Nothing to See Here...

[mvf-m11c]

A million years ago when it was the Pan Pacific I stayed there with my parents. It was so new and so nice. It was great, I would think that now it would be even better with all of the theming involved, and the location isn't that far.

The only reason we haven't stayed there instead on the DLH is because I am a huge DLH fan.

It's been a long time since I have stayed at the former Pan Pacific hotel which was great back in the old days, when I need to catch the monorail at the DLH to DL. Or take the tram from the hotel to the main entrance before DTD was made. Also it was fairly cheap back than and I would prefer that the DLR would at least make it more better theme.

Even though it is the cheapest out of the three hotels at the DLR, it is still not cheaper than the other hotels on Harbor Blvd. The PPH hotel is nice, but I would prefer to stay at the DLH or GCH.

 

[Sherry E]

I just had another thought about my phone (which is still dead on all 3 extensions) and what may have caused the trouble, if it's not rain-related (since "the box" is in the subterranean parking garage, away from water).

My neighbors immediately next door to me (we shared a thin wall between our apartments) just moved out, and finished up their moving over the weekend, including Sunday. My phone went dead either on Sunday night or early Monday morning. I wonder if, somehow, their moving had something to do with my phone dying. Like, perhaps, when AT&T shut off their phone, they accidentally shut off mine too. Or perhaps something got jostled inside the wall when they moved out and it affected my phone. Or maybe someone went down to "the box" in the garage and messed up my line in the process. That might also explain why I seem to be the only one in the building with no working phone line. Hmmm....

In any case, you'd think it was a national disaster with as long as these phone people are taking to get out here. I would expect it to take this long if all the lines were out all over the city. But that's not the case.

Oh well, there's nothing I can do but wait for Sunday.

 

[kaoden39]

Hmm it is interesting that the two happened so closely together. I wonder if it had anything to do with it.

 

[funatdisney]

Lovin' part two of day one.

So, after all that confusion, imagine my surprise to hear these two sentences from Steve:

1. "You've been upgraded to a park view room, and you'll have a great view of World of Color."

2. "Your room is ready now."


Now? You mean, my room was ready at 6:00 a.m., and I didn't have to leave my bags at the Bell Desk? And I was getting a free upgrade to an awesome view room to boot? Yessssssss!!!!!!!!


My excitement and appreciation of Steve were validated even further when he added:

"You get a free gift, too."

Ok this would put a huge grin on my face and a skip in my step. How lucky to have your room ready for you at 6am, an upgrade in your room and free gift!

First thing I did when we got to the room - before anything else - was rush to the window to see what the "view" really was. I've heard of some folks actually paying for park view rooms and only being able to glimpse a morsel of the Matterhorn, way off to the side. Since I had not paid for this upgrade and it was free, I figured my view would be something along those lines.

I was wrong. While these photos below don't do it justice - and I have better photos of the view coming up later on - I was thrilled with it. The view of California Adventure - particularly the Paradise Pier area - was amazing. We had such a clear eye line of Mickey's Wheel of Death (we could also hear the bloodcurdling screams from that ride later in the afternoon!) and California Screaming, along with Tower of Terror, Grizzly Peak and a little of the Matterhorn off to the side. We could see the people milling about by Ariel's Grotto. We could see the DCA Christmas tree. We also had a great view of the Grand Californian. Watching World of Color from the room was definitely on the agenda for later!

I was so happy with this view. Yes, there was a teeny bit of construction to see, but it was hardly enough to mar an otherwise fabulous vantage point.

These pictures remind me of the DVC rooms in the GCH we have stayed in the past. Three out of five visits at the VGC, we have had rooms that face into DCA. We joke that I should add binoculars to my packing list so we can check out the wait time for Toy Story Mania before we head into DCA.

