Nothing to See Here...

[mvf-m11c]

Bret -

It's hard to believe all of that extra stuff used to be a part of DLH, isn't it? In a way, although I am glad they added in the GCH and DTD and, of course, DCA as part of that massive expansion in the late '90s, I wish that the DLH had been able to stay as it was. A large chunk of it got demolished. It wasn't like just one shop or something - it was a big part of it that disappeared! I loved those remote-controlled Jungle Cruise boats!

Yes, I can usually view most of your photos now - sometimes, if there are a lot of them on a page, it will take a while to load, but it's nowhere near the level of problems I have with the jumbo-sized pictures. And it's not only your photos, of course - any thread or TR that has a bunch of jumbo photos on one page will give me problems (even the Christmas thread, at times!). If there is only a random jumbo picture here and there, scattered throughout the thread, it's not a big deal. I have trouble even going back to the early pages of this TR because I started out using bigger photos before I downsized!

I don't know if you saw that I mentioned a page or two ago that I want to start a thread (or I want someone else to do it) focusing on the wonderful, detailed lamps and light fixtures around DLR. I've seen your pictures of light fixtures. I've seen Deej's pictures. I've seen bumbershoot's. I've seen Mariezp's. I think that TK has even taken a few light fixture photos! And I have taken a few - only a few. I think it would be really interesting to see all of the light fixtures in one thread, sort of as a collection, rather than just spread around in our assorted Trip Reports.

I know exactly what I want to name the thread, too (speaking of catchy titles for threads!), but I don't know if I should start it and wait for everyone else to gather up their light fixture photos to post, or if someone else should start it in the DL Community section and I can post what few photos I have later on. The most important thing is that I think it would be cool to see all the light fixture photos that everyone has taken presented in one place - I would bet that a lot of people have never even noticed them, and this would be an interesting little 'detail' they could learn about before their next DLR trips!

It is very hard to believe all of those stuff was part of the DLH. But Disney did find a way to fit all those activities in the DLH area. There is no question that I excited that Disney did the expansion of DTD, the GCH and DCA (which should have been done over 10 years ago). But I always like the past since those are my cherish memories of a young kid going to Disneyland with his family and friends. All of my memories are great during the last few years, but my memories of DL as a kid will always be greater then today.

That is good to hear. I just want to make sure you are able to see my posts of my update on my thread. I know that you had problems seeing the pictures in the past and I wanted to make sure you can view them. You are right that all of these different threads that people post these jumbo picture where they are great to look at, but some people will have trouble viewing them.

You did mention on your thread that you want to start a lamp and light fixture thread. I would say go for it since there are people that like lamps and light fixtures and would like to see the all the different pictures from other DISers. You can also do a guessing game on the thread and ask where this lamp or light fixture is located. After DISers like Deej, TK, bumbershoot's and Mariezp who like the light fixtures, I thought about taking pictures for them as well. Also since I am not doing any quest since the heart quest last year, I had to do find something to take pictures of so the light fixtures and lamps was very interesting to take pictures. They are very interesting and shows the characteristics of the land, building, etc. that the light fixtures are part of. If you want to start the thread, I will be there to support it as much as possible.

On the DL community board, they have the Disneyland Picture of the Day #4!! which they show a lot of different pictures of the DLR which is neat to look at everyday. I believe that the DISers will provide a lot of light fixtures if you or someone start it. The thread will also get DISers to take pictures of the lamps and light fixtures when they go on their trips. I plan to get more pics of the light fixtures that are very interesting when I go next month.

 

[kaoden39]

I can understand being nervous about a new shuttle. I am sure that they will be fine. My theory is maybe the guy answering the phone normally doesn't do that. At least it sounds that way.


Take advantage of every free birthday thing!! Making it a fun birthday!!

 

[mariezp]

Sherry, I am so glad you decided to go ahead and brave the heat and take your free birthday trip to Catalina! After all, you already missed your chance for the free boat ride last year so it would be a shame to let it go to waste 2 years in a row. I was thinking that you might regret if you didn't go but pretty sure if you have to deal with a little heat you will still enjoy spending the day in one of your old favorite destinations. Sounds like you have a few more nice birthday incentives besides the Catalina Express to enjoy. That will definitely be fun collecting all your little birthday perks.

When we went to Catalina, way back during one of our first trips to the west coast, we did play mini golf. My memory recalls that the place was a little run down and pretty small but it was sorta kitchy in a way that it fit in with the whole island vibe. Hope that makes sense. Guess you can see for yourself if you decide to play your free game. Heck, it's been so long ago that they may have upgraded by now and turned it into a full blown golf resort! Aside from our golf experience I loved seeing the island and would love to go again some day.

Anyway.... I do know you have had your share of mishaps and unpleasantness to report back to us after some of your past trips. While they make for amusing trip report titles and a few laughs, thanks to your way with words, I'll be praying that your shuttle ride gets you there in one piece and on time, that you do not get seasick, that your foot does not bother you and you have a fantastic day...... if at all possible without a single hitch in your plans. And, maybe it's not too much more to hope for a sudden cool front to move in for the day.

Oh yeah! And since you will be quite busy tomorrow....Happy Birthday in advance!

 

[PHXscuba]

I don't get seasick but sometimes get a little anxiety that feels like seasick (plus I don't do circular motion). I find that it helps for me to focus on the horizon on boats. I am looking forward to your Catalina report (and have a happy birthday, BTW )

I have some notes for the Knotts TR but have to buckle down and finish a few other things first before I can do it justice without guilt.

And ... drumroll please ... I got DH to agree to me looking into staying onsite next spring because of the early entry stuff they are now offering. I probably wont start my pre-TR until I get back from an anniversary trip in September.

