TR w/4000+ Pics/Disney on Ice w/184 Pics!!

[mariezp]

Laurie, just wanted to let you know that I have finally found your PTR! Haven't got a chance to read through everything yet. Looks like I've got some catching up to do! Gonna go read now and get some inspiration for my upcoming trip!

 

[DisneyStitch626]

I love the sound of your itinerary so far! I am really considering doing the dinner package (if they are still doing it in October) at Ariels Grotto our first night there. I think it would make it a really special first night. I am looking forward to seeing how others dinners are turning out first, before I make my decision. It sounds so fun though!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Laurie, just wanted to let you know that I have finally found your PTR! Haven't got a chance to read through everything yet. Looks like I've got some catching up to do! Gonna go read now and get some inspiration for my upcoming trip!

Welcome Marie!!! Glad you found me!!

I love the sound of your itinerary so far! I am really considering doing the dinner package (if they are still doing it in October) at Ariels Grotto our first night there. I think it would make it a really special first night. I am looking forward to seeing how others dinners are turning out first, before I make my decision. It sounds so fun though!

I'm really excited about this, but hope they get all the kinks worked out prior to our trip!! I think it's pretty silly to offer the dining package but not guarantee you'll get a ticket for the show. The CM we spoke to said, we shouldn't have any problems because we are reserved for the first seating they have. She gave an example: You make your ressie for the Wine Country Trattoria for 7pm (which is the last seating for the 1st show) & someone walks up & says that looks cool....lets do the package at 6:30pm....they may get the last 2 tickets & when you show up at 7....no tickets!! Shouldn't they give enough tickets to match the ressies & NOT allow walk-ups??? To me, that would be the proper way to do this...... right??

 

[kaoden39]

It all looks good Laurie!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

It all looks good Laurie!!

Thanx Michele.....we're sure getting excited now that we have some definite things set!!!!

 

[kaoden39]

Thanx Michele.....we're sure getting excited now that we have some definite things set!!!!

The closer it gets the more I am stressing.....

 

[DizNee Luver]

The closer it gets the more I am stressing.....

No, No, No....this was supposed to be your No-Stress Trip!!!

 

[kaoden39]

No, No, No....this was supposed to be your No-Stress Trip!!!

I know but with Scotty signing up for a race the day before we leave adds stress.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I know but with Scotty signing up for a race the day before we leave adds stress.

Eek!!! Why'd he do that?? lol.....men!!

 

[kaoden39]

Eek!!! Why'd he do that?? lol.....men!!

He is such a dork!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Today's Edition:

Thursday, July 29:
Disneyland at 8am....need caffeine!!
Breakfast at 9:40 at Carnation Cafe.....we had to book 2 tables of 5 & no guarantee we'll be sitting together......hopefully they'll be close.
Dinner at the PCH Grill at the Paradise Pier Hotel at 5:30pm. If you've never wandered that direction for dinner....I'd highly recommend it. Very good food, very good service & the kids can make their own pizza!!! Lots of fun & worth going the distance in our opinion!!


Still looking for the sunshine here in very wet Oregon......May was one of the wettest months on record & we only had 2 or 3 days of 70 degrees......brrrrr. Ready for summer & supposed to have more rain next week!!

 

[kaoden39]

Today's Edition:

Thursday, July 29:
Disneyland at 8am....need caffeine!!
Breakfast at 9:40 at Carnation Cafe.....we had to book 2 tables of 5 & no guarantee we'll be sitting together......hopefully they'll be close.
Dinner at the PCH Grill at the Paradise Pier Hotel at 5:30pm. If you've never wandered that direction for dinner....I'd highly recommend it. Very good food, very good service & the kids can make their own pizza!!! Lots of fun & worth going the distance in our opinion!!


Still looking for the sunshine here in very wet Oregon......May was one of the wettest months on record & we only had 2 or 3 days of 70 degrees......brrrrr. Ready for summer & supposed to have more rain next week!!

Oh I know how wet May was. The ski resorts are staying open until at least July 4 in the Lake Tahoe area. This weekend which is normally the opening of the camping season is definitely not, there is still snow in the camping areas.

But, on the bright side it looks like we may actually hit 80 degrees here today!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Itinerary Update:

Friday, July 30:
Breakfast at the Storytellers Cafe for the Chip & Dale Character Meal at 8:30am
Today is our Knott's Berry Farm Day. They're open 10-10....we won't get there right at opening, but I didn't feel this was as important as getting to DL at opening.
We may do lunch at the new Pink's Hot Dogs at their park (we're going to the Pink's the next day in LA/Hollywood....but going for the pictures....not to eat)
Dinner at Mrs. Knott's Famous Chicken Dinner. We hear the crowds are huge but worth it....so I guess most of us will get in line while the older boys still ride some rides. I am going to call to see if they take ressies for groups of 10....we could get lucky!!
Knott's Berry Farm has an evening light show of some sorts that we'll want to go back into the park to see but we'll probably be out of there before closing.


