pepe3penelope
Princess Ariel at Heart
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2013
I had a rare day off & decided to make this my solo day. At first I was worried about the rain, but not a drop fell onto the ground!
Here's my chronological summary of my wonderful day!
I made onto the freeway at 0658, but got lots of traffic. I parked at the Chip and Dale lot at 0744.
As soon as I entered the park, I decided to take a photo with Minnie! She was so cute, but I have to say that her short stature made me look soooo tall (I'm only 5' 4 1/2"). The family in front of me took forever and then a man shoved his son even though the CM told him there was a line!
I was going to take a picture at the Walt & Mickey statue w/the castle in the background, but that slow family was at the end of the line. No, thank you! I got this photo instead.
Instead, I went straight for Space Mountain. It said 10 minute wait. The walk and finishing the ride was 7 minutes! I got the front row. I last rode this in July & this time seemed extremely dark. Too dark for my taste.
Star Tours had a 5 minute wait, but I repeated the ride because it was the last scenario as July. So the 2nd time was also another repeated scenario from July! I lined up at 0825 and finished the 2nd round by 0850.
I went to Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom. It said 10 minutes and I actually stepped off the ride in 12 minutes!
I walked onto POTC by 0915 and got off the boat at 0935.
I went to the Haunted Mansion merchandise store & found the Haunted Mansion hostess shirt that had run out earlier in the fall. I snatched it & paid immediately. DH has the male version of the shirt! Sorry that the photo is blurry.
I went to the Mint Julep Bar and ordered a 3 pack of their Pumpkin Beignets. I was so excited because I had just heard of the pumpkin version & couldn't wait. Positives: Love the powdered sugar mountain and the smell. Negatives: Couldn't use AP discount. Although it was delicious, I think I'd try something else next time as a snack. I've heard about the pumpkin creme brulee at Jolly Holiday.
BTMRR: Said 10 minutes, but wait & actual ride was 10 minutes! When I got off the ride, I noticed they changed it to a 5 minute wait.
I headed toward Main Street & did window shopping. I noticed that Main Street was looking busy with a lot of people coming into Disneyland. By now, the sky was sunny.
I did a little more window shopping in Buena Vista Street (sorry, but as you can tell, I love me some shopping).
Look who I saw at Paradise Pier!
I went to TSMM, but it had a 45 minute wait. I went on California Screamin by 1056 & was off the ride by 1102. I went to TOT & it said 20 minute wait, but I sat down by 10 minutes! I did more window shopping at Art of the Page (next to Disney Junior) and made it to my 11:30 reservation time for lunch at Carthay Circle!!!
I was seated by 10 minutes. Eating here is such a splurge and I really craved having an adult meal. However, I saw a mother come with her DD about 9 years old & I really missed DD (I actually teared up). Overall, I had a wonderful meal. I took my time and never felt rushed. I ordered a Blue Hawaiian cocktail, the cheddar fried biscuits with the apricot butter (they could bottle that butter & I'd buy it on the spot) & the firecracker duck wings as my entree. I love those biscuits & ate all of them! But then my stomach felt so heavy (I think it was too much cheese & butter) so I only ate 3 wings. I waited then later ordered the chocolate turnover w/housemade marshmallow & Carthay Theater popcorn ice cream. I had to order it for the ice cream alone! It sounds so weird, but tastes ultra yummy!
I finally left the restaurant and arrived at RSR's single rider line at 1:31 and got on the ride in 20 minutes.
I headed over to Soarin' Over California's single rider and would have been seated in another 5 minutes, but it broke down. They offered everyone anytime FP's but I was leaving soon so I left.
So what's a girl to do? Shop, of course!!!! I went to DTD and GCH. I was in line for the tram by 3:31 & left in a tram by 3:38. I left the car space by 3:46 & headed home.
Some topic discussions:
PANDORA: the selection is so limited now. You'd be extremely lucky to find anything. I looked at Main Street, Elias & Co., Acorn Gifts (I think that's the name of the gift shop at GCH), & World of Disney. I actually snagged the last blue 2015 glass bead.
