Just spent the week at Disneyland (part 1)

[DLMAGICDARREN]

I just arrived home yesterday from a faboulous week at the resort (Well Monday - Friday)

All in all, I have nothing but good to say about how the resort was this week. This was my first trip of many since the DCA previews that I actually thought DCA was very crowded. It may have been the Rockin The Concert Series, but maybe it was just that it was summer (although I was there the same week last summer and it didn't seem nearly as crowded then), but whatever I was glad to see it.

I arrived Monday afternoon, around 4PM, so we went into DCA, and never even made it to Disneyland that day. At 4:45 we watched Eureka, I just love this parade so much, I really hope it is not the last season for it.

I of course checked out the progress on FFF and TOT. Although I have to admit, I'm not thinking much of the whole FFF idea, the area did look good. TOT I was very impressed with. Only being on the 4th floor now, I can hardly wait to see how it will look when the steel structure is complete, hopefully for my next trip in December it will be done.

We went on Muppets, haven't seen it at DCA in quite a while. I was also surprised that SSL was not behind walls, which is what I was expecting. I totally understand that there is no announced re-opening date, but at least they are still showing the attraction to the public. I see that as a sign it has not officially been given the axe permanetly (so I'm an optomist, I'm the one who patiently awaited for Rocket Rods to reopen, so what do I know?)

Met up with a another friend that evening. We saw the Rockin in the Bay Concert. I was very impressed with the stage, although there is not enough seating, but the area was not built for that, it's nice useage of the area, and lots of standing room is available. America was playing, and it was a great way to remember some old songs I'd forgotten. In fact they played many songs from their newest album, called "I forget they did that one", they joked! We had a nice dinner at the Storybook Teller's Cafe. After dinner, DCA was closed, and we were to tired to fight to get into Disneyland since they'd be closing soon, so called it a day.

Tuesday we started at Disneyland. I like the new logs on Splash, they are very similar now to the ones used at IOA, and it's much more comfortable. Of course it lowers the cuddling possibilities a bit, but we still have Matterhorn for that.

Tuesday afternoon, another friend joined us. Her favorited ride is Haunted Mansion, so of course we did that. All in all I got a lot done, rode Columbia, Indiana Jones, went into the Gallery to buy another attraction poster (added Splash Mountain to my collection). Went on Snow White's Scary Adventures, (all the Fantasyland rides are so much better at Disneyland). Saw Small World, I think the original color scheme will look very good when done. The inside sounded and looked great, wonderful rehab!

Last time I was in DL's Fantasyland, the East side was still closed (Peter Pan, and Mr. Toad). Nice to see them re-opened. Although as you all know the careosel is still down, I like what they have done in it's absense. The activity area where you can color the horses, and get a picture on Jingles, and see the various stages of the horses being re-painted.

Also read some intresting bits of info I didn't remember about the careosel's history, I totally forgot it moved locations in the 1983 Fantasyland rehab. Next we went on Storybook Canal Boats, still hadn't been to Tomorrowland but that would wait, we went back to DCA. Saw Blast for what will likely be my last time, since they close Labor Day. Even the Hyperion was packed, not 100% full, but more crowded then I've seen in a while. Next, since I'd never seen the film at DCA, we watched One Man's Dream. Since my friend had never been to WDW during the 100 Years of Magic Celebration, he'd never seen the film. I was actually only expecting the film, I didn't know there were tidbits of information on Walt's life. I was really glad to see that to, but had not heard anything about DCA doing that in addition to the film. The film always makes me cry, since Walt is my number one hero. Oh how I wish I met him before he passed (then again I was pretty young then).

Man it was already Tuesday, and I still hadn't gone on any of the big attractions, Screamin, Sorin, or Grizzly, I'd now entertained myself for two days without doing one of them, (and people call it a half day park). Anyway that night since there were no plans to meet additional people I figured would be nighttime entertainment. I stayed for The Electric Parade, and even that was packed. I had never seen crowd control (at least not just standing there) before. They actually had parade route exits set up! Anyway, it was just great to see, and I love the parade! Can't wait till it comes home to Disneyland, but I still love it.

I thought I would have enough time to get over to Disneyland for Beleive, but I didn't give myself enough time, since the Electric Parade is at 9 and Beleive is at 9:35. I watched them from the Sunshine Plaza, but it's just not the same without the music. However they were nice to watch, and I made it fine for the 10:30 Fantasmic.

Fantasmic was just awesome! Although I miss the Ursula float! I really didn't realize how few villians were in the Disneyland version, which is one thing I love more about the MGM version, but overall no doubt, Disneyland has a better show. I loved watching all the scenes we don't get in Florida, especially Peter Pan's scene.

Wednesday was the day I knew I had to get on all the Etickets I'd been missing (after all it was my birthday . I started in DCA, and did Soarin, and Grizzly. Then after day three finally made it back to Paradise Pier. I rode Screamin, Sun Wheel. The view of FFF and TOT is really neat to look at from the Sun Wheel. Saw the Lilo and Stitch show, wow it is as much crap as I'd read about, nothing but a Pizza comercial. Oh well the only strike DCA got from me this trip. You knew there had to be at least one.

