The Pregnant, Half Blind and Sick take on DL in September

[exwdwcm]

So it is an odd group right? But we have a sense of humor to say the least. This is the first trip back to disneyland for most of us in over 25 years!!! We are WDW vets and just were in WDW at the Wilderness Lodge in December for 10 days (14 of us!).


WHEN: Friday, September 10th to Monday, September 13th
WHERE: Disneyland! Staying off site at Residence Inn Maingate (one bedroom suite)


Table of Contents

• The Plan
• Day One, September 10- departure and tighty whities
• Day One- Disneyland morning, DCA and Steakhouse 55
• Day Two, September 11- cinnamon rolls on main street
• Day Two, September 11- Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour
• Day Two, September 11- Blue Bayou and Fantasmic
• Day Three, September 12- Matterhorn and ToT
• Day Three, September 12- flag ceremony, Ariel's Grotto dinner
• Day Three, September 12- World of Color
• Day Four, September 13- Storyteller's breakfast

We have 4 day park hoppers, WOC dining package, Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour and more. We are flying into LAX and renting a car. Our flight departs DFW at 6am and arrives LAX at 7:30am. Our return is on Monday at 4:10pm- arriving home about 9ish.

This trip started because Wendy and I wanted to check out the D23 expo. We missed it last year and assumed they would have another this September. So we started talking about going. Then it turned into my sister Mandy, mom and Nancy wanting to go. Then we learned of course that D23 will be every other year. We were disappointed, but decide, what the heck, let's just go anyway and have a girls getaway and celebrate my birthday. So now it is a girls trip, sans husbands and kiddos. We are so excited to enjoy shopping without a toddler tugging on my shirt or kicking over displays. Excited to not have to stop and change my son's diaper every few hours. As much as we love sharing the magic with the kids, it is nice to get away on your own every once in a while too. Plus, DH and I are taking our son (2.5) in early December (see other PTR link in my sig), so not like he is missing out completely!

Here is our cast:

Mom- just turned 60. Had major brain surgery last year, lost most of her vision due to the brain tumor (benign) and can no longer drive. She uses a cane to walk sometimes and has zero peripheral vision (don't walk up from behind/beside her, she can't see you!). She is retired, mom of 3 girls and wonderful, considerate and giving!!

Nancy- mom's cousin- our cousin. She is mom's age and best friend (their mom's were sisters, both since passed) works for the school district, single, but mom to lots of pets! She sort of is our 'second mom'.

Me- oldest sister, turning 37 on 9/10! mom of one toddler, marketing manager and WDW ex cast member (college program in 1996). Just bought DVC last year (we call BLT home!). Huge disney nut!

Wendy- middle sister, huge disney nut as well- paralegal, mom of 2. she is the fun, loud, comedian in the family, always making us laugh. She talks a LOT! lol

Mandy- the baby sister- so-so disney, not super crazy about it, but enjoys it. special ed teacher, about 25 weeks pregnant with her first child (will be sitting out some rides). She is the fashionista of the family, always with the hippest clothes and decor.

So that is our gang......a preggo, a cancer survivor, an almost blind woman, a comedian and me, a red light running, neat freak. Should be interesting to say the least.

here's one of mom and us girls and then one of Nancy too! she is rarely in the pictures, she is always the one taking them.

Nancy and her nephew at WDW in Dec

 

[exwdwcm]

Being the commando that I am, we do have an itinerary. Planning is half the fun for us. My mom and Wendy really enjoy that part too. So I have put together a 'schedule' for us, but it is flexible and just a good starting point.

This trip we plan to go with the flow and relax, not rushing from ride to ride. We want to explore the little nooks and crannies and take in all the details of the park. Sit and just people watch. Shop. This is the kind of trip we are planning. NOT commando. Let's see how well i do with that. BUT we are sort of forced to take it easy.....with mom's vision issues (and tiring easily) and Nancy tiring easily plus Mandy being 6 months preggo, we just need to watch it and go at a slower pace. It might mean finding a place to grab a water and just sit for awhile every hour or so. But that's fine.

We anticipate maybe even needing a wheelchair for mother at some point if she gets frustrated with walking with her cane. She usually has a stroller to push, which makes it a little easier- at least people sort of move out of the way with a stroller coming at them. Without her white cane, people don't know she has a vision issue and she might run right into someone (and often does). She has trouble with perception too- and curbs or inclines etc. So we might end up getting a chair for her, we will see.

we do have some ADRs as we love to eat. We are also really looking forward to the tour. We've done the Keys to the Kingdom (well mom, Nancy and I) at WDW.

So here are the plans!
Friday, September 10

3am wake up!!!! Rise and shine (you too Nancy!)
3:45am depart home!
4:15am arrive airport
5:50am flight boards
6:20am flight departs dfw
7:30am flight arrives LAX, get rental car, bags
8:15am head to Disneyland (35 miles)
9:15am arrive Anaheim
10am Disney’s California Adventure opens
11:30am lunch at Pilots or pacific wharf café (fast food)
2pm check in hotel, rest (or downtown Disney!)
5:30pm dinner at Steakhouse 55 at DL hotel
7:30pm to Disneyland (open until midnight)
10:30pm Fantasmic
12am park closes

Saturday, September 11

7:30am wake up!
8:30am arrive DL for tour
9am Walk in Walt’s Footsteps Tour
1pm Tour complete- break in room?
3pm downtown Disney shopping
6pm to Disneyland
7pm dinner at Blue Bayou
9pm/10:30pm Fantasmic (if missed before)
12am DL closes

Sunday, September 12

6:45am wake up!
7:45am arrive DL
8am-9am Magic Morning DL
1pm lunch Carnation Cafe
1:30pm DCA afternoon
7:10pm dinner at Ariel’s Grotto for dining package
9:30pm line up for WOC!
10:15pm World of Color

Monday, September 13

8:30am Storyteller’s breakfast at Grand Californian
10am parks open (see whatever we want)
1:15pm head to airport
2:00pm arrive airport, return car
3:40pm flight boards
4:10pm flight departs
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[Mich123]

Looks like a great trip!! Subscribing!

