3rd Times a Charm! Cali here we come! My first ever Disneyland trip and PTR! - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Great pre-trip report, more please. Your dog is sooooooo cute.
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Originally Posted by Kenny
Nice update Mel. I liked the pictures... especially that Pirate Pup! He's Coooool!
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great update
Thanks everyone! It took me a long time to make that one. Tried to get the right mix of pictures and words.
And thanks for the compliments on my puppy! He is such a good boy to sit and humor me by letting me dress him up! lol! Hes a good mix... I think he might have some Beagle in him too. I call the pirate costumer Captain Jack McPuppy... don't ask me why I just do! haha!
Oh yeah, and we leave on the 15th....have no idea why I wrote the 19th! I am losing my mind lately! So, we have 30 days to go and we have so much left to do! When I start my report, which will probably be a day or two before we leave , I will be sure to link you.
I think you are going to have a fabulous time...you will get to see LA, spend two days where the dream started and it will be a great change of pace...
This way when you go back in 2009 it will be all new again....I am looking forward to hearing your plans about the trip as they come along....
Oh yeah, and we leave on the 15th....have no idea why I wrote the 19th! I am losing my mind lately! So, we have 30 days to go and we have so much left to do! When I start my report, which will probably be a day or two before we leave , I will be sure to link you.
Can't wait to hear your plans!
Thanks! I love reading about everyone else's plans and trips! The 15th is so close! I am so jealous! I am officially booking/paying for my trip on the 15th so I will have some fun updates up for you to read when you get back!
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Originally Posted by mcc0313
Mel -
I think you are going to have a fabulous time...you will get to see LA, spend two days where the dream started and it will be a great change of pace...
This way when you go back in 2009 it will be all new again....I am looking forward to hearing your plans about the trip as they come along....
I really do think it will be a great change of pace as well. We love WDW but I think, especially for Rob, the monotony kind of turns him off to it. I also think that seeing all the similar attractions will make us want to return to WDW asap! A little extra kindling never hurts!
Okay so everyone has to start with a guide and since our B&N does not carry the Disneyland Passporter I got the 2008 Birnbaum guide!
It looks like I will have to order the Passporter... but its just as well because then I can just get the deluxe refill instead of getting the full one and not taking advantage of the awesome deluxe I got last year!
Either way I got some great info from it... and it has spawned some questions I need your help with...
1. Disney Dining Plan- I see that there is a DDP at DLR but is it the SAME? 1 TS, 1 QS, 1S per day? Are you only allowed to get DDP for the number of NIGHTS you are there or can you chose specific number amounts? Can we get DDP at a good nieghbor hotel?
2. Meals- Where are the best places to eat? Do ADRs exist? It seems his suggestions say to make reservations 30 days in advance? is this the only window?
3. Proximity- How close are we? Can I walk from DLR to dinner in Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier? Where does the monorail run? Where can I get on and off?
4. Whats the best time frame? Would we be better off extending our stay and spending 4 days there? Would we run out of things to do? Remember we can do WDW easy in a week.
Okay and now that I threw that out there... Rob ordered me some stuff from Disney Shopping because I have been such a help to him while he is trying to switch jobs and find something he enjoys doing. Now, I think he personally just needed to get out of where he was. Plus I like having him be stress-free, make me dinners, clean up and relax a bit more so it wasn't hard for me to support him. Anyways... back on topic... I got a Jungle Book frame (we got the semi-annual sale 50% coupon code), and this cute Snow White track suit. Even though I am sure I will lounge around in it, I though it would be a great long airplane ride outfit!
Cute, right?
There was also a Tink and Alice one but they only has XS in those and I haven't been an XS... well ever! lol! I love this Disney Store pattern. Rob got me for Christmas a dress shirt and zip- front hoodie with the Tink pattern.
In any case, buying stuff makes it way more real! And I think we will be purchasing tickets on February 1st instead of the 15th because I just found out I get paid 3 times in Feb! Yay!
Anyways, heres HOPING for a snow day tomorrow! ;-)
Mel! So this is where you've been! I'm surprised to see the WDW trip has become DL, but I just know you'll have a terrific time. I can't wait to hear all about it.
