*** The Official 2014 - DLR -July Thread ***(We All Have Been There & Back Home)

[SilentFeline]

1. Are you one Park a Day or Park Hoppers?

Park hoppers all the way!

2. Do you like taking afternoon breaks?

It depends on what time of year we go. Our first trip was in May and we took short mid-day breaks (1-2 hours). Our last trip was in January and we didn't take any breaks because the park hours were much shorter. We'll definitely be taking longer mid-day breaks in July (2-4 hours), partly because of our knees and partly because of the heat. This will be our first Summer trip, so I'm not really sure what to expect in terms of weather.

3. What do like to carry in the Parks? Back Packs, Waist Packs, Hipsters, Large Totes or _____?

My fiance carries a backpack and I carry a waist pack that I got from Disney Movie Rewards. I also wear a Thermos cooler backpack for drinks.

4. What do you take pictures & videos with? Digital Combo Video / Cameras, DSLR Cameras, DVD Camcorders, H8 Videos, Digital Camcorders or Phones?

We use a Cannon Power Shot digital camera for pictures. It doesn't take great night shots, so we use PP photographers for those. This year, we'll also be taking night photos with our new phones. We've actually never shot videos at DLR. That may change this year though.

5. Do you bring your own snacks & drinks, buy your snacks & drinks or do a little of both?

Both!

6. Do you end up shopping at least once at a Target, Wal-Mart or _____ while you are at Disney?

We haven't had to do this yet.

7. When you get to Disney… What is one thing you forget to bring?

I make very exhaustive packing lists and am in charge of all of the packing, so we haven't forgotten anything yet. I hope I didn't just jinx myself!

8. Do you wear tennis shoes, sandals, crocks, flip flops or _____?

We both wear comfortable tennis shoes.

9. Do you do laundry while at Disney? If you do, do you bring detergent pod, small powder boxes, liquid detergent or purchase your needs at the laundry room?

We've never gone on trips long enough to have to do laundry, but honestly, we may have to consider it this year. I actually hadn't thought about that until now...

10. Do you carry a mini first aid kit to the parks?

Yes. I have a mini Johnson & Johnson first aid kit that I stock with various first aid items. I also put Neosporin in my fiance's backpack.

11. Do you bring your own rain gear from home or purchase souvenir rain gear if needed?

We always bring travel-sized umbrellas, and on our January trip we brought our own ponchos.

12. Do you take sun screen to the parks or put it on before you leave your hotel?

Both. I'm very fair skinned, so I can't afford to leave it at the hotel.

13. Do you get groceries delivered? If so who do you use?

No, we don't have groceries delivered.

 

[Cali Girl At Heart]

If you find any socks can you post? I'm looking for some too and will do the same

Yes, I'm happy to share! These Drymax socks look like a good option. I may pick up a pair and have the boys try them out now. http://www.drymaxsocks.com/

On our past trip, my older son wore some Teva type sandals, and he complained about his feet. I thought this would be a better option for him since it was summer and we we'd be on all the wet rides. We ended up paying a fortune for some tennis shoes in DTD for him. I've read in some other threads that some plan on changing out their shoes during the afternoon break. They say it really helps with over-all tiredness at the end of a long day. Might be worth a try.

 

[rickenmartin78]

Good Day and Happy Weekend To All Posting these questions of the week, reminds me of how fast the weeks fly by and how close we are getting to our Disney Vacations. I am posting these questions help us to remember things we need bring and to do. 1. Are you one Park a Day or Park Hoppers? We are 1 park a day people. 2. Do you like taking afternoon breaks? We take a break 2 days out of 9 days at Disney. 3. What do like to carry in the Parks? Back Packs, Waist Packs, Hipsters, Large Totes or _____? I carry back pack. 4. What do you take pictures & videos with? Digital Combo Video / Cameras, DSLR Cameras, DVD Camcorders, H8 Videos, Digital Camcorders or Phones? We use a Combo digital camera and video. 5. Do you bring your own snacks & drinks, buy your snacks & drinks or do a little of both? We always bring frozen water and gatorade bottles if our room has a combo frig/freezer. We also to a little of both.. 6. Do you end up shopping at least once at a Target, Wal-Mart or _____ while you are at Disney? We always have to run to Wal-Mart or a store close by for things. 7. When you get to Disney… What is one thing you forget to bring? MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ha 8. Do you wear tennis shoes, sandals, crocks, flip flops or _____? We are tennis shoes by I carry sandals and flip flops in my back pack just in case we want to change before water rides. 9. Do you do laundry while at Disney? If you do, do you bring detergent pod, small powder boxes, liquid detergent or purchase your needs at the laundry room? I always bring detergent pods. 10. Do you carry a mini first aid kit to the parks? I leave a first aid kit at the hotel and carry bandages and neo sporran in a little baggie. 11. Do you bring your own rain gear from home or purchase souvenir rain gear if needed? We bring our own Parkas and Umbrellas. 12. Do you take sun screen to the parks or put it on before you leave your hotel? Put sun screen on before we leave and take spray sunscreen with us. 13. Do you get groceries delivered? If so who do you use? I always get 2 cases of water, a case of Gatorade and a few snacks delivered.. Since we are avid WDW vacationers, I use Wego Shopping. I will use Von's since we are going to DLR.

