Never Mind The Clever Title, Here's My Trip Report! December 2014 Solo Trip (Completed)

[PrincePluto]

Hey there - subbing in - looking forward to the rest of the report- l love the safari - though at times it reminds me of the Jurassic park scene in the car and there's nothing to see! Haha

The more the merrier!

 

[PrincePluto]

I decided to get some more "badges" in the Wilderness Explorer guidebook I had from the last time I visited Animal Kingdom, in 2013, so I headed over to Asia, where the majority of unearned badges in my book were located. On the way, I passed the Finding Nemo show:

I passed Expedition Everest, and took a picture of the train going up the track:

I didn't have anything to write in the book with, so the "den leader" at the Expedition Everest station gave me a pencil stub.

I stopped at the bar along the path, bought a cocktail (a mix of Captain Morgan spiced rum and iced tea) and chatted with the nice woman who served it, who was from Australia, and I told her my cousin had spent a year in New Zealand and another in Australia, and she ended up marrying a man from New Zealand and moving there.

I then did a few more badges, including one that simply involved looking at a currency conversion chart and multiplying the values by 100. I know, I know... it's aimed at young kids.

I saw a guy playing a sitar. He was pretty good. Of course, all I know about sitar playing is from a George Harrison song...

I saw that the standby line for Kali River Rapids was listed as 10 minutes, so I decided to go on it after I went through Maharajah Jungle Trek and earned the three patches there.

I saw the bats, but apparently didn't get a good picture of one:

Tiger:

Peacock:

After the Maharajah Jungle Trek, I decided to go on Kali River Rapids. I wore a cheap poncho, and the ride was a total walk-on -- it took me exactly as long as it took me to walk the queue at a brisk pace, until I was at the loading area. The line was so short the first time I rode, that there were only two other people in the boat I was in, so it wasn't as weighed down and didn't spin very well, and I didn't get that wet. I decided to ride it again, and this time there were 8 people in the boat (raft?) and I got *drenched*, even with a poncho on.

I decided I had had enough for one day, and proceeded to head for the exit.

I stopped off at Wendy's and picked up a chicken sandwich and a Frosty, and brought my meal back to my timeshare where I ate while I wrote up my notes for the day. I then watched some TV and went to bed.

Next: Day 3 - Disney's Hollywood Studios

 

[Chief Powhatan]

Sounds like a great Animal Kingdom day. I am always impressed with the Lion King performers and how much energy they bring to every performance.

 

[PrincePluto]

Sounds like a great Animal Kingdom day. I am always impressed with the Lion King performers and how much energy they bring to every performance.

Me, too! I had last seen the show in 2008, and forgot what an impression it had left on me; I definitely left the theater with a lump in my throat!

 

[PrincePluto]

Today, Monday, December 8, I got up at 6:45, got ready, ate breakfast, and was out the door by 7:45, headed for Disney's Hollywood Studios.

I paid the $17 parking fee, and was right up front, in Stage parking section. (I thought I had recorded the row number, I guess I didn't, suffice to say it was the closest row they let people park in)

I headed for the entrance. I like how at Disney, even the soda machines are themed!

I took a few pictures of the Disney's Hollywood Studios Christmas tree:

I approached the iconic ticket booths:

As you can see, it was a rather wet day. I alternated between wearing a poncho, and leaving it off, all day, as most of the time, even when it was raining, it was just a light mist.

There were only a couple of people in front of me at the RFID reader:

At 9:00, the gates opened, and everyone made the mad dash to Toy Story Midnight Mania. (Well, except for the families that broke left to sign up their kids for Jedi Academy, which thinned the herd enough that I was able to get to the ride with no wait.)

I paused to take a couple of pictures along the queue, but other than that, it was a nonstop trip from the entrance until I got to the top of the stairs down to the ride.

I rode TSMM with a woman who had never ridden it before, and somehow she still beat me! I ended up with a score like 85,000, which is low even for me, as I usually get more than 150,000.

