"I want my soup!" An October 2010 Trip Report UPDATED 7/9 2012 PTR STARTED!

[jenny105]

Hey Jennifer!
Sorry to hear about the lack of funds for your trip! But I'm sure you guys will get to go again soon (and hopefully just the two of you )!
Good luck with the California/Disneyland trip! Here's hoping you get it!!

We're probably going to go in 2012 for my 30th, just the two of us! So I'm not TOO bummed.

Thanks!

That would be amazing! In 2007, I went with my mom to CA (she had a business trip) and stopped at just California Adventure. It was amazing, but I do wish we went to Walt's original park!

I've never been to California and I'm just dying to go to Disneyland! This is probably my one opportunity to do it because the airfare is a killer. Why not take advantage of it when it's on my job? I really hope I get to go!

Jenny, sorry to hear your plans fell through but getting a place together beats a Disney trip!!

And, I'm crossing everything I can for the CA trip! Keep us updated!!!

Definitely!

Thanks! I will let you know as soon as I find out.

 

[jenny105]

Still no word on the Disneyland fam. I've been checking my spam filter obsessively, wondering if it's caught in there, but nothing yet. The registration is open until March 5 but I don't think I can wait that long! I'm hoping they get the number of participants they need to have it. Last time, they extended the registration period and then eventually cancelled. I know if it's extended, that's a bad sign. I'm trying hard not to get my hopes up but I have been looking over some Disneyland info. If I had my pick, I'd really like to stay in the Grand Californian. It reminds me of Wilderness Lodge

My co-worker Fiona may also sign up, she's waiting for the ok from our boss.

In other news, we're currently having a contest at work for Disney sales made Jan-Mar. First place in each office gets a Disney gift basket...first place overall gets a 3 night Walt Disney World vacation! I really want to win! I've made 5 sales so far and I think my numbers are pretty good for what they're at right now so I think I have a shot. There's only 3 offices in our company and it's about a 1 in 12 chance. It's hard to tell because I have no idea how much people sell Disney in the other two offices. If I won, I already know when I'd travel and where I'd stay. Probably the first or second weekend in December because I've always wanted to see the resorts and parks decorated for Christmas. I'd also love to stay at the Polynesian. The contest says that you can pick the best resort they have available. That's my pick! I've probably put way too much thought into this. I hope I'm not disappointed!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

[Rora]

Still no word on the Disneyland fam. I've been checking my spam filter obsessively, wondering if it's caught in there, but nothing yet. The registration is open until March 5 but I don't think I can wait that long! I'm hoping they get the number of participants they need to have it. Last time, they extended the registration period and then eventually cancelled. I know if it's extended, that's a bad sign. I'm trying hard not to get my hopes up but I have been looking over some Disneyland info. If I had my pick, I'd really like to stay in the Grand Californian. It reminds me of Wilderness Lodge

My co-worker Fiona may also sign up, she's waiting for the ok from our boss.

In other news, we're currently having a contest at work for Disney sales made Jan-Mar. First place in each office gets a Disney gift basket...first place overall gets a 3 night Walt Disney World vacation! I really want to win! I've made 5 sales so far and I think my numbers are pretty good for what they're at right now so I think I have a shot. There's only 3 offices in our company and it's about a 1 in 12 chance. It's hard to tell because I have no idea how much people sell Disney in the other two offices. If I won, I already know when I'd travel and where I'd stay. Probably the first or second weekend in December because I've always wanted to see the resorts and parks decorated for Christmas. I'd also love to stay at the Polynesian. The contest says that you can pick the best resort they have available. That's my pick! I've probably put way too much thought into this. I hope I'm not disappointed!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Crossing my fingers you win!!

How was your Valentine's Day?

 

[jenny105]

Crossing my fingers you win!!

How was your Valentine's Day?

It was good. Kris and I went out to dinner at this cute little Italian place called Tony's. Their food is so yum! We also went to the movies on Sunday night to seen a special screening of Sixteen Candles. I love that movie!

How was yours?

Oh and he got me a Vera Bradley wallet for a Valentine's present. How awesome is he?

 

[jenny105]

I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!!

