For the First Time In Forever.....A Disneyland reopening TR, Dark Ride photos and The End 5/8

[franandaj]

Coffee with a smile!!! That was such a fun night! Glad you ladies stayed over and we could enjoy coffee in the morning!

It was fun, kinda like we had a sleepover!

Dinner was FABULOUS! I think my favorite course was the Jon Dorry (I am sure I am butchering the name)!

It was so good! I think your only blunder on the name is that it has only one "R".

 

[franandaj]

Great pictures of Club 33! Quick question, would you have any pictures of their dinner menu

I posted this on the post with the first visit there about a week before. It hadn't changed by the next week.

or any pictures of what the interior of Club 33 looked like?

This shot of the dining room was also from that same post.



These are some shots of the lobby from quite a few years back. I normally don't take photos of much of anything besides the food because it is frowned upon to take pictures which may include other guests (for privacy reasons). I've maintained the anonymity of the CMs in the shot where they appear.

 

[Steppesister]

It was great catching up again and we decided not to wait another 37 years before we did it again!

Good!!

LOVE Jenny's dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We decided to have another round of cocktails, this time Fran and I both went with the Elysian Fields. This was really yummy!

Dill in a cocktail... huh!! Never thought of that!

Diggin' on the dust.

Those of you who are friends on FB may have seen various posts where I was tagged in a spontaneous musical experience in Griffith Park.

I did, I did!!

Leadership is now mostly young kids (millennials), who are fearful of everything from Covid to litigation.

the Board is so frought with policies and mandates (not state inspired, but their own)

Sad.

It was a fun afternoon

YAYAYAY!!!!!!

Glad you had this to enjoy as things get back to normal!

 

[rentayenta]

Thanks!



Well at least you finally got it!

It was fun, kinda like we had a sleepover!



It was so good! I think your only blunder on the name is that it has only one "R".

Hahaha! I was close! And it was delicious!

It was just like a sleepover; so much fun!!!

 

[franandaj]

I get like that once I find something I love on a menu. If it ain't broke...

I pretty much order the same things at places I like.

Wow, the service at this place is unbelievable!

Gotta love bureaucracy...

It's like a secret mission. Glad you could pull it off!

It was!

14 pages! Ain't nobody got time for that.

Our first rehearsal is tonight, let's see how many people read the rules and who ends up enforcing them.

 

[franandaj]

Aerosmith?

You will. I have faith.

I'm not sure what kind of shape my body will be in if I do!

 

[franandaj]

LOVE Jenny's dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is very cute.

Dill in a cocktail... huh!! Never thought of that!

It was very tasty! It's a very savory cocktail.

Diggin' on the dust.

It is cool!

YAYAYAY!!!!!!

Glad you had this to enjoy as things get back to normal!

And today the county has put out a recommendation that all people, even fully vaccinated, should resume wearing masks indoors. (We never stopped.)

 

[franandaj]

Hahaha! I was close! And it was delicious!

You were close!

It was just like a sleepover; so much fun!!!

And now we get to have another one next month!

 

[DnA2010]

One of my HS friends that I hadn't seen since 1984 was flying in that day and checking into the Grand. We had agreed to meet up in the Hearthstone Lounge for a drink before each of us went on to our respective dinner plans.

QUOTE="franandaj, post: 63105499, member: 258028"]
It was great catching up again and we decided not to wait another 37 years before we did it again!
[/QUOTE]

That's great! I've actually seen people I know in the parks before!

Good looking bunch!

You have here (clockwise) Hurricane, Manhattan, Margarita, and French Martini

MMmm pretty sure I had that Manhattan on a visit

I saw this pic- "Is that dill"...quick scroll back... it is!

Instead of following the menu pairings our server started everyone off with a glass of this Champagne for the first course. Cheers!

Yummy! I think I need bubbly one of these days...

Organic Chicken Breast, Sesame, Minted Fava, Lemongrass Nage.

I love chicken breast and this looks very nice and moist and flavorful

Sauteed Ricotta Gnudi, Sage Brown Butter, Mushroom Jus

I love fish, but I may have just picked these also

yum! With a butter I'm guessing over an oil, given the bread type?

little smaller than the last….

I didn't quote the pic it appears, but it looked just perfectly cooked!

As does this! That pea sauce really jumps!

A little dessert wine goodness?

She made sure that Fran and I were decent before entering our room!

Noted!

