casagray
Kinda New to this!
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2015
- Messages
- 211
Hi -
I should have written better notes about what I did when, but here goes to the best of my memory.
My plane arrived early, and after I got off I decided to dig out my sunglasses. Walked over to the DL Express area to see one pulling away as the doors opened up ... so an hour wait for the next one. I was hoping that meant by the time we got to the hotel I would be able to get a room...
Got to the BWPPI and ... no room ready. No problem. I checked in, asked for a room nearer the front, because after looking at the hotel I realized I would be nervous walking all the way to the back as a solo female. Got my stuff .. and off I went.
Went to DCA and arrived in time to get in the line for Aladdin (yeah!). I saw an empty seat in the front row behind the walkway about 10 people in, and asked if I could take it. Primo spot, and people were really nice about my squeezing in.
This show had the ensemble with the thinner Genie and the Aladdin who sings like his vocal chords are tired. Still awesome, but the one I saw later was sooo much better.
Then I went to Turtle Talk with crush - always fun. Then got in line for Monster's Inc. Ended up behind a very nice lady with her son who was working out her schedule for the rest of the day. Meeting nice people was a theme throughout the trip.
Wandered around some, then decided to get a pretzel and find a place to sit before the Pixar play parade. I like the parade. I was a bit disappointed, though; about five people down from me was a super cute 3 year old girl, and I was next to a 10 year old boy. Lots of characters stopped by the toddler, and I could tell the boy was kinda disappointed. He waved more and was more excited, and except for one of the jumping guys at the end, nobody waved at him. Made me sad - Disney is for everybody.
Okay, back to my hotel. Room is in the way back. I said I had asked at check in for something nearer the front and since I did check in at 1, I'd hope they could find something for me. Got the room right by the stairs in front, which was okay in the long run, but a bit disappointing. Room is okay - carpet's seen better days, but it's functional.
Get everything in the room, eat some snacks, grab another layer and off I go to Disneyland.
Wander around some, head to IASW and the lines are super long. Realize that people are already lining up for the first of the Paint the night parades, and I wander trying to figure out where to go, and end up standing by a young man (never caught his name, I think it was maybe Andrew?), and Krista. They are super helpful, offering suggestions on where to go, what to do, etc. Krista is taking up about two and a half spaces - which she explains that she does just so she doesn't get smooshed once the parade starts. Sure enough, it got packed quickly and her "extra" space slowly got eaten up. Watch the parade - awesome! Lights and fun, and just amazing to watch. Watch the fireworks and projections on the small world facade, and at the end Krista gives me a card about her blog, which is about visiting Disneyland and Southern California! No wonder she had so much info
Head back to the hotel and crash, I have a long day tomorrow!
Sunday:
Check out the free bfast buffet at BWPPI, and am not impressed. Have a round egg thing, a bagel, oj, sausages, and take a banana for later.
Got to the gates early enough to do the rope count down. Don't get to the Peter Pan line quickly enough, and so head to Pirates; pass by Belle standing there all alone, and almost take a picture. See a young family and clue them into the lonely Belle, and they really appreciate it. Once done with Pirates I go out and see Haunted Mansion is opening and go to that. Afterwards I pick up a fast pass, and realize it will be when my tour is, bummer. Heading back to the hub I realize Indiana Jones is open and the line is short. I have decided to try a few rides I wouldn't necessarily go on to "push" myself, and this is one, so I go on. I again chat up the person in front of me, and he's here alone. He's actually flying out in a few hours, and at the end of the ride gives me a ticket for a single rider line pass for Indiana Jones which was nice, as he wasn't going to use it. I wasn't sure if it was okay or not, but I gave him the fastpass for Haunted Mansion as he had to leave in an hour and a half, and it was perfect timing for him. I like it and didn't like Indiana Jones; way to fast and way too jarring, but it was fun. I go to the tour booth to see if I have enough time to get a fast pass to World of Color before my "Welcome to Disney Tour" starts, and I have plenty of time. Run to DCA, get a blue ticket to WOC. Decide I have enough time to get a coffee drink, chat it up with the people line, head back to tour kiosk. Check in. They ask me if I would rather get VIP tickets to Aladdin or Mickey's map ... I go for Aladdin (no surprise). They also ask me if I want help with any reservations, and I say no, as I already had reservations for Ralph Brennans (hint: go to the Ralph Brennan site and there is NO CHARGE if you cancel, unlike booking them through Disney). It turns out that booking a reservation with the tour people as part of a tour perk also does not require a credit card and has no cancellation fee.
