Anniversary help!

[disneyhubby]

Ok so long time lurker. I am planning a trip to DL for the wife and I for our 1 year anniversary this feb. I want to do some cool things that she might not expect, you know little romantic touches.

I am thinking about staying in the resort hotels, but not sure about cost as of yet. If I did so I would be interested in the theme suites, but I can't find ANY pics or info about them ANYWHERE.

The wife is a big disney fan, and we have been before but have never stayed in the resorts, so i think she would really enjoy the little things I've been hearing so much about.

So here's what I need...

1) PICs and pricing for the suites at the disney resorts, also any info on how to ACTAULLY get one of them. I have read that they don't advertise them so as to save them for 'big spenders', i hope this is not the case

2) Nice romatic touches that you might suggest; is there a florist that does disney themed baskets like in WDW, lilly belle, resturants that do special stuff for anniversaries

3)Advice from the disney fanatic women out there, if your husband was doing somethign like this would you appriciate the stay at the resort over more activities like blue bayou and disney tours?

Thanks for all the help and advice

 

[sonnyjane]

Hi! Sorry you haven't had a response yet, as I've never stayed on site so I can't be of much help!

I will say that many people suggest GCH for anniversaries or special occasions. I'd think a regular suite there would suffice (don't need an uber expensive themed suite).

Whether or not as a Disney fan she'd be more appreciative of the resort stay or extra activities like tours, I guess that depends on whether she's done tours before, or even has interest in them? I know I'd be quite pleased to stay at GCH or even a nice suite at DLH, more so than a tour, but that's personal preference. I would suggest a nice dinner at Napa Rose if you can swing it

Hopefully others that have stayed on-site will have more advice! Oh, but know that you are quite awesome for planning this! I'll always take time to applaud a thoughtful husband My husband and I are celebrating our first anniversary next month and I know he doesn't have anything this grand up his sleeves! Congratulations!

 

[Kayla's Mom]

We just celebrated our anniversary a few weeks back. My link to my trip report is in my signature. DH surprised me with balloons in our room, we did Fantasmic Dessert Seating, the segway tour and rode the Lilly Belle.

 

[Caseystigger]

You can always contact the Dream Makers. My DBFF and her Hubby were celebrating their anniversary when we were there a couple of months back and I called to set something up for them. I got them a nice gift basket and they turned the bed down and scattered rose petals on the bed. I requested balloons and a signed photo of Mickey & Minnie and of course the anniversary buttons which they got upon checking in. Oh and I had some of the chocolate covered strawberries sent to their room one night, they were pretty, looked like little tuxedos on the berries in chocolate.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...uCelebrate/index?name=CelebrationsGiftingPage

They do have room decoration packages as well. The Dream Makers are very helpful and will email you the lists with prices and help you get everything set up.

Good luck!

 

[Queenbillabong]

What a sweet idea! FWIW - the themed suites are very expensive...... but I guess it depends on what you can afford and what you want. A standard room, no view, not a suite at the Grand runs around $300 per night (we just stayed there for $236 per night plus tax plus resort fee as a special rate) - so to me that's pricy enough Any suites or the themed suites are considerably more than that.

I personally would not want my husband to spend much more than that on a room, but I would totally appreciate staying in either the Grand or the DLH and getting the extra there - rose petals, chocolate strawberries, signed pics, anniversary buttons, etc. You can also book some special time in the spa - maybe a couples massage or something romantic like that (at the Grand). A dinner at Napa Rose would be so special too!

 

[darph nader]

You might want to rethink the strawberrys.From what I've heard they can have some fairly adverse side effects.

 

[DisneyDan71]

I would suggest you stay at the GCH. Have room service fix up something nice (Chocolate or a pre-planned meal) and bring it up the night of your anniversary.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We celebrated our 25th anniversary at Disneyland in March.

We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel & took advantage of Vacation Planning. They have themed gift baskets that can be left in your room during your stay, you can order special treats to be brought up & you can have them help you with romantic dinner priority seatings.

The 3 resorts are higher than the motels on Harbor, but worth it for special celebrations. We stayed for 7 nights & stayed 2 nights at the DLH and then transfered to a cheaper motel for the rest of the stay.......totally worth it!!!

We did a romantic dinner at the Blue Bayou, had a wonderful lunch at Cafe Orleans, did the Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour & did the Fantasmic Dessert Seating as special things to celebrate. You can also ask to ride in the wheelhouse of the Mark Twain for a fantastic view of the park.

Hope that helps you some!! Congrats on your upcoming anniversary!! Good luck planning!!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

What a wonderful husband to think of this! Coming from somebody who is currently planning her own birthday trip to DLR (it will be my DD's birthday as well!), I would have loved if my DH had jumped in with a few ideas of his own. But, he knows I love planning for the trip WAY more than he does, and he has offered! But, FWIW, if my DH had been planning everything and I hadn't worried about "Is that too much?", these are the extras (at least the ones that have a pricetag) that I would want and in the order in which they would be most important to me:

1. Staying onsite (a simple hotel room at any of the three DLR hotels).
1b. An evening with grandparents babysitting the kids so DH and I can spend the evening over at DL by ourselves! But I'm guessing that 's not a factor for you guys yet!!!
2. Holiday Tour with VIP Parade Seating(or another tour if not at Holiday time)
3. Lunch or Dinner at Blue Bayou right by the water
4. Special Surprise back at the hotel (see Dream Makers in Caseystigger's post/Vacation Planning in DizNeeLuver's post). My personal preference? The warm cookies and cold milk...just seems like a perfect end to a day at Disneyland. The rose petals seem like a really nice first anniversay touch.
5. Dessert Seating for Fantasmic!
6. Character Breakfast or Dinner
7. Dinner at Napa Rose
8. An upgraded hotel room. Not a suite necessarily, and not even concierge level unless we were planning on utlizing their free foods alot, but maybe an upgrade to a DTD, pool, or park view.


