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

[wakica]

oh yes, right!!! The claiming a spot early and late comers think they can squeeze in to prime positions
I had forgotten about all the rude people you can encounter in those types of scenarios!!!! Mainly because we just don't bother with parades and fireworks. Sometimes DH wants to take photos of fireworks and DD and I will try to stick with him but I cannot handle the crowds and invasion of my personal space like that so dd and I tell him where we will meet him. We usually enjoy an enjoyable stroll through the stores while all the mobs are outside and then wait for him in a quiet and quaint little corner and we LOVE it just as much as most people love the fireworks.

I can TOTALLY see how you would fear losing it in these situations!!!! I can't even be around them!

 

[wakica]

double post. sorry.

 

[jina]

Hi all- I can't believe we are leaving in less than a week. DH, DD4 and I are going Aug 9-13, 2 nights @ HoJo (first time) , 2 nights @ GCH. We are so excited!

If there are any other families w/ a 4-5 yo DD who may be at either hotel and would like to try to hook up for play or rides for an hour or two please let me know. We are "one and done" (only 1 child) so we find travel is sometimes hard as we would love for DD to have some other kids to play with.

Our plans are rope drop each day (other than our arrival day when we get in around noon), get as much done in the AM as possible, then lunch and back to the hotel for water fun and play, maybe go back to a park for another hour or two in the early evening for a quick dinner a ride and some shopping, then bed (DD has a 7pm bedtime but it's usually 8pm when we travel- too much to do and far more excitement to wind down from).

Has anyone done the Ariel's Grotto breakfast this month? (I know, we're only 3 days in...)- There was a rumor a few weeks back that Anna & Elsa may start there for breakfast this month so I have an ADR set up which I'm planning to cancel if I don't hear of any sightings. We did lunch there in 2013 so I don't want to go back until DD is older unless we have a shot at meeting A&E. I doubt we'll be braving the meet & greet line unless we have great luck getting through the turnstyles for rope drop and DD breathes Frozen.

 

[modegard]

that is definitely frustrating. We have not really encountered it as a problem at WDW so I'm really hoping we don't come across it at DL either. I'm like you - a REAL rule follower so we stick together too - I guess it's easier when it's just the 3 of us though hey? compared to your what... 5?

Yes we are 6 but usually travel with extended family and have been up to 14 on some trips. The kids will give in and if someone is to close to them they move over a little, and then a little more and then before you know it we have no more space. If someone wants to stand too close to me I just let them and they eventually back off.

But if someone wants to cut in line, that is another story. If I have seen them leave the line with their child in tow to the washroom, I have no problem letting them back in. If their are a group moving up to be with their one family member holding them a spot, I just wish they would all move back. We have done that many times if someone gets separated from the group and is left behind.

Strangely, I have never experienced this at WDW either. That is interesting.

 

[modegard]

I have had a few occasions where I have bitten my tongue and one particular one where I did not.

DS is autistic and we have used the GAC in the past and now use the DAS. For anyone who does not know how it was dealt with in the past, it used to be that with a GAC, we would go to a cm at the entrance of the line, showed them the card and we were directed to either the FP line or if there was no fp then we went in via the exit. At TSMM, we went up a small ramp and waited for a cm to let us in and usually there were at least 5 or 6 other families in line.

So, this one time we were waiting and there were maybe 4 families in front of us and a couple more behind us when a large man tried to push past everyone, dragging 2 kids with him. I refused to let him go past and directed him back to the cm. He waved his hand in my face along with a GAC and insisted I let him pass. I told him that he had to go back and talk to the cm and then wait at the back of the line. He waved the card in my face again and shouted "You HAVE to let me pass, *I* have a special pass!" He actually tried to push past me but I would not let him.

I calmly pulled my son's GAC out of my backpack and said "everyone here has one of your 'special passes' so please get yourself back to the end of the line before I call over a CM."

DH told me afterwards that he was going to jump in but decided that letting me deal with it since I clearly had my back up was a wiser choice!

I hate rudeness and try to respond in a polite bit firm manner.

That is horrible. There always seem to be people that think they are more important than the rest of us for some reason. I think it happens because they get away with it most of the time. There are very few people who call them on it. I bite my tongue most of the time because it usually does not end well. If they are rude to begin with they are not going to quietly back down and apologize. Both my dad and my sister in law have gotten in some pretty serious arguments in DL and CA because of these kinds of situations. Hence my fear. Speaking our minds runs in the family.

 

[txsoccermom]

We will be at VGC Aug 16-20. So excited for our 1st trip to DL!!!!! However, so nervous because I usually have a spreadsheet filled out for our WDW trips by now and I am not doing too much pre-planning for this....yikes.

