Bring on CarsLand! A Fun-Filled Mother-Daughter Birthday Trip! FINAL UPDATES 9/8!!!!

[jedijill]

That parade looks so fun!

Jill in CO

 

[DisneyJo]

Wow the parade looks so much fun, I love the background for your photos too - so cool

 

[amandaw]

If Willow ever figures out that Mom is always right about these things, please have her call Reid and fill him in on that little secret.

Love the pics from the parade! Looks like a lot of fun.

 

[librarygeek]

Oh goodness, that hand dipped ice cream bar looks delicious! That's definitely going on my list of things I have to try when we visit DL.

From what I've heard, I definitely would've taken advantage of a 45 minute wait for RSR too! I'm so glad to hear that you loved it so much. It's great when something like that is truly worth the hype.

Is Tower of Terror different in Disneyland from the Disney World version?

Pixar parade looks so cute! I'm not normally a huge parade person, but I'd definitely want to see that one.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your fancy dinner!

 

[hstrickland]

I've always been a huge Incredible fan...we've watched the movie a 100 times The pictures of them are fabulous!!!! The parade almost makes you believe they're real! Wish they had that one at the World.

 

[RGirl]

Hi Roni! I'm slowly getting caught up with your TRs/DR... so sorry for falling so far behind.

No worries, Brenda - as you well know, I am in a perpetual game of catch-up around here.

I'd say that Willow enjoyed RSR! Disney did a fantastic job simply judging by the huge popularity, it hit a home run. I love the soundtrack for the ride as well. This ride actually prompted me to watch Cars for the first time. It is just awesome!

I can't even tell you how impressed I was with RSR - truly one of my favorite Disney attractions ever. I was so happy to see that they had really hit it out of the park with this one.

For the DCA parade did you notice if Jack's (Incredibles) head flames? I loved the whole Incredibles sequence of the parade with those futuristic hovercraft-ish things. Sometimes you just have to exercise mommy judgment! Glad Willow enjoyed the parade as well.

Now that you mention it, I think it did - I wasn't sure why. I too love the "vehicles" they ride - and you could tell that the characters were really enjoying them too.

Poor girl, when will she learn that mom is always right?

Right?????

That parade looks adorable! I want to have one of those scooters that the Incredibles are riding!

Me too - they were having so much fun with them!!!

Love a parade ! WDW only has regularly scheduled MK parades now DHS has SWW parades but I really miss the Pixar parade they had there and the Jingle Jungle parade at AK Thanks for showing us eastcoasters how DL does a parade Slinky dog was my favorite part of this one I would LOVE to be able to go out there for a visit

Is that right? I heard that the AK one had ended, but I didn't realize that they are only doing a regular parade at MK now. That is a real shame.

oh my gosh! those parade pictures are awesome!! it's so colorful and pretty. I love all the Pixar movies. i'm so sad they got rid of the Pixar parade at HS since we never got to see it. this one looks like so much fun!

It was a really great parade! I don't understand why WDW seems to be getting rid of all the regular parades.

you guys are super brave on ToT with your hands in the air! I can't talk myself into loosening my death grip....

When you've ridden it as many times in a row as we have, you get brave.

the monsters, inc PP is so cute! love the teeth above the door but willow is way too cute to be scary!

I thought that was a really cute photo opp too - couldn't resist it.

 

[RGirl]

That parade looks so fun!

It was a good one.

Wow the parade looks so much fun, I love the background for your photos too - so cool

It was a really fun parade - glad we made the time for it.

If Willow ever figures out that Mom is always right about these things, please have her call Reid and fill him in on that little secret.

I don't see it happening anytime soon.....

Love the pics from the parade! Looks like a lot of fun.

It was a blast!

Oh goodness, that hand dipped ice cream bar looks delicious! That's definitely going on my list of things I have to try when we visit DL.

Yeah - I'm totally getting one of those for myself next time.

From what I've heard, I definitely would've taken advantage of a 45 minute wait for RSR too! I'm so glad to hear that you loved it so much. It's great when something like that is truly worth the hype.

I hope you get out to DLR to try it yourself - it is SUCH a great attraction!!!!

Is Tower of Terror different in Disneyland from the Disney World version?

It is - in my opinion, it is the only dual-coast attraction that is better at WDW. Your car does not travel down the corridor to the ride on the CA version, and the drops are not randomized.

Pixar parade looks so cute! I'm not normally a huge parade person, but I'd definitely want to see that one.

We are not big parade people either, but I think it's fun to see them when you don't have to camp out. I'm not willing to wait for one, but when I can just sit down and watch one, I like to check it out. This one was definitely very fun!

I'm looking forward to hearing about your fancy dinner!

And I'm looking forward to telling about it! I have GOT to get moving on this thing - we leave for our next trip in 34 days.

