Sharing the Disney Magic with Family & Friends-DL Diamond Anniversary-DCA F&W Fest Kiosks & The End!

[ACDSNY]

Great updates. Weren't you a brave one at the Sound Studio.

I was checking out the Storm Trooper and Darth Vader at the store a few nights ago.

 

[mvf-m11c]

We had a great time that Sunday night at DL from Star Tours and seeing F! one more time before it goes down for over a year for SWL. Glad that we were able to see it that night. It was a pleasure to help you out that night. I do have trouble at times with my DSLR where it tries to auto focus on a certain point when taking pictures where it can be annoying. With the DSLR set at manual mode which can get you the shots without the camera trying to focus on that spot. Just as you said that it can get out of focus at times when you are in manual mode. Glad that you were able to get the pictures during F! that night. Very nice pictures from F! that night. Thank you again for inviting me to see F! with you and Fran. It was a shame that Disneyland Forever didn't run that night due to high winds. I know that you wanted to do the long exposure for the fireworks that night.

 

[afwdwfan]

Your F! pictures look like they turned out very well to me! I love the sword battle on the Columbia, and those pictures look like they came out well.

Congratulations on your new Storm Trooper! I've seen those things around and thought I'd like to have one, but I've just got nowhere to put it.

 

[Steppesister]

I'm all caught up again, and I must say, that tour is something I'd give almost anything to see. What a treasure of fun info and such a great experience! I have a cousin who was an animator in the late 60s and early 70s and it'd be fun to see where he may have worked someday. Are those open to the public or how exactly does that even work??

 

[PrincessInOz]

Catching up! Sorry I've been MIA.

WOW! What amazing pictures from F! Awesome Bret, for helping you out. (Love the food porn as well!)

That tour/event was a LOT of fun to read and work my way through. Lucky you for being able to attend such functions. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Pinkocto]

How fun to spend the evening with Bret I still have not seen Fantasmic at DL. There's always so much to do!

 

[rentayenta]

Love the F! photos. I haven't seen it properly in many years.

Lunch looks delicious!

That stormtropper is about the collest thing ever!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Too much to comment on individually, but I did get caught up! The tour of the studios looked amazing--how cool to be on those grounds. And great photos of Fantasmic! That show looks so much better in DL.

 

[dolphingirl47]

And now you are really on vacation! Enjoy!

I am back again and I did enjoy the trip very much.

The studio tour looked amazing. I would have very much enjoyed this. As far as that Fantasia segment that was scrapped is concerned, Eisner did kind of have the last word on this. I was lucky enough to attend a couple of presentations by George Scribner on our last Panama Canal cruise, one of which was on Mickey's PhilharMagic. He shared some of the initial storyboards with us and on those, Tinkerbell was the character that ran through all the scenes. He told us that there was a meeting where his team had to pitch the idea for Mickey's PhilharMagic to a number of executives including Eisner and it was at this meeting that Eisner suggested that Donald should take the role that Tinkerbell was meant to have.

I am glad that you did manage to see Fantasmic one last time. The photos have come out really well. That French Dip sandwich looks amazing. I think I have to try this next year.

Corinna

 

[franandaj]

They took us on the Big Bang set back in 2013. It was in the summer so they were on hiatus, but it was still pretty neat. The two apartments and the staircase are all one big set and of course the main one. Any other sets are set up off to the side. I thought the coolest part of that tour was they took us on a talk show set (Ellen) a 3-camera sitcom set (BBT) and a single camera drama (The Mentalist) so you got to see the difference between the three.

That's really cool. I'd like to go back and do the tour again, if I could see that set. We didn't get to see any except the Friend's set. I didn't even watch that show. Something to do when friends come to visit.

It's nice that you went to see Fantasmic! With it being down for the next two years I would bet it's going to be extra crowded in the next few weeks.

I'm glad we got to see it. We haven't been to Disney West in weeks now. I'm afraid of what it will be like between now and New Years. We do have plans to go on the 2nd though. I hope it's calmer by then.

Nice coverage of Fantasmic! Lucky you getting photo tips from Bret! I have problems with my camera's auto focus but don't trust my manual focusing......

Thanks, I was glad to see it again. My manual focusing is awful, especially on moving rides!

 

[franandaj]

Great updates. Weren't you a brave one at the Sound Studio.

I was checking out the Storm Trooper and Darth Vader at the store a few nights ago.

