Candlelight & Cannonballs! (MANY MARDI GRAS MASK PICS!) Dec. 2012- Start Pg.235/#3524

[tksbaskets]

I enjoyed your day of fun too! Thanks for sharing. Still smiling over the turn signal comment!

9 days!!

[Sherry E]

You know, it just dawned on me that I completed 4 different trip reports between June 9th and November 30th of this year! That is a record for me!

And what's notable is that 3 out of the 4 trips on which I reported were "fluke" trips - trips that I would not normally be taking in a given year. Only the 12/2011 trip and subsequent TR would have been considered 'usual' (although it was a disaster).

In order, the TR's I did between 6/9/12 and 11/30/12 were:

1)The photo report for the Cars Land/Buena Vista Street preview in June (which can be found in this thread);

2)The photo report for my Catalina Island birthday day trip in July (which is in a separate thread - see the blue link in my signature below);

3)The "Aunt Betty..." full-fledged holiday extravaganza TR (from the December 2011 trip), complete with Christmas songs, humor, sadness, and illness (it's in this thread); and

4)The November 12, 2012 holiday day trip photo report that I just finished yesterday!


I've never done 4 TR's in a 5-6 month span of time before, so it is new territory for me! It's a lot of work! I'm not sure how Bret manages to do these TR's every other month!

With any luck, I should have the 5th and final 2012 TR (for my upcoming DLR holiday trip in 8 days) at least started before the end of this year, though I'm not sure if it will be finished before 2012 ends. It will depend on how many photos I take, and IF it is a trip that warrants an actual story or if I can get away with just doing another photo report! Also, we'll see what happens when I get back (if I am sick; how exhausted I am; if I'm busy; if my computer is working properly or not working properly, etc.).

Originally Posted by funatdisney

Beautiful pics, Sherry. No.... really stunning pics and narrative.

I know I have been MIA. Life's been busy.

Happy you are going in about a week! Should be awesome!

As for me, going with the Hubby tomorrow for 2 days. I got lucky and was able book a one bedroom at the Villas just last month. When I saw the availability on the DVC member website, I just couldn't pass it up. I plan on taking some pics, but I really don't have much time to do so. Plus there is the Candlelight Processional that will make it hard to get through (I am not going)

Hey there, Liza!

Welcome back to the DIS! Being MIA is okay now and again because - let's face it - if we don't stay off of the DIS for a while, it tends to be very time-consuming and addictive. It's good to get back to 'real life' every so often and then come back to the board for special occasions or whatever.

Thank you so much for the kind words on the photo report. I really appreciate it.

Speaking of pictures, I have discovered that I average in the 700-photo range on single day trips. I don't plan it that way, but looking at my photos from this past 11/12/12 trip, from my Catalina trip in July and from the Cars Land preview trip in June, the photo tally at the end of each one of those days was somewhere between 720 - 770 photos! How odd is that?

And then, when I think back to December 2010, I had approximately 2-1/2 full days to myself...and I came home with over 1600 photos (some of them were garbage, though). That would mean that I probably took about 700 photos on one of those days, 700 photos on the other day...and 200+ photos during the remainder of the trip! Who knew that "700" was my magic photo number?

(Last December's trip doesn't count because it was a fiasco!)

The Candlelight Processional tonight and tomorrow night is the invitation-only event. Now this is the way it has been set up for the last few years, and the non-invited folks still managed to crowd around Town Square and Main Street to watch. The CP in years past has notoriously attracted huge crowds into the parks. But that could be because it only covered 2 nights.

What will be interesting to hear about is whether or not the crowds at DLR today and tomorrow are lighter than they would normally be on the CP days - simply because there will be 18 more nights of the CP and the crowds could descend on those nights instead of this weekend.

Anyway, have fun! You surely lucked out with that DVC room on such short notice.

Originally Posted by mysteriouspnai

I enjoyed your Veteran's day trip report Thank you so much for sharing! DBF and I went for Veteran's day weekend, and it just so happens we'll be there on Dec 9 as well xD. I feel like there's been several trips where we both go at the same time! I like reliving my trips through your trip reports. Can't wait to see your PTR for this upcoming trip!

Welcome, mysteriouspnai, and thank you for joining in to say hello!

I am so used to seeing you on the main section of the forum (and not in the TR section as much) that I had to do a double take to be sure the post was from you!

I'm glad you enjoyed the report. Thank you. You are absolutely correct. There have been at least a few occasions when we've been to DLR at the same time, or within a day of each other. I know for certain that Halloween Time 2011 was one of those instances. I think that you were there on the first day of the Halloween season or right after it (which, in 2011, was 9/16, as I recall), and also at the MHP on the night I went in 2011, if I'm not mistaken!

