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

[skiingfast]

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I see that you got 12,000. Who is that guy in the hat with the high score?

 

[tksbaskets]

My scores on BLAB and TSMM are awful - that's not even an exaggeration. Awful, I tell you! Especially the BLAB scores! I have seen improvement off and on in my TSMM scores, but the BLAB scores are just horrific all across the board. That one is hard to master, and I don't have good enough hand-eye coordination to master it!

So I finally just resigned myself to the fact that I will ride those rides just for the fun of shooting at targets in general, but that I am never going to be good in any way. Sometimes I do better than other times and I beat my own average, but I rarely beat my other friends. Even the friends I can beat at first, end up beating me later!

I think that for you, Bret, because you are used to getting such great scores, if you get anything less than what you're used to getting you probably feel like you let yourself down. But just know that we would all probably love to have your BLAB scores!!

Oh Sherry, I know the feeling on BLAB. I thought my hand-eye coordination was OK....sigh. I too find myself trying to enjoy the ride for the ride's sake. I definitely need Bret's coaching

It will be nice to ride with TK on TSMM. The only problem is that I know where the secret targets on TSMM for each different scene and I just can't pull the string a lot since my arm is not that strong enough. I just don't work out a lot with my arms so they do hurt every time I go all out on TSMM. I should go do some weightlifting.

Your right, I should be proud of my scores on BLAB.

The first post is only the beginning, I still have more photos to show for my upcoming updates. You will never see the park that empty again in the morning unless something like that incident happens again at the ticket booth. I can understand the management closing off the ticket booth, but if the suspicious package is around DTD then the east side of the bus loading zone will be open and you can enter the parks from there. Just not from the DTD side.

Bret, I find that if you concentrate on unlocking the Easter egg with your ride partner you don't need to hit as many targets, just the high point ones. Make sure you sit on the side with the hen house. I let the boys shoot madly at targets while I concentrate on the hens and fox.

What I really need to do is have you go with Donald or Grumpy. My only job with them is to help get the EE and I've always scored well.

Your photos during the 'quiet time' at DL were S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G! The flower pictures just beautiful. What ride is behind the pink flowers? My guess is the Matterhorn.

Such a blue sky that day. I'm so happy you like to take pictures because I sure enjoy seeing them!

I see that you got 12,000. Who is that guy in the hat with the high score?

That would be me skiingfast if ever I get the chance to ride with Bret on BLAB. I would be hiding from Zurg's camera because of my paltry score. Is it bad that the non-existent person in Bret's car scores higher than I do?

Bret I'm so glad you got a picture of your high score. Holy smokes!! I'd have that framed in my living room! Well maybe not but it would sure be in my scrapbook.

SO fun!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I see that you got 12,000. Who is that guy in the hat with the high score?

LOL.

Oh Sherry, I know the feeling on BLAB. I thought my hand-eye coordination was OK....sigh. I too find myself trying to enjoy the ride for the ride's sake. I definitely need Bret's coaching



Bret, I find that if you concentrate on unlocking the Easter egg with your ride partner you don't need to hit as many targets, just the high point ones. Make sure you sit on the side with the hen house. I let the boys shoot madly at targets while I concentrate on the hens and fox.

What I really need to do is have you go with Donald or Grumpy. My only job with them is to help get the EE and I've always scored well.

Your photos during the 'quiet time' at DL were S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G! The flower pictures just beautiful. What ride is behind the pink flowers? My guess is the Matterhorn.

Such a blue sky that day. I'm so happy you like to take pictures because I sure enjoy seeing them!



That would be me skiingfast if ever I get the chance to ride with Bret on BLAB. I would be hiding from Zurg's camera because of my paltry score. Is it bad that the non-existent person in Bret's car scores higher than I do?

Bret I'm so glad you got a picture of your high score. Holy smokes!! I'd have that framed in my living room! Well maybe not but it would sure be in my scrapbook.

SO fun!

I can teach you which targets you aim at on BLAB.

I know about the hen house which is on the left and right side only depends on which car you are on. The ones that I have the troubles is the break the plates, ring toss and dart game. The plates is by hitting the two flying plates to open the mouth, ring toss by getting all the little green aliens on the ship and the dart game by hitting all the targets. I just don't pull the string so fast so I can't hit those targets.

It will be nice to ride with Donald or Grumpy on TSMM.

DL did look spooky that morning when it was quiet. Deej answered that question which was BTMRR.

As you know that I like to take pictures of the buildings and rides at the parks.

The person with me is my friend son which we went to Long Beach Convention Center for an event in August of 2010. I was really lucky that day by getting that high score on BLAB. If you go on the ride when there are handicapped people, you are almost guarantee to get a high score on the ride.