She put the cooler under her legs on the floorboards of her scooter, she wheeled the suitcase and I wheeled the computer bag, and we too were self contained!

Hard to get her apart at the end of the trip to the car?

Naked Jim was waiting for us.

Hi there Naked Jim!

Those of you who are friends on FB may have seen various posts where I was tagged in a spontaneous musical experience in Griffith Park.

And thus the Guerilla band was formed

I've enjoyed the detail behind this, glad you got some folks out to play

the band can return to in-person rehearsals. With strict guidelines on behavior and expectations.

Hope they are still enjoyable...Most rules and restrictions are coming off here this week, will see how it all goes...

 

[pkondz]

I'm not sure what kind of shape my body will be in if I do!

Meh. Shape is what you decide is good for you.

 

[franandaj]

That's great! I've actually seen people I know in the parks before!

That's amazing considering how far you are from home. We do it all the time, but then again we know a lot of local Disney fanatics

MMmm pretty sure I had that Manhattan on a visit

Yes! You did!

I saw this pic- "Is that dill"...quick scroll back... it is!

It was very good too!

Yummy! I think I need bubbly one of these days...

You deserve some! For everything that's been going on!

I love chicken breast and this looks very nice and moist and flavorful

It definitely was!

I love fish, but I may have just picked these also

These were so good! I hope that they keep them on the menu even when they start to offer more options.

yum! With a butter I'm guessing over an oil, given the bread type?

There was butter, no oil, and it is really delicious butter!

I didn't quote the pic it appears, but it looked just perfectly cooked!

It was perfectly cooked and there were no take home bags!

As does this! That pea sauce really jumps!

Another thing I don't like!

A little dessert wine goodness?

Yes, but I have no idea what it was!

Hard to get her apart at the end of the trip to the car?

Actually no, it was rather easy.

I've enjoyed the detail behind this, glad you got some folks out to play

It was a fun afternoon! Twice.

Hope they are still enjoyable...Most rules and restrictions are coming off here this week, will see how it all goes...

We just got suggested to wear masks again indoors, even for the vaccinated.

 

[franandaj]

Meh. Shape is what you decide is good for you.

Well with the way my body hurts and aches right now, this shape is not good for me.

 

[pkondz]

Well with the way my body hurts and aches right now, this shape is not good for me.

Sounds like it's juuuuust about time to book that massage.

 

[franandaj]

Back to Avengers Campus

Before I get into the actual TR part of this update, I thought I would let you know about our upcoming travel plans. Some of you may know that originally we were planning to visit WDW for the 50th Anniversary of the MK. Even after Covid started, I booked six nights at BLT (we bought points there to stay for the 50th), and four nights at the BCV. Both at the 11 month mark. Somewhere around January after the virus was really running rampant and the vaccines were not being rolled out efficiently in the US, we decided that we would rather not travel to Florida in the Fall. Never did we imagine that people would be maskless in WDW, but the idea of being masked in October heat didn't sound good. Neither did the 50th Anniversary crowds. Flying on a plane still is not comfortable for us so we made a good decision.

Rather then just cancel the reservations, I put them up for rent at the DVC store. Someone took the BCV reservation back in early April, and I was about to give up on the BLT reservation when someone snagged it earlier this week. I got a pretty penny for that one and evidently the renter was so happy to get it so Win/Win!

We have no plans for travel outside of California for some time now. We do have a plan to stay overnight at the Grand in July with another "sleepover" with the girls, and then again in January we will also be staying with friends, provided that the border reopens.

We do have a cruise of the Mexican Riviera booked in March, so crossing our fingers that things settle down by then. We'll have to see. Anyhoo.....let's get back to the TR!

So I told you about our preview of Avengers Campus which was the next Chronological event in our Disney travels, and the following week we had a reservation at DCA. Now keep in mind I made all these reservations back in early April before the opening of Avengers Campus was announced, so I had no idea what was in store for us.

We decided that we would take another spin on TSMM for our first ride of the day.



This time we unlocked the secrets on the Farm, the Volcano (but I always get that one), the plates (which is a hard one for me), and for the first time we launched the alien spaceship! It might not have been my best score, but I got the pus er CAT for my token!



And I got Best in Vehicle again!



We heard there was a pretty big line to get into Avengers Campus if you didn't have a Webslingers Boarding Group, so I sent Fran along to get a place in line while I rode Incredicoaster.







