Disneyland's Haunted Parking Garage Trip Report About This Page:

[PrincessSharon]

I guess the Disney magic spoiled you for staying off property. I think I'd be the same way! That parking garage sounds a little scary. It should definitely be setting the scene for a day at the Happiest Place on Earth. Surprised at the crowds already! Can't wait for more. Also, I enjoy getting a look at other things to do in Southern California.

[Two4Disney]

Originally Posted by zacksmom_1993

Actually, for whatever reason, I've been told that during the summer, Monday is the busiest day at Disneyland. I've definitely found that to be true! Too funny about the parking garage! I've never really thought about it before. You need to bring Zack with you because in the morning he very excitedly would wave to the characters painted on the columns of each level. "Hi Mickey!" "Hi Mickey!" Then, in the evening as we were leaving (our tendency is to park there on departure day,) he'll dejectedly say goodbye. "Bye....Mickey..." "Bye...Mickey...." But, we're easily entertained! Can't wait to hear about your adventures in the park.

LOL! Yes, if this is all you've known, it's probably just fine. I remember a friend of mine saying when they first built DCA, "It's no longer our Disneyland - it's our kids' Disneyland." Oh so true!

[Desurae]

Originally Posted by Two4Disney

La Brea Bakery Cafe. The sitdown restaurant had a loooong line, so we chose to do the quick-service - La Brea Bakery Express. We each ordered the scrambled eggs plate, which came with applewood smoked bacon and their amazing bread. We had a small cup of coffee in the room, but we definitely needed more coffee. It was a great place to sit before entering the park.

This is our favorite place to eat breakfast when we go (especially adult only trips). We get there as soon as it opens. It's perfect for people watching and the coffee is pretty tasty. I love all the little finches that hang out at your feet.

Haven't used the parking garage, sounds like we need to stay away from it though

[Two4Disney]

Originally Posted by Desurae

This is our favorite place to eat breakfast when we go (especially adult only trips). We get there as soon as it opens. It's perfect for people watching and the coffee is pretty tasty. I love all the little finches that hang out at your feet.

Haven't used the parking garage, sounds like we need to stay away from it though

We also like to linger there on the last day before heading home. It keeps the magic going just a bit longer.

But about the parking garage - I must add that we've been very spoiled - not only haven't we parked in the parking garage before this, we don't even park the car ourselves period. We've been splurging on valet-parking - a habit we got used to when we lived in Florida and had what's now called the "Tables in Wonderland" card at WDW and valet-parking was included. You can see why staying off-site has been a rude awakening for us.

[Two4Disney]

I was watching some of the videos of the new "Hall of Presidents" and I noticed a link about Disneyland celebrating the Los Angeles Lakers and realized I forgot to mention that at the Angels vs. Dodgers game, Kobe Bryant was in the crowd and everybody cheered when they put him up on the video screen.

[Two4Disney]

So the first thing we did when we entered Disneyland Park was head for Pirates - our favorite ride - it's one we ride on every visit. But we must say, after living near WDW and going there so frequently, we are disappointed with Disneyland and its lack of water in 2 strategic places. Ironically, we now miss the water approach to the MK (used to love to arrive by ferry, although we resisted that idea at first) and we miss the large body of water as you turn off into Adventureland. It's just not quite the same. Sigh.

But POTC at Disneyland makes up for all of that. We were there early enough in the morning that we could just walk on the ride. We love the double drops, we love the longer ride time, and we love the Blue Bayou being in the ride - even when we don't eat there. Thankfully, there wasn't a line for Pirates because we prefer the queue at WDW - very well-themed.

After Pirates, I started looking for a kitchen shop that used to be in the courtyard but it wasn't anywhere to be found. I had hoped to buy some little kitchen wine decorations but no such luck. So we moved on to the Haunted Mansion. By now, it was a beautiful, typical summer morning in Anaheim, and it always feels so fabulous standing in line at HM. The line was short, and the ride was fun, as usual.



We then headed for Splash Mountain, right around the corner. We hadn't ridden the Disneyland version of SM in years.

We got so confused about where the standby line was, where to get a Fast Pass, and didn't we remember these big, long bank of restrooms on the other side of SM? We then realized we were remembering SM at WDW. How could we get so confused about our home theme park? We stumbled onto the standby line so we just got in it.

While in line, one dad and his daughter were passing us by in the FP line and the little girl asked, "Is this like Pirates?" The dad said, "No, it's like Small World" and then grinned at all of us observing the little lie he was telling his daughter so she wouldn't be too scared to ride it.

We were assigned the back of the log (sitting front-to-back - not side-by-side like at WDW) and Rich was such a gentleman to let me have the very back because it provided comfy, cushy back support. So I had a great time - I didn't even mind the drop. For Rich, it was okay but he said it was a bit uncomfortable. The ride was how we remembered it, though, in that it seems to zip-a-dee-do-dah a little more quickly past the characters and you don't quite get the same feeling of being part of a show the way you do at WDW.



We only got drenched a little bit - at least just on our left side - and I was mostly worried about my cell phone being in my left pocket - of course.

But all was well and we headed for the Pooh Ride (it replaced the Country Bears). The Pooh ride is more fun here than at WDW because it goes outside for part of the ride - similar to Alice in Wonderland - another attraction that WDW does not have.

Next:Time for a Dole Whip

[LLaffinPlace]

Thanks for the update!

I am always so intrigued with the differences between the attractions in the different parks. Riding POTC at DL was sooo long ago for me (37 years! ) but I can still remember Blue Bayou being there and thinking, "Gee, it would be fun to eat there."

I'll put it on my list for my triumphant return!

[chezp]

Nice start to the day, after the unmagical garage.

