Just Back-Several Observations

[veddermax]

We just got back from our week in Southern California. Made a 3 day visit to DLR during our stay. DW and I took our DD3 to WDW this past December and she has been asking EVERYDAY since then when we were going back, so we decided to surprise her with a visit to DLR. DGP’s also came along.

CROWDS/WAIT TIMES
It was summer time and we expected crowds. The longest standby we saw posted was Splash M. at 85 minutes during one afternoon. The longest line we actually waited in was the Submarines at 60 minutes (I expected this given it was 3 pm in the afternoon). Using FP's though we had minimal waits on the headliner attractions and everything else was 20 minutes or less for standby. We also took advantage of MM one day as well. We always seemed to end up with way too many FP’s that we had to give away at the end of each day.

PARADES
We did the parade at DL (1X) and CA (2X). I noticed that the shady spots on Main St. were taken an hour in advance of the 6:30 pm parade. Whereas you could easily find a shady spot about 15 minutes before the start of the parade at CA. Our family liked the CA parade given it is a more traditional parade, but both my DW and I found it weird how all the floats had to spray the crowd with water.

CAFÉ ORLEANS
Thanks to suggestions from this board, we ate here for lunch one day. I was able to make reservations for 11:30 am the evening before and we were seated right away, ahead of walk ups. The location was great. DD got to watch the band play and Tiana sign autographs. We ordered way too much food and ended up leaving a lot behind. I’d recommend that two adults split a Monte Cristo and side order of frites. This is what we will do in the future.

THE RIGHT AGE TO VISIT
Wow, what a difference 6 months makes. During our December visit to WDW, we struggled to get our DD (almost 3 at the time) on any dark ride (Pooh, PP, ITASW, Nemo, etc.) and she was petrified of meeting characters other than the princesses. On this visit she wanted to ride all the dark rides as many times as possible. She even liked Pirates. She also was actively seeking out characters to meet and gave Mickey a big hug as he walked up to her.

FORTY INCHES
We were excited to find out before our visit that DD was approx. 40 inches tall (in her Crocs). CM’s allowed her to ride Splash Mountain and Soarin (she loved both of these rides), but did not allow her to ride BTM (which DW and I were fine with as it might have been a little too much for her). We just found it interesting that what constitutes 40 inches varies given the ride.

 

[Michelle2]

Sounds like an awesome trip! We will be leaving in a few days to go to DL, so I love to hear how everyone's recent experiences have been. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Glad to hear you had a good trip. I smiled at the description of your daughter seeking out characters and running up to give Mickey a hug. How sweet!

... We just found it interesting that what constitutes 40 inches varies given the ride.

The time of day can affect height. If your DD was just barely 40" and you went to BTMRR later in the day, she may indeed not have been 40" at that time. Gravity pushes us down throughout the day.

- Dreams

 

[Funball]

Glad to hear you had a good trip. I smiled at the description of your daughter seeking out characters and running up to give Mickey a hug. How sweet!



The time of day can affect height. If your DD was just barely 40" and you went to BTMRR later in the day, she may indeed not have been 40" at that time. Gravity pushes us down throughout the day.

- Dreams

your joking right dreams? soo i am really not 5 foot nothing then... i am actually 5'3 but gravity seems to be pushing me down.......

 

[I'm mikey]

your joking right dreams? soo i am really not 5 foot nothing then... i am actually 5'3 but gravity seems to be pushing me down.......

Well, ya that. or maybe its all those park maps you carry around.

 

[Disney Dreams]

your joking right dreams? soo i am really not 5 foot nothing then... i am actually 5'3 but gravity seems to be pushing me down.......

Nope, not joking at all. If someone is BARELY measuring X', they are better going to that ride first thing in the day. After riding and standing and just being vertical all day, you are a bit shorter than first thing in the morning.

- Dreams

 

[Funball]

Well, ya that. or maybe its all those park maps you carry around.

Carrying 16 maps of DLR and DCA around the park in my purse is not heavy at all…thank you.

Nope, not joking at all. If someone is BARELY measuring X', they are better going to that ride first thing in the day. After riding and standing and just being vertical all day, you are a bit shorter than first thing in the morning.

- Dreams

Hmm that is why I feel at least 4’2 when I get off screamin…..

 

[Funball]

But then I like to go and stand next to someone even shorter then me and then I feel MUCH taller!!

