PTR/TR for November 23-27, Family of four

[IndayMichelle]

In a few short weeks I'll be packing!!

What are on your must pack lists?

Me too!!! I can't wait! I'm so stinkin' excited I can't stand it!

I am definitely bringing moleskin. I don't care if you have the most comfortable shoes in the world, they always manage to rub one spot the wrong way...

I also bring baby wipes, even though we don't have kids. I eat so many sticky things in that park!

What about you?

 

[Goofy_Mom]

Me too!!! I can't wait! I'm so stinkin' excited I can't stand it!

I am definitely bringing moleskin. I don't care if you have the most comfortable shoes in the world, they always manage to rub one spot the wrong way...

I also bring baby wipes, even though we don't have kids. I eat so many sticky things in that park!

What about you?

On my must pack list:
sunscreen
2 first aid kits, a mini one for the parks and a full size one to stay at the hotel.
Motrin
snacks for the hotel, car trip, and the parks.
sweaters/coats
swim suits
tons of patience

 

[Goofy_Mom]

Mini update. We had craft time with the kids, we made a count down chain. I asked my DD if she would make a list, a top ten of each park of what her absolute must ride/do. We used Disney's site for a reference. I noticed something odd about thier attraction list. The have Pixie Hollow, Rapunzel & Flynn, and Duffy listed but not Princess Fantasy Fair. Anyway, the top ten list (in no order)

Disneyland Park Top Ten:
1. Space Mountain
2. Splash Mountain
3. Big Thunder Mountain
4. Indiana Jones
5. Gadgets Go Coaster (not sure how this made the top ten)
6. Matterhorn
7. Autopia
8. Holiday Haunted Mansion
9. Chip and Dale Tree House (again, not sure how this made the list)
10. Mark Twain River Boat (she has never been on it and wants to try)

California Adventrue Top not quite Ten:
1. Toy Story
2. The Animation Building (everything inside this building)
3.Golden Zypher
4. Grizzly River Run
5. It's Tought to be a Bug
6. Sorin

I did talk her into trying Screamin, we'll see how that goes. She said she also would go on Tower of Terror with me, but it's not on her must ride list.

 

[ardenandjacksmom]

Mini update. We had craft time with the kids, we made a count down chain. I asked my DD if she would make a list, a top ten of each park of what her absolute must ride/do. We used Disney's site for a reference. I noticed something odd about thier attraction list. The have Pixie Hollow, Rapunzel & Flynn, and Duffy listed but not Princess Fantasy Fair. Anyway, the top ten list (in no order)

Disneyland Park Top Ten:
1. Space Mountain
2. Splash Mountain
3. Big Thunder Mountain
4. Indiana Jones
5. Gadgets Go Coaster (not sure how this made the top ten)
6. Matterhorn
7. Autopia
8. Holiday Haunted Mansion
9. Chip and Dale Tree House (again, not sure how this made the list)
10. Mark Twain River Boat (she has never been on it and wants to try)

California Adventrue Top not quite Ten:
1. Toy Story
2. The Animation Building (everything inside this building)
3.Golden Zypher
4. Grizzly River Run
5. It's Tought to be a Bug
6. Sorin

I did talk her into trying Screamin, we'll see how that goes. She said she also would go on Tower of Terror with me, but it's not on her must ride list.

Looks like your trip is really coming together!! Your daughter made a good list--of all the Disney trips we've taken, I've still never been in the Haunted Mansion and I'm trying to figure out how to convince DS that it's funny ahead of time so he won't be too scared so we can go

 

[Goofy_Mom]

Looks like your trip is really coming together!! Your daughter made a good list--of all the Disney trips we've taken, I've still never been in the Haunted Mansion and I'm trying to figure out how to convince DS that it's funny ahead of time so he won't be too scared so we can go

My DD thinks the HMH version is way less spooky than the original. Youtube can maybe help, that way he can see it before he goes on the ride. When the christmas season starts, they add snow to the graveyard scean.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

Single digits

 

[Goofy_Mom]

