Oh what a horrible trip!!!! Now for something completely different DL-CARSLAND

[Poolrat]

I thought I would move on to the next trip here. It will be mostly pictures with maybe an observation or opinion thrown in.

As some of you know or remember I usually attend an anuual conference around the first week of Oct.

I have usually added Disney days to this trip
- when the trip is at WDW 2006, 2009
- added days before or /and after when it is not 2010,2011

This past year the conference was in Vegas. So Disneyland was the perfect match.

Being DVC, the GCV seemed like the natural choice. At the 7 month mark ( Feb 27) I logged in and nothing...... waitied to call and the site was Down...

After talking the CM, the site was supposed to be up around 3.

I started stalking the site while at work around 1:30, refreshing every few minutes.

I believe by 2:30 I was in and




SCORE - I was able to get the GCV for my dates.

I did a lot of and and had to explain myself at the office.

So on Thursday Sept 27 at 7 am I was on my way to Orange county. Landing at 11 am and on my way via Super Shuttle ( much cheaper than Disneyland express)

After a roundabout way- One lady had to go to LAX and one guy home and I was the third one. Somehow I think we went up back and around.

Soon the van pulled up to .....

Grand Californian-

Entrance



Took most of these the last day.











CM uniform




















Let's go inside - Continued...

[Poolrat]

The infamous doors  so pretty












From the inside


The lobby












Fish eye lens

[MeMom]

Originally Posted by Poolrat

SCORE - I was able to get the GCV for my dates.

I did a lot of and and had to explain myself at the office.

Boss gone crazy.

CM uniform

Forget the uniform. Dude has four legs!

I really thought Jill was going to make that California trip this month, but it got traded for the WDW in-law excursion coming in April. I was encouraging her to stay at Grand Californian. If you are going to go, and probably just once, go big and do it right! If I ever get to go out there, I hope we can stay there.

[Captain_Oblivious]

Cool! A bonus Disneyland TR! And the Grand Californian looks amazing!

[3prettyprincesses]

Pat, I don't even remember where I left off! So I'll just jump in right here.

Yay for a side DL trip!!

Awesome score on the GC hotel! Gorgeous pictures, it reminds me of WL but I like the GC theming better.

Looking forward to this DL trip update, I hope it wasn't "horrible"!

[KatMark]

Loved your wrap up Pat. And I really wish we could get to AOA (I actually wanted to stay there for our one night in April but the price was crazy high).

I'm loving that you are now doing a DL TR.

And the resort looks absolutely beautiful.

Can't wait to read more.

[uncw89]

Originally Posted by MeMom

Boss gone crazy. :crazy

I really thought Jill was going to make that California trip this month, but it got traded for the WDW in-law excursion coming in April. I was encouraging her to stay at Grand Californian. If you are going to go, and probably just once, go big and do it right! If I ever get to go out there, I hope we can stay there.

I totally agree Memom, that's why we are going to stay there when we go in July!!!! I only got one night in GCV (which is all I had points for anyway!!! I don't have a lot of points like some of my Dis buddies!!!)

Which airport did you fly into? We are thinking LAX!! I was there once a long time ago when I went with my dad! He drove!! He was from DC, so I don't think the traffic bothered him so much!! LOL!! I did go to DL then, but I don't really remember much. I was 21 and not so Disney obsessed back then!!!

Anyway, I didn't realize you were going to add your DL TR to the end of this one!! Great pics!! I'm getting excited!!! Only about 5 months to go!!

[Poolrat]

Originally Posted by MeMom

Boss gone crazy.

There was some jumping going on. Considering the site was down earlier in the day - I got real nervous.

Originally Posted by MeMom

Forget the uniform. Dude has four legs!

I so did not notice that. He must be fast on his feet..... Ba Bum Bum

Originally Posted by MeMom

I really thought Jill was going to make that California trip this month, but it got traded for the WDW in-law excursion coming in April. I was encouraging her to stay at Grand Californian. If you are going to go, and probably just once, go big and do it right! If I ever get to go out there, I hope we can stay there.