1. HOPPER.
2. Afternoon breaks during the week. Last day will be a marathon day!
3. Backpack.
4. Stills and video with ye olde Nikon D7000 DSLR w/ 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8, and 35mm f/1.8 prime.
5. Water and chewing gum.
6. No 3rd party shopping.
7. Cash.
8. Tennis shoes at the parks; crocs at the pool.
9. No laundry.
10. No first aid kit.
11. Reuse old Disney Parks ponchos.
12. Sunscreen applied in the morning, then again as needed.
13. No groceries d

 

[SpacecadetNZ]

RHMH, I do so love your questions. Answering them is fun and gets me excited about our trip but I also learn things by reading others' answers. So thanks

1. Are you one Park a Day or Park Hoppers? We have Park Hoppers but honestly I am not sure how much we will park-hop. I just wanted to preserve the flexibility in case. This is out third trip from New Zealand as a family and will be quite different to the last two trips when the kids were very young and the primary reason for being in Southern California was to attend family weddings.

2. Do you like taking afternoon breaks? I think it will be essential given the long park hours and the weather.

3. What do like to carry in the Parks? Back Packs, Waist Packs, Hipsters, Large Totes or _____? I think one of us will carry a backpack and the kids may carry their own small backpacks with water bottles or we may just fit it all in one family backpack. Either way, it will be a sturdy pack with padded shoulder straps. I hate those skinny little straps that dig into your back after an hour or so.

4. What do you take pictures & videos with? Digital Combo Video / Cameras, DSLR Cameras, DVD Camcorders, H8 Videos, Digital Camcorders or Phones? This will be the first trip where we've had iPhones so will be interesting to see how much we end up using those for photos and videos. I have a decent dSLR but it's heavy so as much as I prefer the photo quality from that, I may get sick of carrying it around. I also have a small lightweight point-and-shoot digital camera which is much lighter but not as good quality. Plus the digital video cameras. Hmmm, I honestly don't know. We will have all of those with us at the hotel but it may vary which we bring on a daily basis.

5. Do you bring your own snacks & drinks, buy your snacks & drinks or do a little of both? The kids will definitely have their water bottles - they drink gallons of water and we don't let them have juice or sodas. So mean I will try to bring some healthy snacks to save time and money with queueing to buy things - but that will all depend on having had time to find a grocery store. We are at Disneyland two days after arriving from New Zealand so I will have to try and find a grocery store in those two days.

6. Do you end up shopping at least once at a Target, Wal-Mart or _____ while you are at Disney? No. I don't even know where the closest ones are to Anaheim.

7. When you get to Disney… What is one thing you forget to bring? Hand sanitiser.

8. Do you wear tennis shoes, sandals, crocks, flip flops or _____? I've been breaking in a new pair of Skechers in preparation. The kids have comfortable sports shoes that they wear to school so they will probably wear those. Or sandals. We may swap it up a bit each day. No idea what my husband is planning but he's a big boy and can sort himself out

9. Do you do laundry while at Disney? If you do, do you bring detergent pod, small powder boxes, liquid detergent or purchase your needs at the laundry room? Disneyland is the start of a three week vacation for us so we will definitely need to do laundry at some stage unless I pack three weeks' worth of underwear for everyone I hadn't even thought about laundry detergent though. Something to add to my grocery list. I don't think I will bother bringing it with me from New Zealand. I don't fancy explaining to the TSA guys at LAX what the white powder in my luggage is

10. Do you carry a mini first aid kit to the parks? No. I will have a few bandaids in my backpack and some Kleenex but that's all.

11. Do you bring your own rain gear from home or purchase souvenir rain gear if needed? We're off to Vancouver Island at the end of our vacation and apparently it can get pretty rainy so we are bringing lightweight rainjackets with us and can bring those to the parks if the weather is looking like we need them. Trying to avoid buying anything like that - I'd rather spend my dollars on fun stuff

12. Do you take sun screen to the parks or put it on before you leave your hotel? Both. We are very sun-conscious Down Under in the skin cancer capital of the world.

