Day 4 - Disneyland California Adventure
We are now a little more than halfway through our DLR trip--and we were feeling pretty good about what we had accomplished. With the exception of Matterhorn, we had seen all the major stuff we wanted to over the course of our nearly 5 days. We could throttle back a little bit, slow down, and smell the roses where they might have a little blurry before when we passed them.
We slept just a little later and even though we had the option to enter DCA at 7:00a, we didn't arrive until nearly 9:30a. I still went directly to the RSR FP location to secure a set of those, but was confident now (where I wasn't the day before) they'd still be available. Our return window began at 5:45p, and that was fine.
I returned to the front of the park after DW and DD had spent a few minutes meeting Chip and Dale while I did the FP "running". The Red Car Trolley was up there with them, so we boarded it to ride it to the other end of its line by Tower of Terror and pick up more FPs. It was on our to-do list, and we didn't have such an aggressive schedule today. The "motorman" CM's name was Will and he was talkative and friendly as we made our way through the Carthay Circle area and down Hollywood Boulevard. When we got to where the tracks split for a little bit (to allow trolleys to pass), we stopped and Will explained that we needed to wait about 10 minutes for the opposite one to pass--it was loaded with Mickey and the Newsboy show CMs. Since we were in no hurry at all, we stayed aboard--even though I could've walked to ToT in about 3 minutes. The wait turned out to be 15 minutes or more, but Will struck up a conversation with us and shared a couple of tips about DLR and asked a ton of questions about WDW as he had never been. He encouraged us to try to go to Fantasmic if we could fit it in and suggested the bridge at Pirates as kind of a secret place where you can find good viewing spots without getting there before sunset. We thanked him for the advice, and we eventually were on our way again to ToT.
It was 10:15a before I pulled a pair of FPs for an hour later. (DD had no interest in doing this as she has experience at WDW's version and it isn't her favorite.). We went over to ride Monsters Inc. and waited probably 25 minutes or so to get on. I was just meh on it, but DW and DD liked it well enough, especially when Roz noticed DW's eyeglasses and offered to trade. We loitered around the area a bit afterwards and it wasn't long before it was my turn on ToT. With DD out, DW and I would go solo here.
The FP queue was pretty short into the Library, but as at WDW it can get a little long in the Boiler Room. I noted how huge this BR is (and two levels!) compared to WDW--I had plenty of time, I think I spent a good 15 minutes in there. I had heard here this version was shorter, but had some kind of surprise in it that WDW doesn't have. The shorter part was right, but whatever the surprise was I must have missed it. Still a fun ride, but you'll just have to understand if I think WDW's is "better".
The ladies had found a shady spot while they waited for me, and as DW headed off for her turn I suggested DD and I head off to Character Closeup and look around there. We hadn't gotten to CC yet when DW rejoined us and said the ToT FP line was out the gate and along the front of ToT towards RCT's terminus. She knew that I didn't think it was that different and opted out.
When we were waiting in line for Monsters, I noticed a pair of "life-size" mouse ears over a wall and realized Minnie was meeting in a weird corner of the park. Duh, that's the Chase Visa M&G I almost forgot about. We were still in the area after ToT, so stopped by to load up a little more on PP opportunities--though this was one included anyway with our Visa card. Just as we were about to go in Minnie swapped out for Stitch, and DD's interest (and ours too) dropped considerably. Nothing against the guy--he's just not our favorite and we've seen him plenty of times before. We turned around and moved on to Character Closeup.
As we were about to walk in, we all noticed an easel outside with a board listing Animation Academy's schedule for the day. What's that, you say? At DLR, AA tells you what character will be drawn during each half-hour session. WDW does not--you find out once you're in the room. We had only a week earlier taken a quick trip to WDW, did AA there, and like most other kids her age DD hoped to draw a character from Frozen. That didn't work out, but here's a list of when we could choose from 2 or 3 opportunities to draw Olaf that day. We picked out our time to return, not realizing that between AA and our RSR FPs that we just killed our chances to see the Aladdin show. It wasn't until later, when all but the last Aladdin show was left, that I realized my mistake. Oh well.
