(More than)A FIVE years of Trips! -- TR Started! Day One - updated 6/10

[hurleysweety]

THANK YOU for the food porn! My DDs and I are drooling over all the great pics! Your picture of Rancho del Zocalo meal actually looks fabulous, and I usually don't think so when I see their pictures - do you remember what your dish was called?

II believe its the first one on the menu - carne asada something...Anyway, it comes with like 6 strips of carne asada, two cheese enchiladas, beans, rices, salsa, guac, lettuce/tomato and two flour tortillas for the carne asada. DH and I have split this twice and then get a treat later when we get hungry.

mmmmmm all that food actually made me really hungry.

I know! It made me hungry editing all those photos!

 

[vettegirl]

Great food pics!! The grilled chicken sandwhich at Taste Pilots looks super yummy, I will have to try it.

 

[hurleysweety]

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Happy Thanksgiving
2. Our Hotel
3. Photos of Us
4. AP Appreciation Days - 20% off for us!
5. Mickey for Christmas!
6. Our Itinerary
7. We're HERE! - Quick Friday Review
9. Quick Live Saturday Review (written on eTicket App)
9. TR - A beginning...
10. Day 1 - Part One


We're going back...Hallelujah, all is right with the world and we're headed back to DISNEYLAND for a short weekend trip in December. I've been talking all year to DH about how much I wanted to go to see the Christmas decor. Finally we booked our trip, only 30 days out. We now have 21 days left!!

Cast:
Me, 23, Slightly obsessive over planning disney trips, I like to plan out every little part of the trip, but I usually toss it out upon arrival to the parks.

DH, 25, Leaves everything up to me at the parks and will just go with the flow (such a perfect compliment to me). When he's hungry or tired, we eat or sit/leave, no matter what - happy DH=absolute wonderful trip. Tired DH=not worth the effort! This is probably why I throw out my plans.

We've been together for over 4 years, been married for 1 1/2 of them.

Dates:
December 11-13

Hotel:
Holiday Inn Anaheim

Transportation:
Driving from AZ, driving to the parks Fri and Sun, considering buying ART for Sat depending on how much we hate the parking tram (might hate the parking garage more...) We have APs, so parking is free, so thats the dilemma...

 

[cinderella-princess]

Yay!! You will love Disneyland at Christmas! I'm here and I'm subbing.

 

[hurleysweety]

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
14 days til Disneyland!!!

This has nothing to do with Disney, but all to do with me:
I'm working tomorrow (at Aeropostale) where we are opening at 4 AM and having 50% off our entire store! Aero lets friends and family work on Black Friday to help with all the crowds, so DH will be joining me tomorrow!

After that, it is full on Christmas in my book. I can't believe its almost December already. Wasn't it just Halloween?

Coming up soon, all my planning decisions and more info about our hotel!

 

[hurleysweety]

Here are some pictures of our hotel!

Looks like a nice pool:

The rooms:

The restaurant:

 

[hurleysweety]

So who are we?

Well we went to Disney W orld for our honeymoon May 2008. Ever since then, we've just been disney obsessed. I first became really hooked around my first trip to Disneyland where my non-planning parents gave me control of the plans (2003). Since then, I've been many times, including 3 times this year with our AP. 2 were week long trips, one was a weekend trip.

Here are some pictures over the past few trips:

 

[hurleysweety]

In addition, December 5 -12, Annual Passholders can take advantage of shopping opportunities and savings at participating Downtown Disney® District locations including World of Disney® store, Studio Disney 365, Build-A-Bear Workshop®, RIDEMAKERZ®, Jamba Juice, Haagen-Dazs®, Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria and more. See the complete list below.


Shopping, Dining & Entertainment Offers:

Anne Geddes
• 20% off entire purchase (excluding Limited Edition products and Sale items)


Basin®
• 15% off any Basin® purchase


Build-A-Bear Workshop®
• Receive ONE (1) complimentary 4"x 6" photo with your bear when you present your Disneyland® Resort Annual Passport.


ESPN Zone®
• Reminder: AP's receive 10% off their Dining purchase, Double Points in the Game-Filled Sports Arena and 20% off in the ESPN Zone® Store.***


Fossil®
• Purchase TWO (2) items and receive 20% off your entire purchase
(Includes battery replacement for watches. Cannot be combined with any other offer).


