Pre-trip for Disneyland in June for mom and daughter (her first time)

[beckanoah]

Who's going

Me, a 28 year-old single mama. This will be my first adult trip to Disneyland. I went once when I was 5, and again with a church youthgroup at 14. (I've also been to Disney World at 8, but I don't really remember it)...

DD, a 6 1/2 year old girl full of SPUNK! She can be a bit precocious, but she is a great traveller. This is a complete surprise trip for her, and she has no clue. I just finished a surprise scrapbook/autograph book for her to use in the park.

How we are getting there:

We live in TX.... So we're driving, but splitting it up. I have family in the Phoenix area, and so we're heading there for a few days, and then off to Anaheim. It's 12 hours to PHX and 5 hours to Anaheim from there. I love road trips, and we actually do them often, considering the fact that I make hardly any money, but, who cares right, you only live once. In fact, we just went to PHX in March for Spring break.

Things I'm trying to think about before hand:::

We're staying at a hotel across the street from the parks. (Squeeee). I decided I DID NOT want to pay to park... and didn't want to Tram it all over either... LOL. I want to ENJOY my time at the Park. 8 whole days of it!

I am going to bring a cooler... and also go to the Target for Milk and micro meals for a few of the meals. I don't want to spend my entire life savings on food at Disney...but we will eat there several times too.

I have been scouring the DIS for several weeks. I have lots of things printed out. Hints and such for the park, ways to do EE. I'm not sure if we'll qualify though, since we're offsite, but we do have an 8 day hopper and reservations through Getawaytoday.com. We got our Lanyard and trip stuff in the mail the other day. I want to find a Lanyard (hopefully Tinkerbell) that doesn't have Velcro fasteners before the trip. (Can anyone point me in the right direction)... I am also maybe going to buy a few pins for trading. (Like I need another addiction, but whatever... LOL)

We will arrive mid-day on our "first day"... A weekend, no less... (bad timing Mama).. but at least we hopefully won't have lines at the Will Call! We can at least take it easy, and hopefully in 8 days will see all we want to see and ride lots of rides. Hopefully get on Nemo too. I LOVED the Subs as a kid!

Anyhow, I will update between now and then, and also when we get back. Sorry if this is boring!

 

[disneyfanatic4]

Thanks for sharing your plans with us.

 

[CdnMouseEars]

I'll be heading to DL in mid-June as well, and can't wait! Gettin' a whole lotta grea tips from everyone here!
Can't wait to hear how the rest of the planning and the actual trip goes!

 

[beckanoah]

I've been researching MapQuest and Yahoo trip routes from the Phoenix/Glendale area to try to determine the best way to get there from Phoenix. I'm spending 8 days in the parks, so I'm not in the biggest hurry to get there my first day. We'll probably hit Anaheim at noonish. Maybe we'll go to the beach FIRST before checking into the hotel. My daughter has never been to the beach either. I've gotten various reports on which route is better when I hit California. 55 or 57. I will have to keep checking on that.

I wish I'd rented one more night at the hotel. I'm tempted to call and reserve an extra night outside my package. I'll keep thinking about that one, I guess.

I've printed out TONS of helpful information from the Dis lately. These people sure are knowledgable about Disney! I am so jealous and wish I could go once a year even, let alone several times a year or MORE. LOL.

I am still in shock that I am even doing this. I could NOT be more excited.

 

[MPHARJ]

Boring! NOT! I love to hear all about pre-trips, give me pointers. I too will be there in June, we arrive on the 9th. I am going with my 12 and 6 yo. Our first trip to DL and our first with out another adult or my oldest so I am so nervous, but very excited. I keep thinking I can't believe this either, the closer we get!

 

[Adi12982]

For the pins, I started my collection by purchasing a lot of pins on eBay from seller pincastle (I do not know them or advertise for them, lol, BUT all of their pins were GENUINE). I kept the ones I liked and traded with CM's for ones I liked better. . . . Including shipping (I paid for faster shipping, regular is free) I got each pins for less than $3 each

Here's a link to what is being sold now by him/her http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZpincastleQQhtZ-1

 

[bjsmom]

June is awesome!!!!! I will be taking my 6 yo son for five days!! I can not wait. our first trip was only 3 days and we did not even see half of DL. This time I want to be ready!! Have Fun!

 

[onederland]

we too will be their in june the 24-28th can't wait either and no this is not boring, i too am reading the dis as much as i can getting all the tips so we can be ready to conquer the crowds.

 

[mystic_path]

Thanks for sharing your pre trip report. Im going to DL in june as well 3-13th. We have 8 day hoppers though getawaytoday as well. LOL we might as well get the 8 day hopper as its the same price at the 7 day. Really cant be that deal can we

I cant wait to hear about your full trip when you get back. Have a wonderful & magical time. Its creeping up on us so quickly.

 

[DaGrumpy]

Myself and DW are possibly going around the same time depending on whether we go on a DCL cruise that week or not. We have never gone before are excitied.

 

[bjsmom]

It is almost time whos ready?

 

[caitlinsdad]

Cant wait for your report,
We are making our first trip to DL next year

Have a great trip

 

[beckanoah]

I just noticed my ticker. In 3 weeks, one day and about 8 hours, I will be in DISNEYLAND! Wahooooooooooooooooooooo!


I am still planning, organizing, listmaking, and pre-packing... LOL! I can't wait! My dd still has NO IDEA where our "vacation" is going to be. She will be FREAKING out!


On another note, I wrote myself one of those credit card "checks" at a low rate the other day, and my bank put an 11 BUSINESS day hold on it. I won't have the money, until about 5 days before I leave. Is that not MESSED up. It's in case of "fraud". It's a good thing, I hadn't needed to spend the money right away, huh??? *irritated*

 

[MPHARJ]

We will be arriving the same day as you it looks!!! Have a great time!

 

[beckanoah]

15 Days and I am SO EXCITED!


Yo Ho Yo Ho~ I changed my phone's ringtone for Disneyland! (Yes, I'm a dork)


Oh yeah, I saw Pirates III last night too! SQUEEEEEEE. I am so excited for the ride!

 

[beckanoah]

In 4 1/2 days we will be in Disneyland. OMGOSH!

I have been frantically planning and packing, and re-packing, and unpacking... LOL. I have always been the most compulsive OVER-PACKER on the face of earth, and I have a teeny tiny little car. In my defense, dd and I will be gone from home for over 6 weeks, so I need a lot of stuff. I just think I need A LOT of stuff though. OY! You'd think I would have learned by now.

Tomorrow is yet another day of rethinking the suitcases, as well as the snack box, and everything else that is SUPPOSED to fit in my car. I don't know how much more I can condense. I know I have to do laundry several times this summer, so perhaps I can remove a few more things. (Help)

Gosh, I am just so EXCITED!

MIC... See you real soon.
Key... Why, because we like you...
M~O~U~S~E!

 

[beckanoah]

I am working on my trip report in word, and then will copy paste it over soon. Hopefully this week.

WE had a blast!

 

[daisy_77]

I am looking forward to reading all about your trip!