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Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 10:46 AM
Well this will be long, so I will try to keep it as compacted as possible!
We arrived in Anaheim on the 13th...went to ESPN zone and got our vouchers (thank you Darkbeer!!!) Shopped in downtown disney and just relaxed....so...now:
Day 1 in the parks: Thursday. Went to the park early for EE. Went on several rides including the Matterhorn and Buzz Lightyear. The park was glowing, shiny and it was almost surreal to see the park in all its splendor!! I loved all the gold, new paint, flowers, etc...it was awesome!
After this I got my first ever annual passport...No line, and the CM stated... "You know you are not guaranteed admission on the 17th with your annual pass...you should keep your parkhopper until after the 17th." I asked her if I would be guaranteed admission with my park hopper, she said "no" and said..."Oh I see your point."
After this we picked up our reservation tickets for fantasmic and the 50th tour, and re-entered disneyland...it took me two days before I remembered I didn't have to have a hand stamp so I could re-enter the parks...lol. I went to the pin store in tomorrowland and met a lady who was buying over $350 of pins for her grand daughters...I gave them each a couple of Sedesma pins and she asked me what I was doing that night. I told her I had a dinner to go to with some friends. She asked what time and asked me what I was doing afterwards. I told her nothing...she invited me to go to Fantasmic on the BALCONY!! She said she wanted to GIVE me the ticket as her daughter wasn't going to arrive until 11:30 that night and she didn't want it to go to waste!! I said "No, let me pay you for the ticket" she said the only way I could have it was to accept it as a gift...I told her I would love to go and we exchanged cell numbers!!
After a few more rides we decided to go to DCA to ride Soarin and GRR. We got fast passes for GRR and soarin and headed to the back of the park. We stopped at Grand Californian to get my birthday button for the 15th (Yes I am just a big kid at heart!!) And continued on to ride several of the rides in the back of the park in paradise pier area!
Bye this time we could use our fast passes for GRR and Soarin, and we picked up passes for GRR again!!
I didn't get too wet the first time and thought wow...lets do this again in awhile...lol.
Went to Carousel to check in...great room...5th floor...no one above us, big spacious with nice furnishings!! Thank you to Pixie Glitter for the ressie!!
Back to DCA...watch block party bash...then decide to ride soarin and GRR again....well soarin was first...then GRR...and I got SOAKED...no time to change as there was a 7 p.m. meet at Joes Crab Shack!
It was so much fun...got to meet Darkbeer and Deogges Mom...Coaster Chickie and Tiffany and lots of other people too...that place is so much fun!
Yummy food and good company!! Then it was a mad rush back to disneyland and trying to fight the crowds to get to fantasmic...I made it with only 10 min. to spare! It was so worth it!! It was beautiful!!! Turns out the lady who invited me works for the city I grew up in...where my parents live to this day...lol we both started singing "its a small world after all at the same time!"
She was a sweetie...invited me to her room at the Grand Californian for a glass of wine, but I was too whipped to go...what a sweetheart!
We got to watch the fireworks from the balcony also...breathtaking!! What a magical day!!

JosieGirl71
07-21-2005, 10:57 AM
The Fantasmic story is great! I have always believed in karma. Keep the report coming!

phoenixfire2k5
07-21-2005, 11:06 AM
Then she invited you to her room afterwards for wine? Whoa, you missed out! :p Glad to hear you had fun shortie. Welcome home.

