60th Anniversary 24 Hour Kick-off Celebration TR UPDATED 6/2 About This Page:

[Dlandmom2]

Well, PP friends, I've decided to add a postscript to this TR. My friend Vicky was still in town, so we decided to meet up again at Disneyland yesterday (Saturday) to see everything in a less frenzied setting. The Lines app said it was a crowd level 7. I'm going to estimate it was more like crowd level 8 or 9.

I had some work to do in the morning, but after I got that done, I headed off to the parks once more. Vicky, Esty, and I met up at the Tiki Room around 1:15pm. Just to give you some comparison of how it was today versus last Friday, here are some pics taken from the same/similar spots as Friday:































As you can see, some of the park was less congested, but the rest of the park was still quite busy, typical of a summer Saturday.

I'll be back with more. We were at the park from 1:15pm until 11:30pm, so it was another long day for us, but I tried to capture more of the 60th Anniversary Celebration to share with you all!

We also stayed for the parade and fireworks, so I'll be back with more pictures of those. Hint...it was great!

[chezp]

Oh my goodness, if that's a 7,8 or 9, what on earth was the 24 hour event - a 50?

[cubfancolleen]

Parts look better, but a lot still seems pretty crowded! Glad you were able to enjoy more of the celebration, though!

[Dlandmom2]

Originally Posted by chezp

Oh my goodness, if that's a 7,8 or 9, what on earth was the 24 hour event - a 50?

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

Parts look better, but a lot still seems pretty crowded! Glad you were able to enjoy more of the celebration, though!

The congestion at Rivers of America was about the same as Friday. The lines for Big Thunder, Pirates and Haunted Mansion were the same as Friday...long!

The Esplanade was fairly empty (of course it was after 1pm, so the morning crowds were gone). Main Street was much less congested. You'll see later that Main Street and the Hub filled up very quickly and very early for the parade and fireworks. I'm sure it's because everything's new and everyone wants to see it, but it was more packed than I was expecting!

My estimate of crowd level 8 or 9 was mainly due to the crowds in Frontierland, Adventureland, and Critter Country. The Splash line snaked out to where the big drop is...of course it was much warmer yesterday than it was last Friday, so that might be part of the reason for the longer line yesterday.

[KimmyAnn1147]

LaurieP alerted me that you might have some advice for best placed to watch the fireworks show.

I will be there for Christmas, so there's a lot up in the air as to what will have Holiday theming vs what will keep the 60th Anniversary theming. I'm hoping they don't put that stupid snow overlay on the castle. I'm against that!

Anyways, thanks for keeping us updated on what you are finding at the parks this week!

[Dlandmom2]

Originally Posted by KimmyAnn1147

LaurieP alerted me that you might have some advice for best placed to watch the fireworks show.

I will be there for Christmas, so there's a lot up in the air as to what will have Holiday theming vs what will keep the 60th Anniversary theming. I'm hoping they don't put that stupid snow overlay on the castle. I'm against that!

Anyways, thanks for keeping us updated on what you are finding at the parks this week!

Yes, I'll give my two cents on viewing areas when I get to the viewing of both...which hopefully will be soon! I'm going to try to update as much and as often as I can while I have the time! I'll have to go back a few more times to check out different viewing areas and come back with my impressions. I think the great thing is that it will probably be a good show no matter which viewing area you choose.

[Dlandmom2]

Before I forget, I got this picture for you guys:



$15.50 for the bucket, and I confirmed with the CM that the bucket was going to be available all year (she said yes, unless they ran out from time to time).

Vicky, Esty, and I met up at the Tiki Room...it was about 1:30pm by the time we were all there. Vicky and Esty had some Dole Whips, and we all chatted while they ate. A show was just starting, but we decided to remain in the waiting area since we wanted to continue chatting right then.





We had originally planned to meet at Big Thunder Ranch BBQ, but when Vicky got there (she arrived before Esty and I did), they told her they weren't accepting walk-ups. Vicky made an ADR for 2:40pm and had to put down a credit card.

After a little while, we decided not to wait for the next show. We decided to go get a FP for something and then try to get a ride in before our ADR. Vicky has a partially torn Achilles tendon. Stairs are really difficult for her. She said she would go ask at Big Thunder to see if they would give her a return time for the ride since she had to use the alternate entrance. At about 1:45pm, they gave us a return time for 2:20pm. We then walked to Space Mountain to get a FP. I asked Vicky if she wanted me to run ahead and get them while she rested, but she said she was fine for walking so far and actually preferred some walking right then. At about 2pm, we got a return time for 10:10pm. Space Mountain at Disneyland is a bit like Soarin' or Toy Story at WDW...the wait times and FP times are outrageous!

