Disneyland or Bust: A Mother-Daughter Coastal Road Trip

[courtneybelle]

Not rain!! the biggest advantage DL has over WDW, in my opinion, is the weather, so I would be so sad if it was rainy while we were there. Glad it didn't last long though! But still, humidity…

I don't even like Cars and I still want to ride RSR so badly!!! Your description makes it sound so awesome.

Wahhhh I miss Paradise Pier. I literally could have hung out there for hours and had the best time.

Sad I didn't get the Olaf one…that's my song!!

Willow's love for TOT makes me laugh, mostly because I'm so terrified of it…she's always smiling and has her hands up, meanwhile I have a death grip on the bars and look like I'm being tortured.

Okay that is REALLY cool that there are two different sides to RSR. I love that!

 

[pkondz]

Sorry I've been AWOL for the last few days.
Busy.
But I've got my Fastpasses booked, so now I have time to comment.

Well, I'm at home with a sick kiddo for the second day in a row, so why not update again, right???

I trust she's all over her cold by now....

Which probably means, you've got it now!

(We were not doing DCA with any rhyme or reason this morning - we had a lot of plans in DL, so we were just trying to hit a few faves during EMH.)

I've always shied away from the thought of doing am EMH at one park, then going to the next.
The travel time cuts into touring time.
But with DL right next to DCA, that makes it a moot point.

Hey, why don't you join us as we make our way from Paradise Pier to Hollywood Land.

Okay! Thanks for the invite!
(I was feeling kind of left out, and was just going to stay put.)

We walked through a cereal box.

Shoulda stopped to cut out the bug figures for Willow.

I loved this version of what would be a typical “employees only” sign anywhere else.

Gotta love that Disney attention to detail.

Ahhhh - an old fave.

Who doesn't love a park bench?
Always nice to sit for a bit and relax.

The woman bottom right is hillarious.
But how ticked are you if you've paid for Memory Maker (or just want a TOT picture) and you're the two guys back row, center?

And headed back into Carsland from the back.

You backed in?
Good for you!

A lot of people have trouble with parallel park touring.

We needed to get our RSR ride photo! Of course, the best way to get that was to ride again!

Seems legit.

But we are not fans of standing in line for over an hour, so we noted that the single-rider line was completely empty. We fixed that!

So many people out there who never do a lick of research or pre-planning.
They'll stand in lines for hours while the FPers and single-riders go on the same ride multiple times.

I love those people.

Hi Mater! Let's tip some tractors!

Gee. I hate to do this.
But I feel obligated to report you to PETT.
(People for the Ethical Treatment of Tractors)


Of course, for a small <coff, coff> donation, I might look the other way.

We finally got the paint job side! (At this point on the ride, your car goes onto one of two tracks - one takes you to get your tires changed, the other to get a new paint job. We have done this ride a LOT, and this was only the second time we have ever gotten the paint side. )

Never knew there were two sides to this story.

Disney pros get your arms UP!!
(Too bad you can't see Willow's face, though.)

I totally want to stay at Comfy Caverns on our next road trip. They have a Lincoln Continental Breakfast!

While the breakfast is still good, the inn itself is tired, worn and losing its grip.
Ever since they lost their Michelin rating, they just haven't been the same.


Really quite sad, actually.

We decided to make a quick pit stop at Flo's for some unsweetened iced tea (me) and an orange juice box (Willow).

I'll never forget the first time I ordered ice tea in the States.
What a shock!
Ice tea up here is probably the same as sweet tea in the south.
Sweet, anyway.

We stopped at a shop or two along the way - me all the time trying to explain that shopping would be better done during the heat and crowds of midday. Willow had a purchase that she just HAD to make today though, so it was imperative that she look things over at every possible opportunity.


Willow: That’s my way!

You go girl!

Up Next: Day 10C

Thanks for the chapters!

 

[RGirl]

Olaf in Frozen

Another two points!

Wow, you guys covered a lot of ground that morning! The park looks empty...I love the single rider lines! WDW needs more of them.

It was a nice early entry for sure! Yeah, we are huge fans of single rider - I wish it was an option on more attractions.

Holy updates Bat... um... Woman. While it is great to see, I can't say I'm happy about the how. Hoping for a quick recovery for Miss Willow.

