Disneyland...low on funds high on fun!

[TeresaBelle]

Where are you hpfan100?? Please share more!

 

[hpfan100]

Can't wait to read how you did at the parks---I'm a Krazy Coupon Lady so whenever I read the words 'on a budget' I start doing a happy dance

The hotel/airfare deal was pretty impressive, would have been even better had they given you your non-smoking room. (I've been 'burned' on this before too, now I print out confirmation emails with all the fine print for just such occasions, I swear sometimes hotels really try to get away with nonsense!!) I'd say Skiingfast's Marriott experience had to be a WHILE back like he said since they've had 100% non-smoking rooms for a few years now LOL.

Lastly, I just want to say thanks for being a SPED teacher--my DS is on the spectrum, so I'm a fan!

I'm slowing turning into a crazy coupon lady so it's nice to know that it works . I hated the smoking room too but I lived. Thanks or the kudos It's a tough job but it's something I love so hopefully I can do it for longer.

Where are you hpfan100?? Please share more!

sorry been hiding out I guess. Wow i can't believe it took me thsi long to back on here.

 

[hpfan100]

Riddle me this batman...why does DIS decide to update and shut down the boards right after I type up my review of day 1 at Disney california adventures....arrgggg

I'll try and remember all my witty remarks and type them up tonight after happy hour.

 

[hpfan100]

ok here we go!

when we last left off I had just left my stinky hotel room and was ready to head to the land. I hopped on the hotel shuttle and was off! By the time I got to Disney it was probably 12ish and I was hungry. I grabbed my coupon and went to La brea Bakery. I ordered a caprese sandwich, a cookie and a diet coke. Even with my coupon, my bill was 15 dollars That was more than my budgeted amount of money but I felt I deserved it. I enhaled my sandwich and downed the coke I saved my cookie for later. Then I was ready to hit the parks.

I went through the turnstiles for my first ever California Adventure. I was hoping to ride all the rides there and see the major sites. Priorities were screamin, mulholland madness, aladdin, soarin and grizzly river.
After entering I headed to the right straight for Soarin. I was anticipating a huge line since in Florida it always had one. I walked right up and got a single pass and was ushered right in. I waited maybe 5 minutes. I was placed in row 1 but sat next to a woman who talked the whole ride which was annoying. So soarin was that great but I checked it off my mental list. I was feeling hot by this point and decided to switch to shorts and then ride Grizzly River. I got another single pass and waited about 3 minutes. I rode with two families and it was good times. I got pretty wet but not soaked. I felt refreshed and ready to head towards screamin. On the way I stopped at silly swings, golden zephyr, fun wheel, mulholland madness, and the carousel. I had little waits on all but the fun wheel. I do not reccomend this ride, you wait a long time to get on and the ride is only one time around. lame I skipped the jellyfish cuz it looked lame too Then I was ready for it...screamin. I fell in love with Rock n Roller in Florida and was hoping for another love affair I rode it three times using the single pass and liked it. I think this was my favorite ride at the whole park. Certainly one of the few worth repeating. Well after all that screaming I was ready for something more relaxing so I headed to the kiddy rides in bug's land.
I rode all of them with little to no wait and thought they were fun. I also watched Tough to be a Bug which is a show I fell in love with in Florida. It's great in California too.
By this time it was getting late...almost 5:30. So I headed to Tower and got a fastpass and went to see Aladdin. LOVED THIS SHOW!!!!! The genie was so funny I almost cried. this is on my repeat list. THen it was time to ride the tower.
Background info is needed for this one. I have been to Florida twice and never rode Tower...I was too afraid. People said it was nothing but then you would hear the screams I was also worried about drops making me sick I had braved the rockn coaster so I decided this trip I would brave the tower. After aladdin, I gave myself a little pep talk and headed to the terror. I went through the fastpass line was lead into the room for the "pre-ride show". I had heard this was worth seeing even if you didn't ride...but I don't think so. It was pretty lame. Then I got to stand in line for like 15 minutes waiting to get on the elevator. By this point I was sweating, felt sick and had really worked myself up into a panic attack range. Yet I was determined to master my fears and ride this baby. Finally I got on the elevator and rode it. The pre drop scenes were nothing special but added to the anticipation. Then the drops began. They were over before I knew it. Afterwards, I felt pretty silly for being so afraid...the ride really isn't that big of a deal. In fact, I didn't even really like it. So this did not make my repeat list but I tried it and conquered some fear.