By the way – has anyone noticed that I said I found a quarter when I arrived at the PPH? Do you remember that, when I returned home from DLR, after all was said and done with the hold they put on my money, the final charge on my bill was….25 cents?? How weird is that? I found 25 cents and I ended up being charged that same amount. So I guess I really didn’t lose anything!! Although, the CM’s should have gotten their info straight about how much tax they were applying to the Resort Fee – that is where the 25 cents came into the picture!!

I think that is cool. I love it when things like this happen to me or to others.

 

[Sherry E]

Well, it's been thundering and storming, and I probably should not be sitting right by the window when there are periodic lightning strikes, but I wanted to reply to a few posts before I get on with Day 1 - Part 3!

I can't wait to see them!

OK, I'm here now. Thank you for the smile you put on my face as I read Part 1. After I read it I went to the last page of your TR and saw that you have at least Part 2 up, but I looked at the screen through really squinty eyes on purpose so I could check to see how long it was. I needed to figure out if I would have enough time to read it tonight, without really seeing it and spoiling what was to come. I just scrolled through really quickly, trying not to look too closely. I see that I don't have enough time to get caught up tonight but that gives me something to look forward to for tomorrow.

Anyway, the image of you in Taz-mode at such an early hour is so funny! And about that creepy guy that was taking a stroll at 4:15 am... It reminded me of something that happened the other night. I came home from the store and it was dark and I was by myself. I got out and started unloading the car. I noticed a suspicious-looking guy walking slowly back and forth on the sidewalk across from our house. He was wearing a dark hood pulled down over his face and it looked to me like he was holding a gun. I got a little freaked out and darted in the house. I told my husband there was a suspicious-looking character outside and I wanted him to come out and help me bring things in. He came out and stood in front of the door. I said, "See? Look at that guy over there. Doesn't he look like he's up to something?" Before I could say, "We need to keep an eye on him so we can call the police or be good witnesses if necessary or.." my husband said, "You mean that 12 year old with the airsoft gun?" I guess he wasn't quite the shady character I made him out to be.

I can't wait to tune in tomorrow!

deej - hopefully I will have Part 3 up by the time you get to Part 2!!

Yes, I snapped a few light fixture photos here and there - not as many as you've gotten, of course. And without going to check your TR, I can't recall off-hand if you have all or most of the ones I got on camera. I think I may have gotten one or two you don't yet have, but maybe my memory is failing me.

about the 12-year-old with the airsoft gun! There is something ominous about hoods pulled down over faces. That just spells trouble! So I don't blame you for being suspicious!

That is really exciting to get a upgrade room for all that trouble with the payment. To get a park view room and getting to check-in very early is excellent.

The PPH park view room looks very nice and the view of the room was really nice. The last time I have stayed at the PPH was when it was the Pan Pacific hotel back in the early 90s before Disney didn't own the hotel. It would be nice to stay on property, but I rather would come multiple times than just one time in the Disney hotels. When I did the GCH in October, that was special for me and my DA. I would say that if the PPH has a great deal, I might consider staying at the PPH.

Can't wait to read more of your TR when you and your cast are in the parks.

Bret, I totally know what you mean about wanting to get in more trips to DLR rather than stay onsite for one trip. There are certainly many, many other people who share your opinion. That's probably the most common opinion right now. I think that's why the off-property hotels are so popular and the Disney hotels seem to have availability when you would not expect them to. For people who don't really count the hotel as part of the overall experience, there is no need to stay onsite and spend that kind of money.

I keep saying that I'm sure I will end up at HoJo's sooner or later. Right now, what I seem to do is either stay onsite at a Disney hotel for a few nights OR I only go to DLR for one day and don't stay in a hotel at all! It's one extreme or the other! For me, the hotel is part of the whole experience and staying in a Disney hotel really enhances that experience. But it is definitely not something I can do all the time - not even every year, really. And it's definitely not something that everyone wants to do - some people will be fine staying at a Good Neighbor and getting more days out of their Disney trips, or more Disney trips in a year.

