At Disneyland now 10/8- photo links added 10/19 p.2

[rentayenta]

I am sitting in the hotel watching my two youngest sleep. DH took my oldest back into Disneyland to take advantage of the massive amounts of FPs we collected today. Thought I would share my thoughts:

• Hilton Garden Inn is a pit. Like my oldest said: this isn't DVC. It's not a mile away and not a deluxe like the chick at Getawaytoday claimed.
• The Halloween fireworks rival Wishes- amazing!!! If you want viewing tips- just ask.
• Tiki Room rocks my socks- I have missed it so much. Same with Toad, Matterhorn, and IASW. I dig the Subs too.
• Crowd levels are low. The longest we have waited was for TSM today and it was 20 minutes.
• Disneyland looks fabulous for the Fall.
• We have encountered very nice CMs.
• Rope drop at Disneyland is so much easier than at WDW.
• I like HMH better then HM.
• The weather is perfect; mid 70's during the day and sweatshirt weather at night.
• The park food has much to be desired. Guess I am spoiled by the food at WDW.
• I Disneyland more than the Magic Kingdom but love WDW more than the DL resort area if that makes sense. Anaheim is butt ugly. Staying off property is not my favorite.

 

[Stacerita]

I am sitting in the hotel watching my two youngest sleep. DH took my oldest back into Disneyland to take advantage of the massive amounts of FPs we collected today. Thought I would share my thoughts:

• Hilton Garden Inn is a pit. Like my oldest said: this isn't DVC. It's not a mile away and not a deluxe like the chick at Getawaytoday claimed.
• The Halloween fireworks rival Wishes- amazing!!! If you want viewing tips- just ask.
• Tiki Room rocks my socks- I have missed it so much. Same with Toad, Matterhorn, and IASW. I dig the Subs too.
• Crowd levels are low. The longest we have waited was for TSM today and it was 20 minutes.
• Disneyland looks fabulous for the Fall.
• We have encountered very nice CMs.
• Rope drop at Disneyland is so much easier than at WDW.
• I like HMH better then HM.
• The weather is perfect; mid 70's during the day and sweatshirt weather at night.
• The park food has much to be desired. Guess I am spoiled by the food at WDW.
• I Disneyland more than the Magic Kingdom but love WDW more than the DL resort area if that makes sense. Anaheim is butt ugly. Staying off property is not my favorite.

Geez.....Anaheim is not butt ugly. Harbor Blvd in the DLR area is less than special thats for sure. But Anaheim is not ugly. A few blocks up are gorgeous historic homes. Closer to my area are beautiful neighborhoods and lovely parks. The area around the park is for tourist, and not so pretty. But compared to what it looked like years ago.....its a total improvement. Sorry, but Anaheim is not butt ugly. Just sayin.

 

[rentayenta]

Geez.....Anaheim is not butt ugly. Harbor Blvd in the DLR area is less than special thats for sure. But Anaheim is not ugly. A few blocks up are gorgeous historic homes. Closer to my area are beautiful neighborhoods and lovely parks. The area around the park is for tourist, and not so pretty. But compared to what it looked like years ago.....its a total improvement. Sorry, but Anaheim is not butt ugly. Just sayin.

In my opinion the Anaheim/Disneyland resort area is butt ugly. I am from Cypress originally and was VERY familiar with this area and I think the area around Disneyland is ugly, always have. We haven't been to Disneyland in over 4 years and moved from OC over 16 years ago and didn't remember Anaheim being so ick but we usually stay on property. I didn't say YOUR area was ugly or anything personal so I am unsure why it would be taken that way.

 

[DangerMouse]

Glad to hear the parks are treating you and your family well, Jenny. Sorry about the hotel. You shoulda gone HoJo!

 

[rentayenta]

Glad to hear the parks are treating you and your family well, Jenny. Sorry about the hotel. You shoulda gone HoJo!

Totally should have gone HoJo!!!!!! I forgot about the cool pirate pool and it being next to Mimi's. Getawaytoday was booked for HoJo and since we were trying to do it on the cheaper side, I booked with them.


The parks are amazing! Even with the DCA construction, it's a neat park. Of course Disneyland has my heart.

 

[rentayenta]

And Callie, your advice was awesome!!!!! We have spent very little time in line.

