It Only Took 5 Months to Finish Trip Report - November 10-26, 2010

[mariezp]

Continued....

You would think with all the pictures I take I would have been able to get a better picture... without the sign... of a Kodak Picture spot!

So I tried again but we faced a different direction and I didn't even think about how it would end up leaving out the castle.

She does Goofy way too well!

We took the scenic route.

Looks like she has some sort of mossy halo!

DD’s first ride choice for the day was Dumbo. What does one do while waiting in line? Take pictures, of course.

 

[mariezp]

Continued.....

Next up was Toad where she took me on one really wild ride. I hope this is no indication of her driving skills some day! No worries for now. She tells me that she is NOT going to be driving and will just be relying on her brother to drive her around.

We made our way over to Storybookland.

DD decided we must have struck oil.

Every time we have ridden we have been stuck on the same side of the boat! I want to ride on the other side to I can take pictures from the other side.

 

[mariezp]

Continued....

Next was the Carousel.

My steed was having a bad hair day!

We found Walt’s favorite horse!

Heading out of Fantasyland…

We caught the fire engine for our first ever ride to take us back up to the front of the park. Our driver told us that Walt used to drive the car around Disneyland. DD got to ring the bell!

We left the park and headed over to meet the guys for lunch over at the Gardenwalk. This place is always seriously empty! I hope business picks up for them one of these days. It’s very pretty and peaceful here. They have some nice shops and lots of good places to eat. DH picked himself up a couple pair of sunglasses at a pretty decent price. Cheaper than they would have been at the park!

We had big plans to partake of some yummy seafood at Bubba Gump. I do believe this has become our favorite outside of the park dining experience. The food is always great and did not disappoint this time. We had an excellent waitress who gave us great attention. She quizzed us on our Forrest Gump knowledge. We were smoking hot until she asked the name of the kid actor who played Forrest’s son. She stumped us.

 

[mariezp]

Continued.....

They had the movie playing on a big screen tv.

We went back to our room and rested until about 6:00.We came back to the park and boarded the train for NOS to take in some of our usual favorite attractions AGAIN. First up was HM.

Oops! I think I accidently flashed.

Pirates was next. Followed by the Tiki Room again.

After the show. No flash this time!

I don't even remember where I took this one! Evidently it was as we exited and passed through a gift shop and before we headed over to Tomorrowland, according to my DD.

 

[mariezp]

Continued.....

Next we headed over to Autopia for the first time during our trip. I just don’t get it. The gas peddles are hard to push and they steer terrible but the line is usually outrageously long. I must be missing something!

Afterwards we rode Nemo again. I love this ride but it is very tight and the windows are placed for very short people. I know, I know…. for the kids. DD just can't resist hamming it up while waiting in line.

We were going to ride Alice but it was closed for the fireworks. We stopped in front of Monstro to wait for it to reopen and watch the fireworks. Keep in mind that I never take good photos at night.

BUT while waiting this time I got the coolest picture! It was amazing. During the finale the sky lit up so bright that the photo came out looking like a painting. No flash. Just lights from the fireworks. This may be my favorite photo of our whole trip!

As it turned out, when the fireworks were over everything else stayed closed except for the teacups since it was so near park closing time. So we took one last spin.

Then we started heading out of the park for the night.

Someday her prince will come but believe me... we are in no hurry!

We stopped in at Coke Corner and I grabbed a chili bowl and some hot dogs to take back to our room with us. While we ate our park goodies we watched the Pink Panther 2. I realized that Andy Garcia was one of the detectives. I’ve never seen any of his movies before but I was glad to finally see him in one since he had been our Candlelight Processional narrator several years ago. DD was so tired she didn’t even make it to the end of the movie.

Got my camera ready to go for the next day and realized that I had used up almost all of my 2 gb memory card today. Lots of memories there!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I love all the little detailed pics.....the stuff too many people totally miss as they're making their mad dashes to the rides. Beautiful, especially at Christmas!! Thanx for sharing those!!!

 

[kaoden39]

Positive is always best!



I don't have a new update this morning but I just have to share! Yesterday I finally got in a little discussion with my DH about dates for our annual trip this year. Looks like we will be heading for Disneyland September 18-October 1. Still working on my lodging details and everything else but this is a start! He actually has a convention in Salt Lake City, Utah Sept. 14th-17th so we will start there and drive on over to Anaheim! I am ready to go now! Well, not quite.... but you know what I mean.


And look at my siggie! I got to add a ticker!!!!

