September/October 2013 check in

[aussie shaz]

Hi Leanne,
Congrats on your upcoming trip. Sounds great.

Re Disneyland accommodation. We went in 2011 and stayed at the Park Vue. It was a great little motel and sooooo close to the entry to Disneyland. This time , in 15 days, we are staying at the Hojo. We picked this for a few reasons. The main one, which wouldn't affect you, was that they have a family suite (so we all get beds). The second being the nice resort style pool and kids water play area, and the third all the good reports it gets. It is further away though, and I hope we don't regret it when we walk past all of the closer motels.

In your case, with only the 2 of you, and your daughter being older, you have so many more choices.

I would go to Tripadvisor and look at the reviews, then maybe go to Disboards and check what people are saying there too. There is also a good thread on the Disboards Disneyland forum covering all of the walking distance motels, their pros and cons.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hi there,

Newbie Disney Fan here. DD (16) and I will be heading off on our trip to NYC and LA on September 18!
Just came across this forum yesterday and my mind is blown!!
There is SO MUCH INFORMATION here, I don't know where to start.

Anyway our trip leaves Sydney on September 18 and we stay in NYC until the 30th when we leave and head over to LA until the 9th. Plan is to have 4 days in DL, 1 in Universal and the rest touring around the LA area.

Can someone please direct me to a good thread to look at Hotels in the DL area.

Thanks!
Looking forward to reading about every ones trips

Welcome to the Dis.

Where to stay in Anaheim will depend on what you want and your budget. Most of the popular ones will be advocated by one person or another. So pick one that appeals to you.

Happy planning.

 

[LeanneDownUnder]

Thanks for the welcome and the links!
Time to start my Disney planning this weekend

 

[Michaella]

Hi Michaella,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think your confusion is over Karen's use of the word 'reservation'. Karen has 3 hotel reservations (each including the dining plan) hence the reason she is getting 3 mugs per person. The amount of mugs you get does not relate to the number of restaurant reservations you make.

If your AoA stay is booked under one reservation number (i.e. you're not staying in more than one WDW resort or you didn't book parts of your accommodation seperately) then you will get one mug per person.

Ahhh OK thanks.. sorry I did not realise three separate resorts... we are staying in Aoa for the entire ten nights. ... Thanks

 

[teddykins]

These guys are great Disney helpers Leanne, very insightful people

I booked my first Disney ADR just before..what a nightmare it is on the iPad ended up getting frustrated and borrowed my dads PC. Booked Le Cellier for dinner on nov 2nd - have given up the idea of going to Epcot on the Friday then doing MNSSHP that night because my travel partner wants to sleep in a bit (she works 5am - 4pm 5 days a week) so we wouldnt get to epcot until around 10/11 then itll be time to leave so this way will allow us to visit AK or HS on the 1st do MNSSHP and then sleep in on the second and take our time getting to Epcot. I know it'll be busy due to F&W but there's not much we want to see there and at least this allows us more time to look around plus I'd rather have a relaxed travel partner than a grumpy one!

Can't believe its 180 days until we check into AOA and 171 until we leave Australia, Disney dream is so close I can taste it! Thanks for all the help and answering all my questions everyone, you guys are awesome

 

[PrincessInOz]

So.....I have two ESTAs to renew and I'm sitting here trying my hardest not to get them too early. I was thinking of waiting to August; but it just seems such a long time away right now.

Is it July yet?

 

[Jade+3]

So.....I have two ESTAs to renew and I'm sitting here trying my hardest not to get them too early. I was thinking of waiting to August; but it just seems such a long time away right now.

Is it July yet?

I have to do all ours. Last time everyone elses got approved straight away. Mine was pending for 2 days. Hoping it goes better this time. Have to renew the kids passports too.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I have to do all ours. Last time everyone elses got approved straight away. Mine was pending for 2 days. Hoping it goes better this time. Have to renew the kids passports too.

Are you going to wait to August for the ESTA? Weird that yours was pending for 2 days. Are you on some persona non grata list????


Our passports are okay.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

These guys are great Disney helpers Leanne, very insightful people

I booked my first Disney ADR just before..what a nightmare it is on the iPad ended up getting frustrated and borrowed my dads PC. Booked Le Cellier for dinner on nov 2nd - have given up the idea of going to Epcot on the Friday then doing MNSSHP that night because my travel partner wants to sleep in a bit (she works 5am - 4pm 5 days a week) so we wouldnt get to epcot until around 10/11 then itll be time to leave so this way will allow us to visit AK or HS on the 1st do MNSSHP and then sleep in on the second and take our time getting to Epcot. I know it'll be busy due to F&W but there's not much we want to see there and at least this allows us more time to look around plus I'd rather have a relaxed travel partner than a grumpy one!

