Son's Birthday and Rundisney Weekend!! Jan 2024 (Completed 2/11)

[Tinkaboo]

This is the best trip report I’ve ever read! So informative. I had no idea what these runs were like and now I feel like I was there! So happy for you that you’ve had a great family trip and your son enjoyed it so much ! Thanks for sharing!

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

This is the best trip report I’ve ever read! So informative. I had no idea what these runs were like and now I feel like I was there! So happy for you that you’ve had a great family trip and your son enjoyed it so much ! Thanks for sharing!

Thank u so much I loove rundisney and I always love showing how anyone can do these runs (with a little training) including a little chubby 39 year old mom like me

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Here is some pics of my son playing. My son loves climbing so he loved hitting up the little climbing wall.



Chip and Dale were playing with the kids too!
So cute.

So we decide to go get pics with my medals while my son and husband are playing.
As I walk over a rundisney disboard member spots me. We chat for a bit. I love our rundisney disboards group. I see Walts statue has a photopass photographer but no line so I get a few pics.

Next I hop into daisy line. Her line looks reasonable. I love character hugs.


Then Goofy next. No offical photographer so my mom takes the pic.


I really love the characters outfits in this area.
Continuing on to next post.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Next Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! We had a pre made DAS for it. Still had to wait a little for it. We get little snacks. My son get pretzels and we get popcorn to share. I go on a hunt for churro. I realized I have not had one yet and we see the dance party. We watch that for a bit.

Then get my churro... I forgot to get a pic of me eating it. I looved it. We debate on the cosmic cream and decide no... I heard to many mix reviews on it.

We then find a spot and eat.
My son notices next to us Spidey and His Amazing Friends photo spot. My son loooves this show. So pic is a must with his mickey pretzel.

While eating we see the singing crew. Love the these kind of extras.



Next Monsters ride is up.
Love all the cute touches in this ride.

I would love them opening up a restaurant with this theme...


We all loved this dark ride.
My son wants to go back to the hotel. The rest of us our tired to so we head back.
We get a picture with Joy! She had a short line.


Continuing on to next post.

 

[alohamom]

While eating we see the singing crew. Love the these kind of extras.

I feel that these little touches are what make Disneyland a different type of magic than WDW, it really honors the vision Walt had for the park.

I would love them opening up a restaurant with this theme...

YESSS! that would be so awesome!

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

As heading out we decided to get some food. My son wants hot dog.

So we get the basic hot dogs not spicy.

We also see some more characters... again they are everywhere.


Then we walk over to Corn Dog Castle.

Yes to famous corn dog!!! Soo yummy.

Okay this hand batter corn dog really is better.
Then we cross back into our hotel through our special back entrance. And I do anothr pic cause why not..

And I see another level when we drop off a person in the elevator... ohh pretty art work.

Then I change in bathing suit for more hot tub time. No one else wants to join. I loove it.

It is getting dark. So I head back up... ohh fires are on.

My husband says he has been looking at the gift store and says he wants to show me things. Ohh I like the sound of that.
First 50% off wall of the 100th anniversary and I can put my dvc discount on top of it!!
I get quite a bit... loungfly bag, ears and xmas ornament.

Also they have a place where u can buy the art... my husband and me pick out a piece. The price includes shipping back to our house, nice!!
It is now at our house above our bed love it. Need to take a pic of it.
Continuing on to next post.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Next we decide to head back into the parks so I can get some night time shots. My son wants to stay in the room so my mom and son stay behind while my husband and I go back in.
We go our secret back entrance of course... I really love that entrance.
We try some pics.



We notice a photopass photographer so we get in line.


Love this area soo pretty

I mean look... how does this look soo good?

Next we head to Avengers campus since my husband wanted to try out Shawarma.
Again just more pretty pics.

My husband said he loved it. I wish there was some customizing available... since it had stuff I do not like on it but ohh well.

Continuing on to next post.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

We then look to place to eat and when we try to sit they said we have to move that a character will becoming. We asked who and we found out LOKI!!! I am freaking out. Yep...
So we go wait in line. The line is getting long as people here it is Loki. And loki arrives!! I wait my turn and then I meet him soo fangirl and show him my medal and explain it. He is such a gentlemen hero/villian/god.





Then next I am getting hungry. So we head to the Pyms test kitchen. This place looks soo cool. I am hungry for protein. So even though those preztels look cool I order The Bigger Than Buffalo” Wings.
This tasted pretty good. Nothing to special... but later on did make my tummy ache later... I think cause I ate to much. So not sure if I could recommend it. The tots tasted soo good though.

Then when we decided to head to Disneyland for more pics.
And we see spider man doing pics. I soo wish my son was here.



