I'm Off To Disneyland, Going To Enjoy Myself This Time Around!!!

[jnjusoioa]

Well this is my very first trip report ever, I have many trips to WDW under my belt but have never sat down to write a trippie so I have finally decided to do so with my first, um, really third visit to DLR. I usually do my traveling to WDW solo, and actually enjoy it. However in 05 I did go down with my friend and her husband, we had a blast, and this past October went to my first DIS meet for MNSSHP and had a blast too.

I am 34 and grew up Disney and have always had a passion for it, my dream is one day to work for Disney, I am hoping in CA, but we'll see, but you never know what the future holds so I still have my hopes and dreams.

I have been to DLR twice before, both times I was with other people and they were mainly a breeze in and do a few things and then leave, so this time around I was determined that I was actually going to explore DL and CA, and I fell in love. I was amazed at all the Disney touches that DL has that WDW doesn't. Some of my favorite things were the Mickey shaped soft pretzels, the Mickey Gingerbreads, the fudge from Marceline's, oh my gosh, that stuff was sooo good and stayed fresh. Fantasyland and Toontown were also part of my falling in love with DL. The rides in FL are amazing, I had so much fun riding them all, I really enjoyed the ones based on the movies, they were just so fun and what a neat way to spend a morning. Just feeling like a little kid. Toontown is just great at DL, you just feel like you have stepped into another world and there are just so many nooks to explore.

So this is just a little bit about me. I love to travel as long as Disney is involved. I have been traveling to CA at least once a year since 2000 and was finally glad to be able to explore this park, I am a CA girl by heart.

I hope that you will all join me in my trip report and that I can make it enjoyable, I will be sharing photos as well, feel free to read, ask questions, offer photo help, or just sit back and enjoy. I am happy to finally be bringing my first trip report.

This first picture is the hardest reason for me to leave home, my precious baby boy....Jake. I know his Grammy takes good care of him while I am away but still, those of you who are animal lovers know exactly how hard it is to leave them behind.

Mommy's Precious Boy!!!

He even has an "EAR" hat!!!

Here he is having a heart to heart with Mickey!!!

 

[MommyWithDreams]

YAY I found your trip report! Your dog is so cute! Gotta love those ears! I look forward to reading more!

 

[jnjusoioa]

YAY I found your trip report! Your dog is so cute! Gotta love those ears! I look forward to reading more!

Thank you so much for stopping by!!! I am still keeping up with your trippie too!!! I was going to add the first half day to my report today but our internet was down all day and just now came back up, but hopefully tomorrow I will be back writing more.

Thank you for saying Jake is cute!!! I love him so much.

 

[jnjusoioa]

Just wanted to say sorry I didn't get to update this weekend, it has been crazy but if anyone is going to read, hopefully by Tuesday I will be able to post about the first half day. I would like to post tomorrow but I know it will be too busy at work but Tuesday I should have the first day posted. Thank you for being understanding.

 

[jnjusoioa]

Ok, I am finally here and finally ready to write about our first day. I was traveling with a few friends, we are from different states but we all were meeting up at LAX. After a 4 AM wake up call, well actually just the alarm, I was up and ready to start. Believe it or not I was actually up before 4, Jake had to go potty and then after that it was just that "I'm Too Excited To Sleep" commercial, that was how I felt. I just knew by the end of the day my feet would be walking in DL.

So I got up, got ready, washed the hair, etc. Then it was off to the airport I went, my flight didn't leave till 7:40, but I always leave early because I have a pacemaker so security takes me a little longer. After I arrived, found my gate, had a bagel and some juice, talked to Mom a time or two, it was time to board. Yeah!!! I was off, after a long layover in MN, but hey, it gave me time to grab some lunch, talk to Mom, shop, I love shopping in airports, I don't know why, I just do. I read for a little and pretty soon we were boarding for LA, our flight was going to continue on to Hawaii, I know most people would be upset by that, not me, I wanted off in LA, I was going to DL.