I also keep telling myself that I'd like to stay at the GCH again in the future (I've stayed there twice), but then I think...do I really want to stay at the GCH again? I mean, yes, it's a lovely hotel and the convenience is awesome. But the main parts of the hotel that I love are the things that I can enjoy without staying there - like the lobby and Storytellers Cafe, etc. I didn't actually love the rooms of the GCH enough to need to save my pennies to get back there again. So I'm not sure. The time I stayed there and had a DTD view was really nice - but that room was a million miles away from the elevator. And to pay for that kind of room for several nights now would be a small fortune.

So if I am going to stay onsite, I figure I might as well aim for the least expensive of the 3 hotels (even though Paradise Pier is not cheap, by any means). I can still get the feeling of Disney immersion that I want - at a much lower price. But the PPH rates will never be as reasonable as the Good Neighbor hotels, and those rates scare many people away. I have a hunch that the hotel rates will hike way up as soon as the work is all done in DCA.

While it didn't end as well as it could, what a perfect START to your much-anticipated trip!

I, too, love the PPH. When we stay on-site, that is where we stay (for all the reasons you mentioned).

amamax2 - Yes, the PPH is a happy, sunny, pleasant hotel, isn't it? It's nice and bright. The Christmas tree is absolutely beautiful. Both Shawn and I were commenting on how we loved this year's tree (which is a bit different than the tree they used to have at the PPH in 2008) because of the blue-green colors and lights. After seeing all the trees in the DLH (at least I think I saw them all), the trees at the GCH and the tree at the PPH, I really think the PPH has the prettiest tree. The GCH tree is very pretty in that sort of elegantly rustic, earthy context, but in terms of color, the PPH tree wins, I think.

A million years ago when it was the Pan Pacific I stayed there with my parents. It was so new and so nice. It was great, I would think that now it would be even better with all of the theming involved, and the location isn't that far.

The only reason we haven't stayed there instead on the DLH is because I am a huge DLH fan.

Michele, I remember the PPH in its older version. I think the first time I stayed at PPH was right after it had switched to the PPH. I think. My first stay there was in December 2000, and I keep thinking it had become the Paradise Pier by that time, but I could be wrong.

Now, as I mentioned to Bret above, whether or not I really need or want to stay at the GCH again is undecided. But I would like to stay at the DLH again in the future (after all the changes). It's so odd to think that I used to stay at the DLH on every DL trip. I just loved it (well, I loved its old version, pre-1999). And then, all of a sudden, the price went up and they added the PPH to their roster of hotels. And I haven't been back to stay at the DLH since then. Plus, I'm sad that they have done away with the waterfalls and koi ponds. It was always a treat to get a room wth a view of the 'falls. I think those elements gave the DLH a certain tropical, lush kind of feeling that it won't have now with all this 'retro' business they are trying to do to it.

But I do recall loving the spacious rooms of the DLH!!

Oh Sherry! The report is off to a wonderful start... well except for Shawn's getting lost part but at least she sounds like she stayed in good spirits. Your room looks great! The goodies were a fantastic little extras and your upgrade and view were fabulous! Can't wait to see more!


Hope you are feeling better by now and get the phone issue solved.

I finally got my Photopass pics back and everything is uploaded. I ended up with a little over 2500 photos between the PP and the ones I took. I'll leave you with a few of our group shots from our mini DIS meet. Such fun! I hope we do it again someday and have more time.

Hi, Marie!! Yes, I'm feeling much better (I was not that sick to begin with - I escaped without getting hit with a whopper this time). But the stupid phone is still dead. And there seems to just be one hassle after another (like last night, with the mysterious PayPal charge appearing that caused me to cancel my debit card and order a new one).

Yes, Shawn stayed in good spirits despite getting lost and having to crawl on the ground to get her hair clip from under another person's car. She was in good spirits all the way until our ride on Pirates later in the day. No Jackie with this time, so that was kind of odd because Jackie is always there on our Disney trips.

Thank you so much for posting those photos from November!! They're really cute. It looks like PhotoPass added some new borders - finally!!

