Since it has already been over two months since I returned from this trip, and I'm about to leave in a few days for another trip, I decided to just give daily bullet point summaries instead of a full-blown trip report...you'll see that we still did a ton of things and hopefully you'll be able to follow along with no problems!
Travel dates: November 13 17, 2018
Travel method: Southwest
Resort: Camelot Inn (Off-site)
Accommodations: Standard
Ages Represented in Group: Adult
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group: Veteran
Comments: A trip to see the holiday festivities!
Cast of characters:
- Pam, 57: trip planner/writer/self-proclaimed Disney Queen!
- James, 58: Pam's hubby who likes Disneyland but is not as fanatic as Pam!
The Planning
While planning trips to the Disneyland Resort with James this year, I came up with November 13-17 for our second trip together on our Annual Passes. The Christmas season will be in full swing, and we will be able to enjoy the holiday decor and all of the seasonal festivities! Fantasmic! is also playing on our last night, and we will try to see it together if possible.
Lodging: After the problems we had with the Anaheim Desert Inn earlier this year, I canceled all bookings with them and booked a One-Bedroom Family Suite in August at the Camelot Inn on Harbor Blvd. (a less than 10-minute walk from the parks; total for 4 nights = $1,090); our sleeping habits are so different nowadays that this arrangement works very well for us (James could stay up as late as he needed to and I wouldnt disturb him when I left early for the parks each morning!), although it is a lot more expensive.
Transportation: I booked airfare on Southwest Airlines from Sacramento to Orange County for both of us using points at the equivalent cost of $225 each; the total including TSA fees & Early-Bird option for all flights came to $530.
I also made reservations with SuperShuttle for travel to/from our motel in Anaheim ($43.20 total after the 10% AAA group discount was applied).
Tickets: We each have an active Deluxe AP + MaxPass.
Priority Seating: I only made one dining reservation for our visit; the rest will be counter-service: November 15: Blue Bayou @ 11:30am.
Disney Visa Rewards Card: I transferred $69 out of our rewards balance on our Disney Visa Rewards Card (DVRC) to help cover our Disney park meals and any park incidentals!
The Itinerary
The pre-planning was done very quickly, and here was the result:
- November 13: Fly down in the afternoon; check-in to the Camelot Inn; Disneyland/DCA
- November 14: Disneyland/DCA
- November 15: Disneyland/DCA; lunch at Blue Bayou
- November 16: Disneyland/DCA
- November 17: Check-out of the Camelot Inn; fly home in the afternoon
Monday, November 12, 2018 (1 day before departure)
Actual: I worked all day and printed off our Early-Bird boarding passes at 3:20pm (A50 & A51); I then picked up a foot-long veggie sandwich for James from Subway on my way home ($5.99) that he could eat at the airport tomorrow before the flight.
We spent the evening getting ready (last-minute house cleaning & packing), and I was in bed around 10pm; James wouldn't fall asleep until sometime much later!
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 (80o)
Plan: Fly down in the afternoon; check-in to the Camelot Inn; Disneyland/DCA
Actual: I was awake around 6am and watched TV until time to get up around 7am; I fed and medicated our kitty Sidney and worked until 10:30am. I puttered around until 11:30am, when I took our keys over to our neighbor Steve, who was going to kitty-sit for us. James was finally up around noon and we were out the door around 1:25pm.
James drove us to the airport and we found an end-spot in the far end of the economy lot around 2pm; we caught the next bus to the terminal and I checked in our big suitcase (35.5#). There were no lines at TSA (we were pre-TSA) and we were through quickly; I filled our reusable water bottle and we got to Gate B15 around 2:30pm.
We were soon boarding our completely full flight; James sat in front of me on the aisle in the exit rows and we pushed back early at 3:15pm. I had Diet Dr. Pepper and James had his usual ginger ale during the flight, and they gave us pretzels to snack on.
