Disneyland in May for 1st Times (LA and more also)

[jessica52877]

Okay, I'll do my best to actually do this. I have never done a trip report before but they look like alot of fun!

Cast of Characters include -

Myself - Jessica - Been to CA 2x, but once up by San Jose and the other time I was 19 but had been to Disney World the week before so we skipped Disneyland.

Husband - Lin - Enjoys disney and any vacation.

DS5 - Dallas - Obsessed with Disney World. At first he was upset we were NOT going to WDW.

My mom and her husband, Richy - They enjoy coming on vacation with us even though they are not always invited. They live close to WDW so usually meet us for a few days. Great grandparents.

I booked this back in January I think once I decided that DH was playing around too long with getting his passport and a cruise was going to be out. I booked before telling my mom since I assumed they wouldn't want to go with us and we were looking forward to a vacation alone.

Getting ready -

I am kind of a dork as you all know and like to do cute little things sometimes. It started out with our countdown calendar that Dallas and I made. You can see it in the background here. I guess I never took a better picture of it.

He was happy to write the # in each day until we left and has already asked when we are going to start a new one for our trip in October.

Then I decided I needed to use my new laminator that I have had for a few months and never even taken out of the package, so was going to make us some new luggage tags. I never got out to buy the right pockets so settled for cute address cards to place inside our suitcases and backpacks in case the luggage tag would come off.

I'll try to add a picture later! They are super cute if I say so myself though.

I make custom clothes but hadn't planned alot for this trip. DS is getting too old for alot of them, mainly because he is so tall and I have to use a bigger size and can't get good resale out of them much anymore. But we had a few, of course with the weather those plans got messed up anyways. I hope to see some disboutique friends on here!

If I get too boring let me know!

First up will be our trip to the airport and flight out to LA. My parents live in Florida and us in Atlanta. We are flying Airtran so they have to connect through Atlanta and I was able to then get us on the same flight out to LA. That was nice for Dallas.

 

[trodrigue]

I look forward to hearing how your trip goes. I have done both WDW and DL and I certainly appreciate all that WDW has to offer, but to me DL is the real thing. I hope you will enjoy it.

I am interested to see some of your boy custom clothes. I have boys and am always envious of all the darling girls custom clothing.

 

[eeyore3847]

MOre pictures!!! Awesome start!
I love those calenders... it really gets everyone super excited for the trip!
Lori

 

[Twins+2more]

im here ... im listening. Love the mickey paint chips. Every time I go to HD they don't have them. Sniff sniff

 

[jessica52877]

im here ... im listening. Love the mickey paint chips. Every time I go to HD they don't have them. Sniff sniff

I actually used a scrapbooking cutter thing that does mickey heads! I couldn't imagine cutting out that many mickey heads with just scissors! DS loved doing it.

 

[jessica52877]

Oh, a few notes I should have included earlier. We went from May 8th - 17th, but 2 of those days were totally travel days!

Thursday -Day 1 - Flight

We left on thursday and our plane was to leave at 6 pm from Atlanta. Flying out of Atlanta is always a nightmare. First you have to deal with the traffic getting there then the airport itself. We left at 2:30 for our 6 pm flight and barely made it, as in we got to the gate and within 10 minutes they started boarding the plane.

The traffic was great on the way there, no issues really which is extremely rare! The parking was another story, it always is, having to drive around forever to even find a spot, weaving around cars that aren't in spots. We finally found a spot and started our walk. Here are the boys. I am not a big picture taker before we are actually at our destination but tried to snap a few.

I tried to fly without much luggage, 2 checked bags, his stroller (to carry the carseat), carseat and then a backpack and laptop for the plane. I don't know how some of you girls do it with all the bows, bling and what not!

Trying to check our luggage was a nightmare and we stood in line well over an hour but were only 6 people back, no idea what the issue was. We flew airtran and I really like them but they were having some issues that day it seemed. So after finally getting our bags checked we had to go through security, another LONG wait!

Finally ready to hit the gate! My mom and Richy were already there waiting. I was relieved because she was so worried that something would happen and they would miss the connection and that would cause lots of issues once in LA since we were renting a car together.

The flight was HORRIBLE! I have never thought in my life that a plane was going to crash and I really thought it this day. It was shaking horribly before we were even off the ground. Once up it was going up and down and side to side for atleast the first hour. After that it finally calmed down but was a LONG 5 hours to LA with no food besides pretzels! I thought we were never going to get there. Thank goodness Dallas is a good traveler and just sat in his carseat and entertained himself looking out the window more or less. He also took about an hour nap.

