So much fun!!! I think your PP view was spectacular
Now I'm imagining billowing coats and ponytails in the air. The pictures of paradise pier are amazing. I don't think I've ever been there with no people but then again I haven't been there when there are gale warnings.
I love your photopass pics by the waterfall. Especially the one where you raised your fist in the air. You look filled with joy
Can't wait for more!
TK
TK -
Thank you! Yes, I suppose that, at that point in the trip (when I was doing the PhotoPass pics by the waterfall in DCA), I was still filled with joy. It was the next day when things started to take a turn...but let's not jump ahead.
That wind was so odd - it seemed to come out of nowhere and then it just kind of disappeared. I think I'm okay with some wind at DLR. Yes, my hair is flying all around but it's not as messy as rain is for me, and it seems to keep the crowds low.
Yeah, why do the creepy dolls that come to life always try to kill? I have this vague memory of a doll rocking in a rocking chair by itself on that old show "In Search Of." It wasn't trying to kill anybody though...rocking slowly in a rocking chair was creepy enough.
I can't remember ever seeing a picture of the Fun Wheel from this exact angle. Nice!
You'd hardly know it was the holiday season in DCA. They really need to step it up in the holiday decor department.
Really enjoying your TR as we celebrate Christmas in July this weekend! Tonight we watched Charlie Brown, Frosty the Snowman, and The Brady Bunch Christmas episode where Carol loses her voice and Cindy asks Santa to give her her voice back.
(Is that grammatically correct? Two "hers" in a row?)
Deej -
Thank you!
So you were watching the Charlie Brown Christmas show? The one with the Charlie Brown Christmas tree? That tree is so sad.
Ah yes, I'd almost forgotten about the Brady Bunch Christmas episode until you mentioned it. It's been a long, long time since I saw that specific episode.
The picture you mentioned (of the Fun Wheel from a distance) - I don't think I planned on getting that picture. In fact I know I didn't. I just happened to be in that spot in the Pacific Wharf area and I kind of turned around, saw the Fun Wheel and thought, "Oh well. Might as well take a picture." It was a spur of the moment experiment, whereas in the case of some other pictures I have them planned out beforehand. I wasn't 100% thrilled with how it came out - some of my pictures I enjoy more than others but I will usually post all of the ones I don't like as well as the ones I do like - so I'm glad that someone else noticed it!
If a doll is rocking in a chair by itself and no one is there to push the chair, it has nefarious deeds on its mind! That doll is up to no good! It may not have tried to kill anyone yet, but it will! First, it's the innocent blinking of the eyes. Then it's the seemingly harmless chair rocking. Then, the doll starts talking. Next thing you know, that little dolly has tripped someone and caused them to fall down the stairs.
Catalina looks beautiful. After seeing your pictures, I have added it to the list of places I want to see someday. Your flower shots are stunning.
It was nice of whoever arranged for you to have the theme park room. That is a lovely perk that I enjoy but would never pay for. I would rather spend the extra dollars toward something at Disney than to have a nicer view. Sneaking Brangelina through the park would be a rough job. Remind me never to apply to be a special activities coordinator. I’ve been there when D list celebrities are there and other people make a big deal about it. Glad they helped you though. It seems like they took good care of you even though I have a sneaking suspicion those VIP tickets did not work out so well.
It sounds like it was a really windy day. I agree that I would rather have a nice day with long lines than a rainy day with short lines. There is so much more to Disney than just rides. Being as comfortable as possible is already hard without being wet. I was one of the people who waited four years for the newly remodeled DCA. We were there in summer 2008 when we learned about what was to come. Crap says he read about it a little before that, but I am pretty sure I learned about it on that trip. It was worth the wait too! Disney really should step up the decorations at DCA. The ones I’ve seen of
Disneyland are much nicer. One day, I need to see them both in person.
