cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406 
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Oct 7, 2019 23:49:45 GMT
We had the best time. Disneyland was amazing, our Hollywood/Warner Bros tour day was fantastic - Anaheim Tour Company is super awesome! We left on a Tuesday - 3am EST to get to the airport for our 7am flight. We traveled back in time, with a quick 2 hour stop in Vancouver airport before flying to John Wayne Orange County. We opted to get the rental car early to avoid so many Lyft rides and just pay parking at Disneyland. When we checked in - they had notes that it was our anniversary, and WAIVED the parking fees! Yay! And holy cow - they decorated our room as well:  There were some chocolates in that there set-up too - yay!! We managed to last until 6:30 California time and I was done. And then we were up at 5am next day   And I can die a happy gal - I finally got to have a Dole whip with rum:  Damn that bartender could pour rum!! Our plans changed - we were to have 3 Disney days, then our Hollywood day, but the tour company needed 3 to run the tour, and we were the only ones on the Saturday tour, so we had to swap a Disney day with the tour day. But we made it work. I'll add tour things in the next post!! |
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Post by katlaw on Oct 7, 2019 23:52:39 GMT
Awesome room decorating. I love California. Every time I plan a vacation I think where do I want to go this time and always come back to how much I love the California coast and sunshine and Disneyland. Happy Anniversary.
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Oct 7, 2019 23:56:43 GMT
Our Hollywood tour day was awesome!! We saw all the touristy things, and then went to Warner Bros for their studio tour. I got to sit in the Gilmore Girls gazebo!!  And on THE couch:  And in somebody's SPOT:  I have a few friends who were not happy with me! LOL We hit the road after our last day at Disneyland, first thing on the Sunday morning. First stop was Santa Monica Pier, and then we put the top down and drove!! About half way to Pismo Beach, we needed to stop - I needed gravol. The twisty windy road was making me a tad queasy. Thank you to all who recommended Pismo - it was SO lovely. And the Shore Cliff Hotel? We paid for an ocean view room, and it delivered. SO gorgeous, and the staff was fantastic. We ate at the Cracked Crab for dinner - I'm sure somebody here recommended that as well. YUM! Our second night we went next door to Ventana Grill, which was also amazing. While there, we also did a kayak tour with Central Coast Kayaks in Shell Beach. I was totally expecting a leisurely cruise - not a bit. We WORKED on that tour. But it was really one of the highlights of the trip. SO much fun, and it was just the two of us and the guide. Here I am in the yellow:   ETA - there's more below - I was a bit slow in posting so there are a few replies before the tail end!! |
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smcast
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,299
Location: MN
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Post by smcast on Oct 8, 2019 0:00:23 GMT
Looks lovely!
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tanya2
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1604
Posts: 4,422
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Post by tanya2 on Oct 8, 2019 0:04:04 GMT
so awesome!!
I'm very jealous of that hollywood tour, that looks so cool
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garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,727
Location: So. Calif.
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Post by garcia5050 on Oct 8, 2019 0:04:14 GMT
I live 15 minutes from Disneyland and had no idea I could get a dole whip with rum!!!
Your pics look awesome. I’m going to have to do that Warner brothers tour.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 8, 2019 0:09:46 GMT
GLad you had a good time!