And...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

 

[exwdwcm]

Friday, September 10th- MY BDAY!!! and departure


The day started out like any other……….oh wait, no it didn’t. It was 3am when the first of our group awoke to shower. Definitely not like any other day. Wendy was up first and couldn’t figure out how my shower worked….so she headed upstairs to try that bathroom…..nope, still couldn’t get it working. She finally decided maybe it was user error and mom helped her turn it on. By about 4:30am, we are all up, dressed, showered and semi awake. Not really. Awake that is.



We head out, pack up the car and drive the few blocks to Mandy’s house to pick her up. Should I honk to let her know we are there? I decide against my better judgment and refrain from waking the neighbors. We get Mandy (and baby Brynley tagging along in the belly) packed in and off we go to the airport. Wow, no traffic this early, imagine that. We do hit a detour near the airport and have to go a different way and u-turn back to get around the construction. We finally make it, decide to just park at the terminal instead of parking off site and taking a shuttle (had a bad experience last time with that). We park, unload and try and remember where we are parked for the return ride home! I store mom’s keys safely in my backpack. Last trip, I lost my keys at WL. They are probably there behind the armoire still. Some lucky guest can probably get into my Cadillac now. Go figure. So keys are safe.



We go do the electronic check in at American at the kiosk. While I love this, now so many people do it, that it really isn’t much more convenient since you have to wait in a line to check your bag still. It’s great if you are simply carrying on. So I check us all in together and we get in the bag line. It moves quickly and before we know it, we are off through security. No problems here, we all make it through without a cavity search. I also sit back and thank my lucky stars it was so easy……last trip, was my first time travelling with a toddler (had travelled with an infant before, but toddler is a whole other ballgame- they are mobile!). Anyhow- last time, I had a car seat, stroller, diaper bag, my bags etc and the unruly toddler that wanted to run around everywhere. It was madness. So we go through security and say- yeah no kids! Hopefully there are no screaming kids on the flight. You can only say that when you are travelling sans kids, ya know!
We get through and are starving, we locate the McDonald’s which opens at 5:30am apparently and we wait. A line forms. The first of many we will experience over the next few days, I am sure. Only this one isn’t for singing happy dolls at small world, it is for a greasy hot hash brown and large cup of caffeine! We finally get our breakfast and sit and enjoy- again, sans kiddos! Yeah! Well unless that baby in Mandy’s tummy counts. So far Brynley has been well-behaved, so we won’t count her. Our flight leaves at 6:20am and we board by 6am or so.


Breakfast eaten, bellies full, we proceed to the gate and sit and wait. It doesn’t look too crowded. We finally get to board, group 5 and get seated. It is still dark out. Mother, Wendy and I sit on a row together, me in the middle, mother at the door. Nancy and Mandy sit across the row from us- and have an empty seat. The plane is probably only 2/3 full, if that. The bright lights they have on near the windows (since it is dark out) are bugging mother, so we switch around seats. We all have a good flight and I think everyone sleeps. I have a hard time sleeping on planes, but somehow managed to this time. I think sitting by family helps. I am always nervous on business trips, travelling solo that I will fall asleep and start drooling on my neighbor or something embarrassing. Family doesn’t care if you drool on them. At least most of the time. Our 2.5-3 hour flight arrives on time at 7:30am.


We all get off the plane- at least we are sitting towards the front, so it doesn’t take as long. We exit, ensuring mother doesn’t trip over any of the multiple lips and steps on the way in-you never realize how treacherous that walk can be off the plane until you pay attention. We get off and head to baggage claim. And we wait and wait. And feel the cool breeze outside. Wow, it is cool. Such a change from the 100plus temps in Dallas we’ve been facing all summer. Everyone else is going outside to smoke, we are just going outside to enjoy (and try and avoid the second hand smoke as we attempt to get a breath of fresh cool air!). The bells rings and the bags start coming, but not before we notice a pair of shabby and gross looking tighty whites make the rounds on the conveyor belt. Yuck……..who put those there? Why doesn’t someone pick them up? Gross! I assume they fell out of a bag or something. But come on LAX, pick up the dirty underwear already. I know LA is funky and all, but this is a little much.
So we manage to dodge the dirty tighty whities and get our bags. Off to the car rental shuttle (National) we go- and perfect timing, there is one right outside. We board, tip $5 for the bags and off we go. We unload and head over to the Emerald Aisle and select a nice mini van- similar to the one my parent’s van (which we left at the airport) with the automatic doors. I am the official driver this trip and Mandy is our navigator. Mother obviously can’t drive. Wendy doesn’t know east from west and Nancy, well she is just enjoying. So we get in, get loaded and figure out the controls, adjust the mirrors and all that, everything they teach you in drivers ed, mom was so proud.

