Some last minute questions...

[mommyof2boys1girl]

Ok, so not really last minute - we don't leave till NEXT tuesday! But I am suddenly feeling very unprepared, despite reading these boards every day all day for the last 6 months (wonder who was parenting my children during that time....)

Anyhow, a couple questions.

Where exactly in DCA is the Lucky Fortune Cookery? Can't find it on the map, but dh wants to get some Wine and Food type goodies there.

Also, are our lanyards from AAA gonna be good enough to hold our parkhoppers and Fp's, etc.... - I assume they aren't just the 'around the neck string' part but also have a ticket holding part as well?

If we happen to be in line before the bag check booth is open, do we all have to leave the line and have our bags checked, then re-enter at the back of the queue to get in, or can I just send dh over to the bag check with all the bags and keep the kids in the line (to get into park) with me? I am going to try to get us to the gate early every day, but since it is off season, I am not sure how early is too early, and with 3 kids to tote, I tend to be really early rather than late (I HATE being late! ) I am hoping no one gets too upset if one adult holds the place in line while the other takes the kids for some walks, photo ops, etc. to pass the time...

Speaking of photo ops, you photopass experts....I want to prepurchase the CD, so I basically do that before we go (say next week), and then pretty much do nothing (except get the photos taken, of course) until we get back, right? Then within 30 days I access my account, edit whichever pics I want, make tons and tons of frames and cool stuff, and I am done - they send me my cd with all my photos and a copyright release. Right??

Wow it's really getting close now! I can't wait!!!!

 

[mikayla73]

I am not sure about the LFC, but I think it is in the Pacific Wharf area close to where all the tables are for eating.

I can't help with the laynards as we have never had them.

You won't be able to get in line for tickets or to get into DL without going through security for the bag check, so you don't have to worry about that one.

I'll be using photopass this time when we go, but what you said sounds basically right.

Have a great trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

The AAA lanyard should be fine. Keep yourself open, however, to getting a different pouch, b/c the pouches on the travel company lanyards are usually a weird plastic that breaks a bit too easily. That's what I have read, and I experienced it too (not that it DID break, but I could tell that it wouldn't take much bending over the days for it to want to break) with my Costco travel lanyard pouch. The pouches are 5 bucks, are "zippered", and have pictures of Tinkerbell, the pirate motif, and others on them.

Also keep open to just plain old WANTING a different lanyard.

Or don't look at them when in stores.

I thought my Costco travel lanyard would be fine...I was wrong b/c I got the "wannas" really bad.


I'm not actually sure the Lucky Fortune place is open anymore...it's not even on the list of DCA food places. I think that the sign, however, is over in the Pacific Wharf area. could be wrong, though.


Re: photopass CD! They have CHANGED their pricing! The pre-purchase link is 99.95. Buying it after the fact, when you've only been to Disneyland, is 79.95. So I can't recommend the pre-purchase anymore unless you just WANT to spent 20 more dollars than you need to.

But other than that, just have the pix taken, get back, within 30 days of your first pictures were taken get the card numbers online, edit like crazy (I recommend not doing it in ONE session, but taking a few days if possible, b/c you think of more things, and if there are any body issues, you get used to looking at yourself over those days, LOL, though that might just be ME), order, they send it! I don't know about shipping out of the States, though, for the CD.


And I do not know about the problems of getting there before bag check people are there. I think they might make you all go back...I think if I got there before bag check was open, I'd hang out at the bakery right there, or playing at the fountain or something, until there were bag checkers around, just in case.

 

[BlueBayou]

If I am not mistaken the Lucky Fortune Cookery is closed - It is located in the Pacific Wharf area across from the Mexican counter service place. I don't think I have seen it open since the second year DCA was open.

Since they placed security outside the Esplanade (outside of ticket booths and entry gates) I have never arrived early enough that security was not set up yet. I would assume if they are staffing the ticket booths they would staff at least one line of security.

 

[DLR29]

I think that if you get there so early that security isn't set up yet, but nothing is preventing you from entering the esplanade...I would just not enter the esplanade and just sit by the security tables until security arrives. There's really no point of entering the esplanade that early if they are going to make you go back through security.

 

[avalon451]

When I was there on Spring Break, we were getting there at 6:15 for for MM at 7 a.m. We beat security staff to the security tents/tables on the DTD side, (they started wandering up about 6:25) but everybody just lines up there at the security tables. By the time security opened at around 6:30, there must have been 50 people lined up behind us. If you had slid past the tables to go line up at the gates, the CMs there would have herded you back to security to wait. The only people who go through into the esplanade at that hour are people who are headed to work either at DL or in DTD.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Yes, Lucky Fortune is closed, however they do use it during the food and wine event. It is in the warf area, near the bakery and mexican food places. Its easy to find.

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

Yes, Lucky Fortune is closed, however they do use it during the food and wine event. It is in the warf area, near the bakery and mexican food places. Its easy to find.

Thanks Linda! i was getting very confused - I couldn't find info for it anywhere, and yet a report on allears.net stated the LFC as a location for all sorts of the Food and Wine events....I was

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

The AAA lanyard should be fine. Keep yourself open, however, to getting a different pouch, b/c the pouches on the travel company lanyards are usually a weird plastic that breaks a bit too easily. That's what I have read, and I experienced it too (not that it DID break, but I could tell that it wouldn't take much bending over the days for it to want to break) with my Costco travel lanyard pouch. The pouches are 5 bucks, are "zippered", and have pictures of Tinkerbell, the pirate motif, and others on them.

Also keep open to just plain old WANTING a different lanyard.

Or don't look at them when in stores.

I thought my Costco travel lanyard would be fine...I was wrong b/c I got the "wannas" really bad.


