Life’s too short...to never sleep in a treehouse! 8/27 TR is up! Link in siggie

[Charleston Princess]

Hopefully they will work, I admit there was a pair of Lilly Pulitzers that I really liked but I didn't want to spend that much. I've never tried this brand before, PJ Salvage is my default brand of choice but their summer options are either nightgowns (which I feel weird in ) or short sorts and things that are a bit too sheer.

I ordered from here

http://www.sleepyheads.com

and got a couple pairs like this that were on sale and then a short waffle weave robe. I think they YC has robes but know POP doesn't and am not sure about HRH so would rather bring my own. This should be perfect.

So many cute choices!!! How did you ever decide???

 

[eandesmom]

All caught up now! I love the big puzzle reveal! So cool you were able to pull it off!

The beach looked great - we usually go to Huntington, but Seal Beach looks great too! DHs uncle has told us about growing up in the 70s and hanging out at Seal Beach with the bonfires and surfing and guitars - the whole So Cal classic experience. Fun to see your pics!

I am so jealous of that wonderful sunshine! I've been trying to convince DH we needed a trip to DL this year, but he has a bet we won't do it It was still snowing here yesterday. Not sticking, but come ON it's MAY!

Looking forward to more adventures, and a little worried that Spot was left at home.

It was sunny but it wasn't hot...I could have used another 10 degrees the whole trip, easily! But it was VERY So Cal...I couldn't believe all the low riders, should have taken more pics but that was pretty cool and the kids had never seen surfing before so they loved that.

Of course Jeff and I kept bursting into song singing "low rider", it was pretty funny. I for some reason was convinced that they played that song in Ghostbusters but her corrected me.

Let me know how soft your new jammies are! For me they have to be super soft. I hate the sheets on vacation, they are so scratchy - I'm like the princess and the pea story.

Me too! I hope they are soft and not stiff but we will see, they should be here on Tuesday. I will usually do a tank top to sleep in but wanted a little more coverage to be in a hotel room, especially if it's connecting with the inlaws! The ones I ordered are "lawn cotton" so I think that's soft....

So many cute choices!!! How did you ever decide???

Well I wanted capri's and sleeveless so that narrowed it down but there is a ton of cute things! I really wanted a couple of pairs that were full price and a bit cuter (though not necessarily sleeveless..which might not be as comfy) but the sale price on those helped me be strong and I liked the detailing. I could get two pairs at the sale price but only one if I paid full price lol!. I hope they work out! I just checked on the shipping, they said by Tuesday but they are in our distribution center as of last night. Maybe I will get lucky and have them in time for mothers day! I doubt it though but it would ease the pain of all the cleaning I have to do and the fact that the mattress isn't here yet.

If they work though I have a feeling that website could be dangerous!

 

[eandesmom]

Done with dinner, even though it was almost 9, we decided it’s never too late to go to…
DOWNTOWN DISNEY!

I don’t know about you guys but my weekend is looking a little nutso! So I thought I should finish up day 1 before I am swept up like a balloon on the waves of baseball, taekwon do, piano lessons, cub scouts, birthday parties and getting my house ready to hose a wedding shower next weekend. Suffice to say there will be NO relaxing this mother’s day!

In truth I have to admit I was a little surprised Jeff was up for heading to DTD. It was 9, we’d been up since 5 and it was past the E’s normal bedtime. However really if we didn’t stay out, he and I would have to go to bed at 9 and that wasn’t going to happen. So off to Downtown Disney we went.

I realized that I forgot to mention in the last update that when we’d gone up to the room to change for the pool, the boys discovered the presents in their suitcase. Both put them on immediately. Which was funny in Evan’s case as his was 2 abercromie t-shirts and he was heading to the pool. Eric’s made sense given that it was a new swimsuit and swimshirt. They LOVED their goodies. So of course Evan wore one of his new shirts to dinner as well so he felt “dressed” to go shopping. Which is pretty funny in a 10 year old boy. So, leaving the restaurant, myself in heels and Evan in his new shirt, we headed out. For the long drive.

It was maybe a 5 minute drive from dinner. Parking was a little odd, it appeared that there were ticket booths but the gates were wide open so it didn’t look like you had to take a ticket but we weren’t sure. It was packed! After a couple of swings around through, we managed to snag rock star parking in the front row.

DTD at DLR is a different story than it is at WDW. It is not nearly as big, though like WDW it is a bit on the narrow side. When you park you enter at one end. If you look at the map, the parking lot the big corner patch of grass between the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier. We were parked very close to the corner of the lot near the fountain at the edge of the landscaped area you see on the map. You then walk on paths kind of over, and in front of the Disneyland Hotel to make your way to DTD.