I will have the next update later today so stay tune.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – March 3, 2012 – Part 3​

Now back to the TR. After seeing that the park was still empty that Saturday morning, I just went along through the park like I usually do by taking pictures around the DLR. I was in Adventureland and headin gon over to TL to get my next FP since the ST already passed.

Back at the Hub, it stil was quiet

On my way over to TL and once agin it is so quiet.

I head on over to Space Mountain to get my FP

After getting my FP, I started to head on out of the park like I usually do to DCA at 9:30am.

Now I am back at MS and walking down to the exit. On the way, there was no one out on MS and I see a lot of CMs just walking n out talking to other CMs and guests.

It was already 9:40am and MS was quiet

You can barely see it in this picture that there were a lot of CMs right by GMwML

While I was around the TS, I had to get some pics of the flowers around the area.

It does look so strange to see MS that empty around 9:30am

The conductors were out at the MS station.

When I approached the exit on the right hand side by City Hall, there were CMs preventing the guests from exiting the park. I was wondering why they wouldn't let anyone exit the park. But they told the people around the area that there was a suspicious package right by the ticket booths. So they aren't letting anyone exit the park, but if they needed to go out a CM would escort them out of the park.

Even the DLRR wasn't running since the engineers were on MS.

So I went to a bench right by the Hub and looked on my iPad and checked the forum to see what was going on and I found out that the park was locked down since after I entered the park that morning. I was really lucky that I was in the park before the resort didn't let any other guest in. So I called my DA that they weren't letting anyone in the park and she told me that there were people around the entrance on Harbor Blvd that weren't allowed to enter the park. I would tell her that when they started to let guests back in DL. That would be awhile, in the meantime, I decided to go on some rides before the big crowds come in that morning.

Now its time to on rides while it was not that crowded.

I will be back with more from that bizarre Saturday morning.

 

[kmedina]

I am confused. Did that happen twice or did I just already hear about it? I thought a bomb threat was already mentioned. I was thinking what are the odds that would happen twice in a row.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I am confused. Did that happen twice or did I just already hear about it? I thought a bomb threat was already mentioned. I was thinking what are the odds that would happen twice in a row.

It only happened once that Saturday morning due to the bomb scare. I was already in the park at 8am and DL closed the esplanade around 8 to 8:30am that Saturday morning.

 

[kmedina]

Okay. Glad no one got hurt and you enjoyed a slow morning at Dl.

 

[tksbaskets]

Bret you got some great pictures on MS with the park so empty! Looking forward to hearing more about your day.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Okay. Glad no one got hurt and you enjoyed a slow morning at Dl.

The main thing is that no one got hurt. It was nice to enjoy being at the park while it is not that crowded.

Bret you got some great pictures on MS with the park so empty! Looking forward to hearing more about your day.

Thank you TK. It was so weird to see the park so empty that day.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – March 3, 2012 – Part 4​

It was a crazy morning when I found out that DL was on lockdown due to a suspicious package at the esplanade ticket booth. Luckily in the end it wasn't a bomb that was in the tree in a bag. It was a spiritual message that was in the bag and heard that it was a scavenger hunt game that some group left at the esplanade. While most of the guests are still out on Harbor Blvd or at DTD, I was one of fortunate guests to be in the park during the suspicious package. So while I was in DL, I decided to go on some rides while DL is still closed.

Now I'm heading on back to TL do some rides. It was already 10am and there were a lot of CMs outside on the curb of MS.

Disney Photopass CMs were outside right by the Photo Supply Co.

While I was walking down around the Hub, the Disneyland Band was heading on over to SB Castle as well as Alice, Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts.

Now I am in TL and I headed on over to Space Mountain. I haven't rode Space in quite some time and it would be perfect to ride it that morning. While I was walking towards Space, ST CM's were outside talking to other CM's and the guests until all the rest of the guests are allowed in the park.

Now I am about to enter Space Mountain and the wait time was only 10 minutes. It actually took 5 minutes to get through the queue and get on Space Mountain.

I was on the top queue of Space and had to get some pics while on the top.

When I got off the ride, I did a funny pose on the ride photo. This is for you TK that I did do a funny pose on Space Mountain. It is not that special, but it was nice to show you this.

After I got off Space, I decided to head on back to BLAB and redeem myself from this morning. Back at TL, the park still looked empty so I have a few more minutes to space while the park is empty.

This time, the score was better then the first one this morning.

After BLAB, I head on out back to the Hub and go towards FL. The park is still not that busy so I have a few more minutes to go on some walk on rides that morning.

You might never see ST wait time this short around 10 minutes in a long time.

Now I am back at the Hub and taking some more pics. But I will get that on the next post which will be tomorrow.

