Trip Report Turns out birthdays CAN be magical- (finally) COMPLETE

Now that I’m home and settled back into reality, I thought I’d get started on my second trip report. While having been to Disney World more frequetly than I can count, I’d only visited the original park three times; all of which were several years apart. As I mentioned in my pre-trip report, I relocated out west for work not long after mine and my niece’s WDW adventure last summer; and despite now living fairly close by, I hadn’t yet had the chance to visit Disneyland. With my last several birthdays having been rough to say the least, I thought I’d do something more low key and relaxing; and what better way to celebrate than with the fab five, and copious amounts of churros!

To recap:
Who: Me (D)
What: Solo birthday trip
When: Sunday 9.21 - Thursday 9.25
Where: Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure
Why: To break my birthday slump


Day One:
Since I wasn’t leaving the state, I decided to drive this time around (that, and I may still be a bit traumatized from missing the flight with S ). After taking an extra long walk with my dog, and then subsequently coaxing her off of my suitcase with peanut butter, I was ready to hit the road. The travel Gods must’ve been with me, because I managed to reach Anaheim in just about 90 minutes; which for late Sunday morning on the 5, is damn near miraculous.When visiting Disney World, I always stay on property; but with Disneyland, there are a large number of hotels within walking distance; a lot of which I can use points for, so I decided to go that route. This time around, I stayed at the Westin on W. Katella, and I’m very glad that I did. The property itself is quite sizable, with a gorgeous lobby, and is surprisingly reminiscent of Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando. Once I finished handing over the car to the valet, and having my bags loaded onto the luggage cart, I headed straight to the check in desk; hoping and praying that my room would be ready. Imagine my surprise when, while speaking to the lovely woman at the front desk, she informs me that my suite is indeed good to go…Thinking I’d heard her wrong, I asked that she double check to make sure that she was looking at the right reservation; as it turns out, the travel Gods weren’t yet done with the gifts, because the hotel decided to upgrade me for my birthday(and the status I've accrued with Marriott, thanks to the seemingly endless work trips)!

After offering multiple rounds of profuse gratitude, I headed upstairs to a beautiful multi room layout with a living room type space/kitchen/dining room/large bathroom (which comes in REAL handy when you’re as girly as I am, and travel with enough skin care, etc. to keep you comfortable for twice as long as you’d be out of your house), and bedroom with the softest king size bed I’ve ever felt; topped off with a view of Disney California Adventure. I’ll admit, it did feel kinda silly to have all of that space for one person; but I would quickly get over that once the park days began. I literally never remember to take room pics, so here are the ones from the hotel website, to give you an idea:

After making a quick grocery store run and getting settled in, I noticed that my lunch reservation was approaching; so after changing, I headed out to Downtown Disney (anyone wanna guess how many times I called it Disney Springs?). One of the many good things about SoCal is that while it remains warm for most of the year, it’s a forgiving dry heat; so the walk was not only enjoyable, but didn’t leave me covered in a layer of sweat by the time I reached my destination. As a native NYer, I tend to walk pretty fast, so what Google Maps estimated as a 15 minute walk to the gates took me less than 10. Having already built in extra time, I decided to take my time, and have a look around as I made my way to the Grand Californian. Originally, I was a bit nervous about potentially missing out on the 70th Anniversary decorations, since we all know how big they go for Halloween and Christmas. I was quite happy to see that they’d found a great way to marry the two; without one outshining the other.

After taking some photos for my nieces, I popped into World of Disney to find the merch they’d requested. A sweatshirt for S

and a Tigger plushie for her sister, I. The mobile checkout really is a godsent, because all three check out counters were mobbed; so after quickly showing my receipt to the CMs, I continued on; making it to the GC with five minutes to spare; and thankfully so, because I’d forgotten how spacious that resort is! When making dining reservations, I remembered really enjoying the Craftsman Bar from my previous stay, so I figured why not head back for lunch on arrival day. Since at this point, it was ~ 1:00 PM, the pool area was fairly empty; which made for a lovely time taking in the sights of the resort (even with construction going on). Disneyland, as I would come to learn, also does a great job of celebrating Dia de Los Muertos during this time of year; as such, the Craftsman was offering multiple food and drink options. I decided to go with the “Receurdame,” after the song from Coco