Then Vicky suggested we try the single rider line at the Matterhorn. I had no idea they had single rider, but apparently it's a new thing. There was only 1 person ahead of us in the line, and we got on in less than 5 minutes. The ride just reopened a little while ago. The effects are updated, and there are new ride vehicles. A quick review: I really loved the new effects! AK needs to fix the yeti in Expedition Everest, and they can use the Matterhorn one for inspiration! The ride vehicles are difficult to get in and out of. You have to be able to get into a squat position to sit down and then extend your legs. Then after the ride is over, you have to bend your legs back to a squat position and use your arms and legs together to raise yourself off of the seat (which is the floor of the ride vehicle). After I was off the ride, I watched as an older lady struggled to get up. She tried for a few seconds, and then two people had to grab her by each arm and pull her up off of her seat. I'm not surprised...I'm not in terrible shape, but it took me a few extra seconds and some maneuvering to get up. The ride is as jostling and rough as ever, but that's how it's always been, and that's part of the "charm" of the ride.



After the Matterhorn, we headed back toward the Big Thunder Ranch area. It was 2:35pm, and we didn't want to be late for lunch (and it was a late lunch, so we were all hungry!). We had a bit of a dilemma though. We were told when we got the return time for Big Thunder that it was only a 1 hour window which began at 2:20pm. We didn't think we'd be able to finish lunch and still make it back to the Big Thunder ride by 3:20pm. We decided that it shouldn't take us too long to get onto Big Thunder, and hopefully they'd hold our ADR for a few minutes past our time. So, we stopped at Big Thunder.

I thought this sign was so cute...Cast Miner instead of Cast Member!



Then we skedaddled over to Big Thunder Ranch BBQ and checked in. We were asked to take a seat and waited for 5 minutes before we were called.

Waiting at check-in and looking at the "restaurant" area:



There were two performers who did a great job entertaining throughout our meal. This is an all you can eat meal. I think it was $23.99 per person which included drinks. Vicky and Esty have been to WDW many times, so I asked them if it was anything like Whispering Canyon, and they said yes. I've been trying to talk my kids into eating here, but we still hadn't done it yet. Now I can give them my honest review...it was delicious! I haven't eaten at this location since before it was turned into Big Thunder Ranch. It used to be a BBQ place where they cooked pieces of ribs and chicken on huge fire grills, and you just purchased individual meals and went over to the benches to sit and eat (at least that's how I remember it to be).

Ribs, chicken, cole slaw, beans, and cornbread. We were so hungry we had seconds of everything!



We ended up sitting, eating, and chatting for almost 2 hours! It was the middle of the day, so there were plenty of empty tables around us. I don't think they minded us being there...there were still plenty of other people eating around us.

[cubfancolleen]

That meal looked delicious! Reminded me of the fare at Hoop de Doo.

[pamcarey]

I'm glad you're reviewing another day in the parks for us! That food looks great!

[chezp]

Glad you had a great lunch! Thanks for the review of the Matterhorn - if it's still as rough as before, I'll continue to avoid it, as I couldn't believe how much it threw us around when we made the mistake once of trying it...

[lauriep]

It does look very congested in some spots, with long lines, but much more breathing room than the other day, and lots of places to go where the crowds weren't that bad. You've done quite a lot and had a nice, relaxing meal. None of that would have been possible on opening day.

[KimmyAnn1147]

I knew about the Matterhorn single rider line, but have never used it. I've heard that it's not always a good go, that you can wait a long time. It might be better with the new ride vehicle configuration? Not sure, but great that you got on so fast on such a busy day!!!!

Thanks for reviewing BTMR. This is the ADR I'm considering for our Dec trip. Would you say that seating up front is better if you are there for the entertainment?

[Dlandmom2]

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

That meal looked delicious! Reminded me of the fare at Hoop de Doo.

That's what Vicky and I were wondering. Neither of us has been to Hop Dee Doo, and we were saying we'd really like to try it someday.

Originally Posted by pamcarey

I'm glad you're reviewing another day in the parks for us! That food looks great!

I'm glad I finally got the chance to try it. It did bring back great memories of yummy BBQ there from years past. It's still as delicious as I remember!

