DebbieinLA
12-11-2004, 10:05 PM
I live in Los Angeles, about 1 hour 15 min., from my driveway to the gate of DL. Therefore, the husband (who doesn't share the DL love), only wants to stay for the day then return home. So this is just a daytrip. We go every December with our daughter, now 4 who loves all the Princesses and we saw many of them this visit around Fantasy Land.
We last went in March 2004 for the Snow White show w/ Grandpa (my dad, who likes DL) so we had done a lot (husband was working).
We got to DL about 10:30 AM. It was sunny, 75*. Judging from the lines at the parking garage, I knew it was going to be busy, but frankly, lines moved along whereever we went, so it didn't seem so bad. We entered main gate, went right and saw the beautiful tree and railroad square. The line was long-ish to see Santa, it cost $5.00 to decorate a sugar cookie at the Fire Station, so we didn neighter. DD liked looking in the store windows. We were eager to walk and look so we went on our merry way toward the castle. There was a children's choir singing songs at the pavilion area to the left of the castle. Daughter wanted to "ride the boats" i.e. It's a Small World, so we hardly gave the choir a glance as we took some quick photos of ourselves in front of the castle. They've really spruced it up; the drawbridge walls actually sparkle. We did a shortcut in castle to Tomorrowland to get toward IASW and Sleeping Beauty was receiving picture takers by the Snow White wishing well. We continued onward. At It's A Small World, I know from past visits that the swiftest line is the far RIGHT lane. You want to be on the bridge closest to the building to get on the boats. The left line gets bogged down by privileged people who are allowed to cut in by CMs or those who need handicap accessible boats. My theory bore itself out as a dad pointed to his son from the bridge of the left lane as we were going under in the boat and he said pointing to us "they were right next to us a few minutes ago!" I enjoy seeing IASW and liked that little things here or there were added or changed, keeping it fresh. Or maybe I didn't remember some things from last year! LOL.
Next we headed to Autopia, but there was a 45 min. wait. so we skipped it.Tomorrowland seems the least populated to me in the park. We came back here for the 2:30 pm Buzz Light year show. The husband liked being there to take a breather after the crush of FantasyLand, which is Strollerland!
So I had jumped ahead above. After not going on Autopia we went to lunch a the place we always do lunch at at DL: the Plaza Inn. Usually we walk right in to have lunch early at 11:45 pm to avoid the lunch rush, but when we got there at 11:50 pm, there was a CM w/ a rope and a small line of people. She said they'd open at 12:00, which got pushed back to "5 more minutes" twice. She blamed it on a "late closing". Excuse me? Meanwhile, a few people were exiting the place, so I wonder if they had had an event there or breakfast? They let us in at 12:10. We had a big, tasty hot meal and lunch there is the husband's favorite part of suffering through DL. Plus, they do have fountain-style soft drinks you can serve yourself in the cafeteria style restaurant w/ either disposable cup or hard plastic cafe cup.
After lunch DD and DH rode the Astro Orbiter. They waited in line from 12:50 to 1:25. The line got shorter though, after they had waited in it.
Then we went to Fantasy Land. We rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and then Peter Pan's Flight, our first time for both. The former was nice since the waiting line area was shaded and tucked away and moved well, the latter was harder since it was sunnier and the long line lane is clautrophibically narrow throughout. As we were about to board the PP Flight, the Sword and the Stone ceremony was taking place. I just saw the purple wizard type guy there, but not much else. DD didn't want to ride the Snow White ride which was next.
We went back to TomorrowLand for 2:30 pm Buzz Lightyear show. DD really wanted to see him. I bought a $4.00 cup of frozen lemonade and a $2.75 bottle of Diet Coke. We hung out there awhile in the shade to sip our drinks, then went to the Railroad stop. Our plan was to ride it a full loop plus 1/4 more to the Main Street depot in time for the 4:00 pm parade. It worked out perfectly. The train was a nice way to see the park w/o having to walk as the DD and DH were getting tired. When the train deposited us at Main Street we walked to the bottom of the stairs, perched on a wall and saw the 1st marching band go by. (note: We had seen them lined up waiting backstage during our train ride. Somewhere to the right of IASAW, the train had been stopped to allow some of the parade floats to cross the tracks to get into position, a big gate was open and a man w/ a walkie talkie was there. Beyond him that band had been lined up.)
As Santa was bringing up rear of parade, DH was itching to leave since he knew that was the last thing we HAD to see since it included DD's Princesses in one fell swoop. We stopped at Disneyland Emporium in the square to buy two souvenir Christmas tree ornaments as mementos of this visit. Visited the restroom, then headed for tram, as DD pouted on the outside and I pouted on the inside. It was hard for me and DD to go; dusk was setting in and Chrismtas lights were up, so pretty! She fell fast asleep right after we drove away from the parking garage and didn't wake up at home.
