"I want my soup!" An October 2010 Trip Report UPDATED 7/9 2012 PTR STARTED!

[jenny105]

I also want to pose a question to you guys. I am (im)patiently waiting until August when the 2012 rates are published so I can book my 30th Birthday Trip for next year. I don't want to stay in a Value Resort. I've stayed at Pop Century enough and the rooms at Art of Animation don't appeal to me. Deluxe is out of our price range so we're going to go for a moderate. I've already ruled out Carib Beach because of the size and the rooms don't look like they've been updated for awhile. So I'm torn between POR, POFQ, and Coronado. I was initially going to go with Coronado because that's the closest you can get to a deluxe resort without the hefty price tag. But from what I've read, it's a big resort. Anything with an internal bus system seems daunting to me. So now I think I'm leaning more toward POFQ. I like that it's small, only one bus stop, has a boat to DTD, and the rooms were recently re-done. I'm not wild about the pool but I could always use the pool at POR since it's only a 10 minute walk.

ETA: Ok so I must have been looking at old pictures of Carib Beach. Apparently now they have a Nemo theme and they are SUPER cute. I think my favorite rooms out of what I've seen so far. I love Nemo! And the pool looks amazing. AHHHHH, help!

So my question to you is, which resort would you choose?

 

[Rora]

I'd stay with Nemo! Honestly, Coronado is my favorite mod. It is a big resort but I love it- great pool, love the Pepper Market, and the theming. If you were older, I'd say there would be reason to be worried about a lack of intra-resort transit.

That being said: the Nemo rooms are so much fun! I think you should stay there!

I'm not a huge fan of POR or POFQ- I am terrified of the Marti Gras restaurant and am not blown away by the Louisiana theming- although the buildings in FQ are so pretty! But again, that's all personal preference.

Rambling over: stay with Nemo!

 

[klacey1]

We always stay at POR and love it! The food court is great, the pool is gorgeous, and we love the Mansions rooms. It just has a nice, homey vibe to us
None of the other moderates (besides maybe POFQ) really ever appealed to me. Not sure why...

 

[jenny105]

I'd stay with Nemo! Honestly, Coronado is my favorite mod. It is a big resort but I love it- great pool, love the Pepper Market, and the theming. If you were older, I'd say there would be reason to be worried about a lack of intra-resort transit.

That being said: the Nemo rooms are so much fun! I think you should stay there!

I'm not a huge fan of POR or POFQ- I am terrified of the Marti Gras restaurant and am not blown away by the Louisiana theming- although the buildings in FQ are so pretty! But again, that's all personal preference.

Rambling over: stay with Nemo!

That's surprising. POFQ and POR seem like the most popular of the mods to me. I totally understand how the Mardis Gras restaurant would be creepy to you though!

I like the pool and rooms for the Carib Beach, ditto for Coronado. But they're lacking a water taxi and I absolutely love them.

Decisions, decisions!

We always stay at POR and love it! The food court is great, the pool is gorgeous, and we love the Mansions rooms. It just has a nice, homey vibe to us
None of the other moderates (besides maybe POFQ) really ever appealed to me. Not sure why...

I was going to stay at POR a few years ago. I was booked there but I ended up being able to upgrade to a deluxe (WL). I've walked around the PO resorts and I think they're beautiful, quaint.

I do like the rooms in Coronado, they're gorgeous, but nothing else about the place appeals to me except the pool. Ditto for Carib Beach.

 

[jenny105]

So before I start this TR post, I just want to update on my last post. I think I'm going to book at POFQ. The pros: it's smaller, one bus stop, rooms were recently remodeled, it's very pretty, and there's a boat to DTD. The cons: that pool! I like the gators, cute photo ops, but I'll use the slide at the POR pool, thanks! Now all I gotta do is wait for August to hurry up and get here so I can book!

I last left off with us finally getting some free time! We wrapped up around 3:15 in DCA and had the rest of the night to ourselves! We headed back to PP to relax for a little while and made plans to meet Sheila in the lobby and go to...

Disneyland Park!

We braved the monorail again since that is the quickest way over. Though the DL monorail is a little frightening when you're used to WDW's monorail I think it's awesome that it drops you in the middle of the park, Tomorrowland to be specific!

