Somebody's Gonna Pee in a Cup, West Coast - Link to new TR 1/21

[brettcw23]

Real life / Disneyland PTR update

In not so good news... I'm in some pain. We were actually packing some things for our California trip on New Year's Day. And I hurt my back folding laundry. That's right... I hurt myself folding laundry. I leaned across the bed to toss a sock in a laundry basket and I couldn't stand back up. Any chance I'll get out of having to help with laundry in the future?

Yeah, I didn't think so either.

Back injuries are the worst! And it always happens when doing something innocuous. I could be moving bags of cement or cutting firewood and I'm fine. Then I got o tie my shoe and it feels like I was stabbed!

The Best Little Mermaid Room Ever



[*]Would you be interested in a complementary upgrade? We can put you in a Cars Suite. And I see you have another room attached to your reservation. We can put them right across the hall and both rooms are ready.


[*]Yes, that would be awesome!!!![/LIST]



We had to show her where MiL and FiL were. She walked down to the CM assisting them to get everyone on the same page, and within a matter of minutes, we were checked in and we got the Cars Suite that we really wanted all along. I couldn’t have been happier!

Sharon was really great. And not just because she gave us an amazing upgrade. She made DD’s day by giving her a flower. I couldn’t even begin to estimate how many times I had to smell that thing, but DD was happy. Sharon also was great with DS. She was telling him all about his room and the Cozy Cone pool area and she had him all excited about it. By the time we walked away, DW was wiping a tear away. It really was one of the most special things we’ve ever had happen to us at Disney World.

Awesome! Upgrades are super terrific but like you said, it's often the little tings that CMs do that make a big difference!

 

[afwdwfan]

Good afternoon from sunny San Diego. We left single digit temps for sunny and 60.

We survived the flights but I'm definitely against the idea of flying with our kids again until they're 20. I'm dreading the return trip. I'll take the 14+ hour drive to Orlando any time!

 

[KatMark]

Glad you arrived safe and sound and have nicer weather. Sorry about the fact that the flight with kids wasn't so great. We never flew with the kids until they were 13 and 11.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[franandaj]

Good afternoon from sunny San Diego. We left single digit temps for sunny and 60.

We survived the flights but I'm definitely against the idea of flying with our kids again until they're 20. I'm dreading the return trip. I'll take the 14+ hour drive to Orlando any time!

I'm glad to hear that it's nice and sunny down there, just a few miles north up here, it's been cold, rainy and wet all day.

I see where you ended up!

 

[SarahDisney]

Oh, absolutely! Like I said, we didn't spend very much time at all in the Lion King or Little Mermaid sections. And I never made it to the playground in the Finding Nemo section, so we have tons more there to explore sometime.

IMO, Lion King doesn't have as much to see as the other sections ... but I may just be saying that because most of our exploring was walking through on our way to Little Mermaid. But I think Cars is probably the most incredible part ... so while I think you should take time on a future trip to see LK & LM, at least you already saw the best part!

Um... yeah... We were perfectly fine with staying in a Little Mermaid room, but Cars was our first choice if it weren't for the price difference.

Totally get that one ... I'm the same way (and with us it's just 2 adults, so we really don't need a suite, but I wish we could stay in Cars!)

They're ok, but they have flaws. First of all, they're too darn small. Whenever I go fill it and get a snack to take back to the room, I always drink it before I make it back to the room. If they had more drink stations around the resort, or we were close to where one was located, I think they'd be much more worth while.

We had dining plan so that's why we got them. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure that's not something we'd have spent any money on.

I've never actually gotten the dining plan, so I kinda forgot mugs were included ... but still, I see them and it makes no sense. It's a not so big mug that you can only refill in the food court? How is that supposed to make sense?
Maybe they should put drink stations near the vending machines in each building ...

It really was cool. I wish I had taken more pictures of the room. I loved the shower curtains, and the pictures hanging on the walls!

Now you have to go back to take more pictures!

I know, I know... In my defense, we really didn't have much choice but to make it 3:30. Everybody wanted to shower and freshen up before we left and if I built in a cushion, we'd have had to leave right then.

Showering and freshening up is so overrated ... just go to the parks all gross! (Then again, what do I know, the last time I took a long car trip hours was over 15 years ago, and that was what was supposed to be a 7-8 hour trip that took 10 hours ... and I was like 12).

Oh, I'm sure we will! I think we might try to take advantage of EMH in DCA both days it is offered so we can hit up RSR. I also want to try to get over there one evening for when the neon lights come on.