Can't believe its 180 days until we check into AOA and 171 until we leave Australia, Disney dream is so close I can taste it! Thanks for all the help and answering all my questions everyone, you guys are awesome

Yay, congrats on making your first ADR. My iPad doesn't really like the Disney website either, so I did all my ADRs on the PC.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Thanks for the welcome and the links!
Time to start my Disney planning this weekend

Welcome Leanne. I can't really give any Anaheim advice (I've only stayed at Santa Monica). But I wanted to stay hi and happy planning.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

So.....I have two ESTAs to renew and I'm sitting here trying my hardest not to get them too early. I was thinking of waiting to August; but it just seems such a long time away right now.

Is it July yet?

As impatient as I am, I have mine already. I was just paranoid about applying for them late and then encountering issues (not that I have anything circumstances that should cause an issue). I doubt I'll be back to the US within 2 years to need them again, but if that changes, the good thing about ESTAs is that they're not that expensive.

 

[Minniemum]

Thanks for the welcome and the links!
Time to start my Disney planning this weekend

Welcome LeanneDown Under. Congrats on booking your trip.

These guys are great Disney helpers Leanne, very insightful people

I booked my first Disney ADR just before..what a nightmare it is on the iPad ended up getting frustrated and borrowed my dads PC. Booked Le Cellier for dinner on nov 2nd - have given up the idea of going to Epcot on the Friday then doing MNSSHP that night because my travel partner wants to sleep in a bit (she works 5am - 4pm 5 days a week) so we wouldnt get to epcot until around 10/11 then itll be time to leave so this way will allow us to visit AK or HS on the 1st do MNSSHP and then sleep in on the second and take our time getting to Epcot. I know it'll be busy due to F&W but there's not much we want to see there and at least this allows us more time to look around plus I'd rather have a relaxed travel partner than a grumpy one!

Can't believe its 180 days until we check into AOA and 171 until we leave Australia, Disney dream is so close I can taste it! Thanks for all the help and answering all my questions everyone, you guys are awesome

Teddykins, that's a great way to start your ADR bookings - Le Cellier. Did you only book the one ADR? We always take advantage of being able to book our first 10 days of ADR's at the 180 day mark. It's a great little perk.

So.....I have two ESTAs to renew and I'm sitting here trying my hardest not to get them too early. I was thinking of waiting to August; but it just seems such a long time away right now.
Is it July yet?

I'll be hanging out until August.

 

[teddykins]

Yay, congrats on making your first ADR. My iPad doesn't really like the Disney website either, so I did all my ADRs on the PC.

Thanks! It was very painful one minute it would let me look than another it said I had to be a resort guest and it couldn't find my resort booking. When I thought I finally got it done it reset and didn't book it even though I went through the name, address, phone number and cc number so gave up and used my dads PC - I had to also go through the old site because the new one still refuses to link the reservation to my account lol.

Teddykins, that's a great way to start your ADR bookings - Le Cellier. Did you only book the one ADR? We always take advantage of being able to book our first 10 days of ADR's at the 180 day mark. It's a great little perk.

I hope so, mixed reviews but my friend only had a steak requirement for the restaurant and its in her favourite country so hopefully we both love it. Have only booked the one, we seem to be wanting different touring styles (she wants to sleep while I want to go go see as much as I can) and she accused me of doing all the planning today without consulting her which just isn't true, I've always asked her opinion on which days she wants to go where and which restaurant takes her fancy etc, I'm totally gutted she would think such a thing I booked Le Cellier without her 'knowing' (she didn't respond to my messages) but I booked it because I didn't know if 6.15 would still be there today and also because it says you can cancel any time up to the day before so IF she didn't want to go then no biggie; we could cancel it.

Now I am hesitant to book anything else or even try to plan which parks we'll be at with her..she wants to wing it but I don't believe after everything I've read the last few months that first timers should wing it but guess we'll see how that unfolds over the next few months. I honestly feel lost now, like we're going in blind but feel like nothing I say will change her mind. I hate going in blind

 

[Minniemum]

I booked Le Cellier without her 'knowing' (she didn't respond to my messages) but I booked it because I didn't know if 6.15 would still be there today and also because it says you can cancel any time up to the day before so IF she didn't want to go then no biggie; we could cancel it.