Since I know many of you have never been to the left coast version, here’s a list of what you’ll find there!

Downtown Disney® District Shopping
Anne Geddes
Basin™
Build-A-Bear Workshop®
Compass Books
Disney's Pin Traders
Disney Vault 28
D Street
ESPN Zone® Studio Store
Fossil®
House of Blues® Store
Island Charters
kitson kids
The LEGO Imagination Center®
LittleMissMatched™
Marceline's Confectionery
Quiksilver Boardriders Club Store
Rainforest Retail Shopping Village
RIDEMAKERZ®
Sephora®
Something Silver®
Studio Disney 365
Sunglass Icon™
Travelex®
Walt Disney Travel Company Guest Services
World of Disney®

Downtown Disney® District Dining
Snacks
Compass Books Cafe
ESPN Zone® Restaurant
Haagen-Dazs®
House of Blues® Restaurant
Jamba Juice®
La Brea Bakery Cafe
Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria
Napolini
Rainforest Cafe®
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen®
Tortilla Jo's
Uva Bar
Wetzel's® Pretzels
Quick Service
Compass Books Cafe
Haagen-Dazs®
Jamba Juice®
Napolini
Wetzel's® Pretzels
Gathering Places
Uva Bar
Fine Dining
Catal Restaurant
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen®
Casual Dining
Tortilla Jo's
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen®
Rainforest Cafe®
Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria
La Brea Bakery Cafe
House of Blues Gospel Brunch
House of Blues® Restaurant
ESPN Zone® Restaurant

Downtown Disney® District Entertainment
AMC Theatres®
ESPN Zone® Sports Arena
House of Blues® Stage
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen® - Flambeaux's Jazz Club
​

What you don’t see on this list is street entertainment. Although I’d been to DTD back in 2001 I’d never really been at night and certainly not on a Saturday night. We strolled in to find ourselves surrounded by life performances seemingly everywhere we turned!

Somewhat overwhelmed we walked in to the end of the main courtyard area where it widens a little to try to figure out what we wanted to do. We had told the kids that they each had $25 in souvenir money and if they were good, the souvenir gods might deem them worthy and grant them with additional funds. But tonight wasn’t about spending all their money, it was just seeing what was there. I wanted to peek at D Street, that was a must do for the night and then get a feel for what else was there. Evan wanted to look at fedoras. Jeff was kind of along for the ride and Eric, well Eric was another story.

“Mom. Can someone spend all their money on the first night?”
“No honey, we are just looking tonight, once you spend it it’s gone and what if you want something at Knott’s or California Adventure?”
“But Mom. I’m not going to be able to sleep without Spot”
​

As I pondered this we were startled by a loud, unexpected noise overhead.

FIREWORKS!

We’d arrived just in time for the Disneyland fireworks!
The view wasn’t all that great. It didn't really matter though. It felt magical and perfect and very very much like we were really on vacation! I think a fair amount of the show is pretty low and as they don’t pipe in the music to DTD, it would appear, multiple times that the show was over…only to have another series start a minute later. Lots of gaps. It was kind of funny, we’d stop, watch, think it was over, start walking, it would start again.

We’d stop, watch, think it was over, start walking and it would start again.

We’d go back to our original viewing spot as it was better than where we’d walked to.

I think this happened 3-4 times!

The interesting part of it was that we were right next to a pin trading kiosk. The kids didn’t even glance at it!!!!!!!!! Apparently the lure of a fedora and the worry about Spot made them blind to pins.

Fireworks over we started to stroll. We found
A jazz group, an amazing violinist and my personal favorite, the hammered dulcimer. This guy was AMAZING. Though it might be hard to imagine someone playing Coldplay on the hammered dulcimer, this guy pulled it off.

We also found…the danger zone.

For Jeff.

See how intent Jeff is in the background? Eric wanted to shake this guys hand. Interestingly enough the first store we actually went into was a place called Island Charters. Which is a plane themed store. With a lot of seaplane things! He went NUTS. It was pretty funny. Cute cute stuff. Some really pricey stuff! We agreed we needed to come back so he could really spend more time there but even with that I bet we were in there for a half an hour.

Next stop. D street.

It was packed! And pretty small. I expected small, but it seemed smaller as crammed full of people as it was. No real place for a line to form, as you’d expect in a boutique so that was part of the problem.

I’ll admit, it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. They had some cute stuff, no doubt. But a lot of it was not Disney. Rock themed stuff, trendy items, but not nearly the Disney selection I was expecting. Most of what they did have was all Alice themed stuff or Vinylmation. Nothing I was really dying over.

