Just back from a great trip!

[katejc]

Just back last night. We (Me, my DS, and our DDs--4 of just altogether) were in the parks Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of a busy holiday weekend and had a great time! MaxPass every day was a huge help--just kept adding one every time I could. Got multiple-experience passes a couple of times, which was great. Do be aware they are only good in the park they originated from. Not sure why I didn't know that, but now I do. We rode everything we wanted to, and most of our favorites multiple times.
We used MM on Saturday and got a lot done, and made sure to arrive early every day. Had no trouble getting through security in a timely fashion, but if you can swing it and go bag free, you will really fly through!

Ate lots of good food--the special churros are awesome. The one with the spicy chocolate sauce near BTMRR was our favorite, but the cookie butter-drizzled one by small world was great too (just didn't like the marshmallow sauce). The Tropical Hideaway was great-enjoyed the raspberry swirl Dole Whip and the bao very much, despite reealllly chilly weather! Tried out Lamplight Lounge over in DCA and enjoyed it, but again it was pretty cold out there, even with their outdoor heaters on. Great location though, good snacks, and fun cocktails.

Got to ride PP to start and end our trip which was awesome. And for some major pixie dust, we were invited to pilot the Mark Twain! Which is truly a special experience I had never done. So much fun, and a great view of SWL from up there!

Enjoyed Ballast Point Friday night before going into the parks. Food was good and had a beer sampler. Amazing selection of beers. We made our reservation when it opened weeks ago and had no trouble adding a friend on when we arrived. Super happy to have a reservation as waits were insane and the lobby downstairs was mobbed.

All in all a great girls' trip with our daughters! Sad to see it end. We are planning to wait until SWL dust settles, so may not get back for a while. Happy to answer any questions!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Glad to hear you had a great trip!

 

[Eve & Wall-e]

The Tropical Hideaway was great-enjoyed the raspberry swirl Dole Whip and the bao very much, despite reealllly chilly weather!

I'm arriving Feb 27 and can't wait to try the Raspberry Dole Whip! We also have dinner reservations at Lamplight Lounge. It will be our first time to try it out.

Thanks for posting your observations and glad you had a great time.

 

[ArchOwl]

Thanks for the heads up about the multiple experience Maxpass. I hadn’t read that before. Glad you had a good trip!

 

[fivelittles]

I loved your report. We're planning to go during busy spring break and reading your positive attitude about the crowds made me feel so much more excited. It really is all about perspective! I'm excited to try Ballast Point and Tropical Hideaway too- thanks for the reviews!

 

[Indiana Scott]

Enjoyed your TR!
We've been going to DLR for many years and were just invited to pilot the MT on our last trip. It was a real treat!

 

[AJA55]

Thanks for the hint on the multiple experience Maxpass. Never even would have thought about that.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

Piloting the Mark Twain sounds magical!

 

[Disney127]

Thanks for the report! We can't wait to try the special churros too

 

[chickapin parterre]

interesting about the Mark Twain....as many times as that Pixie dust event is posted here as an opportunity, I began to believe that the piloting randomness was never going to happen again.

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

interesting about the Mark Twain....as many times as that Pixie dust event is posted here as an opportunity, I began to believe that the piloting randomness was never going to happen again.

My son was picked to pilot yesterday. From what I had read here the best chance was to ask and hope they would say yes. We were first at the gate and asked immediately and were told that the Captain now picks a family at random. We figured we were done for because we asked. It was a very small group on the boat and the person we asked initially turned out to be the Captain! He picked us because we were the first to ask and he said “literally everyone on the cruise asked so I went with you because you asked first”. I like the idea of completely random pixie dust but I’m glad we asked anyway.

 

[Violetspider]

I'm looking forward to having Bao at Tropical Hideaway. I'll have to keep my eye out for that churro. I love spicy chocolate. I hope it's still being served in December! Thanks for the report.

 

[disneyworldsk]

what is ballast point? and if i haven't been in awhile but going november, where to recommend finding lists of the newest things that idk about like new restaurants, or events? i was there last for the 60th but need to research what's new since.

 

[McKelly]

What is a multiple experience pass?

 

[Violetspider]

What is a multiple experience pass?

When a ride that you have a fast pass for breaks down, or has been shut down due to weather or something, your fast pass automatically turns into a Multiple Experience Pass that you can use anytime that day on that ride, if it starts running again, or on a number of other rides in that park. You get to choose when and which (not all fast pass rides qualify but most do). They are like gold. Holding a Multiple Experience Pass does not affect you getting other fast passes either.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

what is ballast point? and if i haven't been in awhile but going november, where to recommend finding lists of the newest things that idk about like new restaurants, or events? i was there last for the 60th but need to research what's new since.

Ballast Point is a new brewery/restaurant in DTD. From the DLR website: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/downtown-disney-district/ballast-point-brewing-company/.

 

[katejc]

When a ride that you have a fast pass for breaks down, or has been shut down due to weather or something, your fast pass automatically turns into a Multiple Experience Pass that you can use anytime that day on that ride, if it starts running again, or on a number of other rides in that park. You get to choose when and which (not all fast pass rides qualify but most do). They are like gold. Holding a Multiple Experience Pass does not affect you getting other fast passes either.

Multiple experience passes are so great because they are for any fp ride (in originating park) at any time, so you can save them for later in the evening (as we did) when sometimes the headliners can run out of fast passes. And as soon as it clicks over to multiple experience, you may choose another fast pass—no waiting until that time would’ve come up.

 

[katejc]

what is ballast point? and if i haven't been in awhile but going november, where to recommend finding lists of the newest things that idk about like new restaurants, or events? i was there last for the 60th but need to research what's new since.

These boards are a great place to look for all the latest. Since the 60th there is a lot of new stuff! One you might want to check out is the Lamplight Lounge in Pixar Pier (also new to you) in DCA. Great outdoor location in former Ariel’s Grotto space with fun drinks and great snacks. Good idea to have a reservation there, but you can also do walk up.

 

[disneyworldsk]

So latest and greatest are: lamplight, ballast, tropical hideaway, woc returns, newish fantasmic, star wars galaxy's edge. anything else to highlight you all recommend? loved the review above. very helpful.

 

[twodogs]

Multiple experience passes are so great because they are for any fp ride (in originating park) at any time, so you can save them for later in the evening (as we did) when sometimes the headliners can run out of fast passes. And as soon as it clicks over to multiple experience, you may choose another fast pass—no waiting until that time would’ve come up.

I don’t think they are always for any FP ride in that park. Some are limited to non-headliners if the original ride was not a headliner. So if you have a FP for Goofy’s Sky School, and it breaks down, I don’t think RSR is on your Multi-Experience FP. But someone here may know for sure. This is my recollection from many recent trips.