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

[Happy 2 B Me]

Wow I hope one day that guy will need a favor and because of Karma will be left high and dry. What gets me is he out and out lied. So not nice--- Yep I am sure he is going to get bitten in the butt. I am enjoying your TR. I also hate flat tires. Such a waste of time. Glad you made it home safe and sound

Patty

 

[skiingfast]

Glad you eventually made it back. I bet we will see a bunch of great updates tomorrow.

 

[tksbaskets]

Glad you had an overall good time at the expo!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Thank you Kaitlin. It would have been nice to see you at the Expo, but I am glad that you had an excellent time at the Expo. Did you get to do all the presentations at the Expo as you have planned?

Most of them. I had to wait for three and a half hours for the Shake It Up Meet and Greet This meant that I had to miss the Arena presentation.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Welcome back Bret! It sounds like you were able to do/see a lot of what you had planned. Looking forward to hearing all about it. I'm also glad you were able to make it back OK after the flat tire.

Thank you Deej. It is nice to be back on my CPU and to talk about my experience at the D23 Expo. I got to do most of the presentations that I have wanted to do all weekend except for one which was the Disney Legends Ceremony. But I got to do my shopping that Friday morning and got most of the stuff that I wanted at the Dream Store.

When we were about to fill up at Costco in Merced, I heard a weird noise when I was driving so we pulled the car over and saw the back side passenger wheel flat. I knew that something was going to happen to me at the end of the trip. I remember back when I coming back home from the 2009 D23 Expo, there was a huge accident on the grapevine and I was stuck going downhill. I had to wait about 2 hours until the traffic started moving again, but this current headache wasn't bad as the 2009 accident. I hate waiting up on the grapevine.

Thank you Deej.

Wow I hope one day that guy will need a favor and because of Karma will be left high and dry. What gets me is he out and out lied. So not nice--- Yep I am sure he is going to get bitten in the butt. I am enjoying your TR. I also hate flat tires. Such a waste of time. Glad you made it home safe and sound

Patty

That man was just rude after I asked him if he could save my spot so I could use the restroom at the Hilton that Saturday morning. I would say the same thing and something will happen to him one day. But it didn't affect the shopping that morning.

Thank you for following my TR Patty. This is only the beginning of the TR and hope that you enjoy it. Flat tires are not fun and use a lot of my time. Very weird is that I had a flat tire on one of my car a few weeks ago and now all of a sudden I got another one coming back from my trip.

Thank you very much.

Glad you eventually made it back. I bet we will see a bunch of great updates tomorrow.

Thank you Matt. I will get to the first part of day 1 on Thursday up tonight.

Glad you had an overall good time at the expo!

Thank you TK. I hope you enjoy this TR.

Most of them. I had to wait for three and a half hours for the Shake It Up Meet and Greet This meant that I had to miss the Arena presentation.

That is good to hear that you got to do most of the presentations at the D23 Expo. That was a long time to wait for Shake It Up Meet and Greet at the Expo. But the main thing is that you got to meet them which is always a good thing. I had to wait about 3 hours for the Cars Land presentation at Stage 23 on Sunday and I thought that was crazy to wait that long for that presentation. I have heard that some people came to the top of Stage 23 and wait for the Cars Land presentation when the doors open at 9am.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Now is time to get to the TR after getting back late Monday night. It turned out bad, but luckily it wasn’t a disaster.

Day 1 – August 18, 2011 – Part 1​

I stayed at my grandmother house on Wednesday night so I can get a head start to Anaheim on Thursday morning. When it around 7am that morning and we were about to head out, but all of a sudden I got a stomach ache that Thursday morning and we waited about another hour until I felt fine.

So we left around 8am that Thursday morning and a 5 ½ hour journey to Anaheim. On the way, we got caught in a couple of traffic overflows in Burbank & Los Angeles. Our first stop was the Costco Burbank gas station since we like to fill up at this gas station all the time after coming from Sacramento.

Then we were at Anaheim around 1:30 pm and the first thing we did was to head to our hotel which is Best Western Stovall’s. I have stayed at BW Stovall’s in the past and it is very nice and clean. The reason why I chosen this hotel was that it was cheap and across the street from the DLR and the Anaheim Convention Center. We got to check-in at BW Stovall’s early since I have reserved the room from the Best Western website.

The two of us checked into the non-smoking double bedroom. We were staying in the main building and were on the 2nd floor. Our room number was 512 in the middle of the building which was a nice place to be at. Can’t see the park from that side, but it was okay. My DA first opinion of the room was that it was small, but the room looks way better than BWPPI. I was glad that she liked the room at the beginning. Later during the trip, she had another opinion about the room, but that will be another story.

