![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
- Tue, 20:06: Disney again! It's the late summer pin event trip. I drove down today, K flies in tomorrow
- Tue, 20:10: Staying at the Hilton Disney Springs tonight on points (plus resort fee and parking), nice view fr 9th floor https://t.co/WjdfhndCMJ
- Tue, 20:14: Used new pedestrian bridges to walk to Disney Springs, arrive at familiar Marketplace. Quickly get turned around in new Town Center.
- Tue, 20:17: Decided on Art Smiths Homecoming for dinner, lots of seats at the bar. Fried chicken, collard, doughnuts.
- Tue, 20:18: Oh, Pinot Grigio with that chicken. https://t.co/JdjDYU4Yqs
- Wed, 11:44: Had a leisurely morning at the Disney Springs Hilton, grabbed a scone from their market for breakfast in my room.
- Wed, 11:45: Off to airport to pick up Krissi. Long wait in cell phone lot as lightning delayed the baggage handlers.
- Fri, 12:14: Made one last trip to Pin Traders, found they had 4 returned Ariel Diamond D pins. We took care of that! https://t.co/hsq7P5qdVE
- Fri, 12:17: Overnight, Disney painted giant footprints leading to theater promoting the BFG movie. https://t.co/AFqD8Tww51
- Fri, 12:27: Meant to show the "kiss goodnight" headboard in our DL Hotel room--plays a little music and lights up https://t.co/t6Tk632dTo
- Fri, 13:53: Checked the weights of our suitcases at the bell station, all safely under the max for checked bags. Called Uber, easy trip to SNA
- Fri, 14:05: Krissi's carry on with most of her pins weighs 44 lbs--she'll get a workout hefting that into an overhead bin!
- Fri, 14:09: K got full security check at X-ray too--she says he even looked through her work papers. Mine with 2 small pin binders went right through.
- Thu, 12:13: We have 9:30 reservations at Storytellers Cafe for the character breakfast and decided to go early.
- Thu, 12:34: Oh look, Pin Traders is open early because it's Thursday, pin release day. Bought the new Stitch Fourth of July pin and...more stuff
- Thu, 12:36: Had time to take pin purchases back to hotel, then on to Storytellers. Nice buffet with omelet station, eggs Benedict, caramel French toast
- Thu, 12:43: Characters at Storytellers are Chip & Dale, Meeko from Pocohontas, Brother Bear. https://t.co/Fpyl6mjSHC
- Thu, 12:44: Bother Bear is celebrating Krissi's birthday https://t.co/1RnOF4HAMV
- Thu, 13:18: (Make that *Brother* Bear, Koda, in that last tweet...)
- Thu, 13:18: Meeko, too. https://t.co/pDZHuBPwzX
- Thu, 13:19: Well stuffed and caffeinated, we're off to DCA to ride Soarin Around the World again.
- Thu, 14:27: Asked for and got Hangar B (middle), top row for the distortion- and feet-free view.
- Thu, 14:30: Wandering to Hollywoodland, K is doing pressed coins for Shannon who sent her a list.
- Wed, 15:14: Did Toy Story, K didn't quite crack 200 k this time. I didn't crack 150k. :)
- Wed, 15:15: Collected Frozen the musical FastPasses and headed to DVC deck in GC for our tour/sales pitch
- Wed, 15:19: DVC is fairly low pressure sales, though not "pressure free" as they will tell you. Didn't buy a contract today though. :)
- Wed, 15:23: DVC sales office is at DL hotel, so we walked by our room and dropped off the literature, caught monorail to DL
- Wed, 15:25: Bought pins at Little Green Men store, which has a few series 3 left of a 4-part mosaic--series 4 is easy to find.
- Wed, 15:28: Park hopped across the plaza to DCA, to Carthay Circle lounge. I thought you could order from the restaurant menu in lounge, but no.
- Wed, 15:52: Got a salad with smoked turkey, cherry tomatoes, corn, artichokes. Very good. https://t.co/6kiW8wzkUj
- Wed, 15:53: Off to the Frozen musical, hope to time it to minimize standing as we wait to go in.
- Wed, 16:31: Frozen the musical form the top of the house. The water effect on the stage looks good from here. Suspect we'll miss a bit of staging though
- Wed, 16:31: Water projection on stage. https://t.co/3wKDElnBFh
- Tue, 12:06: Rode Autopia in cars 3 and 4 for the day-- only running one track, we were behind the first group of folks. Better steering than last time!
