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

[post=50948191]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 3 – December 28th, 2013 – Part 4

A Mint Julep Drink & Crowdedland

After Silv and MP rode King Arthur’s Carrousel, we all head on back where DAW was sitting on her ECV. We started to go onto our next destination that afternoon at Disneyland which was back to New Orleans Square. MP told me that she wanted to get a New Orleans Mint Julep at the Mint Julep Bar. That was one of the places that she wanted to stop during the trip to DL to get a Mint Julep drink. So we all headed on over to NOS from Fantasyland.

So we took the backside to Frontierland passing by Big Thunder Ranch. When we passed by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad which was all blocked off during the long refurbishment since it was down in January 2013. I am now glad that it is about to reopen after this weekend to the public. While we were in Frontierland right by the Rivers of America, NOS looked very busy and the Christmas break crowds have al showed up that day.


It was tough to walk through NOS that afternoon. When we were trying to get to the Mint Julep, the area to get to NOS from Frontierland River of America, the queue for Pirates of the Caribbean was extended towards the walkway and the CM’s were escorting the guests to go around and not towards the PotC queue. It was just a big messed that afternoon with the queues extended towards the walkway. I have never experienced heavy crowds this much when I went during 4th of July weekend. It took us a while to get to the New Orleans Railroad station area and of course another queue was extended towards the station which was the Haunted Mansion Holiday queue. It was just so busy that day.


We head on over to the Mint Julep Bar to get a Mint Julep for MP and we also bought some Mickey-shaped Beignets which are another popular treat at that place. It is too bad that there is no AP discount at the Mint Julep Bar just like the Tiki Juice Bar.


After we got our snacks at the Mint Julep Bar, DAW, Silv and MP went shopping at the stores in NOS. So it was going to be a while the ladies are shopping in NOS from Cristal d’Orlean, LeBat en Rouge, etc. stores which are very interesting to them. While they are in the stores, I looked around the second level of NOS where Club 33 is getting a makeover. It wasn’t too long when my DAF and I ate at Club 33 during the November trip.


It is so sad to see the Court of Angels all closed when I walk in NOS where it will be turned as the new Club 33 entrance.


When they were finished shopping in NOS which they bought a few things that day from pins, and some Nightmare Before Christmas shirts, we walked on out of NOS and on to our next adventure that busy afternoon. The whole day where it was just so busy. When passing by Adventureland, it was just as busy as being in NOS. Indy was over an hour and Jingle Cruise was close to 40 minutes.


Over at the Hub, the New Year’s Eve Countdown screens are up and ready for the New Years. It would have been neat to be here for New Year’s Eve at DL which is something I want to do but that will be another time.


After walking through the Hub and we head on over towards Fantasyland. We went on over to watch “Mickey and the Magical Map” show. I knew that they will like this show since I have watched it almost ever single trip in 2013 except during the D23 Expo trip in August. DAW told me that they will like watching MatMM and it was a good thing that there were plenty of shows to choose a specific time. Even going towards IASW Plaza is just as busy that afternoon as well.


We got to the Fantasyland Theatre with 10 minutes to go and we were seated at the back which is to be expected when you show up just when the show is about to start.

During the show, I didn’t take too many pictures of MatMM since I was enjoying it and videotaping that day. So I just got a couple pictures of this show since I have got a lot in the past trips. If I do watch this show in my upcoming trip and I don’t plan on spending time to get a front row spot, I will consider renting a telephoto lens for specifically for this show and F!. When the April trip gets closer, I will consider it.


Stitch coming out of the stage.


The show still is amazing every time I watch it ever since the show debut in May 2013. MP and Silv really enjoyed MatMM show that day. DAW enjoyed the show when we watched it back in June and it was nice to relax after a long day at the park.

When MatMM was over, we started to move on towards our next activity that afternoon. We were right next to Mickey’s Toontown Depot and I thought about getting everyone on the Disneyland Railroad but most of the guests that watch MatMM like us went in the depot and it was already extended towards the outside.




We were about to leave FL and go on over to our next activity but the 2:30pm “A Christmas Fantasy” parade was going on at IASW Plaza so we were going to be stuck in this area until the parade is over.


I do enjoy looking at IASWH during the holiday season.


Instead of waiting around IASW Plaza until the parade is over, we hea don over towards Mickey’s Toontown and maybe we will be able to go on some rides or do more shopping.


