First Timers to Disneyland - Day 1, Part 2

[Magic Smiles]

Now we were not too sure what we wanted to do so just wandered taking in all the sights. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030217web.jpg http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030066web.jpg
We saw Indiana Jones listed and at first thought that it was the show like at WDW but soon discovered that it was not. While I headed over the ladies room, DH and DS headed to Indiana Jones to get fastpasses. When we met up I was surprised to hear that someone had given DS 2 fastpasses to Indiana Jones for the current time. DH said for DS and myself to go on and he would just find a place to sit and relax and we could all go on it later that night with our fastpasses, which weren’t until 10:50 pm. Okay, you don’t have to tell me twice. Like usual I took a few pictures of the queue. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030112web.jpg I really need to find another word for AMAZING, but it really was. The whole attraction was. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030129web.jpg http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030116web.jpg http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030136web.jpg Can you tell I enjoyed it? From here we checked out some of the shops and saw a few items that we thought we might return for later in our trip. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030078web.jpg http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030076web.jpg As we had collected pressed pennies (a few hundred) on previous trips to WDW and surrounding areas, we decided that we would get some this trip. Those that were specific to Disneyland and California only. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030069web.jpg

Onto Pirates of the Caribbean. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030141web.jpg I found that the outside of the queue was just strange for a Pirates ride, not that I didn’t like it. Inside was different from WDW, but I don’t think that I could say I prefer one to the other. Both are fabulous. I had bought another new camera for this trip in hopes of getting some good photos in the dark, but didn’t have much success. The salesman had told me that my SLR would do a better job, but it has this focusing light that you can’t turn off, so gets really annoying. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030198web.jpg I have to say that the camera did take great photos in most other environments and it also does Hi Def video.

We really were getting pooped and hungry again. You have to remember that this was really day 11 of our vacation; even though it was only day 1 in DL and we had covered a lot of ground in our previous 10 days. We looked around for a place for dinner and decided upon the French Market. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030225web.jpg It was so yummy! DS and I both had the Roasted Citrus Chicken http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030227web.jpg and DH had the Seafood and Chicken Jambalaya. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030228web.jpg The desserts really looked great and we thought that we might indulge http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030226web.jpg but didn’t as we were stuffed! Bellies full and not much energy we decided to head over to the Haunted Mansion. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030234web.jpg There was pretty much no line up and we were probably on the ride within 10 minutes or less. The CM wanted to put the 3 of us in the same buggy, but DS (17) said that he gets too squished when we do that, so he went off into his own. DH thought he was being funny by knocking on the back of DS buggy only to find out that DS could not even hear him. We thought it was funny. Boy we must have been tired. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030251web.jpg

After Haunted Mansion, we decided that we were all tired and should head back to our hotel. As luck would have it we had to pass by Jungle Cruise and it did not have a line up, so we jump on. We had this skinny little guide who was pretty good. Of the 3 times that we did the Jungle Cruise on this trip, we had the same guide for at least 2 if not all 3 trips and I do not have one photo of him. So not like me. After Jungle Cruise, that was definitely it. We could not have talked DH into doing anything else had we even tried.

We really were exhausted and so did actually return to the Grand Californian. http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030285web.jpg I have to say that I have never slept in so many comfortable beds as I did on this complete trip. Every hotel had wonderful beds. This item that they call a ‘feather bed’ that are placed on top of the mattress – HEAVEN! Even though we own a pillow top mattress I have purchased a feather bed since our return.

After resting up for a short while, DH and I decided to have a look around the hotel. We went to check out White Water Snacks as it had come highly recommended on Intercot. It was pretty good…..and we returned to our room with a few desserts. A fruit pie type crumble http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030292web.jpg and a Mickey Rice Crispy Treat http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030291web.jpg for me, a BIG Chocolate Brownie http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030293web.jpg for DH, and a Mickey Cookie http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030290web.jpg for DS. We arrived back to find that Mousekeeping had delivered a towel birthday cake and card http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030289web.jpg, as this was my Birthday Celebration trip. What a nice little surprise that was. They had also dropped off a few chocolates with DS as he had been left behind in the room. At this point in time we did not know that we would receive turn down service every evening. Shortly after enjoying parts of our desserts (we couldn’t eat them all) we crashed for a wonderful nights sleep.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I love all of your pictures! Hope the rest of your DL trip was as good as the first day!

[maizey05]

I'm guessing you had the same Jungle Cruise skipper that we did. I believe his name was David, and I know his name tag said he was from WA, (as that's where I'm from). Anyway, his wacky personality made it a fun ride.

[Disneymom4ever]

Sounds like a great end to a wonderful first day. Those desserts look yummy!!

[pdrlkr]

Thanks for the Report!

[mouseketeer mom]

Oh, this is just so much fun. I love this. Are there any castle pictures or did I miss them?

[VWL Mom]

Really enjoying your reports and pics.

The light in your camera is the AF assist light. There should be a place in the menu to shut it off, they are just not easy to find.

[Magic Smiles]

Oh, this is just so much fun. I love this. Are there any castle pictures or did I miss them?

So glad that you are enjoying my trip reports.
I spent a while looking through my photos and other than one that I will post later in another days report, this is about the best that it gets.
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...1030578web.jpg

Just mentioned to DH that I didn't really take any photos of the castle. His remark, "you mean that little house." I do have a few of the castle in the background of other photos, but it really is so small that it does not stand out.

[Magic Smiles]

Really enjoying your reports and pics.

The light in your camera is the AF assist light. There should be a place in the menu to shut it off, they are just not easy to find.

Thanks for the comments. I actually discussed the turning off the AF assist light on my DSLR with the guy in the camera store......doesn't look like it can be done on mine. At least not is auto mode. It is an Olympus E-510.