Trip Report Tu in ‘25

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Tu in ‘25

These lyrics came to mind when I thought about my trip reporting. (I also thought, Here we go AGAIN but the above sounds much more poignant.) It’s now that time of year when my Disney trips are frequent. And this Disney Senior loves sharing her visits with y’all because your engagement makes it fun!

Yes, there will be stuff that’s the same. Yes, there will be surprises (too soon for the reveals). And yes, there will be sun rises!

Spring break countdown is at 4 days.

Since this intro needs a picture, here are Tu.

 

[Tuvalu]

Based on your sitting arrangement I se you discovered the single rider line at RSR!!!

Max

 

[Dave B]

Dates? Asking for a friend.

Aug 23-31

 

[Dave B]

We’re not waiting a stinkin’ year to ride BTMRR!

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DL BTMRR blows MK BTMRR out of the mine!

Literally.

I really think a lot of rides at Disneyland are a little better, BUT nothing beats the experience at WDW. I am curious what you think?

 

[sheriffwoody]

Whew finally all caught up! I'm sure I'll be hopelessly behind again next time I get on here Sad our paths didn't cross (again!!) but I think we overlap by a day or two in November, so we have another chance. Though this trip will be without the cutest person in the family (the kid, if that wasn't clear)

Can't wait to read about your Disneyland trip! Glad you got to ride the Riverboat one last time.

 

[Tuvalu]

I really think a lot of rides at Disneyland are a little better, BUT nothing beats the experience at WDW. I am curious what you think?

Both are special and unique in their own ways. I have lots to share about DL and can’t wait to get started!

Whew finally all caught up! I'm sure I'll be hopelessly behind again next time I get on here Sad our paths didn't cross (again!!)

Can't wait to read about your Disneyland trip! Glad you got to ride the Riverboat one last time.

Nice to see you back on the forums!

 

[Minnie1986]

The World is a carousel of COLOR!

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Which showing of WoC did you end up catching; the earlier or later?

 

[Minnie1986]

He flew across the country to see his girlfriend.

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I can't believe that so many of you were here while I was back east

 

[Minnie1986]

You’re making me think we’d like a Disneyland trip someday!!

If you get the chance, definitely do it. It's such a lovely time!

 

[Tuvalu]

California Girls

This was not our first trip to west coast Disney. It was my 5th (I attended both Disneyland’s 40th and 50th anniversary celebrations) and Em’s 4th. Our first visit to the parks as a “Disney Duo” (thanks, @RememberWhen ) was way back in 2013 - and she has been bugging me requesting a return ever since. I’d successfully held her off until this past March, when we booked exactly 100 days out.

An (unintended) magical number indeed!

I’d enjoyed all my previous west coast Disney vacations and have wonderful memories of them. My reluctance to visit more frequently stems from the fact that California is expensive, y’all! As is airfare (when you no longer have frequent flier miles!) Lastly, I wasn’t keen on sacrificing more-affordable WDW vacations for DL.

But Em wore me down. And I am SO GLAD she did!

Join us for 4 jam-packed, fun-filled, park-commando days. You might just be impressed with what we “resorty” people can do!**

**While it didn’t kill us, we’re still recovering.

 

[Songbird76]

You and Em make a great Tu-some!! You inspire me! Someday, I will get to DL, but it might be a while. That Alice and Wonderland attraction looked intersting.

 

[Spash007]

I’m strongly considering celebrating my next big birthday in DL - the last time I was there was on a high school band trip a long, long time ago. The problem is my bday is smack dab in the middle of the LA Olympics (which I would love to go to, but not live the crowds)

But, we’re also torn with it being a “long enough” trip for the cross country flight, so I’m looking forward to what you got up to!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Looking forward to seeing all the adventures.

 

[Tuvalu]

Which showing of WoC did you end up catching; the earlier or later?

We scored a VQ for the first show.

