My First Vacation in 13 years!! (No, really)! *LOTS of Pictures!!!* [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

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Rainforest_Elf

10-12-2008, 11:01 PM

I...don't know really how to start this thing...

Hi.

My name is Rachel. I've been a disney fan since birth. My mother programmed me that way. I've been to disneyland once before, when I was 10, I believe. I don't remember a whole lot of it, so I knew I would document the crap out of this trip. In total, I came home with 744 pictures. After deleting and editing, I'm now down to about 600 or so. I have no idea how many I'll actually be posting in this trip report, but you'll get to see a lot of them. I promise.

To start you off, here's a picture of the three of us who went on this trip. As I already said, my name is Rachel. I'm the girl in the middle, obviously. To the left of me is my best friend, Matt, and to the right is our very good friend Tim.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKKXD1TVjI/AAAAAAAAAbc/MpE9HK_UPtU/s400/IMG_0377.JPG

We all met at work, which is a call center for an entertainment company. Tim no longer works there, so it's just Matt and I now, but we've been great friends ever since we met a year ago.

Our trip started on Monday, October 6th and lasted until Saturday, October 11th. Monday was reserved for travel. I was a first time flier and I had never really been to an airport before, so I was thankful to have my seasoned veterans with me. I had been on a tiny little 4 seater airplane before, which was fun and frightening, but the big airplanes really freaked me out!! We got to PDX pretty early and checked in and got ready to go. Our flight actually left 20 minutes early because everyone was good to go! So that was awesome.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ1pVVHWYI/AAAAAAAAAC8/W5BUaXCgJ3c/s512/IMG_0110.JPG
The boys were trying to freak me out because I had never been on a plane before.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ2aSXVAoI/AAAAAAAAAD8/f1i3q9P6JZY/s512/IMG_0123.JPG
Lucky me, I got the window seat.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ2RwZTk9I/AAAAAAAAAD0/-mAJKSdvN_o/s512/IMG_0121.JPG
It was all laughs and giggles until the engine started up...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ2k4_xyOI/AAAAAAAAAEE/kzFCIc1w40g/s512/IMG_0124.JPG
Right as we took off I demanded to hold Tim's hand since he was seated next to me. My little heart was racing crazy fast. The sound of the engine starting up really just upset me. Once it was over I calmed down, but there was some geninue fear in me for awhile.

We flew into SNA, otherwise known as Orange County, or… John Wayne Airport! It was so tiny compared to PDX but it was easy to navigate and I liked it a lot. I especially loved the statue of the cowboy himself in the main entryway.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ3RsPMtpI/AAAAAAAAAE8/Ea4Dl_MkvLM/s400/IMG_0132.JPG

Matty and I tried our best at “dueling” with our “guns.” I think these are two of my favorite pictures from the whole trip :)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ3XQi1oeI/AAAAAAAAAFE/nrkt9MbRQ-M/s400/IMG_0133.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ3dMpmY8I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/ymqbRISO6Sw/s400/IMG_0134.JPG

Disneyland Express was so cute! I was glad we planned ahead and had already paid and just had to show the voucher to the woman in the express booth. We boarded the bus and the whole trip, including dropping several people off, took a maximum of 20 minutes. It was amazing.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ3q38-6yI/AAAAAAAAAFg/m8puiKV9Sk8/s512/IMG_0137.JPG

Matt really liked it, too. He used his Iphone to show our location and how far we were from our hotel.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ4DZd0gkI/AAAAAAAAAF8/FcyNlFE7aPk/s400/IMG_0142.JPG
As we pulled up onto Magic Way Matt got really excited:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ4KTf_wnI/AAAAAAAAAGE/ZMWmpbhR7Xk/s512/IMG_0144.JPG

More to come later!!!

Sherry E

10-12-2008, 11:08 PM

I am not able to see any of your photos! I don't know if it is just my stupid computer? Can you see your images when you exit out of the thread and then come back into it to look at your post?

Edit: I can see photos now! Evil red X's of doom gone forever!

wendylady36

10-12-2008, 11:15 PM

So far it looks like you had a great trip! :thumbsup2

I love all your pictures so far! I can't wait to read/see more. :goodvibes

Rainforest_Elf

10-12-2008, 11:16 PM

I am not able to see any of your photos! I don't know if it is just my stupid computer? Can you see your images when you exit out of the thread and then come back into it to look at your post?

Hi Sherry! I was linking them incorrectly, I hope they're fixed now! I was getting the evil red X's of doom.

Sherry E

10-12-2008, 11:38 PM

Hi Sherry! I was linking them incorrectly, I hope they're fixed now! I was getting the evil red X's of doom.

:rotfl: That is hilarious - the evil red X's of doom have been obliterated! I can see photos now!!

davidsprincess

10-13-2008, 01:10 AM

Sounds great so far. Love all the pics!

Rainforest_Elf

10-13-2008, 06:06 PM

And the story continues!!!

The lobby for the DLH was dark, but cute. I thought it was adorable how Goofy was there helping some little kid with his luggage. It set the mood for our Disney trip!
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ4X5NB7vI/AAAAAAAAAGY/uAutoOdbUCc/s512/IMG_0146.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ4fpDeg1I/AAAAAAAAAGg/6p2MsMXZ75Q/s512/IMG_0147.JPG
The room was less than stellar, though. It was small, and it was pretty hot when we entered. Not really sure why, but we fiddled with the thermostat right away.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ40Ys7mwI/AAAAAAAAAG8/pK7m1_t55JU/s512/IMG_0151.JPG
Although the first thing Tim did was turn on the TV and found a football game. Ayup.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ5F9jDDCI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/azxBdW2_fPY/s512/IMG_0155.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ4-1HuorI/AAAAAAAAAHE/nFVhu8ryqbI/s512/IMG_0152.JPG
The room was clean, but SMALL. And the view was ridiculous. It was of the parking lot. Charming, eh?

So, the power went off in the middle of the night ON PURPOSE, they were resetting it, which they failed to notify us about. So it’s a damn good thing we didn’t use the alarm clock in the hotel room, because we would have missed our early entry into the parks. Also, since the room reset… so did the heat in the room. I think in the middle of the night we all kicked off the covers off our bed, it was so gross and hot in there that first night even though we DID turn down the heat once we entered the room. Thank goodness it stuck at 65 degrees after that. We like to bundle up in our covers, not sleep on top of them, thank you very much!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ5a3jHiOI/AAAAAAAAAHs/Iy0PblrdR0I/s512/IMG_0159.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ7temwYoI/AAAAAAAAAKY/-QgcYGptmqg/s400/IMG_0188.JPG
Tim can fall asleep anywhere. We left him alone for 5 minutes and he was OUT. Snoring.

