DIS Dads The Dis Dad's Club II

[Emma's Dad]

Going back down Main Street with Town Square

Is it just me or does that tree look crooked??

Wow... that's pretty limited. Hope your family understands the meaning behind those 2 pieces of candy.

 

[BigJ]

great thanks for the advice.

 

[stopher1]

In Tomorrowland I caught most of the Jedi Training Academy show. I've seen it on both coasts now. I know it originated with Star Wars Weekends at MGM, but I prefer the show at DL. The stage they built in FL is great, right there at the Star Tours attraction & Endor village, but there's just something more dramatic and fun about the hydraulic stage at Tomorrowland Terrace which rises up from underground when Darth Vader appears after all of the kid picking and initial moves training of the padawans (plus its just a few short yards away from the original Star Tours).

In December 2008 they finally reopened the walk-thru diorama inside the castle that tells the story of Sleeping Beauty. It closed right after 9/11 - and due to ADA issues wasn't able to reopen once they closed it. But they were able to get around that with a special "alternate viewing" experience that they designed when they redid it all. It's an awesome experience, and I'm so glad that it's reopened. Another one of those neat little experiences that just sits there on the sidelines drawing people that know about it, or stumble upon it. Not a major experience in any way (definitely not an E ticket), but well worth the visit. It originally opened back in 1957 I believe, when Walt wanted to "plus" the park with something new. The castle was originally built with nothing inside, and so it was "fit" inside the structure with narrow steps and the occasional alcove for more story elements. The dolls and animated figurines were crude, but stylized to look like the film. With this refresh - it was definitely improved. Some great new technology was added, incorporating actual animation of the three good fairies & Maleficent turning into the dragon.

Some more decoration - this time on a lamppost near the entrance to Frontierland

The Pet Cemetery at the Haunted Mansion. This is located along the queue, as you wrap around the grounds to enter the actual house facade

Here Oogie Boogie from Nightmare Before Christmas is highlighted as well

The Sailing Ship Columbia - unique to DL, circles round Tom Sawyer Island. At nighttime, it is used in Fantasmic! as Captain Hook's ship

Here I am ready to embark on a fun-filled canoe excursion on Davey Crockett's Explorer Canoes - one of my favorite attractions!

Watching the canoe ahead of us after they embarked on their journey - these, along with the rafts to the island are most definitely free floating - no tracks, unlike the big ships have - if you don't believe me, read my earlier post about the when I worked at DL and the summertime CM Canoe Races!

 

[stopher1]

Is it just me or does that tree look crooked??

Wow... that's pretty limited. Hope your family understands the meaning behind those 2 pieces of candy.

Yeah, it does look crooked, doesn't it. It's not - but this pic does make it look so. I was sitting on the upper deck of the Omnibus for this shot, and was twisting my body a bit trying to not point directly into the sun - so that might have something to do with it. Other shots I have are straight though.

Yeah, the candy canes are limited... but I bought a Candy Cane Tree for each of the kids - very available throughout the resort, and at WDW too. Cheaper too. I was also amazed that they made it home intact. I was so protective of that particular carry-on - especially since I had to make an emergency trip to GA before heading home. 2 extra flights to guard that bag. I almost lost it when one poor guy tried to put his bag on top of mine in the courtesy shuttle for the rental car place! Poor guy must have thought I was nuts.

 

[Emma's Dad]

Yeah, it does look crooked, doesn't it. It's not - but this pic does make it look so. I was sitting on the upper deck of the Omnibus for this shot, and was twisting my body a bit trying to not point directly into the sun - so that might have something to do with it. Other shots I have are straight though.

Yeah, the candy canes are limited... but I bought a Candy Cane Tree for each of the kids - very available throughout the resort, and at WDW too. Cheaper too. I was also amazed that they made it home intact. I was so protective of that particular carry-on - especially since I had to make an emergency trip to GA before heading home. 2 extra flights to guard that bag. I almost lost it when one poor guy tried to put his bag on top of mine in the courtesy shuttle for the rental car place! Poor guy must have thought I was nuts.

I can just imagine that scene playing out.... You probably looked as mean as Goofy did here!

