Goofy with Peter Pan Syndrome and Family Go To Disneyland - PTR

[Karenann*]

Hey and Hi!
We're staying at Homewood in July and have heard great things from a large family we know here.It sounds like lots of your details have been nailed down and they sound great. We will be trying Carnation Cafe and Cafe Orleans both for the first time, lots of yummies to try! Thanks for the reminder of glowsticks. What do you take flashlights for? Looking forward to more of your planning and especially how is the Homewood!!!

 

[kaoden39]

Is that from Bengal Barbeque? It sounds really good! I can't stay signed in for some reason.

Yeah it is the Bengal Barbecue. My favorite food.

That's odd that you couldn't stay logged on. I wonder why.

 

[6Smiles]

Hey and Hi!
We're staying at Homewood in July and have heard great things from a large family we know here.It sounds like lots of your details have been nailed down and they sound great. We will be trying Carnation Cafe and Cafe Orleans both for the first time, lots of yummies to try! Thanks for the reminder of glowsticks. What do you take flashlights for? Looking forward to more of your planning and especially how is the Homewood!!!

and Karenann*

I have not been to DLR since the 80's so this is my first trip as an adult (some 20 almost 30 years later ). I really can't tell you much about the Homewood however KylieH has a trip report further down and tells about her experiences and about the hotel's transportation and ART to Disneyland. I will let you know what I think upon my return or maybe I'll have time to do some live reports since we'll be bringing our computer. As far as the flashlights go, my two youngest DD do not like the dark so it eases their fear and gives them the power to control their light at night. They will not be allowed to use them on the rides though. As long as
there is some light and Mom and Dad are around they'll be okay on rides.

If you go to Homewood Suites website you can see pictures from their breakfast buffet, the swimming pool, and the kitchens.

 

[mamaso]

Sound like a wonderful time is in store for all of you! Have a great trip!

 

[kaoden39]

Homewood is owned by Hilton so you can expect it to be pretty good I am sure.

You are in for a shock if it has been that long since you have been to Disneyland. The whole area around the park has changed.

 

[6Smiles]

Homewood is owned by Hilton so you can expect it to be pretty good I am sure.

You are in for a shock if it has been that long since you have been to Disneyland. The whole area around the park has changed.

I have only been to Disneyland once when my Dad was living in California. I was about 11/12 years old. To be honest I don't really remember the trip all that much and I have to say I feel like I am going for the first time. My parents were not into Disney at all but I adore the characters, the magic and the entire concept that Walt Disney was trying to achieve with "The Happiest Place on Earth!" I love art, animation and I have to say I am all for dreaming and making dreams come true! Steamboat Willie is still one of my all time favorite cartoons. It is awesome for it's time and so creative!

The trip is a long time coming and to be honest is very much needed at this point. We are in desperate need to just put the "real world" behind us for a little while, reconnect as a family and celebrate the good things that life has to offer.

Our first day is strictly taking it slow, soaking up the atmosphere, smelling the roses and of course a late lunch/early dinner at Carnation Cafe. Depending on how people are feeling we'll go back to the hotel, unpack, go for a swim and get to bed early knowing where the rides are in FL so we can go straight away on Sunday for our MM. We'll rest in the afternoon and then try to catch either fantasmic, WOC or Fireworks that night. Monday and Tuesday we'll avoid the Parks to avoid the chaos. We'll go sight seeing, maybe visit with DH family who lives in Santa Ana, have a picnic at the beach or sleep late and enjoy the pool. Wednesday through Thursday we have our Ressies and I'm just kind of planning the first 2-3 hours for rides and then the rest of the day I have ideas for shows, parades, etc. depending on what everyone wants to do after Saturday and Sunday when we visit for the first days or what I am calling our orientation to the park days to get a feel for the rest of the week. So I will be planning to have a plan if that makes any sense.

I have surprises for the kids and will include them in my TR but Drama Queen is on the boards so I don't want to say too much !

 

[kaoden39]

I am all for a lazy trip myself. I normally plan the character meals and all that and I stress my family terribly. Last trip I reservations to eat at the Carnation it was my one and only place I cared about eating at. I got so sick on the way down we ended up sending my niece and our kids to eat without us. I think that was the last time I will ever make the PS.

