In Search of My Body - Not the One I Ate, VOL 8...It's Never Too Late To Start Again!

[3DisneyKids]

DAY 2

So today we decided to head to Disneyland Park (which is their MK...the whole area with hotels, etc. is Disneyland Resort). For those that don't know, literally everything is right here. We walk out our hotel, and we are right in DTD. We stroll through DTD and the two parks are at the other end of DTD...MK on the left and California Adventure on the right. The entrances to the two parks are just across a courtyard from one another. Maybe 50 yards? So from our hotel, it is like a 5 minute walk to both parks. That is definitely the best part of DL over WDW.

We had fun playing on the California sign while waiting for DL to open. Look how empty!

And here is the entrance to DL. Again, EMPTY.

The parks don't open till 10 here, with guests being allowed in the park at 9:30, but only on Main St. You can't go beyond the hub till 10. Once we were on Main St., though, we were in the throngs. LOTS of people all crammed together. I had done some basic park touring research for DL and so I had an idea of what direction to head in. Much the same philosophy as WDW--Fantasyland first, then ToonTown, pickingup FPs along the way. So that is exactly what we did. Once allowed in, we grabbed FPs for Space, then went and hit lots of FantasyLand rides, including Mr. Toad (my total favorite as a child! The Pooh ride replaced it in WDW.). Also hit the Pinnocchio ride (not in WDW), Snow White, Small World, and the Tea Cups.

All of this took about 45 minutes and ToonTown doesn't open till 11. So we decided to try the Nemo Sub ride--this often has the longest wait in the whole park. (For those who grew up in the parks, think a refurbished version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.) It was a 10 minute wait--major score! I thought it was going to be lame, but it ended up being AWESOME and one of the favorites of the day.

Finally time to hit ToonTown. There we did the Gadget Go-Coaster (think Goofy's Barnstormer), Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin (only here and super cute!), and then we toured Mickey and Minnie's houses, plus Goofy has a house here, and Chip & Dale's Treehouse is here, too. Walked through all of them! Paula--the pic of the kids in Goofy's car is for you!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Now it was just about noon and time for our lunch reservations at the Carnation Cafe (think the Plaza). And to put things in perspective, I called this morning for the reservation and had my choice of times. This is definitely NOT Florida. Lunch was ok. Plaza is better.

Time for Tomorrowland. Walked on to Buzz. Fun, but the FL version is better. Used FPs for Space. It was Kelly's first time (finally tall enough) and she LOVED it. LOVED, loved, loved it. Hard to say which is better on this one. Theming is better at WDW, but this ride has music like RnR which was awesome. But it went slower. So. Give and take. Then we walked on to Star Tours. I know! Star Tours in MK! Crazy.

Next it was time for Adventureland and Frontierland. We got FPs for Indiana Jones (a ride here), and then totally walked on PoTC, Haunted Mansion, and the Pooh Ride (right, it isn't part of Fantasyland out here). Went back to hit Indiana on the way back only to find that Kelly isn't tall enough. Boo! As the only adult, we had no choice but to walk on by. BTMRR wasn't running and we didn't have FPs for Splash since we had gotten ones for Indiana Jones. At this point, it was 2:30, so we decided it was a good time to walk back and have some pool time. Which is exactly what we did.

The pool totally refreshed the kids and by 5 they were ready to have some dinner at DTD and head back into the park. So again we just strolled through DTD and picked up some sandwiches at LaBrea Bakery and went back into the park. It is just SO easy here--all of the back and forth. I can't describe it.

Evening in the park was lovely. We hit a several more rides, mostly doubles of stuff we had already done. But we also did Alice in Wonderland (only here) and the Matterhorn. Then it was time for the parade--yes, at 7pm! Weird! I have to say, though, it was awesome. It was similar in style to the Block Party Bash at DHS, but with the classic characters instead of the Pixar ones. And the talent was amazing! You know how all of the parade music is recorded, right? Not here. They were singing it live. It was impressive. And really high energy--one of the songs was I Love Rock and Roll. FUN! The highlights of the parade wer that Kelly got chosen from the crowd to go do the Twist with Minnie and Tigger came and sat on the ground with my kids. SO cute.

We loved being in the park as it started to get dark. How can you not love Main St. all lit up???

The park closes at 8, so we hit Buzz one the way out after the parade, and strolled through DTD back to our resort. No question, we made the absolute most of this day! Kids crashed by 9:30 and I am drinking a beer, looking out over the pool and the lovely grounds of the Disneyland Hotel, and writing my TR. SO happy!

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

Paula, sounds like you had a nice time in NYC, sorry about the train ride back

Nancy, YAY Seth's home. You must be so happy. Sorry about your finger!

I GOT NEW RUNNING SHOES!!!!! GOOD ONES!!
(and about $150 worth of other stuff, most for the girls)

Erika, I LOVE YOUR TRIP REPORT. and I LOVE the shirts you made. Such a wonderful day. I am very happy for you!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

OMG Erika. LOVE the TR. Of course, I also am a huge DL fan, so....

Mr. Toad. Pinocchio. OH. and, IMO, the Speedway is better at DL! I sincerely hope that you can get back to Indiana Jones when J arrives - it is so superior (again, IMO) to the WDW show.


Lisa - Missing you.

Jo - yay for new shoes!

Kat- hope you made it home safely and uneventfully!

Paula - just so you know, Erin thinks that the 22 mile route would be perfect for your century training schedule


I did track again yesterday - sorta. I wrote everthing down, but since we went out to lunch and I didn't have concerete numbers on what I ate, I didn't fully keep the *accounting* end. Yes, I'm aware that I can look up some of the info and get a fairly decent idea of calories, etc. but the way I see it right now, the fact that I wrote it down at all is a win!

