PPB's Super-Forever TR! DisDivas Trip TR Coming SOON!

[prettyprincessbelle]

Courtney, you look so cute in your poncho - even though it totally didn't get the job done in keeping you dry! Jesus and his dad look very much alike, from what I can tell. They seem to have the same facial structure.

I am liking the new pink Cybershot's pictures a lot so far! They seem very clear and in focus. Are you happy with the camera, or is it still a work in progress? (I can't wait to see what a mess I will make of my new Canon's pictures the next time I get to DLR!)

Hi Sherry!!

Jesus looks very much like his Dad. He looks the most like his Dad out of the 3 boys. Eddie looks like the Mom and Ramon is in the middle of the 2. Since I started dating Jesus (6 years ago!) it's cool seeing his brothers grow up. Eddie is now taller than Jesus and Ramon has gotten just huge! Poor Jesus is the shortest and oldest. Both boys were so baby to me when I first met them.

I really love my Cybershot, especially looking at the pictures on the computer. They looked okay on the camera screen, but I really like them looking at the computer. I was actually really impressed! The only thing is the dang night/indoor shots. I need to change the ISO (right?) settings. It's way too grainy and gross. Off to read that dang manual again.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Wow, the TR side of the board is popping. My TR is getting towards the bottom!

So we leave in 11 DAYS for my birthday trip. I'm SO SO excited. SO excited. I'm excited it's my birthday, I'm excited I'm going to DL again, I'm super excited that this is my FOURTH birthday I've spent at DLR in a ROW! It's going to be a tradition forever.

I pretty much figured out what I'm getting with my birthday fun card. But who knows that may change. I want this new DLR resort CD. This past weekend is the first time I've seen it and on the back the release date is 2008. It's a 2 disc (and it's not the 50th anniversary one). It's $29.99 and I can't find it on amazon or ebay for cheaper, so I'll get it at the park. There's also a book I found, it's new too because I've never seen it. I don't remember the title but it's a history-ish type thing. It has a light blue cover and Walt Disney is on it. That's $9.99 (I was surprised it was so cheap. It's a pretty big/thick book). I can't find this one online either. The last thing I found was a sweatshirt. I think it's kids? But the XL was really big and I fit in little kid's XL sweatshirts. This is $32.00. It's dark blue with Disneyland across the front in that retro looking theme with the castle in the back. With my AP discount this puts me at $64 and some change. Woo! Birthday gifts from Disneyland!! With that extra $3 and change I'll buy a Tigger Tail or something.

I'm trying to figure out if there is anything else I need to do. Just pack, but I won't do that yet. I haven't even checked what the weather will be like.

Oh yeah. For those of you who hadn't had your birthday yet, I kept hearing that Disneyland.com was not sending out the PDF you print to present at DL for your free ticket/fun card/etc. Well I went and registered AGAIN and DL emailed me with the PDF and the email said I was already registered that I don't need to again, but print this out and take it to get in free. So I printed it out. It has a bar code so I guess they just scan it?

 

[Docter419]

Awesome Trip Report! Can't wait for more

 

[Sherry E]

I was telling all of my friends last year to register for the free birthday admission and it dawned on me that I had never received any kind of confirmation via e-mail. I was thinking maybe I would get it closer to my actual birthday in July, but then I read some DIS'ers' posts about receiving the e-mail confirmation immediately after registering. So I did exactly what you did (about a month or so ago) - I registered again, just to be sure. And I got the same message - that I was already registered and didn't need to re-register. But, still, after the second time doing it, THEN they sent me the e-mail with the code on it. The code was right there on the e-mail. So even though they said it was not necessary to re-register, I am glad I did because I got the e-mail with the code. Why didn't they send the code the first time around? I suspect that so many folks registered that maybe there was a glitch in the system somewhere and the computer didn't send all the numbers out as it should have.