* Casamigos Reposado, Passion Fruit Syrup, Hibiscus Liqueur, and Lemon Juice*

When I say that drink was good, I mean it was GOOD! Light, refreshing, with just the right amount of kick to it; 10/10 highly recommend. While savoring this beauty, I chose the Sticky Chicken Wings for lunch, and man, was that a wise decision; lightly fried and covered in Gochujang Korean BBQ sauce, with a side of sticky rice. Everything about the meal was exactly what I wanted, and I devoured every bit.

After settling the bill, I noticed that there was quite a commotion coming from the bar; turns out the Rams/Commanders game was on, and as girly as I may be, I love football. I decided to sit and watch for a bit; getting to know a few of the other guests, and finishing another Recuerdame, before heading back towards Downtown Disney. Fun Fact- even if you are going to Downtown Disney, and not the parks themselves, you still have to go through security on your way out of the hotel. Which, when doing so at the exact same time that Oogie Boogie Bash (Disneyland’s Halloween Party) is about to start, will cost you close to 20 mins .

Still a bit full from lunch, I explored the opposite end of Downtown Disney; stopping into a few shops before coming across some beautiful Mickey themed kitchenware. FaceTiming my significant other (C) to share in my joy, he convinced me to only get the coupe glasses (but as he would learn when I got home, the charcuterie board also found its way into my trunk )

Right outside the HOME store was this beautiful Encanto floral installation; celebrating Colombian culture and heritage featuring Isabella on this end of DD, and Mirabelle towards the other. The photos truly don’t do justice to how lovely they were:

With a few hours until dinner, I took my time walking back to the hotel; enjoying the fact that Anaheim allows for not having to drive pretty much everywhere you go.

Next Up: Speakeasies and Fireworks

 

[Minnie1986]

Day Two Cont'd:
One

That would be a Tu-fer!

What are you doing next week?

Oh, how I wish I could take a trip over to FL next weekend . Now that I think about it, though, doing so on a different weekend sounds like a fantastic idea

 

[Tuvalu]

That would be a Tu-fer!

What are you doing next week?

Ummm…what are you doing?

 

[Minnie1986]

Day Two cont'd:

Park hopping in DL is extremely easy (all you have to do is exit whichever park, and take a less than five minute walk across the esplanade); so making my way to Disney California Adventure (DCA) took no time at all. I remember visiting the park when it first opened back in 2001, and let's just say that it was NOT popular. Having gotten the message, Disney has put a lot of time and effort into revamping it; while it still remains as a love letter to the state of California. When you walk in, you definitely feel like you've stepped back into MGM studios; very old Hollywood glitz and glamour. Given the time of year, there were, of course, spooky season touches throughout the park without taking away from the surroundings.

Some of the 70th anniversary treats have been temporarily taken away to make way for the holiday themed ones; but the one that I was looking forward to was thankfully still offered at Hollywood Lounge. This beauty was a dragonfruit mimosa with a commemorative acrylic champagne flute to keep. How could I say no?

After taking some photos, I realized that I should probably eat some actual food. IMO, the best quick service options in the park are in SanFransokyo; so I made my way there, while mobile ordering something particularly delicious. Especially for being in a theme park, Cocina Cucamonga does a great job of serving up some tasty Mexican food. As usual, I went with my favorite, Quesabirria Tacos. Between the crispy cheese, the well cooked/seasoned meat, and the consommé, this dish hits every single time!

*using a stock photo because I devoured mine too quickly to snap one; I regret nothing*

While relishing my lunch of tacos and a Blood Orange Paloma seltzer, I noticed that the LL option I'd been looking for was now available. As we all know, DL changed their Tower of Terror into a Guardians of the Galaxy themed attraction a few years ago; which is available as soon as the park opens. I, however, was interested in the scary version, GotG: Monsters After Dark! Successful in getting a close LL, I decided to celebrate by stopping by the Boudin Bread Factory Tour. I don't know about you all, but free bread is always a yes for me; and they pass out samples of their sourdough, along with the little pats of butter wrapped in gold foils you sometimes see at restaurants. Getting a few more pieces on the way, I explored San Fransokyo a bit more, before meeting up with the protectors of the universe.

