Trip Report A Walk in Walt's Footsteps: Max's California Adventure

Hello to All - As the title suggests the Max family has returned from a fun adventure in the Golden State.

For those who have not read the PTR I have copied a link below:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...-going-to-do-i-am-going-to-disneyland.929704/

If you do not want to read the pre trip report I understand - there are so many PTR, TR ,Live reports on the go it is a lot of work to keep up with everything.

We will start with the players:

Me - Max - turned 51 a few days before we left (and yes I wore my Bday button proudly - more to come on that one though). Trip number 25 to a Disney Resort ( WDW, DLR, DLP and TDL)

My DW - T - age is just a number - She really likes Disney, really loves DCA and is over the moon on going back to San Diego (Trip number 23 to a Disney Resort (WDW, DLR and DLP)

My older DD - S - 22 - just finished her undergrad in Music Therapy, working at a summer camp and starting her mandatory intenrship to become certified in September. Trip number 20 (WDW,DLR,DLP)

My younger DD - C - 20 (not yet legal to drink in your country) - almost halfway through Biomedical Engineering - just finished a school term in August (co-op program) - starting to work in September - same trip count as her sister.

Next up: Day 1 travel day and first day in park all in one!!

 

[King Racoon 77]

Following along . Maybe one day i will get over that side of the country.

 

[75disney]

Day 1 cont'd
T went back to room to switch out the footwear
C , S and I wandered and found this
View attachment 231159

40 min standby line but we went for single rider and were on in 9 min
C and I were the same car and S was on her own
We rode the Tomorrow land side (Matterhorn has two tracks that are slightly different)
Somehow S got really wet on this ride - C and I were fine
New Yeti was moving and growling - No DISCO YETI FOR THIS PARK
That is really the only part better than Florida - advantage WDW with Everest

Walked through T Land
View attachment 231160
Did not watch this one - been there done that
But this was disappointing (even though we had tried to be prepared)
View attachment 231161
As others have said before there is no comparison between WDW and DLR versions
Shame it was closed - it was getting ready for Halloween setup.

Met up with T at Star Traders after we found this shirt
View attachment 231163

And then found this wall - not sure the exact colour but it seems like standing in front of a non descript wall is now the thing to do so here goes..
View attachment 231164
Buzz was down so we kept walking
View attachment 231165

Took this one of C -it is a tradition
View attachment 231166

Here she is back in 2008
View attachment 231174
Ended up getting another FP for BTMRR.
Then we headed toward Critter Country
Ride line selfies
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View attachment 231176

This last one should give you a good indication which parent C takes after.....

You look so dejected about SM being closed. It was a bummer for us as well.

 

[amjt660]

I do it every time!!

Great minds think alike
Thanks for following

Following along . Maybe one day i will get over that side of the country.

I hope you do get the "left side" of the country.
Glad you could join the party

Max

 

[amjt660]

You look so dejected about SM being closed. It was a bummer for us as well.

Mission accomplished - dejected was the look I was going for!!!
I cannot complain because I have been on the ride many times
I feel bad for anyone who was on their first trip or possibly only trip
Although missing a great ride that SM is incentive to come back again!!

Max

 

[amjt660]

So ANDREW ~
What's up with MAX?

(Warned you I was snark prepping.)

OK so first off I will explain (because I am the nice one in this pseudo relationship)

First name Andrew - mostly go by Drew
Last name Maxwell - Engineering School nick name that stuck

Now get ready for rebound snark

to paraphrase Sir Isaac Newton and his Third Law of Physics:

For every (snarky) Action there is an equal but opposite Reaction

"AND.... THIS IS COMING FROM THE PERSON NAMED AFTER A SECTION OF A HOTEL THAT IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE A LONGHOUSE FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC?????"


Max - aka Andrew - aka Drew - aka "just don't call me late for supper"

 

[Doc Disney]

@Doc Disney -Megan this next one is for you!!!

I don't even remember that restaurant when it was Pinocchio I need to go back to DL!

Funny, wild, exhilarating , and just truly awesome - Top 5 ride for me of all the parks I have been to.

Agreed. I LOVED that ride and I never even saw Indiana Jones

 

[Tuvalu]

OK so first off I will explain (because I am the nice one in this pseudo relationship)

First name Andrew - mostly go by Drew
Last name Maxwell - Engineering School nick name that stuck

Now get ready for rebound snark

to paraphrase Sir Isaac Newton and his Third Law of Physics:

For every (snarky) Action there is an equal but opposite Reaction

"AND.... THIS IS COMING FROM THE PERSON NAMED AFTER A SECTION OF A HOTEL THAT IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE A LONGHOUSE FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC?????"


