Solo day and family trip... two, two, two reports in ONE!

[bumbershoot]

(Trip Report starts at post #22 and pre-trip for family trip starts at #65)

Second trip report starts page 12.

***********************
Why am I doing a pre-trip report for a one day trip? Well, because it's fun! And because I HAVE fun when alone, and I like to encourage others to go by themselves when no one else is willing or able to go with them. :)

I've got this trip to San Diego planned for early November. I agreed to this when I thought we were going to Vegas (though in retrospect I don't have much interest in Vegas until the hotels and casinos go non-smoking b/c I don't like coming home sick), but then my friend couldn't get tix to Madonna there, so she decided on the SD show instead.

I'm not really into the "adult" things the friends are planning, like blowing scads of money for some sailing thing (where you help sail, I tell you, why PAY for that?), and shopping and whatever. I want to go to seaworld (I still have a year pass from DS and my trip last December!), I want to go to the wild animal park, and by gum, I want to go to Disneyland/adventure! :)

So while the rest of the ladies are getting over their hangovers on the morning after Madonna before their flights back to WA, I'm calling a cab and hightailing it to the Amtrak station to catch the Surfliner.

Anyone have thoughts about the Surfliner's timeliness going north on the first or second train on a weekday morning?

I have enough Amtrak Guest Rewards, er, rewards to get that trip for free, which is cool.

Then cab it over, snag a big locker, and I'm there for a day of fun! I have a very late flight out that night from LAX and I'm going to book Disneyland Express to get there.

So basically, opening to *almost* closing by myself!

What to do, what to do.... :)


To be honest, there's a chance for a day there before that. Turns out one of the many women going on this trip (organized by a friend who just turned 40 and decided Madonna was touring this year in honor of that b'day) is also a Disney fan, so I'm hoping she'll push for a day in Anaheim (so I don't have to). If that happens I'll just be so happy. Alas, at least one of the friends thinks it's all for kids, yawn, so maybe we'll have to leave her in San Diego to tour museums or something adult like that.

I've been working on this post since last night...I apologize, Dis server for that...so I might as well post it now.

[kaoden39]

I am all for solo trips. I love Disneyland. I haven't done it alone fpr years but some of my best trips I ever had were by myself. I think maybe this makes me awful but I don't know. Face it if you can't have fun alone you can't as part of a group either.

[Sherry E]

I think I would get a lot more done in some areas if I were by myself. I would have much more time to browse all the shops without feeling rushed. I could stop and take any photo of any bathroom sign that I wanted to - or of anything else I wanted to - without having to yell out for my companions to STOP and wait for me (they tend to tear off in one direction while I am trying to snap pictures!)! So a solo trip would be worth it for those reasons alone. I think I prefer riding things with friends, though. That is always fun. But, as we know, there is so much to do at DLR other than just ride things, so I would have more than plenty to do for a whole day alone!

[davidsprincess]

I say you and the other friend that likes Disney ditch everyone else as soon as Madonna sings the last note of the last song and head toward Anaheim.:lmao:

DLR not "adult"?:rotfl2: :rotfl2: Someone thinks a lot of themselves:rolleyes1

Keep posting!

We start our first day on November 5. Isn't that when you are there? Keep eyes open for LGMHs!!

[bumbershoot]

Sherry, I think you should do a solo trip! I'm surprised you haven't been alone, b/c it really seems your friends hold you back while there. :)

Davidsprincess, yep, the 5th! I just got a new purse to possibly replace my baggalini, and it's rather lime green. Sherpani is the brand, but I might have my pink Baggallini just for disney. :goodvibes

Yeah I don't know what's up with that friend. Ooh maybe she doesn't know DCA has alcohol. I should tell her that. I just won't tell her how much money they are!

kaoden39, I don't think it makes you awful if you like being solo. IF you're awful, then I'm a beast, b/c for me to take this trip my hubby has to take days off to STAY HOME with our son. Not that being with our son is bad; Robert's really looking forward to it! But I'm leaving a 4 year old at home to go play at DLR (oh, and be "adult" for 4 other days, LOL), which seems beastly to some. :upsidedow



I would look into leaving right after Madonna, but I don't think a train leaves that late (should look into it). What's sad is that I don't really even want to see the show, and the tix are EXPENSIVE! I do not know WHAT sort of tickets my friend bought, but the ones I see on ticketmaster in the cheap section are almost a quarter what I "get" to pay for this concert. I was a big fan, don't get me wrong, but I just never wanted to see her in concert. If only it were Duran Duran!

[Sherry E]

Sherry, I think you should do a solo trip! I'm surprised you haven't been alone, b/c it really seems your friends hold you back while there. :)

I am surprised I haven't been there alone yet too! I have taken solo trips to other places like Catalina before, for a day, a weekend and even a whole week, and I have eaten in restaurants alone, gone to movies alone - the whole deal! I know it is definitely doable (and now with the AP, I will have more incentive in the next year), so I think I will have to try it out at one point....Because, as much as I DO love going to DLR with friends, I do end up missing out on quite a bit because they don't want to do certain things or we run out of time or whatever. I would like one whole day to just look in as many shops as I can. Not even necessarily to buy anything - in fact, I am hoping that if I look in enough shops, I will be so sick of DLR merchandise and never want to buy any cute stuff again for the rest of my life!!:rotfl:

[bumbershoot]

Oh you're too funny Sherry. The problem with marketing people is that they keep changing the cute stuff! So you never really get tired of it. Darn them and their knowledge of human brains!!!!

[bumbershoot]

From the calendar...



Hours:
10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams
7:00pm

So I'll be missing that, most likely, unless I see it from the very beginning and have an escape route. Anyone know of an escape route?

Does the monorail run during the parade? If so, where can I watch it from at the beginning, but have a way to get over to the monorail as soon as the parade passes me by? I will be picking up Disneyland Express from DLH, so if I could get to the monorail I could get out to DTD and close to DLH faster than walking. I assume.


Billy Hill & the Hillbillies
11:15am 1:00pm 2:35pm 4:00pm 5:15pm

We got a Magical Moment for special seating for this show, and we didn't go. :headache: So I feel that I must see it to make up for that bad decision (though we were going to be late and probably wouldn't have been specially seated anyway, and getting the chance to watch the parade with hubby for his first holiday parade-time was nice).



Closed for Refurbishment:
Big Thunder Ranch
Fantasmic!
Harbour Galley
it's a small world

None of those things effect me, well except for IASW, but that's OK. I've had the whole year to deal with not having it available.


Disney's California Adventure® Park
Hours:
10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Pixar Play Parade
5:15pm

Yay I can see the parade!


Though can I see it, scoot over for the DL parade in a place like I thought of above, in time? One person makes it more possible than 3 people, but still...

I might have to give up the DL parade since I have seen it!



Closed for Refurbishment:
Burger Invasion
Hyperion Theater
Muppet Vision 3D
Sun Wheel

Oh the Hyperion won't be open yet? Well that's OK, it would be a big time-taker anyway. Muppet Vision, too, though we did indeed enjoy that show!


Does anyone know how much they spent on the normal fireworks each weekend day? Might be fun to pull out of thin air, if some of the friends want to go to DLR on, say, the 2nd, but if they then want to take off before the fireworks. Something like "but dudettes, Disney spends 18 million dollars on the pyrotechnics each minute, it's WORTH it!!!" :goodvibes

[bumbershoot]

Oh drat! If I have my big bag in a locker, I can't catch the monorail. I really think I'm just going to have to give up on that idea. Maybe be at DCA for its close, hang out as long as they'll let me (I love an emptying out DCA), go slowly to the locker, slowly to DLH, relax, have a coffee or something, catch DE.

Might be better than rush rush rush! (scratch that: I'm SURE it would be better!)


Now if the idea of heading up to Anaheim after Madonna finishes were doable, I could snag an AP rate (b/c although I didn't renew, I still have access to the availability calendar, and I'm going to get an AP for this trip too) at the DLH and when I checked out that morning I could just keep my bag with them....

Let's see...is the time saved worth $200+ for a room at DLH that I'd sleep in for only a few hours? Hmm....:upsidedow

[Hound 109]

Oh drat! If I have my big bag in a locker, I can't catch the monorail. I really think I'm just going to have to give up on that idea. Maybe be at DCA for its close, hang out as long as they'll let me (I love an emptying out DCA), go slowly to the locker, slowly to DLH, relax, have a coffee or something, catch DE.

Might be better than rush rush rush! (scratch that: I'm SURE it would be better!)


Now if the idea of heading up to Anaheim after Madonna finishes were doable, I could snag an AP rate (b/c although I didn't renew, I still have access to the availability calendar, and I'm going to get an AP for this trip too) at the DLH and when I checked out that morning I could just keep my bag with them....

Let's see...is the time saved worth $200+ for a room at DLH that I'd sleep in for only a few hours? Hmm....:upsidedow

Women & their bags & lockers & stuff. :lmao:

Bumber....think like a hound.....if you can't fit it into your cargo pant pockets... then leave it behind. :thumbsup2

Interesting on the Muppet "refurb".....they couldn't possibly be sprucing up that warhorse for another run?

I loved the Muppets the first 7 times i saw it....but it would be nice if they were doing something else. (How appropriate would a new & improved version of the Great Movie Ride be in that section of DCA??)

hound popcorn::

[bumbershoot]

Oh Hound, if only I could. As it is, just a soft-sided bag that *could* be carried on, plus my carryon with computer and books and mp3 player is pretty darned good!

But I'll be spending 4 days in San Diego before, with 12 (augh) other women, and I just realized I'm the only unemployed one in the bunch, so they are going to be in their fanciness all dressed appropriately for Fall (even though it's San Diego) and I'm going to be in my cotton skirts and shirts from hanes.com and my running shoes and crocs....I'm dreading it already. As the song goes "all the girls walk by, dressed up for each other", right?

These people are talking about getting dressed up for the concert. The concert? Dressed up? I mean SURE I think the cost of the ticket should yield us a box seat with champagne and food and a visit by Madonna, but I am not sure Petco Stadium and Madonna have the same idea.

AND all but one of those women will be on a chartered private plane, which means NO baggage limits (other than weight)! I'm afraid of what they'll be bringing. :headache:


Though I guess I could send my "big" bag by UPS (have my brother ship it perhaps) thereby reducing my "luggage" to my computer and camera and such. :goodvibes That would open up space for souvenirs! :yay:

[bumbershoot]

I have to go sew a Luke Skywalker cloak now (you might be interested to note that doing this today is NOT actually last minute for me :scared1: ). And maybe the black vest/belt like Luke wears in Jedi.

Thankfully we watched Jedi again the other night and hubby pointed out that it's a true cloak, without sleeves, which makes this infinitely easier. Thank Buddha he's not wanting to dress up as a fancier Jedi!

When I get back, I'll have to talk about the last couple days, which involved such large freakouts about this trip that I, gasp, almost cancelled my plans for the DLR trip, and almost canceled my plans to get an AP.

Yay for hubby, who talked me down from that.

OK, off to make a cloak!

[bumbershoot]

Oh man, I just broke my brand new sewing machine. Or rather I broke a needle, but it's stuck stuck stuck and I can't do anything, can't even get the needle up so I can switch it out.

I have to handsew *another* costume? Sigh.

**********


So I'm not really looking forward to this trip, but unless my friend wants to scalp the concert ticket it's probably too late for me to back out of paying for that. And it would not be cool to back out of a confirmed "yes I'm staying at the rented condo" without paying. And I have two nonrefundable airfares.

So to cancel would still involve a heavy outlay of cash and that doesn't feel like a good decision.

But all the $$ when I'm not looking forward to it has been stressing me out. And yesterday or the day before, when I should have been sewing, er, breaking the machine, I was worrying. And that worrying ended up in me thinking that I should just get a one day (maybe even one park!) ticket instead of the AP. Or even to not go even though I have airfare out of LAX and would have to get up there anyway.

I was being really serious about it, but hubby talked me out of it. Reminded me that overall it makes more sense to get the AP, and it would be a waste of money to get the one day now and the AP later. Getting my AP now would be better than getting all three for our next family trip. etc etc and so on and so forth.

[gosh I'm bummed about the sewing machine. I do not want to sew it by hand I do not I do not I do not)

So the solo day is back on, the Amtrak Surfliner ride is purchased with Guest Rewards points (which came from stays at Wyndham Hotels like travelodge and super8 on our last year September trip). I have a $50 Disney giftcard to cover some things during that day. And I'll be buying the AP voucher through the special link tomorrow.


I now can't wait to get there!!!!

[Sleepless Knight]

bumbershoot, have you considered staying in one of the hotels on Harbor the night before Disneyland? That should save you some money(and would certainly be cheaper than a DLR hotel, plus place you very close to the park for opening.

[bumbershoot]

I have, but it's that pesky "going to be seeing Madonna the night before" issue, and the fact that no trains leave late enough for me to get there. It's just not doable, but I wanted it to be! :goodvibes

[Canyon girl]

Bumbershoot, how about shipping your luggage from GCH that morning. The business center opens at 8am. They pack it for you (either UPS or FedEx). Then you could carry your computer in a backpack. Less luggage to contend with at LAX. BTW, my senior year of college was at a hospital in Orlando (ALL those MANY years ago!!!). I got an annual pass to WDW that year (a leap year no less). There is nothing like going to the parks alone. It is so relaxed!!!! No one tells you where you have to go. Enjoy!!!

[bumbershoot]

Ooh, interesting idea.....I'll have to think about that, thanks!

[prettyprincessbelle]

Molly, I really enjoy your TRs and your pretrippies! I'm excited for you! Can't wait for more!

[bumbershoot]

:)



I'm so frustrated b/c of the so cal wording on the $30 deal again. I was all set to buy the AP last night! Guess I'll have to try while down there.

[bumbershoot]

I'm back and I'll be working on my TR. Thought I'd give a head's up!:goodvibes

[kaoden39]

Woo hoo! I am looking forward to reading it.

[bumbershoot]

That's quite an avatar you've got there, kaoden. :rotfl:

**********

I'm going to start with my experiences while in San Diego, not to make a trip report but to give a background for how much I needed that day in Disney. Although I took umbrage at my friends saying Disney is "childish", I did NEED a place that was "childlike" after that trip. I'm not sure I like adults and adult behavior all that much!

The trip was in honor of a friend's 40th b'day, and the place was chosen b/c of Madonna's concert on the 4th.

Let me mention that if you believe in the *secret* ballot like I do, and don't much enjoy political "discussions", then being with a large group of varied people at a concert venue as election results are coming in and being discussed is NOT a terrific option for you. Though it did result in my hearing what was possibly the most inane comment ever, which was amusing enough to make the other crud worth it. More on that later.


So this was a large group of women, between 32 and 47. Three of us only knew a couple of others, but the bulk of them knew the bulk of them. They've been on "girl trips" before, and I guess they truly use the "what happens out of our small town stays out of our small town" concept. I did not expect that! When there are rules that involve "don't leave with a guy and not tell us" or "if you want to invite someone back to the condo overnight you need to put it to a vote", and the women in violation of those rules are *married*, you know that you're going to need Disneyland at the end of it. :scared1:

There were also conversations that involved counting the drinks they could *remember* having (seems most maxed out at 10 mixed drinks)...I kept thinking "perhaps these years since college were all a dream and we're actually still 19", but all the arm pinching in the world couldn't convince me of that.

There were a few of us who kept to ourselves, didn't flirt and dance with every guy in sight, and that was good. I was glad I was not the only one keeping to the decisions I made when I agreed to Robert's proposal and to traditional marriage vows (we didn't have the traditional "forsaking all others" that others do, but it was in other words and in our intentions), but it was still exhausting, and more importantly, disappointing, to see it all.


I had to leave them by Monday; I had only gotten in Saturday night. Thankfully my brother and I already had plans to get together on Monday, and I just had him pick me up hours earlier than originally planned, and I decided to stay over that night. Turns out that my brother has co-workers who do the same sort of nonsense while on business trips! Crazy. I had no idea that there were so many people like that. Then my sister in law got in from a business trip that night, and since I hadn't really seen her in awhile I was glad I was staying over.

Got back to the group the next day, just in time to rest a bit more and get ready for the concert. The tickets said it started at 7:30, but that was a total lie. Madonna hit the stage (no opening act) at 9.

In between the time we got there and sat down (well before 7:30) and Madonna, the news was being transmitted that there were enough electoral votes to decide the president, and then later that the other candidate had gracefully conceded. When the women in front of us got the news of the concession, they shouted it (they were rabid supporters of the future new president). The women behind us were rabid supporters of the one who conceded, and *flipped out*. Shouted over my head to ask the other women if they had actually said that. Spent some time dropping some bad words and "I just can't believe it"s. I'm sure the same thing would have happened if it went the other way, but by different people.

But here's where it got silly. I'm sure that ANY of you guys here can see the silliness. As it was, even in our varied group of people, those who heard the statement all tilted our heads like confused puppies, and we just said "huh?"

This woman (the main one freaking out) was sputtering and yelling and was VERY upset, and said "that's it, I don't want to live in a socialized country like future new president wants....let's go, we're moving to Europe!!!"

Um, huh?

One friend texted that to a friend of hers at home, who was a PolySci major, and the friend started making suggestions of the strongest socialized European nations as a joke.

It's one thing to want to emigrate just so you don't have to be part of it; it's another thing to be against having a more socialized system but want to move to Europe to get AWAY from it.



Madonna was good. She's really in amazing shape. I kept having to remind myself that she's 50, since she can dance in 4 inch heeled boots for almost 3 hours. She can even do complex jump rope routines, while rising up on a moving platform, while wearing those heels.

She peeved the future confused European citizens behind me by spending about 15 minutes talking and singing about the future new president. I wished she hadn't done it either, but that's just b/c of the secret ballot thing. Not into public displays of rabidity on EITHER side. :goodvibes

Part of that was having those on the "floor" move up, and she urged "no space, no space", b/c she wanted everyone to be unified and celebrating as one, but I do admit I felt bad for those who weren't part of the "one country" since their candidate didn't have enough support. They certainly didn't feel unified at that moment, and I feel bad for those who feel left out, but I'm not sure they had to sit and sulk while swearing behind me, either.

She did a kick-booty version of Borderline that involved drum and guitar lines closer to Rob Zombie than dance club stuff from the 80s. Since I love love LOVE that song, and love that kind of "harder" music, I LOVED the version. And the stuff she did with Like a Prayer was amazing too.

I guess tonight at her Los Angeles concert she's going to have both Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears there singing with her (Disney tie-in!!!!!), while our concert just had their voices and images during the songs that she did with them.

It was quite a good concert. I'm not convinced it was worth the $191 I paid for the ticket (the birthday girl was in charge of buying them, and she obviously lost her mind when it came to choosing the seats), but it was a very good show.


After the concert our traveling companions wanted to drink more (the $10 mixed drinks and $7 Budweisers at Petco Stadium not being enough for them) so we went off to WhiskyGirl, where the non-birthday girl that I already knew suggested leaving after about 5 minutes. I gladly left, we got dinner and went back to the condo.

I called Yellow Cab, arranged a pick-up for sick-and-wrong the next morning, and went to bed, happy with the music running through my head, and the fact that I was going to DLR in the morning!

[bumbershoot]

Just in case no one actually cares about why I was in such need of a "happy place", or cares about the Madonna concert, I'll start my Disney day.

The day dawned early. OK so I was up before it dawned. I am NOT a fan of days like that! But it was for a good purpose. I had done most everything for the morning before going to sleep, so I had very little to do other than gather things and wait for the cab. The cab driver was early, but I was ready and watching, so that was fine.

I had scheduled a half hour to get to the Amtrak station, just in case, but since he got there about 12 minutes ahead of time, we ended up being at the station at the time he was supposed to pick me up! My train was at 7:05, and b/c the ticket kiosk wasn't agreeing with me, I got to talk to an agent. I was traveling on Guest Reward points earned from hotel stays from last year's CA trip (Wyndham hotel group, including Super8, TravelLodge and HoJo!), but the kiosk wanted me to give it a credit/debit card despite the paper specifically stating I didn't need one. AND since I hadn't given them a card number anyway, putting one in the kiosk wouldn't have gotten me anywhere.

So the agent gave me a ticket, and told me I could get on the 6am train that was about to leave. Well what the heck, why not? So I loped out there, got on board, and settled in.

What a nice trip! Getting out of San Diego isn't the prettiest thing, but as you get further north you can see the ocean and all the surfers in the water. Passed through San Juan Capistrano and found some places I want to visit (Garden Temple and the cafe nearby looked nice from the train tracks). In a short 2 hours, we were there, at the very barren Anaheim train station.

When you get off the train, you might think you're just in a parking lot. I was scared! But I followed the path along, and after using the pedestrian underpass beneath the tracks, was happy to find some civilization. There was a taxi that had just dropped people off, and he could sense my need for a cab (I saw one or two parked, but only the one right there waiting).

Since I had luggage and was going to catch the Disneyland Express that night from outside the Disneyland Hotel, I had him drop me there, just in case they would hold my luggage. The answer? No. I could have checked with the Bell Services captain, but it seemed like it was going to be a "no" no matter what, and there are lockers, so why bother? Plus I would have had to tip the bell guy and the captain in thanks, then tip the bell person later that night, and that would add up just the same as a locker rental.

I was there just after 8am, with a park opening at 10. So I trudged in the morning sun, out of the hotel (I did snag some free-for-guests coffee b/c I'm naughty like that). Pretty grounds, most definitely! Nice, if old fashioned lobby area. But wow that's an obnoxious walk! If I'm going to walk that far (remembering that I would probably never take the monorail in, in the mornings at least) I'd rather be paying HoJo 59 bucks vs paying DLH whatever they are charging. Not saying I will NEVER stay there, just saying it's a long stinkin' walk. Biggest problems with the walk for me are: shopper's mecca and I'm not a shopper, and it's not in a straight line...I like straight lines, like, oh, say, Harbor Boulevard from HoJo, LOL.

So there I was, walking through DTD. There were tons of people out! I'm not sure they knew what time the parks opened. I asked a nice security guard chatting with a janitorial CM, just to make sure there are big lockers over in the picnic area. He assured me that there are, but I needed to get there "early". OK it's maybe 8:30 am on a Wednesday...I was indeed already early, LOL. I wasn't worried. :)

The picnic area is off to the left, before the DTD-side bag check. A nice quiet place behind tall trees. I chose the extra jumbo, or something like that, locker for $15. WOW was that locker big! I could have gotten the mid-sized locker and still would have had extra space. I had a soft-sided piece of luggage that is officially carry-on size for any airline, and then a matching bag that's more "personal size" when you think of a carryon. I also put my sweatshirt in there, as it was already warming up. Before buying the locker I organized a bit, figuring that I wouldn't have much time to do so that night.

Then I headed towards bag check, which was opening right as I walked up to it. I hadn't had coffee yet and people already seemed cranky, b/c they were realizing the park opening time and how early they were. Because of that, I "let" several families LEAVE the esplanade to go back to their hotel, b/c it was too early to be there. :eek: I feel bad now, but it's not like those people were going to believe me, if I told them that it behooved them to be in line early. And really, the crowds were VERY light, and I'm sure people were fine all day, so in retrospect it was OK, but I felt actual guilt for not talking to them at the time. :rolleyes:

Just before 9am.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d98b2c377000000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Lightballs in the trees in DTD while wandering.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d91b8a379e00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The A for no good reason.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d95a6677ca00000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



I finally got in line. I was about 5 groups back then a CM pointed out one of those hidden-by-trees gates, which no one was at (even me) even though we were right there, b/c we just didn't think of it. So then I was the second back (guy behind me was a CM on his day off). In front of me was a family from Idaho who hadn't used message boards to plan (I asked). They had been in the parks the night before briefly, but this was their first morning of their first trip to Disneyland Resort! Very fun. They had matching shirts that had been beadazzled by grandma with what looked like golden brads in the shape of a Mickey head. A small Mickey head, but still, a Mickey head (you can see why I asked if she planned online, LOL).

The husband hadn't wanted to get there so early, but wowie did it pay off, b/c this is them as they opened the park!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d8f653d6d500000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

I already knew I had to leave before the parade, but I sure hope they had fun being the honored family.



They opened the park just after 9:30. As the CM with them prepared his spiel, the gates opened and since I was first at my gate, the CM dealt with my $30 off AP voucher and gave me my ticket-like voucher, then had me wait until the family and the CM did their thing. She went further in the line with her scanner thing, beeping their tickets so the first few groups could just charge through. I liked that!

So then we charged and I was inside the park, yet again during this now-longer-than-one-year of Disney!

[Sherry E]

$191 for a Madonna ticket? Good Lord! $191 is exactly what I paid for my Premium AP after I applied all my unused tickets to the price!

[Sherry E]

I am on the edge of my seat, anxiously awaiting the rest of the TR! More! More!

[bumbershoot]

$191 for a Madonna ticket? Good Lord! $191 is exactly what I paid for my Premium AP after I applied all my unused tickets to the price!

It was painful. Very painful. I've never paid anything like that for a ticket. Ever.

My friend talked about the concert, I said yes when she said we were going to Vegas. Then something strange happened with getting those tickets (even though she had TWO nights there) and it was changed to San Diego, and suddenly she had purchased 12 tickets for $191 each. She said that I could back out if I wanted, but I didn't want to do that (should have told her to sell it to someone, then bought my own ticket, really), didn't want to look cheap. And that's how I got suckered into paying 191 (that's with ticketmaster's fees and taxes and such)

I guess they were good seats when I think about it now, but at the time I was kind of "eh" about the view. But Petco is a weird stadium, and I guess it was probably the second best area for a view without being on the floor right in front of the stage (but that's not a good view of the whole spectacle of the SHOW, though a good view of her legs I imagine). The box areas were probably nice to be in, but much further away than we were.

Haven't yet gotten pix up, being lazy.:goodvibes

[BillyFan]

$191 for a Madonna ticket? Good Lord! $191 is exactly what I paid for my Premium AP after I applied all my unused tickets to the price!

I was thinking the exact same thing about the concert ticket. You could have added another couple of days to your Disneyland trip with that money! What we do for friends........
And I can't wait for more of your trippie.

[Sleepless Knight]

I thought you might like what Carrie Underwood said the other day. She loses respect for celebrities that endorse candidates because she feels like they're insulting the American people. I didn't know much about her, but that made my respect for her skyrocket. It's okay and wonderful to have political opinions, but when you're a rock star, movie star, sports star, et all, I don't care what you think or who you're for.

I know what you mean about telling people the tips and tricks that work best for touring the parks. Some people just don't want to hear about it and won't listen to you anyways. I always feel sorry for those who say they really want to ride Nemo, but can't wait an hour for it, so they hope to come back later to see if the line is any better.

[bumbershoot]

Although I don't discount what celebrities have to say, I just don't like it when they are LOUD about it. I figure that an actor actually does have lots of downtime to read up on things, and actually has access to those in charge (or who want to be in charge), or at least more access than we do, so I think that they can make some very good decisions using much more information than we can.

I just don't want 'em to go ON about it. I didn't want Madonna to talk about the president elect, just like I wouldn't want a celebrity on the "other" side to talk about it.

Bad night for me to be out and about.

Though I did get some attention from a few men of African descent who asked me how I felt about the president elect. Since I had been keeping to myself during the trip and hadn't had ANY attention from men, 4 men talking to me in one night was kinda fun! I even got two hugs on the street from men who were glad I was positive about the president elect's father's race. Silly thing to hug about, but they were excited about the election and were in very happy moods. One of them even asked my friend (this was when we were on our way to get food) if I was married, LOL. I don't think any of the men pestering the others on the trip were asking questions like that, so not only did I get a hug, I got a hug from a moral man! I had been starting to wonder if they existed in San Diego!:upsidedow

[kaoden39]

Oh geez. I am with you. When celebrities go on and on even when it is a subject I agree with. Oh my gosh that whole San Diego part was not all that fun. And I must be cheap there is no way I would pay $191 for a Madonna ticket. Nice male attention can be flattering but um the other I don't know...I look forward to the rest of Disneyland.

[bumbershoot]

I just added pictures to my arrival post.

[bumbershoot]

Assuming you have read the arrival post that I edited, you know about being behind the family of the day. :)



As I was reading the post over, I realized....I might-could have been the park opener (if they ever take single tourists). Why do I think that? Well, I was heading over to the empty line and a family got there quicker than I did. I was looking around, smiling in the sunshine, and I noticed a big family behind me was having problems figuring out the MTTMM vouchers they had. Even after a CM explained, they were still complaining about it, so I offered my assistance. I'm not sure if it helped, but at least I finally tried.

When I turned back around, I noticed a CM with the family that beat me to the first spot at the gate, and he was telling them that they would be let in and open the park, and he mentioned the parade. After the CM left them, I congratulated them!

But now I wonder, if I had been quicker about moving over, would I have been asked to be the person of the day?

I wouldn't have been able to accept anyway, b/c I had to leave before the parade, but wow it would have been nice to have to turn it down! :goodvibes

And now I've just realized that that moment was the start of my "just missing out on Dreams" theme for the day. :cool2:

[Sherry E]

Although I don't discount what celebrities have to say, I just don't like it when they are LOUD about it. I figure that an actor actually does have lots of downtime to read up on things, and actually has access to those in charge (or who want to be in charge), or at least more access than we do, so I think that they can make some very good decisions using much more information than we can.

I just don't want 'em to go ON about it. I didn't want Madonna to talk about the president elect, just like I wouldn't want a celebrity on the "other" side to talk about it.

Bad night for me to be out and about.

Though I did get some attention from a few men of African descent who asked me how I felt about the president elect. Since I had been keeping to myself during the trip and hadn't had ANY attention from men, 4 men talking to me in one night was kinda fun! I even got two hugs on the street from men who were glad I was positive about the president elect's father's race. Silly thing to hug about, but they were excited about the election and were in very happy moods. One of them even asked my friend (this was when we were on our way to get food) if I was married, LOL. I don't think any of the men pestering the others on the trip were asking questions like that, so not only did I get a hug, I got a hug from a moral man! I had been starting to wonder if they existed in San Diego!:upsidedow

It is ALWAYS nice to get hugs from moral men! I know moral me don't exist up in Los Angeles, but I guess a few trickled down to SD!! I was beginnng to think the only moral men to be found in California live in the hinterlands up north, in those great little small towns that still have general stores instead of grocery stores - like Yreka. Yes, there is a Eureka, CA, but there is also a Yreka. I don't know what Yreka is like these days, but when I saw it last, it looked like a town with upstanding citizens and decent men!

[bumbershoot]

Upstanding citizens and decent men, yeehaw! :)

Thankfully hubby seems to be one of them...hmm, he's from Issaquah WA which is sort of a mountain community like I think Yreka is (always seem to be heading through the mountains when I see the signs at least). Maybe those mountain men is what people should look for. Though these guys weren't in the mountains...maybe they had come down from the mountains to celebrate. :)

Eh, all I know is that I felt like I had been surrounded by skeevy people (both my friend and her buddies along with the boys pursuing them despite all the women having very traditional golden engagement and wedding rings on (maybe the guys all thought the rings were fake?)...and I have an untraditional anniversary style band with tanzanite, and I get asked if I was married) and it was just lovely to have a nice hug and to be ASKED if I was actually attached or not.


Right now I am in desperate need of the Mexican food I had near my brother's place. It was sooooo good. I don't think hubby is so upstanding and decent that he's going to hop on a plane to go get it for me, though.


I don't know how Hound draws out a story like he does. I guess it's something about him being, oh I don't know, BUSY or something. I'm trying to go slow but it's not working!

[prettyprincessbelle]

Molly! For some reason the date you were going didn't register in my brain that it was this early in November! Doh! :headache:

I agree about the celebrity/political thing too. My Mom was watching a music video on youtube last night about our now president, but this was made before he became president. And it was a bunch of celebrities and kind of celebrities. It was a nice song they were all singing, but the images in the video directed who they were voting for which was all meh to me. I'm all for celebrities using their voices as a vehicle to get us Americans to vote, but I could really care less who they're supporting. It's not going to make me change my mind. :confused3

Yeah! $190 for Madonna is a lot. Were your seats really close? My parents were nice enough to pay $125 for Jonas Brother's concert tickets for me. Well $120 after shipping and processing and all that junk. Plus it's general admission so the seating is all equal.