Have so much fun planning, and if someone on the DIS who knows my DH happens to read this post and wants to send it along to him, please feel free to do so!

 

[csaj]

I have stayed at both Disneyland Hotel and GCH. GCH is newer and updated, however the rooms just seemed smaller. We upgraded to premium views in both hotels. I found a room in the DH tower, facing Downtown Disney on the 8th floor or higher, closer to the hat, had an excelent view. We could see most of DD, the monorail as it came into the station, and had a great view of the fireworks. The only themed room I know of is Mickeys Penthouse, made for the Year of a Million Dreams, much like Cinderella's Suite in WDW Magic Kingdom. They do not rent this suite out as far as I know. I have experienced most of the suggestions 3TinksandanEeyore has made and any one or combination would be great.

 

[aprincess@mail.com]

I have never stayed onsite at DL so I cant give any recommendations, but I can say Congrats!! Your an awesome husband and whatever you choose to do, your special wife will Love it!
I would also suggest dinner at Blue Bayou - very romantic...
Maybe share some chocolate strawberries on Main Street and take in the magic...
Have a great time!

 

[disneyhubby]

thanks for all the tips keep em comin'

 

[Princess Row]

I would reccomend the DLH rather than GCH. We have stayed at both many many times and we much rather prefer DLH. Its cheaper too! Napa rose is downstairs at GCH so that could be a nice romantic touch or blue bayou, maybe even for just dessert. Its disney! The magic is everywhere, what more could you need! :]

 

[disneyhubby]

Just wanted to Bump this to see I anyone else had anymore tips.

Right now I'm thinking of the DLH with a regular room. i am hoping I can get somekind of free upgrade due to our anniversary. I am also looking at some of the gift stuff you can have in your room. But now that I look at it the GCH isn't too much more and it is much closer. But DW loves disney and i think DLH's themeing will be more appropriate.

I am a little comcerned, as I have read reviews that say DLH isn't good for 'Romantic' getaways. Do anyone think one of the other area hotels might be better. i know the Park vue has a Jacuzzi in the room. But does the DLH have good things for anniversary stuff? i mean I know it's just a room, but I want it to be special.

 

[sonnyjane]

If she's a Disney fanatic, stick with DL Hotel. GC is more of a "romantic lodge" type feel, but do what would be romantic for HER, not what is romantic for MOST. I remember I once planned a surprise getaway for my husband in Las Vegas, and booked a ridiculous suite with spa tub thinking he'd be blown away by the splendor of it all... He spent most of the time gambling and the only one that enjoyed the tub was me, said he wasn't a "bath person" lol! Just goes to show you have to cater a trip to the individual, not to the stereotype.

Maybe just look into getting some balloons and champagne or something set up in the room for your anniversary while you're at the park.

 

[clb79]

I was planning a surprise trip for my wife for our 7th Anniversary in Jan. I ended up getting talked into the GCH by a friend who is a former CM at the DLR. I was able to take advantage of the winter AP deal and got a great rate, but in the back of my mind I know I could have booked the DLH at a great rate too!

I have decided to stick with the GCH for 2 reasons:

1st, I was dumb and blew the surprise (my wife found out that I had our airline tickets booked). The GCH seemed like a good way to try to make up for that. Especially since she thinks we are staying on Harbor at one of our regular family hotels (which are cheap and old).

2nd, since staying onsite is way over our current budget for trips even when the rates are really good that a DLH rate that might be doable for a family trip will come up sooner or more frequently than the GCH. The DLH theme would suit our boys (5 and 2) better while they are younger too!

I know your plans will be pretty much set in stone by the time we are there in the middle of January, but I can report back with any special circumstances or hints for the occasion that we learn about or experience!

disneyhubby: (or anyone else) What are your thoughts on dining, that is where I am stuck right now... I am within the 60 day window and can setup my PS now, but I haven't called because I can't make up my mind yet...

 

[wannagoback]

I just want to chime in that while making reservations on the phone, I asked about the character suites. I'm pretty sure that it was over $500/night, and I think it was more like $700. They used to have a link on the website, but I don't see it anymore. You can google Disneyland Hotel Character Quarters and find pictures and articles online.

I think a tour would be a lot of fun! As others have said, it really depends on your wife and her own interests, and on your financial situation as well.

Sounds like fun, I would love it if hubby planned a trip for us to Disneyland, but it's never gonna happen.

 

[clb79]

I just want to chime in that while making reservations on the phone, I asked about the character suites. I'm pretty sure that it was over $500/night, and I think it was more like $700. They used to have a link on the website, but I don't see it anymore. You can google Disneyland Hotel Character Quarters and find pictures and articles online.

I think a tour would be a lot of fun! As others have said, it really depends on your wife and her own interests, and on your financial situation as well.

Sounds like fun, I would love it if hubby planned a trip for us to Disneyland, but it's never gonna happen.

That is one thing to consider when choosing which hotel. If you stay at the DLH for a cheaper rate you could add a tour and still come out about the same total...

 

[Judy from Boise]

your comment about not being able to find info or pictures concerns me....we have a lovely planning section with both! Look at the top of this page, there is a box that says "Disneyland information" click on the DL resort link and voila!