cyberbox2
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2005
- Messages
- 961
Well I'm back from my 4 day L.A. blitz. Went to Burbank to the Disney Animation Studios, went to Hermosa and Redondo beaches, Santa Monica Pier and Universal City Walk. But Sunday was an entire day at Disneyland and I went solo.
I was dropped of at 9:00am and took the tram to the ticket center. I had a 10 day WDW park hopper (non expire) that had 9 days left on it. When I presented the ticket to the nice man at the turnstile, he had someone take my ticket and return with a 1 day park hopper Disneyland ticket just like that!
The first thing I noticed once the tram dropped me off was how "together" everything was. California Adventure was to my right Magic Kingdom was to my left and Downtown Disney was just behind me, all within walking distance. I'm so used to these things being spread out, miles from each other in Florida.
I rode all of the familiar rides starting with Space Mountain. It was interesting to note all of the differences between their Florida counterparts.
Against Pete's recommendation (sorry Pete) I had a 3:30 ressie at the Blue Bayou, so I made sure I timed it so that I would be getting off of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride just as 3:30 rolled around, and it worked out perfect. The POTC ride was longer and better in my opinion that in Florida. My love for this ride and the movies really was the deciding factor in my making Blue Bayou ressies.
At the Blue Bayou I had a cup of gumbo to start, the Monte Cristo for the entree and the cookie boat for dessert. They were all terrific and the atmosphere along would have been worth the cost of dinning here, but what I had to eat truly was very good. I have food photo's I will post later.
After leaving the BB, I headed over to California Adventure to ride...what else...California Screamin'. The ride was great and I could see the california hills from atop the ride. The I headed to the other end of the park to ride ToT taking note of all of the sights and sounds of a completely new Disney park I have never been in before.
It's now about 7:30 pm and I head over to DTD to look around.....What, no Earl of Sandwhich
Oh well, I wasn't hungry yet anyway. Walked through all of DTD and stopped into a couple of stores. The Vault was a let down for sure, but I enjoyed walking through World of Disney.
All through the area at DTD they had live guitarist playing either blues or classical music and it really set a nice tone for strolling around in the dusk of the day with it's gentle breeze.
After buying a few pins from the pin trading hut, I went back to Magic Kingdom to watch Fantasmic which is presented from Tom Sawyers Island aka Pirates Lair. That was an awesome show with what seemed to be more fireworks that what I remember at Hollywood Studios. I was able to slip out in just enough time to get on Slash Mountain before the lines picked up again and boy did I get wet. I should have probably thought that though better because the sun had long set and I wouldn't dry off nearly as quick, the sacrifices we make right?
Around 10:00pm I relunctantly headed to the trams and kicking and screaming, got into the car
I could have easily spent another 4 or 5 hour there without thinking twice. All in all I didn't spend more that about 25 minutes at most waiting in line for any ride and that really enabled me to accomplish a lot. What a day!
Here are some additional photo's that are Disney related.
I was dropped of at 9:00am and took the tram to the ticket center. I had a 10 day WDW park hopper (non expire) that had 9 days left on it. When I presented the ticket to the nice man at the turnstile, he had someone take my ticket and return with a 1 day park hopper Disneyland ticket just like that!
The first thing I noticed once the tram dropped me off was how "together" everything was. California Adventure was to my right Magic Kingdom was to my left and Downtown Disney was just behind me, all within walking distance. I'm so used to these things being spread out, miles from each other in Florida.
I rode all of the familiar rides starting with Space Mountain. It was interesting to note all of the differences between their Florida counterparts.
Against Pete's recommendation (sorry Pete) I had a 3:30 ressie at the Blue Bayou, so I made sure I timed it so that I would be getting off of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride just as 3:30 rolled around, and it worked out perfect. The POTC ride was longer and better in my opinion that in Florida. My love for this ride and the movies really was the deciding factor in my making Blue Bayou ressies.
At the Blue Bayou I had a cup of gumbo to start, the Monte Cristo for the entree and the cookie boat for dessert. They were all terrific and the atmosphere along would have been worth the cost of dinning here, but what I had to eat truly was very good. I have food photo's I will post later.
After leaving the BB, I headed over to California Adventure to ride...what else...California Screamin'. The ride was great and I could see the california hills from atop the ride. The I headed to the other end of the park to ride ToT taking note of all of the sights and sounds of a completely new Disney park I have never been in before.
It's now about 7:30 pm and I head over to DTD to look around.....What, no Earl of Sandwhich
Oh well, I wasn't hungry yet anyway. Walked through all of DTD and stopped into a couple of stores. The Vault was a let down for sure, but I enjoyed walking through World of Disney.All through the area at DTD they had live guitarist playing either blues or classical music and it really set a nice tone for strolling around in the dusk of the day with it's gentle breeze.
After buying a few pins from the pin trading hut, I went back to Magic Kingdom to watch Fantasmic which is presented from Tom Sawyers Island aka Pirates Lair. That was an awesome show with what seemed to be more fireworks that what I remember at Hollywood Studios. I was able to slip out in just enough time to get on Slash Mountain before the lines picked up again and boy did I get wet. I should have probably thought that though better because the sun had long set and I wouldn't dry off nearly as quick, the sacrifices we make right?
Around 10:00pm I relunctantly headed to the trams and kicking and screaming, got into the car
I could have easily spent another 4 or 5 hour there without thinking twice. All in all I didn't spend more that about 25 minutes at most waiting in line for any ride and that really enabled me to accomplish a lot. What a day!
Here are some additional photo's that are Disney related.