You know, when you took your recent 2+ week DLR holiday trip, at first I was wondering if 2 weeks would be too much for me at DLR, if I ever had the chance to stay that long. I think it may be overload for me after a while, BUT now that I have seen how much I get done and how much I still had yet to do at DLR that never got done - even when left to my own devices for a couple of days - I definitely think I could do a full week, at least. I would do shorter days in the parks each day and spend more time at the hotel, maybe even skipping a day in the parks and only staying around the hotel, but I could certainly fill up the time. Just hand me a camera and I am off and running. I get on a roll. And then - before I know it - the trip is over and I have 10 things left that I didn't get to do!!

That is pretty weird!

Totally and completely did the Exact Same Thing.

Molly, it is pretty weird (about the quarter/25 cents thing)!

Molly, you are another fan of the PPH, right? Not a fan of the prices so much, but of the overall decor and the size of the rooms!! Not as cool as the WDW hotels, of course, but of the 3 Disney hotels the PPH is your favorite, as I recall?

Loving the trip report so far looking forward to more of course.

You are right about the view from the PPH.

We did end up making some changes to the trip that I won't get into here but you can check them out on my TR
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2613318

Sherri, I saw your TR before you posted the link. I was going to comment on it. In a way, I'm sad that you had to give up your dream of staying at the DLH for now, but at the same time it seems like it wasn't the right timing for a DLH stay. And, in shifting your plans around, you now have 4 character meals on the agenda, which will be great fun!!

Molly (Bumbershoot) has stayed at the Anabella. Maybe she has some insight?

These pictures remind me of the DVC rooms in the GCH we have stayed in the past. Three out of five visits at the VGC, we have had rooms that face into DCA. We joke that I should add binoculars to my packing list so we can check out the wait time for Toy Story Mania before we head into DCA.


Liza

Liza - I must say, the view rooms are nice. I don't know that I would pay for a view unless I knew I was going to be in the room a lot to be able to enjoy it. But when you get the view for free, it's extra cool to be able to look out and see the DCA Christmas tree, and the people walking around the Paradise Pier area, not to mention being close enough to hear the screams from Mickey's Wheel of Death.

 

[bumbershoot]

I answered the Anabella topic in the appropriate trip report!

Sherri, I forget, did you end up getting an AP?

 

[Sherry E]

I answered the Anabella topic in the appropriate trip report!

Sherri, I forget, did you end up getting an AP?

You mean me? Yes, I got it back on that one-day trip in November. I got the monthly payment plan. At the time I gave them my PayPal debit card to use for the monthly payments. Of course, now that I had to cancel that card last night and order another one, I will have to dig up a number for the AP people and change the card they have on file for me to either the new PayPal debit (when it arrives) or another card.

 

[bumbershoot]

Why do I keep spelling your name wrong? I'm sure it's even more annoying for you than it is for me to realize I've done it. Again. Sorry about that.

Oh and yes I am a fan of the PPH. Didn't start that way, but they won me over.

 

[Sherry E]

Why do I keep spelling your name wrong? I'm sure it's even more annoying for you than it is for me to realize I've done it. Again. Sorry about that.

Oh and yes I am a fan of the PPH. Didn't start that way, but they won me over.

It's okay, Molly! It's not annoying. I've noticed that other people slip in and out of the various spellings, too. If not for the fact that Sherri with an 'i' also posts in this thread, I would have known for sure you were talking to me. I figured you were, but I thought I'd better be 100% sure.

I think I was kind of won over by the PPH too, over the years. I didn't start out loving the hotel. Because I was accustomed to staying at the DLH, it took some getting used to when I began staying at the PPH (or whatever it was called back in 12/2000). Well, actually, the DLH used to be so much different from what it is now - there was so much more of the DLH to see. It was really a resort hotel. There were so many more shops. So many more restaurants. Fun little pedal boats. A couple of lounge/nightclub-type places. Seeing the DLH downsized considerably was an adjustment in and of itself. And then transitioning into the PPH was more of one. But it has grown on me over the years, and now I prefer the PPH rooms to the GCH rooms.

