July 2, 2005 - WE ARE THERE!!!

[4fosterkids]

The Paradise Pier Hotel has the Charactor dining at the PCH Grill, as well as the Surfside Lounge that opens at 6am everyday and they have specialty coffees and baked treats. That would work out as you walk over to the Monorail station. Just remember the monorail only goes to DLand, not DCA. There are fruit carts in the park too, and there's nothing like a Churro first thing in the morning!
Downtown Disney has a new Jamba juice which is great in the morning (or any time of day). Catal serves breakfast at 8am daily, LaBrea Bakery and Express as mentioned, RainForest Cafe opens at 8am everyday, but doesn't mention what is served specifically, Jazz Kitchen Express opens at 8:30am w/ specialty coffees, beignets and Po'boys. The Uva bar opens at 8:45 for breakfast.
Hope that helps too.
Jill

 

[AnnaS]

Received DCL mail today. Excursion and gift guide brochure and lists with excursions, prices/times, etc.

 

[MinnieMart]

wow! i had to catch up!! we have been so busy it seems . we just painted the living room, we ordered a curio, for our lenox mickey figurines!! the rest of the house is a mess. we took laura to a jr open hose at gettysberg college then went to phili to watch alison play womens rugby! , have been hitting the stores for clothes!! we have off from school this wk thank goodness. we also had computer trouble. me email was on spam killer?? sounds like you guys have it all planned! we just want to relax on a beach! so we have not booked anything thru dcl but may do nueva viarta paradise beach village? mazatlan resort los cabos?? and cabo lovers or medeno beach?? is cabo a short day? 7:30 to 3:30? this wk is 2 months!!! while painting we listened to disney music! can't wait to relax and hear the horn. thanks for the dl/ dca bfast info and also the links for the 50th and cruise critics links . last wk there were two children at school w dcl and castaway cay shirts on i went a little overboard gettin excited. i have a picture of the ship on my desk!! well sweet dreams! talk soon lisa

 

[tchrmom]

Lisa..........I LIVE with a picture of the ship on my desk! This weekend, I made the ship my opening screen to my cell phone!

Now if I could just get the horn to sound for my ring tone!

HAHAHAHAHA1
Fran

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Received DCL mail today. Excursion and gift guide brochure and lists with excursions, prices/times, etc.

We received them today also. The only ship sponsored tour we're taking is the Paradise Beach Break it PV. Then we're doing Randi and Cabo playing it by ear. Can't wait. Amy

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Now if I could just get the horn to sound for my ring tone!

HAHAHAHAHA1
Fran

Search for "When you wish" under Pinnochio

or

Try this thread....I used the Motorola V60 when I had that phone

 

[mokehil]

tchrmom

One thing we learned on our last visit: DCA opens the gates 1/2 hour before park opening and you can walk right over to California Soaring and wait for the park to open in line. That means at opening time you will be ON a ride! There is a special entrance for Paradise Pier guests that is VERY close to the ride.

I have never been all that impressed with DCA and have always been thankful for parkhopper tickets. We do all the best rides first thing in the morning with little wait and then head over to DL.

We usually have very little kids with us and that might make the difference because many of the rides have height restrictions. Our next visit everyone will be big enough for all the rides and that might make a difference.

I REALLY like the California Screaming. I love roller coasters but with age my equilbrium is getting worse and they give me headaches. California Screaming is so smooth.

I always wish that I had taken a picture at night from across the Pier on the Kodak spot so my DD looks like she's wearing Mickey Ears (lights on California Screaming)

Mom taxi must leave now..............

 

[mommykeg]

One thing we learned on our last visit: DCA opens the gates 1/2 hour before park opening and you can walk right over to California Soaring and wait for the park to open in line. That means at opening time you will be ON a ride! There is a special entrance for Paradise Pier guests that is VERY close to the ride.

Just so you know...that special entrance for Paradise Pier guests has been closed. It used to be really convenient! They WILL let Paradise Pier guests, along with Grand Californian guests, enter through the Grand Californian entrance...but there is no longer a special entrance JUST for PP guests.

 

[Judalyne]

Hi, everyone. My daughter (23) and I just booked our first ever cruise! We are so excited. We've already signed up for the canopy tour in Puerta Vallarta, the horseback riding in Cabo, and a tour in Mazatlan. All for the early morning. Anyone else signed up for these?

 

[AnnaS]

Hi Judalyne

Welcome to the disboards (1st post?) - how did you find us.

Did you just book your cruise? You must be on our cruise too - welcome - you have some catching up to do.

So far we are booked through DCL in CABO - women/girls doing the cabo beach break and men/boys - big boys (19, 20 and two 17) snorkeling. We are going Horseback riding with randishappyhorses (not DCL) with a group from this thread - lost count/names for Maztalan port. Have not decided on PV yet, hopefully soon.

We will be staying three nights in DL too. I can't believe how close it is.

 

[Judalyne]

Thank you for the welcome! Yes, that was my first post. My daughter and I booked on Friday, April 22. It was very exciting to be able to do this, and in all my excitement I spent several hours on the computer hunting down websites and found this one! However, before I found you all, I booked our shore excursions through Disney. As this is our first cruise, I think I'll just stick to what we've planned. We love horses. We're planning on the horseback riding on the beach at Cabo.

