First Timers Visit Over Easter! Can we see it all? - Updated 2/9

[Sherrkel]

Day 0: Downtown Disney

I was so happy to finally be in the Disney bubble! The day had been nice to see some LA things but I was feeling more relaxed now!

What a busy first day- I would have been out by 8:00 too (we're from new england).

The Disney "bubble" is so real for us at DW, so I'm worried I won't feel it at DL - your report gives me hope thou! Our trip is planed to begin in San Francisco and see a few of days of the CA coast before we reach DL - I know I will be anxious to get there, but decided to end our trip with the last few days at DL so we'd finish up on a high note.

 

[missjackiemcg]

I'm so excited you decided to start this early!!!

I hate to fly, so I totally commiserate with Morgan on that one (great job on her speaking part, as well!!!) How many hours was it from Philly??

It's good you took a little time to check out LA, but I can imagine you were thrilled to settle into the Disney bubble by the end of the day!

So looking forward to reading more

 

[Nakkira]

I love those flowered ears!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

The Disney "bubble" is so real for us at DW, so I'm worried I won't feel it at DL - your report gives me hope thou! Our trip is planed to begin in San Francisco and see a few of days of the CA coast before we reach DL - I know I will be anxious to get there, but decided to end our trip with the last few days at DL so we'd finish up on a high note.

In some ways it feels more like the Disney Bubble, since once you are through security you can go from park to park and Downtown Disney without having to do it again. Which is soooooo nice. Do you know what hotel you are going to stay at? The Tropicana was just across the street but you did "leave" the bubble as soon as you left there was people selling things and signs and stuff. But it wasn't too bad.

How many hours was it from Philly??

It was a 6-1/2 hour flight to LA and 5-ish coming back. So, Morgan hit the wall about 5-1/2 hours in, which was pretty good. I tried to get her to sleep a little but she wasn't feeling it on the way there.

I don't love to fly either. I don't hate it either. I strangely feel better about flying when we are all together. I get way more nervous if I have to fly by myself. Is that strange?

It's good you took a little time to check out LA, but I can imagine you were thrilled to settle into the Disney bubble by the end of the day!

I had been to LA before, so, I wasn't dieing to see a ton of things. So, it was the perfect amount.

I love those flowered ears!

Aren't they cute! So many people commented her on them. I will be curious if they are selling them on both coasts.

 

[Tracy161]

But we did get to see the Hollywood sign!

Yay!!! That was one of the most exciting parts of LA to me

We headed towards Disneyland!!! I was so excitied!!!

And now the real fun begins...

It was perfectly located!!!! We were right across the street.

That's amazing! The proximity of some of the hotels to DL and DCA is just incredible to us Disney World veterans!

They had made it from 3:00 am East Coast time all the way to 8:00 pm West Coast time!

That's impressive! Hopefully the next day would be smooth sailing and no one would be too tired.

 

[MissMaryQC]

Morgan did amazing! As did all of her friends.

She spoke so well! I loved that she was mouthing the other lines to keep time.

Our flight was uneventful and onetime.

All I'm looking for in a flight really, lol!

There was a lot of people dressed up as different characters trying to make money. And an Asian group walking around with a loud speaker talking about god. It was really annoying.

Oh LA, so full of people, strange people.

Cute family photo!

Was this staged?!? Adorable!

Traffic in LA is no joke!

Seriously. It's worse than Miami, and Miami is BAAAAAD!

They seriously built right up against the edge!

I've read that a lot of the reason Walt bought up so much land in Florida is cause once Disneyland opened and was a success all the land around it got bought up. Expansions there must be a nightmare!

I was so happy to finally be in the Disney bubble!

Happiest place on Earth!

This is so cool!!

I decided that Tinkerbell was too busy in Disney World for Mickey needed to take over here in Disneyland.

I think that's so smart.

Cute little ladies.

 

[vamassey1]

The early hour didn't stop the girls from being all smiles on the shuttle bus!

The excitement of a Disney trip!

Morgan's view out the window as we got closer to California!

Beautiful!

