Dugette
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2009
Love hearing about your Disneyland day! I can't imagine trying to pack both parks into one day, especially with a baby along for the ride. Sounds like things were off to a good start, though.
Hi Liesa!
If you're wandering around with nothing intelligent to say, this TR is the right place!
Wow! You guys had an awesomely productive morning at DCA! That's a lot of headline rides in a short time! Love everyone's shirts!
Jill in CO
I just have to copy this because it may be the best gif ever. So much awesome in one picture.
Things like that really stuck out to me too. Seeing a CM in their costume walking down the sidewalk... not something you normally see in Florida. I had to remind myself in DL a few times too that they don't have the Utilidors like WDW when I'd see something that looked a bit wonky.
Well, that's great news! You never know how that process is going to go.
Being able to pull FP from both at the same time... +2
Seems like it would be right up your alley.
And I don't blame you for the asterisk. I had zero expectation of that ride, but we rode it with the kids anyway. My only thoughts were, I'm glad that's over, and that was short.
Hey, it is definitely different and better than the one at WDW. But we also went while they had the holiday overlay so the soundtrack wasn't as maddening. That probably helped it significantly.
Not the same! The doors don't close automatically and you have to say the safety spiel yourself.
But if it is like the days I went there for EMH, they've been in the park for an hour while RSR was down, so they really only got up an hour early to accomplish nothing and are just hoping to get a FP so they can come back later.
Oh. Yeah. Well, there's that too.
That is definitely a terrific one!
Oh, man! 5 minute wait? You should have just rode it while they waited.
It is far more important to enjoy the moment.
Can you blame him? I mean he's been awake all night!
Your pictures are as close as I've ever been. They had the entire Condor Flats area walled off while we were there.
It really is a very nice park. They did a great job with it. I want to say it reminds me of DHS, but it is so much more... and a lot of it is really unlike anything they have in Florida.
Well played... leave them wanting more.
What? NOOOOOOOOO
You can't leave us hanging like that
I was lucky enough to visit Disneyland back in 2006, as my cousin was getting married, and, wouldn't you know, the hotel they booked was only about half an hour away from Disneyland. This was before all the refurbs and before World of Color came out, so I'm dying to go back. Which is why I'm now trying to talk DBF into going this summer for a few days. We've got JetBlue and Marriott points to burn
Funnily enough, HIS cousin is getting married the same time frame I'm looking at, albeit in Ohio. Not much use when it comes to Disney planning, but we could always go to the knock-off Coney Island!
Yes, you are at Disneyland!!! Seems like you had a great start to the day!
By the way, Condor Flats is currently being taken totally apart to be rethemed. This is still DCA 1.0 theming and it is going to be turned into a 1930s National Park airfield theme - to go with the Grizzly River Run theming (which was more contemporary as well before the big refurb).
I find your comments about all the urban landscape directly around DL interesting. When we first went there in 1992 there was still a huge big parking lot where DCA is now and there was even less of a sense of a resort. I love what they did with the new DLR now with Downtown Disney and so on. Even the Anaheim streets are so much nicer now than they were in 1992! All the beautiful palm trees etc were not at all there. So, for me it feels so much less urban around it than on my first visit.
Also, to an extent I kind of like the more urban surroundings. Makes it easy to go and get an In-N-Out-Burger. And on the other hand it makes me feel even more in a bubble once I walk onto Disney property.
That was a great morning. Thanks for the shot of the kid's excitement!
Really what they did in the major refurb was redo Buena Vista Street and create Carsland. The rest (Paradise Pier, Condor Flats, Grizzly Park and Hollywood Blvd) are pretty much as they were when the park opened.
There used to be a big "Sunwheel" where the Carthay restaurant is located.
I'm glad that everyone got to ride most of what they wanted in that part of the park. Looking forward to seeing Carsland through yours, Julie's and the kid's eyes!
You're right, we normally have to sacrifice for the greater good, but that doesn't mean we can't get to have some fun if it won't have a negative effect on the rest of them.Well, now you tell me! Seriously, though, what's the proper etiquette for this? I've been trained over the years as a father and husband that my desires generally don't get any acknowledgment or priority, so I usually have to just suck it up.
