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

[mvf-m11c]

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.

Wow, good thing I left on Monday and didn't stay for another day at DL. It does make sense since a lot of the schools were off the whole week. I have talked to some of my friends and said that they were going to DL this week even though I asked them if there kids will miss school. But they said that they are off the whole week. I would have guess that since the schools are off, the parks would be really crowded.

 

[kaoden39]

Wow, good thing I left on Monday and didn't stay for another day at DL. It does make sense since a lot of the schools were off the whole week. I have talked to some of my friends and said that they were going to DL this week even though I asked them if there kids will miss school. But they said that they are off the whole week. I would have guess that since the schools are off, the parks would be really crowded.

I think most of what we dealt with was younger than school age kids.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I think most of what we dealt with was younger than school age kids.

I see you have a good point, but it just seemed that on Monday there were a lot of young teens in the park when they were in line.

 

[kaoden39]

I see you have a good point, but it just seemed that on Monday there were a lot of young teens in the park when they were in line.

Yeah, but Monday was actually President's Day.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Yeah, but Monday was actually President's Day.

Of course. This was a very interesting experience at DL last week.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – February 19, 2011 – Part 7​

Time to get to another part of the TR. I left off at the Mark Twain when I was riding it to get some photos of CC under construction and showed part of Tiana's Mardi Gras event. After seeing the event when I passed on the Mark Twain, I saw Splash with all the construction and the Hungry Bear restaurant. It was kind of interesting to see the whole land closed, but it does need refurbishment for the higher crowds.

Mark Twain & Columbia side Dock

Splash Mountain under Construction

Splash Mountain Track all drained right by the ROA

Even the walls are still up around Splash Mountain when CC is closed. But Splash won't be ready until May and it should be a short amount of time until CC is reopened.

DC Canoes all lined up when not in used.

Hungry Bear Restaurant having a long refurbishment.

Just kept going down the ROA and taking a few pictures.

After getting off the Mark Twain, it was around 12:30 and I have decided to head on out of the park and go to my hotel room. Before I left the park, I had to get a couple of pictures down the walkway and the parking structure. I was kind of surprise that it didn't rain yet, maybe it will be a nice day and don't have to get out the umbrella. Some people had their ponchos on and have the umbrellas out.

I was thinking of going to DTD and go inside the WoD store, but I need some rest and head back to the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure.

On the 2nd level of the parking structure and has a good view. Talk about a empty parking lot around 12:45.

I left the DLR and head on over to the BW Plus Placentia hotel north of the DLR. When I got there, it was right next to a high school. I didn't know what High School it was but it was in a decent area. When I first looked at the hotel, it said that it was renovated earlier this year. It did looked like it was renovated. For only 60 a night with a nice LCD tv with multiple channels and a full breakfast can't beat it. Here are some of the pics from the King room at the BW Plus Placentia. I was really messy when I got to the room especially I got to LA very early that day and have got little rest.

I just rested up for awhile until Sara (Funball) said that she was already at the resort and said that I was there. I wasn't there since I have checked in my room and told her that I will be there around 2 to 2:30. Than I left the room and was back over to DL. When I left, it was getting cloudy and it seemed it was going to rain that day.

I will get to that part another time. I am exhausted and going to sleep.

 

[tksbaskets]

That is a really nice hotel! How far from the parks is it? LOVE your pictures. So fun to come along on your trips!

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

That is a really nice hotel! How far from the parks is it? LOVE your pictures. So fun to come along on your trips!

TK

It was a 6 mile drive to the DLR. It was around 25-30 minutes to get from the hotel to the main entrance of DL if it is not that busy to get in the parking structure and I get on a tram asap. It was a very nice hotel and the room was great. The reason that I will not stay out there again is that with the driving to the resort and waiting to get on the tram just takes a lot of my time. I must have lost about 30 minutes during my whole trip to wait for a tram and walk to the parking structure at night.

 

[skiingfast]

Great pic, which one? The first in the last post. It's a sort of odd site to look down the dock when neither boat is stored in it.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Great pic, which one? The first in the last post. It's a sort of odd site to look down the dock when neither boat is stored in it.

Which boat would you prefer to look at while it is in the dock. The Mark Twain or the Columbia? It would be nice to see the Mark Twain in the dock since the Columbia is more in the docks when the park opens in the morning when both are running.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – February 19, 2011 – Part 8​

It's now time to return to the long day TR during Presidents Day weekend.