Here are some pictures of the double bedroom at BW Stovall’s. I did show them early on, but I will show the room pictures again for those who didn’t see the first time I post the room pictures.

It was around 2:20 pm and it was time to head on over to DL and enjoy a nice time at the park. This was also my DA first time to get an AP. She was really excited to use her Deluxe AP that day. I convinced her to get a Deluxe AP instead of the PH tickets because it was cheaper since we are going on multiple trips in the future (November 2011 during our Holiday trip to DL and June 2012 when Cars Land opens).

When we left the room and headed to the park, there were quite a lot of signs for the D23 Expo on Katella Ave. It was a great promotion of the D23 Expo and I believe the signs were there when I was at DL back in June. The weather was not that bad. I believe it was around the low 80s that afternoon. It was way cooler than the previous times I have been to DL during August. Mostly they are like in the 90s/100s this time of the month.

D23 Expo sign on Katella Ave.

BW Stovall’s

When we walked all the way down Disneyland Dr. it took us about 15 minutes to get from BW Stovall’s to the turnstiles at DCA. Of course went through the GCH since it saved us about 2-3 minutes from walking towards the DLH.

PPH from the other side of the sidewalk on Disneyland Dr.

DTD walkway right by the WoD Store.

We checked through the security check point with no problem and the first thing we did was head to DCA and see the new front entrance of DCA. I was excited to see the new entrance since it is almost just like DHS. I really wanted to go through it back in June, but it was great to see it the first time.

Since we got her Deluxe AP from the E ticket we just had to go straight to the turnstile without waiting at the ticket booth. But I knew that we had to get the actual AP at the ticket booth when we finished at DCA.

DCA new front Entrance 1

DCA new front Entrance 2

DHS front Entrance (almost looks identical except for the ticket booths)

While we are still outside, I got some pics of the back side entrance when the front of Buena Vista Street is under construction.

The entrance when Buena Vista Street is under construction

We entered the park and my DA used her AP for the first time. I told her that her AP would expire one year when you use your AP the first time through the turnstile. So her AP will expire on August 18, 2012. That was perfect time for her since she will be with me in June when Cars Land opens. She got a regular ticket voucher until she goes to the ticket booth and get her AP.

The first thing we saw when we entered DCA was the once Golden Gate Bridge and now all of a sudden it is not the same. It is so weird to see the bridge like that after all of these years walking in the front entrance of DCA.

The once Golden Gate Bridge is almost stripped

Monorail Mark VII Blue passing by on the once Golden Gate Bridge

After we went under the bridge, we got to see the Carthay Circle Theater. Back when I was at DL in mid June, there was just the steel structure and now it is covered up with green tarps. The construction crew did a lot in the short time frame when I was at DL.

My DA wanted to see the LMAUA so we head towards Condor Flats. On the way, JH87 (Jillian) asked me to get a picture of the classic Minnie sign on the construction wall. I remember to get her that picture and also took some other pictures of the signs on the wall.

Classic Goofy Sign where the Carthay Circle Theater is being built

Classic Pluto Sign where the Carthay Circle Theater is being built

Carthay Circle Theater Sign where the Carthay Circle Theater is being built

If you haven’t seen the first post of the picture that I have got for JH87, here is the classic Minnie sign where the Carthay Circle Theater construction wall.

That is it for tonight and I will get to the next part of the TR tomorrow.

Thank you for following along the D23 Expo/DLR trip.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Love the update!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Love the update!!

Thank you Kaitlin.

 

[kaoden39]

I love the look of the new entrance but I am sad to see the Golden Gate bridge in such shape.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I love the look of the new entrance but I am sad to see the Golden Gate bridge in such shape.

The new entrance is very nice and it is sad to see the Golden Gate bridge as it was that weekend. But it will be even more nice to see the new Buena Vista street area in the future.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Now is time to get back to the TR. I just have left off after seeing all the construction around Buena Vista Street. I can wait to see the the new land when it opens in 2012. Enough of that, lets get to the TR on Thursday. I know that you all want to read about the Expo so I will get to it as soon as possible.

Day 1 – August 18, 2011 – Part 2​

After I got the pictures of the signs of the classic Disney characters where the Carthay Circle Theater is being built. So we head on over to Condor Flats.

On the way over, we saw that there was quite a line for GRR. I believe it was about half hour wait to get on the ride from the stand-by line. But the crowds is not as bad as I have expected especially there was some people who were here for the Expo like myself.

When we got closer to PP, my DA wanted to go on the LMAUA first before we head on over to the other side of PP and check out the dining area. PP was not as crowded around the area.