I almost take off on the wrong tour (really), and then get things sorted out. The tour had me, a mother/daughter from the area, a family of four with a young girl (8?) and a toddler who had been to Disneyland before, a group of four women (mother, daughter, mother's best friend, and a friend of the family) who were Disneyland regulars, and finally a couple from Canada who were Disneyland first timers (yeah!). So, our tour guide was kinda new and was nervous, but calmed down after a while. It was two and half hours, and was a combo overview of the areas of the two parks and a little bit of sales pitch for certain things in those areas. We started in DCA, and when we got to Ariels undersea adventure we go right on! When we get to the World of Color we get fast passes for yellow section.
We finish with DCA and take a break; I decide to see if maybe the magic tour people can get me a reservation for Blue Bayou, so they start the process saying they would see what they could do, but it may not be possible.
We go to Disneyland, and by the Indiana Jones Adventure we're told we'll be getting fast passes to Indiana Jones at the end of the tour. At Pirates we go right on with our guide, and at the end of the tour we get our special pins, paper we need to bring to get our VIP seating ... the fast pass for Indiana Jones ... and they were able to get me in to Blue Bayou for 5 pm the following day!!!
I've chatted the most with group of four women, and find out that tomorrow is a big birthday celebration for one of their party, who for future reference I'll just call M. During the tour she mentioned a few things to check out including getting Beignets from Ralph Brennans and eating at Tortilla Jo's. They got lunch reservations at Carnation Cafe as their reservation help, and I head out of the park intending to take a shower and a nap, but instead head to Tortilla Jo's ... with a rather long stop at World of Disney. I'm just sitting down when lo and behold, who walks up but M with her daughter K, friend K, and friend of family D (future group reference MKKD). It turns out even with their reservation it was going to be a 40 minute wait, so they decided to have Tortilla Jo's again. We talk for a while, and they are getting ready to check in to the GCH, which is a big birthday treat for M. Mini-beignets make it to the table as we chat; they are debating going to WOC in person, or watching in person using their passes. I hand off the pass the gentleman from earlier had given me, as there was no way I was going to do Indiana Jones more than once, and it wasn't a fast pass. As they go to check in I do finally go back to the hotel to refresh and take a nap. I realize there is no way I am going to make Ralph Brennans, so I cancel it and crash for a bit.
After my nap, I head over to DCA. I miss the parade, and decide to do Ariels' thingy again, then wander around the pier some. The line to Toy story mania is too long, and I decide to head back and get a pretzel. I notice people are already in queue for when the area opens up for the WOC, and I ask a CM to explain which is better, blue or yellow. Her take was blue is better, but you do get wet. In Yellow, you can get wet if you are near the front, but over all you'll be okay. As I'm waiting I pull up a map and figure out where I'm going to go once the ropes are up. It's a bit confusing, but I find what I hope is an okay spot, and do the Krista trick of taking up a few spaces - in part because if MKKD come down rather than watch from the GCH, it would be nice to share it with them. Talk to the lady next to me, who was in town for the Blizzard event, and stuck around. I see M and start hollering her name, and she, one of the K's and D head over; the other K is studying (I think she was actually decorating the room, I forgot to ask). We catch up, and I'm invited to join them for a birthday toast the next day, which was very nice of them. I give them my cell so we can catch up later.
WOC was amazing. We ended up being about 1 foot from on the things that shot mist/smoke up, which surprised us the first time (and was surprisingly loud), but added to the event. All the descriptions and online videos don't do justice to the event.
My feet by this time are cramping, so I say good bye and limp back to my room. I end up soaking my feet and popping acetaminophen just so I can sleep!