They weren’t doing pictures. I was bummed because I thought I had a good one! Here I am going back up the pier.





This is the turn around point for the line, it started at the entrance to Avenger's Campus and extended all the way to Pixar Pier.



Nice that they had umbrellas to shade the people waiting along this walkway.



This is where the line crossed Carsland.



See the guy there with the sign? That's the entrance to the queue. Now I’m not sure if it’s that bad anymore. We were there last week and there was no line to get in at 12:30 in the afternoon, but the Avenger's Campus was packed! The rest of the park and DL were empty.



Fran had made pretty good progress in the line while I was on the ride. It moved pretty fast and I met up with her and we played on our phones and tablets until we got in. As soon as we entered we saw all these folks like they were waiting for something.



All of a sudden Spidey comes out and starts a gymnastics show.





Eventually he climbs down the building and poses for Meet and Greet photos. I would have been more impressed to see him do it without that without the wire!









So the $80 versions are remote controlled, I guess they are going for the gamers market.



I think a show may have been starting here.



They had switched Pym Test Kitchen over to Stand By instead of Mobile order so we got in line.



Inside the restaurant...It’s just a place to order. All the seating is outside.













We were in search of the Choco Smash bar. This wasn't available on the preview night. We saved it until we got home but this is a cross section of it. Yummy!





A look at the bar, we will eventually get there….



I went on Guardians, this is my last socially distanced ride photo. The parks are now loading rides to full capacity. And for some reason I can’t link this up with my photopass account so you get the raw pictures. I have to make sure and take better pictures because more often than not I can’t get the pictures to link.



I didn't show a picture of where we got the Cosmic Cream Orb. We still haven't had another one, there are just too many tasty treats to try and so little stomach room!





[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]

At this point I'd had enough rides so we decided to head over to Disneyland. As we walked through Hollywoodland the place was a ghost town. With capacity limits still in place and everyone in line for or at Avengers Campus both DL and the rest of DCA were wide open.



We went to the pirate shop to see if they had received larger sizes of the shirt that Fran wanted from the Pirate shop. Unfortunately they still only had Small and Medium. But I saw this cute little display of Tiana and Prince Naveen as frogs in the Cafe Orleans window.



On our way out of the park we spotted this custodial CM escorting a family of ducks to safety.





And Main Street, a virtual ghost town. You don't see this anymore.



And here’s the list….one more crossed off the rides list.


Eat:

Plaza Inn Chicken
Corn Dog/Cheese Dog
Asparagus Skewer
Cafe Orleans
Mickey Macaroon from Jolly Holiday
Mickey beignets from Mint Julep Bar
Funnel Cake
Pickle Corn Dog
Raspberry Swirl Dole Whip
Bacon Mac n Cheese from Cozy Cone
Sweet treats from candy shops
Ghirardelli sundae


Ride:

Haunted Mansion
Pirates
Star Tours
Space Mountain
Guardians of the Galaxy
Soarin
Indiana Jones
Incredicoaster
Little Mermaid
RotR
Falcon
Train
Snow White
TSMM
Mr. Toad
BTMRR
RSR

 

[franandaj]

Sounds like it's juuuuust about time to book that massage.

Actually I had tried to book one for tomorrow, but the guy evidently wasn't working that day, so I have one for next Thursday.

 

[pkondz]

Before I get into the actual TR part of this update, I thought I would let you know about our upcoming travel plans. Some of you may know that originally we were planning to visit WDW for the 50th Anniversary of the MK. Even after Covid started, I booked six nights at BLT (we bought points there to stay for the 50th), and four nights at the BCV. Both at the 11 month mark. Somewhere around January after the virus was really running rampant and the vaccines were not being rolled out efficiently in the US, we decided that we would rather not travel to Florida in the Fall. Never did we imagine that people would be maskless in WDW, but the idea of being masked in October heat didn't sound good. Neither did the 50th Anniversary crowds. Flying on a plane still is not comfortable for us so we made a good decision.

I, along with the rest of planet Earth, am so tired of this thing.

Rather then just cancel the reservations, I put them up for rent at the DVC store. Someone took the BCV reservation back in early April, and I was about to give up on the BLT reservation when someone snagged it earlier this week. I got a pretty penny for that one and evidently the renter was so happy to get it so Win/Win!

Glad that all worked out.

and then again in January we will also be staying with friends, provided that the border reopens.

I am very unpatiently waiting for the border to open!!

