Patty's Disneyland Trip, March 2007--Planning
Patty Winter
Here's the first installment of my Disneyland trip report
from March. You can see the full report with photos and
web links at:
http://www.wintertime.com/OH/Disney/DL/DL2007/DL2007.html
---------------------------------
Planning
During my visit to Disneyland last September, I bought an annual pass,
figuring that I'd be able to return a couple more times within a year to
get my money's worth. So far, so good! I went again in December to see
the holiday ride makeovers and decorations; I've just returned from my
March trip; and I expect to go one more time in September, just before
the AP expires.
I began thinking about a spring trip soon after I got the AP. Then
in late October, I got a nice email message from Rhonda Rushing, the
president of Berntsen International. Those of you who've been following
my adventures with Disney survey marks will recognize Berntsen as the
manufacturer of the bronze and aluminum disks that the Disney surveyors
use at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Rhonda mentioned in her note
that she and her husband, Bill, would be in Southern California in March
and might visit Disneyland. After talking more with her, I began pinning
down some exact dates to meet up there.
Also last fall, I happened upon some interesting information on the
Great America website. I don't even recall why I was on their website;
perhaps to see what news they had about the possible conversion of one
of their parking lots to a new stadium for the San Francisco 49ers. I've
lived less than two miles from Great America for more than 20 years,
yet I haven't set foot in the place more than a handful of times. And
almost all of those were when it had the only IMAX theater in the South
Bay. That should give you an idea of how much I prefer Disney's parks,
that I'll travel hundreds or thousands of miles to visit those, but not
a few blocks to see Great America!
Anyway...while I was on their website, I discovered that the park had
been bought by Cedar Fair, and that one of the season pass options for
2007 would allow entry to all other Cedar Fair amusement parks in the
country--including Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park. Well, I'd been
threatening to visit Knott's for years, to see how it had changed since
I last saw it in the 1950s. But my Disneyland visits were so short and
so far between that I had never wanted to give up a day there to go up
to Buena Park.
This looked like my big opportunity: for $89.95, I could get a Cedar Fair
California Maxx Pass, visit Knott's during a spring trip to Disneyland,
then use the pass the rest of the year to visit Great America. The latter
prospect has gotten more appealing now that they've added a water park;
I figure on hot days, I can zip over there and float around their river
for an hour or two. Sweet life! :-)
In mid-November, I snagged a couple of $49 flights from Southwest to
get me between San Jose and Orange County. Then in early December,
I made a reservation for March at my favorite hotel, the Candy Cane
Inn. Well, let me rephrase that: my favorite affordable hotel. :-)
The Grand Californian is my favorite hotel at Disneyland, but I've only
splurged and stayed there once.
By this time, Rhonda and Bill had firmed up their plans. They would be
visiting Rhonda's dad in the desert for a couple of weeks, and could
come up to Disneyland for two days and one night. I had, of course,
also alerted my Disneyland-local friends Larry and Julie Klementowski
that we were all coming to town. Larry is the guy who's found most of the
Disneyland survey marks, so he was excited about meeting Rhonda and Bill,
too. There was nothing else to do now except wait for March to get here!
Sandi Femino
pat...@sonic.net (Patty Winter) wrote:
> Here's the first installment of my Disneyland trip report
> from March. You can see the full report with photos and
> web links at:
>
> http://www.wintertime.com/OH/Disney/DL/DL2007/DL2007.html
Hooray-
Headed over to read it now-in between innings of the Red Sox game!
Your SF Giants are coming to Boston soon!
--
Sandi
Laurie P.
"Patty Winter" <pat...@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:4652657b$0$14061$742e...@news.sonic.net...
> Hi, all.
>
> Here's the first installment of my Disneyland trip report
> from March. You can see the full report with photos and
> web links at:
>
> http://www.wintertime.com/OH/Disney/DL/DL2007/DL2007.html
>
> ---------------------------------
Patty,
Just read and very much enjoyed the report and great photos. I love all the
shots you take of the theming details. That shot of the castle and flowering
trees has to be one of the best photos ever!
Laurie P.
Unknown
Laurie P. <lauriep...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>Just read and very much enjoyed the report and great photos. I love all the
>shots you take of the theming details.
Thanks, I've been going to DL and WDW enough in the past few years
that I don't feel pressured to spend so much of my time on the "big"
attractions like the rides, and instead have been spending more time
enjoying the atmosphere, such as the street performers (PUSH! PUSH!)
and the building details.
>That shot of the castle and flowering
>trees has to be one of the best photos ever!
Thank you, Laurie! I can't believe I never saw those tabebuia trees
blooming before. Perhaps they have a fairly short bloom period and I
just haven't been there at the right time before. They're just the
perfect shade of pink to complement the castle, aren't they?
Patty
Laurie P.
"Patty Winter" <pat...@wintertime.com> wrote in message
news:4653ac28$0$14119$742e...@news.sonic.net...
I'm a big PUSH fan, too. I travel the park on wheels and he's very funny
interacting with "fellow wheelies".
I've never seen a shot of the castle when the trees are in bloom. It's
really a magical sight.
Laurie P.
Unknown
Laurie P. <lauriep...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>I'm a big PUSH fan, too. I travel the park on wheels and he's very funny
>interacting with "fellow wheelies".
:-) Does he treat you like a long-lost cousin?
Patty
Laurie P.
He does. I wish I could remember some of his lines. The guys who voice
those characters are so quick-witted--I love Wes Palm, too. Worth getting
to AK early to see his act.
Laure P
Unknown
Laurie P. <lauriep...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>"Patty Winter" <pat...@wintertime.com> wrote in message
>news:4654b0bb$0$14131$742e...@news.sonic.net...
>> In article <6u6dnW6z0bGNCcnb...@comcast.com>,
>> Laurie P. <lauriep...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>I'm a big PUSH fan, too. I travel the park on wheels and he's very funny
>>>interacting with "fellow wheelies".
>>
>> :-) Does he treat you like a long-lost cousin?
>
How cute! I like it when he tries to talk to his ex-wife, too, and
she doesn't answer.
>I wish I could remember some of his lines. The guys who voice
>those characters are so quick-witted--I love Wes Palm, too. Worth getting
>to AK early to see his act.
Yeah, those guys do a great job. I wonder whether they have a private
discussion group to exchange ideas. I have heard some of the same lines
in Florida and California.
Patty