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

Hello all,

Friday was a surprisingly calm day at the Disneyland Resort. After experiencing the crowds on my last two visits (plus some reports from others) I was expecting the parking garage to be nearing capacity at noon when we arrived and the parks to be jammed already. Luckily I was wrong. We were in the middle of the 3rd floor (so not even half full yet) and the trams and park entrances were wide open. Lines at most of the big attractions were well under 45 minutes most of the afternoon and then ticked up a bit into the evening hours. I even saw a 30 minute posted wait for Nemo in the mid afternoon.

Jason

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

Disneyland & DCA Thoughts and Observations:

• There were new guide maps at both parks. Goofy replaced Pluto at DCA and Minnie is now on the Disneyland one.
  • Inside the Disneyland one I spotted Lincoln has replaced the 50 Magical Years in the listing (says coming soon), and that the street party route and stops/zones are marked. On the fold out there is an ad for Small World, the Street Party and Celebration Roundup. Coming soon is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (listed as 4/17 opening) and the Food and Wine Festival at DCA (4/24-6/7).
  • Inside the DCA map, Mickeys Fun Wheel has arrived as has the new logo and sign on Screamin. An interesting note is the icon looks like a giant sun, and that is different than the concept art which shows a ball. The Fun Wheel and Games of the Boardwalk are both listed and both tagged as new. Interesting to note is the description for the Games is identical to the old description, just has a New! tag in front of it and the Fun Wheel is the same except sun burst was replaced with ferris wheel.
  • The time schedule is still a single page, but interesting to note it lists the start times for all three stops of the Street Party. Also looks like the Disneyland Band is not doing the Flag Retreat as their last scheduled show is noon. I did not make it over this trip but next trip I will.
    
    
• The new Celebrate! A Street Party (are Disney names getting more and more awkward to say and describe to people or is it just me).
  • This new event rolls out onto the parade route two times a day for a total of 6 performances (3 each time out). There is one along Main Street, one in the Central Plaza/Hub, and one out in the Small World Mall area. Each stop lasts approximately 15 minutes.
  • Note the show did not go around Town Square, it came out of the parade gate and made a right onto Main Street, verses the traditional left and circling of Town Square. This seemed odd to me and I am curious if this is permanent, something to do with the logistics/traffic flow, or if it has to do with the upcoming continuation of the paving project on Main Street? Seems to me you would want to stop in Town Square since it can accommodate quite a few more guests.
  • As you saw in the pictorial update the Street Party features a handful of units and quite a few Disney Characters and dancers. It follows the mold of the Block Party Bash in terms of having various segments put together with crowd interaction, live MCs on the floats, and characters. I thought the CMs in the parade appeared to be working really hard to keep the energy level up and engage the crowd.
  • Overall I am not a huge fan of the new parade (I am going to call it a parade since nothing else seems to work just right). It felt like a knock off of the Block Party Bash, and just seemed out of place to me. Not sure if it was the music, the theme, or what but it just did not work for me. And seeing Alice in Wonderland or Mary Poppins dancing and singing to I Love Rock N Roll just does not work in my mind and add in that it is happening on Main Street..
  • Lastly I just do not care for the Celebrate You theme either... I think it is a very selfish theme on the surface.... just think.... Celebrate You! I understand that they mean the year is for your celebrations but it just bothers me that the catch phase is Celebrate You (I have overheard several kids saying Celebrate Me which is a perfectly logical extension). Maybe it will grow on me... time will tell. I do think with the lighting effects it is too bad the Street Party does not roll out after dark. That could really add an extra dimension to it and may make it a better experience. But then again maybe this is just me.
  • It seems like many of the children and others in the audience near me enjoyed the show, but I did not hear many comments one way or the other. The crowd seemed quiet afterwards.
    
    
• I stopped by the Celebration BBQ which has taken over the ranch. It was great to see food service returning to the location, we really enjoyed the old BBQ there. Unfortunately the price point and options for this new experience probably mean I will not be eating there. $30 plus tax and tip (which are both added at the register) is a little expensive for out door BBQ. Looking at the crowds (or lack of crowds) it seems that others agreed with this assessment, or maybe since it was opening weekend the word is not out, time will tell.
  
  
• It was odd that come dinner time the park seemed relatively quiet with fairly short waits everywhere we walked by and the River Belle Terrace and Celebration Roundup both looked like ghost towns.
  
  
• Stopped by the bread tour at DCA since it had re-opened. I saw no real changes to the show. Same video played, the bread samples are still there, and the kitchen area looked the same.
  
  
• Also stopped by Innoventions since it has been quite a while. I was surprised to find they still are not using any of the outer entrance pod shows. You are escorted in and walk directly to the front door of the house still. The spiel by the CM there is shorter and you are let in a little quicker. Once inside I noticed nothing new on the first level. Up on the second level the only real change I saw was the Segways are gone. We played around with the Project Tomorrow kiosks a bit and sent a picture to ourselves again. Interesting to note that now you can download the video that is created too. Wonder if this has been added to Spaceship Earth at EPCOT too?
  
  
• I was talked into visiting Tough to Be a Bug. I would venture to bet its been a good five years since my last visit (which reminds me I should visit Honey I Shrunk the Audience, its been forever there too).
  
  
• While out at the Pier I overheard a great guest comment. I son was explaining to his dad how the Mickey Face on Screamin that they saw in the DVD and pictures they have seen will show up only at night...
  

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