Day 3 – January 14, 2013 – Part 5
On our last update, we just finished riding Pirates of the Caribbean and it is so fun to go on this classic ride. Everyone enjoyed it except for DD2 who was scared a little bit on the ride. But she was able to go through the ride without any problems. Just when we were about to leave, we went to one of the merchandise carts right at Café Orleans and bought a Minnie ears. She was excited to get the ears. Now back to the trip report.
We just got the Minnie ears for DD2 and she was happy. I know that she was happy but my aunt and her DBF bought a lot of different merchandise during the trip which almost totaled at least over $100 with the stuffed Disney characters and ears. They were glad that I am an AP holder so they saved quite a lot of money from the merchandise and restaurants.
Next we were close to the River of America and I told them that they should get a picture in this area since I want to get a picture of DD2 with her ears. They all went over to the railings right across from Cafe Orleans and it was a nice picture of them together.
After getting a picture of them, we started to walk down on over to Frontierland and head on back towards Fantasyland.
While we were walking on over towards Frontierland, we all got to see the closed area of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad while it is closed for it’s almost one year refurbishment. It was weird to see BTMRR closed for almost a year for the refurbishment. This is similar to the Matterhorn from last year where it was down for almost a year for the track replacement. It will be fun to see the newly refurbished BTMRR and ride it later on this year. During our trip, Big Thunder Ranch was opened but we couldn’t walk through the backside of Frontierland since it was blocked off during the construction. I know now that the walkway is open right now but during our time we couldn’t go to Fantasyland or vice versa from the backside.
My aunt and DD2 are walking together in Frontierland while I was talking to DBF and Kay about the trip.
While walking down, the front entrance to the Pioneer Mercantile store was closed due to refurbishment on the main entrance. But the store was still open during our time.
During that morning, it was not that busy while walking on out of Frontierland but the day was getting a little busy on a non-busy day at DL.
When we got to the Hub, my aunt DBF remembered the Dole Whip Float from the other night and wanted to get another float before we left that day. Before we head on over to FL, my aunt, Kay and DD2 went on over to FL through Sleeping Beauty Castle while DBF and I head on over to the Tiki Juice Bar to get the float and the soft serve. She still remembers that float from the other night that she mostly finished all by herself. So when we got to the Tiki Juice Bar there was anyone in the queue since it was just close to noon.
We got a float and a soft serve which I usually get. After getting them, we head on over towards FL and through SB Castle to meet with the others. DBF was really going through the float so much that when we got to FL she drank half of the float.
Just when we were in FL, Kay and DD2 were back on King Arthur’s Carousel. This must have been DD2 fourth time riding KAC during the trip. She really likes the merry-go-round a lot since we have one at the Sacramento City Zoo. My aunt was in the ECV waiting for them.
DBF almost finished the float by herself while I am still eating my float when we were in FL.
When Kay and DD2 got off KAC, they were surprised that DBF had finished the float so quickly before they were able to drink the float. She was sorry that she finished quickly but she couldn’t help herself for drinking the float. So I told them that I will go back to the Tiki Juice Bar to get them one while the others do some rides while we were in FL. DD2 wanted to ride Dumbo and that was the next ride for them. The park was a little busy and Dumbo was at least a 20 minute wait. So all four of them head on over to Dumbo while I head on back to the Tiki Juice Bar.
FL was a little busy that afternoon which rides like Peter Pan was long
When I got back to the Tiki Juice Bar, the queue was not that long and I only had to wait about 5 minutes to get the float for DD2 and Kay. When I ordered the float, the CM at the stand asked me that you are back and I was surprised that she remembered me just a while ago. I told her “Yes, I am back and I had to get another one that day”. She was laughing to hear that. I purchased another Dole Whip Float for DD2 and Kay. So I head on over back to FL to meet up with them.
When I got to Dumbo, DD2 and Kay were on Dumbo. I gave the float to my aunt so DBF won’t be able to drink the second float and I got my DSLR out to take pictures of them on Dumbo. For most of the ride, they didn’t go up in the sky and were on the bottom while riding Dumbo.
When they were about to get off Dumbo, I took a few pictures around the area.
