A Solo Trip: It's the Spirit of the Season at the Disneyland Resort! Dec. 1-7, 2017! *COMPLETE 1/26*

Merry Christmas Eve to everyone reading my trip report! I hope all of you have a great day with friends and/or family!

Stay tuned for a special update that will be posted tomorrow! :)
 
VIDEO - Disneyland Candlelight Processional Highlights!

Merry Christmas everyone! :-)

Today I am giving all of you the gift of experiencing all of the videos I took of the Candlelight Processional at Disneyland in one video! This is my highlights video of the Candlelight Processional that I filmed spanning all 4 performances. This is a great video to watch or just listen if you want to. I hope that you enjoy it!

Make sure you watch this video in HD.

Also, please forgive any shaking of the camera. I tried my best to stay still since all of these videos were filmed on my iPhone.

Now...Sit back, relax, and enjoy the 24 minute highlight video of the Candlelight Processional including all of my favorite songs, as well as, narration from Chris Hemsworth! This video does not include all of the songs performed during the Candlelight Processional.


I hope that you enjoyed the video.
 
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I want to thank everyone who has followed my trip report so far.

I just want to let all of you know that my updates have stopped until after the New Year. You might have seen that I announced my next trip report above, and that trip is currently happening. So, I am busy having fun celebrating the New Year at Walt Disney World. If you would like to follow along on that trip, I am currently doing live updates throughout the day.

I will resume this trip report in one week. Thank you for understanding.
 


THank you so much for putting together that video of the CP and posting it. I loved it - though is probably one of those things that is even 100x better in person

Really glad things worked out for you and you got to see it a few times

Going to check out your new TR now!

Happy New Year!
 
Love, love your CP video! :santa:
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)

THank you so much for putting together that video of the CP and posting it. I loved it - though is probably one of those things that is even 100x better in person

Really glad things worked out for you and you got to see it a few times

Going to check out your new TR now!

Happy New Year!
It really is better in person, but I have enjoyed playing my video over the Christmas season in the background. I really enjoy many of the orchestrations a lot more than the WDW version.

It was an amazing experience getting to see the CP 3 times on my trip + the processional.

Happy New Year to you as well! :)
 
Day 4: High and Fast Winds Hit Disneyland - Part 1!

Hello everyone! I am back with more updates from my Disneyland trip!

Welcome to day 4 of my solo vacation home to Southern California! This would end up being a sleep in day for me. I didn’t sleep in much, but enough to get a later start at the Disneyland Resort.

This would end up being a very interesting day. That is because fast winds really came into the Southern California area. This is the day when the big California fire started, and I really want to take this time to say that my thoughts are with everyone that was effected by those fires!

I would make my way to the bus stop, and I was on my way to Disneyland! The Embassy Suites offers bus/shuttle tickets to and from Disneyland for $6 a day per person.



My first park of the day would be Disney California Adventure.



I really liked some of the Christmas decorations the park had around the Pacific Wharf area.





I was making my way to Paradise Pier where I would use my first fastpass of the day for California Screamin!





Up next, I made my way to Grizzly Peak. This is my favorite area of Disney California Adventure. It is a really calming place to relax, and it makes you feel like you are not in a theme park anymore.







Did I want to get wet or did I want to stay dry? I decided that I would get wet by riding Grizzly River Run.





Beware of the geyser if you ever ride this ride!



I would then have a fastpass for Soarin Around the World. Part of me really wishes they kept the California film in Disney California Adventure. That would make sense right? Disney didn't do that though. They decided to put Soarin Around the World in both Disney California Adventure and EPCOT.







It was time for me to head over to the Hollywood area where I would end up going into the Animation building. This is where you can meet Anna & Elsa, enjoy the Animation Academy, Turtle Talk with Crush, and the Sorcerer’s Workshop. What I like about the main area of this building is they have a bunch of screens that shows different scenes of different Disney movies in the animation stage to the final stage of production. This is a very nice area to relax and take a break from the park.





I would make my way to the Sorcerer’s Workshop.



