Summer Vacation Time - San Diego, Hotel Del Coronado, Catalina, and of course DL

[KCmike]

Taken from the FFI (anyone see the yeti?)

 

[arthur06]

KCMike, you are my inspiration and mentor on my DLR trip in November.

I am reading your TR and gathering ideas on where to stay and things to do.

I thought about breaking the trip into a 2/2/3 (2 days in Hollywood/downtown, 2 days in SD and 3 days at DLR). But after seeing the FFI, we might just go with 4 days at FFI and 3 days at VGC. And make FFI our hub for our SoCal trip. DLR trips are so much harder to plan for me then a WDW trip.

Loving all the pics.

 

[kristen1587]

I am LOVING your trip report!!! I am taking my very first trip to DLR next summer so I have been scouring this board reading everyone's reports. I especially like yours because you included San Diego which we are hoping to do on our trip.

Any must-do advice for a first time to DLR? We have done WDW numerous times but don't want to miss out on what makes Disneyland unique!

 

[Sammy Cat]

I too love your report. We are planning our trip to DLR this coming year, too, but haven't decided whether to go in the spring or summer. Our fear is hot weather in the summer, and crowds in the spring.

How was the weather in Anaheim throughout your trip? Anything above 85 is too hot for us. Our WDW trip in June 2011 averaged 95 every day and we just about melted. It was too tough to take.

 

[KCmike]

KCMike, you are my inspiration and mentor on my DLR trip in November.

I am reading your TR and gathering ideas on where to stay and things to do.

I thought about breaking the trip into a 2/2/3 (2 days in Hollywood/downtown, 2 days in SD and 3 days at DLR). But after seeing the FFI, we might just go with 4 days at FFI and 3 days at VGC. And make FFI our hub for our SoCal trip. DLR trips are so much harder to plan for me then a WDW trip.

Loving all the pics.

Well thank you very much Arthur. It is harder to plan a DL trip because there is so much to potentially do in SoCal vs. florida in my opinion. I still think you might revisit the 2 days in Hollywood/downtown. I really think your going to want to add that extra day to Disneyland/DCA. I guess time will tell. I can't remember what are you planning with San Diego? Will it just be relaxing or are you going to try to hit the zoo, sea world or any other amusement area?

 

[KCmike]

I am LOVING your trip report!!! I am taking my very first trip to DLR next summer so I have been scouring this board reading everyone's reports. I especially like yours because you included San Diego which we are hoping to do on our trip.

Any must-do advice for a first time to DLR? We have done WDW numerous times but don't want to miss out on what makes Disneyland unique!

First of all thanks! Secondly I think everyone should make San Diego a must see if their coming to SoCal for the first time. It is so gorgeous down there. LA and the city is really dirty except for the beaches and the suburbs. We have never done the zoo in SD but have done Sea World which we really liked. We have done SW in Florida and liked San Diego's version because it felt smaller and better done. If you go to San Diego please visit Coronado Island. It is so laid back and relaxed. The beach is expansive.

Alright must do Disneyland include:

Billy Hill and Hillbillies - gotta see the Gold team that has Elvis Billy, he usually plays on Thurs-Sundays. Right now they have them in Frontierland outside but they usually play in the Golden Horseshoe.

If you do any tours then do the Walk in Walt's Footsteps. It is really well done and you get some behind the scenes stuff like going into the lobby of Club 33, staying after in the tiki room to see some history, and other cool things plus you get lunch provided and a commerative pin.

Must see World of Color, Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks (usually plays in the off season and is the best fireworks show I've ever seen Disney do), and see Fantasmic!. Magical is good as well.

Ride the Lilly Belle train car Walt had for his wife. Ask at the train station to see if its possible that day. Also ride the train all the way around the tracks.

If you get an early entry then definitely do Fantasyland (I can ride at least 8-9 rides) when we get that extra benefit. I am such a HUGE FAN of the the dark rides at Disneyland and the exterior look of Fantasyland. I love Mr. Toads Wild Ride followed by Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and Snow White. On Snow white make sure you touch the apple.

Gotta ride the canoes on the Rivers of America (can't do it at WDW anymore, right?)

Ride Storybook Canal boats at night.

Currently you can get fast passes at DL and use them after the time your suppose to come back. Use that to your advatage.

Ride IASM at night. I love that experience. It makes me feel what a tunnel of love experience would have been when I ride it with my wife at night.

AT DCA -----

See Aladdin stage show twice (It's that good)

Carsland obviously (I loved all three rides)

The only ride I don't like is Goofy's Sky School

On World of Color (some like it some hate it) if you can see it twice. One from the above section and then see if you can get down to the railing. Such a cool experience there.

Screamin' is alot of fun if you like rollercoasters.

I'll try to think of more as we go along.

Congrats on going to where it all started.

 

[KCmike]

Fairfield Inn looks to have a consistent approach to their room layout and decor, which is good! Your room looks identical to a Fairfield Inn I stayed at in Massachusetts, which I really enjoyed. Something can be said for consistency across a brand.

It was clean and they did a good job there. They were all very friendly. This FFI was a good location and one I can recommend.

 

[KCmike]

I too love your report. We are planning our trip to DLR this coming year, too, but haven't decided whether to go in the spring or summer. Our fear is hot weather in the summer, and crowds in the spring.

How was the weather in Anaheim throughout your trip? Anything above 85 is too hot for us. Our WDW trip in June 2011 averaged 95 every day and we just about melted. It was too tough to take.

Weather was fantastic. We have done May, June and July.

