Day 9: Disneyland and Ontario Mills

Day starts as usual for The Candy Cane Inn with breakfast delivered to our room.  Out the door ready to get to the park for it opening at 8am.  Arrive just as it opens and off to ride Indian Jones.
It's broken, so grab a fast pass and off to Splash Mountain.

Splash Mountain

Ride completed, so over to Thunder Mountain.
It's now time for our fast pass for Indian Jones, so walk over to see it's working and it is!!
Still it's a 10 min wait even with the fast pass, but it's over 70 mins in normal stand-by.

This was Meg's first time on the ride and she screamed and held my hand during the whole ride.

Still she managed it.

Time getting on so off to Snow White and The Carousel.

On The Carousel

It's now approaching 9:45am, so over to California Adventure for it opening.

Get into the park and wait at the Pier for the tape drop and head off to California Screamin' as it's been fixed and it's open.

Paradise Pier

Waiting to go!

Meg comes on for her first ride on a proper coaster and as I've said to her for ages she would love it, she does.

After this the wait for Midway Madness is 60 mins, but oh, we've a front of queue slip from the other day, so straight onto the ride.  Love this ride.  I get the highest score for the two cars!!  In your face.

Over to Goofy's Flight School and ride as single riders as the queue is quite long. 

Meg wants to go back on California Screamin', so back and ride this as single riders too.

The park is now getting very busy and as we go over to the tortilla factory we find it closed :-(.

We take the small walk back to the hotel and collect the car and drive the 30 odd miles to Ontario Mills Mall. 

It takes about 40 mins and we grab lunch.  spend the next hour and half shopping and buying more clothing.

Think we'll have to get another bag!  Just as well our luggage is 9 bags.

Drive back to The Candy Cane and relax for a while.

What to do for tea??

Mrs Knotts Chicken.
Drive the 10 mins to Knott's Berry Farm and park the car.  Over to get a chicken meal to take away.
Lovely Fried Chicken, Mashed potatoes, Baked Beans, Biscuits and Gravy all eaten in the car on plates from the take-away!!  Classy!

We also purchased some Boysenberry Jam and Sauce to take home.

Back to the hotel to relax and get some sleep.  At 2am Denise's phone goes off!!  Back to sleep.

Day 8: Seaworld

Breakfast basket again delivered to hotel, but not as early as yesterday. 
We are all ready to go by 8:30am.  It's an easy hour and fifteen min drive down to San Diego and park at Seaworld.
Arrive in time for seating to the Shamu One Ocean display.

Shamu Strutting His Stuff

Shamu Strutting His Stuff

Shamu Strutting His Stuff

Off to the Arctic ride and take in the Beluga whales that we will be interacting with later.
Go check in for our interaction slot and take in a few more exhibits.

At the appointed time, we are collected by a member from Seaworld and taken for our session.  It starts with a behind the scenes tour with feeding a Walrus.

Meg feeding the beast!!

We were shown the new Arctic Foxes that have just arrived and are not on show yet.  They were so cute.

Arctic Foxes

Then the Polar Bear being fed. 

Polar Bear

Now to get changed into our wet suits and get ready to get wet!!
After much huffing and puffing the suits and shoes were all on.  Looked mighty slimming!
We never knew this interaction took place with the rest of the public being able to watch! 
Into the cold pool that the whales were in.  Now this is not as cold as the North Sea is, but cold!
Took a few minutes to get use to the cold.  We then spent the next 20-30 mins interacting with two Beluga whales.

Kisses for Meg

Kiss Me Quick.

Kissing xxx

Altogether with our new friend.

It was all finished too soon.  Back to get the wetsuits off and get changed.  Get to keep your towel. 
Grabbed lunch and over to Atlantis.  Meg was brave enough to try this.

Depart Seaworld to drive up to Anaheim.  Traffic was a nightmare.  2 crashes and a few queues.  It normally takes about 80 mins, but took well over 2 hrs today.

Back to hotel, bite to eat and have a dip in the pool.  Get the washing up to date!!

Day 7: Disneyland Parks

Up early and have breakfast basket delivered to the hotel room by 6:15am.  Get ready and leave hotel and walk the short distance to the parks entrance.
Only short queues for this early morning opening.  Once through the gates of the Disneyland park we head off for the all new Starwars 3D ride.  This new updated ride is so much better than the old one.  The 3D helps so much.
After the ride, pop over the path to Buzz.  This never seems to have the queues that the park in Paris has!!
Zapping accomplished, the off to a few of the small rides, Peter Pan, Teacups, Alice In Wonderland & Dumbo.  By now it's just after 8am, so the rest of the park has been opened.  Off to Splash Mountain.  On straight away and asked if we wanted to stay on, but we exit and off to Winnie The Pooh.  That ridden, then Thunder Mountain.  Nearly straight on again.  Back to do a Roger Rabbit and someones favourite, It's A Small World, before heading out the park to cross-over to California Adventure Park. 