13. Do you get groceries delivered? If so who do you use? No, unfortunately Vons won't accept an international credit card. Rats. Are there other stores that deliver? Would love to know

 

[RHMH]

- Another round of great answers were posted...

Rickenmartin78 - That's a great camera...

SpacecadetNZ - Have you thought of this??? getting a pre-paid Visa or MC.. would that work with Von's?

Here is a Wiki - Map link of Disneyland and it's surroundings. I look at this everyday to see where I am and where I can go without spending 100.00 on cab fair.

Link - http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=33.811958&lon=-117.918835&z=14&m=b

I learn so much from other travelers also... I love going to my DD and saying --- SEE - I'm not the only one borrowing a towel from the hotel and putting it in the back pack to dry off after a water ride!!!!!

Don't know if anyone has had the opportunity to view my DD you tube channel. All of the videos and pic were taken with our Canon Powershot ELPH HD 110. I think another poster has the same camera.The You Tube link is below..

 

[tinibee]

This is fun! Thank you for putting out these questions. It does help me think about more things to plan for our trip!

On a side note - an extra bonus question - are you doing (or have you done) the Welcome to Disneyland Tour. If you have been, what did you think of it? We aren't new to Disneyland, but its been a couple years and my memories are getting clouded with other Disney parks so I booked it hoping it will be a good refresher.

1. Are you one Park a Day or Park Hoppers?

Park Hoppers. They used to time WOC and Fantasmic so you can run between the parks to see both

2. Do you like taking afternoon breaks?

Yes. Especially when the parks are open to midnight.

3. What do like to carry in the Parks? Back Packs, Waist Packs, Hipsters, Large Totes or _____?

My husband carries a backpack and I carry a a messenger bag style purse.

4. What do you take pictures & videos with? Digital Combo Video / Cameras, DSLR Cameras, DVD Camcorders, H8 Videos, Digital Camcorders or Phones?

My husband has the nice cameras, I just use my phone. I gotta post my DL pictures real time on FB!

5. Do you bring your own snacks & drinks, buy your snacks & drinks or do a little of both?

We bring reusable bottles (camelbaks) and refill at the water fountains during the day. I try to bring some small snacks, but the call of the dole whip is too strong to deny. I stayed at one off site hotel that had a breakfast that you could take back to your room. I have packed ziploc baggies that I use to take some of the cereal from the breakfast to the park to snack on later. I also use the baggies to protect anything of value in my purse from Splash Mountain.

6. Do you end up shopping at least once at a Target, Wal-Mart or _____ while you are at Disney?

Target and Vons pretty regularly since they are so close to Disneyland. There is a Hawaiian BBQ we often go to about 15 minutes from DL that has a mega Target next to it.

7. When you get to Disney… What is one thing you forget to bring?

Ibprofen - thank goodness for Target!

8. Do you wear tennis shoes, sandals, crocks, flip flops or _____?

Tennis shoes normally, but I've been wearing Sketchers Go Walks lately and they are pretty darn good.

9. Do you do laundry while at Disney? If you do, do you bring detergent pod, small powder boxes, liquid detergent or purchase your needs at the laundry room?

Occasionally we do laundry. I often bring single pouches of detergent and throw some dryer sheets in a baggie from home, but this go around I'm going to look for washeeze 3 in 1 laundry sheets.

10. Do you carry a mini first aid kit to the parks?

I always seem to get cut somehow so always carry band-aids.

11. Do you bring your own rain gear from home or purchase souvenir rain gear if needed?

It doesn't rain in so-cal like it does in Orlando. We bought non-park ponchos and brought them with us once when the weather was predicted to be really bad, but rain is usually pretty scarce and mild when it happens. Of course - I'm originally from Washington State where no one carries an umbrella so I have a high tolerance for rain.

12. Do you take sun screen to the parks or put it on before you leave your hotel?

My husband burns also instantly in bright sun so he does both. I remember to do it before I leave the hotel and that's usually it.

13. Do you get groceries delivered? If so who do you use?

We generally get rental cars so never had grocery delivery.

 

[RHMH]

Happy Mother's Day To All

May your day be sprinkled with

Since I have been Mr. Mom for 14 years... DD is taking me out to Brunch for the first time.... Smoked Salmon, Sushi, and Desserts OH MY - 11:45 can't get here soon enough.. DD is not even up yet... Better go wake up the Princess....

 

[94bruin]

Happy Mother's Day To All

May your day be sprinkled with

Since I have been Mr. Mom for 14 years... DD is taking me out to Brunch for the first time.... Smoked Salmon, Sushi, and Desserts OH MY - 11:45 can't get here soon enough.. DD is not even up yet... Better go wake up the Princess....

