Great Trip, However;

[mouseman41]

Our first trip was fantastic. (July 31 - Aug. 5th) We are many timers at the world but this was our first trip to California. We loved the weather! We are from Houston and it is hot and humid in Aug. (104º while we were gone), so we were glad to have 67º in the morning and 82º as the high with low humidity. We stayed off Harbor and had a short walk to the parks everyday! It is so nice to be so close to the parks. Our longest line was Toy Story Mania (35min) We were lucky because the lines were unreal. We had breakfast at Ariel's Grotto early one morning and were were thinking we were going to be able to get in line early because we were in the park when the park opened. We were waiting outside on the bridge by the rope when a cast member was leading in the longest line of people I have ever seen! It was the line for the ride! We were told we could wait and get in at the end of the line. It was already 2 hours long!! We then went and got on California Screaming where we were first in line. We waited till later in the day when the line calmed down! Great ride! I did find the cast members quite a bit less friendly and the were just a few that were carrying around pins to trade than those at the world. All the parades were wonderful, Fantasmic was great but getting a spot was difficult due to not having a theater. The use of the ships was a great part of the show. We almost did not get to see the fireworks. The first night we were late getting over to Disneyland and could not get a spot, so we were there to get our spot the next night an hour and a half before the show. We had a good spot, but they cancelled the show due to winds at high elevations. That was a new one. The next night we got there earlier and got a better spot and they almost cancelled it, but they were able to run it and it was spectacular!!! Our last night after fantasmic and were watching the firework show from the
river and half way thru the show they stopped it again due to winds at high evevations. I guess the did not want to start any more fires!!! All in all great trip, loved the intimacy of the parks, and the weather!!!

 

[dizneygirlz3]

Glad you had a fun time. We were there last week and I didn't think the weather was too hot either. At least the mornings and evenings are cool and the afternoon has a nice breeze. We live in Bakersfield Ca so the Anaheim weather always seems better to me.

 

[edit1]

Thanks for sharing. Must have been nice to be first on California Screamin'! Glad you got a chance to see the fireworks. We are always awed by them.

 

[heatherleigh]

Thanks for the recap. It sounds like you guys had a great time.

 

[mariezp]

Well weren't you a lucky one, getting a break from this Texas heat!


Glad you had a wonderful trip. Now bring on the pictures!

 

[Hester]

Regarding the Cast Members at DL as opposed to WDW...

I'm native to SoCal, so I've been to DL a million times... When visiting WDW, especially now as an adult, it was obvious that the WDW cast members were FAR more friendly and befitting of the Disney legacy than the ones at DL (especially in recent years). I couldn't help but notice that, and it really did make those trips feel more magical.

I really wish that the managers here at DLR would crack down more and/or be more selective in their hiring. Of course, pay scale and cost of living probably contribute most to this phenomenon.

-e

 

[Gisele]

Welcome back!


It sounds like you had a really cool time, and in more ways than one, too! I am glad the weather was a very nice respite from your Texan heat.
Thank you for sharing some of your experiences with us.

 

[JaneJetson]

Regarding the Cast Members at DL as opposed to WDW...

I'm native to SoCal, so I've been to DL a million times... When visiting WDW, especially now as an adult, it was obvious that the WDW cast members were FAR more friendly and befitting of the Disney legacy than the ones at DL (especially in recent years). I couldn't help but notice that, and it really did make those trips feel more magical.

I really wish that the managers here at DLR would crack down more and/or be more selective in their hiring. Of course, pay scale and cost of living probably contribute most to this phenomenon.

-e

We went to WDW in January and I didn't find the castmembers there to be any more friendly than the ones at Disneyland.

To the original poster (and anyone else that's been to both DL and WDW)....did you find Disneyland to be cleaner than WDW?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Unfortunately, DL doesn't have acres of land around the park like WDW and therefore has to be more careful about the fireworks show. So, yes, if there are winds at higher elevations, than the show gets cancelled. Also, they only show the fireworks during the weekends during off times as a courtesy to the many residents around the area.

 

[blue donkey]

We almost did not get to see the fireworks.

After reading from DIS, I have learned to always watch the fireworks from the 1st night on b/c they seemed to be cancelled quite a bit. I've been lucky enough, though, to be able to see them every trip. My favorite part of the trips are always watching the fireworks w/my dh.

Also, they only show the fireworks during the weekends during off times as a courtesy to the many residents around the area.

I can appreciate that. Growing up, I always knew when the fireworks show was on. We could hear the deep booming even in far northwest side of huntington beach. I can't imagine how loud it must be for the residents in anaheim.

 

[JaneJetson]

After reading from DIS, I have learned to always watch the fireworks from the 1st night on b/c they seemed to be cancelled quite a bit. I've been lucky enough, though, to be able to see them every trip. My favorite part of the trips are always watching the fireworks w/my dh.



I can appreciate that. Growing up, I always knew when the fireworks show was on. We could hear the deep booming even in far northwest side of huntington beach. I can't imagine how loud it must be for the residents in anaheim.

I lived in Orange....about 4 or 5 miles from Disneyland and I heard the fireworks. But they weren't that loud. It never bothered me.

 

[HydroGuy]

Our first trip was fantastic. (July 31 - Aug. 5th) We are many timers at the world but this was our first trip to California. We loved the weather! We are from Houston and it is hot and humid in Aug. (104º while we were gone), so we were glad to have 67º in the morning and 82º as the high with low humidity.

