My real-time Cali trip report....

[CrazyDuck]

Ok short day today. It was a MM day today but as expected the family didn't wake up til 8am. We were out the door closer to 9am. MM started at 7am and ropedrop was at 8am. So we only missed the MM by a little over 2 hours! When we finally got into DL I made a beeline for the fastpass booth for Splash. Then I doubled back and met the fam at Pirates. At 9am it was still a walk on so we did that. My DS2's first ride in DL was Pirates (bad parents). He was a little reaked but he did OK! Then we were heading towards Critter Country and saw that Splash was only a 5 min wait. The 5 min was actually the entire time spent walking as we lost walked into our log. My DD4 and I sat in the back and I can tell yu that I have never got so wet on that ride. The entire left half of my denim shorts was completely soaked!!! And we all know how long it takes demin to dry!!! After that we rode Pooh...... to be continued... off to shower!

 

[pixleyyy]

Ok short day today. It was a MM day today but as expected the family didn't wake up til 8am. We were out the door closer to 9am. MM started at 7am and ropedrop was at 8am. So we only missed the MM by a little over 2 hours! When we finally got into DL I made a beeline for the fastpass booth for Splash. Then I doubled back and met the fam at Pirates. At 9am it was still a walk on so we did that. My DS2's first ride in DL was Pirates (bad parents). He was a little reaked but he did OK! Then we were heading towards Critter Country and saw that Splash was only a 5 min wait. The 5 min was actually the entire time spent walking as we lost walked into our log. My DD4 and I sat in the back and I can tell yu that I have never got so wet on that ride. The entire left half of my denim shorts was completely soaked!!! And we all know how long it takes demin to dry!!! After that we rode Pooh...... to be continued... off to shower!

Oh, leave us hanging why don't you! LOL Can't wait to read more.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Ok short day today. It was a MM day today but as expected the family didn't wake up til 8am. We were out the door closer to 9am. MM started at 7am and ropedrop was at 8am. So we only missed the MM by a little over 2 hours! When we finally got into DL I made a beeline for the fastpass booth for Splash. Then I doubled back and met the fam at Pirates. At 9am it was still a walk on so we did that. My DS2's first ride in DL was Pirates (bad parents). He was a little reaked but he did OK! Then we were heading towards Critter Country and saw that Splash was only a 5 min wait. The 5 min was actually the entire time spent walking as we lost walked into our log. My DD4 and I sat in the back and I can tell yu that I have never got so wet on that ride. The entire left half of my denim shorts was completely soaked!!! And we all know how long it takes demin to dry!!! After that we rode Pooh...... to be continued... off to shower!

Ohh... Sorry I fell asleep after the shower last night. Anyways to continue with Sunday... after Pooh we headed to toon town and stood in line for Roger Rabbit but after waiting for 15 min the ride broke down and we didn't want to wait in there so we headed out to grab lunch then after lunch we fastpassed RR. After that we headed out of the park to meet my cousins for dinner. They live in San Marino so it was about a 45 min drive. We actually brought some laundry so we did some at their house. A lot easier than waiting in the laundromat in the hotel! Ae left there about 8pm and were planning on heading back into the park for a couple hours but we hit some real bad traffic on the 605. I saw on my iphone where the accident was so we detoured though the 60/57. But we still didn't get back to the hotel til late so we ended up going to sleep shortly after. That's it for day 6!!!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Day 8.... Wow... our first full day in DLR. We spent most of the day in DCA. we started with a character breakfast at Aeriels. It was a pretty interesting. The food was just ok but the character interactions were great. We were the first ones seated for breakfast so we had the first booth. After the princesses entered the room the hit the closest table then they came to our booth next. My daughter loves princesses we met Aeriel first, of course, then Belle, Jasmine, Snow White and finally Aurora. We did most everything in DCA including Play House, Monsters Inc, all of bugs land, Soarin, GRR, Single rider Screaming, Pixar play parade, and last and least Taste Pilots Grill blech!!! Headed back to the room so the DD4 could sleep. I got antsy so I grabbed DS2 and took him to DL while everyone slept (DS2 slept in DCA in the stroller) It was crowded in DL when we got there (7:30p) because Dreams parade was finishing up. we made our way around to Pooh and rode that again twice then I met up with my DW, DD and DSIL and they brought me a chimichanga (blech). They munched on a couple turkey legs (blech). We hit HM with a fastpass I grabbed on Sunday. I had 4 legit ones in my pocket just incase they said something.... (they didn't I'll get more into my FP debacle later.) Anyways.... after HM we decided to check out fantasy land forgetting that the fireworks were just a few min away. So we get to FL and I realize that it is kinda windy. Thinking that they may cancel the fireworks I beelines straight for Dumbo which was closed for the fireworks. Well they did end up cancelling the fireworks, and we were the second ones in line when they reopened the ride (I was first but they cut... no biggie because we all rode the same time anyways!) Hopped on the carousel afterwards then pinnocchio all with no wait. Everyone was in line for Peter Pan but I'll just try and get to it on one of my MM's. Afterwards we rode the monorail back to Downtown Disney and our hotel. I'm ready to sleep but I find myself typing... very strange!!!