 

[exwdwcm]

And off we go- navigator, where is the exit? There it is- now onto the mouse! Mandy does a great job navigating and we make it to 5 in no time. We hit a little traffic, but not too much. It was a Friday at 8am by now and we could see the traffic going the other way though- did not look pretty. We follow the signs to Disneyland and sort of loop around the first time- trying to get our bearings and figure out which direction the hotel is. Dallas driving can be tricky, but I definitely notice folks are more aggressive here too. We finally decide to just go to Disneyland, although the original plan was to open DCA at 10am. However, it is like almost 9am and we are already there, so we hit up Disneyland first. We finally find the parking garage and we have mother’s handicap sign on the mirror, so we pay our $15 for parking and get on the first floor of the mickey and friends garage in the handicap area. We unload- have a great spot! And head over to the trams. So far, so good. We enjoy the tram ride and see some cute little Halloween décor out already.
sorry it is blurry, we were moving! Unfortunately this was the only holiday decor we saw all week until the last day when they had out a few more things, but not the full halloween overlay. bummer!

We arrive at the stop and get off and head to the restrooms near guest services- I also stop for my birthday pin! We then head in to Disneyland for the first time in like 25 years! We stop at city hall to get a GAC for my mom in case we need it for shows or anything. We didn’t end up using it once. We decided we were a bit hungry and Nancy really needed to eat something fast! So off we went to find breakfast #2. Wendy had just given her some candy, so Nancy wanted some real food, not just a cinnamon roll or muffin. We finally find they serve breakfast quick service in tomorrowland, so we head that way. We all order a little breakfast platter with eggs, bacon, biscuit and hash browns. Wendy gets the burrito. I do get 10% off with my DVC card! While they eat, I head with our tickets to get a space mtn fastpass, only to find it is down and no FPs available. Ugh. So I get one for Buzz instead and head back to eat. We enjoy a nice breakfast taking in the sights and sounds.

We decide to head over to the Nemo subs first since I know the line gets long later. We wait maybe for 15 minutes or so. Mother stepped out of line for a bit and good thing, she would have never made it down those steep curving stairs onto the dark sub. Plus she can’t see anything in the dark areas either, and most of the ride was in the dark. So we all enjoyed our ride with nemo, very cute! I do miss the subs at WDW. After the subs, we hit up the shops! There is a big one in Tomorrowland there and we shopped for a while. I think we all bought something and left it there to pick up later. I got a cute hat, a star wars t-shirt for my son, some collector’s packs of the little statues and something else. We loved some little Halloween votives they had there too (and ended up buying later on).

Since our original plan was to go to DCA first, we decided after Nemo and shopping that we should head over, since it opened at 10am. I think it was nearing 11am when we got over that way. I did love how close the parks were, just a quick walk over. Definitely not like park hopping at the world which involves a boat, a tram, a walk, a monorail and maybe a piggy back ride. We took some pics outside, including Nancy in front of the N. We made it in and decided we wanted some ice cream (do you see a theme here with all the eating??).

We stopped off to the right and grabbed some and had a seat. Nancy decided to stay there while we went to check out the line for Soarin. It was only 15-20 minutes, so we called her and all got in line. It was her first time on it. She somehow missed it at the world on all our prior trips. She loved it!!! We came back down to earth, pine fresh scent in our noses and we decided to shop some. We hit a few stores, got a few pics and then headed off back to the tram, then to the garage to get the car. We realized we were a bit thirsty, so we actually stopped at a burger king on the way to find the hotel. We pull in, order a few drinks and some fries for the baby! Cravings, you know. As we are trying to order, there are loud sirens going off, the poor lady could barely hear our order. Little did we know we would pull around the drive through, ready to exit, only to be blocked in by a huge fire truck. Yep, huge fire truck and ambulance right there, blocking the drive through completely.

We see them rush over to some lady sitting on the side of the drive through near the street. We can’t make out much other than she looks like she is totally high on something. We sit there for probably 10 minutes, completely blocked in, but at least we have fries and cokes to entertain us, oh and the crack lady…….and some handsome firefighters. Except the one with the handlebar mustache was a little much, but still cute. So finally they wheel her off on a stretcher and depart. We finally can leave the drive thru. We head next door to the grocery store……at least that is what I thought. I offer to go in quickly to get some bottled waters and drinks for our room. I go in and realize I am in a Mexican market. I mean, they have a tortilla machine for fresh hot tortillas and a taqueria inside type of Mexican market. I can’t even find a pack of water, so I just have to buy a bunch of individuals. But as I am checking out, I see some sandals, 2 for $10 or $5 a pair. Great! I forgot shoes to wear that night for our nice dinner. I only had tennis shoes and sporty sandals. So I found a pair of dressy sandals at the Mexican market for $5, who knew?

So I take my finds back to the car and we head to find the hotel. Only as I am pulling down the street, we realize we are a bit lost. We keep breaking out the iphone to find our way. I see the light turn green and turn left, only to realize, I am in the cast member parking lot. I quickly try and get over to turn around, but I cut off some poor cast member in his camaro and he was NOT happy about it and let me know it. He goes through the security booth and I follow, she directs us to turn around. There is no where to turn around though, I have to go all the way through the parking lot, wait behind a cast member shuttle for a few minutes and finally manage my way out. Woo, finally out and we finally find the hotel.

I get out and check in, only to realize I can’t find my license. Geez, what else can go wrong here. She sees my debit card with my photo and says we are good. We stayed at the Residence Inn Maingate, which was fairly close to the parks. It is a half mile walk probably, but of course we planned to drive everyday. We were in building 8, which wasn’t far and a first floor location. We had a one bedroom suite. We walked in and had a small living area with couch and chair and then a dining table for 4 and a kitchen. Then the bedroom with two queen beds and a bathroom. It was enough for the 5 of us and nice enough for our needs.