I can't wait for more updates! I enjoy reading them! I said that already, huh?! :upsidedow

[bumbershoot]

When we last left, um, me, I had just been let in, yay!

Since there weren't many people at the gates and since it was half an hour until rope drop, and since I wasn't heading towards Fantasyland or Nemo (b/c MY Dis knowledge is to turn left, always left when I get into the parks b/c everyone else will turn right), I, um, turned right! OK only to get to the AP processing center. No one else was in there, and I exchanged my newly printed ticket-like voucher for a new AP. :goodvibes

OK so actually I was unaware of the time, and thought it was truly park opening. It was after I got the AP and started walking that the announcement came on saying that the park would officially be opening in half an hour, and to enjoy the shops and food until then.

So I went and got some breakfast. Instead of talking I'll show:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d9641777a400000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


The latte was better than I remembered, but the muffin was just Not Good. I liked the ones I made from their recipe much better. First off, that muffin is Too Big. Second, they gave it to me in a paper tray instead of a bag, so I felt I had to finish it or throw it away, b/c I couldn't just put it into a bag and carry it along. Third, it was dry-ish. Fourth, it had raisins in it. OK so the recipe did too, but I didn't use them and I forgot about them until I broke into the muffin. Fifth through thirtieth, the cream cheese frosting was DISGUSTING. I think maybe they used paste instead of cream cheese? And there was no cinnamon in the cream cheese even though the recipe called for it. Bleah. Disappointing!


Then I just sort of stood around in the middle of the hordes. That's a relative term. When you're in the middle of a crowd you don't know how small the crowd is; from the wait times I experienced, there wasn't much of a crowd.

There were cute kids all around! What I've noticed now from my two solo trips is that they make me happier about the family trips. I see "bad" behaviour from kids, but it doesn't look that bad. I see cute behaviour and it's cuter than anything. I see adorable kids and they are more adorable (like the sister and brother, perhaps 2 years difference, who had the same wondrously curly hair and were incredibly patient while waiting for rope drop!). And so on. I don't sit there wishing that my son were there, but I wish for a future trip so I can enjoy him then. :goodvibes (I don't seem to have the "missing people" gene, I've noticed, as long as the person is still alive)


At last the rope dropped (since I'm short and have never been at the front I haven't a clue as to what this rope might look like). And what did the crowd do? They went LEFT! Huh? "They" say that "they" will go to the right. But here I was in near-running crowds over to the left. Well, OK, whatever.

By this time I had finally decided on my strategy for the day, which was "do what I want when I want to do it". Good strategy for a solo trip, right? I mean, you'd never have seen that one coming. :thumbsup2

Actually one of the things I did while waiting outside the gates, when the gate CM started passing out maps through the gate (pretty cute of her), was cross out the things I didn't want to do. Jungle Cruise was out. I was going to go to Indy, but the line was already long outside (though of course there was no one inside and I should have just gone on the ride at that point but I don't like being in lines that go into the walkway, even if I know they will clear soon.

Note to newer DLR dis'ers who might be lurking: sometimes I do things opposite of what I should do, just b/c I wanna or don't wanna do whatever it is. It seems to work out for me, but you might just want to do what other smarter Dis'ers do instead. :goodvibes

So I bypassed Indy. I looked at Tarzan's Treehouse as I approached. I had a *strong* feeling that there would be Dream Team people there. I thought about going up at that point. I decided against it. As I passed by, I saw no Dream Team people at the exit, and felt OK with my decision.

Now you might wonder where on earth I was going! Was it Pirates? No, b/c I didn't want to ride it without DS. Was it Splash? No, b/c I don't actually *like* Splash. (see note above...sometimes I'm just different.) Was it Pooh? No.

I was heading that way, um, because...I wanted to go on Haunted Mansion Holiday. I worried that I was giving it short shrift, and I wanted to see what I felt about it for a second time. I wanted to get a FP for it, and maybe ride it.

So I went through part of NOS with no great sense of urgency, and snapped a few pics.

I didn't even pop the colors up on this one!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d9f4a6f66d00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Taking pictures into bright morning sunshine is difficult.

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At last I got to the FP machines for HMH. I felt silly getting the pass, but I like it in that little area so I got a pass anyway. And then I walked right in, possibly in the first group, b/c the ride vehicles were totally stopped, as was the loading walkway, when we all got to the ride.

My goodness that stretching room spiel is creepy! Anyway, here's my one no-flash shot (not that there are other pictures I took WITH a flash...just that I took one picture and it was without the flash).

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d99487774c00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


The verdict? Meh. I prefer the proper HM, I won't go out of my way to get on HMH, but I won't go out of my way to NOT go on it, either. It's not my style, it's too packed with stuff, the gingerbread was strong smelling but not pleasant to sniff either, but it's not evil, either.



Then I decided to go on Indy, and I walked towards it. Short line, though I got to see the film reel 3+ times. Chatted with a family on their first day, first trip! I tried to show them the rope-pull trick, but it wasn't doing anything. Drat! They had high hopes about the ride. As a person riding alone, I was put with other people. I had great fun and laughed the whole time. I was in the back for the first time, and it was MUCH rockier than I've experienced in the past.

As I left, I saw the family...they were carrying the younger boy (not that young, but younger than his brother). I guess he got sick on the ride or maybe just hated it, which is just rotten. Poor boy. By the end of the exit area he was OK to walk and they all held hands and went along with their day. So they seemed to be making the best of it!

As I exited, I saw signs that the Dream Team was around. Since I had just come out of Indy, I didn't think it was from there, so I checked out Tarzan, just to see. I was NOT the only person with that idea. Alas, we were all disappointed, b/c there was no Dream Team there.

At the time, because I hadn't yet realized that I maybe could have been Dreamed if I had been the first person at my gate, I thought "I bet today is going to be like that...repeatedly narrowly missing the Dream Team". And I was right!

[bumbershoot]

ppb, the seats were OK. It's a weird set-up with the seats there; the seats angle the other way from where the stage was set up, and I haven't checked but I might have a bruise on my right thigh b/c of trying to sit at the correct angle to see her (when the people at the front of my section stood we all had to stand, but sometimes they would sit down, too, and then we would all sit along with them) and running into the seat's side.

I assume the seats are set up so you're looking at home plate (I think it's just a baseball stadium in terms of sports), but she was in the outfield. My section (I was maybe 5 rows from the front of my section) didn't have sight lines impacted by other sections, so like I said, when the people in front sat down, it was a good thing. :) I guess the women in front of us were having a lover's spat and kept moving towards then away then towards etc each other...I had ear plugs in so didn't hear them but my friend heard them arguing...that caused me a problem b/c I had to keep looking one way then the other, depending on where they were standing!

Anyway, the seats were probably in the second best section; closer than most of the seats off the floor, and I know from experience that floor seats aren't all they are cracked up to be b/c you don't get the whole view. I sat on the floor section at the now blown up King Dome for U2 in '97 or so, and it was nowhere near as good as I have experienced by buying "obstructed view" cheapie seats for other U2 concerts and some other concert I'm not remembering right now. Of course some of the floor people got to be broadcast to the rest of the stadium, but that still wouldn't have been worth it to me, not for that show. :goodvibes

[bumbershoot]

Alright, where was I? Oh yes, I had finished with Tarzan's Treehouse.

It was such a lovely day! Not too warm, not cold, not crowded but not empty either.

I hadn't been on Big Thunder in what felt like ages. So I decided to go over there. Their FP machine was off (did you know that the Entertainment Times Guide tells you which FP machines are turned off?) but the wait was SHORT so I walked on.

I was put in one of the front cars (stood in row 3 on the boarding platform). While waiting to go, I decided I would try the "goat trick", where you look at the goat and keep looking as the train whips around the right turn after the goat.

I really enjoyed the ride, it was great fun! When I got to the goat, I turned my head to keep looking at it, and oh goodness me, I thought my stomach came off its moorings! Oh the sick feeling was intense. But intense and sick in a fun roller coaster sort of way. :rolleyes1

After the ride finished, I decided to go again, but NOT do the goat trick this time. As I was put in row 10 on the platform, I realized that my experiment wasn't perfect. It didn't account for my body getting used to the ride, nor did it account for being put into different spots on the train. Well, nothing to do about that now...

So now, being towards the back of the train, when I did NOT do the goat trick, I didn't have even a bit of the sick stomach floating feeling. It was a huge difference.

So that was my experiment with the goat trick. :)



From there I wandered back behind the ride, just in case the Dream Team was there. I saw some no-vest DT cast members going into the backstage door there, so I just missed them. As the door opened and closed, I saw Woodie and Jessie waiting to come out, and because I didn't feel like waiting for them, I just missed them, too. :upsidedow


I walked through Fantasyland, glad I wasn't having a day where I might want to or have to go on any of the rides. Ooh, I just now realized that I really ought to have gone on Alice, since I've only been on it once if I remember correctly. Oh well!

I did wander through the hat shop where I saw a CUTE pink fedora type hat along with an adorable little Mickey-as-cowboy felt cowboy hat for only $8. Oh I hope that hat is there on our next family trip! I didn't buy it for DS b/c I didn't know if he would want it, and since he loves buying things, I didn't want to take that purchase away from him.

[blue donkey]

Can totally understand why you would appreciate a disney day after your ":eek: " beginning to your socal trip. But, I guess you :teacher: something new everyday.

:lovestruc your tr. always enjoy :surfweb: what you write.

[bumbershoot]

Hi Blue! Thanks for reading!

I'm still reeling from the start to the trip. Talking about it with hubby and my closest friend, who reluctantly divorced her husband after finding out about his infidelity (she tried so hard to make it work, but he was even lying to his counselor and not trying to change so it was useless), and just being sad about it.

I've known the main "bad behavior" friend since I was 17, and I have known her husband since I was 18. I'm trying to decide if I should do anything. I don't know the other women who were being bad, but I do know the main one, and I feel horrible for her husband.

But back to Disney!

[bumbershoot]

Wow, this'll be my post number 10,002.



After leaving the Fantasyland hat shop, I noticed the Matterhorn. And I thought "where are these two entrances I've read about?" I walked over, and I realized that the two boarding areas are in the same area, but you get to them in separate ways. Is that right, Matterhorn experts?

I do know that I approached it from the Alice/Tea Party area, walked in, turned right-ish, and was seated almost immediately.

When I left, I noticed that the left side of the structure had another line, and that line continued (the people were walking, not stopped, but still it was more of a line than what I had been in) all the way around the mountain down to Nemo.

Anyway, I rode the Matterhorn, and it was great fun.


From Matterhorn, as you might have figured out, I walked around towards Nemo. Very short line and I should have gone on because I enjoy the ride, but I decided not to because I also have to fight a bit of claustrophobia. Have to look up towards the top of the water every so often, especially when "submerging" and "emerging" from the depths of the ride. :)


I like walking around in Tomorrowland. It's all so open. I like watching the kids play with that big water ball thing.

I noticed that Innoventions has the wall turning now, and the way we got up there when we went in there was now just the exit.


But that would wait for later, b/c Space Mountain was calling! I went up the ramp and the CM thought I was crazy for heading to the FP machines. I told him I was getting one for later and was also going to ride, since it was a FIVE minute wait. He said I probably wouldn't need it, but that it would be good for a souvenir. I agreed.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d8b75b966500000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


I told the seater CM that I did NOT want to be in front. He put me towards the back. I didn't have the same decapitation fears as I did the last time I rode, thank goodness. But my right speaker was cutting in and out, so my experience wasn't as intense as it should have been.

I enjoyed that ride, too.


Then I found the way into Innoventions. Um....boring. The things they have in there are either silly (I do NOT need a computer to put my window blinds up!) or already exist (digital photo frames). And the touch screens already exist, it's just that they are either $$$, and they would get nasty-dirty and no one who was actually in charge of cleaning the house would WANT one, and that there's just little point to them. Fun, but no strong purpose, at least in my house.


On the other hand, my son would go nuts if he could have this bed!!!!!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d8fd57177c00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


On the other other hand, eventually he would grow tired of it and would want a land speeder bed and then he'd change from that, etc. :)


Throughout the lower floor, they have televisions that you can play with. I noticed some channels on that I might not enjoy having on, if I ran Disneyland. This one cracked me up. Can you see what show it is?

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d9fb85b6d100000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



As you can see by the time on that screen, the park had only been open a bit over 2 hours and I had nearly done all I wanted to do in Disneyland! Woohoo~

[bumbershoot]

Although I didn't want to wait for the showtime for Asimo, I went upstairs just to see if anything had changed.

They don't have Guitar Hero like they did last December, but they still have tons of videogames in cool surroundings.


They had this funky sort of techno-treehouse hanging in the middle of things.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d96fc1b6df00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


This was above it; sort of like a tree canopy but made of motherboards.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d891e517f800000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Zooma zoom on the entrance to the treehouse.

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Lanterns hanging down from the treehouse. Took the pic b/c I like lanterns, and these were our wedding colors.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d9f816f6db00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


I'd had enough of Innoventions, so I went out. And there was Monorail Red waiting at the station. It was so pretty!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d8777b962500000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d9735a377a00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



Then Monorail Blue (or maybe Green? sunshine kept hitting it differently and I couldn't really tell) came by, and you can see the front or back end towards the left of this pic.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d842f7d62b00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[bumbershoot]

OK, my naughty friend just emailed, asking how Disneyland was and if I wanted to go to Vegas to see Madonna again. For "only" 175 per ticket, and we'd drive there in a minivan. :rolleyes1

Could she have blacked out the whole weekend? :confused3


**********************

I left Innoventions and went to the Star Wars themed gift shop (aka Star Tours "dump" shop). I needed to read the battery info on light saber keychains, to see what kind of battery to buy. We need batteries for all three keychains. Nine batteries. Twitch twitch. They are AG 13, 1.5 volt, batteries, for the record.

I decided that I needed lunch and I wanted to buy some souvenirs for my guys.

As I left Tomorrowland, I saw the Pixie/Fairy line, but it was long (so that's where the crowds were!?!).

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d8f0f9574c00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Closeup of the grass.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d9eaabf66f00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Faraway grass with lots of people in line!

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As I walked, there was a family with two sons joking with the older one about meeting princesses. Said that Ariel was over there, and didn't he want to go? I was simply forced to tell them that it wasn't Ariel, but Tinkerbell now, and that got an even bigger reaction from the boys who were in the "ew, girls" phase.


I saw Plaza Inn and decided that I needed to eat there. Later I wondered why I didn't have veggie gumbo or chili, but really, the penne and salad I had was absolutely perfect.

Kid's penne pasta meal and a side salad.

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While I ate, I sat outside on the porch. And I got to hear a very intense woman on her phone, having a phone-in business meeting, asking people if they had a chance to read the "treatment" or check out the budget. Dude, a movie making lady! Then she said something about a scene where they would shoot Elijah. Dude, Elijah? Like....Wood? Gol, can I sit with you, high powered movie lady?

Nah, I just sat there, taking pictures of cute chirpy birdies.

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Oh how I love the Plaza's ranch dressing.



After my yummy lunch, and after cleaning the kid's meal Mickey plate to take home for DS, I went shopping.

I decided that the big shop on Main Street would be good; I wanted a pirate Mickey for Eamon. Alas, all they had were Mickey and Minnie pirates that looked more like Will and Elizabeth, rather than the Jack Sparrow Mickey.

I asked a CM (they never really think you'll ask a question when they say "are you finding everything OK?" so I love it when I'm NOT actually finding everything) and he said it was getting hard to find those Mickey/Jack plushes. :eek: I would love to get the Mickey-as-Indy doll, but DS hasn't seen Indiana Jones yet and I don't want to fuel his desire to see it.

The CM suggested Pieces of Eight. I decided that was a good bet, so I went on back!

Although I hadn't wanted to ride POTC, I decided that I really had to, even though in reality I didn't "have to" in order to get to the shop.

I rode, I was in the front by myself, it was a nice time. Though awfully long!

Then I went to the shop, found Mickey. Hubby called while I was there, so I made sure with him that that would be good for DS, and asked if he wanted anything. He did, something Nightmare related. Okey dokey!

On my way to the register I found a Yule present for E, a green and orange, clear plastic, "flintlock" that makes a noise AND puts a skull and crossbones light wherever you point. He will LOVE it.


Then I went over to Le Bat en Rouge and found, not a pin, but another lanyard pouch with Jack Skellington on it. That way hubby has a pirate-themed pouch for his pirate themed lanyard, and a Jack themed pouch for his Nightmare themed lanyard. :goodvibes

And that was enough of the shopping, off to DCA!!!!!

[kaoden39]

It kind of hurts when friends make unwise decisions like that. It's sounds like maybe Disneyland was able to take some of the bitter taste from your mouth?

[bumbershoot]

Yep and yep. :)


*******

Woah, before hopping, I have more story~

As I left Le Bat en Rouge, I noticed another knot of people with Dream Ears. Not again! I congratulated a couple with Dream Ears when we were trying to take pix of the same things, and they said they had just gotten them as they got off of POTC. You know, the ride I was on not even 10 minutes before? :headache:


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Disappointment was gotten over, Molly was just happy to be there, and she walked with a smile on her face back down Main Street.

Hop hop hop!

[Sleepless Knight]

Sounds like you had a leisurely relaxing day in the parks. That's always fun. Sometimes we can be in such a hurry to get things done that we don't take time to simply soak up the park atmosphere.

Sorry to hear about your friends misbehavior. I don't think people fully think about how much sorrow and heartache they're creating in their own lives with behavior like that.

[bumbershoot]

As I entered DCA, I smiled even more. I do so love DCA. :love:


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First thing on my list? Monsters, Inc. Why? That's a ride more Eamon's speed, and I had been avoiding faves like Star Tours b/c I didn't want to go on them without him. So why Monsters?

Well, because I wanted to re-verify something. The ginger smell when you enter the sushi restaurant in the ride. I knew it was there, but I wanted to make sure. Again.

That was literally a walk on, and I can verify, yet again, that as you enter the sushi restaurant and look at the octopus chef, they are pumping out the smell of pickled ginger. YUM-MO. I don't eat sushi as in fish or fish eggs etc, but I do eat the veggie sushi-type rolls, and I love love love pickled ginger!

I didn't have my Pooh ears on during this trip (in the days leading up to the trip, I put them out and Eamon found them and has hidden one of them) so Roz didn't comment on me, but she told the guy behind me to stop making goo goo eyes at her, that she's not that kind of girrrrrrrl. :rotfl:



So that was done, and I people-watched my way over to TOT. I walked right in and was sent to the outer room to wait, and shortly we were watching the Twilight Zone intro. There were two sets of one-parent-with-one-kid-that-wanted-to-be-held, and I felt like letting them know that the kids would likely be measured again, but I didn't. Thank goodness I didn't, b/c both parents put down their kid before getting to the last CM, and neither kid was re-measured.

I was put next to 3 tall, young men. I thought "oh great, they'll be total bores, acting all cool and I won't have fun". Oh My Gosh I was so wrong.

We were in the front row and I was on the aisle seat. I tried to tighten my seat belt as much as I could, and I held my shopping bag and purse (camera was in purse) because I didn't want anything floating up like they did last time!

All thoughts of my fellow passengers quieted as the ride started; as usual I thought "omg what am I doing I hate this I hate this I hate this (I like this)". they showed us turning blue and disappearing (that's the part my son hates, he doesn't even talk about the drops scaring him, just the disappearing part). Then we sat there, waiting.

Someone on the elevator had obviously been on it, oh, a few times before, and she started counting down. "3, 2, 1"...pause. And then she SCREAMED and I mean screamed. Just at the millisecond that we all were dealing with her screaming (by starting to scream ourselves), the ride really started, and we ALL shrieked.

Yes, even the cool young men next to me. Screamed like little girls, they did, with nervous laughs at the end of each up and down. Oh it was hilarious.

And this time I was able to scream! Sometimes I want to, when I'm scared, but it just doesn't come out right. I must sound like a weird frog with tonsillitis sometimes on those rides, b/c I just sort of croak. But this time I was screaming my head off in fun and true dread (even though I actually feel *extremely* safe on this ride).

Despite having cinched myself in, I could not believe the "air" I was catching. My bum was totally off the seat probably 3 times! It felt funny to be clutching my bag and purse while floating up off my seat.:upsidedow


The ride ended and as we exited, I told the guy next to me that he and his friends had made my ride. That I didn't think they were going to scream, but when they did it was most excellent. He smiled and laughed and shook his head, saying it was their first time on the ride and they just didn't expect the drops to be like that!

They stopped long enough at the pictures that I figured they were getting a copy (poor people having me in their picture), and I left with an even bigger smile on my face.

[bumbershoot]

Sounds like you had a leisurely relaxing day in the parks. That's always fun. Sometimes we can be in such a hurry to get things done that we don't take time to simply soak up the park atmosphere.

Sorry to hear about your friends misbehavior. I don't think people fully think about how much sorrow and heartache they're creating in their own lives with behavior like that.

It was indeed relaxing!

And yes, I agree about people not thinking. From your username and tag it seems you're a romantic, and I can't imagine you ever doing naughty things with people once committed, nor would you want your darling doing those things to you. It's good to be around moral people! (and I'm not JUST singling out SK, I do mean all of you)

[avalon451]

Great TR, can't wait to hear more!

You are really making me wonder what a solo trip would be like for me. I think I would like to try with DH first, sans kids. Right now, due to budget restraints, he's not making any business trips down to the Long Beach Boeing plant (he's got a group of guys down there he's in charge of) and it doesn't look like that will change in the near future. But the next time it comes up... maybe next year? I'm so going to talk him into staying over the weekend while I fly down to meet him!

I can't believe your friends' behavior. Well, I can, actually; for a couple of years I went to an online gaming convention with friends, back when I was addicted to a certain MMORPG for 8 years, and I did see a lot of similar behavior. But I never could understand how they justified it to themselves. I can see your need to get out of there and get to more innocent and wholesome pursuits! What a breath of fresh air Disneyland must have been!

Yikes, $191 for tickets! I am so ... man, I hate to say it... middle aged... Cause I remember going to concerts in the 80's and thinking $30 was a lot for Chicago and Billy Joel! :rotfl: I'm glad the show was good, but wish you could've had a nicer experience with fellow concert-goers.

Kinda fun, though, that you had some good interaction with the guys on the street! I know, regardless of my own thoughts and opinions, it was exciting just to see friends so excited about the possibilities that now seem open. One of my kindergarteners' mom is from Ethiopia. (her dad is from Redmond :upsidedow ). She came to school so excited on Wednesday... somebody who is of African descent, like her, is now in place to be one of the most influential people on the planet. Her eyes looked like whole universes were opening up to her, as she sat at "circle time" and talked about it. It was cool to see her excitement!

I love your writing style and your descriptions! More, please! :yay:

[bumbershoot]

OK, I'm having some issues with my computer. Not sure what's up. Gotta figure it out, and since I don't want to have to go back to edit pictures in, I'll take a break from my story.

[bumbershoot]

Yikes, $191 for tickets! I am so ... man I hate to say it... middle aged... Cause I remember going to concerts in the 80's and thinking $30 was a lot for Chicago and Billy Joel! :rotfl:

Kinda fun, though, that you had some good interaction with the guys on the street! I know, regardless of my own thoughts and opinions, it was exciting just to see friends so excited about the possibilities that now seem open.

Even though I paid it, I'm not happy about it, don't get me wrong. When I was in sanctuary (aka my brother's place) I saw a bunch of his concert tickets (he and his wife are going to lots of concerts when they can) and I saw 32, 38, even 19 bucks on his stubs. Ugh.

The interactions were fun. I honestly didn't think that he would win; I thought the country was still too racist for him, though I thought we were too sexist for SP to be VP... Since I didn't expect him to win (one friend had news coverage on while we were getting ready, and I guess they were showing a state-by-state count but I thought that was the national votes-at-the-time breakdown, and that state had McC winning so I was TRULY surprised along with just thinking that most of the country wasn't ready) I had a delight thing going on that I was so wrong about the country's racism and I guess that showed. :upsidedow


I think you would love a solo. Instead of trying it out with hubby, you should try it out with a group of women. Not that that's a solo trip, but it's a non-family trip.

Now if only one of those were scheduled, say, in a matter of months....if only......:idea:

[bumbershoot]

I hope my sentences are being understood correctly, and that I'm not accidentally mis-speaking and making people think I'm an awful person. :scared:

***********

Hey, it looks like the computer issues are resolved (without my doing anything).


I just love taking pix of this train.

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Hmm, I think my pix are a little out of order (or maybe my brain is?) b/c now we see Stitch walking alone. I remember that moment was actually when I was going to Monsters, so I guess I have the order floopy!

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Well, after finishing with Hollywood, I meandered over towards Soarin'. The line was crazy-short, and I asked the CM "would single rider get me anything today?" and he said no, so I got into the stand-by line. The guy in front of me was having some strange issue, perhaps with a FP. As we waited, two young women (girls, really) came down the FP line and stopped to talk with him, so I think that maybe his FP wasn't for the right time, or wasn't actually a FP or something. Anyway, it was NO big deal b/c they all got on at the exact same time.

And even though I wasn't in the SR line, they took me out when they found out I was a single rider, and I got on a different "flight" than those in front of me.

I was at the end of the row next to the mother of a 4 year old boy. He was SO cute. When we boarded, I discovered that I was in the top row! First time, woohoo!

Though I'll admit I was a little nervous. I've gotten a bit woozy on Soarin' before, and I was able to snap out of it by looking at the feet dangling above me. Without those feet to ground me, what would I do?

I was about to find out....and the answer is....I didn't get woozy! I felt soooo high up though. But that wasn't a bad feeling, just a little different than the lower rows.

The little boy was adorable. My 4 year old won't go near Soarin', but this 4 year old was a tour guide! He was squealing with delight with each new scene, wiggling his feet (which barely went over the edge of the seat) and smiling...oh man he was cute.


So that was a good flight.


On my way out I took a picture of something hubby thinks is funny. We went to a wedding in New Jersey, and our mapquest directions stated "bear right" and "bear left" repeatedly. He had never heard this phrase before, and it was not something he enjoyed. "Follow the road right or left" was fine with him, or turn right or left, but not "bear" right or left. Just made no sense to him!

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After Soarin', and knowing which way I was heading, I'm sure the fact that I next went on Grizzly is not a surprise to many of you!

What *was* a surprise was that I hadn't even *thought* about bringing my poncho. Whoopsie!!!!

I went on anyway. I was seated with an Australian dad and his 4 year old son (I seemed to have been surrounded by 4 year old boys that day). The 4 year old looked *tiny*. I was behind them in line so I *saw* the boy measured, I know that he hit the mark! But still he just looked itsy bitsy. The father told me that on their last time through (he and his son were both a bit damp already) the CMs actually took them off the raft after being loaded to remeasure the boy, so he was going to ask the CMs to just measure him *before* being loaded this time.

The others we were seated with were a group of 3 younger people who were funny.

I just love how they fill the rafts! It's surprising to some, to have a random person in with their family, but the communal fun is so much better than if you were alone. I love watching people react to the spinning, to the surprise soakings. And you'll generally have someone who has been on it before, so they can warn the newbies.

My strategy was to keep my face and torso dry, so I curled up every time I thought a soaking was on its way. Only the 4 year old got soaked. He was cute about it...his mouth was chattering, his hand was shaking, but when asked "are you cold?" he would say "no". His dad saw through that, though, and didn't allow another go-round as far as I saw.

Oh, and of course I made use of the free lockers for my ride, b/c I didn't want my purse (with camera) or my shopping bag to get wet!


I thought about a second trip on GRR but decided that once was enough. Our raft had successfully avoided the geysers that cause me so much enjoyment when they are hitting other people, and I didn't want to push my luck!

So I retrieved my stuff from the locker (I could have left them for 2 full hours but felt kinda naked without my purse and shopping bag and of course camera) and moved on.

[bumbershoot]

I'm trying to be slow (what, you can't tell?) but it's not in my nature to drag things out. :goodvibes


I was having such a good day. I was smiling like crazy and I'm sure people thought I was odd. I was doing exactly what I wanted to do, right when I wanted to do it (so glad it was a slow day!)...so nice.


After GRR I went through the San Francisco area and towards the Pier.

I just love these plants; I think they are called something like celosia. I bought some from my local farmer's market this summer, but they died fairly quickly. They were in a bridesmaid's bouquet I once got to carry, and I loved them.

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I walked over the bridge, past Ariel's (Cove Bar was calling me, but I really did NOT want to drink more booze after the weekend...not that I drank heavily, but I did have more than normal and I was feeling a bit sluggish b/c of it). I noticed that the McDonald's billboard was gone, which IMO was nice.


Next, and almost last, on my agenda? Screamin', of course!

Although there was a small line at the Single Rider area, the standby line was so short that it felt silly to do SR. Plus I had never gone through the normal line, and I was curious! So I waited standby behind a silly family with silly children. :goodvibes

While waiting, I noticed that they did the same thing with the SR line (that I would have been in) that they did when hubby was in the SR line. I guess that line got so relatively long that they had the people get in the elevator, go over the tracks, and down the other elevator, to be held in a holding pen and then put on the vehicles like they had waited in the normal line. I guess I understand why they do this, but I sure didn't like it when it happened to hubby, and I wouldn't have enjoyed it if I had been in that line.


Soon enough I was assigned a seat, and I "got" a single rider. :)

Fun fun fun fun fun fun ride. Fun! Just like with TOT I could scream this time, which was fun (I still can't understand screaming in the stretching/waiting room at HM or TOT).

For some reason, the take-off didn't crush my chest this time. I know that I very specifically and on purpose breathed during the take off; both an inhale and an exhale. I'm not sure I've done that before; I might have held my breath.

Or maybe I was just healthier than I was on previous Screamin' rides, and my lungs were better? I don't know, but it was nice to not have a scary crushed feeling in my ribs. Allowed me to enjoy the ride more without worrying about myself.


After the fun fun fun fun ride, I chatted with a woman who felt concussed like I usually do. I did this time as well, but it was still fun.



And from there? Toy Story Midway Mania!!!!! I actually almost forgot about this ride, but I'm so glad I remembered. This was the longest line I experienced that day. The sign stated 20 minutes, but I think it was longer. They sure do have the "snaking" thing down pat with that line, don't they? Back, forth, back, forth.... I asked about the Single Rider line, but it wasn't open that day.

The place where you get your glasses cracked me up. Reminded me of the dishwashing conveyor belt at my college cafeteria. For those who haven't been on, once you get close to the entrance to the building (much of the line is outside), there's an area with an opening in the wall. There are curtains, and in front of the curtains there are bins with nicely arranged 3D glasses. While I was waiting to get mine, I saw the lower half of a female CM as she opened the curtain and pulled the half empty bin out, and raised a nice and pretty and full bin up for us to grab glasses from. I guess neat and tidy glasses bins are very important! Then she closed the curtain and I grabbed my glasses and continued on in the line.

My time had come at last. If they had had a SR line, someone would have sat next to me and it would have been more fun. Alas I had to ride alone.

What a fun ride! It's quite a bit zippier than Buzz, and I adore the "action" of the shooter things. My hands get tired of the Buzz blasters, but not with the TSMM shooters. It was really neat how the 3D things can be aimed at, and how they make it seem like things really do explode with extra effects. I enjoyed the different games, too.

I got 56,700 points which I thought was passable, considering it was my first time through and I'm really really bad at Buzz. :goodvibes


Oh, and when people talk about how you "miss" Mr Potato Head when you use the Single Rider line...um....you can walk right by the line and interact with MPH if you'd like. He's *right there*! From the descriptions of missing him I thought it was somewhere well inside the line.

Next up (let's be honest, I'm sure I'll be back with the next post in a couple minutes, LOL)? Three things I've never done at Disneyland Resort.

[Sleepless Knight]

First off, thanks for your kind words. As you mentioned, it's great to know that there are many, many others who take their marital vows and promises seriously. Sometimes we may not think that's the case with all the infidelity we see.