Max - aka Andrew - aka Drew - aka "just don't call me late for supper"

Well played.
Max 1
Tuvalu 0

 

[DryerLintFan]

Day 1 cont'd
A rare on ride pic from Winne the Pooh
View attachment 231177
This ride is similar to WDW but has a different storyline and the vehicles do not bounce when we see Tigger

Next up was our fp for indy
These two are from the queue and our main man Sallah who does the safety spiel for the ride
For those who have ridden it

You see the excellence of this invention?
View attachment 231178

Do not look into the eyes of the idol- it can be dangerous, very dangerous
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View attachment 231180 View attachment 231181
View attachment 231182
Indiana Jones Adventure - The Temple of Forbidden Eye ( OR et le Temple Peril in DLR OR Temple of the Crystal Skull in Tokyo) uses the same ride system as WDW Dinosaur - but that is where the comparison ends
Funny, wild, exhilarating , and just truly awesome - Top 5 ride for me of all the parks I have been to.

Next up was Big Thunder , in the dark, in the back row
Truly was the wildest ride in the wilderness - the lift scenes - especially in the blast tunnel seem better than WDW to me.

Decided to call it a night at 8:15 - because it felt like 11:15 and we were up at 3:30.

Pics from the walk out - the light is always left on for Walt
View attachment 231183

Saw this shirt and had to take a pic for @DisneyBound2017
View attachment 231184


I hope this one is close enough for you

Next up - Day 2 and our first park hopping day (it is really easy to do it)

This is amazing!! I might have to look for it on the parks app!

 

[gdisneyfans]

Oh wow...that view!!! Enjoying your report so far Drew

 

[amjt660]

Agreed. I LOVED that ride and I never even saw Indiana Jones

Wait what ? Never??? ever ??? there were 4 movies you know
If you get a chance watch the original - Raiders of the Lost Ark
Thank you for joining the party

Well played.
Max 1
Tuvalu 0

Even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in awhile.

This is amazing!! I might have to look for it on the parks app!

I am glad you liked it - my daughters wondered why I was taking a picture of it !

Oh wow...that view!!! Enjoying your report so far Drew

Truly a room with a view!!!
Thanks for following along

Max

 

[amjt660]

Day 2 - Sunday August 27 - DLR and DCA park hopping fun
As @bee mentioned in her report it is so easy to park hop between the two parks
@Laurenciaa knows what I am talking about - DLP is pretty much the same walk inbetween entrances of DL and the Studios.

So we start off with a no alarm needed wake up at 5am - Yes the time change hasn't quite kicked in yet!!
T and C worked out in the exercise room
I got ready for the day - S still managed to sleep

Today was the start of off season hours - yes August 27 - this is the latest we have come to DLR in August -usually a week or two earlier and we always get DL open from 8 to midnight and even more

Todays hours? Regular open at 10am!!! Luckily it was early entry at 9am
Staying onsite gets you in early to one of the parks - which ever one is open early

Words of Wisdom from Walt

We did rope drop but by the time we made it to PP the line was not worth it
Don't get me wrong - I love the ride but with no FP and slow loading it is one I can and will skip

We decided to do ride some rides no longer at WDW
First off was Snow White
(I did not get a pic of the queen in the window this time- but I did touch the apple)

I hope you don't mind @Doc Disney but I borrowed your ride!

 

[amjt660]

Day 2 cont'd
Next up was a wild ride with Mr Toad
The first two are S and her boyfriend

They have been an item for awhile now

Then the girls went all Camelot on us

alas, no royal bloodline in this family.

We then rode Pinocchio but I have no pics (I guess you will have to trust me - my nose is not growing right now so I am confident I am telling the truth.)

Saw this window into the Red Rose Tavern that I missed the day before

The girls then met one of favourite characters
100 points for who can guess why
(and no - I really do not look good in tights - try again)

He was awesome! Especially when I asked to see some "tude"

And then C wanted to sit in the ride vehicle
They have had these out since the 50th - they were gold at that time.

Picture with our friends/neighbours
We did a joint trip in 2005

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Hello to All - As the title suggests the Max family has returned from a fun adventure in the Golden State.