 

[Minuet888]

My son's pediatrician told him he was 46 1/2 inches two days prior to our trip. Then at Indiana Jones before we got in the fastpass return line they told him he was fine to go (the measured him).
Even the fastpass return line was a while, then right before we get into the jeep the guy measures him again and says he isn't tall enough.
I...was....pissed.

Now I have a little one throwing a tantrum

 

[Funball]

PARADES
We did the parade at DL (1X) and CA (2X). I noticed that the shady spots on Main St. were taken an hour in advance of the 6:30 pm parade. Whereas you could easily find a shady spot about 15 minutes before the start of the parade at CA. Our family liked the CA parade given it is a more traditional parade, but both my DW and I found it weird how all the floats had to spray the crowd with water.

they only do this during the hot weather monthes. this is not a ongoing thing.. during winter this does not happen and you are reffering to the DCA parade pixar play parade i assume..anyhow the water spray is to be fun and playfull and cool the crowd off ..it can get VERY hot at DCA!

 

[skiingfast]

FORTY INCHES
We were excited to find out before our visit that DD was approx. 40 inches tall (in her Crocs). CM’s allowed her to ride Splash Mountain and Soarin (she loved both of these rides), but did not allow her to ride BTM (which DW and I were fine with as it might have been a little too much for her). We just found it interesting that what constitutes 40 inches varies given the ride.

It is great that on this trip she was ready for some of those 40" rides, since at WDW the height limits are 42 or 44" for the "same" attractions.

 

[tiffjoy]

My son's pediatrician told him he was 46 1/2 inches two days prior to our trip. Then at Indiana Jones before we got in the fastpass return line they told him he was fine to go (the measured him).
Even the fastpass return line was a while, then right before we get into the jeep the guy measures him again and says he isn't tall enough.
I...was....pissed.

Now I have a little one throwing a tantrum

Everyone's rulers aren't exactly the same. I'm sure your pediatrician's ruler was much more exact than the painted on one's at DL. Those are probably off by a little bit.

The scientist in me wants to urge DL to calibrate all their rulers.

 

[AMouse&ADream]

CAFÉ ORLEANS
Thanks to suggestions from this board, we ate here for lunch one day. I was able to make reservations for 11:30 am the evening before and we were seated right away, ahead of walk ups. The location was great. DD got to watch the band play and Tiana sign autographs. We ordered way too much food and ended up leaving a lot behind. I’d recommend that two adults split a Monte Cristo and side order of frites. This is what we will do in the future.

Right on.. one of my favorite restaurants! I would also recommend the gumbo.

 

[AMouse&ADream]

If you want to make the Monte Cristo at home, I put together an instructional video.. it's super simple (probably a little too simple if you're worried you might be eating them all the time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFLp6yvOWTo

 

[CaseyK]

Sounds like a great trip. DD is 4 now and so excited about our upcoming trip. She will be in the same position as your DD- just 40 inches with shoes. I want her to ride Splash Mountain. She wants to ride Thunder Mountain so we'll see.

 

[Mugglemama]

My son's pediatrician told him he was 46 1/2 inches two days prior to our trip. Then at Indiana Jones before we got in the fastpass return line they told him he was fine to go (the measured him).
Even the fastpass return line was a while, then right before we get into the jeep the guy measures him again and says he isn't tall enough.
I...was....pissed.

I hate, hate, HATE when the kids get measured for Indy! We have 4 kids, age 5-18, and have been to DL many, many times. Indy is the only ride I've ever gotten angry with CM's at when it comes to measuring. A couple of years ago, when my daughter who was 7 at the time, and had ALREADY been on the darn ride, the militant CM who measured her actually pushed her shoulders down and scared her because he was being so forceful. When she stood next to the measuring stick, her head was ABOVE the part that protrudes out, so it was OBVIOUS that she was tall enough....it was as though he was trying to shove her down in order to say she couldn't ride! She started to cry a bit and told us he was hurting her shoulders because he was pushing on them. WTH? Each one of our 3 oldest kids has had trouble when getting measured at Indy (the youngest isn't tall enough to ride yet). And just to clarify, we have never tried to get a kid on a ride unless we knew they were tall enough to ride it safely, so it wasn't like we were ever trying to find a way around the rules. But geez! When the kid is actually tall enough to ride, let them ride! What is UP with the CM's at Indy?!!!