Last year some of my friends and I had planned a trip to Disneyland for Sat March 14th... then as the weekend got closer, so did a lot of Covid related information. Things started to change, and the Governor of Ca said that there were going to be some mandates for social distancing and so forth to try and "flatten the curve" for the spread of the disease. He said initially that theme parks were exempt. I got word that church was closing temporarily and the girls and I were discussing whether we would still go to Disneyland. Then a bit later on in the day Disneyland announced they were closing starting March 14th. After work that evening Genevieve and I were messaging and decided to drive down to the park. I was still at work and she was in Simi. So she got the scooter from my moms house, met me in Pacoima and we went down to the park until closing. .... little did we know at that time it would not reopen again in 2020.
Last summer Walt Disney World Reopened, and then Disneyland had plans to reopen as well. We were all excited and ready to go, mask and all... then the Governor changed the restrictions and requirements and wouldn't release the info in time for Disneyland to make necessary changes and reopen.... we waited, and waited and every time it seemed close the numbers would spike or the requirements would change or whatever and we wouldn't even have a chance. .... so we continued to wait, and wait and wait... in August I made my first trip down to Downtown Disney, and getting to security one of the guards said "welcome home" and the tears were flowing ... I was already emotional just driving down, but that did me in. It was a hot day that day (over 100) but I didn't care. I did some shopping and went to the esplanade between the parks and I cried seeing the locked gates. It was tough. After that I did end up making a few more trips down. When they opened part of Ca Adventure for additional shopping and some dining I went back. That first bite of popcorn was truly magical! I also had their hot link corndog... it never tasted as good as it did that day!
Then they cancelled the AP's, after like 15 years having one, that was a hard pill to swallow .... it started to feel unlikely I would ever be back in the parks. Being out of church and out of Disneyland really made my weekends tough. Sure there were the occasional other small gatherings with family or whatever but it really was tough for me. I missed my fun and spiritual weekend events that helped me "reset" for the following week! Church started going on zoom back in like September and earlier this year we started getting to meet in person. Then the announcement came... theme parks could reopen with limited capacity if they were not in the "red tier" on April 1st. .... it was gonna happen! Disney opted to wait to reopen on April 30 so that they could re-hire their cast members and train them on new protocols and so forth and tickets went on sale April 15th for all us AP's who didn't have park access anymore or tickets... so we spent all day in a virtual queue and got some tickets.
On the 19th I went to the Touch of Disney event with a friend. He and I had a great time. We got to do unique photo ops, and eat food and be in the park (Ca Adventure) without being limited to one area. It was a great time but still not enough,Then the 30th was approaching....
Here's what you all wanna know about! Opening day .... prior to the tickets going on sale, the girls and I had discussions about when we were gonna discuss getting tickets to go... then the night before tickets went on sale, we had a 90 min video chat / conference call discussing days and plans. We had it all planned out and all knew what those plans and back up plans were. Day of sales, we were on multiple computers and our phones and keeping in touch all day until we got our tickets and reservations made. Heather and I got opening day tickets... and then we waited still to go. So in the final week, her boyfriend Ray surprised us with hotel for the trip, She asked me if I would prefer Thurs night or Fri ... he ended up booking both. Awesome, right?! In the last couple days before going, Kim saw she could still get a ticket, she was on days off and decided to join us too....
Thurs after work Heather drove to my office to meet me there, we left her car and went down. Kim met us there at the hotel. We got checked in. Relaxed for a few then went to the Walmart grocery store for a few last minute snacks and things. Got all our stuff together and made plans for what time to leave and so forth. Somewhere around midnight we were all in bed attempting to sleep! I didn't sleep well that night, I struggled to fall asleep, then woke up around 3 and struggled to get back to sleep again. A little after 6 we were all up and getting ready to go. Prior to going, Heather and I came up with shirt ideas and the weekend before I went to my cousin Kristie's house and we got them made. They turned out awesome, week then on Weds when Kim decided to join us, I didn't want to leave her out, so on my lunch break I picked up shirt for her and swung by Kristies again to make her a coordinating shirt. So we all wore out shirts and close to 7:30 we were out the door!