Now I am hesitant to book anything else or even try to plan which parks we'll be at with her..she wants to wing it but I don't believe after everything I've read the last few months that first timers should wing it but guess we'll see how that unfolds over the next few months. I honestly feel lost now, like we're going in blind but feel like nothing I say will change her mind. I hate going in blind

I think you already have the answer to your dilemma. I would book and cancel the day before if need be. It's easy to cancel. It's near impossible without a sprinkle of pixie dust to get a last minute reservation at most of the popular restaurants. Which one's were you considering?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I hope so, mixed reviews but my friend only had a steak requirement for the restaurant and its in her favourite country so hopefully we both love it. Have only booked the one, we seem to be wanting different touring styles (she wants to sleep while I want to go go see as much as I can) and she accused me of doing all the planning today without consulting her which just isn't true, I've always asked her opinion on which days she wants to go where and which restaurant takes her fancy etc, I'm totally gutted she would think such a thing I booked Le Cellier without her 'knowing' (she didn't respond to my messages) but I booked it because I didn't know if 6.15 would still be there today and also because it says you can cancel any time up to the day before so IF she didn't want to go then no biggie; we could cancel it.

Now I am hesitant to book anything else or even try to plan which parks we'll be at with her..she wants to wing it but I don't believe after everything I've read the last few months that first timers should wing it but guess we'll see how that unfolds over the next few months. I honestly feel lost now, like we're going in blind but feel like nothing I say will change her mind. I hate going in blind

Oh teddykins, that doesn't sound ideal. Quite often in your posts you mention that you are planning something to keep your traveling companion happy. It sounds as though you are trying your very best to accommodate her. But in saying that, you are only at WDW for such a short time, I can understand you wanting do things a certain way and save the sleeping in for another day.

I agree that winging it isn't the best plan. Have you guys sat around and looked at WDW information together? Try and show her stuff that will excite her and casually throw in a few articles about the benefits of making ADRs, making rope drops, and looking at predicted crowd levels etc. Usually people who want to wing it just don't understand much about a first visit to WDW.
If all else fails, like Minniemum says, just make bookings anyway. You can always cancel them. Also, if it was me, I would head out early each morning and make a time a few hours later to meet my friend in the park. A few hours apart each day is often good for morale and needn't be a bad thing.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks! It was very painful one minute it would let me look than another it said I had to be a resort guest and it couldn't find my resort booking. When I thought I finally got it done it reset and didn't book it even though I went through the name, address, phone number and cc number so gave up and used my dads PC - I had to also go through the old site because the new one still refuses to link the reservation to my account lol.



I hope so, mixed reviews but my friend only had a steak requirement for the restaurant and its in her favourite country so hopefully we both love it. Have only booked the one, we seem to be wanting different touring styles (she wants to sleep while I want to go go see as much as I can) and she accused me of doing all the planning today without consulting her which just isn't true, I've always asked her opinion on which days she wants to go where and which restaurant takes her fancy etc, I'm totally gutted she would think such a thing I booked Le Cellier without her 'knowing' (she didn't respond to my messages) but I booked it because I didn't know if 6.15 would still be there today and also because it says you can cancel any time up to the day before so IF she didn't want to go then no biggie; we could cancel it.

Now I am hesitant to book anything else or even try to plan which parks we'll be at with her..she wants to wing it but I don't believe after everything I've read the last few months that first timers should wing it but guess we'll see how that unfolds over the next few months. I honestly feel lost now, like we're going in blind but feel like nothing I say will change her mind. I hate going in blind

I highly recommend making the bookings and then deciding later. I would also call rather than use the website if you have a few to make.

 

[5ofus]

Are you going to wait to August for the ESTA? Weird that yours was pending for 2 days. Are you on some persona non grata list????


Our passports are okay.

We aren't waiting for our ESTAs, I'm going to do them as soon as I have our passports renewed. But our next trip is in 2015 and will be December so our ESTAs will need to be renewed anyway.

 

[5ofus]

Thanks! It was very painful one minute it would let me look than another it said I had to be a resort guest and it couldn't find my resort booking. When I thought I finally got it done it reset and didn't book it even though I went through the name, address, phone number and cc number so gave up and used my dads PC - I had to also go through the old site because the new one still refuses to link the reservation to my account lol.