Between late August and late October/early November, GotG shuts down between 2 and 3pm, and comes back as a different Rocket lead mission. This time, the creatures that are kept in The Collector's possession have escaped, and are running loose through the exhibit; and in the mayhem, Rocket and baby Groot got separated. Thus, Rocket uses you as bait to distract the monsters; encouraging guests to wave their arms, and scream as loud you can while he rescues Groot. The daytime GotG version, like the one in FL, cycles through six popular songs from the 60s-80s; but MAD (at least from what I could tell) uses the same hard rock song, that does a great job of getting the adrenaline pumping.

Personally, I LOVED it; but also felt very sorry for the young boy whose parents did not heed the warning signs posted all around the entrance about this being a much darker version that would likely frighten small children. He seemed to be fine with the "drops," but as soon as that first monster scene popped up, that kid screamed bloody murder, and grabbed onto (what I assume was) his dad; who truly seemed more annoyed that the kid stopped him from putting his hands up than concerned with the look of pure terror on the kid's face. After the ride, I went to look at the photos, and there's no doubt in my mind that the little boy will end up on some shrink's couch because of that experience.

On the way out, I saw that Gamora and Star Lord were having a dance party; so after staying to watch for a bit, I noticed that the "Amazing Spiderman" show was happening soon. Thankfully, I arrived when I did, because the walkway soon became mobbed. I tip my hat to Disney for this one, because the stunts are not only cool to watch, they are also performed by the most lifelike robot I've ever seen. The motions were so fluid and realistic that if I hadn't read about it previously, there's no way I would've guessed.

Small clip from YouTube of the show

Since I had earlier dinner reservations, I decided to start making my way out of the parks for now; stopping into Monstropolis to see Mike and Sully (unfortunately, Roz was not working and hadn't been all day, according to the CM I asked on the way out).

Right before exiting, I happened upon an amazing performance by an Old Hollywood style swing band; performing a mix of Disney and classic hits. I waved goodbye to Oogie Boogie via the ominous sign out front, and treated myself to an Uber back to the hotel.

 

[meggo819]

the stunts are not only cool to watch, they are also performed by the most lifelike robot I've ever seen.

It’s just the one big stunt that’s performed by a robot, right?

Btw, I’m taking notes on your food recommendations, as we’re hoping to go to DLR next summer!

 

[Swissmiss]

Sounds like you had a perfect birthday!

 

[Minnie1986]

It’s just the one big stunt that’s performed by a robot, right?

Btw, I’m taking notes on your food recommendations, as we’re hoping to go to DLR next summer!

I also thought that it was only partially a robot, but this vlogger I watched while trip planning swore up and down that it was the whole thing.Thanks!

 

[Minnie1986]

Sounds like you had a perfect birthday!

It was really great, and I'm very glad that decided to do it.

 

[Minnie1986]

Apologies for the delay; while moving some boxes, I herniated a disc at the base of my spine. To say that it hurt would the understatement of the century, because WOW! Still a bit wobbly, but after two large needles of I don't even remember what injected into the site of injury, I'm feeling much better. Onward, we go!

Parkhopping, regardless of the coast, will sneakily take it out of you. Once I sat down on the couch in my room, I felt every bit of the day. After finishing the rest of the popcorn I snagged on the way out of DCA, taking two Motrin and a nap, it was time for dinner! Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen was one of my favorite restaurants in Downtown Disney; especially their Jambalaya. However, with the refurb, it's now known as Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill and Patio; and I'd heard some mixed reviews. Still, I decided to give this new version a try for my birthday dinner; and made the ADR.

My drink of choice was the classic hurricane; and I have to say, it hit the spot after 8 hrs in two theme parks. The view was pretty great too, I must say (of both sunset lit Downtown Disney and this beauty).

I went with the Filet Mignon as my entree...

as I sit here, I'm trying very hard to think of a polite way to describe what was brought to me...

