A Grand Circle Tour [Day Trips 2011]

[MadasaHatter]

I watched the video of Goofy's Sky School and was disappointed not to hear that they didn't include a waaaaaa ha ha ha Goofy soundtrack throughout the ride. SOund effects for hitting the chickens etc. BIG missed opportunity that I hope is remedied before my OCTOBER visit!!!!

Bugsland is very very cool. Never did the bumper cars so have to try that next trip. Crush is awesome dude. I did know that about the AA.....I have a hard core AA friend and she wants to draw every character. Such a great way to relax in air conditioning and actually doing something. Such a hidden gem and I make sure to go every trip so as to keep it open.

Waaaaaaah. I missed Mr. Toad last trip. I don't know what I was thinking....I must have been mad! Oh that's right.......I am.

[MidwayManiac]

Never did the bumper cars so have to try that next trip.

I'm not gonna lie to ya since you brought it up. On that ride I alternate between feelings of I'd rather watch paint dry than ride this lame ride -and- Hey it makes the kids happy so it makes me happy. Ultimately the latter wins out but of the four Bug's Land rides it's easily my least favorite.
You can only ride two to a car and until Roy's 7 he can't ride alone, so when it appeared we were precluded from riding by being short one adult, I had an "aw shucks" moment as I tried to feign disappointment. Then the CM insisted we come on board and try the two child / one parent rider switch. That CM.

I have a hard core AA friend and she wants to draw every character. Such a great way to relax in air conditioning and actually doing something. Such a hidden gem and I make sure to go every trip so as to keep it open.

We'll be there frequently. Roy has some drawing skills that defy his parents' lack of artistic ability.

I missed Mr. Toad last trip.

Just don't let it happen again.

I must have been mad! Oh that's right.......I am.

GUILTY!!! That is all.

[MidwayManiac]

Trip 9: July 5
Time: 8:30 am to 12:30 pm [DLP 8:30 am to 12:30 pm]
Cast/crew: Walt(10 weeks), Nancy(4), Roy(6), Kim(33), myself(35), and our dear family friend Chuck(14)

Near the steps of City Hall a mailbox is affixed to a post; we stopped here first. Roy had two DL postcards to mail one to his great uncle in Washington and one to our friends in Nebraska and Nancy had one for her preschool friend. I took the first shift of baby duty and strolled round and got some FPs while everyone else rode a horse-drawn streetcar, Mr. Toads, and Alice in Wonderland. Then, dear wife and I switched in time for me to ride Matterhorn, Roger Rabbit, Gadgets Go Coaster, and BTMRR with the kids and Chuck.
We needed to cool down on Splash Mountain but it was down which made the Pooh line far longer than normal. We did an about face and left Critter Country. Passing the kiosk at the Haunted Mansion exit, Roy asked Dad can I get a three ghosts t-shirt to match yours? The day will arrive when hell want nothing to do with matching apparel, so I seized the opportunity. And besides HM is my favorite ride and its a rockin shirt.
I rotated back to baby/fastpass-getter duties while the other four rode Buzz Lightyears Astro Blasters and Star Tours2 (Chucks first time!). Roy was selected as Padawan for the revamped Jedi Training Academy Show (see notes below). Hes a seasoned veteran at this, and put himself in position to be first up the steps to fight Darth Vader. Im not sure if were any closer to getting little sis out there, but like almost everything DLR shell fall in love with it if she tries.
Kim entertained Walt while the three kids and I took our last ride of the day on Space Mountain. After redeeming FPs, we made it through the queue and boarded in record time. Too fast, even, since we were in no hurry to leave the air conditioned building. The heat was a minor annoyance but the humidity was simply unacceptable. I mean cmon this is Anaheim not Orlando . Only ride wed consider at that point was the tram.

Jedi Training Academy: Until today, the last time we attended Jedi Training was January 26. In all, Roy was a Padawan 6 times during our previous APs, so we became well acquainted with the show. Not sure when they occurred or if theyre even permanent, but there were some new wrinkles to the show I noticed today: 1. There are less Padawans they still fill the Tomorrowland Terrace dancefloor with kids, but there are no longer any up on stage during the lightsaber practice sequence which eliminates at least a dozen or so spots for the show. 2. Bits of dialogue and acting have been condensed or cut altogether, most noticeably the Storm Troopers no longer remain on stage for their Did you say have a nice day? mini-talkument before a grand running exit. Instead they exit on the descending stage with the Darths. Borrring. 3. This ones a no brainer: since there are less kids and less material, the show is noticeably shorter, for better or worse.
Finally, a subjective observation: theres simply not the same electricity surrounding the show that was once there. I dont think it has to do as much with the altered format as it does with the quality of Jedi in charge. The two gentlemen actors portraying the Jedi a year ago had a presence and showmanship and energy that was commanding. Not to mention, they often had the audience in stitches. Today, there was only an occasional sprinkling of laughter from the audience.
I hope these changes arent a harbinger that Jedi Trainings days are numbered. Its still a great show regardless of format and can be enjoyed by Disney novices and regulars.

