April 2011 Check-In

[Halloweenqueen]

See that's what I'm wondering. I know my 9 yr old would like the Character Meal. I'm not sure if he would admit it and actually have fun with it in front of his older stepbrothers (12 and 14 yrs) if they weren't into it. I figured if we did one we'd do Goofy's or Surfs Up so that it's buffet and it's not "girly." But I think if we asked the older kids to play along for the little one's benefit they would do it. At least I'm pretty sure my 12 yr old would. The only time we have to squeeze it in is on Sunday the 17th when we arrive in Anaheim after driving from San Diego. I guess I better make up my mind soon because I need to call for reservations (and hope they don't fill up as fast as WDW, do they?)

No problems with making PS. None of that ADR craziness. I remember the days of getting up at 3am, checking my atomic clock, etc. We have even called the same day and had availability.

Can I suggest Minnies? It's in the Plaza Inn inside the park. The restaurant looks a lot like Crystal Palace. It's on the hub too. We go on a MM morning opening when we don't have MM access. This way we get in early and enjoy an empty Main Street. It is a buffet. Standard Disney breakfast fare...mickey waffles, french toast, etc. The biggest draw to Minnie's is the character interaction. We have seen at least 12 different characters during our breakfast there. Yes, Minnie is there, but so is Tigger, Pooh, Eeyore, Chip, Dale, Goofy, Pluto, Captain Hook, Brer Fox, Fairy Godmother, Rafiki, etc. The characters are not too girly. We just love the relaxing atmosphere there. The characters are never rushed and we often have more than one visit at one time.

We have been to Goofys, not Surf's Up. We liked the food at Goofy's. We went during brunch time and they had salads, and pizza, etc. I don't find the food as good as WDW. We were not pleased with our character interaction either.

 

[PirateFitz]

Hello DH and I will be staying at HOJO April 3-7 for our 13 year anniversary first trip with out our kids so it will be strange but fun.

 

[babyruth]

No problems with making PS. None of that ADR craziness. I remember the days of getting up at 3am, checking my atomic clock, etc. We have even called the same day and had availability.

Can I suggest Minnies? It's in the Plaza Inn inside the park. The restaurant looks a lot like Crystal Palace. It's on the hub too. We go on a MM morning opening when we don't have MM access. This way we get in early and enjoy an empty Main Street. It is a buffet. Standard Disney breakfast fare...mickey waffles, french toast, etc. The biggest draw to Minnie's is the character interaction. We have seen at least 12 different characters during our breakfast there. Yes, Minnie is there, but so is Tigger, Pooh, Eeyore, Chip, Dale, Goofy, Pluto, Captain Hook, Brer Fox, Fairy Godmother, Rafiki, etc. The characters are not too girly. We just love the relaxing atmosphere there. The characters are never rushed and we often have more than one visit at one time.

We have been to Goofys, not Surf's Up. We liked the food at Goofy's. We either.

hmm I hadn't thought about Minnie's I will look into it. Do you think it would work out as nicely later in the day? Do they serve until afternoon? I think we need a 12:30-1ish reservation.

 

[marlana323]

hmm I hadn't thought about Minnie's I will look into it. Do you think it would work out as nicely later in the day? Do they serve until afternoon? I think we need a 12:30-1ish reservation.

When I made our reservations for Minnie's I believe she said that the characters leave at 11:00...so I ended making ours earlier.

 

[babyruth]

Well I booked two meals, the Big Thunder BBQ for lunch Tuesday and Goofy's Kitchen for brunch on Sunday. After all the careful consideration I did I wanted Surf's Up breakfast but couldn't get a late enough time to make sure we would get there. Their last booking on a Sunday morning guaranteeing characters is 11am. The CM said the Characters leave by noon at Surfs Up and with the mornign drive I wanted a noon reservation, so we had to go with Goofy's. I didn't order the travel vouchers from Get Away Today for the Character Meal but I am still thinking about it. I will have to do the math and see if it's worth it.

