Disneyland or Bust: A Mother-Daughter Coastal Road Trip

[pkondz]

And it often has to do with pkondz, interestingly enough.
You bad, bad man!

<Hangs head in shame>

 

[pkondz]

"For too long I've been parched of thirst and unable to quench it. Too long I've been starving to death and haven't died."

Easy one!
Barbossa.
Pirates of the Caribbean The Curse of the Black Pearl

Going back to read now...

 

[RGirl]

Well I'm just gonna say it then....
Maleficent from.... Maleficent.

And that would be another point for pkondz!!!

Annnnnndddd..... Thank you. Thankyou very much!

You are ever so welcome!

<Hangs head in shame>

The day you aren't thrilled to bring tears of laughter to someone is the day I believe the sincerity of a post like this.....

Easy one!
Barbossa.
Pirates of the Caribbean The Curse of the Black Pearl

Another two points!!!

For those counting and having trouble, that would be three more points for pkondz in the last, what?, 30 seconds?

 

[Dugette]

Love her Anna/Elsa transformation! I'm sure it was done in a much more classy manner than what Andy saw.

Love the meal at Blue Bayou! That's a Disneyland must-do for us. (We might be going in November - tagging it on after a retreat for Dug's work in Palm Springs). Izzy would love that mac and cheese too. I would wait to sit by the water too. I didn't know that people yelled from the boats, though. Still sounds like a great time!

 

[RGirl]

The Contest: First person to provide the movie title from which the chapter heading comes gets 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): 24 points
Jill (jedijill): 22 points
pkondz: 20 points
Megan (MonsterWDWmom): 2 points
Shannon (shan23877): 8 points
Lori (STLMickeyMom): 4 points
petals: 1 point
Rob (DisneyKid4Life): 6 points
Dugette: 6 points
Kathy (KatMark): 2 points
Andy (afwdwfan): 6 points
Rory (Woodskeeper): 1 point
Gracefulskinny: 2 points

"I'm surrounded by idiots."​

Day 13G - Wednesday, 6 August 2014 - Disneyland Resort

After leaving Blue Bayou at 6:45, we obviously had to pay a visit to PotC.

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Willow was clearly feeling it!

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We got in line at about 6:50 and were on a boat at 7:13, which I think is the longest we have ever waited for PotC. However, we were in line with a very nice young couple who chatted with Willow about Frozen and various other Disney things. The guy asked Willow for a picture with her so that he didn't have to wait in line to meet Elsa. (It was NOT creepy, I promise.)

No dancing, Willow!

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I disobeyed you!

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After Pirates, we headed over to BTMRR to use our FPs at a little after 7:30. The line moved very quickly!

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It took us all of 6 minutes to go from entering the FP line to being on the train.

Willow was feeling a little silly, I think.




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No dancing, Willow!

​

I disobeyed you!

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As always, we had a great time!!!

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After BTMRR, we planned to call it a night because we wanted to get up early for one last EMH. Of course, this loomed in the distance.

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So we had to stop for one more single-rider ride at 7:50!

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While we were in line, we were joined by this ridiculous guy - a teen, I believe. The whole time we were in line, he kept yelling "YEAH!" really loudly at CMs, at guests boarding bobsleds, at nobody. He clearly thought he was very funny.

Willow boarded her bobsled about 10 minutes after we got in line.

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I noticed that the little girl in the front seat of Willow's bobsled was dressed as Anna, so I yelled to Willow, "Hey, Elsa! Your sister is in the front of the sled!!!" As you may have seen above, Anna's dad was in between Elsa Willow and Anna. Well, this guy apparently made the ride absolutely AWESOME! He asked Willow to use her powers to get the ride going, and then pretended to be terrified during the ride, begging her to use her powers to stop it and such. She was ecstatic when we met up at the exit, telling me all about how fun it was and how she used her powers. Thank you, Awesome Anna Dad!