We go to unpack and put the waters in the fridge and discover a cake! So I start to say thanks, assuming they bought me one, but no one knows where it came from. It was the birthday cake of mystery! I assume the hotel or travel agent somehow had it put in there for us, as my birthday was listed on the reservation. Super sweet if it was, but it was pretty funny since none of us had a clue who it was from!
So we unpacked, got situated and rested for a bit. We had dinner reservations at Steakhouse 55 for 5:30pm, so we headed out in the van again. We manage to find the Disneyland hotel and decided to just valet it. We take a few pics and explore a bit. We head over and check in and sit in the lounge and order some drinks. A pina colava for me!

We are seated almost immediately, before we get our drinks. The restaurant is dark, cool and smooth with black and white photos/paintings of celebrities all over the walls. We had a fun time seeing who each one was. The waiter told us a funny story about them too- that they photoshopped/painted to remove the cigs that everyone was smoking. Only one photo still had someone with a cig or cigar and that was Sammy Davis Jr. I think. We had great service here all night long. The restaurant was fairly empty since it was still early. A few of us started off with salads and I think all of us but Nancy ordered the filet. She had a big rib eye I think. The steaks were good, but somewhat a bit dry. They weren’t cooked wrong or anything, it just seemed the meat itself was a bit dry. We also ordered the au gratin stack, mac and cheese and green beans. It was way too much food and we were stuffed.

They brought out some dark chocolate mousse with a candle for my bday. But by then I was so stuffed, I could barely eat but a bite. Mother stole the check and paid when we weren’t looking. She did this the entire trip until the last day when we finally managed to get the checks and pay for her instead. Even though the meat was slightly dry, it was still very good overall.

After dinner, what did we do………you got it, we shopped! Hit up the gift shop in the hotel- sometimes we find unique treasures in the resort shops that you don’t find in the parks shops. After dinner, we walked down to the DTD monorail station and waited in a huge line to head to Disneyland. We finally boarded the monorail for the short ride to Tomorrowland. I did miss the usual “Por favor mantangese” spiel on this monorail and they were letting people sit up front on this one. We make it to Tomorrowland and it is pretty packed. We use our fast passes I got that morning to ride Buzz and then head over to Small World.

We all decided the DL small world is better than the WDW one. We loved all the new Disney characters that were included. I don’t think it takes away from the original ride at all, and hey, Walt was all about ‘plussing’ the rides, right? Everything was always growing and changing and I see this addition as a positive for sure. I hope they do the same at the WDW ride.

Afterwards, we realized the crowds were just a little too thick for us so we picked up our shopping bags and headed back to the monorail. It was just very hard for mom to maneuver in the dark like that and we noticed the parks were very poorly lit- or at least tomorrowland was. Since it was our first day, we didn’t know the park layout very well either and let’s face it, we had been up since 3am and it was going on probably 12am our time……so we had been up for like 20plus hours now. So we packed it up and headed back to valet where our validated ticket got us free parking!

 

[Belle Ella]

Hey, happy belated birthday! Looks like we share Signing myself up!

And before I forget, would you mind if I added your Trip Report to the September Check in thread?

 

[exwdwcm]

Looks like a great trip!! Subscribing!

And...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

welcome and thanks for reading along on our crazy adventure!

 

[exwdwcm]

Hey, happy belated birthday! Looks like we share Signing myself up!

And before I forget, would you mind if I added your Trip Report to the September Check in thread?

oops double post! so your bday is 9/10 too- if so, happy bday!

 

[Tinkermom76]

I'm here!!! Can't wait to hear it all!!!

 

[PoppyGirl]

What an adventure! Sounds and looks like SO much fun! Anxiously waiting for more!!!! (and you know which part I mean!) The part about the cake is too funny! Did you ever find out where it came from?

And Happy B-day!

PoppyGirl

 

[exwdwcm]

I'm here!!! Can't wait to hear it all!!!

What an adventure! Sounds and looks like SO much fun! Anxiously waiting for more!!!! (and you know which part I mean!) The part about the cake is too funny! Did you ever find out where it came from?

And Happy B-day!

PoppyGirl

welcome ladies- and no, never found out who the cake was from, i need to ask my TA! that or the hotel just did it, which is so, is way nice for a residence inn! lol

i have the next installment (all of day two) written, but need to post this afternoon with pics. Gotta actually get some work done though.

 

[Mich123]

Great report! I noticed you mentioned the submarines at WDW...where were they and when were they there? When I first went back to WDW as an adult I noticed they were missing and then I realized that I must have confused a DL memory with a WDW memory. Now I'm just confused!

 

[PoppyGirl]

Great report! I noticed you mentioned the submarines at WDW...where were they and when were they there? When I first went back to WDW as an adult I noticed they were missing and then I realized that I must have confused a DL memory with a WDW memory. Now I'm just confused!

The subs at DL used to be 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. A couple of years ago they re-vamped them as a Finding Nemo attraction so they are back now. I was there the week they opened....I avoided them like the plague! But we did go on them in January. ONce was quite enough for me!

 

[parrisk]

Enjoying the TR. Girls Only trips are the best!

DD13 and I are leaving in 20 more sleeps for DLR, staying in a studio at Grand Californian Villas. I read that you received a 10% discount at a restuarant using your DVC card. Were you able to use it for any other discounts like merchandise? (I am bringing an extra suitcase packed inside my check-in luggage because I plan on doing a lot of shopping!)

