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

[WDWJonasGirl]

Thanks Kaitlin. Just like you, I can't wait to see it in the future. But I will get to see part of the construction when I go to WDW in December this year.

I can't wait to see how it's going. I will not return until 2014.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I can't wait to see how it's going. I will not return until 2014.

I will remember to get the pics some pics of the FL Expansion when I go down there in December.

Day 2 – August 19, 2011 – Part 9​

I have just left off at the WD Parks and Resorts pavilion and just finished taking pics of the Fantasyland Expansion model. Now I went around the area and took more photos of different models of Buena Vista Street and the front entrance.

Carthay Circle Theater Model

Just right in the center of the room was the Buena Vista Street Concept model. The model was really neat and interesting to see what the layout is like when it is complete next year.

Buena Vista Street Concept Model

Next was the ride vehicle of Mater’s Junkyard Jamoree. It was neat to see the actual ride vehicle for the ride. This ride will incorporate the same ride technology as Francis' Ladybug Boogie which the ride vehicles go on a different platform.

Right by Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree ride vehicle was Red the fire truck from the movie “Cars”. The neat thing about it was that its eyes were moving around from the window.

Next was the Radiator Spring Racers ride vehicle for the ride.

While we were still in the pavilion, we went around to look at the other presentations around the area.

It was around 5:30 pm and we were getting hungry since we didn’t eat any lunch that afternoon. But before we head on out we stopped at the Mickey of Glendale store which is right next to the WD Parks and Resorts pavilion and went shopping. Even though I don’t have any pics of the store, but when you look at the last pic right behind the Radiator Springs Racer, there is a curtain where the store is.

When we finished our shopping it took almost 30 minutes to wait in another queue and went shopping in the store. All the stores had long queues the whole time and it was kind of frustrating. But that is part of it while you are shopping for exclusive items at the Expo.

I bought a few items at the Mickey’s of Glendale store which was a couple of polo shirts which has the Carousel of Projects logo, WDI shirts, the Cars Land pins, and some WDI cups. Most of them were for myself while I got some stuff for my family and friends.

Once the shopping was finished, I wanted to stop back at the Dream Store and see what pins were still available. I did pick up a few more pins that were available that night. On the way out, I had to take some pics of the silent auctions items that will be at the auction on Saturday night.

Lot #5 Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum figures

Lot #31 Alice figure

Lot #7 POTC billboard

Lot #34 PP ride vehicle

Lot #9 The giant snowglobe of SB Castle from the Emporium at DL.

Lot #22 Vinylmation coffee table

Lot #11 JC Zebra

After getting pics of the silent auction, the two of us have called it a night at the D23 Expo.

We left around 6:15pm and we were on our way back to the hotel. But since we barely ate that day, we went to Coco which is right next to BW Stovall’s. The two of us went back to the room and dropped our stuff. I actually brought my video camera and tripod to the restaurant. I planned on going to DL that night and videotape Magical that night. I could have easily stayed at the Expo for more shopping, but the two of us were exhausted after a long day. My DA didn’t want to go to DL that night so when we finished, she went back to the hotel while I went to the park that night.

It was around 6:45pm that we got in the restaurant and when we finished it was around 7:25 pm. So I took all my equipment with me and went straight to DL while my DA went back to the room. I just walked down on Disneyland Drive and it took me about 15 minutes to get to the park.

When I arrived at the Hub around 7:45 pm, there were a few groups of people waiting on the curb side by the Hub. I knew that I needed to get there at least 7:00 pm to get the middle, but this was a good opportunity to try a different angle of videotaping the fireworks. I was about 10 people on the right side of the middle of the curb side Hub by the Tomorrowland side.

While I was waiting for the fireworks, I talked to a family right next to me and this was there first time seeing the fireworks. They asked me if this was a great spot to see the fireworks and I said yes it was a good spot to see the fireworks. They waited just about the same time as me when I got to the Hub. It was nice to talk to the family right next to me while we were waiting for the fireworks.

While the Matterhorn was closed, there were some people in the mountain doing some work.

Around the Hub, more and more people started to show up and about half an hour till the fireworks. When I set up my tripod since I got there, a family tried to force their way on the curb side where I set up my tripod and myself. I told them that I got this spot and I asked them nicely not to get on the curb. They were a little disappointed at first, but they should know that they can’t just force there way in when someone has spent a few hours. I told them that they can be in front of me as long as they don’t touch the tripod.

The 9:30 pm Magical fireworks show started and surprisingly they didn’t show Dumbo that night. It didn’t feel like it was windy that day, I was a little disappointed that Dumbo didn’t fly that night. Here are some pics from Magical from my video camera. I will also upload Magical tomorrow. Even this is not as better as the last Magical fireworks that I have videotaped in May, it was nice to see it from a different angle.