[MidwayManiac]

Trip 10: July 18
Time: 8:15 am to 12:50pm [DLP 8:15 to 10:15] [DCA 10:15 to 12:50]
Cast/crew: Walt(12 weeks), Nancy(4), Roy(6), Kim(33), and myself(35)

By the time we got in the park, dear friends and their two boys (5 & 3) were already there and intent to board Star Tours via the standby queue. I gladly volunteered to sit out. Walt and I sought our entertainment elsewhere, and found it on Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and Jungle Cruise; then we rested in the shade. The boy had a warm bottle, outfit and diaper change, and burp. Nice, fun, peaceful morning in the park with the baby. He’s so mellow and agreeable. Eventually, we met back with the rest of the group after their trips on Astro Blasters and BTMRR.
Now a group of 9, there was a clear lack of consensus what to do next. Love that. Somehow we ended up in Critter Country and boarded Pooh. Roy did his usual tour guide bit with the animal heads in the room following heffalumps and woozles; our friends seemed impressed – not so much with Roy but with the animal heads. To my shock, no one mentioned Splash Mountain so I let it be. The ladies stopped for a churro while the guys and kids pressed on for the Frontierland Shooting Exposition. Boys did shooting while Nancy found a new (to her) penny press in the pin trading store.
We made it a point to be in DCA for the day’s opening Disney Live On Stage show. I vaguely remember the old show so I can’t tell you if it’s worse or better. I can get immersed in nearly anything in DLR; this show may be one of the very few exceptions. There was an obvious Disney channel connection with the three main acts being Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. The kids loved the show – all except Walt. The clapping and decibles and bubbles and showers of coins were all a bit much for him. He and I excused ourselves to the back of the playhouse. I’m pretty sure he would’ve rather gone for a second round on Dumbo.
Only Nancy, the other lady in our party, and I were interested in Tower of Terror; so while we rode that the others went for a whirl on Tuck and Roll’s. By the time we got there, the rest of our party had exited Bug’s Land. Bummer. Then more indecision. Tough to be a Bug? Maybe, but no. Ariel’s Undersea Adventure? Yes, then actually no. Mickey’s Fun Wheel with a 60 minute wait? Not on your life. The one thing we could all agree on was hunger, so we gave Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta the college try. We liked it. Nice atmosphere. Decent food. At first I was disappointed to find no inside seating but the covered patio was plenty cool even without the ceiling fans running. Kids enjoyed the pasta w/ alfredo; Kim and I split the sun-dried tomato pasta. Not too shabby. For a final ride, we jumped aboard the Jellyfish. Despite the occasional challenges of a large group, being with friends in the parks is a fun and refreshing change. Adults get adult time; kids love one another’s company. Works out great for everyone.

A couple observations dear wife made: 1. Standing in line for Star Tours was subpar, made worse by the fact the ride sequence was among the least favorite she’s seen. 2. There was an easy connection for the kids to make with Handy Manny and Jake and the Neverland Pirates at the Disney Live On Stage Show, but Kim pointed out “But Little Einsteins comes on at like 4 in morning … who watches that?” I checked. The next four offerings of Little Einsteins on Disney Channels are 3am, 3:30am, 4:30am, and 6:30am. Great if you’re on Eastern Standard Time, but some West Coast kids – a sizeable contingent of DCA’s clientele – aren’t getting Little Einstein’s programming while they’re awake.

[SigalTchelet]

Wow-You are a disney fan, if you name your boys Walt and Roy!!!!

[SigalTchelet]

Trip 1: June 9, 2011
Time: 9am to 2pm [DLP 9 to 9:50 and 11:45 to 2:00] [DCA 9:50 to 11:45]
Cast/crew: Walt, Nancy, Roy, Kim, and myself

The first minute of our new annual passes was ushered in with a not so auspicious but nonetheless comical - moment. As Roy and I trudged up the Main Street shuffle at rope drop toward the Star Tours FP queue, a tiny mouse made its way from near the Red Wagon corn dog cart across the thoroughfare toward the piano stand. Collective gasps and shrieks and chuckles emitted from the passers by, all of whom parted like the Red Sea to give the tiny rodent a wide berth. One dad consoled his child saying, Dont worry, that was just Mickey making his morning appearance to say hi. Haha, nice save.
Keeping with tradition, Peter Pan was our inaugural AP ride. For the first time ever we used the rider switch. My ignorance of the system was on display when I asked the CM for a paper. He said Here in Fantasyland you just need to walk up the exit, unlike Space Mtn. or Indy where you need a paper. Good to know. I had tentatively planned for Walt to cut his teeth on Peter Pan but, for whatever reason, his mom pulled him out of line at the last second. I had also planned to use our first ever rider switch on our next ride, Ariels, but the CM insisted You can all five ride, no problem. Somehow that had never occurred to me, but suddenly seemed like a fine idea. Its oddly satisfying when weeks of planning unceremoniously and successfully changes on the fly like that.
So we all five crowded into a clamshell. Nancy has kept a careful and eager eye on the construction of Ariels. It didnt disappoint. We made our way across the pier Roy and I rode Screamin while Kim and the younger two headed to ride King Tritons. They didnt quite make it and so the older children and I rode the carousel after Screamin. The carnival type games across from Mickeys Fun Wheel are an aberration for my wife and me, but Roys now in control of his own monthly Disneyland allowance so he partook. He actually came away with a couple souvenirs so we were pleasantly surprised.
By late morning the baby was fast asleep so the two older kids rode Splash and Pooh while their mom and I alternated sitting with the stroller. Wife and I split a fried green tomato sandwich from Hungry Bear which was, I must say, outstanding. Its nice when DLR adds to its counter service menus appealing, adult fare like this. The turkey w/ provolone is now on the top of our to try list. On a complete whim the five of us walked into Haunted Mansion and boarded a doombuggy which, I noticed, felt slightly less roomy than the one on Ariels. Strolled round a little, fed ducks, daughter pressed a penny, Kim bought a summer hat at South Sea Traders. Without much thought we just kinda ended up on Jungle Cruise. Truth is Roy and I wanted to ride Indy and we had the fastpass for it but wed left Nancy once already for the only other ride shes not tall enough for (Screamin), so we opted for a ride we could all five enjoy.
Star Tours was the finale. Oldest two kids and I rode first and ended up on Hoth; kids reboarded with their mom on the rider switch and got the sequence in which Darth Vader shakes his fist at the screen and the whole ride shakes is how my six year old explained. I was completely blown away by Star Tours; as somewhat of a purist who grew up with the 1987 version, I was apprehensive. Everything including the queue is sleek and clean and modern while paying plenty of homage to the original. The imagineers knocked it out the park, IMO.