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 11:14 AM
Day 2: Put on my birthday button and headed out..got to disneyland and was already enjoying all the happy birthday wishes! Made it so special!!
Found out about the pin release for the limited edition space mountain pin and decided to try and get one...well after a LONG wait that was accomplished. Met some wonderful people in line, very blessed that there were so many nice people there to talk to...made the wait seem so much shorter!!
Met up with my kids and they brought me my present! A remake of the old monorail game!! I loved that game when I was young!! :D
Pin traded and then got out of tomorrowland as it was almost time for the ceremony to start for space mountain and we couldn't see anything anyway!
Went to find lunch....decided on French Market...it was yummy...but I was trying to get to a $50 bill so I could get the dining pin...well 3 lunches...1 salad...3 desserts...3 drinks and 2 juice boxes later we finally made it...I also bought one of the dessert plates...lol so after all that the CM says "Ok pick out the dessert to go with your dessert plate :p :eek: . LOL so we immediately asked for boxes...the kids too the desserts back to the room later and enjoyed them that night!
On a few rides and then on to DCA...hadn't gone on California Screamin yet... so that is where we headed...getting a fast pass for GRR on the way.. rode rides for a couple of hours until Rachel pooped out. They went back to the room and I went through the tortilla factory...and got given a whole bag of tortillas :D that I brought to the kids later!
Now it was time for the canoe meet at disneyland! Talk about a BLAST!! Our CM even let us do donuts in our canoe!!! lol it was hilarious and so much fun!!!
Next we started meandering to the golden zephyr to watch block party bash!
Awesome as no one was standing in front of me...I sat my tushie down and got to enjoy the whole thing!! I can't believe how those CM's can keep up all that high spirit energy in that heat...they were awesome!!
Following that was the Cove Bar Meet with Dark beer!! I met so many wonderful people!! It was fantastic!!! I even got to meet a red hat lady and she said I get to be a pink hat princess...p.m. if you want to know more!! My daughter called me and told me she didn't feel up to going to fantasmic at 10:30 riverside, that she was too tired...so find someone to go with!! Well everyone there was in groups or couples..so I figured I would be going alone...
Following this was dinner at Napa Rose!! Wow...that's all I can say to describe Napa Rose...It was so awesome. I wanted everything on the menu but wasn't really hungry so ordered soup and a salad type dish, made with heirloom tomatoes...wow...how yummy!!
I met someone there who wanted to go to fantasmic, so after dinner we rushe to New Orleans square and got to the viewing area ...yes you guessed it...about 10 min prior to the show starting...
This man was fantastic company and made it a really nice evening!! Much nicer than going alone would have been!!
After that...back to the room!

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 11:15 AM
Then she invited you to her room afterwards for wine? Whoa, you missed out! :p Glad to hear you had fun shortie. Welcome home.

Ahh thank you!! And you really helped out this directionally impaired padder!! Thanks for that!!!

Crazy4DL
07-21-2005, 11:21 AM
Shortie! :D How fun your whole DL trip sounds so far!! :D You must be the funnest person around! complete strangers are going places with you :p :D ;)

phoenixfire2k5
07-21-2005, 11:26 AM
Ahh thank you!! And you really helped out this directionally impaired padder!! Thanks for that!!!

<GASP> OMG! That was you?! I missed out on meetin ya! Sweet mother of pearl, of all things holy!!! :p

Yeah, I remember you asking me about the spot to view the fireworks. Did it work out for ya? I get asked all the time and from people planning on going. I mistracked it. Dang nabbit. :p

And we were probably in the park at the same time and didn't know it! LOL! I was one of the nuts that stayed overnight in DCA. I was in the orange group, and camped out with a few friends I met in line and ended up in the Hollywood Backlot across from the Playhouse theater. I was there most of the day Saturday, (saw the fireworks from the crosswalk between tomorrowland and the plaza hub) and I was there Sunday till about 10 am. Left because I was up for 48 hours straight and was exhausted and sore!

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 11:27 AM
Day 3: Saturday...and NO fantasmic...lol
Saturdays highlights were getting to space mountain to get a fast pass as quickly as I could for an afternoon meet there...got one for 8:45 to 9:45!!
After that meandered around a bit...
Rode on the Mark Twain WITH the capn!!! No certificates as they were out, but I got pics ;) . What an awesome experience and I wouldn't have even known to ask if it were not for all you wonderful people.
Next an Indiana Jones fast pass...I met an older couple, first time as Disneyland who were totally lost...explained fast pass to them and helped them map out a strategy as they were only going to be there for two days (they had no idea that it was disneylands birthday and that it "would be crowded in the middle of July"), so after explaining things to them we rode the jungle cruise!! Only a 12 min. wait!!! Now I went to look for lunch! It was almost time for the Lunchtime lounge meet at Plaza Gardens!! I finally got my turkey leg!! Man alive was it good!!! It was awesome in fact, and I could only eat a little over 1/2 of it as it was so HUGE!! Yummm!!
Got to meet a lot of super nice people...including the lady that got me my room reservation at carousel!! What a sweetheart she is!!. After awhile I go to search out pins...I got the nicest surprise!! Coaster Chickie called me!! We met in front of DCA...I had such a great time with she and Tiffany!!
In fact I had so much fun, I didn't even think of leaving to go to the space mountain meet...lol.
Later we met up with the gentleman I met the night before and I gave him my space fast pass as he hadn't been able to get on the ride yet!!
After we went to several rides (thanks for teaching me about single rider at GRR Coaster), I was lucky enough to meet dsny1mom! What a treat as she was as nice and sweet as Coaster!! I really enjoyed meeting her and her dear daughter and she took us all on Tower of Terror!!!
Thank you dsny1mom for my pin also!!! You are a sweetheart!
Now...back to the room...change and off to the cove bar for a mini meet before dinner at the disneyland hotel!!
Wow...got to see pics of the gold ears for the 17th (thank you Darkbeer!!)
Lisa was dressed so cute!! She rocked!!! What a wonderful time!! Dinner was stupendous!!! Yummm!
Dinner/awards were not over until 11:40...so off to downtown disney to buy a sweatshirt...and then to line up in front of DCA....and the LONG wait!!!