Now if only Shawn would stop calling it the Pioneer Pier Hotel.

 

[kaoden39]

Pioneer Pier?

 

[funatdisney]

Liza - I must say, the view rooms are nice. I don't know that I would pay for a view unless I knew I was going to be in the room a lot to be able to enjoy it. But when you get the view for free, it's extra cool to be able to look out and see the DCA Christmas tree, and the people walking around the Paradise Pier area, not to mention being close enough to hear the screams from Mickey's Wheel of Death.

I love a view room, but, then, when we stay in a DVC room, we are in our room for a lot of our time. I sometimes I prepare breakfasts, lunches and BBQ dinners (we usually invite family that live nearby or friends in on a day trip). Our trips at the VGC are to enjoy the hotel and relax. We don't stay very long in the parks because we go so often as day trips (at least 9 day trips/year). My DDs are teenagers, and if they want to go into the parks, they are allowed to go by themselves. DH and I enjoy the alone time, and they get a trip more to their liking. I know that I am bit strange and doesn't work for everyone, but it really works for our family.

 

[Sherry E]

So, I feel the need to forge ahead in this TR, as this will be a long journey of many posts and many Quests!

Day 1 - December 12, 2010 - Part Three​

As I said in Part Two, I think Shawn would have preferred that we hit Goofy's Kitchen first - which opened at 7:00 a.m. - and then head into the parks. But Goofy was going to have to wait, as I had my mind set on getting into Disneyland early for the Magic Morning hour. I remember the great success we had with the MM back in December 2008, and I felt it was worth it again to get on IASW Holiday before the line grew to be 45 minutes long.

I think Shawn also would have preferred to hop on the Monorail and head into DL that way, rather than walk to the front gates. The less walking, the happier she is. But I know that the Monorail will often sit there until it is fully loaded before it takes off, and that could waste precious time in the MM hour. I'd rather stay on the move and head to the front gates before they let everyone in for MM, than sit there and wait for the Monorail to take off. Besides, I like entering Disneyland via Main Street. To me, it doesn't feel like I am doing Disneyland the right way unless I step onto Main Street first. Going in through Tomorrowland feels like I am cheating, somehow!!

Plus, I had two MM's with my PPH reservation - I knew that I at least had to use one of them during my trip. Seeing that the first MM fell on my first day, I felt that was the best one to use. By the time the second MM rolled around two days later, I may be too tired to make it. Also, I had Shawn's name added to the PPH reservation so they would give me a key with her name on it that she could use for MM.

[At this point I should stop to tell deejdigsdis that I think I've established that the moment I 'know' I am at Disneyland is when I step onto Main Street. I know, I know - it's very cliche and unoriginal. I was hoping I could come up with something much more exciting and different to define that moment. I was not letting my brain dictate what the moment would be so much as I was letting the feeling hit me so I could say, "Of course! This is when I know I'm at Disneyland!" And even though it didn't seem to hit me in November, I felt that wave of nostalgia and familiarity when looking down Main Street at the Castle on this most recent trip. It was a view and scene I had experienced so many times in my life, since I was 4 years old. Not only Main Street, but also hearing the sounds of the train let me know I am there - even though the train was not running yet when we got into the park. The train and Main Street are things that symbolized Disneyland and 'told' me I was there when I was a kid, so I make that same connection now.]

Shawn and I high-tailed it to Fantasyland and all the way back to IASW Holiday...only to find that it had not opened yet. Sigh. Well, this MM plan worked wonderfully in December 2008, and we'd had the IASWH boat to ourselves. But this time, the darn ride was not even running yet. The nerve of them! Didn't they know we were coming?

So we stood around for a minute to see if there were any signs of life from the ride. And we chatted for a bit with a CM who was standing nearby. She was telling us a little about the CM parties and what those are like.

This Santa guy usually tilts his head from side to side, but he was totally still on this trip!

