**** Official 2014 AUGUST - Disneyland thread ****

[ColdNeverBotheredMe]

Well, we are leaving on Tuesday!!!!!! We won't arrive in Disneyland until Wednesday though, but we've begun packing!!!

 

[zanzibar138]

I've still got over 2 weeks to go, but it's the middle of winter here, so I've been able to start packing.

Usually I pack ridiculously light. For a two week trip I'll pack just a couple of pairs of jeans, half a dozen t-shirts, and a jacket, plus underwear of course. I usually just take the shoes I'm wearing and a pair of flip-flops in case I need them. I don't usually bother with jewellery, make-up, or hair straighteners or anything like that.

This time however, I've got quite a few specific events I have to pack for. Two running events, a cycling tour in Palm Desert, hiking, horse-riding in the Central Coast area AND in Arizona, Dapper Day, and Disneybound! Plus, it will be hot, so I'll pack my bathers too (usually I don't even bother since I'm not really a swimmer). I'll have to take at least 4 pairs of shoes plus flip-flops. I'll need make-up, jewellery and hair styling stuff for Dapper Day. I'm taking at least two dresses. So it's going to be REALLY different for me!

I have a couple of packing tips. I'm sure most of us already use packing lists. I'm relying heavily on mine for this trip. I've listed all the events/activities we're doing and what I'll need for each one, as well as the usual things that I'll pack. Plus, I like to roll my clothes rather than fold them. I find I can fit much more in my suitcase, plus they don't crease.

 

[gerilyne]

Heading to the airport here in an hour!!! It is way too early to be awake but who can sleep when they will be at Disneyland in a few hours?!?!?!

 

[Rubygoose]

Question of the week
Who wants to write my final report for me on behaviour intervention strategies? It only has to be 4 pages and it's due on Friday.

Now... for the real question of the week...

What is the first thing you're going to do when you enter DCA or DL on your first park day of your trip? (and I don't mean get your tickets or your PP+ or any of that boring stuff.) And for those of you already there, what was the first thing you did when you got to the parks?

 

[Rubygoose]

I've listed all the events/activities we're doing and what I'll need for each one, as well as the usual things that I'll pack.

That's a good idea to pack by what events you're attending. I have a packing list that's divided up by what bag things go into.

Heading to the airport here in an hour!!! It is way too early to be awake but who can sleep when they will be at Disneyland in a few hours?!?!?!

So excited for you Gerilyne! Hope you sleep a little bit on the plane

Well, we are leaving on Tuesday!!!!!! We won't arrive in Disneyland until Wednesday though, but we've begun packing!!!

Yay! You're so close!

I competed last night and came in Sith...I mean 5th out of 14. A friend of mine was 1st and he was really good. I'm spending the day at DL before I have to go back to the competition on Sunday.

I hope you're having a great trip. I can't recall what you're competing in, but congrats!

 

[Rubygoose]

What is the first thing you're going to do when you enter DCA or DL on your first park day of your trip? (and I don't mean get your tickets or your PP+ or any of that boring stuff.) And for those of you already there, what was the first thing you did when you got to the parks?

This trip is starting out a little differently that our past three trips, as we'll be going into the park on our arrival day. We usually spend the first afternoon in DTD and at the hotel pool and then hit rope drop or MM at DL on our first park day and head straight to Peter Pan's Flight and then Dumbo. This time we'll have APs so we'll go into DL on our arrival day, but we won't get there until around 4:30 or 5pm. So we're planning to get something to eat at Jolly Holiday or Plaza Inn and then do some of the quick rides in Fantasy Land like the carousel and maybe Small World before heading back to the hotel for a swim and then bed time. The kids will probably want to stop in at a store and get a stuffy on that first evening. DD has decided that she isn't going to pack any of her stuffies from home so that she'll have more room to bring LOTS back!

 

[sleepymouse]

We arrive around noon so will probably grab some quick food and then head to the Haunted Mansion. It will be the final day it is running before closing down for holiday overlay. My older son loves it and will want to ride it many times that day. Then onto POTC (one of my little one's favorites).

 

[Aladora]

I just signed up for Instagram so I could post DL pics! My username is WishIWasinDL and I just posted a picture of my nails! I'm going back next Sunday to get a pedi and polish change before we leave on Monday and I wanted to try out a design for our trip!

What is the first thing you're going to do when you enter DCA or DL on your first park day of your trip? (and I don't mean get your tickets or your PP+ or any of that boring stuff.) And for those of you already there, what was the first thing you did when you got to the parks?

After we renew DS's DAS card and get a return time for Space Mountain, we will probably head to Space and grab a FP for that, then probably ride BTMRR first since we have missed it the last 3 trips!

 

[ColdNeverBotheredMe]

We go straight to a popular ride, like Indiana Jones or Space Mountain first thing, and we always know where we want to go before we get there so we can head straight there without hesitation. We got on Indy in 5 minutes last time we did that, it was great!

 

[zanzibar138]

Question of the week
Who wants to write my final report for me on behaviour intervention strategies? It only has to be 4 pages and it's due on Friday.

Now... for the real question of the week...

What is the first thing you're going to do when you enter DCA or DL on your first park day of your trip? (and I don't mean get your tickets or your PP+ or any of that boring stuff.) And for those of you already there, what was the first thing you did when you got to the parks?

I honestly have no idea. My first day will be solo, and I will be arriving in the Anaheim area at about 3:30pm. After about 24-25 hours of traveling, it will probably depend on how I'm feeling. I will probably go to DL and just wander (after taking care of boring house-keeping stuff), maybe hit a couple of single rider lines or grab a FP.