- Tue, 12:06: Pulled Hyperspace Mtn FO, off to small world.
- Tue, 12:20: Walk on to small world. Both of us trying to spot and photograph all 16 animals on the gorgeous set of small world mystery pin set.
- Tue, 13:11: Riding small world again swapping sides of boatload try for more animals. Difficult photography.
- Tue, 13:17: Wandered to Frontierland to look at pins, then to Main St to find the Dapper Dans. Temperature is headed up!
- Tue, 13:47: Got iced drinks at Starbucks, K traded 2 pins with a guy with pins from Tokyo Disneyland as we waited for our drinks.
- Tue, 13:48: No sign of Dapper Dans 15 min past scheduled time. Found 2 chairs on the little porch on Main St where we can wait to see if they appear.
- Tue, 14:49: Concluded Dapper Dans are not performing today. Off to see if we can get a walk up at Cafe Orleans.
- Tue, 14:51: Cafe Orleans not quite open when we get there at 11, CM says they will take some walk ups at opening, 11:30. Went off to kill some time.
- Tue, 14:52: Headed to Pooh ride but stopped to pin trade with DVC sales person and had a nice chat, agreed to take the tour--will be good midday break.
- Mon, 12:07: S left for airport before 6. K and I went back to sleep for an hour, leisurely got up, got birthday button from Concierge (+ K's for Thurs)
- Mon, 13:08: Coffee from the little hotel shop, walked thru Downtown to main gates. Monorail station would have been better due to lines.
- Mon, 13:09: Off to Carnation Cafe for breakfast reservation, w detour to play Disney trivia with a pin-trading CM on Main St.
- Mon, 13:10: Eggs Benedict for breakfast, and a complimentary birthday cupcake to top it off. https://t.co/dRdDiB6S3M
- Mon, 13:11: Now to wander--been going hard the past few days so I don't have any must-do attractions for the actual celebration day, just enjoy Disney
- Mon, 13:24: Lines in the ladies' restroom are common, but not usually to wash your hands...
- Mon, 13:39: Main St transportation. Riding to the castle in the streetcar pulled by Reggie. https://t.co/vaDUpWjix8
- Mon, 16:43: Found a PhotoPass photographer at the hub who took photos showing how DL is decked out for my birthday. :)
- Mon, 16:48: To Tomorrowland gift shop for K to speak to a Cast Member she'd met at company store Thurs, then to different store for pin purchases
- Mon, 16:52: To Frontierland just wandering and pin trading. Met very nice couple also pin trading, got 2 Darkwing duck pins from him, we both wanted one
- Sun, 17:40: Frozen musical is good, dragged a bit or else my lack of sleep affected me. Technical glitch @ sled chase scene, paused 3-4 min then resumed
- Sun, 17:43: Got corn dogs at Corn Dog Castle, checked out area where pin traders congregate on weekends, spoke to S's contact.
- Sun, 17:44: Back to hotel for afternoon break, S has to pack, maybe naps will ensue.
- Sun, 20:36: Headed to GC for the afternoon pin trading at 4:15. Got nothing rom CMs but lots trading w other guests for Hidden Mickey pins.
- Sun, 21:08: In line for Storybookland Canal Boats. Line looks long, app says 20 min.
- Sun, 22:01: Crossed the park to Adventureland to Indiana Jones ride for S to meet a trader, also pulled FastPasses which are later than I'll last.
- Sun, 22:01: Plan is to then go to Cafe Orleans for some dinner.
- Sun, 22:56: Couldn't get a table at Cafe Orleans, got counter service fried chicken at The Plaza instead.
- Mon, 00:29: Back to Indiana Jones to try single rider, but they are too busy with FP returns and not offering that.
- Mon, 00:29: Tried Haunted Mansion, line too long for us. S hunted out a pressed-penny machine for HM
- Sat, 15:23: Fliks Flyers https://t.co/dL4TlEwBJf
- Sat, 15:23: Getting something to eat and/or drink at Pacific Wharf food area.
- Sat, 15:37: I got a kids chicken and brown rice meal, turned down squeeze tube of applesauce, the banana, and box of milk, added iced tea.
