Lots of Completed Trip Reports....Nov 2009 - April 2014

[mvf-m11c]

Very nice photos Deej as I have expected. I can't believe you were there that Monday when I just left. I was only in the park for about 2 hours until we left back home to Sacramento.

Can't wait to read more from your TR.

 

[deejdigsdis]

Oh my gosh!! How beautiful!!

Thank you Michele! Good to see you here.

Hello sister!! I was so happy to see those Christmas pics! I love the black and white with the poinsettias, so pretty! Can't wait for your TR

back at ya. Just about to start the official TR.

Well said CB Jamboree. While the pictures were loading up I was thinking 'LAMP POSTS!'

I look forward to the trip report!

TK

Hi TK! Lamp posts scream "Decorate me for Christmas!" Love them.

Very nice photos Deej as I have expected. I can't believe you were there that Monday when I just left. I was only in the park for about 2 hours until we left back home to Sacramento.

Can't wait to read more from your TR.

Thanks Bret. Just about to get this thing started.

 

[deejdigsdis]

Welcome to my unexpected-2-day-adventure-with-my-husband Trip Report!

Backtracking a bit...last October I went to DLR for a week with my mom and sisters. Sometime this summer we decided that should be an annual event and plans were put in motion to go to DLR Nov. 14-16. Those plans fell apart in September when my dad was diagnosed with a rare incurable cancer and my mom had unexpected double bypass.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving week. We realized our oldest son (6th grade) had the entire week off school. That's a new thing. The younger boys (3rd grade and Kindergarten) go to year round school and have most of November off. We always go to my in laws for Thanksgiving, and I suggested to my husband that maybe we could go to his parents' house a few days early this year, leave the kids, and then go away for a night. He thought that sounded like a good plan, but in his mind we would stay somewhat close to his parents' house. I, however, had other plans. I suggested that we leave extremely early Monday morning Nov. 21st and go to Disneyland for that day and most of Tuesday the 22nd, and then return home to his parents' late Tuesday night. We would have about 22 hours of park time total. Well, this news wasn't received very well by my husband. He thought it was CRAZY to go so far for such a short time. I decided to throw in a little something to help my case. I told him I would ride TOT with him. A ride that I wanted to like but didn't. A ride that I've only been on once, and ended up with a 24 hour headache as a result. This is J's (my husband) favorite ride, so I was hoping it would sway him. He still was thinking "too much money for such a short time." I told him I could get an AP since we are doing a big family trip next October -- and that will help spread out the ticket costs. He still wasn't convinced. I decided to forget about it and not push it. It was a lot of $$, but not as much as he was thinking since we were using a flight credit from a flight he had to cancel as well as a credit from a work conference he had paid for but had to cancel. Well, one day I was standing in line at the grocery store and he called me. He said, "I'm on the Southwest website...you really want the 6am flight? You don't want to take a later one?" And it was done! I may have squealed while in line at the checkout. No more than 4 times though.

When we told the kids of our plans...our oldest said, "If you're going to go that far, you might as well go for more than 1 night!" My youngest said, "You can go for more days...I don't care." Then went back to telling his brother about each topping he put on his frozen yogurt. My middle son didn't say anything or really acknowledge I had spoken. He hasn't been bitten by the Disneyland bug yet. I ask him occasionally if he wants to take a trip alone with me and Aunt D, (like each of his brothers did this year) and he says, "I don't know. Not yet."

So we ended up taking our sons' advice and booked a second night! Our first night was booked at Ramada Maingate through their website. When I went back to book a second night, they were full. I ended up booking a 2nd night there through Priceline at a cheaper price, so it all worked out.

Moving on...we made that 6am flight, enjoyed Peppermint Hot Chocolate during our layover, and ended up at SNA Monday morning Nov. 21st. We made our way out to the Super Shuttle pick up.

You just can't beat their price when you use the code UYR59 when booking online, booking each person separately to get the discount for each person.