Hope weather is great, because we can't wait

 

[Aladora]

We will be at VGC Aug 16-20. So excited for our 1st trip to DL!!!!! However, so nervous because I usually have a spreadsheet filled out for our WDW trips by now and I am not doing too much pre-planning for this....yikes. Hope weather is great, because we can't wait

You are going to love the go with the flow California vibe at DL!

 

[zanzibar138]

Question Of The Week!



Tell us a story about something that you, your child, or someone you know has an odd fear of (or a legitimate fear of) from a Disney park

My biggest DLR fear is probably crowds and invasion of my personal space. I find it very uncomfortable and I'm a little nervous about being there on a holiday weekend It will be totally worth it though, and I plan to really take it easy that weekend and give myself time out if I need it.

 

[Ikeifer]

YES!!! Rain reduces lines and crowds. If you're hardy enough to go, you'll get lots done today, too!

We went....it was great! Got lots done before the rain stopped and the crowds started coming.

 

[wakica]

Hi all- I can't believe we are leaving in less than a week. DH, DD4 and I are going Aug 9-13, 2 nights @ HoJo (first time) , 2 nights @ GCH. We are so excited!


Has anyone done the Ariel's Grotto breakfast this month? (I know, we're only 3 days in...)- There was a rumor a few weeks back that Anna & Elsa may start there for breakfast this month so I have an ADR set up which I'm planning to cancel if I don't hear of any sightings. We did lunch there in 2013 so I don't want to go back until DD is older unless we have a shot at meeting A&E. I doubt we'll be braving the meet & greet line unless we have great luck getting through the turnstyles for rope drop and DD breathes Frozen.

I havn't heard about adding in Anna and Elsa (maybe someone else will know) but I think that would be a FANTASTIC idea!!!! It might aleviate some of the back up at the Ann and Elsa meet and greets!!!

We will be at VGC Aug 16-20. So excited for our 1st trip to DL!!!!! However, so nervous because I usually have a spreadsheet filled out for our WDW trips by now and I am not doing too much pre-planning for this....yikes.

Hope weather is great, because we can't wait

I know what you mean. I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that I DON'T need to have my day hper planned out in advance. LOL. I have to admit I am doing a little hyper planning anyway just because it puts my mind at rest.

We went....it was great! Got lots done before the rain stopped and the crowds started coming.

YAY!!!!! I have to say I'm happy they got the rain - I've heard it's VERY needed. Glad you enjoyed the smaller crowds because of it

 

[dsnyfamily4]

Very cool to wake up this morning and see my DL countdown timer on my phone down to just mins. Now its time to get up and surprise the kids with the good news. See everyone at the parks this week : )

 

[GaRain]

I know what you mean. I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that I DON'T need to have my day hper planned out in advance. LOL. I have to admit I am doing a little hyper planning anyway just because it puts my mind at rest.

I am along that same line...I still have my spreadsheet, but right now it just has the park hours....

 

[Aladora]

Very cool to wake up this morning and see my DL countdown timer on my phone down to just mins. Now its time to get up and surprise the kids with the good news. See everyone at the parks this week : )

Hooray for surprises! Let us know how the kids reacted!

I know what you mean. I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that I DON'T need to have my day hper planned out in advance. LOL. I have to admit I am doing a little hyper planning anyway just because it puts my mind at rest.

I am along that same line...I still have my spreadsheet, but right now it just has the park hours....

You guys are scaring me off of wanting to do WDW! I am so used to the way we tour DL/DCA, I don't know if I would enjoy WDW if it means having to plan every hour!

 

[wakica]

You guys are scaring me off of wanting to do WDW! I am so used to the way we tour DL/DCA, I don't know if I would enjoy WDW if it means having to plan every hour!

Actually you can get away with just the first 2 to 3 hours
that probably didn't help much hey??

 

[Aladora]

Actually you can get away with just the first 2 to 3 hours
that probably didn't help much hey??

Lol, not really!

 

[wakica]

I head off to California in 5 days and I still havn't started packing!!!! I don't know what's wrong with me. This is NOT what I'm usually like. I'm positive it has everything to do with the fact that we are going in the summer instead of the cold miserable winter.
Oh well, today i am FOR SURE going to start!

DD's suitcase is in the house because she just got home from camp and I'm going to drag mine in and start throwing clothes in to it. Our washer broke yesterday and i don't know when we'll get it fixed/replaced so I am being FORCED to set aside my trip clothes.

I also have to go back to school shopping with DD, meet with my boss about the new school year, get all our eye apts done, have all the parents over for supper, and clean the house spotless so DH's parents can move in to house/dog sit while we are gone so these 5 days are really going to be a gong show!!!

This all brings me to my next questions....

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO TAKE OVER POSTING QUESTION OF THE WEEK? AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THE NEW PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED? I know they won't get added to the list once I'm gone but at least they will be properly welcomed.
I will make time once more this week (probably in the next day or so) to add all the newcomers to the list but starting Sunday I will be unavailable except for the odd post when I get access to wifi. We leave bright an early Mon morning but are not in DL until DTD the eve of Sat Aug 23rd.

