Heading to SoCal later THIS WEEK

[duckboyone]

We are driving out to SoCal from Texas on Friday, and starting 5 straight days of DLR/CAP next Monday. It's been 6 years since we last went, twice as long as the longest previous gap since we started going a while ago. I'm so excited I don't know how I'm going to get any work done this week!

I just wanted to thank everyone on this board for all their questions, answers, and advice. I've learned a lot and I'm glad I came here because it sure seems like things are going to be very different, logisitcs-wise. I will miss the old fastpass system but the genie+ seems to have it perks.

If anyone has any other last minute advice about the state of the park right now, I'm open!

And by the way, I'm hoping and praying that Pirates does in fact open on July 1, as that is our last day there!

 

[Geemo]

We are driving out to SoCal from Texas on Friday, and starting 5 straight days of DLR/CAP next Monday. It's been 6 years since we last went, twice as long as the longest previous gap since we started going a while ago. I'm so excited I don't know how I'm going to get any work done this week!

I just wanted to thank everyone on this board for all their questions, answers, and advice. I've learned a lot and I'm glad I came here because it sure seems like things are going to be very different, logisitcs-wise. I will miss the old fastpass system but the genie+ seems to have it perks.

If anyone has any other last minute advice about the state of the park right now, I'm open!

And by the way, I'm hoping and praying that Pirates does in fact open on July 1, as that is our last day there!

Ahh... Road Trip.
Check out GasBuddy to see the price of gas along your route.
Might help you save a few bucks to spend in the parks.

Have a fun trip!!

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

Definitely prepare yourself for fuel costs in CA - they are often more than $1 per gallon higher than in TX. We just finished a similar road trip!

If you have practiced with the tip board in the app, and feel good about mobile ordering, you should be good to go. Mobile order was probably the most pleasant surprise, along with very friendly and courteous guests and CMs. May your trip be filled with pixie dust!

 

[duckboyone]

Yes thanks for mentioning the gas prices, I had upped our fuel budget a little while ago, but haven't kept up with rising prices. We picked the wrong summer to drive across the country lol.

And thanks for the reminder about mobile ordering, I had actually forgotten about that! That's one of those "different" things than when we used to go. We've had to deal with long-ish food lines before, but nothing more than a few minutes.

 

[Matrixleos]

Congrats, sounds like an amazing trip. How many days in the parks, what parks will you be starting at, are you planning to get any park hoppers or Genie+?

 

[duckboyone]

Congrats, sounds like an amazing trip. How many days in the parks, what parks will you be starting at, are you planning to get any park hoppers or Genie+?

Five days in the parks, we're doing: DL-DL-CA-CA-DL. No park hoppers, we're spending that extra $ on genie+ instead. We actually had to switch a DL/CA day because they recently added more graduation nights and we were going to miss out on World of Color. Fortunately it wasn't too difficult to switch reservations.

My youngest daughter's birthday is our second DL day, she's thrilled about that.

One thing I'm kind of not looking forward to, as someone who was "Marvel'ed out" some time ago, is not seeing Bug's Land there anymore. I know, it's in the past, old IP, etc., but we have great memories of when my kids were little and that was their favorite place to go in CAP.

Actually two things. I'm REALLY going to miss Tarzan's Treehouse as well. I loved hearing that music as we walked past Pirates into Adventureland, it just fit the theme perfectly.

 

[Matrixleos]

Five days in the parks, we're doing: DL-DL-CA-CA-DL. No park hoppers, we're spending that extra $ on genie+ instead. We actually had to switch a DL/CA day because they recently added more graduation nights and we were going to miss out on World of Color. Fortunately it wasn't too difficult to switch reservations.

My youngest daughter's birthday is our second DL day, she's thrilled about that.

One thing I'm kind of not looking forward to, as someone who was "Marvel'ed out" some time ago, is not seeing Bug's Land there anymore. I know, it's in the past, old IP, etc., but we have great memories of when my kids were little and that was their favorite place to go in CAP.

