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

[kmedina]

I love what they have done with Carsland too. It is nice to see the standby line is a lot shorter at 60-90 minutes and single rider line nonexistent. The single rider line was never less than 40 minutes last time we were there. I was hoping things would die down a little. Being off season probably helps with that too. What fastpass return time did you get for RSR? I am also planning on falling in line after it dies down a little but do not want the return time to be too late.

The 1901 Lounge looks pretty neat. It was awesome you had a chance to tour it.

 

[Pinkocto]

Isn't 1901 about the most amazing place? I'm so glad you got to go. Isn't Alison awesome!

She's fabulous, the day was so comfortable, I felt like we've been friends forever. 1901 was so cool, loved that they had no problems with me taking pictures.

Carsland is unreal! I missed the lights coming on each time but one of these days, I'll see it. I hear it's pure magic.

Seeing the lights was on my list and I missed it. So they're still on the list for next time

I agree the FP placement is so odd. It makes little sense.

The only thing I can think is that they anticipated the demand and wanted them out of the way. Otherwise it is definitely odd.

 

[Pinkocto]

I have to say I did not really get Carsland. I found it very disjointed. I did however love Radiator Springs Racers and Luigi's Flying Tires. I would have loved a single rider line like this. When I was there in May, the single rider line was better than the standby line, but it was still very busy.

Loved the photos of the 1901 lounge. This brought back so many great memories.

Corinna

Have you seen the Cars movie? I felt like I was in the movie, the details were so amazing. I never got back to Luigi's ride. I think we had a ten minute wait in the single rider, it was great.

All the framed pictures in the lounge were too cool, I could have stayed in there ages looking at all the pictures. It was a really cool place.

 

[franandaj]

Yay! I'd say we were off for the wildest ride in the wilderness, but that was closed! I'm glad you took so many pictures!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Have you seen the Cars movie? I felt like I was in the movie, the details were so amazing. I never got back to Luigi's ride. I think we had a ten minute wait in the single rider, it was great.

All the framed pictures in the lounge were too cool, I could have stayed in there ages looking at all the pictures. It was a really cool place.

Yes, I have seen the movie and really enjoyed it. I think maybe they tried to squeeze too much into a relatively confined space.

Corinna

 

[Leshaface]

I don't know why, but in the very early mornings right when the park opens, this is my favorite area. Maybe it's because it's not crowded but it makes me happy!

I think Cars Land is so well themed, it's amazing! I hope you got to catch the lighting ceremony that takes place at dusk. It's pretty cool!

 

[Pinkocto]

I left off with Alison and I picking up our guide from 1901. He was basically our human fastpass. He took us into any ride we wanted and we were able to go to the front of the line. It was amazing. We told him that we had already done RSR, and I had done ToT, TSM, and CS during the EMH. There was no need to repeat any of those, so he started us off with Soarin!

I think this was a restaurant on the way. The whole day I was just taking pictures left and right, I didn’t want to miss anything but of course that was impossible.











We got the front row with no questions asked. I didn’t know this but Alison did, the golf ball that gets hit towards you has a Mickey head on it. After that we headed to DL, I was dying to see DL and Alison was fine with that.















As we’re going down Main Street Lawrence asked us if we wanted to stop for ice cream. Neither of us did, we wanted to save our appetites for Club 33, but I did ask where I could find the huge ice cream sandwiches in the future. Lawrence gave me a strange look and said that the only place to get ice cream on MS is Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor. No no no, I have a note, you can get huge ice cream sandwiches at the Main Street Cone Shop. ‘ Oh, that was closed last year.’ What!? Say it isn’t so! I was sad. Disappointment contained we headed to the Jungle Cruise. L asked if we wanted to do Splash Mountain but neither of us wanted to get wet so we’d be skipping that today.

Looking back



This place was on my list



I thought these flowers were too cool







It was a little weird because everything was very similar to WDW but different at the same time. It was a lot of fun seeing all the differences.







Our boat offloading its passengers





Alison remembered to ask L for a photo of us which I was so glad.







Our Captain was lackluster to say the least…

 

[Pinkocto]

On to Indy but it was down so we headed to Pirates.





Tarzan's Treehouse was on my list but I'd do it another day.





I spied an entrance to the Dream Suite, I didnt' know anything about it but it looked cool.









Dream Suite from the other side which made me even more curious about it.



The whole New Orleans Square area was absolutely gorgeous, the details were so well done.





L was taking us to the back entrance of Pirates where we loaded up and went on a fabulous ride. We had a boat to ourselves so felt free to chat the whole time. Pirates at DL has so much more than the Pirates at WDW. It was very very cool. After Pirates we went back to Indy which was up and running. I knew next to nothing about this ride except that Jenny's family likes it. The theming was absolutely fantastic! And the ride itself was great. It was on my list to return to. I didnt get any pictures this time around but I would another day. After Indy it was 1:00 and our lunch reservation was at 1:15, perfect timing!

I was so excited!!!











We took the elevator up and were seated. It wasn't busy at all which was nice.





I was pretty much in stimulation overload at this point. It was nice to sit down and relax in a quiet, gorgeous environment with wonderful company.



We ordered our drinks and then went to the buffet

 

[Pinkocto]

My plate



At some point we ordered our entrees and I went back to get more pictures.







Our table



I brought back some rosemary oil to dip the bread in which was so delicious!



