GatorChris
Not of This World
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2014
- Messages
- 3,246
After 7 trips to WDW and 55 park days there, it does appear due to the cost of flying 5 cross-country that our trips to FL have come to an end (temporary?). We visited DLR last November and decided to get APs for DL this year, starting with a 7 day trip we just returned from.
First of all, the trip was awesome! Even though it got off to a rough start (yes, the high emotions from that time have fled), it was so great to be able to hit the parks for full days Mon-Fri, and then hit them again in the mornings of the weekend. To be able to spend that much time with my family in that setting...it doesn't get much better than this. So here are quite a few of my thoughts, high points, and low points. I've mentioned Flo's, F! and WOC in other posts, so I'll not touch those. Warning: long list ahead.
1. The HoJo Anaheim was a really good hotel. We had a deluxe tower room with a view of the parks, and that was just awesome. There was no breakfast, but we like to feed the kids before they get dressed, so this was no sweat. The water park is a lot of fun for the kids, even when it's cold. And the walk to the parks isn't bad at all. I even got to meet Kriss who often frequents this board! Thanks for all the great tips.
2. 5 days is just magical. So much time to do our favorites over and over, plus do things that we wouldn't do without all the extra time: Pirates Lair, Fantasy Faire Theater, Redwood Forest Challenge, and lovely ride on the Columbia (so relaxing and great to see what's left of the Mike Fink's keelboat).
3. Mickey & the Magical Map is incredible! I really loved that show. We sat on the front row on the side, so we missed some video stuff, but having the characters right on top of us was just amazing.
4. Aladdin Live was also incredible. Wow, there was a lot of people in that building. Genie was hilarious and the music and effects were great. Mad that I've missed this show in the past.
5. Going to make some people mad with this, but Tiki Room stinks. We caught this many times at WDW with Iago hosting it and it was fun and funny. I know they changed it back to the original version like they have here at DL, and I found it to be quite dull and uninteresting. So did the kids. I know it was a WD original, but so was the Dutch Boy Paints Color Gallery and where is that? Sorry, but I just don't get the fascination. Especially when you can hear the birds and tikis clicking mouths over the actual soundtrack.
6. I may never get tired of Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. So good - especially the corn bread with honey butter.
7. Ariel's Grotto Princess Lunch - $$$$$$$$$. Wow, I didn't realize it would cost me that much to stop eating over and over to take pictures with princesses. Sure, I avoided some lines but sheesh that was expensive. TriTip was good, but for $40 for just me, I could've bought 4 large ones and grilled them myself for an army of people. We did enjoy the outside ambiance of Screamin' and the view of the park, though. Still, I don't know if I'll be back for that character meal.
8. CMs were much better this time. My last trip, my wife and I witnessed 8 different occasions where CMs or characters were talking about how they hated their job/manager or when they were getting off this shift. This time I encountered that only once at StarTraders as one big dude was complaining to two girls about his shift. My wife stopped me when I was about to get his name. Guys like that poison the rest of the crew and I don't like to let them off the hook.
9. Hit Radiator Springs Racers 3 times on our second day at DCA and won all three times! We actually were near the front of the line at rope drop, and the grabbed FPs twice. The last one was right at the end of the day before WOC started. Love that ride at night. So much different than the day.
10. Big Thunder is so cool! It was down last year, so it was our first and last ride of our entire trip, with lots of rides inbetween.
11. Going to miss Soarin' Over CA. We caught it 3 times this trip - enough to where I still smell that pine scent every now and then. I'm sure the National version will be great, but California has so much great stuff that I'm going to miss all my favorites: Redwood Creek, Yosemite, Tahoe, and the ocean at sunset. Glad I filmed it in HD (shhh, don't tell anyone).
12. My 3yo LOVED Tower of Terror. She pointed and said she wanted to go, and we had to keep going back to satisfy her desire for the thrill of dropping. What have I created?
13. Are we the only family that makes Heimlich's ChewChew Train a must on each trip to DCA? We love that little ride. So Disney!
14. I love the Art of Animation building. If my kids would let me, I would roll out a blanket and lay there for about an hour. Just amazing to see the huge screens and hear the wonderful music. Caught Rapunzel segment and it brought me to tears. But music tends to do that to me.
