The Trip Is On!!! Trip report starts on pg. 39

[brookies_mommy]

I can't wait to hear all about it!!! We leave on Thursday.. I'm thinking DD might get a Duffy while we are there

 

[6Smiles]

I'm so glad Duffy is having a great time!!! I'm sure you are too!!! (a picture of you would be awesome.......otherwise we're gonna start thinking that Duffy is on the trip & you're actually at home)

Have fun Michele......I know you are!!

I was thinking the same thing

 

[kaoden39]

Love that pillow. Is that part of the room decor?

Yeah there is a mate on the other bed that you will see when I actually write the trip report.

I'm so glad Duffy is having a great time!!! I'm sure you are too!!! (a picture of you would be awesome.......otherwise we're gonna start thinking that Duffy is on the trip & you're actually at home)

Have fun Michele......I know you are!!

Duffy hasn't figured out to use the camera yet. So there may not be a picture of me involved.

I can't wait to hear all about it!!! We leave on Thursday.. I'm thinking DD might get a Duffy while we are there

Oh he is sooooo cute and wait until you see all of the clothes.

I was thinking the same thing

 

[DizNee Luver]

Duffy might not be able to use the camera but there are thousands of other people there that could do so!! lol

 

[kaoden39]

Duffy might not be able to use the camera but there are thousands of other people there that could do so!! lol

When I look at my vacation pictures I don't wanna see me.

 

[DizNee Luver]

When I look at my vacation pictures I don't wanna see me.

You sound like me.....but I do like to prove I was at Disneyland....so try to get in a photo or two!!

 

[Bungle]

When I look at my vacation pictures I don't wanna see me.

That should be my vacation motto too. No matter how much time I take getting ready I always look like I was hit by my own personal hurricane in vacation photos.

It looks like you are having so much fun. How are the crowds?

Also, that bedding, LOVE it. I wonder if they sell the white on white mickey pattern bedding

 

[6Smiles]

I can't wait for Duffy to find some clothes... I want to see the outfits.

 

[yupikgal]

hi kaoden39, I want to say thank you, I've been following this thread from 38 pages ago today, just found it, and wow, I couldn't stop reading it! What especially caught my eye was the fact that you also have teenagers, (we have an 18 yr old girl/15 yr old boy) and you have a Duffy, which my daughter recently discovered on these boards and is planning on getting one as soon as we get there! Love the pictures of him! We are all going to Southern Cal. at the end of May, flying into John Wayne, Amtrak to San Diego, then back to Anaheim, and the BEST and HAPPIEST place of all, Disney!! We are all so psyched, the kids (thankfully) love it, wasn't sure because you know how moody teens can be, but they really fell for it, we went in 2009 and 2010, it must be because we've been bringing them since they were like 4 & 7, huh? Actually, we brought our daughter to WDW when she was 10.5 months old! We're from Alaska, so we have to fly a LONG ways to get there, but it doesn't matter!! I would LOVE to be able to drive like you can, without having to do all the "can't take this, it's liquid, they will throw it out" type planning, it's really annoying!! I can certainly relate to the overplanning that I think a lot of people here do, and especially since we have to buy our tickets way in advance to get the best deal and just the planning involved all around! Have to find someone to watch our dogs, the mail has to be picked up, etc. and since it takes so long to get there, and we normally only do one trip per year outside of AK, we normally stay for a while, like this time it's 2 weeks! We are psyched! We plan on doing Seaworld, the Zoo, beaches, Disney/CA, Universal, Hearst Castle (spending 2 nts in San Luis Obispo, taking the train there)

Most importantly, ENJOY your "me" time and your friends company and of course the Magical, Wonderful World of Disney!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm a guessing you're having a ton of fun!!!! Can't wait to see the next Duffy pic to see what he did today!!!

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Welcome home, my friend!

 

[daisy_77]

Hi!

I have been reading for a few days and I am finally caught up and cannot wait to read more about your fun girls-only+Duffy trip!

 

[Trentmom]

Welcome Home Chele

Can't wait to hear all about your trip

 

[kaoden39]

You sound like me.....but I do like to prove I was at Disneyland....so try to get in a photo or two!!

I took a picture of my hand. That should count. Honestly neither D or I got our pictures taken.

