Does This Come In Chocolate? Midweek Sept. '14 TR

[Quasialamodo]

Chapter Links (To Be Linked)

1) Introduction

2) Travel Details & Hotel

3) Arrival Day!

4) Is That Olaf or a Ghost? (Day 2: Wednesday)

5) This is NOT all that Magical (Thurs. Morning)

6) Lucky 13! (Thurs. Afternoon)

7) Check Out Day/What I Learned

 

[Quasialamodo]

Hi! My name is John or, as some may know me, Quasialamodo. I am currently sitting at the lovely outdoorsy Anaheim Amtrak station waiting for my train to the airport and would like to tell you about the ups and downs of my September 2014 trip to the Land, the Adventure, and to the Downtown.

Note: I express opinions in this TR. You may not agree with them, but they are my opinions. Please don't flame me in the thread. If you're that incensed, feel free to stop reading and go do something else like play with a puppy or make some iced tea or something.

A few pieces of info about me (and a picture to be uploaded later):

This is my fourth trip to Disneyland and my first solo trip. It was a surprise last minute gift from my fiancee (he was still doing school stuff and wanted to go closer to Christmas anyways, which means he'll be shipping me an ornament!) and the first time I've done Disney as a solo adult. My previous trips were with family (pre Adventure opening!), Grad Nite, and pre-Christmas week 2013.

My favorite ride at the Land is Matterhorn and at Adventure is the Tower of Terror.

I love the cupcakes at the Main Street Bakery.

My favorite characters are Bernard, Pongo, Hercules, and Prince Eric (special shoutout to Marahute!)

My favorite princesses are Ariel and Elsa.

 

[Quasialamodo]

How'd I get to Anaheim from Oregon?

Spirit Airlines special price (seriously, it was a great price though the website is a bit hectic to navigate and if you're doing more than a trip with a personal bag it may not be worth the effort) to San Diego (it was cheaper than LAX, believe it or not).

Amtrak into Anaheim to the Super 8 on Katella.

Info about the Super 8 on 415 W. Katella (I think there might be another one in Anaheim close by but I'm unsure about that): The Super 8 was definitely cost effective and was found by my fiancee not wanting to pay an arm and a leg for a hotel room.

Pros:
10 min walk to the park entrance on the opposite side of Downtown (that could be a con for you depending on how much you carry with you into the park or during really hot days or if you really like shopping in DTD)

Friendly desk staff (seriously, they went above and beyond- when my cabbie bailed on me getting back to the Amtrak, they called another cab for me and made sure I got to the station well before my train, in keeping with my time schedule). If you put up a do not disturb sign, as well, the cleaning staff will leave you a little note letting you know how to get in contact with them if you need more towels and such.

Nearby food establishments (I'll talk more about this later, but it was definitely more good than bad)

Nearly constantly deserted pool (even in the heat)

The biggest pro, for me, that I wish I had known is that I could have bought my Park Hopper from the front desk and saved 40 bucks from the Disney website. It was a newb move, I know, but it's one I'll definitely always remember.

Cons:
The continental breakfast wasn't more than toast and Eggos and, as experience has taught me, always go protein heavy while at Disney.

My hotel room was clean, but the bathroom grout could have done with some bleach. They were updating the room next to mine, so they may be upgrading all the rooms and they hadn't gotten to mine yet. Also, if you want anything other than a scalding hot shower, you may be out of luck. In four days, I couldn't once figure out how to turn down the heat on that sucker. Also, you can really hear fireworks, so fireworks nights you may not be able to get as much sleep if you like if you turn in early.

Super 8 seemed to be the only hotel on Katella not connected to the ART Resort bus system, so bear in mind that you will walk or have to call a cab, though I did walk without much issue.

 

[Quasialamodo]

I arrived on Tuesday very pumped after a somewhat beautiful ride up the coast. I was so excited, I forgot to pack water or a little bottle of sport sunscreen in my pocket (which I always get a little trial thing of for each day at Disney because it still applies when sweaty) and just went cannonballing toward the Land.

I always have really great luck at the bag check, so I went in very quickly and didn't get my picture taken, but did get my e-Ticket turned into a real ticket that I had a little waterproof jacket already for since that's how I roll.

I'd like to note here that the days of open and close varied all throughout my trip and this particular day was an 8 pm closing and that definitely made a crowd difference. I believe my Tuesday was the way Disney was meant to be experienced - with almost minimal crowds (at least, they don't feel like maxing out the park).