I love this wreath because of the penguins in it:

Don't worry. You'll see more of those wreaths later on. These were the ones that caught my eye in that moment, but I made sure to get photos of all of them a couple of days later!

Since IASWH was not showing any indication that it would open while we stood there, we decided to walk around for a bit, and see what else was open or what else didn't have a line.

We stopped by the Storybook Land Canal Boats (also not running yet), and observed some fine feathered friends enjoying the morning:

Open wide, Monstro!

At this point, in some order or other, we rode Alice, Mr. Toad, Pinocchio and Snow White. Peter Pan is the ride I would have most liked to have gone on in that area, but the line was already long. It had built up in the time we were watchng the ducks and standing around IASWH.


By the time we were done with those 4 rides, Shawn was ready to leave Fantasyland and make our way to Goofy's. I suggested that we take one more peek back at IASWH just to see if it was running yet. We heard music. The CM we spoke to earlier said that if we heard music, that meant the ride was running!! Yesssss!!!!!

So we made a beeline for the queue, which was fairly void of people. Well, I would say that most of the MM folks were just beginning to hear the telltale strains of the IASWH music too, and they were all making the same mad dash that we made.

We smelled something, but it wasn't quite peppermint. It was some other sweet smell, but not peppermint.

Coming up...more It's a Small World Holiday and, at long last, Goofy's Kitchen!!

 

[Sherry E]

Pioneer Pier?

Yep! Pioneer Pier!!! Hee hee!!! I always chuckle when she calls it that by mistake. Now I'm not sure I would like that theme as much as I like the sun/surf/nautical theme, so I'm glad it's not a Pioneer-themed hotel!!

I love a view room, but, then, when we stay in a DVC room, we are in our room for a lot of our time. I sometimes I prepare breakfasts, lunches and BBQ dinners (we usually invite family that live nearby or friends in on a day trip). Our trips at the VGC are to enjoy the hotel and relax. We don't stay very long in the parks because we go so often as day trips (at least 9 day trips/year). My DDs are teenagers, and if they want to go into the parks, they are allowed to go by themselves. DH and I enjoy the alone time, and they get a trip more to their liking. I know that I am bit strange and doesn't work for everyone, but it really works for our family.

Liza

I don't think it's strange at all. Rather, it's just your family's way of enjoying DLR. I remember you told me about that (that you cook meals and have guests over when you stay at VGC). That's what's so great about Disney resorts - whether it be DLR or WDW or wherever. There is so much to do for everyone of all ages and all interest levels. There is really no right or wrong way to experience DLR. Different things work for different people, and yet, each person or group enjoys their trips just as much. There is no right or wrong number of days to stay at the Resort (or stay off-property). There is no right or wrong way to tour the parks. It's a great thing that we can all enjoy the same place in so many different ways and have equally rewarding times!

 

[kaoden39]

So cute Sherry. I love the wreaths, they are so sweet. And the ducks enjoying the beautiful weather and blessed peace and quiet. So nice. I love when there is no one there. And aren't you glad that you were there last week and not this week? The rain is so bad. Are you okay?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret, I totally know what you mean about wanting to get in more trips to DLR rather than stay onsite for one trip. There are certainly many, many other people who share your opinion. That's probably the most common opinion right now. I think that's why the off-property hotels are so popular and the Disney hotels seem to have availability when you would not expect them to. For people who don't really count the hotel as part of the overall experience, there is no need to stay onsite and spend that kind of money.

I keep saying that I'm sure I will end up at HoJo's sooner or later. Right now, what I seem to do is either stay onsite at a Disney hotel for a few nights OR I only go to DLR for one day and don't stay in a hotel at all! It's one extreme or the other! For me, the hotel is part of the whole experience and staying in a Disney hotel really enhances that experience. But it is definitely not something I can do all the time - not even every year, really. And it's definitely not something that everyone wants to do - some people will be fine staying at a Good Neighbor and getting more days out of their Disney trips, or more Disney trips in a year.

