Notes to self re: future DLR trips......

[Zoemakes5]

This is just a list of my notes to myself re: future trips, add any you feel I've missed:

-Don't EVER eat at Tomorrowland Terrace. It will take too long and the food stinks!
-Make sure to get fast passes first thing in the morning for "must do's".
-Make sure to get the must do's done before letting the kids go on rides multiple times.
-Plan on spending ALOT on food. $45 for lunch at CS isn't unreasonable.
-Outside restaurants are a good option
-Bringing 20 Questions to play while in line was a great idea. Bringing two would have been better!
-Brining the two rolls of quarters and one of pennies in a ziploc bag was a great idea, next time put the change in smaller bags and make the kids take them in their fanny packs!
-The food at the character meals is actually very good.
-Build a Bear doesn't take Disney Gift Cards (good thing to know before your last day!)
-Do not attempt to go down main street near parade time.
-While giving gift cards to the kids to decrease/eliminate the "I wants" is a great idea, it doesn't apparently work too well with the "just five" set.
-Bring extra extra batteries. Apparently one set isn't enough.
-Don't believe the Roger Rabbit times posted for the rides. Double it!
-Having the stroller, even for a five year old, was a great idea!
-Don't underestimate the allure of the Jedi Academy! Also, try to avoid it with older looking children, as they just don't get picked. Wear bright shirts that stand out to increase your chances to be chosen, but don't be surprised when the boys in the plain blue shirts get picked.
-If Pooh is your favorite character, you MUST get clothing at the Pooh store in Critter country. You won't find it anywhere else, including WoD in DtD! Grrrr!
-Don't bother getting the cool light up stuff for the older kids. They don't care about it. If anything just get glow necklaces. Though, the spinning light up toys are big hits with 5 year olds (and their Daddies!) and it was a good idea to have purchased one before on sale and with a 15% off coupon from the Disney Store.
-Don't expect to see ANYTHING Mulan. That's a big bummer when DD is dressed as Mulan and wants to buy something to match. The positive about that is DD really stands out dressed as Mulan. Though, if you go to DtD two days after DD is dressed as Mulan, you can find a Mulan outfit at Build a Bear!
-Photopass picture takers, you must find them, they're fairly well hidden. Expect to see more of them at night. Oh, and the pictures taken at places like Ariels and on the rides don't go on to the photo pass!
-Some kids are really into pins and like them, some could care less!
-Some kids are not "really into Disney" and will tell anyone who asks that they are just there because "it's my mom's thing."
-Make sure everyone in party has a watch.
-A trip to DLR is a baddddd time to find out DD is basically a germaphobe and will not take a drink or bite if someone else has. And tells her papa "my saliva will make you die!"


More to come, I'm sure!

 

[labagit]

LOL about the germaphobe comments! Thanks so much for this; it is very helpful. I found the answer to my question about ride pictures and Photopass buried in there. Not the answer I was hoping for, but an answer nonetheless. Good tip about the 20 questions game and about prepackaging quarters and pennies. Great tip about making the kids carry the coins. Grandma gave the kids glowsticks for Easter, so we'll save some bucks by bringing our own. I had read previously that BAB doesn't take the Disney gift cards but they do take Disney dollars. I'm assuming the gift cards can be taken to WOD to buy Disney dollars to get around this, or can you not buy Disney dollars with gift cards?

 

[Pirate-Emery]

I actually quite love the Tomorrowland Terrace. I guess the food thing is all perspective.

 

[Kailua's Belle]

I would add to your list that FastPasses can be used after the return by time! So if you can't make it by 2:00 p.m., by all means keep the pass and go when you can make it. I found this out after we came back

 

[Zoemakes5]

I actually quite love the Tomorrowland Terrace. I guess the food thing is all perspective.

I have to say, my Dad and step-mom got sandwiches (as in turkey/beef etc.) and they were dry and bordering on stale, and at 1 in the afternoon waited literally 1.25 hours. From my memory, the burgers and salads here were good.

 

[nurse.darcy]

I don't make a habit of eating at Tomorrowland Terrace when I am there. I prefer Redd Rocket's Pizza Planet. They have really great salads and some decent pizza. The service is MUCH better and its about 1/2 the wait time even during the lunch hour. . .