I do love the Matterhorn and especially its single rider (though a little less the older I get with my knees and back- I have a bad back and knees for a 28 yo and the thing gets really jostly the more you do it). Big Thunder was back up as well and the refurb really brought it up to date (I take back all the dark thoughts I had during Christmas when it was closed!). For me, though, the best in cast ride guides in the Land (without being over the top silly) are always at Splash Mountain (though the water seemed quicker than usual the whole trip? I kinda felt like I was speeding through the ride).

I stayed quite a bit in New Orleans Square but did some Tomorrowland, steering clear of Fantasyland mostly to avoid smallish children. There was a 5 minute wait for Buzz, which really made it heaven because you can really appreciate the queue as you walk through or even stop a little and watch Buzz. I also got stuck at Level 3. I'm always stuck at Level 3. How does anyone get a higher score?! Argh.

Congrats to Ghost Galaxy on Space Mountain! While I'm a traditionalist for the Mountains, I really appreciated Ghost Galaxy.

Indy Jones (the ride that perennially breaks down when I'm near the Land) was down all week, but I didn't miss it all that much. Some Pirates was done and it was fine. I didn't have any problems with it until later (when the boats got really backed up during the exit - unlike Splash boats, when the Pirate boats bump, you reeally feel it).

I ended up staying until about 6, and in 5 hours I did nearly all my favorite rides. I was very impressed with the queues, the crowds, and the staff at Disney this day. If I hadn't been tired, I'm sure the day of doom a little later in this tr would have impressed me with the character offerings, but I was already emotionally compromised at that point.

Dinner was take-out from Panda House, a place recommended in my hotel room. A word of note: They got lost trying to find my room and I ordered not by number but by name of item since there was some discrepancies between my two room menus. Pretty worth it, though. Not the worst Chinese food I'd ever had.

 

[Quasialamodo]

So I was pretty pumped about Wednesday, not going to lie. I was up and out of bed at 5:30 (the sky's awake so I'm awake!) to already a 90 degree day that was only going to go up to 104. I didn't buy a misty fan (I don't like being wet because it makes me feel icky) but a lot of people had them and I got sprayed more than once by people not paying attention to where they were spraying.

I went to the Dennys for breakfast (a step up from the Ihop but not my first choice) and they weren't rude there, but I didn't feel very attended to either. The restaurant was a ghost town and I think maybe its because I was alone, I dunno. It is worth it to note that if you have MicKEYS like I do (to cover your keys), they had more than the Pride MicKEY. In fact, they were the only place even near Disneyland that had the darn things (and even one with Olaf!), so bear that in mind if you're looking for those like I do.

Here's something interesting to note: I got trapped in a bag check line waiting to get in line for the Land in the morning. Oddly enough, World of Disney doesn't open until 10 (I think, they don't post open or close hours) and there was a bit of chaos because there was early opening for on site hotel guests at Adventure- and you couldn't have paid me to get in that line.
Personal note: I am always amazed by the amount of kids I see at Disney when I'm pretty sure it's school time for people in California.

I also have a big pet peeve about people running from opening to rope drop, especially those running with strollers. Added chaos to this was the Frozen Meet N Greet Line. Not chaotic for me because I'll wait until my honeymoon at the World, but I definitely felt for the parents and kids in line. There is very little shade at rope drop and the heat was already pretty merciless.

Besides that, Wednesday was a pretty good day. There were quite a few things I did in the morning so that I spent a part of the noontime doing a little bit of shopping (unfortunately Madame Leota's Christmas fortune cards are not a thing) and buying my first cupcake of the trip at Main Street.

Side note about the Haunted Mansion: The Holiday Haunted Mansion this year is very amazing and at least one part I'd love to buy as a home decoration (in the dining room, I won't say what because I don't want to ruin it). I would love, though, to see the traditional Haunted Mansion at some point because it always seems changed when I'm there.

Also, if you're looking for some specific Mansion gear that if you're not sure if it exists or not, don't bother asking the staff at the kiosk or store because they have no idea what's up and coming. It's not that they're not pleasant, they're just not very well-informed about anything in development or about taking ideas it seems. Possibly, it's just a flaw in the system.

