I’m going to Disneyland! I can’t think of a better year to go to Disneyland than this year. They are celebrating their Diamond anniversary and have all sort of celebrations planned all year round. I have been on 1 Adventure by Disney trip, 1 trip to Aulani, 7 Disney Cruise Line vacations, countless trips to Walt Disney World and I have even vacationed in Disney’s Vero Beach Resort- but never Disneyland- and now I have my chance!
Next week I board a plane to Los Angeles for a jam packed 3 nights at the Disneyland Resort. Most of my time will be spent in meetings as a member of Disney’s EarMarked Travel Advisory Council. The Council is made up of 20 travel agency owners and managers who are appointed by Disney leadership to represent the diversity of agencies in Disney’s EarMarked Program. The council serves as a sounding board in Disney’s Travel Agency Sales and Travel Industry Marketing teams, representing the voice of the Authorized Disney Vacation Planners. Yes, it isn’t all fun and games… but then I also am looking forward to sleeping 3 nights in the newly renovated Disneyland Hotel!
On Wednesday night I am Celebrating 60 Dazzling Years at a Reception and Premiere of World of Color “Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney”
On Thursday night, I am attending the Diamond Celebration Premiere Party and Premiere of Paint the Night Parade and Disneyland Forever Fireworks
On Friday, before I board my flight back home I am planning to be at the kickoff to their 24 hour event!
I am so excited, yet it is bittersweet as I am not traveling with my family plus Mike and the kids have never been either- so I am also on a surveillance mission for a quick trip with them in November before attending Disney’s EarMarked Conference.
We have scoped out all 3 resorts and cannot decide if a stay in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa or the Disneyland Hotel would work best for us. Sadly, our family of 5 cannot be accommodated in 1 resort room in Disney’s Paradise Pier Resort (too tight for us). The plan is for all 5 of us to fly out together and spend 3 nights touring the parks and enjoying the resort before my conference starts and then the kids fly back with Mike as to not miss too much school and work.
At first glace, the Grand Californian looks like it would be the most practical- closest to the parks, we can reserve a room with a queen bed and bunks with a trundle for the kids (none of them has to share a bed, which is HUGELY appealing to all 5 of us), the sink is outside of the bathroom (so more of us can get ready in the morning at the same time), plus each room has a balcony or terrace- which we have come to really enjoy on our trips. It also looks very similar to Walt Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge- which we all love.
Looking at the Disneyland Resort, all of the rooms have just been renovated and everything about the resort seems to be traditional yet sprinkled with Disney magic. There is no question where you are vacationing when staying here- the room even has a fiber optic headboard and the bathrooms have Mickey Hand sconces!
So, I am on a mission- of all different sorts! I am going to enjoy and soak in all of what Disneyland has to offer during it’s 60th Anniversary celebration (which lasts through the end of this year) and try to decide which resort would work best for my family’s trip this fall. Which resort would you choose?