First stop was at Ayers Hotel. It looks nice. My husband asked, "Why don't we ever stay here?"

First glimpse of DLR...

We were the 2nd stop. We went to check in. The lady noticed we had 2 separate reservations. I had booked a Queen room, but she upgraded us to a King and fixed things so we wouldn't have to check out and then check in again to a different room. We were very happy with Ramada Maingate's service, room, and especially the location!

Our room wasn't ready so we dropped off our bags and then headed to Disneyland!

I should mention that I was sick. One of those awful coughs/colds. I hadn't lost my sense of taste, though, thank goodness. Otherwise I would have cancelled our Big Thunder Ranch BBQ reservation. But I'm getting ahead of myself...

So -- I was sick, plus I had an infection in my big toe on my right foot. The infection wasn't bothering me at the moment, but I didn't want to push it to the point of not being able to walk. This would be a different Disneyland trip for sure. My PRIORITIES LIST consisted of: Sitting on Main Street and drinking hot chocolate and enjoying the Christmas music, frolicking in Main Street snowfalls, and getting my fill of IASWH. I recently decided that I enjoy the Holiday overlay more than the original. Blasphemy! I really enjoy the original so that is saying a lot.

That was it, really. Anything else was bonus. I was going to spend time with my husband and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere at Disneyland.

Making our way across the street. I really do prefer this new sign to the old one.

What a crazy short walk! I could get used to this.

We made our way to the turnstiles. DL opened at 8am and we were arriving at around 10:45am.

We had less than 5 people in front of us.

We're here!

I knew that going Thanksgiving week would be the busiest time to go out of all my recent visits, so picking up FPs was definitely a must. I was going to head to Indy first.

Before we made our way down Main Street we noticed this horse. It seemed a bit out of control. I wondered if it was new on the job.

They eventually led the horse backstage.

We continued down Main Street and saw this set-up. Must have been some sort of time-lapse filming of the clock.

This "Guarder of the Clock" made us a chuckle a bit:

So...off to Indy to get FPs. Wouldn't you know it...it was down. No FPs for us! I went to get an FP for BTMR. It came in SO handy to have it disconnected from the rest of the FP system. It is my favorite "Mountain Ride" after all. Got the FPs then headed over to HMH to get an FP. It was down as well. So I continued right along and got Splash Mountain FPs. We needed to ride that one early. I think the temps were low 60s.

Lamp post by Splash.

Time to make my way back to J. He was waiting in the ROA area watching the boats go by.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Glad to hear that you added a 2nd night to your trip since going to DL during Thanksgiving weekend will be busy. At least you got to stay at the Ramada hotel for both nights instead of going to another hotel if there wasn't anything available.

I like your pictures at the beginning of MS. The one with the wreath with the MS station is my favorite on this post. I remember that DSLR camera on the tall tripod on MS where the clock is that Monday morning and I was wondering what they were doing. It must be for the Disney website for the Holiday season.

I can't believe we were about 45 minutes apart from possible seeing each other that day. Great start to your TR and can't wait to read more.

 

[deejdigsdis]

Glad to hear that you added a 2nd night to your trip since going to DL during Thanksgiving weekend will be busy. At least you got to stay at the Ramada hotel for both nights instead of going to another hotel if there wasn't anything available.

I like your pictures at the beginning of MS. The one with the wreath with the MS station is my favorite on this post. I remember that DSLR camera on the tall tripod on MS where the clock is that Monday morning and I was wondering what they were doing. It must be for the Disney website for the Holiday season.

I can't believe we were about 45 minutes apart from possible seeing each other that day. Great start to your TR and can't wait to read more.

Thanks for reading Bret.

Yes, it was really nice not switching hotels.

I meant to ask you what time you left DL on Mon. the 21st. So was it around 10:00am?

 

[deejdigsdis]

I guess I should have included this pic in the last post...