Am I a food connoisseur? Absolutely not, but I KNOW steak! Despite being presented well, the dish was, without a doubt, the most bland food I've ever tried to consume. Honestly, I can't even say it was bad, because it tasted like absolutely

Not the potatoes, the veggies, the meat (that was also as grey as what dishes say is delicious), nada! I politely flagged over the waiter, who addressed my concerns quickly and apologetically. They did offer to replace the entree with something else, but I kinda wasn't willing to take the chance; so I declined. Having mentioned to the waiter that it was my birthday while we talked, he sweetly brought me a plate of birthday beignets; and another Hurricane.

When attempting to settle up, a manager came over and let me know that my bill was to be comped. After leaving a sizable tip for the waiter, I headed back out into Downtown Disney; stopping to admire the installations, all lit up. Realizing that I hadn't truly eaten since early afternoon, and now two rum heavy cocktails deep; I stopped at Seoul Sister for the Chicken Bowl, and man, did it hit the spot. Everything tasted very fresh, and going with the noodles instead of rice really made the whole thing perfect. I really wanted to try the dumplings as well, but my next stop would hopefully be providing a smorgasbord; so I resisted, and made my way to DCA.

As beautiful as DCA is during the day, they really stepped it up once the sun went down. Even starting at the gate, and Oogie Boogie welcoming everyone to join him for a "scary good time," the decorations really did take my breath away.

*The Big Cheese himself was out greeting his guests as they walked by the main fountain

World of Color is DCA's night time show, and it is popular to say the least. So much so that at 12pm, a virtual queue goes live for the prime viewing areas (blue and/or yellow sections). While making my way from New Orleans Square to Adventureland (the first time), I managed to snagged a spot; but while researching, I learned that there was also a dessert party. Every time I checked, the app showed it as sold out; but with it being a Monday, and me being solo, I figured it couldn't hurt to at least ask.

Always trust your gut, because when I got to the check in entrance, the CMs told me that they did indeed have a few seats still for sale! For $94, you get a box filled with mini charcuterie (slices of meats, cheeses, fruits, and crackers), along with several small desserts, two alcoholic beverages, and/or unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, a dessert party exclusive pin, and a close up view of the show. Before showing me to my seat, a CM noticed my button, and asked if today was my actual birthday. When I said yes, he asked me to stay put. After a few minutes, he came back and escorted me in. The seating for WoC is set up as tables for two or four people; which generally means that you can expect to sit with other guests. When we arrived at a hightop, he told me that while they're still selling seats, I would get this one solo; and wished me a very happy birthday.

Waiting for the show to start, I made my way through the crackers, cheese, fruit and drink number one, sparkling wine. Even southern California can experience all four seasons in one day; so with it getting later, and sitting lakeside, I ordered a hot chocolate to enjoy with my WoC macaron and rice krispie square. WoC has a special theme during the anniversary, happiness; hosted by the emotions from Inside Out 1& 2! Every night, guests get to vote on which emotion gets a special display towards the end of the show. I voted for my favorite, Disgust, but Anger ended up winning this time around.

At the next table over was a lovely couple from Canada; and as we got to know one another, I noticed their view would likely be obstructed by the tall speaker pole; so just after the last announcement, I invited them to share my table. We all ordered our second alcoholic beverage choices ( I went with the WoC themed cocktail). Each of us were wearing MagicBand+(s), so as the show progressed, we all smiled and laughed as we got to see how they interacted with everything. Taking in the views of Paradise Gardens and Pixar Pier is definitely not a bad way to end a birthday; so after saying goodbye to my new friends from the North, I stopped at the top of the ramp to take a few pics (unfortunately, i'm out of picture space for this page).

Coming from the back of the park, the walk to the gate felt LONG; but I couldn't really complain given where I was, the day I'd had, and all of these beautiful lights!

Two tips for the end of a Disney night when using ride share:
1. Order your Uber BEFORE you get to the pick up area
2. Use one of the restaurants or hotels directly across the street as the pick up spot.

