*****Official February 2015 Thread! Come check in and chat!*****

[AZMermaid]

That's a great idea about the gift cards. We love Tortilla Jos! I am only making a ressie for Storyteller's for our last morning. We are going back and forth on making a reservation for Carnation Cafe for lunch on Sunday- our long day. The cancellation policy is making it a tough choice, but I guess that's the point of it!

 

[starjazz]

Geez - I tried booking a Fantasmic package for our trip at 60 days out, and they are booked! I called at 7:30 am Pacific time. Bummer.

 

[smithfamilyof7]

A while back I read that if you sign up for the Patina group newsletter, they will send you a $30 gift certificate for your birthday. Has anyone here done this and received the credit?

My birthday is 1/29 and my husband's is 2/1. I signed us both up for the newsletter (using both of our email addresses), so I'm hoping that we'll get them before our trip down on 1/31. I thought I read somewhere that you should get them at the end of the month before your birthday, so I should get mine in the next couple days. I made reservations for the two of us on Saturday night, 1/31, at Tortilla Jo's (part of the Patina group) in hopes that we will have the certificates. I guess if we don't, we'll just pay out of pocket but I probably would choose somewhere else if we didn't potentially have $60 in credit coming.

 

[anniebean]

I got all of our reservations we were wanting. Got Blue Bayou, Cafe Orleans, Plaza Inn (breakfast), Napa Rose, and Storytellers for breakfast. I'm hoping these have decent vegetarian options.

 

[AZMermaid]

I got all of our reservations we were wanting. Got Blue Bayou, Cafe Orleans, Plaza Inn (breakfast), Napa Rose, and Storytellers for breakfast. I'm hoping these have decent vegetarian options.

I see our dates overlap! What day are you doing Storytellers? We are doing it 2/10 at 7:15!

 

[anniebean]

I see our dates overlap! What day are you doing Storytellers? We are doing it 2/10 at 7:15!

We are doing it 2/14 before we head to Six Flags Magic Mountain. I think ours is a little later in morning so we can sleep in....I hope so anyways!!

 

[cathykonski]

Hi everyone, now that Xmas is over I'm planning!

We will be doing DL February 2015. I have hotel reservations at both the Hampton Inn and the Marriot Residence Inn. I'm not sure which one to keep? They are virtually the same price.

The only reason I was looking for a different hotel in the first place is I noticed that the DLRE doesn't go direct to the Hampton Inn anymore, it now stops at the Hyatt Regency. I'm thinking that the walk over to the Residence Inn is closer from the Hyatt. Am I right? Is there any difference in these hotel? Ie. is one better than the other.

Thanks!

 

[TinkerJR]

Christmas is over and it is time to start planing our trip! We will be in the park February 13th through the 15th. We are in NorCal so we will drive down on the 12th and drive back-up on the 16th. Hoping to avoid some of the crowds by making Presidents Day a travel day.

I will be traveling with DH, DS (11), DD (5), and our long time friends and their DS (21) and DD (16). We are all Disney semi-regulars, so we are going to have a low stress (hopefully) trip enjoying the park and the SoCal weather.

We have stayed near to the park (Desert Inn & Suites) and far (Best Western Meridian Suites). Havent decided on a hotel yet , but actively looking.

 

[Aladora]

Hi everyone, now that Xmas is over I'm planning!

We will be doing DL February 4th-8th, 2015. I have hotel reservations at both the Hampton Inn and the Marriot Residence Inn. I'm not sure which one to keep? They are virtually the same price.

I have stayed at the Hampton Inn before and these are the things I loved:
- Having a 1 bedroom suite to put the baby to bed and be able to stay up and watch tv without interfering with the kids sleep.
- Having a kitchen to keep milk and other necessities for the kids.
- Using the Disneyland Resort Express to get there from the airport and hotel shuttles for getting to and from the park. This alleviates bringing carseats.
- Close proximity to walk over to Target.

The only reason I was looking for a different hotel in the first place is I noticed that the DLRE doesn't go direct to the Hampton Inn anymore, it now stops at the Hyatt Regency. I'm thinking that the walk over to the Residence Inn is closer from the Hyatt. Am I right? Is there any difference in these hotel? Ie. is one better than the other.

Thanks!

Christmas is over and it is time to start planing our trip! We will be in the park February 13th through the 15th. We are in NorCal so we will drive down on the 12th and drive back-up on the 16th. Hoping to avoid some of the crowds by making Presidents Day a travel day.

