* 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 nice day at the parks. Spring is winding down here in Southern California and the weather is still mild. The crowds at the parks were too. Both parks seemed less crowded than last week and wait times seemed down too with most E-tickets well under an hour most of the trip with only a couple of exceptions. Even the crowds during the DEP and Magical seemed on the lighter side (still busy but not as bad as last week).

Jason

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

Disneyland & DCA Thoughts and Observations:

• Two members of our traveling group this time needed to buy new passes so we had to wait in the ticket line. There were maybe a dozen groups in front of us in the line we choose, not too bad, but still took us a good 15-20 minutes or so to get through the line. Their transactions went quickly and in no time we were off. I forgot that if you had a pass before they can now print them at the ticket booth for you so no need to visit the processing center, this saved us quite a bit of time.
  
  
• First stop was DCA and the lines for food at Taste Pilots were not too long, maybe a handful of groups in each line, but they moved at a snails pace. The hold up was in taking orders. Once you ordered you walked up and your food was brought to you very quickly.. but the line to order just seemed to be stalled at a snails pace. I could not figure out what was going on, maybe just large orders? Or I was hungry so it seemed longer than usual.
  
  
• As you saw in the pictorial update we caught several sets of the 2009 All American College Band. For those that are interested their schedule this year is: 2:45 Plaza Gardens, 4:45 Flag Retreat, 5:30 Castle, 6:20 Pre-parade, and 7:30 Main Street Train Station. I am not sure the days of the week (its usually 5 days I want to say they take Sunday and Monday off, anyone know for sure??) The schedule did not make the time guide this year which is too bad. Also I did not see anyone from USC in the band this year... (well the director is and Dr. Art Bartner was around for the Plaza Gardens set), but no musicians. This year they do not play a set in Tomorrowland. It was great to see them at the Flag Retreat again. The Flag Retreat is the same ceremony that has been going on the past couple years but the College Band taking the place of the Disneyland Band and performing with the Dapper Dans..
  
  
• Speaking of Entertainment Times Guide, I noticed now they do not put the Tomorrowland Terrace bands name or set times in the guide either. It just says TLT Dance Club from 7pm - 11pm. Why not give people the information?
  
  
• Anyone know the schedule for the Pixie Hollow Enhancements? I thought it was like Small World every 15 minutes or so? I waited around a good 15 minutes and people were there 10 minutes or so before me and we never saw anything... my guess was we were there too early (just after 8pm). Wonder when it starts?
  
  
• I stopped by the Honda Exhibit in the Esplanade and entered the 50 Prizes a Day for 50 Days Giveaway! Last trip I missed this since we did not arrive until after 3:00pm. If you visit the parks between 9am and 3pm stop by and enter.. its free. There is a drawing for 50 prizes each afternoon and you are notified by call or text message if you win. Prizes include reserved viewing for the parades and fireworks, dinner, pins, etc... The reason I am bringing this up is I actually managed to win... I received a certificate for reserved seating for the Electrical Parade. Kind of a nice plus. I already like this promotion better than the Year of a Million Dreams (well the 2 years or whatever it turned out to be) since I never won anything at that promotion.. and so far with this one I am 1 for 1 (probably should quite now). I was notified by telephone (they called my cell phone), while I was on Small World... all I had to do was take a photo ID to the Honda exhibit in the Esplanade by 6:00pm to claim my prize (they do not tell you the prize on the phone message).
  
  
• The seating for the Electrical Parade was in the Playhouse Disney queue. The good news is its a great view of the parade. The bad news is it is the very end of the parade route. Also surprising they asked for us to all show up together and be there by 8:15 (the parade did not make it to our area until around 9:05 maybe closer to 9:10).
  
  
• I thought the crowd control at DCA for the Electrical Parade was really lacking, especially in our area. There was one CM checking passes and names on the list and no one else in the area. He was responsible for kicking people out, keeping them off the parade route and checking names. This led to problems, especially as parade time approached and people pushed into the area. Guess tape Xs on the ground and chains are not enough to keep people at bay. Also several groups turned our area into a walkway since it was not densely crowded. Also I noticed people filled in the walkway from the Sunshine Plaza to the Hollywood backlot right before parade time. I did not see any CMs in that area either. I was also really surprised when guests starting crossing the parade route (while the parade was ongoing) and no CMs were in the area.. (well there were the parade CMs but no crowd control). Is this normal for this area? I have not watched the parade from here in a long time so just curious? Contrast this to Disneyland where there seems to be a CM every 10-20 feet or so along the parade route. I was a little disappointed with the reserved viewing that once the parade started the CM basically gave up at trying to keep people out and he disappeared some where and never came by to clear the area. So basically all those who crashed into the area at parade time got prime viewing and no waiting, just for being rude. We did ask several to leave, those who were blocking our view but once they moved out of our way we left them alone...
  
  
• As the end of the parade was nearing we noticed it was pushing 9:25 and time for Magical so decided to leave before the finale reached us to try and get ahead of the crowd and see if it would be possible to get into Disneyland. We headed for the exit and then across to Disneyland and to my surprise the lines were short, maybe a handful of people at each. So we headed for Disneyland making it to the turn styles just as the lights on Main Street went out and the show music came up.. we found a spot near the Magic Shop right as the Second Star to the Right segment finished, so we did not miss much. Unfortunately the show came to a stand still after Mary Poppins and before Baby Mine. The shells stopped, sound track stopped, and the house lights came on and an announcement played saying due to high winds at higher elevation this evening show has now been cancelled. First time this has happened to me. I have had several shows delayed and/or cancelled before they start but never in the middle like this.. it was kind of awkward as everyone was caught off guard and froze for a couple seconds to try and figure out what to do.. it was a weird sight. So if you visit the park on Fridays you are now zero for two in seeing a complete Magical (last week Dumbo did not fly).
  

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