~Friday, my DL trip is finally here!!!~I got my way and we left early!! I knew I would win. We were out of the house by 4:10 and after a short stop at the gas station, we were on the freeway by 4:30. Not a lot of traffic at that time, but a lot of trucks, and b/c of light traffic, it was pretty much cruise control the whole way down. Once we were at the end of the 152, I started checking for traffic w/ the construction. (That was my biggest worry of the trip.) We got to the one lane part around 7:45 or so and thankfully had no problems! The 1st section, there was no one in front of us and on the 2nd section, we were behind a truck, but aside from a slight slowing down, no worries. Had a quick stop just past Valencia, and we were on our way again. There werent any problems getting through downtown LA; a little slowing outside of downtown before DL, but if youve ever driven down to DL on the 5, you expect that, so it wasnt bad. We pulled into the Travelodge about 9:45, so we made great time!
Our room was ready, so we got to check in. The lady said it was 3rd floor, but that wasnt a big deal, well, at least until Sunday after the race.
We got a corner room, away from the street facing the Super 8, so not only was it a large room, it was really quiet. We got everything unloaded and were finally on our way into the parks.
We walked over the onramp by Mickey and Friends to catch the tram to DTD and the parks. The lines into DL were not long at all, and we were on Main Street by 10:45.
It was perfect in the parks, there were people, but the waits werent that long at all and we had no problems whatsoever. We pretty much walked right onto to Splash and Pirates right off the bat; no more than a 5 minute wait.
See, not a lot of people! And 1 of my fave places in the park~
Our first wait of the day was on Indy. But that was about 20-25 minutes. After that, it was on to Matterhorn, and that was about 15 minutes or so, but w/ it just reopening, I was expecting a lot longer.
I took a ton of pics b/c the old sleds were out and I wanted to make sure I had some pics before they changed in the next refurb. The cool part was that I sat in the front section and w/ an app on my touch, I shot the whole ride in a 60s style little video. The only downside of the video is when you go from inside to the outside and there isnt enough time for the image to adjust, but the video is awesome. Its really like I was shooting it way back when. Autopia wasnt long so we hopped on that one too. By then, we were kinda hungry and the expo was open so onto DTD for some lunch. The train was pulling in, so a short little ride around to Main Street.
Lunch was at Naples, their pizza is so delicious. We split a small pizza, but if youve eaten there, you know even a small pizza, isnt that small and a salad.
It was on to the expo after lunch. We had a crazy maze-like walk over to the expo w/ the construction going on at the hotel. After the maze, it was downstairs to pick up my bibs. Once again, perfect timing and I had almost no wait! Thereve been times in the past where the wait for my bib or the park tix where Ive waited more than 15 minutes in line!! Then it was upstairs for the rest of the race stuff and the vendors. The expo was in the same ballroom that is has always been, but this year, there were less vendors so it took a lot less time than I planned. Stopped by the race souvenir area, but didnt really find anything that I really liked. I saw a shirt, but I have so many now, it really has to be a different type to peak my interest.
B/c we werent at the expo very long, probably an hour, we were on our way back towards DCA. As we walked down DTD, we stopped in the Vinylmation Store and the Vault, as well as the
Disney Store, but didnt see anything. It may be me, but I remember when I used to go to DL and never have a problem finding at least one thing I wanted to buy, but the past couple of years, aside from art pieces that I could never afford, I havent really found anything. We got a locker, and then into the new maze of DCA.
Its so crazy to see how much DCA has changed, not only since I was there last year, but from when it 1st opened and to think how much it will change by the time I get back in January and again next Labor Day. As you walk in now, along the walls they have pictures of what everything will look like when theyre all done and I cant wait. I love old Hollywood, so itll be fun to be transported back at least for the day. And I was surprised at how tall the Cathay Theater building is; its a lot larger than I thought.