 

[marlana323]

Well I booked two meals, the Big Thunder BBQ for lunch Tuesday and Goofy's Kitchen for brunch on Sunday. After all the careful consideration I did I wanted Surf's Up breakfast but couldn't get a late enough time to make sure we would get there. Their last booking on a Sunday morning guaranteeing characters is 11am. The CM said the Characters leave by noon at Surfs Up and with the mornign drive I wanted a noon reservation, so we had to go with Goofy's. I didn't order the travel vouchers from Get Away Today for the Character Meal but I am still thinking about it. I will have to do the math and see if it's worth it.

I've looked at the travel vouchers from Get Away Today too but wasn't sure if it was worth getting before hand. I couldn't tell and posed a question a while ago on it and someone said it didn't make too much of difference and some said it did.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

There is little money savings with vouchers. I don't think the savings are worth the risk. I would rather pay cash, just in case something comes up and I have to cancel. imho


Just got a call from vacation planning. We have our tickets for F! dessert seating! I just wish they assigned seats, first come, first serve and eliminate the need to line up for seat assignments. Oh well....can't wait!

 

[marlana323]

There is little money savings with vouchers. I don't think the savings are worth the risk. I would rather pay cash, just in case something comes up and I have to cancel. imho


Just got a call from vacation planning. We have our tickets for F! dessert seating! I just wish they assigned seats, first come, first serve and eliminate the need to line up for seat assignments. Oh well....can't wait!

Thanks - I think I'll forget about the vouchers and just pay there.

Ya for F! dessert - that will be fun.

 

[babyruth]

There is little money savings with vouchers. I don't think the savings are worth the risk. I would rather pay cash, just in case something comes up and I have to cancel. imho


Just got a call from vacation planning. We have our tickets for F! dessert seating! I just wish they assigned seats, first come, first serve and eliminate the need to line up for seat assignments. Oh well....can't wait!

Good point! I hadn't thought of the cancellation thing but just in case, I think I will skip the vouchers too.

 

[Lorinda]

We rented a house for the last week of April.

Did anyone notice there is no fantasmic listed the last week
Also unlike the week before DL hours are 9 am- 11 pm instead of 8-12. What the heck?

 

[djk]

We will be there April 24-28 (in the parks 4/25-4/27).

Did anyone notice there is no fantasmic listed the last week
Also unlike the week before DL hours are 9 am- 11 pm instead of 8-12. What the heck?

I, too, was sad to see there was no Fantasmic! scheduled. I think that's the nighttime show my kids would have enjoyed most. BUT, I am hoping that the change in hours and entertainment offerings from the previous week might be an indication that Disney is anticipating the crowds may be a little smaller than the previous several weeks. We can hope, right?

 

[Lorinda]

There is one fatasmic show listed during the time we will be in the parks and that is Easter Sunday. That is going to be one crowded night as anyone who has a similar stay as ours is going to make it a point to see it that night

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Ok, Touring Plans and Is it Packed have the April calendars out. These dates are public, I don't have a subscription to either, so they are available to everyone. I don't see anything wrong with copy/pasting the TP crowd calendar here. Mods, please let me know if I overstepped.

