Sing with me...California Here We Come! Days 7 & 8, updated 12/20 About This Page:

[zacksmom_1993]

Laura! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thanx.gif[/img] so much for the tip about the Corvette Diner. I think Zack would absolutely [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] that place, and we have family about 45 minutes outside of San Diego so we're there quite often. I've actually never been to Sea World, but Zack has gone to their 6-day resident camps twice and he's clammoring for another go this summer. I can see why now! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] Can't wait to hear how you liked "my" [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] Disney park (I feel so proud of it just 'cause I live in California! :rolleyes)

[chezp]

What a wonderful end to the day - the photos of the Shamu show are superb and it looks like you had a wonderful dinner! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

[Colexis Mom]

What a great update [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] The Shamu show looked great! And dinner, FABU [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img] I'm glad you all had a great time!

[DyanKJ130]

What a wonderful day! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] Victoria's hairdo!!! Already made a note in my DL Passporter to visit the Corvette Diner. Can't wait to read more!!

[MadisonzNana]

Wow Laura, I live an hour north of San Diego and I have never been to the Corvette Diner. We will be sure to find it the next time we head down there. Thanks for the review!!!
Karen

[tinksmom]

What a wonderful end to your first day! I can't wait toread more.
tenya

[DrDolphin]

I just BEGGED Sarah and Crystal to eat at the Corvette Diner!!! I hope we can eat there. Thank you SO much for the great updates.

[PrincessSharon]

Great update! The Cadillac Diner looks like fun! Ready for more!

[Meggera]

Well, if you guys make it to the Corvette Diner, you'll have to tell us all about it. I found my notes as to what we ate. When all else fails, check the Passporter pocket. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img]

We started out with cheese sticks. And, we all ordered burgers which are 1/3 lb., and this is what we ordered:
Michael had The Brenda - lean bacon strips, Swiss cheese, mayo and pickles.
Victoria had The Dee Dee - an American cheeseburger in paradise with mustard, pickles and mayo.
Maxine had Sid's Country Western - zesty bbq sauce, crispy bacon, onion rings and cheddar.
I had The Kookie - grilled onions, Swiss cheese, mustard, mayo and pickle (hold the mayo and mustard). [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

If you'd like to check out the Corvette Diner, here is the website. http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/cohn/...s/corvette.php

[Meggera]

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<u>Day 2 - October 31, 2006 – Part 1 - Victoria's 12th Birthday!</u>

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/birthday.gif[/img] Victoria!

Michael and I woke up really early and thought we would be able to quietly decorate the room for Victoria for her birthday. But, she quickly woke up, too. We told her to go on to the bathroom, but she kept saying she didn’t need to go. Good grief! We finally told her to go to the bathroom so Michael could get dressed. So, she relunctantly went. I had made her a birthday banner and a few posters to hang in the room. We also brought Halloween streamers which we hung on the big mirror over the sink. I got out her birthday gift, and we were ready. Poor thing. She kept asking if she could come out yet and we said [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img]! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

We finally let her come out of the bathroom, and she was thrilled with the banner.


I had put her present on the bed, and she promptly found it.


We got her a Tinkerbell bag that had a Tinkerbell hat attached to it. There was a Tinkerbell shirt inside the bag along with the shirt I got from DisneyShopping.com which said, “Victoria’s Birthday Celebration at Disneyland in California, October 2006.” She was thrilled! I also got her a personalized sweatshirt since I wasn’t sure what the weather was going to be like. I also had found a Disneyland Gold Autograph book and included it in the bag. In the pocket of the bag were a few Disneyland pins I had found on ebay…one being…you guessed it, Tinkerbell. Can you tell she is a Tinkerbell fan?

I then surprised the rest of our group with their own custom birthday celebration t-shirts. We were all going to dress alike for this special day. I then proceeded to give my DH a Mr. Incredible t-shirt to wear for the Mickey’s Halloween Treat that evening. It is so cute!

We got dressed and ready to go. Michael and I ran up to the front desk and asked how to get to the Grand Californian in our car. We had birthday breakfast reservations with Chip and Dale at the Storytellers Café at 8 a.m. They told us how to get there, so we all hopped in the car and drove over. We parked and headed for the lobby of the Grand Californian. What a beautiful hotel! The lobby was huge and there was a pianist playing the grand piano in the lobby. What a nice detail. I had staked out where the Storytellers Café was the evening prior and knew where I needed to go. Since we didn’t have a wheelchair for Maxine, Michael stayed behind with her while I booked it to get us checked in. And I am so glad I hurried up there; the line got long rather quickly.

