Trip Report **COMPLETED** Welcome to Radiator Springs!

Hey everyone!
I never wrote a pre-trip report so aside from my instagram friends not sure if anyone even knows I went on another trip

Who?
The usual suspects - my Mom (Mary) and me (Megan)
This is a picture of us from our last trip!

Where?
California!!! Woohoo!! San Diego and DisneyLAND!!! Disneyland Hotel was where we stayed

When?
Total trip length was October 4-14, 2018

Why?
I had a work conference in San Diego and we figured - hey while we are in California why not go to Disneyland as well??? When you are a Disney addict anyway...

October 4-7, 2018 were all San Diego
I won't bore you with San Diego pictures but I figured I would at least include our usual travel date pictures - oh and a picture of us with the Grand Floridian ?? Just kidding its Hotel del Coronado

Anyway...on to the actual TR!

Disneyland Day 1 October 8, 2018
We spent our morning in San Diego having some breakfast, walking around the water and riding some scooters
Then, we packed up our 4 suitcases (come on...is anyone surprised we have 4) and grabbed a taxi to the...train station! Yep, we were taking a train from San Diego to Anaheim! My Mom was very excited and I was just nervous because we had never taken one before and I wasn't sure how it all worked
Our taxi ride was eventful as our luggage almost fell out the window and the guy dropped us off way far away from the station
Then, we walked into the station with all our luggage and I freaked out that our luggage was too big. Thankfully, an Amtrak employee saw the distressed looks on our faces and checked our luggage with no problems! P.S. we were the only ones who checked our bags on the entire train
The San Diego downtown train station is really cool inside (if not a bit dingy as well).

A light photo for all of you...

Some more train station photos

Next up: more train station photos

 

[Doc Disney]

I don’t like Marvel movies either but for some reason I love the guardians of the galaxy!

I just thought it was super funny. My Mom and I were cracking up the entire movie But also...yes...I do love Christ Pratt

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued
Cool view of the Incredicoaster from the swings!

They have these fair/midway style games in Pixar Pier that I insisted we play. My Mom was not to thrilled with me as it cost us $20 to play 2 games and truly wasn't worth it We played the Toy Story game and my Mom came in 2nd. Then we played the Wall-E game and it was just the two of us so obviously we won a plush

Probably could have bought the same Wall-E plush for like 12 dollars
Anyway, we could spy our eventual destination from across the water

We were heading to the Lamplight Lounge!
We checked in (PS there are 2 lines: one for eating and one for just drinks and apps - we did not know this and we were in the wrong line) and since we did not have a reservation they told us it would be about a 20 minute wait.
We actually just barely sat down to wait when our table was ready! Woohoo! We were seated downstairs at the bar and that was fine with us

Next up: more lunch

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued
I feel like Lamplight is known for its cocktails so we decided to try some

My Mom's was called Open Ocean with a Splash and mine was The Sequel. Mine bubbled and it was cool (but hard to drink haha). They were both really good!
We had already had some snacks so we weren't starving but we still wanted to try something to eat so we shared the Chicken Sandwich (crispy Chicken Breast with Spicy Chili Glaze, Vinegar Slaw, Pineapple Butter, and Toasted Amish Bun served with Malted Fries). It was just OK I would say.

After our meal we headed out and took a few pictures before leaving Pixar Pier

You can see where they are working on World of Color stuff

My Mom said something about how she wished they had a Ghiradelli and I was like ...they do and we are right near it

She actually debated about if she actually wanted ice cream or not and we are glad she ended up deciding she did because it was there we realized she left her credit card at Lamplight. Thankfully she noticed it before we left DCA. So, after grabbing her card we headed back to Ghiradelli and she got a sea salt caramel sundae

Next up: more...snacks

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued
Well...we weren't done with snacks as I had my eye on one more thing I really wanted.
Popcorn from the Popcone! Of all the cones this one opens the latest - we had a hard time ever finding a time it was open.