Thanks! I noticed that someone in your FB pictures was standing next to Darth Vader, so I'm guessing you did more than check him out!

We had a great time that Sunday night at DL from Star Tours and seeing F! one more time before it goes down for over a year for SWL. Glad that we were able to see it that night. It was a pleasure to help you out that night. I do have trouble at times with my DSLR where it tries to auto focus on a certain point when taking pictures where it can be annoying. With the DSLR set at manual mode which can get you the shots without the camera trying to focus on that spot. Just as you said that it can get out of focus at times when you are in manual mode. Glad that you were able to get the pictures during F! that night. Very nice pictures from F! that night. Thank you again for inviting me to see F! with you and Fran. It was a shame that Disneyland Forever didn't run that night due to high winds. I know that you wanted to do the long exposure for the fireworks that night.

I'm glad we were able to spend that time together. I had forgotten that we were going to watch Disneyland Forever, but that it was canceled. I hope to see you on your next trip down here.

Your F! pictures look like they turned out very well to me! I love the sword battle on the Columbia, and those pictures look like they came out well.

Congratulations on your new Storm Trooper! I've seen those things around and thought I'd like to have one, but I've just got nowhere to put it.

I like the sword fight on the Columbia too, one of the things I really like about DL's F! is the use of the two ships on the RoA. Such classic ships and they use them perfectly in the whole scheme of things. We really need to dig out from all the packages in our foyer from being gone two weeks ago and get him out there to greet people!

I'm all caught up again, and I must say, that tour is something I'd give almost anything to see. What a treasure of fun info and such a great experience! I have a cousin who was an animator in the late 60s and early 70s and it'd be fun to see where he may have worked someday. Are those open to the public or how exactly does that even work??

This was a special tour that I'm sure most people would never get to experience. The closest thing to open to the public they have for these types of things is for D23 members there are "A Day at the Studio" trips you can book. They are offered sporadically, but I've heard they are pretty cool.

Catching up! Sorry I've been MIA.

WOW! What amazing pictures from F! Awesome Bret, for helping you out. (Love the food porn as well!)

That tour/event was a LOT of fun to read and work my way through. Lucky you for being able to attend such functions. Thanks for sharing.

You've been very busy! I hope that your time over the holidays allows some relaxing.

How fun to spend the evening with Bret I still have not seen Fantasmic at DL. There's always so much to do!

Hopefully next time you come out I won't be leaving on a cruise and we can spend more time together. Although F! won't be showing again until sometime in 2018 so you have some time.

Love the F! photos. I haven't seen it properly in many years.

Lunch looks delicious!

That stormtropper is about the collest thing ever!

This was the first time since probably 2013 that we have seen it. Such a great show!

Too much to comment on individually, but I did get caught up! The tour of the studios looked amazing--how cool to be on those grounds. And great photos of Fantasmic! That show looks so much better in DL.

You've been kind of busy lately. I hope you are feeling better. The show in DL is much better than at DHS, the seating, not so much, but the show itself is way better.

I am back again and I did enjoy the trip very much.

The studio tour looked amazing. I would have very much enjoyed this. As far as that Fantasia segment that was scrapped is concerned, Eisner did kind of have the last word on this. I was lucky enough to attend a couple of presentations by George Scribner on our last Panama Canal cruise, one of which was on Mickey's PhilharMagic. He shared some of the initial storyboards with us and on those, Tinkerbell was the character that ran through all the scenes. He told us that there was a meeting where his team had to pitch the idea for Mickey's PhilharMagic to a number of executives including Eisner and it was at this meeting that Eisner suggested that Donald should take the role that Tinkerbell was meant to have.

I am glad that you did manage to see Fantasmic one last time. The photos have come out really well. That French Dip sandwich looks amazing. I think I have to try this next year.

Corinna

Now that you mention it, they did talk about how this sort of morphed into ideas for Mickey's Philharmagic. I had forgotten that part, they talked about so much that day.

The French Market is a little Gem that I had forgotten about. I've eaten there quite a bit on some of my trips over the last year or so and I've had something different and delicious each time!

 

[Steppesister]

This was a special tour that I'm sure most people would never get to experience. The closest thing to open to the public they have for these types of things is for D23 members there are "A Day at the Studio" trips you can book. They are offered sporadically, but I've heard they are pretty cool.

