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November 17-20, 2001 Trip Report

Two adults:female(me),37,loves Disneyland,makes a trip at least once a year.Other-male(my husband),42,can stomach Disneyland about every 2-4 years.We live in northern California-near Sacramento.


Hotel: Grand Californian
Transportation: Drove (approx. 430 miles)

THE PLAN:I have the whole week of Thanksgiving off,my husband said he could take it off also.Last year we took a week-long trip to Las Vegas and Arizona.This year we thought we would go to San Diego,since we havent been in a long time.We decided that since we are driving,we would spend a couple of days at Disneyland.


Day 1: Getting There/ A Little Bit of Everything
Day 2: DCA
Day 3: Disneyland
Day 4: Disneyland

Day 1: Getting There/A Little Bit of everything...

GETTING THERE:We left on Saturday Nov. 17 at about 11:15 a.m..Its about a 425 mile drive straight down I-5.When we arrived at about 6:30p.m. we made our way to the gates of the hotel.There was some school reunion going on,so the valet service was backed up.We had to wait about 10 minutes before we could pull the car up to the hotel.Check-in was very easy.Finding the room was very easy.We were on the sixth floor,the last room at the end of the hallway.Our room overlooked the inner courtyard.We could see the monorail track that goes through the resort.The room was situated on the corner,so when you walk out onto our balcony,the roof is "right there"! If anyone wanted to,they could easily step up onto the roof and walk around.(yes,we were tempted.Figured there were a zillion security cameras)

THAT NIGHT:DCA was open until 9,DL was open until midnight.We decided to run over to DCA first and do SOARIN'.I told my husband that was the must-do ride.Of course it wasnt working.So we did the second must-do ride,SUPERSTAR LIMO.The ELECTRICAL PARADE was going on as we walked over to it.At LIMO there was absolutely no one in line or on the ride.My husband joins the many who say,"What WAS that?"We then made our way to DL,which was much more crowded.We rode the train to NOS so we could do HM.We were expecting to have to use our free Fast Passes(they come with the Disney Travel package)but we walked right in.No line at all-because the fireworks were going off at that time.We also did AUTOPIA.But for some reason hubby didnt want to use our Fast Passes for it.I told him that the line moves really slow,and I think he thought those were the only FPs that we could have,and didnt want to waste them?I held my tongue as we stood in line forever and did not say"I told you so!"(but I was thinking it!)We then walked around and went to DOWNTOWN DISNEY for awhile,then back to the hotel.

Day 2: DCA

SUNDAY 11/18:We spent most of the day at DCA.The park was pretty full. Wait times were about 30-45 minutes on big rides.We FPed almost everything.We did SCREAMIN' about 4 times,MALIBOOMER 3 times.(we did single rider,and we rode together everytime)Finally did MULLHOLLAND.We did have to FP this,the line was at 40 minutes everytime we walked by.That ride is painful!We did the ANIMATION place.The GROTTO voiceover place was fun.We had to wait for a station.Its fun to do different voices,but then we made up our own scripts!Lets just say Bambi has a potty mouth!We ended up buying a picture from the SCEAMIN'.The REDWOOD TRAIL was fun.We went on GRIZZLY RIVER RUN a couple of times.It was nice to get soaking wet,and then walk into your hotel,change clothes,and come right back into the park.We had a really good time at DCA.

Day 3: Disneyland

MONDAY 11/19:Today was DL.It was an Early Admission day,so we decided to get up and go early.I was surprised at how crowded it was.It seems alot of people either have the whole week of Thanksgiving off,or they take the kids out of school early.We did a bunch of Fantasyland rides.We went to the hub to watch the rope drop.It became extremely crowded very quickly!We FPed most of the rides.The lines were 45-60 min. long.We did single rider for INDY and we were always put together.The holiday decorations were beautiful.I especially liked NOS.I did something that I havent done since my first trip to DL when I was 5.I rode the Main Street Transportation.The fire truck,the double-decker bus,and the horse drawn carriage.It was so fun and relaxing!We did attend the flag ceremony.(thanks to you DisneyGeek,for telling us about it.)It was very moving and beautiful.That evening we stayed until it started to snow and then went to ESPN ZONE for dinner.The TEDDY BEAR FACTORY had just opened that week and it was packed.We made the mistake of going in.You couldnt walk.Of course there were those lovely strollers the size of SUVs,so it took us about 10 minutes to try to walk to the other side to get out.

Day 4: Disneyland

TUESDAY 11/20:We were leaving today to make our way down to San Diego.We didnt need to leave until about 2p.m.So we decided to go to DL for the morning.We checked out of the hotel and took our luggage to the car-which was parked in the SELF PARK -(we were not going to pay $12 a day to park in valet)After walking the wrong way and getting back on track,we went to DL.My husband took the WALK IN WALTS FOOTSTEPS tour.It started at 10am and went to about noon.He really enjoyed it.During that time I shopped and bought some new ornaments.I FPed SMALL WORLD,single rider-ed INDY,and just enjoyed the park.When Ken and I met up,we went to see MR. LINCOLN.It was wonderful.We then said goodbye to DL-well I did,Ken doesnt talk to theme parks.We made our way to San Diego.It was a great vacation.

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