On the way to the parks, on the radio (It happened to be on KOST 103.5 I think) they were talking about Disneyland reopening and played "When you Wish Upon a Star" that started the tears for me! We got over to the parking structure at 7:37 and there weren't too many cars in front of us. I was getting teary again! (I know I am a sap) we paid for parking, and then we asked the cast member if we could park on Chip n Dale (where the handicap cars go) since we had the scooter for me, but no placard, the guy let us! Yay! So we didn't have to go up the structure or use elevators or anything. We parked in a non-blue marked stall, unloaded the scooter and headed for security, we got thru security fairly quickly and got in line for the parks. Right now since the trams are not going, you have to walk the tram route to get to the parks, at that time we got in line basically where you would get on the trams (before they had redone them) and so we got in line. After a few it was moving a bit, they took our line and every other party they used to make a third line in the middle of the lane, there was a 3rd line which I think were people who tried to enter from the Harbor blvd side and not the Mickey and Friends Structure. While we were there, I noticed the girl in front of us, the small pocket on her backpack wasn't snapped closed. But with social distancing and the fact we were not moving I didn't say anything, then either Heather or Kim (I think H) was like "should I tell her that her backpack is open?" so I was like "I was gonna tell her but didn't get a chance to" so she tells her... and we start talking with her. Her name is Anna and she was doing a solo trip, She was lucky enough to get Disneyland ticket and was not doing the park hopper. (We had park hoppers but had to start at Ca Adventure) Sometime around 8:15 a cast member came down saying that the parks were open and we'd be moving soon. Shortly after we were.... by 8:30 we we in the park! We got inside and took a couple pictures and brief video of being there, cue the tears and excitement! Then we got to go down Buena Vista street .... omg I was crying, they lined the street with cast members, waving and saying hello and "welcome back" and just emotions! I wasn't the only one crying that day! It was so great! We went all the way down to the end and then back to the front to enter the shops. I wanted to get the new "The Magic is Back " merchandise early in the day, so we did. We got our stuff and exited at the other end again (part of the safety protocols so they can track people in and out and number of people in the store) as we exited we got to do part of Buena Vista Street again and so I cried some more!
We decided the first ride would be Soarin Over the World. We went and got in line, it was still before 9 am, but they lined us up, took us down and gave us rows... we got on the ride right at 9am and so it was our first ride of the day, right as they officially reopened!! It was so great! We did Guardians of the Galaxy and Monsters Inc and then had a snack break while we waited to do the Chase Visa special photo op. We did a lot of photos that morning throughout Ca Adv. We watched the Mickey's Philharmagic show, and while there we also rode; Little Mermaid, and the Incredicoaster. Heather got a glass of wine or champagne or something (it was alcoholic and sparkly) and Kim got her ice cream she wanted. We had a good laugh when we went into one of the bathrooms and I was like "the toilet seat is up, we're the first to use the bathrooms since reopening!" We didn't make it into Carland, but I got an Alien sipper cup there too! It was around 12:30 and we were thinking about getting in line for Toy Story Mania, we were right there and the line was short, but we also knew that at 1 we could park hop into Disneyland, but that the hopping was dependent on capacity. So we decided to cut our time at Ca Adv. and get in line for the Land!
We were only a few parties back from the gate at Disneyland about 10-15 minutes later.... we reapplied sunscreen while waiting and just hoped for the best. ... just before 1pm they started opening the gates at the ticket booths and at 1p started checking people in! We were inside by about 1:05!! Cue more tears! We hugged and cried and were just so happy! We snapped a few photos and went in... at 1pm on Main Street at Disneyland, they lined up cast members again for welcoming us! {all I did was cry, cry,cry, you get the picture I am sure} we decided to hit Space Mountain first. then Star Tours, after that we looked at lunch ideas. We had gotten a boarding pass for Rise of the Resistance (ROTR) and so we wanted to make our way towards Star Wars Land. The girls wanted Plaza Inn fried chicken, but I opted for the cauliflower sandwich and "the grey stuff" from the Red Rose Tavern in Fantasyland. We mobile ordered our food, they met me at the Red Rose Tavern and we found a table. We were finishing eating and planning our next move when Anna walked by. I was like "hey it's our line buddy Anna!" So we hollered to her to say hello and she came over to talk to us. While we were chatting she was like "hey do you ride Splash Mountain?" or maybe she asked if we were gonna, regardless she asked about Splash Mountain and we were like "yes" it isn't Kims favorite, but Kim had already said she would ride it with us. So Anna mentioned that she had never been, has a fear of drops on rides but was wanting to ride it, but not alone. We of course were like you can totally join us! She had already ridden ROTR so Heather and Anna exchanged numbers, and made plans to meet up again after we'd finished on ROTR.
