A CALIFORNIAN ODYSSEY 2010.....A live trip report from the Golden State
Jun 18th, 2010, 11:30 PM
#47
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I have just discovered something amazing today. It must be one of America’s best kept secret’s. An absolute national treasure. I should be starting of this segment of my trip report by telling you what a great experience I had at Disney but I just can’t get my mind off one thing. IHOP. How can feed a family of 4 with unlimited soft drinks for 35 bucks? You get table service and it even tastes good! Now that’s something worth talking about. The USA gives the world Mc Donald’s, KFC, Burger King and Domino’s but you keep IHOP all to yourselves? This place is incredible value. Good meals for under $15, drinks with unlimited refills for $3 and free kids meals inclusive of the refills. Wow! Why cook at home? They even give you a separate nutrition chart when they hand you the menu. I was a little scared to look at this too closely, just in case this stuff is not good for me. I don’t want to burst this bubble.
As for Disneyland? Loved it, loved it, loved it. Was it a perfect experience that lived up to all my expectations? No, but nothing ever is, or will. I have decided not to go over this as a day by day, blow by blow account, but rather, break it down into segments.
THE DISNEY EXPERIENCE.
It is there the moment you walk into the car park. Music plays at the perfect volume, loud enough to create an atmosphere but not too loud to be annoying. The staff are all smiles and the greetings are warm and generous. The wonderful smells of fresh pop-corn and cotton candy are complimented by fresh odors of citrus and pine that must be piped through the indoor areas. The place is incredibly clean and everything looks so shiny and new. When you consider that the main park opened over 50 years ago, that is an amazing accomplishment. I can only presume that work continues all night to ready the place for the next day. During our stay, Disneyland closed at midnight and opened at 8am. Some parts were opened at 7am for Magic Morning pass holders. At a guess, there must have been close to 100,000 people through the gates each day and yet each morning everything looked pristine. It also remains current. Some of the original attractions have survived and people still queue to experience them but they have obviously been very conscious of providing entertainment for all ages, including the hard to please generation Yer’s. You would have to have a very cold heart to walk away from here without some level of enjoyment.
However, some cracks do occasionally appear. On our second and third days you start to notice a few “attitude’s” from the odd cast member that due to the euphoria of our first day, we may not have picked up on. Some of the rides are inexplicably closed at various parts of the day with very little, if any excuse offered. If you have been queuing when this happens, you are sent away with only an apology. This happened to us on the Haunted Mansion after a 30 minute wait, I though they could have issued a fast pass for a later return, but we were just told that we would have to take our chances and come back later.
Also the queues at the busier times of the day were just a little tedious. The fast pass system will provide some relief, but you can only use these a limited number of times and only on certain rides and attractions. So, if you want to do everything, prepare yourself for at least 4 or 5 periods of 45-70 minutes in duration of shuffling like sheep. Get there early and do as many rides as possible before 11am and be strategic with your fast pass use for the balance of the day. There are also a few attractions that are well past their used by date, like Star Tours and parts of Inoventions. But these are only minor criticisms, on the whole, Disney is alive and well and will continue to entertain scores of future generations.
THE RIDES.
I am certainly a big kid at heart and enjoy a good thrill and there were more than enough excitement here for my liking. Most of the rides are not only about screams, they are designed with entertainment in mind and there is certainly something to please everyone.. We must have gone on over 20 different rides, some of them on multiple occasions, so I wont even begin to try and describe all of them. What I will do is give you a bit of a run down of my top 5, rides that I would consider as an absolute “Must” do. I wont include Space Mountain even though it is hugely popular, as it is one that I probably enjoyed most when it was finished. It is probably a little too fast and furious for the faint hearted.
Here are my Top 5 in no particular order.
*Pirates of the Caribbean…. No thrills and spills here just pure entertainment. You board small vessels in groups of about a dozen and cruise through a series of scenes from the movie. The animatronics are absolutely spectacular, there was a few moments that I could have sworn that Johnny Depp had joined us on our journey. As you enter each scene, you leave the sounds of the previous section behind. This all works so seamlessly and gives you the feeling of entering a completely different environment. Watch out for misguided canon balls and enjoy this all ages ride.
*Jungle Cruise…. Again not a thrill ride, just good clean fun. The Elephants look incredibly realistic but the real star here are the very corny, but well delivered lines recited by your jungle guide. Don’t miss this iconic attraction.
