Well this will be a look into what we did, what we experienced as well as what our thoughts were on service and food. We began our trip at 4am headed to the airport. We had arrived promptly at the Disneyland hotel at 9:15am; upon check in I paid my 7 night hotel costs. I was very surprised at the annual pass rate of the Disneyland hotel in what they claim to be off-season rates. Since we are premium pass holders, we have stayed at the Disney hotels many times and always got the great rates of $59 - $99 per night.

To my surprise we had a nice $139 per night but on Friday and Saturday my rate was $159 and of course plus tax and Disney resort fee of $9.20 per night! I was a little shocked and the ridiculous cost, but agreed to pay since my son was all geared up to stay at what he refers to the Disneyland hotel as "Peter pan's place". Of course at check in they informed us we could not have our room until 3p.m but followed up with telling us to come back at 1p.m and if a room is ready we could have it. So we went into Disneyland we had reservations at 10a.m. for the carnation cafe. Since we had never eaten there, I must say food and service was excellent.

We went on a few rides and before we knew it, it was 1p.m. We didn't feel like walking back so I called the hotel to find out no room was ready.

We headed on over to California Adventure. There was the Tower of Terror, my son was crazy to get on it so we made that our first ride in DCA. Now he is 5 years old, and he had no idea what he was in for. My husband and I had geared him up for this really great ride by telling him all about it of course we were referring to the Tower of Terror we rode in MGM studios in Florida. We had never been on the DCA version.

Once on we were confused, once the drop sequence began we were more shocked than excited. What in the world did we just ride? We exited with absolute disappointment, my son however seemed to like it. My husband and I both thought it was going to be like the one in MGM. I was so disappointed I asked one of the CM's running the ride about it. He told us that the computer technology was not ready when the ride opened but in about 1 - 2 years it will be like the one in MGM.

Once again they copied a ride and made it half the ride in Disneyworld is. This includes (The Pooh Ride, Tower of Terror) I'm almost afraid for when they open the Buzz Lightyear ride, since that too was copied from Disneyworld. For those who have not ridden the Tower of Terror in Florida the elevator you sit in actually rolls out of it's shaft on the 13th floor, and it actually turns into a ride that rolls you through a room and through the 5 ghosts and shows you things floating in the air as it rolls you into the actual shaft that drops you. Their computers are programmed to change the drop sequence each ride. So after that, DCA's version was sad. Well we rode a few more favorites and headed to the hotel at 3p.m. to get our room.

I got up to the check in counter excited to get our room. My husband was ready for a rest and my son wanted to swim. The CM informed me that just because check in is at 3p.m. doesn't mean we will get a room then and also informed me very rudely that our room will not be ready until 6p.m. So I went right over to the guest service desk and told them all that had happened. About 30 minutes later they gave us a room after only offering us $50 if we would wait until 6p.m. After I said no and demanded my money back then they produced us a room. However I paid for a room overlooking the pool in the marina tower with 2 queens and a sofa bed. They instead gave us a room with 2 queens overlooking the pool.

Whatever I was happy to get a room and I knew I got ripped off, at this point all I cared about was taking my son swimming. I was absolutely shocked at how badly down hill the service has gone. For someone like me who paid a hefty hotel bill of $1230.00 you'd think they would bend over backwards.

Anyway on with the trip.

We were pleased to find out that during our stay the midnight wake was going on at the Haunted mansion for the guy who won the eBay tombstone. We got to see it on October 29. The tombstone is really hard to read but it's right on the left side of the graveyard scene toward the beginning. It says JAY really big at the top it is also a non-moving one. So that was cool to see. Also they changed the Haunted Mansion holiday a bit since last time we saw it (2003/2004 new years trip) The ball room scene was different instead of the Oogie Boogie decor on the big table it is now all Zero scene. The Madame Leota scene is a bit different and the rooms are all a little different stuff added and stuff taken out; however the exit is still the same with Oogie boogie.

It was very nice to see Guns added in Pirates of the Caribbean on random pirates, as well as guns back on the Jungle Cruise. We also noticed a little different script the CM’s say on Jungle Cruise. It's actually a lot better. We had a really cool driver the first time we rode the Jungle Cruise this trip, he was crazy, he was yelling stuff out and flashing lights and he added lot's of jokes the other drivers didn't. However one big surprise was the majority of tarps came down off the castle while we were there, and it looks beautiful!

And it was exciting to see a sub in the lagoon. Main Street as well looked very refreshed. We also made sure to ride Big Thunder Mountain everyday, this was the first trip my son was able to ride. The last two trips it was closed, and before that he was too short. We also took time to enjoy DCA despite disappointment on ToT we did ride it four times and so did my son.

Anyway as for food since we spent a lot of time there so we were able to eat at a lot of places, ESPN was great food and service as always, House of Blues was awful. The food was terrible and service was equal. Blue Bayou was terrific as always and service was equal. We got a special added gift eating at the Blue Bayou. As we were waiting at the entrance to be seated my husband and his brother and my son were sitting on the bench and my son was jumping around impatiently while a family friend and I stood blocking the entrance. This girl and guy came out into the lobby to exit the restaurant with a Disneyland guide. Her head was down and as she approached me she looked up at me and I looked at her as my son jumped almost on her she stepped aside to avoid my son, she looked me up and down as I did her and I stepped aside to let them by. She also starred at our friend who was with us and he stood and starred back. Finally after they exited he said to me do you know who that was? I said no she looked like a normal person to me why? He said, “Oh my God that was Jennifer Love Hewitt!” Sure enough we asked our server and it was! My husband was mad the entire day that he missed her even though she walked right by him because he was so worried about our son jumping on her. It was so funny; gosh I would have never even guessed it was her. She looks very different in person.

We also ate two character breakfasts and one character dinner at Goofy's Kitchen. Wow this is the first time ever I can say the food was awful and so was the character interaction. We were in there one hour and only had two characters visit our table, one meal we were there for one hour and only had one character visit our table. What's the deal? At $53 for breakfast and $72 for dinner, I defiantly got ripped off on that.

We also ate at the Condor Flats fast food in DCA it was very good which is a first for DCA usually we avoid eating in that park at all costs but this time it was great. We also ate two times at Zocala the Bar B que/Mexican place by Big Thunder, that place is always great. We also ate at Coke Corner a few times and that is always great as well, then we tried Pizza Part wow big mistake the food is so bad, even Chuck E Cheese pizza is better than that place $40 later for pizza and three small drinks. We also ate at Naples in Downtown Disney, this place is great food and service, pizza is very authentic and worth the pricy bill. Of course we ate at Rainforest Cafe as well and food was great service was a little rough though.

All in all the food experience wasn't too bad.

Thanks for reading.

I will cover the Halloween events in my next article since we spent Halloween there as well.