Please tell me more about the tour, cost, time, value, etc. My DD13 loves all tours and I would like to surprise her. This tour sounds like a good idea.

Also, I must, must, must eat ice cream every day on a Disney Vacation, so where did that tasty looking cone come from?

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cinderellabride2011]

I love hearing how different people spend their vacations at disneyland. It seems like you guys had an amazing time! I always have a itenerary when we go to DL, but always venture off it. But at least it keeps some kind of organization while there. My Fiance and I are spending our honeymoon in WDW and I'm debating whether or not to make an itenarary (it will be my fiance's first time and my first time since 1997ish)...my fiance isn't too crazy about my packed filled itenararys. He wants to have a relaxing honeymoon, not a chaotic one. lol! Anyways loved your story!!

 

[exwdwcm]

SEPTEMBER 11
day two
Well we didn’t make it on day one as long as we hoped. We were leaving the park by 10pm or so and all in bed by 11pm. But, good thing, because day two started bright and early. Today was our big tour. We were very excited about the Walk in Walt’s Footsteps Tour. It was too start at 9:30am, but the park opened at 8am this morning. So we were up by 6:30am or 7am. Some of us took showers at night to make things easier. 5 grown women sharing one bathroom is not easy!
Fortunately, we were all out the door and arrived in time. We pulled in the parking structure, parked and headed towards the tram, but we had a magic moment, there was a disabled van there and they gave us all a ride instead of having to wait on the tram. So nice! We arrive to the front gate just as they were letting guests into the MK.
of course today was 9/11. And we took note and a moment to see the flag lowered to half staff.

We needed some breakfast, so we stopped at the bakery, a must for this trip on my list. While everyone ordered, I ran over to get some space mtn fastpasses. Today was the last day it would be open before it closed for a week or so to do the Halloween overlay. Who knew they did a Halloween overlay on Space? I surely didn’t. I was the keeper of our park hoppers the entire trip, and fastpasses too. I secured our FP and met up at the bakery. I shared a giant cinnamon roll that was pure heaven! We enjoyed just a leisurely breakfast there, listening to the sounds of main street.

we took a few pics of all the great deliciousness that is the bakery!

After breakfast, we decided to hit up some rides really quickly before the tour. Nancy stayed to shop instead. We first hit Peter Pan and got on with hardly any line. Next was Mr. Toad’s Wild ride, which was a ton of fun since they don’t have it in WDW.

We also decided we liked the DL Peter Pan slightly better than the WDW version. It was slightly different. We did notice long lines for that attraction the whole rest of the trip. Always at least 20-30 minutes. We typically won’t wait for anything more than 20 minutes and with proper planning, you don’t have to anyways. Next was time for a ride on Pinnochio. We boarded, once again, waited maybe 2 minutes. We get through about 2 scenes and boom, the ride stops and lights pop on. Apparently the main power for the ride was out, but we did have lights. We could see all of the attraction in detail, which was cool. After waiting about 10 minutes in our car, a CM finally comes over and lets us out and we have to follow her and some other guests to walk out of the ride. It was actually cool, but a little treacherous for mom trying to walk and step over the track back and forth and squeeze in between stuck cars. They offered to let us ride again in a few minutes, but we decided to pass and hit it again later.
So we still had just a little time to kill, but not much. So Mandy and I decided to head over and grab a fastpass for Splash Mtn. Yep, our space mtn FP time was already past, so we could grab another. Mother and Wendy headed back towards main street to wait with Nancy for the tour. Mandy and I hiked it over to Splash to get the FP. We enjoyed seeing that side of the park for the first time. It is so strange seeing Pooh over in Critter Country and not Fantasyland, but it makes sense there. We got our FP and then headed back, we were tempted to stop and ride pirates, which had a 5 min wait, but we decided we didn’t have time.
We stopped for a few pics on the way- including some of the Haunted Holiday- HM was closed for the overlay while we were there and we were so disappointed. We at least saw the outside was in its full nightmare before christmas glory!

next up- the tour begins............

 

[exwdwcm]

September 11- day two continued
We made it back and checked in for our tour at 9:15. We were introduced to Megan, our guide. She’s been doing it for 4 years now. We were given our headsets and instructions and started right about 9:30am. Of course this was after picking our lunch. I was looking forward to the chili soufflé bowl they had on the menu online, but turns out they didn’t offer it. I think once they moved the lunch seating over near the tour garden, they now only offer sandwiches and a salad, since it is more portable. I believe the tour used to lunch on the balcony of the Disney gallery, which is now the dreams suite. Would have been cool to lunch there! There were the 5 of us, a couple with an older daughter (maybe 12 or so- not sure the age limit for this tour???), 2 other ladies and I think one more couple- so like 12 all together. We had mom in a wheelchair, since we knew it was a lot of walking and didn’t want to risk her tiring out in the middle or having a hard time seeing. Wendy and I switched off on pushing her.

The tour started out on Main Street where we learned about some of the windows and history of main street, force perspective etc. We also visited the fire station and saw the famous lamp and learned about Walt’s apartment (if only I could see it!). We continued down main street and then got a ride on the jungle cruise too.

By then, my head phones started going out. Bummer! After jungle cruise, we continued towards New Orleans square and checked out the lobby of Club 33. They were setting up for lunch upstairs, so we couldn’t go up, but we did see the elevator and asked some questions. One member of our tour had dined there for lunch before. We continued the tour and eventually wound around and took the train. But before we did, I noticed another guest relations CM pass by us- wearing the plaid etc. So I knew she was probably doing a VIP tour. So I looked who was behind her and yep, Naveen Andrews from Lost! Very cool.

