smchristy
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2007
- Messages
- 115
My DH and DS spent a day and a half at Disneyland on 4/19 and 4/20. I built this trip up so much in my mind because I haven't visited a Disney park for over 10 years. I was also really excited because I wanted to experience Disneyland through the eyes of my 4 year old.
We actually started our trip in San Diego...we flew in from Minneapolis on Tuesday and stayed over night so we could visit the Zoo. The afternoon of the 18th we headed up to Anaheim. We didn't experience any traffic thanks to the guidence on the best times to leave from this board.
We checked into the Sheratan Anahiem the afternoon of the 18th and got settled in our room. We picked this hotel for a few reasons...price, location, the shuttle and the fact that I stayed there on a previous visit to Disneyland when I was in 8th grade. The hotel was great. The room was big and quiet. We didn't use the pool and thankfully our room was not where near the pool so our son didn't even ask if he could swim. It was a little chilly while we were in Anaheim.
That evening we jumped on the shuttle and headed over th Downtown Disney for dinner. I wanted to check out the shopping and DH wanted to eat at ESPN Sports Zone. The shopping was great, but dinner was terrible.
My first complaint was the childrens menu. It was small and the items offered were odd in my opinion. I don't know a lot of preschoolers that would want to "build thier own salad" for dinner. They didn't have hot dogs, mac and cheese or even grilled cheese. We had to order an $11 pizza off the regular menu so he would have something to eat.
My DH ordered a cheese burger medium rare. It came out ice cold. The service was lacking as well. I don't think that I would visit ESPN Zone again.
The next morning was our first day at the park. By the look of the lines to get in I thought the park would be crowded, but it wasn't too bad. We went straight to the Buzz Light Year ride. My 4 year old was excited...at first. He started getting a little worked up in the middle of the ride and once it was over he did not want to go on it again.
Next was Autopia. Bingo...we found a ride for DS. This was his favorite. He would have ridden this one over and over again if he could. After Autopia we went straight over the the Star Wars Jedi Training Academy. This was such a fun show. It was so neat the see how excited all the kids were that wanted to be in the show. I think my DS was in awe because he just stared. He really liked seeing Darth and Darth Maul.
During Star Wars my DH got fast passes to Thunder Mountain. We went there next. I think we waited about 5 minutes and we were on. DS wasn't too sure about this one. He never cried, but he clung to DH and asked to get off. I think we may have ruined any chance of getting DS on any other rides. He cried and threw a fit at Whinnie the Pooh (there was no line by the way) and he wouldn't go on Dumbo or even the Jungle Cruise (again no line). We basically walked around the park again until we were ready for lunch.
We had lunch at Blue Bayoo. It was great. DH and I both had the Monte Cristo...YUM!!!! And Nolan had the mac and cheese. He normally won't eat mac and cheese, but he liked this. Because I had on my Birthday button our server gave me a chocolate mousse for dessert...again, YUM!!!!!
After lunch we rode Autopia again and headed back to the hotel for a nap that DS deperately needed...he was riding on fumes from not having a nap for three days.
After nap we headed back to the park for more fun. First things first...we rode Autopia again. Then I got my Dole whip float. I am a HUGE fan of pinneapple so this was right up my alley. I LOVED this treat. I let the pinneapple ice cream melt into the pinneapple juice and it was a little bit of heaven in a cup.
Next was the parade. Being a novice I thought we better get seated early so we can get a good view. I got a bench, but it was on the wrong side of the circle by the castle...oops. We ended up walking down Main Street and found a great spot. I loved the parade. Alice in Wonderland saw my birthday button from her float and whished me a happy birthday. That was really cool. the Lion King float was amazing with the rope acrobats that dangled from the back. My favorite was Ursala and Jimminy Cricket was really cute!
The next morning we headed back to the Park in the rain. It was misserable. We went straight to Autopia. The first car of our bunch broke down so we got stuck on the stack fro about 10 minutes in the rain. After that and our whinning DS we gave up and headed over the DCA. My DH wanted to see Soaring. He got a FP and we headed of to Playhouse Disney to see the show. DS what in a terrible mood and whinning about everything (scared of rides etc...) so we got out of line and when shopping for a little while. DH FP was due so he went to Soaring and after that we went back to the hotel to pack the car and drive out to the Desert to visit my dad.
All in all the trip was an emotional roller coaster. I was so happy to be at Disneyland and wished so badly that my DS loved it more. I think he was a little too young (emotionally) to understand the rides and I also realized for the first time that my son is scared of the dark. I think that was the biggest factor in him not wanting to go on rides. I think if our tickets hadn't been free I would have a different attitude about everything, but we were on vacation and having fun together as a family so even though there were some tough times this was a great trip!!!
