lumpydj
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2007
- Messages
- 353
OK so heres my super long trip report. Hope you can bear with me. Our trip to DLR was from Aug 9th to Aug 16th.
First, our trip got off to a rocky start. We flew into Ontario airport (saved $250 per ticket). We decided to take the Super Shuttle from the airport to the hotel. I had called ahead for reservations. All was fine until we arrived at the airport and went to get our ride. When I called, they said the next shuttle would be around in about 15 minutes. Well, it took close to a half hour! Mind you, its 9:45 pm local time 12:45 to us.
Then the driver swings back around to the first terminal and picks up 2 other single riders. They are being dropped off at their houses no where close to DLH (where were going). After about 90 min., we finally arrive at the hotel with a very sleepy child (its now 11:30 pm but 2:30 am to us). 
I had no idea that the Super Shuttle would pick up other riders who are going other places than our drop off city.
The trip was a surprise for DD (9 years old). She knew we were going to California but thought it was to San Diego because DH had to work. To her surprise, we were spending the whole week together at DLR. We had the nice lady that was checking us in tell her where she was. After that, she was running around the lobby very excited.
We had put in 3 requests in addition to us upgrading to the upper level room King Bed, Pool View, Dream tower. Well, we ended up with a pool view from the Wonder tower (kind of an obstructed pool view), and 2 queen beds. I was a little bummed but no big deal I knew it was just a request and we did get in pretty late. Our room was very nice though pretty big, lots of room (not drawer space though). Only problem with the room was the shower. The shower ceiling was very low and the shower head was low too. Didnt bother me much as Im short (53). DH is 6 and had a problem with the shower head but nothing he couldnt deal with. He didnt mind it at all and he was happy with our room. Overall, I was quite pleased with the room too.
Our first day at the park Sunday 8/10 we had a tour planned (Discover the Magic). I loved the tour. It was so much fun for the kids. There were only 2 other children besides DD that was on the tour, but I think that made it nice. We were able to go on rides (through the exits so we didnt have to wait in line). We went on 5 different rides then had a private meet and greet with Mickey in his house. Really cool.
After our tour, I thought wed run over to CA to see the High School Musical performance and was unprepared to stay in DL. Even though I know MK like the back of my hand, I was lost in DL without knowing where everything was, and what rides were there. We wandered for a while, went to PFF for storytelling, then went on the teacups and decided to go back to the hotel for lunch and a swim. We went back to DL later for the fireworks and a couple rides. We decided to get in the Indy line since the standby wait was only 30 min and Fastpasses were gone. Well, we waited about 20 minutes and the ride shut down and closed for the night. We just gave up and went back to the hotel.
That night, I decided to make a list of all the attractions we wanted to see in CA and make a game plan so we werent running across the park from one thing to the next. I did the same thing for DL. That worked out soooo much better! I was able to keep track of what we saw and what we had left to see. On Monday we arrived at the park around 10:30 or so after having the Lilo and Stitch Breakfast at PCH Grill. We didnt have PS but only waited about 10 min to get in. Once we got to CA, we went to the Disney Visa Meet & Greet, then did TOT (10 min wait), Monsters, Muppet 3D, Golden Zepher, Mulholland Madness (which was NOT worth the wait IMHO), Orange Stinger, KTC, Screamin (15 min wait), Soarin (which we had a fastpass), and finally GRR (another FP held at the same time which we were able to do since I got the great tip here that it wasnt on the network and didnt know we already had a FP). We left there around 1:30 to get lunch and hit the pool again. I think we were done for the night and didnt go back to the parks after that.
At this point, I was getting very annoyed with my family. I told them there was no way wed get to see everything we wanted to see if we only spent 3 4 hours in the parks each day. Even though we were there for 6 full days, it was not enough time. The lines werent all that short for non FP rides. Wed have to do some waiting. I think they got it because the next day (Tuesday), we spent a good amount of time in the parks.
