A Six Thousand Kilometer Road Trip to Disneyland and Back- TR has started on page 37!

[DisneyStitch626]

So when we found out we were able to leave a day earlier for the trip, I caled the Super 8 that's closest to DL because it was a little cheaper, and made reservations for a night there.

But I got to thinking today, and was wondering if $20 less was really worth the checking in, and getting up bright and early to check out and check in again at HOJO. So I called HOJO, to see if I could get Sept 30th added to our stay, and she said it was no problem! So Super 8 is now cancelled, and we will now be staying 7 nights at HOJO!!! It feels better to know we won't have to be worrying about all that extra moving around on the morning of our first day in the parks!

Oh yeah, and 54 days!!!!

 

[kaoden39]

Oh that is so wonderful and exciting!!

 

[DisneyStitch626]

I feel more excited and it feels more real now that more people in my group are excited now too.

You have been kinda quiet lately. Is everything ok? I haven't seen any trip report updates in a while.

 

[kaoden39]

Yeah it's okay I just kind of dread finishing the trip report, it makes the end so final. I need to finish it. Things have been crazy strange here at home.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

I get what you mean about not wanting to finalize the trip. But you can always go through your pictures and re-live the trip every time you do. I am going to take soooo many pictures, so that I can remember as much as I can for a long time. Who knows when we'll be able to go back again. As much as I want to say we will try and do it every couple of years, who knows if we'll be able to.

Hope things are ok at home!

 

[kaoden39]

Yeah and technically I could start a new trip report for when I am supposed to go with Dina but, that trip is doomed. The plant that is her home office is closing so who knows what is going to happen. Things will be okay at home. It's just that sometimes things get off kilter. Thank you.

I know that my next family vacation is going to be to Burney Falls, up near that beautiful mountain that Laurie had the Pictures of. I love that area.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Sorry to hear your trip might not pan out. There's always another time!

That place looks really beautiful! Reminds me of home. Being from Calgary, I used to be so close to the mountains. I used to be able to look out my back window and see them on a nice clear day. Now that I am a little farther north, I can't see them from here and I miss them. So it's really nice seeing pictures like that.

This is taken from somewhere around Calgary. Pretty close to the view I am used to.

A friend and I are trying to plan a day trip to Banff (big touristy place about 2 hours from here) and taking a trail ride. It's just a matter of having the money to do it!

 

[kaoden39]

That is so beautiful.

This is Burney Falls, there is a beautiful campground that we love there.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

That is so pretty! That would be a great place to vacation!

Wooo, look at that. My mountain picture put me at 1,000 posts!! Man I talk too much!

 

[kaoden39]

Yay on the 1000!! Talk about someone that talks too much look at how many posts I have!!

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Haha, wow, that is a lot!! Oh well, it's cause we have something awesome to talk about. DISNEY!!

I am never this talkative in real life. Unless i've had a couple drinks. Then I start to yabber a bit.

 

[kaoden39]

I think it is easier to talk on here.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

53 days!!!

Well I have all my reservations made! Except for Ariel's Grotto for WOC, cause they still aren't taking any for October.

Unlike the last couple calls, I ended up with a very friendly guy today that took my call. Apparently none of the other CM's put my reservations together, and I ended up with 3 different files, including one under "Andrew". I know the names are similar, but do I really sound like a guy?? Anyways, he was nice enough to organize that for me.

He was also the first one to ask me (out of 4 calls altogether) if it was for any sort of celebration for anything. I told him that the PCH breakfast was for my birthday, and he said he was just going to put birthday on all of him. Not sure I want that much attention on me, but how nice of him to do that!

I was starting to wonder if a "nice" CM existed, but he turned that all around for me.

So here is what I have:

Ariel's Grotto WOC - Oct 1st - ?
Round up BBQ - Oct 2nd - 6:00 pm
Cafe Orleans - Oct 4th - 12:00 pm
PCH Breakfast - Oct 5th - 9:00 am
Storytellers Breakfast - Oct 6th - 9:00 am

Looking forward to trying all the yummy food and of course, seeing Stitch!

So I have been wishing I had pictures to share for my countdown, and all this time I have. I have pictures from our 1996 trip!! The sucky thing about that is, the album is in Calgary at my mom's. But I am going to see if I can get her to ship it to me. The pictures won't be the greatest. They were taken from disposable cameras by 16, 13, and 12 year olds. But I will see what I can do!

 

[DisneyStitch626]

52 days!!!!

Well I have just finished scanning and uploading some of the photos from my 1996 trip to Disneyland! They aren't the best pictures ever taken, but what can you expect from a bunch of young teenagers with disposable cameras? Oh the days when you were only able to take 24 pictures at a time, and hope they all turned out!

I don't have quite enough to post them along with my countdown, like I had wanted, so I am just going to put them up in one or two posts. So, here we go, hope you enjoy!

Obviously the first picture taken. Is that sign even still around?

My family and I in front of the old entrance into the park, before Downtown Disney and California Adventure even existed! I believe it led into the parking lot that is now DCA.

The only picture we were able to get of the gardens.

My brothers and I in Toon Town

Me again, playing in Toon Town

My family and I on Gadgets Go Coaster

The only picture we managed to get of the castle.

The Haunted Mansion and the top of my Dad's head in the bottom left.

This is what Matterhorn looked like the entire time we were there, as it was getting refurbed. I am hoping it will be open this coming trip so we can actually ride it!​

Well it's dinner time, so I will post some more a little later.

 

[kaoden39]

Andrea the hole area around the park is totally different. When I went back in 2003 after not being there since the early 90's I was in total shock at the changes.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

And we continue...

Is it me, or has IASW changed too? The last few pictures I have seen of it, it was more white and gold than colourful like in this picture. Or is that a Christmas overlay or something?

Mickey in the Lion King Parade

I believe this was also part of the Lion King Parade, cause Timon is in the background!

A kinda creepy looking Pumba in the parade

And Simba! These pictures are bringing back a lot of memories I almost forgot about.

This one is oddly one of my strongest memories of the trip. My Dad taking a picture just as we are about to drop on Splash Mountain. Probably because I was so excited at the time to see how it would turn out. Too bad it's quite blurry.

View from Robinson Family Treehouse. I know that was changed into a Tarzan thing, but is that even still around? I haven't heard it mentioned very much since being on these boards.

Garrett and I with the main Mouse!

Oddly, I don't even remember seeing the Beast, let alone being this close to him to get a picture. My brothers must have taken it or something. I'm a little disappointed I don't remember, as Beauty and the Beast is in my top 3 Disney movies.

My park ticket!! Looks like I could have gotten one more day out of them! My Oct 12th day wasn't stamped, but everyone else was. ​

Anyways, that's all I've got for now. I have a few more that I still have to scan, and I will try and get to those in a day or so.

 

[kaoden39]

Yeah I think that Small World is different. And Tarzan's Treehouse is still there. Where was that Mickey your are posed with?

 

[DisneyStitch626]

So many things are different! It will be like seeing it for the first time all over again! I love it!

I am 95% sure he was just inside a store on Main Street, but can't recall what the store was called.

 

[kaoden39]

So many things are different! It will be like seeing it for the first time all over again! I love it!

I am 95% sure he was just inside a store on Main Street, but can't recall what the store was called.

So many things are the same too. So it will be like seeing an old friend that has grown up like you have. I have never seen that Mickey.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

I am sure it will be great. The only thing I am a little disappointed about is Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion with their overlays. I am sure they will be plenty of fun still, but they are 2 of my favourites, and I wish I could see them how they are supposed to be. Oh well.

That's sad that Mickey might not be there anymore.