I can't wait to go back next December. Hopefully we'll have our relatives in town to go with so we can stay longer! DH would be relieved to sit it out.
Debbie in LA
We last went in March 2004 for the Snow White show w/ Grandpa (my dad, who likes DL) so we had done a lot (husband was working).
We got to DL about 10:30 AM. It was sunny, 75*. Judging from the lines at the parking garage, I knew it was going to be busy, but frankly, lines moved along whereever we went, so it didn't seem so bad. We entered main gate, went right and saw the beautiful tree and railroad square. The line was long-ish to see Santa, it cost $5.00 to decorate a sugar cookie at the Fire Station, so we didn neighter. DD liked looking in the store windows. We were eager to walk and look so we went on our merry way toward the castle. There was a children's choir singing songs at the pavilion area to the left of the castle. Daughter wanted to "ride the boats" i.e. It's a Small World, so we hardly gave the choir a glance as we took some quick photos of ourselves in front of the castle. They've really spruced it up; the drawbridge walls actually sparkle. We did a shortcut in castle to Tomorrowland to get toward IASW and Sleeping Beauty was receiving picture takers by the Snow White wishing well. We continued onward. At It's A Small World, I know from past visits that the swiftest line is the far RIGHT lane. You want to be on the bridge closest to the building to get on the boats. The left line gets bogged down by privileged people who are allowed to cut in by CMs or those who need handicap accessible boats. My theory bore itself out as a dad pointed to his son from the bridge of the left lane as we were going under in the boat and he said pointing to us "they were right next to us a few minutes ago!" I enjoy seeing IASW and liked that little things here or there were added or changed, keeping it fresh. Or maybe I didn't remember some things from last year! LOL.
Next we headed to Autopia, but there was a 45 min. wait. so we skipped it.Tomorrowland seems the least populated to me in the park. We came back here for the 2:30 pm Buzz Light year show. The husband liked being there to take a breather after the crush of FantasyLand, which is Strollerland!
So I had jumped ahead above. After not going on Autopia we went to lunch a the place we always do lunch at at DL: the Plaza Inn. Usually we walk right in to have lunch early at 11:45 pm to avoid the lunch rush, but when we got there at 11:50 pm, there was a CM w/ a rope and a small line of people. She said they'd open at 12:00, which got pushed back to "5 more minutes" twice. She blamed it on a "late closing". Excuse me? Meanwhile, a few people were exiting the place, so I wonder if they had had an event there or breakfast? They let us in at 12:10. We had a big, tasty hot meal and lunch there is the husband's favorite part of suffering through DL. Plus, they do have fountain-style soft drinks you can serve yourself in the cafeteria style restaurant w/ either disposable cup or hard plastic cafe cup.
After lunch DD and DH rode the Astro Orbiter. They waited in line from 12:50 to 1:25. The line got shorter though, after they had waited in it.
Then we went to Fantasy Land. We rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and then Peter Pan's Flight, our first time for both. The former was nice since the waiting line area was shaded and tucked away and moved well, the latter was harder since it was sunnier and the long line lane is clautrophibically narrow throughout. As we were about to board the PP Flight, the Sword and the Stone ceremony was taking place. I just saw the purple wizard type guy there, but not much else. DD didn't want to ride the Snow White ride which was next.
We went back to TomorrowLand for 2:30 pm Buzz Lightyear show. DD really wanted to see him. I bought a $4.00 cup of frozen lemonade and a $2.75 bottle of Diet Coke. We hung out there awhile in the shade to sip our drinks, then went to the Railroad stop. Our plan was to ride it a full loop plus 1/4 more to the Main Street depot in time for the 4:00 pm parade. It worked out perfectly. The train was a nice way to see the park w/o having to walk as the DD and DH were getting tired. When the train deposited us at Main Street we walked to the bottom of the stairs, perched on a wall and saw the 1st marching band go by. (note: We had seen them lined up waiting backstage during our train ride. Somewhere to the right of IASAW, the train had been stopped to allow some of the parade floats to cross the tracks to get into position, a big gate was open and a man w/ a walkie talkie was there. Beyond him that band had been lined up.)
As Santa was bringing up rear of parade, DH was itching to leave since he knew that was the last thing we HAD to see since it included DD's Princesses in one fell swoop. We stopped at Disneyland Emporium in the square to buy two souvenir Christmas tree ornaments as mementos of this visit. Visited the restroom, then headed for tram, as DD pouted on the outside and I pouted on the inside. It was hard for me and DD to go; dusk was setting in and Chrismtas lights were up, so pretty! She fell fast asleep right after we drove away from the parking garage and didn't wake up at home.
I can't wait to go back next December. Hopefully we'll have our relatives in town to go with so we can stay longer! DH would be relieved to sit it out.
Debbie in LA