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

[tksbaskets]

I can't believe the lack of crowds. Your BLAB score was great to me (speaks the woman who can hardly get a target) I understand your disappointment if you usually get much higher. Like my family on TSMM.

Looking forward to more!

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

I can't believe the lack of crowds. Your BLAB score was great to me (speaks the woman who can hardly get a target) I understand your disappointment if you usually get much higher. Like my family on TSMM.

Looking forward to more!

TK

Almost everytime in the morning around 8-9, there is barely anyone in the park. Mostly they are eating breakfast or they don't like getting up early. I mostly like to be at DL at night than going first thing in the morning. But I have changed from a night person at DL to a early person in the last few years. I really like it when is quiet in the morning than at night. Maybe because I can take pictures easier during the day than at night.

That BLAB score was alright especially when I have ride this ride plenty of times and know where the targets are. I always try to hit the big target where the movable Zurg is. There is a little black circle in his chest which you hit it, you get 100,000 points just for that secret spot. I only hit it once on that ride when I past it. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it doesn't work. Maybe I need to ride it in the afternoon because I rode it in August last year with my DBF kid during the day and I had the 2,000,000+ game. I don't know what was the deal is when I am in the morning and in the afternoon. I have a friend that lives here in Sacramento and we are competitive on BLAB. She knows all the high points around the ride and she is averages 1.5 million points on the ride. Thats why I like to beat her in this game.

I will get to my TR today. Thx TK.

 

[skiingfast]

Bret,

Good shots of CC from the train. I'll check your youtube later for the Mermories video. Thanks.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – February 19, 2011 – Part 3​

Now is time to get back to my TR. After a long day yesterday of working and still going through all of my pics and videos, I am looking forward to get back to this TR.

I left off at the DLRR TL station. When I got off, I just kept walking around TL and still trying to find any heart shapes around there. But with no luck, I didn't find any heart shapes around there. Than I just head on over back to FL and look for any signs around the area.

Than I remember to look for hearts around FL and I finally got some heart shapes on the way. I also got some of the heart shapes that Sherry has posted on her thread. There were more hearts out there, but I didn't look very carefully around FL. But later during the day, I had some help to find most of the heart shapes in FL.

Heart shapes on the teacup

Pinocchio front entrance where the heart shape is on top of the sign

You can barely see it, but there was a heart shape on the window cover

Than right next door to Pinocchio is Tangled Greeting Location and there were a few hearts in the area.

Hearts right by Tangled Greeting Location

Even though they are in different directions, there were plenty of hearts right next to BBB.

Than it was around 9:30 in the morning and I decided to head on over to DCA and get my WoC FP. I was planning on getting the blue FP for that show. I was also thinking of doing RDCT that night instead of WoC. But with possibility of raining that night and WoC plays when it is raining, I thought it would be good to get a FP no matter what to be safe.

On the way I had to get some different pics around the area.

Golden Spike

I don't know if this counts, but these basket flowers look like heart shapes

Than later during the day, the park started to get crowded around 9:30 in the morning as expected.

Than I left DL and was heading on over to DCA. There was a few people at the DCA line which was not a surprise to me when it is during a busy weekend. But I got in with np and head on over to GRR for a FP. But I also had to get some different pictures on the way.

When I got to the GRR FP, there were just a few people and I was hoping on getting a blue FP. Yes, I did got a blue FP on Saturday. So than I didn't go towards the blockade towards PP, I instead head on back over to Condor Flats and get a FP for Soarin. Interesting is that the FPs are not ready that morning.

Also out there, I can't believe I forgot this bathroom sign by Soarin.

The park was not officially open just yet so I went back to Sunshine Plaza and went to Greetings from California Store and check out some of the merchandise that they had in the stores. I used that time to look at what is there to buy later during my trip. Than I left and head on to PP since it was about to open.

I don't know if this counts as a heart shape, but this is right next to the LMR.

There were not too many people around the blockade since they are already at TSMM. But it was easy for me to walk down towards PP.

Thats it for now and I will get back to it.

 

[tksbaskets]

I love your Matterhorn picture and the Soarin' rest room sign! I think the heart quest is fun. I still can't believe how many details are at DL that I have never seen.

I think I have to admit I've never ridden the RR at DL. That is on my list for our next visit.

TK

 

[Sherry E]

Great job on Heart Quest so far, Bret! You've already found some hearts that I think probably go overlooked by most people. You definitely take on these Quests and really make the most of them, introducing us to all kinds of details that we never see in the course of finding the Quest targets.

That big hole in the Matterhorn used to look more Hidden Mickey-ish in the old days. Now it looks more like a heart shape!!

