My trip report (Aug. 3 - 5)

[Big Disney Fan]

Well, I've been off for last weekend at the Disneyland Resort! My dad and I left on Aug. 2. We had heard that my sister (who was taking an art class in Thousand Oaks) would be in the vicinity, so she would join us during our trip. We drove down to Anaheim for some seven to eight hours, alternately taking turns driving as we went. We took an unusual route for what we've been used to: we went through the Fresno area, stopping for lunch at an In-N-Out with an old friend of my dad's who lived in the area. We then went through the Bakersfield area a little while later and once we were through that, we ascended Grapevine Hill and headed through the mountainous area, past Six Flags Magic Mountain (would love to visit that park, too, sometime). We arrived at our hotel, which is now a Holiday Inn hotel, but used to be a hotel called the Conestoga Hotel. It's just a few blocks down from the tram stop in front of the big megagarage. Before we checked into our room, we stopped to watch the fireworks show, which my dad just ADORED. Then we went to our hotel room.

Look for my next set of words on the trip soon. In the meantime, what do you think thus far?

Oh, and just so you know, the pictures you will see are from both mine and my father's digital cameras.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

I'm thinking you could have met up with we who were there on Aug 3rd & 4th...

-- PMM

[Big Disney Fan]

Originally Posted by PeoplemoverMatt

I'm thinking you could have met up with we who were there on Aug 3rd & 4th...

-- PMM

Well, where were you? Maybe that would explain why our paths never crossed. Plus, I had absolutely no idea that any of you would be there. Not until September anyway. Sorry, but I've kinda kept the trip quiet, and that one of the only people who really knew about this was DisneyParkFan (I explained this to him to explain I wouldn't be able to turn in my E-ticket attraction on the due date and if I could turn it in later).

Anyway, I'm sorry I never saw you there. I did however contemplate where in the parks my ideas would go at certain intervals. For instance, I pointed out a DRASTIC overhaul I have in mind for Toontown. I actually like that area, it just needs some improvement.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Originally Posted by BigDisneyFan

Plus, I had absolutely no idea that any of you would be there.

Yeah...Meets & Events forum...it's a great thing.

-- PMM

[Big Disney Fan]

Well, here it is now, the first in the trip report:

Awakening on the 3rd, we got some all-day bus tickets and after a long time of waiting, a bus finally arrived. They arrive every 20 or so minutes. Here is a shot of my father as we boarded the bus bound for Disneyland: http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6...ture002nm7.jpg

My mother, by the way, has kinda stopped going to Disneyland during the summer months. Whenever she goes, it's usually in the fall and winter (when it's not as hot), particularly during the Thanksgiving weekend. This is not only because she dislikes the summertime heat (not that I really care for it myself), but also because the walking around has gotten the better of her and she can't move around without the risk of blisters, so we have to rent one of those electric wheelchair do-hickeys for her to ride in. So my mom did not go with us. One advantage of her not going with us is that we don't have to wait in a line to pick up a chair for her. We can just go right in.

So anyway, after going around the area for a few seconds, going to other hotels and picking up people there, we finally reach Disneyland! And we go through the gates and head up Main Street. We had planned to get Splash Mountain out of the way as early as possible. We would get Fastpasses for that one if the line was too long. So we headed over there and got on the ride (thankfully, we didn't bother with Fastpasses since the ride was barely open and there was not much of a crowd). Here's a shot of the ride load area: http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/39/picture004lr8.jpg. We went through it. As we headed past the scene with Brer Bear in the rabbit trap and Brer Fox yelling at him, my dad commented on that's how his boss sometimes spoke to him at work (he likes to compare his boss to Mr. Spacely, who, as you know, is George Jetson's boss). All during the trip, BTW, I've thought up ways of where my improvements could go and how they'd work. In the Laughing Place scene, I've contemplated the additions of gems and diamonds mixed in among the beehives.

But then, just as we were about to pass below the two vultures in the tree above the climb to the big drop, our logged suddenly stalled. They announced the logjam-style commentary numerous times. And then the worst happened: the ride had broken down. Hidden behind one of the earthly columns in the ride was a Cast Member where she remain hidden during the ride. She explained that the breakdown was caused by a glitch in the system and that to fix the ride takes about an hour: 30 to drain the mountain of the water and then 30 more to reflood it. Anyway, we eventually get evacuated from the ride (http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7...ture121lm2.jpg) and we go back through the backstage area back into the park, while they give us special passes on the ride, which we could use at ANY time we pleased! So anyway, as we headed back through the park, we came upon Brer Fox and so I decided, what the heck? Normally, I don't go to Disneyland just to go character safariing, but whenever I run into a character, I still get a picture of said character. Anyway, here's a picture of me with Brer Fox: http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9...ture007cs7.jpg.