It's A Small World, After All!!!!

At the Park for it opening at make a beeline to California Screamin'.  This is closed and later I find out it was because somebody dropped a rucksack in it the previous day and knackered the movement mechanism.  Mid-Town Midway was too busy, so jump onto Goofy's Flight School.  So much less violent turns than when it was Mullholland Drive.  Nip over to the Zephyr and the Swings.  Fight the crowds to get to It's A Bugs Life and enjoy the show.
It's now nearing lunch-time and with the park getting busy we head out to go to the hotel. 
On the way out I decide to buy a gift and crack open a $500 traveler cheque.  I did ask the operator before the transaction if she had enough change.  Process the cheque and not enough change.  Await a manager to find out what to do.  He doesn't know.  Phone guest services to find out and then have to go over to them.
Whilst waiting at guest services I was listening to all the moans and groans from fellow Disneylanders!
Turns out that Americans want a refund of their ticket costs if there is a closed ride!  Get all the inside info on the new Carland area from my pal.
Crikey, Paris would owe us a fortune over our previous visits!!
Guest services can't help as the cheques been franked.  Back to to shop and they find the change to give me now.  During this, we been given 3 front of queues for any ride of our choice.  2 have to be used today, so we'll use them tonight and the other when we come back on Monday.

Caught in a trap!

New Carland Coming Soon!

Walk the 5-10 min to the hotel from the park and decide to pop out to The Block for a wander.  Have lunch, nice chilli fries and partake in a bit of retail therapy. 

Drive back to the hotel via Walmart to get some essentials and gifts.

Chill for a while back at the hotel, nip over the road to grab some Chinese for tea and have back in the room. 

Suitably nourished, we head back to the Disneyland Park.  Use fast pass on Splash Mountain and Autopia.
Get a few more rides ridden and back to hotel as starting to feel a bit tired.

Day 6: Richard Nixon Library & The Big D

After a nights sleep on board the Queen Mary, we get up and dressed and have a walk about the decks again.
A cruise liner has berthed next to us over night.

Our Deck Corridor

The main promenade

Visiting Cruise Liner

After a bite to eat on board from the cafe, we jump into the car and head off to The Richard Nixon Presidential Library.  All we knew about Nixon was the Watergate scandal.
It was about a a 40 minute drive from Long Beach.  We arrived for it opening at 10am and were the first guests through the door that morning.  I have to say, we learnt a lot about Nixon.  How he help start and draft the 29th amendment.  "What happens when the President is incapacitated"
It also described the Watergate scandal that lead to his resignation.  Certainly a worth a visit.

Entrance

Private Office from White House

Reflection Pool

Nixon's Grave

Marine One

House Where Nixon Was Born In Original Place

After nearly 2 hours, we headed off to Anaheim.  Parked the car at The Candy Cane Inn and popped over the road to IHOP.  Three samplers ordered and juice.  Very nice bacon, eggs and hash browns. 
After lunch it was still a bit too early to check in, so wandered to Downtown Disney.  Browsed a few shops and grabbed an ice-cream.  On the way back, opted to go into California Adventure Park.  Very busy, but not much a wait for Monsters Inc and The Swings. 
Popped back to the Candy Cane and checked in to get our room.  Bags deposited and emptied. 
First two washing loads on and pop down to the pool to cool off.  Next two washing loads on and all dried and ready to be packed again.

Off to Disneyland Park for the evening.  Never seen the park so busy on previous visits.  Queue of Pirate Of The Caribbean.  Then The Haunted House.  Get a burger and chips for tea. 
Have a look at the queues for other ride, but all heaving.  decide to come back to the hotel to get an early night as it's early entry tomorrow at 7am!

Day 5: Universal Studios & Universal City

Up sharp and load car with all our luggage.
Tonight we are staying on the Queen Mary down at Long Beach. 

A quick drive up to Universal.  Use preferred parking as it's easier.  Have breakfast up at Universal City Walk and off to Universal Studios for it opening at 9:00am.