Actually two things. I'm REALLY going to miss Tarzan's Treehouse as well. I loved hearing that music as we walked past Pirates into Adventureland, it just fit the theme perfectly.

Sounds like a great trip plan. Plus if you could only get one or the other, I'd also would have opted for Genie+ over Park Hopping.

I'm also sure your daughter will have a blast on her birthday. If possible, the day before your first park visit, stop by the Grand Californian (even if you're not staying there). You can also get the Disney buttons in the parks but this way, you just save time and don't waste time in the parks to get them. I was able to get a birthday button from the Guest Services desk. The Cast Member was even able to customize it with his sharpie pen. The following day on my birthday, I was still wearing the Happy Birthday pin that I got from the Grand Californian the day before. Which was a cool experience since most every Cast Member and several other guests that we encountered, all wished me a Happy Birthday. Although my favorite by far was the ride Cast Member near the haunted mansion, who in a deep\slow\low\creepy voice sang the Happy Birthday Song. LOL....that was fun.

While I never visited Bug's Land at DCA, one of my favorite rides at Animal Kingdom has always been, It's Tough To Be A Bug!

 

[duckboyone]

Sounds like a great trip plan. Plus if you could only get one or the other, I'd also would have opted for Genie+ over Park Hopping.

I'm also sure your daughter will have a blast on her birthday. If possible, the day before your first park visit, stop by the Grand Californian (even if you're not staying there). You can also get the Disney buttons in the parks but this way, you just save time and don't waste time in the parks to get them. I was able to get a birthday button from the Guest Services desk. The Cast Member was even able to customize it with his sharpie pen. The following day on my birthday, I was still wearing the Happy Birthday pin that I got from the Grand Californian the day before. Which was a cool experience since most every Cast Member and several other guests that we encountered, all wished me a Happy Birthday. Although my favorite by far was the ride Cast Member near the haunted mansion, who in a deep\slow\low\creepy voice sang the Happy Birthday Song. LOL....that was fun.

While I never visited Bug's Land at DCA, one of my favorite rides at Animal Kingdom has always been, It's Tough To Be A Bug!

Thanks for the tip! As it happens, the day before we go into the parks, we always spend time in Downtown Disney, and wander through the Grand Californian, so that will work out perfectly.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

I found mobile order for drinks/snacks was one of the most useful things - it helped me really minimize walking and waiting time between attractions to know I was going to be in a specific area by a specific QS place, and could set a mobile order up ahead, and then click I'm here as we got off the attraction. We also had snacks for in between and a ton of water bottles - it was incredible how much my kids ate and drank that week, but I think it was because they were moving a lot more than usual!

 

[longboard55]

weather has been awsome

 

[Pluto468]

How exciting! I will be there the exact dates as you, same park days, too! I'm really crossing my fingers that Pirates will be open. We shifted our trip 2 days later in order to be there for it. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Gypsybear]

Check out GasBuddy to see the price of gas along your route.

This is a must. We drive to CA from TX twice a year, and it is definitely the way to go.

 

[longboard55]

You really want to avoid the gas stations in the middle of nowhere, they can add $1 a gallon

 

[duckboyone]

How exciting! I will be there the exact dates as you, same park days, too! I'm really crossing my fingers that Pirates will be open. We shifted our trip 2 days later in order to be there for it. Have a wonderful trip!

Great minds think alike Hope ya'll have a wonderful trip as well!

 

[Gypsybear]

You really want to avoid the gas stations in the middle of nowhere, they can add $1 a gallon

Agreed. We've driven this route enough times, that we now have a list of stops programmed into our GPS, based on fuel efficiency/mileage that our SUV gets. Keeps us from stopping at those "in the middle of nowhere" spots along the way.

 

[erinch]

How did it go?

I grew up in Redlands, and we went to DL for Grad Nite in 1976. That year the most popular ride was Monsanto Journey Into an Atom. They finally made a park wide announcement that there were security cameras on that ride which could see what couples were up to.