Haagen-Dazs®
Receive ONE (1) free small (12 oz.) drip coffee
(Available at the Downtown Disney® District location only. No purchase required.)


Jamba Juice® (open at 6 a.m. on Dec. 5)
• Receive 20% off your Jamba Juice purchase.
(Cannot be combined with any other offer)


La Brea Bakery & Cafe® (open at 6 a.m. on Dec. 5)
• Receive 15% off your purchase.
(Offer does not include alcohol or gratuity)


LEGO® Imagination Center
• Receive $5 off the purchase of $35 or more!
(Exclusions apply. See store for details . Available at the Downtown Disney® District location only. Includes applicable discount. Discount applied before special promotional offer.)


LittleMissMatched
• Receive a special gift (Limited Edition Holiday Socks) with any purchase.**
(Offer valid 11/1/09 � 12/24/09 at the LittleMissMatchedTM Downtown Disney® District location only. Limit one per customer.)


Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria
• Receive 25% off any bottle of wine
(Must be 21 years of age or older to purchase. Available at the Downtown Disney® District location only.)


RIDEMAKERZ®
• Receive ONE (1) free photo and bash frame with a RIDEMAKERZ® ride
(No purchase necessary. Available at the Downtown Disney® District location only)


Something Silver®
• Receive 20% off your entire purchase (Excludes sale items)


Studio Disney 365
• Receive 20% off Makeover Experiences

(Note: During Dec 5-12, receive 20% off Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeover experiences in Fantasyland at Disneyland® park) Reservations recommended for both locations. Walk-in's welcome, based on availability. For reservations, call 714-781-STYLE or 714-781-7895)


Sunglass Icon®
• Receive an additional 30% off clearance items
(Available at the Downtown Disney® District location only)


Tortilla Jo's
• One (1) free cup of Tortilla or Pozole Soup with any entree (One (1) per entr�e).
(Available at the Downtown Disney® District location only)

• Jo's Casa Margarita or Jo's Fruta Margarita only $6
(Must be 21 years of age or older to purchase. Available at the Downtown Disney® District location only)

 

[hurleysweety]

Yay!! You will love Disneyland at Christmas! I'm here and I'm subbing.

Yay! Glad you're here!

 

[Eeee-va]

How fun! I'll be there all the days you are...have a great trip!

 

[hurleysweety]

How fun! I'll be there all the days you are...have a great trip!

Yay! I can't believe its coming up so soon!

 

[hurleysweety]

Okay - bring on the Christmas!

I am so ready for all the magic of the Christmas season. I've fully decorated every bit of my humble home. Which honestly, doesn't take much! I have run out of things to put decorations on - haha. Apparently I either need more furniture, or less decor!

I don't know why, I but I haven't planned much for this next trip. I don't have my usual binder or my ridemax plans ready. I haven't started to think about packing, or any kind of itinerary. Whoops! Lets get on that!!

I'm really excited for all the Christmas stuff going on while we're there. I've been during Thanksgiving, but that was a family trip, and 5 years ago. A lot has changed! I can't wait to hit the parks hard and ride using all my strategies I've acquired thanks to the boards. I know it will be busy so I have prepped DH a lot, telling him the line waits will be pretty dreadful...hoping for better! Just don't tell him.

In previous trips, Sundays have always been the worst. It has seemed more crowded and packed than Saturdays or Fridays. Last trip we avoided Sunday altogether until late at night. I think this is because of APs that block out Saturdays??? Not sure...Anyway, I hope to see all the magical Christmas things including the parade, the fireworks, the decorations, big thunder ranch, IASWA Holiday, and of course, HM with the NBC overlay!

Ok, thats all for now - I think I need to do something to attract more readers...a song and dance? Some cool graphics? A really cute story about my non-existent kid? Nah...just me and DH for now.

 

[hurleysweety]

Its gonna be so cold this weekend! Its going to be raining and pouring and cold and wet.

BUT WHO CARES???! WE'LL BE IN DISNEYLAND! Right now, it stinks because we're here in AZ and its raining and pouring and cold and wet...I thought we lived in the dessert? LOL

AND, we found out that our friends will be going the same weekend. We're going to try and meet up for lunch or dinner. My DH is better friends with them than me, but it will still be fun to see them. I just hope I don't word vomit a bunch of random facts and tips onto them. I tend to do that when I'm all excited in Disney...

 

[hurleysweety]

Our Itinerary...FINALLY. Let's see how well I can get this nailed down.