*Toy Story Midway Mania…. Hopefully this ride will soon have fast passes available as it was certainly one of the longer queue’s that we had to endure. I would have loved to have done this a few times but couldn’t put up with another 1 hour wait. You play in pairs, in small vehicles, that stop at several stations and shoot at various targets. It uses 3D technology to give the appearance of darts, rings etc leaving your hand piece. An absolute riot.
*The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror…. Don’t let a fear of heights get in the way of great fun. You enter an elevator that becomes possessed and that’s when the fun starts. Unlike other rides that involve a falling sensation, this one is done in small stages and is far from terrifying but the story line and setting makes it a great experience.
* I really couldn’t contain my favorites to a TOP 5, so instead will give honorable mentions to the Maliboomer, Soaring over California, Grizzly River Run and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. If you were only there for one day, make these rides your priority.
THE OTHER ATTRACTIONS.
These are my favorite, non ride, attractions. If you have the time, make sure that you don’t miss any of these.
* Magical…. This is what they call the fireworks display and it is pure magic. The prime viewing area is in front of the Fantasyland Castle but you need to plan early to get a good spot and it is really crowded. We watched it from a much less populated area in front of “It’s a Small World” and were completely blown away.
*World of Color…. This has only just commenced at California Adventure Park and is a very high demand presentation. You will only be admitted to the better viewing spots by obtaining a ticket. You can presently only get one by queuing for a “fast pass” at Grizzly River Run which had lines that took almost 90 minutes at times, or by buying a meal package or picnic pack from the Golden Vine Winery. The packs can be pre booked on line but currently you will need to do this a fortnight in advance. If it maintains it’s popularity, this is the option that I would recommend. The Show itself is stunning, you will not be disappointed. They create a wall of water with powerful jets placed in the lake at Paradise Pier and then project colorful images of iconic Disney characters, amongst other things on, this watery screen. It makes the Bellagio fountain look like a sprinkler system lit with fairy lights.
*It’s Tough to be a Bug 3D…. Pitched at the younger kiddies, but fun for all the family. Plenty of surprises and laughs in this 3D movie presentation. Prepare yourself to have a great time and don’t leave before the end as they have an extra little surprise after the film finishes.
*Disney’s Aladdin, A Musical Spectacular…. They have built a huge Theatre in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot at California Adventure for this 45 minute show and it certainly pulls the crowds. Get there for one of the early shows if you don’t wont to queue for a prime seat. The sets, music, effects and acting are all first class and the Genie is without doubt, the star of the show.
As for Disneyland? Loved it, loved it, loved it. Was it a perfect experience that lived up to all my expectations? No, but nothing ever is, or will. I have decided not to go over this as a day by day, blow by blow account, but rather, break it down into segments.
THE DISNEY EXPERIENCE.
It is there the moment you walk into the car park. Music plays at the perfect volume, loud enough to create an atmosphere but not too loud to be annoying. The staff are all smiles and the greetings are warm and generous. The wonderful smells of fresh pop-corn and cotton candy are complimented by fresh odors of citrus and pine that must be piped through the indoor areas. The place is incredibly clean and everything looks so shiny and new. When you consider that the main park opened over 50 years ago, that is an amazing accomplishment. I can only presume that work continues all night to ready the place for the next day. During our stay, Disneyland closed at midnight and opened at 8am. Some parts were opened at 7am for Magic Morning pass holders. At a guess, there must have been close to 100,000 people through the gates each day and yet each morning everything looked pristine. It also remains current. Some of the original attractions have survived and people still queue to experience them but they have obviously been very conscious of providing entertainment for all ages, including the hard to please generation Yer’s. You would have to have a very cold heart to walk away from here without some level of enjoyment.
However, some cracks do occasionally appear. On our second and third days you start to notice a few “attitude’s” from the odd cast member that due to the euphoria of our first day, we may not have picked up on. Some of the rides are inexplicably closed at various parts of the day with very little, if any excuse offered. If you have been queuing when this happens, you are sent away with only an apology. This happened to us on the Haunted Mansion after a 30 minute wait, I though they could have issued a fast pass for a later return, but we were just told that we would have to take our chances and come back later.
