farmfresh2
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2021
- Messages
- 113
Spent a big birthday at Dl with husband, daughter, and friend, all dedicated DL fans. We arrived Sunday June 15, and stayed through to Friday 20th. It was a practically perfect in every way trip. We stayed at the GC, did EE Monday and Thursday (Tuesday, to celebrate, we had a plaid for the day). Caught up on sleep and swimming Wednesday. So here's a round up of how it went:
Grand Californian
Comfortable, convenient stay here once again. We had requested partial park view rooms. We were on the fourth floor, overlooking Goofy's Sky School. Super convenient lift access, right by the fitness centre and the rear pool entrance. Quick to DCA entrance, a little further to DTD, but no endless corridors to negotiate.
We really enjoyed the pool area this time, although finding shade is always a bit problematic, and there were a lot of seats draped in towels with no sign of occupants. Apparently the pool staff will clear these off after 45mins, but never saw that in action. It must be hard to police, but it would sure help if guests knew about, and stuck to, that rule.
I also took the DCA power walk on Tuesday morning. Loved seeing the park wake up.
VIP tour
We had an excellent guide, Alicia, who really knew how to organise the day to get the most from it. And she often stepped in to help other cast members when ride lines or LL lines were muddled (this seemed to happen a lot on this trip - groups often missed that there was more than one place to scan, especially in places like SW, where the LL is newer). We toured DL first, when she surprised us with a short private visit with Mickey, then crossed over to DCA. Spoiler alert: It was quite hot, so toward the middle of the afternoon tour she introduced us to the Oasis, a new addition to the VIP tour (only in DCA). Just across from the Vineyard, this space has outdoor seating, misting fans, umbrellas and treats like Mickey ice creams, smart water, and snacks. We really appreciated a cool and quiet place to sit for 20 minutes or so. Two of our team weren't so keen on Guardians, so they waited there while the tour guide took the remaining two on that ride.
As part of the VIP tour, you can arrange seating for parades, and meals. We went for dinner at BB, followed by PTN sets, then fireworks, then the late F! show. BB was somewhat underwhelming. My gumbo was lukewarm, and the staff were quite lacklustre. I think Disney could do better there. But couldn't fault the seating for the parades etc. We sat just to the right (facing the castle which gave us a great view of the parade and the fireworks. Our guide had advised us to arrive right around 8 to be seated as there were a large number of tour groups out. She was right : late groups did find it hard to be seated together (and one group, arriving just a few minutes before the show, were pretty vocal...then unreasonable.... about that!) We mobile-ordered ice cream and watched the world go by until the parade began. Enjoyed PTN, and the fireworks. F! afterwards was also great (The same can'tbe said for the late WOC on Thursday....)
So would highly recommend the tour, as a special celebration.
Second WOC show dessert party
Booked this for our last night. We have done these before over the years and really enjoyed them. However, as others on the boards have noted, the second dessert party is really short on time. We checked in via the app, and joined a very long queue by the water wheel at Grizzly at the appointed time. Eventually we were led over, about 20 minutes before show time. Our high top table had a great view; in fact, all the tables looked great. The dessert boxes were handed out, and one drink order taken. Then it all fell apart. Despite a multitude of servers assuring us it was coming, my husband's vegetarian (not an allergy, Disney!) dessert box did not arrive (weirdly for a dessert box there are charcuterie meats). No one came to take any further drink orders, despite the 'unlimited drinks' offered. At the close of the evening we told the servers we were still waiting for his dessert box. Eventually we were told they had brought it, but didn't want to interrupt the show to deliver it. That was odd, because I had got up and asked them for it during the show.We ended up following up with the manager politely He went above and beyond, comping us for the evening. But it seems to us that, apart from the missing box problem, there is just no way they can really live up the the promise of multiple beverages - tea in our case !- given the time constraints.
The show itself was also a bit meh. Brilliant technically of course, but a bit flat as far as emotion or connection went. it might be my age, but the muppets pre show was the most enjoyable part!
The Parks
We really had a great time in both parks. On EE days we were at security by 6.15 and were first in line by a long shot! Crowds fluctuated a lot over the week, with Monday afternoon being very quiet. (before first Pride Night). Pirates was a walk-on at 6pm, and we grabbed seats at Jolly Holiday minutes before the cavalcade came through. We also had a lot of luck fishing for LLs that day, and on Wednesday, when we had a slightly later start. Indy times push out really quickly in the am as everyone waits for it to break down. But refreshing really helps find those elusive LLs - on Wednesday afternoon we couldn't see much free, but refreshing made all the difference, and we soon had a stack of LLS.
Not too many breakdowns, but something definitely went wrong with the Incredi coaster on Thursday, and its LLs. When it came back up, the LL line stretched back to the abominable snowman. The line was too long for LL windows to remain valid, so they began to allow you to come back at any time. Even that hardly dented the line!
Loved Tiana's, and got very wet unexpectedly somewhere in the middle of the ride each time. Storyline is not as strong as Splash, but the final scene at the party is fantastic.
Food
Shout out to White Water Grill - definitely a way to escape the madness! And the Carthay Circle Lounge. Had dinner one night at Paseo, which was good too. Otherwise we just grabbed food via mobile order, which is a game changer. We also had room service breakfast which as usual was very generous - two orders easily fed four of us. Other days we ate breakfast from Whitewater Snacks while we stood in the security line.