The official confirmation was waiting for me when I got back from lunch. I am super, duper excited! I'll be staying in the Paradise Pier Resort. I had my fingers crossed for the Grand Californian but whatever, I don't really care as long as I'm there. I was looking over the itinerary and they have us very busy BUT we get plenty of free time too! I think I saw some free time in there from 3-8 and one day we're done at 4 and have the rest of the day to ourselves. Even more awesome is that the parks are open pretty late so I'll have plenty of time to look around and explore Plus, we're having lunch on the Wonder!!

I emailed the person in charge of the fam to see if there was any way I could stay an extra night. They want you to have a flight back no earlier than 5pm, which would put me back in NJ around, oh 2 am. Worse, is that if I do fly back Sunday night my only option is a red-eye at 9:30 pm. The fam is over by 2 so I would be sitting in the airport for a very long time. No thank you! I'd rather fly back Monday morning so I'm seeing if Disneyland can help me out with that. I'll post my itinerary for you guys once my airfare is finalized.

I'm so excited!!!

 

[Rora]

I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!!

The official confirmation was waiting for me when I got back from lunch. I am super, duper excited! I'll be staying in the Paradise Pier Resort. I had my fingers crossed for the Grand Californian but whatever, I don't really care as long as I'm there. I was looking over the itinerary and they have us very busy BUT we get plenty of free time too! I think I saw some free time in there from 3-8 and one day we're done at 4 and have the rest of the day to ourselves. Even more awesome is that the parks are open pretty late so I'll have plenty of time to look around and explore Plus, we're having lunch on the Wonder!!

I emailed the person in charge of the fam to see if there was any way I could stay an extra night. They want you to have a flight back no earlier than 5pm, which would put me back in NJ around, oh 2 am. Worse, is that if I do fly back Sunday night my only option is a red-eye at 9:30 pm. The fam is over by 2 so I would be sitting in the airport for a very long time. No thank you! I'd rather fly back Monday morning so I'm seeing if Disneyland can help me out with that. I'll post my itinerary for you guys once my airfare is finalized.

I'm so excited!!!

YAY! Congrats! That's so so exciting!! I smell a new mini-TR!!

I hope we get to Disneyland someday. I can't wait to live vicariously through your pictures!

 

[jenny105]

YAY! Congrats! That's so so exciting!! I smell a new mini-TR!!

I hope we get to Disneyland someday. I can't wait to live vicariously through your pictures!

There will definitley be a mini-TR. I can't wait!

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

Congrats!!! I can't wait to hear about Disneyland!! So fun!!!

 

[jenny105]

Congrats!!! I can't wait to hear about Disneyland!! So fun!!!

Thanks! I am SUPER excited!!!

 

[jenny105]

So, instead of starting an official PTR for my Disneyland trip, I decided to post it all within this TR as a mini-PTR. All our days are pretty much planned out for us already, since it's an Agent Education Program trip, so there's not much planning to do! And I've never been to Disneyland so I know absolutely nothing about it! I figured I'd get it started by posting my itinerary for you guys

4/7 - Day One

My flight leaves at 8:55 am I believe and I will get into SNA around noon pacific time. A 6 hour flight all by myself. What am I gonna do??? I'm all signed up to take the Disneyland Express (which is like Magical Express only it's not complimentary, runs on a schedule, and is run by Grayline!) to take over to Paradise Pier. I'm thinking I'll get there around 1-1:30 and hopefully my room will be ready so I can relax for a little while...and meet my roommate! I'm kind of nervous about that. On my Universal Fam, I roomed with my co-worker and during the Sea World fam, I paid an extra $50 so I can have my own room. I hope I get someone nice!

I'm pretty sure we get a meal voucher too, to use for lunch to hold us over until dinner. I'm hoping my roommate and I can do that together or I'll be wandering the hotel or DTD alone to find somewhere to eat!

At 3:30, we'll meet in the lobby for orientation where we'll meet our tour guides and the rest of our group.

From 4-6, they'll be taking us to tour the 3 (only 3!) Disney hotels and Downtown Disney. Everything is within walking distance. That blows my mind! I don't think I'm prepared to see how small Disneyland actually is. It looks like Universal Orlando in my head. Anyway, I'm super excited to tour the Grand Californian. From the pictures I've seen, it looks just like Wilderness Lodge inside, and we all know that's my favorite WDW resort!

From 6-7, it's dinner time at Paradise Pier in one of the ballrooms!

7-8:30 is a trade show in that same ballroom.