I just have left the BW Plus Placentia and got to the park around 2:30pm. After I got to the Mickey parking structure, the first thing I did was head on over to DCA to meet Sara (Funball) and do some nice activities at DCA. When I got in the park, the place started to get more and more cloudy which means a storm is on the way. I am hoping that the storm won't be much of an issue, but we will wait and see.

When I got close to the Blue Sky Cellar, there was Sara right by the Boudin Bakery Tour entrance. It was nice to meet with Sara again and get to do some fun activities at the DLR. So the first thing we did was head on over to CS. The last time I was there, she wanted to go on CS, but I chickened out and we didn't do it the last trip. But this time, we will do CS for her. I was just hoping that it wouldn't rain when we got on CS.

When we got to CS, the line was almost at 30 minute wait, but she had her GAC card and we were able to bypass the line and we only had to wait for about 5 minutes to get on CS. We were on the back side of the car and it was fun to ride CS. Here is our pics of CS from the photo.

After CS, I asked her what do you want to do and she said that we should head on over to DL and do some of the rides over there. I have np with it and we are headed to the other side. When we were walking out of DCA, it now started to rain. Not just sprinkling a rainy day. Talk about getting lucky when we were on CS and now it started to rain.

So we head on out while it kept raining and there were some people who have ponchos, rain jackets and umbrellas. At least I brought my umbrella with me and I can't believe I forgot my poncho. It was even worse for Sara who didn't bring any and just wearing her sweatshirt.

We left DCA and head on over to DL. It was still raining just sprinkling right now and the first thing we did was head on over to Indy and use the pass to get in early. But on the way, we kept walking down while more and more people are in their ponchos, jackets, and umbrellas while it was raining.

When we looked at the wait time at Indy, it was already at 55 min wait. We got to get in early so we only had to wait around 10 minutes to get on Indy. She took some interesting pictures inside the queue and I just got some on the way.

We than left Indy and I told Sara that I am doing the heart quest from Sherry and that was our next thing to do at DL. To find any heart shapes that I have missed while I was here by myself. Right now it stopped raining for now and this was a good timing when we got off Indy and do the heart quest.

So our next stop was back in the Hub and on our way to look for any hearts out there. While we were out there I couldn't find too many hearts since I looked hard early. She said that we should go on some rides in FL. We went towards the castle and saw some hearts right over at the well where the statues of Snow White and the seven Dwarfs are. So we head over there next.

When we got there, there were heart shapes on the bridge. I can't believe that I didn't see this earlier everytime I look on the other side of the castle. But this is good for anyone who miss this.

Also was interesting while we were there, a man and his family was asking everyone that he was about to propose to his GF in the area. We were all surprise to see something like this. I have read a lot of times on the threads of where the best spots to propose at DL. But to see it in person felt really special. The lady came by in the area and the nice gentleman asked for his hand in marriage and she said yes. This was a beautiful scene to see on a rainy day. It made both of our days to see something like this. Maybe in the future when I am about to get engaged, I will do the same thing one day.

I will continue this TR later today since I am about to go to the movies with my friends. Talk to you later and have a nice day.

 

[tksbaskets]

Have fun at the movie! We saw Unknown today. It was good. I enjoyed your installment.

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – February 19, 2011 – Part 9​

Now back to my TR after being at the movie theater this afternoon. Just have finished dinner and now time to get back to it.

I have left off around the well where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs statues are at after someone made a proposed. Than both Sara and I have walked back to FL and try to find any heart shapes around the resort. After all there were a lot of different heart shapes around the area. Here are many heart shapes around the area. It stopped raining for now, but right now it can start anytime.

FL & PP is still crowded like always.

If you can barely see it, there were some heart shapes on the clock atop of PP.


The PP Exit Sign which has heart shapes on the gate

Even though it was upside down, you can see heart shapes on the Mr. Toad Wild Ride

Than we moved into deeper into FL and found more different heart shapes around the area.

Teacup outside the Mad Hatter store

Lantern at Teacups had heart shapes

Another lantern heart shape

Than we decided to head on AiW. The line was already at 20 minute wait but we used her GAC card to get past the line and get on in just 2 minutes.