When we got in the queue for the LMAUA, we only had to wait about 5 minutes just to get on the ride. Talk about a big difference from a few months ago when the queue for LMAUA was about 15-20 minutes wait while at that time during my trip it was only a 5 minute wait.

TLMAUA loading station

My DA was kind of disappointed about the ride since she said that this ride needs to be a water ride. But I told her since they have a water ride which is GRR, they made this as a dark ride like the ones at DL. TLMAUA is more like the Nemo and Friends ride at EPCOT without the huge aquarium. She said that one time is enough for her.

After getting off the ride, we were hungry and we head on over to PP dining area. But on the way, I had to get some pics on the way.

Before we got to the PP dining area, we got to see Goofy Sky School. My first expression of the ride is that the theme is way better then the former Mulholland Madness. I was thinking of going on the ride, but the standby wait time was already at a half an hour so I just skipped it.

Now it was time to see the new PP dining area and it looked even better in person then checking it out on the CPU. It was more open space and more PP looked.

So we head on in the Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta restaurant since my DA wanted to try the pizzas. She got the BBQ Pizza while I got the Pepperoni Pizza. The pizzas were really good and its was a good thing I choose this one first since I was considering eating at the Garden Grill first.

After we finished out lunch, we head on out of the PP dining area and head on over to the other side of PP to see what the wait times are like for the rides. MFW was quite long during that day since the swinging was the longest by far and the non-swinging had quite a number of people. TSMM as always draws a big number of people. I would guess it was around a 30 minute wait time.

Then we left PP.

On our next stop, my DA wanted to see the Blue Sky Cellar and see all the new updates for DCA.

Before we went into the Blue Sky Cellar, I had to get some pics of Cars Land. It was so amazing to see how much of it has improved since my last visit. I just can't wait to see it next year.

We went inside the Blue Sky Cellar and we watch the presentation about the LMAUA construction. She was amazed by the work they have done to it. But I told her that we will see the presentation at the D23 Expo tomorrow which should be even better. This is after when she said the ride wasn't that great and now all of a sudden she is interested of how they did the whole thing.

After the Blue Sky Cellar, we couldn't walk back to Sunshine Plaza since the wall is blocking the exit so we went around to ABL. On the way over to ABL, I got some more pics of the construction walls with the classic Disney characters.

That's it for this post since I ran out of pictures. So I will get back to you later today.

Thank you for following the D23/DLR trip.

 

[tksbaskets]

Hi Bret,
The new eateries look great! What types of food are at the Grill? Did I see skewers?

Looking forward to hearing all about the expo! You didn't ride TSMM? I would have waited 30 minutes

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi Bret,
The new eateries look great! What types of food are at the Grill? Did I see skewers?

Looking forward to hearing all about the expo! You didn't ride TSMM? I would have waited 30 minutes

TK

The eating area of PP is very nice and so much space to eat. Yes the Grill restaurant sells skewers with rice pilaf, cucumber salad and pita bread.

I'm trying to get done this day and get to Friday. But I think I got another 2-3 posts to do before I get to Friday. I am trying to go as fast as I can so you and everyone can read my experience at the Expo this past weekend. You are correct TK, I didn't ride TSMM. I thought about riding it that afternoon, but my DA wanted to do some other things around the park that afternoon. I should have rode it that afternoon, but it was a great day.

Thank you TK.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – August 18, 2011 – Part 3​

After taking a few pics of the construction wall going towards Buena Vista Street, we headed on over to ABL to get to the Hollywood Backlot Studios. My DA barely goes in ABL since we barely come to this side of DCA.

ABL Entrance

ToT from ABL

When we got to HBS, my DA wanted to go see Crush. So we head on over to the Animation building. When we got there, the show has already started and she didn’t want to wait a half an hour for the next show so we just went inside the Sorcerers Workshop.

After finishing in the Animation building, it was time to head on out of DCA since we have already done everything we wanted at DCA. When we go outside, our next part at DL is to go to the ticket booth and get my DA AP card. Right now at that time she had the voucher. So in order to go to the next park, she has to get the AP at the ticket booth.

Train Station façade is gone and it looks so different.

Before we head on out of DCA, my DA had to use the bathroom so we stopped at the restroom by the entrance. While I was waiting, I decided to get some pics of the bridge and the old entrance to DCA.

Mark VII Orange passing over the bridge

Old entrance to DCA. It is a good shade area when you enter the park

When we got outside the park, we head to the west side of the ticket booth for my DA to get her AP. While my DA was getting her Deluxe AP card, I waited around and took some different pics around the area. The outside wasn’t that bad with a few hundred guests outside between the two parks and the weather was still nice that afternoon.