When I came out of the ride, the wait was already 45 minutes standby, and when I passed it a few hours later, it was 65 minutes.

Just as a change of pace, I took a picture of the Pixar Place trashcans:

I stopped at the Joffrey coffee kiosk and got a mocha. It was like $8.

I had a bit of time before my first Fastpass+ window, for the Frozen sing-along show, so I decided to go into Walt Disney: One Man's Dream.

I'm a bit of a history junkie, so I enjoy exhibits like this.

Next: More "Walt Disney: One Man's Dream"

 

[PrincePluto]

An early version of "audio-animatronics":

The Carolwood Pacific Railroad:

1950: The earliest partnership of Disney and television:

Sleeping Beauty Castle scale model:

Early Dumbo ride elephant:

A recreation of the TV studio where the announcement of "The Florida Project" was filmed.

Taking the dream worldwide - a model of an attraction at TokyoDisney Sea:

Early concept for California Adventure Pleasureland Pier:

I then saw that the movie was about to begin, so I hurriedly finished my mocha and threw the cup away, and entered the theater. It was an enjoyable film; this was the first time I had seen it, despite having visited the exhibit twice before, as other times I didn't have enough free time to see it, trying to maximize my ride time.

Once I had finished watching the film on Walt Disney's life, I headed over to the Streets of America, to be on time for my FastPass+ to the Frozen sing-along. First, though, I took a couple of pictures in the animation courtyard, which featured banners for the 101 Dalmations Diamond Edition DVD/BLU-RAY:

I took one more picture, of the "Walt Disney: One Man's Dream" marquee:

I took a picture of the billboard for "Into The Woods"; I find it ironic that a movie based on a musical written by Stephen Sondheim as an alternative take on the traditional Disney fairytales, ended up being produced by Disney. I recently heard a movie reviewer say that, if you take children to see Into The Woods, you should leave about two-thirds into it, as it gets very dark at that point.

I took the obligatory photo of the "Splash" mermaid statue as I passed it:

I was then approaching the Frozen Sing-Along show FastPass+ queue, so I got in line.

Next: For The First Time In Forever: Frozen Sing-Along

 

[a1tinkfans]

Great pix. Enjoying ur solo trip report.

 

[PrincePluto]

Great pix. Enjoying ur solo trip report.

 

[dvc at last !]

Just found and have read your TR. The AK and DHS pics are great -
too bad it was a rainy DHS day, but looks like you enjoyed the park.
Keep it coming ...

 

[PrincePluto]

Just found and have read your TR. The AK and DHS pics are great -
too bad it was a rainy DHS day, but looks like you enjoyed the park.
Keep it coming ...

I have much more DHS to come, not to mention the subsequent days of Magic Kingdom and EPCOT (2 days). Between my point 'n' shoot camera, smartphone and Memory Maker, I have close to, if not more than, 2000 pictures.

 

[PrincePluto]

I headed over towards the Fastpass+ queue for the Frozen Sing-Along show, and got in line:

At 9:45, the doors opened and we filed into the theater:

We found our seats:

There was an advertisement for Wandering Oaken's Trading Post:

Then the show began:

Anna came out onto the stage:

Anna introduced the newly hired Royal Historians of Arendelle:

The historians made several very funny jokes, and had good chemistry with each other.

Then the actual narrative/music began, with video from the sing-along DVD:

The scene where Elsa accidentally froze Anna's head when they were children:

"Do you wanna build a snowman?"

Now it's time for the big song, "Let It Go"!

Kristoff comes on stage, and is hit on by the female historian:

Olaf sings "In Summer"

Next: Frozen Sing-along part 2

 

[PrincePluto]

And then Elsa arrived:

After she led the audience in a chorus of "Let It Go", the show was over and we exited the theater.

I started to head over to Tower of Terror for my 11:40 Fastpass+ window, but as I passed Star Tours, I saw that the Standby wait was only 5 minutes, so I decided to ride.

