just got back!! aug 16 -22

[greenmustang]

fairfield rocked!!! would definatly recommend this hotel. easy walk, great eatings close by, cool lemon water, etc etc etc great view of fireworks from room 537.
huge crowds did i say HUGE sometimes unwalkable in the afternoon---get there early is my best advice. long days 12 to 14 hours, used fast pass in the pm but early morning waited only 20 min max, sometimes walked right on as soon as we got there. wouldnt got there again in the summer and also AP holders were able to visit again. so made the crowds even bigger.
saw all parades- celebrate, electric, pixar!!
stuck in haunted mansion during power outage scary!! lots of rides down for us, matterhorn, pinochhio, screamin pirates haunted. back up in 1/2 hr i think
wonderful time
sad to be home but great memories
i saw fantasmic-- stood behind middler tower, thanks everyone for the advice!!
did 2 character dinings goofys -daughter loved peanut butter and jelly pizza, and ariels grotto-- they should change the appy tower as not really food a kid likes, well at least not mine
daughter did BBB 245.00 yikes
did all the rides with 6 yr old, way more braver than me. loved screamin and tower of terror, soaring was so awesome.
daugther got in show drawn to magic in DCA. very exciting for her as she also got a pic of cinderella from CM.
all 3d shows so much fun, honey, bugs muppets soarin.. make sure you see them
didnt get my monte cristo in though or loaded potato soup in bread bowl. next time-- in 6 years , oh well
looks like some new attractions coming to DCA which i will look forward to.

thanks againfor all the advice
now i need a vacation from my vacation and going for a nap!!
take care
vicky
penticton bc
DL aug 16-22 2009

 

[Dizneydaz]

Glad you had fun! I was there on Sunday, the 16th. One of the many returning AP holders. Sorry!

Didn't experience any power outages, guess we were lucky from what I'm reading but it does explain why the FP line for Indy was incredibly long at about 4:30. We skipped it and headed home.

 

[GoofItUp]

Glad to hear such a good report about the Fairfield. We'll be staying there in Oct. Maybe I'll request room 537!

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Sounds like a great vacation!

Can you tell me more about the Drawn to the Magic? Is is a show?


Thanks. Glad you had a wonderful time.

 

[greenmustang]

yes it is a show- musical like in DCA
at the end 3 characters come out. cinderella woody and mickey as magician are the ones we saw.not sure if it changes. CM sing songs from different movies. check it out for sure, very entertaining
daughter was so excited when chosen.

vicky

 

[Caseystigger]

Glad to hear you had such a great trip!

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Thanks. That sounds like fun and we will have to try it out.

 

[greenmustang]

hope you enjoy it like we did.
vicky

 

[jerseygal]

Birthday Fastpass for Son was a BLESSING!Got to parks early that morning..Did regular fastpass for some rides in morning, then SAVED IMMEDIATE FASTPASS FOR 6 OTHER IN DEMAND RIDES! REALLY HELPED SO SO MUCH!

Would love to return in about 3 years...Does anyone know if mid April 2 weeks after Easter is busy at DL???? I would imagine that most people are there during Easter break with kids..

Does this seem like a good time to return? Would think it is a lot better than when AP "kicked in"...?????

Thanks..HAD A FABULOUS TIME!

 

[bzkds]

I was there on Fri and Sat too. And stayed at the Fairfield. Our room had peeling wallpaper, uncomfortable beds and a "whistling" door that didn't shut all the way. We won't stay there again.

I found the crowds on Fri to be pretty good until around 5pm when it got crowded. Still, we managed to get plenty of Fast passes and did all the rides we wanted. We don't do any of the parades or shows like Fantasmic though, so that might make a difference.

Sat was warm and muggy, ugh! Again, crowds didn't seem too bad until the evening. We never did get to go on Space Mountain a 2nd time, but did everything else. Big Thunder Railroad went down briefly but that was the only ride I noticed being out the whole time we were there.

