The Should I or Should I Not Write a Trip Report for a Solo Trip to Disneyland

Okay, I was torn! I wasn’t sure this short little solo trip was worth a report! Then I ended up with some time on my hands and decided I could do a quick one. I didn’t take a single note, so this is all off memory and photos!

And when I say photos, I mean a gazillion photos. This was a photo trip and I took close to 2000. It is taking me forever to process them all. So while this was a short trip and I finished the text quickly, it may take a while to get it all up because of the photos.

Who: Well just me!! A solo trip was something new for me. I’ve done several trips without my family – travel agent education trips, cheap last minute girl’s cruises, etc. But all by my lonesome? Never! Here I am!

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But the truth was, I needed to go and no one else could get away with me kind of last minute. I’ve been a Disneyland blog contributor for Touringplans.com lately and I haven’t been since February! I was starting to feel out of touch with my beloved Disneyland. I was also running out of pictures!!

That was another reason I hesitated to bring a friend. My primary goal was to check on some things and take a gazillion pictures. Rides weren’t even on my radar – much. :D I knew I probably wouldn’t be the most fun traveling companion with these goals, so solo it was!

It was also much cheaper that way. One plane ticket with hubby’s frequent flyer miles, one comp ticket, and a military discount on a room. Score!

Disneyland during the holidays is really something else. In my opinion, they put WDW’s decorations to shame. The decorations at Disneyland are so extensive it’s amazing, but it’s a lot more than that! The special snacks and desserts, the live reindeer at Santa’s ranch, the snow on Main Street, and the list goes on. The ride overlays of Haunted Mansion and Small World are worth the trip alone. Disneyland doesn't just throw some garland on the rides. They overlays are extensive to say the least. It’s really something every Disney fan should experience at least once.

My parents flew in to take over my main job, while my hubby brings home the bacon, driving the kids back and forth to school and various youth group activities, sports practices and games. My almost 17 year old still does not have his driver’s license. It’s a mixture of a few things. One, the most surprising for us, is the lack of excitement about it. When we turned 15 we went that very day to start the process! Today it seems like ds and his friends just don’t care much. Probably because they’ve still got their mom to drive them everywhere. :lookaroun There’s also been a big problem getting Virginia to accept his Colorado permit and Drivers Ed which we paid $800 for, 32 hours in a classroom and spent over 40 hours behind the wheel. Virginia is insisting he needs to take their Drivers Ed for $300, 36 more classroom hours and spend 40 more training hours behind the wheel. Um. No. Don’t have time and not worth it. The third reason is my complete terror of my son driving in DC. I mean, it’s crazy here. There are no quiet back roads. Everywhere we go is on a major highway or interstate that is packed from 5 am to around midnight. I’m in no hurry for him to be driving around on his own here. No hurry at all.

Sorry, back to the trip report. Dad and Mom came to take over for me and I was off!

Saturday, November 12 – Departure Day

I didn’t want to leave to early so I could spend a little time with Dad and Mom. They came in late Thursday night so we did get to spend Friday exploring DC together. My flight didn’t leave until noon. I crammed everything into a carry on so I wouldn’t have to pay the accursed bag fees.

Once we got to the airport, I made a horrible mistake. I had a few books on my kindle app on the ipad that I had saved up to read on all the upcoming trips. I don’t let myself read much, unless I’m traveling, for one reason. I get completely obsessed with books. I mean I can not put them down. When I start a good one, I will stay up until all hours of the night so I can finish it. So when I picked a book to start, let’s just say I chose poorly.

Dd had read The Hunger Games series on her kindle several months ago. I didn’t do much checking before she bought it, just because I’d heard so many good reviews. At one point we asked her what it was about. When she told us it was about teenagers who had to fight to the death as a sacrifice for their community -:eek: - I was feeling serious parent guilt! Oh my word! Should she have read that? Should I have read them before I let her?

Well I didn’t and was finally getting around to it now. I thought it would be a quick read and I could get it over with so I’d enjoy the movie more when it was released.

Oh. My. Word.

That book was so incredibly totally awesome. I could NOT put it down!! That’s not a way to start a Disney trip!! I had a lot to do and I didn’t want anything else competing for my attention at Disneyland, but I knew this book series was going to.

That’s a crazy long flight from Dulles to LAX. I mean crazy long. Like 6 hours? The movie was Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which I’d seen before. I really enjoyed it the first time, but was I going to put down Hunger Games to watch it? No way!

I was actually a little sad when the plane landed. When my plane landed at Disney, I was a little sad. How many kinds of wrong is that? :cry:

I did force myself to put it down and deplaned with everyone else. I lucked out, there was a Disneyland Express Shuttle waiting and I got right on.