Anyways about my fastpass debacle. I am finding myself collecting a lot of fastpasses however I find that I am not using them!!! Like Sunday, I grabbed a bunch but never used them because we went to my cousins house for dinner and never got back into the park. Or when I do plan on using one I find that it would do me no good because the ride is now a walk on (GRR). You should see my collection, It is pretty impressive! From Sunday I have 4 each of Roger Rabbit, Autopia and Splash! From today I have 4 each of Soarin, GRR, Tower of Terror and HM. I also gave away my passes for screamin because no one wanted to ride so I just did Single Rider! I also have child swap passes for Soarin and TOT. I still carry them around with me, why? I dunno! Maybe I can get some CM to let me use em. The only one I tested was HM tonight and they took it without any problem. Maybe I can get lucky tomorrow using the day(s) old FP's!


Sorry not too many realtime photos... My iphone battery was not fully charged!

 

[tink2dw]

It sounds like you are have fun!! I love your pics!!

 

[wdhinn89]

WOW! It sounds like you are having a great time.

Where did you stay while you were in San Diego? Would you recommend the place? TIA

 

[CrazyDuck]

WOW! It sounds like you are having a great time.

Where did you stay while you were in San Diego? Would you recommend the place? TIA

We stayed at Comfort Inn and Suites - Zoo/Hotel Circle. There are 2 and I think the other one was just renovated. I'm not sure if I would recommend it. Parking wasn't the greatest but thats because the first night we arrived at the hotel at 10p and there wasn't any close to our room. The room was pretty clean and the kids liked the bunk beds. The room was pretty small though and I ended up sleeping right next to the AC. Suprisingly I didn't get sick! The free breakfast was ok. Ate a cheese danish when they didn't run out of em. The Breakfast room was pretty small so it was easier to take the food back to the room. I'd stay there again if money became an issue. at $89/night it's a good deal. But nex time I'll spend twice as much for a > 3 star hotel (Hyatt, Hilton Marriott atc....) Nothing I hate more than carrying my own bags up and down stairs!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

WOW! It sounds like you are having a great time.

Where did you stay while you were in San Diego? Would you recommend the place? TIA

If you're looking for a nice place, we stayed at The Homewood Suites at Liberty Station. We had a nice King bed studio suite with a full kitchenette and sleeper sofa. The hotel is only about a year old and has nice sitting areas outside with fireplaces. We also got free breakast with plenty of seating to not have to eat in our room. It is close to the harbor and easy to get to Sea World and the Zoo. On Sunday through Thursday nights the hotel hosts dinner with wine and beer. We had spaghetti and meatballs when we arrived. It was the first meal we didn't pay for all week.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Day 8. Our first full day in Disneyland! I woke up in time for the MM at 8a and so did my DD4. So I took my DD4 to MM while DW and DS2 slept in and took their time getting ready. We got to MM about 15 min after it started so Peter Pan was already a 20 min wait by the time we got there! We were able to "walk on" (as in 0 wait time) Snow White, Tea Cups, Alice, Mr Toads and Carousel. By the time we were done with those it was 8:55. Rope Drop was 9:00 so we stood in line for 5 min at Casey Jr Train then headed back to Main St. to meet DW and DS2. Not bad for a late start MM 6 rides and 0 wait! After meeting up with DW and DS we went to go get Fastpasses for Autopia but they were not doing FP's today for that ride so we went standby since it was only 20 min. After that DD4 wanted to buy a princess dress so we went to PFF and dropped > $100 for an Aurora dress, shoes and crown and wand! While DD4 and DW waited to meet the same princesses she met during our character breakfast yesterday DS2 and I rode the train around the park. Then we ate at bratwurst at PFF and DD4 listened to a storytime! We rode Nemo after that sine it was only 30min wait! Skipped over to adventureland to grab fp's for indy which i didnt use (*see yesterdays report) then waited 5 min for jungle cruise then walked on POTC. DW did some ornament shopping whils DS and I hung out around the river. Then headed back to the GCH for naps (nachos and burger from WW Snacks too). Back to the park at 6:30p to catch the Dream Parade then the Train from Toon Town station to Main St! Grabbed some soup from La Brea Bakery and back to the room.

