dlandnut
07-06-2008, 06:49 PM
Thursday, June 26th
My friend Kelly and I flew to SNA, arriving about 1 p.m. Rented a car and drove to our 1-night destination, Little Inn By the Bay, in Newport Beach. Kelly had not been to California for 20+ years, nor had she flown for 10+. It was the beginning of a "high maintenance" trip. Kelly took a lot of energy. She threw up on the plane, complained of car sickness (so her window had to be all the way down the whole time while driving). She wanted to go to the beach, yet when we drove down to Huntington Beach, she refused to get out of the car, but sat instead to "look" at the ocean. We waited for my daughter and her friend to fly in later to LAX. The four of us then went to the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach, my most favorite restaurant in the whole world! Yep, you got it, Kelly hated seafood. She went anyway, and ended up enjoying the potatoes and side dishes. Little Inn by the Bay was located in a very convenient place, although small and a bit run down.
Next day, Friday, June 27th
Up bright and early to check in to the Desert Inn and Suites, across the street from DL on Harbor. The suite was wonderful. Two rooms, each connecting and each with two queen beds and full baths. Last year I stayed at the Best Western Park Place Inn, but they were booked this year, so we stayed at the Desert Inn and I liked it just as well or better. Checked in and left our luggage in the trunk, heading into Disneyland. First up, Pirates of the Carribean. Only a 5-minute wait. It was so much fun and it was great to be back. Next, Haunted Mansion, again about a 5-minute wait. Then on to Splash Mountain, 15-minute wait. Noticed that people doing fast pass were not at any more of an advantage than us waiting in line. I surmise that people have been staying away because of gas prices??? We kept thinking that we would have to "hurry" and get as much done on Friday, because certainly the weekend would be so crowded, which never happened. Anyway, back to Friday. Had lunch at the Hungry Bear Restaurant. Sat by the water and took in the sights, sounds, and smells. I had a hamburger and fries, which were good, but a bit much. Daughter, Emily, had turkey sandwich. Back to room about 3, which was ready. Took a nap and then woke up to go back in to the park for the evening. Kelly woke up throwing up and spent the rest of the day in the room. Emily, Katie and I went back into the park. Ate at the Storyteller's Cafe in the Grand Californian. It was a buffet and so good! Walked through Downtown Disney and into Disneyland. Got in line for Nemo. By now, it is 11 p.m. at night, and DL closed at midnight. This ended up being the longest we ever waited in line the entire weekend. The ride was fun, and now I can say I have been on Nemo. Last year when we were there, it was not yet open (it opened the day after we left). Boy, what hype. It was so much like the "old" submarine ride, with a bit of animation thrown in to make it the Nemo theme.
Saturday, June 28
Kelly still "sick". Emily and Katie went on just about everything they could. Nothing required much of a wait. I went on Soarin' and walked around a lot. Kelly finally felt better later and went in to the park with us. She was limited on what she wanted to do. Seemed tired and really was not enjoying herself. She took more energy than I appeared to have. Oh well, we tried. We visited A Bugs Life, and Kelly thought that was fun. Also went on Toy Story. This was the second longest line that we waited in the entire time, about 35 minutes. It was worth it, however. It was a lot like Buzz Lightyear, but I enjoyed it more, because you actually stopped throughout the ride to make shots. It was fun. Tried our luck on the arcade, but not much to brag about there. That night, we got soup in breadbowls at the Bakery on the wharf in CA, and sat out by the water so we could watch the Electrical Parade. It brought back a lot of memories to Kelly. As we were watching the parade, a rat came out from the behind the napkin/garbage/food stand to ask for a snippet of food. It freaked me out. Although we shooed him away, I was jumpy the rest of the time we were sitting there. I reported it to the cleanup crew. I imagine there is quite a problem with the water/darkness/food of the locale. Exact breeding grounds for that kind of critter. I suggested they set the "traps" that evening, lol. Kelly didn't want to watch the fireworks, so we went back to the room. Emily and Katie stayed until the wee hours, loving every minute of it.
Sunday, June 29
Breakfast at the River Belle Terrace. I was worried that it would be closed, due to what I had read on the Internet about it being remodeled. Although it has gone through remodeling, I was expecting more changes to the place. Emily had the pancakes, I and Katie the bacon, scrambled eggs, potatoes, biscuit, Kelly the fruit plate. It was all so good. We sat outside by the water (like Walt used to do) and took our time and enjoyed ourselves. Back on POC, then Jungle Cruise and Tiki Room. Got a Dole Float at the Tiki Room and it was soooo good. Went on Peter Pan, still one of my favorites. Wandered down Main Street and bought some toffee that was freshly made and to die for. Emily and Katie left early afternoon to catch the shuttle to LAX, while Kelly and I stayed for the remainder of the day. That night, we went into DL and ate at the Plaza Inn. I had the pot roast and it was wonderful. We sat where we could watch the parade. One big holdup for about 15 minutes, and I still don't know what happened, although a "cast member" was "escorted" out of the parade and walked between the Plaza and First Aid station. I couldn't tell what was wrong. We then walked over and went on Pirates again. Kelly didn't want to do anything else, didn't want to stay for the fireworks. So, we walked down mainstreet, buying a few gifts, and then rode the train around the entire park. Walked back to the room, watched the wonderful fireworks from our hotel room.
Monday, June 30th
The end. I go at least once a year, and I must say that it was one of my more disappointing trips. I'm glad I had my daughter and friend there. It was not fun to go with someone who took so much energy and who just couldn't quite "get into it". OH well, different strokes for different folks. Can't wait to go again, when I can enjoy who I'm with and things will hopefully be a little more relaxed!
