California Adventure

In California Adventure, we rode several rides, including a couple on the new Spider-Man attraction. Grizzly River Run was being refurbished. We also checked out the new DVC area in the old Blue Sky Cellar. 

Since our last visit they had completed retheming the Pacific Wharf area to San Fransokyo. We went into DCA this morning and Jenn and I rode Incredicoaster, then we wandered through Downtown Disney.

There were several buildings being revamped, especially on the west end. The monorail was also closed for refurbishment. A couple of new buildings have gone up where the AMC theaters used to be, including a Din Tai Fung restaurant, where we ate lunch. 

It would have been nice to spend a few hours at the pool in the afternoon, but half the pool area was closed for refurbishment. We rested in our room a bit, then went back into DCA in the evening. Tomorrow morning we fly home.

Disneyland

This morning we went into Disneyland Park right after opening and rode a few rides. The train was being refurbished so all the stations were walled off. Small World was also down. 

Since we visited last they had changed Tarzan’s Treehouse into the Adventureland Treehouse inspired by Walt Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson. They also changed French Market into Tiana’s Palace, and added a gift shop near Haunted Mansion.

With the change of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Critter Country has now become Bayou Country. Tiana’s works a bit better here than in Magic Kingdom, although Pooh fits even less well into Bayou Country than he did in Critter Country. 

We spent the afternoon and evening hopping back and forth between parks. We also spent time at the DVC lounge above the Star Wars Launch Bay in the old Innovention building. Like the one at Epcot, there are free sodas and snacks.

USS Iowa

 

Yesterday while Jenn and Susan signed and sold books at the convention in downtown Los Angeles, I drove down to San Pedro to see the USS Iowa. The Iowa is one of four battleships that were built during WWII and is bigger than the USS Alabama, the other battleship I have toured. It’s also more modern, as it was updated for use in the Cold War. 

I spent about two hours going through the ship, so it wasn’t as good of value as the Reagan museum, since they both cost $30. It did have several videos the told about different aspects of the ship, although I believe more of the Alabama was available to tour and had better descriptions about the areas of the ship. 

After lunch at the hot dog stand on the ship, I walked down to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. This building used to be where ferries to Terminal Island loaded. Now it kind of tells the history of the Port of Los Angeles. It’s a fairly small museum, but admission is only $5. It’s not well organized, and there are lots of models of ships.

This morning we checked out of the Biltmore and drove down to the Grand Californian for a couple of days at the Disneyland resort. Since we started staying here twenty years ago, the trees in front have gotten so big they block out the hotel. We had a one-bedroom villa on the first floor.

We met Bryan and his friends and spent a couple of hours in the parks. It was fairly busy so we didn’t ride much, mostly looked around and snacked.  For dinner we all went to a BBQ place in downtown Anaheim. It was pretty good.

Los Angeles

Yesterday morning we got up very early and caught a 6 am Delta flight to LAX so Jennifer could attend a book convention. Upon our arrival we picked up a minivan and drove to downtown, where we checked into the historic Biltmore Hotel. While Susan and Jenn set up for the convention, I drove Bryan down to Anaheim so he could stay with friends. 

When I got back, Susan and I walked to The Last Bookstore, about 5 minutes away. It has a fair amount of new and used books, but nowhere near what Powell’s Books in Portland has, and the area around it was pretty run down, with lots of boarded up stores and people loitering about.

This morning, while Jenn and Susan signed and sold books and visited with convention attendees, I drove up to Simi Valley to visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. While I knew most of what happened during his presidency, I enjoyed learning more about his early life. 

I also enjoyed walking through his Air Force One. I spent about four hours there looking at all the exhibits. I could have spent longer but I got hungry and the Irish Pub onsite is only open on weekends in the off season.

When I got back to the Biltmore, Susan and Jenn were done selling for the day, so we walked down Grand Avenue to get some dinner. This area was in much better shape than what we walked through yesterday.

Magic Kingdom and Epcot

This week some friends from Wisconsin were in town so Susan and I took them to the parks. Thursday morning we went to Magic Kingdom. We did a few rides in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, then had lunch at Pinocchio Village Haus. Susan and I then headed out while they stayed to enjoy the park. 

Friday morning we got them into Epcot. We rode Spaceship Earth, then while they explored World Nature Susan and I headed back to the Showcase to look at the art booths again.

Even though the Festival of the Arts was still going on, some of the topiaries for Flower and Garden had already been installed. We had lunch at Regal Eagle, then headed home. 