- Sat, 16:19: Pulled FastPasses for Soarin, off to California Screaming. I took a pass on the coaster, rode King Tritons Carousel.
- Sat, 16:31: Otters make nice carousel figures. https://t.co/74xvj5Dist
- Sat, 16:53: Working around the pier, doing the Fun Wheel, K and her nephews at least in a swinging car. I've got another shady bench to people-watch
- Sat, 17:07: View of Grizzly Peak from Paradise Pier. https://t.co/vQEWv0M1dW
- Sat, 18:45: Split off to take a break and change shoes at hotel. Now headed back to park for our Soarin fast passes
- Sat, 18:56: Kris, Eric, & co coming from Toy Story Midway Mania. S was back at hotel catching up on sleep from short night.
- Sat, 18:59: Meanwhile back on the East Coast, *my* sister in law just arrived at Epcot for an evening party associated w the ALA convention in Orlando
- Fri, 12:08: Headed back to Pier area with last of my coffee. K and S working their way around pier doing things I probably won't--Ferris wheel, swings
- Fri, 12:08: Did Little Mermaid ride, walk on.
- Fri, 12:37: Met up with K and S who skipped the Fun Wheel but did do the swings. And shopped. :)
- Fri, 12:42: We all rode Little Mermaid twice, back to back (that is, stayed on the ride) as there was no line and it's a favorite of S.
- Fri, 12:56: Back to Flo's for K and S to eat. I'm still caffeinating.
- Fri, 13:35: Going to try the line for the new-to-me Luigi's Rollicking Roadsters. Then will jump to Disneyland and try to catch the Tangled mini-show
- Fri, 14:04: Roadsters were cute, but probably not a high priority to repeat. First trackless ride system I've been on.
- Fri, 14:05: Hitting the shops at the front before park hopping.
- Fri, 14:38: Back into Disneyland. https://t.co/Mi7qd614Hj
- Fri, 14:49: In line for Haunted Mansion, says its 10 min wait.
- Thu, 14:20: Off to Disneyland! Got in the Disney mood watching Good Dinosaur and Zootopia on cross-country flight.
- Thu, 17:15: Flight was a bit early, collected luggage and Ubered to Disneyland Hotel. Krissi & Shannon landed earlier, went to Cast Store.
- Thu, 17:29: Somewhat complicated checkin w 2 reservations, K and I will use different room key cards the last night but will stay in the same room.
- Thu, 17:41: I finished checkin and was changing into shorts as K and S got to hotel. Dumped luggage at bell station, room not ready yet.
- Thu, 17:44: Off to Downtown Disney, S arranged to meet some pin traders at Starbucks. First though was major shopping at Pin Traders for all of us.
- Thu, 17:48: Got to Starbucks ahead of the locals, S asked me to go into DL to Little Green Men after a Limited Edition pin sold out everywhere else
- Thu, 17:50: Everyone goes through metal detector now, must quit filling pockets with loose pins
- Thu, 18:00: Got pins for S and walked back to Starbucks, K had an iced tea/lemonade for me. Pin trading commenced, mostly S with pins brought by request
- Thu, 19:23: Back to hotel with pin bags and purchases, room still not ready so to Tangaroa Terrace counter service for lunch/dinner.
- Thu, 19:25: Got text that room is now ready, finished eating and will go claim our suitcases, dump in room, the head to park.
- Sat, 12:05: Bussed to POFQ right after fireworks getting on the first bus easily, and with seats! Then it was pin sorting and catching up w accounting
- Sat, 12:12: Another early morning, off to MK for Be Our Guest breakfast. Caught bus @ 6:58. Will meet S to catch the "morning show" then into the park.
- Sat, 12:21: Floral Mickey is purple and yellow this trip.
- Sat, 12:26: Shudder....we are here as the steam train tour is getting started. Wondering if the start time shifted when the engineers quit running it.
- Sat, 12:55: Skipped the morning show as Scoop isn't here today and won't be in it. Got to walk up Main St pre rope drop w only a handful of folks around
- Sat, 12:58: Waiting for Be Our Guest to open at 8, studying the menu cards as we wait https://t.co/eEKlZKicaI
- Sat, 13:16: One can customize BOG items beyond what the ordering system, like swapping poached for fried egg. Once you know to ask. :)
- Sat, 14:12: Done w breakfast (Croque Madame w poached egg, open face), off to Mine Train.