It was a little busy that afternoon at Mickey’s Toontown but it was not that bad than being at IASW Plaza during the parade. It is so nice to walk around Mickey’s Tooontown during the holiday season where it is all decorated.


It was packed everywhere where the wait times to see Mickey or Minnie was in the 50 minute wait time which was just crazy. Even Gadget’s Go-Go Coaster was in the 40 minute wait time.


We went into the Gag Factory store to look at any merchandise that Silv or MP wanted to buy while we were in Mickey’s Toontown but they didn’t find anything interesting to buy at the store.

Just when we were exiting Mickey’s Toontown, “A Christmas Fantasy” parade was almost over and we were following the end of the parade so we can get to our next activity that afternoon. I wanted to get them to see the parade that afternoon but the timing was just off when MatMM was going on and we had a choice between the parade and MatMM. My DAW chose MatMM over “A Christmas Fantasy” parade that afternoon since they would enjoy MatMM over the parade.


That will be it for this post and you will find out on the next post where we went that afternoon at DL.
 
Great update. Seems like it really was very very busy that day. Glad that you could still get on some rides.
 
Great update. Seems like it really was very very busy that day. Glad that you could still get on some rides.

Thank you PiO. It was so busy that day at DL which it was difficult walking around to certain areas. In NOS was just so busy with the queues extended towards the walkway for Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion Holiday. I don't want to experience it again for a while. Luckily we were able to get on some rides that morning to the afternoon.
 
This is not part of the December trip report but it was during a quick trip down to San Jose this week. So we will be doing a detour on the December trip report with a quick update from this week quick trip.


Just a few days ago before the trip to San Jose, I looked on Alison (franandaj) DVC PTR [post=50850795] You mean I DO get to go to WDW in 2014?? - Day 5 says we are Star Wars Weekends Out![/post] and I saw that she went to an exhibit in San Jose which is actually called “Star Wars Where Science Meets Imagination”. I was completely surprised that there was an exhibit in NorCal that I didn’t know about until I read her DVC PTR. So when I talked to her if I should go see this and she recommended it.

While I had some time off on Wednesday the 12th, I decided to make a quick trip to San Jose. It was not only just to go to San Jose, I also went on over to San Francisco to do some shopping in China Town. While I was going to San Francisco, it would be nice to make a detour trip to San Jose to see the exhibit. I was so glad to go down to San Jose to see the exhibit.

I left early Wednesday morning around 8am for a 2 hour drive to San Jose. But it actually took 2 ½ hours to get to San Jose around 10:30am since there were a lot of traffic going to San Jose. I bought my ticket online so I walked in to the Tech Museum of Innovation building. I have been in the room that was hosting the exhibit since the room was used for Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game Regional Tournaments being held. It was so easy to know where to go and I know my favorite parking spot right across from the Museum of Innovation which is across the street.



When I entered the building, I walked down and into the room which the exhibit was being held. It wasn’t that busy that morning around 10:45am which was a good thing where it won’t be that crowded to go through the exhibit. I chose that time in the morning where I won’t have to deal with heavy crowds.


The first area of the exhibit was models that were used in the Star Wars Movie 4, 5, & 6. There were also some smaller models from the other Star Wars movie 1 & 3. Some of these models were very big and so detailed.

X-wing Fighter model.


General Grievous’ starfighter model and on the left hand side is the Invisible Hand Trade Federation cruiser model from Episode 3.


Star Destroyer model


Naboo Royal Starship model from Episode 1


Y-wing Fighter model


Tantive IV model in Episode 4


In the area with all the different models, there were costumes of Han Solo and Boba Fett. These costumes were from Episode 4.


Boba Fett costume from Episode 4


The bigger size Millennium Falcon




After looking at the models, I started to move on to the next area of the exhibit.


This was a costume of the Wampa from the planet Hoth during Episode V.


Imperial snowtrooper costume from Episode V.


Props from the Episode V and a small model of Luke Skywalker riding a tauntaun.


A Jawa costume from Episode IV. During this past weekend during the Sacramento Comic Con while I was working in the vendor stand, I saw a kid that was dressed up as a Jawa and had the voice of a Jawa. That was so neat that a lot of people attending the Comic Con were taking pictures of him.


Anakin Skywalker slave costume from Episode I.


Tusken Raider costume from Episode IV.


A model of Sebulba’s Podracer from Episode I.




Small model of Sebulba


I will have more from the Star Wars Exhibit in San Jose.
 


I love Star Wars! I'm so glad that Alison recommended that you go to the exhibition before it closed.

