Eight
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2010
- Messages
- 383
So I ended up going to Disneyland last Sunday. It was very last minute, I decided that I would be going Saturday evening. I'm not going to do a full trip report, but I thought I'd share some of my thoughts.
Transportation: Unfortunately, I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go to Disneyland. I called for estimates on town cars, but if I remember correctly, they were around $115 for one way (I was in Los Angeles). I looked for a shuttle, but for those, you had to closer or at LAX. Finally I found that Starline Tours would pick you up from your hotel and take you for $124. Price included transportation there and back, plus a one day one park ticket, which I didn't need since I have an annual pass. Still, it was cheaper than hiring a car, so I decided it was worth it.
I was picked up from my hotel at 8:00 am. Kind of early for me, but that's how it was scheduled. We stopped and picked up some people from other hotels in the area, and I thought we would be on our way to Disneyland. Not so. I was really confused because I know how to get to Disneyland from LA, and we were definitely not going in the right direction. In fact, we were headed toward Hollywood.
So that's the catch. They pick you up from your hotel, but then they take you to their office in Hollywood where you pay, get your ticket, and board a different bus to get to Disneyland. I think it's a little misleading as it doesn't mention that on the Disneyland tour page online. Granted, it's entirely possible it says that somewhere on their webpage, but I didn't notice anything about it, nor did they mention that when I called to book the tour. It's not a huge deal, but I wish they were more clear about it.
The bus left around 9:20, I think, and we got down there about 10:10.
Crowds: Not as bad as I had thought. I mean, yes, it was pretty crowded, but I was there from 10 to 7, and it wasn't so bad I felt like I wanted to leave, which has happened before. The lines were pretty long for everything though, 30 to 45+ minutes for everything big.
Canoes: I had never done the canoes before, so on Sunday, I was like, "why not?" And I loved it! I didn't really know what to expect, other than you were paddling a canoe, but it was really, really fun. Who knew? Our canoe guide was pretty funny, and it was a good way to cool down since I had a little girl in front of me who kept splashing me. Definitely going to do this next time I'm there and it's open.
Storyteller's Cafe: That morning I made a reservation for dinner at 5, since I had enjoyed it so much last time I was there. And I have to admit, I was a little let down. Maybe I had built it up too much. Despite the fact that the restaurant was pretty empty, they were still making people wait 10+ minutes to get a table. I'm not sure what that was all about. The ravioli was good, but a little blander than what I remembered.
ElecTRONica: Wasn't sure what to expect with this, but I kind of liked it. Or at least what little I saw of it. I didn't have much time, since I had to catch the bus back at 7, so I just kind of wandered around the Hollywood Backlot. If I had had more time, and someone else with me, I think it would have been fun to take some pictures back there as there were some cool lighting effects.
Characters: I ended up taking quite a few pictures with characters, since the lines for them were shorter than the lines for rides. If you remember from my TR, I had wanted to see Peter Pan and he was never there. I finally saw him last Sunday, which was kind of cool. Also saw the Evil Queen from Snow White who I've never seen out before. As well as quite a few princesses out in Fantasyland with some short lines, which I found surprising.
Overall, I had a really good day at Disneyland. It was my first time by myself, and I was a bit worried I would get bored or tired, but that wasn't a problem at all. In fact, it was kind of nice going by myself. I would definitely do it again.
Transportation: Unfortunately, I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go to Disneyland. I called for estimates on town cars, but if I remember correctly, they were around $115 for one way (I was in Los Angeles). I looked for a shuttle, but for those, you had to closer or at LAX. Finally I found that Starline Tours would pick you up from your hotel and take you for $124. Price included transportation there and back, plus a one day one park ticket, which I didn't need since I have an annual pass. Still, it was cheaper than hiring a car, so I decided it was worth it.
I was picked up from my hotel at 8:00 am. Kind of early for me, but that's how it was scheduled. We stopped and picked up some people from other hotels in the area, and I thought we would be on our way to Disneyland. Not so. I was really confused because I know how to get to Disneyland from LA, and we were definitely not going in the right direction. In fact, we were headed toward Hollywood.
So that's the catch. They pick you up from your hotel, but then they take you to their office in Hollywood where you pay, get your ticket, and board a different bus to get to Disneyland. I think it's a little misleading as it doesn't mention that on the Disneyland tour page online. Granted, it's entirely possible it says that somewhere on their webpage, but I didn't notice anything about it, nor did they mention that when I called to book the tour. It's not a huge deal, but I wish they were more clear about it.
The bus left around 9:20, I think, and we got down there about 10:10.
Crowds: Not as bad as I had thought. I mean, yes, it was pretty crowded, but I was there from 10 to 7, and it wasn't so bad I felt like I wanted to leave, which has happened before. The lines were pretty long for everything though, 30 to 45+ minutes for everything big.
Canoes: I had never done the canoes before, so on Sunday, I was like, "why not?" And I loved it! I didn't really know what to expect, other than you were paddling a canoe, but it was really, really fun. Who knew? Our canoe guide was pretty funny, and it was a good way to cool down since I had a little girl in front of me who kept splashing me. Definitely going to do this next time I'm there and it's open.
Storyteller's Cafe: That morning I made a reservation for dinner at 5, since I had enjoyed it so much last time I was there. And I have to admit, I was a little let down. Maybe I had built it up too much. Despite the fact that the restaurant was pretty empty, they were still making people wait 10+ minutes to get a table. I'm not sure what that was all about. The ravioli was good, but a little blander than what I remembered.
ElecTRONica: Wasn't sure what to expect with this, but I kind of liked it. Or at least what little I saw of it. I didn't have much time, since I had to catch the bus back at 7, so I just kind of wandered around the Hollywood Backlot. If I had had more time, and someone else with me, I think it would have been fun to take some pictures back there as there were some cool lighting effects.
Characters: I ended up taking quite a few pictures with characters, since the lines for them were shorter than the lines for rides. If you remember from my TR, I had wanted to see Peter Pan and he was never there. I finally saw him last Sunday, which was kind of cool. Also saw the Evil Queen from Snow White who I've never seen out before. As well as quite a few princesses out in Fantasyland with some short lines, which I found surprising.
Overall, I had a really good day at Disneyland. It was my first time by myself, and I was a bit worried I would get bored or tired, but that wasn't a problem at all. In fact, it was kind of nice going by myself. I would definitely do it again.
