Expo West 2025 and Disneyland

March 6, Thursday

I got the boys off to school and got packed and ready. I went through security, I looked at the departures and I saw that Porter Dunaway's flight was at A14 and I was going to A21. I had texted Jerelyn so I knew there was a chance I might see their family today but they must have already left. So, I went down his section of the airport to see if I could spot him and I easily did. He was sitting at Panda Express facing the crowds walking by so I walked up and said hello. He was surprised to see me, of course. Anyway, he was talking to a guy and I was sorry to interrupt them but the guy was nice enough to take our picture so I could send it to Jerelyn and tell her that he was doing well.

I sent the picture to Jerelyn and she was very grateful. By the time I got to my gate, it was almost time to board. The flight was awful. The turbulence was terrible the whole time. I was able to get an Uber pretty easily and get to the room. We were staying at Grand Legacy at the Park. Michael had been there since Monday. I didn't realize until I arrived that it's a motel-type setup where the door to your room faces the outside. Somehow, the pictures misled me because I didn't realize it was like that. Oh well, too late now. I got moved in a little bit. I was about to leave and Michael had come back to the room. He was concerned I might not be able to get in because they didn't have my information this morning even though he gave it to them on Monday. It was fine and I was able to get my key. So, Michael did a few things on his laptop and then we walked to the convention center together. I got my badge and then we headed over to the hot products where our booth is this year. It was cool to see everything from the window upstairs. 

We walked past the Built booth and then headed to ours. Michael wanted to wait because they had some press coming so I started walking around. I walked the entire bottom floor of the hot products where we were. I came back and Michael was busy talking with somebody. I saw a lady holding a cool bag that said, "in my self-care era" and I had to find it. Turns out it was on the floor above so I went up there to try to find it from Pressed juices. I ran into Steve and we talked for a minute. He walked over to the Pressed juices booth with me and then he had to go find Aaron Henderson. They had given away all the bags so they didn't have any extras so that was a bummer. I walked around upstairs for a little while. 

Michael called and wanted to join me so that was nice. There was a booth for cactus water and Vanessa Hudgens was there and available to meet people so I couldn't resist saying hello and getting a picture. She was very sweet. We tried the cactus water and it was actually pretty good. 

By about 5 PM, Michael went back to the booth. I finished walking the floor and then came down. We went to dinner and they sat us next to the window. I had so much fun sitting there relaxing with Michael and enjoying the delicious food. We both wanted ribeye and we both wanted fillet so he got the ribeye and I got the fillet and we split both. I got the sweet potato casserole like I always do and he got the brussels sprouts. We were too full for dessert.

March 7, Friday

We left the hotel a little after 10 AM headed over to the booth. I had a list of about eight different companies to go see. I never found the one for Uncle's ice cream and it turns out they never showed and somebody else took their spot. There was a Belgian chocolate one that by the time I got there they had cleared out completely. I walked over to Hall A and got some Greek yogurt at Chobani. It was a high protein one and not very good. I tried to find Siggi's but never found them. Then, I headed over to Hall D to check out Vital Proteins and they have some collagen gummies. Next, I went downstairs to Hall E. I found Skinny-Dipped and found out that the birthday cake covered cashews I've been eating are the last of them and they don't make them anymore. I got some samples from them and many others and filled about three bags today. I was able to consolidate to two bags. I was grateful to find a PB Fit bag first thing in Hall A. I tried to stop by the Midday Squares booth but their booth was lame and just claimed that cocoa was so expensive they didn't have a budget for a booth. I found It’s Skinny Pasta and I tried the risotto and it was pretty good but pretty high in calories so what's the point of that. It turns out the COO is actually from Queen Creek and he was nice enough to give me a bag of fettuccine to try. I had to stop at Doughlicious on the way back. They make ice cream balls covered in cookie dough and it was really good. I sampled plenty of fun things. 

I stopped at the booth again. Everything was fine so I went up to the second floor. On the way out, I stopped at the Egg Life booth. I saw Ross Mathews sampling some of their new pasta. I recognized him immediately because he is often on the Drew Barrymore show as kind of a cohost, I think. I remember him from back in the day of being Ross the Intern. I took a sample of what he was making and he was telling me about the benefits of the product. I told him, "I have to tell you I've been a fan since your days as Ross the Intern," and he said, "Well, why didn't you say that before?" He's very charming. Anyway, he was saying, then you know what I looked like back then and I said yes, and you look fantastic. I told him that about six years ago I lost 50 pounds. He asked me how I did it and I told him that I used My Fitness Pal and tracked every single calorie but it took me 2 1/2 years. We talked about how it's hard because it never stops. You constantly have to be vigilant of what you're eating to maintain it. I couldn't help but tell him how much I appreciated that they often discuss women's issues like perimenopause. He was saying that a lot of the ladies in the audience have said that their doctors don't even talk to them about it at all and they find that shocking and so do I. I told him we just don't have access to that information but I really appreciate what they're doing. Then I asked him for a picture and he was very gracious. I thanked him and said goodbye and headed back to the booth. 