I've always been a huge Incredible fan...we've watched the movie a 100 times The pictures of them are fabulous!!!! The parade almost makes you believe they're real! Wish they had that one at the World.

They are a GREAT part of this parade. And it was a great parade over all.

 

[RGirl]

A Fancy Dinner​

After our fun ride with Monsters, we needed to get over to Carthay Circle for our dinner reservation at 6:00. (This was a World of Color (WOC) dinner reservation - you pay a set amount and choose three courses from a more limited menu; with the dinner, you get entry into a specific area for the WOC show, which we had never seen before.)

We checked in at Carthay Circle, and that’s when things got weird. Our reservation was for 6:00, and we checked in a little before that. We had a seat.

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And admired how pretty the place was.

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And we waited. And it got to be about 6:15. We were sitting in a little area with cocktail service, so at this point, I decided to order a drink. Rosa Regale!

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At about 6:25, I decided that I better make sure we hadn’t been forgotten, because the whole purpose of this meal was the WOC viewing area, and at this pace, we were going to miss the show at 8:00. So I went up to ask if our table would be ready soon. The CM at the desk said, “Oh, yes, but you ordered a drink.” Apparently, I had to pay for the drink here before we could be seated. I was confused - usually, you just take your drink with you to the table and pay for everything at once, or cash out quickly and move on. So I said, “You mean our table has been ready for some period of time?” And she said, “Yes, but we couldn’t seat you because you ordered a drink.” I had JUST ordered the drink - why hadn’t someone mentioned that we couldn’t have our table if I ordered a drink? I was pretty ticked off, and someone finally agreed to seat us even though I didn’t have my credit card back from the bar server. I did talk to the manager because I thought this was the craziest policy I had ever heard. According to the manager, the drink could indeed have been added to our restaurant tab and shouldn’t have held up being seated. What in the WORLD? Anyway, things went better after that, but it was a pretty befuddling start to our meal.

I got some pictures of the then-current WOC menu for anyone interested in deciding what you would like to have.

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Willow started the meal with a chocolate milk.

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Our server brought out some bread for Willow. (For anyone who doesn’t already know I have to eat gluten-free, so this bread was not for me!) We were both really hungry by this point, as you can see by my picture of the bread.

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Up Next: A Fancy Dinner (cont.)

 

[RGirl]

A Fancy Dinner (cont.)​

This restaurant is huge. Here is what part of our area/room looked like.

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The bread was much appreciated.

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Our server also brought out some gluten-free bread for me and did a great job of taking care of my food intolerance. Poor pic of my bread…

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Our server had to kind of rush our meal because of how late we were seated, so our courses kind of piled up. Willow had a salad to start and pasta with cheese sauce. I have no idea what is up with the blurry pictures!

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I started with the Celery Root, Apple & Roasted Chestnut Soup with Neuske’s Ham, Parsnips and Truffle Oil. This was fabulous - it is indescribable, so I will just suggest that you go there and get some.

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For my entree, I chose the Citrus Sauteed Shrimp on Chowder of Autumn Vegetables and Applewood Bacon. Unfortunately, it came out VERY cold and had to go back to get warm. Once warmed up though, it was delicious!

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I believe the children’s dessert choices here were a scoop of ice cream or a green apple caramel parfait push pop. Our server apparently felt pretty bad about the way our experience had started because he soon appeared with both of those desserts and the adult mousse cake for Miss Willow.

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The menu options for dessert were not safe for me, so I was presented with some sorbet and berries.

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Would I recommend Carthay Circle? Well, our dining experience had some definite hiccups; however, I think they were flukes, not an indication of what the restaurant is like. The food was extremely good, and we will definitely go back and give it another chance as far as the other issues. Our server also discounted our bill to make up for the way things had gone, which was NOT necessary but very nice of him.

Up Next: World of Color

 

[RGirl]

World of Color​

For any of you who have read the first half of my WDW/DCL TR, you know how we totally failed at nighttime experiences like fireworks and Fantasmic! Let me ease your minds here - we did MUCH better at DLR.

As mentioned in my last update, our Carthay Circle dinner was the WOC dinner, and we were given little slips of paper to gain admission to a specific viewing area. (You have to stand for this show, but at least by reserving one of the WOC dinners and getting to the viewing area early, you should be able to see it.) Our dinner took longer than planned, but we made it to the viewing area by about 7:50 for the 8:15 show. I’m sure in busier times, this might not be early enough, but there was almost no one in the area when we arrived, and we were able to take spots right at the railing. CA at night is GORGEOUS.

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Willow was looking forward to the show!

