GrumpyMom1
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 24, 2003
- Messages
- 697
Here are some notes from our little mini trip to Knotts and Disneyland Monday 6/28 Wednesday 6/30. It was me, DD15 and DD11. This is our 2nd year as DL Annual Passholders. We usually only go up for a day but have stayed overnight once or twice. This was our first time staying 2 nights. Some of the pictures of the trip can be found here.
Knotts We went to Knotts on Monday and arrived there a little after they opened at 10am. We were able to get the S. CA rates of $26.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids. They didnt have those prices posted anywhere but I had seen them on their website. So if youre from S. CA, be sure and ask for any special prices.
We went on Ghostrider first and had to wait about 30 minutes. I think that was the longest line we waited in all day. And I only think it was that long because its right by the entrance so everyone rides it first. We rode it again in the evening and waited just a few minutes. The next longest wait was Perilous Plunge (which only DD15 went on) because they only run one boat and it takes a long time to load and unload. We were able to ride everything we wanted to at least once. We left the park from about 4-6pm to check into our hotel and grab some dinner at Taco Bell and after we returned, we only stayed until about 8:45. We did miss the ice skating show that I wanted to see.
Knotts is not Disneyland, but we had a good time. One thing I noticed is that they are very safety conscious there. I was watching when we were in line and getting on rides, and they obviously have procedures to follow and they follow them every time. When my DD was in line for Perilous Plunge, they wouldnt let a teen girl on because she was too thin for the safety restraints.
Anaheim Coast Hotel I booked this hotel through Expedia. I was hesitant about staying here because they charge $8 a night for parking. But when I added that to the nightly rate I got, it was still one of the least expensive I could get for the nights we were staying ($20/night less than HoJo.) We asked for a Disney view room and received one on the 9th floor, which had a great view of both DCA and Disneyland. We left Knotts early enough to get back to the hotel in time to watch the fireworks from our balcony and it worked out perfectly! The pool at this hotel is also great. Its big, heated, and has lots of chairs around to sit in. Theres also a bar by the pool where you can get drinks. The pool area was clean and all of the chairs and umbrellas were in good condition. We spent about an hour by the pool and Tuesday and would have stayed longer if we had more time. Our room was a little small and worn, but not enough to deter me from staying here again.
Disneyland/DCA We spent most of the day Tuesday and half of Wednesday at Disneyland and DCA. We walked from the hotel to DL on Tuesday morning, arriving just after 8am. Actually we walked to the Timon parking lot, entering through the gate on Katella, and then took the tram. We were able to ride Indy, Big Thunder, POTC, Snow White, and Pinocchio before taking one of the horse drawn cars back to the front entrance to head over to DCA. We were in DCA for the rope drop and then headed with everyone else to TOT. We rode TOT twice, spent some time in the Animation building, rode Screamin, Maliboomer, Soarin and GRR and had two long snack breaks before going back to the hotel at about 3pm.
The girls went swimming for about an hour and then we took a short nap. We then drove down the street to Red Robin for dinner. Unfortunately, both DD15 and I were not feeling good (too much junk food?) so we didnt eat much of our dinner.
We headed back to DL and took the train from Main Street to the Toontown station, rode Its a Small World, and then DD11 and I rode the Matterhorn twice while DD15 waited for the parade because she still wasnt feeling well. We watched the parade and fireworks, and then headed over to watch Fantasmic where we were able to get a decent spot up front. Because we dont usually stay late, the girls had not seen Fantasmic since they were very little and did not remember it. But they both thought it was worth the 45 minute wait. We headed back to the hotel after that and were glad we had driven and not walked.
On Wednesday morning, we didnt get to DL until about 9am, and headed straight for Splash Mountain since I had promised DD11 that we would ride it. We were basically able to walk right on. After that we took the train over to Tomorrowland and rode the Matterhorn.
Goofys Kitchen On Wednesday we at breakfast at Goofys Kitchen. We had never done a character meal before (other than on the cruise) and decided to give it a try. We had a reservation for 10:30, so we took the monorail from DL to Downtown Disney at about 10:00 and were checked in and seated by 10:30. We were able to see Goofy, Captain Hook, Aladdin, Donald, and Max. Pluto was out front but we didnt stop to see him. My girls are true Disney freaks, but I think they must be getting too old for the characters because they didnt really get into it. We had a good time and the food was great, but I dont know that well do it again.
After eating, we walked around the DL Hotel because we had never been there before. We then walked back through Downtown Disney where we browsed through a couple of stores, then back to DCA to ride TOT one last time. The wait was only about 20 minutes. Im sure the waits for other rides were also short but we decided we were ready to head home so we wouldnt hit too much rush hour traffic. We went to the World of Disney and bought a couple of things and then bought a caramel apple from the candy store in DD to bring home with us. I think it was around 2:30 when we left the parking structure.