- Sat, 14:22: Next up, Peter Pan, S's usual position.
- Sat, 14:52: Rode Haunted Mansion with FP, now headed to Frontierland.
- Thu, 13:09: Concierge said the first bus to Disney Springs would be 7:15. Actually appears to be 8:15. Still waiting at the bus stop...
- Thu, 13:11: Glad I fortified myself with a breakfast biscuit and a good level of coffee before heading to the bus. K has her iced coffee.
- Thu, 13:33: Made it to Disney Springs and the line to by the Pixar pin released today. Line is short. https://t.co/kypNu39ssq
- Thu, 15:21: Pixar pins procured. Others I asked about have not arrived yet.
- Thu, 17:34: Headed to MK hopefully to see Scoop.
- Thu, 17:34: First trip over one of the new pedestrian bridges, Shannon picking us up at SunTrust parking lot. https://t.co/f1g2nNbcIM
- Thu, 17:36: Couldn't park at Contemporary so on to Poly. Did a pin sweep there, monorail to MK.
- Thu, 18:02: I lost at security roulette and had to walk through scanners after my bags were searched.
- Thu, 18:10: Found Scoop and the Mayor hanging out at The Plaza check in desk, chatted a while. Showed off our morning purchases https://t.co/8MogbTkUEw
- Thu, 18:35: Another check of Trading Post pins after S introduced us to cheeseburger spring rolls at the Adventureland cart. Then monorail to Contemp
- Wed, 14:36: Just missed a bus, long wait for the next. Throughout the gate at MK a little after 9--not exactly rope drop but not too bad.
- Wed, 14:40: Headed to Starbucks pin trading as we went. Sandwiches and caffeine in hand, found a table on Center St. to sit and enjoy, watch Main St.
- Wed, 15:33: Rode Haunted Mansion with FP+, very quick thru queue. Over to Fantasyland to look for Shannon to say hi.
- Wed, 15:39: Don't see Shannon at Peter Pan or small world, will ride small world as the wait is short.
- Wed, 16:07: Emerged humming "it's a small world", walked across to Peter Pan and spoke to Shannon. Will wait for her shift to end, try Skippers Canteen
- Wed, 16:50: Bought a few pins at Trading Post, now doing Country Bear Jamboree. Never going to be a favorite, but worth seeing once in a while.
- Wed, 16:51: Deeper in Frontierland--missed FP window for Big Thunder, instead will wander and pin trade.
- Wed, 17:12: Around to Pirates gift shop, nice chat w CM Figment fan who gave us this button. https://t.co/T4wltgTX74
- Wed, 17:13: Jungle Cruise skipper likes the Figment celebration button.
- Wed, 17:34: Very good skipper for Jungle Cruise, hampered by speaker system w very low volume. We were sitting right by him. :)
- Tue, 14:02: Off to Orlando for an off-season Walt Disney World visit. Airport traffic light, flight not full. That's a pleasant change.
- Tue, 21:30: Late getting started w tweets. Got rental car, drove to Port Orleans French Quarter after some navigational issues. :)
- Tue, 21:35: Got checked in by novice cast member, while we greeted Shannon, a cast member and fellow pin trader who will hang with us this week.
- Tue, 21:38: Room was ready, at far corner of this small resort, at the side that borders Riverside. Can get to either food court or store easily.
- Tue, 21:39: Grabbed lunch at Riverside then went back to room for a pin trading session.
- Tue, 21:41: Shannon drove us to Epcot, will check out pins and wander. K and I have FastPass+ for Illuminations, S will head home before that.
- Tue, 22:55: Browsed the shops in Future World then to Pin Central. Will come back later for major purchases.
- Tue, 23:56: Still with Shannon, we went through MouseGear, pin board was out. Traded with several cast members too. Then over to west Innoventions.
- Tue, 23:59: Got Coke around the world tastes at Club Cool, then to Pixar short films. They showed Get A Horse, La Luna, For the Birds, all in 3D.
- Wed, 00:02: Stopped in Figment shop, nothing new. Shannon left, Krissi and I got fish & chips, found spot to perch on wall behind the England pin cart.