We should have grabbed something in the airport just to know that the girls had something in there bellies. But we didn't.

I think everyone just wants to get out of the airport as fast as possible.

The girls said that it didn't look like the one in Hollywood Studios.

Great observation.

And we were all tired and dragging just a bit.

I would have been more than dragging a little.

We needed to return the car rental so we headed out almost immediately.

Ok, so you rented a car just to sight see and get to the hotel? Was this cheaper than getting to the hotel by other means? Just asking in case I ever finally make it there.

We found this sign on the back side of the park. We were literally on the wrong side of cars land at this point. And Man! They seriously built right up against the edge! There was a back road and then the cars land building!

This is so cool. Much better that all the times the GPS brought us into the back entrance in the Disney World bubble. Seeing warehouses is not near as cool.

We found the Lego Store and checked out the lego creations! Of course!

I love these! Lego Disney is the best.

We moved on... And I glanced in one of the bakery stores and noticed the food plush!!!! I was a little too excitied to see them! And the girls were super excitied. They didn't even know they existed.

I want one too!

They took awhile to decide but this is what we ended up with:

Good choices.

Very sweet!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Day One: We finally get into the parks!!!

We woke up Friday morning 5 minutes before my alarm (6:55 am west coast time) The parks opened at 8 am today and I wanted to try and get in at 8 if possible. Andy hopped on his work computer and checked emails. H said he thought that he needed to do some work this morning. Which sucked but it was the reason we were all there. I mostly felt bad for Andy as he wasn't going to be coming into Disneyland for the first time with us.

Since we had all showered last night, the girls and I were able to get up and go fairly quickly. The 3 of us left the hotel room at 7:45.


This was the view when we came out of our room. The hotel was in a u shape with the pool and parking in the middle. It was over cast this morning and kind of cool! (Which I was not prepared for!) Our room was about half way down and right across from the pool. So, it was perfect.


And then this was our view once we got to the front of the hotel . It's kind of hard to see but you can see the Disneyland sign across the street! AMAZING!


We walked the 1/4 of the block to the corner and waited at the traffic light to cross the street. I tried getting a selfie of me and the girls while we waited.


And then some nice lady offered to take our picture for us! First Disney Magic!

We crossed the street and walked under the Disneyland Sign and I was already starting to feel like we were there!

We saw the monorail go by as we walked!

Security went by fairly quickly, they had plenty of lines. We went through security and then headed to the turnstiles. The turnstiles had longer lines, but that also didn't take very long! I had our tickets on our app, they scanned all three of our tickets, took our pictures for each ticket. And gave us paper tickets just in case the app failed for some reason.

And then we were in! At 8:05!!!! Literally 20 minutes door to door, or more like door to gate!

Soon enough we were seeing this!!!!! I tried to soak it all in as we walked. It was the first time in Disneyland, and the first time we hadn't been in the park all together. And it felt weird!

The girls and I had talked about what we should do first. The girls decided that we shouldn't do anything truly new without Andy. So, we decided to explore Tomorrowland first and head to Space Mountain.

We headed down mainstream. I was so happy that the walls were down on mainstreet!



The beginning of Main Street!


It was super foggy and none of my pictures came out that great. But I was so excitied to be here I didn't even really pay attention as I was taking pictures. I just kept snapping away!

We made our way down main street and I think even the girls were a little in awe. We made the usual comments...

The building are so much shorter!
The castle is so small!
It looks the same but it's different!


I really liked how the outside of the Starbucks looked.

As we made it to the end of the street, we got a good look at the Matterhorn!


And then to our right, was the entrance to Tomorrowland!

Gwen saw this and she said "OH MY!!! Why is it on the ground?!?"

I kind of like seeing it up close, but it is kind of in the way. Similar to how the Magic Carpets in Adventureland really are kind in the way. The girls asked to ride as there was no wait, but I said we really should continue to head towards Space Mountain.


We passed Star Tours, the girls said that we DEF couldn't ride that without Andy.


Buzz was directly across from Star Tours.


Pizza Port was straight ahead.


