Second All in One Disneyland TR Thread - Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout Review 5/30-6/2

[PrincessInOz]

Catching up!

Lovely details from the Christmas decorations. It's nice to see them in your pictures.
Glad to see you got some shopping in. I have to ask.....where do you store all your Disney merch?

I'd love to see your 'trophy shelf' at your home.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi Bret,
Really nice photos and description of the Jingle Jungle Cruise. It is WAY more festive than last year. Even at night with all the additional lights.

So fun that you got to enjoy the day with your cousins. Looking forward to see what you do the next day.

TK

Thanks TK. The JC was well improved from last year with more decorations added to the ride experience while last year in November didn't have much while December added some but not the same experience like this years. At night made it even more special with the Christmas lights at the village.

It was nice to spend the day at DL with them. We staked out a spot for the fireworks like I usually do and it was crowded thanks to the Avenger's Marathon.

I finally got caught up again. Thank you for stopping and giving us a gift!

Your pictures from the fireworks were incredible!

Great updates!

Your welcome Alison. Glad you and Fran liked it a lot.

Thanks. It would have been perfect if we got there early to stake out a spot. Two hours would normally get us the curb side spot but since the Marathon and the first weekend of the holiday season just added more time to the wait.

Catching up!

Lovely details from the Christmas decorations. It's nice to see them in your pictures.
Glad to see you got some shopping in. I have to ask.....where do you store all your Disney merch?

I'd love to see your 'trophy shelf' at your home.

Thanks PiO. It is nice to get as many pictures of the Christmas decorations like we did during the Halloween trip last month.

I didn't buy any merchandise except for the popcorn buckets. My cousins were looking at the different stores that night.

My shelves are a little messy where I need to rearrange them in the near future.


The next posts will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

[post=52673352]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 2 – November 15th, 2014 – Part 1

Getting Fast Passes along with Paradise Pier Holiday Decorations​

After a nice day at the parks with my cousins it was the second day of the trip. This is the most important day of the trip in which it is the only time where we will be at the parks for a full day.

This was also going to be a tricky day as well since it was during the Avenger’s Marathon. During that Saturday, it was the Avengers Super Heroes 5K and Kids Races that day where the ½ Marathon was on Sunday. The parks didn’t open till 9am thanks to the marathon. It was also good for the two of us since we can get to rest another hour that morning.

Originally when the Avenger’s Marathon was announced, I was about to change our dates for our holiday trip during the second weekend of November which was during the Christmas taping but I changed my mind and we were still a go for our holiday trip in mid November. But the crowds that Friday were higher than a normal first official weekend of the holiday season at the DLR which we have been going the last three years. I know that the marathon gets huge crowds for both the runners and spectators but I have never experienced the crowds during the Marathon. It would have been better if it was during another trip instead of my favorite time of the year to visit the DLR but we did took the chance of coming during the Marathon.

Since the parks didn’t open until 9am, we got to sleep a little longer that morning which helps us a lot since I was in the park with Chris and DM until midnight on Friday.

We got up just around 7:30am and had the continental breakfast upstairs on the third floor of Best Western Anaheim Inn. The food is not that amazing but it is at least something for us to snack on until we have a real meal at the parks or at the restaurants off-site.

Just when we finished breakfast around 8:30am, we head straight on over to the DLR to enjoy another good time during the holiday season at the DLR.

I texted Chris to see if they were going to be in the park that morning but they told us that they will be in the park later that morning. So DAF and I went to the park by ourselves like we usually do every other trip.

When we got to the Esplanade, Disneyland had a lot of people waiting to get in the park that morning where Disney California Adventure already let the guests in the park during the Rope Drop. We were planning on going to DCA first over DL that morning to get FP’s for Radiator Springs Racers and World of Color Winter Dreams. I was looking forward to seeing WoC Winter Dreams since last years version was not that great. But I did hear that the show was improved for this year and was looking forward to that as well.


