First Trip to DL - solo (COMPLETE) new link p.43

[kmedina]

Woah! You won't happen to be at WDW in early October will you? Was hoping to give you my phone for a few hours so you can get me up to where you are cus we're stuck on 208 too

Lol. No, sorry. I really wanted to go in early October to do all the DISmeets, but we already had our anniversary trip for the end of the month planned. My trick to level 208 is focus on getting your chocolate sprinkle ball and striped candy first. One of the striped candies created will generally release the chocolate sprinkle ball up top. Then, you can make your wrapped candy. When I focused on getting a single striped candy up to release the chocolate sprinkle ball, I wasted too much time. I either never got it down or I did not have enough time to make another chocolate sprinkle ball once I did. Good luck.

 

[Pinkocto]

Joe Rohde had huge amount of input at Animal Kingdom and also at Aulani.

Corinna

Thanks, I'm glad I wasn't imagining things completely.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Really enjoying your trip report! Love your pictures and details. Especially the food pics!

 

[Pinkocto]

Really enjoying your trip report! Love your pictures and details. Especially the food pics!

Thanks! lots more to come, it's just been a tough week. Started an update last night but needed to upload more pictures.

 

[Pinkocto]

Day 2:

Let me give a little history before starting off. Today was very exciting. I was getting together with Alison for the first time. We were going to see each other in December of 2011 at WDW but unfortunately she had to cancel that trip. This meet was long in the making. We've been chatting on here for a couple years now so I don't think of it as 'meeting' I think of it as seeing an old friend. She happens to have a friend that is a Club 33 member, and he arranged for us to have lunch at the club that afternoon. He also recently found out that with his membership he gets a certain amount of free tours a year and they were going to expire at the end of December. Turns out he doesn't have to be present at the tours and very generously offered for us to use one. To say I was excited might be the understatement of the century. The plan was that Alison would meet me in DCA at park opening and we would go to RSR and then find our tour guide. Before that I was going to the EMH at DCA which started at 9:00.

I woke up to the very annoying sound of the room alarm going off at 6:30. A previous guest had left the alarm on... I tried to go back to sleep but kept thinking of the day's events and was just too excited. So I got up, got ready, and had some strawberries and a banana for breakfast. At 8:40 I headed out to get in line for DCA.

My door



In the elevator area on the 2nd floor



In the 1st floor





Heading to the pool





It was even prettier in the daylight

















There was a monstrous line waiting for bag check at the DCA entrance. A CM came around and told us the front entrance was also going to be open and we would get in much more quickly if we headed that way. They only had two bag checkers at the resort entrance. I thought about it for a moment and then headed for the main entrance along with many others. Didn't want to waste who knows how long of my EMH just waiting to get in. Please note this is day 2 of vacation. Later in the week I decided to wait instead of walking to the front entrance.

Along the way I saw more of DTD that I didn't see the night before, it was a lot bigger than I thought it was. One thing I really like about DL and DCA is that they share a bag check. You only need to have your bags checked once and then can go in between both parks at your leisure. Very convenient. They had to take my photo before scanning my park ticket and then I was in! I had read that most people head straight to Carsland, but ToT and TSM have zero waits during EMH so thats what my plan was. I saw ToT to the left and headed that way, snapping pictures left and right.























I stopped and looked at my map at this point since it almost looked like I was heading to a dead end, but I was on the right track so continued onward.

 

[Pinkocto]

I was really impressed with DCA so far, thought it was quite beautiful.





I finally see my destination!







And it was a walk on













I tried for so many other pictures, the details in the basement are fantastic, but only a few semi turned out.





I shared my ride with two other ladies. Thank goodness I wasn’t in there alone, I probably would have freaked out!



Perfect first ride of the trip. I do prefer the one in WDW but this one is great too.

 

[Pinkocto]

I thought about a second ride but was eager to continue my exploration so headed to find TSM.



Had to go through Bugs Land which was super cute.

 

[MEK]

So, let me get this straight? - You and tow other woman were on the same ToT ride? That's it? Really?

ToT looks really, really cool and I love the pictures from the boiler room. But were is the redneck ride photo. It seemed like it took a while to walk there.

Cool that both parks have the same bag check, but a bummer you could't get in faster from the hotel. Speaking of which - that hotel is beautiful. Wow! I can't wait to stay there someday!

 

[Pinkocto]

So, let me get this straight? - You and tow other woman were on the same ToT ride? That's it? Really?

That's it, they didn't wait more than a few minutes to see if anybody else was coming and locked us in there it was great!

ToT looks really, really cool and I love the pictures from the boiler room. But were is the redneck ride photo. It seemed like it took a while to walk there.

Loved the boiler room, I'm so bummed my other pictures were even blurrier. the details in there were even better than at WDW. I thought I took a red neck photo but can't find it.

