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

[kaoden39]

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.

Just wait, I have more wonderful hidden Mickeys in the room!! I found some that I had to double take at first and them I wasn't even sure I was seeing them. Then when I tried to take a picture they didn't show up at first. It was rather comical.

 

[Sherry E]

Just wait, I have more wonderful hidden Mickeys in the room!! I found some that I had to double take at first and them I wasn't even sure I was seeing them. Then when I tried to take a picture they didn't show up at first. It was rather comical.

Oh good! I love me some hidden Mickeys! I hate when it seems as though something is going to come out okay in a picture and then it turns out that you can't see it and have to keep trying. It's hard to bring what we see in person to life in a smaller photo, isn't it?

 

[kaoden39]

Oh good! I love me some hidden Mickeys! I hate when it seems as though something is going to come out okay in a picture and then it turns out that you can't see it and have to keep trying. It's hard to bring what we see in person to life in a smaller photo, isn't it?

I was terribly frustrated that I wasn't seeing it in my pictures. I love the Mickey's on the sheets. That was a fun thing to see.

 

[6Smiles]

Welcome Home Kaoden39 and Duffy.
Glad to hear Duffy got some clothes. I was really excited to get on tonight and see you had already begun your trip report.

 

[kaoden39]

Welcome Home Kaoden39 and Duffy.
Glad to hear Duffy got some clothes. I was really excited to get on tonight and see you had already begun your trip report.

Oh thank you. I want to do it while it is all fresh. I did take notes though at the the end of everyday. My daughter was reading some of my notes yesterday and she thought it was gibberish. Makes total sense to me.

 

[kaoden39]

I decided that I would go ahead and finish day one because it really didn't last that much longer.

Dina, Duffy and I went exploring. Dina wanted to bring in some Diet Coke so we headed towards the parking lot. Duffy and I went and sat by the pool fence.

Duffy likes the atmosphere.

Dina was quick back and we took the sodas to the room and headed off for fun in Disneyland!! Woo Hoo!!

Duffy wanted to try on the hat for size at the Disneyland Hotel.

We decided to look in the windows at Marceline's at the wonderful Jack Sparrow apples they were making, I know they are wonderful because I brought one home for WBG.

We rode over to Disneyland on the Monorail. I took the chance to get used to the camera.

I love these guys. Not a fan of going on the ride because of my claustrophobia, but these guys yes.

Sigh, love the little details.

It was sooooo busy we decided to just meander and have fun. So we headed out to cruise the stores. Dina's DH and DD have always rushed her on trips in the past so she really wanted to just wander. I love to wander the shops so I was game and away we went.

After moving like salmon upstream to get towards Main Street, I was anxious to take a few pictures.

I realize that with these last few pictures I am too tired to finish the first day so I will leave with this installment. Goodnight.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Very nice pictures of your trip Michele. Looking forward to reading and seeing more pics of your TR.

 

[Bungle]

Ugh, I'm running so far behind.

Glad you are back and that you enjoyed your trip, can't wait to read more

 

[rentayenta]

Great room Michele and I love the pictures of Duffy.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

Love the tr! Duffy is adorable!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Welcome back, Michelle! Love the pics so far! Between you & Jazz, I just know I am getting my very own Duffy in WDW in August! Already budgeting for him & his clothes!

 

[Trentmom]

Love all the scenery pics during your drive

Yay on getting a refurbished room

Can't wait to read more

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

Welcome home! I too, can't wait to read more! There was so many pages... I just happened to glance at a few... the pre trip stuff- I saw you was originally going to Ayres. And now I read you went to DLH! Are you happy you made the change?

 

[Sherry E]

Sigh, love the little details.

Love this picture! It's one of the best 'close-ups' I've seen of the birds!

The sky is so blue in your photos. The rain washed out all the muck in the air and gave the sky a fresh polish.

 

[kaoden39]

Very nice pictures of your trip Michele. Looking forward to reading and seeing more pics of your TR.

Thank you Bret.

Ugh, I'm running so far behind.

Glad you are back and that you enjoyed your trip, can't wait to read more

Thanks, I am hoping to get more up today.

Great room Michele and I love the pictures of Duffy.

Thank you. Duffy makes a great traveling companion. He almost never complains.

Love the tr! Duffy is adorable!

Thank you. I bet you are excited for your trip!!

Welcome back, Michelle! Love the pics so far! Between you & Jazz, I just know I am getting my very own Duffy in WDW in August! Already budgeting for him & his clothes!

Oh thank you Kirsten. Maybe by then they'll have the Woody outfit.

Love all the scenery pics during your drive

Yay on getting a refurbished room

Can't wait to read more

Thank you Kelly. I figure that I need to add the scenery pictures on the way down because by the time I leave I am done taking pictures.

Welcome home! I too, can't wait to read more! There was so many pages... I just happened to glance at a few... the pre trip stuff- I saw you was originally going to Ayres. And now I read you went to DLH! Are you happy you made the change?

Yes, I am. That way we never had to get back in the car again. I couldn't be happier about that part.

Love this picture! It's one of the best 'close-ups' I've seen of the birds!

The sky is so blue in your photos. The rain washed out all the muck in the air and gave the sky a fresh polish.

Oh thank you Sherry!! I take that as a compliment. I was so lucky with the blue sky wasn't I? I really noticed it when I went and picked my photos for Peanut's scrapbook yesterday.

 

[kaoden39]

When last we met it was afternoon and we were headed towards Main Street and all of the shops. I love the shops and I get overwhelmed I want to look at everything and I forget about taking pictures. Poor Duffy he didn't get much camera time.

