Trip Report Tu in ‘25

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Tu in ‘25

These lyrics came to mind when I thought about my trip reporting. (I also thought, Here we go AGAIN but the above sounds much more poignant.) It’s now that time of year when my Disney trips are frequent. And this Disney Senior loves sharing her visits with y’all because your engagement makes it fun!

Yes, there will be stuff that’s the same. Yes, there will be surprises (too soon for the reveals). And yes, there will be sun rises!

Spring break countdown is at 4 days.

Since this intro needs a picture, here are Tu.

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Our room.

Pictures above the futon.

Futon opened.

Tiny closet and coffee station/beverage cooler.

The closet isn’t big enough to hold the plush robes.

Cuz every vanity needs a succulent!

Major flaw in our shower - the rainfall shower head would unexpectedly drip cold water!

Can’t tell you the fragrance of these since we’d brought our own products from home.

 

[Tuvalu]

Thought of you @Tony the Tigger when I saw this print in the bathroom.

Can you spot the Hidden Mickeys in the wallpaper?

Our room had a balcony which overlooked Downtown Disney and the parking tram stop. It was a great spot for people-watching!

We were on top of the World of Disney store.

As good as our view was, it paled in comparison to our “standard” room view in 2005.

Yeah, definitely not a standard view! We could not believe this surprise upgrade upon our arrival. I’d warned the kids about the theme-park view room pictured on the website: “This won’t be our view!”

Then Disney made a liar out of me!

 

[littleroo]

What an amazing room and view!!! I could just sit up there with Statler and Waldorf and people watch!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

After a quick unpack we headed for the elevator. Disneyland awaited!

The Grand Californian has its own security screening for Downtown Disney/Disneyland. Downtown Disney is a “secured” area, since it connects to the esplanade with the entrances to both DL and DCA. The much larger security screening for day guests is on either end of DD. The Grand Californian also has a private entrance into DCA (with security screening, of course!)

The hotel has directional signs for the parks which we carefully followed!

The hotel has a unique floor plan. Our elevator bank was not in the lobby, but in a small shaft accessed from outside. When going to DL, we had to exit the elevator, step outside and walk into the lobby, then follow interior signs that led us back outdoors. (Going to DCA was faster, as the entrance was not far from our elevator.)

Additionally all hotel restaurants and bars are accessed from outside.

I did not photograph the security area for obvious reasons. Unlike WDW, all bags are hand-searched by security guards and guests walk through metal detectors. Those who set off the metal detector undergo an additional wanding by a guard.

Leaving security, entering Downtown Disney.

You may recall Tu and Em are not fans of Disney Springs. Imagine the irony of us having to wander through Downtown Disney each time we visited Disneyland!

In fairness, the area is MUCH smaller and more compact than Disney Springs, so the usual crowd-inducing anxiety was not a problem.

 

[Tuvalu]

At the center of the esplanade we noticed an unusual structure and went closer to take a look.

Per Disney: This imaginative 50-foot-tall Music Box, inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle, features towers representing the earliest Lands in Disneyland Park. It ties the storytelling of the Park together in one gorgeous piece.

To our left was the entrance to DL.

To our right was the entrance to DCA.

Which looked a little different in 2005 -

(The giant letters spelled California.)

Then was copy-catted to the entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios by 2013.

(My “Where are we….? In Florida?” pose.)

DCA would need to wait. The original park had to be first!!

Here comes the MPB!

Like everything else in DL, the train tunnel is much smaller than at MK.

 

[rshell68]

View attachment 871145

The Incredible Mr. Limpet and Ladyfish!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Astute readers may have noticed the time clock on the train station. It was 12:45 pm - we had lots of time left in the day for exploring! That three hour time difference had worked in our favor!

First thing that struck us? Trees! Beautiful trees! Trees that provided a shady respite from the warm sun.

The Dapper Dans were here! (Though we just missed their show.)

Main Street was festively decorated for the 70th.

We were surprised at the number of things now considered “culturally inappropriate” at WDW that remain in more-progressive California.

Like a Cigar Store Indian.

I *think* I see a castle way down there….

Trolley for @TrolleyFollower91.

I’m sorry for the confusion that resulted when I first posted the following picture. I assumed y’all knew how tiny Sleeping Beauty Castle is when compared to Cinderella Castle. We had to get very close to it so that the castle would be in the frame!

But good things do come in small packages!

 

[Tuvalu]

As very experienced WDW tourist, I feel out of my element at Disneyland (and even more so at Disney’s California Adventure!) It’s a strange feeling and I immediately feel empathy for tourists who don’t visit WDW often. (Hopefully this trip taught me to be less judgy about them!)

My overwhelmed face today reflected in this picture from 2013.

Except I didn’t have a map. I relied on Emily to use the map in the app to get us where we needed to go!

Unfortunately she assumed the first attraction she wanted to see was located here and did not check the app map.

It was a logical assumption. Pirates of the Caribbean is located in Adventureland at WDW.

But in Disneyland, Pirates is in New Orleans Square. (Cuz that makes sense! )

No worries though! Jungle Cruise was only a 10 minute wait.

Want to know another difference between DL and WDW?

Stairs, stairs everywhere!! I’d forgotten this fact and even though I live in a three story house, my upper thighs got quite the workout during our vacation.

Second story view.

A peek at Indiana Jones’s Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

 

[Tuvalu]

Picture riding the MK Jungle Cruise backwards. That’s how it felt as we cruised - familiar props and scenes were in the wrong places! The photos below are in chronological order.

“Bertha likes looonnnggg showers.” (The only joke I remember.)

The front side of water.

And the backside of water.

Hey, how did Little Red get here?!!

