I Am Not Fast: A 2015 Dumbo Double Dare Trip Report!

Alright, I'm gonna sneak one last update in here and then tomorrow I'll get to the good stuff! :)

I call this update...

The Ticket Saga

Apologies in advance for all of the text and the lack of pictures...

I checked in (room wasn't ready - giant bummer because I REALLY wanted a shower :sad:) and stowed my bags with Bell Services. After getting directions from the CMs on how to get to the esplanade, I promptly went the wrong way and eventually found myself in the Grand Californian.

Going into that lobby was (a term I would come to use many, many times on this trip), a total mind-f--- ...er, fudge. A total mind-fudge.* :idea: My brain was just like, "oh, here I am in Wilderness Lodge...WAIT A MINUTE." I swear, that is exactly what I was thinking. It was like I was in a version of the Wilderness Lodge that was just a little sleeker and a little more polished. It took me a second to remember that I was indeed in California, not Florida. I swear I am not that dumb normally. It was WEIRD.

*Mind-fudge is not a thing. Replace the word "fudge" with another word that begins with "f." :angel:

From Grand Cal to Downtown Disney! After power-walking through, I was at the esplanade...Disneyland Park to my left, California Adventure to my right. I was FLOORED. :faint: They were right there...RIGHT THERE! :yay::banana:

I mean...you read about how close everything is. But for me, I definitely didn't grasp it until I was seeing it in person. Mind-fudge!

But no parks just yet...I had some ticket issues to sort out. Apologies in advance for how long this is, but it really affected my mood on that first day and in the days leading up to the trip!

BACKGROUND! And I realize that I am not explaining this very well...it was a weird situation.

A few months back I thought I'd be smart/proactive and look for some Disneyland ticket deals. We didn't get any kind of discount on our room for this trip, so I was looking to save cash where I could. Booking flights on points was a great start, and then I found a site through Mousesavers where I could get a free day with the purchase of a park-hopper ticket. So I bought a 4-day park hopper voucher (5th day free). I also went ahead and grabbed two 3-day vouchers (4th day free) for my upcoming trip to Disneyland with my husband, Will. Before buying the vouchers, I'd looked into Disneyland annual passes...for those that don't know, there are two kinds: the cheaper version (Deluxe AP) has blockout dates and the more expensive version (Premium AP) is good 365 days per year. Both of my planned Disneyland trips happened to be blocked out of the Deluxe AP and the more expensive Premium AP didn't make sense financially, so I bought the vouchers...

...and then I planned a couple MORE trips. Another Disneyland trip in the spring and a Disney World trip at the end of February. And suddenly the "best option" was something I NEVER thought I'd purchase - a Premier Annual Passport, good for 365 days at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

:faint:

And I had these vouchers I'd already bought. Crap.

Yes I realize that planning more Disney trips is a good "problem" to have...but I did the math and realized that getting the Premier AP would save me at least $200 in ticket costs alone. On top of that I'd get discounts on merchandise, dining, etc. (I pretty much never do the Dining Plan anymore, so all eating costs would be out-of-pocket). I felt sick realizing this...my stomach was in knots for the few days before the trip began.

My only hope was to try to put my two vouchers toward an annual pass - I asked around online and got mixed signals regarding whether or not I could do this. I knew upgrading one ticket to a pass was doable, but I'd never heard of someone using two sets of tickets at once. I read a suggestion online to use one voucher toward a Disneyland Annual Pass on this visit, and then apply the second voucher to upgrade the AP to the Premier pass on my next visit. It sort of made sense, but at the same time, I wasn't expecting anything to work. :sad:

AND BACK TO PRESENT DAY!

So up to the ticket window I went. I'll just say it right here because I'm sure that I'll forget to mention it later - to this Ohio girl, the California sun was BRUTAL. Not that we never see the sun here, but it was unrelenting. I am not used to that!

Anyway, I went up to the window and explained the situation to the CM as sweetly and nicely as possible (okay, I was kissing you-know-what :thumbsup2) - basically that I had done a poor job of planning ahead and that I had these vouchers...and that my hope was to apply them toward some sort of pass, with the end goal being to get a Premier AP. Anything she could do to help would be awesome, but I wasn’t expecting it to completely work out on this first visit.

Speaking of the vouchers - I had two physical pieces of paper…

- One was the 5-day hopper for me for this weekend
- The other piece actually had two 4-day hoppers attached to it - one for me and one for Will, for later this year.