The flight was long, it is always easy, and Northwest doesn't show movies so it was a nice long time to read. Which I did. Next thing I knew we were getting ready to land in LA, so excited. We were on the ground now, phone is on and calling my friend to let her know I am here, she meant me in baggage claim, she had arrived before me so she went and got the rental car already, we hopped in the car and we were off to DL. The ride up to Anaheim wasn't too bad, we did not hit a lot of traffic at all, but then again it was a Saturday at like 1:30. But it was nice, we got there, found the Carousel with no problem and went and checked in, our room was even ready, so we went down to where our room was, this is where the fun begins. After looking around, I finally asked someone where the elevator was, she said there wasn't one at our building, I said well my friend and I are both cardiac patients, which we are and we could not get our luggage upstairs, so a man did come and help us up, which was nice. I was very impressed with the rooms at the Carousel, I didn't take any inside photos of the rooms, but the size is nice, the beds are really comfy and I love how the refridge, microwave is all closed in the TV stand, very nice. Here is an outside photo of the Carousel

We spend a brief time in the room, just long enough to throw our luggage down and we were off. Yeah!!! Crossing the street....

Last June when we were there I failed to get a picture of this, I am still trying to figure out how to bring one home......

When we arrived in DL, we weren't really sure what we were going to do, but I saw a popcorn stand, knew I had to have some, it really is one of my all time favorite parts of Disney, why is it never this good anywhere else......

After we grabbed this popcorn, the 3:30 parade was starting, so we just found us a seat near The Mad Hatter and watched, we had a few minutes before the parade started so I went in and grabbed myself and a friend that we were going to visit on Monday a pair of the St. Patty Mickey ears, you will see me wearing them later on.......

 

[jnjusoioa]

Here are my parade photos, it was kind of nice, some of the floats would stop right around where we were sitting and it gave us time to take pictures of them and plus the characters would do little dances, it was very cool.

Parade Of Dreams

Nothing like a good Disney parade to really put you flying high in the Disney spirit, I just couldn't believe I was here. Next we made out way down Main St. to head to the monorail to go over, we had a PS at Goofy's at 5:30.

 

[tinkerbell87512]

Hey Jen! I saw on Lindsey's tr that you had one and decided to come and check it out!

Love the report so far. Looks like you had a great time. Your parade pics came out great!! Looking forward to more of your report.

 

[jnjusoioa]

Hey Jen! I saw on Lindsey's tr that you had one and decided to come and check it out!

Love the report so far. Looks like you had a great time. Your parade pics came out great!! Looking forward to more of your report.

Hi Cheryl, thanks for joining my trippie, its my first one ever so I am a little nervous but it is fun so far. I did really have a blast this time and can't wait till Dec. DLR is so much fun.

Your DIS meet and cruise is coming up soon, I hope that you will be doing a trippie, I am really going to miss you guys.

 

[tinkerbell87512]

Hi Cheryl, thanks for joining my trippie, its my first one ever so I am a little nervous but it is fun so far. I did really have a blast this time and can't wait till Dec. DLR is so much fun.

Your DIS meet and cruise is coming up soon, I hope that you will be doing a trippie, I am really going to miss you guys.

dont be nervous, your doing a great job!! How lucky for you to be going back in Dec. I'm sure the decorations are beautiful.

Yea the meet is coming up soon! Stinks you wont be able to join us this time. There is a link in my siggy (in red) if you want to read my pre trippie.

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

I'm here, I'm here! Oh, I just love those pictures of Jake, especially the one of him sleeping and having a talk with Mickey. Too cute!

It looks like you stayed at a great location and didn't have a long walk at all. It's amazing how many hotels are right on the outskirts of Disneyland.

I just love Disneyland's parade! It brought all of those memories back when I was looking at your pictures and I can hear the music in my head. It's fantastic! We didn't see the last float when we were there. It must have been broken, so I am glad I saw your pictures. It's so cute with Chip 'n Dale! You know they are two of my favorites!

 

[Tink33]

Your pictures are beautiful. The colors just jump out of the screen. I can't wait to read and see more.

 

[jnjusoioa]

dont be nervous, your doing a great job!! How lucky for you to be going back in Dec. I'm sure the decorations are beautiful.