This is where my husband was waiting for me. I noticed that the roses hadn't changed from a visit earlier this year. That surprised me...it seems like they switch up the flowers quite often.

From here we headed over to Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. We passed BTMR on the way and noticed it was down. That's 3 major rides down in less than 30 minutes of stepping foot in the park. I was hoping this trend would not continue.

We had an 11:30 lunch reservation and arrived at 11:15. They let us check in and gave us a pager. Meanwhile I wandered around and took some pictures.

These tables wouldn't be empty for long! TK, do you happen to be eating here this time around? I think your family would enjoy it. My husband and I went here for lunch on our alone trip last year and loved it. Not a place we would take our kids at this point in time, though, so we need to enjoy it when they are not with us.

Here Comes Santa Claus...Here Comes Santa Claus...

Ending on that total Santa Claus Stalker note...I'll be back later.

 

[tksbaskets]

These tables wouldn't be empty for long! TK, do you happen to be eating here this time around? I think your family would enjoy it. My husband and I went here for lunch on our alone trip last year and loved it. Not a place we would take our kids at this point in time, though, so we need to enjoy it when they are not with us.

Love the pictures! As I was reading along I'm thinking to myself "Gee, I hope Deej liked the BTBBQ as I just made reservations there two days ago for our late December trip. I was kind of hoping for some food pics....Just kidding!

This is the closest I'll get our sons to Santa too. So glad you are sharing your trip with us.

 

[smile4stamps]

I'm so happy to see you made it back to DL!! Can't wait to read more!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Great pictures as always Deej. I haven't spent a lot of time at BTR BBQ eating area when I was there during my trip. I now regret of not spending a lot of time out there during my trip.

Thanks for reading Bret.

Yes, it was really nice not switching hotels.

I meant to ask you what time you left DL on Mon. the 21st. So was it around 10:00am?

Your welcome. Thank you for taking the time to post your great pictures.

I looked on my times from my pictures and we left the park around 9:50am that Monday morning which was on Monday the 21st.

 

[CB Jamboree]

It looks so magical during the holidays! The pics are just beautiful, I can't believe I have yet to visit during the Christmas season When the middle child finally catches the "Disneyland Bug" and he's ready to go with his AuntD, I will be ready and waiting
Can't wait to read more!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Subscribing!!! I was there on the 23rd.

 

[kaoden39]

Thank you for the welcome!

I love the Ayres! You should stay there sometime. If you "Like" their page on facebook there are usually discounts on their page that they are offering.


I love the Santa stalking pictures. Great little word play!! I am glad to hear you got a second night, I am pushing for a third. I am greedy!!

 

[deejdigsdis]

Love the pictures! As I was reading along I'm thinking to myself "Gee, I hope Deej liked the BTBBQ as I just made reservations there two days ago for our late December trip. I was kind of hoping for some food pics....Just kidding!

This is the closest I'll get our sons to Santa too. So glad you are sharing your trip with us.

Oh, food pictures will be coming TK. No worries there! That food sounds so good right now.

I'm so happy to see you made it back to DL!! Can't wait to read more!!

Hi Paula! I see you're back in the TR-writing saddle once again. I have some catching up to do. I'm finding it hard to get to everything I need to these days.

Great pictures as always Deej. I haven't spent a lot of time at BTR BBQ eating area when I was there during my trip. I now regret of not spending a lot of time out there during my trip.



Your welcome. Thank you for taking the time to post your great pictures.

I looked on my times from my pictures and we left the park around 9:50am that Monday morning which was on Monday the 21st.

I'm glad you're enjoying the pictures. The BTR BBQ area was so pretty. There is so much they can do in the way of holiday decorations back there.

It looks so magical during the holidays! The pics are just beautiful, I can't believe I have yet to visit during the Christmas season When the middle child finally catches the "Disneyland Bug" and he's ready to go with his AuntD, I will be ready and waiting
Can't wait to read more!