I also keep telling myself that I'd like to stay at the GCH again in the future (I've stayed there twice), but then I think...do I really want to stay at the GCH again? I mean, yes, it's a lovely hotel and the convenience is awesome. But the main parts of the hotel that I love are the things that I can enjoy without staying there - like the lobby and Storytellers Cafe, etc. I didn't actually love the rooms of the GCH enough to need to save my pennies to get back there again. So I'm not sure. The time I stayed there and had a DTD view was really nice - but that room was a million miles away from the elevator. And to pay for that kind of room for several nights now would be a small fortune.

So if I am going to stay onsite, I figure I might as well aim for the least expensive of the 3 hotels (even though Paradise Pier is not cheap, by any means). I can still get the feeling of Disney immersion that I want - at a much lower price. But the PPH rates will never be as reasonable as the Good Nieghbor hotels, and those rates scare many people away. I have a hunch that the hotel rates will hike way up as soon as the work is all done in DCA.

You are correct about that Sherry that the off-property hotels are the best way to go multiple times. I am not a person who likes to spend time in the hotel room or do any activities. I just need a place to say during my visit. I also like the part of staying on-site is because of the MM. Get to go to the parks an hour early before the regular guests comes in make a difference to take pictures of an empty park.

I completely agree with you that people want to enjoy the experience at the DL hotels. It is fun to stay on-property, but the prices staying at the hotels are just going up every year and are not getting cheaper. Some people do care about staying on property but some don't care about it. HOJO is a very nice hotel for a very good price, I would suggest staying there one day.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Your off to a great start during your TR. That kind of sucks to see that IASWH was not running when you and Shawn arrived in the morning. At least you got to do a few rides before you got on IASWH.

I am kind of surprise to hear that the IASWH head is not tilting left and right. I got the samething when I was in DL last month. I thought that the resort would have the head moving again.

Very nice pics of the wreaths right by IASWH and the ducks in the canal by SLCB.

 

[Sherry E]

Day 1 - December 12, 2010 - Part Four​

Continuing on with It's a Small World Holiday....

I know I could have gotten clearer, less blurry photos on IASWH if I had tried. I got some good ones in November. But, for some reason, this time I just didn't feel like trying that hard on this ride, so I was kind of just snapping away. You know how sometimes you feel like really perfecting the shot, getting the lighting and the framing just right, and other times you just want to snap quickly and move on? Well, I fell into the latter category with IASWH on this trip. I got better photos of other things during my stay!!

"Jingle shells...jingle shells..."

By the time we got out of It’s a Small World Holiday, Disneyland was officially opening….which meant we got to see this – which I LOVE, as it’s such a sweet, endearing way to greet the guests:

deejdigsdis had mentioned seeing this park opening ritual in which many of the CM’s and even the groundskeepers, chefs, security and sanitation workers stand along Main Street wearing giant Mickey gloves, greeting the guests as they enter Disneyland. They all look so happy, don’t they? I think it’s such a nice ‘Disney’ touch, and it really makes you feel welcome!!



Well, before heading to Goofy’s Kitchen, I spotted a couple of characters with a rather small crowd around them. I suddenly changed course and darted over to see Alice and the White Rabbit.

Since there was no handler or PhotoPass person with Alice & the White Rabbit, I had to figure out who I would ask to take our photo. The guy behind us in line appeared to be with a younger sister or something. I offered to take their picture with the characters if he would take ours. He was totally disinterested in getting in a photo with characters!! LOL!!! He reluctantly agreed to take our photo. But he stood there for a while with my camera, staring off into the distance at the Mad Hatter, who was causing a ruckus nearby. While this guy was staring off into space, he was holding up the line. I just wanted him to snap one photo. To me, it didn’t look like he snapped anything. But I guess he did, because here we are:

Keep in mind that I have not been in a photo with Alice and the White Rabbit since I was about 7 years old, and I looked a lot less happy to be in that photo at the time than I did on this fine day!!

