First family trip to DL and my first pre trip report

[LVdisneyChick]

Ok, so one day back in april I up and decided that it was time to take the kids to DL. Me and DBF have been together for 5 years now. He has two daughters that I absolutley adore (DD7 & DD9). We also have our son DS2. The girls (and DBF) have never been to DL. So I am dedicateing this trip to them. My little man will have several oppurtunities to go while in childhood, but the girls are getting to the age that if I wait any longer they won't be as intrested. So I took all of my left over tax $$$, which bty I was suppose to spend on myself, and all the $$ I have put away since my raise (almost 1,000)
And off to DL we go. I have been so obsessive about this trip since it;s first conception. I have decided since we never get to take a vacation that this would be vacation of a lifetime. I looked into and have since purchased the SoCal citypass. Well enough blabbing and let me get started on this PTR.

 

[avalon451]

Sounds great! You may want to be posting this over in the trip report forum, instead, though. http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=27 The moderators may move it anyway.

Looking forward to your TR!

 

[LVdisneyChick]

Cast of characters

Me
DBF
DD7
DD9
DD2
and possibly DSIS (sister)

 

[LVdisneyChick]

Sunday leave vegas as early as possible. I want to leave @ 4 am, but not sure if that is actually going to happen. We HAVE to be on the road by 7 am..no if's and's or but's about it. I plan on getting there no later than 11:30.

Basic Goals for the day: Get a feel for the park in general, take the train around entire park, watch the parade, watch the fireworks, as for rides. it is expected that we atleast do splash, toontown, big thunder, hm, potc, storybook and nemo last. Not exactly in that order but you get my drift. i really want to do more if at all possible.

Monday Get up at the crack of dawn, make the kids some breakfast and stuff to snack on while at park. hopefully arrive at gates no later than 7:30. bee lne for stores to get through to rope drop. do all of fantasyland... do you think it can all be done in a 2 hr window??? Tomorrowland next. Toontown again if we feel the need. leave for break at the hotel, grab fastpass for indy... iam still questioning if we will be going on this. i have heard it is very jerky and i dont feel like being in pain the rest of the trip. i suffer from frequent headaches and it might be to much for me. Anywho, come back to DL fully refreshed and fed between 6-8 pm. ( I am not sute how wore out we will be) Finish up in adventureland and then backtrack to anything we missed.

basic goal.... Ride everything

Tuesday i plan for a dca day. Although i do have mm passes i really dont know if we are going to be able to use them. We are very much late sleeper and getting up at 5 on my vacation is really something i do not want to do. but if we do decide to use them it would be today, just for a little while and then head over to dca @ 9:30. I have the whole day planned here. no breaks back at the hotel, we will see if we can actualy do it all. i am a bit worried we won't. but hey, we will try

Wednesday
Check out of anaheim, go beach probably hunntington, then drive down to san diego. pretty mach relax this day.

Thursday Sea World
Now as far as actual planning goes, we are just going to go with the flow. i do not have to much epectations here. watch shamu, the dolphins, let the kids run around in sesame street

Friday San Diego Zoo.
Please i totally need help with this one. there are so many animals and the zoo out here in vegas sucks...my kids still love it but i know they are gonna love san diego better...duh who wouldn't. i really have no idea about the zoo. any tips pleas.

Saturday........head back home to vegas...boo-hoo

 

[chickyann]

sounds like a fun trip

 

[Michelle2]

LVdisneyChick,
Your trip sounds so fun, I am sure your family will have a blast!~
I am from Las Vegas too (Born and raised there, but live elsewhere now, but all my family still live there.)
What are te dates of your trip? I will be in DL August 12-17...sounds like we will be there at the same time?

And watch out for that Vegas to LA traffic....its a killer.

 

[LVdisneyChick]

LVdisneyChick,
Your trip sounds so fun, I am sure your family will have a blast!~
I am from Las Vegas too (Born and raised there, but live elsewhere now, but all my family still live there.)
What are te dates of your trip? I will be in DL August 12-17...sounds like we will be there at the same time?

And watch out for that Vegas to LA traffic....its a killer.

hi michelle... i was born here too!! i am leaving sunday morning between 4-7 am. so hopefully there will be no traffic!!! you will be arriving the last day i am there.

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

basic goal.... Ride everything


Thursday Sea World

Friday San Diego Zoo.

WOW !! you have planned every day !! GOOD JOB !!
Your kids will have a blast !!!!!!!!!

laura

 

[LVdisneyChick]

WOW !! you have planned every day !! GOOD JOB !!
Your kids will have a blast !!!!!!!!!

laura

yeah i am about to go touring crazy...lol

 

[Disney owl]

sounds like a great trip

 

[mommaU4]

Hey there! We live in Vegas too! But not born here. SoCal transplants like many others.
Sounds like you have a great trip planned. We almost bought that SoCal City pass last year, but decided to get annual passes to Disneyland instead.