We then rode the train around to Toon Town exit. From there it was bathroom break and then on towards the castle where we learned details about the castle. We were over near the snow white well when I noticed Mandy and Wendy were missing.

Suddenly here they come, and they have someone with them- Hook and Peter Pan! So cool. Peter Pan is one of my favorite Disney movies and stories- I love Tink especially. My son’s room is done in Peter Pan, including a big mural on the wall with Hook and Pan and a pirate ship with tink flying over! So this was a treat. I guess Wendy/Mandy told them it was my birthday, so they came over to wish me a happy birthday! Then they hung around. It was pretty cute. They pretended to hold their hands up over their ears as if they were headphones like we had. They listened intently and Peter asked some questions. It was pretty darn cute. Then Hook whispered something in Megan’s ear and she said she couldn’t repeat it, it was too awful! LOL. I swear they hung around for a solid 10 minutes interacting with us, but then the masses found them and came over and started to line up. It was pretty funny, we were trying to listen to Megan and do the tour and all these people were suddenly bombarding us.

So we finally moved on and ended up at the Tiki Room for the show and a special close-up with an original animatronics flower after the show. I think after that, we headed back and wrapped up the tour at the gallery, then back to the VIP garden near city hall for lunch.

We ate right there at the garden and asked Megan some questions. We asked who the biggest celebrity was she had given a tour too- she said Jon Bon Jovi. We also asked about security, although we didn’t think she would answer truthfully. Of course today was 9/11, so Nancy asked if security was a little heavier behind the scenes or not. She said basically no, but that things have obviously changed since that day, of course with more security just year round, the bag checks etc. Our lunch came with the tour and most of us enjoyed sandwiches, chips (or fruit) a soda and cookies. We wrapped up about 1pm exactly.
After the tour, we were pretty worn out, especially after such a long night the prior night. But we decided we had not really ridden much yet, so we went and grabbed an Indiana Jones FP for later that night and then got a dole whip. The dole whip line was crazy. There was one CM working the stand and there was a line on the Tiki room side and the outside. We originally got in the outside line, but realize the other one was shorter, so we moved. We waited about 15 minutes and finally got our dole whips. I always get the float and love it! As we walked back out, we passed the girls that were standing in front of us in the other line and they were still at least 5 people back. We sat near Jungle Cruise and enjoyed our dole whips and just relaxed and took it all in.

By then, the troops were weary. But on our way out, a few of us stopped for a drink for the road at coke corner. I saw they had spicy cheese filled pretzels, so I got one. It was so good! Wendy got a mickey pretzel with cheese sauce too.

So we headed back out to the tram and board. Wendy is eating her pretzel as she is squished in with other folks in that section where two rows face one another, so your knees are all hitting. These folks had a large stroller too. I guess it knocked into Wendy or something and boom, there goes her cheese sauce, all over the tram floor. The whole little cup. Yuck! We are nearing the exit point now and stop. We have no napkins or anything to clean it up, she did what she could though and scooped up some cheese and threw the cup away, but there was some cheese still there. So we get off, helping mother and head towards the parking lot. We would have told a cm, but no one was around and we were helping mother off the tram. So we just head off. Suddenly we notice about 4 cast members, including 2 managers (dressed in street/professional clothes) are all standing near where Wendy spilled and they are all talking and whispering and pointing. It was so funny. Cast member: “ we have a toxic cheese spill on tram 4, please call our the hazmat team!”. I swear that is what it looked like. Maybe they couldn’t figure out what it was and thought it was someone who had gotten sick? Who knows, but it was a joke the whole rest of the trip about the toxic cheese sauce spill that caused such a ruckus and necessitated 4 cast members to come over and look, yet none of them touched it, maybe waiting for reinforcements? The navy seals? Who knows? We laughed all the way to the car.
coming up..............dinner at blue bayou? or not?

 

[Tinkermom76]

Great update! I love hearing about all the differences between WDW and DL

 

[exwdwcm]