PHXscuba

 

[kmedina]

Not sure if the big day is tomorrow or the next day, but

Happy Birthday

 

[Sherry E]

My birthday is tomorrow. Thanks, Kim, Michele and everyone else, for the early birthday wishes!!



Bret - I've posted in that Picture of the Day thread before, several times! In fact, I'm one of the first people who posted in #4. I've posted some of my better pictures, or pictures of subjects that I don't normally see in that thread, but they usually go unnoticed (except by Michele, who is kind enough to say something) because I think most people want to see photos taken by DSLR's, no matter how good the point & shoot pictures may be, or how interesting the subject is!





PHX - I'm not too, too worried about getting seasick. I mean, yes, it is a possibility because a lot of time has passed since I was on the Express and maybe I would react differently to it now. The ride never made me sick in the past - in fact, if anything, it just made me sleepy - all that rocking from side to side. So if I don't get any Dramamine before I board, I won't panic. I am more interested in trying to stare at the water and watch for sea life. I like sitting outside, on the upper deck, so I can scout for dolphins and whatever else. But I will stare a the horizon if need be!

That's great that you're going to stay onsite (assuming all goes according to plan) next year! Which hotel are you thinking about? DLH? GCH? I mention only those 2 hotels because it seems like those are the ones people mainly want to stay at, but they end up at PPH as a last resort! Of course, I like PPH a lot, but I know that it is not the first choice for most people.




Marie - I was out earlier today, running some errands, and the heat was very harsh. I felt like I was burning from the inside out.

Even though I dislike taking cloudy, gray pictures from up in the hills (the Avalon harbor looks much nicer if it is a clear, bright day), I want to try to get the golf cart as soon as the rental place opens so I can hit the Wrigley Memorial/Botanical Garden before the heat really kicks in. That garden gets super hot - fast. I've experienced it before.

One of the main roads that the golf carts used to be able to travel on (Pebbly Beach Road, right alongside the ocean) has been closed for years - supposedly due to the hazard of falling rocks. I loved that road - even when I didn't have a golf cart I would take walks along that road and stare out at the sea, or take pictures. Apparently, the residents of Avalon are really annoyed that Pebbly Beach Road is no longer open (many of them took their morning walks or jogs along that path), and there have been many city council meetings about it. They say that sometimes you can walk past the No Entry signs and none of the 'official' people will stop you, but sometimes you can't. And the golf carts are not allowed access at all.

Now, when I envision the golf cart path in my mind - and I was in golf carts enough times to where I should know the old path like the back of my hand - I remember that after you turn onto Pebbly Beach Road from the rental place, you follow the road down a ways, past Lover's Cove - a diving spot - and eventually you have to make a sharp right turn up into the hills. Almost immediately after you get up in the hills, you start hitting the 'photo spots' - the places where all the other golf carts stop and everyone jumps out to pose for pictures against the backdrop of the Avalon harbor.

So now I'm wondering if some of those hillside photo spots are no longer accessible because you can't take Pebbly Beach Road to get to that sharp right turn up into the hills The only way to get to them would be to approach them from the opposite direction, I think, coming from a totally different path. That may not be possible anymore.

So if they took away my access (on foot) to Pebbly Beach Road, as well as some of the best photo spots in Avalon up in the hills, I will be really, really mad that I have to pay $40 an hour!

I've played miniature golf in Avalon before - there used to be a whole bunch of cats hanging around. I would hope they spruced up the course a little bit over the years, but I don't think I'll have time to play. It's a timing issue more than anything. I'm mainly going for the picture-taking mission, and not so much for the 'fun' aspect of things, if that makes sense. If I were going mainly for 'fun,' I would surely NOT go when it is summer, and I would plan to stay overnight for a few nights - like I used to do in the old days. This is more of a 'Let's see what's different from when I was last there' exploratory mission sort of thing....with free coffee and free ice cream!

​

I will most certainly report back after this outing - either late tomorrow night, when I get home, or on Sunday. The actual "report" - if I do one - will have to go on the SoCal/California and the West side of the forum, because it's not attached to any kind of Disneyland trip. It's a totally separate excursion that has nothing to do with DLR.

 

[Sherry E]

Hopefully I can get right back on the DLR Holiday 2011 TR bandwagon after I recover from this Catalina jaunt! I want to continue on with the saga of my reunion with "M."




In the meantime...I thought I'd copy my Catalina-Disney connection post from one year ago, so you can see how my two favorite SoCal places kind of overlapped for a brief time:

....By the way, I should have pointed this out a couple of days ago, but in case anyone is not familiar with the Catalina Island - Disneyland Resort connection, here are some examples:


A mural in California Adventure featuring the iconic Catalina Casino (the mural has now come down), from December 2009:

The former Wolfgang Puck restaurant, Avalon Cove, in DCA (now known as Ariel's Grotto!):

(Yesterland has a good description)

http://www.yesterland.com/avaloncove.html


(I Googled these images of Avalon Cove)

You can imagine my sheer glee when my two favorite SoCal locations - Disneyland and Catalina - suddenly joined forces and Avalon Cove was born! Visions of crossover merchandise danced in my head!

Alas, Avalon Cove closed before I ever got to see it or eat there, or find any crossover merchandise - in fact, to this day I wonder if there were any Avalon Cove pins or magnets made during that brief time the restaurant remained open. If it ever existed I have not been able to find any photos of this merchandise.

