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

mvf-m11c

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Welcome to the second Disneyland trip report thread by mvf-m11c. For those who have followed me on My First Disneyland Trip Report Mega-Thread that started on October 2010 and ended during the November 2013 trip which I just have completed. It has been 3 and a half years since I started my first big trip report thread which has all of my trip reports from October 2010 to the November 2013. Now I am on my second one and it will continue during the December 2013 trip report which you will be posted shortly. I have done a lot of single Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Trip Report threads in the past and have never done a whole thread all about my trips until the one that just ended. My old DL thread was a lot of fun and I will miss writing my DL trip reports along with other interesting events that I have done. I have done 21 DL trip reports on the old thread and this new one will be one of many to come in the future.

This is my thread of all trip reports at all the parks around the world. I have been going to Disney Parks since I was a young child and still continue to this day. I have a lot of great times at the parks and disappointing times at the parks. But no matter what, all the trips are special to me no matter what. Every trip is magical, but the best time for me and my family to go to the parks is definitely Christmas time at the Disneyland Resort.

For those who don’t know me or have not followed my past trip reports at the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. This is me (Bret)

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and I have been a long time lurker on the boards and member since 2009. Mostly I am on the Disneyland threads from the regular boards, Trip Reports & Community. I am a huge fan of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. I have been going to the Disneyland Resort ever since I was a little kid and have enjoyed going to the Disney Parks. I have been to Disneyland over 100 times in my life and counting. I have enjoyed every one of them with family, friends, & DISers that I have met in on the boards and met them in real life. I also have been to Walt Disney World 9 times in my life. I am also a Disneyland Annual Passholder since 2009 and still continue the enjoyment of being at the Happiest Place on Earth.

I like to videotape the nighttime shows (fireworks, World of Color, Fantasmic! at Disneyland & Disney Hollywood Studios, Illuminations, etc.) and take pictures of anything at the parks that are interesting from flowers, light fixtures, Halloween & Christmas decorations, etc. You can check out my pictures at Flickr or videos on Youtube account since the last 5 years. My favorite rides or transportation are the Disneyland Monorail, Walt Disney World Monorail System, Disneyland Railroad, Walt Disney World Railroad, Radiator Springs Racers, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blast (Disneyland Resort version) and I could go on and on at the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. I really enjoy the shows at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World (mostly particular nighttime show). They are the fireworks at the Disneyland Resort “Remember Dreams Come True”, “Believe…In Holiday Magic”, “Magical: Disney’s New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical Celebrations”. At Walt Disney World is “Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams”, “HalloWishes”, & “Holiday Wishes: Celebrate The Spirit of the Season”. I also like Disney California Adventure “World of Color”, EPCOT’s “Illuminations”, Disneyland and Disney Hollywood Studios nighttime show “Fantasmic!”.

I do take a lot of photography at the Disney parks. I shoot with a Nikon SLR camera and have been doing it for the last five years. I have taken over 30,000 pictures at the Disney Parks. I have a variety of lenses and filters to use when I am at the parks.

The Main Cast of my other Travel Companions that have went with me to the Disney Parks

This is the cast that I went to any Disney Parks through all my life and they have been all great and exciting to go.

My DAF (my mom’s sister & aunt that has been going with me the parks a lot). She is mostly known at DA on my trip reports but since my other aunt is with me during the trips we will call her DAF and my other aunt will be DAW. She is a fan of Disney but not as big as me where I always want to go to the Disney parks. But she has been going with me for a lot of years ever since I was a young kid. We have done our annual holiday trip to the DLR ever since early 2000 and still do it every year. She has been with me to a lot of other Disney events that is not at the Disneyland Resort from the D23 Expo’s, Walt Disney Studio’s Tour, & Walt Disney World.

My DAW (my dad’s sister). She just started to go on Disney trips ever since she went with me and my DB back in 2012 during the WDW trip. Ever since, she has been with me to three Disneyland Resort trips last year (January, June & December 2013).

My DB (brother). He is not a big of a fan of Disney Parks like me or my DA but he does like to go once in a while with his GF when they are in SoCal. We have been to a lot of Disney Parks (DL & WDW) over the years and he still enjoys going once in a while.

I could go on and on of the other party members that have been with me to the Disney Parks but my family on the top are the ones that have gone with me to the parks multiple times over the years.

All my Disney Trip Counts through my life with family and friends
WDW Trip Counts: 10 Trips (July 96, June 98, June 01, Mar 06, Mar/Apr 07, Mar/Apr 10, Dec 10, Dec 11, Oct/Nov 12, Oct 15)
DLR Trip Counts: 60+ Can't remember them all

You can check out my videos and pictures from my trip reports right here by clicking on the link.
mvf-m11c Flickr page with all sorts of pictures at the Disney Park and other events I have over 30,000+ pictures from the Disney Parks, D23 Expo, food porn, etc.

mvfm11c YouTube page with all different videos from the Disney trips These include videos of the nighttime shows, parades, rides, and videos from Disney Special shows back in the early 90’s.
 
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Disneyland Trip Reports:

2009
9/9/09 - 9/13/09 [post=33608075]DLR & the first ever D23 Expo[/post] on an old thread
12/10/09 - 12/13/09 [post=34655147]My Birthday trip at DLR[/post] on an old thread​

2010
3/16/10 - 3/18/10 [post=35890997]Quick business trip at DLR[/post] on an old thread
3/26/10 [post=36049163]An unexpected day trip at DLR[/post] on an old thread
6/10/10 - 6/13/10 [thread=2485662]DA birthday trip & the debut of WoC weekend[/thread] on an old thread
8/13/10 - 8/15/10 [thread=2515453]YU-GI-OH! World Championship TCG Week & DLR[/thread] on an old thread
10/1/10 - 10/3/10 [post=38439390]Mickey's Halloween Party Weekend at DLR[/post] on Post #40 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
11/18/10 - 11/20/10 [post=38996888]Holiday Trip to DLR[/post] on Post #131 (on the 1st TR Superthread)​

2011
1/21/11 - 1/23/11 [post=39679299]Short Solo trip to DLR[/post] on Post #379 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
2/19/11 - 2/21/11 [post=40025706]I Survived President's Weekend at the DLR[/post] on Post #588 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
4/8/11 - 4/10/11 [post=40698688]YU-GI-OH! TCG Tournament & DL[/post] on Post #740 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
5/27/11 - 5/29/11 [post=41278373]A Soundsational Weekend at DL[/post] on Post #840 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
6/20/11 - 6/21/11 [post=41584919]A Reunion with an Old Friend at DL[/post] on Post #957 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
8/18/11 - 8/22/11 [post=42368230]2nd Annual D23 Expo & DL [/post] on Post #1106 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
9/24/11 [post=42759685]Unexpected Trip to DL during the Halloween Season[/post] on Post #1273 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
11/18/11 - 11/20/11 [post=43299643]Our Annual Holiday Trip to DL[/post] on Post #1334 (on the 1st TR Superthread)​