Yea the meet is coming up soon! Stinks you wont be able to join us this time. There is a link in my siggy (in red) if you want to read my pre trippie.

Thank you Cheryl!!! I am so excited to be going back in Dec., I bet it will be beautiful.

I can't believe how quickly your meet is coming up, it does stink I can't make it, I am really going to miss seeing you all. Hopefully I can catch you all on the next meet you plan.

I will have to go over and catch up on your pre-trip report, I will try and do that today.

 

[jnjusoioa]

I'm here, I'm here! Oh, I just love those pictures of Jake, especially the one of him sleeping and having a talk with Mickey. Too cute!

It looks like you stayed at a great location and didn't have a long walk at all. It's amazing how many hotels are right on the outskirts of Disneyland.

I just love Disneyland's parade! It brought all of those memories back when I was looking at your pictures and I can hear the music in my head. It's fantastic! We didn't see the last float when we were there. It must have been broken, so I am glad I saw your pictures. It's so cute with Chip 'n Dale! You know they are two of my favorites!

Hey Lindsey, so glad you made it over!!! I was so nervous to finally write my first trippie, but I know how much I always enjoy everyone elses so thought it was time I did one of my own. Thank you about Jake's pictures, he is pretty cute. Actually today is his birthday, he is 11, hard to believe.

I was amazed at all the hotels, we didn't have a long walk at all, it was almost right by the IHOP and Denny's, which is right at the crosswalk, so it was great and The Carousel is a nice clean hotel and they have really comfy beds, I would love someday to stay at the DL Hotel but until then The Carousel was great.

That float must have been broke, no fair. It was pretty neat, it had Chip and Dale, Mickey and Minnie and I believe Donald and Daisy, not sure if it had anyone else on or not. But the parade is great and for sure puts you right in the Disney mood. Yeah!!!

 

[jnjusoioa]

Your pictures are beautiful. The colors just jump out of the screen. I can't wait to read and see more.

Thank you, I was very happy with my outdoor shots, you will see as I go along, the indoor shots didn't do so well, a lot of white faces and red eyes so I wasn't happy about that, that is why in my initial post I said if anyone wanted to offer photography advice to feel free. I guess it is just all a learning experience but some of my inside shots are so awful, it makes me sad.

 

[jnjusoioa]

So, after the parade, I was really feeling the Disney spirit, I had my St. Patty's Day ears on and we headed down Main St., I walked down Main St. nice and slow, in pervious trips I had walked down so fast I couldn't tell you anything about it. We stopped in the camera shop quick so my friend could buy a battery for her camera, and we got to the castle and I just stood there for a little. Couldn't believe I was really here. Did a few shots at the castle before heading over to the monorail station to head to the DL Hotel for our seating at Goofy's. This is one of my favorite photopass photos, I was really feeling the Disney spirit.......

There was a long wait for the monorail, I didn't realize the DL monorail wasn't as fast as WDW, but we had fun watching the Nemo subs and I got this picture taken, thought it turned out pretty good, standing right between the Mattehorn and Nemo, such a happy place!!

After we took the monorail over to DTD, we made out way down to the DL Hotel, we checked in and waited for our names to be called to get our photo done with Minnie, it wasn't long at all but we took that time to sit down and take a break, I didn't buy their photos with Minnie, they weren't that good but here is my photo with Minnie....

We saw quite a lot of characters at Goofy's, they were all great and took time to talk to us and take pictures. We saw Alice, Pluto, Goofy, Chip & Dale, and Jasmine. Here are my photos with them.

Goofy's is just such a fun place, I love it there. Goofy comes up near the buffet a couple times you are there and drops all these pots and pans and the other characters come up to join him and they sing and dance with the kids, just a really fun atomosphere.

 

[jnjusoioa]

You can all see the difference between the outside and the inside shots, so if anyone has any friendly picture advice I would surely appreciate it, the ones that I will post later of Minnie's, they are even worse, the white faces and red eyes. I just don't know.

