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

Overall it turned out to be a great day at the Disneyland Resort. The 20% chance of rain never materialized and temperatures stayed comfortable with no need for large jackets or even a sweatshirt (and I have lived in CA long enough that when it hits the low 60s I need my winter jacket).

There seemed to be a large number of out of town guests around the resort, several that I talked to commented on how they figured to would be a slow time this time of year. I think the combination of that kind of thought, veterns day, and then the kick off of the holidays (Small World and Believe opening weekend) really made Disneyland seem crowded.

We have moved our trip rundowns and mileage reports to our Park Miles section.

Disneyland Items:

• Disneyland had a much larger crowd and as evening started it got even larger. Haunted Mansion and Small World both had lines over an hour in standby.
• Most of the holiday decorations and lights are up and running. They look great as usual.
• Speaking of the lights a little before 9pm the lights on Main Street went off and on several times. I am guessing they "blew fuses" like they did last year the first weekend they had everything on.
• Small World Holiday is pretty much the same as last year. Still a great show and a popular attraction this time of year.
• Haunted Mansion shut down for about 40 minutes in the early morning. We used fastpass and road in the evening. The Standby line stretched all the way to the McFry place. It took about 15 minutes for us to get on. The standby line was barely moving. It said 75 minutes.
• After dinner we decided to try the monorail to get back to Disneyland. We had not seen one go by and saw a small group on the platform. So we got up there and in about 5 minutes monorail orange showed up. I counted and we were about 50th in line, shouldn't be a problem to get on. We watched and several people decided to stay onboard. They made the announcement requesting guests to please exit. If they wanted to go back to Disneyland to go down the steps and then back up and get in line like the rest of us. This was good, except they did not "enforce it". Several car fulls of people did not budge. Instead of asking them to leave the CM just opened the gate for us to get on. And of course with our luck they stopped the line right in front of us. So needless to say we had to wait 15 or so minutes for monorail orange to make the loop and come back. They really need to get two trains working at least.. and they need to enforce the rules.
• Tomorrowland seemed like a ghost town most of the morning. Only the occasional group running by to get on Space Mountain and then in a minute or so running back by complaining to each other because its closed. I was waiting for someone on Star Tours and I was really surprised that sitting by the Star Trader all I could here is the Innovations music every now and then. No sound track playing at all. If it were not for all the pin people across the way the area would have been empty.
• I caught a couple sets at Carnation (Plaza gardens) and talked with several people who were just sitting around listening and watching the dancers and they all commented on how there just isn't music like that anymore. What surprised me is it did not seem to matter the age. There were teenagers, twenty somethings on up to the super seniors who have been around since the first weekend the park was open. If you ever have a chance visit the park on a Saturday and hang out around the area and talk with some of the guests. The stories from the "old-timers" are incredible. Many of them knew Walt.
  

DCA Items:

• We spent the good part of opening through mid afternoon at the Park. It was a first time visit for one of my friends and he wanted to see the park.
• Crowds built throughout the day, but still the longest wait I saw was 40 minutes for Soarin' around 2pm.
• The holiday decorations look to be the same as last year. One note, no lights on the Palm trees in the Pier, not sure if its too early, or they will not do it this year. Not much going on really except at the park entrance.
• Throughout the day Santa's Beach Blast is taking place in Sunshine Plaza. While not as impressive as the huge sand scultpture last year, this event was much more entertaining and had a good size crowd of guests and their kids hanging around. They had at least two musical groups performing Holiday and Beach music. Also there was plenty of opportunity for pictures with Disney characters or Santa in his beach gear.
• The Brother Bear additions to the Redwood Creak Trail are minimal at best. I plan on seeing the stage show next visit. A good sign was the theater was full 20 minutes before show time when I strolled by. Not sure if that is becuase the movie is good, guests were interested, or after playhouse Disney there isn't much for the young set (well I guess Muppets and Bugsland are there too).
• Saw a kitten run across the way from the Train to the Condor Flats sign. Wonder if the cats from Disneyland have taken up residence in the new park too?

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

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