 

[stopher1]

Here's the queue area for Indiana Jones & the Temple of the Forbidden Eye (opened in 1995 for DL's 40th). This particular ride was the basis for Dinosaur at AK - in fact, once you board the vehicles, the ride is identical on the inside, minus the Indy theming plus the Dino theming. I remember riding Dino for the first time several years ago thinking "I know what's coming next" and sure enough, the movements and turns were the same all the way through. I took these shots AFTER getting off the ride, which broke down while I was on it (at the very end thankfully). As I was exiting the show building, the CM's were announcing that it would be down for an hour or so, so the line was pretty much non-existent by the time I got outside

The temple itself, located just above the exit

Inside the queue, further on in line, way down into the show building

The load area

The point where the ride broke down - at the end of the ride, just after Indy has saved us from the big bad ball rolling straight for us

This is the entrance into ToonTown, which geographically is located on the northside of the park, right next to IASW. It was opened in '91, and as a land, was the first land to be entirely located OUTSIDE the berm of the train. Back in '72 Bear Country (now called Critter Country) opened up as a new land that was half inside and half outside the berm. Prior to that, only show buildings for attractions were added beyond the berm to make things fit (POTC was the first to go beyond the berm, followed by the HM) - but the entrance to the respective attractions was certainly located inside the berm of park. The individual attractions moved you under the berm and outside into the show buildings seemlessly without the guest even realizing they'd done so - POTC via the boats of course, and the HM via the Portrait Corridor after stepping out of the elevators after being lowered underground. Today there's also Splash Mountain & Winnie the Pooh Adventures in Critter Country and the Indiana Jones Adventure in Adventureland that are also located outside the berm - both Splash & Winnie you enter the building inside the berm an work your outside the berm without really knowing it, but at Indy you walk underneath the train tracks through a long sloping queue process after entering the entrance to the Temple facade. But with ToonTown, you simply walk down under the tracks' bridge above to get into ToonTown. About and hour before the fireworks each night, the entire land is closed, since the fw's are literally shot up in the air directly behind the back wall of the land

ToonTown is filled with lots of fun interactive stuff, and just plain silliness

Roger Rabbit's CarToon Spin - this is a pretty fun attraction

Downtown ToonTown

Mickey & Minnie's houses

Chip & Dale's Treehouse

Gadget's Go Coaster

Donald's Boat

Goofy's Bounce House

 

[Emma's Dad]

Chris - I need to get you to write my TR... it would be done by now!! Seriously, though... thanks for these write-ups... I am enjoying these a lot

That Toon Town looks a lot more fun than at WDW. At least there appears to be more space to move around in.

 

[stopher1]

The Enchanted Tiki Room is also another of my favorite attractions. My DW thinks I'm nuts...but I don't care. It's CLASSIC Walt through and through. DL still has the original 1963 version of it too, unlike that mess that made at the MK when they tried to update it with "Under New Management" - let alone what they've done to it over in Tokyo when they incorporated Stitch (haven't seen it yet, can't judge, but man, enough Stitch already!) PLUS, the added benefit, is that right there at the entrance is the Dole Whip stand and you can take your whip into the show with you!!! Which I do every single time - even on a day when I see it twice or more...which I did. Bought a whip each time! YUMMMMM.

The Tiki Room is physically located right at the entrance to Adventureland - here's the sign which is geographically just AFTER the entrance to the ETR. One of the fun things to notice whenever you get there... is that the roofline is shared by the Plaza Pavillion (a former restaurant which is now the Annual Pass Processing Center - and is part thatch on one side, part gingerbread and curlicues on the other - as the PP sits on the actual hub and the ETR, right next door, is technically part of Adventureland. It's masked very well, but when you pay close attention, you'll see the transition between the two distinctly different themes that share the same building.

The Dole Whip stand physcially sits between the ETR turnstile and the Adventureland sign (the thatch you see, and the first two fireposts are coming out from the roof of the stand, as well as the "A" side of the Adventureland sign which is structurally attached to the stand's roof), and it has service on the outside (path side) and the ETR courtyard side - so you can be waiting in the courtyard for the show and buying your D.W. at the same time.

Some of the tiki gods and goddesses that decorate the waiting courtyard

The signs look great at nighttime too!

The teacups look awesome at nighttime too. At DL they are exposed to the elements, so when it rains they aren't quite as fun. The covering designed for the MK is more practical yes, but you just can't beat the look of the giant turntable with all those oriental lanterns hanging down above

Here's a shot from Fantasyland of the Wicked Queen looking out of her window, above the entrance to the queue for Snow White's Scary Adventures. She opens the curtains and looks out every few minutes

Here are the Dapper Dans, later in the day, performing in Town Square

They were setting up for Candlelight while I was there. At DL the Candlelight Processional is only two nights, on one weekend each December as it takes place in Town Square in front of the Train Station, and is quite a disruption for the entire week leading up to it. For a while (maybe 2 or 3 years) during the late '90's they moved it to the stage at the former Videopolis Theatre, but there was such an uproar that it was finally moved back to Town Square and hasn't gone anywhere since. This extraordinary event dates back to 1956 and Walt himself. I was in it 2 years back in the late '80's, standing right up there on the Living Christmas Tree front and center. (I still have my sheet music!) That was an incredibly fun experience. I still haven't been able to get to it at Epcot yet, but someday I will. Twice I've been in Epcot during the Christmas season and had the opportunity to go, but didn't make it either time for one reason or another - honestly can't even remember why now. But someday I will get to it there and see how it is similar/different.

