disneylandfan55
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2015
- Messages
- 1
I just got back from a trip to the Disneyland Resort, November 29 – December 5. I wanted to share some of the little “hidden gems” that I was able to experience, thanks to information I read on these boards. Most of these experiences were not listed on the Disneyland daily schedule that you can pick up at the entrance to Disneyland:
1. The Pixie Hollow Water and Light Show – this charming little light show occurred about every 15 minutes on the quarter hour after dark, but not during parades and fireworks. It takes place in the Pixie Hollow Pond and fountain area that is accessed on the little pathway that starts between the Astro Orbitor and Buzz Lightyear attractions in Tomorrowland. The path comes out the other side between the Hub and the Pixie Hollow entrance, on the walkway that goes on the right side of the Matterhorn. I watched it on two separate nights, at 7:15 pm, 7:30 pm and 7:45 pm. This is not on the schedule.
Also, be sure to wander through the Pixie Hollow area at night. The entrance is to the right on the walkway that's on the right side of Matterhorn mountain just a little ways in from the Hub but past the pathway that goes by the pond and fountain. Tinkerbell and her friends won't be there to greet you, but it is magical with all of the twinkling lights, giant foliage and flowers and little fairyland touches. Even on an extremely busy evening, you will be one of the very few people in either of these two areas. Cast Members will close the entrance to these areas before and during the Paint the Night parade and the fireworks show.
2. Mary Poppins and Bert and the Pearly Band – they do not perform every day but performed in front of the Castle on three different days that I was there – Monday, Nov. 30, Thursday, Dec. 3, and Friday, Dec. 4 with a morning performance and an afternoon performance. I watched a 10:15 am performance when I was there. The performance lasted about 15 minutes or so. Mary and Bert picked out five children from the audience to be chimney sweeps and participate in part of the show. I actually found their schedule for the week by looking at the Disneyland Resort website under the 5 day entertainment schedule. None of the cast members I asked knew about this show. Again, it is not on the schedule. If you go to City Hall or an information booth, ask them to look online.
3. Holiday Overlay show on the facade of Small World. About every 15 or 20 minutes after dark, they turn off the lights on Small World and have a special Holiday overlay light projection show with music. It only lasts for a few minutes. We were able to view it at around 8:00 the night we were there. This is not on the schedule.
4. Riding in the front of the Monorail with the pilot. In Tomorrowland, stand by Gate 1 on the Monorail platform, and ask the pilot if you can ride in the cab. Only 4 people can ride up front. We were able to ride twice, and really enjoyed the view from the front as well as talking to the Cast member pilot. You can also ask to ride in the cab at the Downtown Disney Monorail station.
5. The Lilly Belle – it was not available the whole week we were there because of Candlelight. But, just in case, be sure to go up the stairs to the train station as soon as you enter Disneyland to ask one of the Conductors. There may already be a line. We were able to ride one day during our May trip. That day they had three trips available. If they’re running the Lilly Belle, sometimes they only have one trip available. Only 14 people can ride in the Lilly Belle. The trip takes about 30 minutes so you have to be willing to ride around the whole park. Only one person in your party needs to stand in line to ask the Conductor if the Lilly Belle is available that day. If it is available, they will take your name and ask how many people are in your party, then give you a time to come back to ride. If the Lilly Belle is available, but all of the reservations have been filled for the day, you can ask to be put on a “standby” list.
6. Winnie the Pooh ride in Critter Country. You can still view three of the mounted animals from the Country Bear Jamboree (Max, Buff and Melvin). Right when you first enter the honey comb part of the ride and see Pooh Bear ahead on the left in the hole in the wall, look up and behind you.
7. Viewing Fantasmic from the Blue Bayou/Riverbelle Terrace dinner package area. Be sure to arrive an hour before show time, even though your Cast Member waiter/waitress will tell you to line up 15 to 30 minutes before show time. They started letting us in at 8:00 for the 9:00 show, and the area was pretty full by 8:30. You must sit in the viewing area, but they may let you stand at the back by the ropes. We actually sat at the back of the viewing area with our backs against the two garbage cans for back support. We had a great view since everyone was seated. Also, you can stay in the viewing area to watch the fireworks. The projections on the Rivers of America were amazing. They pipe in the music and you can see a lot of the fireworks. We stood up in our spot to view the fireworks and were able to clearly see both Tinkerbell and Nemo flying through the gaps in the trees.
8. There is an observation room available for the Finding Nemo Submarine Ride in Tomorrowland for those who are not able to physically board the attraction or who don’t like being confined in small spaces. Just ask a Cast member at the entrance to the attraction. They led me to the observation room right away, as no one else was using it when I arrived.
9. I was able to experience the “running of the goats” in Big Thunder Ranch one day. It only lasts for a few seconds, but was so much fun to watch! Just ask the Castmember in the goat pen area when it will happen that day. It was at 4:00 when I was there on November 30. The Big Thunder Ranch area will close permanently at the end of the day on January 10, 2016 to make way for construction of the new Star Wars Land.
10. Disney iViva Navidad is a wonderful show held in California Adventure Park in the Paradise Garden area each day during the Christmas holiday season. It is performed many times during the day and is on the park schedule you can take at the park entrance. The best place to stand to view the show is near Bayside Brews and the Silly Symphony Swings attraction. You want to be standing with your back to Bayside Brews/Silly Symphony Swings as the main “rolling” stage will be located in front of you and the performers will be facing you.