The front of the resort is a wreck right now. The bus couldn’t even get up next to the resort to drop us off. We literally had to drag our bags, in the rain, through a parking lot to get to an entrance. Since I had tons of camera equipment and everything for 3 nights crammed into my backpack and rolling bag, this was no easy task.

The entrance wasn’t easy to find either! Another couple had been dropped off with me and we ended up going in a side entrance near the convention center. I was a little turned around but I knew we hadn’t come in near the lobby. I asked someone who was setting up for a convention if she happened to know where the lobby was. She acted completely offended that I had asked her. She said, "I don’t work here!" Alright. Thanks! :shrug:

We finally went out of the building and I recognized where we were. I told the other couple to follow me and we made our way to the check in desks.

I have had a few instances at the Disneyland Hotel where dragging suitcases from the back of the parking lot to the far away room was sheer torture and I was ready to slap my grandma by the time we found our room. This was one of those times. I needed to refind some Disney cheer when I got to my room.

My first reaction was – shoot. I’m alone! This is kind of sad. My second was, it’s okay! It’s Disney!

The redone rooms at the Disneyland Hotel are really beautiful. The headboard is – dare I say it – just magical. When you turn it on, the fireworks light up and music plays. I loved it. I wanted to sleep with it on every night.

One slight benefit to being alone – no one to mess up the room before you can take pictures!

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PolynesianPrincess

Well-Known Member
Awesome report Tammy! This completely makes me want to visit DL during the holidays!! Heck, just go and visit Disneyland in general would be good enough for me!!! :D
 

PartOfYourWorld

Well-Known Member
Thanks Tammy for letting us follow along with you! Disneyland just looks so beautiful and I really would love to get there one day to see it all! But for now thanks for the pictures!!!
 

HopLow

Member
Wonderful TR, as always!!! Now, not only do you have me wanting to do the Alaskan cruise, but now Disneyland as well?!?!? Jeez... ;) And your pics? Gorgeous, obviously!

And I soooooooooo want these!!!!!

I am going to have to keep my eyes peeled for them next week in WDW. And if I find them, I'll be buying the ENTIRE set!
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I would've been soooooo upset about the line passing me by after waiting for so long. :eek: Ugh. Talk about frustrating!

As always, fabulous report - loved all the pictures, Tammy!!

I'm glad it wasn't just me that would have been upset by that! I was hacked!! Oh, I said that already. :lookaroun

Thanks for reading, Holly. :)

Thanks for posting your awesome Disneyland report, Tammy! I'm not sure I'll make it out west for awhile (if ever) so at least I can live vicariously through your report. :)

You can live vicariously through me all you want, Shannon! :)

Awesome report Tammy! This completely makes me want to visit DL during the holidays!! Heck, just go and visit Disneyland in general would be good enough for me!!! :D

Thank you, Darolyn! Just do it! :)
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thanks Tammy for letting us follow along with you! Disneyland just looks so beautiful and I really would love to get there one day to see it all! But for now thanks for the pictures!!!

Thank you for reading it, Jess! :)

Wonderful TR, as always!!! Now, not only do you have me wanting to do the Alaskan cruise, but now Disneyland as well?!?!? Jeez... ;) And your pics? Gorgeous, obviously!

And I soooooooooo want these!!!!!


I am going to have to keep my eyes peeled for them next week in WDW. And if I find them, I'll be buying the ENTIRE set!

I am apparently trying to make you spend money on an Alaskan cruise, Disneyland, AND teacups!!

My work here is done.:D
 

fractal

Well-Known Member
Great Trip Report! Love the pictures - especially the ones of those tiny details.


Good chance I may be heading out to California this summer - so you TR has got me all excited!


thanks for the time and effort!
 

plaz10

Well-Known Member
Thanks for posting your awesome Disneyland report, Tammy! I'm not sure I'll make it out west for awhile (if ever) so at least I can live vicariously through your report. :)

I feel the same way. I loved this DLR TR and hope to make it out there but don't think I'll be out there anytime soon(honeymoon maybe?) But I enjoy living through your report. And I think if I ever went I'd have to go during the holidays to see It's a Small World and Haunted Mansion holiday overlays. They both look so awesome. Thanks Tammy! Great TR!
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Great Trip Report! Love the pictures - especially the ones of those tiny details.


Good chance I may be heading out to California this summer - so you TR has got me all excited!


thanks for the time and effort!


Thank you for reading, Fractal! You definitely have to go visit Disneyland!

I feel the same way. I loved this DLR TR and hope to make it out there but don't think I'll be out there anytime soon(honeymoon maybe?) But I enjoy living through your report. And I think if I ever went I'd have to go during the holidays to see It's a Small World and Haunted Mansion holiday overlays. They both look so awesome. Thanks Tammy! Great TR!

You should definitely try it for the holidays, Jess! One day!
 