There are other tucked away 'tips of the hat' to Catalina/Avalon in DCA too, but I don't have photos of them (mental note to myself: catch them on camera if they are still there when I next go to DLR). I know there is a 'vintage' poster (situated among many posters) featuring Mickey & Minnie and some sort of Catalina reference somewhere in the Hollywood Backlot area of DCA. Maybe it was a comic book cover design?? Actually, I think there may be two different vintage posters - one near the Monsters, Inc. ride, and possibly a different poster in the Hyperion area too. I can not find pictures of these posters anywhere on the Internet, but I have definitely seen at least one Mickey/Minnie Catalina poster!

​

 

[mvf-m11c]

Happy Birthday Sherry

Hope you have a great time tomorrow.

My mistake Sherry that you did post some pics on the picture thread. I just haven't seen the opening page in quite some time.

Are you going to start the lamp & light fixture thread or going to wait for awhile?

 

[Sherry E]

Happy Birthday Sherry

Hope you have a great time tomorrow.

My mistake Sherry that you did post some pics on the picture thread. I just haven't seen the opening page in quite some time.

Are you going to start the lamp & light fixture thread or going to wait for awhile?

Thank you, Bret!

I've posted throughout the POTD thread (I posted earlier this year), but as I said the pictures generally go unnoticed by everyone except for Michele or maybe Deejdigsdis.

I have to get my things together tonight and try to sleep - I am being picked up at 4:45 a.m. tomorrow morning - so I won't be able to sign on again here tonight. And then I'll be gone all day.

Let's start the thread Sunday. I have the perfect title!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thank you, Bret!

I've posted throughout the POTD thread (I posted earlier this year), but as I said the pictures generally go unnoticed by everyone except for Michele or maybe Deejdigsdis.

I have to get my things together tonight and try to sleep - I am being picked up at 4:45 a.m. tomorrow morning - so I won't be able to sign on again here tonight. And then I'll be gone all day.

Let's start the thread Sunday. I have the perfect title!

Have fun tomorrow and get plenty of sleep tonight.

That will be great. I can't wait till Sunday when you get the new thread started.

 

[Chereya]

Happy Belated Birthday, Sherry!

 

[Sherry E]

Happy Belated Birthday, Sherry!

Thank you, Chereya! I really appreciate it.

Apparently I was just typing up my 'birthday in Avalon recap' as you posted.

​

Here's the recap:

Well, I made it home alive, and in one piece!

...Although, I am feeling a little like this:

1. Sav-On Shuttle is a good service. The guy who drove me to Long Beach and picked me up when I got back - John - is the owner of the company, I think. He is a really nice, friendly person, and he loves his job. He loves meeting people from all over the place and learning about their lives. Sav-On Shuttle is a little more 'informal' than other shuttle places in how they handle things - you don't get a reservation confirmation, for example - but he was on time (early, in fact) and got me where I needed to go for a much better price than what Super Shuttle would have charged. He said he used to work for Super Shuttle, as a matter of fact. So I would definitely use Sav-On Shuttle again in the future, for Disneyland trips or if I needed to go to Catalina again, and I will recommend them to other DIS'ers if they need a shuttle service.


2. The sun is not my friend. While I managed to come out of this adventure withOUT a sick stomach (unlike after Cars Land in June), thank heavens, I have a nasty headache today and a really, really bad sunburn to boot. Yes, yes, I used sunscreen - I always use 50 SPF sunscreen, and I use a special sunscreen for my face. Neither of those things helped in this case. The sun is very harsh in Avalon because there is so much water around to reflect it. It burned right through the layers of sunscreen I applied. That sun was harsh even as late as 6 p.m.! In fact, a rather attractive, quite-good-looking guy was talking to me (he offered to take a photo of me in front of some sign), and as he walked away he advised me to reapply the sunscreen to my nose because it was really red! It's also my neck, scalp and hands that got bad burns as well.


3. If you think the people in Disneyland look at me oddly as I take photos of window displays and signs and plants, and make random comments (which they do), you should see how they react in Catalina! As I was taking a picture of a sign that had the name "Sally" on it, a guy passed by and said, "You must know someone named Sally." I giggled, but as he walked away I was thinking, "Um...no. I'm just taking a photo of the sign." See, my theory on this is (at DLR or Catalina or wherever) that if I had a DSLR or something that looked very professional, no one would say anything about the odd photo-taking choices because they would think I was taking them for a magazine or newspaper or book or something like that. When you have a point & shoot and take those sorts of pictures, it throws people off because it doesn't make any sense to be taking photos of signs and window displays with a tiny camera, just for the sake of taking them!


4. I did NOT get seasick on the boat, either way. Glad to see that it's only the sun that makes me sick to my stomach, but the water just makes me sleepy! It was choppy in the morning and windy as heck at night, but I braved it and sat outside on both trips...without Dramamine. I guess part of being seasick IS to get really tired - so maybe that's my body's way of getting seasick. That's fine. I'd much rather be tired than nauseous, any day!


5. Apparently I must look like a marine biologist because I found myself engaged in conversation with a man on the boat ride over to Avalon (after he started asking me questions) about the migration patterns of whales in the summer months, and why we were not seeing any in July. And then my favorite quote of the day - which MAY have to become a trip report title - was when this same man said, as he stared out into the vast, seemingly endless ocean, "You think they got sharks out there?" I said, "Uh...yeah...there are sharks out there."


6. I took advantage of the birthday freebies and got my free large scoop of ice cream (Dreyer's cookies & cream on a sugar cone), free cup of coffee (a good size) and free amethyst mineral stone (in place of the fortune bracelet I was going to get). I was going to get my free map of the island from the Catalina Conservancy office, but they were closed when I got there.