2012
3/2/12 - 3/4/12 [post=44226673]Break from the Real World[/post] on Post #1563 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
3/23/12 - 3/25/12 [post=44434797]YU-GI-OH! 100th Tourney & Weekend at DL[/post] on Post #1674 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
6/9/12 - 6/12/12 [post=45177437]AP Sneak Peek at DCA[/post] on Post #1889 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
8/13/12 - 8/15/12 [post=45575426]I'm Racing Back to Cars Land with 'Bro and his Girl' in Tow[/post] on Post #2202 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
11/16/12 - 11/18/12 [post=46851603]Our 2nd Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November[/post] on post #2528 (on the 1st TR Superthread)​

2013
1/12/13 - 1/14/13 [post=47540085]DD2 First Trip at the Happiest Place on Earth[/post] on post #2624 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
5/3/13 - 5/5/13 [post=48320826]A Day at the Walt Disney Studios and Archives and Disneyland[/post] on post #2815 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
6/28/13 - 6/30/13 [post=48881547]Quick Trip with the Family during the Heat Madness[/post] on Post #2935 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
8/8/13 - 8/12/13 [post=49231477]The 3rd Annual 2013 D23 Expo Trip[/post] on Post #3019 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
9/14/13 - 9/16/13 [post=49649896]Last Second DISers Meet Up & Halloween Trip [/post] on Post #3084 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
11/22/13 - 11/24/13 [post=50167988]Our 3rd Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November [/post] on Post #3222 (on the 1st TR Superthread)
12/26/13 - 12/29/13 [post=50364586]Braving the Crowds after Christmas at Disneyland with Family & Friends[/post] on Post #3334 (on the 1st TR Superthread & Continuing on the 2nd TR Superthread)
Day 2 - 12/27/13
Part 1 [post=50736575]DCA Crazy Morning to get FP's for RSR and WoC[/post]
Part 2 [post=50774101]Breakfast with the Princesses & Cruising into Radiator Springs[/post]
Part 3 [post=50791719]Aladdin Show in the Hyperion Theater[/post]
Part 4 [post=50792557]Let's go for a Cruise and Tire Too[/post]
Part 5 [post=50835585]Snacking on a Cone and No way to the Wheel of Doom[/post]
Part 6 [post=50861065]Dinner and Cars Land @ Night[/post]
Part 7 [post=50882782]Winter Dreams & Sleep Time[/post]​

Day 3 - 12/28/13
Part 1 [post=50918096]Busy Saturday Morning at DL[/post]
Part 2 [post=50920902]Break Time at the Plaza Inn with the Characters[/post]
Part 3 [post=50948191]Cruising in Tomorrowland & Spinning Around in Fantasyland[/post]
Part 4 [post=50948195]A Mint Julep Drink & Crowdland[/post]
Part 5 [post=51010710]Floating down the Rivers of America and Flower Market Throwback[/post]
Part 6 [post=51010732]Unexpected Problem and Dinner[/post]
Part 7 [post=51042910]Floating down with Pirates and Animals[/post]
Part 8 [post=51042919]Last Ride of the Night[/post]​

Day 4 - 12/28/13
Part 1 [post=51073913]Quick walk-in at the Disneyland Resort[/post]
Part 2 [post=51073933]Quick walk-in at the Disneyland Resort Part 2[/post]
Part 3 [post=51099454]Universal Studios Hollywood and the Studio Tour 1[/post]
Part 4 [post=51099474]Studio Tour Part 2[/post]
Part 5 [post=51130993]Universal Studios Hollywood Part 3[/post]
Part 6 [post=51130998]Mexican Dinner & Last Night in SoCal[/post]​

2014
4/25/14 – 4/28/14 Time to put the Clipboard away and enjoy the Magic
Day 1 - 4/25/14
Part 1 [post=51360138]Going in Quickly and Dinner at our Favorite[/post]
Part 2 [post=51387788]Nighttime @ Both Parks & Raining Night[/post]​

Day 2 - 4/26/14
Part 1 [post=51413479]Shopping Day at the WDI Store in Glendale[/post]
Part 2 [post=51473341]Late to Easter[/post]
Part 3 [post=51569463]Above on the Highway of the Sky[/post]
Part 4 [post=51585071]Dinner at the Napa Rose with Friends[/post]
Part 5 [post=51624329]Maleficent Sneak Peek, Shopping & Nighttime Photos[/post]​

Day 3 - 4/27/14
Part 1 [post=51652400]Getting FP's, TSMM & BTMRR Finally[/post]
Part 2 [post=51672927]Back & Foward to both Parks Plus Lunch at ESPN Zone[/post]
Part 3 [post=551694576]Life Could be Dream in Radiator Springs[/post]
Part 4 [post=51738245]The World is a Carousel of Color[/post]​

6/23/14 – 6/25/14 A Fantasmic Summer at the DLR with my Aunt
Day 1 - 6/23/14
Part 1 [post=51756250]Arrived Safely & Going Under the Sea[/post]
Part 2 [post=51756270]Short Wait on our Favorite Ride at DCA[/post]
Part 3 [post=51795774]Pixar Play Parade Part 1[/post]
Part 4 [post=51795780]Pixar Play Parade Part 2 & Dinner[/post]
Part 5 [post=51818814]Staking a Spot for Fantasmic! & Part 1[/post]
Part 6 [post=51818835]Fantasmic! Part 2[/post]
Part 7 [post=51818849]Magical Fireworks at the RoA[/post]​

Day 2 - 6/24/14
Part 1 [post=51851297]Going Down the River with the Children of the World[/post]
Part 2 [post=51851345]Collecting FP's on the Railroad[/post]
Part 3 [post=51881197]Lunch at the Bayou & Frozen[/post]
Part 4 [post=51881212]Mickey's Soundsational Parade[/post]
Part 5 [post=51899742]Mickey and the Magical Map[/post]
Part 6 [post=51899750]Riding Above the Highway of the Skies[/post]
Part 7 [post=51899754]Aladdin Musical & Radiator Springs[/post]
Part 8 [post=51899760]Disappointed during World of Color[/post]​

Day 3 - 6/25/14
Part 1 [post=51935737]Last Day of the Trip & Ride Crazy[/post]
Part 2 [post=51935755]We're Leaving?[/post]​

7/26/14 – 7/28/14 Going Back Down South with Bro and his Girl
Day 1 - 7/26/14
Part 1 [post=52055825]Middle of the Nite Drive & a Friend Joining Us[/post]
Part 2 [post=52055839]Coaster Rides and Tsum Tsum Hunting[/post]
Part 3 [post=52088907]Let's go for a drive[/post]
Part 4 [post=52088918]Solo Time & you life Could be a Dream[/post]
Part 5 [post=52114562]Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there[/post]
Part 6 [post=52114569]The World is a Carousel of Color[/post]
Part 7 [post=52114582]Pirates taking Pictures in NOS[/post]​

Day 2 - 7/27/14
Part 1 [post=52140028]Solo Time in NOS[/post]
Part 2 [post=52140041]The Scary Mansion and Above the Skies on the Monorail[/post]
Part 3 [post=52166876]UVA Lunch & back to DL on the Monorail[/post]
Part 4 [post=52166880]Magical & Spacel[/post]
Part 5 [post=52205301]Staking a Spot and Fantasmic![/post]
Part 6 [post=52205309]Magical Fireworks by the RoA[/post]
Part 7 [post=52218192]Through the Haunted Jungle & Photo Time[/post]​

Day 3 - 7/28/14
Part 1 [post=52236516]The other party members aren’t here yet[/post]
Part 2 [post=52236521]Finally rode AiW & BLAB[/post]
Part 3 [post=52263850]The other Party Members arrived and it was time to leave as well[/post]​

