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

[Bloodhound]

Thanks for that mighty fine update and pics

 

[disneywifey]

Thanks for all the pics and stories. I'm going to use this to bribe my DH for a trip to DL. Hopefully it'll work and we can go really soon!

 

[nurse.darcy]

Thanks for all the pics and stories. I'm going to use this to bribe my DH for a trip to DL. Hopefully it'll work and we can go really soon!

Just remind him that it can be a shorter trip and you can still have just as much fun. . .lol

 

[disneywifey]

I know some people talk about it being shorter, but it's harder, economically speaking(taveling and such), for us to go to DL so I'd want to stay longer than the normal 2 or so days so we could try to do as much of it as possible. I KNOW we can never do it "all" but the more time you have, the more likely you are to see different things. So, while that would be a nice incentive for me to give him(and he even likes Disney), it's not an option for me to give! Haha! Plus, I'm sure he would want to see some of LA too if we went. AND he's recently become obsessed with the movie Sideways so I fear he might want to drive up to Los Olivos and such to do the Sideways tour. I swear, if we go it'll probably be a month long trip!

 

[nurse.darcy]

I know some people talk about it being shorter, but it's harder, economically speaking(taveling and such), for us to go to DL so I'd want to stay longer than the normal 2 or so days so we could try to do as much of it as possible. I KNOW we can never do it "all" but the more time you have, the more likely you are to see different things. So, while that would be a nice incentive for me to give him(and he even likes Disney), it's not an option for me to give! Haha! Plus, I'm sure he would want to see some of LA too if we went. AND he's recently become obsessed with the movie Sideways so I fear he might want to drive up to Los Olivos and such to do the Sideways tour. I swear, if we go it'll probably be a month long trip!

ROFLMAO. . .okay, I like the way you think. See, that is how I view a trip to WDW. . .don't think I could do a 4 day trip for at least a few years cause I "gotta see it all". . .My solo trip in May was 7 days, my August trip is 9 days and my December solo adventure will be 6 days. The funny thing is that it works better for the airfare if I go for longer trips cause I can fly on tuesdays, wednesdays or thursdays. So, that is my excuse and I am sticking to it. . .lol.

 

[disneywifey]

ROFLMAO. . .okay, I like the way you think. See, that is how I view a trip to WDW. . .don't think I could do a 4 day trip for at least a few years cause I "gotta see it all". . .My solo trip in May was 7 days, my August trip is 9 days and my December solo adventure will be 6 days. The funny thing is that it works better for the airfare if I go for longer trips cause I can fly on tuesdays, wednesdays or thursdays. So, that is my excuse and I am sticking to it. . .lol.

I know! The same here as far as flights go. We had a flight leaving our local airport going into Sanford (farther east of MCO) but it was so cheap we couldn't pass it up. It was something like 39 per person, each way (extra for baggage but I'm a light packer so no big deal for me) so it was only like 150 to fly there this Jan. We wouldve spent at least that much on food and gas driving down there so we went for it. However, that airline may not be here come next jan so we're probably gonna drive. Only about 9 hours or so. Not horrific.

Hopefully you enjoy your solo trip! I'm jealous 'cause I secretly wanna go solo so i can do whatever i want but my DH would be wayyyy too upset that he wasn't invited and using "our" money for "my" vacation without him!!!

 

[nurse.darcy]

Okay, when last I left you I had just finished up the touring of Disneyland Park and were headed over to California Adventure. Since we only toured California Adventure for a short time on Friday night, I'll begin with our arrival there on Saturday at about 11:30. . .

Entering California Adventure Park

We normally head straight to Soarin Over California to get a fastpass and today was no exception. . .well except that. . .there was no line so instead we rode it.

So now we are off to the Hollywood Studios area. . .

 

[nurse.darcy]

Here we are at the Sunwheel Fountain courtyard. . .

And at the entrance to the Studios. . .Actually its called Hollywood Pictures Backlot. . .