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Oct 8, 2019 0:10:47 GMT
Then we hit the road again for our drive through Big Sur - we decided to skip Hearst Castle, but we did see the Elephant Seal beach, and stopped mid-day at Nepenthe and had an expensive lunch with an amazing ocean view from high up. We somehow missed the turn for the beach with the purple sand, and with the next stop planned to be Bixby Bridge, we were disappointed to see construction on both sides so we couldn't get photos. We did the 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach - WHO lives there? Man it was gorgeous!! Spent the night in Monterey, and had an amazing dinner at Sandbar & Grill. It was a local place, the lady waiting in front of us was local and didn't think she needed a reservation on a Tuesday lol. But it was worth the wait! We did make time for the aquarium in the morning, so glad we did. Our original plan - stemmed from Pea recommendation, was to ditch the car in San Francisco. So we hit the road and made it there in plenty of time. Checked in to our hotel (Coventry Inn, dated but clean and well located) and decided to drive the crooked section of Lombard before returning the car. And while doing that, decided we wanted to extend the rental and return it at the airport instead. Which turned out to be a really great decision. We were on our own time, and didn't need to consult anything schedule wise before leaving to do things. We did this:  Drove all the way across and navigated to a Starbucks in Sausalito - man is that a twisty windy place! We then hit Golden Gate park, and here:  I'm really glad we did this! DH, meh lol. We stopped by the Full House home and grabbed a photo, and also Mrs. Doubtfire's house. We did Alcatraz - AMAZING. And folks?? Consult Google for food - we found two amazing places for food. One was this tiny Italian place Ristorante Parma - AMAZING food. And the second night we ate at Perry's on Union. Incredible. We wandered the Wharf, rode the cable car from the Wharf all the way to the end, got off and stood in line to get back on to go back to the Wharf lol. Hit Giardelli Square while we were at it. We drove back to the Wharf again that night for one last dinner - we ate at Cioppinos - also fantastic. I think we ate our way through California!! ETA - the one thing we had planned to do, but didn't end up doing, was putting on a Raptor shirt and going to Oracle for photos. But at the World of Color show at DL, we sat with a couple from San Francisco, who told us that even the Oracle signs were gone. So we didn't bother driving across the bay to do that... |
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Oct 8, 2019 0:12:10 GMT
I live 15 minutes from Disneyland and had no idea I could get a dole whip with rum!!! Your pics look awesome. I’m going to have to do that Warner brothers tour. Only at Tarrangoa Terrace at Disneyland Hotel. SO good! I so wanted a second one, but I think I'd have passed out for the day - the bartender had a heavy pour lol. |
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garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,727
Location: So. Calif.
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Post by garcia5050 on Oct 8, 2019 0:19:25 GMT
My daughter has been wanting to do a staycation at Disney. It’s a bit sad that it’s going to take a rum dole whip for her to get her wish! Of course I’m not going to tell anyone about the reason for my change of heart.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Oct 8, 2019 0:23:33 GMT
What a wonderful trip!
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Post by Neisey on Oct 8, 2019 0:35:24 GMT
You crammed so much in! Glad you had such a great trip!
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janeinbama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,172
Location: Alabama
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Post by janeinbama on Oct 8, 2019 0:40:34 GMT
What an awesome trip. You've got your Christmas card picture - Golden Gate Bridge is mint!!!
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Post by piebaker on Oct 8, 2019 0:41:13 GMT
Your photos are great and you two covered a lot of ground! Glad the weather was nice!
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,626
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Post by valincal on Oct 8, 2019 0:44:01 GMT
Great trip! You saw a lot! 😊
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Post by janniepea on Oct 8, 2019 1:15:03 GMT
I love your pictures! You did a lot! What a fun trip
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Post by Alexxussss on Oct 8, 2019 1:17:39 GMT
So glad you had a wonderful time!
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Post by Scrapper100 on Oct 8, 2019 1:42:04 GMT
Looks like you had an amazing trip. You have done things that I have never done and I am a So Cal native LOL.
I had no idea you could get the dole whips with rum. Where do you get those? We haven't been to Disney in several years but I know we will be going in the next few so I might as well make note of it now.
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Oct 8, 2019 1:45:12 GMT
Looks like you had an amazing trip. You have done things that I have never done and I am a So Cal native LOL. I had no idea you could get the dole whips with rum. Where do you get those? We haven't been to Disney in several years but I know we will be going in the next few so I might as well make note of it now. Apparently only at Disneyland Hotel in Taronga Terrace - so you don’t even need a park ticket! |
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Post by ntsf on Oct 8, 2019 2:15:35 GMT
I'm so glad you had a chance to enjoy San Francisco without fog!!!