No sooner had Maxine and Michael joined Victoria and me, we were called in to our table. So far so good! We went inside, and I loved the ambiance. It is lovely in there. However, the CM took us to a booth way back in the corner of the restaurant, away from the main part of the place. We did not like where we were seated at all. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] If I am going to do a character meal, I want a table so that each of us has the opportunity to mingle with the characters. I hated being a pain, but Michael agreed and asked if we could be moved to a table. The CM promptly escorted us to a table in the middle of the main room right next to the fireplace. It was a wonderful table! As soon as we sat down, Camp Counselor Chris came up and let us know that in order to be good campers, we needed to eat something from each food group, including our veggies. That was very important to be a good camper. He was very funny and stayed in character no matter what we threw at him.

Michael and Victoria must have been famished. They no sooner ordered their drinks and they were off to the buffet. As soon as they left, who should visit us? Koda from Brother Bear. We have never seen Koda before so I was disappointed that DH and DD were not here for the big moment. Koda ran over to Maxine and gave her a great big hug. Reminder: Maxine has never been to a Disney park. Before we left for our trip, we went to her house every day and watched a Disney movie she had never seen before. Brother Bear was not one of them. It didn’t matter much because she enjoyed seeing the characters and had a great time with them.


As soon as Koda left, I headed for the buffet. Maxine didn’t want the buffet and ordered something from the menu. So, she had to wait to eat. Poor Maxine.

Back at the table, we began enjoying our wonderful breakfast. Then Meeko showed up. Victoria asked him where Pocohantas was, and he said she was off brushing her hair. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] Victoria got the biggest kick out of that.



Kenai made his rounds, too. We were disappointed to find out that Kenai didn’t sign autographs. Weird. He signs them at Epcot. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]


Camp Counselor Chris came back around and scolded us for leaving Maxine all alone while we went to get something to eat. But, Victoria made his day when she showed him her grilled asparagus on her plate. He was proud of her for getting something from all four food groups. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] She asked for his autograph, and he posed.


The characters were out in full force, and they would get the little kids together and dance around the restaurant. Victoria was too old for that sort of thing, but she enjoyed watching the little ones. We specifically wanted to see one character whom we have never seen before…Terk. We couldn’t wait to see her. Hopefully, she would head our way soon.

Dale popped in to say hi and signed her book with, "Hape Birthday From Dale."


Then, Victoria was surprised by a little Mickey cupcake. Chip came out with our waitress and other servers and sang Happy Birthday to her. She was tickled! Chip singed her book but was in a real rush. No birthday greetings, antics or howdy-doos from him. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] Oh well.


We had been here for about an hour, and we were still waiting for Terk. Koda finally came back by and stopped for a picture.


We finally asked our waitress if we would get to see Terk any time soon. Terk had been on the other side of the restaurant but had gone inside for a break. The manager came to our table and explained that Terk had visited our side of the restaurant right before we were seated and then took a break. When she came back out, she visited the other side of the restaurant. She said Terk would be out soon, and she would send Terk our way first thing. We were very grateful for that news.

While we waited, I wanted a picture of that beautiful fireplace, so I asked Victoria and Maxine to pose for me. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]


Approaching the hour-and-a-half mark, Terk finally came back out. She visited one table in front of ours and then stopped by our table. We told her we were so happy to meet her and that we had waited a long time to see her. She was flattered. She took a picture with Maxine and Victoria and then pulled up a chair, sat down, and signed Victoria’s autograph book. She wrote on two pages and said, “Happy B’day! Terk” in purple crayon. She really spent a lot of time with us. I told her that the purple flower looked lovely in her hair. Boy did she pose and primp after that. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] It was the best character interaction of the whole breakfast!


We were finally done with a wonderful breakfast, and Michael had paid our bill. The waitress had let us keep a menu for a souvenir, so I put it in our backpack, and we headed out the door. It was time to go to Disneyland! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] I was so excited, I didn’t know what to do!

We decided that Victoria, Maxine, and I would slowly make our way to the gates of Disneyland, and Michael would take the car back to the hotel and either take the shuttle or run back to DL, whichever would be faster. So, the three stuffed ladies walked through DTD towards DL’s entrance. Victoria loved her first sight of the two park entrances facing each other. She, too, was very excited.

Up Next: Disneyland and the Dream Squad approaches us!!!
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[DyanKJ130]

What a fabulous birthday morning for all of you!! I can't wait to hear about Disneyland!!! Hurry back with more!

[lauren-roxy]

Great updates!!!! I love your photos!! You guys are really having a wonderful time and it shows!!! Can't wait for more!!!!

[DawnDenise]

What a great breakfast at Storytellers with a wide variety of characters!! Looks like you all had a great time.

Keep it coming Laura!

[Colexis Mom]

What a great start to Victoria's birthday [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/birthday.gif[/img] Great pictures of the breakfast [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[tinksmom]

Thanks for the great update! It looks like Victoria had a fun birthday breakfast. The photos of the Grand Californian are awesome. I can't wait 'til we stay there in June.
tenya