It’s Always Sunny in California!..Eh?...L’il Bit!

[jenseib]

That would be odd going into CA first. It doesn't look very Disney to me. Perhaps that would be like a WDW newbie going to Hollywood Studios (which is my least favorite park) as their first park.

Yeah, Had I not been meeting up with my friend I would've went to DL first in a heart beat, but time was limited. Plus I was getting pretty tired, so I probably was feeling that as well.

Shouldn't you be studying instead of reading Dis?

What a pain that you had so much trouble getting your ticket. I absolutely love Disney California Adventure and Buena Vista Street is gorgeous. What a shame that it did not grab you.

Corinna

I am sure this guy had no clue what he was doing with the voucher. I had to explain it over and over and he asked to see the email, and I told him what I had printed was the exact email.
It did not grab me at all. I think part of it was being so tired. It took me a day or two to really get the "Disney feelling". It's like my mind wouldn't accept it.

 

[dizneeat]

Yikes, what a hassle to pick up your ticket. And how funny that guest services was closed before the park closed.

Ah, yeah, I think you picked the wrong park to go to first. And especially at night - I really think it makes a difference if you see it first by day or night.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Those tea cup chairs kind of remind me of the booths at Enchanted Garden on the Disney Dream for some reason.

What a pain the rear end trying to pick up your ticket. You'd think you were the only travel agent to have ever tried to get admission to the park.

I can see why you weren't overly impressed when you entered the park. It looks a little meh to me.

 

[Timon]

Oh yeah...the Disneyland Resort Express bus! Ugh!

I wasn't happy that they only ran every hour on the half hour, especially since I landed at 12:30 Other than the green sign they tell you to look for, there is nothing marked so nobody knew exactly where to wait!

Then to make things confusing, these guys were everywhere...

Everyone thought it was the DLR express so I found myself telling everybody and their dog that the bus is a huge Grey Line bus.

I was so jealous of the peeps that were taking the Super Shuttle, I must have seen about a dozen vans pick people up and leave during that 50 mins I waited! And like Jen said, we filled that entire bus and we were only stop #2, there was 7 or 8 more stops to go where we had to stop and break the bad news to all these families who were excited to finally see the bus!

It took about an hour to get to the DL area but then it took us forever to get around there, another 25 minutes before I was dropped off at the hotel!

Then a 20 minute wait at the check-in line, then schlepping all my crap up to the room (after explaining to the CM in detail how I had never even met my room mate and would need 2 beds) up to this room....

So I had to call the front desk from the room and then schlepp my crap all the way back down, then wait another 15 minutes in line

We did get a much better room, so I was happy about that but then I glanced at my card and saw that Jen's name was on it

And yup, I warned Jen right off the bat that I say "eh" a lot I am a total Canadian stereotype that way We had fun laughing at each others' accents and it made for a fun week (l'il bit! )

After all that, it was 4pm (landed at 12:30pm!!!!) so I rushed over to Storyteller's Cafe for lunch (DELISH!!!) then I walked down to Anaheim Garden Walk and then back to DL, grabbed my tickets (no problems there ) walked past a HUGE line of people buying tickets and tried to do some single rider rides in both parks but the crowds were just too crazy so I headed back to the room and as soon as I made it back, Jen said she was close to the hotel so I figured I would meet her down there and get the keys sorted out while she checked in

It was so good to meet Jen in personal finally. I have to admit, I was pretty nervous because I don't get along with a lot of people and here I thought, OMG, what if we don't get along...we have the whole week together

No worries at all, we got along famously, which totally surprised me and I spent the next 6 days laughing so hard my stomach hurt

Hot tub was AWESOME, pool was nice to cool off in....even if the lifeguards were wearing jackets, gloves and winter hats and were probably thinking "crazy canuck!"


...sorry, didn't mean to hijack your trippie, Jen

 

[Beth D]

Jen - great updates and pictures. Love the Hollywood tour. Sadly on my two trips out there I never got close to that area of town. Work kept me down closer to Buena Park/Anaheim area.

My closest to the HW sign was seeing it out the passenger windows of the airplane as we approached LAX.

Those photos of the city streets are great. I love all the palm trees. I'm watching The Voice right now, they always have some outside shots but nothing looks like it was in your photos. I would have had the telephoto lens out just looking for Adam Levine though….

Hot tub time would have been my pic. Great way to relax and wind down after a super long day. But you were just jonesing for a park weren't you?

My first park out there too was DCA, not DL. By the time we made it to DL, it was dark. And I agree, after seeing how spread out WDW is, DL and DTD are so MUCH more compact, more comparable to the Universal and City Walk Orlando area.

