Need help with a decision

[Mackysmycat]

We arrive at the GCH on a Sunday afternoon. Best case between 3 and 4. Worst case between 8 and 9. We then were going to do Mon and Tues at DL, SeaWorld on Wed, and then Thurs and Fri at DL. Here is my issue. I am trying to pack in:

Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness one day...
A Blue Bayou lunch
Disney's Aladdin
Fantasmic!
Fireworks
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
WOC
A MM
A Character Breakfast
Dinner at RainForest

... and I'm sure I'm forgetting LOTS - into these 4 days. It may not seem like a lot, but we are also staying the GC for the first time, and I want to take advantage of the luxury of staying in such a nice hotel. I also want to be able to take breaks and go back to our room now and then, enjoy the pools, and just not feel so rushed. We also aren't early bird people. So I'm starting to think - do we really want to do a whole day away at SeaWorld? Pay the extra money to get in, the extra time to drive there and back, the whole day away from our fantastic hotel - and to boot, Rockin Shamu, my FAVORITE show, doesn't start until April - AFTER we are there. I hope you're following me here. Although SeaWorld is fun - I'm thinking - maybe we save SeaWorld for the next time, when we'll probably be at the PVI and won't want to be around the hotel as much..... Thoughts? Am I cuckoo?? I just don't want to regret not going to SW....

 

[mydisneyobsession]

We arrive at the GCH on a Sunday afternoon. Best case between 3 and 4. Worst case between 8 and 9. We then were going to do Mon and Tues at DL, SeaWorld on Wed, and then Thurs and Fri at DL. Here is my issue. I am trying to pack in:

Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness one day...
A Blue Bayou lunch
Disney's Aladdin
Fantasmic!
Fireworks
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
WOC
A MM
A Character Breakfast
Dinner at RainForest

... and I'm sure I'm forgetting LOTS - into these 4 days. It may not seem like a lot, but we are also staying the GC for the first time, and I want to take advantage of the luxury of staying in such a nice hotel. I also want to be able to take breaks and go back to our room now and then, enjoy the pools, and just not feel so rushed. We also aren't early bird people. So I'm starting to think - do we really want to do a whole day away at SeaWorld? Pay the extra money to get in, the extra time to drive there and back, the whole day away from our fantastic hotel - and to boot, Rockin Shamu, my FAVORITE show, doesn't start until April - AFTER we are there. I hope you're following me here. Although SeaWorld is fun - I'm thinking - maybe we save SeaWorld for the next time, when we'll probably be at the PVI and won't want to be around the hotel as much..... Thoughts? Am I cuckoo?? I just don't want to regret not going to SW....

I think you've got a lot of good reasons not to go to Sea World!

If I were in your position, I think I would be more likely to regret not spending more time at the Grand Californian than I would regret not going to Sea World.

 

[LavenderPeach]

I think you've got a lot of good reasons not to go to Sea World!

If I were in your position, I think I would be more likely to regret not spending more time at the Grand Californian than I would regret not going to Sea World.

I agree.

 

[sierranevada]

I agree.

Me too! Enjoy the Grand and all it has to offer and save SeaWorld for another trip.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

The two times we have ever stayed onsite (haven't tried the Grand yet though), we enjoyed every bit of being onsite. We would never have wanted to hop in our car and go somewhere non-Disney. Save that for when you are off-site, and enjoy your opportunity for Disney immersion.

 

[Mackysmycat]

I think I would be more likely to regret not spending more time at the Grand Californian than I would regret not going to Sea World.

I think you're right. Thanks guys!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I think you're right. Thanks guys!

One of the reasons we try to stay in the Villas. We think the hotel is part of the experience.

Jack

 

[Nanseev]

I'm an AP and had won a DL trip last year...and we were able to stay at the GC. A year later, I totally regret that I didn't take advantage of everything the hotel had to offer. We spent most of the time in the parks...which was great...but I could have done that with my AP at any time. Instead, I wish I would have had the kids do all of the fun "extras" the hotel has to offer. We did enjoy the pool for a short timeframe...but all of the kiddie specials the hotel has to offer we missed out on. With our budget, I doubt I'll be able to afford staying there again until the kids are older.

Soooo...that being said. Sounds like you've been to Sea World and will probably go in the future. For me, I'd stay and enjoy the perks of the hotel. The one thing I would definitley use the convenience of the hotel is for quick admission into CA for WoC fastpasses. For me, this show is a "must see" and worth missing out on other things to get a good view.

 

[kailuagirl]

I'd pass on SeaWorld. Enjoy GCH, we stayed there for the 1st time last month and had a great time!! And make sure to take advantage of every MM you have!! and early entry to CAP to get your FP's for WOC

Have fun

 

[brookies_mommy]

We arrive at the GCH on a Sunday afternoon. Best case between 3 and 4. Worst case between 8 and 9. We then were going to do Mon and Tues at DL, SeaWorld on Wed, and then Thurs and Fri at DL. Here is my issue. I am trying to pack in:

Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness one day...
A Blue Bayou lunch
Disney's Aladdin
Fantasmic!
Fireworks
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
WOC
A MM
A Character Breakfast
Dinner at RainForest

... and I'm sure I'm forgetting LOTS - into these 4 days. It may not seem like a lot, but we are also staying the GC for the first time, and I want to take advantage of the luxury of staying in such a nice hotel. I also want to be able to take breaks and go back to our room now and then, enjoy the pools, and just not feel so rushed. We also aren't early bird people. So I'm starting to think - do we really want to do a whole day away at SeaWorld? Pay the extra money to get in, the extra time to drive there and back, the whole day away from our fantastic hotel - and to boot, Rockin Shamu, my FAVORITE show, doesn't start until April - AFTER we are there. I hope you're following me here. Although SeaWorld is fun - I'm thinking - maybe we save SeaWorld for the next time, when we'll probably be at the PVI and won't want to be around the hotel as much..... Thoughts? Am I cuckoo?? I just don't want to regret not going to SW....

That's a lot to fit into 4 days .. but you could..


Monday
Disney's Aladdin
Dinner at RainForest


Tuesday
Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness one day...
A MM
A Blue Bayou lunch

Thursday
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
WOC


Friday
Fantasmic!
Fireworks
A Character Breakfast

 

[Mackysmycat]

Thanks everyone. I canceled SeaWorld today and changed our Hoppers from 5 to 6 day'ers. So 6 days and 6 nights at the GCH = a relaxing, no stress vacation to me!

 

[DahliaRW]

We just stayed on site and we actually planned one day to NOT go to the parks and to just spend time relaxing and hanging out. It ended up being nice. And the kids loved the time to go swimming and such. We did 6 days at the park, and our day off right in the middle. We had one fireworks view room, so we watched the fireworks on our day off from our room (our off day was a Sunday).

 

[brookies_mommy]

Thanks everyone. I canceled SeaWorld today and changed our Hoppers from 5 to 6 day'ers. So 6 days and 6 nights at the GCH = a relaxing, no stress vacation to me!

Sounds like a good time to me!