Danauk
<font color=green>I would be sitting on the patio
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
- Messages
- 14,597
Thanks to the 8 hour time difference we were up and eager to start the day at 5am! This was good as we wanted to be out of the room at 6am anyway to go and line up at security for Magical Morning (early entry for hotel guests and people with 3 day or more hopper tickets.) We got to security at 6:10am and only a few CM's were there and the esplanade between the two parks empty (at DLR the two parks are opposite oneanother.)
Soon a few more people turned up along with the security people. We waited at the bag check area and chatted to the security CM's and the other families around us before being allowed through to the gates at 6:30am. By now there were quite a few families waiting. I used the time to take a few pictures of the entrance (and yes that is 6:40am on the clock in the picture!)
I loved the floral display, later in the day the flowers open so Mickeys head is white plus there are lights in the flower beds so every so often it looks like Tinkerbell shoots stars out of her wand and lights up the flower bed.
At 7am the gates were opened for magical morning and I took my 1st steps into Disneyland. As we passed under the tunnel I read the plaque with Walts famous words written on:
As everybody rushed in (and I really mean ran in!) I got my 1st glimpse of Main Street. The 1st thing that struck me wasn't how small the castle was (I was expecting that) it was how different it looked to WDW and DLRP with the Matterhorn rising above the shops.
This picture was taken later in the day, I was in too much of a hurry to take pictures this morning!
We headed to Fantasyland (only Fantasyland and some of Tomorrowland are open for Magical Mornings) and between 7am and 8am we rode Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, the Matterhorn (both sides - I was really looking forward to this as we are huge rollercoaster fans and this was the worlds 1st steel tubular rollercoaster), Mr Toads Wild Ride, Pinnochio's Daring Journey and Snow Whites Scary Adventure. At 8am the rest of the park opened so we rode BTMRR and Pirates of the Caribbean before 8:30am and picked up a FP for Indiana Jones for later (at DLR Indy is a ride rather than a show or rollercoaster.)
By now it was time to meet up with our VIP tour guide so we headed back out of the park and back to the fireplace in the hotel where we were to meet up. Soon Karen C arrived who was our guide for the day (I had requested her due to info other dissers had given me.) I can't say enough kind things about this lady, she was amazing (as you will see!!)
We chatted a little about the things we were interested in and Karen took our park passes so she could get fast passes for us throughout the day. We headed straight into the California Adventure park via the hotel entrance. This was really cool as it was not yet 9:30am so the park had not opened to the public (the park opens at 9:30am with just Soarin open and the rest of the rides open at 10am which is the official park opening time) so the whole place was deserted apart from a few CM's. Karen spoke to a Grizzly River Run CM who gave us fast passes for later (even though the machines were not yet on as the park hadn't opened!) We went over to Soarin ready for it to open and chatted to the manager there who was lovely. By 9:30 Soarin had a line and we were on the 1st flight of the day. Karen made sure we had the best seats and also arranged for us to stay there for a 2nd go!
Next we went over to the Disneyland Park. We rode Walts fire truck down Main Street (Walt actually built the truck himself) and then headed over to Space Mountain. As we walked past the Snow White waterfall we saw Peter Pan and Wendy.
Unfortunately Space Mountain was down when we got there but Karen got her CM friend to give us 2 passes each for later (plus he gave us 2 Indy passes as well!) She also got the Space Mountain CM's to sing happy anniversary to us to the tune of happy birthday!!
Next we were going to go on Nemo. Now for those of you who don't know Disneyland Nemo is a submarine ride around a lake which has images projected into it. It is also a bit of a nightmare line as the ride is so slow to load and is quite long. Usually the only way to ride Nemo without at hour or two line is to run to it 1st thing (and boy do people run!!)
Now as part of the VIP tour you are not supposed to get front of the line access so Karen gave us some fast passes for BTMRR as well as the Indy ones we already had and said she would wait in line for us and she would ring us when she got to the front. We expected the wait to be around an hour. So off we went to BTMRR (which is way smaller than the ones at WDW and DLRP but still a good ride). We were just about to get in line for Indy when Karen rang to tell us to come over straight away. She had seen her friend who was one of the Nemo managers and as an unofficial dream prize he invited us to ride Nemo straight away! So we walked up the exit and got on the next sub!!
After Nemo I had asked it we could do a lap of the park in the Lilly Belle. This is a special carridge on the train dedicated to Walt and Lilly which was based on a design used to transport special guests around the park. Normally you can not ride it unless you have been given special permission and have a CM accompany you.
Once we had done a lap of the park we saw that Space Mountain was working again so we went on that. The nice CM who had given us the Fast Passes earlier told us to keep hold of them and use them again later. We went on the ride which I really enjoyed and Karen arranged for us to stay on and have a 2nd go!
