"I Want to walk where Walt walked." WDW Nut makes a Pilgrimage-TR Wrap-Up 5/14

[kaoden39]

My friends that have never been to Disneyland are always amazed by how close the off site places are. I love the trees and everything in DTD..

 

[that's nice]

That is amazing that you had the stairs to get off. Not like you were on a small or prop plane.

Glad you made up some time in the air.. love how they do that. Why don't they just fly that fast all the time?

Your hotel looks nice! 2 TP holders too!!! You can never be too safe!!!!

DTD looks really cool!

 

[kaoden39]

I was amazed the first time I flew into a southern California airport and it was like that. I flew into San Diego several years ago and it had the roll up staircases and I was shocked. Long Beach is a small town so that doesn't surprise me.

 

[onelilspark]

My friends that have never been to Disneyland are always amazed by how close the off site places are. I love the trees and everything in DTD..

It was a lot closer than I was expecting, definitely a good thing!

That is amazing that you had the stairs to get off. Not like you were on a small or prop plane.

Glad you made up some time in the air.. love how they do that. Why don't they just fly that fast all the time?

Your hotel looks nice! 2 TP holders too!!! You can never be too safe!!!!

DTD looks really cool!

Last time I used stairs like that, it was at Nassau's airport, years ago!

DTD was really nice. The only thing I missed were some more Disney shops like the Marketplace has at WDW.

I was amazed the first time I flew into a southern California airport and it was like that. I flew into San Diego several years ago and it had the roll up staircases and I was shocked. Long Beach is a small town so that doesn't surprise me.

San Diego does it too?!


And for anyone who hasn't seen this, it's an important post on Vacation Countdowns... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2427342 You'll see that I've changed mine!

 

[franandaj]

I love all your pictures of Disneyland. I'm going to have to change my mindset, having been there hundreds of times I just don't see it the same way as someone with fresh eyes. I'll be looking forward to more pictures to get me in the mindset of staying there in a few weeks, as opposed to a jaded local!

 

[onelilspark]

I love all your pictures of Disneyland. I'm going to have to change my mindset, having been there hundreds of times I just don't see it the same way as someone with fresh eyes. I'll be looking forward to more pictures to get me in the mindset of staying there in a few weeks, as opposed to a jaded local!

That's a good thought. I go to WDW so often that now my pictures are mostly of the food I eat I hearby make a pact to look at Disney with new eyes!

 

[franandaj]

That's a good thought. I go to WDW so often that now my pictures are mostly of the food I eat I hearby make a pact to look at Disney with new eyes!

That is so funny! If you were to check out my F&W Review which is really at PTR for the upcoming F&W Festival you'd see that the only pictures I take is of food! I'm going to have to think more like I do at WDW where I take pictures of every little aspect of the hotel room, the grounds, the boats, the Castle, the Tree of Life, all the Animals, the Pavillions. I'll have to get my head out of my food and enjoy the little details like the lobby of the DLH like you did!

 

[onelilspark]

That is so funny! If you were to check out my F&W Review which is really at PTR for the upcoming F&W Festival you'd see that the only pictures I take is of food! I'm going to have to think more like I do at WDW where I take pictures of every little aspect of the hotel room, the grounds, the boats, the Castle, the Tree of Life, all the Animals, the Pavillions. I'll have to get my head out of my food and enjoy the little details like the lobby of the DLH like you did!

I saw your post about the Napa Rose cooking school! That looks so neat, I wish they'd do something like that for WDW's F&W!

Speaking of food...I think I'll get to the next installment...DINNER!

 

[onelilspark]

We were pretty hungry when we got to California, it was past dinner time on the East Coast, and all we really had were snacks on the plane. We were trying to hold off as long as we could, but didn't do very well! We went up to Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, located in DTD right after they started seating for dinner...didn't have a problem without a reservation/PS. They asked us if we wanted outside or inside, it was a no brainer...we chose outside! We were on the corner upstairs looking out, amazing!

I was really excited to try Ralph Brennan's after BippityBoo (who's from Louisiana) mentioned that he has some restaurants in New Orleans as well. Figured it would be more "authentic." ...which is important, seeing as how I've never been to New Orleans, so I would totally know the difference. I really liked the decor of the restaurant, the wrought iron, etc. Definitely how I picture New Orleans in my mind...but again, my only real reference is Port Orleans French Quarter

Menu:

We opted not to get an appetizer and skipped right to the main course. It took a little while for it to come out, but not terribly long. After all, we were the first people seated!

