Lessons Learned

[Lissame]

Wow, I am glad you can laugh now, and I certainly hope there is "more to the story", as they say. Because I can't IMAGINE anyone, much less one's own offspring, being this rude/ungrateful/self-centered. More power to you for being able to laugh about it!

This was at the end of a terrible, horrible summer where our (then 22 year old) daughter had become enmeshed with a not-so-good boyfriend. She was supposed to return to college at the end of August, and we went to Disneyland at the beginning of August. During that trip, before she came home, she told us she was dropping out of college as well.

Four years later, our relationship is slowly being rebuilt, but it is not the same as it was before that summer. I'm not sure that we laugh about it...but we're not as bitter as we once were.

BTDT...she hasn't been on vacation with us since, and we haven't attempted to see if she wants to go.

The following summer...the other four of us took a "makeup" trip to Disneyland. We spent 7 days in the park and did every single thing, it was incredible.

 

[Misskitty3]

Bring your own pens for autographs!

 

[Isatricia]

To add to this--it would be wonderful to NOT put your child on your shoulders during WOC unless you are positive there is no one behind you.

I would say this is true for any show and even the fireworks - my daughters couldn't see the lower fireworks over the kids on shoulders in front of us.

 

[kailuagirl]

Take snacks for DD, lots and lots of snacks and keep her well fed! and you don't need to take the whole kitchen sink (if you know what I mean) like we did when DD was a baby. That first day we had no clue and it was crazy! Bad bad mistake!!

Don't rush it! Enjoy every sight, smell and sound!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

1.Never assume you'll get into the Blue Bayou for lunch or dinner with out a reservation!*
2. Not a good idea to wear flip flops to Disneyland.*

Did #1 our 1st ever visit to the BB, back in 2006 - but of course a reservation is strongly recommended.

My favorite Disney shoes are my Croc flip flops - my feet/legs never ache when I wear them walking all over the parks, wore 'em 10 days straight walking all over WDW - no problems, cheap $1 store flips, not a good idea.

 

[CourtFool]

- Don't wear your absolutely favorite pin that you love and have a great story about on your lanyard at the Park, no matter how well you think it's secured.

I nearly lost my favorite Tinkerbell pin that was ‘securely’ attached to my messenger bag. You preach truth.

Don't spend money on face-painting and then go on Grizzly Rapids or Splash!

My daughter decided to get her face painted like a dog just before we did lunch at Ariel’s. I have a ton of pictures of these beautiful princesses and a…dog. Not saying ‘never’ do it. Just consider if that is the face you want to immortalize.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Never tell your kid 'right after one more ride' when she asks to use the bathroom. She was happy she got all new clothes from Disney though!

HAHAHA thats hilarious...true but hilarious

3. Don't plan too many big meals in one day. If you plan 2 character meals in a day..it will be too much.

Amen to that...I have found that prior to going to DL I think of all kinds of food places to eat but when Im actually at the park we tend to forget to eat till somebody actually says Im gonna pass out if i dont eat

- - Take a photo of the bar code on your ticket, in case you lose it.

- Dreams

OMG isnt that the truth....the first year I got an AP I purchased a 5 day ticket with the intention of trading it in and getting an AP at the end of my trip...I had a really nice lanyard that I put my ticket in and when I was on SM it somehow came unclipped and the whole pouch fell off...I was almost to NOS when I realized it...I ran back there and they checked every single log but to no avail....I didnt take a pic of the ticket so therefore i was SOL...I cried and cried that whole day...I ended up having to dish out the full amount for an AP besides the amount I had spent on my ticket and my pic was a mess because I had been crying and it had been raining..egads that was a horrible day...needless to say, anytime I see someone with their ticket in a lanyard I totally tell them to be careful...so glad I can laugh about it now....it took awhile tho

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Reading to take a picture of the barcode on your ticket reminded me of another one.

I have been known to go to Mickey & Friends structure only to find out that my car is on another level (gotta love those car alarms on the key chains). I read here one time to take a picture of a marked column near your car so you can find it afterwards.

Great advice.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

You are not as young as you used to be.

