Thank You Disney Movie Rewards PTR (November 16-22, 2014) - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I really enjoyed Storytellers on my trip. I had a lunch and a dinner there and the service and food were wonderful. Very fresh ingredients. I like the decor there, too. Not sure if the menu appeals to you, but his might work for your "no idea" day, because it's at the Grand Californian.
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I really enjoyed Storytellers on my trip. I had a lunch and a dinner there and the service and food were wonderful. Very fresh ingredients. I like the decor there, too. Not sure if the menu appeals to you, but his might work for your "no idea" day, because it's at the Grand Californian.
We ate at Storytellers on our last trip in 2012, but I was very sick that night. I barely made it down to dinner and I was so sick we gave away our FP's for World of Color and opted to watch from our room. I only had a salad and barely ate any, but Pat and the kids seemed to like their meals. That is definitely an option for our night we have no idea, or if we arrive early enough on the first night. I loved the decor as well.
I am so with you about the dining choices at Disneyland, as we struggle to find places we like as well. We absolutely loved the Carthay Circle on our last trip, so hopefully you will too.
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I am so with you about the dining choices at Disneyland, as we struggle to find places we like as well. We absolutely loved the Carthay Circle on our last trip, so hopefully you will too.
It's sad, because in Disney World, dining is one of our top priorities of the trip. We love all the options and we have a hard time narrowing it down. I am happy to hear you enjoyed Carthay Circle, I'm sure we will like it. That was the only place on my must-do dining list.
I look forward to hearing about your meals in these restaurants. I've never been to In-N-Out Burger. Are they really good?
For fast food restaurants In-N-Out Burger is definitely one of my favorites. I absolutely love their fries (I could eat them all day!), and their burgers are much better than most places. Since there aren't any near us and we only get to eat there when we go to California, we always have to stop at least once.
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That is the one thing I hate about planning dining choices, I'm always starving when I'm done!
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Originally Posted by xwewhisper
We loved Carthay Circle last year, best meal of the trip! Hopefully you end up liking the menu Great plans though, sometimes it's fun to just wing it!
The menu has items I think we would all enjoy. I actually keep debating between the lunch and dinner. We usually prefer our sit down meal at dinner, but the lunch menu has some items that pique my interest, but then I look at the dinner menu and I lean that direction.
Winging it is not usually good for our kids with their disabilities, however, as they have gotten older I am able to pretend wing-it a bit more. I have a good idea of the places we can potentially go, that way they don't realize we are just winging it.
It does seem like fewer dining options at Disneyland. But, forget about that. You had me with In-N-Out Burger. Having lived in Southern California, then Arizona, I miss In-N-Out so much. Many people who get a chance to try it once don't think it's special - maybe it's an acquired taste, but I'd take it over any signature restaurant
It does seem like fewer dining options at Disneyland. But, forget about that. You had me with In-N-Out Burger. Having lived in Southern California, then Arizona, I miss In-N-Out so much. Many people who get a chance to try it once don't think it's special - maybe it's an acquired taste, but I'd take it over any signature restaurant
The first time I had In-N-Out Burger's fries I was in heaven!! If there were more locations on our drive in, I would probably stop at every one and order fries. It is a must do any time we are in CA. My CA friend told me I have to try the Double Double Animal Style, guess that is what I'm getting.
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Originally Posted by KHarrod
Dining plans look good...I'm glad I'm eating lunch while reading your update! But alas! A whole day without plans?!
I know what you mean about eating while reading it. I finished that update and was starving and had to go fix dinner. Of course, nothing I had to cook sounded good, because I had read all those menus beforehand. I'm a little nervous about the no plans day. I do have tentative plans, but we are going to see what we are feeling like that day.
I have been trying to get everyone to help me start planning something for this trip, but we have been crazy busy with getting our new alpacas (which I posted pics of in my previous TR if you would like to see http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...9-post355.html )
In all the chaos, I've only had time to get Hunter to sit with me and go through his ride/attraction choices. So, today I will give you mine and Hunter's and in the next update, hopefully I can get Pat and Shana's done.