Once we had settled and unpacked and just relaxed a bit, we headed into downtown Disney.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ7TGrX7wI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/LsMG10IDjA4/s512/IMG_0181.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ6cvf79jI/AAAAAAAAAI8/rlokizLm744/s400/IMG_0172.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ5-DI_EeI/AAAAAAAAAIY/OqI4qPriui8/s512/IMG_0166.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ6x_xB_WI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/S1mhJhBPhis/s512/IMG_0175.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ68wUD9mI/AAAAAAAAAJY/pxaQ9t7IxZg/s512/IMG_0176.JPG
I was very impressed with Department 56 and ended up spending well over $150 there. I bought my first house for my Christmas village while on vacation. I had to get it sent home, and it hasn’t reached me yet, but it’ll be a treasured keepsake.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ7FpTgtAI/AAAAAAAAAJk/BukP0t6dtiw/s512/IMG_0179.JPG
This was over by an ATM which I think was tucked into a corner near Wetzel’s pretzels. There was no one around back there and I thought I would be naughty and go where only cast members were allowed!!!

http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ7MzABkAI/AAAAAAAAAJs/OZByP3a0O2g/s512/IMG_0180.JPG

We ate dinner at the rainforest café. We were seated right next to the bathroom on the top floor, so inconsiderate people kept bumping my chair. We were also right in between the noisy gorillas and the elephants. Still though, I enjoyed it, although the pizza I got was a little bit weird.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ8JlGYV1I/AAAAAAAAALA/-rftTX9beWE/s512/IMG_0193.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ8R4Ww-LI/AAAAAAAAALI/jSG8As2Cu6A/s512/IMG_0195.JPG
Matt was really unimpressed by this pickle. I think it offended him.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ8YR1JFRI/AAAAAAAAALQ/nWa1Ck51zp0/s512/IMG_0199.JPG

I think I may have reached my picture quota for this post, so I'll leave it at that for now! Hope I'm not being too talkative ;)

TiggerNZ

10-13-2008, 06:55 PM

keep going please - I just love hearing about and seeing peoples trips - looks good so far, shame about the heat in the room though.

Please do share more! :goodvibes

wendylady36

10-13-2008, 07:04 PM

I LOVE your report so far! The pictures are all so great. :goodvibes

Sorry about your parking lot view room.

Sherry E

10-13-2008, 07:38 PM

Rainforest, please keep going! You see how long MY Trip Report is! I love hearing all the details of people's trips, so you can't write/explain too much for my liking!!!

By the way, I am SO glad you snapped a little picture of the Halloween village in Dept. 56! I loved it! I fell in love with that whole display when I was there and was snapping photos (none of which have been developed yet) in the store like crazy! I love that whole Halloween amusement park theme with the little spooky people riding in the spinning pumpkins and then the ferris wheel and the haunted houses! It was spectacular. My friend and I just stood there staring at it, trying to absorb every detail. I highly recommend to anyone to visit Dept. 56 to see it before Halloween is over!

Rainforest_Elf

10-13-2008, 10:05 PM

By the way, I am SO glad you snapped a little picture of the Halloween village in Dept. 56! I loved it! I fell in love with that whole display when I was there and was snapping photos (none of which have been developed yet) in the store like crazy! I love that whole Halloween amusement park theme with the little spooky people riding in the spinning pumpkins and then the ferris wheel and the haunted houses! It was spectacular. My friend and I just stood there staring at it, trying to absorb every detail. I highly recommend to anyone to visit Dept. 56 to see it before Halloween is over!

I loved the little halloween village too, i thought it looked better than some of the christmas ones! My mother is a halloween fantatic so when she saw that picture she was glad there isn't a department 56 anywhere near us, because she WANTED that village like no ones buisness! Lol.

I'm glad y'all are enjoying my TR so far! My favorite trip reports to read on these boards are the ones with TONS of details and pictures. I may not know the people in the images, but i feel like I get to know them through the photographs, which is why I feel like sharing so many of mine!

disneydreamertoo

10-13-2008, 10:16 PM

Loving the details and loads of pictures! You have fun friends!

Rainforest_Elf

10-13-2008, 10:56 PM

Ugh, so. I went out just now to go buy pizza which is my Monday night ritual, and while I was stopped at a red light, someone rear ended me. I've never been in an accident, I don't speed, never got a ticket... I'm a very safe driver, a defensive driver, when I need to be. But meh! I can't believe this happened to me. Sorry for the whinge but I wanted to get that out! :mad:

I knew I had to do something to brighten my evening, so here's a bit more of my trip report.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ82C6ApaI/AAAAAAAAAL4/1IwBLJqaboA/s512/IMG_0203.JPG
After dinner we headed back to our hotel and spent some time near the DLH convention center hallway where they have a bunch of pictures of Walt building the park, and also famous people who had visited. I thought it was charming.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ8eWopMNI/AAAAAAAAALc/kmW3nD7DtFg/s512/IMG_0200.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ8mCqoYwI/AAAAAAAAALk/JOsL9ZiGt-4/s512/IMG_0201.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ8tJffMZI/AAAAAAAAALs/mb_MLTj8jY8/s512/IMG_0202.JPG

We went to bed pretty early that night, around 10pm so we could get up for our magic morning at 9am.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ9CaITMeI/AAAAAAAAAMI/CF-n9s7YKzE/s512/IMG_0206.JPG
We later decided that was way too much sleep. Haha.

In case you were wondering, ladies (and maybe gentlemen), he's a boxer-breif kinda man.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ9L05UaJI/AAAAAAAAAMU/OGB_MW6g8e4/s512/IMG_0207.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ9Ts1Zq_I/AAAAAAAAAMc/VYN91_8JVeQ/s400/IMG_0208.JPG
Matt really wanted to show me his undies. I don’t even have underwear that is that pretty and colorful. I was jealous. He was pleased. :laughing:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ9ZYIdHgI/AAAAAAAAAMk/UHMTxKQW4NY/s512/IMG_0210.JPG
I think here we were in the queue to get our bags checked. It was around 8:15am and it was already disgustingly hot. I wore my hair down for about 10 minutes on the way from the hotel. Then in downtown Disney I had really just had enough and put it up in a gross pony tail to get it off my neck. I was so thankful for SPF 70 Sunblock. The boys mocked me, but it literally saved me, I would have been burnt to a crisp without that stuff.

Although as usual, Matt has a big smile on his face. Not a lot fazes this man, including the nasty heat. Which is why I adore him, he's the most positive person I know!

