Big Birthday Trip to Disneyland, Universal and Disney Studios!

Your pictures are awesome, thanks for sharing.

Universal, aka Spongebob-land, they even have a "Build a Spongebob"!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008144.jpg

Next up was another round of the Tram Tour! For some unknown reason, the 1st tram didn't go through the Earthquake attraction, fortunately the 2nd one (with the much more entertaining tour guide) did go through that "subway station".

The entry

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008103.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008042.jpg

It was the party tram!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008147.jpg

It looks like they have done all the clean up, after the fire.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008046.jpg

In this picture, you can see the courthouse, and the square, untouched by the fire, as well as the facades to the left. Everything on the other two sides was damaged by the fire, and hauld away.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008146.jpg


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008038.jpg

The collapsing bridge isn't collapsing again, YET.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008047.jpg

The dancing cars, unfortunately, were dancing around.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008167.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008169.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008152.jpg

It looks like Mr Potatohead was abducted by Universal!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008153.jpg
Universal is working on some sort of movie that places Hasbro Toys in the limelight. I think they mentioned a Monopoly movie. uggggg.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008162.jpg


Just as Jurassic Park couldn't contain the dinosaurs in the movie, Universal has found it difficult to keep the dinos in their attraction, too! Our tram driver did the difficult, and managed to time the driving, to get our tour guide spat upon by the dinos!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...y2008049-1.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008173.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008172.jpg


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...y2008050-1.jpg


these are miniature models by the "parting of the seas" set.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008186.jpg

I don't recall the movie that these miniatures were used in, and didn't really care either. :)
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008187.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008189.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008192.jpg

Thankfully the 2nd tram I was on went through the earthquake area!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008197.jpg

And that wasn't the only "damage" from the earthquake.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008200.jpg

It just shows that Universal is just too dangerous a place for Pin Trading! :lol:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008201.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008202.jpg

When we were driving through sets being used by production, our tram driver went into "quiet mode", as we drove through those areas, however
he would hold up pre-printed signs, giving us a small idea of where we were going.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008203.jpg

Some film students were sighted in the backlot.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008208.jpg

The Cleaver family probably wouldn't mind all the flowers on the houses in their old neighborhood, but I don't think the Munsters would be pleased.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008209.jpg

All the bright house colors were a little weird to see on these old familiar houses. I don't watch Desperate Housewives, but they must be a much different beaver bunch, than the ones who "lived" here in the fifties!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008210.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008211.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008212.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008214.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008215.jpg


With so little space in the back lot, I'm really surprised that they keep Whoville around.
(Don't tell Horton I said that)
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008090.jpg

Uh, oh, I hope that's not Lola!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008093.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008095.jpg



http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008218.jpg

I never saw the Tom Cruise "War of the Worlds" movie, but the set was impressive.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008099.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008225.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008227.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008228.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008231.jpg

Awwwwwwe, Someone left their stuffed puppy "on the plane".
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008235.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008236.jpg

hmmm, after the Mummy tunnel, our driver appears to have had his hair burned off on the video monitor, BUT, look behind that blue clipboad, somehow the clipboard gained a full head of hair! :D
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008242.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008245.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008243.jpg

After the Tram tour, I stopped at an Italian restaurant, and had something similar to Chicken Fuscilli (a good size portion) , another side (which I don't recall) and a cookie.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008143.jpg

Then I moved down to the lower lot

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008248.jpg

I watched few people get drenched on Jurassic Park
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008249.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008250.jpg

Then it was time for me to experience The Mummy. I tried to avoid any spoilers about this when it opened a few years ago. It is a fun little coaster, with a few quirks that I haven't seen on any other. Quite frankly, it puts California Screamin' to shame in the "theme" category.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008256.jpg
Even as unique at The Mummy is, I still really miss the old ET attraction. Really too bad that they don't have room for both. They should have gotten rid of Backdraft instead, although thats probably a smaller building. There was a single rider line, and I practically walked on, twice in a row. Normal wait time was listed at 30 minutes, at that time.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008253.jpg
They did require you to place your loose bags, etc in lockers (which were free for 1 1/2 hours) There lockers don't give you a secret number, they use your fingerprint.

Since I was on the lower lot I decided to do the special effects/sound stage. It really hadn't changed much, since my trip 5 years ago.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008264.jpg

The lower lot street.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008263.jpg

Before leaving the lower lot, I grabbed another sandwich, pizza hut bread sticks and a cookie, to try and get my monies worth out of the all you can eat. It was closing in on 9pm, and I really wanted to go on the Simpsons one more time, which I did.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008269.jpg

On the way through City Walk (which was extremely busy) I stopped in Popcornopolis and got some cinnamon Popocorn!

That did it for Day 3. Coming up next, The Disneyanna Sale (for the NFFC Convention) and a little more of DL!

Nice pictures of USH!

Great pictures. I've missed the earthquake set on the backlot tour the last 2 times also. The plane crash from war of the worlds was impressive. Last time we went the had a Norman Bates chase the tram with a knife. Good stuff.

Agreed too about the Mummy Ride. Not a great roller coaster persay but amazingly themed.

Oh, to add, I'm not sure I would do the "All you can eat" thing again. I just can stomach that much food! ;) Maybe it I was still in my 20's and had that appetite, THEN it would be worthwhile! :D

Great pictures and report so far. I was sorry to read of Lola's demise but you never know it could have been her sister. I can't wait to see and read the rest of your birthday trip.