More later, days two and three coming up!
I should have written better notes about what I did when, but here goes to the best of my memory.
My plane arrived early, and after I got off I decided to dig out my sunglasses. Walked over to the DL Express area to see one pulling away as the doors opened up ... so an hour wait for the next one. I was hoping that meant by the time we got to the hotel I would be able to get a room...
Got to the BWPPI and ... no room ready. No problem. I checked in, asked for a room nearer the front, because after looking at the hotel I realized I would be nervous walking all the way to the back as a solo female. Got my stuff .. and off I went.
Went to DCA and arrived in time to get in the line for Aladdin (yeah!). I saw an empty seat in the front row behind the walkway about 10 people in, and asked if I could take it. Primo spot, and people were really nice about my squeezing in.
This show had the ensemble with the thinner Genie and the Aladdin who sings like his vocal chords are tired. Still awesome, but the one I saw later was sooo much better.
Then I went to Turtle Talk with crush - always fun. Then got in line for Monster's Inc. Ended up behind a very nice lady with her son who was working out her schedule for the rest of the day. Meeting nice people was a theme throughout the trip.
Wandered around some, then decided to get a pretzel and find a place to sit before the Pixar play parade. I like the parade. I was a bit disappointed, though; about five people down from me was a super cute 3 year old girl, and I was next to a 10 year old boy. Lots of characters stopped by the toddler, and I could tell the boy was kinda disappointed. He waved more and was more excited, and except for one of the jumping guys at the end, nobody waved at him. Made me sad - Disney is for everybody.
Okay, back to my hotel. Room is in the way back. I said I had asked at check in for something nearer the front and since I did check in at 1, I'd hope they could find something for me. Got the room right by the stairs in front, which was okay in the long run, but a bit disappointing. Room is okay - carpet's seen better days, but it's functional.
Get everything in the room, eat some snacks, grab another layer and off I go to Disneyland.
Wander around some, head to IASW and the lines are super long. Realize that people are already lining up for the first of the Paint the night parades, and I wander trying to figure out where to go, and end up standing by a young man (never caught his name, I think it was maybe Andrew?), and Krista. They are super helpful, offering suggestions on where to go, what to do, etc. Krista is taking up about two and a half spaces - which she explains that she does just so she doesn't get smooshed once the parade starts. Sure enough, it got packed quickly and her "extra" space slowly got eaten up. Watch the parade - awesome! Lights and fun, and just amazing to watch. Watch the fireworks and projections on the small world facade, and at the end Krista gives me a card about her blog, which is about visiting Disneyland and Southern California! No wonder she had so much info
Head back to the hotel and crash, I have a long day tomorrow!
Sunday:
Check out the free bfast buffet at BWPPI, and am not impressed. Have a round egg thing, a bagel, oj, sausages, and take a banana for later.
Got to the gates early enough to do the rope count down. Don't get to the Peter Pan line quickly enough, and so head to Pirates; pass by Belle standing there all alone, and almost take a picture. See a young family and clue them into the lonely Belle, and they really appreciate it. Once done with Pirates I go out and see Haunted Mansion is opening and go to that. Afterwards I pick up a fast pass, and realize it will be when my tour is, bummer. Heading back to the hub I realize Indiana Jones is open and the line is short. I have decided to try a few rides I wouldn't necessarily go on to "push" myself, and this is one, so I go on. I again chat up the person in front of me, and he's here alone. He's actually flying out in a few hours, and at the end of the ride gives me a ticket for a single rider line pass for Indiana Jones which was nice, as he wasn't going to use it. I wasn't sure if it was okay or not, but I gave him the fastpass for Haunted Mansion as he had to leave in an hour and a half, and it was perfect timing for him. I like it and didn't like Indiana Jones; way to fast and way too jarring, but it was fun. I go to the tour booth to see if I have enough time to get a fast pass to World of Color before my "Welcome to Disney Tour" starts, and I have plenty of time. Run to DCA, get a blue ticket to WOC. Decide I have enough time to get a coffee drink, chat it up with the people line, head back to tour kiosk. Check in. They ask me if I would rather get VIP tickets to Aladdin or Mickey's map ... I go for Aladdin (no surprise). They also ask me if I want help with any reservations, and I say no, as I already had reservations for Ralph Brennans (hint: go to the Ralph Brennan site and there is NO CHARGE if you cancel, unlike booking them through Disney). It turns out that booking a reservation with the tour people as part of a tour perk also does not require a credit card and has no cancellation fee.
