Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt's Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!!
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**LilMarcieMouse** · 07-12-2003, 12:17 AM

I don't think you spoiled it any, Sis said she loved it. I'll have to read her the rest latter. Thanks Sandy. Very coolo Pics.

AngelOn9 · 07-12-2003, 02:39 AM

That tour sounds great! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] It's making me think I ought to try and fit in a tour on my visit to WDW. Should I ever get to Disneyland, I'll take this one.

Great pics too! I felt like I was walking around w/you two. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

ProChristo · 07-12-2003, 07:37 AM

Awesome as usual! I love keeping up with your vacations!

Tara O'Hara · 07-12-2003, 11:38 AM

Very cool pics! I Love the Mickey pretzels too! [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] Just getting caught up on your awesome report! I am not starting mine until you are done, so keep it coming! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Signed,

A very recent Disneyland guest [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

DisneyDoll · 07-12-2003, 02:42 PM

Excellent WIWF review! I can't wait to try this tour. I'm so excited just to get a peek inside Club 33. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

**CRCrazy** · 07-12-2003, 04:21 PM

I want a Mickey pretzel!!!

Gonzo · 07-12-2003, 07:57 PM

From someone who was actually on this trip, I must say it is an excellent recap of what happened! I look forward to reading the rest.

Sean · 07-12-2003, 10:21 PM

I have read your report from the start! I love it! Eric and I are thinkming about making the trek to DL. I love hearing about the ways that the the DL property differs from the WDW property. I love all the tid-bits about the hotels. Anything you can say comparing the hotels (what you liked and what you didn't like) would be great. Are you planning to stay at the GC next time because it is better than the Disneyland hotel? It does seem like the DH may not be as desirable as the other two hotels there. Is that true?

Anyway, LOVING it! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

tikibird · 07-12-2003, 11:23 PM

Hi Sean!

Glad you are enjoying the report! I actually really liked the DLH - was just a bit cranky when we arrived. We did miss having a food-court-type option for food - a quick, hot, cheap breakfast would have been a nice option, as well as refillable mugs with soda - not just coffee/tea. There was a hamburger/chicken finger stand, as well as a place that had packaged salads/sandwiches, and the Coffee House with muffins,yogurt, fresh fruit, etc. The room was a bit smaller than I thought it would be - I had thought all rooms had a day bed or lounge chair; ours did not. The pool area was great and the grounds were gorgeous - loved the waterfall and fish pond! I also loved all of the Disney artwork and history throughout the resort. DLH is middle of the road expense-wise. I would book it again in a heartbeat!

PP is the cheapest, but we ruled this out due to lack of theming, as well as no quick food option. From what I understand, though, there are some great views of CA from the park view rooms.

The GC is the most expensive property and does have a Roaring-Forks-type eatery, which is a larger than RF. There are refillable mugs for soda here. The lobby is wonderful, but not as impressive as the WL. I have heard the rooms are on the small side. This hotel is the closet to the two them parks. Both the GC and PP have guest-only entrances to CA. We are going to try and stay here next time if the budget allows. Tara will be writing about the GC in her report, as this is where she just stayed with her family.

There are also plenty of non-Disney properties within walking distance of the parks. We stayed at the Candy Cane Inn last trip under $90/night. It was nice, but I have become Disney-property-spoiled! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Hope this helps, and I'd be happy to answer any other questions you might have.

Oh, and don't forget - the DL Passporter comes out this Fall! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

kimdisneynut · 07-13-2003, 10:42 AM

Great Report

luvnwdwgal · 07-13-2003, 03:46 PM

Sandy, I just KNOW that someday you are going to be the best member of the Golden Ears Club they've ever had!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
More trip report please!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Mauimouse · 07-13-2003, 08:02 PM

What a great tour! I'm so anxious for my Keys to the Kingdom tour at WDW. If I ever get out to Disneyland, I think that this would definately be the tour for me.

Those Mickey pretzel are great! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

tikibird · 07-13-2003, 08:27 PM

Day Four, Part Two – DCA, including Aladdin – The Musical and Dinner at the Rainforest Café

After pretzels (Craig ended up with half of mine), we went to the pin store in Tomorrowland to see if I could get a smaller Tiki Room poster printed, as per a CM in the Disney Gallery. Sure enough – I could get one on art paper for $18, which sounded much better than $32, so I ordered one to be sent home. Once I got it – I was a bit disappointed, it’s really just like something you would print out on an inkjet printer on regular paper, but I’m going to see if I can get it matted fairly inexpensively.

We had arranged to meet Chris and Andy by the”C” in California outside of CA at 1:00 p.m. They were there right on time, and told us they had eaten lunch at Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria in Downtown Disney (Chris had pizza; Andy minestrone soup), and then Chris got a “bomb” milkshare at Haagen Dazs. We had decided to spend the afternoon at CA, as the park closed at 6:00 p.m. each weekday we were there.

We got our picture taken on the way in the park. This was the only time we even asked if we wanted our photo snapped the whole vacation.

The park was a bit more crowded than Saturday, but still not bad. At least, nowhere near the madness that was Disneyland! I got a picture of Chris near the fountain at the "hub" of the park.

We also walked past Grizzly River Rapids, but it was still too cold to ride this one!

My priority for this afternoon was to see “Aladdin: The Musical” at the Hyperion theater.

The guys were not so sure they wanted to do this, but Andy and I talked them into it. First we got a FP for Soarin’ and then headed over to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot for the 2:15 Aladdin show. We had priority seating coupons from our package, so we led right into the Orchesta seating section, where we waited about 15 minutes before being let into the theater. We opted for seats at the back of the floor.

