¤*~*¤May/June 2013 ¤*~*¤Trip Planning Thread

[ColoradoLime]

What an awesome idea. I voted for us to have our own design. Maybe have a design for the May group going and a design for the June group going. We already have Lime Green Mickey heads that we put on our backpacks, however I would love to put a June Mickey head next to it to show my pride for the thread

Good idea!

BTW ColoradoLime, I was wondering why your name is not on the Role Call for May, I am guessing it is because you didn't have your dates set in stone until today. I mean come on....you are the leader of this thread, I would think you would want a place on the Role Call!!!!

lol I'm there - Listed first under the Howard Johnson.

 

[aussie shaz]

Oops! You better change me to 18-24 May at Hojo. I keep forgetting we move to a vacation rental for the remainder of the trip

I was just checking who was at Hojo while we were there and noticed I have misadvised!!

Thanks

 

[ColoradoLime]

Ok so if we do a our own unique Mickey Head - what are your suggestions? One for May and one for June? What colors should they be? Characters?

We can definitely have one of the fabulous ladies on the DISign thread whip some up for us (I'm so not the creative type!)

Below are some random images I found to get your creative juices flowing.

 

[ColoradoLime]

Oops! You better change me to 18-24 May at Hojo. I keep forgetting we move to a vacation rental for the remainder of the trip

I was just checking who was at Hojo while we were there and noticed I have misadvised!!

Thanks

You got it.

 

[KittyKat1978]

The plan is to be there May 5-11th. I have booked the hotel (Fairfield Inn), but have not booked my flights yet. Still hoping to convince my mom to come...she said probably not due to work, but I am sure she took vacation last May....I still have time to work on her

 

[ColoradoLime]

The plan is to be there May 5-11th. I have booked the hotel (Fairfield Inn), but have not booked my flights yet. Still hoping to convince my mom to come...she said probably not due to work, but I am sure she took vacation last May....I still have time to work on her

Welcome! I'm trying to convince my mom to go too. Crossing fingers!

 

[PoohsFan1]

lol I'm there - Listed first under the Howard Johnson.

My bad, I didn't see you there....I feel much better now .

As for the design for the Mickey heads, I like the second one better that you posted (the black one with 2013 with Mickey and Friends), however, I think I will go over to the DISign board and see what kind of creations they have over there. I am not the creative type either.

 

[ColoradoLime]

For those staying at the Howard Johnson

Today's discount is 25% off 4 or more nights - use code SR6.

You just need to call reservations and have them apply the discount code to your existing reservation.

 

[Zakery]

I've been lurking here for a bit to find out information and I figured I'd finally post. My Nephew (17 at the time) and I are going to Disneyland before I head off to Adobe Max in Los Angeles. We'll be staying at the Quality Inn & Suites Anaheim at the Park.

We'll be in Anaheim from April 27th until May 1st and then we go to LA until he leaves on the 4th and I start the conference on the 5th and I fly back home on the 9th.

Can't wait for the trip but it sucks that I have to leave my DS(10) at home. We just went to Disney World last year in January and he is going to visit relatives with my wife 1 week after I get back so we couldn't pull him out of school again.

 

[kerickson]

Please add us to the June list! We upgraded to APs during our Dec trip, can't wait to go back when it's warm and sunny!

VGC
6/1 to 6/6: kerickson

 

[kerickson]

I'll throw in my 2 cents...

Dining:
Disneyland isn't really much of a table service park due to the trend for more local visitors and shorter stays. We've had better experiences in DDD than in the parks, but the park food does seem to be getting better.
Our favs are:
DDD -
Ralph Brennans - love the Beignets here and in New Orleans Square!
ESPN (husband loves the sports, big portions, kids love the games)
Tortilla Joes (not great, but a pretty easy spots with kids. They often have a person walking around doing balloon animals)

Resorts -
Whitewater Snacks @ the Grand California
Trader Sams @ Disneyland Hotel - not much to eat but a fun atmosphere!
Goofy's Kitchen @ Disneyland - wide selection of food, lots of characters

Parks -
Cafe Orleans @ Disneyland - prefer this over Blue Bayou
Big Thunder Ranch @ Disneyland - love this western all you can eat TS
Ariel's Grotto @ DCA - ate there a few years ago and the food was better than expected, great if you like the princesses
Ice Cream at Cozy Cone (chocolate dipped) and Paradise Pier (creamsicle)

I'd like to try Steakhouse 55 this trip (have consistantly heard good reviews) and Earl of Sandwhich (lines too long during Christmas week). We might try Blue Bayou again. I always want to go due to the ambiance, but then are disappointed with the food and service. If my husband and I can have a night out we might try Napa Rose. We are staying in the villas, though, and always try to each in the room as much as possible to save $$.

 

[ColoradoGirl85]

For those staying at the Howard Johnson

Today's discount is 25% off 4 or more nights - use code SR6.

You just need to call reservations and have them apply the discount code to your existing reservation.

I just called and used this. 25% is better then 15% right? I was hesitant...worried they will release a better deal and then I'll be kicking myself!