15. My kids loved the Jedi Academy. I can see us doing that a lot in the future.
16. I AM THE REBEL SPY! Star Tours 2.0 is probably my favorite attraction at DL (tied with Splash Mt), and I got to be the rebel spy. I was so proud!
17. That Tractor Tipping Jamboree is stinking fun! It doesn't look like much, but me and the kids love that ride.
18. There is nothing like Gibson Girl ice cream. Cookies&Cream in a chocolate covered waffle cone... that became my dinner twice last week, and it was just as filling, way more tasty, and way less price than a hamburger or Monte Cristo. Just saying. Wish I had one right now!
19. I was disappointed by the Mickey Beignets at the Mint Julip bar. My kids liked them, but they weren't close to the real thing. And I never got over to Ralph Brennan's so I never satisfied my Jackson Square cravings.
20. Anna&Elsa M&G: got to the park on a Wednesday 20 minutes before rope drop. Went to the middle section by the Partners statue which I think was a mistake. Darted through crowds, walking fast and sometimes running...only to get to the FP line and going all the way to Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. HOLY COW!!! The upside - I got to hear western music while I waited and I love that stuff. The down side - I didn't get the FP until 55 minutes after rope drop. Now that it's done, I'd rather not ever do that again. A wasted precious first hour of the morning, but at least the kids got to do Dumbo, Toad, and the Carousel while I waited.
21. Time to replace Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin. Unpleasant line and unpleasant ride. Toontown is cute and fun, but that ride needs to GO.
22. Clam Chowder at the Pacific Wharf. If not for the perpetual long line there, I would eat there every meal.
23. Cinderella's step sisters are a real hoot at the Christmas parade. Want to have some fun? Be a dude and cat call/whistle at them. I did that and it became a riot on our side of the street. Probably the most memorable event of my trip - all caught on film of course!
24. Two trips and I've yet to get my photo with my fave, Donald Duck. I almost caught him in Toontown, but he went on a break just as were headed out. I guess I just keep missing wherever it is he takes photos. Bummer.
25. Question... With this 7 day trip added to my 4 day trip last year, am I now considered a DL vet? Or do I still need training?
First of all, the trip was awesome! Even though it got off to a rough start (yes, the high emotions from that time have fled), it was so great to be able to hit the parks for full days Mon-Fri, and then hit them again in the mornings of the weekend. To be able to spend that much time with my family in that setting...it doesn't get much better than this. So here are quite a few of my thoughts, high points, and low points. I've mentioned Flo's, F! and WOC in other posts, so I'll not touch those. Warning: long list ahead.
1. The HoJo Anaheim was a really good hotel. We had a deluxe tower room with a view of the parks, and that was just awesome. There was no breakfast, but we like to feed the kids before they get dressed, so this was no sweat. The water park is a lot of fun for the kids, even when it's cold. And the walk to the parks isn't bad at all. I even got to meet Kriss who often frequents this board! Thanks for all the great tips.
2. 5 days is just magical. So much time to do our favorites over and over, plus do things that we wouldn't do without all the extra time: Pirates Lair, Fantasy Faire Theater, Redwood Forest Challenge, and lovely ride on the Columbia (so relaxing and great to see what's left of the Mike Fink's keelboat).
3. Mickey & the Magical Map is incredible! I really loved that show. We sat on the front row on the side, so we missed some video stuff, but having the characters right on top of us was just amazing.
4. Aladdin Live was also incredible. Wow, there was a lot of people in that building. Genie was hilarious and the music and effects were great. Mad that I've missed this show in the past.
5. Going to make some people mad with this, but Tiki Room stinks. We caught this many times at WDW with Iago hosting it and it was fun and funny. I know they changed it back to the original version like they have here at DL, and I found it to be quite dull and uninteresting. So did the kids. I know it was a WD original, but so was the Dutch Boy Paints Color Gallery and where is that? Sorry, but I just don't get the fascination. Especially when you can hear the birds and tikis clicking mouths over the actual soundtrack.
6. I may never get tired of Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. So good - especially the corn bread with honey butter.
