Wanted to thank everyone for all the help you gave with my July trip! From hotel insights, to reviewing our park plans, to parade hints--the information helped so much!!!
Quick review:
We go to WDW every year and this was our 2nd trip to DLR--we went 4 yrs ago for 1 1/2 days and 2 nights at PHH. This time (now kids are 14 and 11) we went for 3 nights to the HoJo's and stayed 2 1/2 days in park.
HoJo's: SO happy we stayed here--the walk to the park was literally under 10 minutes and while I think the kids missed being immersed in Disney (we always stay on property at WDW) I thought the walk to and from was great--you are really just passing other vacationers and hotels this route so you still feel like you're in holiday mode even if it's not all Disney. Room overlooking park was great--we had a direct view of Matterhorn and could see fireworks every night and if we stood a little sideways we could also see some of WOC. Hotel is a little roughed up and pool and splash area is just fine, but for the money and convenience it was perfect. Staff was very helpful with any issues.
Parks: We did DL one full day and the half day on the last day. DCA one full day. No park hoppers (we always do for WDW) and had MM used on Sat for DL. I have to say, with the way WDW now does the fast passes, this trip felt MUCH more relaxed! Even with the running to get the FP, it is so much nicer being in control the day of instead of planning so far in advance! We got to DL at 6:30 for a 7am MM, were the 2nd family at our turnstile, and were the 4th family on PP--not hard to do at all as long as you get there early. We used a GREAT itinerary curtesy of MouseEXP (THANK YOU!!!) and had such a relaxed day doing almost everything the first day with some repeats. DCA we weren't eligible for the EMH, but we were at the turnstile at 7:25 for the 8pm open, they let us through to the ropes by 7:40 (at the latest) and we went to right to RSR. My kids are too old for us to have been Cars fanatics but WOW--that land and ride are INCREDIBLE! We did everything we wanted there by about 3:30.
Meals: LOVED FM and was impressed by food and service. Did Carnation Cafe on last day for lunch and were able to sit in gazebo outside--perfect end to the trip! Did Tortilla Joe's and Cafe Naples--Naples was by far the best meal of the trip. Also did Cafe Orleans one night and food was fine--should have ordered only one Monte Cristo for 3 of us and had 2 people order soup!!
Cast Members: Not sure if this is typical, but we found cast here to be MUCH more helpful and laid back than at WDW. Now we go to WDW just after Christmas so maybe that's it, but this was a July Saturday one week after the 60th and by no means was DL quiet!! Every cast member we met just really tried to help us out with no drama. Couple of examples--an extra long wait for ToT mixed with DH work call would have voided our Soarin FP--asked CM about it, and with no questions he took my timed FP and gave me the same number for an open FP. Same thing at restaurants--we needed to change time the day of at Cafe Orleans, and CM was so helpful and told us to just come back and they'd get us in.
Trader Sam's--LOVED it! Went 2 days, both days around 5pm, and had stools at bar one time (they let the kids stand behind us) and a table the other time (they let us move 2 chairs around table to fit 6). Couldn't believe how reasonable the drinks were and had a blast--was DS favorite thing after SM!
PTN--I had agonized over the place to watch this, and last minute we just decided to wing it. We went over about 30 min before it started, walking from IASW down the route looking for a spot--found space at the hub by the path to Tomorrowland. We had a great viewing--we're all sort of tall but even DD 11 had a great view. Loved parade!
Thanks again for all the help!
Quick review:
We go to WDW every year and this was our 2nd trip to DLR--we went 4 yrs ago for 1 1/2 days and 2 nights at PHH. This time (now kids are 14 and 11) we went for 3 nights to the HoJo's and stayed 2 1/2 days in park.
HoJo's: SO happy we stayed here--the walk to the park was literally under 10 minutes and while I think the kids missed being immersed in Disney (we always stay on property at WDW) I thought the walk to and from was great--you are really just passing other vacationers and hotels this route so you still feel like you're in holiday mode even if it's not all Disney. Room overlooking park was great--we had a direct view of Matterhorn and could see fireworks every night and if we stood a little sideways we could also see some of WOC. Hotel is a little roughed up and pool and splash area is just fine, but for the money and convenience it was perfect. Staff was very helpful with any issues.
Parks: We did DL one full day and the half day on the last day. DCA one full day. No park hoppers (we always do for WDW) and had MM used on Sat for DL. I have to say, with the way WDW now does the fast passes, this trip felt MUCH more relaxed! Even with the running to get the FP, it is so much nicer being in control the day of instead of planning so far in advance! We got to DL at 6:30 for a 7am MM, were the 2nd family at our turnstile, and were the 4th family on PP--not hard to do at all as long as you get there early. We used a GREAT itinerary curtesy of MouseEXP (THANK YOU!!!) and had such a relaxed day doing almost everything the first day with some repeats. DCA we weren't eligible for the EMH, but we were at the turnstile at 7:25 for the 8pm open, they let us through to the ropes by 7:40 (at the latest) and we went to right to RSR. My kids are too old for us to have been Cars fanatics but WOW--that land and ride are INCREDIBLE! We did everything we wanted there by about 3:30.
Meals: LOVED FM and was impressed by food and service. Did Carnation Cafe on last day for lunch and were able to sit in gazebo outside--perfect end to the trip! Did Tortilla Joe's and Cafe Naples--Naples was by far the best meal of the trip. Also did Cafe Orleans one night and food was fine--should have ordered only one Monte Cristo for 3 of us and had 2 people order soup!!
Cast Members: Not sure if this is typical, but we found cast here to be MUCH more helpful and laid back than at WDW. Now we go to WDW just after Christmas so maybe that's it, but this was a July Saturday one week after the 60th and by no means was DL quiet!! Every cast member we met just really tried to help us out with no drama. Couple of examples--an extra long wait for ToT mixed with DH work call would have voided our Soarin FP--asked CM about it, and with no questions he took my timed FP and gave me the same number for an open FP. Same thing at restaurants--we needed to change time the day of at Cafe Orleans, and CM was so helpful and told us to just come back and they'd get us in.
Trader Sam's--LOVED it! Went 2 days, both days around 5pm, and had stools at bar one time (they let the kids stand behind us) and a table the other time (they let us move 2 chairs around table to fit 6). Couldn't believe how reasonable the drinks were and had a blast--was DS favorite thing after SM!
PTN--I had agonized over the place to watch this, and last minute we just decided to wing it. We went over about 30 min before it started, walking from IASW down the route looking for a spot--found space at the hub by the path to Tomorrowland. We had a great viewing--we're all sort of tall but even DD 11 had a great view. Loved parade!
Thanks again for all the help!