Onto the food at Goofy's, last June we did Goofy's for breakfast and I loved it, this time we did it for dinner and I loved it, I think in Dec. we will be doing one of each. I can't say enough good stuff about this place, excellant atomosphere, excellant food, just all around great place, it for sure has my vote as favorite character meal. Here is some of my dinner food.

It was all yummy, the second photo, I wish I would have paid closer attention to the names, the noodle stuff it was so good, I actually went back for seconds. I am not sure what it was called though, but it was quite tasty.

Here is my yummy plate at Goofy's, I did not eat all of this but did try a little of it all, it was all good, these cupcakes are so awesome, they are different flavors, the pink was strawberry, the yellow was banana, they both were on white cupcakes, the green was my favorite, I can't wait to have another one, it was a chocolate cupcake and the icing was mint, yummy!!!

We weren't really looking forward to going back outside, it was so windy and cold earlier and it had got worse, but we were going to try and make the most of the night, since the park was open till midnight, but in the meantime I had to stop to get a photo in the car

We went to DL, headed towards TT, none of my night shots were coming out, it was way windy and beyond cold, I even bought a jacket to put over my jacket and it didn't help, so we decided to call it an early night and head back to the hotel, however I did come across a Mickey pretzel stand and so wanted to try one of them and they even had cheese to dip it in, here I am with my very first Mickey pretzel.

That concludes my first day/night at DLR. Up next, it was Sunday, my friend was going to pick her friend up and they were going other places and I was going to have the whole day to DLR and even spent time at CA, it was a great day and there will be lots of trippie to write, starting off with Minnie's for breakfast.

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

You posted all of my favorite things in your last two posts!

- Goofy's Kitchen
- Mickey Pretzel
- Cupcakes!!!

Goofy's Kitchen is just the best and their deserts are amazing! I loved all of the interesting cupcake flavors they had. You can't find those anywhere else! So yummy!

Aren't you now obsessed with the Mickey pretzels? Love those!


I just love your Mickey ears! The picture of you with Tink is ADORABLE! The best Tink picture I've ever seen!

 

[jnjusoioa]

You posted all of my favorite things in your last two posts!

- Goofy's Kitchen
- Mickey Pretzel
- Cupcakes!!!

Goofy's Kitchen is just the best and their deserts are amazing! I loved all of the interesting cupcake flavors they had. You can't find those anywhere else! So yummy!

Aren't you now obsessed with the Mickey pretzels? Love those!


I just love your Mickey ears! The picture of you with Tink is ADORABLE! The best Tink picture I've ever seen!

Thanks Lindsey!!!! I thought that Tink picture was pretty good, I was so feeling the Disney spirit!!! From Dec. on life had been really crazy for me so this trip was just what the doctor ordered and I decided to make the best of it.

Yes, I am so addicted to the Mickey pretzels, oh my gosh, I can't even tell you how many of them I had on my trip, it was like everytime I saw the stand, I had to get one.

Goofy's is so my favorite, in Dec. we are doing it for breakfast and dinner, if I could figure out a way to do it on my quick weekend trip, I would. But I don't think time will allow. Those cupcakes are so good, the mint/chocolate one takes the cake.

If you stay tuned to my trippie, you will see that I went a little crazy this time and bought so many pairs of Mickey ears, I think I have a different pair on each day, I have a bit of a problem with Mickey ears. I can't wait to see the ones they have at Christmas.

 

[Disneygrl36]

I'm along for the ride. I love your smile........ You can tell you are just so excited to be at Disneyland.

We will be there in December too & I can't wait, which is why I am loving reading Disneyland trippies in the mean time.

 

[jnjusoioa]

I'm along for the ride. I love your smile........ You can tell you are just so excited to be at Disneyland.

We will be there in December too & I can't wait, which is why I am loving reading Disneyland trippies in the mean time.

Thank you so much!!! I was truly excited to be in Disneyland, even more excited to actually be able to enjoy it, my first two visits were just crazy, it was like, no, so you will even notice in some of my photopass pictures I got the little 1st visit on them, because in my eyes it was my first visit.

That is awesome you will be there in December too, I am really looking forward to seeing it at the holidays.