Also the queues at the busier times of the day were just a little tedious. The fast pass system will provide some relief, but you can only use these a limited number of times and only on certain rides and attractions. So, if you want to do everything, prepare yourself for at least 4 or 5 periods of 45-70 minutes in duration of shuffling like sheep. Get there early and do as many rides as possible before 11am and be strategic with your fast pass use for the balance of the day. There are also a few attractions that are well past their used by date, like Star Tours and parts of Inoventions. But these are only minor criticisms, on the whole, Disney is alive and well and will continue to entertain scores of future generations.
THE RIDES.
I am certainly a big kid at heart and enjoy a good thrill and there were more than enough excitement here for my liking. Most of the rides are not only about screams, they are designed with entertainment in mind and there is certainly something to please everyone.. We must have gone on over 20 different rides, some of them on multiple occasions, so I wont even begin to try and describe all of them. What I will do is give you a bit of a run down of my top 5, rides that I would consider as an absolute “Must” do. I wont include Space Mountain even though it is hugely popular, as it is one that I probably enjoyed most when it was finished. It is probably a little too fast and furious for the faint hearted.
Here are my Top 5 in no particular order.
*Pirates of the Caribbean…. No thrills and spills here just pure entertainment. You board small vessels in groups of about a dozen and cruise through a series of scenes from the movie. The animatronics are absolutely spectacular, there was a few moments that I could have sworn that Johnny Depp had joined us on our journey. As you enter each scene, you leave the sounds of the previous section behind. This all works so seamlessly and gives you the feeling of entering a completely different environment. Watch out for misguided canon balls and enjoy this all ages ride.
*Jungle Cruise…. Again not a thrill ride, just good clean fun. The Elephants look incredibly realistic but the real star here are the very corny, but well delivered lines recited by your jungle guide. Don’t miss this iconic attraction.
*Toy Story Midway Mania…. Hopefully this ride will soon have fast passes available as it was certainly one of the longer queue’s that we had to endure. I would have loved to have done this a few times but couldn’t put up with another 1 hour wait. You play in pairs, in small vehicles, that stop at several stations and shoot at various targets. It uses 3D technology to give the appearance of darts, rings etc leaving your hand piece. An absolute riot.
*The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror…. Don’t let a fear of heights get in the way of great fun. You enter an elevator that becomes possessed and that’s when the fun starts. Unlike other rides that involve a falling sensation, this one is done in small stages and is far from terrifying but the story line and setting makes it a great experience.
* I really couldn’t contain my favorites to a TOP 5, so instead will give honorable mentions to the Maliboomer, Soaring over California, Grizzly River Run and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. If you were only there for one day, make these rides your priority.
THE OTHER ATTRACTIONS.
These are my favorite, non ride, attractions. If you have the time, make sure that you don’t miss any of these.
* Magical…. This is what they call the fireworks display and it is pure magic. The prime viewing area is in front of the Fantasyland Castle but you need to plan early to get a good spot and it is really crowded. We watched it from a much less populated area in front of “It’s a Small World” and were completely blown away.
*World of Color…. This has only just commenced at California Adventure Park and is a very high demand presentation. You will only be admitted to the better viewing spots by obtaining a ticket. You can presently only get one by queuing for a “fast pass” at Grizzly River Run which had lines that took almost 90 minutes at times, or by buying a meal package or picnic pack from the Golden Vine Winery. The packs can be pre booked on line but currently you will need to do this a fortnight in advance. If it maintains it’s popularity, this is the option that I would recommend. The Show itself is stunning, you will not be disappointed. They create a wall of water with powerful jets placed in the lake at Paradise Pier and then project colorful images of iconic Disney characters, amongst other things on, this watery screen. It makes the Bellagio fountain look like a sprinkler system lit with fairy lights.
*It’s Tough to be a Bug 3D…. Pitched at the younger kiddies, but fun for all the family. Plenty of surprises and laughs in this 3D movie presentation. Prepare yourself to have a great time and don’t leave before the end as they have an extra little surprise after the film finishes.
*Disney’s Aladdin, A Musical Spectacular…. They have built a huge Theatre in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot at California Adventure for this 45 minute show and it certainly pulls the crowds. Get there for one of the early shows if you don’t wont to queue for a prime seat. The sets, music, effects and acting are all first class and the Genie is without doubt, the star of the show.