And boy oh boy was he ready to GO! He was practically running to the gate after I got my purse checked for bombs and blades.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ9juSKHnI/AAAAAAAAAM4/ClyvNFWckwY/s512/IMG_0212.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ9qUEK3SI/AAAAAAAAANA/fd0R0H9r7e8/s512/IMG_0213.JPG

From reading these boards and various planning guides, we knew at minimum, we had to be in line at least 30 minutes before park opening. Well, everyone else had the same idea. Even still, at gate 13 we were maybe 10-15 parties back, so it didn’t take long to get is in at all. It was the rope drop that was crazy….
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ9xWrrW0I/AAAAAAAAANI/uaTrZk0GlNk/s512/IMG_0214.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ96A3x6LI/AAAAAAAAANU/nPwN7_WNfDc/s512/IMG_0215.JPG

Believe it or not, this is how many people were lined up for the early entry rope drop. Based on other pictures I've seen, this is a LOT of freaking people!!!
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ-Hi8pPxI/AAAAAAAAANk/DMjAMQaFP_E/s512/IMG_0217.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ-Z8xHKHI/AAAAAAAAAOA/TC9CNJlsoOk/s512/IMG_0221.JPG
I was hoping someone would take pitty on us and take a picture of the three of us, but we instead settled for Tim's arm outstretched with my camera in hand. This is right before the rope drop.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ-mhEGp4I/AAAAAAAAAOU/JyzifIIIhC4/s512/IMG_0225.JPG
Once they let us through the rope drop we booked it over to Peter Pan's flight. It was funny listening to people talk in the lineup as we were waiting to get scanned in. Some little boy complained to his mother, “See mom? We got here too late, now everyone’s going to head over to Peter Pan’s flight and the line is going to be crazy!” I couldn’t help but laugh because that’s exactly where we were headed.

We only had to wait about 5 minutes to get on. We were kinda worried since the boats are pretty small that the three of us fit on one, but we did it!
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ-s1X_nkI/AAAAAAAAAOc/OhSQKG7fEMQ/s512/IMG_0226.JPG

Then, it was time for Mr. Toad and his crazy driving skills!

He also cleary has a taste for manflesh:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ-0NyYxlI/AAAAAAAAAOk/PtCDe5alwQw/s512/IMG_0228.JPG
Ready...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ_I3qhOSI/AAAAAAAAAPA/myu3u8I7K_Y/s512/IMG_0231.JPG
Set...
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ_U2S279I/AAAAAAAAAPU/rugrJpYYpyY/s512/IMG_0233.JPG
GO!!!!!!
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ_Z5Ct_UI/AAAAAAAAAPc/HwUEEF1GIws/s512/IMG_0234.JPG

Think that'll make me reach my picture limit for this post, so when I return, it's MAD TEACUP TIME!!

Phew, I do feel better now that I've done that :)

bumbershoot

10-14-2008, 12:08 AM

Looks like fun!

Those are some colorful boxer briefs, most definitely. I love boxer briefs. :upsidedow

How is that pickle at RFC seeming to stand up?

(that was a strange combo of question/comment)

Rainforest_Elf

10-14-2008, 12:13 AM

How is that pickle at RFC seeming to stand up?

Haha, I think there was a really long skewer through it then going into his burger.

weslovesauntmeg

10-14-2008, 12:22 AM

Love you TR so far..I love all the pics so don't hold back..can't wait to hear more!!

Sherry E

10-14-2008, 09:03 PM

Keep going! I haven't heard and seen enough yet! More details and more pictures, please!!!

Oh, and yes, you are right - the Halloween village/carnival in Dept. 56 is better than the Christmas one, I think, because it is a little more unique. You often see Christmas village scenes, and while I love them, the Halloween carnival village idea is not something you see every year! I had forgotten about the pumpkin snowman until your photo reminded me! He was one of my favorites in addition to the spinning pumpkins!!!

Rainforest_Elf

10-14-2008, 09:42 PM

:hippie: right on! Let me continue the story of our first day in the parks!

We did the typical stuff in fantasyland first because it was magic morning. Mr. Toad, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and then...the teacups. Oh my, I love the teapcups.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ_hYmCmtI/AAAAAAAAAPk/Jw4_xurRNv4/s512/IMG_0237.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ_ph_5o4I/AAAAAAAAAPs/OkWSqgY6UxM/s512/IMG_0238.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ_0KoixBI/AAAAAAAAAP4/Nep6JNIkpXk/s512/IMG_0239.JPG
I know I look rather pained here, but really, Matt just makes me laugh a lot.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ_95IaGhI/AAAAAAAAAQA/jsx062tw9Qs/s512/IMG_0240.JPG
We had a pretty minimal wait for the teacups. We watched one cycle go through then it was our turn.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKAK19-H7I/AAAAAAAAAQU/2ycJErO0Zzg/s512/IMG_0243.JPG
Here's a nice crotch shot for ya.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKARzT8mFI/AAAAAAAAAQc/Kpepq9256Dg/s512/IMG_0245.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKAX5NdXXI/AAAAAAAAAQk/1TB-1JbDg0s/s512/IMG_0246.JPG
Once we got going, it was SUPER fun. I don't remember the teacups being quite this awesome as a child.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKAeZDvKEI/AAAAAAAAAQw/vuubqQ0GeRE/s512/IMG_0247.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKAiknBE-I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/Kg_KXOX_-CQ/s512/IMG_0248.JPG

The boys were spinning the wheel so fast I was laughing uncontrollably.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKAoCIrUKI/AAAAAAAAARA/7t4-Rb-aSm0/s512/IMG_0250.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKAtCsWs5I/AAAAAAAAARI/f18zWODRcqU/s512/IMG_0251.JPG
I was laughing so hard I was CRYING. And of course, I couldn’t walk straight once we got off those things.

I think after that we stumbled over to Space Mountain. I know, I'm naughty, I took a picture of the screen.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKA5W1EHJI/AAAAAAAAARc/7nIR-jvItdA/s400/IMG_0257.JPG
I had never been on it before, because when I went 13 years ago it was down for repairs. I LOVED it. I would have ridden it many more times but Tim doesn't like roller coasters in the dark, so this was our one and only ride on space mountain.

What was annoying about Space Mountain was the set up to the line itself. I’d like to talk to the moron who decided to put asphalt on the top of the queue for that ride. At 10 in the morning, the California sun and heat had made the line so unbearable I was ready to snap. It reached a high of 102 that day, so standing in the line for that ride, at least on the outside of the queue, was pretty painful

I especially loved the people cutting in line by going THROUGH this brilliantly hot courtyard instead of going around it like the queue is meant to. Had I run into those people again, I would have had words for them. Thankfully this was the only instance of line cutting I saw my whole trip, so that was good.

After Space Mountain we were kinda wandering without a purpose, we didn’t really have game plan since we had done everything we wanted to get out of the way. We were going to head to pirates, but decided to do breakfast first. On the way there, we ran into these fine gentlemen:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKBE2HU-0I/AAAAAAAAARk/Iyg76OkZbps/s512/IMG_0269.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKBP9GqGHI/AAAAAAAAARw/FwgJm2BtY9A/s512/IMG_0270.JPG
The one on the left walked over to me right after I snapped this photo and grabbed my smart water and said “what be ye drinkin?” or something like that and I told him water, and he wanted to know why I wasn’t drinking rum. Water is to be bathed with, not for drinkin, apparently. He was a hoot, I wish I had gotten a picture WITH him, not just of him.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKBYEdAjsI/AAAAAAAAAR4/q78hJMiKi7E/s400/IMG_0271.JPG
Breakfast was delicious. As the menu shows, we ate at the Riverbelle Terrace on a whim. Mostly because it was close by.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKBh0LZ6tI/AAAAAAAAASE/VecWbxchCWI/s512/IMG_0272.JPG
I got a steamboat. The eggs were kinda weird, maybe a little bit cold? But I ate that entire plate. YUM.
I think this is another steamboat but with bacon.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKBswELp1I/AAAAAAAAASM/4wb3FLjrzXQ/s512/IMG_0273.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKB11JT6bI/AAAAAAAAASY/71xQWN4qzdY/s512/IMG_0274.JPG
Tim got the Mark Twain! Not very fitting since HE NEVER LET ME GO ON THE MARK TWAIN RIVERBOAT since it didn't have any big drops :sad2:

So, while we were eating breakfast inside the diner, I heard some man with a stroller talking about disboards. I made eye contact and smiled at him right as he mentioned disboards but I was way too shy to say HI I’M RAINFOREST ELF from DISBOARDS!! So, dude with your family at 10:30am on 10/7/08, that was me.