I order the Blackened Salmon with Blue Crab over watercress:

It was really tasty! I really enjoyed it because I don't like eating heavy after traveling. The portion size was great too!

My boyfriend ordered the Grilled Medallions of Beef, served over crawfish mashed potatoes.

I wasn't surprised. We have a great restaurant here (Tavern 58 in case anyone finds themselves in Rochester ) that he always orders their Beef Medallions when we go. Again, portion size was perfect and he really liked the dish, especially the crawfish mashed potatoes.

Now, for anyone who's read my dining reports from WDW, it comes as no surprise that we got dessert. For anyone else: I have a giant sweet tooth. No meal is complete without something sweet! And on their menu they had a chocolate bread pudding souffle! No way was I passing that up. We ordered it with our meals since it takes a while to prepare.

Now this? It was devine! The picture was taken after the waiter poured the sauces in. Only problem was that it was really hot...and I have no patience when it comes to dessert!

After dinner, it was finally time to enter the parks. The moment I had been dreaming of for years was about to happen...except...I left the print-out of the tickets back in the room! Luckily, we went up to the Ticket Booth and they were able to find them and re-issue them ...and we got our "First Visit" buttons. (I was especially excited for the buttons, I mean, I can't get it at WDW!)

I took the obligatory pictures of the train station:

And of course me in front of it:

We went through the tunnel and eventually saw this:

...wait...where's the Castle? I knew from reading the Disboards that I needed to prepare myself for the size of the Castle, but even with that, I was still surprised. Every time I walked by, I commented on it. It's that much different!

Walking down Main Street was different...I could see the Matterhorn over to the right:

And there was a hot dog place where Casey's is in the MK, but no corn dog nuggets!

All kidding aside, I was totally stoked to be DL. All I wanted to do was run around and look at everything, soak up every moment. Thank goodness my boyfriend was there to bring me back down to Earth!
We walked a bit, deciding to get our lay of the land, perhaps ride whatever catches our fancy until we get sleepy...trying of course to stay up as late as possible.

oh, there's the Castle!

We found Snow White's wishing well:

...and then we made our way into Fantasyland...which ride would we do first? Stay tuned!

 

[kaoden39]

It may be small but it is pretty.

 

[onelilspark]

It may be small but it is pretty.

That it definitely is! I really liked the way it came into Fantasyland in the back, you got much more of the feeling of being in a Castle Courtyard.

 

[kaoden39]

That it definitely is! I really liked the way it came into Fantasyland in the back, you got much more of the feeling of being in a Castle Courtyard.

That's how it feels to me.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Now this? It was devine! The picture was taken after the waiter poured the sauces in. Only problem was that it was really hot...and I have no patience when it comes to dessert!


wait...where's the Castle? I knew from reading the Disboards that I needed to prepare myself for the size of the Castle, but even with that, I was still surprised. Every time I walked by, I commented on it. It's that much different!


And there was a hot dog place where Casey's is in the MK, but no corn dog nuggets!

No corn dog nuggets! That is a WDW tradition for us! Guess we'll have to make a DL tradition out of something else!

I cannot wait to try Ralph Brennans ... especially that dessert! Oh my, it looks delish!

I am nervous about the Castle, too. Definitely going to focus on the "pretty" rather than the size. Pics of DL Main Street look strange to me so I am sure the real thing will be a shock.

Great start! Cannot wait for me ... totally getting me even more psyched for our trip!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Woo hoo, you made it into Disneyland! Being WDW vets before our trip to DL we were also surprised at the castle size. But it still is cool.

That wishing well is really neat! I don't think we saw that when we went.

 

[magicalfoursome]

We went through the tunnel and eventually saw this:

...wait...where's the Castle? I knew from reading the Disboards that I needed to prepare myself for the size of the Castle, but even with that, I was still surprised. Every time I walked by, I commented on it. It's that much different!





I am so enjoying your TR!! I am also a WDW vet who is visiting DL for the 1st time this July! Wow-- your pic of Main Street with the castle just looks so odd!! The Castle is so pretty but so different from the one in WDW. I keep telling myself it will be a lot smaller but I still think I will be surprised when I see it. I am looking forward to more reports-- I am so excited for my trip to DL!!

 

[onelilspark]

That's how it feels to me.

I'm surprised that WDW didn't do that same feel, or I guess they tried but it wasn't as successful. In any event, I liked it

No corn dog nuggets! That is a WDW tradition for us! Guess we'll have to make a DL tradition out of something else!