The other thing that is driving me nuts about the get-in-free on your b-day thing is that just recently, somewhere I saw a different explanation of what you can get on your b-day if you already have Hoppers or what your choices are based on the different level of tickets. It was basically the same info we all already know but it was laid out differently than I had seen before. They broke it down in a different way, like 'if you have a 2-day hopper, you can get this or that or that,' and 'if you have a one-day/one-park ticket, you can only get this or that,' etc. For the life of me I cannot recall where I saw it and it is driving me crazy! I don't remember which website it was. The reason why this particular layout of what you get on your birthday was important to me is that it seemed to imply that if you have already have a one-day HOPPER, you can get an alternate gift such as the gift card. But on the DIS, everyone seems to imply that any kind of one-day ticket, whether it be for one park or a Hopper, does not qualify anyone for the gift card. This one website I looked at - whatever it was - broke it down in such a way that every level of ticket was clearly explained as far as what you get or could not get and I think already having the 1-day Hopper qualified for a alternate gift of the gift card or somethign else. This website I stumbled on accidentally was the only place I had seen it explained that way - every other place just seems to refer to AP's, to one-day/one-park tickets OR to multi-day Hoppers. But nowhere do you see a one-day Hopper mentioned. This was important to know for sure because certain friends of mine who do not have AP's would only have one-day Hoppers on their birthdays (they would probably print those at home in advance) and would want the gift card instead.

You are not kidding about this side of the board being busy! Last week sometime I posted more pictures on my TR, and within a few hours the TR dropped waaaaaaaaaay down on the page! What is happening is that a lot of folks are doing pre-TR's, I think. You practically have to post twice every day just to keep the TR up in the top 20 Trip Reports!

 

[shishigirl]

Just read your trip reports and love them! Looking at all your great pictures makes me want to be there! Thanks for the fix! Can't wait to read more of your recent trip!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Awesome Trip Report! Can't wait for more

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoy it!

I was telling all of my friends last year to register for the free birthday admission and it dawned on me that I had never received any kind of confirmation via e-mail. I was thinking maybe I would get it closer to my actual birthday in July, but then I read some DIS'ers' posts about receiving the e-mail confirmation immediately after registering. So I did exactly what you did (about a month or so ago) - I registered again, just to be sure. And I got the same message - that I was already registered and didn't need to re-register. But, still, after the second time doing it, THEN they sent me the e-mail with the code on it. The code was right there on the e-mail. So even though they said it was not necessary to re-register, I am glad I did because I got the e-mail with the code. Why didn't they send the code the first time around? I suspect that so many folks registered that maybe there was a glitch in the system somewhere and the computer didn't send all the numbers out as it should have.

The other thing that is driving me nuts about the get-in-free on your b-day thing is that just recently, somewhere I saw a different explanation of what you can get on your b-day if you already have Hoppers or what your choices are based on the different level of tickets. It was basically the same info we all already know but it was laid out differently than I had seen before. They broke it down in a different way, like 'if you have a 2-day hopper, you can get this or that or that,' and 'if you have a one-day/one-park ticket, you can only get this or that,' etc. For the life of me I cannot recall where I saw it and it is driving me crazy! I don't remember which website it was. The reason why this particular layout of what you get on your birthday was important to me is that it seemed to imply that if you have already have a one-day HOPPER, you can get an alternate gift such as the gift card. But on the DIS, everyone seems to imply that any kind of one-day ticket, whether it be for one park or a Hopper, does not qualify anyone for the gift card. This one website I looked at - whatever it was - broke it down in such a way that every level of ticket was clearly explained as far as what you get or could not get and I think already having the 1-day Hopper qualified for a alternate gift of the gift card or somethign else. This website I stumbled on accidentally was the only place I had seen it explained that way - every other place just seems to refer to AP's, to one-day/one-park tickets OR to multi-day Hoppers. But nowhere do you see a one-day Hopper mentioned. This was important to know for sure because certain friends of mine who do not have AP's would only have one-day Hoppers on their birthdays (they would probably print those at home in advance) and would want the gift card instead.

You are not kidding about this side of the board being busy! Last week sometime I posted more pictures on my TR, and within a few hours the TR dropped waaaaaaaaaay down on the page! What is happening is that a lot of folks are doing pre-TR's, I think. You practically have to post twice every day just to keep the TR up in the top 20 Trip Reports!

I got an email after I registered. I think. Hold on. Let me look. Okay, just kidding, I didn't either. I remember reading, and I'm guessing on the DL website that a couple weeks before you birthday you'll get an email with the print out to take the gates. But then on the Dis and other message boards I kept reading no one was getting them.

Now I'm confused. So what if you pre-buy your ticket and show up at Guest Services with your 1 day PH? Do you get the alternative gifts? I always thought it was you need a 2 day or more PH to get the alternative gifts. So say you go to DL, stand in line at the ticket booths, buy a 2 day PH and then you go to Guest Services, show your PH and get the alternative gift? Hmmm. I guess I never really thought it out because I knew I was getting a Fun Card... I want to take my parents for their birthdays this year (July and December), now I feel like I need to know the answer!