We landed 20mins early, collected our bag, and went to meet our SuperShuttle van; James ate half of his sandwich in the shuttle and I recognized the voice of the shuttle driver as being the same one I had back in August! He was very personable and we were the last ones dropped off at our motel around 6:20pm.
We checked in and took the elevator up to room #302; we checked things out and got what we needed for the evening before heading out the door. We walked down to The Pizza Press for dinner: a Press Cheese pizza for me and a Publish Your Own for James, plus a soda to share ($23 with tax & tip, after the 10% coupon I had).
We enjoyed our dinner and then James walked the leftovers back to the room, while I headed to Disneyland around 7pm.
Here is a summary of the rest of the evening:
- Made MaxPass (MP) for Space Mountain (Pam) @ 7:05pm for 7:40pm (next available = 7:40pm)
- Met up with James; MP return time for Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters = 8:55pm so skipped
- Got return time for Peter Pan's Flight @ 7:15pm for 7:45pm
- Rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (Cyril) via exit
- Rode Pinocchio's Daring Journey via exit; found out about disabled cars with extra rails = YAY for me!
- Rode Casey Jr. Circus Train via exit
- Rode Snow White's Scary Adventures (Sleepy) via exit with disabled car; busy exit!
- Rode Peter @ 7:50pm
- Stopped by the Alice in Wonderland-themed bathrooms
- I rode Space with MP @ 8:10pm while James looked through Star Traders
- Rode Jungle Cruise with Skipper Daniel (Ganges Gal); started at exit and then CM moved us into regular queue to avoid stairs = best cruise ever!!!
- Pirates of the Caribbean = long line, so skipped
- Got return time for Haunted Mansion Holiday @ 8:50pm for 9:35pm
- Parched, so stopped at Harbour Galley = large Coke Zero ($4.06; 10% AP discount)
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh = long queue past the entrance (posted as 15mins), so looked through Pooh Corner first then back to shorter queue at Pooh; was told that the last row has more leg room, so need to remember that for the future!
- Rode HMH @ 9:35pm = fun!
- VERY TIRED
- Candy Palace = two chocolate countdown calendars for my co-worker friend Mandie ($29.07; 10% AP discount)
- Took pictures by the Christmas tree in Town Square
- Left DL @ 10:05pm
- The Cove Market = 2 gallons of H2O ($9.60)
- McDonald's = BOGO Grilled Artisan Chicken sandwiches & 2 double hamburgers ($10.10; very busy with slow service)
- Back to room @ 10:40pm
- Each of us ate one sandwich and put the rest in the fridge; James also finished off his Subway sandwich and pizza leftovers and then made microwave popcorn (hungry boy)!
- I showered and then James rubbed my feet
- I unpacked our stuff, got settled, & took my night pills
- In bed after midnight but trouble falling asleep even though very tired!
- James to sleep = 3:30am
Steps: 14,760
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 (83o)
Plan: Disneyland/DCA
Actual:
- I had drunk a TON of H2O last evening, but didn't wake up to go to the bathroom until 5am, so that was good!
- I was up at 6:30am; had protein shake and leftover burger
- I was out the door at 7:35am and inside Disney California Adventure by 7:55am
- Immediately booked a MP for Radiator Springs Racers for 9:20am (next = 9:20am); the later return time probably due to today being an Extra Magic Hours morning at DCA, and those guests grabbing up them up early!
- Picked up a birthday button from Guest Relations
- Back to Toy Story Midway Mania; ran into former co-worker John along the way! Met his family and then chatted with him while in the queue together (we should have taken a photo together!)
- Rode TSMM #1 = 170,800 (38% accuracy); asked to ride again since no one was waiting for disabled vehicle
- Rode TSMM #2 = 186,700 (39% accuracy; "Best in Car", due to being only one in car!)
- Rode The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure (walk-on)
- Boudin Bakery Tour = sourdough bread sample @ 9:10am
- No Ghirardelli samples (employee told me they were "out of stock" ~ WHAT?)