I cannot wait to try Ralph Brennans ... especially that dessert! Oh my, it looks delish!

I am nervous about the Castle, too. Definitely going to focus on the "pretty" rather than the size. Pics of DL Main Street look strange to me so I am sure the real thing will be a shock.

Great start! Cannot wait for me ... totally getting me even more psyched for our trip!

Churro carts were everywhere. They always had a line too! My boyfriend finally broke down and got one. So maybe that can replace the corn dog nuggets??

Woo hoo, you made it into Disneyland! Being WDW vets before our trip to DL we were also surprised at the castle size. But it still is cool.

That wishing well is really neat! I don't think we saw that when we went.

It's directly to the right of the Castle. There's an actual well in the path and when she sings, there's an echo in the well. Definitely worth checking out!

I am so enjoying your TR!! I am also a WDW vet who is visiting DL for the 1st time this July! Wow-- your pic of Main Street with the castle just looks so odd!! The Castle is so pretty but so different from the one in WDW. I keep telling myself it will be a lot smaller but I still think I will be surprised when I see it. I am looking forward to more reports-- I am so excited for my trip to DL!!

It's hard to prepare yourself. It's one of those things where you know it will be smaller, but when you're so used to seeing the larger one in the MK, it's a little weird more than anything.

 

[onelilspark]

We meandered into Fantasyland (of course going right through the Castle! Just like the opening day of DL...yeah, I'm a dork.) Our first ride was...drum roll please......

Pinocchio! It's pretty much the first ride we came to, it had a short wait and it can't be found at WDW. And we have a winner! I like the dark rides like this, I enjoy looking at the art of Disney, enjoying the story, etc. My boyfriend got a little tired of rides like this by the end of our trip. It was cute, told the story of Pinnochio, but I know I would have been terrified of it when I was little!

We then found ourselves heading in the direction of New Orleans Square, and voila! There was Pirates of the Caribbean! Score!

We really had fun going through an comparing the DLR version to the WDW version whenever possible. Here was our first comparison...and the better version? DLR! It was a much longer ride and I liked going through the Bayou in New Orleans (past the Blue Bayou restaurant) before going into the Pirate story. It made more sense to me.

Next up was my favorite ride at WDW, Haunted Mansion:

...and this showdown goes to WDW. I liked the exterior of the one in DLR better, but there were a few scenes missing inside, which of course I noticed I didn't like that the little Leota (the one that says, "Hurry baaaaack, hurry baaaaack, and don't forget your death certificate.") wasn't part of the ride itself, she was on the exit. (for those of you keeping track, DLR: 1, WDW: 1)

We did a little more wandering and found ourselves in Critter Country, time for Winnie the Pooh!

Again, here's another ride that can be found in both parks. To be honest, I'm not sure which I prefer...I like the ride vehicles at DLR, but I think the bouncing effect is better at WDW. I'll call it a draw. And other than that? Pretty much the same ride.

Our last ride of the evening was the Jungle Cruise. I like doing the Jungle Cruise at night, but it means no pictures! We had a decent skipper, but I think he thought he was funnier than we did. I think it's a little hard to compare this one because they're very similar and your opinion can be influenced so much by the skipper! ...For example, after riding it the first time, I would have given my comparison vote to WDW, but we rode it a second time on the last day and he was much better, giving it to DLR. Again, another draw.

On our way out we stopped at Blue Ribbon Bakery for a bit of a snack.

...and then promptly got stuck because of the Celebrate! Street Parade. This is when I really noticed how narrow the streets were at DLR. It made it much more difficult to get through. But we were in no rush, so it didn't bother us to much. Side note: people were getting really feisty. I don't understand it, it's not like the person in front of you is going anywhere any faster than you! After the parade let up, we got going pretty easily...and made a mental note to avoid leaving during a parade

We made it back to the hotel and pretty much crashed (I don't even think we touched the cookie!!)

 

[New England Eeyore]

Loving your report so far!

We're flying into Long Beach too, so thanks for the heads up about the steps. It would stink if it was raining, but I bet it's pretty neat to step off the plane and immediately be greeted by that beautiful Southern California weather!

Ralph Brennan's looks awesome - it's definitely on my "must" list. Especially those crawfish mashed potatoes, and dessert!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I'm patiently waiting for more..........

 

[wdwgirl03]

I love your comparisons between WDW and DL. Definitely agree about DL's Pirates being better. I can't make the comparison between the HMs since the 2 times I've been there it's been the Nightmare before Christmas version.