My DD (is that the board talk for "daughter?") graduated from college last year and went straight to work. She has worked this past year without a break...unlike school where she had 4 weeks off at Christmas. My DH (shorthand for "husband?") suggested we do something together when the family vacation fell through due to other children's committments. I was happy to comply!

We live in So Cal and have annual passes to Disneyland. In fact my DD-23 has had them pretty much all her life. We are the Disney nuts in the family!We went to WDW in 2001 as a family. Best vacation we ever had!

I'm looking forward to reading all the back pages (about 10 more to go!) and getting to know all of you.

 

[XLT800]

Glad you found us. Just 2 rules to remember.........If you let us fall to page 2 you buy the first round of drinks. If you are the last to receive your doc's you also are buying the drinks.

We are family of 4 on our 5th DCL. Tchrmom is my DW. We are staying in DL 3 days before the cruise.

We decided that we are spending so much on this vacation that whats another $200? So we are going to try to get the balcony seating for fantasmic.

Dave

 

[mokehil]

Greetings from Northern California Judalyne,

This is our first cruise too. We are 6: me, DH, DD14, DD12, DD7, DS5.

We are doing the Los Veranos Canopy tour in PV. There are several going (from this board) and we are in the process of finalizing our reservations. Rumor has it that Los Veranos is GREAT and cost less than DCL offering. Just food for thought. The website is http://www.canopytours-vallarta.com if you want to check it out.

We are doing horseback riding in M with Randi's Happy Horses (non DCL).

As for Cabo we are going to wing it. Still trying to find a hotel to hang out at....

Don't worry about getting your docs last, I am already sure I will be last because they will go through travel agent to me and we are going to be gone from home during those critical days.

Darcy

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Glad you found us. Just 2 rules to remember.........If you let us fall to page 2 you buy the first round of drinks. If you are the last to receive your doc's you also are buying the drinks.

We are family of 4 on our 5th DCL. Tchrmom is my DW. We are staying in DL 3 days before the cruise.

We decided that we are spending so much on this vacation that whats another $200? So we are going to try to get the balcony seating for fantasmic.

Dave

Dave, I don't blame you guys one bit. It really is hard on the bottom to sit on asphalt for hours on end to get a good seat. Then we had the pleasure of someone's soda spilling and them not telling us until we looked behind us to see what was getting us wet!! Hate to say it but my kids are Fantasmic lacking because of the above problems. (Also because it can be kind of scary for the little ones, explosions, fireworks) It is an AMAZING show and I would probably spring for the comfy seats if we were making a trek out here!! Enjoy!!



Judalyne,
Glad to see some others DL locals on board. There are a few of us here. I still am a little sad that we aren't doing a sailing out of FL but not sad enough to fly across country with 4 kids (2 of which are 2 and 1 years old). Take care. Amy

 

[tchrmom]

Welcome, Judalyne........

As XLT mentioned, I'm his DW (yes, Disney Wife). We are also Disney fanatics also. Just look at our dinner dishes and silverware!
Amy,
I'm a little stressed out about going to DL. I HAVE to try and make priority seating tomorrow for something.......and I don't know what!!!!!

Better go look at my book for the 1000th time!!!!
Fran

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Welcome, Judalyne........

As XLT mentioned, I'm his DW (yes, Disney Wife). We are also Disney fanatics also. Just look at our dinner dishes and silverware!
Amy,
I'm a little stressed out about going to DL. I HAVE to try and make priority seating tomorrow for something.......and I don't know what!!!!!

Better go look at my book for the 1000th time!!!!
Fran

Fran, DL is easy. Don't stress. Haven't been to WDW but from what I hear it's much more layed back her in CA. Informal game plan only, no need to micro-manage your time here. It's much smaller and easier to navigate. You should have no problem fitting everything in that you want. A few strategic fast-passes for the must-do rides and hit everything else you want to see in between. If you must, to soothe your compulsive planning bug,...make a priority seating for something then RELAX . You'll need a vacation to get over your trip planning. (I guess I kinda got that compulsive planning bug also or I guess I wouldn't have been here for the last year or so getting ready for our trip.) Amy

 

[Judalyne]

I didn't know about the Fantasmic dessert seating. Sounds yummy. When we saw the Fantasmic show in Florida (2001), we came away thinking the California one was better. (We spent much of our time comparing, and all in all, WDW came out with the GOLD!) The new fireworks and parade for the 50th anniversary at Disneyland should also be something to see. I hear that it is going to be a spectacular display. I'll try to hit the parade and see the fireworks and give a report here in the next couple of weeks.

 

[jgiants21]

Welcome aboard Judalyne

We also are a family of 4 (DW,DD-15, DS-12 on July 4) also from N Cal

We are joining the others on the excursions - Randi's, Canopy Tour

Can't wait to hear from you as to new parade and fireworks at DL

Dave & Fran - Great choice on the Balcony seats - It will be very crowded and you will have the best seats in the house. Make you priority seating for the Blue Bayou

Jim

 

[tchrmom]

No school today for Tampa....so that allowed me to make my PS at Blue Bayou this morning at 11:00 sharp! (Got a 4:00 seating like I wanted! ) Can't make my Fantasmic ones until 30 days out. WHEW! Now I feel a little more.......together? (stop laughing, XLT!!!!!)

Another great weekend here in FL! Hope everyone has a good one too!
Fran

 

[tchrmom]

We were way down on page 2. Hope that everyone is having a nice weekend,