I will be traveling with DH, DS (11), DD (5), and our long time friends and their DS (21) and DD (16). We are all Disney semi-regulars, so we are going to have a low stress (hopefully) trip enjoying the park and the SoCal weather.

We have stayed near to the park (Desert Inn & Suites) and far (Best Western Meridian Suites). Havent decided on a hotel yet , but actively looking.

Welcome to both of you, I have added your names and dates to the first post but not your hotels since you have not decided yet.

Cathy, I am not sure where either of those hotels are so I can't give you any info on distance, sorry!

TinkerJR, I much prefer a hotel that is close to the park entrance so that is usually what drives my choices!

Made 1st Dining reservation! Goofy's Kitchen here we come! DD's are going to be so excited. We've done Ariel's Grotto in past (loved) but never Goofy's. We will dine at Goofy's the evening after arriving around 2:00 pm....made our reservation for 5:15 pm.

Plan to make a few more reservations as days open...Blue Bayou/Fantasmic, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, Big Thunder Ranch BBQ, and Tortilla Joes. Love to take a little break from hussle and bussel for family diner.

I don't know how some are doing it?..but this year I'm purchasing gift cards (ahead of time) for our diner dinning places so we will have a big chunk of food budget pre-paid for.

I wish I could pre-purchase Disney gift cards but since I am in Canada, there is really no easy way to do it.

 

[lalasmama]

Christmas is over and it is time to start planing our trip!

This made me laugh a little bit! I've been planning for months now, which doesn't really mean much, other than airline tickets bought, and room reserved, since I'm going on a solo trip and I don't usually make any dining reservations or tours or such. So, basically, I've been thinking, "I want to eat here and here and here, and I'll make sure to be by the Dole Whips at snack time," etc. 13824 things to help me gain a few pounds ... And that I would plan any specific meals when Christmas was over.

And then on Christmas morning, hubby gave me gift cards, and had made ressies for me at Blue Bayou (so far my favorite restaurant in DL). So, now my "planning" is done!

Going to buy a few more gift cards for my other meals, and I'll be all ready to go. I may be half packed already....

36 days, 20 hours, 55 minutes until I'm on a plane!

 

[Chelsea524]

We are now 50 days away! We've had this trip booked since late spring, but like others have said, Christmas is over, let the planning begin!

We need to book our res for BB. Still trying to decide to fly or drive, but with as much as gas prices have dropped I'm afraid we will be driving, I can't use the excuse that it's about the same price to fly. I haven't looked yet at what is going to be closed, but I'm not too worried. This is our 3rd trip on our APs and it was more just thrown on to our cruise to make DH more excited(he doesn't care for cruises).

 

[lalasmama]

I don't know how some are doing it?..but this year I'm purchasing gift cards (ahead of time) for our diner dinning places so we will have a big chunk of food budget pre-paid for.

We're doing this now on for dining as well! Usually we just "put the money aside" which typically means we really don't end up saving for it at all But this time, DH has started buying me gift cards for my dining, and we're about $25 away from our normally budgeted amount. So much nicer knowing that the money is there, already set away!

Geez - I tried booking a Fantasmic package for our trip at 60 days out, and they are booked! I called at 7:30 am Pacific time. Bummer.

Wow, I'm shocked to hear that it went that fast! I'd try calling back 1-2 more times, and seeing if you get the same answer. Wondering if someone misunderstood (shocking idea, I know ) and didn't see any reservation times because they put in the old F! dessert package instead of the new one? Honestly, I've never had any issue getting a reservation at DLR, usually just days in advance!

Now, I'm off to look at hours for my dates, and menus. I haven't been to Blue Bayou in a year, and hubby made ressies for me to go (all by myself, which I would normally never do)!

 

[junebug18]

Hi all! We will be going for the very first time Jan 30-Feb 7. So very excited we will be at the Desert Palms hotel & suites! Thus the first time my family will be in California. I was there back in June but I was on the tv show The Biggest Loser and well didn't see much but will be back for finale in Jan! Any must do's or tips

 

[AZMermaid]

June bug how exciting! In reading this waiting for my weight watchers meeting to start. First one back.... My sister has a loose acquaintance who won uh... Maybe 5 years ago!

I just debated the pros and cons of eating at big thunder one day with DH. Way too much thought went into deciding to skip it!