9/14/14 – 9/16/14 Just in Time for Halloween Season in September
Day 1 - 9/14/14
Part 1 [post=52314892]Arrived Safely, Lunch/Dinner & HallwoeenTime[/post]
Part 2 [post=52314912]Pumpkins Everywhere on MS[/post]
Part 3 [post=52329154]Haunted Mansion Holiday 2014[/post]
Part 4 [post=52329166]Dia de Los Muertos, Halloween Tree & Halloween Carnival[/post]
Part 5 [post=52329213]Happiest Boat Ride on Earth & Tomorrowland[/post]
Part 6 [post=52347561]Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks[/post]
Part 7 [post=52347587]Second show of Fantasmic![/post]​

Day 2 - 9/15/14
Part 1 [post=52362589]Collecting FP's Everywhere[/post]
Part 2 [post=52362593]Halloween Carnival at Big Thunder Ranch[/post]
Part 3 [post=52383744]Haunted Pirates and Not-So-Scary Ghosts[/post]
Part 4 [post=52383760]Racing on over to DCA and Back to DL[/post]
Part 5 [post=52396462]Dinner at Carthay Circle and Roundtrip on the DLRR[/post]
Part 6 [post=52396472]World of Color Preferred View[/post]​

Day 3 - 9/16/14
Part 1 [post=52419458]Morning with Alice and a look at the FNSV Lagoon without the Walls[/post]
Part 2 [post=52419479]Finally the Monorail is running and Halloween Dec/Merch[/post]
Part 3 [post=52419487]Aladdin Broadway and Going Home[/post]​

10/14/14 – 10/16/14 Halloween Party and DISMeet
Day 1 - 10/14/14
Part 1 [post=52493790]Got To SoCal Safely, DISMeet #1 PrincessInOz and Party Time[/post]
Part 2 [post=52493801]Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade and closing out the Night[/post]​

Day 2 - 10/15/14
Part 1 [post=52514888]Meet-up that Morning and Ride City[/post]
Part 2 [post=52514908]Fantasyland Rides[/post]
Part 3 [post=52549930]DISMeet #2 franandaj & Lunch at the Market[/post]
Part 4 [post=52549933]More rides at DL and now DCA[/post]
Part 5 [post=52570270]Nighttime Photography and late Night Snack[/post]​

Day 3 - 10/16/14
Part 1 [post=52597999]Last Second Stop at DL & Casa Nueva[/post]​


Day 2 - 11/15/14
Part 1 [post=52691289]Getting Fast Passes along with Paradise Pier Holiday Decorations[/post]
Part 2 [post=52691291]A Wonderland in Disneyland[/post]
Part 3 [post=52691294]Haunted Mansion Holiday along with Cars[/post]
Part 4 [post=52700471]World of Cars and Hollywood Decorations[/post]
Part 5 [post=52700480]Viva Navidad Street Party & Downtown Disney Winter Village[/post]
Part 6 [post=52700540]Heading back for Lunch at DL & Jingle Jangle Jamboree[/post]
Part 7 [post=52715764]A Christmas Fantasy Parade changed Again?[/post]
Part 8 [post=52715765]Dining Disappointment and Shots with my Tripod at Night[/post]
Part 9 [post=52731517]Time for the Second Version of World of Color Winter Dreams[/post]
Part 10 [post=52731532]Compare World of Color Winter Dreams Part 2[/post]
Part 11 [post=52731547]Compare World of Color Winter Dreams Part 3[/post]
Part 12 [post=52731557]Compare World of Color Winter Dreams Part 4[/post]
Part 13 [post=52731567]Compare World of Color Winter Dreams Part 5[/post]​

Day 3 - 11/16/14
Part 1 [post=52756624]Cruising in the jungle during the Holiday Season[/post]
Part 2 [post=52756631]Decorations on Storybook Land Canal Boats and It’s a Small World Holiday Again[/post]
Part 3 [post=52756639]It’s a Small World Holiday Part 2[/post]
Part 4 [post=52784911]More Wreaths and Last Ride on the Flying Tire[/post]
Part 5 [post=52784920]Riding the Flying Tires and Watching Friends Play[/post]​

3/8/15 - 3/10/15 Flying Back with DD4 to the DLR


5/30/15 - 6/1/15 Back to the Diamonds at the Happiest Place on Earth


8/12/15 - 8/17/15 Fourth Annual D23 Expo Trip

11/14/15 - 11/16/15 6th Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November and Star Wars Season of the Force




Disneyland Trips with no Reports:
5/27/14 - 5/29/14
10/26/14 - 10/28/14
2/22/15 - 2/23/15
Quick Walk-Up to DL
5/20/15 Quick Stop Before I going to Las Vegas
5/26/15 - 5/28/15 Solo Trip during the Diamond Celebration
7/1/15 Quick Stop Before I go to Anime Expo 2015
7/5/15 - 7/6/15 DISMeet Up after Anime Expo
10/10/15 - 10/12/15 Surprise Halloween Visit Before WDW
12/4/15 - 12/6/15 First Candlelight Processional Weekend
2/27/16 - 2/28/16 AP Days at the Disneyland Resort Weekend
4/1/16 - 4/3/16 Food and Wine at DCA is Back Baby.
6/3/16 - 6/5/16 Another Trip after Memorial Weekend
6/19/16 - 6/22/16
7/12/16
7/25/16 - 7/27/16
8/13/16 - 8/14/16
9/17/16 - 9/18/16
10/15/16

11/11/16 - 11/13/16
7th Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November with my Cousin
3/30/17 - 4/2/17
5/31/17 - 6/2/17


Walt Disney World Trip Reports:
3/26/10 - 4/3/10 [post=36049501]Spring break vacation at WDW[/post]
12/10/10 - 12/17/10 [post=38536860]My birthday trip at WDW[/post]
12/9/11 - 12/16/11 Friends and Family trip to WDW
10/26/12 - 11/2/12 Boo to You...and Food & Wine Too!
10/16/15 - 10/23/15 Riding Down to Diagon Alley with Food & Wine as Well
10/4/16 - 10/9/16 First Solo Trip to Florida and Hurricane Matthew​


Upcoming & Future Disney Park Pre-Trip Reports
11/9/18 - 11/11/18 8th Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November​


I will be posting all my updates on my trip reports when I am at the resort or on the road.
 
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Day 2 – December 27th, 2013 – Part 1

Now is day 2 of the trip. After the first day, Silv and MP had an exciting time at the Disneyland Resort where we all got to have dinner at Tortilla Jo’s, head on over to DL that night where we got to go on some rides that night from the Monorail, It’s a Small World Holiday, Storybook Land Canal Boats and Captain EO. It was unfortunate that “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks didn’t play that first night on Thursday since it was a windy night. My DAW and Cousin C had a great time that night and they were also glad that Silv and MP had a great first day even though the park was really crowded that night. That first night on Thursday was busy as I have expected during Christmas break. But we all had a great time and Silv and MP were getting excited for the first whole day of the trip.