So what I held in my hand was actually good for 3 sets of tickets. I figured best case scenario (which I 100% did not expect to work out) was they'd give me a Premier AP using "my" two sets of tickets, and since Will's ticket was "connected" to one of my vouchers, that they'd convert it to a ticket right then for him to use on our upcoming trip (if that makes sense).

The CM had her supervisor come over and there was lots of typing going on...I nervously stood in the blazing sun trying to take in everything that was around me (I still could not get over that the parks were RIGHT ACROSS FROM ONE ANOTHER. WHAT IS LIFE?!)...

...and eventually it was explained to me that not only would I be able to get a Premier AP TODAY, but they'd be able to apply all 3 ticket vouchers toward it - both of "mine" as well as Will's.

!!!!!

I was THRILLED that they could do this - this was perfect. As a result Will is without tickets for our trip later this year, but that's better than having converted his voucher to an actual DL ticket and having that ticket sit around the house for the next few months...because it would surely get lost.

Here's how I understand things...what I had given them were vouchers that did not have any names or identifying information attached to them (which is weird because I could have sworn that I typed out our names when buying them...but OKAY!). Because of this, they could look up the value of the vouchers and treat them as cash...and then put the cash, that is, the value of the vouchers, toward tickets or passes. They looked up value of the 3 vouchers and subtracted that from the total cost of the Premier AP - I paid the difference there on the spot (~$250). So it was like I had prepaid almost 80% of the AP before the trip began...

...and it was awesome!! I seriously could have kissed the CM. I think seeing how happy I was that this had worked out made her happy too. I was literally jumping up and down (there may have been a little dancing in there as well...ahem) and she seemed to think that was pretty funny. Which, I mean...fair enough. I fully intend to send an email to DLR because both the CM and her supervisor were very patient with my weird situation - and they made it work!

Boom! Isn’t it beautiful?! Had to document this moment on Instagram!
21096983500_5265011469_z.jpg


Speaking of Instagram (because I LOVE to 'gram :lovestruc)...Disneyland doesn't have free Wi-fi?! :sad2: Whyyyyy.

Anyway, sorry for the novel on the ticket saga...but I cannot explain how sickening it was to think that I'd be losing money by buying those vouchers. To have things work out this way was better than I could have hoped for. What a great way to start the trip!

I was soooo tempted to hop into a park, but Jess had been texting me from her shuttle, so I knew she was close. Plus, I'd missed a call from Paradise Pier during the ticket saga - they'd left a message saying that our room was ready! I grabbed a celebratory smoothie from Jamba Juice (Peanut Butter Moo'd - YUM! We don't have Jamba Juice in Ohio!) and a few small things from Sephora in Downtown Disney - Jess texted me that she was actually IN THE LOBBY YAY so I headed back that way - and managed not to get lost! Yay!

Up next: Jess arrives and we check in to Paradise Pier! :)
 
Last edited:
As a DL local, I am loving seeing your reactions to "my" home parks. LOVE your reactions. Also, the California sun this weekend was even brutal for us natives. And it has gotten even hotter here since then, so there's that.

Can't wait to read the rest! And I am TOTALLY jealous of your Premier Passport!!
 
Your reactions to the parks is spot on with what I did. Wait this isn't Wilderness Lodge? And they're so close it's crazy. Also, so glad to hear your tickets worked out. That card is beautiful and so are your nails for that matter.
 


Following along! I've never done a RunDisney event myself but I've always wanted to so it'll be fun to read about your adventure! So glad that your Premier Passport worked out. I get stressed pretty easily and was basically on the edge of my seat while reading. :laughing:

I'm also from the Midwest so I totally get what you're saying about the mountains! I just get awe-struck when I see them and then to think that some people just live right near these things, crazy!

Looking forward to more. :hyper:
 
Looking forward to reading your trip report. I ran into you into New Orleans Square, sorry to have caught you off guard.
 


As a DL local, I am loving seeing your reactions to "my" home parks. LOVE your reactions. Also, the California sun this weekend was even brutal for us natives. And it has gotten even hotter here since then, so there's that.

Can't wait to read the rest! And I am TOTALLY jealous of your Premier Passport!!
Okay, I'm glad it wasn't just me that was struggling in the sun! And I LOVE your parks! :)
Your reactions to the parks is spot on with what I did. Wait this isn't Wilderness Lodge? And they're so close it's crazy. Also, so glad to hear your tickets worked out. That card is beautiful and so are your nails for that matter.
Yeah, seeing the parks for the first time was just crazy! I definitely had to keep reminding myself I was in California, not Florida.

