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!!

 

[amjt660]

Day 5 - Wednesday Aug30 - Last day at Disney - First day in San Diego
Started out going to DCA through the main entrance (better to get to Mission Breakout)

We ended up being approx. 15 back in the standby line - we waited near Animation - and then were walked to the ride and straight into the office.

As we were waiting for the office the CM persuaded us to move forward.

" Fill in all the available space , just like Tetris
And... if you do not know what Tetris is you had a deprived childhood"

Ride pictures

I think I was doing an air guitar solo - S was so embarrassed - I still got it

And the song you ask?
Free Ride (as in Come on and take a Free ride, yay,yay.yay) by The Edgar Winter group (had to look that one up)

6 rides, 6 different songs for C and me.
We were stoked!

Now T was not as happy - You see the day before when C and I went to get a FP we had to wait about 30min to get a good window
So we took advantage and rode the ride - this did not go over well.

As it turns out there was almost no line at all - so we went back on again and pretty much walked right on
The office was half full

Ride photos - we were trying to dance by moving up arms up and down to one side like Gamora.

And the song you ask???
Burning Love by Elvis ! (the one that T missed)

So C and Max were 6 for 6 on their first six rides.
T was also 6 for 6 on her first rides
S only went on 4 timeS but was 4 for 4.
No repeats at all

How is this possible - the luck , the good fortune

When things go well like this in WDW we relate it to @Tuvalu and call it the Shirley treatment

On the West Coast??

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I give you the developer of dreams
the maker of magic
the fountain of fortune

I give you

THE CLARENCE EFFECT !!!

 

[Figaro Family]

This is what is called poor theming

This is what I'm most upset about. The ride itself sounds really cool and I'm more interested to go on it after reading your reviews but it's hard to take the messed up theming on the outside! Our last trip to Disneyland was before they shut down ToT for the change over so I'm cringing over seeing the new look in person next time we go.
Also, I have warned my husband that someway somehow we are going on that Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour now that I've read about your experience. He says "Thanks a lot"

 

[A.D.D. Boy]

Sir "Clarence",

I dig your trip report as I love, love Disneyland/California Adventure! Looking forward to next trip (probably next summer) and with my girls being big GOG fans can't wait to ride GOG: Mission Breakout. We also always go to an Angels game when we're there as it is an easy, laid back fun time. Thx for sharing...!

 

[Kiwiduck]

Guardians looks like great fun - looking forward to it a lot. Shame your infinity stone picture was ruined by the flash as it was the best idea for an on-ride photo I have ever seen!

 

[Songbird76]

Day 1 Travel Day:
Before I get started just a short disclaimer.
My picture taking was very inconsistent.
I did not take a lot of typical pics of the resort , rides, parades , FW ,etc.
So lets just go with it and see what happens.

IF you are looking for amazing pics in general I suggest @fractal and @Sheriff Woody
IF you are looking for great Disneyland pics check out @bee and @ajrwdwgirl and their DLR reports

So on with the story

Woke up at 3:30, left house at 4:30 and arrived at airport around 6 for a 8:30am flight from YYZ (Toronto Pearson) to SAN( San Diego Lindbergh)

Does anyone else do this?
View attachment 230727
I find after a great vacation I usually always forget where I parked.

Took off at 8:45 but landed at 10:25 and got bags by 11:15.
Rental car at 11:45 (Nissan Rouge - I know - not a Toyota - trust me I checked)

Note: We drove to the airport in my RAV4 instead of the minivan because I wanted to make sure everything would fit in the Rogue
It all fit - I am so "a" retentive at times - but I only wanted to play Tetris once at home in the comfort of my own driveway with the luggage.

One stop in Oceanside for subway lunch and then arrived at Grand Californian at 2:30pm
Room was ready
At first I was disappointed that we were put in the far wing away from the park entrances but I realized later why - they were dong reno work on the other wing

We had a good view of DCA from the balcony
View attachment 230728 View attachment 230729

Goofys Sky School was being refurbed so we did not get to see it operating during our stay.

Refurbed rooms are nice
View attachment 230730 View attachment 230731
T and S did the unpack and settle
C and I hit up Ralphs for the essentials

Heading out to the park at 4:20

I'm a bit late...life has gotten in the way in the last couple of weeks. But I'm going to try to keep up a bit better.
Yes...I do the picture thing with parking, but sometimes just taking the picture is enough to stick it in my brain and I don't actually need the picture later.
What a nice view!!

 

[Songbird76]

So are you saying it's not an identity crisis, but more like multiple personality disorder?

 

[littleroo]

So are you saying it's not an identity crisis, but more like multiple personality disorder?

Love it!!

 

[amjt660]

This is what I'm most upset about. The ride itself sounds really cool and I'm more interested to go on it after reading your reviews but it's hard to take the messed up theming on the outside! Our last trip to Disneyland was before they shut down ToT for the change over so I'm cringing over seeing the new look in person next time we go.
Also, I have warned my husband that someway somehow we are going on that Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour now that I've read about your experience. He says "Thanks a lot

The theming does not work right now
The outside of the ride is ugly in my opinion
But I think the problem is that they tried to make the Hollywood Tower (which we had already accepted as that) and turn it into a Marvel Universe Collector building.