 

[tksbaskets]

I love the pose on SM! Good job

Your private morning at DL is fun to see in your TR. I bet there has never been a 5 min wait for SM at 10 am!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I love the pose on SM! Good job

Your private morning at DL is fun to see in your TR. I bet there has never been a 5 min wait for SM at 10 am!

Thank you TK. After seeing your DS did those pose on CS, I had to do something for you on this trip. I was about to do it on BLAB, but I didn't get the pose that I wanted.

It was nice that DL was quiet that morning. I would say the same thing that Space Mountain never had a wait time as low as 5 minutes at 10am.

 

[kmedina]

I love your Space Mountain pose, but I love all of the empty Dl pictures more. So awesome.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I love your Space Mountain pose, but I love all of the empty Dl pictures more. So awesome.

Thank you Kim. It was nice to get some pictures of the park while it is empty. So it made my day of enjoying a nice morning at DL.

Now it is time for the next update.

Day 2 – March 3, 2012 – Part 5​

After going on some rides at TL, I'm now on back at the Hub about to head on over to FL. It was still quiet at that time so I had a chance to go on some rides before the crowds are let in the park.

I went through the castle to get on over to FL.

When I was in FL, I decided to go on PP. I haven't rode PP in quite some time at DL. I like to compare both PP at DL & MK. I still like DL because of the exterior of the building.

What 20 minutes to get on PP from where the sign is?

After getting off PP, I head on over to Frontierland to go on BTMRR.

FL still quiet that morning.

Now at the back side of Frontierland

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6968403409_dd74cae44a_z.jpg/img]

I forgot to get a picture of BTMRR, but I got on immediately on the ride since it was only a walk-on. I should have not rode BTMRR since I know that the wait time will not that be long. But I always like to ride BTMRR.

After getting off BTMRR, I walked right by the RoA. Still now crowds right now.
[img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/6822282506_37cf670936_z.jpg

When I was close to NOS there were PoTC CM's out at the entrance waiting for the big crowds.

New Orleans Blue Bayou Bash was going on right by the RoA and there were just a few people to see the show.

After passing the show, I head on over CC to see what it is like on the other side.

It was 10:45am and still no crowds yet. I had a hunch that the low crowds at DL was coming to an end around this time.

I passed the HM and head on over to CC. I will get back to the next update from that Saturday morning.

 

[kmedina]

I agree that Peter Pan looks nicer at Dl. Since you are comparing the parks, The PotC is better at Dl too. They each have some rides that are better at Dl or MK.

 

[deejdigsdis]

Thanks for digging up a picture of your all-time high BLAB score, Bret. That is one incredible score! Very, very impressive! I wonder what the all-time high score for the ride in general is.

I love seeing the pictures of an empty Disneyland. I would love to be trapped inside Disneyland! (Given that everything turned out fine, of course.) It was interesting seeing all of those CMs standing around. I liked seeing the conductors up on the platform, overlooking Town Square.

Great pose on Space Mountain!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I agree that Peter Pan looks nicer at Dl. Since you are comparing the parks, The PotC is better at Dl too. They each have some rides that are better at Dl or MK.

I like to compare all the rides that are just the same at the DLR & WDW. The one that I like to compare the most is the steam engines at both parks. DL have 5 engines while MK have 4 engines. 7 out of the 9 engines were working steam engines back in in the early days before they were in service at both parks. Unlike the C.K. Holliday and E.P. Ripley were made exclusively for DL when it opened back in 1955. I like all the steam engines at the parks, the one that I like the most is the C.K. Holliday and E.P. Ripley because they were the first two engines at DL and you can ride in the cabin around DL.

Thanks for digging up a picture of your all-time high BLAB score, Bret. That is one incredible score! Very, very impressive! I wonder what the all-time high score for the ride in general is.

I love seeing the pictures of an empty Disneyland. I would love to be trapped inside Disneyland! (Given that everything turned out fine, of course.) It was interesting seeing all of those CMs standing around. I liked seeing the conductors up on the platform, overlooking Town Square.

Great pose on Space Mountain!

Your welcome Deej. I've seen and heard was over 4,000,000. I just don't know how they got that high score. I would guess that when you are in the room with the Zurg, that they it the secret target worth 50,000 points.

I was really surprised to see the CM's outside there work stations waiting for the guests to come in the park during the lock down that Saturday morning.

Thanks

 

[franandaj]

OK! All caught up again!

Your welcome kmedina. From what I have heard so far from yesterday, Modern Family was filming yesterday at MS TS.


I have been resting for the last two hours after a crazy day at the park thing morning.