 

[wakica]

Lol, not really!

just email me when you get close to your WDW trip and I'll share some of the basic tips on how to do it

 

[tiffjoy]

You guys are scaring me off of wanting to do WDW! I am so used to the way we tour DL/DCA, I don't know if I would enjoy WDW if it means having to plan every hour!

We visit both, and I went to WDW several visits before ever going to DLR (used to live on East Coast). WDW requires a little more planning, mostly in terms of picking a park for each day (park hopping is sooo time consuming compared to DLR, so we tend to avoid it) and booking TS meals at 180+10 days out. I use the same tactic at WDW as I do at DLR- plan out first few morning hours, then have a list of favorites, special events, etc, to fit in the rest of the day. The major difference (Major Difference!! Any HIMYM fans reading???) is that we typically do just a few TS meals at DLR and we do one a day at WDW. That's primarily because I find the CS at WDW to be very lacking, especially for a family that doesn't enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken fingers. The exception to this is Epcot, but they have so many wonderful TS places that we always do one there anyway even though there are nice CS options.

We are going to WDW in January, and I already have our room reservation, TS for each day, and park selected for each day, and I'm working on my rough schedule. This was all really different than a DLR trip. I've been planning our WDW trip for as long as I have this August DLR trip, and the WDW is still 6 months out!

But I love WDW. I highly recommend visiting.

 

[Rubygoose]

I head off to California in 5 days and I still havn't started packing!!!! I don't know what's wrong with me. This is NOT what I'm usually like. I'm positive it has everything to do with the fact that we are going in the summer instead of the cold miserable winter.
Oh well, today i am FOR SURE going to start!

DD's suitcase is in the house because she just got home from camp and I'm going to drag mine in and start throwing clothes in to it. Our washer broke yesterday and i don't know when we'll get it fixed/replaced so I am being FORCED to set aside my trip clothes.

I also have to go back to school shopping with DD, meet with my boss about the new school year, get all our eye apts done, have all the parents over for supper, and clean the house spotless so DH's parents can move in to house/dog sit while we are gone so these 5 days are really going to be a gong show!!!

This all brings me to my next questions....

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO TAKE OVER POSTING QUESTION OF THE WEEK? AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THE NEW PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED? I know they won't get added to the list once I'm gone but at least they will be properly welcomed.
I will make time once more this week (probably in the next day or so) to add all the newcomers to the list but starting Sunday I will be unavailable except for the odd post when I get access to wifi. We leave bright an early Mon morning but are not in DL until DTD the eve of Sat Aug 23rd.

I can look after the thread until we leave on the 21st!

Our washing machine broke the day before we left on our DLR trip in 2012! Luckily my parents live just up the street from us, so I was able to drop off all of our dirty laundry with them when we got home. I think it took 3 weeks to fix our washer after we got back because we had to wait for a piece to come in, and then it turned out that the piece her ordered wasn't even the problem!

 

[Aladora]

We visit both, and I went to WDW several visits before ever going to DLR (used to live on East Coast). WDW requires a little more planning, mostly in terms of picking a park for each day (park hopping is sooo time consuming compared to DLR, so we tend to avoid it) and booking TS meals at 180+10 days out. I use the same tactic at WDW as I do at DLR- plan out first few morning hours, then have a list of favorites, special events, etc, to fit in the rest of the day. The major difference (Major Difference!! Any HIMYM fans reading???) is that we typically do just a few TS meals at DLR and we do one a day at WDW. That's primarily because I find the CS at WDW to be very lacking, especially for a family that doesn't enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken fingers. The exception to this is Epcot, but they have so many wonderful TS places that we always do one there anyway even though there are nice CS options.

We are going to WDW in January, and I already have our room reservation, TS for each day, and park selected for each day, and I'm working on my rough schedule. This was all really different than a DLR trip. I've been planning our WDW trip for as long as I have this August DLR trip, and the WDW is still 6 months out!

But I love WDW. I highly recommend visiting.

I LOVED HIMYM!

I think the things that I am concerned about are: having to pick where we are going to eat 6 months out, having to try and get FP+ 6 months out and also the difference between how you get the DAS returns times at WDW as compared to how it is done at DL.

Heck, 6 months from when we are looking at going is next month! We have not even decided IF we are going for sure, let alone where we want to eat!

But...first things first, August!

Question for everyone who has gone to DL before...

Other than Von's, is there any other grocery delivery that you have used? Von's has a $49 minimum order and all I really want is some bottled water and maybe a few other small things and no matter what I do, there is really no way that I can get to the $49 minimum without ordering a whole bunch of things that we don't need and probably won't use.