That should be my vacation motto too. No matter how much time I take getting ready I always look like I was hit by my own personal hurricane in vacation photos.

It looks like you are having so much fun. How are the crowds?

Also, that bedding, LOVE it. I wonder if they sell the white on white mickey pattern bedding

I swear, I can have my hair done and my make up and as soon as a picture is taken I look like the wreck of the hespa.

We had an absolute ball, a non planned, non stressed do what you want when you want trip is the best trip. We both slept as late as we wanted and ate what we wanted when we wanted and drank grown up drinks and everything. Monday, was swamped and from what I heard Tuesday when we were in DCA. Disneyland was swamped and one of the busiest days ever.

I love the bedding too.

I can't wait for Duffy to find some clothes... I want to see the outfits.

Ask and ye shall receive he got two. So you will see those.

hi kaoden39, I want to say thank you, I've been following this thread from 38 pages ago today, just found it, and wow, I couldn't stop reading it! What especially caught my eye was the fact that you also have teenagers, (we have an 18 yr old girl/15 yr old boy) and you have a Duffy, which my daughter recently discovered on these boards and is planning on getting one as soon as we get there! Love the pictures of him! We are all going to Southern Cal. at the end of May, flying into John Wayne, Amtrak to San Diego, then back to Anaheim, and the BEST and HAPPIEST place of all, Disney!! We are all so psyched, the kids (thankfully) love it, wasn't sure because you know how moody teens can be, but they really fell for it, we went in 2009 and 2010, it must be because we've been bringing them since they were like 4 & 7, huh? Actually, we brought our daughter to WDW when she was 10.5 months old! We're from Alaska, so we have to fly a LONG ways to get there, but it doesn't matter!! I would LOVE to be able to drive like you can, without having to do all the "can't take this, it's liquid, they will throw it out" type planning, it's really annoying!! I can certainly relate to the overplanning that I think a lot of people here do, and especially since we have to buy our tickets way in advance to get the best deal and just the planning involved all around! Have to find someone to watch our dogs, the mail has to be picked up, etc. and since it takes so long to get there, and we normally only do one trip per year outside of AK, we normally stay for a while, like this time it's 2 weeks! We are psyched! We plan on doing Seaworld, the Zoo, beaches, Disney/CA, Universal, Hearst Castle (spending 2 nts in San Luis Obispo, taking the train there)

Most importantly, ENJOY your "me" time and your friends company and of course the Magical, Wonderful World of Disney!!!

Hi there!! Welcome to my madness. Having teenagers is an experience for sure. And I am glad we relaxed our trip. And as I continue you will see just how relaxed our plans got. Normally when it is the whole family I have to plan someone to take care of our animals and everything. This was a relief to me. Your trip sounds wonderful, Hearst Castle is lovely I went years ago and I love it. The San Diego Zoo is amazing, I went years ago to that too. There are animals there I have never seen anywhere else. We have never been to Seaworld but I know people that like it better than Disneyland. How that is possible is beyond me.

I'm a guessing you're having a ton of fun!!!! Can't wait to see the next Duffy pic to see what he did today!!!

I was having a blast and I had problems loading my pictures another day.

Welcome home, my friend!

Thanks Nicole!!

Hi!

I have been reading for a few days and I am finally caught up and cannot wait to read more about your fun girls-only+Duffy trip!

Hi and Welcome!! There are a lot of Duffy pictures(about 100 or more ) So stay tuned I am hoping to add day 1 tonight or at least a stage or two of it.

Welcome Home Chele

Can't wait to hear all about your trip

Hi Kelly!!

Thanks, I am going to add some today!

 

[kaoden39]

We started bright and early on 2/21, and I do mean bright and early. Poor Duffy couldn't sleep because he was so excited and kept me awake. I don't think I slept for two hours. My phone was not charging quick enough for my taste and I use it for an alarm clock. I also wanted to make sure that I got it charged and the charger packed so I didn't forget it. I finally went to bed close to 11pm. I slept off and on until I got up at 4am and threw myself together. Dina text messaged me that she was on the way to come to get me. Thankfully I showered on Sunday night and everything except my computer case, Duffy and I were downstairs. Loren my adorable son helped me by carrying my bags downstairs Sunday night.

