California or Bust!

[taben]

So.........we (just me and and hubby, have no little ones) are leaving in just a couple of weeks for our much anticipated trip that is finally happening. LOL Got a few questions:

1. What to pack? We are from the Mid-West and I know it can get a little chilly at night so I hear. Don't want to pack too much but want to be prepared. What would you wear to the park and then at night? We are staying at Candy Cane Inn so can get there quick if I need a jacket I guess.

2. Trader Sams: Um, when is the best time to experience this fun little tiki bar? Have read it is small on the inside, gets really crowded and the bar tenders can be rude plus the drinks are way over priced...hmm? Doesn't surprise me there it is DISNEY! LOL

3. What tour company would u recommend to use for one of those "touristy visits" to LA/Hollyweird?

Oh, we are thinking about doing the Fantasmic Dessert Pkg. one night and Walk in Walts Footsteps Tour too as well.

*Anything else you can throw my way I sure would appreciate it.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

So.........we (just me and and hubby, have no little ones) are leaving in just a couple of weeks for our much anticipated trip that is finally happening. LOL Got a few questions: 1. What to pack? We are from the Mid-West and I know it can get a little chilly at night so I hear. Don't want to pack too much but want to be prepared. What would you wear to the park and then at night? We are staying at Candy Cane Inn so can get there quick if I need a jacket I guess. 2. Trader Sams: Um, when is the best time to experience this fun little tiki bar? Have read it is small on the inside, gets really crowded and the bar tenders can be rude plus the drinks are way over priced...hmm? Doesn't surprise me there it is DISNEY! LOL 3. What tour company would u recommend to use for one of those "touristy visits" to LA/Hollyweird? Oh, we are thinking about doing the Fantasmic Dessert Pkg. one night and Walk in Walts Footsteps Tour too as well. *Anything else you can throw my way I sure would appreciate it.

1. A light jacket should be plenty. There are also lockers in front of DL, and inside DCA. This way you won't have to walk all the way back to CCI to get one.

I highly recommend the tour AND the F! dessert pkg. Both are well worth it. If there are 2 Fantasmic performances, get a reservation for the 2nd show, and see the fireworks first from Majn Street, taking the train over to New Orleans Square for F! It's my favorite way to do both shows in the same night.

Have a great trip!!

 

[lalasmama]

So.........we (just me and and hubby, have no little ones) are leaving in just a couple of weeks for our much anticipated trip that is finally happening. LOL Got a few questions:

1. What to pack? We are from the Mid-West and I know it can get a little chilly at night so I hear. Don't want to pack too much but want to be prepared. What would you wear to the park and then at night? We are staying at Candy Cane Inn so can get there quick if I need a jacket I guess.

2. Trader Sams: Um, when is the best time to experience this fun little tiki bar? Have read it is small on the inside, gets really crowded and the bar tenders can be rude plus the drinks are way over priced...hmm? Doesn't surprise me there it is DISNEY! LOL

3. What tour company would u recommend to use for one of those "touristy visits" to LA/Hollyweird?

Oh, we are thinking about doing the Fantasmic Dessert Pkg. one night and Walk in Walts Footsteps Tour too as well.

*Anything else you can throw my way I sure would appreciate it.

(1) I'd make sure you had a sweatshirt for early mornings/evenings after sunset. Otherwise, I typically wear capris and running-type shoes. A sweatshirt is usually enough to keep me warm in between rides/stores at night at DL. I wouldn't plan on going back to the CCI for a sweatshirt or coat. That would end up likely being a 30-45 minute trip (about 10 minutes there and back to the security gates, then however long to get back through the turnstiles); but I'm not a big "break in the middle of the day" kinda person either. We're there from sun up until they are kicking us out of the parks! We do a $7 locker, and keep a fresh pair of shoes, our sweatshirts, and our extra water bottles in there.

(2) We go to Trader Sam's after 8pm, sometimes even a bit later. We head inside to get our drinks and enjoy the décor, and then we go sit outside near one of the tiki torches for heat and enjoy the entertainment (Hawaiian-type music/songs). The only "frustration" I have is that there are still kids around, and I tend to feel weird drinking alcohol around kids much... which is why we tend to go later in the evening, to minimize the number of kids around while enjoying my Piranha Pool and whatever DH or BFF gets (ya know, because they have to share with me ). We've never had an issue with rude bartenders or servers while there. It seems like the drinks were maybe $8-10? More if you want the souvenir cup. If you want a decidedly more "adult" atmosphere, we enjoy the lounge in the Grand Californian. Again, drinks are spendy (I think my Glo-tini was about $13, but it came with a glowing ice cube that we're still using 13 months later!).

(3) No idea on tour companies. I know TMZ has/had a celebrity one that I would personally consider, but that wouldn't be for everyone, and I don't know that it would do much beyond showing famous celebrity spots. Hopefully someone here can answer better! I'd guess, though, that renting a car for a day might be a more cost-effective way of doing this.

Have fun! DH and I love our "only us" trips!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

So.........we (just me and and hubby, have no little ones) are leaving in just a couple of weeks for our much anticipated trip that is finally happening. LOL Got a few questions:

1. What to pack? We are from the Mid-West and I know it can get a little chilly at night so I hear. Don't want to pack too much but want to be prepared. What would you wear to the park and then at night? We are staying at Candy Cane Inn so can get there quick if I need a jacket I guess.

2. Trader Sams: Um, when is the best time to experience this fun little tiki bar? Have read it is small on the inside, gets really crowded and the bar tenders can be rude plus the drinks are way over priced...hmm? Doesn't surprise me there it is DISNEY! LOL

3. What tour company would u recommend to use for one of those "touristy visits" to LA/Hollyweird?

Oh, we are thinking about doing the Fantasmic Dessert Pkg. one night and Walk in Walts Footsteps Tour too as well.

*Anything else you can throw my way I sure would appreciate it.

We travel from Chicago. Pack for the middle of summer and definitely include sunglasses and sunscreen. The SoCal sun is stronger since you'll be further south. It will feel 10 degrees hotter than you think it will for any given temperature because of this. (For example, 74 in SoCal feels like 84 in Chicago.)

A light jacket, sweater/hoodie, or even just a long-sleeved shirt will suffice at night. Check the weather before you leave, though. SoCal is ordinarily very dry in the summer which allows things to cool off a lot after dark, but right now they're having a freak humidity wave. When we were in the parks over the weekend, the last thing we wanted after sundown was a sweater.

Trader Sam's is tiny--most of the seating is outside, not inside. They also stop serving food when Tangaroa Terrace closes, so don't go after 10 p.m. expecting bar food (Hearthstone Lounge at GCH is a better bet for drinks/bar food much later into the evening, and is much larger.)

Try Southern California Gray Line (http://www.graylineanaheim.com/) for tours--they are the same company that operates Disneyland Resort Express from LAX and SNA.

The Fantasmic! dessert package is an awesome way to see the show for the first time--we loved it! No tables, though, so just know that your noshing will be done on your lap.

My tip: Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney, directly across from the Disneyland Hotel. Just go. Totally awesome and not expensive, either.