I'll be back in Feb, can't wait for fewer people and cooler weather!
Beth

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

so glad you had a good time too! Loved reading your thoughts

 

[brookies_mommy]

fairfield rocked!!! would definatly recommend this hotel. easy walk, great eatings close by, cool lemon water, etc etc etc great view of fireworks from room 537.
huge crowds did i say HUGE sometimes unwalkable in the afternoon---get there early is my best advice. long days 12 to 14 hours, used fast pass in the pm but early morning waited only 20 min max, sometimes walked right on as soon as we got there. wouldnt got there again in the summer and also AP holders were able to visit again. so made the crowds even bigger.
saw all parades- celebrate, electric, pixar!!
stuck in haunted mansion during power outage scary!! lots of rides down for us, matterhorn, pinochhio, screamin pirates haunted. back up in 1/2 hr i think
wonderful time
sad to be home but great memories
i saw fantasmic-- stood behind middler tower, thanks everyone for the advice!!
did 2 character dinings goofys -daughter loved peanut butter and jelly pizza, and ariels grotto-- they should change the appy tower as not really food a kid likes, well at least not mine
daughter did BBB 245.00 yikes
did all the rides with 6 yr old, way more braver than me. loved screamin and tower of terror, soaring was so awesome.
daugther got in show drawn to magic in DCA. very exciting for her as she also got a pic of cinderella from CM.
all 3d shows so much fun, honey, bugs muppets soarin.. make sure you see them
didnt get my monte cristo in though or loaded potato soup in bread bowl. next time-- in 6 years , oh well
looks like some new attractions coming to DCA which i will look forward to.

thanks againfor all the advice
now i need a vacation from my vacation and going for a nap!!
take care
vicky
penticton bc
DL aug 16-22 2009

What did your DD do at BBB? Were going next month.. I thought the price maxed at about $200? AHHH

 

[greenmustang]

the god mother shopped with her, she picked up her sizes etc then said to dd do you want the purse and gloves, the shoes.of course she said yes and i didnt have the heart to say no..... so thats where the price went up
ugg
worth it as the photos were amazing!!
vicky

 

[brookies_mommy]

the god mother shopped with her, she picked up her sizes etc then said to dd do you want the purse and gloves, the shoes.of course she said yes and i didnt have the heart to say no..... so thats where the price went up
ugg
worth it as the photos were amazing!!
vicky

OH GREAT! I'm in big trouble!! It will be DD's 4th birthday when we go.. Can't tell her no on her birthday. lol. What princess did she chose? I would love to see pictures

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Glad you had a great time. We were there the weekend you arrived, leaving that Sun (16th). Seeing the crowds that day I was kind of glad we were!

We did the BBB for both my daughters -so x2 it was a lot of money, but I agree, so worth it. Loved, loved, loved watching them get their makeovers and seeing the photo shoot pictures.

Hopefully the OP will post pics of her daughter, but here are some of mine - DD5 was Aurora and DD3 was Jasmine!

 

[mdwings]

Birthday Fastpass for Son was a BLESSING!Got to parks early that morning..Did regular fastpass for some rides in morning, then SAVED IMMEDIATE FASTPASS FOR 6 OTHER IN DEMAND RIDES! REALLY HELPED SO SO MUCH!

Would love to return in about 3 years...Does anyone know if mid April 2 weeks after Easter is busy at DL???? I would imagine that most people are there during Easter break with kids..

Does this seem like a good time to return? Would think it is a lot better than when AP "kicked in"...?????

Thanks..HAD A FABULOUS TIME!

What is and (more importantly) how do you get a "Birthday" Fast Pass? We will have someone in our group who has a birthday on the last day of our trip. It will also likely be the most crowded day. An extra bit of Fast Pass magic would help. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Sherry E]

What is and (more importantly) how do you get a "Birthday" Fast Pass? We will have someone in our group who has a birthday on the last day of our trip. It will also likely be the most crowded day. An extra bit of Fast Pass magic would help. Thanks for sharing.

The only way the person in your group can get a Birthday Fast Pass is if they choose NOT to get the free birthday admission or the free birthday Fun Card (gift card) on their birthday. The person in your group may want a Fun Card, since it is $72 of free merchandise!

