Texasmomof3
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2006
- Messages
- 171
We won the Disney Movie Rewards Instant win game last year and finally got to take our trip. We won a trip for four to tour the Disney Animation Studios. It was INCREDIBLE!!! and truly a once in a lifetime trip!!! 
We were picked up at the Burbank airport in a stretch limo which the kids were so excited by. It took us to the hotel - it was very late as our flight was late a couple of hours so off to bed. A Disney Movie Reward rep. met us the next morning and we were once again wisked away in a stretch limo to the Animation Studios. As a BIG surprise for us and my kids ages 10 and 6, we were met there by a special guest. Madison Pettis. For those of you without kids she stars on the show Cory in the House on Disney channel and was the co-star in The Game Plan movie which was being released the following Tues. They were filming her for a special to be shown to promote the upcoming release of the DVD. She was going to get to spend the day with us touring the studios. She if so incredibly nice as is her mom who joined her for the tour. It turns out they are from Arlington really close to where we live. She knew my kids were a little starstruck at first and she was so good at asking them questions to make them feel comfortable. It wasn't long before my daughter and Madison were fast friends. We got an incredible tour of Animation headquarters and got to see the 2 new movies in production that they are working on. We got to play with animating a character on the computers they use and got to see tons of behind the scenes stuff. We even got to pet the hamster that they are using in the new movie. We got to preview one of the new Disney shorts (which is really cute). They gave us each a huge bag of Animation items - books, t-shirts, assorted promo items etc. Then it was off to lunch across the street at the Disney commisary. We had the presidential dining room reserved HOW COOL!!! 
We had quite a few people in our group so we needed it. the four of us, Madison, her mom, her publicist, makeup people, our two Disney Movie Rewards tour guides, the film crew and photographer. Lunch was on the mouse and was great. They have really good food. Then it was off to tour the studio grounds unfortunately nothing was filming because of the writers strike but I guess it was actually good news because otherwise Madison would have been filming Cory in the House and couldn't have joined us. We got to see the big headquarters building and see the archives and walk of fame. It was really neat. 
Then it was off to the Disney Studio Store for some shopping. We ended the day having to say goodbye to Madison and her mom
She gave the kids an autographed copy of the DVD and promo item that my kids cherish. They have watched the movie over and over and over again. 
We were so sad to say goodbye but the limo was back to take us to the hotel so we had to go. I think my daughter considers Madison one of her best friends now. I can't say enough nice about Madison she is truly nice and sweet and we can't wait to see her career in the future take off. We extended our stay a few days since my parents live nearby and drove in to spend the weekend with us. We left Burbank the next day and checked into the Sheraton Anaheim. We have stayed her before and like this hotel. We also had enough Starwood points to pay for 2 out of 3 of the nights since we were on our own for this stay. We had decided to go to the Grove shopping center as my daughter wanted to see the American Girl Store and we were going to check out a movie there too. We saw the movie did a little shopping and had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. We had our parking ticket validated and it still cost us $22.00 to park
That is ridiculous!!!!! We spent the next 2 days at Disneyland and California Adventure. Because my parents live in southern Calif we were able to do the 2fer deal. One day at each park for about half the cost. My mom had to rent an electric cart as she has pins in both of her legs and can't walk for hours on end. The park was really crowded (Sunday and Monday-Martin Luther King Day) we still got to do most of what we wanted. Although I have never thought of Disneyland as needing 2 days to get it all done but when it is that crowded you may need 3. The wheelchair did help on a couple of rides but then it took us twice as long to get anywhere with it because of the crowds.
My mom almost ran over a couple of people who stopped unexpectantly and tried to take out a potted palm plant
. I wonder if anyone has been seriously injured with those things. The walkways in Disneyland can be kind of narrow with the crowds of people there. 
the next day we spent at California Adventure and it was COLD!!!! First major disappointment was that Aladdin my favorite show there does not show on Mondays and Tuesdays. BUMMER
Should have spent more time on the boards I guess. The 2nd disappointment was the lack of indoor eating places. It was too cold to eat outdoors. We finally ended up at the trattoria which was okay but not great. It was really too cold to enjoy it like we usually do. The highlite was anything inside. We did the Animation drawing class twice and spent alot of time there. I think the behind the scenes look a couple of days before really piqued the kids interest in everything. I do miss Walt - one man's life that was there. I loved going with my kids so they could see how it all started. We just went to DW in Nov. and saw it at MGM and it was great. We ended the night at downtown Disney. Luckily the limo didn't pick us up till noon the next day for the trip to Orange County airport so we slept in a little the next day. All in all a wonderful, incredible trip -truly once in a lifetime!!
Although I will keep playing and entering all those sweepstakes Disney has in hope of one day winning another trip!!!We never win anything and I had always doubted anyone won those trips but now I know they do. 