Jun 18th, 2010, 11:31 PM
#48
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FOOD AT THE PARK.
There are plenty of options available to those who don’t have the time or inclination to either take some food with them or leave the park to eat off site. We fall into this category and were pleasantly surprised with the variety and prices of food and drinks in the park. We had breakfast at River Belle Terrace one morning and paid about 8 bucks for Eggs, Pancakes and Sausages served on a terrace with a great view of the Rivers of America area. You can graze on huge Turkey Legs for $5 or sample gourmet sausages at Award Wieners, chow down on Kebabs’ at Bengal BBQ or sip on Chili Chowder served in bread bowls at Harbor Galley. There are plenty of more up market options if you are that way inclined and if you contain yourselves to one meal a day it wont put too much of a dent on the finances.
ACCOMODATION.
We choose the Candy Cane after much research and found the choice to suit us. It is one of the few places on the same side of the street to the Disneyland entrance and would be a 10 minute stroll to the front gate. They do run their own shuttle service but if you have a mobility issue, you need to be aware that unlike the Disney shuttles, they drop you at the entrance at the front car park which would still be a few hundred yards to the main gate. The pool at the Candy Cane looked great, even though we never used it, they have free wifi, a laundry and they provide a more than adequate continental breakfast. At around $120 a night for a room that slept 4, I thought this place was a bargain, but do note that it is a busy and relatively noisy place so don’t expect to lie in if you are a light sleeper
If you want to stay as close as possible on a budget, look at the Vue Inn as one of the better options or even the 2 Best Westerns that are almost right across the road. There is a Disney shuttle that runs to most of the hotel on the block for a minimum fee, so if you are prepared to wait to catch this, then any of these nearby hotels would be fine.
As far as the Disney Properties are concerned, if you can afford it, go for the Grand Californian as the location with an entry directly into the Californian Adventure Park that puts you out near the Grizzly River Run, is absolutely superb. Unfortunately, for this trip, it was out of our budget. I could not see any major benefit in the other 2 Disney properties unless they were offering an exceptional deal as they are no closer than some of the other places I have mentioned.
SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS.
I found no end of amusement in the many family groups that choose to wear a coordinated “team” uniform for their time at Disney. Be it Tie-Dye, Mickey T-shirt’s and Goofy Hats, assorted floral patterns, contrasting colors, or my favorite, the personalized screen printed T-shirts, a 5 minute period would never go past without seeing these groups wanting to announce their united front to all Disney dwellers. I, for one, could think of nothing worse. When the kids throw a tantrum or start wrestling in a queue, how are you supposed to distance yourselves from them when you share the same “Johnson Family Disney Discovery Tour 2010” logo emblazoned in large red letters on a pale teal polo shirt. I would propose that Disney should act now in the interest of these poor children who will be too afraid to bring out the family photo album for fear of ridicule from their peers, and ban this practice. They should have a ready stock of random shirts at the gate that can be offered as a substitute garment rather than disallowing entry, but something needs to be put in place to halt this disturbing trend.
I fear that my next observation may open myself up to some criticism, but I need to get it off my chest. Do you think that everyone riding those motorized mobility scooters really need them? I saw many people of similar age and in some cases younger than myself riding these little 3 wheelers through the park. Before I start any outrage, I am not talking about wheelchairs, that is a completely different matter, these are the little battery operated vehicles favored by people bordering on obesity, the ones with the large cup holders that have room for the super sized peanut butter fudge thick shakes that Cold Stone sell. It reminds me of that scene from the futuristic Pixar movie Wall-E. I think you know the one. What really gave me the willies’ was that on several occassions, these vehicles of sloth were used as a licence to queue jump. I fell victim to this tactic several times but the one that fuelled my rage was after a lengthy wait to ride on Autotopia, I was forced to spend a further 5 minutes in queue because one gentleman in his late 30’s on a scooter, was led to the front of the line with his whole group of 12. He then proceeded to park his vehicle and WALK down the stairs to the ride. Due to the Disney policy of keeping the families together, not just the poor fellow but his entire extended family were put in front of me. You may have guessed that they all wore matching 2XL Hawaiian shirts!!!
