DAY 4
We opened the park
And we closed the park!
The group met in the lobby at 8 am and we walked to Disneyland. We entered before everyone and took a group photo in front of the giant floral Mickey at the entrance, then a group photo in front of the giant Mickey pumpkin. It was so special walking, running, skipping down Main Street with just our group!
At one point, the mom from the wax museum dropped her bag and ran down Main Street toward the castle
It was funny because she gave no thought to her bag, but it was even funnier when I found out it was her daughters bag! We took family photos in front of the Partners Statue and then in front of the castle.
Once the pictures were done, it was time for Breakfast with Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn! While enjoying a yummy meal, we were visited by Fairy Godmother, Captain Hook, Tigger, Chip, and Pooh. I am a character lover, so I would have been even happier had we seen more!
We walked over to Indiana Jones for a backstage experience to learn about the ride vehicles. (Yes, this was a part of our first trip.) We were then able to enjoy the ride, which was great after learning so much about it.
We split into our groups again and Kermit went to the Enchanted Tiki Room for a show. Once we switched, we were taken into Walts apartment above the fire station. We were privileged to visit it on our first ABD, but I had asked about going on the patio and was told it was not allowed. However, they were doing work on the main entrance and we were taken up the back staircase through the patio!! It was beautiful and so wonderful sitting out there!
We met up with the group outside the Tiki Room and walked over to Pirates of the Caribbean. I thought we were just going on the ride, but Summer-Rose and Jason gave us the biggest surprise for me
We were going into the Dream Suite!!!! (Yay!!!!!!!!!!) I was so excited my eyes started watering and I really had to fight to keep from crying. Since the Animal group went into Walts Apartment first, we would go into the Dream Suite first (Yes!) and the Animal group went on Pirates. We were taken up a back way to an elevator to a side entrance of the suite. Once our group was gathered (2 elevator trips), we were allowed into the Dream Suite and I entered first! (Thanks to the gentleman we met at the Grand before heading to Hollywood.) We had been up there before when it was the gallery and had even bought tickets for the Fantasmic dessert seating several times, but this was different. The pictures, the furniture, the special touches, everything was just amazing! I loved the little extras that the Imagineers added for a place that not many people will have the honor of seeing. We toured the master bedroom, the living room, and the guest room. Thanks to a wonderful woman in our group, I was able to push the button to see the special effect in the guest room and it surprised us all to see a train leave what we thought was a glass case and travel around the room. We went out on the balcony to take pictures and enjoy the view. Even though I didnt push the button, my favorite thing was when the castle and a firework lit up in the mirror and music played. I think it was Once Upon a Dream, but my mind was too overwhelmed to remember all of the details. Before we left, I offered to housesit
Summer-Rose and Jason had another surprise for us and we looked around for a spot big enough for our group. We were going to Aladdins Oasis, but there was a private party. We tried Jolly Holiday Bakery, but it was packed, so we stopped behind the red corndog wagon for a short while before we were told about the available tables at the Refreshment Corner. (Many thanks to Adrienne who was our human Fast Pass and was always there with a smile!) We were given Dole Whips to enjoy as the other group arrived. While we enjoyed the treat, we were told about the finding of another time capsule! Yay for the pin of the day! Jason and Summer-Rose gave us our park tickets and a surprise of 5 Fast Passes! But, wait, theres more! We each received a $20 food voucher and a surprise of reserved seating for Mickeys Soundsational Parade!!
The food vouchers were great as they lasted 2 meals. However, I still remember the lunch on this day of our first trip. We ate at my favorite restaurant, Café Orleans, and were joined by, Time Keeper, a pirate. Once we finished lunch, the entire group went on Pirates of the Caribbean with Time Keeper. It was a memory that has stuck with me!
As we separated from the group, we continued hanging out with our friends from the North
East
Canada. As we walked past the castle, my husband and I decided to detour a little and show them Snow Whites Grotto, since we had seen the original statues the day before. That is such a great little nook of the park!
Next stop was the Matterhorn and the single rider line. (Continuing the why did I go on this ride #3.) Small World was next, which my husband skipped, and I told our new friends that there were 29 Disney characters in our version. It was a lot of fun looking for all of them! We continued toward Toon Town and went on Roger Rabbit, which wasnt as bad as the last time I rode it. Somehow my husband and I ended up backward and couldnt even spin our way out of it. We decided to use a Fast Pass on Buzz Lightyear, but I had forgotten that it no longer takes them, so Star Tours it was! Crossing the great divide between the two rides, I met my first Storm Trooper and took a picture. We rode Star Tours (no husband again) and then we all went on Thunder Mountain.
We went to a late lunch / early dinner at the Hungry Bear Restaurant (my husbands favorite) and ate downstairs near the water. We went on an enjoyable ride on the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh before I regretfully decided to go on Splash Mountain with a Fast Pass. My husband was smart and skipped this ride. I do not think the line to go on a ride has ever moved quicker than it did for this ride. We sat down, I grabbed on for dear life, and I did not let go until the ride was over. (We are now on why did I go on this ride #4.) The Canadian wife decided that her husband needed to buy a souvenir shirt so that she could wear it and attempt to warm up.
My husband walked to the parade seating while the three of us, still pretty wet, we took the train from New Orleans Square to Toon Town to Tomorrowland to Main Street (the best leg of the trip!) We walked up Main Street and found our VIP parade seating. My poor husband was there attempting to fend off people from the reserved section before we arrived, which was before the guides arrived. We were in the same spot as the night before and had wonderful seats for my favorite parade!
After the parade, the four of us went on Thunder Mountain twice in a row using our Fast Passes. We pointed out the Ray Bradbury tree to the Disneyland newbies as we walked through Frontierland on the way to Star Tours. We, minus my husband, went on Star Tours and finally went underwater (my favorite scene)! We did the tea cups, my husband skipped it, the wife and I were in a tea cup and didnt spin, while her husband spun his heart out in a tea cup of his own. We went on the carrousel, then on Pinocchios Daring Journey, enjoyed the Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough, and then walked back to the hotel.
We walked into our hotel room and noticed some items on the dresser
Pictures printed for us by our guides and cookies and milk!! What a yummy surprise!
What a busy fun, but busy day!
We have been in touch with several members of our adventure and are planning to see them again!!
Just in case anyone was wondering...