Kim -
Thank you for the compliment on the flower pictures! If you like scenic beach towns with beautiful views, charming little trinket shops and friendly locals, I think you'd like Avalon. And it's such a quick boat ride - it seems like it's a much more remote place than it is, but because it's only an hour across the water from Long Beach, it's easy to get over there and back to civilization in one day.
I've got a bunch of fairly interesting photos from the Catalina day trip on 7/21 - a lot of 'overview'-type shots that give a good idea of what the town of Avalon looks like, what kind of vibe it has, the fairly creepy Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden, etc. I didn't have nearly enough time there for my liking, though. I think I'm going to start posting the pictures over in the California forum. I guess I'll have to post them in the "California Trip Reports" section, even though I'm not really going to do a full TR for that trip - just more of a photo report, like what I did for Cars Land. When I get the thread started I will post the link for it here.
As for the theme park views in hotel rooms - I got lucky the last two years in a row by getting a free theme park view upgrade at the PPH. I know that I cannot always expect that kind of view but I was thrilled to have it because it somehow enhanced my trip in some odd way. I know it sounds crazy - but whenever I was in the room I enjoyed it more because I always wanted to look out the window.
However, that said - I don't think I would ever pay for a theme park view room unless I was
much more solvent than I am now,
or unless other people were chipping in on the room with me so the cost was not bad,
or unless I had to get a last-minute room at a Disney hotel and a theme park view was the only room available (which happened to me at the GCH back in 2001).
If I had all kinds of extra money to throw around, then sure - why not get the room with the best view? Some people can afford to get a theme park view room and it won't break the bank or prevent them from buying what they want in the parks. In my case, though, I am usually very lucky if I can even manage to swing paying for a standard, non-view room at the PPH, let alone anything more expensive. And paying for an upgrade would likely prevent me from doing something else in the park like buy a souvenir or whatever.
You know, I have a feeling that the Special Activities office at DLR probably gets to deal with all kinds of cranky or demanding people!
They not only have to humor the whims of bratty celebrities, but they also handle the "regular" DLR visitors (such as me!) who have had previous onsite stays that didn't go so well. So those "regular" folks may have chips on their shoulders because they are disgruntled and they expect things to go wrong again, or they expect Disney to jump through hoops to please them and make up for the previous blunders! I am guessing that a lot of the guests that the SA office handles are 'difficult' in some way.
I totally agree with you - it is hard enough to get comfortable at DLR on a non-rainy day. When you add rain into the mix, the lines for rides may disappear and the crowds may vanish, but it's a big mess in other ways and it makes it hard to get photos, carry certain bags around, etc. It's just inconvenient. And then you end up sitting in some puddle left behind by the previous rider on Buzz Lightyear or whatever!
I agree - the 4-year wait for DCA to be completed was worth it! And even though it
seemed like there was a lot of construction going on all at one time, continuously, they really did stage it pretty well so that not too much stuff was happening simultaneously. It was a gradual process. The detour at the entrance to DCA, for example, that guided us past the back side of Soarin, didn't go up until 2011. The Golden Gate Bridge and the CALIFORNIA letters didn't disappear until after the holiday season of 2010/early 2011. It took a while for those things to happen, but I'm glad it's all finished now!
California Adventure definitely needs more decorations, as far as I'm concerned, although I realize that DCA is probably a nice refuge for the folks who don't celebrate Christmas, so that they are not totally saturated in Christmasy stuff. So I guess it works on that level. Maybe it's a nice counterbalance to Disneyland's full-throttle themed Christmas extravaganza! As a huge Christmas fan, of course, I wish that DCA were decked out in decor like DL is, but I'm not sure that it ever will be. I kind of have a feeling that DCA will always seem 'less' decorated than Disneyland in some way.
I hope you get to experience DLR during the holidays very soon!
