Questions about February Trip

[Duchie]

I can't believe our February trip is already so close! Feels like it has creeped up on me even though we've been planning it for over a year now. Anyway now that it's here I'm doing some high-level planning and have some questions. We'll be there Feb. 4-9 and are staying at the GCV.

1) How late do the monorails run from DL to DTD? We're trying to decide if we want to do the early or the late showing of Fantasmic! that night. If we did the late showing, could we take the monorail to DTD for a shorter walk to the GCV?

2) How early do you have to get there for the early Fantasmic! show? And where are the best viewing spots?

3) Is the Food4Less the closest grocery store? Or is there a better option? Do they sell beer and wine in grocery stores in California?

4) I thought I remembered reading somewhere that Disney Visa members got a perk of a free pin on the first Sunday of the month somewhere. Or maybe it was DVC members? But of course now I can't find where I read that anywhere at all. Anyone here know anything about this?

 

[boiseflyfisher]

We will be overlapping you on our Feb. stay. I can't answer all of your questions, but here are my opinions.

For question 3, we have our food delivered from Vons. You can do an online order. If you order alcohol, you will have to be present for delivery. We normally hang out at the pool during our delivery window so that we are close to the lobby when the delivery arrives.

For question 1, it would probably be just as quick to walk back to GCV. To get to the monorail, you will have to cross the park, then when you get off in DTD, you will have to walk back toward DL to enter the Grand. When staying at GCV, we never take the monorail unless we just want to ride it for the fun of it.

 

[Duchie]

For question 3, we have our food delivered from Vons. You can do an online order. If you order alcohol, you will have to be present for delivery. We normally hang out at the pool during our delivery window so that we are close to the lobby when the delivery arrives.

I thought about this, but we're arriving kind of late and don't want to have to hang around the resort if we don't have to. We're flying into LGB and renting a car, and I think driving straight down Ball to get to the resort. If we jig south to Katella we can go right by Food4Less, so it's pretty convenient. But Vons is still an option.

For question 1, it would probably be just as quick to walk back to GCV. To get to the monorail, you will have to cross the park, then when you get off in DTD, you will have to walk back toward DL to enter the Grand. When staying at GCV, we never take the monorail unless we just want to ride it for the fun of it.

This makes a lot of sense. Now that I look at the maps a little closer things aren't where I thought they were. And the walk doesn't look that bad at all, so we'll probably save the monorail for another time.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

Ah, you have a car! I'd probably just run out and pick up groceries, too. That way you can get exactly what you want. You will love the villas!

We normally do the dessert package for Fantasmic!, so I'm not much help in that department. Sorry.

 

[Duchie]

Ah, you have a car! I'd probably just run out and pick up groceries, too. That way you can get exactly what you want. You will love the villas!

We normally do the dessert package for Fantasmic!, so I'm not much help in that department. Sorry.

I'd love to do the dessert package, but with 5 of us that could get a little pricey. But maybe DH will go for it if I explain the no-waiting thing... I don't suppose it's cheaper for children is it? Doubt that it will matter because our youngest is now 10 and an adult in Disney's eyes.

 

[DLR29]

Honestly, I have never considered the Fantasmic dining package because I can't justify that amount of money for a small box of desserts and a seat at a 20 min. show. For 5 bucks instead, I can show up an hour-90 min. early and enjoy a nice Dole whip while waiting for the show.

Also, just in my experience, Friday Fantasmics are more crowded than Saturday nights because you have the So. Cal AP holders who are not blocked out on Fridays who will come for just the evening. Even still, on Sat. night, for the first show, I'd show up at least an hour before. The best seats are right on the waterfront.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

I'd love to do the dessert package, but with 5 of us that could get a little pricey. But maybe DH will go for it if I explain the no-waiting thing... I don't suppose it's cheaper for children is it? Doubt that it will matter because our youngest is now 10 and an adult in Disney's eyes.

The dessert package is a nice treat when you are there at a more crowded time, but you should be fine in Feb. We'll probably skip it as we have BTDT in December. I feel your pain on the 10yo thing. DS turned 10 last April and it was painful to have to pay adult prices for him. DD will be turning 9 this year, so we still have one more year of child prices.

 

[pinktink83]

If you've got the time to sit for an hour and half doing nothing before the show starts, then of course save yourself some dough. But most people who are traveling to DL for a once-every-so-often-trip don't have the luxury of missing a lot of rides to get great seats for the shows. Thats what makes the reserved seating plans so nice for the "tourists".

One good tip, if you can pull it off, plan your dinner at the River Belle Terrace about an hour before the show starts, and get a table on the outdoor patio. Order dessert and stay put for the show! Its the best!!! You're higher up than the crowds below and you have a chair to sit in. If you were planning on sitting down for a dinner anyway, its two birds with one stone!

 

[mydisneyobsession]

If you've got the time to sit for an hour and half doing nothing before the show starts, then of course save yourself some dough. But most people who are traveling to DL for a once-every-so-often-trip don't have the luxury of missing a lot of rides to get great seats for the shows. Thats what makes the reserved seating plans so nice for the "tourists".

One good tip, if you can pull it off, plan your dinner at the River Belle Terrace about an hour before the show starts, and get a table on the outdoor patio. Order dessert and stay put for the show! Its the best!!! You're higher up than the crowds below and you have a chair to sit in. If you were planning on sitting down for a dinner anyway, its two birds with one stone!

Great tip, pinktink - Thanks for sharing it! How's the view of the fireworks from the patio at River Belle Terrace?