Definitely check it out when the neon lights are on ... it's amazing! We never did it in the morning (so we ended up waiting 1.5-2 hours twice), but we did see it late afternoon and evening/night, and while I was impressed both times, I thought it was really special with all the neon lights on.

Good afternoon from sunny San Diego. We left single digit temps for sunny and 60.

We survived the flights but I'm definitely against the idea of flying with our kids again until they're 20. I'm dreading the return trip. I'll take the 14+ hour drive to Orlando any time!

Someone looks like he's having fun!
Enjoy sunny San Diego ... and think of those of us who are left behind in the cold!

We flew for the first time when we were 11, 12, and 13 (not all at the same time - my sister flew for the first time with my grandparents 4 years before the other two of us flew) and it wasn't too bad. I have friends who flew a lot as kids who were okay with it, but some kids are not, especially very young ones. I think the more they fly the easier it gets ... but I think it takes a while to get to that point. Hopefully they'll have a better time on the plane after spending a few days with Mickey Mouse.

 

[Dugette]

Yay for warmer temps! That sounds pretty sweet right now to this freezing Minnesotan!

Sorry the flight was rough! Hope the way home goes better, after they've been exhausted by Disney.

 

[afwdwfan]

Ok, I'm a bad Dis'er.

In planning for this trip, I failed to even realize that the Star Wars Half Marathon was going on this weekend. I guess that would explain the out of the ordinary EMH schedule and why Friday's park hours are so much longer.

I wanted to just make Tuesday a relaxing resort day and check out DTD. Now I'm considering adding another park day when we get there so that we can beat some of the crowds. Not sure what to do.

Oh, well, off to the conference. I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to sit and think it over.

 

[AC7179]

Loving your report!

I hope you're really enjoying Disneyland---it's my favorite!

 

[TinkyCheeks]

Great TR so far. Your family is beautiful. Wow, that's a great upgrade. From the photos I've seen, it seems that Disney did an INCREDIBLE job with the Cars section. I hope to stay there ourselves someday!

I hope your trip to DLR turns out wonderful and that your back doesn't act up too much!

 

[khertz]

That's a SWEET upgrade!!! I really have my heart set on staying in a Cars suite with Paxton at some point before he is "over" Cars. They just look so cool! Nice way to start off the trip with some major pixie dust!

Sorry to hear about your back, but I'm glad it was better before you left for your trip. I hope you have a good week while you're there. I'd be interested to hear how the umbrella stroller holds up as we were thinking of getting one for our DL trip instead of bringing our big stroller. Does it have a basket underneath? That's one of the things I was looking for but it seemed to drive the price up.

 

[ethansmommy]

Joining in. Loving your trip report!

 

[ursalita]

So cool that you got an upgrade. But yeah, it's the service by the CMs that can make all the difference. The Cars area is fantastic. I love the traffic cone lights.

 

[dadof2boys]

What an awesome thing to happen. I'm really happy for your family. I can only imagine how cool that would have been to find out that you've been upgraded like that.

I hope the rain today doesn't get you guys down. At least it's back to clear skies and weather in the 70's. I swear when ever we have someone come visit the weather always take a turn. My mom gets so frustrated that we live in such a mild climate and then every time she makes it down here it's the couple days out of the year we actually get rain.

Enjoy your time at the DLR! We are headed up there in just a couple of weeks.

 

[afwdwfan]

It wasn't too bad. At least it was warm. Coming from the Midwest though, I thought it was ridiculous that hotels hosting convention guests didn't have an enclosed walkway to get you to the convention center without getting wet!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Good afternoon from sunny San Diego. We left single digit temps for sunny and 60.

We survived the flights but I'm definitely against the idea of flying with our kids again until they're 20. I'm dreading the return trip. I'll take the 14+ hour drive to Orlando any time!

Great picture!

Sorry the flight was so rough. I think it's just luck of the draw as to whether they'll have a bad day or not. I always dread being That Guy With The Screaming Baby on the plane. But then again, everybody else on the plane was once that age as well.

 

[kimbo0569]

We exited the highway behind an SUV pulling a UHaul trailer. I made a comment to FiL that I’m glad we didn’t need one of those.

We were following the trailer down the road and I could see this beautiful sight up ahead.

(taken from our 2012 trip because nobody got a picture this time)




All of a sudden the vehicle in front of me with the trailer slammed on the brakes and swerved into the left lane. By the time I could see why, I had to follow their evasive maneuver.


Some idiot stopped in the right lane and had his door open, standing in the middle of the road taking a picture.


Right next to one of those little signs that say don’t stop to take a picture.


