Synopsis of mid-August trip

[carmel]

Before I start, I have to give a GIANT thank you to this board. I asked for help from planners and the tips and tricks I got in return helped make this trip truly magical. We rode everything we wanted to and MORE! I will never, ever go back to the park without a plan again.

We were out in SoCal to visit family (DH is from Redondo Beach). We were out there for a week and spent 3 days (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday) in the park. DH has a perforated disk in his back and even though he had tix, he couldn't walk for > 1 hr w/o excruciating pain. So, I braved 'the Land' with my two girls (ages 10 and 6) alone.

Monday was crowded - no other way to say that. Given that, we followed our plan and rode everything we wanted to. We had mid day PSs for Carnation Cafe for our 6 yr old's birthday and showed up early and only waited about 5 minutes. The food was good and it was a very pleasant meal. Then, we headed over to Libby Lu's for her present. A Libby Du. DD was so excited and surprised. I was very impressed with it. For $30, she got a makeover (makeup, fingernail polish and hair do) and a back pack with 5 goodies. I tried to tip the stylist but she wouldn't accept it. I thought it was an amazing value. By that time (around 4pm), DH had to hobble back to the hotel and he took birthday girl with him. My 10 yr old and I did more shopping and took the monorail back over to Tomorrowland and rode the 'big' rides we had gotten FPs for that morning. Space Mountain was AMAZING. I was laughing so hard (with glee) that the tears were rolling out of my eyes and flying through the air. I found out that my DD loves thrill rides. FINALLY - someone who shares my passion.

Tuesday was EE. We followed our plan again and actually had some spare time before we headed to DCA for the opening (for FPs). The girls really wanted to do Tarzan's Treehouse. Even though that wasn't top on my list, I thought, what the heck. Well, it turns out it was wonderful that we did. We got dream FPs at the exit!!!!! That turned our whole schedule around since we didn't need to run over to DCA for FPs at opening. We spent more time in DL and rerode our favorite rides. We then headed to DCA and got all of the rides that my 6 yrs old could do. We walked back to the hotel around 4pm and dropped off the 6 yr old with daddy and went back to the park to do all of the FPs. What fun. We walked onto almost everything.

Side note - I had been looking forward to Indy forever. We had a FP but still waited for 25 minutes. I was exhausted at that point in the day so maybe that colored my attitude but I was kinda disappointed. It was a neat ride but maybe I had built it up too far in my mind. Plus, it seemed to take forever to walk through the line just to find the end of it.

Thursday was another EE and we followed the same plan as before only we did more shows and the like in DCA when it opened.

Oh, Tuesday and Thursday were not, what I would consider, very crowded. The mornings were dead and DCA was completely dead.

We stayed at HoJos and couldn't be happier. We used the short cut and, honestly, I didn't find the walk bad at all. The hotel is SO SO SO nice. Huge rooms, gorgeous landscaping, AMAZING splash pool for the kids (my girls adored it), friendly people......we had a Disney facing room and we watched the fireworks every night from there. Splendid view.

General observations.....
We ate
Tigger Tails - incredible but rich. Make sure to share
Honey pot caramel apple - words can't describe the delicious-ness of
this. It was HUGE so again be sure to split.
Frozen bannana - very good - standard but tasted good on a hot day.
Turkey leg - I liked it. It was a bit salty but it was a good dinner for DD
and me to split when we went back to the parks for our thrill ride.
Rocky Road from the candy shop - delicious
Taffy from the candy shop - delicious
Churro - girls love it - just 'okay' for me but I'm not a big pasty eater

Ride Highlights
Mulholland Madness was really fun
Maliboomer was really tame - surprisingly so
Sunwheel - we stood in line for the moving baskets and that ride did
not do it for me. It was okay but I probably wouldn't ride it again.
Splash Mountain - didn't get a drop on me.
Pirates - incredible as ever
HM - one of my favorites
Space Mountain - loved it.
CA Screamin - loved it.
Tower of Terror - MY FAVORITE RIDE. I could live on it. DD and
I rode it 3 times.
Soarin' - surpassed my expectations. And my expectations were high
after wanting to ride it for 5 yrs.
Matterhorn - really fun and I loved being whipped around.

We had so darn much fun. I never understood the magic before but now I do. Please ask me any questions you have and I will try to answer.

 

[carmel]

Oh, wanted to add that about the only things we didn't ride were...

Autopia - it was broken down everytime we went by.

