Myself, my wife L, and my 12 yr old daughter A fly from SeaTac in Seattle to John Wayne in Orange County. Nice flight, no problems. Got our baggage, and I got my picture in front of the John Wayne statue. Went out to the bus area to catch the Disney Magical Express. Lucked out that our hotel stop was the easiest to get to , so we were the 1st to get dropped off. After checking in and getting settled into our room, we Uber from the East side to the West side to Disneyland Hotel for Lunch. We literally ran into Goofy coming out of the gift shop in the lobby. We got our pictures taken. Now it was time for lunch. Trader Sams was packed, so we quick Service the Tangoroa Terrace. L got the Pot Stickers, A got the Chicken Strips (no surprise there), and I got the Hawaiian style burger. The pot stickers were too spicy for L, and the entire trip I don't thing A could find a chicken meal she could like. I liked the Burger. We looked around the Hotel Area for a while, and then moved onto Downtown Disney. A lot was closed or being refurbed. ESPN was closed, Rain Forest Cafe was closed, Earl of Sandwich. Many of the shops in the western building were closed while refurbishing the building. Lego Store was open, World of Disney, Starbucks, Bakery, and the little kiosk stands were open. L got a sign with Disney Characters spelling out our last name. I wasn't sure how we would get it home yet. We filled our travel day flying and wondering around Downtown Disney, time to hit the Room.
Friday first full day, we hit Disneyland. 9AM open. We get their early for rope drop, and do Indianna Jones first. While waiting for rope drop I set up the Max Pass. Then get space mountain fast pass. After riding Indy, we hit the Jungle Cruise and then cross over to space mountain. I get fast pass after that for Buzz Light year, and then Star Tours. We watch a Jedi Trials while we have Lunch at Tomorrow land Terrace. Rode Autopia, and then got to enter Launch bay during the Premier Vista time. We rode the train around the park a full circle and then continued around to New Orleans Square Depot. Haunted Mansion was closed for holiday overlay, and for what ever reason my Daughter wasn't going to Ride Pirates. We had a fast pass for Splash, just before our ADR. In hind site not such a good Idea. I forgot with the single row, the drops are faster and wetter. We were drenched. Blew a small fortune for new dry wardrobe and changed in the bathrooms under the hungry Bear restaurant. While waiting for L and A to get changed, Fresh Bake Disney was videoing the area. We went to our 420 ADR at the Blue Bayou. I believe it is the best restaurant in Disneyland. It is a themed place as if your eating in a New Orleans night time garden restaurant, that looks over the bayou. In fact, you look over the ride load area for Pirates. Our pirates starts you off in the Bayou. I enjoyed my Meal, and L enjoyed hers. A, well lets say, for still being Disney, the menu was not kid friendly. She pretty much just picked at it. The best part was this was a Fantasmic ADR. So at the end we had tickets to the Fantsmic show, where to meat up for the preferred seating area, and seat cushions. We rode BTMRR, and then went to Fantasmic. West coast is done on the rivers of America, so no dedicated area like East Coast, nor bleacher seating, so you get a piece of pavement with a complimentary seat cushion. After the show you can stay to watch the fireworks san projections on the buildings. We decided to skip the fireworks. So we got out of the park pretty quickly, and still was able to enjoy the last of the fireworks outside.
Day 2 Saturday.