I remember you posted in the Christmas thread about being at DLR on 11/9 (when you got your photo taken in front of Flo's, when the holiday lights were working properly!). Were you still there on 11/12 too?

When you head to DLR on 12/9, are you staying for a couple of days, or are you just doing a one-day trip?

I find - and tell me whether or not you agree - that even though I love that DLR begins its holiday season in early/mid-November and I wanted to be there on the official opening day of the season this year in particular, it feels much more Christmasy and holiday-esque to me in December. This is why - if given a choice, or if I could only go on one day for the holidays - I would always choose DLR in December over any other day in the season. I like that everything is in full swing in December - the 3 hotels are decorated (which they are not in early/mid-November); Downtown Disney is playing holiday music; now the Candlelight Processional is taking place, etc. It's more of a full, complete holiday experience when December hits.

Same thing with Halloween Time - while I love going in September to be there on the first day of the season if I can make it there, nothing compares to October for a full Halloween-ish feel!

Originally Posted by tksbaskets

I enjoyed your day of fun too! Thanks for sharing. Still smiling over the turn signal comment!

9 days!!

Thank you kindly, TK!

Yep - now it's 8 days. I wish I could say that the week leading up to 12/9 was going to be problem-free and stress-free, but it never works that way. I can never start a trip without some major aspect needing to be worked out right up until the day before I go. It's going to be a matter of ironing out certain things (like transportation) until the last minute.

It is true - we don't come with built-in brake lights or turn signals. And in a busy place like DLR or WDW, we will all inevitably be inconvenienced or we will accidentally inconvenience someone else by bumping into them, or stopping, or getting in the way or whatever. It happens. We've all dealt with this. In many cases it cannot be avoided, though we try to be courteous and polite.

I truly had no clue that anyone was so close behind me as I walked along in DTD that it would ruin their entire night if I stopped. But this girl shot me such a look as she walked away! It seemed to be an overreaction to something that was probably largely her fault, because she was probably not paying attention to where she was walking when I stopped, and didn't look up until the last second!

[rentayenta]

One week!!!

Okay so I'm an hour early.

[mysteriouspnai]

Originally Posted by Sherry E

Welcome, mysteriouspnai, and thank you for joining in to say hello!

I am so used to seeing you on the main section of the forum (and not in the TR section as much) that I had to do a double take to be sure the post was from you!

I'm glad you enjoyed the report. Thank you. You are absolutely correct. There have been at least a few occasions when we've been to DLR at the same time, or within a day of each other. I know for certain that Halloween Time 2011 was one of those instances. I think that you were there on the first day of the Halloween season or right after it (which, in 2011, was 9/16, as I recall), and also at the MHP on the night I went in 2011, if I'm not mistaken!

I remember you posted in the Christmas thread about being at DLR on 11/9 (when you got your photo taken in front of Flo's, when the holiday lights were working properly!). Were you still there on 11/12 too?

When you head to DLR on 12/9, are you staying for a couple of days, or are you just doing a one-day trip?

I find - and tell me whether or not you agree - that even though I love that DLR begins its holiday season in early/mid-November and I wanted to be there on the official opening day of the season this year in particular, it feels much more Christmasy and holiday-esque to me in December. This is why - if given a choice, or if I could only go on one day for the holidays - I would always choose DLR in December over any other day in the season. I like that everything is in full swing in December - the 3 hotels are decorated (which they are not in early/mid-November); Downtown Disney is playing holiday music; now the Candlelight Processional is taking place, etc. It's more of a full, complete holiday experience when December hits.

Same thing with Halloween Time - while I love going in September to be there on the first day of the season if I can make it there, nothing compares to October for a full Halloween-ish feel!

I'm surprised that you remembered about MHP and first day of Halloween season! I'm very flattered

Unfortunately I was not there on 11/12; DBF had work the next day so we needed to drive home on the 10th. It was a very quick trip for us, but completely worth it nonetheless. We'll be there from 12/9-12/11, 12/12 if we get CP tickets for that day. It's a graduation present for me, as I walk on the 8th. I still have to finish my thesis, but the ceremonial stuff will be next week.