Inside DCA, there was a huge group of people around the Carthay Circle Theater waiting to head on over to their next destination at DCA. I know that most of the people in the picture were planning on going on over to Cars Land to ride RSR first thing in the morning or get FP’s for RSR later that day. Mostly I always get RSR FP’s first thing when we are in DCA and get WoC FP’s later on. I never would ride RSR first thing since the ride might not be running that morning and the crowds are just crazy.


There were a lot of Marathon runners that morning where we can see them wearing the medals along with the marathon merchandise. We are hoping that the crowds won’t be that bad but from what I have seen so far it is going to be another busy day at the parks.



When it was 9am, the park is now officially open. So the two of us went on over to the RSR FP queue to get the FP’s that morning. It did took a while to get the FP’s that morning but we were able to get our FP’s. Our return time was at 10:30am to 11:30pm which was nice since it was before noon.

After getting the FP’s for RSR, we head on over towards Grizzly River Run to get the FP’s for WoC Winter Dreams. Mostly around this time of the day, you are able to get the blue section for WoC. I would say the first few hours of the day at DCA you are able to get the blue section while later during the day you will likely get the yellow section FP’s.

On the way over to GRR, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is all decorated for the holiday season like every other year.




The Rushin’ River Outfitters store is decorated like every other year as well.


As expected when we got our FP’s that morning we were able to get the blue section for the 9:45pm World of Color Winter Dreams that night which starts at 9:45pm.


After getting the WoC FP’s, DAF wanted to ride Toy Story Midway Mania. It was also a good idea to go on over in that direction since Paradise Pier has added Christmas decorations to the buildings as well. It was nice to see the new decorations at PP during the holiday season.

When we were now in PP, the Little Mermaid ride building got some extra holiday decorations to the entrance.




The flowers for the holiday season are all over the DLR including PP right next to the light tower.


When we were walking in PP, these are all new to PP during the holiday season from the garlands and wreaths on the buildings.




The character meet & greet along with the PP Christmas tree hasn’t change one bit over time.






Even Don Tomas stand have the decorations as well.


When we got closer to TSMM, it was decorated as well during the holiday season for the first time and it was nice. It is nice that Disney is spending more money on the decorations on certain lands at DCA especially with PP.


The wait time for TSMM that morning was already at 30 minutes which was quite long that morning around 9:25am. It just shows you that the parks are busy that morning especially with the Marathon that weekend. It was long so we decided not to ride it that morning. We did get to ride it in October with PiO, DH, DS and Alison so she had no problem of not riding it.

We walked through the backside of PP to look at all the different holiday decorations. Including the PP stores were all decorated as well.


We now approached the restaurant area at PP which had Viva Navidad celebration which made it’s debut last year. We didn’t spend a lot of time at Viva Navidad last year since we were with other people. This trip we were going to spend more time at Viva Navidad. Since it was during the morning it was not running yet so we just walked by and took quick photos while we were in the area.




The menu at Paradise Garden Grill during Viva Navidad. These food are only exclusive during the Viva Navidad event during the holiday season.










After walking through Viva Navidad, we started to move to our next destination that morning at DCA.

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[mvf-m11c]

[post=52691289]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 2 – November 15th, 2014 – Part 2

A Wonderland in Disneyland​

We were now leaving Viva Navidad at the restaurant area at Paradise Pier, we were now around the viewing area at PP which is where you watch World of Color Winter Dreams. Just like last year when World of Color Winter Dreams made its debut, the viewing area had giant presents in the garden area.




DAF and I don’t take too many pictures when we are at the parks but it was nice to get us in a few of the shots.


And of course I got in as well.






The Little Mermaide ride building got it’s usual holiday decorations.


Also new this year at PP was the light on the pole which is different from the snowflakes at BVS towards PP.


Since we did most of the activities that we wanted to do at DCA, we decided to head on over to DL to do some other rides while we were waiting to use our FP’s for RSR.


When we exited DCA and heading on over to DL that morning, it was quite a long line to enter the turnstiles that morning which the line was towards the Monorail columns.


We were now in DL that morning and it was quite busy where most of the guests were walking on in to their next destination.


While we were in DL, DAF hasn’t rode the new version of Alice in Wonderland. We first went by to see if the wait time was not that bad and luckily it was only 15 minute wait time that morning which was better than waiting 30+ minutes during the day. The park did look busy but some of the guests were at other rides.

