You will love DCA and DLP now. Everything will be a lot different at DCA. It reminds me of what DHS should be in a lot of ways, and hopefully will be after SW land is done. I loved DCA. We are thinking of going back to DLR for the opening of SW land. They are talking of switching to electronic FP at DLR that use an app on the phone. I think they are just testing it now. I really recommend the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland and the Disneyland DIS Podcasts. They are audio, so you can listen during your commute. They come out once a week.
Cool! Thanks for the info! Everyone I know who has been to both recently loves DCA and DL. I think individually they are great parks. I'm so excited! I'm definitely going back when SW is built. Is the DLR one opening sooner? Might be a good idea to get one of those super premier annual passes that year as I have a feeling I'd want to go multiple times.
They still have the sub ride, but it's Nemo themed. And yes, the waits are still horrendous, at least they were when we went in 2013. Radiator Springs Racers is worth the wait. It's so much better than Test Track that it's hard to describe. We waited in line for our FP+ for about an hour and then waited in the FP+ line for about 2 hours to ride
I have heard it's gotten somewhat better though. Carsland is so cool. I would like to spend more time there next time.
I've heard so much about RSR and I've even seen ride video. It's probably my most anticipated ride because I love test track. I love speed! I can't believe even with FP+ you had to wait an hour? Damn. I'm hoping staying in the GC will help alleviate that a bit.
I am so jealous of the Grand Californian. I really wish we had stayed there. We stayed across from the main gate. It was very convenient and well-priced, but it was a bit ratty, cheap, and old. Not very Disney-like at all
Yeah that is what I've read. We're only splurging because we wanted this to be a proper Disney vacation. Next time we'll probably stay at one of the offsite resorts.
The Hungry Bear is a good QS in Critter Country in DLP. They used to have this fabulous fried green tomato sandwich and these good lemon honey cupcakes. I heard about the sandwich from chefs talking about some of their favorite casual foods in S California. We ate at Carthay Circle, which was excellent, and did the World of Color package. There's no seating at all for WOC, but the view from the package area was nice. The Disneyland podcast just did a review of the new WOC dessert party, which sounded good. I think the food overall, including the QS, at DLR is way better than WDW.
Yum fried green tomato sandwich...that sounds delicious! I'm excited to see all the food offerings and how it differs from WDW. It looks like it has improved a lot. When we ate at Ariel's grotto, it seemed that food was just secondary to meeting the characters, i.e. it wasn't that great.
AAAAAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKKK Sooooo jealous!!!! Are you having an amazing time?!???
Have a wonderful vacation!
Haha, I love that you are going to Disneyland in September!! We are there *just* before you - literally, we leave on September 2nd!
Oh no! Darn! We miss each other by a hair! You'll have to report back if there is anything new that week!
Yes the submarine ride is still there, but it's a finding Nemo theme now. I'm not much help on where to be during shows and parades, we usually just sneak in the last minute (not budging, mind you, watching from the rear) because we don't want to waste 3 park hours sitting around waiting for the parades. Haunted Mansion may be closed while you are there as they close at the end of August to put up the Halloween overlay. Check the refurb schedule closer to the end of summer to see what is up and running. I'm excited to see the new Soarin' that opens in a few weeks.
Thanks! I will check the refurb schedule. Please don't be hyperspace mountain...please don't be hyperspace mountain...
ALOHA!!! Enjoy your Hawaiian vacation! Let me know how it goes! A mini-TR maybe?
Mmmmm, Dole Whip. Less than 2 months now. I need to get another tiki bowl at Pineapple Lanai. We only have 2 and there's 3 of us, so we have to fight over the bowls when we have ice cream at home
Can't wait to hear about V&A.
What!! You're going again?!? Jealous! And you get to see the new Soarin' and see the new SW fireworks....waaaah I want to come!
Duh.... Your right, I spaced on the Rivers of America construction. Sorry, I guess I got a little ahead of myself.
LOl, it's ok I think I just read it on some disney blog but wasn't 100% paying attention as we didn't think we were going to Disneyland yet. But now that we are I have to pay attention to everything!
BTW do you know if DL has a photopass package? My sister is asking because she loves her character pics.
Don't worry, you'll see him again at Disneyland! He and Mater actually drive down the street to their meet spots and are interactive. So cool.
Oh awesome!!!
Sounds like a plan! Also, this is something else you will like about Disneyland - better hair days!
Yes!! That is very key!
Obviously, I'm a bit backlogged on writing TRs and not sure when I will start writing my Disneyland one. But feel free to throw any questions my way. I also have read a few Disneyland TRs by WDW vets recently, so I'd recommend those ones (by
@TheMaxRebo ,
@afwdwfan , and
@Captain_Oblivious ).
We loved Disneyland!
Did they have a photopass package similar to memory maker? You know that is the first thing my sisters asks for on every trip. Thanks for the recs! I wil check out their TRs!
Poly looks great. We'll have to look around when we do 'Ohana because I doubt we will ever get to stay there (unless we win the lottery)!
It's really awesome! Check out Trader Sams - it's small though but very cool inside. You can sit outside too and it's the same food and drinks but no cool tiki decor.
The truffle butter and truffle bread. Let me wipe off my laptop screen. It didn't taste as good the food
That was my favorite bread & butter pairing. Gotta love a place with bread & butter pairings. We had that same server. I can't remember his name, but he wasn't our main server. I got the wagyu, while DS got the real stuff. We shared, and I liked both, but could definitely tell the difference with the real deal. The marbling in kobe beef is great. I am not a fatty meat kind of gal, yet I love butter
So I think the fine marbling really suits my palate. We got the wine pairing and were glad. It really amped up the food, which seems unimaginable, since it's already phenomenal. However, I was not fit to drive afterward. The wasabi reminds me of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, which we just watched. I am pretty sure I have never had the real stuff, maybe when we eventually go to Japan. The food looks great. Great pics!
Can't go wrong with truffles!
I do agree that the marbling in he Kobe is great. But I do prefer fattier cuts like ribeye. Although I'm sure a kobe ribeye might be overkill.
I like steak and butter. I like steak WITH butter too!
Jiro Dreams of Sushi just made me want to eat nothing but sushi for weeks. But not the cheap stuff from the corner Japanese restaurant, like a proper sushi omakase. Which kinda reminds me...I may try that omakase sushi offering at Morimoto Asia. I wonder how good it is. It could either be good or just plain bad. I've not heard much about it.
I love your TR especially the Star Wars character interaction and V&A. I was showing DH your pics and he was drooling! And all that bread! I hope it's not too gauche to ask for it to go. Otherwise I'll never eat the other courses as I carbo-load.
Thank you so much! We had a wonderful vacation.
They serve you the bread piece by piece so maybe that led us to not over eat. On the cruise they put a tray of truffle bread in front of us and it was gone in 60 seconds (literally). They asked if we wanted another one so we indulged in more bread! Talk about carbo loading...hahaha.
At V and A though it was more of a plated course. You can probably ask if you could take some home. They seem to be very accommodating.
Wow, quite the meal at V&A's. I suspect I will never go there, as I can't imagine paying that price when I'd only eat the bread, cheese, and desserts.
Those looked great, though.
So awesome about Laurie and the private golf cart ride! Great CM!
It was a great night, and a once in a lifetime type deal! I can't thank Laurie enough for the ride! It was just so sweet of her.
<==== This is DH when he gets to take his suit off!
) so I'm excited!
I'm so glad you had such a fantastic experience and then to top it off with some pixie dust 
from that lovely cm - it's Disney magic, baby! 
