4oth Bday Bash: May16-19 About This Page:

[WDWG84ME]

Hello fellow Passporters! I hope you'll have a little patience with me...I'm still trying to figure out how to add photos. But for now, let's get started:

Travelers: Myself, (Lisa) turning the big 4-0 on July 4th, Disney lover and huge Snow White fan.
My wonderful Husband, (Jeff) actual bday is May 17, likes Disney but really comes along to make me happy
My oldest Son, Andrew (12) been to DL at age 6, loves Disney, enjoys repeating Disney Movie Lines.
My youngest son, Zachary (7), A first timer to DL, loves Buzz Lightyear and BTMRR, a character favorite, they love him!
My Dad (Joe), loves to spoil his kids and grandkids
My Mom (Lou), also loves to spoil us and a huge Small World fan

Where: We stayed at The Grand Californian rooms 4202, 4203. Our room had bunk beds and a queen size bed. My parents connecting room had 2 queens.

Why: As I stated earlier, my 40th birthday is July 4th. I work for a school district that's year round school. The new school year starts on July 5th. So we chose May because my kids and I were off track for 3 weeks. My parents gave me the trip to celebrate my birthday. They are wonderful and as I said, love to spoil us!

We traveled from Denver to LAX on Frontier Airlines. We always travel Frontier to WDW. Main reason, cost and TV. That's right, I happily swipe the old credit card to keep the kiddos entertained. We left at 12:05 with a 1:50 arrival in LAX.

Our flight down was uneventful until we landed. Then the conveyor belt broke down before our luggage reached us . After a 20 minute wait we were back in business.

We had originally rented a minivan to get to DL. Since we were only doing Disneyland, we decided to use a shuttle. We found PrimeTime on the web and booked a charter van for the 6 of us. We waited awhile until the dispatcher could figure out where our van was. Finally...we were on our way. We skipped most of the traffic. The highways there have these huge carpool lanes so we breezed through.

We arrived at the Grand Californian close to 3:30. The first thing that struck me was how much smaller DL is compared to WDW. I mean your right there whereas in WDW you are driving alot longer on Disney property to reach your resort.

While the adults checked in, the boys and I looked around. If you've seem the Great Hotels piece on the Travel Channel then you know the lobby is huge! Well the TV doesn't do it justice it's ginormous! The piano player was playing, the fireplace was roaring...it's just beautiful. The kids found the hidden mickey in the clock from the TV program.

We made our way to our rooms, and waiting inside were balloons and autographed photos of our favorite characters, and birthday buttons for Jeff and I! (we're "pretending" it's my birthday )

The room was really pretty...a very lodge wilderness feel. It seemed about the same size as the rooms we've been in at The Polynesian and Beach Club. The bunk beds were up against one wall and our bed was near the slider. So, you have a little space in between. It didn't feel claustrophic at all. There were robes in the closet, a mini-bar which I told my kids to "not touch at all". Apparently, it senses if you move something and automatically charges you .

The kids were tired of being cooped up in a plane and car so they went to check out the place with their Dad. They were gone about three minutes when they ran back in yelling about the pool.

Okay, so we get out the swimsuits and take them down to the pool. I didn't want to get wet so hubby and I opted to watch. We had a 6:00 ressie at Brennans in DTD.

Before we left my Mom called me in her room and told me that the first Snow White show was at 11:30 the next day. She arranged for us to have preferred seating!!!
I was so excited...I love Snow White!! It's truly an obsession, but my family plays along!

So, the kids swam at the pool. The theme pool has a redwood tree trunk that's a water slide and a mini-slide for the littler swimmers. The oldest one loved the slide. The younger one, with the help of a life vest, enjoyed the mini slide. The pool has a whirlpool by the slide. The kids got caught in it. It was very funny to watch!
The younger one was just floating along...Andrew had to go over and reel him in!

Dragged the kids, kickin and screamin, out of the pool and headed to our room to get ready for dinner and check out DTD.

Coming Up: Dinner and DTD

[Cam22]

Happy 40th! Your report is delightful to read!

[Tink and co.]

Sounds like a great start to your trip! More please!

[loobyoxlip]

Great beginning, Lisa. I love the GC lobby - I have yet to stay there, so I'm excited to hear all about it!

[DopeyGirl]

Great start!!!

[lauren-roxy]

What a great start Lisa!! Can't wait to read more!!!

[PrincessSharon]

Great start! I'll be staying at the Grand Californian in August, so I'm excited to hear about it. More, please.

[snoozy]

Isn't the GC just grand. It is a beautiful hotel. The lobby is so impressive. Sounds like a great start to your TR. Happy Birthday

[WDWG84ME]

Dinner and Downtown Disney:

While the kids were changing my parents found the lounge in the hotel and ordered two Mochas. We joined them and I also had one. Two thumbs up! If your there try one they're made with Hershey's syrup and our cast member assure us they are sugar, carb and fat free!

SO off to Downtown Disney we go... As I said before, being new around the joint we didn't know which way to go. I've often heard of the silly questions people ask Cast Members and now we can add to it.