When I wasn’t looking, Alice disappeared somewhere and the Mad Hatter stepped in. The guy holding my camera continued to stare off into the distance, this time at the Queen of Hearts, who was causing a ruckus too!

It’s funny how I didn’t think the guy with my camera took any photos at all because he was disinterested and distracted…but he actually sneaked in 4 photos!

I didn’t like this Mad Hatter too much, though. He wasn’t as mischievous as some of the Mad Hatters around Disneyland.


Anyway, onward to Goofy’s…via Downtown Disney, that is!!

Usually, I am not tempted to buy the photo that the PhotoPass person takes at the entrance of Goofy’s because it’s not that much better than the one on my camera. However, in this case, I was almost tempted to get their photo this time because it was really cute, much better and much closer-up than this one! I didn’t get it, though, but I wanted it. Such a shame they just throw out the unwanted photos.

More with Goofy and friends in a moment….

 

[kaoden39]

That was great fun. For it appearing like he didn't take many pictures he got quite a few in. How fun. Too bad you had a lack luster Mad Hatter.

 

[Sherry E]

Day 1 - December 12, 2010 - Part Five​

Love me some chipmunks!

You will notice that Shawn and I are still working the 'thumbs' in many of the photos (see my "Thumbs Up Trip" TR from October of 2009 for that explanation if you don’t already know it!!)...

The protein & fruit plate (the muffins moved to another plate later on!):

Shawn hates getting in photos with Princesses. If she sees one coming, she will protest about having to pose with a Princess and refuse to do so…until they sidle on up next to her, that is. Then she plasters on the grin of death!!

Aladdin and Jasmine steal a moment together!

The carb plate (which is not possible for me without the protein/fruit plate first!)!

This picture cracks me up – what is that expression she is making?

All right!! Enough character mingling! It was time to head back to a park. I decide that we should go to DCA – which was just opening – and race to Toy Story Midway Mania. By this time, Downtown Disney was starting to come alive.

This should have been an excellent Tree Quest entry, but I could not get a shot of this without glare or reflection in it to save my life – not from any angle! Grrrrrr……

These were being made at Marceline’s earlier in the morning, when we were on our way to Goofy’s, but they were gone when we walked by after breakfast:

Next up…..California Adventure and our very first Duffy encounter, ever!!!

 

[funatdisney]

"Besides, I like entering Disneyland via Main Street. To me, it doesn't feel like I am doing Disneyland the right way unless I step onto Main Street first. Going in through Tomorrowland feels like I am cheating, somehow!!"


"[At this point I should stop to tell deejdigsdis that I think I've established that the moment I 'know' I am at Disneyland is when I step onto Main Street. I know, I know - it's very cliche and unoriginal. I was hoping I could come up with something much more exciting and different to define that moment. I was not letting my brain dictate what the moment would be so much as I was letting the feeling hit me so I could say, "Of course! This is when I know I'm at Disneyland!" And even though it didn't seem to hit me in November, I felt that wave of nostalgia and familiarity when looking down Main Street at the Castle on this most recent trip. It was a view and scene I had experienced so many times in my life, since I was 4 years old. Not only Main Street, but also hearing the sounds of the train let me know I am there - even though the train was not running yet when we got into the park. The train and Main Street are things that symbolized Disneyland and 'told' me I was there when I was a kid, so I make that same connection now.]"

Yes, I feel the same way, and the feeling of arriving at Disneyland hits me the same way. It starts when I first enter the top of Main Street and see the Castle at the other end. Sometimes I just close my eyes and just listen to the Main Street music. I recognize that I have finally arrived home.

This Santa guy usually tilts his head from side to side, but he was totally still on this trip!

You had pointed that out to me and I was just silent with disbelief. It seemed strange and just not right. Why I hadn't I noticed that before? The tilting Santa face is one of the most charming features of IASM Holiday.


I just have to add: beautiful pictures Sherry!