We arrived in LA around 8:30 pm their time, but our time that is already 11:30. Got the rental car and were off to the hotel. It was easy to find and the car worked well for us. We got a Chevy Impala, save money and save gas! We checked in and then walked down to IHOP because everyone was starving and hadn't ate since around lunchtime. It was the worst meal and quite expensive and also after midnight by then!

We all fell asleep quickly. Pictures of the hotel to come later. We stayed at the Howard Johnson Anaheim and LOVED it! I would highly recommend it. More later on that though.

Tomorrow morning - Disneyland!

 

[Bloodhound]

Great Start, 3 friends and I are making our first trip to DL in Oct. One has been a couple of times and is our trip planner Donald T Duck...Looking forward to reading more.

 

[teresajoy]

Loving it Jessica!!! It sounds like you had a similar plane ride to us! I can't wait to read more, you are doing great!

 

[HeatherSue]

Flying out of Atlanta sounds like trying to fly out of Chicago O'hare. You never know how much traffic you're going to have just trying to get to the airport! We loved flying out of Detroit- much easier to get to and no traffic jams!

I wish we could bring Tessa's carseat on the airplane, but I found out after I bought it that it's not approved for airplanes, so we have to check it.

Thanks for snapping a picture of Lin and Dallas, just for us!

I'm enjoying your TR so far!!

 

[Cindy B Good]

Hoping over from Disboutique. Hey, jessica! Can't wait to read the rest of your trippie. Love Walt's original "land" & all it's adventures! More please!!!!

 

[Bloodhound]

Hi, a group of friends and I are going to DLR this oct. and I would like to joing and take notes.

 

[jessica52877]

You know I have never had or seen a dole whip float at DL or WDW, not that I am ever looking!

 

[jessica52877]

Thanks all for joining in! Atlanta does remind me of Chicago, a nightmare!

Day 2 - Friday - Disneyland

We all slept in late and adjusted quickly to California time. Being up so late the night before actually ended up working out perfect. I have no idea what time we got to the park but I think it was around 11, possibly even a bit later. We had to pick up our tickets (which I got from getawaytoday - no issues). It was quick and easy and she explained kindly about the magic mornings and also that if we lost the tickets that we were out of luck. She even said if I had the #'s off the back that they would not necessarily replace them. I am used to WDW I guess so I always write down the #'s.

All my hotel pictures are last but I'll get back to that. One thing I loved is that we could walk. We always stay at a disney hotel at WDW but usually a value since Dallas was born and before that a moderate. We drive our own car and do so to the parks also there. This was so nice because I could open up the stroller, put everything in it I wanted and more or less be done. No trams, no ferrys, no monorails. It was great. I even took water in a couple of days after I realized how easy it was.

This is at the corner where you cross over to go into Disneyland. Hojo was the furthest hotel when looking at a map, but it was so close it was rediculous. You walked past a few others, crossed the street, walked through the drop off area, tickets and security and then the Disneyland was on your right and California Adventure was on the left, downtown disney if you kept walking straight. It was a short walk, at most 10 minutes and that was walking slow.

This was the drop off area.

And some adorable Mickey benches! I was pretty thrilled with the small things that DW does not have, like these cute benches. Being that we have never been to Disneyland before we have lots of pictures of things I probably wouldn't normally have. I didn't upload all of them, but I did upload a ton of them.

Entrance gate.

The weather was not as expected at all so all our outfits are messed up. Thank goodness very last thing I threw in our Jack outfits and 2 other long sleeve shirts for me and Dallas. Today was supposed to be our Mickey/Minnie day but ended up being our overworn Jack outfits. I am kind of tired of seeing them in pictures, but atleast they look somewhat special. The security lady loved Dallas'. I wish I would have had Waughzee make me a matching bow, but I hadn't planned on even bringing them let alone wearing them.

It was cold the first 5 days and I mean pretty cold. The mornings were way too cold to wear shorts, low 50's and the sun never really came out. It did warm a bit in the midafternoon but by 5 again it was cold. I had also planned on buying a disneyland sweatshirt almost first thing so only brought one but I had the hardest time finding one I liked.

Walking down main street for the first time. You can see my back, I am pushing the stroller. I decided I wanted a soda and then my mom a coffee so while she was in line for that I decided to check out the Mad Hatter. Well, we decided to buy mickey ears. I had planned on it for Dallas for sure and thought about for Lin and I too. Dallas only has a pair from his first haircut.

