Disneyland Resort. . .a trip report of sorts. . .or a primer for WDW vets

[nurse.darcy]

Okay so this last weekend (June 27 to 29) my son Brandon and I venture to the "Land" for a little R and R. . .its summer so we expect it to be crowded and just plan accordingly. . .we are AP holders after all and know how to work the "system". We figure its going to be REALLY crowded as we had trouble getting a freaking hotel room in the area where there are more hotel rooms than people. . .lol. Okay, so we will deal with it. We don't care, we are there to have fun. . .and take some overview pics for a few WDW fanatics that are making their first venture to our "land".

Here is a pic of the players. . .me and my boy, Brandon. . .

This is from April 07 but it fills in the blanks. . .may have a couple more from then. . .

 

[nurse.darcy]

Okay, so we get to the parks around 2:00 or so on Friday June 27. . .on the way to the security check point we are greeted with this. . .

Pretty cool. . .these guys are real. . .not plastic as they look. . .they are announcing the new Toy Story Mania ride inside DCA. . .pretty awesome. . .

Well, since this is supposed to be an overview for my WDW friends I decide to stand in the center of the entrance plaza and take a look both left and right. One side is the entrance to Disneyland Park, the other side is the entrance to Disney's California Adventure Park. . .I am standing in the exact same spot for both pictures. . .just so WDW fans can get an idea of the closeness of the parks. . .

As you can see, walking between the two parks is not an issue. Its closer than most of the bus stops at the parks at WDW. . .

 

[nurse.darcy]

So tradition dictates that my son and I MUST start at Disneyland Park. No real reason other than tradition by the way. I even ask Brandon. . .DCA or DL. . .his response is classic. . .Mom, we always have to start with DL. . .its tradition. . .(gotta love my kid. . .)

So, its off to the entrance plaza for DLP. Once inside we decide to shoot a few pictures for our WDW friends. The first is looking down Main Street, the second is a look at City Hall, the third is the Train Station, and the fourth is the Opera House, which now houses 50 Years of Disney Magic. . .used to house Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. . .

Very much the same, yet different, than MK at WDW. MK is much more spread out. . .this is smaller. . .much smaller. .

 

[nurse.darcy]

If you are trying to pay attention, you should note that we are standing in the exact same spot for all 4 pictures. . .mainly because we really want this to be an OVERVIEW for WDW vets wanting to visit DLR for the first time. Many wanting to come here for the first time ask about rental cars, time between parks and such as that. I usually want to tell them its like going from future world to international showcase at Epcot. . .sometimes they get that. . .other times they are like. . .uh, what?. . .so I decided to do this trip report in pictures. . .little did I know my camera would have a mind of its own this trip. . .

Okay, so Brandon and I head down Main Street. . .our goal (since it is late afternoon) is to go to tomorrowland and ride a couple rides. . .then possibly head back to the hotel. . .little did we know that the "land" had other goals in mind for us. . .

We are now in plaza square taking pics. . .briefly as people are starting to line up for the 4:30 parade. . .

The obligatory Castle Picture with the statue of Walt and Mickey. . .

The Plaza Inn, which used to be Carnation Plaza Inn. . .I noticed this trip that the use of Carnation is gone. . .may have been gone for years but I just now noticed it cause I took pics. . .lol

 

[nurse.darcy]

Okay so we decide to head into Tomorrowland. . .the first thing you see when heading in is the Astro Orbitor. . .This used to be housed on top of the People Mover track and was named something else. . .but that escapes me at the moment. For those Trivia buffs, the People Mover was taken down years ago and replaced with a little ride called Rocket Rods. . .which only lasted a few years before they took those away. . .now the track sits vacant. . .some of us wish they would bring back the People Mover. . .your equivalent at MK would be Tomorrowland Transportation, to let the track sit empty is a shame. . .

Astro Orbitor

Buzz Lightyear. . .from April 07

Autopia. . .(another pic from April 07)

In this area you will also find Space Mountain and Innoventions, which is housed in the old Carousel of Progress theater. . .the fastest building in the world. . .lol.

 

[nurse.darcy]

No trip to Disneyland Park would be complete without a ride on the Nemo subs and Matterhorn. . .so, for your viewing pleasure. . .

And the Matterhorn and Chalet. . .

 

[nurse.darcy]

Just thought I would point out that the line forming on the terrace above the Nemo Subs is for the Monorail. . .one of the most popular rides at DLP. . .cause it gets you close to the on-property Disney hotels. . .

 

[nurse.darcy]

Just thought I would point out that we arrived at the parks at 2 in the afternoon on a Friday. . .we have already completed, by this time, tomorrowland and some of Fantasyland. . .but I would tell that story if this were a true full on trip report. . .the trip report portion is true, but enhanced to keep the pictures moving. . .lol

Okay, for those So. Cal. Natives that go to the park every other weekend as I did when I lived in Redondo Beach, If I leave out something or don't point out a particular point of interest, please feel free to do so. . .WDW peeps are spending their hard earned dollars to come out to the west coast and visit us. . .its up to us to show them a good time. . .

