Back from DLP!

[hazel1975]

Hello!
Well we had a fantastic time at DLP and have persuasded miserabl DH to go back again which is a real achievement! He wants to go back in 2008 though rather then next year but I shall work on him!
My 4 year old DS loved it and was all Disneyed out by the end of it.
Like someone else said it was very quiet although the Friday was a lot busier and we had to queue for a ride which had not happened at all the rest of the week.
Went to Buffalo Bills on the Mon, Rainforest Cafe on the Tues, Blue Lagoon on Wed and Annettes Diner on the Thurs - home Friday PM.
Stayed Explorers on the Mon night and then at Newport Bay rest of the week.
Newport Bay was good except it was fully booked due to conferences and we had a room right at the far end of the hotel past the pool which with DS little legs meant a good 10 min walk to reception.

DS loved the parades as I did as well the Lion King show but he slept through the Fireworks which we thought were great although it was very cold!
Breakfast with characters was a big hit as we found it quite stressful pushing him forward to get autographs around the park - need him to toughen up for next time!

Although we saw the Xmas Parade was very sad to have missed Xmas - for some reason we thought it was starting on the 10th so would see some but it started on the 11th - shall have to go back and see it next time then.

All in all we had a fab time and am grateful for all the hints and advice I picked up from the posts on here.

Hazel

 

[Booknut]

Glad you had a lovely time! We are thinking of staying at the Newport Bay but don't like the idea of a 10 minute hike to reception! Perhaps if we stay at the Admiral's Club we can get a room closer to reception.

Did you walk to the parks each day or did you take a shuttle bus? Were they plentiful?

Eloise

 

[Bexx]

Glad you had fun Hazel!! I can imagine that the walk to your room in the NPB was pretty gruelling at the end of the day - that hotel is very spread out!

Eloise, I'm sure I've read that the Admiral's Floor rooms are supposed to be nearer to reception etc. You could always make the request when you book anyway.

Breakfast with characters was a big hit as we found it quite stressful pushing him forward to get autographs around the park - need him to toughen up for next time!

I hadn't thought about this, but is it okay to get autographs during a character meal? Or is it just a photo opportunity?

 

[luke]

Did you walk to the parks each day or did you take a shuttle bus? Were they plentiful?

Every time we have stayed at Newport Bay (and any other hotel actually - admittedly we dont have kids so tired legs aren't so much of a problem) we have walked, you walk around the opposite side of the lake to the other hotels, which is a nice change.

Buses are usually pretty plentiful and easy to get, except at "rush hour" times, when you need to fight your way on usually

 

[Ware Bears]

Glad you had a great time Hazel!

I hadn't thought about this, but is it okay to get autographs during a character meal? Or is it just a photo opportunity?

It's fine to get their autographs at the meals. It's the only place my DDs generally bother to get them, although sometimes we have to hide their books if they already have the character's autograph because we don't want to hurt their feelings!

 

[jillrobinson]

Glad you had a good time Hazel, I have a miserable DH too, so I've told him he can stay home and look after the animals next time, might even be able to squeeze an extra night out of the savings for me and the boys.

We stayed Admiral's Floor and our room was very close to the lifts, I believe they're all on Floor 7 and all in the main building not off to the sides.
We walked back and for with a 3year old, it's a very pleasant walk to the NPB or for a fee you can take the "Mini Train".

I only waited once for a shuttle bus to the NPB and to be honest I could've walked it twice in the time I waited, this was the only time we've had a long wait for a bus though at the Cheyenne and Santa Fe they've always been very quick arriving although always very busy too.

Almost all our autographs have come from character meals too, if you don't have pushy kids, it's almost impossible to get them in the parks, no matter how many times I explain to my boys that many of the characters can't see them if they're standing to the side or towards the back, they still seem to end up there.

 

[Cyrano]

Sounds like a great trip. I'm sure a few copies of the DLP brochure scattered around the house may help DH

 

[hazel1975]

Hello - sorry for delayed response!
We asked about upgrading to the Admirals Deck but it wasnt within our budget but I would def look at that next time.
The long walk was our only gripe really. We did get the Minnie Train once but the walk was not long to the village around the lake.

In DS autograph book we have got some of the characters twice as he didnt want to hurt their feelings at the breakfast too!

Am going to start a secret savings account for Christmas Disney 2007 - cant wait for 2 years to go back!

Hazel