Random Pictures and Musings from a Few Hours at Disneyland - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Random Pictures and Musings from a Few Hours at Disneyland
I know I'm very lucky to be able to drive over to Disneyland whenever I feel the need for some immersion at the Happiest Place on Earth!
I've been super busy the last few weeks and have been needing a little break for myself, and finally I was able to spend a few hours at Disneyland the other day. Here's a collection of random pictures I took. The only attractions I visited that day were Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and the Disneyland Railroad. There's so much Disney history in just those two attractions that I more than got my fill of great Disney vibes in a few short hours.
Bust of Abraham Lincoln as sculpted by Disney Legend Blaine Gibson
Picture of Tower of Terror and the top of the Soarin' hangar taken from my seat on the Disneyland Railroad. For those who've never been to DLR, this gives you an idea of how close it is to walk from Disneyland to Disney's California Adventure across the Esplanade. In the foreground is the entrance to Disneyland. About 200-300 feet beyond that is the entrance to DCA.
Telegraph and Ticket Office taken along the Disneyland RR track. You can hear Walt Disney's Opening Day speech transmitted in Morse Code if you listen for it.
Water tower along the Disneyland RR track. I don't think this is the one they use for the steam engines, but I thought it was cute nonetheless.
Wonderful theming while seated at the Main Street Railroad Station. The entrance to Disneyland is in the background.
Food photos from the new Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe. I couldn't get a good picture of the food cases due to the glare reflecting off the glass, but hopefully you can see some of the food varieties in these.
My favorite meal at the Jolly Holiday...the Jolly Holiday Combo (Toasted Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Basil Soup). This time the CM gave me the choice of the tomato soup or the chicken noodle. I've had the chicken noodle before, and it was good, but the tomato is my fave there! The sandwich wasn't as warm as I've had before, which made the cheese not so great, and that seems to be a common complaint. However, I've got to believe there's some safety reason that Disney doesn't want to serve it too hot or else some irresponsible person burns himself on hot cheese, or worse yet, lets a child burn his/her mouth on it.
Finally, dessert for me was the Raspberry Almond Twist.
I just love how a few hours at Disneyland re-energized me so much!
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How great to be able to just drop in for a few hours! The photos from the train do give me a better idea of the distances. I've been trying to figure out the relationship of DL to DCA and Downtown Disney. Too bad the cheese sandwich wasn't hot-- that's such a classic combo, and so delicious!
Thanks for the pictures! For those of us who are used to the distances between parks at WDW, it's hard to imagine how close DL and DCA are. How great it must be to just be able to go to DL for a few hours.
How great to be able to just drop in for a few hours! The photos from the train do give me a better idea of the distances. I've been trying to figure out the relationship of DL to DCA and Downtown Disney. Too bad the cheese sandwich wasn't hot-- that's such a classic combo, and so delicious!
Laurie, you know how to find me if you have any questions! I'm trying to remember from one of your responses elsewhere...you've been to Disneyland before, but before DCA was built, right? If you happen to remember the huge parking lot that used to be right in front of the Disneyland entrance, that's where DCA is now. Literally, you can scoot 1 minute to get from one entrance to the other!
That combo is so yummy! It's only been open since the beginning of the year, and I've been to Disneyland 3 times since it opened. I've had that combo all 3 visits!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tere WDW
Thanks for the pictures! For those of us who are used to the distances between parks at WDW, it's hard to imagine how close DL and DCA are. How great it must be to just be able to go to DL for a few hours.
I've only been to WDW once, but I grew up with DL. The furthest I've ever lived from DL (apart from the years I was away for college) is 45 minutes. The closest I ever lived was 20 minutes. It's a blessing for any Disney fan!
I got a kick out of all the roads that ran around the huge WDW complex. It's absolutely amazing how much space there is! I think the closest anyone could possibly live to a WDW is at least 20 minutes! At DLR, there are actually homes that are walking distance! While convenient, I feel bad for them due to all the traffic around there.
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Last edited by Dlandmom2; 02-17-2012 at 10:40 PM..
Ah, the parking lot!!!! That helps SO much! I've looked at maps of the way the park is now, but couldn't reconcile them with my memories of DL 15+ years ago. You remembered right-- I've been to DL once (a 3-day trip) in, I think, 1997. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions for you as the trip gets closer. It helps that the first 5 days of the trip are with ABD, so I don't have to worry at all about getting from one place to another.
Ah, the parking lot!!!! That helps SO much! I've looked at maps of the way the park is now, but couldn't reconcile them with my memories of DL 15+ years ago. You remembered right-- I've been to DL once (a 3-day trip) in, I think, 1997. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions for you as the trip gets closer. It helps that the first 5 days of the trip are with ABD, so I don't have to worry at all about getting from one place to another.
Don't worry...when they built Downtown Disney and remodeled the Disneyland Hotel area, I was so confused that I SWORE they moved the monorail station that used to be at the entrance to the Disneyland Hotel! I still get brain cramps when I think too much about it! It's amazing what the Imagineers did when they redesigned everything!
And I just realized I didn't explain where DTD is in relation to the two parks. Now that you can "visualize" how DL and DCA sit opposite each other, DTD is basically built in a "street" that extends west from the two parks and toward the Disneyland Hotel...part of DTD is built on a bridge that goes over Disneyland Drive which is the street that borders DL and DCA on the west. DTD ends just beyond the Downtown Disney monorail station (which used to be the Disneyland Hotel monorail station complex which included the Monorail Cafe, shops, a bar/restaurant, etc.). Where DTD ends, the Disneyland Hotel begins.