D23 Expo poster at the ticket booth

My DA is now the proud owner of the DL Deluxe AP and she was excited about it. Even though that there are blackout dates on the deluxe, the days that we are going to DL in the future are good. So next we head on over to DL and do some rides.

When we entered the turnstiles, the park was just about above average. It was not as bad as I have thought of being in DCA that afternoon. It was nice and while I was in DL, I had to get a picture for Lil’ Grumpy of getting the picture of the dvd/movie poster right by the Emporium.

MS DLRR Station

Engine #3 Fred Gurley with Holiday 5 car set along with the Lily Belle

When we entered MS, the 4:00pm Soundsational parade was already at MS Town Square, so there was no way of going around through all those people. So we decided to go on the DLR while the Fred Gurley was in the MS station.

We walked really fast to get on the train and luckily we got on the last second. Here are some pictures from riding the DLRR all the way towards the NOS station.

We just rode the train to NOS since my DA wanted to go on POTC and see the new Black Beard screen scene. When we got there, the wait time was already at 20 minutes and she didn’t want to go on the ride so we rode the Mark Twain.

Here are some pictures from the Mark Twain 2nd deck.

The CM got the white ropes all ready for F! that day

The Columbia is in the side dock to get ready for F!.

This concludes part 3 of the D23/DLR trip. We will be right back.

 

[kaoden39]

Oh Bret I love so many of your pictures this trip. Do you post your pictures on tumblr? There are so many Disney fans on there that would absolutely love them. How nice that you DA loves Disneyland as much as you do. I think that it is more fun when you can share a trip with someone you love.

 

[JH87]

Great photos as always!
Thanks again for the photo of the wall laughing: sounds funny....a photo of a wall)
I love the shot of TOT through Bug's Land.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Oh Bret I love so many of your pictures this trip. Do you post your pictures on tumblr? There are so many Disney fans on there that would absolutely love them. How nice that you DA loves Disneyland as much as you do. I think that it is more fun when you can share a trip with someone you love.

Thank you Michele.

I got to check out tumblr one day. MY DA loves to go to DL, but she doesn't like to stay in the park that long. She is one of those people who doesn't want to be in the park when it is crowded. Some days during this trip, she felt tired and didn't want to be in the park that long so she went back to the hotel while I was at the park. I will get to that later today.

Great photos as always!
Thanks again for the photo of the wall laughing: sounds funny....a photo of a wall)
I love the shot of TOT through Bug's Land.

Your welcome Jillian.

I also said that was a nice shot of ToT through ABL.

 

[kaoden39]

Thank you Michele.

I got to check out tumblr one day. MY DA loves to go to DL, but she doesn't like to stay in the park that long. She is one of those people who doesn't want to be in the park when it is crowded. Some days during this trip, she felt tired and didn't want to be in the park that long so she went back to the hotel while I was at the park. I will get to that later today.




Your welcome Jillian.

I also said that was a nice shot of ToT through ABL.

That is the lovely thing about the AP. It makes it easier to do it that way because you don't feel the sorrow that you won't make the time up.

 

[mvf-m11c]

That is the lovely thing about the AP. It makes it easier to do it that way because you don't feel the sorrow that you won't make the time up.

You are right about that Michele. She was having seconds thoughts about it, but in the end this was the right thing to do and buy the AP since we will be going on two more trips in the future.

Day 1 – August 18, 2011 – Part 4​

Now back to the pictures from the Mark Twain.

Splash Mountain

You see a lot of deer right by the river

There is a Indian Village on the left side

What is that in the trees? (An American Eagle)

Were almost to the docks

Something is moving right by the tracks

When we got off the Mark Twain, my DA wanted to get on the monorail. This was also a good opportunity to get on the monorail and see the construction of the new Buena Vista Street at DCA. So we head on over to Tomorrowland and get on the monorail so we can ride it around the resort.

Also during that time, BTMRR was only a 15 minute wait which was a good thing

We walked across from Frontierland and at the Hub. There were quite a few people taking pictures in front of SB castle.

The Matterhorn Mountain closed which is bad during this time of the year, but hey they it needs to be all fixed up for the future.

Tomorrowland Entrance

BLAB entrance was about 15 minute

Over at ST, the queue is still as long as earlier this summer. The FP was already gone and the wait time was around 50 minutes.

After passing through Tomorrowland, we head on over to the monorail station queue.

When we got up to the station, they already loaded all the guests on the Monorail Blue so we decided to wait for the next one.

Matterhorn Mountain

FNSV Lagoon

Monorail Blue leaving the TL station

Monorail Orange in TL

Monorail Orange coming in the TL Station

I will get back to the TR later today so stay tune.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Love it!!!