ThreeMountains
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2019
Ok, ok..."vet" might be a stretch after only five short trips, but coming from a longtime WDW fanatic, one can certainly "figure out" Disneyland Resort a LOT quicker than Disney World, especially with so much previous Disney parks experience. I actually feel like I know what I'm doing at this point!
TRIP BACKSTORY
I'm not sure how I got so lucky, but my wife once again gave her blessing to add days to the end of my annual Anaheim work trip for some me time in the Happiest Place on Earth. Do I feel bad that my wife and kids couldn't join me? Absolutely. I would have strongly preferred they were with me, but it's never really in the cards at the end of this type of work trip. That said, we're all going to WDW in April, plus my wife gets a longer solo trip later this year, so I don't feel too bad...
ABOUT ME
I'm Joe and I've been visiting WDW since I was 8 weeks old. While many people I know think it's strange that a grown adult man loves to go to Disney parks, even solo, that's totally fine; they don't get it and they don't need to. For me, it's in my family and in my blood. They are truly my home away from home having visited WDW with my grandparents, parents, and brothers for decades, my wife and kids for several years, and now DL solo several times and once with my brother and his wife. Any time I step foot onto Disney property and hear that music, the nostalgia and excitement go off the charts. I could literally sit on a bench on Main Street or wander the parks for hours without doing a single attraction and still have an amazing day. That said, I'm a trip-planning, rope-drop-to-park-close personality type, even if it doesn't always happen that way when I get there.
(from a November 2021 WDW trip)
1/28: MOVING TO NON-WORK HOTEL AND DOWNTOWN DISNEY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE PARKS
Sunday was LONG final work day, and I had been on my feet about 15 hours a day since the previous Tuesday for this convention. Needless to say, I was tired and everything hurt, but nothing can put a damper on my excitement for a Disney parks visit. We wrapped up everything work-related around 8pm, so I grabbed my luggage from the work hotel, said goodbye to my coworkers who were flying out the next morning, and walked over to my new hotel for the next four nights: Wyndham Anaheim near the corner of Harbor and Katella.
I had previously stayed at a couple of super-budget hotels, which were pretty uninspiring for a Disney trip, but they did the job since I was by myself and they were just within walking distance. I also stayed at Disneyland Hotel one time, but that was the trip with my brother and his wife where we all split a room, and it certainly wasn't in the budget for a solo trip. This time, I opted to spend a bit more than the lowest options to stay a little closer and nicer. This hotel fit the bill perfectly, as it was about a 10-minute walk to the security checkpoint at my pace, and it was a solid upgrade quality-wise compared to those low-budget hotels. Nothing fancy, but aside from a stain on the carpet near the TV - which you can see in this photo - it was perfectly fine, clean, and comfortable.
I quickly got settled, then to get myself in the Disney trip mood, I walked over to Downtown Disney for dinner and a special treat to myself: my first MagicBand+ from World of Disney! It took quite a while for me to decide which one to buy, as there were many options I liked, but I landed on this one:
What a beautiful sight!
Dinner at Ballast Point one night is becoming a ritual for me, as I never have an issue getting a seat, I like their beer, and the food is solid. I don't drink a lot, but I like a beer or other adult beverage when I can relax and enjoy it. I went with a lager to keep it low percentage, and also ordered the carne asada flatbread this time around. As I mentioned, all solid and it came out quickly with a friendly staff while I sat at the bar. Would order both again.
After I ate, I walked back to the hotel, a whopping 15 minutes or so from Ballast Point, and tried my best for a good night's rest before Day One at the parks!
Stay tuned for DAY ONE!
TRIP BACKSTORY
I'm not sure how I got so lucky, but my wife once again gave her blessing to add days to the end of my annual Anaheim work trip for some me time in the Happiest Place on Earth. Do I feel bad that my wife and kids couldn't join me? Absolutely. I would have strongly preferred they were with me, but it's never really in the cards at the end of this type of work trip. That said, we're all going to WDW in April, plus my wife gets a longer solo trip later this year, so I don't feel too bad...
ABOUT ME
I'm Joe and I've been visiting WDW since I was 8 weeks old. While many people I know think it's strange that a grown adult man loves to go to Disney parks, even solo, that's totally fine; they don't get it and they don't need to. For me, it's in my family and in my blood. They are truly my home away from home having visited WDW with my grandparents, parents, and brothers for decades, my wife and kids for several years, and now DL solo several times and once with my brother and his wife. Any time I step foot onto Disney property and hear that music, the nostalgia and excitement go off the charts. I could literally sit on a bench on Main Street or wander the parks for hours without doing a single attraction and still have an amazing day. That said, I'm a trip-planning, rope-drop-to-park-close personality type, even if it doesn't always happen that way when I get there.
(from a November 2021 WDW trip)
1/28: MOVING TO NON-WORK HOTEL AND DOWNTOWN DISNEY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE PARKS
Sunday was LONG final work day, and I had been on my feet about 15 hours a day since the previous Tuesday for this convention. Needless to say, I was tired and everything hurt, but nothing can put a damper on my excitement for a Disney parks visit. We wrapped up everything work-related around 8pm, so I grabbed my luggage from the work hotel, said goodbye to my coworkers who were flying out the next morning, and walked over to my new hotel for the next four nights: Wyndham Anaheim near the corner of Harbor and Katella.
I had previously stayed at a couple of super-budget hotels, which were pretty uninspiring for a Disney trip, but they did the job since I was by myself and they were just within walking distance. I also stayed at Disneyland Hotel one time, but that was the trip with my brother and his wife where we all split a room, and it certainly wasn't in the budget for a solo trip. This time, I opted to spend a bit more than the lowest options to stay a little closer and nicer. This hotel fit the bill perfectly, as it was about a 10-minute walk to the security checkpoint at my pace, and it was a solid upgrade quality-wise compared to those low-budget hotels. Nothing fancy, but aside from a stain on the carpet near the TV - which you can see in this photo - it was perfectly fine, clean, and comfortable.
I quickly got settled, then to get myself in the Disney trip mood, I walked over to Downtown Disney for dinner and a special treat to myself: my first MagicBand+ from World of Disney! It took quite a while for me to decide which one to buy, as there were many options I liked, but I landed on this one:
What a beautiful sight!
Dinner at Ballast Point one night is becoming a ritual for me, as I never have an issue getting a seat, I like their beer, and the food is solid. I don't drink a lot, but I like a beer or other adult beverage when I can relax and enjoy it. I went with a lager to keep it low percentage, and also ordered the carne asada flatbread this time around. As I mentioned, all solid and it came out quickly with a friendly staff while I sat at the bar. Would order both again.
After I ate, I walked back to the hotel, a whopping 15 minutes or so from Ballast Point, and tried my best for a good night's rest before Day One at the parks!
Stay tuned for DAY ONE!