If it's not one thing, it's the weather.

[At Least Many]

You can plan and plan and plan, but you just have to roll with the punches the weather brings. We were there from 4/27-5/3. Temps in the high 90s, strong Santa Ana winds. It kinda threw a big wrench in our plans.

We drove from OR, stopping in Patterson on the way down. Got to the BW Raffles about 3pm. We had planned to go to DTD that evening, but decided to just use the pool and order pizza. We got delivery from Maari's, good pie, tons of cheese.

Hit DCA Monday morning. Got to the park entrance by 8:45 for 10 opening. Easily exchanged Orbitz vouchers at the ticket booth. Getting pictures for tickets was pretty smooth and quick.

Went opposite the crowds and rode TSMM first thing. Worked great, practically walk on. We weren't able to ride it multiple times though. I pulled fps for Screamin and then ran for RSR fps while my family made their way down the pier to GSS. Got in line (very fast moving) for fps about 10:50 with a return time of 6-7pm. My boys went on GSS over and over and over in the single rider line.

Ate at Corn Dog Castle - Yum!

We spent the rest of the day meandering until it was time for RSR. Made use of the fps and rider swap and single rider. Hardly a wait. Riding in the evening is a really fun ride!

Day 2 (Tues) was pretty awful. First day at DL, arrived about 8 for MM. We were about 20 people deep at rope drop. Went with the crush of people to FL to get in line for PP. As we were in line, it broke down. In the future, this is not something we will attempt again. We will go opposite the crowds. My kids were not impressed with anything in FL, we could happily skip it. They had wanted to ride the Matterhorn, but it was broken down. I was met with some not-so-magical attitudes that really ruined my day there. To be honest, it left a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the trip as hard as I tried to let go of it.

We left FL and went to TL, we were able to ride ST and Space, Buzz and Astro Orbiters with little wait. DD met the fairies. It was so hot that day. So, so hot. My 6mo was just miserable, so I took him out to have my DH take him back to the hotel. Met my family back at BTRBBQ. Awesome lunch, one of my favorite parts of the trip. Tried to use our fps for BTMRR, but it was broken down. My 9yo ds was not doing well. He is sensitive to hot weather and it was really getting to him. He was feeling sick so we made our way out of the park and back to the hotel. We ended up not going back that afternoon. The pool was closed due to cleaning because of the winds. They worked hard to get it open and the kids were able to swim late evening.

Day 3 (Wednesday) was supposed to be a beach day, but the winds were so hard that it was impossible. We ended up eating out at Slater's 50/50 in Huntington and coming back to the hotel. Pool was closed again, but the manager at Raffles called around and got us into a neighbor hotel to swim, so grateful for that!!

Day 4 (Thursday) was back at DCA. No agenda. My DH was with us and he took the bid kids and my parents and I took the littles. We just went wherever they wanted to go. I got fps again for RSR. We ate at the Taste Pilots (meh) and spent a lot of time in the Animation Academy. We met a lot of characters there and the boys loved the room downstairs. Turtle Talk is always fun, my 9yo got picked and he asked what the names of all 65 of his offspring were, and he listed them all! We saw Aladdin also and it was probably my favorite, so much fun. Even my 2yo stayed entertained the whole show.

Day 5 (Friday) was back to DL. My dd got in line to meet the princesses. We didn't ever make it back to a show, though. Again, we just went where the kids wanted to go. Saw the Soundsational Parade, shopped, ate turkey legs and frozen lemonade and mickey ice cream bars. Went on the Jungle Cruise (almost unbearably hot queue), ate beignets and mint juleps. Did not think Bengal BBQ was worth the money. We got a spot around 5 for F! on the bridge by POTC, was met with some more not-so-magical attitudes. (Seriously? I have never been cursed at in my whole life until these two days in DL, I'm 38.) We stayed where we were for fireworks and saw them well, but no effects by the castle. Headed out with the herd back to Main Street and finished shopping. Back to hotel by 11pm.

Left early Sat morning for home.