Highlights: 1. Riding two new rides without incident or long waits. Was in the Star Tours FP line 20 minutes first thing, then in the actual line less than 10 minutes before boarding. From the time we entered the Ariel queue until we exited the ride was about 25 minutes total. Getting on and off those two rides was easier than Id expected.
2. The weather was ideal.
3. The baby turned out to be an excellent parkstormer. He strolls, he rides, he bjorns, he sleeps, he eats, then does it all over again. Not only does he not slow us down, but the older two kids have never had it so good now that rider swap enables them to board Peter Pan and Star Tours and others twice without waiting the second time.

Awww-So very cute!

[MidwayManiac]

You are a disney fan

Yes I am.

you name your boys Walt and Roy!!!!

but those aren't their real names.

[MidwayManiac]

Trip 11: July 19
Time: 8:15 am to 2:50pm [DLP 8:15 to 10:05 and 2:00 to 2:50] [DCA 10:05 to 2:00]
Cast/crew: Nancy(4) and myself(35)

Its a daddy-daughter date. Since she wouldnt have to defer to big brother, I gave Nancy carte blanche to plan the day. The night before, I spread out maps of the two parks on the kitchen table and said Pick ten things you wanna do tomorrow at Disneyland. Ready, go. This is the list she came up with: 1. Princess Fantasy Faire 2. Ariels Undersea Adventure 3. Grizzly River Rapids 4. Monsters, Inc. 5. Pirates 6. Thunder Mountain 7. Go Coaster 8. its a small world 9. Mickeys Fun Wheel 10. Soarin Over CA.
By hook or by crook, I wouldve carried out the list but Nancy revised it on the fly. Mickeys and Soarin didnt make the final cut, Pirates sort of got lost in the shuffle, and Thunder Mtn. was shut down both times we tried.
Heres a cursory look at the days actual events, in order: its a small world > Princess Fantasy Faire > Gadgets Go Coaster > Grizzly River Rapids > Silly Symphony Swings > Ariels Undersea Adventure > Goofys Sky School > Monsters, Inc. > Tower of Terror > Aladdin at Hyperion > Beasts Library and Sorcerers Workshop > Splash Mountain. There were a lot of other things n stuff that occurred. For the sake of including a mini-review of PFF and Aladdin, Ill spare you the minutia of the days lines, and crowds, and heat, and my ill-fated decision to return to DLP at 2 oclock. Oy vey.
The day had a uniquely different feel to it. Although I normally let the kids dictate the schedule, I serve as arbiter over disagreements and ultimately have final say. Since I didnt need to fulfill that role today, I handed over complete autonomy to dear daughter and rolled with whatever she chose. Im glad she called the shots, because I probably wouldnt have considered Princess Fantasy Faire and Aladdin in the same day. One is fine for sure, but both not so much. They each require considerable time investment and are momentum killers if youre trying to storm the park. That said, looking back I wouldnt have had it any other way. We did about a dozen things at the resort today. Years from now, probably only two will stand out: Princess Fantasy Faire and Aladdin.

Princess Fantasy Faire for the 9:00 opening of the faire, we got in line at 8:35. We made it to the princesses at about 9:25. Im not gonna lie: standing, baking in that queue for 50 minutes my mind was wandering to thoughts of Hoth and Pirates and Big Thunder and Grim Grinning Ghosts and the many ways we could be taking advantage of the morning. But when the payoff arrived and I saw how enthralled dear daughter was with princesses, those thoughts were eliminated.
The lineup of princesses couldnt have been more outstanding. First up was Belle. Theres not a better Disney film (I mean, cmon how do you top Gaston?) or classier princess in my opinion. She chatted it up quite a bit with Nancy. Ariel is Nancys favorite; she was next. Of the three, she was the most personable and down to earth. She didnt seem fully in character I guess is how I might put it she was just talkative and sweet and friendly without going over the top to portray Ariels mannerisms or voice. It was cool. Last up was Tiana. She was nice and, unlike Ariel, fully in character. Nancy got autographs from all three and I took plenty of pics (maybe Ill post a few) to add to her autograph/photo book. This was an A+ experience. Its got all the charm and effectiveness of character dining without the hefty price tag. If youve got a little one whos down with princesses, the fantasy faire is not to be missed.

