Brit girls take california (PTR to TR)

[seobaina]

Hi all,

Ok, this is the first time I've written a pre-trip report so you'll have to bear with me. I've done a trip rep before (see sig) and I'm part way through writing another one but I'm a bit of a newbie on this angle of it.

Anyway, let's get this show on the road (I'll continue this into a TR when I'm done). Oh and I should warn you now - I LOVE photos, so I add lots to the actual TR.

The cast:

Planner and Disney nut extrodinaire - ME!

I'm Helen and I'm 33 years old. I live in the Northwest of England (between Liverpool and the welsh boarder) and I have three jobs. I teach audio post production at a university one term a year. I have my own video production company with my friend Clair (we make documentaries, music vids, etc) and I work for the main man - Mickey Mouse!

I've been a disney cast member (in the UK) for nearly 14 years over a time period from 1993. I've worked predominantly part-time while studying for my degree and two post grads. I work in a store and I'm a real disneyaholic! I've been to WDW, DLR and DLRP before but would live in either of the USA ones if I could.

This is me in WDW in 2008 and working with the team at a children's hospice a few months ago (not a flattering pic ). They'd flown in from Paris.

My partner in crime in business and on this trip - Clair:

Clair is 27 and lives in Manchester. We met at Uni on our Masters courses four years ago - she was studying TV Production and I was studying film. We got chatting straight away because she had disney things all over her bag . We worked together on a side project while studying (our first documentary) and have been working together ever since. Clair has travelled quite a lot around Europe (been to DLRP several years ago) but has never been to the USA. To say that she is excited would be the understatement of the century! She's a bit of a hippy chick and a big disney fan - but not a fanatic like me!

As you can see - the two of us together are very serious:

(us at Halloween with Clair's sister, Kerry )

And the two of us in the middle of editing a music vid

We're going to be flying to Los Angeles (via Philadelphia) on Sept 18th and flying home again on the 1st Oct. That gives us exactly 12 days of fun in California (and two of travel) and I have four free passes to Disneyland so we're going to spend two days there (naturally). I'd spend longer but I need to show Clair the rest of Cali too For the rest of the time we'll be seeing my friends (see next post) and are planning to travel to San Diego, then up to Santa Cruz (Clair is a big 'lost boys' fan ) and out to Yosemite.

 

[seobaina]

Probable cameo cast:

My friend Martie.

We've been friends for 2-3 years and met online chatting about a TV show. Martie lives in LA and came with me (and my friend Jennie) on a city tour last time I was there (in sept 2007). She came into the Studios with us for an hour that day too and is VERY keen to come to Disneyland with Clair and I. Naturally she's been but she's gonna spend one of the days with us I believe cause she apparently wants to experience Disneyland with a disney nut


And, my sister from another mister - Shelli.

Shel is a cali girl and I met her online (through a friend) nearly ten years ago. We're very close friends and I'm Godmother to her beautiful kids:

Clair and I are going to stay with Shel part of the time and prob Martie too (yay for friends cutting costs ) .


Ok, I think that's the basic facts. I hope you'll enjoy the ride

 

[magicallyDisney001]

Hi there! Looks like you've got a fun trip planned! Well, what Disney trip isn't a fun trip? Can't wait to read more!

[By the way, your thread title reads "grils," just thought I should let you know! ]

 

[SusanEllen]

Okay, Helen, I'm signing on to the PTR so that I'll know when the reports start rolling in. Continue to have fun planning.

 

[Sarah84]

Sounds like a great trip you have planned, look forward to reading more about it

 

[seobaina]

Ok, so now I'm at the awkward point. I want to book a hotel for the first 3 nights we're in Cali in the Anaheim area. This is mainly cause I don't want to have to get in from the flight, pick up the hire car then drive out to my friends in Ventura (or Studio City) only to have to travel back across LA the next few days. We're thinking of going to DL the first day and San Diego the second, then on to an LA city day on the monday. So I need a hotel for the fri, sat and sun nights. As only one day is at DL it doesn't have to be next to the park.

Last time I stayed in the Travelodge Disneyland drive and to stay there again would cost us £130. I know that's good, and the hotel was cool but I kinda wanna get something cheaper. The Super 8 motel is only £87 for the same period but I don't know it at all. We'd only have to pay DL parking on one of the days if we stayed further out than the Travelodge so that's only $12 (£8) to add. Hummm, and the confussion starts. I don't need extras, although free breakfast helps. We just need a room with two beds that is basic, safe and clean and somewhere to park the car. Anyone got any suggestions?

What would you do?