My friend Kelly and I flew to SNA, arriving about 1 p.m. Rented a car and drove to our 1-night destination, Little Inn By the Bay, in Newport Beach. Kelly had not been to California for 20+ years, nor had she flown for 10+. It was the beginning of a "high maintenance" trip. Kelly took a lot of energy. She threw up on the plane, complained of car sickness (so her window had to be all the way down the whole time while driving). She wanted to go to the beach, yet when we drove down to Huntington Beach, she refused to get out of the car, but sat instead to "look" at the ocean. We waited for my daughter and her friend to fly in later to LAX. The four of us then went to the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach, my most favorite restaurant in the whole world! Yep, you got it, Kelly hated seafood. She went anyway, and ended up enjoying the potatoes and side dishes. Little Inn by the Bay was located in a very convenient place, although small and a bit run down.
Next day, Friday, June 27th
Up bright and early to check in to the Desert Inn and Suites, across the street from DL on Harbor. The suite was wonderful. Two rooms, each connecting and each with two queen beds and full baths. Last year I stayed at the Best Western Park Place Inn, but they were booked this year, so we stayed at the Desert Inn and I liked it just as well or better. Checked in and left our luggage in the trunk, heading into Disneyland. First up, Pirates of the Carribean. Only a 5-minute wait. It was so much fun and it was great to be back. Next, Haunted Mansion, again about a 5-minute wait. Then on to Splash Mountain, 15-minute wait. Noticed that people doing fast pass were not at any more of an advantage than us waiting in line. I surmise that people have been staying away because of gas prices??? We kept thinking that we would have to "hurry" and get as much done on Friday, because certainly the weekend would be so crowded, which never happened. Anyway, back to Friday. Had lunch at the Hungry Bear Restaurant. Sat by the water and took in the sights, sounds, and smells. I had a hamburger and fries, which were good, but a bit much. Daughter, Emily, had turkey sandwich. Back to room about 3, which was ready. Took a nap and then woke up to go back in to the park for the evening. Kelly woke up throwing up and spent the rest of the day in the room. Emily, Katie and I went back into the park. Ate at the Storyteller's Cafe in the Grand Californian. It was a buffet and so good! Walked through Downtown Disney and into Disneyland. Got in line for Nemo. By now, it is 11 p.m. at night, and DL closed at midnight. This ended up being the longest we ever waited in line the entire weekend. The ride was fun, and now I can say I have been on Nemo. Last year when we were there, it was not yet open (it opened the day after we left). Boy, what hype. It was so much like the "old" submarine ride, with a bit of animation thrown in to make it the Nemo theme.
Saturday, June 28
Kelly still "sick". Emily and Katie went on just about everything they could. Nothing required much of a wait. I went on Soarin' and walked around a lot. Kelly finally felt better later and went in to the park with us. She was limited on what she wanted to do. Seemed tired and really was not enjoying herself. She took more energy than I appeared to have. Oh well, we tried. We visited A Bugs Life, and Kelly thought that was fun. Also went on Toy Story. This was the second longest line that we waited in the entire time, about 35 minutes. It was worth it, however. It was a lot like Buzz Lightyear, but I enjoyed it more, because you actually stopped throughout the ride to make shots. It was fun. Tried our luck on the arcade, but not much to brag about there. That night, we got soup in breadbowls at the Bakery on the wharf in CA, and sat out by the water so we could watch the Electrical Parade. It brought back a lot of memories to Kelly. As we were watching the parade, a rat came out from the behind the napkin/garbage/food stand to ask for a snippet of food. It freaked me out. Although we shooed him away, I was jumpy the rest of the time we were sitting there. I reported it to the cleanup crew. I imagine there is quite a problem with the water/darkness/food of the locale. Exact breeding grounds for that kind of critter. I suggested they set the "traps" that evening, lol. Kelly didn't want to watch the fireworks, so we went back to the room. Emily and Katie stayed until the wee hours, loving every minute of it.
Sunday, June 29
Breakfast at the River Belle Terrace. I was worried that it would be closed, due to what I had read on the Internet about it being remodeled. Although it has gone through remodeling, I was expecting more changes to the place. Emily had the pancakes, I and Katie the bacon, scrambled eggs, potatoes, biscuit, Kelly the fruit plate. It was all so good. We sat outside by the water (like Walt used to do) and took our time and enjoyed ourselves. Back on POC, then Jungle Cruise and Tiki Room. Got a Dole Float at the Tiki Room and it was soooo good. Went on Peter Pan, still one of my favorites. Wandered down Main Street and bought some toffee that was freshly made and to die for. Emily and Katie left early afternoon to catch the shuttle to LAX, while Kelly and I stayed for the remainder of the day. That night, we went into DL and ate at the Plaza Inn. I had the pot roast and it was wonderful. We sat where we could watch the parade. One big holdup for about 15 minutes, and I still don't know what happened, although a "cast member" was "escorted" out of the parade and walked between the Plaza and First Aid station. I couldn't tell what was wrong. We then walked over and went on Pirates again. Kelly didn't want to do anything else, didn't want to stay for the fireworks. So, we walked down mainstreet, buying a few gifts, and then rode the train around the entire park. Walked back to the room, watched the wonderful fireworks from our hotel room.
Monday, June 30th
The end. I go at least once a year, and I must say that it was one of my more disappointing trips. I'm glad I had my daughter and friend there. It was not fun to go with someone who took so much energy and who just couldn't quite "get into it". OH well, different strokes for different folks. Can't wait to go again, when I can enjoy who I'm with and things will hopefully be a little more relaxed!