ReneeB
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 9, 2005
- Messages
- 75
Hi all, just returned from a weekend at the park last week. Managed to catch the flu afterwards, so am just now sitting down to report my trip. This is the first time I've done this, so I hope I can do it justice and remember everything. So anyway, come on in and join me for my romp around the Disneyland Resort.
My family and I are proud annual passholders and have been for several years. We take a trip about every 3 months. This trip we drove down on Saturday night and got to our hotel a little after midnight. We almost always stay at the Anaheim Plaza on Harbor. It's a old style hotel, probably built in the 70's, but is well kept up and has a lovely garden setting. It's across the street from Ramada Inn Maingate and next to Castle Inn and Suites. I love it because you cross the street and you're on Disney property. And Disney has created a lovely garden walkway that follows their fenceline up to the pedestrian entrance.
So Sunday morning we were a bit delayed but got to the park around 11:00 am. We hadn't been there in a few months and Monsters had opened since our last trip, so we headed into California Adventure for a peak at the new ride. The line was about 45 minutes, but we decided that it was worth the wait so three adults got in line to ride the new kiddie ride at DCA. It wasn't a bad wait and we met a fellow annual passholder who had lost the rest of her party and spent most of the time trying to help her locate her missing family members. After what actually turned out to be around a 25 minute wait we got our first glimpse of the new Monsters ride. I'm a 30 year old adult female, but am still definately a child at heart and I loved the Monsters movie. I have to say that I was very impressed with the new ride. I thought it was very well done and entertaining. It definately stands heads above the Pooh ride, which I thought was very disappointing.
To follow up our new ride experience and finish up at DCA, since this was going to be a short trip, we headed over to Soarin and got single rider passes. After a very short wait that had us on in less than 10 minutes we broke for lunch at Taste Pilots Grill. It was great. I love this place. It was also a madhouse. But once we got outside to our table peace reigned. After finishing up with our meal we decided that none of us were feeling daring enough to ride TOT or the Screamin' so we headed over to Disneyland.
Every time I enter the gates of Disneyland and pass through the tunnel I breathe a sigh of relief. It's like coming home every time. We headed over to New Orleans Square and were absolutely amazed to find Pirates open. We jumped in a line that was back to the Riverbell's fenceline, but didn't hesitate. I had read that it would be closed the week prior and was shocked to see a line for it, apparently the closing had been a bit delayed. The line, as always, moved quickly and we were on the ride in no time. I savored every moment knowing that it would be closed for a while and when it opens again, Jack Sparrow will have taken up residence. I noticed that several pirates were missing and it seemed that Disney had been impatient to get started.
As we exited through the shops and looked around I noticed some new Pirates merchandise. Guess they're already thinking ahead. While I was browsing the shops two men in suits and a woman in business attire were walking around looking at blueprints and talking about where doors should be and what walls would have to come down. While I'm generally as curious as the next person, it got to a point where I simply couldn't listen anymore and had to move on. It was sad to hear about the changes, though I do have to admit that the Pirates and the Nightmare shops have outgrown their spaces.
After this we moved on to Indiana Jones and picked up a fast pass for that evening. Here my memory gets a bit sketchy, but I do know that around 2 pm that tday we went back to the hotel and took a much needed rest. After about a 2 hour nap we decided to head back and take in the nightime activity.
First on the list was to use our fast pass for Indy. A great ride and it only gets better with time. After this we fought our way through one-way parade traffic to get over to Plaza Inn. The chicken was to die for and the mashed potatos and the beans...oh...my favorite topic, food. I can't believe they give you three pieces of chicken. An amazing value really.
After this came Buzz Lightyear and Star Tours. Then it was time to get our seat staked out for the Fireworks show. We were lucky enough to get closer to the castle than we ever have, just about equal with the walkway that comes up from Triton's Gardens. The wait was only about a half hour and then boom, the sky was lit with the magical Remember Dreams Come True. This experience just keeps getting better and better.
After the fireworks we stopped over just briefly at the Frontierland pinshop, then made our way to the porch of the Golden Horseshoe to watch Fantasmic. Not the best viewing are, I realize, but when you've seen it 200 times, it does in a pinch.
We hung around just a bit longer after Fantasmic and did a bit of shopping on Main Street. We actually heard the closing announcement, which usually doesn't happen for us. Then it was back to the hotel for a bit of rest before the fun continued Monday morning.