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 11:29 AM
Shortie! :D How fun your whole DL trip sounds so far!! :D You must be the funnest person around! complete strangers are going places with you :p :D ;)

Ruthie you are so cute....actually I just pushed the horns on my head down really hard so no one could see them...lol they all thought I was nice...lol :D ;)

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 11:30 AM
<GASP> OMG! That was you?! I missed out on meetin ya! Sweet mother of pearl, of all things holy!!! :p

Yeah, I remember you asking me about the spot to view the fireworks. Did it work out for ya? I get asked all the time and from people planning on going. I mistracked it. Dang nabbit. :p

LOL yeppers that was me...and actually it never worked out for me to get that spot darn it all...but I can see exactly where you meant and it would have been the bestest!!! I did watch them from the train station after the 50th tour though!
Thanks again and I'm sorry I missed you!!!!!

phoenixfire2k5
07-21-2005, 11:31 AM
LOL yeppers that was me...and actually it never worked out for me to get that spot darn it all...but I can see exactly where you meant and it would have been the bestest!!! I did watch them from the train station after the 50th tour though!
Thanks again and I'm sorry I missed you!!!!!

Reread that post. I updated it. :p

And what difference did the lasers make from seeing them from that location. Did they spell anything out at all?

Crazy4DL
07-21-2005, 11:35 AM
Ruthie you are so cute....actually I just pushed the horns on my head down really hard so no one could see them...lol they all thought I was nice...lol :D ;)


LOL!!! ;)

Thanks for the compliment in the other thread about my avatar - one of my babies, of course :D Us grandma's!! I tell you :rolleyes: we just got to make you all look at every pic we ever took of our little ones! :D you're turn is coming Shortie - I can't wait for pics of little Connor. Did your dd survive the trip okay?

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 11:55 AM
THE DAY!! the 17th!!!
Well started at midnight or 5 after in line near DCA...there were already GOBS of people in line and I started to panic...I want my pin...lol I am such a baby!!
Well I start talking to the people around me (that shocks you all I'm sure!! I couldn't believe myself on this trip I talked to EVERYONE...lol).
Met some really great people...they estimated about 1500 in front of us...and they were pretty close to the correct number!! We ended up forming a team!! We agreed to watch out for eachother, hold places in line for potty breaks etc...awesome people!! The weather was beautiful and everything seems funny when you are that tired anyway!!
Finally lined up in DCA...I got a pink band...only the second color given out!! Woo hoo!! Wootness for Micah!! Everything was calm, cool and collected until about 6 a.m...all of a sudden everyone ran screaming to the other side of the street, crowding onto the one sidewalk!!! It was incredible...CM's started yelling for everyone to get back to their own place in line or they would not allow us to go into disneyland and we would be escorted out of DCA...Scary!!! Well we were pink bands in a sea of orange..not quite sure how that happend...We were only about the 20 to 40th people to get pink bands...so we were very close to the orange group as it was...but we ended up in the middle of it all...
When they started moving people into disneyland we just held our ground and let ALL orange bands pass us!! Then when pinks started passing we started to move!
The CM's were lining the street from DCA, across the esplanade and into disneyland, down main street and to BTMRR...it was awesome and so breath taking...they were as happy as we were and so very sweet...high fiving us and telling us "welcome home"...makes me cry even today as I type it!!
Well now yet another line to wait for merchandise...but I GOT MY PIN!! Woo hoo and it is so cute!!
After that met up with my DD and we had breakfast as the fireworks from the 10:00 presentation went off!! Everyone was handing out cupcakes.. everywhere...they were beautiful...I took a picture of them...lol
After that we rode a few rides and relaxed...before my daughter went back to the motel...
Later that afternoon was the Tiki Room mini meet..I got leid...so cool and the most fun I have EVER had at the tiki room!! Lets all sing like the birdies sing...etc etc etc...
Following that was a check in at the Jungle cruise meet and then off to the padder meet!!
Loved it!! I got to meet disneyperson and her daughter..they are so beautiful!! Got to meet DLF and Mukta!! What a wonderful couple!! Got to meet Nurse Melis and Blueckles!! They are sooooo cute!!! Got to meet the Tods...what a beautiful family!! Got to meet Adrienne...she was so cute standing on the chair with her mic!! You rock Adrienne...and I know I met many others and I have a LOT of pics for Karla...but you will all have to help me remember who you are (so sorry...I am so bad :( :eek: :confused: )
I was pretty much running on empty by then though!
Now off to find some food before the 50th tour...went to main street Carnation Cafe...CM spilled my glass of iced tea in my lap...lol...I felt so bad... she started crying....I told her not to worry...that at least it woke me up...but it was so funny I almost....yes only almost laughed...
Well now the 50th tour...I was so disappointed....We didn't have those headphone things and it was SO HARD to HEAR!! Almost impossible...
Also it was so crowded that we could hardly stay together as a group sometimes. Our Hostess was awesome under the circumstances, but I feel like I missed out on so much since I couldn't hear!!
Also we were running late due to the crowds. Our last ride was Buzz lightyear. We left there to get back to main street and there was no way we could even stay near our tour guide. There was a massive sea of people all down main street....we all got separated...it seems as if it would have been much smarter to bring us back via the train to main street...very disappointing. The fireworks were awesome however and were so wonderful to see!!!
Finally the end to a long long day!!!