May was high 70's in the day and low 50's in the night and was overcast alot in the morning (June Gloom)

June was high 70's and occasional low 80's in the day and high 50's and low 60's in the night. Both months we needed hoodies for the night time which we loved.

We would wear shorts and a shirt in the morn/day and then head back to the pool at Grand Californian or DLH and swim a little and relax and then head back refreshed in our Disneyland Hoodies! Oh yeah we wore jeans in the night too.

July was always shorts and T-shirts. All the time. This time around was highs in the mid 80's at the most and lows in the 70's I believe.

Weather in SoCal even when its hot is not bad. It is NEVER like Florida's humidity. Even when its hot it doesn't feel bad. We would sweat buckets in lines at WDW. We never had this issue at DL.

Oh its so amazing there weather wise.

 

[KCmike]

More views looking out to DL and DCA from Fairfield Inn. I thought it was crazy that I could zoom in with my 55-250 lens into the Matterhorn and see the Yeti. How cool is that? Here are some interesting shots I do believe. Again these were all taken from the top floor of the Fairfield Inn. Its pretty cool there because you could literally watch the fireworks if you wanted to. We did this on our very first day back in 2007 when we they were playing Remember Dreams Come True. I'm so glad we got to see that fireworks show before they cut out parts of it. It is far and away the best fireworks show I've ever seen at DL or WDW. If you care to know my favorite ride of all time at any of the parks is Splash Mountain at WDW followed by Pirates at DL.

On with the pics.

Wide angle view from the top floor

Pool views

Another Yeti sighting

Cropped shot of the monorail (love that you can still ride in the front or rear at DL's monorail)

 

[nancy drew]

Wow, great zoom on the yeti!! That's amazing!

 

[PrincessInOz]

That zoom of the Yeti was taken with the 55 - 250 mm? WOW!

I had been toying, very early toying, with the thought of replacing that lens with one of the L series. Of course I'd have to rob a bank before I have the funds but I am doing a trip to the US in 2013 and there is time to save some pennies.

Maybe I should research a 300 prime instead.....(and which bank or even more pennies).



ETA - Never mind. I just went to look at the price of a 300 prime. Not in my lifetime.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Very nice pics from FFI. The Matterhorn looked so close with that lens and see the Yeti.

 

[I'm mikey]

Awesome pics Mike, I really really like the pic with the fun wheel and grizzly peak.

 

[KCmike]

Wow, great zoom on the yeti!! That's amazing!

Thanks Nancy. Couldn't believe I could see the Yeti when I zoomed in.

 

[KCmike]

That zoom of the Yeti was taken with the 55 - 250 mm? WOW!

I had been toying, very early toying, with the thought of replacing that lens with one of the L series. Of course I'd have to rob a bank before I have the funds but I am doing a trip to the US in 2013 and there is time to save some pennies.

Maybe I should research a 300 prime instead.....(and which bank or even more pennies).



ETA - Never mind. I just went to look at the price of a 300 prime. Not in my lifetime.

So many of the lenses are out of my price range. I love the hobby but its hard for me to take it too seriously with some of those high figures they are asking. I would really like to sell my prime lens 50mm 1.8. It takes great shots and is super cheap but I hardly ever use it.

 

[KCmike]

Very nice pics from FFI. The Matterhorn looked so close with that lens and see the Yeti.

Love my 55-250IS lens. They call it the nifty two fifty. It's probably my favorite lens from this past vacation along with the rental of the ultra wide angle.

 

[KCmike]

Awesome pics Mike, I really really like the pic with the fun wheel and grizzly peak.

Thanks Mikey! Its one of my favorites as well. It was just different and I like that. I think we're all looking for new angles and new perspectives. BTW I absolutely think you nailed the Haunted Mansion shot of the picture of the day thread! Kudos!

 

[mom2rtk]

So many of the lenses are out of my price range. I love the hobby but its hard for me to take it too seriously with some of those high figures they are asking. I would really like to sell my prime lens 50mm 1.8. It takes great shots and is super cheap but I hardly ever use it.

I'm with you on my nifty fifty. I'd sell it but wouldn't likely get enough to make it worthwhile. I had it for 2 years before using it much beyond testing it out. It is my "go to" lens for Disney on Ice though. It has eeked its way through security a couple times now. With that on, my DSLR isn't much bigger than a bridge camera.

LOVE the zoom of the Yeti!

 

[KCmike]

I'm with you on my nifty fifty. I'd sell it but wouldn't likely get enough to make it worthwhile. I had it for 2 years before using it much beyond testing it out. It is my "go to" lens for Disney on Ice though. It has eeked its way through security a couple times now. With that on, my DSLR isn't much bigger than a bridge camera.

LOVE the zoom of the Yeti!

Thanks Janet. Has planning for the Christmas trip to Disneyworld really started heating up? Anything new you want to do this time around? What will be open in the Fantasyland expansion for you?

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks Janet. Has planning for the Christmas trip to Disneyworld really started heating up? Anything new you want to do this time around? What will be open in the Fantasyland expansion for you?

We're sort of in a planning lull. We know which day we're going to which park, but are now holding to see if/when we can get into Be Our Guest. We are very excited about seeing and experiencing that.

I think everything in the new Fantasyland is supposed to be open except the Mine Coaster and Fairytale Hall. So there will still be lots of walls because of the coaster, but we should definitely get to experience a lot of new things. We thought about a November trip this year, but I wanted to leave as much wiggle room as possible for construction delays.

We really do have to see as much as possible so we can swap coasts next year without feeling like we're missing too much.

I am very excited to be staying at the Animation Resort. So definitely lots of new things to see.

Can't wait to see more photos. I'm really anxious to see more shots of Carsland from you!