Quick Trip Report (8/24 - 8/31) with Celebrity Sighting

[SeattleTink]

Hello Everyone,

First I want to thank everyone on this board for all their great advice! From the great advice on where to buy 8 day hoppers to Hydroguys great tips on FastPass (read, learn, live these rules!).

We had a fabulous time on our Disneyland trip. The weather was hot and perfect! The crowds were very managable. Especially since we followed Hydroguys rules and collected lots of fastpasses every morning. The crowds would build every night around 7:00 and the lines would get long. But, because we had our fastpasses we buzzed by everyone standing in line. We did take a break for a couple hours every day around 1:00 p.m. This really helps with those long Disneyland days.

We stayed at the Fairfield and was very happy with that choice. It is close, comfortable and clean.

Ate at Mimi's three times, loved it.

Got dreamed with Dream Fastpasses on Friday a.m. Funny thing is that 2 years ago we got Dream Fastpasses at the exact same location. Early morning - around 9:00 a.m. coming off of Thunder Mountain RR.

We went to the Disney Visa Meet and Greet 3 out of our 8 days. This was fun. At the end of our trip we were able to use those 3 free coupons on any of our Photopass pictures. They are soooo cute!

The entire family LOVED the new Toy Story Mania ride. It is awesome! We only used the Single Rider Line! This is the best tip ever! Instead of standing in line 30 - 60 minutes, I don't think we every waited more than 5 - 15 minutes to get on the ride....Which leads me to the CELEBRITY SIGHTING...

We were standing in the Single Rider Line for TSM and a plaid came up with a very good looding couple and their little girl (who was adorable). Of course, I try to figure out "who" they are. I look at the woman - don't recognize her. I look at the man - don't recognize him. Then they get on the ride and because you have to put on 3-D glasses the guy takes off his sunglasses and then smiles. It was Christian Bale. Batman! Riding Toy Story. It was way cool.

DH and DD did the Segway tour (for DD's 16th birthday) and they LOVED it.

Had dessert at BB and it was fantastic. Get the pirate ship!

We went to Orleans Cafe for Mickey beniets, really good!

Saw Billy Hill and the Hillbillies twice - totally different preformances both GREAT!

Caught Aladdin - loved it just as much this time as the other 5 times we have seen it.

We had a pedometer with us every day and on average we walked 7 miles a day!

All in all it was fantastic. We did end up upgrading our 8 day hoppers to Deluxe Annual Passes. So, I guess I get to plan another trip back soon!

Thanks again everybody for all the great advice!

 

[bumbershoot]

We did end up upgrading our 8 day hoppers to Deluxe Annual Passes.

Sounds like a great trip!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

oh how cool batman awsome..grate sounds like you had a blast

 

[JaneJetson]

Christian Bale has been my favorite actor since I was 13 years ago (I'm 27 now.) I know he's been to disneyland before (I saw photos) and I don't think he had a plaid then though. I'm kind of surprised actually. While he's quite famous, I don't think he's all that recognizable. Even though I'm a huge fan, if he was in the park and didn't have a plaid, I probably won't notice him at all.

His daughter is so adorable though, isn't she?

 

[SeattleTink]

Jane, you are right. Christian is not very recognizable at all. I kept looking at the couple and trying to figure it out. I was shocked when he finally smiled and I saw who it was! I knew without a doubt who it was when I saw his teeth! And yes, his daughter is really cute. Long blonde curly hair

 

[JaneJetson]

It's so funny that people don't recognize him and that he pretty much blends with the crowd. He's a fantastic actor and has been in a lot of great movies. He's extremely attractive (IMO) but at the same time he just looks like a regular guy. I think he's not super well-known because for the most part he's kept his personal life very private.

 

[pixiewings71]

Oh.My.Lord!!! I think I would have fainted had I seen Christian Bale! LOL I work with musicians and meet them regularly but there are a few that I freak out over. Not super stalkerish or freaky but I would have been hitting DBF and saying "it's Batman, it's Batman, it's Batman" over and over and over again. LOL How cool!!!! I'm glad you had such a good time!! And I'm glad you upgraded!! AP's are so much fun!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

...I would have been hitting DBF and saying "it's Batman, it's Batman, it's Batman" over and over and over again....

