dawnid
03-11-2008, 03:16 PM
Disney’s Grand Californian Feb 29th – Mar 2nd
Me – 45 DD – 21 DS – 19
Additional daytime group
Family Friend Daughter’s 23 & 19, FFD’s Hubby 24, FFD’s son 3, FFD BFF 23, My BFF 49, DS’s GF 20, DD’s BFFs 22 & 22.
This trip morphed thru several variations, DD arrived with me at the hotel around 5:30 and we checked in with no problems. I didn’t get the wing that I requested but they did move me as close as they could. We had a standard room overlooking Las Brisas Courtyard it was on the east side and not the north facing like I prefer but it was all good. We dropped our bags and went to meet her friends for dinner at the Blue Bayou. The girls were a little late so we were seated around 7pm, we had 2 filets, 1 crab legs, and 1 jambalaya. Everyone enjoyed their meals, the new rolls aren’t as good as the old but we definitely had enough food. We shared a pirate boat for dessert and loved the chocolate mints.
I booked the VIP Tour for the 1st and then found out that Fantasmic and Aladdin were both dark. Sooo I asked if we could have VIP seating for ELP on the 29th which they booked. We had great seats by the Playhouse Disney and the girls really enjoyed it. After the parade my DD friends left and we caught a movie at DTD – 27 dresses, loved it. We went back to the room around midnight, the beds had been turned down and we had our bite of chocolate and crashed for the night.
This is were the trip gets confusing, DD had a sorority retreat for Saturday & Sunday so she wanted to sleep in then use the gym before she left. So my BFF met me in the lobby at 6:45 am for MM. We got into the park around 7:10 and were greeted by a near empty Main Street, it was great. I took pictures of the empty street and a CM took a picture of us in front of the castle with no one else around. We rode, SW, P, PP, MT, AW all well before 8am. It was a really misty morning so we walked thru a few shops, got coffee and hot chocolate, got FP for Splash Mountain (it was too cold to get wet) and tried to find the Dream Squad with no luck. I had made PS for Carnation Café for 9 and walked right in around 8:30 for breakfast. I had the sticky bun and my BFF had crossantwich, the food was great and so was the service. We then went out to the main gate to meet FFD’s & family. We were now a party of 7 and made our way to the Carnation Café to meet our VIP Tour Guide. We had Vanessa, and she asked if we had ever done tours before and I shared my past experience with a VIP Tour (terrible) and we agreed that the past just wasn’t a good match. So she first took us to the Lilly Belle and we rode all the way around the park, tried on Walt’s smoking jacket, took pics and she and the RR CM shared stories of hidden Mickeys and hidden Elvises. The girls got a kick out of the behind the scenes info and I could just relax and listen. We next went on the Mark Twain and rode in the wheelhouse. Kenny was the pilot and he had Thomas (3) steer the boat, wear a pilots hat and he got a pilots certificate. Thomas was so into steering that he wouldn’t let go of the wheel to turn for a picture. We all took turns blowing the whistle or ringing the bell. Kenny you’re the best!!
We then went to Billy Hill and the Hillbillies show, Thomas loved it and danced and clapped to the music. Then we hit the Aladdin Storytelling for the first time, none of us had ever seen the show and it was great. Vanessa grabbed the stroller and then took us to POC and HM. We were able to get a PS at the Blue Bayou thru VIP when I couldn’t get one thru Disney Dining, VIP Seating for the parade, fireworks, ELP, Vanessa kept track of the stroller, setup the viewings and we just enjoyed. I would definitely book a VIP Tour again. We parted with Vanessa just after 2 and decided to run to the room to grab a sweatshirt and the girls took Thomas around DCA. We met back at the Train Station and had front row seats for the parade which was fantastic as usual.