There are plenty of options available to those who don’t have the time or inclination to either take some food with them or leave the park to eat off site. We fall into this category and were pleasantly surprised with the variety and prices of food and drinks in the park. We had breakfast at River Belle Terrace one morning and paid about 8 bucks for Eggs, Pancakes and Sausages served on a terrace with a great view of the Rivers of America area. You can graze on huge Turkey Legs for $5 or sample gourmet sausages at Award Wieners, chow down on Kebabs’ at Bengal BBQ or sip on Chili Chowder served in bread bowls at Harbor Galley. There are plenty of more up market options if you are that way inclined and if you contain yourselves to one meal a day it wont put too much of a dent on the finances.
ACCOMODATION.
We choose the Candy Cane after much research and found the choice to suit us. It is one of the few places on the same side of the street to the Disneyland entrance and would be a 10 minute stroll to the front gate. They do run their own shuttle service but if you have a mobility issue, you need to be aware that unlike the Disney shuttles, they drop you at the entrance at the front car park which would still be a few hundred yards to the main gate. The pool at the Candy Cane looked great, even though we never used it, they have free wifi, a laundry and they provide a more than adequate continental breakfast. At around $120 a night for a room that slept 4, I thought this place was a bargain, but do note that it is a busy and relatively noisy place so don’t expect to lie in if you are a light sleeper
If you want to stay as close as possible on a budget, look at the Vue Inn as one of the better options or even the 2 Best Westerns that are almost right across the road. There is a Disney shuttle that runs to most of the hotel on the block for a minimum fee, so if you are prepared to wait to catch this, then any of these nearby hotels would be fine.
As far as the Disney Properties are concerned, if you can afford it, go for the Grand Californian as the location with an entry directly into the Californian Adventure Park that puts you out near the Grizzly River Run, is absolutely superb. Unfortunately, for this trip, it was out of our budget. I could not see any major benefit in the other 2 Disney properties unless they were offering an exceptional deal as they are no closer than some of the other places I have mentioned.
SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS.
I found no end of amusement in the many family groups that choose to wear a coordinated “team” uniform for their time at Disney. Be it Tie-Dye, Mickey T-shirt’s and Goofy Hats, assorted floral patterns, contrasting colors, or my favorite, the personalized screen printed T-shirts, a 5 minute period would never go past without seeing these groups wanting to announce their united front to all Disney dwellers. I, for one, could think of nothing worse. When the kids throw a tantrum or start wrestling in a queue, how are you supposed to distance yourselves from them when you share the same “Johnson Family Disney Discovery Tour 2010” logo emblazoned in large red letters on a pale teal polo shirt. I would propose that Disney should act now in the interest of these poor children who will be too afraid to bring out the family photo album for fear of ridicule from their peers, and ban this practice. They should have a ready stock of random shirts at the gate that can be offered as a substitute garment rather than disallowing entry, but something needs to be put in place to halt this disturbing trend.
I fear that my next observation may open myself up to some criticism, but I need to get it off my chest. Do you think that everyone riding those motorized mobility scooters really need them? I saw many people of similar age and in some cases younger than myself riding these little 3 wheelers through the park. Before I start any outrage, I am not talking about wheelchairs, that is a completely different matter, these are the little battery operated vehicles favored by people bordering on obesity, the ones with the large cup holders that have room for the super sized peanut butter fudge thick shakes that Cold Stone sell. It reminds me of that scene from the futuristic Pixar movie Wall-E. I think you know the one. What really gave me the willies’ was that on several occassions, these vehicles of sloth were used as a licence to queue jump. I fell victim to this tactic several times but the one that fuelled my rage was after a lengthy wait to ride on Autotopia, I was forced to spend a further 5 minutes in queue because one gentleman in his late 30’s on a scooter, was led to the front of the line with his whole group of 12. He then proceeded to park his vehicle and WALK down the stairs to the ride. Due to the Disney policy of keeping the families together, not just the poor fellow but his entire extended family were put in front of me. You may have guessed that they all wore matching 2XL Hawaiian shirts!!!
Jun 19th, 2010, 02:18 AM
#49
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I am loving your report. It is sooooo great to get an Australian's point of view. I was in Disneyland back in 1996 (ages ago) and I did not see any battery operated vehicles. So I suppose it really is an indication of where people have headed, and Australia is no exception with us fast approaching scary obesity levels. Someone has mentioned to me that the same thing happens in Vegas.