Extra Magic Hour, so 8AM opening. We went straight to Fantasyland, and enjoyed the many dark rides, except peter Pan, it was a full que right away. Fast Pass, for Roger Rabits Toon Spin. hit some of the Toon Town sites, before Fast passing BTMRR, Space Mountain, Buzz, Indy, and pretty much hit all the other rides we didn't hit the day before. Matterhorn and HM were down. We had a combined ADR for Plaza Inn and the Pixar Play Parade. I have to say the DLR CM don't seam to care. We show up to Plazza 10 min before our ADR. The CM says they don't take reservations. I show her my ADR, she said they are close till 11 which is our ADR. Once they open a nice size line gues up so we get in to it. It is a cafeteria style place. We are almost in when ADR people show up and are escorted to the ADR hosts. OMG, ok I push to the ADR host, where the other CM goes, oh yah, you had ADR you didn't need to stand in the general Cafeteria line. Nice Customer Service there CM. So we pay 40 bucks each for a KFC meal. We were not that impressed. They gave us Lanyard with huge preferred seating tags on them. After Lunch, every body wants to split do their own thing till the 330 parade. OK, I have power of the fast Pass. I look for a pirates but couldn't get one before the parade time. So I fast pass Buzz, then A calls me and she want to hang with me and do fast pass. So we meet. We get one for Indy, so we hit Indy, and then L calls said she needs help saving spots. We book it over. OMG, CM are useless. So, they put the preferred seating up in the circle area. They show up at 3pm and move the sign to the sidewalk closer to the coke store. Now everyone is scrambling to get a spot, as they haven't kicked any non-preferred out of the preferred area. Finally they do, and we try for a curb and get a small spot. A CM tells L she needs to move because one of the other lanyard holders was holding a spot for 13 member party. My wife goes off on the CM asks for a manager. They don't send her a manger, but a hospitality hostess in the Plaid uniform. L let her know she had a park bench saved, then they moved the seating area, and then she can't even get a curb, because first come first served includes hold 13 person spot. The Plaid CM, looks see a bench full of non lanyard, she moves them off, and goes here is a bench. We thank her for the help. Here is the rub, they have to handle the crossing point next to this roped off area, and entrance to the view space. Non of them are watching the back side as people who conveniently don't know English show up, and the the 3 other people who had to start playing hall monitors had to keep going do you have your lanyard. An Asian woman half sat on A trying to wiggle onto the bench. I was like Do you have your lanyard. She was like miming no abla. finally a CM helped her to find her way to the proper viewing location, we spent half the parade, having to be hall monitors, to the people who would wiggle in and in front of us that were not paid previewers, getting them to move. I have to admit, MK has ir right with a huge center court area where they have grass fenced in areas, where they can control the access to the preferred viewing locations so yo can just enjoy the parade and no confusion. After the Parade, my wife was just done. So we missed the FireWorks on main street that I had planned.
Day 3 Disney California Adventures
10 AM opening, but apparently the Childrens Hospital of OC. had a walk in the park event. That had an Early admission. I didnt see it on the Disney site, I would have signed us up. We went straight to Radiator Springs Racer. Waited in the line. It was fun. This was our first trip to DCA, so all new experiences. We hit Luigies Frolicking Roadsters. Dancing cars. That was fun. FP for Guardians. FP goofy sky school, then had lunch at Mexican place in Pier area. Afterwards, A wanted to go hit rides, while L and myself just wondered around the park. it was super full so w/O FP nothing was worth the wait. 120 for the incredicoster and 90 for midway mania. After some time L decided to shop while I went to ride. A called back and we FP Guardians again, and then Grizzly river. We did get a little wet but not drenched. We played in the ropes course area. A stayed to play some more. Then we all met up for our ADR with Paint the Night. We ADR at Wine Country Tractonia. They had great food, and if you kid doesn't like the kid meal on the event menu ok, they did the kids. A got the cheese kids pizza, L got a shrimp skewer, but with out veggies, and I had a grate stuffed raviolie I think. A barely ate and then complained she was feeling puke. We got our stuff and direction where and when to meet on Paint the Night. I was sooo excited for the parade. L went out shopping and A and I were planning FP, but A ws then super flush. at Carsland, we sat between sarge and flos V8 for shade and a bench. I got her a fresh bottle of cold water. I found out she was drinking but Drinking fountain water. Face Palm. I gave her a pepto, had her drink the cold water. Gave her a tylonal. She rested on the bench layed down. As it drawed near time to get to the view area, L calls. I said, we have to go, because A is not ok, she had a little heat exaustion on top of a mild montazuma revenge. THe little trooper. "Dad, I know how much you want to see the Parade, I ok just laying down while you watch the Parade" I let L know we will go. We leave back to the hotel, and by the time we get there. She has springed back to life. She want to play in the pool.
