Trip Report From East to West … Two Besties Tackle Disneyland (LIVE 2/20-2/26)

It’s been a long 22 months. It’s been the best of times, and the worst of times. And it was during one of those “worst of times” that the promise of this trip began.

I remember the moment exactly. Me, bawling in a supermarket parking lot, just completely and totally overwhelmed by lockdown after lockdown after lockdown, and my Bestie @NYwdwfan promising that we will make this trip happen.

And here we are. Exactly 5 weeks out, God willing.

So much has happened since my last live trip report … not all COVID-related. Some gains - a brand new hip, and a puppy that is the light of our lives. Some losses - our 2020 WDW trip, and 50 lbs.

Here are the 5 W’s:

Who?
Me - JenniferS - Canadian, huge Blue Jays fan. After almost 2 years of spending every second together, I’ll be travelling without my usual ride or die Mike … aka Hubby.
I have been to WDW more than a dozen times, starting in 1991.

I will let Bestie introduce herself.
Ideally this will be a tandem trip report, with regular input and photos from her as well.

What?
A first time visit (for both of us!) to the OG park. We will cry the first time we walk down MSUSA. Guaranteed!

We have 5 day ParkHopper passes, and plan on utilizing both Genie+ and ILL,

Where?
Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa. I’m a Moderate girl, whereas Bestie has often stayed Deluxe at WDW.

When?
We arrive at LAX within 20 minutes of each other on Sunday, February 20th.
Park Days: 21st - starting at DL
22nd - starting at DCA
23rd - starting at DL
24th - starting at DCA
25th - starting at DL
26th - morning departures from LAX

Why?
Why not? Our original plan was to stay off-site, but an email discount code for GC was just too attractive to pass up.

If you’ve read any of my previous reports, you know I post live. Mike has always been a good sport about it. Hopefully Bestie will be equally accommodating.

We will eat well (oh boy, will we eat well), hit most of the rides (together and separately, because someone doesn’t like big drops or going boing boing), and will savour every second of our time together. It has incredibly been 3 years since we have seen one another in person.

I’ll share our dining plans in a separate post.

Me, ‘cause it’s been a long time!
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Mikey. Says he’s not sorry to have been excluded:
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And Daisy, the best thing to come out of all this COVID carp:
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NYwdwfan

Well-Known Member
While bestie bounced for the second time I grabbed a bite from the Shawarma Palace. The Impossible Sha-warm-up was the only item on the menu. It was yummy. Warm, tasted good and I was hungry. The maple siracha dipping sauce was especially good. When I told Jennifer I ate her first question wasn’t “how was it” it was “did you take pictures”.

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JenniferS

When you're the leader, you don't have to follow.
Original Poster
While bestie bounced for the second time I grabbed a bite from the Shawarma Palace. The Impossible Sha-warm-up was the only item on the menu. It was yummy. Warm, tasted good and I was hungry. The maple siracha dipping sauce was especially good. When I told Jennifer I ate her first question wasn’t “how was it” it was “did you take pictures”.

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I had a protein bar. It was fine.
 

NYwdwfan

Well-Known Member
Back at the room for a bit. DCA was PACKED. Jennifer did Guardians twice and in between rides we went on Spiderman. It’s a cute ride. Yes it’s another version of Toy Story Mania but it was fun and the effects are pretty cool. I wouldn’t pay to ride again but I also wouldn’t wait over an hour to ride it. Glad we did it though. We have a mobile order for a mickey shaped raspberry macaron in an hour and we need real food as well so we will be leaving soon.
 

NYwdwfan

Well-Known Member
Day 4 recap

*covid test - NEGATIVE
1 Soarin
2 GotG LL
3 Spiderman ILL
4 GotG LL
5 Little Mermaid
6 Philharmagic
*shopping at DCA and DTD
7 Great moments with Mr Lincoln
*Bengal BBQ
8 Buzz LL
*Jolly Holiday - raspberry macaron
9 small world LL
10 Pooh
*caramel apple
11 HM LL
12 Indy LL
13 Autopia LL
*Galactic Grill
 

NYwdwfan

Well-Known Member
Question for The Jennifer.

You recently referred to GotG Mission: Breakout as your new favorite ride (or one of?) your favorite rides.
How would you rank it toe-to-toe against ROTR? Just curious considering I've done neither...yet.

And congrats on the negative Covid test.
I can answer that…GotG is awesome fun. Visually, physically, auditorily (is that a word?) and her favorite type of thrill - dropping. Rise is absolutely everything Disney has in their bag of tricks in one ride.

She’ll weigh in after straightening out her Canada arrival log in.
 
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