it at night, but who's complaining? Not me, that's for sure.

After BTMRR it was closing in on time for me to wind down my day. There were still a couple of last minute things to do such as stalking by the Castle to see if I could catch the Princess in the pink, Aurora, maybe another bathroom sign photo or two and just walking through the shops to see if there was anything I needed to take home with me. First up was the first that I listed with a couple more walks around Sleeping Beauty Castle. I think I made more passes with my camera in my hands taking photos here and there than I can even count. If you remember that PP photographer I mentioned earlier, they kept spotting me every time I walked by with a wave and even though in a comment or two about me being all over the place taking photos and I should work there. Well, that's what I want, duh! It made me giggle. But here are some of those photos that I was taking.

... to be continued ...​