We are leaving today as soon as we're packed and showered!!! DH says late last night "I'm calling in tomorrow and telling tham that your dad gifted us an extra day an Disneyland" I say "if only" DH "what if we did leave tomorrow instead of Tuesday?" I'm all Thanks DH So last on I'm on the net looking for a hotel/motel for one night. I find Motel 6 on Ketella for $53 for a two queen room. Then I start sweating, we already have the tickets. Okay I say, how expensive can a one day hopper be $101 each. Not good. Thanks to all the experts here, I learned that I can upgrade a 3 day hopper for a 4 day hopper. A little research says the difference will at most be $90 total. So I call Disney Travel and they say the difference will be $30 total I just go to the Disney Travel store with my tickets and my reservation number.

So I'm packing now, running the kids under the water and getting everything in order for a 12pm departure which should put us in the land right around dinner time.

 

[mvf-m11c]

We are leaving today as soon as we're packed and showered!!! DH says late last night "I'm calling in tomorrow and telling tham that your dad gifted us an extra day an Disneyland" I say "if only" DH "what if we did leave tomorrow instead of Tuesday?" I'm all Thanks DH So last on I'm on the net looking for a hotel/motel for one night. I find Motel 6 on Ketella for $53 for a two queen room. Then I start sweating, we already have the tickets. Okay I say, how expensive can a one day hopper be $101 each. Not good. Thanks to all the experts here, I learned that I can upgrade a 3 day hopper for a 4 day hopper. A little research says the difference will at most be $90 total. So I call Disney Travel and they say the difference will be $30 total I just go to the Disney Travel store with my tickets and my reservation number.

So I'm packing now, running the kids under the water and getting everything in order for a 12pm departure which should put us in the land right around dinner time.

I hope u have a great this week and I'll keep track of your TR Goofy_Mom. Good thing that u can upgrade the PH ticket instead of paying for a one full day PH ticket. It would be crazy if DL didn't allow u to add more days to your PH ticket.

Thx for the tip for the character breakfast that I have done on Saturday. Got a lot of pics and the autographs from the characters. My dad's colleague daughters will be very excited to see the autograph books on Christmas day.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

We have arrived. Unfortunatly it's too late to take the kids on a 15 min treck to DTD, we pulled into Motel 6 around 8pm. Traffic was horrible, as usual, in the LA area. The motel is noting special. I learned that their pool is heat to 84 degrees. Little monkey is having a blast running around in the room, as far as he knows, this is Disneyland. I did take pictures of our motel room and will post all the pictures when we get home.

 

[smile4stamps]

We have arrived. Unfortunatly it's too late to take the kids on a 15 min treck to DTD, we pulled into Motel 6 around 8pm. Traffic was horrible, as usual, in the LA area. The motel is noting special. I learned that their pool is heat to 84 degrees. Little monkey is having a blast running around in the room, as far as he knows, this is Disneyland. I did take pictures of our motel room and will post all the pictures when we get home.

You left home at noon and got there at 8pm I'm trying to figure out what time I need to leave next monday... How much caffeine am I going to need since I work the night shift before I drive down...

 

[Goofy_Mom]

You left home at noon and got there at 8pm I'm trying to figure out what time I need to leave next monday... How much caffeine am I going to need since I work the night shift before I drive down...

Actully, we did hit the road until 1pm. We had the car loaded by 12:30 but had to stop for gas and lunch. We stopped for dinner at a Jack in the box on the other side of the grapvine and there were one or two bathroom breaks along the way.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

We have returned. We had a great time. The parks were crowded all four days, but not christmas crowded. We did get most everything on our list done. There were some things not on the list but still would have liked to do if the lines weren't crazy. The lines for Rapunzel, Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Alice, and Storybook never got below an hour and were usually more like 75-90 minute waits. There were only a couple of "bad guest" incidents, but nothing that would ruin a vacation.

Stand by for an acutal day by day review. There will be pictures, and maybe a video or two. I have to go through them and load them onto photobucket and we all know how long that can take.

 

[mvf-m11c]

We have returned. We had a great time. The parks were crowded all four days, but not christmas crowded. We did get most everything on our list done. There were some things not on the list but still would have liked to do if the lines weren't crazy. The lines for Rapunzel, Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Alice, and Storybook never got below an hour and were usually more like 75-90 minute waits. There were only a couple of "bad guest" incidents, but nothing that would ruin a vacation.

