BadPinkTink
Republic of Ireland is not part of UK
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2015
- Messages
- 7,739
Ok the fog of jeg lag has lifted so time to start the trip report.
Some things to note
I spent the first part of my vacation in LA. I stayed at a hotel in Hollywood, near a Metro Red Line Underground Station. While in Hollywood I used the underground and city buses to get around. When I use public transport I use the TAP card, which is a credit card sized plastic card. I load it with Pay As You Go money and it just deducts the fare every time I tap on at the bus or underground.
When I checked out of my Hollywood hotel, I used the Red Line Underground Metro to go to Union Station. At Union Station I took the 12.33pm Pacific Surfliner Train to Anaheim ARTIC train station, travel time about 40 minutes. I bought my ticket online in advance. At Anaheim ARTIC train station I bought a 5 day ART Bus pass from the ticket desk. I took the ART bus from Anaheim ARTIC train station to Motel 6. I actually got off at Cheesecake Factory on Katella / Garden Walk and walk back, about 10 minutes to Motel 6.
Using A Phone in America As An International Visitor
Even though I have been visiting USA for many many years I have always just turned off data roaming, turned on Air-plane Mode and just connected to free Wifi. This year I bought a TMobile Pay As You Go Sim Card for my European phone. I had downloaded the Disneyland App before I left home so I was able to log in and use the App while in Disneyland. I also used Mobile Ordering for the first time this year. When I travel to USA I use a prepaid Mastercard. I get this from my post office in Ireland and I can load it with USA dollars. As it is a Mastercard I was able to add it as a payment option on the Disneyland App.
I also had fun using the Starbucks App. This App is not available in my country, so I had to wait until I switched to the USA TMobile Sim card to download it to my phone. I tried to add my Irish Starbucks card but it recognised that it was already registered with Starbucks. The App gave me the option to have a digital card, so I had to create a new account with Starbucks USA. I didnt add a payment option, I just topped up with cash when I was in a Starbucks store.
Where I stay in Anaheim
I stay in Motel 6 , Disney Way. It is about a 20 minute walk to the parks. On park days I use the ART bus but on my arrival and departure days I walk. I have stayed there multiple times and I have always found the staff helpful and courteous. The rooms are large, will comfortably fit 2 king beds. The rooms do not have carpet or indoor corridors. There is a pool and a small convenience shop in the lobby. There is no breakfast but they have vending machines and microwaves in the lobby. Free coffee is available from 6am to 10am. This year I was surprised to find a fridge in my room. On previous years, the rooms did not have a fridge. There is also a coffee maker in the room.
Some things to note
- I am a solo female traveller from Ireland
- I dont drive
- I dont use Maxpass
I spent the first part of my vacation in LA. I stayed at a hotel in Hollywood, near a Metro Red Line Underground Station. While in Hollywood I used the underground and city buses to get around. When I use public transport I use the TAP card, which is a credit card sized plastic card. I load it with Pay As You Go money and it just deducts the fare every time I tap on at the bus or underground.
When I checked out of my Hollywood hotel, I used the Red Line Underground Metro to go to Union Station. At Union Station I took the 12.33pm Pacific Surfliner Train to Anaheim ARTIC train station, travel time about 40 minutes. I bought my ticket online in advance. At Anaheim ARTIC train station I bought a 5 day ART Bus pass from the ticket desk. I took the ART bus from Anaheim ARTIC train station to Motel 6. I actually got off at Cheesecake Factory on Katella / Garden Walk and walk back, about 10 minutes to Motel 6.
Using A Phone in America As An International Visitor
Even though I have been visiting USA for many many years I have always just turned off data roaming, turned on Air-plane Mode and just connected to free Wifi. This year I bought a TMobile Pay As You Go Sim Card for my European phone. I had downloaded the Disneyland App before I left home so I was able to log in and use the App while in Disneyland. I also used Mobile Ordering for the first time this year. When I travel to USA I use a prepaid Mastercard. I get this from my post office in Ireland and I can load it with USA dollars. As it is a Mastercard I was able to add it as a payment option on the Disneyland App.
I also had fun using the Starbucks App. This App is not available in my country, so I had to wait until I switched to the USA TMobile Sim card to download it to my phone. I tried to add my Irish Starbucks card but it recognised that it was already registered with Starbucks. The App gave me the option to have a digital card, so I had to create a new account with Starbucks USA. I didnt add a payment option, I just topped up with cash when I was in a Starbucks store.
Where I stay in Anaheim
I stay in Motel 6 , Disney Way. It is about a 20 minute walk to the parks. On park days I use the ART bus but on my arrival and departure days I walk. I have stayed there multiple times and I have always found the staff helpful and courteous. The rooms are large, will comfortably fit 2 king beds. The rooms do not have carpet or indoor corridors. There is a pool and a small convenience shop in the lobby. There is no breakfast but they have vending machines and microwaves in the lobby. Free coffee is available from 6am to 10am. This year I was surprised to find a fridge in my room. On previous years, the rooms did not have a fridge. There is also a coffee maker in the room.
We chatted for a few minutes and I took a photo of The Castle. Then a CM came and finally I was doing the famous rope drop into Fantasyland. I lost WonkaKid but I did make it to Peter Pan within the first 20 people. After Peter Pan I decided to stay in Fantasyland and managed to find WonkaKid and hang out for a bit. 