Great pictures. Those models are fantastic. It was have been so cool to have seen them up close.

Thanks for sharing.


Looking forward to more.
 
Bret,
I loved seeing the Star Wars items from your convention. I would have loved to see all the models and costumes from the different episodes. Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup2

TK
 
I love Star Wars! I'm so glad that Alison recommended that you go to the exhibition before it closed.

Great pictures. Those models are fantastic. It was have been so cool to have seen them up close.

Thanks for sharing.


Looking forward to more.

It was nice that Alison recommend to go and see the exhibit before it closes this upcoming weekend.

It was nice to see the models, props, costumes, etc. up close and it is different from seeing it in pictures on a computer.


Bret,
I loved seeing the Star Wars items from your convention. I would have loved to see all the models and costumes from the different episodes. Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup2

TK

Glad that you like the first portions of the pictures TK> You would have enjoyed this exhibit a lot and I remember you had great times going to WDW during Star Wars Weekend. That is something that I will want to do when I go back to WDW.


The next update from the Star Wars exhibit will be up shortly.
 


Continue of the Star Wars Exhibition that I attended in San Jose last week.

The next item was Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder from Episode 4.




Right next to the actual Landspeeder was a model of the Landspeeder.




A model of the Separatists Armored Assault Tank (AAT) from Episode II


Now was to the next part of the exhibit which was my favorite part of the exhibit. It had costumes, models and props from the movies.

Darth Vader’s costume.




Darth Vader’s mask from Episode III.


Medical droid in the back


Anakin robotic arm from Episode II




Head Display of General Grevious.


Model of General Grevious


Interrogator droid from Episode IV


The weapon displays that had the blasters and lightsabers.




Sith Lords lightsabers from Chancellor Palpatines, Darth Maul, & Count Dooku which you can barely see.


Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lightsaber from Episode III & Count Dooku’s lightsaber from Episode II &III


Mace Windu’s lightsaber from Episode II & III


Shaak Ti’s lightsaber from Episode III.


Storm Trooper costume


Miniature model of a clone trooper with Phase I Armor


[Continue to the Next Post]
 
[Continued from Previous Post]

Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s costumes from Episode III


Mace Windu costume from Episode I, II, & III and Master Yoda Puppet from Episode V & VI


The Wookie Costumes


Princess Leia costume as well as R2D2 and C-3PO




Padme Amidala Genosis battle outfit from Episode II


Droideka Destroyer Droid from Episode I & II


The “Naked” C-3PO from episode I


Trade Federation battle droid


Pit Droid in Episode I


A model of the AT-ST (All Terrain Scout Transport) from Episode V & VI


Model of the AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport) from Episode V & VI


Model of the AT-TE (All Terrain Tactical Enforce) from Episode II & III


Just when I was about to be finished at the exhibit, there was the Millennium Falcon experience at the end. I was considering trying it out but I didn’t experience it which was a huge mistake after I left that afternoon in San Jose.

Instead of leaving the exhibit, I went back all the way to the front entrance to experience it over again. Since I couldn’t leave the exhibit which I wasn’t able to re-enter, it was a good idea to look through everything again before I was finished that afternoon.

I spent about 2 hours in the exhibit going through all the different areas of the exhibit and was able to see the videos, action stations. I was so bummed that I wasn’t able to do the Millennium Falcon experience that day.

After going through the exhibit, I left the Tech Museum and started to head back to my car and go on over to San Francisco for the afternoon. But before I left San Jose, I wanted to stop at one of my favorite restaurants when I am in San Jose. The restaurant is called Peggy Sue’s which is right across the street from the Tech Museum.


It is a 1950’s inspired restaurant that takes guests to the days of drive-in movies, rock ‘n roll, etc. these. I have eaten at this restaurant a lot since it is right across the street from the Tech Museum and it has great Peggy burger and creamy milk shakes.




I had the Porky Pig (Bacon Cheeseburger)


Also with Garlic Fries


After I finished lunch, I got back in the car and drove off to San Francisco.

That’s it from the quick trip to San Jose to see the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit which I want to thank Alison for mentioning it on her WDW PTR.

I will get back to the December DLR TR on the next updates.
 
What a great exhibition. Lovely pictures. Thanks for sharing.

And I love that Diner food. :thumbsup2
 
Was this a special display at the tech museum? It really was an outstanding array of Star Wars memorabilia! I could have spent hours there. Your lunch looked great too.

