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8/21/09 - My thoughts and observations from Fridays trip to the Disneyland Resort
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Welcome to the disneygeek.com Geek Speaks section. In this section I will post my comments on trips to the parks or other Disney related events.

8/21/09 - My thoughts and observations from Fridays trip to the Disneyland Resort

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

Hello all,

Friday was a brief visit to the Disneyland Resort (well brief for me only 5 hours or so due to me wanting to get an early start on Saturday down to San Diego to check out Legoland - speaking of which is there any interest to see pictures or hear my thoughts on that park? I was not planning on doing anything since this is disneygeek.com but then thought there may be some interest...). The crowds at the Disneyland Resort felt about on par with those that we experience Sunday. It looked as if the evening was going to be more crowded though. As I was leaving the line to get into the garage stretched toward Ball Road and the light at Ball was backed up to the freeway light. Was anyone around after dark on Friday, how were the crowds?

Jason

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

Disneyland & DCA Thoughts and Observations:

  • The 2009 Summer Nightastic promotion officially ended Sunday... anyone have any thoughts on it? Overall the parks felt fairly crowded all summer, not sure if it was discounts, the promotion, or just Disneyland that pulled in the people. I would not call them jammed like I did during the 50th celebration several times though. I thought the little enhancements like Pixie Hollow, the Electrical Parade tweaks, as well as some of the Fantasmic tweaks (guess in Disneyspeak its plusses) were nice to see but I am guessing very few non disneygeeks planned a trip because of them. The Magical show was entertaining and seemed to fill the streets. I was a little disappointed in the musical selections at the Tomorrowland Terrace, but I guess I am not part of the key demographic for that location. (Happy to see Scot Bruce on the bill for this Friday... Elvis!) wonder if the Fab Four will ever return... and of course disappointed that the new Dragon for Fantasmic never made it into the show (current rumors are he might be appearing very very soon... as early as late this week).

  • I had no real agenda Friday since I was just at the resort on Sunday, but it was nice to just roam the parks with nothing on my plate, the last several trips there was always something we needed to do. I find it interesting to just gaze out at the construction work and see what new things I can spot. Its also a blast to listen to those around you speculate as to what is going on. One of the most repeated things I have heard is all the work in the Paradise Bay is for a new coaster.. seems almost every trip I hear at least one person saying that to their kid... kind of interesting to hear.

  • Over at Disneyland the Bank on Main Street looks brand new again and the Disney Gallery windows are a nice touch. I cannot wait to see the new Gallery... even though I really miss having access to the old one and the retreat above the crowds of the park. I always thought that location was special/interesting. At least now more guests will hopefully experience the exhibits. It was one of the few places in the park you could go to escape the crowds/chaos of the park on busy days... everything seemed a bit slower in the Gallery.

  • It had been quite a while since I paid any attention to what was going on at the Princess Faire and overall this really seemed to be a shell of its former self. Its basically a meet and greet plus a store. The line for the meet and greet was rather long, but the store was fairly empty when I walked by. Wonder if they will ever bring a show back to this theater. I always enjoyed the character shows (and Christmas show) that used to be there.

  • I caught the Pixar Play Parade from near the Zephyr and found it really interesting to watch the parade go through the dead zone between the construction walls. I read a rumor on another site that the walls will be pushed out further and the parade truncated in the near future (maybe starting yesterday even). That makes sense to me since very few people were out on the far side of the walls.. it was great to watch from there but really a waste from a resource perspective. Speaking of parade route changes has anyone seen anything on how or if the route will change once Buena Vista Street is finished? My initial hunch was it would not change substantially since the you cannot easily go up/down the street with the monorail beam in the way... and I am guessing there will be lines for the Red Cars too. So it may even be a shorter route then too.




  • Interesting Web Finds/Notes (and some Press Releases):
    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

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