 

[jessica52877]

I know, alot of pictures for just buying ears and getting our names on them! They were quite reasonable, adults $11 a pair and kids I think $10, that included the embroidery and it was quick and easy. I loved how they had it set up. That is Lin and Dallas sporting their new ears!

Since we have never been we found the map quite useful. We headed into adventureland first. Dallas really wanted to ride the Haunted Mansion. That is his favorite ride.

We walked by Indiana Jones and I was going to grab fast passes. I decided to see if Dallas was tall enough even though I was sure he wasn't. I didn't want to not get him a fastpass if he could go. The height is 46 inches and well he was right there. The guy ended up saying he was too short by sliding a piece of paper inbetween the stick and his head and flattening his hair. I was fine with it since I didn't think he would like it much anyways. I had never been and didn't want to really take him on something without knowing what it was like. The wait was only 15 minutes so we just waited in line. Dallas saw Aladdin and Jasmine while we were inside, they were walking around and came over to him and 2 other little girls who weren't tall enough either. He is less then impressed with characters but my mom said it was real nice.

Then on to the haunted mansion. The wait time was about 5-10 minutes.

 

[jessica52877]

Dallas was going on and on about Thunder mountain Railroad by now so we decided that would be next. We were hungry though so grabbed a bite to eat first. I didn't want to do any character meals since Dallas is less then impressed and dislike paying so much for a lunch for him, $13 is too much (might even be more now). We ate in New Orleans Square. Lin and Richy ate gumbo in bread bowls, they were delicious! And my mom, Dallas and I had chicken from the Bengal BBQ back by Indy. We also had some McD's fries. We really enjoyed the meal, sorry no pictures.

Then over to Thunder Mountain. Oh, before we went over we did a couple of photopass pictures. I don't have them yet of course, but we did one where they insert Hook and another where they insert the Ghosts from the HM. They turned out cute.

Yes, Dallas' eyes are closed in over half the pictures and Lin strung the string from the hat around his ear and Dallas liked it so that shows in every picture!

I thought the birds were cute. For some reason I find it interesting and like seeing the wildlife when at disney.

Coloring by the petting zoo. Not impressed with petting zoo. He is pretty hard to impress now a days. He likes rollercoasters mainly and cries if he is not tall enough and we go without him.

We then headed towards Fantasyland. Dallas is not big on the "baby" rides but I convinced him to ride most of the ones I wanted to that were different. Here is the train from Dumbo (atleast that is what I assumed).

We also rode Alice in Wonderland and the Matterhorn. Dallas doesn't like the "yeti's" inside. He thinks they are yeti's from Expedition Everest. Loves the ride itself though.

Then walked through the castle. This is the only time we walked through for some reason. Lin loves the dragon so he had me take a picture.

We decided to get ice cream then and a lady walked by and said what a cute picture it was. By the time my mom got the camera out Dallas and I were done. I seem to look unhappy in most of the pictures too, no idea why. I had a great time and never was.

We then hit Star Tours and Buzz a couple of times. Buzz at DL is way better in my opinion!

Then the rockets. This is the only time I saw a custom of any sort. It was 2 girls who were behind Lin in line and on the rockets. One was a twirl skirt, couldn't see the shirt and the other was the minnie dress but with the snow white applique on it. I didn't see their parents ever.

By then the parade was going through and it was chilly! We just waited for the parade to pass and my mom and richy decided they were going back to the hotel. Her feet were cold! We decided we would head over to CA. I am not sure of the time but must have been pretty late because it was dusk before getting over there. The parade started at 8:45 (electrical) and I wanted to see that. No one in my family likes parades either.

We went in, ate tacos, went through the mission tortilla factory then sat for the parade, it was about to start anyways. Dallas ended up loving the parade, he recognized the music from his disney cd he has. After that we walked back to the hotel. CA was closed and the fireworks were about to go off at Disneyland. They were open until midnight but we weren't interested in staying. On the way back we saw some of the fireworks and ran super fast up to our room to watch from the balcony. That was the best.

 

[Cindy B Good]

Did you stay at HoJo? I wasn't clear on that. It looks sooo close! Nice short walk. Sweet! Fireworks view from your balcony? That is cool!

Did you decoupage Dallas' Jack jeans? I love it! Great job! I'm thinking of either decoupage or painting jeans for my boys in Dec. That way if it's super cold & we're covered in coats, at least our calves will be custom. lol!