Its been years since I have ridden AiW. I just like walking pass by it until they added those ugly additions to the ride for the guests safety when the ride breaks down. I can understand why the city did that, but it just looks so ugly when I walk past it. I also got to take some pics for the heart quest as you other DISers know about the ride.

After we got off AiW, we decided to head on back to DCA to do some other activities. But before we do that, we found more heart shapes right by the AiW ride where the restroom is. Which has so many different heart shapes.

Heart shape light pole right by the restroom

The White Rabbit statue by the restroom has a few heart shapes

Heart door by the restroom

Cheshire Cat heart shape restroom sign

When we got to MS, the Disneyland Band was heading down towards Town Square for the Flag Retreat.

Than they were about to do the Flag Retreat at Town Square.

When we got outside the main gates, Sara convinced me to take a picture of the Let the Memories Begin Sign outside the entrance. So I just did it while it was not raining right now.

That it for tonight, but I will get back to another of the trip tomorrow.

 

[skiingfast]

Which boat would you prefer to look at while it is in the dock. The Mark Twain or the Columbia? It would be nice to see the Mark Twain in the dock since the Columbia is more in the docks when the park opens in the morning when both are running.

I agree, last visit the Twaint was in the Dock in rehab, it's nice to see the stern wheel stick out, but it was wrapped in green tarps.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – February 19, 2011 – Part 10​

Its now time to get back to the TR. Now I am in part 10 of the TR. At least this is not taking longer like the last TR. If I want to finish this TR, I would be done with the 2nd day on Sunday. But I have to make this interesting for you guys.

After Sara and I have taken pictures at the Let the Memories Begin Sign at the entrance, we head on over to DCA. We decided to go to Muppet Vision 3D, but the attraction was closed due to ElecTRONica setting up the TRON Legacy 3D Movie preview. I also didn't eat a hot meal all day and so I stopped at Award Wiener's for a corn dog which was a small portion for me. I didn't plan to eat large since I will be eating with my DB and his GF in Irvine. Just when I was about to be finished with my corn dog, it started to pour at that time. A lot of the people were running to find shelter and we were still in the eating area at the Award Wiener's eating area. At least we were underneath something when it was raining.

After I finished, there was anywhere to go so we decided to head on over to the Animation Academy to take shelter. Sara didn't bring an umbrella, poncho or jacket and she was soaking wet (Sorry Sara, you told me to tell everyone what has happen when we were stuck at the Animation Building). It was pouring out there when we took shelter underneath the Animation Building.

Some of these pics are blurry when it rained

Sara says hi to everyone that day.

Since it was raining like crazy outside, we decided to go inside the Animation Building and take refuge until the storm has passed. Hey I was saying that it was raining like crazy outside and with Sara has no rain equipment, she will get soaked, so we just stayed inside until it cleared. There were a lot of people inside the building taking refuge from the storm. The Animation Building mostly would have the images and clips of the Disney movies, but right now they are doing some work on it so it remained blank the whole time.

When we were inside, the next thing we did was go inside the Sorcerer's Workshop. I was kind of surprise to see that Sara hasn't done this yet. It is a fun way of how Disney does there magic on there work. So we went inside and she was amazed that she hasn't done this after all the time she has been in DCA.

After we finished the Sorcerer's Workshop and left the Animation Building, it stopped raining right now. So we headed on over to Monsters Inc.

Here are more signs for my Sign Quest

After finishing Monsters Inc., I have decided to head on back to the parking structure and get my tripod for the 8pm WoC show. When I was about to leave, Sara was going to stay in the HBL and do ElecTRONica that night. I also gave her my free token FP that I have got earlier at ToT FP machine. She was happy to get the FP and took a picture of it. So I left the HBL and head on back to the parking structure.

When I got back from the parking structure and got my equipment, Sara text me and see if I want to do some other activities before 8pm WoC show. I said yes and met her again at the HBL right by the End of the Line stand which sells alcohol. She was sitting down and talking to some nice people in the area. She was excited to see me and we did the TRON Legacy Sneak Peak. It has been awhile since I have seen it since November. I can't wait to see the movie when it comes out in 3D.

