Our First WDW Trip as Parents! December 2012 PTR - 12/19 TR LINK!

[Pinkocto]

I agree, excellent news all around

 

[Leshaface]

so glad to hear it was nothing serious Lesha


Emma x

So glad it turned out to be nothing!!! And so glad Calvin is sleeping longer hours through the night!

Glad it wasn't something serious and that Calvin slept a lot last few nights!

Good news on both counts!

I agree, excellent news all around

Thanks everyone! My mom and DH were so relieved too. They were definitely worried the most about this.

 

[Leshaface]

We did it.

We're doing something EXTREMELY last minute.

Something that has to be done though to prepare us for Disney World.

That's right.
















WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND TODAY!

Our AP's expire on the 19th of this month, and I was getting so bummed out that Cars Land had opened this year and I wasn't able to ride anything because I was pregnant. Well to my surprise, DH is the one who brought up going to Disneyland last week, and I didn't take him seriously (need to remember he's not a Disneyland guy; more of a WDW guy) but then it got brought back up again yesterday and he was serious So last night, I booked us at the Disneyland Hotel! My mom is coming with us and of course Calvin. We figured this would be a good trial run for us, since we've haven't taken him anywhere yet and it would help us for WDW in 5 weeks (CRAZY, already coming up!).

We're staying for 2 nights, leaving as soon as DH off of work. Definitely a little nervous. I know Disneyland is far more crowded than WDW, so if we can do this, we can do WDW. It's just so sudden, so I hope we won't get too stressed out and get frustrated. We're going with the plan of mainly trying to get on: Radiator Springs Racers, Luigi's Flying Tires, Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, Goofy's Sky School, and the new Matterhorn since these are the rides I haven't been on yet. Of course, Haunted Mansion overlay (love Nightmare Before Christmas), Star Tours, and a few smaller, slower rides with Calvin. It's definitely not a 'Dumbo-Do-Or-Die' type plan but slow.

We also get to try the new Earl of Sandwich that just opened up not too long ago at Downtown Disney.

Wish us luck and will give a mini-TR when I return!

 

[Pinkocto]

What fun! Can't wait to hear all about it

 

[Dugette]

Your title scared me, but that is AWESOME news! Wish I could just pick up and go to DL! That will be great practice for everyone. I look forward to the mini-TR! Have fun! Cars Land looks pretty awesome.

 

[franandaj]

We did it.

We're doing something EXTREMELY last minute.

Something that has to be done though to prepare us for Disney World.

That's right.

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND TODAY!


Wish us luck and will give a mini-TR when I return!

This is awesome! And you know what? It gives you the opportunity to redo you awful missed opportunity of the trip two years ago...

Sunday at 11:30AM our band is playing at the Hollywood backlot at DCA! You should stop by for a listen and say "hi"!

 

[disneybarbie]

Oh WOW!! Have an amazing time - I am soooo jealous

Please take lots of photos!


Emma x

 

[Leshaface]

What fun! Can't wait to hear all about it

Thanks Pam!

Your title scared me, but that is AWESOME news! Wish I could just pick up and go to DL! That will be great practice for everyone. I look forward to the mini-TR! Have fun! Cars Land looks pretty awesome.

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to fully enjoying Cars Land this time around.

This is awesome! And you know what? It gives you the opportunity to redo you awful missed opportunity of the trip two years ago...

Sunday at 11:30AM our band is playing at the Hollywood backlot at DCA! You should stop by for a listen and say "hi"!

NO!! We're leaving on Saturday! I always miss this! For some reason, I thought your band wasn't going to be performing there anymore? Didn't something happen last year or the year before?

Oh WOW!! Have an amazing time - I am soooo jealous

Please take lots of photos!


Emma x

Thanks Emma and will do!

 

[monica23535]

Wow!


Can't wait to hear all about it

 

[franandaj]

NO!! We're leaving on Saturday! I always miss this! For some reason, I thought your band wasn't going to be performing there anymore? Didn't something happen last year or the year before?

Well last year the people at Disney made it sound like they were doing us a huge favor letting us play when we didn't arrive as a group in our school bus with our instruments and costumes on the bus while we ran around the park waiting for our time to play.

But we decided to go ahead and apply this year, what was the worst they could do? Not let us play? Well you know how consistent Disney is. This year they were happy to let us do the logistics as we had for the past 10 years. Funny huh? That's one reason I'm really stressed out and not updating, I had to plan a whole weekend with 2-3 weeks notice. Including lunch for 30 Saturday, dinner party for 15 that night, and make sure we had a 35 piece band to perform Sunday!

All with real life rearing it's ugly head!

 

[heathsf]

Yay that's so exciting!!!! I wish I lived close enough to a park to just pick up and do a last minute trip! I'm selfishly happy about this because I've been doing some DL research anyway. I've actually been meaning to go back and reread some of your DL TRs to help me prepare for my (hopefully) 1 day there in March.

