DopeyGirl goes to Disneyland!!! THREAD 2 --- COMPLETED 8/14 (2 updates) About This Page:

[mestitch]

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DTD entrance to the Grand Californian Hotel


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Totally got distracted by this picture... (thinking of Dina ~ Happymommy's TR) "LOOKADAT!!!!" See the kid's hat?


I am loving your TR Sarah!! DH and I have to get to DL soon! You are inspiring me!!

I can't believe that butthead that wouldn't listen to you about your stroller!! You shoulda picked up your nametag and held it in his face!! What a stinker!

I can't wait for more!!

[katspjs]

Great report Sarah! Love the picture of Emilie and her Poppa with the matching gold ears.

Man, I would have been steamed about the stroller. The nerve of some people!

[lauren-roxy]

Greatupdate Sarah!! I am so loving this trip report and all the fantastic pictures!!! What a jerk that guy was about the stroller, I h ope that's the only problem that you had while you were there! Can't wait for more!!

[PrincessSharon]

Great updates, Sarah! I can't believe how rude that guy was! All the detail in your TR is making me so excited for my upcoming trip! More, please!

[SHEANA1226]

How rude of that guy to take your stroller and argue with you!!! Other than that you sound like you are having a great time.

[DreaminDizney1002]

I'm lovin' your day at Disneyland! I feel like I am right there with you! Having never been to DL...I appreciate all of the detail! Lookin' forward to more!

[DopeyGirl]

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Totally got distracted by this picture...

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I kind of figured you would be, Melissa . . . After I posted it, I noticed the hat again . . . and that I had used the word "Frickin'" too!!!

What the frick . . .

<font color="blue">Oh . . . about the stroller guy . . . that WAS the only nasty person (beside the dummies who walked in front of my Castle/Partners photos) that I encountered in 2 1/2 days at DL!!! Glad it happened earlier in the first day so I could enjoy the rest of my time there!!! </font>

[DawnDenise]

What a wonderful update!! Other than the run in with the nasty man who had your stroller, it sounds like the day has gone along wonderfully! More please!

[dsnytina]

Go Sarah!~ Go Sarah!~
Nice job!

So sorry about the rudeness!!!
Tina

[debsta922]

Great Report and Emilie is still cute as ever!

[DebiDebiDebi]

You guys sure look like you were having a great time!

[DopeyGirl]

DAY 4 PART 2 -- Welcome to California!!! . . . and Block Party Bash!!!



<font color="blue">Over to Disney’s California Adventure we went . . . and I tried my best to get the whole “CALIFORNIA” in the frame but it didn’t happen . . . </font>


Welcome to “ALIFORNI”

<font color="blue">There were no lines so we went straight through the turnstiles, grabbing maps as we came through. I am glad no one was trying to walk in right behind me because I turned into one of those annoying people who just stop right in front of you!!! I took pictures like a MAD woman!!! </font>


Just inside the turnstiles . . . the Golden Gate (monorail) Bridge



<font color="blue">After Mom and I had taken a few photos, we all said we were feeling a bit hungry, and since it was 6:15 or so, we headed in search of food. We came across Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream . . . and couldn’t resist! Hey, we figured we’re on vacation . . . we can have ice cream for dinner if we want! So, ice cream it was!!! Mom and I each ordered the Mint Express (Two scoops of mint chocolate chip ice cream, topped with hot fudge, crushed cookies and cream, whipped cream and a cherry, served in a waffle cup), while dad chose the Steam’n Chocolate (Two scoops of vanilla ice cream atop a warm chocolate cake, topped with hot fudge, whipped cream, chopped walnuts and a cherry, served in a waffle cup). </font>




Tower of Terror from our table in Sunshine Plaza

<font color="blue">We found a table (unfortunately not a shady one!) just outside and enjoyed our ice cream dinner. As we sat there, the Wave Riders (DCA’s “Surf Rock” band) came by . . . then all of a sudden there are 4 Green Army Men marching around Sunshine Plaza. We checked our Times Guide to find that coming up on about 5pm by now and Block Party Bash was getting ready to start!!! The Green Army Men were there to give us “Basic Block Party Bash Training” . . . they were pretty entertaining!!! I just couldn’t figure out HOW they couldn’t have been comfortable in all that green grease paint they had to wear on their faces! Right at about 5:15, the music started and around the corner came the floats!!! There are 3 different “Party Zones” in DCA . . . we were in the Red Zone, which is near the front of the park . . . then they moved along to the Green Zone (at 5:30pm), then to the Blue Zone (5:45pm). We saw all of our favorite Pixar pals . . . Buzz, Woody, Mike, Sulley, Flik, The Incredibles . . . and the CM performers were just amazing!!! They work VERY hard . . . they do lots of VERY physical stuff!