Originally Posted by chezp

Glad you had a great lunch! Thanks for the review of the Matterhorn - if it's still as rough as before, I'll continue to avoid it, as I couldn't believe how much it threw us around when we made the mistake once of trying it...

It's definitely still as rough if not more. Vicky and I both thought it was a bit more jostling than we remembered...then again, we aren't spring chickens any more!

Originally Posted by lauriep

It does look very congested in some spots, with long lines, but much more breathing room than the other day, and lots of places to go where the crowds weren't that bad. You've done quite a lot and had a nice, relaxing meal. None of that would have been possible on opening day.

As you can see from the pictures, the Pooh ride and Rivers of America area were just as busy as it was last Friday. That has become the norm on weekend days. The one benefit I have of being a local is I can usually guess where the less congested walkways are to get from one place to another. I'm so glad we went back and enjoyed another day in the parks.

Originally Posted by KimmyAnn1147

I knew about the Matterhorn single rider line, but have never used it. I've heard that it's not always a good go, that you can wait a long time. It might be better with the new ride vehicle configuration? Not sure, but great that you got on so fast on such a busy day!!!!

Thanks for reviewing BTMR. This is the ADR I'm considering for our Dec trip. Would you say that seating up front is better if you are there for the entertainment?

I would imagine the single rider line shouldn't take too long given each car has 3 individual seats.

The seating at Big Thunder Ranch BBQ is all picnic benches, but they're spaced very well, so I think you'd get a good view no matter where you sit. They asked Vicky if we would be ok sitting at a large table with other guests. I didn't hear what Vicky said, but we ended up at our own table. Since we were there around 3, it wasn't terribly busy. I would guess if you're there at a busy time, you may end up seated with another family.

One of the entertainers is a singing cowboy who walks through the area serenading guests at their tables. He was so entertaining! He'd talk to the audience and then somehow weave their name or hometown into his songs!

[Dlandmom2]

I was trying to remember when we watched the Tomorrowland movie preview...it might have been when we got our SM Fastpasses. Our timing was just incredible all day. We walked right into the theater to watch the Tomorrowland preview. It's where they had been showing Captain EO and other previews like Big Hero 6.

The movie hasn't done well in the theaters. I have to admit, after I saw the previews in the theater and the commercials on tv, I didn't feel any urge to run out and see the movie. After seeing the preview at Disneyland, I changed my mind! It was a great preview! I don't really know how long it was...maybe 10 minutes? Having the awesome sound system as well as the other high tech effects in the theater made it so exciting to watch! It was also neat to see the bits of homage to Disneyland and MK in the movie. Vicky and Esty saw the movie last week and really liked it. I think this preview may have convinced me to go watch it!

Ok, back to where we left off. Suitably stuffed and having chatted for a long time over lunch, we decided we would go see if we could do either single rider or get a return time for Splash Mountain (there are steps in the queue, so Vicky would have to do the alternate entrance). As we passed Haunted Mansion, we decided to get a FP since the return time was only 50 minutes away (and the line looked like it would be at least an hour since it snaked outside the gates and all around the fountain area that's next to the ride). We then continued on to Splash where we discovered the ride was down, so they couldn't give us a return time. Plus, the single rider line was pretty long, so that was out as well.

We then headed over to the Pooh Corner store to browse. I walked over to the sweets section and got some pictures of the 60th Anniversary treats:







We still had some time to kill before the HM FP, so we walked back out and browsed the shops in the area and then on to Pirates and got in line. The line extended past the entry tunnel but didn't snake up around to the bridge as it had done earlier in the day. I think we got on the ride in about 30 minutes.



I was playing around with the low light setting on my camera, but the only picture that even remotely came out well was this one:



Then we used our FP at HM and enjoyed another great ride. I still don't have a good picture of the head in the hatbox. Vicky agreed with me that the effect is just a little too slow...or the ride vehicles need to slow down a bit (of course I prefer they speed up the effect just a bit...I don't want to have to wait any longer in line!).

After HM, we decided to head back toward Main Street to find some coffee and munchies before finding a spot to watch the parade and fireworks. It was just after 7, and the parade started at 8:50pm. We figured we could find a seat around 7:30pm (an hour and 20 minutes before the parade) and just stay put and munch on our snacks until the parade started. Yeah...sounded like a good plan, huh?

[cubfancolleen]

Oh no, don't like your tease for the parade & fireworks. Realizing people had snagged spots more than 8 hours in advance the prior day, not sure 80 minutes is going to work....