[Two4Disney]

First of all, Happy 4th of July to everyone. Thought we'd post another installment before firing up the grill. And a special thanks to all of our commenters: Chezp, LlaffinPlace, PrincessSharon, Zacsmom, Colexis Mom and all the rest. And we are definitely looking forward to the triumphant return of LlaffinPlace.

On our list of rides for today was the Tiki Birds - we hadn't done this in years - the last time was at WDW for the "new" Tiki Birds. We were looking forward to enjoying the original Tiki Birds. And this time we would order the Dole Whip Float from within the attraction - a favorite thing to do.

We were still rather full from breakfast so we ordered 1 Dole Whip Float and shared it.


Dole Whip Float - taken from the archives

We sat in our usual row in the back and enjoyed the air-conditioned, relaxing show. Afterwards, we noticed that Disneyland was getting very busy, and the Adventureland area, in particular, is narrow and shows the crowds. So we popped into the shop right there - don't remember its name, although it's a favorite - and I bought a fun, sleeveless, tropical-looking top with Minnie Mouse on the front.

Then we wandered through Frontierland, past Big Thunder, past Thunder Mtn. Ranch (where the bbq has been revitalized), and on into Fantasyland, heading for Peter Pan to check out the length of the line. Too long so we strolled through the Castle, and took some pictures, before heading out.



We then found our way to Downtown Disney: World of Disney for a quick peek at the merchandise and then on to Basin for more of their fabulous body butter for our moisture-starved bodies and on to the Grand Californian for a yummy lunch, drink, and respite in the really cool Hearthstone Lounge (the best in all of Disney property) just off the lobby. Ah, the Grand Californian - nobody does it better - can we just live here?

Next: No Place Like Home, uh, the Grand Californian

[Meggera]

I DL and am so looking forward to going back one day. I think POC is much better there and the Blue Bayou. I will eat there every time we go. Sounds like your day is off to a great start.

Happy 4th to you, too!

[chezp]

Nice update.

[Two4Disney]

I'm so saddened by the monorail fatality at WDW, but I do want to wrap up this report. But here's to Austin and all of the wonderful CMs who make our Disney trips so very magical.

This is when I appreciate the intimacy of the new Disneyland Resort - you can walk from your resort to Disneyland, to DCA, to Downtown Disney and even stop in at the Grand Californian if you're not staying there. But because we weren't resort guests for the first time since we've been back to experience this new Disneyland, we missed being able to access DCA from the GC - so we didn't even step into DCA. Besides, on our last trip staying at the GC and doing the Food & Wine Festival, we spent a lot of time at DCA. It was nice to take a break.

But, feeling tired and feeling the crowds of Disneyland Park this morning, it was fabbo being able to waltz into the Grand Californian and relax at Hearthstone Lounge. What a bar - probably the longest we've seen on Disney property. It so reminded us of Lodge bars found in the west - magnificent. Wish we had taken a pic of it, but you can get a peek on Allears.

There's a fireplace in a small nook off to the side but we sat in the main room overlooking the pool area and the new DVC additions - can't wait until this is all finished. Looks like there will be another pool and hot tub in this area. While we were waiting for our order to arrive, we saw a GC tour and one of the stops is the Hearthstone Lounge.

It was so relaxing sitting here, soaking up the atmosphere - nice and quiet and we were missing staying here. We looked longingly at the pool and remembered how wonderful it was on our last trip, and were wishing we could just go back up to our room, change into our suits, and jump in. Maybe next time...

We ordered a Flatbread to share:

"Robusto" Flatbread - Topped with Coriza de Bilbao, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Burrata Cheese and Romesco Sauce

And 2 glasses of Cupcake Merlot - Cupcake Vineyards is on the Central California Coast in San Luis Obispo aka SLO. I love their slogan - "Go ahead, live deliciously."

The flatbread was awesome - right up there with our favorite Kalamata Olive Flatbread from Jiko at AKL - although we might give the edge to the Kalamata Olive - but then, we love olives.

The Merlot was a nice pairing, and we just picked up another bottle from our favorite local wine discount store.

Next: It's Pool Time or Is It?

[LLaffinPlace]

I share your sadness at the tragic monorail accident.

So nice to hear about the Hearthstone Lounge and that they have good flatbread, too. My list of things to do at the GC just grows and grows!

I knew of Cakebread Cellars, but not Cupcake Vineyards--is it a small subsidiary? Nice to add a good merlot to look for.

I may not have told you that I finally tried the famed Kalamata Olive Flatbread with Lesley and Bob back in May! [That was such a wonderful meal.] I really liked it, though perhaps not as much as the BBQ Chicken Flatbread.

Thanks for the update!

[Two4Disney]

Originally Posted by LLaffinPlace

I share your sadness at the tragic monorail accident.

So nice to hear about the Hearthstone Lounge and that they have good flatbread, too. My list of things to do at the GC just grows and grows!

I knew of Cakebread Cellars, but not Cupcake Vineyards--is it a small subsidiary? Nice to add a good merlot to look for.

I may not have told you that I finally tried the famed Kalamata Olive Flatbread with Lesley and Bob back in May! [That was such a wonderful meal.] I really liked it, though perhaps not as much as the BBQ Chicken Flatbread.

Thanks for the update!

Cakebread is in Napa, and we haven't tried any of their wine, although we saw some in the store yesterday. May have to pick up a bottle next time.

Woo hoo - you tried the Kalamata Olive Flatbread - we'd love to try more appetizers at Jiko so we need to dine with a group so we can share - a bit difficult with just two people.

BTW, we had a fabbo brunch at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill here in Vegas and we thought about you - you may need to do that combo Vegas/Disneyland trip.

[Meggera]

GF truly is beautiful! I'm glad you got to step in and enjoy the bar.