I hope so, mixed reviews but my friend only had a steak requirement for the restaurant and its in her favourite country so hopefully we both love it. Have only booked the one, we seem to be wanting different touring styles (she wants to sleep while I want to go go see as much as I can) and she accused me of doing all the planning today without consulting her which just isn't true, I've always asked her opinion on which days she wants to go where and which restaurant takes her fancy etc, I'm totally gutted she would think such a thing I booked Le Cellier without her 'knowing' (she didn't respond to my messages) but I booked it because I didn't know if 6.15 would still be there today and also because it says you can cancel any time up to the day before so IF she didn't want to go then no biggie; we could cancel it.

Now I am hesitant to book anything else or even try to plan which parks we'll be at with her..she wants to wing it but I don't believe after everything I've read the last few months that first timers should wing it but guess we'll see how that unfolds over the next few months. I honestly feel lost now, like we're going in blind but feel like nothing I say will change her mind. I hate going in blind

I 'winged it' on my first trip to WDW back in 1997. It wasn't too bad, but I wouldn't recommend it now. With ADRs and the sheer magnitude of WDW at least SOME organisation and forethought is really needed to have a fabulous time.

Sounds like your traveling companion might have been having a bad day? Are you planning on splitting up and spending time apart from each other? Maybe she can have a sleep in while you're off doing rope drop one day? In the trip I took in 1997, it was a group of three of us girls. It was a four week trip and by the third week we all needed some space to ourselves. Traveling with a friend can be quite an experience...

 

[teddykins]

Oh teddykins, that doesn't sound ideal. Quite often in your posts you mention that you are planning something to keep your traveling companion happy. It sounds as though you are trying your very best to accommodate her. But in saying that, you are only at WDW for such a short time, I can understand you wanting do things a certain way and save the sleeping in for another day.

I agree that winging it isn't the best plan. Have you guys sat around and looked at WDW information together? Try and show her stuff that will excite her and casually throw in a few articles about the benefits of making ADRs, making rope drops, and looking at predicted crowd levels etc. Usually people who want to wing it just don't understand much about a first visit to WDW.
If all else fails, like Minniemum says, just make bookings anyway. You can always cancel them. Also, if it was me, I would head out early each morning and make a time a few hours later to meet my friend in the park. A few hours apart each day is often good for morale and needn't be a bad thing.

I do wish we hadn't been in such a hurry to book our flights, we could have added another day or two there once we realised how big wdw is but will know for next time. I've been trying my hardest to accommodate her in every way possible, haven't made a single move without telling her about it so I really don't know where this accusation came from, maybe she did have a bad day I'm not sure but I think its just she wants to wing it and doesn't want to be "tied down" to a touring plan how ever I was only planning on mapping out which parks on which days, getting up early and that was it, the rest was kind of winging it. She doesn't even want to see the fireworks shows as she saw the one at DL and thinks they're the same..is wishes the same as DL? They don't have Illuminations over there do they? (I think she went in 2009) that was another reason why I booked Le Cellier for 6.15

She's been to DL so has seen and ridden most of the rides and said a while ago that what ever I wanted to do is fine with her, she thinks I'm reading too much into wdw and that I should just relax and go with the flow. At first before I started researching it I fully agreed with her that taking it 1 day at a time will be good but now I've seen just how big it is and want to plan a little bit. As much as I hate going to places on my own I think you're totally right, a few hours apart won't kill us and after being around each other for almost 2 weeks it will probably be a welcomed thing - it did wonders for my best friend and I during our NZ trip, we were about to kill each other.

Haven't really looked at other restaurants much, there's just so many to choose from and since I'm not sure where we will be at lunch/dinner time it seems hard to book them as don't want to be running around too much (we do have hoppers) but is there any you recommend us trying? Anything but seafood as we both don't eat it.

I also spoke to her about photopass+ and she thinks its a waste of money as can just use our own cameras and I said yeah that's true but it would be good to have pics with both of us in them. Usually I am the designated photographer in my group of friends so most pics I'm not even in, she doesn't like her photo being taken though so maybe that's why she doesn't want it but I was going to order it any way as I think it'll be nice to have. Is there a limit on how many pics you can take or how many you can order before you need to pay for them? Doesn't make sense to me that Disney would let you print out say 300 pics for only $150/$200 but maybe I'm not understanding it right?