So after getting a shot of the Mark Twain (http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3...ture008kz8.jpg) we got Fastpasses for Indy (in spite of the then-20-minute wait) and went and did Big Thunder Mountain (http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/3...ture011rj5.jpg), one of my all-time favorites, followed by the Haunted Mansion. And then after that, we did another of my all-time favorites: Pirates! Having heard that the movie characters were now seen in the ride, I was a bit nervous, but I actually liked it (and my father LOVED it more than ever now), even the updates did come at the expense of some classic lines of dialog. After the ride, we wandered through New Orleans Square to a bathroom and along the way, I got a picture of a man playing a bass guitar here: http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5/picture013zg4.jpg.

By this time, it was time for our Indy Fastpass return time, so we went and did that and then we went and got our Fastpasses for Space Mountain. It wouldn't be good for a while (about 2:30, and it was only 11:45), so we got lunch (Dad was getting quite hungry by this time; we did not have a decent breakfast). Since we were in the vicinity of SM, we decided to do Redd Rocket's. I had a HUGE pepperoni pizza slice while Dad had spaghetti with HUGE meatballs and a salad. By this time, Dad was ready to return to his room for a nap (when I was a lot younger and we came here, we always went back for a midday nap; but even then, I did not like to nap). But I decided to stay behind in the park. So I followed my dad to the main gate and while there, I got a decent shot of Goofy having some fun with some kids: http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/39/picture014on8.jpg.

After I said my good-byes to Dad, he left (saying that he would return around 2:30 or so, just in time for our SM return times) and I stayed behind. Luckily, I had my own hotel key in case I did want to change my mind and go back (which has never happened once during the trip!).

Anyway, I'll put more up at a later date. In the meantime, take a look at some of my pictures and tell me what you think.

[DisneyTechy]

Thats a fun place to do a walk off! Splash backed up when we were on a fews days ago too, but they got it going again after listening to "Time to keep moving along" a few too many times.

[Big Disney Fan]

Originally Posted by DisneyTechy

Thats a fun place to do a walk off! Splash backed up when we were on a fews days ago too, but they got it going again after listening to "Time to keep moving along" a few too many times.

Where my ride broke down, I got tired of listening to the vultures saying, "So you're looking for a laughing place, eh?" so many times.

[mrhappybomb]

I got evacuated of of IJA the last time I was there that was my dream come true! I'm liking your trip report so far, glad you had fun at DLR

[Big Disney Fan]

Here now is the next portion of my first day. But before I explain, I would like to point out that I'm a bit fuzzy on exactly what happened during the trip, but here's what I do know:

After I left Dad, who had just returned to his hotel room for rest, I went back up Main Street via a horseless carriage (it was right there) and I went to Toontown and got a Fastpass for Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. Then I returned to Fantasyland. Here, it was quite crowded, but I didn't care. I did the Snow White ride and then I tried to do Pinocchio, but it was broken down for the moment, so I went and did the tea cups (I love that ride), followed by the carousel, before returning to Pinocchio and succeeding in getting on. After that, I went and did Big Thunder Mountain again.

Then I returned to Toontown and, after messing around a bit in the city district and playing with the exhibits and that fireworks factory detonator and the talking mailbox, too, I used my Fastpass on Roger Rabbit. I love that ride and the movie, too. Then I headed through Mickey's House and, after a LONG time of waiting, I got my picture with Mickey himself. While waiting for him, I got a call from Dad telling me that the return time has been pushed back till about 5:30. He explained to just go on Space Mountain without him. After Mickey's House, I left.

By this time, it was time for my Fastpass return for Space Mountain, so I went and did that. And then I did Innoventions (I kinda like it, considering that it's an okay place to go on a hot day like this one was) and Autopia. One of my favorite things to do at Innoventions, by the way, is this thing where you pick a song selection, a city location selection (including San Francisco, St. Louis, Washington D.C. and even Disneyland) and a slew of fireworks selections and use them all to make your very own fireworks display.

