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Visit Date: 01/08/10
Steps: 23,395
Parks Miles: 8.8
Time in Parks: 9.5

 
Trip Log:

Started off this picture perfect Southern California afternoon parking in the garage and taking the tram over to the parks. Walked into DCA first and spend some time roaming around the Red Car construction walls on the Backlot. Worked my way around past Tower of Terror and through the new walkway into Bugsland. Continued on to the Pier to check out the World of Color progress. Made my way around and took a spin on the Fun Wheel, stopped by the SS Rustworthy, and wend for a ride on the Zephyr before walking over to GRR. It appeared they were filling the flume for testing. Peaked into Condor Flats then decided to walk through the Grand California, across the street, through the parking lot, and out to the Disneyland Hotel to check out the rennovation work. Circled back to the Monorail station and rode into Tomorrowland. Grabbed a Fastpas for Buzz and walked around the old Honey I Shrunk the Audience theater to see if there was any visible progress then met up with some friends near the Autopia. We walked around the Matterhorn and out to Small World. Went for probably our last voyage of the holiday season and then wandered into Toontown to see what was going on. Ended up in Mickeys House and the line for Mickey (which was only about 10 minutes). Spent some time around Donalds Boat and then walked back toward Fantasyland. Hopped on the Tea Cups (only a two cycle wait) before continuing around the Big Thunder Trail and to the now mostly drained Rivers of America. Took some pictures of the River around the walls and continued out to Critter Country. Got in line for Pooh. While in line we noticed someone in a wheel chair having a problem getting out of their vechicle. This lead to a backup at the station and the ride shut down. Due to them having to evacuate and restart the ride we bailed on the line and walked back through NOS. Decided to hike up the Tree House to see a better view of the drained River and then we headed for Buzz to use our Fastpasses. Had some time to kill so roamed around Main Street and found a spot to watch the 6:15 pre-parade which now features the Muppets. Saw it come out of the parade gate and head up Main Street. Decided to push through the crowd (cutting through the stores) and get some shots coming up Main Street and then for the fun of it decided to circle through the Castle, Fantasyland, and out to the Small World Mall to catch it coming through there. After taking my fill of pictures walked through Tomorrowland and through the Street Party traffic mess to exit the park. Headed for DCA and Taste Pilots for dinner. After dinner strolled around GRR and out to the Pier. All was quiet so walked through the Wharf and Bugsland to the Backlot around and up the other side of the Street back to the Sunshine Plaza. Walked back to Disneyland and roamed around Main Street as I headed out to Tomorrowland to check out the band performing there. Only tolerated two songs then headed for Small World to see the lights one last time. After that ended up on Main Street again and stopped by to see Great Moments. After the show still had 20 minutes till Remember so decided to take the tram back to the garage and watch from there before heading home.

Other Interesting Stats:
* Moderate Walking Stats (meaning over 2.5mph): 16,219 steps, 142 minutes.


For Comparisons to other trips or more park miles click here to visit our park Miles Section.

Note: These totals may be skewed because the pedometer is zero'd when we start and then left alone and read when we leave. So attractions, and other things may cause extra "steps" to be counted. The pedometer that we use basically measures up/down motion as a step, so if your standing in line and moving up and down it may be counting steps, etc.. so the total distances traveled and steps may be off.. so use these as rough distance comparisons between trips and they may not be accurate in terms of actual distance traveled.
Pictures & Video From this Trip:


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My Thoughts & Observations:

Hello all,

Friday marked my first trip of the New Year to the Disneyland Resort and it was a picture perfect afternoon/evening with the temps in the mid to upper 70s. As you saw in the pictorial update the off season has arrived and so have construction walls around several areas of the park. The crowds seemed about average with mild waits throughout most of the afternoon. @Toy Story seemed to be its normal 45 min the couple times I was in the area, the Fun Wheel about a cycle, Screamin 15-20.. Tower of Terror was long, an hour wait in the evening.

Jason

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

Disneyland & DCA Thoughts and Observations:

  • I lucked out with parking, exited the freeway, took the overpass right into the garage, no wait at the toll plaza, then directed up to a spot in the far corner of the garage on the 4th floor. The other two cars that met me a little later in the afternoon had worse luck. The Lazygeek headed for the garage and was directed out toward the Buzz Lightyear lot which was all backed up so he circled around again and found the garage was open with no wait at all.. the third car got stuck in the Buzz Lightyear lot and said it looked like they just opened it as it was empty but there was still a line for the bus so they decided to walk. They encountered a locked gate and had to walk back and then a CM came and unlocked it for them. They complained at City Hall because of the waiting, the bus situation, then the locked gate.. the CM basically apologized and that was it.. no notes made or other action.

  • Most of the evidence of the Christmas decorations has been removed from around the resort with just a few areas remaining (Small World, Bugsland, and the Grand Californian come to mind).

  • The park seemed to be in an off season mode with less operating and those attractions that were seemed reduced. For example the Monorail only had one train (Blue) running. So waits were a bit on the long side.

  • The new Disneys Honorary Voluntears Cavalcade premiered Friday (I posted pictures in the update and below are links to two videos of it). Overall I thought this was a nice pre parade and definitely a bit more than your average pre parade. The Muppet Characters really worked well on the float and those around me definitely enjoyed it. I do not know if the message/purpose of the float is really sinking in (sure they are asking questions in the surveys to see this but on a first take and listening to people it did not seem to stick). Also it is a bit awkward out a the last parade stop since the pre-parade comes through way before the Street Party makes it out there. I overheard several guests say is that it? What a short parade.. I think to help some of this they should list the pre-parade in the guidemap so people know what it is.

  • Speaking of guidemaps the new ones are out. Not much interesting in the Disneyland one. Honey I Shrunk the Audience is still listed and the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is still listed as new. It still seems weird to list this store/salon as an attraction.. It was nice to see Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and the Gallery both get top billing in the fold out. Over on the DCA one its interesting to note the Golden State header is still not on the attraction list but it is printed on the map portion. The Little Mermaid - Ariels Undersea Adventure is listed as coming soon (no building shown, just a number on the map where the building will be). Also the Silly Symphony Swings say opens spring 2010 (no coming soon), this actually has a graphic on the map. The new temporary walkway from Tower to Bugs is also on the map.

  • Over on the time schedule Great Moments has top billing as it returns to Disneyland. Great to see the Flag Retreat listed again. On the DCA side Blue Sky Cellar has the top spot.

  • I stopped to see Great Moments for the 8:40 showing and was surprised to see the theater quite full.. I would say at least 3/4ths it seemed.. maybe 4/5ths. I sat close to the stage to see if there was a difference and it was great to see the details on Lincoln but I still like the presentation from further back, the film seems to work better.


  • Interesting Web Finds/Notes:
    In this section of the Geekspeaks column I will include links, notes, and rumors I find/stumble across/or have been informed of.

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
Pictures & Video From this Trip:


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