We rode the new Snow White's Enchanted Wish (recently renovated from Snow White's Scary Adventure) and Peter Pan and headed over for ROTR when it was our time. The ROTR was incredible! It had just opened last year in Jan and although I had been to the parks a number of times before they closed, I hadn't ridden it yet. Now I must disclose... I have not seen the SW movies... I know, I know, I have heard it a million times and I cannot tell you how many friends have threatened me with a marathon, but it still hasn't happened. Maybe one day. So while I was fascinated and really did enjoy the ride, Heather was the one in awe! (Kim had managed to ride before) ... I enjoyed it, but the whole time I was looking at it from an engineering perspective and the logistics of how it all worked and not crashing and just the incredible feat of all the ride entails! After we left there, we messaged with Anna to meet us at Splash Mountain. Now due to my knee, I still use the scooter for the parks, so we got down to the exit and got a return time. In the meantime we went to go ride Winnie the Pooh but it was temporarily closed, Haunted Mansion usually requires a return time as well, but we decided to try and were able to get on. SO we did the mansion (also recently upgraded and renovated, and still absolutely one of my favorite rides) and then went back to Splash Mountain. Kim sat in front, then Heather, then Anna and I was in the back. I told Anna I would hold her shoulders, she could hold my hand or whatever if she needed it. Through the ride I kind of gave her a heads up as to what was coming especially right before the big drop. She didn't die! Yay! I don't know if she will ride again, maybe once when it switches to Princess and the Frog, but she did it! We adopted her into our crowd and she spent the rest of the day with us.
We did Pirates of the Caribbean, had beignets and rode Indiana Jones, we did Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and it was getting close to 7pm .... Closing time :( Anna had a return time to get a Dole Whip and Heather wanted a chimichanga, so we said a brief goodbye and she went for the whip and Heather got in line for her chimi ... after she got her chimi we made a rush over to Small World and were the last ones to get in line... and ride at 7pm we were getting in the boat and starting the ride. We got out as the characters were coming out for the 7:15 time. We texted Anna and met up with her on Main Street in front of the Castle. Heather ate her chimichanga, I went to the Jolly Holiday in hopes of getting a Matterhorn Macaroon (they were out though) and Kim got some popcorn. They managed to secure a bench staring at the castle so we sat there for nearly an hour, enjoying our snacks and the view. We were not the only ones there staring at the castle or taking pictures or whatever. We also took some pictures and just after 8 pm Disney cast members started pushing everyone towards the exit. We passed thru Downtown Disney back to the parking structure and said goodbye to Anna there. We became facebook friends and got to know each other a bit while eat the beignets /having a snack break before Pirates and invited Anna for karaoke night sometime at our apartment. She was a sweetheart.
What an amazing day! We went to Taco Bell for Kim and I and went back to the hotel. Had a late dinner and went to bed. In the morning we kind of slept in a bit, or at least relaxed. And eventually all got ready for the day. Kim headed home as she had to work that night and Heather and I went to Downtown Disney. When Ray booked us the hotel, we made lunch reservations! We did a little shopping, had some lunch and wished we had bought 2 day tickets in the first place for the park. But overall we were so glad to have been back at Disney. Now we are sad we have to wait to go back!
Genevieve and I have tickets for June 5 and 12th, and in July we all get to go back for 3 days with Kim and stay at the Grand Californian, Tami and Anthony will join for that trip as well. Since then Ray got two day tickets for him and Heather to go in June as well. We all miss the passes so much! without them I won't be able to go beyond what we've already purchased and planned likely until my Birthday in September, and then maybe again in Nov. That would get me to be able to experience the Halloween decorations and Christmas. They said that the new Annual Pass program would be released by the end of the year, but no telling how much it would be or what it will include. I def want to get my pass back though! I want to have the freedom to go more frequently again! It was missed and I am already missing it again. Being there with minimal crowds was awesome, being there to feel the magic again was awesome, everything brought so many emotions, after a while, later in the day it almost felt like we'd never been locked out, but it was still so great being back and it all feeling so familiar, like home, yet also so exciting because it had been missing in my life!
Well that's my synopsis, yes we had to wear masks, even on rides and in pictures. But I didn't mind, I haven't been bothered by masks (except when wearing my glasses) obviously I would prefer not to have to, but to me the sacrifice was worth it to be home again! We talked about how yes we even have to wear them in pictures, but we also talked about how many pictures we have from Disneyland without them. We did sneak one castle picture quickly without them on, but overall it adds to the memories of this trip (and however many we have to wear them for) it adds to others down the road seeing what we did to get thru the pandemic and to be able to return to things we love. Disney has hand sanitizer everywhere, by all the ride entrances and exits, the cast members all have some on their belt, there are hand washing stations throughout also, they have plexiglass in lines, they have markers for social distancing in the lines, extra seats and tables throughout the park to sit and be able to snack or remove the masks (since you only can in designated areas and not in line etc) they are good about asking people to wear their mask properly if someone needed to be reminded. They have done an amazing job and I will go as often as I can, with the restrictions or without!
I am one of however many people who can now say they were there on the 2nd day Disneyland opened! I can also say not only was I there on the day they opened, but had been there on the day they had to close too! I know I am not the only one who can say that, but I can and some people think I am crazy for my love of Disney but I am happy for it. I saw a shirt today that says "being a Disney fan doesn't make me childish, it makes me happy" there are no truer words to me! Well I think this post may be long enough now! Thats my story and experience and I am happy!