In the Sorcerer’s Workshop, they have Beast’s library. In the library, you can have Lumiere ask you several questions to figure out which Disney character is most like you. So, of course I needed to find out which character was most like me!







After answering the questions, Lumiere will read out loud what describes you the best.



So, what character am I most like?

Buzz Lightyear!!!



This is the first time I have ever gotten Buzz Lightyear. Normally it is either Woody or Simba for me.

It was then time to leave Disney California Adventure, and I would decide to take the Grand California Hotel exit.
 
Day 4: High and Fast Winds Hit Disneyland - Part 2!

I would make my way into the Grand California lobby where I would get to see the Christmas tree.



I found the gingerbread house in the lobby to be really nice.



The problem with going through the Grand California Hotel was I was on my way to Downtown Disney. Even though there was no line, I had to go through security again. It wasn’t necessarily a problem. If I would have exited through the normal Disney California Adventure exit, I would not have had to go through security again. It was still nice to see the Christmas decorations in the resort though.

I would make my way to eat lunch at Earl of Sandwich!



After eating lunch, it was time for me to head into Disneyland Park! I would board the monorail at the Downtown Disney station.



I was lucky that the people who were sitting in the front of the monorail on the way into the Downtown Disney Station decided to leave. So, I was able to jump in the front of the monorail on its return trip into Disneyland. The Disneyland Monorail will allow up to 4 people sit in the front of the monorail.



Splitsville construction as of the first week of December.



Front of Disneyland from the monorail.





The Matterhorn from the monorail.



A look at the Autopia below the monorail.



I spotted a train!



The first A Christmas Fantasy Parade from the monorail.



We would arrive in Tomorrowland.



After exiting the monorail, I made my way to Star Wars Launch Bay to get some pictures with some Star Wars characters.



Here is a picture of me with Boba Fett!



Here is a picture of me with Kylo Ren! He tried to turn me to the dark side, but he didn’t succeed. Would his grandfather turn me to the dark side?



Here is a picture of me with Darth Vader! Darth Vader came close, but I stayed strong. I would not switch to the dark side!



I had enough of the dark side, so I decided to meet Chewbacca!



After traveling to a galaxy far, far, away, it was time to use a fastpass and travel to another galaxy. This time to defeat Zerg in Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters!





I would then make my way past the Partner Statue!



My next ride was the Jungle Cruise! Disneyland decided to not change the Jungle Cruise to the Jingle Cruise overlay this year.







After a ride on the Jungle Cruise, it was time for me to head to Main Street and get a spot for the 2nd A Christmas Fantasy Parade of the day. I would end up getting a spot about an hour before the parade, and I was able to find a curb spot on Main Street.

As I was waiting for the parade, the Disneyland Band came marching down Main Street entertaining the guests waiting for the parade.





It was time for one of my favorite Disney parades!!!
 
Day 4: A Christmas Fantasy Parade - Part 1!

A Christmas Fantasy Parade is one of my favorite Disney parades. There are only two parades that I enjoy more than A Christmas Fantasy Parade. Those parades are the Main Street Electrical Parade and Paint the Night. So, out of all of the daytime parades, A Christmas Fantasy Parade is my favorite.

Enjoy the many pictures of the parade:





My favorite part of any Disney Christmas Parade is the toy soldier trumpet players!!!













This parade has seen many changes over the years. This float used to have Mrs. Claus on it. Now it is home to Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Chip, and Dale!





I hope Donald doesn’t bump his head…













These skaters used to wear snowflakes.



At this point in the parade a couple years ago, Mickey and Minnie would have a float where they would ice skate. Now this part of the parade is home to Anna, Elsa, and Olaf.









I found Goofy and Pluto. Max used to be in the spot that Pluto is in.



Can Goofy see?





















More pictures in the next post...
 
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Day 4: A Christmas Fantasy Parade - Part 2!

The toy land section is one of my favorites. However, this part of the parade has had a lot of changes in recent years.



Chip & Dale used to drive this car before they decided to put Jesse and a Toy Story army soldier on the car.



Speaking of Jesse, where is she?

Found her! She was running late to the parade.



