Travel dates: August 20 22, 2016
Travel method: Plane
Resort: Anaheim Del Sol Inn (Off-site)
Accommodations: Standard
Ages Represented in Group: Adult
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group: Veteran
Comments: A quick, hot, & final trip on my current AP!
Cast of characters:
  • Pam, 55: trip planner/writer and self-proclaimed Disney Queen
  • Heidi C: Fellow Disney fanatic that I met through MousePlanet (+ family)


The Planning

I started thinking about one quick final trip to Disneyland on my current Annual Pass, which will expire at the end of August, and came up with August 20-22; I later found out that it could be very busy since the summer AP block-outs will cease that weekend but OH WELL! The other downside is that it most likely will be very hot, but at least I will be at Disneyland!

I then found out that Heidi, my online friend from NH whom I met through MousePlanet several years ago, will be arriving with her family on my departure day so we quickly made plans to meet up before I have to meet my shuttle that afternoon!

Lodging: In late March, I made reservations at the Anaheim Del Sol Inn on Harbor Blvd. (a 5-minute walk from the parks; total for 2 nights = $265).

Transportation: I booked airfare on Southwest Airlines from Sacramento to Orange County in early June when there was a fare sale using points (equivalent cost = $69 each way); total TSA fees & Early-Bird option came to $41.20 round-trip (without points the total cash cost would have been $168).

I also made reservations with SuperShuttle for travel to/from my motel ($18 round-trip after the AAA group discount was applied).

Tickets: As mentioned before, I have an active Deluxe AP which will be expiring later this month.

Priority Seating: I booked the Frozen Pre-show Package for the 4pm show on my arrival day ($52.93; no AP discount); I plan to just hit counter-service places for everything else since I am solo this trip.

Disney Visa Rewards Card: I had accumulated a $74 rewards balance on my Disney Visa Rewards Card (DVRC) since I had last redeemed rewards for my trip to Disneyland in May so I transferred the moneywhoo-hoo!


The Itinerary

The pre-planning was done, and I was ready to go! Here was my planned schedule:
  • August 20: Fly down to Anaheim; check-in to the Del Sol Inn; Disneyland/DCA; Frozen Pre-show Package
  • August 21: Disneyland/DCA
  • August 22: Check-out of the Del Sol Inn; Disneyland/DCA; meet up with Heidi; fly home


Update: A week before my trip, I injured my right knee; I briefly considered canceling my trip but my doctor recommended that I use a cane or a crutch as support and to use RICE (rest, ice, compression, & elevation) as much as possible, so Disney, here I come!


Friday, August 19, 2016 (pre-departure date)

Actual: I worked all day and printed off my boarding pass (A33 = Early Bird check-in), then I came home, finished packing, and went to bed at a decent time for once before a Disney trip!


Saturday, August 20, 2016 (84o)
Plan: Fly down to Anaheim; check-in to the Del Sol Inn; Disneyland/DCA; Frozen Pre-show Package

Actual: I was awake off & on after 5:30am, and both James & I finally got up around 6:45am; we both got ready and left the house around 7:35am. Traffic was light on this lovely Saturday morning and James dropped me off at the airport just after 8am.

I juggled my luggage and hobbled with my crutch through the check-in line with about 10 people in front of me. If I'd been healthy, I wouldn't even check my bag as it was small enough to stow in the overhead compartment of the plane; however, I figured it would be easier to just check it this trip (17#). I also requested pre-boarding so I could sit in the bulkhead seat at the front of the plane for the extra leg room. They offered me a wheelchair to the gate as well, but I thought I could make it on my own so I declined it for now; she also ordered a wheelchair for me in Orange County just in case I needed one when I arrived.

I was done by 8:15am and took the elevator upstairs to catch the tram over to TSA; I had TSA Pre-check clearance so I had a quick wait in that security line behind about 6 people. The agent gave me a loaner wooden cane to use through the metal detector while my metal crutch went through the x-ray machine with my carryon luggage.

I was done with TSA around 8:30am, filled my reusable water bottle, and sat down to get organized [turn my phone on, enter Heidi's & her husband's phone numbers, enter the Disneyland 60th sweepstakes (word-of-the-day = pirates), and check Facebook]. Around 9am I used the restroom and went down to my gate to wait for the pre-board announcement.

There were several of us waiting, and I managed to be the first one on board so I got the aisle bulkhead seat that I wanted. We had a full flight and flight attendant Herb said a couple of funny things as people were boarding (C Group is for center) and during the pre-flight safety briefing (Read it before you need it)!