Evan on the other hand was in fedora heaven. I really kind of wanted him to get something Disney but it was his money. As with food though, his eyes were bigger than his size. Eveything he liked…was in an adult size and he looked pretty ridiculous. At the very end, he found one he loved. That actually fit. We agreed to keep it in mind and look when we came back, we knew we’d be back at least once for a decent chunk of time, maybe more.

As we walked out I noted a store called Vault 28. This looked like what I was expecting D Street to be like. I really wanted to go in there. But it was getting late. So I made a note, and a statement that we’d be coming back for that. And Basin. And of course, the mothership, the World of Disney Store. We did do a quick peek in the lego store but that was more of a drive by than anything.

Our perusal done, we had one last stop to make.

You may have noticed it on the list of shops.

Eric’s danger zone.

That which kept him from noticing pins or anything else.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Build A Bear.

Spot, Snowy, Scout are all build a bear animals.
I agreed we could go in there, with the stated purpose of maybe buying Spot a Disney T shirt.

But here’s the thing. You may recall (since I know I have gone on and on and on about it at various times ) my deep fear of disastrous sleep with supersonic hearing Jeff in the same room as wiggling Eric.

I’d packed earplugs.

The reality is that I wasn’t willing to add distraught lonely Eric to that mix. I just wasn’t going there.

So while I pretended to think about it…and Eric set his eye on a brown veltvet pup…it was determined that..

Fred the Disney Dog

Would be born.

He wasn’t allowed to get clothes, that would have put him over his $25 but I did let him get an official DTD hat. Which may have put him over but hey, you can’t buy that hat anywhere else. Except at the WDW BAB. I assume they have them there. Of course now that Eric knows there is a BAB at the DTD in WDW we are doomed. Somehow I hid that from him last time as I think it’s connected to TRex.

Why Fred?
I’d have been ok with leaving without the whole birth certificate thing. But not Eric. We sat there at the terminal, hands poised over the keypad waiting for the name. For it to be “just right”. Evan kept arguing for “brown noser” Which is SO not an Eric animal name. A very Evan name. Tells you a lot right there. Out of the blue I said “How about Fred”?

And so it was.

It occurred to me later he is the first non “S” named animal in years. I told Eric he could change it if he wanted but no, not my kid. He is black and white and once it’s done, it’s done. I like Fred the Wonder Dog myself but he’s the Disney Dog. Or at times, "Fredders".

Mission accomplished, Jeff shaking his head, we headed out. By the trek back to the car, my feet were tired. It was not so much the fact I was wearing heels. It was the fact that they were canvas wedges that have a wooden wedge. So basically I was walking on blocks of wood for about 3-4 hours. The kids noticed the rooftop pool at Paradise Pier on the way out. Little did they know they’d be seeing it up close soon!

The walk back to the room from the parking spot (which was now in Egypt thanks to the 1000 year conference, it being Saturday night and the hour) did not feel so great on the feet. I was very happy to take my shoes off.

We all slept.

Including Fred. Who was threatened with banishment to the bathroom if he talked too much. Spot talks a lot and frequently gets in trouble. Fred was much better behaved.

Fred the next morning after a good first night.

We slept well.

Even Jeff.

Or at least he didn’t wake me up.

Which is all that really matters!

Up next...Brunch with a Queen

 

[glennbo123]

Great update! What a day that was! I'm tired just reading about it.

Welcome to the family Fred! Glad to hear you let Eric go a wee bit over the limit in order to get the DTD hat.

Evan is a hoot with the name he proposed!

 

[Native NYer]

The dog is adorable!
I didn't know there's a BAB at WDW.

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

Great update! Makes me miss Disneyland. I love how DLR is set up, do you? I just love how you can take two steps in one direction and you're in DTD, and two steps the other way and you're in DCA. It's all right there.

I could never pick favorites between WDW and DLR, but I can say that if I were looking for a RELAXING Disney vacation, DLR would win hands down. No travel stress, and not nearly as much planning needed. And DTD in DLR definitely has a different feel from WDW DTD, but I kind of like it. I was DEFINITELY disappointed in the lack of Goofy's Candy Co. though.

Great update! I'm excited to hear about this trip, love Knott's!

 

[Happydog]

Cynthia, since you are my Lightning Thief buddy, I had to come over and tell you about the new series by Rick Riordan. The first one is called The Red Pyramid, and it is about Egyptian gods being released into the modern world. How cool is that??? I will be placing an order with Amazon soon.

Wow! Just had to say this author was here in town at a local book store talking about this new series and signing copies! I got one!