My ride, however, was less fantastic. The "YEAH" dude was in my bobsled. And you guessed it, he kept it up throughout the entire ride. It was really ruining the experience for everyone - he was so loud and so obviously pleased with himself. I don't think I can convey how loud and obnoxious he was. I mean, he was just SCREAMING it. Every few seconds. I have NEVER ridden a ride at Disney (or anywhere else) with something this obnoxious going on. Eventually, other guests even started screaming at him to stop it, eventually including hollering obscenities at him in a last-ditch effort to get him to shut up (obviously, not a great choice, but that is how frustrated everyone had become). He didn't stop....

Anyway, we were done with the Matterhorn about 8:15 and headed into Tomorrowland to get Willow her first-ever churro before going to the monorail station.

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We then headed up to the monorail station.

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And we were back at the Disneyland Hotel at 8:40.

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Willow was in bed by 9.

Up Next: Day 14A

 

[pkondz]

When I last left off, we had enjoyed the parade at DL.

That would be the one with Ariel.

a quick stop at the restrooms so that Miss Willow could transform herself from Anna to Elsa. (Andy, I know you will appreciate this quick change moment!!!)

.

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Love that shot! Her excitement is palpable.

Next, we wandered over to Frontierland and picked up these babies at 5:20.

Woot! BTMRR rocks!

(For those who do not know, the Blue Bayou is located inside the PotC attraction.)

I did know... and that's so cool.

Isn't Willow's Elsa bun so cute?

It's not easy to take decent non-flash pics in here. At least for me. So this is the quality you get.

But now you've got your new camera.
Bring a table pod, beanbag or gorilla pod with you.

before long, we started seeing empty boats passing by.

OH MY GOD!!!! THEY'RE KILLING THE TOURISTS!!!!!

And then boats filled with guests started through.

Oh.


Nevermind.

I had no idea that so many PotC guests think it's awesome to scream things at the Blue Bayou diners.

They what???


Maybe they're hungry.

We both got mint juleps for our beverage.

I never pictured Willow as a bourbon kind of girl.

At some point, Willow determined that there wasn't enough light to enjoy her menu activities, so she pulled out her flashlight pen.

A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

Willow very much enjoyed the mac and cheese here. She actually ate every bite of it.

I'm not surprised. That looks really good!

And I thought the jambalaya was really good too.

I love jambalaya. And that looks really good.

The server had warned me that it was quite spicy, but I didn't find it to be too spicy at all (and I have a pretty sensitive palate when it comes to spice).

So what you're saying is... You're a spicy mama?

It's either that or a hot tamale.

And that would be another point for pkondz!!!

Yay me!

The day you aren't thrilled to bring tears of laughter to someone is the day I believe the sincerity of a post like this.....

Another two points!!!

For those counting and having trouble, that would be three more points for pkondz in the last, what?, 30 seconds?

Yeah! Post more while nobody's looking and I'll wrap this puppy up right now!

 

[pkondz]

"I'm surrounded by idiots."

Scar. Lion King.

It helps to have had a little girl who watched it 40,000,000 times.

Post more.

 

[RGirl]

Love her Anna/Elsa transformation! I'm sure it was done in a much more classy manner than what Andy saw.

You're right - we actually used a restroom!

Love the meal at Blue Bayou! That's a Disneyland must-do for us. (We might be going in November - tagging it on after a retreat for Dug's work in Palm Springs). Izzy would love that mac and cheese too. I would wait to sit by the water too. I didn't know that people yelled from the boats, though. Still sounds like a great time!

Oh my! I hope you get to visit DLR this year!!!! That would be amazing! I wish we still had APs!

There wasn't a lot of yelling, but it was something I just didn't expect at all. I know stuff like that didn't happen back when I was a kid and dined here and rode PotC, but we all know our world is very different from what it was decades ago.

 

[afwdwfan]

"I'm surrounded by idiots."

I'll reply to the rest later but I just had to pop in because @pkondz got this quote wrong.

I say it.

Every day at work.

 

[RGirl]

That would be the one with Ariel.