We do have a cruise of the Mexican Riviera booked in March

Very nice!!

This time we unlocked the secrets on the Farm, the Volcano (but I always get that one), the plates (which is a hard one for me), and for the first time we launched the alien spaceship!

You know a lot more about it than I do. Then again, you ride it a lot more than I do!

It might not have been my best score, but I got the pus er CAT for my token!

They weren’t doing pictures. I was bummed because I thought I had a good one!

Well, shoot.

I'm talking to you Disney. Shoot! Take the photo!!

This is the turn around point for the line, it started at the entrance to Avenger's Campus and extended all the way to Pixar Pier.

How long was it from entering to riding?

All of a sudden Spidey comes out and starts a gymnastics show.

Cool!

Eventually he climbs down the building

He what?!?!?!?

I would have been more impressed to see him do it without that without the wire!

Oh.

Still, kinda neat, but...

So the $80 versions are remote controlled, I guess they are going for the gamers market.

Nope! That's a lot of Dole Whips!

Inside the restaurant...It’s just a place to order. All the seating is outside.

Think that will change? Is there room for seating, later?

Cute. I like that.

We were in search of the Choco Smash bar. This wasn't available on the preview night. We saved it until we got home but this is a cross section of it. Yummy!

Holy smokes does that look (and sound) good!

I have to make sure and take better pictures because more often than not I can’t get the pictures to link.

This really isn't right. It's a perk you're entitled to and you seem to have a lot of them go missing.

there are just too many tasty treats to try and so little stomach room!

With capacity limits still in place and everyone in line for or at Avengers Campus both DL and the rest of DCA were wide open.

I suspect their capacity limit was based on the entire park...

But I saw this cute little display of Tiana and Prince Naveen as frogs in the Cafe Orleans window.

Wonder if they'll move that to MK once Splash is done. (Or whatever they're gonna call it.)

On our way out of the park we spotted this custodial CM escorting a family of ducks to safety.

Awww...

And here’s the list….one more crossed off the rides list.

Getting there!

Actually I had tried to book one for tomorrow, but the guy evidently wasn't working that day, so I have one for next Thursday.

I should book one. I'm a wreck right now. Hurt my back the other day and my neck/shoulder is killing me.

 

[Steppesister]

And today the county has put out a recommendation that all people, even fully vaccinated, should resume wearing masks indoors. (We never stopped.)

No one is wearing them here anymore, and no spikes or increased numbers which is good!!

 

[Steppesister]

Rather then just cancel the reservations, I put them up for rent at the DVC store. Someone took the BCV reservation back in early April, and I was about to give up on the BLT reservation when someone snagged it earlier this week. I got a pretty penny for that one and evidently the renter was so happy to get it so Win/Win!

NICE!! Sounds like you both won.

and for the first time we launched the alien spaceship!

WOOT!! I don't know ANY of the secrets for getting a higher score, but still have fun. Someday I'll accidentally hit this elusive ship and get a pus... cat too!

It might not have been my best score, but I got the pus er CAT for my token!

This is the turn around point for the line, it started at the entrance to Avenger's Campus and extended all the way to Pixar Pier.

LONG!! EEK!

Nice that they had umbrellas to shade the people waiting along this walkway.

Yes!! Reminds me of the SDD queue.

All of a sudden Spidey comes out and starts a gymnastics show.

That's kinda cool!

I would have been more impressed to see him do it without that without the wire!

Pretend it's spidey web?

EMPTY! And so perfect!

Gorgeous!! Makes me wanna cry!

 

[DnA2010]

Yes! You did!

That's def D's shirt! Yum!

We have no plans for travel outside of California for some time now. We do have a plan to stay overnight at the Grand in July with another "sleepover" with the girls, and then again in January we will also be staying with friends, provided that the border reopens.

I really hope I can start making more plans soon...will just make me feel better to really have things to look forward to...

planning to visit WDW for the 50th Anniversary of the MK

I remember when you got those points for this trip...my how things change.

I rode Incredicoaster.

Ella's fav! They did do a good job with it indeed

When I see this view, it makes me think of a meet and greet location that may have been here...I may also be out in left field

we saw all these folks like they were waiting for something.

D is a spidey guy so I think he will enjoy

I think I want to try the "Not So Little" sandwich...I like teriyaki and red chili sauces...

Kinda looks like an "Oh Henry" bar - which I am a fan of

So cute up there!

Very empty indeed!