DopeyGirl Goes to Disneyland!!! --- DAY 3 PART 1 updated 8/3!!!!!
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**DopeyGirl** · 06-09-2005, 02:05 AM

Well, it sure is different for me to be posting a TR on this thread!!!

Since I am now 2 weeks out from my trip, I thought I would get a start on my report . . . here goes!!!

What I Did on my Summer Vacation --- a SoCal trip report!!!

Destination: San Diego, CA, the one and only Disneyland in Anaheim, CA and my parents’ house in Oregon ----- then home for 2 days before heading to in-laws’ house in St. Louis!

Dates:
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 until Monday, July 18, 2005 and Thursday, July 21 – Saturday, July 30, 2005

Adventurers:
Me, Sarah (28) - born and raised (till age 12) in San Diego, veteran of a few Disneyland trips and VERY homesick!!!
DD, Emilie (4 ½) - never been to California!
DM, Barbara (50) - not the biggest fan of any theme park, but Disneyland was HER IDEA!!!
DF, Dan (51) - has been dying to take Emilie to DL since the day she was born!!!
. . . with appearances by DSis, Tina (24), DSis, Julie (23), DBiL, Robert (23), our family dogs, Jake and Cricket

AND DH, DMIL and FIL.

Resorts:
San Diego – Holiday Inn Express – San Diego/Sea World Area
Disneyland – Park Vue Inn
. . . and, of course, my old bedroom (which has been converted into a “den”) at my parents’ house in Oregon . . . then the guest bedroom at the in-laws' house in St. Louis

Celebrations:
No real celebration . . . DH is just out of town for a few months (thanks US Navy!), so my parents though I might like a change of scenery for a while!

Oh, but my baby sis turns 23 on June 17th!

“To all who come to this happy place . . . WELCOME!”

Well, I sure didn’t think I would be saying this until sometime next year . . . if at all . . . but . . . 

I’M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!

Here’s how this all came to be . . .

My DH, Mike, is in the Navy. He is currently an instructor, teaching sailors fresh out of boot camp all about how to perform maintenance on aircraft electrical systems. The main schools are here in Pensacola, but they started up a smaller program identical to the schools here up in Great Lakes, IL. The instructors down here have been going to Great Lakes to teach in groups of 2-5 for 3 month shifts since November. Well, Mike was lucky enough to get looked over for the first couple of shifts, but he was up for this one!

So on May 6th, he took off driving to the Chicago area . . . leaving Emilie and I alone for the summer! Well, what to do . . . our “big” summer plans involved purchasing our new couch and loveseat, lounging by the pool and going to the beach a few times. Yeah, real exciting, huh?

Well . . . a couple of weeks after Mike left, my mom called me from her cell phone (which is VERY rare . . . ) She hardly let me get a word out of my mouth before she blurted out . . . “Your dad and I just bought you guys plane tickets. You’re meeting us in San Diego!” ------------ Wha-Wha-Whaaaaaaaaat?! -------------After asking her “What just happened?” She explained that she and my dad are going to Arizona to visit my grandfather as soon as school is out (she works for the school district) and they will be driving back home via San Diego. So, they’re going to fly us out to meet them there . . . we’ll spend a couple of days there . . . then we’re going to spend 2 ½ days at Disneyland!!! (then we’ll drive north, home to Oregon, which is where I will spend the next 3 weeks)

Like I am going to argue over or say no to a free trip . . . to DISNEYLAND!!!

So, the plans were all set . . . fly out of Pensacola mid-day on June 22nd, spend that evening, the next day and morning of the 24th in San Diego, drive to Anaheim the afternoon of the 24th, Disneyland on the 25th and 26th then start driving home the morning of the 27th (arriving home mid-day on the 28th . . . after an overnight stop in northern CA). Then we’ll spend until July 18th at mom and dad’s!

Sounds like a great plan, right? Well, DH and FIL didn’t think so . . . commence the family fight!!!

NEXT UP: More pre-trip fun: Sarah’s happy trip planning gives way to angry rants and raves!!!

**DopeyGirl** · 06-09-2005, 02:07 AM

More pre-trip fun: Sarah’s happy trip planning gives way to angry rants and raves!!!


BEWARE!!! RANT IN PROGRESS!!!