It was a new day for all of us. This was the first full day of the trip where we will be heading on over to Disney California Adventure first thing over Disneyland. I had a hunch that DL will be very busy that Friday morning and we had dining reservation at DCA that morning. Even though Friday was an Extra Magic Hours at DCA, it was going to be busy to get into the parks during the break where I had planned out the trip where we will have to be at the parks first thing in the morning so we can get some rides done. Some of my party members don’t get up early in the morning like my Cousin C. He wanted to sleep in that morning but we told him to get up in the morning and he can go back to the room to sleep in so we can get FP’s for Radiator Springs Racers and World of Color: Winter Dreams. In order to get the FP’s at the parks, you have to be in the park in with your ticket/Annual Pass so you are able to get a FP or you won’t get it since it is not activated. He didn’t want to get up but he wanted to see WoC: Winter Dreams that night.

It was also my first time staying at the Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites hotel on Harbor Blvd where mostly I stay at Best Western Park Place Inn or Best Western Anaheim Inn. My DAW chose this hotel since we got two rooms at a reasonable price where we wouldn’t get it at BWPPI or BWAI. Even though we were all the way back at the hotel we had a nice time staying at the Desert Inn.


We all got up early that morning so we can head on over to the DLR early that morning in order to get into DCA at 8am. Since it was during Christmas break and there are a lot of guests at the parks, we had to take advantage of the morning to go on the good rides and get FP’s for WoC: Winter Dreams and RSR. Mostly everyone got up around 7am and we all got dressed up and started to head on out of the Desert Inn and to the DLR. Cousin C wanted to sleep in but he will get up so we can get the FP for WoC: Winter Dreams and RSR to use later that day.

We left the Desert Inn around 7:30am and we walked all the way over to the Esplanade so we can get an early start at the Disney parks.

It was nice that my DAW got the ECV when it was delivered at the hotel instead of getting the ECV at the DLR. It saved us time which was really key during the trip even during the Christmas break crowds.



It was around 7:45am when we passed through the security area and at the Esplanade. When we looked in the direction towards Disneyland, the turnstile queue was already passed the monorail column and almost towards the center of the Esplanade. I knew that the crowds were going to be very high that Friday and it wasn’t as bad as I have originally thought where both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure turnstile queue would be close to each other.



Both parks are not opened yet but we were in the park before the parks open at 8am that morning.

The first thing we did was to head on over to the RSR FP queue so we can ride RSR later that day. I don’t like riding RSR in the morning since it can be not up and running.

When we were in Buena Vista Street, the queue was already towards “Off the Page” store/Animation Building at Hollywood Land. I wasn’t too worried about getting the FP for RSR but it won’t be in the morning and we should get a time in the afternoon which works out perfectly for us since we have breakfast at DCA that morning.



Since it was going to take some time to get through the RSR FP queue, I got everyone’s tickets and AP’s so I can get the WoC: Winter Dreams FP’s at Grizzly River Run. When I get on over to GRR and get the FP’s for WoC: Winter Dreams, I will be back in time to get back in the queue with my DAW so we can get the RSR FP. While my DAW and Cousin C were in queue for RSR FP’s, Silv and MP went on over to do some shopping around the Hollywood Land stores while we are waiting. I thought that they would want to go on some rides that morning but they were interested in the shopping that morning.

So I head on over towards the direction to GRR and the park was not opened yet officially at 8am so I had to wait until it was time.


DCA is now opened at 8am and I head on over to GRR to get the FP’s for WoC: Winter Dreams that night while the others are shopping or in the queue for RSR.

There were a lot of people heading in the direction over to GRR while some went on over to Soarin. Over at GRR, there was already a queue and it reminded me of the old days when WoC was new and people would head on over there first to get FP’s before Cars Land opened in 2012.

I got the WoC: Winter Dreams FP for the first show in the blue section as expected when you get them first thing in the morning. But the time that the first show of WoC started was at 8:45pm which was an interesting time instead of 9pm or the time back during the November trip which it started at 7:45pm.

After getting the FP’s for WoC: Winter Dreams, I head on back to the RSR queue to meet up with the other members of my party and they were right at the Carthay Circle Theater. Not even 10 minutes when the park opened and they were right next to the CCT. I got in the queue with them and we waited until we got our FP’s for RSR.

It took about 35 minutes when we were in the queue for RSR FP’s and were able to get the FP’s from 1pm to 2pm which is a great time in the afternoon. Since we had breakfast earlier that morning, we had plenty of time to ride RSR in the afternoon.

We had an hour until breakfast and they didn’t want to go on any rides just yet. Cousin C went back to the room to rest up since he didn’t want to get up early that morning. So he head on back to the room while we were in BVS, Silv and MP wanted to do some shopping in the morning. I was a little surprise that they didn’t want to go on some rides at DCA that morning when it wasn’t that busy. But I didn’t want to spoil their great time at the DLR so I went along with it.


A nice look at the BVS Christmas tree.


There are a lot of people entering DCA that morning.


We head on in the Elias & Co. store as well as Los Feliz Five & Dime store. We did spent some time in the store looking at the merchandise. Silv and MP bought a few interesting merchandise in the store while DAW and I were just walking around looking at the stuff as well.

Then we head on over to the other stores on the other side of the street which was Trolley Treats and Atwater Ink & Paint.

Some pictures of the treats inside the Trolley Treats store.




Some of the Christmas trees in the Trolley Treats and Kingswell Camera Shop that I missed during the November trip.




After we looked around the stores and bought a few goodies. They didn’t buy big items since they had to carry it that morning to the afternoon until we head on back to our hotel that afternoon.

It was almost time for our breakfast and we started to head on over to our area.

The parks started to get a little busy that morning and the FP queue for RSR was already over when we passed by the return time sign.


When we were in Paradise Pier, we had some time to kill until our 9:30am breakfast so while we were right in Paradise Pier, they wanted to go on “The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure” ride. It was only a 5 minute wait time and we all head on over to go under the sea with Ariel and her friends.

Paradise Pier looks so nice in the morning.



It only took 5 minutes to get through the queue and it didn’t took too long for DAW since she was using the ECV. Silv and MP went on together while DAW and I rode in the other clam shell.

Pictures during the ride experience. I have took a lot of pictures during the ride and here are some of them.
















After we got off the Little Mermaid ride, it was time for our breakfast so we head on over to our destination. It is so nice to look at the flowers during the holiday season.


Walking over the PP bridge and looking at Paradise Pier Lagoon. The WoC platform is submerge in the lagoon.


The viewing area at Paradise Pier is all decorated with Christmas presents.


That will be it for this post and I will have more from DCA.

[post=50774101]Continue to the Next Update[/post]​
 
Running in and out....but I wanted to sub in to your new TR thread.

Looks like you had a great morning! Looking forward to more.
 


I'm all subbed in! Great start to your thread Bret. It really was busy this morning. Your poinsettia picture is stunning with the drops of water and vibrant color.

I can't believe your companions didn't want to ride any rides that morning either. Those fastpasses will come in handy later in the day.

Just as a comment - I dream of having gone to DL so many times I get to put 50+ in my trip report. :love:

Thanks for reporting your adventures.

TK
 
Hi, Bret!:wave:

I'm subbed!

I love the tree with the little train at the bottom of it (and a cupcake)! I saw that tree in 2012 (though I don't think it had the cute train underneath it at that point), and I had planned on taking a look at it in 2013...but I think I somehow forgot to walk over to that spot in both November and December!:rotfl2: I remembered from 2012 that the tree was kind of in a spot that people would only see if they happened to enter or exit that way, but a lot of people entered through a totally different door. So I knew I would have to make a point to go through that specific door to see the tree, and I got too busy and just ended up forgetting it.