Friday, Dec. 11th - We leave at 6 AM, stop for breakfast on the road at ChicfilA (YUMMY tradition!), and enjoy the fact that we gain an entire hour when we enter California. Should be there by 10:30. We'll park in the garage, head to the parks and get some lunch. Probably Taste Pilots because we love the lettuce, tomato, pickle bar, and it's inside! Then ride a couple things before heading back to the hotel to check in. That night I want to try and see the fireworks, weather permitting, I'm sure. Also hoping to catch the lighting of the castle. And I would love to sip a nice peppermint mocha on my way out.

Saturday, Dec. 12th - Wake up early and head off to Disneyland for breakfast at Riverbelle Terrace. Hopefully using ART this day. Possibly see Tiana at some point? Enjoy all the Christmas decor!! Maybe over to California Adventure Snacks for lunch and then back to the hotel for nap, warming up and drying off! Then bundle up for the night and head to California Adventure for Toy Story and then Christmas parade at 6:30? Then dinner some counter service, maybe Rancho del Zocalo... Or somewhere nicer depending on how we feel (We love storyteller's cafe!!).

Sunday Dec 13th - Sleep in a little, get to parks around 9 after checking out of hotel. Get in Toy Story line and then breakfast at Pacific Wharf - Cinnamon Roll! Get our Visa free 5x7. Ride a couple more rides, including Screamin'! Back to Disneyland for a ride or two, lunch at Cafe Orleans or Redd Rockets and then shopping in DTD before heading back home . Totally grabbing a gingerbread mickey for the road!

Whew...I can't believe its only one full day! Time to finally put all those time-saving DIS board tips to use.

So, how does that all sound?

 

[Eeee-va]

Your trip sounds whirlwind but it also sounds like a lot of fun! IF it rains, then that hinders entertainment but the lines for almost everything should be pretty darned short. I hope you (and I) get some rain (for better lines) and some not rain (for fireworks).

Just a few more days! Are you going crazy with excitement yet?

 

[DLR29]

Yay! Only a few more days!

 

[hurleysweety]

Your trip sounds whirlwind but it also sounds like a lot of fun! IF it rains, then that hinders entertainment but the lines for almost everything should be pretty darned short. I hope you (and I) get some rain (for better lines) and some not rain (for fireworks).

Just a few more days! Are you going crazy with excitement yet?

YES! I'm pretty much worthless as far as being productive goes. I just constantly thing about plans, packing, meeting up with DISers! and my friends, and uggh..that darn rain too!

Yay! Only a few more days!

Woohoo! Its coming up SOO FAST!

 

[hurleysweety]

I'm sooo excited to go! I'm barely packed (because the darn weather keeps changing on me) and I still have laundry in the dryer...

I am in the process of working on my trip binder. Hopefully I'll get it done soon! Eek...trying to make it to bed by midnight!

 

[hurleysweety]

MINI LIVE TR (More details to come when I get home, I promise. Here is a mini live version, minus pictures since I forgot my cord!)

Today was wonderful! We had such a great time, even though it was pretty cold! It would sprinkle and sprinkle and then bam, rain....and then about 20 minutes later back to sprinkle, then stop for a bit then bam...rain again. Not so much a pattern as much as ever changing weather. It was clear until around 3 PM.

We arrived early at the parks than we ever have before on a traveling day, 11 AM. We were on the 3rd level of the parking garage, got on the first tram once we got down to them, and there was no wait at the security checkpoint or at the Disneyland gate. We walked over to get SM FPs, and they were for less than 2 hours later (shock!) and then ate some lunch. We headed over to ride Indy next (15 min wait) and then to thunder mountain (15 minute wait). Next we went to Reindeer Roundup and also walked through Fantasyland. At this point we were ready to head to California Adventure as Toy Story was calling our name! We waited 30 minutes for Toy Story (always 40 in the past). It was around 2:00 so we hoped our room would be ready and left to check in.

Holiday Inn Anaheim Resort is great! Hotel is a bit dated, but rooms are clean, just the right size for us, and location is convenient to Disneyland. We got double beds, but oh well. On all our priceline bids we've always had quad occupancy although priceline only guarantees double. Staff is friendly, and parking is free! Wireless is free too!

Loving this mini vacation!

 

[DLR29]

Sounds like the crowds are cooperating for you guys! Have a great time~