Aladdin: we couldve entered the queue 45 minutes early to get front of mezzanine seating, which is our preference. But we rode Tower of Terror instead. When we arrived at Hyperion Theater 20 minutes before seating, the mezz queue was half full. Id rather be at the front of the balcony than middle/back of mezz, so the CM in charge told us to stand to the side and if balcony seating opened, hed put us in the front. It worked out; we got front of balcony seats.
The seats along the rail in balcony (and I presume mezzanine as well) are cordoned off. I read somewhere that Disneys closure of the Golden Horseshoe balcony may be in response to the fan at a Texas Rangers game falling over a rail to his death recently. If thats true, maybe there is more of the same at Hyperion.
Most people I talk to are in agreement: the genie is what makes the Aladdin show epic. The last two or three times weve attended the show, we got used to a certain actor. Today, someone else was portraying the genie. Pretty sure weve seen this actor before but its been a couple years. Still very good. This ones a little less Robin Williams-esque. In fact, a lot less. Oh, and Jasmine was exceptional. Girl had some pipes on her. Id be surprised if weve ever seen her before since Id like to think Id remember a voice like that. Nancy is a great audience. Just the two of us being there was kinda special. Cant explain it, but, yeah.

[MidwayManiac]

Trip 12: July 20
Time: 5 to midnight [DCA 5 to 8:30] [DLP 8:30 to midnight]
Cast/crew: Roy(6) and myself(35)

First thing we noticed: the stringers and cables are gone from the Golden Gate Bridge facade in DCA. For the third day in a row, I bid the bridge goodbye, assuming it wont be there when I return. The towers and truss remain, but Id guess theyll be removed in short order.
Today was Roys date. He was adamant about making it an evening trip even though he isnt nearly the night owl his sister is. A quick run down, in order: California Screamin > Aladdin > Heimlichs Chew Chew > Tower of Terror > Soarin Over California > Monorail > Star Tours > Buzz Lightyears Astro Blasters > Casey Jr. Train > PoTC > HM > Winnie the Pooh > Splash Mountain. Were not people watchers by any stretch, but ran into some particularly exuberant groups in our Star Tours Starspeeder 1000 and at dinner. Those encounters (and, of course, the genie) provided endless laughs through the night. We laughed pretty much all the way to the car.

A few things off our beaten path: 1. Heimlichs Chew Chew. Although this isnt a prime destination for most (ourselves included), no ride better encapsulates Bugs Land and A Bugs Life than this one - the way you view food and flora from the perspective and scale of a bug. As such, its BLs signature ride imo.
2. A one-way trip on the Monorail: we tried something weve never done before by exiting DCA through the Grand California Hotel and onto the Monorail at DownTown Disney. We didnt save any time or distance probably, but it was a neat little adventure and, besides, I knew we were eventually bound for Pizza Port and Roys very favorite DL meal: Countdown Chicken Fusilli.
3. Casey Jr. Train. This is a nice, underrated ride. Unless you like noxious gas fumes, though, try to sit as far away from the engine as possible. I know better, but somehow we still ended up in front.

Two other notes
-I speculated in my last post the Hyperion balcony/mezz and Golden Horseshoe balcony seating restrictions were in response to the Texas Rangers fan incident. According to a Hyperion CM tonight (I know, I know, I know, grain of salt), there is a new California law requiring higher/more restrictive rails AND- its the result of the incident at Staples Center and the little boy dying AND- Hyperion/Aladdin is going to shut down at least a full month (I think he said September), at which time the rails will be retrofitted to comply with standards.
-Looking for a good spot to sit and watch fireworks? We happened upon one at our dinner table. Pizza Port. Outside patio, just to the right of the restaurant entrance door. Position yourself to look out in the direction above the Nemo subs lagoon. Youll have a nice unobstructed view away from crowds.