 

[Husker Mickey]

Ate at Tomorrowland Terrace on Easter Sunday. Had a salad w/chicken, raisins, sunflower seeds, chioce of dressing. It was GREAT! DH had a huge burger, DS had a turkey club, can't remember what DD had. All of our food of was very good and the service was typical of what we experienced anywhere else in the park.

 

[limace]

Thanks for all the tips, Zoemaker! You made me laugh-I can tell some of these were learned the hard way, and appreciate you "taking one for the team" to help the rest of us out.

 

[Zoemakes5]

I would add to your list that FastPasses can be used after the return by time! So if you can't make it by 2:00 p.m., by all means keep the pass and go when you can make it. I found this out after we came back

-Additional entry, notes to self:
-For now (this does change regularly!), you are able to get new fast passes either (a) after the window for your fastpass has come or (b) within two hours, whichever is earlier. You may then use your fastpass at any time after the beginning of your window. It doesn't have to be during the window. (Using this philosophy, we actually had 3 fast passes from DL (Indy, Buzz and Space Mt) and 1 from CA Adventure at the same time!)

-While there are alot of vegetarian options at DLR, there aren't nearly as many children's vegetarian options, particularly at CS.
-With children in tow, it takes closer to 30 minutes rather than 15-20 to get to the Stitch breakfast at PPH.
-Club Libby Lu makeover is Soooo worth the money. You end up getting almost the entire value of the package in little goodies at the end, and the smiles on DD's face as she was walking around with her cool new do, Priceless! Rock princess is the most popular.
-Bring your own Mt. Dew.
-The lemonade is all diet/lite (very important if you're allergic to artificial sweeteners!
-For us, the b-day bucket wasn't worth the cost.
-Remember, your smart, well-educated and easy-to-burn DH will forget the concept of sunscreen while on vacation, so you'll have to remind him!
-Don't let DS purchase a big light sabre early in the day on day one of a multi-day trip. (A) Every subsequent picture will include his use of said sabre, (B) As he gets tired, he won't want to carry it, and (C) apparently, if you have a light sabre, you must attempt to hit or hit anything and everything animate and inanimate in your path!

 

[DBorges]

I FEEL YOU PAIN HERE!!!



Don't let DS purchase a big light sabre early in the day on day one of a multi-day trip. (A) Every subsequent picture will include his use of said sabre, (B) As he gets tired, he won't want to carry it, and (C) apparently, if you have a light sabre, you must attempt to hit or hit anything and everything animate and inanimate in your path![/QUOTE]


MY son has autism and has issues with fixation on objects been there done that ..

That is why we bring items that he already has bought abd a back pack..

 

[Zoemakes5]

I FEEL YOU PAIN HERE!!!



Don't let DS purchase a big light sabre early in the day on day one of a multi-day trip. (A) Every subsequent picture will include his use of said sabre, (B) As he gets tired, he won't want to carry it, and (C) apparently, if you have a light sabre, you must attempt to hit or hit anything and everything animate and inanimate in your path!

MY son has autism and has issues with fixation on objects been there done that ..

That is why we bring items that he already has bought abd a back pack..[/QUOTE]

Funny you should say that, DS in question has Aspergers!

 

[DBorges]

I read that in your first post today

 

[Alex2kMommy]

-Don't let DS purchase a big light sabre early in the day on day one of a multi-day trip. (A) Every subsequent picture will include his use of said sabre, (B) As he gets tired, he won't want to carry it, and (C) apparently, if you have a light sabre, you must attempt to hit or hit anything and everything animate and inanimate in your path!

Oh my, this is a good tip! DS6 saw a Buzz Lightyear astroblaster type gun as soon as he walked into the park the first day, and wanted it...BADLY. We kept saying no, there'd be plenty of things he'd like, let's wait a few days to make sure he really wanted it... He whined about the stupid thing all night and as soon as he woke up the next morning. So I finally said he could buy it on our way out of the park that day. So he got it (before I'd even seen what it was, actually), and the darn thing makes this totally obnoxious noise, especially when you keep the trigger pressed!

