Let The Memories Live Again!
Let The Memories Live Again!
When we set out planning for our USA trip in December, it was supposed to be a tour of the West Coast. We were adamant that we would not fly 2500 miles across the coast to visit Orlando. Yet, when the Disney Free Dining Plan promotion was offered, we could not resist and booked ourselves a package. We then left the decision to Jarod and Ashley whether to forgo Lake Tahoe and San Francisco in place of Orlando. They were both unanimous in their choice – to the happiest place on earth we go! We had to make some changes to our original itinerary and re-book our domestic flight. We also added a shopping day at Sawgrass Mills, which is our favourite mall in America since we will be flying to Fort Lauderdale. As for me, half the fun of taking a vacation is planning it. To put all the details in place, plan out the days, routes, hotels and even food is a great joy. It certainly helps in building up the anticipation as you count down to your vacation.
Tues 1 Dec 2015
Depart Singapore SQ12 Dec 01SIN-NRT-LAX 0920am / Arrives Dec 01 1150am LAX
Transit Narita Tokyo 1 hour 45 mins.
Collect car from National counter at airport. Drive from Los Angeles to San Diego.
Lunch at Phil’s BBQ, Point Loma
Proceed to check-in Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel & Marina. We have a reservation for Marina View Room.
Confirmation Number : 280489800
Shopping at Las Americas Premium Outlet / Walmart
Dinner at Hodad’s or Carnitas’ Snack Shack (Del Mar)
Wed 2 Dec 2015
Breakfast at Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
USS Midway Museum
Lunch at Slater’s 50/50 or Corvette Diner or Point Loma Seafoods
San Diego Air and Space Museum
Shopping (Carlsbad Premium Outlet or mall)
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=66
Dinner at Parma Cucina Italiana
or Point Lama Seafoods
Thur 3 Dec 2015
Check-out from Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel & Marina.
Breakfast at Hash House A Go Go
Drive to Los Angeles
Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
LA Farmers Market
.
Shop at American Girl Place – The Grove, Los Angeles
Santa Monica
Dinner at The Lobster – Santa Monica {Happiest Hour – Mon to Fri, 4.30 to 6.30pm)
or Sunset Dinner at Malibu Seafood
Check-in Fairfield Inn Anaheim Hills by Marriott
Confirmation Number : 83310072
Fri 4 Dec 2015
Disneyland 60 years Diamond Anniversary
Lunch at Plaza Inn
Dinner at Blue Bayou Restaurant – Fantasmic! Dining Package
Watch Fantasmic!
Sat 5 Dec 2015
Whale Watching Tour with Captain Dave Dana Point – 11am
Lunch at The Harbor Grill – Dana Point {3 course Prix Fix Set Lunch 11.30am to 4,30pm)
Shopping
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=6
or
Irvine Spectrum Center
Dinner at Orange Roll & Sushi (closed on Sundays) or Ruth’s Chris
Sun 6 Dec 2015
Disney’s California Adventure Park
Lunch at Corn Dog Castle + Soup from Pacific Wharf Cafe
Enjoy a sundae from Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
Dinner at Ariel’s Grotto – World of Colour Dining Package
Watch World of Colour
Mon 7 Dec 2015
Disneyland / Disney’s California Adventure Park
Lunch at Cafe Orleans
Dinner at Carnation Cafe (request for patio table)
Watch Paint The Night Parade and Disneyland Forever Fireworks
Tues 8 Dec 2015
Lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express
Dinner at Buca di Beppo or Luigi’s D’ Italia
or Dinner at Texas Roadhouse – Corona (Kids Night only on Tuesdays)
Wed 9 Dec 2015
Visit Solvang, the Danish Village of Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara’s wine country.
Lunch – Bakery Hopping – Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery / Mortensen’s Danish Bakery / The Solvang Bakery
Get the famous Aebleskiver from Solvang Restaurant
Alternative plan:
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Lunch at California Fish Grill / The Cheesecake Factory / Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles
Dinner at Texas Roadhouse
or Dinner at Buca di Beppo / Luigi’s D’ Italia
Thur 10 Dec 2015
Check-out from Fairfield Inn Anaheim Hills by Marriott
Exchange car at National Counter in Anaheim
Return to Hollywood Studios or Last minute shopping
Lunch at The Cheesecake Factory / Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles / Buca di Beppo
Watch Disney On Ice : Frozen at Staples Center 3pm
Drive to Las Vegas, Nevada
Check-in The Venetian where we have a reservation for a Bella Suite.
Confirmation Number : 60128797
Dinner at Lobster Me, The Venetian
Fri 11 Dec 2015
Explore Las Vegas Strip – Viva Las Vegas!
