It's my Birthday & I Celebrated! Lots of photos, food and fun! Updated 9/23

[smile4stamps]

The Trip Report has begun!

See below and the first 13 or so pages for the Pre-Trip Report!

Table of Contents for the Trip Report!!
Arrival Day!
Part ONE
Part TWO, Goofy's Kitchen THE FOOD!
Part THREE, Goofy's Kitchen THE CHARACTERS!
Part FOUR
Part FIVE - Fantasmic Part 1
Part Six - Fantasmic Part 2 and Fireworks!
Part Seven


June 7th
Part One - Magic Morning
Part Two - Magic Morning Continued & start of regular hours..
Part Three
Part Four - Breakfast with Minnie & Friends
Part Five
Part Six - Aladdin!
Part Seven - Wine Country Trattoria and more!
Part Eight


June 8th
Part One - Magic Morning!
Part Two - Magic Morning Continued!
Part Three - ToonTown Morning Madness
Part Four - ToonTown Morning Madness Continued
Part Five
Part Six - The Little Mermaid
Part Seven
Part Eight

Hi Everyone!

My name is Paula and I am a certified Disney-aholic.. I LOVE Disney! I love Visiting Disney! I love Characters! I Love Pictures! And I love to Share!

I am planning my next trip to Disneyland in June 2011! This trip is to celebrate my birthday and to visit with my best friend whom I haven't seen in over 2 years! The last time we saw each other was only for a partial day so I am really excited to be able to spend almost 6 days together!

I've been to Disneyland twice. The first time in October 2010 and the second in November/December 2010. Yes, only 6 weeks apart! Since then it's been a drought! June 2011 will be the first time I return after my time away. I do have an Annual Pass which I purchased my first time there as I knew I wanted to return throughout the year!

You can read about my first 2 trips here... if you care to of course.

On my first 2 trips I was completely on a budget. This time I am splurging a little! (Or maybe a lot!)

I've Booked our flights so I will arrive at SNA about 20 minutes before her on June 6th. She will leave on June 11 or 12 depending on Airfares. I will stay till at least the 15th as I want to spend my actual birthday at Disneyland and that is the 14th. My friend was not able to go the week of my birthday due to her work so we made plans to visit and celebrate the week before.

I will be using this PTR to organize our plans. And then this PTR will turn into a TR when I come back.

Here is my best friend and I. She was my Matron of Honor!


More to come soon!

[DizNee Luver]

Woo Hoo!!!! A new PTR & I'm the first poster!!!!! Sounds like it will be a fun trip for you & your bestie!! Can't wait to see how everything comes together!

[smile4stamps]

Originally Posted by DizNee Luver

Woo Hoo!!!! A new PTR & I'm the first poster!!!!! Sounds like it will be a fun trip for you & your bestie!! Can't wait to see how everything comes together!

Hi Laurie... Thanks for reading! I am SOOO Excited for my trip!

[reyasmommy]

Yay, a best friend trip! I need one of those bad. My BFF and I will be celebrating 21 years of friendship this year. We've been friends since the first day of Junior High!

Anyway, your birthday is the same day as my wedding anniversary!

Hope you have a fantastic trip and I can't wait to hear more about it.

[smile4stamps]

One of the hardest things for me to decide on was were to stay! I think I posted several threads on the main boards asking several questions. As I mentioned in the intro I normally go on a budget so had never even considered staying on-site. This trip I was considering it and was even considering the Grand Californian! In fact I had almost decided on the GCH when I thought we might go a Thursday - Thursday. I was going to book a costco travel package for 3 nights at the Anabella and then move to the GCH for 3 nights.

When we moved the dates to June 6 - 11 for my friend and it meant not being on-site on my birthday and looking over what others said in regards to the rooms at the GCH and all other aspects of it I decided on Paradise Pier! IF I had chosen GCH we would have only been able to stay there 3 nights and then move. With the PPH we can stay for 5 nights!

I thought about staying at the DLH but with the construction still there and the price was quite a bit higher for my dates I stuck with the PPH!

I actually just booked the hotel yesterday! When I finalized our dates and booked our airfare the AP calendar wasn't showing anything available and I was cursing myself for not booking earlier! Luckily my dates and the original rates I was counting on came back!

After my friend leaves I will be changing to a cheaper hotel. I haven't decided on that yet!

[smile4stamps]

Originally Posted by reyasmommy

Yay, a best friend trip! I need one of those bad. My BFF and I will be celebrating 21 years of friendship this year. We've been friends since the first day of Junior High!

Anyway, your birthday is the same day as my wedding anniversary!

Hope you have a fantastic trip and I can't wait to hear more about it.

We've been friends since college. I was actually friends with her roommate when she started college at UWO. I quickly became better friends with her and have long since lost contact with the other roommate. We don't talk very often but she is always there when I need someone to talk to and I am there for her! This will be our first trip together so really looking forward to it.

