Trip Report - Duckie Fan Comes Home! - Grand CA Hotel - Day 1 Friday Aug 22nd

[duckie fan]

Me - 40 yrs, DH - 40 yrs, DD - 10 yrs, and Baby (DD#2) - 2.5 months. We have not been to DLR in 1.5 years and miss it so much!

Hurray! We are here! When I woke up at 1:30 a.m to feed the baby I was wide awake and ready to wake up the family to get ready to leave to DLR!

The alarm went off at 4:30 a.m., we were going to try and leave by 6 a.m. 1.5 hours later at 6:00 a.m. we hop out of bed. Why does traveling with a baby take so much longer to get ready? We had everything packed the night before and it still took us almost 2 hours to get out the door. About 8 a.m. - DD #1 forgot her “B” and pillow at a friends house from a sleepover the night before, so we had to drive to the other side of town to get it. Luckily it was on the way to the 5 Fwy, a different freeway than we would usually take, but not completely out of the way. A quick stop at 7-11 and Jack in the Crack for lunch/breakfast and we are on our way.

On the way to pick up the sleepover stuff I called Pre-Registration. Guess what? We paid for a standard room and we got upgraded to a DD view! I was so excited, I didn’t even ask for it!

We arrive at the GCH at about 10 a.m. or so. Check-in , room is not ready, no worries.

We decided to hit up DCA, figured the lines for TSMM will be the shortest at this time, also it is not as hot. Ok, Grizzly Run is walkon. DH and DD walk on. I get FF for Grizzly and Soarin while they are riding. (Soaring was also walkon) They did not get too wet, which was good, DH said it was a little chilly once you got wet (and he is always hot).

On to TSMM, get in line on the bridge before CS. CM said wait is 100 min., I predict 50 mins. Get to the sign that states 70 mins. in about 5 mins. Get to Rider Swtich umbrella in about 20 mins. DH and DD stay in line, I take the baby to change and feed her. It takes them another 25 mins. or so, so I was right! Impression - DH said it was nice, but not worth the wait, he would FF or RS though. DD really liked it and so did I, but I do admit I expected a little more.

Ok, DH talks DD into going on the Mailboomer. She has never been. They wait about 10 mins. I am so proud of her, I was able to video tape them. She really enjoyed it, thank goodness. She is now ready for Tower (she went on when she was 6 and was scared to death so I have not let her get on since)!

It is now about Noon, call and the room is ready. I told DD that the Orange Stinger might go away, so she went on it on her own. She loves that ride.

Next, was Grizzly again. My DD and I used our FF, and DH got a RS pass. We got pretty wet, but by the time we disembarked we were almost dry! DH did not want to get on at that moment so we went up to our room. It is now 1:30 p.m. or so when we get to the room. We are right over the Disney Store Globe. DD is so excited (warning - I will use this word a lot), she said she is not going to go to sleep (we’ll see about that!). DH and baby went down for a nap. DD is out on the balcony people watching and I am typing up this report. I am so content and happy!

It is now 2:50 p.m. I am going to wake up hubby so we can go out to the pool. More tonight!

I can't beleive we are here for another 48 hours!!!!

[Alpha]

So glad everyone got to go............and that you are not killing yourself in the heat to get on everything. If you are going to stay at the Grand Cal, may as well enjoy some of the aminities!

[WallyBoag]

Great trip report so far! Can't wait to hear the rest of it!

[marcimouse]

Thanks for sharing. Sounds wonderful! Can't wait to hear more.

[duckie fan]

Ok, it's almost 10 o'clock on Sat. Just finished watching the fireworks from our room, (we are over the WOD). Awesome, nice to hear the music to on the Fireworks channel. A little sad though, we had no idea GCA rides close at 9 p.m.! More about that later, I am going to finsih up Friday's report and post it shortly.

[Bob38dizfan]

Yeah! We anxiously await your adventures!

[Disneymomof4]

Great report so far...how was the trip with the baby. I was at the park yesterday with my 4 kids and I was with Tkingsocal who was with her 4 kids...We even had lunch at the GCH at the White Water Snacks...we might have been in the line with you at TSMM and didn't even know it..Would love to see pics!

[duckie fan]

Ok, i've been trying for the last hour to post...is it too large? I'll cut it down.

[Tkingsocal]

Can't wait to hear more!.........

[duckie fan]

Got to the pool around 3:30 p.m or so. Found a family leaving a table, plopped our stuff down, DD jumped in the pool, DH and baby relaxed while I went to Whitewater to get a late lunch/early dinner. It was a good time to go, I first thought, as the place was empty. However, I think there was only one cook and it took longer than usual. Shortly after we finished eating, some pool front lounges in the shade opened up and we snatched those. It was so nice, as I could lay down a towel and blanket and let the baby stretch and take a nice nap, which she did. DH and I took turns playing in the pool with DD, it was so refreshing. The water temp. was perfect! We hung out for a few hours.

After showers we finally made it to Disneyland, at about 8 p.m.? It was so good to be home, I hope we never have 1.5 years between visits again. Stopped off at City Hall to get a Baby’s First Visit button. They were out, but I was told to try Guided Tours the next day, as the CM worked there the day before and she thought she saw some.

We went straight to Carnation Plaza (Gardens? ) to listen to the swing band, we actually like that kind of music. We sat in the back tables, since we had the stroller and baby. We ended up having to move, as they blocked it off for fireworks. My DD and I practiced dancing in the dark and in the set right before the fireworks, I held the baby and I danced on the dance floor with both my daughters. A very cool memory!

Oh yeah, during one of the breaks, DD and I went to get popcorn and I now have a new collectable, popcorn buckets! I got a Finding Nemo bucket and can’t wait to get more.

After the fireworks (blocked view, boo) we have to exit the Plaza/Gardens through Frontierland with 10,000 other people. DH was not a happy camper, he had the stroller…enough said? We went to Pirates and baby went on her first ride!

On the way to Pirates, we noticed some bright lights and screens off to our left in the restaurant seating area. They looked like screens that are used in filming but I didn’t see any cameras. In line for Pirates, I was told they were shooting a commercial with a family….and pirates were involved. Anyone know anything further about this?

Ok, Pirates…we walk on. The baby was asleep at first, but then woke up. During the drops she had a confused look. But she did not fuss or cry, if I didn’t know better I’d say she enjoyed it. Although it did sound louder than usual, I did not notice any differences from last time I was on (perhaps I was just being a sensitive mom, trying to figure out if it was too loud for the baby). Oh yeah, I sat with the baby on a pillow on my lap. One of ears was in the pillow and I covered the other eat with my palm. During the loud ones, I know she heard them, as her eyes got very big. Otherwise, she just stared out, sucking on her paci.

Of course, I think to myself one of these days I need to eat at Blue Bayou as I always do. Can you believe I’ve been to the resort at least 40x but have never been?

After Pirates we head out. Have to stop at the Emporium, of course to do a little shopping with DD. DH and the baby sat out on the curb people watching. I could not imagine bringing a stroller in that store at that time of night.

Stop off at the bakery and pick up some sandwiches and chili cheese fries. We get back to the room about 11 p.m. That walk to the hotel is so long at the end of the day. I really really wish TPTB would put in an elevator at the start of DD. I wonder how many people do not stay at this hotel for this very reason?

Baby wakes up as soon as I start eating of course. After everything we get to bed around 12:30 a.m. What a great day!

Not sure if we are going to make the 7 a.m. opening….but we sure are going to try.

More to come or “Saturday - History is made!”