MiceChat member "nursemelis" captured exclusive photographs of Lance Bass riding Disneyland's Finding Nemo's Submarine Voyage. Bravo to her and her quick thinking. It seems Lance got to the front of the line with his fashionable party and possibly wore sunglasses inside the Subs. Possibly.
When I visited Disneyland for my first time back in July I stayed at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel for 3 nights and 4 days. I first booked the Paradise Pier hotel because of the price... but then it started bugging me... the distance I had to walk to get to the parks and the quality of the hotel.
When I had gone to Walt Disney World in Florida last year I stayed at the Yacht Club Resort. That was a deluxe resort. Grand Californian Hotel in the Disneyland Resort is a deluxe hotel. I wanted a "deluxe" experience for my first trip to Disneyland so I opted to play the extra money for the hotel room with a Downtown Disney view.
The extra money spent was worth the experience. I felt comfortable in the hotel. I felt safe. I felt like I was going "home" after a day at the parks. I even slept near the fireplace in one of the chairs while with loved ones.
I had 2 frustrations with the hotel. One, the bed close to the balcony had this up chuck smell that someone didn't clean very well. And when I was waiting for the Disneyland bus I was given the wrong information by various hotel employees about what to do and where to wait for the Disneyland bus that would take me back to the airport.
I almost missed my bus, had to board another bus, take it to the Disneyland Hotel to catch up with my own bus. That was the only time during my entire stay where I found myself about to go "awf".
I never went to the pool as I am not into public pools but I did dine at the Storyteller's Cafe a few times. The experience there was great but once I dined by myself because my other party members wanted to go back to the park for a show so I opted for a table for one... and the waiter treated me like I was just not even there. Horrible service from that waiter and I had to get up after 10 minutes to get someone to refill my drink.
The bar located near the main lobby was very inviting and had these leather chairs that made you feel like you never wanted to get back up. I almost fell into a deep sleep there. Make sure to stop at the bar between park breaks.
The special entrance to Downtown Disney was great resource I used many times to get to the parks and to the shops of Disneyland. As far as the special entrance to Disney's California Adventure park was rarely used. Maybe twice during my stay since I only spent one full day at that park.
My final advice. Take the time to adjust your Disneyland budget if you are traveling with a small party and book a room at the Grand Californian Hotel. You'll thank yourself once you step into the hotel for the first time. Trust me, the excitement while staying in the GCH keeps building every second you're there. Trust me!
When I booked my trip via Disneyland.com I was told by the woman over the phone something that bothered me. I had asked her my "what if" questions in case it rained in the resort during my stay in July. She interrupted me before I could finish my question and she just simply said that "it never rains in July". She was so sure of it. She kept telling me that she's lived there for years.
Even though she kept on with her California experience I attempted to finish my question and she kept interrupting me as if it was an issue she didn't want to deal with through answers she felt most likely wasted her precious time. I said fine and we hung up soon after that.
But on my four day trip... guess what! It rained! The storm started moving in on a Saturday night thus causing Disneyland fireworks to be cancelled. When I awoke the next morning I could hear rain on the hotel balcony. I opened up the curtains and showed my roommate the heavy rain! We opened the door to find rain flooding off the roof and people screaming joyfully in the distance.
I still got ready because with my experience at Florida's Walt Disney World Resorts, rain just never stops me from enjoying the parks. So I got ready, headed down to the main lobby and made my way through the Downtown Disney special entrance of The Grand Californian Hotel. I discovered rain everywhere and people wearing those disposable raincoats, some with Mickey Mouse on the back.
It seemed everyone was prepared for rain except the lady on the phone some months back. Heading down Downtown Disney I had to get out of the rain as it got more intense for a just a few minutes. Finally I made it to the park and almost slipped. Lesson learned, don't run to get to Disneyland's entrance. Rookie mistake!
Inside the park the rain started to cease and nothing was cancelled or postponed for the rest of my stay. But let me tell you that when someone tells you it isn't going to rain on your trip, BE PREPARED! I wasn't. I actually took the lady at her word and got wet.
I stayed at Disneyland Friday July 21st through Monday July 24th. I skipped the fireworks Friday night to watch Fantasmic. I spent Saturday night over at Disney's Californian Adventure but figured the fireworks would be cancelled due to high winds and a storm coming in. That left Sunday to be my final night to watch fireworks. Would it be cancelled again?
Of course not, that's Disney Magic at work! So the show started at 9:25 pm and I made sure to get to the front of the castle about an hour before the show and to my surprise people were already here and there. They were spread out all over the place. The pathway under the castle had been roped off and there was a special roped seating area in front of the castle. It was filled from end to end, no room for me and the people I was with.
I found a Cast Member nearby and asked about the seating area. He told me that the people were hear about an hour and a half already just waiting for the fireworks. I guess some people have all the time in the world for that. Then I'm told by the CM that I have to move to the streets to view the fireworks. I ask if everyone is going to be seated but he says that yes we could sit down but just before the show they would ask or more like demand that everyone stand.
We positioned ourselves to sit on the curb but were told we couldn't sit on the curb since people were passing through us and the seaters in front of the castle. CM's were directing people who were trying to get from one side of the park to the other by this pathway.
Finally when 15 minutes before the show begins the CM's start telling everyone to stand and my feet are against the curb of the sidewalk in front of the castle and I'm in the front with everyone else behind me. I had a perfect view of the castle and the skyline.
When the show started there was people constantly passing in front of me but I didn't mind. Everytime someone tried to stop CM's were telling people to keep moving and that we, the standing crowd, had been waiting for some time for their view.
But close to the final few minutes of the show the CM's departed and people walking in front of me started to stop and watch the fireworks. I no longer had the front of the line view and had people standing in front of me. Oh well, can't win them all!
I forgot to mention the naughty Dad with his daughter on his shoulder. He was part of the moving crowd of people and found a small spot between me and some other girls and pushed his way into the crowd to stand close to me but just behind me. He stood with his daughter on his shoulders in front of an asian woman and her young son who was already complaing before hand that he couldn't see the castle.
She kept tapping him on his shoulder and I finally got his attention that someone behind him was trying to tell him off. She said "excuse me, we were here first" and he didn't say anything but went back further into the crowd to then stand in front of an older couple. Looking back I saw the older couple looking at the man with disgust and since he wasn't my problem I didn't work about him anymore.
Just watch out for naughty Dads trying to get a prime viewing spot at the last minute with their daughter on their shoulders. I never experienced this kid on shoulder madness over at Walt Disney World! Damn Disneyland's tiny castle!