I completely agree with your statements about experience Christmas and Halloween in their proper months. It's great to be one of the first to experience the new season, but with Halloween taking over the start of school and Christmas taking over Thanksgiving.. sometimes it just doesn't feel right. However, the good thing about Halloween and Christmas being more than 2 months is that you have more time to experience the seasonal offerings. Since DBF and I experienced most of the holiday stuff (Buena Vista tree lighting, bell ringers, Jingle Jangle Jamboree, Carsland Christmas lightup with kinks haha), we're completely committed to getting up early for a candy cane, watching Disneyland's tree lighting, and staking out a spot for Candlelight Processional at 12 noon if we don't get tickets. We're just crazy xD.

Thank you for your wonderful welcome. I'm gonna have to take some time to read through your entire trip report thread this Christmas break! :D

[Carolwoodpr]

7 days now. Lucky you!

I am saddened your trip report is over. I so enjoy the pictures you post, and they make me smile, which is always important. Thanks so much for sharing your very busy day with us in this report.

For your next vacation in a week I hope that you take it easier on yourself since you will be there for a longer time. I hope you get to go to Goofy's Kitchen, ride Toy Story Mania, take lots of Photopass pictures. Things that you love to do. Oh and I know you get to sleep in a bed at your home away from home, so enjoy that too. I miss the Paradise Pier but love going more than once a year.

I am so excited for you to go on this next trip. I hope also that you get to enjoy the CP one night.

Thanks again Sherry for this wonderful trip report thread. I have enjoyed it immensely. I feel like you and I are great friends because you have at times poured your heart out here.

[Sherry E]

Originally Posted by rentayenta

One week!!!

Okay so I'm an hour early.

Thanks, Jenny!

Now it's 6 days! I will breathe a sigh of relief once again for deciding to switch my dates to just one week later. If I had gone to DLR this past Sunday, it would have been raining on and off all the way up through today, which would have totally messed up my photo-taking. At this point it doesn't appear that it's going to be raining during my dates. In fact, at one point Accuweather said it was going to be 81 degrees on my arrival date. Then the next time I checked it said 66 degrees on my arrival date! That's quite a difference, isn't it!

To be honest, I don't care if drops down to 30 or 40 degrees for the entire stay (it won't, but I wouldn't care). Just don't rain on me or force any crazy heat on me!

Originally Posted by mysteriouspnai

I'm surprised that you remembered about MHP and first day of Halloween season! I'm very flattered

Unfortunately I was not there on 11/12; DBF had work the next day so we needed to drive home on the 10th. It was a very quick trip for us, but completely worth it nonetheless. We'll be there from 12/9-12/11, 12/12 if we get CP tickets for that day. It's a graduation present for me, as I walk on the 8th. I still have to finish my thesis, but the ceremonial stuff will be next week.

I completely agree with your statements about experience Christmas and Halloween in their proper months. It's great to be one of the first to experience the new season, but with Halloween taking over the start of school and Christmas taking over Thanksgiving.. sometimes it just doesn't feel right. However, the good thing about Halloween and Christmas being more than 2 months is that you have more time to experience the seasonal offerings. Since DBF and I experienced most of the holiday stuff (Buena Vista tree lighting, bell ringers, Jingle Jangle Jamboree, Carsland Christmas lightup with kinks haha), we're completely committed to getting up early for a candy cane, watching Disneyland's tree lighting, and staking out a spot for Candlelight Processional at 12 noon if we don't get tickets. We're just crazy xD.

Thank you for your wonderful welcome. I'm gonna have to take some time to read through your entire trip report thread this Christmas break! :D

mysteriouspnai -

Congratulations on your graduation!

I hope you get selected for seats for the CP - that would be a nice 'icing on the cake' sort of thing for your graduation gift trip. Are you trying to get into the Lou Diamond Phillips CP on 12/11, or into the Dick Van Dyke CP on 12/12?

I'm positive that not everyone who won seats will show up - since the seats were free of charge, people won't really lose anything if they change their minds and don't go. It's not like they bought dinner packages.

I would also guess that a lot of folks probably asked for 5 guests (or whatever the maximum allowance was) for the CP, and only some of those guests will show. One way or another there will be some seats that open up for each show - I would be shocked if there weren't any sudden openings. Of course, the Dick Van Dyke CP on 12/12 will be massively crowded because of his Disney history, but the Lou Diamond Phillips nights don't appear to be as popular so it may be easier to get seats for LDP's CP's. In fact, when I checked the AP hotel calendar yesterday or the day before, there was still availability in standard rooms at the Paradise Pier Hotel for the entire week beginning 12/9! That tells me that fewer folks will be piling into Disneyland to see the CP as narrated by Lou. So, getting seats for Lou's CP may actually be feasible!