Now back to Disneyland. To those thinking of traveling solo, it's tremendous fun. bumbershoot, I'm glad you didn't forget about TSMM. It's one of my favorite attraction in the DLR now. Interestingly enough, of the 4 times I rode it, I think I was only by myself once. I don't remember it being all that different, but you can score more points with a riding buddy because sometimes they unlock special targets that help you (and vice versa).

[bumbershoot]

SK, hi! Glad you're still reading and commenting! :)



Let's see, I was on TSMM and really enjoyed it. Decided not to ride again b/c the line was longer than I liked. And frankly I was getting tired, and a bit dizzy from all the jarring rides I'd been on. BTMRR, Space, Screamin', TOT, Grizzly etc...that was a lot between 10am and 3pm'ish!

Right at that moment I remembered Mickey Bars. Since they have corn syrup, Eamon can't have them. Since they are "sweets", hubby can't really have them anymore. Since I was sans guys on this day, I decided to go for it.

Went to the ice cream vendor between TSMM and Screamin'. Waited. Ordered. Augh, no Mickey Bars, despite it being clearly indicated on his sign! Drat. He said that there would surely be another vendor along the midway area. Alright, I said, and walked that way. Walk walk walk....ew icky Maliboomer, why would people play the midway games at DLR (I don't really "get" midway games' appeal anyway), oh I should have gotten my face painted at the beginning of the day, how much fun would that have been??!!!??? (definitely a plan for a future solo trip) Wonder why the sunglasses shop is closed, where on earth is another vendor of Mickey Bars, ew no Mulholland Madness (just doesn't appeal), yay McD's is gone, ew Pizza Oom Mow Mow....


This isn't a pretty picture of the Orange Stinger, but I like the snapshot anyway for some reason.

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At long, long last, all the way over near the now defunct Golden Dreams theater, there was a vendor. Yes I could have gone the *other* way, back past Screamin', past Ariel's, and over the bridge. But no, the vendor pointed me through the midway, dagnabbit.

I finally was able to try a Mickey Bar. Quite good! Wish they'd use regular sugar syrup instead of the too-sweet corn syrup in their chocolate, but the vanilla ice cream was *quite* good.

I almost never think about what's outside the parks when I'm in them, but when I saw this picture (of Ariel's) I really noticed the CA sky.

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So I wandered with my ice cream and realized that I was dreadfully thirsty. So I stopped at my handy Pacific Wharf Cafe for a big, free cup of ice water. Ahhhh, nice.


My second never-before-done thing was a sudden decision to see It's Tough To Be A Bug! I've heard quite a bit about it and I trust what I've heard, but just to be sure, since I was alone, I decided to go. Just like catching the Amtrak train that I wasn't planning on, as I walked down the line (which I was surprised by...I didn't realize the show was actually underground) they announced that "anyone" in line (aka ME, since I was the only one) should hurry up to see the showing that was about to start, otherwise it would be another 9 minutes. So I hurried and I got in just as the doors closed (though I kind of wish I hadn't hurried and had just looked at the elements of the line b/c it was cute). Especially the inside theater, I wish I hadn't rushed, it looked like fun in there.

And...yeah, people are right. Not a show for my son yet. Heck, not a show for ME yet! When Hopper gets angry and calls for the "black widow spiders", do you know what I did? I literally whimpered, put my head down, and hunched over with my head in my hands. I did peek up just enough to see that the effect isn't just on a screen, that things do actually drop down, and then I closed my eyes and whimpered again. I do NOT like arachnids, not even plastic ones.

Since I was sitting forward, if there was a sting-in-the-spine at some point, I missed it. And at the end, when they tell you to let the bugs exit, everyone reacted like there was a feeling going on (like in Honey I Shrunk The Audience), but I didn't feel it (like in HISTA).

If DS wants to see it, we'll sit near the exit and know the procedure for leaving early. And we'll spend some time in the queue and the theater waiting area.

[bumbershoot]

And the last thing I did that I had never done before?

I left early! I realized while leaving ITTBAB that I was done. I had done everything I wanted to do, I wasn't hungry (I had wanted to try the portobello philly dog at Award Weiners but I wasn't going to stuff myself), I didn't have more shopping...it felt like any more time, any more things to do, would just be gilding the lily.

Which is funny, because when I read avalon's report and she discussed how she and her daughter left happily, feeling that their trip was just perfect and they didn't need or want more time, I, um, thought they were suffering from heatstroke! :rotfl: But there I was, happy to leave. I didn't even have to run over to DL to say goodbye. I was just happy to go!

But wait, it wasn't even 5! My flight was at 10:30. :eek: Well, maybe I could catch the standby earlier flight, but no matter what, I was ready.


I made my way out of DCA and over to the picnic area. I spent quite a bit of time rearranging my stuff. A CM sweeping the area looked at me funny, since I had my suitcase open, changing shoes, moving things here and there...oh well! At least I had ample time to make sure I had nothing in my carryon that shouldn't be there. :goodvibes


Once that was finished, I put my bags on my back and started the trudge back to DLH! Oh wait, had to pull my camera back out to catch this. I started with a picture of the spiky lightballs, I needed to end with them.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d944b0f62300000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d8ac6d57f600000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


I walked through DTD, went into DLH. Had some misinformation from the Bell Services, but ultimately sat myself down in a comfy chair in the check-in area. Saw a family checking in who were told that they would be *tomorrow's* DLH family of the day, and they were shown up to a special suite by a special Dreams CM. Lucky ducks. Have you ever noticed that the people you see being Dreamed are Nowhere Near As Excited as you would be? They just don't know what they're getting and how lucky they are, it seems.

Sat listening to the mp3 player, reading my mystery novel. I set my cellphone's alarm so I would go out at the right time. Went out.

Had a bit of a scare b/c I guess there was another Disneyland Express bus that had come through, so it seemed they had come early and I had missed it...but as I was walking back to flip out on the Bell Services guys (who could see me where I was sitting inside and KNEW I was there and what I was waiting for) I heard another bus come by. Whew. I don't know what was up with the other bus, but I was glad that the correct bus came through.

It was a very pleasant journey (I pretty much grew upon coaches like that, since my dad was a Greyhound driver, and it's like home in a way) with only 3 other people on board. We got there in good time.

I went to the Alaska counter and asked about standby, and I was the first one put on the list for the 8:30 flight. Yay!

They have a funky setup there, where they don't take your bags to check? You have to take them over to the checked bag people, you hand it over, it goes through xray and off to the plane. I haven't experienced that as far as I can remember, so it felt strange!

During my whole trip the TSA agents were kind, polite, and very smiley. Even for my flight down, when the xray machine had fits over the shape of my MP3 player and it took about 10 minutes for them to run it again and search through, they were kind and smiling. So I guess their pretty new outfits are working, and their morale is up!

I found the starbucks, got some decaf and a snack (great, NOW I got hungry), checked in with the gate agent when she showed up, got my seat. Got on the flight, nothing horribly ironic happened (my superstitious nature kicked in as I got on a flight I wasn't "supposed to" be on), it was a good flight. Hubby and son were inside Seatac (son was passed out in the stroller, but when he heard my voice he opened his eyes and smiled each time) which I wasn't expecting, the trip home was uneventful!

We were home and going to sleep by the time I would have been just landing in Seattle, if I had forced myself to stay and had caught the "right" flight.

As of today all my frequent flyer points are in the proper accounts (Elevate with Virgin America and whatever Alaska's program is called), and there was nothing to pay off from my trip! Excellent!


Thanks for reading!!!!!!

[BillyFan]

Molly, it sounds like you had a great trip! While I've never had a solo trip, I have enjoyed some stolen moments alone in the park, and I have enjoyed it.

[Sherry E]

I am glad you brought up ITTBAB. I not only think it could be too scary for little ones, but I found it very alarming, and I am 41 years old!! There was a lot going on, with the smell and the mist spraying on us and the 3-D and the spiders dropping down (HATED that part). I know if I had seen that as a kid, the spider part would have given me nightmares for years and I would not have been able to see it again for a long time! I don't know if I want to do it again on the next trip. I am not one of those types that 'enjoys' feeling unsettled and alarmed, and I know a lot of people LOVE that feeling and thrive on it! I got bored with HISTA early on. After a couple of times of seeing it, it bored me to tears, except for the end when the imaginary mice scurry past our feet. So when my friend wanted to see it on this last trip, I nixed it simply because I didn't want to be bored. But if she suggests ITTBAB again, I might reject it because I don't want to be creeped out!

How about the Muppets? Isn't that a nice little 3-D show? I haven't seen it yet, but maybe we can do that next time. I doubt they have any horrible spiders coming out of the ceiling or wherever.

Also, you mentioned the end of ITTBAB, where everyone reacts as though the same sort of thing is happening when the mice 'scurry' past your feet at the end of HISTA. I was confused by this too. Of course, I lifted my feet off the ground in ITTBAB - I am no fool; those could have been hissing Madagascar cockroaches, for all I know - so I didn't feel any critters moving past me, but I heard everyone else reacting. Bloodcurdling screams from the audience. I also heard - and tell me if you did, too, Bumbershoot - the sound of what seemed to be little trap doors opening up under the seats. I KNOW I heard that sound of something opening, and I think I noticed a sliding panel or some such thing under someone else's seat, but I already had my feet off the ground at that point so I didn't feel any menacing insects running over me. I wondered if maybe Disney has it rigged so that only SOME of the people in the audience are 'lucky' enough to sit in certain seats with the sensation of scampering bugs emerging, while others are in the 'safe' seats? Do you think that is what they do? Or is that sound of a panel opening just put in to psychologically torture us?:laughing:

[bumbershoot]

Sherry, you have obviously thought about these shows. :goodvibes

Come to think about it, I do think I heard noises like that. I was just confused so I'm not totally sure, thought.

Muppets is very very cute. There might be an alarming part with something coming straight at you, but NO spiders whatsoever. I liked Muppets. HISTA was OK (Eamon hasn't been to it, it's something that hubby and I each did during, as BillyFan called it, stolen moments), but Muppets is my fave.

re: lifting up the feet. Ever since I saw The Ghost and the Silence (or something like that...the story about lions in Africa in the 1800s that was made in the mid 90s) in a theater basically by myself, I have been freaked the heck out by having my feet where "things" might "get" them. What's funny is that although I didn't know hubby then, he saw it by himself as well, and the theater he was in had Surround Sound like the one I saw it in, and he was so alarmed by the surrounded sound of lions all through the theater that he spend half the movie with his feet up on the chair in front of him, just like I did when I saw it!

Anyway, since then I get really nervous about my poor feet (actually the lion movie stuff just built on stuff from the book Pet Sematary by S. King), so I really hate the idea of scurrying feelings in HISTA and ITTBAB.


Glad you two were both reading!

[Sherry E]

Are you talking about The Ghost and the Darkness, with Michael Douglas and, I think, Val Kilmer? I remember that one. That was scary. So was Pet Semetary, but, then again, most Stephen King novels made into movies (even the made for TV ones) are scary.

I could really take or leave the 3-D shows, believe it or not. I might see the Muppets once just to see it, but that kind of stuff doesn't thrill me that much - even the ones without horrible arachnids dangling or mice scurrying! I was sick of Captain EO early on, too. The purpose they serve to me is just giving us something to do when it is hot outside and we need to rest but still feel like we are doing something! Now I DO think it would cool if Star Tours had some 3-D effects or if Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters did (like TSMM does), but the shows I could skip and not feel too bad about missing them.

I am still curious to find out if some of the audience members in ITTBAB actually DO feel critters scampering by their feet in certain seats, or if it is all just a mind game!

By the way I actually think that the trees in DTD have some of those lights/colored balls year-round. I think I saw them in early October.

Do you ever ride the Orange Stinger? That looks like a death-mobile to me, so I will skip it!

[bumbershoot]

Darkness, that's it. :headache: Can't believe I got the name wrong.

Captain EO was 3D? Oh dear. I missed that whole EO thing...not really upset by it!

I won't go on the Stinger. no no no. That and Maliboomer are absolute NOs for me. And I've never felt the need to go on the Sun/MickeyHeadWheel, either, though the non-swinging side could see me someday, if others in my party really wanted to go on (but they haven't yet wanted to).

[Sherry E]

Darkness, that's it. :headache: Can't believe I got the name wrong.

Captain EO was 3D? Oh dear. I missed that whole EO thing...not really upset by it!

I won't go on the Stinger. no no no. That and Maliboomer are absolute NOs for me. And I've never felt the need to go on the Sun/MickeyHeadWheel, either, though the non-swinging side could see me someday, if others in my party really wanted to go on (but they haven't yet wanted to).

Don't feel bad about getting the name of the lion movie wrong - for some reason, whenever I think of that specific film, I always want to call it The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe! Even when I KNOW that L, W & W comes from a whole different book/storyline, I still can't stop myself from calling the Ghost and the Darkness that! I almost typed it in the post I did a little while ago, but caught myself before it sent!:rotfl:

[kaoden39]

I really enjoyed your trip report. I understand just being done. I have done that, it's funny but I have gone the other way too where I wanted to stay longer.

[Sherry E]

I find that when I am 'done,' it is only temporary. In other words, if I were staying a good week at a hotel and going into the parks for the first 3 days straight, I would be done and feel like I was just 'over it.' I would probably just want to be out of the parks for a day or maybe half a day. But then I would start to remember all the other things I had told myself I wanted to see (for me, I just like to scour the shops and look for any hard-to-find hidden gems that I will be sorry I didn't buy on the spot) and then feel the urge to go back in. And if I am already back at home when I get that urge, then I get annoyed that I didn't make the most of the time I had!!! Trouble is, there usually is not enough time on my trips to do a couple of really active, full days in the park, rest for half a day and then go back in. Usually it is time to go home in a couple of days!

A solo trip would help that dilemma for me somewhat, though, just for the purpose of getting certain things accomplished that I can't do when other people are with me, just like you advised, Bumbershoot!:goodvibes

[bumbershoot]

I really enjoyed your trip report. I understand just being done. I have done that, it's funny but I have gone the other way too where I wanted to stay longer.

Oh trust me, that's where I usually am, no matter how long our trip is!


I find that when I am 'done,' it is only temporary.

:lmao: So very true.

As of yesterday we are now having intense discussions (all early discussion as who knows where the money would come from), that even made it to my dreams last night, of:

should the three of us take a QUICK trip in early December?
should just Eamon and I take a trip in early December?
should Eamon and I have a bit of a longer trip in early December, and Robert can join us over his weekend?

Eamon is ALL in favor of any of those. He says that he has fun with me, or with me and Robert, at Disneyland (not just him and Robert though, I guess?), and he really wants a SHORT trip b/c he gets tired.

But then, despite not understanding the "buy 4 get 3 free" deal at WDW (thought it was just a ticket deal at first, LOL), I'm now ALL about that. And I'm trying to urge a WDW trip in March for a b'day and to visit my family in Daytona and Orlando. But that would be at least 7 nights so of course that's not a "short" trip, so we're getting resistance from the 4 year old who only knows d'land so far.

The 4 year old is saying things like "disneyland is fun, it has rides! disneyworld is just for looking looking looking, no rides, it's boring". :rotfl:

Discussions continue. :goodvibes



The one in blue and bold won. And we're staying onsite. :eek: Hey, what can I do? HoJo's had NOTHING on the 6th! (whimper...candlelight processional...whimper)

[wendylady36]

So after two cups of coffee, I'm finally done reading your PTR and TR :rotfl: It took a lot longer then I expected to read through it all!

First off, you will never, ever see me spending that much on a concert ticket! Wow, that's just a lot! I understand why you ponied up the money though.

That's heartbreaking to hear about your friends cheating ways. I know married men and gals around here that do the same thing. It's SO depressing, it makes me not want to get married. I always joke with my single friends that we should move to the south, where we can get ourselves some southern gentlemen. :rotfl2: I'm happy that you had at least one friend with you that was willing to save you from the after party bar scene.

It looks like your solo trip was great fun! I just took my first solo trip a few weeks ago, although only two days out of four were truly solo.

On the matter of that nasty nasty attraction, ITTBAB, I too freak out on the spider scene. I have to close my eyes and cover my ears and jump into the lap of whomever I'm with. The squeals at the end are from peoples bottoms getting poked by passing bugs, it's really an unpleasant ending to a scary attraction.

[prettyprincessbelle]

Great TR Molly!!

I think you should make a quick early December trip too! Even if it is just you and E! That would be so much fun!

Yeah, I don't really like ITTBAB either. I'll watch it, we watched it last time, but I still get freaked out. I do not understand how little 3, 4, and 5 year olds can sit through that without screaming bloody murder. It's scary!! Terrible, terrible. *shudder*

[Sherry E]

On the matter of that nasty nasty attraction, ITTBAB, I too freak out on the spider scene. I have to close my eyes and cover my ears and jump into the lap of whomever I'm with. The squeals at the end are from peoples bottoms getting poked by passing bugs, it's really an unpleasant ending to a scary attraction.

Oh, is that what it is??:scared1: You mean that in some of the seats, there is the sensation of things rustling past your booty? I don't think I felt that in my seat, and my friend didn't mention feeling it in hers. I wonder if it is just felt in random seats at each show? I couldn't understand why people were screaming unless they had JUST come out of HISTA and had that creedy rodents-running-over-your-feet-feeling in their minds and were super-paranoid! Now I know I don't have to lift my feet of the ground in ITTBAB, but I have to lift my butt off the seat, I guess! (That is IF I ever feel the need to see that again to pacify my friend!) Yikes!

[avalon451]

Great TR, Molly!

Tried to talk Liz into ITTBAB this last time, in fact I was headed for the ramp, but she really balked. Not interested and mildly creeped out by bugs... although not as bad as her dad, who seriously does not like arachnids, although he's fine to take care of household ones. We are both big Lord of the Rings fans, and he still will not watch the scene in Return of the King with Shelob, the giant spider. Too realistic! I don't mind bugs myself and I'm not easily creeped out by that kind of thing. Which is probably good, since I do a spider unit in Kindergarten every year. :rotfl:

I do so enjoy your writing and your sense of humor! Also your independent spirit. So good that you can get a chance to try some things that your "guys" aren't up for when you are together, and enjoy them, while appreciating the subtle pleasures of grownup alone time! And I could picture you nonchalantly repacking your suitcase under the curious eye of the CM. :) Very cool that you were able to leave when you felt like it, and get on an earlier flight, and get home before you were were completely exhausted.

I'm thinking I would so enjoy a solo trip like that! And yeah, the ladies' only trip sounds like a blast! However, finances just aren't gonna go there this year. We are truly done for a while. Our 20th anniversary is coming up next summer, and we'd had all these wonderful visions about maybe going to England for a few weeks... our lifelong dream... but there's no way. I guess we'll shoot for the 25th, maybe! :)

Thanks again for sharing your great time!

[avalon451]

Oh trust me, that's where I usually am, no matter how long our trip is!




:lmao: So very true.

As of yesterday we are now having intense discussions (all early discussion as who knows where the money would come from), that even made it to my dreams last night, of:

should the three of us take a QUICK trip in early December?
should just Eamon and I take a trip in early December?
should Eamon and I have a bit of a longer trip in early December, and Robert can join us over his weekend?

Eamon is ALL in favor of any of those. He says that he has fun with me, or with me and Robert, at Disneyland (not just him and Robert though, I guess?), and he really wants a SHORT trip b/c he gets tired.

But then, despite not understanding the "buy 4 get 3 free" deal at WDW (thought it was just a ticket deal at first, LOL), I'm now ALL about that. And I'm trying to urge a WDW trip in March for a b'day and to visit my family in Daytona and Orlando. But that would be at least 7 nights so of course that's not a "short" trip, so we're getting resistance from the 4 year old who only knows d'land so far.

The 4 year old is saying things like "disneyland is fun, it has rides! disneyworld is just for looking looking looking, no rides, it's boring". :rotfl:

Discussions continue. :goodvibes



The one in blue and bold won. And we're staying onsite. :eek: Hey, what can I do? HoJo's had NOTHING on the 6th! (whimper...candlelight processional...whimper)

Oh, VERY cool. How fun! Eamon is going to have a blast! :cool1:

[bumbershoot]

"We are both big Lord of the Rings fans, and he still will not watch the scene in Return of the King with Shelob, the giant spider. Too realistic!"


I had a hard time just *reading* those parts.....



I hope your 25th anniversary traveling in Europe is wonderful! Maybe your hubby will be sent on a business trip somewhere fun soon. :goodvibes

[Sherry E]

Oh, and by the way, Molly - I am going to be an enabler and say YES, by all means, go for a QUICK trip in December to DLR!!!! Your little guy will enjoy all the Christmas magic and merriment SO much (I assume he hasn't been there for the holidays before, or has he?)!!! That is the best time to go (with the exception of the heavier crowds, of course)!!

[bumbershoot]

I just couldn't start another pre-trip, but we're in pre-trip mode again. :eek: :headache: :rolleyes1 :rotfl: :lovestruc :cloud9: :santa:



Turns out hubby is still yearning for DLR, to the point where he actually turned down WDW for his b'day in order to do a shorty trip this December.

I mainly use the pre-trip journals to keep my brain in order, along with the scads of notes I've already written out. Thankfully hubby had just installed our new wireless router to replace the one that died, so I can sit at the table and be online, instead of sit on the couch where I can be wired.

So we'll be working around the crowds of the Candlelight Processional and staying away from Main Street, b/c we're going from the 6th to the 8th next month. Hubby has to see if he can swap working days on that Saturday; if he can we'll get flights early, if not we'll either split up (E and I early, hubby late) or all just go late (um, yeah, right....). And we're going back as late as possible on the 8th. I sense some Alaska flights in our future, at least for the trip home!

HoJo had nothing nothing nothing available for the 6th. Now....a couple hours ago I read on the main forum that calling them might yield a different answer, but they did have something on the 7th (entertainment rate, even) so I'm just going with "there's nothing available on the 6th". There was nothing at Anabella, either! Crazy. (I'm afraid)

Combine those things with the AP rates and that results in AP7 rates in early December for PPH. Hey, we get MM on Sunday, so that's good, right? :cool2:

Then DL closes early on the Monday, which helps us get out the "door" for our flights (if we can ignore the siren call next door!).

Eamon is now very excited for Soarin', from both the Samantha Brown show we re-watched and from the little boy I told him about that I sat next to. By the way, he was a little bit peeved that I went without him, but seems to have forgiven me.

Right now E is fighting a cold (as am I) but the "guys" have been having light saber fights all day. If E is chosen for Jedi Academy, he's going to KICK Darth's booty all the way to the Endor moon!!!!!

[Sherry E]

Is this the first holiday trip ever to DLR for you and your family? I can't recall how many holiday trips to DLR I have made in my lifetime, but every time feels like the first time all over again when I see that giant tree on Main Street and those cute Mickey-shaped wreaths!:santa: But I just can't imagine what it is like to be a kid again and see all that cool Christmas stuff for the first time!

[kaoden39]

We went one year in early December. We went the week following the candle light procession. It was wonderful. The crowds were small and we were able to pretty much do what we wanted at the pace we wanted. The only downfall was it was that misty rain type of weather but aren't you from Washington? So that would be almost normal for you. We went on more rides and did more things that trip. The park is so beautiful. Enjoy.

[bumbershoot]

We actually did go last December in the first week. Missed the CM parties and the CP entirely, and skipped out on the crowds, too! This year from the hotel availability and the CP and the first CM party being on our last day I think we're going to hit some crowds, which will be a first (we've been very lucky).

So we'll see what it's like this time...

Poor E, what an icky cold. I had a terrific brain flash at around midnight and had him sleep with his torso propped up in the Boppy I used when we were newbies at nursing, with the Boppy also on a pillow. He felt held all night (it's always nice to be or feel held when you're sick) without one of us having to hurt our bodies or stay up all night, he didn't flop around (which tends to wake him up) and his head was raised comfortably which helped his stuffy head and nose! Sometimes I'm quite brilliant, and hubby says that the Boppy idea was one of those moments. :idea:

[kaoden39]

It's so hard when they are little and sick. Heck it's still hard on me and my baby is 12. It's a Mommy's lot in life I think.

[toocherie]

Molly: so glad your solo trip to DL/DCA was so great (sorry about the whole SD experience though!)

Also excited that you guys are coming in December. Maybe I can run over and ride a couple of rides with you!

Cheryl

[prettyprincessbelle]

he's going to KICK Darth's booty all the way to the Endor moon!!!!!

Oohh! This would be an awesome tag! :yay:

Another :yay: for December trip!! We're going to be there the 1st to the 4th.

:thumbsup2

[bumbershoot]

Cheryl, you'd better come by!

PPB and kaoden, I'm so glad you're still reading. :)

[kaoden39]

Cheryl, you'd better come by!

PPB and kaoden, I'm so glad you're still reading. :)

Of course I am. I am an ardent fan of your writing style. And most of the time we are of like mind.

[prettyprincessbelle]

Cheryl, you'd better come by!

PPB and kaoden, I'm so glad you're still reading. :)

Yes, mam'! :goodvibes

[DisneyMomma81]

Sounds like a great day in the parks ~ sorry about the start of the trip. Your TR's are great reads. How fun you'll be there early next month with your guys! Your last day is our 1st day ~ perhaps we'll see each other.

[bumbershoot]

The mention of the start of the trip reminded me of something I didn't even mention!


We had a flight that was supposed to leave just after noon. Being good little travelers who follow the rules, both B and I were there nice and early. We were dropped off separately by respective husband and child.

I had some troubles getting through security, b/c the TSA machines did NOT like my MP3 player (I think I mentioned that one). But it was all fine and we were smiley and I made it through without being searched or anything.

I love the seatac airport once you're past security, and I had plans to eat something, but was so ridiculously nervous about the flight and the trip that all I could deal with was an iced latte to try to wake me up.

So I went to the gate to try to calm down. Got a phone call from B. She was at one of the bars at the airport! It was barely 11am. So I headed down there, and she wasn't just having a brew, she was having a mixed drink. While I was still having my coffee! Yowza.


She finished her bevvie and we went to the gate to hang out. Alas, there was some sort of nasty weather down in San Francisco, so our flight was delayed. So the Virgin America gate people started amusing us by playing David Bowie music, saying it was Bowie day at VA. And they got a trivia game going. Since B remembered that I'm a Bowie fan she tried to get me to be a Joiner, but I'm just not one to do things like that. Afraid I'll fall while walking over, afraid I've sat in chocolate or have scary panty lines, etc etc etc. Afraid of being a fool.

B however IS a joiner, so when no one else was getting up, she went on over at the same time that a male fellow passenger also went up there. Long story short, I should have gone up there b/c one of the questions that I knew the answer to, they said if we got it, we'd win free flights for a year. D'oh! I didn't get over to B in time, and as I was getting up the gate agent said she was glad no one answered (his b'day is Jan 8 1947 by the way...same month and day as Elvis and my brother) b/c she would have lost her job. Dernit why hadn't I gotten up?

Well at the end of it, B and the guy both won, and they got two free drinks or movies for on the flight.

But the flight wasn't going anywhere! It was around 11:30 and they were anticipating it being AT LEAST 2:20 by the time we'd be boarding. But to stay close-ish and listen to the announcements.

By then my nervousness was going and I got hungry, so we went to the Africa Lounge (around the corner from the gate) and ordered nachos and two beers. The nachos took some time, and we were chatting. After about 10 minutes, we saw the server carrying our beers towards us. I said "wow that's a big beer" b/c B had gotten the 22 oz while I got the 16oz, and as soon as those words were out of my mouth, over the PA system we heard that our flight was boarding in one minute!!!!!

I was focused on those beers, but B said that about half the people in the lounge suddenly stood up after the announcement. The server had our eye, and we told her we had to go...she was a bit confused, but we just said that that was our flight, and since we hadn't even touched the beers, she said to just GO.

So we went.

We boarded and got comfy. VA has the loveliest plane interior! Instead of flat white or yellowish lights, it's all blues and purples and reds and pinks in there. The barrier between coach and first class looks like this (from coach):

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d92993379e00000060O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Instead of a normal TV (lol, "normal" televisions in the backs of seats, wow we have come a long way) they have a system they call "red". This is Red:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf27b3127ccec5d81ad9d62900000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


As B said when I was taking those pix, you can't take me anywhere.


We discovered that you can text others in the plane through Red, so even though B and I were right across the aisle from each other, we texted each other instead of talking. :rotfl:

At one point later on, the perky flight attendant (reminded me of a brown haired Calleigh from CSI Miami) cracked up when she realized we were texting each other. Said that she and a couple girlfriends did the same on their way to Vegas once...


So anyway, we were seated and got comfy.


And then.....lockdown. Seatac went on lockdown. There was some sort of security breech. They had to find some woman; our plane was boarded twice by armed agents of some sort, looking at us all to find this woman.

So we sat and sat and missed our take-off window and sat some more.

At long long last, the lockdown was lifted, so we assume they found their (wo)man.

Alas, we couldn't take off yet b/c of the "window" and b/c the flight was only 3/4 boarded! YES if we hadn't gotten up so quickly, we could have been waiting in the gate area when the lockdown happened, and we might have been able to go back to our brews and nachos. SIGH.


Finally the other people were boarded, we had to wait about 20 more minutes for a take-off window, and we took off.


Our flight landed in SF, and it was still naaaaaaasty weather there. I never realized just how close to the water you are when you're landing there until 11/1, yikes! We had been told that it was the same plane going on, so we didn't have to worry about anything. But the plane changed flight numbers, which is something I haven't experienced in the past, so everyone had to exit the plane.

We exited, rushed up the escalators to see if we could find food (B the omnivore found food, but the herbivore did not, which means it was around 4 or 5 and the herbivore had only had an iced latte and 3 bites of a cookie so far) and went back down the escalators just in time for our flight to be called. We were second and third last on the plane, but we had our same seats so we knew where we were going.


Landed at long last in San Diego, got our bags, found a cab, got to the condo. Called the ringleader who told us we MUST look "sexy" (after spending from 10am to 6 or 7 pm in an airport or on a plane!), we made our attempts at it and hobbled off in high heels for the $15 mixed drinks place where it all began. (did I mention that at around midnight I finally steered B-the-booze-lightweight-and-early-bird towards the condo, where we ordered a pizza and fell fast asleep? I think we were the only ones eating on the trip, LOL)



So anyway, I wanted to share the flight story b/c it was crazy and weird and unexpected. The seatac lockdown didn't seem to make any news anywhere but it happened!

[kaoden39]

Wow that was a interesting start to your trip. I'm sorry that the weather was bad in San Francisco. We had rain that didn't we? I will never forget the first time I flew into SFO it was a sobering experience. Wow. And San Diego airport wow I felt like I could read every licence plate on the freeway. Sacramento airport isn't so bad to fly in and out of.

[bumbershoot]

And San Diego airport wow I felt like I could read every licence plate on the freeway.

What's funny is that I never look out the window while landing in SD, but it sure is dramatic to see the planes! Brother drove me over to Coronado and it's astonishing to see how the planes just go right through town.....


Hubby has flown in and out of Hong Kong and Singapore, and I can't remember which one it is but one of them is a man-made island for their airport. He says it's amazing, but very scary....

[kaoden39]

What's funny is that I never look out the window while landing in SD, but it sure is dramatic to see the planes! Brother drove me over to Coronado and it's astonishing to see how the planes just go right through town.....


Hubby has flown in and out of Hong Kong and Singapore, and I can't remember which one it is but one of them is a man-made island for their airport. He says it's amazing, but very scary....

Oh gosh I can't even imagine.

[bumbershoot]

Okey dokey!

Because of extreme issues trying to book online, I had time to think "I don't think E and I should go early on the 5th, let's just all travel together".

So we're leaving on the 5th after hubby's work and will make our way by Disneyland Express to the extra-classy Motel 6.

Actually that might get changed, because of the most recent reviews on hotels dot com and tripadvisor. :scared: Might have to take the priceline tutorial and maybe bid on something instead.

Then up bright and early on the 6th, pre-check-in to PPH, store luggage, get over early for MM. Up on the 7th, MM again. (they'd better not change MM days!) Then we have most of the 8th before making our way to the DExpress and going home!

Short, sweet, simple. :upsidedow

[Sleepless Knight]

How exciting. I think you and your family will love Disneyland at Christmastime. I've been there every single year in December since 2003 and will see the Candlelight Processional this year for the first time(same time you're down there). Say hello if you see me and I'll do the same if I see you. Best way to spot me will be my lanyard with Disney Star Wars pins and Sleeping Beauty pins.

