Just got back...

[dr&momto2boys]

Just got back last night from our California trip. We spent 2 days in San Francisco, 2 days in San Diego (Zoo and SeaWorld), 1 day at Legoland, and 5 days at Disneyland. We had a fabulous time! There were some surprises. Eventually I'll do a trip report and food report but for now just thought I'd comment on random things we were surprised about and answer any questions anyone has.

Legoland was amazing! So clean. Not very busy. The theming was awesome. I was surprised at how fascinated I was with "miniland" (the cities built out of Legos.)

Both Seaworld and Legoland had trick-or-treat trails (not talking about separate parties.) It was a nice surprise for the kids and they gave out treats like pencils and notebooks in addition to some candy.

The Grand Californian housekeeping service was fabulous. You'd EXPECT this from a fine hotel, but we've stayed in many $300+/night hotels that weren't as well kept and the service wasn't as good. They flawlessly timed cleaning the rooms to be done before we'd be back for an afternoon nap. Turndown with used towels replaced, trash taken out again, and chocolate coins by the bedside never interrupted a nap, but was always complete by our return from the parks (8pm or so.) They were obviously conscious of our needs.

We used DVC points to stay at the GCH. We booked standard view for 4 nights before we decided to add an extra night at the beginning of our stay. We were only able to book park/pool view for the first night. We requested that we not have to change rooms even if that meant downgrading to standard view the first night if available. Instead they let us have the park/pool view for the whole stay!

The GCH entance to California Adventure park was sooo close to our room!

I was surprised at how warm it was! It had to have hit 90 a couple of days!

DL was surprisingly busy! The last two days you could barely get a stroller through the streets. I can't imagine what high season must be like!

We had Magic Morning the Monday after we arrived (Sunday night) because they didn't have it on that Sunday. So we had MM Mon, Tues, and Thurs while we were there!

The most surprising: Fantasyland was the least busy of all on Friday morning (a non-MM day.) You could walk right on Dumbo for the first hour or so! The least busy by far I had seen FL the whole week--any time of day including MM hours. I'm guessing this is because the whole park opened at once so people were more spread out. Also this is the only day we were there where there was a ToT party scheduled at night. Maybe people were sleeping in!

Service at Blue Bayou, Goofy's Kitchen, Cafe Orleans, Wine Country Trattoria were all lacking. Blue Bayou was the worst. I'm sure some wait staff is better than others, but to have an off experience at so many restaurants is strange. And we're NOT that picky!

The character interaction at Goofy's kitchen exceeded my expectations. We met at least 7 characters and had two two group activities during the hour we were there.

That's enough for now! Time to unpack!

 

[cheshiregirl]

Back!!!

Glad to hear that you had an overall great trip despite some of the challenges with service at the restaurants!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Sounds like a good time was had by all ~ I can't wait to hear more.

 

[Sherry E]

Just got back last night from our California trip. We spent 2 days in San Francisco, 2 days in San Diego (Zoo and SeaWorld), 1 day at Legoland, and 5 days at Disneyland. We had a fabulous time! There were some surprises. Eventually I'll do a trip report and food report but for now just thought I'd comment on random things we were surprised about and answer any questions anyone has.

Legoland was amazing! So clean. Not very busy. The theming was awesome. I was surprised at how fascinated I was with "miniland" (the cities built out of Legos.)

Both Seaworld and Legoland had trick-or-treat trails (not talking about separate parties.) It was a nice surprise for the kids and they gave out treats like pencils and notebooks in addition to some candy.

The Grand Californian housekeeping service was fabulous. You'd EXPECT this from a fine hotel, but we've stayed in many $300+/night hotels that weren't as well kept and the service wasn't as good. They flawlessly timed cleaning the rooms to be done before we'd be back for an afternoon nap. Turndown with used towels replaced, trash taken out again, and chocolate coins by the bedside never interrupted a nap, but was always complete by our return from the parks (8pm or so.) They were obviously conscious of our needs.

We used DVC points to stay at the GCH. We booked standard view for 4 nights before we decided to add an extra night at the beginning of our stay. We were only able to book park/pool view for the first night. We requested that we not have to change rooms even if that meant downgrading to standard view the first night if available. Instead they let us have the park/pool view for the whole stay!