7. Remind me to never have a camera battery charged in Avalon again. I found a place that agreed to do it - for $5.00 - but it took FOREVER to charge it (much longer than it takes at home when I do it), and it really threw a wrench into the scheduling of my day, because I needed that battery to work for me. I had an extra battery with me but it was going to die soon, too. So I needed a fully recharged battery, and it took HOURS to get it charged at the place I left it.


8. It was weird driving a golf cart when I haven't driven one in so long. Somehow I managed to keep it one piece, although I had a little run-in with a curb at one point when I overestimated how much space I had to make a U-Turn on a hill. Other than that curb incident, it was all good!

9. I hiked up a hill and up these steps-from-Hades to get to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens (off of the golf cart path). Now, mind you, I have been up there before but it's been years, and I always forget what the path is like until I get on it. I was not the only one cursing those steps, by the way. (And I was indeed cursing them - every few steps, I would mutter to myself in anger about the [blankety-blank] steps.) There were younger people and older people - all in seemingly good shape - who were also huffing and puffing and complaining about the steps, and then breathing a sigh of relief when they reached the top to see the Memorial. I did better than I thought - hey, the years and years of walking everywhere that I need to go have had some positive impact on me, I'm sure - but it was rough. But it's a great workout for those folks who love inclines and lots and lots and lots of steps.


10. My foot was bothering me during the day, but it doesn't seem to be any worse today, thankfully. It feels the same as it did before this whole excursion - which means it still hurts, but it doesn't seem like anything has advanced to a different level of pain.


11. People are funny - this one group of folks in Avalon was confusing the masses of kelp collected at the bottom of the ocean for stingrays. (I didn't have the heart to tell them that their rays were actually seaweed, even though I could have had the chance to put on my marine biologist hat again!) There are various places in Avalon where you can look over the edges of piers, of cliffs, of boats, of walls, etc., and get a good look at what is swimming under the surface of the ocean. You can see the bright orange Garibaldi fish and other types of fish that you can't name. So this one lady who works at one of the tour places in Avalon was saying that she often looks down at the water from this one spot on the Green Pleasure Pier, and in the past she has seen small sharks as well as a 300-pound sea bass and some stingrays swim up to this particular spot.

At that point, a nearby woman pointed down at the water and said, "I see the stingrays! They're on the bottom of the ocean!" She then proceeded to tell the young child who was with her that the reason they are on the bottom of the ocean is because they are bottom feeders. She then said, "There's another one! Wow, it's really big!" Finally, I looked over the railing and down past the Garibaldi fish to see what she was talking about. They were clumps of seaweed! I stayed silent.


12. I did not have any dolphin sightings, which is very unusual for the boat ride over to Catalina. I was on one side of the boat, and the dolphins that finally appeared were swimming on the other side of the boat. So there were people who saw them, but I didn't.


13. I got a lot of photos, though not nearly as many as I'd planned since a big chunk of my day was thrown off because of that battery-charging episode. I didn't get a lot of photos from up in the hills on the golf cart trail because of that very issue, and also because some of the really good photo spots that used to exist are now blocked off and inaccessible.


14. All in all, a worthwhile trip! One of the shopkeepers told me that the City of Avalon is trying to convince Catalina Express to do a free birthday boat trip promo every year, but the various island vendors who participate in the promo by offering discounts or offering free goodies (like the ice cream, the coffee and the mineral stone/fortune bracelet) are not sure if they want to participate again, because they "take a big hit" and lose money. Most of the people who stop in to get a free treat do not buy anything else in that same store. So if the promo is extended for additional years, it may be a modified version of it.

I really need more time in Avalon - an extended weekend trip (like I used to do) would have been so much better - but I'm grateful for the free boat ride that allowed me to do one day!






(Bret - I will start the Light fixture thread a bit later!)

 

[mvf-m11c]

Glad to hear that you had a great birthday trip to Catalina and got back safely. I always wanted to go to Catalina one day after reading your TR's the last few years and hearing how great it is for a vacation.

Hope you get better from your trip.

You got to do a lot during your trip. Sorry to hear about the battery problem with your camera. When you go next year to Catalina or in the future, we will remind you to bring extra batteries.

Hope you get better and thank you for writing up your birthday trip to Catalina.

 

[kmedina]

We have dined at Ariel’s Grotto, but I had never dined at Avalon Cove. Excellent story. One day, I need to see Catalina for myself. It sounds lovely.

Glad to hear that the shuttle service worked out. I always get burned as well no matter how much sunblock I wear. Some people are just genetically unlucky that way. Thankfully, my boys seem to mostly take after their Dad. I have never had anyone make a comment about a picture I was taking. Then again, I never remember to get those awesome extra shots you and Bret remember to get. To me, you guys are just forward thinking. Yay to not getting sea sick. I think there are sharks out there as well. That would be a great title.

to birthday freebies. Those are always a lot of fun. Hope they helped make your birthday extra special. Here is your reminder to never charge your battery in Avalon again. It is not likely that I will remember before your next trip, so that is the best I can do. Driving a golf cart is on my list of things I want to do someday. I have never been golfing or to a place that has them. There were a lot lying around FW at WDW but I never tried to steal any. Hiking is usually a great workout, which is why I have avoided it over the past ten years or so. Sorry your foot was hurting, but I am glad it is feeling a little better now. You really should have an x-ray now that it has been a month and half. I know it is hard without ins, but Doctor’s will usually give you a discount if you ask for it.

Thinking seaweed was a stingray is quite funny. I am sure there were others who noticed that but chose to laugh in silence. Maybe, they did not really see dolphins if it was the same group who saw the “stingrays.” I am sure you got plenty of great photos despite the spot. I’ve seen your photos and they are always good. Glad you had a great time. Hopefully, everything is extended so you can do it again next year.

