Disneyland Resort, California
This trip was back in August/September 2013, so I know, its not really anything to do with my next adventure!
I've decided to start this blog back from this trip, and go on from there as i've never really had an opportunity to write about these trips in depth.
This was my first time visiting America, and my first long haul flight. We flew with Air France, catching my usual early flight to Paris, it was weird not leaving the airport and heading to Disneyland, Paris!
The connection at Charles De Gaulle was a little confusing, its also the first time either of us have had to catch a connecting flight, but it turned out ok, we had about an hour to connect and there was a member of staff waiting at the connections desk to tell you which train you needed and how many stops you had to get off in. I did panic for a while thinking I wouldn't get a train to my terminal in time!
Once we got to the gate there was a big queue, everyone was already waiting to board. It didn't make a big difference because we'd already reserved our seats together.
Air France were absolutely amazing to fly with, the inflight entertainment was perfect for the long flight, there was something for everyone to enjoy, and that was in economy, so imagine what it was like in premium!
There was an absolutely huge queue at immigration in LAX, it took maybe an hour and a half to get through. And when we finally did - we found that I was right, and despite checking with my travel agent who said that our transfer ticket was fine, it wasn't. We had to pay for our transfer again in cash, although we'd already paid Hays Travel for the transfer (they didn't print the transfer company name on the ticket, and we did go in and ask about it - the agent said it was fine!).
Anyway, thats enough about the travelling.
We were staying in the Fairfield Inn, Anaheim, opposite Disneyland.
I'll not say much about the hotel, as i'm considering writing a separate post about it.
On our first day we headed to the park to buy our Annual Passes and have our photo taken for them.
If you're visiting the parks for more than a week, an annual pass is cheaper than park hopper tickets.
Disneyland Resort is the original Disney theme park, and the only one Walt Disney ever got to visit himself, so the feel of the actual park was inspiring in its own sense.
It felt a lot bigger than Disneyland Parc in Paris, and looked more thought out and updated. The parks are aimed more at the locals than tourists, so there were a lot of changes and events happening through out my visit. They had 'limited time magic' where they one day they brought out old, retired characters like Tarzan, Jane and Turk, and then a couple of days later there would be something else going on for a couple of days. I really liked how they kept everything fresh and appealing for their guests.
PhotoPass
PhotoPass is something you definitely need to buy before your trip to either Disneyland Resort, or Walt Disney World (known as Memory Maker). Its ideal for getting plenty of photos together as a family/couple/friends, and you'll get a digital copy of all of your ride photos too, so you can print them when you return home. I used it more in California than I did in Florida, but that was just because I didn't feel like queuing up for the photographers as much in Florida.
Also, in California, we were given a special experience just because we had PhotoPass, i'll write more about that in the California Adventure post.
I got engaged here! My fiancé set it up with a Photopass photographer, who then sent us to another photographer who took us to the wishing well, and after asking the other guests in the area to move he set up a few photos before I was proposed to! and it was all caught in photographs.
The Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride is the same as the version in Paris, except the layout is a little different. I definitely prefer the Paris and California versions over the Florida, fixed gun version. And not just because I win every game in Paris and California but didn't win once in Florida..
Like in Paris and Florida, you can get a ride photo on Astro Blasters, but in California it has one key difference - its an email service. You queue up at the machines, find your photo, and then email it to yourself for free.
Fantasmic Dessert Package
We prebooked the Fantasmic dessert package, and it was well worth the money!
You got a selection of desserts, and drinks through out. The staff allocate your seats, and we were lucky enough to have front row! So I can't tell you how worth it it is if you don't get the front row but our view was perfect and unobstructed (other than the railing). I don't seem to have taken any photos throughout the show, but I did put a short video to instagram.
Innoventions - Stark Expo
Favourite drink: Nesquick Strawberry Milk
Favourite snack: Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade
Favourite difference: Lilo & Stitch in Its a small world, all the differences in Pirates of the Caribbean
Must see: Fantasmic, Mickey's Soundsational Parade
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