So beyond our issues with GCH which I already groused about, I've been remiss in reporting back about the rest of our trip. We had an awesome time in the parks and in DtD overall. My partner, now on his third trip to DLR, feels like a vet now, too. At one point he was all like, "Excuse me, I KNOW my way around
Disneyland!" So, you know, hurray!
FRIDAY
We arrived on Friday, and after check-in headed straight for the ticket booths to renew our APs (no more Premiers for us--we're all about DLR now--so we got Premiums), the into the parks. Our day-one schtick is buttons at City Hall (I got my belated birthday button!), then browsing Emporium, then breakfast at River Belle Terrace. That's what we did--by the end of breakfast overlooking the ROA, it always finally feels like we're back in the groove of DL.
We spent the morning and early afternoon following our nose instead of commando-chasing the headliners (Ryan has definitely taught me to stop and smell the roses in DL), though we did ride BTMRR. I can't tell you how much I missed DL's version and the new ending is amazing. Definitely prefer this version over MK's. I especially love the queue going down into the ravine vs. MK's interior queue. (I think this is my favorite Disney queue anywhere, actually!) Lunchtime we spent getting lost in the World of
Disney store in DtD. After hanging in the hotel, we came back for our VIP reservations for Magic and F!. I had never watched the fireworks all the way through--Tink and Dumbo were totally awesome! And F! looks in great shape now! (Last October, some show elements were down.)
SATURDAY
Friends from Long Beach came to spend almost the whoe day with us on Saturday. I ran like a loon around DL Fantasyland for EMH, then an old teenage-years friend I used to know in NYC came out to the park, and then two friends I made from my blog--one of whom is a F! CM--came out. We did Indy, Space Mountain, Alice (everyone was floored at the new additions!), and eventually hopped to DCA then back to DL. My highlight was I finally got to have a Corn Dog from the cart on Main Street. First time ever. (Sadly, turned out I'm not a fan. Oh well, other great things to eat at DLR!) We also surprised our friends with lunch at CO (you've never seen so many Monte Cristos in your life!), and drinks at GCH's Hearthstone Lounge to thank them for coming out. Ryan and I will eventually move to SoCal, and it is a total blessing to already have local friends. We were very grateful about the whole day.
SUNDAY & MONDAY
Our remaining two days we played by ear. I spent more time in the parks; Ryan spent more time lounging at GCH. I learned the total magic of the RSR single-rider line, together we did Ryan's favorites at DCA--Soarin (which he loves at DCA but doesn't like at Epcot), ToT, and California Screamin' (which he made me ride four times and he
never does that!), the reworked Under the Sea scene in Little Mermaid was a big hit for us, and we managed to watch two Soundsationals in DL because we couldn't stop hanging out on Main Street.
We had three big takeaways this trip:
- After experiencing DtD (Earl of Sandwich FTW!) and seeing the grounds of DLH and interior photos, Ryan desperately wants to stay at DLH now. (Hurray, on-site!);
- Space Mountain looks AWESOME inside the mountain now. Unfortunately, during the refurb they turned off all the blue ceiling lights in the loading zone that were half burnt-out anyway, and only replaced some of the blue lights in the power tunnel after the first lift hill. But..inside the ride dome, the starts have never, ever looked so full, or kinetic. It was like riding in outer space champagne bubbles of stars, just amazing. Best I've ever seen it look in there; and
- The Disneyland Monorail feels amazingly useful when you're staying on-property. We finally totally get how wonderful it is to hop out of DL to DtD and your hotel, and then right back in via the Monorail. Magic!
I also Instagrammed a lot of the trip as @mikedoyleblogger. Next time, that may be all we do. (Tired of not finding FP+ photographers in DL.) But all in all, we had a great time.
Also, don't tell Ryan, but I'm dragging him back over Rosh Hashanah weekend at the end of September.
P.S. I promise I wasn't paid per exclamation point or use of the word awesome, either.