I'm not actually sure the Lucky Fortune place is open anymore...it's not even on the list of DCA food places. I think that the sign, however, is over in the Pacific Wharf area. could be wrong, though.


Re: photopass CD! They have CHANGED their pricing! The pre-purchase link is 99.95. Buying it after the fact, when you've only been to Disneyland, is 79.95. So I can't recommend the pre-purchase anymore unless you just WANT to spent 20 more dollars than you need to.

But other than that, just have the pix taken, get back, within 30 days of your first pictures were taken get the card numbers online, edit like crazy (I recommend not doing it in ONE session, but taking a few days if possible, b/c you think of more things, and if there are any body issues, you get used to looking at yourself over those days, LOL, though that might just be ME), order, they send it! I don't know about shipping out of the States, though, for the CD.


And I do not know about the problems of getting there before bag check people are there. I think they might make you all go back...I think if I got there before bag check was open, I'd hang out at the bakery right there, or playing at the fountain or something, until there were bag checkers around, just in case.

Thanks Guru! As for the cd - thanks for the tip! Had no idea the pricing was switched - so what would be the advantage to prepurchasing anymore!? One more thing to stroke off my "to do" list!
So the first thing I do, then, is find a photopass photographer and basically shackle him/her to my leg for the day? , Or, perhaps, said photographer might find him/herself kidnapped for the duration of our trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

"So the first thing I do, then, is find a photopass photographer and basically shackle him/her to my leg for the day? , Or, perhaps, said photographer might find him/herself kidnapped for the duration of our trip!"

Yep, pretty much!

No really, one of the people in the photopass share I was part of last September (a much quieter time than when you're going) met up with a photog in Fantasyland, and they had something of a photo session! The photographer took them to cool places for pictures, and they all followed each other around for awhile. Fun!

You'll most likely see your first photopass person right as you enter the park! They take pictures in front of the big Mickey floral thing with Tinkerbell shooting lights across. So that will be the beginning of a great adventure.

 

[allimaree]

Bumber, has the price changed on the non-disney-editing-CD? I think in a previous post you said it was $60 and you just purchase it at the park. Is that right? I didn't think $40 was worth it for the disney editing but for $20, maybe .

 

[allimaree]

Bump! (I probably should have asked my question in a new thread!--Sorry!)

 

[bumbershoot]

Bumber, has the price changed on the non-disney-editing-CD? I think in a previous post you said it was $60 and you just purchase it at the park. Is that right? I didn't think $40 was worth it for the disney editing but for $20, maybe .

I do not know.

And you will be there before me! Waaaah! (I wish I were going on the dis ladies trip which would mean I would have the answer before your trip!)

In January they had signs up for the in-park CD, at the counters in the photo centers (at Greetings from CA in DCA, the entrance of the store closer to the entry to the park, and at the photo place on Main street) that listed the price for that CD.

If they still have the deal for 75 bucks where you get the basic CD and 2 5x7s, that could be fun. Maybe. Ach, everyone's price-points are different, aren't they?

 

[allimaree]

Thanks Bumbershoot!

I guess it won't really matter since I'm not going to pre-purchase. I'll just find out when I'm at the park what the different prices are and go from there. Thanks again!

 

[tink too]

hi mommyof2boys1girl

I can confirm that shipping of both prints and CD's to locations outside of the USA works just fine! We received prints within 7 days, CD's took a little longer, but nothing excessive. BTW, we live in Scotland.

 

[Gymfan15]

The AAA lanyard should be fine. Keep yourself open, however, to getting a different pouch, b/c the pouches on the travel company lanyards are usually a weird plastic that breaks a bit too easily. That's what I have read, and I experienced it too (not that it DID break, but I could tell that it wouldn't take much bending over the days for it to want to break) with my Costco travel lanyard pouch. The pouches are 5 bucks, are "zippered", and have pictures of Tinkerbell, the pirate motif, and others on them.

To be honest, we haven't had much luck with the lanyards offered at Disneyland either. We've had several break on us at the little plastic section that connects the card holder to the metal snap. My sister actually had hers fall off while at Disneyland and luckily a CM found it and they were able to mail it to us...good thing, because otherwise it would have cost 20$ to replace her AP.

I've found the plastic card holders that Disney offers to be kind of cheap and not worth the money, unless all you're after is the actual lanyard and not the holder. Myself, I used a card holder that I got at my dad's company picnic years ago...it's held up amazingly well, with the only wear being a small rip on the top of each side from when I tried to stuff too many plastic AP's in it.

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know.

 

[bumbershoot]

Myself, I used a card holder that I got at my dad's company picnic years ago...it's held up amazingly well, with the only wear being a small rip on the top of each side from when I tried to stuff too many plastic AP's in it.

Very good point. I was actually trying desperately, before our trip in Sept, to get a card holder like the one I had when I worked for a former annuity subsidiary of washington mutual. I carried checks and receipts all over Seattle and went into various secure buildings, and had Very Important Security Passes in my little holder pouch thing hanging from my neck, and it was a wonderful little holder.

Looked all over business supply sites, but couldn't find what I had.


allimaree, I'm sorry if my post got confusing. In January the price was 59.95, but they had a deal for that CD and 2 5x7s printed for you for 74.95.

But since I haven't been since late Jan, and since they changed the price for the editable CD since I got home (how dare they? do they not know I wish to be the disneyland version of stitchkingdom dot com? teehee, like I could EVER know that much or write it down so well!), I think that anything might change.

 

[allimaree]

I knew what you meant Molly! Thanks again!

By the way, how do you check online what the price is to purchase after your trip? I saw that the pre-purchase price was 99.99 and it said it was a 20% savings but I couldn't find a regular price for the CD anywhere. We are going to DL and DCA, and I know you said your price of 79.95 was when you had only been to DL. (Am I making any sense?)