 

[nurse.darcy]

Okay, so we have just gotten off the Matterhorn and decide to venture into Fantasyland. . .always a hit or miss crowd-wise. . .never know if you are going to be able to ride ANYTHING cause of crowds and lines. . .so here are Storybook Land Canal Boats. . .

All photos are from this ride. . .the castle and miniature land are from the ride. . .its a lot of fun. . .

 

[nurse.darcy]

Okay, now my Fantasyland overview. . .since we started with Storybook Land Canal boats its only fitting that we do Alice in Wonderland next. . .

Then its off to Mr. Toad, Pinnochio, Peter Pan and Snow White. . .

 

[nurse.darcy]

Pinocchio. . .

Peter Pan

Would put Snow White pics here but didn't take any. . .stupid me got distracted. . .so we now run off to Toon Town. . .though I don't know if we are still on the first day or have moved on to the 2nd day. . .my guess would be that we did Fantasyland during early entry on Saturday. . .

(early entry is called Magical Mornings. . .and I believe they happen on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings)

 

[nurse.darcy]

So our fantasyland adventure actually began on Saturday the 28th, for which we "should" have been in the park by 7 a.m., however, it should be noted that mom is still fresh from her return from WDW where early entry mornings begin at 8. . .so I thought we would be starting at 8. Trust me when I say I know better, but I just wasn't thinking. . .so we get to the park at 0745 and we walk right in. See the people lining up for rope drop and realize we are late for our magical morning, so we head to the left side of main street so we don't have to wait behind the rope drop crowd and head on into Fantasyland. Brandon goes to get fastpasses for Space Mountain (this is our normal routine on MM at Disneyland Park). I head to Peter Pan Flight. . .it is SOOOOOOOO not crowded that I actually have to stand to the side and wait for Brandon to show up so we can go on the ride together. I could have gone on it 2 times before he got there, maybe even 3. . .

We go on Peter Pan, Mr. Toad, Alice, the Matterhorn and Space Mountain (for which we did not use our fast passes because there was no line. . .more on the Saturday no line thingy later. . .). . .so we decide since its a good morning lets head on over to Toontown. . .we havent done that in a while. . .

First thing we go on Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin. .

Notice the lack of anything remotely resembling a human in this pic. . .trust me when I tell you this ride usually has a very long line. . .

 

[nurse.darcy]

We didn't go on Gadgets Go Coaster cause my son is "uncomfortable" on that ride. . .at 6'2" his knees don't fit. . .lol.

Here are some more Toon Town Pics. . .

Lots of fun to be had here. . .

 

[libertybell7]

Great trip report Darcy, Keep up the good work...

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

Great report Darcy! I want to go to DLR now!!! LOL

Love the pics too girl!!

 

[Bloodhound]

Great pics with the play by play...I cant believe there were no lines...I quess most people decided to go to DCA for the new Toy Story ride etc. etc..

 

[disneywifey]

Thanks for the photos. I when to DL in 2001 and it's so hard to remember all the details but I had been to WDW less than a month before that and I really loved them both but I love the small, more "Walt" feel of DL. Keep the pics coming! I didn't go on the storybookland ride and I don't even remember it but it looks cute.

I'm trying to talk my DH into skipping WDW one year for DL but i haven't convinced him yet. I really love Mr. Toad's wild ride and Indiana Jones in DCA and I want to ride them again so bad!! Oh, well, maybe I can just go by myself without him!

 

[toocherie]

Darcy! Great report--If I think of anything to add I will . . . .

Thanks for the photos. I when to DL in 2001 and it's so hard to remember all the details but I had been to WDW less than a month before that and I really loved them both but I love the small, more "Walt" feel of DL. Keep the pics coming! I didn't go on the storybookland ride and I don't even remember it but it looks cute.

I'm trying to talk my DH into skipping WDW one year for DL but i haven't convinced him yet. I really love Mr. Toad's wild ride and Indiana Jones in DCA and I want to ride them again so bad!! Oh, well, maybe I can just go by myself without him!

and see, I've never been to WDW (but am going in Nov.)--and I know it's been a long time since 2001 but Indiana Jones is in Disneyland too (not DCA)--it's in Adventureland right before you get to New Orleans Square. Just didn't want to get anyone lost!

 

[nurse.darcy]

Great pics with the play by play...I cant believe there were no lines...I quess most people decided to go to DCA for the new Toy Story ride etc. etc..

That's what I was thinking, but no, there were not much in the way of lines at DCA either. . .

 

[disneywifey]

Duh, you're right , it was in adventureland now that i think of it!