Just arrived back...

[kiwitravel]

We just spent 2 weeks at Anaheim, staying at the America's Best Value Inn on Katella (10 minute walk to DL Harbor entrance)... I can recommend this hotel, it had an excellent room layout with a separate bedroom and microwave and fridge... Great pool and grounds... All for only $79 per night

Crowds were low compared to 2004 and 2006 in late june and early July... Made good use of Fast pass and going in at park openings.... Did TSM at least 10 times (top score 196000) and Astroblasters also (top score 690000). Only saw 90 minute queues for Space and Splash on the weekends, from 1030pm Splash was a walkon during the week..

The new F! is a big improvment on the old version and is a must see as is WoC... Do WoC from the splash zone if no wind or wind is blowing away from the viewing area... We had ringside seats..... Do WoC ealy in your trip or stay away from CA while its on to avoid any spoiler effect... This show dominates this area of the park so hard to avoid it... We did it on our second day in DCA and delberately avoided the show on the first night...

Like Jack we averaged high ride numbers each day, we left at 2pm each day for a rest and went back in after dinner...

Only waited 5 minutes for Nemo by doing during the fireworks but did see long lines at other times.. Its strictly a once only ride...

We managed to do every ride/show at least once and did the ones we liked over a dozen times each... Only negative was Cal Scream closing early each night (due to WoC).

 

[Funball]

very awesome!! glad you had a GREAT ...... scratch that.. a GRAND time!!

 

[tdashgirl]

Welcome home, glad you had such a great trip! I agree with you, Nemo is a once-only ride

 

[JH87]

I stayed in the SAME place! I enjoyed it! Great value and kept clean!!
Glad you had fun!

 

[kiwitravel]

I stayed in the SAME place! I enjoyed it! Great value and kept clean!!
Glad you had fun!

We loved the layout, the big rooms and with only 40 rooms it was quiet and the pool was excellent and uncrowded...

 

[skiingfast]

That's a really good tip about avoiding that side of the park until you can see WoC, Thank you.

 

[funatdisney]

Do WoC ealy in your trip or stay away from CA while its on to avoid any spoiler effect... This show dominates this area of the park so hard to avoid it... We did it on our second day in DCA and delberately avoided the show on the first night...

What a good tip. I definitely agree. WOC is worth the wait to see and you certainly want to see it without any spoilers, especially when you are dealing with the crowds and the planning it takes to see it. Did you wait for a FP in line at opening or got a dining package for your FP?

We had the bridge and that also was a great place to watch it without getting wet.

 

[kiwitravel]

Yes we went in early (bout 945) and got Red zone FPs, we then went to the area about 820pm and just were luck enough to get a dead centre spot in the splash zone... We only got lightly misted as no wind..

 

[funatdisney]

That's good to know. The next time we go, we may just try to get FP first thing in the morning. We have a trip planned in October and staying at the VGC. I am planning to cook our meals in and so it might be worth FPs at opening instead of getting the picnic meal this time.

 

[edit1]

I'm glad you had a good trip and that the crowds were manageable! Thanks for the tip.

 

[kiwitravel]

That's good to know. The next time we go, we may just try to get FP first thing in the morning. We have a trip planned in October and staying at the VGC. I am planning to cook our meals in and so it might be worth FPs at opening instead of getting the picnic meal this time.

If going for a FP then only one person with all the tickets needs to line up... Others can go and get ready for the fast walk to TSM, the best place to do this is from the GRR side anyway, our FP person only had to wait 15minutes for the FP on the day we were there...

Our FP person asked for the best wet zone viewing FPs and got red, it was so hot when we were there we were looking forward to getting wet, it would be a different story in winter though. As it happened we only got lightly misted... The rest of red zone is not great viewing though, you might want to go a little earlier if you want blue (930)...

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

Hello fellow Kiwi!

I'm pleased you had a great time. We head off in just over 2 weeks. I just wondered if you got to do any shopping when over in the States and if you did, where did you go?

 

[funatdisney]

Thanks for the tip! All this will help with my planning to view WOC. My DH has not seen it and I would like to make as easy for him as possible. It will take a while for the popularity of this show to die down. I am expecting it to be just as difficult as this summer.