As for the San Deigo Zoo, it's been awhile since we've been there, but it is awesome. Lots of walking though, but no more then Disney I guess.
If you haven't already you can go to the Zoo's website and let the girls make a list of which animals they really want to see. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/index.html

San Diego is also a beautiful place. If you have time make a stop in Seaport Village. It's a cute place to walk around and right on the water.
http://www.seaportvillage.com/

Smart plan to leave early that first morning. I hate the traffic around here. Good luck with your planning and have fun!! It's always special to go to DL with someone who's never been. You get to see it for the first time through their eyes.

 

[LVdisneyChick]

hey beth,
thanks for the links. I think we will stop by seaport village, it does look very intresting.

also where exabtly can you get the tinkerbell twist...

 

[mommaU4]

hey beth,
thanks for the links. I think we will stop by seaport village, it does look very intresting.

also where exatly can you get the tinkerbell twist...

Tinkerbell Twists are so good! They are like a slushie made with sour apple and sour watermelon flavors. But not too sour, like sour candy which I don't really like much.

I'm not sure where in DL they are sold, but in DCA I bought one at the cart in Bug's Land and one at the cart near the entrance to Orange Stinger. I'm hoping it wasn't something special they did for summer only because I really want to have another when we go in October.

 

[LVdisneyChick]

Tinkerbell Twists are so good! They are like a slushie made with sour apple and sour watermelon flavors. But not too sour, like sour candy which I don't really like much.

I'm not sure where in DL they are sold, but in DCA I bought one at the cart in Bug's Land and one at the cart near the entrance to Orange Stinger. I'm hoping it wasn't something special they did for summer only because I really want to have another when we go in October.

lol.. well thanks to you i am completely determined to get one...
another ? for you. The picture of the mickey bread... is it a sandwich or just the bread.

 

[mommaU4]

lol.. well thanks to you i am completely determined to get one...
another ? for you. The picture of the mickey bread... is it a sandwich or just the bread.

The Mickey shaped bread picture from my TR? That is just the sourdough bread, which is really good. OMG. I love bread and can eat almost that whole thing. And it's pretty big too!

You can buy that at the Pacific Wharf Cafe in DCA. If you want to eat it in the park, ask them for some butter. They don't have any sitting out, but if you ask at the counter they will give you some butter packets.

If you are looking for that same sourdough bread in a sandwich they do sell those there are well. I've had the turkey sandwich there and while it's okay, it was a bit dry for me.
If I'm eating there I prefer the Broccoli and Cheese soup in a sourdough bread bowl.

I've also had the Chicken and Apple salad in a bread bowl and probably wouldn't order that again. The dressing they use was too heavy and made the bread bowl all soggy. If you order that, I'd ask for the dressing on the side if possible or you'll end up with really wet bread. Yuck. (someone else said the same thing so it's not just me)

Anyway, here's the menu if you haven't already taken a peek at it:
http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/din/menu/men_pwc.htm

The Mickey shaped bread is listed down near the bottom.

 

[LVdisneyChick]

ok, so the weeks are counting down.. almost there. i have been less spazzed the last few days. i want to wait until i print out our final touring plans. i am still hoping to leave the house at 4 am but i have made our plans for sunday a pretty light day, hopefully we can get alot more than i plan on.

thanks for all the tips with the food...
our must have list so far is...

bread bowl (chili or broccoli)
tinkerbell twist
corn dogs
ice cream.

woo..hoo...

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Your plans sound great!!! Let us know how it all turns out. We will be there during part of the same time.

Have fun!

 

[reyasmommy]

Your trip is coming up really soon! I'm so jealous! Have a wonderful time and I hope to see lots of pictures when you get back.

 

[travelmel]

I don't have any must do's in terms of food at DL. There are some things I've seen on this board that I definitely want to try! Did you see mommaU4's funnel cake pic? It made me a believer! We have enjoyed Bengal BBQ A-LOT in the past but this last visit it was a disappoint.

Oh... wait...is Dole Whip on your list??? If you like pineapple then this is a must-do for sure..

The roller coaster at Sea World looks REALLY fun! it's a land and sea roller coaster.. in other words part coaster part splash mountain...pretty cool stuff.

Oh, in Huntington Beach there is a really cool statue of a naked surfer. This may be too much for you.. but for me it's hilarious. We always laughed and blushed about it when I went there as a kid. I've since moved away but took my DD's there and had our picture taken under the statue. They laughed and blushed and we had a great time. He's located near the public parking areas.. I forget exactly where.

Family-Friendly View

above: my dd's and a good friend of ours.

Oh, I do have one recommendation for San Diego... a GREAT restaraunt with SPECTACULAR views that won't kill your wallet. It's called Bali Hai...

The food's good, too!

The food is Polynesian (you can find the menu online) and the price was really good. It's a hop skip and jump - like 3-5 minutes away from Sea World... maybe you could squeeze it in?

Have a great trip and take lots of pictures!

 

[LVdisneyChick]

so i am now counting down the hours...
i am so excited...i am more excited than the kids...

i will update/ do a trip report when i get back. it will take awhile as i am in a photoshare and have to get my editing done quickley so we can order....