New Year's Eve at Disneyland

[CoasterMatt]

For the 13th year in a row (with a minor derail last year thanks to my jerk employers), Rose and I were able to take part in our "Self Destruction Derby" AKA Open to Close at Disneyland New Year's Eve.

It's always crazy, but the key to survival is attitude. And Fastpass.

This year, we got to Mickey and Friends just before 7am. Drove right up, and parked in Daisy- first row, all the way back.

We hopped on a tram (there were people who just couldn't figure out that new fangled door mechanism), and headed to the front gate...
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/4755/5312781607ceba75a2d7z.jpg
I still don't get why they had "Magic Morning" for New Year's Eve, though- let's just make things even crazier, k?

Anyway- we got in a lil before 8, and headed up Main Street. The Main Street shops weren't open yet.

Lots of confused people stood (and occasionally shoved) because the people in front of them were stopped on Main Street. The first bit of happiness involved a lady - who's head turned on a swivel, SWEAR TO GOD! - who "informed" the people behind her that the park hasn't opened yet- she was so sweet and kind, it made my ears all warm.
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/7664/5313374762ba3f66be1az.jpg
Once they did the opening announcement, the herd quickly moved up and I didn't hear of any tramplings, there's just no way to know...

We headed to Space Mountain to get Fastpasses, and so did half the people in Anaheim. The standby line was at 40 minutes by the time we got there, and the line to GET fastpasses stretched to the front of the Captain EO theater.
We got our fastpasses, and quickly headed off to something fun, Matterhorn Bobsleds!

But first - Rose got her Happy 2011 Ears - they actually got some cool ones this year.
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/1509/5313376982ddcca63a5cz.jpg

We had a great time on the Matterhorn - Harold sends his regards-
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/992/5313378156f52f6e6f2fz.jpg

Next up - Small World Holiday -
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Then Pirates -
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/7965/53133940865a79e58e4ez.jpg

Things started getting crazy about that point, but we were having tons of fun.

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Throughout the whole day/night, we rode Matterhorn 3 times, Space Mt. twice, Indy, Big Thunder 3x, Splash Mt., Small World 3 times, Pirates twice, Haunted Mansion once (I'll admit, I'm ready for Jack to be evicted). We even did stuff we NEVER do - Tarzan's Happy Meal Playhouse and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

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Aboard the Disneyland Railroad, we visited some old friends...
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/8084/5312808809b6ed361d78z.jpg

We had a lovely dinner at Plaza Inn
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Things got REALLY crazy as it got later in the evening.
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We hung out over by Small World for the actual West Coast countdown. There were some stupid angry people. I had a lot of fun, but I have to admit- every time I thought the music couldn't possibly get worse, they'd put on some gem like "Who Let The Dogs Out" or the House mix of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana" - you know it's bad when I'm giddy with joy that they play Kelly Clarkson...

Anyway, the fireworks were spectacular in a "Screw you AQMD!" kind of way, but I was too busy kissing my wife and shoving strollers out of the way to get any pictures.

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After the insanity of Midnight, we wandered through the crowd to the Rivers of America, where there was gonna be a 12:05 AM show of Fantasmic! The show that STILL poops all over World of Sprinklers and Lasers. We met up with Bornieo and Mindy near the old cargo dock. It's fun to see the boats just before they go "onstage" and the pirates aboard the Columbia were especially fun, yelling "Happy New Year!" mixed with "ARRRRR!!" From this odd angle, I got this picture...
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Well, we rode some more after midnight, including a fun HAT finding trip around the world at Small World Holiday.

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At 2AM, the fun was over- except for a coffee trip on Main Street.

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Hope you all have a wonderful New Year...
I recommend you checkout my photos here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/coastermatt/sets/72157625605606479/) - you can see them fullsize on a black background

[Kevy Baby]

Cool pics as always!

Am I the only one who has problems seeing 3/4 of this image?
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/7664/5313374762ba3f66be1az.jpg

[alphabassettgrrl]

Sounds like a great day! Thanks for the pictures!

I love watching Fantasmic from over by that dock, where I can see backstage and watch them as they go onstage. Love it.

[Kevy Baby]

I love watching Fantasmic from over by that dock, where I can see backstage and watch them as they go onstage. Love it. Pirate Monkeys!


For those not familiar, you can watch the monkeys get off the rafts and then a few minutes later see them get on the Columbia sans monkey heads but with pirate headgear on.

[Chernabog]

I freaking LOVE that shot of the Dragon!!!!

[lashbear]

Dragon = Cool !

[DisneyDaniel]

Amazing photos, Matt!

It's been such a long time since I've stopped by LoT, so here is something to share with you all: My video of the complete New Year's Eve Fireworks and Countdown Ceremony -- with an upclose-and-center view of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Some friends and I entered Disneyland on Dec. 31, 2010 at 7 a.m. during Magic Morning and secured our spot -- and a bench -- behind Partners statue around 7:15 a.m. It was a fun day of 16-hours camping out in shifts and socializing with other equally die-hard Disney fans. So, here is the video with the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pqmNGRayHY

Happy New Year! One of my 2011 resolutions is to visit LoT more regularly (as in previous years) so this is a start. :)

[lashbear]

Hehehehe - she said "You are the first guests at the DLR in 2012 !!! You Americans are supposed to be behind us, not in front of us ! :p

[RStar]

We had a lovely dinner at Plaza Inn
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1927/53134187767323ee4a8ez.jpg

That was great Matt! Thanks!
I didn't know Plaza Inn served Mastacholi with Vomit sauce! ;)

[Morrigoon]

I wish MY vomit tasted like a combo of Pesto and Alfredo... Would make the IBS thing a whole lot more interesting.

[Gn2Dlnd]

It's been a long time for me since a New Year's Eve ended with vomit. But, once again, here we are.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

It's been a long time for me since a New Year's Eve ended with vomit. But, once again, here we are.:eek: What happened? Hope it wasn't too unpleasant.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I think he's just referring to the previous couple of posts.

[Gn2Dlnd]

^ That. Didn't mean to alarm anyone!

[lashbear]

We had a lovely dinner at Plaza Inn
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1927/53134187767323ee4a8ez.jpg

AHA !!!!!
HIDDEN MICKEY !!!!!

[Gn2Dlnd]

In profile!

[Gemini Cricket]

Great pics!

[CoasterMatt]

A few years ago, I did vomit around the world right after midnight.