Also, the former huge parking lot...DCA comprises most of that space, but the western part of the former parking lot is where the Grand Californian now sits.
Type in "Disneyland" in Google Maps for a better look at it. If you can visualize how the old parking lot sits "below" Disneyland, you can see how the Grand Californian and DCA now fill up that space, and then you can follow the path of DTD west over Disneyland Drive and ending at the Disneyland Hotel.
This is one of the reasons I've started taking more pictures at DLR...in 20 years, it may all change again, and I want to be able to remember how it looks now...I'm lucky to remember how it used to look as unfortunately I (nor my parents) don't have many pictures of the things that are now gone. Thank goodness for sites like Yesterland! You should check that one out if you haven't already!
__________________
Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
Last edited by Dlandmom2; 02-17-2012 at 11:25 PM..
I love the way you can pop in for a few hours to get a fix! In all our trips, we've never made it to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln - I know, shame on us! The next time, we definitely will do it.
Don't worry...when they built Downtown Disney and remodeled the Disneyland Hotel area, I was so confused that I SWORE they moved the monorail station that used to be at the entrance to the Disneyland Hotel! I still get brain cramps when I think too much about it! It's amazing what the Imagineers did when they redesigned everything!
And I just realized I didn't explain where DTD is in relation to the two parks. Now that you can "visualize" how DL and DCA sit opposite each other, DTD is basically built in a "street" that extends west from the two parks and toward the Disneyland Hotel...part of DTD is built on a bridge that goes over Disneyland Drive which is the street that borders DL and DCA on the west. DTD ends just beyond the Downtown Disney monorail station (which used to be the Disneyland Hotel monorail station complex which included the Monorail Cafe, shops, a bar/restaurant, etc.). Where DTD ends, the Disneyland Hotel begins.
Also, the former huge parking lot...DCA comprises most of that space, but the western part of the former parking lot is where the Grand Californian now sits.
Type in "Disneyland" in Google Maps for a better look at it. If you can visualize how the old parking lot sits "below" Disneyland, you can see how the Grand Californian and DCA now fill up that space, and then you can follow the path of DTD west over Disneyland Drive and ending at the Disneyland Hotel.
This is one of the reasons I've started taking more pictures at DLR...in 20 years, it may all change again, and I want to be able to remember how it looks now...I'm lucky to remember how it used to look as unfortunately I (nor my parents) don't have many pictures of the things that are now gone. Thank goodness for sites like Yesterland! You should check that one out if you haven't already!
Very good description! I'll definitely look at Google maps. I don't think it'll really all make sense until I see it. DCA sounds so big when people talk about all the different areas and when I see the photos-- doesn't seem possible that it fits into the old parking lot!
Very good description! I'll definitely look at Google maps. I don't think it'll really all make sense until I see it. DCA sounds so big when people talk about all the different areas and when I see the photos-- doesn't seem possible that it fits into the old parking lot!
I'm pretty sure DCA is smaller than DL. One thing I don't like about DCA is that it wasn't built in the hub and spoke fashion like DL was. I find it harder to navigate DCA simply because there is no hub from which you can choose to go to all the lands. The walkways are nice and open, but if you're on opposite sides of the park, there's no central "shortcut" to get to the other side. However, the park doesn't seem that big to me. After they open Carsland, it'll be interesting to see how the park flows. I can't wait for you to see it all!
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That's so awesome that you live that close that you can just pop in for a few hours to Disneyland. And I love how close the 2 parks are. That was one of the great things about visiting DLR. Just walk across and were in the other park, Thanks for sharing your pictures!!
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Thanks for sharing your photos! I'm green with envy that you can just drop by Disneyland when you need a fix!! No matter which direction we go, it takes a few hours on a plane for us!
Thanks for the photos! I'm missing DL already! I have to plan another trip out West!
And next time I plan to spend more than just an hour meeting up with you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disney4us2
Great pics. Love the Jolly Holiday combo.
We definitely need to meet up someday soon!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I love the way you can pop in for a few hours to get a fix! In all our trips, we've never made it to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln - I know, shame on us! The next time, we definitely will do it.
There's so much history in the waiting area before you enter the show, and right next door is the gallery with lots of Disney art and often historical items! You definitely must do it next time! Plus, don't forget Fantasmic! You have to see the DL version!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
That's so awesome that you live that close that you can just pop in for a few hours to Disneyland. And I love how close the 2 parks are. That was one of the great things about visiting DLR. Just walk across and were in the other park, Thanks for sharing your pictures!!
Yep, I'm pretty spoiled to live so close!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shnewell
Thanks for sharing your photos! I'm green with envy that you can just drop by Disneyland when you need a fix!! No matter which direction we go, it takes a few hours on a plane for us!
I can't really explain why it took me so long to make it out to WDW, or why I've only been once! I hope to rectify that later this year! I'm really glad I can sort of re-live my childhood spending time at DL with my kids now. I'm so glad they love it as much as I do!
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Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
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In all our trips, we've never made it to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln - I know, shame on us! 
The next time, we definitely will do it. 
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