- Wed, 16:32: K is off via Uber to Orange Co/John Wayne airport. Last minute I decided to try Disneyland Resort Express bus, which makes scheduled pickups
- Wed, 16:34: Have hauled my bags about a block to Howard Johnsons hotel for what's supposed to be an 8:45 bus to LAX. $30 vs $40-$52 w Uber.
- Wed, 16:52: Bus arrived at 8:48, now to other hotel pickups before heading to airport.
- Wed, 16:57: There's a small seating area in front of HoJo, bus pulls up to curb on W Manchester.
- Wed, 17:27: Bus goes to Disney hotels after HoJo, ending at DL Hotel where ticket agent takes fares. Now to airport.
- Wed, 17:29: Meanwhile kid who locked self into bus bathroom finally managed to turn knob and get out. Driver sympathetic, had no key or tools to help.
- Wed, 18:00: Looks like LAX arrival will be more like 10:30 not 10. I have a time buffer and TSA PreCheck, not worried.
- Wed, 18:20: Southwest terminal at 10:20, so about 10:30 for Delta should be right.
- Wed, 18:58: Suitcases dumped on Delta for usual fee$$, thru security painlessly, walked Terminal 5 construction zone. Limited restrooms & food options.
- Wed, 19:56: Minor mayhem in boarding area w construction walls restricting space. I'm Delta's zone 2, translation "bottom of the barrel".
- Tue, 16:34: Last morning. We're at McDs for breakfast again before heading to DCA for something close to rope drop.
- Tue, 18:45: Wandering through DCA looking at pin boards and getting some PhotoPass pictures by Disney photographers.
- Tue, 18:47: Counter-clockwise around Paradise Pier, thru Pacific Wharf to Carsland. Got a roving PP photog who led us to 4 spots for pictures.
- Tue, 18:49: Now if I can get my AP linked to my DL pictures I'll be good. My pass is on the WDW system...OTOH K's pass got her in today, on Day 5.
- Tue, 19:04: While in the picture mode, will use the special Disney Visa meet and greet. Can't tell what characters it is in advance...
- Tue, 20:16: Picture was with Minnie Mouse-- just missed Stitch.
- Tue, 20:21: Left DCA via Grand Californian, watched gingerbread house construction. Fire in fireplace flickers. https://t.co/XzLu9M3Nsk
- Tue, 20:25: Downtown Disney browsing pin boards, shopping. Lunch at Earl of Sandwich--kids grilled cheese & cup of tomato soup https://t.co/r9QUo2jHyC
- Tue, 21:09: Paused after eating to call PhotoPass support. She was able to see my pictures, link for me to connect them not visible on mobile web site.
- Tue, 21:39: Autopia has a 5 minute wait--gonna drive a miniature car around the 'scenic' track.
- Mon, 16:56: McDonalds breakfast, much less of a crowd scene than Friday. In the entry line around 8:50 for 9 am DL open.
- Mon, 16:57: Now to see if Disney IT solved the problems with Krissi's pass....
- Mon, 17:03: Problem not solved. K stuck waiting for Guest Relations to deal w problem...again. Hope fix isn't another day ticket w discounts screwed up
- Mon, 17:06: Some clouds this morning instead of the clear weekend, supposed to clear by noon-ish but keep highs down to 68.
- Mon, 17:18: In line for Peter Pan, 30 min posted wait, we hope for shorter. It doesn't get better as the line last night at 11:45pm showed.
- Mon, 17:50: Wait estimate optimistic, can observe Fantasyland details. Toy knight on was made into a completer pin. https://t.co/4yw7E4mGTL
- Mon, 17:51: Evil queen parts curtains of Snow White 2nd floor window and peers out. https://t.co/TpHYSAEZtL
- Mon, 19:41: Peter Pan wait ended up at 45 min. and then not all the extra effects were working. K took a pic of operators stand for CM Shannon at WDW.
- Mon, 19:43: Did single rider walk on at Matterhorn Bobsleds. That's going to be a one and done attraction--very uncomfortable vehicle, blah coaster.
- Mon, 19:45: Walked to Haunted Mansion for FP stopped to see our friend in Frontierland who found the pin for K.
- Wed, 23:42: #onceuponachapter tour to see @UrsulaV at Little Shop of Stories! http://t.co/vrkHqnktNa
