Official DL July 2015 thread

[PinkBudgie]

So has anyone watched the videos of the new stuff yet? I am debating if I want to be surprised in July... but I should be more real - I'm never going to be able to wait!!

No, I am not watching any videos. I want to be surprised. I have seen a few random pictures and some verbal descriptions but that's it. My co-worker went this weekend so I'm sure I'll hear all about it.

I'm a little worried about the all-night lineups. I'm soooo tempted to go sit in line overnight, but I think I may regret it in line LOL! I don't know if I have the stamina. Not sure if the giveaway/experience would be worth it. I mentioned it to my kids...my son said he can "stay up all night" and that he wanted to do it. I doubt I will allow it since he can "stay up all night", but will likely keel over afterwards. I reminded him that he's the one who made my DH take him back to the hotel room after Fantasmic ended at 10pm at WDW while the rest of us went on to MK until 1am close. Naturally, my DH thinks I'm nuts and said "no way".

What all night line ups? My co-worker lined up at 2:30am to get in for the 6am opening on the 22nd. Do you think people will line up all night to get in on July 17th? Did I miss something?? We arrive on the 18th and may or may not be able to go to the parks that day. It is a block out day for APs unless they let us in because it will be our activation day. I'm sure it will be crazy but I can't imagine it as busy as it was this weekend. I could be wrong though.

 

[Staceycs]

Hi Everyone, I've been lurking and thought I'd say hi.

We will be at the parks July 3rd until July 7th, staying at Tropicana. I really didn't want to book there (normally do Fairfield Inn or the Desert Inn and Suites), but the price was too good to pass up! As we've learnt, location is everything, so I'm sure things will be just fine .

I'm getting a little antsy about the lack of July 4th entertainment info. I've read that in past years, the 4th of July fireworks were on from the 1st to the 4th of July. Do you all think they'll do that again this year, considering the investment s made in the 60th anniversary celebrations? I think either way, whatever is on will be fabulous, but it would be good to know.

I've secured ADRs for the Plaza Inn Character breakfast on the 4th and the WOC dining package at Ariels on the 5th... Very excited!

 

[elaine amj]

Ppl started lining up about 6pm. (first person at 3:30pm). Very nuts.

I think for the 50th there were all night lineups too.

 

[Butterfly123]

Hi Everyone, I've been lurking and thought I'd say hi.

We will be at the parks July 3rd until July 7th, staying at Tropicana. I really didn't want to book there (normally do Fairfield Inn or the Desert Inn and Suites), but the price was too good to pass up! As we've learnt, location is everything, so I'm sure things will be just fine .

I'm getting a little antsy about the lack of July 4th entertainment info. I've read that in past years, the 4th of July fireworks were on from the 1st to the 4th of July. Do you all think they'll do that again this year, considering the investment s made in the 60th anniversary celebrations? I think either way, whatever is on will be fabulous, but it would be good to know.

I've secured ADRs for the Plaza Inn Character breakfast on the 4th and the WOC dining package at Ariels on the 5th... Very excited!

We will be in the parks until the 2nd, and I emailed this question to a Dis podcast. Their best guess is that they won't have many days of the 4th of July fireworks. I agree...I think Disney knows most people are coming to see all the new 60th stuff.

Glad you aren't lurking anymore!

 

[jkpmac]

First booked meal! Blue Bayou Fantasmic Package for July 23!

 

[can]

My 23 year old daughter and myself are planning a trip in July, from Jul 8 to Jul 14. I grew up on Disneyland as a child and really would like to be part of the 60th anniversary. While we have had many trips to WDW, I am overwhelmed with the choices of where to stay at DL. Because it is just the two of us "adults", we are okay not staying close to the parks. If we stay further away, are taxis available and is it easy to drive to the park? Also, does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay not around DL? I have always gotten good info using Dis Boards, am hoping to get lucky again. TIA for your help!

 

[Gisele]

Can..." does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay not around DL?"


How far out are you possibly planning? I wouldn't go too far out.

 

[elaine amj]

First booked meal! Blue Bayou Fantasmic Package for July 23!

Bet it feels good to get the reservations made!

After reading the reports from the 24 hr party, I'm even more excited than ever. Yesterday, I took a minute to price out upgrading to a Deluxe AP (its about double our 5 day hoppers). I was planning WDW next summer but now thinking maybe we will return to DLR instead since I bet we will love it. If I do that, we can hit the parks for a half day on our rest day (which we prefer doing). And maybe, I'll trim our time before the parks...if I cut out our day in Monterey, I can adjust our schedule so we get to DLR by lunchtime on our arrival day instead of bedtime. That will give us 7 days in the parks!

Hmmmm....

 

[can]

Can..." does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay not around DL?"


How far out are you possibly planning? I wouldn't go too far out.

I guess we don't need to stay directly around the park. Suggestions on how far or not how far to go are welcome. Is transportation from something further a problem?

 

[Gisele]

I guess we don't need to stay directly around the park. Suggestions on how far or not how far to go are welcome. Is transportation from something further a problem?

Well it all depends upon your transportation. For example if staying in Buena Park or Fullerton, in my opinion I only might do so if I had my car or a rental. But even then it will cost you more time. Will have to get up earlier to arrive at one of the Disney parking lots. Then go from there. You could take taxi from those locations, but I don't recommend doing that for pretty much the same reasons. Plus cab cost.
Don't even think about OCTA (Bus) from those areas. If you miss last bus then will have to take cab or have a very long walk.
Of the two places Buena Park is much better. But again with car.

