My Trip to Disneyland

[gpp2001]

Here's the cast: Me, DH, DD-8, Dmom - 65, DNephews 10 and 13.

We live close enough to drive - this is our 2nd time there since we moved here. The first time we got free tickets and went on a Sunday just for the day. This trip, we left Tuesday morning and spent the night at the Sheraton Anaheim (booked thru SR and got credit already!!) The hotel is very close to the park - so close that I walked to and from Downtown Disney. They also have their own shuttle - which is nice because for a lot of the hotels, the buses are for more than one hotel.

DM and DN's are visiting from Illinois, that is why we decided to do a sleepover, as we live only 40 minutes away without traffic. I, of course, woke up early on Tuesday - trying to get a survey in before we left (didn't happen) - I was also concerned about traffic and making sure we remembered everything! I was in the shower by 5:30, kids got up around 6:30, had breakfast - we were in the car by about 7:20. Traffic wasn't too bad - we just zoomed by all the stopped cars as we were in the carpool lane with about five other cars!!! Made it to the Sheraton by about 8:10 - talked to the front desk - told them that DH wanted to check in and he would be there late - poor guy had to go into work!! She checked and said our rooms weren't ready anyways. The bus leaves every half hour - we caught the 8:30 bus. DD and I had to get our pictures taken for our Southern California Annual Pass - we were ready to ride by 9:15!!

First stop was to see how long the Nemo line was - too long!! Two hours. Went on the Matterhorn instead. I went to get Fast Passes for Space Mountain while DM took kids to Big Thunder Mountain. I forget the order of the next rides but we rode Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Mark Twain Riverboat, Enchanted Tiki Room, Tarzan's Treehouse and this was all before 1:00 or so!! Had lunch at the Hungry Bear Restaurant. And then we did Haunted Mansion. DH arrived - he took everyone on Indiana Jones Adventure - we only had five fast pases so I sat out. Then we went on Space Mountain - which (I know this is blasphemous) I think is much better than SM at WDW - I also think Pirates is better! DH took kids on Buzz Lightyear. And then I think we decided to head back to the hotel for a swim. While waiting for the bus we decided that I needed to walk over to Rainforest Cafe to see if we could get in for dinner - they had no reservations left but I could come back later and put my name on a list. So I walked back to the hotel - not a bad walk and I had some time to myself!! And not with another 10,000 of my closest friends!!

After the swim - I walked back to Rainforest to put our names in. The rest of the crew joined me after taking the bus over. dinner was okay - nothing great. After dinner - we went back in and rode Space Mountain again and maybe Buzz again - saw the fireworks - which were awesome! By now it was getting pretty late and I wanted to get up early the next day to ride Nemo - so we headed back to the hotel - I think I was in bed by 11:15. The kids were asleep before their heads hit the pillows!!

Day two later!!

Karn

[DisneyMa]

more, more, more!! I love reading trip reports, but especially DL.

So, how was the Sheraton? That's the one on Ball right? Which entrance did you use when you walked?

[bbangel]

Okay now I really want to go back to Disneyland again. I would love to be that close!

[gpp2001]

more, more, more!! I love reading trip reports, but especially DL.

So, how was the Sheraton? That's the one on Ball right? Which entrance did you use when you walked?

Yes - it was the Sheraton on Ball Road. I just walked out of Downtown Disney down to Disneyland Dr. crossed Ball Road and entered the parking lot of the Sheraton. It was about a mile I think.

The Sheraton is a really nice hotel - the rooms are huge!!! Plenty of space between the beds and the dressers to hold a small party!! We had two rooms for the six of us. I'd say if my mom wasn't there we probably could have had only one room for five and had a cot or one of the kids could have slept on the floor. The pool is small but nice enough - DH said when they first got to the pool it was packed but when I went down, after enjoying a little A/C - it wasn't crowded at all.

What was really great was the rate - I only paid $124 per night per room! It was a AAA rate and I earned SR credits and DH earned Sheraton Reward Points and we earned points on American Express!! I highly recommend the Sheraton to anyone going to Disneyland!!

More Later.

[DisneyMa]

Thanks for the info. I always like to have more than one off property hotel to fall back on.

[gpp2001]

Day two:

I got everyone up early - there were a lot of tired bodies but they rallied!! All except my mom - I think we wore her out on Tuesday. She stayed at the hotel until about 9:30. We were on the bus by about 7:35 am. Made it to the park thru security and had to stand in line until the gates opened - here is one of the things WDW does better than DL - rope drop - there really isn't any rope drop at DL - the cast members count down from ten and that's it!

We headed straight for Nemo - we were on the fourth submarine!! I have never seen this done at WDW but have now seen it twice at DL - when they open a new line or open the ride a cast member comes out and slowly walks the line to the ride - so nobody can run ahead . It's actually very cool. Nemo was a great ride very cool. Dh took the kids to the Matterhorn while I went to get Fast Passes for Space Mountain. I made it back before they got on the ride. So I got a cup of coffee and tried to make a plan.

Next we went to Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. I chose not to ride - it's a little too spinny for me. We walked around Toon Town a little and then decided to ride the Tea Cups - again I sat out. Next we rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - I live this ride - it's hysterical!!! So sad they took it out of WDW!!!

