Day 21 - Tues 9th Apr 2024
Participants: Tam & Kev
I'm awake at
6.30 am and I nudge Tam just after 7.00 am as it's our last full
day and we've got to make the most of it.
We're out shortly after and enter Disneyland Park at 7.25 am for
rope drop. You get 30 minutes early entry if you are staying
onsite and we make the most of it by heading to Rise of the
Resistance in Galaxy's Edge. The queue is held in Fantasyland
until opening and a fast walk gets us on the ride within 10
minutes. It's exactly the same as in WDW, but that's fine as this
is a wonder of engineering that has me amazed every time I ride
it.
We had to take a photo of this balcony as we sat here on our first visit to Disneyland with our friend Susan and the girls. They used to do a dessert party from here to watch Fantasmic! Obviously there were very few people as it's only a small balcony, so it felt exclusive.
Genie+ is used
for Indiana Jones - probably our favourite ride ever when it was
new, but it's looking slightly dated compared to the newer more
innovative subsequent attractions. It's still well worth riding
though.
Buzz Lightyear is next before we ride the Nemo themed submarine
attraction that used to be 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I
actually enjoy this as it disappeared from WDW a long time ago.
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is next - this is a prime
example of how things progress as it's a great attraction with
the latest technology producing something that is spectacular and
enjoyable.
We leave and walk across the courtyard to Disney's California Adventure where we have to wait for 20 minutes as you can't park hop until 11.00 am. I guess this goes to show how much more you can do in a short while in Disneyland rather than WDW. If we had been in the Magic Kingdom we would never have been able to ride so many major attractions in three hours and we've not really been rushing about.
We have 3 tabs left for the Food and Wine Festival and we use the first of those for a mac and cheese with pulled pork. On to Webslingers where Tam beats me for a second time. I'm not sure I can live down the shame.
Of course Tam had to take a photo so she can gloat. She also reveals her secret. While the rest of us are trying to shoot webs like Spiderman with our palms up, she is going like crazy with her hands in a sort of chopping motion. Apparently it works really well. Cheating if you ask me.
We do single
rider for Radiator Springs Racers with only a brief wait. If
there's only 2 of you the single rider line is amazing, as long
as you're prepared to ride separately of course. Another tab gets
used on the sirloin steak with mashed potatoes as we enjoyed it
so much last time before we leave the park at 1.00 pm and return
to the Disneyland Hotel for a few hours relaxing at the pool.
After showering we re-enter DCA at 4.30 pm.
Ok, it might be a little old, but it's still in good condition and looks great for its age. The cars quite nice too.
We have a reservation at Carthay Circle Lounge where we sit at a high top outside. I booked this after seeing a few reviews and it really lives up to expectations. Sitting watching people walking by and the red trolley passing is lovely. Our server Damian is excellent and we pass a few hours eating and drinking.
I'm not exactly sure what we have or the order we have it in, but I know we started with the Bao Buns along with a Pisco Sour for me. Along the way we get through the Vietnamese twice cooked beef in lettuce leaf wraps, Morrocan Chicken Meatballs, the Kofta Potato and the Artisan Cheese Board. All are really nice and just the right amount for the two of us. We also try several glasses of Chardonnay. When I ask Damian for a Pinot Noir he apologises for the one on the menu not being available and suggests I might like one from Kurt Russel's vineyard. Apparently he produces a limited edition Pinot Noir especially for the Food and Wine Festival. It's as lovely as you'd expect.
I think these guys are called 5 and Dime. They are playing on the little stage just across from the restaurant and provide a nice accompaniment to our meal.
I'm not sure whether Tam is feeling the effects of the alcohol or she's being arty, but the photos take a sort of sideways lean from here on.
Obviously this photo is straight because I took it and I never touched a drop your Honour.
When the bill comes it just short of $300 including gratuity. A large amount to be sure, but we don't regret it for a minute. The food was lovely, the wine and cocktails great and the service friendly and efficient. What could be better than spending the afternoon in the Californian sunshine eating and drinking and watching the world go by.
We walk to Carsland to get a beer and see it in the dark before we stroll around Paradise Pier. Tam is obviously a bit squiffy by now as she wants to go on all the fairground type rides. Luckily the queues are too long to bother with. Lets face it anything spinning round or going up and down is not something to be envisioned after lots of food and alcohol.
We may have visited this area once or twice.
We leave DCA and walk across to the Disneyland Park where we watch the fireworks and projection show from half way up Main Street. You get a different perspective from here as they also project onto the Main Street buildings.
We walk back to the hotel where we sit by the fire pit. We have some cheese left over from our meal at the Carthay Circle Lounge and so we nibble on that and reflect on our holiday as we are flying home tomorrow.
All good things must come to an end. Bed at 11.15 pm.