Knotts We went to Knotts on Monday and arrived there a little after they opened at 10am. We were able to get the S. CA rates of $26.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids. They didnt have those prices posted anywhere but I had seen them on their website. So if youre from S. CA, be sure and ask for any special prices.
We went on Ghostrider first and had to wait about 30 minutes. I think that was the longest line we waited in all day. And I only think it was that long because its right by the entrance so everyone rides it first. We rode it again in the evening and waited just a few minutes. The next longest wait was Perilous Plunge (which only DD15 went on) because they only run one boat and it takes a long time to load and unload. We were able to ride everything we wanted to at least once. We left the park from about 4-6pm to check into our hotel and grab some dinner at Taco Bell and after we returned, we only stayed until about 8:45. We did miss the ice skating show that I wanted to see.
Knotts is not Disneyland, but we had a good time. One thing I noticed is that they are very safety conscious there. I was watching when we were in line and getting on rides, and they obviously have procedures to follow and they follow them every time. When my DD was in line for Perilous Plunge, they wouldnt let a teen girl on because she was too thin for the safety restraints.
Anaheim Coast Hotel I booked this hotel through Expedia. I was hesitant about staying here because they charge $8 a night for parking. But when I added that to the nightly rate I got, it was still one of the least expensive I could get for the nights we were staying ($20/night less than HoJo.) We asked for a Disney view room and received one on the 9th floor, which had a great view of both DCA and Disneyland. We left Knotts early enough to get back to the hotel in time to watch the fireworks from our balcony and it worked out perfectly! The pool at this hotel is also great. Its big, heated, and has lots of chairs around to sit in. Theres also a bar by the pool where you can get drinks. The pool area was clean and all of the chairs and umbrellas were in good condition. We spent about an hour by the pool and Tuesday and would have stayed longer if we had more time. Our room was a little small and worn, but not enough to deter me from staying here again.
Disneyland/DCA We spent most of the day Tuesday and half of Wednesday at Disneyland and DCA. We walked from the hotel to DL on Tuesday morning, arriving just after 8am. Actually we walked to the Timon parking lot, entering through the gate on Katella, and then took the tram. We were able to ride Indy, Big Thunder, POTC, Snow White, and Pinocchio before taking one of the horse drawn cars back to the front entrance to head over to DCA. We were in DCA for the rope drop and then headed with everyone else to TOT. We rode TOT twice, spent some time in the Animation building, rode Screamin, Maliboomer, Soarin and GRR and had two long snack breaks before going back to the hotel at about 3pm.
The girls went swimming for about an hour and then we took a short nap. We then drove down the street to Red Robin for dinner. Unfortunately, both DD15 and I were not feeling good (too much junk food?) so we didnt eat much of our dinner.
We headed back to DL and took the train from Main Street to the Toontown station, rode Its a Small World, and then DD11 and I rode the Matterhorn twice while DD15 waited for the parade because she still wasnt feeling well. We watched the parade and fireworks, and then headed over to watch Fantasmic where we were able to get a decent spot up front. Because we dont usually stay late, the girls had not seen Fantasmic since they were very little and did not remember it. But they both thought it was worth the 45 minute wait. We headed back to the hotel after that and were glad we had driven and not walked.
On Wednesday morning, we didnt get to DL until about 9am, and headed straight for Splash Mountain since I had promised DD11 that we would ride it. We were basically able to walk right on. After that we took the train over to Tomorrowland and rode the Matterhorn.
Goofys Kitchen On Wednesday we at breakfast at Goofys Kitchen. We had never done a character meal before (other than on the cruise) and decided to give it a try. We had a reservation for 10:30, so we took the monorail from DL to Downtown Disney at about 10:00 and were checked in and seated by 10:30. We were able to see Goofy, Captain Hook, Aladdin, Donald, and Max. Pluto was out front but we didnt stop to see him. My girls are true Disney freaks, but I think they must be getting too old for the characters because they didnt really get into it. We had a good time and the food was great, but I dont know that well do it again.
After eating, we walked around the DL Hotel because we had never been there before. We then walked back through Downtown Disney where we browsed through a couple of stores, then back to DCA to ride TOT one last time. The wait was only about 20 minutes. Im sure the waits for other rides were also short but we decided we were ready to head home so we wouldnt hit too much rush hour traffic. We went to the World of Disney and bought a couple of things and then bought a caramel apple from the candy store in DD to bring home with us. I think it was around 2:30 when we left the parking structure.
But no, first we're taking care of two extra kids overnight tonight, finish packing tomorrow, leave for my parent's house Sunday morning, and off to 
Thanks for sharing.
