[gabes_mommy]

Originally Posted by mickeysgirlz

I have Disneyland envy!

I know!!! Me too Jen. Maybe someday we'll make it out to DLR from FL.

[mickeymotto]

My goodness! Its about time you made it back, I thought maybe you were challenging me for my title....

BTW, I love the Duckie photos

[Voldemort]

Originally Posted by mickeymotto

My goodness! Its about time you made it back, I thought maybe you were challenging me for my title....

BTW, I love the Duckie photos

Thank you! Believe it or not, those were actually three pairs of ducks, and not just same the same two ducks three different times. I kept trying to get more of them in a single shot, but apparently they were only willing to be photographed in pairs.

And your title is safe...hmmm, what's more edge-of-one's-seat than a cliffhanger? Preferably something that's REALLY annoying -- I'll be that.

CARRYING ON....

[Voldemort]

Day 2, Continued

The more I walked around, the more street bands I saw; I started thinking of it as being Band Day on the MMC. There were the guys in the English-style "button" suits, but I saw them as they were leaving so I didn't get a pic. Then there were three dudes a-drumming and they were incredible, but they were pre-parade entertainers and it was so crowded around them that I couldn't get close enough with the camera. Sigh.

I did, however, catch these folks in front of City Hall when I came in that day. The girl with the bari sax still cracks me up -- it's almost as big as she is.

[Voldemort]

Day 2, Continued

I love this shot. Where else but DL can you have a FAKE Alp, a FAKE space-thingy and REAL oranges, all nice and neighborly? I was sorry to see a few days after this was taken that the ripe oranges were just being left to rot on the tree. Why? I can't imagine that they would rather leave them there to shrivel up and be sad than have someone pick them.

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by Voldemort

Day 2, Continued

The more I walked around, the more street bands I saw; I started thinking of it as being Band Day on the MMC. There were the guys in the English-style "button" suits, but I saw them as they were leaving so I didn't get a pic. Then there were three dudes a-drumming and they were incredible, but they were pre-parade entertainers and it was so crowded around them that I couldn't get close enough with the camera. Sigh.

I did, however, catch these folks in front of City Hall when I came in that day. The girl with the bari sax still cracks me up -- it's almost as big as she is.

That's so awesome, I love all the Disneyland bands! I especially love the band that plays in front of the firehouse. They also sometimes ride down Main Street in the back of one of the smaller 'fire department' vehicles while playing music. It's awesome! I think I have video of that.

[Voldemort]

Day 2, Conclusion

It was coming into late afternoon at this point and I was ready for a break, so I caught the shuttle back to the hotel to relax for a couple of hours.

After a yummy roast beast sandwich and a cup of baked potato soup procured at Vons that morning, it was time to check out DCA.

The crowds earlier in the day at DL paled in comparison to the masses at DCA that night. Holy cow. FP lines that were longer -- LONGER, people! -- than the standby lines, which were averaging a minimum of 60 min. for the good stuff. How is that even possible?? I'm still amazed at the number of people I saw there that night. Things were quiet over by Muppets 3D and the Monsters Inc. ride, so I did those and then went to the Animation building.

I wish there'd been some way for me to properly capture what was the coolest thing of the night: the Toy Story Zoetrope, which is mighty cool indeed. I recommend it highly for anyone planning to be in the Anaheim parks.
Unlike early zoetropes, this one uses maquettes instead of images. Anyone curious about the optical illusion that creates the effect can check out the following: Zoetrope - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Voldemort]

Day 3, 10/19/08 -- also known as Panda Arrival Day

Sunday morning. Another clear, sunny day, which boded well for my DD's (Miranda, aka The Panda) scheduled flight into LAX that evening. I spoke with her and her dad by phone while waiting at the shuttle stop, going over last-minute details and touching base with them before they left for the airport in Nashville. Then I was off to DTD for my brunch ressie at Jazz Kitchen.

I saw this while waiting for the shuttle: (Semi-)Random Photo #5. Way to represent, Alberta.

[Voldemort]

Day 3, Continued

This was also the morning when I discovered one thing that I genuinely DIDN'T like about the CCI: the shutters on the windows. Friday night they didn't matter much, because I was still dealing with a little jet lag and would have slept anyway, but on my second night they became problematic. Granted, they're attractive, and they work well enough for most people I'm sure, but I'm very light-sensitive and would sleep in a cave if I could. (I know, I know. How apt. Living in a world full of Daywalkers can be a real drag.)

Anywho. Behold the evil shutters.

[Voldemort]

Day 3, Continued

There was something different that morning as we pulled into the shuttle area -- lots of people were already LEAVING the parks. People wearing wristbands and matching t-shirts. Ooodles, poodles and whole boocoodles of people. It was the morning of the 18th Annual CHOC Walk, and these good folks (including bunches of VoluntEars) had all turned up much earlier than I did to support Children's Hospital of Orange County. I've no idea how many came to walk that day, but from what I saw it looked like there had been a fine turnout indeed.

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by Voldemort

I wish there'd been some way for me to properly capture what was the coolest thing of the night: the Toy Story Zoetrope, which is mighty cool indeed. I recommend it highly for anyone planning to be in the Anaheim parks.
Unlike early zoetropes, this one uses maquettes instead of images. Anyone curious about the optical illusion that creates the effect can check out the following: Zoetrope - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

OooO, I could stare at that display all day long! Daniel and I must have pressed the button about 5 times & were mesmorized. AMAZING!

[Peppertink]

Originally Posted by Voldemort

Tink for Fantasyland....

Um, don't you mean Tink for Peppertink???

[Peppertink]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

OooO, I could stare at that display all day long! Daniel and I must have pressed the button about 5 times & were mesmorized. AMAZING!

I know! I just love that thing! And so many people don't even realize it's there!

[smee57]

Originally Posted by Voldemort

Day 2, Conclusion

I wish there'd been some way for me to properly capture what was the coolest thing of the night: the Toy Story Zoetrope, which is mighty cool indeed. I recommend it highly for anyone planning to be in the Anaheim parks.
Unlike early zoetropes, this one uses maquettes instead of images. Anyone curious about the optical illusion that creates the effect can check out the following: Zoetrope - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My brain cells must be mush tonight 'cuz I'm not gettin' it. What does it do??

[Voldemort]

Originally Posted by smee57

My brain cells must be mush tonight 'cuz I'm not gettin' it. What does it do??

The maquettes are on a turntable that spins quickly at a fixed speed. I don't remember just HOW fast it is, but it's fast -- everything is a blur when it gets going. Then, a series of lights placed around the chamber strobes at (IIRC) eighteen times per second, which tricks your brain into thinking that it's seeing motion. The overall effect was just stunning. I watched it so many times I lost count; each time I made a point of looking at a specific activity, because there's just so much going on and the details are worth the attention. It's brilliant.

And yes, it SHOULD be Tink for Peppertink, but those sticks-in-the-mud in Anaheim had a plaque saying she was for FL. Perhaps you could have an attorney draft you a strongly-worded letter to address this egregious error.