Sheila, me, and Theresa on the monorail.

We had plans to meet Sara for dinner at 5:30 and it was around 4:30 so we had time for a ride. Mattherhorn was a 40 minute wait so we decided to get in line. When we got near the front, the CM asked for a party of 3, so we got to cut some of the remaining line. Matterhorn is fun but it's showing it's age. It's a bobsled style coaster and the track is NOT smooth. It's one of those rollercoasters you go on and laugh all the way through as you say 'ow!' It winds it's way around and through the mountain. I feel as though this was the pre-cursor to EE at AKL because 1) it's a mountain and 2) there's a abominable snowman in the Matterhorn. It was a lot of fun!

After the Matterhorn, we cut through the hub on our way to dinner so I could take the money shot...

Look how small it is! It's so weird. You can't see the castle from ANYWHERE in the park. That's how you truly know you're not in Magic Kingdom. Cinderella's Castle dominates the skyline. Sleeping Beauty's Castle can barely be seen from down Main Street and Matterhorn dominates the Disneyland skyline. I felt like I was in an alternate universe! It's pretty but I couldn't get over how tiny it was!

Anyway, we headed over to New Orleans Square to meet Sara (Sheila's roommate) for dinner. Where were we going?

Blue Bayou!

I was super excited to eat here. Sara wasn't there yet but we checked her in and waited for her to arrive. I noticed this restaurant (which is one of the most popular at DL) was accepting walk-ups. That's unheard of at WDW. If you tried to walk up to Le Cellier, I'm pretty sure they would laugh you out of there. It just does not happen. We were sat as soon as Sara arrived (our whole party had to be present). We didn't get a great table, I was hoping to overlook the POTC ride, but we were seated right by the door. Ah well. I didn't take any pictures because it's so dark in there but it feels like you're outdoors, the inside is strung up with what look like paper laterns, and there are musicians on the balconies of the "buildings" that play banjos. It's an amazing atmosphere. And the food? INCREDIBLE! YUM! I got the gumbo to start and the crab cakes. They also serve you this incredible bread to start. I was stuffed by the time I left! I'm pretty sure everyone else got the crab cakes, except Sara because she has a gluten allergy. The chefs came over and went over her options and answered all her questions. They were so good to her and she said her food was delicious as well.

After a great dinner, we headed right down the road to...

the Haunted Mansion! The line wasn't very long, about 10 minutes. The rides are identical except that the pictures that change in the lightning and the moving busts are in the queue area, not part of the actual ride. Disneyland's HM is also missing the staircase room. Other than that, same. I will give MK's version the edge because it looks more foreboding. DL's looks like someone's house. A very rich someone.

After HM, we made our way through Critter Country. Unlike WDW's Splash Mountain, Disneyland's is tucked away in a quiet area and can't be seen immediately. Unfortunately, I didn't get to ride Splash because it was down for refurb. Winnie the Pooh was in the same area so we hopped on that instead. No line. At all. The part of the park was absolutely dead. Those are the only two attractions there and I guess without Splash being open, this part of the park doesn't get much attention. Winnie the Pooh was pretty much the same except you ride in a honeycomb instead of a honey pot & the vehicles don't bounce during the tigger part. Edge? Magic Kingdom. They bounce!

Theresa was starting to get cold at this point because the sun was setting so she and Sheila decided to go back to PP to get their jackets. I asked them if they could pick mine up too and I'd stay in the park with Sara in the meantime. They agreed and I told them to call me when they got back to the park. And with that, I will end this update because I leave work in 10 minutes! Until next time!

 

[Rora]

YAY for making a decision on your mod! POFQ is quite pretty!!

The Matterhorn sounds fun but slightly painful

It's so weird that people can just walk right up to the castle like that. I mean I guess we can walk right up to our castle but the stage is there and it seems much for formal. It's so little! It is pretty but I'll keep Cindy's castle.

So glad you liked Blue Bayou!!

The Haunted Mansion's actually building looks so so cool! It's creepy but not as "Haunted" as ours! Glad to know ours has the edge.