After hitting all the etickets spent a lot of the day just enjoying the atmosphere. Then came the dangerous time, I went on a shopping spree, and worst of all, I had my wallot on me! Started off updating my DVD collection, so added Return to Neverland, and Tarzan and Jane. Over at Disneyland in the new villian shop in New Orleans I found a figurine of the wicked queen I'd never seen before! God bless the villians! Next I got me a Sorcer hat, the ones that lights up! Now at DLR and WDW I'll be the guy in the sparkling hat, whenever I'm there at night. Still I was not done, that was my nighttime hat, what would I wear days, well the Mad Hatter of course, bought that hat too! Of course still being my birthday, I had to ride Alice, been a tradition for years with me, one I haven't broke even living in Florida for four years now!

Dinner was at House of Blues. I had done lunch there, but never dinner. It was very good. I had the shrimp pasta, and it could not have been any better. All in all it was a wonderful day, and a very happy birthday! After went back into Disneyland and finally made it to Tomorrowland! Saw Barrage! What can I say? They are great! Never heard of them before, but now I know who they are and I loved them!

Thursday was a special day, dinner at Club33! But first we had a whole day to get through. Two more friends joined us, one was somebody who had never been to DCA, and hadn't been to Disneyland in about 10 years, so there was much to show. I was very curious to get an opinion from somebody who had never been to DCA, knew very little about Disney, so had read up on nothing about DCA (he didn't even know what DCA meant until I explained it to him, Disney's California Adventure)

After explaining Fastpass, we utilized the system. First Fastpass was for Soarin. We rode Grizzly while we waited. Then we ran back and got a pass for Screamin, rode the Sun Wheel and then went on Soarin. Came back to ride Screamin and got a fastpass for Mullholand Madness. We rode Maliboomer while we waited. After that ride, and a break in Pacific Wharf we headed to Disneyland. First we had lunch at the Jazz Kitchen, the service was awful! My first bad experiance there. The food was great, but the service awful, ah well we got a big comp on our meal.

Onto Disneyland since my friend had not been there in 10 years, even Indiana Jones was new, so we got a fastpass for that. Then we went on Pirates, it was my first time on Pirates this week. We did the classic Haunted Mansion of course. Riding Indy was a lot of fun. The days fly by so fast it was time to get ready for dinner.

Dinner was faboulous, and joining me were three special friends! Dinner was superb (after all I wasn't buying I had the fetuchini (sp?) and for desert a carmelized tart! The menu is not as good as it used to be last time I ate there, but still as always excellent service. We spent about 2 1/2 hours just enjoying ourselves. After the club, we met back up with some other friends at the ESPN zone. Wow another day gone.

Friday, my last day . So many things I still had not done. Started off at Disneyland. Covered so much of the west side, time to cover the east side. Went in Tomorrowland, and grabbed a fastpass for Autopia. While waiting grabed a fastpass for Roger Rabbit. Autopia was a lot of fun. Still after 5 days never made it on Space Mountain, or Star Tours, ah well. Next trip.

Wow I maxed out my message, it will be continued in part 2.

[DLMAGICDARREN]

Part 2..

Time for Toontown. On the way we saw a showing of Mickey's Detective School. I'd seen it before, but still very cute, I like it, not as much as I miss Animazement, but I still like it. After the show we went to Toontown. Roger Rabbit was as good as ever! Next we went over to Gadget's Go Coaster, although I didn't ride, (the ride was still scheduled to be down) I did want to see. The station looks wonderful, as does the entire attraction! Gosh it's already getting to be early afternoon. I wanted a last afternoon in DCA, so we exited by going through Fantasyland. Wow Pinnochio, Peter Pan, and Mr. Toad, missed all of those this trip. Another reason to come back. Of course being my last day, my wallot was screamin, you have money left, spend it! So what store do I pick? Disneyana, stupid me. Well I did it, finally got the treasure in their I'd been drooling over for months. Walt's poster, showing Disneyland, where the magic began. Getting it framed, will take about 6 weeks, and then it will be shipped to me, but I should have it by Ocotober, and can't wait!

Back in DCA we went on the Boudin tour. My friend had never done it. He liked it, but we skipped the tortilla tour. One last shopping spree at Off the Page, wow willpower won I didn't buy anything (you think that my cash was gone and my credit cards were maxed had anything to do with it? Nahh!)

Flew home Friday night on the red eye, and got home Saturday. Even went to Epcot when I got home to tape the final Shockwave show! Been a busy week, I'm just resting today! I'm exausted. WDW will have to wait a few more days for me to get back to.

Disneyland rules! I had the best week I could ask for. Thanks to each and every one of you mouseinfo'ers that were part of it. Mike, Jen, Raisun, Karnever, Tigggrl, CalDisney, Mildayof Disney! I had a great time!

[Pirate]

That's cool. Those big trips are great & pack a lot in, amazing how much stuff you still don't see. Sounds like you did a great variety of The Resort.

I watched America on Sunday, 18 August, you must have saw them Monday. They sounded good.

Where do you see 'One Man's Dream,' I'm clueless on that?

