Christmas Gift for DH for upcoming trip....

[Eddygirl]

Hi all!!

We are planning our 3rd DL family vacation this coming March.... Sooo excited! We are going with DH's parents and siblings for the fist few days of our trip....they are all first timers... And we hope they will see why we are Disney Geeks! Lol

For Christmas this year we seem to be giving gifts for our trip. We are giving all the nephews and nieces GC's so they may choose and buy their first set of ears, our family is giving DH's parents a "certificate" to accompany us for appies and special drinks at Trader Sam's, we are giving our DS (10) the Walk in Walt's Disneyland footsteps tour. He loves history and Disney trivia.... and I hope that a peek into Club 33 lobby still happens on that tour for him....he always looks for the "secret door" when we are there I told DH I did not want any "things" this Christmas.... But would love to set aside the money for us to go to BB for lunch.

I want to do something similar for DH... And am drawing a total blank! Wife fail!! Lol! He is a total big kid and has a blast on our Disney Trips. I was thinking Fantasmic dessert package or something... but Fantasmic is not his favorite Disney Show. Do they have lunches with an imagineer or behind the scenes tours like DW?

Help!?

 

[TheDoleWhipper]

Where are you staying? One idea would be to secretly book a better/more expensive hotel and surprise him with the new hotel! For example, if you are staying offsite, you could use your money to upgrade to onsite. Or if you are staying at the PPH, upgrade to the GCH! This won't work though if you are staying at the most expensive hotel in the area, the GCH, but even then, you could still upgrade to a better view! Even now, the resort hotels will still have some availability for march, but if that is what you intend, act quick! He will be pleasantly surprised! The problem is, the upgrade is a little steep if you are already staying offsite, but if you have the money, and if it is easy to change your reservations, it is so worth it!

But if you are looking for something a little easier on the wallet, try the world of color dining packages! They are a great way to see world of color hassle free, AND enjoy a nice meal. The carthay circle packages are the most expensive, but also gets you the best view for the show. You do not view the show from the restaurant. You view it later on with a special fastpass at a dedicated seating area right front and center of the water! This a great option if your DH is a foodie.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'm afraid DL tours are MUCH more limited. They have the Holiday Tour, which you can find info about in the Christmas thread, as well as the Walk In Walt's Footsteps that you mentioned and the new Disney California Story. Here's a link to the tours part of their website https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/#/park-tours/

You could always try Napa Rose (inside GCH) or Steakhouse 55 (inside DLH) for a surprise dinner as well.

 

[krispin41]

I just took the Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour this past Thursday. You do not get to peek into Club 33. We rode Peter Pan, Pirates, the train, and saw Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Walt's Apartment is being refurbished at this time, and our Guide was unsure if it would be returning to the Tour. They are making the access ADA approved. We did however get to see the Dream Suite. I was blown away!

 

[krispin41]

Oh there is also the Cultivating the Magic Tour which is about Gardening in the Parks. Our Guide also mentioned that the new California Tour is like the Counterpart to the Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour, detailing early parts of Walt's career.

 

[Eddygirl]

I just took the Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour this past Thursday. You do not get to peek into Club 33. We rode Peter Pan, Pirates, the train, and saw Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Walt's Apartment is being refurbished at this time, and our Guide was unsure if it would be returning to the Tour. They are making the access ADA approved. We did however get to see the Dream Suite. I was blown away!

Oh crud! I don't think I would do the tour without the apartment... definety won't do it if both Club 33 and the apartment are not part of it. Bummer! Will wait to see and decide.... DS's birthday is end of Feb so we can wait to decide.

I looked into a Duck's game as he and DS are big hockey fans, but they are not playing at home while we are there.

I work for a large North American company and my business consultant, who is based in the USA, thinks my love of Disney is "cute"... Lol. She let me know she had put out feelers to see if our company has a corporate access to Club 33. I was surprised and touched by her thoughtfulness, however, our corporate offices are located on the East Coast.... So no dice. I was still touched!

We are staying off site at the Sheraton Park...we have stayed there before and love it there! And our family is staying there too... But maybe a split stay to finish off at the DL hotel? He loves WOC... So I will look into the dining package.... That could be a really good option!


Thanks for the ideas!!! I welcome anyone's suggestions!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

...But if you are looking for something a little easier on the wallet, try the world of color dining packages! They are a great way to see world of color hassle free, AND enjoy a nice meal. The carthay circle packages are the most expensive, but also gets you the best view for the show. You do not eat at the restaurant. You eat at a dedicated seating area rigt front and center of the water! This a great option if your DH is a foodie.

When did this change? We have done the WOC Preferred Dining package at CCR a few times and have never eaten in the viewing area. We always eat at the restaurant. I have not heard from anyone else that they were allowed to dine in the viewing area either. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

When did this change? We have done the WOC Preferred Dining package at CCR a few times and have never eaten in the viewing area. We always eat at the restaurant. I have not heard from anyone else that they were allowed to dine in the viewing area either. Can anyone confirm this?

I think the previous poster is mistaken.

 

[krispin41]

When did this change? We have done the WOC Preferred Dining package at CCR a few times and have never eaten in the viewing area. We always eat at the restaurant. I have not heard from anyone else that they were allowed to dine in the viewing area either. Can anyone confirm this?

It hasn't changed.

I did the WOC lunch at Carthay Circle on Thursday 12/11/14. I ate my lunch at CCR, and was given a FP when I finished eating.

 

[SMD]

You should also look at the changes to Fantasmic viewing. The dessert option is now held in a separate area before the show, and then you go over to watch it. There are dining options that give you an FP, like with WoC.

 

[Eddygirl]

It hasn't changed. I did the WOC lunch at Carthay Circle on Thursday 12/11/14. I ate my lunch at CCR, and was given a FP when I finished eating.

I was thinking the PP might have been mistaken. We have seen WOC a few times before and was wondering how that would work! Lol

Did you like the area to view WOC with the FP? How far out did you have to get in line to get a good spot? DH really enjoys then shows... The waiting for hours... Not so much! Lol

I am toying with a VIP tour guide for an afternoon... Or moving to the DL hotel once our family leaves for the last 3 nights. We are planing a DW trip 2016 so I am not sure he would appreciate spending that much money on this trip.... He would rather stay on site at DW would be my guess.

I will figure something out!

 

[SMD]

What about ordering Photopass Plus as a gift? It might be a little late to have it in hand for the Christmas day.