Pooh for us sounds better too except that honeycombs sound cute! It's so interesting that there are little differences like that in the two rides. I guess it doesn't make sense but I always assumed the rides would be pretty much identical!

Hope work went well!!

 

[jenny105]

YAY for making a decision on your mod! POFQ is quite pretty!!

The Matterhorn sounds fun but slightly painful

It's so weird that people can just walk right up to the castle like that. I mean I guess we can walk right up to our castle but the stage is there and it seems much for formal. It's so little! It is pretty but I'll keep Cindy's castle.

So glad you liked Blue Bayou!!

The Haunted Mansion's actually building looks so so cool! It's creepy but not as "Haunted" as ours! Glad to know ours has the edge.

Pooh for us sounds better too except that honeycombs sound cute! It's so interesting that there are little differences like that in the two rides. I guess it doesn't make sense but I always assumed the rides would be pretty much identical!

Hope work went well!!

I can't wait to book my next trip! I need a WDW ticker!

I think they built Cinderella's Castle with that in mind, a place for the shows. Every single time I walked by the castle, I commented on how it was so little. People were probably sick of hearing it! Sheila and Theresa had never been to WDW so I kept telling them how you could see Cindy's Castle from anywhere in the park and it was the icon, you just looked for it to find your way back. It's so weird that Sleeping Beauty's castle doesn't play that same role at DL!

The honeycombs are really cute! Another thing I liked about their version was that you travel outside for part of it. But nothing will beat the fact that the MK's honey pots 'bounce' along with Tigger

 

[klacey1]

I think the DL HM is gorgeous-- like a house I'd want to live in. Not so much with the WDW HM!
I agree-- the castle's smallness in CA is kind of unnerving. So odd when we're used to the grandeur of WDW!
Btw, I started a PTR if you want to check it out!

 

[jenny105]

I think the DL HM is gorgeous-- like a house I'd want to live in. Not so much with the WDW HM!
I agree-- the castle's smallness in CA is kind of unnerving. So odd when we're used to the grandeur of WDW!
Btw, I started a PTR if you want to check it out!

It is really pretty but it doesn't seem spooky like the MK HM does. Takes nothing away from the ride but it's strange how it's just plopped in the middle of New Orleans Square.

I definitely will check it out!

 

[jenny105]

I came to work this morning and found a nice surprise. An email from Disney saying 2012 packages were available to book! Usually next year's rates don't become published until August so this was a treat.

I just booked us at Port Orleans French Quarter!!!!!

9/30/12-10/7/12, King Room, 7 Day Hopper with DDP. I know I have a long way to go and dates will be adjusted for promotions that become available (fingers crossed FREE DINING!). But I'm still so excited that I was able to book today! Made my day.

I noticed that the resort refillable mug is now part of the DDP for 2012. I've never had that before so that'll be cool. "Free" souvenir!

Is it 2012 yet??? That year is full of Disney for me!

 

[jenny105]

I think I left off with Teresa & Sheila going back to PP to get our jackets & me and Sara on our own for a bit.

Sara & I decided to take the Disneyland Railroad over to ToonTown. I don't really utilize the RR at WDW so I don't really know how the two compare. Our main reason for going over to Toontown was to ride Roger Rabbit but the wait was 60+ minutes! For a dark ride? No thanks. There was other stuff I'd rather do.

Now, I was putting this next ride off for as long as I could, because I am not a fan of it. But I knew it was different from it's sister in MK and it was hard to ignore it's presence. So when Sara suggested it, I gave in. Which ride?

The building is obviously much more impressive than it's MK counterpart as are the grounds. DLR's version have also put Disney characters in their designated countries and made them part of the attraction. I enjoyed this version much more because of that. Usually I'm cringing through MK's version (the song drives me nuts) and want to jump out of the boat. Plus, I got Epic Mickey for Christmas and you have to fight a boss battle with the Clock Face from IASW with the music playing creepily in the background. So me and IASW? We don't have the best relationship. But as I said, I did enjoy DLR's version. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

The 3 Cabarellos

Ariel

Lilo & Stitch

Jessie, Woody, & Bullseye

After IASW, Sara & I made our way through Fantasyland. I just have to say, the restroom by the Alice in Wonderland ride, cutest thing I've ever seen. The doors are different playing cards and the whole thing is done up in black, red, and white. As far as restrooms go, I loved it. We checked the line for Mr. Toad's Wild Ride which was also 60+ so we settled on Snow White. We were the last one's allowed in the line. You see, the fireworks were starting shortly, and they shut down Fantasyland because of this. Apparently, the fireworks are shot off from the castle and the ash can fall over Fantasyland, so they shut it down prior to & during the show. Also, if it's a windy day, the fireworks are cancelled because the ash can blow into the surrounding neighborhoods. I found this slightly mindblowing since in MK this does not happen. More about the fireworks during day 4.