You and Em make a great Tu-some!! You inspire me! Someday, I will get to DL, but it might be a while. That Alice and Wonderland attraction looked intersting.

Hope you are able to take a mother/daughter DL vacation someday - you guys travel well together too!
I have lots of Alice pictures to post!

 

[Tuvalu]

I’m strongly considering celebrating my next big birthday in DL - the last time I was there was on a high school band trip a long, long time ago. The problem is my bday is smack dab in the middle of the LA Olympics (which I would love to go to, but not live the crowds)

But, we’re also torn with it being a “long enough” trip for the cross country flight, so I’m looking forward to what you got up to!

Celebrate the big one either early or late at DL - then relax at home on the actual day, knowing you are not fighting Olympic crowds!

There are many other things to do in SoCal besides DL/DCA and your family could easily spend a week - 4 days at the Disney parks, San Diego Zoo, La Jolla beach, Universal Studios, Warner Bros Tour, etc. It makes the long cross country flight more palatable, especially when traveling with children. (Speaking from experience.)

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Looking forward to this. Would love to visit DL some day but it’s such a long way to travel from the UK

 

[93boomer]

Yayyy I’ll read between rides!!

 

[Wicked Sisters]

So looking forward to this TR and it sounds like you had a blast.

 

[amjt660]

Max

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, July 8

Em and I had a 9:30 am flight out of Atlanta, scheduled to land in Orange County at 10:50 am. The 3-hour time difference would be working in our favor today. I had the window seat and was excited to see the mountain ranges in the distance. (Atlanta proper has no mountains!)

We landed a few minutes early but when our plane pulled into the gate, the motor on the jetway was broken. It took about 20 minutes for maintenance to repair it.

Once we retrieved our luggage Em ordered a Lyft. We had our first palm tree sighting.

Are California palm trees different from Florida palms? I couldn’t tell you, but our driver did explain the two different species native to California. (No, I didn’t ask. He just offered the explanation.)

When researching where to stay, Em and I looked at non-Disney hotels within walking distance to the parks. We’d gotten recommendations from friends who stayed offsite when visiting Disneyland. As we were narrowing down our choices, Woody walked into the room and simply said, “I think you should stay at the Grand Californian.”

Disneyland’s flagship hotel? One of the three that are “in the bubble”?

“This is a once in a decade vacation,” he continued. “I think you should stay at the nicest, most convenient location.” Em said she was willing to splurge and I wasn’t about to argue with my husband! We clicked on the 70th Celebration Summer Hotel Offer.

Remember I said California is expensive? After the initial sticker shock, we clicked our way into booking a package for two - 4 nights at the Grand Californian with 4 day park hoppers. Em thought it was important to add Lightning Lane Multi Pass (“it’s a once in a decade vacation!”) to the package as well.

When all was said and done, my half of the package was only $350 more than the similar package (4 nights GC, 4 day park hoppers, shuttle transportation from OC airport) we’d had 20 years earlier - but that cost was for 4 adults and this price was just for me!!

However, as Em and I would often say during our trip ~

After a 25 minute ride from the airport, our Lyft arrived here.

We went to the Front Desk to check in. The hotel offered online check in, but I wanted the full experience.

Does this lobby look familiar?

You can take the girls out of the Wilderness Lodge, but you can’t take the Wilderness Lodge out of the girls!

The welcoming Cast Member at the Front Desk went over all the literature, amenities and elevator location. This was important because she said our room was ready!

Em and I immediately went to check it out.

 

[Tuvalu]

If Wilderness Lodge and the Grand Floridian had a baby, it would be the Grand Californian.

Rustic elegance.

Two-story sitting area.

But wait - the Contemporary would like to say, “Hold My Beer.”

The monorail does not stop inside the Grand Californian or anywhere near it. But it does run through it. And every time Em and I passed by this window we would briefly pause, hoping to see a monorail glide by.

Every. Day. For. Four. Days!