Disneyland and beyond trip report (updated... the end!)

Beckie, at first I thought you were kidding when you said the storm after Laura is called Marco ...
Hope Hurricane Marco isn't too Grumpy. :wizard:

:confused3 :confused3 You NEVER know :lmao: what Marco can be up to !!!! :lmao:

:lovestruc Is that Arran Isle in your ? avatar ??? I just love it !!!

CIAOOOO !! laura :yay:
 
Hi Laura and Marco :goodvibes

Wow, doesn't your hotel look like Fantasyland Station especially in the 5th photo down with Marco .

:wave: Hi Kaye !!! Sorry , I've not been on here for a while ! :hug:

It's lovely to see you posting ... I do know how busy you are these days ...

When you need a break ... :rolleyes1 you could dream of THAT trip to DLRP ... :wizard:

Ciao ! Take care , laura :lovestruc
 

What a long journey - but I'm sure it was well worth it!!

:flower3: We both DO have so many wonderful memories of this trip !! The original Disneyland park reminds me of MANY years ago , when I could visit it with my parents - Dad was working then with a company based in California ... I still can "see" him and Mom walking down Main Street, they were so young and healthy !! :cloud9: and I was :scared: 15 yo !!!! ;)

So visiting this park is very special to my heart !!! :lovestruc
:dance3: I'll try and post another instalment soon - headteacher ... :upsidedow permitting !!!!!!!!

Ciao, laura :cool1:
 
Laura :wave:

We are scheduled to arrive October 18th, departing on the 23rd. My Mother, Terry and I arrive Saturday then Jeanne and Marcel arrive Sunday.

We are all so ready for a holiday and MNSSHP this will be my Mothers first Halloween Party and Food & Wine Festival, she is already planning her wardrobe. Plus she purchased a new small Vera Bradley purse for the trip.

How did your new purse do on your trip?

Beckie
 
We are also flying to Chicago when we go next month - what did you think of the airport and is it difficult to get around?

:goodvibes :) :lovestruc CIAO Sarah !!

:banana: NOT LONG now until your TRIP + CRUISE !!!!!!!!!

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I'm SO happy for you !!!!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:

The Chicago airport is LARGE indeed !! At first its 5 terminals , the trains to move from one another of them and those looong walks were (to me ;) - not to Marco at all !!! ) a bit intimidating ... but SHORTLY you get accostumed to everything... all directions are well marked , no problems getting around the big hub !!!

IMHO I was surprised to find very few "eateries" inside the terminals ... Miami eg has MANY restaurants , food courts and shops ... :confused3
People had to consume their food ... sitting in the waiting area of their departure gate ... :guilty: and the seats were not clean at all, I'm afraid to report ...
:hug: BE PREPARED to a long transfer from the international terminal (#5 , if memory serves me right ) to the "domestic" terminals ...
Are you flying to Orlando then ??

CIAOOOOOO ; laura :wave:
 
OH NO !!!!

The projected forecast for Tropical Storm Laura has her visiting GREAT BRITAIN.


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OH NO !!!!

The projected forecast for Tropical Storm Laura has her visiting GREAT BRITAIN.


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Come on , Beckie , YOU KNOW that I am such a calm guy !!!
:wave: Diana , :rotfl2: have you got your rain gear ready ?????? :rotfl2:

:laughing: :laughing: laura

PS ;) AT LEAST you all HAVE to think of me !!!
 
:wave: Ciaoooooooo to ALL OF YOU WHO ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO KEEP READING !!! HEHEHE

I’ll now post about THE HIGHLIGHTS of our visits to the BEAUTIFUL California Adventure park !!!

Marco and I had been visiting the park in 2001, just after its opening. IMHO at that time it was a really “ poor” park, very much lacking in Disney “magic” … :guilty: at least for DGH and I !!!

During our visit in August we were PLEASED !!!!!!!!! Now the California Adventures park is LOT, LOT,LOT improved: we could “feel” the MAGIC all around us and experienced very kind staff and loads of nice little details here and there !!! Thumbs up !!! :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2

In the same location where once there was the “horrible” IMHO Superstar Limo, now Disney has put a very cute dark ride , called Mike & Sulley to the rescue, based on Monster inc. movie.