8:30, all done for the day! The parks are open late - Disneyland Park until midnight and California Adventure until 10. If I'm not super exhausted, I'm sure I'll make a bee-line for Disneyland. Otherwise, I'll probably check out the hotel pool (if it's not too cold) and then turn in for the night. We have to be ready to go bright and early the next morning!

And that's day 1!

 

[Rora]

Early flight- this is good!! I'm sure your roommate will be nice and probably just as nervous about you as you are about her! I hate these roommate conventions/meetings but hey, for a trip to Disneyland, I'd stay with like a bunch of people!

I can't believe there are only 3 Disney hotels. I think it's so crazy. We are DVC members and our "home" is Disney's Grand Cal (we'll never get there) so take some extra pics for mee! It's so nice that everything is within walking distance though.

I'm so pumped to see all of the ballrooms and "inside" stuff you get to do!

Day 1 sounds busy but fun! This trip is going to be great!

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

First day sounds fun!! I would be a total wreck if I didn't know my hotel roomie But I'm just a sissy I'm sure you guys will get along just fine!
I need to research Disneyland. I'm so out of the loop about how big (or small) it is. Last, and only, time I went was when I was 6, so I'm sure it's changed quite a bit.
You seem to have an awesome job! I would love to be able to work for a travel agency and visit other places for free/cheap! I am so excited for you about your trip! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[jenny105]

Early flight- this is good!! I'm sure your roommate will be nice and probably just as nervous about you as you are about her! I hate these roommate conventions/meetings but hey, for a trip to Disneyland, I'd stay with like a bunch of people!

I can't believe there are only 3 Disney hotels. I think it's so crazy. We are DVC members and our "home" is Disney's Grand Cal (we'll never get there) so take some extra pics for mee! It's so nice that everything is within walking distance though.

I'm so pumped to see all of the ballrooms and "inside" stuff you get to do!

Day 1 sounds busy but fun! This trip is going to be great!

I get along with pretty much everyone but some of the people I met on the last fam, if I had to room with them...ugh. I hope I get someone fun who loves Disney just as much as I do!

They're keeping us VERY busy during this trip! I'll post the other days soon

And I promise lots of pictures!

First day sounds fun!! I would be a total wreck if I didn't know my hotel roomie But I'm just a sissy I'm sure you guys will get along just fine!
I need to research Disneyland. I'm so out of the loop about how big (or small) it is. Last, and only, time I went was when I was 6, so I'm sure it's changed quite a bit.
You seem to have an awesome job! I would love to be able to work for a travel agency and visit other places for free/cheap! I am so excited for you about your trip! Can't wait to hear more!

I think about things like how long is she going to take getting ready in the morning, is she going to hog the bathroom? I get along with pretty much everyone but it's awkward sharing a room with someone you've never met!

I guess I'm picturing it like Universal in my head only subbing in Sleeping Beauty Castle instead of the big globe & a monorail. Everything's within walking distance so it's gotta be similar to the layout of Universal.

My job has some awesome perks!

 

[jenny105]

4/8 - Day 2

First full day in Disneyland!

We wake up bright and early this day. We're having breakfast at 8 am....with Mickey & friends! There's a character dining spot in Paradise Pier called PCH Grill. It's a Surf's Up Breakfast so they'll all be in their swim gear! I'm not sure what other characters are there but I'm thinking Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy at least! The Fab 4

At 9:15 we're off to hotel inspections at the Good Neighbor hotels. We're touring 8 of them! It hasn't been finalized which ones, there's so many of them they're probably still setting it up, but that goes on until 3 pm. Loooong day of looking at hotels! We do have a lunch break for an hour at the 4th hotel we're touring.

From 3:15-8:15...free time!!! So excited! We hardly got any free time at all on the last fam. I'll use this to go explore Disneyland or California Adventure. Maybe relax by the pool for a bit before I do so. If I'm really tired, I'll nap but I'll probably be too excited. I think we get a meal voucher for dinner as well so I'll have to find a place to eat. I really need to start looking at the counter service places and see what appeals to me!

At 8:15, our group is meeting for a preferred viewing of World of Color. I've heard this show is supposed to be amazing. I can't wait to see it!

That brings our day to a close. The show should be done between 9-9:30 so we'll have another few hours in the Disneyland Park if we choose, since they're open until midnight. I may have to take advantage of that. I have a feeling I'm going to be one tired cookie after this trip but it'll be worth it!

And that's Day 2!