Yes, yes, the one with fish girl....

Woot! BTMRR rocks!

It really does. You may have heard - my nostalgic favorite. I just love it!

I did know... and that's so cool.

I remember eating there probably over 3 decades ago. It was just as cool this time.

But now you've got your new camera.
Bring a table pod, beanbag or gorilla pod with you.

Yeah, I have a feeling I'm totally going to start doing all this stuff. I haven't had a chance to really study up, but I did finally get a chance to play with it a bit while I'm at the coast - you know, sunsets over the Pacific Ocean and such blah things as that. I will be interested to hear what tips you have when I finally post my mini-TR and pics.

They what???


Maybe they're hungry.

Or maybe just obnoxious. Oh, wait, that can't be!

I never pictured Willow as a bourbon kind of girl.

More of a champagne type, huh?

I'm not surprised. That looks really good!

Personally, I thought it was the best looking pasta and cheese sauce she had ordered all trip.

I love jambalaya. And that looks really good.

It was actually very good - I didn't have super-high expectations, but I really enjoyed it.

So what you're saying is... You're a spicy mama?

It's either that or a hot tamale.

I'm going to go ahead and claim both, all reality aside.

Yeah! Post more while nobody's looking and I'll wrap this puppy up right now!

I'm fading fast, but I may have one more in me. I REALLY need this TR done!

Scar. Lion King.

It helps to have had a little girl who watched it 40,000,000 times

Oh yeah! That's TWO MORE POINTS!!!!

 

[RGirl]

I'll reply to the rest later but I just had to pop in because @pkondz got this quote wrong.

I say it.

Every day at work.

What a coincidence! Me too!! But I usually sprinkle in "buffoon" a few thousand times as well.

 

[pkondz]

After leaving Blue Bayou at 6:45, we obviously had to pay a visit to PotC.

Well, obviously.
You had to have your own chance to scream at the diners in Blue Bayou.

Willow was clearly feeling it!

​

No kidding!

The guy asked Willow for a picture with her so that he didn't have to wait in line to meet Elsa. (It was NOT creepy, I promise.)

I didn't think it was creepy for a second.
If it was anywhere other than Disney, maybe.
But in Disney. This kind of thing is the norm, right?

No dancing, Willow!
I disobeyed you!

There it is!

It took us all of 6 minutes to go from entering the FP line to being on the train.

Nice!

Willow was feeling a little silly, I think.

Ya think???

No dancing, Willow!
I disobeyed you!

I swear, I don't know why this isn't the title of this TR.

Of course, this loomed in the distance.

Trees? It's the trees, right?


No?

a teen, I believe.

Had to be. Only a teen has the propensity to be quite that irritating.

he kept yelling "YEAH!" really loudly at CMs, at guests boarding bobsleds, at nobody. He clearly thought he was very funny.

YEAH!


Oh.
Sorry.

"Hey, Elsa! Your sister is in the front of the sled!!!"

Awesome! I bet she just loved that... and the little girl in front probably did too.

this guy apparently made the ride absolutely AWESOME! He asked Willow to use her powers to get the ride going, and then pretended to be terrified during the ride, begging her to use her powers to stop it and such. She was ecstatic when we met up at the exit, telling me all about how fun it was and how she used her powers. Thank you, Awesome Anna Dad!

That's terrific!
That's pure Disney pixie dust spreading right there!

My ride, however, was less fantastic. The "YEAH" dude was in my bobsled.

Uh, oh.

And you guessed it, he kept it up throughout the entire ride.

Ugh.

So... single rider line occasionally has it's (extreme) detriments.

I don't think I can convey how loud and obnoxious he was. I mean, he was just SCREAMING it. Every few seconds.

Don't you wish you could... oh, I don't know... undo his lap bar?

Eventually, other guests even started screaming at him to stop it, eventually including hollering obscenities at him in a last-ditch effort to get him to shut up (obviously, not a great choice, but that is how frustrated everyone had become).