[MidwayManiac]

Trip 13: July 24
Time: 7pm to 11:55pm [DCA 7 to 8] [DLP 8 to 11:55]
Cast/crew: Walt(3 months), Nancy(4), Roy(6), Kim(33), and myself(35)

Ive never seen Fantasmic! There. I said it. Beyond the occasional Oh hey that looks cool and Look honey theres Buzz Lightyear on the back of Mark Twain! as we hop aboard the wildest ride in the wilderness or a doombuggy, neither have my kids. Once Nancy and I sorta watched it from outside HM, but that hardly counts. I realize now unless you stand in a spot for at least the better part of an hour to get ready to get ready to see the show, you havent really seen/experienced Fantasmic!
Accordingly, my entire evening was designed to remedy this fact. Leaving my family to scout and save a spot, positioning the stroller in an out-of-the-way yet convenient location, navigating everyone into positions where we wouldnt have to battle the exiting F! and fireworks crowds. It was fun and a great night, but a little more labor intensive than preferred and Im glad its over.
Roy insisted on joining me as I Ieft the fam at the animation building in DCA around 8 oclock to get a spot for 9:00 F! Not only did I not get to New Orleans Square in time to get the spot, turns out I missed Crush talking throughout the show to Nancy (who loved it) and Kim (who would rather be a wallflower than have Crush single her out; He always picks me!).
So, on to Plan B: attend the 10:30 F! show. In the interim we rode the Disneyland Railroad round trip, Kim took the older kids on BTMRR, and we reconvened in Critter Country at the start of fireworks. Just as fireworks ended at 9:45, Roy and I moved into position along the rail of the PoTC queue overpass. Then we waited. For 45 minutes. Witnessed your garden variety argument. One group spoke English, the other spoke a language that wasnt English, and eventually left. Then the English speaking lady promised Im not racist, but
Eventually my family arrived and the show began. Its a nice show. That vantage point is recommended and worth the wait. Nancy and Roy finished up the night on some FantasyLand rides (carousel, teacups, Dumbo, Toads) while one of the adults sat with Walt who was, as always, good as gold. By the way, the night started at Animation Academy where the subject was Minerva Mouse, according to the instructor. And T-Rex and Stegosaurus are currently behind a black curtain on the railroad diorama. Theyre getting a makeover, reportedly.

[MidwayManiac]

Trip 14: July 31
Time: 7pm to 12:30 [DCA 7 to 10:10] [DLP 10:10 to 12:30]
Cast/crew: Nancy(4) and myself(35)

Roy was missed. This wasn’t a designated daddy daughter date but turned into one when he opted out of an afternoon nap. To close down the park, naps are prerequisite. It’s non-negotiable.
We made a trip and a half ‘round Paradise Pier before moving on. Started on Silly Symphony then on to King Triton’s carousel. Shared a soft serve vanilla cone before boarding Goofy’s Sky School and The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. We coasted through the lines and met even shorter waits (as in nearly none at all) when we got to Bug’s Land. We rode every open ride in Bug’s Land.
Dancing at Electronica was next. Glow sticks, hula hoops, Nancy’s versions of cartwheels and break dancing. She did her thing. We rode Monsters, Inc., then more dancing this time with some prompting from an instructor on stage. There are some benches between the restrooms by Flynn’s and the Hollywood Blvd. dead end – we watched fireworks from here. Nice. There was time remaining for either Tower of Terror or Animation building, but not both. Nancy chose Animations building and “Beauty and the Beast’s Library” as she calls it. The interactive material in the library, workshop, and sing/act along room is really cool. We had the place to ourselves and had fun tooling around until it closed.
I needed a Haunted Mansion fix so that was first up in DLP. More park health food was in the offing as we hit up a popcorn cart for a bucket and viewed the first half of Fantasmic! Nancy = show junkie. We beat the post-F! rush onto BTMRR by less than five minutes. Final four rides were Winnie the Pooh, Splash Mountain, Buzz Astro Blasters, and Star Tours. Aside from Star Tours, we didn’t encounter any significant lines all night.


Of note: I was finally primed to ride my favorite Bug’s Land ride (Francis’ Ladybug Boogie) but the ladybugs are removed temporarily. The CM camped outside the ride said this is the 3rd consecutive day it’s been down and it may be operational in two more days. It doesn’t appear on any ride closure lists. The CM said he *thinks* the ladybugs are being tested on a track in Cars Land.

[MidwayManiac]

Trip 15: August 3
Time: 6:30 pm to 12:00 [DCA 6:30 to 8] [DLP 8 to 12:00]
Cast/crew: Walt(3 months), Nancy (4), Roy(6), Kim(33), and myself(35)

We were in the parks nearly 3 hours before we boarded our first ride (Splash Mountain). The early evening was marked by shopping at Greetings from California, playing at Redwood Creek (Kim fed and watched the baby), and the Its Tough to be a Bug show (I lounged in Bugs Land w/ baby during this). Then it was on to what could best be described as a pilgrimage to dinner. Stopped for coffee first, then Roy wanted to sit at Hungry Bear (no arguments from wife and me) but eat a turkey leg. Umm, OK I guess. So we stopped for a turkey leg. We ran into some family friends from home as we tried to eat at Hungry Bear. Lots of talking ensued. Followed by more talking. Then we started our goodbyes, and talked a while longer. Finally, the rides. Kim and I traded off through the night to watch Walt while the other took older kids on Splash, HM, PoTC, BTMRR, Casey Jr. (Walt rode w/ Roy and me), and Space Mountain.

Three things we saw for the first time: 1. An Ice Cream window at the end of Center Street. I never pay any heed to that area because it dead ends into the lockers, but lo and behold, theres Ice Cream in them there parts! A man in line claims its the same ice cream served at Gibson Girl but I question his accuracy since the window says Hosted by Dreyers whereas Gibson Girl is delicious.
2. The restrooms on the lower level of Hungry Bear. Always struck me as odd that the closest restrooms to Critter Country were the ones in the back of New Orleans Square. Well, its no longer a head scratcher for me.
3. The Castle Walk-Through. The kids and I happened upon this late at night and were enchanted. Id heard of it but never realized it was quite so involved.

