Day at Disneyland: Orange County
It’s been.
Well, more than a while since I spent any time roaming Orange County. Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 became the latest.
Starting the day, K.D. and I began with an adventure getting from our Motel 6 onto the 91 freeway heading to Long Beach. Usually, freeway onramps are fairly easy to find and away you go. Not this one, but after taking the scenic route, we managed to be westbound early in the morning commute. After a brief stop, we added Michelle to our little expedition and headed for breakfast to start the day properly. Polly’s Pies in Long Beach was the stop and we ate a hearty meal with plenty of great coffee. It was also a great way to catch up with each other after the long pandemic interruption.
Next would be a visit with Kevin Honda and the fine folks at Arnie’s Model Trains in Westminster. When it comes to HO and N scale trains, it is hard to beat the selection of new and used equipment available here. Especially interesting was everything needed to model a complete circus train, from the days when under the big top was the greatest show on Earth, traveling from place to place by rail. Many of these models were hand built from kits and are rather unusual. Next door, it’s a great selection of large-scale trains at Milepost 38, with everything from Lionel to garden railway new and used trains. A particular eye-catching model was a Bachmann Trains “Emma Nevada”, the prototype of which used to be on Disney animator Ward Kimball’s Grizzly Flats Railroad and is now on display (and under restoration) at the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, California.
A few other stops around Orange County led us back to Anaheim and the Disneyland Hotel. Despite the years, there are more than a few reminders of the days when Jack and Bonita Wrather were the owners of this property. And even with the addition of a new Disney Vacation Club tower, it remains a sentimental favorite of many visitors to the Disneyland Resort. Michelle and her husband Noe spent their wedding night in what once had been the private suite of the Wrather family. As well, Michael and his first wife Susan also spent their wedding night in a suite at the end of the Bonita Tower (now known as the Frontier Tower). Michael and Susan also enjoyed more than a few trips with myself and my wife MIchele to Disneyland including a few New Year’s Eve events with stays at the Disneyland Hotel.
As with many, there have been some truly wonderful meals and beverages enjoyed here at the restaurants and bars of the hotel over the years. More than a few are long gone. Hook’s Pointe, Stromboli’s, The Monorail Cafe, Sgt. Preston’s Yulon Saloon, Maizie’s Pantry, Granville’s, the Lost Bar, and more… Great memories of all kinds with family and friends. Rumors have recently promised the return of Steakhouse 55 and it looks like a new restaurant in the DVC Tower coming in 2024.
After visiting the Fantasia Shop and adding a few items for the coming day, it was more than time to visit the Tangeroa Terrace and Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. We were very lucky to get a table outside of Trader Sam’s. A few pupu’s and a full Sea Monster’s Embrace made the time go all too quickly here. Just for the record, we all shared that bowl. Complete with The Real McCoy and Plantation Dark Rum, New Amsterdam Gin, E&J Brandy, Passion Fruit, Falernum, and Juices of Lime, Orange, and Pineapple served in a great tiki bowl, complete with tentacles.
Our final stop for the day was back across to Fullerton for some mighty tasty Korean BBQ at Mr. BBQ. It is one popular place and serves a younger, hip crowd. With plenty of K-pop music adding to the crowd’s enthusiasm, the noise level can be fairly high. But the all-you-can-eat meal at a set price for adults and children presents quite an attractive and festive experience. We ate until stuffed and enjoyed a small scoop of chocolate ice cream to finish.
It was one long, enjoyable day. A great warm-up for the penultimate day. In the next chapter: The Day At Disneyland.