Updated 1/22! Photos and a little reporting.

[kaoden39]

And the answer is yes!!

Hi everybody! I am Michele! I am a happily married mom of three. I want to call them kids but well the “baby” just turned 17 a few weeks ago. And a devoted daughter to my 76 year old mom. This has been kind of a hard year for us. In April our home burned down and the only reason we are alive is because of our 17 year old son. My hero, more on him later.

My husband Scotty is almost as big of a fan of Disneyland as I am. This is all thanks to a second honeymoon we took in February 2012. It was amazing, honestly one of the best trips ever. They are all good but for the first time we just did what we wanted and didn’t rush around anywhere.




My mom Beverly is a big Disneyland fan and was a big part of my getting hooked on it. Honestly I think that the main reason she goes now is to shop and eat the good foods. It’s all good, I understand.



Our oldest is our daughter Kacy. She is a 20 year old huge Haunted Mansion fan. I do mean huge! Her bedroom is being decorated in the Haunted Mansion style.

Our next oldest is our daughter Kody. She is 19 years old and well Kody is a fan of all things boy band. Truth! But, she is also a big Disneyland fan.



Our son Loren is the “baby”. He is 17 years old and as I said my hero. He is a big fan of baseball and football. It depends on the season. I think baseball is his favorite.



These are a bit old but you get the basic idea. This is our happy band of Disneyland fans, and well we are plan to whoop it up in the parks. Our dates are January 6 thru January 10th. I reserved a two bedroom suite in the Disneyland Hotel and we all couldn’t be any more excited. Well maybe we could, we are going home in the beginning of November and that excites me a lot.
That’s us for now. Beware I will be mentioning the house here. I have the pleasure of a lot of it being Disney related too. TTFN

 

[Trentmom]

Hi Chele.

I am so excited you have booked a trip. You all definitely deserve it after this year


You guys are going have a blast. Plus you will be there there for my birthday

 

[kaoden39]

Hi Chele.

I am so excited you have booked a trip. You all definitely deserve it after this year

You guys are going have a blast. Plus you will be there there for my birthday

Thank you Kelly!


It's great to see you here!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Awww.....you booked a trip. You and your family so deserve it!

Pulling up a spot to live through the PTR plans but also the moving in....and Christmas in the new home.

 

[kaoden39]

Awww.....you booked a trip. You and your family so deserve it!

Pulling up a spot to live through the PTR plans but also the moving in....and Christmas in the new home.

Thank you! I am really excited! There is a lot ahead for us!

 

[wiigirl]

Following along

 

[kaoden39]

Following along

Hello and welcome!

 

[kaoden39]

Chchchanges........

So, upon further planning by yours truly I have changed our reservations over to the Paradise Pier Hotel instead of the Disneyland Hotel. We have never stayed there as a family and there are people like SherryE and DizNee Luver that prefer the PPH. So I decided it's time to check it out! Plus, we can add the concierge if we so choose without going very much above the cost of the two bedroom suite at the DLH. Exciting times!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Oooh! CL at the PPH. Good times indeed.

 

[Trentmom]

Chchchanges........

So, upon further planning by yours truly I have changed our reservations over to the Paradise Pier Hotel instead of the Disneyland Hotel. We have never stayed there as a family and there are people like SherryE and DizNee Luver that prefer the PPH. So I decided it's time to check it out! Plus, we can add the concierge if we so choose without going very much above the cost of the two bedroom suite at the DLH. Exciting times!!

Love me some changes

Paradise Pier does look really pretty and getting Concierge would be awesome

 

[kaoden39]

Oooh! CL at the PPH. Good times indeed.

I am so excited! Thank you!

Love me some changes

Paradise Pier does look really pretty and getting Concierge would be awesome

Thank you, Kelly! I kind of feel sorry for the CM. I just lost it when I was talking to her and telling her how important this trip is to us. I mentioned how Loren is such a hero to us she started typing. She told me that it needed to be noted on the reservations. That we were celebrating Loren and the fact that he is such a hero.