Well, as probably guessed, she recovered - and all the updates stopped!

Um, yeah, I don't see that happening.

You never know! Here's a tip - look for a lot of updates over the next two weeks. I'm off work and also thinking about the fact that we leave on another trip in just over two weeks!

THAT on the other hand is a never say never. I did say after my one trip that I was done because the travel is so long. But I am starting to get that urge...

I think you should do it!

I too liked the Bug's Life area. I didn't do anything (although my friend did ride the bumper cars which of course I found hysterical).

We don't usually do any of the attractions there either, but I always enjoy walking through.

Aren't the genius "Employees Only" signs well... Genius? I love how they do that.

Me too! One of those things that isn't NECESSARy but makes everything that much better.

Overall a pretty calm Tower group EXCEPT fort that one kid. OMG! Just a little excited.

Right???

WOW!! Willow does single rider? I know you ended up in the same car, but that's some guts right there.

She tried it for the first time on her 7th-birthday trip and wanted to do it on every ride. I had to break the news to her that it was only available on a few. There are some we won't do it on - like Soarin' - we would get way too separated. On RSR, we've been in the same car almost every time we've done single rider. And on the Matterhorn, we're always within a car or two of each other.

"We have done this ride a LOT, and this was only the second time we have ever gotten the paint side" This sounds like getting the Cowboy scene on the Great Movie Ride.

Oh yeah! I forgot about that! It's so weird though because I know that HALF of the cars are going through the paint section. Why in the world do we always get the other one?

"Lincoln Continental Breakfast"

"Willow: That’s my way!" That would be my way too!

Willow is definitely the shopper in our family.

 

[RGirl]

Great updates.

Thanks!

Boo to rain.

I know - we felt very lucky that that was the only rain we had though.

I find it interesting that you say you've only ever gotten the paint job twice on RSR

I say it because it's what has happened - and it's weird.

Carsland is amazing!

Isn't it? I think one of the best Disney "lands" I've visited.

Hope Willow is feeling better btw

Thanks! She is.

Roni, I am so sorry that Willow is still unwell. I hope with the weekend here that she will be her usual self by Monday.

Thanks Kathy! She is all better now - I guess I should hope so since I haven't posted in weeks.

That bug area is absolutely adorable.

Isn't it? There are so many great details in there.

my favorite ride -- TOT. Are they the same in both parks?

ToT is the one attraction that I would say is better at WDW. The others - almost all are better at DLR. But ToT at DCA does not have the part where the car moves down to the drop place with all the neat twilight zone stuff, and I don't think it has the randomized drop sequences either. Still fun, but not as good as DHS.

Fun pictures during the ride on RSR and cute ride photos.

It is such a great ride!

And I love the photopass pics of Willow. However why are you not in any of them?

I didn't like many of my pics this trip. Hopefully I'll have more of the two of us in January!

 

[RGirl]

wow--what a fun (early) morning! I don't blame willow for being ready to get into a park. it's hard to sleep in on the first park day!

Yeah, we were both pretty darn excited!

I wasn't worried about the rain--I know you WDW troopers aren't scared of a few rain drops!

Very true - just really surprised!

i'm wondering what willow's shopping for......

Don't worry - all will be revealed.

your rides on RSR look so fun! man I can't wait to get there! the paint side of the ride looks bright and fun. and flo's looks like a fun stop too!

RSR is really one of the best attractions we have ever experienced.

Not rain!! the biggest advantage DL has over WDW, in my opinion, is the weather, so I would be so sad if it was rainy while we were there. Glad it didn't last long though! But still, humidity…

It was a huge surprise. Thankfully, this was the only time it happened, and the humidity disappeared along with it, although it was certainly hot all week.

I don't even like Cars and I still want to ride RSR so badly!!! Your description makes it sound so awesome.

Same here! I have never been a fan of those movies - they just aren't my thing. But I am in LOVE with CarsLand and RSR. Disney did such an amazing job with the whole area.

Wahhhh I miss Paradise Pier. I literally could have hung out there for hours and had the best time.

It's a really fun place, huh?