Power walk to the Studio Tour, but stopped for a survey.  The result, a Front Of Line pass for the studio tour! 
We decide to ride the Simpson's then.  After this, off to the tour. 

The obligatory Jaws shot

Not too bad a wait, but with the pass straight on.

The new rebuilt area after the fire

New York Street

Fire Station

Rear of a building

The new King Kong 4D set was really good compared to the old one.  I'll not spoil it.

It was good to see that Earthquake, Jaws and the Flood are still here.

Off up to Wisteria Lane.  The last time it was closed for filming.  This time we just get in before they start to film later. 

Wisteria Lane House

Wisteria Lane

Wisteria Lane

Wisteria Lane

To soon, the tour was finished. 
Back up stairs and just in time for the Water world show.

From the WaterWorld Show

Have a wee walk about after the show and queue for The Terminator show.  Not too bad, as we've never watched this before.  On leaving Meg spots some cute dogs.  They are from The Proposal which she loves and she has her photo taken with them.

Cuddling the dogs

Odds??

We've been to Universal LA three times before and never seen it so busy as this morning. 
We leave the park at the back of 12 to get lunch over at the City Walk.  Taco Bell fills a gap.

Meg and I are booked into iFly at 14:30, so have a wander until 14:00, then check in for our flight.

Waiting for our shot

I can fly!!!

I look like a Flying Squirrel

We had a great couple of flights each.  Got a DVD of the time too.

Back to the car and drive down to Long Beach.  Heavy traffic on the 101, so it takes nearly an hour.

Arrive at the Queen Mary for our nights stay.  Check in and drop our bag into our room and off for a wee explore.



On deck





Promenade Deck

Queen Mary Hotel

Jump in the car to drive over to Long Beach for some tea.  Drive to Shoreline Village and have a walk.  Find a pizza place and have a slice each and a jug of Cola.




Jug of Cola

Chilling after food

Had my pizza

Long Beach Marina

Back to our hotel for the night and catch up on this blog!!!  Night Night.

Day 4: Warner Bros Tour, Farmers Market, The Grove & Griffith Observatory

Up early as body clock still hasn't fully adjusted to new time-zone.
Had a lovely breakfast on the veranda of The Georgian Hotel.  Bacon, poached eggs and home fries for me.  Pancakes and syrup for Denise and yogurt and fruit for Meg.
Set off for the 25 mile drive up to Burbank.  Having seen the traffic busy numerous times before, we set off nearly 2 hrs early for our tour.  We arrived just after 9 am, and booked into an earlier tour.

Outside Warner Bros Studio



Outside Warner Bros Studio

 So off for our pre-tour video and meet our tour guide.  We found out we had scored with our tour.  Only 7 of us on our time-slot.  Onto our pimped up golf buggie and into the studio back-lot. 


The facade used in Annie.

New York Facade

The Mentalist was filming later today.

The entrance to the Chinese shop in The Gremlins

Chuck's car

Meg beside The Mystery Machine for Scooby Doo 2

From the Matrix

Inside of a facade

Getting ready to start filming the new season

ER Facade

Friend's Set

On the famous sofa

Actual sign from the window

Commissioner Gordon's City Hall from the original Batman

Filming was taking place for "Pretty Little Liars"

After touring the lot for a while, we were allowed into a couple of the sound stages.  We went into the "Pretty Little Liars" set and "The Big Bang Theory" set.  Strange to see inside. 
The Big Bang is filmed before a live audience, so we were all sitting on the bleachers. 

Next, off to the small costume museum.  No photo's allowed.  Special Harry Potter exhibit upstairs.
Well worth the look.
After that, our tour was finished, so of to the shop to but a few items.  Denise was asked her opinion on the our and in return she got an OC box set of DVD's.  This will keep Meg happy as we bought an old car DVD player!

30 mins later we were at The Grove shopping plaza.  Parked the car and went over to Farmers Market for lunch.  I had the most delicious pastrami sandwich and the girls grilled cheese and fries.

A stroll round The Grove buying a couple of bits and pieces and off to The Cheesecake Factory for some takeaway. 
On walking into the parking structure, Patrick Duffy walked past, so naturally said Hi to him.

Next stop was the Griffith Observatory.  Nice windy drive up the hill to the top.

Griffith Observatory

The Famous Sign

Smoggy LA

Girls under the sign

The sprawl that is LA

Jump back into the car and off back to Santa Monica.  An hour later, a quick cuppa and cheesecake in our room. 

Went for a little walk around the shopping area and back to the hotel.

Pier at night

Arty Pier shot



Hotel at night