Lisa: How far away is Downtown Disney? Is there a bus to take us there?

Kind CM: It's right around the corner, just follow the signs.

Afterwards, I felt kinda silly but oh well! SO literally Downtown Disney is around the corner. What a fun place, great music , not very crowded, Hagen Daz, and a HUGE World of Disney! What more could a gal want?

We checked out a few stores on the way to Brennans. Right next to the restaurant was a walk up Brennans where you could get jambalaya and other goodies so I was pumped up for our dinner. My husband is from New Orleans and I thought it would be a nice treat. The restaurant is very authenic looking. We were seated outside on the patio. But, one look at the menu and we saw it wasn't "exactly" what we were expecting. I would have been happier hopping the fence and getting some jambalaya!

But, we stayed anyway and ate the funky food. We had stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer which were very good. ANd I had the drunken chicken for dinner. Again, very good with a side of the crusty french bread. Being carb deprived for so long I felt like I'd died and gone to heaven! My husband had the Pasta Jambalaya, Dad had the JAmbalaya Skewers, Mom had the Roasted Chicken. All in all a good meal, service though was highly lacking. Our server was more interested in the couple sitting in front of us. We skipped the Bananas Foster opting to shop and have ice cream!

The kids couldn't make it past Mareceline's Confectionary without being enticed by the sweet aromas. There dessert was candy! The adults had ice cream at Hagen Daz. By now the crowds had picked up and we headed to World of Disney. Love the store but the size can be a little daunting. Got the boys their official 50th Anniversary autograph books and a few other goodies. Then walked around somemore. We were headed for the Monorail to take a cruise around but it was closed due to the impending fireworks.

So what to the boys find? The Lego Store! My kids are addicted to Legos. We live with them everyday so lets look at some more! They loved the life size Darth Vadar, it actually started breathing heavy, must be a soundtrack thing. That took the littler one by surprise so he was a little wary standing next to the other Lego creations.

Dragged the kids out of the Lego store. And found another CM by the monorail for silly question...

Lisa: Where is the Disneyland Hotel? DO we take a shuttle?

Kind CM: No, you can walk, it's to your right under the Sorcerer's Hat.

Lisa: Is it a long walk, how early should we leave?

Kind CM: It's about a 5 minute walk.

Silly, silly me!

We head back to our rooms just in time to watch the fireworks from our hotel room...nice perk!
Look for the stories on TV, but that isn't available at Disneyland. Called for the fun wake up call, but husband said it rang to the front desk. Bummer, I love to be awoken by Mickey!

Oh well, no worries cause tomorrow I got a date with my favorite princess!!!!!!!!!

Next Up: Goofy's Kitchen and Disneyland!

[loobyoxlip]

Isn't it nice how close everything is at DL? Great update. Thanks

[PrincessSharon]

Great update! I loved hearing about Downtown Disney and I really can't wait to hear about Goofy's Kitchen!

[DawnDenise]

Great update!! Looking forward to Goofy's Kitchen!

[WDWG84ME]

Goofy's Kitchen and Disneyland:

We awoke Tuesday morning, slightly refreshed. A word about the clock radio in our room...it's seen better days. I found a smooth jazz station and then proceeded to adjust the volume. Well, there was a problem with the volume dial. It only went so low and then it was nonexistent! It was so funny, we were hysterical because I would have the radio blaring and then slightly adjust it and we'd hear nothing... SO it was a little loud and then I finally gave up and hit the snooze button. Well then, the piano player was so loud in the lobby we could hear it on the 4th floor. My husband and I laughed for quite some time before finally getting some shut eye.

Yippee it's Tuesday morning and I'm up before the alarm along with Andrew. We sing happy birthday to my husband cause he's officially 39!

Open the door to Grandma and Grandpa's place and the kids invade their room. The boys are finished dressing before me so they're off to explore the hotel and check out the gift shop. I enjoy my Grand Californian robe and casually dress. I've chosen my "Brunettes have more fun" shirt with Snow White on it so "Snow" can see how much I love her!

We had a quick walk to the Disneyland Hotel. Run under the sorcerer's hat as the friendly CM informed us the night before. We had an 8:30 reservation and arrived early. There was a gold autotopia car set up next to the restaurant, just waiting for us to jump in and take pictures.

While waiting I noticed Mary Poppins in the restaurant! Love her too, but not nearly as much as Snow. Jeff has on his birthday pin and has been wished "happy birthday" at least 4 times already...

We are seated at an okay table. Near the waiter door up the ramp on the way to the buffet zone. Seat littlest child on the outside for maximum character contact. Breakfast was yummy...wow the desserts were amazing! Don't remember that from the 1st visit. Had the delightful Mickey waffles. How come they don't taste the same at home??

Jasmine was the first to greet us. Boys weren't very thrilled, after all she's a girl and a princess... Called Jeff "Sultan" and wished him a happy birthday...HE liked that! The "Sultan" and Jasmine posed for a photo. Andrew posed with her too...I'm amazed since he's 12 and isn't interested in girls yet, or is he???

