Just returned from Disneyland!
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AGentlRose · 09-17-2009, 03:57 PM

I wrote my report day by day, and am posting my three days in its entirety.

Arrived at the Grand Californian hotel early and was surprised when our room was ready, Standard room on the second floor, but we are overlooking the pool area. First impression is that the hotel is lovely. Nice king bed, couch, wet bar, nice size LG TV and to my surprise -- wireless. internet, which is not available at WDW.

We went through the separate entrance to DCA to Disneyland to get our annual pass photos taken. They don't do it at the bank on Main St anymore, you have to go to the Plaza Pavilion. The line was long but it moved pretty fast. I was disappointed that the pictures were a digital black and white, not like the old WDW they had in the 90s that were in color. After getting our passes, we were going back to DCA to see Aladdin since today was the only day during our stay that it would be performing. It was fabulous. Lion King at WDW is still my favorite, but Aladdin is, in my opinion, more like a real Broadway show.

We had quick serve at the White Water at the hotel and headed to Disneyland. It was 7pm and since there would be no more showings of Fantasmic during our stay, we wanted to stake out our space. Took the Disneyland Railroad to Frontierland and found a central location in front of Tom Sawyer's Island. We waited standing for 90 minutes, I guess we should have waited for the 10:30 show because it was claustrophobic crowded. They were having technical difficulties and it was 10 minutes late in getting started, The show itself is similar to Disney's Hollywood Studios, but shorter and less comfortable. I won't do Fantasmic here again. The addition of the dragon is cool, I thought he was supposed to breathing fire, but that might have been another technical difficulty. As soon as Fantasmic ended Magical the fireworks show started and they asked everyone to stay in their place until the fireworks ended. Again, here I have to give the advantage to WDW as far as music and presentation. Of course since we were stuck in Frontierland, we didn't get to see Tinkerbell and Dumbo take flight. Maybe in October, I hope to catch it.

After we were allowed to leave the Rivers of America we went on the Pirates. This ride is one of Disneyland's best. What was new to me, was a heavy fog effect where the pirate ship is shooting cannon balls at the village. The fog was so thick you couldn't see the boat in front of you, Being asthmatic I was worried about the fog, but it didn't seem to bother me. After Pirates we went on the Disneyland RR and rode to Main St USA and exited. Stopped at World of Disney and bought some gifts for friends, but the place was mobbed., Probably because everything else looked closed.

Day 2''

California Adventure before opening., We were able to use the special entrance and ride on Soarin' Over California before the official opening. For some reason, the seats on Soarin' in WDW are more comfortable I think. Anyway, I still enjoy this ride. We walked to Paradise Pier and rode Toy Story, loved a 15 minute wait compared with 60-90 min waits in Florida. No fast passes here either. Rode the Sun Wheel, I love how they redid it with Mickey's face and all the cars have a character on them. Wanted to ride Mulholland Madness, but technical difficulties had it closed. Instead we rode Golden Zephyr, and got some pizza at Pizza Oom Mow Mow (just okay, but I'm a New York pizza snob). Mulholland Madness was still closed, so we rode the Mickey Wheel and Toy Story again (just 20 min wait, it blows my mind) We passed by the boarded up area that will be the Little Mermaid attraction in 2010 and they were working on the area for The World of Color, a new nighttime show at DCA. On our way back to the hotel, we browsed the stores and came back to the GC. I really love this location plus, they have free wireless (not pay ethernet as in WDW)