Stand by for an acutal day by day review. There will be pictures, and maybe a video or two. I have to go through them and load them onto photobucket and we all know how long that can take.

Can't wait to read your TR and see your pictures. Looks like it was a crowded week with the lines for Rapunzel, Tink, PP, Alice and Storybook more than one hour wait.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

Hello

We leave Tracy, CA around 1:30 pm and arrive in Anaheim around 8pm. We stopped a few times for bathroom breaks and food and there was heavy traffic driving in the LA area. I had hoped that we would have arrived sooner so that we could play in Downtown Disney for a while, but a 8pm and all that driving (I was behind the wheel for the entire trip) I wasn’t really feeling like taking a couple restless kids and a cranky Daddy into the cold night. So, we play at our motel and have a few snacks that we brought with us (apples and pretzels with peanut butter) while watching Netflix.

Here’s a few shots of our hotel

 

[kaoden39]

I think you did pretty good time wise on the drive down. I have been caught in LA traffic and am not a fan. At all. I used to do all the driving but I have started "letting" DH share in the driving.

If it was during the summer when you went and the hours were as long during your trip I could see taking the trek to the park but hey when you guys got there I say rest up for a crazy next day.

 

[skiingfast]

Are your hotel pics from the Cametlot or Motel 6? If it was the motel six how was is? Did you walk to the park from it?

 

[stich626]

Gotta subscribe!

 

[Goofy_Mom]

I think you did pretty good time wise on the drive down. I have been caught in LA traffic and am not a fan. At all. I used to do all the driving but I have started "letting" DH share in the driving.

If it was during the summer when you went and the hours were as long during your trip I could see taking the trek to the park but hey when you guys got there I say rest up for a crazy next day.

I have no idea why DH refuses to drive, it would have been nice to have a break. I agree about heading to the parks during summer, the weather would have been nice and more than likely still some daylight when we arrived at the hotel

Are your hotel pics from the Cametlot or Motel 6? If it was the motel six how was is? Did you walk to the park from it?

These are from Motel 6. It was plain, the decor was very contemporary. One wall was painted burt orange, the same color as the stripe on the bed spread. We didn't head to the parks that day. Originally I had wanted to go to DTD for a bit. According to the front desk, we were 1 mile away. After we checked in I didn't feel the little ones would have been able to handle the walk in the very cold night. Even if they were, a 15 minute walk would have turned into a 30 minute crawl. I shudder to think how long it would have taken on the way back.

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Glad to have you along

 

[Goofy_Mom]

Hello again. Gather around, grab some popcorn and a blankey, and let me tell you a tale about Tuesday the 23nd. We wake up around 7, have a run through the shower, and gather our gear to check out of Motel 6. We did hear the pitter patter of excided feet above us (we were on the ground floor). No problems with checkout got in the car and drove the mile to our “permanent” hotel the Camelot Inn. I park the car, leave DH and the kids in the car to make sure I could leave the car in the lot while we play in the parks, and maybe check in early. No dice with the check in early, but I was able to register and leave the car in the lot. I asked if I could request a floor, again no problem, if it’s available they would give me a preferred floor. Mine was #5, the top floor so we didn’t have to hear happy feet above us. What’s the difference between registering and check in, you ask? (I know I did) Registering is getting the info in the system, check in is getting your key. We planned to be back late afternoon to haul our gear to the top floor.

Off to get breakfast. During this time DH is calling the shots. I have a very typical hubby, doesn’t listen to anyone’s advice (especially his wife’s) unless he asks for it. Can anyone guess where we went for breakfast? Yup, Captain Kidd’s. To his defense, the last time he was there was two years ago. Back then, this place had a menu and a buffet. The menu was actually good and not expensive. I asked how long ago they got rid of the menu. Turns out they did away with it sometime last year. So I brace myself for what I know is coming. I go and get DS his cereal with DD, who also chooses cereal. I also pick out a couple of things DS might eat including a waffle (I watched the guy pull it out of the waffle maker so I know it’s fresh). I get back to the table with the good for my littlest one. DH asks where my food was. I tell him I didn’t see anything I wanted. He says “You need to not be so picky” as he goes to get his food. I look at his plate when he returns, there’s not much on it. Of course I’m waiting for this. “Honey, where’s your food?” He says there isn’t much to choose from and what there was looked awful. I love the “I told you so” moments. He didn’t eat much.

