I'll be there this weekend (10/20-10/23)!

Drince88 · 10-17-2005, 05:14 AM

I wanted to ask a couple of questions and warn you all that my sister and I were going to be hanging around the parks this coming weekend (along with all those people from Utah

). Arriving in the parks early/mid afternoon on Thursday, and my flight doesn’t leave until Monday, so we’ll be around most of the weekend!

First – because it’s been a LONG time since my sister and I have been at Disneyland together (Sept 2001), we aren’t sure how much we’ll be in commando touring mode on Sunday, otherwise we’d try to arrange a meet. But if there is a ‘standing’ meet on Sunday – can someone please post the particulars. I realize many of the park regulars have been in the park A LOT this past weekend, and may not be up to visiting again, though.

I’m planning on wearing a ‘Katrina’ T-shirt on Sunday – black and big yellow letters on the back that say “Recovery is a Marathon, not a Sprint” – so if anyone sees me – say “Howdy” – I’m an overweight 5’10” 40-year-old female, and my sister is about 5’7 (I think) and has a birthday on Saturday, so she’ll be wearing a birthday sticker (on Sat only)! (She’s my younger sister, but not by much, but I’m still not posting HER age in a public forum!)

So - a few questions:

What are your favorite places to watch the two parades, particularly since they both have show stops? Is there a big difference in the DL parade seeing it during the day vs at night? What about favorite fireworks locations that you don’t have to camp out for 2 hours? Fantasmic!?

Our ‘plan’ (subject to change) is to catch the fireworks on Friday, and if it’s not crazy un-doable, watch the later Fantasmic! Saturday, watch Fantasmic! (probably the later one), and fireworks from the Rivers area. Any tricks/tips for seeing both on the same day?

And finally, at an ‘early’ dinner hour on Saturday, would we need reservations for Storytellers? We stayed at GCH in Sept 01 and enjoyed our meals there, and it seemed like a decent ‘mid priced’ option for her birthday dinner (we’re going to WDW right after Thanksgiving and plan on a few ‘nicer’ meals, so don’t want to over-tax the budgets)

Yikes, this is long – sorry about that!

Ghoulish Delight · 10-17-2005, 08:13 AM

Oh, we'll be off to Paris while you're here!

Alas, hope you have a great trip. To answer some of your questions:

Fireworks: At the end of Main Street, just outside the photo supply shop on the right, look for a ramp that leads down from the sidewalk. Then look across the street and there will be another ramp leading up to the sidewalk on the other side. At about 30 minutes before the fireworks start, they put a rope up between these two ramps to make a walking path. If you show up about 35 minutes before show time, go to the LEFT side of the street (across from the photo supply shop) and stand just behind the ramp. There will not be a huge crowd, and once they set the rope up, there will be no one standing in front of you. And from the left side, you can see the castle, the Matterhorn, and everything else you need to see to fully enjoy the show!

Fantasmic!: Again about 30 minutes is all you need. Head around the river, towards Haunted Mansion. The walkways are tiered, stay up on the second tier. Once you're about half way around the river, just start looking for anywhere that you can see the mill building on Tom Sawyer Island. You should have no problem finding a spot. You'll have to stand, and maybe do a small amount of neck-craning. But you should have a fine view without waiting for hours.

Storytellers: Yes, make a reservation. Since you stayed in '01, they changed the way they do seating, and even if the restaurant's not busy, you could be waiting pretty long for a "standby" table. Plus, calling for the reservation gives you a chance to tell them it's her birthday without using the "I have to use the restroom" trick.

Drince88 · 10-17-2005, 04:01 PM

Thank you, kind sir!

You guys have a GREAT time in Paris.

Cadaverous Pallor · 10-17-2005, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drince88

Thank you, kind sir!

You guys have a GREAT time in Paris.

We will, guaranteed.

Ditto everything he said. The farther you go down the river, the more likely you are to get a good-enough Fantasmic spot at that 30 min point. You can make the later Fantasmic just fine after the fireworks - just go straight there, and you'll only have to wait about 30min. You have to go through Adventureland to get there, even though it'll be awfully crowded. They don't let you through Frontierland after that point for crowd control reasons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drince88

Our ‘plan’ (subject to change) is to catch the fireworks on Friday, and if it’s not crazy un-doable, watch the later Fantasmic! Saturday, watch Fantasmic! (probably the later one), and fireworks from the Rivers area. Any tricks/tips for seeing both on the same day?

