NoAlice?Rabbit,Hatter&Chessie Do a HolidayTrip.NEW11/27 1 More Day&I crush on Snowmen

[PracPerfPatricia]

California Dreaming August 2011

Everyone Reading and Writing on these Boards can easily be said to have a Disney Addiction... (Including Yours Truly...)

I have realized that my Disney Addiction cannot be physically contained by the state of Florida... but has spread... to

CALIFORNIA ... & ... DISNEYLAND

(now technically - I've had the pleasure of spending a day in Disneyland Paris as well...so I guess its crept even futher...... and the fact that I have clocks set for three time zones in my bedroom... Eastern Standard... Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and of course ORLANDO and WDW..., Pacific time -San Francisco and ANAHEIM and DISNEYLAND, and the time in Paris and PARIS DISNEYLAND.... originally it was to keep time at home and in San Francisco and Paris but I'm actually starting to wonder... )

Anyhow...

We've been to California several times in the last several years and its becoming a personal family favorite to vacation in... We love it ...

Last summer we got to spend 5 nights in San Francisco, 1 night at the end of the Big Sur drive, 3 nights in Los Angeles and 3 nights in Disneyland... and other than Big Sur, I mentioned to sneak something Disney in to each location... The Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, The Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and of course Disneyland in Anaheim...


So to start at the very beginning (which seems a very good place to start)...

San Francisco

I love San Francisco for so many reasons...

The temperate climate... to me a 65 degree day is blissful and NO HUMIDITY...well and actually because of the hilliness there are microclimates

The beauty of its setting... the whole city seems to be surrounded by the bay...well which it is... and it's hilly so you're always getting views of water, and green...It's all blue and green to me...

Its cultural character... It manages to be sophisticated and laid back at the same time... You have amazing museums and amazing out door activities

Its food culture... from bread and ice cream to fabulous restaurants of all ranges...

Hmmm....Icons like...

...The Golden Gate Bridge
...Cable Cars
...Alcatraz

(Sadly our last trip we missed Alcatraz... we had been there on a previous trip during the day and I had pre purchased tickets for an evening tour but we got the evenings confused...)

& now of special interest to Disney addicts ...

The Disney Family Museum...

Our first full day in San Francisco... we had to go to ride a cable car...touristy -yes but tons of fun... YOU have to do this early in the morning...or it becomes very crowded...






This was followed up by a visit to the Buena Vista Cafe which claims to have invented the Irish Coffee... whether this is true, I'm not sure but the Coffee was very good...






Over by Ghiradelli Square







The Walt Disney Family Museum is in an area called the Presidio...The Presidio was used for many years to hold Army Barracks and training facilities... The Bay area is of course right off of the Pacific and therefore exposed to invasion... therefore the Army presence...

The Army is no longer in the Presidio but there are many building being repurposed... George Lucas has his studios there and there are restaurants, recreational areas and Now The Walt Disney Family Museum...






Now unfortunately, there is no photo taking allowed in the Museum... which is very sad because it is AWESOME...

It was several stories... you ride upward and work your way day...
it starts with some history of Walt's childhood and his very earliest work with Roy... there are tons of old toys... the evolution from Oswald to Mickey is explored, there was a huge interactive room with the earliest Silly Symphonies playing, a huge tribute room to Snow White with sketches and film footage... continuing onward to all of the early films...Bambi and Pinocchio, Walt's war films, The South American films with Donald, stories about the Wonderful World of Disney, models of Disneyland and stories of why and how he developed them..., continuation of all the films in the 50s and 60s and then the development of Walt Disney World...some really, really moving tributes at the end from the time of Walt's death...

It really was wonderful...

There is a screening room in the basement level where it appears they are constantly doing screenings and lectures, a small coffee cafe and a really great upscalish gift shop...

I would definitely go back...