 

[Leshaface]

Well last year the people at Disney made it sound like they were doing us a huge favor letting us play when we didn't arrive as a group in our scoop bus with our instruments and costumes on the bus while we ran around the park waiting for our time to play.

But we decided to go ahead and apply thus year, what was the worst they could do? Not let us play? Well you know how consistent Disney is. This year they were happy to let us do the logistics as we had for the past 10 years. Funny huh? That's one reason I'm really stressed out and not updating, I had to plan a whole weekend with 2-3 weeks notice. Including lunch for 30 Saturday, dinner party for 15 that night, and make sure we had a 35 piece band to perform Sunday!

All with real life rearing it's ugly head!

Okay, I remember so type of drama last year.

I was actually thinking about you and your band this morning. Hopefully it went really well and now that it's over, you'll be able to relax now and prepare for your cruise!

Yay that's so exciting!!!! I wish I lived close enough to a park to just pick up and do a last minute trip! I'm selfishly happy about this because I've been doing some DL research anyway. I've actually been meaning to go back and reread some of your DL TRs to help me prepare for my (hopefully) 1 day there in March.

It really is so nice to be able to drive down there whenever we feel like it. I'm really hoping you'll still be able to get to Disneyland when you're down here in March!

 

[Leshaface]

Wow!


Can't wait to hear all about it

Coming right up!

 

[Leshaface]

We ended up leaving a little after 5pm on Thursday night and we were all set to go!

The drive down was pretty uneventful, except for a stalled Semi right in the middle lane heading into LA county that took us 40 minutes to get through.

We arrived at the Disneyland hotel after 8:45 and we checked in. So cute little story. We were originally supposed to be staying at Paradise Pier, but I took too long to book it and the room got taken. But the Disneyland hotel was available for around the same price so I snagged that really quick. When we were pulling up to the hotel, my mom said that the first time she and my dad took me to Disneyland they stayed at the Disneyland hotel too, in the Bonita tower. And now we were taking my son and staying at the Disneyland hotel! What a coincidence! When my mom got done checking us in, she told me that we had been placed in the Frontier tower...which used to be the Bonita Tower!! Holy cow! Crazy! The castmember gave Calvin a First Time Button, and my mom asked if he could have a key to commemorate his first time. The castmember said they weren't really allowed to give him a key, but she made him one anyway! Super nice of her.

Calvin during check-in

And taking pictures in front of the large map in the lobby

We got up to our room and hung out the rest of the night.

Welp, he started crying so i'll be back to update shortly.

 

[heathsf]

Oh my gosh!!! He's just too cute!!! And getting so big already!

 

[franandaj]

He's so stinkin' cute!

I hope you enjoyed your trip!

Okay, I remember so type of drama last year.

I was actually thinking about you and your band this morning. Hopefully it went really well and now that it's over, you'll be able to relax now and prepare for your cruise!

This year was drama free! It went well, but we were exhausted when we got home around 4PM yesterday. Fran has pretty much been asleep since then. I updated my TR while she slept.

 

[stephielela]

I am finally finding time to catch up here on DIS. The last month or so has been insane! Calvin is ADORABLE and so exciting about his first trip to DL! Jack's first trip to DL was at about 4 weeks and we ALSO stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, but we were in the main tower I think...

I saw a ton of newborns on our trip and I thought about you! Soon it will be you guys there! I sawa ton of cute onesies etc...

 

[Leshaface]

Oh my gosh!!! He's just too cute!!! And getting so big already!

I know! His newborn onesies aren't fitting anymore! Scary and sad

He's so stinkin' cute!

I hope you enjoyed your trip!



This year was drama free! It went well, but we were exhausted when we got home around 4PM yesterday. Fran has pretty much been asleep since then. I updated my TR while she slept.

I'm so glad it went well and i'm sure you are exhausted. You are one busy lady! I need to pop on over to your TR since it's coming up so fast!!

I am finally finding time to catch up here on DIS. The last month or so has been insane! Calvin is ADORABLE and so exciting about his first trip to DL! Jack's first trip to DL was at about 4 weeks and we ALSO stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, but we were in the main tower I think...

I saw a ton of newborns on our trip and I thought about you! Soon it will be you guys there! I sawa ton of cute onesies etc...

Oh my goodness, we saw a TON of small babies at Disneyland! I'm sure they've always been there, but this is the first time we actually noticed them! Ugh! Please don't tell me about the onesies!!! I'm going to be broke soon!

 

[Leshaface]

I woke up at 5:15am (like I do everyday to pump and feed Calvin) so after he was done eating, I just stayed up and got ready. DH promised me we would get to Disney's California Adventure early so I can get on Radiator Springs Racers, since I wasn't able to last time.

(Calvin wearing his Tigger pj's)

I got DH out of bed around 6:45am so we could head out.