I love the idea of surprises for the kids. I did autographed pictures for them and my mom last trip because we stayed at the DLH. I also had a special basket brought to my mom's room for her 70 birthday.

 

[6Smiles]

Time is really starting to fly now. Things I am wondering about. The WOC is holding up the works because I am waiting to see how they are planning to run the show and how it will affect the crowds in the park(s). With GRR FP being used for WOC does that mean huge lines for the ride? Is TSMM going to become a bigger pull with the updates for Toy Story 3? Are they going to offer set times for PFF coronation ceremony? Is Sword and the Stone Show coming back?

 

[kaoden39]

Time is really starting to fly now. Things I am wondering about. The WOC is holding up the works because I am waiting to see how they are planning to run the show and how it will affect the crowds in the park(s). With GRR FP being used for WOC does that mean huge lines for the ride? Is TSMM going to become a bigger pull with the updates for Toy Story 3? Are they going to offer set times for PFF coronation ceremony? Is Sword and the Stone Show coming back?

I didn't know they stopped the Sword in the Stone show was no longer on.

 

[6Smiles]

I didn't know they stopped the Sword in the Stone show was no longer on.

I saw a thread on it not too long ago... one where they were talking about the shows and I remember someone saying it hadn't been going on. Someone said it only was happening in the Summer or at busy times? I wonder if anyone saw it over Spring Break?

 

[kaoden39]

I saw a thread on it not too long ago... one where they were talking about the shows and I remember someone saying it hadn't been going on. Someone said it only was happening in the Summer or at busy times? I wonder if anyone saw it over Spring Break?

That's so sad. I get a kick out of it. It's not super popular so maybe that is why.

 

[6Smiles]

20 days left until we leave and the Homewood Suites Hotel, Disney tickets, ART, Ariels Grotto and Goofy's Kitchen is paid in full and we should receive our goodies shortly from Getaway Today!

Plans are sketchy at best and will probably be more budget than originally planned because of some medical and pesky financial issues that cropped up but we are still going !

Itinerary so far:

Saturday June 19th:
Arrival Day
Take the train around DL and just go with the flow until our ressie. When I played with ridemax it looks like this may be the time to try and do the rides with longer waits like Autotopia, Finding Nemo and maybe PLATSI. We'll have been sitting and driving all night standing in lines soaking in the atmosphere may be just the ticket for us. I have also been toying with the idea of starting in DCA if we arrive early enough 9:30am to do Soaring, TSMM, and Monsters Inc, and Muppets 3D. With GRR being used for WOC I don't know what the rest of the park will look like so we'll have to wait and see.
We have Carnation Cafe Reservations for 2:40pm (Lunch and Dinner)
We may ride a few more rides or return to hotel, swim, snack, but either way we will go to bed early to make our MM morning.

Sunday June 20th:
MM Morning: Fantasyland until 9 then Toontown until about 11am
Throughout this time I will be grabbing FP for our return in the afternoon
11:30 AM We have Goofy's Kitchen scheduled for Father's Day Brunch
We'll see how things go but will probably return to the Hotel for a break.
What we are doing for dinner is yet to be determined, but we plan to be back in the parks to see fireworks and second showing of fantasmic.

Monday June 21st and Tuesday June 22nd are beach, sightseeing, picnic and/or hanging by the pool days. They will also be planning days to see what the kids have liked and what they would like to do.

I am still debating on how we will plan Wed thru Sat we have the following planned so far:

Wednesday: Cafe' Orleans - Pomme Frites, Monte Cristo, Gumbo and Beignets

Friday: 12:50 Ressies for Ariel's Grotto for lunch and Paradise Pier Hotel for Dinner we will splurge and get the Kitchen Sink for Dinner cause Hey We are on vacation

Tomorrow I get to go shopping without the kiddos for some of our still needed items including a bathing suit for me ! Well time to get the kiddos settled down. Ta Ta For Now!

 

[kaoden39]

Sounds wonderful!! You get there the day we drive away. I'll try to leave it standing!!

 

[6Smiles]

Sounds wonderful!! You get there the day we drive away. I'll try to leave it standing!!