We had lunch near by at the Presidio Club, which used to be an officer's club, but is now a restaurant open to the public...unfortunately I don't remember what we ate other than it was very good... I do remember having a very good drink there.... there was a 40s themed drink menu... I highly recommend it...






It just so happens we were within a couple minutes of George Lucas' Studios and I had read that there was this special little fountain...








There is a rather nice view from there of the Palace of Fine Arts... the only structure left from the Panama-Pacific Exhibition of 1915...



and I thought this was pretty funny in the Starbucks ...Yep I find the coffee everywhere we go...



See they need coffee too... (They must have come over from the Lucas Studios...)

From there it was a short drive to get great views of a very famous bridge...








Continued in Next Post...

[PracPerfPatricia]

Continued from Previous Post...

... and a few photos outside the California Palace of the Legion of Honor (which was the museum featured in Vertigo) ...it has a cousin in the Golden Gate Park...the de Young Museum whose collections I prefer, but I still think the exterior here is pretty striking...)













I vaguely remember that we had to go back to Pier 39... which is really touristy and crowded because one of the kids had to have a souvenir which we could only get there...--- the whole reason is hazy and Hatter was very unhappy going there---he doesn't like crowded, commerical, touristy--- but there is one extra fun thing at Pier 39... the SEA LIONs...





Yeah well those loggish brown things behind the kids on the floating docks... I have better photos of marine life later from Monterey...



And that would be Alcatraz behind David way out in the Bay...





Ok I really hate this next picture ( I think it is immensely unflattering) but I'm willing to take one for the team to show the Coit Tower and the TransAmerica Building...

San Francisco to be continued...

[nodnol]

Thank you for your view on the Disney Family Museum. We spent two nights in San Francisco this summer, but didn't have a lot of time for the city, because we also met my aunt on the other side of the bay. We saw advertisments for the museum but weren't sure whether it was worth it...
I agree with you on the climate there, but this year I had problems to adjust: We had spent nearly three weeks in Kentucky, Arizona, Utah an Nevada before ending the trip in San Francisco and I was freezing

[MEK]

Originally Posted by PracPerfPatricia

Continued from Previous Post...



Ok I really hate this next picture ( I think it is immensely unflattering) but I'm willing to take one for the team to show the Coit Tower and the TransAmerica Building...




[/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER]


San Francisco to be continued...

I looked at all your pictures before I left for work this morning and I loved them all. I don't remember any that were even remotely unflattering, so I am sure you are mistaken.

There was one picture of you and Em which was great, but there is no chance of me finding it and I am not even going to blindy guess.

Your trip sounds wonderful and I definitely want to do a similar trip to this one of these years. It seems now that I am going to buy the new deeply discounted AP that I will be committed to Disney World for awhile again, but after that I am definitely planning a California visit.

I think the Disney museum is so wonderful. I am so glad that one of Walt's daughters (or is it a granddaughter) spear headed this effort. His legacy is amazing and inspiring.

[eandesmom]

Hmnnnn...

If Jeff and I do run away for a weekend we might have to add in a trip to the Disney Family Museum. Wonder if he will go for it on a "romantic" getaway?

Jeff is obsessed with the Irish coffees at the Buena Vista. In fact, when we were delayed going to Hawaii a couple of years ago, our first stop was the Buena Vista...at the airport. He has the recipe and makes it at Christmas.

[reyasmommy]

I LOVE Sanfrancisco! It's one of my favorite places to visit. My Dad lives in Sacramento, so every time we visit him, we stop in SanFran for a a night or two. I've never done the Disney Museum though. That's on my list for our next trip there. I love that your family travels together so much.

[Alysa]

Great pre-trip report! I love how you showed your kids through their trips to Disney. So sweet.

[MEK]

Originally Posted by PracPerfPatricia

California Dreaming August 2011

Here it is. Love this one.

