6-8-08 Magic & Mickey to Mexico...MORE Pictures Added!!

[GrumpyMom1]

Hi Stacey,

Great report! We debated on Sunday whether to go to Disneyland or go straight home. After hearing how crowded it was I'm glad we chose to go home.

I woke up early most days also and was awake at 5:30 or 6:00 on the last day. Now I wish I had gone up on deck instead of staying in bed.

We did see whales on Monday, spouts and all. And on Tuesday evening after we left Cabo we saw dolphins swimming alongside the ship. We were able to get pictures of the dolphins but not the whales. I'm still working on my pictures but I should have those posted soon.

 

[PBader]

Hi Stace! Man it really must be crowded at DL. I can totally relate to the stroller brigades---they have no mercy and just push forward. Your viewing for the parade sounds nice!

 

[smeecanada]

Hi Stace!

Sounds like you are having a blast!!!!

I have been considering doing the VIP seating for Fantasmic, I had no idea that they had it at DCA.

Do you recommend it and if I may ask, how much was it? Thanks!

You really don't need VIP seating for the Electrical Parade, like you do for Fantasmic. We were there a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday night. Plenty of space to sit down up around PT Flea Market (backside of Grizzly River Run) at around 8:20 - parade got to us around 8:50-8:55. We usually get dinner or a snack and just chill a bit before the parade. Usually my feet need a break by then anyways

I can't remember the cost but remember looking into it a few years ago and it was quite pricey.

 

[The FairyGodmother]

Stacey, I really enjoyed your reports. It was so good to hear about all the wonderful things and the great times you had.
I too can relate to the strollers. The worst was pushing Elizabeth in her wheelchair and having people step between her legs on the foot rests to get past us instead of being polite and letting us move out of their way. Funny thing is it wasn't just one or two people who did that. We came home a lot with bruises on our ankles from those darn blue strollers.

 

[Diznyfan68]

Thank you Stacey for sharing your journey with us. I have really enjoyed reading your reports - I've even pretended I was there with you!

The crowds at DL sound just disgusting...I'll never understand why someone thinks that just because they have a stroller it gives them the right to just drive it into anyone and everyone so they can get to where ever it is that they are going. What ever happened to "excuse me"?

Enjoy the rest of your time at DL!

 

[lbgraves]

After reading about the proposal to my kids we had to watch the video. It was just fantastic. What a great way to remember such a special day!

 

[vossjemi]

Oh Stacey, now I don't know what to do! Not sure a trip (especially a short one) to DL/DCA is worth it if its that crowded on sun/mon! Right now, if we change our flight plans to just come home after the cruise on sun, it'll cost us $236 more than if we had booked that sunday eons ago. If we keep our 7pm mon return, that means we get essentially a 1/2 day sun and a 1/2 day mon in the parks at an approx cost of $665 more than I can currently get a sunday airfare return (factoring in diff in airfare since monday is cheaper, hotel, add'l transport, tickets, and meals). If we change to a late tues return (so as to get MM and more time to fight the crowds), we'd pay around $1050 more than the current price of a sunday return (same factors).

Our trip is in early August & if we do DL/DCA, it'll be 8/10, 8/11, and maybe 8/12. Knowing what you know about the crowds, would you just shell out the extra $236 to get home sunday and forget about the parks? Or would you shell out the difference for a mon or tues return? Thanks for your opinion.

 

[justmestace]

Hi Stace!

Sounds like you are having a blast!!!!

I have been considering doing the VIP seating for Fantasmic, I had no idea that they had it at DCA.

Do you recommend it and if I may ask, how much was it? Thanks!

Without looking back at my paperwork, I want to say that it's $59 per person. For me it was worth it to have a great spot to take pictures and a chair to sit in. I still can't get down to sit on the curb, and a bench kills my back. Plus you'd have to stake one out at least an hour ahead if not more.
The adults got one free glass of wine, and kids & non-drinkers got a soda, plus the dessert trays had several cheeses, crackers, grapes, and 3 or 4 desserts plus a chocolate covered strawberry.