 

[klacey1]

What a cool opportunity-- I'm sure touring the Good Neighbor hotels might get a little old, but I've heard nothing but amazing things about the three Disney hotels. It's awesome that everything's in walking distance. I bet you'll be too excited to nap and want to tour the parks! The number of attractions in Disneyland alone is crazy.
My office building also houses the Disney publishing offices-- they have videos of the World of Color playing constantly and once I just had to stop and watch. It looks absolutely incredible!!

 

[jenny105]

What a cool opportunity-- I'm sure touring the Good Neighbor hotels might get a little old, but I've heard nothing but amazing things about the three Disney hotels. It's awesome that everything's in walking distance. I bet you'll be too excited to nap and want to tour the parks! The number of attractions in Disneyland alone is crazy.
My office building also houses the Disney publishing offices-- they have videos of the World of Color playing constantly and once I just had to stop and watch. It looks absolutely incredible!!

I guess it depends on what Good Neighbor hotels we tour but if you've seen one Courtyard, you've seen them all ya know? I'll be itchin to get to the parks!

I've seen the video posted on the DIS of World of Color. It looks so cool!

 

[Rora]

Aww! So fun that you get to have a character breakfast! And it's too cute that they're going to be in their beach attire! Love it!

Wow, touring 8 hotels? Girl, I give you credit for being patient with this already... I don't think I could do it knowing the parks were so close...

I'm so glad you're getting a good amount of free time! I can't wait to hear about the food options in DL.

YOU NEED TO TAKE 10000 PICTURES OF WORLD OF COLOR. That show looks incredible. I've been watching YouTube videos of it since it came out and keep showing Jackson and saying "maybe we should go!". We're suckers for those types of shows.

Jenny, you'll definitely be one tired cookie but this trip will rock!!

 

[jenny105]

Aww! So fun that you get to have a character breakfast! And it's too cute that they're going to be in their beach attire! Love it!

Wow, touring 8 hotels? Girl, I give you credit for being patient with this already... I don't think I could do it knowing the parks were so close...

I'm so glad you're getting a good amount of free time! I can't wait to hear about the food options in DL.

YOU NEED TO TAKE 10000 PICTURES OF WORLD OF COLOR. That show looks incredible. I've been watching YouTube videos of it since it came out and keep showing Jackson and saying "maybe we should go!". We're suckers for those types of shows.

Jenny, you'll definitely be one tired cookie but this trip will rock!!

Yes, 8 hotels! But from what I know of the WDW agent programs, they tour 12! And their hotels are so spread out. At least they Good Neighbor hotels in Disneyland are practically across the street and within walking distance of each other.

It got old touring the hotels after awhile in Sea World. They kept showing us Marriotts. The one we were staying at was really nice and so was the Renaissance by Sea World but a Fairfield Inn and a Courtyard? Really? They all look exactly the same!

I promise lots of pictures!

 

[jenny105]

4/9 - Day 3

So they have us up bright and early again this day, breakfast is at 7 am. Just a continental breakfast in Paradise Pier this time, nothing fancy

At 7:30, we get to go to Disneyland Park for Magic Morning. I guess that's Diseyland's version of EMH. They'll probably tour us around the park somewhat, maybe take us on a ride, and at 8:15 we go over to ToonTown for Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness.

From 8:45-9:45 we tour Disneyland Park and then get a little 15 minute breather before heading over to California Adventure to tour that park. We'll also be seeing Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular while we're touring DCA. I'm really excited for that, I hear it's amazing!

We'll be returning to Paradise Pier around noon for lunch and then we have a Disneyland Vacation Package seminar until 4. Those things can be extremely dull. Basically, they walk you through how to book and what all the features are. I know most of it, having booked Disneyland for client's before, the only thing I'm not really familiar with is their dining plan. That will be good to learn about!

I can't wait until that seminar is over because then...we're done for the day! At 4pm! The rest of the day is free time! You KNOW I'll be exploring the parks this day! They recommend seeing Fantasmic and the Remember Dreams Come True fireworks. I'll definitely make it a point to see the fireworks as well as Fantasmic. I'm not a huge fan of it at WDW but I heard it's better at DL.

I can't wait!

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

Sounds like another great day!! That's awesome that you'll be done at 4 and have the rest of the day off! Are any of the parks open late? I know if you're anything like me your mind might be dragging but the adrenaline will keep you going!! And I can't to hear about the food at DL! Have you researched any yummy places to eat?!?!