We are back from our socal trip June 6-16. I've never done any sort of TR, but I thought I would address some of the questions I have seen frequently pop up here. I have found so much useful info and am so grateful to everyone. I thought maybe I could pass something along. OK, here goes:
First, a little background. Me, my DH, and two kids (ages 7 and 3) are making a bigger effort to visit socal. My inlaws live in Joshua Tree and are really starting to slow down. They can only visit once a year. We thought we could go see them more often and hit an attraction or two each trip. We wanted to start with DLR, but the whole thing has snowballed into APs and a second trip in December (now possibly Thanksgiving with the inlaws and then DLR!). I grew up in Orange and it was always a childhood dream of mine to get APs. Now I'm livin' the dream! I even mentioned that we could do a late May/early June trip before they expire and my DH actually thought that was a good idea!
Anyway, here goes:
Deluxe APs at Costco:
We arrived at SNA and drove to the Tustin Costco on sat 6/6. The process was quick and easy. The expiration date of these APs does indeed say 10/31/09. An employee provided me with the SKU number and I picked them up at the merchandise pick up window. He had to check to see if they were still in stock, I'm not sure he knew about the new batch. A quick trip to the very close by In-N-Out and we were on our way.
Hojos:
We had the entertainment rate and stayed at building 2, pool view. I think the building was nicely insulated from sound. The pools are indeed not heated and a little cool. The toddler pool at the Castaway Cove was by far the warmest (I am attributing this to how shallow it is and that it was heated by the sun and am choosing to ignore any other possible explanation). Loved the pillow top beds and the short walk. I think its a great value for the comfy beds, pool, and closeness.
Best random tourist moment:
My DH was getting some supplies from the Hojo's store, when a woman asked him where the continental breakfast was. He told him that Hojo's didn't have one. She got quite upset and stated that she was promised a breakfast. My DH thought that maybe she was part of a group that was providing a breakfast, but we were not a part of that group and did not know where a breakfast could be. She got very angry and stromed off. As we were walking down Main Street a few minutes later my DH said, "I really hope that lady found her breakfast."
School groups strategy:
There were several school groups during our visit. In fact, while I was remembering my own 6th grade school trip, we spotted a group of kids from my elementary school waiting in line. What memories! Anyway, they definitely gravitate to the coasters. Luckily almost everything they were drawn to en masse has FPs. I recommend hitting the Matterhorn early, it was pretty busy during the day and getting FPs for Space, Indy, Splash, BTMRR, and Buzz. Buzz was a little more hit and miss, sometimes the line was 5 minutes and sometimes 35. Space, Splash, and Indy all hung in the 60-75 minute range. BTMRR was around 30 with quick FP turnaround times. Luckily, many of these kids do not know how to use FP. We were about to enter Space in the FP line when I noticed that the CM was looking less than cheerful. I rounded the corner to discover that he was being yelled at by an angry mob of teenage girls for letting in the FP line before them. I felt sorry for the poor guy. The kids also pretty much leave Fantasyland alone, so it was very doable between 8 and 11am. There were fewer families the second week of June since summer was just starting to get going.
The newly refurbed Peter Pan:
It was so great to see such an awesome ride get some TLC. And yes, the new boat did fit our family of four. I was skeptical, but the CM told us all to get in and we fit (he had to repeat this several times to other families, and was pretty patient will all of us). My 3 year old had to be on the inside, though. The ride is smoother, the stars in the sky while flying over London had a more enhanced 3D quality, and the line did move faster thanks to the larger boats.
I think that's all for now. Coming up: the food, advice for WDW vets, and anything else people would like to now. I hope someone reads this!
First, a little background. Me, my DH, and two kids (ages 7 and 3) are making a bigger effort to visit socal. My inlaws live in Joshua Tree and are really starting to slow down. They can only visit once a year. We thought we could go see them more often and hit an attraction or two each trip. We wanted to start with DLR, but the whole thing has snowballed into APs and a second trip in December (now possibly Thanksgiving with the inlaws and then DLR!). I grew up in Orange and it was always a childhood dream of mine to get APs. Now I'm livin' the dream! I even mentioned that we could do a late May/early June trip before they expire and my DH actually thought that was a good idea!
Anyway, here goes:
Deluxe APs at Costco:
We arrived at SNA and drove to the Tustin Costco on sat 6/6. The process was quick and easy. The expiration date of these APs does indeed say 10/31/09. An employee provided me with the SKU number and I picked them up at the merchandise pick up window. He had to check to see if they were still in stock, I'm not sure he knew about the new batch. A quick trip to the very close by In-N-Out and we were on our way.
Hojos:
We had the entertainment rate and stayed at building 2, pool view. I think the building was nicely insulated from sound. The pools are indeed not heated and a little cool. The toddler pool at the Castaway Cove was by far the warmest (I am attributing this to how shallow it is and that it was heated by the sun and am choosing to ignore any other possible explanation). Loved the pillow top beds and the short walk. I think its a great value for the comfy beds, pool, and closeness.
Best random tourist moment:
My DH was getting some supplies from the Hojo's store, when a woman asked him where the continental breakfast was. He told him that Hojo's didn't have one. She got quite upset and stated that she was promised a breakfast. My DH thought that maybe she was part of a group that was providing a breakfast, but we were not a part of that group and did not know where a breakfast could be. She got very angry and stromed off. As we were walking down Main Street a few minutes later my DH said, "I really hope that lady found her breakfast."
School groups strategy:
There were several school groups during our visit. In fact, while I was remembering my own 6th grade school trip, we spotted a group of kids from my elementary school waiting in line. What memories! Anyway, they definitely gravitate to the coasters. Luckily almost everything they were drawn to en masse has FPs. I recommend hitting the Matterhorn early, it was pretty busy during the day and getting FPs for Space, Indy, Splash, BTMRR, and Buzz. Buzz was a little more hit and miss, sometimes the line was 5 minutes and sometimes 35. Space, Splash, and Indy all hung in the 60-75 minute range. BTMRR was around 30 with quick FP turnaround times. Luckily, many of these kids do not know how to use FP. We were about to enter Space in the FP line when I noticed that the CM was looking less than cheerful. I rounded the corner to discover that he was being yelled at by an angry mob of teenage girls for letting in the FP line before them. I felt sorry for the poor guy. The kids also pretty much leave Fantasyland alone, so it was very doable between 8 and 11am. There were fewer families the second week of June since summer was just starting to get going.
The newly refurbed Peter Pan:
It was so great to see such an awesome ride get some TLC. And yes, the new boat did fit our family of four. I was skeptical, but the CM told us all to get in and we fit (he had to repeat this several times to other families, and was pretty patient will all of us). My 3 year old had to be on the inside, though. The ride is smoother, the stars in the sky while flying over London had a more enhanced 3D quality, and the line did move faster thanks to the larger boats.
I think that's all for now. Coming up: the food, advice for WDW vets, and anything else people would like to now. I hope someone reads this!
Now I have this new Canon point and shoot thing, and it will be an 'experiment' to see how I do with that camera next month! So many setting; so many details in the handbook; not enough patience for it!
and pictures, got any? thanks so much 
(But that's another story!) However she did say that it happened occasionally and the bars were scheduled to be lowered with the next refurb so they wouldn't be at face level of small kids anymore.
