April 2010 ABD Backstage Magic : California Here We Come!!!

[TheTXTaylors5]

Has anyone used the Disneyland Passporter? I need to brush up on Disneyland and was thinking about ordering it.

I love my WDW and DCL Passporter books. I can't wait to get my hands on a 2009 Disneyland Passporter. At this time, the 2006 version is all that is available. The 2009 version is MIA ...

From Passporter site (02/08):
PassPorter's Disneyland Guidebook News
We'd originally wanted to bring a new edition of PassPorter's Disneyland Resort & S. California Attractions out early this year, but we decided it was better for us and our readership in general if we brought a 2009 edition out this summer. That's the same time that the top 2 Disneyland guidebooks and when everyone else seems to expect ours, so we're going to try that this time around. Thus, we're projecting an August 2008 release date. Pre-orders will open sometime this spring, and we will make advance chapters available as downloads to all who pre-order through us.

sad2: They never did come out with the book back in 2008.)

I then read a January 28, 2009 release date. So, I tried to get the Passporter Disneyland and S. California 2009 back in March for our DLR trip. I searched like mad at every bookstore in the area. No Disneyland Passporter to be found. One of the clerks at Borders checked on her computer and the new release date was Spring 2009. But, that date was pushed out due to problems with the publisher (or at least that is the rumor going around.) Jennifer Marx mentioned on a thread on their website "the release date should be later this year". That sounds pretty vague to me. They might as well change it to a 2010 version. IMO

Keep checking back at the Passporter website HERE for any updates. I plan to purchase it too.

I ended up getting the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2009 for our trip this past March. I know a lot of people rave about these books. Personally, it was NOT for me. I didn't like the format or little comments. I am use to the colorful pictures found in the Passporter books. I'm a visual person. I DID subscribe to Ridemax per Pete's rave reviews. This also was NOT for me or my family. I love to plan our Disney trips. I find it fun. But, the Ridemax itinerary was down to the minute and had us zigzagging around the parks. I am sure it is easy to do with one person, maybe two. But, not a family of five.

Jennifer

(If anyone has any updates on the 2009 Disneyland Passporter, please let me know. Thanks! )

 

[Tonya2426]

Guess I will have to wait to get a DL Passporter - good thing the trip isn't until next year.

 

[tickledtink33]

I love my WDW and DCL Passporter books. I can't wait to get my hands on a 2009 Disneyland Passporter. At this time, the 2006 version is all that is available. The 2009 version is MIA ...

From Passporter site (02/08):
PassPorter's Disneyland Guidebook News
We'd originally wanted to bring a new edition of PassPorter's Disneyland Resort & S. California Attractions out early this year, but we decided it was better for us and our readership in general if we brought a 2009 edition out this summer. That's the same time that the top 2 Disneyland guidebooks and when everyone else seems to expect ours, so we're going to try that this time around. Thus, we're projecting an August 2008 release date. Pre-orders will open sometime this spring, and we will make advance chapters available as downloads to all who pre-order through us.

sad2: They never did come out with the book back in 2008.)

I then read a January 28, 2009 release date. So, I tried to get the Passporter Disneyland and S. California 2009 back in March for our DLR trip. I searched like mad at every bookstore in the area. No Disneyland Passporter to be found. One of the clerks at Borders checked on her computer and the new release date was Spring 2009. But, that date was pushed out due to problems with the publisher (or at least that is the rumor going around.) Jennifer Marx mentioned on a thread on their website "the release date should be later this year". That sounds pretty vague to me. They might as well change it to a 2010 version. IMO

Keep checking back at the Passporter website HERE for any updates. I plan to purchase it too.

I ended up getting the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2009 for our trip this past March. I know a lot of people rave about these books. Personally, it was NOT for me. I didn't like the format or little comments. I am use to the colorful pictures found in the Passporter books. I'm a visual person. I DID subscribe to Ridemax per Pete's rave reviews. This also was NOT for me or my family. I love to plan our Disney trips. I find it fun. But, the Ridemax itinerary was down to the minute and had us zigzagging around the parks. I am sure it is easy to do with one person, maybe two. But, not a family of five.