Having figured these out after the afternoon hotel break, I was able to avoid the huge wait times for cars to actually turn into the pick up area; and was back at the hotel in less than ten minutes. After showering off the day, I enjoyed one more of the dessert party goodies on the balcony; and soaked up the last of the late night DCA views. When I turned around to go back inside, I caught myself smiling like a little kid in my reflection; and realized just how amazing of a day this had all been.

Next Up: Starting off the day with a scream

 

[cgersic]

That really sounds like the BEST birthday ever!

 

[Minnie1986]

That really sounds like the BEST birthday ever!

It was pretty darn great!

 

[Minnie1986]

Day 3

My number one goal for this day was to rope drop Guardians of the Galaxy. The last few months, Guardians had been a bit notorious for having crazy long wait times first thing in the morning; because Disney was doing some lowkey work on the gantries, by running less than the full number at a time. Suffice it say that between this, and Radiator Springs being closed for a refurb, I was nervous about how rope drop would go.

Having made sure to get myself set up the night before, I was able to head out the door right at 7; and enjoy my walk to the esplanade. They opened the gates a bit earlier, and by 7:30, everyone going to Avengers Campus was lined up next to Schmoozies! ( juice/drink shop towards the front of the park); taking selfies with the Guardians themed rope drop poster frame that was being passed around.

*If you're rope dropping Guardians, look for this sign (or ask which way to Schmoozies). Apparently, there's also a different place to queue for Guardians; but it takes longer to get to the ride.*

I have to give a shoutout to the CM who seemed to be the team lead on this morning. About ten minutes before rope drop, with the line so long that you couldn't see the end, a family walked up to the front; and pushed their way from the sidewalk to an empty spot. Before guests could even say a word, a CM stepped right up to them, and said "You just got here, and these people have been standing here for almost half an hour. I'll be escorting you to the back of the line." I know that CMs hands can be tied in terms of what they can/cannot say or do; but you gotta love it when people like that group get corrected.

If you've seen any DCA rope drop videos on Youtube, there's usually one particular male CM that gets the crowd pumped, and then makes sure that everyone going to GotG walks calmly and in a single line. I have to say, I was impressed with how well he had everything under control; given the number of people. He also was NOT playing around when a couple of people tried to take off running. In no time, we were making our way through the Guardians queue, with a posted wait of 30 mins. That was the fastest 30 mins of my life, because from the entrance to the pre show was maybe 5. A CM congratulated us for being in the first gantry lift of the day, and before I knew it, we were helping the Guardians get back to the Milano. Just like in FL, figuring out what song you get is part of the fun; and ours was "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar!

As far as I'm concerned, nothing says "Good Morning!" like screaming your head off, as you're pulled up and down at crazy speeds; so I decided to go for round 2! I used a LL this time, since the queue now actually resembled 30 mins; and got "I Want Your Back," by the Jackson 5 (my personal favorite of the options).

Exiting Guardians the second time, I saw that Groot was out meeting guests. After a rather stimulating conversation, and a few photos, I noticed that Spiderman: Web Slingers was right next door, and the standby was listed as 5 minutes...which then turned to 15 once I made my way partially through the outside section. LL showed that there was immediate availability, so I decided to make the most out of my $30 (discounted since I bought it when booking my package), and backtracked out of standby. This was my first time riding Web Slingers, and it's a lot of fun. It's reminiscent of Buzz/Midway Mania, but instead of using a device to collect points, you use your arms; who doesn't enjoy a workout with their Disney rides?

One of my favorite things about DCA is the Animation Academy, so that was next up on the list. It's such a beautiful building that showcases the artwork, music, etc. from a lot of your favorite Disney and Pixar Movies. Turtle Talk with Crush also happens to take place here; so while waiting for that, I took a lot of pictures of film artwork. Being around 10 AM, the theater wasn't quite full, so the actor that voiced Crush was able to have really great interactions with pretty much everyone.

I managed to snag a Soarin' LL while waiting for Crush to start, so from here, I made my way to Grizzly Peak; with a necessary popcorn stop along the way. This area of the park is themed to the beautiful California forestry, and is quite the sight. Once I checked in for LL, the indoor CM asked if there were any single riders; assuming that meant I would be squished into a corner seat, or in a row with a birds eye view of feet, I begrudgingly raised my hand. Thankfully, I was dead wrong; with a middle seat in the first row, I got to enjoy what is, in my opinion, one of the best rides Disney has to offer.

