Dave and Allie's Excellent Adventure!: November 2019

California Adventure opened in 2001 and was based on California, it has since gone through an overhaul and the opening land is now based on Hollywood at the time Walt would have moved there.

Our first meal here was for lunch at a quick service establishment. We ended up choosing Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta, located in Paradise Gardens Park. Dave got a salad and some fruit, while Allie opted for pizza and a tiramisu. The pizza tasted bland but once ketchup was added it was tastier.

We had dinner on one of our visits at Wine Country Trattoria, located at Pacific Wharf. This is a table service restaurant so again reservations are recommended. Unlike Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure do serve alcohol inside the parks. Allie was very excited to get a glass of Fairytale Cuvee to try. Dave had a mouthful, we both are not champagne drinkers but it was drinkable and she would probably consume again...for the name alone. Dave had a gluten free spaghetti bolognese while Allie had lasagne. We both devoured our meals although Allie wished the lasagne serving was a bit bigger. Allie then got a chocolate cake dessert while Dave had his go to sorbet.

Our last meal at Disney's California Adventure was at Carthay Circle, located on Beuna Vista Street. This restaurant is a table service establishment and we opted for a prix-fixe 3 course meal. We both got salads for our appetisers, steak for entrees and then Dave had a fruit bowl while Allie had some sort of cake.

A few of our favourite photos from our time at Disney's California Adventure. One of Allie's favourite's of the lot would be when Buzz Lightyear kissed her hand and the expression on Dave's face...he was not pleased.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/destinations/disney-california-adventure/

Disneyland opened on 17th July 1955 in a grand celebration that was televised on TV. Walt Disney himself was there to see his dream come true. Disneyland boasts being the original park and the only park that Walt himself has visited...he would even stay here overnight and had an apartment above the fire station.

For Dave's first visit, Allie splurged on the Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour. This tour has plenty of information about the original attractions to the park and features Walt's voice through the headphones talking about his park. Allie did this tour back in 2009, but the tour had changed and now included a special surprise...entry into Walt's apartment above the fire station. Walt would stay here while he would visit the parks so he had his own get away. The kids and grandkids would often visit. This marks Allie's 3rd time in here and Dave's first. It is a magical experience and you can't help but feel close to Walt and his spirit. We got a couple photos inside. You may notice the small Christmas tree in the photos, Disneyland was in the process of setting up for the holidays as we visited in early November. The Christmas tree replaces the lamp that is usually there during this time and remains lit for the duration of the holidays just like the lamp will do when it returns. This is in memory of Walt who would always turn the lamp on when he was in the park so employees would know he was there. Disneyland have kept the lamp on since his passing in his memory with the belief that he is always there looking over his park.

The tour ended with a provided lunch. Dave opted for an allergy-friendly salad with fruit. Allie chose a sandwich with potato chips, as well as a dessert shaped to resemble the Matterhorn, a popular ride at Disneyland.

On one of our Disneyland days, we had to be up extra early so we could attend the Grand Circle Tour. This tour was new in 2017 when we visited and was a must do for Allie and Dave who love to learn about Disney history and Walt's love of trains. The tour commences with a special donut and concludes with a ride in the Lilly Belle carriage. This carriage is a Victorian style carriage and was designed by Walt's wife Lillian and named in her honour. Fun fact: the miniature train Walt had at his house was also named the Lilly Belle.

We opted to go to Carnation Cafe for dinner which is a table service restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. This restaurant is located on Main St USA. At Disneyland the booking reservations differ from reservations at Walt Disney World. A reservation can be made 60 days out and is not as cutthroat...sometimes on the day you can just walk up to the podium at the restaurant to enquire and are able to get a seating. The chances of this happening at Walt Disney World is next to impossible for the more popular restaurants.

So the thing with Allie is she can not stand spicy food, but she is a Walt girl through and through so she ordered Walt's Chilli (an appetiser). Dave told her it would be spicy but she was determined and didn't think it would be that bad...it was bad. She also had the Meatloaf (entree/main meal) which was one of Walt's favorite dishes at this restaurant, she also isn't a fan of meatloaf. Due to Allie getting an appetiser, Dave got 2 entrees, 1 was a salad and the other was chicken fillets. We were both pretty full after and did not even want to look at the dessert menu (rare for Allie).

David enthralled in the theming while carrying our food to the table.

For lunch on one of our days, we opted for a quick service meal at the Rose Inn Tavern, located in Fantasyland. This restaurant has a Beauty and the Beast theme and yes, they do serve the gray stuff (however, it differs from the gray stuff served at Be Our Guest restaurant at Magic Kingdom). We both purchased burgers and fries and Allie got the gray stuff also.

Dinner was had at the table service restaurant, Cafe Orleans, located in New Orleans Square.Dave got a healthy salad and Allie got Monte Christo. She was pretty full after and sadly did not have room for the famed Beignets.

Our last meal at Disneyland was at the table service restaurant called the Blue Bayou. Located in New Orleans Square, this restaurant features inside a scene of Pirates of the Caribbean. Dave got a mojito to drink to keep up with the Louisiana theming and spirit. We can't remember the menu items we got, but we both agreed that there are better restaurants to visit at Disneyland. It was nice for the atmosphere but that was about it.

Below are a few of our favourite photos from our Disneyland days...just looking at them makes us want to go back (not that we need an excuse, it's Disney!!)