Anyway, Snow White is identical to MK's, cute as always. Sara wanted to go shopping at this point so I went into a few Main Street shops with her & Sheila called to say they were back. Sara decided she wanted to shop & I set off to meet Sheila & Teresa in Adventureland. I remember Kris had called me at this point and the fireworks were going off and boy were they LOUD. Where do they shoot them from in MK because I have never heard anything that loud? I felt like they were exploding right next to me. It was insane how loud they were. Anyway, we wanted to go on Indy again, but the ride was down & we decided to come back later.

On to BTMRR! BTMRR is exactly the same as MK's version. The people in front of us annoyed me though because they kept saying how lame it was. Sure it's not a super high speed, looping rollercoaster...but that doesn't mean it's not fun! Stop ruining the experience for others!

After BTMRR, we backtracked over to Indy. It was still down and Sheila had mentioned she'd never been on the Jungle Cruise, so off we went. It was dark and I couldn't see much but again, it's very similar to MK's version. What did Sheila think of it? "Corny." I agree but it can be fun depending on who your skipper is.

Indy was finally up & running so we took one more spin on it. That was hands down my favorite ride in all of DL. I wish WDW would build it but considering how long that ride's been around, I doubt it's coming to WDW anytime soon!

We had a fastpass to use for Space Mountain so we headed over to that for one more ride. I somehow ended up getting an entire car to myself. I wish I had the ride picture but it's on my phone and I have no way of uploading it right now. Just me when there was a full line of people!

After SM, we decided to call it a night. We had begun and ended our day with Space Mountain, who would complain? We made our way through DTD and back to PP and settled in for the night. We were graduating the next morning and had a date with the Wonder!

Stay tuned....

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

Hey! I had to go back and read your previous post (must have missed it!).

That Haunted Mansion looks so cool from the outside, like a real haunted house!! I can't wait to try the HM at MK since it's been refurbished!

Cool pics of IASW! I have yet to go on that ride (the song is in my head just thinking about it, and the dolls kind of creep me out). Maybe I'll try it one of these days...

Stupid people in line for BTMR! I almost want to turn around and ask people like that "Then why are you riding it?!"

I am so ready for Space Mountain!!!! Can you email yourself the picture from your phone? That's what I usually have to do.

 

[klacey1]

Things like how they don't do the fireworks when it's windy and how they shut down Fantasyland just emphasize how small DL is-- and how it's really in the middle of a city! For those reasons alone, I don't think it can compare to WDW! Even though Indy sounds incredible-- I'd love a Fantasyland with more rides, too! That iasw looks really cool!

 

[jenny105]

Hey! I had to go back and read your previous post (must have missed it!).

That Haunted Mansion looks so cool from the outside, like a real haunted house!! I can't wait to try the HM at MK since it's been refurbished!

Cool pics of IASW! I have yet to go on that ride (the song is in my head just thinking about it, and the dolls kind of creep me out). Maybe I'll try it one of these days...

Stupid people in line for BTMR! I almost want to turn around and ask people like that "Then why are you riding it?!"

I am so ready for Space Mountain!!!! Can you email yourself the picture from your phone? That's what I usually have to do.

HM is one of my favorites. I love the song! It makes me smile whenever I hear it. I have it on my ipod and sometimes it comes on when I'm working out.

YES! The dolls are way creepy on IASW. I always think about when the park shuts down, the CMs that do walkthroughs of this ride when everything is off. If someone played a prank on me and turned the ride on while I was inspecting it at the end of the night, I'd think I'd have a heart attack. Same goes for HM & Pirates.

