Donald_Quackers
Quacktastic!
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2008
- Messages
- 2,386
Cast:
Me - Frank 36 (was 35 when I went) Hadn't been to Disneyland since I was 2 years old, so I don't remember anything myself, just through pictures my parents took.
July 21, 2009
Well, the day has arrived. I’m in San Diego, it’s 5am, and time to get ready to drive up to Anaheim to spend the night in the Disneyland hotel. I get the essentials together, pile into the car with my GPS and off I go.
Surprisingly, traffic is good, with just one or two slow spots, but nothing nightmarish. I check in around 7:30am and go to my room (I’m always surprised by the fact my room was ready, but shouldn’t have been unexpected, I guess). After getting everything settled and my backpack straightened, I head out to Disneyland. I walk through Downtown Disney, went through bag check (which was quick), and then headed to the center of the plaza to take a picture of DL and DCA before heading in.
I was amazed at what I immediately noticed what was different, but then what was the same. After going through Main Street, I head up through the castle and then went to the Sleeping Beauty castle walkthrough. That was cool. After getting out, I wind my way along the trail to Frontierland and rode BTMRR. I was part expecting this to be the same or very similar, and while some parts are, most isn’t, at least to me. What a wild ride! I grab a FP after I get off and continue walking toward New Orleans, just taking in the sights. I ride POTC, which was excellent! I liked how long it was.
After getting off, I head back to BTMRR, only to find it down, but my FP is good for the rest of the day. Then, I hop on the railroad to ToonTown and get a ride on the Matterhorn, after which I go to ToonTown and look for Donald. Saw Pluto, Minnie, and Goofy, but no Donald. Slightly disappointed, but undaunted, I head to Tomorrowland (walking this time) and get a ride on Space Mountain. I didn’t expect it to be as intense as it was, and it was great! (Although someone else on the ride didn’t apparently feel the same way – at least his stomach didn’t!)
Back to Main Street to get my ticket to the Fantasmic Dessert party and picked up the Fantasmic soundtrack and a cd with the Magic Kingdom Event Party Music (and that is the title of the CD), along with a Haunted Mansion Mickey for my nephew. I then headed back to the hotel to unload and rest before my next adventure (not the least to take a shower – Anaheim was HOT), so I took the monorail back. Those Mark VII monorails look great, but I wish they had AC like WDW’s.
After cleaning up, I head to DCA through GCH, and, after a technical delay, rode California Screamin’. Very cool launch – I’m sure it would’ve been even better if the lagoon was full of water.
After that, I headed down Paradise Pier, the wait for Toy Story Midway Mania wasn’t too long (under 40 minutes!), so I hopped on and got about 137,000 points (though I think it was screwed up or something). I walk the rest of the way around Paradise Pier, soaking in the atmosphere and getting a mickey bar to snack on (yum as always!). When I was done, I check out the Hollywood Pictures backlot, and saw Muppets 3d and Monsters, Inc. I thought Monsters was well done and had some neat effects (not the least of which was air conditioning! LOL). I get my picture taken by a photopass cm in front of the Golden Gate for good measure.
It was time to go to DL and check in for the Fantasmic Dessert package, as it was almost 8. While heading into DL, the band was coming out to play in front of the train station, so I got the last video I could on the tape I had in my camcorder. After checking in and getting my seat (I had a FANTASTIC seat, I linked my pics below), I had time to run over and use my BTMRR fastpass. I head back to the Fantasmic seating area and get shown to my seat. Unlimited pop and some good snacks in a tray! The lemon tart was really good, and some of the other cookies, cakes, chocolate items were also very good. I felt I got my money’s worth.
Unfortunately, during Fantasmic, Flotsam and Jetsam didn’t come out for the Ursula scene. I did know about the dragon not being ready, so I wasn’t expecting it. Otherwise, I loved the show, and stayed around to watch ‘Magical’. I was able to see Tink and Dumbo flying by the castle fortunately. Great fireworks, but I still love Illuminations at Epcot the best.
I then head back around the back of the castle through Fantasyland to grab a couple of nighttime pics of It’s a Small World and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride before calling it a night at about 11pm. Back to the king bed that was calling me from the hotel.