Day 4
Universal.
We caught the 720 bus to Universal, with traffic, getting there 930. Only Harry Potter is open the rest of the park doesn't open till 10. We didn't by the special tickets. we get in the 60 min line for harry ride. The ride monitor instantly see my girth, and says you need to try the est seat. I do and I only can get it down one click and it needs to go 3. He said the attendants can't help you, so L will have to click you in. We wait, and its our turn. The seat attendant pushes the single rider on, then A, then L, Im like hey need help. I only get 1 click. The other guy comes up and says you need to get three click. So he pulls us off, and goes you need to test in the ride test. I was like we did, my wife helped. So they put us to the front of the line and this time the seat attendant stand in front of me after I get in and L is like Excuse me need to get in. She jumps up and punched down with all her body weight. 3 clicks and we ride. Almost too Fat to ride Universal I said. We rode the harry roller coaster, and then had lunch at the 3 broomsticks. LEts just say I already commented on other spot, but they had people touching their face, and styfling coughs and sweating so much it was sickning. We had to call a manager to bring up all the health violations we saw while waiting for our food. L set up an I Fly so we left the park for City Walk. It would have been funner, if the other parents wernt throwing money to the workers to keep them going, we wanted to fly and be done. Turned a simple 30-45 minutes into 2 hours. Ug, we went back to the park. I took control, we rode Jurassic as it was Closing on the 3rd. We made the tram ride 45 minutes before last tram. 70 min ride, but I guess I got the condensed version. After that we had just enough time to eat and then get on the bus. All in all, I wasn't sure if I would spend nearly $500 for another universal excursion, where we only ride 4 rides, and get crappy service food.
Last day was the flight back.
I din't mind waiting for the sad express. I do mind the self check in when your not an experienced flyer. I found myself going back 3 times to get everything right to get past the TSA check to get checked. The plane came in had a bird strike. they pushed out had a caution light. Pushed back to the gate and was delayed 1 hour, before they ok the flight. I think it was a bean counter move to get the palne back to the Alaska Hub for Maintence. because we did not circle in like a normal SeaTac approach. We flew straight in from the south, which I know is not normal.
All n All I had a good time. Sucked having HM and matterhorn closed and missed out on PoTC. Missing the PTNP and world of color, and the fireworks mainstreet.
Friday first full day, we hit Disneyland. 9AM open. We get their early for rope drop, and do Indianna Jones first. While waiting for rope drop I set up the Max Pass. Then get space mountain fast pass. After riding Indy, we hit the Jungle Cruise and then cross over to space mountain. I get fast pass after that for Buzz Light year, and then Star Tours. We watch a Jedi Trials while we have Lunch at Tomorrow land Terrace. Rode Autopia, and then got to enter Launch bay during the Premier Vista time. We rode the train around the park a full circle and then continued around to New Orleans Square Depot. Haunted Mansion was closed for holiday overlay, and for what ever reason my Daughter wasn't going to Ride Pirates. We had a fast pass for Splash, just before our ADR. In hind site not such a good Idea. I forgot with the single row, the drops are faster and wetter. We were drenched. Blew a small fortune for new dry wardrobe and changed in the bathrooms under the hungry Bear restaurant. While waiting for L and A to get changed, Fresh Bake Disney was videoing the area. We went to our 420 ADR at the Blue Bayou. I believe it is the best restaurant in Disneyland. It is a themed place as if your eating in a New Orleans night time garden restaurant, that looks over the bayou. In fact, you look over the ride load area for Pirates. Our pirates starts you off in the Bayou. I enjoyed my Meal, and L enjoyed hers. A, well lets say, for still being Disney, the menu was not kid friendly. She pretty much just picked at it. The best part was this was a Fantasmic ADR. So at the end we had tickets to the Fantsmic show, where to meat up for the preferred seating area, and seat cushions. We rode BTMRR, and then went to Fantasmic. West coast is done on the rivers of America, so no dedicated area like East Coast, nor bleacher seating, so you get a piece of pavement with a complimentary seat cushion. After the show you can stay to watch the fireworks san projections on the buildings. We decided to skip the fireworks. So we got out of the park pretty quickly, and still was able to enjoy the last of the fireworks outside.
