Back from DL and stay at CCI

[mermaidwannabe]

Well, I'm not exactly home yet, we are in San Diego, but sadly our Disney portion is over. We stayed at CCI for four nights in a premium room, and I am now a CCI convert. Stayed at HOJOs twice, and they were both great, but the shuttle is WONDERFUL!! Always on time, we only had to stand once. And the delivered continental breakfast was a real time saver for us. The location was great too as we popped over to Subway a few times.

We never waited more than 20 minutes for rides, which was great. Of course, we were there at RD, utilized FPs, collected them to use when we came back at night. Getting a Star Tours FP was a bit nerve wracking as the machines didn't start doling them out until 8:10AM last Friday as there were technical difficulties, but that wasn't too long to wait. We saw Ariel, which even my DD14 liked. Got to ride Goofy's Sky School as a Sneak Preview! We all started pin trading with CMs which became somewhat of an addiction, lol. We used the lighttower trick for Fantasmic! so thank you for that! AND, our favorite thing without a doubt - WofC!!! We did get behind the yellow fire hydrant. LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!!!! Oh, and another new thing for us, which was good but at the same time not as far as my waist line goes, is GIBSON GIRL. Good Lord, we went every night. I really like that place though. Seems like a small town resort thing for us to go there.

Anyways, if anyone has questions about wait times, CCI, or anything, ask away!!

 

[disneydreamer74]

Glad to hear you had a magical time at DLR!!! And hope you enjoy SD..who wouldn't? I am curious, what is the walk time to DLR from CCI?

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thanks! We are definitely recovering from our go go go pace. We used the shuttle every time but once even though we had planned to only use it for afternoon breaks, lol. It took us about ten minutes to walk back while eating Gibson Girl at the end of the night after Fantasmic. My DH just said he thought it was about fifteen minutes from walking out of the exit tent.

 

[ssuriano]

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip, glad to hear!

 

[PinkBudgie]

We'll be back for our third stay at CCI soon. So glad you enjoyed it! We have taken the shuttle a few times but we usually just walk on our own time. It is nice to know it is there if we feel like it though.

So do you suggest getting a ST FP first thing at opening, or riding first, then getting a FP? How were the lines at Mermaid?

 

[Caseystigger]

Glad to hear you had such a good time. Now I want ice cream

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thank you, ssuriano!

We'll be back for our third stay at CCI soon. So glad you enjoyed it! We have taken the shuttle a few times but we usually just walk on our own time. It is nice to know it is there if we feel like it though.

So do you suggest getting a ST FP first thing at opening, or riding first, then getting a FP? How were the lines at Mermaid?

I definitely suggest getting the ST FP first thing!!! The FP line really built up fast, and I booked it over there, not stopping for pictures or anything. I was probably the 20th person in the FP line. Plus, our return time was at 9:20. We actually did use it by 9:40AM since we thought other people probably get them and use the FP after their return time, so we thought the wait in the FP line would be shortest doing it that way, if that makes sense. The days the So Ca passholders could come in (Sunday and Monday) we didn't even attempt to get another FP to ride it again because it was crazy packed. The standby time was 110 minutes after we rode Space on the Sunday morning (probably about 8:40AM??) and on Monday it was 55 minutes around the same time.

 

[PinkBudgie]

That makes sense to use the FPs then. Besides I probably couldn't wait anyway, I'm excited to ride it.

We planned our trip in July so that the Socal APs would be blocked. We went one trip that spanned unblocked and blocked, and the difference was like night and day.

 

[1disneynutt]

Hi, did you just get a FP for WOC or did you do one of the other options. Where is the yellow fire hydrant located at? We are going in Dec. and am looking forward to seeing WOC.

 

[DISNEYNY]

Glad you had a great time!! I'm new to DL - tell me about the lighttower for Fantasmic. TIA

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Hi, did you just get a FP for WOC or did you do one of the other options. Where is the yellow fire hydrant located at? We are going in Dec. and am looking forward to seeing WOC.

There is a WofC thread that I got the info from. There are actual pictures which I printed out, but it's at the very back of the viewing area in Blue, so you do have to get over to the FP machines which are located at the GRR area at 9:30 when they let you in to get the blue section. Not sure what section you would get if you got the picnic lunch? And the preferred areas for the dinner dining option did look good. We were looking right at the Mickey Fun Wheel where we stood at a railing right behind the yellow fire hydrant. Let me know if you don't find the thread and I'll try to find it.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Glad you had a great time!! I'm new to DL - tell me about the lighttower for Fantasmic. TIA

There's a whole thread on this, and I'll try to find it if you can't. I put all this in my itinerary months ago. Maybe someone will chime in with the thread title. There are 3 light towers for the fantasmic show. The middle one stays down until 10 minutes before the show, when it goes up and gives you a fairly good view. People don't stand there unless they know about it because it looks like you won't be able to see anything. We still had to get the spot 45 minutes before the show as there were some other people standing there too. The thread has pictures of it that I put into my itinerary so it's easier to see. I thought it was a good spot because you are at a rail. If I learned anything, it's get by a rail for any show!!

 

[Daisybelle]

So glad to hear your trip went so well! We're headed to CCI in 11 days! Thanks for the fire hydrant tip! I read about that in someone's trip report last night too, sounds like a good plan!

 

[AustinTink]

So glad to hear your trip went so well! We're headed to CCI in 11 days! Thanks for the fire hydrant tip! I read about that in someone's trip report last night too, sounds like a good plan!

We'll be there too!! 12 more days!

 

[Daisybelle]

We'll be there too!! 12 more days!

I can hardly stand the wait at this point! I want to go to there!
If you see two short redheads, that'll be me and my daughter!

 

[Hound 109]

Great recap.

I'm also a CCI fan. Wannabe......was the smaller pool at CCI an issue for your group?

Did you take the "first" shuttle in the morning (to DL)? If so, what time did it drop you off at security? (the two times i stayed, we decided to walk to security/turnstiles because it wouldn't get us there till :40 (& i wanted to be there at :20).

Isn't the shuttle GREAT for mid day rests?

& How much more would you pay for a room at the CCI (biggest bennies being the shuttle & the free b'fast) than at Hojos? I'd probably pay $35 per night more. Curious what others who've stayed at both would do.

Thanks again.

 

[AustinTink]

I can hardly stand the wait at this point! I want to go to there!
If you see two short redheads, that'll be me and my daughter!

My favorite Liz Lemon quote!!

I'll keep an eye out for ya. I have my lime green mickey head! Maybe we'll see you in the breakfast room!

 

[PinkBudgie]

11 more days for us! If we all wear our LGMHs to breakfast it could be like one big Dis Meet.

We did the light tower trick last summer for the 1st showing and got there about 15 min before show time. There were some children at the rail in front of us. As soon as the tower went up, the crowd filled in behind us.

 

[skiingfast]

And the delivered continental breakfast was a real time saver for us.

What came in your breakfast?

That is great you were there for the soft open of GSS.

 

[AustinTink]

11 more days for us! If we all wear our LGMHs to breakfast it could be like one big Dis Meet.

YAY!