Fractal & Son head West! A Disneyland PTR

A week from Tuesday I will heading to California with my son Sterg. Sterg's waterpolo team qualified for the Junior Olympics national tournament in Palo Alto. Conveniently, I have clients that will be near Los Angeles around the same time. These clients are more like good friends than clients. They retired and move out West a few years ago and I haven't met with them in person since. I've also heard rumors that the original Disneyland is in California. How fortuitous! When you add it all together you get;

a business meeting
dinner with old friends you haven't seen in awhile
a chance to visit DL for the first time and check out the improved DCA
visit the San Fran area for the first time and watch some good waterpolo

Certainly beats a stick in the eye!

For those that don't know; a little introduction. First some background. Sterg will be 16 soon and is truly blossoming into a pain in the ask teenager. For more detail - see my last TR. I love him to death but he knows how to push my buttons.

Here we are from a trip this year to the Florida Keys...

See what I mean?

Here's a much better picture. Must have caught him by surprise.

Next up...our plan of attack in California.

 

[cfry06]

Congrats & best of luck to Sterg! Look forward to your report!

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Woot woot!! Chris, you guys are going to have an AWESOME time!! Congrats to the water polo team, such a great accomplishment!

 

[echovictor]

Love me some Fractal TRs! Can't wait to get your perspective on DL.
Good luck to Sterg.

 

[chrissyw14]

Congrats and good luck to Sterg! This is soo exciting, can't wait to see more, I have not gone to Disneyland yet!

 

[DznyRktekt]

Fractal, your previous report was vita-packed with details and observations. Looking forward to all you have to share from your time at DL with your son. He will always cherish the memories made on this trip. Have a great time!

 

[Kristia]

Congrats to the water polo team! I am really looking forward to your report! My husband and I are hoping to head there in 2013 for the Half Marathon.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Oh man! First, the Keys pics of you two are such a teaser! I wish there was a report for THAT trip even if it wasn't Disneyfied.

I don't think I know a thing about water polo. I'd annoy the crap out of you watching a match (?) because I'd be non-stop questions-n-babbling. LOL! Somehow going all the way to California to play must be a really great thing so I'll jump onboard with the "atta-boy-Sterg's". LOL! The trip does sound like quite the adventure for the men of the house. Even if he doesn't say it or ever admits it, I'll lay you money Sterg is digging the prospect of the estrogen-free adventure with his old man just as much as the water polo with his buddies part. What an amazing opportunity for both of you on so many levels.

I am, however, available for adoption anytime. I do laundry like a champ! LOL!

 

[fractal]

I think it is awesome that you two will get some awesome time together. I loved it when I was younger and my Dad took me to Blackpool Pleasure beach. He is a legend.

Thanks - some good male bonding for sure!

PS I bet he wont be a pain in the a** when it is just the two of you. From your last TR, it shows all the love you have for your family, and the love your kids have for you. They just want your attention... in a good way

I think you will be 100% correct on that predicition - and thanks!

take advantage of the early hour (if u are staying onsite) getting in at 7 am allows you to get so much done before 8 am and the public opening. just a heads up, you cannot get fastpasses during early hours. dont stand in line for an hour to get radiator springs racer fastpasses. just get in line and do the ride at 7 am. we did all three rides in cars land in about 2 hours by heading right to RSR. went to luigi, then to mater. have fun!!!

Unfortunately we are not staying on site. With this happening so fast and with the need to cut costs where we could, we decided to stay offsite.
We are planning on hitting the parks early on Wednesday & Thursday. I am dying to do RSR.

So happy for your son and for your first DL/ DCA experience. DL is kind of our Disney homebase since it's much closer to where we live than WDW. You'll love the more "intimate" feeling of DL and can't wait to hear all about your trip plan and your TR after your trip.

Thanks! I'm going to try to experience it without trying to compare it too much with WDW.

Hope you enjoy your trip Fractal... Looking forward to your trip reports!

Thanks dxer!

 

[fractal]

Congrats to the water polo team! I am really looking forward to your report! My husband and I are hoping to head there in 2013 for the Half Marathon.

Thanks! TR will be started once I get back. Awesome that you are doing a half marathon there!

Oh man! First, the Keys pics of you two are such a teaser! I wish there was a report for THAT trip even if it wasn't Disneyfied.

I don't think I know a thing about water polo. I'd annoy the crap out of you watching a match (?) because I'd be non-stop questions-n-babbling. LOL! Somehow going all the way to California to play must be a really great thing so I'll jump onboard with the "atta-boy-Sterg's". LOL! The trip does sound like quite the adventure for the men of the house. Even if he doesn't say it or ever admits it, I'll lay you money Sterg is digging the prospect of the estrogen-free adventure with his old man just as much as the water polo with his buddies part. What an amazing opportunity for both of you on so many levels.

I am, however, available for adoption anytime. I do laundry like a champ! LOL!

The Keys were awesome. Very relaxing - but I definately missed the fast pase of a Disney trip.

When I first started watching Waterpolo I was just like that - asking a million questions! I think we are going to have a good time together. When I'm not around he finds himself surrounded by three females. As you referred to - a lot of estrogen!