Woody is one of my favorite Disney characters.







This float now has 3 Toy Story army men on the float. This float used to have Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, and Geppetto.







I found the character I am most like (according to Lumiere)!!! It’s Buzz Lightyear!!!









Santa must be here soon! I spy some reindeer!





It’s Santa Claus!!!









I hope you enjoyed all of the pictures of one of my favorite Disney parades!
 
Day 4: High and Fast Winds Hit Disneyland - Part 3!

After a great parade, I made my way to the Main Street Train Station. Now this is my first time actually getting to walk into the train station due to the Candlelight Processional happening the first 2 days of my trip. The train also had a long wait since the parade had just finished.



While waiting for the train, I had a great view to watch the flag retreat ceremony.







The train would arrive! I was on my way to the Toontown Station so I can catch Mickey and the Magical Map!



Since I had a little wait for the train, I would show up to Mickey and the Magical Map about a minute after it started. I still had a good view of the show.

Enjoy some pictures of the show:



























Mickey and the Magical Map is a great show. However, I don’t know how much longer this show is going to last. It is not bringing a lot of crowds like it used to.

It was time to use a fastpass for It’s A Small World Holiday!!!













Next, I would use a fastpass for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!



My last fastpass of the day was for Haunted Mansion Holiday!





I would then make my way to the back side of the Sleeping Beauty’s Castle where I would get some pictures of the castle.





Now, it was about 7:30 p.m, and I was 100% sure that Disneyland was not going to have the fireworks show that night. Due to Disneyland being surrounded by a city and a highway being on the other side of the fireworks launch zone, Disneyland can’t shoot off fireworks if their are high winds traveling at a certain speed. For that reason I decided to have a short day and leave the park.





I would make my way to the bus stop where I would head back to my hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening in my hotel room.
 
Part of me really wishes they kept the California film in Disney California Adventure. That would make sense right? Disney didn't do that though. They decided to put Soarin Around the World in both Disney California Adventure and EPCOT.
Totally agree! It still baffles me why they switched it!

My next ride was the Jungle Cruise! Disneyland decided to not change the Jungle Cruise to the Jingle Cruise overlay this year.
At first I wondered why they didn't do this overlay in 2017. But then I think they realized in 2018 they were going to have so many rides down for refurb at once, they didn't want to add Jungle Cruise to remove the overlay. Small World still has the holiday version up until the later part of January since they are removing the Haunted Mansion overlay!

Mickey and the Magical Map is a great show. However, I don’t know how much longer this show is going to last. It is not bringing a lot of crowds like it used to.
You know...I have never watched this show! I need to make it a priority the next time I am there on a weekend.
 
At first I wondered why they didn't do this overlay in 2017. But then I think they realized in 2018 they were going to have so many rides down for refurb at once, they didn't want to add Jungle Cruise to remove the overlay. Small World still has the holiday version up until the later part of January since they are removing the Haunted Mansion overlay!


You know...I have never watched this show! I need to make it a priority the next time I am there on a weekend.
That's a good point about the overlay possibly not happening due to several refurbishments right now.

Mickey & the Magical Map is a great show. It has just lost its repeatability factor to it. The original cast was definitely the best, but some of the original dancers are still there.
 
I absolutely love your pictures and this TR. It makes me realize how very little I know about DL. I know the facts, “secrets” etc but looking at these and reading your report makes me really want to visit Walt’s Park.
 
I absolutely love your pictures and this TR. It makes me realize how very little I know about DL. I know the facts, “secrets” etc but looking at these and reading your report makes me really want to visit Walt’s Park.
Thanks! I'm enjoying telling you and everyone about it. :)

All I can really say is "Go!" I know I'm an advocate for Disneyland on these boards in many aspects. Even if there are things I enjoy more about Walt Disney World, I will always say Disneyland is my favorite park and resort.

Disneyland is going to be a construction zone in some places for the next couple years, but it is still worth it to go! :)
 
:wave2: Great pictures and I am enjoying reading your trip report! I especially like the parade pictures.

And, I'm glad you got a Chewie picture! :chewy:
 

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