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For anyone who doesn’t know, this show consists of music from Disney movies and water fountains with images from the movies projected onto them. It is amazingly good - the kind of Disney show that brings a tear or two to your eye. We loved it! I tried to take pictures - they aren’t great, but I can’t really tell you anything more about the show, you just have to get a sense of what it looked like!

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The Little Mermaid

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Finding Nemo

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Toy Story

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Up

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Aladdin

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There was some fire to warm us up.

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There were plenty of other movies represented as well. It is a spectacular show - we plan to see it again in August.

After the show, we just exited the park through the Grand Californian and made our way back to the hotel. Willow’s treasures were nicely arranged once again.

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We were back in our room at about 9:00, and Willow was asleep very soon thereafter. I enjoyed my book for a while before calling it a night - I love vacations - they are the only time I really get to read for pleasure.

Up Next: Going Wide Right!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Hi Roni!

I had fallen a bit behind, but I'm getting all caught up. I saw you updated, so I was like NOW! DO IT NOW!

I've been looking into the WOC reservation for our trip next August with the littles. We're just not sure yet if we're going to do it.

Oh yes, but you ordered a drink? What, they couldn't give you a drink and then take you to your table? Weird. Weird weird weird.

Wow, I bet you Willow was a happy camper with all of those desserts! I totally would have been.

WOC is my absolute favorite nighttime Disney show, hands down. I was completely blown away by it when we saw it!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Just a quick Hi & a clarification I may have said it wrong re- WDW parades right now only MK has regularly scheduled parades I need to go to bed Long week tty soon Roni

 

[hstrickland]

Your dinner looked fabulous as well as the actual restaurant! Question... would that restaurant be considered a signature? I know DL doesn't have a DP like WDW, right?

WOC looks amazing!! Of course most Disney shows are, aren't they? That's why we all keep going back and spending more money!!! One day, one day, one day I'll get to DL....one day!

 

[amandaw]

Your dinner looks and sounds delicious! but, the whole drink ordeal was just bizarre! Even if that was their policy, they should have at least informed you especially if they knew you ordered a drink.

But, I'm glad y'all were able to make it to the WOC show. That's one of the top reasons why I am wanting to go to DLR. It just seems like an amazing show.

 

[dizneeat]

Sorry I have been missing a lot lately. Work is to blame.

I did read though.
Okay, I love this update (as always). Food looks very yummy and at least they tried to make up for the mix up before being seated. Honestly I have never heard that you can't bring a drink from the bar into the restaurant. We would have a hard time being seated sometimes if that was the rule.

WoC looks AWESOME. I cannot wait to go back to California to see it all with my own eyes. But thanks for sharing, you are definitely fueling that flame of desire to go there.

 

[STLMickeyMom]

Besides the crazy start to dinner, it sounds like an awesome night! Your WOC pics are so pretty! What do you use to take pictures? The colors are so amazing! And CA looks so pretty all lit up. I'm such a sucker for the parks at night. Love the lights!

 

[jedijill]

I'm back and playing catch up!

Dinner looks awesome minus the service hiccups...I should have done the WOC dining package....I didn't' have a great place for the show but what I could see was amazing!

Jill in CO

 

[courtneybelle]

Please imagine me hanging my head in shame for how far behind I am on this TR. My Pluto pillow pet is next to me and he is ashamed as well. I end up just scrolling through the WDW TR board and forget this board exists...but I am catching up now because I am missing Disneyland!

The Minnie and Friends breakfast is one of my favorite memories of my trip to DLR! It was really a random assortment of characters, as you said, but that made it so fun.

Ahhh I love that Chip picked her up! That's such a cute picture!

OLAF!!! That is so sweet of Shannon to make you an Elsa dress. It's absolutely stunning.

I think Disneyland's POTC is better than Disney World's as well.

You, Willow, Walt, Mickey, and Starbucks...so many awesome things in one picture.

The Cars theming looks great, but you really got my attention with CHURRO BITES!

RSR looks so cool! I'm glad you loved it.

That is SO weird about the drink at Carthay Circle. I'm glad you had a good meal, though, and the server made up for it with multiple desserts

I love World of Color so much!! I actually have some water speakers that light up in different colors, and sometimes I use them to play the World of Color soundtrack. Not quite the same

 

[RGirl]

Hi Roni!

Hi Danielle! You're back!

I had fallen a bit behind, but I'm getting all caught up. I saw you updated, so I was like NOW! DO IT NOW!

It's so hard to keep up with all the TRs.

I've been looking into the WOC reservation for our trip next August with the littles. We're just not sure yet if we're going to do it.

We are going to do it again this summer - I figure with the crowds of summer, it may be necessary to really see WOC. I'm sure we could have gotten away without it in January, but it was a nice meal, so I am happy to do it again.

