Actually Sherry, I would have stayed at PPH if we had gotten a good rate there and a room had been available. I don't know what happened but when we made our reservations were made there was nothing available at PPH otherwise I may very well have decided on the PPH instead of the DLH. It all had to do with the rate.
Sherry, I can imagine that between now and trip time you will have a lot of offers of trip mates.
Oh and on a side note Dina was wishing that she had brought her Disney Visa with her on the trip I am sure she is more so now.
Michele - I must say that I wouldn't have been disappointed at all if the Disney folks had told me that I could have
any of the 3 hotels for one free night and $99 each additional! I'm going with the PPH because that's the one where I can use that offer. While I was not that thrilled with the actual rooms at the GCH when I stayed there, I would certainly stay at the GCH again if I got a fantastic rate, just to mix it up a bit and have some variety in hotel choices. And even though I am annoyed that the waterfalls and koi pond are gone from the DLH, I definitely want to return there - my old stomping grounds pre-2000 - and stay again.
Yes, now is the time to rack up all the Rewards on the Disney Visa Debit while it's still eligible for Rewards! At least the Disney Credit Card people will still get them, but that doesn't help us debit card folk!
They *said* they sent something out in February. Yeah, right. I mean, the website info is still up there with nothing informing a person that it doesn't exist any longer (when I checked a few days ago)...it's just ridiculous.
She read from the info she scrounged up (when I called their customer service) and it said that the fee would be prorated depending on how long you have left in your year. We pay in August so we shouldn't be charged a thing. With you, who knows. They might charge then prorate for 11 months of no service? Or just not charge?
It's SO annoying. Robert now wants to get the Disney Visa since it still exists, but I just refuse. We have the credit union CC and that is enough. We have never once taken advantage of the character meetings etc, there's no evidence that we would do it in the future...so why bother? And it's been SUCH a pain to get the reward dollars, so the overall experience has been rather underwhelming.
Molly - Still no word from Chase on this end about the discontinuation of the Debit Rewards. I wonder when they are planning on alerting us all. I'd imagine that they will charge me and then prorate. They want to get in any little extra money they can.
Thank you both so much. You both did make the choice easier, it looks like it will probably be Christmas of 2012. I won't be able to make a trip at all this year due to money. It seems the past couple of years I have tried to plan a trip out West and it keeps getting canceled, I think part of it is my nerves, it is so far from home and I usually end up going alone, so it makes it a little lonely. But I for sure want to get out there again and experience DL and CA, they are just both so awesome and I love them. Sherry, I have been reading along with your trip report. Loved the photos of the Disneyland Hotel, hope none of that changes with the renovations that are going on, I was torn as to if I wanted to stay at Paradise Pier or the Disneyland Hotel and I think the Disneyland Hotel has won out. 
Jen - I think you made the right choice about a Christmas trip. And again - I love Halloween Time (what there is of it) at DLR. I definitely think it's worth experiencing. However, I can't help but think that, in the next few years, it will be more. Bigger. Better. Just
more than what it is now. They could so so much more since they make it an official 'season' at the Resort. Why not decorate the hotels? Why not do something more in Downtown Disney? Why not put
something Halloween-esque in DCA, maybe in A Bug's Land like they do with the giant Christmas ornaments, even though they removed Candy Corn Acres? Why not decorate ToonTown for Halloween? Why not pipe in Halloween/monster-themed music in certain areas of Disneyland, like they used to do in DCA?
With Christmas time, it's an overall sensory assault (in a good way), basically. Music, aromas, colors, lights, fake snow, different styles of decorations in different lands, differently colored & decorated Christmas trees in each hotel... There is just so much more to it. And you will still be able to ride Haunted Mansion Holiday. Plus, It's a Small World Holiday is just gorgeous.
Hello, Sherrie,
I just started back. Since having to cancel BOTH trips I had been planning for, I got really sad for a while. I missed not even going to CA to see family (VERY HARD) and so now that my major temper tantrum is mostly over 
I decided to jump back on and get caught up on what's going on, especially about the scoop on the holidays, etc. I doubt I will make a post about going because I jinxed myself, so I am saving and planning. Not telling the kids, or DH until I have a $$$$ saved just for it! No easy feat here. So, going through your thread, I saw the stuff about Chase, and I was excited that I could post something that might help someone, instead of me looking for help! 
Perks Financial has been pretty good for me so far. I am getting Amazon gift cards for Black Friday shopping, and Target gift cards to buy stuff to use for Disney trip!
I enjoy reading your posts because they are always so positive even when reporting on something that wasn't good. Plus, the pics for food, characters, etc are awesome and quite helpful for me to secretly plan a trip.
Hydro guy and Mike and Bumpershoot have good tips, etc too!
I hope I didn't just jinx myself about a trip this year.
Thank you, Linda!