I've been trying to go to the Built booth to ask if they'd let me try their strawberry chocolate flavor. It turns out they had put it in their barrel for giving away samples so I was able to get one easily without even asking. We left a little after 2 PM and headed to the hotel. We got some more towels and rested for a while. It was 4:17 PM when we walked out of the hotel and headed over to California Adventure. I was proud of myself for not even taking a backpack and only my little purse. The security line took longer than it should've but we were easily able to get through it, get through the entry gate, and go inside. 

We got a locker for my heavy coat, used the bathrooms, and walked through the gift shops to Carthay Circle and went to the Carthay Circle restaurant. We ordered an appetizer of potato croquettes. Michael got the chicken Shawarma and I got harvest squash gnocchi with braised short rib. It was so good! I can't remember the last time I had a meal so good. The gnocchi was delicious and the meat was so tender. We enjoyed our food but asked for the check pretty quickly so we could get started on some rides. 

We couldn't resist a few pictures from the Photopass photographer.

The first lightning lane I booked before we even went into the restaurant was for Soarin’ at 8:30 PM. It looked like that one was disappearing the fastest so that's why I chose it. After dinner, we got the individual lightning lane for Radiator Springs racers so we went straight to that when we were done eating. First, we walked past Terran Treats so I could try the crème brûlée churro. It had a really yummy sauce and then little chips of Crème brûlée. 

We got on the ride pretty quickly. The lady who was the single rider with us was pretty nervous about the ride. She looks hilarious in the picture. 

Then we stopped at the bathrooms and walked over to our next lightning lane at Incredicoaster. That was so fun and we got on the ride so quickly. I barely had time to book our next lightning lane. 

By then it was time to make some lightning lane reservations for Disneyland so I made one for Big Thunder. We got a Cookie Num Num, of course. 

We leisurely walked the long way around past the Silly Swings and everything. I looked at some of the Food and Wine Festival booths but none of the lines were worth it. We had a little time to kill before Soarin’ so we went on Ariel. Even though we had a lightning lane, we waited almost half an hour to get on. and that ride is only five minutes long. I timed a few rides tonight just out of curiosity. After Soarin’, we headed over to Disneyland Park. By then it was about 9:20 PM and Michael wanted to watch the fireworks so we found a spot where we could watch them. Unfortunately, they canceled the fireworks part of the show because there was too much wind, which was frustrating because the Fantasmic show was setting off fireworks just fine. Since there weren't going to be fireworks, we headed straight for Big Thunder and rode that. We went over to the Shooting Gallery and Michael played that for a while and I sat on a bench and worked on the first half of my journal entry for today. Our next lightning lane was for Haunted Mansion at 10:30 PM. We did standby for Pirates because the wait was only 15 minutes. It was actually probably less than that. I timed that ride and it was about 17 minutes long from the time you get on to the time you get off. We stopped at Blue Bayou to see if they could change our reservation for tomorrow but they said they can only do it the day of so I should try the app or come back tomorrow. We headed over to Haunted Mansion. It turns out that ride is only about 10 minutes. I had read that they got rid of the Constance Hatchaway scenes, but it turns out they just changed the last scene so that she's not holding a hatchet anymore. We saw that the railroad was running, so after we got off Haunted Mansion I heard the railroad so we booked it over there and barely got on. We rode it all the way around to Main Street. I did a mobile order for Gibson Girl. Michael got cookies and cream ice cream and I got the raspberry rose Mickey macaron. We stopped for a photo op at the main street circle with Cinderella Castle in the background and then got our treats.

We were right by Candy Palace which attaches to Refreshment Corner so we stocked up on a ton of treats. We got churro toffee, chocolate peanut butter bars, a caramel apple for Michael, a big brownie thing, and three bags of English toffee for me. Then we headed out and back to the hotel. We got back here just a little after midnight, about 12:10 AM. 

March 8, Saturday

We got to bed really late last night so it was nice to sleep in this morning. We took our time getting ready to go to the parks. By the time we got there, it was a little before 11 AM. The security line wasn't bad but the line to get into Disneyland was very long. It was even longer over at California Adventure. Thankfully, it moved pretty quickly. 