 

[Gisele]

[STE="elaine amj, post: 53719643, member: 414798"]Bet it feels good to get the reservations made

After reading the reports from the 24 hr party, I'm even more excited than ever. Yesterday, I took a minute to price out upgrading to a Deluxe AP (its about double our 5 day hoppers). I was planning WDW next summer but now thinking maybe we will return to DLR instead since I bet we will love it. If I do that, we can hit the parks for a half day on our rest day (which we prefer doing). And maybe, I'll trim our time before the parks...if I cut out our day in Monterey, I can adjust our schedule so we get to DLR by lunchtime on our arrival day instead of bedtime. That will give us 7 days in the parks!

Hmmmm....

I wouldn't cut Monterey out. Especially if you have never been. It is such a beautiful county. I love going there, especially to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
It is awesome there. And there are touch pools where you may hold and or pet cool sea creatures.


http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
Monterey Bay Aquarium (6/2013):

 

[PinkBudgie]

My 23 year old daughter and myself are planning a trip in July, from Jul 8 to Jul 14. I grew up on Disneyland as a child and really would like to be part of the 60th anniversary. While we have had many trips to WDW, I am overwhelmed with the choices of where to stay at DL. Because it is just the two of us "adults", we are okay not staying close to the parks. If we stay further away, are taxis available and is it easy to drive to the park? Also, does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay not around DL? I have always gotten good info using Dis Boards, am hoping to get lucky again. TIA for your help!

ART is the transportation bus system around the Anaheim resort area. You could use that. Personally, I'd rather drive and park if I was staying further than walking distance. I just don't care for buses and would rather be on my own time. Garden Grove area would still be close enough for ART. You may have some trouble finding a room at this late date because of the 60th. We always stay at the Candy Cane Inn because you can walk to DLR easily. One year we stayed at Embassy Suites South and drove to the parks. The WDW podcast just did a 7 in 7 set of segments about some of the hotels in the DLR area so you might want to check those out. And the Disneyland podcast has been doing hotel reviews every so often so you might also want to go back and listen to some of those.

 

[Ydnameht]

I'm going for 3 days (July 4-6) with 3 friends.
We're staying at Paradise Pier, Club Level.

I was outvoted when I suggested driving up from San Diego (where 2 of the friends live, I live in NY) on the 3rd so we could utilize our early admission privileges right away since I expect the 4th to be really crowded. Oh well. When I wake everyone up at 4:30 to get on the road maybe they'll see the error of their ways!

I've been on the Monday or Tuesday after July 4th before but never on the day itself. It should still be fun, right, not unbearably crowded?

 

[PinkBudgie]

I've never been on the 4th but have seen reports of the park being extremely crowded. Maybe everyone will be wanting the 60th fireworks and won't go on the 4th thinking it will be crowded. I would have voted for arriving a day early too.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Joining the July fun. We'll be at DL 07/16-07/22 though we won't go into the parks until 07/17. When I booked eons ago I hadn't even noticed the anniversary date.

Will people really be lining up overnight to get in the parks on the 17th?

 

[elaine amj]

Joining the July fun. We'll be at DL 07/16-07/22 though we won't go into the parks until 07/17. When I booked eons ago I hadn't even noticed the anniversary date.

Will people really be lining up overnight to get in the parks on the 17th?

I'm sure you will be joined by lots of other surprised guests.

I read reports from the 50th and 10 years ago ppl were lining up overnight. Judging from the mayhem of the 24hr party, I would suspect the 17th is going to be a little nuts. That said, I doubt there's any issues with waltzing in at park opening as usual. Sounds like a lot of people will be standing in merchandise lines, etc. the early lineup thing sounds like it's primarily to get the giveaway (usually an ear hat).

My friends are trying their best to remind me that it is nuts to wait in line all night long just to get a free ear hat. I'm still tempted, but common sense is returning slowly....

 

[clanmcculloch]

Let's see........ sleep vs ear hat........ don't even have to think about it. Sleep for sure.

Does anybody know if there's actually anything special planned for that day other than maybe a small give-away like ear hats? I was thinking of hitting DCA to avoid the crowds.

 

[elaine amj]

not a thing reported yet as far as I know. Focus has been on the 24 hr party. Now that it is done, hopefully we'll hear some news about July 17!

 

[Gisele]

I'm sure you will be joined by lots of other surprised guests.

I read reports from the 50th and 10 years ago ppl were lining up overnight. Judging from the mayhem of the 24hr party, I would suspect the 17th is going to be a little nuts. That said, I doubt there's any issues with waltzing in at park opening as usual. Sounds like a lot of people will be standing in merchandise lines, etc. the early lineup thing sounds like it's primarily to get the giveaway (usually an ear hat).

My friends are trying their best to remind me that it is nuts to wait in line all night long just to get a free ear hat. I'm still tempted, but common sense is returning slowly....

Well.....not that I have personally done this but....if you really want that hat just grab it off some unsuspecting anklebiters head. They won't know what hit em. Lmao!

 

[gmi3804]

The EMH park for resort guests on 7/17 is DCA. Any predictions about how crowded this park will be that day? At least during the first hour? Should be normal crowds, as only resort guests are admitted, no? We'll be down from 7/15-7/19, and are thinking of avoiding DLP altogether on 7/17.