The GCH entance to California Adventure park was sooo close to our room!

I was surprised at how warm it was! It had to have hit 90 a couple of days!

DL was surprisingly busy! The last two days you could barely get a stroller through the streets. I can't imagine what high season must be like!

We had Magic Morning the Monday after we arrived (Sunday night) because they didn't have it on that Sunday. So we had MM Mon, Tues, and Thurs while we were there!

The most surprising: Fantasyland was the least busy of all on Friday morning (a non-MM day.) You could walk right on Dumbo for the first hour or so! The least busy by far I had seen FL the whole week--any time of day including MM hours. I'm guessing this is because the whole park opened at once so people were more spread out. Also this is the only day we were there where there was a ToT party scheduled at night. Maybe people were sleeping in!

Service at Blue Bayou, Goofy's Kitchen, Cafe Orleans, Wine Country Trattoria were all lacking. Blue Bayou was the worst. I'm sure some wait staff is better than others, but to have an off experience at so many restaurants is strange. And we're NOT that picky!

The character interaction at Goofy's kitchen exceeded my expectations. We met at least 7 characters and had two two group activities during the hour we were there.

That's enough for now! Time to unpack!

I think DLR in general is having an off month! In my trip report, I desribe my own negative experiences at Blue Bayou and Carnation Cafe just last weekend, not to mention the so-so PPH stay. Our Goofy's breakfast - food, service and characters - was excellent. No complaints there. But Carnation, Blue Bayou and the PPH all needed help last weekend. They just were not on their game at all. Everything felt a little off-kilter and I hated having to complain when I got home, but that PPH room was just crazy! I love the GCH and wished I could have stayed there!

I can't wait to read your trip report when you put one together!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We were in DL from Sunday to Thursday. It actually reached 100 on a couple of the days this past week. It was hot, and I know hot!

Glad to hear you enjoyed yourselves.

 

[JDBlair]

We just returned home today. We were in the park Sunday - Wednesday. Tuesday and Wednesday were scorchers for sure. We spent more time in DCA this time and overheard a Cast Member complaining about how busy the parks were. When the area for the ride was empty, he commented to the other CM, "Now this is how it's supposed to be in October!" and pointed to the empty seats! Wednesday seemed to have the lightest crowds. But it still wasn't the busiest I have ever seen DL so I had no true complaints! Sorry to hear others had a tough time this week. I do think the CM's were unprepared for a busy week with the comments we heard. But we still had a magical visit. We won Dream FP's Sunday (were extremely handy!) and also won passes to stay an hour after park closing on Tuesday! That was awesome!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

But we still had a magical visit. We won Dream FP's Sunday (were extremely handy!) and also won passes to stay an hour after park closing on Tuesday! That was awesome!

Wow! Cool! I didn't even know you could win passes to stay an extra hour! What did you do?

I never even saw the "Dream team." Not on this trip or our WDW trip last year. A CM came up to me to ask a few survey questions and I got so excited because I thought I had won something, but they were just asking what zip code we were visiting from. Then as the kids and I were getting off of the train, we saw DH talking with a CM and I got slightly excited (after my previous experience.) They had asked him some questions and invited him to participate in a survey for $100 at the DLH. He would have loved to do that, but we were running out of time on our trip. Amongst other things, he would love to voice his complaint about only having Coke products at the park. He's a Mountain Dew fanatic.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I looked all over for the dream team. We were lucky enough to run across them over by Thunder Mountain and got some blue & silver Mickey ears, but that was it. You must have been at the right place at the right time.

I can't complain either. We had a great time. We ran into Luis Gonzales "Gonzo", former beloved Diamondback and I got him to sign my ears. That was very special.

We spent most of the Wednesday at DCA and the crowds were not bad. Mulholland Madness kept breaking down though, we thought it might be heat related.

 

[Sherry E]

Wow! Cool! I didn't even know you could win passes to stay an extra hour! What did you do?

