Willowwind's Disneyland Trip Report 2/11-2/14 **Updated 2/15** - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
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There are other changes as well.
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It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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Day Four (Saturday 2/14): Once again I’m up at 1am and can’t get back to sleep, but today it wasn’t so bad. I finished packing up the rest of our stuff so that we would be ready to check out at 4:30. After standing at the window for awhile overlooking the sleeping Kingdom I said goodbye a little teary eyed. Erik and I left the room and headed down to the lobby for check out. Everything went smoothly and we made our way outside to the bus stop to catch our ride.
The bus driver was very sleepy and curled up in a chair with his eyes closed until it was time for the bus to leave. It didn’t give me great confidence, but we stayed onboard. He bobbed and weaved across the expressway the whole way to the airport, I seriously thought that we were going to die. Greyline will be getting a terse letter from this family, because that drive to the airport was just crazy. We finally arrived at the airport and I could have kissed the ground. When we checked in our e-tickets it asked us if we wanted to upgrade to first class. Our flight out was really miserable and after a short but difficult discussion we decided to upgrade our tickets to first class.
As soon as we boarded and sat down on the plane I knew that we had made the right decision. We weren’t crammed into rows like sardines, the seats were comfy, the staff was attentive, and we would be fed. I must admit that as horrible as I felt our flight out was, the trip home was equally as wonderful. The flight was early out of the gate and quick in the air. The pilot kept us informed of “sight seeing” out our window. Breakfast was tasty, the movie was cute, and I was comfortable enough to catch a nap. It was a lot of money to upgrade, and I don’t know if I think the cost would be worth it on a short flight, but next time I’m headed back to California we will totally discuss flying first class ahead of time. Geordon and Katie picked us up at the airport and we drove the 1.5 hour home. All the kids cheered over their gifts and we relaxed for the rest of the night. It’s nice to be home.
This was a fabulous vacation. Doing Disney without the kids was a completely different experience. We enjoyed California so much we decided to go back in 2011.
My top picks of the trip:
Best Meal - Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen
Best Character Breakfast - Storyteller’s Cafe’
Best Service - Yamabuki
Best Land - New Orleans Square
Best Ride - Indiana Jones Adventure
Best Room - Disneyland Hotel, Dreams Tower 2837 (best room there from any trip)
Best Souvenir - Enamel & Crystal Mickey Mouse Ring from Arribas Brothers
Do’s / Don’ts for next time:
Stay 5 nights rather than 3
Do stay in the off season, mostly Sunday - Thursday
Don’t have to check out at 4am
Don’t worry so much about a schedule
Do make sure that all the camera equipment is in good repair and none of the cables have been left behind.
Do make sure everyone will be warm enough
Now, only 16 more days to go until Walt Disney World!
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Great finish! Sounds like a smooth finish, other than that bus ride to the airport! I think upgrading to first class was a wonderful choice. for sharing your TR with us! I have enjoyed reading it! Hope you have a magical time in WDW!
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I think upgrading to first class was a wonderful choice. 
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