We pushed back on time at 9:45am and they served us pretzels since someone onboard had a peanut allergy; I also had Diet Dr. Pepper as my drink. I listened to Disney tunes on my MP3 player and read a WDW trip report by Sheri Niklewski during the flight, and then we landed on-time just after 11am. I was the first one off of the plane and saw several wheelchairs against the wall when I entered the terminal but nobody with them, so I just kept on going.

I stopped at the restroom and then took the elevator down to bag check; my bag arrived a couple of minutes later and I hauled everything down to Ground Transportation to meet my shuttle. I was able to sit in the front passenger seat and we left about 5mins later!

I was the first one dropped off around noon (tip = $2) at the Del Sol Inn; my room wasn't quite ready but Paul checked with Housekeeping on the status and I decided to wait since it was only about another 30mins. James called as I was sitting down on the couch so we caught up for a few minutes; afterwards I worked on my trip notes while I waited. Around 12:30pm, Paul told me that the room was ready (#105 downstairs by the breakfast room) so he checked me in, gave me my freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, and towed my suitcase over to the room for me.

This room was really nice and a bit fancier than our usual rooms over the carport; the bed was raised up a step and I was afraid I was going to fall during the night but there were built-in nightlights along the base (whew!). There was a hand rail in the bathroom, so I was pleased about that. I took a few pictures of the room so I could show James later, got organized, ate a cookie, and headed out just before 1pm.

The man in front of me at bag check was very uncooperative with the security CM on opening up all of the compartments in his backpack, so I moved over to the other line when they called for assistance. I was through both bag check and the metal detector very quickly, and the jerk was still in line at bag check with multiple security CMs around him; I'm not sure what his problem was, but I'm glad the Resort was promptly addressing the situation.

I headed into Disney California Adventure (DCA) around 1:10pm and stopped at Guest Relations to ask about a disabled pass. CM Taylor was very helpful; she asked me a few questions:

  1. How long could I stand in a line? (about 15-20mins)
  2. What if the standby wait was more than 30mins? (I wouldn't get in a line that long; I would return later)
  3. Could I rent a wheelchair? (No, I don't have the upper body strength)
  4. Could I rent an ECV? (No, I was afraid of driving one within the busy parks)

Based on these answers and the fact that I was solo, needed extra time to get in & out of the ride vehicles, and needed to avoid stairs, CM Taylor gave me access on my AP for the duration of my trip. She also explained the return time process to me (they check the wait time for an attraction and tell you when to return; you can only hold one return time at a time, but can change it or get a new one once you ride; you can also hold separate FPs since they don't affect the process) and signed me up for my first attraction (Soarin' Around the World at 1:55pm).

I left Guest Relations and hobbled as quickly as I could over to the Chase Disney Visa meet & greet in Hollywood Land before it closed at 1:30pm; I was the last guest and had a fun interaction with Stitch.



I checked the wait for Monsters Inc. as I passed by; it was 20mins so I kept walking. However, the sneak peek of the new Pete's Dragon movie was about to start so I went inside to see it; it was pretty good (better than I had expected) and had Robert Redford in it (boy, has he aged!).

I then walked over to ride Soarin' just before 2pm; wow, it was great and I LOVED it!!!

I stopped to get a new return time (Radiator Springs Racers at 3:45pm), took a restroom break, and then picked up a FP for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (5:25pm at 2:45pm), before heading over to check-in for the Frozen pre-show package. They gave me a lanyard & pin, an alcoholic drink coupon, and put an orange wristband on me, before sending me inside to wait for the show.

They had 3 photo backdrops with PhotoPass photographers present at each, so I got in line at the first one to pose for pictures. As I was finishing up, here comes Olaf with his arms outstretched! I stayed to take photos with him...



...and then stopped at the other two spots for additional photos.



I also enjoyed some sugar-free orange shave ice and popcorn; however, I had read previously that there would be non-alcoholic beverages as well, which I thought meant soft drinks, but they only had water and cider! I asked for a Diet Coke and a very nice CM went to get me one (from presumably Award Wieners) ~ that was so nice of her!





Note: at $49 + tax, I thought that this package was over-priced and a bit expensive for families; I think they should offer a discounted price for no alcohol or for children. However, the convenience factor outweighed all of that for me in this instance!

About 3:45pm, they walked us over to the side of the theater and we were admitted before everyone else; we had our pick of seats and I sat in the front row of the center section! The show started 15mins late and I thought it was great; whereas Aladdin probably had a wider appeal than Frozen, the vocal talent was wonderful and the actors who played both Olaf and Sven were very expressive. In fact, I even considered buying another pre-show package for Sunday afternoon!



...to be continued