As a kid I thought the greatest thing would be to go to the park when the crowds were low as I never got a chance when I was a kid. I went a few years ago ( now in my 30s) to a day with no lines and ran back and forth between space mountain, star tours and splash mountain. By 11:30 am I was unable to focus and needed to sit for a few hours.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

Character Breakfasts: Love them, except for the balloon they give the kids. One parent inevitably gets stuck holding the darn thing the entire day while the rest of the family goes on the rides.

Use the Fast pass system during peak times at the parks, as it can be the only way you can go on the rides that you want without a long wait. Ride the rides in the morning before the crowds get heavy.

Never wear a brand new hat on Splash as it will blow off on the last big drop. Even the most secure hat is in peril on Splash.

 

[DISHoppy]

White pants is not really a good idea

This one could have stopped there.

-Kevin

 

[nana50]

You are not as young as you used to be.

As a kid I thought the greatest thing would be to go to the park when the crowds were low as I never got a chance when I was a kid. I went a few years ago ( now in my 30s) to a day with no lines and ran back and forth between space mountain, star tours and splash mountain. By 11:30 am I was unable to focus and needed to sit for a few hours.

Try doing this with your grand kids when you are n your 60's. I'll let you know next week. I'm going with them on Monday!

 

[krispin41]

In regards to taking pics of your park tickets, etc., I'd like to add don't forget your PhotoPass cards!!

I use an app on my phone called Evernote. It's cool because it links your phone and PC and you can make lists, copy e-mails to, etc. This really helped me last year when I needed to have access to an e-mail. I have an Android phone, but I believe there is an iPhone version as well.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Don't feel like you have to do everything together as a family. Our kids refused to go on HM and Indy for several years. DH and I took turns going by ourselves, while the other parent did something with the kids. Last year, my brother, my DH and our two boys took off to hit every mountain over and over. The rest of use stuck with the tamer rides. Everyone was happy, and no one felt like they missed out on what they wanted to do.

 

[ValpoCory]

This was at the end of a terrible, horrible summer where our (then 22 year old) daughter had become enmeshed with a not-so-good boyfriend. She was supposed to return to college at the end of August, and we went to Disneyland at the beginning of August. During that trip, before she came home, she told us she was dropping out of college as well.

Four years later, our relationship is slowly being rebuilt, but it is not the same as it was before that summer. I'm not sure that we laugh about it...but we're not as bitter as we once were.

BTDT...she hasn't been on vacation with us since, and we haven't attempted to see if she wants to go.

The following summer...the other four of us took a "makeup" trip to Disneyland. We spent 7 days in the park and did every single thing, it was incredible.

I'm glad to hear your relationship is slowly being rebuilt.

 

[LucasandMickey]

Bring spare shorts for after water rides.

When making your hotel res online, verify the address. DH and I went one year just the two of us and we booked a hotel that we had stayed at before and loved. Website said "2 blocks from dl", listed same ammenities, ALL pics were pics of the hotel we had stayed at previously. Upon arrival, we found out we were actually booked at their other location 20 mi from the park. Spending the first day of our Disney vacation in tears and on the phone for hours with the travel company in some foreign country of which I couldn't understand the "customer service rep" SUCKED.

 

[nataliakristine]

When making your hotel res online, verify the address. DH and I went one year just the two of us and we booked a hotel that we had stayed at before and loved. Website said "2 blocks from dl", listed same ammenities, ALL pics were pics of the hotel we had stayed at previously. Upon arrival, we found out we were actually booked at their other location 20 mi from the park. Spending the first day of our Disney vacation in tears and on the phone for hours with the travel company in some foreign country of which I couldn't understand the "customer service rep" SUCKED.

We almost did that for the trip we are going on in a few weeks! Luckily I realized it right before I hit the purchase button. That sounds like a terrible experience!

 

[pixiewings71]

Reading to take a picture of the barcode on your ticket reminded me of another one.

I have been known to go to Mickey & Friends structure only to find out that my car is on another level (gotta love those car alarms on the key chains). I read here one time to take a picture of a marked column near your car so you can find it afterwards.