Here's a view of Space Mtn at nighttime

and one last one of the castle at nighttime

OK guys - I'm done. I'm sure I've bored a bunch of you, but thanks for letting me share some pics of my trip with you all. I'm headed down to WDW in just about 3 weeks - so watch out. I won't do it again in this forum, but since that will be very different than the total of 2.5 days I spent in the CA parks recently - I will do a separate TR since that will be an 8 night trip staying in 2 different resorts, hitting all of the parks and some other activities. I'm looking forward to getting "home" to our "home away from home" - Animal Kingdom Villas. We'll also be staying in the Treehouses for the first time - so I'm really excited about that. We'll be taking my parents (flying in from Oregon) and my brother (flying in from Hawaii) who haven't been to WDW in more than 15 years each... so it will be VERY NEW to them, since so much has changed and been added since they were last there. It'll be like taking newbies! Plus we're trying some new restaurants as well as some old favorites - so we're pretty stoked about it all. My mom is excited to be able to get a new family portrait taken - so we're trying out the PhotoPass Portrait session there at AKV. I'll let you know how it turns out and if it's worth it or not.

 

[stopher1]

Chris - I need to get you to write my TR... it would be done by now!! Seriously, though... thanks for these write-ups... I am enjoying these a lot

That Toon Town looks a lot more fun than at WDW. At least there appears to be more space to move around in.

Thanks.

Yeah, ToonTown at DL is definitely better. It was designed specifically as TT coming in on the heels of the successful "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" sensation that was relatively short lived due to the problems with Spielberg - whereas the MK's version was shoehorned in over the existing "temporary" Mickey's Starland that they opened in '88 to celebrate Mickey's 60th birthday. That "temporary land" was only supposed to last a couple of years. Then with the instant success of TT at DL, they decided that the MK needed their own version of ToonTown.

At DL it used to even have the "Jolly Trolley" that you could ride from one end to the other, which was a funky, rollicking little streetcar that literally bumped and swayed - but it was shut down 5 or 6 years ago. Sadly the Trolley is still there, but now is just a photo op as it's been secured to the ground midway through the track path.

What's really cool about the entire land, is that it was built using no right angles at all - everything was exaggerated and "toony". I remember hearing the trouble that gave the contractors & subs when they were trying to actually construct it!

 

[DisneyDaddy-O]

This write-up of yours is really going to end up costing me money....I want to go! Maybe one day I'll get the family out there, funny how everything look so familiars but is so very different at the same time.

Great job and thanks for all the pics, looking forward to your TR. It appears you will be leaving just as I'm getting there. Make sure everything is up and running before I get there will ya.

 

[stopher1]

This write-up of yours is really going to end up costing me money....I want to go! Maybe one day I'll get the family out there, funny how everything look so familiars but is so very different at the same time.

I thought the exact same thing the first time I ever went to WDW!

Great job and thanks for all the pics, looking forward to your TR. It appears you will be leaving just as I'm getting there. Make sure everything is up and running before I get there will ya.

Yeah we'll just miss each other. Can't wait to get there!

 

[stopher1]

Just for some perspective for those of you who have not been out to CA and DL yet (though you really need to go sometime...it really is worth it!)... I made this little aerial shot for you. Remember that WDW is about the size of 2x of the island of Manhattan, or roughly the same size as the city of San Francisco. DL is a microcosm when compared to that massive piece of real estate. But - once you are on property, you get just as lost in the magic as you do in Florida... and honestly - you forget that you are in the heart of a hustle & bustle city - right along the edge of one of the most heavily traveled freeways in America.

 

[MiJo]

Thanks. We plan to. I think we will be flying through this snow storm. I hope we have no troubles. (Thank goodness it is a direct flight.)
We are staying Dec 19-28. This is the first stay at OKW (our DVC Home resort).

We have some reservations at restaurants we haven't tried yet. So I'm pretty excited about them.

We are doing Hollywood & Vine, Tutto Italia, The Wave and the Luau. All new for us. We are going back to some oldies as well like Coral Reef, Crystal Palace, and Tony's.

We plan on taking a day off from the parks in the middle of the stay and checking out things like the Ginger Bread house in the Grand Floridian. Other than that we just hope to not get overrun by the crowds. I have never been to the parks when they reach capacity.

I haven't done a trip report before, so we'll see when I get back if I can take a stab at it.

We ate at Tutto Italia for the first time in October and I thought the Lasagna was very good. We also enjoy Liberty Tree Tavern (great burger/fries) and 50's Prime Time (always the meat loaf). Of course, our favorite restaurant is still Boma at AKL! Don't forget ~ try to get up to POR to see Bob "The Piano Man" Jackson! He's there Wednesday through Saturday evenings starting at 8:30 PM. If you go, order the nacho platter and a beer or two!