That’s it for tonight and I will get back to the TR tomorrow.

 

[skiingfast]

Catching up.
Did you have to ask for pins at the checkout of the Dream Store?

LM presentations was interesting for a already open ride. It's nice how they showed all the vendors that work on it.

 

[deejdigsdis]

I'm all caught up once again! I really enjoyed your updates. I liked the pictures of what Buena Vista Street will look like -- especially those old-time street lamps.

My favorite item from the auction item pictures you showed was the Peter Pan ride vehicle. That would be so cool to have that. I'd like to know how much those items went for.

Is the Seven Dwarves Mine Train ride a slower ride like Casey Jr. or is it faster like Gadget's Go Coaster? Looks nice.

 

[Wonder2008]

Thank you for those pictures of the New Fantasyland model - it looks really great. I'm going to be at Walt Disney World in December as well, so I'm eager to see how construction is coming along!

Robert

 

[mvf-m11c]

Catching up.
Did you have to ask for pins at the checkout of the Dream Store?

LM presentations was interesting for a already open ride. It's nice how they showed all the vendors that work on it.

Yes, all the pins at the Dream Store were at the checkout. This is the samething that the Dream Store did back in 2009. The CMs give you a sheet of the pins which is available and you mark how many you want. Most of them were limited to 2 while some of them go up to 10. The one that I wanted the most was the Legends pin in which I got 3 of them. I bought two while my DA also bought two, but she wanted only one.

It was neat to see the pictures of how they created the LMAUA. I can't wait to show you the Buena Vista Street pics.

I'm all caught up once again! I really enjoyed your updates. I liked the pictures of what Buena Vista Street will look like -- especially those old-time street lamps.

My favorite item from the auction item pictures you showed was the Peter Pan ride vehicle. That would be so cool to have that. I'd like to know how much those items went for.

Is the Seven Dwarves Mine Train ride a slower ride like Casey Jr. or is it faster like Gadget's Go Coaster? Looks nice.

Thank you Deej. The Buena Vista Street model looks very nice and will be even better when it opens next year.

The Peter Pan ride vehicle was very nice. Just like the 2009 which they had one for auction. I wonder where in the world would you put the pp ride vehicle? I read on franandaj TR and reported that it went around $30,000. That wasn't the most expensive item at the show, I read that the most expensive item that sold at the the auction was the WDW HM attraction ghosts which went around $38,000.

It is a a little bit like the Casey Jr. Le Petit Train du Cirque at Disneyland Paris. Which will be on a roller coaster track.

Thank you for those pictures of the New Fantasyland model - it looks really great. I'm going to be at Walt Disney World in December as well, so I'm eager to see how construction is coming along!

Robert

Thank you Robert. The FL model is very nice and gets us an idea what it will be like next year when it opens. I always like to see construction areas at the parks since you will never see something like that in the future (unless they are going to close it and do something else). Hope you have a great time at WDW in December as well.


I will try to get my update up tonight, but after tonight I will be away from my CPU for a few days so I will get back to you later this week. I will still respond to the posts from all you wonderful DISers.

Thank you for coming along.

 

[skiingfast]

I finally caught up!

It was great. Too bad you couldn't walk around the back of the model for the FLE. Did they have a cloud going over it, some shots have dark spots?

Can't wait for trees in the DCA entrance.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

All caught up. It will be interesting to see the new Fantasyland.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I finally caught up!

It was great. Too bad you couldn't walk around the back of the model for the FLE. Did they have a cloud going over it, some shots have dark spots?

Can't wait for trees in the DCA entrance.

Thank you Matt. Yea, it would have been nice to look at the FLE model from all four positions, but the Imagineers got to make it interesting with the background. There were some clouds in the background.

I can't wait to see the new Buena Vista Street entrance. I can't to see what it would look like in November.

All caught up. It will be interesting to see the new Fantasyland.

Same here.


I did say last night that I won't do any updates, but I have finished the last part of the day on Friday August 19. So just wait a few minutes while I upload it.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – August 19, 2011 – Part 10​

After Magical fireworks, I went to IASW and go see “The Magic, the Memories, and You”. It took quite awhile to get out around the Hub and head on over to FL and to IASW.

I went through the TL side since I always like seeing the FNSV lagoon at night. There was not a long line for FNSV. It was so weird to see the Matterhorn not opened this time at night since it does draw a lot of people.