TXAng

10-14-2008, 10:49 PM

Great TR so far! Loving all the photos. :)

Which Christmas village house did you get - the one in the picture? My stepmother has a GINORMOUS D56 village. It takes her 3 or 4 days to get it all set up every year.

Are you ok after getting rear-ended?

Rainforest_Elf

10-14-2008, 11:02 PM

This is a picture of our feet (and my belly). Totally accidental.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKCDe1tz5I/AAAAAAAAASo/xC2D2HYi7eU/s512/IMG_0276.JPG
I’m a semi-professional photographer but I brought a totally crappy (I’d consider it throw away) Canon Powershot A470 with me. It did its job, but I missed my Nikon D80 and my fancy lenses. So I found these pictures which I forgot I was even taking, to be VERY amusing. I took several accidental shots. Including the crotch shot featured in the last post.

So we rode pirates, which was uneventful, but relaxing.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKB8L4Qj1I/AAAAAAAAASg/ag3udtu8dxU/s512/IMG_0275.JPG
The line said it was 20 minutes but in actuality it was 5 minutes.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKCHI7_7xI/AAAAAAAAAS0/sLcsMQoN_Og/s512/IMG_0277.JPG
A crappy picture of the Blue Bayou before they opened for lunch. This is what it looks like from the ride! Coming up later will be what the place looks like from the actual inside!

http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKCUkn7_MI/AAAAAAAAATM/nKaDw5doTFs/s512/IMG_0280.JPG
New Orleans square is my favorite place inside Disneyland, and this little courtyard is awesome as well. Really, it's so charming
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKCcqIElQI/AAAAAAAAATU/TfusQLefoik/s512/IMG_0282.JPG
I'm not sure what Matty was fussing over in this picture.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKClyTkGWI/AAAAAAAAATg/_ox69NVW1-E/s512/IMG_0284.JPG

Went over to ride Winnie The Pooh, much to Tim’s chagrin. I don't think he wanted to go on that kiddy ride, but I found it amusing.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKCtPmHQCI/AAAAAAAAATo/ss4ANzyN2lE/s512/IMG_0286.JPG
I was upset Matt wasn’t happy to get his picture taken. Pouting works really well apparently because he perked right up for the next snapshot.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKC0cXtlJI/AAAAAAAAATw/VIgKxqF_-jY/s512/IMG_0287.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKC7KnrlxI/AAAAAAAAAT8/CxJ-EvGsc24/s512/IMG_0288.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKDGbNMBUI/AAAAAAAAAUE/3vehQpJ__T8/s512/IMG_0289.JPG
Ohhhh Splash Mountain. How I fear you. When I was a kid I went on Splash Mountain once, and I never went on it again. Why? I thought it was insane that there were no seat belts and the bars that you grip onto were metal and of course, got wet and slippery making it impossible to hang onto.

Now this may have been in my imagination, however I swear that on that ride, as a 10 year old girl, I was being lifted up out of my seat on that ride on the big drop. It was enough to scare me into never going on that ride again because I thought it was going to fly out! REALLY! So on this return trip, I made it quite known to my boys that I may not be able to handle Splash Mountain.

The boys kept insisting it wasn't a big deal and I was going to think it was dumb. For them, I would brave that ride again. But not quite yet, that'll come later in this trip report.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKDQncVDBI/AAAAAAAAAUM/NjgNVJxq2iw/s512/IMG_0291.JPG
Here's a picture of Matt doing his poohbear impression! He loves honey! What's funny is that when I was taking this picture, we kept getting weird looks from people walking by. I mean, honestly, what do you think that thing is there for? FOR PICTURE TAKING!!!
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKDaSE-ALI/AAAAAAAAAUY/jVTAvJ_eM4Q/s512/IMG_0293.JPG
I really wanted one of those candy apples, but what a freaking mess they would be.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKDkvoOADI/AAAAAAAAAUg/Uk6eDbiPEos/s512/IMG_0294.JPG
Look at the getup on this chick. Poor lady. What an outfit to have to wear to work every day.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKDu2ahI0I/AAAAAAAAAUs/9nEM4UN-3fI/s512/IMG_0295.JPG
Tigger tails. Lemme tell ya, I was looking forward to those things. I had about two delicious bites and I was done. They’re so rich. We totally should have shared, I threw mine away after only two bites, and I think Matt did too. I'm also not a real big fan of marshmellows, so that was kinda stupid on my part.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKD59k-DtI/AAAAAAAAAU0/JCaoDaB3WV4/s512/IMG_0296.JPG
Oooh Haunted Mansion. I love you. But the experience on this ride was very odd. I love the decorations on the outside.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKEOFhWP5I/AAAAAAAAAVI/im3ubJOfhvM/s400/IMG_0298.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKEaZEHZDI/AAAAAAAAAVU/YKuY60IkMKM/s512/IMG_0299.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKEi-L4TXI/AAAAAAAAAVc/GmAPCZySO8g/s400/IMG_0300.JPG
So the CM who was manning the entrance was one rude dude. We noticed there was FP line but for the life of us, we couldn't find the booth, so we said screw it and we went into the line without one. But we figured we would at least ask for next time. Now, Matt is a very polite gentleman, he's very old fashioned and just in general, a nice guy. So he went up to the cast member and said "excuse me sir, if we wanted to get fastpasses...." and the cast member wouldn't even let him finish before BARKING "around the corner and to the left!!!" and causing Matt to scurry away. This really pissed me off so I made sure to loudly comment in the rude CM's direction that "Gee, think the Disney magic is missing from YOUR day, sir?" he wouldn't even look over in my direction so we continued on in the queue, but honestly, what the crap is wrong with you? It's a simple, polite question. Get over yourself, it's your job to be there, and if 5 people in a row ask you where the bathroom is or whatever, you answer it the same way the first person did. /rant off

We weren't really being very smart about the order in which we did things. After the very strange Haunted Mansion ride (not a fan of the overlay. You want Nightmare before christmas? give it it's own ride, thank you!) we headed over to, what I accidently called "Big Rocky Mountain Thunder Railroad"

