BE's Never Ending TR -- That kind of ... Ended? Or did it?

[Belle Ella]

Hmm so if there is something totally cool I could send you a text photo then?

Yes, yes you could!

You know I would be sad at the end of one of your reports.....but knowing you'll have a new one in just a couple weeks makes it all good!!

Wonderful report, awesome pics, learned new trivia/history & got to chuckle along the way!! Nicely done Jazz!!

Hehe. Well, if you want to get technical I have another one that I can start today if I wanted! But man, I'll really be back in less than 2 weeks! And I'll get to say hi!

 

[Belle Ella]

So, as of right now this TR shall remain nameless (just as my friend nicknamed Nameless) for lack of a better idea!

At the end of January I took a very quick trip down to SoCal after pulling an all-nighter at work for the BF's birthday before going back to school for the start of the semester the next day! It was exhausting, but definitely worth it.

So to start off, we've got Day 1! I spent a lot of time debating just how early I would want to drive down. Disneyland had just recently added these wonderful things to the weekend line up called Family Fun Weekends and I really wanted to be able to experience at least one for myself and this weekend in particular was Kickin' Country weekend. One problem: it takes a good 6 hours on a good day to drive from my place down to Disneyland and the Family Fun Weekends close at 5p so I'd have to leave earlier than noon if I wanted even a shot at possibly. That is kind of complicated when your work schedule has you on the clock from 10p on a Saturday until 6a on a Sunday and you'd actually like sleep before leaving for what will probably be far less than 48 hours -- not quite a vacation, but I'd take it!

I drew a string of good luck though. I was home from work a little early which gave me enough time to get some sleep in before packing up the car and hitting the road before 9a!! And this time, guess who was able to tag along?

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Poor Duffy got left behind on accident (I was such a bad mommy!) and we just couldn't let that happen again. Now as you can see, Duffy is a stickler for safety and once he was buckled in all safe and secure we could hit the road! The drive down was an interesting one (and yet boring all at the same time). For more than a week leading up to this impromptu trip the area that I live in has been swamped with this fog that simply never seemed to lift completely. I was so excited to get away from it for a few days. Funny enough, however, this is what I was greeted by once I hit I5!

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I actually made amazing time, and I'm sure that leaving at 9a had something to do with it. I would actually get the chance to drop by FFW! Talk about making my day. So after parking and hitting the trams I checked in with Jason who I would be meeting up with in the Park whenever he arrived to check in at the DLH. As for my solo Park time (well, plus Duffy of course), it shouldn't be a surprise that the first stop at the top of my list was Big Thunder Ranch, the location of FFW and Kickin' Country!

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It was a pretty darn fun atmosphere, probably even more fun if country music is your thing. I can't say that it's mine, but I don't completely abhor it, so all was well. They had some dancing going off by the stage and some characters were getting involved as well (Chip & Dale, my favorite Disney dancers). I was mostly interested in checking out the characters decked out in their western wear. And so the photos begin!!

Oh, and can I just mention that Duffy made a personal request to get some solo photos with the characters? He was in awe. Especially when he got to see Mickey and Minnie Mouse again.

... to be continued ...​

 

[DisneyStitch626]

I LOVE that you got so many characters to pose with Duffy solo. Those photos are so cute. I love the Mickey and Minnie one the best. Duffy is such a cute bear. I am thinking about getting one for the baby's room. He goes with the Mickey theme. Do you have to get him in the park?

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Duffy is as cute as ever! I really like the pic of him with Pluto! Although Woody's holster idea is cute in theory it makes Duffy look a bit droopy and sad or maybe it was naptime and he was just a sleepy bear and started to nod off?

 

[BillyFan]

Very cool that Daisy was there!
Great pictures, as always!

 

[kaoden39]

I love the pictures with you guys and the characters.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Oh my gosh....Duffy in Woody's holster is adorable!!! Love all the character pics.......so awesome!!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I know I don't post much anymore ... just don't have as much Dis time with my new job! But I love catching up with your reports on the weekends! I definitely miss Disneyland and hope we can get back in the next few years!

But more than that, your reports have made me realize that I must have a Duffy when we go to WDW in August! From what I understand all of the really cute outfits only fit the larger size Duffy? Is that correct? Would you mind telling me how much the outfits are? Have to start planning the budget!

 

[tdashgirl]

Oh you will see it all. Do you get text messages with photos?

Yes ma'am

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J ~ those photos are adorable!!!!

 

[Belle Ella]

I know I don't post much anymore ... just don't have as much Dis time with my new job! But I love catching up with your reports on the weekends! I definitely miss Disneyland and hope we can get back in the next few years!

But more than that, your reports have made me realize that I must have a Duffy when we go to WDW in August! From what I understand all of the really cute outfits only fit the larger size Duffy? Is that correct? Would you mind telling me how much the outfits are? Have to start planning the budget!

:bighug: I'm sure we all know what it's like and understand. It's greeat to hear from you when you can check in!! And I'm glad to be spreading the Duffy love. Jasmine and her TR got me hooked and now I'm simply returning the favor!! The outfits that they sell (17$ for those that I've purchased) all fit the 17" bear and he was about $25 before tax and my AP discount. HTH!!

J ~ those photos are adorable!!!!

Thanks T!

Oh my gosh....Duffy in Woody's holster is adorable!!! Love all the character pics.......so awesome!!

I absolutely loved that moment!! It would be all the better if he was able to sit up straight for the photo. But it was the thought that counts. Duffy is now a big fan of Woody. He may just have to get himself a new outfit.

I love the pictures with you guys and the characters.

Thanks Michele! It was a great day for character photos for us.

Very cool that Daisy was there!
Great pictures, as always!