 

[PHXscuba]

Sherry, I'm glad you're back safely. Sorry you got burned, but it sounds like you came out of it better than you expected, so I'm happy for that.

What, no peppermint ice cream? I had Girl Scout mint last night.

I don't think you need a marine biology degree to tell kelp from stingrays ... gotta love some people's ignorance and willingness to share it! DS and DH saw a sea bass that DS described as "the size of our loveseat" in the dive park behind the Casino a couple years ago.

I will await the superthread for more on Catalina -- I'd love to take the kids there. I do have two teens with summer birthdays; hopefully they will extend the promo.

I did do my review of Knott's under the Theme Parks subforum.

 

[deejdigsdis]

WHEW!!! All caught up! I love the "Christmas in July" thing you have going. I turned on a Christmas station in Pandora to have for background while I read. This weekend we'll have our own Christmas in July. I think I'll set up a small tree with lights only, make some of the kids' favorite Christmas goodies, and watch Christmas shows. Mmmm...you can't beat sipping hot chocolate on a 99 degree day. (insert rolling eyes smiley here...I can't find it.) I'm looking forward to it. Things have been so busy, I'm looking forward to just relaxing.

Back to your TR...your early morning arrival at PPH reminds me of the beginning of the old 1989 "A Day at Disneyland" VHS tape I have. Just the anticipation of a new day...everything shiny and clean...the quiet before everyone is up and about... That tree looks so pretty. Someday I hope to step foot in the DLR hotels, preferrably at Christmas time.

I'm glad you made it to the PPH with your questionable shuttle driver/route. Scary at the time, but makes for a great story, especially the way you tell it.

I wouldn't want mozzarella cheese on my garlic bread either. That spaghetti looks so good right now. Apparently the salad I had a few hours ago isn't quite cutting it. I'm hungry!

Can't wait to see what's up next.

And...Happy Belated Birthday!!! So glad you made it to Catalina. That's too bad about the camera battery needing to be charged. That would definitely throw a wrench into your photo-taking plans.

By the way...I would love to post some pictures in a Light Fixture Thread (as long as it isn't called "The Light Fixture Thread" -- can't wait to see the title you came up with). I'm ready to post away! Just say the word when it's ready.

OK, time to turn off Johnny Mathis' "Sleigh Ride" and get back to reality...

 

[Sherry E]

Here is the light fixture thread:

Let There be Light!!


It's in the DL Community section, which means it will disappear from sight and be forgotten (just like the Stopping to Smell the Roses thread that I had to move over there)...but, what can you do?

I will be back to reply to Deej, PHX, Kim and Bret a bit later! I am trying to get caught up on 100 things now that I don't feel like going back to sleep every 5 minutes!

(Glad you're all caught up, Deej - I'm only 4 installments into the actual TR (I left off with the view from the PPH room), so there hasn't been anything new since Part 4 of Day 1!)

 

[Sherry E]

Glad to hear that you had a great birthday trip to Catalina and got back safely. I always wanted to go to Catalina one day after reading your TR's the last few years and hearing how great it is for a vacation.

Hope you get better from your trip.

You got to do a lot during your trip. Sorry to hear about the battery problem with your camera. When you go next year to Catalina or in the future, we will remind you to bring extra batteries.

Hope you get better and thank you for writing up your birthday trip to Catalina.

Thanks, Bret.

I don't know if you would love Catalina, or just think it was 'okay,' but I DO think you would get a lot of awesome photos! So for that reason alone it would be worthwhile. It's a very picturesque place, because there are so many close-up views of the water, and then there are great views from up in the hills. There are a lot of photo-worthy locations. You would take some great shots of the Casino (which is not an actual gambling place) and inside the ballroom if you did the Casino tour. They take you into the movie theater on that tour, which is absolutely gorgeous. Those are great architectural spots for photos.

Plus, in Catalina you can see flying fish, buffalo, deer, goats, foxes, sea lions, dolphins, an occasional eagle, sometimes sharks (if you take the semi-sub tour), etc. Most people I send over to Catalina or that I have brought over there on one of my trips in the past have ended up loving it, but there are a few here and there who just kind of think it's so-so. You kind of have to get in the mindset that it's not a place like Disneyland or other theme park, where the action is kind of 'presented' to you in the form of one ride/show after another. It's a more of a laid back vibe in Avalon, and you kind of have to seek out what you want to do (whether it's a boat ride, a hike, a golf cart ride or a tour, etc.). There are lots of things to do if you seek them out, but it's also a good place to just walk around and take pretty pictures.

I would suggest that if you ever do make it to Avalon, start with a full one-day trip and see how you like it. Try going at a time when the Catalina Express hours are extended (like in summer), when you can leave really early in the morning and come back at 9:45 p.m. This way you can get some early morning pictures around town of the empty streets, before the crowds start to arrive, and you can get some late sunset shots.

You know, I had 2 batteries with me in Avalon. One of them was fully charged and in my camera. The second battery was in the process of charging when my shuttle driver arrived to pick me up in the morning. He was at least 15 minutes early, so that battery did not have time to finish charging when I had to grab it and leave. The little charging light was still orange rather than green, which means it was not fully charged.

So when I got to Avalon/Catalina I was, of course, instantly off and running with the photo-taking because it had been so many years since I'd been there. I probably took too many pictures too early on, and my battery died before I even rented the golf cart. That meant that I had to use the second battery - which was not fully charged, as I mentioned above. So I put the second, only partially-charged, battery in the camera and took the first battery to the Avalon pharmacy to be charged for $5.00. I figured I would wait for that battery to charge before I rented the golf cart, because I didn't trust the second battery to last for the entire 3 hours I would have the golf cart up in the hills.

