First DLR Trip was magical! TR (3/09) Heading back for more magic! TR w/pics (4/10)

[TheTXTaylors5]

We will also be driving from Dallas! Can I just copy your trip ?

You are going to have an amazing roadtrip. Driving through Arizona is truly beautiful. Are you making a loop by driving near Phoenix one way and Albuquerque the other? Initially, we were going to do this. But decided against it because of the violence on the US - Mexico border. Sadly, we missed coming into Anaheim from the south. San Diego would have been a nice stop. We plan to stop there and Legoland (Carlsbad) on our next CA Adventure. Will you be stopping off at the Grand Canyon? I highly recommend it! It's only about an hour off of I-40.

I hope you plan to do a Trip Report. I can't wait to read it! No pressure here.

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Pre-Trip Report

I love your Pre-Trip Report. I can't wait for you to go and experience what you have been anticipating all these months. You are going to have an incredible time.

Have a magical trip!

Jennifer

 

[RanCan]

"Why aren't we at Disneyland?????" From your experience, how humid does California get in June (summer)?

Jennifer

First of all I want to tell you that I just loved your trip report!!!! You really did a great job writing it and I thoroughly enjoyed reading every bit of it, and the pictures were great!!

Now to answer your question. Southern California gets quite warm in the summer. The really warm months are usually from July all the way through September and October, sometimes November, but the humidity is very low so it can be bearable. But in June, that is probably the coolist month in the summer, we get what is called the "June Gloom". That is when the clouds and fog come in from the ocean and stick around for a good part of the day. It's actually not a bad time to go to DL.

Thanks again for your trip report, we are going to WDW for the first time in August and I'm a little nervous about the humidity since I'm use to a dryer heat. But I am totally excited!!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

First of all I want to tell you that I just loved your trip report!!!! You really did a great job writing it and I thoroughly enjoyed reading every bit of it, and the pictures were great!!

Now to answer your question. Southern California gets quite warm in the summer. The really warm months are usually from July all the way through September and October, sometimes November, but the humidity is very low so it can be bearable. But in June, that is probably the coolist month in the summer, we get what is called the "June Gloom". That is when the clouds and fog come in from the ocean and stick around for a good part of the day. It's actually not a bad time to go to DL.

Thanks again for your trip report, we are going to WDW for the first time in August and I'm a little nervous about the humidity since I'm use to a dryer heat. But I am totally excited!!

Thank you for the kind post. I am glad you enjoy the TR. We definitely plan to return to DLP. With all the kids in school by the time we go back, June might be a nice time to visit Southern California.

We've been to WDW in May and September. I will forewarn you, it was VERY humid. We're from Texas and know heat. But, the humidity was killing us and draining all our energy by mid-day. I can't imagine being there in August. Good luck! We drank over a case of water within the first few days this past May. FYI - any counter-service at WDW with a drink fountain can give you FREE ice water. Take full advantage of this. Also in Epcot, there is a place called Club Cool where you sample FREE Coke products. This is a nice air conditioned place to cool off at Epcot on a hot day. Have a family member try the Beverly and watch their expression (have the camera ready!). Another tip (I know you didn't ask ), take full advantage of Extra Magic Hours (if staying on-property). During the summer, getting to rope drop helps immensely with the crowds and the heat. Then we, head back to our resort mid-day for a dip in the pool and cool off (Even a coldish shower feels good mid-day after being in the parks). We usually head back out in the evening refreshed and ready to stay until the park closes and/or very end of an EMH (PM). We've had some of our best family memories made at WDW during EMH (PM). We've had Fantasyland all to ourselves at 1 am a few times. It definitely is different than DLP in that aspect. We expected the crowds at DLP to leave around 10/11 PM (park closed at midnight). Nope, they ALL stayed until the park closed.

Have a magical trip!

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Happy (or unhappy if you had to pay the Taxman) Tax Day 2009!

Jennifer

 

[MyMuse]

Whew! I just finished reading your trip report.

I was toying with the idea of going to Disneyland for July and combining it with a visit to the Orange County Fair.

I have visited the Grand Canyon and it was absolutely gorgeous! I also visited Tombstone, Montezuma's Castle and stayed a few days in Sedona. Amazing stuff.

Your family will always appreciate these great road trips! I wish I could ahve had these memories with mine. Though, we do ahve drives to the Jersey shore, but it doesn't quite compare.

I enjoyed your trip report and maybe I'll convince myself to go to Disneyland!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Whew! I just finished reading your trip report.

I was toying with the idea of going to Disneyland for July and combining it with a visit to the Orange County Fair.