 

[MEK]

That room is gorgeous and what a lovely view! So glad you finally arrived and found the hotel. What a pain getting there.

OMG - Holy Ticket Drama! So glad you were able to get your ticket (finally) and get inside. The park looks beautiful and the nighttime balloon shot is so lovely.

I know there's more I want to say but I gotta get ready for work. boo!

 

[KelleyK75]

Love the tea cup chairs!

Argh, that stinks about the ticket. Glad that it worked out!

I was at CA Adventure for an event several years ago, and I don't remember it being very Disney at all. I never got to go in DL, so I hope to do that some day.

 

[jenseib]

Yikes, what a hassle to pick up your ticket. And how funny that guest services was closed before the park closed.

Ah, yeah, I think you picked the wrong park to go to first. And especially at night - I really think it makes a difference if you see it first by day or night.

I swear sometimes I live in a middle of a sitcom that I am unaware is being filmed. I seem to always have these type of issues happen and it's always kind of comical.

I definately had planned to go to DL first, but with Keri being in CA and I pretty much only had this one chance to meet up with her, I had to go there first. I am really glad though because she is such a nice person.

Those tea cup chairs kind of remind me of the booths at Enchanted Garden on the Disney Dream for some reason.

What a pain the rear end trying to pick up your ticket. You'd think you were the only travel agent to have ever tried to get admission to the park.

I can see why you weren't overly impressed when you entered the park. It looks a little meh to me.

They do...a L'il bit!
I think Claire would love to see those chairs. Really I just loved the Disneyland Hotel. All were nice, but this one really screamed Disney to me and if we go back, my plan it to stay there.
You know me...nothing can go smoothly. I was just amazed that guest services was closed!

Oh yeah...the Disneyland Resort Express bus! Ugh!

I wasn't happy that they only ran every hour on the half hour, especially since I landed at 12:30 Other than the green sign they tell you to look for, there is nothing marked so nobody knew exactly where to wait!

Then to make things confusing, these guys were everywhere...

Everyone thought it was the DLR express so I found myself telling everybody and their dog that the bus is a huge Grey Line bus.

I was so jealous of the peeps that were taking the Super Shuttle, I must have seen about a dozen vans pick people up and leave during that 50 mins I waited! And like Jen said, we filled that entire bus and we were only stop #2, there was 7 or 8 more stops to go where we had to stop and break the bad news to all these families who were excited to finally see the bus!

It took about an hour to get to the DL area but then it took us forever to get around there, another 25 minutes before I was dropped off at the hotel!

Then a 20 minute wait at the check-in line, then schlepping all my crap up to the room (after explaining to the CM in detail how I had never even met my room mate and would need 2 beds) up to this room....

So I had to call the front desk from the room and then schlepp my crap all the way back down, then wait another 15 minutes in line

We did get a much better room, so I was happy about that but then I glanced at my card and saw that Jen's name was on it

And yup, I warned Jen right off the bat that I say "eh" a lot I am a total Canadian stereotype that way We had fun laughing at each others' accents and it made for a fun week (l'il bit! )

After all that, it was 4pm (landed at 12:30pm!!!!) so I rushed over to Storyteller's Cafe for lunch (DELISH!!!) then I walked down to Anaheim Garden Walk and then back to DL, grabbed my tickets (no problems there ) walked past a HUGE line of people buying tickets and tried to do some single rider rides in both parks but the crowds were just too crazy so I headed back to the room and as soon as I made it back, Jen said she was close to the hotel so I figured I would meet her down there and get the keys sorted out while she checked in

It was so good to meet Jen in personal finally. I have to admit, I was pretty nervous because I don't get along with a lot of people and here I thought, OMG, what if we don't get along...we have the whole week together

No worries at all, we got along famously, which totally surprised me and I spent the next 6 days laughing so hard my stomach hurt

Hot tub was AWESOME, pool was nice to cool off in....even if the lifeguards were wearing jackets, gloves and winter hats and were probably thinking "crazy canuck!"


...sorry, didn't mean to hijack your trippie, Jen

No hijacking at all! I am so glad you added what you did that day too.

Yeah, I don't think I wanted to snuggle up with you each night in that bed in the first room. I mean I like you and all.....but.....thats just a step too far. And what if we hated each other?
I think you were living part of my sitcom life when you arrived. Things like that happen to me all the time.
I am so glad you didn't turn out to be some weirdo and laughed at all my silly comments and jokes....and clutsyness!