Jennifer

(If anyone has any updates on the 2009 Disneyland Passporter, please let me know. Thanks! )

Just a comment about ridemax. If you change the touring plan in options from normal to slow it doesn't do as much bouncing from one end of the park to the other. The normal touring plan has you jumping all over the place. The slow touring plan does not do this and is better for families with younger children and larger groups. I just spent a good part of this weekend playing with ridemax for DL. Pete told me personally to try it so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm not very familiar with DL so what the heck. We will see how it works out when I am there Next week. I will be traveling alone so I am going to do the normal zig zag around the park plan. I did notice that ridemax has me touring totally different than the way I usually do it. I usually do the headliner attractions that develope the longest lines first. Ridemax has me doing non headliner attractions first while gathering fastpasses for the headliner attractions to be used late in the day, as the parks accept them anytime after their initial valid start time. I can't wait to see how well this works.

 

[miss missy]

Hi all -

I'll be traveling solo on this trip, but am so looking forward to getting to know you all! I can't believe we have to wait another 10 and a half months....



All the best! Lynne

Welcome to the mad house ! Yes this is going to be one great time!!

 

[stenogoddess]

Anna: Thanks! This is just what I needed.

Kim: Report back on Ridemax, please. I'm very curious to see how well it works for you. I usually do the headliners first thing, too, so will be interested in the results.

And as a cute aside, did y'all see this on Facebook about Pixar Easter Eggs today. I thought it was very neat/cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5hI1du-sHQ

 

[Dodie]

Have I mentioned lately how incredibly EXCITED I am about this trip? It may not appear so since I have a shameful number of upcoming trips listed in my signature, but I can barely contain myself about THIS trip.

 

[kab407]

Have I mentioned lately how incredibly EXCITED I am about this trip? It may not appear so since I have a shameful number of upcoming trips listed in my signature, but I can barely contain myself about THIS trip.

Dodie, I would have had absolutely no idea!!!!

(Miss-Dance-Around-The-Kitchen-When-I-Got-The-Confirmation-From-Kevin.)

 

[stenogoddess]

Dodi: I'm right there with you. I feel like I'm going to fly out of my skin. And, you know, nobody wants to see that!

 

[corky441]

I'm with you on that Dodie...

I'm been planning so many different scenarios for this trip already. I'll be exhausted before I get there

Right now I'm toying with flying out Long Beach on Saturday and staying in Huntington Beach. I figure I'll leave that day as a get adjusted to the time difference day and do some quality R&R. Then doing the San Diego Wild Animal Park either Sun or Mon, and then on the other day doing a drive up the Pacific Coast highway to as far as we can get before having to turn around and go back. If anyone is interested there is a great site http://milebymile.com
search for California highway #1 - it really gives you a mile by mile travel guide for the entire highway - awesome

On tuesday morning then - I just have to figure out how & where to dump the rental car and get over to the Renaissance Hotel.

Planning trips is half the fun

 

[spokanemom]

On tuesday morning then - I just have to figure out how & where to dump the rental car and get over to the Renaissance Hotel.

I have been thinking of how to deal with this too. What about returning at LAX where ABD will pick us up in the town car? Just tell them you are coming in on a flight when you want to return the car. That is possibly my plan. Thoughts on why it would/would not work?

 

[tmli]

There really should be no reason this can't work. I think it would be the simplest way to return the car.

 

[corky441]

I have been thinking of how to deal with this too. What about returning at LAX where ABD will pick us up in the town car? Just tell them you are coming in on a flight when you want to return the car. That is possibly my plan. Thoughts on why it would/would not work?

You are a lifesaver !!!!!!!!!!!!! A perfect plan - thank you

Take the car to LAX - drop car - take luggage to baggage claim area of "fictious" arriving airplane - find ABD driver waiting for us - and AWAY WE GO !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[katscradle]

I know! I'm almost embarrassed at the sight of all of those countdowns, but very excited to have added DIS-A-PALOOZA to the mix. I've never done a solo trip, but Phillip told me to go for it, since I have more vacation than he does.