Also in Australia, no refills. It is all so different. Keep up the reports, I check daily just to see what you have written.
Also in Australia, no refills. It is all so different. Keep up the reports, I check daily just to see what you have written.
Jun 19th, 2010, 03:28 AM
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shanek:
Having never been to Disneyland I found it quite interesting to read your experience.
IHOP - Yes there are many places in America where you can eat very cheaply that include unlimited soft drinks. This I think has contributed in part to so many over weight adults and children. "they all wore matching 2XL Hawaiian shirts"
Great details - keep them coming.
Sandy
Having never been to Disneyland I found it quite interesting to read your experience.
IHOP - Yes there are many places in America where you can eat very cheaply that include unlimited soft drinks. This I think has contributed in part to so many over weight adults and children. "they all wore matching 2XL Hawaiian shirts"
Great details - keep them coming.
Sandy
Jun 19th, 2010, 06:34 AM
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On our second and third days you start to notice a few “attitude’s” from the odd cast member that due to the euphoria of our first day, we may not have picked up on.
__________________________________________________ ___________
You are spot on Shanek. Each year the 'attitude' becomes more apparent. It is disheartening when Disneyland is 'suppose' to be the happiest place on earth. I'm not sure why this is happening but it does need to be corrected.
And who would have guessed IHOP would have been such a success. LOL
I'm somewhat oblivious how obese American's are until we travel abroad. With fresh eyes, it can't be ignored.
Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful journey with us.
__________________________________________________ ___________
You are spot on Shanek. Each year the 'attitude' becomes more apparent. It is disheartening when Disneyland is 'suppose' to be the happiest place on earth. I'm not sure why this is happening but it does need to be corrected.
And who would have guessed IHOP would have been such a success. LOL
I'm somewhat oblivious how obese American's are until we travel abroad. With fresh eyes, it can't be ignored.
Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful journey with us.
Jun 19th, 2010, 12:02 PM
#54
shanek, I can understand your frustration at people in mobility vehicles getting preferential treatment at D-land, but I'm sure you know not all disabilities are visible. That person you saw who "bordered on obesity" could be my friend who gained more than 50 pounds from taking steroids to treat her autoimmune disease. She probably wouldn't have asked to go to the head of the line because she's already mortified by the stares and her energy levels haven't been affected. Others are not so lucky.
Jun 19th, 2010, 01:02 PM
#55
Loving your report!! The last time I was at IHOP, the new nutrition counts were included. This can really put a damper on your appetite 
I know it did mine!!
Actually, the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean" is based on the ride, which debut'd in the 1960's!! Still one of my favorites too!! Growing up in California, the fireflies at the Pirates ride were the only one's I had ever seen until about 3 years ago in Costa Rica.
Love it, love it!!
I know it did mine!! Actually, the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean" is based on the ride, which debut'd in the 1960's!! Still one of my favorites too!! Growing up in California, the fireflies at the Pirates ride were the only one's I had ever seen until about 3 years ago in Costa Rica.
Love it, love it!!
Jun 19th, 2010, 02:55 PM
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The "Whosis Family Vacation 2010" T-shirts must be a new trend. I saw families similarly attired in Washington DC recently...I've never noticed that before. I would have been overcome by embarrassment if my folks had ever tried to clothe us kids that way when on vacation.
Jun 19th, 2010, 03:09 PM
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Hi Jean, I certainly mean no offense to anyone with mobility issues that are genuine. My references are mostly "tongue in cheek" but I do believe that there are many people that find these scooters an easy way out and once they begin to rely on them, the battle with their problem becomes even more difficult. I can assure you that the person in question was not your friend as they were actually male.
Interesting to hear that the Pirates movie was based on the ride. I presume that it has been recently updated as the characters look identical to the ones in the movie.
Thanks all for reading along.
Interesting to hear that the Pirates movie was based on the ride. I presume that it has been recently updated as the characters look identical to the ones in the movie.
Thanks all for reading along.
Jun 19th, 2010, 04:21 PM
#58
shanek, I'm sensitive to this issue because I have a couple of friends battling serious medical conditions that are not apparent to strangers. Most recently, one friend was nearly ejected from a flight before take-off because the crew thought she was drunk. She has ALS. I'm sure there are people who take advantage, but I've learned not to judge because I really don't know a stranger's situation.