Yes. I actually called it that. In case you can't tell, we were on our way to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKEuS0UkuI/AAAAAAAAAVo/mEd6M1jG0Tg/s512/IMG_0303.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKE4qtAjfI/AAAAAAAAAVw/X2zh1FpR8tk/s512/IMG_0305.JPG
We were starting to run out of water at this point. It was mid-day, and it was hot.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKFCYH_-1I/AAAAAAAAAV8/yLUByvUfgpg/s512/IMG_0306.JPG
I didn't get a ride buddy for this one. And ohmygosh, I was being slid around from side to side on every turn. I will never ride that one alone again, you just move about way too much!!!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKFNWQ2GtI/AAAAAAAAAWE/Bv21aB0EFGs/s400/IMG_0307.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKFXx6rKsI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/hTrbn5OEARw/s400/IMG_0308.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKFhTOphFI/AAAAAAAAAWY/rG9bzJE6DZ8/s400/IMG_0309.JPG
We thought it was funny there was a little advertisement from Kodak saying it was a kodak moment in front of the mountain. These were our best attempts.

I think we grabbed fast passes after that for Splash Mountain and headed over to Adventure Land, and I'll leave you at the midday mark for now, since this post is getting longer by the second!

Rainforest_Elf

10-14-2008, 11:05 PM

Which Christmas village house did you get - the one in the picture? My stepmother has a GINORMOUS D56 village. It takes her 3 or 4 days to get it all set up every year.

Are you ok after getting rear-ended?

I ended up getting a house from the North Pole village since it was the one that seemed to "speak" to me.

http://www.christmas-auburn-ca.com/dp56frame/North_pole/npimages/799918e.jpg
I saw this one and I had to have it. I've got this thing for Polar Bears!!! I hope by the time I'm an old woman I've got a village that takes days to set up, hahaha!

And thankfully I'm fine after my accident yesterday. I've got some whip lash but it could have been so much worse. Even the damage to my car was pretty minor, considering the force at which I was hit. Plus, the woman who hit me took full responsibility, so hopefully that doesn't raise my insurance rates since I had nothing to do with it. Oi, life sometimes, eh?

weslovesauntmeg

10-15-2008, 01:14 AM

Loving it so far!! Gets me excited for my trip on Monday with by big sis for a grown up day...I think you enjoy DL more when your being silly and enjoying every aspect of it..excpet the rude CM..which you don't find very often!! Keep it coming!!

kaoden39

10-15-2008, 01:45 AM

I am really enjoying your trip report. It is always so much better to be with people who make you laugh.:hippie:

10stime

10-15-2008, 01:45 AM

Hi, I am an oregonian too! Loving your trip report, it looks like you had fun with the boys (I have traveled with guy friends and my best girl friends and I have to say I had more fun with the guys)! I can't wait to read more. I am taking my niece in December and getting soooo excited.

TiggerNZ

10-15-2008, 03:04 AM

I ended up getting a house from the North Pole village since it was the one that seemed to "speak" to me.

http://www.christmas-auburn-ca.com/dp56frame/North_pole/npimages/799918e.jpg
I saw this one and I had to have it. I've got this thing for Polar Bears!!! I hope by the time I'm an old woman I've got a village that takes days to set up, hahaha!

And thankfully I'm fine after my accident yesterday. I've got some whip lash but it could have been so much worse. Even the damage to my car was pretty minor, considering the force at which I was hit. Plus, the woman who hit me took full responsibility, so hopefully that doesn't raise my insurance rates since I had nothing to do with it. Oi, life sometimes, eh?

I love this little house, where did you get it from please? It is gorgeous.

Oh - and totally loving your TR with all the pictures, looks like you had a blast

mt mommy

10-15-2008, 09:14 AM

Love your trippy!! You and your friends seem so fun!

Rainforest_Elf

10-15-2008, 12:53 PM

I love this little house, where did you get it from please? It is gorgeous.

I bought the house at Department 56. They sell all over the place so I'm sure you could find a store online that has their stuff. I was lucky enough to find the one I wanted actually AT the Department 56 store :goodvibes

TXAng

10-15-2008, 02:13 PM

What a great piece to start your village with! Very pretty.

Glad that you're ok and your car didn't get too much damage!

wendylady36

10-15-2008, 03:55 PM

http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKB11JT6bI/AAAAAAAAASY/71xQWN4qzdY/s512/IMG_0274.JPG
Tim got the Mark Twain!

Mmmm, I'm so gonna get me one of those tomorrow.

Not very fitting since HE NEVER LET ME GO ON THE MARK TWAIN RIVERBOAT since it didn't have any big drops :sad2:

:lmao: Then I'll go on the Mark Twain just for you after I eat my Mark Twain!

I'm loving your trip report!

Sorry about getting rear ended. I need a bumber sticker that says "please do not bump the car in front of you" like on the Autopia. I went from having no accidents to being rear ended three times in a year! :scared1:

10stime

10-17-2008, 04:08 PM

I was just checking in for more trip report....I hope you are going to share more popcorn:: You guys remind me so much of me and my best friend John, it cracks me up!

Rainforest_Elf

10-18-2008, 12:32 AM

Oh I'm totally going to do more trip report!!! In fact, here's some more right now!

This is a continuation of day 2 of the trip, but day 1 of us actually in the theme parks. It was about mid-day now, we had just ridden Thunder Mountain Railroad and it was HOT. I hate hot weather, so this was really making me cranky.

We were all VERY unhappy it was so hot outside.
Poor Timmy.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKFwWFjIjI/AAAAAAAAAWs/aGyVp8pcHgQ/s512/IMG_0314.JPG
Poor Matty.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKF4yuC9JI/AAAAAAAAAW0/UxZSy--pL1Y/s512/IMG_0315.JPG
Matt even ran out of water. It was getting kinda hopeless at this point.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKGNsfku_I/AAAAAAAAAXI/m8fzPwlOc0Q/s512/IMG_0318.JPG
We're like, steps from the air conditioned building and we were stuck, melting, outside.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKGWZO0lvI/AAAAAAAAAXU/ncPnlyfZgtg/s512/IMG_0319.JPG

I like Matt's shoes. A lot. They remind me of Charlie from Lost. Any Lost fans in this crowd?!

More interesting shots of the queue:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKGrBKlcLI/AAAAAAAAAXk/v1zbv89gUAc/s512/IMG_0321.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKG_czoklI/AAAAAAAAAX4/rIcKIgULBmA/s512/IMG_0323.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKHRHEbOfI/AAAAAAAAAYM/S2Dl047CCRc/s400/IMG_0331.JPG

It was pretty dark through the rest of Indiana Jones so I didn't take any more pictures, but man! What a fun ride. Matt got to be in the driver's seat.

So, I believe, earlier, when we had ridden Winnie The Pooh, we had been smart and grabbed fast passes for Splash Mountain before we ventured elsewhere. After we waited like 45 minutes for Indiana Jones, we had run out of water, it was time to brave Splash Mountain.