It didn’t took too long to get on AiW that morning.
























DAF like the new version of AiW where the projections during the ride experience gave it a nice touch while it was a little sad that the old version is now gone. We understand why DL made the changes to the ride especially with the safety.

After getting off AiW, we started to head on over to our next destination that morning. We walked on over towards Adventureland in order to see if Jingle Cruise has a short wait time. I was able to ride it the other night with Chris and DM25 but she wasn’t able to ride it so we head on over in that direction.

We passed by MS Hub which the Horse-Drawn Street car and the Omnibus were right by the Hub. They were all decorated for the holiday season including the horse.




We continue on to Adventureland and that will be it for this post and continue on to the next one.

[post=52691294]Continue to the Next Post[/post]​

 

[mvf-m11c]

[post=52691291]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 2 – November 15th, 2014 – Part 3

Haunted Mansion Holiday along with Cars​

When we got on over to Adventureland in order to ride Jingle Cruise since DAF didn’t get to ride it the other night. When we got to the entrance the JC was not open. We were surprised that the JC is not open and it was around 10am that morning. There must have been something wrong if the ride is not operational. I expect Indian Jones ride to be broken most of the time where the JC is a surprise. So we couldn’t ride it until it reopen.



So we decided to go on another different ride that morning. Since we were in Adventureland, she mentioned that we should go back on the Haunted Mansion Holiday. I must have ridden the HMH at least 4 times during my trips since September 2014. I always enjoy the HMH every year especially with the decorations.

While we were now in New Orleans Square, Pirates of the Caribbean already extended the queue towards the street. Even at 10am it started to get a little busy that morning.

Tom Sawyer Island was quiet that morning.


When we got to the entrance of HMH, the wait time was only 5 minutes. But I can tell that the wait time was wrong since the queue was extended towards the graveyard area. So it was going to be a 10-15 minute wait time which was not that bad. But I have seen the wait time at HMH worse than just 10-15 minutes in which it topped at 60 minutes or more and the queue extended towards the outside of the HMH.




Another good thing for the HMH is that the FP system for HMH was back up this year after not being run during last year and the first couple of months this year. I understand why DL doesn’t want to run the FP system in which it can cause even longer wait times for the guests in the stand-by queue but it is good for those people who only want to ride it once with little wait time.

It only took about 15 minutes to get through the queue and on the ride that morning.








Another look at this year’s gingerbread house in the dining room. I must have took over 50 pictures of the dining room this year and at that gingerbread house.
















After getting off the HMH, we started to go on over to our next destination. It was close to our time to use the FP’s for RSR. So we head straight on back on over to DCA.

DL started to get a little busy that afternoon with more and more people now in the park.


Christmas tree at MS Town Square is so nice to look at every year.




When we were now back in at DCA, it was not that bad like DL where DL gets more people in the park over DCA.


It was not that bad at Cars Land.


When we got towards the entrance to RSR, the stand-by wait time was at 90 minutes which is the usual time for the afternoon. Luckily for us we had FP’s to use that afternoon instead of waiting that long.


Our FP’s for RSR.


It took about 15 minutes to go through the FP queue and board the car. Even with FP’s we still had to wait a while to get on it that afternoon. It just felt like what happened back in October where we had to wait in the FP queue where the wait time was around that time. But at least it went by quickly and all of a sudden we were now in the car and entering the world of “Cars”.

That will be it for this post and on the next one will be with the ride photos.

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[PrincessInOz]

It's a shame we didn't get to ride the revamped version of AiW in October. Oh well. Maybe next time.

Glad you managed to get a few rides in despite the Avengers Marathon crowds.

 

[tksbaskets]

Thanks for the great installments to your epic trip report. Paradise Pier has really nice decorations now. In years past there was nothing to designate the Christmas season in this are.

Did the Jungle Cruise ever open back up so you could take a trip in the day time? I agree - usually it's Indy that is closed.

Thanks for sharing!
TK

 

[franandaj]

Sounds like a great start to a second day.