My major concern was how my bags were getting out to the rental car without 5 million trips. That was easily solved when I came downstairs and could hear giggling in the back of the house. Loren and Kacy we hanging out. Problem solved!! Loren carried most everything out for me and what he didn't Kacy did. Yay for teenagers!! Dina pulled up right as we got out there, I have great timing, or she does. And boy were the three of us ready to go.

Dina nicely brought an ice chest for Duffy to sit on so he could see out of the window. What a nice traveling mate!!

The orchards were beautiful in the morning light.

So were the hills.

Traffic was just so so, nothing too bad.

There was snow in them thar hills!!

And more.

Getting closer.

 

[Sherry E]

I love seeing the snow on them thar hills!!

 

[daisy_77]

What a pretty drive
I love Duffy's cooler/car seat

Man I am soooo jealous of all the green everywhere. Winter in Idaho is brown and boring.

Looking forward to reading more.

 

[kaoden39]

We got to the Disneyland Hotel at 10:56am. Mind you we stopped twice, once for gas and once for breakfast. I think we did well time wise. I meant to get back out front to take pictures again but well, I never did. Sorry kids. Our bags were taken out by the bell men and taken to the bell desk while Dina parked the car and Duffy and I went and pre-registered.

Here is Duffy checking in. He was really glad to be off of the road. So was I to tell you the truth.

I was really excited to see that our desk CM John was from Vacaville a town very near mine. We talked about being neighbors. And the guest next to us was telling his desk CM about how he noticed that DLR has started hiring older employees. John and I agreed that no they were not hiring older employees but that the reason the employees age is appearing is because the employees are getting older. John explained that so many of them start there as a summer job and stay on forever. John was great!! I cannot tell you what a great experience registration was. John told me that he had two rooms for us to choose from. One in the main tower that is right now being refurbished or a completely refurbished room in another tower. What do you all think I picked? Oh yeah baby we wanted a new room.

Duffy was so excited to be checked in he had the map that John gave him and his own room key!! Of course our room wasn't ready yet but that was alright we knew our luggage was safe with the wonderful bell crew. John had my cell number and was going to make sure I got a text when our room was done with the exact room number but that it would be long. So Dina, Duffy and decided that we would go to DTD as we had a few purchases to make. Like a Simba Vinylmation for Bella Ella(Jazz), and a Mini one for my niece Stephanie. We also wandered into Marceline's Confectionery, just to window shop at this point and we received a text telling us that our room was ready. We were staying on the 11th floor of the newly refurbished Wonder Tower. Oh boy were we excited.

The first thing I thought to take pictures of was the view from the window.

I got a few of the room on this trip to the room but I got more that I took later that I will show you later.

It wasn't a great view but it was beautiful at night. Unfortunately I cannot take a night time picture, I am night picture fail.

This is a lamp base from the lamp on the desk. I thought it was so cool.

This is the carpeting in the room. I really thought this was really cool.

This is the entertainment center.

The beautiful headboard, and this isn't even at it's best.

This is my bed.

And that is it for now folks. We ate food from Ralph Brennan's Jazz Express. It was just okay.

 

[kaoden39]

I love seeing the snow on them thar hills!!

Isn't it prettier than they normally are?

What a pretty drive
I love Duffy's cooler/car seat

Man I am soooo jealous of all the green everywhere. Winter in Idaho is brown and boring.

Looking forward to reading more.

Well, he needed to see the road so he didn't get carsick.

Normally this is an ugly brown ride except the crops or the trees. And honestly I took pictures of what I consider the higher points.

I may add a third installment tonight. We shall see.

 

[Sherry E]

I can't get over how different those Disneyland Hotel rooms look from how they used to look in the old days. It's wild to see something evolve like that.

I like the Hidden Mickey carpet a lot - it's very reminiscent of the carpet in the Fantasia Shop. And I like that lamp base with the Hidden Mickey as well.

See, that's one of the reasons I love staying onsite whenever possible (at any of the hotels). I love to look around the rooms and wake up and see Hidden Mickeys in the carpet or lamp or wallpaper or wherever. It just adds those extra Disney touches to my trip that I would not get otherwise.