We took the kids to a small "theme" park here in town to "test the waters" with the twins. I purposely took them out over their normal nap time to see how they would do being tired, out in public with lots of visual stimuli. They actually did much better than expected. Shyann got a bit fussy but then fell asleep in the stroller, followed shortly by Michayla. Hooray!!!! They can nap in their strollers!!
Enchanted Forest has statues & little buildings of different nursery rhymes & stories. Some have slides, there's a rabbit hole to crawl thru, a crooked house to try & walk thru, a themed Western & Old English Village to go thru, small kiddie rides & 3 bigger rides (Bobsled rollercoaster, A interactive game ride & the largest log ride in the NW). They also do a fairy tale play....comically. I used to do the plays here 29 years ago.....sheesh, that was long ago.......

The Entry Castle:

Humpty Dumpty:

Little Miss Muffet:

Falling down the Rabbit Hole:

Going into the witch's mouth.....then a slide to come out:

The Crooked House:

Entering "Tofteville"....western town:

Some of the grave markers:

The Saloon floor sways & bounces....lots of fun!:

The kids got to dress up & pose with Abe Lincoln.....FOR FREE:

From the Hansel & Gretel play:

Another from the play:

The Bobsled Ride (Addy & Tyler 1st car & Anthony & Derek 2nd car):

The kids after the log ride:

Walking into the Ole English Village:

A window with a huge kalidescope.....thought it was pretty:

The Magic Fountain Water Show:

One more from the Magic Fountain Water Show:

 

[kaoden39]

Looks like great fun Laurie. How great that the girls did so well.

 

[DizNee Luver]

The kids love going there.....when I mentioned it to the older boys they were ready to go.......lol
The twins did really good.......hooray......I'm hopeful for Disneyland!

 

[kaoden39]

The kids love going there.....when I mentioned it to the older boys they were ready to go.......lol
The twins did really good.......hooray......I'm hopeful for Disneyland!

I think that is wonderful!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Itinerary:

Saturday, July 31
Another non-Disney park day.

Quick Breakfast at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (this is a must for Derek, who absolutely LOVES them!!)
Drive to Hollywood/LA area & grab some pics of the Original Pink's Hot Dog Stand, possibly the Kodak, Graumans, etc.
Drive to Burbank to try & get some pics (I know....only from the outside) of the Disney Studios. I have no idea the layout & what is visible from the street, but hoping to get some decent pics.
Lunch at the Bob's Big Boy.....a historical spot now in California.....last time Mike & I ate at one was in Arizona right after we were married (26 yrs ago)
A little more sight-seeing, then a stop at the Disney Soda Fountain for some treats.
We'll finish out our day at the Farmer's Market picking up dinner at one of the many choices.
We're hoping my brother & wife come from Torrance & meet us there for a few hours. Maybe even Sherry (from the DIS)......since she lives not far from there!!! Really hoping to see all 3 of them!!

I'm thinking it won't be a late evening since the next morning is our Magic Morning & we'll have to be at the park before the 7am opening. This is a little frustrating on my end........9 people in our family have parkhoppers with a Magic Morning & I have an AP.....so no Magic Morning for me. I am having to purchase a 3 day PH at $184 just for that hour!!! A little spendy, but that hour is SOOOOOO worth it for quality time with the family in Fantasyland. Fantasyland is always so crowded, no matter what time of day.....but we get a ton of rides done during that first hour.....so I don't really feel like I have a choice. I wrote to DL to see if they had any suggestions & they sent the form letter, saying AP holders don't get Magic Mornings......I already knew that......lol Oh well!!

 

[kaoden39]

We have never done a MM, not even when we stayed at the DLH. And we won't be doing them this trip either. With the AP I don't get it, everybody else will have it but I don't. I offered to let them go without me but, DH is a no go on that one, I would gladly find something to do alone.

I hope that your brother and his wife can join you, that would be fun. And Sherry for that matter. You should go exercise with Richard Simmons at his studio on the 31st. He has a place in Beverly Hills. I know he hosts a class on Saturdays. Ooh and window shop on Rodeo Drive. I love just driving down Rodeo Drive.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We have never done a MM, not even when we stayed at the DLH. And we won't be doing them this trip either. With the AP I don't get it, everybody else will have it but I don't. I offered to let them go without me but, DH is a no go on that one, I would gladly find something to do alone.

I hope that your brother and his wife can join you, that would be fun. And Sherry for that matter. You should go exercise with Richard Simmons at his studio on the 31st. He has a place in Beverly Hills. I know he hosts a class on Saturdays. Ooh and window shop on Rodeo Drive. I love just driving down Rodeo Drive.

I could see my family walking down Rodeo Drive.....we'd have the cops & security guards eyeballing us "hicks".......lol

I never have understood why they would name the street with all the fancy, well to do shops after a dirty, horse riding, bull riding event........ Giddy UP!!

 

[kaoden39]

I could see my family walking down Rodeo Drive.....we'd have the cops & security guards eyeballing us "hicks".......lol

I never have understood why they would name the street with all the fancy, well to do shops after a dirty, horse riding, bull riding event........ Giddy UP!!

But, then they give it the snobby pronunciation. We have driven down it more than once and believe me if you are a fan of Sex in the City, it is a fun side trip to see the names of the designers stores.