noodle73
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2019
Welcome to my trip report! The only way to combat the post-Disney blues is to start a TR. ![Smile :-) :-)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
We had a great trip to DLR from Sept 18-22, 2021.
QUICK INTRO:
I’m Kelly, aka Noodle. Here’s me and the kids. (DH avoids photos so you may or may not see him in this TR). DD is almost 8 and DS is almost 6. We live in Colorado and like all the outdoorsy things especially camping, hiking, mountain-biking, and swimming.
![608537 608537](https://www.disboards.com/data/attachments/608/608667-a7d7b8b4740f94e46e199cb10c77f3a4.jpg)
I grew up in southern California and my family went to Disneyland several times a year. My favorite ride, then and now, is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. (Sadly, it was down for maintenance during this trip).
In my mid-20s I lived in Orlando for three years and got to know WDW pretty well then. My first summer there I had a random job at MGM Studios (back when it was MGM Studios and they had actual film studios on site) as a personal assistant to visiting professors that came in to film online college classes.
After Florida I moved to Colorado and met DH. He did not grow up on Disney like I did but I have made him a convert! We went to WDW for our honeymoon. But DLR has always been first in my heart.
We took the kids to DLR for the first time in November 2019. We had planned to go again in November 2020 but ended up switching to WDW at the last minute when DLR didn’t reopen. We had a great time at WDW, but we were all happy to be back at DLR again this year.
Day 1 – TRAVEL & DTD:
We flew in to John Wayne on Saturday, September 18. Our flight arrived on a time at 9:30 a.m. and we took a taxi to our hotel. We stayed at the HoJo this time. I was lured in by the very effective and targeted Instagram ads. We were happy enough with the hotel and might consider it again. We did a queen & bunk bed room which is a good setup for our family. And the kids did love the splash pad. The biggest downside is that I’d rather stay even closer.
Amazingly, our room was ready when we arrived at 10 a.m., so we dropped off our bags there and headed to Downtown Disney. The first thing we did was go to Starbucks for coffee and breakfast sandwiches. My BFF lives in the San Diego area and she came up for the afternoon with her kids (DD9 & DS6) who are like cousins to my kids.
We spent a long time in the World of Disney store and the LEGO store. We went to Black Tap for a late lunch and a Crazy Shake. This is DD’s favorite treat. This year we tried the Strawberry Shortcake shake. We also did the Halloween scavenger hunt, “Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit.” The kids had so much fun with this, and the travel mug prizes are really cute!
![608534 608534](https://www.disboards.com/data/attachments/608/608664-7abdf22b383a0a942150039dcc836f32.jpg)
DD likes to try on all the ears.
![608535 608535](https://www.disboards.com/data/attachments/608/608665-69bc57203a1c6290f02c291445901a19.jpg)
Crazy Shake craziness.
![608536 608536](https://www.disboards.com/data/attachments/608/608666-ada981c5a4e99a5a9bead134be597277.jpg)
I love this mural! DS is demonstrating his souvenir (a Halloween slap bracelet).
On the way back to the hotel I stopped by the ticket booths to have MaxPass refunded from our tickets and to add on ParkHopper. I bought these tickets on Black Friday sale way back in 2019. So glad to finally be using them! This is the first time we have ever done ParkHopper. We have always been completely happy doing one-park-per-day in the past, but due to Oogie Boogie we thought it might work out better to start at DCA on OBB days then switch to DL by 3 p.m.
The kids crashed pretty early due to our 4 a.m. wake up that morning.
We had a great trip to DLR from Sept 18-22, 2021.
QUICK INTRO:
I’m Kelly, aka Noodle. Here’s me and the kids. (DH avoids photos so you may or may not see him in this TR). DD is almost 8 and DS is almost 6. We live in Colorado and like all the outdoorsy things especially camping, hiking, mountain-biking, and swimming.
![608537 608537](https://www.disboards.com/data/attachments/608/608667-a7d7b8b4740f94e46e199cb10c77f3a4.jpg)
I grew up in southern California and my family went to Disneyland several times a year. My favorite ride, then and now, is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. (Sadly, it was down for maintenance during this trip).
In my mid-20s I lived in Orlando for three years and got to know WDW pretty well then. My first summer there I had a random job at MGM Studios (back when it was MGM Studios and they had actual film studios on site) as a personal assistant to visiting professors that came in to film online college classes.
After Florida I moved to Colorado and met DH. He did not grow up on Disney like I did but I have made him a convert! We went to WDW for our honeymoon. But DLR has always been first in my heart.
We took the kids to DLR for the first time in November 2019. We had planned to go again in November 2020 but ended up switching to WDW at the last minute when DLR didn’t reopen. We had a great time at WDW, but we were all happy to be back at DLR again this year.
Day 1 – TRAVEL & DTD:
We flew in to John Wayne on Saturday, September 18. Our flight arrived on a time at 9:30 a.m. and we took a taxi to our hotel. We stayed at the HoJo this time. I was lured in by the very effective and targeted Instagram ads. We were happy enough with the hotel and might consider it again. We did a queen & bunk bed room which is a good setup for our family. And the kids did love the splash pad. The biggest downside is that I’d rather stay even closer.
Amazingly, our room was ready when we arrived at 10 a.m., so we dropped off our bags there and headed to Downtown Disney. The first thing we did was go to Starbucks for coffee and breakfast sandwiches. My BFF lives in the San Diego area and she came up for the afternoon with her kids (DD9 & DS6) who are like cousins to my kids.
We spent a long time in the World of Disney store and the LEGO store. We went to Black Tap for a late lunch and a Crazy Shake. This is DD’s favorite treat. This year we tried the Strawberry Shortcake shake. We also did the Halloween scavenger hunt, “Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit.” The kids had so much fun with this, and the travel mug prizes are really cute!
![608534 608534](https://www.disboards.com/data/attachments/608/608664-7abdf22b383a0a942150039dcc836f32.jpg)
DD likes to try on all the ears.
![608535 608535](https://www.disboards.com/data/attachments/608/608665-69bc57203a1c6290f02c291445901a19.jpg)
Crazy Shake craziness.
![608536 608536](https://www.disboards.com/data/attachments/608/608666-ada981c5a4e99a5a9bead134be597277.jpg)
I love this mural! DS is demonstrating his souvenir (a Halloween slap bracelet).
On the way back to the hotel I stopped by the ticket booths to have MaxPass refunded from our tickets and to add on ParkHopper. I bought these tickets on Black Friday sale way back in 2019. So glad to finally be using them! This is the first time we have ever done ParkHopper. We have always been completely happy doing one-park-per-day in the past, but due to Oogie Boogie we thought it might work out better to start at DCA on OBB days then switch to DL by 3 p.m.
The kids crashed pretty early due to our 4 a.m. wake up that morning.