We went inside the building and looked around for a bit, enjoying the large room and the air conditioning. Weird having things like Turtle Talk and Animation Academy across the same room from each other. Knowing Olaf was popular and how limited AA space was, I asked the CM there when we should return to be assured a spot. She said we would be fine if we showed up as the prior group was loading only 30 minutes before. When I asked about the large group of people lined up for the current one, she mentioned that AA at DLR had room for more than 100 people! (I'm used to WDW's version seating about 30-35.) We then spent about 45 minutes looking around, from studying the hella-cool Toy Story zoetrope I had heard about to doing the activities in the Sorcerer's Workshop.
DD definitely wanted a third go on California Screamin' so off I went to get those while they explored Bugs Land. It became apparent as I entered the Paradise Pier area something wasn't quite right--it was quiet...too quiet. CS wasn't running. Knowing I'd probably get a pat answer, I still asked the CM there about what was going on. She didn't disappoint--"we don't know when it will come back up"--but then mentioned it hadn't been up all day. That was not encouraging, and as it turned out we would not ride it again. At least DD had courageously done it the prior day a couple of times, and I couldn't resist the urge once more to point out one of my arguments to her at the time was that you never knew when you'd get another chance. Sweetly, of course.
So instead I went to Goofy's Sky School to get a couple of FPs for it. DD would be happy with that (even if I wasn't), and I knew better than to bother DW with one--she was definitely out. She and I agree: flat turns suck. By the time I returned to Bugs Land, they had gotten most of it done and I rode the dumb little teacups knockoff and the bumper cars with her while DW sat out and people-watched. We tried to sneak a quick ride on Ariel before our late lunch at Carthay Circle, but the ride was stopped and emptied just after we got in the queue.
I originally thought we'd do CC with the WOC package, but my research again said this may not be the greatest idea for two reasons. First, FPs were free and depending on how early you were willing to show up they were just as good if not better than the lunch or dinner package areas. Second, fried biscuits. These things get a lot of love on the boards and were not offered on the prix fixe package menu. They were indeed pretty good! I got the burger, which was roughly the size of the Wheel of Death, and DW ordered the salmon, which was very good--the one bite she offered me might have been the best I ever tasted. We had a quiet room upstairs with a server who seemed to know the place backwards and forwards, having worked there since before it opened. Not the least-expensive meal ever, but the ambience and class of the place was evident from the moment we stepped inside.
Afterwards, I rode with DD on GSS using our FPs, and it was everything I expected. Next.
We headed over to Animation Academy for our 5:30p date with Olaf, and got there so early (about 4:55p), that we were the first ones there. The sweet CM named Tiffany told us so and pointed to us as the leaders when a young couple appeared seconds behind us. We sat off to the side as the prior show loaded, and Tiffany made DD a small origami crane (or she had it ready). Like motorman Will on the Red Car Trolley, she was fascinated to hear all about WDW as we talked for a few minutes. She rotated on to another position or break and left word with her relief that we and the other couple were heading the line. In retrospect, there was no need for us to be that early, but it did lead to an interesting and unexpected little meet....
As we walked up the ramp and sat down next to the lines (denoting where the outward-opening doors opened to), we settled in for a little while and a quiet and air-conditioned 30 minutes. Up walks a solo dude who sits next to us with an iPad and a ball cap. DW said something about the cap--to the effect of "we know about that club"--to which he responded something like "I'm in that club". How I didn't actually look at the cap during this exchange I have no idea. Anyone want to guess what club they were referring to? Yeah, you're smarter than me! It was a couple of minutes later when I finally took a gander and saw the number.
In the meantime, he was very outgoing and friendly, and mentioned how he made his iPad case from his grandfather's leather jacket from when he was in WWII--very cool stuff. WDW came up, and he asked if I had been to DisneyQuest. I haven't been there yet, but he mentions that he is an ex-Imagineer and had been involved in the design of some of the attractions there. And both ToT and RSR at DLR. And by the way do you want to see some art I've done that was just approved by Disney? He flipped quickly through 4 or 5 gorgeous paintings on the iPad. I'm not technically supposed to show you this, but here's one I'm working on from Frozen--hope to get that approved soon. He mentions retirement, which seems weird since he's maybe mid-40s tops, and when I ask his age he confidently admits he's a multi-millionaire. I didn't get a cocky vibe from him at all, only a confident one--but from what he was saying deservedly so. He handed us his business card (with his name in Disney font) and signed it on the back, saying something about how it might be worth something someday. If you haven't figured it out by now, the ball cap simply had the number "33" in the same font as that on the door we saw a few days ago.