Willow's love for TOT makes me laugh, mostly because I'm so terrified of it…she's always smiling and has her hands up, meanwhile I have a death grip on the bars and look like I'm being tortured.

She loves that ride so much! For quite some time, it was her absolute favorite (before she was tall enough for EE and before she had done RSR). There was one day that we rode ToT at DHS 13 times in one day.

Okay that is REALLY cool that there are two different sides to RSR. I love that!

It is very cool - I still don't know why we always get the "new tires" side. It's so weird!

 

[RGirl]

Sorry I've been AWOL for the last few days.
Busy.
But I've got my Fastpasses booked, so now I have time to comment.

And I'm sorry I've been AWOL for the last few weeks!

I hope you got some great FPs!

I trust she's all over her cold by now....

Which probably means, you've got it now!

It was a stomach bug , and she is definitely well over it. And somehow I ended up NOT GETTING IT!

I've always shied away from the thought of doing am EMH at one park, then going to the next.
The travel time cuts into touring time.
But with DL right next to DCA, that makes it a moot point.

I so love how close the parks are to each other!

The woman bottom right is hillarious.
But how ticked are you if you've paid for Memory Maker (or just want a TOT picture) and you're the two guys back row, center?

I know! Don't you just love checking out all the other people in ride photos? There's always something funny.

You backed in?
Good for you!

A lot of people have trouble with parallel park touring.

I have always been an excellent parallel parker.

So many people out there who never do a lick of research or pre-planning.
They'll stand in lines for hours while the FPers and single-riders go on the same ride multiple times.

I love those people.

I am a HUGE fan of those people

Gee. I hate to do this.
But I feel obligated to report you to PETT.
(People for the Ethical Treatment of Tractors)

Of course, for a small <coff, coff> donation, I might look the other way.[/QUOTE]

Disney pros get your arms UP!!
(Too bad you can't see Willow's face, though.)

Being that short is kind of a bummer sometimes.

While the breakfast is still good, the inn itself is tired, worn and losing its grip.
Ever since they lost their Michelin rating, they just haven't been the same.


Really quite sad, actually.

This is so disappointing.

I'll never forget the first time I ordered ice tea in the States.
What a shock!
Ice tea up here is probably the same as sweet tea in the south.
Sweet, anyway.

I think almost everyone I know does sweeten iced tea, although it is usually served unsweetened. I prefer mine completely without sweetener though.

Thanks for the chapters!

Thanks for hanging in here with me! I'm taking the next two weeks off, so I'm hoping I'll get some major updating done.

 

[RGirl]

The Contest: First person to provide the movie title from which the chapter heading comes get a point; two points if the character who utters the line is also identified. If the first person doesn’t name the character, the first poster to do so will get a point.

Current Standing:
Courtney (courtneybelle): 6 points
Jill (jedijill): 20 points
pkondz: 4 points
Megan (MonsterWDWmom): 2 points
Shannon (shan23877): 6 points
Lori (STLMickeyMom): 3 points
petals: 1 point
Rob (DisneyKid4Life): 2 points

"Why, it ... it's a very unusual cake, isn't it?"​

Day 10C - Sunday, 3 August 2014 - Disneyland Resort

When I last left off, we were leaving DCA for DL. It was about 8:45 when we entered Disneyland for the first time this trip.

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Right away, we spotted an old friend, and Willow just had to greet him, knowing that he was likely looking forward to seeing her again after these many months.

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Pluto REALLY liked the shirt I had made for Willow - he kept trying to eat his cupcake.

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Eventually, they posed for a pic. Well, Pluto did anyway.

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I finally managed to wrest Willow from Pluto's paws, and we continued on our way.

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When we got to the hub, we veered left past the Jolly Holiday Bakery.

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We were headed to Frontierland.

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When we were here in January, BTMRR had been undergoing a major refurb, so we were both really ready to visit the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness!

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Up Next: Day 10C (cont.)

 

[RGirl]

Day 10C - Sunday, 3 August 2014 - Disneyland Resort (cont.)

We entered the VERY long queue area (thankfully, there were no people in it) at 8:57 and were on the ride at 9:02.

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See, didn't that seem like a really long walk????

There are quite a few queues at DL (and DCA) that involve stairs-climbing.