I appreciate the kind words! I'm so glad you decided to return to my TR. And you probably know - from following along with my adventures in this ongoing TR - that I understand exactly what it's like to feel hesitant to even think of starting a new plan, let alone mention it aloud, when the previous plan has fallen through. It's exactly what you said - you don't want to jinx it. I know what it's like when you are looking so forward to something and then it doesn't happen.
I recall that you said your DH's job was going to be taking him out of town, right? Is the work steady now, or did it slow down?
I hope you are able to restart your planning and get back to DLR - especially for the holiday season!
Sherry,
I apologize for misspelling your name. One of my SIL is named Sherrie.
Sorry about that.
Linda
Linda - It's okay!! I've seen my name spelled a variety of interesting ways in my lifetime. Sometimes it's just habit to spell it in a way you are used to!
Thank you so much for your vote of confidence. I have done solo trips before but only to WDW, I am sure that it will be fine and I will have a lovely time. I just always worry about my dog and family when I am away. But it is all good. I am hoping I made a good choice with the DLH, I just hope we all the remodeling it dosen't take away from the whimiscal side of it, I like that, like I love the photos of the lobby that Sherry posted in her report this past year, it just looked so fun.
Jen - I think the lobby areas of the DLH will still be cute and fun. Although, they are changing the themes of each tower at the DLH, so it will be interesting to see what the finished product looks like. I just wish they had been able to keep those darn waterfalls and koi fish!
Oh I would be so disappointed if they did this and I do have a kid...I would so rather see an EPCOT type attraction. Just my 2 cents,,,
He won for Kindergarten... he built 5 paper airplanes 1 traditional one and 4 fancy ones that he found online plans for..wanted to see if all the fanciness made them fly better...answer nope..we threw paper airplanes all weekend LOL the judges comments were all stuff like "enthusiastic about his project" "original and obviously a project he picked himself and liked" "presentation was fun to watch and he answered questions with humerous statements" wish I knew what he said I didn't get to be there for the judging but no doubt it was another funny Coltonism.
I agree, Sherri - I am anti-water park for DLR. Even with a small space, they could do so much, simply because Disney is a huge creative force of nature. If anyone can make a small space magical, it's Disney. And with the abundance of water parks we already have in SoCal (including down in San Diego), there is just no need for another one - not even a Disney water park, no matter how cute that may be. We will probably never get a 4th park in SoCal - at least not in the vicinity of Disneyland - because of zoning issues and lack of area upon which to expand. So they can at least make the 3rd and final park something really special.
I would love love love a mini-Epcot. That was what was originally mentioned - even before DCA was built - years and years ago, and I am so sad that they don't seem to be able to pursue it (there must be a good reason).
Sounds like Colton was a hoot with his airplanes!! So cute! Yay for winning for Kindergarten!
I have finally caught up with your TR, Sherry. I was in Tenn for a long weekend, and then, I got slammed with lots of PTA stuff and volleyball stuff and horse stuff, lately. I have barely been able to keep up DISboards, but I have been able to check in a few times. Finally had some time tonight and I found that I was a couple of pages behind your TR. Good to be back!
As for the water park idea. I have been getting the feeling that the powers that be have in mind to make DL more and more like WDW. WDW has a Halloween Party, so should DL. WDW has DVC rooms, so should DL. WDW has cruise ships, so should DL. WDW has water parks, so should....wait a minute! DL doesn't have a water park? Start the surveys, start the focus groups, start calling the imagineers to start the plans...... DL should have a water park. Does anyone else getting the same feeling?
Hi, Liza! Thank you for returning! I'm finally getting caught up with my own TR!
I'd fallen behind!
Yep, I think you're right - the Disney VIP's want to make DLR as much like WDW as possible, but with much less space to do it. We don't have room for a full Epcot or a full Animal Kingdom in the middle of Anaheim, so they probably figure a water park is a good way to expand without needing too much property.
Nooooooo! No water park!! Booooo! I hope the survey I got that indicated the upcoming Disney projects was wrong and that there is no water park coming to DLR.
I do, however, wish they had room to build a SoCal equivalent of Tokyo DisneySea - that would be awesome!
If they do not do a water park and they do not do a mini-Epcot, I wonder what they will do? No other ideas have really been tossed around out there, I don't think.
Another vote for Christmas Time from someone who has been during both Halloween and Christmas Time.
I see you are leaning toward the Christmas season trip. I really enjoyed both, but Christmas time feels more all-around Christmas-y. The falling snow on Main Street was one of the most magical things for me, which is funny considering I see plenty of real snow. But the real snow isn't surrounded by the sights/smells of Main Street with Christmas music in the background.
I hope you enjoy planning your trip!
deej - I'm glad you spoke up. I wanted more of the peeps who had experienced both Halloween and Christmas at DLR to voice their opinions,and I knew you were one of them!