Thanks for the well wishes!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Thanks! TR will be started once I get back. Awesome that you are doing a half marathon there!



The Keys were awesome. Very relaxing - but I definately missed the fast pase of a Disney trip.

When I first started watching Waterpolo I was just like that - asking a million questions! I think we are going to have a good time together. When I'm not around he finds himself surrounded by three females. As you referred to - a lot of estrogen!

Thanks for the well wishes!

I feel Sterg's pain. With the exception of the dog, it's all testosterone around here.

Looking forward to the report. Safe travels, Chris!

 

[Vtlsgns2]

Congratulations to Sterg! Yay for getting to take a trip to Disneyland! I am really looking forward to reading all about it. Have a wonderful and safe trip!

 

[GeekDad]

Looking forward to your TR. I have an aunt that lives in the area of DL and everything else out that way and she is trying to tempt me to come visit with the idea of going to DL so I will be interested in your perspective of it.

And a big congrats to you son. My son is only a year old but I already have some idea of what its like to see your son accomplish something.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

YAY!!! So excited for a Fractal trip report!!! Jealous too...we were going to DLR in June, but it's been a crazy year and we had to cxl. Hoping we can head to Cali next year. Cannot wait to hear about your west coast adventures with Sterg!

How was the Keys? Did you guys wind up staying at Cheeca? Sorry, know it's not Disney related...but at least it's in the same state!

 

[ejsanta13]

Congrats to Sterg!!! Can't wait to read your DL/DCA report. Those times you get to spend with only your son are priceless. I know I enjoyed the times with only my dad and now the ones I get to spend w/ my own son (tho he's only 3). Have a great time!!

 

[fractal]

OK-some details on the trip:

Tuesday is travel and business day. We are flying out of Philly into LAX on Virgin airlines. Dinner with clients will be at Lawry's the Prime Rib.
After dinner we head to our hotel - HoJo's in Anaheim. DL is open until midnight, so we may get in a few hours. I'm playing it by ear.

Wednesday I may meet up with another client. The rest of the day is dedicated to DCA and DL. We're going commando. We need to work on our
plan a bit but we will likely start off in DL and finish the day in DCA.

Thursday we check out of HoJo's but have a late flight to SanFran so we are planning to get up early and hit the parks again.

Friday - Sterg has warm ups and practice with his team.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday - Water Polo Tournament around the Palo Alto area.

Wednesday - early flight home.

As you can see - not a lot of meat to the bone here. This gives us the opportunity to be very flexible. I would like to see San Fran but that all depends on how Sterg's games go. Needless to say, the excitement is building.

 

[Britt]

YAY! I can't wait for the update and pics! Good father and son bonding time for sure!

Good job to Sterg!!!

 

[Californian Elitist]

Wow, what a plan. You guys are definitely have to go commando for this one, but you'l still have fun!

Check out my post on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain!: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...isneyland-for-future-disneyland-goers.840201/

Also while you're in Frisco, be sure to check out Pier 39!

 

[gsrjedi]

Definitely get to DCA early one day. RSR is drawing huge crowds. We went this past Saturday and got there about 7:40 and the line to get a fastpass was already over an hour long. We went with the crowd straight to RSR and the sign said a 100 minute wait, but we only ended up waiting about an hour. It was enough time that by the time we finished Luigi's had an hour wait as well. Shouldn't be as bad in the middle of the week, but I'd definitely plan to go to Cars Land & do those attractions first thing.

Have fun in DL

 

[fractal]

Congratulations to Sterg! Yay for getting to take a trip to Disneyland! I am really looking forward to reading all about it. Have a wonderful and safe trip!

Thanks!

Looking forward to your TR. I have an aunt that lives in the area of DL and everything else out that way and she is trying to tempt me to come visit with the idea of going to DL so I will be interested in your perspective of it.

And a big congrats to you son. My son is only a year old but I already have some idea of what its like to see your son accomplish something.

Thank you! You should take advantage of your Aunt's offer. Yeah, I'm proud of him. He's a "late bloomer" that was always one the smallest guys on a team - but now he's growing and really coming into his own. Cherish the time with your son!

 

[fractal]

YAY!!! So excited for a Fractal trip report!!! Jealous too...we were going to DLR in June, but it's been a crazy year and we had to cxl. Hoping we can head to Cali next year. Cannot wait to hear about your west coast adventures with Sterg!

How was the Keys? Did you guys wind up staying at Cheeca? Sorry, know it's not Disney related...but at least it's in the same state!

Thanks! Sorry to hear you had to Cancel your trip to DL, hope you get there next year!

The Keys were great and yes we did stay at Cheeca Lodge. The resort was beautiful and we loved our room! The only downside was the lack of a "real" beach. You could
not just walk into the ocean - it was either a step down from a wall or there was a small spot that was "beach like" but the seaweed was thick for the first 20 yards. We did some kayaking, snorkeling, fishing and even parasailed. They built a lagoon right off the water to give you a beach feel - but I've been spoiled by growing up spending summers
at the Jersey Shore. Other than that - we loved it. Here are some pics from the resort/trip.

This is the lagoon...

Full moon...