Originally Posted By Dabob2 Day 4, Wednesday December 7. Short day, as we had to leave to get to LA for my work, and wanted to get on the freeways before the afternoon rush. Started off with Peter Pan again. Just such a lovely experience with the one you love. Hadn’t done SLCB yet, and given Jerry’s love for miniatures (and mine too) it’s a must. For the first time in my life, we got an older gentleman as our guide. Apparently, that was Walt’s original intent - to have a grandfatherly figure be the guides. But soon into its life (certainly by the first time I rode in the 60’s) they’d gone to all female guides. That changed more recently (90’s??) but I’d still gotten mostly women, or the occasional younger guy. This was the first older gentleman I’d ever gotten. And because I knew about the original intent, it was kind of cool. Also, no Duckzilla on this trip around! So everything looked just as it should. I love that moment when you see Pinocchio’s village and its alps, with the big Matterhorn looming behind. Alice was next, and being in the daylight this time, I really noticed the changes to the outdoor portion. The railings actually didn’t bother me that much - but the platform they put under the “leaves” really did. It’s almost not recognizable as “leaves” any more from the vantage point of the rider. Just boring green rectangles is essentially what you see. Booooo! It would be the “E-ticket tour” from here on out. Jerry grabbed a smoke while I took one last trip (right side) on the 1978-2012 bobsleds. We hardly knew ye. We hadn’t done Pirates yet, for no particular reason, so that was next. As I said on another thread, I don’t mind the Depp figures at all (in fact, they’re pretty dang impressive), but I could do with fewer references to “Captain Jack Sparrow!” on the soundtrack. It’s PirateS of the Caribbean, not Pirate of the Caribbean. Still, an (the?) all-time masterpiece of theme park environmental design. Haunted Mansion was next, and we got stopped in my favorite spot, in front of the ballroom. Lots of time to check out the overlay changes, and see the duelists doomed to repeat the same duel for eternity. That room (especially without the overlay) somehow manages to be sad, romantic, creepy, and funny, all at the same time. Splash was next - back of the log this time, and much dryer! One more trip on Big Thunder. I like it better at night, but there ARE a few things you see better during the day (rattlesnakes, for instance). And I got the back of the train. Woo hoo! And for the last ride of all: the new Star Tours of course. This time got the Storm Trooper, pod race (again! Probably my least favorite of the three initial destinations, and I got it the most - but don’t get me wrong, I still like it - I just wanted Hoth again. Oh well. Next time.), Akbar, and... my favorite of the second destinations, the underwater one, with the cool skipping effect. So that was a suitable way to end the trip. Then it was back to the most dangerous part of our journey - the Southern California freeways. All in all, a fine trip, though I sure wish Jerry had felt better, especially the first couple of days. But that’s the great thing about DL - there’s always next time. I’m very excited to see BVS and Carsland, so hopefully it won’t be as big a gap between visits! Thanks for slogging through all of this.
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 One of the best trip reports I've ever read! Sounds like overall it was a pretty good trip and hopefully next trip you both will be healthy and can do it all together! I especially enjoyed the Napa Rose detail. I've heard of this, but have never done it. I shall put it on my DL bucket list.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Thank god you made it on Pirates! I was starting to get nervous!
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin This was an incredible trip report, with lots of my favorites. Thank you.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Thank you for taking the time to share your vacation with us I LOVED all the details!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I love that moment when you see Pinocchio’s village and its alps, with the big Matterhorn looming behind.<< My favorite view in the whole park! >>Also, no Duckzilla on this trip around! So everything looked just as it should.<< Yes!!! I've said it before, but the only thing that could improve on the simple magic of Storybook Land Canal Boats is if they served you a cup of milk and warm chocolate chip cookies.