It is so conventient. Actually everything there is pretty compact so getting around is much easier.... as long as you know where you are going.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Cool! A bonus Disneyland TR! And the Grand Californian looks amazing!

It was amazing, so beautiful.

Originally Posted by 3prettyprincesses

Pat, I don't even remember where I left off! So I'll just jump in right here.

Yay for a side DL trip!!

Awesome score on the GC hotel! Gorgeous pictures, it reminds me of WL but I like the GC theming better.

Looking forward to this DL trip update, I hope it wasn't "horrible"!

Jump in anywhere - handy links at the front if you get time.

It was kind of like the WL but still different - mabe a mash up of the GF and WL? in an odd way?

Originally Posted by KatMark

Loved your wrap up Pat. And I really wish we could get to AOA (I actually wanted to stay there for our one night in April but the price was crazy high).

I'm loving that you are now doing a DL TR.

And the resort looks absolutely beautiful.

Can't wait to read more.

Try to take a walk around AoA at night. Great lighting and beautiful in the cars section.

The last day I had plenty of time to wander around. Lots more of the hotel itself.

Originally Posted by uncw89

I totally agree Memom, that's why we are going to stay there when we go in July!!!! I only got one night in GCV (which is all I had points for anyway!!! I don't have a lot of points like some of my Dis buddies!!!)

Which airport did you fly into? We are thinking LAX!! I was there once a long time ago when I went with my dad! He drove!! He was from DC, so I don't think the traffic bothered him so much!! LOL!! I did go to DL then, but I don't really remember much. I was 21 and not so Disney obsessed back then!!!

Anyway, I didn't realize you were going to add your DL TR to the end of this one!! Great pics!! I'm getting excited!!! Only about 5 months to go!!

I was looking for the least outlay of money and since DVC is well already paid for, sort of like free.
I flew into Orange County ( SNA) and to Vegas out of LAX. That is where I found the lowest prices.

LAX was not as nutty as I thought when I flew out. I figured I would add it here instead of on the DL thread since I know some TR's can get lost there.


Lots of pictures ...lots and lots of pictures

[GoofyFan1515]

for a bonus trip to DL, and some really great pictures! Grand Californian looks like a great resort for a stay......I can just see myself sitting in the lobby in one of those comfy chairs!!! How great to be so close to all the action!

Originally Posted by MeMom

Forget the uniform. Dude has four legs!

Not four legs.......he was showing everyone his latest dance moves and Pat just forgot to use her sports setting on the camera.

[Poolrat]

Originally Posted by GoofyFan1515

for a bonus trip to DL, and some really great pictures! Grand Californian looks like a great resort for a stay......I can just see myself sitting in the lobby in one of those comfy chairs!!! How great to be so close to all the action!

Not four legs.......he was showing everyone his latest dance moves and Pat just forgot to use her sports setting on the camera.

It was a nice trip. I do have to go back Indiana Jones was down for refurb so a retrun trip is in order.


Those chairs were nice. I spent most of my time snapping pictures but quite a few people just relaxed in those chairs while waiting for the shuttle.

That CM was hopping to it.

[englishrose47]

Love the Doors !!!Amazing !!! I don't think I realised you had been to DL too!!!

[disneyfan61]

Ok FINALLY all caught up. I was reading just about every post & realized I would never get caught up that way so I read all the updates.

So much to comment on but looks like it was NOT a horrible trip.

Love that BC is your home & that is my dream. DH would like to purchase & pay in full so it could be years!!! Cannot wait for our stay there in Oct.

Love all your dresses. I would love to wear sundresses when I am there but really need to wear my sneakers & they just would not go that well together.

Love that you got to go to DL. What a beautiful resort!! Looking forward to hearing about this now that I am all caught up!!

[brookelizabeth]

You are going to TORTURE me with Disneyland pictures!!!!! I don't foresee us getting back there this year (though, stranger things have happened) and we just LOVED every single second of it. The Grand is stunning, isn't it?

[jenseib]

What a beautiful resort! It looks like kind of a mix between WL and AKL.

[2xcited2sleep]

Cool! I am looking forward to seeing Disneyland. The resort looks so pretty!!