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Yea!! Finally some questions I can answer (i love to feel helpful). You can walk to EVERYTHING!! We did and I'm sure you guys have the same stamina as us. The Grand Californian is absolutely beautiful and I'm sure it has an awesome restaurant whose name escapes me at the moment. I know Paradise Pier also has a good Italian restaurant. We ate at the ESPN zone in DTD and it is so much better than the one at Boardwalk. They have like a billion TV's and much more on the menu than BW's. I'm not sure about the Monorail because we walked everywhere.
To answer your "length of stay" question quite honestly ; I think 4 days is too much for just MK and CA. You guys will probably (JMO) run out of stuff to do. Danny and I had 2 days and we feel like we did pretty much everything we wanted to do.
That outfit is super cute. Good choice Rob!! You are really making progress, I'm so happy for you . . . . . Keep us posted and keep the questions coming!!
Hope I was somewhat helpful. . . . .
Mel! So this is where you've been! I'm surprised to see the WDW trip has become DL, but I just know you'll have a terrific time. I can't wait to hear all about it.
Im super excited! Thanks so much! I cannn't wait!
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Originally Posted by amandal
Yea!! Finally some questions I can answer (i love to feel helpful). You can walk to EVERYTHING!! We did and I'm sure you guys have the same stamina as us. The Grand Californian is absolutely beautiful and I'm sure it has an awesome restaurant whose name escapes me at the moment. I know Paradise Pier also has a good Italian restaurant. We ate at the ESPN zone in DTD and it is so much better than the one at Boardwalk. They have like a billion TV's and much more on the menu than BW's. I'm not sure about the Monorail because we walked everywhere.
To answer your "length of stay" question quite honestly ; I think 4 days is too much for just MK and CA. You guys will probably (JMO) run out of stuff to do. Danny and I had 2 days and we feel like we did pretty much everything we wanted to do.
So we have been toying with the idea of flying in on a Monday with a 3 day park hopper (for Mon, Tues, Weds) then renting a car for a day and going to like the San Diego zoo or LA? I really want to see the Hollywood sign. And Friday would be our departure day... Rob's major gripe with Contiki is the Best Western. I think he wants that Disneyness, ya know? Could we fill 3 days? Or like 2 and a half? I figured that might be a better idea if he doesn't want to do the tour or stay at Best Western. I dunno. I am still trying to figure it all out! The Disneyland Hotel looks so adorable though! The hat and the pool! Anyways... any other info you could share or opinions on what I have been thinking would be great!
You could probably fill 3 days simply because your going in July and it may be crowded. You might want to skip some things that are just too packed and go back to them the next day. Definitely get the hopper though, that's definitely worth it. I personally think you guys would LOVE any of the hotels "on property" but if you are obligated due to the tour, you'll still have a great time. Like I said, keep the questions coming sista!!
From what I have gathered from reading the boards, the dining 'plan' at DLR is much different. It is basically vouchers and doesn't seem to be the great deal that the DDP is at WDW. You can probably find more info on it in the DL Feasting forum.
I would definitely try to get to the San Diego Zoo if you can! It is one of the best zoos around. I visited in 1986 and I'm sure a lot has changed, but I have very fond memories of my visit!
From what I have gathered from reading the boards, the dining 'plan' at DLR is much different. It is basically vouchers and doesn't seem to be the great deal that the DDP is at WDW. You can probably find more info on it in the DL Feasting forum.
I would definitely try to get to the San Diego Zoo if you can! It is one of the best zoos around. I visited in 1986 and I'm sure a lot has changed, but I have very fond memories of my visit!
Yeah... I agree about the mealplan... the DDP at WDW doesn't even seem to be that great of a deal with all the changes but this really doesn't seem like something that would work for us. I would rather pay OOP.
If we cancel with Contiki I think we will get the city pass and go to San Diego one day... we LOVE animals! And zoos are so much fun-- SDZ is supposed to the country's best!
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Like your new track suit
Thanks! It came in the mail today! yay!
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Originally Posted by amandal
You could probably fill 3 days simply because your going in July and it may be crowded. You might want to skip some things that are just too packed and go back to them the next day. Definitely get the hopper though, that's definitely worth it. I personally think you guys would LOVE any of the hotels "on property" but if you are obligated due to the tour, you'll still have a great time. Like I said, keep the questions coming sista!!
I skimmed my guide and the online virtual tours and I think if we did change things up we will go with Disneyland Hotel. Its so cute with the themeing and its right by DTD if we go for some non DL days!
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Danny and I at Epcot 8/14/08
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