Date / Crowd Index/ DL/ DCA/ AP blocks



Mon, April 4, 2011 9 out of 10 8.7 7.7
Tue, April 5, 2011 8 out of 10 8.2 7.7
Wed, April 6, 2011 8 out of 10 7.6 7.6
Thu, April 7, 2011 8 out of 10 8.2 7.5
Fri, April 8, 2011 8 out of 10 7.9 8.1 SL
Sat, April 9, 2011 10 out of 10 9.1 8.9 SL SC DX
Sun, April 10, 2011 8 out of 10 7.5 8.0 SL
Mon, April 11, 2011 9 out of 10 7.4 8.8
Tue, April 12, 2011 8 out of 10 7.2 8.8
Wed, April 13, 2011 8 out of 10 7.3 8.8
Thu, April 14, 2011 8 out of 10 7.2 8.8
Fri, April 15, 2011 9 out of 10 7.2 9.2 SL
Sat, April 16, 2011 10 out of 10 8.9 9.6 SL SC DX
Sun, April 17, 2011 9 out of 10 8.2 9.4 SL SC
Mon, April 18, 2011 10 out of 10 8.6 9.4 SL SC
Tue, April 19, 2011 9 out of 10 8.1 9.4 SL SC
Wed, April 20, 2011 10 out of 10 9.8 9.9 SL SC
Thu, April 21, 2011 10 out of 10 9.4 9.9 SL SC
Fri, April 22, 2011 10 out of 10 9.6 10.0 SL SC DX Good Friday
Sat, April 23, 2011 10 out of 10 9.4 10.0 SL SC DX
Sun, April 24, 2011 10 out of 10 9.3 9.9 SL SC Easter Sunday
Mon, April 25, 2011 10 out of 10 8.8 9.9 SL SC Easter Monday
Tue, April 26, 2011 10 out of 10 9.4 9.9 SL SC
Wed, April 27, 2011 10 out of 10 9.8 10.0 SL SC Spring Break Season Ends
Thu, April 28, 2011 5 out of 10 4.0 4.9 SL SC
Fri, April 29, 2011 7 out of 10 6.6 5.7 SL SC
Sat, April 30, 2011 7 out of 10 6.3 5.4 SL SC DX

 

[Halloweenqueen]

It's easier just to give the link to the April calendar at Is it Packed...

http://www.isitpacked.com/disneyland-crowd-forecast-predictor-calendar/

 

[marlana323]

It's easier just to give the link to the April calendar at Is it Packed...

http://www.isitpacked.com/disneyland-crowd-forecast-predictor-calendar/

Wow, it is going to be busy. Here I was hoping the beginning of the month would be less busy

 

[babyruth]

I had never heard of isitpacked thanks for the link. I have used Touring Plans in the past they were very accurate for WDW. Not that 9s are much different than 10s but I am glad to see our Sunday and Tuesday are at 9s instead of 10s. Every little bit helps!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Okay Jazz, add me for another trip to DL this month on April 8 to 10. I will be staying at the BW Anaheim Inn. The reason I am going down there is for the YU-GI-OH Championship Series Tournament that is at the Anaheim Convention Center.

 

[Belle Ella]

I just went through and updated everyone onto the list in the OP. I will try and get ride closures and events listed at some point today. Has anyone discussed any mini meets?

hmm I hadn't thought about Minnie's I will look into it. Do you think it would work out as nicely later in the day? Do they serve until afternoon? I think we need a 12:30-1ish reservation.

I think someone else might have mentioned it, but Minnie's character meal doesn't last that long unfortunately. The Plaza Inn opens for regular counter service for lunch at noon.

 

[rebecca1176]

Just booked our very first trip to DL yesterday!

We'll be there (eek) Easter weekend 4/23 - 4/26. Crossing my fingers that isitpacked is wrong. I had no problems finding vacancies at numerous hotels for that time period, but couldn't find much for the last week of March through early April (our Spring Break). Hmmmm....

Any tips/pointers/recommendations would be great. I'm lost and overwhelmed! We have 3 girls 12, 9 1/2, & 7 & a semi-disabled mom.

Can we post our email addy's on here??

 

[marlana323]

Just booked our very first trip to DL yesterday!

We'll be there (eek) Easter weekend 4/23 - 4/26. Crossing my fingers that isitpacked is wrong. I had no problems finding vacancies at numerous hotels for that time period, but couldn't find much for the last week of March through early April (our Spring Break). Hmmmm....

Any tips/pointers/recommendations would be great. I'm lost and overwhelmed! We have 3 girls 12, 9 1/2, & 7 & a semi-disabled mom.

Can we post our email addy's on here??

Hi Rebecca,

It's our first trip so I'm by no means an expert but I've been reading the info on this site for months and read the guidebooks so if you have any questions I can try to be of help otherwise everyone on these boards are extremely helpful!

We are going the beginning of April. With a 4 and 5 year old and staying at the GCH. Where are you guys staying? Are you doing any character meals?