I was surprised that Space Mountain was so tucked away in the corner. It def isn't as big of a draw visually as Disney World's Space Mountain.

We finally made it to Space Mountain!!! We got in the stand by line and headed in.


We walked up an incline and then a ramp, and all of a sudden I realized we were on the roof of a building! I pointed it out to the girls, and they thought this was AMAZING! And said we shouldn't tell Andy. That it would be a surprise.


This line had def grown from what was posted and probably everyone bum rushing the ride. I grabbed this "wall selfie" while we waited. I love it.


Soon we were inside and getting up to the load area. we were soooo excited to be on our first Disneyland ride.


Our first glimpse at the 2 per row ride vehicle. The girls were SUPER excited!

So, what did we think? It was soooo much smoother than DW's! There is this beginning with lights that make you feel like you are spinning a little. It did disorient me a little bit. As we were riding the girls were SILENT! Not a peep! I was worried that they did not enjoy it! Eek.

Gwen usually screams like a crazy girl, so I seriously thought we were going to get off and say it was horrible. But thankfully they said it was fun. I think they just needed to take it all in. Screaming would have to wait for the next time they ride it.


Our ride photo.... We all kind of look stunned.

After our first ride, where would we go next? When would Andy finally be able to join us in the parks?

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Yay!!! That was one of the most exciting parts of LA to me

It really is. I don't know if the girls really understood how big the sign was, though!

Was this staged?!? Adorable!

It wasn't! I was probably the only one who was itchy to leave. They were all super content checking out the view!

She spoke so well! I loved that she was mouthing the other lines to keep time.

Thanks! She would probably kill me if she knew I shared it with everyone here.

All I'm looking for in a flight really, lol!

Right?!

Cute family photo!

Thanks! I was surprised how well it came out, as were all so tired.

Ok, so you rented a car just to sight see and get to the hotel? Was this cheaper than getting to the hotel by other means? Just asking in case I ever finally make it there.

So, it was def more to rent a car than just take a taxi or uber to the park. It wasn't that bad for the day, other than the fact we had to rent booster seats for the girls which was an extra cost. But we did want to do something in downtown LA. If we had done the two stops, we would have had our suitcases with us (which would have been a pain) and it def would have cost more with an uber. We did take an uber to Santa Monica on our last day and it was cheaper and easy to use. And we def didn't need the car once we were there. And our hotel charged for parking each night. Not all of the hotels in that area do, but sounds like a lot of them do. It was super easy to drop off the car and not a long walk at all. I think it really depends on whether you want to see anything in LA or not.

 

[amazingact21]

I'm here and excited to follow along!

 

[quandrea]

I came over from your current WDW trip. Enjoying both so much. I’m starting to consider a DL trip. Taking notes...

 

[Sherrkel]

In some ways it feels more like the Disney Bubble, since once you are through security you can go from park to park and Downtown Disney without having to do it again. Which is soooooo nice. Do you know what hotel you are going to stay at? The Tropicana was just across the street but you did "leave" the bubble as soon as you left there was people selling things and signs and stuff. But it wasn't too bad.

That gives me hope!

We are currently booked at the BW Plus Park Place Inn. It's going to feel strange staying in a non-Disney hotel, but I think the proximity will be awesome!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

We are currently booked at the BW Plus Park Place Inn. It's going to feel strange staying in a non-Disney hotel, but I think the proximity will be awesome!

It's a strange mix of knowing that you aren't in a disney hotel but the proximity puts you back in the bubble super fast!

And yes the proximity is AMAZING!!! You will technically be even closer than we were!

 

[Lesley Wake]

H said he thought that he needed to do some work this morning. Which sucked but it was the reason we were all there. I mostly felt bad for Andy as he wasn't going to be coming into Disneyland for the first time with us.

Aww, that's too bad!

And then we were in! At 8:05!!!! Literally 20 minutes door to door, or more like door to gate!

Awesome! The Harbor Blvd hotels really are great locations!

We walked up an incline and then a ramp, and all of a sudden I realized we were on the roof of a building! I pointed it out to the girls, and they thought this was AMAZING! And said we shouldn't tell Andy. That it would be a surprise.

