"OUR BIG, FAT DISNEYLAND ROADTRIP" The End 4/20 pg. 44 Better Than Cats...

February 23 “The Quest For FUN”…
It was reeeeeally snowing! It took more than 15 minutes to go the first mile due to power outages. These two pictures are at the exit to our subdivision in suberbia, Utah...]
YUK SNOW!

I reminded him it is much safer to drive DRUNK than it is to drive sleepy....]
:eek: NOT if you Blast the radio, and roll all the windows down!

I7. No internet
:confused3

There's a cute little city in Southern Utah named Beaver. I did NOT take a picture of the restaurant sign that says for all of America to see, "Wendy's Beaver, next right" :confused:
I remeber when you use to be fun!:rolleyes1


By the time my eyes were closed, the loud (LOUD!!!) boom, BOOM, boom, BOOMs started. Oh MY, the fireworks are LOUD from our room. BUT!….but it took me back to my bedroom as a child with the yellow shag carpet and butterfly wallpaper every weekend evening listening to the far off “boom-booms” and feeling comforted.]
:thumbsup2


Riley slept in the same bed as me. He held my one hand in his two hands next to his heart. He squoze my hand three times and whispered, “That means, ‘I love you, mom’”…So, I gave his hand three squeezes too and we fell asleep even with the fireworks booming.
:love:
 
double post! Disboards freak out in the middle of the night!
 
You have my word! It's a HUGE billboard right there along the side of the road."Wendy's Beaver, Next Right"...
NOT appropriate for young DISsers, I must say. :upsidedow

Now the youngins would have never noticed it...until NOW that you wrote it!:eek:
 
Our server was Jose. A different Jose than the night before.!
Theres TWO?????????:confused3

Norah in extreme annoyance that she has to look up at the camera... (We call her "Pissy Missy" often. To which she screams, "NO PISSY MISSY!!!!!!!").!
:lmao:

Once past security, we had to go activate our Annual Passes.
So how many TR's are we getting this year?


We were second in line and when DH was giving them his birthdate, the dude next to us said, “Hey! That’s MY birthday too!” Coinkidink! Plus, the CM taking our pictures was named Wendy…So I said, “Hey, this must be Coincidence Corner” (we were in the far right corner of the room) …which you had to be there, but it had everyone laughing..
:rolleyes1


Main Street is different yet similar to MK. Familiar and sentimental. More homey maybe? I couldn’t place my finger on the difference. It IS shorter than MK, though...
COZIER! DL is MUCH more cosier than WDW!

Ok, WDW/MK folks, Listen Up….The Pirates of the Caribbean is MUCH, much, much better in DL. Oh, yes. It is! That musty POC smell is even better. You board your boat and right there is a dark Bayou restaurant full of Cajun ambiance. There seems to be a better story line too. Maybe it’s just me?
...
MUCH BETTER! Did you know that POC was NEVER intended to be in WDW! After WDW opened everyone wanted to know where POC was. It was built as a afterthought (2 or 3 years later)

Right outside the Enchanted Tiki Room is the Dole stand. Ahhhhh! So we got 3 to share. I STILL wont waste the pineapple-goodness with 2 inches of juice to mix with the whip. People LOVE the floats. I like the simple whip better, though. It’s like a little piece of heaven! It’s like a party in your mouth! It’s soooooo good! The CM even gave my whip a cherry and umbrella!!!! ...
The whip with the juice is BETTER in the humidity!:thumbsup2


Great PICS:thumbsup2
My finger hurts from scrolling the mouse all night! What a way to make a living!:cool2:
 

Although I've been active on other Disney boards I'm brand new here and I love this TR and spirit of this board. Since I found it yesterday I can't stay away and I admit that this TR was the first thing I read! :rotfl:

It's fun and meaningful to me just now since I'm also planning a car trip to DR with my family and I'm making lists now of what to pack, bring, etc. We're leaving from Colorado so a bit farther to drive and we have another family driving out with us in their car so it will be a little crazy.

Last night my grandaughter sat with me and we looked at all of your photos and she can't wait to go to DR for the first time. She's 3 1/2 and liked seeing shots of your daughter enjoying the park.

Thanks and I hope I can contribute something equally as meaningful and fun after our trip.
 
Still February 25th
And the really cool birthday surprise for Riley from Rainforest Cafe:
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After several hours, and a wonderful visit, my family went home and the Utahanians invaded Paradise Pier one more time!!!!

We were right to go there after dark! It's just beautiful!

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oooooooh! beautiful!!! I'm glad you went back at night!
Riley - so cute with his volcano dessert -
love DL - so much the same as WDW - but totally different!
love your report, UM!
 