I have visited the Grand Canyon and it was absolutely gorgeous! I also visited Tombstone, Montezuma's Castle and stayed a few days in Sedona. Amazing stuff.

Your family will always appreciate these great road trips! I wish I could ahve had these memories with mine. Though, we do ahve drives to the Jersey shore, but it doesn't quite compare.

I enjoyed your trip report and maybe I'll convince myself to go to Disneyland!

Thank you for taking the time to read my long-winded Trip Report.

DH and I never went to WDW as children. I think we're making up for lost time.

It took me 36 years to get to DLR ... I got my FIRST pair of Mickey ears last year at MK during YOMD. We won some from the Dream Team. Better late, than never.

Jennifer

 

[shishigirl]

Just finished reading your trip report and loved it! How fun to stay at the disneyland hotel and how fun to see the fireworks from the balcony! We are planning a trip in june and you have given me some great planning tips! Thanks for the site to the coupons and the outlet store. Im glad you and your family had such a magical time! I loved how you stopped outside the firestation to see the light on! Your family is wonderful and your kids are darling! Have fun in WDW!

 

[javamoma]

You are going to have an amazing roadtrip. Driving through Arizona is truly beautiful. Are you making a loop by driving near Phoenix one way and Albuquerque the other? Initially, we were going to do this. But decided against it because of the violence on the US - Mexico border. Sadly, we missed coming into Anaheim from the south. San Diego would have been a nice stop. We plan to stop there and Legoland (Carlsbad) on our next CA Adventure. Will you be stopping off at the Grand Canyon? I highly recommend it! It's only about an hour off of I-40.

I hope you plan to do a Trip Report. I can't wait to read it! No pressure here.

Jennifer

I think we will go Albequerque both ways. My mom, DD, and myself will leave from Dallas and we will pick up my sister and her 3 kids in Albequerque (although she lives in Aspen, her in-laws are in Durango and they can easily drop her and the kids off in Albq). The dads and grandfather will be flying to meet us in California. That way their limited time off will not interere with our toodling around the countryside!
We are planning to go to the grand canyon. I am so excited! The children will be 4, 3, 2, and 6 months so we could pull over and stare at a bug and they would be happy! I'm sure the 2 older ones will think the grand canyon is awesome. We have already started teaching them about it. Any other recommended side trips for little ones? Our kids are like yours, great at traveling in the car. Actually, we don't know about the will-be-6 month-old yet because he is still in the womb. Our trip isn't until March 2010. But, I will probably start a trip report soon.

Anyone know when 2010 rates are released?

 

[MyMuse]

Thank you for taking the time to read my long-winded Trip Report.

DH and I never went to WDW as children. I think we're making up for lost time.

It took me 36 years to get to DLR ... I got my FIRST pair of Mickey ears last year at MK during YOMD. We won some from the Dream Team. Better late, than never.

Jennifer

It was a fab report! I was debating on staying at Disney or one of the Good Neighbor hotels as well.

I never went to WDW as a child either. Actually, we never went on vacation; to me, it's a wonderful luxury thing I do. If my parents were still alive, I would be dragging them everywhere!

I'm 37 and just went to my first on-site immersion WDW visit this past March (BDay gift to myself). It was wonderful. My sister sent a surprise gift to my hotel room, which were Mickey ears and a tote bag full of stuff!
Sooner or later, I'll get to Disneyland. Your trip report is some serious fuel.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Happy 9th Birthday Will!

My "baby" turns 9 today. He's halfway out of the house and on his way to college. Where does the time go?

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Only 94 more posts until I hit the 5,000 mark. Phew! I have been a Chatty Cathy on here.

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

We are on our way tomorrow afternoon to ...

Walt Disney World!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We arrive on Thursday and leave on Sunday. I can't wait to see the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. We were there last year and it was beautiful. Nothing like a last minute trip! This should tie us over until we're there in June for Bill's birthday. Bill told me this is my Mother's Day present. He got a really great deal at PO - Riverside ($90 a night). We plan to buy AP while there. So, we'll be back in the AP club again.

Thank you Bill!

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

If interested, check out my WDW Trip Report ...

WDW May 2009 Trip Report

Lots of fun and of course Disney magic!

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

We'll be back to DLR sooner than expected ...

Doing a happy dance!

I just booked DH and I woohoo: no kids!!!!) on an Adventures by Disney trip. We are doing the DIS Unplugged ABD California Backstage Magic Tour on April 13, 2010. We will have a little under a year to anticipate this trip. With the price, I will need all the time I can to save to pay for it! Disney sure is proud of these trips. This will definitely be a "Once in a Lifetime Trip".