Oh how wonderful!!

I love this picture.

And I get a major kick out of what a ham DD is.

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Well I found you and I am subscribed and all caught up. I really liked the "painting" but I liked all those fireworks shots...I have never seen any shots of the fireworks from that area love them over Monstros head! Your daughter is a ham and is really fun to watch! BTW does your son eat anything that isn't a turkey leg?

 

[mariezp]

Looks like I am a few days behind again. Time to add some new substance for my readers! First, a few responses and then I have another day's report and photos ready for your viewing pleasure!

I love all the little detailed pics.....the stuff too many people totally miss as they're making their mad dashes to the rides. Beautiful, especially at Christmas!! Thanx for sharing those!!!

Thank you Laurie. That's some pretty high praise coming from one of the queens of photo heavy trip reports! Having plenty of time with our long trips is the only way I can imagine ever having the extra time to stop and appreciate the details. And enjoy them we do! Disneyland is really something special during the holiday season.

Oh how wonderful!!

I love this picture.

And I get a major kick out of what a ham DD is.

I am glad you mentioned it Michele. I have to be honest that I had not really stopped to notice so much.... I am plugging along as fast as I can just to get the pictures into the trip report.... and now that you have mentioned it I do think it IS a very nice picture after all too. When I get through with this here report I think I am going to have to go back through all my pictures and take the time to really appreciate them better!

Well I found you and I am subscribed and all caught up. I really liked the "painting" but I liked all those fireworks shots...I have never seen any shots of the fireworks from that area love them over Monstros head! Your daughter is a ham and is really fun to watch! BTW does your son eat anything that isn't a turkey leg?

I am so glad you found me and that you like some of my photos. I had never thought to watch the fireworks from that area before either but it worked out quite nice. So many people tend to think the only place to view the fireworks is directly in front of the castle. I have never and most likely never will put in the effort to stake out a spot 3 hours in advance to do that but we have discovered some interesting alternatives over the years. Our favorite new find this year was the one I mentioned earlier in my report behind the Edelweiss Snack stand. One of my other favorite spots is by the ROA. Absolutely gorgeous with the fireworks reflecting off the water! My son said his favorite place is to be riding Big Thunder. And, two that are on my to-do-list that I've read are pretty cool to watch from are from the upper level of Innoventions and on one of the boats of Storybookland. I hear they are both "timing things" because both attractions are actually closed during fireworks so you have to already be in line before the shut down. One of these days....
Yes my daughter is an absolute ham! Lucky for me because I never lack for someone to have as a subject in my photos.
And as for my son... you cracked me up! As you have guessed turkey legs are his favorite meals in the park BUT he does on occasion try out something else. I don't know if you knew this but before our trip I had actually posted a thread asking for all the known locations of turkey leg carts in the park because he had asked me to find out for him! I figure we are on vacation so he might as well have what he likes. Not to mention they are a pretty good value. There is a lot of meat on one of those legs!!!

 

[mariezp]

Day 8, November 17, 2010

My DD and I made our way into the park with plans again to catch a Main Street vehicle. There were none in sight immediately so we just hung around and watched what was going on in the area.

Before too long we saw the Omnibus and a whole caravan behind it.

DD really wanted to ride the horse drawn carriage so we waited for it. It pulled up and we hopped right on and talked about the horses with the driver.

It turned out that we had shown up just in time for the switching of the horses. Our current horse was Sam, a beautiful black Percheron.

The CM said that they currently had a crew of 23 horses which consisted of Percherons, Belgians, Shires and Clydesdales. Each horse works 2-3 hours depending on the horse, 5 days a week, and then has a week off. She filled us with horse info until the new horse arrived.

Our driver unhooked Sam’s harness, led him over to another CM and a new horse was backed up in his place.

The new horse’s name was Sulley. He was a giant 19 hand Belgian who she said was the largest of the bunch right now.

All in all a very cool experience, especially for my DD since she loves horses.
We made our way down Main Street.

 

[mariezp]

Continued...

When we disembarked and made our way through Frontierland.

Our initial plan was to ride Pirates but it was down so we went to HM instead.

Not good at all but I got double Leotas!

 

[mariezp]

Continued...

Next we thought we would go on Pooh but it was also closed. We wandered aimlessly a bit.

We came up with the bright idea to go check out the island. After a short raft ride we set out exploring.

DD does not like scary! This is about as far as she went in this cave.

 

[mariezp]

Continued...

Even the dog is a camera ham!

A little dramatic effect.