 

[jerseygal]

Can't you use at any downtown disney food locations, no food carts in DL or CA, no Disney Restaurants..

Only place I am aware of that accepts is Disney Store, Marceline's Confectionary, or another Disney Store(I forget the name)..For some teenagers, Disney Store is just not real appealing..

I think they should expand choices of fun card..For my son, Fastpass was more appealing..

Nice that Disney recognizes that some birthday guests otherwise could not perhaps to go to parks..Glad that they give a one day admission if you don't have multi-day tickets purchased already!

Happy Birthday to all!

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Only place I am aware of that accepts is Disney Store, Marceline's Confectionary, or another Disney Store(I forget the name)..For some teenagers, Disney Store is just not real appealing..

According to this thread:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1957296&highlight=birthday

These are the locations that accept the Fun Card (from glendalais who is a CM).

* Disneyland Park
o Main Street USA
+ Candy Palace
+ China Closet
+ City Hall
+ Disneyana
+ Disney Clothiers, Ltd.
+ Disney Showcase
+ Emporium
+ Guide I/II (These are the small stands on either side of the Train Station)
+ The Fortuosity Shop
+ The Mad Hatter
+ Main Street Magic Shop
+ Main Street Photo Supply, Co.
+ Market House
+ New Century Jewelry
+ Newsstand
+ Plaza Pavillion Pin Cart
+ Stroller Shop
+ 20th Century Music Company
o Adventureland
+ Adventureland Bazaar
+ Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost
+ South Seas Traders
o Frontierland
+ Bonanza Outfitters
+ Pioneer Mercantile
+ Westward Ho Trading Co.
o New Orleans Square
+ La Mascarade de Orléans
+ La Bat en Rouge
+ Port Royale
+ L'Ornement Magique
+ Pieces of Eight
+ Royal Street Sweets
+ Jewel of Orleans
o Critter Country
+ Briar Patch
+ Pooh Corner
+ Professor Barnaby Owl's Photographic Art Studio
o Fantasyland
+ Camera Kiosk
+ Fantasy Faire Gifts
+ The Royal Wardrobe
+ Fantasyland Merchandise Cart
+ "it's a small world" Toy Shop
+ Le Petite Chalet Gifts
+ Mad Hatter
+ UPDATE: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (unverified)
+ Enchanted Chamber
+ Stromboli's Wagon
+ Pixie Hollow Cart
o Tomorrowland
+ Autopia's Winner Circle
+ Little Green Men Store Command
+ Space Mountain Photo Capture
+ The Star Trader
+ Tomorrowlanding
o Mickey's Toontown
+ Gag Factory
+ Five & Dime
* Disney's California Adventure Park
o Sunshine Plaza
+ Guest Relations Lobby
+ Greetings from California
+ Engine-Ears Toys
o Golden State
+ Fly 'n' Buy
+ Rushin River Outfitters
o Hollywood Pictures Backlot
+ Gone Hollywood
+ Off the Page
+ Studio Store
+ Tower Hotel Gift Shop
o "a bug's land"
+ P.T. Flea Market
o Paradise Pier
+ California Scarem Cam
+ Laod Bhang Pin Cart
+ Midway Mercantile
+ Sideshow Shirts
+ Treasures in Paradise
* Downtown Disney District/Hotels of the Disneyland Resort
o Downtown Disney District
+ World of Disney
+ Marceline's Confectionary
+ Disney Vault 28
+ Disney's Pin Traders
o Disneyland Hotel
+ Disney's Fantasia Shop
+ Euro's Gifts and Collectibles
+ Donald's Gift and Sundries
o Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel
+ Mickey in Paradise
o Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
+ Acorns Gifts and Goods

Hopefully it's still accurate!

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, Kayla's Mom, you are right! The Fun Card is not very limited at all when it comes to merchandise - you can gets merchandise all over the place with it. It is only limited when it comes to food. You can't buy food at restaurants but you can get snacks at the candy stores, etc. If I had been able to go on my birthday, I sure as heck would have gone for the Fun Card. $72 in free stuff from DLR is too good to pass up (that is, if you don't need the free admission).