[kaoden39]

I'm here!!

My trip in February with my best friend Dina was a blast. I look forward to following along.

[reyasmommy]

Originally Posted by smile4stamps

One of the hardest things for me to decide on was were to stay! I think I posted several threads on the main boards asking several questions. As I mentioned in the intro I normally go on a budget so had never even considered staying on-site. This trip I was considering it and was even considering the Grand Californian! In fact I had almost decided on the GCH when I thought we might go a Thursday - Thursday. I was going to book a costco travel package for 3 nights at the Anabella and then move to the GCH for 3 nights.

When we moved the dates to June 6 - 11 for my friend and it meant not being on-site on my birthday and looking over what others said in regards to the rooms at the GCH and all other aspects of it I decided on Paradise Pier! IF I had chosen GCH we would have only been able to stay there 3 nights and then move. With the PPH we can stay for 5 nights!

I thought about staying at the DLH but with the construction still there and the price was quite a bit higher for my dates I stuck with the PPH!

I actually just booked the hotel yesterday! When I finalized our dates and booked our airfare the AP calendar wasn't showing anything available and I was cursing myself for not booking earlier! Luckily my dates and the original rates I was counting on came back!

After my friend leaves I will be changing to a cheaper hotel. I haven't decided on that yet!

I would LOVE to stay at the GCH someday. I keep hoping that closer to the date we might be able to get a good and deal and change to staying there, but I'm not counting on it. I was also thinking about doing the PPH hotel, but I was trying to decide what my reason would be?!? I think the only thing is just that it's Disney... Period .... Staying on property just adds to the experience. But I don't think I can justify the price. Right now I'm planning on staying at the Anabella. That's where we stayed last time and loved almost everything about it. It's only a 3-5 minute walk from there to the entrance of PPH, and I can't justify paying over $100.00 extra a night just to stay at a place that has Mickey Mouse adorning every where I look. If that makes sense? I think the Anabella is the perfect location if you're not able to stay on property. Have you stayed there before? If you have any questions let me know.

[smile4stamps]

Originally Posted by kaoden39

I'm here!!

My trip in February with my best friend Dina was a blast. I look forward to following along.

Hey Michele! Thanks for joining! Did you see I finally finished my last TR?!?! I was DYING to start this one but had to finish the last one first!

Your Trip report sounded like you had fun! I have to make a point of stopping at the bar you went to!

[DisneyStitch626]

Your trip sounds so awesome so far! So lucky to not be on a budget! Those hotels sound so fun to stay in.

[smile4stamps]

Originally Posted by reyasmommy

I would LOVE to stay at the GCH someday. I keep hoping that closer to the date we might be able to get a good and deal and change to staying there, but I'm not counting on it. I was also thinking about doing the PPH hotel, but I was trying to decide what my reason would be?!? I think the only thing is just that it's Disney... Period .... Staying on property just adds to the experience. But I don't think I can justify the price. Right now I'm planning on staying at the Anabella. That's where we stayed last time and loved almost everything about it. It's only a 3-5 minute walk from there to the entrance of PPH, and I can't justify paying over $100.00 extra a night just to stay at a place that has Mickey Mouse adorning every where I look. If that makes sense? I think the Anabella is the perfect location if you're not able to stay on property. Have you stayed there before? If you have any questions let me know.

It will probably be a long time after this trip that I stay on-site again. I really want to experience Magic Mornings and with an AP on-site is the only way to do it! The cost is only $30 more a night than the Park Vue Inn so I figured why not!

I have only stayed at the Quality Inn and HoJo (for one night) I am looking at the Red Lion for the rest of this trip... We will see! Also thinking I may try Priceline... that is a scary thing to try though!

[smile4stamps]

Originally Posted by DisneyStitch626

Your trip sounds so awesome so far! So lucky to not be on a budget! Those hotels sound so fun to stay in.

Well It's not that I am 100% not on a budget. It is just MUCH loser this time around. I have worked a LOT of extra shifts to be able to have some wiggle room this trip!

[DisneyStitch626]

Well you deserve it that much more then. It should be a really great trip for you.

[kaoden39]

Originally Posted by smile4stamps

Hey Michele! Thanks for joining! Did you see I finally finished my last TR?!?! I was DYING to start this one but had to finish the last one first!

Your Trip report sounded like you had fun! I have to make a point of stopping at the bar you went to!

I need to stop by and read the rest. Yes, you do. It is a fun place to have a drink and people watch!!

[smile4stamps]

Originally Posted by DisneyStitch626

Well you deserve it that much more then. It should be a really great trip for you.

Thank you! I just wish it was here already. Although I am sure the time will go by pretty quickly!

Originally Posted by kaoden39

I need to stop by and read the rest. Yes, you do. It is a fun place to have a drink and people watch!!

It was the Uva Bar or a different one?