[mnmrmustard]

Hey Patricia, thanks much for subbing on my PTR – I still have to get back to it and add my T-Shirt designs and my Disney addiction history

Thank you for the good luck with my MiL, it is a real roller coaster right now. We’ve figured out a way to keep her at home for another year if she uses her IRA to pay for home health care while we are at work/school. She has to spend it down anyways before Medicaid can kick in. But she’s actually thinking of moving into one of the assisted care facilities we toured over the weekend. Lots of high emotions in the household as we work through it all.

It is hard to not tell our DDs our secret about the trip, but we want to at least get within 30 days before spilling the beans.

I to can still recite the Preamble thanks to Schoolhouse Rock and I will always remember what an “interjection” is

Very cool about changing things up for your first day and fitting in the Candlelight Processional with NPH – we’ll be at the same viewing although we’ll be in line with the rest of the cattle while you get your preferred seating. Hitting the circuit on WS should be a good first day at “the World”.

The rest of your itinerary looks great too with lots of fun stops and adult beverage detours. I’m really hopeful you can see a bunch of the Phase 2 Fantasyland stuff in preview. Great finish eating at Raglan Road – I’ve heard nothing but good things about that place

Nice finish with EPCOT Futureworld. All four parks plus a little extra!

The Cali trip looked like a blast. I’ve been to San Fran at least a dozen times and STILL HAVEN’T BEEN TO THE WALT DISNEY MUSEUM!!!!!! I gotta get back down there. The last time I stayed there I was at a Dell conference at the big Hilton downtown and wrangled a corner suite. I am a bit of a camera nut so I of course had to do a panorama. It was at a time where there were wildfires so as you pan from left to right you will notice the image turn a bit red and fuzzy – that is from the smoke from the fires (warining – it is a big image) :

San Francisco Panorama at Night

So cool that you saw both the Disney Museum and Lucas Studios along with all of the other sites! What a fun day

Looking forward to hearing more!!!

[PracPerfPatricia]

Originally Posted by nodnol

Thank you for your view on the Disney Family Museum. We spent two nights in San Francisco this summer, but didn't have a lot of time for the city, because we also met my aunt on the other side of the bay. We saw advertisments for the museum but weren't sure whether it was worth it...

It's really hard sometimes to make choices when traveling especially when you're far from home...We really thought it was worth going to the DF Museum...... but we've also been in San Francisco several times and I'm sure we'll be back... If you ever have the time and interest I'd definitely recommend We really enjoyed it... and the all of the history... it's really well done... but if I had to make the decision to go to DLP and I only had two nights in say Paris... I don't think I'd go because Paris just has so much I have to see...


I agree with you on the climate there, but this year I had problems to adjust: We had spent nearly three weeks in Kentucky, Arizona, Utah an Nevada before ending the trip in San Francisco and I was freezing

Wow- that would be a huge climate adjustment...coming from Arizona and Nevada... you must have been absolutely freezing...

Originally Posted by MEK

I looked at all your pictures before I left for work this morning and I loved them all. I don't remember any that were even remotely unflattering, so I am sure you are mistaken.

There was one picture of you and Em which was great, but there is no chance of me finding it and I am not even going to blindy guess.

Your trip sounds wonderful and I definitely want to do a similar trip to this one of these years. It seems now that I am going to buy the new deeply discounted AP that I will be committed to Disney World for awhile again, but after that I am definitely planning a California visit.

Those AP s are awfully tempting... especially with the discounts...with the DVC... you would love California... it's a great place... San Francisco call feel really cold though especially compared to Orlando...

I think the Disney museum is so wonderful. I am so glad that one of Walt's daughters (or is it a granddaughter) spear headed this effort. His legacy is amazing and inspiring.

It was really special and I think that most of the Disney family live in the bay area... In a way I'm really glad that they choose to do it in SF vs near one of the parks... because I think it may have gotten overshadowed...

Originally Posted by reyasmommy

I LOVE Sanfrancisco! It's one of my favorite places to visit. My Dad lives in Sacramento, so every time we visit him, we stop in SanFran for a a night or two. I've never done the Disney Museum though. That's on my list for our next trip there. I love that your family travels together so much.