 

[Sherry E]

Chchchanges........

So, upon further planning by yours truly I have changed our reservations over to the Paradise Pier Hotel instead of the Disneyland Hotel. We have never stayed there as a family and there are people like SherryE and DizNee Luver that prefer the PPH. So I decided it's time to check it out! Plus, we can add the concierge if we so choose without going very much above the cost of the two bedroom suite at the DLH. Exciting times!!

I 'heard' my name mentioned and headed over here!

Personally, I think that you will ultimately prefer the DLH after you've tried the PPH and reflected back on it. I just have a feeling about that, based on what I know of you. I think you will find it to be more Disney-ish overall, and probably think that DizNee Luver/Laurie and I have lost our minds rotfl2.

I do like the PPH -- I mean, they've given me free upgrades to DCA park view rooms for the last 3 years so I cannot complain! -- but I used to stay at the DLH all the time in "the old days," before the PPH was even the PPH. I loved the DLH. It felt like a real resort hotel. Then I switched to the PPH because it was cheaper, and it grew on me over the years (even though I stayed at the GCH too).

That is not to say that I wouldn't welcome another chance to stay at the DLH. I certainly would -- although it has changed so much since the days when I used to stay there that it would probably feel like a totally different place to me now -- but I am content with and comfortable at the PPH for my holiday trips.

Speaking of which...it looks like your first trip day will be the last day of the holiday season. Apparently the season ends on January 6th, so that means you will have a chance to get in a quickie ride on Haunted Mansion Holiday before it shuts down on 1/7/14 for overlay removal (this is the 13th year of HMH, so there are going to be extra effects and surprises added into it this year). And, of course, IASWH will be open until late January so you'll get that too.

 

[kaoden39]

I 'heard' my name mentioned and headed over here!

Personally, I think that you will ultimately prefer the DLH after you've tried the PPH and reflected back on it. I just have a feeling about that, based on what I know of you. I think you will find it to be more Disney-ish overall, and probably think that DizNee Luver/Laurie and I have lost our minds rotfl2.

I do like the PPH -- I mean, they've given me free upgrades to DCA park view rooms for the last 3 years so I cannot complain! -- but I used to stay at the DLH all the time in "the old days," before the PPH was even the PPH. I loved the DLH. It felt like a real resort hotel. Then I switched to the PPH because it was cheaper, and it grew on me over the years (even though I stayed at the GCH too).

That is not to say that I wouldn't welcome another chance to stay at the DLH. I certainly would -- although it has changed so much since the days when I used to stay there that it would probably feel like a totally different place to me now -- but I am content with and comfortable at the PPH for my holiday trips.

Speaking of which...it looks like your first trip day will be the last day of the holiday season. Apparently the season ends on January 6th, so that means you will have a chance to get in a quickie ride on Haunted Mansion Holiday before it shuts down on 1/7/14 for overlay removal (this is the 13th year of HMH, so there are going to be extra effects and surprises added into it this year). And, of course, IASWH will be open until late January so you'll get that too.

I stayed in the Pier years ago when it was the Pan Pacific. I thought it was nice then so I think I will be happy. Who knows with Scotty and the kids. Loren and Kacy are excited to try someplace new. Kody would prefer the DLH so I am guessing if anyone is unhappy it will be her.

You made Kacy's day. She loves the Haunted Mansion and she was mourning missing it. She loves it to the point her room is being decorated as a tribute to it. She has a few things I already bought her like the Haunted Mansion pillows they were selling on the Disney Store website.

My mom will be thrilled about Small World. She generally rides only Small World, POTC, the Mark Twain and the train. To her it's more about the sights, shopping and food. Maybe not in that order.

 

[Sherry E]

I stayed in the Pier years ago when it was the Pan Pacific. I thought it was nice then so I think I will be happy. Who knows with Scotty and the kids. Loren and Kacy are excited to try someplace new. Kody would prefer the DLH so I am guessing if anyone is unhappy it will be her.