If you're done with the previous TR thread and want me to close it (it's more like a Mega-Thread than a Superthread!), I can go ahead and close it. Technically, we don't really have to close it until it gets to page 250 (and you're not at page 250 yet), so you can leave it open for a while in case any other comments come in from new readers. It's up to you!

I noticed you mentioned that this thread will be a thread for all Disney parks around the world? Are you planning on visiting some of the other Disney parks? That would be awesome!:cool1:

I would suggest that, for your purposes -- because your DLR trip reports are quite long -- that if you visit WDW or any of the international Disney parks you do separate TR threads for those in the appropriate forums rather than trying to put them in this thread. If we're talking about just a 2-post highlight reel or something, that's okay in this thread, but a full, lengthy TR about a separate trip to another Disney resort (especially the kind of TR you usually do) should have its own thread so that this thread stays mainly about DLR trips, or about bigger trips that also include stops at DLR (like when you did the tour).

Another good idea that you may want to try -- but this one is totally up to you -- is to put a link at the bottom of each TR installment, directing the reader to the next installment. This is something I vowed to do when I eventually start my next TR thread, because my last TR thread was so long and probably daunting for people to wade through if they were new to it. People do not always want to go back to a Table of Contents or an Index to search for something, so the links are a good solution.

In other words, at the bottom of your earlier Day 2 post (above) you might want to put a link to the next post from Day 2 at the bottom, when you have the next post written up and put together. Other DIS'ers such as tayalltheway and lsulindy (to name only a couple) have done that. I think it works wonders in a really long thread, and I wish I had done it in my previous TR thread. It helps the readers who are short on time to "cut to the chase" and bounce from TR installment to TR installment, without having to sift through the pages of chat and commentary if they don't want to. Some folks may want to and have the time to read the other comments that have come in, but if not they can go right to the next TR installment and bypass all of that.

In fact, when I start another TR thread I plan to not only put a link at the bottom of each installment, directing the readers to the next installment, but I am also going to put a link at the top of each installment, directing the readers to the previous installment!:rotfl2: I noticed that sometimes readers were missing segments or sections of TRs in my last thread -- probably because they didn't want to go back through the pages to locate what they missed. They would jump in on whatever the latest installment was and end up missing something pivotal!

The last thing I -- as a fellow multi-TR thread writer -- want to do is waste my time, writing up installments and posting photos that people skip over or overlook. The easier I can make it for people to get to the installments and new TRs, the better! So I figured that I would put a link to the previous installment at the top of each new TR post, and a link at the bottom leading to the next installment! That way, all the readers have to do is click links and go right to what they need. I might even put a link to the beginning of the next Trip Report at the end of one completed Trip Report.

Anyway, I just thought I'd toss out those thoughts before you get too far into this brand new, shiny thread!
 
Running in and out....but I wanted to sub in to your new TR thread.

Looks like you had a great morning! Looking forward to more.

Thanks for following along the new Mega-Thread (that Sherry would call it) PiO.

It was a nice morning where the weather was great. It would have been even better if we went on some rides that morning but we went to the stores instead. I had no problem what they want to do that morning but it would have been nice to go on some rides when the morning is so important.


I'm all subbed in! Great start to your thread Bret. It really was busy this morning. Your poinsettia picture is stunning with the drops of water and vibrant color.

I can't believe your companions didn't want to ride any rides that morning either. Those fastpasses will come in handy later in the day.

Just as a comment - I dream of having gone to DL so many times I get to put 50+ in my trip report. :love:

Thanks for reporting your adventures.

TK

Hi TK. Thanks for following along on the new Mega-Thread. It was busy that morning to get into Disneyland and luckily we didn’t head over there first thing in the morning since we have plans at DCA that morning.

We had a nice morning where we were able to get the FP’s for RSR and WoC. It would have been great if we could go on some rides but overall it was a good morning.

Thank you for following along on my trip reports over the years and enjoy the new one.


Hi, Bret!:wave:

I'm subbed!

I love the tree with the little train at the bottom of it (and a cupcake)! I saw that tree in 2012 (though I don't think it had the cute train underneath it at that point), and I had planned on taking a look at it in 2013...but I think I somehow forgot to walk over to that spot in both November and December!:rotfl2: I remembered from 2012 that the tree was kind of in a spot that people would only see if they happened to enter or exit that way, but a lot of people entered through a totally different door. So I knew I would have to make a point to go through that specific door to see the tree, and I got too busy and just ended up forgetting it.

If you're done with the previous TR thread and want me to close it (it's more like a Mega-Thread than a Superthread!), I can go ahead and close it. Technically, we don't really have to close it until it gets to page 250 (and you're not at page 250 yet), so you can leave it open for a while in case any other comments come in from new readers. It's up to you!

I noticed you mentioned that this thread will be a thread for all Disney parks around the world? Are you planning on visiting some of the other Disney parks? That would be awesome!:cool1:

I would suggest that, for your purposes -- because your DLR trip reports are quite long -- that if you visit WDW or any of the international Disney parks you do separate TR threads for those in the appropriate forums rather than trying to put them in this thread. If we're talking about just a 2-post highlight reel or something, that's okay in this thread, but a full, lengthy TR about a separate trip to another Disney resort (especially the kind of TR you usually do) should have its own thread so that this thread stays mainly about DLR trips, or about bigger trips that also include stops at DLR (like when you did the tour).

Another good idea that you may want to try -- but this one is totally up to you -- is to put a link at the bottom of each TR installment, directing the reader to the next installment. This is something I vowed to do when I eventually start my next TR thread, because my last TR thread was so long and probably daunting for people to wade through if they were new to it. People do not always want to go back to a Table of Contents or an Index to search for something, so the links are a good solution.

In other words, at the bottom of your earlier Day 2 post (above) you might want to put a link to the next post from Day 2 at the bottom, when you have the next post written up and put together. Other DIS'ers such as tayalltheway and lsulindy (to name only a couple) have done that. I think it works wonders in a really long thread, and I wish I had done it in my previous TR thread. It helps the readers who are short on time to "cut to the chase" and bounce from TR installment to TR installment, without having to sift through the pages of chat and commentary if they don't want to. Some folks may want to and have the time to read the other comments that have come in, but if not they can go right to the next TR installment and bypass all of that.

In fact, when I start another TR thread I plan to not only put a link at the bottom of each installment, directing the readers to the next installment, but I am also going to put a link at the top of each installment, directing the readers to the previous installment!:rotfl2: I noticed that sometimes readers were missing segments or sections of TRs in my last thread -- probably because they didn't want to go back through the pages to locate what they missed. They would jump in on whatever the latest installment was and end up missing something pivotal!

The last thing I -- as a fellow multi-TR thread writer -- want to do is waste my time, writing up installments and posting photos that people skip over or overlook. The easier I can make it for people to get to the installments and new TRs, the better! So I figured that I would put a link to the previous installment at the top of each new TR post, and a link at the bottom leading to the next installment! That way, all the readers have to do is click links and go right to what they need. I might even put a link to the beginning of the next Trip Report at the end of one completed Trip Report.