We headed down from the hub end and went in the door behind the Photography Shop. I like going in the back doors especially on busy days. You cut out on a lot of the crowds. Dina and I were using this first day as a day of picking out things we might want to buy. We went through every shop on the left hand side. I cannot remember their names ever. We went through the back way as much as we could. When we got to the store direct across from the Emporium I found the one thing I wanted the most, a light weight unstructured backpack. I decided not to get it though. I am not sure why.

This is in that shop. I thought it was too cute to miss.

We went around and visited the Gallery. There is a new display right now featuring the water vessels of Disney. I loved it because I love boats.

We crossed the street and went to the Emporium, and I really wanted a clip on id holder. I don't remember if I bought it there or not. I really wanted it because I didn't want to carry my wallet or my purse. I put my room key and my AP in it. And a little cash. We stayed to the back of the stores. They were getting sooooo busy because people must have been getting ready to get home. Dina and I decided to get a soda and share a pretzel at the Coke Refreshment Corner and watch all of the people wander on by.

Sorry, the lighting isn't the best and well I took it with my cell phone.

I had the brilliant thought that it was warm enough that I would not need my jacket so when we left the room. It was chilly in the shade and as the sun would be setting soon we decided to walk through DTD to explore the rest of DTD including the Uva Bar.

On the way out we walked outside and I couldn't resist some of the windows.

The band came marching down the street and I had to get a picture or two.

Anybody that knows me knows that my DH is a bicycle fanatic so I take pictures of anything bicycle related. I am well trained.

 

[kaoden39]

We continued on down Main Street and I continued on with the windows. I wish I could take as good photos as most people on here but I am just using my point and shoot, this is my first time really being the one to use it so my window shots are not the best but I want to share them.

I love all of the little details in this widow and I didn't get them all. Dina got some I didn't and hopefully later I can add them in.

I would have liked to get more pictures from this window but the crowd was so pushy I wasn't able to.

This is where the pictures from this day end. We went toward DTD and our first stop was the WoD store. This was where I picked up my backpack and I had to have it. I am using it as my purse now, WBG tells me it isn't a purse. My reaction is meh it's mine and I am using it as a purse. The next place we stopped was at Uva Bar, and it was time for adult drinks. I had been dreaming about having a Pineapple Upside Down Cake again. It was so well worth it and may have been part of the reason I was in such a hurry to go back towards the room. The staff at the Uva Bar is fantastic and a lot of fun. They had these great coasters at the bar that I knew WBG would like. I asked if I could take the one I used and our bartender Juan told me no but that he could sell me one. I told him ok, he laughed and said no and to wait a minute. He brought me back a stack of four new ones. What a doll. They have a bicycle on them, what can I say? I am well trained. Oh and I had a Napa Pilsner as a back to my Pineapple Upside Down Cake. It was so good, I have never seen it anywhere but on tap there. I look for it when I am at the store. I am not a beer drinker but I really like it.

After leaving there we walked over to Tortilla Joe's to get dinner. I got the nachos with carnitas and salsa verde. Dina got the chicken tacos, Duffy wasn't hungry, he was still full from that pretzel we shared. We carried the food back to the room to eat in comfort and I could relax after being up for so many long hours after too few hours of sleep. I had to stop at the pin shop and I was glad that I had. I got a pin for my mom and a pin for me that I thought was wonderful. I would include pictures but pictures of pins are tough for me. My mom's is Mickey with balloons, and it says Disneyland. It says Celebration. Mine is a postcard for Goofy from Mickey and Minnie about a trip to Paradise Pier and it is addressed to Toontown. So very cute.

Back to the room went. I enjoyed the nachos. The weren't great but I was hungry, so filling was all I cared about. I tried to take pictures of the lights and the view from our room, but they just did not work. My hands are not steady enough to take photos of lights. So there are none, but don't ever let anyone tell you that the view from the 11th floor of the Wonder Tower facing the city and the parking lot aren't beautiful because they are. You can see for miles. And frankly while the construction is going on I don't think the view of the pool area would be all that grand anyway. We settled in for the night, although we did debated jumping on the Monorail to go ride on Pirates of the Caribbean but to be honest we were dead tired. I am a night owl normally but I was asleep before 10pm. For me that is almost miraculous.

 

[DizNee Luver]

What a great first day in the parks. It's so sad to think a majority of people don't even take the time to stop & look at the windows or little displays in the shops.....that is what makes Disneyland sooooooo special!! Thank you for sharing the things that caught your eye!!!

Mike & I will definitily have to get to the UVA Bar this time....we've always had the kids with us & didn't feel it was really appropriate to do so. Can't wait to try the pineapple upside down cake........yummo!!!

 

[kaoden39]

What a great first day in the parks. It's so sad to think a majority of people don't even take the time to stop & look at the windows or little displays in the shops.....that is what makes Disneyland sooooooo special!! Thank you for sharing the things that caught your eye!!!

Mike & I will definitily have to get to the UVA Bar this time....we've always had the kids with us & didn't feel it was really appropriate to do so. Can't wait to try the pineapple upside down cake........yummo!!!

Thank you Laurie. This trip was about just doing what struck us at the moment. No rushing to the rides, no lines if we didn't want to wait in them. And to get Duffy pictures. Which we did.

 

[Sherry E]

Love the pics!

As you know, Michele, I am alllllll about the window displays. I think I spent a huge chunk of my last DLR trip with my face and camera pressed against windows, not to mention crawling under and around grown men to get the shots!

So I definitely appreciate the details and the windows!! I know what you mean, though, about it being hard with the pushy crowds. It's all in the name of 'art,' though, isn't it?