Our 3rd Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November - November 22nd - 25th, 2013 Post #3416

[mvf-m11c]

Wow the outside so looks like Stovall's Inn. They are owned by the same company aren't they?

Yes, Stovall's is own by the Best Western Company.

 

[mvf-m11c]

After a good dinner of being back home, its time to go back to my TR.

Day 1 – January 21, 2011 – Part 2​

I believe I left off when i checked into my hotel room and now am planning on going to DL so I can check out Kickin' Country Weekend. The weather was in the 70s which was way better than being back home in Sacramento which is around in the 50s during the day. I didn't even bring enough short pants for this weekend so I have to use them twice during my visit.

I left around the room around 1:15pm and now is the time to do the Sign Quest that will be even tougher than I thought. The first sign at the DLR is the east side entrance where the ART buses dropped off the passengers.

BWPPI Hallway


BWPPI Sign


The entrance from Harbor Blvd


Here is my the first sign of the Sign Quest


Walkway through the ART bus and TS pickup area


Before I walked through the security check-point, there was a sign that is telling everyone that the taxis are not running on the east side but they are on the DTD side.



WoC Sign above the Security Check Point


Than I walked through the security check point and there was a decent amount of people between DL & DCA. Than I past tickets booth and the prices are still the same, but everyone knows that the prices will not be the same at the end of the year.



Than the WoC light pole signs have been there for awhile and still are colorful with each of these different characters. I have never got tired of those light pole signs.

Got to see the wall around the former CALIFORNIA letter heads which I am going to miss when DCA gets the new entrance. But I do like the art work of the boards with the Buena Vista Entrance for DCA and the characters of all of Walt Disney work. It's been awhile since I have seen art of Clara Cluck, Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar.

Before I walk into DL, I decided to look for more different signs and saw one of the multiple sign pole on the west side of the ticket booth.

Now that I can't post more photos on this post so I will get back to my TR later.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – January 21, 2011 – Part 3​

I entered DL around 1:25 and now is the time to look for all signs around DL. So the first thing that I always see when I walk through the turnstile entrance is the MS station. So one of the signs I always see is the Population and elevation sign. Also the DLRR logo up on top of the station. Than shortly the Ward Kimball Engine #5 pulled up with the Excursion car set. The Excursion car set has the DL RR sign on top of the car.

MS RR Station

Engine #5 Ward Kimball

Excursion Car Set

I than went to the right side of the entrance and took some pictures of the sign posters of where the former stroller and wheelchair rental area.

BTMRR Poster Sign

IASW Poster Sign

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Poster Sign

FNSV Poster Sign

Than when I was about to walk underneath the MS station, I got a couple of more signs including the plaque above the station that everyone is very familiar with.

The sign that tells people that some Fantasyland attractions will be closed during the fireworks.

Mailbox on the right side of the entrance

Family Fun Weekend Sign

The plaque at the Entrance

Than I was going underneath the station and had to get the posters of the attractions and I thought DL would take down the Believe...In Holiday Magic poster but I should know that it will take some time when they take it out.

DL Monorail Poster Sign

JC Poster Sign

Mr. Toad Wild Ride Poster Sign

Believe...In Holiday Magic Fireworks Poster Sign

POTC Poster Sign

EO Poster Sign (Sry it was kind of blurry and you can see me in the picture)

DLRR Poster Sign

Alice in Wonderland Poster Sign

Now here is the first guess game of which sign is this from and where is it. Guess which land this sign belongs to and which building is it right next to?

Now after getting to the guessing part, it is time to go back to the Sign Quest and check out some area. When I walk into DL, I past the Bank and took some more photos for the Sign Quest.

Another day of the TR and I'll get right back to more.

 

[tksbaskets]

HI Bret,
I'm lovin' your short report from the south. I never knew (or stopped long enough to look for) that there were those awesome sign posters for all the attractions. I am so enjoying looking at them in detail.

Hope you are enjoying your trip!

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

HI Bret,
I'm lovin' your short report from the south. I never knew (or stopped long enough to look for) that there were those awesome sign posters for all the attractions. I am so enjoying looking at them in detail.

Hope you are enjoying your trip!

TK

Thx TK. There are at least 8 attraction posters underneath the walkway on each side underneath the MS station. Than there is the four posters where the stroller and wheelchair rental area was until they installed a permanent area outside the gate.

I enjoyed the trip and this is going to be awhile for me to complete this TR with all the Sign Quest and Kickin' Country Weekend.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Its time to get back to the TR after a nice sleep back in my own bed. It good to be back home and I am already missing DL already and Character Fan Days this upcoming weekend.

