Robin's 1st Time West of Chicago and DL Girls Trip!! *Updated 3/26* - Page 4 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Robin - Glad you've started. I noticed your new sig pic. I Laguna Beach! It is beautiful, has great restaurants and wonderful shopping. Can't wait to hear about your visit there!
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Great start Robin! Love the pics from the plane. I guess I take it for granted that others haven't traveled great distances from your surprise at the size of the plane. That's usually the size I travel in to get to Dominican Republic!
Although, like you, on my trip to Spain last year, I experienced my first "double decker"! Like what our British friends are used to jumping the puddle on! Now those are huge!!!!
Anyways, can't wait to read more about the zany passporter gals on the west coast!
February 27, 2007 Day 1 Part 2: Where do I go? Now I am all confused!
Our bags were some of the first to come out of the carousel. Finding the shuttle ended up being a bit more difficult then we thought. We went out to where the green sign was and waited. There was no sign that said, “Disneyland Express”. Were we in the right spot?? We went back inside and I called from the courtesy phone (by the way ICK…airport phones…I am glad I had my hand sanitizer!) I asked what time the shuttle was coming and she said 4:00. It was almost 4:00 so we went back outside. Just after 4:00 the pretty shuttle decorated with Sleeping Beauty’s Castle pulled up to the green bus stop. The driver loaded out bags into the shuttle and we were on our way.
First we went to Disneyland Hotel where they collected Cindy’s ticket and I had to buy mine. Then we headed over to Howard Johnson. Check-in was quick and easy. As we were checking in another girl came up the desk and asked, “Are you Robin?” I told her I was. “Someone has been trying to call you all afternoon.” Our room was in building 2 (way in the back…ugh). Our room was very easy to find it was very close to the elevator and had a “pool view”…which was better then the other side of the building…they had a I-5 view. We could see the monorail tracks from our balcony! Just as we were settling in and unpacking the phone rang. It was Karen (that was you right Karen?? Or was it Eileen?) Anyway….they wanted to let Cindy and I know that they were going to make Margaritas in their room before dinner. Cindy wanted to relax a bit and unpack I decided to head to Grand California Hotel (GCH) and join the crew for a few drinks. I went down to the front desk to find out exactly how to get to GCH. Eric had NO clue how to get there. HUH? You work for a major hotel across the street from Disneyland and you don’t know how to get to one of the Disney owned hotels??? The other front desk person got out a map and showed me how to get to Disneyland and found the hotel on the map. I decided to walk.
The walk to Disneyland was very simple, follow the monorail tracks until you see the sign for Disneyland then turn right. I kept walking but got a bit confused when I got to baggage check. I looked around and thought, “this can’t be right” A CM saw me and asked me where I was going, I told her and then said, “I am use to Disney World!” She laughed and said, “We do things a bit different at Disneyland. I am heading over that way let me show you were to go.” As we walked through the courtyard I noticed Disneyland on my right and California Adventure on my left. It felt like a dream. When we got to the other baggage check she pointed out where I needed to go and I headed through the exit.
Downtown Disney at Disneyland is so much different then Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World. The only stores they had that were similar were Basin, Lego Store and World of Disney. Everything else was totally different. Even their Rainforest Café was themed different. And the weirdest thing…the monorail runs right through the center of the plaza! Very cool!
GCH was breathtaking. The resort reminds me a lot of Wilderness Lodge at WDW. It has a very rustic feel to it. I was running a bit late so I made my way up to Eileen and Karen’s room. I felt like I walked FOREVER (I must have taken the wrong elevator). I kept walking and turning corners and walking and turning another corner and walking…you get the point. Anyway I finally found the room and entered just behind Crystal and Doug. Margaritas were already being served. After hugs all around I was handed a glass with yummy Margarita and enjoyed the company of my Passporter friends. Janine gave me a Mickey container filled with M&Ms, Liz gave me a cool glowing necklace (purple ) and Sarah gave me my t-shirt that she made for me for the tour the next day. guys I didn’t expect GIFTS! BTW they came out VERY cool! It was great to see friends I had met before and it was great to meet people I had read so much about and chatted with online and FINALLY got to meet. Some of us ( ) may have had one too many Margaritas. Karen makes then very good…who can resist?
Ms. Emilie and Ms. Eileen were checking out the Downtown Disney View.
Karen was playing bartender. She makes some yummy Margaritas!
Dawn and Karen enjoying some fine icy treats!
Sarah is wondering why I am taking so many photos and Tina is just happy to be out of the UP!!
Dinnertime was approaching so we all headed down to Tortilla Jo’s. The walk seemed much shorter then the first time. Maybe it was because we found the RIGHT elevator? Cindy met us out front and within 10 minutes we were seated. I am not a huge fan of Mexican type food but I found a couple of things on the menu. I got a cup of Meatball Soup and Tequila Barbecue Chicken Wings. Both were VERY good…especially the wings. Crystal ordered Margarita to share with the table. For some reason the pitcher came with a very large straw which by the end of the meal Crystal was actually using. Karen was laughing so hard I thought she was going to fall out of her chair.
Tina once again happy she is out of the frozen North (ie the UP)
Eileen is saying “Hello” from the end of the table.
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Robin Twitter name: @NKsDogwalker Find me on FB: robinkay6573@yahoo.com 38th Birthday with Mom, Dad and friends 2011 Next Trip: Cruise on Jewel of the Seas for Christmas 2012
OK. What exactly am I doing with my left hand in this picture? Trying to prove that unlike my friend Dawn I can take a close photo without the gratuitous tush grab? What a dork am I!
That night was so much fun, and I made sure y'all thought so to by getting you sauced! Although there were virgin margaritas too!
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Karen, aka Zack's Mom - Lover of all Things Disney and the San Francisco Giants!
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Laguna Beach! It is beautiful, has great restaurants and wonderful shopping. Can't wait to hear about your visit there!
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We could see the monorail tracks from our balcony! 
Just as we were settling in and unpacking the phone rang. It was Karen (that was you right Karen?? Or was it Eileen?) Anyway….they wanted to let Cindy and I know that they were going to make Margaritas in their room before dinner. Cindy wanted to relax a bit and unpack I decided to head to Grand California Hotel (GCH) and join the crew for a few drinks. I went down to the front desk to find out exactly how to get to GCH. Eric had NO clue how to get there. 
HUH? You work for a major hotel across the street from Disneyland and you don’t know how to get to one of the Disney owned hotels??? The other front desk person got out a map and showed me how to get to Disneyland and found the hotel on the map. I decided to walk.
) and Sarah gave me my t-shirt that she made for me for the tour the next day. 
guys I didn’t expect GIFTS! BTW they came out VERY cool! 
Cindy met us out front and within 10 minutes we were seated. I am not a huge fan of Mexican type food but I found a couple of things on the menu. I got a cup of Meatball Soup and Tequila Barbecue Chicken Wings. Both were VERY good…especially the wings. 
PassPorter Guide Author
Thanks for the update, and the photos!
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