 

[hyperminimalism]

Question of the week
Who wants to write my final report for me on behaviour intervention strategies? It only has to be 4 pages and it's due on Friday.

Now... for the real question of the week...

What is the first thing you're going to do when you enter DCA or DL on your first park day of your trip? (and I don't mean get your tickets or your PP+ or any of that boring stuff.) And for those of you already there, what was the first thing you did when you got to the parks?

We're here! Well, technically we're not in DL/DCA yet, but we're at the hotel, which by the way is pretty awesome. I'll have to make a review about this stay, but we go into the parks tomorrow, Wednesday and then Thursday, so I'm getting a day in on Monday. I think the first thing we'll do is either try to get a FP for Racers and then head on over to DL and then Indy or SM. We could switch it up, but who knows. Chances are, though, that we'll follow through on that plan.

We actually plan to step out of the parks for an hour or two to have lunch with my grandma at DTD somewhere. I'm excited for that since I haven't seen her since last year!

 

[scrapshappen]

If we arrive midday, we usually do the train very first thing. But this time, our first time in the park will be next Monday morning at rope drop so we'll head straight to Peter Pan first.

 

[gerilyne]

:

Now... for the real question of the week...

What is the first thing you're going to do when you enter DCA or DL on your first park day of your trip? (and I don't mean get your tickets or your PP+ or any of that boring stuff.) And for those of you already there, what was the first thing you did when you got to the parks?

I can say for the past 3 years including today the first thing we do is ride Pirates of the Caribbean!!

 

[peterpanandwendy]

Yay! I'm in my hotel room right now in Vancouver, with the alarm set for 4:30 am! We have to be at the airport at 6!

Usually we do space mountain first, but this time it will be whatever my 3 year picks. It's his first time

 

[zaz]

Here now! The flight went really well. We arrived at 3:30 pm, then got to our hotel, changed our vouchers into tickets and went to Goofy's kitchen for supper. The characters were great and my 6 yrs old was ecstatic. She radiated joy. 9 pm and we are in bed. Ready for our big day tomorrow. I think that we'll head to Peter pan and then stars tour. We have lunch at Blue bayou at 11:30, so we'll have to see how much we can do before it.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Here now. Third night of our pixie dust "we're sorry" free stay at GCH. Grateful to Guest Services for the opportunity. Loving the parks as usual. But after looking forward to the trip and hotel for months, GCH has been a total nightmare. I'll trip report later, but here the highlights. Arrived to broken AC, maintenance guy who said he fixed it (and lied) gave us an earful about how much he hates the place and how stupid people are for staying here, broken refrigerator, impossible Wifi, out of the blue rudeness from several hotel CMs, and total sobbing come apart after missing an EMH from having to pack up and change rooms for two hours in the middle of the night after finding a roach crawling between our beds. Also, I think I went down in GCH history for being the first guest to bring a live roach in a Ziploc bag to the front desk as evidence. There's more, but the gist is we miss the HoJo incredibly right now, and feel extraordinarily disillusioned about GCH and west coast magic. After many years, my DLR brand loyalty is in tatters right now.

 

[Amilo]

Here now. Third night of our pixie dust "we're sorry" free stay at GCH. Grateful to Guest Services for the opportunity. Loving the parks as usual. But after looking forward to the trip and hotel for months, GCH has been a total nightmare. I'll trip report later, but here the highlights. Arrived to broken AC, maintenance guy who said he fixed it (and lied) gave us an earful about how much he hates the place and how stupid people are for staying here, broken refrigerator, impossible Wifi, out of the blue rudeness from several hotel CMs, and total sobbing come apart after missing an EMH from having to pack up and change rooms for two hours in the middle of the night after finding a roach crawling between our beds. Also, I think I went down in GCH history for being the first guest to bring a live roach in a Ziploc bag to the front desk as evidence. There's more, but the gist is we miss the HoJo incredibly right now, and feel extraordinarily disillusioned about GCH and west coast magic. After many years, my DLR brand loyalty is in tatters right now.

Wow, that sounds awful. I'm suddenly a bit nervous for my upcoming GCH stay. You would think the staff would be bending over backwards to help you, particularly considering the fact that you are being given a stay as an apology. I hope your stay gets better.

 

[zaz]

Here now. Third night of our pixie dust "we're sorry" free stay at GCH. Grateful to Guest Services for the opportunity. Loving the parks as usual. But after looking forward to the trip and hotel for months, GCH has been a total nightmare. I'll trip report later, but here the highlights. Arrived to broken AC, maintenance guy who said he fixed it (and lied) gave us an earful about how much he hates the place and how stupid people are for staying here, broken refrigerator, impossible Wifi, out of the blue rudeness from several hotel CMs, and total sobbing come apart after missing an EMH from having to pack up and change rooms for two hours in the middle of the night after finding a roach crawling between our beds. Also, I think I went down in GCH history for being the first guest to bring a live roach in a Ziploc bag to the front desk as evidence. There's more, but the gist is we miss the HoJo incredibly right now, and feel extraordinarily disillusioned about GCH and west coast magic. After many years, my DLR brand loyalty is in tatters right now.

Oh no, so sorry for you. Today's a new day and you'll have tons of fun. Enjoy and start afresh.

 

[scrapshappen]

What a nightmare! We stayed at the GCH on our last trip and now DH doesn't want to stay anywhere else.

 

[scrapshappen]

Anyone in the parks today that happens to notice what time the RSR FPs run out, I'd love to hear about it. (Or even what return times were around 10 a.m. this morning for FPs). Trying to put the finishing touches on our plans for next week.

My kids went back to school this morning so I am soaking up the quiet here at my house. Love Back to School morning!