Disneyland/Paradise Pier Aug 9th - Aug 14th Trip!!!

[brianjonesmusic]

We are so excited about our upcoming trip to Disneyland staying at Paradise Pier Aug 9th thru Aug 14th. This will be my 3 kids first trip to CA or on an airplane and the first time my wife and I have been to DL since our honeymoon 12 years ago. I will update this thread with pics and reports the best I can. The folks on the DIS boards have been super helpful in planning our trip so I want to give back with some crowd updates and hotel/park pics. Stay tuned....

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

Can't wait to read about your trip! We are loosely planning a trip for next summer break to see Carsland and LM and all the new changes (and changes just new to us, last trip was, sadly, in 2008). I love reading everyone's reports and seeing the pics. Pixie Dust to your family for a wonderful trip!

 

[ykmom]

Looking forward to your report. We are heading down August 29 - Sept 2nd and staying at paradise pier too.

 

[brianjonesmusic]

Day 1:
Our US Airways flight wason time and smooth. No delays and they allowed us to gate-check all of our carryon bags for free due to space on the plane. What a blessing with a family of 5 and a connecting flight not to have to lug around our bags. We arrived in Long Beach and took a taxi over for a flat rate of $45. It was a 20 min ride and we were at Paradise Pier. We got here at 1pm but our room was not ready until 345pm. It was worth the wait!!!! We booked a Theme Park View Concierge room and they upgrade us to a 1 Bedroom Suite on the 15th Floor AMAZING!!!!.

The room is very spacious with a huge bedroom (2 queens and pullout sofa) along with a living room with a queen size pull out sofa and a dine table. Flat screen TV and bathroom in each room. Fridge in each room tucked away in the entertainment center (extra large in living room) and a microwave. The views are de best!!

Concierge is fabulous and we hung out there and ate snacks. They had tons of stuff including unlimited drinks (Soda, Juice, etc) and Beer and wine. Chips, cookies, PBJ's. For dinner they had Duck Pot Stickers which were very good. They had a huge veggie and cheese tray along with 3 different types of desserts like Pecan Pie, Fruit topped Cusstard, Chocolate creme puffs. We also rented 2 DVD's from this massive selection.

Went to DL last night from 5 to 10pm and rode several rides. Being as it was our first night and an evening park arrival we didnt worry about trying to strategically plan our visit to DL but just visit. It is our kids first visit and our first in 12 years so we are just taking it all in. We did Pirates (amazing), Haunted Mansion, Storybook Boats, Pinnochio, Carrousel, Big Thunder Mountain, Castle walk through (rules over our FL castle).

We left the park and headed back to PP. 10 minute walk through DD and take a left at Sephora and through the lobby of the Grand Californian. Right across the street and we were back. We watched world of Color from our rooms with the music blasting through the TV. Wonderful night sleep after a long amazing first day!

 

[WDWINJUNE!]

Looks like your having a wonderful time so far..thanks so much for sharing This is making me so excited for our trip coming up on Saturday

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Wow, that view is amazing! I'm glad you're enjoying PPH and concierge. Thanks for posting. We want more!

AJ

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

wow! amazing pictures! We loved PP concierge when we were there in 07! So glad you are having a good time! Keep up the pictures! Thanks!

 

[DeluxePrincess]

What an amazing upgrade! Loving your photos! Can't wait to hear more.

 

[enchantedny]

I am loving your pictures! We stayed concierge at PPH at the end of June and seeing your pictures is bringing back memories of our wonderful view. I did not get any day time pictures. Thank you!

Our trip to DLR was suppossed to be a one time deal since it is a long plane ride but we loved it and can't wait to go back once Carsland opens.

Enjoy the rest of your trip. Can't wait to hear more.

 

[brianjonesmusic]

Day 2:
We woke up from a wonderful night sleep and hit the concierge for some breakfast. They had bagels, cereal, pastries, fruit, coffee, juice, and more. Very filling for my family of 5.