When exiting the ride, I noticed that Pluto was out for a stroll; after getting a big hug from him, I walked around Grizzly Peak for a bit longer to take some photos. Redwood Creek Challenge Trail; usually a forest themed play area, becomes "Villain's Grove" on the nights of Oogie Boogie Bash. It gets turned into a walkthrough experience with lots of lights and special effects themed to certain Disney villains (I believe this year was Maleficent, Scar, the Evil Queen from Snow White, the Queens of Hearts, and Dr. Facilier). I chose not to go this year, since I was solo; but I did manage to get some daytime shots of the entrance signs.

Next Up: Always take time to remember your loved ones

 

[Minnie1986]

Incredicoaster was next up on the LL hit list, but with over an hour to kill, I decided to slowly stroll my way to Pixar Pier. When I reached Paradise Gardens, I noticed that there was only a 5 min wait for Ariel's Undersea Adventure.

Mini Tangent Alert
Something that really grinds my gears are park guests that stare at/judge/mock others for riding certain things. In line for AUA, there was a group of women that were shooting daggers at the man in front of me. IMO, if a solo man wants to hang out with Ariel, that's their business (and none of anyone else's). The parks were made for everyone to enjoy; and as long as no one's doing something to you; or making it obvious that they may be up to no good; let's skip the rudeness. Remember folks, it's literally free to not be a (insert your favorite synonym for mean person here).

*steps down off of her soapbox*

He started to seem really uncomfortable, so I complimented him on his Ariel ears; we talked about our respective ear collections, and the cute tiled trim, until it was time to load. I offered to ride with him, but he graciously declined; wanting to "geek out (his words)" over his favorite princess. We bumped into each other again on the way out, and he thanked me for speaking to him earlier; because he was about to exit the line, and was now very glad that he didn't.

*The aforementioned trim design*

Like I mentioned earlier, Disneyland really gets into the Dia de Los Muertos spirit; and had transformed a part of Paradise Gardens into "Plaza de La Familia," featuring Coco. I'm truly at a loss for words to describe how great of a job they did with this; there were craft stations where you can write remembrances for loved ones (may or may not have gotten a bit weepy participating in this one), and hang them from the Memory Wall; color Alebrije(the spirit guides) masks(this year, the options were Dante and Pepita); beautiful decorations, as well as a live band playing various Disney songs, and explaining the significance of Dia de Los Muertos to the crowd. Taking a look at the specialized food and drink menus, I was definitely tempted; but I managed to resist. Towards the end, you also got the chance to check out "Miguel's Memory Box;" filled with pictures and mementos; and also where he did a meet and greet at certain times.

Definitely lost track of time in the plaza, because when I looked at my Apple Watch, I only had ~ 10 mins left to my LL. After booking it to Incredicoaster, the LL line moved very quickly; and I barely had time to catch my breath before loading. This is one ride that I will always happily wait for a front seat; especially at night. From here, I snagged an Indiana Jones LL, and hung out in Pixar Pier; riding Toy Story Midway Mania, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, the Golden Zephyr, and Silly Symphony Swings (which, as it turns out, is a great way to get a mid day refresh) along the way.

Not having been able to explore it the day before, I headed to Cars Land next. The whole section gets a really cool update for Halloween; with changes to ride music, decorations, themed food/drinks, and character meet and greets that feature costumes. The Cozy Cone Motel (a sort of food court where everything is served in cones, divided up into five delicious types of treats). Nothing was really calling my name, and with a special lunch ADR I didn't want to spoil; it was on to visit some of the guys from Radiator Springs.

