I just wanted to thank everyone who resonded to my earlier questions.
We just got back and had a fabulous time.
We went into the park late on Saturday, May 10. The lines were okay. We knew how to use the fast pass system (thanks to all of you), picked rides with fast loading times, and really didn't have to wait much during the day at all. I think the longest wait was mid-day at Pirates - maybe 20 minutes. We watched the parade while riding teacups over and over and over. We ate dinner at Pizza Port. I didn't think the pizza was very good, just okay. We stayed for fantasmic, sat right in front of the Haunted Mansion for a perfect side view. We left before the park closed because of our two year-old. The weather was nice -- 70's.
Tuesday, May 13 was our Magical Morning. I had a whole fantasy land "plan," but the family wanted to do Nemo. We hussled into line, had a 10 minute wait and were done and on to other rides by 8:45 (the nemo line was at a 60-minute wait within 5 minutes of our getting into the line). I think every single Magical Morning person headed right for Nemo. At 9:00 am we were headed through fantasyland to frontierland and happened upon a CM handing out lanyards with pins. The lines were great all day. We never really waited more than 10 minutes for anything (again this was because of fast-passes and switch passes). The weather was in the 80's. We had 11:30 PS at Cafe Orleans. We loved the fries and the Monte Carlo Sandwiches (I had the all cheese and dh had the one with meat and then we traded. I prefered the one with meat). My son had the crepes. They were just okay -- not much actual stuff inside, just mostly pancake. The two littlest like the macaroni and cheese fine. We had debated about eating at the Blue Bayou, but were glad we chose Cafe Orleans. My two year-old was pretty loud and it wasn't disturbing anyone else as we ate outside. We stayed to the end of the day. My dh loved the dole -- not just the whip -- but the juice/whip combo.
Wednesday, May 14 was our last day in the parks. They let us into the park 30 mintues early and we went right up to the rope area. We beelined to Peter Pan (but so did everyone else). We had maybe a 5 minute wait. We had already been on almost every ride at least once. So this was the day to go back and do our favorites. It was a warmer day -- maybe low 90's. We were happy to ride Grizzly River at the hottest part of the day. It had closed down and we walked past right as they reopened it. So dh and boys were one of the first in line. With the switch pass (even without fast passes), we were able to wait only 10 minutes. I tried the Mickey sour dough bread at Pacific Wharf Cafe. I wished while standing in line, to try one of their salads (in a bread bowl). But we had just eaten lunch. Instead we had dinner at Zocolo. Those prices were pretty good for the portions, but the food was good - not great (of course I'm a bit of a Mexican food snob). Again, we stayed until the parks closed.
We heard about ride closures on and off during our visit, but the only time it ever affected us was Space Mountain late the second day and we had already been on it earlier in the day). We made sure to get our favorites in the early afternoon to make sure we wouldn't be disappointed by ride closures. Pooh broke down while we were on it. We had to walk out -- but it was fun to see everything with the lights on.
I thought it was interesting that my dh described CA as having a "mournful" feeling. I really think he felt that way (I did too) because of the "soundtrack" that is playing in the background. Disneyland has such happy, magical music playing all the time. But CA played all the "California" songs, many of which are slow and mournful. I think that if they changed the songs to be more upbeat, that people would enjoy that park more (and they should add some more trees).
We used the ART shuttle which was fantastic after walking all day in the park. I highly recommend the switch passes and fast pass system - described on this board. It was wonderful to walk past 75 minute wait times. I was surpised how much my two year-old was able to do. I loved the changes to Pirates. The smoke screen with Davy Jones was fun. I didn't like the "screen" that they've put up in the Haunted Mansion Grim Grinning Ghosts part -- they weren't really using them and I felt like the dulled everything behind them.
We also went to BodyWorks at the California Science Center, Pink's for hot dogs, walk of stars, Hollywood sign, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Joe's Italian Ice (I think it is south on Harbor Blvd about a mile), and the beach.
My husband is already talking about going again. May seemed to be a great time to go. Lines and weather were pretty good.