Drop her off at Aloha Isle! I'm pretty sure if you give a pregnant woman a Dole Whip she'll be happy, so you'll be happy. It's a pretty quiet area compared to over by Splash Mountain and lots of shade and spots to sit.

Plus the other bonus is if you put her in line for you and DD and then go to ride Splash, they may have gotten the order ready by the time you get back.

Notice he said "they may have gotten the order ready by the time you get back"? It's the truth but it's worth the wait!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Chris, thanks for the DL pics and write-up! I enjoyed reading through it.

 

[DisneyDaddy-O]

Hey guys I came across this thread with pics of "River Country" Disneys first water park. This is what it looks like today.

Very Creepy!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2344523

 

[zuperdaave]

First, Stopher, great pictures and narrative on your DL trip.

OK, so here's my quandry. We live about 3 hours south of WDW and visit on average once per year for at least a few days and nights. We have never seen Cinderella castle with the Christmas lights. We are buying seasonal passes and are definitely planning a December trip for early December 2010 (when crowds are lightest and will also correspond with the Dad's Meet), but we were also thinking about just driving up for a day trip the week between Christmas and New Years. Have any dads been during that week? I have heard it is crazy busy but would like to know if anyone has experienced that firsthand. Unfortunately, can't swing a trip this month before Christmas, so our only option is right after. Should we bite the bullet or wait until next year?

Thanks for your thoughts...

 

[dvczerfs]

My wife with any luck will be pregnant by the time we go on our next trip. Do you guys have any advice for a man who will be taking a pregnant wife to disney for a week? We already have a DD 5yr old, and I am assuming I will be doing most of the entertaining for her. But hey, that's what daddys are for.

Any suggestions about what to do with my DW while my DD and I go on some of the bigger rides? This will be the first year DD is able to do Splash Moutain, and all the other bigger rides, so we are definitly going to do them.

 

[dvczerfs]

stopher, great pics chris!!! i like the pic of you and the cast in the kitchen, you remind me of linguini from ratatouille with the hat. love the rest, just to much to comment on. keep'em coming!!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Hey guys I came across this thread with pics of "River Country" Disneys first water park. This is what it looks like today.

Very Creepy!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2344523

Wow!

And to think I once swam in that water!

Actually, that probably explains a lot...

 

[dvczerfs]

First, Stopher, great pictures and narrative on your DL trip.

OK, so here's my quandry. We live about 3 hours south of WDW and visit on average once per year for at least a few days and nights. We have never seen Cinderella castle with the Christmas lights. We are buying seasonal passes and are definitely planning a December trip for early December 2010 (when crowds are lightest and will also correspond with the Dad's Meet), but we were also thinking about just driving up for a day trip the week between Christmas and New Years. Have any dads been during that week? I have heard it is crazy busy but would like to know if anyone has experienced that firsthand. Unfortunately, can't swing a trip this month before Christmas, so our only option is right after. Should we bite the bullet or wait until next year?

Thanks for your thoughts...

zuperdaave, we spent christmass 2004 at okw. it was great!!! we checked in on dec 14th and checked out dec 27th. the park crowds are not to bad during the week. reminds me of october. during the weekends, all the "locals"as we vacationers call them, come in for the weekends, now, christmas eve is packed but you can get in. starting christmas day, and christamas day 2004 was raining, it gets full!! i mean full to the point were they close the park and you cant get in. at that point, the only people they were letting in were wdw resort guest. it was like that 25th,26th and 27th and i would have to assume the same for the rest of the week. 26th and 27th we got in at rope drop and stayed till about 12-1pm and went to other places.dtd,resorts etc.. it was just to full. that was the only time i have ever seen orange cty sher. dept officers walking around inside the parks and they were armed. they traveled in pairs and i seen them in just about every land in the mk we went into. now, im not sure if thats normal or if they were having problems. back in 74 they closed the mk (the only park at the time) and i have a picture of me (9) and my sisiter and brother sitting on the grass next to the car parked on the main entrance road into mk waiting for the park to reopen. ive never seen that since till 2004. its up to you but the parks are mobbed and you realy wont get on anything. in 2007 we went down again but the first two weeks of december, that was nice. we waited 45 min. to have our pic taken in front of the castle with the lights, the guy said next and the lights went out on the castle.(we were next) the show was starting, so we waited another 15 min or so till the show was over to have the pic taken. it sits on the tv year round!!! the line started by the circle in front of the castle and wormed all the way back to the first door to the emporium!! i wasnt leaving till we got that pic., thats what we came for!!!