Continuing on to next post.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

So we walk over... my tummy is starting hurt... my feet hurt. I think I am hitting my wall... bah. Silly body... don't u know I am in Disneyland...
Man it is pretty.

Lines for photopass are longer over here. So do a selfie... it is getting cold... hmm should have maybe put on a real jacket not just the sweater.




We find a bench to just chill... Sadly my body it slowly going... I wanted to try and wait for fireworks.. but my body was officially done. Well we did wake up at 3am today and did half marathon.
We decided let's get on Monorail to head back to the hotel.


We head back and go to sleep. So no fireworks. But the bed was amazing.
Continue on to the next post, next day.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Monday... the last day.
We pack up... so sad. We eat the last bit of Great maple... man those donuts just keep so well.
Then we bring down our luggage down to bell services for them to store it.
Then we head to Disneyland for our last hurrah. Airplane leaves late in the evening so we can do Disneyland in the morning.
We hit up the early entry.
We do a quick pic infront.

Then we head to to hotel guest early entry they just released them when we were walking up. He head to the most important ride of the day Mr Toads wild ride... my moms fav ride that we did not do in the first day. Yes... we roped drop this ride.. lol.


I am pretty sure we were the first in it. Mom was happy.

Next we hit up the Pinocchio ride that we did not get in last time.

Then I ask my son if he wants to do Matterhorn. He did not want to do it. So skipped that and decide to do some pics before it got crowded with all the other people.
Dumbo pics first!


Then castle pics and look no people!



Man the light is perfect for photos.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

They had a photopass photographer out so I get in the super short line for pics.
So pro tip... if u come during a rundisney weekend, I read Sunday there was huge lines for pics in Disneyland (DCA was much better). Like huge lines, going down main street level. Disneyland was not ready for the amount of runners wanting medal pics. But doing the pics on monday while only hotel guest could come in was great! So I got all the pics with my medal and the castle!


And look they even have mickey and Minnie running magic shots!!!




Then family shots!


Super excited about these pics
We look at the time and see soon the crowds will soon be coming. We get in to a spot to hit Big Thunder mountain next. basically the side gate in Fantasyland where we see other people now lining up. We have not done that rollercoaster yet and my son wanted to do since it is his fav railroad Rollercoaster.
Then they open they gates... most look like they are heading to Galaxy Edge. We are actually swimming upstream against the crowds to get to Big Thunder Mountain but we make. Luckliy I am city girl so I can make space in crowds.
And we get into Big Thunder. My son is very excited cause he sees a dinosaur!!

He loved this ride.

The effects on this ride they added in is soo much better than WDW.

Continue on to next post

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Next we head to Pirates of the Caribbean. Super short line still. This ride is so much better than WDW!



We had fun. Next we head to Galaxys Edge for the Millennium Falcon ride. We have pre made das pass there.


Then we spot Rey! There are not many people around so we chatting.

She is soo cute with my son when she saw it was his birthday. We also showed her my sons shirt which was a jedi shirt for the disney junior stars wars show. (Fyi super cute family show to get your little ones into star wars universe.) But she did not know who Nubs was from the show... I was wondering if they would know them or not. Technically the show takes place during high republic times so makes since they Rey would not know them.
We chat a bit and then Rey asked my son if he wanted to me her friend. Of course... and she takes him to Chewbacca!!


Don't mind me freaking out my son is walking with Ray!!
My son was soo excited and happy too.
Continue on to the next post.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

So they chat more. My mom has video of it.





After the photo op pic Chewie noticed my medal and asked about. Poor Chewbacca never getting his medal.
We say goodbye and just wow!!!
Just wow!!! That was one of the best interactions we have ever had!! Have I mentioned yet, how I just the love the characters in Disneyland. Like I would come to Disneyland for the characters alone and do no rides. They are just wonderful and they make u feel soo special. My son still talks about this and looves it. I just we could afford the dvcs here...
Next we go to on to our ride.




My son wanted to be the main pilot. He was doing good until we needed to go to hyper speed and pull a lever. He could not reach it so I went and pulled it down. Then his skin on his finger got pinched in it... so now que melt down. Poor guy, but hey we lasted this long with out real big melt down soo that is really good... way better than WDW. It helps we learned a lot from WDW and know to just end it when my son says he is done and always have a close hotel. So we ask cast member when we come out do u have a bandaid. It is not really bleeding just my son loves Band-Aids and that can get him out of meltdown. The cm did not know got Manger and then found out only place to get a bandaid is first aid place all the way in the front. Slight problem... we already have a mobile order window up for the ronto breakfast wraps and they will be soon switching over to lunch. We wanted the breakfast. So plan husband and me get food. My mom and son go to first aid. And we bring food to mom.

