JoAnn's Disneyland Pre-trip Report

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JoAnn C's picture
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JoAnn's Disneyland Pre-trip Report

My first trip to Disneyland starts bright and early on Thursday morning. My flight leaves at 5:08am with a connection in Chicago. The flight is scheduled to land at John Wayne airport at 10:01am. I've been checking the flight regularly (read obsessively) and it has been arriving early between 10 - 30 minutes each day. I'm hoping the trend continues on Thursday.

I am taking the Super Shuttle to the Residence Inn where I'm meeting my cousin (T), her daughter (V) and her daughter's finance (N). They are getting married in WDW in July. After we meet up, we'll head over to the Disneyland Hotel to pick up our race packets, check out the expo and grab some lunch. We have a couple of plans to finalize once we are there. Afterward, I plan on hitting Disneyland for a bit until it's time to meet up with them for dinner at Goofy's Kitchen at DL Hotel. I probably won't have much park time. As long as I can see where Walt's apartment is, I'll be happy.

Friday will be a busy day. We are all doing the 5K in the morning followed by the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour, afternoon in DL and the Pasta in the Park Party Friday night. My cousin's son ( J ) is arriving Friday night.
Saturday V, N and J are all doing the 10K and we will be spending the day in DCA. We are having dinner at Ariel's Grotto. We may be meeting our cousin and his wife who live in SoCal.

Sunday V is running half (not sure about J and N). T and I are part of the ChEAR Squad. We will be checking out of our two bedroom suite, and I will be checking into a studio at the Residence Inn. They are leaving Sunday night to head back to LA as they have an early flight out Monday morning. I had originally booked the night at a different hotel but for the convenience factor I'm staying there. They are planning on going to Lego Land and I am going to stay in Anaheim. They are going to come back to Anaheim, and we will have dinner together. I have two ADRs for dinner for us (this is one of the things we need to decide on Thursday). Since it is Mother's Day, I told T she gets to make the decision between Blue Bayou (DL) and Wine Country Trattoria (DCA). Once that is decided, I will cancel the other ADR. Not sure which park I will spend the day in - probably the opposite of the one we will be in Sunday night.

Monday morning, I will check out of my room, leave my bags at the hotel and hit the parks. I am taking the red eye home Monday night so I have a good part of the day to spend in the parks. I have two lunch reservations mainly because I really want to try Blue Bayou. If we don't have dinner there Sunday night, I'm all set. If we do, lunch will be at Carnation Cafe. The shuttle back to the airport will pick me up a little at 4:00 and then I fly back to reality.

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Spook's picture
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Sounds like a great trip! I love reading Disneyland TR. Someday I'll make it out there awesome

Good luck at the 5K. Run Disney races are so much fun mickey

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Yay! You will have a blast! Can't wait to hear what you think of DL. Hope your flight arrives early too - that's a nice bonus surprise yay

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Looking forward to the rest of your TR! I will be there in a month.

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Sounds great, JoAnn!! Have a wonderful time! mickey stars

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

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sounds great! I recommend the monte cristo at the blue bayou and fast passes for cars and world of color at DCA awesome

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DL is on my bucket list, so can't wait to hear all about it!

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Sounds awesome, JoAnn! Have a fantastic time and good luck on your 5k! clapping

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Have a great time! Looking forward to your report. clapping

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DisneyDee27 wrote:
sounds great! I recommend the monte cristo at the blue bayou and fast passes for cars and world of color at DCA awesome

awesome Though if your objective is just to get the sandwich, consider Cafe Orleans instead. Same awesome sandwich, fewer dollars muchlove

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Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome. --Randy Pausch

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

JoAnn C's picture
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Waiting at the gate in O'Hare for my fligt to John Wayne airport. I got a free upgrade to first class on my flight here. Starting the trip off right.

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Nice! awesome Safe travels!

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JoAnn C wrote:
Waiting at the gate in O'Hare for my fligt to John Wayne airport. I got a free upgrade to first class on my flight here. Starting the trip off right.

Nice score JoAnn. awesome

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Great start to your trip!
Safe travels!

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I have arrived. Waiting at the hotel for my cousins.

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JoAnn C wrote:
I have arrived. Waiting at the hotel for my cousins.

Woo Hoo! Let the magic begin clapping

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JoAnn C's picture
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Sitting with the monorail pilot

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Cool JoAnn! Have fun! Tagging along. yay

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JoAnn C's picture
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Sadly no tour. I found out today that by the time my cousin went to book it they were sold out. Guess I will have to come back.

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JoAnn C wrote:
Sitting with the monorail pilot

Sweet!

JoAnn C's picture
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Finished the 5k.

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JoAnn C wrote:
Finished the 5k.

Wohoo congrats! yay clapping yay

Spook's picture
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Way to go Joann!
I heard it rained. Did it last the whole race?

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congrats JoAnn Great job.

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yay Great job!!!! Have fun!

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Way to goooooo! You didn't get swept either!

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Nice job, JoAnn!

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Nice going!

JoAnn C's picture
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Spook wrote:
Way to go Joann!
I heard it rained. Did it last the whole race?

It rained for most of it.

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Great job, JoAnn! clapping

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Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome. --Randy Pausch

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

JoAnn C's picture
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Waiting in line for bag check and they just closed one of the lines.

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