7. Ariel's Grotto Princess Lunch - $$$$$$$$$. Wow, I didn't realize it would cost me that much to stop eating over and over to take pictures with princesses. Sure, I avoided some lines but sheesh that was expensive. TriTip was good, but for $40 for just me, I could've bought 4 large ones and grilled them myself for an army of people. We did enjoy the outside ambiance of Screamin' and the view of the park, though. Still, I don't know if I'll be back for that character meal.
8. CMs were much better this time. My last trip, my wife and I witnessed 8 different occasions where CMs or characters were talking about how they hated their job/manager or when they were getting off this shift. This time I encountered that only once at StarTraders as one big dude was complaining to two girls about his shift. My wife stopped me when I was about to get his name. Guys like that poison the rest of the crew and I don't like to let them off the hook.
9. Hit Radiator Springs Racers 3 times on our second day at DCA and won all three times! We actually were near the front of the line at rope drop, and the grabbed FPs twice. The last one was right at the end of the day before WOC started. Love that ride at night. So much different than the day.
10. Big Thunder is so cool! It was down last year, so it was our first and last ride of our entire trip, with lots of rides inbetween.
11. Going to miss Soarin' Over CA. We caught it 3 times this trip - enough to where I still smell that pine scent every now and then. I'm sure the National version will be great, but California has so much great stuff that I'm going to miss all my favorites: Redwood Creek, Yosemite, Tahoe, and the ocean at sunset. Glad I filmed it in HD (shhh, don't tell anyone).
12. My 3yo LOVED Tower of Terror. She pointed and said she wanted to go, and we had to keep going back to satisfy her desire for the thrill of dropping. What have I created?
13. Are we the only family that makes Heimlich's ChewChew Train a must on each trip to DCA? We love that little ride. So Disney!
14. I love the Art of Animation building. If my kids would let me, I would roll out a blanket and lay there for about an hour. Just amazing to see the huge screens and hear the wonderful music. Caught Rapunzel segment and it brought me to tears. But music tends to do that to me.
15. My kids loved the Jedi Academy. I can see us doing that a lot in the future.
16. I AM THE REBEL SPY! Star Tours 2.0 is probably my favorite attraction at DL (tied with Splash Mt), and I got to be the rebel spy. I was so proud!
17. That Tractor Tipping Jamboree is stinking fun! It doesn't look like much, but me and the kids love that ride.
18. There is nothing like Gibson Girl ice cream. Cookies&Cream in a chocolate covered waffle cone... that became my dinner twice last week, and it was just as filling, way more tasty, and way less price than a hamburger or Monte Cristo. Just saying. Wish I had one right now!
19. I was disappointed by the Mickey Beignets at the Mint Julip bar. My kids liked them, but they weren't close to the real thing. And I never got over to Ralph Brennan's so I never satisfied my Jackson Square cravings.
20. Anna&Elsa M&G: got to the park on a Wednesday 20 minutes before rope drop. Went to the middle section by the Partners statue which I think was a mistake. Darted through crowds, walking fast and sometimes running...only to get to the FP line and going all the way to Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. HOLY COW!!! The upside - I got to hear western music while I waited and I love that stuff. The down side - I didn't get the FP until 55 minutes after rope drop. Now that it's done, I'd rather not ever do that again. A wasted precious first hour of the morning, but at least the kids got to do Dumbo, Toad, and the Carousel while I waited.
21. Time to replace Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin. Unpleasant line and unpleasant ride. Toontown is cute and fun, but that ride needs to GO.
22. Clam Chowder at the Pacific Wharf. If not for the perpetual long line there, I would eat there every meal.
23. Cinderella's step sisters are a real hoot at the Christmas parade. Want to have some fun? Be a dude and cat call/whistle at them. I did that and it became a riot on our side of the street. Probably the most memorable event of my trip - all caught on film of course!
24. Two trips and I've yet to get my photo with my fave, Donald Duck. I almost caught him in Toontown, but he went on a break just as were headed out. I guess I just keep missing wherever it is he takes photos. Bummer.
25. Question... With this 7 day trip added to my 4 day trip last year, am I now considered a DL vet? Or do I still need training?
Glad to hear you liked the sailing ship. We need to take the time to do that next time we go!
