Message for Disneylandkids

[jillrobinson]

Before we start, I absolutely love the Newport Bay Club, and I've had a look for " presidential suite " pics but can't find any apart from that one panoramic view on the DRP website and I'm assuming that's the one and yes it does look pretty swanky.
Reading through your post though I get the feeling that you've kind of set your heart on the DLH, not that I blame you it is a most beautiful hotel and it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I see from your ticker that you're going in March, what dates exactly? we've been twice in March, and it looks like we'll be going again in '07 - apart from our arrival day, (on a Saturday last year and apparently the park is always heaving on a Saturday), we've never had a problem getting on the rides, we've managed really well, with BTM for instance, by getting a Fast Pass, queuing up to ride, popping over to Phantom Manor and then back to BTM. We've never used the Fast Pass system for Star Tours or Indianna Jones, as we've never needed to.
At the DLH you get 1 complimentary Fast Pass per person per day, I think, correct me if I'm wrong on that, could you not compromise - the ones who desperately want to stay at the DLH get to that but give up their FastPass to the ones who really need to ride BTM over and over.
In my humble opinion and this is really based on mid week in March - you probably won't need the VIP Fastpasses.

Just a thought but how old are the children, will they all be eligible to ride the FP rides, I've always got FP's for everyone in the group regardless of whether they'll be riding or not, that way there's always one or two spare tickets and if you don't want/need them there'll always be someone around you can give them to.

 

[wideeyes]

i agree with everything Jill has said.

 

[disneylandkids]

Before we start, I absolutely love the Newport Bay Club, and I've had a look for " presidential suite " pics but can't find any apart from that one panoramic view on the DRP website and I'm assuming that's the one and yes it does look pretty swanky.
Reading through your post though I get the feeling that you've kind of set your heart on the DLH, not that I blame you it is a most beautiful hotel and it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I see from your ticker that you're going in March, what dates exactly? we've been twice in March, and it looks like we'll be going again in '07 - apart from our arrival day, (on a Saturday last year and apparently the park is always heaving on a Saturday), we've never had a problem getting on the rides, we've managed really well, with BTM for instance, by getting a Fast Pass, queuing up to ride, popping over to Phantom Manor and then back to BTM. We've never used the Fast Pass system for Star Tours or Indianna Jones, as we've never needed to.
At the DLH you get 1 complimentary Fast Pass per person per day, I think, correct me if I'm wrong on that, could you not compromise - the ones who desperately want to stay at the DLH get to that but give up their FastPass to the ones who really need to ride BTM over and over.
In my humble opinion and this is really based on mid week in March - you probably won't need the VIP Fastpasses.

Just a thought but how old are the children, will they all be eligible to ride the FP rides, I've always got FP's for everyone in the group regardless of whether they'll be riding or not, that way there's always one or two spare tickets and if you don't want/need them there'll always be someone around you can give them to.

My goodness, Jill! You chat with me as if we're old friends; that's part of the welcoming aspect of these boards. Thanks so much...

We're traveling March 27-31, 2007, coming from London on the Eurostar, which 'bookends' this trip to France. We're taking the Eurostar back on April 1 (and I'm having some pangs, wondering if I should be at DLP on the beginning of the 15th anniversary--I was at the actual 50th of Disneyland, and it was a wonderful day...but that's not what this discussion is about...) We're planning on spending two days--March 28 and 29--in the park and March 30 and 31 in Paris. What we'll do before our Eurostar departure on April 1 is undecided right now...

I have no idea if that week will be busy or not. I know, from experience with Disneyland in CA, midweek days are always less crowded (except in summer and holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas). That time of year here, though, Disneyland will be fairly (not horribly) busy because it is during spring break (that varies, depending on school district--it's not like every school is out at the same time for that time off).

We don't have options like VIP FPs here (although I've wondered why for quite some time), but then, we have annual passes for Disneyland so we are cavalier about rides: can't do it this time? No problem, we'll get there next time. But we have no assurance that there will be any next time in this case...and that's what give me pause. The whole issue is not really about what I am assuming are lovely accommodations at the Newport in comparison with the DLH; I mean, really, what difference does that make when you're in the parks or when you're asleep? We could get a family room at the Newport for less ($1246 vs. $2026 for two nights), but the older daughter was obviously disappointed with not being at the DLH.

