We Defected to the West! DLR 2013

[mom2rtk]

Always good to keep up with the backups!

DS is 12 and I have a DD who is 8. Universal is great in its own way. With the Express Pass, it's just plain fun.

I am going to have work Sanibel in next year. I've never been to a Gulf Coast beach.

We used the express pass in 2004 and loved it so much I vowed to never do US again without it. Then Disney did such a good job getting us to stay onsite we haven't been back. But we're really reevaluating all of that these days. Especially now that Katie is 13 and finally enjoying ALL the thrill rides.

Sanibel is a 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive from Orlando. There are much closer beaches. But it's really worth it to us.

 

[czmom]

A First Meeting with Jasmine and Aladdin by mom2rtk, on Flickr

Janet-

Oh my! This is the cutest one EVER!!!!

I am in denial still about all the FP+ hoopla. We'll be testing it out at DHS in 2 weeks and I am trying to keep an open mind....trying. And then we are definitely heading to WDW in November this year for the rest of the parks. I hope by then things have calmed down and it is easy to obtain more than 3 FP.

 

[mom2rtk]

Janet-

Oh my! This is the cutest one EVER!!!!

I am in denial still about all the FP+ hoopla. We'll be testing it out at DHS in 2 weeks and I am trying to keep an open mind....trying. And then we are definitely heading to WDW in November this year for the rest of the parks. I hope by then things have calmed down and it is easy to obtain more than 3 FP.

Thanks Wendy. I loved that shot too. That was my favorite age for visiting Disney.

It does sound like FP+ is not having as many technical glitches. That was really just one of my complaints though, so still plenty for me to dislike. I really need to see how it goes with letting people get more than 3. I think we'll still be left with the tiers though. Maybe.

I'm jealous you're doing SWW though. I would have loved to do that when the boys were little. They were both HUGE Star Wars fans. Still are really. Timmy said he and his roommate had just finished up watching the 6th of the movies together.

 

[bellebookworm9]

I'm going to DL for the first time next month, so I'm looking for trip reports, particularly ones from Paradise Pier! I like this one a lot so far, excited to read more.

 

[petals]

That wasn't even my favorite selfie. That one's still to come. It wasn't exactly with a character.......

Can't wait to see what it is

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm going to DL for the first time next month, so I'm looking for trip reports, particularly ones from Paradise Pier! I like this one a lot so far, excited to read more.

How exciting to be going next month! The weather should be heavenly.

So glad you're following along!

Can't wait to see what it is

Right now I don't even remember which day it was. Hopefully it won't take too long to get there.

 

[SnowBelleAlice]

Joinng in! Oh how I miss DLR, my kids were there earlier this month but it's been since 10/12 for me, next visit is next April!
Thanks for sharing, I'm looking forward to more

 

[mom2rtk]

Joinng in! Oh how I miss DLR, my kids were there earlier this month but it's been since 10/12 for me, next visit is next April!
Thanks for sharing, I'm looking forward to more

Thanks for joining in! Hopefully we can help you pass the time until you can get back yourself.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thursday December 5, 2013:


It certainly wasn't any problem being up and at rope drop before 8 AM on our first morning. Coming from Central Time made it feel like 10 AM. I was more than ready for the fun to begin! One of the reasons we decided to stay onsite was because I knew I would be up early every morning. And pacing the floor waiting for the parks to open would drive me nuts. I knew we'd use Early Entry every single day.

On our way to the elevator we peeked out of one of the windows on our floor and were met with this. They must have been testing the fountains at WOC. It was like I could reach right out the window and touch it!

IMG_3484 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

Our destination that morning......... DISNEYLAND! Katie and I had only been in line a few minutes when we had our first DIS meet of the trip. We were only there a few minutes when I heard someone calling my name. I had told people to watch for the mom and daughter in the red and green sequin ears, and Wendy (czmom) had spotted us! We had messaged back and forth about all of our planning for months ahead of time, so it really was nice to finally meet her and her family.

IMG_3486 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

I loved how the ticket gates were decorated. It's like it was right out of Frozen!


IMG_3489 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


IMG_3491 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3494 by mom2rtk, on Flickr



I was anxious to get into the park and get our Photopass Plus so we could start our fun. A little before 8 they let people into the park to fill Main Street up to the rope.