Thanks for all your help in planning our trip!!!
Sara
We actually started our trip in San Diego...we flew in from Minneapolis on Tuesday and stayed over night so we could visit the Zoo. The afternoon of the 18th we headed up to Anaheim. We didn't experience any traffic thanks to the guidence on the best times to leave from this board.
We checked into the Sheratan Anahiem the afternoon of the 18th and got settled in our room. We picked this hotel for a few reasons...price, location, the shuttle and the fact that I stayed there on a previous visit to Disneyland when I was in 8th grade. The hotel was great. The room was big and quiet. We didn't use the pool and thankfully our room was not where near the pool so our son didn't even ask if he could swim. It was a little chilly while we were in Anaheim.
That evening we jumped on the shuttle and headed over th Downtown Disney for dinner. I wanted to check out the shopping and DH wanted to eat at ESPN Sports Zone. The shopping was great, but dinner was terrible.
My first complaint was the childrens menu. It was small and the items offered were odd in my opinion. I don't know a lot of preschoolers that would want to "build thier own salad" for dinner. They didn't have hot dogs, mac and cheese or even grilled cheese. We had to order an $11 pizza off the regular menu so he would have something to eat.
My DH ordered a cheese burger medium rare. It came out ice cold. The service was lacking as well. I don't think that I would visit ESPN Zone again.
The next morning was our first day at the park. By the look of the lines to get in I thought the park would be crowded, but it wasn't too bad. We went straight to the Buzz Light Year ride. My 4 year old was excited...at first. He started getting a little worked up in the middle of the ride and once it was over he did not want to go on it again.
Next was Autopia. Bingo...we found a ride for DS. This was his favorite. He would have ridden this one over and over again if he could. After Autopia we went straight over the the Star Wars Jedi Training Academy. This was such a fun show. It was so neat the see how excited all the kids were that wanted to be in the show. I think my DS was in awe because he just stared. He really liked seeing Darth and Darth Maul.
During Star Wars my DH got fast passes to Thunder Mountain. We went there next. I think we waited about 5 minutes and we were on. DS wasn't too sure about this one. He never cried, but he clung to DH and asked to get off. I think we may have ruined any chance of getting DS on any other rides. He cried and threw a fit at Whinnie the Pooh (there was no line by the way) and he wouldn't go on Dumbo or even the Jungle Cruise (again no line). We basically walked around the park again until we were ready for lunch.
We had lunch at Blue Bayoo. It was great. DH and I both had the Monte Cristo...YUM!!!! And Nolan had the mac and cheese. He normally won't eat mac and cheese, but he liked this. Because I had on my Birthday button our server gave me a chocolate mousse for dessert...again, YUM!!!!!
After lunch we rode Autopia again and headed back to the hotel for a nap that DS deperately needed...he was riding on fumes from not having a nap for three days.
After nap we headed back to the park for more fun. First things first...we rode Autopia again. Then I got my Dole whip float. I am a HUGE fan of pinneapple so this was right up my alley. I LOVED this treat. I let the pinneapple ice cream melt into the pinneapple juice and it was a little bit of heaven in a cup.
Next was the parade. Being a novice I thought we better get seated early so we can get a good view. I got a bench, but it was on the wrong side of the circle by the castle...oops. We ended up walking down Main Street and found a great spot. I loved the parade. Alice in Wonderland saw my birthday button from her float and whished me a happy birthday. That was really cool. the Lion King float was amazing with the rope acrobats that dangled from the back. My favorite was Ursala and Jimminy Cricket was really cute!
The next morning we headed back to the Park in the rain. It was misserable. We went straight to Autopia. The first car of our bunch broke down so we got stuck on the stack fro about 10 minutes in the rain. After that and our whinning DS we gave up and headed over the DCA. My DH wanted to see Soaring. He got a FP and we headed of to Playhouse Disney to see the show. DS what in a terrible mood and whinning about everything (scared of rides etc...) so we got out of line and when shopping for a little while. DH FP was due so he went to Soaring and after that we went back to the hotel to pack the car and drive out to the Desert to visit my dad.
All in all the trip was an emotional roller coaster. I was so happy to be at Disneyland and wished so badly that my DS loved it more. I think he was a little too young (emotionally) to understand the rides and I also realized for the first time that my son is scared of the dark. I think that was the biggest factor in him not wanting to go on rides. I think if our tickets hadn't been free I would have a different attitude about everything, but we were on vacation and having fun together as a family so even though there were some tough times this was a great trip!!!
Thanks for all your help in planning our trip!!!
Sara