First stop in DCA was Soarin. You come out there, and the wait wasnt long so that worked out great. After that,
No line, just the regular waiting to enter the waiting room
and then it was on to the elevators and the dropping!!! I love that ride!! By the time we got off the ride, it was about 4:00, so we picked up our picnic boxes and FPs for WOC. We stopped off at Pacific Wharf, b/c my dad wanted a beer and I got a Margarita at Ritas. I really wish they would sell chips and salsa, if they did, they would make a fortune!
We people watched for a while, and then it was down to the Pier. I stopped in a store really quick to check out some earrings for the race. They had some really simple Mickey Heads and Tinkerbell studs, so I picked them up. We passed on Screamin, my dads not big on roller coasters so no riding, but we stood on the bridge and watched them take off. Its so funny watching people as the brace for the shoot off. Then on to TSMM. I have to say, I love that ride too! I think its the competitiveness in me. I really do need to check out and see if they a game or an app like the ride, b/c it is one of the most entertaining rides there. Needless to say, I won!!! My dad beat me on accuracy and he said thats what counts, but we all know thats not true.
Once we were off TSMM, we wandered around the games and shops, passing a little bit of time before dinner. We had some dinner at Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta. That place is huge! There were lots of places to eat and the area to pick up the food was roomy as well. I like the area off to the side w/ the fans. He had the Italian Chef Salad and I had the Chicken Sundried Tomato Pasta. It was good and the sauce had a slight hint (for me) of heat that was a good touch; would definitely eat there again.
Now that dinner was over, and I was carbed up for Sunday, we walked over to LM. The line wasnt bad, about a 10 minute or so wait. I dont know about that one, I have to go on it again for a consensus. For me, it was an okay ride. I know that they cant fit the entire story in a ride, but it just seemed like too big of a jump in the story from room to room. I liked at the beginning of the ride when they turn you backwards at an angle w/ water bubbles like youre really going under the sea, its really relaxing. Its my fav part of HM too. If the ride stopped there for some reason, I could totally see myself having no problem falling asleep there! And the Under the Sea room was amazing! As we entered the room, my mouth literally dropped open.
By the time we got off the ride, it was about 7:00 or so, and we werent sure what the deal w/ the WOC color areas so we walked over to the CMs who were setting up and what to do. We got Yellow area FPs so they told us we could wait over by the little light house/tower thing until it was time to get in line. I wanted to get off my feet for a while, so I went over there and my dad went over to the GC. After we got into the Yellow area, we found a place midway up next to some stairs so thats where we stayed.
Let me just say Oh My God! That show was absolutely incredible. I cant even put it into words. I cannot wait until I see it again. I wasnt sure about the show, Im not a big Fantasmic person, but I would watch this show every night I was at the park. Our seats we good, but next time, I want to be a little more centered; we were off a little to the right. But it was a great show. And timing was perfect as we were leaving and the fireworks were going off so we had a perfect view of them.
Picked up the stuff from the locker and then back to the hotel. We were going to stop at Marcellines, but the line was crazy long, so we just hopped on the tram.
If it was any other 5K, I probably would have skipped it, but being DL, I wasnt going to miss it.
and Storm Troopers and then the race started! 
I was blown away by how big it really is, especially when you are street level going right by it. After we ran around Cars Land and the back of Screamin, it was into DCA and the finish line!! I picked up my medal and then back to the trams and the hotel. 
We had a small wait for POC again; the Jungle Cruise was a little bit longer, but nothing crazy. For lunch, we went to Zocalos, I love that place. I had their Tortilla Soup and my dad had the Tostada Salad. Their chicken tacos are my favorite, but not this time. 
About ½ way through the 2nd quarter, I ordered some dinner and back to the hotel to rest up and get ready for Sunday.
I havent been a big fast food person in a long time, but this is a must stop whenever we leave DL. There are only a couple left, all in the LA area, and 1 of them is in Boyle Heights right off the 5, so you can pop off the freeway and back on again w/o wasting any time. They are sooooo much better than KFC or Popeyes, I think its the batter. After that, on the way home. Once again, traffic was light. I think it was b/c it was Sunday instead of Monday. There were cars on the road, but it wasnt bad. Even the construction wasnt a problem. I was home about 4:15 or so, we made really good time. 
