Hijinks & Shenanigans but not much Mayhem@The Dark Side+Disney:Link to DL/Hawaii TR

[LovintheLodge]

Hi Dee. I really haven't kept up with your trip report as I was always reading up for our F&W trip that just passed! Are you almost done with your report...wasn't this a one week vacation haha?? We had a great time. I wanted to write a short review but haven't done so yet (typical!).

Your 2014 vacation plans sound great. I did read when you posted what your options were. If and when you do the national parks, it's probably best to split it up. We did a great trip 4 years ago with Grand Canyon, Sedona, Bryce, Zion, Hoover Dam and ended in Las Vegas. Those national parks work well as the driving between is 2-3 hours. We did not feel rushed or that we were constantly driving! And it helps to go with another family (as we did)! Our kids were 16 and 18 at the time.

We are planning on going to Hawaii as well but around the end of May next year! We got to get moving on plans, but I told my DH that I had to go on our WDW trip first before I could begin to think about it. I have never been there and DH went for the first time to the Big Island last April with his brother who won a trip through work. He had a great time and kept saying how beautiful it was. Splitting it up with DL/DCA is a great idea. And you are staying at the GCH!! You enter DCA directly from the hotel. We loved our trip there last summer (brother in law lives about 15 minutes from DL). You will also love that your feet will not be nearly as tired! I really enjoyed how everything was so close together (including Downtown Disney). Those two parks have as many attractions as 3 WDW parks. Of course I still love WDW more as a destination, but we really enjoyed our time there.

Happy planning!

Kerry

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[luvpoohandcompany]

OMG I'm so out of the loop with everything-life keeps getting in the way of my dis time
So excited to hear that decisions have been made for the 2014 trip of a lifetime!! Sounds fab! Cant wait to hear all the plans

 

[natebenma]

Oh wow! Sounds like a dream trip! How wonderful for you, I can't wait to hear all about it now!

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Thanks!!! Can't wait to share the details. Once I figure them out!

Now I have to really get seriously acquainted with my big girl camera. Your tips are so helpful!

We live in the Chicago suburbs so the time change was one hour less for us than it will be for you. What we found was that the time change wasn't too bad going west, to Hawaii. You'll have less of a problem going out there with your California stop. We found ourselves wide awake at four am and sleepy at 8pm, but that was okay. We usually ate our big meal at lunch, which was just about the same time as dinner time at home, and I think that helped. Since Hawaii is a lot closer to the equator than Boston, you'll notice that the sun sets a lot earlier there, like 6:30 -7pm. That helps to put you in an "early to bed" mood.

The killer is coming back home. That is when zombie time hits. But it is worth it.

Thanks for the info and tips. Glad it is better headed in that direction. But since I can't sleep past 5 am here, I really hope my body doesn't think that 2 am is when it is supposed to be awake in California. Or even worse once we hit the islands.

I didn't realize that about the sunset. That will be helpful. We are not a "nightlife family" and we always feel like slugs when we are back in the room by 7 pm, but we get such early starts and we are always so busy during trips, we are toast by early evening.

Thanks also for the suggestion about having our big meal at lunch. But, let's face it, after paying for this trip, there's not going to be any room in the budget for food on the trip!

Hi Dee. I really haven't kept up with your trip report as I was always reading up for our F&W trip that just passed! Are you almost done with your report...wasn't this a one week vacation haha?? We had a great time. I wanted to write a short review but haven't done so yet (typical!).

Your 2014 vacation plans sound great. I did read when you posted what your options were. If and when you do the national parks, it's probably best to split it up. We did a great trip 4 years ago with Grand Canyon, Sedona, Bryce, Zion, Hoover Dam and ended in Las Vegas. Those national parks work well as the driving between is 2-3 hours. We did not feel rushed or that we were constantly driving! And it helps to go with another family (as we did)! Our kids were 16 and 18 at the time.

We are planning on going to Hawaii as well but around the end of May next year! We got to get moving on plans, but I told my DH that I had to go on our WDW trip first before I could begin to think about it. I have never been there and DH went for the first time to the Big Island last April with his brother who won a trip through work. He had a great time and kept saying how beautiful it was. Splitting it up with DL/DCA is a great idea. And you are staying at the GCH!! You enter DCA directly from the hotel. We loved our trip there last summer (brother in law lives about 15 minutes from DL). You will also love that your feet will not be nearly as tired! I really enjoyed how everything was so close together (including Downtown Disney). Those two parks have as many attractions as 3 WDW parks. Of course I still love WDW more as a destination, but we really enjoyed our time there.

Happy planning!

Kerry

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I enjoyed reading your trip postings. Sounds like you had a wonderful time!

Am I almost done!

Heck, no!

