Physics Guy
Genius by birth, grumpy by choice
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2012
- Messages
- 217
In my mind thinking about what to say, this is going to be way too long. Ill do my best to keep this short and to the interesting points and spare everyone all the minutia. I'll try and focus on some of the more frequent questions I've seen asked on the DL boards as well.
It was my birthday and anniversary this trip so wearing both pins certainly got me lots of attention and greetings from CM and other guests all over. Not used to it, but it was fun.
We had photopass+ so it was nice to get our pictures taken everywhere, get all the ride photos and character meal photos (including a nice set of prints at the meals) and not worry about any of it. Going to be a big task to go through them/edit them all when we get home.
Was able to use our DVC discount at many of the restaurants and Disney Visa discount at the shops.
Arrived Friday 6/29, spent the evening in DP, got to ride some of the more popular attractions to get them ridden before the weekend daytime crowds. Dinner at Blue Bayou. We had reservations, but they said to get waterside would be 45 minute wait so we said dont worry about, well take first available. 10 minutes later we got waterside table for 8. Nice. Nice atmosphere. My wife is a vegan and cant have oil either (doctors orders for medical reasons, not her choice, a very tough diet to accommodate) and the chef had called us last month to tell us theyre expecting us and will take care of us. Sure enough, Chef Amy came out and went over with my wife the detailed options and she loved the meal. It was fun to wave at all the boats of POTC riders going by; the kids had a great time.
Goofys Kitchen breakfast (Sat 6/30): LOTS of food, including many lunch items, which was strange. We were the first family there at 7, so we were done before we got to see many of the characters I think (saw Goofy, Snow White and Baloo). Overall, it was pretty much an eat and run. Lots of food options, but nothing memorable.
I and my middle DD9 ran ahead of the rest of the family to get in line for RSR FP. WOW! When you see that line its overwhelming. It was well past Carthay Circle restaurant almost up to the giant Hollywood street wall painting. It was a challenge just to get the end, the line grows almost faster than you can walk down it! The family came shortly thereafter and handed me their passes and went onto ToT. The line went pretty fast and I had the fast passes within 20 minutes for 3:40-4:40. No worries there. Also got 3 bonus FP for 6 people for Grizzly Rapids. Spent the day there then back to DL to swim before dinner.
Dinner off site at Farrells in Brea about 20 minutes away. I grew up on Long Island near one and it was my favorite place as a kid. If you have a chance, its a MUST see. Especially if you have a birthday. I cant do it justice here, just see some of the other threads. The line to get in is about as long as any Disney rides so MAKE RESERVATIONS if you go.
After dinner back to DCA to use our RSR FP. We got there just before the park closed and the line was pretty long. They said as long as youre in line before the park closes youll get to ride. We got to the ride about 30-40 minutes later. Fun ride, but I dont think Id wait 2 hours for it as many do. Animatronics are pretty impressive.
Sunday breakfast at Plaza Inn. Minnie and Friends. Can we say FRIENDS! There were more characters there than anywhere Ive ever seen, even in WDW. If I can remember them all: Minnie, Tigger, Pooh, Eeyore, Captain Hook, Chip, Dale, Fairy Godmother, Suzy (mouse from Cinderella). It was great how often they came by and interacted with each other. At one point Eeyore was standing outside pressing his nose against the window glass of the door like we was locked out, just standing there. Captain Hook happened to walk around the corner behind him and doubled over pointing and laughing at him and how sad he looked. Then the Captain tiptoed back away and left him there. It was a hoot the whole morning, probably the best character meal weve ever had, including many at WDW. In addition, the chef came out to my wife, told her they were expecting her and had prepared a FEAST. JUST FOR HER. They brought out a ton of food, all vegan (and no oil), she was so happy! From there I was able to steal away for Space Mountain fast passes and back to breakfast.
The funniest comment from my DD12 was when my DD6 asked where Mickey was said to her This is Minnie and Friends, Mickey and Minnie are MORE than friends.
Spent the rest of the day there. Back to the hotel for some rest. Then Carthay Circle Theater restaurant for WOC dinner. Strangely the least accommodating for my wifes diet despite being the newest. The food was outstanding for the rest of us in any case, albeit a bit small on the portions.
Got our FP for WOC and headed over (10:15 show). The CM seemed to have NO CLUE as to where the Carthay section was and kept sending us back and forth to various areas who sent us back to the same areas and so on several times. One manager kept trying to put is in the picnic line. I started to lose my patience (first time ever at any Disney park) until one person who had worked WOC for a number of weeks knew what to do. He said a lot of the other CM (sadly, including the management suit coats with walkie talkies) were new and werent sure of the layouts. Anyway got a GREAT spot in the reserved area, no issues at all seeing every part of the show, and it was a great show. Definitely worth a look.
