Leaving In Nine Days- Freaking Out a bit

[Turtle31]

Hi All~
Okay so about six weeks ago my hubby comes home and says- I have a conference in LA- you guys can come with, we will go to disneyland . In August we are going for 13 days with deluxe dining to DW- 10 year anniversary with kids. So needless to say I have been planning that trip and making ADR's researching menu's and the such for about six months it seems.
So anyway when DH said DL - I thought I will not freak out - I will not overplan !! So we are staying at the Marriott Residence Inn (Clementine)- and taking the shuttle (Hope it is okay). The kids and I have a five day hopper and DH has a three day, as two days he will be in conference. So far the only thing I have done is make reservations for Thurs. at rainforest cafe and Fri. at Goofy's Kitchen for dinner.
Now I keep thinking- should I have done more? I have read many posts, a lovely lady here on the dis board mailed me maps, I have watched every program on the travel channel twice !! I have made notes about all the counterservice resturants, so that I know what we can get where. And I have printed a schedule of the daily events.
Anybody have any other suggestions of things that helped them that I have overlooked ?? I am having a moment here !!

Thanks so much

 

[VegasMike21]

Hi All~
Okay so about six weeks ago my hubby comes home and says- I have a conference in LA- you guys can come with, we will go to disneyland . In August we are going for 13 days with deluxe dining to DW- 10 year anniversary with kids. So needless to say I have been planning that trip and making ADR's researching menu's and the such for about six months it seems.
So anyway when DH said DL - I thought I will not freak out - I will not overplan !! So we are staying at the Marriott Residence Inn (Clementine)- and taking the shuttle (Hope it is okay). The kids and I have a five day hopper and DH has a three day, as two days he will be in conference. So far the only thing I have done is make reservations for Thurs. at rainforest cafe and Fri. at Goofy's Kitchen for dinner.
Now I keep thinking- should I have done more? I have read many posts, a lovely lady here on the dis board mailed me maps, I have watched every program on the travel channel twice !! I have made notes about all the counterservice resturants, so that I know what we can get where. And I have printed a schedule of the daily events.
Anybody have any other suggestions of things that helped them that I have overlooked ?? I am having a moment here !!

Thanks so much

With 5 day hoppers you will be able to see everything for sure and will be able to do all of your favorite attractions way more then just once or twice. i see you have two restaurants picked out already and that's good, for the rest of your dining experiences are you looking for good counter service restaurants at the resort or are you looking for table service or off property choices? Also since your staying at the residence inn you get free daily breakfast so you don't have to worry about breakfast in the morning.

 

[ironpig70]

RELAX seriously i found overplanning can ruin a trip. i make a list with 3 basic catergories.

1) must see/do

2) would like to see/do

3) if we get to it


we start the day with the continental breakfast at our hotel, hit the park for awhile. snacks are brought with us. midday we do lunch where ever we are or we leave and eat in downtown disney or on the way back to the hotel. rest a bit and go at it again. i really don't like the whole ps system cause it locks me into when i have to eat and sometimes i'm not in that area so i have to drop what i'm doing to make it. or i'm not that hungry but must eat. i like the counter service just for convience. i go early, leave mid day and close the park.

 

[Turtle31]

Hey Mike-
Thanks for taking the time to reassure me ! On Monday we arrive from Denver at LAX at 715 in the morning- which means will all have been up (except for sleeping on plane) since 3:30 am ! We were thinking that we will leave airport- go straight to hotel, grab breakfast, check in if possible or leave our bags and hit the ground. By 4:00pm we will all be dead !! So DH said DO NOT make dinner plans no matter what !! (He knows how I get!) So Monday we won't eat dinner! j/k - But on Tuesday and Wednesday he will be eating at the conference so the kids and I will just wing it - probably eat outside of the park. Also I was told that the hotel we are staying at does a social hour in the evening that may consist of a bbq on one evening. My sis keeps telling me that I am going to be shocked by how small the parks are in comparison to DW and I will be bored after three days But she is just being a kill joy!!
Any resturants you would suggest in the area outside the park? Everything here in Denver is a chain resturant. When we went to San Diego it was nice to try some different places.
Thanks

 

[ironpig70]

down town disney has a ton of resturants. the ones out in front by the good neighbor hotels are mostly chain types.


http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/map/mapSWF?name=MapOverviewPage


just click on downtown disney and it will list all the shops and resturants. alot of choice there.