WHAT a great set of updates, loved the day time at Long Beach and the DownTown Disney evening! How fun! Some great stories and that brunch spot looks awesome! I remember those shops at DTD, when I was there a year ago, we just went for dinner while I was there in LA for training, but not to Disneyland or DCA... We did walk into the Grand Californian, though. Looking forward to your next updates, hope the weekend isn't to crazy!

I know this week has been like that for me!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I've been well aware of how quickly the kids grow up more and more lately. It would not of taken much persuasion for me to agree to let one spend all their money on a stuffed bear (with a disney hat no doubt) the first night either.

Yes, I thought of you while I was at SeaTac. On the way home there was this Alaskan Airways plane that was painted the fab 5 Disney characters. How I wished I could have been boarding that one instead of heading home.

 

[eandesmom]

Great update! What a day that was! I'm tired just reading about it.

Welcome to the family Fred! Glad to hear you let Eric go a wee bit over the limit in order to get the DTD hat.

Evan is a hoot with the name he proposed!

It is SO very Evan. He has brown eyes for a reason.



Fred is pretty stinking cute. And cuddly to boot!

The dog is adorable!
I didn't know there's a BAB at WDW.

I knew about the one at WDW but it's attached to TRex so I assumed (no idea if it's right or wrong) that it was limited and dinosaur oriented. I made no attempt to check it out though we did see people carrying the tell tale BAB box.

He is a darn cute little pup.

Great update! Makes me miss Disneyland. I love how DLR is set up, do you? I just love how you can take two steps in one direction and you're in DTD, and two steps the other way and you're in DCA. It's all right there.

I could never pick favorites between WDW and DLR, but I can say that if I were looking for a RELAXING Disney vacation, DLR would win hands down. No travel stress, and not nearly as much planning needed. And DTD in DLR definitely has a different feel from WDW DTD, but I kind of like it. I was DEFINITELY disappointed in the lack of Goofy's Candy Co. though.

Great update! I'm excited to hear about this trip, love Knott's!

It is all right there and that closeness definitely came into play (in a good way) later in the trip. It was really cool in many ways, just how different, yet similar it was. It was relaxing and loosey goosey and really nice that it could be!

The candy was disappointing, we did check out the store there (forget the name) and it was lame.

Wow! Just had to say this author was here in town at a local book store talking about this new series and signing copies! I got one!

WHAT a great set of updates, loved the day time at Long Beach and the DownTown Disney evening! How fun! Some great stories and that brunch spot looks awesome! I remember those shops at DTD, when I was there a year ago, we just went for dinner while I was there in LA for training, but not to Disneyland or DCA... We did walk into the Grand Californian, though. Looking forward to your next updates, hope the weekend isn't to crazy!

I know this week has been like that for me!

Isn't he fun to hear speak? Evan just loved him and got all of his Percy Jackson books signed.

You are staying at the GC for your trip next fall, right? We spent a little time there....but you'll have to wait to hear about it.

I've been well aware of how quickly the kids grow up more and more lately. It would not of taken much persuasion for me to agree to let one spend all their money on a stuffed bear (with a disney hat no doubt) the first night either.

Yes, I thought of you while I was at SeaTac. On the way home there was this Alaskan Airways plane that was painted the fab 5 Disney characters. How I wished I could have been boarding that one instead of heading home.

Who could resist the Disney hat? Honestly, had he wanted the Peter Pan outfit, I could have gone there too but Eric is very literal with his animals, no fantasy clothing for them. They have to have jeans shorts, t's, preppy polo's, khaki's or plaid shirts. A hat was actually branching out a bit! Poor Scout has a whole cub scout uniform, including a hat and it's never on the poor husky dog. Thankfully Fred's hat is still on.

So true about them getting older. Eric even mentioned it, that sometimes he thinks he might be too old for stuffed animals (well not really, just mildly concerned he's too old to carry one through a store or airport lol).

That Alaska plane is fun, I hope we get the WDW one for our Orlando flight!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I am not a big fan of crowds at DtD, but it sounds like you had a good time in spite of them! Fred the Disney Dog is very cute, and I bet Spot likes having a new buddy around the house -- after all, dogs are pack animals. Oh, and I am pretty sure the Build-a-Bear at the WDW DTD is dinosaur-themed since it is inside T-Rex. I don't know if that will make a difference or not.

I hope you got to go to Vault 28 -- I want to know what's inside.

Happydog, how cool that you were able to get a signed copy by Rick Riordan!

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

Great first day!! I've decided that you know how to do the first day on a vacation right. Can I come along next time? We always jump right in on our first day, & I can definitely see the benefits of taking it slow instead.

