Just returned from 3 nights in Anaheim and 4 nights in Vegas. Arrived via John Wayne Airport and picked up rental car (got the best deal with Avis no less!). After only 1 wrong turn and 1 stop at Target arrived at the Tropicana Inn on Harbor. We were pleasantly surprised how nice and clean the room was. The pool was very relaxing in the afternoons and the hot tub was fabulous at night! The breakfast in the hospitality room consisted of coffee, tea, juices, donuts, pastry, apples and oranges. The proximity to Disneyland was too good to be true! Literally a 3 to 5 minute walk!
We really lucked out with crowds! Friday night, Saturday and Sunday morning the longest we waited for any ride was 10 minutes. We collected fast passes in the mornings and they came in handy for the evenings. Space Mountain had the longest wait of any ride we saw at 45 minutes--we did have fast passes!
We are not parade or show kinda' people and didn't care to fight the crowds for Fantasmic or World of Color. We took advantage of the short lines during the popular shows and fireworks.
My daughter really got into pin trading. I had read about it here on the boards! We went to the Disney Character Warehouse (on north Harbor) and picked up a price reduced pin set (read CHEAP!). She had a blast trading and we met some really wonderful cast members. I always go to our local dollar store and get a bunch of pens with the Canadian flag on them before a trip. Any one we encounter that makes us smile gets a pen. It's not much but little random acts of kindness . . .
To demonstrate how my family are not show or parade people--I wanted to at least see Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. My husband and daughter couldn't even stand the few minutes of waiting required for that! Even watching the Steve Martin video wasn't enough incentive!
We did Space Mountain 3 times, Big Thunder Mountain at least 15 times, Pirates twice, H.M. once. On our Magic Morning we did every ride in Fantasy Land in that one hour! We were at the park for opening every morning and then back to the hotel for a swim and went for some shopping before returning for the evening.
Didn't spend too much time in California Adventure, did Soaring twice--loved it!
I celebrated my birthday while there and had made reservations for the Blue Bayou for 11:30. We got there by 11:00 and were seated at a waterside table by 11:25. The atmosphere was amazing. My husband and I did a split plate Monte Cristo--it was good, not fabulous, but good. My daughter had the macaroni and said it was good and extra cheesy!
We left for Vegas on the Monday morning after 5 quick rides on Big Thunder Mountain and some last minute pin trading. Had an easy drive to Vegas but did not return home any richer. "Idiot Tax" my father calls it! Vegas also has a Disney Character Warehouse. Got a bunch of price reduced gifts and tops for my daughter.
Thank you to everyone who posts on these boards. I'm more of a lurker. I took advantage of sooooo many tips from all of you! Thank you so much. If anyone has questions I hope I can be of help!
Cathy
We really lucked out with crowds! Friday night, Saturday and Sunday morning the longest we waited for any ride was 10 minutes. We collected fast passes in the mornings and they came in handy for the evenings. Space Mountain had the longest wait of any ride we saw at 45 minutes--we did have fast passes!
We are not parade or show kinda' people and didn't care to fight the crowds for Fantasmic or World of Color. We took advantage of the short lines during the popular shows and fireworks.
My daughter really got into pin trading. I had read about it here on the boards! We went to the Disney Character Warehouse (on north Harbor) and picked up a price reduced pin set (read CHEAP!). She had a blast trading and we met some really wonderful cast members. I always go to our local dollar store and get a bunch of pens with the Canadian flag on them before a trip. Any one we encounter that makes us smile gets a pen. It's not much but little random acts of kindness . . .
To demonstrate how my family are not show or parade people--I wanted to at least see Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. My husband and daughter couldn't even stand the few minutes of waiting required for that! Even watching the Steve Martin video wasn't enough incentive!
We did Space Mountain 3 times, Big Thunder Mountain at least 15 times, Pirates twice, H.M. once. On our Magic Morning we did every ride in Fantasy Land in that one hour! We were at the park for opening every morning and then back to the hotel for a swim and went for some shopping before returning for the evening.
Didn't spend too much time in California Adventure, did Soaring twice--loved it!
I celebrated my birthday while there and had made reservations for the Blue Bayou for 11:30. We got there by 11:00 and were seated at a waterside table by 11:25. The atmosphere was amazing. My husband and I did a split plate Monte Cristo--it was good, not fabulous, but good. My daughter had the macaroni and said it was good and extra cheesy!
We left for Vegas on the Monday morning after 5 quick rides on Big Thunder Mountain and some last minute pin trading. Had an easy drive to Vegas but did not return home any richer. "Idiot Tax" my father calls it! Vegas also has a Disney Character Warehouse. Got a bunch of price reduced gifts and tops for my daughter.
Thank you to everyone who posts on these boards. I'm more of a lurker. I took advantage of sooooo many tips from all of you! Thank you so much. If anyone has questions I hope I can be of help!
Cathy
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