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Old 08-10-2015, 10:26 PM   #61
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Well, making dining and package reservations sure is a drawn out, and sometimes frustrating process, isn't it? Hoping you are able to book the World of Color Package very soon.
Me, too! And you will know shortly after I get it.

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DLR does not seem as organized as WDW with all that is set up on their web sites! With a big resort like DLR, anything for 60 days out on ADRs should be available to book! Something is wrong there and you mya want to voice your opinion to HQs!

Actually, I used Super Shuttle once and it was in Los Angeles from LAX, back in 1998 when I went on a tour of the SW USA and through some of the national parks covering parts of CA, AZ. UT and NV. They are pretty well known and I see their vans at some of the NYC airports as well. I had no complaints about my trip that I can recall (it's been a while as 1998) and they seemed prompt and efficient! I'm sure you could Google for reviews if you want!
Thanks for the info on Super Shuttle. Luke has checked online reviews, but he said he'd like to hear what people I know think. We trust PassPorters to give us their honest opinions.
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Old 08-10-2015, 10:29 PM   #62
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So good to hear that Tortilla Jo's is good! I have been making all our reservations so far online so that has evidently changed. Luke is definitely looking forward to California Screamin'.



Hope something here will be helpful.



Now you have me nervous as Blue Bayou is the ADR I hope to book tomorrow. It was the first place we knew we absolutely wanted to do. I better cross my fingers.
I didn't mean to make you nervous. You should be fine. You are much farther out than we were. Good luck! Not that you will need it.
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Old 08-10-2015, 10:34 PM   #63
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I have noticed that WDW dining CMs are chatty and friendly. Hopefully the package opens up soon. We had planned on doing that exact one when we planned our trip. The menu looks divine! I have not tried Super Shuttle but I am following closely because that was what we had also planned on using.
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Old 08-11-2015, 01:34 AM   #64
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Unfortunately Cam, your experience pretty much matches mine when it comes to dining reservations and as for park hours... Don't even get me started on that! I don't think you'll have experienced that yet, as they're supposed to be out six weeks beforehand. Well, from what I've experienced "supposed" is the right word.... just to warn you.
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Old 08-11-2015, 07:13 AM   #65
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It's a good thing both you and Luke are retired now. I can't imagine having to call every day for ADRs if you were juggling working schedules!
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Old 08-11-2015, 07:49 AM   #66
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We used the Gray Line Disneyland Resort Express bus service last November. They were affordable, $46 each for a round trip, (although that has now gone up a couple of dollars), and were excellent, we thought. The buses were clean, comfortable, easy to find and use, and offered an excellent service. It helped that our resort, the Fairfield Inn by Marriott, was one of their stops along the way - this meant that we were effectively taken door to door.

I would definitely recommend them, although I don't know how they compare price-wise to Super Shuttle.
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Old 08-11-2015, 08:44 AM   #67
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Disneyland planning sure seems to be frustrating. Hope things get easier.
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Old 08-11-2015, 09:00 AM   #68
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I didn't realize the two parks were so vastly different in planning processes (probably because DL is still out of reach for us)? When my parents took us, we walked up to the park window and bought our passes for each day (walked from our hotel down the street). This was well before the California Adventure and DtD expansions though.
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Old 08-11-2015, 10:00 AM   #69
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YAY! I found your DL trip report! I love your trip reports!
I can't help with the dining.. I didn't do it when I went 5 years ago..
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Old 08-11-2015, 10:47 AM   #70
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Oh, my fingers are crossed for you getting Blue Bayou today! As far as I'm concerned, that is a MUST DO!
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Old 08-11-2015, 11:31 AM   #71
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So exciting! Cant wait to hear if you got the ADR's!
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Old 08-11-2015, 11:41 AM   #72
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I'm so excited you've started your report! I just booked a trip for April (had to cancel our trip for November) and am interested to follow along. We've been to DL twice and both times had the most magical time. We used the Gray Line Disneyland shuttle and it was very good (we also found a coupon somewhere).

I can't wait to hear about your experience at Ralph Brennan. We ate there on our last trip and it was wonderful. We sat upstairs by a window watching all the people in DTD below. The food was great!

Looking forward to reading more of your plans and following along on your trip.
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Old 08-11-2015, 12:45 PM   #73
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Yay, so happy to hear I can make ADR's online for our November trip! See, I knew I would learn a few things from your PTR. On our 2013 trip we were going to use Super Shuttle, but then I found a coupon and ended up using a car service which was awesome. He was right there waiting for us the second we grabbed our bags and took us right to the DL Hotel. Super Shuttle goes to all the area hotels. A couple of the other PP's there for the same races used Super Shuttle and it worked really great for them.

Are you flying out of LAX to go home too? We flew into LAX and out of SNA. For SNA we were able to take a taxi and it was easy and very affordable.
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Old 08-11-2015, 01:09 PM   #74
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Oh, how frustrating!
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Old 08-11-2015, 01:48 PM   #75
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Cam, we used Super Shuttle from the SNA (John Wayne Airport) to DL back in 2005 and they were OK. I thought the van was kind of dirty and the air conditioning wasn't working properly but the airport isn't that far to DL so I it was alright. I would read reviews on the shuttle coming from LAX since that is quite a bit farther distance. Sorry that you're having such a difficult time with the dining reservations. Back in 2005 I hadn't made any reservations ahead of time, and we just would walk up to a restaurant and if they had availability then we ate there. I did make a reservation for the Blue Bayou the day before when we were in the park before I heard that it wasn't that easy to get in. I know things are different now though. I did feel during past trips to DL that some CM's did not exhibit the same "magic" that most do in WDW.
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