Stay tuned for more (if you can take it)
First, our trip got off to a rocky start. We flew into Ontario airport (saved $250 per ticket). We decided to take the Super Shuttle from the airport to the hotel. I had called ahead for reservations. All was fine until we arrived at the airport and went to get our ride. When I called, they said the next shuttle would be around in about 15 minutes. Well, it took close to a half hour! Mind you, its 9:45 pm local time 12:45 to us.
Then the driver swings back around to the first terminal and picks up 2 other single riders. They are being dropped off at their houses no where close to DLH (where were going). After about 90 min., we finally arrive at the hotel with a very sleepy child (its now 11:30 pm but 2:30 am to us). I had no idea that the Super Shuttle would pick up other riders who are going other places than our drop off city. The trip was a surprise for DD (9 years old). She knew we were going to California but thought it was to San Diego because DH had to work. To her surprise, we were spending the whole week together at DLR. We had the nice lady that was checking us in tell her where she was. After that, she was running around the lobby very excited.
We had put in 3 requests in addition to us upgrading to the upper level room King Bed, Pool View, Dream tower. Well, we ended up with a pool view from the Wonder tower (kind of an obstructed pool view), and 2 queen beds. I was a little bummed but no big deal I knew it was just a request and we did get in pretty late. Our room was very nice though pretty big, lots of room (not drawer space though). Only problem with the room was the shower. The shower ceiling was very low and the shower head was low too. Didnt bother me much as Im short (53). DH is 6 and had a problem with the shower head but nothing he couldnt deal with. He didnt mind it at all and he was happy with our room. Overall, I was quite pleased with the room too.
Our first day at the park Sunday 8/10 we had a tour planned (Discover the Magic). I loved the tour. It was so much fun for the kids. There were only 2 other children besides DD that was on the tour, but I think that made it nice. We were able to go on rides (through the exits so we didnt have to wait in line). We went on 5 different rides then had a private meet and greet with Mickey in his house. Really cool.
After our tour, I thought wed run over to CA to see the High School Musical performance and was unprepared to stay in DL. Even though I know MK like the back of my hand, I was lost in DL without knowing where everything was, and what rides were there. We wandered for a while, went to PFF for storytelling, then went on the teacups and decided to go back to the hotel for lunch and a swim. We went back to DL later for the fireworks and a couple rides. We decided to get in the Indy line since the standby wait was only 30 min and Fastpasses were gone. Well, we waited about 20 minutes and the ride shut down and closed for the night. We just gave up and went back to the hotel.
That night, I decided to make a list of all the attractions we wanted to see in CA and make a game plan so we werent running across the park from one thing to the next. I did the same thing for DL. That worked out soooo much better! I was able to keep track of what we saw and what we had left to see. On Monday we arrived at the park around 10:30 or so after having the Lilo and Stitch Breakfast at PCH Grill. We didnt have PS but only waited about 10 min to get in. Once we got to CA, we went to the Disney Visa Meet & Greet, then did TOT (10 min wait), Monsters, Muppet 3D, Golden Zepher, Mulholland Madness (which was NOT worth the wait IMHO), Orange Stinger, KTC, Screamin (15 min wait), Soarin (which we had a fastpass), and finally GRR (another FP held at the same time which we were able to do since I got the great tip here that it wasnt on the network and didnt know we already had a FP). We left there around 1:30 to get lunch and hit the pool again. I think we were done for the night and didnt go back to the parks after that.
At this point, I was getting very annoyed with my family. I told them there was no way wed get to see everything we wanted to see if we only spent 3 4 hours in the parks each day. Even though we were there for 6 full days, it was not enough time. The lines werent all that short for non FP rides. Wed have to do some waiting. I think they got it because the next day (Tuesday), we spent a good amount of time in the parks.
Stay tuned for more (if you can take it)
)
Who knows... Plus I wasn't about to wait even longer for another van since they were a 1/2 hour late as it was. 