We met up with them and my aunt gave Kay and DD2 the float and they help themselves to it. They really went through it quickly since they are enjoying it a lot just like DBF. While we were in the area, there was another ride that DBF wanted to go on and that was Pinocchio Daring Adventure. So we went on over to PDJ and rode it. This is another ride that could be scary for DD2 but she wanted to go on the ride and we all went on it.
During the ride, DD2 was scared of the ride while some scenes like Monstro where she screamed a lot. She wanted to get off while Kay was able to calm her down. So we knew that this was a ride that she wouldn’t like and we told her that it was a scary ride.
When we got off PDJ, DBF wanted to go on over to Disney California Adventure and go on Mickey’s Fun Wheel (excuse me Mickey’s Fun Wheel of Doom which we call it right
Sherry,
TK). That was one ride that she wanted to do over at DCA. But we weren’t able to do it the other day since we were doing a lot of different rides. Unfortunately, it was close to 1:15pm and we had to leave the park at 2pm so we can get back to the hotel and catch our shuttle back to John Wayne Orange County Airport. We didn’t have enough time and the only time we had was to have something to eat before we left the park. She was a little disappointed that we are not able to ride MFWoD but she understands the situation and hopes to ride MFWoD in the future.
A look at SB Castle with the snow still on during mid January which is neat to see.
We just left FL and back to the Hub. We wanted to get something light before we left that day and I know a perfect place to get something quick before we left. We were now back at the Hub and see that it wasn’t around the Hub.
It was not that busy at Tomorrowland
When we just passed by the Plaza Inn, we stopped on over towards the Little Red Wagon stand to get corn dogs. This is one of my favorite stands to get a corn dog in DL. The line was a little long that afternoon and we only had to wait about 5 minutes to get our corn dogs.
We got a table at the backside of the Little Red Wagon close to the First Aid area and right across from the Main Street Photo Supply Co. store. We ate the corn dogs and everyone was so impressed with the corn dogs even though they cost about $5.35 with the PAP discount. We all talked about the trip and everyone was glad that we got to do this trip. Even though it was our last day, my aunt, DBF, Kay and DD2 will remember this trip for a long time since it is DD2 first trip to DL. DBF is enjoying the trip through a parent view where it was so memorable to her. She even still talks to me and my aunt about the trip which she remembers a lot.
After finishing the corn dogs, we start to head on out of the park and back to the hotel. It was just past 1:35pm that day and we had to get back to the hotel so we can catch our shuttle.
We left DL around 1:45pm and we were now back at the esplanade and start to head on back to Best Western Park Place Inn where we have stayed during our trip.
It took 7 minutes to get from the park to the hotel. I really like BWPPI so much because of it’s location. If I had the choice of what hotel to stay without budget limits, I would stay at the Grand California Hotel all the time but I do like staying at BWPPI and Best Western Anaheim Inn which is a few buildings down from BWPPI. When we got to the lobby, Kay drove her car to the hotel on Sunday and is now going back home to Los Angeles. We all said good-bye to her and she was going to see us again since she will be in Sacramento in less than a week. So we were able to see her back in Sacramento.
When she left, we all waited in the lobby for the SuperShuttle to pick us up and on over to OC airport. When it was around 2:30pm where the SuperShuttle was supposed to pick us up didn’t arrive. We had a 4:30pm flight from OC back to Sacramento and we were all wondering why it hasn’t come and my aunt had to call them and see why the van hasn’t shown up. They told her that here wasn’t a reservation for us to be picked up at BWPPI and over to OC Airport. My aunt was not that happy and she was upset with the SuperShuttle Company for not having us get picked up. The employee at the BWPPI asked us if we need a ride to get from the hotel to OC and my aunt just told them that we need a ride to get to OC Airport. The employee called the Anaheim Limo company and got us a ride on over to the airport. She also told us that we can get a discount on the limo and we were so happy that the employee at BWPPI was able to get us a deal on the limo.
The limo arrived at the hotel around 3pm and was driving a Luxury Sedan. We were all excited to see the car and we were able to pack all of our suitcases and bags in the car. We left the hotel and over to the John Wayne Orange County Airport. We got to the airport around 3:30pm. It took quite a while to get from Anaheim to Orange County where there was an accident when coming to Orange County.
