Hello all,

The reason for this trip was to attend the D23 Anniversary party, but of course since I was at the Resort I had to visit the parks too and due to the late night schedule of the event we decided to spent the night, which worked out great as I was able to attend the Sherman Brothers window dedication on Thursday morning. If you want to read more about the D23 event I have my thoughts/observations/report in the D23 section. Click here

Jason

Trip logs and mileage reports are in the Park Miles section.

Disneyland & DCA Thoughts and Observations:

• Overall the crowds in the parks on both days were heavier than I had anticipated considering it is still early March and it should be off season, but I guess the off season is shorter and shorter at the parks and the Spring break season is upon us already? Wait times were mild/normal both days for most attractions but I was surprised at the number of guests roaming around. For example Toy Story had a posted 40 minute wait on Wednesday and on Thursday morning it was up to 30 minutes within the first half hour the park was open. The parks were on reduced hours both days with DCA open 10-6 and Disneyland 9-8.
  
  
• Nothing else really jumps out from Wednesdays trip. It was short (less than 4 hours) and I spent most of it getting some pictures of the World of Color and other DCA projects then just relaxing at Disneyland. It is great to see the viewing area for the World of Color nearing completion. The plants really do make a difference to turn a baron concrete area into a park setting. It should be interesting to see what other details emerge as it enters the home stretch.
  
  
• One last note from the DCA pictures. I received some feedback that the steel I saw on the ground is for the rockwork on the west side (the side closest to the parade building and that its installation is scheduled to start this week so by the next update we will have a semi obstructed view of the site and as the steel becomes rock our view will be even more limited from the Fun Wheel.. it would be great to see Disney put in an observation platform like they did when DCA was being constructed.. I do not think it will happen but it would be nice. Or while I am throwing out wild ideas I have one for the Blue Sky Cellar. It would be great to have a couple kiosks with live views of the construction site (sort of like they have at Conservation Station at the Animal Kingdom where you can select/control a camera to view the animals).
  
  
• On Thursday we arrived just after park opening at 9am and headed for Main Street. We were greeted by roped off areas and CMs guiding the entering masses around an area in front of the Music Shop that was to be used for the Sherman Brothers event. There was no official notification of the event. The official parks blog earlier in the week said they would receive the honor this week but no date time was given. In the park there was not even a sign or notice. The good thing was the CMs working the rope lines were very friendly and more than willing to share the start time and details with anyone who asked.
  
  
• The ceremony was to take place at 11am so we headed out to explore the park a bit, then over to DCA for the opening before returning to watch the event. There is just something energizing about being at the park near its opening. There is energy in the air as guests are trying to figure out where to go first, the crisp morning air, the sparkling park, it is one of my favorite times to roam around. You can find pockets of the park that are still empty, for example the shots of the park area in front of the NOS train station that I had with no one in them. Most guests are moving quickly from attraction to attraction, but if you find yourself in the park in this golden hour, do stop to take in the scene, its great!
  
  
• I was at DCA for the rope drop. I found it interesting that they played an announcement 10 minutes before the park opened. Then at park opening the area I was in near the Grand CA entrance had no audio at all. The security guard working the rope rolled it up then welcomed everyone and we were off. I heard the Celebrate Today theme playing when we reached the parade route in the Bay Area so I am guessing guests entering the other way heard an announcement.
  
  
• We arrived back on Main Street just before 11am and found an ok spot off to the side to watch the event. Due to the large speakers and plants it was semi obstructed but it still lent to some good pictures and you could hear everything perfectly. I was pleased to see areas roped off for regular guests to attend/watch. Also it was great that it was during park hours. More often than not these ceremonies/events seem to happen outside the regular park hours and only invited guests can attend.
  
  
• I think this was the first window dedication ceremony I have attended so I have nothing to compare it to, but it really was quite a production with the band, a piano player, live performers, Disney brass, Disneyland brass, and more. Plus quite a few regular CMs in the area too to check it out. In the interesting links at the end of this page I included a link to a YouTube video of the dedication that I came across as well as the official press release and Disney video/highlight clips of the event.
  
  
  
• Interesting Web Finds/Notes:
  Below are some interesting links, notes, and rumors I found/stumble across/or have been informed of since the last Geekspeaks column.
  
  
  • Videos
    • Sherman Brothers window dedication (YouTube)
    • Captain EO Preshow video (YouTube)
      
      
  • Press Releases
    • 3/11/10 - Disneyland Resort Presents a Window on Main Street, U.S.A. To Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Composers of ‘It’s a Small World’ and Enchanted Tiki Room Theme
    • 3/10/10 - Disney's D23 Celebrates Disneyland's 55th Anniversary with All-New, Two-Day Destination D Event
    • 3/9/10 - 'Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ Reaches Goal
    • Disney Family Museum April Calendar of Events
      
      
  • Other Website posts of interest
    • Disney Parks Blog - Flower and Garden timelapse
    • Disney Parks Blog - Fantasyland Ground Breaking at WDW
    • OC Register - Cars Land Preview
      
      
      
  • We post some announcements on:
    • Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/disneygeekcom
    • Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/disneygeek
      
      

Be sure to check out the picture update that goes with this Geekspeak column, it can be found in our Disneyland Resort Pictorial Update section

Stop by the Geek's Forum to discuss this and other Disney topics.. click here

Send comments, questions, any other email to: disneygeek@disneygeek.com