DAY Two- evening and dinner
By about 2pm or 2:30pm, everyone was napping at the hotel! About 4 or 4:15, I woke everyone up and we freshened up and headed back out to Disneyland. Tonight’s plan was dinner at Blue Bayou at 7pm. Or was it? Stay tuned on that one. So we load in the van and head back out. By now, Mandy and I are noticing a distinct odd smell coming from the van and we notice it is heaviest when we stop. So we figure maybe it is the brakes or something? But neither of us know much about cars, so it is just a guess. It is this awful smell, so we get worried the car is going to blow up on us, but we keep driving it anyways. But the car wasn’t riding strange or anything and all the gauges were fine. So we just kept going. We arrived back at Disneyland by about 5:15 or so. Wendy and I immediately headed to use our Space Mtn fastpasses. Mother and Nancy weren’t interested and Mandy couldn’t ride of course, so they just shopped. We were on the ride within about 5 minutes. The standby line wasn’t too bad, I think it was like 30. Today was the last day Space would be open since they were doing the holiday overlay. Wendy and I loved the DL space mtn, it was so great- loved the music, loved the entrance and everything else. It felt a lot longer than the WDW version, not sure if it is or not.
After our quick ride, we debated riding again, but felt bad making the others wait, so we headed on out. We decided to hit up Pirates and head over towards the restaurant. The wait for Pirates wasn’t bad, I think 15 minutes. We really enjoyed Pirates as well- it is a favorite of ours anyhow, but this one was so different and better! Not that the WDW is bad, but we liked the unique scenes this one offered. After singing yo ho, we then used our fastpasses for Indiana Jones. Everyone but Mandy did this. She of course couldn’t ride at 6 months pregnant. We felt so bad for her. But we rode anyway. Lol. So off we go, wow this queue is super long, which meant it was a little hard for mother to navigate, plus the floor was uneven, again hard. We finally boarded and LOVED this ride, so so super cool. I wish I could go into that big cave area and just walk around. All the details were just amazing. I wish we would have ridden it again. We all really loved it.
By now, it was time for our ADR, so Mandy headed over ahead of us to check in. We get there only to find out that they don’t have our ADR. WHAT?????? This is my birthday weekend, where is my ADR??? They search and search to no avail. We can’t figure out what happened and of course DL does not give confirmation #s, so I have nothing to go on other than my word. She eventually after 10 minutes finds our ADR and says it was for 5pm. WHAT? I checked our itinerary and it says 7. I’ve since tried to go in and find our travel agent itinerary since they made the ressies and can’t find it, so I still don’t know why I had 7 and they had 5. We will never know. Luckily she got us in. We waited about 15 minutes probably. We had the worst table in the house though- seated towards the back, not by the water- we were more by the entrance area and right across from the bathrooms and the bussing station. My view was plates and glasses. We were also squished into a tight table- it was really meant for 4, but they squeezed one more chair on the end for Mandy. Plus the tables had these lamps that were built into the table, so you couldn’t move them and it was taking up a lot of real estate where Mandy would have a hard time eating.

Oh well, at least we got a table right? So already, I am disappointed in my Blue Bayou experience. I am looking forward to a monte cristo, only to find out, it is ONLY on the lunch menu. I asked if they could make one, NOPE. Only lunch. Go figure. So even more disappointed, at this point, I am rethinking my decision to eat here.
so at our table, it was time for the drugs. Mandy, being 6 mos preggo had back pains, foot pain and just all over headache and pains. Plus Mandy and Wendy were fighting colds too and Nancy was i think too. All of us had aching feet. Nancy and Wendy had fever blisters. So Nancy broke out her drug kit and all of us partook in some tylenol, motrin, zovirax etc. Pretty funny.......our appetizer.

Wendy and my mom order the kids drink that comes with the glow in the dark tink or buzz. It was so funny- the server brings out a plastic kids cup ($6.50) for them. Wendy immediately put on her tink on her shirt. We order and I get the gumbo and short ribs with potatoes. Wendy gets crab cakes and orders gumbo app. Mother gets the chicken and orders the salad for Wendy, since she won’t eat it. Mandy and Nancy have the short ribs and salad. Wendy wanted gumbo and a salad- lol! She even said she would eat my gumbo too. I ordered it thinking it was seafood, but once it got there, I realized it was sausage and chicken- yum! I don’t do seafood, but love sausage and chicken, plus anything spicy. The gumbo was really really good. I was surprised. The short ribs were also delicious- falling apart and no knife necessary. Potatoes were great as well. So what I was disappointed in originally, turned out to be a great meal afterall. We were having a good time and laughing so loud, I fear we disturbed others near us. But that’s how we usually are when we get together. Loud. Fun

Once again, they brought out some birthday dessert- chocolate mousse again and this time, I could enjoy a few bites, since I wasn’t totally stuffed. It was great! After dinner, we headed out and hit a jewelry shop nearby. Mother bought me a special present- a beautiful mickey bracelet! Wendy and mother kept getting compliments on their glow in the dark tink and folks were asking where they got them.

Then we decided we would ride Pirates again since there was no line. Fantasmic was about to start (first showing). So we rode pirates and got off to see a little of the show. We decided to head to Splash to use our FP, but we really didn’t need them, it was empty over there. Mother and Nancy sat out. We had a great ride on splash, this is one of my favorites. It was slightly different than WDW too and we liked it. However, it was VERY fast moving. The one in WDW moves slow enough to enjoy each scene. Not here, it was crazy fast, to the point that we were laughing at how fast it was going. There was a little girl and her dad in front of us, we had the 3,4,5 spots on the log. They were having a good time and got soaked. It was pretty cute. We got a little wet, but not soaked. We always joke how crazy it is that you see the Brer Bear’s butt like 10x on this ride, what is the deal with that? We also noticed how violent and scary some of the rides can be- right before you go up the hill, you see a bunch of knives and tools the fox plans to use to carve up brer rabbit for dinner. Gross! Do we really need to show the little kids that. LOL. I guess now as a parent, I pay attention to that stuff. We noticed the same thing on Mr. toad’s wild ride, how dark it was, the visit to hell, and all that. Scary for a little kid (especially the one we heard screaming in front of us!).
So after Splash, we checked out Pooh Bear. Nancy and mom joined us for this one. No line. There was only one family in front of us and the little girl saw the glowing tink and loved it. So as they were getting on the ride, my kind and generous mother hands the little girl her tink. Did Wendy offer it, nope? We all laughed on that. Wendy was like no way, I love this thing and I am keeping it for myself! Not even Wendy’s kids will get it! As we got off the ride, they said thank you! So sweet and a little magical moment my mom created. So after our trip through Pooh (which we loved), we shopped in the store a bit. Mandy loves Eeyore and was looking for cute baby eeyore stuff. I was eyeing a Cheshire cat tail. I had heard about these, but never tried one, so I got in line and got one. The couple in front of me were loading up for an army or something. I swear they were ordering like 20 items. Maybe they were locals and taking goodies home? The Cheshire cat tail was very good- marshmallows dipped in caramel on a stick and then coated in purple pink candies. Yum, but so sweet, you can only eat a bite here and there. I still have it at home and have not finished it yet.
So what to do next? It is nearing 10pm, so we decide we really want to see Fantasmic. I think I have seen it once at WDW, but it was so long ago, I hardly remember. DH and I don’t like waiting for anything, so we have skipped it in recent years, we just don’t want to deal with the crowds or waiting or the stampede coming out. So this was our chance to see it and I hear the DL version is the better one anyhow. Mandy also really wanted to check it out. So Wendy, mother and Nancy find spots on the bench back behind us and we find a completely open area, sort of near the smokers patio on the water. We just sit and chat waiting. We had such great views of the show, right up front and no crowds. It was crazy how people were lined up for hours before. We even saw one family with blankets on the ground and two kids asleep (this was for the earlier show too when it was still daylight out!). Crazy.