Wow. Doesn't take a hint very well.
Either that or he was so wrapped up in himself that he didn't even hear anything.

headed into Tomorrowland to get Willow her first-ever churro before going to the monorail station.

What??? First ever churro??? Are you serious?
She's never, ever had a churro?
Really?
Honest?
Never?
Not even once?????


Me neither.

Up Next: Day 14A

Thanks for the updates Roni!

 

[RGirl]

The Contest: First person to provide the movie title from which the chapter heading comes gets 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): 24 points
Jill (jedijill): 22 points
pkondz: 22 points
Megan (MonsterWDWmom): 2 points
Shannon (shan23877): 8 points
Lori (STLMickeyMom): 4 points
petals: 1 point
Rob (DisneyKid4Life): 6 points
Dugette: 6 points
Kathy (KatMark): 2 points
Andy (afwdwfan): 6 points
Rory (Woodskeeper): 1 point
Gracefulskinny: 2 points

"Okay, first crank a hard cutback as you hit the wall. There's a screaming bottom curve, so watch out. Remember: rip it, roll it, and punch it."​

Day 14A - Thursday, 7 August 2014 - Disneyland Resort

It was our last day at Disneyland today, and we were determined to get as much in as we could. Our approach to last days is to hit anything we missed and/or anything that we just can't live without doing one more time. So we were out the door at 6:23.

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Miss Willow's Elsa hair was still looking great!

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We stopped for coffee and cocoa.

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And we were at the Disneyland gates (with a lot of other people) before 6:45.

The park opened at 7 (we were once again stuck behind a bunch of people who needed their pictures taken for their tickets or couldn't find their tickets or whatever, so it took us quite a few minutes before we actually got in), and eventually we were in!

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We were sad to see that our beloved Captain Eo had been replaced.

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We were headed here, of course!

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Willow was pleased with our quick progress onto the ride - less than 10 minutes.

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No dancing, Willow!

​

I disobeyed you!

​

After our ride through Space, we went somewhere shocking!

​

Okay, not shocking at all.

As you can see, the line for the Matterhorn was already snaking all the way around the mountain. As you can also see, Willow was not heading for that line.

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Nope - it was single rider for us!

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Here's Willow in her bobsled at 7:30AM.

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And here she is back in the single-rider line at 7:40AM.

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And ready to ride again!

​

Up Next: Day 14B

 

[pkondz]

I'll reply to the rest later but I just had to pop in because @pkondz got this quote wrong.

I say it.

Every day at work.

You too???

Yes, yes, the one with fish girl....

Wish begs the question...
Is she better saucy.... or sautéed?

It really does. You may have heard - my nostalgic favorite. I just love it!

More of a champagne type, huh?

Oh, boy. You're cracking me up!

I'm going to go ahead and claim both

Ah, yes. Of course. How stupid of me to only offer you the choice of one or the other.

I'm fading fast, but I may have one more in me. I REALLY need this TR done!

I'm waaaaiiiiting!!!!

(JK. Post what you can... when you can. Believe me, I know these things take work!)

What a coincidence! Me too!! But I usually sprinkle in "buffoon" a few thousand times as well.

Hey! Is that a shot at moi?

 

[pkondz]

"Okay, first crank a hard cutback as you hit the wall. There's a screaming bottom curve, so watch out. Remember: rip it, roll it, and punch it."

Not positive. But it sounds like something Crush would say.
Finding Nemo.

 

[RGirl]

Well, obviously.
You had to have your own chance to scream at the diners in Blue Bayou.

Precisely!

I didn't think it was creepy for a second.
If it was anywhere other than Disney, maybe.
But in Disney. This kind of thing is the norm, right?

After the whole interaction, it really struck me how creeped out I would usually have been. And we have actually a couple of experiences in Disney parks with people wanting to take pictures of my child that have creeped me out and shut them down. But this was a very sweet interaction for a significant period of time in line that culminated in a request for a picture with "Elsa." Not remotely creepy, and rather awesome.