I almost take off on the wrong tour (really), and then get things sorted out. The tour had me, a mother/daughter from the area, a family of four with a young girl (8?) and a toddler who had been to Disneyland before, a group of four women (mother, daughter, mother's best friend, and a friend of the family) who were Disneyland regulars, and finally a couple from Canada who were Disneyland first timers (yeah!). So, our tour guide was kinda new and was nervous, but calmed down after a while. It was two and half hours, and was a combo overview of the areas of the two parks and a little bit of sales pitch for certain things in those areas. We started in DCA, and when we got to Ariels undersea adventure we go right on! When we get to the World of Color we get fast passes for yellow section.
We finish with DCA and take a break; I decide to see if maybe the magic tour people can get me a reservation for Blue Bayou, so they start the process saying they would see what they could do, but it may not be possible.
We go to Disneyland, and by the Indiana Jones Adventure we're told we'll be getting fast passes to Indiana Jones at the end of the tour. At Pirates we go right on with our guide, and at the end of the tour we get our special pins, paper we need to bring to get our VIP seating ... the fast pass for Indiana Jones ... and they were able to get me in to Blue Bayou for 5 pm the following day!!!
I've chatted the most with group of four women, and find out that tomorrow is a big birthday celebration for one of their party, who for future reference I'll just call M. During the tour she mentioned a few things to check out including getting Beignets from Ralph Brennans and eating at Tortilla Jo's. They got lunch reservations at Carnation Cafe as their reservation help, and I head out of the park intending to take a shower and a nap, but instead head to Tortilla Jo's ... with a rather long stop at World of Disney. I'm just sitting down when lo and behold, who walks up but M with her daughter K, friend K, and friend of family D (future group reference MKKD). It turns out even with their reservation it was going to be a 40 minute wait, so they decided to have Tortilla Jo's again. We talk for a while, and they are getting ready to check in to the GCH, which is a big birthday treat for M. Mini-beignets make it to the table as we chat; they are debating going to WOC in person, or watching in person using their passes. I hand off the pass the gentleman from earlier had given me, as there was no way I was going to do Indiana Jones more than once, and it wasn't a fast pass. As they go to check in I do finally go back to the hotel to refresh and take a nap. I realize there is no way I am going to make Ralph Brennans, so I cancel it and crash for a bit.
After my nap, I head over to DCA. I miss the parade, and decide to do Ariels' thingy again, then wander around the pier some. The line to Toy story mania is too long, and I decide to head back and get a pretzel. I notice people are already in queue for when the area opens up for the WOC, and I ask a CM to explain which is better, blue or yellow. Her take was blue is better, but you do get wet. In Yellow, you can get wet if you are near the front, but over all you'll be okay. As I'm waiting I pull up a map and figure out where I'm going to go once the ropes are up. It's a bit confusing, but I find what I hope is an okay spot, and do the Krista trick of taking up a few spaces - in part because if MKKD come down rather than watch from the GCH, it would be nice to share it with them. Talk to the lady next to me, who was in town for the Blizzard event, and stuck around. I see M and start hollering her name, and she, one of the K's and D head over; the other K is studying (I think she was actually decorating the room, I forgot to ask). We catch up, and I'm invited to join them for a birthday toast the next day, which was very nice of them. I give them my cell so we can catch up later.
WOC was amazing. We ended up being about 1 foot from on the things that shot mist/smoke up, which surprised us the first time (and was surprisingly loud), but added to the event. All the descriptions and online videos don't do justice to the event.
My feet by this time are cramping, so I say good bye and limp back to my room. I end up soaking my feet and popping acetaminophen just so I can sleep!
More later, days two and three coming up!