After Block Party Bash ended, we headed across to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. The final showing of Playhouse Disney was at 4:15, so we missed that. Emilie was upset but she got over it . . . We got in with 30 seconds to spare to Muppet Vision 3D, though! We missed the pre-show but, dang it, we got in! </font>


The Sunshine in Sunshine Plaza



<font color="blue">After Muppets, we wandered back by the ToT then back out and towards “a bug’s land” . . . </font>


Grizzly Peak (taken from Sunshine Plaza)

<font color="blue">Emilie said “NO!!!” to It’s Tough to be a Bug . . . shock and surprise! She doesn’t mind the spiders, but REALLY doesn’t like the bug spray . . . and the stinkbug. Can’t blame her! So, we headed back into Flik’s Fun Fair. We walked through a giant empty box of Woody’s Cowboy Crunchies cereal and suddenly felt the size of ants!!! Everything was giant!!! Even a drink stand looked like it was a giant juice box!!!

We headed, first, to Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train . . . that was about a minute and 15 seconds of fun!!! It did, however, leave me with a cute quote . . . (in Heimlich’s voice) “Good-bye! I miss you already!” (which he says bjust before you get off of the ride) I still say that all the time . . . and just like Heimlich!!!



Next stop was Flik’s Flyers . . . note to self ---- next time, pay attention to which way the ride rotates!!! I ended up riding backwards, which is something I don’t do real well! Mom agreed to go on with us, but after the ride started up, she started saying “This was a BAD idea . . . “ She doesn’t like things that go in the air . . . let alone things that SPIN in the air! </font>


We rode in an “applesauce” box, but we were REALLY hoping to nab a Chinese Food take-out container!!!

<font color="blue">Once we were safely back on land, Emilie and I rode Francis’ Ladybug Boogie . . . the best way to describe it is “sort of” like Mad Tea Party, but not quite. There are 6 ladybug cars on a sort of figure 8 track . . . they spin like the teacups and jiggle (hence the “Boogie” part of the name). Emilie didn’t really like it because “it wiggled too much.” </font>




CONTINUED IN NEXT POST!!!!!

[DopeyGirl]

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST!!!!!

<font color="blue">Emilie said she didn’t want to ride Tuck and Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies, which was OK with me because I don’t really dig bumper cars anyways. I just don’t like the idea of some random person slamming their car into me . . . call me crazy . . .

Having done everything there was to do in Flik’s Fun Fair and “a bug’s land”, we headed out through the giant cereal box and headed left into the Golden State area of DCA. As we came upon the Pacific Wharf, I looked to the left and what did I see but the sign for the Mission Tortilla Factory . . . “TURNING LEFT!!!” We stepped inside the door and walked through, showing Emilie all the tortillas on the line . . . then when we got to the end of the line, a tortilla maker handed us each a fresh, warm, soft flour tortilla . . . (Hungry now?) Well . . . Emilie doesn’t really like bread that much, so she wouldn’t eat hers . . . dad and I split it!

Next, we walked across the walkway to The Bakery Tour presented by Boudin Bakery. As we walked in the door, we were handed a fresh slice of tasty sourdough bread . . . which is my FAVORITE!!! We watched a short film starring Rosie O’Donnell and Colin Mochrie (the guy from Whose Line Is It Anyway? --- or the Snack Fairy in the Nabisco commercials . . . ) on how they make the sour dough , then we were let through into the bakery area. They were making things like round loafs to be used for bread bowls (for the adjacent Pacific Wharf Café) and Mickey shaped bread!!! Again, Emilie didn’t eat her sample . . . so I HAPPILY took it off her hands!!!

It was a nice few minutes in the air conditioning . . . and a nice snack too!!!</font>


Pacific Wharf

<font color="blue">From there it was on to Paradise Pier . . .

We stood and watched the “launches” on California Screamin’ for quite a while, all the while I am saying “YUCK!” Then after noticing all of the little bugs around the water, we walked on a little more . . . stopping to watch Orange Stinger, Maliboomer, the Sun Wheel (barf.) Jumpin’ Jellyfish, Mulholland Madness (which is sort of like Primeval Whirl, just without the spinning) and the Golden Zephyr. We didn’t ride anything . . . just watched! Emilie was too short to ride anything anyways . . . as we had found out earlier in the day at Star Tours. </font>


Sun Wheel (left), Maliboomer (center) and Orange Stinger (right) --- with part of CA Screamin’ in the background . . . and the Paradise Pier Hotel to the right in the background.


California Screamin’ ------- upside down . . .

