So glad you are back!!! Hope all went well with the move and you are settled. Can't wait to hear about the rest of your DL trip and now the cruise.
Thank you! We are almost settled - a couple boxes left, and I have GOT to get into Henry's room to organize.
I'm so glad life is returning to normal though, June was just nutty!
All I can say is wow! Great trip reports!
Thank you for reading!!!! More to come!
Woo Hoo Brook!
I am so happy to see an update from you, even if I can't really "see" it all because of my pictureless status. But you know I'll be back for the details.
How cool that you got to meet up with your friend, enjoy a lovely dinner together, and score an extra FP. And the VIP seating - Awesome! I really can't wait to see your pictures.
You know, I had my heart set on a cruise next fall when Nick goes to college, but now I am really torn between cruise vs. DL. I have avoided any distance traveling (other than Orlando) while my kids have been home and now I am very excited at the thought of planning a trip to Cali!
OK - off topic! Sorry! I just got a little carried away!
For my next update you'll really want pictures!!!! WoC is AMAZING!
No worries about going off topic-I don't mind a bit! You could do Disneyland AND a cruise ya know...California Coastal leaves from LA. Just sayin'...
(or even Disneyland, then Alaska with a flight between-not too bad either!)
So glad to see a new post!
Your information is so helpful. Loved following along on your walk to the Cheesecake Factory. We'll be there in October and are staying at the Candy Cane Inn. Wondering how far the walk to the restaurant would be from there? Did you see it on your travels? Anxious to hear how you liked WOC. We're going to do the dining deal at Wine Country so we get the preferred viewing area. Any input from others on whether this is worth it?
We did see the Candy Cane Inn, it's on South Harbor (the other busy road that Katella intersects-I took the picture of the Disney bus on it). MANY hotels are on this stretch of road. The Candy Cane Inn is even closer to the Cheesecake Factory and all those restaurants-about one block. I *might* even have a pic of the outside of Candy Cane later.
I think it's a great idea for the dining package. We considered doing it, but we went in January-which is one of the lowest seasons. The parks were NOT busy (except the weekend evenings-locals). The area you get to be in is excellent! So you get a good meal and don't have to rush the gates for a FastPass. Sounds like a win-win to me!
The walk to the Cheesecake Factory looked so nice. I think the palm tree lined sidewalk were my favorite pictures of all.
Isn't it neat how you can meet up with an old friend and pick up right where you left off years and years ago? Woohoo Nichol for getting ya'll the seats up front! Yeah Baby!
Isn't it just beautiful? Before we left Joe was scrolling around on Google Maps and saw that street-so we HAD to find it!
I do love that about close friends. My best friend from high school and I are like that. We haven't seen each other in probably 5 years, I will likely get to see her next month and I'm sure we will have NO problem picking back up!
Its SO weird how many restaurants, strip malls, hotels, etc. are right outside Disneyland. Its totally different from WDW!
Thats so great you got to see Nichol after seven years. And the Cheesecake Factory makes the visit even better!
You guys must have felt like VIP! Wow! And you were so close too.
I CANNOT wait to see your pictures of WoC!
Isn't it strange?!
When we were driving it was even more strange, it was normal world, normal world, normal world-boom! Disney bubble!
Normal world is LITERALLY on the other side of the block.
We were veryyyyy close, and the couple in front of us were so sweet to allow Henry to squeeze between them, so he had front row!
It's weird how excited I was to see Cheesecake factory food pictures
It's right up there with Disney food quality for me!
Ps I wanted to tell you, that after I caught up on your trip report back in late may/early june, my family ended up booking a trip to Disneyland!!! We are leaving in one month from today! I can't even tell you how excited I am. Thank you for your reviews, they really helped a lot!
Us too! We love the Cheesecake Factory. SO good! PF Changs is a winner too. Anytime we visit another city and they have a Cheesecake Factory we go.
for going to Disneyland!!!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!! You will have a wonderful time!!!! Hopefully I can get this report close to done so you can experience even more of it before you go!
We loved world of color!!! I well say I kinda missed WDW well at Disneyland.
We had the "What do you miss from WDW?" talk on our last park day. I hope I remember to include that in the report when I get there. If not, remind me!
We definitely had pieces we missed.
Great update, Brook. I loved all your goodies.
We love Cheesecake Factory too (although I don't eat cheesecake); I just wish the menu was just a tad smaller.
How great that you got some pixie dust for the Wonderful World of Color; can't wait to read all about it.
I know, their menu is HUGE! It always takes a while to figure out what to eat. But....Joe and I almost always get the same thing. Me=Mexican. Joe=orange chicken. I once got something else and missed my mexican!
Taking notes here for my trip to DL.
So nice to see how close everythig is. Cheesecake factory note taken. MMMMmmmm I love thier key lime cheesecake.
It is pretty nice that everything is so close-it makes it a much easier and more relaxing vacation, IMO. The parks are smaller, everything is close, the hotel is close - it's like staying at the Contemporary the whole time.
Back to see the pictures. Paradise Pier looks so pretty all lit up. Thanks for posting the viewing map.
I enjoyed your walk past the neighboring hotels and to the restaurants. How convenient to be able to walk to so many eateries.
I have to admit, I have never eaten at the Cheesecake Factory. Is that terrible, because those tacos look really, really good. I've had their cheesecake, but never real food.
It really is a VERY pretty area. Despite it's poor reviews, we truly enjoyed DCA. I can see why locals weren't terribly impressed compared to Disneyland, but overall, I liked the park! It's got to be incredible now with the expansion open!
Oh my goodness lady! You've got to try the Cheesecake Factory! Do you have one near you? It's SO good. I always get Mexican-usually the tacos. Joe always gets the Orange Chicken. Both are delicious!
Looks like you had an awesome view. Can't wait to see your photos of WOC. They are always so amazing!
We did! I can't wait to share the pics-it's an easy thing to take pictures of because it's big and bright - so much easier than fireworks!
You guys are the cutest family! Little Henry is adorable, he looks like you Brook! BTW, your pictures of your food from the Cheesecake Factory made me very hungry.
Aw, thank you!
When Henry was a baby, everyone said he looked like Joe, but now everyone says he looks like me. It's so funny to watch him grow up and have personality traits from both of us!
I can see why that food made you hungry-it was SO yummy! I think we will have to make plans for a pitstop at the Cheesecake Factory when we visit Minnesota next month.