So far I have not been impressed by ANYTHING I have eaten IN the park. the pork sandwich from taste pilots grill, the turkey leg, the chimichanga, and the brat dog were all pretty bad! Aeriels breakfast was pretty good but low on the price:food quality ratio, but then again character breakfasts are not all about the food! The best food we have eaten has all been outside the park; Reforest Cafe and WW Snacks. Oh well... We have a few more days and still have yet to eat at my favourites, Hungry Bear and corn dogs. We are also eating a character breakfast at Storytellers tomorrow morning which should be pretty good since it is not inside the parks!

Back at DL tomorrow after the character breakfast. Will have 2 cousins and 2 toddlers in tow so not expecting to get too much accomplished! If I get 1 big ride in (SM, SM, BTMRR, Indy) I'd be impressed!

Edit... oh yea forgot to mention that while eating at PFF my DS2 dropped a near full cup of orange soda. The CM that cheaned it up couldn't have been nicer, I think his name was Strike (or Spike or Smoke) something odd like that. He mopped up the mess and even replaced the orange soda. I would have left him a compliment at City Hall if I could have!

 

[avalon451]

Sy, we were late to MM yesterday, too, and we also did teacups, Snow White and Pinocchio. We probably walked right past you.

Really enjoying your TR! I've got all these pics i want to post on mine, but by the time we get back to the room for our breaks I pretty much just want to crash.

We're starting in DL today but doing a lot of DCA. DD's favorite ride is now Screamin'!

Have a great day!

 

[tink2dw]

CrazyDuck - I'm loving this thread and your pics!! Have lots of fun at DL!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Day 9. Disneyland with Family....

We made plans to meet up with family today and do Disneyland My 2 cousins one of which had 2 toddlers the same age as my kids. Well knowing they were not going to get to our hotel till 10:30 I made plans for a character breakfast that morning. We did Storytellers so that we stayed close to the hotel. The food was really good the chatacter interaction was just ok. After making our way to DL with the family we got into DL at 11:00. First thing we did was take the train to Toontown then walked our way back to fantasyland. On our way we met some CM's in white vests.... Yes... The Dream Team!!! They were handing out Dream Fast Passes! (* I'll get to more on this later.) After getting to Fantasyland we foung that the park wasn't that busy. Peter Pan was 20 min, 10 min for Mr toads. The Carroussel which my DW and I rode 3 times was walk on while everyone else walked on Pinocchio. Autopia was 15 min (more like 10) and Nemo was 30 (more like 20). Space Mountain was walk on as well as Buzz... I fonally ate my yummy corn dog!!! Then we finished our day by Riding BTMRR, POTC (walk on) and HM. After that we made our way out of the park before the parade and made our way to WW Snacks for dinner. Got in there at 6:40 and had the place all to ourselves. ordered food and the CM's let us stay in even though they were closed at 7:00p. The CM's were so nice in there even though we were keeping them late... They even gave our 4 kids each a big chocolate covered mickey cookie! Thinking ack I wonder if they were trying to punish us parents!!! After that we said bye to the family as we waited for their cars at valet. Then headed back to our room where I fell asleep immedately. Hence the late trip report.

*Note on the dream fastpass.... OK I know it's great and all but because it was so slow yesterday many places were not even doing fastpass. Autopia's line started after the fastpass merge as well as buzz. So those were not even open. HM was only 13 min wait. We tried to use our fastpasses there so we went through the FP line but noone collected out fastpass Same thing happened at BTMRR. We went through the exit and jumped on but again no one collected out FP! Also DS2 and DD4 as well as the rest of my fam all got the dream FP's. So here I am sitting on 9 fully intact Dream Fastpasses!!! I notice that they are stamped with the words that they are only good 10/15/08. Did they change pilicy? Are these only good on the day you recieve em?

Another funny thing that happened yesterday... was that we got stuck on Matterhorn for about 10 minutes. we were on the bobsled just before it went into the lift tunnel. Wouldn't have been too bad but DD4 was already hesitant about riding it in the first place so she cried for the first 5 of the 10 minutes! they eventually got it restarted and she ended up liking the ride, even though she says she won't ride it again!