Haha, that is fun for them to think of surprising him! They are modifying the queue so it will be partially indoors and A/C. It gets hot on that roof in the summer!

So, what did we think? It was soooo much smoother than DW's! There is this beginning with lights that make you feel like you are spinning a little. It did disorient me a little bit. As we were riding the girls were SILENT! Not a peep! I was worried that they did not enjoy it! Eek.

Gwen usually screams like a crazy girl, so I seriously thought we were going to get off and say it was horrible. But thankfully they said it was fun. I think they just needed to take it all in. Screaming would have to wait for the next time they ride it.

I'm glad you liked it! And I think you guys looked so stunned in the photo because DL takes the photo at the end, not the beginning like WDW!

 

[missangelalexis]

Yay joining in!!

Glad you could enjoy a little bit of LA, especially seeing the Hollywood sign!

I love that they have expanded the food plush line, they are so adorable!

All the ears are so cute! I've never seen the flower ones either, I love them!

The girls were real troopers considering the early morning and time change!

Glad you all enjoyed Space Mountain! It is SO much smoother than WDW!

 

[mnmrmustard]

Hey Ariella, huzzah for your first DLR TR! Our kiddos are 3 years apart also, beware those tween years! So cool that it was to be a surprise trip for them. Yay for Morgan knocking her speaking role out of the park. Love the “FIVE HOURS!” on the video for the reveal.

Looks like the travel was a breeze, and coming into that nice Cali spring weather – whoohoo! Nice that you got to hit some of the high points downtown, especially the theaters. But I understand not wanting to stick around. Great shots at the observatory.

I know what you mean about that walk to DTD – on one of our days we went that same “back way” around CA to get to the Disneyland Hotel/Trader Sam’s and it was longer than we were expecting. Earl of Sandwich is always a winner though! Cute plushes and cool Minnie Mouse outfits for the next day.

Great time getting into DLR on that first park morning, and glad that they had the walls down again on Main Street. It is quite different from the Magic Kingdom, but has and intimacy that I like – even down to the smaller castle. Cool to see the Matterhorn that first time, aye?

Great descriptive walk thru Tomorrowland and all those little differences with the layout. And of course the difference with Space Mountain itself. I do certainly prefer the ride on DLR’s version.

Can't wait to see what's next for you all!

 

[vamassey1]

We walked the 1/4 of the block to the corner and waited at the traffic light to cross the street. I tried getting a selfie of me and the girls while we waited.

Cute picture. The Ears look great.

We saw the monorail go by as we walked!

Very cool!

And then we were in! At 8:05!!!! Literally 20 minutes door to door, or more like door to gate!

So much better than the bus rides at DisneyWold.

Soon enough we were seeing this!!!!! I tried to soak it all in as we walked. It was the first time in Disneyland, and the first time we hadn't been in the park all together. And it felt weird!

I can't even imagine what this would be like. Hopefully someday I will find out.

The building are so much shorter!
The castle is so small!
It looks the same but it's different!

That would be a strange experience. Kind of like a dream where you remember parts.

I grabbed this "wall selfie" while we waited. I love it.

I love it too.

So, what did we think? It was soooo much smoother than DW's! There is this beginning with lights that make you feel like you are spinning a little. It did disorient me a little bit. As we were riding the girls were SILENT! Not a peep! I was worried that they did not enjoy it! Eek.

I don't ride Space Mountain anymore because it so jerky. This might not be so bad.

Our ride photo.... We all kind of look stunned.

This looks more exciting than Space @ DW.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

I'm here and excited to follow along!

Glad to have you!!!

I came over from your current WDW trip. Enjoying both so much. I’m starting to consider a DL trip. Taking notes...

Glad you made it over! Def plan on going at some point! We loved it! And I do want to come again sometime. Unfortantly it won't be for awhile.

Haha, that is fun for them to think of surprising him! They are modifying the queue so it will be partially indoors and A/C. It gets hot on that roof in the summer!

I could see how it would get HOT standing out there. It was overcast and cool still when we were waiting.