Then we went on Buzz Lightyear - I took the kids while DH made some phone calls (no rest for the working!!) And he waited for my mom by the castle. We got off Buzz, met up with DH and DM and headed for California Adventure to ride Toy Story Midway Mania!! It was 10 am and CA was just opening - I headed to Soarin' to get Fast Passes while the others headed for Toy Story - I got in line before them because of the different paths we took - we waited about 2 hours - probably not the best use of our time but got to check it off our list - and it turned out to be DN-10's favorite ride. The ride broke down just before our turn - otherwise it would have only taken us 1 hour and 45 minutes or so - we were in the shade so we sat down and waited for it to be fixed. While waiting in line - I went and got Fast Passes for Screamin' for the boys. After Toy Story - the boys and DH rode Screamin' and DM and DD rode the Carousel and I went to get Fast Passes for Mulholland Madness - are you catching on that I was the runner and Fast Pass Gatherer!!! I think I walked twice as much as everyone else!!!

DH and the kids rode the Stinger and Mulholland Madness while DM and I went back to DL to check in at the Blue Bayou for lunch - got there a little too early to check in but when I asked for a waterside table - they said a could be seated immediately!! Unfortunately the rest of the party was still in CA - getting FP for Tower of Terror. DM and shopped a little but there aren't too many good stores in the New Orleans section so we found a shady spot and sat down. I went back at my proper time and again asked for waterside table (for those of you that don't know DL - Blue Bayou is a table service restaurant in New Orleans in which the Pirates of the Caribbean ride goes thru - it's kind of like Mexico at Epcot). The wait time was 20 - 35 minutes but we had to wait in the lobby - the wait turned out to only be about 15 minutes.

I am being summoned - I will continue later!!

Karn

[disneyforever]

Here's the cast: Me, DH, DD-8, Dmom - 65, DNephews 10 and 13.

We live close enough to drive - this is our 2nd time there since we moved here. The first time we got free tickets and went on a Sunday just for the day. This trip, we left Tuesday morning and spent the night at the Sheraton Anaheim (booked thru SR and got credit already!!) The hotel is very close to the park - so close that I walked to and from Downtown Disney. They also have their own shuttle - which is nice because for a lot of the hotels, the buses are for more than one hotel.

You are lucky to live so close. I like the sheraton hotel too.



First stop was to see how long the Nemo line was - too long!! Two hours. Went on the Matterhorn instead. I went to get Fast Passes for Space Mountain while DM took kids to Big Thunder Mountain. I forget the order of the next rides but we rode Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Mark Twain Riverboat, Enchanted Tiki Room, Tarzan's Treehouse and this was all before 1:00 or so!! Had lunch at the Hungry Bear Restaurant. And then we did Haunted Mansion. DH arrived - he took everyone on Indiana Jones Adventure - we only had five fast pases so I sat out. Then we went on Space Mountain - which (I know this is blasphemous) I think is much better than SM at WDW - I also think Pirates is better! DH took kids on Buzz Lightyear. And then I think we decided to head back to the hotel for a swim. While waiting for the bus we decided that I needed to walk over to Rainforest Cafe to see if we could get in for dinner - they had no reservations left but I could come back later and put my name on a list. So I walked back to the hotel - not a bad walk and I had some time to myself!! And not with another 10,000 of my closest friends!!

I have to agree with you. I think Space mountain in DL is much better. I also like the Enchanted Tiki Room better in DL. And Pirates is way better. The beginning in the swamp just helps set the whole mood. But I like Splash Mountain (get to sit 2 side by side) and Tower of Terror (better story and pre-drop theme) lots better at WDW.

After the swim - I walked back to Rainforest to put our names in. The rest of the crew joined me after taking the bus over. dinner was okay - nothing great. After dinner - we went back in and rode Space Mountain again and maybe Buzz again - saw the fireworks - which were awesome! By now it was getting pretty late and I wanted to get up early the next day to ride Nemo - so we headed back to the hotel - I think I was in bed by 11:15. The kids were asleep before their heads hit the pillows!!

Day two later!!

Karn

Sounds like you had a wonderful time! :banana:

[Sunni]

Sounds like you had a great time! I wish that I lived that close to one of the parks. I have never been to DL. I love hearing the differences and the opinions of everyone.

[kimntrent]

more, more, more!! I love reading trip reports, but especially DL.

So, how was the Sheraton? That's the one on Ball right? Which entrance did you use when you walked?

I think my opinion and hers may be different. But I think it is a DUMP! It is a easy access for the park. But I have found so many better hotels for the price. It needs to be loved but it really isn't a sheraton. It is an independent contractor under the Sheraton name so they don't care. It is the castle.

[gpp2001]

I don't want to start an argument but when was the last time you were there? I'm at a loss for words - this Sheraton is far from being a dump - I've stayed in dumps before and this is no dump. I don't know if it's owned by Sheraton or just uses their name but I find nothing about this hotel to be a dump. It's right on the corner of Ball Road and Disneyland Dr. We've stayed there twice and it is DH hotel of choice in Anaheim.

[kimntrent]

it was our choice too. Mainly because of shuttles and the walk to Disney through downtown disney. March. The carpet down the main halls are rippled and stained, the rooms are big but most of them you have to go out of the bathroom just to turn around. The pool is great and the shuttle is great and we always give it one more chance but when you have stayed at the other sheraton and some others around the US and then you go into this one you just laugh.