Lunch at Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace
Other Attractions
Mirage Volcano Show
Bellagio Fountain Show
Dinner at Five Guys / Nathan’s Famous / In-N-Out Burger / Krispy Kreme
Sat 12 Dec 2015
Helicopter Tour to Grand Canyon, Arizona with Sundance Helicopters All American Tour
Champagne Toast and Picnic below Grand Canyon Rim
Lunch at Hot N Juicy Crawfish / Mon Ami Gabi / The Cheesecake Factory
The Aquarium at The Silverton Hotel – Meet The Mermaids
(Time: Thursdays from 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. -8:15 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays from 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – 9:15 p.m)
Dinner at The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas or The Buffet at Bellagio/ Makino Decatur
Cirque du Soleil – Michael Jackson One (Mandalay Bay)
Sun 13 Dec 2015
Check-out from The Venetian
Breakfast at The Egg & I
Lunch at Olive Garden / Buca di Beppo – Excalibur / Red Lobster / Hard Rock Cafe
Shopping at Las Vegas North Premium Outlets
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=58
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=61
Dinner at Gordon Ramsay BurGr / Chang’s Hong Kong Cuisine / Joyful House Chinese Cuisine
Return car to National and board flight to Fort Lauderdale 2249/0609
Mon 14 Dec 2015
Collect car from National counter.
Confirmation Number 269814939
Breakfast at Original Pancake House / Ihop / Lester’s Diner
Drive to Orlando
Lunch at The Catfish Place, St Cloud
Check-in The Mermaid Room – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Shopping
Dinner at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant – Downtown Disney
Tues 15 Dec 2015
Check-out from Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Breakfast at Kona Cafe – Try the famous Tonga Toast and Kona Coffee
Check-in Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Magic Kingdom Day
Lunch at Columbia Harbour House
Dinner at Via Napoli
Wed 16 Dec 2015
Epcot Day
Breakfast at Sunshine Seasons
Lunch at Boardwalk Bakery
Conquer The Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream
Snack on Croissant Doughnut from Refreshment Port
Dinner at Rose & Crown
Watch IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth from Rose & Crown patio
Thur 17 Dec 2015
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Day
Lunch at 50’s Prime Time Cafe
Dinner at The Boathouse
Watch Star Wars : The Force Awakens at AMC Theatres
Private After Hours Party till 2am
Star Wars Launch Bay
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
DJ Dance Party
Fireworks Spectacular set to iconic Star Wars scores
Fri 18 Dec 2015
Breakfast at Sleepy Hollow – Funnel Cake
Lunch at Contempo Cafe or Columbia Harbour House
Get Corn Dog from Casey’s Corner and Sundae from Plaza Ice Cream Parlour
Watch Festival of Fantasy Parade
Dinner at ‘Ohana
Sat 19 Dec 2015
Hot Air Balloon with Thompson Aire
Epcot Day
Lunch at Teppan Edo
Get snack from Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie
Dinner at Chefs de France
Sun 20 Dec 2015
Magic Kingdom Day
Breakfast at Be Our Guest or Kona Cafe
Watch A Christmastime Parade
Early dinner at The Crystal Palace
Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party
Watch Wishes Nighttime Spectacular
Watch Main Street Electrical Parade
Mon 21 Dec 2015
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Day
Fantasmic! Lunch Package at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
Get Carrot Cake Cookie from Writer’s Stop
Star Wars Launch Bay – To open late 2015
Get dessert from Starring Rolls Cafe
Watch Fantasmic!
Dinner at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
Tues 22 Dec 2015
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Day
Lunch at Restaurantosaurus
Dinner at Cape May Cafe
Wed 23 Dec 2015
Return to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Park Hop to Epcot
Lunch at Biergarten
Dinner at Tutto Italia Ristorante
Thur 24 Dec 2015
Christmas Eve at Magic Kingdom!
Lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Watch Wishes Nighttime Spectacular and Electrical Water Pageant from waterfront verandah
(firework pic is own pic from 2014 trip)
Fri 25 Dec 2015
Check-out from Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Shopping at Downtown Disney
Lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express
Check out the Amphicar at The Boathouse
Goodbye Walt Disney World – We hope to return in 2021 for WDW’s 50th Anniversary!
Drive to Fort Lauderdale 1910/2240
Dinner at Ihop / Lester’s Diner / Buca di Beppo – Davie
Return car to National and board flight to San Francisco 1930/2259
Collect car from National Counter
Check-in Aloft San Francisco Airport Hotel
Confirmation Number : 258067 (Soo Fen)
Sat 26 Dec 2015
San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge
Fisherman’s Wharf
Breakfast at Hollywood Cafe (opens 7am) / Mama’s (opens 8am)
Return car to National
Goodbye USA!
Board Flight SQ15 12:55pm SFO-ICN-SIN Arriving Singapore (01:10am 28 Dec)
Transit in ICN 1 hour
Mon 28 Dec 2015
Home Sweet Home!