Canadian Harmony
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2015
I have been planning this trip since last October when my kids, hubby and I took the kids to DLR for their birthdays! Seeing as how this year is my 50th, I decided to go to my happy place, adults only! If you're interested in the Pre Trip Report, please go HERE to check it out.
So, ONE friend did come, but she came up from San Diego and was only able to stay for Thursday, and had to leave earlier than she had wanted to on Friday. BUT, I had someone with me to celebrate and it was great! I'm a very social person, so at first I was a little sad about being alone, but by Friday afternoon I had found my groove and loved being by myself.
To start... my flight left at 8:30 to Vancouver, but hubby had to get the kids up at 5:45... and we live an hour away from the airport. So, we left the house just before 4am, he dropped me at the aiport just before 5, and was home in time to get the kids up and ready for school! I ended up hanging out at the airport for 3 hours until boarding commenced. But it sure was a pretty start to the day.
There was to be a series of three storms at home over the weekend. I picked a perfect weekend to go to SoCal!
The flight boarded on time (YAY WestJet!) and I got the FRONT seat on the way over to Vancouver (never has happened ever!).
It's a 30 minute flight over to the big city. I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth and from the sky, the islands look like emeralds on a sapphire string. I looked carefully for whales in the ocean, but didn't see any.
We landed in Vancouver and I had a couple hours before getting my flight to Santa Ana. YVR is the most beautiful airport with amazing native carvings all over the place, and each terminal has stunning works of art all over. I did a cash exchange - it wasn't quick though because the lady behind the counter wanted to talk. And she did. For a good 10 minutes. Anyway, with a bit of USD in my pocket, I headed off to the gate and waited to board. It's the US terminal for sure because there were displays of Mickey, Pluto, Donald, Goofy, Minnie and more - toys from throughout the ages. I took a few photos because how awesome was that?!
Soon the flight landed, 20 minutes behind schedule, and after bags were picked up, I called Karmel. I waited about 10-15 minutes and hopped in. The other couple with me were also headed to Disney. They stayed here. I did not.
I was at the Del Sol Inn. A serviceable place, small and friendly. I was in room 204. It's an adjoining room at the end of the first hall upstairs above the breakfast room. The adjoining room meant I could hear the neighbours. It was very annoying and I had to tell them to shaddup a couple times (at 12:45 am?! Cracking a beer and watching TV. REALLY?!). The place is doing renos, so I had the temporary bar at the bottom until they put the lock hole in (they left their tools there in case I wanted to do it?) but that only took them an extra day. The room was clean, beds comfy, and the 4 pillows were welcome at the end of a long day in the parks!
I unpacked (checked for critters - all clear!) and got changed into my "Merida" outfit - kid's wig and tiara, adult dress. Made sure I had my MHP ticket with me, camera, phone, autograph book and pen, and off I went!
It was about 4:30 by the time I made it to the corner light, across the street, down the walk, through security and the metal detector. I didn't mind though - better to be safe. And then... there it was... the sight that made my heart sing....
A 5 minute walk to the gate (vice the 20 from Paradise Pier last year!) and a 20-minute wait outside. I was finally at the turnstiles, got my ticket, and a pretty gold wristband, my little bag, and off I went!
I headed to Kodak and got my PP+ card and then hoofed it to ToonTown. I was in line... and beside a popcorn cart... and there was the Zero bucket I didn't get last year, so I splurged on 'dinner' and grabbed one. It was A LOT more than I had thought it'd be, but whatever. The kids'll get a kick out it.
At 5pm, ToonTown opened up and I avoided the ToTTrail and headed to the plaza. I got in line for the photo op...
Then had to make a choice - Mickey & Minnie (switched with Chip and Dale), Pluto switched with Goofy, or Daisy switched with Donald... I didn't want to spend my whole M&G time there, so I chose the Ducks. Their line was moving much more quickly. It seems I have stupidly deleted my photos from Facebook while trying to clean up the album. Here is the only photo I have of us together. I'm rather choked about this).
While I was standing around, the tall scarecrows came by. As I left I tried to get their attention, but I wasn't a hot 20-something and I didn't have a kid, so they ignored me. They looked awesome though.
Then I left TT and headed to Fantasy Faire to see about Princesses via NOS. I waited at least an hour for Jack and Sally, but met some great people in line and then I met them! They were awesome!! Sally was the sweetest and Jack was so dashing. They were kind enough to talk about my drawing and we took some photos (again, I have deleted the photos of them actually signing and I'm really upset about Facebook doing this to me) before I headed out.
Before I made it to FF, I saw Jessie by the Petrified Tree (another set that went missing), and so I joined the small line there. The fog on the water was awesome, and the ducks were completely disinterested in it - they just wanted food thankyouverymuch!
But then I was right by the Mark Twain, and Captain Jack was there! I hopped in line... and missed him! I ended up hanging with Peter, Wendy and Hook! Peter is a scamp!
On the way out of FrontierLand, there was a photographer by the Halloween Tree so I had to stop for that!