I just wish there were more to the whole Halloween season. It feels a little 'thin' right now. They need to expand upon the theme more.
jnjusoioa, I was torn whether to vote for Halloween Time or Christmas for your DL trip. After thinking about it, I vote for Christmas. At first I was leaning towards Halloween Time because it is done on a much smaller scale than Christmas at DLR. You are not a submerged with Halloween decor as you are with Christmas. Both parks, the three hotels, Downtown Disney, and even the plant beds are decorated with Christmas decor. Whereas, only DL's Main Street and Big Thunder Ranch area is decorated with a Halloween flare. I was thinking of starting with the smaller scale holiday and then lead up to the bigger holiday at a later trip. But I think you could go to DLR at Christmas first and go for a Halloween trip later, if possible. Halloween Time could stand on its own and you would not feel a let down with Halloween Time after experiencing a DLR Christmas. Halloween Time has its own feel and decor touches without mimicking Christmas. It is unique on it's own.
Both holidays are special to me and I am grateful that I can visit both annually.
Liza - You're right. Anyone who is in the position of being able to offer opinions on Halloween vs. Christmas at DLR is in a fortunate position because it means we have been lucky enough to do both. I'm glad you weighed in on the subject as well!
At first, I was thinking along the exact lines you were. Initially I thought, well maybe start out with Halloween because it's on a smaller scale and then work up to a holiday trip.
But I knew that Jen (jnjusoioa) had to postpone at least a couple of DLR trips in the past, so she may only have one shot at a DLR trip for a good while. She may not be able to get back there every year or for several years. So when I considered that angle of it, that's when I decided that a Christmas trip will definitely bring more 'bang for the buck' in a variety of ways, and make a more fulfilling DLR trip, I think. If you can only go once for a few years, might as well go during the time when the experience is much more extensive, I think.
Sherry, I found myself at DL last weekend, but we only stay a few hours. DD's volleyball tournament took place right across the freeway from DL. The tourney finished way early, so headed to DL. It was crowded and HOT! DD was tired after playing some pretty hard volleyball, so we left at 4pm. I was able to get some food porn pics last weekend. I thought you would appreciate them.
Spring treats
Never mind that I baked 82 cupcakes this week. I want one of these:
Liza - Thank you so much for posting the pictures of the yummy treats! I love that they have Easter-y stuff out so early, even though Easter is late this year (not until late April)!! Not even St. Patrick's Day stuff - well, they do have the one 4-leaf clover and the Tigger Tail thing with green on it, I guess - but they just cut right to Easter!
I think there is even a special Easter apple that they make - a bunny, as I recall - which may or may not be sold at Pooh's Corner.
Does anyone know what the chances of a ticketed Christmas event is this year? I know people thought it might happen this year so was just curious. Thank You.
Jen - I think any of us would agree that the chances of a ticketed Christmas party at DLR some time in the next couple of years is a strong possibility. The Halloween parties are too popular for them to not give it a try. Whether or not it will be
this year is another story. On the one hand I could see DLR waiting until DCA is all finished next year and then moving the Candelight Processional over to DCA, and beginning a Christmas party in DL. On the other hand, the Disney masterminds may want to get a head start and have the party this year.
What will be interesting is exactly how they handle such an event and the exclusives they include in the party. With the Halloween party, they could easily make the Halloween Screams fireworks a party exclusive because they had not been running those fireworks for years and years for the general public. They were still new fireworks.
However, if they start having a Christmas party, this means they will need to have some exclusive 'thing.' If they make the parade, snow or fireworks exclusive to a party, then that means they will be taking them away from the general public after years and years of offering them to everyone. That will cause an uproar. And if they took only the Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks and made it a party exclusive, I'm not sure anyone would pay to attend a party to see them since it's been running for years. They would need something else in addition to the fireworks. Maybe the parade as well? Well, that's also been a round for years and years. Would anyone pay separately to see it?
So then I start thinking that, JUST for the sake of novelty and newness, it would actually make more sense to have a Christmas party in DCA. That way, they could make a holiday version of World of Color the featured event - that would be brand new and no one will have seen it before. Or they could make a holiday Toy Story Midway Mania a party exclusive.
Having a Christmas party in Disneyland and holding any of their longstanding events hostage to the party will make a lot of people angry. They would either have to add in something totally brand new to DL that no one has seen, OR have the party in DCA for the first year or two.
Loved seeing the spring treats Liza!
Sherry -- just posted my calendar pics in my TR!
(Anyone else notice that Sherry was totally MIA in that entire last page of posts?)
deej - I posted in your TR about the calendar!!
Glad to know that everyone noticed I was MIA!! I haven't had time to get on here lately! It's okay - everyone can carry on without me!!
If we all keep talking about her absence maybe we can make it two pages? I hope she knows when we don't see her for a few days we all miss her!
Hee hee!
Thank you, Sherri - I appreciate being missed!
Or we could make up stories....
Michele - That's true! If I disappear and go MIA from my TR again, I'll be anxious to return to it to see what you all have made up!!
I've missed so much fun, what happened? I must have been hiding under a rock or something.
It helps that DD loves it too.
I want something more creative than that. Anything. Just not a water park.