Cool that both parks have the same bag check, but a bummer you could't get in faster from the hotel. Speaking of which - that hotel is beautiful. Wow! I can't wait to stay there someday!

The hotel entrance was so convenient other days. I couldn't get over how close everything was to each other, it was awesome. I'm so in love with that hotel, wish I had planned a longer trip so I could have enjoyed it more. Definitely will next time though. You'll love it, especially for your pool time. Those loungers were AMAZING!

 

[franandaj]

Great photos! I felt like I was walking with you the whole time!

It's so cool when you get a ride vehicle almost all to yourself!

 

[Pinkocto]

Great photos! I felt like I was walking with you the whole time!

Thanks I'm glad most of them turned out, I was taking them while walking. It was cool having the streets empty.

It's so cool when you get a ride vehicle almost all to yourself!

I'm glad I wasn't by myself, I probably would have been scared to death!

 

[rentayenta]

Great update! Isn't Bug'sLand Land amazing? You should see it during the holidays. It's one of the best themed lands I think.

The ToT queue scares the beegeezus out of me. I can't imagine being in it alone.

I miss the GCH.

 

[kmedina]

Did you happen to get the ride photo from ToT with just the three of you? I think that would be quite cool. You did get some fantastic pictures.

 

[Leshaface]

Glad you went through the front entrance and not the GCH entrance. Wonder how it went when you went through the GCH entrance the next time around.

I really enjoy the detailing in Bug's Land. I genuinely feel like a small creature walking around in a forest.

Great photos BTW! Alison is right, I felt like I was walking with you as well.

 

[Pinkocto]

Great update! Isn't Bug'sLand Land amazing? You should see it during the holidays. It's one of the best themed lands I think.

The details were absolutely fabulous! You just made me realize I need to get to DL during the holidays now that wont be for a few years, too many trips planned

The ToT queue scares the beegeezus out of me. I can't imagine being in it alone.

How about the ride itself? That is one of my top favorites to be sure. So glad I wasn't in there alone though. Probably would have been too scared to enjoy it.

I miss the GCH.

When's your next trip?

 

[Pinkocto]

Did you happen to get the ride photo from ToT with just the three of you? I think that would be quite cool. You did get some fantastic pictures.

Thank you I thought for certain I took a picture of the picture but I can't find it.

 

[Pinkocto]

Glad you went through the front entrance and not the GCH entrance. Wonder how it went when you went through the GCH entrance the next time around.

I didn't ever try for the morning. Then again I don't think I did EMH again I loved the resort entrance though, it was very convenient. They were great to let us know to go to the front entrance.

I really enjoy the detailing in Bug's Land. I genuinely feel like a small creature walking around in a forest.

The details Disney does are absolutely amazing. I loved the bathroom made out of a tissue box and the exit with the cut outs. Thought that was so cool.

Great photos BTW! Alison is right, I felt like I was walking with you as well.

Thank you I like to take 'on the way' pictures as well as 'destination' pictures if that makes sense.

 

[rentayenta]

The details were absolutely fabulous! You just made me realize I need to get to DL during the holidays now that wont be for a few years, too many trips planned




How about the ride itself? That is one of my top favorites to be sure. So glad I wasn't in there alone though. Probably would have been too scared to enjoy it.



When's your next trip?

The holidays at Disneyland are pure magic, more so than any other time of the year I think. We have nothing in the books or in thought about a trip to Disneyland. I mean, I'm always thinking about it, but no date, not even far away. We always end up throwing in a one day trip to the parks but they don't include a GCV stay. Realistically the next time we'll stay at the GCV would be maybe Dec 2015......

 

[dolphingirl47]

I saved this until I had time to really appreciate it yesterday and then I somehow forgot to comment.

I loved all the photos. They made me home sick for Disneyland in a good way. I am surprised that they directed people to the front entrance. I never had this happen before. I have encountered some huge lines, but once they actually open the gate, they tend to move really quickly.

Wow, that must have been an experience to do ToT with only two people. I also don't think that I ever seen TSM with less than a 20 minute wait and even then I felt lucky.

Corinna

 

[Pinkocto]

Hi everyone, not much storyline to go with this update. I made my way towards TSM in Paradise Pier, of course taking pictures along the way. Remember, everything was brand new and I tried to capture it all.

















I had read that the Little Mermaid ride didn’t have quite the queue as the one at WDW but I wasn’t expecting this.





I spied Paradise Pier and veered that way








I saw these buildings to the left, I think I missed something. I would be back for more exploring.





I heard this was a good restaurant but it had nothing on the menu that really interested me so wasn’t on the list.



A shop to the left



Absolutely loved the boardwalk feel











Looking back