Our entrees were soon served, I had ordered the salmon



And Alison ordered us both a side of truffle mac and cheese which was to die for!



I tried to pace myself because I really wanted to try most of the desserts they had.













What I came back with



I’m sad to say I didn’t enjoy most of them. I did try some of each one but nothing except the little chocolate cupcake looking thing was memorable. After dessert I went to look at the case of goodies they have to buy. I was quite interested in a pen set but the pens were too big to write with comfortably. I did buy a key chain and a shotglass as momentos.

When I got back to the table this cute little guy had been delivered



Alison helped me eat it but even then we couldn’t finish it. Now this dessert wowed me! The richest most delicious chocolate mousse I’ve encountered in a long time. And shaped like the main mouse to boot!

 

[Pinkocto]

After enjoying as much as we could we settled the bill and headed out. Alison showed me the other dining room before we left. Sorry these are not the best pictures, I was trying to hurry and I shouldn't have.





I'm sure a lot of you have heard that Walt wanted to have the animals to be able to interact with guests so had microphones set into the chandeliers but it never came into fruition.















Lawrence met us outside the restaurant and kindly took our picture again.



Our lunch was so special and quite a bit surreal.

Next: the continuation of our tour

 

[Pinkocto]

I love what they have done with Carsland too. It is nice to see the standby line is a lot shorter at 60-90 minutes and single rider line nonexistent. The single rider line was never less than 40 minutes last time we were there. I was hoping things would die down a little. Being off season probably helps with that too. What fastpass return time did you get for RSR? I am also planning on falling in line after it dies down a little but do not want the return time to be too late.

The 1901 Lounge looks pretty neat. It was awesome you had a chance to tour it.

SR 40 minutes! we waited less than ten minutes, it was awesome. Unfortunately our FP return was right in the middle of lunch, 1:30-2:30, but neither of us noticed when we got them, Alison realized later.

1901 was so cool, all that history in one places gets me overloaded. I would have loved to have stayed there longer but we had a tour guide to utilize.

 

[Pinkocto]

Yay! I'd say we were off for the wildest ride in the wilderness, but that was closed! I'm glad you took so many pictures!

Work has been crazy busy, I had hoped to have posted all about our day before you left on your trip and that didn't happen by a long shot. I was crazy with the pictures that day!

 

[Pinkocto]

Yes, I have seen the movie and really enjoyed it. I think maybe they tried to squeeze too much into a relatively confined space.

Corinna

Ahhh, I didn't even think about that.

 

[Pinkocto]

I don't know why, but in the very early mornings right when the park opens, this is my favorite area. Maybe it's because it's not crowded but it makes me happy!

I think Cars Land is so well themed, it's amazing! I hope you got to catch the lighting ceremony that takes place at dusk. It's pretty cool!

When I walked out of Bugsland and saw the wolf I thought it was too cool.

The details in Carsland were just awesome. I had the light show on my list and never made it over there in the evening. Yet another thing still on the list. I honestly thought I could see and do everything in 7 days, I didn't even get close.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Great post loved the update! We loved the Indie ride The Orleans part is nice I forgot about that! Wow re guide and club 33 looks wonderful! That buffet and your salmon looks yummy! That truly sounds like a day to remember. I love your pictures I have seen photos of club 33 but yours are much better. What a beautiful place! Your guide sounds great. Interesting pirates has more but I guess it was the original one before wdw I am guessing as the park is older?

Wow. What a trip! Thanks really enjoyed reading

 

[kmedina]

Did the guide ride with you? It seems like you are on the Jungle Cruise in the picture (but maybe you are outside). If he does the rides with you, that is the coolest job ever!!! How cool that you get to the front of all the lines and had a private boat on PotC (which I agree is way better than WDW). Lots of cool experiences. Club 33 is stunning. The food looks amazing. Sorry you did not like the desserts except the final one, which looks divine.

 

[MEK]

Wow Pam I'm reading from my phone and I can only see some pics, so I shall return. But wow, what a morning. And club 33 for lunch. Seriously, does it get any better than that?

I heard Pirates is super cool. Would love to see that someday!

 

[dolphingirl47]

That sounds like a really amazing morning. Is the macaroni cheese at Club 33 not truly amazing? What a shame that most of the deserts did not wow you. I absolutely adored the sugar cookie and Mickey macaroon and I am not normally a dessert person.

Corinna

 

[tstidm1]

I really hope they don't ruin Club 33 with all of the changes they're doing. Grand California really looks nicer than many DL fans seem to think. I was curious What was your favorite thing from Club 33?

 

[Pinkocto]

Great post loved the update! We loved the Indie ride The Orleans part is nice I forgot about that! Wow re guide and club 33 looks wonderful! That buffet and your salmon looks yummy! That truly sounds like a day to remember. I love your pictures I have seen photos of club 33 but yours are much better. What a beautiful place! Your guide sounds great. Interesting pirates has more but I guess it was the original one before wdw I am guessing as the park is older?

Wow. What a trip! Thanks really enjoyed reading

That Indy ride was wild! So well done and pretty scary too. Yes, the Pirates at DL is the original, and Alison told me they really weren't planning on one at WDW so when they put it in it wasn't as well thought out as it should have been. People who went to WDW after being at DL asked where the pirate ride was so they scratched the idea they had and put in a Pirates.

This day was a day to remember forever, it was beyond amazing. There's still lots more to it as well

Thanks about the pictures, I tried to get everything. It is a very beautiful place.