A lovely beginning to a wonderful Disneyland trip.
My family and I are proud annual passholders and have been for several years. We take a trip about every 3 months. This trip we drove down on Saturday night and got to our hotel a little after midnight. We almost always stay at the Anaheim Plaza on Harbor. It's a old style hotel, probably built in the 70's, but is well kept up and has a lovely garden setting. It's across the street from Ramada Inn Maingate and next to Castle Inn and Suites. I love it because you cross the street and you're on Disney property. And Disney has created a lovely garden walkway that follows their fenceline up to the pedestrian entrance.
So Sunday morning we were a bit delayed but got to the park around 11:00 am. We hadn't been there in a few months and Monsters had opened since our last trip, so we headed into California Adventure for a peak at the new ride. The line was about 45 minutes, but we decided that it was worth the wait so three adults got in line to ride the new kiddie ride at DCA. It wasn't a bad wait and we met a fellow annual passholder who had lost the rest of her party and spent most of the time trying to help her locate her missing family members. After what actually turned out to be around a 25 minute wait we got our first glimpse of the new Monsters ride. I'm a 30 year old adult female, but am still definately a child at heart and I loved the Monsters movie. I have to say that I was very impressed with the new ride. I thought it was very well done and entertaining. It definately stands heads above the Pooh ride, which I thought was very disappointing.
To follow up our new ride experience and finish up at DCA, since this was going to be a short trip, we headed over to Soarin and got single rider passes. After a very short wait that had us on in less than 10 minutes we broke for lunch at Taste Pilots Grill. It was great. I love this place. It was also a madhouse. But once we got outside to our table peace reigned. After finishing up with our meal we decided that none of us were feeling daring enough to ride TOT or the Screamin' so we headed over to Disneyland.
Every time I enter the gates of Disneyland and pass through the tunnel I breathe a sigh of relief. It's like coming home every time. We headed over to New Orleans Square and were absolutely amazed to find Pirates open. We jumped in a line that was back to the Riverbell's fenceline, but didn't hesitate. I had read that it would be closed the week prior and was shocked to see a line for it, apparently the closing had been a bit delayed. The line, as always, moved quickly and we were on the ride in no time. I savored every moment knowing that it would be closed for a while and when it opens again, Jack Sparrow will have taken up residence. I noticed that several pirates were missing and it seemed that Disney had been impatient to get started.
As we exited through the shops and looked around I noticed some new Pirates merchandise. Guess they're already thinking ahead. While I was browsing the shops two men in suits and a woman in business attire were walking around looking at blueprints and talking about where doors should be and what walls would have to come down. While I'm generally as curious as the next person, it got to a point where I simply couldn't listen anymore and had to move on. It was sad to hear about the changes, though I do have to admit that the Pirates and the Nightmare shops have outgrown their spaces.
After this we moved on to Indiana Jones and picked up a fast pass for that evening. Here my memory gets a bit sketchy, but I do know that around 2 pm that tday we went back to the hotel and took a much needed rest. After about a 2 hour nap we decided to head back and take in the nightime activity.
First on the list was to use our fast pass for Indy. A great ride and it only gets better with time. After this we fought our way through one-way parade traffic to get over to Plaza Inn. The chicken was to die for and the mashed potatos and the beans...oh...my favorite topic, food. I can't believe they give you three pieces of chicken. An amazing value really.
After this came Buzz Lightyear and Star Tours. Then it was time to get our seat staked out for the Fireworks show. We were lucky enough to get closer to the castle than we ever have, just about equal with the walkway that comes up from Triton's Gardens. The wait was only about a half hour and then boom, the sky was lit with the magical Remember Dreams Come True. This experience just keeps getting better and better.
After the fireworks we stopped over just briefly at the Frontierland pinshop, then made our way to the porch of the Golden Horseshoe to watch Fantasmic. Not the best viewing are, I realize, but when you've seen it 200 times, it does in a pinch.
We hung around just a bit longer after Fantasmic and did a bit of shopping on Main Street. We actually heard the closing announcement, which usually doesn't happen for us. Then it was back to the hotel for a bit of rest before the fun continued Monday morning.
A lovely beginning to a wonderful Disneyland trip.