TK
 
What a great exhibition. Lovely pictures. Thanks for sharing.

And I love that Diner food. :thumbsup2

Your welcome. Glad you enjoyed seeing all the different pictures from the exhibit.

Peggy Sue's is a very nice diner that is across the street from the Tech of Museum. It is a little pricey for a burger but it is nice once in a while to eat at that place.


Was this a special display at the tech museum? It really was an outstanding array of Star Wars memorabilia! I could have spent hours there. Your lunch looked great too.

TK

Yes it is. I have heard that it was open since Fall 2013. Now it is about to close after this Sunday. I was glad that i made a quick trip to San Jose to go see this exhibit. There was a lot of nice props, costumes, models, etc. at the exhibit. I know that you would have spent a lot of hours in the exhibit.

Lunch at Peggy Sue's was good.


The next post will be up shortly.
 
[post=50948195]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 3 – December 28th, 2013 – Part 5

Floating down the Rivers of America and Flower Market Throwback

After walking around Mickey’s Toontown when “A Christmas Fantasy” parade was going on around It’s a Small World Plaza, we followed the end of the parade and now moving on to our next destination that afternoon. It was around 3pm when the parade was just leaving around IASW Plaza. MP wanted to go on one more ride until we head on back to the room to rest up so we can enjoy DL later that night.

We head straight on over to Frontierland going through the backside from Fantasyland. The whole day was just so crowded where it was tough to walk in certain areas like New Orleans Square, Fantasyland, etc. Originally it wasn’t that busy as I have thought during the Christmas break crowds. It was manageable but not like during the regular times I have visited the Disneyland Resort.

When we were walking the backside of FL and towards the backside of Frontierland, we head on over to our next ride that afternoon. During our visit, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was down due to its long refurbishment. When BTMRR was supposedly to reopen in November, I would have the opportunity to ride it during the November trip or December trip. But the refurbishment went all the way to mid March. It was disappointed that BTMRR was closed during that long but I will be looking forward to riding it next month.


The four of us went on over to ride the Mark Twain while it was in the docks. MP wanted to ride the Mark Twain through the Rivers of America. It was great to see Frontierland and New Orleans Square from the Mark Twain where both boats are out in the river. The boat just started to load the guests so we were able to ride it.


Now riding the Mark Twain down the RoA. While riding the Mark Twain, the crowds around Frontierland and NOS was so busy that afternoon.


Pirates of the Caribbean queue was extended towards the walkway of NOS so it was hard to maneuver to the alleys of NOS.


Even Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes were busy that afternoon as well.


A nice day riding on the Mark Twain down the Rivers of America.


An Indian Village is up ahead.


Just when we are approaching the port, we got to see BTMRR and it has progressed since I have seen it last from the Mark Twain which was back in June. I didn’t ride the Mark Twain in November.




MP and Silv enjoyed riding the Mark Twain that afternoon down the Rivers of America to see Frontierland from a different perspective. It is nice to ride the Mark Twain once in a while and see how busy the park is and see BTMRR while it is down. I can’t wait to ride BTMRR next month.

After we got off the Mark Twain, it was past 3pm and it was time to go back to the room and relax after a long morning and afternoon at Disneyland. Everyone was getting a little tired so it was a good idea to relax and then come back later that night to do more rides and the nighttime shows.

When we were leaving Frontierland and walking down in Main Street, there was something that I wanted to see in MS before we left that afternoon. The park was a little busy that afternoon where it was walkable but still crowded.




Just when we were almost half way to exit DL, I wanted to go down the alley of MS between Disney Clothiers and the Market House to see the Main Street Flower Market on Center Street. The flower market is a throwback that was once here on Center Street at DL back in the old days. Today, you don’t see that flowers on the street. But this was brought back during the December trip which made it special during the holiday season.








Just before we head on out of DL that afternoon, the ladies wanted to go in the Emporium to do some shopping before we left DL that afternoon. It was a good idea to buy something right now just when we left the park that afternoon so we won’t have to buy later that night.

I just waited right at the door while they were shopping.


They were able to buy some more stuff from the Emporium which was nice since Silv and MP are from Texas and they are bringing back some souvenirs. Luckily for me, I didn’t have to be in with them since DAW has the Premium AP.

I can’t get tired of seeing the Main Street Christmas tree.


We started to leave DL and head on over back to the room to relax and come back later that day. The park started to get more and more people in the park and there was already a long queue to get in just when we left.