After a break, we went to Disneyland since California Adventure closes at 6pm. We did a circle tour on the Disneyland RR, then got off in New Orleans Square, looked longingly at the Haunted Mansion, which Ihad a sign that said something to the effect that Sandy Claws was getting ready for the Holidays. We grabbed a quick bite at the Stage Door Cafe.and then to Big Thunder Mountain. Just a ten minute wait first time around, not bad at all, got off and rode again, got the last seat both times by request. Got off and took the path to Fantasyland, did the walk through Sleeping Beauty's Castle, I only remember doing this once in 1988, and don't remember much, but it seems as though they added some minor effects through the walk through. The rides in Fantasyland were too long, so we'll try tomorrow morning because we have the extra magic hour, so we rode It's a Small World and headed towards the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Had no idea how long the ride wait was because there was no sign where it entered, turned out to be 30 minutes, but it is a ride worth waiting for. It was almost closing time, so we headed for Main St and the Ice Cream shop and were lucky enough to get a table by the window, so we ate our waffle cones and watched the crowds pile out. Walked back to the GC, what a pleasure compared with that trek to the Disneyland Hotel, which I dearly love, but that walk at night killed me. I had reservations for my DH's birthday at Disneyland Hotel, but called the Disney Travel Co today and got them changed to here and with an AP rate, it wasn't that much more pricewise.

Day 3
Today was the only day we were able to take advantage of the extra magic hour, well they call it Magic Morning here. I love how at Disney World, they have the three extended hours every evening at one of the parks since we are not early birds. But we did get a wakeup call at 7:30 AM and were ready for the 9AM Magic Morning hour. Considering this was a slow time of the year, the lines were from the turnstiles Disneyland up to California Adventure. Since we avoided Fantasyland yesterday, that is where we headed first. Were able to ride Peter Pan with just a 10 minute wait, then Mr Toad and the rest of Fantasyland. Got to the Matterhorn and that was 35 min wait, and all worth it. Went to Innoventions after that, I've never been to the one in California, but it seemed as those it was closed. With Space Mountain down for the Halloween overlay, no Peoplemover (I know it's been gone from there for a while) Tomorrowland felt like a ghost town. We rode Buzz Lightyear and Star Tours, and started to head back down Main St. I never buy anything for myself and my DH gets upset, so I finally found a shirt I liked, I don't wear tee shirts, so it's hard to find something, but got a blue top with Disneyland and Mickey ears embroidered on the top left. I also stopped at the Crystal store and bought a little crystal Sorcerer Mickey for a friend of mine who loves crystal figures. We walked back through California Adventure to get to our hotel and stopped at Burrrr bank ice cream. That no sugar added Butter Pecan is really good.

Final time to Disneyland before we say goodbye - for now. We walked up Main St. to Big Thunder Mountain, if I thought 10 min yesterday was great, today was only 5 min, rode twice and went on Pirates. It wasn't my imagination, when I mentioned the fog effect because it was there today again. Kind of a nice touch once you get used to the fact that this is supposed to happen. This was basically a walk on, as soon as you walked up to the landing, you boarded the boat. We were supposed to go to Adventureland to see the Tiki Room and ride Indiana Jones, but I was exhausted. We stopped at the Blue Ribbon Bakery and got some goodies to bring back to the room, just decided to take one more circle tour around Disneyland on the railroad. We happened to be there at the right time, in the right train (the one with the side facing seats) and since the train was being held up, we got to see the Celebrate parade right from the train.

Tomorrow is the journey on, but looking on the bright side, we're returning at the end of October to see the Haunted Mansion Holidays and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. It's always easier to leave when you know you're coming back.

Side Note: Just something I noticed. Since we spent so much time at WDW this past year, it was so evident that the CMs at WDW are just more friendly, smiling, happy CMs. The front desk CM was extremely nice as were both the parking valets we used. When we pulled up, I asked about disabled parking, the valet went to check and he said that there were no spaces left, however, he would valet the car for us for no charge (a savings of $17 a night), when we were leaving the valet CM was originally from Las Vegas, not far from where I live. He asked if he could come home with me --- told him the back seat was empty, come on along. Bell services were also very nice and friendly. Where I noticed the difference was the housekeeping and quick service restaurant CMs. When we stay at the Polynesian, every CM from housekeepers to custodial, to the merchandise and Captain Cook's CMs always greet you with an Aloha and a smile. Not here at the Grand Californian, these particular CMs looked like they hated their jobs and wanted you to know it. Many times we would pass a housekeeper in the hall, smile and say Hi, and got no response. Oh well. It will not keep me from going back.