 

[roxydotty]

It's just not cool to call someone's hometown "butt ugly." I agree that the area directly around Disneyland is not pretty, but I've seen butt ugly and Anaheim is not.

 

[rentayenta]

It's just not cool to call someone's hometown "butt ugly." I agree that the area directly around Disneyland is not pretty, but I've seen butt ugly and Anaheim is not.

Of all I wrote, that is what is appealing to post about? Why bother? I mention 11 things and the aesthetics, or lack thereof, about Anaheim are the most interesting?


I think it's uncool to bash on someone who is simply posting their opinion on a city, not a person. I mean, really?

And I think we all have the right to determine what is butt ugly to us. To each his own.

 

[Diznygrl]

You should have seen the Anaheim Resort area before they built DCA. WOW was it a dump! It has actually improved greatly, believe it or not.

 

[bumbershoot]

You should have seen the Anaheim Resort area before they built DCA. WOW was it a dump! It has actually improved greatly, believe it or not.

Sounds like she was from the area, so she likely knows.



Thanks for the overview of your trip so far!!!!!

 

[rentayenta]

You should have seen the Anaheim Resort area before they built DCA. WOW was it a dump! It has actually improved greatly, believe it or not.

DCA is a beautiful park and DH's favorite by far.

Sounds like she was from the area, so she likely knows.

Cypress actually but close enough.

Thanks for the overview of your trip so far!!!!!

You're welcome. Disneyland is so intimate and wonderful. I forgot what I was missing. DH is with our oldest DD now and I am hoping he remembers to take photos. I just love all of the fall colors.

 

[imjen]

Sounds like your trip is going great! I'd love your fireworks viewing tips...we're going next week.

 

[debdreamsofdis]

I'm curious why you say the Hilton Garden Inn is a "pit". We were there in Dec '07 and it wasn't bad at all. Did it go downhill that fast?

 

[rentayenta]

Sounds like your trip is going great! I'd love your fireworks viewing tips...we're going next week.

I just tried to type out the area and got confused and I was there last night. I will post a photo once I get home and describe from there. I need the visual.

I'm curious why you say the Hilton Garden Inn is a "pit". We were there in Dec '07 and it wasn't bad at all. Did it go downhill that fast?

My friend is a manager for an HGI in Utah and it's really nice. She and I thought this one would be similar and it's not. For starters, the bathtub has all kinds of rust spots, the tub is all stained brown, the shower has one speed and spray and feels like you being pelted with hail, carpet is dirty as evidenced by filthy socks, the elevators are musty, and the towels are paper thin and hard. The irony is that the staff is super duper nice. Just not my cup of tea. Next time I will either stay the the GCV or use my points for the DLH or PP or HoJo, I trust Callie!






*If anyone works for the HGI, I said the facility is a pit, not the people who work here.

 

[keptwoman]

I love the Tiki Room too! We've all been singing it at random times in the last few days

You know what got me about that area... the trash all along the freeways, it was disgusting!

 

[vettegirl]

Glad to hear the crowds are low. The tiki room at DL is the best, I am going to DW in a few weeks and will be skipping their tiki room. I agree DW resort is better, but there is nothing that beats DL IMO, it's pure magic!

 

[nunzia]

Geez.....Anaheim is not butt ugly. Harbor Blvd in the DLR area is less than special thats for sure. But Anaheim is not ugly. A few blocks up are gorgeous historic homes. Closer to my area are beautiful neighborhoods and lovely parks. The area around the park is for tourist, and not so pretty. But compared to what it looked like years ago.....its a total improvement. Sorry, but Anaheim is not butt ugly. Just sayin.

I have to agree. I hadn't stayed off site and left the Disney bubble since 2001 and was pleasantly surprised at how much nicer the Anaheim area looks now than it did when we used to stay off site. Much better!

(of course I live in Alamogordo, so I know real butt ugly..just saying...)

 

[aprincess@mail.com]

Thanks for the reviews!
Are you guys doing the Halloween Party at DCA?
I want to see some pics!!
I watched the fireworks show on youtube and it was fabulous!!!
Have a great trip!

 

[Jenn1116]

Thanks for sharing! I'm so excited to hear about the weather and crowd levels as I'll be there in 13 days!

 

[PrincessSitka]

Do you have photos