We walked on back to the Desert Inn & Suites where we were staying and rested up until we head on back to Disneyland that night.


[post=51010732]Continue to the Next Post[/post]​
 
[post=51010710]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 3 – December 28th, 2013 – Part 6

Unexpected Problem and Dinner

Just when we got back to the room, we got a text from Cousin C that he was in the hospital in Orange County with his friend that lives in SoCal. DAW was so concern to hear that Cousin C was in the hospital when we were in the park that afternoon. What we have heard from his friend is that something got stuck in his throat when they were eating lunch that afternoon. She told us that he was okay and will be released later that night.

So it was a good thing that he wasn’t in danger and his friend was able to take him to the hospital that day while we were in the park. DAW was about to go and get Cousin C from the hospital but the only problem is that we didn’t have the van since he drove it to meet up with his friend. She told us that she will drive Cousin C back to the hotel where we are staying. They won’t be back until later that night. We couldn’t do anything but just wait until he and his friend come back to the hotel that night.

In the meantime, the four us just relaxed in the room till later that night until it was time to have dinner. It was around 6pm when we left our room and we head on over to Mimi’s Café which is on Harbor Blvd just right across the street from Howard Johnson Hotel or HOJO which they call it for short.

The last time I ate at Mimi’s Café in Anaheim was back in January with my DAW. That was during lunch, this time we will be having dinner that night.

There was a line to get in the restaurant that night so we had to wait a while to be seated. We were seated in 10 minutes which took a while that night to eat at Mimi’s Café. But around this time is dinner time so it was going to be busy everywhere that night.


For dinner, Silv got the Pot Roast with Mash Potatoes and seasonal vegetables.


MP got the Saint-Malo Pasta with mussels and fresh linguine topped with a spicy pomodoro sauce. Served with garlic French baguette croutons.


DAW got the Fall Harvest Salade with seasonal salade with mixed greens, honey-glazed walnuts, dried cranberries, green apples and crumbled goat cheese, tossed in honey Dijon viniaigrette.


I got the Le Burger de Madame.


When I ate my burger, I could tell that it was not cooked properly. When I looked in the patty, it was undercooked. I was completely surprised to see that my burger was undercooked. So we asked our waiter to look at my burger and was completely surprised to see it undercook. So she took it and will tell the chef to make a new burger. It was disappointing to eat an undercook burger that night. I like eating at Mimi’s Café where there is one in the Sacramento area in Elk Grove. My DAW loves to eat at Mimi’s Café in Elk Grove and she was surprised that I got an undercook burger.

It took them a while to make a new burger and our waitress told us that it was on the house and we weren’t charged for my burger that night. I was a disappointed that I had an undercooked burger but it was nice that the replacement burger would be on the house.

After we finished dinner, we head on back to the room. When we got back to the room, we waited until Cousin C and his friend came back to the hotel. Luckily Cousin C was alright after going to the hospital that afternoon and his friend is driving him back to the hotel. DAW told us that we didn’t have to be at the room until he arrived so he told Silv, MP and I that we can go back to the DLR that night while she stays in the room until they get back.

That was nice of DAW to stay while the three of us went back to DL that night. It was tough that Cousin C wasn’t that well this afternoon but he is in good care thanks to his friend that lives in SoCal. She told us that she would take him back to the hotel with the van which is so nice of her to do.

That will be it for this post and stay tune of what happens later that night at DL.

[post=51042910]Continue to the Next Post[/post]​
 
That's a super busy day at DL. That part in front of PotC shows a ton of people.

Food looks great! Shame about the undercooked burger but at least they comp'ed it on the bill. I'm guess that's a sign of how busy the kitchen was. Mimi's is usually pretty good with cooking meals.

Glad your cousin was okay. That would have been scary to get that text and wonder how he was doing.
 
I don't know how I keep missing that you are posting updates. I guess we are just posting at different times of the day and I miss it in my UserCP. I was like eight updates behind this time!

That's really scary about your Cousin, but glad that it was sorted out relatively easily and he was OK.

I can't believe how mobbed Disneyland is! I would be bashing my head against the wall with those crowds! I'm glad you were able to find time to sneak in some fun. The wait times on Star Tours and Buzz were crazy! Rarely do I ever see them longer than 30 maybe 45 minutes for ST and Buzz is almost always a 10 minute wait.

I don't blame you for eating off campus. Without a reservation, you would be waiting forever to get a meal QS or TS. Great pictures on HMH! Looking forward to more!