Now it occurs to me where we are talking, after he had shown us some of his rather stunning art. In line for Animation Academy. Where a CM leads people with no artistic talent at all (a.k.a. me) in a dubious effort to draw a recognizable Disney character.
What in the world was this guy doing HERE? When I asked him exactly that, he replied "you can never learn enough". What a fascinating answer, and probably one of those phrases that will stick with me until I die.
Finally it's time to go on in, and we all sit together on the front row, DD closest to him. The lead CM asks if anyone has tried to draw stuff from Frozen before, and he holds up his iPad in her direction (only) with the Frozen scene he had shown us. I thought I sensed a pause in her reaction, and she says "that's pretty good" or something like it. Uh, yeah. When she asks him to show it to the rest of the group, he politely explains that he can't and that it's unsanctioned art (I don't remember the exact term he used), and we carry on. Needless to say, I was very curious to see how his Olaf turned out in the end. What was interesting is that while I thought it was better than anyone else's I saw, it wasn't significantly so. Only he had drawn Olaf's carrot nose through his head, with only the tip sticking out the front--the way it looks when Anna first puts it on him. I was secretly hoping he'd offer DD his Olaf, but alas. The experience and the card would be enough.
(If you haven't guessed by now, I won't be sharing his name. I have no desire to get him in any kind of trouble and I'd prefer to protect his privacy. That may be a little weird I guess, but welcome to Mesaland. It wasn't a name I recognized and I doubt you would either anyway. If he does become famous or even Disney-famous, I might share it years down the road. I've done some amateur sleuthing and come to the conclusion he is legit.)
Alright, time for our last turn on RSR, and I am gonna get Luigi this time. Everything I've read says its random, and of course CMs at the ride say there is no rhyme or reason. Not good enough I say, let's noodle through this. There are four cars loaded simultaneously in the loading area. The first three times, I remembered we were in either the first or third car. Let's ask for the second or fourth and see what happens. Since we also prefer the first row of a car, I politely asked the loading CM for either Row 3 or Row 7. She probably thought I was loony (not a bad assessment), but since she was the
only CM with even a hint of bad attitude our entire trip, I didn't care. A few minutes later, my guess paid off and Luigi and Guido set us up with a set of whitewalls before we won our third race of four. Mission accomplished. It could be consistent, it could be random...your mileage may vary.
We take a last turn on MJJ and hope for the dadgum lyrics, oh well...can't win 'me all! We head over to the Wilderness Explorer trail and DD runs around and does all the challenges. Even though it's after-hours, the CM gives her a sticker anyway--I think they only are supposed to give these out during the day and at an awards ceremony of some sort. I finally get a turn on Ariel's ride and do little else other than try to compare it to WDW's brand-new version. DD points out a couple of minor things, I'm rubbing off on her already at such a young age. Sayonara DCA!
We head over across the promenade to Disneyland and to watch Magical again. I video it this time since I've already seen it once the proper way, and am prepared to capture Dumbo in action. For some "dumb" reason this has become really important to all of us. Early in the show, Tink does not appear where she did before--that's not a good sign. Sure enough, no Dumbo. Sadness ensues, and a couple of quiet tears are shed. We have an early morning start on our departure day two days out, staying out late the next night wasn't my first choice, but if we want to see an elephant fly....
Our feet are tired again, all the walking the last few days is catching up to us. We catch the next monorail out of Tomorrowland and take the short walk to our beds and a good night's sleep before a return to Disneyland tomorrow.
Up next:
Day 5 - Disneyland Park
That man will ride ANYTHING but hates ferris wheels.
Makes no sense when you say it, but it's true! 
You ..... you...... you...... SUPERUSER you! 