Three things that werent where theyre supposed to be: 1. The ladybugs on Francis Ladybug Boogie. I know, I know, I know. Yeah Im a little obsessive about this. At least DLRs website managed to get it on the list of refurbs for the day, which it failed to do the first 4 days it was down. As of this post, its been out of commission 8 days and remains on the refurb list through September 30. So much for the report itd return after a 5 day absence. sigh
2. The Hazelnut coffee at Market House. Were trying new flavors this month. We have Smores flavor instead. Wait, what? Dude, just dude.
3. The penny press at the Splash Mountain exit. Noticed this 4 days earlier. The change machine is still there, which is really comical to see standing alone. Nancys not amused in the slightest, however.

Dont make this mistake:The last hour was big disappointment and colossal failure by the adults. Here is what happened: at about 10:30 Kim and Nancy headed to Big Thunder Mountain. The boys and I split off from them right at Tarzans Tree House, heading out through Adventureland to the hub, then through Sleeping Beautys Castle and into Fantasyland. A short time later I staked out a spot near Casey Jr./Village Haus to intercept the two girls coming up Big Thunder Trail to meet us. I had a dead battery on my phone. Not a problem since I clearly (so I thought) told dear wife Well be in Fantasyland and surely shed head straight there, right? Not so.
Last thing both girls remembered hearing was Roy mutter something about Indiana Jones Adventure. So they went there. We stayed put in Fantasy. Wife called and texted endlessly to my dead phone. When I realized they werent coming I froze, debating if were more likely to find them by aimlessly walking or by staying in one spot. Wife panicked. Called. Texted. Probably called me names that arent appropriate. We finally found one another by 11:30 in the hub. Thankfully, the kids were well-rested and behaved and pretty oblivious to our anxiety, because the adults were on edge at this point. Furious, not with one another, but with the situation and our carelessness and lack of communication. Huge buzzkill to what had been a fun evening. Trying to lighten the mood and salvage some magic, the older kids and I visited the castle and Space Mountain.
Two things are apparent from this experience: 1. cell phones have lulled us into a false sense of security. Theyre always there; theyve always worked; hence, no need to have a backup plan. 2. theres ALWAYS a need for a backup plan. If separated, meet at a predetermined spot. We plan for our Disneyland trips meticulously and leave very little to chance before, during, and after visits. So this incident was a little embarrassing. Live and learn.

[Malcon10t]

A man in line claims it’s the same ice cream served at Gibson Girl but I question his accuracy since the window says “Hosted by Dreyers” whereas Gibson Girl is delicious.

I really don't want to burst your bubble... but Gibson Girl is Dreyer's Ice Cream.

From the Disneyland website:

Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor

Locationisneyland Park
Cuisine Type:American

Treat someone you love to scoops of delicious ice cream and handmade dipped cones at this delightful old-fashioned parlor. Hosted by Dreyer's.

[MidwayManiac]

Gibson Girl is Dreyer's

unbelievable.

[MidwayManiac]

Trip 16: August 8
Time: 8am to 12:30pm [DLP 8 to 12:30]
Cast/crew: Nancy(4), Roy(6), and myself(35)

Roy had one of his most epic days ever at DL thanks to the crew of the Mark Twain. On the mornings first voyage along Rivers of America, we were allowed in the wheelhouse for a trip (and views of the park) wed not experienced before. Roy takes to this kind of thing like a fish to water. In a matter of minutes he went from not knowing exactly what a wheelhouse is to eagerness and anticipation to captaining the boat. He was absolutely giddy. Each of the kids got to pull the horn and steer the wheel. Geena, our host, was very gracious and patient as the kids had a lot of questions. I recommend this trip. You get a unique perspective from that high up.
One trip round Rivers of America wasnt enough, so we did something we virtually never do: the canoes. Weve actually done this once before but its been so long the kids had no recollection. Not nearly as scenic as a trip on the Mark Twain. Not to mention, its more of a working trip so scenery is secondary. A few minutes before the canoes we met and had picture with Winnie the Pooh. Come to think of it, in addition to the Mark Twain, canoes, and meeting Pooh there were several other notable happenings not typically on our itinerary:
- shopping at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Nancy picked up a wand shes been eying for over a month.
- breakfast at Riverbelle Terrace. A family favorite. For us, theres just something about it.
- Captain Eo. Before he nodded off to sleep that night, Roy told dear wife he wants to be Michael Jackson.
The day also included many of the usual suspects: Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Toads twice (was the easiest way to settle the Whos driving?! debate), the castle walk-through, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and BTMRR.

[letshavefun]

Great reporting as always!

Your cell phone incident is a great reminder and oh so true of how I also feels about cell phones. If some one is not answering then something must be wrong. Never thinking it's just a dead battery, having a plan where to meet up is something we will be sure to do this trip. We are having teen girls on their own so a meet up place is a must if cell phones are dead. I got an extention cord packed so we can all charge our phones at night in the hotel so no excuses. (got that idea here on MP)

[MidwayManiac]

Great reporting as always!