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At the entrance we were greeted by an array of colourful “doors”… Once you pass through the doors, you enter the queue area. Afterwards you board a taxi cab for a ride through the city...
Suddenly you hear a message saying: ”A child is loose in Monstropolis!”.
You then see various scenes from the movie including Harry Hausen’s restaurant. Mike and Sulley try to return Boo to her home; these scenes IMHO are very cuuute indeed , :yay: :yay: I loved the ride itself !!!!!!!!!

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Monsters. Inc. is for us a great addition to Disney's California Adventure Park and it is unique to the Disneyland Resort. ( I would love eg to see it at DLRP !!!).

Alladin, the Musical , was by far the best show we have ever ever seen in a Disney park :

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The cast is REALLY great , wonderful performance indeed !!!!!!!!!! We could enjoy the show twice : A treat !!! :dance3: and both times the Genie was literally “stealing” the show.
If you add the amazing staging and the special effects (even the Magic Carpet comes to life !!) you can see how this show really IS spectacular !!!!!!!!!!!. :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
I was seated both times in the front row in the mezzanine, where the Aladdin parade passes right in front of you. MAGIC !! Elephants and horses run “on” your feet !! (Of course … hehe … there are cast members inside those “constructions” … but you feel you are in a big palace in the desert …)


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Also the Pixar PLAY PARADE was very good ! WET , but good ; DGH was soaked by the end of the parade … he and his beloved camcorder! Can you imagine how GRUMPY :rotfl: :rotfl: he was ?!?!?


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This was the first parade we enjoyed on our first afternoon at the park : there were characters from Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Monster's Inc, Ratatouille, Cars, Toy Story and A Bug's Life !!

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The floats were very well appointed IMHO and the “street performers” amazing !! Good interaction with people watching the parade !!! the kids were delighted … and SOAKED !!!!
Buzz Lightyear's rocket ship has a laser that shoots water and trails a vapor mist. Mr. Potato Head's lapel flower squirts and Dory and Nemo blow bubbles. BUT every cast member shoots water all around while dancing !!!!

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Marco and I felt hehe VERY REFRESHED … after watching this parade !!!

To be continued with … OTHER HIGHLIGHTS at California Adventure Park !!!
CIAO !!! :wave2:
 
WOW! That all looks so bright and colourful! I'm glad you had a great time! I'd love to see the Pixar Play Parade - the water spraying everywhere must be lovely when it's so hot!!
Another great installment Laura - more please!!
 
Laura - it all sounds stunning and so magical. I love the sound of the parade and the Aladdin show (parades and shows are my favourite things). Beautiful photos as per usual!
 
Really enjoyed reading more about your trip. :thumbsup2 Great photos too - just showed them to wee John. :love:
 
Hi!

Loved your update! Since I have only been to DL/DCA I love it when people who have travelled the Disney in other lands compare us (DLR) and say we have the best this or the best that (Aladdin in this case)! It makes me feel proud for some reason. :confused3

I really, REALLY loved Aladdin! I have only been to DCA in the last 2 yrs so nothing to compare it to (previously sucked, I guess) and I thought DCA was really cute! Don't get me wrong, it's DEFINITELY not Disney caliber when you talk about DLParis (from what I've seen in pics) or Tokyo DisneySea... those places really scored big in terms of beauty BUT DCA has a lot to offer in terms of attractions (See my comparrison chart in my TR ;) )

Anyway, great update and THANKS for coming back!

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Grumpy's Camcorder!
 
Laura & Marco (aka: DGH)

What a wonderful day at California Adventures. The musical score from Aladdin has always been my favorite, so I can just imagine how beautful the Musical would be. Maybe one day. :cloud9:

Cant wait until your next post, to see how your trip progresses.

It will be fun planning for next year, if Marco has any tentative plans already made tell him to PM me. :thumbsup2

Ciao
Beckie
 













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