Just Back!! A few thoughs for now!

[tink2dw]

WOW!! What a Great time we had!

1. Desert Palm is old old old and under construction - Skip staying here! a. The breakfast was plain plain not enough nutrition to get you going for a Theme Park day.

2. I can't say enough about the food at DL's Plaza Inn!! We had Dinner[Dh couldn't stop raveing about the Chicken Dinner]there!

And a Breakfast Character meal with Pooh and Friends. The food was very good quality. The character interaction was too, too Fun! Tigger teased poor Piglet with a strip of bacon,the kids reactions were so different some laffed at the joke,some thought it was mean.

But there isn't anyway to see the Parade from the balcony though?? there are too many trees and the people on the ground level fill in the spots you might get a peek.

3. The ECV rental was a Life Saver!! I didn't hurt and I didn't get cranky! I did buy a flashing Mickey Necklace so I could be seen at night. Alan's even made right a small problem we had.
Alan's Wheelchairs & rentals. (800)693-4344. http://awmp.getwebnet.com/
They delivered the ECV to my Hotel & picked it up.

4. DCA was FAB!!!! Alladin was soooooo Good!! They even had an electric wheelchair Actress!! There was an Elephant! Al & Jasmin really flew on the Magic Carpet!!

5. "Soaring" is my new Favorite Ride at DCA!! even with swinging feet!

6. Universal Hollywood was a blast and worth the money to go!!
The Spiderman sow did rock!! They had Guest Stars working in the show for the Holiday's!! One of the singers was from Rent,the broadway show!

Water World,the show, was another show stopper!! And a All My Children Star played the main good guy in the show!!

Back to the Future is still a great ride! As are the Bikes you ride on the *new tweeked* ET ride!!!

We were privilaged to see Kong Santa with peppermint breath!! On the Studio tour. This had some new features from the last time we were there 10 yrs ago!!

7. Downtown Disney was cool. We ate Lunch at Brea Bakery,we order off the menu and it was yummy yummy!

8. We were dissappointed with our meals at ESPN. But we were there at 1:00am with no PS.

9. I was suprised that there wasn't more stuff on sale at the Outlet store,it was mainly kids stuffed But Dh did find me a Tink Sweatshirt!!

Hope these random thoughs help you have a great trip!!

Any questions you have I'll be happy to answer!!

 

[tink2dw]

Oh,the South Gate to the Timon Parking lot is now open!

 

[TheLionKing]

Sounds like you did have a great time!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>Glad to read you had such a good time there. I especially love reading your thoughts & impressions.

If you had one day to go back, what would be the things you'd repeat?

 

[Grog]

Glad you had such a great time I'm even more anxious to go now

 

[Bob O]

Im glad you had a great time!!!
But a few comments, we ate the Plaza and also thought the food was good, but too expensive, escpecially when given chips instead of french fries!!!
And im sure i will come off being anti-handicapped, but so be it!!! I saw the Alladdin show and thought it was excellant, but our show didnt have a performer in a wheel chair and while it may be nice to have one in a wheel chair IMHO i dont think their were people in wheelchairs in the cartoon or in that time periodso was that necceassry or just disney trying to be PC??? Ive heard from others who have questioned if that added to the show at all and several believed it was a distraction.
I dont know what your thoughts were about USH??? While i liked the park i was surprised how few attractions are at the park and thought i received the least value there than any other theme park ive been too.

 

[tink2dw]

Mary Jo I would repeat at DL,Splash Mtn,PoCarribean,Big Thunder Mtn,and Indy Jones Ride[these are more intense than WDW]Peter Pan,Haunted Mansion,Snow White's Scary Ride,Mr. Toads Wild ride,Pinocchio's Daring Journey,Star Tours,It's a Small World[these are sentimental must do's!] I would definately make time to hit the Tiki Room with my autogragraph book ready to meet Lilo and Stitch at there new digs!! Must see Honey I Shrunk-3D.
I would want to see Innovations this time And make it to Toon Town!!

Across the way at DCA I would hit Soarin' Over CA, twice it's that good!Ride the Sun Wheel in a Moving Car this time! Watch Dd and Dh do CA Screamin',see It's Tough to Be a Bug,Muppet-3D. Go to Disney Animation,and the Hyperion Theatre to see Aladdin again!! Plus I would want to try the rides around the Golden Zephyr which were closed due to the extreme high Santa Ana winds.

Because we were there doing a holliday,we got to see and hear many street acts which added to the entertainment factor as we slowly moved through the crowds.