Afterwards, we made the mad dash over to the train which was about to depart. We got on and Wendy, Mandy and I sat on a back row with 2 boys and a young girl in front of us – with 2 moms. Mother and Nancy were seated in a middle row a little further down. So Wendy can make friends with a wall (mother too), so we start talking to these little boys- they ask about her light up tink etc. Then start doing math quizzes for us and talking about certain rides. It was pretty cute. The little boy then says “You remember when you went on space mtn and ………and it was so cool?”…….we immediately thought of the SNL skit where Chris Farley used to interview someone- like Paul McCartney and says “You remember when you were with the Beatles?” “Yeah”, “well that was awesome”. It was so funny how he was talking to us like we had hung out with them all day or something. We did enjoy the train ride and I had no idea they had those dinosaur scenes- how cool. I remember on our tour she mentioned them and how they didn’t fit in any land really, but didn’t realize they were on the train route! Cute surprise.
We got off the train and finally made it back to the tram, this time with no toxic spills! We headed home and all crashed. Or so we thought. At about 4:30am, we hear this loud knocking, someone is banging on a door and hard. It goes on for 15 minutes and finally Mandy gets up to investigate. Why did we send the pregnant one to investigate some angry sounding knocking? Who knows. That’s just how we do it. Wendy had actually come into the living room where Mandy and I were on the pull out couch. Nancy was snoring a bit too loud and Wendy couldn’t sleep, so she made a little bed on the floor. But now we were all awake by this knocking. We didn’t see anyone, so it must have been upstairs or something. It sounded like someone had been locked out and whoever was inside was asleep and they were trying to rouse them to unlock the door. Talk about annoying though.
Up next.........late night knocking, day at DCA, world of Color, Ariel's, running a red light and more.

 

[exwdwcm]

Great report! I noticed you mentioned the submarines at WDW...where were they and when were they there? When I first went back to WDW as an adult I noticed they were missing and then I realized that I must have confused a DL memory with a WDW memory. Now I'm just confused!

the subs were an original part of the park in 1971 and closed in sept 1994 at WDW. after they closed, they created that ariel's grotto area and later the pooh playground etc. Now that whole area of course is under construction for the new Little Mermaid ride and Fantasyland expansion.

The subs at DL used to be 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. A couple of years ago they re-vamped them as a Finding Nemo attraction so they are back now. I was there the week they opened....I avoided them like the plague! But we did go on them in January. ONce was quite enough for me!

yeah, they were fun, but once was enough for me.

Enjoying the TR. Girls Only trips are the best!

DD13 and I are leaving in 20 more sleeps for DLR, staying in a studio at Grand Californian Villas. I read that you received a 10% discount at a restuarant using your DVC card. Were you able to use it for any other discounts like merchandise? (I am bringing an extra suitcase packed inside my check-in luggage because I plan on doing a lot of shopping!)

Please tell me more about the tour, cost, time, value, etc. My DD13 loves all tours and I would like to surprise her. This tour sounds like a good idea.

Also, I must, must, must eat ice cream every day on a Disney Vacation, so where did that tasty looking cone come from?

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

nope, no on merchandise, i tried everywhere we went- i just made it a habit to ask. but we did get it on food most places. on the tour- it is 3.5 hours, and cost is $64 but if you use your disney visa or AP, you save 20%. it includes walk down main street with a few secrets, passage on the railroad, tiki room visit, ride on the jungle cruise, lunch, and visit to the lobby of club 33. lots of tidbits of great info along the way and history. We enjoyed it quite a bit and i recommend it. It does NOT go backstage, but of course backstage at DL isn't quite as intriguing as WDW (with the utilidors).

we had the ice cream in california adventure- when you walk in, go immediately right and there is the zephyr trains with a store and little food places- ice cream is on the end!

I love hearing how different people spend their vacations at disneyland. It seems like you guys had an amazing time! I always have a itenerary when we go to DL, but always venture off it. But at least it keeps some kind of organization while there. My Fiance and I are spending our honeymoon in WDW and I'm debating whether or not to make an itenarary (it will be my fiance's first time and my first time since 1997ish)...my fiance isn't too crazy about my packed filled itenararys. He wants to have a relaxing honeymoon, not a chaotic one. lol! Anyways loved your story!!

for WDW, i always make a schedule, like you said, even if you stray from it, it is good to have a plan. since it's been a while since you've been and you know how large it is, it is important to have some sort of plan i think. especially if you want to do any sit down meals and make ADRs- are you going at a busy time or slow time. congrats btw- sounds like an amazing honeymoon!!! We are heading back to WDW in December again for our first stay 'home' at BLT!