Disneyland 2024 Countdown- Part 13

May 7, 2024
C minus 5 Days
Disneyland sent an email reminding us to download the Disneyland App. Aren’t they adorable? We all downloaded that for reconnaissance reasons as soon as we thought about going.
 
Anabelle’s been doing heavy Plaza Breakfast research to figure out Rabbit appearance frequency. The result- Not a regular but more often than other guest characters. Here’s hoping.
[Later Edit- Alas.]
 
Rosa bought Power Bars for Anabelle and I to have as in room breakfast. She asked how many we need and I said, “Five, one for each morning.”
She countered- “But we’re having breakfast one day, so four.”
Me- “Breakfast isn’t until after ten. Do you want to deal with me for three hours with no food?”
Rosa- “Oh Lord No! Five it is.”
 
People must RUN to StarWarsLand. First thing in the AM Rise of the Resistance already has an hour wait. Other heavy hitters like Indiana Jones and Space Mountain are in the fifteen to twenty minute range and the Matterhorn is five.
[Later Edit- It did not “Matter.” A reminder that, even when planning with no experience, I am hilarious.]
 
If we care- The princess story telling at Royal Theater is only the first day.  (Or second if we hop). It sounds like a scaled down Frozen sing along but Beauty and the Beast or Tangled
Not sure if there's singing.
Maybe more like Enchanted Tales with Belle but without the magic transformations and audience participation and with narrators.
Anabelle- “Meh, Maybe.  I’m almost done with my Cars nails.”
[Later edit- Being aware that the “Random Princess Meeting Areas” next to this show were open all week would have been nice to know. Freakin’ California.]
 
Anabelle had a “rest day” between finals yesterday that yielded excellent character recon. That’s my girl!
 
Anabelle- Anyway back on the research grind.
AKA- watching Disneyland vloggers teach me about PIXARFEST so I’m prepared. 
The line to meet Luca and Alberto was super long but in this video I saw but the other ones weren’t as bad.
MERIDA IS THERE
(Me- Character lines are always a crap shoot. Where? Pixar party? )
At the theater with the other ones.
I am trying to figure out when they come out.
My research has not been fruitful, yet.
Okay. There are set lines for the meet and greets.
So, I think it’s like Mike and Sully, kinda, where they go pee sometimes but they’re usually there…
I think.
Is the vibe I’m getting.
[Later Edit- That was not really the vibe.]
Nick and Judy have a line they don’t roam, Oswald I’m not 100% sure because my friend took pictures with him like he had a line, but I commented on a video asking, so I will report back.
OK, the other characters on Buena Vista Street have lines. They don’t wander aimlessly so I assume Oswald is the same.
[Later Edit- Thanks to “Relaxed and Groovy” almost everyone wanders aimlessly at some point.]
The next three days I will be consumed by P-Chem so I’m getting my research in now.
Wait when you meet Anna and Elsa they’re TOGETHER!
we may have to go there. 😛
(Me- Makes sense on all three counts. They’re in a building in CA right?)
Yes.
THE MARVEL CHARACTERS SIGN?!
I just saw Ant Man signing an autograph book!
I think my rule for autograph book is gonna be if I witness them sign something I’ll consider asking depending on how much social prowess that will take.
Cruz Ramirez is a possibility to show up in CarsLand!
🤩
Ariel meet and greet by small world.
Street by small world is an impromptu character GOLD MINE! 
(Me- Cool. That must be the parades of characters they show walking around the castle.)
[Later Edit- The small world promenade was a gold mine alright. Both of Relaxed and Groovy and Freakin’ California.]
Ok this can’t wait:
Sometimes characters RIDE THE CAROUSEL!
And then you can say hi as they go on or off!
(Me- Holy Moley! I’ve seen pictures but thought it was a staged shoot.)
 
 
May 8, 2024
C minus 4 Days
The rest of Anabelle’s scouting review:
The Tangled show is really cute, don’t meet them.
 
Royal Hall by that show is guaranteed to have two princesses. Usually a long wait.
[Later Edit- Also is not listed as open when it is. Freakin’ California.]
 
Mary Poppins sometimes comes out with the band.
 
Mirabel in Disneyland has a family mural so we must go to that one because Tia Peppa.
 
This man’s YouTube videos are a godsend. Why is everyone so vague about characters. He’s so to the point.
[Later Edit- Because… Freakin’ California]
 
You can ask to take a photo with Chewie and Rey if they’re behind the fence.
 
You can meet Red sometimes behind Pirates by the lake. Captain Jack is sometimes by 21 Royal Hall but who needs that.
 
Another good place is in front of the Red Rose Tavern because they have to use the street.
 
Imagine getting on the carousel next to MARY POPPINS! I’d pee myself.
 
From the Matterhorn down to the Hub is another good stretch.
 
There are lines for the people on Main Street.
 
Cruella De Ville drives by sometimes??? Why would they do that???
SHE YELLED AT PLUTO, HELLO!
 
Wait for Parades on Main Street by the entrance and Chip and Dale may bother you.
[Later Edit- Or just travel anywhere with Rosa.]
 
“There is usually a line.” You can find Oswald near the entrance to his shop at the entrance to California Adventure.
(End of scouting)
 

Got the park tickets and printed them. (You can see them on a phone too, because we live in the future.) However, when I tried to link them it said they’re already linked. And yet, I don’t see them. Looks like I have to call again when California wakes up.
 
The Awesome Happy California Disney Lady (who first answered as an Awesome Happy Hawaii Resort Disney Lady confusing both of us) showed me where the tickets were on the App. The link was under the “Three Lines” Menu I always forget about. They call it “the hamburger.”
 
And now so do we.
 
 
May 9, 2024
C minus 3 Days
Anabelle’s research between studying continues. I saw the “Pearly Band” on the show schedule but never made the connection. They’re the animated band that sings “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Mary Poppins and Bert sometimes come out with them. And in a smaller subset of sometimes- they all ride the Carousel. (Mary Poppins always on the same horse of course.) The ride shuts off its music then because the Pearly Band supplies it. 
 
 
May 10, 2024
C minus 2 Days
Combined Anabelle’s recon with mine. The Pearly Band doesn’t play Tuesday or Wednesday so we’ll have to catch them at the start or end of the trip.
[Later Edit- We did! In multiple ways!]
 
And the first dining reservation reminder email has arrived!
 
 
May 11, 2024
C minus 1 Days
Brought Anabelle back from college after my last day of work and her last final. Got home with a packed to the gills vehicle after midnight. Watched a ridiculous Hallmark romance. (Anabelle to Rosa after making fun of it every moment- “Aren’t you glad I’m home?”) We engage in massive amounts of packing, cleaning, and readying for the big day!
 


We capped it all off with Meet the Robinsons because every Disney trip needs to be led up to with underrated Disney Animated features that only our family likes.
 
 
May 12, 2024
We’ve reached C!!!
California here we come!!!

Click for the trip (also conveniently the index)