Oh well, at least this means I’m on Disney property. I can’t be too mad. I just honked my horn as I drove past.


Literally laughed out loud on this one....Common sense is not so common. They're lucky their car didn't get hit.


Look, kids. A deer!

LOL! My dh and/or I would have done the same thing....

 

[Steppesister]

Just was thinking about you today and hoping you're having a really great time! I'll be anxious to see what choices you made for plans!

 

[amandaw]

Hope your back is doing ok! Glad to see that y'all made it to CA safely. Can't wait to hear all about this trip.

That's an amazing upgrade that y'all got @ AoA! The Cars section there is incredibly themed.

I'm worried that y'all didn't make it to DHS in time for the Frozen FP.....

 

[pkondz]

As of right now, I'm a little bit better.

Hope your back is continuing to improve.
Just threw mine out (again!) around the same time you did, so I literally feel your pain!

Prior to leaving, I did online check-in for one room,

Ha! Just did the same thing, earlier today.

but I left MiL and FiL’s room alone. Mainly because I didn’t have their credit card number handy at the time, but also because I kind of wanted to see who would get checked in first.

There's that evil side of you, again.

We headed into the building, and I’ll admit. I was blown away. I took a few seconds to take in the details of the sketches on the wall. They really did a great job with this resort.

I really doubt I'll have time, but I wouldn't mind strolling through there, just to look around.

There was virtually no line to get checked in so we directed MiL to an open check-in line and DW and I headed over to online check-in.

So.... was it faster?

Sharon then handed her a rose and gave both kids coloring sheets and crayons.

Nice.

You'd think that Disney had experience with families with kids or something.

[*]Would you be interested in a complementary upgrade? We can put you in a Cars Suite. And I see you have another room attached to your reservation. We can put them right across the hall and both rooms are ready.


[*]Yes, that would be awesome!!!!

Score!!

within a matter of minutes, we were checked in and we got the Cars Suite that we really wanted all along. I couldn’t have been happier!

That's really great! I'm happy for you guys!

I couldn’t even begin to estimate how many times I had to smell that thing, but DD was happy.

Oh, if I had to guess.... hmmm..... 40 bajillion times?
I'm being conservative, of course.

Sharon also was great with DS. She was telling him all about his room and the Cozy Cone pool area and she had him all excited about it. By the time we walked away, DW was wiping a tear away.

Awwww....

It really was one of the most special things we’ve ever had happen to us at Disney World.

Pixie dust! Right out of the gate.

DD wasn’t happy because she didn’t get one, so we ended up buying an extra for her. Spoiler alert: Complete waste of money. But at least they love to use them at home, so I guess it is ok.

Nope. Not buying it.
I don't consider it a waste of money if it made your DD happy.
In the grand scheme of things, the $20 you spent on a mug isn't really going to matter, right?

Now if it was a $200,000 Lamborghini... that's a whole other story.

Unless of course she lets you drive it...

I told DW that I’d go get the Suburban

See? Wouldn't it have been more cool to say, "I'd go get the Lambo"?

Lightning and Sally were parked right in front of our building. DD wanted to stop for pictures with them every single time we left the building.

Well, why not?

And some random pictures taken while walking around the resort… obviously not all from our arrival afternoon.

Oh, you could've sold it as a solar eclipse.

Truthfully, we were so in love with the Cars area and what we had to our disposal there, that we didn’t spend much time anywhere else around the resort.

Good for you guys. Glad you enjoyed it so much.

We had FP+ for the Frozen sing-along that was to start at 4:55. Our FP+ window opened up at 4:25, I think and we were going to meet up at 3:30 to leave. Plenty of time to get there and get into the show...

Why do I have the feeling that things did not go swimmingly from this point on???

We survived the flights but I'm definitely against the idea of flying with our kids again until they're 20. I'm dreading the return trip. I'll take the 14+ hour drive to Orlando any time!

Well next time, don't take a fighter jet, take a commercial air liner.

Lack of inflight entertainment will bore anyone.


Seriously, sorry to hear about that, but it's over now and hopefully you're all having a blast!

 

[eandesmom]

Oh my word, I didn't even think about the Star Wars half. Yikes!!!!!! Most folks won't arrive till weds at the earliest, a lot on Thursday and then the rest Friday. One good thing is that a lot of locals do the races so parks may not be quite as bad as you would think but since it's the first one, the expo will be insane, especially when it first opens which is maybe Thursday? I don't know if you'll overlap race traffic or not but Sunday will be a mess for sure until probably 11.