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Rant Time
And before I go back to my regularly scheduled update, I'd like to say a couple of things just to get them off my chest: 1) Do not Go Pro camcorder the Haunted Mansion Holiday Ride. Not only are you not enjoying it, but I don't think that's actually legal. It takes away a lot of hard work, in my opinion. 2) Sometimes, your kids aren't ready for the Haunted Mansion. DON'T FORCE THEM TO GO. HEARING SHRIEKING CHILDREN REALLY RUINS MY EXPERIENCE. 3) Flash photography is not allowed in the Mansion. You are not a special snowflake. Yes, I know you want that priceless photo but don't ruin my narration by making them come over the loudspeaker twice to make a general annoucement about flash photography that is directed specifically at you, mom that was two dune buggies behind me and in the same group as me in the growing room. I saw you do it three times, at least. 4) Not that this is a rant, but I'd also be interested in knowing if anyone else had trouble hearing the narration in the buggies? Out of the four times I did the ride, at least twice I could barely hear my ghoulish ghost host and that's one of my favorite things about the ride.
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End rant. Back to the cupcake thing, since I headed back to Main Street Bakery after all that happened in the same ride.

I maintain that it was not a ghost cupcake, but looked more like Olaf. Anyone else that has gotten one can feel free to disagree though. I know that the cupcakes aren't everyone's favorite but they are mine. Interestingly enough, I had two different experiences at the same bakery with a staff that was more seasoned and one that was newer the next day who gave me the wrong thing the first time but promptly made it better. I will say that those cupcakes are way better than the bittersweet, and tending to stain shirts and fingers, brownies at La Brea bakery, which quite often failed to impress me on this trip.

I headed over to Adventure to do some scouting for Muppet stuff for my fiancee (why is there only one thing with Sweetums on it? And how did the attendant not know that was Sweetums? Why did I, a person interested in said item, have to tell her that?) and to ride Ariel for the first time. I would like to say that I love Ariel deeply. I was impressed by quite a few things in the ride. But not by Eric's face. Who designed that animatronic? I hope they're not working with Disney anymore.

Note: If you do pin trading, Ariel's Gift Shop had pins I couldn't find anywhere else in the park, not even at World of Disney or at the ToT gift shop- where I do most of my shopping as a ToT enthusiast/fan.

I also did Single Rider for Radiator Springs Racer and while I'm not a fan of Cars and I like Kali Rapids and ToT better, RSR is not the worst ride in the world. In fact, I'd say it's probably very close to becoming a new classic. I had some issue with the mouth on Luigi's buddy not lining up with the speech or where it should go on the car hood, but that's a very small thing and not nearly as distracting as Prince Eric was. I think the Mater interactions made up for it.

I'd like to note here that I also stopped by Toy Story Midway Mania and it had the longest line of my entire trip at half an hour, but the queue made it look more like 45 minutes. I still haven't done it to this day since CA opened. I also avoid the swinging gondolas at Paradise Pier, but for a different reason than the wait in line. Seriously, when are those things going to get seatbelts? You can't tell me it's more safe than the ToT.

 

[Quasialamodo]

I'm actually going to split up Thursday into two sections because, in a way, they were very opposite and there's more than one thing I need to address as a person without a kid (though people with kids may agree and people that frequent Disney as pass holders may think I'm an idiot and say- no, duh kiddo. Yes, I'm 28 but people still call me kiddo sometimes).

I did not have breakfast on Thursday morning because it was Magic Morning Thursday and I was told I should show up an hour and fifteen minutes before the park opened at 8 for the special 9 am Rope Drop. My first "meal" of the day was a turkey leg from near Big Thunder Railroad. While I love turkey legs, they are a might unwieldy and this one was particularly juicy. I eventually did eat at River Belle Terrace but the meals while clean were unremarkable. When I ate in the park and not on the go, it was mostly River Belle Terrace although one day I'll get over the sticker shock enough to eat in that little place that looks over the Pirates boat entrance.

Anyways, I earned my Honorary Citizen badge by helping out some New Zealanders who were on a birthday trip and got to help with the countdown and then- all of the issues started.

It wasn't so bad to begin with. I didn't mind that only Fantasy and Tomorrow Land were open, though I did want to do Big Thunder again right off the bat. I kind of didn't mind that Pinocchio was down (actually I really did mind that it was down, tbh) because it gave me a chance to ride Mr. Toad. I didn't even mind that there wasn't anywhere to get breakfast before New Orleans Square was open.