 

[PoohsFan1]

kerickson thank you for your 2 cents. It was very informative . That is the one thing I have been struggling with when planning out our DLR trip....the food. One of the important parts of our WDW trips is eating at the different restaurants there...yes we have our favorites that we have to go back to each time, but we also mix that in with new restaurants that we want to try. We normally do the DxDP therefore we do a ton of TS restaurants and Signature restaurants. DLR is just so different then WDW because of the fact that it is more known for the QS restaurants then the Sit downs. I do know that we do want to try Napa Rose, we too are staying in the villas, plus from the reviews it reminds me so much of our favorite restaurant in WDW...California Grill. Also I want to try Blue Bayou (yes I have seen some negative reviews on it too) because the ambiance seems awesome. The other sit down meal that we are very interested in is The Big Thunder Ranch BBQ....we all love BBQ and this just looks like it could be a really fun place to eat at, plus there have been nothing but really good reviews on it. As for character meals, we want to try them all (we also are big into the character meals at WDW) and we are very excited about the Minnie and Friends breakfast. Then of course there are quite a few of the QS restaurants that are catching my eye whenever I read the menus....well, at least I have until April (when I can make my dining reservations) to figure all of this out .

 

[ColoradoGirl85]

I'll throw in my 2 cents...

Dining:
Disneyland isn't really much of a table service park due to the trend for more local visitors and shorter stays. We've had better experiences in DDD than in the parks, but the park food does seem to be getting better.
Our favs are:
DDD -
Ralph Brennans - love the Beignets here and in New Orleans Square!
ESPN (husband loves the sports, big portions, kids love the games)
Tortilla Joes (not great, but a pretty easy spots with kids. They often have a person walking around doing balloon animals)

Resorts -
Whitewater Snacks @ the Grand California
Trader Sams @ Disneyland Hotel - not much to eat but a fun atmosphere!
Goofy's Kitchen @ Disneyland - wide selection of food, lots of characters

Parks -
Cafe Orleans @ Disneyland - prefer this over Blue Bayou
Big Thunder Ranch @ Disneyland - love this western all you can eat TS
Ariel's Grotto @ DCA - ate there a few years ago and the food was better than expected, great if you like the princesses
Ice Cream at Cozy Cone (chocolate dipped) and Paradise Pier (creamsicle)

.

Thanks for this! On our last trip (which was our first ) we ate breakfast and lunch in our room to save money, and only ate dinner in the park once (just counter service) We are hoping to be able to fit in at least a few dinners that aren't at Ihop haha. My hubby wants to go to Rainforest Cafe, I know the food isn't great but I think my 4 year old will love the experience.

 

[ColoradoLime]

I just called and used this. 25% is better then 15% right? I was hesitant...worried they will release a better deal and then I'll be kicking myself!

You can still apply another code if a better one shows up. Same process.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

Two things

1) In the projected park hours there are refurbishments listed. Are those accurate, as I am heading in May and see that Star Tours and Splash mountain are listed as down for the month.

2) Not being too picky but you have me listed as June when I am going in May.

Love the thread and the enthusiasm.

 

[ColoradoLime]

I've been lurking here for a bit to find out information and I figured I'd finally post. My Nephew (17 at the time) and I are going to Disneyland before I head off to Adobe Max in Los Angeles. We'll be staying at the Quality Inn & Suites Anaheim at the Park.

We'll be in Anaheim from April 27th until May 1st and then we go to LA until he leaves on the 4th and I start the conference on the 5th and I fly back home on the 9th.

Can't wait for the trip but it sucks that I have to leave my DS(10) at home. We just went to Disney World last year in January and he is going to visit relatives with my wife 1 week after I get back so we couldn't pull him out of school again.

Welcome to the thread! What do you do for a living that has you going to Adobe Max? That's pretty cool!

Please add us to the June list! We upgraded to APs during our Dec trip, can't wait to go back when it's warm and sunny!

VGC
6/1 to 6/6: kerickson

Ok, you win the prize for being the most organized by having already done your own roll call listing!

 

[aussie shaz]

1) In the projected park hours there are refurbishments listed. Are those accurate, as I am heading in May and see that Star Tours and Splash mountain are listed as down for the month.
.

I hope not. They would have to be my 2 favorite rides!

 

[Zakery]

Welcome to the thread! What do you do for a living that has you going to Adobe Max? That's pretty cool!

I work for the University of Saskatchewan doing web, audio visual, assisting faculty with technology and whatever else comes up. I've been using Adobe Products since 1996 or so and this is my first trip to Max. My work gets to cover the training and flight costs and I get to just pay for the extra vacation stuff. Originally I was supposed to just go by myself but figured my Nephew might enjoy the trip.

I'm hoping I can set this up again next year and have the DS and DW come along. This year though I'll just have to enjoy hanging with the nephew and then goofing off by myself in the evenings in Downtown LA.

 

[kerickson]

we too are staying in the villas

PoohsFan1
What size unit? We are in a 1BR. Maybe you will get our room! Are you aware you can request specific room numbers? I think that helps get a good location/view.

Big Thunder BBQ is the one place my husband feels he gets his money's worth because it's good all you can eat chicken and ribs. I'm sure we will eat there again this trip. It's good to try Blue Bayou once and form your own opinion. We want to love it, maybe now that our kids are older we'll enjoy it more the next time we go.