<font color="blue">Once we had gotten our fill of hearing screaming people , we headed towards Grizzly River Run (to watch it, not ride!) . . . none of us were really in the mood to get wet. </font>




Our navigator hard at work again . . .

<font color="blue">Then it was on to Condor Flats to see about Soarin’ Over California!!! At this point, our party consisted of a grumpy 4 year old, an increasingly grouchy Grammie and a Poppa who wasn’t feeling too well so when we saw the wait time posted as 45 minutes and there were no more FastPasses to be had, we knew it just wasn’t destined to be that I ride it just yet! MAYBE I will luck out at WDW in December . . . and Emilie will be tall enough by then!!!



We headed out of the park at that point, having seen everything and knowing that if there was anything we wanted to try and do at DCA, we always had tomorrow! We decided to go back over to DL. The plan was to be headed for Toontown, since we hadn’t been there earlier on in the day. We got on the train (after waiting in line for 2 others to come and go) . . . sat for 10 minutes on the train, without moving . . . FINALLY, the conductor said that something had happened to the train ahead of us, and that the whole train system had to shut down at that point. So we got off of the train and walked! We got to the Toontown gate at 8:27pm and they were ushering people out and letting no one in . . . “Toontown closes at 8:30pm to prepare for the fireworks.” I was told. OK . . . so we sat down right near IASW and deliberated on what to do next. Do we hit some rides, do we try and find a spot for the fireworks or Fantasmic! (yeah, RIGHT! Not with THAT short notice!), do we just go back to the room? I ran over and took this photo . . . </font>


The ONLY “Happiest Faces on Earth” mural I was able to get a decent photo of . . . but isn’t it just fitting for ME, your friendly neighborhood DopeyGirl?

<font color="blue">. . . then we decided to head into Fantasyland and try and ride Dumbo . . . it was posted as a 20 minute wait, which was OK with me at that point. Halfway through the queue, I looked up from talking to Emilie to see that the ONE person in the line ahead of the family of 3 in front of me had just turned into <u>14</u> people!!! The guy ahead of me confronted them about it and they all turned around saying “No habla Ingles.” They just looked behind them and giggled the rest of the time until it was their turns to get on the ride. Some people.

After flying around with Dumbo, we decided to make our way to the exit . . . BIG mistake!!! The crowds were HORRIBLE!!! It was like a slow moving cattle drive just to get out!!! We were corralled from Fantasyland through Tomorrowland, through a small walkway across the Central Plaza that they had created in the midst of the fireworks watching crowds, around some kiosks at the Info Center/Guest Relations and FINALLY down Main Street. It was a stupid idea to leave at that time, but once we were in the stream of people, there was no option to get out of it! The worst part was the people who were CONSTANTLY stopping in front of us to watch the fireworks. There were CMs about every 5 feet saying “Keeping walking please. Do NOT stop to watch the fireworks. If you wanted to watch them from here, you should have been here an hour or more ago. Keeping moving.” People kept stopping and I was getting pushed from behind by more of the “cattle” so I was an ankle rammer with the stroller . . . if you were there that day and stuck in that and had your ankles hit, I apologize!

We eventually got out of that giant cluster and made our way out the turnstiles. As we started to walk across the Esplanade, my mother’s sandal hit an uneven patch of concrete and she fell flat on her face. She didn’t bleed, but she had a bruise on her knee for about a month!!! The worst part was that there were a few hundred people sitting in the Esplanade watching the fireworks . . . and she fell RIGHT in front of them all. She got right up and limped off saying “Whoa . . . I hope no one saw me!” My mom . . . what a funny lady . . .

None of us lasted too long once we got back to the room. I changed Emilie into her PJs as soon as we got back and she was out . . . I laid out our clothes for the next day, rearranged the backpack, took a shower and got in my PJs. I don’t think I even made it past 10:30 that night!!! </font>

COMING UP NEXT: DAY 5 PART 1 – June 26, 2005 – <font color="red">How much is that witchy in the window?</font>

[chezp]

Great installments Sarah – those photos are superb – I love the one in Downtown Disney with the monorail going overhead – how neat is that! - But my favourite shot has to be that one of Eeyore poking his head out – that is just so cool. I could’ve cried with delight with I saw that, it’s just cute as anything!

I’m so pleased that you’re putting so much detail into this report, as I haven’t been to Disneyland since 1987 and I could do with all the detail possible to prepare for our spring 2006 trip there!

[mestitch]

Gosh Sarah, I'm tired just reading about your packed day!!!

I know what you mean about people who don't keep moving when you're trying to leave the park The "cattle" feel is about right.

I am loving your pictures and can't wait to see more!!