Thanks for noticing the nails. :) I never got a picture of all of them in DL but this is what I had going on that weekend:
llZ1yask_PP4Uos0rLedAYD-e4mYLdQie28KgvOIsY9chX60MM2OwwcxADGFwBUujRhxVcCLZNzGEGU6DMTyNr7gE2MA9ZBOvx0aEeIANmjnikDmQi6hdbW-MLmpsYIGUKLI9DnskrVvmzWBYNcPIpdHGta54QYfhln1UVXbVgwSIDu033XAfmSq46_OZuuGL9xB42TgSJBFr1rl-DcSUJQIJ15F-ZK2Nt7uW9YS1h0qZCKnqZrnwUnHmYoz62CYvqFJNaQMItcDdyjsb8GOapNI8b_gZE23MUnbKpjpSjtoDdF1REuy3TIkvWRPBlFJ96OFJT7bnhz1sJY-tuT3hMakMExR0xa9aLDjUTY9akELtSXHmj4n4fmxeFzZ2C1nUt26aevVgcewRXSUCVdK5Mrw7Y2ZyGv0Qf1PL-B0qK3jdyd1kiMsBAU8jM7uiuwDQq_uDjfY3RlCQr-Uv4Cf8pm8sjslI55pW_LKfcLLp63dR1XkLHpTJw_hYEfuVtSFHT50DHVKLtfqzv8RNADjU2P1WNUHmfNNNovWA7s0YqOV=w577-h769-no


Following along! I've never done a RunDisney event myself but I've always wanted to so it'll be fun to read about your adventure! So glad that your Premier Passport worked out. I get stressed pretty easily and was basically on the edge of my seat while reading. :laughing:
If you like running at all and you love Disney, you should totally do one! They're tons of fun! :)
I'm also from the Midwest so I totally get what you're saying about the mountains! I just get awe-struck when I see them and then to think that some people just live right near these things, crazy!

Looking forward to more. :hyper:
Yes, exactly! This was my first trip out west so I have never seen anything like that in person before!
Yay! That's awesome how your were able to put your tickets to your premier pass. #vacationgoals :cloud9:
Yessssss :thumbsup2 It seriously could not have worked out any better.
Looking forward to reading your trip report. I ran into you into New Orleans Square, sorry to have caught you off guard.
Don't apologize, it was nice to run into you! :) Glad you said hi!
Following! I love your trip reports. So entertaining!
Thanks! :goodvibes
 
Jess Arrives! And we check in at Paradise Pier!

I'd told Jess that I was heading over from Downtown Disney, and apparently I caught her by surprise with how quickly I arrived at the resort. Seems I wasn't the only one who truly didn't get how close everything was.

21293186521_49f2834a2c_z.jpg


Diamond Surfboard!

21293185701_b1c7558a86_z.jpg


I grabbed my bags from Bell Services and we headed up to room 1201 (a standard-view room).

Now, I did little-to-no research on Disneyland before this trip - why, I have no idea - but one thing I gathered from a few places is that Paradise Pier is not a very highly regarded resort, and not very *Disney*...basically I was sort of expecting it to be a craphole.

And honestly, I don't get why people are so negative (not just about Paradise Pier, but about many things...I digress). We liked Paradise Pier a lot!

Voila...our room.

21097178058_a19da81ea3_z.jpg


21096969650_a0dd31692a_z.jpg


We had a note politely reminding us that taking a beach ball pillow would result in a $65 charge being added to our room...seems like a bargain compared to those DCL pillows!

21098176729_5c658b1394_z.jpg


I have one small complaint about Paradise Pier: the elevator situation. With a hotel that has 15 floors, 4 elevators just didn't seem to cut it. We had to wait a few times. But other than that, it was great!

As we unpacked, Jess and I were literally jumping up and down and basically shouting at one another. I feel bad for whoever was next to/behind us (we were in a corner room, so only one neighbor). We were both just bursting with excitement that we were finally here!! :yay:

Once we decided we were settled in, we headed back outside.

21293180231_946dd62f03_z.jpg


21098180039_882e5c295b_z.jpg


Across the street...

21097185048_e6701c3bfd_z.jpg


21274492042_232298e6bc_z.jpg


...through the Grand Californian (where I took this awful picture)...

21258809516_eec222327e_z.jpg


...and Downtown Disney...