 

[justmestace]

Oh Stacey, now I don't know what to do! Not sure a trip (especially a short one) to DL/DCA is worth it if its that crowded on sun/mon! Right now, if we change our flight plans to just come home after the cruise on sun, it'll cost us $236 more than if we had booked that sunday eons ago. If we keep our 7pm mon return, that means we get essentially a 1/2 day sun and a 1/2 day mon in the parks at an approx cost of $665 more than I can currently get a sunday airfare return (factoring in diff in airfare since monday is cheaper, hotel, add'l transport, tickets, and meals). If we change to a late tues return (so as to get MM and more time to fight the crowds), we'd pay around $1050 more than the current price of a sunday return (same factors).

Our trip is in early August & if we do DL/DCA, it'll be 8/10, 8/11, and maybe 8/12. Knowing what you know about the crowds, would you just shell out the extra $236 to get home sunday and forget about the parks? Or would you shell out the difference for a mon or tues return? Thanks for your opinion.

It depends on how often you get to go to the parks, and whether you really want to experience Disneyland. My friends who have never been here were so excited, but now they know that they would definitely NOT do it again unless it's off season. But they get to go to WDW more often.
For me, living close to Disneyland (AZ...a 1 hour flight) I would NEVER do this again. I'd go home after the cruise nice and relaxed. I am so glad now that we aren't doing the parks before our August Repo cruise!
I was even thinking today of shelling out the $100 to fly home earlier tomorrow, but they've given me a later check out time, so we can relax in the room, go to Downtown Disney for a while maybe, and not be forced to go to the parks from 11:00 a.m. until our 5 pm town car pickup.

 

[justmestace]

Toy Story Midway Mania had it's Grand Opening today. Tons of media everywhere. At one point, the wait was over SIX HOURS. And then it broke down.
I can't imagine standing in line for anything for six hours. And then to have it break would be worse than anything I think I could ever imagine.

I am soooo glad we did the soft opening on Sunday.

Will finish up my report....especially about our Early Entry and the Nemo ride.....tomorrow or Thursday after I'm home. And then I'll work on some pictures.

 

[poohmomof5]

Without looking back at my paperwork, I want to say that it's $59 per person. For me it was worth it to have a great spot to take pictures and a chair to sit in. I still can't get down to sit on the curb, and a bench kills my back. Plus you'd have to stake one out at least an hour ahead if not more.
The adults got one free glass of wine, and kids & non-drinkers got a soda, plus the dessert trays had several cheeses, crackers, grapes, and 3 or 4 desserts plus a chocolate covered strawberry.

Thanks! That sounds like fun!

 

[lmcp]

Hi there - We are leaving for our first cruise on the Magic in July. Did you happen to keep any daily navigators that you could post or scan?

 

[vossjemi]

It depends on how often you get to go to the parks, and whether you really want to experience Disneyland. My friends who have never been here were so excited, but now they know that they would definitely NOT do it again unless it's off season. But they get to go to WDW more often.
For me, living close to Disneyland (AZ...a 1 hour flight) I would NEVER do this again. I'd go home after the cruise nice and relaxed. I am so glad now that we aren't doing the parks before our August Repo cruise!
I was even thinking today of shelling out the $100 to fly home earlier tomorrow, but they've given me a later check out time, so we can relax in the room, go to Downtown Disney for a while maybe, and not be forced to go to the parks from 11:00 a.m. until our 5 pm town car pickup.

Thanks for your reply! Well, we live in the midwest, have never been to Disneyland let alone California. My dh was there once as a child, so this could be our one and only trip. We do try to take yearly vacations with the kids, but often go to different places instead of the same place. Too many places I want to visit and not enough time. Well, after talking w/dh, I guess we are going to do Disneyland anyway. Did get a Ding today to switch up our tickets to a 7pm return flight on Tuesday. So, we'll get to take advantange of Magic Morning on Tuesday. Was it any better then?

 

[justmestace]

Magic Morning was great!! We hit the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, and then all of the rides in Fantasyland...and as soon as they opened the gates, we were waiting to hit Adventureland, and got on Splash Mountain right away, Pirates, and the Haunted Mansion before it got too busy.
The only two lands open for early entry are Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, but if you do your "most wanted" there first, you'll have a head start before the big crowds hit whichever other "land" you want to go to. Did that make sense?
Also, the evenings were less crowded. And make good use of your Fastpasses.