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 12:00 PM
LOL!!! ;)

Thanks for the compliment in the other thread about my avatar - one of my babies, of course :D Us grandma's!! I tell you :rolleyes: we just got to make you all look at every pic we ever took of our little ones! :D you're turn is coming Shortie - I can't wait for pics of little Connor. Did your dd survive the trip okay?


She did great Ruthie!! She spent an average of about 6 hours in the park on all the days except Saturday...when they went to Long Beach to see a russian submarine...lol yep thats right...a russian sub museum thingy!!
I can't wait to post pics of Connor!!

Wow phoenixfire2k5, I bow to you! You are one of the few, the holy and esteemed orange band persons who was in front of me!!! Wowzers....as for the lazers...no they didn't spell out anything from there but they were awesome!!!!

phoenixfire2k5
07-21-2005, 12:05 PM
She did great Ruthie!! She spent an average of about 6 hours in the park on all the days except Saturday...when they went to Long Beach to see a russian submarine...lol yep thats right...a russian sub museum thingy!!
I can't wait to post pics of Connor!!

Wow phoenixfire2k5, I bow to you! You are one of the few, the holy and esteemed orange band persons who was in front of me!!! Wowzers....as for the lazers...no they didn't spell out anything from there but they were awesome!!!!

Yeah, heres my report from the 17th campout:
http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=44986&highlight=apologies

I probably had about 300 to 400 people in front of me. The post pretty much sums it up. :p

And who knows, I might have been one of the Oranges that passed you as you held your ground.

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 12:11 PM
Yeah, heres my report from the 17th campout:
http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=44986&highlight=apologies

I probably had about 300 to 400 people in front of me. The post pretty much sums it up. :p

And who knows, I might have been one of the Oranges that passed you as you held your ground.

Loved your thread because that is exactly how I felt about the lack of communication by the CM's...it would have prevented so many of the problems that occured!! Were you in front of or behind the little diner area that was serving coffee and danish??? That will help me determine if I was near you!!!

phoenixfire2k5
07-21-2005, 12:13 PM
Loved your thread because that is exactly how I felt about the lack of communication by the CM's...it would have prevented so many of the problems that occured!! Were you in front of or behind the little diner area that was serving coffee and danish??? That will help me determine if I was near you!!!

I was in Hollywood, between the award weiners and the entrance to the backlot. I was right outside that one shop, across the street from the Playhouse Disney theater.