We then made our way to the BB for dinner, DS and DS GF were meeting us after she got off work so I requested a waterside table hoping that they would get there soon. The said it would be an hour wait, no problem. The kids took turns keeping Thomas occupied, he hadn’t had a nap all day and I kept waiting for the melt down which never came. We were seated around 5:30 and DS hadn’t made it to the table yet so we ordered drinks and looked over the menu. We were seated at the railing near the staff station but it was great. DS finally got there and we had 1 pork chop, 1 crab, 2 prime rib, 2 chicken, 2 filets, and 1 pbj. Everyone really enjoyed their food except the fried pbj – forgot to ask for it “raw”. The CM brought him some veggies and strawberries so he was thrilled. We were out well before 7 and made our way to Flik’s in DCA. We rode Frances, Hemlich’s, and the Bumber Cars. We looked at the line for ToT but it seemed long so we checked out the Snow White Exhibit (BFF’s favorite character), shopped at Greetings and went back to DL for the Fireworks. We had VIP seating in front of the Train Station for the fireworks which is not as good as seating in the hub but we did have an actual seat which is nice. The kids went looking for snacks, they removed the popcorn cart from by flag so the nearest popcorn is in front of the castle (booo) and I had been craving popcorn since the parade. So they brought back popcorn, cotton candy, & sodas. The fireworks were fantastic of course, I was glad they weren’t called by wind since I missed seeing them when we went in December. After the fireworks FFD & family and BFF left to go home. Thomas still hadn’t had a melt down so he lasted from 9 to 10pm without a nap and no tantrums you can’t ask for a better than that.
So this left me, DS and DS’s GF. She wanted to ride BTMRR so we went there but the line was terrible because the had closure problems all day, so she picked PP next. The line at PP was long so then we tried Mr. Toad. All of a sudden the line started moving and we were at the front, maintenance was doing something and it would reopen in 10 so we decided to wait. It reopened in fewer than 10 and we were the first ones in. On the way out we ran into a CM friend of my DD and she asked if we had ridden PP yet and we said no so she took us thru the exit and we rode PP too. We picked up some fudge and the Aristocats on the way out and DS took GF home. I called room service and they still have those nasty Sweet Endings cookies (oatmeal/cranberry) not the yummy brownie cookie w/nuts they used to have, so I ordered the warm brownie with vanilla ice cream, and extra scoop of ice cream and milk. When he got back I popped the DVD in the player, we shared the dessert and we fell asleep watching the Aristocats.
Sunday was early entry too so we were at the entrance right around 7am. We enjoyed the quiet of Main Street, took a pic in front of the castle and headed to Nemo. I have never ridden because I refused to wait longer than ˝ hour so we were on the second sub of the day woohoo! I thought is was cute, I never really liked the old subs so the change was great for me. My baby had to go to work so he left me at the entrance to Store Command, I needed to get my GWP pin releases. I was the first in line to enter the store and I was able to trade for two lanyard pins with a manager. I made my pin purchases and decided to try my luck with finding lanyard pins. In the exit of the Treehouse they were giving out Dream FPs, of course when I’m alone and it’s the day I’m leaving. I went ahead and got my daily exercise climbing the stairs and kept the Dream FP as an unused souvenir. I found a couple more lanyard pins, my lucky day, and went to City Hall to give a CM compliment to Vanessa and Kenny.
I hit Jamba Juice for a breakfast smoothie and went back to the room to drop off my bags. I packed my bags, so sad, and finished my smoothie on the balcony just relaxing. Around 9:30 I thought I’d try my pin scavenger hunt in DCA and walked around the park right behind a couple who got to every lanyard before me. With my lucky streak at an end it was time to head home. With it being Sunday and so many cheerleaders in house and since I only had one roller bag and a vanity case I decided to forgo bell services and lug my stuff to the car myself. It was the best idea I had all weekend because there was a huge line at bell services counter with people checking in their bags for the day. Valet was super quick and I was in the car and on my way in no time.
It was a super weekend; I got some mother/daughter time, some mother/son time, some girl time and a little just me time. My luck with the fire alarms held so I got a full night sleep both nights, yippee! Maybe I should have bought a lottery ticket? If you made it thru this trip report and actually kept track of who was where when you deserve a prize, thanks for reading it was fun reliving the trip writing this.
