Trip Report 2018-2019 A Year in the Land (Disneyland)...a multi-trip report

Hello and welcome to my trip report for my year as an annual passholder to Disneyland. Me (Amy) and my husband (Brad) have been passholders of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World but this year we decided to be exclusive to just the Land. It was a little painful to give up going to WDW this year, we consider it our home park but we also enjoy Disneyland too. I think I have a little more fondness to it than Brad, but anyway.... So why are we passholders for DL exclusively this year instead of WDW or both parks. Well financially it didn't necessarily make sense. Brad is a big Star Wars fan and I'm a big Disney nerd so with Galaxy's Edge opening in the Land earlier than WDW that was a draw. And the D23 Expo is in Anaheim again this year so it checked boxes for both of us.

So I'm going to begin this report a little in the past, 2018, that's right so long ago! :) We traveled to Disneyland over Thanksgiving 2018 and bought our annual passes so that is where we will start the trip report.

Upcoming trips:
A. late March 2019
B. possibly (most likely) a solo trip for me over Easter 2019 (Why solo?...well Brad is a pastor and the congregation kind of expects him to be there over Easter. I'm a teacher and have a nice little break over Easter and the hubs is too busy over Holy week and Easter so he won't really notice I'm gone.)
C. Late June 2019 to celebrate our anniversary and birthdays all in June and in the same week. This trip will include Los Angeles, Sequoia National Park, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park & Palm Springs as well as Disneyland (and perhaps if rumors are true our first entrance into Galaxy's Edge)
D. our last trip late August for Disneyland and D23 Expo

By the way...if any of you are in Disneyland when our paths cross it would be cool to have any meet ups or say hi. I've met a few awesome WDWMagic members in Walt Disney World and it has been so cool. Don't be afraid to say hi if you see us walking around too!:):cool:

So let's start the first leg of the trip report: November 20-25 2018

Tuesday November 20
Brad and I both had a full day at work. My day should have been full of students but since it is Deer Hunting week (or at least the big gun hunting week) in Wisconsin and Thanksgiving week, our district gives the kids the week off and teachers report for two days of inservice. So it wasn't a hectic day for me. However there was a little kerfuffle in the plan for today. It involved our beloved and spoiled minature schnauzer Kapono.
IMG_5529.JPG


My boss said that we could leave at 3pm instead of 3:30pm so hubby picked me up on the way to drop off Kapono at the kennel. Kapono has only spent 2 days ever in this kennel (good experience) usually she stays with my sister but she was unable to care for her this time. So it was the first time Kapono was going to be spending an extended time in a kennel. So we arrived at the kennel and no one is there, even though it is check-in time and the main building for the kennel is unlocked. So we go inside and wait thinking that maybe the owner is just busy at the house and will be out soon. After 5 minutes no one came even though dogs were barking in her house and in the kennel. So hubs gives her a call. And in the mean time I'm concerned that she left the kennel unlocked! Anyway, the lady was surprised we were calling and had lost track of time and was an hour away from the kennel. But more importantly she was surprised that we were there because she hadn't written down our reservation!!!! Hubs had the email confirmation though. Luckily she had one run left. She said it was luckily for us, but really it was lucky for her!!!! I don't know what we would have done if that run wouldn't have been available though. Although hubs said one of our church members would have pitched in for us. So I took Kapono out into the fenced in yard area and when I let her in she happily ran into the open caged run. I was glad she seemed happy to be there but a little concerned now at the professionalism of the kennel owner. Fast forward to the end of our trip when we picked her up...Kapono had been a good girl there and was safe (and clean). So it all worked out and this over-protective dog mom was happy, and the kennel owner apologized a few times.


So anyway, after we dropped Kapono off we drove up to Minneapolis to the airport for our flight. We ended up being pretty early for our flight but we'd rather wait safely at the airport than be stressed out in traffic. Check in and security took less than 15 minutes so we had a decent meal and drinks at the Minnesota Wild (our favorite hockey team) teamed restaurant). We hadn't planned on eating here but I guess it was fate since we were wearing our Disney Minnesota Wild themed shirts.