Me - Frank 36 (was 35 when I went) Hadn't been to Disneyland since I was 2 years old, so I don't remember anything myself, just through pictures my parents took.
July 21, 2009
Well, the day has arrived. I’m in San Diego, it’s 5am, and time to get ready to drive up to Anaheim to spend the night in the Disneyland hotel. I get the essentials together, pile into the car with my GPS and off I go.
Surprisingly, traffic is good, with just one or two slow spots, but nothing nightmarish. I check in around 7:30am and go to my room (I’m always surprised by the fact my room was ready, but shouldn’t have been unexpected, I guess). After getting everything settled and my backpack straightened, I head out to Disneyland. I walk through Downtown Disney, went through bag check (which was quick), and then headed to the center of the plaza to take a picture of DL and DCA before heading in.
I was amazed at what I immediately noticed what was different, but then what was the same. After going through Main Street, I head up through the castle and then went to the Sleeping Beauty castle walkthrough. That was cool. After getting out, I wind my way along the trail to Frontierland and rode BTMRR. I was part expecting this to be the same or very similar, and while some parts are, most isn’t, at least to me. What a wild ride! I grab a FP after I get off and continue walking toward New Orleans, just taking in the sights. I ride POTC, which was excellent! I liked how long it was.
After getting off, I head back to BTMRR, only to find it down, but my FP is good for the rest of the day. Then, I hop on the railroad to ToonTown and get a ride on the Matterhorn, after which I go to ToonTown and look for Donald. Saw Pluto, Minnie, and Goofy, but no Donald. Slightly disappointed, but undaunted, I head to Tomorrowland (walking this time) and get a ride on Space Mountain. I didn’t expect it to be as intense as it was, and it was great! (Although someone else on the ride didn’t apparently feel the same way – at least his stomach didn’t!)
Back to Main Street to get my ticket to the Fantasmic Dessert party and picked up the Fantasmic soundtrack and a cd with the Magic Kingdom Event Party Music (and that is the title of the CD), along with a Haunted Mansion Mickey for my nephew. I then headed back to the hotel to unload and rest before my next adventure (not the least to take a shower – Anaheim was HOT), so I took the monorail back. Those Mark VII monorails look great, but I wish they had AC like WDW’s.
After cleaning up, I head to DCA through GCH, and, after a technical delay, rode California Screamin’. Very cool launch – I’m sure it would’ve been even better if the lagoon was full of water.
After that, I headed down Paradise Pier, the wait for Toy Story Midway Mania wasn’t too long (under 40 minutes!), so I hopped on and got about 137,000 points (though I think it was screwed up or something). I walk the rest of the way around Paradise Pier, soaking in the atmosphere and getting a mickey bar to snack on (yum as always!). When I was done, I check out the Hollywood Pictures backlot, and saw Muppets 3d and Monsters, Inc. I thought Monsters was well done and had some neat effects (not the least of which was air conditioning! LOL). I get my picture taken by a photopass cm in front of the Golden Gate for good measure.
It was time to go to DL and check in for the Fantasmic Dessert package, as it was almost 8. While heading into DL, the band was coming out to play in front of the train station, so I got the last video I could on the tape I had in my camcorder. After checking in and getting my seat (I had a FANTASTIC seat, I linked my pics below), I had time to run over and use my BTMRR fastpass. I head back to the Fantasmic seating area and get shown to my seat. Unlimited pop and some good snacks in a tray! The lemon tart was really good, and some of the other cookies, cakes, chocolate items were also very good. I felt I got my money’s worth.
Unfortunately, during Fantasmic, Flotsam and Jetsam didn’t come out for the Ursula scene. I did know about the dragon not being ready, so I wasn’t expecting it. Otherwise, I loved the show, and stayed around to watch ‘Magical’. I was able to see Tink and Dumbo flying by the castle fortunately. Great fireworks, but I still love Illuminations at Epcot the best.
I then head back around the back of the castle through Fantasyland to grab a couple of nighttime pics of It’s a Small World and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride before calling it a night at about 11pm. Back to the king bed that was calling me from the hotel.