We were all thankful to the driver to come on short notice and got us to the airport. Our flight was Southwest Airlines and we checked a few of our bags. We waited in OC for about 30 minutes until we got on the plane and headed back to Sacramento at 4:30pm. We were all sad that we were leaving and we all knew that we need to get back home to Sacramento to go back to our daily lives.
While we were on the airplane, we were talking about all the things that we have done on this trip and see what we enjoyed the most. They all enjoyed the whole trip which is a good thing. I enjoyed being there to guide them through the parks.
We got back to Sacramento around 6pm that night and we got our car while we parked it at the airport. When we got the car we head on over to my house first since my aunt is taking back her DBF and DD2 back to her house since they left her car there. They dropped me off around 7:30pm that night at my house and said goodnight to me and we will talk to each other tomorrow. This concludes DD2 First Trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.
A few days after when we got back to Sacramento, my aunt talked to us about the SuperShuttle that didn't show up when we were about to leave on Monday and they told her that she had canceled the pickup that day. She told them that she didn't cancel the pickup that day and later on she got a refund from the company and apologized for the inconvenience. At least she got her money back where we weren't picked up that day at BWPPI. Luckily the customer service at BWPPI were so helpful of calling the limo company to pick us up that day.
This has been a memorable trip for DD2 which is her first trip to the DLR and it was a memorable one. DD2 had a great time and she is still talking about DL to this day. She has been asking her mom when are we going back at least once a day. DBF told me that she is looking forward to going back down to where she told me the same thing that she still can’t stop thinking about DL. When I gave them videos of the shows from the trip and from previous ride experience that I have videotaped over the years, they watched them a lot including her soon to be husband kids. They all want to go to the DLR one day and are still talking about it. DD2 was so excited to see Kay come down from LA and be with us during the trip.
The main goals of the trip were for DD2 to have a memorable time at the DLR. It was successful at the beginning when we entered DL when Cinderella was greeting the guests. When DD2 got to meet her, she was so speechless that she wants to be at the park for a long time. The character dining at Goofy’s Kitchen and Ariel’s Grotto were very nice to do and everyone enjoyed eating at those two restaurants. I was glad that they enjoyed those two sit down restaurants and to meet a lot of Disney characters. DD2 was able to meet a lot of Disney characters from the princesses, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, etc. where she enjoyed meeting all of them. We were able to do the shows like Remember Dreams Come True, Mickey’s Soundsational Parade and World of Color which they all enjoyed. We got to go on a lot of rides that they have enjoyed. The one’s that we went on the most was It’s a Small World Holiday, King Arthur’s Carousel and Dumbo. We also bought a lot of merchandise for DD2 which she got a lot of stuffed Disney characters and ears. We also bought a few merchandise for the boys during the trip where we have spent over $100 in merchandise.
It was nice to go with them during the trip as a guide for them. It was also my first experience seeing it through a young child for being at the DLR for the first time. I did everything I can for them during the trip with all my experience and all the valuable information on the boards which helped me prepare this trip with a young girl. I would like to thank all the DISers that have helped me on this trip. This is a trip that I will remember for a long time since I was able to enjoy it with my aunt after we have spent some time during the WDW trip in October/November. I got to spend a lot of time with her DBF and DD2 which was great. I was able to get to know Kay a lot where we have talked to each other on the phone. It was very nice to meet her in person and we had a great time. I was able to see the nighttime shows like I usually do when I go to the DLR and it is always so fun to watch RDCT and WoC. I was satisfied with the nighttime pictures which are getting better and better. I was also happy with the dark ride pictures where some of them turned out great while some of them were still blurry.
This concludes DD2 First Trip to the Happiest Place on Earth on 1/12/13 to 1/14/13. Now I am getting ready for my next upcoming trip back to the DLR on the first weekend of May. The dates will be May 3rd to May 5th on a Friday to Sunday. This trip my DA who goes with me to the DLR a lot will be coming with me back to SoCal and our main goal for this trip is that we will be going to the Walt Disney Studios and Archives in Burbank which is about an hour drive from the DLR to Burbank. I have been looking for a long time to go to the WD Studios and Archives where I have never been too. We got tickets for the tour on the D23 website where we can take a tour of the studios and archives. We will be able to go to the DLR to do some rides and the shows like we usually do, but it is all about the WD Studios and Archives tour. I will write up the pre-trip report later on and tell our plans for this trip.