My kids are 10, 11, and 11. My 10 year old is my thrillseeker (and I need everyone on the board to blow some pixie dust in her direction so that she grows another two inches in the next 60 days so that she's tall enough for the Indiana Jones ride), and she's leading the charge for the VIP FPs. We'll all use the FPs as we get them (and we keep thinking that having FPs for Peter Pan is brilliant because that line is always terrible at Disneyland).

My 11 year old daughter is the hopeless romantic (got that from me), and just adores that pink palace, feeling when at DLP, that is the place to stay. She'd like room service too. I'm smack in the middle of these warring conflicts because I love the idea of the DLH but I also know that I am as guilty as any of the kids for wanting to ride something to the point of absurdity....

My 10 year old daughter is bummed that Davy Crockett Adventure won't be open when we're there. My son decided that the days we're there and not going to the parks, we should stay at Explorers Hotel.

It is a whole jigsaw puzzle of wants, needs, desires, and trying hard to please everyone without someone feeling like they're being shortchanged. Pleasing all the people all the time...

And usually...I am not such a wifflewaffle about things. But this is the first trip where I've actively enlisted the kids to help with planning.

Thanks for your thoughtful response, Jill!

 

[jillrobinson]

On the Wednesday and Thursday there I think you'll be OK in the park without the FP's towards the weekend it is going to get pretty busy with the start of the Easter break, times of the new parade celebrations haven't been announced yet but you shouldn't have to leave the park until 5.00 - 5.30 if you decide to go back in on the 1st April, so you may very well catch some of the celebrations.

The Explorers is obviously attractive to young boys, my 2 DS's have requested a stay there too.

Whatever you decide I'm sure you'll have a fabulous trip

 

[Ware Bears]

(and I need everyone on the board to blow some pixie dust in her direction so that she grows another two inches in the next 60 days so that she's tall enough for the Indiana Jones ride

 

[disneylandkids]

Thanks!! I knew I could count on you!!

 

[disneylandkids]

On the Wednesday and Thursday there I think you'll be OK in the park without the FP's towards the weekend it is going to get pretty busy with the start of the Easter break, times of the new parade celebrations haven't been announced yet but you shouldn't have to leave the park until 5.00 - 5.30 if you decide to go back in on the 1st April, so you may very well catch some of the celebrations.

The Explorers is obviously attractive to young boys, my 2 DS's have requested a stay there too.

Whatever you decide I'm sure you'll have a fabulous trip

Oh good heavens! This trip planning just continues to be interesting...

My kids (who were home sick yesterday--all three of them!) and I talked about the DLH vs. the suite at the Newport. I read your postings to them, including the one where you (meaning Jill) describe your Admiral's Floor stay, and they were pretty excited by what I presume was a family room (based on your description).

So, then we wrangled around the questions:
Do we need the VIP FPs?
Can we skip the VIP FPs (and stay at the DLH hotel)?
or
Should we skip the VIP FPs and stay at on the Admiral's Floor at the Newport, which would get us into the concierge level rooms, give us the possibility of breakfast in the park so we're inside when it opens, AND saves enough money that our fare on Eurostar would basically be covered (meaning staying at the Newport and Eurostar travel would equal the same nights at the DLH)?

So, the current thinking is tending toward the family room at the Newport (Jill, I peeked into your photo link and it looks like one of your little guys is sitting on top of a bunk bed--so I should ask if it actually was a family room there). Your little guy is cute as a button and the room decor is pretty darned nice too. (Far more our style than swanky!!)

We will be celebrating the little one's birthday (belatedly) while we're there, so I presume I should mention that when I book/check in? We also have scheduled the birthday party at the park at the Plaza Gardens.

I did book our Eurostar travel yesterday, and after a little (OK, a lot) of fiddling around with it, I discovered that the return fare worked out to only $20 more to go in the leisure select class. That might be a nice treat for our ride back to London!