As soon as I told DH, DMIL and FIL (do notice the lack of D with FIL!) of my summer plans, I was met with resistance! DH was upset that I would not be (spending money we don’t have) coming to Chicago to see him . . . FIL just couldn’t “figure out - #1 – why you’d wanna go to San Diego. It isn’t that great and the one time we were there we had a horrible time. #2 – why would you want to go to Disneyland when you’ve already been to Disney World? You’ll all be so disappointed . . . I can tell you we were very unimpressed. Besides, we’d rather you just come here instead.”

I was a little angry . . . and A LOT hurt!!! I used my “nice voice”, but I let him have it . . . basically, here’s what I told him . . .

#1 – why I want to go to San Diego . . . Well, for one thing, I was born there! I lived there until I was 12 years old . . . I have 5 tons of childhood memories of that city! I love San Diego and will ALWAYS consider it “home” . . . I also haven’t been back to visit since 1998 (7 years!!!). Maybe if, when the in-laws made their visit to San Diego, they had done some of the things I had suggested, they might have had a better experience . . . that’s what they get for not listening to me!!!

#2 – why DL after WDW . . . he seems to forget that I grew up just 80 miles from Disneyland. That meant LOTS of day trips while I was growing up!!! DL was the park I saw FIRST . . . DL was the park that started the whole thing . . . My favorite place is Walt Disney World, but I have a special place in my heart for Disneyland and I think that any real, true Disney fan can understand that!!! Obviously, the March Disneyfication trip didn’t affect FIL. . . . Also, it has been 11 years since the last time I saw Disneyland . . . 1994, right after I graduated high school! AND it is Disneyland’s 50th birthday!!! WHY NOT?!

----------------- “Besides, we’d rather you just come here instead?!” ------------------
I am SO not telling my mother about that because she will rip the man’s head off . . . he basically came right out and told me to blow off MY OWN FAMILY for a month because he would rather have us come spend a WEEK with them!!! I told him as nicely as I could, “Thanks for the invite, but we’ll be spending some time with my family since I haven’t seen them since last August and we just saw you guys in March!”

DMIL understood completely, but FIL just couldn’t seem to get it through his big head!!! Eventually, I just stopped talking about ANYTHING to him! Now I totally see where DH gets his stubbornness from . . . unfortunately, it took 6 years to come out and it is all about jealousy over my family spending time with Emilie too!!! UGH!!! Why can’t we all just get along?

Well, I finally felt like it was cool to start planning a little again after I put my foot down . . . and it’s a good thing too!!! Mom had been so wrapped up in things at work and buying tickets for everything we planned on doing during our short trip, that she forgot to make hotel reservations!!! After a gentle reminder from me . . . “DUH! Hey mom . . . it might help if you made those, huh?” . . . she made a reservation at the Holiday Inn Express – San Diego/Sea World Area for 2 nights then one at the Park Vue Inn in Anaheim (right across Harbor Blvd. From DL! ) for 3 nights!

Everything was set then . . . Dad and I were busy making and comparing lists of what we wanted to do (and eat ) in our short time in SoCal . . . then FIL started calling again! “So, when were you planning on making time to come visit with us?” (well, I wasn’t really . . . ) He was heck-bent on flying us up for the first 2 weeks of this month . . . his parents (DH’s grandparents) were auctioning their household goods since they are now full-time in assisted living and sold their house. FIL thought it would be “very rude” of me to not be there for a “family function”. By this point, we were about 10-12 days away from the event (June 4th was the auction) . . . NO WAY am I dropping everything and NO WAY are your going to find a ticket out of Pensacola for under $700 each this close! He suggested I leave on June 1st and drive up, then drive back a couple of weeks later . . . which would give me about 3 days to get laundry done and packed for the “BIG” trip!!! I suggested I come after my trip home . . . he suggested I “should be nice enough” to come there first . . . I suggested I not come at all! (I wasn’t about to budge!!! Now if I could just bargain like that when it comes to yard sales!!!)

DH was jumping on the wagon with his dad and things just got downright miserable for a few days! Finally, one day while FIL was at work, DMIL called, saying “We need to talk about this ‘stubborn’ Jack thing.” So, I explained my frustration with the whole situation and that I would be glad to come visit, but I would not be doing so until AFTER my visit with MY family. She said she thought it was a great idea and that she thought it was WAY too short a notice . . . (FIL was still calling as of June 1st, trying to get me to come up there on June 3rd!!! ) then gave me her credit card number, telling me to just buy plane tickets for whenever is convenient for me, which I did . . . finally happy and stress-free! 

