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!

Mikey. Says he’s not sorry to have been excluded:

And Daisy, the best thing to come out of all this COVID carp:

 

[JenniferS]

Do you even have to keep track of yourself? Isn't that why you're bringing Jennifer with?

I have lots of practice with Mike. Even more when Mike and Bestie get together.

 

[JenniferS]

And oh yeah, trip balance paid off in full today.

 

[NYwdwfan]

I have lots of practice with Mike. Even more when Mike and Bestie get together.

He’s my drinking buddy!

 

[ShookieJones]

Late to the party! I am so in though. Been a hot minute or two since we were at DLR, and looking forward to some day going back. Until then I plan to live vicariously thorough you!

P.S. Dinner plans look excellent so far. Yum!

 

[amjt660]

And oh yeah, trip balance paid off in full today.

Max

 

[Zipadeelady]

Max

I'm at the age that this is the Canadian that I think of and is more angry even when happy than just happily dancing.

 

[JenniferS]

I'm at the age that this is the Canadian that I think of and is more angry even when happy than just happily dancing.

Isn’t that ironic?

 

[trr1]

dont forget the food pictures

 

[Zipadeelady]

Isn’t that ironic?

Don't you think?

I need to go listen to that album, so good.

 

[NYwdwfan]

dont forget the food pictures

Oh my goodness - an entire week of "don't touch your food and turn your plate so I get the best angle".

 

[JenniferS]

Oh my goodness - an entire week of "don't touch your food and turn your plate so I get the best angle".

Everyone suffers for my art.

 

[JenniferS]

AKA - one month from today!

 

[KellBelle]

I will be following along! So exciting to get a well deserved getaway! Also, congrats on the 50lb loss, that is no small feat!

 

[JenniferS]

 

[JenniferS]

Nothing exciting to report today, although I did order my Switch Health RT-LAMP test, so that I can get back into Canada.

I believe I’ve already shared that I’m taking a rapid test at Shopper’s DrugMart the night before departure.

So, that’s rapid test to get into US, and PCR test to get back home all taken care of.

I could have also gone to CVS or the Anaheim Convention Centre for a PCR test, but the price would be the same (or higher) and in USD, (which makes it definitely higher); plus the time commitment.

I went on the Anaheim Convention site for test times, and they’re all at the butt-crack of dawn. No thanks. We’re working on registering for the PowerWalk and we’re not sure what date or time that would be.

Speaking of the Rise and Shine PowerWalk through DCA - it’s a little different now, and it’s $25 per person instead of free. Oh well, we’d really like to do it once or twice anyway.

Our dates haven’t been posted yet, but this is what we’re looking to do.

 

[JenniferS]

I STINK at Buzz (although by sheer luck I have maxed out twice at WDW), and I’m not bad at Toy Story Mania, so this may potentially be the tie breaker.

50 cents? I’m in. Someone please remind me to give this a shot. (See what I did there?)

Screenshots from Best Life and Beyond’s Spencer and Katie:

 

[MickeyCB]

Speaking of the Rise and Shine PowerWalk through DCA - it’s a little different now, and it’s $25 per person instead of free.

How, how, do they justify charging $25, to take a walk through the park?!!! Do you get a pin, do you get a free starbucks, do you get to get on a ride, do you get anything?!!!!!

 

[JenniferS]

How, how, do they justify charging $25, to take a walk through the park?!!! Do you get a pin, do you get a free starbucks, do you get to get on a ride, do you get anything?!!!!!

I agree, considering it used to be free, but it’s worth $25 (to us, anyway) to be able to walk through the park before opening. I’ve done a pre-opening behind the scenes tour at Epcot before (DestiNations) and truly the highlight was just being in an empty park as the CM’s prepared to bring it to life for the day.

It’s a small group of 12, so that’s kind of neat too. It may be a while before I ever make it back to the West Coast, and I’m pretty sure staying at the GC is a once in a lifetime experience for me, so I want to absorb it all!

If, and that’s a big IF, I can get Mike to go to CA, it will be a part of a cross country RV trip, so there’s no chance of staying at a Deluxe Resort when we have a brand new 5th Wheel.

I’m on board for some free Starbuckies and a pin though.

 

[NYwdwfan]

I agree, considering it used to be free, but it’s worth $25 (to us, anyway) to be able to walk through the park before opening. I’ve done a pre-opening behind the scenes tour at Epcot before (DestiNations) and truly the highlight was just being in an empty park as the CM’s prepared to bring it to life for the day.

It’s a small group of 12, so that’s kind of neat too. It may be a while before I ever make it back to the West Coast, and I’m pretty sure staying at the GC is a once in a lifetime experience for me, so I want to absorb it all!

If, and that’s a big IF, I can get Mike to go to CA, it will be a part of a cross country RV trip, so there’s no chance of staying at a Deluxe Resort when we have a brand new 5th Wheel.

I’m on board for some free Starbuckies and a pin though.

I’ll buy you Starbucks and a pin. Make it special for ya

 

[NYwdwfan]

How, how, do they justify charging $25, to take a walk through the park?!!! Do you get a pin, do you get a free starbucks, do you get to get on a ride, do you get anything?!!!!!

Because people like us will pay it. I wanted to do the pre-park bootcamp squats and lunges and other assorted torture but bestie said no. And rightly so as her hip will be tested to the limits as it is there’s no reason to push it. I may sneak in a squat or two just for fun.