Oh yes, but you ordered a drink? What, they couldn't give you a drink and then take you to your table? Weird. Weird weird weird.

Right???? I mean, I thought when the server kept coming up and asking me if I wanted to order a drink that it was within their seating policy to allow me to order one without giving up my table!

Wow, I bet you Willow was a happy camper with all of those desserts! I totally would have been.

Oh yeah - you know she was loving it!

WOC is my absolute favorite nighttime Disney show, hands down. I was completely blown away by it when we saw it!

I was very impressed - it was beautiful. I can't wait to see it again in just over a month!!!!!

Just a quick Hi & a clarification I may have said it wrong re- WDW parades right now only MK has regularly scheduled parades I need to go to bed Long week tty soon Roni

I understood, Ruthie. No worries!

Your dinner looked fabulous as well as the actual restaurant! Question... would that restaurant be considered a signature? I know DL doesn't have a DP like WDW, right?

There really are no distinctions at DLR - but it was definitely a very nice TS restaurant. I am guessing that, if it were located at WDW, it would probably be a signature.

WOC looks amazing!! Of course most Disney shows are, aren't they? That's why we all keep going back and spending more money!!! One day, one day, one day I'll get to DL....one day!

It is a beautiful and very different show. We both really loved it.

Your dinner looks and sounds delicious! but, the whole drink ordeal was just bizarre! Even if that was their policy, they should have at least informed you especially if they knew you ordered a drink.

I wouldn't have even ordered the drink except that the server asked me several times and we had been waiting FOREVER. It was so bizarre!!!!

But, I'm glad y'all were able to make it to the WOC show. That's one of the top reasons why I am wanting to go to DLR. It just seems like an amazing show.

You will LOVE it!!!!!!

 

[RGirl]

Sorry I have been missing a lot lately. Work is to blame.

I did read though.

No worries, Karin! As you know, work keeps me away from the DIS a lot too.

Okay, I love this update (as always). Food looks very yummy and at least they tried to make up for the mix up before being seated. Honestly I have never heard that you can't bring a drink from the bar into the restaurant. We would have a hard time being seated sometimes if that was the rule.

It was the strangest thing ever - I mean, if that's not allowed, why do they offer bar service????

WoC looks AWESOME. I cannot wait to go back to California to see it all with my own eyes. But thanks for sharing, you are definitely fueling that flame of desire to go there.

Oh, it is a WONDERFUL show. I hope you get to see it soon!

Besides the crazy start to dinner, it sounds like an awesome night! Your WOC pics are so pretty! What do you use to take pictures? The colors are so amazing! And CA looks so pretty all lit up. I'm such a sucker for the parks at night. Love the lights!

Oh thanks so much! I am definitely not a photographer. I use a little ol' Canon Powershot S110 - nothing fancy, but I have owned many iterations of this camera, and it works well for someone like me with no photographic talent!

I'm back and playing catch up!

Hi Jill! Good to see you! I bet this means that I'll be able to find updates on your TR too!

Dinner looks awesome minus the service hiccups...I should have done the WOC dining package....I didn't' have a great place for the show but what I could see was amazing!

I think the dining package is worth it - it's not outrageously expensive and the restaurant option are quite nice.

Please imagine me hanging my head in shame for how far behind I am on this TR. My Pluto pillow pet is next to me and he is ashamed as well. I end up just scrolling through the WDW TR board and forget this board exists...but I am catching up now because I am missing Disneyland!

No worries, Courtney! I appreciate you sticking with me even though I'm not on the regular TR board.

The Minnie and Friends breakfast is one of my favorite memories of my trip to DLR! It was really a random assortment of characters, as you said, but that made it so fun.

We loved it so much! I'm glad you did too. We are going to do it again on our upcoming trip.

Ahhh I love that Chip picked her up! That's such a cute picture!

It was such a sweet moment.

OLAF!!! That is so sweet of Shannon to make you an Elsa dress. It's absolutely stunning.

She did a great job and really saved the day!

I think Disneyland's POTC is better than Disney World's as well.

Definitely better! I just don't think anyone who has done both can argue with that.

You, Willow, Walt, Mickey, and Starbucks...so many awesome things in one picture.

You are funny!

The Cars theming looks great, but you really got my attention with CHURRO BITES!

I will get Willow to try them for you on the next trip.

RSR looks so cool! I'm glad you loved it.

It is FANTASTIC!

That is SO weird about the drink at Carthay Circle. I'm glad you had a good meal, though, and the server made up for it with multiple desserts

Our server was great there. The drink thing was absolutely bizarre, but we would definitely give it another go. Beautiful restaurant!

I love World of Color so much!! I actually have some water speakers that light up in different colors, and sometimes I use them to play the World of Color soundtrack. Not quite the same

That's AWESOME!!!!!