Great advice.

You can take your parking ticket with you, it actually says to take it with you, it is not required to leave it in the car.

Bring spare shorts for after water rides.

When making your hotel res online, verify the address. DH and I went one year just the two of us and we booked a hotel that we had stayed at before and loved. Website said "2 blocks from dl", listed same ammenities, ALL pics were pics of the hotel we had stayed at previously. Upon arrival, we found out we were actually booked at their other location 20 mi from the park. Spending the first day of our Disney vacation in tears and on the phone for hours with the travel company in some foreign country of which I couldn't understand the "customer service rep" SUCKED.

We had something similar happen, I booked a Days Inn right behind the M&F's parking structure, we got there to check in and they couldn't find our reservation. I had printed a copy but it was in the car with me and the girls, DBF had gone inside to check in. He came back out and said we must be at a different DI, I said no, it's this one, let me get the confirmation, well I couldn't find it.....I had apparently left it at home but I was POSITIVE we were at the right hotel (we'd booked it at a really awesome rate, something like $65 a night and it was June or July) because I had all the info written down. Well we went back inside and asked them to check again, they kept telling us we were at the wrong hotel so we asked if they had the number to the other DI in the area and we called them, no reservation there either! I was about like this and then I asked if I could use their computer to check our email to confirm which hotel we were supposed to be at. The manager let me do so and yup, we were at the right hotel!!!!! I showed him and he said "I don't understand why you aren't in our computer, we don't have that room available anymore, we are full." Again I was like thinking we weren't going to have a place to stay (especially at that rate) and then he checked his computer and said "OK, I'm going to upgrade you to a 2 bedroom suite for the same price", then I was like LOL We had plenty of space that weekend, 2 full bathrooms, a king bed and 2 queens in a separate room, it was nice! LOL

So, my lesson learned, ALWAYS have a printed confirmation with you, no matter what!!

Oh and I've used my lanyard pouch to carry my park tickets/AP/FP's in for the past 5 years.......I've never lost one. Now that I've said that I probably will. LOL

 

[Isatricia]

Oh and I've used my lanyard pouch to carry my park tickets/AP/FP's in for the past 5 years.......I've never lost one. Now that I've said that I probably will. LOL

The lanyards we got at the Anaheim Walmart had the plastic pouch but also had a small strap holder - like the small ones put of camera or phones. I had brought a hole punch and punched holes in the plastic par-hopper passes and the plastic photopass card I was sent and fed the strap through it. This was so convenient and I didn't have to take cards out of the plastic holder to use for fast passes or for the photographers. The photographers kept telling me how nice it was.

 

[ValpoCory]

We had something similar happen, I booked a Days Inn right behind the M&F's parking structure, we got there to check in and they couldn't find our reservation. I had printed a copy but it was in the car with me and the girls, DBF had gone inside to check in. He came back out and said we must be at a different DI, I said no, it's this one, let me get the confirmation, well I couldn't find it.....I had apparently left it at home but I was POSITIVE we were at the right hotel (we'd booked it at a really awesome rate, something like $65 a night and it was June or July) because I had all the info written down. Well we went back inside and asked them to check again, they kept telling us we were at the wrong hotel so we asked if they had the number to the other DI in the area and we called them, no reservation there either! I was about like this and then I asked if I could use their computer to check our email to confirm which hotel we were supposed to be at. The manager let me do so and yup, we were at the right hotel!!!!! I showed him and he said "I don't understand why you aren't in our computer, we don't have that room available anymore, we are full." Again I was like thinking we weren't going to have a place to stay (especially at that rate) and then he checked his computer and said "OK, I'm going to upgrade you to a 2 bedroom suite for the same price", then I was like LOL We had plenty of space that weekend, 2 full bathrooms, a king bed and 2 queens in a separate room, it was nice! LOL

So, my lesson learned, ALWAYS have a printed confirmation with you, no matter what!!

Actually, your DH later went in and cancelled your reservation and didn't tell you, just to see if this very thing might happen. He's so money.


Just kidding. But I would think this strategy would pay off more often that not. Although it's obviously illegal.