1st trip to Disneyland!!!

[Captain Redbeard]

Hey DISer's!!! This is my second post to the boards and I am excited to join a community based around "The happiest place on earth"!!! Here is a little back story about how I came to join to introduce myself (and family).

My mother is a long time lurker (and still is), HI MOM!!! She was bit by the Disney bug 4 years ago. My family did not quite understand...and I apologize to everyone here, especially her for thinking it was a bit crazy to be so into Disney. My father was a band director when I was younger so I have been to WDW many times with the high school band, which is not a fair assessment of the park(s). My wife had only been to WDW once before, when we were both in band in high school, so again, not as fun as it should be!

Anyway, my wife and I recently moved to the DLR area and when my parents came to visit we all went to DLR for the first time! (Technically it was my dad's second time there, but he was a small boy and only there for a few hours his first time so I think it doesn't quite count)

My mom got me lurking here about a month or so ago and here we are today! She wanted me to share our trip (I wanted to also). But I hope with enough positive pressure from the community we can get her to finally join as well!!!

So, that is my lengthy introduction/back story. My trip report is to follow in the the next few days!!!! I hope you enjoy reading about and seeing pictures of our first trip to Disneyland!!!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Oh I can't wait to read about your trip & see pics!!!! Welcome to the boards

 

[Captain Redbeard]

The cast for this DLR TR is Robb (me), Ellie (my wife), Shirley (my Mom), and Don (my Dad)...with a special appearance by Rupert (my Yorkie).
Well, with the intro out of the way...HERE WE GO!!!!

My folks flew into LAX at 12A.M. so we did what any sane family would do...
WE GOT DOUGHNUTS AT RANDYS!!!

We then drove to our motel, the lovely Candy Cane Inn. I would recommend the CCI to anyone wanting to stay close to DLR but not on property. The staff was great and the rooms were too!

The next morning was our Magical Morning, so we walked down the street to Denny's for breakfast. It just so happened that it was the Tuesday after the Super Bowl so our breakfast (except for coffee) was free!!!!

Here we are at the entry gate to the entry gates...confusing I know.

The night time maintenance staff was nice enough to stop and take our picture. They then suggested as they were walking away that we should take a picture of them...so my dad did!!!

So...I decided to hit mainly the highlights from here on out. To sum up the first morning, we hit Peter Pan, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty's Castle walk through, Pirates of the Caribbean, and then went to Blue Bayou for lunch!
We couldn't resist of course, getting our picture made in front of Club 33!

At Blue Bayou my folks split the Tesoro Island Chicken

My wife and I split the Cajun Spiced Salmon.

After lunch we went on Indiana Jones...the following picture is seconds after my mom got reprimanded by a snooty lady who was in line in front of us. My mom pulled n the rope (as your supposed to) to which this woman responded "The sign says your not supposed to touch the rope!" I am a fan of dry/sarcastic humor, this was neither...this woman was dead serious!!!! My whole family couldn't believe that someone at DL would not get that it's part of the experience!!!! Anyway...here is the pic!!!

After Indy we went to "our favorite ride"...then we looked through the shop by Indy where my wife rubbed the genie lamp...

That's it for our first day...we left early because we had tickets to a taping of The Bonnie Hunt Show!

Day 2!

We kept with our new found tradition and went to Denny's again for Breakfast! MMmmmm....not free this time though.

We hit CA first this day and started out with the Disney Animation class where you draw along with a Disney Animator...we drew Mickey!!!
Here we are with our renditions...

My Mom is framing everyone's drawings from every trip and putting them up in her craft room!!! Should be fun to see everyone's drawings all up!!
Then it was time for Turtle Talk with Krush!! I had heard alot about this attraction and couldn't wait to see it in action. I wanted to ask a question so I raised my hand. Krush asked me why I had seaweed on my face...which was fun! Then he asked my name...he then called me Rockin' Robb!! I asked Krush if he had any pets, to which he responded..."no." He asked if I had a pet and I said yes, a yorkshire terrier...he asked what that is...I said a dog...etc. I wont go any further as i dont want to ruin the fun for other people going...just know that this is totally something you NEED to hit...DUDE!!!!

Then we were off to California Screamin'! It was really fun getting my folks on a coaster!!

After a quick visit to "our favorite ride" it was on to Toy Story Midway Mania!!!

This is by far our favorite ride in either park!!!! SOOOOO FUUUUNNN!!!!!
No pic...unfortunately.

