Dave Dizney
<font color=blue>Super-Duper organized Ultimate Di
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2004
- Messages
- 460
Dave Disney & Family Celebrate Disneylands Fiftieth
Last weekend we made our family venture to the place where it all began. Though weve been to Disneyland a number of times (my wife grew up in Fresno) the five of us (son 19, son 18, and daughter 12) were excited to see how the original was doing after all these years and to FINALLY experience California Adventure.
Some of you may have seen us on the Travel Channels Fans Guide to Walt Disney World and may remember us as the over-planning, schedule-making, anal-retentive family. Thats still us. We began planning for this trip last spring-break, but because some things didnt come together, we postponed the trip until the end of summer before our oldest goes back to college. Oh, and we neglected to tell our kids about the trip OK, we downright lied to our kids. We told them we were going to Duluth! Oh, can you imagine the light in their eyes as they considered such a trip (apologies to those who live in Duluth you really have a beautiful city).
We surprised them a couple of days before the trip at a local Mexican restaurant, and asked to be seated outdoors. Good thing. Im afraid I still need to apologize to those people a few tables away who must have thought they were witnessing a Jerry Springer moment. We began by telling the kids there was some bad news items about our trip. First, one of the main attractions was unexpectedly closed (which was true, California Screamin was down). Second, we told them we were renting a car and not taking the mini van (which was also true, but a downer to our long-legged kids). Third, we said we had a very tight schedule with only two and a half days. Then, my wife told them the good news.
Thursday:
OK we packed the day before, but even at their advanced ages (and belief in immortality) the kids could not get themselves to bed early. We woke up at about 3:30am to grab the flights that I had found for a great price online. I was cashing in on a frequent flyer reward trip, so I had to fly alone which was a real bummer, but hey, all 5 of us flew for about $800! After all the packing, driving to the car-park, taking the shuttle to the airport, and jumping on different flights we were off to Los Angeles.
Things went surprisingly well. We got off our flights at different times, but met at the car-rental site. The Advantage Car Rental group had an excellent price online, but because of a mismatched vehicle, we got a free upgrade. Poor us (not)! Driving the maze of California highways was also surprisingly easy, especially with the Map Quest directions. We arrived at the Holiday Inn at the Park where I had snagged a rate of $62 a night. After getting our stuff together, we decided to take the hike to the park which really wasnt so bad.
I have to mention here, we had not visited Disneyland for 6 years when California Adventure was still under construction. Harbor Blvd. and Disneyland Drive are now absolutely beautiful! In the past, so much of the park was viewable from the streets, and what you saw across the streets was not so beautiful. Now, the palm trees and decorative pavement and lights make the place a whole bunch more magical.
We got into Disneyland around 11:00am. I immediately recognized that the crowds were significant for that time and day. Since we were still coming off of Central Time, we were starved and so we headed for Rancho del Zocalo (which our Disney Visa gives us a 10% discount on) which had good food, a nice outdoor location, and overpriced menu as expected.
Tough it was a bit crowded, we reminded ourselves that it was Disneyland, and that it always seems more crowded in the smaller park. We were able by the end of the day to ride every e-ticket ride except the Matterhorn and Splash Mountain, plus many others. We noticed how the park looked fresh lots of new paint and blooming flowers. Space Mountain was back to its original white. 50 Mouse ears were everywhere. The castle was truly blinged-out.
We had dinner at the French Market with good chicken and the traditional Disney Mint Julep. I have always loved that place. With the help of the fast passes and avoiding the crowded areas during the fireworks and Fantasmic, we saw about as much as we had hoped, and left the park early (11:00pm), walked to our hotel, jumped into the hot tub for a minute to sooth our tiered feet, and crashed after being up over 22 hours.
Part #2 tomorrow!
Last weekend we made our family venture to the place where it all began. Though weve been to Disneyland a number of times (my wife grew up in Fresno) the five of us (son 19, son 18, and daughter 12) were excited to see how the original was doing after all these years and to FINALLY experience California Adventure.
Some of you may have seen us on the Travel Channels Fans Guide to Walt Disney World and may remember us as the over-planning, schedule-making, anal-retentive family. Thats still us. We began planning for this trip last spring-break, but because some things didnt come together, we postponed the trip until the end of summer before our oldest goes back to college. Oh, and we neglected to tell our kids about the trip OK, we downright lied to our kids. We told them we were going to Duluth! Oh, can you imagine the light in their eyes as they considered such a trip (apologies to those who live in Duluth you really have a beautiful city).
We surprised them a couple of days before the trip at a local Mexican restaurant, and asked to be seated outdoors. Good thing. Im afraid I still need to apologize to those people a few tables away who must have thought they were witnessing a Jerry Springer moment. We began by telling the kids there was some bad news items about our trip. First, one of the main attractions was unexpectedly closed (which was true, California Screamin was down). Second, we told them we were renting a car and not taking the mini van (which was also true, but a downer to our long-legged kids). Third, we said we had a very tight schedule with only two and a half days. Then, my wife told them the good news.
Thursday:
OK we packed the day before, but even at their advanced ages (and belief in immortality) the kids could not get themselves to bed early. We woke up at about 3:30am to grab the flights that I had found for a great price online. I was cashing in on a frequent flyer reward trip, so I had to fly alone which was a real bummer, but hey, all 5 of us flew for about $800! After all the packing, driving to the car-park, taking the shuttle to the airport, and jumping on different flights we were off to Los Angeles.
Things went surprisingly well. We got off our flights at different times, but met at the car-rental site. The Advantage Car Rental group had an excellent price online, but because of a mismatched vehicle, we got a free upgrade. Poor us (not)! Driving the maze of California highways was also surprisingly easy, especially with the Map Quest directions. We arrived at the Holiday Inn at the Park where I had snagged a rate of $62 a night. After getting our stuff together, we decided to take the hike to the park which really wasnt so bad.
I have to mention here, we had not visited Disneyland for 6 years when California Adventure was still under construction. Harbor Blvd. and Disneyland Drive are now absolutely beautiful! In the past, so much of the park was viewable from the streets, and what you saw across the streets was not so beautiful. Now, the palm trees and decorative pavement and lights make the place a whole bunch more magical.
We got into Disneyland around 11:00am. I immediately recognized that the crowds were significant for that time and day. Since we were still coming off of Central Time, we were starved and so we headed for Rancho del Zocalo (which our Disney Visa gives us a 10% discount on) which had good food, a nice outdoor location, and overpriced menu as expected.
Tough it was a bit crowded, we reminded ourselves that it was Disneyland, and that it always seems more crowded in the smaller park. We were able by the end of the day to ride every e-ticket ride except the Matterhorn and Splash Mountain, plus many others. We noticed how the park looked fresh lots of new paint and blooming flowers. Space Mountain was back to its original white. 50 Mouse ears were everywhere. The castle was truly blinged-out.
We had dinner at the French Market with good chicken and the traditional Disney Mint Julep. I have always loved that place. With the help of the fast passes and avoiding the crowded areas during the fireworks and Fantasmic, we saw about as much as we had hoped, and left the park early (11:00pm), walked to our hotel, jumped into the hot tub for a minute to sooth our tiered feet, and crashed after being up over 22 hours.
Part #2 tomorrow!
Of course, I felt very important for knowing such a famous TV star. 
It's so true! We were asking the whole time "where is our wedge of people moving the crowd?" Let me tell you, during the worst part, we were walking "serpentine" but having difficulty not letting the flow of traffic break us and send us "downstream!" 