I am just starting my first full day at Disney. I haven't even finished my report on the Universal portion, which was prior to Disney. I am finished with the Universal Studios portion (over on the other forum) but I haven't even started on Islands of Adventure yet.

You have plenty of time to catch up- I have links in the 2nd post of the report.

Which islands are you going to in May? I'll be interest in sharing plans and strategies with you!

OMG I'm so out of the loop with everything-life keeps getting in the way of my dis time
So excited to hear that decisions have been made for the 2014 trip of a lifetime!! Sounds fab! Cant wait to hear all the plans

Oh, I'll share with you- probably more than you want to hear!

 

[jenseib]

Wooohooo! That sounds like such an awesome trip!!!!

 

[natebenma]

Wooohooo! That sounds like such an awesome trip!!!!

I think so, too!!!



But, enough from me about the future trip for now. I need to get back to work on our Disney World report.

 

[natebenma]

The End is Near! (Wait, didn’t we just get here?)





We had limited time in AK this morning since we had a lunch time reservation in HS at the Sci Fi.


We entered AK





We followed the crowds





And made our way to…





Primeval Whirl!


*************************************************************************************

One of Mark and my favorite pastimes is discussing Disney touring plans. I credit the genius of this plan to Mark- it is simple and effective and avoids the morning madness.

We rode PW for the first time just a trip or two ago. Since this is a low-capacity/slow-loader, the lines tend to build up pretty quickly during the day. And we have seen the ride go down often. We enjoy the ride, not enough to waste a FP here.

So our morning EMH strategy goes like this:

Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur while everyone else is queuing up for EE and KS.

Walk to Asia, pull EE FP, ride EE and get to the safari close to 9 am when the park opens to everyone and before a long line starts to build there.

Then, back to Asia to ride EE with our FP

Check out Kali- either ride or FP.

Let’s see how these plans pan out

***********************************************************************************************


There was NOBODY in line for PW, “The Whiplashiest Ride in the Cretaceous Period”


One of your favorites, Brenda, if I’m not mistaken!



















I’m always a little scared riding this since rides that spin, or go round-and-round, make me sick. But I do ok on this one.

There was still no line and the CM at the end of the ride asked if we wanted to ride again. We politely declined.

1) I didn’t want to push my luck and get myself sick
2) We have a plan to stick to!











The crowds were extinct here, too.

That’s my excuse for this blurry picture. No time to stop.







I don’t think I got a redneck ride photo 


This is my favorite Hidden Mickey in all of Disney. It is the Hester and Chester Gift Shop, in a corner on the upper right on the same wall as the exit to PW.





No time to shop, though, we have a plan!






Next: Are We Having Fun Yet(i)

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Haha, I find Primeval Whirl to be just one big giggle fest. Every jerky twirl just sends me into fits of laughter.

Ahh, nice hidden Mickey catch there Dee. That's a good one!

Ooooh, looks like It's Yeti Time!!!!!

 

[Wood Nymph]

We had limited time in AK this morning since we had a lunch time reservation in HS at the Sci Fi.


We entered AK

So our morning EMH strategy goes like this:

Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur while everyone else is queuing up for EE and KS.

Walk to Asia, pull EE FP, ride EE and get to the safari close to 9 am when the park opens to everyone and before a long line starts to build there.

Then, back to Asia to ride EE with our FP

Check out Kali- either ride or FP.

I like your plan. We usually get in and out of AK by 11:30am unless we decide to go the FOTLK show. And we found that the buses to a park come frequently while buses back to resorts take forever. So we always go to a park from AK.

 

[dtr_angel]

Your 2014 vacation plans sound amazing!!! It figures though, we are going to Disney World in July for the first time and you'll be in California & Hawaii lol.

It looks like a very productive start to the morning at AK, very good strategy. We have never been on the Primeval Whirl, or anything in Dinorama for that matter. I'm sure that will change though with a little one!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Love some "Primeval hurl" as my son likes to call it lol Looks like you park plans are working out just fine

Best advice I have to beat jet-lag is to set your watch to local time at your destination the minute you board the plane to start your journey. It really helps get you on the right time zone although we still fall asleep really early our first night (no matter how hard we try-often at the table waiting for dinner to arrive so now we do counter service) but we do better than we used to when we didn't change our watches

 

[teekathepony]

I am not a big fan of Primeval Whirl, the spinny jerkiness is too much for my sometimes tender tummy!
I love when there's no line at Dinosaur, but it doesn't help with nice pictures! Hahaha

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[emmysmommy]

Hi Dee! I love the accompanying cartoons - so very perfect.