The entirety of the ride smelled. BAD. I don’t know the cause (the water?) but it wasn’t B.O. from anyone in the boat.

JC was a one and done.

 

[the_rich]

California Girls

This was not our first trip to west coast Disney. It was my 5th (I attended both Disneyland’s 40th and 50th anniversary celebrations) and Em’s 4th. Our first visit to the parks as a “Disney Duo” (thanks, @RememberWhen ) was way back in 2013 - and she has been bugging me requesting a return ever since. I’d successfully held her off until this past March, when we booked exactly 100 days out.

An (unintended) magical number indeed!

I’d enjoyed all my previous west coast Disney vacations and have wonderful memories of them. My reluctance to visit more frequently stems from the fact that California is expensive, y’all! As is airfare (when you no longer have frequent flier miles!) Lastly, I wasn’t keen on sacrificing more-affordable WDW vacations for DL.

But Em wore me down. And I am SO GLAD she did!

Join us for 4 jam-packed, fun-filled, park-commando days. You might just be impressed with what we “resorty” people can do!**

View attachment 870924


**While it didn’t kill us, we’re still recovering.

My Dl trips are usually cheaper since it isn't as much of a necessity to stay in a Disney hotel out there.

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Okay, time to find those Buccaneers! We came upon the Treehouse along the way.

Did we climb it?

(Did you not just read my rant about stairs, stairs, everywhere?)

A N’awlins mansion. Next to a Treehouse. Home to Pirates.

How to get inside? Go down.

And then go back up. Nice view of “culturally inappropriate” Tom Sawyer Island.

There’s a moat inside this mansion!

 

[Songbird76]

View attachment 871394

That was some serious photo bombing from those two ladies.

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Onboard for our adventure!

But first a quiet ride through the bayou. That’s the Blue Bayou restaurant - fine dining with prices that match. I’ve dined there twice in the last century.

The attraction itself has several pre-show scenes before the cannon battle on the sea. And there’s a double waterfall drop!

We thought this swashbuckling shadow effect was cool!

My pics aren’t as good as I hoped (@donaldtoo) but you get the gist. The story flows much better here and the details are amazing. I wish Florida had gotten this version of Pirates!*

(*I’m sure The Beak and Barrel bar will make up for MK’s truncated version.)

 

[Tuvalu]

That was some serious photo bombing from those two ladies.

Looking more closely, there are actually five photobombers in that picture! (Albeit two in sunglasses - but they’re judging me, I can feel it!)

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Em and I were hungry. Our body clocks signaled it was approaching (east coast) dinner time. We sat down and opened the app to view our options.

Mobile order on the Disneyland app has over 80 options. You read that right. Every restaurant, every kiosk, every snack shop, every ice cream place in DL, DCA and Disney’s three hotels are listed.

Filter is your friend.

It was also a sad reminder of just how few quick service options there are at WDW parks.

Guess where we sat? ON A PARK BENCH! One of the hundreds available for use in Disneyland.

Another sad reminder of something no longer available in WDW parks.

 

[littleroo]

I wasn't confused as to where you were. You were just sneaky about it especially your count down...

Loving all the pictures and details! Keep them coming. I also live in a 3 story house but I am not looking forward to the stairs at Typhoon Lagoon. Pirates looks amazing!!

 

[RememberWhen]

I’m told I went to Disneyland as a toddler, but clearly have no memory of going. It’s definitely on my bucket list for a different Disney trip. Definitely a decade in the future, unfortunately.

 

[Tuvalu]

I wasn't confused as to where you were. You were just sneaky about it especially your count down...

I also live in a 3 story house but I am not looking forward to the stairs at Typhoon Lagoon.

I assumed the countdown thread was for WDW vacations. Therefore my countdown number reflects the number of days until my next WDW trip.

And yeah, the stairs at Typhoon Lagoon are a real

I’m told I went to Disneyland as a toddler, but clearly have no memory of going. It’s definitely on my bucket list for a different Disney trip. Definitely a decade in the future, unfortunately.

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Em liked what she saw on the menu.

If you enjoy dining al fresco, the Disneyland Resort is your place. The seating areas of most restaurants are outdoors, usually under cover. Such a nice change from WDW (where the climate prevents it!)

I found a table while Em picked up our food. She had the brisket sandwich (which she declared her favorite food of the week) and I had the tasty brisket salad.

Our view was wonderful! We watched the steamboat go by.

And then it was the sailing ship’s turn.

We were completely relaxed and fully immersed in the beauty of life on the river.

As we were eating, a huge smile suddenly appeared across Em’s face and she started bobbing her head. “Can you hear the song?” she asked me.

I hadn’t noticed the Hungry Bear music until now. I recognized “Try Everything”, the song Trixie sings in MK’s Country Bear Musical Jamboree - which is Em’s favorite number. Hence the smile!

We paid close attention to the following songs and all were the full-length versions (not clipped like in the attraction) of the tunes sung by the bears in CBMJ. How fun!

As we were leaving we saw each bear had a portrait on the restaurant wall. Sadly the glass was very reflective.

Fun fact: this restaurant is so named because it was adjacent to DL’s Country Bear Jamboree attraction. The attraction closed years ago and was replaced by one of my faves….which is coming up next.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Tuesday, con’t

Astute readers may have noticed the time clock on the train station. It was 12:45 pm - we had lots of time left in the day for exploring! That three hour time difference had worked in our favor!

First thing that struck us? Trees! Beautiful trees! Trees that provided a shady respite from the warm sun.

View attachment 871313

The Dapper Dans were here! (Though we just missed their show.)

View attachment 871314

All the trees in Disneyland are wonderful and so are the benches, but sorry @Tuvalu these guys aren't the Dapper Dans they are the Straw Hatters.