Pooh2
Dis Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2011
- Messages
- 4,733
Thanks for all the tips on planning our first trip to DL!
This board was wonderful for planning and not wasting time trying to figure things out once we got there.
It was the two of us empty nesters for our 30th anniversary celebration. We stopped in DL on the way back from Aulani.
We stayed 3 nights at the DL hotel and enjoyed the hotel. If we ever get to go again though, we'd probably opt for Grand Californian for it's closer location to the park entrance. I have mobility issues and was pretty tuckered out by the short walk through DTD at the end of the night.
Our only issue with the DL hotel was that everytime we headed down to swim, the big pool was closed temporarily. This happened a few times at Aulani too. Don't they have some kind of swim diapers these days to avoid these "Unexpected Events"? The large pool closure left the smaller pool very crowded with children (increasing the chance of another "Unexpected Event!")
We checked in to DLH on Sunday night about 6pm. We were deemed the ETicket Family of the Day. We initially had no idea what that meant so they explained it to us. We were invited to view the fireworks from EClub and enjoyed snacks and drinks while we waited for the fireworks. We were pretty tuckered out from our travels so this was a great way to see the fireworks and be an elevator ride away from our bed!
Our room was on the 9th floor, very roomy with a king-sized bed and couch and large chair, and a small computer desk. Loved the headboard!
We walked down to the parks the first night after arrival to redeem our package voucher for our tickets, exchange our photopass plus voucher and take a train ride before heading to the EClub. Great way to start our trip!
We used the monorail a few times to go back and forth to DL. That was pretty handy.
It was so easy to go back and forth between the two parks that we did so several times per day. They took our photo when getting our ticket so we did not need a hand stamp when coming and going. They said they only require that now for one day passes.
On our first morning, we followed everyone at early entry to RSRs. We waited in line about 30 minutes. The ride got stuck while we were a short way from finished. So we had to wait awhile for a CM to come walk us out. The ride was great fun. The CM said it would be awhile before they got the ride back online and they had cleared the line outside by the time we exited. Glad we got our ride in!
CA reminded us alot of Hollywood Studios at WDW.
We loved World of Color.
We did the Carthay Circle Dinner and were a little disappointed after reading lots of great reviews. Our seats were very close to another couple so not the quiet romantic dinner we imagined but we made the best of it and made friends with the couple. The steak was enjoyable, the pork chop was disappointing (maybe an off night for the chef?). If we make it back that way, we would try the lunch pkg instead to save a bit of money.
Another morning, we did EE for CA and RSRs and TSM were both down. We do not do coasters so we enjoyed wandering around and got breakfast at Flo's V8 Cafe. (The caramel french toast was a great sticky yumminess!). We loved the Route 66 theme in Carsland, especially fun at night.
It was so fun to finally get to see DL! The weather was pretty warm for we Northerner's so we ended up taking it easy and enjoying some shows/attractions that we've not seen at WDW. We finally got to see the Tiki room. A nice cool spot to sit and enjoy a Dole Whip on a hot afternoon.
We got our photo with Oswald. He was right up front of the park near his gas station. Bert and Mary Poppins were outside their bakery. Enjoyed lots of fun character interaction and photos ops.
Glad we got the photopass plus. We were not sure it would be worth it for just 3 days but we got lots of fun photos. We found that if you ask about the Magic photos, they are happy to do them but none were offered when we did not ask.
One thing that surprised us was the only store we found that took Disney Visa Rewards Card in DTD was the World of Disney Store. At WDW, our experience was different.
We were looking for somewhere to enjoy a snack in the shade on Main St, just as CMs were dragging park benches to the side of the curb for afternoon parade watchers (about an hour before the parade). So we people watched, had a snack and cold drink in the shade and had the best spot we will ever have for a Disney parade! Great way to end our first trip!
Some of the places we dined:
Plaza Inn, Cafe Orleans, Carthay Circle, Earl of Sandwhich, Flo's V8 Cafe, Jolly Holiday Bakery.
We would have liked a little more time (we had a few hours Sunday night, full days on M, Tu, half day of Wed) but had an absolutely fabulous first time to DL! Thanks again for all the great info and tips!
