DLR 11/8 - Christmas Parade Taping & NO CHARACTER PICS!

[Luke Manning]

Yesterday was a lovely day to be at the Disneyland Resort. Christmas arrived early with the taping of Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade. My first stop was to grab Fastpass' for Space Mountain.

It looks like Sleeping Beauty Castle is pretty much ready for the Holiday season.

I then went to get in line for the Matterhorn, but it broke down while we were in line.

I saw Monorail Blue & Monorail Red zip by.

I then went round to Toontown & rode Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin & Gadget's Go-Coaster.

A look at It’s a Small World Holiday, which is just 2 weeks away from re-opening.

Then I went on the Disneyland Railroad for a roundtrip, & then continuing on to the Tomorrowland Station.

I got to ride in the caboose for the first time.







A couple of the Christmas Fantasy Parade floats were backstage waiting to come out into the park to be filmed for the WDW Christmas Day Parade.

I then used my Fastpass' for Space Mountain.

I then got back in line for the Matterhorn Bobsleds, & it actually was running!

You couldn’t go any further than Alice in Wonderland out of Fantasyland. To get out, you had to go all the way to the main Tomorrowland entrance.



Toy Soldiers!!!



The Disney Fairies have temporarily booted Mickey & Minnie off their float.









My favorite performers in this parade, the Snowflake Girls.







The new Toy Factory float.

I then went in to eat at the Plaza Inn for my first ever time eating there. It was absolutely delicious!

Giant Mickey balloons, probably for the What Will You Celebrate? promotion next year.



The Princess Christmas Ball float.



Followed, weirdly enough, by the Bolt Pre-Parade float.





Hey look, it's Ryan Seacrest!



We leave Disneyland Park for now with a look at its’ awesome new park map.

Time to head over to DCA!

Ads for Bolt on the back of one of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot buildings.

Then I headed over to Toy Story Midway Mania

Scaff-holding is starting to spread all over the Sun Wheel.



The stucco has been completely ripped off the Midway Games facade.



The draining of the Paradise Pier lagoon has begun!





Water pumps over by the California Screamin’ launch.







A new curtain at Mr. Potato Head’s gazebo.



Finally my score is getting better on Midway Mania!





I love these construction walls!



The Midway Shops are still open.





The giant M for McDonalds has been replaced with this generic planet.

I then headed over to Soarin' Over California to use my Fastpass' (which I had got when I entered the park).

The latest DCA park map features Toy Story Midway Mania, in a generic, but very cool design.

Then I headed over to A Bug's Land where I went on It's Tough to be a Bug & Heimlich's Chew Chew Train.

Holiday decorations in Pacific Wharf.

I then headed out of DCA & back into Disneyland.

The backside of Goofy!



The new Bolt Pre-Parade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http:...?v=APnaz_LMBXA





I didn’t go in there (or any meet ‘n greets for that matter), but I peeked through one of the holes in the giant grass & saw that Fawn & Silvermist were there. Tinker Bell wasn’t however, due to the fact that the Parade of Dreams was running at that time.

I got in line for the Princess Fantasy Faire, but unfortunately my parents called me to meet up with them, so I had to get out of the line. I headed over & rode the Jungle Cruise, followed by Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion Holiday, & Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

The Plaza Pavilion is finally out from behind tarps & construction walls, after 11 months of work.



A look at the new Christmas store in the Courtyard of Angels.



Haunted Mansion Holiday all lit up at night.

I went & sat for the Parade of Dreams, as its last 2008 performance is on November 11th, & it won’t be returning until February due to A Christmas Fantasy Parade at first, & then the Main Street re-paving project. Here are a few of my best shots.

After that I got a pin for me & a pin for a friend from the Emporium, & a coffee from the Market House & then headed out.

THE END

[Kritter]

Great TR!

Looks like you had fun!

[atbsfire]

Nice photos, I'm sure Tinker Bell was In the "meet and greet" area during the parade, Tinker Bell Is In a different area then the other "fairy's", that probably why you didn't see her when you peeked into Pixie Hollow XD

[Luke Manning]

Nice photos, I'm sure Tinker Bell was In the "meet and greet" area during the parade, Tinker Bell Is In a different area then the other "fairy's", that probably why you didn't see her when you peeked into Pixie Hollow XD

No, I saw the area where Tink usually is & Silvermist was there. The parade runs right past Pixie Hollow, so they can't have 2 Tinks out at once.

[IzzyInWonderland]

Ahh the poor face character girls at Disneyland....

[Capt Hook]

So Luke I'm confuess there was the Princess Fantasy Faire open or close for refurbishment. That sign u took said close for refurbishment, but you said u where in line to see the Princess. So what was it. Send I'm going next sat. there and that is one place I going to?

[atbsfire]

Well that's kind of lame for people who expected to see Tinker Bell in Pixie Hollow =/

[Capt Hook]

Well that's kind of lame for people who expected to see Tinker Bell in Pixie Hollow =/

Well no it's not cause they said that when the Parade goes Tink will not be there. Besides if there where two Tinks out it will crush the dreams for the little kids. I remember this year I think it was back in March they had two Peter Pan's out at the same time. One at the entest to Main Street and one on the Parade of Dreams which was coming from the castle to Main Street. I was the only one that saw this thank goodness that no little kid did or they would be hurt from seeing two Peter Pan's out at the same time.

[Luke Manning]

Ahh the poor face character girls at Disneyland....

What's that supposed to mean?

So Luke I'm confuess there was the Princess Fantasy Faire open or close for refurbishment. That sign u took said close for refurbishment, but you said u where in line to see the Princess. So what was it. Send I'm going next sat. there and that is one place I going to?

No, the Fantasy Faire store opposite It's a Small World is closed. That has absolutely nothing to do with the Princess Fantasy Faire.

Well that's kind of lame for people who expected to see Tinker Bell in Pixie Hollow =/

But think about it... You've just met Tinker Bell at Pixie Hollow, & then you step outside & see Tink in the Parade of Dreams. Suspension of belief my friend.

[WheresMickey]

Nice report Luke!

[IzzyInWonderland]

What's that supposed to mean?

I'll refrain from verbalizing what I mean by that.

[Capt Hook]

Thanks Luke for clearing that info.

[Kritter]

Also those big balloons, Luke, are only used for the Christmas Day Parade and not for the "Celebrate Today" promotion.

[Rex Dopey24]

nice trip report thanks.

[lou_mom]

Luke, I always love your reports. Thank you again for a great TR. I have a son your age, he's 17 and a big DLR fan and an all around Mickey fan. I think you are just adorable and I'll look forward to your next TR.