 

[godalejunior]

You can use the fast passes on another day until the Year of a Million dreams program is over so if you are going tomorrow or the next day, use them then! You can always use them for your scrapbook or pass them on to another family!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Day 10 Finishing up what's left to do.....

Ok so since Day 10 was our last dat in the parks we are just finishing up stuff that we had yet to do... Skipped the MM because I was tired from the night before... Waited to 10 an and headed to DCA for the rope drop and got there just in time. Headed straight for Toy Story and still had to wait 20 min by the time I got there! It was a great ride.... Not worth standing in line for 20 min again though! I'll Single Rider (or fast pass hopefully) it next time. After that I headed off to Screaming with my Dream Fastpass and my DSIL and used it without any problems! After that we ran to the Visa meet and Greet and met pluto and got our coupon for a free 5x7 photo... Didn't redeem it though... Also was expecting more than 1 character at the meet but oh well... Headed back to Screaming because I convinced my DW to do it and I used my DD4's Dream fastpass for that one! Did a single on Boomer then DW, DD4 and I fastpassed Soarin one more time... then we did lunch and headed back to the GCH to use the pool then rest because DL closed at 11p that night! Got back into DL around 7 and we immediately FP'd and child swapped Indy. Then we went to ride pooh like 3 times after which I bought a few tigger tails and oreo brownies! Then we headed to fantasy land. OK side note time.... I have now found my favourite place to watch the fireworks from Fantasyland is a great venue because you are surrounded my the fireworks and you can still see the projections on the Matterhorn! The fireworks started while we were in line for Casey Jr. and it continued durring my ride. We sat in the open benches on Casey and it was great! Another great venue would probably be the Storyland canal boats because I saw that they actually stop the boats durring the fireworks! Anyways.... we ended our day in FL walking on everything except Peter Pan... I seriously don't know why people wait 20 min for this ride when everything else near by is walk on!!! We shutdown Disneyland that night...

Ok now for something that bugs me... On the first Sunday we closed the park we were allowed to leave the stroller at the bag check tables in the espalande... on Tue and Thurs we were told to leave the strollers at the turnstiles. I just with they would be more consistent with their policies. Not a big deal but it's nice to know that if my DS2 is sleeping how far I'm going to have to carry him!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Day 11... Packing up and going home!!!

We were planning to leave our bags with the porters and head back into the parks today but after seeing the influx of people into Disneyland while eating breakfast at La Brea Bakery I knew that going back in would be a mistake!!! So after packing and breakfast we spent our afternoon wandering around Downtown Disney. Bought some Legos and magic tricks! DW bought some ornaments. Then we went back to the GCH to hang around the lobby for a while until we were ready to head to the airport. I really hate LAX!!! I wish Hawaiian or United would pick up the SNA <-> HNL route that we lost when Aloha went out of business! Oh well back home now...

BTW I was checking out what I have leftover from our trip. Check this out: 2 days on an 8 day hopper (3 adults and 1 kid) that need to be used by Oct 24, 4 MTTMM passes, 4 Premium Preferred parade viewing passes, 4 Priority seating passes (4x1 each of Aladdin, Tough to be a bug, Muppet Vision, Golden Dreams) and 6 Dream Fastpasses (3 Unused and 3 Partially Used).

 

[Disney Princess]

What a great time! Thanks for sharing with us play-by-play. It makes me feel like I am there. I'm glad you had fun with your family.

 

[tink2dw]

Isn't the loss of 2 days of an 8 day hopper just the killer?? I tryed to stop that on our Jan '08 trip of 7 days by only buying 6 day hoppers. Did it work? No! We had to buy 1 more day on our tickets for our last day!! You just can't win!!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Isn't the loss of 2 days of an 8 day hopper just the killer?? I tryed to stop that on our Jan '08 trip of 7 days by only buying 6 day hoppers. Did it work? No! We had to buy 1 more day on our tickets for our last day!! You just can't win!!

It's not too bad.... The cost for an 8 day hopper is only $5 more per ticket... I'd rather spend $5 extra and have the days available than not have enough days... I know we were going to have atleast 1 extra day becayse we were physically in Anaheim only 7 days but an 8 day hopper is the same price as a 7 so.... It was worth it... Our first day on our hopper was used only to watch the fireworks!

 

[ParkHoppa]

Sadness, your home Thats the worst part