They have flavored popcorn here and I chose the dil flavor - it was super good but SUPER salty!
I think I ate just a few handfuls before I gave it up for fear of hypertension.
After our last treat we headed out and back to the hotel so I could get some work done and we could relax. Then, since we can not sit still, we went to Downtown Disney to bit of shopping.
We noticed a huge line of people waiting for something and it was to meet the Bucket List family...enjoy my stalker like photo

Also I popped into Starbucks to grab a drink and recognized a voice so I looked up. Sure enough it was Seth Rogen (and he was wearing Mickey ears that said Seth ). Literally just standing there with a bunch of friends. I told my Mom and she was like ...who? I did not take his pictures because I was like 2 ft from him and I would have felt bad invading his space. I did not mind taking a picture of the Bucket List family since they were there to take pictures Probably backwards logic. Anyway, we just sat in the sun for a bit enjoying it and people watching

This evening we had plans to meet up with a family friend who lives in California as he works for the Disney Company. We had a nice time visiting Newport Beach which is about 30 minutes away. I will only share pictures we took from the hotel

It was nice to explore somewhere outside Anaheim!

Next up: Day 5 - a whole lot of Fantasyland

 

[riverside]

My Mom's was called Open Ocean with a Splash and mine was The Sequel. Mine bubbled and it was cool (but hard to drink haha). They were both really good!

Your drink looks really neat!! What was in it?

 

[Songbird76]

View attachment 324030

Really trying to restrain myself from making a crude joke about needing a bathroom break to "P". Sorry. It makes me giggle. I'm basically a 5 year old and potty jokes are funny.

 

[CaliKris]

I am loving all your photos! Glad you got into Lamplight Lounge. We really liked the atmosphere and drinks! I think they are still tweaking the menu, too many spicy things for my taste. And two celebrity sightings at Downtown Disney! That is quite the LA experience! Love your white shorts and black top. Super cute!

Did you notice Figment in the little box in the Guardians queue? Most locals don’t know who he is. LOL!

 

[LeighM]

I feel like I would really like the movies if I just sat down and took the time to watch them. All my friends tell me all the time I need to see them. I need someone to tell me what order I should watch things in!

Here's a good link with one of the watch orders. This article includes everything in the Marvel universe so only pay attention to the bolded movie titles.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-...-netflix-avengers-black-panther-a8420876.html

 

[Doc Disney]

Your drink looks really neat!! What was in it?

Stole this from the menu: Bubbling Cocktail with Absolut Citron Vodka, Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron Rum, Liquid Alchemist Passion Fruit, fresh Lime Juice and Agave Nectar
It was delicious!!!

Really trying to restrain myself from making a crude joke about needing a bathroom break to "P". Sorry. It makes me giggle. I'm basically a 5 year old and potty jokes are funny.

It sadly look me forever to even figure out what you were saying. Whoops

 

[Doc Disney]

I am loving all your photos! Glad you got into Lamplight Lounge. We really liked the atmosphere and drinks! I think they are still tweaking the menu, too many spicy things for my taste. And two celebrity sightings at Downtown Disney! That is quite the LA experience! Love your white shorts and black top. Super cute!

Did you notice Figment in the little box in the Guardians queue? Most locals don’t know who he is. LOL!

I love the atmosphere! I was honestly a bit bummed when they took Ariel's Grotto away but this was a big upgrade I think! And no I didn't I wish I did!! Funny that no one knows who he is though - especially since he's SO popular at WDW

Here's a good link with one of the watch orders. This article includes everything in the Marvel universe so only pay attention to the bolded movie titles.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-...-netflix-avengers-black-panther-a8420876.html

Ohhh perfect thank you !!!!

 

[Doc Disney]

October 12, 2018 Day 5
We got up, ready and headed to DL!
We got there around 7:50 and right into a giant rope drop line

I was really missing MBs. If its your first time using your tickets in the park they have to take your picture and it takes forever to get through the line this way.

Spotted on Main St

My main goal was to hit up every ride in Fantasyland that we don't have in WDW (aside from Snow White which we already did).
First we started with Alice in Wonderland

Then Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

These warning signs everywhere make me laugh...

Next up: More Fantasyland

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued

Cool light

Then the Storybook Land Canal Boats

This ride is adorable. Its miniature storybook houses/palaces etc and they briefly talk about each one

Another way to see Storybook Land is via the Casey Jr. Circus train. We never rode this before so we hopped on.

