Ahhhh…..nothing like a good nap in the afternoon to give your body energy to fight the evening crowds at the park. And Lord knows my body needed it after staying up 24 hours straight while driving to Disneyland.
I had decided to explore DCA in the evening and try and catch a performance of the Aladdin stage show as well as The Electric Light Parade. I had never been to DCA so I was eager to see what this park was all about. The crowds that had earlier been lining up in front of DL were now flocked to the other side of the courtyard in front of DCA.
After entering the gates, and under the miniature Golden Gate Bridge, I quickly made my way down the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. I liked the theming here. The buildings were very attractive, but couldn’t help think there were trying to squeeze a version of D/MGM into this small part of the park. They had ToT working, and as I excitedly ran for the ToT, like the Pavlov’s dog that I am, wouldn’t you know it? It was in a trial run phase for cast members only. Too bad, so sad. No ride for you.
Stood in line for the Aladdin show, and folks, there has got to be a better way of getting people into the theater. It’s like waiting outside for a major Broadway show with no tickets. And the herding process into the theater is definitely a stampede. Hold on to your kids because you don’t want them trampled climbing the two or three long flights of stairs.
The Hyperion Theater is very impressive. Definitely a house that can handle a major Broadway type show like their Aladdin show. I actually enjoyed the performance. I found the actor that played Genie to be wonderfully comic and his ad lib one liners were hilarious. And yes, there’s the flying carpet that descends from the ceiling which is lit up with a thousand little stars as they sing “A Whole New World.” God I’m such a kid. I actually exclaimed out loud when I saw the carpet….. “Ooooooooooo.”
After leaving the Theater, I looked around the Hollywood Pictures Backlot some more. I saw Muppets 3-D was playing but wasn’t really in the mood. Also checked out the exterior of the infamous Superstar Limo. Ah the magic one can conjure up with a slashed budget.
Made my way through Sunshine Plaza, not impressed with that giant sun, on my way to the wharf area of the Golden State. Being from San Francisco I had to see what this looked like. Um….okay….Boudin bakery and the Mission Tortilla Factory. Love Boudin, but this is the wharf?? Okay. Moving right along.
By this time I actually was hungry, surprisingly since I had eaten my weight in sugar and carbs earlier in the day at DL. The lights, the screams, and the sounds of Paradise Pier beckoned, so I decided to see what Paradise Pier had to offer to satisfy my appetite. Passed up Ariel’s Grotto and stood at the upper pier watching the launch of the cars of California Screamin. The lines were obnoxiously long. So I decided to pass it up and settled on eating fish and chips instead watching the coaster do it’s loop around Mickey’s head. Very cute.
By this time the sun had set and the park was taking on the glow from all of the lights at Paradise Pier. With the boardwalk type games and the seaside carnival rides, the whole scene reminded me of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. But not as seedy. It’s very beautifly to see the lights of the Sun Wheel lit up in the dark..It’s a peculiar feeling walking a park by one’s self immersed in all the sounds and actions going on around you. You take your time soaking everything in and just watching those around you. You feel a part of the action, but also a bit removed.
Decided it was time to move back to Sunshine Plaze to find a spot to watch the Electric Light Parade. Passed the “San Francisco” area of Golden State and the wetness that is Grizzly River Run. Well, they certainly incorporated geysers in that ride. Kept passing by other guests soaked to the bone.
Finally found a spot near the entrance to view the parade so I could make a dash for DL as soon as the parade was over. I had never seen this parade and I have to say it’s very cute and that music is very mesmerizing. I happen to be a sucker for bright shiny lights so you know I loved this parade.
As the last float approached, I made my quick exit out the gates through the courtyard to DL. The crowds appeared to be thinning out. I wanted to ride HM again and as I made my way through Adventureland to New Orleans Square, I found where the crowds were. They were all gathered to watch Fantasmic. The line at HM wasn’t too bad. Ten minute wait.
I quickly exited HM and made a mad dash for Fantasyland. I was hoping the crowds would be thinner since everyone was watching Fantasmic and I’d be able to ride some of the attractions I couldn’t earlier. Jumped in the first line I saw thinking I was in line for Pinnochio. Kept wondering why they mentioned a poisoned apple. Poisined apple? There’s no poisoned apple in Pinnochio. Hy ho I was in the wrong line. I was in line for Snow White. Drat. Finally I was able to ride Pinocchio and waited twenty minutes for Alice in Wonderland. Decided not to take my chances with the teacups. Me no likey so much the teacups. Took a tour of Storybook Land and found it a charming and bewitching ride. Especially at night with the miniatures lit up.
It was now a quarter to midnight, people were exiting the park, and I decided to ride the Disneyland Railroad to Main Street. Exited the train and walked up Main Street trying to soak up as much magic as I could before heading home. Grabbed one last Mickey rice crispie and walked up Main Street. I wanted to walk around the park checking everything out. The park is beautiful at night. Sat in front of the castle eating my rice crispie watching the twinkling lights in the trees and listening to the live band play the last song for the evening.
Walked through the castle and ran into a CM. Asked her if they do the “goodnight kiss” on the castle like they do at WDW. She smiled and said they didn’t. Shrugged my shoulders and walked away heading towards the gates past the happy families sitting on the sidewalks of Main Street eating ice cream and last minute goodies before the trip home. It was past midnight now. Time for sleep. Time to rest up before the long drive home to San Francisco. Time to dream of all the fun I had that day in the Magic Kingdom.