Now if you've been reading this trip report, you'll remember that, Splash Mountain scared the beejeevus out of me. When I was a kid I thought I was going to die on that ride. But I told my boys I would more than likely brave it for them. It was so hot I didn't really care anymore. I knew no one had ever died on that ride and it certainly wasn't going to be me, now a full grown woman. Plus I wanted to get wet. I was hot.

The ride was pretty enjoyable, although my heart was indeed racing the entire time because I had no idea exactly how long it was or when the drop occured. The boys TRIED to put me in the front seat, but I said the deal was, I was in the middle, sandwiched between them, or I wasn't going at all.

I did actually end up purchasing an 8x10 of this picture, so I don't feel bad for taking a snapshot of the screen. Here are the results:

Please notice Tim's expression. He's in the front.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKHs6GyfOI/AAAAAAAAAYo/QhWqrol2SuY/s400/IMG_0343.JPG

And while I had fun and it was AMAZING to be soaking wet from this ride on a nasty hot day, this was my initial shock after the drop that scared me so badly:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKHkNaMwvI/AAAAAAAAAYg/lCoTqqSq9Bw/s512/IMG_0341.JPG
Oh Matt. Always happy go-lucky.

I'm looking back at these pictures now and we were all over the place this first day, we didn't really plan this well. After Splash, we squished our way over to the Jungle Cruise
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKH2fVnm2I/AAAAAAAAAY0/gunreISgMRI/s512/IMG_0347.JPG
Better make your choice and pick the right line!!
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKIR-hA3mI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/C95A7moID_0/s512/IMG_0351.JPG
I remember the jokes being a lot funnier when I was little. This one kinda feels like it needs to be updated. Maybe. A little bit.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKH_QAXXiI/AAAAAAAAAY8/2HVp_914_tY/s512/IMG_0348.JPG
We never did get any better at taking pictures of all 3 of us.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKIZ9ERohI/AAAAAAAAAZY/RFCb1s9RvUY/s400/IMG_0355.JPG
We tried our darndest to find the magic lamp so we could.. rub it. We have a feeling it was in the building. And it was always roped off.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKIgo180WI/AAAAAAAAAZg/Aq4Y0w6XwWU/s512/IMG_0356.JPG
Shrunken Ned!! This was like, the best .50 cents I spent in the parks. "For a long, happy life, eat whatever you want and don't worry about it. A waist is a terrible thing to mind." Yeah right dude. Show him my weight loss ticker.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKIomaZ5EI/AAAAAAAAAZs/f3eHd0KkcLA/s512/IMG_0359.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKIvP4VZlI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/Ne0H85VoJIw/s512/IMG_0360.JPG
I really wanted a picture of this window display without any reflections on it. But alas, that was clearly never going to happen.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKI3o6_9jI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/9BHwYF5rqrM/s512/IMG_0361.JPG
Timmy at the train station!

We thought this was a nice time to take a break, so we boarded the train around DL!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPKI_nsAa-I/AAAAAAAAAaI/aakEuq0y2Ck/s512/IMG_0363.JPG
It was still unbareably hot. I kinda wanted to go back to the room until dinner at the blue bayou at 5:30 and then stay until closing that night so we wouldn't be out in the sun. the boys didn't agree. I'll show you what we did instead, next time :)

travelmel

10-18-2008, 02:03 AM

Great TR! You guys look like you're having a ball! We also left for DL out of PDX ;-) LOL

I love how you are so young but begining your Christmas Village... :rotfl2: Be carefull.... here's what can happen before you know it!

No, DH did not have too much eggnog-it's just a bad pic!
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc55/TravelMiss/Christmas2005008-1.jpg

That is NOT a store. It is my DMIL's house. ::yes::

anyway, thanks for the great report!

Keep up the good work! :dance3:

P.S. Sorry nobody took your picture... that kinds stinks.

10stime

10-18-2008, 02:36 AM

Krissy Marissy

10-18-2008, 03:04 AM

Hey I am an Oregonian too!!!

Very much enjoying your TR! Can't wait for the next round! :)

weslovesauntmeg

10-18-2008, 02:45 PM

Great post!! I hate those summer days of scorching hot sun...so will you ever do Splash again??

travelmel

10-18-2008, 02:49 PM

Sorry it was so warm for your trip. I am taking my niece in December and am hoping it wont be too rainy or cold. I am so scared of going on Splash Mountain too! I promised my niece I would try to go and I am already nervous. I went once in Disneyworld and I wanted off! I love your Christmas Villiage house!

Oh MY GOODNESS Travelmel that Christmas Villiage is CRAZY, I have never seen anything like that. How long has she been puting that together?

She's been collecting for several years (only the area 151 or whatever it's called.) and her DH built the "city scape" for her display. It takes her quite awhile to set it up! The DD's always get to "make it snow" when they come by. :santa:

Sherry E

10-18-2008, 04:08 PM

A) I watch "Lost" religiously (can't wait for it to come back on the air in another few months!). I don't know if I ever noticed Charlie's shoes while he was 'alive.' (That is a debate for the ages - whether they are 'alive' or not!)

B) I also DETEST heat - especially in the blazing sun of DLR, where it always seems hotter than in the 'real world.' I like cold. I like it in California/DLR when we are lucky enough to drop down to the 30's sometimes in December. I like to bundle up in comfy sweaters and coats to get warm and sip cocoa rather than feeling like I am going to pass out because I can't cool down fast enough no matter how much water I drink. And I drink a lot of water.

C) My friends and I are also really uncomfortable with big drops on rides, like on Splash Mountain. It took YEARS from my childhood fear of POTC for it to grow into one of my absolute favorite rides now! I still have one friend who won't go on POTC at all, and another friend who will ride it is still terrified of the drops and can't relax until they are over!

Sherry E

10-18-2008, 04:30 PM

Oh, BTW, Rainforest, did you see the super cute Gum Drop People ornaments in the front display window of Dept. 56? Some of the gumdrops people were made up to look like little birds with beaks and feet and some were fish, etc. SO cute. That store has some great stuff in addition to the awesome Halloween village and the Christmas village.

Oh, and the Jungle Cruise, I notice, alternates in whether or not it is funny over the years. I have been on it some times where the CM's were sort of amusing and the whole 'shpiel' was kind of clever. Or they had a way of making it seem clever. The last times I was on it, however, it just seemed dumb and un-funny to me!

WA Kay

10-19-2008, 03:43 AM

I am loving your trip report and can't wait for more. Looks like you had a great time.

Kay

10stime

10-23-2008, 12:26 AM

louise1928

10-28-2008, 01:28 PM

Ferry Joy

10-28-2008, 02:19 PM

http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ9L05UaJI/AAAAAAAAAMU/OGB_MW6g8e4/s512/IMG_0207.JPG[/IMG]
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Rachel.Standlee/SPJ9Ts1Zq_I/AAAAAAAAAMc/VYN91_8JVeQ/s400/IMG_0208.JPG
Matt really wanted to show me his undies. I don’t even have underwear that is that pretty and colorful. I was jealous. He was pleased. :laughing:

I'm just reading along enjoying your trip report :surfweb: and then suddenly I'm choking on my coffee and spitting on the computer. What colourful undies!!!!
I have to say his boxers are brighter and more colourful than anything I have ever owned. Pity me! :rotfl:
Keep all the pictures coming!