 

[seobaina]

oh, and I have a basic plan (barring any issues)

Fri 18th Sept - Travel to Los Angeles (Stay at Anaheim Hotel)
Sat 19th Sept - DISNEYLAND (just two of us) (Stay at Anaheim Hotel)
Sun 20th Sept - San Diego day trip (Stay at Anaheim Hotel)
Mon 21st Sept - LA Touristy Stuff (head to my friends)
Tues 22nd Sept - Free / friends day
Wed 23rd Sept - Free / friends day
Thurs 24th Sept - Drive up the coast to the Monterey area (Hotel)
Fri 25th Sept - Monterey/Santa Cruz then to Yosemite area (Hotel)
Sat 26th Sept - Yosemite and drive back to LA area (Friends)
Sun 27th Sept - Free / friends day
Mon 28th Sept - DISNEYLAND (group trip - halloween decs out now)
Tues 29th Sept - Free / friends day (maybe Universal Studios)
Wed 30th Sept - Free / friends day
Thurs 1st Oct - Travel Home

Gotta leave days free cause our friends have plans. Only two DL days but that's cause a) only have enough free tickets for the two days really and b) Clair not the crazy disney nut I am and wants to see other things too - I don't get it

 

[seobaina]

[By the way, your thread title reads "grils," just thought I should let you know! ]

*tee hee* and us Brits are supposed to be good at English? How embarassing Thanks, I'll correct it now!

 

[Sarah84]

Have you checked rates at the howard johnson? i've never stayed there (my first trip to California this year) but have seen lots of people raving about it and i think it runs around $130 a night maybe, if you go through this link i think the rates are cheaper than there general one http://www.hojoanaheim.com/micechat/

 

[Sarah84]

I just checked your dates and total stay comes to $348 you just need to type LKMC into the promo code box

 

[seobaina]

Hi Sarah

Thanks for checking that, I appreciate it. But the other places are only £87 ish or £130 total for the three nights, not each night - sorry, I should have explained better. I can't really afford to go up to $300+...had an expensive year this year (like most people) so we're keeping it down.

Thank you though, that was very sweet of you to look

x

 

[Sarah84]

No problems at all. Oops for a silly reason i presummed you meant them prices were PN, you got some great prices then for 3 nights

 

[seobaina]

Nah, my fault for not clarifying better. They are great prices, I just wish I knew more about the hotels to see which is best. x

 

[wvnative]

I just wanted to ask, when you stayed at the Travelodge on Disneyland Dr, did you walk to the park or catch a tram? I'm debating it for our next trip if we can't get the entertainment rate at HOJO and just want to know what to expect. getawaytoday.com has a decent price for them.

 

[seobaina]

I just wanted to ask, when you stayed at the Travelodge on Disneyland Dr, did you walk to the park or catch a tram? I'm debating it for our next trip if we can't get the entertainment rate at HOJO and just want to know what to expect. getawaytoday.com has a decent price for them.

We walked around the corner to the parking lot and took the tram from there. It's about ten minute walk to the tram pick up and two mins on the tram. We did walk back one night but that was only because we'd walked down through Downtown Disney and were therefore at that end. You could walk it easily but a) you do enough walking in the park b) the tram is free and you walk right past it and c) it's kinda fun riding the tram...feels more like florida

We liked the hotel. It was clean and convenient.

 

[seobaina]

ok, some updates. We've booked some accomodation for the times when we're not staying at my friends.

It's all cheap and cheerful but we've got....

18th - 21st (3 nights) at the Super 8 at the park/convention centre motel, anaheim for only £84 total for the ENTIRE stay (approx $135). It's not far and we only have to park at DL the one day!

24th Sept – Good Nite Inn, Salinas – one night for £32 (approx $50)
25th Sept - Days Inn, Modesto - one night for £43 (approx $68)

We also managed to get a car hire deal for only about £212 (approx $338) for the entire trip, including CDW, LDW, unlimited milage, etc. Only thing we might have to pay is tank of gas and poss the extra addo-on insurance for lost keys etc, if we want it.

So YAY, all but my insurance are booked now. So excited.

Also, my boss gave me her complimentary Disneyland tickets so that I could take two of my friends in for a day for free too

 

[seobaina]

Whooohooo

I just booked the Blue Bayou restaurant for 5:20pm on the Saturday. I thought, with it being a saturday it would be packed already. That means I should be able to see the parade, eat and still have time before Fantasmic.

Sorry, but I'm excited and had to share

 

[seobaina]

Well, I only have two weeks to go and things are book (bar my insurance).

We've staying in Anaheim for three nights, then at a friends, then in Oxnard for two nights, then we drive to Salinas for one night, Modesto for one night and Bakersfield for one night before hanging out in LA for the rest of the time. All motels booked.

And just to add to my excitement...

1) the dragon is working at Disneyland *touch wood*
2) Monteray Bay Aquarium have a new great white shark. They are one of my all time favourite creatures so please keep your fingers crossed for me that she'll still be there when we get there on 25th.

So, any last min tips or advice?