Pre-trip report-DS is going to camp and we are going to Disneyland!

[kandyk]

Since I am getting so giddy about our first adults only trip (since our honeymoon) I thought I would start writing a pre-trip report to focus my energy on instead of obsessing about planning. So here goes…

Cast of characters: It’s a short list, only me (kandyk) and DH. We are both in our 30’s and love Disneyland and anything Disney!

As I mentioned we haven’t been to Disneyland by ourselves since our honeymoon and it seemed like we were overdue for an adult’s only trip. We were there in January 09 with the family, DS12, MIL and FIL. We had a wonderful trip, although it rained A LOT, even by Washington standards.

While we were there in January we purchased an additional contract in DVC for The Grand California Villas. We were also given developer points to use, (I think they needed to be used before October). We both got AP’s in the hope that we would be able to swing another trip within the year. With our developer points and AP’s we just needed to check airfare and pick the dates. Our DS has Boy Scout camp from August 2-8. This seemed like an excellent time to go. He would be off having fun and so would we…but oh no, that is the week of DS’s 13 birthday! We had already paid for camp and there was really no other time to go that he wouldn’t be left behind so we booked it. I feel so guilty!!! We haven’t told him yet, I think he will be OK, he is getting older but he really does love Disneyland!

I would love some other opinions about what to do about this, do we tell him, do we not, do we tell him we are going somewhere else? Oh the guilt!

I try to put my guilt aside but I know the day is coming soon where we are going to have to confess to him what we are up to.

More to come...

 

[kandyk]

Moving past the guilt…for the moment. So we are booked at the GCH concierge from 08/02 ~ 08/07. (Using our developer points). Our flight leaves out of Seattle mid-afternoon and we get into LGB just before 6. We really like to fly into LGB; we always find the cheapest airfare there. It’s a rather old airport but it is very easy to get around. Baggage is right outside and taxis are just across the street and it’s only about a 20-minute ride to Disneyland!

We leave the afternoon after our DS leaves for camp and we are back the day before he comes back. We also have local emergency contacts just in case. We were also able to use some of our accumulated Alaska air miles to get half price tickets. This is turning into a very low cost trip. Woohoo!

We absolutely love GCH, the CM’s, the location and the décor. We can’t say enough good things about it. Our plan with having concierge is we will only be doing one meal a day out in the parks. They have a pretty decent breakfast and lots of snacks that fill you up quickly. So one meal a day should keep us content and of course the occasional churro, tigger tail and dole whip will also keep us happy!

I started to make PS’s. So far I have:

Monday-Blue Bayou. I called exactly 60 days out and requested the first lunch seating in hope of getting a waterside table. Now we just have to get there a little early to check in so we can ensure our table. We plan to get the Monte Cristo and just split it. I must also have the crème brule.

Wednesday- Steakhouse 55. This is DH’s favorite restaurant. I made PS’s for dinner. They were pretty wide open for times when I called. On the few occasions that we have gone the restaurant always seems to be pretty quiet.

Thursday-Carnation Café. I booked this for lunch. We have done breakfast here once before but I really want to try some of their famous baked potato soup!

Our other days I am trying to keep open but I have a list going in my head of some places that we need to try and make it to:

Hungry Bear restaurant- we have never eaten here and I’m not really sure why, maybe its just a little out of the way unless we are up in that area.

Taste Pilots Grill- Another one we seem to skip over as well. But I think those waffle fries are calling my name!

Cove Bar- I didn’t even know that this place existed until I read about it on here. I think some lobster nachos and a couple of drinks may be in order.

Uva Bar- I also want to try this place as well, maybe just for some appetizers and a drink.

My list keeps getting longer and longer. Why is it that vacations will sometimes revolve around the food? I really want to try to keep it to one meal a day, I’m just not sure if that is going to happen.

Some other things I would like to include are a corn dog and Bengal BBQ; maybe I can classify them as a snack!

Ok enough about food; I am making my self way too hungry. Next I am going to find myself going through the food thread, drooling at all the yummy pictures.

TTFN

 

[whimsy87]

Oh, I'm so jealous of all the amazing things you'll be doing! I only get to go to DL for two days and I'm a dirt poor college student so we won't be doing any Disney dining. So I will be living vicariously through you!

As for your son, I'm sure he'll find out sooner or later. And I'm sure he'll be fine with it. Maybe not right away, but he'll be distracted with his own trip. My parents went on vacations many times without us when we were younger (recently, they took two of my siblings to Hawaii and left the other two of us college kids behind. Thanks, guys.), and we pretended to be upset about it. We still bring it up if we want to make them feel bad, even though we weren't devastated. I think parents might be surprised at just how independent their kids really are. But this is coming from someone who is living on her own and buying her own groceries now.

I guess now, I just appreciate the times they did take us on vacation. I'm pretty blessed/spoiled all around.

I can't wait to hear more about your plans! There's nothing like planning a vacation.

 

[kandyk]

Thanks Whimsy87. I am sure he will understand. We just have to figure out when to tell him, I keep procrastinating on it. He usually does go with us on our vacations so him missing one should not be that bad. Hopefully he is getting the age where he should understand that mom and dad need some time for themselves too.

 

[kandyk]

So I have pondering a few things and would love to get others opinions on them.

First off I have been contemplating upgrading one of our DAP’s to a PAP. I am just not sure if we would be losing money or saving money. The additional cost is $120. However the discount on food goes from 10% to 15%. For merchandise there are no discounts with a DAP but with a PAP it would be 10%. I really wish the $120 would be prorated for the time left on the AP but I know that isn’t the case. I am thinking that $120 is lot to make up since the discounts only increase by 5-10%. Unless we make another trip this year. Hmmmm… Than we would be closer to saving money.

I am also considering doing the reserved seating for the Electrical Parade. This is my all time favorite parade and we haven’t been able to see it the last few times we have been since we normally go in the off season. It’s $59 per person. I am not overly excited about the goodie box since we have concierge, we can get plenty of snacks from there. However it would be really nice to have reserved seats and not have to stake out our spots an hour before it starts. Is it worth it? Or does anyone have a good recommendation of getting a good spot?

I was also looking into getting a rental car, but I just don’t think it’s worth the extra money. We never leave property and don’t plan too on this trip so we would really only use it to and from the airport. I would love to go to Hollywood and the El Capitan Theater but I don’t know if I want to give up a day in the parks. Maybe next time.

I also just purchased Ridemax. We normally go in the off season so I thought a little extra help planning our rides might come in handy. I have no intention of following it exactly but getting a general of idea to make the most of time may come in handy.

It is also driving me nuts that the Disneyland website still doesn’t have the daily schedule posted for when we will be there. I understand that they are only six weeks out and the times should be the same as other weeks but I just want to see it!

Well I think that is all for now. When I have some free time I will try to post some of our old Disney photos just for the fun of it, I know how you all love photos!

 

[kandyk]

Stay tuned, I am working on my next installment. I've got to get my days all planned out or at least an outline for the days. DH is over in MD right now at the Fire Academy so I am counting the days for when he gets back and until we leave. I can't believe we are under 4 weeks now...it's getting so close!!!

 

[kandyk]

This is my first picture that I have ever posted on here. This is DS in Dec 05'. He is A LOT taller now and has braces.

 

[kandyk]

Ok, getting this figured out. Here is a couple more of DS and DH. Also Dec 05'.