Hey Welcome...... More SF love.... Lucky you for having family in the Bay Area... Traveling is definitely one of my favorite things to do especially with my family although I'd love to get a couple of trips in just with DH...

Originally Posted by Alysa

Great pre-trip report! I love how you showed your kids through their trips to Disney. So sweet.

& Thanks... I don't know what I'd do without my photos... I love being able to see everyone growing up...!

[PracPerfPatricia]

Originally Posted by MEK

Here it is. Love this one.

Yes... I do like that one too...

Originally Posted by mnmrmustard

Hey Patricia, thanks much for subbing on my PTR – I still have to get back to it and add my T-Shirt designs and my Disney addiction history

"Disney addiction history" ... I love it- I think many of us have one of those ...

Thank you for the good luck with my MiL, it is a real roller coaster right now. We’ve figured out a way to keep her at home for another year if she uses her IRA to pay for home health care while we are at work/school. She has to spend it down anyways before Medicaid can kick in. But she’s actually thinking of moving into one of the assisted care facilities we toured over the weekend. Lots of high emotions in the household as we work through it all.

I can totally empathize... right now things are pretty stable with my mom- she's in an apartment 5 minutes from us... but I don't know what's going to happen... It is hard to become your parent's parent and hard to know what to do...

It is hard to not tell our DDs our secret about the trip, but we want to at least get within 30 days before spilling the beans.

Bless you because I just get too excited and I don't know if I could keep from spilling the beans...

I to can still recite the Preamble thanks to Schoolhouse Rock and I will always remember what an “interjection” is Love... Love... Schoolhouse Rock... "We the people... in order to form a more perfect union..." Wish they'd put it on again... or update...

Very cool about changing things up for your first day and fitting in the Candlelight Processional with NPH – we’ll be at the same viewing although we’ll be in line with the rest of the cattle while you get your preferred seating. Hitting the circuit on WS should be a good first day at “the World”.

Yes-thanks for giving me the idea... I don't know how but I'd forgotten about the CP and remembered about it when I read your PTR... so thanks for that... I don't know if I'd normally do the package put since the plan was to be in World Showcase we'd thought we 'd give it a try- we'll have to compare experience... and see if having the package makes much of a difference...

The rest of your itinerary looks great too with lots of fun stops and adult beverage detours. I’m really hopeful you can see a bunch of the Phase 2 Fantasyland stuff in preview. Great finish eating at Raglan Road – I’ve heard nothing but good things about that place

I've got my fingers crossed so hard about Fantasyland I've got hand cramps...

Nice finish with EPCOT Futureworld. All four parks plus a little extra!

The Cali trip looked like a blast. I’ve been to San Fran at least a dozen times and STILL HAVEN’T BEEN TO THE WALT DISNEY MUSEUM!!!!!! I gotta get back down there. The last time I stayed there I was at a Dell conference at the big Hilton downtown and wrangled a corner suite. I am a bit of a camera nut so I of course had to do a panorama. It was at a time where there were wildfires so as you pan from left to right you will notice the image turn a bit red and fuzzy – that is from the smoke from the fires (warining – it is a big image) :

San Francisco Panorama at Night

Nice photo but those fires are scary...... it must be frightening to live near there...

Definitely make it a point to go to the museum ... next time... you'll love it...

So cool that you saw both the Disney Museum and Lucas Studios along with all of the other sites! What a fun day

All of that creativity so close together... it's enough to make your head explode...

Looking forward to hearing more!!!

I'm hoping to do an update and more California today...

[PracPerfPatricia]

I am a little bit irritated...

I just worked on an update for over 45 minutes and the computer ate it...



Evil...evil...evil computer...

If I could punish you I so would....

Which is a shame because I was in such a good Autumnal mood...

thinking about getting pumpkins and cider tomorrow... and you just killed it...



