So here we go!!!
We left right on time this trip - 6 AM. Made our now usual stop at the gas station to fill up and check the tires for air and such - and then we were on our way! We then made our now usual stop at Chic-fil-A for breakfast around 6:45 and then made another stop around 9 for some much needed coffee for DH, and of course, I got some too!
We arrived at the beautiful, the extravagant, the infamous Grand Californian Hotel around 11:30. Knowing that they were probably running at full capacity (found out later they were actually sold out that night), I highly doubted that we would be able to check-in. Fortunatley, I knew that we could easily change into our swimsuits and hit the pool until our room was ready while they took care of our bags. Well, that idea fell through once we reached the outskirts of Anaheim. It was gray and foggy. Actually...it was gray and foggy about 100 miles out of Anaheim as well - check out my super fab photography skills as I pass the time taking pictures from the road:
and the super creepy palm trees that come before this - I think they are around the border line between AZ/CA.
So we pull up the car to the front entrance. DH is still a little confused when he does this - he's always worried they'll charge us for valet, so I have to remind him that this is how you check in and its not like they'll take our bags unless we ask them too - so we don't have to tip them for something we can do ourselves
We go to check in and we're both pretty excited about everything. Even though we'd seen the hotel before, we really looked like 2 little kids in an ice cream factory waiting for the all you can eat portion of the tour to begin! We got in line, still wide-eyed, and me hopeful for a room to be ready. There was a guy who had a customer leave, so we assumed we'd go to him next but he was busy doing something on the computer. Then he called us over. He was super nice and asked if it was our first time staying here to which we eagerly replied a resounding, "Yes!" He told us we were in a king bedroom with a pull-out couch, and we were like, "Wow, that is great, king bed is awesome. Sure, we'll take that." He gave us all the info we needed and then showed us where our room was on a map. He circled the room we were going to be in, which at the time I didn't really understand where it was, other then it was a corner and looked a little bigger - I assumed that was because it was a king size bed? I didn't know much about the hotel rooms, other then they had beds.
He also informed us that our room was right in this main lobby area, which made me happy. He then said he had something special for us and I got all excited, and then we pulled out anniversary buttons. Aww, thanks, but you got me all excited and I already knew about anniversary buttons. I pretended to be surprised. And then he asked us to turn around....
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And there was a CM standing there with baloons telling us we were chosen as the celebration family of the day! She grabbed her counterpart CM, and they gave us each balloons and a certificate and then wished us a Happy Anniversary. They then asked us what we knew, and we said that we knew we were the celebration family. And they said, "And, you've been upgraded to a pool/theme park view and a suite." They then told us they wanted to give an announcement to the hotel, and if we were okay with that. Well...OF COURSE!! They snapped a picture of us and then announced that we were celebrating one year. Then everyone clapped! It was sooo awesome! Here is the pic:
We were so happy and so joyful. We couldn't believe it!!! So naturally, we had to go see our awesome room. And off we went, skipping along to find our room, when we set our eyes on the room number next to these double doors! DOUBLE DOORS? Oh my - I was so gitty here, I made DH take a pic.
And then we went into our room and...
You'll have to wait til next time - off to the gym!!
I can't wait for the DLR rundown. The whole Solvang/Santa Barbara area is normally gorgeous this time of year, and I wonder if you all got caught in some of the freak rain and thunderstorms we had in SoCal this past week, or if it rained up near Solvang as well. It was gloomy for a good portion of the week (which I love temperature-wise, but it is not great for photographs).
and while walking, wine tasting, biking and unique restaurants are popular things to do - my ILs didn't wish to, or couldn't do those things. We tried to make the best of it though. It did rain a lot late Thursday until Friday afternoon.
We hope to stay here again and know that nothing compares to it. And we now completely understand the magic that comes when staying at a on-property resort - and seriously, who can beat a special entrance into the park?? Fantastically amazing. 
but congratulations on the upgrade, how fantastic 
...I love surprises!
