We got to the airport at 5 am for our 7:30 flight. I had Chick-fil-A for breakfast, the best, hottest, and freshest chicken biscuits I’ve ever had. I gave Connie her replica nametag gift, and we went to the gate. We boarded without incident, and the flight was on time.
We landed in Phoenix, and I got a burger at a place called ZinBurger. It was delicious, and the fries were super hot and fresh. Connie had a turkey panini from a deli. The incoming plane arrived late at the gate, and one of the flight attendants was sick - but it was just a brief wait before a replacement arrived, and we were in the air. We almost landed at our scheduled time at John Wayne Airport.
Our town car driver texted and said he was in baggage claim. It was a very short walk to meet him, but we didn’t see him at first, which was unfortunate because, once again, I failed to see our names on the driver’s sign. Oh well, one day, it’ll be perfect. The driver recommended a Target store on our way to the hotel, and we stocked up on Coke, pretzels, granola bars, and other assorted items.
We arrived at the hotel and were given a rolling cart for all our stuff; it was challenging to steer, but it was easier than carrying everything by hand. The check-in process was easy, and the woman was friendly enough. I asked for rooms close to the front of the hotel, which meant we wouldn’t be “close by,” but that was totally OK. I was in 507, and Connie was in 210. We met outside the lobby each morning for our walk to the park.
After unpacking and a quick rest, we made the seven-minute walk to Disneyland. Security and getting our photos taken at the turnstiles was a breeze. We headed straight for the Emporium to buy MagicBand+. I was going to go for the cheapest version but fell in love with a classic Mickey band that matched my jacket. Connie got a Toy Story-themed one because she likes the little green men. We utilized a nearby trash can as a desk and synced our bands to our accounts.
We walked towards Tomorrowland because I scored Lightning Lane reservations for Buzz Lightyear. However, it was broken down as soon as we got there. This gave us an “any time” LL, but we were overwhelmed with choices, people, and hunger, so we went to the nearest quick service spot, and I mobile ordered some chicken tenders. We lamented the large crowds and the need for technology to function throughout the vacation. We met an outstanding cast member who helped us with our trays and chatted about the crowds.
We found the train station and rode our first ride of the trip - the Walt Disney World Railroad. We stayed on for the entire loop. I’d always wanted to see the Grand Canyon and Dinosaur dioramas and was not disappointed. Plus, I love that this version of the has seats that face the park, so you get the best views of everything.
After we disembarked in Tomorrowland, we walked over to see if we could get our photo taken with Darth Vader, but he’s only available for non-Disney Visa cardholders from 11am - 1:30pm (Connie went back the next day.)
Connie browsed a store while I sat on a bench. I decided it was time for me to return to my room after flirting briefly with riding Buzz Lightyear, which had just opened. Instead, I opted to head to the exit. I navigated the parade crowds who were assembling and headed out. Connie stayed for the parade and then made her way out of the park for the night. She stopped by my room to get a charging brick for her MagicBand+. I grabbed some McDonald’s, a few steps away from the hotel, and edited our vlog before going to sleep.
TOMORROW: Disney's California Adventure!