For the first time in like ever I'm going to Disneyland a Nov 14 TR... updated 8/17

[dolphingirl47]

I am glad that you got a ticket for the Lilly Belle. I was lucky enough to be able to ride in the Lilly Belle in 2012 and this is one of my most magical memories.

Corinna

 

[petals]

I am glad that you got a ticket for the Lilly Belle. I was lucky enough to be able to ride in the Lilly Belle in 2012 and this is one of my most magical memories.

Corinna

I was happy I managed to get a ticket for it as well considering I had cancelled the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour I was meant to be doing that morning. I nearly forgot to try for a ticket.

 

[petals]

Day 10, part 2:

There was obviously some sort of Beauty pageant type thing going on in Disneyland or near Disneyland that week as when I left Pixie Hollow the front of the castle was closed off and all these girls came running out of the castle:

I headed past them all and over to Fantasy Faire as the Tangled show was about to start. Like the Beauty and the Beast show I had seen a few days previously it was very pantoish but still a good show:

Rapunzal didn’t like the ruffians in the crowd:

I had heard that if you waited around after the show that sometimes Rapunzal comes out to meet the guests so I waited a bit and a few other people did the same and not only Rapunzal appeared but Flynn Ryder as well! They were both so chatty as well. I had my Tye-dye Mickey t-shirt on and it’s really bright, it usually attracts a lot of attention in the parks:

When Flynn saw it he was like would you look at that! I don’t normally comment on shirts, I usually leave that up to the ladies but wow what a shirt! Rapunzal asked me if the flower on my pen was enchanted and I was like it could be I’ve never tried it out so Flynn was like next time someone asked you if your Flower is enchanted say yes:

After chatting with Rapunzal and Flynn I headed back out of Fantasy Faire but first I spotted Belle meeting mini Tinkerbell so had to stop for a quick picture:

Passing the castle I had to stop for a few pics as well now that the Beauty pagent had cleared off:

They have cute little animals on the pillars near the castle as well:

After that I headed back towards Main Street:

This dude was playing Ragtime music so I stopped to listen for a few minutes:

Then I headed into the Candy Palace for breakfast (healthy I know… not!!! lol):

I decided on an Olaf Marshmallow wand:

Do you want to eat a Snowman?! OMG yes I do! I was so sad I waited until the last day to try this because it was seriously yummy and I would have had one every day of the trip if I had known just how yummy it was. Marshmallow, covered with caramel, covered with white chocolate oh I need one now:

After the yumminess of Olaf I hung around near the train station as it was nearing the time to go on the Lilly Belle. First though I stopped off at the Christmas tree for some photopass pics and then spotted Goofy. He was messing trying to sign my autograph book without looking:

As I was leaving Goofy these guys came out:

There was an Asian lady waiting near me and she had a Chip and Dale t-shirt, bag and two Chip and Dale soft toys clipped to her waist. They spotted her and Chip took her by the hand and over to where they were going to do their meet and greet. They spent ages with her but it was funny. They were both hugging her and acting like they were totally in love with her because she was a fan of them:

As she was leaving Chip kept making love heart shapes at her and staring at her like he loved her. The CM apologised to me that they took so long with her, saying that their Asian guests are huge fans of Chip and Dale but honestly I was enjoying watching them with her so I didn’t mind. I did eventually get my pictures with the two of them as well:

 

[dolphingirl47]

Yes, there was a big beauty pageant at Disneyland that week. They all seemed to arrive at the same time that we got back from Hawaii and everybody else on our shuttle to the hotel was linked to this. I also kept seeing them around the parks. That Olaf treat looks yummy.

Corinna

 

[wiscbugs]

I love Chip and Dale's winter sweatshirts...so festive!

 

[petals]

Yes, there was a big beauty pageant at Disneyland that week. They all seemed to arrive at the same time that we got back from Hawaii and everybody else on our shuttle to the hotel was linked to this. I also kept seeing them around the parks. That Olaf treat looks yummy.
Corinna

That was the only day I saw them in the parks. There was so many of them there that day though. The Olaf treat was super yummy. I still want more of them lol!

I love Chip and Dale's winter sweatshirts...so festive!