[Sherry E]

Okey dokey!

Because of extreme issues trying to book online, I had time to think "I don't think E and I should go early on the 5th, let's just all travel together".

So we're leaving on the 5th after hubby's work and will make our way by Disneyland Express to the extra-classy Motel 6.

Actually that might get changed, because of the most recent reviews on hotels dot com and tripadvisor. :scared: Might have to take the priceline tutorial and maybe bid on something instead.

Then up bright and early on the 6th, pre-check-in to PPH, store luggage, get over early for MM. Up on the 7th, MM again. (they'd better not change MM days!) Then we have most of the 8th before making our way to the DExpress and going home!

Short, sweet, simple. :upsidedow


Sounds good! And you are resisting the Snowball Effect by deciding against going early with Eamon. Stay strong for us all... Fight the Snowball...Don't let it win...

If I DO end up going by myself for one day before my actual 'planned' (but tentative) trip in late December, I will probably try to go around that same time frame you are going, because it seems like a few DIS folks are going then. I am eager to see the decorations - especially at night!:santa:

[bumbershoot]

If I DO end up going by myself for one day before my actual 'planned' (but tentative) trip in late December, I will probably try to go around that same time frame you are going, because it seems like a few DIS folks are going then. I am eager to see the decorations - especially at night!:santa:

Woohoo!

Editing to add....if you could just get someone to take you to LAX, you could hop on Disneyland Express. Just take it to DLH and start your day! (and the reverse to get home)

[Sherry E]

Woohoo!

Editing to add....if you could just get someone to take you to LAX, you could hop on Disneyland Express. Just take it to DLH and start your day! (and the reverse to get home)

That sounds like a good (and less expensive) idea. I am going to scheme on that! I am still trying to figure out how feasible the actual planned DLR trip is for late December, so my 'impromptu' solo visit to see the decorations will be decided after I know the specifics on the other one, but it will all work out one way or the other. I am not too worried about it right at the moment. I am resisting the Snowball...Must resist...cannot buy useless Mickey gingerbread souvenirs... Must...stay...strong....:rotfl: ;) :goodvibes

Looking at all your photos in your TR, it made me remember I have to go back and post some photos in my old Trip Report. I just put several in the PhotoPass thread, but I have to get some non-PhotoPass pictures into the TR!

[wendy darling]

What's funny is that I never look out the window while landing in SD, but it sure is dramatic to see the planes! Brother drove me over to Coronado and it's astonishing to see how the planes just go right through town.....


Hubby has flown in and out of Hong Kong and Singapore, and I can't remember which one it is but one of them is a man-made island for their airport. He says it's amazing, but very scary....

I was reading your Trip report (enjoyed reading it!!) when I came across this post.
I was flying into San Diego about 2 weeks after 9/11 happened (actually I was supposed to fly on 9/11 in the evening) when we got ready to land, the pilot got on the pa system and assured us that although we were flying VERY close to the buildings it was normal and that we should not be alarmed. If he had not done that I think the passengers (me included) would have freaked out!!

[goofycathy]

Wow I must have been there the same day because I remember being in line and seeing that family in the yellow shirts getting picked. I remember teasing my husband and saying "see next time I want to pick out nice bright matching T-shirts for our trip you wont object" and he gave me that "your right" look.
Sounds like you had a blast, we did too!

[bumbershoot]

I was reading your Trip report (enjoyed reading it!!) when I came across this post.
I was flying into San Diego about 2 weeks after 9/11 happened (actually I was supposed to fly on 9/11 in the evening) when we got ready to land, the pilot got on the pa system and assured us that although we were flying VERY close to the buildings it was normal and that we should not be alarmed. If he had not done that I think the passengers (me included) would have freaked out!!

I think they should announce it every time, don't you?

I remember taking off from, hmm, Orange County airport I believe, and the pilot let us know the way they had to take off....fast, pointed up more than usual, and gaining altitude very quickly then leveling off quicker than a normal takeoff. I was SO glad for that info, b/c I'm more used to the leisurely take off with a long time to get to altitude, and it would have been scary without the warning!

Wow I must have been there the same day because I remember being in line and seeing that family in the yellow shirts getting picked. I remember teasing my husband and saying "see next time I want to pick out nice bright matching T-shirts for our trip you wont object" and he gave me that "your right" look.
Sounds like you had a blast, we did too!

Very cool!

I'll admit I have an urge to get/make matchy shirts, but there's just no chance hubby would wear one happily. I mean, he'd wear one, but not happily b/c he would feel that the brightness would accentuate all that he's trying to lose. Now if I could make up some sort of button up Lassiter-esque shirt for him and we could match him, he'd wear that, but I think that would be much more expensive than getting some t-shirts! :)

[prettyprincessbelle]

I'll admit I have an urge to get/make matchy shirts, but there's just no chance hubby would wear one happily. I mean, he'd wear one, but not happily b/c he would feel that the brightness would accentuate all that he's trying to lose. Now if I could make up some sort of button up Lassiter-esque shirt for him and we could match him, he'd wear that, but I think that would be much more expensive than getting some t-shirts! :)

I really like those!! Totally not DBF's "style", actually more my Dad's. I should buy him one for Christmas. I think I saw a Wall-E one on Disneyshopping... :idea: :idea:

ETA: Okay, it's a Bolt one. And it's $74, yikes!

[Hound 109]

Great report Bumber. :thumbsup2

Just caught up (had read previously about your experience with the $200 tickets to see the Material Girl).

But i got a few questions & comments:


I will NEVER stay there, just saying it's a long stinkin' walk. Biggest problems with the walk for me are: shopper's mecca and I'm not a shopper, and it's not in a straight line...I like straight lines, like, oh, say, Harbor Boulevard from HoJo, LOL.

Better than a long stinkin' bus ride. ;) :lmao:

Bumber....even though we are alike in many ways (hate shopping, likeing most things disney, Screamin' ROCKS!.......We are so NOT alike in many ways. I love curvy routes & lines (like the PP to DL).....& sausages & stuff. :)



After leaving the Fantasyland hat shop, I noticed the Matterhorn. And I thought "where are these two entrances I've read about?" I walked over, and I realized that the two boarding areas are in the same area, but you get to them in separate ways. Is that right, Matterhorn experts?

I do know that I approached it from the Alice/Tea Party area, walked in, turned right-ish, and was seated almost immediately.

When I left, I noticed that the left side of the structure had another line, and that line continued (the people were walking, not stopped, but still it was more of a line than what I had been in) all the way around the mountain down to Nemo.

Anyway, I rode the Matterhorn, and it was great fun.

The boarding areas are next to each other. If it's not busy (like early during MM), the LINES will be short & the end of the lines will be not far from each other. During more crowded times, the LINES could be wrapping around the Matterhorn (one line on around the Alice side & the other line around the Nemo side).

As i've stated often, I like to ride one side then the other early during MM (when there is virtually NO line). One fun ride.....but TWO different tracks & experiences. :cool1:



And even though I wasn't in the SR line, they took me out when they found out I was a single rider, and I got on a different "flight" than those in front of me.

I was at the end of the row next to the mother of a 4 year old boy. He was SO cute. When we boarded, I discovered that I was in the top row! First time, woohoo!


Front (top) Row of Soarin' is the ONLY way to go. :dance3: :thumbsup2



I'm trying to be slow (what, you can't tell?) but it's not in my nature to drag things out.

Like other trip report authors? :rolleyes1 :rotfl:



My second never-before-done thing was a sudden decision to see It's Tough To Be A Bug! I've heard quite a bit about it and I trust what I've heard, but just to be sure, since I was alone, I decided to go.

.....And...yeah, people are right. Not a show for my son yet. Heck, not a show for ME yet! When Hopper gets angry and calls for the "black widow spiders", do you know what I did? I literally whimpered, put my head down, and hunched over with my head in my hands.

......Since I was sitting forward, if there was a sting-in-the-spine at some point, I missed it. And at the end, when they tell you to let the bugs exit, everyone reacted like there was a feeling going on (like in Honey I Shrunk The Audience), but I didn't feel it (like in HISTA).

If DS wants to see it, we'll sit near the exit and know the procedure for leaving early. And we'll spend some time in the queue and the theater waiting area.


It's a great show, but probably best for ages 6 & up. I love the black widows coming down....& the Stink Bug :lmao: .....& the critters who leave the building first (tickling your tush & ankles as they pass).

& Bumber...you need a good 10 minutes to enjoy the theater lobby....funny, funny movie posters to enjoy.



I made my way out of DCA and over to the picnic area. I spent quite a bit of time rearranging my stuff. A CM sweeping the area looked at me funny, since I had my suitcase open, changing shoes, moving things here and there...oh well! At least I had ample time to make sure I had nothing in my carryon that shouldn't be there.

I've never been in that area. I've seen it on the map.....is it a nice area? Do you have pictures of that area. Thanks.



Combine those things with the AP rates and that results in AP7 rates in early December for PPH. Hey, we get MM on Sunday, so that's good, right?

You're darn tootin' it's good. I've done this 4 times. & a Sunday (with MM) is a great day to visit. :thumbsup2

(now just don't get lost walking from the PP to the DL front gate. :lmao: )




Great Report Bumber!!!!! :dance3:

(but about hubby & those matching shirts.....he's right & you might want to rethink. ;) :laughing: )

:)

[bumbershoot]

Bumber....even though we are alike in many ways (hate shopping, likeing most things disney, Screamin' ROCKS!.......We are so NOT alike in many ways. I love curvy routes & lines (like the PP to DL).....& sausages & stuff. :)

The curvy route thing is an ancient OCD-ish tendency. I sometimes count steps, trying to make left and right "even", and I don't like backtracking (shopping trips are done in as circular route as possible vs going one way then back on a street). DTD makes me nutty b/c you can't make things "even" b/c I can't find symmetry!

But here I am, with a plan to stay at a hotel where this will be necessary. Ach, the things you do when hubby suddenly says he's "yearning" to go back to Disneyland! Imagine what you would do if your wife suddenly said that!!!!! After fainting of course. :upsidedow



As i've stated often, I like to ride one side then the other early during MM (when there is virtually NO line). One fun ride.....but TWO different tracks & experiences. :cool1:

Good to know! I'm afraid of the crowds we're going to encounter, but I'll do my best to go back to back during MM.



Front (top) Row of Soarin' is the ONLY way to go. :dance3: :thumbsup2

I know this now! I had thought before that the feet dangling wasn't THAT bad, and that being able to see them helped with any queasiness I experience. I mean, I HAD experienced a lessening of dizziness by looking at the feet or my fellow passengers. But sitting at the top this time, I experienced no illness at all! So the feet weren't needed. Don't quite understand it, but it was my experience!



Like other trip report authors? :rolleyes1 :rotfl:

Hound I like your TR so much better than mine. So I was trying to stretch it out, waiting for inspiration so I could be as amusing. But I couldn't, so I didn't get a Hound-ish report, I got a Bumber-ish report, which I guess is OK but I sure do love the loooooong and drawn out ones! Speaking of those I have to go check on the French WDW visitor who has such incredible reports from trips she takes with her mom (marivaid or something like that).


& Bumber...you need a good 10 minutes to enjoy the theater lobby....funny, funny movie posters to enjoy.

Will do!


I've never been in that area. I've seen it on the map.....is it a nice area? Do you have pictures of that area. Thanks.

It's a very "retro" concrete area. Concrete tables and benches. It's a good meeting spot, it's quiet (a little area of calm), few people know about it, and it's cool looking in the retro concrete sort of way. :3dglasses

I'm looking to see if I have pix. But if you read on micechat, they often meet over there for their events. It's how I discovered it, b/c the secret helpers at their gumball rally met there to stay hidden from the active participants.

I'm 99% sure that the area in the first 7 pictures or so (other than the first shot in DTD) in this report (http://micechat.com/forums/disneyland-resort/39729-circaramas-gumball-rally-dessert-party-photo-thread.html) were taken in the picnic area. 2 years of foliage growth and changes take away that 1%, but especially the shot where you see the monorail support and the green lockers behind that make me almost absolutely positive that that's the area.

It's outside of bag check, on the DTD side, so if you're coming from DTD you just go left left left once you pass the funky water fountain thing. It's behind tall wind-blocking trees/shrubbery.

(now just don't get lost walking from the PP to the DL front gate. :lmao: )

I will try to not get lost! Since the first time we stayed at PPH I goofed and did NOT actually have the secret shortcut route, this time will be very different. Mainly b/c we'll be bypassing the Lego store (thank goodness).

That reminds me, while I still have three weeks left I should see if there's anything good on clearance at disneyshopping, to bring along in lieu of souvenirs at the higher disneyland prices!



(but about hubby & those matching shirts.....he's right & you might want to rethink. ;) :laughing: )




Oh yeah, I'm sure you are right about the overall shirt concept.

Interestingly, HE is the schmoopy goopy one in our relationship, and I'm sure he would love to match *somehow*.

While on our honeymoon cruise I kept pointing out all the older couples in their matchy matchy outfits but I also noticed he did not get as weirded out by it as I was. :headache:

It's mainly the brightness factor. I'm 100% sure that he would love to have matching button up short sleeved un-tucked shirts with Eamon (when left to his own devices in getting clothes for E in the morning, he generally picks out things that match himself on a normal daily basis!). And he'd think it was funny if I had something in the same fabric. Just as long as it wasn't bright.


Thank you so much for reading, Hound!

[bumbershoot]

It would be nice if we could kick this cold! Or if it would just stay at one main symptom, instead of changing itself around every day. I think "ooh I'm better" b/c x is gone, get up, and find out that y is going on. Frustrating!

Got our invoice/reservation thing from PPH yesterday, yay.

Am reading it, and it states, under the "birthday magic" section, that they have Winnie the Pooh buckets! I wonder if that's true, or if this is a paper from 5 years ago? We're not celebrating any birthdays at all, but gosh, that might be fun to get anyway...hmm....

Guess I need to call Vacation Planning, eh? I was thinking about doing that anyway, but I guess they are closed already today. Drat. Why couldn't I have read my invoice earlier?

Is there actually a workout room at PPH? "Health facility" is mentioned in the discussion about the Resort Fee, but gosh I don't remember that! Weekday paper? Gosh how helpful when you're staying on the weekend? So glad my Resort Fee goes to a paper I won't get, parking I won't use, and internet I may or may not use. Won't be calling anyone from my room.... I don't normally grump over resort fees, but I do sure wish they could just be included in the rate!

OK this post has been sitting here for ages and ages, since various things have happened at home. I've lost track of my brain so I'll just post it!

[kaoden39]

It would be nice if we could kick this cold! Or if it would just stay at one main symptom, instead of changing itself around every day. I think "ooh I'm better" b/c x is gone, get up, and find out that y is going on. Frustrating!

Got our invoice/reservation thing from PPH yesterday, yay.

Am reading it, and it states, under the "birthday magic" section, that they have Winnie the Pooh buckets! I wonder if that's true, or if this is a paper from 5 years ago? We're not celebrating any birthdays at all, but gosh, that might be fun to get anyway...hmm....

Guess I need to call Vacation Planning, eh? I was thinking about doing that anyway, but I guess they are closed already today. Drat. Why couldn't I have read my invoice earlier?

Is there actually a workout room at PPH? "Health facility" is mentioned in the discussion about the Resort Fee, but gosh I don't remember that! Weekday paper? Gosh how helpful when you're staying on the weekend? So glad my Resort Fee goes to a paper I won't get, parking I won't use, and internet I may or may not use. Won't be calling anyone from my room.... I don't normally grump over resort fees, but I do sure wish they could just be included in the rate!

OK this post has been sitting here for ages and ages, since various things have happened at home. I've lost track of my brain so I'll just post it!

I am still fighting a little bit with a cold, and now DH has it. I know what you mean about the resort fees, I don't understand why it just isn't included with the price you have to pay it anyway. And honestly when you are there do you ever really have time to workout? I am so busy doing Disney things to workout.

[bumbershoot]

Yeah the idea of working out before heading off to a day of endless walking and picking up a 42 pound weight every so often (DS) just hurts!

My brother, a marathon-runner, ALWAYS runs, even before a day of Disneyland, but I've seen him hurting when he does that! About halfway through the day he gets sore and starts regretting the run once he realizes how much walking is involved (since he only goes maybe one day a year he seems to forget). Silly boy.

If I enjoyed swimming I could see doing that at the end of a day, but swimming is hard for me b/c the chlorine messes with my lungs. That said, I have been informed that there WILL be swimming breaks, if the water is OK, on this brief trip!


Our countdown chain (light blue, dark blue, and yellow)is down to 20 links and hubby, while not feeling ill, is tremendously excited about this. Keeps thanking me for getting the trip together so fast. :goodvibes

Meanwhile I'm just trying to get this snapfish photobook together for my MIL! It's so slow!

[kaoden39]

My husband races bicycles. He would probably take his bike to ride if I let him take it along. Some people become addicted to the endorphines that they release when they exercise my husband is one of them.

[bumbershoot]

I guess I'm just not an addict at heart! :)



About the photobook, I feel sick now. I had tried to order it, but there was a problem with a picture. I fixed the problem, fixed something else, and went to order with my *free photobook* coupon code from the Oprah show the other day. But the code is GONE from my account! And it was 21 minutes after they closed for the day to call them, and there is NO indication that my emails are getting through!

I'm just sick about this. I spent DAYS getting this book together for MIL and felt so good about it, but I'm not sure I'll feel so good about it if I have to spent 40 bucks on it!

[Sherry E]

I guess I'm just not an addict at heart! :)



About the photobook, I feel sick now. I had tried to order it, but there was a problem with a picture. I fixed the problem, fixed something else, and went to order with my *free photobook* coupon code from the Oprah show the other day. But the code is GONE from my account! And it was 21 minutes after they closed for the day to call them, and there is NO indication that my emails are getting through!

I'm just sick about this. I spent DAYS getting this book together for MIL and felt so good about it, but I'm not sure I'll feel so good about it if I have to spent 40 bucks on it!

Oh dear! I would feel sick too! I saw that Oprah where she talked about the Snapfish book on the de-clutter episode, and I thought it was a great idea FOR FREE! If that FREE offer hadn't been for the limited time it was, I would have sorted through my thousands of photos and whipped some kind of book up for someone - even just for ME! I knew I wouldn't have enough time.

Spending $40 bucks may not seem like a lot to some people, but to me it is a lot. I can understand the feeling of dread over having to pay it when it was supposed to be free! And you have an upcoming DLR trip, so I am sure you have to set aside as much money as possible for that.

I hope you are able to get hold of someone on the phone who can sort it out for you!:goodvibes

[jennifur25]

I know it stinks because you already put the time into the book, but here is a free photobook offer from a different place if you don't get it figured out.

Here’s what you need to know/do:

* Got to http://inkubook.com/getaddresses/
before November 30, 2008
* Follow the instructions to sign up, start your book, and invite your friends (they’ll get a promotion code, too!)
* Create your photo book within 30 days of joining.
* Use code PBK266
* All you have to pay is shipping!
* The book is free! ENJOY

[bumbershoot]

Wow, thanks! I'll check that out! I've been slapping something together in shutterfly, since they are a known entity and codes have never mysteriously come out of my account there, but I'm halting all work and running over to check out that site.


Sherry, the biggest annoyance about the snapfish thing is that they ended up extending it twice! But you still had to have the code in your account inside only a couple days. Especially now that FIL is gone and MIL is on a very limited income (she was before, too, she just didn't know it and FIL never told her, which is a big reason for the $$ problems she has now) she does NOT want us to give her gifts, b/c she can't reciprocate. It makes her feel bad. So this would have been good...hubby could have told her truthfully that we didn't spend much on it, I would get kudos b/c not only did I make it FOR her, but I gave up a photo book that I might have used myself, AND she gets 4.5 years worth of pictures of her grandson! Serious brag-book for her, LOL.


OK now I'm off to that site.

[Sherry E]

Wow, thanks! I'll check that out! I've been slapping something together in shutterfly, since they are a known entity and codes have never mysteriously come out of my account there, but I'm halting all work and running over to check out that site.


Sherry, the biggest annoyance about the snapfish thing is that they ended up extending it twice! But you still had to have the code in your account inside only a couple days. Especially now that FIL is gone and MIL is on a very limited income (she was before, too, she just didn't know it and FIL never told her, which is a big reason for the $$ problems she has now) she does NOT want us to give her gifts, b/c she can't reciprocate. It makes her feel bad. So this would have been good...hubby could have told her truthfully that we didn't spend much on it, I would get kudos b/c not only did I make it FOR her, but I gave up a photo book that I might have used myself, AND she gets 4.5 years worth of pictures of her grandson! Serious brag-book for her, LOL.


OK now I'm off to that site.

I think it would have been a perfect gift for MIL. It is taking photos you already had - so it's not like you are going and buying her something from Tiffany's - and maybe even photos she has already seen in the past (maybe not) and putting them into one nice book that can slip easily into a bookshelf, and isn't as cumbersome as a photo album per se. Plus, it has your comments and things on each page.

I used to be an avid shutterbug - I was always the one known as the budding photographer in our group of friends years ago. (That is, until all of my cameras slowly died and I ran out of money to buy more.) Wherever we went or whatever we did - even if we just went to Denny's - I was taking pictures! (Sometimes people wanted to kill me for this, but I did it anyway! Tee hee. Later, they thanked me for it.) I used to make gifts for people or HAVE them made from my photos - I even had some cool wrist watches made one Christmas. I was always making collage frames and memory books, jigsaw puzzles and mugs and all sorts of things that I am forgetting. One time I even had a rubber stamp made with my friend's likeness on it!!! That was unique! So a book like the one on Snapfish or the other photo storage sites would have been right up my alley, and I know I probably would have had 50 of them made for people!!! Heck, I would like to make some for myself now with some random 'loose' photos that are taking up space in boxes and things.

For some reason, no matter how many times people have seen certain pictures you have, when you put them on something like a watch or a puzzle, or make a nice book out of them like the Snapfish one, the pictures never get old! You can always give great presents from the heart when you have photos to use! And in this day and age when financial times are so tough, that is the sort of thing that more people will probably start doing if they don't have much money to run out and buy all new presents!!!

[bumbershoot]

All your cameras died, how sad! I wish you so much luck in getting a job SOON so you can replace the cameras. :)


Oh this is so frustrating. I felt that the book was very perfect, and now re-doing it in inkubook is making me really doubt the book. :(

MIL is very critical and picky, and has never asked for pictures (though she does display the ones we have given her back when we were doing official photos). She doesn't see DS very often even though she lives closeby, and is just really distant in all ways that count, while acting close in superficial ways. I also had to decrease the text I would normally use b/c she doesn't read much English, and also carefully choose the pictures b/c I know it'll be shown to her friends who DO read English and are also very very snooty. (you can see why I don't talk to her and have never done anything like this before for her)

****************


Disneyland....E wants to meet Tinkerbell. When does that line start?

[davidsprincess]

Hey Molly, great trip report! We were there on the 5th as well. It was soooo quiet. Everything was walk on. The whole 6 days we were there, I saw everyone and their dog with Dream ears and fast passes, but not once did we get dreamed! I m glad that you had such a nice time. The weather was awesome and crowds were great!

[bumbershoot]

That's cool that you were there the same day. If only we had met up, though I don't remember knowing that you were going. :)



Snapfish has restored themselves in my eyes...I did their live chat thing and before I even finished my story, they put the credit back into my account.

So the inkubook book, if I did it right and if my friend who joined did it right, will be Pretty Pictures Taken By Molly. :goodvibes



I still have to check out disneyshopping for "souvenirs" for our trip! I also have to buy NINE "AG13" batteries for the 3 light saber keychains that we've previously purchased on trips.

[bumbershoot]

WOW.

We have our flights split between airlines; one going to LA, a different one coming home, b/c the flight times were better that way.

A couple days after making the reservations, both airlines had a sale. Virgin America didn't budge, but Alaska will give you credit for the difference, if the ticket was booked under 3 months before the change in fare.

So I called and asked for the $5 credit for each of us, and they said OK. Yay!

Today I got the emailed discount codes, and had to call them to ask why they were for $25 each????!!!!!! I was told that their brand new way of doing things is that they *round up*. So those codes are right and good and policy, and are mine to keep! Woohoo!!!!!


Offshoot from that...for those of you like me who call when there is an error made in your favor, how do you respond when the Customer Service person says things like "wow, I wouldn't have called"?

I just said "yeah, I'm just like that", since I didn't want to get into a big "I believe in karma, and there are reactions to my actions, and I don't want to steal from someone lest I be stolen from" etc etc. How would YOU respond, if you are the sort to call in such a situation?

[prettyprincessbelle]

Disneyland....E wants to meet Tinkerbell. When does that line start?

From what I read the line for PH gets long fast! About an hour or more... I've read the best bet is getting there right after rope drop and the fairies come out about 10 or 20 minutes after rope drop.

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for the info!!!

[bumbershoot]

Last year, we bought the cookie to decorate in Woody's RoundUp.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc07b3127ccec2a02aca81ad00000010O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

It was very cute.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf39b3127ccec5f059d1089800000040O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

And DS flipped out.

Why?

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cc07b3127ccec2a000bf81cd00000010O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



Kid can't have anything related to corn syrup. I didn't realize there were ingredients on the bottom of the box until it was waaaaay too late. Sigh.



The cookie itself was OK. I assume they'll use the same recipe this year.

But the other stuff was NOT OK.


So I've started to figure out how I can make up some sort of frosting/icing in the room, and we bought some Sunspire natural chocolate m&m type candies to decorate. That way we can get the cookie (assuming the ingredients are OK) and he can decorate to some extent.

This is likely going to involve a grocery delivery order, with confectioner's sugar, a dollop of milk, and maybe some butter. And a bowl and whisk-type thing (I could probably do it with a fork).

I also need to head to the health food store, to see if they have natural food coloring, rather than the Red Dye #666 and all that....those might be an issue with DS too, but since you rarely see those things in the more natural foods he can eat, we don't really know.


Think I'll make a post about the cookies on the main board now!

[Brady's Mom]

Molly,
I have looked for the natural food dyes at the health food stores in my area for years. But any research I have done indicates that they are not "stable" and so aren't produced for the masses. It's too bad, too. We love sugar cookies and frosting and such, I am just not willing to have flipped out, depressed kids because of the food color!!!

If you find any natural dyes, could you post it. I haven't looked in the last year or so, just gave up because I couldn't find what I needed. Thanks

[bumbershoot]

Drat!

But I'll look anyway. :)

[trodrigue]

WOW.

We have our flights split between airlines; one going to LA, a different one coming home, b/c the flight times were better that way.

A couple days after making the reservations, both airlines had a sale. Virgin America didn't budge, but Alaska will give you credit for the difference, if the ticket was booked under 3 months before the change in fare.

So I called and asked for the $5 credit for each of us, and they said OK. Yay!

Today I got the emailed discount codes, and had to call them to ask why they were for $25 each????!!!!!! I was told that their brand new way of doing things is that they *round up*. So those codes are right and good and policy, and are mine to keep! Woohoo!!!!!


Offshoot from that...for those of you like me who call when there is an error made in your favor, how do you respond when the Customer Service person says things like "wow, I wouldn't have called"?

I just said "yeah, I'm just like that", since I didn't want to get into a big "I believe in karma, and there are reactions to my actions, and I don't want to steal from someone lest I be stolen from" etc etc. How would YOU respond, if you are the sort to call in such a situation?

Oh, at first I thought you meant, she wouldn't have called to save $5.00. I would probably have responded, "a penny saved is a penny earned" or something along those lines. But on second read, I see you meant that she wouldn't have called because the credit was more than you expected. I think I would have responded just as you did, or perhaps flippantly, "Inquiring Minds Want to Know".

Anyhow, really enjoyed your trip report and very happy for you all, getting another jaunt for a weekend in December. I am hoping for a long, off season weekend next holiday season myself.

[Sherry E]

...Sort of like if the cashier at the grocery store gives you $20 too much in change, most folks would pocket the extra $20 and run, and the cashier might get in trouble at the end of the night because his/her receipts didn't match with what was in the register or whatever. But the folks who are all about good karma would bring back the $20!!!:goodvibes I will be the first one to grab a ten dollar bill if I see one on the ground, but I will always look around first to make sure its original owner isn't within eyesight before I pocket it! Just the other day, I ordered a delivery from Vons - with whom I have had constant, annoying trouble for years because of their endless mistakes. I noticed that they seemed to charge me too little for what my order should cost. Now, I was tempted to not bring it up because of all the grief they have caused me over the years, but I brought it to their attention and they figured out what the issue was.

When you do things like that, promoting good karma, the universe will sometimes reward you in small ways when you least expect it. One time I needed exactly 4 postage stamps (the Forever kind which you can use even after rates change). My back was really bugging me, it was hard to walk and it was raining heavily or something and I didn't want to schlep all the way to the nearest Post Office, and I was trying to figure out how to get these 4 pieces of mail sent to their destinations within the next couple of days without having to go all the way to the Post Office and get them (I am on foot - no car). I didn't really want to leave the hosue when I was in pain. I needed to rest. The next day I went outside of my building to, onto the sidewalk, for some reason which I cannot remember, and looked down at the ground to see a familiar design. It couldn't possibly be.... I stooped down with some difficulty to pick up a small, white sheet of paper, and flipped it over to find the remaining stamps from what must have been a full sheet that fell out of someone's belongings. There were EXACTLY 4 stamps - and they were EXACTLY the ones I wanted (the Forever kind)!!!! And I had told no one about my need for these four stamps! Who would care? But someone was listening, apparently, and I got exactly what I needed!:thumbsup2

[bumbershoot]

That is so wild about the stamps, Sherry!

trodrigue, sorry I was confusing! Sometimes I forget that I don't write everything here...I was sort of continuing a story from the main forum from last week, when it was mentioned that Alaska had a sale. From that sale I found the $5 decrease, and I decided to call b/c my Alaska fare had decreased the last time, but I didn't think they participated in a "program" (as Virgin America put it) to give credit. So it felt like I "deserved" it, LOL.

They just said I'd get the $5 each credits in an email, and then there were a few days without an email! I was getting worried, then boom an email showed up with codes for $25 each. So it was the second call when the rep said she wouldn't have called (I was surprised the first one didn't).



You've figured all that out on your own, of course, but I thought I'd make it easier on those who follow.




DS pulled another link on our countdown chain today, making it a whopping 15 days until our trip! (not including today) Wow!

[kaoden39]

Wow, it's so soon. I envy you your trip. I wish we were going. I am still hoping for a trip after the first of the year. :goodvibes

[bumbershoot]

kaoden, I hope you get a trip, too!

When I lived in San Jose, I went to Disneyland ONCE with my mom and ONCE with my dad (maybe twice but I don't think so). It seemed years and years away, absolutely impossible. And of course flying was impossible because airfare was SO much more expensive than it is today. I remember our 8th grade trip to Washington DC in '82'ish cost $800 for the plane ticket! Getting to LA wasn't cheap either.

So maybe you should move to WA, and you'll go more often? :goodvibes

[bumbershoot]

Oh gracious...I was just going through "landscape" sort of pictures for a photobook, and got to last December 1st, when we were up in Edmonds, WA at the Rick Steves store/travel place. While we were there, on a very cold day (as today was), Eamon looked outside and informed us that it was snowing. We didn't believe him at first, but then remembered "dude, E is almost always right" and goodness gracious there was the snow!

That was a loooooong drive home, let me tell you (western WA+snow+driving=ACK and rightly so!).

Anyway, I just realized that it could very well happen before this trip, too! Our trip is starting on the same date as last year, which was not on purpose or even thought of until I was making MIL's photobook.

It would be weird if it did snow on the same date! :upsidedow

[bumbershoot]

We now have two bags being slowly packed. For DS it's a place to put his toys that he wants to take (NO playmobil, YES lightsabers, for instance). For me it's clothes and lanyards and such.