You would LOVE seeing DL all dressed up for Christmas. So would Mom. She would be happy to just walk around and look at everything, with the occasional Billy Hill and "Mark Twaaaaain! Maaarrrrk Twaiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!" breaks.

Subscribing!!! I was there on the 23rd.

Hi there! Thanks for popping in. We left right around noon on the 23rd. It was so hard to walk away.

Thank you for the welcome!

I love the Ayres! You should stay there sometime. If you "Like" their page on facebook there are usually discounts on their page that they are offering.


I love the Santa stalking pictures. Great little word play!! I am glad to hear you got a second night, I am pushing for a third. I am greedy!!

OK, I'm probably the last person on earth that isn't on Facebook. Maybe my sister (CB Jamboree) is still in that camp too. I assume the ART system is available to Ayers guests? I think I've gotten used to just walking over quickly and not waiting for shuttles. It looks like a nice place, though, and I think I remember seeing it rated very high on TripAdvisor.

 

[kaoden39]

I think it is on the ART system but I am more of a driver. I kind of like being away from the hubbub at the end of the day. On the subject of the Ayres I hit pay dirt. Wednesday night sitting feeling sick I was online and saw that they were having a contest for two 2 day park hoppers and a one night stay. I thought I never win anything but I decided to try it. I WON!! So for my husband and my trip in February is much cheaper. We already had two nights paid for so we have a third night!! I was thrilled!!


On a side note, I loved your post on Sherry's thread!!

 

[deejdigsdis]

I think it is on the ART system but I am more of a driver. I kind of like being away from the hubbub at the end of the day. On the subject of the Ayres I hit pay dirt. Wednesday night sitting feeling sick I was online and saw that they were having a contest for two 2 day park hoppers and a one night stay. I thought I never win anything but I decided to try it. I WON!! So for my husband and my trip in February is much cheaper. We already had two nights paid for so we have a third night!! I was thrilled!!


On a side note, I loved your post on Sherry's thread!!

Oh that is so awesome! I'm really happy for you! Wow, how fun is that. I can understand wanting to be away from the hubbub at the end of the day.

I was hoping there would be another Rankin-Bass fan that would understand my references.

 

[kaoden39]

Oh that is so awesome! I'm really happy for you! Wow, how fun is that. I can understand wanting to be away from the hubbub at the end of the day.

I was hoping there would be another Rankin-Bass fan that would understand my references.

Thank you.


Oh yeah I am a major Rankin-Bass fan. When they started selling the videos when my kids were little I bought them. They are all teenagers now and they still watch them from time to time all year long. I even have Rudolph ornaments. Big fan.

 

[deejdigsdis]

Thank you.


Oh yeah I am a major Rankin-Bass fan. When they started selling the videos when my kids were little I bought them. They are all teenagers now and they still watch them from time to time all year long. I even have Rudolph ornaments. Big fan.

We watched Frosty the Snowman the other night. I still get teary when he melts.

 

[deejdigsdis]

Wow. I'm really struggling with this thing. With all 3 boys birthdays within the past couple of weeks (2 the same day) and my sickness that came on pre-Disneyland STILL lingering and just the general busy-ness of the season...it's hard to find the time and the energy.

I last left off with some Stalking Santa Claus pictures. (I'm getting pretty good at those stalking pictures...Halloween Lady...my sister eating chocolate-covered strawberries at Coke Corner...) We had about 15 minutes to mosey around BTR BBQ area and take pics while waiting for the pager to go off.

Here are some more pics of what we enjoyed while waiting to eat. It was probably the best waiting-to-be-seated-for-a-meal time ever. Sure beats just sitting on a bench or standing outside of a restaurant with nothing to look at!

Next up...Getting our BBQ on!

 

[kaoden39]

I love how each reindeer has their own special food. How cute is that?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Great pictures from Santa's Reindeer Round-Up.