I'm glad you liked it! And I think you guys looked so stunned in the photo because DL takes the photo at the end, not the beginning like WDW!

Honestly, we don't know where there take the photo on DW on either.

The girls were real troopers considering the early morning and time change!

Glad you all enjoyed Space Mountain! It is SO much smoother than WDW!

They really were! I was really surprised they faired so well.

Our kiddos are 3 years apart also, beware those tween years!

Ugh. I am not ready for it!

whoohoo! Nice that you got to hit some of the high points downtown, especially the theaters. But I understand not wanting to stick around.

It was Easter Weekend so, I am sure it was peek busy-ness. And it was hot.

Great shots at the observatory.

It was quite muggy, so we didn't get a good view of the city but at least we saw the sigh!

on one of our days we went that same “back way” around CA to get to the Disneyland Hotel/Trader Sam’s and it was longer than we were expecting

There was also not much to look at.

but has and intimacy that I like – even down to the smaller castle.

We loved it. It is just so much of a different scale. I could see going to DL many times and the first time going to DW being surprised by how Big everything is. I think it is so striking because it is so similar yet different. It is def more intamate.

I do certainly prefer the ride on DLR’s version.

I am not sure which one I like more. We filmed a couple short videos of the girls picking which ride they liked better. Stay tuned!

That would be a strange experience. Kind of like a dream where you remember parts.

It kind of is. Main Street is so similar yet so different. I think that is why it is so striking. I kind of liked DL's main street but our castle... Sleeping Beauty was Morgan's favorite as a kid, so it was cool to see her castle finally!

I don't ride Space Mountain anymore because it so jerky. This might not be so bad.

This was def smoother. It would be nice it they did a big overhaul on ours and updated the track.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Day One: A Ride around Autopia!

After our ride into space, we decided to check out Autopia. Our trip in February there was a new found love for the Tomorrowland Speedway. So, I knew we needed to give DL's version a try! So, we headed there next.

I immediately loved the cars here!

I believe this is sponsored by Honda, so they all have the little H Logo on the hoods. But they all have a slightly different styles.


And I guess this robot and his sidekick chicken are the mascots for the ride. (Which just made Morgan and Gwen love it even more)


The wait wasn't too bad, but we got to see a little bit of the video that they had on the screen.


And before we knew it we were ready to drive! Morgan got to go by herself and I went with little Miss G.


OMG!!! I loved this ride soooooo much better than DW's! All of the greener and the little scenes. So, so so so much better! The pic above you can see the monorail going by. I just love that the monorail track runs through it. Unfortantly that was as close as we got to the monorail. I am sure it is super cool to have it go over top of you while driving.


I feel like the robot make it fit better in with Tomorrowland.


Don't go too fast!!! 6.5!


A view of the Matterhorn from the cars.


Watch out Curves Ahead! And there really was some curves and it had some pebbles to make it rough. Like I said, way more fun!!!


The Tower at the end of the "Course"

I also loved that each car had it's own license plate. I tried to snap some photos of the especially cute ones!


The girls just loved this ride. It still isn't a ride that I would go on as an adult with no kids necessarily but this is just a more enjoyable version. Morgan clearly loves the fact that she gets to drive by herself. And I get that as a draw. These cars were also not nearly as smelly!

It was now about 8:50 and I still hadn't heard anything from Andy. So, I said we should do one more ride before I text'd Andy to see how he was doing.

Where would we go next?

 

[Tracy161]

I mostly felt bad for Andy as he wasn't going to be coming into Disneyland for the first time with us.

What a bummer Hopefully he was able to join for a lot of it later though

It's kind of hard to see but you can see the Disneyland sign across the street! AMAZING!

It's so incredible to me that you can be SO close to the park at DL and not have to deal with the transportation that is nearly impossible to avoid at DW!

The girls decided that we shouldn't do anything truly new without Andy.

What sweet, sweet girls you have

We passed Star Tours, the girls said that we DEF couldn't ride that without Andy.

See above comment

Our ride photo.... We all kind of look stunned.

But catch a glimpse of the people behind you, they look terrified!