Day 2 Saturday.
Extra Magic Hour, so 8AM opening. We went straight to Fantasyland, and enjoyed the many dark rides, except peter Pan, it was a full que right away. Fast Pass, for Roger Rabits Toon Spin. hit some of the Toon Town sites, before Fast passing BTMRR, Space Mountain, Buzz, Indy, and pretty much hit all the other rides we didn't hit the day before. Matterhorn and HM were down. We had a combined ADR for Plaza Inn and the Pixar Play Parade. I have to say the DLR CM don't seam to care. We show up to Plazza 10 min before our ADR. The CM says they don't take reservations. I show her my ADR, she said they are close till 11 which is our ADR. Once they open a nice size line gues up so we get in to it. It is a cafeteria style place. We are almost in when ADR people show up and are escorted to the ADR hosts. OMG, ok I push to the ADR host, where the other CM goes, oh yah, you had ADR you didn't need to stand in the general Cafeteria line. Nice Customer Service there CM. So we pay 40 bucks each for a KFC meal. We were not that impressed. They gave us Lanyard with huge preferred seating tags on them. After Lunch, every body wants to split do their own thing till the 330 parade. OK, I have power of the fast Pass. I look for a pirates but couldn't get one before the parade time. So I fast pass Buzz, then A calls me and she want to hang with me and do fast pass. So we meet. We get one for Indy, so we hit Indy, and then L calls said she needs help saving spots. We book it over. OMG, CM are useless. So, they put the preferred seating up in the circle area. They show up at 3pm and move the sign to the sidewalk closer to the coke store. Now everyone is scrambling to get a spot, as they haven't kicked any non-preferred out of the preferred area. Finally they do, and we try for a curb and get a small spot. A CM tells L she needs to move because one of the other lanyard holders was holding a spot for 13 member party. My wife goes off on the CM asks for a manager. They don't send her a manger, but a hospitality hostess in the Plaid uniform. L let her know she had a park bench saved, then they moved the seating area, and then she can't even get a curb, because first come first served includes hold 13 person spot. The Plaid CM, looks see a bench full of non lanyard, she moves them off, and goes here is a bench. We thank her for the help. Here is the rub, they have to handle the crossing point next to this roped off area, and entrance to the view space. Non of them are watching the back side as people who conveniently don't know English show up, and the the 3 other people who had to start playing hall monitors had to keep going do you have your lanyard. An Asian woman half sat on A trying to wiggle onto the bench. I was like Do you have your lanyard. She was like miming no abla. finally a CM helped her to find her way to the proper viewing location, we spent half the parade, having to be hall monitors, to the people who would wiggle in and in front of us that were not paid previewers, getting them to move. I have to admit, MK has ir right with a huge center court area where they have grass fenced in areas, where they can control the access to the preferred viewing locations so yo can just enjoy the parade and no confusion. After the Parade, my wife was just done. So we missed the FireWorks on main street that I had planned.
