MommyTo3Boys1Girl
10-23-2006, 07:31 AM
I took my first solo trip to Disneyland on Weds, October 18th. Dh had 2 back to back Orange County overnights, so while he was at work on the day between, I spent about 9 hours at the parks. It was GREAT! I walked, the crew stays near the airport, over to the airport in the morning with DH when he was flying out. Got right on Super Shuttle, of course we had to fill the van, but I was the 2nd stop. I just had them drop me at GCH, also made arrangements to be picked up there 1 hour after Disneyland closed.
I wasn't surprised at the line to get through security. With all the hotel guests and parking structure drops off there, that end of security was busy. We have always entered the park from the Harbor Blvd. side of the park. I loved the decorations above the main gates. Took a few photos and then a few of the Mickey "flowers" just at the entrance. The park wasn't too crowded but not as empty as I thought it would be. I had decided ahead of time I would NOT ride POTC, hadn't been on it since the changes, because I wanted to experience them for the first time with my 5yo, my kids didn't know I was at the park, that is his favorite ride. But that was the first ride I went on. (shhhh) I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. While there are obvious changes, the core of the ride is still the same. The new animatronics are great and I love the new special effects. It looks like everything got a much needed face lift, and the ride was terrific. I did ride it again as my last ride of the night. I spent the majority of the day just wandering around in shops, eating junk, taking photos, people and stroller (another obsession of mine) watching. It was so relaxing to not "have" to do anything. I rode HMH, BTMRR, Space, POTC, and TOT. That was it. In 9 hours, that was all I rode. Longest line was Space, about 10 minutes. The park did start getting busier as evening came, and there was quite a crowd for the Parade of Dreams, which I stood to watching, while I ate my ice cream. One thing I forgot to do was Golden Screams. I wanted to check it out, since we won't be back as a family until December, but it slipped my mind. I found some great gift ideas, that I will pick up in December, I had limited space in my suitcase going home.
I ate at Stage Door, gotta love the Mozz sticks, and had dinner at Pizza Port. I got 2 cookies, and ice cream, along with 1 frozen banana and a bucket of popcorn. And didn't have to share. I told DH it was therapeutic and I would love to do it once a year. He is still laughing at me for going to Disneyland alone.
I did a little shopping, at World of Disney after the park closed, which was a madhouse. Timing was perfect. I walked out in front of GCH and my Super Shuttle pulled up. I got to the airport just in time to meet DH who was flying in from Vegas.
Funny thing. On Friday, DH got a call from a friend of ours that lives in No.Cal. He and his family were at DLR all week. Had I known ahead of time that they were there, we could have met up for dinner.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZuGbds3YtWsB¬ag=1
There is the URL for my photos.
I wasn't surprised at the line to get through security. With all the hotel guests and parking structure drops off there, that end of security was busy. We have always entered the park from the Harbor Blvd. side of the park. I loved the decorations above the main gates. Took a few photos and then a few of the Mickey "flowers" just at the entrance. The park wasn't too crowded but not as empty as I thought it would be. I had decided ahead of time I would NOT ride POTC, hadn't been on it since the changes, because I wanted to experience them for the first time with my 5yo, my kids didn't know I was at the park, that is his favorite ride. But that was the first ride I went on. (shhhh) I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. While there are obvious changes, the core of the ride is still the same. The new animatronics are great and I love the new special effects. It looks like everything got a much needed face lift, and the ride was terrific. I did ride it again as my last ride of the night. I spent the majority of the day just wandering around in shops, eating junk, taking photos, people and stroller (another obsession of mine) watching. It was so relaxing to not "have" to do anything. I rode HMH, BTMRR, Space, POTC, and TOT. That was it. In 9 hours, that was all I rode. Longest line was Space, about 10 minutes. The park did start getting busier as evening came, and there was quite a crowd for the Parade of Dreams, which I stood to watching, while I ate my ice cream. One thing I forgot to do was Golden Screams. I wanted to check it out, since we won't be back as a family until December, but it slipped my mind. I found some great gift ideas, that I will pick up in December, I had limited space in my suitcase going home.
I ate at Stage Door, gotta love the Mozz sticks, and had dinner at Pizza Port. I got 2 cookies, and ice cream, along with 1 frozen banana and a bucket of popcorn. And didn't have to share. I told DH it was therapeutic and I would love to do it once a year. He is still laughing at me for going to Disneyland alone.
I did a little shopping, at World of Disney after the park closed, which was a madhouse. Timing was perfect. I walked out in front of GCH and my Super Shuttle pulled up. I got to the airport just in time to meet DH who was flying in from Vegas.
Funny thing. On Friday, DH got a call from a friend of ours that lives in No.Cal. He and his family were at DLR all week. Had I known ahead of time that they were there, we could have met up for dinner.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZuGbds3YtWsB¬ag=1
There is the URL for my photos.