Normally, if I am charging batteries at home, it takes maybe 30 minutes or 60 minutes, maximum. For some reason, it took forever and ever at this pharmacy for my battery to charge. Hours. I kept checking back, and the orange light was still on. I have no idea what the deal is with their power strip or whatever they use, but it took forever.

Finally, it got to the point where I was going to lose my 'get 3 hours for the price of 2 hours' golf cart deal if I didn't hurry up and rent the cart before the cut-off time. So I had to take the golf cart with only one partially-charged battery in tow, and the other one still charging at the pharmacy.

Because of this, and because of the fact that I was afraid my partially-charged battery didn't have enough juice in it to last for my whole 3 hours, I held back on some of the pictures I had fully planned to take - like some of the scenic views of the ocean up in the hills, and various other things around town. I had planned to take many more photos, but I just didn't do it because then I thought I'd be stuck with NO working batteries. I took some photos, but just not as many as I wanted to. You can relate, I'm sure - being someone who also loves to take a lot of photos, you can understand the frustration of feeling limited, like you can't take very many because the battery is about to die!

None of this would have been a problem if I had been staying overnight in Avalon - if I'd had a hotel room I would have just gone to the room and recharged. But since I only had one day, I had to deal with the pharmacy issue.

Next time I know that if I take a day trip again, I have to have at least 3 batteries with me!

We have dined at Ariel’s Grotto, but I had never dined at Avalon Cove. Excellent story. One day, I need to see Catalina for myself. It sounds lovely.

Glad to hear that the shuttle service worked out. I always get burned as well no matter how much sunblock I wear. Some people are just genetically unlucky that way. Thankfully, my boys seem to mostly take after their Dad. I have never had anyone make a comment about a picture I was taking. Then again, I never remember to get those awesome extra shots you and Bret remember to get. To me, you guys are just forward thinking. Yay to not getting sea sick. I think there are sharks out there as well. That would be a great title.

to birthday freebies. Those are always a lot of fun. Hope they helped make your birthday extra special. Here is your reminder to never charge your battery in Avalon again. It is not likely that I will remember before your next trip, so that is the best I can do. Driving a golf cart is on my list of things I want to do someday. I have never been golfing or to a place that has them. There were a lot lying around FW at WDW but I never tried to steal any. Hiking is usually a great workout, which is why I have avoided it over the past ten years or so. Sorry your foot was hurting, but I am glad it is feeling a little better now. You really should have an x-ray now that it has been a month and half. I know it is hard without ins, but Doctor’s will usually give you a discount if you ask for it.

Thinking seaweed was a stingray is quite funny. I am sure there were others who noticed that but chose to laugh in silence. Maybe, they did not really see dolphins if it was the same group who saw the “stingrays.” I am sure you got plenty of great photos despite the spot. I’ve seen your photos and they are always good. Glad you had a great time. Hopefully, everything is extended so you can do it again next year.

Kim -

Thank you! It would be nice to do it again next year - but I can't possibly see how the free birthday boat ride could be continued every year. I am guessing they will come out with a modified offer of some kind - like maybe free one way, and full payment the other way (or 50% off the fare, essentially). It seems like Catalina Express would have to put some sort of cap on it, at least maybe limiting the people who use it to only the ones who have not used previous offers. Right now, they are letting people who used the offer last year take advantage of it for a second year. If I had been able to make it last year too, I would have had 2 free birthday trips. If they do this every year and let the same people take advantage of the offer time and time again, they will lose a lot of money, I would have to think. Don't get me wrong - I'd love to know that I can keep going to Catalina for free on my birthday every year - but I can't see how Catalina Express could possibly afford to offer that to the same people over and over again.

Getting sunburns is part of the territory with pasty Irish skin! And it's never an even sunburn, either - it's always like one spot is more burnt than other places - like one side of my neck is redder than my arms. Or my nose is redder than the rest of my face.

Catalina is lovely - very scenic and photogenic. I love staying there for multiple days (or at least I did in the past) - which is not necessarily something that everyone would want to do if they can't get into that kind of relaxed, beach town environment and its related activities. But it's definitely a great place for a day trip. I think you'd probably enjoy it. Driving a golf cart is such a simple pleasure in life - it doesn't seem like that exciting of a thing in theory, and yet it's so much fun, for some reason! It's fun to zoom around (at something crazy like 30 miles per hour) up in the hills.

At Disneyland, I have definitely had people look at me strangely and make comments when I was taking pictures. That happened several times during the "Evil Chair & the Peppermint Cone of Death" trip in December 2010. That's the trip in which I took something like 1600 photos (though some of them were clunkers, or were left out of the TR if they were almost identical to others or if they were too blurry) of all sorts of details all over the place (even Bret was surprised at some of what I managed to get photos of, I think!). I was literally crawling under and around grown men to get to window displays on Main Street, and they thought it was funny. Sometimes I could just be standing there taking a picture of a flower or a light or a sign or whatever, and someone will walk by and say something.

So, in Catalina, I think it is even more amusing and unusual to people to see someone taking pictures of subjects that are not the typical 'tourist' things. And again, I am pretty sure that the reason why I have attracted such attention by doing this is because my camera is small and informal-looking. If I had a big DSLR camera, it would seem like I was a professional photographer getting photos of certain things for an article or magazine, or even for a Visitors Guide/travel book. With a point & shoot, people are confused and can't figure out what I would be doing taking pictures of window displays and signs!