You are taking too long lady! I'm dying! Need...more....Utahmama....trip...report....for sustinance
crazy-1.gif
 
Howdy Umama!

I just finished reading your entire TR! :woohoo: Whew... I am tired but I love it...awesome. You make me want to go to DL! Love, Love, Love the pictures. I really like the pictures taken a night! Beautiful!

Your kiddos are growing up...right before our eyes on the DIS. :eek:
Happy B-Day Riley!

Now that you have DL APs and free flights ...does this mean you aren't visiting WDW anytime soon?

I must know...Did you wear your tiara at DL?

Well, thanks for sharing. Looking forward to more.:banana:
Miss ya!
Darlene

I have a fantastic idea:idea: Now that you are an AP holder and all.....You must go to the premier of AWE in May. Perhaps you can meet JDepp:love: . I could live vicariously through you, can't I?
 
Thanks for all the great comments on the pictures.:thumbsup2

UtahMama
We need a verrrry special update. Please.

Keep up the great trip report. :cheer2:

Are you going to do another one in may?

cherokeemamma, When is Johnny going to be there?
We will be there on May 7-10 for DS8 Birthday.
 
Hi Goofy4UM,

The best info I have is this: POTC3 will premier at DL on 5/19. The park hours that day 6:30 am - 5:00 pm. I am guessing you can stand along the red carpet. Since you have those AP's there is no excuse...You must take your darlin' Wendy! You know she'd love you for it:love:.

Wish I could have met the whole Umama clan last Sept. Maybe next time...yes, there will be a next time!:goodvibes

TTFN,
Darlene
 
Yeah!!! Another UM TR!!!
Hi UM, I'm a lurking stalker from your Big Fat Disney Vacation (which was fabulous and my second TR after reading Twinkie's since she linked your TR in hers somewher I think...which made me totally cry--the first one that is, still working my way through the 2nd one). I never posted there, because well it was in September and I didn't find the DISboards until February of this year. So I was overjoyed as I got to the end of your first TR that what to my wandering eyes should appear? A link to this one in your siggie :banana:.

I have to say I read your TR outloud to one of my co-workers and we lurrve going on vacation with you and family through your TR's!

But I must say I was a little shocked when I read this in ur TR
Feb. 24th -Wakey, Wakey, Eggs ‘n Bakey!!!

Did I mention kids eat free at Holiday Inn? This is a sweet arrangement because the adult entrees were nice and affordable and they insisted our 2 year old also get her own meal. Plus the food was really quite good. Kind of homey stuff is served at the hotel café. I had the low carb omelets which I could only eat maybe half of and a diet coke. DH had an “everything omelet” and OJ. Norah had fruit and yogurt and the boys had “Victory Eggs”(racing themed kids’ menu). Our server was Jose. A different Jose than the night before.

What is this? UM drinking diet COKE??? :scared1:
We know how much you love Pepsi (and thank you BTW for telling the DISers that there is only Coke at WDW, I'm going with a Pepsi lover and we have added this to our things to bring on our upcoming trip).

Anyhoo just thought I'd come out of lurkdom for this one and now I too want to go to DL. CA did not exist when I visited The Land back in 1985, but that won't be for who knows when... Anyhoo.

Great TR as always!!
 
February 26th

The last day of our Big Fat Disneyland Roadtrip started out as usual. We dressed and had big plans to go to Main Street U.S.A. at the Carnation Café, but the Kids Eat Free feature of the Holiday Inn we stayed at was too tempting for us cheapskates. The parks did not open that day till 10:00 AM so this turned out to be a win win situation.

Today was to be our “Favorites” day. The parks are so close that we really could do all of our favorites. A neat little tid bit to keep in mind is, Soarin’ opens at 9:30! We were very first in line at California Adventure, with time to burn.

My boys doing their Mervyn’s commercial imitation, “Open, Open, Open”!
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Here is a clever little Hidden Mickey I found! Just outside the gates of California Adventure. Look closely at the sea-glass in the concrete…
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The gates opened, and we high tailed it (Yes, I RAN) to Soarin’ and I waited with Norah while the UtahDudes rode. I told them to go middle front so they wouldn’t have feet in their view. Feet don’t exactly ruin the ride, but still.

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My phone rang and I couldn’t see who it was because the screen was just black! No caller ID. I hoped it was someone I wanted to talk to! “Hello???” I answered.

“Hey, Wendy This is Sid” She said something like that anyway. Probably much cooler than that.

