Shortest PTR ever!

[mchelle77]

I'm Michelle, been to WDW a bunch of times, but this will be trip #1 to Disneyland. And I'm leaving in FOUR days.

I lost my job at the end of January and had a travel savings that I had been wanting to use ... what better time than when I have all the time in the world, right? So despite the fact that we had just taken a vacation in February (my husband, daughter and I drove from NH to Nashville for 2 days, then New Orleans for 5 days, then did a Mexico cruise for another 5 days), I decided to use my savings for a bucket list item.

After that last trip, my daughter (13) and I had flown back home (she needed to get back to school - we had pulled her an extra week to extend after I lost my job to take advantage of my sudden extra free time) but dad got an additional week because he got a free cruise through Norwegian's casino (he swears he doesn't gamble much on cruises, but this was the SECOND free cruise they gave him - he and I did a NYC to Bahamas cruise last October, so ... not sure what to think there! LOL ) So since NH had another vacation week in April (next week), I decided that she and I would use my Hilton points (free room for all 5 nights!) and my American Airlines voucher (free flight home, just had to pay for flight out there - less than $300 on Jetblue!) and we'd take a girls' trip.

So we're flying out of Boston on Saturday. My husband is dropping us off before he goes to work, it'll be 4 hours before our flight so I'm glad I have lounge access But the big thing is that I still have no idea how we're getting to Anaheim from LAX. Uber? Shuttle? We get in too late for the Disney Resort Express ... ANY SUGGESTIONS?

So far, my plan is we use Sunday to just lounge around the hotel pool (weather as of right now shows low 80s - it just SNOWED AND HAILED here in southern NH so I need some vitamin D, and maybe a little sunburn! I'd like to go to shop and have dinner in Downtown Disney. I'm also really interested in seeing the Packing District, if we can get over that way.

Monday I have rented a car and we're driving to the coast. This is our first time on the West Coast and I want to see the Pacific! We've been all up and down the East Coast, and into the Caribbean and Mexico (I've even been to Ireland last year), but never went west. So the plan is to drive maybe to Laguna Beach for the morning and afternoon, then drive up the PCH to Huntington Beach and eat an early dinner.

On Tuesday we are going to California Adventure (I prepurchased the tickets from Last Minute Travel - got our 2 day Park Hoppers for $475! And I'll add MaxPass when we get into the park) ... I'm pretty bummed that Cali Screamin is down ... really was interested in going on, but I gotta take what I can get. Wednesday we are doing Disneyland. And then our flight leaves on Thursday in the afternoon.

Then I come back to chaos - I've been offered two part time jobs in a new field that I'm VERY excited about, and I'm trying to juggle both. So I'm working all three days of the weekend I get back (and I just found this out moments ago, so I get no downtime upon return but I'm happy to get back to working)

 

[mchelle77]

I ended up going with Prime Time Shuttle - it'll be a car picking us up, but a group shuttle on the way back.

Does anyone else have this irrational fear of getting sick right before vacation? Every.single.time. Although it HAS happened with our daughter twice now. Once before her first WDW trip in 2009 (and we drove from Boston .. ) and then again this last trip to New Orleans. She was sick the entire time we were in Nashville, and so SHE was feeling crappy and guilty because she thought (1) she'd get us sick and (2) she worried that she ruined our vacation ( !!! ) and then WE felt bad because even though she insisted on still doing stuff that we said we might cancel, we knew she'd rather just get under blankets in bed and watch TV and nap.

My other concern is her flying - her ears hurt both flights, despite chewing gum upon takeoff and landing - any suggestions there? I've heard there are earplugs available, but does anyone know if they work?

Def feel like I'm talking to myself LOL (But at least it's therapeutic!)

 

[Gin0818]

I am reading, my daughter and I are also WDW most of the time but took our first Disneyland trip last summer and loved it! The lack of planning needed really threw me off at first but it was so nice, we are even trying to go back this summer. You will love MaxPass it is so easy.

Completely yes to the fear of getting sick, we flew to WDW in February and I was totally the person wiping down our trays and armrest with Clorox wipes I did not want the nasty flu going around everywhere. As for the ears the use the gum too but I don't know of anything else.

Have an awesome trip even a quick one is so much fun!

 

[mchelle77]

I am reading, my daughter and I are also WDW most of the time but took our first Disneyland trip last summer and loved it! The lack of planning needed really threw me off at first but it was so nice, we are even trying to go back this summer. You will love MaxPass it is so easy.

Completely yes to the fear of getting sick, we flew to WDW in February and I was totally the person wiping down our trays and armrest with Clorox wipes I did not want the nasty flu going around everywhere. As for the ears the use the gum too but I don't know of anything else.

Have an awesome trip even a quick one is so much fun!

Definitely weirded out by the lack of planning needed - I don't even have any restaurants I'm interested in. (PotC is down, or else I'd do Blue Bayou just to see why everyone raves) I AM excited about the fact that Bayside Brews carries Pacifica beer (weird that I care, I know - but I had it for the first time while in NOLA this past trip and I loved it)

I'm excited, but the lack of planning necessary has also contributed to me being VERY lax with my packing and planning for other areas. Normally I make a packing list 2 months in advance, and pack a week ahead. But here it is, less than 72 hours until we leave and I'm only partially packed.

Re: sickness - I remember a little boy sniffling and wiping his nose with his hand while waiting in line to meet Tinkerbell and friends ... I was squeezing my daughter so close to me that time! LOL I did have hand sanitizer, but I remember being afraid he was going to sneeze in our direction and being really grossed out. (And I picked up strip on the Disney cruise we did in 2015, that was a long drive home! So my germophobia and vacations are closely related.)