I don't know if any of the pictures I get are awesome (thank you for that nice compliment), but a few of them are interesting and different. I may not be forward-thinking - I may just be nuts!

My foot seems to be no worse, which is good. I was afraid that walking all over the place in Avalon would make whatever the problem is even worse, but it's pretty much the same. It doesn't hurt all the time, but it sometimes hurts when I put on shoes or walk around. I agree that it shouldn't be hurting at all, especially a month and a half later, so clearly something is askew. What I am hoping is that whatever it is will clear up on its own if I don't do too much walking, like my knee pain cleared up after I took a tumble late last year. There was a spot in my knee that was hurting for a really long time - only when I pressed it or put pressure on it - and then it eventually stopped. Seeing doctors without insurance in my area of town is tricky, because they will still charge a small fortune, or they will demand it all up front and not allow payments.

That's a great point - I wonder if the people who saw the "stingrays" were the same ones who saw the dolphins on the boat ride! All I know is that dolphin sightings from the boat are very common - they happen daily, though maybe at different times of day. Sometimes they will get really close to the boat too, and the Captain will actually stop the boat for a minute or slow it down so people can watch them and take pictures. There have been times when I've been on the Express and the dolphins were everywhere, jumping in and out of the water in large groups, and the people on the boat erupted in applause, as if the dolphins were putting on a show for us!

So I don't think there has even been a boat ride I've had when I didn't see at least a couple of dolphins...until this latest one. Supposedly they were there, on the opposite side of the boat, but I didn't see them. I didn't even see a flying fish this time around, either.

It never would have occurred to me that there could possibly NOT be sharks in the ocean! That's their home. I just assume there are sharks all over the place under the water - they are not all necessarily the giant "Jaws" kinds of sharks, of course. Some of them are small and harmless. But there are also some big, mean, scary ones. I just thought it was so funny when the guy asked me if I thought "they" had sharks out there - as if someone planted them in the ocean!

Sherry, I'm glad you're back safely. Sorry you got burned, but it sounds like you came out of it better than you expected, so I'm happy for that.

What, no peppermint ice cream? I had Girl Scout mint last night.

I don't think you need a marine biology degree to tell kelp from stingrays ... gotta love some people's ignorance and willingness to share it! DS and DH saw a sea bass that DS described as "the size of our loveseat" in the dive park behind the Casino a couple years ago.

I will await the superthread for more on Catalina -- I'd love to take the kids there. I do have two teens with summer birthdays; hopefully they will extend the promo.

I did do my review of Knott's under the Theme Parks subforum.

PHXscuba -

Yes, I fared better than I thought I would, based on how my stomach has been responding to heat this year (even before Cars Land). Maybe I willed myself out of getting sick from heat exhaustion or whatever. I don't mind being tired, but I don't want to be nauseous.

The interesting thing is that the ice cream places in Avalon now sell Dreyer's ice cream (just like at DLR). This is new since I was last there. They didn't have Dreyer's in the past. So, on the board where they list all the available flavors in the store where I got my free cone, I noticed that pumpkin and peppermint were both listed. I said, "Pumpkin ice cream? So soon?" The sales girl said, "It's seasonal." I said,"And the peppermint? Seasonal as well, right?" She nodded.

So, to answer your question, I would have certainly gotten some peppermint if it had been an option, which it looked like it was based on the sign, but it was not. Why they don't take the pumpkin and peppermint OFF of the sign/menu board during the summer months is beyond me! It's false advertising!

Supposedly - from what the Avalon tour lady was saying to the family who saw the "stingrays" - there are a few enormous sea bass around town. One of them lives mainly underneath the Green Pier (and you've been to Avalon, so you know the Pier is surrounding by all kinds of people, activity and tour boats). She said that this bass only appears every so often - maybe it's afraid of people.

The loveseat-sized bass that your DH and DS saw by the Casino (I know exactly the dive spot you are talking about, and I was just walking by that area the other day) must be one of the other "locals"!

I will check out your Knott's review! I do miss that chicken dinner, and it would be nice to see some of their Peanuts stuff and some of their Christmas decorations when the season rolls around. From what I've read and seen on TV, they also do a good job with Knott's Scary Farm. Other than those elements, though, I am always sort of 'meh' about Knott's. BUT, if I recall correctly, their annual passes are a much, much, much lower price than Disneyland's crazy AP prices!

WHEW!!! All caught up! I love the "Christmas in July" thing you have going. I turned on a Christmas station in Pandora to have for background while I read. This weekend we'll have our own Christmas in July. I think I'll set up a small tree with lights only, make some of the kids' favorite Christmas goodies, and watch Christmas shows. Mmmm...you can't beat sipping hot chocolate on a 99 degree day. (insert rolling eyes smiley here...I can't find it.) I'm looking forward to it. Things have been so busy, I'm looking forward to just relaxing.

Back to your TR...your early morning arrival at PPH reminds me of the beginning of the old 1989 "A Day at Disneyland" VHS tape I have. Just the anticipation of a new day...everything shiny and clean...the quiet before everyone is up and about... That tree looks so pretty. Someday I hope to step foot in the DLR hotels, preferrably at Christmas time.

I'm glad you made it to the PPH with your questionable shuttle driver/route. Scary at the time, but makes for a great story, especially the way you tell it.

I wouldn't want mozzarella cheese on my garlic bread either. That spaghetti looks so good right now. Apparently the salad I had a few hours ago isn't quite cutting it. I'm hungry!

Can't wait to see what's up next.

And...Happy Belated Birthday!!! So glad you made it to Catalina. That's too bad about the camera battery needing to be charged. That would definitely throw a wrench into your photo-taking plans.