LOL. When I read that I read "I'm Batman", and I hear it in Michael Keaton's voice. 'cuz to me MK is Batman, no one else.

 

[jlparedes]

OMG OMG I love Christian Bale, also one of my faves. So cool! It sounds like a great trip and thanks for sharing all the tips that worked. I will definitely use them in another 50 days or so (but who's counting) haha.

 

[pinktink83]

OMG LUCKY!!!!!!! I have loved Christian Bale since Newsies!!!! I would have FREAKED.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Most celebs are fairly unnoticeable at DL (or anywhere) when by themselves without the plaid (VIP escort) and sometimes even with the plaid. Reminds me of when we were waiting in American's first class bag screening at LAX and this very tired, but attractive younger couple with a little girl were there with us. It took us until after they left and we were all headed up to security together that it was Reece Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe and their oldest. We had no clue and I think they were probably happy that we pretty much were ignoring them like they were normal folks.

We've seen all sorts at DL. The ones that stick out in my mind (because we had friends with us who were gaga were Lance and Cheryl, Mario Lopez (and his huge family), Brooke Shields with her kids. There are many others, but they blend after a while.

But then in this town, I've provided medical care to some pretty swell folks - some of whom have passed on recently (can't say who due to healthcare privacy laws), been buzzed by Dustin Hoffman on his motorcycle, and cut off while driving to work by Kate Hudson, and run into others in the grocery store, so it's just another day.

 

[JaneJetson]

We used to go to Disneyland once a week or more. But we still rarely saw celebs. Teri Hatcher and daughter, Geoffery Rush, John Stamos, the band Phantom Planet....and I think that's it. I might be forgetting someone. My relatives saw Jamie Lee Curtis when they were in town for our wedding.

We also saw some celebs once in a while but had no clue who they were.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I though Chrisitan Bale was in jail for beating on his wife!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Living in Los Angeles as I do, right near Beverly Hills, celebrities are everywhere. I couldn't even begin to list all the major celebrities I have seen all over the place in my whole life. Meg Ryan, Christina Ricci, Nicolas Cage, Lisa Marie Presley, Heather Locklear, Tyra Banks, Drew Barrymore, on and on and on. They are all around. From A-list to D-list! I used to work for a place where we typed surgical reports on celebrities who were getting all kinds of very interesting (and highly confidential) procedures done at our clients' offices. That was fun.

However, I have seen almost nobody of interest at Disneyland in all my years of going! I can never understand it because I know famous people go there. I want to see someone! Yellow Mickey Ponchos will know this person, being a local - I have seen Dallas Raines, famous Los Angeles (overly-tanned) weather man, with his wife and adorable kids - one of whom was throwing a tantrum - in front of Pirates of the Caribbean. And I saw the actor Paul Sorvino and his wife. I also saw Marilyn Grabowski, who is one of the VIPs who works with Hugh Hefner at Playboy (she looks like Joni Mitchell). That is IT! That is all! Nobody else!

 

[Sherry E]

I though Chrisitan Bale was in jail for beating on his wife!!!

He was arrested in London, I believe, for assaulting his mother and sister, but he was let out. I THINK the charges were dropped.

 

[disney_love<3]

OOoooo Sounds like a great trip!! I was also there during that week on a one night stay at PPH.

Being at DL so much, that is one thing I've always wanted to happen. During summer I went to DL during the week a lot and never have I seen a celebrity of any sort .

I love Christian Bale! He's so hot! Lucky you!

 

[JaneJetson]

I though Chrisitan Bale was in jail for beating on his wife!!!

Wow. Not even close to reality.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Wow. Not even close to reality.

My bad... He was arrested for beating on his mom and sister... Still a punk none the less

 

[JaneJetson]

My bad... He was arrested for beating on his mom and sister... Still a punk none the less

The charges were dropped because more than likely his greedy mom and sister made it up.

 

[JaneJetson]

double post.