We spent the day at DCA and arrived at 9am to ride Little Mermaid a few times along with collecting WOC Blue Section Passes. We rode rides with little to no wait with fast passes all day. We left mid day to go back to our hotel eat snacks at the concierge. Basically drinks, chips, cookies, and fruit. We then went to Catal at DD for dinner and it was awesome. Very special birthday for my wife. Speaking of a very special birthday, I arranged a surprise 80 minute massage at Mandara Spa at Grand Californian. She loved every second and was very happy. We ended the day back at DCA for a few more rides, and we ended up heading back to the hotel room to just watch WOC from our room again.

 

[TravelingJen24]

Have a wonderful time during your trip. Your room looks awesome. I am surprised that it is not that busy in terms of crowds, but great for you guys.

 

[HarryMoose]

Very cool. We flew home (out of LAX) the day you arrived.

Love the pictures.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

What a nice Spa surprise for your wife!

 

[brianjonesmusic]

Day 3:
Woke up, Concierge breakfast was excellent again and enough food to start the day. We spent most of the day at disneyland park. The crowds were busy in certain spots around the park but we managed to get on everything we wanted to ride. ***You don't have to split up from your family and run around crazy chasing fast passes, just make sure you get a fast pass everytime you are able to. Like for example if you get a fast pass for space mountain and it's between 9:05 - 10:05 am, than your next chance to get one is at 9:05 am - get another one than go on rides that have little to no wait till your next fast pass time is ready****
Like I said the parks were fairly busy in some areas but not too bad.

We ate over at Big Thunder Mountain Ranch and loved it. Some of the CM's were not all that magical but the experience as a whole was sill great. God BBQ, Live Music, Atmosphere.
The Stage.

Half eaten plate (Could take the pic while it still looked pretty.

After about 5pm we headed back to PPH and enjoyed the concierge dinner time frame. Chicken Terryaki and lots of goodies. Rented a movie from concierge and headed back to the room. We also went to the rooftop pool and loved it. Our kids (4,8) kept going down the slide over and over again. The fact that it drops into a little water area rather than the pool makes it much safer and allows us parents not to have to worry about them. We will be back.

 

[Disneylovers2000]

Love the updates! Thanks so much! For someone who has never been able to stay on property - what is concierge - sounds like its complimentary - is this correct? Was it a package you paid extra for??

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I like your advice about not stressing out on the FPs. My family also just kept watch of when we could get another one. We weren't up to having someone run between both resorts to have multiple passes at each park. Even on our most crowded June day, we didn't think the lines were all that bad (minus Star Tours).

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

I am loving your pictures! We stayed concierge at PPH at the end of June and seeing your pictures is bringing back memories of our wonderful view. I did not get any day time pictures. Thank you!

Our trip to DLR was suppossed to be a one time deal since it is a long plane ride but we loved it and can't wait to go back once Carsland opens.

Enjoy the rest of your trip. Can't wait to hear more.

That was how my first DL trip was viewed before I traveled....it was just a one time thing. I had an airline credit I had forgotten about so I had to go somewhere, decided to go to DL since I had never been there and as a Disney fantatic, wanted to see Walt's original park...figured it was smaller, 2 parks instead of 4, I was going once just to say I had been there.....

WOW! I ended up totally loving DLR and now I so wish that it was the Disney property that was within driving distance, not WDW because although I do love both of them, DLR is my definite favorite!

Anyway, I enjoy hearing other east coaster's tales of thinking DLR would be a one shot deal and then once they get there they KNOW they will be back!

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Thanks for the TR! Did your family come back for many concierge cocktail hours? How was WOC from the room? Was it more enjoyable from the room after seeing it on the ground?

AJ

 

[chickyann]

looks like you had a great trip, thanks for sharing your photos

 

[brianjonesmusic]

Thanks for the TR! Did your family come back for many concierge cocktail hours? How was WOC from the room? Was it more enjoyable from the room after seeing it on the ground?

AJ

Yes we did come back for the evening hours at concierge from 5 to 7pm every night except 1 night when we ate at Catal in DD for my wife's birthday. We enjoyed the food selections accept 1 night wasn't great. Def worth it for the snacks, wine, desserts, etc.

WOC was awesome from the room and a special treat for us to watch a few times from the room. Made the room stay feel even more magical. We watched it from the Blue section one day in person and that is the best viewing experience.