Disneyland 2014

Hey there, hi there, ho there!

So I have been pretty busy with DreamCatcher, planning great vacations, and traveling myself!  My first outing after the summer was of course "The Happiest Place on Earth"~ Disneyland!  Now some may think; "Why do you go again, and again, and again?"  I think the best way to answer that is with a quote from Walt Disney himself!  "Disneyland will never be complete, not as long as we have imagination!"

This year my visit back served a dual purpose; one- it was my birthday! (Thank you!) The other was to catch up on all the changes and new things, so that I in turn would be able to share them first hand with my guests!

My check in at the Disneyland Hotel was not the beginning this year!  But in fact; the theme of this visit was "All About Walt".  A very good friend picked me up at the airport and we went directly to the Stanley Ranch Museum in Garden Grove.  A truly wonderful little place with many very interesting things to see.  But for me and this visit; it was all about the "garage", the very first home of the Disney Studios! When Walt first arrived in Southern California from Marceline, Missouri he stayed with his Uncle Robert Disney.  It was in his uncle's garage that he began the great beginnings of what we know as Disney today!

After a really special visit here, and spending time with my friends (Mahalo nui loa again- Marilyn and Rhonda for giving me such a great birthday!) I was on to Disneyland, and my stay at the Disneyland Hotel!

I started my visit with something that many people sadly do not take time for, and that is a "character breakfast"!  I went directly to Disney's California Adventure Park the next morning, and enjoyed a feast with my princess friends at Ariel's Grotto!  The food is really very good!  But the time spent with those princesses- priceless!  This is not just for "kids" folks... but for kids of all ages!

Besides enjoying all of my favorite rides- multiple times!  I wanted to do, and experience some things that would be especially fun and interesting for my "veteran" Disney guests!  Many people, especially those who live in California, feel like they have done it all.  But I'm pretty sure these next experiences have not been a part of most itineraries!

The next morning I checked in at the "Tour Garden" in Disneyland for a very special tour called "A Walk in Walt's Disneyland Footsteps"!  This three and a half hour tour included; private guide and audio equipment, back stage entrance to several spots and rides, a very special tour of the "Dream Suite", and a marvelous lunch at the end.  Along with all the amazing information, we also received a very- very exclusive "pin" to commemorate this tour!  I was so glad to have taken this time, and encourage everyone to consider it on your next visit to Disneyland!

My next special Walt memory experience... a brand new tour that only started this July!  This is the California Adventure version of the Disneyland tour!  This one is called; "Walt's California Story"! It was really very special, and a part of Walt's life that has not really been focused on before.  With so much information unknown to even myself!  Lots of backstage entrances on to the very best rides!  Access to the California Adventure Park version of the infamous "Club 33", that is "Club 1901"!  What an amazing once in a lifetime experience that was... not just in the door!  But we got to walk all around inside, and learn and hear even more wonderful stories!  Our tour again ended with a marvelous lunch, and a very special "pin"!  This was a great tour folks, and you should absolutely experience it for yourselves the next time you visit Disney's California Adventure Park!

I continue to visit Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and always will!  But I just sincerely hope that people will consider; there is so much more to these special places than just the rides!  The history, the stories, the parades, the shows!  Even if you think Disney is not "your thing"?  I encourage everyone to reconsider... it's not called the "Happiest Place on Earth"... for nothing!

Just my passionate and educated experiences- and thoughts from this Travel Professional!