Stubby's family returns again TR begins on page 5

[stubby]

We are planning another trip...were so happy and we all cried in October when we had to leave(well dh didn't.) We will be there for 6 days this time. Hoping crowds won't be crazy.

The cast:
Me-36-favorite ride is Buzz-favorite restaurant so far is River Belle
DH-31-favorite ride is Star Tours and it was closed in OCT -fav rest Rancho
DD1-10-favorite ride is TOT(it's a close 2nd for me)
DD2-8-favorite ride is Splash
DD3-6-favorite ride is Astro Orbiter(I DO NOT LIKE THIS RIDE)

We will be leaving at 7pm the night of the 30th(dh has to work til 7). Hoping to be at the hotel by midnight.

We are statying at the Anaheim Plaza again. It is an older hotel but was fine for us last time...and the walk is relatively short.

We have reservations for BB on the 5th for lunch. Have never eaten there so looking forward to it.

We will definately be eating at Rancho and Cocina this trip...we loved their food last time. We also like River Belle and Taste Pilots. Oh and dh says he has to have a pretzel and a corndog. And I want to try Hungry Bear.

Last trip we wanted to stay open to close but usually by 10 each night we were exhausted. Probably gonna be the same again this trip.

We will be doing MM on Saturday morning. If Star Tours is one of the rides, we will be doing it a couple times first thing. The other big one is the Matterhorn since we only got to do it twice last time on the one side and they will be refurbing it.

Right now I am working on trying to find someone to airbrush shirts for us. We would like to have shirts made for one day.

Ok..that is all I can think of for now. I am still working full time and going to summer school in a couple weeks so gonna be busy...but will try to keep updates as I can.

 

[stubby]

So, I decided that this is gonna be an all out trip. I am not gonna worry about what I am spending(will worry after...lol.) So today I added....
Carnation Cafe-12:10 7/6
Celebration Roundup-11:30 4th of July
Minnie and Friends Breakfast-7:10 Sunday

We wanted to do a Character meal last time but didn't really have the money. I am so excited and the kids will be so surprised. Plus we get in the park early...woo hoo!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Sounds like a fun trip!!!

Your kids (and you too) will love doing a character meal. It's something we look forward to every trip. We find it a great way to see a lot of characters (and get a meal) all at once. Some people say they don't want to lose park time.....but if you plan on getting in character lines....you actually save yourself time!! I've never looked at the meals as losing park time.....to me it's all park time!!!

Minnie's is a good one to see quite a few characters!! We've seen Minnie, Chip, Dale, Winnie the Pooh & Eeyore every time but then added in Rafiki, Tigger, Honest John (from Pinocchio), Capt Hook, Peter Pan & Fairy Godmother just to name a few from a couple different times we went.

Blue Bayou is very good, neat experience if you can get a table by the water.....but be prepared to pay a lot for this meal....it's really spendy!!

We've never done Carnation Cafe at lunch.....we always go for breakfast!!

Celebration BBQ is sooooooo tasty!! The lunch you'll get all you can eat Ribs, chicken, beans, coleslaw & corn muffins. (if you were going at dinner you'd also get sausage & corn on the cob wheels). They have some really good family desserts (cheaper to do this vs individual desserts). Our favorite is the Chocolate Chip Cookie Bake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Hot Fudge!!

 

[stubby]

Sounds like a fun trip!!!

Your kids (and you too) will love doing a character meal. It's something we look forward to every trip. We find it a great way to see a lot of characters (and get a meal) all at once. Some people say they don't want to lose park time.....but if you plan on getting in character lines....you actually save yourself time!! I've never looked at the meals as losing park time.....to me it's all park time!!!

Minnie's is a good one to see quite a few characters!! We've seen Minnie, Chip, Dale, Winnie the Pooh & Eeyore every time but then added in Rafiki, Tigger, Honest John (from Pinocchio), Capt Hook, Peter Pan & Fairy Godmother just to name a few from a couple different times we went.

Blue Bayou is very good, neat experience if you can get a table by the water.....but be prepared to pay a lot for this meal....it's really spendy!!

We've never done Carnation Cafe at lunch.....we always go for breakfast!!

Celebration BBQ is sooooooo tasty!! The lunch you'll get all you can eat Ribs, chicken, beans, coleslaw & corn muffins. (if you were going at dinner you'd also get sausage & corn on the cob wheels). They have some really good family desserts (cheaper to do this vs individual desserts). Our favorite is the Chocolate Chip Cookie Bake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Hot Fudge!!

I think the food budget this time is going to be our most expensive item...even more than tickets. But, the kids are going to enjoy this so much. I told dh tonight about the new reservations. Hope he can keep quiet.
Also I don't figure we will lose too much park time as we get to go in an hour before opening...so hopefully we can get done pretty close to opening time. And like you said we can avoid the lines later for these characters.

 

[stubby]

Ok..so adding a food schedule for the trip and a few more details.

