DIS Dads The DIS Dad's Club VII - Oh Peanut Butter...

[Disney Commando]

27 to go

 

[stopher1]

Ok - back to your favorite WDW restaurant question -

I'm going to go with

1) Boma - Flavors of Africa as my favorite resort restaurant
2) 50's Prime-Time Cafe and Yak & Yeti tied as my favorite theme park restaurant
3) Earl of Sandwich as my favorite counter-service, non-resort, non-theme park restaurant

 

[stopher1]

I'm not stopher, but I spent some time looking into the question a few months ago. From everything I read, unless you're interested in spending the big money on the Grand Californian, it's probably not worth it. In fact, the other Disneyland hotels aren't any closer to the park gates than the nearby "good neighbor" hotels.

True - very true.

 

[DEA]

Boy Don, you really know how to keep this thread moving!!!





ATTENTION!!!!

While we were on Juliana's WISH trip in December, my DW Melody wasn't feeling herself. After a trip to Walmart and a test, we found out that Melody is pregnant! Her due date is August 13 which was the day of Juliana's last chemo treatment.


AND we are having a boy!!!!!

Congratulations! Awesome news. Good luck with everything; all of here know that pregnancy is hardest on the father

 

[stopher1]

The one attraction that you avoid like the plague.

It's Tough to Be a Bug - and - Mission: Space.

 

[Disney Commando]

Ok - back to your favorite WDW restaurant question -

I'm going to go with

1) Boma - Flavors of Africa as my favorite resort restaurant
2) 50's Prime-Time Cafe and Yak & Yeti tied as my favorite theme park restaurant
3) Earl of Sandwich as my favorite counter-service, non-resort, non-theme park restaurant

What's your fav in DL

 

[middlepat]

1) My favorite attraction in Tomorrowland in both WDW and DL is by far Space Mountain. HOWEVER - my favorite version is Disneyland's. I don't like the tandem tracks and the inline seating at WDW. I feel that the tracks are too bumpy and jerky. The DL version has a single track configuration, dual seating per row, and is much, much smoother.

What? Not Stitch's Great Escape?

2) My favorite difference between DL and WDW comes down to the land make-up between the original Magic Kingdom and her east coast cousin. My two favorite lands in all Disney parks are a) NEW ORLEANS SQUARE in Disneyland and b) LIBERTY SQUARE in Walt Disney World. Both are such rich examples of the true immersion that the Imagineers are capable of. One is the only one ever truly based on a single, real location, the other a nice amalgam of early Americana. It is true that Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland was loosely on Walt's birthtown of Marceline, MO - but it too was more of an amalgam of small town midwestern Americana - whereas New Orleans Square is truely based on the Gay Paree of the turn of the last century. Absolutely fabulous theming and execution.

I truly like that both lands are unique to their respective parks and were not simply recreated as so many attractions are today.

Funny, I was expecting something along this line... maybe it had to do with someone's fascination with the Haunted Mansion.

 

[stopher1]

27 to go

You do realize I'm going to stop when I choose to, don't you

 

[IamTrike]

I'm still thinking about it...




You can ask me anything you want. Whether I respond or not remains to be seen.

Seriously though - I would say yes, there is - and no there is not - but it doesn't come cheaply - and it really is debatable. HOWEVER - keep this in mind - DL the resort (encompassing both theme parks, DTD, the three hotels and the assorted parking facilities - including the when it was built largest parking garage in the world) is only about 600 acres +/- and could easily fit inside AK and it's parking lot. DL is surrounded by lots and lots of motels and hotels all within a relatively short walking distance, though everything at DL is a relatively short walking distance when you compare it to WDW.

The real value for staying in a Disney resort hotel at DL comes from the Magic Mornings and the immersion factor. DL does not operate the same way that the WDW parks do, in that there are no Extra Magic Hours. Those came about after 9/11 when the business dropped off dramatically and entire resorts were shuttered for 6+ months, and another one under construction was suddenly cut in half and the unfinished half sat vacant and well, unfinished for nearly a decade. Pre-9/11 the WDW parks stayed open later more often just like DL does. DL the park, for much of the year opens at 8 am and stays open until 10, or 11 pm or even midnight. During the busiest parts of the year, it's often open until 1 or even 2 in the morning. DCA, for much of the year opens at 9 and stays open until 10, but goes later during the busiest times of the year til 11 or 12. Sometimes during the slower times DCA will open at 10 and close by 7 or 8.

Magic Mornings are only available to Disney resort guests, about 3x per week. The park opens an hour before normal, but only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are open. This can be a real time saver for folks during the peak seasons.

Without DVC points - I would not stay on property. With them - heck yeah! I'd much rather walk 5 minutes than 15 or 20.

Vague enough for ya?

I'm not stopher, but I spent some time looking into the question a few months ago. From everything I read, unless you're interested in spending the big money on the Grand Californian, it's probably not worth it. In fact, the other Disneyland hotels aren't any closer to the park gates than the nearby "good neighbor" hotels.

Thanks Stopher and AJ. I'm going to try and get the coast to coast medal in 2012. It looks like I'll stay offsite for the DL portion and put the money toward Legoland.

Stopher any other question I pose tonight will be able to be answered with a short answer.

 

[Disney Commando]

You do realize I'm going to stop when I choose to, don't you

Hopefully at 10,001

 

[DEA]

I second the Nuvi as well.

I third or fourth or fifth this one. The one my wife has, and maybe all of them, give you the speed limit for the road you're on. This can be nice in, say, Georgia, right Fed?

 

[middlepat]

It's Tough to Be a Bug - and - Mission: Space.

I have to admit, I have yet to do either of these, although next time down Mission: Space is on our list. (along with my DD7)

 

[stopher1]

What's your fav in DL

My favorite resort restaurant would be the Storyteller's Cafe at the Grand Californian.

My favorite theme park restaurant doesn't exist any more, sadly - but I'll go with the Plaza Inn in the hub. It used to be Carnation Main Street, but sadly that closed in '98 and was replaced by two lesser quality locations - which divided up the original into the inside location became the Blue Ribbon Bakery, and the outside patio became the Carnation Cafe. Neither has the quality nor the ambiance of the original.

 

[middlepat]

What is the one country NOT in the World Showcase that you would like to see?

 

[stopher1]

What? Not Stitch's Great Escape?

Did that one once. It's not a must do - but it wasn't horrible either. If my kids ever wanted to do it, I'd go with them. I actually prefer it to the old Alien Encounter... ugh that just didn't sit well with me. BUT ITTBAB... absolutely not. Once was way more than plenty!!!!

Funny, I was expecting something along this line... maybe it had to do with someone's fascination with the Haunted Mansion.

Ya think?

Actually, if you take a look at my Bicoastal TR - I just added a few photos tonight of my beloved New Orleans Square from the decks of the Mark Twain - and my beloved Haunted Mansion too... funny how my favorite attraction resides in both of my favorite lands. And of course it IS the only attraction to be situated in a completely different land in every Magic Kingdom park. I love that it's not just "typecast"

 

[stopher1]

Hopefully at 10,001

We'll see... I'm actually enjoying running up my post count on this thread too...

What is the one country NOT in the World Showcase that you would like to see?

Greece

 

[FreezinRafiki]

We'll see...

Come on, we're all parents here. We know that means "no".

 

[stopher1]

Come on, we're all parents here. We know that means "no".

Touche

 

[middlepat]

What is the one country NOT in the World Showcase that you would like to see?

Greece

Not Wisconsin?

Come on, we're all parents here. We know that means "no".

We know that translation.

 

[Disney Commando]

In your opinion worst ride at WDW