Started thinking of dropping the idea for the MM on our checkin day at PPH, but we would still want to be at the park well before opening, and we don't want to have to go over to Motel 6 (HoJo now has availability but their lowest "best available rate" is still a total of almost 180 which doesn't make me happy at all) to check out later on. So we would still be doing early checkin at PPH, and we'd want to be at the gates early....so we might as well just do it all an hour earlier and have that good hour before the public gets there, LOL.

Since we don't also want to take the time for a cab to the store, I think we're giving up our carryon-only idea, and will pack one bag with simple food. Eamon seems to be in a growth spurt right now (he's almost 43 inches now, per our wall chart, so that's looking good for Grizzly if our chart is correct!!!!!), needing bedtime snacks of sandwiches, and I would hate for him to be hungry and have to run out to the store at midnight or something. Last night he was so hungry that he even ate the broccoli I offered him along with his sandwich!

I was just going to say "oh but we don't have a hard-sided suitcase for that", but we do, it's just not what we normally carry with us.

It also saves me the trouble of needing to contact the cake people to snag some Eamon-safe frosting so he can have fun decorating the expensive cookies in Big Thunder Ranch, b/c I can just pack powdered sugar and I can snag milk from the restaurant or the coffee bar or something, and whip up some quick icing, so if he wants to decorate he can do so without dealing with the HFCS and corn syrup in their official frosting. Whew.

Instead of granola bars, we're getting Clif MoJo bars, b/c they are deeeelicious. And low glycemic which is better for, well, all of us. And we don't snarf them like we do granola bars, b/c they are so substantial in taste and stomach-feel.

Gotta get the discount APs for the guys...



While we're gone, of course it's Ikea's Yule/Christmas Tree weekend. So we have a friend who will buy us one. We like the decorated trees, but HATE spending tons of money on them when they're just going to fall apart before the end of December anyway, so the Ikea trees work well. Do Ikeas all over do the tree thing?

[Sleepless Knight]

I can't believe you've already started some packing. I usually do my packing the night before I leave, maybe 2 nights before.

[bumbershoot]

I can't believe you've already started some packing. I usually do my packing the night before I leave, maybe 2 nights before.

IT's more a place to keep things, and put them back after use, so nothing is forgotten. :)

Goes along with the 18 notebooks with lists of things to pack. :lmao:

Also, I pack for everyone, b/c they seem to be incapable. While that would be expected of the 4 year old, it's NOT expected of the 36 year old, and it's taken me some time to just deal with the fact that he doesn't really think about what he's packing, and ends up missing important items if he does it himself, and to just do it. I don't like that though!



I forgot to mention that I managed to buy batteries for the three lightsaber key chains. Most places wanted so much for the 3 batteries needed for each that it would actually be more cost effective to just buy a new lightsaber keychain.

But I found a seller on amazon with off brand (Tian Qui or something like that) batteries...100 batteries for under 10 bucks. :rotfl: I'm totally sure some of them are dead already, and I'm sure they won't all last until I've used them all, but hey, the 9 of them I put in the keychains work right now, and that makes the 10 bucks worth it! I had forgotten how BRIGHT the red one was until I replaced those batteries!

[prettyprincessbelle]

Also, I pack for everyone, b/c they seem to be incapable. While that would be expected of the 4 year old, it's NOT expected of the 36 year old, and it's taken me some time to just deal with the fact that he doesn't really think about what he's packing, and ends up missing important items if he does it himself, and to just do it. I don't like that though!


Sounds just like my Mom and Dad! Exactly! ;)

[bumbershoot]

:)

If you and Jesus are serious about a future, don't fall into that trap! Make sure he knows how to pack, and work on keeping that skill!!!!

Although it's fun to be the person to pull unexpected but suddenly needed items out of a bag, it's NOT fun to be the one who forgets other peoples' things, or to just worry that you have. :headache:


By the way, does he say his name the American way, or with a Hay instead of a Gee? My first from-afar love (2nd grade to graduation) was a Jesus Jr, and just went by Jess to save the hassle of dealing with those who didn't say it properly. And amazingly, there were people in San Jose who didn't know how to say it! LOL, speaking of one of them, an old friend was "facebook"ing about having to communicate with some employees of hers, and she was *seriously* regretting the GERMAN she took while in school, and was asking for the Spanish speakers in her facebook group to help her out. Poor girl...I always thought it was strange for her to take German while living in CA!:rotfl:

[prettyprincessbelle]

I know! He packs himself now, but because we don't live together. But he's picky and if I were to pack for him, he would complain that I didn't pack the right clothes or something. :confused3

He pronounces it Hay-sus. He's a jr. too. Well, kind of. His Dad's name is Jesus, but they have different middle names, so technically that doesn't make him a jr., I guess?

When we went to Disneyland last year, on his birthday button he had the CM write Jesse on it. Some people still call him Jesus (geezus) and then are all confused why someone's name would be Jesus. Even when we had PS's at Cafe Orleans, the CM was confused when he called his name that our table was ready, he didn't know to call him Hay-sus or Geezus.

That's funny about your friend! We live in a highly Hispanic populated area (isn't most of Southern California though?) and we still had Italian offered to us as a foreign language in high school. I took Spanish, but as much as I wanted to take Italian, I knew it wouldn't help me much. German is strange though to take in CA! :rotfl:

[Sleepless Knight]

I took German in high school up here in NorCal, by and large because just about everyone else was taking Spanish. And although the two languages are very different, taking German was useful in helping me learn Russian when I served a two year mission for my church in Moscow.

[toocherie]

LOL--I grew up in Montebello--just east of Los Angeles--and I took FRENCH! I wanted to be "different." Some of my friends took Latin; some took German--the vast majority took Spanish (which I thought was cheating since most of them came from homes where Spanish was spoken pretty regularly). Anyway, French wasn't so bad because a lot of the words are similar in Spanish and French--so sometimes I can "read" Spanish even though I didn't take classes--I think that works for Italian too--all those "romance" languages are similar.

German? That's another country entirely!!! LOL

[prettyprincessbelle]

:rotfl: That's funny, Toocherie!

When we went to Italy, my Mom started speaking Spanish to our waitress, I was like "What!? What country are we in, Mother!?!" But the funny this is the lady understood her!!!!! My Mom asked her for our bill, and I guess the Italian word for bill is the similiar in Spanish? Who knows, but I was floored. I still laugh about it.

I wish I was all wordly and knew all these different languages. I still struggle with Spanish, and my Mom speaks it, so does Jesus at home. I want to learn Tagalog. And Japanese.

[bumbershoot]

For the record, I think that taking ANY language outside of your country's language is a good thing. Learning one makes learning more easier. It's just...when you live in CA, it just seems a good idea to be fluent in Spanish first, before moving on to other languages. :)

I started taking Spanish in 8th grade, as did many of my friends, while those crazy German speakers were over on the other side of the accordion wall. Got interesting when everyone was feisty, as those "walls" aren't that soundproof.

My mom took German in HS, though, so if I had chosen to take it she could have finally helped me with my schoolwork! (she could help with English homework but nothing else)

Oh Cheryl, you're one of those French people? Shoulda known, with "Cherie" in your username and all. I kid, I kid.



Crazy thing! So I took 4 years of Spanish, 8th through 11th. Then our school became a Magnet school in language and communication (we had a drama program, one of the very few high school radio stations in the country, and offered languages). Once that happened, they added, get this, LATIN (at 7am!!!!), and also offered Japanese. I had been obsessed with that language and culture since Shogun came out, so I dumped Spanish and went to Japanese.

Crazy part....they are very similiar to me. You say the vowel sounds the same, the sentences are structured the same, and so on. I took it senior year of HS and then two semesters in college, and in that short time got to the point where I was dreaming in Japanese, but then I hated the teacher and stopped taking it.

So anyway, PPB, maybe you should start with Japanese, and if you have the same experience as I did, maybe it would help you with your Spanish!

I got nothin' about the Tagalog, though... :)



Oh...pronunciation of Jesus...my pretend boyfriend had a last name that was said in one certain way, if you were pronouncing it right. I never even thought it had another way of saying it. ONe day we had a sub in "state requirements" (driver's ed, sex ed, don't drink, etc, all those things rolled up in ONE class) and when he got to the Ms for rollcall he said a last name like "messiahs". Said it again, then "Gee-sus Messiahs", which FINALLY caused us all to realize who exactly he was talking about.. Jess was cool about it, though embarrassed as heck (he was a shy one just like me). But omg, what a way to mis-pronounce a name!!!!!

[bumbershoot]

Woohoo, ordered E and R's $30-off-APs! :banana:

That website was giving me fits, but I got it worked out.

[toocherie]

Woohoo, ordered E and R's $30-off-APs! :banana:

That website was giving me fits, but I got it worked out.

Yay! Just 7 more days! Weather is beautiful today=--not too hot, not too cold!

[prettyprincessbelle]

Geezus Messiah! What a name!!! :rotfl: At least the poor kid was used to it!

I've heard that before about Japanese and Spanish. Actually Tagalog too! I know the name for bathroom in Spanish and Tagalog is similar. Both my Uncle's speak fluent Tagalog. I should ask them for help, huh?

Molly! Your trip is almost here!! Wooohooo!! :cool1:

[bumbershoot]

We've recently realized that we could actually rent a car. It will involve bringing DS's carseat, which will be a pain, but it might be easier for us. Could get to the hotel Friday night quicker, maybe, or at least without the possible annoyance of stopping at the DLH, maybe having to switch buses, just to get to Motel6. Could go to the store. Don't have to get a cab in the morning for the one with the bags.

Can "use" services that we're paying for in the resort fee Sat and Sun. :) That's my favorite one.

And then we can just get out of town on OUR schedule.



The only downside is having to drive in southern CA.


So I gotta check hotwire again in a little bit, and if the deal I saw is gone, gotta priceline it, or if that fails, I saw another deal elsewhere. Interesting idea, to be able to rent a car; haven't done that in years!

[kaoden39]

I don't know if you realize it but you can get a car seat from a rental car company and not have to bring yours. That makes it a little easier. I am all for having a car to get around in southern California. Allthough once we get to the resort the only time I get in the car again is to go see Richard Simmons and go home.

[bumbershoot]

Things I need to do today. Making a checklist so I can cross them off.

As usual, I'll start with things I've done.



Get list of pressed penny locations. done

Mark off which ones you think hubby and son will want. done

Designate doohickey to keep paperwork in. done

Turn the printer on so I can print various things. done

Hook printer up to computer. done

*********

Whew, that was hard work! :)

*********

Print AP vouchers and receipt. receipt, check! vouchers done!

Print hotels.com info. done

Make sure PPH invoice is with everything. done

Print hotwire info. done

Print LAX rental car procedure info from their website. done

Print airline info and see when I can print boarding passes. VA= 24 hours, might just do it at airport so should print confirmation number... Alaska= same, it seems.

Print more fun pages for DS, and make sure I have the ones already printed in the right spot.

Print out Muppet/AP hunt thing. done




That's good for now, will be back to edit when I've done things.

[toocherie]

We've recently realized that we could actually rent a car. It will involve bringing DS's carseat, which will be a pain, but it might be easier for us. Could get to the hotel Friday night quicker, maybe, or at least without the possible annoyance of stopping at the DLH, maybe having to switch buses, just to get to Motel6. Could go to the store. Don't have to get a cab in the morning for the one with the bags.

Can "use" services that we're paying for in the resort fee Sat and Sun. :) That's my favorite one.

And then we can just get out of town on OUR schedule.



The only downside is having to drive in southern CA.


So I gotta check hotwire again in a little bit, and if the deal I saw is gone, gotta priceline it, or if that fails, I saw another deal elsewhere. Interesting idea, to be able to rent a car; haven't done that in years!

I think renting a car makes a LOT of sense! I would go and "check-in" at PPH early and just leave your luggage in the car . . . . and then hotfoot it to MM. Worry about the luggage in the car later--you can park at PPH. So no parking charges. Then you can go out, do some food shopping if need be and bring your luggage up all at the same time! (and, at that point people will probably have left/checked out, so there will probably be closer parking spaces than first thing in the a.m.!)

[wendylady36]

How exciting that it's almost time for you trip! You'll have to let me know how the Muppet's hunt is. I just signed up for it yesterday, but marked that I wasn't going to be in the parks. I'm interested to know what it includes at the park. :goodvibes

[bumbershoot]

I think renting a car makes a LOT of sense! I would go and "check-in" at PPH early and just leave your luggage in the car . . . . and then hotfoot it to MM. Worry about the luggage in the car later--you can park at PPH. So no parking charges. Then you can go out, do some food shopping if need be and bring your luggage up all at the same time! (and, at that point people will probably have left/checked out, so there will probably be closer parking spaces than first thing in the a.m.!)

Seriously good point. Thank you!



Wendylady, I'm sure I'll mention the Muppets thing when I get back. And we decided to take my computer, so if I'm still able to think, type, and not just pass out at night (or mid-day if the guys insist on going back to the room to swim (brr) or nap), you might hear about it quicker than that.


kaoden, forgot to answer. I thought about using one of their seats, but since our pickup time is super-late, I figured they'd be gone, and I don't want to risk that. And we like our seat, but right now we're really hoping we can find the carseat bag we have somewhere!



We got what I feel is such a good price. Mid-sized car for 17.95 per day! I was going to do the priceline bidding thing and try for 12 or something crazy like that, but time is getting short and auctions/bidding of any kind make me really really nervous. Can you tell I only "buy it now" on eBay? :) When I checked the day before yesterday, there was an economy car for 16.95, but then yesterday there was that mid-size. Nice! I created an account and then there was a compact for 16.95, the midsize, and an economy for 18.95! Crazy. :)

Of course, taxes and fees bring the total up, but we're still happy. It's just a bit more than the Disneyland Express was going to be, but we get more than just a trip to and from. (of course we can't forget gasoline!)



Questions:
*********
Last gas station near LAX?

Best way to get from LAX to Motel6 around midnight on a Friday?

*********

[toocherie]

Seriously good point. Thank you!



Wendylady, I'm sure I'll mention the Muppets thing when I get back. And we decided to take my computer, so if I'm still able to think, type, and not just pass out at night (or mid-day if the guys insist on going back to the room to swim (brr) or nap), you might hear about it quicker than that.


kaoden, forgot to answer. I thought about using one of their seats, but since our pickup time is super-late, I figured they'd be gone, and I don't want to risk that. And we like our seat, but right now we're really hoping we can find the carseat bag we have somewhere!



We got what I feel is such a good price. Mid-sized car for 17.95 per day! I was going to do the priceline bidding thing and try for 12 or something crazy like that, but time is getting short and auctions/bidding of any kind make me really really nervous. Can you tell I only "buy it now" on eBay? :) When I checked the day before yesterday, there was an economy car for 16.95, but then yesterday there was that mid-size. Nice! I created an account and then there was a compact for 16.95, the midsize, and an economy for 18.95! Crazy. :)

Of course, taxes and fees bring the total up, but we're still happy. It's just a bit more than the Disneyland Express was going to be, but we get more than just a trip to and from. (of course we can't forget gasoline!)



Questions:
*********
Last gas station near LAX?

Best way to get from LAX to Motel6 around midnight on a Friday?

*********


Molly--don't know about gas stations near LAX but I will have DBF (or ex-DBF--depending on day) try to do instructions on easiest way from LAX to Motel 6--is it on Disney Drive or????

[kaoden39]

You got a great price on the rental car. Can he sit in the car seat on the plane? It's been years since any of mine have been in car seats so I have no clue. My baby is 12. Argh I am getting so old.:laughing:

[bumbershoot]

We're going to have to gate check the seat. Legally he could use it as a booster, but driving unfamiliar roads in an unfamiliar car after a long day of being awake, nearing midnight? Probably better to have him in the 5 point harness, LOL. (it converts from 5 point to a high back booster to a normal booster)

Cheryl, the address is 100 W Disney Way. Google tells me to do things like get to 105 then 605 then 5, and while it sounds complicated it's probably very simple. :) But who knows, right? Then it has us take Disney Way exit, left at Disney way, hotel.


Gotta go get groceries! For home, not for the trip. :)

[kaoden39]

Yes and being a California native I know that the safer the seat the better with or crazy drivers.

[toocherie]

We're going to have to gate check the seat. Legally he could use it as a booster, but driving unfamiliar roads in an unfamiliar car after a long day of being awake, nearing midnight? Probably better to have him in the 5 point harness, LOL. (it converts from 5 point to a high back booster to a normal booster)

Cheryl, the address is 100 W Disney Way. Google tells me to do things like get to 105 then 605 then 5, and while it sounds complicated it's probably very simple. :) But who knows, right? Then it has us take Disney Way exit, left at Disney way, hotel.


Gotta go get groceries! For home, not for the trip. :)

I will confirm with Steve--but I know that is the way he would go--at least the 105 and 5 part. Not sure if he takes the 605. It is very simple--the 105 basically has a route leaving from the airport and keeps you from having to drive on side-streets through a not-so-nice part of town. So it's a good thing. :goodvibes

[bumbershoot]

I will confirm with Steve--but I know that is the way he would go--at least the 105 and 5 part. Not sure if he takes the 605. It is very simple--the 105 basically has a route leaving from the airport and keeps you from having to drive on side-streets through a not-so-nice part of town. So it's a good thing. :goodvibes

Very good.

[travelmel]

Hola... just finished your solo trip :goodvibes

Hope you get your dream team sighting this time!

[bumbershoot]

I hope so too, and not just seeing them as they take off their Dreaming vests and walk away! :rotfl:



OK so the problem with trips is that you start out thinking "OK, hotel + airfare, I can do this." And then you go "oh yeah but then of course tax and resort fees and taxes on them."

And then suddenly you're looking at car rentals (instead of shuttles), gas stations, trips to Von's, you remember that you have to do something with your OWN car if you don't want the lovely brand of Hades it was to take public transportation to the airport (at least until the lightrail is done, I can't imagine doing that again for seatac ugh) and that costs money, and so on and so forth.

At least I have some quart sized ziplocks so i don't have to go buy those, too!

It's all those piddly little expenses that start adding up.

But yay for this time; I've been in charge of the $$ for about 2 years, but hubby just put his toe back in the water*, and he's put money for these things aside elsewhere, unlike me where I just put it in there mentally, and since he's overestimating AND remembering all these little things, it'll be good. I wasn't doing a bad job, I just don't always remember everything all at the same time every time, so it's nice to have him as a backup again. :goodvibes



*he made a really big, stupid mistake where a health care provider never got the check after we were reimbursed (or if you never paid the provider, is it just "imbursed"? that was another part of the big stupid mistake...a total different understanding of the flex plan than what you're supposed to do) by our flex account, and he never noticed the big cushion of money sitting there...just was constantly surprised, all summer long, at how much "extra" money there was, until the very end of the cushion when the health care provider called me and asked where his money was....hubby was booted from the accounting after that! But it's good he's feeling confident enough to step back in.

[travelmel]

I am a terrible accountant. I have extreme admiration for those of you who can budget. :thumbsup2

[bumbershoot]

Talk about your last minute change! 50 minutes before midnight, pacific time, I cancelled our hotels.com reservation with Motel 6 (the time frame was the time that would result in a full refund, whew).

Why? Because hotwire had a 3.5 star for 55 bucks (base rate, taxes not included in it). Oh yeah...turned out to be....the Hilton.

Now right at the last moment I realized that Hilton and Hyatt (from betterbidding I was fairly sure that those were the two in the running at the 3.5 star mark) both have parking charges, youch. :headache: The very thing that made it possible to switch hotels, the rental car, has managed to up the costs, whoopsie. But hey, it's a much better hotel and it's not THAT much more, once the refund comes through, and that's all good.

So yay! Although it would have been nice to have a short-stay review of Motel 6, I think it'll be nicer to have a short-stay review of the Hilton. :banana:

[kaoden39]

I think so too.:goodvibes

[toocherie]

Molly: Your google map directions appear to be right. If you do have trouble and get lost feel free to call me (you have my cell, right?)

[bumbershoot]

Cheryl, can you PM me with the number?

[bumbershoot]

laundry laundry laundry, last minute checking on things.

must give DS a haircut (the professionals won't listen to me, and give him a perfectly acceptable "boy" cut, but it takes all the personality out of his lovely hair and I don't like that!), could give hubby one too (always takes one or two quick fix-it trips with the professionals, which gets annoying) so that pix will be acceptable. :) For when we're grand marshalls, get the dream suite, and win the "oops we didn't realize but we have One More DVC prize to give" prizes!!!!!!

:dance3:



Might have been good to get out of my PJs today, but then again, go back to the top and see the note about laundry laundry laundry! :upsidedow

[kaoden39]

I'm so excited for you. Your trip is just right around the corner.

[prettyprincessbelle]

Hope you're having a wonderful time, Molly!!!

[bumbershoot]

Checking in really quick. From a suite.

How'd we get a suite? Oh yeah, that's right, when we checked in this morning at 6:20am, we got picked to be the Big Kahuna family of the day. :goodvibes

We were anxious to get going, so E and I were waiting outside dealing with the Bell people storing our bags while R checked us in, so we didn't get the whole deal then, and we JUST now got back to the room after my guys went on Grizzly FIVE times and got absolutely totally soaked (I went 4 times with my poncho and only my hair is a bit spritzed...oh yeah...er, well, and my shoes are wet), but I hear that pictures, pins, balloons and leis are in our future.

Party party party....:goodvibes

[bumbershoot]

Oh, and I'm on the hotel's main wireless network, from the 14th floor. No charge, no wires needed, just turned on the computer and BOOM, online.

I know people are always curious about the wired/wireless setup, and this marks the second time we've gotten wireless without a single problem, even though the rooms aren't supposed to have wifi (though maybe suites are supposed to, but our first time here we weren't in one of these fancy rooms).

******

By the way, the Hilton near the Convention Center (got a sizzling hotwire deal on the one night at 11:30 pm on the 3rd) is snazzy and nice! We almost thought "gosh let's just stay here", but gosh I'm glad we didn't!:cheer2:

[Sherry E]

Oh, and I'm on the hotel's main wireless network, from the 14th floor. No charge, no wires needed, just turned on the computer and BOOM, online.

I know people are always curious about the wired/wireless setup, and this marks the second time we've gotten wireless without a single problem, even though the rooms aren't supposed to have wifi (though maybe suites are supposed to, but our first time here we weren't in one of these fancy rooms).

******

By the way, the Hilton near the Convention Center (got a sizzling hotwire deal on the one night at 11:30 pm on the 3rd) is snazzy and nice! We almost thought "gosh let's just stay here", but gosh I'm glad we didn't!:cheer2:

I trust that the suites at the PPH do not have poopy-smelling water in the bathrooms? I was surprised to see you had posted! I remembered you were at DLR this weekend, and figured you guys would be having so much merriment and fun that you wouldn't have time to check in with us! And you got Big Kahuna family! I was not aware of such a thing! That's great!!!

What do the crowds seem like? I have heard mixed reports - some say not that bad, some say very crowded.

Anyway, I can't wait for the full report w/ pictures when you get back and settled in!!

[bumbershoot]

We are so wiped out that, after having dinner downstairs (E's request for the make your own pizza), we're just going to hang out in the room. We had almost no sleep last night (E had sleep, just not as much as usual) and today was just rough, though fun.

It was funny about the Kahuna thing...I knew they did that, and in November while waiting for the Disneyland Express at DLH I saw a late-checking-in family get "family of the day" for the following day. So it was in my head. Just didn't know we'd get it. :goodvibes

omg I'm tired. my back is just freaking out and I really don't know why, started all of a sudden last night at the hilton. ack.

[Sherry E]

We are so wiped out that, after having dinner downstairs (E's request for the make your own pizza), we're just going to hang out in the room. We had almost no sleep last night (E had sleep, just not as much as usual) and today was just rough, though fun.

It was funny about the Kahuna thing...I knew they did that, and in November while waiting for the Disneyland Express at DLH I saw a late-checking-in family get "family of the day" for the following day. So it was in my head. Just didn't know we'd get it. :goodvibes

omg I'm tired. my back is just freaking out and I really don't know why, started all of a sudden last night at the hilton. ack.

Uh-oh! I hope your back is just temporarily freaking out and doesn't bother you tomorrow. You have another full day at DLR, if I recall. I know it is a real problem to try to walk around DLR in pain, so I hope it vanishes miraculously overnight!! (Fingers crossed!):goodvibes

[bumbershoot]

Thanks!

You asked about crowds. They are odd. In some ares it's just crazy, but then suddenly you'll be in an empty spot. We went towards the teacups b/c there were maybe 10 people in line, then while we parked the stroller about 20 people all showed up. They weren't taking up all available space so the line suddenly extended outside of the official queue, but then the next party was loaded and there was suddenly almost no one in front of us. And that has continued in other areas and rides.

All that said, after a very timid morning, E finally was happy to go on Star Tours, just when it was 40 minutes of line. :headache: I don't wait in lines that long! But as of today, it turns out I do, b/c we did. They didn't even start the line in the room with the video "ads", but rather over to the left in a room with some posters and a different view of General the guy with the big head and some sort of whiskers. But I had a fun talk with a woman who was there with her family for some sort of mom-blog convention, it was their first trip, they were spending almost no time and got a late start, but they were having fun! :)

OK I could toooootally get into writing and writing, but I have to change positions or my spine is going to pop out of my body. I just don't know what is going on but whatever I'm doing is NOT working.

[travelmel]

omg I'm tired. my back is just freaking out and I really don't know why, started all of a sudden last night at the hilton. ack.

OK I could toooootally get into writing and writing, but I have to change positions or my spine is going to pop out of my body. I just don't know what is going on but whatever I'm doing is NOT working.

I can so totally relate. :sad1:

I hope you get better. I hope you can figure out something to help. Maybe rest or perhaps exercise? It's so hard to figure out the right thing to do. I know sitting here dis-ing is NOT good for me but I just :love: it!

[kaoden39]

Congratulations! It sounds like you are having a great trip. I am so happy for you. I can hardly wait to read the complete trip report.:goodvibes

[trodrigue]

Yikes Molly! I sure hope you figure out some relief for your back.

[bumbershoot]

Took a lovely bath that helped, slept without moving for about 7 hours (all three of us woke in the same positions we had fallen to sleep in, it was pretty funny we just conked out).

Today switched the shoe situation around so I three different combos there, but I've come to the conclusion that Saucony is not a good brand for me. :( Feet up to knees are kihihihihlling me. (yes, that is how it must be said, with all that syllables)

The guys have now gone on Grizzly 10 times in 2 days; I have one less ride than they do on this trip. I *love love love* that ride. LOVE Toy Story Midway Mania too, and I'm sure the person that invented that queue (the actual waiting in line part) designed Nemo's too. Brilliant evil line designer....

Gotta check out in the AM, waah! So I'd best get offline and organize. :goodvibes

[Sherry E]

I know today (Monday) is the day you check out of PPH. I am curious to know if you got the invitation to stay an extra night for a discount rate slipped under your door. Normally, they slip the final bill under the door or leave it just outside the door, and if that offer is included, the letter will be in the envelope. During the busy holiday season they do not typically offer the extra night discount stay because they are usually booked at all three hotels to capacity, but they do it a lot during the off-peak because they have availabillity. This year, the off-peak was so busy that we didn't get that offer like we had in 2007. However, DizMe mentioned that when she was at DLH just a couple of weeks ago, she DID receive the stay-an-extra-night offer, which leads me to believe DLR might be doing that at all three hotels as long as they have openings this holiday season. Since you stayed at the same place I will be staying at the end of next week, I am curious to know what to expect. If I see this offer is a pattern, I MAY try to scrape up a little extra money to bring with me JUST IN CASE they offer me an extra night so I can accept it!

Oh, and - did you guys keep the adorable little bath products with Mickey ears on them? Those are so cute!

[bumbershoot]

Oh wow, that would have been so great!

But no, we didn't get that invitation. Maybe it's b/c we were upgraded to the suite? If we hadn't gotten that maybe we would have gotten that offer. Couldn't have done it though, so I'm glad we didn't get the offer.

And yes, we snagged the toiletries. We had two bathrooms and hubby is the main person who snags toiletries, but he didn't take them from his bathroom! He left used ones and the ones they replenished with!

Now here's the thing...I HATED the smell of the shampoo and shower gel. It smelled like nasty bad breath to me!!!! So we didn't have sulfur water, but shower-smells were still unpleasant, LOL.

So the things will only be used for their cuteness factor, and I will very likely empty the bottles of their contents and fill them with other things.

Gotta get motivated for this report...trying to decide on a title. Actually i'm trying to *remember* the awesome title I thought of one day, then promptly forgot!

[Sherry E]

I can imagine the thought of putting together the whole TR with photos and all that is daunting! It is very time-consuming, no doubt about that. I will be anxious to read it when you DO get it going! I just stupidly renamed one of the albums in my Photobucket account, not considering the fact that it changes the codes for all the pictures in that album, which then deletes the images I have posted anywhere. So I had to go and re-insert every single picture into my own TR today that I had accidentally wiped out! Arrrrggggghhhhh.

I actually asked someone in Reservations just two days ago if they still have a lot of availability at the hotels this month. I told her I had noticed that the AP calendar showed lots of openings last week. She sort of hesitated and then admitted that yes, they do still have quite a lot of available rooms at all three hotels this month. But then she quickly offered the reasoning that it is "usually like this up until Christmas," and then after Christmas, the hotels get crazy busy. But I don't think that's true. I think the hotels were booked up for December last month, with few to no openings (except for cancellations). I know last year, at the GCH, the check-in lady told em that they are always super busy throughout December. In any case, we all know bookings are down a tad, so I guess DLR has to try to save face and act like this is the normal pattern!

So because of these openings, I am HOPING this means we will have more of a chance for a free upgrade of some kind OR an invitation to stay an extra night at a low rate. The extra night would actually be excellent for me, as I could have from Sunday night through Tuesday afternoon all to myself, to roam freely and explore. I can see the first day we are in DLR is going to be a little chaotic and we won't get as much done because we have to wait on and meet up with other friends, so an extra night tagged onto the end of the stay would be great for ME. However, normally when they do that in the off-peak season, the offer is for a substantially lower rate. DizMe said that her offer to stay another night at the DLH was only for $20 less than the rate she paid. So if they offer me another night at $159 as opposed to the $179 I paid, I don't know if I could do it. If they offered me the $99 rate they presented to me last year, I might take it!!

[bumbershoot]

Sherry, you might also keep your eyes open for possible hojo entertainment rates, and get your hands on an entertainment rate just in case. I mean, $59 is better than $99, and if it gets you another day there, it would be worth the $10 taxi to move your stuff! :)


I just wish I could remember the title I thought of! Argh.

I even have two videos I'll include, if photobucket agrees with me. :)

[bumbershoot]

To tide you over while you wait, a video of my drink on Saturday night at PCH Grill.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/th_december62008.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/?action=view&current=december62008.flv)



OK I didn't realize my camera took audio, too! That's my son talking about someone fighting good guys, and hubby answering him. And the rest of the noise is just how dang loud PCH Grill is!


And the glowing cube comes with the drink (who knows what I'll do with it, but it's infinitely better than just a blue one (though they are probably the same, LOL)), and the drink was FABULOUS.

[daisy_77]

Ooo, I like that drink!


Great TR, Molly! I am hoping on board a bit late. I am looking forward to the start...popcorn::

[kaoden39]

I love the ice cube. It makes the drink so fun.

[Sherry E]

That drink is awfully nifty looking and I can imagine it tastes great...but why do I have a feeling it costs $100 or something?:scared1: Exactly how much does a drink like that cost? I have a feeling you wouldn't get it if it were outrageously expensive, so it must be reasonable? Well, 'reasonable' by DLR standards!

Oh, and your HoJo's idea is a great one. I might look into that! I hadn't thought of that, but that would be a good opportunity to stay there and save money because my friend would be gone from Sunday night on, so I wouldn't have to worry about her thinking that HoJo's was 500 miles away!

[prettyprincessbelle]

I was thinking why would Molly take VIDEO of a drink?! Is it going to dance or something??

But I get it now! That's awesome! And I agree totally better than the plain blue ice cube. I want one now!

[bumbershoot]

The drink was 10.50. And honestly? Worth every penny. Very good.

It was something like an organic mango puree, malibu rum, and a few other things. Yummo.

Receipt calls the drink "Magical Star", but those aren't the words I used to order. Strange.