By the way...I would love to post some pictures in a Light Fixture Thread (as long as it isn't called "The Light Fixture Thread" -- can't wait to see the title you came up with). I'm ready to post away! Just say the word when it's ready.

OK, time to turn off Johnny Mathis' "Sleigh Ride" and get back to reality...

Deej -

There's something extra fun about having a Halloween or Christmas-themed day in the middle of summer, isn't there? It has to be timed just right so that it's not too close to the previous Halloween or holiday seasons, when everyone is burnt out on all things festive, and so that it's not too close to the next Halloween or holiday seasons - summer is the perfect time. Why not do it, I say?!

It's fun to just put on a marathon of shows fitting those themes and get in the spirit - I think it helps build excitement for the upcoming holiday season, because the season is still far enough away so that no one is stressing and having anxiety about it yet. This is a good way to get a little taste of what I call "the fun holidays" - Halloween and Christmas - but without being in the "stress zone."

Yes, one of these days you have to leave Disneyland and actually venture over to the 3 hotels, especially during the holidays when the decorations are so pretty! We'll get you over there sooner or later!

I do love arriving at DLR really early in the morning even if I am not staying at one of the hotels. Yes, everything is shiny and new, and quiet! It's a great way to ease into the day, instead of jumping into it full-throttle when the crowds are already up and about. Even if I do just a one-day trip and no hotel is involved, I still want to start my day by walking into one of the DLR hotels! I don't want to be dropped off on Harbor Blvd. I want to walk into either GCH or PPH and see the trees, and then make my way to DTD, and onto whichever park I begin with (which would most likely be Disneyland).

The added advantage of arriving really early when you have a reservation at a DLR hotel is that there is a greater possibility of being able to get into a room at that moment, or being upgraded. But even without upgrades or immediate room access, I just like being there super early, when it's cold outside and there are holiday lights twinkling just before dawn.

Thank you for the happy birthday!

Yes, the shuttle ride to PPH in December was interesting - I still don't understand why we needed to get in the carpool lane at that time of the morning - but, as you said, it makes for a good story. On the shuttle ride I took 3 days ago - to the Catalina Express landing in Long Beach - that driver didn't go the way I thought he would go, either. It seemed more roundabout than what I was used to. But the GPS had some sort of plan in mind. I think it took a little bit longer than it would have taken if we went the way I know to go, but I got there and I got home, so that's what counts!

I'm glad to know I am not the only one who does not prefer mozzarella cheese on my garlic bread. The thing is, I've eaten that type of garlic bread before - not at Storytellers, but other places - but I wasn't expecting it at Storytellers. Their garlic bread has been so good in the past, without cheese. All they had to do was keep it fresh, make sure to not skimp on the garlic butter and keep the garlic butter fresh, and it was all good. The bread didn't need cheese on it. I like cheese on my pizza or meatball sandwiches. I don't want it on my garlic bread!

The spaghetti is really good - even though it was a bit on the lukewarm side this past December, the flavor was good. Lots of fresh herbs. I think my plate had been sitting out for too long as the other food was prepared. Hopefully the next time I order that dish, it will be warm and the bread will be cheese-free!

I thought it would be hilarious to call the thread "The Light Fixture Thread" just because it is so unremarkable and un-clever! But as you can see, I went with the "Let There be Light" title. I was going to leave it at that but I thought people might not know what the thread was about, so I added in the parentheses to give an idea of what they can expect to see. In any case, it's better than "The Light Fixture Thread." Bret and TK have already posted in it. It will be interesting to see if anyone posts in it beyond those folks that we already know take light fixture photos - in other words, are there other people out there who have secretly been taking these photos all along? I am hoping that they will be inspired by seeing everyone else's photos and come out of the woodwork!

I'm glad you're enjoying the holiday TR. I have to get going with Part 1 of Day 2!!!

 

[kaoden39]

I love boat rides. I haven't been on a boat in years because Scotty gets horrible motion sickness. That kind of leaves me out of going to Catalina, so I am living through your trips.

 

[Sherry E]

I love boat rides. I haven't been on a boat in years because Scotty gets horrible motion sickness. That kind of leaves me out of going to Catalina, so I am living through your trips.

Michele -

That would definitely leave you out of it, unless you went there with other people and not Scotty (like an all-girls trip or something)!

I am very lucky that I don't seem to get seasick - I'm sure I would if there was a violent storm or something, or if the boat was literally turning sideways, but who wouldn't get sick at that point? Some deep sea fishing boats and some sailboats seem to rock a little too much, from what I have seen. Those might be tough to handle.

But just on basic catamaran-type boats and relatively smooth, uneventful boat trips, I don't seem to have a problem. However, I feel for Scotty because I've known other people who get seasick (or carsick) soooo easily. Just the mere sway of a boat - even a gentle sway - will send them running to the bathroom with a green face. It may largely be due to mind over matter, or it could be all due to the equilibrium. Whatever the case, it bugs me when other people say "The ride is really smooth; no one will get sick," because, inevitably, there will be someone there on the boat who gets sick even on a "smooth" boat ride. Everyone is affected in different ways. What might not make me sick will most likely make Scotty sick!

I'm still unsure as to whether or not I will actually do a TR for Catalina (over in the California section), but I will probably post a few highlight photos here. I just want to pick a handful of the best ones - I don't want to post a whole, whole lot of them in this particular DLR TR thread. I'm just trying to figure out which ones are the best ones. I looked through all of them last night, and there are a few that I said, "Oh, that's good" about, but the rest of them were kind of so-so. We'll see...