Continue on to next post.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

We got the wraps yeah!!
Mom message us to just eat our food and bring her food when done.


The breakfast wraps are just as good as I remembered. We love them over the lunch version.
We walk down to main st and we call and find each other. We get a table on main street and my son is still not feeling good. Well seems like we might be done with our trip. I mobile order some treats. Then I go to candy store and I pick up my son candy coins, he loooves candy coins. It does the trick.

You can see the the nurse sticker u get when going to the first aid area.
My mom said they have a lot there and the nurse was good. But we need to remember to bring a bandaid.
Next I picked up our mobile order at Jolly Holiday... and I got all the yummy treats. Look at this cuties.


They were both soo yummy and worth the hype... why can't WDW at least get the macaroon..
My son says he is done and just want to chill at the table. So I go get some more pics.
Again line soo much shorter on monday for medal pics.
Get my Dumbo pic.

Then partners pic.





Continue on to next post..

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Then in our rundinsey group a person but in Dumbo magic shots.

Next I go on the hunt for the famous garlic bread. I find it and get in line. U know it is good when there is a line just for one item. And I brought it back and everyone agreed lives up to the hype!!


We see the characters and wave at them.

Then we go and shop.
Here is what we end up getting.
I got mom this mug... we got 60% off.

Then I got cute pin.

And loove this ornament!

My son got this toy and on sale since it is part of the 100th collection.

And got my son a classic Disneyland shirt.

My husband got a golf mickey shirt that he can wear at work, did not get pic of it though.
But man have to say love coming to Disneyland when they want to get rid of all the 100th stuff we took advantage of those sales.
Continuing on to next post.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

As we were walking out my son wanted to play on the firetruck or firewagon. So cute.


We then walked back to the hotel.
We stopped at the DVC spot in Grand Californian to see if we could get a coin and yes that had one!!! Score!

Also he gave us some hats and coaster too.

And got our luggage and got a lyft to the airport.
The orange county airport is so close and so nice. Love this airport over the LA Airport.
We went to a lovely wine spot. Time for some wine and cheese!




We fly home... nothing special happened...
But when we got home it was in the negatives!!! Like record breaking cold
No fun and we have none of our heavy cold gear. So we like put on all the layers we had and bundle up. Lol.
Here is the other 100th gear we purchased on sale..

And that is it we are done!!

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

So overall Disneyland is wonderful! The characters and snacks are better over here.
We all loved our trip. I am hoping Disneyland rundisney fixes it issues though.They did send out a survey and I filled it out so they are actively trying to listen to the issues. Also The Pixar Hotel is fantastic esp after I saw on utube all the new extra stuff added in after we left, like meeting BingBong!!! We all decided next time we would come back to Pixar Hotel if we cannot use dvc points here. The cms where the best there and we love the location with the secret entrance to DcA and the whole theme, I mean who does not love Pixar. Also when watching some behind the scenes stuff on disney plus that showed some of the Pixar building I saw soo many things that the Pixar Hotel pulled from. The hotel literally looks like it could be apart of the Pixar campus.

Ohh and here is the picture we ordered. We loved it since it reminds us of Aulani... one of our home resorts. There were soo many great pieces of art to choose from.


Let me know if you have any questions!

 

[Mama_Cass]

After dropping off our luggage my mom needed some more coffee and guess what just opened up... like just a few mins ago for the first time, the cafe!! The cafe is being run by Great Maple. It is super cute and lots of good grab and go stuff. The seating is nice and had a TV with Disney on it to keep kids entertained. There was never long line here unlike the other coffee places in disney downtown or in the parks. So this is great perk for our hotel.
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We did a quick bathroom trip too.
Then we go off to the parks.
We walk through Grand Californian for a quicker route. Easy to follow the signs and people. Also it is just pretty walking though the lobby.
The security line is super short in Grand Californian. They have the old security so it is a lot slower which will become an issue later.
Then we make it to Disneyland Downtown.
They still had some xmas decorations up!! So pretty.
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We head to the gates and wait. We are in a good spot. We plan on hitting early magic half an hour.

Continuing on the next post.

You said you walked through the Grand for a quicker route. Did you have any issues doing this? I was under the impression we could only take the Pixar entrance and not go through those front gates?

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

You said you walked through the Grand for a quicker route. Did you have any issues doing this? I was under the impression we could only take the Pixar entrance and not go through those front gates?

Nope... never had an issue. Our hotel pass worked to open up the gates for the Grand too. I used this route to get to Disneyland gates. For DCA I used Pixar's private gate which was soo nice.

 

[erinch]

Thanks so much for your report! Loved it!