Then the rest of the park opened and there was a bit of a bedlam. Nothing opened on time. Not the Haunted Mansion. Not Splash Mountain. Not Big Thunder Mountain. The only thing open was Pirates for a solid half hour. And everything that had already been opened had a swarming line starting to form. #firstworldproblems I guess

When Big Thunder and Haunted Mansion did finally open, the lines swarmed and swelled and I knew that there was literally no need for that to happen because they hadn't let it happen the day before. I can accept that sometimes cars break down, but you do magic mornings three times a week. How can you be this unprepared? Now normally I would say stop and enjoy the queue and your vacation, John! After all, these queues are part of the Disney experience! And people are working hard and trying their best!

Yes, and I would agree, except for enormously lines on what is still off-season in my book (when does "on season" start anyways? Does it really start in mid-September?). It wasn't even a weekend. And then off-putting full on making out couples in line in front of me (but that's not Disney's fault). Anyways, it was making me all grumbley, even after I had had food and a nice sit, so I proceeded to where I go when the Land gets crowded.

 

[Quasialamodo]

Everyone has a ride where sooner or later, they became a nutso fan for it. For my fiancee, it's Mr. Toad. For his best friend- it's Pirates or Small World Holiday. For me- it's Tower of Terror.

Now, I did not show up to Cali Adventure in a good mood. The morning had not been magical at all. I actually felt rather cheated knowing how well Disney had done previously for me just the day before (I know, unrealistic expectations of carry-over, don't yell at me about that please!) and I thought that maybe a ride on ToT would help. Actually, the Newsies rolling by with their song about going to California helped a little too, but-

The Tower of Terror Ride Staff are a whole new breed of weird and I absolutely love them- especially Scott. As I was coming in line over and over again, I would occasionally bump into him and while other people kept tabs on what number I was on and helped me have a good time and were really into the ride, only Scott seemed to really get it. His interactions were great, not just with me, but personalized to many different families and group sizes and experience levels and he's easily one of the best Disney cast members I've ever met (and I don't think I'm actually giving a glowing enough review here).

Anyways, I ended up beating my own personal record for riding and commemorated my thirteen ride in a row with a key keychain from the gift shop and congratulations from the guys and gals working the ToT. It was a really uplifting experience (no pun intended!) and really saved what would have otherwise been an awful day.

California Adventure is definitely better in a lot of ways for people like me who don't do large crowds well. I wish I had the kind of nostalgic attachment to it that I have to the Land because then I'd be the happiest dude on earth when I came to Anaheim, but alas that is not the way it always is.

I went back over to Disneyland to do the Mansion again and get myself something to get shipped home (you can't beat 7 bucks for 10 day ground shipping!) and it was still crazy. I ended up leaving because it reminded me of Christmas time too much. People everywhere, way too many double strollers with people walking alongside them so you can't maneuver around- it was hectic and claustrophobic.

I had an early dinner at Tony Roma's, which made me feel a little more adult and has a nice steak for a price that won't make you cry (not like the price for some of those Halloween t-shirts or Skellington gear like that baseball style "Nightmares" tee). I think when you're a single adult doing Disney, those kind of things probably help you keep your sanity because I know it helped mine. I was more or less done at that point anyways.

 

[Quasialamodo]

Originally I had gotten the four day park hopper because my Spirit flight home was at a later time (that price made all the weirdness of heading into San Diego and that website worth it, once again) but the clogging crowds were already there at 9 am when I went searching for breakfast and Frozen merchandise at World of Disney, so I avoided doing either park for my last half day purely because of crowds and because the sight of yet another stroller was making me a little nauseous.

It's not that I don't like kids. It's that en masse kiddom might be too much for me. And yet, knowing this, still Disney. Always Disney. Even when they makeover the princesses.

So- what did I learn?

Things you love about Disney will keep you sane when the vaca starts getting a little rough.

When it gets that hot, you will pay 4 bucks for a bottle of water.

There are lots of cabs waiting in Anaheim to take you anywhere you want to go.

You can get from Disney to Knotts Berry Farm on bus (my next adventure).

That glow in the dark t-shirt is 40 bucks at World of Disney, but Marceline's treats has a lower price on that same decal on a popcorn bucket. And then you even have the popcorn itself.

Always check Ariel's Gift Shop.

Cast members can be unexpectedly wonderful at magic, you just might never know when.

Tony Roma's will put the adult back in your magical vacation.

Sometimes the orchestral version of your favorite Disney anthems are just great at 8 in the morning when your feet are still tired from the night before.

Next trip? The World in November 2015! Time for a Honeymoon, ya'all!