Then came Goofy himself! Boys love Goof so it's a big photo op! And he is priviledged enough to sign the autograph books. Since the books only have 16 pages for autographs ya gotta be choosey!

And Chip and Dale joined us, also a fave. Then the "Sultan" received a chocolate mickey ear cupcake and Baloo sang with us! Very fun! Sadly, Mary was on the other side of the room and we gave up waiting. Being the nice Mom that I am, I graciously gave up Mary for Disneyland.

So it's off to the land. Had to ask for directions again and finally figured out that DL and CA are on the opposite end of Downtown Disney.

Quickly get through bag check, waited awhile to get into DL. We're in! I get goose bumps...always do! Under the railroad, Main Street here we come! Had over to the Hat Shop for the coveted Golden Mickey Ears, and Mickey himself is posed outside the hat shop.

Okay, okay, the husband, grandma and Andrew get in long line for ears while ZMan and I wait for the mouse. Grandpa, not as amused, sits down and takes pictures of Mickey with stangers (why?).

Let's pause now for a little complaint... At WDW the CM's who escort the characters are very helpful. If Mickey is "going in for a cheese break" they tell you you're the last in line. They keep the line moving, take photos are generally helpful. Not so in DL, we are almost to the end of the line Mickey is in sight...Andrew runs out with the golden ears and, oh no, Mickey has to go to Toontown to check on a picture!

SO all that time and no photo, no interaction...major bummer. Oh well, the park is oficially open and we head to Buzz's Astro Blasters in Tomorrowland! Virtually no line, so we hop on and ride! How fun! The guns come out of their holders here making aiming much easier! My husband quizzes CM loading us on extra points. He must have seen the birthday button and gave him hints cause he had 228,000 points and kicked all our butts. Emailed our photo home and headed to the Autotopia.

Now, I would happily skip this but Nice Mom says sure let's go! Waited about 20 minutes, got our drivers license (very cute, scrapbook material) and headed for our car. Grandma and Andrew got a GOLD car!! They were soooo excited. Husband got pictures of us all and we were off. I must say I like the DL version better.

Time to head toward the Fantasyland theatre and you know who! First a quick spin on Small World for Grandma...youngest sits with her and sings along. Hallmark moment! Snow we're coming! Husband goes to fastpass Roger Rabbit as we are headed to Toontown after the show.

We are now in the special line for Snow White. Nice CM comes over to make idle chat. I ask her to go backstage and tell Snow White her #1 fan is here. She says she can't...what?! I show her my shirt and explain obession but sadly all I recieve is a birthday sticker with my name on it.

We are the first one's let in! But are we in the center row 1? No, on the left, row one. This doesn't make sense but I guess in the summer when it's crowded that's what they do. Still, I'm happy I'm in the front row, first seat, yippee!! I am silent taking everything in...

The show was fabulous, and Snow White was all that I expected and more. I sang along with her, much to my children's embarassment The stage is amazing, the props awesome and the funniest part...the skunk. That's right the skunk was a dead ringer for Will Ferrell! Everytime I looked at him I laughed!

During the finale I was on he floor with the other litle girls collecting rose petals!

After the show, what no encore? We head to Roger Rabbit, ride it, then little one wants to ride Gagdets Go Coaster, hubby takes him. I do not like that ride...I still wake up in a cold sweat dreaming about the Barnstormer!

After Toontown we head to Frontierland. No Fastpass kiosk open for BTRR, why? Cause there is a 5 minute wait, yeah! Grandma is appointed keeper of stuff as we ride!

Then it's Haunted Mansion, Pirates, and Fastpass Indy. Take a break with a Mickey Bar, ride Matterhorn, Carousel, Snow White. Let me say I touched the brass apple and got scared to death! Also did Pinnochio and headed back for Indy. Youngest chickened out and waited with Grandma. Love, Indy! Then it's dinner at The Blue Bayou. I couldn't imagine working there all day...you'd never know what time it was... Didn't get table near water, if felt kinda squished in there. Dinner was okay...

Rode Pirates after dinner to convince youngest son we were on the water for dinner. By now park is crowded as CA has closed for the evening. Missed parade due to dinner, bad planning on my part. I didn't realize the parades were at night. Shopped a little on Main Street then headed back to room. On the way we had to stop at World of Disney. My parents and Andrew headed back to hotel while we shopped. Bought two resin frames of castle. We always give my parents a picture of the whole gang framed as a gift. Head back to room and my Mom arranged for a birthday mickey cheesecake to be delivered for Jeff's birthday !

It was delightful! So we had cake and watched the fireworks from our room. The perfect way to end our day!

Next: Storytellers and CA!

[snoozy]

Goofy's Kitchen is our favorite character place to eat. The last time we were there we ate there 3 times. Goofy at one time drew pictures of Disney characters on the paper table cloth for my nephew. He was able to take it home with him.

Snow White show is really cute. I hear it is much better at night. Well it sounds like you had a great day. I can't wait to hear more.

[PrincessSharon]

What a fantastic day! Goofy's Kitchen sounded like it was a lot of fun, and you sure managed to get a lot done that day. So glad you were able to see and enjoy Snow White! Hurry back with more, please!