Next up: more Casey Jr

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued

Then Pinocchio's Daring Journey!

The carousel had a short wait so we went on that next

Then time for a quick PP picture

Next up: more DL

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5
Phew we were really moving fast through these attractions so decided to push our luck and head to Toontown (which just opened as it opens usually about an hour after the park does).

Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin was up first. There was literally no one else in line or on the ride
Oh...not sure why this is so blurry sorry !

This was the last of what we would refer to as the drug induced rides...all of them are a bit weird

I knew there was a small roller coaster somewhere in Toontown but couldn't remember where - turns out its in the back. Its called Gadget's Go Coaster and I would say its very similar to the Barnstormer. This was new for us as well
We got on it and I looked back and....

Another empty ride!
When we got back a guy waiting to get on was so excited for us that we had an empty ride
Pluto was hanging around

Next up: more Toontown

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued
Goofy was out and about too.
It was around Goofy where we heard two CM's loudly speaking about how horrible it is to be in Toontown and telling each other hopefully the day goes by fast...

Some other random photos

The water fountain was weird and we couldn't figure out how to work it hence these photos...

Next up: more...Toontown

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued
We decided to check out Minnie's House and meet her

She wasn't quite out yet so we waited a few minutes to meet her.
They really could not have a worse spot for photos the shadowing is so bad.

We considered meeting Mickey but I do not believe he was out yet. It was crazy how dead it still was in Toontown we took a bunch more photos.

I actually do not remember Toontown in WDW but I wish we still had one! It was a blast!!

Next up: more WDW

 

[amjt660]

Day 5 continued
Goofy was out and about too.
It was around Goofy where we heard two CM's loudly speaking about how horrible it is to be in Toontown and telling each other hopefully the day goes by fast...
View attachment 324364
View attachment 324365
View attachment 324366
View attachment 324367
Some other random photos
View attachment 324368
The water fountain was weird and we couldn't figure out how to work it hence these photos...
View attachment 324369
View attachment 324370
View attachment 324372
View attachment 324373

Next up: more...Toontown

Did you step on the foot pads to play music?

Max

 

[Doc Disney]

Did you step on the foot pads to play music?

Max

what...no!!! Where was that?

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued
After stepping out of Toontown we walked towards Main Street
We ended up catching a ride on one of the Main Street vehicles down to the entrance. This particular one Walt had actually ridden on before too. That history of Disneyland is what makes it much more special than WDW .... sometimes it just gives you chills!

Then we hopped over to DCA.
We had not eaten anything up to this point so we stopped for a treat. My Mom had the same cupcake she had the day before and I had a churro!
It was Halloween themed aka it was purple

I will say I am not typically into churros but this was delicious!!!

Then, not surprisingly, we headed to Cars Land and RSR

Ride number 5!

After our ride we actually headed back to DL to see if we could grab some lunch.
We headed to the French Market but the line was not budging. Then we tried our luck at Cafe Orleans but they were not accepting walk ups (bad research on my part honestly did not know they even took ADRs).
Well...we decided to just get the Mint Julep I was wanting so we hopped in that line.

I spy Club 33

Next up: more DL

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued

We waited like 20 minutes for this and it was...meh. Honestly I did not think it tasted like much of anything. A podcast I listen to raved about this and maybe I hyped it up too much in my brain
We were hungry for real food by this point so we decided to head out and grab something at Downtown Disney.
We decided upon Uva Bar because my Mom put it on her list of things to do while there since it was this neat bar in the middle of DTD.
I had a prosecco

And an Uva Burger (essentially just a regular burger). I actually ordered street fries first but they were out of carne ascada ...at 12 pm...when they start lunch at 11 am

My Mom had a flatbread. I don't actually remember what this was because I do not see it on the menu...but it had mushrooms as far as I can see

The food was decent but borderline cold by the time we got it. The service was really bad and very slow. Oh well!
Back at the hotel we decided to go for a swim. It was the only really hot day we had when in California!

Sadly no monorail slides for us this trip...the water was actually very cold. We did not think we could wait in line without getting super chilled

Next up: back to DL