Then I returned to Toontown and tried to do Roger Rabbit with my Fastpass, but I discovered that the ride had broken down, so I decided to just leave. So then I headed back through Fantasyland. I stopped off in line to pick up a frozen lemonade to snack on and then I head to Tomorrowland and did the Astro Orbiter. It was fun. By this time, my return time was about due, but I wanted to do the Mark Twain riverboat before it closed for the night to be part of Fantasmic, so after I called Dad and told to meet me at 5:45 instead of 5:30, I rode the riverboat. During the trip, I noticed that Splash Mountain was back in business again. They also updated the ride spiel to accommodate the Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer's Island part.

After that, I returned to the hub and met Dad there. I saw coming up Main Street and I waved my arms so he could see me and we finally met again.

That's the part I'll stop at for the moment. I'll post the rest of my first day later.

[woodcrazy6]

sounds like you had a blast!





Behold the great

[Disneyluvr2]

Sounds like you had a great day so far! Waiting to see if you saw the fireworks! Don't you just hate that looooong drive to Disneyland? I live in Chico which adds about two extra hours! That's why I always fly!

[Big Disney Fan]

Here's the last part of the first day. Again, I should mention that I'm kinda fuzzy on the details at this juncture.

When we finally regrouped, I had explained to Dad about the fact that while on the Mark Twain, I noticed that Splash Mountain was up and running again. So we headed over in that direction, using our special return pass that we had gotten earlier that day. This time, the ride went off without a hitch. As we got into the log boat at the start, I thought to myself: "Okay, take two." And then when we finally got off, I said, "And cut! Print!" Then we picked up Fastpasses for Big Thunder and did Pirates and Mansion again in that order, before doing Big Thunder again with our Fastpasses. After that, we went into Adventureland and did Jungle Cruise and Tiki Room. Then we went to Fantasyland and did Small World before we headed over to Buzz Lightyear, which had a surprisingly short line, about 15 minutes or so. We did that. By this time, it was time for the fireworks to begin, so we went to Main Street to see it. I looked around a little bit in the stores and even the cinema on Main Street, just to avoid the loud announcer speaking for the fireworks to begin. That noise can really surprise me and I'm sensitive to noise. So when the fireworks were about due, we tried to jockey for a spot in the street to get a decent view, which wasn't easy, considering how REALLY crowded it was. Dad loved the show. When the fireworks finally ended and the crowd thinned out a bit, we headed over to Star Tours and did that. And then we just basically did a few more attractions before finally heading back to our hotel room via the buses. On this bus was an elderly couple from Canada (where we were less than a month earlier). We spoke with them a few minutes (this day was to be their last, while ours was our first) and we finally got to our hotel room, knocked back some cold ones and went to sleep.

Like I said, I can't remember everything that happened, because I was too busy enjoying myself to take note and keep track.

[Big Disney Fan]

Sorry for the LONG delay, but I just kept right on forgetting this section. I'll try and post more at a later date.

[Big Disney Fan]

Sorry for the SUPER-LOOOOOOOOOONG delay, but I was just too lazy, but now I'm gonna continue.

The next morning, we went back to Disneyland for the early time so we could catch the Fantasyland attractions and then when DCA opened, we would swing other there and spend the whole day there. So when we got there at the early entrance time, we did, in no particular order, Matterhorn, Storybook Land, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad, Alice and Small World. By this time, the park was officially open, but it would still be a few hours before DCA opened, so we went to Toontown and did RRCTS together. And then I saw Goofy after the ride. When I go to, getting pictures with characters is my top priority, but when I do meet characters, I figured I might as well get a picture with them. Then we went to Tomorrowland to try and get Fastpasses for Space Mountain, but it was just too close time for it to open, so we headed back to Tomorrowland by train and then we headed down Main Street via an omnibus parked nearby. We went up in the upper floor and we headed down the main drag of the area to Town Square. We got off and looked around the shops for a few seconds, where I got a picture of me in a Goofy hat. I wish I could get one of those, but they're just too expensive. And then just before we left Disneyland to go over to the CA Adventure, we saw the 50th anniversary show at the Opera House with Steve Martin and Donald Duck. I still like it as much as I did in 2005, but it's getting a bit outdated. Maybe if they retitled it somehow, but keep the plot somehow... Anyway, we then crossed over to DCA...

Look for more next time...

[ImtheMadHatter]

sounds like a good trip so far...