Jun 19th, 2010, 04:37 PM
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We departed Anaheim before 6am so to avoid traffic getting out of the LA area for the trip to Vegas. The car was packed the night before after I had spent a few hours in the communal laundry, sipping on beers and chewing the fat with several other travelers whilst washing and drying . Even though breakfast at the Candy Cane only officially started at 7, the friendly lady on the reception counter offered to let me grab a few things whilst she was printing our receipts. Once again, the local hospitality shone through.
I was faced with a strange paradox that morning. Here we were, on the road to Sin City, and almost every radio station that I could pick up was either playing Gospel music or were conducting talk back on “Acts of Faith”. I actually found an unending source of entertainment in the radio on this trip. It wasn’t the talkback, or the music. It was the advertisements that provided me with great mirth.
I would love to be in the advertising game in the US. To be able to rub shoulders with the genius’ that come up with jingles like (cue cheesy music) “AT VEGAS TOYOTA…WE’LL DO ANYTHING TO SELL YOU A CAR” would certainly get my creative juices flowing. Another thing I noticed was the amount of litigators and debt reduction professionals offering their services on the radio. It must be an extremely competitive game. The level of litigation in the US was also reflected by the disclaimers that were run at the end of some of these radio ads. There was one that I heard that literally had more space devoted to the disclaimer than the product they were selling. Strangely enough, I cant recall what that product was.
The actual drive through the Navajo desert is not very inspiring and we were pleased when we caught sight of our first Casino and Outlet Mall centre, albeit still 50 miles from Vegas. There are several of these complexes along the way, all with large rolling electronic billboards offering 99cents this and 2 for 1 that. Some even advertise rooms for under 50 bucks. If you weren’t coming to gamble you could have a very cheap time on the outskirts of Vegas.
We finally got to the main strip just before 10am and as it was too early to check in, we thought we should engage in a little retail therapy. We set Homer the task of finding the Premium Outlet Mall, and he did so with very little trouble. We were parked and shopping at around 10.30.
This Mall is great. Premium brands at very good prices and if you scoured through the clearance racks and tables there were some excellent bargains to be had. I think we spent about an hour in the Nike clearance outlet alone and we all walked away with some new purchases. Even though the back of our Chevy was bursting at the seems with luggage, the cases themselves, fortunately, still had plenty of room.
The Mandalay Bay Resort is situated at the south end of the strip and is connected to the Luxor and Excalibur by a free monorail service. Our room looked straight over the Pyramid and Sphinx of the Luxor and the view also took in the MGM grand and sections of New York New York. We could clearly make out the Statue of Liberty from our 23rd floor window. The room was one of their second tier offerings, of generous proportions and at $135 a night including tax and resort fees, it was an absolute bargain.
We chose the Mandalay for 2 main reasons. We had heard the pool was outstanding and we wanted to take the kids to The Lion King which was actually in the Mandalay complex. The pool was impressive with a wave generator in one part and a “Lazy River” in another, but it was insanely busy. At 2.30pm, it was virtually impossible to find 4 spare chairs together and there was nothing available in the shade. We had received a coupon upon check-in that offered a $100 credit on Cabana rental, but the ones that were available were $350 for the day so forking out $250 for a couple of hours was not an option. I took the kids over to the Lazy River to hire some tubes, only to be told that the tubes were for purchase only and were 22 buck each! It would be wise for anyone staying there with kids to bring a few cheap tubes with them as many families seemed to be doing. We eventually saw someone vacate 2 chairs in a quiet area at one of the smaller pools that were in one of the few shaded areas, so we jumped on them and managed to get a few hours of relaxation in, a first for this trip.
After that, we didn’t leave the complex. We didn’t have to. We had more coupons offering 2 for 1 Margarita’s at a Mexican restaurant so we stayed there for dinner, which was exceptional, then went to the show.
We had seen the Lion King before and were pleased to see that the kids really enjoyed it. It is visually spectacular but it is a few “show stopping tunes” away from being a real classic. Some of the acting was only so-so which was mildly disappointing, but the singing was fabulous and we all went away happy.
I was originally keen to spend a few hours in the Casino but found myself so tired that I passed on it for this night and we all went up to the room and marveled at the view of the strip at night. I would love to come back for an extended stay one day, probably without the kids. It really does seem like a Disney for open minded adults.