This board was wonderful for planning and not wasting time trying to figure things out once we got there.
It was the two of us empty nesters for our 30th anniversary celebration. We stopped in DL on the way back from Aulani.
We stayed 3 nights at the DL hotel and enjoyed the hotel. If we ever get to go again though, we'd probably opt for Grand Californian for it's closer location to the park entrance. I have mobility issues and was pretty tuckered out by the short walk through DTD at the end of the night.
Our only issue with the DL hotel was that everytime we headed down to swim, the big pool was closed temporarily. This happened a few times at Aulani too. Don't they have some kind of swim diapers these days to avoid these "Unexpected Events"? The large pool closure left the smaller pool very crowded with children (increasing the chance of another "Unexpected Event!")
We checked in to DLH on Sunday night about 6pm. We were deemed the ETicket Family of the Day. We initially had no idea what that meant so they explained it to us. We were invited to view the fireworks from EClub and enjoyed snacks and drinks while we waited for the fireworks. We were pretty tuckered out from our travels so this was a great way to see the fireworks and be an elevator ride away from our bed!
Our room was on the 9th floor, very roomy with a king-sized bed and couch and large chair, and a small computer desk. Loved the headboard!
We walked down to the parks the first night after arrival to redeem our package voucher for our tickets, exchange our photopass plus voucher and take a train ride before heading to the EClub. Great way to start our trip!
We used the monorail a few times to go back and forth to DL. That was pretty handy.
It was so easy to go back and forth between the two parks that we did so several times per day. They took our photo when getting our ticket so we did not need a hand stamp when coming and going. They said they only require that now for one day passes.
On our first morning, we followed everyone at early entry to RSRs. We waited in line about 30 minutes. The ride got stuck while we were a short way from finished. So we had to wait awhile for a CM to come walk us out. The ride was great fun. The CM said it would be awhile before they got the ride back online and they had cleared the line outside by the time we exited. Glad we got our ride in!
CA reminded us alot of Hollywood Studios at WDW.
We loved World of Color.
We did the Carthay Circle Dinner and were a little disappointed after reading lots of great reviews. Our seats were very close to another couple so not the quiet romantic dinner we imagined but we made the best of it and made friends with the couple. The steak was enjoyable, the pork chop was disappointing (maybe an off night for the chef?). If we make it back that way, we would try the lunch pkg instead to save a bit of money.
Another morning, we did EE for CA and RSRs and TSM were both down. We do not do coasters so we enjoyed wandering around and got breakfast at Flo's V8 Cafe. (The caramel french toast was a great sticky yumminess!). We loved the Route 66 theme in Carsland, especially fun at night.
It was so fun to finally get to see DL! The weather was pretty warm for we Northerner's so we ended up taking it easy and enjoying some shows/attractions that we've not seen at WDW. We finally got to see the Tiki room. A nice cool spot to sit and enjoy a Dole Whip on a hot afternoon.
We got our photo with Oswald. He was right up front of the park near his gas station. Bert and Mary Poppins were outside their bakery. Enjoyed lots of fun character interaction and photos ops.
Glad we got the photopass plus. We were not sure it would be worth it for just 3 days but we got lots of fun photos. We found that if you ask about the Magic photos, they are happy to do them but none were offered when we did not ask.
One thing that surprised us was the only store we found that took Disney Visa Rewards Card in DTD was the World of Disney Store. At WDW, our experience was different.
We were looking for somewhere to enjoy a snack in the shade on Main St, just as CMs were dragging park benches to the side of the curb for afternoon parade watchers (about an hour before the parade). So we people watched, had a snack and cold drink in the shade and had the best spot we will ever have for a Disney parade! Great way to end our first trip!
Some of the places we dined:
Plaza Inn, Cafe Orleans, Carthay Circle, Earl of Sandwhich, Flo's V8 Cafe, Jolly Holiday Bakery.
We would have liked a little more time (we had a few hours Sunday night, full days on M, Tu, half day of Wed) but had an absolutely fabulous first time to DL! Thanks again for all the great info and tips!
) I'd love to go to Aulani sometime!