 

[adsrtw]

Great TR. Work aghhh.

 

[HockeyKat]

E, love the pics!!

I am sitting back at my desk. Boo.

Yesterday we got up around 9, packed up the car, and drove over to BCV. Walked into Epcot, did Test Track, ate at Italy, wandered through WS a bit (stopped in Norway to use the rest of our snacks), then went to the BCV Marketplace to get our refillable mugs and then headed home around 2 or so.

We had two different reservations this time, 2 nights at AKV and 1 at BLT, so we decided to do DelDDP for the 1 night reservation. Yeah, I know it sort of defeats the purpose to get the refillable mug at the very end of the trip, but no way was I wasting it!!

Got home last night at about 11PM. I am drraaaagggging today. Tonight is hockey then I get to leave for Savannah at 7:30AM tomorrow, and will be there through Sun afternoon. Work trip.



Thoughts on the 2 new resorts... (in case anyone cares! )

Kidani Village: They can keep it. It has now moved down to my third least favorite resort. WAY too remote, and main Jambo house building is almost as far as BWV to DHS as far as a walk goes. The only internal bus is the DTD bus. Room was nice, but std view is downright awful (serious parking lot view). Pool area is too small for the resort (felt crowded and most of the chairs were empty), and in keeping with my overall complaint about AKL, they just don't use the animal thing to a good effect unless you are a savannah view room. Why don't the restaurants, and potentially an elevated fenced pool deck, have animal view?

Decor and theming are quite nice, it just falls a little flat, and for the lack of transportation, I feel they need to step up their amenities a bit.


BLT review: was both better and worse than I was expecting.

So, the worse parts:
1) The studio felt QUITE small. The idea to put the kitchenette with the bathroom sink is odd and makes the sleeping/sofa area very cramped.

2) The BLT pool area was very small. Nice, but moderate resort villa pool small. They also did not make much use of the fact that the lake is right there... you couldn't even see the lake from the pool deck really.

3) Observation deck/lounge... well, the idea is a great one. Execution? Hmm. Not sure why you would make a 16th floor MK view lounge where when you sit down, all you see is a concrete wall? In order to see the fireworks you have to go outside. I also question why you would bother to have a drink there... I can see a concrete wall at the local Applebee's.

Better parts:
1) LOVED the view. Best standard view ever. However, I can also see how people could be either thrilled or irritated by what they wind up with. I don't really see how 2nd floor parking lot/MK view is that much better than 6th floor parking lot/MK view, but the point difference is astoundingly different. I guess this is really a better and worse.

2) Contemporary Resort amenities ROCK, and it's really very easy walking distance to the main pool, main building, etc. No further than VWL to the Wilderness Lodge proper.

3) Decor - totally to my taste. Could be a downer for some.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

kat, sorry your back at work. But hey yesterday at this time you were in Epcot!! Think of that all day today!!

Thanks for the room report. We love CBR but I would like to stay at the Boardwalk someday!

 

[adsrtw]

Loved your comparison Kat. One of these days, I will lose my sanity and stay at the poly contemporary. My kids favs are MK and Epcot so it would make a ton of sense.

 

[3DisneyKids]

OMFG. Heaven has a name and it is a 2 BR villa at the Grand Californian. So huge so beautiful. Three bathrooms. Three!!!! Granite and stainless throughout. Four balconies! Nicest hotel ever. And it has a private entrance to the park!!! That's right. You walk down to the lobby go out the back door of the lobby and there are the turnstyles to California Adventure. Did I say omg?!?!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Kat. Love the DVC pro cons!!! I will add mine too!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

OMFG. Heaven has a name and it is a 2 BR villa at the Grand Californian. So huge so beautiful. Three bathrooms. Three!!!! Granite and stainless throughout. Four balconies! Nicest hotel ever. And it has a private entrance to the park!!! That's right. You walk down to the lobby go out the back door of the lobby and there are the turnstyles to California Adventure. Did I say omg?!?!

Nirvana

 

[adsrtw]

Can't wait to see pics of the GC E!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

another day, another successful tracking. Tracking - not necessarily "eating well" but tracking. It's eye opening. Really. <sigh>

and I need to go grocery shopping. Again. My family eats to much

 

[3DisneyKids]

Jeff arrived this evening. Too hammered for the TR. Sorry! Tomorrow morning when he is out for a run I will get it done.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

Morning All.

Erika, Can't Wait to read that TR and see Pics!!!


Still at odd with DH. Why can't he get off his a@@ and pick up somthing, do a dish, pick up a toy, hey is it too much to ask for him to wash the kids hands??

Ok, Rant Over. Sorry about that. I am going for a run right now, while everyone is still sleeping!

Wish me luck!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Enjoy your run Jo. I often find that a good workout (running especially) is great for clearing my mind.

It's a gray day here. Rained a bit over night, and more rain expected later. I'm debating going for a bike ride instead of hitting the gym, but it's kinda gross out so I'm not sure yet. Guess I'd better make a decision soon

 

[adsrtw]

Jo, I understand completely.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

"life drama" here <sigh> Nothing horrid, just teenage girl crap that Becca seems to have gotten caught in the middle of. bleh.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

Thanks Amiee

Nancy, I am sorry to hear about the teenage drama stuff. But if it makes you feel better you can laugh at me now, cuz I have 2 girls only 2 years apart in school. Yes in about 8ish years from now I will need some form of medication. Or and IV Drip of Tequila.

run was good, I have not done that in a while 2 miles, ran most of it.
I have a 5K walk tomorrow with pushing the girls in the stroller. And I hope to run again on Sunday, but we will see.

Got a meatloaf in the crockpot, Apple Pie in the oven, and now it time to do some work. I don't want to!!!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Got a meatloaf in the crockpot, Apple Pie in the oven

<drools>