IMG_3504 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3505 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3506 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


I was hoping the photo store was open early, but no such luck. When the rope dropped it still wasn't open, so we decided to go ride something. The Astro Orbiter was right there, and it's a notorious slow loader we usually end up skipping, so we gave it a go. Being closer to the ground it's not as thrilling as the one at WDW, but I love the views of the park and castle from that ride.

IMG_3508 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3511 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3521 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3530 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3534 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3541 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3550 by mom2rtk, on Flickr





Katie wanted to do the Matterhorn next, so we headed into Tomorrowland. It took a bit to get our bearings. After all, it had been 3 1/2 years since we had been to DL. When we got to the Nemo Subs, Katie decided we needed a detour. Since that one is also a slow loader, we decided to get in line. There were only a few people ahead of us, but it still took some time to get in. I just don't think they were running many subs that morning. One of the most irritating things about Early Entry is that often some of the rides are running at lower capacity, which just increases the wait.


IMG_3551 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3556 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3562 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3572 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3578 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3583 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3587 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3605 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3611 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_3618 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

We were close to the Matterhorn so decided to ride that next....... until we got to the end of the line and saw the sign saying 45 minutes. YIKES! Then it dawned on me that I had seen something about that ride having a single rider line. I had no idea where to enter for that, so went up front to ask. Boy, were we excited to find out the line entered there and we were put on a car within a couple minutes. And the same car at that! I think Katie liked it, but it seemed a lot rougher than I remember. I did enjoy seeing the Yeti twice on our trip through the mountain, but was ready to move on when the ride was over.

 

[mom2rtk]

Matterhorn Flashback:

Katie's first ride on the Matterhorn was in 2006. She said she was ready, but looked just a bit traumatized when she gave me the thumbs up from the ride platform as we exited:



Matterhorn 2006 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


She recreated that "thumbs up" pose for me after her ride on it this past December. I think I was the one traumatized this time through!


Matterhorn 2013 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[KCmike]

IMG_3521 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

This is exactly how I feel when I walk into the gates of Disneyland....Carefree and Happy!

 

[KCmike]

Matterhorn 2013 by mom2rtk, on Flickr[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Is that Hugo from Lost in the green jacket?

 

[mom2rtk]

This is exactly how I feel when I walk into the gates of Disneyland....Carefree and Happy!

You and me both! I fell in love with that shot the moment I saw it for that very reason.

Is that Hugo from Lost in the green jacket?

LOL, yep. Working the Matterhorn ride.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Very nice start of the morning at DL with a DISMeet. I always enjoy walking in DL in the morning with the Christmas decorations up on MS and walking on over to our first ride or activity.

Nice aerial photos from AO. It is a little sad that the FNSV is closed for my upcoming trip in a few days but it is nice that it will be returning later this year.

Great update.

 

[PrincessInOz]

A DisMeet at the Gates. Where else? How appropriate.
I haven't been on the Matterhorn since the refurb. The concensus is that it is a lot more bumpy than before the refurb and I wasn't quite ready to give up my memories of the Matterhorn yet; so I didn't get on it during the last trip. Maybe next time.

I love love love your flashbacks. They are just so wonderful.

Carefree and happy? Absolutely. That's why we love Disney.

 

[missangelalexis]

Great update! Love the photos from the Astro Orbiter!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Great update!

Love the picture of your DD when she was little with her thumbs up, so cute. And the one of her enjoying the AstroOrbiter, that's a classic too

 

[czmom]

It was so nice to finally meet! And crazy that it was at the gate on your first day in the parks.

Love, love, love seeing all your pictures. I will be re-living the memories!

 

[PHXscuba]

A DisMeet at the Gates. Where else? How appropriate.
I haven't been on the Matterhorn since the refurb. The concensus is that it is a lot more bumpy than before the refurb and I wasn't quite ready to give up my memories of the Matterhorn yet; so I didn't get on it during the last trip. Maybe next time.

I love love love your flashbacks. They are just so wonderful.

Carefree and happy? Absolutely. That's why we love Disney.

I'd say the Matterhorn is equally bumpy as before. Once per trip is plenty for me.

The flashbacks are fun. The beauty of digital is that you have access to photos and can bring them with you on a phone if you want to get the right angle to re-create an old photo. Some of my favorite photos are repeats.

PHXscuba

 

[Briarrose1306]

I have to ask, where did Katie find the red ears? All I've ever seen are the green. Great TR so far!