I just passed the Matterhorn and passed SLCB. I got to IASW around a half an hour till the show and I just waited awhile until the show started. I did not videotape the show since I just wanted to see it without worrying about the video camera. While I was waiting most of the people started to show up about 5 minutes until the Memories started at 10:30 pm. Most of the people just walked on IASW while some people are waiting for the 10:30 pm Memories.

After the 10:30 “The Magic, the Memories, and You”, it was time to head on back to the hotel after a long night at the Expo. I was thinking of going on the DLRR, but since I wanted to walk around TL so I can look at the Matterhorn while it is still closed.

Matterhorn at night

Even though you can’t see clearly from this pic, there was quite a number of people around SLCB

I got to Tomorrowland and I head on over to the TL monorail station and head back to the hotel. It was nice to see that the DL monorails are running two trains this late at night instead of just running one of them. I haven't still seen monorail red since it was still undergoing maintenance.

FNSV dock which one of the subs was already in the side dock while one is on the side during the whole day.

When I got to the station, Monorail Orange has already left the station, so I just waited for Monorail Blue to arrive at the station. While I waited, I took some pics around the area until Monorail Blue arrived at the station.

Matterhorn Mountain

FNSV dock

I rode the Monorail until I got to the DTD Monorail station. When I exited the monorail station, there was a band playing right next to the ESPN Zone. I didn’t stay and find out who was playing, but I did get some pics on the way.

It took about 12-15 minutes to walk from DTD to BW Stovall’s. It was around 11:30pm when I got back to the room. I took a shower and was on the CPU to upload the pictures from the D23 Expo that night. Then I went to bed around midnight and called it for the night.

It was a lot of fun that day and it was also bad. The best part was that I got to do all my shopping that day, go to the WD Parks and Resorts presentation, the Making of the LMAUA, and the WD Parks and Resorts pavilion. The bad part was that I just missed the Legends Ceremony which I also didn’t regret since I got to shop at the Dream Store and the Archives Store.

My DA has learned a lot at the Expo and was excited to go with me that weekend.

Got to go to DL that night and see Magical and Memories.

This will be the last update to the TR after Sunday. I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Thank you

 

[mvf-m11c]

There is no TR today since I worked at a Anime show this weekend in Sacramento. Today I will be posting some pics of the merchandise that I have got at the D23 Expo a few weeks ago. Here are some pics of the merchandise that I bought, it is not everything that I have bought but it is a start. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Pins, lanyards and key chains from the Dream Store, Mickey's of Glendale Store at the WD Parks and Resorts pavilion and the D23 Archives Store

101 Dalmation pin set, mickey ears, Cars Land hat from the Mickey's of Glendale store

Two of the TRON Disney Monorails & a D23 Vinylmation

WED Imagineering shirt from the Mickey's of Glendale Store

I'm a Disney Geek shirt from the Disney Archives Store

D23 Expo 2011 Logo T-shirt

Remember… It All Started With A Mouse Adult T-shirt by Artist, Noah

I will get back to the TR tomorrow after the Anime Show.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Love all the things you bought!!

 

[kaoden39]

Wow Bret you got a lot of stuff. I love the "It all started with a mouse" shirt.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Love all the things you bought!!

Thank you Kaitlin.

Wow Bret you got a lot of stuff. I love the "It all started with a mouse" shirt.

Thank you Michele. That is about half of the stuff that I have bought from the D23 Expo. I must have bought around 50 items during the D23 Expo. Some of them I gave to my family and friends while I kept at least 3/4 of them. The last shirt that I posted was a very nice one and I think I will not wear it until the 2013 D23 Expo if they have one. I didn't wear any of my 2009 D23 Expo shirts until that day on Friday the 19th. I knew one day I would wear it and it was great to wear that shirt on the opening day of the 2011 D23 Expo.


It’s now time to get back to the TR after a few days away while I was working at a Anime Convention this weekend. It was fun and got to see a lot of nice costume. I even got to see some people dressed up as Belle, Snow White, and Rapunzel.

Let’s get to the TR. Oh yeah, one more thing that since I didn’t bring my camera first part of that Saturday morning since my DA didn’t want us to get our phones and cameras from the check point after the WD Studios presentation. So I comply with her and didn’t do it, but I did regret it later that day. For the people that have been following my live TR a few weeks ago, it was a bad experience that morning, but I will get to that shortly.

Day 1 – August 20, 2011 – Part 1​

On a nice cloudy Saturday morning, I woke up around 5 am that Saturday morning so I could head in the queue for the 2nd day at the D23 Expo. I knew that this day would be even way busier since I have heard from the staff on Friday that it will be a sold out event. Since there will be more people at the queue that morning, I set my self up an hour early to get in the queue for the shopping at the Dream Store.