Im typing this from the DH while my wife and kids gets ready to check out. The saddest time at Disney is check out day. If you read this far, well kudos, I dont know that I could read a trip report this long. Any questions?
It was my birthday and anniversary this trip so wearing both pins certainly got me lots of attention and greetings from CM and other guests all over. Not used to it, but it was fun.
We had photopass+ so it was nice to get our pictures taken everywhere, get all the ride photos and character meal photos (including a nice set of prints at the meals) and not worry about any of it. Going to be a big task to go through them/edit them all when we get home.
Was able to use our DVC discount at many of the restaurants and Disney Visa discount at the shops.
Arrived Friday 6/29, spent the evening in DP, got to ride some of the more popular attractions to get them ridden before the weekend daytime crowds. Dinner at Blue Bayou. We had reservations, but they said to get waterside would be 45 minute wait so we said dont worry about, well take first available. 10 minutes later we got waterside table for 8. Nice. Nice atmosphere. My wife is a vegan and cant have oil either (doctors orders for medical reasons, not her choice, a very tough diet to accommodate) and the chef had called us last month to tell us theyre expecting us and will take care of us. Sure enough, Chef Amy came out and went over with my wife the detailed options and she loved the meal. It was fun to wave at all the boats of POTC riders going by; the kids had a great time.
Goofys Kitchen breakfast (Sat 6/30): LOTS of food, including many lunch items, which was strange. We were the first family there at 7, so we were done before we got to see many of the characters I think (saw Goofy, Snow White and Baloo). Overall, it was pretty much an eat and run. Lots of food options, but nothing memorable.
I and my middle DD9 ran ahead of the rest of the family to get in line for RSR FP. WOW! When you see that line its overwhelming. It was well past Carthay Circle restaurant almost up to the giant Hollywood street wall painting. It was a challenge just to get the end, the line grows almost faster than you can walk down it! The family came shortly thereafter and handed me their passes and went onto ToT. The line went pretty fast and I had the fast passes within 20 minutes for 3:40-4:40. No worries there. Also got 3 bonus FP for 6 people for Grizzly Rapids. Spent the day there then back to DL to swim before dinner.
Dinner off site at Farrells in Brea about 20 minutes away. I grew up on Long Island near one and it was my favorite place as a kid. If you have a chance, its a MUST see. Especially if you have a birthday. I cant do it justice here, just see some of the other threads. The line to get in is about as long as any Disney rides so MAKE RESERVATIONS if you go.
After dinner back to DCA to use our RSR FP. We got there just before the park closed and the line was pretty long. They said as long as youre in line before the park closes youll get to ride. We got to the ride about 30-40 minutes later. Fun ride, but I dont think Id wait 2 hours for it as many do. Animatronics are pretty impressive.
Sunday breakfast at Plaza Inn. Minnie and Friends. Can we say FRIENDS! There were more characters there than anywhere Ive ever seen, even in WDW. If I can remember them all: Minnie, Tigger, Pooh, Eeyore, Captain Hook, Chip, Dale, Fairy Godmother, Suzy (mouse from Cinderella). It was great how often they came by and interacted with each other. At one point Eeyore was standing outside pressing his nose against the window glass of the door like we was locked out, just standing there. Captain Hook happened to walk around the corner behind him and doubled over pointing and laughing at him and how sad he looked. Then the Captain tiptoed back away and left him there. It was a hoot the whole morning, probably the best character meal weve ever had, including many at WDW. In addition, the chef came out to my wife, told her they were expecting her and had prepared a FEAST. JUST FOR HER. They brought out a ton of food, all vegan (and no oil), she was so happy! From there I was able to steal away for Space Mountain fast passes and back to breakfast.
The funniest comment from my DD12 was when my DD6 asked where Mickey was said to her This is Minnie and Friends, Mickey and Minnie are MORE than friends.
Spent the rest of the day there. Back to the hotel for some rest. Then Carthay Circle Theater restaurant for WOC dinner. Strangely the least accommodating for my wifes diet despite being the newest. The food was outstanding for the rest of us in any case, albeit a bit small on the portions.
Got our FP for WOC and headed over (10:15 show). The CM seemed to have NO CLUE as to where the Carthay section was and kept sending us back and forth to various areas who sent us back to the same areas and so on several times. One manager kept trying to put is in the picnic line. I started to lose my patience (first time ever at any Disney park) until one person who had worked WOC for a number of weeks knew what to do. He said a lot of the other CM (sadly, including the management suit coats with walkie talkies) were new and werent sure of the layouts. Anyway got a GREAT spot in the reserved area, no issues at all seeing every part of the show, and it was a great show. Definitely worth a look.
Im typing this from the DH while my wife and kids gets ready to check out. The saddest time at Disney is check out day. If you read this far, well kudos, I dont know that I could read a trip report this long. Any questions?