TSMM- really wanted to ride this but I wanted to ride other things more and the line was always terribly long by the time we got there. Will make it a priority on the next trip.

Nemo - I had no great desire to ride this but would if the opportunity came up. The line was RIDICULOUS. At opening, I saw people running behind strollers - almost tipping them over to get to it. I think I avoided it on principle as it made things more like a fox hunt rather than a vacation. I saw parents yelling at kids to 'shut up' when the kids were tired of waiting in line and asked to ride other things instead. I don't know - just got a bad karma around that. Nobody looked happy in line and isn't that the point of the park? Never saw the line < 2 hrs.

 

[avalon451]

Thanks for sharing, it souns like a wonderful trip! I love your little summary of each ride. It's too bad that DH couldn't enjoy it more with you, but it sounds like you and your girls had a great time!

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

I am glad you had a great time.

We have never been to the Libby Lu in DTD. I have an appointment for dd when we go for the halloween party in October. It sounds wonderful!

 

[edit1]

Sounds like you had a great trip! Congratulations on the dream FP, we would love to win something like that too.

We are also big fans of the HOJO and are likely staying there during our next visit. The shortcut that you mentioned...what is that? We always just walk down Harbor and then turn right at the main crosswalk to DLR. Is there a shorter way?

 

[carmel]

Sounds like you had a great trip! Congratulations on the dream FP, we would love to win something like that too.

We are also big fans of the HOJO and are likely staying there during our next visit. The shortcut that you mentioned...what is that? We always just walk down Harbor and then turn right at the main crosswalk to DLR. Is there a shorter way?

It is not a huge shortcut but you can 'chop off' the right angle of Harbor and the main entrance.

Cross from HoJo's at Manchester. Walk down the non-hotel side until the bus stop. There is a small street there and you turn right and then you are in the bus/tram/taxi area. You can then do a straight line to the entrance and chop off that right angle.

 

[edit1]

It is not a huge shortcut but you can 'chop off' the right angle of Harbor and the main entrance.

Cross from HoJo's at Manchester. Walk down the non-hotel side until the bus stop. There is a small street there and you turn right and then you are in the bus/tram/taxi area. You can then do a straight line to the entrance and chop off that right angle.

Thanks! I guess anything helps, especially at the end of the day when you are walking with tired kids (and tired adults)!

 

[fairykin]

Oh I am so happy to read this!! Just the other day I was wondering if your family had gone on the trip yet and how it went.

When you wrote this..

" I was laughing so hard (with glee) that the tears were rolling out of my eyes and flying through the air. I found out that my DD loves thrill rides. FINALLY - someone who shares my passion."

It really touched my heart..it made it clear what Disneyland is supposed to be..moments like that.

And You won a Dream Fast Pass!!! How kewl is that!

I'm not sure what that is.. is it good for one specific ride? Or all rides?

Thanks for explaining..and I'm so glad You had a great trip.

When we go in Dec. it will be my husband and i.. our three grandchildren..6 and twin 4 year olds.. my mother..and my husbands parents..his mother is in the early stages of althezhimers and progressing rapidly so this will probably be her last trip.

 

[dizneekrazee]

Glad to hear you had such a good trip

Its magical trips like this that keep bringing us back for more.

 

[lulubelle]

Awesome mini TR Carmel!
Thanks so much for sharing
We are staying at Hojo's 9/12 & 9/13. Can't wait!
I hope your hubby had a good time in spite of his back.

 

[Ang1e]

Sounds like you had a wonderful time.

Am very curious......what are Tigger Tails?

 

[carmel]

Sorry I haven't checked in for a while - when you are gone a week from work, you have to come back to piles and piles,

To answer some questions:
Ang1e = Tigger tails - sold at the gift shop right outside of the Pooh Ride. They are 4 marshmallows on a stick with a little bit of caramel and then covered in orange (flavored and colored) chocolate with milk chocolate drizzles to make the stripes. I expected them to be good but they were amazing. They are extrememly rich and sweet and the two girls and I shared them and it was plenty.

fairykin - A dream fast pass are two cards on a lanyard. One card is for DCA and the other is for DL. Each card has little 'tabs' that stick out that the CM snaps off and uses for a fast pass. Each card contains tabs for every FP ride in each park. So, you are holding FPs for every single FP ride in both parks at the same time. It makes going on the rides EXTREMELY easy because you don't have to worry about timing and you can do whatever you want and go on the FP rides whenever you want.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I had to smile when I read that you understand the magic. Welcome to the feeling - may it never leave you.