One more thing I would do next time is pick a hotel facing the parks with a high enough view so we could watch the fire works from the room,and if possible the main street evening parade.

Bob, At the Plaza Inn we ate supper and had huge plated meals,Dd-Chicken Fettichine with alfredo sauce and grated Param. Cheese and garlic toast,too much to finish,Dh had 3 pieces of fried chicken,with coleslaw,a vegi blend of broccili,Clauflower and Zuccine,and a cobbette of corn,I had the beef Pot Roast 3 thick slices with same Vegi blend,mashed potatoes w/gravey and a fancy biscut.
Dh paid that bill so I'm not sure of the price,but I will look for the receit soon.

Bob,We thought the Aladdin show was superb and the Actress in the wheelchair wasn't a distraction at all,just a happy suprise,She had perfect control of her chair and it was more like a she was dancing. She and the Chair were costumed as a street peddler with a cart of vegi's approperate to the year. If a walking person would have been pushing the cart it would have been clumsier and slower than the other fast pace dancing in the "Street Rat scene". my feeling was "Goooo Girl,look at you GO!!!!"

We loved US the Smaller park was so much more relaxing!! the first day we went on Sunday Jan 5. still part of the Holiday season.After fighting DL for 2 days in The highest crowds,it was nice to finish a park!

While we liked the shows at Backdraft and Terminator 2-3D the fall at the end were bone shattering thuds,I feel 2" shorter now!LOL!!
We really enjoyed the Lucy Tribute,with the Bob Hope tribute, this was all new to Dd who has just discovered the I Love Lucy show.
As well,as Dh and Dd having their faces placed into a Scene from Conan the Barbarion!!

We went back to US on Tuesday Jan.7 to repeat some rides and catch the Blue's Brothers show and many more Characters were out. I signed up for a US credit card[no chance it will be an exceptance!] to get a coupon book,we spent $50. on suvineers and got a free 10 in stuffed Woody Woodpecker,Plus 10% off with AAA card. Dd got a Free chance at the carnivel games.

We signed up to go see a taping of Drew Carey on tue. but it was cancelled since he was ill.

We ate at Hard Rock cafe in Universal's City Walk and we got a 10% discount with AAA card.
There are ton's of unque suvineers here,like getting your hand prints in Hollywood cement to take home.
Dd was able to get her sun glasses repaired at the SunGlass Hut,needed two screws for the bows,they did it for free,Dh tipped the guy $3.

I really thought this would be a ho hum Park but it Rocked!! I'm not sure I would go every year but I definally enjoyed the Stage Tour over US,FL's individual rides. WE had a great tour Guide,too!

 

[Bob O]

Tink We ate lunch so maybe the meals were smaller than supper time. I had a cheese steak type sandwhich but cant remember what my wife head. I thought it was filling and very good, but without any fries i thought it was expensive(had a smiliar type meal at the Plaza atwdw/mk and it had fries and seemed bigger). I would eat there again but would have pefered fries with my meal, and it was too far away to get some.
I also thought the Aladdin show was excellant and havent seen the person in the wheelcahir, just heard about it and was wondering how if fit in.
In regards to USH, i guess im spoiled by Universal Studios Florida where the park has more attractions and the set up is alot easier than going up/down the escalotor. I did like the attraactions they had, it just their isnt alot their and i didnt think alot of the tram tour, thought the jaws/kong aspects were boring. And maybe it was better when you went but for us the shows werent running on a regular schedule and alot of the park didnt open till 1100pm or noon. We are aaa member's so the discounts were nice and were good for even food and in park merchandise and when we used travlers checks they didnt even ask for the aaa card.
I just felt the park needed more things to do to be worth the money in comparsion to other parks i have been too.

 

[Grog]

We really enjoyed the Lucy Tribute

Can you tell me a bit more about this. I read about it on the USH website but there aren't many details. My SO is a big-time Lucy fanatic. We are considering adding a day at USH or Knott's Berry Farm to our upcoming trip. The Lucy Tribute may swing the decision towards USH if it is worth the time. Thanks

 

[tink2dw]

The Lucy Tribute is a walk thru exhibit,with items from the show
I Love Lucy,a 50's livingroom,a 63' living room,an interactive quiz, a big screen Tribute to Lucy narrated by Bob Hope that goes thru her life and career,there are Costumes Lucy wore in the movies and tv. Also there is a Lucy character that you can talk with and take a photo with!!

This is Lucy with my Dd!!

 

[Grog]

Thanks