I really enjoy all of the live music in DTD. It seems like as soon as you are out of hearing range of one act, you are walking up to another one. And I love that it is all different styles of music. We went into D Street on our last trip and I felt the same as you. Not enough true Disney stuff. What is up with all the vinylmation stuff? I don't get it AT ALL! Dylan was trying on the fedoras too. I will have to post a picture to show you.

Can't wait to hear about your next day!!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

All caught up. Brunch looked fun - I could go for a mimosa myself right now! I thought for a minute I'd been to that Pier with the Ruby's diner - but then you said Seal Beach. I guess we would have been at Huntington Beach, but it looked exactly the same! Oh, and I used to live in Long Beach too. It was my dad's hometown and we lived there for a year before I started kindergarten.

Love Fred the Disneydog - he's a cutie. And hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to get a good night's sleep. I can only imagine what would happen if we left on vacation without Lucy's blankie!

 

[KathyRN137]

Wow! What an extensive list of stores at DTD-West! Tricia was drooling...

Funny about the stop-and-go fireworks!

I love Fredders... he's so cute!


Kathy

 

[Happydog]

Happy Mother's Day to you!!!! Hope you enjoy your day!!!

 

[Native NYer]

Happy Mother's Day!!!

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

Happy, Happy Mother's Day!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Mother's Day, Cynthia!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Love the update and Fred the DD! We love WDW, but DL feels like "home" as we've been there so many times. I love the way they've packed almost all the rides from 4 parks at WDW into 2 parks and are adding on! I wish there were more places to eat in the park, but there are alot of good choices all around.

 

[eandesmom]

I am not a big fan of crowds at DtD, but it sounds like you had a good time in spite of them! Fred the Disney Dog is very cute, and I bet Spot likes having a new buddy around the house -- after all, dogs are pack animals. Oh, and I am pretty sure the Build-a-Bear at the WDW DTD is dinosaur-themed since it is inside T-Rex. I don't know if that will make a difference or not.

I hope you got to go to Vault 28 -- I want to know what's inside.

Happydog, how cool that you were able to get a signed copy by Rick Riordan!

I figured the one at TRex was Dinosaur themed, I'm sure we will pop in there just to see what they have, it was fun to see DL specific T shirts, ears and all kind of character outfits, it would be cool if they had that at the WDW one but I've no idea. Spot and Snowy have welcomed Fred with open arms, they all wished me a happy mothers day yesterday. Poor Eric is beside himself already trying to pick who gets to go to Florida....I'd really like it to be only one of them but we will see!

The crowds were not bad at all our entire trip and it was only in D Street that I even noticed it really.

Vault 28. Maybe. You'll have to wait and see

Great first day!! I've decided that you know how to do the first day on a vacation right. Can I come along next time? We always jump right in on our first day, & I can definitely see the benefits of taking it slow instead.

I really enjoy all of the live music in DTD. It seems like as soon as you are out of hearing range of one act, you are walking up to another one. And I love that it is all different styles of music. We went into D Street on our last trip and I felt the same as you. Not enough true Disney stuff. What is up with all the vinylmation stuff? I don't get it AT ALL! Dylan was trying on the fedoras too. I will have to post a picture to show you.

Can't wait to hear about your next day!!

LOL! I do like to take it easy the first day, it helps set the stage. It will be interesting to see if that happens in FL in August, I hope so! I was kind of surprised Evan didn't want the baseball vinlymation mickey, he was cute.

All caught up. Brunch looked fun - I could go for a mimosa myself right now! I thought for a minute I'd been to that Pier with the Ruby's diner - but then you said Seal Beach. I guess we would have been at Huntington Beach, but it looked exactly the same! Oh, and I used to live in Long Beach too. It was my dad's hometown and we lived there for a year before I started kindergarten.

Love Fred the Disneydog - he's a cutie. And hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to get a good night's sleep. I can only imagine what would happen if we left on vacation without Lucy's blankie!

Maybe you were at both? Not sure if there is a Ruby's at the end of Huntington or not. Fred definitely saved the day. Or night as it was!

Wow! What an extensive list of stores at DTD-West! Tricia was drooling...

Funny about the stop-and-go fireworks!

I love Fredders... he's so cute!


Kathy

There were some good shops to be sure! Fred looks so new next to the others it's kind of funny, especially given that Snowy just arrived at Christmas. I bet by August he won't look nearly so new.

 

[eandesmom]

Happy Mother's Day to you!!!! Hope you enjoy your day!!!

Thanks Jennifer! I hope you did too

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Thanks Jennifer!!!!!

Happy, Happy Mother's Day!!!

Thanks Alison I hope you had a wonderful one!

Happy Mother's Day, Cynthia!

Thanks Jackie, I hope yours was wonderful