For those that have not followed previous PTR's, I am very organized because the kids anxiety and autism require it. If we don't have a pretty good plan we can have major problems. I also need to know what the kids really must-do to be able to leave feeling like they haven't missed something important to them. So, I use a spreadsheet and a ranking system, that we have used since our trip in 2007 and it seems to work great.
It is a simple 1-4 system. Each person ranks each attraction as a 1, 2, 3, or 4. A "1" is a must-do, "2" is would like to do, "3" is only if there's time, and "4" is there is no way on earth you are dragging me on that ride. The only way you are allowed a 4 is if you are physically not able or it would cause emotional stress (i.e. Pat is afraid of heights and can't do certain attractions or Hunter use to not like roller coasters or scary rides).
If one person in the group has something as a 1, the rest of the group will go with them, even if it's not a preferred attraction. Unless, they have it as a 4, in that case we will split up so those wanting to ride can.
We usually limit the 1's to a maximum of 5-10 per park. We have a few extra this trip, but since we are going during a slower time and the crowds shouldn't be too bad, I think we will be okay.
Hunter's Disneyland Must-Do Rides
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Captain America Character Meet (he is making this a 1 to torment his sister who loves Captain America but is a bit embarrassed by her crush. She can't make it a 4 therefore she has to participate. What a booger of a brother. )
- Enchanted Tiki Room (as long as he gets a Dole Whip)
- Haunted Mansion
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Innoventions
- It's a Small World
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Meet Mickey (he has to meet Mickey during every trip or it is a major problem)
- Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Star Tours
My Disneyland Must-Do Rides
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Captain America Character Meet (yes, I'm mean too! )
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Enchanted Tiki Room
- Haunted Mansion
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Star Tours
- Some point during the day watching It's a Small World clock on the hour. This is one of my favorite memories of Disneyland as a child. I was so disappointed when I when in 2008 and Small World was closed for refurbishment and I couldn't see the clock. It is a must do. I prefer to watch it at park closing, but that isn't always possible.
Hunter's Disney's California Adventure Must-Do's
- California Screamin' (Hunter rode Rock n' Roller Coaster on our last trip to WDW and loved it! It has taken him awhile to get into thrill rides but he is there now)
- Golden Zephyr (This ride caused a major meltdown during our last Disneyland trip, because Shana wanted to ride and Hunter didn't. He wasn't afraid, just didn't want to do anything his sister wanted. He did end up riding on a different day and loved it, go figure :roll eyes: )
- Grizzly River Run (I'm really hoping this is closed when we are there I can't list it as a 4, but I wish the fact mom always gets drenched was a reason for a 4)
- Luigi's Flying Tires
- Mater's Junkyard Jamboree
- Mickey's Wheel of Death (of as Disney calls it "Mickey's Fun Wheel") Hunter is making this a 1 to torment me! I am fine with heights, but I have a thing against ferris wheels and hate when the buckets rock. This pushes my limits. I rode it with my mom in 2008 and screamed like a baby (well actually the people in the car with us had a baby that didn't make a peep). I rode it again with the kids in 2012, and again screamed like crazy, which apparently makes the kids think they should drag me on it. Pat won't ride it due to fear of heights and I may just let the kids ride by themselves this trip.
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Silly Symphony Swings (another one that caused a meltdown and he refused to ride, but wants to try this time)
- Soarin'
- Toy Story Midway Mania
- Tower of Terror (Hunter has refused to ride this since the first time he rode in 2008 and when the ride stopped we asked what he thought and he said "That ride is not safe!") He is willing to give it a try now!
My Disney's California Adventure Must-Do's
- California Screamin'
- Disney Animation
- Luigi's Flying Tires
- Mater's Junkyard Jamboree
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Soarin'
- Toy Story Midway Mania
- Tower of Terror
Our last trip to Disneyland was in 2012, and Carsland was still under construction, so we are very excited to see everything finished. I'm really excited to ride Radiator Springs Racers (as is everyone). We all love Test Track and this just looks like a blast!
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Great plans though, sometimes it's fun to just wing it!
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