By now it was hot and we needed lunch so Karen suggested we go and use a Splash Mountain FP she had got for us whilst she went and got us a table for the Billy Hill and the Hillbillies show.
We rode Splash and got pretty wet, but it was so warm that we had dried out by the time we got back to Karen at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon. We ordered some lunch and the show started. It was obvious straight away that Karen had spoken to the performers as they dedicated most of the show to us, they wished us happy anniversary and dedicated a few songs to us (including a war song about the British coming!) The show was very funny.
After the show we wondered back up Main Street to city hall, along the way Karen pointed out Walts appartment and the light that is always on to show that Walt's spirit is still in the park (whenever Walt was in the park he would put the light on to let teh CM's know he was there). As we had been chatting during the day I had told Karen that I taught 8 year olds and how my assistant at work was obsessed with Mickey Mouse even though she has never been to a Disney park. Soon Karen reappeared with 30 Mickey Happy Birthday badges for me to give my children throughout they year and a signed photo addressed to my assistant from Mickey. Plus I got a signed Tinkerbell picture and Pete got a Mickey one (we had previously said they were our favourite characters.) Whilst in city hall we also got a phone call from Mickey and Minnie wishing us happy anniversary!!
Next we headed back over to Californian Adventure and to the annimation building. Here we saw Turtle Talk with Crush and Karen arranged for us to stay behind after the show to have a private sessions with Crush so we could chat to him!! I asked him what his favourite subject was at school (it was surfing.)
By now it was time for Karen to go but before she did she made sure our names were on the VIP list for all the parades, shows and Fantasmic for the times we wanted to see them so we would not have to get there ages before hand and we could sit in the VIP viewing areas.
By now it was time for our VIP viewing at the Pixar Play Parade. The parade was very cute featuring all the Pixar characters and jets of water!
By now it was nearly 6pm so we headed back to the hotel using our Grizzly River Run FP's along the way. We came off soaking wet and were happy that our room (and dry clothes) was so close by! Within 5 minues of coming off the ride were were in out room getting showered and changed and ready for dinner. We had dinner at the buffet at Storytellers Cafe in the hotel which was really good.
After dinner we headed back into Disneyland park for our VIP seating for Fantasmic. At Disneyland Fantasmic is performed on Tom Sawyer Island and the characters appear on the island and they all appear on the Mark Twain sailing ship. The show was really good and the viewing area excellent.
After the show we used the Indy passes Karen had given us that morning (which we were greatful for as the stand by line was 75 minutes long!) By now it was 10pm and although the park was open until mid night the early morning and jet lag made us tired so we headed back to the hotel to sleep.
Soon a few more people turned up along with the security people. We waited at the bag check area and chatted to the security CM's and the other families around us before being allowed through to the gates at 6:30am. By now there were quite a few families waiting. I used the time to take a few pictures of the entrance (and yes that is 6:40am on the clock in the picture!)
I loved the floral display, later in the day the flowers open so Mickeys head is white plus there are lights in the flower beds so every so often it looks like Tinkerbell shoots stars out of her wand and lights up the flower bed.
At 7am the gates were opened for magical morning and I took my 1st steps into Disneyland. As we passed under the tunnel I read the plaque with Walts famous words written on:
As everybody rushed in (and I really mean ran in!) I got my 1st glimpse of Main Street. The 1st thing that struck me wasn't how small the castle was (I was expecting that) it was how different it looked to WDW and DLRP with the Matterhorn rising above the shops.
This picture was taken later in the day, I was in too much of a hurry to take pictures this morning!
We headed to Fantasyland (only Fantasyland and some of Tomorrowland are open for Magical Mornings) and between 7am and 8am we rode Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, the Matterhorn (both sides - I was really looking forward to this as we are huge rollercoaster fans and this was the worlds 1st steel tubular rollercoaster), Mr Toads Wild Ride, Pinnochio's Daring Journey and Snow Whites Scary Adventure. At 8am the rest of the park opened so we rode BTMRR and Pirates of the Caribbean before 8:30am and picked up a FP for Indiana Jones for later (at DLR Indy is a ride rather than a show or rollercoaster.)
By now it was time to meet up with our VIP tour guide so we headed back out of the park and back to the fireplace in the hotel where we were to meet up. Soon Karen C arrived who was our guide for the day (I had requested her due to info other dissers had given me.) I can't say enough kind things about this lady, she was amazing (as you will see!!)
We chatted a little about the things we were interested in and Karen took our park passes so she could get fast passes for us throughout the day. We headed straight into the California Adventure park via the hotel entrance. This was really cool as it was not yet 9:30am so the park had not opened to the public (the park opens at 9:30am with just Soarin open and the rest of the rides open at 10am which is the official park opening time) so the whole place was deserted apart from a few CM's. Karen spoke to a Grizzly River Run CM who gave us fast passes for later (even though the machines were not yet on as the park hadn't opened!) We went over to Soarin ready for it to open and chatted to the manager there who was lovely. By 9:30 Soarin had a line and we were on the 1st flight of the day. Karen made sure we had the best seats and also arranged for us to stay there for a 2nd go!