I had decided to explore DCA in the evening and try and catch a performance of the Aladdin stage show as well as The Electric Light Parade. I had never been to DCA so I was eager to see what this park was all about. The crowds that had earlier been lining up in front of DL were now flocked to the other side of the courtyard in front of DCA.
After entering the gates, and under the miniature Golden Gate Bridge, I quickly made my way down the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. I liked the theming here. The buildings were very attractive, but couldn’t help think there were trying to squeeze a version of D/MGM into this small part of the park. They had ToT working, and as I excitedly ran for the ToT, like the Pavlov’s dog that I am, wouldn’t you know it? It was in a trial run phase for cast members only. Too bad, so sad. No ride for you.
Stood in line for the Aladdin show, and folks, there has got to be a better way of getting people into the theater. It’s like waiting outside for a major Broadway show with no tickets. And the herding process into the theater is definitely a stampede. Hold on to your kids because you don’t want them trampled climbing the two or three long flights of stairs.
The Hyperion Theater is very impressive. Definitely a house that can handle a major Broadway type show like their Aladdin show. I actually enjoyed the performance. I found the actor that played Genie to be wonderfully comic and his ad lib one liners were hilarious. And yes, there’s the flying carpet that descends from the ceiling which is lit up with a thousand little stars as they sing “A Whole New World.” God I’m such a kid. I actually exclaimed out loud when I saw the carpet….. “Ooooooooooo.”
After leaving the Theater, I looked around the Hollywood Pictures Backlot some more. I saw Muppets 3-D was playing but wasn’t really in the mood. Also checked out the exterior of the infamous Superstar Limo. Ah the magic one can conjure up with a slashed budget.
Made my way through Sunshine Plaza, not impressed with that giant sun, on my way to the wharf area of the Golden State. Being from San Francisco I had to see what this looked like. Um….okay….Boudin bakery and the Mission Tortilla Factory. Love Boudin, but this is the wharf?? Okay. Moving right along.
By this time I actually was hungry, surprisingly since I had eaten my weight in sugar and carbs earlier in the day at DL. The lights, the screams, and the sounds of Paradise Pier beckoned, so I decided to see what Paradise Pier had to offer to satisfy my appetite. Passed up Ariel’s Grotto and stood at the upper pier watching the launch of the cars of California Screamin. The lines were obnoxiously long. So I decided to pass it up and settled on eating fish and chips instead watching the coaster do it’s loop around Mickey’s head. Very cute.
By this time the sun had set and the park was taking on the glow from all of the lights at Paradise Pier. With the boardwalk type games and the seaside carnival rides, the whole scene reminded me of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. But not as seedy. It’s very beautifly to see the lights of the Sun Wheel lit up in the dark..It’s a peculiar feeling walking a park by one’s self immersed in all the sounds and actions going on around you. You take your time soaking everything in and just watching those around you. You feel a part of the action, but also a bit removed.
Decided it was time to move back to Sunshine Plaze to find a spot to watch the Electric Light Parade. Passed the “San Francisco” area of Golden State and the wetness that is Grizzly River Run. Well, they certainly incorporated geysers in that ride. Kept passing by other guests soaked to the bone.
Finally found a spot near the entrance to view the parade so I could make a dash for DL as soon as the parade was over. I had never seen this parade and I have to say it’s very cute and that music is very mesmerizing. I happen to be a sucker for bright shiny lights so you know I loved this parade.
As the last float approached, I made my quick exit out the gates through the courtyard to DL. The crowds appeared to be thinning out. I wanted to ride HM again and as I made my way through Adventureland to New Orleans Square, I found where the crowds were. They were all gathered to watch Fantasmic. The line at HM wasn’t too bad. Ten minute wait.
I quickly exited HM and made a mad dash for Fantasyland. I was hoping the crowds would be thinner since everyone was watching Fantasmic and I’d be able to ride some of the attractions I couldn’t earlier. Jumped in the first line I saw thinking I was in line for Pinnochio. Kept wondering why they mentioned a poisoned apple. Poisined apple? There’s no poisoned apple in Pinnochio. Hy ho I was in the wrong line. I was in line for Snow White. Drat. Finally I was able to ride Pinocchio and waited twenty minutes for Alice in Wonderland. Decided not to take my chances with the teacups. Me no likey so much the teacups. Took a tour of Storybook Land and found it a charming and bewitching ride. Especially at night with the miniatures lit up.
It was now a quarter to midnight, people were exiting the park, and I decided to ride the Disneyland Railroad to Main Street. Exited the train and walked up Main Street trying to soak up as much magic as I could before heading home. Grabbed one last Mickey rice crispie and walked up Main Street. I wanted to walk around the park checking everything out. The park is beautiful at night. Sat in front of the castle eating my rice crispie watching the twinkling lights in the trees and listening to the live band play the last song for the evening.
Walked through the castle and ran into a CM. Asked her if they do the “goodnight kiss” on the castle like they do at WDW. She smiled and said they didn’t. Shrugged my shoulders and walked away heading towards the gates past the happy families sitting on the sidewalks of Main Street eating ice cream and last minute goodies before the trip home. It was past midnight now. Time for sleep. Time to rest up before the long drive home to San Francisco. Time to dream of all the fun I had that day in the Magic Kingdom.