Usually, Radiator Springs Racers is the big draw for this part of the park; but, with it having been down for refurb since August (and having come back the day after I left), some of the other rides were pulling bigger than usual numbers for wait times. Mater's Junkyard JamBOOree was at 30; but Luigi's Honkin' Haul-O-Ween had come down to 15 (each gets a spooky season themed renaming until after the holiday). Since the latter is my favorite of the two, I made my way there; and was happy to find that I would be loaded into the second round of cars; making my wait much more like 10 mins. After the dance party, I made my way back towards the front of the park for what I'd been looking forward to all day.

 

[Swissmiss]

Good on you for showing kindness to the man in line for the Ariel ride. Seriously, what is wrong with people? What’s it to them if he likes Ariel?!

 

[Minnie1986]

Good on you for showing kindness to the man in line for the Ariel ride. Seriously, what is wrong with people? What’s it to them if he likes Ariel?!

Right!? If he wants to sit in a clamshell, and sing along to "Part Of Your World?," how does that affect anyone else's day? Let's just all be happy!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Right!? If he wants to sit in a clamshell, and sing along to "Part Of Your World?," how does that affect anyone else's day? Let's just all be happy!

I'm glad you had the courage to talk to him, he should be able to ride whatever he wants. I probably wouldn't have talked to him because I'm not good about speaking to strangers but I probably would have been giving the group of women daggers right back. I may not want to speak to strangers but I'll do a teacher stare down.

 

[Minnie1986]

I'm glad you had the courage to talk to him, he should be able to ride whatever he wants. I probably wouldn't have talked to him because I'm not good about speaking to strangers but I probably would have been giving the group of women daggers right back. I may not want to speak to strangers but I'll do a teacher stare down.

The funny thing is, I'm such an introvert, except for when it comes to things like this. Seeing people get mistreated really irritates me, and that shyness goes right out of the window.

 

[the_rich]

The funny thing is, I'm such an introvert, except for when it comes to things like this. Seeing people get mistreated really irritates me, and that shyness goes right out of the window.

I went to DL by myself a few years back because I couldn't get anyone else to go. I went on Peter Pan and the ride stopped for a good 5 minutes right after I boarded. So there I was a mid 30s man sitting alone on a "kids" ride with hundreds of people looking at me. None of them were rude, it was really my own insecurities. That was a really long winded way to say thank you for talking to him.

 

[Minnie1986]

Carthay Circle Lounge is one of my favorite spots in Disneyland Resort; so when my ADR window opened, I snapped it right up. The West Coast answer to The Brown Derby/Lounge, it's a very old Hollywood vibe, with elevated dishes and great cocktails! This time, I went with the Vietnamese twice cooked beef lettuce wraps and Double Pear Martini; and I've never been more satisfied with a restaurant order. Both the food and cocktail were AMAZING! The lettuce wraps came with a pineapple mint salsa that complimented the flavor of the beef so well; and the pear martini was incredibly refreshing; especially on a day that nearly reached 90 degrees. If you find yourself in DCA, and in need of a sit down meal/break, I highly recommend both this place, and these items!

After prying myself away from my seat, I decided to check out the beautiful vintage photos of Walt that are hung throughout the restaurant.

Goofy was just across the way and looking quite dapper; so after saying hello and complimenting his impeccable style, I made my way to Disneyland Park. Luckily, I was just in time to catch the Disneyland Marching Band's last performance of the day. These guys are great and put on one hell of a show!

Once the show wrapped up, I made my way into the castle to do the Sleeping Beauty walkthrough; watching the fairies change the Aurora's dress at the end from pink to blue and back again makes me smile every time.

Small World was up next; I have to say, I love that this version has both in and outdoor sections; and the Mary Blair facade never gets old. If you haven't seen it, especially during Christmas time, I'd strongly suggest doing so.

*photo from the day after Christmas 2017*

​

With my two hour time restriction now up, I snagged a LL for Guardians MAD; which would have me hopping right back to DCA. Indiana Jones was uneventful this time around, but just as thrilling as ever. From here, I was able to stop in on Jose and Co. at the Tiki Room, and snag a Dole Whip before having to leave. Thankfully, no one traumatized their children on MAD this go 'round; and I headed over to the Pym Tasting Lab; an outdoor bar themed after Hank Pym's laboratory, for a drink and a break. Unfortunately, they were out of what I wanted, so I ended up going Titration Tea; good, but not anything special.