Well we are at 18 days. I go back and forth between being super duper excited and checking and rewriting lists so that I can avoid forgetting something. I'm trying to surprise the kids with stuff but checking things is difficult because they are under foot all day since school let out.

There is a flu that is short but nasty going around my house. Not that I want my family to be sick but I just keep thinking okay run the house now so no one is sick at Disneyland .

The excitement and reality of finally getting to realize our dream of going to Disneyland has set in and the girls talk about the rides they want to try and going to see the beach.

My older kiddos finally saw Tim Burton's Night before Christmas yesterday and his Version of Alice in Wonderland on Saturday with my DM and thought they were both awesome movies.

Shopping went okay and I found a cute swimsuit but for some reason I wasn't into shopping , very strange since I was shopping for the trip. Hubby scored travel size purell with 3 antibacterial wipes in each package for .75 cents each then used a $1/2 coupon to get them for .25 cents a piece at Fry's .

Cleaning and the nevery ending task of is on the schedule for today. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

TTFN
Kris

 

[kaoden39]

Oh laundry is always endless. I know what you mean about wanting the whole family to get sick over with. My son has a fever today, I am hoping that if we are all going to get it, that we get it over with. We have three days of school left counting today. This the day I start my final lists and I told m girls we need to recheck each others lists, so today after school between studying for finals we are going to check each others lists.

 

[6Smiles]

Oh laundry is always endless. I know what you mean about wanting the whole family to get sick over with. My son has a fever today, I am hoping that if we are all going to get it, that we get it over with. We have three days of school left counting today. This the day I start my final lists and I told m girls we need to recheck each others lists, so today after school between studying for finals we are going to check each others lists.

Oh man, I'm sorry your son is sick, I hope he feels better soon .

I just realized today is June 1st . I wake up change the whiteboard but didn't really realize we are in June . We need a smiley that Jumps and down .

You are so close now!

 

[kaoden39]

Oh man, I'm sorry your son is sick, I hope he feels better soon .

I just realized today is June 1st . I wake up change the whiteboard but didn't really realize we are in June . We need a smiley that Jumps and down .

You are so close now!

Thanks, he should be better soon.

I can't forget today because it is my nephews birthday, he is 30 years old today. Man do I feel old.

You are getting close yourself.

 

[casiland]

We just stayed at the Homewood in April and loved it. It is a nice hotel and the staff was amazing. I understand about the school thing, I am taking summer and fall classes and then should be able to apply for the nursing program. When I was at Disney in September I discovered that Disney staffs an entire department of nurses. I think I discovered what to do in my 2nd career......

 

[kaoden39]

We just stayed at the Homewood in April and loved it. It is a nice hotel and the staff was amazing. I understand about the school thing, I am taking summer and fall classes and then should be able to apply for the nursing program. When I was at Disney in September I discovered that Disney staffs an entire department of nurses. I think I discovered what to do in my 2nd career......

Wouldn't that be wonderful? To work inside the park? I think I would love it?

 

[DizNee Luver]

First trip?!! How very exciting!!! Of course I find every trip exciting.....

All girls?? That will be fun if they're all into the Princesses!! Ariel's Grotto is a lot of fun for meeting the princesses.....make sure you have your camera & autograph books ready!!!

So I hadn't thought about staying further away from Disneyland to give our twins the downtime they'll definitely need. Of course, we're still so new to the autism thing that we learn as we go. Hopefully the rooms will be quiet so they can unwind & not be overstimulated in the room. We're staying at the HoJo so the rooms shouldn't visually be too bad..........
I'll be very curious to see how your daughter does on this trip & see if you'll have some suggestions or tips to help us out on our trip!!

Your itinerary looks great!! As you saw from my PTR....I don't schedule rides.....we go with the flow...but do gather FP's for use later in the day. I haven't figured out the "entertainment" part into our schedule yet & usually do that. Our problem is, will the girls be able to handle it & is it during a nap or bedtime. The 6 adults will have to take turns at staying at the motel with the twins during those times....so that also makes it difficult to plan at this point.

I may just have to make a list of entertainment I want to see & go from there. If it's my free afternoon, I'll plan on seeing something then....but I also want to make sure all the other kids get to this stuff too (that's why I usually plan it out). The only thing we know for sure is we're doing WoC together as a family.