On our way, we saw the new Earl of Sandwich restaurant and we were so excited to be trying it later on. I had no idea we would be visiting this place a total of 3 times

We grabbed some coffee at Haagen Dazs (weird right? Only place open that sells coffee in DTD but it was Peet's Coffee so I was happy about that) and headed through the turnstiles and waited to enter DCA. Because we were staying at a Disneyland hotel, we were able to get into the park 1 hour before the park officially opens. We were there early so we drank our coffee and chatted for a bit. Finally they let us through and we made our way to the back of Cars Land where the ride was.

Wow! It took us 4 minutes to get through the queue and onto the ride! And we got to ride in the front!

LOVED the ride! It was so perfectly themed. After the ride I wanted to try the Maters Junkyard Jamboree. It was cute, but not something I needed to do on every trip. It was about 8:45 and the park was going to open in 15 minutes to the public. We were going to grab some FP's for Radiator Springs so my mom could go on with DH but the line was LOOONG! I had seen it like that in July so I wasn't surprised. So we headed over to Toy Story Mania, where I kicked DH's booty. He claimed it was his gun So I said, let's get on Screamin' and if there is no line by the time we get off, we'll have a rematch. So we went on California Screamin', with no line. In fact, we got to choose where we wanted since the cars were never filled. By the time we got off the ride, it was 9:05 and people were making there way over to TSM, so we ran to the ride and waited 5 minutes if that. So what happened. Yep. I won again! BOOM!

We were hungry at this point and wanted to grab some breakfast at EoS and get mom and Calvin so we could head to the parks.

Oh...my...gosh. The breakfast sandwiches at EoS are phenomenal! I could eat that every morning and not get sick of it! We took all of our sandwiches and coffees up to the room since the restaurant is located right by the Disneyland hotel.

We ate and made our way out of our room about 11am and headed to Disneyland.

Our first castle picture as a family

So what was Calvin's first ride? Nope not Dumbo. Pirates! And unfortunately this is the only picture I have of him on this ride, because I respect the 'no flash photography' rule.

He did great, even though he slept through it! We all got wet though because we were in the front row. After Pirates, we headed to Winnie the Pooh.

Of course he slept.

Can I also point out one thing in this picture. See DH's tshirt? This is the ONLY shirt he has ever owned from Disney. He's hated all shirts he's seen, except for the churro one. Which is why you can see him back at the castle pic, him holding a real churro.

 

[Leshaface]

Cont..

We were just getting on to Winnie the Pooh, which was uneventful

Next, we headed towards Tomorrowland so we could get on Star Tours. We had a scene that I had not seen yet, so I was so happy and DH was too! While we were on the ride, mom went to grab us some FP's for SM, but the return time wasn't for another hour and we were hungry at this time, so we started walking back to the hotel. And what were we going to eat for lunch?? EoS!!! DH took our lunch orders so mom and me could take the baby to the hotel to get changed and fed.

DH came up about 15 minutes later with our food. I tried the Holiday sandwich and it was delicious! Next time, i'm going to try the original when we're at DTD in WDW.

Mom being a responsible nana

We stayed up in the room and relaxed for about an hour and a half, and then headed over to DCA because I had wanted to catch the lighting of Cars Land at dusk.

Well, we didn't make it. Oh well. So we started walking around Cars Land for a little bit and found ourselves walking through Bugs Land and over towards ToT. A few trips ago, my mom promised DH that on every trip, she would try a new ride. So that ride last time was Space Mountain and she liked it. Now? It was time for ToT! She had never been on it and was nervous. But she actually liked it and I still can't believe she did it!

(second row, far left)

DH said she was laughing the whole time during the drops and she kept grabbing his arm. The reason DH keeps pushing her to get on new rides, is so she can see the differences from Disneylands rides to WDW rides. I think she'll like DHS version better.

We headed back towards Buena Vista street and started going through the stores, where mom bought Calvin his first Mickey Ears!

As we were walking around, we ran into Mickey!

Then we took a picture in front of the gorgeous tree

I wanted DH to see the Mad T Party that takes place at DCA at night. Mom had seen it before so she took the baby to the Animation building to sit and be warm since it was pretty cold out. I had seen this party back in July and it was really good! Better than the Tron party, IMO. It's like Alice in Wonderland on acid. The CM's are all dressed up pretty freaky, they have a band that is dress as the characters from Alice in Wonderland, they have drink stations, and they even have an arcade all dedicated to Alice in Wonderland games. At one point the band started playing a rocked out Christmas song, and then it started snowing! Every one was so shocked! No one was expecting that. DH even got into the spirit of the party by walking around, dancing to the band and even wanted to take pictures!

Walking around is this, CM in huge stilts dressed as a Mad Hatter/Flamingo type character. The CM is able to control the mouth of the flamingo so that it can 'snap' or 'bite' people. Well DH asked to take a picture with him and the CM made a dirty face (in character, not really of course) and started to walk away. In the meantime I was trying to get my phone out of my purse so I could take a picture and got this

The CM came back and frightened DH by snapping the flamingo at DH!

But DH got his picture!

BTW, DH is holding a Long Island with a glowing ice cube

We stayed for a few minutes more then went to get my mom and Calvin. We were all exhausted so we made our way back to the room to call it a night.