Day 1 – September 14th, 2014 – Part 1
Arrived Safely, Lunch/Dinner & HallwoeenTime
It’s time for the first day of the trip in September during the Halloween season with DAW (my dad’s sister). I was just there a couple of months ago with my DB and V in July where we were able to enjoy the parks with V friend and also my friends from Sacramento with along with the foreign exchange student and mother where we were able to be in the parks for part of the day. This will be the second trip this year for DAW where she went with me during the June trip. During the June trip in which she went with me is that she had to use her Premium AP since it was expiring in late June. Unexpectedly she renewed her AP during the June trip which was a shock to me but she really enjoyed going to the DLR that she will be going with me for one more year. So this is her first usage of her renewed AP.
For this trip it was all about relaxation for DAW and also a good opportunity to see the Halloween decorations at the DLR. I have enjoyed going to the DLR during the Halloween season which is my second most favorite season that the Christmas/Holiday season will always be my favorite. DAW has never been to the DLR during the Halloween season in which she did experienced the Halloween season at WDW in 2012. So it was going to be fun to go back during the Halloween season with DAW for her first time.
Also during the trip, I was renting a lens for this trip. I have rented lenses in the past in which my last one was during the June trip with DAW where I have tried the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G telephoto lens. I was so impressed of using the telephoto lens during the June trip in which I got a lot of up close shots at the parks. It was used mostly for Fantasmic!, World of Color, Mickey and the Magical Map, Aladdin Musical and other up close shots. For this trip, I was renting the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 lens. This is like the ultimate dark ride and nighttime lens which has a zoom in and out range where it is like a prime lens but you can adjust the range of the picture. I have been thinking of getting this lens since last year but I was not sure about the range where it only goes at 35mm max. I have gotten the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 along with the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens from late last year and I was glad that I got those lenses. The reason I wanted to try the Sigma lens was by
mom2rtk trip report in which she is going to use this lens for her trip report during the holiday season and I had to try it out if I am interested or not. This is good to rent lenses and see if I am interested in buying it or not or I could not afford it. This was going to be very interesting in which it is two lenses in one from my Tamron and Nikon 35mm f/1.8 lens that I own. During the trip, I have took over 1,500 pictures with the Sigma lens during the trip. I rented the Sigma lens from borrowlenses.com.
Now let’s get to the trip report.
It was around 7am in the morning on Sunday where DAW picked me up instead of me picking her up at her house. This is like my usual time when I leave Sacramento and over to SoCal so we can get there in the afternoon. Since we weren’t in a rush to get to SoCal, we took our time. We didn’t leave until 7:30am from Sacramento to SoCal.
When we packed all of our stuff in the car, we stared our journey down to SoCal. During the drive, I mostly go on Highway 99 to visit my grandmother in Livingston. But we didn’t stop on the way to see her on the way. I mostly drove all the way to SoCal while DAW slept or rested up during the whole time. She was tired after working at school during the school fundraiser. I still prefer to drive on I-99 since I am used to driving that way over I-5.
Even on a Sunday, the traffic to SoCal was not that bad where there were times where it can be busy on the highway. We got to Anaheim around 2pm which was really fast that day in which we left late that morning.
We head straight on over to our hotel which was Best Western Anaheim Inn. I have stayed at BWAI a lot in the past with DAF, DB and V. This is her first time staying at BWAI in which we have stayed at a lot of different hotels on Harbor Blvd. It was also the first time for me staying at the newly refurbished BWAI in which the front was down during a few trips in the past where it had a makeover of the front. It added a new third story continental breakfast location which is new where in the past it never had a breakfast place. There was also a upstairs gym that is new as well. So it is a lot different from back then and it was nice to stay there.
While we were here, DAW rented an ECV from Deckertt’s. She has rented from Deckertt’s in the past and the last time which was a little disappointing where we got the ECV late during the June trip. This time, the ECV was already at the hotel when we came up so one good thing was resolved where it arrived.
We checked-in at BWAI and we were located on the first floor on the first building. Since DAW was using an ECV, we asked for a handicapped room so it would be easy for her to bring the ECV in the room. It was nice to have that room for the ECV so it would be easy for her to bring it in the room.
After we settled in the room at BWAI, we thought about heading on over to the parks immediately. But we decided to wait until the 4pm Mickey’s Soundsational Parade was over since it was coming from It’s a Small World Plaza to Main Street Town Square and it will be busy in that area. We also could go to DCA and wait until the parade ended. But we didn’t have anything to eat on the way to SoCal (except for snacks) so we decided to have an early dinner.
For early dinner, we went on over to Tony Roma’s which is right next to BWAI and it was a quick walk for us. I really enjoyed eating at Tony Roma’s for their ribs and steak.
It was still lunch at that time and it was nice to have lunch/dinner at Tony Roma’s since I was able to watch the Sunday football games.
For dinner, I had the St Louis Ribs along with two filet medallions along with garlic mash potatoes. DAW had a garden salad with chicken
After lunch/dinner at Tony Roma’s, we head on over to the DLR. It was close to 4pm when we exited Tony Roma’s and at the Esplanade. But before we head on over to DL that day to see the Halloween decorations and avoid the 4pm Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, we head on over to DCA first to walk around until it was time to head on over to DL.
When we entered DCA, we head on in the Los Feliz Five Dime store. In this building, it has like the current season merchandise from Halloween, Christmas and 2014 etc. year merchandise. There was a nice selection of Halloween merchandise but not as much like the Christmas season in my opinion.
There were very interesting Disney characters in their Halloween costumes.
After looking at the merchandise, we just roamed around DCA until we head on over to DL that day. When we were out walking at DCA, it felt so hot that afternoon that DAW had to buy an umbrella and luckily I had my froggy towel with me so I can keep my neck cool. When I looked on my iPhone and what the weather was like that Sunday, it topped at 104. Talk about a hot day in SoCal where this is like NorCal weather during the summertime. The park was not that busy where most of the ride wait times were low.
When walking around Paradise Pier, we passed by Toy Story Midway Mania and the wait time was only at 15 minutes. Talk about a short wait time that afternoon. I would have guessed that since it was so hot and during the off-season, the wait time was so low.
The flowers right next to the light tower at PP.
It was time to walk on over to DL since it was around 4:30pm and the parade should be finished so we started to walk-on out of DCA and over to DL.
We exited DCA and now back at the Esplanade and about to enter DL. Like always during the Halloween season at DL park, the giant pumpkin character heads are above the turnstiles.
There is Goofy
Donald, Mickey, Minnie and Pluto
Now we are at the Happiest Place on Earth and ready to see all the different Halloween decorations. DAW has never been to DL during the Halloween season and was impressed with the giant character pumpkin heads on the turnstiles and this was only the beginning.
MS all decorated with Halloween colors banners.
Even the light poles have the HalloweenTime decoations.
It is nice to see DL all decorated during the Halloween season and now to Main Street Town Square.
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