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I was faced with a strange paradox that morning. Here we were, on the road to Sin City, and almost every radio station that I could pick up was either playing Gospel music or were conducting talk back on “Acts of Faith”. I actually found an unending source of entertainment in the radio on this trip. It wasn’t the talkback, or the music. It was the advertisements that provided me with great mirth.
I would love to be in the advertising game in the US. To be able to rub shoulders with the genius’ that come up with jingles like (cue cheesy music) “AT VEGAS TOYOTA…WE’LL DO ANYTHING TO SELL YOU A CAR” would certainly get my creative juices flowing. Another thing I noticed was the amount of litigators and debt reduction professionals offering their services on the radio. It must be an extremely competitive game. The level of litigation in the US was also reflected by the disclaimers that were run at the end of some of these radio ads. There was one that I heard that literally had more space devoted to the disclaimer than the product they were selling. Strangely enough, I cant recall what that product was.
The actual drive through the Navajo desert is not very inspiring and we were pleased when we caught sight of our first Casino and Outlet Mall centre, albeit still 50 miles from Vegas. There are several of these complexes along the way, all with large rolling electronic billboards offering 99cents this and 2 for 1 that. Some even advertise rooms for under 50 bucks. If you weren’t coming to gamble you could have a very cheap time on the outskirts of Vegas.
We finally got to the main strip just before 10am and as it was too early to check in, we thought we should engage in a little retail therapy. We set Homer the task of finding the Premium Outlet Mall, and he did so with very little trouble. We were parked and shopping at around 10.30.
This Mall is great. Premium brands at very good prices and if you scoured through the clearance racks and tables there were some excellent bargains to be had. I think we spent about an hour in the Nike clearance outlet alone and we all walked away with some new purchases. Even though the back of our Chevy was bursting at the seems with luggage, the cases themselves, fortunately, still had plenty of room.
The Mandalay Bay Resort is situated at the south end of the strip and is connected to the Luxor and Excalibur by a free monorail service. Our room looked straight over the Pyramid and Sphinx of the Luxor and the view also took in the MGM grand and sections of New York New York. We could clearly make out the Statue of Liberty from our 23rd floor window. The room was one of their second tier offerings, of generous proportions and at $135 a night including tax and resort fees, it was an absolute bargain.
We chose the Mandalay for 2 main reasons. We had heard the pool was outstanding and we wanted to take the kids to The Lion King which was actually in the Mandalay complex. The pool was impressive with a wave generator in one part and a “Lazy River” in another, but it was insanely busy. At 2.30pm, it was virtually impossible to find 4 spare chairs together and there was nothing available in the shade. We had received a coupon upon check-in that offered a $100 credit on Cabana rental, but the ones that were available were $350 for the day so forking out $250 for a couple of hours was not an option. I took the kids over to the Lazy River to hire some tubes, only to be told that the tubes were for purchase only and were 22 buck each! It would be wise for anyone staying there with kids to bring a few cheap tubes with them as many families seemed to be doing. We eventually saw someone vacate 2 chairs in a quiet area at one of the smaller pools that were in one of the few shaded areas, so we jumped on them and managed to get a few hours of relaxation in, a first for this trip.
After that, we didn’t leave the complex. We didn’t have to. We had more coupons offering 2 for 1 Margarita’s at a Mexican restaurant so we stayed there for dinner, which was exceptional, then went to the show.
We had seen the Lion King before and were pleased to see that the kids really enjoyed it. It is visually spectacular but it is a few “show stopping tunes” away from being a real classic. Some of the acting was only so-so which was mildly disappointing, but the singing was fabulous and we all went away happy.
I was originally keen to spend a few hours in the Casino but found myself so tired that I passed on it for this night and we all went up to the room and marveled at the view of the strip at night. I would love to come back for an extended stay one day, probably without the kids. It really does seem like a Disney for open minded adults.
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Jun 19th, 2010, 04:42 PM
#60
Yes, Shanuck. After the movie, the ride was updated to include Johnny Depp and crew. They also toned down the sexiness of the women and any inferrence to the possible assault of the village women by the carousing pirates. They used to have the men chasing the women, too. They still have the chubby woman chasing the pirate(I think).