Was this a special display at the tech museum? It really was an outstanding array of Star Wars memorabilia! I could have spent hours there. Your lunch looked great too.

TK

TK, this exhibit had been traveling around the US for nine years and San Jose is the last stop. As we waited for the Millennium Falcon Experience on my visit I chatted with the guy running the queue. He said that it had traveled all over and after the exhibit closes, all the pieces go back to their owners. Many of them are from Lucasfilm, but there were a lot of pieces in the exhibit that came from Private collections.

It was really cool. I'm sorry that you missed it if it was anywhere near where you live.
 
Great Star War pics, I'm glad you made the day trip to San Jose.

Sorry to hear about your cousin being in the hospital.
 
That's a super busy day at DL. That part in front of PotC shows a ton of people.

Food looks great! Shame about the undercooked burger but at least they comp'ed it on the bill. I'm guess that's a sign of how busy the kitchen was. Mimi's is usually pretty good with cooking meals.

Glad your cousin was okay. That would have been scary to get that text and wonder how he was doing.

It was super busy at DL. Luckily it was only for this trip and I would not want to experience it again. I t just shows that I have been going to the DL Rduring the slow days and this was not a slow day. It was insane around PotC where we couldn't walk from Frontierland to the alley of NOS.

It was disappointing that the burger at Mimi's Cafe was undercooked. It was busy that night where most of the tables were occupied. Mimi's is a good restaurant and we do enjoying eating at Mimi's in Elk Grove. It was nice that they comp'ed the burger that night for an undercooked.

It was good that he was doing alright that afternoon after being in the hospital. Luckily that his friend took him to the hospital in SoCal and brought him back to our hotel. It is always scary to get a text or call and hear what happens to a family member.


I don't know how I keep missing that you are posting updates. I guess we are just posting at different times of the day and I miss it in my UserCP. I was like eight updates behind this time!

That's really scary about your Cousin, but glad that it was sorted out relatively easily and he was OK.

I can't believe how mobbed Disneyland is! I would be bashing my head against the wall with those crowds! I'm glad you were able to find time to sneak in some fun. The wait times on Star Tours and Buzz were crazy! Rarely do I ever see them longer than 30 maybe 45 minutes for ST and Buzz is almost always a 10 minute wait.

I don't blame you for eating off campus. Without a reservation, you would be waiting forever to get a meal QS or TS. Great pictures on HMH! Looking forward to more!

It was scary to get a text that he was in the hospital when we were in the park. Luckily that his friend was with him and took him to the hospital and brought him back to our hotel that night.

It was very busy at DL during Christmas break. Have you or Fran ever been to the DLR during Christmas break? Christmas break is one of the busiest times to visit the DLR and it is way busier then the summertime. I have experienced the summertime a lot and thought it was so busy but this is way busier then the summertime. Luckily it was only for this trip and if I ever do come back during that time of the year it would be during New Years Eve in which I want to experience it.The wait times for almost any ride during the busy afternoon was in the 20+ just for the non-busy rides. For the popular rides, they were in the hour range which is crazy.

It is always nice to eat off-site once in a while instead of eating at the DLR. With the prices, it always nice to eat somewhere else and save some money like Mimi's Cafe or Tony Roma's. With the crowds during our trip, it would take even longer to get a table at the QC or TS. When we had a reservation at Tortilla Jo's on the first night, there was a long queue just to get in as a walk-on. Thank you Alison. I can't wait to leave for my trip next month.


Great Star War pics, I'm glad you made the day trip to San Jose.

Sorry to hear about your cousin being in the hospital.

Thank you Angela. It was worth a drive to San Jose for the Star Wars exhibit.

It was scary at first to hear that he was in the hospital and glad that his friend from SoCal was there with him.


The next post will be up shortly.
 
[post=51010732]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 3 – December 28th, 2013 – Part 7

Floating down with Pirates and Animals

Since Cousin C was at the hospital and his friend driving him back to our hotel where we were staying during the trip, DAW decided to stay at the hotel while Silv, MP and I went back to DL that night. DAW wanted Silv and MP have a great time when they are here in California with us and not wait in the room for Cousin C since he is okay and is on his way back. So the three of us headed on back to DL that night and I can tell that it was going to be another busy night at DL during our trip in which there hasn’t been one day where it was not that busy.

We got back to DL around 8pm that night which was about 4 hours since we left the park. It wasn’t as busy as I have originally thought that night. But since we entered the turnstiles, most of the guests should be around the Hub for the 9:30pm “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks.