After all this build up and let down, I headed to the front to finish off the park. I wanted to see the muppet show but it was closed for Tron stuff. I rode Monsters Inc with no wait. Then I wondered around the animation academy and sorceror's workshop. I watched a few tron performers on the mainstage and laughed. AHHH the glory of the 80s By this point it was after 6:30 and I was hungry and tired. I went and picked up some dinner and headed back to my stinky hotel to eat. I got the kids burrito meal for 7.06. THe meal came with a burrito, cup of rice, container of mandarin oranges and a small bottle of water. Yummy!

so total spent for today was just 22.06 not too bad a little higher than I wanted but not bad. Funmeter for today 8/10 rides weren't as good as I had hoped and Toy Story wasn't open

that leaves me 37.94 left for food for the next two days. Will I make it? Will my fun meter reach a full 10? Tune in next time to find out same bat time same bat channel.

 

[Dizzy4DL]

Sorry you didn't have a better time in DCA. We enjoyed it so much when we went. And that was in a rain storm!
I wonder if the fact that we have never been to WDW has something to do with it?

Anyway, I'm enjoying your report very much. I'm a budget traveler myself, my daughter and I went for a grand total of less than $1000 (including airfare) earlier this year. 4 days, 3 nights at the BW Park Place.

 

[hpfan100]

Sorry you didn't have a better time in DCA. We enjoyed it so much when we went. And that was in a rain storm!
I wonder if the fact that we have never been to WDW has something to do with it?

Anyway, I'm enjoying your report very much. I'm a budget traveler myself, my daughter and I went for a grand total of less than $1000 (including airfare) earlier this year. 4 days, 3 nights at the BW Park Place.

WOW great budget too. It's nice to see fellow budget spenders out there. I liked DCA but just felt like it didn't have that much to do.

Thanks for tuning in!

 

[ardenandjacksmom]

hpfan100/Amy--

Glad you made it back to give us your update! We haven't been to DLR/DCA yet, but we're going soon (over Thanksgiving) and we decided to do our park days in the same order as you did them (DCA first, DL second) because especially of the worry that DCA might be a letdown (at least until the construction/rehab is done in 2012) so we wanted to have DL to look forward to.

Was WoC not showing on the night that you were there or did you just decide to skip it? Just curious.

Hopefully day 2 at DL went better for you

 

[skiingfast]

Will you be going back to DCA? I didn't see TSMM on your list?

It's still looking good you got a lot done.

How was the shuttle from the hotel?

 

[hpfan100]

hpfan100/Amy--

Glad you made it back to give us your update! We haven't been to DLR/DCA yet, but we're going soon (over Thanksgiving) and we decided to do our park days in the same order as you did them (DCA first, DL second) because especially of the worry that DCA might be a letdown (at least until the construction/rehab is done in 2012) so we wanted to have DL to look forward to.

Was WoC not showing on the night that you were there or did you just decide to skip it? Just curious.

Hopefully day 2 at DL went better for you

skipped WoC I was so tired by the end of the first day plus I didn't want to be out late...which is silly as the next night I was out until 12. DCA is fun but most of the rides are little kiddy rides that aren't really worth a long wait. I figure if you don't ride everything just the main rides you can be done in a half day.

Will you be going back to DCA? I didn't see TSMM on your list?

It's still looking good you got a lot done.

How was the shuttle from the hotel?

TSMM was closed for refurbs. Major bummer as I could ride that puppy all day. I think I would go back to DCA. I would ride screaming, TSMM, soarin and grizzly again. I would watch muppets, turtle talk and aladdin again too. Overall I think it is a half day park for me. If I ever went with little ones I could spend the whole day there.

 

[skiingfast]

How was the hotel shuttle? You mentioned it was $4 a day. Who operated it? How often did it run? Was it availabe before and after park hours? How long did the trip take? Was it picking up and dropping off at other hotel?

 

[hpfan100]

How was the hotel shuttle? You mentioned it was $4 a day. Who operated it? How often did it run? Was it availabe before and after park hours? How long did the trip take? Was it picking up and dropping off at other hotel?

sorry missed telling about this...

shuttle was one if those little van type buses. It was $4 a day for unlimited rides to and from Disney. It was operated by PCA management. It was available before and after park hours. It ran once an hour from the hotel (on the 35) and two times on hour from Disney (on the 20 and 50). Last shuttle would be about an hour after park closing. The trip took about 15 minutes each way. It picked up at the Holiday Inn and the Sheraton only. It dropped off in the white stop zone and then you just walk straight to the gates. Goos deal fro solos and small families but would be too pricy for big groups. Drivers were nice and helpful. They always told the pick up/drop off times. No issues with shuttle at all.

