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Visit Date: 3/16/18
Steps: 26,530
Parks Miles: 10.0
Time in Parks: 8.5

 
Trip Log:

Arrived at the Disneyland Resort just after lunch and was directed into a spot on the Goofy level of the parking structure. Took a look at the Star Wars and Parking Structure construction then went through security and hopped a tram to the parks. Started my afternoon off on Buena Vista Street. The annual EggStravaganza is underway so took some pictures of the eggs and then made my way around Carthay Circle and through Grizzly Peak Recreation Area to Paradise Pier. Walked out to Paradise Gardens and strolled under the swings on my way back. Listened to some of a Phat Cat Swinger set on the Palisades Stage and then walked out to Toy Story. Doubled back and strolled through the Pacific Wharf and into Cars Land. Found some more eggs and then continued on to a Bug's Land and into Hollywood Land. Stopped by the Animation Building then wandered around the Backlot area before taking Hollywood Blvd back to Buena Vista Street. Crossed the Esplanade and entered Disneyland. The Straw Hatters were performing near the entrance. Spent some time wandering around Main Street USA checking out the new brick work and searching for eggs. Also caught a little of the Hook & Ladder Co at Refreshment Corner. Circled the hub then entered Tomorrowland. Walked through the area and around the Matterhorn to the Small World mall. Continued on to Toon Town and then doubled back through Fantasyland. Passed through Sleeping Beauty Castle and cut through the hub on my way to Frontierland. Strolled along the Rivers of America and out to the Harbour Galley area. Then back through New Orleans Square. Saw the Mark Twain arriving so made my way to the dock and went for a cruise. Once back continued on through Adventureland and back to Main Street USA. Listened to the Disneyland Band in Town Square then made my way to Downtown Disney to find the last 12 eggs. Started with World of Disney then worked my way through the stores looking for eggs ending up at the ESPN Zone. Then walked back to Disney California Adventure. Decided to grab something to eat from the Pacific Wharf Cafe and eat it at Flo's with a view of Ornament Valley. After eating returned to Paradise Pier and used a FastPass for Toy Story then caught some of the 6pm Food & Wine Festival presentation on the Palisades stage. Returned to Disneyland and made my way into Tomorrowland. Thought about taking the Monorail but there was a couple train wait and the sun was setting quickly so passed on that. Instead spent some time uploading some pictures then paid a visit to Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters that turn 13 on Saturday the 17th. After defeating Zurg wandered around the hub and made my way out to Haunted Mansion to use a FastPass there. Took a look at Splash Mountain then strolled back to Main Street USA by way of New Orleans Square and Adventureland. Returned to Disney California Adventure and made my way out to Paradise Gardens to catch the group performing there this evening. As they played I worked on a trio of Egg Hunt posts. Then made my way to Radiator Springs Racers to use a FastPass. As I worked my way through the queue a light drizzle started. So I abandoned the queue since I did not feel like get wet this evening and headed for the exit. Hopped on a tram and returned to the parking structure. Found my car and headed for home.

Other Interesting Stats:
* Moderate Walking Stats (meaning over 2.5mph): 19,864steps, 174 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:
I was watching the weather forecast all week trying to decide if I wanted to go on Friday. I tend to avoid rainy days because the cold rain is just not fun for me and dealing with the drive in the rain makes it even worse. The forecast became more favorable with a chance of light rain around 50% from 6pm onwards and a higher chance later in the evening. The rain did hold off with only a slight drizzle just before 9pm and at that I headed for home and ended up driving through some decent rain pockets. Temps were in the 50s and the wind would come and go so it was cold for us locals. Crowds were moderate, actually on the heavy side considering the weather. Spring break season is underway.. always interesting to see guests in shorts and short sleeves.. I do not think they read weather reports and just assume its always hot here. I cannot believe at home if it was a chance of rain and 50 they would be wearing that.