 

[jenseib]

Jen - great updates and pictures. Love the Hollywood tour. Sadly on my two trips out there I never got close to that area of town. Work kept me down closer to Buena Park/Anaheim area.

My closest to the HW sign was seeing it out the passenger windows of the airplane as we approached LAX.

Those photos of the city streets are great. I love all the palm trees. I'm watching The Voice right now, they always have some outside shots but nothing looks like it was in your photos. I would have had the telephoto lens out just looking for Adam Levine though….

Hot tub time would have been my pic. Great way to relax and wind down after a super long day. But you were just jonesing for a park weren't you?

My first park out there too was DCA, not DL. By the time we made it to DL, it was dark. And I agree, after seeing how spread out WDW is, DL and DTD are so MUCH more compact, more comparable to the Universal and City Walk Orlando area.

You would be amazed at how different it looks outside than you would think. Big warehouse type looking buiding and inside wasn't impressive either. I really think they must angel the cameras in just a right way because it looked nothing like the stage we see on TV at all. Now I know they were building the stage, but the rest just looked like a big empty warehouse...or stacks of things. I was trying to figure out where the audience would sit. It would've been neat to go back and look at the finished product.
My guess is that some of it is shot in another location, especially the preliminary ones. Because the Voice was on either that night or the night after and I knew for a fact the stage was not up yet.

Yes! It is comparable to Universal Florida, but then even closer.
I really did want to go to the park. I mean it had taken me 45 years to get there and I should at least take a peek!!!!

That room is gorgeous and what a lovely view! So glad you finally arrived and found the hotel. What a pain getting there.

OMG - Holy Ticket Drama! So glad you were able to get your ticket (finally) and get inside. The park looks beautiful and the nighttime balloon shot is so lovely.

I know there's more I want to say but I gotta get ready for work. boo!

We did have a really nice room. After later seeing other set ups at the hotel, I really liked our version as one of the best. Now they have a club level that includes a club with some awesome views. I wouldn't mind that either.

I was almost expecting ticket drama....it just wouldn't be right for everything to go smoothly in one day for me.

Darn that work for getting in your way of Dising.

Love the tea cup chairs!

Argh, that stinks about the ticket. Glad that it worked out!

I was at CA Adventure for an event several years ago, and I don't remember it being very Disney at all. I never got to go in DL, so I hope to do that some day.

It is less Disney to me as well, but it did grow on me....and Carsland is just beautiful!

 

[jenseib]

While I waited for Keri’s response, I decided to get a photopass picture. This is the only time I stopped for a picture, so these are redneck versions of what they took.





I thought this was a dumb pose…but oh well.



I used this border since I would be taking classes this week and graduating as well.



I hadn’t heard back from Keri yet, so I decided to head towards the music.







It wasn’t too hard to find the Mad Tea Party.







As I walked around I looked for Keri or her son, who I knew was there today as well.
















I then got a message from Keri…come to the Little Mermaid ride…ok that sounds easy enough, except I didn’t pick up a map when I came in and I had no clue how this park was laid out….so I just started walking.



My second Hollywood Tower of the day.





I stopped and asked a CM where to go and she pointed me in the right direction.

 

[KelleyK75]

It is less Disney to me as well, but it did grow on me....and Carsland is just beautiful!

I've seen pictures of Carsland and I want to get my nephews out there. They'd love it!


Your photopass pics are great!

The Mad Tea Party looks like so much fun!

 

[chirurgeon]

Great trip report, Jen. Just so you know, in your picture of Warner Bros., Disney Studios are in the upper left corner of the picture. The tan on top, brick red on the bottom bldg is the one with the Seven Dwarves holding up the roof.

 

[Timon]

LOL, yes you're right, I think I was living your sitcom life upon arrival, stuff like that rarely happens to me

I hate to admit it but your clumsiness was a HUGE source of entertainment for me all week

 

[dolphingirl47]

I love your night-time photos. I have to make sure that I spend some time in the parks after dark in November. Your Photopass photos came out well.

Corinna

 

[MotoWifey185]

Joining in! Great report so far. I loved all the cool facts about Hollywood and your awesome tour of Universal. I have not seen the psycho movie but I have seen War of the Worlds so it's neat you got to see that. I can see why movies are always so expensive. A small ten minute (tops) part of the movie has so much detail put into it and they've got a hundred more scenes to create! I love the DLH hotel! What an awesome view you had. Hopefully your trip starts to go smootly from here on out!

 

[Poolrat]

Glad you made it into the park.