You know, I agree - I like that Disney does begin its Halloween and holiday seasons early (sometimes Halloween Time feels especially odd in September when it's occasionally 100 degrees outside!) because it allows more time to get in everything that you want to do. You know that if you can't get something done in September, just go back in October. If you can't get something done in November, you still have December!

I would much rather have the longer Halloween & holiday seasons at DLR than to have Disney suddenly cut them short. And I am one who loves any and all Christmas-y things, so I don't even mind that holiday merchandise hits the shelves in October! I am not one of those folks grumbling, "It's too early for Christmas stuff!" I welcome it as soon as November hits.

I guess that, for whatever reason, even though all the decorations are up in the 2 parks, the music is playing and the necessary elements are in place in early November, it just doesn't feel like it has quite 'clicked' into Christmas mode. I can't figure out if it's the weather that throws me off - because if it's too warm it doesn't feel holiday-ish to me - or something else. All I know is that, as much as I love that the holiday season begins in early November now, I always feel I have to be there in December for the 'real' experience!

Oh, by the way, of course I remember your MHP from last year - you created the thread with all of the fantastic tips for getting the most out of the party, and what to expect, etc.! It was a great thread with a lot of helpful information! And I remembered that you mentioned that you'd been in the parks either on the day I was there for Halloween Time or right after that. I have a pretty good memory to begin with, but I remember some folks more than others if they contribute valuable info!

If you take the time to read through this thread at some point (which will probably take forever), I can save you some time and suggest that you skip the 2008 TR's and even the 2009 reports (I have them listed on the first page, in the first post of this thread, in order). Those reports are not all that interesting, really. I think that starting with the December 2010 report and working your way forward would be more interesting - and you can find links to the December 2010 TR and everything beyond it in my signature below. I think that the ones from 2010 until now are the more noteworthy trip reports, and it will save a lot of time.

But I appreciate that you'd be willing to go back and read anything else at all!

Originally Posted by Carolwoodpr

7 days now. Lucky you!

I am saddened your trip report is over. I so enjoy the pictures you post, and they make me smile, which is always important. Thanks so much for sharing your very busy day with us in this report.

For your next vacation in a week I hope that you take it easier on yourself since you will be there for a longer time. I hope you get to go to Goofy's Kitchen, ride Toy Story Mania, take lots of Photopass pictures. Things that you love to do. Oh and I know you get to sleep in a bed at your home away from home, so enjoy that too. I miss the Paradise Pier but love going more than once a year.

I am so excited for you to go on this next trip. I hope also that you get to enjoy the CP one night.

Thanks again Sherry for this wonderful trip report thread. I have enjoyed it immensely. I feel like you and I are great friends because you have at times poured your heart out here.

Thank you!

[tksbaskets]

Counting down!

[Sherry E]

Originally Posted by tksbaskets

Counting down!

Yes, indeed, TK! Five days!

I am in the usual pre-trip chaos mode. There are a lot of little odds and ends to take care of over the next 4 days, from getting new ear plugs at the store (I have to sleep with ear plugs or I can't sleep at all), doing laundry, trying to make sure that I write a comprehensive list of things I need to pack/bring, making sure certain things are in my suitcase while other things are in my other bag, certain money-related things, printing my reservation info (if my printer will work), trying to find out once and for all if I need to get a shuttle or not get one, etc. There are a lot of things that need to be done - both in and out of the house.

Also, add to that the fact that some sort of (I think) mysterious plumbing issue has popped up and that will have to be dealt with. There is a slight bit of moisture (not a lot) coming up between the tiles of my entry way floor. I don't have time for this. This same thing happened a couple of years ago, and neither the apartment manager nor the plumber could figure out what the source of the problem was...but it seemingly had stopped on its own, which is uncommon for a plumbing issue! The plumber/manager thought that maybe the water had been related to another tenant's plumbing issues - and when their problem was fixed, the water dried up and stopped seeping through my floor.

Now, only a couple of years later, I don't think that the exact same tenant's plumbing issue would be happening again in the exact way, and yet there is a tiny bit of moisture once again coming through the tiles.

So now I am beginning to wonder if it somehow had something to do with the recent rain! We had quite a bit of rain off and on for a few days in the last week. Like, perhaps, maybe there is some sort of tiny fissure in the roof of the building somewhere, and the rain is coming through very slightly.

Whatever the case, I have no time or patience to deal with that right now!

I just want to snap my fingers and bypass all of the pre-trip stress that I hate, and already be at the PPH, nicely settled in and about to hit the parks for a photo-taking extravaganza!

