Part V: Monday, Monday
Life sure gets in the way sometimes of what you really want to do
updating your Trip Report! My gracious its been about 2 months since I last updated this. Bummer for those following along, whove probably all but given up on me by now
Christmas is long gone, Valentines has come and gone, and the little green leprechauns will be out in force in just a couple more weeks
Id better get crackin. Sherman, turn on the way back machine its time to go back to the 2010 Christmas season once more
heres where we last were when I last updated
Since it's such a nice short walk from the main gate back to the Grand, I was literally in my room in less than 10 minutes (I lingered in the lobby enjoying the fire place for 2 or 3 minutes first).
The next day was check-out from VGC, but more time in the park, before I had to head off to the work portion of my trip...but that doesn't mean at all that it was the last time in the parks that week by any means. Hmmm. More about that later.
Here are a few more photos from the lobby of the Grand to reset the mood for you
And some lamps from the lobby too (I love taking shots of architecture, décor, and furnishings, if you havent yet figured that out)
This one is from the central lobby area, near the built in sofas
And this one is from the Registration counter - I love the dragonflies in the glass
Monday morning arrived, and yes it was check-out day. I would be transferring my gear down to the Crowne Plaza in Irvine for the work portion of this trip. But I didnt need to check-in in Irvine until that evening
so it was another fun-filled day in the parks. I pretty much had my gear ready to go early, and took it down to the car. Then it was a relatively quick walk back to the Grand for a quick walk-through and entry in to DCA. I took a few shots of the resort on the way. Here are a couple of the outdoor fireplace, wedding lawn area and the pool area.
Today I wanted to ride the
Silly Symphony Swings. And check out the new (to me) exhibit in the
Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar (it was the pending Little Mermaid ride having replaced the
World of Color that was there the last time I went in there). So I worked my way over in to the Paradise Pier section of the park. Here I was standing directly in front of
Toy Story Midway Mania, with the
California Screamin loop above.
And here was my score from TSMM. Not too shabby, but of course lots of room for improvement there.
And here I turned around and am looking directly north across the
Paradise Pier lagoon at the construction of the new
Little Mermaid ride.
It's kind of funny to look back now, at this picture from 3 months ago, when I've been watching the construction progress on two different websites I follow and how much further along it is since this picture was taken. Grand Opening has now been set for early June. I can't wait to ride it...
As you are looking north across the lagoon, to your left as the walk path curves around the lagoon, you find the Silly Symphony Swings. This ride is new, but it is not, in the sense that it replaced the original swing ride from when DCA first opened in 2001 - the
Orange Stinger. Let me just say straight off, I LOVE this little ride. Oh my goodness. I never cared for the old version - but this completely rebuilt, redone swing ride is so much better, and way cooler. I love the theming too, of the old Silly Symphony cartoons, especially
Mickeys Band Concert, especially this great topper that was put on. It really is so fun
and the music from the Band Concert cartoon sure helps too.
And finally a little video of it it was such fun. I think I mentioned that, didnt I? Fun. Yeah. I could go for a ride on the swings right now actually. They were fun.
http://s292.photobucket.com/albums/... WDW/?action=view¤t=2010-1129-00132.mp4