Here's the itinerary:

Day 1:
Arrive in Los Angeles
The Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
Welcome Dinner at Trastevere Ristorante

Day 2:
Behind the Scenes at The El Capitan Theatre
Backstage at Jimmy Kimmel Live
The Jim Henson Company Studio Tour and Lunch
The Stars of Hollywood

Day 3:
Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Studios
Drive to Disneyland® Resort
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa.
Welcome Reception at the Wine Cellar and Hook's Pointe
Evening at Disneyland® Park

Day 4:
Character Breakfast at Plaza Inn
VIP Custom Tour of Disneyland® Park
Lunch at Café Orleans
Afternoon and Evening in Disneyland® Resort
Privately guided VIP tour to Walt Disney's Apartment.

Day 5:
Character Breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen
Privately Guided VIP experience of Disney's California Adventure™ Park
Lunch and Afternoon On Your Own at the Disneyland® Resort
Farewell Dinner and Surprise

Day 6:
Character Breakfast at Storytellers Café
Transfer to the Airport

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

I decided to turn this into a Pre-Trip Report for our upcoming Disneyland Part Deux trip.

We just got back from an amazing week at WDW. It was hot and humid, as expected. But, we still had fun. I presented DH with the CA trip for his birthday on Thursday. He was very shocked to say the least.

This is DH opening the envelope with the ABD info ...

His expression is ... are you serious?!?!?!?!

The next one is after the reality of the trip has sunk in ...

His expression is ... can we leave now!!!!!!

We had an amazing time at WDW for DH's birthday. I felt like a vampire during this trip, we were rarely seen outside mid-day (except on DH's birthday). It was so hot and humid. We went through two cases of water and a case of Gatorade. It was all well worth it though. There's no place like a Disney park to celebrate a birthday. I saw a lot of people with birthday pins on. But, when the CMs found out it was actually DH's birthday that day, he was treated extra special everywhere we went. I have to laugh about our dinner at Tutto Italia (Epcot). I got a sitter for the kids and DH went out on his birthday evening for dinner. I kid you not, we heard the waiters sing "Happy Birthday" ten times while we were there to different patrons. By the time they came around to Bill, it honestly didn't seem so special anymore. I found it hard to believe that many people in that particular (non-busy) restaurant had birthdays that day. Oh well. We did get a yummy cake for free!

Jennifer

 

[thmar]

Oh...what a wonderful birthday present!!

 

[javamoma]

Can't wait to hear all the planning details! You guys are going to have so much fun with the dis unplugged team! Who all from the podcast is going on that trip?

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Can't wait to hear all the planning details! You guys are going to have so much fun with the dis unplugged team! Who all from the podcast is going on that trip?

Peter, Walter, Kevin, John and Kathy are all going to be on the trip. It will be weird traveling with these voices we've been listening to for three years.

I can't wait!

Jennifer

 

[tinkermell]

We'll be back to DLR sooner than expected ...

Doing a happy dance!

I just booked DH and I woohoo: no kids!!!!) on an Adventures by Disney trip. We are doing the DIS Unplugged ABD California Backstage Magic Tour on April 13, 2010. We will have a little under a year to anticipate this trip. With the price, I will need all the time I can to save to pay for it! Disney sure is proud of these trips. This will definitely be a "Once in a Lifetime Trip".

Here's the itinerary:

Day 1:
Arrive in Los Angeles
The Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
Welcome Dinner at Trastevere Ristorante

Day 2:
Behind the Scenes at The El Capitan Theatre
Backstage at Jimmy Kimmel Live
The Jim Henson Company Studio Tour and Lunch
The Stars of Hollywood

Day 3:
Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Studios
Drive to Disneyland® Resort
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa.
Welcome Reception at the Wine Cellar and Hook's Pointe
Evening at Disneyland® Park

Day 4:
Character Breakfast at Plaza Inn
VIP Custom Tour of Disneyland® Park
Lunch at Café Orleans
Afternoon and Evening in Disneyland® Resort
Privately guided VIP tour to Walt Disney's Apartment.

Day 5:
Character Breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen
Privately Guided VIP experience of Disney's California Adventure™ Park
Lunch and Afternoon On Your Own at the Disneyland® Resort
Farewell Dinner and Surprise

Day 6:
Character Breakfast at Storytellers Café
Transfer to the Airport

Jennifer

WOW!! How fun and exciting! I am jealous!

Can't wait to hear more about your plans!