IMO the summer weather at DLR gets a bad rap. Just like most everywhere heat waves are possible, but in general the summer weather is ideal in my experience.

Mid-day high temps in the low or mid-80's is typical - "Detailed Weather History for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

We almost did not get to see the fireworks. The first night we were late getting over to Disneyland and could not get a spot, so we were there to get our spot the next night an hour and a half before the show. We had a good spot, but they cancelled the show due to winds at high elevations. That was a new one. The next night we got there earlier and got a better spot and they almost cancelled it, but they were able to run it and it was spectacular!!!

For people who are able to check in on this forum we try to give them a heads up on this so they are not caught by surprise like you were. Here is one place it is discussed:

"HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199851

Glad you were able to see it in the end. It is a fabulous show.

 

[JaneJetson]

IMO the summer weather at DLR gets a bad rap. Just like most everywhere heat waves are possible, but in general the summer weather is ideal in my experience.

Mid-day high temps in the low or mid-80's is typical - "Detailed Weather History for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

Uh...what? I'm pretty sure the original poster was talking about how the weather was NICE. He didn't mention a heat wave.

 

[bumbershoot]

For those going in the future, I wanted to comment on "I did find the cast members quite a bit less friendly and the were just a few that were carrying around pins to trade than those at the world."

I found that the CMs in the shops almost always have a lanyard to trade from, and IMO as a pin-trade *watcher* (hubby trades, I don't), it's much more pleasant to have a trade done at a counter in a shop, rather than stopping a CM in the middle of a walkway with people streaming past. So for traders, ask the CMs at the shops if they have trading lanyards!

 

[HydroGuy]

Uh...what? I'm pretty sure the original poster was talking about how the weather was NICE. He didn't mention a heat wave.

I was agreeing with the poster. I see lots of complaints around here from others about how hot it is at DLR in the summer and I think they are not being fair. This poster was being fair and also, being from Houston, had a different definition of "hot" than other posters might have.

 

[JaneJetson]

I was agreeing with the poster. I see lots of complaints around here from others about how hot it is at DLR in the summer and I think they are not being fair. This poster was being fair and also, being from Houston, had a different definition of "hot" than other posters might have.

How are people not being "fair" by thinking it's hot? I don't get it.

 

[Quest4fun]

I was agreeing with the poster. I see lots of complaints around here from others about how hot it is at DLR in the summer and I think they are not being fair. This poster was being fair and also, being from Houston, had a different definition of "hot" than other posters might have.

It's absolutely fair. It's very hot in Anaheim during the Summer. Anybody from Houston knows what hot is so they probably wouldn't have noticed. I lived earshot of Disneyland for almost 20 years and I can't think of a Summer where it wasn't sweltering. They have the occasional nice day but it's typically hot no matter what most almanacs (that aren't recording in the same area) say.

I laugh hysterically when I see reports of LA being in the high 70's low 80's during the Summer. They always site their readings from LAX which is pretty much right at the beach. Of course it will be cooler. Tell that to the people downtown who are sweating it out in triple digits.

It's all propaganda to ensure that their tourism industry flourishes.

Take it from a former resident. 8 years in LA County and 20 in Orange County. It's hot out there from June to September every year without fail. You can either believe the testimony from a casual visitor or a former resident. It's hot there as a desert should be.

 

[HydroGuy]

How are people not being "fair" by thinking it's hot? I don't get it.

I see posts how people went to DLR and it was 90 or 100 degrees (which it can be - I have been there on such days). Then they post that summer is a terrible time to go because summer days are 90-100 degrees and that DLR is too hot. I think that is not fair. It can be that hot, but usually it is not. Not in my experience and not according to weather data.

On the other hand, if someone experiences the more typical summer mid-to-low 80's at DLR and says it is too hot, well that is a fair statement. It so happens that I disagree with them, but at that point it is just my opinion vs. theirs on what constitutes "too hot".

 

[Quest4fun]

I see posts how people went to DLR and it was 90 or 100 degrees (which it can be - I have been there on such days). Then they post that summer is a terrible time to go because summer days are 90-100 degrees and that DLR is too hot. I think that is not fair. It can be that hot, but usually it is not. Not in my experience and not according to weather data.

On the other hand, if someone experiences the more typical summer mid-to-low 80's at DLR and says it is too hot, well that is a fair statement. It so happens that I disagree with them, but at that point it is just my opinion vs. theirs on what constitutes "too hot".

Weather data for Disneyland is flawed since it's taken from Fullerton which can be as much as 10 degrees different than what Disneyland can be.

It's not fair that Anaheim is as hot for as long and and as frequently that it is. Typical Summer for Anaheim is 90's. From time to time you can get lucky and experience mid to low 80's but don't count on it.

It's very possible that you had some fortunate trips there but as a former resident who lived there from 1978 to 2007 I think at least I would know a thing or two about what the typical weather is. It's usually a lot warmer than is forecasted as well as reported.

I just spoke with a member of my staff in Irvine and it's already in the mid 80's today and has been hovering in the high 80's all week. Just for a chuckle I checked the last observed temperatures Anaheim for the past two months and they don't seem to mention any of the triple digit days they experienced this Summer.

I don't want this to deter anybody from visiting what I consider to be my favorite Disney park. Just wear sun protection, dress lightly and stay hydrated because it can be (and usually is) very hot.

 

[JaneJetson]

Anything over 75 degrees is just too hot for me when walking around a theme park.