NEXT UP: A look back on Disneyland in 1994 . . . what was there that isn’t now . . . and what WASN’T there that IS now!

**DrDolphin** · 06-09-2005, 06:18 AM

Sarah sorry to hear that FIL is being such a pain... hope things improve and you can have a great trip to see both families.

katspjs · 06-09-2005, 08:26 AM

I'm sorry FIL is giving you such a hard time.

Your plans sound great! I went to DL before WDW and it holds a special place in my heart too - I just

the Mattahorn!

Have a great time!

DawnDenise · 06-09-2005, 08:51 AM

Yay!!! Another TR from Sarah!! Sorry to hear about all the FIL issues, but glad DMIL seems to be understanding! I can't wait to see your flashback to 1994. Looking forward to more!!

PrincessSharon · 06-09-2005, 09:10 AM

Whew! After dealing with your FIL, you deserve this trip! I'm so glad you were able to work out a solution. Can't wait for more!

Luv4My4 · 06-09-2005, 10:15 AM

Wow Sarah, you're FIL sounds like a piece of work. Good for you for standing up to him! I have never been to Disneyland so I am looking forward to hearing all about what used to be there and isn't now and what is there now but didn't used to be. Maybe someday I will get there! More please!

**Cam22** · 06-09-2005, 10:25 AM

Wonderful report and good job dealing with FIL! Have fun!

SHEANA1226 · 06-09-2005, 11:33 AM

Great start Sarah...sorry about your stubborn FIL. I can't wait to read the rest!

TroianRae · 06-09-2005, 12:21 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Great start Sarah...sorry about your stubborn FIL. I can't wait to read the rest!

[/ QUOTE ]

Totally!!

zacksmom_1993 · 06-09-2005, 01:30 PM

Sarah-

I'm so excited to read another one of your reports! And this time from Disneyland!

So sorry to hear about the FIL, but everyone around here certainly understands about wanting to do both Disneyland and WDW.

Although after looking at pictures of Emilie from your trip reports, I can certainly understand people starting WW III to spend more time with her! She's adorable!

Can't wait to read more.

Karen

lauren-roxy · 06-09-2005, 04:22 PM

In-laws, what can you say? Glad you stood your ground and will be spending time with your family which only seems fair. Can't wait to read more about your trip, won't be long now unitl you are on your way!!

**DopeyGirl** · 06-09-2005, 11:42 PM

A look back on Disneyland in 1994 . . . what was there that isn’t now . . . and what WASN’T there that IS now!

------- PLEASE EXCUSE THE SOMEWHAT BLURRY OR GRAINY APPEARANCE OF THE PHOTOS . . . THEY WERE TAKEN LONG BEFORE DIGITAL CAMERAS!!! -------

Guidemap . . . or should I say, guide-BOOK . . . featuring the BRAND NEW Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin and the 18 month old “Mickey’s Toontown”

Taken right from my scrapbook . . . this was my 2-day Park Hopper ticket for that trip . . . notice the price!!! My dad just paid $105 each for our 2-day Hoppers for this trip!!! My, how times change!!!

Sleeping Beauty Castle WITHOUT all of the pretty gold adornments for the 50th

“it’s a small world” . . . with the old pastel paint job!!! (It is now completely white with gold accents, much like the new façade in WDW!!! )

A couple of shots of the Skyway . . . one with the Matterhorn and one with Space Mountain . . .

A shot of Tomorrowland from the . . . :::sniff::: . . . PeopleMover I am SO going to miss it . . . I used to love to ride it over and over!!!

So here’s a few of the things I have gathered about the differences between THEN and NOW at Disneyland . . .

***** In 1994, there was NO California Adventure, Downtown Disney or Grand Californian Hotel and the Paradise Pier Hotel was something different!!! It was all still parking lots out there . . .

In the park in July 1994 . . .