Inc to see you and DAF in some pictures!

 

[mvf-m11c]

It's a shame we didn't get to ride the revamped version of AiW in October. Oh well. Maybe next time.

Glad you managed to get a few rides in despite the Avengers Marathon crowds.

It was but maybe next time you will be able to ride it.

We did try to plan out everything during the Avenger's Marathon which the crowds level was high during the trip. It didn't feel like Christmas break crowds but it did felt like summertime crowds.

Thanks for the great installments to your epic trip report. Paradise Pier has really nice decorations now. In years past there was nothing to designate the Christmas season in this are.

Did the Jungle Cruise ever open back up so you could take a trip in the day time? I agree - usually it's Indy that is closed.

Thanks for sharing!
TK

Thanks TK. PP is all nicely decorated this year in which it should have got that years ago. After with the DCA expansion all finished with the Little Mermaid ride getting some decorations along with the PP dining area, Viva Navidad last year and finally added some decorations to the rest of PP.

After we got off HMH and heading on out to DCA, we stopped at JC to see what the wait time was and the wait time was at 30 minutes which the guests were seen on the second level. Indy closes at least once a day where it break downs where you don't see JC broken during the morning time.

Sounds like a great start to a second day.

Inc to see you and DAF in some pictures!

We did had a nice morning especially with the runners and spectators during the Avenger's Marathon.

It is nice to get some pictures of us during the trip in which we did get a lot of pictures of the two of us during the October trip.


The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

[post=52691294]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 2 – November 15th, 2014 – Part 4

World of Cars and Hollywood Decorations​

After we got through the queue at Radiator Springs Racers, we were now on board the car. Like almost every time we ride RSR, we are at the back of the car. This is like our usual spot for the two of us since we mostly sit in the back of the car instead of the front. I would say every 2 out of 3 times we are in the back instead of the front.

Our drive that afternoon in the world of “Cars”.

You can never get tired of Radiator Falls


Mater greeting us.


We went through Ramone’s House of Body Art


Cadillac Range looks amazing




Our ride picture that day.


After riding RSR, I wanted to walk through Hollywood Land to get pictures of the holiday decorations. I was able to get some of the holiday pictures the other day but that was at night which it was tough to take pictures. So this time I was able to get some pictures of the Christmas decorations at Hollywood Land.










Also I was asked by Sherry E to look at the window display at the “Off the Page” store in Hollywood Land on the side and ask if the village inside the TV was there during the holiday season since it was there last year. Luckily it was back there again this year.






Then we went inside the Off the Page store to look at all the art work, books, phone cases as well as the Christmas merchandise.






We head on out of the store and walking on out of Hollywood Land.


Now back at Buena Vista Street.

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[mvf-m11c]

[post=52700471]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 2 – November 15th, 2014 – Part 5

Viva Navidad Street Party & Downtown Disney Winter Village​

After we walked through Hollywood Land to see the decorations, it was time that we head on over to Paradise Pier in order to see the 12:00pm Viva Navidad Street Party. It was difficult last year where we weren’t able to see the show last year when it made its debut last year at Disney California Adventure since we were with other people and doing other things that we don’t do ofter during the holiday season.

We had plenty of time to get a decent spot for the Street Party at 12pm. We got to PP about 15 minutes before the show in order to get a good spot. I would recommend if you are planning on watching the Viva Navidad Street Party during your visit is to arrive at least 10 minutes or more in order to get a good spot or you will be watching the Street Party from a bad angle.

When we got to PP and around Viva Navidad, we asked the CM’s that were around the area which is a good spot to watch the Street Party and told us that it was around the Bayside Brews/Jumpin’ Jellyfish ride. They told us to wait until the float makes a 180 degree turn and we would be able to watch the show from that spot.

As you can tell from this picture that the CM on the left hand side was in the spot where they won’t let the guests in until the float made a 180 degree turn. When it was stationed that is when the CM’s will let the guests in.


Here are pictures from the 12pm Viva Navidad Street Party show.




The Three Caballeros


When the float with Panchito Pistoles, Donald Duck and Jose Carioca moved to its position, the CM’s let the guests to move to the spot where the float made a 180 degree turn and we got a nice spot to watch the Street Party.