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We had a GREAT ride!

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There was a whole new section where we got to experience a mining explosion, so that was exciting! Unfortunately, my pictures did not turn out on this particular ride, but I kept trying every time, so maybe there will be some at some point. Here - isn't this a nice building?

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Up Next: Day 10D

 

[courtneybelle]

I'm actually here first and I don't know the quote

LOVE that Pluto was your first stop!! Not that I'd expect anything different.

I love your on-ride photos! And too cool that there's a brand new section. I wish WDW had gotten that, but hey…we got a new queue…

Very nice building. Rain makes corn…and corn makes whiskey…

 

[pkondz]

I know, I know!
Sleeping Beauty!

But as to who said it.... I have a one in three shot...

Flora, Fauna or Merryweather.

No clue, so I'll randomly guess.... Merryweather.



Okay. So I just googled it and.... I'm half right!
(Just like my wit!)

 

[pkondz]

I get chills of anticipation, just looking at that picture.

The nemesis of all characters.... kids' elbows

Yup. Hunched over, sucking air.
Been there buddy... been there.

Doesn't help when they laugh at you.
But one thing always helps....

Nothing beats a good belly rub.

When we were here in January, BTMRR had been undergoing a major refurb, so we were both really ready to visit the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness!

Woot! Love BTMRR!

See, didn't that seem like a really long walk????

Oh, no. Not at all....

Can you imagine on a hot, crowded day....

There was a whole new section where we got to experience a mining explosion, so that was exciting! Unfortunately, my pictures did not turn out on this particular ride, but I kept trying every time, so maybe there will be some at some point.

Cool! Hope you caught it.
Thanks for the update!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Awwwwwww, there is nothing like seeing a child be so excited to see Disney characters. What a great interaction with Pluto.

I will add though that I wonder if characters wear cups. I would think it would be pretty necessary for any male chacters.

I so love Disneyland Main Street. Just enough differences to make it and MK Main Street unique. I really miss things like the Cinema in Magic Kingdom though.

 

[afwdwfan]

Looks like a fun morning in DCA! I'm glad you got to do RSR twice! And it is nice to see some photographic evidence that you were actually there on this trip with Willow.

Willow looks very excited to see Pluto. Not a bad way to start off your time in DL at all.

I can't wait to get there and see the new Thunder Mountain myself!

 

[KatMark]

Oh I am loving the pictures of Willow and Pluto. And what a fun interaction.

Wow...the queue is longggggggggggggggggggggg, isn't it?

In case I don't get back here, I wanted to wish you and Willow and all of yours a very happy holiday season.

​

 

[RGirl]

I'm actually here first and I don't know the quote

Oh no! So close!!!

LOVE that Pluto was your first stop!! Not that I'd expect anything different.

We were pretty excited to see him there!

I love your on-ride photos! And too cool that there's a brand new section. I wish WDW had gotten that, but hey…we got a new queue…

Yeah - the new scene is pretty cool. Seems like they could have added it at WDW too!

Very nice building. Rain makes corn…and corn makes whiskey…

I know, I know!
Sleeping Beauty!

But as to who said it.... I have a one in three shot...

Flora, Fauna or Merryweather.

No clue, so I'll randomly guess.... Merryweather.



Okay. So I just googled it and.... I'm half right!
(Just like my wit!)

one point for pkondz!

I get chills of anticipation, just looking at that picture.

I know - I fell the same, especially knowing that we will be back there one week from today!

The nemesis of all characters.... kids' elbows



Yup. Hunched over, sucking air.
Been there buddy... been there.



Doesn't help when they laugh at you.

Woot! Love BTMRR!

Me too - it's been one of my faves since I first went to DL as a kid.

Cool! Hope you caught it.
Thanks for the update!

Thanks for sticking with me. I really thought I would get a lot more updates done during the break.

 

[RGirl]

Awwwwwww, there is nothing like seeing a child be so excited to see Disney characters. What a great interaction with Pluto.

Willow and Pluto are such great friends.

I will add though that I wonder if characters wear cups. I would think it would be pretty necessary for any male chacters.

I'm going to assume they do.

