No way Jose! We are going to Disneyland! 3/13 - Movin' on Up!

[brookelizabeth]

Almost forgot about your cruise! One week (oops - 6 days) - you must be so excited! How great to cruise out of your own backyard! Enjoy!!!!! Can't wait to read all about it!

I am SO excited! My to do list is slowly getting done, so I feel I'm in a really good spot at two days out too.

Of course the suitcases aren't even out yet though...

Wow! I am so glad that I found this report!!! My DD and I arrived at DLR for her first-ever trip to DLR (which was also a SURPRISE 5th birthday trip) the day after you left! It is really fun reading about your experiences compared to ours since we were there at almost the exact same time. (I did add a TR about our birthday trip in my WDW TR linked in my siggy if you want to take a look.) I think it must have gotten a lot cooler after you left though, because we couldn't even begin to think about going swimming.

I am jealous you got to see the Aladdin show - my DD is going through an all-rides/all-characters stage these days. So it is hard to convince her to see any of the shows.

And how exciting that you are so close to your cruise too!

Oh how neat that you were there just after us!!! I will have to take a look at your TR!

That stinks about no Aladdin...but an excellent reason to go back after your DD is through her stage! Henry actually prefers the shows over the rides and characters..which is the opposite of most kids!

I apologize for not being around here. I had time tonight to scroll through and see so many incredible pictures. I wish you a wonderful, magical trip ahead, and I look forward to seeing more wonderful pictures from this one. Henry is a cutie, as always, and it is fun being able to watch him grow up on the DIS.

I don't know that I will ever get out to Disneyland, but I think it will happen for Jill. John goes out there on business occasionally, so eventually the time will be right for her to pack up the girls and make one of the trips with him.

Hello you! Good to 'see' you here! No worries about not being around much-it happens, life is busy! Plus, I'm over here on the DL boards, not in "our home" so I'm more easily lost I think!

I hope you are able to go along with Jill to Disneyland! I think you guys would all really enjoy it. It's so much smaller and easier, very relaxing. I can already picture you all on the California beach too-you and your cute grandbabies! Yep, I think it's a must.

Great updates and woo-hoo the cruise is almost here!!!! You will have a great time!

Thanks!!! I can't believe it's almost time!!! The past couple months have FLOWN by. I'm so looking forward to being on that ship!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Ok Brook, you should be down to 2 days now! I bet you, Joe and Henry are just bursting with smiles and happiness. I wish you nothing but the best cruise ever!

Yes! Two days! I interviewed Henry earlier about our excitement, I'll share that in a bit.

 

[disneyfan61]

2 days!!!!


Brook I hope you have a wonderful trip & cannot wait to hear all about it. I think there will be lots of us thinking about you!!

 

[KatMark]

Brook, I can't believe you are only two days away. I'm sure you'll have a great time. I hadn't realized you cancelled it, but so glad it is back on.

LOVE THE BUMPER STICKER!

 

[brookelizabeth]

2 days!!!!


Brook I hope you have a wonderful trip & cannot wait to hear all about it. I think there will be lots of us thinking about you!!

Thank you!!!!! I will be updating a bit on Facebook too throughout the trip!

Brook, I can't believe you are only two days away. I'm sure you'll have a great time. I hadn't realized you cancelled it, but so glad it is back on.

LOVE THE BUMPER STICKER!

I didn't really say much when we did cancel it. I still had hope! I even kept my ticker!

 

[Millie12591]

Okay, I have seriously been slacking!! So sorry. What was I thinking?!?

I have serious reading to catch up on....be right back!

 

[jenseib]

Have fun Brook! With you pretty pink toes!!!!!

 

[Poolrat]

Have a BLAST !!!!!!

 

[tiggrbaby]

Safe and magical travels! You will be hooked on DCL!

 

[Caretames1]

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[glennbo123]

Try to have fun!

 

[blessedby3]

Have a great time Brook! Cant wait to read all about it

 

[uncw89]

I am behind as usual!!!

Have a great time on the cruise!!!

 

[ladylyons]

Have a great time on the cruise!! Not only are you celebrating your birthday but your celebrating mine as well!!!!

Have a Happy Birthday Brook!!!! Enjoy your vacation!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Before I begin the update, I don't have time this morning for replies--and the only reason I can post this is because I wrote it yesterday.

I WILL be posting on Facebook and Twitter (@brookwoz) during the cruise! We are going to buy some internet minutes, so hopefully that will allow me to share a picture a day, and some words. During our day at Walt Disney World we will obviously have 3G/internet, so I'll upload a bunch then!

We leave TODAY!!!!!!!!!!




Now, for the update! I last left off as I was headed toward ESPN for Disney School while the boys went back to the hotel for a rest/swim.

I remember walking REALLY fast in hopes I wouldn't be late and chugging down some water when I arrived...10 minutes early.

Just inside the doors

We were in a small private room next to one of the main bar areas

I'm not a sports person in the least, and I haven't ever stepped foot inside the ESPN at WDW's Boardwalk, but I was pretty impressed with this place! They had lots of comfy chairs to watch the games in, a whole family-activity center upstairs and more. I wish we would have gotten a tour.

Disney treats their Travel Agents very, very well. There was a lovely display of drinks and desserts that we nibbled on during the introduction. We were then split into groups to go on tours.

First up was the Disneyland Hotel.