All pictures uploaded. Receipts found. Notes found. Now I just need to think!

[bumbershoot]

You guys have likely all read how this trip came to be...at this point you probably remember more than I do. :) I do remember that it was supposed to be a budget trip, the only souvenirs for E were to be pressed pennies (and he was excited about that!). We were bringing several souvenirs back with us for him to have while at the parks to calm him down from the Wants.

Uh, yeah, that sooooo didn't work this time. :headache:

So I'll just say up front that while it was the Best Trip Ever for the guys, for me it was filled with having to calm people down. Calm hubby down when he was annoyed at E, make sure hubby was fed when his blood sugar went wonky (speaking of that, with ONLY diet and exercise, his blood sugar has gone from 443 that bad weekend in early September to an average of 107, but just yesterday he started hitting 90 and even 89!!!!!), calming DS down when, again, he hadn't eaten lol, and when we had the utter gall to say "no" to yet another request.

You can see why I'm exhausted and not *quite* willing to say it was MY best trip ever, BUT it was a really really really good one! :dance3: Having them say it was the best makes me happy, and that allows me to overlook things like, oh, being the woman in Tomorrowland on the 7th holding her 4 year old as he tried to scratch her, trying to calm him down as he screamed "tomorrow is an idiot!!!" over and over simply because we told him he still needed to wait until the next day for his main souvenir...having to ALSO figure out how to get hubby to back off while I was dealing with DS (b/c hubby tries to channel his parents when DS gets on his last nerve, and we do not want to channel his abusive parents, not even a little bit), trying to get the scary face off of hubby (even though he wouldn't DO anything, he LOOKS like he's about to haul off and do something), blah blah blah.

Basically I deserve a freakin' AWARD for keeping them in one piece, LOL, but I came home with no award, just "that was our best trip" and a Toy Story Midway Mania popcorn bucket as a souvenir. :headache:

I might have to find my Crocs Mammoth size and send a trusted Dis'er off to the parks with my money, to send them to me, as that is what I wanted but I was too busy helping the guys to get myself anything. For some reason, this emoticon feels right for the moment. :laundy:


I will also say that we encountered some weird time-sucks. I mean, there were obvious things like going on Pooh 4 times in a row, or Grizzly 5 times, that took some time. Or the lines for TSMM or Star Tours we willingly dealt with. But other times time would just shoot forward with very little, IMO, to "show" for it.

Then again, Robert's friend said that the last time he went to DLR with family, they did EIGHT rides in 1.5 days. 8. So what we did was amazing to his friends like that.


I now sound like it was a bad trip, but it was good, it really was, I just need to sleep a bit more and maybe forget our flight back and I'll be better. :goodvibes

[bumbershoot]

The day was way too short. I had things planned too tightly, and instead of being able to leave leisurely, I spent too long over my coffee, and then had to sprint. A stop at the store on the way became difficult, when if I'd just left the house an hour earlier I could have thrown Eamon into their "playcare" place while I did my returns (never EVER use "daylight" lights in your dining room...EVER...I still can't look at the dining room the same after seeing it with those lights!) and did my shopping (Clif MoJo bars instead of granola bars, as they have 9 gm protein! and hair gel for Robert who never ever tells me he's *running* low, just that he has half a day left as of the day before).

Alas I didn't do that, so instead of leaving town at 4, I left at 4:30, to get up to downtown Seattle BY 5:30 on a Friday. :rotfl:

The surprise was...I just about did it! And hubby was off work, I picked him up across from Uwajimaya, and then we headed back down south.

Found the Doug Fox parking lot, got unloaded (we needed sherpas!), their shuttle bus came by (again) and took us swiftly over to the airport. The driver was a sweetheart and saw an abandoned luggage cart, pointed it out to us, then drove over got out and held onto it for us. Nice! Got our bags checked, got through security (where we suddenly became glad for our 4 years of unexplained (and unlooked into) lack of ability to create a new child, b/c the number of items on the belt for just three of us was shocking enough, let alone if we'd had the two more we want!). It was there that we encountered the first time suck (my laziness at home was not a time suck, just a total lack of time management!), where we got there on time, but as soon as we got through security, realized they would be boarding just about as we got to the gate.

Got to the gate, got gate check tickets for the stroller and carseat. Hubby and son went back to Starbucks to snag a coffee drink for the adults, and got back just in time for us to board. Boarded. Comfy. Pretty pink, blue, and purple lights, lovely shiny white plastic seat-backs. Ahhhh, I do like Virgin America.

Landed in LAX just about on time, got our bags. Found another abandoned luggage cart! Hauled everything out to the car rental shuttle bus area, and waited for Avis to come around. Got onboard, were taken to Avis.

We had booked a car through Hotwire for some ridiculously low fee, which made it silly to take Disneyland Express. Well, that's what we thought. In retrospect, the way that trip turned out, we could have taken DE and any needed taxis and it would have been totally fine. Then again, we would have had to haul the carseat around for the taxis (cuz we're like that), so maybe having the car was just fine.

We had booked a mid-size, I believe, and we got a snazzy Chevrolet pseudo-SUV, throwback to the Woody, sort of thing; here's a pic snapped under the PPH lights at 6am the next morning.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec5817169f92b00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

It was a most excellent vehicle.



We were headed to the Hilton, b/c we got a great rate there, also through hotwire. I tell ya, I'm hooked on hotwire now! Priceline with the bidding scares me; hotwire is a nice middle ground. :) Of course, they have a $15 parking fee, which did raise the rate a bit.

We pulled in after midnight and it was party central outside! Tons of people smoking in the car pull-through, and many of them were wearing wristbands in various colors. Hubby went in to check in while sleeping child and I waited in the car. I people-watched to pass the time.

As Robert checked in, he found out that there were six separate conventions going on. Wow. I'll tell you, I was concerned about the noise we might deal with in the rooms, but the concern wasn't necessary. Once in our room it was absolutely silent.

Alas, I suddenly was in pain. Weird strange don't understand couldn't even really tell where I hurt, let alone why, pain. So I got barely any sleep. Hubby slept, but I kept waking him up, so his fractured sleep didn't really count.

When the alarm went off at sick and wrong on the 6th, the adults in the room weren't all that happy.

Therefore, before lights went on at all, I was fumbling with this.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec5801d82588a00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Word of advice? Don't. If it looks like you'll be leaving right at 6, allow it to be 6:05 and run into the Starbucks in the Hilton, b/c that's when it opens, and just get a better coffee than whatever brand that was. Bleah.


So we got our stuff out, hubby pulled the car around, I was embarrassed to find that I had left the hotel room (with the Bell Services guy there!) with a towel draped over my arm. I do not know how I did that. Thankfully we had tipped him and he was gracious enough to take the towel in with him.


We found our way over to PPH. http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec5806311582600000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Hubby went inside to check in while I hauled everything out of the car to leave with their Bell people instead of leaving it in the car. If we'd been in our own car, with the big trunk and no window in the trunk, we wouldn't have bothered. But instead we were in the funky cool car with the window into the trunk that could easily be broken into, so we dealt with the extra expense of storing it.

Hubby took a LONG time. Long long long long long.

And then....he came outside! Strange expression on his face. He has a very stoic thing that he can put on...if anyone watches Jon and Kate plus 8, you know that blank look Jon puts on that makes Kate a little nutty? That's hubby. And since they are both half Korean, I'm thinking there's a connection. Hubby thinks so too. Then again, I have a stress-face that's also genetic, shared with my mom and my aunt (my grandmother was too sweet to ever look stressed, darn her, so maybe it came from my grandfather's Irish family).

So anyway, he had that blank look...and he told us we had been chosen to be the Big Kahuna family of the day!

:yay: :cheer2: :dance3:


OK, but what does that mean? :confused3

[bumbershoot]

Backing up to correct my correction. The drink was indeed called the Magical Star Cocktail.

I cannot believe that I ordered something with that name, but I think the multi-colored flashing ice cube aspect of it took away my normally cynical-about-drink-names self!


I'm also reading a TR on the passporter community about being the Big Kahuna family, and I'm thinkin'...we had a better suite than they did, so I guess there are different suites used! The TR writer and I also have vastly different opinions on aspects of DLR, where she loves DTD and was disappointed by the wharf area of DCA, and I"m completely the opposite!

[bumbershoot]

Robert had just been told, at around 6am, that we were the Big Kahuna Family.

We were being upgraded to a suite, first off. The rest of the stuff we got or found out about later, because of course the room wasn't ready and DS and I were outside. I imagine things would have happened right then if we'd been in the building.

When we finally got back to the hotel at proper check-in time, they gave us a folder. Inside that folder was info! So being the Big Kahuna Family means you get a complimentary picture (the CM comes out and takes a picture of you, then they print it later and give it to you), a picture frame (a PPH themed paper folder frame), a "Collectors Paradise Pier pin" (very simple, I like it very much, and they gave us FOUR), Turndown Service (I turned that down when she knocked, but certainly took the massive handful of chocolates she gave me, along with the single red rose in a bud vase), Mickey Rice Krispie Treats on the first night (the CM told us about that when we got our room and we asked for a substitution of something else b/c we don't eat marshmallows), and a "Special Voicemail Message from Goofy".

Pretty fun!

Oh, and we also got a signed black and white picture of Mickey Minnie Donald Goofy and Pluto in front of the castle.

And plastic leis, which I wish they'd given to us at check-in b/c we would have worn them to the parks, but they didn't (they seemed a bit scattered). And really, those are no different than what we got just by eating at the Lilo/Stitch b'fast last year, so people would probably have just thought we had a character meal. :)

[bumbershoot]

Oh gosh, why not just talk about the room now? No reason to be chronological ALL the time, right?

When we at last were able to check in, we really needed our luggage! Alas the phone wasn't working (hubby had problems with it each day) to call Bell Services, or they just weren't answering, so I rushed downstairs (taking the Evil Glass Elevator of Doom) to get them to bring up our bags. You can see a preview of why our stuff was needed so very much at that time in this picture. It's the first view of the room we had, though you can see I was the third person to go in there!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581ceb1380400000060O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


In the other trip report from May that I read, they were put in a suite on the 15th floor. It was a strange suite, b/c there were double doors that could be closed off, but then there were two ROOM doors. To get to the sitting room you needed your keycard, and to get to the bedroom you had to have it too.

That was not the case in our suite.

First, we were not on the very very top, 15th, floor.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581d736f92700000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Our suite required only one room door to be opened, and we came directly into the sitting room part of it (see above). As I walked past the bathroom, I saw this scrumptious couch to the right.

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I went back to see the bathroom in the sitting room.


Walk in, and this is straight ahead, then to the right. I tried to put the pix side by side but it doesn't seem to be working, so now they are just one after the other.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581ab83789c00000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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Vanity and sink.

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Cute but nasty-smelling (IMO) toiletries.

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As you can see there's a toothbrush there. Used the t'brush (helped DS brush his teeth when he was being a PITA about it) as well as a little box containing qtips and cotton balls. :)


Then I continued to explore.


From the sitting room, this is the first view of the bedroom (which is a typical PPH bedroom from my experience).

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Walked in, and to the left was the desk with sunshine mirror over it and the window.

Beds to the right after going in the adjoining door.

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Looking back towards the window, and there's the queen pull-out sofa (not sure THAT is normal in a regular room, but our normal room last year definitely had a sofa there).

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Hubby called me into the bedroom's bathroom, where he pointed out the towel animals. We are strangely happy when we have those, b/c we only had two sad days of them on our honeymoon cruise, when cruisecritic people led us to expect them all the time. We had a brand new, rather bad, room steward on that cruise. So these were happy-making.

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And lastly, the mickey sticker on the washcloths. :)

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[toocherie]

Molly--I am soo excited that you got to be The Big Kahuna Family! I've always wanted to get that (don't know why--just sounds neat) but unlikely since it's usually either just me or me and one other person. (I was actually hoping for it when some of the Disboard Ladies and I were staying at PPH a few months ago, but alas, no). Anyway, can't wait to hear more about your trip and sorry I missed you guys.

[bumbershoot]

Hi Cheryl!

The passporter trip report I read from May was a two-person couple, no kids, so I know it can happen for just adults. I have no idea how they choose it, though, so I don't know if it has to be more than one person or not. When I was single and fancy-free I was my own family, gosh golly! :)

It doesn't seem that it's part of the YOMD, so there might be ample opportunities to get it in the future.

This trip has messssssed me up, though...the loveliness of the few hours at the Hilton (aka posh hotel) and the suite, combined with watching the family back in November get "family of the day" for the next day at DLH, has caused a yearning to stay onsite. :scared: :headache: :rolleyes1 3 days of feeling fancy has changed my brain! Help!

[bumbershoot]

We were all tired, so this picture is about as excited as we all looked, even though our feelings were truly spilling over with joy.

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We headed over, now that the bags were stored and the car was parked. I don't know why I took this picture, but there was a reason at the time. Perhaps it was the early morning light? The construction workers with their huge coolers of food? How construction of DVC villas was going? I dunno, but here ya go.

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When we first stayed at PPH, as some might recall, I *thought* I knew the back way, but I didn't. We figured out that hubby had something to do with that; he's the one that noticed the big signs inside PPH pointing to DTD, and he convinced me that they must have marked the secret way. He was VERY hesitant at that time to try a different way, so we just followed the signs, and walked waaaaaaay more than we needed to on that trip.

Once we got back from that trip, I figured out the error I had made, and 3 months later when we stayed at Anabella we took what was basically that route. But this time it was our first stay at PPH where we could use the secret way, and we rejoiced every time. :goodvibes

I don't really like being in GCH b/c it's so stinkin' dark and I can't see (side effects of Lasik), but I like it a whole lot more than having to walk all the way around the theater, Compass Books, the Lego Store, etc.



We were so tired for much of the trip I am having a hard time remembering everything. I know that we weren't on time for MM on Saturday, and I believe that the gates were already open. But I could be making that up, LOL.

We went in and decided to go on Nemo. This was the "line".

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It almost looks like they aren't allowing people in with strollers anymore, but maybe I'm wrong about that. It felt right to park the stroller first then get in line, and that isn't how it felt when we first went on it in September of last year.


The light that morning was lovely.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2783.jpg



Alas, Nemo was a bust. Although I didn't suffer from my usual claustrophobia, Eamon had a pretty big problem with just how LOUD it was. It was too early, he was too tired, and he refused to eat that morning. The plan had been that we snack on MoJo bars in the early AM then later have breakfast, but E refused food that early. Augh. So he spent most of the ride with his ears covered, and Robert had to warn E loudly of the angler fish. Had to have a chat with Robert later that although reminding our guy was fine, he needed to do it quietly, so as to not RUIN it for others.

So with Eamon not enjoying Nemo, it was hard for us to (though Robert did indeed enjoy it), and it was a bummer of a way to start of our first morning.

And after that, anything that was loud was refused. In Tomorrowland, you can imagine how THAT went!

He absolutely refused Buzz just as soon as we walked into the building, and the same thing happened with Star Tours. Those are his absolute favorite rides (or, at least, they were) so it was shocking.

After those refusals, there was really only one thing to do. Yep, Mickey Mouse Pancakes.

Off we went to the RiverBelle Terrace, where we enjoyed a pancake and a no-meat Mark Twain.

You might notice something missing there...yep, no coffee. So there we were, tired, with a kiddo who was easily spooked, and the parents having no coffee. I don't know what we were thinking and neither does hubby. It was a mistake that we made up for, though.


Wow, we ate that food fast. The receipt is marked 8:23, and the next picture is marked 8:34! Wow.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2786.jpg


How do they make sure these ducks are out of the water for Fantasmic???


It's funny I took this picture, because while we watched Fantasmic on Sunday I noticed people on the balcony over towards the right of the picture. I don't even know what's up there! It's not over Pirates so it's not the Dream Suite, and I thought Club 33 was on that side of things too. What's over there???

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2789.jpg

[bumbershoot]

We went over to get HMH fast passes, just in case. Eamon didn't really enjoy that, b/c he was worried we were taking him onto the ride.


So what else could we do to help a tired and overwhelmed kid, now that he had been fed, and fed the food he wanted most of all on this trip? OK this is going to sound funny, but Pooh! :)

We went twice in a row b/c there was no one in line. That was fun. I always enjoy that. I'm sort of serious and sort of sarcastically parent-ish when I say that. I mean, if you're going to go on something multiple times, you might as well just stay on the ride, right? And it's not an unpleasant ride.

Though it's loud, and I don't quite know why E liked that but not Buzz. Eh, it worked.

After the second time went into the shop at the end of the ride to check out something (not sure what) while E and R played.

(someday I'm going to have to scan Robert's 1st grade picture in and compare it to E's hair when I haven't gelled it into submission (that happens rarely), so you can see that there's really no hope, nothing I can do other than buzz it (and then E looks like R NOW), to make it stay out of the Bowl look. I promise I do NOT cut it with a bowl like MIL used to do to her sons!)

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Well, I don't know what it is about that silly old bear, but it did the trick! 4 times on it and E was as good as new.

Oh sure there was some heavy wrangling at the shop there, and he came away with three pressed pennies (or maybe 4), but that's fine.

It's there that I saw the Disney Mammoth Crocs that I should have bought myself. Drat.


Love this lampy thing.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec5805bf758dc00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Since E isn't ready to do Splash and I don't like Splash, and hubby didn't want to get soaked that early, it was time to move on from the Critters.

[dalepool]

Your son is so cute-- errr handsome. I have read your other trip reports and I am amazed at how grown up he looks.

I do have a question --- My grandson does not like loud noises either, he says it hurts his ears. Is this the same as your son? If it is do you know if it has a treatment? There are times I think it is just the difference between being 56 and 4-- well almost 5.

Following your trip report is a lot of fun. Heck, I feel like i travel with you all and boy does that save me a lot of money :).

Anyway waiting for next installment.

Patty

[kaoden39]

I love wha tthey do with the towels. That is so cute.

[bumbershoot]

We liked it too, kaoden.

Patty, when he is overwhelmed his ears sometimes get sensitive. I finally remembered on Sunday night that I had my own disposable earplugs (hubby snores and I bought the pack originally for the Madonna concert) that squish really small then expand in your ears. I can't remember right now what ride we used them on, but he enjoyed it much much more when he had the earplugs in.

I find Disneyland to be quite noisy as well, and sometimes it's just too much. But I'm a grownup and can try to deal; I just figure the little ones haven't figured out coping mechanisms other than aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh yet. :)

For a future trip, I'm going to get him his OWN earplugs that fit his little ears, and I hope it will make it much easier for him on the loud rides.

[bumbershoot]

I never really notice the train going by through Critter Country.

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I mentioned before that Eamon won't go on Haunted Mansion. Well a couple weeks before our trip we went to an electronics store where they were showing Nightmare Before Christmas. E was fascinated. We tried really hard to get it from our local library, but for some reason the Tacoma Public Library system doesn't even have the movie! I don't quite get that, but whatever.

I have a feeling that IF he could have seen the movie and IF he liked it, he might have been brave enough to go on it.

As it was, he recognized the design, and as we paused at one of the NBC carts so hubby could drool, E fell madly in love with...Avalon if you're out there send your daughter away....these bad boys.

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It wasn't even 10am, it was a bit cold, his hands were chilly, and we figured "this isn't really a souvenir, rather, it's needed...it's clothing", and bought them. So that pic was him, wearing them backwards (he REFUSED to wear them with the bones and JS on the tops of his hands), while waiting to go on the Carrousel.

Then he added the Mickey pirate ears just in time for teacups.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec5800103d93500000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


I went on the ride once. That was enough. :) They spun it. I laughed my head off all while wondering if was going to be ill. They thought I was mad, but I just thought it was really really funny, and I didn't need anymore cowbell, er, teacups!

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On DS's request we visited the bathrooms back near Alice, and I noticed the light fixtures. Before I thought "hmm, bathroom, shouldn't take a picture" I took this.

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From there we decided to visit IASW. On the way, we spied...


Oh wait. While preparing for the trip, I asked both dudes in my condo what they wanted to do. DS of course was disappointed that Jack Sparrow is gone, but he understands that Jack had to go to Singapore. :) Other than that, he wanted to meet Captain Hook, Mickey Mouse, and Peter Pan.

MM proved elusive, but he's met him a few times before and can be found in the future.

Captain Hook was being held captive over in Minnie's breakfast, we believe, because we didn't see him.

When DS said he wanted to meet Peter Pan I thought "oh noooo, he's never out!" though I have seen pix of him out, but I don't have that kind of luck with characters.

Well, on our way to IASW, hubby piped up with a sighting, and lo and behold, it was PP. He had a crowd around him but was deftly leading everyone to a picture spot. He had one serious hanger-on, an itty bitty girl dressed as Peter Pan, which was *a-dor-a-ble*.

He really liked her and kept her nearby. He was able to see other people by telling her that this one little area "over there" was a perfect spot for Captain Hook and that she needed to keep a lookout. She was little enough that this:

1. kept her busy
2. didn't scare her
3. gave her something to do for *at least* half an hour, seriously

While she was looking for Hook, he called people up.

Soon it was Eamon's turn, but unfortunately, his excitement had turned to a strange attitude! Look at the body language. He is the definition of tension.

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Then I noticed him looking over to his left...

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And I got it. He was old enough AND young enough that he truly believed Captain Hook might be over there. He was afraid. Poor dude.

I went up really quick and told PP that he thought Hook was over there. Peter is fast on his feet, because he told Eamon that the girl Peter Pan was the lookout, and she would tell them immediately if Hook showed up, so he was not to worry.

This allowed him to relax enough to *almost* smile, but at least pose, with PP.

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Since I absolutely hated the whole character thing as a kid, I know that E is doing better than I did, and every time he can work things through and come out of fear I'm just tremendously proud of him, b/c being so shy and fearful that you can't deal with Mickey Mouse kind of sucks.

We went over to IASW, but found out it was closed! Drat.

As we slowly walked back, PP was still there, and so was his little double. She was still busily looking over to see if Hook was there. Seriously good attention span on her!

I don't remember where we were heading, but we stopped by the Jedi Academy so Eamon could watch the whole thing. We were totally mentally prepared for him to participate, so taking the time to watch was good.

I so love the teacher! I know that there have to be *at least* two teachers, but we only saw the one guy, the hilarious Asian guy, and I can't imagine the Academy with anyone else. His lines are just too funny. We ended up seeing it twice, and I know he recycles lines, but each time it's amusing. Like with the littles ones, if he gets a kid who isn't really following, he'll say something like "as we can see, life is better in slow motion". I love his quick patter, and his Iron Chef like flourish at the beginning.

Watching it was valuable! Why? Eamon decided he didn't want to be anywhere near Darth Maul, and since we couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't fight Maul if he were picked, he absolutely refused to do it. OK "refuse" makes it sound like we were urging him. Not at all. We just wanted him to know that if he was ready to do it he could, but he made the decision that he wasn't ready.

He's not the only one startled by Maul! If you ever watch from outside the area, you'll see children reacting when he comes over to the spectators. He startled an 8/9 year old boy into jumping back! So E was not alone.


Even though he didn't want to battle a Darth, he did want to see his buddy Rex! Alas, it was approaching 11am when everyone not on the Dis has just entered the parks, so this is what we got to deal with>>>

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Robert looks like he got a mohawk there, LOL.


I didn't even know that the line had extra, that there was another area of the building. Sure did find out, though! Luckily there was a family behind us there for their first time. They were here for a "mom blogger" convention; the mom has a blog (cannot recall the name), one of the types where you put links up and get paid small amounts of money for each time someone clicks on the links. You try products, write them up, etc. Some people do really well, and it seemed she was one of them. They got 3 day hoppers as part of the convention.

They had *just* gotten to the parks, one of her sons had been part of Jedi Academy, then they went on Star Tours as their very first ride. It was fun talking to her!


Showing off hubby's pictures, since these came out well>>

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gol, wonder what's happening on Coruscant, yes?

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The flight went well, considering it was Captain Rex's first time. :) We were put alllll the way in the back, almost in the middle, and it was very exciting back there! It's interesting the way the ride changes depending on where you sit.

I sure would love to know exactly how they make some of the forces on that ride....

[prettyprincessbelle]

but he understands that Jack had to go to Singapore. :)

That is just too cute.

I'm glad you guys found PP. I really really like *THAT* PP that Eamon met.

And I don't blame him for being afraid of Maul. That guy scares me too. His eyes are red. Ew.

[borntoshop96]

I was reading your Trip report (enjoyed reading it!!) when I came across this post.
I was flying into San Diego about 2 weeks after 9/11 happened (actually I was supposed to fly on 9/11 in the evening) when we got ready to land, the pilot got on the pa system and assured us that although we were flying VERY close to the buildings it was normal and that we should not be alarmed. If he had not done that I think the passengers (me included) would have freaked out!!

[bumbershoot]

PPB, and he has spikey things coming from his head! Bleah!

BTS, can you even imagine being on that flight? I really do wish the SD pilots would mention *something* while flying in, but then for some reason I never look out the window while flying in there, so I haven't been startled by it, I just get startled when driving around SD and seeing those planes!



Poor Eamon-dude is all sick. :( And I have NO coffee and have to run out to get some postage so I can do some last-ditch Year of a Million Dreams main-in entries. Which means very bundled up, rain-cover-on, stroller-walk. I'm seeing E's new gloves in his future, along with some scarves. Brr.

[kaoden39]

I love the Singapore excuse that was great. My 12 year old son was sitting at the computer with me earlier while I read that and he got a huge kick out of it. And E is so cute looking for Hook. Poor guy I hope he feels better.

[bumbershoot]

The Singapore idea was all Robert's. I was ready to launch into a more truthful explanation (the fairies booted Jack! LOL) but Robert stepped in. He likes making things easier, and it was indeed a cute explanation.

I'm just glad there's not Disney in Singapore, or I know a certain kiddo who would be urging us to go there!

[Sleepless Knight]

And having Jack going to Singapore is certainly a better explanation than the other rumor as to why Jack left Disneyland for a little while. ;)

[bumbershoot]

:) Though Jack might have had just as much fun at DLR as he had in Singapore in the movies (or rather the back story to the movies). :goodvibes

Um, wait, I think that was one of the problems! :rotfl:


I still blame the fairies! Did they really need so many? All anyone really cares about is Tinkerbell. Send the others pixies away and bring back our Jack. NOS wasn't the same *at all* without him around, it was actually a tangible lack. If that makes any sense.

[kaoden39]

The Singapore idea was all Robert's. I was ready to launch into a more truthful explanation (the fairies booted Jack! LOL) but Robert stepped in. He likes making things easier, and it was indeed a cute explanation.

I'm just glad there's not Disney in Singapore, or I know a certain kiddo who would be urging us to go there!

I can so see it. But Mommy....


And having Jack going to Singapore is certainly a better explanation than the other rumor as to why Jack left Disneyland for a little while. ;)


My husband Scotty found and article online about that being the reason. And the sad thing is I can actually believe it. Some people have no pride. That reminds me of a comversation my kids were talking about today. They are 12, 14 and 15 and they were discussing how nice the idea of purity rings was. It pleased me a great deal.


:) Though Jack might have had just as much fun at DLR as he had in Singapore in the movies (or rather the back story to the movies). :goodvibes

Um, wait, I think that was one of the problems! :rotfl:


I still blame the fairies! Did they really need so many? All anyone really cares about is Tinkerbell. Send the others pixies away and bring back our Jack. NOS wasn't the same *at all* without him around, it was actually a tangible lack. If that makes any sense.

I think Jack was a nice addition to NOS even though I already liked it. I think that it's mistake to get rid of Jack for some silly fairies. I remember the good old days when Tink was the only fairy they needed. And knowing Tink I can't imagine she's too happy about sharing the limelight with any other fairies.:rotfl:

[Sherry E]

What I wonder is, now that Jack is gone because of some lusty women who can't control themselves (most likely), are there any pirates of any kind over on Pirate's Lair? Wasn't there a PhotoPass spot over there? We were not able to go to Pirate's Lair in October because they had it closed down for Miley Cyrus' birthday thing, and I had planned to go over there this month to hit the PhotoPass spot. But if there is no one there to take pictures with, we may skip it! Or maybe DLR is keeping all the 'unattractive' pirates who don't provoke women to solicit indecent acts over on the Lair for photo ops to make up for the loss of Jack Sparrow...

[bumbershoot]

And knowing Tink I can't imagine she's too happy about sharing the limelight with any other fairies.:rotfl:

I can imagine the look she gives when no one is looking!

(OK all the images I'm finding are the cute smiley, post-makeover, Tinkerbells...)

And...nevermind, you guys can go watch Peter Pan and see the various angry expressions she makes. google has been brainwashed! :)

[bumbershoot]

Sherry, I don't know, as we didn't go to PL(OTSI) this trip. I don't think there are pirates other than the Bootstrappers there, and I didn't see or hear them at all during our trip. :(

[prettyprincessbelle]

I heard the Bootstrappers got the boot too (ha, boot).

I didn't see them 2 weeks ago. I wasn't looking either. But I didn't see them.

[Sherry E]

Sherry, I don't know, as we didn't go to PL(OTSI) this trip. I don't think there are pirates other than the Bootstrappers there, and I didn't see or hear them at all during our trip. :(

I heard the Bootstrappers got the boot too (ha, boot).

I didn't see them 2 weeks ago. I wasn't looking either. But I didn't see them.

Drat! Darn these girls gone wild at DL who can't keep their shirts on and likely scared DLR into firing all the Jack Sparrows! He is definitely a popular character, so that original reason DLR gave about why he was going away was BS. They said something about decreasing popularity (I am paraphrasing). If anything, he is a little TOO popular. But, frankly, of the couple of Jacks I saw in DL, they weren't Johnny Depp-level hot, so it's funny to me that they are inciting such responses.

[bumbershoot]

But, frankly, of the couple of Jacks I saw in DL, they weren't Johnny Depp-level hot, so it's funny to me that they are inciting such responses.

I know!

But I think, from seeing how people responded to various "pirate" groups at the Tall Ships festival this summer in my city, that pirates just have a *thing* to them, and it's only been made stronger by JD.

I personally never saw people freaking out over him, though they did follow him, but if he would have stood still they wouldn't have had to do that. I mean, Peter Pan had people following him, but he was *talking* to them, telling them (us) where he was going.

I was always the first to say "he's a pirate, he'll act like a pirate, don't expect him to be Mickey Mouse or Cinderella", but on the other hand, you don't wind up with people freaking out about seeing you if you just *stay in one place*.

I actually got guilty the other week, wondering if maybe the character people at Disney corporate had seen my posts about how very pirate-y he was, especially my story where he turned his back on the family and didn't pay them any mind after the mom was rude to him. Worked out well for us (and famograham who was one or two people in front of us, unbeknownst to either of us!) b/c we were in the line he moved on to, but I'm sure the rude lady didn't think she was being rude (but she WAS). Anyway, I started worrying that that behaviour was floating under the radar until I started warning people.

Then I snapped out of it, realizing that Disney most likely doesn't read my posts, LOL. But if they DO, oh John Lasseter, we are big fans and I would be happy to work for Pixar in any capacity, just as long as I get a chance to speak in front of those in charge of voice casting. Call me! :rolleyes1

[bumbershoot]

So we had gone on our failed trip to the moon of Endor (is Endor a moon, or is the place where Ewoks live the moon OF Endor? so confusing).

My note-taking fell by the wayside at this point. From a blurry picture I have, it seems we went on Buzz Lightyear, and Eamon (I"m remembering now, yes we did go then) ROCKED the score. Almost did as well as Robert, and beat me entirely.

Then came the Buzz gift shop and I'd like to forget that, b/c *every* giftshop experience on this trip was horrid. So la la la I'm not remembering...I think NEXT time we're giving him Disney Dollars and letting him buy whatever he wants and call it good. Harumph.

As we might recall, the parades were at weird times that weekend, so people were already starting to crowd around for the parade just after 1. It was just after noon! I remember Robert getting woozy (recall NO coffee) and I got to make the decision of where to go, so I sternly told them to FOLLOW ME and I went to my fave latte stand, the one just outside the castle. Ahhhh, lattes, my sweet lovely lattes. And a cookie for Eamon. Cookies as big as your head, of course!