Anyway, I just thought I'd toss out those thoughts before you get too far into this brand new, shiny thread!

Hi Sherry. Thank you for following along the new Mega-Thread.

The tree at the Kingswell Camera shop is a very interesting tree to look at. I really like the gingerbread train that is clear and it has lights in it. I wasn’t able to see everything during the November trip and looked at your pictures and from other DISers pictures that I had to go in those different areas at the DLR that I have missed. When I go back in November with my DAF like we usually do during the holiday season, I will get to go around the DLR looking at all the holiday decorations that I have missed from this past year.

I’m not ready to close the old trip report since I might use it to post something one day. There might be times that I would like to post something one day instead of the new Mega-Thread. I was really considering keeping the old one still going with the December trip report but it might cut it close with the posts that I might not be able to finish it.

I meant to say that I will use the new DL Mega-Thread to link my other trip reports from WDW, etc. I know that you can’t write up a WDW on a DL thread where it will be moved to the WDW trip report threads. I will be going back to WDW next year. I haven’t planned on any dates yet since I am looking at what season to go. I have been to WDW during every season from Spring Break, Summertime, Halloween and Christmas. I will still look at what time to visit WDW next year.

If I do separate trip reports from WDW or somewhere else, I will link them from this thread so I won’t have to write those long trip reports on this thread. I write it up clearly on the first post of this thread. So for other trip reports at WDW or somewhere else, I will write them up on the specific threads.

That is a really good idea of linking the next trip report installment on the last installment so the readers will be able to follow each new installment. I will definitely consider adding a last link installment so the readers are able to go back towards the last one where they have missed. Thank you for the tip Sherry.
 


[post=50736575]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]​


Day 2 – December 27th, 2013 – Part 2

Breakfast with the Princesses & Cruising into Radiator Springs


It was around 9:30am when we were at Paradise Pier right at the bridge and it was time for our breakfast. If you have wondered what place we will be having breakfast at Disney California Adventure and it is right at Paradise Pier, you would know what place we will be eating that morning. Yes, we will be eating at Ariel’s Grotto.

This will be the fourth time that year (2013) that I have ate at AG. This time it will be there for breakfast which is my first time over lunch and dinner. My DAW wanted to take Silv and MP eat at AG since my DAW have enjoyed eating at AG every time we ate that year. It was going to be very interesting to see how the food is where my DAF didn’t enjoyed it during the November trip. Silv and MP didn’t know anything about the character breakfast until when we arrived at AG and they were excited. Only my DAW and I knew about it when we made the reservation 60 days in advance.



We walked in AG and it was kind of busy that morning where there were a lot of families waiting to get in the restaurant. Luckily for us we have reservations that day so we didn’t have to wait a while. We thought that we would just walked down shortly but we had to wait awhile until we walked downstairs. It took about 5 minutes for us to wait until we walked downstairs.

When we got to the bottom, Ariel greeted us. Silv and MP went over to get a picture while my DAW didn’t want to get in the picture and of course I was taking pictures of them.


We were seated outside since the inside dining room was all filled up. This was the second time in a row for me to eat outside instead of eating inside on a nice day. I had no problem sitting outside that day since it was so nice.

The weather during the trip was so nice and scary. Mostly during late December, it is cold and rain. But during that Friday morning, it was nice and there was barely any clouds. I wasn’t complaining of the weather during the trip but it did seem weird where it wasn’t that cold. I was wearing shorts that morning in December which is unheard of in SoCal.

We were seated outside close to the entrance/exit door to the dining room. My DAW enjoyed sitting outside since it was a nice day. Same thing for Silv and MP that seeing Paradise Pier from this view is very nice.


The menu was completely different when I looked online. There was some very interesting choices during breakfast.


We ordered our food through our server and the princesses were coming out one by one while they greeted the guests inside the dining room.

The first one that approached our table was Snow White. Silv and DAW told MP to get up and get a close up with Snow White so I can get a picture of them.


Just awhile when Snow White greeted MP, Cinderella now came to our table.


Now came Tiana which was very nice to see which I have never seen her during our meals at AG. Mostly it is Snow White, Cinderella, Belle and Aurora. This time it was Tiana which was nice to see that morning.


And lastly was Belle.


I always thought if we all should get in the picture together but this trip was all for Silv and MP since they flew from Texas to join with us. It has been an exciting day to be with them and enjoy breakfast at AG.

After MP was able to see all the princesses that morning, it was time for breakfast. As always when we are about to eat, I like to get pictures of the food on the plates. I wasn’t able to get very up close pictures of bringing the food up close to me but I was able to get a picture of each dish that morning.

Silv got the Fresh Berry Belgian Waffle plate with Apple-smoked Bacon and Bircher Muesli.


MP got the Spinach-Artichoke and Egg White Frittata with Avocado Relish, Hash Browns, and Bircher Muesli.


DAW got the All-American Breakfast with Scrambled Eggs, Hash Browns, Sausage, and Bircher Muesli.


I got the Red Oak-Smoked Honey-Whiskey Barbecue Glazed Tri-Tip with Scramble Eggs, Hash Browns, and Bircher Muesli.


The breakfast was very nice which was very surprising to me. I thought that the breakfast would be okay since the tri-tip that I had which is almost the same thing when I had during the November trip which was for breakfast. The dish was nice with the hash browns and eggs. Everyone else enjoyed the breakfast as well.

This was a fine way to spend part of the day at DCA having breakfast at AG with DAW, Silv and MP. DAW told me afterward that we might not eat at AG for a while since we have done breakfast, dinner and WoC dinner. I also enjoyed eating at AG and I would also not eat at AG for a while since it is very expensive to dine at that restaurant. It will be a long time until I eat at AG during the character dining. I might eat at AG for the WoC dining one day..

After we finished breakfast, we were about to leave AG and be back upstairs. While we entered the dining room, it was all empty and we weren’t that last ones to leave AG that morning. It looks like they are getting it ready for lunch.


We were now back upstairs and about to do our next activity at DCA that morning.


We all head on over to Pacific Wharf so we can cross over to Radiator Springs.


When we walked on over to Cars Land from Pacific Wharf, we can see the queue to ride RSR was already on the walkway. I wasn’t that surprised to see the queue extended towards the view of Ornament Valley.


Over at CL, it was kind of busy to get on the rides like Radiator Springs Racers and Luigi’s Flying Tires. While we were here, Silv and MP went into the RS Curios shop and Ramone’s House of Body Art to look at souvenirs. While Silv, MP and DAW were in the stores, I was taking pictures outside waiting for them.

The Curios shop looks so nice during the holiday season.


The Route 66 Christmas tree next to Lizzie’s Radiator Springs Curios looks so nice during the holiday season.


When I head on over to the queue to get on RSR, the wait time was already at 180 minutes (3 hours). Talk about a long queue to get on the ride. Luckily, we won’t have to ride RSR at that time since we have FP’s that day.




When they were finished, we started to head on over to our next activity that afternoon. We walked on out of Cars Land and over towards A Bug’s Land so we can head on over to Hollywood Land.


A look at Red meeting with the guests.


After passing through ABL, we are now at the backside of Hollywood Land and over to our next destination that afternoon. Even at HL on the backside, it looks kind of busy as well.