For those who have not read the PTR I have copied a link below:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...-going-to-do-i-am-going-to-disneyland.929704/

If you do not want to read the pre trip report I understand - there are so many PTR, TR ,Live reports on the go it is a lot of work to keep up with everything.

We will start with the players:

Me - Max - turned 51 a few days before we left (and yes I wore my Bday button proudly - more to come on that one though). Trip number 25 to a Disney Resort ( WDW, DLR, DLP and TDL)
View attachment 230429

My DW - T - age is just a number - She really likes Disney, really loves DCA and is over the moon on going back to San Diego (Trip number 23 to a Disney Resort (WDW, DLR and DLP)
View attachment 230430

My older DD - S - 22 - just finished her undergrad in Music Therapy, working at a summer camp and starting her mandatory intenrship to become certified in September. Trip number 20 (WDW,DLR,DLP)
View attachment 230432
My younger DD - C - 20 (not yet legal to drink in your country) - almost halfway through Biomedical Engineering - just finished a school term in August (co-op program) - starting to work in September - same trip count as her sister.
View attachment 230433
Next up: Day 1 travel day and first day in park all in one!!

I will be sure to make time for this tr. I look forward to your puns.

 

[amjt660]

Day 2 cont'd at DLR
Continued to walk and took a pic of Monstro - we will ride you later

Single rider Matterhorn again -this time Fantasyland side track and all 4 of us

We got in line for Storybook Canel boats but then realized it was not open yet
Still took a picture (and we did ride later and took a few pictures to share)

I love the way the characters stroll around together without a handler
Wonderful interactions with these 4

2 Failure selfie attempts with the mountain behind us

Bathroom/Washroom/Restroom break
Curious names though - trust me when I go in it is not to bathe, wash or take a rest .
But I digress

Pic with the white rabbit - but we weren't late - early entry hour was just coming to an end.

 

[amjt660]

Day 2 cont'd - Finish DLR and go to DCA
Quick meet with Gaston and then Tink had no line at all in her Pixie Hollow

We had a lot of fun with Tink - I told her you have to take the fourth star to the right to get to Canada - she warned us to never take the stars to the left.

One picture of the castle and then off to DCA
Behind us on main street was a huge crowd at the second rope drop of the day
We were able to walk around them by the Plaza and avoid the crowd.

Entered DCA around 10am ( open time) and walked briskly toward the "new" ride.
The Twilight Tower of Terror is no more at DCA
It is now Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission Breakout

We decided on standby because the FP line looked almost the same length
Wait time was 40 min.
Able to take some queue pictures

The outside of the building does not look good in the daylight - looks fake to be blunt
It grows on you at night though.

Poster of Mantis

Not a good pic of the collector - did not remember to take a better one

entrance into the lobby

 

[Tuvalu]

< Memo to self ~ if I ever have a Magic meet up with Max, do not allow him to take the selfie. >

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

< Memo to self ~ if I ever have a Magic meet up with Max, do not allow him to take the selfie. >

And make sure he knows about purple walls, not just "nondescript" walls

 

[Tuvalu]

And make sure he knows about purple walls, not just "nondescript" walls

Oooh, good one! I'd forgotten about his lame wall pic.

 

[amjt660]

Day 2 cont'd Mission Breakout
So this conversion was not well received in the Max house prior to the trip.
C and S and T are hardcore Tower fans and they were p@#$ed off when this news came out.
I personally was concerned but very curious.

For those who are interested (and have not read Wikipedia yet) I will give you a short explanation
The Collector (Tivan) tricked Peter Quill (Star Lord) to come to this location and he somehow captured them and put them on display.
The timing of this is in between the two movies because Baby Groot is here.
Rocket of course escapes but needs your help to hand scan him inside.
He tells you the whole story in Tivan's office and then you go to the lift. (after he steals Star Lords walkman)
Once in the lift Rocket takes over, plugs in the Walkman and turns of the gravity (hence the up and down motion)
You see scenes after that are different with each song you get to hear (6 different songs with 6 different lift sequences)

The entrance queue, office and queue before the elevators has a lot of collectables
I took some pictures but obviously did not get everything (totally missed Figment - thanks @ajrwdwgirl for taking that one.)

 

[amjt660]

Day 2 - Mission Breakout cont'd
Yeti

Verdict - awesome - it is no longer scary it is just fun (at least for us - the little one in the front - not so much)

We listened to "Give up the funk" on this first ride.

T and S went looking for morning coffee
C and me checked out some characters from afar - did not want to line up

Then we caught most of the GOG Dance off