In 2008, my husband and I spent our 1st Anniversary at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. We were Disneyland newbies and neither of us had visited the West Coast prior to this trip! (We spent our Honeymoon in 2007 at Walt Disney World and our 2nd Anniversary on board a Disney Cruise in 2009….and have visited all of the above many times since!) I think Adventures by Disney or Aulani is the in cards next, yes?
Ok back to the throwback…
We stayed at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and LOVED the convenience of walking everywhere! We never had to wait in line for a bus as we were accustomed to in WDW…it was awesome!
We were given a bit of magic at check-in - the Cast Member felt bad that a King Room was not available for our entire stay, so she arranged for extra pixie dust that afternoon!
When we returned from Downtown Disney, we were greeted with this:
Rose petals, bride/groom duckies, turndown service (which we subsequently had every night following!), and Mickey Mouse rice crispy treats! Loved it all!
Perfect way to begin our trip!
Our anniversary dinner was at Napa Rose at the Grand Californian Resort.
I special ordered this cake! :0) It was super delicious, too!
Apart from Disneyland, we also took a tour of Hollywood/LA.
Hollywood Walk of Fame…
…Venice Beach
Back in Disneyland, I went on a hunt for all things Mickey (food)…
Mickey Beignets
Mickey Pancake
Mickey Pretzel…ok you get the picture!
Oh yes, my contact decided to rip on day one, hence the reason I’m wearing glasses in the rest of these pictures. This trip is the reason I now carry an extra pair of contacts along in my cosmetics bag.
We also searched for “magic” character photo pass pictures…
Stich in California Adventure
Hitchhiking Ghosts in front of the Haunted Mansion
Captain Hook by the Rivers of America
Tinkerbell in front of the Disneyland Park entrance.
Yep, that was the last time I ever rode Tower of Terror. That ride nearly gives me a heart attack…every. single. time.
Characters, how could I forget the characters?
We really enjoyed breakfast with Lilo, Stitch, and friends at the PCH Grill, Paradise Pier Hotel.
We found Minnie Mouse in Toontown!
Our Disney Visa Cardmembers photo (I try to take one each trip if I remember).
With just a few weeks to go, we will be back in Disneyland/West Coast for another fun and exciting adventure! :0)
Can’t wait to be back! See ya’ real soon!
What’s your favorite way to vacation with Disney?
Love it! Favorite way to vacation with Disney?!?!? ANY way! LOL. And, how many very amazing magical ways there are...I'm still trying out all the different ways! ;)
ReplyDeleteAny way is right...I feel the same way! :0)
DeleteSounds like a great trip! I love the cake that you had at Napa Rose. We went to Disney World a week after we got engaged and it was so much fun! I of course got the Minnie ears, the pin that says "we're engaged" and I wore it everywhere lol I loved that people kept congratulating us. My favorite way to vacation with Disney is definitely for a celebration! We're heading to Disneyland soon and you bet I told them it was my first time :P
ReplyDeleteKaren @karenlovestorun
So much fun! I agree, I love celebrating an occasion while in Disney!! :0)
DeleteAHHHHHH my excitement to go to Disneyland is over the top! This is my first trip to Cali that doesn't include business and I can't wait! :) -Christine
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness that SO exciting!!! Yay!
DeleteI'm so excited!
ReplyDeleteMe too!! See you soon!
DeleteLooks like such a great trip! I love the cake.
ReplyDeleteI agree.. an Adventures by Disney trip is next! My husband and I just told my inlaws about the "backstage magic" tour they have in Hollywood/Disneyland, and they're very interested, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
OMG that tour sounds amazing!!!! I would love to do it one day!
DeleteI'll be getting a "1st visit" button as soon as I get there! I LOVE the magic picture with Stitch (he's one of my favorites) and a Mickey pretzel?? Mmmmm...I'm a sucker for a soft pretzel. So excited!!!
ReplyDeleteOh yes and it was so delicious, too!!
DeleteWhat an amazing trip! Thanks for the glimpse back to your first anniversary!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it! :0)
DeleteLOVE all the magic character photo pass pictures! I wanna go to Disneyland so bad!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks! You will one day soon!! :0)
DeleteMy husband and I went to Disneyland for our 1st anniversary, too (though not quite as special since we'd been a few times before). ;)
ReplyDeleteAwww how much fun!! Love it!
DeleteLoved looking back at your pics! Gosh I need a Disney fix soon! Maybe next year!
ReplyDeleteYay! Disney fixes are the best!! :0)
DeleteSuper cute! I'm not normally a fan of the special character photos, but the Captain Hook one is awesome!
ReplyDeleteThey have Disney Visa Card member photos in Disneyland?! That's good to know!
Yes they do...although it was kind of hard to find because it was listed in one location and was actually way across the park!
DeleteWe can't wait for Dumbo and all things Disneyland. I laughed with your comment about Tower of Terror. I used to love that ride, but since they changed the algorithms, I can't ride any more....scares me to death! This will be Christine's first trip and we are excited to stay at the DL hotel where I stayed with my big sis in 2011 for the half marathon. Can't wait to meet you!
ReplyDeleteTower of Terror oh my goodness!!! Can't ride it anymore!
DeleteYou guys are going to have a blast!! Yay! Can't wait to meet y'all, too! :0)
I have never been to Disney anything, except a Disney store once when they had one at the mall here for awhile. Clearly I lead a deprived life.
ReplyDeleteYou made me laugh! Your life is NOT deprived at all, girl!! We all have different interests in life and Disney just happens to be one of mine...and I know I talk about it WAY too much but oh well! :0) Haha! Have a great weekend!
DeleteGreat pictures!! Your anniversary trip sounds like my honeymoon trip in 2006. We ate at Napa Rose, "honeymoon" rose pedals at the Grand Californian, Mickey food, and a trip to Hollywood and Venice Beach. Have a great trip for the Dumbo Double Dare. You should ride the Lilly Belle (Walt's train car named after his wife). :) I just learned about this and am soooo excited to try and get the opportunity to ride in it in January.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very similar trip! Fun fun!! Oooh I'll have to keep an eye out for it! Thanks!
DeleteDefinitely Aulani needs to be next!! Oh my gosh - Tower of Terror scares the crap out of me. I only ride it when I go with my BFF (it's her fave ride). Yay!! I can't wait for Disneyland!!
ReplyDeleteAulani! YES!! :0) My husband tries to talk me into ToT but he hasn't been successful lately!
DeleteI love the Captain Hook picture and I know my boys would have loved it. Maybe next time. Sounds like an awesome trip!
ReplyDeleteAww I bet they would have! Thanks, Stacy...it was a great trip! :0)
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