Trying to pull off her Jack Sparrow impersonation.

 

[mariezp]

Continued...

Evidently, even I am not immune to a little role play.

Found a new place for the guys to play checkers! I’m thinking it may get pretty hot right here though and I’m just guessing that it’s BYOC.

I think she could pull off being a pirate.

This is the first time I have ever been on the island that it was not blazing hot although it did start to get a little warmer by the time we finally got around to leaving. We wandered around for what seemed like forever… at least long enough for DD to finally decide that she was hot and tired.

When we went back by Pirates they were opened so we got in line. Just about that time the guys called to say that they were finally leaving the room, close to 2:00. After we got of Pirates we met up with them at the hub and headed to Plaza Inn for lunch. It’s so pretty in there. Even my DD has started pointing our things for me to take pictures of.

After our meal DH and I went over and watched Captain EO while the kiddos hung out in the arcade. DH surprised me because he actually ended up liking the show. Guess he liked MJ more than I knew. I had already been prepared to think the show was corny but I knew I liked MJ enough to overlook it being slightly dated. Nothing I would go to see over and over again but I am glad I got to see it at least once.

When we got out of the theater we went inside the arcade for my first time ever. We stayed just long enough for DS to kick my butt 2 times at air hockey. We decided to head over to Frontierland. We ended up stopping along the way so DS and I could ride Astro Orbitor. I love this picture. It is probably one of the best ones I have ever taken of my son.

We arrived at the ROA it was just almost time for The Laughing Stock show so we moseyed in the Golden Horseshoe.
Waiting for the show to start the guys play a little checkers. May be one of DH’s best I-phone apps!

We loved the new Christmas show, the 12 Days Before Christmas Carol.

I just love Sally Mae!

As I saw this picture it got me to wondering…… Several years back there was a guy in the audience of the Laughing Stock that was a drunk. During this show the guy they pulled up on stage with the money bag in his hand was a drunk. I was just wondering if it might be possible that he is planted in the audience but really is an actor and part of the show. He sure looked familiar. Hmmmm…..

 

[mariezp]

Continued...

I’d looked at the schedule wrong and thought that the Billie’s would be performing next so we sat and waited only to find that we had stayed for the wrong show. It was the same one again. Silly me! I’m pretty sure they will never let me live that one down. Oh well. Thankfully, I do not make those type of mistakes often…. At least when it comes to my Disneyland info.

After that mishap we went over to the ROA and rode the Mark Twain. We rode on the upper level which was a wonderful spot for a night time ride. Absolutely lovely up there with all the lights everywhere.

DS spotted a mosquito “the size of a quarter” on a woman’s back. He warned her so she could do something about it and she looked at him like he was nuts. Some thanks for him trying to be nice. Being a human mosquito magnet, he and DH decided to move inside where we met back up with them when we docked.

DD and I decided to head to Fantasyland for our daily fill and the guys went in another direction. Our first stop was the restroom where we had the displeasure of hearing someone getting sick in another stall. Needless to say we got out of there as fast as we could for fear that they might have something catchy…. also hoping it was not because of any of the food in the park. Hopefully, they were just sick from something like motion sickness and nothing more.

We ended up riding a good majority of rides in Fantasyland this night. We started with Casey Jr followed by Alice, the Carousel, Toad, Dumbo and finally Storybookland. We did intend to ride SW but it was closed.

Not sure what was going on here. Must have been a problem or the poor horsey got cold.

Love the castle in the background on this one.

Not one of her more flattering poses but they do look a lot alike.

Crummy lighting but I just wanted to show some more of Disney’s attention to detail. Even the mirrors in the shop are all so creative!

On the way out, we thought about stopping for a hot chocolate and a gingerbread Mickey but everyone else must have had the same idea so we left it for another day. Made our way back to our room and ordered in Pizza for the night.

 

[kaoden39]

Great additions Marie. I haven't been over to Tom Sawyers Island since they changed it. Maybe we'll get a chance to check it out next week.

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Continued...

Next we thought we would go on Pooh but it was also closed. We wandered aimlessly a bit.

We came up with the bright idea to go check out the island. After a short raft ride we set out exploring.

DD does not like scary! This is about as far as she went in this cave.

Until I saw your pic of the cave on the island I had totally forgotten when Colton & I entered that cave Brant was behind us and laughed like a pirate. With the echo It was eerie and we thought it was an effect until Brant told us he did it. He was quite proud of himself. Also in that cave is a pirate in jail who tells the story of cursed gold and bad luck. There is an interactive spot where you can choose to touch the gold or not. Colton was quite upset when both Brant & I got cursed. Thanks for dredging up that memory for me!