So glad I booked Super shuttle last time and I will again.

I had an issue with a room like at the BW, We booked a family trip 2 adults and 2 kids and I go in to find 1 king bed.

So sorry about the schlepping, that is my sitcom life.

Jen you got some great pictures as you took the stroll around CA. The room looks fantastic.

 

[jenseib]

I've seen pictures of Carsland and I want to get my nephews out there. They'd love it!


Your photopass pics are great!

The Mad Tea Party looks like so much fun!

It really is a beautiful land. I am only a fan of Radiator Springs ride in there, the others I could really care less about, but the whole area is done up just so nicely.

Great trip report, Jen. Just so you know, in your picture of Warner Bros., Disney Studios are in the upper left corner of the picture. The tan on top, brick red on the bottom bldg is the one with the Seven Dwarves holding up the roof.

Now I will go back and look at the picture harder and see if my old eyes can see it!

LOL, yes you're right, I think I was living your sitcom life upon arrival, stuff like that rarely happens to me

I hate to admit it but your clumsiness was a HUGE source of entertainment for me all week

I swear my luck often rubs off on those who know me. Sorry about that!
I am always glad to provide entertainment for others!

I love your night-time photos. I have to make sure that I spend some time in the parks after dark in November. Your Photopass photos came out well.

Corinna

I brought my tripod, but was too lazy to ever get it out, but I bet I could've gotten some great night photos if I had. Disney really knows how to light up their parks at night!

 

[jenseib]

Joining in! Great report so far. I loved all the cool facts about Hollywood and your awesome tour of Universal. I have not seen the psycho movie but I have seen War of the Worlds so it's neat you got to see that. I can see why movies are always so expensive. A small ten minute (tops) part of the movie has so much detail put into it and they've got a hundred more scenes to create! I love the DLH hotel! What an awesome view you had. Hopefully your trip starts to go smootly from here on out!

Thanks for joining in!
It's been a really long time since I have seen psycho! I barely remember it, but I do. LOL. Another one of those movies Stacy and I liked back in the day.
Not everything went smoothly, but we still had a fabulous time.

Glad you made it into the park.


So glad I booked Super shuttle last time and I will again.

I had an issue with a room like at the BW, We booked a family trip 2 adults and 2 kids and I go in to find 1 king bed.

So sorry about the schlepping, that is my sitcom life.

Jen you got some great pictures as you took the stroll around CA. The room looks fantastic.

I had a friend who had that issue in 2012 as well. Their family of 3 went into a room with a king sized bed and she was like...Nope! And then those who want to get just a king room seem to have to hope and pray to get one.

A lot of my trip I kept thinking of your report. you had a lot of details that stuck in my mind and I would recognize areas.....in otherwards you did a good job to help a newbie visualize!

 

[jenseib]

Keri texted me and said they were watching the World of Color from the front of the Little Mermaid ride, so I pressed on.

I slowed down just slightly to get a couple pictures of Carsland as I passed by.





Finally I spotted them and we hugged and said hellos and she introduced me to her friend that was with her. She told me her son had left already, and we were sad I couldn’t meet him, as I feel like I know him as well from all she posts about him on facebook.

We chatted and watched WoC from afar. It wasn’t a great location, but it did give me a nice enough view to know I enjoyed it. I think when I had arrived it was more than half over.





This is where we were standing.



More World of Color.



They had some fire balls and even from this distance they were quite warm….I had to wonder how hot they were to the people closer to them.





They sure named this show appropriately….lots of color!!!!











And of course we had to get a picture together before the night ended…and again they are phone pictures and it has the messed up flash.





When the show ended Keri and friends headed out, but I decided to hang back. I just hate walking like hearded cattle with the crowds, so I took pictures instead.











After the crowds thinned a bit I made a restroom stop and then worked my way to the exit.






I also found where the Grand Californian entrance is when I was walking out. I knew the resort was close, but I had no idea how it was basically right up against the park. I was impressed.

As I exited the park, I had a decision to make. Disneyland was still open till 11 and I believe it was close till 10:30 now. Should I go over and take a quick look? I wasn’t sure, so as I exited I asked if I needed a hand stamp. I had been told that DLR uses hand stamps to re-enter the parks and I wanted to be on the safe side if I decided to head across the way. I was told no, a stamp was not needed and I exited with the crowds.

 

[dolphingirl47]

How lucky that you got to see World of Color on the first day even if you did not get to see all of this and your viewing point was not ideal. I love World of Color. I am hoping to see it every day in November either from the park or from the hotel.

Corinna