Me – 45 DD – 21 DS – 19
Additional daytime group
Family Friend Daughter’s 23 & 19, FFD’s Hubby 24, FFD’s son 3, FFD BFF 23, My BFF 49, DS’s GF 20, DD’s BFFs 22 & 22.
This trip morphed thru several variations, DD arrived with me at the hotel around 5:30 and we checked in with no problems. I didn’t get the wing that I requested but they did move me as close as they could. We had a standard room overlooking Las Brisas Courtyard it was on the east side and not the north facing like I prefer but it was all good. We dropped our bags and went to meet her friends for dinner at the Blue Bayou. The girls were a little late so we were seated around 7pm, we had 2 filets, 1 crab legs, and 1 jambalaya. Everyone enjoyed their meals, the new rolls aren’t as good as the old but we definitely had enough food. We shared a pirate boat for dessert and loved the chocolate mints.
I booked the VIP Tour for the 1st and then found out that Fantasmic and Aladdin were both dark. Sooo I asked if we could have VIP seating for ELP on the 29th which they booked. We had great seats by the Playhouse Disney and the girls really enjoyed it. After the parade my DD friends left and we caught a movie at DTD – 27 dresses, loved it. We went back to the room around midnight, the beds had been turned down and we had our bite of chocolate and crashed for the night.
This is were the trip gets confusing, DD had a sorority retreat for Saturday & Sunday so she wanted to sleep in then use the gym before she left. So my BFF met me in the lobby at 6:45 am for MM. We got into the park around 7:10 and were greeted by a near empty Main Street, it was great. I took pictures of the empty street and a CM took a picture of us in front of the castle with no one else around. We rode, SW, P, PP, MT, AW all well before 8am. It was a really misty morning so we walked thru a few shops, got coffee and hot chocolate, got FP for Splash Mountain (it was too cold to get wet) and tried to find the Dream Squad with no luck. I had made PS for Carnation Café for 9 and walked right in around 8:30 for breakfast. I had the sticky bun and my BFF had crossantwich, the food was great and so was the service. We then went out to the main gate to meet FFD’s & family. We were now a party of 7 and made our way to the Carnation Café to meet our VIP Tour Guide. We had Vanessa, and she asked if we had ever done tours before and I shared my past experience with a VIP Tour (terrible) and we agreed that the past just wasn’t a good match. So she first took us to the Lilly Belle and we rode all the way around the park, tried on Walt’s smoking jacket, took pics and she and the RR CM shared stories of hidden Mickeys and hidden Elvises. The girls got a kick out of the behind the scenes info and I could just relax and listen. We next went on the Mark Twain and rode in the wheelhouse. Kenny was the pilot and he had Thomas (3) steer the boat, wear a pilots hat and he got a pilots certificate. Thomas was so into steering that he wouldn’t let go of the wheel to turn for a picture. We all took turns blowing the whistle or ringing the bell. Kenny you’re the best!!
We then went to Billy Hill and the Hillbillies show, Thomas loved it and danced and clapped to the music. Then we hit the Aladdin Storytelling for the first time, none of us had ever seen the show and it was great. Vanessa grabbed the stroller and then took us to POC and HM. We were able to get a PS at the Blue Bayou thru VIP when I couldn’t get one thru Disney Dining, VIP Seating for the parade, fireworks, ELP, Vanessa kept track of the stroller, setup the viewings and we just enjoyed. I would definitely book a VIP Tour again. We parted with Vanessa just after 2 and decided to run to the room to grab a sweatshirt and the girls took Thomas around DCA. We met back at the Train Station and had front row seats for the parade which was fantastic as usual.
