* After you read this report you may want to check out the pictorial updates in our Disneyland Resort Pictorial Update section

Hello everyone,

Friday was pleasant afternoon at the Disneyland Resort. The spring break crowds were still around enjoying the Southern California weather and being out of school. DCA felt crowded in the early afternoon but it thinned out as the day went on. Disneyland had a healthy crowd too, but still nothing like the Christmas rush. As you entered the garage they were passing out the yellow pieces of paper saying Disneyland was crowded and offering tips on how to avoid the crowds and make the most of your trip. Many of the E-Ticket attractions were well over an hour most of the day, but with some luck, fastpass and good timing you could still get on several without too long of a wait. For example Haunted Mansion was calm most of the evening and when I went on it was a true walk on, I did not even break stride until I had to stop on the elevator.

Jason

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

Disneyland & DCA Thoughts and Observations:

• California Adventure had signs up all over the place for the Food and Wine Festival, which now runs from April 11th through May 5th with events every day where as the past two years it was the Food and Wine Weekends. I noticed many events only occurred on the weekends this year too so if you go midweek be prepared for a limited offering.
  
  
• I caught the Pixar Play Parade again and noticed that the Tough to Be a Bug unit is still out of the show after its problems last week and the acrobats are all suspended still too. I am sticking with my initial assessment that the water is going to get very annoying very quickly. It makes getting good pictures a challenge, that plus the fact that the setting sun limits the angles you can use. Around me during the parade was a good mix of people and some seemed to really enjoy the water and several others (most of them adults with cameras or babies) thought it was over the top. I would venture to guess as the weather heats up more people will enjoy the water.
  
  
• I wanted to catch one more showing of the Seasons of the Vine film before it is shut down to make way for the preview center but due to my impatience and schedule goof up I missed it. They were only running the film from noon to 5pm on the top of the hour. I showed up at 6 (along with a handful of others) and we waited and eventually a CM setting up for the Electrical Parade viewing came and told us it was closed.
  
  
• As you saw in the pictorial update there is a new car being used for the Honorary Grand Marshals during the Disneyland Pre-parade. I thought the car looked great and all the extra Mickey touches were fun to observe.
  
  
• As I rode by on the Disneyland Railroad I spotted the new monorail red back in the roundhouse, again my picture did not come up.. maybe next time. Last I heard/read they were conducting after hours testing, so maybe that means we will be able to ride soon.... last I read the second new one is supposed to arrive in late April or early May.
  
  
• As I sat at the Tomorrowland Terrace listening to Instant Replay I starting thinking about the limited entertainment offerings at DCA, not sure why since I was at Disneyland but I guess its because I did not like the song they were singing. Over at DCA they have done away with the Wave Riders it appears and the Wharf Stage bands have been gone for years now. Once evening comes there really is nothing going on, and this was a Friday during a busy time of year. The last Miner 49ers set and Drawn to the Magic show were both at 4:30pm. Digging a little further into the schedule the last High School Musical 2 show was at 3:30 and Playhouse Disney at 4:15. There was a 6pm Aladdin. The only two options were the parades at 5:15 and 8:45.
  
  
• I know I have complained before but why are there not any country groups (or even the Eagles tribute band) any more. It seems to me that after dark a group like that could perform somewhere and draw decent crowds.. They have the empty Ranch area or even the Golden Horseshoe in the evening (but with Fantasmic crowds I could see why this is a bad choice) or even every once in a while in Tomorrowland.. I do not see why the future cannot hold a country group...
  

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