Thanks for all the welcome backs! I'm so excited to be writing this!
Day 1
We left the house early - around 5:50 AM! We stopped for gas and we were on the freeway at 6:00 AM. No traffic or any setbacks. We stopped to pick up some breakfast at Jamba Juice and Chic-fil-a on the way. I wasn't feeling good at this point (nervous tummy, perhaps?) but felt better after eating. At around 9 AM, I couldn't believe that we were already so far into our drive! I remember thinking - I should be at work right now, but instead I'm in California and going to Disney!
We hit some traffic coming in on the CA-91, I believe. But we were fine once we had passed some certain areas. It was a pretty easy drive - but directions were a little sketchy at one point, luckily I decided against the directions and I was right at one point. Did this on the way back too...

DH also was a saint on his birthday and let me listen to a Disney podcast for a good 45 minutes that reviewed every counter service restaurants in DL.
Arrived at our hotel around 11:40 AM and promptly checked-in. No problem or questions asked. We were asked if we had a car to park there overnight and filled out a paper permit thing. No mention of a fee at this point. Keep that in mind for later– We were given a room with a queen size bed, which was expected because Priceline guarantees double occupancy only. However, I believe that many rooms have double beds. Also, good to mention that the sofa in the living room pulled out into a bed. It was a pretty small space, so with the bed in there, it would have been cramped. I would not recommend this space to more than 2 adults. If there are more people, they would have to be small - like baby small. Although with baby means much more luggage, so maybe it safe to say 2 adults is plenty.
Here are some pictures that I took, these are somewhat similar to those on the part of my PTR, so sorry for the repeats!
Looking from the window towards the door - in the living room. It is a narrow and long space.
This is the bathroom. I really liked that the sink is separate from the toilet and shower. Opposite is a mirrored door closet, with plenty of wooden hangers. (The real kind that you can actually remove, not like the tricky ones that you have to pull up on to get out).
And alas, the comfy bed which I delightfully fell asleep on each night and afternoon as soon as my head hit the pillow–and that never happens!
Also, for those observant–what do you notice about this picture?
After that we were off to the park! We were so ready to get all of our AP stuff out of the way. We parked, more on that later, and then went to the ticket booth. Short lines (maybe a 5 minute wait, shortest we saw the entire time we were there) and okay service. Older lady who wasn't very "magical" to us. Didn't even wish DH happy birthday. Seemed like we were more of a pain. And all she did was give us the Deluxe vouchers to enter the turnstiles and our $50 gift card. She seemed even more displeased when we needed to get DH's $69 gift card. So sorry we're celebrating lady!
Went to the turnstiles and went straight to the bank, which is located on the right side of main street right as you walk in. Also had a 5 minute wait here. Took some "lovely" pictures (super excited faces) and had a very pleasant CM. Also, met a couple here who were celebrating their 61st Anniversary at the window next to us! They were renewing their APs and I got the courage up to talk to them and found out they got married on May 30th! One day before our anniversary! So of course, they made a big to do about all this, super nice people. I told DH they were my heroes for still coming to DLR after all these years. DH reminded me for the bazillionth time that we wil not be doing passes every year and we need to see other parts of the world. I reluctantly agreed for the millionth time and quickly forgot the though. They then made sure the CMs gave us anniversary pins too, as well as DH's birthday pin. We paid with our gift cards and then went on our way!
We were both hungry so we fast walked it over to Tomorrowland Terrace. It was at this point that I realized how much DH didn't remember the layout or anything at all about DL. He kept saying, "I'm following you..." and I would get all nervous that I was going the wrong direction - since I was too proud to pick up a map at the entrance.

And I refrained from using the maps most of the trip - even to find bathrooms. Only looked once the entire time. DH called me the Disney Nazi - more on that later too.

Food was good - DH had grilled chicken sandwich with fries and I had a kid's chicken nugget meal. Both were the perfect amount and we were ready to take on the Land!
We didn't really follow the ridemax plan since we had planned to meet DizneyDaz her daughter at the Jedi Training Academy for photopass picture fun! We met the greatest Photopass photographer, RP and then agreed to meet at a time that he could take some fun pictures for us. We rode matterhorn, about 20 minute wait, since it was DHs most favorite ride. Then went through the castle - not very exciting for us - to waste some time.
Took some awesome Darth Vader pictures, thanks to RP and then headed over to get fastpasses or something and then to Toy Story Mania!!! It was so much fun to actually meet someone from the DISboards! Its like, hey DH, these people I talk about are REAL!
Check out the picture:
We were so excited to be there that we actually waited in a 40 minute line for it!! I think we then must have gone back to DL or maybe I'm just losing my mind. I guess we were having too much fun. So at some point we ate dinner at French Market Cafe. Not because we really planned to or because it sounded so good - just because it was there and we were hungry. We split the plate in hopes of having German chocolate cake for DH's birthday on main street later that night (we heard they had it on the podcast, which was a lie

) We split the Roast Beef dinner - which included potatoes and veggies and cheddar cornbread. The meal was great and filled both of us up. Also split the 32 oz drink since it was on special. Cost was around $16 total with AP discount. The people in front of us got three meals and spent over $60. I though that was ridiculous. I would never pay that much for cafeteria style food - even at Disney! If we did this over again, we should have left the parks and given ourselves a break after a long day of driving. We would have gone to Outback Steakhouse, right in front of our hotel instead.
The Roast Beef
The deserts - of which we didn't eat because we wanted the non-existent German Chocolate Cake
We then walked around DTD after stopping for a moment to see the Celebrate parade. I felt bad for all the people who had lined up, knowing that the parade didn't stop in front of where they were. Guess they didn't look at the map - because it seemed to explain it well.
And that was Day 1 - and yes, I do love to write a lot - because I talk a lot