We stood there for a few minutes, slurping our manna, er, caffeine. Then moved along. Only 20 minutes after the latte purchase we were only at the Main Street Fruit Cart, where Robert ran over and got a water.

Now here's our secret (not so much) shame. We drank almost NO water on this trip. Since we don't drink sodas and very little juice, that meant almost no liquid. Bad bad bad! Is it any wonder E is sick? We had all the best intentions, to run to the store and get a case, but then it just seemed like things were moving too fast, our feet were too tired, etc. It just didn't happen.

In addition, each water purchase bugged us. Why? Because we had not budgeted with giftcards. Another BAD decision. This is what happens when Robert is in charge of the money, which he was, b/c I didn't know where my debit card was. Turns out it was at home sitting on the counter, but we didn't know that, so we reported it lost and I had to use a check at the post office today. :upsidedow So instead of plunking down x dollars on a giftcard and calling it good, we had to buy each thing in a separate card transaction, and that really messes with our heads. NEVER AGAIN, I tell you, um, if I remember this moment. :)


So we got water and that was good. Made our way out of Disneyland.

A good person would have gone back to the hotel at this point. We are (still) not good people and I don't know why! We know better. But we all, Eamon too, just get so excited to be there, and going to the hotel feels like punishment. The guys had total "permission" (or rather, knowledge that no permission was needed) to go back to swim, but they both remembered how cold that pool was during our first stay, and they never wanted to swim.

So we headed to DCA.

I'm not too sure what we might have done immediately, but soon enough we realized there were extreme hunger problems. I was getting absolutely no help in the food department, so of course I steered us to the Wine Country Trattoria.

Hubby and I shared a side salad and a Caprese Sandwich, which Eamon had the Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Everyone was very happy with the food, as usual, and it made me think "hmm, maybe a free dining plan at WDW might not be so awful, especially if the trip is long enough that we don't feel the need to rush around all day every day!". We did have water when we ate in restaurants...just not enough.

Much happier E with mouth full>>

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec58053bcd9a300000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Grapes were from our Caprese plate, but you can see a suspicious lack of crusts. E is a very typical little kid and doesn't "like" crusts. But he ate that entire sandwich, crusts and all! This pic is when he was halfway done>>

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581070af97300000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Much happier, around 2pm, we left WCT and made our way around to Condor Flats. Just in case, we snagged Soarin' FPs, then made our way to....Grizzly!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2863.jpg


We were enormously happy to see that E was well over the mark! Oh how I wish I had gotten video of this, but I wasn't totally aware it was happening until it was almost over, but Eamon did a "I'm big enough for Grizzly dance" for a good minute.

Here's just one frame of it>>

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec5802977d95500000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



He wanted to have a picture taken with the measuring stick. Of course he crunched down, you can see the odd posture. Silly kid.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581baf3387c00000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


So. What was the verdict on this most anticipated ride?

Best Ride Ever. That's my boy.....

He loved LOVED it. He loved riding with the other families (as do I, as does Robert). There's something wondrous about sharing the experience with strangers. Robert knows the ride really well and would warn people that they were going to get sprayed while going up the hill, but he NEVER warned me! I kept getting chatty and getting mouthfuls. EW.

I went on with them FOUR times in a row. I had a poncho, they didn't. No that's not true; we all had them, they just chose to not use them. Each time, of course, we got wetter.

I think this was after the third time through. Blue bunders and beige linen pants (consignment, baby!) perhaps NOT the best combo?

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec5802f53584200000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



For some reason I chose to sit their last ride out, and I took pictures.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec58195bff98f00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


On that ride, they got drenched. Obviously, since they were both sitting in the doorway! I have a feeling that was on purpose. :)




Happy kid.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581548fb94700000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[bumbershoot]

Now I will tell you how prepared I was. :)


I had a blanket (from last year's trip), I had wool socks and his Crocs to exchange for his cotton socks and athletic shoes, I had a sweatshirt. I had this all with me, so that when he got off his last ride (#5) totally soaked, he could have a chance at not freezing.

This is before the sweatshirt went on>>

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581cf74f96900000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


We went back to PPH, and that's when this picture was taken>>

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec58164a7b97700000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Something I noticed while on the very first Grizzly ride was that the water BURNED my shins. Ruh roh. By the time we got back to the hotel it was *still* burning and I had red lines on the skin that does, I admit, sometimes get a bit cracked in the cold weather. But burning? That doesn't normally happen.

So I made everyone bathe, to get the Grizzly water off of us. DS of course was done first, and here he is all warm and cozy, after finding the "tinkerbell present" on the bed.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec5807c9a183a00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Of course he KNEW about this stuffed Mickey b/c he went snooping. In MY house growing up snooping was punishable by pain of not getting any presents. My mom never had to follow through, because we were too worried about that punishment. But Eamon has us, or rather Robert (who nearly FAINTED when he heard me say that about "found presents are returned presents"), figured out and he is almost totally sure it's not going to happen.

Sigh. Totally our fault. Gotta pull us out of this accidental "only child" hole asap!


All clean, dry, dressed, and de-Grizzlied, we went down for dinner. Specifically, to PCH Grill because Eamon wanted the make-your-own pizza there.

We got stopped in the lobby to have our Big Kahuna pictures taken, but those will NOT be posted here b/c, well, I don't want to. I haven't even looked at them. When your husband, who knows very well how painful it is to be told "darling you need to lose some weight", says that it will, basically, make a good before picture (it's OK that he says it, totally OK, wanted, actually!), and that I was awfully red from the day in the overcast sun, you KNOW you do NOT want to see that picture.

So the picture was taken and balloons were given.

But before that we saw the tree and Eamon got worried by the carol singers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2898.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2899.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2901.jpg


And Eamon was trapped by the Santa chair.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2903.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2902.jpg


Lei and cool balloons!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc33b3127ccec58c939069b400000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


You've already seen the video of my glowy drink, and here's this year's "eamon making his pizza" picture>>

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec580861699fb00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


I had the quesadilla without the chicken, and it was very good though rather spicy. The waiter tried to tell me it was, but I just figured "eh, 'mild' chiles won't be bad" but oh, it was spicy. The salsa was delicious and fresh, as was the avocado/guacamole.

Hubby had a burger with a veggie patty subbed, and it was very good too.

And that was that, we decided to head back to the hotel to spend some time in the suite! It was only 7:15, but we were wiped out!

When we got back to the room, we had a plate with 3 Mickey cookies waiting for us. They were NOT very good, but hey, they were some form of mild and boring chocolate on the ears, and they were cute. They lasted us until checkout.

Robert actually did go downstairs to get us (the adults) decaf coffees to go with the cookies, and came back with lattes, a Pixar themed coloring set for E, and a pair of mickey-head scrapbooking scissors for me. While in the giftshop, he met a Creative Memories consultant and asked what she thought I might want...she said that just about everything else there could be bought elsewhere, but the actual Disney stuff can only be bought at Disney, so the scissors were probably best. Lucky find for robert, eh?


We all went to bed early, or earlyish, which was nice.

[Sherry E]

Oh, so the cookies were the substitute for the Rice Krispy treats?

I love those close-up pictures of the ornaments! So pretty! I have seen that tree in the PPH before, and, while pretty, I guess I expect all DLR trees to be pretty (and sparkly), so I probably didn't even pay too much attention to it. It's nice to see some pictures of it that are a little different!

[bumbershoot]

Yep, they were substitutions! I don't get the krispy treat thing that Disney has. When talking with Chef Chris I got the strong impression that they want to be as good as possible for as many people as possible. And marshmallow things just destroy that. Unless you absolutely know what the gelatin in the marshmallow is made from, they've eliminated those who eat kosher, those of the other religions where pork is forbidden, and of course vegetarians. And if there's milk in that chocolate, even if the gelatin is safe, pork-wise, someone keeping kosher couldn't combine the gelatin and the dairy anyway. They are like THE most possibly offensive treat out there! :rotfl:

Now I know that many people find them to be good, and I think back in elementary school I was into them too, but still, in terms of a treat that can't be eaten by many groups of people, the marshmallow krispy treat wins, and I really don't think it should be their fall-back treat.

I was glad they had a sub, even if it wasn't very good! (they had what appeared to be white chocolate mickey faces on them, so we didn't eat those either, b/c white "chocolate" tends to have corn syrup and we all know that that wasn't going to be eaten by us)

******

I love shiny ball ornaments. And lights. They make my eyes happy. :)

I didn't get any pix of the GCH tree, assuming that big dark thing in the big dark lobby was a tree, because I can't see in there and tend to hurry through. :upsidedow

I did think we would have time to roam the DLH lobby and grounds, but we didn't at all. I was sad about that.

[Sherry E]

Yep, they were substitutions! I don't get the krispy treat thing that Disney has. When talking with Chef Chris I got the strong impression that they want to be as good as possible for as many people as possible. And marshmallow things just destroy that. Unless you absolutely know what the gelatin in the marshmallow is made from, they've eliminated those who eat kosher, those of the other religions where pork is forbidden, and of course vegetarians. And if there's milk in that chocolate, even if the gelatin is safe, pork-wise, someone keeping kosher couldn't combine the gelatin and the dairy anyway. They are like THE most possibly offensive treat out there! :rotfl:

Now I know that many people find them to be good, and I think back in elementary school I was into them too, but still, in terms of a treat that can't be eaten by many groups of people, the marshmallow krispy treat wins, and I really don't think it should be their fall-back treat.

I was glad they had a sub, even if it wasn't very good! (they had what appeared to be white chocolate mickey faces on them, so we didn't eat those either, b/c white "chocolate" tends to have corn syrup and we all know that that wasn't going to be eaten by us)

******

I love shiny ball ornaments. And lights. They make my eyes happy. :)

I didn't get any pix of the GCH tree, assuming that big dark thing in the big dark lobby was a tree, because I can't see in there and tend to hurry through. :upsidedow

I did think we would have time to roam the DLH lobby and grounds, but we didn't at all. I was sad about that.

Yep, the big dark thing in the GCH lobby is the tree!:rotfl: It is a beautiful tree, which can be observed when sitting very close to it, but I agree - it is very dimly lit in that lobby. Previous attempts to photograph that tree by me or other friends have come out, well, dark! So it is not a good tree for pictures necessarily, unless you have really high end equipment with flashes that will illuminate the whole lobby! But it is a nice tree to sit by!

I never got really into the Rice Krispy treat craze, either. I have nothign against them and I would eat the Mickey treats if they left them in my room, but that is not one of the treats I am craving when I go there. I could take it or leave it. I would probably rather have a magnet or an ornament of that Mickey Rice Krispy treat than the actual treat itself!:laughing:

[bumbershoot]

Ooh an ornament or magnet would have been brilliant!!! I love magnets. And keychains. Love them so much.

I've never been much of a collector, but when I first started working for amazon I would see so many fun things while helping customers, and I started buying all these super-fun keychains that were homages to games. I had Sorry, I have Donkey Kong, a keychain of a tiny fridge with tinier fridge magnets, a Colorforms keychain and a lite brite one! So much fun. But I had to stop collecting those since DS has been around, since they make him jealous, LOL, I'm selfish about them (call me crazy, but I don't like it when he breaks our stuff!), and the money is funneled more towards him.

Anyway, I love keychains and magnets and having one of those instead of the treats would have been a million times better!

[prettyprincessbelle]

Of course he KNEW about this stuffed Mickey b/c he went snooping. In MY house growing up snooping was punishable by pain of not getting any presents. My mom never had to follow through, because we were too worried about that punishment. But Eamon has us, or rather Robert (who nearly FAINTED when he heard me say that about "found presents are returned presents"), figured out and he is almost totally sure it's not going to happen.

Sigh. Totally our fault. Gotta pull us out of this accidental "only child" hole asap!

My parents were the same way when I was kid when I snooped through presents. I'm an only child too and my Mom used to tell me if I snooped, no presents. I snooped anyways and still got presents. It wasn't until I got a bit older I realized I was ruining it for myself, so I stopped. I'm sure though, if I had siblings, my Mom would have went through with the you-don't-get-the-present-if-you-snoop punishment because she wouldn't feel as bad knowing another kid would get to open their presents.

[Sherry E]

Ooh an ornament or magnet would have been brilliant!!! I love magnets. And keychains. Love them so much.

I've never been much of a collector, but when I first started working for amazon I would see so many fun things while helping customers, and I started buying all these super-fun keychains that were homages to games. I had Sorry, I have Donkey Kong, a keychain of a tiny fridge with tinier fridge magnets, a Colorforms keychain and a lite brite one! So much fun. But I had to stop collecting those since DS has been around, since they make him jealous, LOL, I'm selfish about them (call me crazy, but I don't like it when he breaks our stuff!), and the money is funneled more towards him.

Anyway, I love keychains and magnets and having one of those instead of the treats would have been a million times better!


Ooooh! All those keychains sound adorable! I loved Colorforms and Lite Brite! I bet there is a keychain for Easy Bake Ovens too! And Twister! Gotta have one of those! Along those same lines, I have a Scrabble keychain, an Etch-a-Sketch keychain and a Rubik's Cube keychain!! (I was a bit of a keychain and magnet maniac for a while, but my souvenir obsessions come and go!) I assume you saw the recent merchandise thread where DizneyDogs posted a picture of the adorable Mickey food item keychains (like Mickey shaped donuts and other pastries), and I posted pictures of the Mickey food item magnets (like the Mickey lollipop, Mickey ice cream bar and Mickey chocolate covered pretzel, as well as gingerbread cookie Mickey magnet)?

[bumbershoot]

My parents were the same way when I was kid when I snooped through presents. I'm an only child too and my Mom used to tell me if I snooped, no presents. I snooped anyways and still got presents. It wasn't until I got a bit older I realized I was ruining it for myself, so I stopped. I'm sure though, if I had siblings, my Mom would have went through with the you-don't-get-the-present-if-you-snoop punishment because she wouldn't feel as bad knowing another kid would get to open their presents.


I sure do hope he realizes he's ruining it. He already has ruined it, sort of, because, well let me back up.

Anyone who knows me (or reads posts on other forums on the Dis) knows that I don't "do" the Santa thing. Didn't grow up with it, not interested in doing it. Alas, my kid has decided he Believes. I don't know how he managed that, given me as his mudda, but he has. So he's anticipating a Santa present.

You can ask Robert and he'll tell you that in a way I've already acclimated to this, and I've held Santa over his head, figuratively, a couple times already as an easy way to get him to do something (or stop doing something). And I cracked up when I did it and said "omg no wonder parents do this, it makes life so easy!" LOL. Robert just shook his head in shock, but secretly I think he likes it.

So anyway, Santa presents are usually fun, right? Not this year, since I don't want to ruin his fun and NOT do a Santa present. But the kid went snooping and asked what else was in the Disney bag, along with his register (grr), and that he'd looked in the other bags but they only had, and I quote, "stupid clothes".

So you can guess what's coming from us (fun) and what's coming from Santa! :rolleyes1 Ya denigrate the clothes, that's what Santa brings, kid.

Plus, he LOVES clothes. Likes trying them on, buying them, having them. And he can tell that his long sleeved shirts are too short and that his pants are a bit tight at the waist, so he'll love them, he was just being poopy.

But still, since I know for sure that Robert would just die if I "canceled Yule and Christmas" (we do both, the former for us and the latter if Christian friends/relatives send presents) and I'm not totally sure if I could go through with it (gawd we're softies), he gets to find out that snooping is bad.

That said, I do have one present that he has NO clue about! I got it on my solo day last month and it's well hidden. He admired it when a kid was playing with it, but he never saw where it was sold so we never got to deal with him asking for it. Bwa ha ha ha ha.....


I bet there is a keychain for Easy Bake Ovens too! And Twister!


I assume you saw the recent merchandise thread where DizneyDogs posted a picture of the adorable Mickey food item keychains (like Mickey shaped donuts and other pastries), and I posted pictures of the Mickey food item magnets (like the Mickey lollipop, Mickey ice cream bar and Mickey chocolate covered pretzel, as well as gingerbread cookie Mickey magnet)?

Oh you're killing me... an EBOven keychain? I can't look for it, I can't.

Yes I saw it and I had to close the thread fast, lest I got off searching ebay. :)

[bumbershoot]

Augh, he just went snooping AGAIN, and found another little thing we got on this trip (Buzz lanyard). Dangit. He got a "go to your room" for that while Robert tried to talk me down from canceling yule. Robert's at work, as always on Saturdays, so it was via IM. :)

Don't know what I'll do. Robert says that E reads to his plush Mickey (tinkerbell present in previous pictures) every night, thumb wrestles with it and even lets Mickey win sometimes...they do the bedtime routine together...and that's really cute, so even though he was kind of "meh" about the Mickey when he got it, it seems he likes it...


Anyway, I have to do some decorating. I've done my surveys for the day from the rewards site I do, which is what usually keeps me at the computer for so long at a time, and I just have to do things around the house!

My reward for doing a bunch of organizing and decorating will be guilt-free dis (and mouseplanet and micechat and mothering and wherever else I want to go) time! And I'll start off the next story with hubby's amazing AM blood sugar reading, after a day spent at Disneyland and DCA.:cheer2:

[Sherry E]

Augh, he just went snooping AGAIN, and found another little thing we got on this trip (Buzz lanyard). Dangit. He got a "go to your room" for that while Robert tried to talk me down from canceling yule. Robert's at work, as always on Saturdays, so it was via IM. :)

Don't know what I'll do. Robert says that E reads to his plush Mickey (tinkerbell present in previous pictures) every night, thumb wrestles with it and even lets Mickey win sometimes...they do the bedtime routine together...and that's really cute, so even though he was kind of "meh" about the Mickey when he got it, it seems he likes it...

Anyway, I have to do some decorating. I've done my surveys for the day from the rewards site I do, which is what usually keeps me at the computer for so long at a time, and I just have to do things around the house!

My reward for doing a bunch of organizing and decorating will be guilt-free dis (and mouseplanet and micechat and mothering and wherever else I want to go) time! And I'll start off the next story with hubby's amazing AM blood sugar reading, after a day spent at Disneyland and DCA.:cheer2:

Oh my goodness, that is SO sweet that Eamon reads to Mickey every night, and then thumb wrestles him!! That is one of those things kids do that make people want to go up and pinch their cheeks and suddenly start babbling in incoherent, cutesy baby talk! How precious! It's not the Pirate Mickey that you got on your recent solo trip that he is wrestling with, right? It is the regular plush Mickey?

[bumbershoot]

No update tonight and no decorations, but I did lots of organization for E's home-preschool stuff so that's good. And gathered more "like items" of my own to try to organize in my own area, rather than intermingling my photo stuff with his maze books and workbooks (he loooooves workbooks!).

But the main thing I wanted to say is...it's SNOWING! Happens maybe once, every so often twice, a year in this part of western WA, so it's exciting when it happens. Especially since it's a weekend with nowhere to drive.

But we live surrounded by city hills, and I guess there was already an accident up the hill from us by 10pm, so it's always interesting to hear people try to get up and down the hills in our city-canyon...

E looked outside and announced it, then bounced up and down a bunch saying "I can't believe it! I can't believe my eyes!" :lovestruc

[bumbershoot]

Oh my goodness, that is SO sweet that Eamon reads to Mickey every night, and then thumb wrestles him!! That is one of those things kids do that make people want to go up and pinch their cheeks and suddenly start babbling in incoherent, cutesy baby talk! How precious! It's not the Pirate Mickey that you got on your recent solo trip that he is wrestling with, right? It is the regular plush Mickey?

It is too cute. I wish he'd told me before today that E has been doing that! Crazy Robert, keeping the cute stuff to himself when I give him a running commentary all day (through IM) of what E's up to. :upsidedow

It's not the pirate one, no, it's a bigger one. Got it on sale (yes!) at the Disney Store a few weeks ago.

[kaoden39]

No update tonight and no decorations, but I did lots of organization for E's home-preschool stuff so that's good. And gathered more "like items" of my own to try to organize in my own area, rather than intermingling my photo stuff with his maze books and workbooks (he loooooves workbooks!).

But the main thing I wanted to say is...it's SNOWING! Happens maybe once, every so often twice, a year in this part of western WA, so it's exciting when it happens. Especially since it's a weekend with nowhere to drive.

But we live surrounded by city hills, and I guess there was already an accident up the hill from us by 10pm, so it's always interesting to hear people try to get up and down the hills in our city-canyon...

E looked outside and announced it, then bounced up and down a bunch saying "I can't believe it! I can't believe my eyes!" :lovestruc

That is so cute.

[daisy_77]

No update tonight and no decorations, but I did lots of organization for E's home-preschool stuff so that's good. And gathered more "like items" of my own to try to organize in my own area, rather than intermingling my photo stuff with his maze books and workbooks (he loooooves workbooks!).

But the main thing I wanted to say is...it's SNOWING! Happens maybe once, every so often twice, a year in this part of western WA, so it's exciting when it happens. Especially since it's a weekend with nowhere to drive.

But we live surrounded by city hills, and I guess there was already an accident up the hill from us by 10pm, so it's always interesting to hear people try to get up and down the hills in our city-canyon...

E looked outside and announced it, then bounced up and down a bunch saying "I can't believe it! I can't believe my eyes!" :lovestruc

Aw, what a cutie. It is amazing at how excited kids get about snow. I grew up in Southern California. I only saw snow in the mountains and I always wished for a "white Christmas" and never got one :guilty:. Now I am married and living in Boise and I wish it would stay in the mountains. :rotfl:

[bumbershoot]

Aw, what a cutie. It is amazing at how excited kids get about snow. I grew up in Southern California. I only saw snow in the mountains and I always wished for a "white Christmas" and never got one :guilty:. Now I am married and living in Boise and I wish it would stay in the mountains. :rotfl:

:laughing:

I grew up in San Jose CA, and it snowed once, in '76, and melted by afternoon. There was just enough time for a snowball fight in the tanbark (aka beauty bark), and for a boy to scoop up some tanbark in his snowball and give me a black eye. :headache:


No update, just don't have the brain power for it. We got a tree though, at Home Depot, and a friend finally finagled me into seeing her Christmas Revels group perform. I'm just really not into it, but there were a couple cute scenes/sets/things, mainly involving kids and not really about xmas. Actually it was about Scotland this year, so there really weren't many Christian things at all, mostly their more ancient traditions, but still, I don't like live performances of music, unless it's U2 or Madonna or Duran Duran. :)


Then, because Eamon had spent so much time with Robert yesterday, and Robert lets E do things like leap off couches and jump jump jump on our wooden floor, E had the worst legache he's ever had at bedtime. Poor kid, he got it from both of us. I used to have drastically awful legaches, so bad that I was tested for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, and hubby remembers growing pains from age 3 on, so he's destined for them I guess. Usually arnica and maybe some ice works, but not last night. Had to break out the western medicine, but since the kid's ibuprofen syrup we bought ages ago has corn syrup, E refused to drink it, and we had to break off a tiny bit of a 200mg pill (knowing that a teaspoon of the kid's stuff yielded 100mg, we were shooting for 50 mg, IF that), and he got to swallow his first pill ever. It worked very quickly and he slept very soundly (as do I when I take ibuprofen), but we didn't enjoy it! I was expressing my fears about cutting the bit off the pill, and Robert reminded me that that's what his family did when he was a kid, just cut a normal aspirin in half (hubby had migraines from age 3 up until he got under chiropractic care with me, so reyes (rye's?) syndrome be darned, they had to help him in SOME way, and aspirin was their way) and it was fine. I had some silly thoughts of "what if the mg of active ingredient were ONLY in that one end, and the rest was just filler, what if their mixing machines didn't work, it's all estimates blah blah blah", but honestly, for his age/weight the bottle was actually suggested two tsp, which would have been the 200mg of the pill anyway, so....

Anyway, it took him from screaming and writhing in pain (I used to writhe with the aches but I was never much for making more noise than needed, b/c to me it increased the pain of the leg aches) to snoring, so that's OK, but No More Jumping Barefoot Off Of The Couch!!!!!!!!!



In conclusion for now, an interesting light fixture.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec5817b57782000000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[davidsprincess]

Hey Molly! Really good TR. I can't wait to read more!

[Sherry E]

Where is that light fixture located? It is cool!

[bumbershoot]

That there light fixture is hanging from the ceiling at PCH Grill, isn't that odd? It doesn't "go" at all. We were seated in the half of the restaurant near the buffet lines, and our table was near the doors for the CMs to go through (so far from the door to get into the restaurant), and that's where it was.

[Sleepless Knight]

My mom is the opposite of snooping. For years, I would mention that I wanted something for Christmas and she would then say, "oh good, I already bought it for you." I eventually had to preface everything by saying "don't tell me if you already got it, but . . ."

[bumbershoot]

Oh SK, you poor thing! Silly mom....

[bumbershoot]

Let's see let's see let's see....we had dinner, decided to go back to the room, hubby got us coffees and got presents for me and Boyo.

DS was dreadfully overtired, but hubby is in charge of the sleep routine now and kept trying to get DS to sleep WAY too long. Then I was called in (I'm the reserves, ever since DS stopped requiring milk to get to sleep, instead of the go-to person) and within oh, 30 seconds of me lying down next to Eamon, E was snoring. Yay for Molly.

Then R slept, I read for a few minutes, I turned out the lights, and I guess I fell asleep, because 7 hours or so later I woke up, and everyone was in the exact same position we'd been in when we fell asleep. No one had moved, it was amazing (we're all flip-floppers while sleeping).

And so we started our Sunday!

It was another Magic Morning, but hubby and I had had more than a few hours of sleep this time. Whew.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention, that hubby's blood sugar readings in the morning was 89. In early September, he was diagnosed with diabetes after a weekend of thinking he was going to die, with a blood sugar of 443. There has been serious disagreement between his various health care providers (diagnosing doc, family doc, endocrinologist, naturopath who specializes in diabetes), meaning that he needed to research and make up his own mind. He decided to not start by taking medicines (they did give him a shot of insulin at his diagnosing appointment because they were terrified as was he), but to start with diet and exercise. He's now walking a difficult line with being a low-carb vegetarian. It's not easy! But he feels terrific. And since he has had such incredible results, he won't be taking medication any time soon, as he's hitting as low as 89 now, and he doesn't have big swings after eating anymore.

So congrats to Roberto! :) He was already feeling good, and this made him feel even better.

Alas, our athletic shoes were all still wet from Grizzly the day before. So we had to wear Crocs.

That was OK for me; my new-ish Sauconys don't fit very well (they swallow my feet and my ankle bones sit weird and hurt) so the Crocs were fine. Eamon loves his Crocs. But hubby has been wearing special orthotics from our chiro, and he realized that day just how excellent the orthotics are for him! Thanks to those orthotics he FINALLY realized how wrong he was about his foot size...when I first met him he was squeezing his feet into a size 10. Then he went to a 10.5 b/c I commented so often that his feet looked squished. Well the orthotic, which was sized perfectly to his feet, would NOT fit into the shoes he was trying to buy a few months ago! We just couldn't get them into the shoe. So he went up to an 11. Still couldn't get them in. And he found out he's a 12 across the board. Ouch! I know women do this often, squeezing into a smaller shoe for vanity reasons, but I didn't know men would do it. So he thanked our chiro for her part in his figuring out how much comfier his feet could be.

All of this has to do with how painful hubby's feet were in his Crocs! His whole body, hips and spine included, poor guy.

But we had to soldier on, since wet shoes would have been yucky.


OK so on to MM.

We got there before the gates opened, and noticed the phenomenon of people simply lining up where others are, even if there are EMPTY (but MM marked) gates nearby. Even I did it, going to a familiar gate, and hubby had to point out a gate with only one person there. So we moved over.

She and I got to talking, and she was there with her mom and daughter. She was SO nice. I asked if she "did any planning online", which is my way of asking if she was a dis member, but she said no. They had been there twice inside the year, and were planning more trips, so I suggested an AP and she was going to do that. Their first trip, she WON! How cool is that?

Last week or so someone here mentioned that they got to open the park with their large family, and we were there that day. :) It would be so fun! Hubby, who usually complains about getting up early but had PROMISED he wouldn't this trip (and he didn't), was sad that we had been late getting out, because he wanted that honor too. I was still riding our Big Kahuna honor, and didn't need much else. I did admit to still wanting some ears, but gosh when you're staying in a suite while paying AP7 rates, who needs more???? OK hubby does, but I was content.


At last the gates opened.

OH! By the way, for anyone who hasn't been, and especially if you are using vouchers to exchange at the GATES (not ticket booths), read on. If you're in the first few people, before the gates are officially open, they will physically open the gates. They will scan a few tickets/APs so you're all prepped to go. And that worked with the vouchers, too, on Saturday. They scanned hubby and son's and printed out their passes, before they had officially opened. It's a very nice thing they do, to get a little rush of people going into the park. :)

So we went in, and today was our Fantasyland morning.

I had read someone asking for a picture of the partner's statue with the castle, and even though they didn't ask me, I took one on our way in.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2917.jpg


Oh, I hadn't noticed that, but the woman with lovely long brown hair in the picture was the woman we were talking to! We saw her SO many times that day, it's not surprising she was right there after meeting up with her family (they were at different gates to see who got to a certain point first).

[bumbershoot]

Dagnabit! I have to backtrack.


In the morning of Saturday, we got a locker inside the esplanade, to the right of Disneyland. We entered Disneyland and R and E's vouchers were exchanged for ticket-size vouchers for the APs. Later, we decided to "hop" before going to the AP center, so they got hand stamps.

But we wanted to swap out some things in the locker, and hubby refused to believe me that we had "rights" to the locker all day long. So we got in line at Guest Services. Thankfully not many people were getting their CP passes at that hour, and we were helped asap. Yes, it was verified, we could go in and out of the locker all day. And yes, they could print the APs right there right then, since their info was still in the system. Excellent! Instead of bothering with spelling E's name (he is hyphenated with mine and hubby's last names and no one knows how to spell his first name) we just handed her his expired AP. That decision made something Monday morning a bit harder.

But at that time, it was all good and easy and simple!

OK, backtracking done.

[bumbershoot]

MM started at 7. I snapped that picture and we continued on. The Peter Pan line was a breeze. I read yesterday that someone else from our DLR forum was at PP in the first bit of MM that day, so if you saw the following kid, that was us:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec580ae5299ab00000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


He was colder than he thought he would be, he refused his own coat, so I gave up my sweatshirt for him. As you can see, it was a gown on him.

Very short line, lovely ride, and we all admired how Skellington on his gloves glowed during the ride, along with the stamps on our hands! No we don't have to get stamps when hopping, but since the guys only had the vouchers the day before, hubby was nervous so they got stamps. And since they did, I did, for solidarity.


Eamon didn't feel like Toad, and went straight for Dumbo after that. Kids! They think they know better than the Dis! So first we all went on Dumbo.

Now class, this is one of the things that has changed my mind, just a bit, about Magic Mornings. The Dumbo line:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec58080c7992900000090O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Of course it was a cold, cloudy early morning, and even up until 9ish it was still quiet, but I'm sure 7 was better than 8 anyway.


Gosh Dumbo is fun when your kid takes control of the up/down and he likes jerking it in those two directions! Gosh it's joyous.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec580b01b99ed00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


I kept looking behind at Robert's elephant, with a pained and a bit green look on my face. Second time through, E begged me to go again, but he was riding with Robert this time, so I skedaddled out the exit instead of getting in an elephant. I told the CMs on the way so they had an accurate guest count, of course.

Then the guys got on the Carrousel, of course! While that happened, I was going to ride Mr Toad's. But it was down! It was NOT down as E rushed past it for Dumbo, and I never did ride it this trip. :(

After that, the Mad Tea Party was ridden twice, but NOT by me. It's a perfectly fine ride, but I much prefer to let them have their turn-around fun while I take pictures of joy like this.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc37b3127ccec5b4e35c0b9e00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


While waiting for them, I realized I was standing next to Ed Begley Jr. And I was not the only dis'er to see him. Actually I think I read posts on mouseplanet and micechat, from different usernames, that others there had seen him too. Then again, I have a different username on those sites than I do here, so it could just be me and one other person who saw him, posting all over the place, LOL. He seemed calm, peaceful, and pleasant. He too was merely watching friends or relatives on the ride, rather than actually riding. He wasn't taking pictures, though, like I was. Flowers near the teacups.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2932.jpg


After that, Robert wanted to check out the hat shop right there. I can't remember what he was looking for for E, but then he wanted ME to get something. Luckily, that pink cowboy had with the tiara was finally gone, so I wasn't forced to buy that. I was *thisclose* to buying a santa-sort-of-hat, but in purple and with Tinkerbell on it, but I realized that I would overheat in it. Later on as I was boiling and saw someone else wearing that cutey-pie hat, I was thankful that I know myself. Much better to see someone else in it, than have to tear it from my head before exploding from the heat.


