The cast:
DH - already in CA on business when we arrived
DS - 6 year old Disney fanatic
Me - 34 year old Disney fanatic (He had to get it somewhere )
We arrived in Santa Ana on Saturday 6/16. At baggage claim, we chatted with another family wearing Disney shirts - they're also WDW vets and we were all excited about Carsland opening! That night DH drove us to Huntington Beach for a walk along the ocean and dinner overlooking the water. We spent the night at the hotel near the corporation DH had been working at the week prior. We woke up bright and early on Sunday 6/17 excited to go into the park...only to discover that DS had a fever!!!
We medicated him, let him sleep a while and hoped for the best. He finally "felt better" around 10 and we headed for Anaheim. Checked in to Disneyland Hotel and then headed into the park. We walked in and rode Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters (LOVED - why it's better than Space Ranger Spin at MK: you can pick up the guns! OMG! I am SO much better when I can actually MOVE) Then we headed for Fantasyland
While experiencing the strangest deja vu ever (it was familiar, but totally foreign...it was Disney, but not "our" Disney), we headed for Small World. While in line, DS starts to complain that maybe he's not "all better." Now his tummy hurts, but he is NOT leaving the park, no way no how. We get through the ride fine (And none of us are sure how we feel about the differences between MK and DL versions...on the one hand, it's cool to see the movie characters in it, on the other it just feels wrong to have those changes in a "classic" that to us has always been perfect. Even days later, we still are unsure how we feel, but I'm inclined to say we like it better in MK)
After coming out of the ride, DS informs us that he needs a nap and asks to return to the room. We spend the next 2 hours in the room while he sleeps, then we get dressed and changed for our dinner at Club 33!
When we walked up to the Club 33 door, about an hour early to take a picture of it, the family beside us is there for the same reason. The wife of that family jokingly asked "Anyone going to ring the bell." We say "Not for about an hour," She turns to look at us and it's the same family from the airport! (PS if you're that family reading this HI AGAIN!!!)
We walked around New Orleans Square for a little bit and OF COURSE DS starts to not feel great AGAIN. He decides that he can handle dinner because it's that special and not likely something that he'll do again any time soon. We let him ring the bell and give our name. After we were escorted in, he chose to go upstairs on the french lift. DS was AMAZED with it (confidential: so was I!)
Upstairs, we were escorted to our table. I can't even begin to describe the awe - the decor was so beautiful. The waiter was FABULOUS. The chef sent out a lightly tempura battered chilled shrimp with a pineapple shooter with kiwi froth - O.M.G. DH started his meal with a scallop and shrimp appetizer and I had a white and green asparagus flight (SO so good - no way to decide which was better). DS ordered ravioli in cheese sauce (and said it was "the best thing I ever put in my mouth"), while I had salmon (and agree with DS' statement - among the best food ever put in my mouth). For dessert, DS had a chocolate Mickey "mousse" and DH and I each ordered "deconstructed s'mores."
At some point, a man who looked familiar but that I couldn't place at the time walked out, hugging the waiters, waving in to the kitchen and the staff at the bar and shaking hands all around. Not long after he left, I heard one of the waiters telling another table that it was Jeff Bridges! He also told a couple of stories of other celebrities - Jeff bringing in his brother Beau (who I believe he said required a vegan menu) and Sir Paul McCartney (who also required a vegan menu, but then ordered cheesecake for dessert and pulled on his leather coat as he was leaving )
After we finished eating, we walked through the club, taking pictures and exploring the trophy room. We bought a Club 33 pin for our collection and the waiter gave us Club 33 ink pens to commemorate our first visit. We then went out onto the balcony to watch Fantasmic from above the crowd - a couple of things of note there: The view is obstructed a bit by trees so it's not the best view of the show, however it's so peaceful up there, no jostling of crowds and it's just such a gorgeous little balcony.
All told, we spent nearly 3 hours there and were on When we left the restaurant, we headed straight for the hotel and bed, hoping for a better day 2 with a healthier DS.