Your cell phone incident is a great reminder and oh so true of how I also feels about cell phones. If some one is not answering then something must be wrong. Never thinking it's just a dead battery, having a plan where to meet up is something we will be sure to do this trip. We are having teen girls on their own so a meet up place is a must if cell phones are dead. I got an extention cord packed so we can all charge our phones at night in the hotel so no excuses. (got that idea here on MP)

Until about a month ago, we had Blackberrys with basic talk and text. No data, and the battery needed a charge about once every three weeks if that.

We just transitioned to new iPhone 4s with data plans. The phones are wonderful and you can do just about everything on 'em except cook a steak dinner. But the one major complaint you'll read about and experience with the 3G and 4G (whether it's android or iphone) is the battery life - the phones fly through battery power.
Disneyland that night was a wake up call that this aint my Blackberry.

Since our incident that night I've done some tinkering with the brightness and autolock features that significantly improve battery life.

[candles71]

Since our incident that night I've done some tinkering with the brightness and autolock features that significantly improve battery life.

Whistler was having some issues as well, someone at work told him there are some programs that continue to run even after you think you have exited. He went into the Sprint store and the guy helped him get some of them shut down that were not needed, and the ones that he used how to tell if they were still drawing power when he thought they were off. He also shut the brightness waaaayyyyy down. It has helped a lot.

[SimbasGirl]

I'm new to the boards but I really enjoy reading your day trip posts! I live pretty far away from Disneyland so it's fun to read posts from someone who gets to go a lot. Keep 'em coming!

[MidwayManiac]

He also shut the brightness waaaayyyyy down. It has helped a lot.

Yes. It's surprising. I feel like my battery life is at least triple what it used to be just by making a few minor adjustments.

[MidwayManiac]

I'm new to the boards but I really enjoy reading your day trip posts! I live pretty far away from Disneyland so it's fun to read posts from someone who gets to go a lot. Keep 'em coming!

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[MidwayManiac]

Trip 17: August 12
Time: 8:25am to 1:45pm [DLP 8:25 to 11:25] [DCA 11:25 to 1:45]
Cast/crew: Walt(3 months), Nancy(4), Roy(6), Kim(33), myself(35), and nephews (ages 7 & 10)

Walt and I enjoyed the Storybook Land Canal Boats while the rest of the crew got on Space Mountain. After Walt and I finished, he and I hung out beside the partners statue. Kim traded spots with me and I whisked the kids off to BTMRR. Nephews drove the days agenda and their next pick was Splash Mountain. For some strange reason Nancy was uninterested in Splash so it was a boys only trip; Kim took the little princess and baby on Haunted Mansion while we flumed. The nephews had never visited Tom Sawyers Island, so I grinned and bared the chaperoning of four eager and energetic children. As a child, I too enjoyed the island so its appeal is not lost on me, however as an adult its a place where I must keep up and be on duty constantly and can get easily separated from two kids, much less four. Not my favorite thing.
We had a much needed breakfast at Riverbelle Terrace. Walt, Roy, and I sat out Pirates and then met everyone in the esplanade before heading into DCA. Walt and I retrieved Goofys Sky School fastpasses while the kids tooled around Redwood Creek Challenge Trail with Kim. Roy and Nancy had a great time introducing cousins to the zip line. Walt and I joined everyone for the Russel / Wilderness Explorer show in the amphitheater there. Disclaimer: f.y.i. its not a show in the traditional sense as its about 5 minutes long. Its cute; Russel does his signature explorer call from the movie and theres a nice meet and greet after.
Roy, Walt, and I moved on as Kim, Nancy, and nephews redeemed the Goofys Sky School FPs. Then Kim, baby and Nancy moved on as Roy, nephews and I rode California Screamin. In Bugs Land, Kim was feeding Walt by the time we got there. Nephews' next choice was Tuck and Rolls. Roy convinced his cousins the Crush show is must-see, so we nearly ended up there. When we arrived, the entire animation building was shut down and unlikely to re-open all day. We finished up the day on Monsters, Inc.

The continuing saga of Francis Ladybug Boogie Surprise! Its open for business. But wouldnt ya know, Im with six other people whose degrees of interest for the ladybugs were not overwhelming. So I didnt ride.
Two days later when we returned it was back on the refurb list (honestly it may have never made it off the list for all I know). This time its listed up through Aug. 20 instead of Sept. 30 - but I didnt make it over to DCA to see if it had another surprise opening on the 14th.

[MidwayManiac]

The continuing saga of Francis’ Ladybug Boogie Surprise! It’s open for business. But wouldn’t ya’ know, I’m with six other people whose degrees of interest for the ladybugs were not overwhelming. So I didn’t ride.
Two days later when we returned it was back on the refurb list (honestly it may have never made it off the list for all I know). This time it’s listed up through Aug. 20 instead of Sept. 30 - but I didn’t make it over to DCA to see if it had another surprise opening on the 14th.