Give it some time - they will figure it out - I hope - The view from the Carthy looks even worse.

Tell your husband I am sorry about the tour
I do not know a lot about your son's abilities and what he can handle
It is a 3 hour walking tour with a few breaks and you do go on only certain rides.
Something to think about (and I am sure you already are).

Sir "Clarence",

I dig your trip report as I love, love Disneyland/California Adventure! Looking forward to next trip (probably next summer) and with my girls being big GOG fans can't wait to ride GOG: Mission Breakout. We also always go to an Angels game when we're there as it is an easy, laid back fun time. Thx for sharing...!

Your girls will love the ride - it is so much fun - I do not consider it scary at all anymore - it is a wild ride
The Angels game was exactly as you put it - laid back /relaxing fun time.

Guardians looks like great fun - looking forward to it a lot. Shame your infinity stone picture was ruined by the flash as it was the best idea for an on-ride photo I have ever seen!

You will enjoy it - try to get on as many times as you can to get the different songs (which have slightly different scenes and drop sequences.

With respect to the infinity stone - it was glowing bright purple throughout the ride.
I considered letting it float but did not want to drop it /damage it.

I'm a bit late...life has gotten in the way in the last couple of weeks. But I'm going to try to keep up a bit better.
Yes...I do the picture thing with parking, but sometimes just taking the picture is enough to stick it in my brain and I don't actually need the picture later.
What a nice view!!

It was a nice view of the Pier section and we were able to sort of see world of colour.

So are you saying it's not an identity crisis, but more like multiple personality disorder?

I would not call it a "crisis" or a "disorder"
I see it as a strategy to properly categorize my wide range of behaviors and to compartmentalize them in a way that best benefits me (or should I say "us") for the greater good (but mostly me - I mean the three of us )

Max

 

[amjt660]

Brief update on this TR:
I am trying to finish it up before this Thurday because I fly out that day on a business trip to Japan
However I am actually going direct to Hong Kong first, arriving on Friday afternoon.
The plan is to go to Hong Kong Disneyland on Friday evening and all day Saturday.
Then on Sunday I will fly to Japan for 2 weeks of work.

So this report might get suspended for a bit.

Shout out to @Kiwiduck who I have been PM'ing to get some HKDL details sorted out in advance.

Max

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Have fun! And I'm so jealous of your upcoming business trip.

 

[amjt660]

Have fun! And I'm so jealous of your upcoming business trip.

I will do my best to have a good time, take lots of pictures and report back on my findings

Max

 

[amjt660]

Day 5 cont'd
Finished up with GOG and moved on to RSR one last time

Unfortunately I spoiled C's perfect record by having in my car this time
Ended up 1 win and 3 losses (she was the opposite 3-1)
S and T both won - S finished at 3-0 ( T did not keep track - we know who the "kids" are in this family
Flo's diner

Last look done Route 66 - hope to see you soon!

Walking out of DCA

And last minute shots of stores before saying goodbye to DCA

 

[amjt660]

Day 5 cont'd
Back to Disneyland for the last time (on this trip I hope)

Went Storybook Cannel Boats - since it was not open the other morning
Happy Selfie that it is open

Not happy Selfie that this is our last DLR day

T - get with the program

better
As described in other reports this is a casual boat ride through miniatures of your favorite Disney fairy tales

Monstro !!

 

[amjt660]

Day 5 - more Storybook...

 

[amjt660]

Day 5 - Small World
I tried to capture both the beautiful outside queue and the Disneyfication of the inside.
Some hate it, some like it - I am inbetween - some are done well and others are a stretch to fit in with the other inhabitants

Alice

Cindy

Pinnochio (not a good one)

Jasmine and Aladdin

 

[amjt660]

Day 5 - Small World cont'd
Mulan and Mushu

Simba, Timon and Pumba (timon pops up - he is hiding in this pic)

Ariel

Flounder

Dory and Marlin(?) or is it supposed to be Nemo?

Best of all them - Lilo and Stitch

The 3 Caballeros

Jesse, Woody and Bullseye

and back outside

I could not get a shot of PP and Tink to come out on my phone
I think I got them all but I might have missed one

 

[amjt660]

Day 5 cont'd
S and T headed out , picked up sourdough bread at DCA and then went shopping at World of Disney
C and I ventured into

and met Pluto as he was walking in

and rode

and took some pics around Toontown

 

[amjt660]

Day 5 cont'd
More Toontown

Teacups (outside)

Walking up towards the front gate

Entrance to DCA getting ready for Halloween (in August??- that is cra cra)

Had lunch in the room
Once last look off the balcony
Framed pictures in the room
Checked out at exactly noon

 

[amjt660]

Day 5 - Drive to SD and the resort
This was our chariot down the I5
Left at noon - arrived just after 2pm

Pacific Terrace is the low rise hotel in front of the high rise

Finally go into the room at 4 pm (took longer than I anticipated)
Room pics ( 2 room suite - pull out couch for C (only used it on the first night)

 

[amjt660]

Day 5 cont'd - more room picture and Baby Groot!!