We took this time to go ahead and get our main Disneyland shopping done and hit up The Lego Store an

I am so excited to start this trip report! I did a lot of research before our trip and even though I know there is a lot of info out there for Disneyland first-timers (especially those Walt Disney World vets such as us) I loved reading these type of reports. I hope mine can either help someone else planning a trip or at least help get someone excited about theirs!
In a nutshell our trip was great. We made some good decisions, some great decisions and learned discount airline tickets to germany a few lessons. I LOVED seeing the first Magic Kingdom. I think most people just visit Walt Disney World not ever giving any thought to the history behind it. I love reading about the history and secrets of the parks. It's really pretty fascinating to me and the vision Walt Disney had in a time when people thought he was crazy is nothing short of impressive. For this reason I really loved seeing the original park. The differences between the two Magic Kingdoms, while minimal, are important and interesting. I feel like he built Disneyland and then decided to go all out at Disney World and make everything bigger--the park, the rides, discount airline tickets to germany the castle, discount airline tickets to germany the resort, everything.
I found Disneyland so charming. If I had to pick, I would still go with Walt Disney World, but boy it's close and that's only because we felt like the workers really get into it at WDW. You can always discount airline tickets to germany tell they love being there and go out of their way to make the kids feel special and to share the magic. The DL workers, while all fine and friendly, were just there for a job. I have a habit of reading everyone's name tags since they come from all of the world to work at WDW and I would say 98% of the workers discount airline tickets to germany at DL were from right around Anaheim and this was their summer job. It didn't take away from how awesome the park was it just didn't discount airline tickets to germany add anything either.
We flew from Chicago to LAX. While driving 6 hours to Chicago wasn't ideal, we were able to get four of our flights free by using miles with American discount airline tickets to germany Airlines. There we not any left out of a closer airport by time we booked this trip. O'Hare is an easy airport and we have found a great Holiday Inn Express that offers a park and fly package for $124 that includes airport transfers and breakfast. Pretty great deal. It was a direct flight of course with nothing to really write about, which considering our flying history, I'm glad.
I had prebooked the Disneyland Resort Express family pass for $99, so we got our suitcases, discount airline tickets to germany headed right out the doors and waiting about 15 minutes before one of the buses showed up! Don't be fooled though! discount airline tickets to germany While waiting, the Disneyland Express came by and if I hadn't of read online there was a company named this, I would have been very confused. The main difference is the Disneyland RESORT Express is a nice big bus and the other is a small, white van.
Luckily there was no traffic on the way and we were at the Disneyland Hotel in about 45 minutes! While on the bus though I got a call from the Vons' driver. I had ordered groceries online to be delivered to the hotel between 1-3 p.m. It was noon when he called and said I ordered them between 12-2. I never did look to see who made the mistake but he was calling because the bell hop wouldn't keep our beer and wine for us. I wasn't happy because the guy wasn't very helpful at all and basically said I'd have to reorder when I got there. But that was going to be a hassle not to mention more expensive since I had used our one-time free delivery. So I called the hotel and spoke with a bell hop who said it would be no problem to leave it all and that they would hold it until we got there. Shew!
Unfortunately our room wasn't ready, which I was afraid of since it's July and the hotel looked sold out before we left. The girls had Studio 365 makeovers scheduled for that afternoon at 4, so we decided to store the rest of our bags with the bell hops along with the groceries and go check out Downtown Disney, which of course is as simple as walking out the back of the hotel, past the pool, under the magic Mickey hat and voila! you are in Downtown Disney.
We took this time to go ahead and get our main Disneyland shopping done and hit up The Lego Store and The World of Disney Store. I kept trying to get everyone to get things we couldn't get at home or at Disney World, but that was hard with the Lego and the HUGE Build-a-Bear in Downtown Disney. The girls had brought along their Duffy bears, so they got them new outfits along with some Disneyland exclusive options from Build-a-Bear, which are really cute.
The girls were excited about their Studio 365 appointments! We have done the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique several times at Disney World and The Pirate's League, so now we can say we have tried all the Disney makeover experiences. They are all great for different reasons and I'm happy to hear TPL is going to be in Disneyland for this Halloween season...I hope it gets a permanent home because it's a great experience.
Studio 365 is supposed to be a rock star makeover but for my girls who are a little young to be very "into" pop stars yet it was just fun hair styles and makeup that made them feel special! Their hair turned out so cool! I wish I could do it at home.
Bella chose Take a Bow, which was so cute and would have lasted at least a day if the pins weren't hurting her head so bad :( With the makeover the girls were able to keep their makeup, which came in a cute purple case.
After their rock star transformations we decided to go get a bite to eat and settled discount airline tickets to germany on Naples since I had a $30 coupon (be sure to sign up online for their email offers before going). We got the family pizza, which has to be the biggest pizza I have ever seen haha. It was really good though, as was the pasta. We have had true Naples pizza and this was well done IMO.
We had requested the Frontier Tower because I'd read the rooms are the biggest and you have a chance of seeing the fireworks from your room. We were surprised discount airline tickets to germany when we were assigned rooms in the Fantasy Tower but in the end it didn't really matter. The view of the pool was great and the rooms were gorgeous and huge. I am so glad we decided to stay here. Just like at WDW, staying in one of the Disney hotels really helped us feel like we were submerged in Disneyland the entire time we were there. My kids loved the monorial slides and the pool area in general, my parents loved having the real monorial a short walk from the back of the hotel and Josh and I loved having that extra hour each morning! I think the extra hour is worth the extra money for the hotel!
I wish more folks knew more about Walt and what his dreams were, Walt died in 1965 and the World opened in 1971 with only the Magic Kingdom and many years later with Epcot. discount airline tickets to germany His imagineers carried some of his concepts forward but more were not because they were considered outdated, so Disney corporation built the World to capture more $$$$ from Europe, S. American and the East coast, I am not sure Walt would be so pleased with the results. John Reply Delete Add comment Load more...