Just read your trip reports and love them! Looking at all your great pictures makes me want to be there! Thanks for the fix! Can't wait to read more of your recent trip!

Thank you for reading!!!!!

Everyone else come say hi! I have a lot of views, don't be shy!

 

[Sherry E]

We have to see if we can get your TR views up to 50,000! Woo hoo!

Yes, I think you would have to either get the 2-day Hopper in advance (like print it at home or get it from a Disney Store), or at the ticket booths at the DLR gates, then go into the park and show it to whoever doles out the gift cards. But if you don't have a multi-day Hopper, then you just get the one-day/one-park ticket and go in. That sounds like how it is working. So, let's say my friend and usual Disneyland companion Shawn wants to have a gift card on her b-day, which is 12/26. What she would probably have to do is get a multi-day Hopper on our DLR trip in the earlier part of December (if we go) and save a couple of days of it to use ON her b-day to get the card. I don't know - I kind of think that DLR should give everyone the option of having a gift card if they want it. Even the ones with one-day Hoppers, even the ones with one-day/one-park tickets - everybody. Just give everyone the option of either getting in free or getting the gift card, Fast Pass, whatever they want. Since we don't have to use the card on our birthdays now, someone may want to go to the gates and get the card for later use but not go IN the park that day. I don't see why people can't do that. I think they should be allowed to. Plus, I think it can be used in World of Disney too, which does not require getting into the park.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Maybe I'll get it up to 50,000! That's a heck of a lot!! Wooop!

I think you're right. And I think you're right about letting everyone have that opition. Or at least for the non-AP or multi-day PH holders maybe have the fun card ONLY allowed inside DL so they would have to buy a ticket. You know? Because then Disney would be getting the money of their family/friends possibly buying tickets and food or other merchandise, etc. It would be the same thing has having a free ticket!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Saturday, April 11th - DLR Day 2

Howdy everyone!! So this day was our DCA day. We normally don't do "days", we just park hop whenever we feel like it. But the rest of his family had 2fers, so we had no choice. We checked out of the hotel right before 11am (check out time) and we went straight to the parks. We probably lined up here right at or a little after 11am. The park opened at 10am this day. Look at how many people were in line at the turnstiles!

It was kind of chilly this day. Not as cold as the day before, but I was still cold. We waited right here by the planters while Jesus' Mom went and got a wheelchair for his Dad. As we were waiting the HSM thing went by.

Pretty golden gate bridge.

His parents were hungry so went to the Bakersfield Bakery to get some breakfast. I stood with his Mom in line and snapped some pictures of the yummy food.

I really want this cake for my birthday, isn't it cute?

I have a thing for Mickey Rice Krispies.

This is what Jesus' parents got. I had a piece and it was really yummy.

After breakfast we made our way around the park a bit.

We went and got FPs for the family for Soarin' and went on our way to get FPs for GRR (or so we thought!)

And here is where we discovered that GRR was now connected to the FP system. Was this posted on the Dis? Because if so, I totally missed it. After that disappointment, we walked over towards Paradise Pier.

The bathroom refurbing on San Francisco street.

Mickey is almost there!

This would look pretty without the walls.

World of Color!

Dino with shades.

I really like this ride, it's fun. But the line was about 60 minutes, eh, not worth it.

Our next stop? The Maliboomer!

...CONT...

 

[kaoden39]

Oh my gosh that pastry looked so good.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

...CONT...

We waited about 15 minutes for the Maliboomer. It's really a fun ride. I still get a little nervous everytime we ride it. Jesus' Mom was really nervous, but she had a great time and was laughing the whole time.

After that we headed over to Screamin' to check out the standby time.

We then passed Mr. Potato Head! The wait time for TSMM was about 40 minutes. I was expecting a much longer wait. They didn't even have the extended queue thing open.

DCA was kind of busy that day.

King Triton's Carousel was under tarps.

The wait time stated 20 minutes and it was about right. Right before you get to the stair case a CM directs you and your wheelchair into the loading area. Depending on how they load the cars, sometime's you'll take the elevator, go across and then take the other elevator down and load over there. But the CM let us stay and just load on the side we came in. I guess it was easier for them too because they didn't have to move our wheelchair. Ramon and I sat in the last seat and it's really fun back there. I noticed that the speakers were much louder than normal and I don't know if it was because we were in the back. Also the soundtrack kept turning off and then back on again.

