• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About/Hire Me
    • About Me
    • Hire Me
    • Contact
    • Family
    • Faith
    • FAQ
    • My Running Story
    • Recipes
  • Disney
  • Fitness
    • runDisney Information Page
    • Fitness
    • Races
  • Parenting
  • Travel

Through Heather's Looking Glass

  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • family
  • About Me

Disneyland Trip 2013: Thursday-Saturday

September 24, 2013 | Disney, runDisney, Travel

I have recapped my races during the runDisney Dumbo Double Dare weekend, but not my time doing other things in the parks, so I thought I would do a couple of quick recaps of the rest of our trip.

044

We flew in to California on Thursday, and arrived at the hotel in the mid afternoon. We used the Disneyland resort express and had to wait forever for a bus (45+ minutes), so I was a little frustrated by the time we got to the Grand Californian.

Luckily, our room was ready,  and it was on the fifth floor overlooking the beautiful pool and Grizzly Peak.

grand CA

grand californian room

We headed to the concierge lounge for a snack before meeting Karen and Jason for dinner. it was warm out, but there was low humidity and I was pretty excited about the fact that I could breath outside.

023

026

mmmmm cheese.

029

028

We had reservations at Storyteller’s Cafe which was at our hotel. We also celebrated Karen’s birthday which fell a few days earlier. We always laugh a lot when the four of us get together, and this night was no different.

033

We were pretty tired from the day of travel and time changes, so we headed to bed early. I woke up before the sun was up for the runDisney meet up, and afterwards I met Bobby and we headed over to the expo for a couple of hours. We decided to not go to the parks that day since we had already been on our feet a lot, so instead just rested and went to dinner with Karen and Jason at Tortilla Joe’s.

I had never eaten there before, and was pleased with the food. After that, I headed over to the House of Blues to meet up with some other bloggers and runDisney staff members before turning in for the night. The next day was the 10k race, and we went to the park after and hung out with Karen and Jason.

189

192

194

We rode some rides (Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, Pirates) and had lunch with them at the Carnation Café. They have really good potato soup that I highly recommended.

198

We then attended at tweet up hosted by some blogger friends, and had fun meeting other runners. There was a lot of picture taking.

054

204

Bobby and I headed to California Adventure afterwards and rode Radiator Springs Racers via the single rider line (much shorter)!

207

We met up with Karen and Jason again for dinner at Blue Bayou, and ran into our friends Crystal and Mary.

210

Remember this picture from January? Sad we didn’t have matching shirts this time though. Smile

DSC_0844

We love Blue Bayou, and had a great time there. But, we had to run a half marathon the next day so we headed off to bed after dinner. I know. Such an exciting young couple, no?

213

Up next: Sunday-Tuesday, our last days in Disneyland.

QOTD: What do you usually eat the night before a race?

Want to take a trip to Disneyland? I would love to book for you! Email me at heather@travelwiththemagic.com or go to Travelwiththemagic.com and request a quote. Just be sure to add my name to it!

Like this:

Like Loading…

Sign up for my newsletter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lesley says

    September 24, 2013 at 7:40 am

    That potato soup looks good. I’ll have to check it out when I’m at DL in November.

  2. Karen :0) says

    September 24, 2013 at 7:00 am

    Glad we got to see you guys so many times during the trip! Had a ton of fun! :0)

  3. Mindy @ Road Runner Girl says

    September 24, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    Sounds like so much fun!!! The night before a race I eat something like pasta or pizza…carbs!

  4. Jen says

    September 25, 2013 at 7:16 am

    Looks like so much fun! So sad we had to miss out!

  5. Randy Crane says

    September 26, 2013 at 11:49 am

    What a fun trip report! I’m loving reading this and looking at the photos.

    The night before a race I usually eat chicken Alfredo (whole wheat pasta), garlic bread, and salad, as well as making sure I’ve hydrated well enough that day.

    • Heather says

      September 27, 2013 at 6:46 am

      I love chicken alfredo!

Trackbacks

  1. runningwithsass says:
    September 24, 2013 at 2:31 am

    Disneyland Trip 2013: Thursday-Saturday

    I have recapped my races during the runDisney Dumbo Double Dare weekend, but not my time doing other

  2. Disneyland Trip 2013: Sunday-Wednesday | Through Heather's Looking Glass says:
    September 26, 2013 at 1:59 am

    […] I left off my recap with our dinner at Blue Bayou Saturday night. Sunday morning, we got up and completed the Dumbo Double Dare by running the Disneyland half marathon. After the race, we showered, ate breakfast, and headed out to Disneyland park. […]

Primary Sidebar

I am Heather Montgomery, a southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 11-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
Thank you for visiting, and feel free to contact me with questions, (or for PR inquiries or press trip invites) at Support@HeathersLookingGlass.com.

Please, no guest post requests. 🙂

More about me

Privacy Policy

You can also find me here:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Free Travel Planning with Best Day Ever Vacations (Yes, It’s Completely FREE!)
  • Mom Must-Haves for a Basketball Tournament: The Ultimate Survival Guide
  • Why Spring Is the Sweet Spot for Family Vacation on Alabama’s Beaches
  • You’ll Get It When You Get Here: A Spring Break on Alabama’s Beaches That Actually Feels Like a Break
  • A Word for 2026

 

Search

How to Start a Blog

How to start a blog
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Family
Thinking about staying at Loews Royal Pacific Reso Thinking about staying at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? #hosted

A few things we loved:

🌴 Tropical island atmosphere that actually feels like an escape from the parks

🚤 Water taxi access to Universal CityWalk and the parks

🚶 Easy walking path if you’d rather skip the boat

🎢 Unlimited Express Pass included for registered guests

🏊 Beautiful pool area with plenty of space to relax between park days

For us, it was the perfect balance of resort time and theme park time.
Have you stayed at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, or is it on your Universal wish list?