Mickey was part of the Street Party


Along with Minnie as well.














My first impression of Viva Navidad Street Party that it is a nice little street party. After not seeing it last year and to see it this year was great and I can’t believe we didn’t see it last year. The songs are very nice based on Mexico and Brazil. The musicians and dancers were great as well as the giant Mojiganga puppets including Santa. This is a show you should consider stopping and watching when in DCA. Since we went during the first show, it was a good thing we did.

After the Viva Navidad Street Party was over, I asked DAF if we could stop at Downtown Disney in order to see the Winter Village. The last two years during the holiday season at the DLR, the Winter Village is back again at DTD. The first year in 2012 where it didn’t seem like a Winter Village which didn’t have any shacks but just little walk stands to sell the holiday merchandise. There was an ice rink but it wasn’t that impressive. Last year was a different story with a better theme to the Winter Village with holiday merchandise shacks as well as an ice rink which was called “Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink”. I was hoping that the Ice Rink and the stands would be up during our visit.

So we left DCA through the Grand California Hotel and head on over towards Downtown Disney.

When we got to DTD, we head towards the Winter Village which is close to the ESPN Zone restaurant and by the AMC Movie Theater. The shacks at Winter Village are the same like last year and each shack sells different stuff from Ghirardelli chocolates, Christmas merchandise, etc.







Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink is back again this year along with the Christmas tree in the middle of the ice rink.








The ice rink was not opened that afternoon but later on that night it was open.


A picture of the ESPN Zone Christmas wreath which is back again this year.


This year’s Winter Village added more shacks to the area which is way more from last years.

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[mvf-m11c]

[post=52700480]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 2 – November 15th, 2014 – Part 6

Heading back for Lunch at DL & Jingle Jangle Jamboree​

After we looked at the Winter Village at Downtown Disney, it was time for us to head on back to DL that afternoon and look at places that have the Christmas decorations. So instead of walking on back on over to the main entrance of DL, we went on my favorite ride at DL which is the Disneyland Monorail. It was an easy walk on over to the Downtown Disney Monorail station which is just right next to the Winter Village. We didn’t plan on going in at the DL Hotel along with Paradise Pier hotel since the Christmas decorations are not up yet since the Grand California Hotel didn’t have any decorations as well.

We waited at the DTD Monorail station and waited for the next Monorail which was Mark VII Monorail Orange.


We boarded the last car of Monorail Orange and we are on our way back to DL and towards the Tomorrowland Monorail station.


Passing over the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage which is nice to see the lagoon all filled up again.


When passing by Alice in Wonderland, it looks like it was down that afternoon. Luckily we were able to ride it that morning instead of the afternoon.


Just when we got off the Monorail, it was time that we had something to eat since we didn’t eat since breakfast at the continental breakfast at Best Western Anaheim Inn. I asked DAF what place she wanted to eat and she is a specific eater where she can eat certain foods. I try to remember what restaurant we should eat that afternoon and I figured it out since I wanted to eat at this restaurant since the October trip but we weren’t able to eat there. The place that I talked about with DAF is Hungry Bear Restaurant. I haven’t eat at HB restaurant since last year with PiO and her family and this was a great opportunity to eat there during this visit. My DAF likes sweet potato fries and this is one of the few places that serves the sweet potato fries.

So we head on over towards Critter Country which is where the restaurant is located and have lunch there. When walking on over towards CC, Frontierland and New Orleans Square started to get a little busy that afternoon where people are in line for lunch and going on the rides. Pirates of the Caribbean queue was extended towards the street along with Haunted Mansion Holiday. The wait times was like 30 minutes for PotC and HMH was at 60 minutes. Talk about crazy wait times for both rides in the middle of the afternoon.

Critter Country is once again decorated for the holiday season at DL.