Yesterday was so unbelievably less crowded than Monday and Tuesday were, I was surprised. At least half of the crowds were gone!
But...we also hit the last two days for Annual Passholder's to use their tickets, so I think that made it worse, and also the grand opening of Toy Story Mania. Maybe it won't be as bad from now on.

 

[justmestace]

Hi there - We are leaving for our first cruise on the Magic in July. Did you happen to keep any daily navigators that you could post or scan?

I didn't keep my Navigator's....I already had too much stuff to carry around, and I knew that someone had posted them on the main boards here.

I actually wish I had now, though, because one of the special speakers was a top ABC executive who gave a talk one day. We shared a table with he and his wife on Pub Night, and now I don't remember his name.

 

[vossjemi]

Magic Morning was great!! We hit the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, and then all of the rides in Fantasyland...and as soon as they opened the gates, we were waiting to hit Adventureland, and got on Splash Mountain right away, Pirates, and the Haunted Mansion before it got too busy.
The only two lands open for early entry are Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, but if you do your "most wanted" there first, you'll have a head start before the big crowds hit whichever other "land" you want to go to. Did that make sense?
Also, the evenings were less crowded. And make good use of your Fastpasses.

Yesterday was so unbelievably less crowded than Monday and Tuesday were, I was surprised. At least half of the crowds were gone!
But...we also hit the last two days for Annual Passholder's to use their tickets, so I think that made it worse, and also the grand opening of Toy Story Mania. Maybe it won't be as bad from now on.

Great! I can't wait! Now, since you didn't fly out after cruise was done, what time did you schedule your pickup? We have an exclusive van pickup, but unsure what time to set it...we know we'll be last off the ship since we aren't flying out that day.

 

[justmestace]

Great! I can't wait! Now, since you didn't fly out after cruise was done, what time did you schedule your pickup? We have an exclusive van pickup, but unsure what time to set it...we know we'll be last off the ship since we aren't flying out that day.

Our flight left Orange County airport at 7:15 so the car came to get us at 5:00 on the dot. They told me what time they would come, they didn't ask me. That's the norm for that type of service, they've always told me what time they would come.
The family that left from LAX also had their car get them a little more than 2 hours before their flight.

 

[castlegazer]

justmestace, I don't know why of all times it occurs to me to look at your location and I realize that you are from Cave Creek - now isn't that the home of the Horny Toad Restaurant?

I am dating myself, probably, but my family used to spend time in Cave Creek and in fact my father decided to buy land in Cave Creek - he later rid himself of it. But it is beautiful there! I have not been back in soooooo many years.

I just outed myself that I am reading along with your report! Thanks. It's great!

 

[vossjemi]

Our flight left Orange County airport at 7:15 so the car came to get us at 5:00 on the dot. They told me what time they would come, they didn't ask me. That's the norm for that type of service, they've always told me what time they would come.
The family that left from LAX also had their car get them a little more than 2 hours before their flight.

Oh, sorry, miscommunication. Our transport did give us a time for pickup to go back to airport factoring in traffic conditions etc...to meet our flight in time. What I meant was how did you know what time to tell them to pick you up when getting off the ship? Because who knows when DCL will let us off since we don't have a flight to catch that day.

 

[justmestace]

justmestace, I don't know why of all times it occurs to me to look at your location and I realize that you are from Cave Creek - now isn't that the home of the Horny Toad Restaurant?

I am dating myself, probably, but my family used to spend time in Cave Creek and in fact my father decided to buy land in Cave Creek - he later rid himself of it. But it is beautiful there! I have not been back in soooooo many years.

I just outed myself that I am reading along with your report! Thanks. It's great!

Yep....the Horny Toad is still going strong!
Your dad should have kept the land in Cave Creek. We bought our property 20 years ago for $220,000 and now it would sell for over 1.2 million. Well, not right at the minute, with the way real estate is right now...but normally.