The first thing we did was get a locker. Last night, we didn't carry a backpack at all but today we decided to take one so we could have the sunscreen and all that. We also brought jackets for later in case it got cold and we didn't know if we were going to go back to the room or not. We were able to get a big locker and then we headed over to Fantasyland. The Peter Pan wait was only 30 minutes so we went on that. That was fun, as always. Michael was so sweet and happy for me that I got to go on that ride because he knows I love it. While we were in line, we ordered food from Eidelweiss Snacks and Red Rose Tavern. I got the cheesy pretzel bread which was amazing and Michael got the cheesy pretzel bread brat and a turkey leg. They just handed us the items individually wrapped with no tray or anything. We asked for a bag and walked over to Red Rose Tavern to find a seat. I also got a green stuff treat at Red Rose Tavern and some ice waters. We sat and talked and enjoyed our food. 

By the time we left there, it was a little after 1 PM. We decided to go get in line for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway because the wait was only 40 minutes but by the time we got over there and to the line it was over 60 minutes so we decided not to do that. 

Our Space Mountain lightning lane, which was the first one we booked today, didn't start until 1:50 PM so we killed a little time and went to that.

I thought I had booked Buzz Lightyear for right after that but it turns out it wasn't until a little later so we found a place to sit and relax while we waited. There was a nice area with a ton of empty tables near the Galactic Grill, but kind of hidden in a corner and far from the restaurant. We had fun on Buzz Lightyear except Michael's blaster wasn't working very well so he barely got any points but I got 693,700 so that was nice. 

After that, we took a picture by the castle and stopped at the refreshment corner to get a cinnamon roll pretzel. That was amazing! 

Quick photo op with Shuri

We sat at a table next to the lockers and then got our stuff out and decided that was a good time to take a break so we walked back to the hotel. We each got a good nap. Unfortunately, we were woken up by some loud people that must've just checked in next-door because we hadn't heard them yet. They were super loud and we heard every single word they yelled at their kids. It was super annoying. Michael probably could've slept longer if it weren't for that. It took me quite a while to get ready so I think we left the hotel just after 7 PM. I wanted to eat at San Fransokyo and then we had a Lightning Lane scheduled for Toy Story Midway Mania at 8:40 PM. I really enjoyed our dinner. As soon as we walked into California Adventure, we made an order at Aunt Cass's Café and Cocina Cucamonga. As we were walking, I thought I should try one more time to find the Chocosmash candy bar at Pym's Test Kitchen and sure enough, they had it this time. So, we picked up the candy bar and then we booked it over to San Fransokyo and went to Aunt Cass's Café. We got clam chowder for Michael and two desserts: a carrot cake bread pudding and a Japanese cheesecake. The bread pudding was great but the cheesecake was just OK. It didn't taste like much. We found a table and got settled and then picked up our Quesabirria tacos at Cocina Cucamonga. We sat and relaxed and enjoyed our food and then went over to Toy Story Midway Mania. 

I had booked a lightning lane for Incredicoaster right after that so we got to ride that again. The World of Color was going on while we were on the ride and we think that's maybe why they didn't take a picture of us this time. After that, we were done with California Adventure so we headed over to Disneyland Park. Michael wanted to watch the fireworks and we made it just in time. 

We stood on Main Street and watched the projections on the buildings and watched the fireworks and it was really fun. The crowds were insane afterwards and it was difficult going against the crowd to go into the park. There were no more lightning lanes left so we ended up heading over to Haunted Mansion and getting in the standby line which was supposed to be 25 minutes but it was super short. Then we headed over to the Shooting Gallery for Michael again. We decided to go to Fantasyland and see if we could ride the teacups. We stopped for a picture in front of the castle and then walked on to the teacups. 

Then we walked to Toon Town and got onto Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. It was a walk on ride so the lightning lane was useless and we probably could've gone sooner. We were actually about five minutes early but they still let us on. After that, we got on the train and we rode it to Main Street. Then we got off and walked to Gibson Girl. I got another raspberry rose Mickey macaron and Michael got a root beer float and then we headed out and back to the hotel. Since it was daylight savings, it was almost 2 AM by the time I got to bed. The people next-door were obviously asleep but their white noise machine was so loud it sounded like somebody was vacuuming over there. 

March 9, Sunday

Our hotel neighbors were loud again but somehow I was able to sleep until 8:30 AM. Michael got up about the same time I did. He was so sweet and waited for me to finish packing so that he could take my suitcase home so I didn't have to mess with it on the plane. That was a huge help! My Uber to the airport and my flight home and my drive home were all an eventful and that was great. The boys seemed glad to see me. 

I'm so glad I was able to join him on this trip!