I got up early but my DA didn’t because I told her that at least one of us needs to be in the queue that Saturday morning. So my DA stayed in the room while I went to the ACC.

When I got to the ACC, the waiting area at the queue was right by the door windows at the ACC. I got in the queue around 6 am that morning. I was in a great spot for the two of us to get in the queue for the WD Studios presentation and get a good spot to get the pins at the Dream Store. When I got in the queue, one of the staff members asked how many people are with me and I said two. She told me that everyone in your party needs to be in the queue before one hour the ACC opens. This was really bad since I told my DA to meet me at the queue with one hour to the opening of the ACC.

It was close to 6:30 am and all of a sudden I had a stomach ache. I know that this was a bad time to get a stomach ache when it was close to the opening of the ACC and I didn’t have my phone to call my DA that morning. I asked a man that was in front of me if he could save my spot while I used the restroom at the Hilton hotel. He said that he could save my spot for me when I returned to the line. I thanked him a lot and I was about to offer him a drink after watching my spot.

After I used the restroom at the Hilton hotel, I went back in the queue and looked for the gentleman that was saving my spot. When I found him I thanked him for saving my spot. Then out of no where he told me to get back at the end of the line. I told him that I asked him to save my spot and he said yes. He said that he doesn’t remember me for saying that I would save me my spot. He was about to call the staff and escort me out of the line and he said to asked the other people around him and say if they know me. The people right next to him didn’t say anything and said get back in the line since it is still short. I didn’t argue with that man and just walked out of the queue around that man and went back at the end of the queue. Since the queue was in a organize swivel line, I was almost about half more back from the queue. I was really mad that the man that would save my spot while I used the restroom wouldn’t let me back in the queue. Plus he lied to me that he doesn’t know me and responded in a rude manner.

While I was waiting in the queue, my DA had trouble finding me and she just arrived before it got to 8 am that Saturday morning. She was wondering why I was way back in the queue and I told her everything that happened that morning. She was kind of surprise to hear that, but she told me to make sure I was fine before I head on out.

When it got to around 8:30 am, the staff started to let the D23 members into the ACC. When we got inside the ACC, my DA head on over to the D23 Arena queue while I head on over to the Dream Store queue.

On the way over to the Dream Store queue, I saw a LGMH on a gentleman. I asked if that was a LGMH and said yes. When I looked at his ID name, it was HydroGuy. I was kind of surprise to meet him inside the queue that morning and we talked for awhile. He was heading on over to the D23 Arena for the WD Studios presentation and I told him to see him around the Expo.

When we parted, I head on over to the Dream Store and got in the queue. I had to only wait around 15 minutes in the queue to get in the queue.

It was already 9 am and the staff let people in the Dream Store queue in the showroom floor and head on over to the Dream Store. When I got inside the store, I first head on over to the check out point and get the Dumbo pins. On Friday, the Dalmatians pins were available, this day it was Dumbo. I only had to wait about 5 minutes in the queue to get the pins.

Then I head on over to the D23 Arena queue and meet up with my DA. I got in the queue around 9:20 am and waited with her in the queue. She asked me if I had to go through the check-point for all electronics and I told her that I didn’t have to go through that. She was kind of surprise to hear that I didn’t go through the check-point. This year, the security check point was right by the queue entrance instead of getting closer to the arena.

We waited only about 15 minutes in the queue and all of a sudden it started to move. The line kept moving slowly since there are a lot of people.

When we got inside the arena, we were on the 2nd floor of the arena and we were almost in the center of the arena. While we were waiting, the side screens were showing the questions and answers while we were waiting. Some of them were the same while some are one that we didn’t see.

The WD Studios presentation started at 10:30 am and we were all excited. First off was Rich Ross Chairman of the WD Studios was talking about all the upcoming Disney movies. John Lasseter made an appearance at the presentation. He also announced of upcoming movies such as Disney Pixar “Planes” in 2013, “Wreck it Ralph” in 2012, Brave which is showing in 2012 and “Monsters University” in 2013. We also got to see some actors and actresses show up when they announce each of the movies. Billy Crystal, John Cryer, Kelly MacDonald, Kevin McKidd, Sarah Silverman made an appearance plus many others but I can not name all of them. This is what I have wrriten down while I was watching the presentation.

Also Pixar announced two new films during the presentation which are unknown titles right now. One of them is “The Untitled Pixar Movie about Dinosaurs” which is to be show in the Holiday 2013. The director is Bob Peterson. The other movie which is an untitled movie is “You See Inside the Brain” which should be out in the summer of 2014. It is directed by Steve Docter.

