Just Back/Quick hits - Desert Inn, RideMax, Goofy's, etc.

[jimsocks]

Just got back - great weather, great cm's/guests, lots of fun as always - some quick thoughts:

Desert Inn & Suites - It is as you've read elsewhere - very good location; very basic accomodations - nothing extraordinary. Reasonably priced - got the Parlor A suite for $109/night. It is truly all about expectations...If you're looking for a place to sleep and grab a quick bite for breakfast on the cheap -this will work. The extra space (vs. traditional motel/hotel room) that you get with the suite was truly a benefit...kids got to bed on time, adults stayed up later - plus the extra room to "spread out"...Our first time here...we've stayed at Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel & Hojo's before...all of which had nicer rooms, no question...but the combination of great location, reasonable pricing and the extra room will get us back here again next year.

RideMax - Definitely worth it for me. Nobody likes forced regimentation on a vacation - but Ridemax allows you to do all the things you want to do with the least amount of waiting in line. For example, Saturday - rode Matterhorn, Indy, Space (twice), Pirates, Buzz (twice); Big Thunder, Splash - had lunch then over to DCA for the 1:50pm Aladdin - then mid-afternoon break and back for TOT, Soarin' & Screamin' - then in time for fireworks - but canceled due to high winds; Cost was $15 for 3 months access...found it very useful - will use it again next time.

Goofy's - About our 8th visit - still love it. Plenty of characters - timely seating - food was better than years previous, it seemed - never felt rushed...still haven't had a bad service experience there...

Mickey's Surf's Up - Same cost as Goofy's when you include the tip (tip is included at Goofy's) - Will NOT do this again...just seemed low energy - food was average breakfast fare - good not great. Daisy was a nice touch here - can't really get her anywhere else...

Dole Whip Fast Pass? - Probably not news to many - but I noticed the long line waiting for Dole Whips around mid-day and also noticed the very short line on the other side of the stand, inside the Tiki room waiting area....after some quick observation, noticed that most of the folks getting Dole whips on the short side were not really attending the Tiki room performance - but there to get Dole Whips! Worked great! Probably saved 15 mins of wait time...

 

[Sherry E]

You said exactly what I said about Goofy's and my last visit there in December - the food was better than my last several visits there! I am glad to see that someone else had that same thought and experience. I have always loved Goofy's, of course, and I try to make it a staple of every DLR trip (even the one-day trips), but I definitely noticed that the food in December tasted even better than it had the last several times I had been there. Maybe they have a new chef in the kitchen?

Also, can you confirm (because we still haven't had a whole lot of Surf's UP with Mickey reports yet) - you said they are charging the same price as Goofy's, and is it all-buffet (no menu orders)? BUT the buffet is still considerably smaller than Goofy's, correct? Or did they expand the buffet? That's what doesn't make sense to me. I guess they can get away with charging the same $$$ because Mickey is there, but for Goofy's Kitchen kind of money, I want Goofy's Kitchen food variety and selection, which is vast!

Cute Mickey story about taking the photo - or not taking it!! Way way way way before Surf's Up with Mickey and Friends or even before the Captain Mickey's character meal in DCA years ago - meaning back in the early '90s - my friends and I asked some CMs at Goofy's Kitchen why Mickey couldn't appear at that character meal or at a meal of his own, and one CM answered very authoritatively, "Because of legal reasons....he has to stay in the parks and can't come to the hotel." I had never considered that before the CM told us that, but it makes sense, especially after what you are saying now about Disney being protective of Mickey's image. They must have very specific 'rules' about where Mickey can appear and what exactly he is allowed to do at those locations (for example, at Surf's Up, he is not circulating around the tables - he can only stay at the entrance/photo op location). Very interesting!

Anyway, glad to hear you had a fun DLR trip!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Thanks for the info on Desert Inn and Suites.
I made a mental note of that place on our last trip... because of it's proximity to the parks entrance area. I'll definitely have to check that out for our next DL trip... it's not all that soon(2011) but I'll definitely check it out. That's less expensive than what we paid for our recent stay in a small regular hotel that was a longer walk to the parks!

 

[jimsocks]

Also, can you confirm (because we still haven't had a whole lot of Surf's UP with Mickey reports yet) - you said they are charging the same price as Goofy's, and is it all-buffet (no menu orders)? BUT the buffet is still considerably smaller than Goofy's, correct? Or did they expand the buffet? That's what doesn't make sense to me. I guess they can get away with charging the same $$$ because Mickey is there, but for Goofy's Kitchen kind of money, I want Goofy's Kitchen food variety and selection, which is vast!

Surf's Up charges less - but when you include tip it's right on par with Goofy's...Yes the buffet only is available to all...At least when it was Lilo/Stitch you had the choice to order off the menu...Yes the buffet is smaller than Goofy's...still pretty good size - but it's breakfast only - so I guess a smaller set up is to be expected...We definitely agree on Goofy's!

Odd that in the Happiest Place on Earth (tm) that welcomes kids of all ages - that specifically in the cases of Park Entrance and Buffets that "kids" magically become adults at age 10...

 

[carolinamama]

Thanks for the review of RideMax! I had read about it somewhere on the site, but it's always good to hear another report. I'm close to being within our timeframe to get it. I just want to play!

 

[jimsocks]

Thanks for the review of RideMax! I had read about it somewhere on the site, but it's always good to hear another report. I'm close to being within our timeframe to get it. I just want to play!

CM - It's extremely customizable...give yourself time to play around with it before your trip...I'm starting to feel like a shill for it - but, it is what it is...

 

[Sherry E]

Surf's Up charges less - but when you include tip it's right on par with Goofy's...Yes the buffet only is available to all...At least when it was Lilo/Stitch you had the choice to order off the menu...Yes the buffet is smaller than Goofy's...still pretty good size - but it's breakfast only - so I guess a smaller set up is to be expected...We definitely agree on Goofy's!

Odd that in the Happiest Place on Earth (tm) that welcomes kids of all ages - that specifically in the cases of Park Entrance and Buffets that "kids" magically become adults at age 10...

Exactly right. And most of them will not be able to eat enough food to justify paying adult prices at a buffet as large as that. Even the kids' prices are a bit daunting for some folks.

 

[Hound 109]

"Dole Whip Fast Pass"....JimSocks...did you make that up?

That's hilarious & the perfect description.


Thanks for the report.

 

[jimsocks]

"Dole Whip Fast Pass"....JimSocks...did you make that up?

That's hilarious & the perfect description.


Thanks for the report.

It's even funnier when you say "Dole Whip" the way Stewie says "Cool Whip"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lich59xsjik

If you prefer, skip ahead to :53 to avoid the Brian/Meg drama...