Absolutely LOVE that Mickey bench.
Lady screwing up the picture...what the heck is the matter with you!
The faces on the boys with their tickets are priceless.
The picture of the big Mickey by Paradise Pier...BEST picture ever. I love it.
Of course Andrew is sleeping...he was up at the crack of dawn again.
You cannot beat the front row of Soarin!.
Great family picture...love it.
This is Sarah typing. I would like to point out that my father is lying about our enthusiasm about California Screamin'. You need to get the full picture, he did not give you the full picture on many things in this chapter. The full thing is, we wanted to get on Radiator Springs Racers and he wasn't dying to get on California Screamin', as he leads you to believe in the chapter, so he asked us if we wanted to go and Dave and I said we kind of did but we wanted to ride the racers more. We are not wimps like it says in the chapter. Thank you for your time.
I glanced over at Drew who was sitting on Mark's lap. He was so cute...sitting there holding onto the hand rail. I tried to get the settings right to get a picture and then something in me snapped. No. I wasn't going to spend my one day totally behind the lens. I wanted to BE in the moment at Disneyland. Now I did snap away....and got lucky a couple times...but overall, I'm thankful for the decision.
Still chugging away, trying to get all caught up!
Zion National Park is another destination high on my list. The Checkerboard Mesa is an amazing feat of nature that is just hard to understand how it happened. Okay, that traffic is . You prepared me before I scrolled down to see the picture, but I still was a little surprised.
$10 for overflow parking??? And what is it with Julie and serving ice cream??? Note to self……….plan trip sometime other than summer.
for another burger place!
Nice looking Hampton in Springdale……….very easy to enjoy a pool when you have THAT view to help you relax.
OMG, the view at the end of that Canyon Overlook Trail! So worth braving the narrow paths, uphill climbs, rickety wooden bridges and partial caves to get there. I’m just glad you were able to shut up long enough for me to enjoy the pictures………………
Such a beautiful part of the country! Even just the pictures of the drive to the Grand Canyon are such amazing views! I had never heard about the Navajo Bridge before, what a great view and perspective to walk out over the Colorado River like that. I agree, the Grand Canyon is a very majestic view and sight to behold!
Crap………puke……………man this TR has EVERYTHING!!!
Julie got some great pictures of the Condor. I agree that when you are standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon, it is an amazing view and just as an amazing a feeling of awe and inspiration.
Everybody should experience a cinnamon role as big as their face at some point in their life. I haven’t had mine yet……I was waiting on my face to get bigger!
Oh WOW! You are finally there! And you got great shots entering the park. As someone who has never been there, I think you really captured the morning anticipation really well!
Yay for the Racer FP's. The Soarin building looks super cute. What? No California Screaming'? Glad you got the WOC FP's.
And I LOVE that group shot of you guys! It's perfect and my actually be my fav group shot of the trip!
Looking forward to more DL!!!!!
I'm glad Sarah was able to set the record straight! And happy early birthday!
Jill in CO
I completely forgot about this part. Up until the time when DCA was built it was parking lot all the way up to the turnstiles of Disneyland. Some lucky folks were even allowed to park in the spaces right in front of the turnstiles with reserved spaces.
When Disney proposed the whole Disneyland Resort Expansion, they put tons of $$$'s into the "Anaheim Resort" community, in fact they proposed the entire concept. Probably to try and bring it a little closer to the look of WDW. Magdalene is right, there were no palm trees in the median along Harbor Blvd. There was not "Disney landscaping" outside of the park and there were lots of seedy stores, mini markets and other cheesy cheap places all along Katella and Harbor.
With the construction of DCA and the Grand, I think they purchased the Paradise Pier hotel (which was the Pan Pacific prior to that) and they began the entire beautification project. Heck they got the CA depar tment of Transportation involved and rebuilt the Freeway so that the Disneyland Drive could have it's own exit. This was a major cooperation between multiple departments. I'm sure you can appreciate that one Mark!