I have not stayed at any of those hotels. We love the Homewood by the Target. We also like to have the two rooms. That's the main reason we bought DVC. They showed us those 1 bedroom villas and we were hooked!

 

[Satye1]

A while back I read that if you sign up for the Patina group newsletter, they will send you a $30 gift certificate for your birthday. Has anyone here done this and received the credit?

My birthday is 1/29 and my husband's is 2/1. I signed us both up for the newsletter (using both of our email addresses), so I'm hoping that we'll get them before our trip down on 1/31. I thought I read somewhere that you should get them at the end of the month before your birthday, so I should get mine in the next couple days. I made reservations for the two of us on Saturday night, 1/31, at Tortilla Jo's (part of the Patina group) in hopes that we will have the certificates. I guess if we don't, we'll just pay out of pocket but I probably would choose somewhere else if we didn't potentially have $60 in credit coming.

Yes we have used the Simply Patina birthday certificate twice on previous trips! Its awesome!!!! Just make sure to mention it when making reservations & when your seated. Make reservation for 5:00 or later. They will ask to see your I.D to prove birthday, but it is a great deal! Heres the verbage from Mouse Savers on it...

Use at: Catal, Naples and Tortilla Jo’s. Join its Simply Patina email program and receive a $30 coupon that can be used for your birthday celebration at one of the restaurants. (Coupon is sent about a week prior to birthday and is good for 60 days. You must make a reservation for a meal after 5:00 pm and mention the coupon. ID proving birthday and showing that you are 21 or over must be shown at time of meal.)

http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyla...isneyland-meal-snack-drink-discounts-coupons/

 

[Satye1]

I wish I could pre-purchase Disney gift cards but since I am in Canada, there is really no easy way to do it. [/QUOTE



Aladora,
I'm not sure if this is an option for you in Canada?...but several of the gift cards I puchased for Downtown Disney Restaurants (Like Ralph Bennans Jazz Kitchen etc) gave options to have gift certificates emailed to you instead of being mailed. Maybe this could work for you too

This is a great time to do so, because many restaraunts are offering bonus gift cards for certain $ amount purchased prior to Dec 31st...due to Holidays & most require bonus gift cards be used by end of Feb or end of March--which works perfect for our Feb trips.

Obviously no bonus ones for Disney gift cards...but still prepurchasing these for restaurants that don't offer their own gift cards...like Blue Bayou etc.

 

[junebug18]

June bug how exciting! In reading this waiting for my weight watchers meeting to start. First one back.... My sister has a loose acquaintance who won uh... Maybe 5 years ago!

I just debated the pros and cons of eating at big thunder one day with DH. Way too much thought went into deciding to skip it!

I have not stayed at any of those hotels. We love the Homewood by the Target. We also like to have the two rooms. That's the main reason we bought DVC. They showed us those 1 bedroom villas and we were hooked!

Oh really who was it? I love weight watchers. I actually lost 50 on my own before making the show and ww is what I did

 

[ClaraOswald]

Hi all! We will be going for the very first time Jan 30-Feb 7. So very excited we will be at the Desert Palms hotel & suites! Thus the first time my family will be in California. I was there back in June but I was on the tv show The Biggest Loser and well didn't see much but will be back for finale in Jan! Any must do's or tips

I used to watch The Biggest Loser! I haven't in a few years though. How fun that you were on the show!

 

[StyledSugar]

I don't know how some are doing it?..but this year I'm purchasing gift cards (ahead of time) for our diner dinning places so we will have a big chunk of food budget pre-paid for.

We purchased $400 in Disney gift cards when we were in the States back in August. We then put them in gift bags and gave each of us $100 (the kids didn't know we had them ahead of time though). That will take care of some of our spending money in the park!

 

[StyledSugar]

Hi all! We will be going for the very first time Jan 30-Feb 7. So very excited we will be at the Desert Palms hotel & suites! Thus the first time my family will be in California. I was there back in June but I was on the tv show The Biggest Loser and well didn't see much but will be back for finale in Jan! Any must do's or tips

Love that show! Judging by your location and the ages of your children, I take it you're Emmy Lou (looked on TBL website lol)?

As for must dos, I'd say definitely try to watch Fantasmic, take in a character breakfast (I am assuming it's after the finale that you are going lol) and most importantly, just take it all in and enjoy the park. My kids love pin trading, so that's something to consider. Oh who am I kidding, DH and I love it too lol It gives you something else to do in the park and we have so much fun doing it!