*Vodka and Hard Iced Tea with Lemonade and Wild Strawberry Syrup(found my photo)*

I had a full agenda for the evening, so with that in mind, I left the park, and took a Lyft back to the hotel. With around two hours to kill, I decided to check out the hotel pool; and kinda bounced between it and the hot tub until it was time to get dressed. This night saw me heading back to Disneyland to try and catch the nighttime shows. Including the anniversary specific one, there would be three in total; so after a few castle pics, I made my way to New Orleans Square for dinner.

Ever since it opened, I'd been wanting to check out Tiana's Palace; having heard good things about several of the dishes. Since they offered one of my favorites, I went with the Jambalaya, Tiana's Punch, and an ice water refill for my YETI bottle; and I have to say the food was even better than expected. I was also surprised at the spice level of the dish; normally, Disney tends to steer away from things with real kick; but this had plenty to spare!

Assuming that the first showing would be the most popular, I asked for a to go box, and made a beeline for Fantasyland. Throughout the 70th anniversary, Disney will be displaying the "Tapestry of Happiness" projection show along the facade of It's A Small World. It showcases the creation and evolution of Disneyland; along with some moments and music from various Disney classics. With twenty minutes to spare, I found a great spot on the curb; and sat down to finish the rest of dinner. Upon standing back up, I gave myself a metaphorical pat on the back; because the number of people that had accumulated behind me was nothing short of nuts!

Once the show started, I was completely transfixed at how beautiful not only show was, but how it all enhanced the IASW building. Everything went together so well, and between the projections and the music, the guest next to me had to tap me on the shoulder and snap me back to reality once it finished.

Between finishing dinner and waiting for the show to start, I managed to get one more LL for Haunted Mansion Holiday, and started heading that way; but not before crossing another must do off of the list, riding the teacups at night! As much fun as the teacups are during the day, doing so at night is a completely different level of amazing. Spinning around under the lanterns just felt so relaxing; and really allowed me to take a minute and enjoy my surroundings.

 

[Minnie1986]

Near the castle, there was another 70th anniversary MagicBand display; every time you tap a button, the corresponding crest opens up to display a scene from its movie and play the accompanying music. It really is cool how they found a way to put little interactive displays all over the park for its celebration. The ghost host was calling my name, so it was back to New Orleans Square. The line for HMH was crazy long, and even LL was experiencing a slow crawl. Praying that the ride wasn't on the verge of a shutdown, we made it into the pre show and onto the buggies with no issues!

The second show I had my eye on was "Halloween Screams;" since fireworks can only happen on the weekend, they play the projections along the castle and the buildings on Main St. Since I stopped to take some nighttime pictures of Tiana's Bayou Adventure, I made my way the hub with only 15 minutes to spare. Luckily, I was able to find a spot just behind the "Partners" statue. Before long, Jack and Zero kicked off their hosting duties; ushering in Maleficent, Ursula, Dr. Facillier, and a bunch of other villains to show off their wicked ways.

*not my photo*

Show number 3 was only 30 minutes after the projections, and allowed me to stay in the area of the hub. To cap off the 70th celebrations, Disneyland also saw fit to bring back their night parade, "Paint The Night!" Since I skipped my usual mid day Disney nap, I was struggling; but there was no way that I was going to miss this! Since this round was at 10:30, a lot of guests left the park after Halloween Screams; leaving a lot more room to spread out. Having found a spot on the curb next to a couple of my fellow elder Millenials, we started talking about pretty much any and every thing to keep one another awake. By the 10:25 announcement, the adrenaline started pumping, and I was wide awake; and before long the bright lights were headed our way. Way back when, the night parades were my favorite part of going to Disney World; so for both parks to have brought them back really felt special. I'd be lying if I didn't say that seeing all of the floats, dancers, etc. covered in lights didn't bring back a lot of wonderful memories; and bring a tear or two to my eye.

Next Up: One More Day of Magic

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

The lettuce wraps at the Carthay Circle are my favorite dish in any Disney park. I usually get a Tequila Daisy but maybe I'll have to try the pear martini next time.