TXAng

10-30-2008, 04:59 PM

You survived Splash Mountain! It's such a bummer when it's so hot. It seems to make everyone so cranky and miserable.

Great TR! You guys look like you're having a ball! We also left for DL out of PDX ;-) LOL

I love how you are so young but begining your Christmas Village... :rotfl2: Be carefull.... here's what can happen before you know it!

No, DH did not have too much eggnog-it's just a bad pic!
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc55/TravelMiss/Christmas2005008-1.jpg

That is NOT a store. It is my DMIL's house. ::yes::

anyway, thanks for the great report!

Keep up the good work! :dance3:

P.S. Sorry nobody took your picture... that kinds stinks.

That's about what my stepmother's village looks like!

travelmel

10-31-2008, 03:09 AM

How many days did you guys spend in the park total? I am going to be there from the 14th-19th of December so I am hoping we are able to get everything in. When we went 2 years ago I went home with quite a few things I was kicking myself for missing. I have had the trip booked and paid for since august but I am having a heck of a time finding a good deal on airfare out of PDX. :sad2:

Hmmm... don't despair.. everytime I start to stress a good price comes up. I set myself an alert with expedia (I think) to let me know when the price drops below $250. That definitely helps me search for prices.

Good luck!

10stime

11-06-2008, 12:55 AM

Thanks TravelMel, Jet Blue actually just dropped their fares to around 250 round trip flying into Long Beach. I was hoping for SNA since I already had Disneyland Express Vouchers through GetAwayToday that I purchased with the package. If I can find some good transportation out of Long Beach I think we have found our flight!

travelmel

11-06-2008, 09:34 AM

wendylady36

11-06-2008, 11:52 AM

I'll only go on Splash Mountain when it's hot or other people are really enthusiastic about going on it. To me, Splash Mountain is a reminder of how mean my family can be...Minnie Mouse is, in fact, NOT at the top of Splash Mountain...you've been warned! :rotfl:

Anyways, I did in fact have my Mark Twain a few weeks ago and I rode the Mark Twain twice, so that made me think of you!

I can't wait to hear more about your trip! :goodvibes

Rainforest_Elf

01-01-2009, 06:52 PM

Oh my, has it been awhile! Hello again my disboard friends. I've missed you!

Life has been super busy for me for the last month and a half, which will explain my abandonment of my trip report! But rest assured, here comes more of it! I still have a whole heck of a lot of days and pictures to share with you!!!

So when I last left you, I was explaining how it was mid day on our first day in the park and it was like, 98 degrees in the shade and it was just hot and gross. We found shelter in the Disney Gallery.... i think is what it was called. The museum full of old Disneyland memorobila!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_u5rsG6GXLdI/SPKJJBBjO6I/AAAAAAAAAaQ/JlE5aJ5W4lE/s640/IMG_0364.JPG
I really liked this guy, he was very informative and had a pleasant speaking voice. I think he said he was at opening day of Disneyland when he was a wee lad, or something. I wasn't exactly paying attention to what he was saying, we were just glad to be in an air conditioned room!

Original outfit for cast members on the matterhorn. Personally I think they're way cuter than what they wear now!
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_u5rsG6GXLdI/SPKJSk98uTI/AAAAAAAAAaY/_taV--MJDpU/s640/IMG_0365.JPG

We spent maybe 20 minutes in the museum thing before we realized we better head over for our dinner reservations at the Blue Bayou, so we skeedaddled out of there and took a nice stroll over to New Orleans Square.

Some nice cast member took this for us. We don't really like each other which is why we're all prim and proper and not touching.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_u5rsG6GXLdI/SPKJ7srUrMI/AAAAAAAAAbA/yo2uIMKDAGQ/s512/IMG_0373.JPG
JUST KIDDING!!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_u5rsG6GXLdI/SPKKXD1TVjI/AAAAAAAAAbc/Bdg75nwVdkg/s512/IMG_0377.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_u5rsG6GXLdI/SPKKf5m-WcI/AAAAAAAAAbo/Y4laukSycP8/s640/IMG_0378.JPG
I was GOING to do a photopass card, but these last three pictures were the ONLY time we ran into a Photopass Photographer, and I just didn't feel it was worth it. I mean heck Disney, I was going to give you $75 of my hard earned cash for nice pictures but you didn't keep your photographers out and about!

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I thought this was very random. We made friends. This Indian will make a reappearance on the last day of our trip... in a very special way... :woohoo:

So we had reservations for 5:30 that night and we showed up at 5:15. When I called in the priorety seating I had asked for waterside seating and the dude on the phone had told me I didn't really want our party to sit there because it was a 3 hour wait even with the PS and that the people on the boat heckled you. I said that he knew best and to just sit us where-ever.

We were called to our table at... 5:45, I think. And they walked us right on back to a 4 person table right next to the water!!! The one trade off though was, we were seated right next to the kitchen. All in all, that wasn't bad to be honest. Waterside seating>sitting near the kitchen.

I was so thrilled!

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I totally loved it in there. Our meals were a bit pricey, but hey, it's disneyland. The atmosphere was totally worth it

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And of course, we got the cookie boat!!
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The cookie was WARM, the chocolate was gooey and melty, and the ice cream was delicious! The plan was for me to take the sugar sail back in my suitcase, but it seemed kinda fragile, so we decided to see what it tasted like instead....

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Matt and I would not reccomend trying it. It tasted like rice paper and chalk.

Because of the heat and the long day, after dinner, we were pretty much done with the parks and didn't want to do anything else, so we headed out for the gate. I had said early on, in the trip, I had absolutely NO interest in staying for any parades and silly stuff like that.Matt couldn't be bothered one way or the other, so we walked by the Walt Disney Parade of Dreams on our way out...

...but wouldn't you know it? Timmy LOVES parades:
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Seriously. The dude freaking lit up like it was Christmas morning. We did stop and watch it because this was the happiest he had been all day. And actually, when he was watching the parades (yes, we saw another one later in the week) that was the happiest he was the ENTIRE trip.

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I do have to admitt, it was pretty cool. I wouldn't mind watching another one.

This is my "I'm tired and sunburnt" face.
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Matt and his very first pin:
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And that's the conclusion of Day 1 in the parks!!!! PHEW! I'll try and upload a bit from Day 2: Universal Studios, sometime this weekend :D

weslovesauntmeg

01-01-2009, 07:08 PM

Yeah!! More TR..I thought we had lost you. I'm a sucker for parades too, alothough no one else in my fam is..they aren't as gracious as you to let me watch it. So I have to watch them on YouTube whenever I get the craving!! Keep it coming..