When we got on over to HB Restaurant, there was some people in line for lunch since it was around 1pm. DAF didn’t need much that afternoon in which she got the sweet potato fries while I was having trouble on what to get. I would get a burger or chicken sandwich at HB Restaurant but there were specials for the holiday season. Like Blue Cheese and Onion Marmalade, Apple Pie Funnel Cake (which was also available during the Halloween season), Mango Habanero Lime Iced Tea. The souvenir cups were the Elf Mickey Stein which I should have got but I didn’t looked at it carefully and the Travel Mug.


In the end, I got the chicken sandwich with regular fries while DAF got the sweet potato fries.


After we finished lunch at Hungry Bear Restaurant, we started to go to our next destination at DL which has the Christmas decorations was Jingle Jangle Jamboree. It wasn’t too long ago when Big Thunder Ranch was decorated for the Halloween season with the Halloween Carnival. This time of the year, BTR is transformed for the holiday season with JJJ. So we head on over towards the backside of Frontierland to see JJJ.


As always during the holiday season Big Thunder Ranch is all decorated with all different decorations.




We went inside the Santa’s house which is all decorated inside.












After looking inside Santa’s House, we head on over to the Festival Arena and see Jingle Jangle Jamboree. Like the last couple of years, JJJ has replaced Santa’s Reindeer Round-Up. JJJ is using the Festival Arena which is at the backside of Big Thunder Ranch BBQ and behind Santa’s House which does character meet & greet, games, crafts and shows.


There was a show going on at JJJ which is called “The Plight Before Christmas” but we didn’t get to see it during the trip.




JJJ looked almost exactly like last year with all sort of different activities to do.


There were some Disney characters like Chip, Dale and Goofy all dressed up with their holiday clothes.








After looking around at JJJ which most of the same decoration is just like last year, we started to go on over to our next destination at DL that afternoon. Stay tune of what we have done later that day at DL.

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[tksbaskets]

Hi Bret,
Now I know just were to stand for Viva Navidad! I'm hoping your heading to the Jungle Cruise next

 

[PrincessInOz]

Lovely pictures of the decorations.

That's a cute little parade.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi Bret,
Now I know just were to stand for Viva Navidad! I'm hoping your heading to the Jungle Cruise next

Hi TK,

Hope you are having a great time at the DLR this weekend.

You will have to see this show at Viva Navidad. When you read this update, you will know what we did that afternoon.

Lovely pictures of the decorations.

That's a cute little parade.

Thank you TK.

The Viva Navidad Street Party is very nice and I can't believe I didn't see this last year.


The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

[post=52700540]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 2 – November 15th, 2014 – Part 7

A Christmas Fantasy Parade changed Again?​

After walking around Big Thunder Ranch and at Jingle Jangle Jamboree, we started to go on over to our next destination that afternoon. I thought about going back on over towards Adventureland and ride Jingle Cruise. But when I look at the wait time it was now at 45 minutes which was way too long.

We also texted Chris to see what they were doing that day and they were also at DL that afternoon as well but they were on the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and it was going to be a while for them to get off the ride. But we told them to enjoy their time at the park and don’t worry about us.

It was about an hour to 3pm and there was something that I wanted to do that afternoon at the park. We were able to watch “A Christmas Fantasy” parade the other night at Main Street Town Square for the second parade. But I wasn’t able to get a good spot to watch the parade so I told DAF that we will be watching the parade.

She told me that she isn’t interested to watch the parade especially since she was able to see it the other night so she decided to head on back to the room while I find a spot for the parade.

When we parted ways at Fantasyland, I walked on over towards It’s a Small World Plaza to watch the 3pm parade. I have enjoyed watching the parade from this spot especially for the first parade since it starts at IASW Plaza. This is another spot that also get the shortest amount of wait time to stake out a spot. I took a precaution approach and showed up early especially with all the crowds that have been going on that weekend.

So I head on over to IASW Plaza and there were quite a number of people staking out spots for the 3pm parade. It just shows you with the Avenger’s Marathon going on as well as the first weekend of the holiday season, it just adds more crowds.


Mostly when I get a spot to watch the parade from IASW Plaza, I had to wait as less than 15 minutes for a good front row spot but the crowds were so high this weekend that I had to push it up.