21096974390_e4d012e6f5_z.jpg


...into the esplanade...

21285064385_f90deb96fd_z.jpg


...and back to the ticket window. Jess was also looking to buy a Premier AP, and she had a little adventure of her own - the credit card she wanted to use to pay had her husband's name on it, and the CM refused to use it since he was not present. Luckily Jess had another card she could use...whew!

And with that...I got my AP out of my wallet and we headed to the turnstiles.

Before I go any further...let me just say that I was really missing MagicBands during this trip! I was so afraid I was going to forget my room key or my PAP at some point and not be able to do anything. Hate all you want, but darn if those MagicBands aren't convenient.

Anyway...AP out, picture taken, and we were in! And then I was stopped to take a survey. I always do these things, because 1. why not? and 2. they only take a few minutes. Then the CM noticed I didn't have a map or Times Guide and went to grab me one, while slowly explaining what the Times Guide was. I tried to listen politely...but I just wanted to GO!

And we went!

21293169331_b9d6e8b713_z.jpg


But then we were distracted...because there was Mulan, just beyond the turnstiles!

21097188708_619c096f51_z.jpg


This was something I really loved about Disneyland - I just felt like this park was crawling with characters. I mean, we weren't even technically IN the park yet, and here was a character! Love it.

Continued in Next Post
 
Last edited:
Agree! Missed my magic band ALOT! Before leaving the room every morning it was like a rundown list with Hubby on if we had everything.
 
Hey Girl.

I was just so crazy happy. I'd been wanting to come to this resort, and do this race, for years now. I couldn't believe I was finally here! :sad: <-- happy tears

21097169218_5ff966d06e_z.jpg


21258733676_d1d20b2bc6_z.jpg


We quickly made a detour into Guest Services to get first visit buttons (haven’t gotten one of those in awhile! And we were so excited that they said "Disneyland" on them and not "Disney Parks!") and then continued on.

21098154969_48842f1527_z.jpg


We’d been discussing what our first ride should be (we decided it had to be something that was at DL only, and not at WDW)...but then we got distracted again...

21285067005_b883aeb29c_z.jpg


Seriously, 60th Mickey with no line? Yes Please!

And on we went...

20662359214_cf5405535d_z.jpg


20662381514_b01102824c_z.jpg


21097173598_c42a9b7947_z.jpg


Hey girl.
21293152801_8c9f446935_z.jpg


Check out this beauty!

20663958563_34097b2dd2_z.jpg


21097187638_51b9ddffe7_z.jpg


20662357324_26e7c4268d_z.jpg


21097152588_530b2315ca_z.jpg


I've read many times about how small Sleeping Beauty Castle is, but it’s just so pretty and charming. I was absolutely taken aback by its size, but I really loved it. Especially with the 60th stuff!

20662380214_6fac7f3b38_z.jpg


21285055675_97bf8c9930_z.jpg


Coming up next - our first ride! :)
 
Last edited:
Well, finding this just made my day!!! I am so excited to read about your experience at DL and your first runDisney event there. I've been to DL once before about 10 years ago and really enjoyed my trip there, but most of it has faded from my memory not to mention a lot has changed there since then.

Can't wait to hear how the races went as well. I was just telling Chris he needs to brace himself because once we finish W&D, I'm going to start planning getting a Coast to Coast accomplished soon. So, I'm anxious for all your intel into the DL race experience.

As always your reports are fun, energetic and addicting!! Can't wait to read more.
 
Feeling the nails even more up close. I love this report. I'm really feeling your excitement. I'm ready to pack my bag and head to Cali right now. Also, loving the beach ball warning.
 
I'm here and can't wait to read all about it! One day I will get to Disneyland whether it's for a race weekend or not. Hopefully it is for a race weekend but I do want to go either way. Everything looks great so far.
 
I'm following along now too! And since I see that your trip reports get glowing reviews now I know that motivation for finishing my next run will be that I can reward myself with some good sit-on-my-behind-time reading your previous ones. :)

And now I'm noticing @ZellyB has trip reports under her name. So many TRs to read...EEEEE!!!
 
Last edited:
Joining in..........looking forward your TR as you have a great gift for combining pictures and experiences into a fantastic story.
 
I'm here and all caught up! Loving your reactions to my home park! EVERYTHING. SO. CLOSE. Hahaha. ;)

Glad to hear PP isn't a craphole. I'm staying there for Tink next year.

Premier Pass is the awesome, isn't it?
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!











facebook twitter
Top