Thank you Sherry. I ordered the Catalina Island Visitors Guide yesterday and we will be looking forward to it. As you already know that my DA and I will be at the DLR during the Holiday season in November since I have basketball season. I wanted to go back to DL in December during my birthday, but I got to coach basketball and can't miss any games just for myself. I have been enjoying going to the DLR in November since it is not as crowded like December, but the DLR hotels won't be fully decorated after Thanksgiving. So I won't get the free round-trip boat ride unless my basketball team goes down to SoCal for a tournament. The Disney parks should have continued the birthday promotion that they did in 2009.
Can't be it has been two years since Cadillac Range was just steel from 2010 and all of a sudden in one year there is a mountain range. Thank you Sherry. It's always great to see views from PPH since I haven't stayed there ever since it was the Pan Pacific Hotel back in the 90s.
I know that the wreaths at DCA temporary entrance to DCA was not that interesting, but after having Pan Pacific Auditorium inspired walls, I knew that you would be interested in them. The side entrance to DCA was not so inspiring but it was only a temporary until BVS was completed.
It will be very interesting to see what decorations will be up at DCA. I would like to see some new decorations at BVS this year.
Very nice photopass right at the waterfall on the backside of GRR. You got a lot of pics around Pacific Wharf.
Nice update to your TR.
Bret -
Thank you!
Oh good! I'm glad that you ordered the Catalina Visitors Guide. If Catalina Express extends the free birthday offer for a third year (past April 2013), they should announce it by March 2013. So even though you can't take advantage of the free birthday boat trip this year, if they do it again in 2013 maybe you'll be able to take advantage of it then. In any case, I'll be curious to hear what your DA thinks or says when she looks at the Visitors Guide. I'm going to post more pictures in the California forum, so look for those as well.
We've got 4 more months - actually, to be exact, we have 15 weeks from today - until the holiday season begins at DLR!
Soon, all the questions we have will be answered and we will find out what's in store for the newly reimagined DCA in terms of decorations! Will Cars Land get its own themed decorations so soon after its debut, or will TDA leave it alone this year? What will BVS look like with holiday lights and decor? Will the DCA tree be moved from the PP section and over to BVS? Will there be any special decorations or lights around the entrance to DCA? And in Disneyland, will those awful Toon Town trees be back for another year, or will TDA come to its senses and bring the old trees back? Will they remove anything else from New Orleans Square's decorations? What will this year's gingerbread centerpiece look like in Haunted Mansion Holiday?
Only 15 more weeks, my friend! Fifteen more weeks and all will be revealed!
I love your PP picture with MFW in the background. GREAT PP border around it. I had never noticed the tiny Hidden Mickeys on the snowflake border either.
Had to laugh at Deej saying how Disney really goes all out decorating DCA for the holidays.
Thanks for the update. I needed a little magic today and you delivered.
TK -
Thank you!
I managed to crank out
two updates yesterday afternoon (not sure if you saw the second one, with the Stitch/DCA Christmas tree location/abstract, close-up Mickey's Fun Wheel pictures), shockingly!
So hopefully I gave you a double dose of magic...holiday magic, no less! We're still in the 'good' part of my trip, before everything started to go downhill, so there's a lot of joy and merriment to be had so far...wind or no wind!
Michele -
Yes, it's 'Duffy butt'...but he has a Mickey icon on one side of his butt, which I find terribly odd!
Another great update to your TR. Those are very nice photopass pictures at the bridge of PP and right by the Christmas tree. We did say that the tree at PP is possibly going to be moved towards the entrance of BVS. Just like DL Christmas tree on MS, it would be a great spot to have the Christmas tree at the entrance. Where will they put the tree in BVS is the question. Maybe they will put it right by the flag retreat or around Storyteller's Statue. I just can't wait to get to the Holiday season. You made my day of writing up two TR's in one day.
Great pics of MFW when you went by it. I am one of those crazy people who would go up on MFW and get all those aerial photos of DCA and DL. Since CL is now completed, I will still go up there to get great photos.
Nice update to your TR.
Thank you, Bret!
I don't know how I managed to crank out two TR installments yesterday but somehow I did it! I'm glad you enjoyed them.