I had to take photos of the beautiful Zocalo stained glass over the door.
THEN I headed over to the Princesses.... continued in the next post...
So, ONE friend did come, but she came up from San Diego and was only able to stay for Thursday, and had to leave earlier than she had wanted to on Friday. BUT, I had someone with me to celebrate and it was great! I'm a very social person, so at first I was a little sad about being alone, but by Friday afternoon I had found my groove and loved being by myself.
To start... my flight left at 8:30 to Vancouver, but hubby had to get the kids up at 5:45... and we live an hour away from the airport. So, we left the house just before 4am, he dropped me at the aiport just before 5, and was home in time to get the kids up and ready for school! I ended up hanging out at the airport for 3 hours until boarding commenced. But it sure was a pretty start to the day.
There was to be a series of three storms at home over the weekend. I picked a perfect weekend to go to SoCal!
The flight boarded on time (YAY WestJet!) and I got the FRONT seat on the way over to Vancouver (never has happened ever!).
It's a 30 minute flight over to the big city. I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth and from the sky, the islands look like emeralds on a sapphire string. I looked carefully for whales in the ocean, but didn't see any.
We landed in Vancouver and I had a couple hours before getting my flight to Santa Ana. YVR is the most beautiful airport with amazing native carvings all over the place, and each terminal has stunning works of art all over. I did a cash exchange - it wasn't quick though because the lady behind the counter wanted to talk. And she did. For a good 10 minutes. Anyway, with a bit of USD in my pocket, I headed off to the gate and waited to board. It's the US terminal for sure because there were displays of Mickey, Pluto, Donald, Goofy, Minnie and more - toys from throughout the ages. I took a few photos because how awesome was that?!
Soon the flight landed, 20 minutes behind schedule, and after bags were picked up, I called Karmel. I waited about 10-15 minutes and hopped in. The other couple with me were also headed to Disney. They stayed here. I did not.
I was at the Del Sol Inn. A serviceable place, small and friendly. I was in room 204. It's an adjoining room at the end of the first hall upstairs above the breakfast room. The adjoining room meant I could hear the neighbours. It was very annoying and I had to tell them to shaddup a couple times (at 12:45 am?! Cracking a beer and watching TV. REALLY?!). The place is doing renos, so I had the temporary bar at the bottom until they put the lock hole in (they left their tools there in case I wanted to do it?) but that only took them an extra day. The room was clean, beds comfy, and the 4 pillows were welcome at the end of a long day in the parks!
I unpacked (checked for critters - all clear!) and got changed into my "Merida" outfit - kid's wig and tiara, adult dress. Made sure I had my MHP ticket with me, camera, phone, autograph book and pen, and off I went!
It was about 4:30 by the time I made it to the corner light, across the street, down the walk, through security and the metal detector. I didn't mind though - better to be safe. And then... there it was... the sight that made my heart sing....
A 5 minute walk to the gate (vice the 20 from Paradise Pier last year!) and a 20-minute wait outside. I was finally at the turnstiles, got my ticket, and a pretty gold wristband, my little bag, and off I went!
I headed to Kodak and got my PP+ card and then hoofed it to ToonTown. I was in line... and beside a popcorn cart... and there was the Zero bucket I didn't get last year, so I splurged on 'dinner' and grabbed one. It was A LOT more than I had thought it'd be, but whatever. The kids'll get a kick out it.
At 5pm, ToonTown opened up and I avoided the ToTTrail and headed to the plaza. I got in line for the photo op...
Then had to make a choice - Mickey & Minnie (switched with Chip and Dale), Pluto switched with Goofy, or Daisy switched with Donald... I didn't want to spend my whole M&G time there, so I chose the Ducks. Their line was moving much more quickly. It seems I have stupidly deleted my photos from Facebook while trying to clean up the album. Here is the only photo I have of us together. I'm rather choked about this).
While I was standing around, the tall scarecrows came by. As I left I tried to get their attention, but I wasn't a hot 20-something and I didn't have a kid, so they ignored me. They looked awesome though.
Then I left TT and headed to Fantasy Faire to see about Princesses via NOS. I waited at least an hour for Jack and Sally, but met some great people in line and then I met them! They were awesome!! Sally was the sweetest and Jack was so dashing. They were kind enough to talk about my drawing and we took some photos (again, I have deleted the photos of them actually signing and I'm really upset about Facebook doing this to me) before I headed out.
Before I made it to FF, I saw Jessie by the Petrified Tree (another set that went missing), and so I joined the small line there. The fog on the water was awesome, and the ducks were completely disinterested in it - they just wanted food thankyouverymuch!
But then I was right by the Mark Twain, and Captain Jack was there! I hopped in line... and missed him! I ended up hanging with Peter, Wendy and Hook! Peter is a scamp!
On the way out of FrontierLand, there was a photographer by the Halloween Tree so I had to stop for that!
I had to take photos of the beautiful Zocalo stained glass over the door.
THEN I headed over to the Princesses.... continued in the next post...