My next bucket list item in regards to Disney is the Halloween party - that's the last "season" we have left to visit that we're interested in. And maybe a race, if I ever get back to running 5ks and 10ks. But I've slacked on that, so that's nowhere in the near future!

 

[Gin0818]

I know the table service is not as much, the quick service though had so many different choices, we also did a lot of snacking. If anything on the menu interests you guys check out Flo's, we did both breakfast and lunch there and thought the food was pretty delicious... also the snacks at the Cozy Cones, they had a really great cup of corn of all things but I cannot wait to get that again lol. I definitely enjoyed trying some of the different beers they had there.

Are you guys doing Paint the Night Parade? I was so sad they had switched it out last summer for MSEP which we had seen so many times in WDW

We have done the Halloween party at WDW and are thinking about doing it this fall because funny you mention the races we are doing the Wine and Dine 5K this year so we may catch the last party depending on when we head down there. The RunDisney is a lot of fun and I hate running so it is saying a lot that this is our 3rd one

 

[mchelle77]

I think that's our plan - snacking. Our hotel has free breakfast so I don't need to be spending money there. I'm itching for another jalapeno cheese pretzel (it's been years since I had one!) and there was something else I was interested in ... mac and cheese from somewhere. I'll have to dig out my notes.

It's snowing here AGAIN. It's almost May, Mother Nature, cut the $h!t!!

 

[mnmrmustard]

There is a great Bacon Mac-n-Cheese Cone at one of the Cozy Cones - also the Chili Cone Queso is awesome! As far as other places to eat I highly recommend the French Market in New Orleans Square. Everything is good but I especially enjoyed the French Dip and the Pulled Pork sandwich. Also the Bengal Barbecue skewers are great. Chicken Fried Chicken at Carnation Café was one of Walt's favorites along with his Chili. Back at CA you have to wind around a bit in the Grand Californian, but find White Water Snacks and ask for their secret menu item Carnitas Nachos!!!! Oh, and speaking of Nachos I wish the Cove Bar was open for you - the Lobster Nachos were epic!

Overall the great thing about DL/CA in comparison to WDW is that you don't need to worry as much about reservation-based dining. There are just so many walk-up and quick service options that it fits the bill really well. Especially if you are still on east coast time and eat a couple of hours off from peak times.

If you want some more options - here is the chapter I did in my PTR on dining:

Part 12 - Eating "Kind Of" Keto In The Parks

On the question about flying and ears - our fam regularly uses "Earplanes" (pick them up at your local Walgreens or other drugstore). They cost $10 - $12 but are sooo worth it to protect sensitive ears on flights.

You will LOVE MaxPass in comparison to WDW's completely broken FastPass system. We rode so many "E-Ticket" rides while we were down there last November (check out my TR if you're up for it)! And going on Tuesday/Wednesday means the parks close a little earlier, but the lower crowd levels will make up for it. Also, just getting from place to place will be faster due to the more intimate park sizes.

Have a DisneyTastic Time!

 

[Gin0818]

No not snow, that is awful!! We are in Va and it is still cold and we are so ready for a nice warm up. Hopefully you will have great weather in Ca.

 

[mchelle77]

There is a great Bacon Mac-n-Cheese Cone at one of the Cozy Cones - also the Chili Cone Queso is awesome!

That was it! Ugh, I can't wait. Off to read your report! (And thank you - I'll get those earplugs for her tomorrow!)

 

[mchelle77]

No not snow, that is awful!! We are in Va and it is still cold and we are so ready for a nice warm up. Hopefully you will have great weather in Ca.

So far it's looking good! 82 or so on Sunday (great for a pool day) and about 79 or so for beach day. mid-70s for parks. PERFECT.

 

[mchelle77]

Leaving tomorrow - just did early check-in for our hotel (down the street from DL) and will get our boarding passes tonight. I'm still debating whether to inconvenience my friend (who offered to take us to Logan - about 40 minutes from door to door), or my husband, who has to work north of Boston, and would have to drop us off 4 hours before our flight. I do have lounge access, but that's a lot of time sitting around before 6 hours of sitting on a plane.

 

[mchelle77]

So we're already back. We had a great time but it went by quickly. So many differences between WDW and DL, but a lot alike as well.

My daughter commented about how everyone had perfectly done hair LOL It was true, the difference in hair and makeup and dress is crazy. I rarely put effort into my appearance at WDW (and don't see many others doing that either) but in DL it's a Glam Walk.

Test Track at WDW is better (IMHO) than Radiator Springs. I liked the racing aspect, but other than that, I don't see why it's SO popular - other than maybe the fact that there aren't that many thrilling rides there.

Guardians of the Galaxy is AMAZING. So muhc better than ToT ... we went on it 4 times, and would have only ridden that for hours, if we could have.

Space Mountain is better at DL - so much smoother. Matterhorn was another ride that I don't understand the draw. It's bumpy and jerky like Space at WDW.

Big Thunder, Little Mermaid and Haunted Mansion were the same or the same-ish ... we loved Splash, but the cameras weren't working, which I'm annoyed about. I went on because I wanted that picture! We were soaked after that ride.

We only snacked for the most part, while in parks ... the beer truck at CA was visited quite frequently by me We got jalapeno cheese stuffed pretzels twice. Ice cream, corn dogs ... Earl of Sandwich (we also hit that at WDW) .. Ralph Brennan's made Hurricanes that were VERY good (and I just went to NOLA this February, so I now can attest to what a good Hurricane is!) The food was OK there.

We also head to the beaches one day ... I can come back and do a more detailed report with pics, if there's interest.

 

[Jaina]

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip! That's funny about the difference in how people look. We always try to dress up cute because we take a ton of pictures and want them to look nice. It's part of the fun for me! Though we're not very glamorous, haha...