Looking down this street, it looks like it goes on forever. . .I didn't get a good picture of the "endless street though cause when I took it the sun was behind the "backdrop".

 

[nurse.darcy]

So, the attractions inside the Hollywood Pictures Backlot include

Playhouse Disney (which we didn't do):

Disney Animation Studios and Turtletalk with Crush (we did do this but I didn't take a pic. . .they are all housed in the same building).

Muppet Vision 3-D:

Monster's Inc (my picture didn't come out). Alladin the Musical and Tower of Terror (incidentally, Alladin the musical is funny and a Must See. . .the Genie makes the show):

Some more pics from the Hollywood Area:

 

[nurse.darcy]

Now its off to Paradise Pier. . .(please note that here again I will add pictures to fill in the gaps by using my April 07 pics). . .

While walking to Paradise Pier we see this mountain known as Grizzly Peak:

To the left of this area is "A Bug's Land" which we didn't get to so I don't have any pics to share. Then we come upon the Pier. . .

California Screamin:

The Sun Wheel (by the way, you gotta do a swinging gondola on this ride. . .well, if you aren't prone to motion sickness. . .lol)

The Orange Stinger:

And of course. . .

 

[nurse.darcy]

TOY STORY MANIA. . .We actually went on this twice because it is so much fun. . .its actually addicting. . .

I took lots of pics since its a new ride. . .just be prepared to have a ball with this. . .

 

[NJGuy3]

Great info and pics Darcy!

 

[nurse.darcy]

Great info and pics Darcy!

Thanks. . .I should have turned on the sun filter in some of my pics. . .but hey, its all good. . .at least everyone gets the general idea.

At paradise pier there are many other rides and attractions to go on. Its a fun place to hang out but be warned, if you go when it is warm it gets downright HOT here and there is little shade. Most of the queues are uncovered for the lines so wear sunscreen, and a hat if you are inclined to get sunburned on top of your head.

 

[PirateMel]

Thanks. . .I should have turned on the sun filter in some of my pics. . .but hey, its all good. . .at least everyone gets the general idea.

At paradise pier there are many other rides and attractions to go on. Its a fun place to hang out but be warned, if you go when it is warm it gets downright HOT here and there is little shade. Most of the queues are uncovered for the lines so wear sunscreen, and a hat if you are inclined to get sunburned on top of your head.

Cool thanks for sharing


Question ? - the backdrop in FLA is of SF, what is it of in CA?

 

[Bloodhound]

Very nice update I really like the looks of the New Toy Story Mania Ride.

 

[nurse.darcy]

Cool thanks for sharing


Question ? - the backdrop in FLA is of SF, what is it of in CA?

Its Santa Monica. . .well at least at Paradise Pier. . .for TOT is is Mulholland Drive and for Hollywood Studios it is literally Hollywood. . .the area around the water tower. Grizzly peak looks like any mountainous area in California. . .not sure what the area is supposed to depict. . .and Grizzly's are known beasts in the mountains here. . .lol

 

[nurse.darcy]

Okay I said the look of Paradise Pier is of Santa Monica but apparently its more Monterey Bay. . .looks like SM to me. . .and with the planned build out of California Adventure we are going to get a Cars land (think new movie here) and a rebuild of the pier which includes a rebuild of the area that houses San Francisco. . .(needs an overhaul anyway. . .no one ever goes to see Golden Dreams. . .even though they have the best que line in the area)

 

[MA pigletfan]

i am loving this TR!!!! I too am going to DL for the first time in October..this is so fun for me to read..and super useful

 

[disneywifey]

I remember Golden Dreams from my trip in 01 and I liked it! I just heard it the other day on UABmagic (park radio) and I remember how much I liked it! Are they getting rid of it in the rebuild?

 

[nurse.darcy]

I remember Golden Dreams from my trip in 01 and I liked it! I just heard it the other day on UABmagic (park radio) and I remember how much I liked it! Are they getting rid of it in the rebuild?

I believe so. I liked it but really, the theatre is almost always empty. So I think that they can do better with this area.