Yesterday was my last Sunday visit of the year (blockout dates, you know). I'll try to get in one more visit this week due to the fact that I won't be back until January.
Because Christmas is approaching, I counted on the park being crowded and left early to secure a good spot in line. Imagine how utterly pissed I was when I, among others, had to wait in my ice-cold car until 15 minutes before the park opened because there were no parking attendants there to let us in. Since it takes about 15 minutes to get from the parking structure/Pinocchio lot to the front gate, one might infer that this is an act of discrimination against those not staying in Disney hotels (those who do can just walk to the gate and line up before dawn), in spite of the fact that on any given day, a *huge* chunk of visitors are locals who can't justify the expense. Or maybe it's just due to the chronic understaffing. Either way, management needs to address the issue. A few years ago, when a friend and I arrived a full hour early, the parking lot gates were already open and we only had to wait to get into the park.
Apart from that, it was a good day.
Alice is still missing her rose bloom, but the timing on the hedgehog effect has been perfected. It's practically seamless.
Mr. Mole's boat is still MIA.
Sir Clinksalot (in Toad Hall) is still not clinking.
The squirrel in Snow White's cottage scene appears to have been moved; he's no longer facing inside.
It's A Small World now has all of its cancan dancers and tulip sitters back in place, yay! Unfortunately the sound was out in the last 10 feet or so of the finale. You could still hear the song echoing in the rest of the scene, but it was clear there's a speaker out as the dominant sound was the mechanical clicking of the dolls' movement.
The Toontown police phone line is missing and the spot has been covered by a phony barrel. Hopefully it's just out for maintenance.
The squirting baby elephant is missing from the Jungle Cruise. Luckily the skippers can easily work their spiels around a missing animatronic.
Veteran park visitors usually know that most of the time, the scent of vanilla is pumped into the air via a vent hidden under a Main Street awning. In December it usually changes to peppermint. I walked under the vent on my way out for a good whiff of peppermint and smelled...vanilla. Oh well, vanilla smells nice too.
While in line for Casey Jr. I overheard a 6-year-old (who was shorter than the 5-year-old next to her) tell her mom "Don't say I'm petite! I don't like being called small!" Trust me, kid, it'll come in handy when you're in high school and boys are exhibiting a preference for girls who are shorter than they are.
Overheard at Big Thunder Ranch: "Daddy, are those really Santa's reindeer?" Gah, four-year-olds are adorable. Flyer and Fryer seem to be adjusting well to their new home, though one of them (I'm not sure which is which) gobbles loudly at anyone who stares at him for too long.
See you at Disneyland.
Because Christmas is approaching, I counted on the park being crowded and left early to secure a good spot in line. Imagine how utterly pissed I was when I, among others, had to wait in my ice-cold car until 15 minutes before the park opened because there were no parking attendants there to let us in. Since it takes about 15 minutes to get from the parking structure/Pinocchio lot to the front gate, one might infer that this is an act of discrimination against those not staying in Disney hotels (those who do can just walk to the gate and line up before dawn), in spite of the fact that on any given day, a *huge* chunk of visitors are locals who can't justify the expense. Or maybe it's just due to the chronic understaffing. Either way, management needs to address the issue. A few years ago, when a friend and I arrived a full hour early, the parking lot gates were already open and we only had to wait to get into the park.
Apart from that, it was a good day.
Alice is still missing her rose bloom, but the timing on the hedgehog effect has been perfected. It's practically seamless.
Mr. Mole's boat is still MIA.
Sir Clinksalot (in Toad Hall) is still not clinking.
The squirrel in Snow White's cottage scene appears to have been moved; he's no longer facing inside.
It's A Small World now has all of its cancan dancers and tulip sitters back in place, yay! Unfortunately the sound was out in the last 10 feet or so of the finale. You could still hear the song echoing in the rest of the scene, but it was clear there's a speaker out as the dominant sound was the mechanical clicking of the dolls' movement.
The Toontown police phone line is missing and the spot has been covered by a phony barrel. Hopefully it's just out for maintenance.
The squirting baby elephant is missing from the Jungle Cruise. Luckily the skippers can easily work their spiels around a missing animatronic.
Veteran park visitors usually know that most of the time, the scent of vanilla is pumped into the air via a vent hidden under a Main Street awning. In December it usually changes to peppermint. I walked under the vent on my way out for a good whiff of peppermint and smelled...vanilla. Oh well, vanilla smells nice too.
While in line for Casey Jr. I overheard a 6-year-old (who was shorter than the 5-year-old next to her) tell her mom "Don't say I'm petite! I don't like being called small!" Trust me, kid, it'll come in handy when you're in high school and boys are exhibiting a preference for girls who are shorter than they are.
Overheard at Big Thunder Ranch: "Daddy, are those really Santa's reindeer?" Gah, four-year-olds are adorable. Flyer and Fryer seem to be adjusting well to their new home, though one of them (I'm not sure which is which) gobbles loudly at anyone who stares at him for too long.
See you at Disneyland.
posted by Sally Ravenswood at 10:06 AM
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