I wondered why PW had a FP attached to it since I've only been on it once and it had no line but it IS slow loading so there you go. As for the ride itself, yeah, you got that right! Not my favorite. We were fine when it just whipped around the turns but when it started to rotate and spins... whoa, let me off! Very nice of the CM to offer to send you off to the end of time again but yeah, I'd pass too. That and you had a PLAN!!

I remember that hidden Mickey inside Chester & Hester's gift shop from the chaperone trip! I didn't see it at first but then you had zoomed in and voila! There it is. And this one is so cool since it is more of a profile.

I'd say your are having fun already but can't wait to see what's in the batter's box for your next update!

 

[KatMark]

Fun update, Dee. I won't say I love Primevil Hurl (Whirl), but it doesn't bother me all that much. I promised Cayley and Avery I'd do it with them during our upcoming December trip since Mark and Mary won't do it.

Your ride on Dinosaur looks like mine...no one to be seen.

Nice catch on the Hidden Mickey...I'll be on the lookout for that in December.

 

[natebenma]

Haha, I find Primeval Whirl to be just one big giggle fest. Every jerky twirl just sends me into fits of laughter.

Ahh, nice hidden Mickey catch there Dee. That's a good one!

Ooooh, looks like It's Yeti Time!!!!!

PW is fun!!! Once in a row, anyway.

That IS a great Hidden Mickey, and I wish I could take credit for finding it myself. A CM in the gift shop took pity on me during my chaperone trip when I was in tears over an interaction with a rude teen and pointed it out in an attempt to cheer me up!

YETI TIME

I like your plan. We usually get in and out of AK by 11:30am unless we decide to go the FOTLK show. And we found that the buses to a park come frequently while buses back to resorts take forever. So we always go to a park from AK.

Since this was such a short trip, 3 full days and 2 half-days in Disney, we considered skipping AK. But we compromised on a half-day followed by a visit to HS.

Our usual AK day is to leave after lunch, around 1 or so, and head to Blizzard Beach for a few hours, then to Boma for dinner, followed by HS before returning to the Beach Club.

Your 2014 vacation plans sound amazing!!! It figures though, we are going to Disney World in July for the first time and you'll be in California & Hawaii lol.

It looks like a very productive start to the morning at AK, very good strategy. We have never been on the Primeval Whirl, or anything in Dinorama for that matter. I'm sure that will change though with a little one!

We are really looking forward to our summer trip! I'm pretty sure we were going to skip Disney World this year, but I'm sad to think I will be missing the opportunity to meet your family!

If Gavin is anything like my boys, you will definitely be spending more time in Dinoland USA. My guys are too old for the Boneyard playground now, but it is really a great place to get the wiggles out!

Love some "Primeval hurl" as my son likes to call it lol Looks like you park plans are working out just fine

Best advice I have to beat jet-lag is to set your watch to local time at your destination the minute you board the plane to start your journey. It really helps get you on the right time zone although we still fall asleep really early our first night (no matter how hard we try-often at the table waiting for dinner to arrive so now we do counter service) but we do better than we used to when we didn't change our watches

I am always quite afraid that the ride will truly become "Primeval Hurl" for me, but so far I have been able to handle the ride. That would not be a great way to start the day!

Thanks so much for the Jet Lag tip! I will definitely do that and let you know how it goes.

I am not a big fan of Primeval Whirl, the spinny jerkiness is too much for my sometimes tender tummy!
I love when there's no line at Dinosaur, but it doesn't help with nice pictures! Hahaha

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I'll sacrifice the pictures at Dinosaur for a short wait!!!

Hi Dee! I love the accompanying cartoons - so very perfect.

I wondered why PW had a FP attached to it since I've only been on it once and it had no line but it IS slow loading so there you go. As for the ride itself, yeah, you got that right! Not my favorite. We were fine when it just whipped around the turns but when it started to rotate and spins... whoa, let me off! Very nice of the CM to offer to send you off to the end of time again but yeah, I'd pass too. That and you had a PLAN!!

I remember that hidden Mickey inside Chester & Hester's gift shop from the chaperone trip! I didn't see it at first but then you had zoomed in and voila! There it is. And this one is so cool since it is more of a profile.

I'd say your are having fun already but can't wait to see what's in the batter's box for your next update!

Thanks for the love on the comics. Some of the ones I have are better, and more applicable, than others, but it amuses me!

PW is a ONE-AND-DONE for me. The boys really love it, though.

I did a better job photographing it this year since I wasn't looking though a tear-soaked lens.

Fun update, Dee. I won't say I love Primevil Hurl (Whirl), but it doesn't bother me all that much. I promised Cayley and Avery I'd do it with them during our upcoming December trip since Mark and Mary won't do it.

Your ride on Dinosaur looks like mine...no one to be seen.