Before the trip, MP gave me a list of what she wants to do at DCA and this is one of her must do lists at DCA which is Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular. She really like Broadway type shows since she has been to New York and she really wanted to see Aladdin. We went to watch the first show at 12:40pm and it was a little full. Since my DAW was using the ECV, we were able to go in the handicapped queue so we are able to watch the show in the Orchestra Section.


It only took about 10 minutes for us to wait in the queue until we are moved into the building.


That’s it for this post and I will have more from DCA that afternoon.

[post=50791719]Continue to the Next Post[/post]​
 
Following along! :)

Welcome for following along. :goodvibes


Breakfast at Ariel's Grotto looked very good. Looks like nice weather at DCA this day.

The breakfast at AG was nice and it was way better then I have expected. But for the price at breakfast is quite expensive which is around $33 per person. It was one of those once in lifetime experience where I have ate at AG during lunch and dinner. For the price, I would eat at Goofy's Kitchen or Breakfast with Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn. The weather was just great during the trip. I was going to ask you what the weather was like during your trip in December just a few days before my trip?


Lovely pictures Bret. Looks like a nice way to start the morning at AG.

Thank you PiO. It was a nice breakfast at AG that MP had a fun time seeing the Princesses. It will be a long time until I eat at AG.


The next post will be up shortly.
 
[post=50774101]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 2 – December 27th, 2013 – Part 3

Aladdin Show in the Hyperion Theater


We are now entering the Hyperion Theater for the 12:40pm Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular. MP has been looking forward to seeing this show since she likes Broadway type shows. She has been to a lot of Broadway shows in New York and shows that come in Texas. We were lucky that my DAW was using the ECV so we can be in the handicapped queue so we can get in the Orchestra section.

We were close to the back of the Orchestra section and it was not that bad. It was going to be tough to get pictures during the show since we were in the back. But overall for the wait time, it was good. MP was getting so excited that she can’t stop talking about it until the show started.





The last time I have seen this show was back in June with my DAW, Cousin K, and her mom. It was nice to see the show and MP was way more excited than Cousin K or her mom to see the show.

Here are pictures from the 12:40pm show of Aladdin on Friday afternoon.

Enter the Cave of Wonder if you dare.


Get back here Street Rat.






What is for dinner Genie?






Prince Ali arrived!














That is one big Cobra












The Aladdin show was over at the Hyperion Theater and MP was so excited to see the show that she really enjoyed it a lot. Out of all the shows that we have seen during the trip, she really like this one the most out of all of them. Silv enjoyed the show as well especially the Genie which she liked the most. It is always enjoyable to watch the Genie make all these funny jokes. We all laughed a lot of his jokes to Jafar.

After we got out of the Hyperion Theater, it was almost time for our FP use on RSR. Cousin C texted us when we were in the Hyperion Theater to watch Aladdin and he was in the park and was already in Cars Land. So we all head on over to Cars Land to meet up with Cousin C so we can ride Radiator Springs Racers which everyone is looking forward to riding that afternoon. I knew that they will like the ride a lot and it will be a way shorter wait time then waiting in the standby queue for 3 hours.

That’s it for this post and I will have more from DCA that afternoon.

[post=50792557]Continue to the Next Post[/post]​
 
[post=50791719]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 2 – December 27th, 2013 – Part 4

Let’s go for a Cruise and Tire Too.

After we left the Hyperion Theater after watching Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, we are now heading back to Cars Land so we can use our Fast Passes for Radiator Springs Racers from 1pm to 2pm. We got a decent time to ride RSR that afternoon. Cousin C has texted us that he was already in Cars Land waiting for us since we were watching Aladdin at the Hyperion Theater. So the four of us headed on over to Cars Land to meet up with Cousin C so we can ride RSR.

When we got over to Cars Land, it was quite busy but it wasn’t that bad as was earlier during the day.


Cousin C was already waiting for us at the front entrance to RSR when I texted him to meet us at that spot so it won’t be too hard to find him. At first when he left and went back to the room to go back to sleep, he asked me where Cars Land was and I showed him a park map and told him where to go. It is a good thing that there are park maps so it would be easy to know where to go. For first timers, it can be very confusing.

Just when we are about to enter RSR, the wait time was at 2 hours where a while ago when the queue for RSR was at 3 hours. So it went down 1 hour from the morning to the afternoon.

We showed our FP’s to the CM’s and we are now walking in the FP queue. There were a lot of people in the standby and single rider queue. If we didn’t have the FP’s for RSR, we would have to wait a long time to get on the ride.

We didn’t took the ECV into the queue since it could take some time to go through the handicapped loading area and we were right that it was a good idea to go through the regular loading area since it will take longer to go through the handicapped loading area.









It is so nice to see the RSR cars. Each of them is different and not the same design.


DAW, Silv and MP rode in the front while Cousin C and I are in the back. Now for our cruise in the world of Radiator Springs.

You can’t get tired of seeing Radiator Falls waterfall.


Watch out for Mack.


Passing by Van.


We are stopped by the Sheriff.


You can’t get tired of the tipping tractors. Wait only one is tipping?


When we entered the town of Radiator Springs, I was hoping for Luigi’s side over Ramone’s side. We were so lucky that we got his side.


Who are those good looking people.


Thanks for the tip Doc Hudson the legendary racer Hudson Hornet.


Now it is time for racing in Ornament Valley.






We didn’t win the race which I had no problem with but my DAW said that one day when we go back on RSR that she will get her taste of victory.

Silv, MP and Cousin C really enjoyed the ride. They were amazed at the AA characters especially Doc Hudson which they like the most out of all the AA. They wanted to go on it again but it we did go back on RSR, we had to wait 2 hours to get back on the ride since the FP’s were all gone that day.

When we exited the RSR, we head on over to get a picture of us on the ride. Unfortunately, the ride picture during our run didn’t show. We were all disappointed that the ride photo was not showing during our experience. DAW wanted to get a picture of all of us on the ride. Even though we all had a great time riding RSR, it was a letdown that our picture wasn’t on the screen.

We exited RSR and back at the front entrance to get the ECV for DAW. Now the wait time was still at 2 hours.


When DAW got the ECV, we started to walk-on out of Cars Land but MP saw Luigi’s Flying Tires when we walked past it a few times and wonder what ride that was. When we looked at the wait time, it was at 30 minutes which was not that bad in the afternoon. She wanted to go on the ride since it was only 30 minutes so we head on over to ride Luigi’s Flying Tires.


It was nice to ride LFT again after the last time I rode it was during the November trip in which I haven’t ridden LFT ever since it opened in the summer of 2012. DAW never rode LFT and she was looking forward to it as well.

Going in the queue of LFT takes a long time where it takes a while to load and unload the guests in the tires. But it is always nice to walkthrough the queue of LFT since it shows a lot of interesting things to look at.

Francesco Burnoulli topiary looks so good every time I see it.




It was our time to get on the flying tires. Cousin C and I rode together while DAW, Silv and MP rode together. It was nice to ride LFT but it is not the same without the beach balls.


We will bump into you.





We all had fun trying to bump each other and we just kept going at each other without going into the other flying tires. After the ride was over, we got on out and off to our next activity that day at Cars Land. But that will be on the next post so stay tune of what we have done next at DCA.