You know I will come back with at least 1600 photos - probably more this time around if I can pound the pavement and quietly roam free by myself, with no particular places I have to be - and I want to get to it and not have to do all of this pesky pre-trip stuff or deal with unexpected crises.

[mvf-m11c]

I'm getting excited for you too Sherry since you are only a few days away till your trip. I would like to go in December to see the CP but I have other things to do and was glad that I was able to go in November.

[rentayenta]

Sherry, I'm so so excited for you. You're my Disneyland link for the holidays. No pressure.

[tksbaskets]

Originally Posted by rentayenta

Sherry, I'm so so excited for you. You're my Disneyland link for the holidays. No pressure.

I agree! You and Bret are mt DL connections this year. Hope your pesky plumbing issues are quickly resolved so you can enjoy your pre trip mania!

[Carolwoodpr]

I am so excited for you! Less than a week, how quickly the time came. And it is not raining in Anaheim right now, so may that trend continue while you are at Disneyland. We don't want the rain ruining another camera of yours.

And lets just hope and pray that this moisture in your tile is not indicative of a major plumbing issue in your apartment.

Finally, I would go ahead and make the shuttle appointment. It is a lot easier to cancel one than to make one last minute at times. Hopefully your friends won't flake out on you and you can save that shuttle money and ride with someone you know.

[Sherry E]

Originally Posted by mvf-m11c

I'm getting excited for you too Sherry since you are only a few days away till your trip. I would like to go in December to see the CP but I have other things to do and was glad that I was able to go in November.

Thanks, Bret!

Hopefully you can make a December trip in 2013!

Originally Posted by rentayenta

Sherry, I'm so so excited for you. You're my Disneyland link for the holidays. No pressure.

It's no pressure. I've got you covered with the hot-off-the-press December-at-Disneyland scoop!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by tksbaskets

I agree! You and Bret are mt DL connections this year. Hope your pesky plumbing issues are quickly resolved so you can enjoy your pre trip mania!

Thank you! You know I will deliver the goods and get in-depth into the DLR holiday-ness.

Bret's fireworks photos are spectacular!

You know, this seems to be the same plumbing issue that was happening a couple of years ago...which may not actually be a plumbing issue (technically) if my suspicion is right and it is rain-related. The plumber didn't know what it could have been in 2010. It may be something that involves someone other than a plumber to fix it. It's not an emergency - in fact, it was going on for a long time back in 2010 and before that (we assumed) and no one ever even realized it. We only realized that there had been some moisture after it had already stopped and dried up. It's not something that is flooding the floor, in other words. I am actually hoping it can wait until after I get back next week, so that I don't have workmen stomping through here and bugging me while I am trying to do things over the next few days - or while I am not here at all.

Originally Posted by Carolwoodpr

I am so excited for you! Less than a week, how quickly the time came. And it is not raining in Anaheim right now, so may that trend continue while you are at Disneyland. We don't want the rain ruining another camera of yours.

And lets just hope and pray that this moisture in your tile is not indicative of a major plumbing issue in your apartment.

Finally, I would go ahead and make the shuttle appointment. It is a lot easier to cancel one than to make one last minute at times. Hopefully your friends won't flake out on you and you can save that shuttle money and ride with someone you know.

It's not really an issue of flaking out - my friends are not set to pick me up on 12/9. They never were. We're just meeting up at some point on that day. I've been planning to take a shuttle the whole time. I was only going to skip the shuttle if something happened at the very last minute and someone could take me down to Anaheim...but I need to get there when I need to get there, so it's hard to find someone willing to wake up that early in the morning, so I have to arrange the shuttle.

I'm not going to make the shuttle appointment now. This shuttle company that I'm using is not like the other ones out there. I can call one or two days before and they will make room for me in the schedule. I don't have to pay anything up front. Plus, I really, really, really do not have the time or patience to make the call to book it, then make another call to cancel it if that scenario came up. I want to just make one call and be done with it. I've booked shuttles before - I know what I'm doing! This is what works for me.

[rentayenta]

I agree Sherry, Bret's firework photos are insanely amazing! I guess I'm leaning on both of you to scratch my Disneyland Christmas itch.

[mvf-m11c]

Originally Posted by Sherry E

Thanks, Bret!

Hopefully you can make a December trip in 2013!

It only depends if I am still continuing coaching basketball next season. We also don't know what will happen during the Holiday season next year with all the rumors of the possible party event at DL. I have enjoyed the CP at Epcot and one day would look forward to the CP at DL.

Hope the pluming issue will be done before your trip.