After our little snack, we head to DTD to upgrade DD and my tickets to four days. By now it’s 9am. I should mention that we are without a stroller for much of the time cause silly me left it at home (quite by accident, I assure you). DS is walking with his monkey leash strapped to his back. EVERY Mickey he sees he gets SUPER excited. On the buses, the trashcans, the big banner above the pedestrian entrance, everything made this little guy light up with excitement. About ¼ of the way down the walk I say to DH, “Can you tell he’s excited?” We don’t rush him, not once. We let him enjoy himself but did keep a forward motion. I didn’t time it, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if it took us a ½ and hour to get from the pedestrian entrance, across the esplanade, and to DTD. The slow pace (very enjoyable) through DTD while seeing it through DS eyes was very nice. He looked at the widow displays in World of Disney and played with a couple fountains. Then he sees Ridemakerz, Lord help us. My little monkey is a HUGE Cars fan. We spend about 15 minutes looking around and ask a few questions about how “it” is done. For those not in the know, I’ll share. Ridemakerz is like Build a Bear, but for boys. You build a car; you choose a body, wheels, tiers, and things to “trick out” the engine/ stickers that simulate a custom paint job. Very cool and lots of fun. Before we left we decided that each of us could have one souvenir (not counting Mickey ears and an ornament each). This was to be DS’s souvenir, but not today, I didn’t want to carry it while in the parks without a stroller. We would come back before we leave and let him build a car. So we head to the Disney Travel store for the day upgrade. I take DD with me; DH keeps DS with him so he can run around near the movie theater. While I’m upgrading, I’m asked why not all the tickets for an extra day. I tell them that DH wanted to spend a day in DTD by himself to see a movie and look around. They suggested ESPN Zone. I inform them that DH isn’t a sports fan. The lady says neither is her hubby but he can spend a whole day in there and the food is fantastic. Here’s a shot of the DTD tree, very pretty.

So we’re off. I tell DH the stuff I just learned about ESPN Zone. He says “you know I’m not a big sports guy” I tell him I’m aware of that but you’ll still have fun in there. Remember what I said about my hubby and not taking advice? Apply here. We say our good byes to Daddy and board the monorail into the parks, our first official ride. DS is excited to ride a train. If you were here the same day, I was wearing a blue Bumble shirt (the abominable snowman from the Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer movies). I got a lot of compliments on it. When we get to the park, it’s super crowded (it’s 11 now). We take a little walk around to see what the lines are looking like, all long. By the time we made it to Fantasyland, I decided no matter where we go we are going to see lines. I decided to tough it out and get in a line. Our first ride of the day? Mr. Toad’s wild ride, the wait was about 40 minutes but went pretty fast. Here are some pictures of our adventure.

After we disembarked our toad cars, DS and I head to the carousel and DD goes to Snow White’s scary adventure. Our wait was 10 minutes, DD was on and off Snow White by the time DS saddled his horse.
DS on the horse

Its lunch time now, we head to Riverbelle Terrace. Wouldn’t you know it; everyone gets hungry at the same time, so we waited a bit. I snapped a quick picture of the crowds in NOS. It’s about 1pm.

I've shared this photo on the "Never again Thanksgiving" thread, you may have already seen it

 

[RedRosePrincess]

I snapped a quick picture of the crowds in NOS. It’s about 1pm.

I've shared this photo on the "Never again Thanksgiving" thread, you may have already seen it

Wow! That's really packed. I just wonder if a lot of people go into DL because so much of DCA is under construction. Hopefully when Carsland opens and everything else, it won't be as crowded. I'm glad that we went over Veteran's Day weekend instead because it was still crowded but not like that.

Can't wait to read more!