Day 1 – January 21, 2011 – Part 4​

I left off around pictures of the Bank and now is time to get pictures around MS including walls up around flag pole and by the Emporium which was a problem for guests to leave the park at night. But I will get that later during my TR. Here are some pictures of GMwML, DLRRMS station, CH, & GT.

Omni Bus Sign by DLRRMS Station

GMwML Main Entrance Sign

GMwML Poster Sign

GMwML Poster Sign

Churro Stand by the Flag Pole Area

As you can see the construction wall goes up all the way to the Firehouse and towards the area around the flag pole. Talk about a big construction wall.

Popcorn Stand by the Flag Pole Area

DLRRMS station Sign

DLCH Sign

DLCH Press Information GR Sign above the Entrance Door

DLCH Wait Sign

DLCH Lost Children Sign

DLCH Handicap Sign

DLGT Sign

DLGT Sign

DLGT Sign

Horseless Carriage Sign

Now is time to go down the stores and shops down the street of MS USA.

MS Hotel Sign by the Disney Showcase Store


MS Magic Store Sign




Emporium Sign


Emporium Store Sign on the Right Side


News Sounds for a New Century Sign

 

[kaoden39]

Bret, I think you took on a daunting project when you took on the sign one. Wow.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret, I think you took on a daunting project when you took on the sign one. Wow.

No kidding. This is possibly is almost impossible of getting everything in only one and a half days at DL. I can't remember who got me into this Quest. I know Sherry said I should try this quest after the Wreath & Tree Quest during the Holiday season to make it more challenging. A lot of other DISers got me into this quest and it will be nice to do another one in the future.

Also I am now planning on doing a another trip (again) at the end of May because my middle school that I went and coach basketball will be down during that month. It is a middle school band group that will be performing down there and I thought it would be a good idea to go down there and see them. I have some kids that play for my basketball team are part of the band and will be performing at DL. I don't know what the days are, but it is at the end of the month. And the way it looks like, it would be a good idea to go down there before the summer crowds start and get to see LMR, ST2 and the new parade.

 

[kaoden39]

I think that a May trip beats a summer trip by far. I have heard that May is one of the better months crowd wise.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I think that a May trip beats a summer trip by far. I have heard that May is one of the better months crowd wise.

I was considering doing a trip one day in late May, but most of the stuff like Summer Nightastic events are in mid June (Debut of WoC, updated F!, and Magical the last two years) and I don't want to miss out on it. But if the schedule for LMR, ST2 and the parade are scheduled to be opened before I get there and it would be worth it going in late May than early or mid June. It would be disappointed of not seeing those rides and parade, but we will wait and see.

 

[kaoden39]

I was considering doing a trip one day in late May, but most of the stuff like Summer Nightastic events are in mid June (Debut of WoC, updated F!, and Magical the last two years) and I don't want to miss out on it. But if the schedule for LMR, ST2 and the parade are scheduled to be opened before I get there and it would be worth it going in late May than early or mid June. It would be disappointed of not seeing those rides and parade, but we will wait and see.

Oh I know when WoC started, it started on June 11, and my trip started on June 13. And oh boy did we have crowds.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Oh I know when WoC started, it started on June 11, and my trip started on June 13. And oh boy did we have crowds.

Yeah, I was there on the opening day and during that weekend. It was just crazy during the debut of WoC.

 

[kaoden39]

Yeah, I was there on the opening day and during that weekend. It was just crazy during the debut of WoC.

That whole week following was nuts. We went the 13-19 and there were days that I felt like we were stacked on top of each other.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – January 21, 2011 – Part 5​

Okay, now its time to get back to my TR after a long day doing other things. Where did I leave off, oh yea, I was in MS taking some pics of the signs at the buildings around MS. Now is time to go back to the pictures of MS.



20th Century Music Company Sign


20th Century Music Company Refurbishment Sign




Disney Clothiers LTD. Sign


Chester Drawer's Sign


Crystal Arts Sign


Silhouette Studio Sign


Fargo's Palm Parlor Sign


China Closet Sign


Than after I pass the stores on MS, there were more walls around the left side of the streets around the hub. When I checked micechat and mouseplanet on Monday 1/17, they had some small walls on the streets and I thought it would be easy to watch RDCT from the hub. But that was not the case with all the construction walls around the left side of the hub.







Now back to the sign quest around the hub.

Kodak Picture Spot Sign


100th Anniversary of WD Sign Plaque


Partners Statue Sign


Horse-Drawn Streetcars Sign by SB Castle


Omnibus Sign by SB Castle


After taking pictures of the signs around the Hub, now is time to go into Frontierland. But before heading on over to Frontierland the band was out in front of SB castle.