Nice catch on the Hidden Mickey...I'll be on the lookout for that in December.

PW is one of those rides where you pay for the fun. That is really nice to sacrifice for Cayley and Avery. The things we do for kids!

The queue at Dino is pretty cool, but I've been there/done that, so it is nice when the ride is a walk-on.

Yeah, I can't take credit for finding that Hidden Mickey! See above. But it is just so clever!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I've never been on PW (afraid of spinning rides lol)
I like Mark's plan! It's interesting to hear other's tp. Although our tp need to be much different bc we stay offsite now.
AK is definitely a half day park for us as well. I've wanted to see the Nemo again for the past few years but nobody in my family wants to stay for it. So I'm outta luck. I'll get back there again I'm sure.
Actually I'm thinking over Christmas will be perfect, since we won't have access to FP+ yet. We may as well see some shows since the waits for rides will be ridiculous w/out FP.
I am a little stressed about not using FPs. We've never done that before!

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[eandesmom]

We booked a trip this morning!!!

We will be flying from Boston to LAX for a 4 night stay at the Grand Californian Disneyland. I have been to DL once, for one day, but the rest of the family has never been.

One of the top things on my To-Do list for this part of the trip is to meet up with Brenda (emmysmommy) for a Pina Colava, or two!

Brenda is on my trip list too

We will then continue on to Hawaii:

4 nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Oahu

You realize there are pictures of your resort in my Live from Waikiki TR update? the first lagoon where I spotted the bride. GREAT location, enough away from the madness but close enough at the same time.

Other than Pearl, what are you guys thinking about? Do plan around traffic and try to go off peak, it will make a huge huge difference.

4 nights at the Honua Kai Resort in Maui (1 Bedroom Condo)

You are staying very close to where we usually stay. Decent grocery story very nearby! Short drive to black rock for snorkeling

1 night at Hilton Waikoloa Village

This is in an amazing area of beach and snorkeling. I have pictures of this as well from our Hawaii trip back in 2011. Gorgeous! Honestly if it were me I might try to do one more night here, and one less elsewhere. The big island is SO big...and you are quite far from the volcano if you plan to hit it, I'd hate to give up the amazing beach and Kona Town!

What a wonderful trip you have planned!

The End is Near! (Wait, didn’t we just get here?)

One of Mark and my favorite pastimes is discussing Disney touring plans. I credit the genius of this plan to Mark- it is simple and effective and avoids the morning madness.

We rode PW for the first time just a trip or two ago. Since this is a low-capacity/slow-loader, the lines tend to build up pretty quickly during the day. And we have seen the ride go down often. We enjoy the ride, not enough to waste a FP here.

So our morning EMH strategy goes like this:

Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur while everyone else is queuing up for EE and KS.

Walk to Asia, pull EE FP, ride EE and get to the safari close to 9 am when the park opens to everyone and before a long line starts to build there.

Then, back to Asia to ride EE with our FP

Check out Kali- either ride or FP.

Let’s see how these plans pan out

Very good plan! I am worried how the FP+ will change this for folks. We tend to grab a FP at EE or Safari and then head straight to Dinosaur to ride. I confess, I've only been on Primeval once and well, I was expecting it somehow to be more than it was given all the descriptions. It is kind of cute though but OH it's a slow loader!

That shop may be one of my favorites in all of the world. Never bought a thing there but I could look for quite a long time!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Thanks!

When next summer?

A couple of weeks ago, we happened upon a show on the Travel Channel about Disneyland. Mark watched it and I think 15 minutes in he said "We're definitely going to Disneyland"

We had considered just a day to help break up the travel, but doing a multi-day stay will help us recover from the travel and hopefully start to adjust to the extreme time change we will encounter in Hawaii.

We are thinking about mid June, but not sure yet. Everything I read says that DL is extremely busy all summer. So, I'm trying to figure out the best time to go. We may not get back for a very long time, or maybe ever. So I don't want to get there and spend all week in huge lines.

When are you going??

I think that's a great idea, to break up that long trip to Hawaii. You're going to have a great time!!

 

[JanetMom]

I fell a bit behind on this report, but I'm back now and all caught up.

The Hawaii trip sounds amazing, and the trip to DL is the cherry on top. You are going to have so much fun planning that vacation! And then you get to have fun going on that vacation! It all sounds amazing!

 

[tiggerfan77]

Great strategy! We usually head to the Safari first then head to Dinoland. It's nice when it's not crowded. And I know there are folks that hate this area but since EJ has always been a dinosaur fan, we have spent a lot of time here!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hum, sounds like that was a great strategy. Think I may just have to give it a try. We are some of the ones that head straight to the safari. Oh and thanks for reminding me of the hidden Mickey there. It's been a while since I've seen it.