Grifdog22
Barking Mad!
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2008
- Messages
- 572
We did a terrific ABD Egypt trip in February and an outrageously cool Tauck midwest tour in April. We've just booked our 11th ABD trip as one we can't do anywhere else - going to the heart of the Disney empire- Disneyland. We will take a four day transcontinental Amtrak trip from Washington DC to LAX, on the Cardinal and the Southwest Chief. We arrive about 12 block from the hotel on day 1 at 8 am, freshly showered, rested and fed. We are on the Adults May 11 2025 trip. We again did not purchase ABD insurance due to all of the exceptions in the policy, and a policy from insure my trip was about 15% cheaper. (In the ABD policy, "civil war" is an exclusion for any coverage. Maybe it's always been there, but good gosh, what can I say?) We are adding a post night since the trip ends with a full ticket to the park, we want to use it. ($550 for the night and no breakfast, so at that price my expectations are very high). We will fly home the following morning. We are very much looking forward to the history, the background stories, and the "backstage" aspects of the trip.
I've read lots of threads on past trips here but for this adventure I'm left with more questions than answers, so please share your thoughts. "You're going to love this" doesn't give me any facts or foundations on the trip! The 2024 and 2025 itinerary appears to be the same.
While in Hollywood on day 2 there is a "special afternoon outing" after the Tam O'Shanter lunch - it would be helpful to have an idea of what this is so we don't duplicate it on our first arrival day. Since that afternoon and evening are otherwise on our own, what great things did you do that you would recommend? Since so much has changed since COVID I'm not sure that recommendations from 4 years ago are still available.
Day 3 includes "Walt Disney Imagineering Tour." Since I understood a couple of years ago the Imagineers were moved to Florida - what exactly did you tour? Are they still there or back?
It's been awhile since we were at Disneyworld, back then they had just introduced the magic bands. It looks like everything we need is loaded into an app on our phones - is that correct? DW REALLY wants to experience the Rise of the Resistance - does this happen on the trip? It always appears sold out/booked. Any suggestions on making sure this can happen for DW?
What was posted a couple of years ago may still be true - for the meals on our own, which are many, how do you make a dining reservation? To make one we have to have a trip reservation number, and there isn't one for us on these. What did all of you do for arranging dining reservations?
For the early admission (30 minutes) for the park, were there many things open? Anything we should aim for? What is the one thing you recommend we absolutely should not miss?
Thanks, Adventurers, for sharing.
I've read lots of threads on past trips here but for this adventure I'm left with more questions than answers, so please share your thoughts. "You're going to love this" doesn't give me any facts or foundations on the trip! The 2024 and 2025 itinerary appears to be the same.
While in Hollywood on day 2 there is a "special afternoon outing" after the Tam O'Shanter lunch - it would be helpful to have an idea of what this is so we don't duplicate it on our first arrival day. Since that afternoon and evening are otherwise on our own, what great things did you do that you would recommend? Since so much has changed since COVID I'm not sure that recommendations from 4 years ago are still available.
Day 3 includes "Walt Disney Imagineering Tour." Since I understood a couple of years ago the Imagineers were moved to Florida - what exactly did you tour? Are they still there or back?
It's been awhile since we were at Disneyworld, back then they had just introduced the magic bands. It looks like everything we need is loaded into an app on our phones - is that correct? DW REALLY wants to experience the Rise of the Resistance - does this happen on the trip? It always appears sold out/booked. Any suggestions on making sure this can happen for DW?
What was posted a couple of years ago may still be true - for the meals on our own, which are many, how do you make a dining reservation? To make one we have to have a trip reservation number, and there isn't one for us on these. What did all of you do for arranging dining reservations?
For the early admission (30 minutes) for the park, were there many things open? Anything we should aim for? What is the one thing you recommend we absolutely should not miss?
Thanks, Adventurers, for sharing.