***** The PeopleMover was still there . . .
***** Submarine Voyage (DL’s equivalent to WDW’s 20,000 Leagues) was still running . . .
***** There were TWO Autopias (Tomorrowland and Fantasyland) . . . now there is just the one in Tomorrowland!
***** There was NO Indiana Jones ride . . . it was still being built! In fact, we have my dad on video showing the sign in Adventureland saying “Indiana Jones Adventure – Coming in 1995”
***** The Skyway to Tomorrowland/Fantasyland was still operational . . . and just 4 months away from closing for good!
***** Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin had just recently opened
***** My Dad’s favorite attraction, Circle-Vision 360, was still open and showing “American Journeys” CV360 is now the home of Buzz Lightyear, I believe!
***** Captain EO, starring Michael Jackson, was still showing!
***** The Swiss Family Treehouse still belonged to the Robinsons . . . not Tarzan!!!
***** Like I mentioned before, ticket prices were about half the price then that they are now!!!
***** The last time I was there was the week before Disneyland’s 39th birthday . . . here we are at the 50th already!!!

So, lots has changed in the time that has passed since my last trip to the FIRST “Happiest Place on Earth” . . . and I am SO anxious to see everything, new and old, in person!!! 

NEXT UP: My summer plans in a nutshell . . . .

**DopeyGirl** · 06-10-2005, 01:10 AM

My summer plans in a nutshell . . .

OK . . . enough dorky jokes . . . on with the (sort-of) itinerary . . .

*** June 22nd – Fly to San Diego . . . demand my parents drive me through In-N-Out Burger (which is right near our hotel . . . which is near the San Diego Sports Arena and Sea World) 
*** June 23rd – Visit my favorite, the “World Famous “San Diego Zoo!!! We also will drive past the house I grew up in, the school I went to . . . and hopefully fitting in dinner at the Old Town Mexican Café in Old Town (one of the only restaurants that wasn’t affected by recent closures there . . . it’s also my dad’s favorite! ) 
*** June 24th – More San Diego in the morning . . . probably a drive up to Cabrillo Nat’l Monument. I think mom has a photo of me up there from every year since I was born (with the exception of 1989, 1991-93, 1995-97 and 1999 until now!) That afternoon, we’ll load up and drive north to Anaheim . . . check into the Park Vue Inn . . . then do some dinner and shopping at DTD!!! 
*** June 25th and 26th – DISNEYLAND!!! We’ll focus most of our attention on Disneyland Park, but will take a few hours to look around DCA (and maybe ride a couple of things! ) 
*** June 27th – We start driving north on I-5 . . . stopping for the night somewhere in Northern CA. If was a bettin’ woman, I would guess Redding, CA will be the stopover . . . it always is! 
*** June 28th – We arrive home mid-afternoon, unpack and pretty much do nothing for the rest of the day! 
*** June 29th thru July 18th – VEGETATE!!! At some point, I will be helping my sister move, but my goal is to make those 3 weeks as absolutely relaxing as possible!!! 
*** July 18th – Fly back to Pensacola (get in LATE!) 
*** July 19th and 20th – Laundry and re-pack
*** July 21st – Fly to St. Louis
*** July 22nd – DH drives down from Chicago for the weekend (going back mid-afternoon on July 24th) 
*** July 25th – 30th – Hanging out with DMIL in St. Louis . . . and very possibly meeting some PassPorters in the area too! 
*** July 30th – Fly back to Pensacola
*** July 31st – laundry . . . and asking myself over and over again “Is it November 30th yet?!” 

WHEW!!! HELLLLLOOOOOOO frequent flyer miles!!! Seriously, I should have about 8,000 miles credited after I get back from St. Louis for both of those trips together!!!

I am not sure exactly when I will be able to do a full update on the trip (including pictures) . . . depends on how mom’s squirrelly computer decides to act for me! STAY TUNED!!! 

NEXT UP: “Everyone neat and pretty? Then on with the show!”

**chezp** · 06-10-2005, 01:52 AM

Oh wow – what a great call to get from your parents – we’ve just bought you plane tickets, that’s just the best!

Sorry to hear about your FIL’s reaction – what a nightmare time you had with that.

Good for you, standing your ground like that!

As for the comparisons of 1994 versus now, that’s fascinating! The ticket prices, how It’s a Small World used to look – gosh, it was tacky! The pictures of the Skyway were great though – and I didn’t realise the PeopleMover had gone from Disneyland. That is such a shame.