I think I would have been better off taking pictures with my phone, as it seems to have better luck taking indoors pictures in low light conditions, but I happened to have my point 'n' shoot camera out.

The Star Tours excursion was exciting, as always. Regrettably, I did not get to be the Rebel Spy (a small boy was), but it was fun. We had the Kashyyyk scenario combined with the Death Star fly-through. Surprisingly, I was the only one in the vehicle who went "Woo-Hoo" when we went to light speed... I was on the ride with a bunch of wet blankets.

Next: Star Tours Dump Shop

 

[PrincePluto]

After riding Star Tours, we exited via the dump shop:

Build Your Own Lightsaber area:

At this point, I started heading over towards my FastPass+ window for Tower of Terror.

Next: The Sorcerer's Hat area and Sunset Boulevard

 

[PrincePluto]

I headed from Star Tours over to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror via the Sorcerer's Hat area and Sunset Boulevard:

I stopped by the Legends of Hollywood store on Sunset, which had, it seemed, every Frozen-related piece of merchandise imaginable; also, to get out of the drizzle, which had just started up again:

I like the framed vintage Hollywood star photos along the walls:

More Frozen merchandise:

The rain was starting to let up, so I headed for the Tower of Terror.

Next: Tower of Terror

 

[Chief Powhatan]

Sounds like a fun day at Hollywood Studio's!

I was at Disney the week before you were. On Christmas morning, I received a gift from 'The Rebel Alliance'. It was the Leia doll you had a picture of in your post.

I look forward to reading about the rest of your trip.

 

[Nuts4Dale]

Enjoying your trip report!

 

[PrincePluto]

to all who are reading along, both those who have announced their presence, and those who are lurking along! I'll post an update later tonight, as I am at work here on New Year's Eve (gasp!) and don't expect it to be too busy unless something drastic and unforeseen occurs (knock on wood that it doesn't, or at least on formica, as I do not think any genuine wood surface exists in this building, except my boss's desk, which is locked in his office...)

 

[PrincePluto]

I braved the rain to head down Sunset Boulevard to ride Tower of Terror:

I didn't think that the cast member who loaded us into the elevator was sufficiently creepy, but the one who unloaded us was a little better. The ride was good, as always, and I caught some serious air! I must have been lifted a good 3 inches out of my seat... I got the Photopass ride picture, but it will have to wait until later in my trip report after I have received my Photopass CD in the mail...

I got a Pumpkin Cider at Pacific Produce (didn't have a real strong pumpkin taste, it was really more of a hard apple cider with some pumpkin pie spices added - not too bad).

I headed back towards the Sorcerer's Hat area:

I decided to head over to The Magic of Disney Animation to get some character photos taken; unfortunately, due to the weather, half of the people in the park had the same idea.

I got on line for Mr. Incredible and Frozone, which wasn't too long, and got my picture taken with them.

I didn't bother getting my picture taken with Sorcerer Mickey or Minnie, as I had gotten my picture taken with them last December when I was here. I wanted to get my picture taken with Hero and Baymax, but by the time I finished getting a picture taken with Mr. Incredible and Frozone, they went on break until 1:30. I decided to get some lunch and come back.

I passed the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza and decided to take some pictures:

"Richard" Clark - by coincidence, his Rockin' New Year's Eve (with Ryan Seacrest) is on tonight! (Edited to add, apparently his nickname is considered a swear word by Disboards!)

Andy Griffith - I still find it strange how quickly he was interred after he passed away - mere hours:

Ron Howard - Kind of funny that they did a bust of him as a director rather than as an actor:

Dame Angela Lansbury:

Bill Cosby - The less said of him, the better:

Oprah Winfrey:

Betty White:

And of course, the great man himself, Walt Disney:

At this point, I decided to head over to Backlot Express and get some lunch.

 

[dvc at last !]

Great update - bummer rain !

 

[dvc at last !]

Interesting to see the Frozen Sing-Along.
We have FP for that in February.