I took a picture of MP and Silv in front of the Main Street Railroad station. It was tough that DAW wasn’t with us that night but she wanted us to have a good time that night.


The first attraction we did that night was Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. I haven’t been to GMwML in a while and it was nice to go inside that night since it wasn’t that busy.







After we watched GMwML, we started to walk on over to our attraction that night. It was almost time for the 9:30pm “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks show and it was too late to get a good decent spot to watch the fireworks. Even when approaching the Hub, the area is all filled up with guests waiting for the fireworks.

Instead of watching the fireworks that night, we decided it was a good idea to go on the rides while most of the guests are watching the 9:30pm firework show. The regular followers on my previous trip reports know that I like to watch the fireworks when I go to DL and we weren’t able to watch it on the first night since it was cancelled due to high winds. But with the guests waiting to watch the fireworks, it was a good time to go on rides. I don’t like to do that when I am in DL but it was for Silv and MP to get on more rides that night. I have heard and read from other DISers that it is a good idea to go on rides when the fireworks and Fantasmic! going on where the wait times on the rides are shorten.

It was a little busy in MS before the fireworks and it was a good time to go on rides that night.


So we head on over towards Adventureland to go on a ride that night.


The ride that we went on that night was Pirates of the Caribbean. When we were in New Orleans Square, the wait time was only 10 minutes which was not that bad when F! was going on at 9pm. This is the good thing of getting on rides when the F! or the fireworks is going on where the guests will be staking out a spot for the fireworks (just like me) since it only runs once a night and F! twice a night (depends on the park hours).


It didn’t took too long to get on PotC that night and here are some pictures from PotC that night.




Treasure










Jack Sparrow at the end of the ride


Silv and MP were impressed with PotC with the Jack Sparrow audio animatronics. It was worth the 10 minute wait to get on PotC where earlier in the afternoon the wait time to get on it was in the 40+ time area which was quite long. But that is what to be expected during the busy season at DL.

After we got off PotC, I had to take them on Jingle Cruise. When we passed by Jingle Cruise when we were about to ride PotC, the wait time was in the 10 minutes area which was kind of low during that part of the night. So I am hoping that the wait time will be around that time. The 9:30pm “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks was going on when we got off PotC. So it was good timing to go on another ride that night.

When we got over to Jingle Cruise, the wait time was only 5 minutes and there were no people on the second level of the queue which is a good sign to go on the ride that night.


It was a complete walk-on that night where we didn’t even wait 5 minutes to get on the next boat that night.


There was barely anyone on board.


It was neat that we almost had the boat to ourselves. There were about another 6 people on the boat with us which is not that much. Our skipper was very energetic on our cruise that night. His name was AJ and he was a very nice skipper.

During the cruise, I didn’t use my camera for most part of the ride since it was tough to get pictures at night even with the higher ISO and aperture on the Tamron lens.

During our cruise, AJ was energetic and even though it was dark where I haven’t rode JC at night in a long time it was great. During the cruise, there were some changes to the scenery where it was a little different from the November trip. At some areas of the ride, the Imagineers added Christmas decorations which was neat. It was great that they added some Christmas decorations to the ride experience then the queue.

When we were about to approach the dock and get off JC. Our skipper told us that we had to wait while another boat was put in the backstage dock so we had to wait awhile. While we were waiting, we got to see Trader Sam all dressed up during the holiday season which was one of the new additions since I have rode it back in November.


After finishing Jingle Cruise, we started to move on to our next activity that night. MP and I were talking about the original Jungle Cruise without the holiday decoration and I told her that most of the ride experience is the same without the holiday decorations. The big difference is the Christmas jokes on the ride where the Jingle Cruise experience is different form the regular version. Stay tune for the next update.

[post=51042919]Continue to the Next Post[/post]​
 
[post=51042910]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]

Day 3 – December 28th, 2013 – Part 8

Last Ride of the Night

After we got off Jingle Cruise that night, I had to get dessert that night with MP and Silv. What better place to get a dessert at the Tiki Juice Bar since we were in Adventureland. We got on earlier during the trip and I got to have another one that night. I thought about going to Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor to get a cone but I do enjoy a Dole Whip Float over ice cream at Gibson Girl.

I know that it was a long shot if the Peppermint Ice Cream would be at Gibson Girl during this trip in which they didn’t have any during the November trip. I did eventually went in GB when we left that Saturday night to see if there was a chance that it would be in GB. Unfortunately GB didn’t have the Peppermint Ice Cream only the Holiday Waffle Cone. It was disappointing that DL didn’t have the Peppermint Ice Cream this year.