 

[kiwitravel]

Hello fellow Kiwi!

I'm pleased you had a great time. We head off in just over 2 weeks. I just wondered if you got to do any shopping when over in the States and if you did, where did you go?

We went to the "Village at Orange" its easy to get to from Katella or Ball Rd as there is a bus that runs straight there.... Where are you staying and I will give you the bus number and where you can download a timetable...

There is a Walmart, Sears, Dress for less and lots of boutiques, had to drag my daughter away after four hours shopping!

There is also Gardenwalk which is on Katella (10minute walk from DL), just boutiques there but there were lots of sales, also a cheesecake factory restaurant which was a brilliant meal (but way too much food for kiwis)..

If you want more boutiques the the Block at Orange is another you can try...

We had a rental car on our last day as we had 11pm flights so we drove to LAX via Hollywood, Rodeo Dr (It was only marginally dearer than a shuttle) and so stopped and shopped at a Westfield in Santa Monica...

 

[farmfresh]

If you are heading to Santa Monica there is also the whole 3 st promenade - very pleasant shopping.

Westfields are pretty common - the Australians are doing well!

And yes, way too much food...everywhere! Watch out for those vegas buffets!

 

[farmfresh]

oh and while I think of it, if you go to Hollywood there is the Hollywood and Highland mall, and there is a big Westfield further up Wilshire Blvd if you head up that way.

 

[kiwitravel]

oh and while I think of it, if you go to Hollywood there is the Hollywood and Highland mall, and there is a big Westfield further up Wilshire Blvd if you head up that way.

We went to the Hollywood and Highland mall, $2 parking for up to 4 hrs parking if validated... We had lunch in Hard Rock Cafe and did the Madame Tussards Wax museum which is awesome.. The Chinese Theatre and Walk of Fame is there as well so plenty to see and do... You also get a good view of the Hollywood sign there...The shopping was a little dissappointing though, quite expensive... Its a short drive to Rodeo (which has free parking for up to 2 hours) and were heading to Venice beach before we saw the Westfield mall on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Century...2 hours shopping later and we scrubbed Venice beach and headed to the airport...

 

[kiwitravel]

Route 50 on Katella will take you direct to Village at Orange as will Route 46 on Ball...

You can download schedule and timetables here:

http://www.octa.net/bus-service.aspx

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

We went to the "Village at Orange" its easy to get to from Katella or Ball Rd as there is a bus that runs straight there.... Where are you staying and I will give you the bus number and where you can download a timetable...

There is a Walmart, Sears, Dress for less and lots of boutiques, had to drag my daughter away after four hours shopping!

There is also Gardenwalk which is on Katella (10minute walk from DL), just boutiques there but there were lots of sales, also a cheesecake factory restaurant which was a brilliant meal (but way too much food for kiwis)..

If you want more boutiques the the Block at Orange is another you can try...

We had a rental car on our last day as we had 11pm flights so we drove to LAX via Hollywood, Rodeo Dr (It was only marginally dearer than a shuttle) and so stopped and shopped at a Westfield in Santa Monica...

Thanks so much for that! We definately want to get to Walmart amongst other stores. We are staying at Sheraton Anaheim (the castle looking one).

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

If you are heading to Santa Monica there is also the whole 3 st promenade - very pleasant shopping.

Westfields are pretty common - the Australians are doing well!

And yes, way too much food...everywhere! Watch out for those vegas buffets!

Hee hee, I know, we will have to watch ourselves in Vegas with all that food around!

We aren't going to Santa Monica or Hollywood this trip. We are staying at Crowne Plaza in Anaheim for 2 nights, then going to Las Vegas and staying at the Flamingo for 5 nights, then Sheraton Anaheim (castle looking one) for 2 nights, then 7 night cruise on RCL and back to Sheraton Anaheim for 5 nights (Disney).

We plan to do Target from Crowne Plaza as I understand it is opposite. We really want to get to a Walmart and also a shopping mall/centre for some good shopping.

Thanks again!

Jen