Sherry E

01-01-2009, 07:14 PM

Rainforest_Elf

01-01-2009, 07:23 PM

You have actually been gone from posting on this TR thread since mid-October! Did you realize it had been that long? I have had a whole other DLR trip (in December) since the last time you were on here, woman! In fact, I went back and added in all kinds of pictures at the beginning of my TR and from the October trip I took as well as from December in my TR! You have to revisit it!!

The last time I posted on your TR thread, I was talking about Lost, I think, as well as big drops on rides!!!! Anyway, I am glad to see you back on here, continuing where you left off. I had thought of you the other day and wondered what happened to you! But now it's like we are picking up in the TR like you never left! I hope you had a great holiday season!!!:goodvibes

Oh wow, I didn't really realize it had been quite that long! Been working a lot of 6 day weeks at muh job since November, and the with the holidays...just haven't had a lot of computer time!

Imma have to go look at your TR you were making when I was first starting mine, because you hadn't posted pictures at that point. Woot! I'll go have a look!

travelmel

01-01-2009, 07:38 PM

Welcome back! That's funny that that guy only likes parades... :rotfl2:

Rainforest_Elf

01-01-2009, 10:40 PM

Well, I'm bored and I cleaned out my desk and am now without anything to do until bedtime, so, hey! More trip report!

Day 3: Universal Studios

We planned before we left that we wouldn't be messing with a rental car because none of us are 25, and we didn't want to pay up the wazoo to rent one. Plus we weren't really going to be doing a whole lot of driving, so we took the suggestion of someone on these forums and we did a package through Greyline America which picks you up at your hotel, then drops you at a main station where they then take you to your destination, like Sea World, tours of Hollywood... and then of course Universal Studios, where we were heading.

It was a zoo.

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I wish I had taken a picture of this lot from the back of the parking lot. There were just masses amounts of families all spread out. They send one person from your party into a main hub which is a dirty, nasty crowded place where you check in. We sent Matt in there. He said it was gross.

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This was a nice Australian family we kept running into. Also, our bus.

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I have to say, I really really liked Universal Studios. I'm a HUGE movie nerd and I really enjoyed everything about this place. And it was so NOT crowded. I mean Disneyland was terribly crowded every day we went there. At Universal we didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes for ANY ride. In some cases we just got off the rides, walked back around in line then immediately got back on it.
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Part of the back lot which was burnt down. They're trying to clean it up to rebuild it.

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Going down to the lower lot via one of the 1 million escalators they have in the place. Okay really it was more like 7, but still. A LOT of escalators.

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Lining up for the studio tour.

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Our shoes.

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Universal Studios is so large it has its own zip code and fire station!

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Tram!

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Flash Flood!
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Some random dude in western town.

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The earthquake/subway room

Some of the lot really needs to be updated desperately... at leas the part where they do the tour. I love Jaws and all that but this was so cheesy...

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I was really bummed when I heard about the fire at Universal last year, especially because the tour used to take you through the set of Back to the Future, which is one of my favorite movies ever. Instead, they now take you to Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives. The houses are cute and all, but I'm not a fan of the show so.... boring.

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This was probably my favorite bit on the tour. The bates Motel. Norman Bates comes out, puts his mother in a car trunk, then comes and chases after your train with a knife. Made me laugh.

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Also, Whoville is behind the Bates Motel. True story.

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War of the World's set. Love the movie. Kinda boring and a big mess. Not really sure why they keep random stuff like this around unless it can be used in another movie or something, it's not like War of the Worlds is as major as Back to the Future was or something.

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I liked this sign :)

Think I've reached my picture limit... I'll continue in my next post!

Rainforest_Elf

01-01-2009, 10:58 PM

So after the tour we decided it was time for rides!

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Oh boy. I loved the Jurassic Park ride!

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My boys were very excited!!! As was I!

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You tell me what Tim was doing to Matt here, cause I have no idea. Looks a bit.... frisky, wouldn't you say? :rotfl:

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We ended up buying the $25 picture of us coming down the 5 story drop, because we all looked scared out of our minds, not knowing what to expect. Unfortunately I don't have a scanner so I can't share it with you. Boo.

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Waiting in line for the Backdraft demonstration. Don't really care for the movie, but the demonstration was pretty cool.

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Matt and Tim with our good friends Kevin Bacon, Tom Hanks, and Bill Paxon.
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Pretty sure the Universal Attendant who was managing the hallway where you enter the ride for The Simpsons was high out of his mind. Yup.

The only thing Tim really cared about doing while we were at Universal was seeing the Waterworld show.
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Pretty awesome set, if you ask me.

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We were sitting in what's called the "soak zone." Obviously the goal here, is to get wet. One of the actors did come around and squirt us with one of those tube shaped squirt guns. When he was turned away, I squirted him back with my water bottle. That ticked him off and he got a BUCKET, filled it up, and then tossed it on us in the front row. My camera was hidden away in my purse at this time so I didn't get a picture of the actor. But he was a total ham.

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We had a bit of bad luck though. They started the show, and about 5 minutes in, the gate, which is part of the show, BROKE. I guess it was a pretty major part to the show because they made everyone leave because of "technical difficulties." We were pretty dissapointed. To make matters worse, while we were eating at the Saddle Ranch Chop house for dinner, we had realized that they did eventually start the show... like 45 minutes later.

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I had heard that the saddle ranch chop house had a mechanical bull, and I really wanted to ride it, so that's where we went to dinner! It's litterally just outside universal. However BOTH of the ones they had were roped off and didn't look like people could use them, so I didn't even get to try it =(

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Just some pictures of the boys at our table during dinner. The food was pretty good although they messed up all of our orders. Oh well.

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You have no idea how upset I am BOTH of them are blinking in this picture. It would have been 100% perfect otherwise.

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Tim and I take real gud pikturs.

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We decided to behave for the second frame.

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And that concludes day 3 of the trip! This was traffic on the way home. I was so glad at the end of the day we just had to sit and relax for a good hour and a half on the bus. I would have been so stressed driving in this.

Echie

01-04-2009, 12:04 AM

Rainforest_Elf

01-05-2009, 09:55 PM

I am loving your trip report! Thanks so much for all the awesome photos!
You and your friends take the funnest photos ever! You guys seem to have a blast together!

Quick question: About how long did it take to get from your disneyland hotel to universal by that bus?

the way there it was maybe 45minutes to an hour... not long. On the way home it was more like an hour and a half to 2 hours. We left at 6pm and werent back at the hotel until 8:15pm, but then the Disneyland hotel was the last stop, i think.

10stime

01-07-2009, 02:57 AM

Yay I am glad you are back to share the rest of your trip with everyone! I just got back from my trip a few weeks ago. I have never done a trip report but I think I may give it a go! Did you love all of our snow we got? We made it back from Disneyland the night before it hit. Although if flights were cancelled going into Portland we might have had to stay longer :goodvibes