luvgoing2disney
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2007
- Messages
- 2,269
I just wanted to share a few random thoughts on our trip last week. Not an official day-by-day trip report, but some rembrances.
In short, it was magical.
This was only our second trip to DLR and the first time to stay for a full week. We, a party of ten, flew from Birmingham to SNA on the 28th to celebrate our sons High School graduation and to let him have fun before college.
We stayed at HoJo's and even though I was concerned over recent posts, I could not have asked for a better experience. Our rooms were premium rooms facing Disney and we never had any problems with freeway noise or from neighboring rooms. We will most certainly stay there again.
Our tickets allowed for 6 days in the park, even though we knew one of those days would just be a half day or even late afternoon and evening. One day was spent at Knotts and even though I am glad we visited America's First Theme Park, I can say, been there, done that. Long waits for short rides.
One day we had contracted for a limo to take us to LA/Hollywood where we toured Warner Bros Studio, saw the Hollywood sign, went to Graumann's Chinese, shopped at Rodeo Drive, went to The Culver Studios (where GWTW was filmed and I am a GWTW memorabilia collector) then had a short stop at the Santa Monica Beach for pictures before heading back to HoJo's.
And even though we did not see any stars in Hollywood, the real star of the week was a magical place called Disneyland.
WDW was our first and probably remains our home park, but there is just so much charm around DLR. Yes, the rides are much closer together than at WDW, but that was not a problem except on Friday when ST opened. Having everything so close and not having to wait for transportation to this or that park, just having the leisure of walking to the park and hopping over to CA and back gave us so much freedom. The only planned meal we had was at Ariel's Grotto for the WOC Dining package.
We watched Fantasmic! from the sloping walkway in front of Blue Bayou. True, we staked out a spot a couple of hours early, but people watching was entertaining itself.
Some attractions we found better at DLR while to us others remain better at WDW. But at the end of the week, I could see my "allegience" shifting from WDW to DLR. Others remain devoted to WDW and I am sure that we will visit there much more frequently and it is just a 1.5 hours plane ride as opposed to 7 to Anaheim. But I don't think I have had my last visit to Disneyland, at least I hope not.
As I said earlier, it was magical.
In short, it was magical.
This was only our second trip to DLR and the first time to stay for a full week. We, a party of ten, flew from Birmingham to SNA on the 28th to celebrate our sons High School graduation and to let him have fun before college.
We stayed at HoJo's and even though I was concerned over recent posts, I could not have asked for a better experience. Our rooms were premium rooms facing Disney and we never had any problems with freeway noise or from neighboring rooms. We will most certainly stay there again.
Our tickets allowed for 6 days in the park, even though we knew one of those days would just be a half day or even late afternoon and evening. One day was spent at Knotts and even though I am glad we visited America's First Theme Park, I can say, been there, done that. Long waits for short rides.
One day we had contracted for a limo to take us to LA/Hollywood where we toured Warner Bros Studio, saw the Hollywood sign, went to Graumann's Chinese, shopped at Rodeo Drive, went to The Culver Studios (where GWTW was filmed and I am a GWTW memorabilia collector) then had a short stop at the Santa Monica Beach for pictures before heading back to HoJo's.
And even though we did not see any stars in Hollywood, the real star of the week was a magical place called Disneyland.
WDW was our first and probably remains our home park, but there is just so much charm around DLR. Yes, the rides are much closer together than at WDW, but that was not a problem except on Friday when ST opened. Having everything so close and not having to wait for transportation to this or that park, just having the leisure of walking to the park and hopping over to CA and back gave us so much freedom. The only planned meal we had was at Ariel's Grotto for the WOC Dining package.
We watched Fantasmic! from the sloping walkway in front of Blue Bayou. True, we staked out a spot a couple of hours early, but people watching was entertaining itself.
Some attractions we found better at DLR while to us others remain better at WDW. But at the end of the week, I could see my "allegience" shifting from WDW to DLR. Others remain devoted to WDW and I am sure that we will visit there much more frequently and it is just a 1.5 hours plane ride as opposed to 7 to Anaheim. But I don't think I have had my last visit to Disneyland, at least I hope not.
As I said earlier, it was magical.
Glad you had a great time!