They were super cute and I loved watching their interaction with the girl in front of me

 

[petals]

Day 10, part 3:

Once I was finished meeting with Chip and Dale it was time to head up to the train station. There was still a few minutes to wait so I took a few pictures of the bustling hub while I waited:

Soon they gave us our tickets for the Lilly Belle and told us to wait inside the station and the train would be there shortly:

While I was waiting I took pictures of some of the displays in the train station:

I love how the reflection of the lights on this kind of forms a hidden Mickey:

We were brought outside as the train was nearing the station and I was trying to spot Momma coming in the gates as she said had text that she was on her way to the park:

Choo choo:

Once the train arrived a small group of us were brought down to the last carriage on the train the Lilly Belle. Our conductor was Nathan, who was not the happiest CM in the world but he did tell us a bit of history as we went along. He told us that the carriage itself was on the go since 1958 but that the date on the tickets (7-4-1976) was the date of its maiden voyage in the park. He said it was never Walt Disney’s private carriage as it is believed and that there used to be only two trains in the park and each only stopped in a certain area. Eventually more cattle cart type trains were added as trains like the Lilly Belle weren’t practical for the large crowds and the heat in the train was unbearable on a warm day. He also told us that Lillian Disney helped to decorate it but that it wasn’t in the original state that Lillian did it in as it used to be yellow and is now red and she had white wicker furniture in it which didn’t wear well. The train went all around the park and we were told when we could stand and take picture and otherwise we sat mostly in silence except when Nathan was talking.

Once the train was back in the station I went to find Momma and we decided to go on the “normal” train all around the park as I told her it went through Splash Mountain and another area, between Tomorrowland and Main Street where you could see Dinosaurs and everything so she wanted to see it:

We eventually got off the train in New Orleans Square and headed past Splash Mountain for our next stop:

Momma wanted food so we decided to head towards Critter Country to the Hungry Bear for lunch:

We both got a cheeseburger meal:

Then Momma got us a Lemon Bumblebee cupcake each for dessert:

Since it was our last day in California we decided we wanted to help someone else out a little. We had three of the 20% off vouchers left between us from the different receipts we had and we weren’t going to be able to use them now so we decided to pick someone to give them to. I said it needed to be a family with young kids to help the kids get the souvenirs they wanted and suggested a young family sitting near us. Momma didn’t like the look of that family as she thought the parents looked a bit “frosty faced” she said, they looked like they were having an argument. I spotted another lady in a corner on her own with two small girls then so Momma went over and gave her the vouchers and the lady couldn’t have been more grateful. She said they hadn’t done any shopping yet and that the vouchers were going to be so handy when they went to World of Disney the next day. After that happy little moment we headed off to our next destination admiring the scenery along the way:

 

[dolphingirl47]

We were not allowed to stand up while the train was in motion so I had to quickly get some photos whenever we were stopped in a station. That cupcake looks yummy. How nice that you gave your vouchers to a family.

Corinna

 

[petals]

We were not allowed to stand up while the train was in motion so I had to quickly get some photos whenever we were stopped in a station.

We weren't allowed get pictures when the train was moving either but he told us when we would have more time to get out of the train or to move around the carriage at each stop.

That cupcake looks yummy.

It was nice but it didn't beat the Marble cupcake in WDW or the Olaf Marshmallow wand!

How nice that you gave your vouchers to a family.
Corinna

We just didn't want to see them being wasted because we weren't going to use them. We would rather give them to someone else to help them out than just throw them away.

 

[jenseib]

This last day looks so fun. The train wasn't even running when I was there....an excuse to go back..right?

 

[petals]

This last day looks so fun. The train wasn't even running when I was there....an excuse to go back..right?

It was great And of course that's a perfect reason to go back. Try pick a "cooler" time of year because the conductor hinted the train doesn't run on the warmer days as it gets to hot on board.