I so love Disneyland Main Street. Just enough differences to make it and MK Main Street unique. I really miss things like the Cinema in Magic Kingdom though.

I love that the parks have so many similarities but so many differences at the same time - it's kind of amazing, really.

Looks like a fun morning in DCA! I'm glad you got to do RSR twice! And it is nice to see some photographic evidence that you were actually there on this trip with Willow.

We love some RSR!

Willow looks very excited to see Pluto. Not a bad way to start off your time in DL at all.

Pluto has long been her fave - she is always so excited to hang out with him.

I can't wait to get there and see the new Thunder Mountain myself!

Well, you are going to be there VERY soon! Actually, looking at your ticker, it's insane how close we are to going at the same time.

Oh I am loving the pictures of Willow and Pluto. And what a fun interaction.

Willow always has so much fun with Pluto.

Wow...the queue is longggggggggggggggggggggg, isn't it?

Right???

In case I don't get back here, I wanted to wish you and Willow and all of yours a very happy holiday season.

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Thanks Kathy! I hope you and Mark enjoyed the holidays.

 

[RGirl]

***NOTE: There is still a point available for the first person to identify the character who uttered the title quotation from the last update!***

The Contest: First person to provide the movie title from which the chapter heading comes get a point; two points if the character who utters the line is also identified. If the first person doesn’t name the character, the first poster to do so will get a point.

Current Standing:
Courtney (courtneybelle): 6 points
Jill (jedijill): 20 points
pkondz: 5 points
Megan (MonsterWDWmom): 2 points
Shannon (shan23877): 6 points
Lori (STLMickeyMom): 3 points
petals: 1 point
Rob (DisneyKid4Life): 2 points

"No, I'm the king of the swingers, whoa. The jungle V.I.P."​

Day 10D - Sunday, 3 August 2014 - Disneyland Resort

After surviving the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness, we wandered through Frontierland and into Adventureland, loving all those little Disney touches along the way.

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When we saw PotC up ahead, we couldn't resist! (Anyone who has only done this attraction at WDW's MK needs to go to Disneyland and do the version there - you may never do the one in MK again!)

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There was no wait at this point - 9:10AM - and we had a great ride! This questionable picture was taken in an attempt to show you the Blue Bayou restaurant, which is situated inside the Pirates attraction.

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We exited PotC into New Orleans Square, one of my favorite areas in DL.

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We made our way into Adventureland.

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We wanted to ride the Indiana Jones ride for the first time - we were hopeful that Willow would be tall enough this trip. The line looked VERY long.

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Up Next: Day 10D (cont.)

 

[RGirl]

Day 10D - Sunday, 3 August 2014 - Disneyland Resort (cont.)

But the posted wait time was 20 minutes, so we decided to go for it. We got in line at 9:27 and made our way through the queue, with Willow having her height checked two or three times.

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Surely we’re going to find the ride in here at some point, right?????

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And we were on the ride at 9:49, so that was a pretty accurate wait time!

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Willow LOVED this ride, and I liked it pretty well - it is very jerky, which is a plus for Willow but less so for me. I have read, I believe, that it is essentially the same as Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom. However, the theming here is very good, so it really does not feel like the same ride at all. Over all, I definitely prefer it to Dinosaur.

Willow: The bridge was very scary! Because it looked like it was wavy. But it wasn’t real.

We were done with Indy and next door at the Jungle Cruise by 9:58. We had never done JC at Disneyland before (well, I had several decades ago, but you know what I mean). We enjoyed the queue, mostly because there were almost no people in it.

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And, of course, we had a fun and corny cruise!

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Up Next: Day 10E

 

[pkondz]

***NOTE: There is still a point available for the first person to identify the character who uttered the title quotation from the last update!***

Okay. I looked it up... then promptly forgot... so I'm taking another guess!

I've got a 50/50 chance here.... Flora?

"No, I'm the king of the swingers, whoa. The jungle V.I.P."

Gotta be King Louie from The Jungle Book.

Going back to read now...

 

[RGirl]

Okay. I looked it up... then promptly forgot... so I'm taking another guess!

I've got a 50/50 chance here.... Flora?



Gotta be King Louie from The Jungle Book.

Going back to read now...

And right there, you have yourself THREE POINTS!