First of all, if you want to watch watch fireworks from the Rivers, you'll be seeing the early (9pm) Fantasmic. They don't do fireworks twice, and you won't have to move.

I suggest that after Fantasmic (or after Fireworks if you do Fantasmic then Fireworks) that you do not try to get out of the area unless you want to take the train. Ride Mansion, ride Splash, ride Pirates...or take the train out of there. Walking anywhere else is going to be a pain, especially if you take our far-side-Fantasmic-viewing advice. If you are tired and want to go straight back to the hotel, jump on the train and take a grand circle tour to Main Street Station.

I don't have any parade spots...don't know too much about where a good stop point is. Definitely worth catching the 50th one, it's a pretty parade. The Block Party Bash is a fun stop if you're over at DCA - not worth dropping everything and crossing the esplanade for though. If you're there, find the parade as it's moving, then when it stops find a spot to watch it where you can see a float plus the space between floats with the huge cones. Lots of cool stuff is done with the cone area, so don't just look at the float. I liked the Monster's Inc. section best. It shouldn't be super crowded to the point where you can't get a spot at the last minute - we're talking about DCA here.

There isn't really a standing meet anymore, at least so far as the LoT is concerned. Ye Olde Sunday Hub Meet has been reclaimed by fans of Al and is now full of MiceChatters. You may want to check it out.

How exciting that you haven't been since 2001! A lot has changed since those dark Pressler days.

Not Afraid · 10-17-2005, 06:59 PM

Our weekend is undecided and wide open as of today. We may end up at the park - something we haven't done just for fun in a while. Or, we may stay home and do some more house stuff. I'll know in a few days. If we did go, it would be on Sunday and I'll be a part of the MC meet at noon.

Drince88 · 10-18-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

First of all, if you want to watch watch fireworks from the Rivers, you'll be seeing the early (9pm) Fantasmic. They don't do fireworks twice, and you won't have to move.

Thanks -- I knew the fireworks were just once, but I was thinking of getting there early to watch the fireworks from there and staying to watch Fantasmic -- Not even considering everyone watching the first show would be staying there for the fireworks!

I kind of had that feeling about the noon meet -- we may still swing by - provided we're not still in full park-commando mode (it'll probably take us that long to get re-oriented from our more recent trips to the OTHER domestic park!)

Chernabog · 10-20-2005, 07:18 PM

Yay I will be there on Sunday too

Drince88 · 10-26-2005, 05:05 PM

It was great meeting you guys! Thanks so much for making my sister and I feel welcome! Next time, we'll hang out with you longer - hopefully the next visit will be before 2009 (since it had been 4 years since my last visit to the 'original' park)

The fireworks and Fantasmic! recommendations were great - we ended up right between the Fantasmic photo mosaic and the reserved seating area without having to wait a long time, and having the level below us seated was an even bigger bonus. On Saturday, due to poor planning, we ended up watching the fireworks from near Small World. You miss the lower-level fireworks there unless you turn around, and most of the 'in the round' effects, so I'm really glad we got to see it from prime spots on Friday.

I'd forgotten how much better the 'setup' to Pirates is - and Buzz!!! I LOVE being able to pull the blaster out of the holster - makes it so much easier. Space was so smooth - and shiny.

And if anyone is wondering about the benefits of Early Entry - All I'm going to say is that I walked onto Dumbo - so if you are an infrequent visitor and have the option for early entry, I recommend taking advantage of it if you're at all interested in Fantasyland.

So thanks everyone for the great suggestions and warm greetings!