We then went with fast passes to Tower of Terror!!!

If you look at the ride pic, in the front row to the right is one of the workers who was TOTALLY IN CHARACTER!!! He was carrying a HTH towel and interacting with kids in line, he then got on the ride with us and just sat motionless the whole ride!!!! IT WAS GREAT!!!! It's so fun when CM's really get into making the experience special!!!!

After TOT it was on to the Hyperion for Aladdin show!

Then we headed back over to DL for the rest of the day...

I dont have many pics for the rest of the day that I feel compelled to post, so I will leave this post and day ending with one of the last pics taken as we left at close that night...

More to come in the next day or so!!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I loved the pics!!! It really looked like you had a great time & I totally think it's cool that your parents rode California Screamin' & Tower of Terror! I haven't even rode ToT myself...too chicken So I bow to their courage...
Can't wait to see more.....thanx again for sharing!!

 

[MommyWithDreams]

Loving your TR so far. What a fun thing to share with your parents as an adult. I have tried to get my parents to come with us but my mom does NOT like Disneyland. Crazy I know. My dad wants to go but of course he won't leave my mom at home. One of my favorite DL trips was one with my grandparents. I just wish they'd go to experience with their grandson. Anyway............GREAT pics and I can't wait to read more.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

So I was looking through my TR and realized that my day 2 pics are day 3!!! OH WELL!!! Anyway...you guys don't know that, so I will continue on!!!

Days 3-6

Okay, I know this is supposed to be a DLR TR, but I must include some other things that happened on our vacation.

So, I will get all of the Non-DLR things out of the way...although there is still some Disney things that are involved.

My folks visited during the rainy season, we thought they needed to see Santa Monica Pier which worked out well because my Mom wanted to get a haircut at Ouidad! She hasn't had a haircut she liked for YEARS and luckily Ouidad pulled through!!! Doesn't she look GREAT!!!

After this we went to the pier!!! Beautiful weather!!!

While out there we saw a photo booth and thought..."That looks dry!!!!"
So we all crammed in...

...and we didnt even notice until we were in the booth...THIS!!!!

Needless to say...we got a big laugh out of that!!!

Freezing cold (not really) and soaked to the bone (really) my Dad took a couple more pics (he was the resident cameraman for the entire trip) of the area and then we high tailed it to Bubba Gump at the edge of the pier...

That night when we got home it was time to dry off and relax with Rupert!!

I think this is all out of order now...oh well!!!

Somewhere in there we went to Hollywood to see the Hollywood sign etc...
Here are the pics from that extravaganza!!

While there we went through the Guiness world records place and the wax museum...where we found another photo booth!!!

Here we go again!!!!

It was then time for lunch so we went to pink's hot dogs and stood in line for the next hour!

Okay!!! Thats the out of DLR pics!!! Still with me?! Good!!

So, here are the last day(ish) pics from DL and CA!!

Hey Rupert...who is that!? Who is that over there?! Is it!?

IT IS!!!!

Talk about a great way to start your last day at DL!!!

We then headed to Small World as it had re-opened the day before!!!!

Then it was time for Toon Town!!! My wife immediately became a little kid again here, while my mom and I looked for the closest "ride".

Then it was on to the Storybook Boats...where we saw miniatures of storybook settings, and GIANT INVADING DUCKS!!!!

Then it was time to sit and take a break...with Billy Hill and the Hillbillies!!!!

Then we headed over to CA to hit TOT again!!

We had to ride it back to back because the line was short, and because we came up with an idea (which I am sure is not original, but we had fun!)

Then it was time for back to back California Screamin' rides...

OH! I almost forgot! One of the days we were in CA we went to Grizzly Rapids first thing...we ended up riding with a young man who was having a birthday that day. I believe he was turning 13 or 14...anyway...my Mom didn't want to get wet (nobody really did) so we all wore ponchos. Long story short...we are pretty sure when he got off the ride he told his Mom about the crazy people he had just rode with.

Okay...there is a little more...not much, but I don't have the steam to post more right now!

More to come....I think.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Your TR just makes me smile & giggle. It looks like so much fun, even IN the rain!!! More More More!!!

 

[Hound 109]

Great report & pictures.

- "Seaweed on your face".

- "Giant invading Ducks in Storybookland"


Please finish it (it you want to).

 

[Belle Ella]

I loving your TR! Can't wait for more to come. Looks like you all really had fun - wish I could get my parents to go.