And a continued wonderful job on Sign Quest!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I love your Matterhorn picture and the Soarin' rest room sign! I think the heart quest is fun. I still can't believe how many details are at DL that I have never seen.

I think I have to admit I've never ridden the RR at DL. That is on my list for our next visit.

TK

Thx TK. This is only the beginning of the sign quest and the heart quest. I still have more on the way and ones that you would never expect it to be.

You will like the DLRR. It is way better than the WDWRR becuase of the Grand Canyon Diorama and Primeval World.

Great job on Heart Quest so far, Bret! You've already found some hearts that I think probably go overlooked by most people. You definitely take on these Quests and really make the most of them, introducing us to all kinds of details that we never see in the course of finding the Quest targets.

That big hole in the Matterhorn used to look more Hidden Mickey-ish in the old days. Now it looks more like a heart shape!!

And a continued wonderful job on Sign Quest!!

Thx Sherry. There was a lot of hearts around BBB and Snow White Scary Adventure as you can see from this pic. But it was challenging to find all the hearts around FL. I have done mostly everything at the DLR and it is very fun to look at these small details around the resort that I would never have imagine. These two quests and the Holiday quest were fun and enjoyable to do.

You can see all these different shapes around BBB and the SWSA. You can also see some heart shapes on the right bottom hand side of the SWSA exit area.

I agree with you about the holes where the former Skyway was going through the Matterhorn. I missed the Skyway since I like going up in the air and see DL from above. Now today it does look like a heart shape when you look at the Matterhorn from the TL side.

Also I have just uploaded "The Magic, The Memories, and You!" on youtube. It was decent and is already up.

"The Magic, The Memories, and You!" on Sunday February 20, 2011 the 2nd show at 9:30pm.

 

[skiingfast]

Bret, good post, I like all the shots in the early morning where the park is nice and calm. Kind of funny so many are of up close items for the quests and not the broad shots of unblocked paths.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – February 19, 2011 – Part 4​

After a good dinner, its time to get back to my TR. I have left off when the rest of DCA opened around 10am. Most of the people were already over at TSMM or CS. I wasn't planning on going on TSMM since the line would be already at 30+ minute wait. So I just took my time to walk down towards PP to find any heart shape and signs on the way.

Heart shape on the Duffy Life preserver.

Construction walls where the Duffy Greeting area will be when it is complete

When i saw TSMM line, it was already towards the walkway. As I have expected that the line wait time was over 30 minutes. So no TSMM for that day.

So I head on over to MFW and take pictures of the construction all around DCA and some pics of DL. This is almost like my new tradition at DCA. The first ride that I do at DCA is MFW. Even though I would like to do TSMM first, but there is just so many people waiting to get on this ride when DCA opens officially at 10am. When I got up in the air, there was some areas that were finished since my last trip in January.

The former Maliboomer hasn't change much since last month, but it is getting better.

Paradise Garden Restaurants are still under construction.

DL looks very nice from up on MFW

So much has change at Goofy Sky School, when I was there last month, the tracks were still orange, now it is white and blue which is better to see.

Sry for some of the pics that are blurry. Cars Land is getting better and better.

That opening in the mountains looks very interesting.

The Little Mermaid Ride looks good and is on schedule to be open in May.

I haven't got too many good pics from Cars Land is that I didn't move to the other side of the gondola. I will be going on the other side the next day. So that will be another time on my TR. So lets get back to the ground and get started on the sign and heart quest. At least the weather was still holding on, I thought it was going to rain around this time but it didn't. This was the best part of the day when it didn't rain until the afternoon.

Here is my first hearts in DCA which is the Point Mugu Tattoo shop.

Thats it for today and I will get back to the TR the next day.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – February 19, 2011 – Part 5​

Another day on the TR. At least the weather up here is okay, but it looks like it will be raining today. So looks like I will be home doing some of my work and try to finish this TR asap. The weather was still doing fine that day and I was wondering when it will rain.

I left off taking a picture of the hearts at the Point Mugu Tattoo store. Than I have decided to go to the Blue Sky Cellar and see all the new updates of DCA. When I was there last month, the Blue Sky Cellar was closed and the following week it was open. Talk about a bad time to leave DL just before they open the BSC. As always, I had to get some pics on my walkway.

The TSMM line was already going towards the street, you can't see it on this pictures but it was towards the entrance.

Now is time to go inside the BSC.

Most of the BSC inside was based on the updates for the LMR. It was neat with all the sketches and arts of all the updates on the park. I am looking forward these next few months when the LMR will make its debut in May.

I watch the video of the updates of the LMR and Cars Land and was good to see all the AA inside the LMR and the test of Radiator Spring Racers car. I left the BSC and try to find any hearts or signs on the way.

I decided to head on over to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot and find any signs.