10-17-2005, 05:14 AM	#1
Drince88 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 481	I'll be there this weekend (10/20-10/23)! I wanted to ask a couple of questions and warn you all that my sister and I were going to be hanging around the parks this coming weekend (along with all those people from Utah ). Arriving in the parks early/mid afternoon on Thursday, and my flight doesn’t leave until Monday, so we’ll be around most of the weekend! First – because it’s been a LONG time since my sister and I have been at Disneyland together (Sept 2001), we aren’t sure how much we’ll be in commando touring mode on Sunday, otherwise we’d try to arrange a meet. But if there is a ‘standing’ meet on Sunday – can someone please post the particulars. I realize many of the park regulars have been in the park A LOT this past weekend, and may not be up to visiting again, though. I’m planning on wearing a ‘Katrina’ T-shirt on Sunday – black and big yellow letters on the back that say “Recovery is a Marathon, not a Sprint” – so if anyone sees me – say “Howdy” – I’m an overweight 5’10” 40-year-old female, and my sister is about 5’7 (I think) and has a birthday on Saturday, so she’ll be wearing a birthday sticker (on Sat only)! (She’s my younger sister, but not by much, but I’m still not posting HER age in a public forum!) So - a few questions: What are your favorite places to watch the two parades, particularly since they both have show stops? Is there a big difference in the DL parade seeing it during the day vs at night? What about favorite fireworks locations that you don’t have to camp out for 2 hours? Fantasmic!? Our ‘plan’ (subject to change) is to catch the fireworks on Friday, and if it’s not crazy un-doable, watch the later Fantasmic! Saturday, watch Fantasmic! (probably the later one), and fireworks from the Rivers area. Any tricks/tips for seeing both on the same day? And finally, at an ‘early’ dinner hour on Saturday, would we need reservations for Storytellers? We stayed at GCH in Sept 01 and enjoyed our meals there, and it seemed like a decent ‘mid priced’ option for her birthday dinner (we’re going to WDW right after Thanksgiving and plan on a few ‘nicer’ meals, so don’t want to over-tax the budgets) Yikes, this is long – sorry about that!
	Submit to Quotes

10-17-2005, 08:13 AM	#2
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Oh, we'll be off to Paris while you're here! Alas, hope you have a great trip. To answer some of your questions: Fireworks: At the end of Main Street, just outside the photo supply shop on the right, look for a ramp that leads down from the sidewalk. Then look across the street and there will be another ramp leading up to the sidewalk on the other side. At about 30 minutes before the fireworks start, they put a rope up between these two ramps to make a walking path. If you show up about 35 minutes before show time, go to the LEFT side of the street (across from the photo supply shop) and stand just behind the ramp. There will not be a huge crowd, and once they set the rope up, there will be no one standing in front of you. And from the left side, you can see the castle, the Matterhorn, and everything else you need to see to fully enjoy the show! Fantasmic!: Again about 30 minutes is all you need. Head around the river, towards Haunted Mansion. The walkways are tiered, stay up on the second tier. Once you're about half way around the river, just start looking for anywhere that you can see the mill building on Tom Sawyer Island. You should have no problem finding a spot. You'll have to stand, and maybe do a small amount of neck-craning. But you should have a fine view without waiting for hours. Storytellers: Yes, make a reservation. Since you stayed in '01, they changed the way they do seating, and even if the restaurant's not busy, you could be waiting pretty long for a "standby" table. Plus, calling for the reservation gives you a chance to tell them it's her birthday without using the "I have to use the restroom" trick. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

10-17-2005, 04:01 PM	#3
Drince88 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 481	Thank you, kind sir! You guys have a GREAT time in Paris.
	Submit to Quotes

10-17-2005, 06:59 PM	#5
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Our weekend is undecided and wide open as of today. We may end up at the park - something we haven't done just for fun in a while. Or, we may stay home and do some more house stuff. I'll know in a few days. If we did go, it would be on Sunday and I'll be a part of the MC meet at noon.
	Submit to Quotes

10-20-2005, 07:18 PM	#7
Chernabog Biophage Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Moon Posts: 2,679	Yay I will be there on Sunday too __________________ And they say back then our universe Was a coal black egg Until the god inside Burst out and from its shattered shell He made what became the world we know ~ Bjork (Cosmogony)
	Submit to Quotes

10-26-2005, 05:05 PM	#8
Drince88 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 481	It was great meeting you guys! Thanks so much for making my sister and I feel welcome! Next time, we'll hang out with you longer - hopefully the next visit will be before 2009 (since it had been 4 years since my last visit to the 'original' park) The fireworks and Fantasmic! recommendations were great - we ended up right between the Fantasmic photo mosaic and the reserved seating area without having to wait a long time, and having the level below us seated was an even bigger bonus. On Saturday, due to poor planning, we ended up watching the fireworks from near Small World. You miss the lower-level fireworks there unless you turn around, and most of the 'in the round' effects, so I'm really glad we got to see it from prime spots on Friday. I'd forgotten how much better the 'setup' to Pirates is - and Buzz!!! I LOVE being able to pull the blaster out of the holster - makes it so much easier. Space was so smooth - and shiny. And if anyone is wondering about the benefits of Early Entry - All I'm going to say is that I walked onto Dumbo - so if you are an infrequent visitor and have the option for early entry, I recommend taking advantage of it if you're at all interested in Fantasyland. So thanks everyone for the great suggestions and warm greetings!
	Submit to Quotes