[post=50835585]Continue to the Next Post[/post]​
 
Love your pictures of Aladdin and RSR. Seems like you've gotten the hang of that lens and camera now. :thumbsup2
 
Welcome for following along. :goodvibes




The breakfast at AG was nice and it was way better then I have expected. But for the price at breakfast is quite expensive which is around $33 per person. It was one of those once in lifetime experience where I have ate at AG during lunch and dinner. For the price, I would eat at Goofy's Kitchen or Breakfast with Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn. The weather was just great during the trip. I was going to ask you what the weather was like during your trip in December just a few days before my trip?




Thank you PiO. It was a nice breakfast at AG that MP had a fun time seeing the Princesses. It will be a long time until I eat at AG.


The next post will be up shortly.

Hi Bret,
The weather was really good for our trip. We had one afternoon with a little rain but other than that sunny skies.

You had great pictures at Aladdin. It's one of our favorites! Your pictures on RSR made me smile. It's a great ride. SO much better than Test Track at EPCOT.

Thanks for sharing.
TK
 
Love your pictures of Aladdin and RSR. Seems like you've gotten the hang of that lens and camera now. :thumbsup2

Thank you PiO. I'm still learning on how to use the new lens and DSLR. It will take some more practice until they are better.


Hi Bret,
The weather was really good for our trip. We had one afternoon with a little rain but other than that sunny skies.

You had great pictures at Aladdin. It's one of our favorites! Your pictures on RSR made me smile. It's a great ride. SO much better than Test Track at EPCOT.

Thanks for sharing.
TK

That is good that your vacation that the weather was good to you and your family.

Thank you TK. It is nice to watch Aladdin once in a while in the Hyperion Theater. I can't get tired of RSR and still an amazing ride. I need to ride the new version of Test Track at EPCOT and compare the two of them which I like the most. But I will always choose RSR over TT.

Your welcome.


The next post will be up shortly.
 
[post=50792557]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 2 – December 27th, 2013 – Part 5

Snacking on a Cone and No way to the Wheel of Doom

After we finished riding Luigi’s Flying Tires, some of our group was getting hungry even though we had breakfast at Ariel’s Grotto for breakfast. DAW wanted to go back to the Cozy Cone Motel to have the Chili Cone Queso which she was looking forward to getting since the June trip. So we all head on over to the Cozy Cone Motel.

My DAW was in the queue for Chili Cone Queso in Cozy Cone 3 while MP went on over to Cozy Cone 1 to get Churro Bites. I didn’t want anything since I was still full from breakfast which I did ate everything on my plate that morning.

While I was waiting for them while they were in the lines, I looked in the lobby at the gingerbread house which is so nice to look at during the holiday season.


And of course the Cone Christmas tree.


Everyone is enjoying the snacks on that afternoon. It was kind of busy around the Cozy Cone Motel dining area where there wasn’t any spots to sit somewhere since it was already past lunch time. DAW and Cousin C really like the Chili Cone Queso and Silv and MP enjoyed the Churro Bites.


After we finished snacking on the snacks at the Cozy Cone Motel, we started to walk on out of Cars land and on over to our next activity that day. The day was getting a little busy with more and more people in Cars Land and we are done that afternoon in CL.


We were now heading on over to Paradise Pier since MP wanted to go on a ride in PP. It is so nice to see the Christmas tree in PP when I go pass by it. It is not the tallest tree in DCA after they added the Buena Vista Street Christmas tree. It is nice to walk by the tree every time I am in DCA.


When we passed by the Christmas tree and now down close to California Screamin and Toy Story Midway Mania, I thought that she would like to go on one of those two rides. But it wasn’t those two rides since the wait times were in the hour range. There was no way I was going to wait that long in those lines during that time of the day.

The ride that she wanted to go on was Mickey’s Fun Wheel of Doom. I was completely surprised that she wanted to go on MFWoD that day. I knew that it was going to be in the 30+ minute wait time to get on the ride from the swinging to the non-swinging gondola. When she got to the queue, she went towards the swinging gondola. She, Cousin C and Silv went in the queue and asked me and DAW if we wanted to go on the ride and we both said no. There was no way I was going to go on the swinging gondola.

For the regulars that have followed my old trip report threads that I don’t like going on the swinging gondola. There was no way I would even go on the swinging gondolas even if it was for them. I just don’t like going on them and won’t go on them if someone dare me or paid me to go on it.

So DAW and I waited on the sides until they got on and get off. The wait time was at 40 minutes so it was going to take some time until they get on the ride.


If I ever go on MFWoD, I would ride it first thing in the morning where it will be a walk-on or you will be in this long line in the afternoon.



There was Cousin C, Silv and MP riding the swinging-gondola and it was swinging a lot. Good thing that DAW and I didn’t ride the swinging-gondola that day. I don’t think I can handle it.


After they got off MFWoD, we started to head on out of the park and go back to the Desert Inn & Suites to rest up until we had to return back to DCA that night to watch World of Color Winter Dreams. DAW & Silv are glad to go back to the room to rest up after being in the park since 8am that morning. MP could go on but she knew that it was time to take a break. Cousin C had no problem with it and I could use the same thing.

While heading on back to the hotel, we stopped by Viva Navidad! At the PP dining area. We didn’t stop and do some of the activities but I did wish that we did.




The Phineas and Ferb Holiday Edition show already ended and heading back to the back.




The Carthay Circle Theater looks so amazing every time I walk pass by it.


Just before we exited DCA that afternoon, we stopped at the Elias & Company store to buy some merchandise that Silv and MP looked at earlier that morning where it was not a good idea to buy it in the morning and had to lug it around the park. So they went back in the store and they did buy some stuff from shirts, jewelry, and Minnie ears that MP got. They did save some money thanks to DAW Premium AP that she upgraded during the trip. This is the first time that I didn’t have to use my AP since DAW got her AP.

After they bought the merchandise, we headed on out of DCA and back at the Esplanade. It was a little busy at the Esplanade where getting into DL would take some time.


We got back to our hotel around 3:45pm which is a little late that afternoon. But it was enough time to relax while we have to use our FP’s for WoC: Winter Dreams at 8:45pm. It was nice to go back to the room to rest up after our feet were a little sore. We all had a great time at DCA that morning to afternoon which the crowds were high but not as high as I have expected.

That will be it for this post and I will have more from that night.

[post=50861065]Continue to the Next Update[/post]​
 
It sure looks busy at the parks! Nice pictures. Seems like Orange is the new Red at Carsland; even for Christmas. I remember seeing the pictures last year of the Christmas decorations but I hadn't realised how orange themed it all was last year.
 
It sure looks busy at the parks! Nice pictures. Seems like Orange is the new Red at Carsland; even for Christmas. I remember seeing the pictures last year of the Christmas decorations but I hadn't realised how orange themed it all was last year.

It was busy at DCA that day but I have heard that DL was way worse than DCA. Thank you PiO. Being around the Cozy Cone Motel feels so orange even during the holiday season. Maybe when I got pictures from last years it was dark around the Cozy Cone Motel.


A quick update for my upcoming trip to The DLR in April is that my DAF and I will be eating at the Napa Rose restaurant on April 26th at 5:30pm. We also got the Chef's Counter seats for dinner. We will also be having dinner with Alison (franandaj) and Fran that night. This will be our first time eating at the Napa Rose restaurant and we are looking forward to eating with Alison and Fran.
 

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