The wait time to get the Dole Whip Float was only 5 minutes which was very nice this late at night.


You know that I had to get one no matter what even during a cold night which wasn’t that cold in December which was shocking with all the weather we had these last few months in NorCal. I also got one for Silv and MP and they were glad to get one that night as well.


While walking down DL with our Dole Whip Floats, we decided to walk down in MS to decide what to do that night. With most of the ride wait times are very high even at night, we head on over to TL to do one more ride that we haven’t done yet during the whole trip.

Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle looks so amazing during the holiday season.


While walking by TL to get on over to our next ride, Star Tours was at 70 minutes that late at night which was shocking and BLAB was in the 30 minute wait time. We didn’t pass by Space Mountain but I knew that it was over an hour wait to get on the ride in the stand-buy queue.


The ride that we went on that night was the Disneyland Railroad at the Tomorrowland Station. I was surprised that we weren’t able to ride DLRR during the whole trip and it was a nice night to ride it. Even though there was a wait time at the station, we were able to get on the train that night.

Silv and MP were having a great time and it was fun to ride the DLRR even at night.


We decided to ride the DLRR all the way around the park so they are able to experience different lands when riding the DLRR. It is so nice to ride around the park even when it is dark at night we are able to see a lot of different areas that they won’t get to see when walking in the park.

Main Street Station




We were now in New Orleans Square


Just when we are leaving the NOS station, the second show of F! was going on that night.


After we got to Mickey’s Toontown Depot and passing by It’s a Small World Holiday. Just like all the rides during the whole trip, even IASWH had a long queue to get on that night.


When we got back to the TL station, MP and Silv wanted to ride it to the Main Street station which will be our destination since we plan on leaving the park that night and head on back to our hotel room. So we rode the DLRR all the way back to the MS station.

And on the way, this time I had to get pictures from the Grand Canyon and Primeval World dioramas.






We approached the Main Street Station and we disembarked from the DLRR.


The three of us decided it was time to head on back to the room and meet up with DAW sand Cousin C who should be at the room at that time. It was already 11pm that night and I wanted to stay a little longer but I was getting tired that night.


They didn’t want to go in the store while we were in MS since we did most of our shopping that afternoon and it was a good thing or they would have spent even more money in MS.

We left the park and head on back to the room to meet up with DAW and Cousin C. On the way out, MP and Silv wanted to get one last picture at DL which was right in front of the DLR Sign right at Harbor Blvd.


When we got back to the hotel around 11:20pm, Cousin C was at the room and he was doing alright. It was a relief that he was doing well that night after being in the hospital in the afternoon. His friend that was with him for most of the day needed a drive back to her home in Orange County since she drove the van back to the hotel. So I took her back to her house in Orange County.

I took her back to her home in Orange County and we were talking on the way to her house that she is also an Annual Passholder at DL. It was neat that Cousin C friend is also a DL AP holder. I was surprised that she was an AP holder at DL and didn’t want to spend time with us at the parks. But I can understand that Cousin C wanted to enjoy his time with her in SoCal while the rest of us had a good time at DL that Saturday. We had a nice talk in the car about her and how she knew Cousin C.

She was about 20 minutes away from the DLRR and glad she took her time to take care of Cousin C at the hospital and take him back to the hotel that night without having DAW or I go get him. We couldn’t get him anyway since he had the van.

After I dropped her off at her house, I head on back to the hotel and I got back around 12:30am. It was late and when I got back I went straight to bed until I took a shower.

That concludes Saturday or the trip and the next day will be a new one and the saddest part of the trip which is our last day in SoCal.

This was a nice day at the parks in which it was so busy as expected during Christmas break. But it was manageable to walk through except in certain lands at DL. We got to go on some rides and see some shows that day but we didn’t accomplish what we wanted to do that night so maybe when Silv and MP ever come back to California with us that we will be able to go on the rides that we wanted to go on but didn’t have the time. It was hard that Cousin C was in the hospital that Saturday but it was a good thing that his friend was with him and took care of him where we couldn't get to Cousin C since he had the van. In the end everything turned out alright.

This was the last day at the DLR for all of us and we had one more thing to do that day in SoCal so stay tune for the last day of the trip.

[post=51073913]Last Installment on the Trip Report[/post]​
 

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