Well crap. I'll have to be happy with having experienced it vicariously through you.

 

[franandaj]

Well crap. I'll have to be happy with having experienced it vicariously through you.

I'm glad I could be there for you.

 

[franandaj]

Monday November 16 was the start of Star Wars Season of the Force, and as soon as we had our chores finished, we headed over to Disneyland. I think it was probably already around 1:30 by the time we got there. We were going to try and meet up with Bret, but he had to leave that day to drive home to NorCal.



It was a long time since we had breakfast, but I wanted to hold out for lunch because I hadn’t eaten here in a long long time, and Fran gave me my choice for lunch (she usually does). Red Rocketts Pizza Port.



My favorite.



We also got our BB8 Sipper cup that day.



After lunch, I went to ride Hyperspace Mountain and Star Tours while Fran checked out the Launch Bay. We have yet to see this little movie. Maybe next week.



She took these pictures inside the Launch Bay of some of the exhibits. Now that we’ve seen the movie, I think we need to go back and check it out again.

















[Continued next post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]

I had finally received my new F1.4 lens and I was anxious to try it out on some dark rides, so we headed over to the Haunted Mansion to ride.



































This was about the best I could get for the Hatbox Ghost.



And we had the good fortune to be stopped right in front of Jack for quite a long time. I got quite a few shots of him, but only a couple actually came out.





These last two weren’t great, but the best I got in the graveyard and on the way out.







[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]

By this time we were ready for a drink and it was almost time for our dinner reservation.



The place was practically a ghost town.











This was our Amuse Bouche which was a sweet potato fritter with lamb bacon and blood orange jelly.



I went with the Prime Beef Tartare Poached Quail Egg and Autumn Mustard. It was fantastic!



Fran had the Cornbread Crusted Chanterelle Mushrooms, Fennel Puree and Chimmichurri



We both got the Harvest Acorn Squash and Apple Broth with Andouille Sausage and Cranberry Beans. This is how it got served.



And then they poured the broth over the soup.





And we both agreed on the Seafood course as well, the Poached Lobster “Paella” with Saffron Rice and Roasted Tomato Broth.



We both liked this well enough, but agreed that if nothing else they could have added a tad bit more rice just to beef up the dish a bit.



Before our main course, we got a palate cleanser. Ever since my first meal as a kid when we were served one of these, I always liked restaurants that served them. It makes me feel like I am somewhere swanky.



We were really in sync that night because we both also ordered the Zinfandel Braised Angus Beef Short Rib, Celery Root Puree and Apple Slaw.



This was wonderful and tender, melt in your mouth like.



I love a good cheese course, and this totally was. Fran knows enough not to order one of these because I will never be able to finish it, now that that portions have become larger. So she finished what I couldn’t here.



For dessert I got the Citrus Tart with Passion Fruit Merengue and Huckleberry Syrup. This was really good and not too sweet. I ate pretty much every bite.



Fran got the Pumpkin Beignets stuffed with Pumpkin Cheese Cake and a Pumpkin Parfait. She thought it was really good. I’m not a big fan of Pumpkin so I wasn’t as thrilled with it as she was.



After dinner, we headed out and back home.

 

[dhorner233]

Wow! Each serving of food was a work of art! And you are in a swanky place if they serve you a palate cleanser!

 

[Steppesister]

This was a special tour that I'm sure most people would never get to experience. The closest thing to open to the public they have for these types of things is for D23 members there are "A Day at the Studio" trips you can book. They are offered sporadically, but I've heard they are pretty cool.

I've never researched at ALL D23, so don't know much about the perks or the why of joining. Someday, when I have cash to spend I may look into it more...

 

[franandaj]

Wow! Each serving of food was a work of art! And you are in a swanky place if they serve you a palate cleanser!

We very much enjoyed this dinner, and the swanky place!

I've never researched at ALL D23, so don't know much about the perks or the why of joining. Someday, when I have cash to spend I may look into it more...

I think once you have some extra spending money, D23 is something you might like to join. It's the official Disney Fan Club. They have lots of events in So Cal and if you can get some cheap flights here, there are lots of things a Disney fanatic would enjoy participating in. Plus they have a magazine and some traveling events as well.

 

[franandaj]

So I was trying to wait, but I couldn't resist. New Trip Report!

http://www.disboards.com/threads/the-75-all-new-trip.3470766/#post-54896312