- Sat in Pacific Wharf dining area and updated trip notes
- Rode RSR with MP @ 9:20am
- Made MP for Guardians of the Galaxy ~ Mission: BREAKOUT! @ 9:20am for 9:25am (next = 9:50am)
- Rode Guardians with MP @ 9:50am (I Want You Back)
- Made another MP for Guardians @ 9:50am for 10:05am then cancelled it, thinking I would do Soarin' Around the World instead
- Made MP for Soarin' @ 9:55am for 11:05am then cancelled it, due to its return timing so soon before Frozen at noon (LOVE this flexibility!!!)
- Made another MP for Guardians @ 10am for 10:10am (next = 10:25am)
- Rode Guardians with MP @ 10:10am (We Want the Funk)
- Long line for Disney Chase Visa Meet & Greet, so skipped
- Rode Monsters Inc. @ 10:40am (posted as 20mins, but was 30mins)
- Award Wieners = long line so to Schmoozie's for peppermint crunch shake ($7.53)
- Made another MP for Soarin' @ 11:25am for 1:15pm then cancelled it, preferring a third ride on Guardians instead!
- Made another MP for Guardians @ 11:35am for 12:45pm (next = 12:45pm); great timing to follow Frozen!
- Frozen @ 12pm
- Rode Guardians with MP @ 1:05pm (Hit Me with Your Best Shot)
- Made MP for Space @ 1:10pm for 3:10pm (next = 2:40pm)
- Walked thru shops on Buena Vista Street
- To DL @ 1:45pm; saw John again by Emporium!
- Refreshment (Coke) Corner = hot dog, chips, & Coke Zero ($11.32; 10% AP discount)
- Updated trip notes and relaxed!
- Listened to the piano player @ Coke Corner around 2:15pm, Alice & Mad Hatter also there interacting with guests
- James called at 2:45pm to find out where I was (he doesn't text!)
- Made MP for Buzz @ 2:55pm once James was in park for 3:05pm (next = 3:25pm)
- Met up with James @ 2:55pm; he'd eaten his oatmeal and McDonald's leftovers in the room for breakfast
- Rode Buzz with MP @ 3:10pm (long FP return time, so slow); P = 990,300 (#36) & J = 1m+ (but no score on picture!)
- Made MP for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad @ 3:25pm for 4:55p (next = 4:55pm)
- I rode Space with my MP @ 3:40pm, while James went to Star Wars Launch Bay)
- Met back up at SWLB and did the Disney Chase Visa Meet & Greet with Darth Vader = great interaction!
- Got return time for Indiana Jones Adventure @ 4:20pm (4:35pm)
- Rancho Del Zocalo = carne asada/enchilada platter, kids burrito, & Diet Coke ($26.15; 10% AP discount)
- Rode Sailing Ship Columbia @ 4:55pm
- Made another MP for Buzz @ 4:55pm for 5:15pm (next = 5:25pm)
- Rode BTMR with MP
- Rode Indy
- Got return time for HMH @ 6pm for 6:25pm
- Rode Buzz with MP @ 6:10pm (long queue kept stopping); P = 224,600 & J = 486,400
- Made another MP for Buzz @ 6:10pm for 6:30pm (next = 6:30pm)
- Rode Buzz with MP @ 6:30pm; P = 287,600 & J = 10,200+693,900
- Rode HMH @ 6:50pm (my feet hurt!)
- Rancho del Zocalo = James wanted a full-size burrito to take back to the room but the long line was not moving
- I checked out Plaza Inn & Jolly Holiday Bakery for a holiday dessert but lines too long for both places
- Met back up & decided to skip it all!
- Left DL @ 7:30pm
- McDonald's = BOGO Grilled Artisan Chicken sandwiches & 2 double hamburgers again ($10.10)
- Watched Survivor @ 8pm
- Tended to my aches & pains; in bed @ 11pm (no sleep aid tonight!)
Steps: 19,125
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