I than got a FP for ToT, and one of them was a ticket for one aracade game token at Flynn's Arcade during ElecTRONica. I know that these are random and you can get lucky by getting one. When I got mine that day, I had gave it to somebody. But I will tell you in my TR later.

After getting my FP at ToT, I walked around HPB and try to find any hearts or signs on the way. But with no luck, I couldn't find any heart shapes around the HBP. On the way the Celebrate Gospel was today and had to take some pics of the signs. I was thinking of going inside and see the Gospel which was in Stage 17

Celebrate Gospel Sign

I than went back to DL to do some pics of the area and find any more heart signs.

The lines towards DCA is getting busier when I left DCA.

Than DL is getting busy too.

Looks like they are also running the Fred Gurley that day.

The streets are getting busier and busier during the day, but at least it is walkable than a street with people leaving the park at night.

I than head on over to Frontierland and do the DLRR and see the other side of CC. But I had to get some pics on the way.

Mark Twain back side

Mark Twain & Columbia

I will get back to my TR later today.

 

[Sherry E]

Again, great job with Heart Quest! I had a feeling that hearts are probably all over DLR, hidden away, but may or may not be easy to spot. You are doing a very impressive job of hunting them down in both parks!

Yes, I miss the old Skyway ride too. Mind you, I didnt like riding in it because I don't really like heights, or dangling from a cable in the air in a slightly swinging bucket, BUT I really miss seeing the Skyway buckets glide across the Disneyland skyscape. For so many years, that was a part of my visual memory of Disneyland - seeing those buckets going through the Matterhorn. They were always there when I went to DLR as a kid, all the way up until the '90s, I guess. It's weird to not see them anymore, even though they've been gone for so long.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Again, great job with Heart Quest! I had a feeling that hearts are probably all over DLR, hidden away, but may or may not be easy to spot. You are doing a very impressive job of hunting them down in both parks!

Yes, I miss the old Skyway ride too. Mind you, I didnt like riding in it because I don't really like heights, or dangling from a cable in the air in a slightly swinging bucket, BUT I really miss seeing the Skyway buckets glide across the Disneyland skyscape. For so many years, that was a part of my visual memory of Disneyland - seeing those buckets going through the Matterhorn. They were always there when I went to DLR as a kid, all the way up until the '90s, I guess. It's weird to not see them anymore, even though they've been gone for so long.

There are hearts around the DLR that are hidden. Just don't know where they are unless you go around and look carefully. I still have more, but I have to make this TR very interesting.

I remember those old days when I at least ride it once a day or even more. I just love going through the Matterhorn everytime I ride it. That was part of my childhood and I wish it was still there. I also understand why they took it out because of people spitting or throwing stuff out of the bucket when they are in the air. Plus it is hard for handicapped people to enter the bucket. I wish that was back and also the Peoplemovers. Even though I like the Peoplemovers at WDW, I love going through the Tron tunnel when it was there and go through the Autopia area.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – February 19, 2011 – Part 6​

Now is the time to get back to the TR. Still going through all the photos and some r good and some r bad. Maybe it is almost time for me to upgrade my DSLR camera to a new one that has better resolution. But with limited resources, I can say that this is still a good camera. Enough of this, lets get back to the TR.

I left off at the ROA and have decided to ride the DLRR and take pictures of the back side of CC. If you have read my prior posts, I got the front side of CC from the DLRR. When I got to the NOS station, I was waiting for the train and the next one I got to ride was the C.K. Holliday Engine #1 with Holiday 4.

After getting on Holiday 4, went through Splash Tunnel and now taking the pictures of the back side of CC. As you have seen in my other posts that I have got the front side of CC. This time I got the back side where Winnie the Pooh is located. There was no honey pot cars outside as expected, just an empty station.

I rode around until I got to the MS Station.

When I got off the DLRR, the park started to get a little busy, but not as bad as I have expected. Before I head on out of the park and check into my room at BW Placentia north of Anaheim. I decide to go on the Mark Twain and get some pics of CC and the construction area. But on the way, I had to get some pics of flowers on MS USA.

As you have already said Sherry, this does not count as part of the Heart quest since it is a Valentine Day decor that is not usually there during any season at DL.

Now the flowers around the Hub which are very nice. The flowers have the color of the Valentine Day season.

SB Castle looks good as always.

Now is time to go on the Mark Twain and go around the ROA to see everything.

It was around noon that I have got on the Mark Twain.

Tiana's Mardi Gras event was starting when it was noon. This was the 2nd show of the day and now I am taking pictures on top of the Mark Twain

Looks like I ran out of pictures on this post. I will post the rest of it when I get back later today. Have a great day everyone. I didn't know why I videotape it that day, but I did watch this show the next day and videotaped it. So it will take some time when I get to that part of the TR.