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Post by bc2ca on Oct 8, 2019 2:17:28 GMT
Most important, it looks like your weather was great going up the PCH!!! Sounds like a fabulous anniversary celebration and the right combination of planned days and spontaneous decisions.  |
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Post by scrappintoee on Oct 8, 2019 2:17:54 GMT
Wow! It was fun to vicariously enjoy it with you!! DH and I also LOVED our trip there, but we didn't do as many things as you---such as, the kayaking----wow, that looks SO FUN ! We also loved the Golden Gate Bridge, the pier with all kinds of shops and cafes, the CLAM CHOWDER INSIDE OF A SOURDOUGH BOWL, and how CRAZY fun is Lombardi street ? Alcatraz was interesting, but it saddened and frightened me. (I always laugh at my BAD scrapbook pages from that trip!) And walking around Disney and Universal--- I remember telling DH "I am DAZZLED!" alllllll day and evening. I was in my mid-thirties and had only HEARD about these places; so finally going there was just TOO FUN! OMG, Space Mountain----we rode that several times in a row. Did you and DH walk through Mickey and Minnie's house? So cute!  I went gaga at Universal, too! I think we went before "Gilmore Girls" was on, or I would have loved to sit in that gazebo like you did  Did they have a whole area that looked like the quaint, cozy Stars Hollow? (ETA: I just realized you said Warner Brothers.....is there also a Universal, or did they change the name? Realizing we were last there in 1997, I'm sure things have changed (duh!), but I'm curious if they still have the tour of the "Jaws" set? The subway ride where you experience a huge earthquake from ____ ? (forgot the name of movie. How about the scary/ cool fire from the movie "Backdraft?" Ohhh, and the "E.T." ride? DH thought it was kinda sad that I'd never seen "E.T.", and riding those cute bikes was soo fun! He made sure I got to see the movie as soon as we got home! I'm glad y;all had fun, and thank you for the trip down memory lane
that I didn't realize I was having until I started writing this novel to you!
OMG---your hotel room was decorated beautifully !!! Annnd, DOUBLE OMG----how did Sheldon react to you sitting on his SACRED spot on the couch ?!!!! |
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Post by bothmykidsrbrats on Oct 8, 2019 2:19:59 GMT
I live 15 minutes from Disneyland and had no idea I could get a dole whip with rum!!! Your pics look awesome. I’m going to have to do that Warner brothers tour. Only at Tarrangoa Terrace at Disneyland Hotel. SO good! I so wanted a second one, but I think I'd have passed out for the day - the bartender had a heavy pour lol. I didn't get my Dole Whip with rum or my panko crusted long beans at TT on our trip in September  and now I'm sad again. Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, the bartenders at TT are generous when they pour!  |
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Post by scrappintoee on Oct 8, 2019 2:22:42 GMT
the one thing we had planned to do, but didn't end up doing, was putting on a Raptor shirt and going to Oracle for photos I have never heard of this, can you explain? Oh, and that rum Dole whip----YUM! |
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Oct 8, 2019 2:32:21 GMT
the one thing we had planned to do, but didn't end up doing, was putting on a Raptor shirt and going to Oracle for photos I have never heard of this, can you explain? Oh, and that rum Dole whip----YUM! DH and I are Toronto Raptor fans - NBA - basketball. And for the first time in their 25 year history, they beat the Golden State Warriors on their own turf at Oracle Arena in San Francisco, and brought the finals trophy home to Canada!! We wanted to our our Raptor logo shirts on and dance in front of the Warriors court home. But they have a new court now and all the signage was taken down so we decided not to bother. 😝 |
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Post by ntsf on Oct 8, 2019 2:32:42 GMT
oracle is a sports arena that the warriors basketball team played at..til they moved this year into their new stadium in SF.. oracle is located in Oakland ca.. across the bay. all the signs they wanted to see were gone.. the raptors beat the warriors.
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Post by crittsmom on Oct 8, 2019 2:41:09 GMT
Looks like you had a wonderful trip and hit the best spots . As for those inquiring about the Dole whip with rum, I *think* they also sell it next to Goofy's kitchen in a coffee shop there.
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grammanisi
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,740
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Post by grammanisi on Oct 8, 2019 2:46:52 GMT
What an awesome trip!
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Oct 8, 2019 2:50:03 GMT
the one thing we had planned to do, but didn't end up doing, was putting on a Raptor shirt and going to Oracle for photos I have never heard of this, can you explain? Oh, and that rum Dole whip----YUM! DH and I are Toronto Raptor fans - NBA - basketball. And for the first time in their 25 year history, they beat the Golden State Warriors on their own turf at Oracle Arena in San Francisco, and brought the finals trophy home to Canada!! We wanted to our our Raptor logo shirts on and dance in front of the Warriors court home. But they have a new court now and all the signage was taken down so we decided not to bother. 😝 |
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Oct 8, 2019 2:51:12 GMT
Looks like you had a wonderful trip and hit the best spots . As for those inquiring about the Dole whip with rum, I *think* they also sell it next to Goofy's kitchen in a coffee shop there. We were at that little coffee shop every morning lol - no Dole whip on the list! But if you’re going to go to Goofy’s Kitchen then you are a stones throw from the place where it is! 😝 |
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Did they have a whole area that looked like the quaint, cozy Stars Hollow? (ETA: I just realized you said Warner Brothers.....is there also a Universal, or did they change the name? 