 

[Sherry E]

Hi, Marie!

Great photos, Marie! You had said that you and I had a lot of the same photos, but I'm not seeing that yet. There were some similar ones, I guess. You got a lot of pictures and I got a lot of pictures but so far I am not seeing tons of duplicates, which is a good thing! I was expecting to come over here and see a carbon copy of my TR in photos!!

You got some really cool shots that I only wish I had thought to get or had the time to get. Love those pictures of Pirates Lair above!!

 

[mariezp]

Good grief time flies! Last week was full of sick kids and sick pets. I am hoping we will have a few less doctor and vet appointments this week so I can get back to my trip report. I am ready for spring to get here and take away the winter germs! I do finally have a new update for my readers today but first I better make a few responses.

Great additions Marie. I haven't been over to Tom Sawyers Island since they changed it. Maybe we'll get a chance to check it out next week.

I like parts of the new version but really prefer the island as Tom Sawyer's. Guess I am just an old fuddy duddy! Hope you got to make it over there on your trip.

Until I saw your pic of the cave on the island I had totally forgotten when Colton & I entered that cave Brant was behind us and laughed like a pirate. With the echo It was eerie and we thought it was an effect until Brant told us he did it. He was quite proud of himself. Also in that cave is a pirate in jail who tells the story of cursed gold and bad luck. There is an interactive spot where you can choose to touch the gold or not. Colton was quite upset when both Brant & I got cursed. Thanks for dredging up that memory for me!

Sounds like fun! Those are the kind of memories that last a lifetime! Too funny about the curse. Good to know that he's concerned for you! I'd tell him not to worry too much over a curse you picked up at Disneyland. It's probably just something simple like you will have the Small World song stuck in your head for months!

Hi, Marie!

Great photos, Marie! You had said that you and I had a lot of the same photos, but I'm not seeing that yet. There were some similar ones, I guess. You got a lot of pictures and I got a lot of pictures but so far I am not seeing tons of duplicates, which is a good thing! I was expecting to come over here and see a carbon copy of my TR in photos!!

You got some really cool shots that I only wish I had thought to get or had the time to get. Love those pictures of Pirates Lair above!!

I was wondering when you were going to pop in! Glad you got here. I need all the support I can get so don't forget to come back!
AH HA! I see now. You were thinking I was going to bore you to tears with the same photos! Glad to hear that you are not really noticing too many of the same shots. I guess when you have 2000 photos if you only have a dozen or so look a likes that's really not so bad.
I think we will both be taking pictures for years to come and still be finding new material. There's always something new if you look long enough. And, with all the new stuff coming, I am going to have some new subjects to study on our next trip! Parades, the Little Mermaid ride...... I can't wait!

 

[mariezp]

Now on with the report!!!!

Day 9, November 18, 2010

Before we got started this morning I searched online and even called Disney….

When we got inside the park we even stopped in at City Hall….

BUT poor Mickey just wasn’t getting any big too-do for his 82nd birthday. They did tell us that it was also Minnie’s 81st birthday too and the CM did give us a celebration button but as far as I know the day went without much mention of the big mouse’s special day. Kinda sad there wasn’t some sort of acknowledgement seeing as how it all started with the mouse. We considered stopping in today at Mickey’s house to sing happy birthday to him and help him celebrate a little but it just never ended up happening. Shame on us!

We already had reservations for the day but decided we would try to change it for later so the guys could arrive at the park at their leisure so our plan was to head over to NOS. DD spotted the horse drawn carriage so we “had” to ride it down Main Street. Worked for me. It’s nice to save a few steps when you can. Today’s steed was Lee. He was another Belgian who had also come from the same breeders as Sulley from yesterday’s trip.

We arrived in front of the castle and headed over to Café Orleans. A quick check and we were able to change our 12:30 ressie to 2:00.

Next we rode Pirates.

I apologize to all the people I accidentally blinded. I am electronically challenged to begin with but one of the MAJOR things that annoys me with my camera is that every time you change a mode it turns the flash back on. I have a very pitiful memory and I occasionally forget to change it before it is too late. I try to not make it a habit of using flash in the dark but sad to say every now and then I do slip up. I did get a nice picture as we passed by BB for a change.

Some items in the window at the end of the ride.

Afterwards we wandered the streets of NOS checking out some of the shops