DCA was hands down our favorite. Much less crowded and more things my kids liked doing there. I'm not really feeling the Disney Magic this trip. I'm sure it was a combo of the heat, the winds and the rude people, but I can wait another 5-6yrs before going back. My kids have good memories though and that was to whole point of the trip, so with that, I'd call it a success.

Happy to answer any questions.

 

[dadof2boys]

Sorry the weather wasn't very cooperative. We live about an hour south of Disney and those winds were nuts! Couple that with the heat and it's just too much. I'm glad to see that you were able to power through and still get quite a but accomplished. We've been pass holders for 15 years and it sure has changed. Now that they have the southern cal passes with payment plans there are just so many locals. I'm one as well, but before you had to shell out all the money at one time. For a family of four that's pretty expensive. However, for some families that's how they chose to spend their money and bit the bullet. Now, at $25 a month everyone has a pass. The place is just so darn crowded. There is absolutely no off season like there used to be.

I'm sure your children had a great time. I don't know how you are as a planner, but I get so wrapped up in what my vision of a trip is that when something like you experienced happens I have a hard time adjusting and going with the flow. I drive my wife nuts!

 

[Jairy]

Thanks for your post.
We went in March and we felt the same about DCA. It just had more to do that my family was interested in, and you didn't feel the crush of the crowds that you do in many areas of DL (specifically, FL, TL by Buzz, and by POTC). We still had a blast both places, but would put DCA above DL (my kids are 10 and 12, so they like thrill rides better than dark rides at the moment).
The weather, by many accounts here, sounded awful. That can not have been fun to deal with, especially with a baby.
I'm so curious as to what would make people actually curse at you?? So sorry you encountered that maybe the weather was just getting to everyone?

 

[tarheelalum]

I know what you mean about the weather last week. We were there until Thursday when we just could not take anymore of the heat. The Santa Ana winds had my allergies going crazy. It was a bummer. But I still loved going to DL, just a little less due to the weather. We also saw Aladdin for the first time ( to escape the heat) and ended up loving it. We also did buzz lightyear a bunch of times due to the short wait times and fantastic air conditioning!!

 

[At Least Many]

Thanks for your post.

I'm so curious as to what would make people actually curse at you?? So sorry you encountered that maybe the weather was just getting to everyone?

First time was in the MM crush. I was maneuvering my stroller to park it by PP. At one point I just had to cut in front of a young couple to get to the edge of the crowd. I looked right at them and said, "I'm sorry.". The guy says, "Well you just keep pushing your stroller, so you're not really sorry, b****.".

Second time was while waiting for F!. We had a spot up on the bridge, and it was just me and my baby and my mom. We had used the stroller and her scooter to make a square to fit the rest of my family. A girl slid under the rope and stood in the space. I told her I was sorry, but we were saving the spot for the other 7 people in our group. She says, "I don't care.". I say, "We need this space for the rest of our group, we've been standing here for 2hrs.". She says, "Whatever, I don't care, you're not going to f***ing die.". I just turned away, and she eventually left. At least that time it wasn't in front of my kids.

 

[Jairy]

First time was in the MM crush. I was maneuvering my stroller to park it by PP. At one point I just had to cut in front of a young couple to get to the edge of the crowd. I looked right at them and said, "I'm sorry.". The guy says, "Well you just keep pushing your stroller, so you're not really sorry, b****.". Second time was while waiting for F!. We had a spot up on the bridge, and it was just me and my baby and my mom. We had used the stroller and her scooter to make a square to fit the rest of my family. A girl slid under the rope and stood in the space. I told her I was sorry, but we were saving the spot for the other 7 people in our group. She says, "I don't care.". I say, "We need this space for the rest of our group, we've been standing here for 2hrs.". She says, "Whatever, I don't care, you're not going to f***ing die.". I just turned away, and she eventually left. At least that time it wasn't in front of my kids.

Yikes! That's awful Was the girl a teenager? I can not imagine cursing at anyone, especially on a vacation at DL. And at your group with strollers and scooters! You know what they say about karma!