Did you stay @ one of the resort hotels?

[DLMAGICDARREN]

Yes I did watch America on Monday.

One Man's Dream plays in the animation attraction in Hollywood Backlot. In the Screening Room, where they used to show the film Back To Neverland.

If I really tired, I would have gotten on the rides I missed, but like you saw, I try to do a variety, I forgot to mention Friday morning I ate at Goofy's Kitchen. It was a great way to start my last day, and see the Disneyland Hotel area!

[raisun]

I'm glad to hear that you had a great time! It was great to be able to hang out with you a little bit (even if it was always after I got home from a long day at work..lol)

After hitting all the etickets spent a lot of the day just enjoying the atmosphere. Then came the dangerous time, I went on a shopping spree, and worst of all, I had my wallot on me!

BTW...when I was reading this all I could think of was...Wait till January, Darren. We're bringing our friends from VA to WDW again.

[Mickeyman187]

WOW! That sounds like you had a great week. That is how people shuld spend their day(s) at the DLR. Glad you had fun. Sorry I couldn't go to DLR, I was sitting here doing nothin

[woody]

Originally posted by DLMAGICDARREN
Man it was already Tuesday, and I still hadn't gone on any of the big attractions, Screamin, Sorin, or Grizzly, I'd now entertained myself for two days without doing one of them, (and people call it a half day park).

Stay focused. DCA is really an 8 hour park. If DCA has Disneyland hours, you'll run out of things to do by 8pm (allowing some time for meals). This 8 hr time frame depends on the crowds too. It will take longer if its more crowded like what I experienced during the 2001 Previews with over 20,000 people in the park. Naturally, some rides will be overlooked depending your interests.

In your example, you started DCA at 4pm, Monday, then had a long relaxed dinner before DCA closed "early." On Tuesday, you spent most of the morning at Disneyland. No wonder you haven't gone on Screamin', Soarin', and Grizzly.

People say Disneyland is a full day park, not because it takes a full day to see everything. It takes a full day to see the attractions you want in order to feel satisfied based on the amount of money spent on admission.

DCA is still an unknown and most of the top attractions can easily be ridden during the day.

[DLMAGICDARREN]

Originally posted by woody
Stay focused. DCA is really an 8 hour park. If DCA has Disneyland hours, you'll run out of things to do by 8pm (allowing some time for meals). This 8 hr time frame depends on the crowds too. It will take longer if its more crowded like what I experienced during the 2001 Previews with over 20,000 people in the park. Naturally, some rides will be overlooked depending your interests.

In your example, you started DCA at 4pm, Monday, then had a long relaxed dinner before DCA closed "early." On Tuesday, you spent most of the morning at Disneyland. No wonder you haven't gone on Screamin', Soarin', and Grizzly.

People say Disneyland is a full day park, not because it takes a full day to see everything. It takes a full day to see the attractions you want in order to feel satisfied based on the amount of money spent on admission.

DCA is still an unknown and most of the top attractions can easily be ridden during the day.

I was focused Woody, this was about my seventh trip to DLR since DCA opened.

I realize I made that comment in my report for Tuesday, after getting to the park late on Monday, but it was just a comment I made at that point of the story, after returning home. It was not a discovery I actually made that Tuesday. If you read the entire report, you'll see I easily spent well over 8 hours (I'd guess about 20, before I actaully left Friday).

DCA has many faults, and I post about them all the time, but the comment was to re-inforce one of them is not that it's a half day park.

Disneyland likewise is not a full day park, but rather a 3 day park, I post that all the time as well.

In order to see all shows, parades, and attractions, there is absolutley no way you can do all of DCA after 8 hours. I spent a week there and didn't see
or go on:

1) King Tritan Careosel
2) Orange Stinger
3) Jumpin Jellyfish
4) Golden Zephyr
5) SS Rustworthy
6) Redwood Creek Challange Trail
7) Golden Dreams
8) Golden Vine Winery
9) Mission Tortilla Factory
10) Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Play It!
11) Groove 66

Ok sure if I prioritized them, time constraint was not a reason I didn't get to them, and I have done them all at least once on previous trips, but the point is I spent well over 8 hours in DCA, over the course of the week, and didn't do half of the attractions.

Likewise in Disneyland I didn't get to many E-tickets, such as Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Star Tours, and many other smaller attractions.

DCA may have many faults, but one of them is not being a half day park. If you choose to skip half the attractions because they are not for you, that's fine, but it doesn't mean they are not there and it's a half day park. It means you only choose to do half the attractions in your half day. That's an entirely different arguement.

[woody]

Originally posted by DLMAGICDARREN
DCA may have many faults, but one of them is not being a half day park. If you choose to skip half the attractions because they are not for you, that's fine, but it doesn't mean they are not there and it's a half day park. It means you only choose to do half the attractions in your half day. That's an entirely different arguement.

Thanks for clarifying, but I was arguing DCA is a half day park because it is true if you only want to go on the rides that interest you. The highlights at DCA are easily conquered. At DL, it takes at least two days to see the best attractions.

[Michael]

Thanks for a great trip report, Darren! Good as always to spend time with you my friend.