DISNEYLAND!!!!!

I'm 8 days out from our FIRST family trip to Disneyland and I could not be more excited! I technically went to Disneyland when I was 2 years old, but I don't remember a thing about it and Jon and Penny have never been. I feel so behind on everything! I just made our last dining reservation this morning and, at this point, I'm normally almost done packing and I just started staging outfits two days ago. AND I realized I haven't done a trip report yet! Both Jon and I are finishing up a show we are in at a local theater company this weekend so everything has been kind of been put a back burner until then, but luckily it seems like Disneyland is a much more "show up and have fun" type of trip then Walt Disney World in. It still feels weird to not have meticulously planned out touring plans and FastPasses! We're very excited for the new experience, though! We have 5-day passes (or we will...I haven't bought them yet ) with park hoppers and MaxPass which I can't wait to try out! I really want to be able to see and do as much as we can at a relaxing pace.

Friday, September 27th

Flight is at 5:45pm so we will be picking Penny up an hour early from school to drive to the airport and pick up Punch Pizza on the way because it is tradition on Disney day! With the two hour time difference, we should be landing at LAX at 7:45pm EST and we'll be catching an Uber to the Paradise Pier hotel for the night.

Saturday, September 28th

"Sleep in" until what will feel like 9am our time. We have to repack our stuff and give it to bell services to transfer to the Disneyland Hotel. Breakfast reservations at PCH Grill at 8:00am and then checking out the Paradise Pier pool for an hour or two. Get dressed and head over to Trader Sams for lunch and then play in the Disneyland Hotel pool until our room is ready. Heading over to Downtown Disney for a bit and then 5:30pm reservations for Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen. Getting to bed early this night so we can rope drop the next morning.

Sunday, September 29th

First day in the park! California Adventure opens at 7am so that is where we will be headed. This is where the 2 hour time difference works in our favor...it will feel like 9am to us! Penny is tall enough to ride everything but possibly Indiana Jones (depending on the time of day and the shoes she's in this one can be iffy) and the Incredicoaster so we're following Disneyland Daily's touring suggestions and will be hopping between CA Adventure and Disneyland depending on character schedules and what attractions have short wait times. I have an incredibly long list of counter service foods we need to try so we'll be eating a little bit of everything today. Hopefully fitting in a rest time somewhere and then catching the 8:40pm showing of Main Street Electrical Parade and the 9:30pm Halloween Screams fireworks.

Monday, September 30th

Jon's birthday! Starting the day with grabbing breakfast from Tangaroa Terrace because I need that new avocado toast in my life, then heading over to Disneyland for an 8am opening. I think we're going to start the morning in Galaxy's Edge, then get in some more attractions through the rest of the park. We've got an 11:55am Oga's Cantina reservation and a 1:00pm for Savi's Workshop (SMH... Jon!). Taking a late afternoon nap at the hotel before a 7:50pm Carthay Circle World of Color dining package and then World of Color at 10pm.

Tuesday, October 1st

Moving over to Grand Californian today! Yay! Aiming for the 7am Disneyland opening, but with the late night before this may change up. The only real plans today are our 5pm Napa Rose reservation (we also have a 7:30pm reservation that we might switch to depending on how the day goes).

Wednesday, October 2nd

Only plans for today are our Fantasmic! dining package at Blue Bayou at 12:30pm and then of course Fantasmic! at 9:00pm. Hoping to include a visit to the Hearthstone Lounge today, too.

Thursday, October 3rd

Sleeping in and pool time! Lunch at the former White Water Snacks (now GCH Craftsman Grill) and then an early dinner at 3:35pm at Lamplight Lounge since our Oogie Boogie Bash tickets get us in at 3pm. Hoping to get through a LOT of character meet and greets tonight, the DescenDANCE party, Villains Grove, and the parade so we will be busy busy!

Friday, October 4th

Sleeping in and packing up today, but still hoping to get in a couple of hours at the park. We've got an 11:30am Cafe Orleans reservation so that we can try the famous Monte Cristo and pommes frites, then we need to be back to the Grand Californian by 2pm to grab our luggage and get an Uber to the airport for our 5:30pm flight.

Character Goals

Black Panther
Captain Marvel
Frozone
Lightning McQueen
Mater
Mr Increcible
Mrs Incredible
Oswald (rare now but still hoping!)
Red the Fire Engine
Boba Fett
Captain Phasma
Constance Hatchaway
Cruella De Vil
Darth Vader
Dr Facilier
Maleficent
Frollo
Hitchhiking Ghosts
Foulfellow
Jack & Sally
Redd the Pirate
Rey
Sally Slater
Big Bad Wolf
Blue Fairy
Carl Fredickson
Gamora
Gov Ratcliffe
Kim Possible
Ron Stoppable
Loki
Prince John
Rescue Ranges
Shan Yu
Sheriff of Nottingham
Tailspin characters
Phineas & Ferb

Food Goals
Cozy Corn and Mac & Cheese Cone from Cozy Cones
Clam Chowder from Pacific Wharf
Lobster Nachos and Potato Skins from Lamplight Lounge
Pork Belly Skewer from Bengal Barbeque
Raspberry Dole Whip and Bao from Tropical Hideaway
Braised Beef Poutine or Cauli-Flower Sandwich from Red Rose Tavern
Anything from Jolly Holiday Bakery
Corn Dog from Little Red Wagon
Monte Cristo, Pommes Frites, and Mickey Beignets from Cafe Orleans
Long Beans from Trader Sams
Anything from La Brea Bakery
Lobster Quesadillas from GCH Craftsman Bar & Grill
Tamale from the Tamle Cart

Yup, we're ambitious! But really we're just excited for some completely new experiences!