 

[Turtle31]

down town disney has a ton of resturants. the ones out in front by the good neighbor hotels are mostly chain types.


http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/map/mapSWF?name=MapOverviewPage


just click on downtown disney and it will list all the shops and resturants. alot of choice there.

Thanks so much for that link - and I will take your advice on the order of things-
We will have a blast - plus I promised myself I would let the kids have pool time - so maybe in the afternoon maybe early evening.

I just keep telling myself with DW coming in three months this is just icing and the cake will be coming after !!!

 

[VegasMike21]

Hey Mike-
Thanks for taking the time to reassure me ! On Monday we arrive from Denver at LAX at 715 in the morning- which means will all have been up (except for sleeping on plane) since 3:30 am ! We were thinking that we will leave airport- go straight to hotel, grab breakfast, check in if possible or leave our bags and hit the ground. By 4:00pm we will all be dead !! So DH said DO NOT make dinner plans no matter what !! (He knows how I get!) So Monday we won't eat dinner! j/k - But on Tuesday and Wednesday he will be eating at the conference so the kids and I will just wing it - probably eat outside of the park. Also I was told that the hotel we are staying at does a social hour in the evening that may consist of a bbq on one evening. My sis keeps telling me that I am going to be shocked by how small the parks are in comparison to DW and I will be bored after three days But she is just being a kill joy!!
Any resturants you would suggest in the area outside the park? Everything here in Denver is a chain resturant. When we went to San Diego it was nice to try some different places.
Thanks

The residence inn does do a social evening thingie mostly consisting of beverages and appetizer style selections. and yes the parks are smaller compared to wdw that's why 3 days is just enough to see and do everything, but with your 4th and 5th day you can just do the rides you like more then once or twice! as for restaurants outside the park that i enjoy i would put Millie's Country Kitchen ontop of my list. Millie's is a small chain restaurant but they have good food, great service, and an awesome value. it kinda reminds me of denny's a bit but they have much more selection and the food is better. if you go there you must try their Monte Cristo, I love these things and it's a fraction of the cost of what you would pay for one of these at disney. Also Mimi's which too is right across the street from DL is another good choice where you can't go wrong. A little bit more expensive but still they have great food and a great bread basket that they serve with your meal. I love their pasta jumbalaya, it's awesome!

 

[ironpig70]

Thanks so much for that link - and I will take your advice on the order of things-
We will have a blast - plus I promised myself I would let the kids have pool time - so maybe in the afternoon maybe early evening.

I just keep telling myself with DW coming in three months this is just icing and the cake will be coming after !!!

wdw is awhole nother animal. personally when we went 2 years ago we had to get on the train at new orleans square cause the park was packed. we spent some time out for lunch, nap and pool. came back and stayed till close. after the fireworks the big rides(indiana jones, big thunder, splash, haunted mansion) where all walk ons. at thetime we had an 8, 2,2 year old kids so each ride was my wife and the 8 year old and then me and her. but to walk on in like 5 minutes was nice. the park empties at night.

 

[bumbershoot]

I personally don't think that overplanning is bad, but if you refuse to go away from the plan when it isn't working, then THAT can ruin things.


As for restaurants, there is also the new Garden Walk area a bit away from the park.

 

[pixiewings71]

You will in no way be bored!! NO way! I could go for 10 days and NOT be bored! LOL 5 days is a great time length, that's what we did last July. Just relax and enjoy yourselves, if you feel like you must make more PS thing about Blue Bayou, it's my fave! Good food, great atmosphere and fun place to eat, no matter when you eat there you're always outside in the dark!! something to think about.

 

[kaity230]

One of the great things about DL in comparison to DW is that it requires much less planning and you can have a lot more spontaneity. For example, if you like the look of a restaurant when you get there you can make PS for later that week and generally they are still available or usually there are tables free or with a bit of a wait. You will certainly not be bored! DL is a wonderful vacation and you will have an amazing time!

 

[Turtle31]

Oh trust me I will NOT be bored ~ I am a true disney freak !! I could ride dumbo all day if that's what it took !! Like I said little sister is just jealous
But thank you all for calming my nerves. I will have a blast - on the planned days and the wing it days !! I am so looking forward to this trip.
Now I just have to wait- and then pack - and then wait a little more !!