We had a fantastic time!
We just got back and had a fabulous time.
We went into the park late on Saturday, May 10. The lines were okay. We knew how to use the fast pass system (thanks to all of you), picked rides with fast loading times, and really didn't have to wait much during the day at all. I think the longest wait was mid-day at Pirates - maybe 20 minutes. We watched the parade while riding teacups over and over and over. We ate dinner at Pizza Port. I didn't think the pizza was very good, just okay. We stayed for fantasmic, sat right in front of the Haunted Mansion for a perfect side view. We left before the park closed because of our two year-old. The weather was nice -- 70's.
Tuesday, May 13 was our Magical Morning. I had a whole fantasy land "plan," but the family wanted to do Nemo. We hussled into line, had a 10 minute wait and were done and on to other rides by 8:45 (the nemo line was at a 60-minute wait within 5 minutes of our getting into the line). I think every single Magical Morning person headed right for Nemo. At 9:00 am we were headed through fantasyland to frontierland and happened upon a CM handing out lanyards with pins. The lines were great all day. We never really waited more than 10 minutes for anything (again this was because of fast-passes and switch passes). The weather was in the 80's. We had 11:30 PS at Cafe Orleans. We loved the fries and the Monte Carlo Sandwiches (I had the all cheese and dh had the one with meat and then we traded. I prefered the one with meat). My son had the crepes. They were just okay -- not much actual stuff inside, just mostly pancake. The two littlest like the macaroni and cheese fine. We had debated about eating at the Blue Bayou, but were glad we chose Cafe Orleans. My two year-old was pretty loud and it wasn't disturbing anyone else as we ate outside. We stayed to the end of the day. My dh loved the dole -- not just the whip -- but the juice/whip combo.
Wednesday, May 14 was our last day in the parks. They let us into the park 30 mintues early and we went right up to the rope area. We beelined to Peter Pan (but so did everyone else). We had maybe a 5 minute wait. We had already been on almost every ride at least once. So this was the day to go back and do our favorites. It was a warmer day -- maybe low 90's. We were happy to ride Grizzly River at the hottest part of the day. It had closed down and we walked past right as they reopened it. So dh and boys were one of the first in line. With the switch pass (even without fast passes), we were able to wait only 10 minutes. I tried the Mickey sour dough bread at Pacific Wharf Cafe. I wished while standing in line, to try one of their salads (in a bread bowl). But we had just eaten lunch. Instead we had dinner at Zocolo. Those prices were pretty good for the portions, but the food was good - not great (of course I'm a bit of a Mexican food snob). Again, we stayed until the parks closed.
We heard about ride closures on and off during our visit, but the only time it ever affected us was Space Mountain late the second day and we had already been on it earlier in the day). We made sure to get our favorites in the early afternoon to make sure we wouldn't be disappointed by ride closures. Pooh broke down while we were on it. We had to walk out -- but it was fun to see everything with the lights on.
I thought it was interesting that my dh described CA as having a "mournful" feeling. I really think he felt that way (I did too) because of the "soundtrack" that is playing in the background. Disneyland has such happy, magical music playing all the time. But CA played all the "California" songs, many of which are slow and mournful. I think that if they changed the songs to be more upbeat, that people would enjoy that park more (and they should add some more trees).
We used the ART shuttle which was fantastic after walking all day in the park. I highly recommend the switch passes and fast pass system - described on this board. It was wonderful to walk past 75 minute wait times. I was surpised how much my two year-old was able to do. I loved the changes to Pirates. The smoke screen with Davy Jones was fun. I didn't like the "screen" that they've put up in the Haunted Mansion Grim Grinning Ghosts part -- they weren't really using them and I felt like the dulled everything behind them.
We also went to BodyWorks at the California Science Center, Pink's for hot dogs, walk of stars, Hollywood sign, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Joe's Italian Ice (I think it is south on Harbor Blvd about a mile), and the beach.
My husband is already talking about going again. May seemed to be a great time to go. Lines and weather were pretty good.
We had a fantastic time!