 

[tksbaskets]

Hi Bret,
Nice installment. We've never ridden on the steam boat either. You got great pictures of Tatiana and her entourage from there. Your flower pictures are great too! Such a spot of spring. I'm here looking at 8 inches of snow on the ground.

You have inspired me to finally begin my trip report from our WDW trip between Christmas and New Years Day. It is fun to re-live a trip.
TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi Bret,
Nice installment. We've never ridden on the steam boat either. You got great pictures of Tatiana and her entourage from there. Your flower pictures are great too! Such a spot of spring. I'm here looking at 8 inches of snow on the ground.

You have inspired me to finally begin my trip report from our WDW trip between Christmas and New Years Day. It is fun to re-live a trip.
TK

Thx TK.

I am looking forward to your TR at WDW. Can't wait to read and check out your pictures.

 

[skiingfast]

Great perspective on the family fun for Mardi Gras.

 

[Sherry E]

Beautiful pictures of the flowers, Bret!

You're right - the colors of the flowers very much say 'Valentine's Day.' That's how it should be. I would love to see all kinds of green flowers around for St. Patrick's Day too!

I was confused when I was at DLR in November (right after the holiday season started) and saw a flower bed that looked more Easter-ish than Christmasy, and then in December at DLR, I saw a flower bed at the PPH that looked much more Valentine's Day-ish than Christmasy! It was weird. Of course, I saw poinsettias around, too, and those are obviously out for the holidays, but the Easter and Valentine's flower arrangements were a bit odd in the middle of the holiday season.

And true, while those specific heart shaped decorations in Town Square were for Valentine's Day and don't really count in Heart Quest, I still think they are really cool and fun to see. Were those heart decorations only in that Town Square area, or did they extend up Main Street to other areas?

 

[kaoden39]

I really wish that they had been doing the Mardi Gras family fun when we were there. I would have loved that. It doesn't look quite as crowded to me as it was on Monday. I love you pictures Bret.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Great perspective on the family fun for Mardi Gras.

Thanks Matt, I still have to go over my video when I taped Tiana's Mardi Gras event and edit each frame and make it into a picture.

Beautiful pictures of the flowers, Bret!

You're right - the colors of the flowers very much say 'Valentine's Day.' That's how it should be. I would love to see all kinds of green flowers around for St. Patrick's Day too!

I was confused when I was at DLR in November (right after the holiday season started) and saw a flower bed that looked more Easter-ish than Christmasy, and then in December at DLR, I saw a flower bed at the PPH that looked much more Valentine's Day-ish than Christmasy! It was weird. Of course, I saw poinsettias around, too, and those are obviously out for the holidays, but the Easter and Valentine's flower arrangements were a bit odd in the middle of the holiday season.

And true, while those specific heart shaped decorations in Town Square were for Valentine's Day and don't really count in Heart Quest, I still think they are really cool and fun to see. Were those heart decorations only in that Town Square area, or did they extend up Main Street to other areas?

Thx Sherry. The flowers around the Hub and around the resort were all very beautiful.

That was very odd to have valentine day color during the Holiday season. I thought they would replace it with Holiday color flowers. I don't know what the DLR is thinking, but maybe this year during the Holiday season that they will have holiday color flowers at the whole resort.

When I saw the Valentine Day decor at Town Square, I thought there would be more around the Hub area. I don't think I saw any around the Hub, but I will check on my pics when I keep doing my TR.

I really wish that they had been doing the Mardi Gras family fun when we were there. I would have loved that. It doesn't look quite as crowded to me as it was on Monday. I love you pictures Bret.

That would be a really good idea to have Mardi Gras FF on Monday especially it was a busy day. It would have drawn more people in NOS with Tiana's Mardi Gras and the characters all dressed up. I agree with you Michele, on Monday seemed more crowded than Saturday or Sunday. Thank you Michele for following my TR.


I am busy today and I will try to get back to the TR tonight and it is taking me some time to edit Tiana's Mardi Gras show that I have videotaped on Sunday.

Also I am now considering doing another trip to DL in April 8-10 because there is a Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG (Trading Card Game) Championship Series Tournament at the Anaheim Convention Center and I am possibility going down there to play and deal with other players. This is not a guarantee, but I just found out a few days ago that the tournament will be in Anaheim. This will be another good excuse to go down to DL and have some fun. We will wait and see if I will go or not. Some of you guys have influence me to go down during Presidents Weekend last week and it was enjoyable. But this time it will be during Spring Break which should be crowded but or even more crowded.

 

[kaoden39]

You're welcome Bret. We went to DCA on Tuesday and I was told that Disneyland was crazy busy, even busier than Monday. I am glad we missed out on that.