 

[petals]

Day 10, part 4:

As we were leaving the Hungry Bear I spotted something that made me very excited! During our trip the Mark Twain Riverboat was down for refurbishment and was not meant to be running until the 27th, however I had heard that in Disneyland they tended to have soft openings of rides and stuff the day before it’s officially due to be running again so I had left Fantasmic in particular until our last day because of this. Anyone that has seen Fantasmic knows usually all the characters come out on the boat at the end but while the Mark Twain was down apparently they were just appearing on Sawyer Island, so as I went around the corner I spotted this sailing by which made me very hopeful that it would be in Fantasmic later that evening:

Since we were beside Critter Country as well we figured it would be rude not to head to Pooh’s Corner and pick up one of their famous Tigger tails to try since it was our last day, of course I had to take pictures of more than just the Tigger tail though:

Honey Pots and Marshmallow wands:

And the famous Tigger Tail:

It was ok, I preferred the Olaf wand though and I was a bit full from the Hungry bear so I only ate the top and bagged the rest for laters.

As we left Critter Country I took a few more pictures of the Mark Twain, I was just to excited to see it running:

Next we headed to Adventureland for a Jungle adventure on the Jingle Cruise! The wait time was 30 minutes which wasn’t bad considering how crowded the park was:

The queue was funny, you started downstairs then went upstairs and went round and round in circles and just when you thought you were about to go downstairs again you went in another circle and finally went down to the boats but there was plenty to look at along the way. First the boats were all renamed for the Christmas season:

On the cruise itself the jokes weren’t quite as funny as WDW but the theming was great for the Christmas season:

When we left the Jingle Cruise we headed back towards Frontierland, stopping to take a pic of Tarzan’s tree house along the way:

Big Thunder Mountain, I never did catch that train in Disneyland:

Next we headed to the Jingle Jangle Jamboree. I have mixed opinions on this place. There was a lot going on there, lots of characters wandering around in Christmas gear and some little shows and games, you could colour or you could buy a cookie kit and decorate a cookie so it was good but…

First just outside the entrance they had a Sleigh and photopass photographer where you could stop for pictures so we did that before we went to visit Santa’s hut. This was meant to be Santa’s little cabin and was super cute:

I thought Santa’s Christmas tree would have been a bit fancier:

Reindeer collars hanging on the wall:

 

[petals]

Day 10, part 5:


So we were in the Jingle Jangle Jamboree, once we had explored Santa’s hut for a while we headed up towards the stage area. This poor cow was sitting outside near Santa’s hut looking very depressed:

Up around the main stage there was loads of little carriages and sleighs all decorated with toys and stuff for Christmas:

There was a lot of characters roaming around and this is the annoying part. In Paris when I was there last there was no form of queuing for a character so when they came out everyone just ran to the character and it was like a mob around the character trying to get a picture with them. Some would pose but post I would just give up on and leave. This reminded me of that. It was great to see the characters roaming around freely and some of them were fabulous. Others were only interested in people that were under 3ft tall! I know Disneyland is for kids etc etc but like if I go to the park I want to get my picture with a character just as the children do. The other thing was while there was a few photopass people wandering around there wasn’t one for every character so if there was one standing near, you could get them to take pictures for you, otherwise you were on your own. So first Pluto came out with his reindeer antlers and I snapped this:

I got near him to pose with him so went to give Momma the camera to take the picture and she was gone so had to go find her. She had decided she had enough walking and had gone to sit down so then we had to go back and try get near Pluto again to get him to post. Dale came out and was great, straight away he was full of poses and Chip was the same:

Next Mickey Mouse came out and he was a bee with an itch! We followed him for about 15 minutes trying to get a photo with him and every time we got near he would turn and walk off to the next child under 3ft tall. Momma began to wonder if he was doing it on purpose. He did not pose with one adult in the time we followed him, it was all only children! I pay in as well so why not like. Then himself and Dale started trying to get the kids to play games and I was watching him dancing with some of the kids and he went and got one little girl a cookie decorating kit for herself because she had a birthday button on. I eventually just snapped a few pictures of Mickey dancing with the kids and moved on:

Next we spotted Goofy, he was wandering around so again we followed him for a bit but he was doing the same as Mickey was, ignoring the adults and only posing with the children. He sat down to colour with some kids and I snapped a picture of him there:

When I took the picture, he looked up and actually turned his back to us! Momma was the one that spotted that she kept saying it out loud did you see what he just did. I had spotted Mrs Claus in the meantime and went to try get a picture with her but again no joy. She was only posing with kids. By now I was getting very annoyed and saddened by this. It was our last day and we weren’t going to have another chance to come back here to try get pictures with the characters in the Christmas gear and half of them were very obviously not posing with any adults. Next Minnie came out a side gate so I went over and snapped a picture of her before she got too mobbed. She was nice enough to pose as well:

