Donald D Duck
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2008
- Messages
- 110
Morning all. We are freshly back from four days staying at sequoia lodge so thought I'd share some thoughts. You'll have to bear in mind this is our first dlrp trip since June 2008. We came away from that trip pretty disappointed which ultimately meant we booked more or less straight away to go back to wdw the following year. Those trips however were just my wife and I, we now had a very nearly 2 year old in tow...
Highs
Manhattan restaurant, we went there to take advantage of the 25% shareholder discount for September and really enjoyed it. The guy playing the piano came over and talked to us because DD was watching him and he played isn't she lovely for her. Good food too, I had the L bone steak, delicious!
Sequoia lodge, lovely hotel, some issues which if you were being picky could have been disastrous but these things happen.
Characters, we had the best interactions. We started with Pluto in the hotel and then did meet mickey mouse in the park, DD was in love by then. We mostly did hotel meets including a couple at Disneyland hotel after eating breakfast there. I would really really recommend if you have kids who want to meet characters then pay for brekkie there (to avoid any guilt!) and spend a morning there. The time and attention you get as well as the organised queue was brilliant.
Daisy duck, ok another character, but DD was telling every character that we met that we were going to meet Daisy after, and I was worried we wouldn't find her. Luckily last day we watched the 20th anniversary train and just as I w explaining how daisy was very busy and might not stop, the train stopped and she got off. I ran with DD to a small but modest crowd. I wasn't going to resort to pushing but was also bring firm with our place. Telling DD loud enough that we had to wait for the other boys and girls who were there first etc, so hopefully daisy knew we were there and luckily she did turn and wave DD over. There are scrubs but to be fair daisy was shoeing other randoms away. I can tell you I felt like I had won the jackpot getting those photos and autograph in the book.
Weather was dry and mostly warm if not fresh first thing
Crowds were good except Sunday which scared us a little
We were debating using a locker at the train station for luggage when leaving having heard stories of massive queues but decided to stick with Disney express mainly because of our time in the morning. Glad we did as the desk was empty when we picked up the cases.
Salon mickey, only made it in on the last day. A lovely little treat first thing, but wow is it small! And she forgot to validate our park tickets so i had to ask nicely for a FP at big thunder mountain.
Smoking, not really a high as such but it was nowhere near as bad as I remembered. Perhaps because I was a lot more prepared for it this time than last.
Lows - none of these were bad enough to ruin things for us
Access pass, we saw a thread about this the day before we went and copied the form from the doctor you use for work which they accepted no problem. Except the pass is for you and one other person which with 3 of us rendered it useless. Now we never wanted to abuse it, but especially on the first day when small world had a 60 min queue we thought we would use it, but no. I had to sit on the side. As I say not a problem but it seemed strange. Later that same day when not planning to use I but just happened to be holding the green guide book they give you the CM at phantom manor said we could all use it.
One CM , on the flying carpets of all things the CM told my wife while sitting on the ride she could not ride because she was pregnant. I rode it with DD but she cried the whole way round. Don't get me wrong I know there are some rides that would be unsafe, but on day 1 when getting the pass etc, they were saying about pirates and even with that they would recommend strongly you don't ride it but wouldn't stop you.
Minor hotel problems, when we arrived we spent 5 mins in the room before we lost all power, but it was back on when we returned from dinner, but....
When we got back the room key wasn't working. I ran off to reception but there was a huge queue and one person behind the desk. I asked at the concierge to see if she could help but no, bearing in mind it was 10pm and DD, and DW, we're more or less desperate to get in the room to bed. Luckily a maintenance man let them in. As it turned out we seemed to have a very temperamental swipe card or reader, I wonder now if the cat got partially demagnetised?
Adventureland, I just find there is very little on offer here, except pirates which I did with DD, big mistake. She was fine on phantom manor but DW was there then. I think it was more people screaming when you do the drop which scared her. She got after it soon after when I got the camera out and showed her pictures of her with Donald at the DLH that morning
I'm sure there were more highs I'm not quite remembering this morning but overall an excellent time. Having left the last time thoroughly disappointed this time I can't wait to go back.