Hope you enjoyed my miniTR!
Here's my chronological summary of my wonderful day!
I made onto the freeway at 0658, but got lots of traffic. I parked at the Chip and Dale lot at 0744.
As soon as I entered the park, I decided to take a photo with Minnie! She was so cute, but I have to say that her short stature made me look soooo tall (I'm only 5' 4 1/2"). The family in front of me took forever and then a man shoved his son even though the CM told him there was a line!
I was going to take a picture at the Walt & Mickey statue w/the castle in the background, but that slow family was at the end of the line. No, thank you! I got this photo instead.
Instead, I went straight for Space Mountain. It said 10 minute wait. The walk and finishing the ride was 7 minutes! I got the front row. I last rode this in July & this time seemed extremely dark. Too dark for my taste.
Star Tours had a 5 minute wait, but I repeated the ride because it was the last scenario as July. So the 2nd time was also another repeated scenario from July! I lined up at 0825 and finished the 2nd round by 0850.
I went to Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom. It said 10 minutes and I actually stepped off the ride in 12 minutes!
I walked onto POTC by 0915 and got off the boat at 0935.
I went to the Haunted Mansion merchandise store & found the Haunted Mansion hostess shirt that had run out earlier in the fall. I snatched it & paid immediately. DH has the male version of the shirt! Sorry that the photo is blurry.
I went to the Mint Julep Bar and ordered a 3 pack of their Pumpkin Beignets. I was so excited because I had just heard of the pumpkin version & couldn't wait. Positives: Love the powdered sugar mountain and the smell. Negatives: Couldn't use AP discount. Although it was delicious, I think I'd try something else next time as a snack. I've heard about the pumpkin creme brulee at Jolly Holiday.
BTMRR: Said 10 minutes, but wait & actual ride was 10 minutes! When I got off the ride, I noticed they changed it to a 5 minute wait.
I headed toward Main Street & did window shopping. I noticed that Main Street was looking busy with a lot of people coming into Disneyland. By now, the sky was sunny.
I did a little more window shopping in Buena Vista Street (sorry, but as you can tell, I love me some shopping).
Look who I saw at Paradise Pier!
I went to TSMM, but it had a 45 minute wait. I went on California Screamin by 1056 & was off the ride by 1102. I went to TOT & it said 20 minute wait, but I sat down by 10 minutes! I did more window shopping at Art of the Page (next to Disney Junior) and made it to my 11:30 reservation time for lunch at Carthay Circle!!!
I was seated by 10 minutes. Eating here is such a splurge and I really craved having an adult meal. However, I saw a mother come with her DD about 9 years old & I really missed DD (I actually teared up). Overall, I had a wonderful meal. I took my time and never felt rushed. I ordered a Blue Hawaiian cocktail, the cheddar fried biscuits with the apricot butter (they could bottle that butter & I'd buy it on the spot) & the firecracker duck wings as my entree. I love those biscuits & ate all of them! But then my stomach felt so heavy (I think it was too much cheese & butter) so I only ate 3 wings. I waited then later ordered the chocolate turnover w/housemade marshmallow & Carthay Theater popcorn ice cream. I had to order it for the ice cream alone! It sounds so weird, but tastes ultra yummy!
I finally left the restaurant and arrived at RSR's single rider line at 1:31 and got on the ride in 20 minutes.
I headed over to Soarin' Over California's single rider and would have been seated in another 5 minutes, but it broke down. They offered everyone anytime FP's but I was leaving soon so I left.
So what's a girl to do? Shop, of course!!!! I went to DTD and GCH. I was in line for the tram by 3:31 & left in a tram by 3:38. I left the car space by 3:46 & headed home.
Some topic discussions:
PANDORA: the selection is so limited now. You'd be extremely lucky to find anything. I looked at Main Street, Elias & Co., Acorn Gifts (I think that's the name of the gift shop at GCH), & World of Disney. I actually snagged the last blue 2015 glass bead.
Hope you enjoyed my miniTR!