I swear, I don't know why this isn't the title of this TR.

The only explanation I can offer is that I did not have any idea how frequently we actually did this until I started writing the report. How strange is that???

Had to be. Only a teen has the propensity to be quite that irritating.

And yet I have NEVER encountered a teen this obnoxious.

That's terrific!
That's pure Disney pixie dust spreading right there!

Oh, it was just so sweet. Willow had such an incredibly good time.

Wow. Doesn't take a hint very well.
Either that or he was so wrapped up in himself that he didn't even hear anything.

That's possible too. The guy was just out of control. He was LOOKING to make trouble. It was obvious to me while he was in line. I half expected him to be ejected then - that's how loud and obnoxious he was. He really ruined that ride for a lot of people, and I'm sure many of them weren't getting the chance to do it over and over like I was.

What??? First ever churro??? Are you serious?
She's never, ever had a churro?
Really?
Honest?
Never?
Not even once?????


Me neither.

Well, if you ever want to try one, I recommend DLR. I hear they have the BEST.

 

[RGirl]

Wish begs the question...
Is she better saucy.... or sautéed?

Um, yeah, that question was totally being begged there.......

I'm waaaaiiiiting!!!!

(JK. Post what you can... when you can. Believe me, I know these things take work!)

You caught me on a motivated night. I'm calling it quits now, but I am SO CLOSE to finishing this one, which means I can actually focus on getting the other one done before we leave for the EPIC DIS TRIP in July!

Hey! Is that a shot at moi?

I am dying!!!! It actually wasn't at all. I literally use the word buffoon multiple times every day at work. If you had any idea what my job entails, you would not question that for a second!!!!

Not positive. But it sounds like something Crush would say.
Finding Nemo.

Ooooh, so close! You got the movie for one point, but not the character.......

 

[pkondz]

It was our last day at Disneyland today,

Booooo!
Last days... How should I say it.
This needs to be said eloquently, with meaning and tenderness...

They suck!

Our approach to last days is to hit anything we missed and/or anything that we just can't live without doing one more time.

Good approach.
pkondz approves.

Miss Willow's Elsa hair was still looking great!

a.) That hairdresser really did a great job.
b.) That was definitely money well spent!

We stopped for coffee and cocoa.

So how was that cocoa, anyway?

We were sad to see that our beloved Captain Eo had been replaced.

Another movie that I've heard such good things about.... and still haven't seen.

Willow was pleased with our quick progress onto the ride - less than 10 minutes.

And again... Nice!

No dancing, Willow!
I disobeyed you!

Last day. Get 'em in while you still can!

Well, she looks like she's having fun, but too bad she's mostly hidden behind that woman.

After our ride through Space, we went somewhere shocking!

Nothing would shock me more than if you went on the Matterhorn.

Okay, not shocking at all.

Here's Willow in her bobsled at 7:30AM.

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Actually, I like the woman in front.
"Oh! That nice lady is taking my picture!"

And here she is back in the single-rider line at 7:40AM.

Well you did say that was your approach to the day.

Up Next: Day 14B

Awesome!

 

[pkondz]

The only explanation I can offer is that I did not have any idea how frequently we actually did this until I started writing the report. How strange is that???

Very. Very, very strange.

Well, if you ever want to try one, I recommend DLR. I hear they have the BEST.

Not that you'd know, of course.

You caught me on a motivated night.

Ya think????

I'm calling it quits now, but I am SO CLOSE to finishing this one, which means I can actually focus on getting the other one done before we leave for the EPIC DIS TRIP in July!

Okay. Good night, Roni!

I literally use the word buffoon multiple times every day at work.

I know. I remember you saying that.
Still, it struck me as funny.

Ooooh, so close! You got the movie for one point, but not the character.......

Dang! Well, considering it was a shot in the dark, I'll take the point.
Of course, now I have a pretty good idea who did say it.

 

[STLMickeyMom]

I believe that last quote is squirt from finding nemo. Am I right? Did I finally get something?