 

[skiingfast]

sorry missed telling about this...

shuttle was one if those little van type buses. It was $4 a day for unlimited rides to and from Disney. It was operated by PCA management. It was available before and after park hours. It ran once an hour from the hotel (on the 35) and two times on hour from Disney (on the 20 and 50). Last shuttle would be about an hour after park closing. The trip took about 15 minutes each way. It picked up at the Holiday Inn and the Sheraton only. It dropped off in the white stop zone and then you just walk straight to the gates. Goos deal fro solos and small families but would be too pricy for big groups. Drivers were nice and helpful. They always told the pick up/drop off times. No issues with shuttle at all.

Doesn't sound too bad. I'm thinking about staying further away next time so I am curious about getting to and fro.

 

[jenseib]

joining in too

 

[hpfan100]

joining in too

welcome

 

[Dina Monster]

Hi AZ friend! I live right outside of Tucson and I used to frequent DL and DCA until after this past July. I think it will be my last trip for a while unless you count the DL 1/2 Marathon, I don't think I'll be ready so I'm going to register for the 5K. It will be a lot of fun! I don't think because I'm so competative I will be able to stop to greet the characters. But I think they give you a camera anyway so I'll take snap shots as I go.

I can't wait to read more of you trip!!

 

[hpfan100]

Hi AZ friend! I live right outside of Tucson and I used to frequent DL and DCA until after this past July. I think it will be my last trip for a while unless you count the DL 1/2 Marathon, I don't think I'll be ready so I'm going to register for the 5K. It will be a lot of fun! I don't think because I'm so competative I will be able to stop to greet the characters. But I think they give you a camera anyway so I'll take snap shots as I go.

I can't wait to read more of you trip!!

Hi neighbor

WOW they have a 5K...that would be soooo fun. When is that? I might be able to train up for that but full marathon I don't think I could handle.

I need to get my trip report finished....I'm like two months behind Well at least I'm on winter break now and have some time.

 

[Dina Monster]

Hi! The 5K is in September just like the 1/2 Marathon. I am not sure which day because details won't be posted until Jan. But I know it is over Labor day weekend which is great since your a teacher you will get it off since it's a Federal Holiday. http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/disneyland-half-marathon/ This is the link with as much information as they have so far. I'm going to register as soon as it opens up.

 

[hpfan100]

Hi! The 5K is in September just like the 1/2 Marathon. I am not sure which day because details won't be posted until Jan. But I know it is over Labor day weekend which is great since your a teacher you will get it off since it's a Federal Holiday. http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/disneyland-half-marathon/ This is the link with as much information as they have so far. I'm going to register as soon as it opens up.

thanks for the link! I'll need to plan on attending that. What a good time that will be exercise and Disney

 

[SKWDW]

Hi! The 5K is in September just like the 1/2 Marathon. I am not sure which day because details won't be posted until Jan. But I know it is over Labor day weekend which is great since your a teacher you will get it off since it's a Federal Holiday. http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/disneyland-half-marathon/ This is the link with as much information as they have so far. I'm going to register as soon as it opens up.

They've published the dates a little early.

Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend - Save the Dates! Friday, September 2, 2011 – Sunday, September 4, 2011
Labor Day is Monday, September 5th, 2011.

Registration for the 2011 Disneyland® Half Marathon will open January 3, 2011
Chase your Dreams at the Happiest Race on Earth! The course winds through the City of Anaheim, California and the Disneyland® Resort. Run through Sleeping Beauty Castle and high-five your favorite Disney characters along the way. There's a little magic around every corner for the whole family!

Weekend Events will include:
Disneyland® Half Marathon
Disneyland® Family Fun Run 5K
Disneyland® Kids' Races
Disneyland® Health & Fitness Expo
http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/disneyland-half-marathon/

I'm planning on doing the 1/2 Marathon as the second half of the Coast to Coast Challenge.

 

[hpfan100]

sounds so fun to me....I'm trying to get bak into running and fitness and this seems like a good motivator to do that. Running through Sleeping Beauty's castle how cool. Too bad you can't run through Pirates