Tell Phillip we are going to miss him in December.
If he changes his mind, he knows where we are!

 

[katscradle]

I love my WDW and DCL Passporter books. I can't wait to get my hands on a 2009 Disneyland Passporter. At this time, the 2006 version is all that is available. The 2009 version is MIA ...

From Passporter site (02/08):
PassPorter's Disneyland Guidebook News
We'd originally wanted to bring a new edition of PassPorter's Disneyland Resort & S. California Attractions out early this year, but we decided it was better for us and our readership in general if we brought a 2009 edition out this summer. That's the same time that the top 2 Disneyland guidebooks and when everyone else seems to expect ours, so we're going to try that this time around. Thus, we're projecting an August 2008 release date. Pre-orders will open sometime this spring, and we will make advance chapters available as downloads to all who pre-order through us.

sad2: They never did come out with the book back in 2008.)

I then read a January 28, 2009 release date. So, I tried to get the Passporter Disneyland and S. California 2009 back in March for our DLR trip. I searched like mad at every bookstore in the area. No Disneyland Passporter to be found. One of the clerks at Borders checked on her computer and the new release date was Spring 2009. But, that date was pushed out due to problems with the publisher (or at least that is the rumor going around.) Jennifer Marx mentioned on a thread on their website "the release date should be later this year". That sounds pretty vague to me. They might as well change it to a 2010 version. IMO

Keep checking back at the Passporter website HERE for any updates. I plan to purchase it too.

I ended up getting the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2009 for our trip this past March. I know a lot of people rave about these books. Personally, it was NOT for me. I didn't like the format or little comments. I am use to the colorful pictures found in the Passporter books. I'm a visual person. I DID subscribe to Ridemax per Pete's rave reviews. This also was NOT for me or my family. I love to plan our Disney trips. I find it fun. But, the Ridemax itinerary was down to the minute and had us zigzagging around the parks. I am sure it is easy to do with one person, maybe two. But, not a family of five.

Jennifer

(If anyone has any updates on the 2009 Disneyland Passporter, please let me know. Thanks! )

We are a family with 2 boy's 6 & 11 years old. We printed off a slow version and a normal version. We then went by the slow one, and added some of the other rides and shows that were on the normal one as we came across them. This way we were not running all over the park. I found that the wait times were correct down to the minutes listed.
We had a great time with this in the parks on our last trip.
If you have any questions about the way we worked this you can pm
3guysandagal.

 

[kab407]

Tell Phillip we are going to miss him in December.
If he changes his mind, he knows where we are!

That would be France???

 

[Tonya2426]

That would be France???

Don't forget Italy. I think the next DATW should just be between France and Italy and back again, a few times.

 

[kab407]

Don't forget Italy. I think the next DATW should just be between France and Italy and back again, a few times.

As long as we avoid Norway.

 

[Tonya2426]

As long as we avoid Norway.

For George's sake, we'll also avoid Norway and margaritas in Mexico. (Or there may be Senorita Jorge next time.)

 

[corky441]

I've been reviewing the ABD itinerary sheet and it would appear that while we do have "free" time at the Disneyland parks, it is after lunch 2 days and one evening, plus we get special fast passes to use. I really don't think it's worth the $ to do RideMax for our type of trip.

I would like to get the Passporter though - if a new edition ever comes out

 

[spokanemom]

I've been reviewing the ABD itinerary sheet and it would appear that while we do have "free" time at the Disneyland parks, it is after lunch 2 days and one evening, plus we get special fast passes to use. I really don't think it's worth the $ to do RideMax for our type of trip.

I would like to get the Passporter though - if a new edition ever comes out

All of the information you can easily get here, so it is just a matter if 1-it actually comes out in the next 10 months, or 2-if you want the pockets & maps and want to spend the money to have it all printed in one place. I have extra DL maps from last year (I got to go 4 times last year!!) and I will share if you would like.

That last day of the tour, I think I will try to get the latest flight home that I can. I am only in Wa, so the flights don't take all day. The trip to SNA is only about 20 minutes, so I would have time in the parks Sunday. Any more time that I can spend in Disneyland is time well spent!