DH - already in CA on business when we arrived
DS - 6 year old Disney fanatic
Me - 34 year old Disney fanatic (He had to get it somewhere )
We arrived in Santa Ana on Saturday 6/16. At baggage claim, we chatted with another family wearing Disney shirts - they're also WDW vets and we were all excited about Carsland opening! That night DH drove us to Huntington Beach for a walk along the ocean and dinner overlooking the water. We spent the night at the hotel near the corporation DH had been working at the week prior. We woke up bright and early on Sunday 6/17 excited to go into the park...only to discover that DS had a fever!!!
We medicated him, let him sleep a while and hoped for the best. He finally "felt better" around 10 and we headed for Anaheim. Checked in to Disneyland Hotel and then headed into the park. We walked in and rode Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters (LOVED - why it's better than Space Ranger Spin at MK: you can pick up the guns! OMG! I am SO much better when I can actually MOVE) Then we headed for Fantasyland
While experiencing the strangest deja vu ever (it was familiar, but totally foreign...it was Disney, but not "our" Disney), we headed for Small World. While in line, DS starts to complain that maybe he's not "all better." Now his tummy hurts, but he is NOT leaving the park, no way no how. We get through the ride fine (And none of us are sure how we feel about the differences between MK and DL versions...on the one hand, it's cool to see the movie characters in it, on the other it just feels wrong to have those changes in a "classic" that to us has always been perfect. Even days later, we still are unsure how we feel, but I'm inclined to say we like it better in MK)
After coming out of the ride, DS informs us that he needs a nap and asks to return to the room. We spend the next 2 hours in the room while he sleeps, then we get dressed and changed for our dinner at Club 33!
When we walked up to the Club 33 door, about an hour early to take a picture of it, the family beside us is there for the same reason. The wife of that family jokingly asked "Anyone going to ring the bell." We say "Not for about an hour," She turns to look at us and it's the same family from the airport! (PS if you're that family reading this HI AGAIN!!!)
We walked around New Orleans Square for a little bit and OF COURSE DS starts to not feel great AGAIN. He decides that he can handle dinner because it's that special and not likely something that he'll do again any time soon. We let him ring the bell and give our name. After we were escorted in, he chose to go upstairs on the french lift. DS was AMAZED with it (confidential: so was I!)
Upstairs, we were escorted to our table. I can't even begin to describe the awe - the decor was so beautiful. The waiter was FABULOUS. The chef sent out a lightly tempura battered chilled shrimp with a pineapple shooter with kiwi froth - O.M.G. DH started his meal with a scallop and shrimp appetizer and I had a white and green asparagus flight (SO so good - no way to decide which was better). DS ordered ravioli in cheese sauce (and said it was "the best thing I ever put in my mouth"), while I had salmon (and agree with DS' statement - among the best food ever put in my mouth). For dessert, DS had a chocolate Mickey "mousse" and DH and I each ordered "deconstructed s'mores."
At some point, a man who looked familiar but that I couldn't place at the time walked out, hugging the waiters, waving in to the kitchen and the staff at the bar and shaking hands all around. Not long after he left, I heard one of the waiters telling another table that it was Jeff Bridges! He also told a couple of stories of other celebrities - Jeff bringing in his brother Beau (who I believe he said required a vegan menu) and Sir Paul McCartney (who also required a vegan menu, but then ordered cheesecake for dessert and pulled on his leather coat as he was leaving )
After we finished eating, we walked through the club, taking pictures and exploring the trophy room. We bought a Club 33 pin for our collection and the waiter gave us Club 33 ink pens to commemorate our first visit. We then went out onto the balcony to watch Fantasmic from above the crowd - a couple of things of note there: The view is obstructed a bit by trees so it's not the best view of the show, however it's so peaceful up there, no jostling of crowds and it's just such a gorgeous little balcony.
All told, we spent nearly 3 hours there and were on When we left the restaurant, we headed straight for the hotel and bed, hoping for a better day 2 with a healthier DS.