After that I gave up. Momma was tired walking around and I was sad and almost ready to cry because of the way some of the characters were acting, it was just so much like the rudeness in the Paris parks so I took some colouring sheets and coloured. There was stars you could colour and leave on their trees, someone did a Baymax one:

This was my star:

There was also postcards you could colour and either bring home or leave a message on the back and they would be sent to the troops abroad:

While I was colouring all the characters were still wandering around and at one point Momma started going get the camera Minnie is coming. I was like don’t care, not talking to any of them now because they won’t pose with me lol. So Minnie came close by and I continued on with my colouring and then she did this:

She posed for photos and spent a bit of time with us so my faith was restored in the Disney characters for a while! When she passed by the show started on the main stage as well so we stayed to watch that:

As the show ended Dale came out a gate nearby us and started posing again:

Once we got a few pics with Dale we headed over to another smaller stage area at the Jingle, Jangle Jamboree where there was a cowboy and cowgirl singing some songs from Toy Story:

 

[petals]

Day 10, part 6:

Once we left the Jingle Jangle Jamboree we headed back towards Frontierland stopping to watch the fish as we passed:

We decided to go on the Mark Twain Riverboat since it was beside us. Momma sat down on a chair and fell asleep much to the amusement of a small boy next to her. I took photos of everything I could see:

Once we were back on dry land we headed into Adventureland:

We found the magic carpet:

Then we went to the Enchanted Tiki Room:

Once the Tiki birds had finished their show we went to check out the Adventureland bazaar:

I was far to amused by this t-shirt:

Next I went to explore Tarzan’s tree house, Momma stayed on the ground:

Hidden Mrs Potts and chip:

When I was finished exploring Tarzan’s tree house Momma was having tea and cake so I ran over towards Tomorrowland intending to go trade a Vinylmation but the parade was heading down Main Street and I couldn’t get pass so I took a few pics of the castle and headed back to Momma:

 

[petals]

Day 10, part 7:

On the way back to Momma I spotted this cute popcorn machine:

I also headed over to the pin station in Frontierland to get a few last minute pins and this was standing outside:

Once I got back to Momma we noticed that at 6.30 people were already claiming spots with blankets for Fantasmic that wouldn’t be on until 9pm. We wanted a good spot so we decided that at this point we would have to give up on anything else and grab a spot because the area was already very crowded and it was not really fair the way people were doing things. Most people had blankets spread out and one person waiting on the blanket to save the spot while the rest of their party went off to do whatever else until showtime. I know they’ve changed the way people are allowed to wait for the show now though so I hope it works better than this did. Personally I preferred the seating that WDW has. Anyway we found a spot we could squeeze into at the very front so we grabbed that and I sat on my poncho as we had nothing else to sit on. I had a few movies on the iPod so we watched Chipmunks Chipwrecked first and then Despicable me while we were waiting. While we were in California the weather was always nice during the day but got cooler at night time and this night it got freezing. I had been sick for the entire holiday and sitting on the crowd I started the coughing fit again and was coughing up blood from coughing so much. Momma was getting really worried about me and wanted to leave but I wanted to stay for the show. She was going to go buy a pillow pal for me to sit on but it was so crowded she was afraid she wouldn’t get back near me if she left so I decided to sit on my bag for a bit… tiny mistake doing that, I will tell why in day 11! Anyway the show started and it was the same storyline as WDW’s Fantasmic except with different sections like no Pocahontas but a Peter Pan pirate ship and stuff instead.