SB Castle is still a great picture to take


As you can see from this picture that the Wall is around the Hub and there was no way I would want to wait for RDCT. It was not a pleasant spot to see the walls around the Hub, but the parks needs to repair the streets during the busy times during Spring Break, Summertime and the Holiday season.



Instead of going towards the Frontierland side, I decided to go through the Carnation Plaza Gardens.

Carnation Plaza Gardens Sign


Carnation Plaza Gardens Sign


Thats it for tonight and I will get back to more later.

 

[skiingfast]

Bret, this is truly a visual treat. I'm taking my time going through it though.

I can't remember who but somone used to take a cropping of single letters from pictures of signs and put together holiday wishes. I remember Happy Fathers Day and one for Mother's day. I can't recall if they started then or ended then but it was a fun game to identify which sign each letter came from. You are prepared to take this game up now.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret, this is truly a visual treat. I'm taking my time going through it though.

I can't remember who but somone used to take a cropping of single letters from pictures of signs and put together holiday wishes. I remember Happy Fathers Day and one for Mother's day. I can't recall if they started then or ended then but it was a fun game to identify which sign each letter came from. You are prepared to take this game up now.

Thx Matt, this Sign Quest was really exhausting but it was fun of going around the resort and find these weird signs. This is just going to take awhile until I get to Saturday.

That will be a great idea to do when I finish my TR. Taking each letter from the Sign Quest and making it into something will be fun to do. Until I finished the TR, I will think about it since I don't have any plan trips until the end of May.

 

[skiingfast]

Not until the end of May, how can you accept such a long lapse in visits.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Not until the end of May, how can you accept such a long lapse in visits.

I don't want to go during Spring Break during mid March to late April since I know that DL will be a zoo and I have done everything over there. I was thinking of going to DL during Presidents Day weekend next month, but the prices of the rooms are just too expensive.

The reason I choose to do late May is that my middle school that I went and coach basketball is going to be there at DL at the end of May. It is the school band that will be playing at the Carnation Plaza Gardens at the end of May. I have some kids that play on my basketball team and will be down there and playing at the CPG. I thought that would be a good time to go back to DL and see them perform. Plus if LMR, ST2 and the new parade are expected to be ready by May, I can also go on them while I am down there. I'm just waiting for which days the school band will be going to DL and performing.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – January 21, 2011 – Part 6​

After a good pork shop dinner tonight, now is the time to go back to my TR.

Now I believe I left off at Carnation Plaza Gardens, I decided to walk through the CPG instead of the Frontierland entrance since there are barely any people walking down that area. When I was in the CPG, I got to see some Disney princesses in that area, I believe I saw Ariel & Aurora in my pictures. Not in the picture was Cinderella, Belle & Snow White. Also Mary Poppins and Bert were heading on over to the center of the castle since the band was already playing.



Than after seeing the princesses, it was time to go through the gate towards Rancho del Zocalo. When I walked through the walkway I tooks some pictures of the bathroom signs. This is for you Jazz (Belle Ella) since you are interested in the bathroom signs.

CM Only Sign by the Rancho del Zocalo


Mens Restroom Sign by the Rancho del Zocalo


Ladies Restroom Sign by the Rancho del Zocalo


Than I past the Rancho del Zocalo restaurant. Now was time to get more signs around the area.





Rancho del Zocalo Restaruant Menu Sign






After taking pictures of the signs around Rancho del Zocalo, now before I head on over to the Festival Arena, I'm taking more photos of the signs around the area.



Mark Twain Riverboat & Sailing Ship Columbia Sign


Mark Twain Riverboat & Sailing Ship Columbia Sign & Wait Time Sign


BTMRR FP Sign


BTMRR Safety Sign by FP Machine


BTMRR FP Distribution Closed Sign (the FP machine was not running that day)


BTMRR FP Distribution Sign


BTMRR Sign & FP Sign


BTMRR Station Sign


After passing BTMRR, there are more signs on the left sign by the ROA.








BTMRR Warning Sign and Exit Sign


Kodak Sign by BTMRR


Smoking Area Sign at the back of Frontierland


Now I'm bout to go out for awhile and I will get back to my TR and the best part of the trip is Kickin' Country Weekend during Family Fun Weekend.

 

[Belle Ella]

Than after seeing the princesses, it was time to go through the gate towards Rancho del Zocalo. When I walked through the walkway I tooks some pictures of the bathroom signs. This is for you Jazz (Belle Ella) since you are interested in the bathroom signs.

That's me! Awesome, lol. Funnily enough I was literally just editing my first bathroom sign photo from my trip at the beginning of the month (I'm really, really far behind ) What a coinkydink!