I transfered the SM picture to my SD card. I have to see if I can upload it. My phone isn't a smart phone (I'm so behind I know) so it kinda fails at certain features!

Things like how they don't do the fireworks when it's windy and how they shut down Fantasyland just emphasize how small DL is-- and how it's really in the middle of a city! For those reasons alone, I don't think it can compare to WDW! Even though Indy sounds incredible-- I'd love a Fantasyland with more rides, too! That iasw looks really cool!

It really is so small. You don't feel like you're truly in Disney. I couldn't get over the fact that I could see hotels (non-Disney hotels!) from inside the parks. And the monorail just runs down part of the main strip. So strange! The appeal it has was that Walt actually walked through that park. WDW can't top that.

DL's Fantasyland is excellent! It feelsl like you're in a storybook. Hopefully MK's version comes out that way when the refurb is finished!

 

[jenny105]

Exactly one year from today, I will be aboard the Disney Magic! Just wanted to share my excitement!

 

[Rora]

Woohoo! I'm so excited you're booked! DH and I are going to WDW for Christmas next year and I can't wait for 2012 either!

I'm not a Roger Rabbit girl- glad you're sat that one out!

I connect ISAW with Epic Mickey now too... The ride itself creeps me out and the game made it worse!

I love the Alice restroom! So fun!

Hey.. those jerks on BTMRR need to cool it. It's my favorite mountain! Some people just don't appreciate things..

I wish we had Indy! Glad you got to ride it again!

I love that you had your own car for Space Mountain! Strange but fun!

Can't wait to hear about the wonder!

 

[jenny105]

Woohoo! I'm so excited you're booked! DH and I are going to WDW for Christmas next year and I can't wait for 2012 either!

I'm not a Roger Rabbit girl- glad you're sat that one out!

I connect ISAW with Epic Mickey now too... The ride itself creeps me out and the game made it worse!

I love the Alice restroom! So fun!

Hey.. those jerks on BTMRR need to cool it. It's my favorite mountain! Some people just don't appreciate things..

I wish we had Indy! Glad you got to ride it again!

I love that you had your own car for Space Mountain! Strange but fun!

Can't wait to hear about the wonder!

2012 needs to start like RIGHT NOW!

I noticed in DL that there are a lot more locals and teenagers running around on their own. It has a totally different vibe from WDW. It felt like a local amusement park rather than a vacation destination.

 

[Rora]

I noticed in DL that there are a lot more locals and teenagers running around on their own. It has a totally different vibe from WDW. It felt like a local amusement park rather than a vacation destination.

That's interesting! I wonder why that is? And, I can't decide if I think that's a good or bad thing...

 

[jenny105]

That's interesting! I wonder why that is? And, I can't decide if I think that's a good or bad thing...

Well, people travel to Orlando strictly to go to Walt Disney World. People don't go to Southern California just to go to Disneyland. Plus, the Anaheim area is more populated than the Orlando area, so they treat Disneyland as a local theme park. In Florida, you have 4 of those parks to choose from and they're so spread out, you don't notice the locals. You definitely do in California!

 

[jenny105]

So I've had my 2012 trip booked, what, a week now? And I've already changed resorts. I caught a glimpse of the new Royal rooms being rolled out at POR. I absolutely love the look of them and since it's my 30th birthday celebration, why not stay in a room fit for a princess? So I moved next door to POR and will be staying in a Royal Standard View room. I'm not sure which section these rooms will be located in. It makes sense to put them in the Magnolia Bend section, but I think they'll be spread throughout the resort. Since we were already booked in a King category, the difference was only $35 for the whole package. I may be dropping down to a 5 day hopper (I get two free 2 day hoppers & water park passes each year from Disney) so that makes up the difference. The CM I talked to was really nice and made note of my birthday and signed me up for Magical Express even though I don't have my flight information yet. I like the looks of POR better than POFQ; I only settlled on POFQ cause it was smaller. I can always walk over there and use their bus stop if need be. I'm excited and can't wait to see the reviews of these new rooms. I'll have to wait awhile though, I don't think they're going to be done for months. Just wanted to let you all know and I'll have a TR update in the next day or so. Bye for now!