*Valid on both arrival and checkout day. Please see the Universal Orlando website for rules and regulations for the unlimited express pass. Not valid at Epic Universe or Volcano Bay. Park tickets purchased separately. 

#loewsroyalpacific #universalorlandoresort #universalorlandohotels #universalhotels @universalorlando
There should be a support group for millennials wh There should be a support group for millennials who still think we’re the “young adults” in the room… until a casual conversation reminds us otherwise. 😭

Please tell me I’m not the only one who’s been personally victimized by the passage of time and a perky Gen Z girlie. 😂

Drop your most humbling “wait… I’m HOW old?” moment below.

#millennialmom #millennialparenting #millennialmemes #millennialwomen #millennialwomen
#ad #BraunPartner Less time shaving. More time liv #ad #BraunPartner Less time shaving. More time living thanks to @BraunBeautyUS Smart IPL. ✨ 

I didn’t realize how much mental space hair removal was taking up until it just… wasn’t anymore. Between games, trips, and everything in between, having something I can do at home in minutes has been a total game changer. The app-guided treatments keep me consistent without having to think about it, and I’m already noticing smoother skin that actually lasts. And yes — the full-body, 10-minute-at-home situation still feels a little unreal. 

If you’ve been on the fence, Prime Day (June 14–27) is definitely the moment to check it out with $120 off. #BraunSmartIPL
Reasons our family loved Henderson Beach Resort: # Reasons our family loved Henderson Beach Resort: #HendersonPartner

💦 Multiple pools + lazy river

🍽️ Great dining options right on property

🌅 Gorgeous Gulf views and sunsets

🏖️ Beach chair rentals available right on the beach

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-friendly while still feeling like a luxury getaway

✨ The kind of place that makes you immediately start planning your next trip

Current offer:Book a minimum 2-night stay and receive a $100 resort credit for your stay! (check with the resort for current availability and details).

Would you choose the beach or the lazy river?

#DestinFlorida #HendersonBeachResort #DestinFWB #FloridaVacation @thehendersonfl
We didn’t set out looking for a “perfect” trip… we We didn’t set out looking for a “perfect” trip… we just needed a break from the noise.
What we found in Florida was something better than that. #ad

Our first stop in Auburndale was all about slowing down in the best way. We stayed in a cozy tiny home at Camp Margaritaville (you can also stay in an RV!). We enjoyed coffee on the porch, our daughter loved the pool and waterslide (there is even a splash zone for the littles!), and at night we slowed things down with s’mores instead of screens. It felt like nature + comfort + family time all finally in the same place. They have so many other amenities like mini golf, golf cart rentals, pickleball, a playground, cornhole, and more. Nearby, we explored the Florida Children’s Museum and had incredible food and drinks at Smith’s American Tavern and Black & Brew Coffee. 

Then, we headed over to Fort Myers to experience a completely different side of the state. Shelling walks at sunrise, beach volleyball, pool cabanas, and the kind of Gulf sunsets that make everyone go quiet for a minute. Direct beach access at the Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers made it effortless to go from “let’s check it out” to toes in the sand in minutes. There were several restaurants on property, so we never even got in our car. That plus live music, fire pits, the spa, and lawn games made it easy to want to stay put and relax.

What stood out most wasn’t just the scenery… it was how easy it was to actually be together here. No rushing or overplanning. That’s the true Floridays feeling for me. Laid-back, a little unexpected, and exactly what we didn’t know we needed. 🌴☀️

@VISITFLORIDA @visitfortmyers, @visitcentralfl 
#VISITFLORIDA #LoveFL #MyFortMyers #MargaritavilleResorts FamilyTravel FloridaTravel TravelWithKids
When the Smoky Mountain heat gets unbearable, we h When the Smoky Mountain heat gets unbearable, we head to Pigeon Forge Snow. ❄️ #sponsored 

One of our favorite family activities in Pigeon Forge because you can snow tube year-round, rain or shine, without worrying about the weather outside. 

My daughter could do the tubing hill over and over, and the indoor snow play area makes it even more fun. Honestly such a good break from the summer heat. Plus, it’s super close to nearby attractions like Dollywood and several mountain coasters. 

Click the 🔗 in my bio to save on your next visit to the Smokies!

 #pigeonforgesnow @pigeonforgesnow
Here is my favorite in park Disneyland character e Here is my favorite in park Disneyland character experience: The Plaza Inn character breakfast. Here are a few things to know:

✨ Meet Minnie before you even enter the restaurant and get photos with her + a photopass photographer. 
✨ Food is all you can eat. Minnie waffles, bacon, eggs, pastries, fruit, and more!
✨ Multiple characters visit your table throughout the meal.
✨ Reservations are a must and can book up quickly!

This was such a fun way to start a park day and meet several characters without spending part of the day waiting in character lines.

👉🏻When you book your vacation with @bestdayevervacay, they handle all your dining reservations for you so you don’t have to worry about it! It’s such a great perk and one you don’t have to pay extra for! Check out the 🔗 in my bio to learn more. (Affiliate)

#Disneyland70 #DisneylandTips #CharacterBreakfast #bdevambassador #Disneylandandsea

Copyright © 2026 · Through Heather's Looking Glass · Theme by Bella Creative Studio

%d