Thank You Disney Movie Rewards PTR (November 16-22, 2014) - Page 5 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I like the idea of tubs - one for each person. I have used laundry baskets in the past when we have driven to the mountains. It does make it easier.
I love the idea as well. I think it would make unpacking much faster, no pockets and slots things can hide in.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
The tubs are a great idea!
I'm really leaning towards tubs right now. I picked up a tub at Walmart that I think would hold one persons clothes. I'm going to test it out and if it works I will pick up one for each of us.
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I am anxiously wanting to do an update with some touring plans. But I can't because the park hours are still not out yet. They are only released through the 15th. Clearly, I am not a laid back Californian, I want to make some plans!!!! Since I can't plan park days, I have been activity working on our drive, so that is today's update.
Today's Update: Road Trip!! Day 1 November 16th
My plan for leaving will be to leave very early on the 16th, by very early, I mean like 3am. I may have to convince Pat about this, but I really prefer to drive early in the morning than late at night and arrive late at the resort. I will even take the first driving shift (I often end up driving the whole way, I really don't mind driving).
If we leave at 3am we will leave from our house and head to Santa Rosa, NM, which is about 35 minutes and get on I-40W. I am planning to have breakfast items in the car, or a quick drive-thru. I'm hoping Pat will ease up on the "no eating in the new car" rule so we don't have to make a 1/2 hour stop just for breakfast. I'm thinking some Little Debbie donuts might be doable in the car. We will probably need a bathroom break around breakfast time so we will see what happens.
We will continue on I-40W until we get to Kingman, AZ where we should arrive between 12:30-1pm and we will be able to stop for In-N-Out Burger!!! I don't think Pat will let us eat this in the car so we will make this a lunch-bathrooms-fuel stop. Pat's car gets 750 miles to a tank (gotta love diesel!) so this is the only fuel stop we will have to make.
We will continue along on I-40W to I-15S, then to CA-60W, to CA-57S. Looks like we will exit on Katella and that will lead us most of the way in.
I'm estimating us arriving between 6:30-7pm. We may stop at a store for some milk and other items we need, but if it's just milk we will probably get it at a convenience store along the way. This will give us time to get something for dinner either at a counter service or if we are interested we could see if any table-service have availability. I'm thinking it will probably be counter-service and we may just take it to the room, unpack and relax a little bit.
That is pretty much our first day!
Hopefully, Disneyland will realize I need to make some plans and hurry up and post some hours.
No park hours yet. What a nightmare!
At least you're able to make your travel plans, which btw, sound exhausting.
Maybe you can pack a portable vacuum, that way Pat can bend the no-eating-in-the-truck rule.
No park hours yet. What a nightmare!
At least you're able to make your travel plans, which btw, sound exhausting.
Maybe you can pack a portable vacuum, that way Pat can bend the no-eating-in-the-truck rule.
The lack of park hours is driving me nuts! The travel plans are a bit exhausting, but we are very use to driving and road trips, so that helps. The portable vacuum is not a bad idea, we actually have one! I'm sure I can get him to bend for at least breakfast, if breakfast isn't messy fast food. Lunch we will just make a stop out of it, we will need the stretch at that point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
What a pain having park hours only up until just before you arrive! Wow, you really are going to have a long drive on day one. I don't envy you that.
The lack of park hours is really frustrating me. I really have to have fairly reasonable plans or we have meltdowns, but I would prefer not to be making the plans the night before we leave. It is a long drive, but we have done it before and do pretty well.
I really like the idea. I stopped at Walmart and found a tub that I think will work for each persons clothes, and 4 will fit in the trunk with room for the toiletries and food. So, I think we will be giving this a try.
I was so happy when I checked this morning and finally the park hours are posted for all the days of our stay. I have reviewed our dining ADR's and I did change the time on one reservation, but am leaving the rest alone.
Hopefully, this weekend I will have time to put together our touring plans.
Here are our dining ADR's:
Monday November 17th - Blue Bayou 6:50pm (The park closes at 8, so this was the latest time we could get).
Tuesday November 18th - Naples 8:30pm (Both parks close at 8 and this is in DTD, so we will have time to stay in the park till closing if we want and still get to dinner)
Wednesday November 19th - House of Blues 6:00p (We are going on the studios tour this day, and won't have park tickets, so we are in DTD)
Thursday November 20th - This is our "wing-it" day, so no ADR.
Friday November 21st - Carthay Circle 5:00p (This is the one we changed, I had it set for 7p, but we want to eat a little earlier so we might have time to get over to Disneyland for the fireworks and Fantasmic! if we so choose).
I'm thinking about adding a breakfast on Thursday, it really depends on what we decide to do. We are looking at the beach and the La Brea Tar Pits as options.
It kills me to see DLR plans that don't involve Trader Sam's. Any chance you can work that in? (I know with kids it can be a challenge). I think they are probably ok out on the patio at least. We had some lovely live music when we were there last November.
But otherwise, you ADRs look nice. You will have fun no matter what on your free day, I'm interested to hear what you do. Both La Brea and the beach can be half-day activities, have you considered visiting UCLA or USC?
Finally, the park hours are out! Glad you didn't have to make that many changes. ADRs look great!
I was starting to get really annoyed, so I'm glad they got them posted. I was happy we only had one change.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KimmyAnn1147
It kills me to see DLR plans that don't involve Trader Sam's. Any chance you can work that in? (I know with kids it can be a challenge). I think they are probably ok out on the patio at least. We had some lovely live music when we were there last November.
But otherwise, you ADRs look nice. You will have fun no matter what on your free day, I'm interested to hear what you do. Both La Brea and the beach can be half-day activities, have you considered visiting UCLA or USC?
We will most likely visit Trader Sam's at some point, but it is on our "wing-it" list of things to do.
I don't think we will be visiting UCLA or USC, I think the kids would kill me if I had them visiting schools on their vacation. Shana is just starting 9th grade, and at the moment she has other plans than college, but that might be better in a couple years. Right now everyone is really interested in the La Brea Tar Pits and Shana is really pushing for the beach. I also thought both could be half-day so it might work out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
FINALLY! Yay, now you can really make plans, pack the tubs and GO.
I know! I thought I might have been making touring plans on the drive there the way things were going! I am going to "test pack" a tub this weekend and make sure the size will work. I can't believe how close we are and how little I seem to have done.
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Clearly, I am not a laid back Californian, I want to make some plans!!!! Since I can't plan park days, I have been activity working on our drive, so that is today's update.
I don't think Pat will let us eat this in the car so we will make this a lunch-bathrooms-fuel stop. Pat's car gets 750 miles to a tank (gotta love diesel!) so this is the only fuel stop we will have to make. 
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Wow, you really are going to have a long drive on day one. I don't envy you that. 
I really have to have fairly reasonable plans or we have meltdowns, but I would prefer not to be making the plans the night before we leave. It is a long drive, but we have done it before and do pretty well.
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