Next we went over to the Disneyland Park. We rode Walts fire truck down Main Street (Walt actually built the truck himself) and then headed over to Space Mountain. As we walked past the Snow White waterfall we saw Peter Pan and Wendy.
Unfortunately Space Mountain was down when we got there but Karen got her CM friend to give us 2 passes each for later (plus he gave us 2 Indy passes as well!) She also got the Space Mountain CM's to sing happy anniversary to us to the tune of happy birthday!!
Next we were going to go on Nemo. Now for those of you who don't know Disneyland Nemo is a submarine ride around a lake which has images projected into it. It is also a bit of a nightmare line as the ride is so slow to load and is quite long. Usually the only way to ride Nemo without at hour or two line is to run to it 1st thing (and boy do people run!!)
Now as part of the VIP tour you are not supposed to get front of the line access so Karen gave us some fast passes for BTMRR as well as the Indy ones we already had and said she would wait in line for us and she would ring us when she got to the front. We expected the wait to be around an hour. So off we went to BTMRR (which is way smaller than the ones at WDW and DLRP but still a good ride). We were just about to get in line for Indy when Karen rang to tell us to come over straight away. She had seen her friend who was one of the Nemo managers and as an unofficial dream prize he invited us to ride Nemo straight away! So we walked up the exit and got on the next sub!!
After Nemo I had asked it we could do a lap of the park in the Lilly Belle. This is a special carridge on the train dedicated to Walt and Lilly which was based on a design used to transport special guests around the park. Normally you can not ride it unless you have been given special permission and have a CM accompany you.
Once we had done a lap of the park we saw that Space Mountain was working again so we went on that. The nice CM who had given us the Fast Passes earlier told us to keep hold of them and use them again later. We went on the ride which I really enjoyed and Karen arranged for us to stay on and have a 2nd go!
By now it was hot and we needed lunch so Karen suggested we go and use a Splash Mountain FP she had got for us whilst she went and got us a table for the Billy Hill and the Hillbillies show.
We rode Splash and got pretty wet, but it was so warm that we had dried out by the time we got back to Karen at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon. We ordered some lunch and the show started. It was obvious straight away that Karen had spoken to the performers as they dedicated most of the show to us, they wished us happy anniversary and dedicated a few songs to us (including a war song about the British coming!) The show was very funny.
After the show we wondered back up Main Street to city hall, along the way Karen pointed out Walts appartment and the light that is always on to show that Walt's spirit is still in the park (whenever Walt was in the park he would put the light on to let teh CM's know he was there). As we had been chatting during the day I had told Karen that I taught 8 year olds and how my assistant at work was obsessed with Mickey Mouse even though she has never been to a Disney park. Soon Karen reappeared with 30 Mickey Happy Birthday badges for me to give my children throughout they year and a signed photo addressed to my assistant from Mickey. Plus I got a signed Tinkerbell picture and Pete got a Mickey one (we had previously said they were our favourite characters.) Whilst in city hall we also got a phone call from Mickey and Minnie wishing us happy anniversary!!
Next we headed back over to Californian Adventure and to the annimation building. Here we saw Turtle Talk with Crush and Karen arranged for us to stay behind after the show to have a private sessions with Crush so we could chat to him!! I asked him what his favourite subject was at school (it was surfing.)
By now it was time for Karen to go but before she did she made sure our names were on the VIP list for all the parades, shows and Fantasmic for the times we wanted to see them so we would not have to get there ages before hand and we could sit in the VIP viewing areas.
By now it was time for our VIP viewing at the Pixar Play Parade. The parade was very cute featuring all the Pixar characters and jets of water!
By now it was nearly 6pm so we headed back to the hotel using our Grizzly River Run FP's along the way. We came off soaking wet and were happy that our room (and dry clothes) was so close by! Within 5 minues of coming off the ride were were in out room getting showered and changed and ready for dinner. We had dinner at the buffet at Storytellers Cafe in the hotel which was really good.
After dinner we headed back into Disneyland park for our VIP seating for Fantasmic. At Disneyland Fantasmic is performed on Tom Sawyer Island and the characters appear on the island and they all appear on the Mark Twain sailing ship. The show was really good and the viewing area excellent.
After the show we used the Indy passes Karen had given us that morning (which we were greatful for as the stand by line was 75 minutes long!) By now it was 10pm and although the park was open until mid night the early morning and jet lag made us tired so we headed back to the hotel to sleep.
.What was the name of the underwater sub ride before it became Nemo-i can't remember now?.But that was how i remembered it.Also loved the Indy ride i remember it being very jerky though-but very good.Love your pictures.x.
,bless him.x.