I just think that the DCA Christmas tree is too far into DCA to be the 'main' tree for that park. It seems like it's the 'Paradise Pier tree' for that specific land, but not the main tree representing the holiday season for the entire park, such as Disneyland's tree. I think that a main tree for an entire park should be somewhere near the entrance - or closer to it than the PP area. So, for that reason, I think it should be moved but I'm not sure if it will be moved.
I am very curious to see what happens with Cars Land - it's possible that Disney won't go all out on decorating the entire land this year, but they may put a tree in...and that tower of tires is just begging for some Christmas lights. They may use
that as the tree!
I'm glad you've been brave enough to go up in the Fun Wheel - you've gotten some great photos from up in the air! That is a perspective and vantage point that no one will have unless they go on that ride. I will not be going on it - and if I ever did I would have my eyes closed the whole time and no photos would be taken (I don't like heights at all). So I will enjoy your photos while I am safely planted on the ground!
We were suckered into going on Mickey's Not-So-Fun Wheel with the family even though I knew better. To quote my kids,
"How bad can the moving buckets be? Let's go!" 
I was OK with the motion (as long as you don't spin me in circles I don't get sick) but it was still disconcerting. And I was also disconcerted by the horrified looks of my kids sitting across from me as we reached the end of the loop each time!!
I'll go up again for the views, but on the stationary baskets this time.
... and you got more photos of some animatronic ducks at Pacific Wharf.
PHXscuba
PHX -
I am laughing at the "How bad can the moving buckets be?" comment.
It would be very disconcerting, I'd imagine, for those who don't like heights.
I am one of those types who gets butterflies in my stomach and weak in the knees when I am simply standing on the ground looking up at a tall building or structure. That's right - I don't even like looking UP at things that are in the air, let alone looking down at the ground when I am higher up. I get a little wobbly when I stand at the PPH window and look out at the view.
But if you're someone who doesn't mind heights in general, then the views from the Fun Wheel are probably amazing!
Yes, the animatronic ducks are everywhere!
Your Catalina pictures make me want to visit there, too.
Mickey's Icky Wheel... I used to call it the WheelOfDeath, but on this visit Robert said "what if Eamon and I went on it and something happened...you would feel terrible". And even though I'm not sure I would take time to feel terrible about *what I'd called it* while dealing with whatever the "something" would be, it's roaming around in my head now and I have a hard time calling it that now. Darn him. Anyway, the MIW is horrible for me. I've only done the stationary side, and it's awful because you can see the moving cars swinging and falling and going back and forth, all around you....ugh, I think I'm feeling ill just to think about it. BUT when I was up there last February, I figured "meh, no getting down now", so I avoided the icky thoughts going through my head, and snapped pictures of the "mountains" to distract myself.
Molly -
Thank you. I can't tell if you'd like Catalina or not. I
think you probably would enjoy it, for the beautiful parts of it (and there are many). It used to be a very clear-cut '
you either fall in love with Avalon or you are extremely bored and can't wait to leave' kind of thing for most people with Catalina. One extreme or the other. Nowadays there seems to be some middle ground too - a lot of '
It was fun, but we don't really need to go back' kinds of opinions have been popping up over the last few years.
I know what you mean about calling Mickey's Fun Wheel a "Wheel of Death." (By the way, Nancy/YellowMickeyPonchos says she coined that phrase, so I guess she started all the madness!) I'm not totally comfortable with it, either. On one hand I think it kind of makes an amusing, exaggerated, overly dramatic statement about the fear of the ride. On the other hand, I kind of agree with Robert's opinion. Just to put it out there into the universe seems like a bad idea. I typed it out yesterday because that was the first thing on my mind and I didn't take time to think of another catchy name for the Fun Wheel that I was satisfied with.
I suppose I could just call it "Mickey's Fun Wheel of Terror," since the Tower of Terror ride is located in the same park. If there can be a Tower of Terror, there can be a Wheel of Terror, I think.