Waiting for your next installment of an adventure.

 

[jessica52877]

Did you stay at HoJo? I wasn't clear on that. It looks sooo close! Nice short walk. Sweet! Fireworks view from your balcony? That is cool!

Did you decoupage Dallas' Jack jeans? I love it! Great job! I'm thinking of either decoupage or painting jeans for my boys in Dec. That way if it's super cold & we're covered in coats, at least our calves will be custom. lol!

Waiting for your next installment of an adventure.

Yes, we did stay at HoJo! and LOVED it! My son told me the other day he does not want to try out any other hotel, he wants to go back to HoJo.

Yes, I did decoupage Dallas' Jack jeans. Thank you for the compliment. I really love the way they turned out, it was the perfect mix so they didn't look girly at all.

 

[kellynz]

I'm really enjoying your report, and your pictures are great!
Can't wait for the next installment.

 

[jessica52877]

Day 3 - Saturday - Hollywood

Now when planning my trip to California I was all about California, not disneyland. I did want to go and experience it but I wanted plenty of time to do the tourist thing. I had only been to Southern CA one other time, about 11 years ago and we did not do the tourist thing. My uncle was out there working in Beverly Hills so we stayed there and really just walked around there the entire trip minus going to Universal one day (not my choice) and Knott's another. We had just been to DW the week before and my aunt paid for the whole trip. Who was I to argue.

So this is an off day as I'll call it. Hope you'll don't mind non disney.

Each saturday we either go to Lowe's or Home Depot for their kids workshop. Even though I was across the country I still wanted to hit it, so that was first on our list. It was 3 miles from the hotel and easy as pie to find.

We sure are a grumpy looking bunch. No idea why he looks like that. He was actually happier then normal about the project.

ETA - My mom made a good point, we were up until 4 am 2 nights before and probably just have tired looks!

I tried to read on the dis about LA and where to go. One spot was Hollywood and Highland which is where the Walk of Fame is and all the theatres, so here they are.

mann's or graumann's, forget who owns it now, it was the other before.

Funny enough, it is like you get there and go what is the big deal. What are you supposed to do and really there isn't anything to do. There were people dressed as characters around (batman, superman, ariel). It got really crowded later on in the day, it had to be close to noon by the time we got there.

The kodak theatre is right there also. I don't even quite understand where it sets, but you could see the sign and the building from the one angle. And the El Captain owned by disney now is across the street.

And a sneak peak at the Hollywood sign!

 

[jessica52877]

The little mermaid was playing at the el captain theatre and I really would have loved to have gone, but with my mom and richy there was no doing that. Lin would have agreed just because. TLM is my favorite movie of all time! I also was interested in eating at the soda fountain next door that disney own's. I had read how it can be a mad house and figured with it being saturday and the little mermaid playing that we wouldn't have a chance, so I didn't mention it, but then once we were there I thought I would . Everyone agreed to eat there so we went to check it out. We had to wait about 10 minutes but it wasn't bad at all and actually never got crowded, the movie never let out the entire time we were there, which was a while, so guessing one had just started when we arrived.

Dallas had a mickey mouse grilled cheese!

And I got the waffle. Dallas really wanted both so that is one reason I got it, but I love mickey waffles! It was delicious!

And we all split the sundae. It was a pin traders special and came with an adorable pin of chip and dale on a banana split, one with a theatre hat and the other with a soda fountain person hat. We got the sundae based on that although we were going to get something anyways. It also was delicious. Everyone loved their meals. Lin had a roast beef sandwich, my mom a turkey wrap and I have no idea what Richy got, some sort of sandwich too. I would have loved to have eaten there again. The atmosphere was just fun! This was my favorite part of the trip.

You can see part of the store, which was small and then the one door into the theatre.

This was right outside and then also Roy Disney's star was also nearby.

Dallas took that.

That was up and down Hollywood Blvd.

Across the street by the time we were done eating they were holding a demonstration, something about Beijing. We ignored it minus the picture and Lin getting mad.

Also across the street you can walk up alot of steps to the top of a shopping area like and look out and see the Hollywood sign. For some reason I think that is the neatest thing. Honestly, it probably stems from watching 90210! They were always up by it! We never got closer and wish we would have. With so many people having different ideas of what was going to happen it was hard to do it all and not a big deal. I mean what do you really do, nothing, but go up near it, atleast as far as I know.