Newbie to Disney Cali parks/trip in 5 days!-questions

[disneychrista]

Do you not have park reservations yet? If not, do so immediately. If you are meaning restaurant reservations many will be booked or have limited availability. If there are any you might want to dine at book those now also.

 

[aurora64]

Your walk to the Toy Story lot would not be too bad. I’m guessing 10 min or so. You can just use that as a somewhat WDW style transport into the central hub for the parks. I’m not sure if this is still the case but another advantage of the Toy Story lot is you can pre-clear security in the AM there which saves a lot of time as it’s usually less insane than the Harbor entrance.

Not 100% sure but SNA is not too far from the DLR area and you should have no issues getting transportation to the area. Much better than trying to do so from LAX.

Not sure about reservations. They tend to almost always have open spots for ticket holders (us MK holders have to fight for the scraps if we aren’t staying on property/DVC).

Not sure about Indy but someone posted good ways to find out.

The Target on Chapman/Harbor is nice and fairly well stocked with everything you need for your hotel/stay. For a quick/cheap bite that Del Taco just across the street is a good choice. If you want something a bit more authentic and sit down meal we have had a few good meals at La Casa Garcia. Menudo and Huevos Rancheros as well as a traditional pancake/bacon/eggs breakfast was solid.

Awesome! Very helpful!

 

[aurora64]

Do you not have park reservations yet? If not, do so immediately. If you are meaning restaurant reservations many will be booked or have limited availability. If there are any you might want to dine at book those now also.

I do have park reservations and one meal reservation but thanks for the heads up!

 

[LKing]

I do have park reservations and one meal reservation but thanks for the heads up!

Are you going by yourself? Or are there others?

 

[Tinkaboo]

You and Stan Kroenke. He's building a luxury hotel next to Sofi and is calling it Kali.

That figures, coming from ole Mr. Kranky....i loved it when Terry Bradshaw called him that at the Superbowl...he owns all things sports (cept the Donkeys) in my town (Denver)...amazing what you can do with your wife's money

 

[NVDISFamily]

As long as I have the hotel you are staying at correct I have the walk to Toy Story bus depot at .92 miles. So perhaps just a tad more than 10 min but not too crazy -



Overall a safe area to walk around but be careful when crossing some of those major roads. Never know when you may be dealing with someone late to their job or something and they may fly though "pink" lights.....

 

[disneychrista]

I do have park reservations and one meal reservation but thanks for the heads up!

Okay. Wasn't clear because you asked about reservations. Glad you have that all in place. Would hate for someone to show up to the park and not be able to get in because they hadn't made reservations.

 

[aurora64]

Okay. Wasn't clear because you asked about reservations. Glad you have that all in place. Would hate for someone to show up to the park and not be able to get in because they hadn't made reservations.

Yes. My husband and I are all set. You all have helped quite a bit!

 

[Kit Jackson]

I always say "the" before freeway numbers. "Take the 405 to the 5"

The reason I heard for this (and it could be urban legend) is that originally, the freeways had names and it made sense to use "the" before the name. When California switched to numbers, people in California still continued use "the" before the number the way they did for the name.

In other parts of the country when the numbered highway system was new and did not replace an existing named system, people did not use "the" in front of the name. It's why people on the East Coast will more commonly say "take I-95," not "take the I-95."

 

[disneychrista]

The reason I heard for this (and it could be urban legend) is that originally, the freeways had names and it made sense to use "the" before the name. When California switched to numbers, people in California still continued use "the" before the number the way they did for the name.

In other parts of the country when the numbered highway system was new and did not replace an existing named system, people did not use "the" in front of the name. It's why people on the East Coast will more commonly say "take I-95," not "take the I-95."

Even with the freeway numbers they are still often referred to by names (The Santa Anna Freeway, The Garden Grove Freeway, etc)

 

[irlandaise]

I also say the before my highway and freeway numbers often which my wife gives me a fun/hard time about.

That will definitely mark you as an Angeleno. Do not do that in Northern California unless you want to get side-eyed.

 

[StarlitNight05]

That will definitely mark you as an Angeleno. Do not do that in Northern California unless you want to get side-eyed.

This may sound obscure, but my best data point for the "Cali" term is Notorious B.I.G. (aka Biggie Smalls) with his song "Going Back to Cali." He was from the East Coast, so no California knowledge... hence his use of the term. It always made me cringe as a Northern Californian kid.

ETA: I had to listen to the song again after I made this comment...don't look it up if you're adverse to curse words. Lol why was I allowed to listen to this when I was young?

 

[NVDISFamily]

That will definitely mark you as an Angeleno. Do not do that in Northern California unless you want to get side-eyed.

I serve a few clients in the SJ/SF area and many of the younger professionals (20s and 30s) who went to school in "the North" part of the state pull off a way better version of the "valley" LA style speak than anyone I grew up with. We have invaded/spread our culture north......

One benefit of going "east" and ending up in NV is you get a good mixture of NJ/NY and Chicago attitudes to put you in check. I much preferer the blunt "what did you just say" to the side eye.....

 

[twoolle]

This may sound obscure, but my best data point for the "Cali" term is Notorious B.I.G. (aka Biggie Smalls) with his song "Going Back to Cali." He was from the East Coast, so no California knowledge... hence his use of the term. It always made me cringe as a Northern Californian kid.

ETA: I had to listen to the song again after I made this comment...don't look it up if you're adverse to curse words. Lol why was I allowed to listen to this when I was young?

Kids still do...I coach a 12U softball team and one of my players requested the Big Poppa song as her walk up. I looked up the lyrics and had to tell her no!

 

[maleficent55]

That will definitely mark you as an Angeleno. Do not do that in Northern California unless you want to get side-eyed.

I’d guess I’m probably the most northern californian on these boards, as far up as you can almost go and we say ‘the’ before our highways up here too, everyone does
Either we say ‘the’ or just the number but definitely ‘the 101’

 

[OlliePop27]

That will definitely mark you as an Angeleno. Do not do that in Northern California unless you want to get side-eyed.

Precisely. I grew up in the Bay Area and we most definitely did not use "the" in front of freeways! It sounds like others in NorCal may have, but at least not in my part of the Bay Area 25+ years ago!

 

[disneychrista]

As to the big “THE” debate. Born in SoCal moved to NorCal at age 12. And I think it depends on if I use “The 5” or just “5.” Both sound normal is to me.

 

[Tinkaboo]

Hahahahaha...interesting discussion...as a native Midwesterner who spent many years in California, now live in the Rockies...
When going east: "take 76 to 80"
In town: "take I-25, take I-70"
When in CA: "take THE 405, THE 5, THE 101"

Weird little colloquialisms we have, aren't they? But, never, ever have I said to someone that I was going to "Cali"....

Aurora64, I hope you have a wonderful trip and enjoy the park to its fullest! Can't wait for a trip report!

 

[LKing]

Along those lines, I don't know anyone that refers to San Francisco as Frisco.

 

[irlandaise]

Along those lines, I don't know anyone that refers to San Francisco as Frisco.

Oh yes, another definite no-no!