The villains section seemed shorter than the WDW version

Leave the fire on please:

“You may think you’re so powerful but this is my dream”:

My beast:

The boat had barely gone around the corner when the best mouse, Sorcerer Mickey appeared:

Then poof and it was all over:

Where we were sitting wasn’t the best. We were kind of looking at it through railings and everyone on the blankets stayed sitting for the whole show. I noticed that the area where people were on the blankets was roped off at some point and people were standing behind the rope. I think probably if you managed to get at the front of that rope it would have been better because we were to close to get good pictures of the two boats as they passed by. Once the show was over the CM’s literally hoarded us out of the place as there was another Fantasmic on shortly after and they were trying to get the next crowd in. Everyone was directed towards New Orleans Square and it was sardines in a tin crowded! We took our time in the crowds and went into any shops we saw while trying to get warmed up a bit as we were both numb from cold and I snapped pictures along the way as well:

We eventually got back out to the castle and they made an announcement that the fireworks were going to be cancelled that night due to “high winds.” I thought this was weird because there was no wind. It was freezing and we could feel light drops of rain threatening but it wasn’t windy. There was two photopass photographers about to set up near the castle so we decided to get a few last pictures with the castle. We were first in the photopass line so could hear the CM’s talking. Fantasyland had been shut down and the area around the castle was all roped off and people weren’t allowed to pass. After a while another CM came out and said that the fire department said it was safe to go back into Fantasyland. I’ve no idea what had happened but couldn’t help wondering if Fantasyland being shut down and the fireworks being cancelled were related. Anyway I got some pretty no people pictures of the castle while we were waiting:

I love how you can see a bit of the carousel through the arch in this picture:

After that I ran over to Tomorrowland to trade one last vinyl. The vinyl was one I already had and couldn’t pick again so just went back to Momma who had stayed near the castle as she was done walking for the day.

 

[dolphingirl47]

I got really behind. Real life seems to have the habit of getting in the way at the moment. How nice that the Mark Twain was up and running for you on your last park day. I really enjoyed Jingle Cruise this time and it was much better than the version I had encountered at Walt Disney World in 2013. Unfortunately my experience with the characters at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree was much the same as yours, but minus the pixie dust at the end. The waiting for Fantasmic sounded like a big mess. I love your castle photos.

Corinna

 

[petals]

I got really behind. Real life seems to have the habit of getting in the way at the moment.

I know what you mean. We have redecorating going on and then work and stuff!

How nice that the Mark Twain was up and running for you on your last park day.

I was so excited when I saw that. I don't think Fantasmic would be quite the same if the characters all just came up on the Island instead of the boat

I really enjoyed Jingle Cruise this time and it was much better than the version I had encountered at Walt Disney World in 2013.

I've only ever done the normal version on Jungle Cruise in WDW. I thought the jokes were better on the WDW version but I really liked the story behind how the Christmas stuff got there in the Jingle Cruise

Unfortunately my experience with the characters at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree was much the same as yours, but minus the pixie dust at the end.

I'm glad it wasn't just me, I loved Minnie for what she did at the end. Totally made up for the rest of them

The waiting for Fantasmic sounded like a big mess. I love your castle photos.
Corinna

It really was. I do wonder what their new system is like for waiting although if it's anything like World of Colour I can't see it being much better than that was. They really need to get some sort of tiered area in there and they would have the space and still have space for people to walk around the area during the day. We got lucky with the castle photos because Fantasyland was closed down

 

[petals]

Day 10, part 8:

Once I found Momma again we made our way very very slowly towards the exit of course I took a bazillion final pictures along the way. Goodbye pretty castle:

We went over to have a quick look in the Fire Station:

And take pictures of City Hall by night:

Pretty tree:

Then stopped off at the lobby for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln to get a few last minute pressed pennies, got a really cool one with Walt Disney's signature on it:

Of course I took some pictures in there as well:

Then I spotted the head mouse outside in his Christmas gear and finally got my picture with Christmas Mickey Mouse.

Said goodbye to the mouse and headed over to say goodbye to Walt as well:

Then it was time to leave. Goodbye Disneyland:

I kept snapping pictures as we left:

I don’t wanna leave! Back at the hotel I took a few pictures around the lobby then we headed up to pack in the last few bits:

Dodgy picture but cool light:

I checked the temperature on my phone for home and at 11.30 at night in Anaheim it was 14 degrees, at home it was 7.30 in the morning and it was 2 degrees oh joy!

 

[dolphingirl47]

How sad that the trip is nearly over. I have enjoyed all the photos again.

Corinna

 

[petals]

How sad that the trip is nearly over. I have enjoyed all the photos again.

Corinna

I know and even worse that we don't have another Disney trip planned Thanks