Thoughts and Observations:

  • Parking was an adventure again this week. The overpass was closed so I had to sit through a couple of lights to cross Ball Road. Then once again only a couple cars at each toll booth lane. Today the lanes were backed up just to the top of the ramp on the level. I choose unwisely and added about 5 minutes to my parking wait, but did get a decent spot. I was undercover which was my primary objective given the rainy forecast, it is always nice to load the car without getting soaked. Then leaving they were forcing traffic from levels 3 & 4 (I was on 4) to go through the light at Ball. It was coned off and I could not get to the overpass. It took 3 or 4 cycles to get through the intersection. Not a pleasant way to end my evening (or start my day). They could really use another overpass so they can always have both directions open. This would be extremely helpful when the new structure opens and a 50% increase in capacity is added.

  • Speaking of parking structure the new structure is moving along. More grading was underway and removal of more of the former tram area and parking infrastructure is underway. I wish they would put up some concept art in the tram area to show what is coming. I am curious plus it would make the are look a lot better.

  • Looking across the street at the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge work there was not a lot visible progress this week, which is expected. Once the mountain ranges progress a little more there will be even less to see as the work shifts to the marketplace/village, interiors and below the tree line.

  • The 2018 Eggstravaganza has begun at the parks and Downtown Disney. There are 36 eggs hidden this year (12 on each quest) and you get a small egg prize. I always enjoy the hunt. This year there seemed to be more eggs inside stores than past years (but I did not count to confirm this, just felt that way). There were a couple challenging ones but overall they were on easier side. I would really like to see them alter the hunt with different characters. Ten of the twelve are common among all three hunts.

  • Out in Paradise Pier the Pixar Pier colors are starting to show up with more red being added to the Incredicoaster. Work is moving along as the scream tubes are being enclosed and painted and facades being swapped out. For the spring break season the Cove Bar has reopened and it had a long wait as usual. Disney has released some more concept art of the coming changes. One interesting note is it is being reported that the Carousel is not returning until 2019.

  • Over at Disneyland the Straw Hatters were performing and welcoming guests near the park entrance. It is a nice way to enter the park with live music but it seems awkward to have them in that area over to the far right as you enter.

  • The track replacement project on Main Street USA is in the final stages. Almost all the walls are now gone and the track and brick is visible for most of the street. The only walls that remain are for the spur line going from Town Square backstage near the fire station. Overall the track and bricks look good. I still think the area in the hub and Town Square that passes close to the old bricks looks odd with all the different kind of brick.

  • Walking through Downtown Disney I crossed paths with one group performing only and they were set up near the bridge over Disneyland Drive. I found this a little odd that the main stage and the other spots that usually house entertainment were all empty but the group was here. Wonder if this is a new location to move them further from Splitsville? Or a one off for some other reason.

  • At Disney California Adventure the Food & Wine Festival continues. No real changes to the line up or offerings this week jumped out to me. Several of the Marketplace lines were long. The longest I spotted was just before 6pm the peppers one had almost 30 guests in line to order and around a dozen waiting for food. The queue went up the walkway by the vineyard. Many of the other lines were around a dozen guests or so.

  • At Disneyland the wait times were on the moderate side but still longer than I would want to wait. For example Pirates was around 30 minutes. The Monorail was 2-3 train wait. I was able to roll through a couple of FastPasses with no waits at all for Buzz Lightyear (which turned 13 on the 17th) and the Haunted Mansion. I had planned to close out my evening with a Radiator Springs Racers FastPass then Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks, but as I was in line for Racers a light drizzle started. Based on the weather reports I figured this was the leading edge of the storm so I decided to bail out of line and head for the exit before it got worse. I had no desire to spent a cold and wet night at the park then have to drive home.


Here are some recent posts to the Geek's Blog:

Geek’s Blog Postings Recap March 1-13, 2018

Disney Related Press Releases

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

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

Send comments, questions, any other email to: disneygeek@disneygeek.com
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