Originally Posted By Stacers76 Cast of Characters is small: Myself: Stacy, 30 Fiancee: Nick, 27 Sat. Nov 18th The day had finally arrived...we were leaving for Disneyland tonite, yeahoo!! I worked from 7am - 530pm and then we were off to drive from San Rafael, in the north bay area, to HoJo's. We were expecting a little traffic, and a 6 1/2 - 7 1/2 hr drive....NO problem right? Actually it wasn't bad for the first part...we were making great time going down I5 (80 is the new 70mph, right??) we stopped and got gas in a town that I have NO idea what it was called, ate dinner at The Apricot Tree restaurant and we were off again. So we get to LA and as we get to one of the Pasadena splits (110 maybe?) traffic stops. GOT to love that night time roadwork...so 45 minutes and 2 miles later we start moving, only to stop AGAIN as the wonderful construction now has the whole durn freeway closed and sends me off on an exit detour with REALLY bad detour sign placement, so we miss the roundabout way, back track and get back on track and another 45 minutes later we're moving again and finally get to HoJo's about 130am. WAYYY past my bedtime...since they're booked, there are people in the lobby trying to get a room, luckily I had called a bazillion times telling them we were coming late so they'd hold my reservation, we got checked in...Building 1, 6th floor, facing the freeway, noisiest a/c on earth, but we were out quick as we were both exhausted! Day 1 Sunday, Nov 19th We aren't in a hurry at all on this trip, so we slept in....I got up and got ready, we lovingly dubbed the shower the "sideways shower" since you had to stand in it sideways or have your hiney on the cold tile! We finally got ourselves together and headed to DL about 1130. Now I will guiltily admit I don't pay attention when I'm not the driver...so in the past I've never really even looked at where the parking garage was at, or how to get to it since I was driving.....sooo off we go to DL thru the Harbor entrance to take advantage of our free parking....and off we get to go to park behind the DL Hotel in the Simba parking lot..where there's no tram and it was hotter than heck that day! The one neat thing about our hike to the entrance was that there was a wedding going on at the DL Hotel, and the bride was being brought to the aisle in Cinderella's carriage just as we were going by. I'm getting married in June so I had to call my dad later to try and talk him into the whole carriage thing, but his paycheck didn't agree with it ) Anyway, we made a detour thru World of Disney to check out the merchandise on our way in, and then into DL we went. There wasn't much of a line at all, so in we went, thru the left tunnel and after a few pics and oohs and aahs at our first look at DL in it's holiday glory, we decided to take the train for a whirl. We went around 1 full time and got off at New Orleans Square, and decided to have lunch at the Riverbelle Terrace. I had the turkey sandwich, pretty good, and Nick had the clam chowder...not the best, but he dealt with it. After that we headed over to Pirates, it said a 25 min wait time, but it was maybe 15 minutes, if that....the new effects were very neat, and the Jack Sparrow character...are they sure he's not real?!? After that we got FPs for Indy (took FOREVER to get a machine to give me one, darn things) the return time was about 2 hrs, so we hit the Jungle Cruise with a 10-15 min wait....always a fun ride. After that we sort of wandered around, it was close to parade time so the curbs and benches were full, but we found a table at Coke Corner and just hung out for a bit....it was getting so crowded we weren't going to be able to see anything so we decided to head back over to Haunted Mansion. I thought it was cute...I'm not a huge Nightmare fan, but it was different which I don't mind. Nick on the other hand didn't like it and wanted his regular haunts back. We headed back to Indy and still had about 15 minutes before our FP time, but a nice woman gave us 2 FPs good for right then as she was going in...as we got to the loading area, the ride went capoot. So they re-issued FPs good for up to 5 people anytime later...cool beans. After that we wandered thru Critter Country, taking in the decorations and whatnot. Nick needed a re-fuel, so he got some fries and drinks at The Hungry Bear. We sat there for a bit and watched the Mark Twain go by...we went back over to check if Indy was back up...not yet, so we decided to do the Jungle Cruise at night, a first for us both. Pretty cool..much better skipper this time. We had reservations for the Blue Bayou at 630p, so we just sort of people=watched and checked in about 10 min early, and we were seated not near the water, but about a row in, which was fine, about 10 minutes later. It wasn't bad food...just so darn pricey. We had the crab cakes appetizer, I had prime rib, he had the filet, and we both had the creme brulee....OMG that dessert was great. And if anyone asks I will not admit I was with the guy actually trying the treasure chest to see just how edible it really was...oye! So now we're stuffed and decide to just wander New Orleans Square and Main Street and take in the decorations at night....the street was getting full for the fireworks, so we decide to head out to DTD to do some shopping...got my Mickey Cutie Bobblehead! By then the fun was catching up to our feet, so we hike the million and one miles back to Simba to the car, fall in, get back to HoJo's, grab a drink in the gift shop and fall in bed around 1130p. Sad that not even 12 hrs wears me out huh! Day 2 coming soon....
Originally Posted By poohbear14 I'm tired just reading your report! :-D Glad to see you found the bobblehead.
Originally Posted By Stacers76 Ok, I guess I should change my name to "long-winded76" I took notes this time though so I'm makin sure I got it all down!
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Well, you certainly shouldn't listen to me since I never know when to shut up, LOL, but I don't think you are being long-winded at all! I love detailed reports and I think your trip report is off to a great start. <<Now I will guiltily admit I don't pay attention when I'm not the driver..>> . Totally me too! lol. <<The one neat thing about our hike to the entrance was that there was a wedding going on at the DL Hotel, and the bride was being brought to the aisle in Cinderella's carriage just as we were going by.>> *sigh* Isn't that the dreamiest? <<After that we wandered thru Critter Country, taking in the decorations and whatnot.>> Don't you just love doing that? Sometimes I just love lollygaggin' here and there and taking it all in. (Other times I'm practically running thru the park like an 8 year old. lol) <-- waiting for the next installment.
Originally Posted By atinkfan <<The one neat thing about our hike to the entrance was that there was a wedding going on at the DL Hotel, and the bride was being brought to the aisle in Cinderella's carriage just as we were going by.>> My step-brother and his wife got married at the DL Hotel 3 years ago. She arrived in the carriage.....it was sooo awesome!!! (and magical too!) So far, theirs was the BEST wedding/reception I have ever been to! Love reading your trip report.....I feel like I'm right there with ya!