This afternoon while I worked, Jenn and Susan did an author signing at a brewpub in Apopka.

Universal Mardi Gras

Tonight Susan, Jenn, and I went to Universal Studios to check out its Mardi Gras Celebration. Every year the Celebration lasts about two months and features food and drink booths, entertainment, and a parade. When we’ve gone in February and March in the past, we’ve never stayed late enough for the Mardi Gras stuff. 

We got to the park around 3:30, got some snacks at one of the booths, and activated our unlimited drink cups, then Jenn and I used the after 4 express pass on our AP’s to ride the Mummy. We walked around the park and got more food and drink refills; there weren’t any other rides we cared about doing. Islands of Adventure has better rides which is probably why the special events are held at the Studios. 

The Tribute store had been changed into “Legends of the Bayou” and had Mardi Gras merchandise. It’s fun that they change the decorations and stuff in this store several times a year. We also walked through the Wicked store since Jenn hadn’t seen it yet. 

We then watched the parade. There were about 10 floats pulled by pickup trucks, each with guests riding on it and tossing beads to the parade viewers. The entertainers that were out earlier walked between them, lots on stilts. Both parks closed at 7 tonight so we headed home after the parade.

Festival of the Arts

Thursday afternoon we rode the Friendship Boat up to Epcot to check out the Festival of the Arts and try for a 1 pm VQ for Guardians. We walked around the showcase checking out the art and sampling some food from the booths.

The park was pretty crowded for a Thursday in January. Waits for rides were long, because Test Track and the Mexico ride are both under refurbishment. Eventually we rode Guardians and headed home.

This morning Susan got the kids into Animal Kingdom to ride Dinosaur and a few other things. In the afternoon they headed back to Epcot for a chance at another ride on Guardians.

I joined them for a while after work, and although Susan and I left after dinner, by the time the kids rode Guardians it was after dark.

Rock N Roller Coaster

This month, Jenn released her tenth novel. She continues to work at Barnes & Noble on occasion, especially for special events like author signings. 

Over on Bay Lake, Disney continues to work on the new resort at the old River Country site. They have brought several more cranes onsite, and announced the new resort will be called Lakeshore Lodge. 

Two of the kids UP friends came into town last night. The kids picked them up at the airport and went to dinner at Disney Springs, then by Gideon’s for cookies.

 

This morning we took them to the parks. They wanted to ride Guardians of the Galaxy, but I couldn't get a virtual que for it so instead we went to Hollywood Studios to ride Rock n Roller coaster. Disney has announced it will be rethemed to the Muppets soon.

Animal Kingdom

This week Susan and I celebrated our anniversary, and used up more of Susan’s birthday coupons. Tuesday we spent time at Animal Kingdom. We were surprised that Christmas decorations were still up, and holiday music was playing as we entered. 

After checking out the shops in Discovery Island, we walked through Dinoland. Disney had put up walls around the Dino-Rama area in preparation for its replacement with an Encanto attraction.

We headed into Asia, and had lunch at Yak & Yeti, where Susan used her birthday coupon from Landry’s restaurants. After lunch the wait for the African Safari ride had dropped to only 15 minutes, so we rode that. 

After that we walked through Pandora. The wait for Flight of Passage was only 20 minutes, so we rode that as well. We then headed out, and stopped by Cast Connection, where Susan picked up some kids t-shirts to send to LA fire victims. 

Wednesday we ran errands and worked around the house.This afternoon I drove Susan to a Masonic Lodge east of downtown Orlando so she could transfer her Nile membership to Florida. This evening we went out to dinner.

Birthday Week

This week is Susan’s birthday, so she got several coupons for free dinners and snacks. We started Monday night after work with dinner at Ford’s Garage. We’ve gone to this auto-themed restaurant several times since they opened one near us a few years ago.  The food is pretty good.

When we went to the Tampa Bay Lightning match last month, Susan and I ended up talking to someone with group sales. He offered to give us a tour of the arena the next time we came and Tuesday we drove out to Tampa to take him up on it.  

We were hoping he would show us a bit more behind the scenes stuff than he did, but it was still a pretty cool tour. I especially liked getting to go up where the organ is, high above the arena. After the tour we had a late lunch at the Yardhouse next to the arena, and then watched the Lightning defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 3 to 2. 

Last night we went to Benihana on International Drive for dinner. Earlier today Susan and I redeemed several birthday coupons as we ran errands, and used another this evening to eat dinner at Red Robin.