QF WP’s do Disneyland (LA), Seattle and beyond

[Fifa]

Thanks so much for the fantastic TR!
I love the idea of the ratings. And your kids are sooo cute!

Re: Dennys. Check the last page of the menu as they have $2, $4, $6 etc menu items which are a bargain especially when feeding kids.

14 years ago we took two of our then teens to Disneyland and they talked me into going on the Tower of Terror. Well, by the time we got to the front of the line I piked out as I was so scared and they went by themselves. The kids just loved it, told me it wasn't as scary as it looked and conned me into going on it with them. I was absolutely terrified and have never forgiven them!!!

 

[QF WP]

I’m hearing you @Fifa. I can’t say that I enjoyed it any of the 4 times I was coerced to ride it, but I was always thinking it’s only 30 seconds and I’ll suck it up for the kids. I came out with no long term injuries, only a healthy appreciation for continuing to hate these types of rides.

 

[QF WP]

Because we had a sleep in this morning, we only hit the shops around 11am and after a couple of hours the kids were bored so I volunteered to take them to The Incredibles (in 3D), whilst my wife continued to hit the shops.

As is usual, by the end of the day, things were found for everybody but me. It also filled our bags to bursting.

Dinner was at one of the restaurants and seems so only took photos of our mains and not the kids meals (well, burgers are burgers).





We were well versed in US meal sizes, 2 entrees and 2 kids meals filled us.

 

[QF WP]

Day 3 - Disneyland

On our way to the shuttle bus, took a photo of perhaps where we should have stayed (memories for you @Katie) - there or the other 2 Hilton owned brand properties.



Back to DCA this morning to see some of the attractions we missed on Day 2. Firstly the kids wanted to do Animation.









This was an interactive talk with Crush - my son was a bit shy in asking a question so missed out. Really well done.

 

[QF WP]

Onto Hollywood Land as my son really wanted to do this ride and the line up was only 20 mins:











Really well based on the Monsters Inc storyline and enjoyable particularly if you have seen the movie.

Adult rating: 7.5/10
Kids rating: 7.5/10

 

[QF WP]

We then back out to Hollywood and happened across Captain America but the line up was 30 deep so I just took a photo without my son (who wasn’t interested in joining the line)



Then we continued on and almost immediately ran into Loki (brother of Thor), so I snapped away as he answered a question from my son

 

[QF WP]

Our timing was perfect to then see the Frozen 1 hour long stage show, so off to it we went.

Sat next to a pharmaceutical rep from the East Coast whose family had got seats more in the middle without a space for him. He wasn’t into Frozen so was happy to sit at the side. He was ready to head back to work tomorrow





Where do you want to sit?



Quite a theatre



Our view of the stage



It was really well done live adaptation of the movie. Loved it and my daughter was singing along to all the songs - even my son joined in on some.

 

[QF WP]

On our way to the next ride, we ran into Groot, the tall character from Avengers.



Then back into that ride I call hell on steroi_s, because again I got outvoted and they had used my mobile phone to book in another FastPass - oh ****, here we go again.

The doorway to my own particular hell...



Contrary to popular belief, this was the only second on that ride I was enjoying myself - because it was photo opportunity time and we wanted one good photo. I also knew I had a split second before I was dropping 4 stories to certain death...

 

[QF WP]

Okay, I’m falling down in my Avengers expertise because I can only remember Gamora (the green skinned female character) who we met after the ride,,.



So after that, it was time to walk up to Pixar Pier to reconnoiter it for tomorrow’s onslaught of rides









Another set of rides to conquer

 

[QF WP]

Little did I suspect that again my family had set me up for another ride, one that would test my willpower for keeping my lunch in my stomach and not to break down in a blubbering mess.









I’ve never been a rollercoaster fan and it was fun to see everybody else being shot off (this is the start of the ride) and much screaming ensued. Better you than me...

 

[Denali]

Little did I suspect that again my family had set me up for another ride, one that would test my willpower for keeping my lunch in my stomach and not to break down in a blubbering mess....

By any chance, did your family get you to sign anything before you went on hols? Updated your life insurance or similar? I think they're trying to kill you....

 

[JohnM]

We’re immensely proud of you @QF WP - you’re not a wimp at all .

 

[QF WP]

Well after I kept my lunch down

By any chance, did your family get you to sign anything before you went on hols? Updated your life insurance or similar? I think they're trying to kill you....

I am worth significantly more dead than alive but no new insurances signed up for a number of years - in fact, the opposite, I’ve been reducing them (maybe they forgot)

 

[QF WP]

We’re immensely proud of you @QF WP - you’re not a wimp at all .

Hanging on for grim life JohnM...couldn’t say no. In fact met a neighbour of the friends with whom we are currently staying and his brother was born (and I still think lives) at Cottesloe. Thought of you also when we have been drinking some nice Bordeaux reds over the past 3 nights

 

[petercr]

Glad to see you've been having a ball... did Disneyland in Feb '13 and took our 2 kids plus my wife's (then 16yo) neice as it was cheaper for all 5 to go in Feb than 4 in Jan. One of my favourite memories was getting a photo taken with Donald Duck - I had an 'original angry bird' hoodie on - Donald threw my kids Goofy and Minnie hats on the ground and pretended to stamp of them...

 

[legseleven]

Really enjoying this, taking our three kids under 12 next year, thanks for sharing.

 

[QF WP]

Back on line after a 5 day hiatus. Will have some more installments up in a couple of hours.

 

[QF WP]

Well now that my lunch stayed down it was time for a treat the whole family wanted - a churros. Interesting they come in two types - normal with cinnamon sugar and and a red one that just looked....well...disgusting. None of us opted for that



Off to another ride within easy walk - Goofy’s Sky School






My wife decided to sit this one out so I was up for what seemed to be a pretty tame rollercoaster. The line was 40 mins long and we decided to not use a FastPass even though it was available.

In the line, we happened to enter just after another Aussie father and his son - whilst his wife and daughter were also sitting this one out. As we had time we all started talking and this always makes the wait time roll along quickly. So thanks to Joe, the RN from Western Sydney (Bankstown Hospital IIRC) and his son Liam, was great to meet you.

As the QF WP’s were a group of three, we had an individual rider join us in the carts that were 2 by 2. Chug chug up we went slowly to the top and then the fun began. It was mildly terrifying as we hugged the track with switchbacks and no visible means of support - but a great view of the people down below us in the park walkway. Then it got better as we came down but with no decrease in speed. My kids were screaming with delight as I allowed a little blood to return to my white knuckles. I was pleased to finish the ride, as we disembarked behind Joe and Liam and we all went out to meet up with our respective family. We introduced ourselves and then went our own ways to different rides.

Adult rating: 6/10 (did you expect differently from me?)
Kids rating: 8/10

 

[Denali]

Red Velvet churros? Is there anything left for the Americans to coughize?

 

[QF WP]

Time to head back through another couple of areas we hadn’t visited before and on the way my son spotted Nick Wilde (a character from Zootopia) and some great cheeky by play between them made for a memorable couple of photos.