I think I am going to have shirts made this time. Wanted to last time but it just didn't get done. I found a website that will let you upload a pic and design your own. Price isn't too bad. Another option, I have a cousin who's fiance does airbrushing, I have contacted her and am waiting to hear back.

So here is a list of our restaurants we will be eating at....still need one more idea...any suggestions???
6 days-12 meals
7/1-Rancho del Zocalo
7/2
7/3-Minnie and Friends
7/4-Celebration Roundup
7/5-Blue Bayou
7/6-Carnation Cafe

Taste Pilots
Cocina Cucamonga
River Belle
Corn Dog Cart-Coke Corner
Harbor Galley
Stage Door
Thinking maybe something in Downtown Disney. We did Tortilla Jo's last time and enjoyed it.

 

[6Smiles]

You mentioned Hungry bear, but i don't see it on your list of restaurants.

 

[stubby]

You mentioned Hungry bear, but i don't see it on your list of restaurants.

I am wondering about that one. I am not sure kids and moreover dh will like it. Hoping to see some more reviews before I go.

 

[stubby]

day one will be almost over. My girls are getting so excited...shoot so am I. Even dh said something about it today. He loves the park as much as we do just won't say he does. I think I am going to have to start working on what rides to do each day. Last time, by the time we went I had it all memorized. With 6 days this time I doubt that will happen.

 

[stubby]

Ok so here is our list for the restaurants and days:
7/1 Friday
River Belle
CornDog COke COrner

7/2 Sat
Taste Pilots
Cocina


7/3 Sunday
Minnie and Friends Char Break
Stage Door

7/4 Monday
CelebrationRoundup
Rancho


7/5 Tuesday
Blue Bayou
Golden Horseshoe

7/6 Wednesday
Carnation Cafe
Harbor Galley

Now I just need to figure out what our schedule will be like for the rides. I am getting so excited. Kids keep watching videos on youtube. Wish this next 5 and a half weeks would hurry up!

 

[skiingfast]

If you want to plan rides, try planning two or three rides first things each morning and a couple FPs in the mornings too.

 

[stubby]

Booked the car today. Booked it for 8 days. Gonna take our time returning. Still have not heard from my work if I am getting the time off or not. Boss said she was going to talk to her husband(other boss) and would get back to me...course she said this 2 weeks ago also.

Kids are really getting more excited by the minute.

Even dh made us watch 2 Disney shows on Netflix about the parks.

Can June please hurry and get over???


I start classes next Monday. Hoping they keep me occupied so I am not checking this board every 10 minutes. Only taking 2 this summer but since they are only 7 weeks long they should be intense. They are online so I won't miss class time...just gonna have a lot of work to do for the week before I go and when I get back.

 

[stubby]

We leave in 4 weeks. I am so excited I could burst! Started working on planning rides yesterday. What I did last trip was plan which rides we will ride in succession. We managed to do everything and more last time. This time I am going to plan less rides since it is going to be busy.

And last night DH told me he wants to see F! and WOC. So now I have to go do some homework on them and see where to fit them in. We NEVER do shows-family loves the RIDES. But, so glad I am finally going to get to see them.

 

[stubby]

So we had to move our trip back. Kinda depressing but hoping to be less crowded than the 4th. Also gives ST more time for lines to improve...I hope. Going to call and make dining reservations tomorrow and car and hotel again.

 

[skiingfast]

So we had to move our trip back. Kinda depressing but hoping to be less crowded than the 4th. Also gives ST more time for lines to improve...I hope. Going to call and make dining reservations tomorrow and car and hotel again.

Just between you and I, it's probably a blessing in disguise.

 

[carnival kid]

have great trip cant wait to see pics

 

[stubby]

Just between you and I, it's probably a blessing in disguise.

Although I know you are right...3 and a half extra weeks seems like torture.

 

[stubby]

Decided we are going to add Cafe Orleans to our list of places to eat. I keep hearing about the fries and have GOT to try them now. So I think we will add them in the afternoon on Thursday since we will be eating an early breakfast at Minnie's.

 

[stubby]

Ok here are the reservations...
Monday lunch at BB dinner at Coke Corner/Corndog Cart
Tuesday lunch at Celebration Roundup dinner at Stage Door
Wednesday lunch at Taste Pilots Dinner at Cocina
Thursday breakfast at Minnies and late lunch at Cafe Orleans
Friday lunch at River Belle dinner at Hungry Bear
Saturday lunch at Carnation Cafe dinner at Rancho

Also rescheduled the car and the hotel so those are done. Now I need to schedule the kennel for the dog. Hate to leave him there for so many days...but don't trust anyone who lives near us.

 

[skiingfast]

Planning Dining. May I should get to thinking of reservations too.

 

[stubby]

Planning Dining. May I should get to thinking of reservations too.

How many days until you return? I wish I had made mine a couple days sooner. I got bumped to 11:40 at BB. Kids want to sit by water...guess we will wait.