11. Be sure to view all of the "Enchanted Windows" on the Emporium Shop which is located on the left side of Main Street USA as you are walking toward the Castle.
Have a wonderful, magical trip, everyone!!
1. The Pixie Hollow Water and Light Show – this charming little light show occurred about every 15 minutes on the quarter hour after dark, but not during parades and fireworks. It takes place in the Pixie Hollow Pond and fountain area that is accessed on the little pathway that starts between the Astro Orbitor and Buzz Lightyear attractions in Tomorrowland. The path comes out the other side between the Hub and the Pixie Hollow entrance, on the walkway that goes on the right side of the Matterhorn. I watched it on two separate nights, at 7:15 pm, 7:30 pm and 7:45 pm. This is not on the schedule.
Also, be sure to wander through the Pixie Hollow area at night. The entrance is to the right on the walkway that's on the right side of Matterhorn mountain just a little ways in from the Hub but past the pathway that goes by the pond and fountain. Tinkerbell and her friends won't be there to greet you, but it is magical with all of the twinkling lights, giant foliage and flowers and little fairyland touches. Even on an extremely busy evening, you will be one of the very few people in either of these two areas. Cast Members will close the entrance to these areas before and during the Paint the Night parade and the fireworks show.
2. Mary Poppins and Bert and the Pearly Band – they do not perform every day but performed in front of the Castle on three different days that I was there – Monday, Nov. 30, Thursday, Dec. 3, and Friday, Dec. 4 with a morning performance and an afternoon performance. I watched a 10:15 am performance when I was there. The performance lasted about 15 minutes or so. Mary and Bert picked out five children from the audience to be chimney sweeps and participate in part of the show. I actually found their schedule for the week by looking at the Disneyland Resort website under the 5 day entertainment schedule. None of the cast members I asked knew about this show. Again, it is not on the schedule. If you go to City Hall or an information booth, ask them to look online.
3. Holiday Overlay show on the facade of Small World. About every 15 or 20 minutes after dark, they turn off the lights on Small World and have a special Holiday overlay light projection show with music. It only lasts for a few minutes. We were able to view it at around 8:00 the night we were there. This is not on the schedule.
4. Riding in the front of the Monorail with the pilot. In Tomorrowland, stand by Gate 1 on the Monorail platform, and ask the pilot if you can ride in the cab. Only 4 people can ride up front. We were able to ride twice, and really enjoyed the view from the front as well as talking to the Cast member pilot. You can also ask to ride in the cab at the Downtown Disney Monorail station.
5. The Lilly Belle – it was not available the whole week we were there because of Candlelight. But, just in case, be sure to go up the stairs to the train station as soon as you enter Disneyland to ask one of the Conductors. There may already be a line. We were able to ride one day during our May trip. That day they had three trips available. If they’re running the Lilly Belle, sometimes they only have one trip available. Only 14 people can ride in the Lilly Belle. The trip takes about 30 minutes so you have to be willing to ride around the whole park. Only one person in your party needs to stand in line to ask the Conductor if the Lilly Belle is available that day. If it is available, they will take your name and ask how many people are in your party, then give you a time to come back to ride. If the Lilly Belle is available, but all of the reservations have been filled for the day, you can ask to be put on a “standby” list.
6. Winnie the Pooh ride in Critter Country. You can still view three of the mounted animals from the Country Bear Jamboree (Max, Buff and Melvin). Right when you first enter the honey comb part of the ride and see Pooh Bear ahead on the left in the hole in the wall, look up and behind you.
7. Viewing Fantasmic from the Blue Bayou/Riverbelle Terrace dinner package area. Be sure to arrive an hour before show time, even though your Cast Member waiter/waitress will tell you to line up 15 to 30 minutes before show time. They started letting us in at 8:00 for the 9:00 show, and the area was pretty full by 8:30. You must sit in the viewing area, but they may let you stand at the back by the ropes. We actually sat at the back of the viewing area with our backs against the two garbage cans for back support. We had a great view since everyone was seated. Also, you can stay in the viewing area to watch the fireworks. The projections on the Rivers of America were amazing. They pipe in the music and you can see a lot of the fireworks. We stood up in our spot to view the fireworks and were able to clearly see both Tinkerbell and Nemo flying through the gaps in the trees.
8. There is an observation room available for the Finding Nemo Submarine Ride in Tomorrowland for those who are not able to physically board the attraction or who don’t like being confined in small spaces. Just ask a Cast member at the entrance to the attraction. They led me to the observation room right away, as no one else was using it when I arrived.
9. I was able to experience the “running of the goats” in Big Thunder Ranch one day. It only lasts for a few seconds, but was so much fun to watch! Just ask the Castmember in the goat pen area when it will happen that day. It was at 4:00 when I was there on November 30. The Big Thunder Ranch area will close permanently at the end of the day on January 10, 2016 to make way for construction of the new Star Wars Land.
10. Disney iViva Navidad is a wonderful show held in California Adventure Park in the Paradise Garden area each day during the Christmas holiday season. It is performed many times during the day and is on the park schedule you can take at the park entrance. The best place to stand to view the show is near Bayside Brews and the Silly Symphony Swings attraction. You want to be standing with your back to Bayside Brews/Silly Symphony Swings as the main “rolling” stage will be located in front of you and the performers will be facing you.
11. Be sure to view all of the "Enchanted Windows" on the Emporium Shop which is located on the left side of Main Street USA as you are walking toward the Castle.
Have a wonderful, magical trip, everyone!!
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