WHO is this Sid you may ask? Sid is a DISer who goes by the user name SDY.
Weirdly, I had thought she was a HE at one point and probably may have flirted with “him” like I do (harmlessly, of course!). I had only recently known him to be a her. Kapeashe?
Just before I left, Sid had PM’d me expressing the fact she wasn’t a stalker or weirdo and she wanted to meet me. SDY wanted to meet ME??? She is cool. She is glamorous. But I gave her my cell-phone number and wondered what would come of it.

While waiting for my turn to ride Soarin’, I talked with Sid. And laughed. She really is funny! We arranged to meet later on that night.

I also was looking forward to meeting another really cool DISer by the name DLMama! We had talked WHILE in the Tiki Room (I was discreet!) and while eating the yummy Dole whip the other day. We’d be hooking up today before lunch which wasn’t too long from now.

Meanwhile, it was my turn to ride Soarin’. I never get sick of that ride! I have the soundtrack in my mind. I just love love love it!

After Soarin’ the park was officially open so we went to the Tower of Terror. Have you ever noticed it always says Ride time: 13 minutes? Again we ride share and I wait first. I love to people watch outside of this ride. Newbies look hesitant. Oldbies (?) cant get in line fast enough! I rolled my eyes (to myself) at how many people didn’t know that the 13 was a joke. It was pretty much a walk on ride.
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I took this picture in the lobby because I had taken one similar at WDW.
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And this is the same at MGM: Funny huh?
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Well wouldn’t you know, I road with this mother dragging on her 6 year old DD. She explained that she really did like the ride, but was acting up. No, me thinks your DD is terrified of this ride, Lady! This little girl was hysterical. She begged her mother not to make her ride. I told her I’d stay with her if she wanted to? The little girl looked SO comforted that this nice stranger would relieve her of having to ride. Oh but no. The mother wouldn’t have THAT. I swore I would not kidnap her and we’d wait just at the exit for her…NOPE. Well ok then! So the ride of all the others was ruined with fretting over this little girl who would someday grow up to pick out her mother’s retirement home….

Usually, I love this ride. I usually scream a half a second before anyone else. Just because. But this time I didn’t want to add to this poor little girl’s terror so I zipped it. I took the red-neck picture of us after wards. My thighs looked too wide so I didn’t post it here, but the little girl breaks my heart.

Riley looked so cute. He too kept quiet and felt horrible for this little girl. He had held my hand and given me the 3 squeezes for “I Love You” as we entered a new dimension together. I love that kid!

Listen Up, Florida Disney parks’ fans. The next ride was Monster’s Inc. It was so cute! I don’t know what style to compare it to. Maybe a little like Pooh, or Snow White, or Mr. Toad’s (oh, wait no Mr. Toad in Florida! Woops!) but BIGGER and more sophisticated animatronically. Humor is everywhere you look.
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In the queue, there’s a huge snack vending machine. The Blort is delicious. The Bag-o-calories I do not recommend!
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Put this ride on your must see list, if you like Monster’s Inc., you’ll get a kick out of this ride!
Here is my Utah Ute's Fan son, Dallen (DS8) outside of Monster's Inc.
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Muppetvision 3-D is nearly identical to Florida’s with the exception of the outside queue area and the non-existant muppits dump shop! They do have a little cart with a few muppets’ merchandise but that’s it. I was all set to buy more Miss Piggy stuff for my collection. I’ll have to wait till we go to WDW next September.

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Muppets: Humor is EVERYWHERE!

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Another really cool thing to do is the Animation Acadamy. You get step by step instructions on drawing classic characters. We got to draw Donald Duck. Even Norah enjoyed this class.

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In Belle’s Library I took the quiz to see which character I was most like. It answered Ariel. So I did it over. I gave my mean mama answers and it said Ursula. YES!!! I love that witch! That made me very happy to tell my kids I was Ursula! But I think they already knew that….

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While in the area, we then did Turtle Talk with Crush. My boys sat right in the front and had questions all ready but were not called on. Which made me a little sad at their disappointment. Can you see their silouette's?
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Next time....Met DL mama, ate at Pacific Warf, saw a chubby Jasmin (really!), rode the carousel and more!
 
Another good one, Wendy! Have you started the pre-trip for the May trip yet?
The gates opened, and we high tailed it (Yes, I RAN) to Soarin’
That's me! With all the kids yelling "WAIT, MOM!" :lmao:
My thighs looked too wide so I didn’t post it here, but the little girl breaks my heart.
POST IT! :lmao: on the thighs. Poor sweet child!
Dallen's is REALLY good! :thumbsup2
Next time....Met DL mama, ate at Pacific Warf, saw a chubby Jasmin (really!), rode the carousel and more!
Bring it on! :moped:
 












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