We then made our way to the BB for dinner, DS and DS GF were meeting us after she got off work so I requested a waterside table hoping that they would get there soon. The said it would be an hour wait, no problem. The kids took turns keeping Thomas occupied, he hadn’t had a nap all day and I kept waiting for the melt down which never came. We were seated around 5:30 and DS hadn’t made it to the table yet so we ordered drinks and looked over the menu. We were seated at the railing near the staff station but it was great. DS finally got there and we had 1 pork chop, 1 crab, 2 prime rib, 2 chicken, 2 filets, and 1 pbj. Everyone really enjoyed their food except the fried pbj – forgot to ask for it “raw”. The CM brought him some veggies and strawberries so he was thrilled. We were out well before 7 and made our way to Flik’s in DCA. We rode Frances, Hemlich’s, and the Bumber Cars. We looked at the line for ToT but it seemed long so we checked out the Snow White Exhibit (BFF’s favorite character), shopped at Greetings and went back to DL for the Fireworks. We had VIP seating in front of the Train Station for the fireworks which is not as good as seating in the hub but we did have an actual seat which is nice. The kids went looking for snacks, they removed the popcorn cart from by flag so the nearest popcorn is in front of the castle (booo) and I had been craving popcorn since the parade. So they brought back popcorn, cotton candy, & sodas. The fireworks were fantastic of course, I was glad they weren’t called by wind since I missed seeing them when we went in December. After the fireworks FFD & family and BFF left to go home. Thomas still hadn’t had a melt down so he lasted from 9 to 10pm without a nap and no tantrums you can’t ask for a better than that.
So this left me, DS and DS’s GF. She wanted to ride BTMRR so we went there but the line was terrible because the had closure problems all day, so she picked PP next. The line at PP was long so then we tried Mr. Toad. All of a sudden the line started moving and we were at the front, maintenance was doing something and it would reopen in 10 so we decided to wait. It reopened in fewer than 10 and we were the first ones in. On the way out we ran into a CM friend of my DD and she asked if we had ridden PP yet and we said no so she took us thru the exit and we rode PP too. We picked up some fudge and the Aristocats on the way out and DS took GF home. I called room service and they still have those nasty Sweet Endings cookies (oatmeal/cranberry) not the yummy brownie cookie w/nuts they used to have, so I ordered the warm brownie with vanilla ice cream, and extra scoop of ice cream and milk. When he got back I popped the DVD in the player, we shared the dessert and we fell asleep watching the Aristocats.
Sunday was early entry too so we were at the entrance right around 7am. We enjoyed the quiet of Main Street, took a pic in front of the castle and headed to Nemo. I have never ridden because I refused to wait longer than ˝ hour so we were on the second sub of the day woohoo! I thought is was cute, I never really liked the old subs so the change was great for me. My baby had to go to work so he left me at the entrance to Store Command, I needed to get my GWP pin releases. I was the first in line to enter the store and I was able to trade for two lanyard pins with a manager. I made my pin purchases and decided to try my luck with finding lanyard pins. In the exit of the Treehouse they were giving out Dream FPs, of course when I’m alone and it’s the day I’m leaving. I went ahead and got my daily exercise climbing the stairs and kept the Dream FP as an unused souvenir. I found a couple more lanyard pins, my lucky day, and went to City Hall to give a CM compliment to Vanessa and Kenny.
I hit Jamba Juice for a breakfast smoothie and went back to the room to drop off my bags. I packed my bags, so sad, and finished my smoothie on the balcony just relaxing. Around 9:30 I thought I’d try my pin scavenger hunt in DCA and walked around the park right behind a couple who got to every lanyard before me. With my lucky streak at an end it was time to head home. With it being Sunday and so many cheerleaders in house and since I only had one roller bag and a vanity case I decided to forgo bell services and lug my stuff to the car myself. It was the best idea I had all weekend because there was a huge line at bell services counter with people checking in their bags for the day. Valet was super quick and I was in the car and on my way in no time.
It was a super weekend; I got some mother/daughter time, some mother/son time, some girl time and a little just me time. My luck with the fire alarms held so I got a full night sleep both nights, yippee! Maybe I should have bought a lottery ticket? If you made it thru this trip report and actually kept track of who was where when you deserve a prize, thanks for reading it was fun reliving the trip writing this.