I never even saw the "Dream team." Not on this trip or our WDW trip last year. A CM came up to me to ask a few survey questions and I got so excited because I thought I had won something, but they were just asking what zip code we were isiting from. Then as the kids and I were getting off of the train, we saw DH talking with a CM and I got slightly excited (after my previous experience.) They had asked him some questions and invited him to participate in a survey for $100 at the DLH. He would have loved to do that, but we were running out of time on our trip. Amongst other things, he would love to voice his complaint about only having Coke products at the park. He's a Mountain Dew fanatic.

I was approached a couple of times to do a survey about the Trick or Treat Party and just in general and they ended up e-mailing one survey to me. My friend has been approached to do a phone survey about California Adventure, which she did. Nobody has EVER approached us to do a survey for money!!!! Your DH should have taken the offer! That is rare!!!! They must be getting really desperate to get guests' feedback if they are now throwing out money! I do them for free - I would have fainted if I had been offered $100!!!

 

[JDBlair]

Wow! Cool! I didn't even know you could win passes to stay an extra hour! What did you do?

I never even saw the "Dream team." They had asked him some questions and invited him to participate in a survey for $100 at the DLH.

We did Fantasyland. We had a one ride wait on Dumbo and about a 5 minute wait on Peter Pan. Walked on to everything else. We did all of Fantasyland less the tea cups and Storybook in that 60 minutes. We were happy.

I was approached Weds to do the survey and offered the $100. Had it not been our last day at the park, I would have participated!

I looked all over for the dream team. We were lucky enough to run across them over by Thunder Mountain and got some blue & silver Mickey ears, but that was it. You must have been at the right place at the right time.

We were in the park by 6:45 am Sunday and spent until 7:30 looking for the Dream Team because we desperately wanted Dream FP's. We finally gave up and rode stuff. As we were making our way from Buzz to Space Mountain, DH saw them and we got the passes. We were stoked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The parks were a bit crowded Sunday so those passes were just amazing. And I was singing the DIS' praises because we were a party of 6 but only 4 of us were together when we won the passes. So, we knew to go to City Hall with the other 2 in our party and get the passes for them.

On Tuesday, when we won the 60 minute stay in the park after closing, I had seen people all morning with the lanyards but didn't know what they were. But I was certainly pouting because I wanted whatever it was. We had missed finding the FP's because DS didn't go fast enough when I told him to go to an area and look for them. If he had ran like I told him to, he would have won them but..whatever. So around lunch time, we were tired, it was hot, the place we stopped to eat didn't have inside seating so we decided to leave the park and eat off site. As we made our way to the castle, DH saw the Dream Team handing stuff out right outside the castle. Oh man, I was so excited.

On Thunder Mountain, I passed an older gentleman explaining to someone in front of him how he'd won the Dream Suite. I didn't get to hear the entire story and would have loved to. One morning, the sign in front of the stairs to the suite indicated it was occupied. Lucky ducks!

I did want to find the ears because I think they would be a great collectors item but I never did find the Dream Team handing those out.

Nobody has EVER approached us to do a survey for money!!!! Your DH should have taken the offer! That is rare!!!! They must be getting really desperate to get guests' feedback if they are now throwing out money! I do them for free - I would have fainted if I had been offered $100!!!

It's a 75 minute survey with a group of people at DLH. While the money is certainly enticing, the survey they wanted me to attend was at 2 pm and when the park closes at 8 pm, it's really hard to commit to giving up 75+ minutes to tell Disney what I think!

 

[Sherry E]

It's a 75 minute survey with a group of people at DLH. While the money is certainly enticing, the survey they wanted me to attend was at 2 pm and when the park closes at 8 pm, it's really hard to commit to giving up 75+ minutes to tell Disney what I think!

That makes sense! You had limited time. Where did you get approached? Near the DLH or somewhere in the park? I wonder if it has to do with where you live. They came up to us and checked my zip code once and said, "Nope. Wrong zip code," and I had no clue why. Perhaps they are only offering that 75-minute survey to folks who live out of certain zip codes?? And was it $100 in Disney dollars or just $100? Either way, I would have taken it!!! I suppose they just approach folks at random, and you can't ASK to be included in the survey, right?