So I just waited for about an hour until the parade starts at 3pm. I did see the parade the other night and there were changes to the parade. I have not been happy with Disney changing the parade these last two years with the floats and the characters. For anyone who have seen this parade in the past will recognize the changes while the others have never seen it will be amazed at this parade. This parade has been going for over 20 years and has delighted all the guests during the holiday season at DL.


The Music Box float with the dancing ballerina and the stuffed Teddy bear.


Toy Soldiers


When we saw the Mailroom float coming up, Mickey and Minnie were on the float since the Ice Rink float is converted to the Frozen float with Anna and Elsa.


At the end of the float, this is where Mrs. Claus use to be until Mickey and Minnie took Donald and Daisy spot on the float.








This is one part of the parade which has changed over the years which the snowflake performers skaters. Now it is just the performers on skates.


The Frozen pre-parade that is used during Mickey’s Soundsational Parade and Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade is part of “A Christmas Fantasy” parade instead of the lead float.


Clarabelle Cow, Gingerbread Cookies and Candy Bakers.


Goofy and Pluto on the gingerbread house.


Lady Tremaine, Drizella and Anastasia


Candlelight Ball float with all the different princesses and princes.




Chip and Dale on the Humdinger


Woody on a rocking horse on top a Toy Block float


Giant Toy Factory float


Buzz on his spaceship on top of a Toy Block float


Finale Dancers


Santa’s Reindeers


Can’t forget about Santa


My first impression of the new version of A Christmas Fantasy parade is which I am not happy that Disney once again has changed a classic parade with the Frozen pre-parade along with Mickey and Minnie replacing Mrs. Claus on the Mailroom float. I still talk about what is Disney going to do with the parade next year especially with Disneyland 60th Anniversary in which the parade will not be back next year with a new parade. Time will tell what will happen next year.

After the parade was over, I decided it was time to head on back to the room to rest up that night so we can go and see World of Color Winter Dreams along with eating at our favorite restaurant at the DLR.

So I walked on out of the park and had to wait a while to get on out since the parade was going down towards Main Street.

I texted Chris to see if they were still in the park and they told me that they have left and went back to their hotel to rest up that night and come back later to the DLR.

I got back to Best Western Anaheim Inn around 4pm that afternoon and rested only about an hour since we plan on going to the ESPN Zone that night to have dinner and to be able to watch the Sacramento Kings play the San Antonio Spurs at 7pm which the Kings were at home in Sacramento. We are season ticket holders and we had to skip this game since we were here in Anaheim. We are hoping that it wouldn’t be that crowded that night.

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[mvf-m11c]

[post=52715764]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 2 – November 15th, 2014 – Part 8

Dining Disappointment and Shots with my Tripod at Night​

After resting for an hour at our hotel, we head on out and back to the DLR that night. This time, we head on over towards Downtown Disney so we can eat at our favorite restaurant which is the ESPN Zone. We planned on getting there early since we weren’t able to make a reservation at the ESPN Zone that night.

I tried to make a dining reservation at the ESPN Zone for a while but for some weird reason, the DL website didn’t allow me to make a reservation. I tried to make a reservation online almost every day since we were close to our date but it didn’t happen.

So we had to walk-up that night which is always tricky. This is going to be a tricky one since it is during the Avenger’s Marathon and the crowds were so high during the trip and it was during dinner time which is always crazy around 5pm to 7pm.

When we left the hotel and back at the DLR, the entrances to the parks were not that busy that night.


We walked through DTD and on over to the ESPN Zone. When passing by all the different restaurants on the way, there were a lot of people outside waiting to get in and be seated. SO this was not a good sign that night.

When we got to the ESPN Zone, there was a line on the outside of the ESPN Zone. We knew that it was going to be a while to get in the restaurant and get a table. When DAF talked to one of the staff at the ESPN Zone, they said that we can get a table in 2 hours. There was no way we would wait that long to eat at the ESPN Zone that night. So we decided not to eat there which was disappointing. This shows with the marathon along with the first weekend crowds during the holiday season, the parks were very busy. This almost looks way worse than last year when we went during Thanksgiving break.
Just when we decided not to eat at the ESPN Zone that night, we tried another restaurant and this is one of our other favorite sit down restaurant which is Storyteller’s Café. We always like to eat there during lunch time which is always empty and it would be nice to eat there that night.