After our ride we walked over to the Corn Dog Castle (my favorite!) to get some lunch!

Look at my huge corndog!

I was about 3/4s done with that thing and I was too full. That was the first time I ever attempted to eat one of those on my own. Usually Jesus and I split them. Never again. That thing was way too huge.

We parked ourselves over to the side of the Corn Dog Castle and ate our lunch. It was nice to relax in the shade for awhile. After that we walked over to Bugs Land to see It's Tough to Be a Bug. We got there right before the show started.

The theatre was packed. I have never been in there where it has been full. It was funny, so many little kids were crying after the spiders came out. A lot of people got up to take their kids out of the theatre, poor kids. Even I get startled at that show and I've seen it at least 5 times. After that we just sat outside the Bug's Life theatre and Jesus and I ran and got pickles for everyone. Ahh, pickles are so good.

Bye!

Here we take another break. Jesus' Dad wanted a beer so we back tracked and went back to the Pacific Warf area. Jesus' Mom and I got a margarita while Jesus went and got his Dad a beer. The lady didn't card me and I was really surprised. I look way younger WITH braces. Huh.

I really liked this lamp at the margarita stand.

I got strawberry and Jesus' Mom got regular flavor.

We sat at a table over by the beer truck for awhile. I was starting to get tired and the margarita wasn't helping (sometimes alcohol makes me sleepy? lol). After this point I stopped taking so many pictures. It was either because my battery on my camera was running out (I didn't charge it the night before) or I was too tired. Or both. We were sitting and resting for maybe about 30 minutes. The shade felt really nice even though it wasn't that hot. According to my pictures after that we headed to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot.

And then we watched the Muppets! I love the Muppets, they remind me so much of being a kid and I love the Swedish Chef and Beaker!! I think the Muppet's Theatre is fantastic in DCA.

Piggy Space Ship?

We then walked around to go see what wait time for TOT was.

And then we saw our first character sightings of the weekend! Woohoo!! Peter Pan was hanging out over by the Drawn to the Magic stage. A bunch of screaming girls were around him (no, I'm not kidding).

And over to the left of him was a very pretty Cinderella.

And to the right of her across from the Wall-E coutout was Goofy!

Look at that little girl's face painting. ^^ Isn't that freaking awesome? I just noticed that.

And to the right of Goofy across from the Hyperion was Frozone!

That poor little girl didn't like Frozone's huge head!

TOT.

Here is where we waiting for Jesus' Mom to use the restroom.

We then went into the Animation Building to watch Crush. As we walked in my favorite Disney prince was on the big screens.

Crush was hilarious as always. We spotted Maynard there too. He was the CM at the podium. Jesus talked to him a bit and asked him where do we park the wheelchair. A very very nice CM.

This is my LAST picture from the park! Oh no! So after Crush we headed back to Condor Flats and rode Soarin'. We were in the second row in the middle. Everyone in Jesus' family loved it. After Soarin' we went shopping at the Greeting's store.

...CONT...

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

...CONT...

Lookie what I bought.

I bought myself this very cute keychain.

I got Jesus this Stitch keychain and a pin. He was waiting outside with his Dad, so I snuck and bought these for him when we wasn't looking. He came in right after the CM put them in the bag.

We then left DCA and Jesus and I headed to the Lost and Found. I forgot to tell you guys about our lost phone drama-rama. Sometime Friday, Jesus' Dad lost his cell phone. He didn't notice until we got off Star Tours. He was thinking he lost it in the wheelchair queue for Space or on the ride in the cars. Anyways, on our way out of DL, Jesus and I went to City Hall and asked. The CM went and checked in the back and nothing was turned in and advised us to go to Lost and Found the following day before we head for home. That way it would give them enough time to find it if it was turned in. So Jesus and I waited in the small line at the Lost and Found and told the CM we lost a phone the day before. He asked for the cell phone number and typed it in the computer and asked what kind of phone it was. Jesus said it was a black Motorola Razor. The CM then says "was it in a black leather case and have a red wallpaper?" Yep! "Where the contacts so and so and so and so??" Yep! "Okay! One second!" He goes in the back and comes out with Jesus' Dad's phone! We were amazed! Wonderful service and wonderful to who ever turned the phone in!! Jesus signed a paper that we received it and we were on our way. We were super duper impressed. It is Disney, so I guess that's expected. I'm sure they have so many things that are turned it everyday.