There was no intention on my part to buy E another hat, but then he saw the Peter Pan hat and fell in love. It's such a sweet and simple, innocent, hat, and of course we got it for him.


That led to moments like this, which cracked up bystanders!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec58086ba995700000050O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Oh and we were VERY mindful of where he was, where he was swinging, and the people walking by. Once a crowd was approaching we were sure to stop him so that no one was in peril. Ya gotta be mindful of others!


The hat seemed to empower him, as he was then happy to go on....Alice in Wonderland! He went on it once and then declared no more, but this time, he went twice in a row! There was *someone* in the vehicle in front of us, a woman and her young family and her husband, and she was *someone*, I just know it, but I never figured out who it was so she will remain "I know she's famous but can't get my brain to work enough to come up with a name".

After going around twice (without needing to get off), the line was long enough that they wouldn't have let us stay on for another time. Once we were off, we parlayed the braveness into Matterhorn!

Last year, I was wearing a skirt, and didn't feel comfortable with the Matterhorn and having Eamon sit with me. Well hubby sat in the very front toboggan (sled? whatever they are) and E was in front of him sharing his seat, so really, E was right in front. That was a mistake, and especially since Robert didn't think to talk him through, E didn't enjoy it.

This year, we had it planned, so we were prepared when E agreed to ride.

Robert sat in the seat in front of us, so we had his broad back protecting us in a way. And E sat with me, so I could squeeze him when I felt he needed it, and warn him about Harold.

Alas, we were on a string of sleds (or whatever) with some young, screaming girls! I knew from the moment the ride started that I was going to have to figure out something. And figure something I did!

I had Eamon practice making crazy silly noises! If those young women could scream, we could certainly say "yip yip yip" really really LOUD, right? Oh gosh it worked, it worked! I would say in his ear "OK now let's growl" and we'd growl. "Now let's say 'yip yip yip'" and we'd do that. At one point, we were about to do one of the swinging turns and I coincidentally say "OK let's practice ROARING at the yeti", and as we started roaring, boom, there was Harold! I couldn't have tried for better timing on that.

So this time, at the end, we were both laughing, and one of the girls in the screaming group hadn't enjoyed it, and her friends were pointing out the smiling 4 year old and teasing her for it.

We got out of the exit, asked how it was, and he said "I likeded it!!!"

Yay.


I think it was around this time that Toocherie called, and we got the message (since we never hear our phones at DLR) that she couldn't meet us. We were sad. We like Cheryl. Sniffle sniffle.


And so, we continued on, heading over to IASW. I have since found out that it is often/always open during MM, which I wish I had known! I could and would go on it time after time, and I would have been happy to do so while the boys rode their spinny rides. But I know for the next time, if we have access to MM.

There was almost no line for IASW. The ride was most excellent. It just sparkled with cleanliness! Some have reported that they see no difference, but I disagree heartily. It was getting dirty and dingy. In fact I think I mentioned the awful ceiling tiles back in my trip report from our first one-day trip. The tiles were so nasty that I totally got "out" of the mood of the ride. And I LOVE the ride, and LOVE the song! I do! Ask my stepmom (who hates the song and ride but went with us to Disneyland when I was a kid)! But it was so dirty and gross that I had to really force myself to get back into the spirit of the ride.

But dirty no more, it is fresh and clean and sparkly (and not just the sparkles on some of the things in the ride) and wonderful! If it took that long to get it that clean, I'm fine with it.

At some point during our IASW experience, I noted the time. The time was 8:37.

PP, Dumbox2, Carrousel at least once, Mad Tea Partyx2, hat shopping, Alicex2, and Matterhorn, all before 8:37am.

Nice.

[bumbershoot]

So there we were, done with what we wanted to do in Fantasyland, right near ToonTown, but TT wasn't quite open yet. So we wandered around in the toy shop near IASW. Eamon showed his great memory by playing with those little robot remote control (OK they have a wire) dog things, which he did about a year ago at the store near Autopia. He was actually pretty good about listening to us, which we were happy about.

Got him a pressed quarter with Cinderella, I believe, on it (his choice). We'd been getting pressed coins all along, for fun and in an attempt to rein in the souvenir shopping. Sigh.

He found this cute light spinner that I later saw was in all sorts of princess designs (even Minnie).

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec580490c582e00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Her skirt was just floppy and normal until you pressed the button. With the button, her skirt spun around and lit up tremendously! I had to figure it out, and I did. Some little LED lights in the seam of her skirt, and when the skirt spun so fast it played a zoeotrope-like trick on the eyes and made it seem like there were tons of lights in there. It was really cool. If he didn't have two spinners already, I would have considered buying it for him, because, frankly, I like it that he's still good with princess things, and also it was cool.


Finally ToonTown was open! We of course grabbed Roger Rabbit FPs, even though we've never seen it with a long line there. We wanted the option of the FP, in case we could convince Eamon that the ride isn't demonic, LOL. But he hates the sounds in there and he doesn't like it when RR gets electrocuted (something I do not remember, but he does, from our September '07 trip).


Our time in TT was really disjointed. E refuses Gadget's and RR. Turns out that Mickey was "stuck on Main Street" so was NOT in his house, not for another hour. Minnie was outside, though.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec580f163d92d00000080O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


She didn't pose for a picture with him, though, she moved on to a group of girls. Kinda weird, but he does have a thing where he steps back as the character signs, and then he hands the book over to me, and she might have thought he was done with her. E and I will have to work on that, I think!


We went through Minnie's house, and we were the ONLY people in there. So we were really able to be as slow as we wanted, but of course this time Eamon didn't want to go slow in her house! :confused3

This is a painting on her wall; what is it?

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581fb7cf97b00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


The dishwasher, when you turn it on and it starts and lights up. So cute!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581b3fd78ee00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581a2a4b91700000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


No pictures of the oven this time; it's even dustier inside than it was in May, and I hope it doesn't take them years to clean it. :)


Hey look, he posed properly with Pluto!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec5801a4918da00000080O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


I think that makes at least 5 Pluto signatures he's collected...he looooooves Pluto.

He played in the "gag" area, pushing buttons, pulling up lids, and so on. He always enjoys that. He could NOT be convinced to go on RR, so I finally urged hubby to go on his own. While he did, E and I sat at the fountain and were giggly.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec580779ed99300000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Well, according to my photo timestamps, it was around 9:30. Time to head on over for b'fast, which Robert had dictated (ha) would be at WhiteWater Snacks.

Instead of walking all that way, we decided to take the train from the ToonTown/PFF station. Well our stroller was still out near IASW, so I went out to get it while the guys were supposed to go wait at the station for me.

The guys ended up going into the craft/coloring area of PFF instead of waiting for me, which meant we got to wait for the *next* train, but, sigh, that was only another 20 minutes. :rolleyes1 With nowhere to sit. :rolleyes1

While they did that, I snagged the stroller by cutting through the very long IASW line. Wowie wow! I've seen it longer than that, but not so early in the day!

Way back towards the end of the line.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec58001c9d9ff00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Here you can see that the line isn't winding around that strange pavilion area so that's nice, but it was still long enough.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581e230b9a300000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



Anyway, we caught the train, took it to the Main Street station. By this time, Robert's feet, legs, hips, and back were hurting, so we were going slow. Then we ran into one of our remaining blips in communication, because Robert mysteriously wanted to go through the Sephora/DTD GCH entrance, and I decided to go along with it.

Turns out he didn't realize that WWS was soooo close to the GCH/DCA walkway, and I was afraid of sounding naggy, so I didn't remind him. Therefore we walked a weensy bit further, and weren't able to get a Soarin' FP. Oh well!

By the time we got over there, I was super-hungry so our mini-plan of me running over to PPH to get Robert's athletic shoes had to wait until after I ate, too. We got into WWS we saw the sign that said b'fast was only being served for another 15 minutes. Since you actually order at the cashier, we had to get in line quickly.

Hubby did that, even though his blood sugar was doing nutty things (he doesn't check more than twice a day now, but when he was checking all the time he found that there was no noticeable difference, even while his mood was swinging around) and he was CRANKY. A customer two groups in front of him was using a few gift cards and they weren't working, and the cashier was having to type the numbers in. Robert was getting really mouthy and loud about it, and I was having to wrangle a hungry Eamon AND try to calm down a wonky husband. NOT FUN.

Turns out he was hungry earlier when I thought he was hungry and I offered him a Mojo bar, but he refused it (saying he wasn't hungry which confused me) because...he had been looking forward to WWS for ages and didn't want to fill his tummy with mojo bar. Sigh.


So anyway, I got him to shush about the giftcard guy, the family in front of him was quick, and he got our food ordered. Whew.

The person whose idea it was to put videogames *right at the door* should be thrown in the pool on a freezing cold day. Videogames should be put well away from a door so that nervous parents with enormous imaginations don't have to make sure they have sightlines to the videogames when their 4 year olds want to go check 'em out.

At last our two breakfast burritos (without meat), two coffees, and french toast sticks were done. Alas, my burrito tasted funky. :headache: I tried hubby's and it tasted the same. Dangit! I only ate half of mine. :sad1: I have issues with the smell of eggs at the best of times, and smell issues with cooking oils, and those two things collided by getting one of the last breakfasts they served, and it was a really miserable burrito. Hubby LOVED his though, and the part of mine I couldn't eat (he was hungry).

They gave E many many french toast sticks, and I ate a couple of those, and they were scrumptious. Obviously we don't eat their maple-flavored syrup, but just alone they were very good. Yay.

Well obviously I was done with my food and they weren't, so I got a list of things they needed, and I took back several toys that E felt it necessary to bring that morning.

So I made my way over to PPH to get Robert's shoes. Dropped off various things like R and E's ponchos (they stated strongly that they would NEVER want them, they LIKE getting wet!) and E's toys, got R's shoes. I changed shoes, puttered around, looked at the pretty suite.

I've mentioned that I was taking the fast, glass, elevator. I didn't like it at all on our first trip, but the quick trip was better, so I just stood with my back to the glass, trying to not look in any reflections. Worked well for me. Well enough that I was able to look outside a bit.

First, a picture of part of the proper wall in the elevator.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2958.jpg


Turning around...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2959.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/mollyeilis/DLR/december%202008/IMG_2960.jpg



I went back to join them and E had finally finished his food. My cutie leprechaun, er, Peter Pan...

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http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec5811a7cb99300000080O18CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Next??? Best ride ever! Well, OK, there are a few Best Rides Ever at DCA. :goodvibes But one of them.

[Sherry E]

1. Is that picture with the half man-half horse and the grapes possibly from Fantasia? I am not sure, but it seems like I have seen it before somewhere (other than in Minnie's house).

2. I have never taken the PPH glass elevator. Is it right near the regular elevators, or where does one find it?

3, That bear statue that Eamon is posing with in the GCH used to be located in the DLH before they did their big remodel in the '90s, and it was sitting outside of Sgt. Preston's Yukon Saloon, which later became the Neon Cactus.

4. I miss Dumbo. I have not been on that ride in years and years. I can't even recall the last time. I would like to squeeze it in again this trip. That is definitely a kid ride with enough fun for adults! Because of the reports of the crowd levels, I think this is DEFINITELY a time to utilize the MM. I usually have to eat some protein before I ride anything, but as long as we head straight to Fantasyland at 7:00 a.m. and I eat immediately after FL, then I should be okay without my blood sugar going haywire. I think it would be very worth it since IASW is open during the MM hour, and we could hit that, Dumbo, Alice, the Teacups and the Storybook Land boats before the lines get too hideous. I would like to ride Peter Pan too, since I also have not ridden that in centuries, but I don't think my friend likes it and she wouldn't be willing to go on it if there were ANY kind of line at all, so we will have to play that one by ear!

[kaoden39]

The picture is Fantasia. That was my oldest daughters favorite movie for years. I stayed at the PPH years ago when it was the Emerald Hotel and was across a street from Disneyland. I loved that elevator. I remember that bear from Sgt Prestons I loved that place. I was there not long after turning 21 it was loads of fun.:goodvibes I am with R on the Diabetes and it is amazing how much diet and exercise can help with the blood sugar. Yay for being able to get it under control.

[prettyprincessbelle]

Congrats to your hubby! It's amazing what diet and excercise can do for blood sugar especially without him starting with any medication!

I love love love Eamon's Peter Pan hat. I was always thinking of getting one and your son totally made my mind up for me to get one. :)

I look at Eamon and wow I wish I was blessed with light hair and eyes like him. My parents are like you and your husband, my Dad is very fair skin, blonde hair (it's turning brown as he's getting older though) and light green/sometimes blue eyes and my Mom is dark with dark hair and dark eyes. And what do I get? Light skin (lighter than my Dad!), dark eyes and dark hair. Boo. I always wanted red hair. My Grandma has red hair. What about me? :(

[Sleepless Knight]

Just agreeing with the others as I believe the pic in Minnie's house is from the Pastrorale sequence in Fantasia.

It's funny how one person's perception varies from another. As a Disneyana collector, with a collection focused on Sleeping Beauty, I have a fair number of Aurora related items, but have never remotely considered getting that spinner since the likeness doesn't meet my demanding standards. Not that it isn't "cute" however one defines that, but I tend to be pretty picky. Of course if I had a little girl who wanted it, that would be a very different story.

[bumbershoot]

2. I have never taken the PPH glass elevator. Is it right near the regular elevators, or where does one find it?

If you have left the front desk, turned around, and are heading towards the main bank of elevators, stop. Look to your right. It stands alone, you think it's a special elevator like in a hotel with a proper concierge section with special elevators that require a coded keycard. There's rarely anyone waiting there because it doesn't seem "right", just like how people go to gates with people lined up instead of breaking free and standing at an empty, but marked open, gate. On our first trip I actually took the normal elevators while hubby and son took the glass one, because I couldn't handle it, but it's amazing what just turning my back to the view did for me!

3, That bear statue that Eamon is posing with in the GCH used to be located in the DLH before they did their big remodel in the '90s, and it was sitting outside of Sgt. Preston's Yukon Saloon, which later became the Neon Cactus.


Fun!


4. I miss Dumbo. I have not been on that ride in years and years. I can't even recall the last time. I would like to squeeze it in again this trip. That is definitely a kid ride with enough fun for adults! Because of the reports of the crowd levels, I think this is DEFINITELY a time to utilize the MM. I usually have to eat some protein before I ride anything, but as long as we head straight to Fantasyland at 7:00 a.m. and I eat immediately after FL, then I should be okay without my blood sugar going haywire. I think it would be very worth it since IASW is open during the MM hour, and we could hit that, Dumbo, Alice, the Teacups and the Storybook Land boats before the lines get too hideous. I would like to ride Peter Pan too, since I also have not ridden that in centuries, but I don't think my friend likes it and she wouldn't be willing to go on it if there were ANY kind of line at all, so we will have to play that one by ear!

Definitely go on Dumbo, you won't be the only adults on it, not at all.

For Peter Pan, if you can get there bright and early there wont' be much wait. The biggest, or rather smallest literally, problem with PP is the aisleways of the line. They are NARROW. And then there's the turn when you go through the turnstyle, and it's a beast, it's so small. 50+ pounds ago, it would hurt Robert's feelings so much, how he had to squeeze through it. If I have a purse that's near my waist I have to go up on tiptoes and go through, but before I *had to* go through sideways. I would hate for PP to be down for any period of time, but I HATE how narrow that queue is!!!!

But it's a terrific ride. Send your friend to the Carrousel while you do PP nice and quick. Or if she doesn't want to walk briskly, put her in line at Blue Ribbon to get coffees and breakfast, while you run off to ride PP and Dumbo!

The picture is Fantasia. That was my oldest daughters favorite movie for years. I stayed at the PPH years ago when it was the Emerald Hotel and was across a street from Disneyland. I loved that elevator. I remember that bear from Sgt Prestons I loved that place. I was there not long after turning 21 it was loads of fun.:goodvibes I am with R on the Diabetes and it is amazing how much diet and exercise can help with the blood sugar. Yay for being able to get it under control.

Good to know it's Fantasia!

I was just reading an MSN article about a JAMA article about what seemed to be a surprise to them, that a low-glycemic diet can, gasp, help with diabetes! Since Robert was counseled on eating a low-glycemic diet back in September, from all but the doofus family doc, I'm not sure this is actually a surprise. So I don't know why JAMA is still doing studies on it! In addition, when I was pregnant my otherwise-really-dumb midwives gave me info about low-glycemic eating, so again, don't understand why it's a surprise!

And it's done amazing things for Robert, most definitely. I think even he's been surprised at the results he has had.

Then again, from what we've learned, there are way more types of diabetes than just 1 and 2. It's just that unless you get a doc who really wants to learn about it and do tests and everything, you're not going to know it.

Robert's mom is type ONE, but she absolutely refuses to take insulin, and has it under some sort of control with an almost Atkins diet, metformin, and something else (that I think is just a heart medication but she really doesn't understand complicated English and just lumps it in with her diabetes stuff). We *thought* she was type two, because she doesn't take insulin, and were surprised to find out she's 1 (by the way, talking about this on the community board got me SLAMMED, lol), but she is what she is, she does what she does, and while she's nowhere near the numbers that Robert has achieved, it's better than it was when she was diagnosed.




Thanks for continuing to read! I have to make gingerbread cookies with Eamon shortly. Sounds funny to make them after talking about diabetes, but it was actually Robert's experience with the pumpkin muffins from the disneyland AP site recipe that caused him to think "woah, there's something very interesting happening here". It's because he had one right before bed, and he wakes up VERY early so there's not much "fasting" time overnight for him. And his blood sugar that morning was lower than it had been, at that time, since his diagnosis.

He looked at the recipe and realized that it was the cinnamon. He saw an ND a few years ago, and was tested, and wasn't even pre-diabetic in numbers at that time. But because of his weight, the ND wanted him to take tons of supplements, and at the time hubby didn't think the ND was taking him seriously, but we still have the bottles and about half of them are blood sugar controlling supplements.

So he takes a cinnamon supplement and I try to find things that have that spice in them, because it has a proven blood sugar lowering effect. And the gingerbread cookies certainly do have cinnamon!

[bumbershoot]

I love love love Eamon's Peter Pan hat. I was always thinking of getting one and your son totally made my mind up for me to get one. :)

I look at Eamon and wow I wish I was blessed with light hair and eyes like him. My parents are like you and your husband, my Dad is very fair skin, blonde hair (it's turning brown as he's getting older though) and light green/sometimes blue eyes and my Mom is dark with dark hair and dark eyes. And what do I get? Light skin (lighter than my Dad!), dark eyes and dark hair. Boo. I always wanted red hair. My Grandma has red hair. What about me? :(

Oh woman. You're like Snow White! Or Pocahontas as we've discussed before. :) You have great coloring.

When I lived in CA I had "dirty blond" hair, and it's curly, and even though I HATED it, others wanted it. Meanwhile, I lived for years wishing I had been born Japanese, because of the sleek black hair and the gorgeous dark eyes.

We all seem to want what we aren't, and I think I've finally reached a place where I believe those who say my hair is great (it's now blondey browny reddish and way curlier than when I was in dry CA) and while I wish my skin were either lighter or darker (I'm not "white", I'm "pink", I say) others seem to like it. In fact, just like I've always admired the Asian look, hubby always admired my look, and my whiteness, much to his mother's chagrin, is what got him to notice me (that and my very dramatic looooong hair at the time, which he saw first in the sunlight). So if I were different, I wouldn't have Robert, and I wouldn't have Eamon!

By the way, having a kid that looks different from what you expected is very shocking! Hubby's sister looks exactly like him, and the father of her girls is a western European mutt like me, and their kids look MORE Korean than their mom does. We had an expectation based on them. So when we saw E with his, no lie, Ronald McDonald hair and blue eyes (Asian babies don't have the blue eyes at birth), well, I would have fallen over if I hadn't been lying down already. Shocking!


It's funny how one person's perception varies from another. As a Disneyana collector, with a collection focused on Sleeping Beauty, I have a fair number of Aurora related items, but have never remotely considered getting that spinner since the likeness doesn't meet my demanding standards. Not that it isn't "cute" however one defines that, but I tend to be pretty picky. Of course if I had a little girl who wanted it, that would be a very different story.

Well it was more the way it was done that impressed me. It could have been any skirt, or it could have been a prince with a spinning cloak, and I would have thought it was cool.

Eamon noticed your avatar the other day and said "why does she have a lightsaver?" (he says b as v) He was very confused. :)

[Daisybelle]

Excellent report as always! Your son looks like the perfect Peter Pan!

I give a big thumbs up to the cinnamon too. My doctor recommended I start taking cinnamon tablets to combat a pre-diabetic state. I had never heard of it but it does help!

[bumbershoot]

Excellent report as always! Your son looks like the perfect Peter Pan!

I give a big thumbs up to the cinnamon too. My doctor recommended I start taking cinnamon tablets to combat a pre-diabetic state. I had never heard of it but it does help!

I wished we had that hat the day before! But of course we didn't know we were going to run into PP just walking along. :)

Yay for cinnamon! Food can be such incredible "medicine". :)



Sherry! You had mentioned blood sugar stuff, and even though Robert refused to eat the MoJo bar on Sunday b/c he wanted to save his appetite for WWS, when he DID eat them, he did really well. I can't remember the carbs, but the important part is the 8 or 9 grams of protein. It really helps hubby's levels stay level (and probably mine and DS's, but we aren't poking our fingers to find out) and keeps his mood and body-feelings on an even keel.

They are from Clif Bars, and I've seen them from anywhere between 1.79 per bar down to around 1.00 (buying a box on drugstore.com or through REI.com for store pickup have been the cheapest I've seen). We like the Mountain Mix flavor.

[Sleepless Knight]

Eamon noticed your avatar the other day and said "why does she have a lightsaver?" (he says b as v) He was very confused. :)That sounds about like my sister who wondered why in the world I gave Sleeping Beauty a lightsaber. Of course, my sister is 25, so she's older than Eamon, but I confused her too.

I think the best reason as to why I gave Aurora a lightsaber is because in order to find a Jedi Princess, my princess would need to be a Jedi, so she would need to have a lightsaber. Or you could simply say that I'm delusisional. That's pretty accurate too. :rotfl:

[kaoden39]

Dill pickles will also drop your blood sugar. I have eaten a dill pickle late at night thinking oh good low cal snack and had my blood sugar drop like a rock.

[Sherry E]

I wished we had that hat the day before! But of course we didn't know we were going to run into PP just walking along. :)

Yay for cinnamon! Food can be such incredible "medicine". :)



Sherry! You had mentioned blood sugar stuff, and even though Robert refused to eat the MoJo bar on Sunday b/c he wanted to save his appetite for WWS, when he DID eat them, he did really well. I can't remember the carbs, but the important part is the 8 or 9 grams of protein. It really helps hubby's levels stay level (and probably mine and DS's, but we aren't poking our fingers to find out) and keeps his mood and body-feelings on an even keel.

They are from Clif Bars, and I've seen them from anywhere between 1.79 per bar down to around 1.00 (buying a box on drugstore.com or through REI.com for store pickup have been the cheapest I've seen). We like the Mountain Mix flavor.

Yes! I have eaten Mojo bars before - actually have eaten all the Clif products. I just got some Mojo's recently. They are delicious. Clif makes some pretty good, tasty stuff. (And I am a cinnamon lover too, so yay for cinnamon!) I found that the energy bar that seems to work best in terms of packing a mighty punch of protein is Promax (I like their Cookies and Cream bar). It has a lot of protein in it - the only trouble is, because it tastes so great and non-protein bar-like (you know how some of them taste like lead or mud?), it has too much sugar in it! Drat! But that is the tastiest of the protein bars I have had so far, and it has something like 20 grams of protein.

My blood sugar is dandy as long as I keep the protein coming - like the lean stuff such as skinless chicken breasts and turkey breasts (with mustard only, no mayo) and that kind of thing - and as long as I don't drink too much coffee before I eat my protein. See, last time I was at Carnation Cafe for breakfast, I was tempted to order the delicious-looking cinnamon roll French toast, but that would have sent my blood sugar in all kinds of crazy directions because of the bad carbs, so I had to stick with eggs and the two sausage links on the plate. And when I am at Goofy's, I load up on the eggs and good carbs like fruit and bananas. At Storytellers, I was tempted to order the banana French toast, but again, too many bad carbs, not enough protein! I could not go and eat the gingerbread man with ears cookie or messy cinnamon roll from Blue Ribbon without having had something with protein in me first.

[Sherry E]

By the way, I noticed in the Partners statue picture above that there are no poinsettias in the planter beneath the statue this year. I wonder when they stopped putting those in. For a while in the '90s, they made that whole base of flowers underneath Walt and Mickey bright red for the holidays. It was very dramatic and pretty. I don't even think I noticed last year what they had there but I don't think it was red.

[bumbershoot]

Sleepless Knight, he (and I) liked the combo of princess plus lightsaber. You did see the picture of Peter Pan having a lightsaber battle, yes? :)

kaoden39, that's great to know!

Sherry E, it's so good to know your body! I was just reading a trip report from WDW (marivaid, I think is her username, she's from France) and she had the Tonga Toast at Kona there, and she said it was like eating sugar for half an hour with sides of honey and syrup. I imagine those french toasts are similiar. And the report writer and her mom went off shopping for several hours in the heat, got back around noon or 2, and slept basically all day and night long. And the next day they couldn't look at sugar *at all*, which is not like their usual eating pattern.

I thought..."note to self, when we go to WDW, if we want to have Tonga Toast, split it among the 3 of us at the very very least". :)

As for poinsettias, while I didn't notice the lack of them at that statue, I did see them everywhere else. BUT. They are sad and pathetic! They were going to light pink, they weren't red. Very very sad looking IMO. So maybe they were just tired of having ugly plants around the statue and took them away. Or maybe they were in the middle of replacing them and I got there in between times.

[kaoden39]

Sleepless Knight, he (and I) liked the combo of princess plus lightsaber. You did see the picture of Peter Pan having a lightsaber battle, yes? :)

kaoden39, that's great to know!

Sherry E, it's so good to know your body! I was just reading a trip report from WDW (marivaid, I think is her username, she's from France) and she had the Tonga Toast at Kona there, and she said it was like eating sugar for half an hour with sides of honey and syrup. I imagine those french toasts are similiar. And the report writer and her mom went off shopping for several hours in the heat, got back around noon or 2, and slept basically all day and night long. And the next day they couldn't look at sugar *at all*, which is not like their usual eating pattern.

I thought..."note to self, when we go to WDW, if we want to have Tonga Toast, split it among the 3 of us at the very very least". :)

As for poinsettias, while I didn't notice the lack of them at that statue, I did see them everywhere else. BUT. They are sad and pathetic! They were going to light pink, they weren't red. Very very sad looking IMO. So maybe they were just tired of having ugly plants around the statue and took them away. Or maybe they were in the middle of replacing them and I got there in between times.


Isn't Marivaid hilarious? I read this trip report she did about taking her sister and her grilfriend to DW and I would cry from laughing so hard when I read it. I told her she should write books.

[Sleepless Knight]

Sleepless Knight, he (and I) liked the combo of princess plus lightsaber. You did see the picture of Peter Pan having a lightsaber battle, yes? :)Oh yes. It made me smile. In addition to my Jedi Princess Aurora action figures, I also have a few Jedi Mickey collectibles, including plush toys, Disney big figures, Disney/Star Wars bobbleheads, and a few pins. I rather enjoy combining Star Wars and Disney where I can.

[prettyprincessbelle]

How about this Peter having a lightsaber battle?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2923096761_a4538f87f7.jpg

If this is even considered a battle. :confused3

[bumbershoot]

Oh that's a great picture!!!

Sleepless, I haven't gotten to the right part of the story yet, but there is now a Mickey lightsaber that's not the multi-colored one that PP is holding. It's light-up, makes sounds, saber, but it has a belt clip like the least expensive Hasbro ones (10 bucks in the park, 7ish at Target), and the button to retract the "blade" is a Mickey head, and there are Mickey head accents in the "silver" of the handle. It's quite lovely. (12 bucks) Oh, and it's only in blue. I hope it'll do well enough that they will branch out in the colors!

kaoden I just love marivaid. I just caught up in her pre-trippie, and found that her sister has suffered a tragedy with her dog, it's quite awful, so if you go looking around her reports because she's been brought to mind, be prepared for something truly horrible that happened around Thanksgiving-time. Even though her trip report with her sister made her sis sound very unsympathetic, now I just want to fly to Paris and hug her (and sister's partner, and marivaid and their parents) for days.

[kaoden39]

Oh that's a great picture!!!

Sleepless, I haven't gotten to the right part of the story yet, but there is now a Mickey lightsaber that's not the multi-colored one that PP is holding. It's light-up, makes sounds, saber, but it has a belt clip like the least expensive Hasbro ones (10 bucks in the park, 7ish at Target), and the button to retract the "blade" is a Mickey head, and there are Mickey head accents in the "silver" of the handle. It's quite lovely. (12 bucks) Oh, and it's only in blue. I hope it'll do well enough that they will branch out in the colors!

kaoden I just love marivaid. I just caught up in her pre-trippie, and found that her sister has suffered a tragedy with her dog, it's quite awful, so if you go looking around her reports because she's been brought to mind, be prepared for something truly horrible that happened around Thanksgiving-time. Even though her trip report with her sister made her sis sound very unsympathetic, now I just want to fly to Paris and hug her (and sister's partner, and marivaid and their parents) for days.

Where is her report I lost track of her trip report? Which forum is it in?

[bumbershoot]

There's a special forum for WDW pre-trip reports, and I'm sure it's in there. If not, her "last trip" report is still going (b/c she hasn't finished it) in the WDW trip report forum near the pre-trip one, and she has a link in her signature to it. I had to use the drop-down menu and scroll through to find those forums.


OK duh, her trip report is in the TR section, and her PRE TR is in the pre-tr forum. Answered you kinda backwards there.

[kaoden39]

There's a special forum for WDW pre-trip reports, and I'm sure it's in there. If not, her "last trip" report is still going (b/c she hasn't finished it) in the WDW trip report forum near the pre-trip one, and she has a link in her signature to it. I had to use the drop-down menu and scroll through to find those forums.


OK duh, her trip report is in the TR section, and her PRE TR is in the pre-tr forum. Answered you kinda backwards there.

Thanks I did a search on her and found the thread. Thank you.:goodvibes That is an awful story and how horrible for her sister. I realize that there were times I would have cheerfully throttled her sister during that trip but you know not everyone gets the Disney spirit.:confused3

[amyamya]

As always, great TR Molly!


The dishwasher, when you turn it on and it starts and lights up. So cute!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581b3fd78ee00000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cc31b3127ccec581a2a4b91700000040O08CZMmjFq1bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


No pictures of the oven this time; it's even dustier inside than it was in May, and I hope it doesn't take them years to clean it. :)

OK, last time we were there the dishwasher was so gross, like a dirty fish tank with algae in it! I was sad to see that, but it looks clean now! I hate it when Disneyland isn't perfect.




The person whose idea it was to put videogames *right at the door* should be thrown in the pool on a freezing cold day. Videogames should be put well away from a door so that nervous parents with enormous imaginations don't have to make sure they have sightlines to the videogames when their 4 year olds want to go check 'em out.


THANK YOU!! I have never in my 4 year-old's life ever "lost" her until WWS! It was super crowded and I couldn't find her anywhere. I was shouting her name in the seating area and just about to grab a CM and yell CODE ADAM as loud as I could. I started running for the door to block the exit and there she is behind that wall, oblivious to my panic...it was kind of crazy, and she really didn't leave the restaurant so I couldn't scold her too much.