llachance
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 14, 2002
- Messages
- 644
So to begin my husband and I took my daughter and her boyfriend to Disneyland last weekend. At 21 and raised in Fresno he had never been before. My daughter can sing most songs and knows most of the words for every movie disney put out...a match made in heaven?
We picked the kids up in Fresno (we live in San Jose) at 7:00 am on Friday morning. We were in the park by noon. We stayed at the Holiday Inn on Manchester (about a mile from the park) got a great price on Hotwire and it certainly met our needs. There is a huge pool and whirlpool and a restaurant attached to the motel. All you can eat buffet breakfast was 9.95 and there was also a full bar. Refrigerator and coffee pot in the room. The only downside was the shuttle service. 3.00 per day is awesome but it was one of two hotels on the route so the every 20 minute service varied from 15 to 45 minutes. At the end of the day 45 minutes can be forever.
We purchased the play for the kids price 3-day park hoppers on line. I think it ended up being just at half price for the hoppers. This special is good until April 2007, must be purchased on line and mailed to your house. We enjoyed having the freedom to move between the parks.
Hit Disneyland first. Friday the 5th was very crowded. For the entire previous week the gates had been shut because the park had been too full. It was the last week for school vacations as well as the last week for the Christmas decorations. This may have caused the crowds. Between noon and 5:45 we went on "Rockin Space Mountain" which we all loved, Star Tours and Buzz Lightyear. The kids went on the rocket rides (too much spinning for me). Then we went to Goofy's kitchen for dinner. Had a great waiter and even though we were all adults all the characters visited and we got great pictures. The fireworks were cancelled because of the high winds so we were in bed before midnight.
Up and at the parks by 9:00am on Saturday. This was California Adventure Day. This is my preferred park, always less crowded and plenty of rides to have fun on. By 4:00pm we had been on every ride in the park that adults could ride on. Love the "Rockin Screamer" and went on Tower of Terror twice within half an hour. Went across to Disneyland went on a bunch of rides, at a corn dog and watched the parade. My daughter and her boyfriend stayed and watched the fireworks while my husband and I headed back to sleep. I am too old for successived park days I think
Now it is Sunday and we have to ride the rides we have missed before we leave for the long drive home. We were at the park at opening. Rode Indiana Jones, Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain by 10:00am. I have never gotten as wet, as I did this time, on Splash Mountain before. It took most of the day to dry. I was glad we had a warm day. Went to the Golden Horseshoe review which I haven't seen in a number of years and enjoyed it a lot. Headed back to California Adventure and rode Soarin and Tower of Terror before beginning the ride home.
We had a great time. Despite the fact that the boyfriend is 21 it was great fun watching his awe at some of the things that we did. He got his "My First Visit Pin" and wore it proudly. Got extra hugs from Mickey and front row seats on a lot of rides where having the front row is fun! Glad the castmembers recognized him!
It was obvious that even though there were Christmas Decorations up that they had started taking them down. They would have to because there is no way to do it overnight. Met a number of friendly, helpful castmembers and had a good time talking to them. Didn't do any pin trading....but saw many trading.
Year of a million dreams. Lots of controversy about this. I saw a number of people who had been winnners of their dream. Also saw numerous cast members walking around ready to give out the dreams. Overwhelmingly the dreams seemed to be given to "family units" not that I have anything against anyone receiving a gift and since I had read so much about peoples disappointments I had absolutely no expectation to recieve one. However, I hope that more and more are given to folks that don't obviously "fit the mold" so to speak!
We had a wonderful time and if I don't get there before my family unit will be doing the Disneyland 1/2 marathon in September (my daughter and I for the 2nd time and my husband for the first)
Wishing you many happy returns for 2007
Lisa
We picked the kids up in Fresno (we live in San Jose) at 7:00 am on Friday morning. We were in the park by noon. We stayed at the Holiday Inn on Manchester (about a mile from the park) got a great price on Hotwire and it certainly met our needs. There is a huge pool and whirlpool and a restaurant attached to the motel. All you can eat buffet breakfast was 9.95 and there was also a full bar. Refrigerator and coffee pot in the room. The only downside was the shuttle service. 3.00 per day is awesome but it was one of two hotels on the route so the every 20 minute service varied from 15 to 45 minutes. At the end of the day 45 minutes can be forever.
We purchased the play for the kids price 3-day park hoppers on line. I think it ended up being just at half price for the hoppers. This special is good until April 2007, must be purchased on line and mailed to your house. We enjoyed having the freedom to move between the parks.
Hit Disneyland first. Friday the 5th was very crowded. For the entire previous week the gates had been shut because the park had been too full. It was the last week for school vacations as well as the last week for the Christmas decorations. This may have caused the crowds. Between noon and 5:45 we went on "Rockin Space Mountain" which we all loved, Star Tours and Buzz Lightyear. The kids went on the rocket rides (too much spinning for me). Then we went to Goofy's kitchen for dinner. Had a great waiter and even though we were all adults all the characters visited and we got great pictures. The fireworks were cancelled because of the high winds so we were in bed before midnight.
Up and at the parks by 9:00am on Saturday. This was California Adventure Day. This is my preferred park, always less crowded and plenty of rides to have fun on. By 4:00pm we had been on every ride in the park that adults could ride on. Love the "Rockin Screamer" and went on Tower of Terror twice within half an hour. Went across to Disneyland went on a bunch of rides, at a corn dog and watched the parade. My daughter and her boyfriend stayed and watched the fireworks while my husband and I headed back to sleep. I am too old for successived park days I think
Now it is Sunday and we have to ride the rides we have missed before we leave for the long drive home. We were at the park at opening. Rode Indiana Jones, Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain by 10:00am. I have never gotten as wet, as I did this time, on Splash Mountain before. It took most of the day to dry. I was glad we had a warm day. Went to the Golden Horseshoe review which I haven't seen in a number of years and enjoyed it a lot. Headed back to California Adventure and rode Soarin and Tower of Terror before beginning the ride home.
We had a great time. Despite the fact that the boyfriend is 21 it was great fun watching his awe at some of the things that we did. He got his "My First Visit Pin" and wore it proudly. Got extra hugs from Mickey and front row seats on a lot of rides where having the front row is fun! Glad the castmembers recognized him!
It was obvious that even though there were Christmas Decorations up that they had started taking them down. They would have to because there is no way to do it overnight. Met a number of friendly, helpful castmembers and had a good time talking to them. Didn't do any pin trading....but saw many trading.
Year of a million dreams. Lots of controversy about this. I saw a number of people who had been winnners of their dream. Also saw numerous cast members walking around ready to give out the dreams. Overwhelmingly the dreams seemed to be given to "family units" not that I have anything against anyone receiving a gift and since I had read so much about peoples disappointments I had absolutely no expectation to recieve one. However, I hope that more and more are given to folks that don't obviously "fit the mold" so to speak!
We had a wonderful time and if I don't get there before my family unit will be doing the Disneyland 1/2 marathon in September (my daughter and I for the 2nd time and my husband for the first)
Wishing you many happy returns for 2007
Lisa
That said my daughter is a sophomore in college (GO DOGS - FRESNO STATE) was on the Dean's List all of last year and working on it this year and is forever greatful for what I am able to give her. It helps that she has worked hard enough that her education is paid for by grants etc. She and I will be traveling to Disney World the first weekend in May to participate in the Minnie Mouse 15K....eventually we may get my husband and her boyfriend to be Disney enthusiasts.