The show was pretty well filled, but not to capacity. A women in front of us had a teenaged son with them and asked us which attractions we had enjoyed in the park. Craig told them Heimlich’s Chew Chew train and I was giving him the eye like not everyone shares our off-the-wall tastes, and I can just imagine this young man being led to Heimlich’s Chew Chew train! I really enjoyed this show and the staging of it!! They picked up some puppetry technics from Animal King, with Iago in a similar capacity to Zazu. The actors were great – particularly the one in the Genie’s role. My favorite number was “Never Had a Friend Like Me” which featured multiple genies everywhere! There was a flying carpet scene that was probably better viewed from the balcony area, but overall – I give this 45 minute – Broadway-class show a thumbs up! It was a nice, relaxing break!

After Aladdin, we went over to see Muppets one more time for Gonzo!

Next up, Soarin’ Over California! I hope they bring something like this to WDW, but not at the expense of Spaceship Earth!

We have time for one more ride before our Rainforest Café reservation, so it’s HEIMLICH’S CHEW CHEW Train!

I notice this time that Heimlich at one point says “Look there’s a fork in the road. Should we choose Brussel sprouts or yummy desserts? Let’s go for yummy desserts!” I start pumping my fists in the air going “Woo Hoo!!!” Andy tells me I am scaring the small children. Again – great fun!

Our hero!

I even picked up a Heimlich beanie to take home with us.

I take a quick shot of Grizzly Peak, and realized when I got the pictures developed, it was the ONLY one I took!

We pick up our picture at Greetings from California, and then leave the park to go to the RC. I wish we had had more time to spend at CA, but the shortened hours and huge crowds at DL made that impossible.

To be continued…..

tikibird · 07-13-2003, 08:33 PM

Day Four, Part Two, Continued...

We had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated at RC, and were led to an upstairs table. I had a free appetizer coupon from our package that I asked if we could use – so we ordered cheese sticks, which never arrived due to our server leaving for the day. Heimlich amused us at the table while we waited for our food.

When our food arrived (Craig – CHICKEN sandwich, Chris pizza (still trying to keep his teeth from falling out – cutting this with a fork and knife, Andy – Cobb Salad, and a YUMMY cheese burger w/bacon and mushrooms for me) with no cheese sticks, the waiter apologized and said we could either have them, or take 10% off of the bill. I opted for the 10%. Andy did not like his salad at all (the dressing was drenching it, instead of being served on the side, as he had asked for), but the rest of us really liked our food. Then, I announced that we would do something I have always wanted to do – order a VOLCANO!!! Craig said “Fine, but don’t expect much help from me!” It took a while to arrive, but when it did – it sure looked yummy!

There appeared to be 4 pieces of brownie cake, ice cream and both fudge and caramel sauces w/whipped cream. Craig (who was NOT going to be much help with this! [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] )took one look, and he and Chris DIVE into this thing with their utensils. Craig took one, and then TWO pieces of brownie cake. I sat back and my lip started quivering (okay, it was not quite that bad – but almost!), and I look all sad at what was left on the plate. Fortunately, Andy saved the day and found me a piece of brownie cake on the bottom, so I was happy again! This was delectable!!!! Just enough for the four of us to have a nice dessert but not be stuffed. The best part about this meal (after a bit of a hassle to get the 10% off I had been promised), though, was that with $50 worth of gift certificates from My Points – the total bill for dinner was $12 plus tip!

After dinner, Andy got outvoted and we took the monorail (station is next to RC) into Tomorrowland at DL. I didn’t like it as much as the WDW one – the windows open, and it really leaned to one side going around bends.

Once inside of Tomorrowland (you show your ticket at the monorail station in DD before boarding the monorail), we saw that Innoventions was still open, so we spent some time in there. I was very disappointed that Stitch had “gone surfing” and was not available to talk to. Andy asked a CM and they told him to come back tomorrow afternoon – so that joined our “must do” for the last day at DL.

After Innoventions the guys went to see HISTA, which is not big on my hit parade, so I just browsed Star Traders. There was a cool birthday cake hat that I now wished I had gotten, complete with light up candles on top, but I just window shopped this evening.

The park closed at 8:00 p.m. this evening, and the parade was just ending, but we did manage to get one last ride in – the train! The train at DL is much more fun than the one at WDW, as there is the Grand Canyon display and the Dinosaur display between the Tomorrowland and Main St. stations, which were originally at the World’s Fair. Closing time for DL now, so Craig and I decide to hit the World of Disney, while Andy and Chris head back to the hotel.

I pick up a DL hooded sweatshirt (which I later give Andy to give to me for my birthday), a Main St. Electrical Parade pin, some suckers for the youth group kids, and a DL screen saver. I forget what all Craig got this evening, but we both went over the $50 minimum to get the DC 10% discount. This store is almost as big as the one in DD at WDW, with a great variety of items to choose from. I saw a gold mickey-head-outline charm I liked but just about fell over when I asked what the price was and got the response of “$175.00” No necklace, just a small gold charm!

Craig also wanted to pick up some T shirts he had seen earlier at the RC, so we stopped there also on the way back to the hotel.

Shower, lights out at 10:30 p.m.

Next up – Day 5 – Our last [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] day at Disneyland Park.

[ 07-15-2003, 08:58 AM: Message edited by: tikibird ]

Tara O'Hara · 07-13-2003, 09:09 PM

Tiki! We went to the Rainforest on our last night at DL! We LOVE it there! That volcano cake looks HUGE!!!!!!! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] I can't say that I have ever had one of those! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] You guys must have had a lot of fun eating that thing! [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] And good for you with the 10% discount! That is totally worth being breadstickless.

Signed,

I don't want you to go home! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]