We also got free poster of the movie “Brave” and also a cupcake while we attended the presentation.

The WD Studios presentation also announced the movies “John Carter” in 2012, Tim Burton next movie which is called “Frankenweenie” in 2012, “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” in 2012, and also “The Muppets” movie later this year. During the “Frankenweenie” talkings, we got to see a model of Sparkey the dog in the movie. We also got to see actors and actresses from the movie just like the first announcement of Pixar. We got to see Jason Segal, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Jennifer Garner. That is just a few of them and it was neat to see Miss Piggy as the passenger on a motorcycle.

When the WD Studios presentation was over, my DA and I head on over to Stage 28 on the 2nd floor for the Buena Vista Street presentation at 2:45 pm. It was just a mad house getting on out of the arena. Since we didn’t bring any of our electronics, we just passed by the check point to get the electronics and head on over to Stage 28.

We got in line with one and a half hours until the presentation. We had to go inside Stage 28 queue since the outside queue was already full. While we were in the queue, I saw HydroGuy just behind us. I told him that I will be back since I need to go back to the hotel room and get our electronics. So my DA stayed behind at the Stage 28 queue while I head on back to the hotel room.

It took about 15 minutes to get back to the room and I got all our phones, iPad, cameras, etc. It took another 15 minutes to get back to the ACC and it was nice and quiet outside the convention center.

Before I went back to the queue, I went back to the show room floor and took some more pics around the area. Some of the pics were so bad that I decided not to show them.

Entrance to the show room floor

When I got back to the queue with about 30 minutes until we were led into Stage 28, I got my DA some lunch on the 2nd floor. When I dropped all my stuff with my DA, I went over to talk to HydroGuy and asked him about his experience at the D23 Expo. He is a very nice gentleman and we talked a lot about the Expo and Disneyland.

With about 20 minutes until the Buena Vista Street presentation, we started to move and were in Stage 28. I head on back with my DA and hope that HydroGuy enjoy the presentation just like me.

The presentation was all about the new Buena Vista Street. I was very excited to hear about the new land when it opens in 2012. Lisa Girolami, Ray Spencer and Coulter Winn were the Imagineers talking about Buena Vista Street. Since I am bad at describing the details of the presentation, I’ll let the pictures talk about it.

I would say that we seen this picture a lot at the Blue Sky Cellar

Buena Vista Street opening screen

A blueprint map of Buena Vista Street

This picture shows where the old entrance and landscape of the old DCA entrance in red

The planned Buena Vista Street

The new turnstiles to DCA which we have seen already

More art of the new Buena Vista Street

Red Car Trolley station by the main entrance

Designs of the buildings on BVS

Los Feliz Five & Dime art

Los Feliz Five & Dime art

Elias & CO art

Elias & CO placement which is where the former Greeting from California store will be located

More art designs of the uildings

Art picture inside on of the stores

Art details of the buildings

This is it for the post since I am out of pictures. I will get back to you tomorrow.

 

[kaoden39]

Oh wow!! There is so much to look forward to.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

OMG!! That looks cool. My dad went to the studios presentation while I went to the Phineas and Ferb meet and greet.

 

[tksbaskets]

Thanks for all the pictures Bret! It will be interesting to see it all come together at DCA.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Oh wow!! There is so much to look forward to.

Definitely, I will be showing more pictures of the BVS presentation as well as the new Hub statue for DCA.

OMG!! That looks cool. My dad went to the studios presentation while I went to the Phineas and Ferb meet and greet.

The Studios presentation was great. It lived up to my expectations and I wished that we were allowed to bring our electronics during the presentation. When I was waiting for the presentation, there were people that sneaked in their phones, portable electronics and the ACC staff told them that they have to get it checked out even though it didn't have a camera built into it. It just showed you that Disney and ACC were very serious about it.

How did your dad like the presentation and how was the Phineas and Ferb meet and greet?

Thanks for all the pictures Bret! It will be interesting to see it all come together at DCA.

Your welcome TK. When you go to the DLR in early January, it should be very interesting to see how much progress BVS will be when it opens in 2012.

 

[Wonder2008]

As much as I liked the old California Adventure entrance, I'm certainly looking forward to Buena Vista Street. Thank you for that slide of the new entrance and the picture of the Pan Pacific Auditorium. I've always wanted to see the "original" to compare to.

I hope I can go to California when all of this opens!
Robert

 

[tksbaskets]

Remember… It All Started With A Mouse Adult T-shirt by Artist, Noah

I think this is my favorite of your goodies. I like them all but this is a very nice shirt!