Wofford Heights, here we come! Day 4

[Guest]

And so this morning we have a leisurely start. We have a stroll along the beachfront and watch surfers riding the waves. It’s another glorious day.

We sort out our suitcases ready for Bell Services to collect and then go and have a typical American breakfast at the Sheerwater restaurant in the hotel. There’s tons of fresh fruit, fresh juice, Danish pastries, croissants and all the attendant dressings and jellies (jams). Then there’s crispy Applewood smoked bacon, eggs cooked by a chef whilst you wait, hash brown, sausages……you know what I mean. And endless cups of coffee.

We’ve done express checkout so when we are ready to go, the cases are taken down to the awaiting car brought by Valet services. Our Chevrolet Surburban:



We say goodbye to the “Del” and cross the Coronado bridge one more time and on through the city of San Diego. We detour about 6 miles to go to a Walmart Super Centre where we pick up wine, bread, butter, milk, bacon, eggs, cereal and some snacks, not to mention a few new clothes and some postcards and small souvenirs.



We then head up the 805 towards Anaheim and Disneyland Resort. Eventually we connect with the I5 and about an hour later we are sailing along South Disneyland Drive and into the Grand Californian Resort. We decide to self park as it is free because we are DVC members. Now, we’ve stayed at the GC before but this time we are in the DVC Villas in a two bedroom. We’ll be having friends join us later in the week and at least they will have their own room rather than bedding down on pull out sofas etc. The Front Desk give us the “Welcome Home” package which includes my birthday button and a signed photo of Chip and Dale – I’m a bit too old for balloons. Yes, I know my birthday is in January but I don’t care about accuracy and neither do Disney. The “villa” is totally beautiful and done in the Arts and Crafts style of the GC.





Our whirlpool tub:


Our bedroom:


Guest bathroom:


Guest bedroom:


Hidden Mickeys in the villa:
The carpet –

The breakfast bar:


We have a veranda that looks right into the California Adventure park. We are on the third floor so have quite a good view. After unpacking and putting our dirty laundry on to wash – the place has a washer / dryer, we go back downstairs and purchase our park hopper tickets for the week. There was no point in purchasing them ahead of time as there were no discounts to be had. Note the Hidden Mickey speaking hole in the ticket sales window:



We head through Downtown Disney – the hotel has an exit into it and soon we are passing through the turnstiles and into Disneyland park. As we enter Mickey is doing a meet and greet outside the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Two things you notice at Disneyland. The station is way smaller than the one at Magic Kingdom and so are the buildings on Main Street. They are 5/8 scale. Main Street is also somewhat shorter in length too. We are ready for lunch and so head into Plaza Gardens. We both choose Cobb salad and I have an Apple Crostata. Once full we decide we aren’t going to throw ourselves around on any violent rides. The Matterhorn Bobsleds are unfortunately covered in scaffolding as the mountain is getting a fresh coat of paint. So it’s on to the Jungle Cruise where I receive my first “Happy Birthday” from the boat skipper and when encouraged, the entire boatload of people. The usual corny gags are rolled out but it still makes me giggle. We get in line for Indiana Jones Adventure and are on it within ten minutes. The ride system is the same as Dinosaur at DHS but is far better themed and worked in my opinion.



We make our way to Splash Mountain – it’s a slightly smaller version of the ride most of you know at Magic Kingdom but at least ALL the animatronics are working.

Then we try for Haunted Mansion which is right next door.


Unfortunately the spooks have been out of sorts and it’s closed whilst a “séance” is held to sort out the disruption. We chat for a while to the CM on the gate – Brian, who is from London. Then we decide to wander around the New Orleans area which is decked out for Mardi Gras. I gaze up at the balcony at Club 33 knowing we’ll be standing on that come Saturday lunchtime. Into Pirates of the Caribbean. We love this ride and the placings of Jack Sparrow, particularly in the last scene, make him far easier to see than the WDW version.

On leaving POTC I spot that the Haunted Mansion has re-opened and we head up the pathway and are soon in the stretching room. Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialise!

We decide to head back down Main Street and into the Collectibles shop. Zie, a CM we made great friends with last year is still there and we hug and chat.



I buy parts 3 and 4 of Olszewski’s Main Street Electrical Parade – I already possess parts 1 and 2. Zie spots my birthday badge and soon I’m handed the phone whilst Goofy gives me his greetings.
Sleeping Beauty Castle:



It’s back to our room to get changed as we have a booking at Catal in Downtown Disney. It’s a balmy night and we sit out on the terrace watching the revelling guests below. Tonight’s meal is seared salmon with beetroot and mushrooms and a rough potato mash for Darrin and crispy suckling pig for me accompanied with butternut squash and swede. Dessert was Chocolate crème brulee for him and a “Kit Kat” (chocolate cake with candied hazelnuts and a Nutella ice cream) for me. It tasted exactly like a Kit Kat. A bottle of Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc was drunk along the way. We fell into bed around 10p.m. after having a quick dip in the whirlpool bath in our villa…………………ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ !

[Aims]

Great first day at Disneyland, Geoff. It sounded like a very lovely day and the villa looks amazing! I love the arts & craft style. So cool you were able to find the CM you made friends with last year. Looking forward to reading more.

P.S. The Matterhorn is getting more than just a fresh coat of paint. I heard on the radio today that it will be closed for six months! They are going to put in new bobsled cars too (about time!)

[Eeyore rocks]

Another great day.

The ''villa'' is beautiful.

[Tink-a-bee]

Your report is making me look forward to our forthcoming trip even more (if that is possible ) So far we have kept the Disney element a suprise from our kids as we won't be doing that untill the last few days of our holiday. It's been over 7 years since we went to Disneyland on our Honeymoon. Cannot wait! The villa looks superb, we are slumming it at the HoJo, but will definitely go for a nose around the Disney hotels. Looking forward to your next installment.

[BevS97]

I love the look of the Grand California, hopefully we will get to experience it one day ourselves.
You are having a great trip!

[Glee Fan]

Love the villa - so roomy!

Dinner sounds delish as did your breakfast before you left San Diego - I feel very hungry now!

[jontybfc]

Great report! When you arrived at GVC did you head straight to self park or checkin first?

[fudgesky]

What a fab day Geoff! I'm hungry now as I sit in our bed in Orlando reading your fantastic trip! Xx

[Guest]

There's that Applewood smoked bacon again
Another great day in the land of Mickey x

[nickymouse66]

Another fab day! Club 33 to look forward to! It's so exciting!The villa looks gorgeous - jealous moi!