IMG_4241.JPG
IMG_4242.JPG
IMG_5760.JPG
IMG_5762.JPG


IMG_5764.JPG


The seats we were in used to be 1st class but now the company is going more the Spirit route and these seats were $45 more to the base ticket price. So for that we thought it was a deal to have slightly bigger seats and more foot space for the flight.
IMG_5766.JPG


Adios Minnesota!
IMG_5767.JPG


We flew into LAX and took an Uber to Anaheim. The traffic was a little heavy in the arrival/departure area so it took our Uber driver a little while about 10-15 minutes to get to us, but it didn't seem too bad. We made it to Anaheim in about 40 minutes (our driver was a speed demon) but that was okay with us. We checked into our hotel the Best Western Park Place Inn, literally across the street from the entrance as seen below. We went to the ticket booth and purchased/cashed in 4 day park hoppers for our annual passes with Max pass and gleefully entered Disneyland with about 40 minutes until park close!

IMG_5769.JPG
 
Last edited:

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
Original Poster
Friday April 19, 2019

After lunch I headed over to it's a small world, then did some shopping on Main Street before heading back to the hotel for a nap.
IMG_7386.JPG


IMG_0973.JPG


IMG_0974.JPG


IMG_0975.JPG


IMG_7389.JPG


IMG_7390.JPG


IMG_7391.JPG


Yes, I bought a spirit jersey for my dog. It fits her perfectly and she hates wearing it. She looks adorable in it though.
IMG_7392.JPG


And I found the Mickey egg in the pin shop.
IMG_0976.JPG
 

Matt and Kelly

Well-Known Member
Finally all caught up! I can’t believe how much you were able to get accomplished on your first night. It’s surprising how low the crowds were for Easter!
This winter was one of our coldest too. In February I don’t think we spent a day under -30, but unlucky for us we don’t get snow/cold days 🥶
I love the dog spirit jersey! It suits him well.
Kelly
 

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
Original Poster
Finally all caught up! I can’t believe how much you were able to get accomplished on your first night. It’s surprising how low the crowds were for Easter!
This winter was one of our coldest too. In February I don’t think we spent a day under -30, but unlucky for us we don’t get snow/cold days 🥶
I love the dog spirit jersey! It suits him well.
Kelly

I was surprised at what I was able to get done that first night too. Actually during the whole trip I expected big crowds but was happy that crowds weren't as high as I expected.

And this winter was pretty unusual for us, we basically had no snow until the last week of January and then everything hit...snow, ice & bitter cold. I'm just glad it is gone.
 

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
Original Poster
Friday April 19, 2019

Back to Disneyland after a much needed nap. I made it back to the park about 10 minutes before the Soundsational parade was due to arrive on Main Street. There was plenty of space up at the train station so I went up there and stood by a rail and enjoyed the parade. I didn't take too many pictures of it, I just wanted to enjoy it. I did end up livestreaming some of it on Facebook so Brad could enjoy it before he started his Good Friday service back home.

IMG_7396.JPG
IMG_7398.JPG
IMG_7401.JPG
IMG_0988.JPG
IMG_0989.JPG
IMG_0990.JPG
IMG_0993.JPG
IMG_0994.JPG
 

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
Original Poster
Friday April 19, 2019

After Soundsational I checked out the Disneyana shop and the display for the new Aladdin movie. I may have touched the magic carpet, it was really thick. Then I watched the flag retreat before using a fast pass for Buzz. As I entered the Buzz building I looked up and the sky had some cool puffy clouds, so that's why there is a picture of that.

IMG_0995.JPG
IMG_0996.JPG
IMG_0997.JPG
IMG_0998.JPG
IMG_1003.JPG
IMG_1005.JPG
IMG_1007.JPG
IMG_7402.JPG



Time for dinner at the Hungry Bear!
IMG_7406.JPG
 

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
Thanks for the submarine pictures. I missed it when you origionally posted because I was a bit preoccupied. (In a good way🏰)
The pictures in front of The Golden Horseshoe....flashback! The Golden Horseshoe was the first place my mom would always drag us so we could make a lunch reservation (pre ADR). Yes, we rope dropped the Golden Horseshoe
Every
Single
Time
 

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
Original Poster
Friday April 19, 2019

I had decided to try the Hungry Bear Fantasmic package. I decided to try this for a couple reasons: I had never done this package, it is the cheapest of the dining packages, and I didn't fancy going to Blue Bayou or River Belle on my own. The menu options seemed ok but I wanted french fires and they could sub in fries for the kale quinoa salad that came with the ribs on the Fantasmic menu. So I ordered off the regular menu. I went with a BBQ type burger. It was fine but the jalapeno relish was gross and the ciabatta bread just didn't work for me as the bun, it was too chewy and too much bread so I went bun less. But the french fries really hit the spot and I was really diggin' them for some reason so in the end I was happy with my meal.