After numerous requests to stop pressing the trigger went ignored, the toy was confiscated 2/3rds of the walk through DTD. Once in the room, he started again, and after a few minutes, it went up on a high cabinet, and stayed there the remainder of the vacation!

MY TIP: Check out the toy they want to buy before saying they can have it. I had told DS6 that he had his own Disney Dollars, and could buy whatever he wanted, no questions asked. (We're not doing THAT again!)

Oh, and THANK YOU for mentioning that the ride photos are NOT part of Photopass. The question has been asked several times since DL got the Photopass system last fall (just after our trip), and this is the first time I've seen it addressed. Bummer that those photos are not part of the system, but good to know!

 

[Mom2micayla]

I'm with you on Tomorrowland Terrace. We ate there once about 2 years ago and it was horrible! We waited forever for stale bread and dry burgers.

I always bring my own Mt. Dew too. I hate that you can't get Pepsi products there.

Can I ask how much the Libby Lu makeovers are? I have 2 girls (4&5) and I think they'd love it. I've never really contemplated doing it but you've got me intrigued. I remember seeing a little girl at Ariel's last time we were there that clearly had been there b/c her hair was all done up and thought she look so cute.

 

[Zoemakes5]

Can I ask how much the Libby Lu makeovers are? I have 2 girls (4&5) and I think they'd love it. I've never really contemplated doing it but you've got me intrigued. I remember seeing a little girl at Ariel's last time we were there that clearly had been there b/c her hair was all done up and thought she look so cute.

Here's the link to club libby lu packages and pricing. We got the 22.50 one. When you make reservations, they ask for a charge card and they charge you for the cost of the smallest package, but you can book any of them.

http://www.clublibbylu.com/detail.aspx?menu=17&app=138&cat1=415&tp=23&lk=no&title=Pricing+&+Packages

When they're there, the girls get to choose what style do the want, rock princess, trend setter, Cinderella princess, or dance diva. Each one comes with it's own little accessories. Zoe chose Rock Princess. Her hair was sooo cute. She got her nails painted, make up put on (just a very light shade of pink eyes and cheeks and then a pink tinted lip gloss) and hair done, with crystal "tatoo" put on her forehead. She was in 7th Heaven the whole time! And then to find out that she could also pick out "stuff", well that put her over. We had put her Mulan costume on her before the club libby lu, and then went straight to dinner at Ariel's. She got lots and lots of attention and she walked around like a little peacock!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I have to say, my Dad and step-mom got sandwiches (as in turkey/beef etc.) and they were dry and bordering on stale, and at 1 in the afternoon waited literally 1.25 hours. From my memory, the burgers and salads here were good.

This is one of the reasons why we just eat a banana or danish in the morning on the way out. That way, we are hungry and get into the counters for lunch before the rush. You can waste an hour in the lunch line just as quickly as a ride.

 

[road2disney]

Zoemakes5,
Love your post!

Are you saying that all the lemonade at DLR is diet? Really? Good to know.

Thanks for all your input, we've got a trip coming up and something about this post is putting me in the mood!

 

[Zoemakes5]

Zoemakes5,
Love your post!

Are you saying that all the lemonade at DLR is diet? Really? Good to know.

This is so true. My Dad typically will grab a lemonade at when his blood sugar gets low (he's a non-insulin dependent diabetic), and we searched everywhere! And, my kids love lemonade, but we're all allergic to artificial sweeteners. We searched high and low. Apparently, they added it to their fountains as another diet alternative to just diet coke, and so no fountain in the park anywhere or resorts (as I was told) will have real lemonade. I found none in any carts (they were all diet when we found them, though I didn't look through each and every one, I did search through alot!) I did find some in bottles in a cart in DtD. Didn't appear to be a typical Disney cart, though. I was able to get real lemonade (as in fresh squeezed with real lemons) at the Lilo & Stitch breakfast. Though, this is the scenario: DD and DS are sitting at table while I go get a buffet plate. DD orders lemonade while I'm gone, it's brought after I get back, and the "bus boy" for lack of a better term who brought it spoke very little or no english and I couldn't get him to understand me when asking if it was diet. First he said "oh, diet" and brought us a diet coke,. Finally, our waitress came back and she was the one that told me the fountain lemonade is diet and why and said they have fresh squeezed in the back.