Since summer began (middle of May for us) how many days have you spent in CA?

great pictures aladdin, do they still have the earthquake ride?

On Sunday July 20, the NFFC had their annual Disneyana Show and Sale. If you are looking for anything Disney, this is a great place to find it. Items from Disney Parks all over the world, old Disney collectable items, you name it, Disney voice character actors, retired Disney performers, Disney artists of all sorts!

One of the nicest surprises was to talk to Mr Jantzen, who publishes "The E-Ticket Magazine" Had a table at the Disneyana Show and Sale! (Despite what was thought and said prior to the Sale) Yes, the E-Ticket Magazine site is up again. Yes, There is still one more issue, #46, that he is still working on.

It was so nice to talk to him in person, and say thanks for his nearly 20 years of pubilishing the magazine. He seemed genuinely sad to move on, but the time was right. He felt that all the articles the magazine published, covered all the topics it was meant to cover. Check his site out for the details.

Imagineering had a large area with merchandise usually exclusively available to Imagineers! I also saw Nbodyhome at the Jeff Lange booth!

Robert Olswewski had a large area, too. He had his entire Main Street DL on Display, with an addition - the House of Tomorrow, in its original location.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008012.jpg

He also had several new shadow boxes on display, which are not yet in the Disneyana Shop on Main Street. The actual lighting in some of these is not necessarily as it appears in these photos, since I had to use my flash to take these pictures. They are all beautifully done.

Cruella
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008001.jpg

Aladdin and Jasmine
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...y2008003-1.jpg

Ariel
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008002.jpg

ooops, the flash hid part of this, it's the Mad Tea Party,
With Hatter, Alice, and crew, amazing!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...y2008005-1.jpg

and now the astounding TIKI ROOM!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008008.jpg

He also had a display case with some new items, vases set in an acrylic or crystal like case

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008004.jpg

The sale was open to the public at 11am and, well I was there until after 3pm! Originally, I was hoping to get to the meet at noon. Really wished I would have seen everyone who was at the meet, but I will be back again in August.

I did go back to DL, and hit a few attractions, the went to White Water Snacks for Chicken Nachos! MMmmmmm! Once again, the previous kitty that greeted me, showed up, and a couple minutes later, these two small kitties showed up!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...y2008054-1.jpg

I did go back to DL and YAY! I was finally able to get my Certificate of Survival from the Haunted Mansion!!!!!! YAY!!!! The Cast Member who gave me the Certificate also told me that a new version was coming out. I inquired about that and he said that legal was looking at the current Certificate! At that point I thanked him for the certificate, but I was beginning to think that he was just pulling my leg with the "lawyer line"! Either way, I think it's really funny!

While in the doom buggy, I stopped right in front of the 5 singing busts! I tried taking a picture, but even with a dead stop, this is the best I could do:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008065.jpg

Next up was Fantasmic!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...y2008067-1.jpg

I really can't believe how well this picture turned out from my camera, as it usually doesn't do too well at night shots.

The fireworks were next, and as alway wonderful! Then it was back to my hotel, for my final night, before check out!

BUT the best is yet to come, a visit to the Disney Studios!!!!!!

Keep them coming Aladdin! This is great stuff

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pratt55

Great pictures and report so far. I was sorry to read of Lola's demise but you never know it could have been her sister. I can't wait to see and read the rest of your birthday trip.

Since summer began (middle of May for us) how many days have you spent in CA?

---

Like I said, I HOPE it wasn't Lola!!!!

Number of days in DL and CA , I don't count the number of days anymore :)

That's Why I don't feel bad that Universal gave me a California Resident discount, plus some! :D

Oh, I forgot to add I did see the 5:50pm show of Aladdin, and I was able to sit almost dead center
in the front row!

Which was only more fun, because I was wearing the exact same shirt that the Genie wears at the very end. And yes! He did take notice of me at the end of the show!!!!! that was fun! It would have only been more fun if I could have gotten a picture with him in person. But, regardless it was still a great time!!! :D

Oh, Oh, One MORE thing, I did wear a birthday button on Sunday in DCA, but was very surprised when going through the tortilla factor. They did wish me a happy birthday, but I got just the regular one tortilla. :( Oh, well no biggie. Maybe there was some sort of Tortilla shortage.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rex Dopey24

great pictures aladdin, do they still have the earthquake ride?

---

Yes, it's still in the same building. I do have a picture from inside the building (the broken column), after the picture, there are a couple pics of the tour guide, with his lanyard over his head, and sunglasses askew. The guide really played it up.

Awesome trip report!!! And you have some great pictures too. I especially love your PPP photos. Thanks for sharing!

When I left DCA on Sunday, there were some new ears that I found in the front part of "Greetings" take a look at these:

Not only the ears , but the eyes, nose, part of the mouth, and the Sorcerer Hat!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008057.jpg

And this one, hahaha, Mickey's shorts, and his tail sticking out of the very top!
I suppose you give this one to somebody if they are a butt head! hahahahaha

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008058.jpg

And for Minnie

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...uly2008059.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pratt55

Since summer began (middle of May for us) how many days have you spent in CA?

---

All but 8 days, those were drive days. Go home Todd....um I mean come home. Great TR.

Nice report, can't wait to see the studios pictures!