IMG_1010.JPG


The view from the Hungry Bear was fantastic too. I sent Brad a couple pictures, he was jealous of the view.

IMG_7404.JPG


IMG_1013.JPG


IMG_1014.JPG


IMG_1016.JPG



It was a very relaxing place to sit and unwind. I also spotted a canoe full of cast members in the trees by Tom Sawyer Island.

IMG_1009.JPG


And saw a boat I'd never seen on the Rivers of America before.
IMG_1017.JPG


IMG_1018.JPG


After dinner I decided since I was in "bear" country that I should go on Winnie the Pooh, and I said hello to Max, Buff, and Melvin (leftovers from the Country Bears) on the wall in the attraction. I also went to the sweet shop in that area and grabbed a chocolate peanut butter sandwich to eat as my dessert while I watched Fantasmic later. Then I decided to take a ride on on the rails from New Orleans Square.
IMG_1019.JPG
 

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
Original Poster
Friday April 19, 2019

A view of from the train...look at all those strollers!
IMG_1021.JPG


When I got back to New Orleans Square, I popped into the Haunted Mansion and then wandered around for awhile. I got to my Fantasmic spot about 15 mintues before show time. There was still a lot of room in the Hungry Bear section. I positioned myself in front of a garbage can in the area so I didn't have to worry about anyone behind me. I ended up with plenty of space to stretch my legs sometimes too. Overall the Hungry Bear package was a good deal for this Fantasmic viewing.

IMG_7417.JPG


Time for dessert!
IMG_7416.JPG


Time for the show!
IMG_1024.JPG


IMG_1031.JPG


IMG_1036.JPG


IMG_1042.JPG


IMG_1043.JPG



IMG_1050.JPG


IMG_1054.JPG
 
Last edited:

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
Original Poster
Sorry for the delay but I'm going to try to get in a update post to finish Friday April 19 before my family shows up for a cook out....

Finishing up Fantasmic. I really enjoyed the show more than usual, maybe it was the peanut butter chocolate sandwich I ate, maybe it was the extra space I had around me, maybe it was that I purposely didn't try to take many pictures or maybe all of those things. Anyway, it is always a must do for me in Disneyland, in Hollywood Studios, meh not so much. Although the seating situation at HS is much better.
IMG_1058.JPG



IMG_1059.JPG


And I stuck around the area to see Mickey's Mix Magic. I know people have panned this show online but personally I love it, such fun music. Although the Rivers area is not my favorite spot for this show, that is Main Street and small world.
IMG_7420.JPG


IMG_1068.JPG
IMG_1077.JPG



IMG_1064.JPG


IMG_1078.JPG



Then I took a spin on Big Thunder and moseyed on Big THunder trail. I tried to take the trail as often as I could and enjoy the peace of the area as much as possible because I knew that on my next trip and in future trips it will never be quiet again because of Galaxy's Edge (sigh).
IMG_1082.JPG


When I took this my eyes deceived me and it looked fine on the small camera screen, but as you see it was blurry.
IMG_1083.JPG



IMG_1089.JPG
 

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
Original Poster
Friday April 19, 2019

I wandered around the rest of the evening, finishing in Tomorrowland until park close which was 11pm. I did ride Buzz about 5 times in a row with no wait, the last two times the cast members let me stay in my space ship which was super cool. Then as I exited the attraction the last round the park had closed and I took a couple pictures of an emptying Tomorrowland which always seems super packed.

IMG_1088.JPG


IMG_1090.JPG


IMG_1092.JPG


IMG_1095.JPG


IMG_1096.JPG


IMG_1099.JPG


IMG_1103.JPG


IMG_1105.JPG


IMG_1112.JPG


IMG_1113.JPG
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom