The DDA Trouble Free Zone

[karebear1]

I'm not Glynis, I know, but I may be able to help some. We lived about 10 minutes from DL for a couple of years and it was my second home for much of it. There are so many places within walking distance and much cheaper that the onsite hotels (all deluxe and seem to be booking up quite often lately). I have heard many recommendations for the Candy Cane Inn. It has a free shuttle as well. I've also heard good recommendations for the Holiday Inn on Harbor. My family has stayed at the Alamo. It is a decent place and a really good price (usually about $50). If you don't want to walk everywhere there is the Anaheim Resort Transit that is about $3 a day (may have changed). This is a shuttle bus that stops at area hotels.

Knott's Berry Farms is very close as well. They have a Snoopy theme to the kid's area and some shows. There are a lot of thrill rides here as well. Universal Hollywood is about an hour away. Otherwise, there are the beaches. A couple of hours away in San Diego is Sea World and the San Diego Zoo/Wild Animal Park.

I personally haven't found any great Disneyland sites. The DIS is probably the best one and laughingplace.com has some info. Themouseforless.com and allearsnet.com have been building DL sections.

Have a great trip!!

Tia- thanks so much for that info! Can I pm you when I have more specific questions? In the meantime- I'm gonna go check that Candy Cane Inn you are talking about.

 

[ellenbenny]

Here's my do...

After a few glasses of wine...I'm getting used to it...

Kristine

PS...It's lighter that it looks in the pic...

Looks really cute!

 

[karebear1]

Here's my do...

After a few glasses of wine...I'm getting used to it...

Kristine

PS...It's lighter that it looks in the pic...

OMG!!! That color makes you look even YOUNGER!!! How'd ya do that?!?!?!? I like it alot- and I like the cut too! Thanks for posting.

 

[my3princes]

Here's my do...

After a few glasses of wine...I'm getting used to it...

Kristine

PS...It's lighter that it looks in the pic...

I think it's cute. Certainly not a Grandmotherly do

Deb

 

[Tammi67]

Here's my do...

After a few glasses of wine...I'm getting used to it...

Kristine

PS...It's lighter that it looks in the pic...

After I broke out the magnifying glass I could see that you look absolutely beautiful. I love it....perky.

 

[KristineN]

OMG!!! That color makes you look even YOUNGER!!! How'd ya do that?!?!?!? I like it alot- and I like the cut too! Thanks for posting.

Oh please....

I will tell ya all, in April I went to Vegas with DH...I got carded at one of the casinos!! I think DH got all turned on thinking he was with some young chick!!

PS...I am 40!

 

[PNO4TE]

Ok guys, I made 7 eye patches for Kristine's daughter. Here is a photo.

I also came up with this letter to send with it. If I had past and next trip dates I could make it more personal, but since Kristine's not on I don't have the info and need to get to the post office by 5 PM.

What do you think? Should I make any changes to the letter?

Deb

Deb -- I know I am WAY late with this... but WOW! This is so nice of you and I know that both Kristine and Kirsten will love the patches and the thoughtful, well thought out letter. What a sweet person you are to have done this. And Colby (I hope I got his name right!) looks amazing as your model!

 

[KristineN]

After I broke out the magnifying glass I could see that you look absolutely beautiful. I love it....perky.

Ohhhh very funny

I am having so much trouble resizing on photbucket...the first pic was huge!! All I could see what my eyeball!!

 

[karebear1]

I'd be in for any get togethers...

I talked to someone today about renting points for Beach Club Villas for the marathon weekend and following week. I could have chosen between any of the DVC resorts, she apparently owns tons of points and rents them out (listed on ebay) and I can get the points I want at about $11.50 per point. Do any of you DVC'ers know anything about renting points? I have read about it on the disboards, and checked the concept out, but noone is renting points for that far out as far as I can tell, and this woman has really good feedback on ebay. I am early enough that she can call at 11 months out and hopefully get me what I want.

Any thoughts or other ideas for me?

Have you tried posting on the DIS DVC Rent board that you want to rent points for January 07? You might be able to get them for $10.00/pt and save a little- just try to follow the guidelines set up at the top to protect yourself as well as can be expected. You wouldn't be able to get a ressie at whatever resort you chose until Feb anyway- so take your time and look around.

 

[marcij]

Okay you guys, I need help -- and sorry this is so long. My mother fell and broke her ankle yesterday, and tore a ligament. Some health background -- she is 64 years old, and she has always had problem with her feet/ankles swelling. (She recently started taking two fluid pills so they haven't been as swollen lately). She has diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, and other issues, and is overweight. She also had breast cancer around 8 years ago with double masectomy and complete reconstruction (using adbominal tissue). Anyway, she is supposed to go to the annual convention for crafts (she owns a scrapbook shop) in two weeks in Las Vegas.

My sister works for a group of orthopedic doctors, so that is who mom went to when she fell. The doctor's advise against airline travel for 4 - 6 weeks, because of swelling. She has to wear the cast for 4 weeks, then will be in a boot for 4 - 8 weeks after that. Mom thinks that we are just telling her that because no one can take off work to go with her to help her out, and because the doctor didn't tell her she couldn't travel yesterday. Of course, she didn't tell him she was supposed to travel in a couple of weeks. I told her to call the doctor tomorrow, but she is being stubborn (an understatement) and insists that my sister told him to tell her that.

Have any of you had broken bones or family/friends who did, or experience in the medical field? I tried googling for answers, but must not have put in the right search to get info on airline travel and casts. It just pulled up model airplanes! Any advice/help, even if it isn't the same as we have already received, would be helpful.

 

[ellenbenny]

Have you tried posting on the DIS DVC Rent board that you want to rent points for January 07? You might be able to get them for $10.00/pt and save a little- just try to follow the guidelines set up at the top to protect yourself as well as can be expected. You wouldn't be able to get a ressie at whatever resort you chose until Feb anyway- so take your time and look around.

Thanks for the advice. I just posted. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[tinker1bell]

Glynis, I am sure that anyone who goes to WDW will tell you about their favorite places to eat. one thing is looking at the allears site because they not only show the menus but also some have recipes. Plus a lot of places do try to work with the guest to help with dietary restrictions
Since this BIG trip was really my first I can tell you that each and every place that Steffy and I went to was the best. We go out a lot for lunch at work and try to go out most Friday nights. Having worked in the food service business myself, we learned how to ask a lot of questions and make sure we got what we paid for.
My sister had told me that she and our other sister would sometimes share a meal because they serve such a big helping.
I loved seeing the characters, so the Crystal Palace with Pooh, Tigger and Eyore was one of my favorites. Chef Mickey was great for breakfast because they really had a large selection. California Grill was absoutely the best. We were there for 3 hours from checking in to leaving and I would recommend that. Our server was Ron and anywhere you sit will provide you with a view of the castle and hear the music for Wishes and see the fireworks. I know that Steffy says to see it in front of the castle for the first time but this was so very special for me so I will always treasure that night. Ron took the time to have our choices split up so we could sample each appetizer that we wanted to share. he let us sample a few sips of wines to make our final choice. With the dining plan all we paid for was the b ottle of wine and of course we left extra. Without the plan we would have paid an extra $148.
I also liked the Liberty Tree Tavern because my sister just loves Chip and he really paid special attention to her which just made her day.
At MGM we ate at the Commissary and Backlot Express. Good food
boma was good. I tend to be a pickey eater but was able to find enough to satisfy me.
Mama Melrose was a good choice. We felt rushed because we wanted to make sure we got to the evening show and we had gotten seated late.
LeCeller had the most awsome soup ever, and the steaks were unbelievable.
we really liked the room that my sisters had at POP just the right size ---what do you do in the room besides sleep and shower?

 

[itdjbw]

I wanted to try this placed but how do picky eaters (the kids not me ) do? DH thinks the cost might not be worth it if the kids eat nothing.

We took the kids and some friends kids and they all seemed to enjoy it, they have a large selection of dishes from different places in Africa, I can usually convince the kids to try different dishes and they did have some kids friendly local dishes, I think they have different selections ever night.

 

[Steamboat Marti]

I'd be in for any get togethers...

I talked to someone today about renting points for Beach Club Villas for the marathon weekend and following week. I could have chosen between any of the DVC resorts, she apparently owns tons of points and rents them out (listed on ebay) and I can get the points I want at about $11.50 per point. Do any of you DVC'ers know anything about renting points? I have read about it on the disboards, and checked the concept out, but noone is renting points for that far out as far as I can tell, and this woman has really good feedback on ebay. I am early enough that she can call at 11 months out and hopefully get me what I want.

Any thoughts or other ideas for me?

The only immediate thought that I have is that it usually goes for about $10 a point, but I haven't checked recently - so I could be behind the times. Of course, I think DVC is fantastic and renting points is a great way to have a "trial run" of owning DVC. I'd continue to investigate it.

 

[itdjbw]

My prob is DH is picky...I wanted to try this place as well...

I always tell them 'how do you know you won't like it if you don't try and if you don't you don't have to eat it' They have learnt to dish small spons of things they want to try and they can go back for more of what they like - don't let them waste mounds of food.

If memory serves me well they let the kids dip strawberries and stuff for dessert so we could finish eating.

 

[tinker1bell]

Poor Steffy is always cold. We know to make sure there is an extra blanket for her (or two or three) in the hotel room. Me, I get the private summers so i am almost always hot.
But in a rare moment I keep a pair of gloves that I cut the fingers off so if I am cold I can still type

 

[Eeyorecln]

This is so sweet! I'm thinking about going down to DL in March (26th Anniversary) - but I know absolutely nothing about DL- can you give me some hints. We like staying onsite, but if you can give some really nice close offsite places we might be interested in that as well. What else is there to do around DL?? I need the scoop Glynis! Please!??!?? Any websites?

I'm not Glynis but we went there twice this year(August and December). I don't think there's a really good website for DL like WDW. The DIS has a DL chat area. I found the people there anwer questions fairly quickly and are willing to share their knowledge. There's a miedevil(sp?) dinner show in the area and I think a Pirate's one. We went to all the character meals except the princess one. If you want any reccomendations. I would highly recomend Blue Bayou as it's unique. It is a restaurant inside POTC. You want the 11:30 seating ( first seating) if going for lunch to get a waterside table. Lunch menu has the famous Monte Cristo sandwich. A lot of people rave about it. DH and I split one as it is quite big. LA is nearby. There's some museums and the La Brea Tarpits. For the FW you absolutely need to stake out a spot in the hub to really get the full effect. I teared up during part of it. I actually videotaped the Electrical Parade and FW and Fantasmic this last trip. Be sure to look up at Walt's apt. on main street. Fantasmic is dif. than at WDW : 1. the show is on Rivers of America so no real seating. You'll need to stake out a spot on the ground ahead of time or shell out $56 for the balcony dessert seating. (We did this our August trip if you want any opinions) 2. They use the Mark Twain and Columbia(with Peter Pan & gang). It really is neat. If you have any questions I'd love to help. We plan on going this summer to squeeze one last trip out of our AP's hoping to take the stepsons.

 

[itdjbw]

Meeting you for dinner would be out of this world fun! I've got to pin DH down on a budget, so as soon as I do, I'll start screaming for help! Right now, I'm simply compiling a list of what everyone likes to do and where people like to stay, etc. so I've got something for him to look at. Then we can go from there. The best thing is that it's no kids! Don't get me wrong! I love my kids, but DH and I like to do things alone, too. I don't know, yet, how I'll feel about turning 40, but I think it might be best if the kids aren't around in case I have a melt-down. That's entirely possible, since DH likes to spend my birthday reminding me that I'm 15 months older than he is. Pretty sad, huh? Oh well.

I'll be 40 Monday and seem to be getting closer to a meltdown, DH has arranged a 'surprise' party for me on Saturday at the clubhouse, he just cannot keep a secret!!! althought I'm trying hard to keep it from everyone else that I know about it.

 

[Steamboat Marti]

Poor Steffy is always cold. We know to make sure there is an extra blanket for her (or two or three) in the hotel room. Me, I get the private summers so i am almost always hot.
But in a rare moment I keep a pair of gloves that I cut the fingers off so if I am cold I can still type

I love it - private summers!! That is a priceless statement!!

 

[cocowum]

Ok guys, I made 7 eye patches for Kristine's daughter. Here is a photo.

I also came up with this letter to send with it. If I had past and next trip dates I could make it more personal, but since Kristine's not on I don't have the info and need to get to the post office by 5 PM.

What do you think? Should I make any changes to the letter?

Deb

What a wonderful thing to do. I love the letter. So sweet.