We left bright and early Friday am, completely exhausted (20 -30,00 steps a day!) and feeling like it really had been a fantastic birthday celebration.
Grand Californian
Comfortable, convenient stay here once again. We had requested partial park view rooms. We were on the fourth floor, overlooking Goofy's Sky School. Super convenient lift access, right by the fitness centre and the rear pool entrance. Quick to DCA entrance, a little further to DTD, but no endless corridors to negotiate.
We really enjoyed the pool area this time, although finding shade is always a bit problematic, and there were a lot of seats draped in towels with no sign of occupants. Apparently the pool staff will clear these off after 45mins, but never saw that in action. It must be hard to police, but it would sure help if guests knew about, and stuck to, that rule.
I also took the DCA power walk on Tuesday morning. Loved seeing the park wake up.
VIP tour
We had an excellent guide, Alicia, who really knew how to organise the day to get the most from it. And she often stepped in to help other cast members when ride lines or LL lines were muddled (this seemed to happen a lot on this trip - groups often missed that there was more than one place to scan, especially in places like SW, where the LL is newer). We toured DL first, when she surprised us with a short private visit with Mickey, then crossed over to DCA. Spoiler alert: It was quite hot, so toward the middle of the afternoon tour she introduced us to the Oasis, a new addition to the VIP tour (only in DCA). Just across from the Vineyard, this space has outdoor seating, misting fans, umbrellas and treats like Mickey ice creams, smart water, and snacks. We really appreciated a cool and quiet place to sit for 20 minutes or so. Two of our team weren't so keen on Guardians, so they waited there while the tour guide took the remaining two on that ride.
As part of the VIP tour, you can arrange seating for parades, and meals. We went for dinner at BB, followed by PTN sets, then fireworks, then the late F! show. BB was somewhat underwhelming. My gumbo was lukewarm, and the staff were quite lacklustre. I think Disney could do better there. But couldn't fault the seating for the parades etc. We sat just to the right (facing the castle which gave us a great view of the parade and the fireworks. Our guide had advised us to arrive right around 8 to be seated as there were a large number of tour groups out. She was right : late groups did find it hard to be seated together (and one group, arriving just a few minutes before the show, were pretty vocal...then unreasonable.... about that!) We mobile-ordered ice cream and watched the world go by until the parade began. Enjoyed PTN, and the fireworks. F! afterwards was also great (The same can'tbe said for the late WOC on Thursday....)
So would highly recommend the tour, as a special celebration.
Second WOC show dessert party
Booked this for our last night. We have done these before over the years and really enjoyed them. However, as others on the boards have noted, the second dessert party is really short on time. We checked in via the app, and joined a very long queue by the water wheel at Grizzly at the appointed time. Eventually we were led over, about 20 minutes before show time. Our high top table had a great view; in fact, all the tables looked great. The dessert boxes were handed out, and one drink order taken. Then it all fell apart. Despite a multitude of servers assuring us it was coming, my husband's vegetarian (not an allergy, Disney!) dessert box did not arrive (weirdly for a dessert box there are charcuterie meats). No one came to take any further drink orders, despite the 'unlimited drinks' offered. At the close of the evening we told the servers we were still waiting for his dessert box. Eventually we were told they had brought it, but didn't want to interrupt the show to deliver it. That was odd, because I had got up and asked them for it during the show.We ended up following up with the manager politely He went above and beyond, comping us for the evening. But it seems to us that, apart from the missing box problem, there is just no way they can really live up the the promise of multiple beverages - tea in our case !- given the time constraints.
The show itself was also a bit meh. Brilliant technically of course, but a bit flat as far as emotion or connection went. it might be my age, but the muppets pre show was the most enjoyable part!
The Parks
We really had a great time in both parks. On EE days we were at security by 6.15 and were first in line by a long shot! Crowds fluctuated a lot over the week, with Monday afternoon being very quiet. (before first Pride Night). Pirates was a walk-on at 6pm, and we grabbed seats at Jolly Holiday minutes before the cavalcade came through. We also had a lot of luck fishing for LLs that day, and on Wednesday, when we had a slightly later start. Indy times push out really quickly in the am as everyone waits for it to break down. But refreshing really helps find those elusive LLs - on Wednesday afternoon we couldn't see much free, but refreshing made all the difference, and we soon had a stack of LLS.
Not too many breakdowns, but something definitely went wrong with the Incredi coaster on Thursday, and its LLs. When it came back up, the LL line stretched back to the abominable snowman. The line was too long for LL windows to remain valid, so they began to allow you to come back at any time. Even that hardly dented the line!
Loved Tiana's, and got very wet unexpectedly somewhere in the middle of the ride each time. Storyline is not as strong as Splash, but the final scene at the party is fantastic.
Food
Shout out to White Water Grill - definitely a way to escape the madness! And the Carthay Circle Lounge. Had dinner one night at Paseo, which was good too. Otherwise we just grabbed food via mobile order, which is a game changer. We also had room service breakfast which as usual was very generous - two orders easily fed four of us. Other days we ate breakfast from Whitewater Snacks while we stood in the security line.
We left bright and early Friday am, completely exhausted (20 -30,00 steps a day!) and feeling like it really had been a fantastic birthday celebration.