& the Fact that we only have 61 days to go...

and writing about plans to do a weekly film night for the next 8 weeks... something Beach Club-y and Something Christmas-y and Something trio-y but you had to go along and eat my plans and ideas....



BAD BAD Computer...

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hmmm... So lets go back and do a little more of California while I compose myself...


Golden Gate Park is an amazing 1000 acre + space that has all kinds of amazing museums, gardens and outdoor activity spaces...


During this last trip we went to the California Academy of Sciences... Great Sci Mu---very cool architecture....













There is a great little Chinese garden not to be mistaken with the larger more famous Japanese tea Garden -we were there on an earlier trip... this little Chinese garden was lovely and empty...








Later that day we ate at Hog Island Oyster which is over in the Ferry Building...I could write a whole trip report on the Ferry Building -it is on the Embarcadero and it is full of amazing things to eat and drink... sadly I didn't get pictures of it this time... I have to go back and look in older photo files... but if you are a foodie... it is a not to be missed.... coffee, cheeses, charcuteries, pastries, chocolates, breads... Unbelievable... Although I don't have pictures of what we ate... I remember oysters and clam chowder and great bread and wine... we look happy... we must have liked it...







Muir Woods---John Muir is the environmentalist/conservationalist responsible for inspiring Teddy Roosevelt starting our National Parks ... about 1/2 hour outside of SF is this lovely Redwood Park named in his honor...(they taped some of the 6th or 3rd depending on how you look at it- Star Wars film here... the one with the Ewoks...















DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO MONTEREY?...We have an appointment with some sea otters and seals... (oh and some crabs- and they are not for you...)

[PracPerfPatricia]

Do You Know the Way to Monterey? and Big Sur ...

We spent a lovely 5 days in San Francisco but it was then time to say good bye... we were heading south to LA and Disneyland but first we were driving the Pacific Coast Highway and stopping in Monterey and then driving the portion known as Big Sur...


Monterey has an awesome Aquarium that we've previously done... Highly Recommend... Cannery Row looks nothing like it looked in Steinbeck's time... no sardine canneries just restaurants, boutiques and galleries and the Aquarium...

But we were headed for the Wharf because we had a date with sea lions and sea otters and planned on eating some snow crabs hmmm or were they King? and we were not going to be deterred...











Can't you just hear him saying "MINE" - no dude it is not yours...



Then it was time to board our glass bottomed boat for a cruise in the bay to see lots of sea lions and sea otters... (I have way more sea lions because they hang on the rocks more...like they are sunning on vacation...)













Those last ones were the males... apparently they don't hang out with the females and the pups... they were loud, pushy and kind of aromatic...

It was during this trip that David announced his intentions that his wife be a marine biologist ... when I asked him why he didn't become one... he answered that he was already going to be busy being a physicist and a medical researcher... hmmm... and I thought you were supposed to fall in love with the person and not their job... but he told me that he would already fall in love with her... I'm wondering how that's going to work out ...

So we left Monterey and traveled down along what I think is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen and my pictures do not begin to do it justice...Big Sur...











We stopped to grab an early dinner at a place called Nepenthe... It had amazing views in all directions...













The next day we were headed for Los Angeles... inching closer to Disneyland...

[Alysa]

Beautiful photos!

It was during this trip that David announced his intentions that his wife be a marine biologist ... when I asked him why he didn't become one... he answered that he was already going to be busy being a physicist and a medical researcher... hmmm... and I thought you were supposed to fall in love with the person and not their job... but he told me that he would already fall in love with her... I'm wondering how that's going to work out ...

Funny boy! I thought when I was little that I would fall in love with a violinist. I ended up instead with a medical researcher. I'm okay with it though! To be fair, most scientists I know have partners who are also in research so tell David his chances are better than most. My husband is the only one I know with an artsy wife and 16 years yesterday so not doing too badly!