Than after that, I rushed straight over to PP and get ready for WoC. When I got there, the viewing area was already 1/3 full and some family took my spot right in front of the yellow fire hydrant. I was kind of disappointed that someone took my spot, but I should know what I have got myself into when I watch the 3D movie with Sara. It was no big deal and I just waited until the WoC show start at 8:00pm. It wasn't raining when I was waiting and hoped that it won't rain that night. Just about a few minutes until the show started, it started to sprinkle a little and than when the show was in progress, it started to pour. A lot of the people around me said that they were leaving and don't want to be in the rain during the show. When it kept pouring and pouring more and more people started to leave right next to me and from the viewing area. Just when the show was about to be over, it started to barely sprinkle. Talk about bad luck when it drenched at the beginning of the show and started to sprinkle later during the show.

When it was around 8:30, Sara text me and said if I want to hang out with her at Flynn's Arcade, but I told her that I have dinner with my DB and GF in Irvine so I declined. She was alright with it and told me to have a great time during my trip.

So I left DCA around 8:45 and that means it is time for the fireworks. Since I didn't see any fireworks in the sky, the DLR must have canceled it due to high winds. Even though it did rain today, it did feel just a little windy. I would also guess that F! was also canceled due to the rain and high winds. So it must have been a bummer for the people at DL to see the nighttime events canceled.

I got to my car at the parking structure and head straight on over to Irvine to meet up with my DB and his GF. I got to her apartment at 9:30pm and we decided to go to Gina's Pizza Parlor. It is in the Irvine University campus area and had pizza that night.

We left the pizza parlor around 10:30 and head straight on back to her apartment and dropped my DB and his GF off. Than I head on straight back to my hotel at Placentia. I didn't get back until 11:30pm. So I took my shower and went straight to bed. That was my day on Saturday February 19, 2011.

This was a fun day and a very bad day for me. The best part was hanging out with Sara (Funball) again at the park just like the last time. But we did more rides than the last time. The bad part is when WoC show was raining while it was running. I did videotape the show but I had to use my umbrella to cover the video camera while the back side of my body was soaked. It was disappointing that it rained, but I should know what I was getting myself into. At least I did WoC that day instead of RDCT since it was canceled due to high winds or rain. This was a fine day and will get to the next day later during the week. Sorry not too many photos during the nighttime events when I don't get good resolution at dark when I don't use a flash.

 

[tksbaskets]

Looks like you and funball had as much fun as possible with the soaking rain. A soggy day at the park is better than a day at work Your night time picutres in the rain are better than I get in the good weather! Thanks for sharing.

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

Looks like you and funball had as much fun as possible with the soaking rain. A soggy day at the park is better than a day at work Your night time picutres in the rain are better than I get in the good weather! Thanks for sharing.

TK

Even though it was wet, it was a fun day. Your right bout that TK that it is better to be at the park at a soggy day than at work. Some of the nighttime pictures were not that good.

Thank you TK for following.

 

[Funball]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, sans-serif]..yep .. I was kinda soaked! It wans't to bad, I am tough. The thing that really got me was the 2 seconds of hail we had, which brett did not mention happened during his corn dog session at AW! And then all the sudden it rained HARDER and was COLDER!! thank god for the animation building though...of course we were advised to just stay in the animation building as did 50 other people, but i had my ear warmer thing on and my gloves so i was.. well ok i won't like it was cold
[/FONT]

Day 1 – February 19, 2011 – Part 10​

Sara says hi to everyone that day.

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, sans-serif]UH OH!! HAAHAAA!! I just noticed in the photo above that is me! Am I texting?? I think I am.. thanks brett, you got a photo fo me doing what I do best—texting![/FONT]

 

[Funball]

.and actually to tell you the truth, by the time electronica came that night umm I didn't care if my shoes and my socks were wet or not because I couldn't even feel anything from the knees down due to the cold...

 

[Sherry E]

Bret - I think I forgot to comment on the last round of Heart Quest photos, but, again - fantastic job! Isn't it interesting how, when we focus on finding one particular thing (hearts, signs, wreaths, Christmas trees, etc., etc.), we find so many more of that thing than we expected to find?

And I forgot to mention earlier (when looking at your picture by the wishing well) that we also saw a proposal in progress back in November. We didn't catch the whole thing, but the guy was proposing to his girlfriend on Main Street at night, when everything was lit up and beautiful. This was the second day of the holiday season, so it was quite crowded and a lot of people were walking around this couple on both sides. But I think she said yes!

One of my friends' husbands proposed to her in front of the Castle many years ago. I have a feeling that a lot of people get engaged at Disneyland, probably either in front of the Castle, by the well or on Main Street.