Skibum1970

Well-Known Member
Thank you so much for the trip report. I am planning a trip for November with my wife to Disneyland in order to also pick up Carsland credits (esp. Radiator Springs Racers). I'll be using Touring Plans to pick the right time but has anyone estimated how much of a bump in attendance Carsland will cause (again, November timeframe)? Also, I was debating about using a "Good Neighbor" hotel but your pictures just confirmed that it's the Disneyland Hotel for us. Again, thank you so much for your report.
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thank you so much for the trip report. I am planning a trip for November with my wife to Disneyland in order to also pick up Carsland credits (esp. Radiator Springs Racers). I'll be using Touring Plans to pick the right time but has anyone estimated how much of a bump in attendance Carsland will cause (again, November timeframe)? Also, I was debating about using a "Good Neighbor" hotel but your pictures just confirmed that it's the Disneyland Hotel for us. Again, thank you so much for your report.

Thanks for reading, pcaudill! I can't wait for Cars Land to open! I think Cars Land will bump attendance for several months but if you can go during the week you should be okay. Not during Thanksgiving of course, that will be crazy! But other than that, weekdays will be good!
 

WishIWasAtWDW

Well-Known Member
great trip report tammy! you took so many great pictures. i love the room at the disneyland hotel. that headboard is amazing!

and i LOVED the hunger games! my cousin told me this past summer how great it was but i didn't get around to reading it until this past thanksgiving. i finished all three of them in a week. it was so hard to put them down to socialize with family. :lol: so i understand how it was hard for you to put them down. i am so excited for the movie! i really hope it lives up to the greatness of the book.

thanks for sharing your short trip with us!
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
great trip report tammy! you took so many great pictures. i love the room at the disneyland hotel. that headboard is amazing!

and i LOVED the hunger games! my cousin told me this past summer how great it was but i didn't get around to reading it until this past thanksgiving. i finished all three of them in a week. it was so hard to put them down to socialize with family. :lol: so i understand how it was hard for you to put them down. i am so excited for the movie! i really hope it lives up to the greatness of the book.

thanks for sharing your short trip with us!

I am so glad I wasn't alone in my love of the Hunger Games! :lol:

I think the trailer looks awesome. Exactly how I pictured it!

Thanks for reading, Ashley!:)
 

erstwo

Well-Known Member
I finished and I loved it!

I, for one, am thankful that you decided you *should* write a Disneyland Trip Report!

:wave:
 

NewfieFan

Well-Known Member
Great, just great TR! Loved the pictures and the details. First you get my sights set on a cruise and now DL. It won't be anytime soon but one of these days I want to make it to the other coast. How much do you charge for tours? :lookaroun
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Great, just great TR! Loved the pictures and the details. First you get my sights set on a cruise and now DL. It won't be anytime soon but one of these days I want to make it to the other coast. How much do you charge for tours? :lookaroun

:lol: Just room and board!!
 

revan

New Member
Hi Tammy,

New to the boards and I love your TR and photos. Hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions about your photography. What camera and lenses do you use? Are you processing HDR in camera or during post processing (or not at all)? If you are doing HDR post processing, what are you using?.

Thanks,

Revan
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Hi Tammy,

New to the boards and I love your TR and photos. Hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions about your photography. What camera and lenses do you use? Are you processing HDR in camera or during post processing (or not at all)? If you are doing HDR post processing, what are you using?.

Thanks,

Revan

Hi Revan! Welcome to the boards! I use a Canon 50D and various lenses. I usually had either the Canon 24-70L or Sigma 8-16 on for this trip.

I haven't ventured into HDR yet, but I did run a lot of these through Topaz Adjust. :)

Thanks for reading!
 

aka_emilicious

Well-Known Member
I'm a bit late to the party on this trip report, but I absolutely loved it! I'm turning into a bit of a shutterbug myself and always feel bad stopping to take hundreds of pictures.

erstwo suggested I search for your trip report because I'm a bit nervous about my own solo Disneyland trip! I'm travelling to San Diego at the end of April for work and am planning on spending the weekend in Disneyland before heading back. Unfortunately, none of my friends/family have the time or resources to come out with me. But I'm so close, how I could I NOT go to Disneyland?

Anyway, a big thank you for making me feel like I can do a solo trip to Disneyland as well!
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I'm a bit late to the party on this trip report, but I absolutely loved it! I'm turning into a bit of a shutterbug myself and always feel bad stopping to take hundreds of pictures.

erstwo suggested I search for your trip report because I'm a bit nervous about my own solo Disneyland trip! I'm travelling to San Diego at the end of April for work and am planning on spending the weekend in Disneyland before heading back. Unfortunately, none of my friends/family have the time or resources to come out with me. But I'm so close, how I could I NOT go to Disneyland?

Anyway, a big thank you for making me feel like I can do a solo trip to Disneyland as well!

Excellent! I'm so glad I could help!

And definitely! How could you NOT go!! :)
 


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