Its been good to be able to get all this off my chest, I can't really talk about this to anyone here because they've never been to wdw so they don't understand what the "fuss" is, you guys have all been so wonderful so thank you

 

[PrincessInOz]

I do wish we hadn't been in such a hurry to book our flights, we could have added another day or two there once we realised how big wdw is but will know for next time. I've been trying my hardest to accommodate her in every way possible, haven't made a single move without telling her about it so I really don't know where this accusation came from, maybe she did have a bad day I'm not sure but I think its just she wants to wing it and doesn't want to be "tied down" to a touring plan how ever I was only planning on mapping out which parks on which days, getting up early and that was it, the rest was kind of winging it. She doesn't even want to see the fireworks shows as she saw the one at DL and thinks they're the same..is wishes the same as DL? They don't have Illuminations over there do they? (I think she went in 2009) that was another reason why I booked Le Cellier for 6.15

She's been to DL so has seen and ridden most of the rides and said a while ago that what ever I wanted to do is fine with her, she thinks I'm reading too much into wdw and that I should just relax and go with the flow. At first before I started researching it I fully agreed with her that taking it 1 day at a time will be good but now I've seen just how big it is and want to plan a little bit. As much as I hate going to places on my own I think you're totally right, a few hours apart won't kill us and after being around each other for almost 2 weeks it will probably be a welcomed thing - it did wonders for my best friend and I during our NZ trip, we were about to kill each other.

Haven't really looked at other restaurants much, there's just so many to choose from and since I'm not sure where we will be at lunch/dinner time it seems hard to book them as don't want to be running around too much (we do have hoppers) but is there any you recommend us trying? Anything but seafood as we both don't eat it.

I also spoke to her about photopass+ and she thinks its a waste of money as can just use our own cameras and I said yeah that's true but it would be good to have pics with both of us in them. Usually I am the designated photographer in my group of friends so most pics I'm not even in, she doesn't like her photo being taken though so maybe that's why she doesn't want it but I was going to order it any way as I think it'll be nice to have. Is there a limit on how many pics you can take or how many you can order before you need to pay for them? Doesn't make sense to me that Disney would let you print out say 300 pics for only $150/$200 but maybe I'm not understanding it right?

Its been good to be able to get all this off my chest, I can't really talk about this to anyone here because they've never been to wdw so they don't understand what the "fuss" is, you guys have all been so wonderful so thank you

If I remember correctly, you have 4 or 5 days at WDW, right?

Are you more of a breakfast, lunch or dinner person? What about your friend?

For this amount of time and if finances allowed, I would be tempted to book into 5 or 6 table service meals.
If you were a breakfast person, you might want to consider 2 character breakfast meals. If you and your friend are early risers, then you might want to consider seeing if you can book in breakfast early in the parks.

• Tusker House for AK (Donald and friends)
• Crystal Palace for MK (Pooh and friends)
• Akershus for Epcot (Princesses)

Otherwise, take a look at 'Ohana at the Polynesian Hotel or 1900 Park Fare at Grand Floridian.


For the table service places that I like:

• Liberty Tree Tavern at MK. I am trying Tony's this time round. And Be Our Guest and CRT are also very popular at MK.
• Chefs de France, Marrakesh, Teppen Edo, Rose and Crown at Epcot. I also like Nine Dragons, depending on what you order.
• Yak and Yeti, Tusker House and Flame Tree at AK. Rainforest Café can also be found at AK; but you can eat at RC in various cities around the US.
• I like Sci Fi Dine In at DHS. Gonna be eating at Hollywood Brown Derby this time round. We tend to just grab counter service at DHS and have a very big breakfast before we get to this park.

You could also consider dining at DTD; and there are a myriad of restaurants there.


Your alternative to booking in ADRs is to eat Counter Service. You might consider having a conversation with your friend to see if this style of dining suits her. Because.....unless you decide on Table service now, you might find that CS is about your only viable options within the park.


If she doesn't want to entertain the thought of ADRs now, I would recommend that you book a table for yourself at the places you want to eat. That way, you'll have a table for 1 and I know from experience, that effectively means that you'll have a table that can accommodation 2 people anyway. If nothing else, you know you'll have something locked in for yourself (and time apart) and if she wants to join you, she can.
Of course, this means that you kinda need to know which parks you're likely to be in on that day/afternoon because it does take about 30 - 60 minutes to park hop at WDW.

In regards to PP, you're buying the rights to all the digital pictures. Whether you get 2 or 2000, it doesn't matter. Disney will send you ALL your pictures on a CD (or two or 8); plus the ones that you modify with the special borders, signatures etc that you have in your account. I even saved copies in different print sizes. It is completely up to you how many variants you have of the same picture. When you get the CD, how many you print is completely up to you.