Disneyland

We are staying at Courtyard by Marriott.  It is about a km away from the park and close to many things.  We are here for 6 nights and booked two days at Disney.  We wanted something midlevel price range (remember we are pensioners now).

Check in was a breeze and our only requirement was a quiet location.  We are quite happy.  Large room facing the courtyard, not the street.  Biggest pain with Covid rules is no daily housekeeping.  No place we have stayed at has had housekeeping.  Which for a day or two is no issue but 6 nights is a bit long without it. 

Although a simple front desk request and they deliver to our room.  Yesterday we requested new towels and it was here when we came back.  Garbage gets left outside door and picked up later.  Well at least we can tip ourselves what we would normally tip housekeeping.

Monday was spent getting use to the time change.  3 hours from Florida plus another hour because of daylight savings, so 4 hours in total.  We went to Target to stock up on supplies.  Laundry soap, water, wrinkle release, toothpaste, soap (we prefer the big bars of soap for use on the ship), shampoo/conditioner, air freshener for cabin, juice, and fruit.

When we got back we unloaded our bags of all the dirty clothes.  Celebrity does not have self serve laundries like Princess, something we desperately missed.  Thankfully we had a balcony cabin so did do some hand washing and drying.  Also the closet are closed closets and shoes are at the bottom and I find the clothes start to smell stale.  So everything is getting a wash.  5 loads!  

Then we both napped!  We feel beat.  But wake refreshed and ready to head out for the evening.

We head to downtown Disney and enjoy a rather crowded experience.  Normally Disney is quiet at this time of year.  The shoulder season between Halloween and Thanksgiving, but not this year.  Disney is back baby!  

We tried to get into Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar but it was full and the virtual queue was always full.  This proved to be an ongoing issue throughout our stay with the park.  But we learned to just go with the flow and enjoy.

A lovely dinner, a great stroll and it feels nice to be on land.  Although both of us are suffering with Mal de debarkment.  Something we use to get when we first started sailing but rarely had in the last decade.  I guess the 1.5 year break brought it right back.  

It is the feeling like the land is still moving once you get off the ship.  Has no correlation to sea sickness.  You don't feel nauseous at all, you just keep feeling like the land is moving.  It can be quite annoying.  Our doctor said it is from a swelling in your brain from the movement and to take anti inflammatory meds so we are dropping Advil every 4 hours.  After 3 days it is gone, thank goodness.

We enjoyed one day at each park.  Rode tons of rides, enjoyed the characters, soaked up the ambiance, and just had fun.  

But man are we tired at the end of the day,  we look at the families with the kids breaking down in sobs and we know how those kids feel,  it is hard.  But then I look at the parents and I send positive vibes because I am sure they are even more tired but they have to push thru for the kids.

One thing to make a note of is the park is busy.  According to their site you either have to be fully vaccinated or show a negative covid test to enter.  Neither time we entered where we asked to show either of these.  We asked and they said they are not enforcing.  The park does require face masks on indoor rides and spaces.  Sanitizing stations are throughout the park although we encounter many that were empty so we used our own every time we got off a ride.

Today we get our covid tests that is required to board the ship on Saturday.  We are heading to a community testing site in Anaheim not far away,  Fingers crossed!