 

[JDBlair]

That makes sense! You had limited time. Where did you get approached? Near the DLH or somewhere in the park? I wonder if it has to do with where you live. They came up to us and checked my zip code once and said, "Nope. Wrong zip code," and I had no clue why. Perhaps they are only offering that 75-minute survey to folks who live out of certain zip codes?? And was it $100 in Disney dollars or just $100? Either way, I would have taken it!!! I suppose they just approach folks at random, and you can't ASK to be included in the survey, right?

I was on my way in to Tomorrowland and she approached me. They asked a series of questions and then offered the survey. She said they have a hard time getting people to agree to the survey, even though the money is tempting.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

DH was approached in front of the train station on Main Street. I was approached twice near Grizzly River Run in CA and asked my zip code and what kind of tickets we used to get in and then nothing else. It was the next day that DH was asked the same two qustions, then a couple more, then offered the survey. It was $100 gift card he was offered.

 

[Sherry E]

DH was approached in front of the train station on Main Street. I was approached twice near Grizzly River Run in CA and asked my zip code and what kind of tickets we used to get in and then nothing else. It was the next day that DH was asked the same two qustions, then a couple more, then offered the survey. It was $100 gift card he was offered.

That's funny! I wonder why you were disqualified after answering your zip code and the type of tickets you used (what type DID you use, by the way? Park Hoppers? APs?) but your husband was approved for the survey (even though he didn't do it) when he presumably had the same answers!

Darn! When my friend and I entered DL on, I think it was, Saturday morning, a CM immediately grabbed her and looked at her ticket and said, "Nope...wrong zip code..." She lives 5 minutes down the street from Anaheim! How they could tell that by looking at the ticket I don't know. I wonder what zip codes qualify! They didn't approach me, and I have to admit - and this may sound terrible of me - but after all the planning I did and the money spent and the ups and downs leading up to the trip, I would have been P***ed if she had been offered the $100 and I wasn't!!!! Really, I would have been ticked! I know that makes me a selfish, horrible person, but I have treated so many people to DLR trips and spent oodles of time and effort making sure everyone had a good time, spent money I didn't have, and if my friend got the $100, I would have been ticked off!! Luckily, her zip code didn't fit the bill!!!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

We used 4 day hoppers. Well, actually by the day my DH answered we had upgraded to 5 day hoppers. We were approached in different parks, so either the number of days mattered or they were looking for different info in CA.

IMO, it's not worth giving up 2 hours of park time (1 hr of survey and walking to DLH and back) for $100. The only reason we would consider doing a survey is because we want to express our opinions. But with it being our last full day in the park, and so much we still had planned to do, he couldn't spare the time.

I'm sure if your friend had received the $100, she would have bought you a nice dinner or something. Does that make you feel better?

 

[Sherry E]

We used 4 day hoppers. Well, actually by the day my DH answered we had upgraded to 5 day hoppers. We were approached in different parks, so either the number of days mattered or they were looking for different info in CA.

IMO, it's not worth giving up 2 hours of park time (1 hr of survey and walking to DLH and back) for $100. The only reason we would consider doing a survey is because we want to express our opinions. But with it being our last full day in the park, and so much we still had planned to do, he couldn't spare the time.

I'm sure if your friend had received the $100, she would have bought you a nice dinner or something. Does that make you feel better?

This particular friend probably would not have bought me a nice dinner! But she didn't qualify, so that is a relief! She also makes good money so she wouldn't necessarily want to take 75 minutes to do the survey. I am currently unemployed, however, and that $100 would have helped me a great deal with food on the DLR trip and even towards a future trip, but I still would have treated whoever I was with to a meal or something!

It seemed to boil down to the the zip code in my friend's case, as to why they didn't select her. It could be because she is in Anaheim, or just because she is in SoCal.

Do you and your family live in California or out of state? If you live out of state, I would almost be inclined to think DLR was surveying folks who are not in California, but as you say, maybe they needed something different in each park? I am sure we will be hearing more about the whole process on DISboards over the next few weeks, as people start to report that they were surveyed and given $100 gift cards.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

We're from Illinois.

 

[Sherry E]

We're from Illinois.

That makes me feel better! I can console myself in the belief that DLR is maybe only looking for people who don't live in California to take the survey and so I wouldn't have had a shot at it anyway! (And that may be very true - they may only want out-of-towners!)