 

[nukephd]

Pigs will fly before DL makes it a day without rides breaking down. It's a shame. I couldn't imagine having to brave the DL crowds in that heat.

 

[NancyIL]

I was also at Disneyland last week. I didn't enjoy the heat, but it wasn't as miserable as WDW when it's hot and humid. I didn't mind the wind, as it had a cooling effect.

I had a 5-day ticket, and in hindsight - 3 days would've been plenty. I looked at the weather forecast for the week and picked what looked like the hottest day (Thursday) to book a tour to LA, Hollywoood, and the beaches.

I was at rope drop at Disneyland Park 2 mornings, and couldn't believe all the people who RAN as soon as they were set free!

I skipped the parades, felt trapped by the crowds for the Friday night fireworks, and also stood on the bridge above Pirates for the second Fantasmic show. That is a once-every-few-years show for me at Disney World, and now that I have seen it at Disneyland - I probably wouldn't do it again.

The best thing I did was book the World of Color lunch at the Carthay Circle restaurant. I showed up to my reserved WOC section just before 8, but could've gotten there as late as 8:15 and still seen fairly well. It was a nice show, but once was enough.

*By the way, Peter Pan also broke down while I was in line Saturday during Magic Morning! Fortunately, I had ridden it 2 other mornings at rope drop.

**Wait a minute - you staked out a spot for the 9:00 Fantasmic show at 5:00...then waited for 4 hours? I got there for the 2nd show as soon as the fireworks ended.

 

[At Least Many]

Yes, we wanted a spot on the bridge. Even that early we were behind the tree. We just took turns waiting there.

 

[Sherry E]

I merged both of your threads into one thread, in the Disneyland Trip Reports section.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

First time was in the MM crush. I was maneuvering my stroller to park it by PP. At one point I just had to cut in front of a young couple to get to the edge of the crowd. I looked right at them and said, "I'm sorry.". The guy says, "Well you just keep pushing your stroller, so you're not really sorry, b****.".

Second time was while waiting for F!. We had a spot up on the bridge, and it was just me and my baby and my mom. We had used the stroller and her scooter to make a square to fit the rest of my family. A girl slid under the rope and stood in the space. I told her I was sorry, but we were saving the spot for the other 7 people in our group. She says, "I don't care.". I say, "We need this space for the rest of our group, we've been standing here for 2hrs.". She says, "Whatever, I don't care, you're not going to f***ing die.". I just turned away, and she eventually left. At least that time it wasn't in front of my kids.

I am so sorry that you had to endure not only awful heat, but the senseless cursing/filthy language!

I cannot believe how much of that we hear, when we are at the Resort!

Some of it is from teens,(trying to be cool???), but the majority is from adults, who are speaking in loud obnoxious tones,(in front of their own children, many times), and just do not care who else is nearby or listening. It makes me cringe every time I'm subjected to it!

 

[rtfelt]

I had several friends there last week. I was surprised you didn't mention the breakdowns. Tuesday morning, DL not only had 7 rides closed for refurbishments, but the winds took out the power to the whole left side of the park closing Pooh, Splash, HM. Add to that other random breakdowns of Matterhorn and others and adding that Toon Town is closed the first hour after RD, that first hour had 17 rides off line. That pushed the crowds to the remaining rides making the lines unbearable. I felt for ANYONE at DL last week. Now the weather is cool and beautiful.

 

[Chrisfilm]

First time was in the MM crush. I was maneuvering my stroller to park it by PP. At one point I just had to cut in front of a young couple to get to the edge of the crowd. I looked right at them and said, "I'm sorry.". The guy says, "Well you just keep pushing your stroller, so you're not really sorry, b****.".

This is insane. I will be having my first experience with a stroller in a crowd when we're there in July and I'm sure I will be accidentally bumping and cutting people off for the first day. I expect some (deserved) evil looks and maybe even some snarky comments, but if some 'tough guy' says something like this to me or my wife, I fear it would escalate.