 

[Cyrano]

Have you any other questions that the board can help with your planning?
If you have a few questions it will be much easier if you open a new thread for each

 

[Ware Bears]

I did book our Eurostar travel yesterday, and after a little (OK, a lot) of fiddling around with it, I discovered that the return fare worked out to only $20 more to go in the leisure select class. That might be a nice treat for our ride back to London!

That will definitely be a nice treat!!

 

[jillrobinson]

Sorry, I've only just noticed your last post disneylandkids. It was Liam's birthday and the hotel had arranged some balloons for our arrival, that's why he's sat on the bed surrounded by them - cute ! - well most of the time !

That was a standard room on the Admiral's Floor, double bed and bunks, you won't find bunk beds advertised anywhere for the NPB - we were surprised to find them in the room and the boys were thrilled, they hate having to share a bed.
We've had a discussion on the boards before about the family rooms and I did ask during our last stay if I could have a look at one on behalf of a friend but they were all being used so it wasn't possible.
Just to add to your queries - have you priced up 2 admiral's floor standard rooms as opposed to the family room ?
As we were travelling with my sister, brother in law and niece we had 2 adjoining rooms with an interconnecting door - it was a superb set up for us.

 

[disneylandkids]

Sorry, I've only just noticed your last post disneylandkids. It was Liam's birthday and the hotel had arranged some balloons for our arrival, that's why he's sat on the bed surrounded by them - cute ! - well most of the time !

That was a standard room on the Admiral's Floor, double bed and bunks, you won't find bunk beds advertised anywhere for the NPB - we were surprised to find them in the room and the boys were thrilled, they hate having to share a bed.
We've had a discussion on the boards before about the family rooms and I did ask during our last stay if I could have a look at one on behalf of a friend but they were all being used so it wasn't possible.
Just to add to your queries - have you priced up 2 admiral's floor standard rooms as opposed to the family room ?
As we were travelling with my sister, brother in law and niece we had 2 adjoining rooms with an interconnecting door - it was a superb set up for us.

Oh *drat*!! I had so hoped that the bunkbeds were part of the family room, and my kids liked them as well. I haven't checked pricing on two separate rooms vs. a family room on the Admiral's Floor, but elsewhere, it hasn't been feasible.

Anyway, we took the plunge out of the swanky suite at the Newport and decided to go with the family room on the Admiral's Floor because we thought that the concierge level of service would be great, we assumed there were bunkbeds (ouch), and it was substantially cheaper than the DLH. We're staying there for two nights, and then we're changing over to the Explorers Hotel for three nights.

The total cost for the rooms at both locations is just under $1900. I am quite pleased with that, considering some of the other mind-boggling scenarios!

I was given an email address for the Admiral's Floor to use for questions, reservation requests, and the like. I will email them to ask about the possibility of bunk beds. They already told me that we'd have a lakeview room and that we would receive the hotel Fastpass each day we have park entry. I mentioned that we would be celebrating the younger daughter's birthday while we're there, in hopes there will be some balloons in the room for her.

Thanks for the explanation, Jill! Even without the bunkbeds, we're sticking with this choice and I now feel that the basic framework for the Paris/DLP part of the trip is set! YAY!

Now...all I have to sort out are the days we're traveling to Stratford, Stonehenge, and Legoland while we're in England....

 

[Cyrano]

Now...all I have to sort out are the days we're traveling to Stratford, Stonehenge, and Legoland while we're in England....

Help on this topic will probably be available on the UK COMMS board

There are a few of us who pop in their as well

 

[disneylandkids]

Just got a response back from the DLP suites and VIP dept regarding the family room we've booked at the Newport.

The family room has a king size bed, a murphy bed for 2 people, and a sofa bed for 2 people. No bunk beds, just so you all know.

I gotta tell you: being on the Admiral's Floor and having the capability to email requests to the staff at DLP is a *huge* convenience for me, considering the 9-hour time difference between my home and Paris.

 

[Cyrano]

I gotta tell you: being on the Admiral's Floor and having the capability to email requests to the staff at DLP is a *huge* convenience for me, considering the 9-hour time difference between my home and Paris.

Glad this is working out for you

 

[jillrobinson]

Ditto