I was at the park this morning when it opened at 8am and enjoying my usual time at DL where I go on a few rides and take alot of pictures around the park. But it did felt strange around 9am when most of the ride wait times were very low. It did not make any sense why the ride wait times were low like ST was at 10 minutes, PP 5 minutes, & Space at 10 minutes. Then I found out when I was about to head on out of the park around 9:30am and there were CMs around the exits by MS and told everyone that they were not allowing anyone out of the park unless you are escorted by a CM. After I checked it out on my iPad and there was a suspicious bag outside the esplanade. So I knew that I was going to be in DL for quite some time. So I went back on the rides in DL until they started to let the guests in around 10:45pm. My DA was suppose to meet me at DCA around 9:30am, but since the DLR was closed I had to wait until they let the guests in. I finally got to read the news about what has happened this morning. Now the parks are extended for one extra hour and added more nighttime shows tonight. At least management is extending the hours tonight after the parks being closed this morning.

Oooooh! I can't wait to see Modern Family at Disneyland! That should be GREAT!

I can't believe you were caught up in all that! I heard about it Sunday morning on the news and how they stayed open extra late since guests weren't allowed in until whatever time. (You haven't said it so in case you were keeping us in suspense, I didn't want to spill the beans!)

Cool. Looks like quite a few people were interested in the filming. You're right about 06-15-12 for the Carsland opening. I just read it today and could not be happier. I cannnot wait to see it.

I've got waitlists going at the VGC for a studio or a one bedroom for the 14th through the 16th. If they don't come through we'll just get up at the crack of dawn and drive in and wait like all the other crazy people!

Oh Sherry, I know the feeling on BLAB. I thought my hand-eye coordination was OK....sigh. I too find myself trying to enjoy the ride for the ride's sake. I definitely need Bret's coaching

Bret, I find that if you concentrate on unlocking the Easter egg with your ride partner you don't need to hit as many targets, just the high point ones. Make sure you sit on the side with the hen house. I let the boys shoot madly at targets while I concentrate on the hens and fox.

What I really need to do is have you go with Donald or Grumpy. My only job with them is to help get the EE and I've always scored well.

I'll have to read up on these EEs! We always board at the handicapped loading area, so not sure how much choice we have on sides and stuff. We suck at both BLAB and TSMM, but they are still fun to ride even with stoopid scores!

Hey! Thanks for the tip on the 27th! I will probably see you there. We don't have anything going that day, even our band rehearsal has been canceled due to a concert the preceeding Sunday, so we are free and clear! I'd be excited to see the merchandise. We "cleaned up" at the Mickey's of Glendale at the Expo, I'm sure we'll do some damage on this day too!

 

[mvf-m11c]

OK! All caught up again!



Oooooh! I can't wait to see Modern Family at Disneyland! That should be GREAT!

I can't believe you were caught up in all that! I heard about it Sunday morning on the news and how they stayed open extra late since guests weren't allowed in until whatever time. (You haven't said it so in case you were keeping us in suspense, I didn't want to spill the beans!)



I've got waitlists going at the VGC for a studio or a one bedroom for the 14th through the 16th. If they don't come through we'll just get up at the crack of dawn and drive in and wait like all the other crazy people!



I'll have to read up on these EEs! We always board at the handicapped loading area, so not sure how much choice we have on sides and stuff. We suck at both BLAB and TSMM, but they are still fun to ride even with stoopid scores!

Hey! Thanks for the tip on the 27th! I will probably see you there. We don't have anything going that day, even our band rehearsal has been canceled due to a concert the preceeding Sunday, so we are free and clear! I'd be excited to see the merchandise. We "cleaned up" at the Mickey's of Glendale at the Expo, I'm sure we'll do some damage on this day too!

It's nice to hear from you Allison.

I got to check out Modern Family when they finally showed it when they filmed at MS TS. I also heard that they filmed at other lands across DL. I believed they filmed around at the ROA.

It was so weird to be in the park during that morning. It was great and also bizarre so see DL that empty. I was trying to keep everyone in suspense during the TR that I am telling. But some of the DISers know about that I was in the park that morning since I posted on my TR when I got back to the room in the afternoon.

It will be really busy in mid June for the grand opening of Cars Land, BVS and the re-opening of Matterhorn. Luckily, I got my room at BWPPI during the first weekend of Cars Land. I am still keeping my options open when DL will announce that they will be doing an AP Sneak Peek. If there is a Sneak Peek and we get in, I will go with those days and cancel the opening day trip.

Riding BLAB and TSMM are so fun. I always do BLAB every time during my trips to DL. I sometimes ride TSMM when it is slow. Not during those insane busy mornings when the park opens at 10am at PP.

Your welcome. It will be nice to see you and Fran at the AP showcase at Stage 17 on Tuesday the 27th. I will be in LB at the ACC from the 23rd and 25th for the tournament and then I will be back there in two days for the showcase. I am still looking at what to buy during the showcase and what will be happening this summer. I will definitely

 

[mvf-m11c]

Double post