Thanks for chiming in Sarah, good to hear another perspective!
I'm glad that you were able to spend most of that day in the moment and not get caught up with the camera. I am looking forward though to the reveal of the "moment" with Drew that you fully captured on camera. Especially after we had an entire discussion (while the rest of the family rode Star Tours) about his difficulty moving on with that particular aspect of his life.
Umm because that is school and this is Disney... come on!
That is good timing. What flavor of pop tarts are we enjoying?
I have stayed at that Embassy Suites right there more times than I can count, for work, and always loved the walk right to Disney.
Seems like it has been walked on too much and starting to fad, they need to fix that./Or just stop people from walking in the sidewalks.
Yes they do Rock! Very special people.
Wow that is very subtle and hard to see.
Did you try squinting? That might help.
That is a very adventurous schedule. did you get enough sleep for a day like this?
We will find out!
What is up with people, I mean it is not all about them, don't they know you need that picture. Jeez
I can't believe we weren't their first concern!
I guess anyone can get into that park huh?
Well, if they let us in...
Glad to hear you did not get trampled on the way to fast pass RSR.
I was trying to do the trampling!
Let's just say you were having too much fun and enjoying all the park had to offer to stop and take photos. That is a great photo!
Works for me. And thanks!
if you make a list you must go back! Just the way it works.
I'm up for it! Just need to figure out how to afford it.
The Imagineering is amazing all over Disney, I am always excited about how they envision the parks and bring us all into the fold.
I am sure this is not a good sign at all... Time will only tell, at about 3 or 4 am?
Oh, I'm sure he'll let us know.
Front row Whoop!!!
Front row rocks! It's even worth waiting for.
glad you are finally making your way to cars land!
We've waited long enough!
Sarah, I agree with this too. At least 4 times.
Why does everyone take her side?
Looks like an ambitious list to try to accomplish, but at the rate you're going I have no doubt you will succeed! Great start to your Disneyland day.
You sure about that? Maybe I need to introduce some doubt...
Love your Disney Day! I soooo wish I was there today to see my beloved Pats in their parade!
They asked Bill Belichick how he felt after winning the Super Bowl. His response: We're on to Disneyland.
Love hearing about your Disneyland day! I can't imagine trying to pack both parks into one day, especially with a baby along for the ride. Sounds like things were off to a good start, though.
Then I'm in good company!
So, I"m just gonna go back and catch up on like 40 pages I've missed in my derelictness. I'm anxious to read about the Disney day(s).
Yep, did it! Made it all the way through where your daughter piped in and "set the record straight".
Sarah, you'd get along just splendidly with Anara, my 12 year old. In fact, you should totally talk your dad into bringing your whole family to WDW in Oct, 2016 and we can all meet you!! Get right on that, K??
Mark, great chapter for sure!! I still haven't gotten to see Radiator Springs yet, every time a read a TR with pix I confess I drool a little. Kind of like when you go to the dentist and you get lidocaine. Great shot of the giant Mickey head there!
You're right, we normally have to sacrifice for the greater good, but that doesn't mean we can't get to have some fun if it won't have a negative effect on the rest of them.
The way I see it, you scored FP for RSR while they rode TSM and you missed out.
Boom.
Hi Mark! I'm here to see how your desert trek turned out! I'll be back to read!
Generally brown sugar cinnamon. Breakfast of champions!
Not that I can eat them (diabetes and all), but that is my most favorite flavor. Going through all kinds of withdrawal here and that brown sugary goodness sounds so good. Must. go. find. bacon.
I'm glad RSR worked out so good, even if the child swap made it a bit of a wait both times. Cute funny hat pictures! You can't get enough of those no matter how old you are!
Nice family shot in front of the train station too! Was it really 12:30 on the return time for Star Tours? I could have sworn it was more like 11:30, but I wasn't there yet.
Anyways, carry on!
Confession: I was having a hard time remembering the exact chain of events here, and I don't have any notes to help me. I thought we did Star Tours after lunch, but I'm really struggling to remember if that's actually true, or if we rode Star Tours and then ate. Help me!