Day 3 Disney California Adventures
10 AM opening, but apparently the Childrens Hospital of OC. had a walk in the park event. That had an Early admission. I didnt see it on the Disney site, I would have signed us up. We went straight to Radiator Springs Racer. Waited in the line. It was fun. This was our first trip to DCA, so all new experiences. We hit Luigies Frolicking Roadsters. Dancing cars. That was fun. FP for Guardians. FP goofy sky school, then had lunch at Mexican place in Pier area. Afterwards, A wanted to go hit rides, while L and myself just wondered around the park. it was super full so w/O FP nothing was worth the wait. 120 for the incredicoster and 90 for midway mania. After some time L decided to shop while I went to ride. A called back and we FP Guardians again, and then Grizzly river. We did get a little wet but not drenched. We played in the ropes course area. A stayed to play some more. Then we all met up for our ADR with Paint the Night. We ADR at Wine Country Tractonia. They had great food, and if you kid doesn't like the kid meal on the event menu ok, they did the kids. A got the cheese kids pizza, L got a shrimp skewer, but with out veggies, and I had a grate stuffed raviolie I think. A barely ate and then complained she was feeling puke. We got our stuff and direction where and when to meet on Paint the Night. I was sooo excited for the parade. L went out shopping and A and I were planning FP, but A ws then super flush. at Carsland, we sat between sarge and flos V8 for shade and a bench. I got her a fresh bottle of cold water. I found out she was drinking but Drinking fountain water. Face Palm. I gave her a pepto, had her drink the cold water. Gave her a tylonal. She rested on the bench layed down. As it drawed near time to get to the view area, L calls. I said, we have to go, because A is not ok, she had a little heat exaustion on top of a mild montazuma revenge. THe little trooper. "Dad, I know how much you want to see the Parade, I ok just laying down while you watch the Parade" I let L know we will go. We leave back to the hotel, and by the time we get there. She has springed back to life. She want to play in the pool.
Day 4
Universal.
We caught the 720 bus to Universal, with traffic, getting there 930. Only Harry Potter is open the rest of the park doesn't open till 10. We didn't by the special tickets. we get in the 60 min line for harry ride. The ride monitor instantly see my girth, and says you need to try the est seat. I do and I only can get it down one click and it needs to go 3. He said the attendants can't help you, so L will have to click you in. We wait, and its our turn. The seat attendant pushes the single rider on, then A, then L, Im like hey need help. I only get 1 click. The other guy comes up and says you need to get three click. So he pulls us off, and goes you need to test in the ride test. I was like we did, my wife helped. So they put us to the front of the line and this time the seat attendant stand in front of me after I get in and L is like Excuse me need to get in. She jumps up and punched down with all her body weight. 3 clicks and we ride. Almost too Fat to ride Universal I said. We rode the harry roller coaster, and then had lunch at the 3 broomsticks. LEts just say I already commented on other spot, but they had people touching their face, and styfling coughs and sweating so much it was sickning. We had to call a manager to bring up all the health violations we saw while waiting for our food. L set up an I Fly so we left the park for City Walk. It would have been funner, if the other parents wernt throwing money to the workers to keep them going, we wanted to fly and be done. Turned a simple 30-45 minutes into 2 hours. Ug, we went back to the park. I took control, we rode Jurassic as it was Closing on the 3rd. We made the tram ride 45 minutes before last tram. 70 min ride, but I guess I got the condensed version. After that we had just enough time to eat and then get on the bus. All in all, I wasn't sure if I would spend nearly $500 for another universal excursion, where we only ride 4 rides, and get crappy service food.
Last day was the flight back.
I din't mind waiting for the sad express. I do mind the self check in when your not an experienced flyer. I found myself going back 3 times to get everything right to get past the TSA check to get checked. The plane came in had a bird strike. they pushed out had a caution light. Pushed back to the gate and was delayed 1 hour, before they ok the flight. I think it was a bean counter move to get the palne back to the Alaska Hub for Maintence. because we did not circle in like a normal SeaTac approach. We flew straight in from the south, which I know is not normal.
All n All I had a good time. Sucked having HM and matterhorn closed and missed out on PoTC. Missing the PTNP and world of color, and the fireworks mainstreet.