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 12:21 PM
Monday the 18th...
Well after the 17th I just could NOT get up at 6 a.m. again...lol I was beat! I am old after all!! Up 48 hours or so and my feet were telling me "forget it old lady!!" lol.
So slept in until about 8:30...got up and headed out....the kids decided to go with me this time. We got space mountain fast passes for 1:50 or 2:50 I can't remember which. We got our quest forms and filled them out and turned them in...by that time they only had room left on the 5:00 tour...so we signed up for that...unsure whether we would still be able to do the tour by then or not...Headed toward river belle terrace for breakfast and it was really good!!!
Went on some rides and decided to get our shopping done...well we shopped and we shopped and we shopped some more...sheesh...I didn't realize how many stores there were in frontierland and main street...man alive woo doggies...lol
Checked our bags in front of main street...instead of star traders like i did the day before and had to walk all the way to get my bags after the fireworks..lol.
After this we ate lunch at Pizza port...I had an awesome chinese chicken salad...yummmy!!! Went on space mountain...twice...and then we were done. It was about 4 and I went and told the VM tour people to please move us to the waiting to take the tour list...I knew my puppies wouldn't survive a three hour walking tour....we were all beat up from the previous days!!!
Went to leave the park and stopped in the candy shop on main street... bad move!!!! I bought and ATE a caramel/chocolate covered apple :rolleyes: !!! Oh my gosh...it was to die for...so much for South beach that day...but boy was it good!!! :D worth every bite!!! :eek:
Went back to the room about 6:30 and couldn't even get motivated to go and get dinner until about 8:30 at Millies! That place was AWESOME!! Great food for a great price. I loved it there...The fireworks started and I went outside to get some awesome pics of the fireworks!!

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 12:22 PM
I was in Hollywood, between the award weiners and the entrance to the backlot. I was right outside that one shop, across the street from the Playhouse Disney theater.

LOL yeppers you definately passed us as we held our ground...lol. I wonder if you were one of the ones who yelled at us lol :eek: ;) j/k...people saw that we were waiting for them to go and didn't say anything to us...they were really nice about it...we ended up about 4 or 5 people behind where we would have been if we waited in our original spot!!

phoenixfire2k5
07-21-2005, 12:24 PM
Monday the 18th...
Well after the 17th I just could NOT get up at 6 a.m. again...lol I was beat! I am old after all!! Up 48 hours or so and my feet were telling me "forget it old lady!!"Good report Shortie. It seems that your feet were hurting worse than mine.

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 12:26 PM
Tues the 19th!!
Had to go in the park, even if it was only for an hour or two. Got the new pins that were released that day, did a little small amount of shopping!!
Called the kids and we met, checked out, went to breakfast at millies and then to ESPN zone to get our coolers (they were out of them the previous thursday). They were still out and told us they would be mailed to us. Again thank you Darkbeer for the link as it was awesome to get the food etc...The kids used the last voucher to get a onesie for Connor who is due in Sept. It is really cute! After that we headed home!!!
Wonderful trip full of wonderful memories...I am so happy I got to meet so many people...you are all so wonderful!!!
Hope to meet the grammas at Mouse Adventure! ;)

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 12:27 PM
Good report Shortie. It seems that your feet were hurting worse than mine.

lol that is what happens when you get old!!! lol

phoenixfire2k5
07-21-2005, 12:27 PM
LOL yeppers you definately passed us as we held our ground...lol. I wonder if you were one of the ones who yelled at us lol :eek: ;) j/k...people saw that we were waiting for them to go and didn't say anything to us...they were really nice about it...we ended up about 4 or 5 people behind where we would have been if we waited in our original spot!!

Nope, wasn't one of the ones that yelled at you. I do remember though, that there were some pinks that apparantly cut in line, were wearing 50th shirts, and were pulled back to the rest of the pinks. Some orange had complained about it, and then they got pulled back. I think there were a few other pinks in there thought that didn't get moved. It was crazy around that corner. We moved about 50 feet to where we rounded that corner, and people kept bunching up right near the entrance to Hollywood. Dang, we were that close. It really is a small world. Oh crap! There goes that song in my head. Oh of all things holy!!!

phoenixfire2k5
07-21-2005, 12:28 PM
lol that is what happens when you get old!!! lol

Yeah, tell me about it. I'm 30. I'm surprised I made it! :p

Faith Trust & Pixie Dust
07-21-2005, 12:29 PM
Well now the 50th tour...I was so disappointed....We didn't have those headphone things and it was SO HARD to HEAR!! Almost impossible...
Also it was so crowded that we could hardly stay together as a group sometimes. Our Hostess was awesome under the circumstances, but I feel like I missed out on so much since I couldn't hear!!
Also we were running late due to the crowds. Our last ride was Buzz lightyear. We left there to get back to main street and there was no way we could even stay near our tour guide. There was a massive sea of people all down main street....we all got separated...it seems as if it would have been much smarter to bring us back via the train to main street...very disappointing. The fireworks were awesome however and were so wonderful to see!!!


Yikes! I'm taking the 50th tour next week--I hope to have a better experience! I'm sorry that you were disappointed and that the tour didn't turn out better.