After that Jesus' Mom wanted to go look in WOD real quick. I always get lost in this store. We were actually in there for a long time. Jesus and I just looked around while his Mom got a couple things for her grandkids and friend's at work. On my way to the bathroom in the store (I didn't know they had bathrooms in there) I found the best stuffed animal ever in the world. I went and showed Jesus and his Mom ended up buying it for me. Very very very sweet of her. Look, it's Angel!

I was really surprised they had anything of her in the parks. I was really excited. Here's her with the Stitch Jesus bought me from the WOD last year.

Well that's it for my TR! It took us about an hour and 20 minutes to get home. We stopped by IHOP by our houses to get dinner (did you notice we didn't each much this trip?). After that we went to Jesus' house for a bit and then he took me home. I had a fantastic time and it made me really excited to go for my birthday. I also hope to go with Jesus' family again sometime soon. It was wonderful.

Thank you everyone for reading! I'm not done though, I'll be posting stuffs until my trip in 10 days!!!!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Oh my gosh that pastry looked so good.

Don't they all just look fantastic? I could just stand in front of the case and drool all day.

 

[DizNee Luver]

You really got some great pictures!!!!! Loved them all!!! Looks like a fantastic trip!! Thanx for sharing it with us.....looking forward to the next installation.....woo hoo

 

[kaoden39]

Don't they all just look fantastic? I could just stand in front of the case and drool all day.

I swear you could gain weight looking at them too!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

You really got some great pictures!!!!! Loved them all!!! Looks like a fantastic trip!! Thanx for sharing it with us.....looking forward to the next installation.....woo hoo

Thank you so so much! I'm super impressed with this camera, it took really good pictures. And majority of them where just me walking as I was snapping away! I'm really glad you enjoyed them!!

I swear you could gain weight looking at them too!

Good thing we don't! Man, we would all be huge!! Especially just looking at the pictures! Oh man!!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Sherry, I received an email today from Disney titled Your Final Disney Reminder - Free Admission on Your Birthday. Inside the email says:

Dear Courtney,
Your birthday is getting closer! This email is the final reminder of your Disneyland® free admission on your birthday registration. Use the Print to PDF button below to print this registration voucher.
Present this voucher, along with valid identification,* at the Main Entrance ticket booths to redeem free admission on your birthday.

We look forward to welcoming you on MAY 01, 2009 to give you our best wishes for a very Happy Birthday.

Underneath that it says valid only on May 1st, 2009 and it has the serial number. Then below that is the Print to PDF button. Also on the right side it has a picture of princess Belle (I chose her on registration for my favorite character). So I guess Disney is sending out those emails because I just got mine!

It's weird it says "final reminder" like they've been sending me a bunch or something, and they haven't.

 

[kaoden39]

Sherry, I received an email today from Disney titled Your Final Disney Reminder - Free Admission on Your Birthday. Inside the email says:



Underneath that it says valid only on May 1st, 2009 and it has the serial number. Then below that is the Print to PDF button. Also on the right side it has a picture of princess Belle (I chose her on registration for my favorite character). So I guess Disney is sending out those emails because I just got mine!

It's weird it says "final reminder" like they've been sending me a bunch or something, and they haven't.

I got one for my daughter for her birthday and I will be getting mine in the next couple of days I figure. Interesting.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Sherry, I received an email today from Disney titled Your Final Disney Reminder - Free Admission on Your Birthday. Inside the email says:



Underneath that it says valid only on May 1st, 2009 and it has the serial number. Then below that is the Print to PDF button. Also on the right side it has a picture of princess Belle (I chose her on registration for my favorite character). So I guess Disney is sending out those emails because I just got mine!

It's weird it says "final reminder" like they've been sending me a bunch or something, and they haven't.

Maybe they thought you needed reminded it was your birthday!!!!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I got one for my daughter for her birthday and I will be getting mine in the next couple of days I figure. Interesting.

At least people are getting them. I swear I was reading in January and February nobody was getting them!

Maybe they thought you needed reminded it was your birthday!!!!

Probably! Hey Remember!! Your birthday is coming up!! Don't forget!!!!!!