The Disneyland Hotel was the first Disneyland Resort. It used to have an Olympic sized swimming pool, about where the "hat" is. It was recently refurbished and is awesome. If you picture the rectangle I mentioned at the beginning of the report....Paradise Pier is in the lower right corner, the Disneyland Hotel is in the upper right corner. The Downtown Disney monorail station is very close to the Disneyland Hotel, making it a great onsite option.

There are three towers that make up the Disneyland Hotel, Adventure Tower, Fantasy Tower, Frontier Tower.

The Adventure Tower.

Looking at the pool complex. There are two pools, the E-Ticket and the D-Ticket.

It's beautiful.

We first went to go see Trader Sam's, the pool bar, along with Tangaora Terrace, the Quick Service. Both are located right next to the pool.

Trader Sam's is the bar, and if you can read the sign...it's an Enchanted Tiki Bar! Meaning, you order certain things and the bar reacts! It's a bit of a pull from WDW's former Adventurer's Club. And it's very popular! Our Cast Member guide said she was in there the other day and someone ordered something that caused the bartender to throw ice around!

The bar does serve some food. Kids are allowed in during the day, but in the evening they are only allowed on the deck in front of the bar.

Stepping just outside the bar, onto the deck-this is your view

See that lovely outdoor fireplace? You can also sit there and have food/drinks delivered to you.

This really struck me. It's beautiful...and luxurious...and modern...yet classic. It really had that "old school" Disney feel to me, but in a very upscale modern way. Love this little extra with the outdoor fireplace. It's perfect for a chillier January afternoon/evening too!

Still standing at the bar, looking to the right - seating for both the Quick Service (which is around the other side of the building) and the bar.

Walking around to the other side of the building

Quick Service

You can see the Adventure Tower in the background

We walked over a bridge that goes over the pool complex to take a closer look at it all

Monorail themed water slides (and there is something else about this picture....)

D-Ticket Pool

One thing I remember from class is the design on the lounge furniture around the pool has this wavy pattern on it...it's a replica of the pattern that was found on the old ticket books!

As we were standing there, I heard a familiar laugh and I took a closer look at the pool

My boys!

The Paradise Pier pool was under refurb, so they were allowed to use the Disneyland Hotel one! It was fun to see them. And obviously, no nap was being had!

Love the old-school sign!

A closer look at the fireplace

Time to go see a room!

Continued in next post

 

[brookelizabeth]

Continued from previous post

Waiting for an elevator

Isn't that carpet beautiful?

We entered the room and I gasped at the size! Our Paradise Pier room was big, but I hadn't expected this one to be so big too! They are HUGE compared to WDW rooms!

All rooms sleep 5.

When you first walk in you are in a little "front room",

To my left:

Gives you an idea of the space.

The room's closet

To my right, the bathroom. The sink and vanity are inside the bathroom, and it is quite small compared to today's bathrooms and the room size.

Love.

2 Queen Sized beds

The headboards have LED fireworks and a bit of music (A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes) when you turn them on with a switch. The music eventually stops, but you can keep the fireworks on as a nightlight if you prefer!

I wonder how many pillows get stolen a week...

Sleeper sofa

Pool view

Beautiful, right?

Next up was Paradise Pier!

Standing in the lobby hallway, this is the Quick Service

Gift shop

Across from the gift shop

Continued in next post

 

[brookelizabeth]

Continued from previous post

And the Table Service Restaurant, we had a reservation for the character breakfast the next day!

That is all I took of the Paradise Pier, considering we were staying there and I knew I had plenty already!

Next, a quick walk through the Grand Californian. We, unfortunately, did not get to see a room here. They mainly wanted to show us the Disneyland Hotel, but we had extra time for Paradise Pier-so they covered that too.

Outside hallway. Pinocchio's Workshop is the Kid's Center.

Inside the majestic lobby

We were on our way to the Blue Sky Cellar in California Adventure.

It is located near the Pacific Wharf area, right "in front" of Cars Land--basically right next to where we met Mater and McQueen earlier in the day.

A Cast Member met us outside and basically recited news that had been reported on the Disney Parks Blog. Several of the Travel Agent's had questions about the project, some barely even knew it existed. One leaned over to me and asked "Who is Bob Iger?" when his name was dropped a few times. Since I'm a Disney News freak, I was hoping for some news tidbits or SOMETHING...but nothing. Of course by now, most all details have been revealed, but back then we didn't even have an opening date.

I peeked over the wall to Cars Land

It really is going to be awesome!

Stepping inside the Blue Sky Cellar... and in case you don't know what it is, it's basically all the upcoming projects. Concept art, models, video clips and more. Pretty neat! It would be great if WDW had one of these for Fantasyland, don't you think?

The new Buena Vista Street

The Partners statue in the middle is of a young Walt and Mickey - depicting their arrival to Hollywood.

Carthay Circle Theater

I loved that they were adding red trolleys to the street, I thought that would give a great "buzz" to the area!

The Partners Statue concept art

And model

Ha!

I went to watch the video-it was all about the process of the giant refurb at California Adventure.

Carthay Circle Theater

And...I'm out of time.

Thank you for all your well wishes of a great trip!!! Bon voyage all!

 

[LookinUp]

Bon voyage, Brook!!!

 

[Pinkgirl]

Bon voyage, have a fantastic cruise

 

[jenjolt]

Loved being able to join you at Disney School!! What a fun tour!!

Have an amazing cruise and trip!! Can't wait to hear all about it!!