OK it appears the saga has ended. At the time of ^this^ post Francis had been open at least 4 days (Aug. 12 to 15) but remained on the daily refurb list up to and including Aug. 20.
As of this morning, those daily lists have been edited and Francis is no longer on them.

[MidwayManiac]

Trip 18: August 14, 2011
Time: 4:15 to 8:45 [DLP 4:15 to 8:45]
Cast/crew: Walt(3 months), Nancy(4), Roy(6), Kim(33), and myself(35)

We met with some dear friends and their two boys, ages three and five. We started in Toontown. Walt and I relaxed in shade (although it was still warm) while the group rode Gadget’s Go Coaster and Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin. Dear friends’ MIL and SIL joined at this point and we were officially a party of eleven. We slowly (emphasis on slow) made our way to BTMRR, only to find it closed. Pressed on to New Orleans Square and found a spot along the outer edge of French Market Restaurant. Most of the kids and three adults (myself included) went on Haunted Mansion. Then there was more lounging in the shade, churro consumption, and Nancy bought one of those balloons within a balloon.
Most of the group was more interested in visiting with one another than storming the park, I realized. After a while, we moved in the direction of Jungle Cruise and boarded. Following Jungle Cruise, the two dads and two oldest boys went on Indiana Jones Adventure. The ladies took younger kids to BTMRR which had just reopened; they got all the way up to the gates and were next to board a train when, not surprisingly, the ride broke down again. For the day’s last ride, the kids and ladies got on Star Tours.

[MidwayManiac]

Trip 19: August 17
Time: 8am to 1:50 [DLP 8 to 9:50] [DCA 9:50 to 1:50]
Cast/crew: Nancy(4), Roy(6), and myself(35)

Not gonna lie: after two trips in which we were a party of seven and party of eleven, being a party of just three felt liberating. Nothing against friends and loved ones, but larger parties generally involve more supervision, competing agendas, indecision, and (for the adults anyway) less getting on rides and fun park type stuff.
Now that Star Tours and/or its fastpasses is the big first-thing-in-the-morning draw and Fantasyland is popular as ever, seems very few people turn left at the hub. Accordingly, Adventureland crowds are sparse and New Orleans Square/Rivers of America we found barren. We headed up past Tarzan’s Tree House and looked out and saw, well, virtually no one anywhere. It was a surreal view. The kids basked in having the back of the park to themselves. We took three consecutive trips on Winnie the Pooh without getting off. On Haunted Mansion, there were about 15 people total in the stretch room.
On our way to BTMRR we checked in with a Mark Twain mate who confirmed to Roy that, yes, we could ride in the wheelhouse first voyage. She said be back in 15, so we rode Thunder and boarded the boat. Again, great trip in the wheelhouse and as an added wrinkle Roy got to ring the bell as we pulled back into port. Pinocchio and Snow White rounded out the morning in DLP.
On Grizzly River Rapids Nancy got soaked and came a little unglued emotionally. To add insult to injury, the geyser shot up like never before and absolutely doused every inch of our raft and everyone in it. I mistakenly thought this would make Nancy feel better given everyone suffered the same fate, but no such luck. She sobbed far past the point I told her “time to move on.” Not sure, but maybe she was tired; she usually rolls with the punches but today was an anomaly. The ice cream window was still closed and Mickey’s Fun Wheel had a 30 minute wait (what’s up with that?!) so we kinda stalled, which unfortunately opened a window of opportunity for the kids to play the Midway Games. Cash was burnin’ a whole in their pockets, apparently. We made our way back to the soft serve window around when it opened at 11:00.
We went lickity split over to Bug’s Land to find a shaded spot in which to eat our ice cream. My granddad would meet complete strangers and sit down and talk with ‘em as if they were lifelong friends. And he’d hardly let ‘em get a word in edgewise. Pretty sure women refer to this as the gift of gab or some such thing. Anyway, I never met another man like him ‘til today. A gentleman seated near the churro cart in Bug’s Land told me his life story in less than ten minutes. It was great. I may have said a sentence and a half, that was it. Classic moment right there.
Then I rode Francis’ Ladybug Boogie. And yes, it lived up to the hype. I heart that ride. We had about a half hour to kill in the animation building before the first academy began, so the kids fully explored all three of the lower chambers. For them there’s never a dull moment in there. I followed nearby, unwound, and even checked in on the Mousepad goings on. Donald Duck was the first session’s subject.
We were first in line for balcony at the 12:40 Aladdin show. Encountered a different (and our third) genie. They each have their own signature schtick, particularly in the scene where Jafar obtains the lamp and the genie stands by and roasts him for a couple minutes. Haven’t come across the Robin Williams doppelganger genie since January. Maybe he’s moved on, which is too bad. We considered a couple more rides – swings and Ariel’s or Splash and Star Tours – but everything seemed like such a long walk in the midday heat. We packed it in.

I’ve never come across any literature that supports this theory…. so maybe someone here can easily dispel or confirm it. To me, the gentleman in the HM graveyard quintet second from the left bears a resemblance to Walt Disney. Is this by design? He’s the one doing most of the singing and stands out because his head/shoulders are tilted at a 45 degree angle whereas all the other four gentlemen are upright.