Highs
Manhattan restaurant, we went there to take advantage of the 25% shareholder discount for September and really enjoyed it. The guy playing the piano came over and talked to us because DD was watching him and he played isn't she lovely for her. Good food too, I had the L bone steak, delicious!
Sequoia lodge, lovely hotel, some issues which if you were being picky could have been disastrous but these things happen.
Characters, we had the best interactions. We started with Pluto in the hotel and then did meet mickey mouse in the park, DD was in love by then. We mostly did hotel meets including a couple at Disneyland hotel after eating breakfast there. I would really really recommend if you have kids who want to meet characters then pay for brekkie there (to avoid any guilt!) and spend a morning there. The time and attention you get as well as the organised queue was brilliant.
Daisy duck, ok another character, but DD was telling every character that we met that we were going to meet Daisy after, and I was worried we wouldn't find her. Luckily last day we watched the 20th anniversary train and just as I w explaining how daisy was very busy and might not stop, the train stopped and she got off. I ran with DD to a small but modest crowd. I wasn't going to resort to pushing but was also bring firm with our place. Telling DD loud enough that we had to wait for the other boys and girls who were there first etc, so hopefully daisy knew we were there and luckily she did turn and wave DD over. There are scrubs but to be fair daisy was shoeing other randoms away. I can tell you I felt like I had won the jackpot getting those photos and autograph in the book.
Weather was dry and mostly warm if not fresh first thing
Crowds were good except Sunday which scared us a little
We were debating using a locker at the train station for luggage when leaving having heard stories of massive queues but decided to stick with Disney express mainly because of our time in the morning. Glad we did as the desk was empty when we picked up the cases.
Salon mickey, only made it in on the last day. A lovely little treat first thing, but wow is it small! And she forgot to validate our park tickets so i had to ask nicely for a FP at big thunder mountain.
Smoking, not really a high as such but it was nowhere near as bad as I remembered. Perhaps because I was a lot more prepared for it this time than last.
Lows - none of these were bad enough to ruin things for us
Access pass, we saw a thread about this the day before we went and copied the form from the doctor you use for work which they accepted no problem. Except the pass is for you and one other person which with 3 of us rendered it useless. Now we never wanted to abuse it, but especially on the first day when small world had a 60 min queue we thought we would use it, but no. I had to sit on the side. As I say not a problem but it seemed strange. Later that same day when not planning to use I but just happened to be holding the green guide book they give you the CM at phantom manor said we could all use it.
One CM , on the flying carpets of all things the CM told my wife while sitting on the ride she could not ride because she was pregnant. I rode it with DD but she cried the whole way round. Don't get me wrong I know there are some rides that would be unsafe, but on day 1 when getting the pass etc, they were saying about pirates and even with that they would recommend strongly you don't ride it but wouldn't stop you.
Minor hotel problems, when we arrived we spent 5 mins in the room before we lost all power, but it was back on when we returned from dinner, but....
When we got back the room key wasn't working. I ran off to reception but there was a huge queue and one person behind the desk. I asked at the concierge to see if she could help but no, bearing in mind it was 10pm and DD, and DW, we're more or less desperate to get in the room to bed. Luckily a maintenance man let them in. As it turned out we seemed to have a very temperamental swipe card or reader, I wonder now if the cat got partially demagnetised?
Adventureland, I just find there is very little on offer here, except pirates which I did with DD, big mistake. She was fine on phantom manor but DW was there then. I think it was more people screaming when you do the drop which scared her. She got after it soon after when I got the camera out and showed her pictures of her with Donald at the DLH that morning
I'm sure there were more highs I'm not quite remembering this morning but overall an excellent time. Having left the last time thoroughly disappointed this time I can't wait to go back.
So pleased that your perceptions of DLP have been turned around and you had a fantastic experience. 
glad you had a great time. 
and for the first time ever I seem to be planning our meals in advance!
.
