Zip's "Rather Weighty" Disneyland Photo Report

[Zip~a~dee~doo~dah]

Woohoo!!!!

Er, hem. This trip was a reward for the occasion of me graduating high school with honors (it was nothing, really ). When we'd originally started planning the trip 4 years ago, it was thought that we would stay at the Grand Californian. But when I priced things out, I just couldn't bring myself to commit so much money to the hotel and yet in doing so spend so few days at the park. Thus I opted to extend our stay rather than have only a few days of luxery play. Next I priced out off-site hotels like the Fairfield, as well as the Paradise Pier, because my parents wanted to stay at a Disney hotel this time in honor of this trip also beeing our last before I go off to college. Finally we got hooked up with a AAA travel agent. My parwents asked him which hotel had the best pool ('cause thats probably where they'd spend the most time), and he told them the Disneyland Hotel. And just like that we were set for 6 nights at the Disneyland Hotel, with a 4-day park hopper and oodles of early entry.

Moving right along....

Got to the airport 2 hours early, then an hour afore our flight we're told to switch gates, and that our plane has been delayed 2 hours. Great...

After landing in sunny California, our marvelous Disney bus driver Guido delivered us to the famous Disneyland Hotel.





This place was incredible. I was in Disney heaven here, folks. Everything was just so incredibly.... Disney. I loved the Imagineering concept art everywhere.



Our room was nice, only a few doors from the elevator.

[Zip~a~dee~doo~dah]

^Even the bedsheets were awesomely Disney.



Our room had art from Adventureland and the Golden Horseshoe.



^This is the shelf with the TV and fridge.

Our room in the Marina tower had a great view of the pool complex and Hook's Pointe restuarant.



As you can see, the flight delay meant that we arrived just before dark, and by the time we settled in it was... dark. But is was past dinner time, so off to Downtown Disney we go!

[Executioner]

Wow... I love the room decor. I haven't stayed at the DL Hotel since the 80's. I want the cabinets for the fridge and TV along with the bedsheets LOL. And the lamps next to the mirror. Can't wait for more of the update. Congrats as well on graduating with honors.

[Mick Balboa]

Great report man!

Can't wait to read the rest.

[Zip~a~dee~doo~dah]

Wetzel's is one of my favorite eateries at the resort.



The night life was a-hoppin.

After getting some dinner (Wetzel's for me & Wendy, Napolini for me parents), we headed back to the hotel.



But first, Wendy and me dad wanted to buy some caramel kettle corn. It smelled delicious.



One christmas-eve-esque night later, it was 6:30am, and we had early entry to the park courtesy of the hotel.



That's Bonita tower across the way.

[Zip~a~dee~doo~dah]

Here's a look at the pool area. I never swam there, but it sure did look appealing.



Today was our first early entry day, a privilage reserved for Disney hotel guests. It's early entry to the entire park, instead of a particular section.

We wanted to take the monorail, but it wasn't running this early.



So we continued on through the nearly empty Downtown Disney on our way to the main gate.



Early entry had started at seven, so we we were a little late to take full advantage.





It was just Wendy and myself at the time, as my parents were still getting ready at the hotel.

[Zip~a~dee~doo~dah]

Through Tomorrowland, and on to look at the sub line.

Upon discovering that half the park had already found the sub line, we decided to spend our time elsewhere.



Hey, the Matterhorn looks nice this morning.



We're riding the Tomorrowland side, of course.

After our thrilling bobsled run, we strolled into Fantasyland...



..and took a spin on King Arthur's Carrousel.



Wendy Darling enjoyed the ride.



As did I. This was the first time I'd ridden this carrousel.

[Zip~a~dee~doo~dah]

Scouting the area for an attraction with a short wait, we spied Snow White's Scary Adventures. No wait!



Four CM's were just standing around at the station talking. We rode in the 'Dopey' car.

Following that exhileratingly 'scary' adventure, we passed through the castle to wait at the drawbridge for news from our parents.







While we stood about the bridge, Wendy was "attacked" by pigeons (they swooped past her head).

We watched the ducks frolic in the moat.

[Zip~a~dee~doo~dah]

Wendy has no luck at all. Attacked by pigeons, and now inanimate painted shields.

Shortly we recieved word that our parents were just coming 'round the Tomorrowland side of the Matterhorn, so we decided to meet up at the [b]Storybookland Canal Boats[b], a ride we've never before had the pleasure of experiancing.





The Storybookland Canal Boats, featuring the dazzling sights Agrabah, Toad Hall, Cinderella Castle, and the attack of the Giant Duck Monsters.

[Zip~a~dee~doo~dah]

All the citizens of Agrabah flee from it, that maurading hoard of feathery villians...

The terrifying...

The horrifying...




...Killer flock of Giant Duck Monsters!! Beware! Beware!

...

Next the four of us went back out through the castle, headed for the jungles of Adventureland, passing the Plaza Gardens along the way.

[Kileli]

In Scale, those would be really scary. lol. I love the poll question.

[Disney_Guy]

Anyone who puts 'Never' as their poll question answer, that's a bold lie. Lol

Great photo's. Looks like you guys have fun.
Lol about the Storybook Canal.. I haven't been on it in ages, and those ducks in scale of the land makes them look monstrous!

[Zip~a~dee~doo~dah]

Still not many people wandering the park, thankfully.



I might mention here that all the pictures in my report are available in desktop resolution, upon request.



The world famous Jungle Cruise is our destination.

No wait! I love early entry.



Careful, it's a jungle out there.

[Zip~a~dee~doo~dah]

'scuse me fellas, but the shooting gallery is in Frontierland.



I never knew dynamite crates were so bouyant.



Look at the lions protecting the- oh, you know the rest.





Ooga chaka ooga chaka...

[Zip~a~dee~doo~dah]

After being thoroughly splashed by piranhas, we moved north toward New Orleans Square, past Tarzan's Treehouse.



Pirates had an almost non-existant wait, and we had yet to experiance the refurbished ride, so 'twas there we went.



Never seen a sign like this in pirates before.


Liked the ride, and the new music. Davy Jones effect was cool.

We exited and went into a store, where I noticed a doorway led to the famous court of angels, a place we'd never before been. So I led the family there, and we got a few pictures, including this one of yours truely at the top of the stairway.



Moving along the NOS waterfront, I was happy to see that park attendance remained light.



The Haunted Mansion was our next stop.