I had no idea Daisy would be there and it made my day so much better. I thought I'd never get to see her.

Duffy is as cute as ever! I really like the pic of him with Pluto! Although Woody's holster idea is cute in theory it makes Duffy look a bit droopy and sad or maybe it was naptime and he was just a sleepy bear and started to nod off?

Well, Duffy did stay up for the whole drive to keep me company! Maybe it was nap time. Aw, poor sleepy Duffy.

I LOVE that you got so many characters to pose with Duffy solo. Those photos are so cute. I love the Mickey and Minnie one the best. Duffy is such a cute bear. I am thinking about getting one for the baby's room. He goes with the Mickey theme. Do you have to get him in the park?

They only sold Duffy over in DCA although I'm sure if you contacted DelivEARs or whatever it's called you can order one through them -- if they ship to Canada, which I'm not certain of.

 

[Belle Ella]

Can I just say that this was probably one of my favorite character days ever? Well, it totally was! The photo op lines were short and the characters were completely on their game. They were so fun, in fact, that Duffy (obviously) insisted on his own photos -- without me!! I obliged of course, and Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Co. were more than happy (and excited if I do say so myself) to pose with him. He got rocked to sleep by Pluto and then I guess we've all come to the conclusion that he took a little nap afterward in Woody's holster!

So the rest of the day went pretty fast from that moment on. I got a text from Jason that he was on the way to the Trams which was kind of confusing to me at that moment. He had checked in to the Disneyland Hotel and now was talking about the trams from the Mickey & Friends parking structure. Silly! So with a Churro in hand to munch on our way Duffy and I went off to meet up with him at the front gate to start the rest of the birthday fun!!

I wish I could even remember half of what we did, but I do remember grabbing FP's for Space Mountain because I was completely intent on keeping my word. Space Mountain first timer. That'd be me at some point in the evening!! Holy smokes. We also had the option to go check out World of Color that evening as there was a current promotion for resort guests of WOC FP's for everyone in your party. It was pretty awesome!! Buuuuut ... we never made it!! I remember trying to take a nap back at the hotel at some point because I was exhausted and getting back to DCA in time for WOC was just not going to happen. But you know what did happen?

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I did it! I did it! And by that, I mean I went on Space Mountain twice that night. We used up our FP's and then while the fireworks were going off I remember hoping back into the stand by line because it had a short wait time posted. It ended up being longer than anticipated but it was all good in the end. I love this ride, even if I find it a little on the short side. It felt like it was over as soon as it started.

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And to keep in line with a tradition I started the very first time I went on Splash Mountain, I went ahead and purchased the photo!! Or at least I tried to. My debit card was declined which was total BS!! I didn't transfer a whole lot over to my checking account before leaving, but there definitely was more than $10 in my account!! Later that night at the hotel it turned out that one of the gas stations I had been to had a $70 hold on my card that was blocking all my funds. Gr. That's what I get for trying to keep under $100 in checking so I wont overspend. Telling myself I'm broke usually seems to help. Not this time, go figure.

That was pretty much the exciting end to the night! Next up was Jason's birthday!!

To close out day 1 here are a couple of photos from the hotel room that I took. I love, love, love the new look.

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[GoofySon'sMom]

Thanks for the Duffy info! I am loving the EPCOT World Showcase outfits that I have seen online. Trying to convince myself that I don't "need" all of them!

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Yay! Space Mountain!

That sucks that you couldn't get the picture though. I've had gas stations do that to me before. It's really stupid.

Love the few pics from the hotel room. I wanna stay there someday.

 

[Belle Ella]

Thanks for the Duffy info! I am loving the EPCOT World Showcase outfits that I have seen online. Trying to convince myself that I don't "need" all of them!

You're welcome!! I'm kind of sad by the selection of clothes that DLR has. I've seen what they have at Epcot and I get a little jealous. And that doesn't even come close to what they have in Tokyo.

Yay! Space Mountain!

That sucks that you couldn't get the picture though. I've had gas stations do that to me before. It's really stupid.

Love the few pics from the hotel room. I wanna stay there someday.

I went, I saw, I conquered. I love Space Mountain now. Looks like I have to add yet another FP to my touring plans now. Uh-ohs. And I forgot to mention that we (and by we, I mean Jason) did get the photo. He had some cash on him and tada, that was that. I thiiiink I made up for it with churros but I could be wrong.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

So glad to hear you loved it. To me it's not a ride I could go to DL and skip. It was the first ride I went on in '96 and also in 2010. I like that tradition.

Glad that you ended up getting the picture! How nice of Jason. And Churros are a really yummy way of paying him back.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

You're welcome!! I'm kind of sad by the selection of clothes that DLR has. I've seen what they have at Epcot and I get a little jealous. And that doesn't even come close to what they have in Tokyo.

I haven't really seen anything from Tokyo but if you want anything from WDW when I go in August, just let me know. I'd be glad to pick up an outfit or two for your Duffy!

 

[Belle Ella]

OK, so here's an update as I just got home from Disneyland (it's sad tot hink I was there only 8 hours ago) -- My late January TR is on hold indefinitely, but I have so much to share from the DIS DIVAS meet this past weekend! Stay tuned, I plan on starting tomorrow.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

YAY! Glad to see you back & that you must have had a good time!

 

[kaoden39]

Yay!!!

 

[Sherry E]

I knew you'd be back to your ol' trip report-writin' self in no time!

(And I knew you would end up on Tower of Terror eventually! Hee hee!)

I think you should call this whole entire TR the "Breaking Out of the Box TR" or the "Busting Out of the Comfort Zone TR" or something like that! Your whole, for lack of a better word, odyssey at DLR over the last 6 months has really opened up a world of things to you that maybe you had not imagined before.