When we got to the entrance and to see if we could get a seat, the hostess told us that they are only letting the guests to dine at the restaurant. DAF was very irate that Storyteller’s Café is only for the hotel guests only and not letting off-site people dine at the restaurant. I have never imagine that Disney would do that and turn down guests to eat at their restaurants. The restaurant was partially busy that night and they couldn’t let some guests in for that night. She told me that she will never want to eat there again after being treated like that.

DAF decided to head on back to the room since we had about over 3 hours until we had to be at Disney California Adventure in order to see the 9:45pm World of Color Winter Dreams show. So I decided to stay in the park that night in order to get some pictures with my camera. I also had my tripod with me so I was planning on getting long exposure shots that night.

I head on over to DL that night and it was around 6pm. When I got in the park, the second A Christmas Fantasy parade was going on that night. The park was a little that busy that night in which it looked like Christmas break crowds where it was busy. I decided to wait around Main Street Town Square until it cleared up.

While I was waiting, I saw on the right hand side by the Disney Showcase store, there were people walking on over towards the new bypass corridors behind MS on the east side. This was my first time seeing the new corridor without the tarp and opened to the public. Since it was busy during that weekend, DL decided to try it out. So I went along with the other people along the corridor.


This almost feels like my time when I was at the MK and when Main Street was busy, the backside corridors were used so the guests were able to walk on over to the other side of Main Street.

When walking through the corridors, it felt like a regular walkway that has a lot of doors to the stores on Main Street. Also there were a lot of posters that were on the wall when walking.


Walking through the new corridor was crazy and not a good idea. It was all crowded in going in that direction towards Main Street which is right next to the Little Red Wagon. When coming on out, it looked super busy at MS Hub area that night.


It took a while to walk on out of the Hub and over to my next destination that night. I decided to get some pictures of Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle that night with my tripod. So I set up my tripod in different spots in front of the castle that night to get long exposure shots.
















After getting some pictures around Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle, it was time to head on over to another area with long exposure shots. This time it was It’s A Small World Holiday which is always great to get pictures with its Christmas decorations.




The clock show was going on when I was taking pictures that night.












After getting some pictures from IASWH, it was time to head on out of the park and on over to DCA. I was planning on meeting up with DAF at DCA so we could get our spot for WoC Winter Dreams that night. So I left DL and on over to DCA.




I left DL and now heading on over to DCA that night. Stay tune what happened later on that night.

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[PrincessInOz]

Looks like you got a great spot for the parade and fantastic pics.

The night shots are lovely. Looking forward to seeing DCA at night.

 

[franandaj]

You always see so many neat things when you go there. It makes me want to go see lots of thise same things!

I can't believe that Storytellers turned you away. I dont blame your aunt for not wanting to go there again!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Looks like you got a great spot for the parade and fantastic pics.

The night shots are lovely. Looking forward to seeing DCA at night.

I was able to get a nice spot to see "A Christmas Fantasy" parade that afternoon. I would not wait an hour at IASW Plaza to see the parade since I have seen this parade a lot over the years. But I wanted to get a better spot to see the parade after seeing it from a different spot the other night. Plus it was different from previous years with the ice rink float being replaced by the Frozen float.

The nighttime photos are getting better with the long exposure shots.

You always see so many neat things when you go there. It makes me want to go see lots of thise same things!

I can't believe that Storytellers turned you away. I dont blame your aunt for not wanting to go there again!

All the pictures that I have seen online got me those ideas along with my own eyes of what to see when walking around the park. It is always nice to walk around and get pictures of these interesting views.

We were completely surprised that Storytellers turned us away that night. Since it was during the Avenger's Marathon and the busy weekend of the holiday season, I can see why Disney doesn't want to let non-Disney hotel guests eat at the restaurants since they want to serve the guests that are staying on-site. Same here. I thought about not eating there again but we might eat there again in the near future if she forgets about it. But I don't think she will ever forget about that.