You made Kacy's day. She loves the Haunted Mansion and she was mourning missing it. She loves it to the point her room is being decorated as a tribute to it. She has a few things I already bought her like the Haunted Mansion pillows they were selling on the Disney Store website.

My mom will be thrilled about Small World. She generally rides only Small World, POTC, the Mark Twain and the train. To her it's more about the sights, shopping and food. Maybe not in that order.

I was thinking that the holiday season would end on a Sunday -- as it usually does -- or would have an official end date of 1/5. But Disney has been backwards and screwy with releasing dates this year -- they got the MHP start date totally wrong in the AP newsletter; they said the holidays were beginning on 11/12; then they said 11/15; then they went back to 11/12. And this misinformation was spread between 3 different official Disney sources! Madness.

So the last report (courtesy of the Parks Blog) was that the holidays are, indeed, beginning on Tuesday confused3), 11/12 and ending on Monday, January 6th -- which should mean that Kacy has one full day to ride HMH and then it will be closed bright and early on January 7th. Also, I would imagine that World of Color - Winter Dreams will be running for the last time on January 6th too. The holiday parade and holiday fireworks/snow should be running on that date.

Plus, you'll probably catch the tail end of the Three Kings Day celebration (which just began in early January a couple of years ago).

And then for the rest of your trip you should see lighter crowds, but you'll get the added bonus of IASW Holiday for your whole trip.

 

[kaoden39]

I was thinking that the holiday season would end on a Sunday -- as it usually does -- or would have an official end date of 1/5. But Disney has been backwards and screwy with releasing dates this year -- they got the MHP start date totally wrong in the AP newsletter; they said the holidays were beginning on 11/12; then they said 11/15; then they went back to 11/12. And this misinformation was spread between 3 different official Disney sources! Madness.

So the last report (courtesy of the Parks Blog) was that the holidays are, indeed, beginning on Tuesday confused3), 11/12 and ending on Monday, January 6th -- which should mean that Kacy has one full day to ride HMH and then it will be closed bright and early on January 7th. Also, I would imagine that World of Color - Winter Dreams will be running for the last time on January 6th too. The holiday parade and holiday fireworks/snow should be running on that date.

Plus, you'll probably catch the tail end of the Three Kings Day celebration (which just began in early January a couple of years ago).

And then for the rest of your trip you should see lighter crowds, but you'll get the added bonus of IASW Holiday for your whole trip.

I am actually really excited that it will be Christmas one day and then be all gone the next morning. I am thinking that the first day might be busy because it is the last day but the rest of the trip should be pretty quiet. Thank you for all of the informaion Sherry. Now I just need to find pictures of the morning offerings in the concierge so I can justify to myself spending that money.

 

[Sherry E]

I am actually really excited that it will be Christmas one day and then be all gone the next morning. I am thinking that the first day might be busy because it is the last day but the rest of the trip should be pretty quiet. Thank you for all of the informaion Sherry. Now I just need to find pictures of the morning offerings in the concierge so I can justify to myself spending that money.

Did you try this thread, filled with concierge photos from all 3 hotels? - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2181963&page=9

It is only 9 pages -- not long -- so maybe you can start at the last page (to see the more recent photos) and work your way backwards.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi Michele,

I am so excited for you and your family that you will be going back to the DLR and staying at the PPH during your trip.

 

[kaoden39]

Did you try this thread, filled with concierge photos from all 3 hotels? - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2181963&page=9

It is only 9 pages -- not long -- so maybe you can start at the last page (to see the more recent photos) and work your way backwards.

Thank you Sherry! I shall go check that out now!

Hi Michele,

I am so excited for you and your family that you will be going back to the DLR and staying at the PPH during your trip.

Hi Bret!


Thank you.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yay, I saw the link in your signature!

With your crew, as I was saying on my PTR on the WDW side, I think concierge is the way to go.

 

[kaoden39]

Hi Molly!!

Nice to see you here!! It is indeed and tomorrow I am calling and adding it to our reservations. I am so excited!!