Happy Mr. Mom's Day to you, too! I unfortunately am up way too early as our carbon monoxide alarm went off early (just the battery.) Couldn't go back to sleep. Just waiting for the girls to get up as I was given strict instructions to stay in bed.

Anyhow, here are my answers:



1. Are you one Park a Day or Park Hoppers?

We currently have APs, so definitely Park Hoppers.

2. Do you like taking afternoon breaks?

We have taken afternoon breaks until our Spring Break Trip. It was our first trip with the girls where neither of them required a nap. Of course, DD5 could barely keep her eyes open at the end of the day. I have to say that going all day let us do a lot more since our afternoon breaks ended up being at least 4-5 hours long.

3. What do like to carry in the Parks? Back Packs, Waist Packs, Hipsters, Large Totes or _____?

Backpack, stroller

4. What do you take pictures & videos with? Digital Combo Video / Cameras, DSLR Cameras, DVD Camcorders, H8 Videos, Digital Camcorders or Phones?

DSLR Camera

5. Do you bring your own snacks & drinks, buy your snacks & drinks or do a little of both?

Bring own snacks, though we can never resist buying churros!

6. Do you end up shopping at least once at a Target, Wal-Mart or _____ while you are at Disney?

Nope. Since we drive down from Northern California, we try to bring everything we need.

7. When you get to Disney… What is one thing you forget to bring?

So far, so good. Haven't forgotten anything. Knock on wood...

8. Do you wear tennis shoes, sandals, crocks, flip flops or _____?

Tennis shoes.

9. Do you do laundry while at Disney? If you do, do you bring detergent pod, small powder boxes, liquid detergent or purchase your needs at the laundry room?

No laundry.

10. Do you carry a mini first aid kit to the parks?

I do, along with allergy meds for DD8. Mainly bandaids.

11. Do you bring your own rain gear from home or purchase souvenir rain gear if needed?

Bring our own.

12. Do you take sun screen to the parks or put it on before you leave your hotel?

Put on sunscreen before the parks

13. Do you get groceries delivered? If so who do you use?

No. We have a minivan, so we can load up as much as we need to. I'm always a little embarrassed when we arrive since we have lots for the bellman to bring up to our room.

 

[FFerret]

Happy Mother's Day
If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!!!!

 

[SpacecadetNZ]

Unfortunately a prepaid VISA won't work for me either but that was a good suggestion. It's all about having a US billing address - which I don't. I will just have to be organised and schedule a grocery run in our first couple of days.

Another thing that occurred to me in the middle of the night (as it does ), RHMH, you said you would be adding bottled water to your grocery list. Is Anaheim tap water not very drinkable?

I hadn't even thought of taking a towel to dry off after water rides. Can we expect to get quite wet? I'm thinking Splash Mountain, Grizzly River Run - what are the other wet rides I should be aware of.

 

[RHMH]

Happy Mother's Day
If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!!!!

To You Too!!!!!

Unfortunately a prepaid VISA won't work for me either but that was a good suggestion. It's all about having a US billing address - which I don't. I will just have to be organised and schedule a grocery run in our first couple of days.

Another thing that occurred to me in the middle of the night (as it does ), RHMH, you said you would be adding bottled water to your grocery list. Is Anaheim tap water not very drinkable?

I hadn't even thought of taking a towel to dry off after water rides. Can we expect to get quite wet? I'm thinking Splash Mountain, Grizzly River Run - what are the other wet rides I should be aware of.

DD is very picky about her water... Voss, Tynant and Fiji is all she will drink so I have to have bottled water for her... I can drink the cheaper yet very acceptable to the day to day person like ME!!! Ozarka or generic Spring Water... I have heard Anaheim tap water is just fine to drink... It's just my spoiled DD (Midori)

We have always gotten wet on water rides... So having a towel, spare socks is normal for us. we even pack a pair of flip flops to change before are water ride. Saving the tennis shoes so they won't get wet...

Thanks - Bob

 

[chirurgeon]

Made 2 dining reservations for my trip. Slowly getting there.

 

[RHMH]

Made 2 dining reservations for my trip. Slowly getting there.

Way to go!!! Would you be so kind to share your ADR's so I can confirm them on the front page of the thread? I can also wait until you have all of your dining plans in place.

Thanks

Bob

 

[SilentFeline]

I just made my last ADR today! To increase park time before the crowds start flowing in, we decided to cancel our Blue Bayou reservation on the 4th and reschedule it for the 9th. It'll be nice to have our most elegant meal on our last park day.

53 days until we arrive! I can't wait!

 

[RHMH]

I just made my last ADR today! To increase park time before the crowds start flowing in, we decided to cancel our Blue Bayou reservation on the 4th and reschedule it for the 9th. It'll be nice to have our most elegant meal on our last park day.

53 days until we arrive! I can't wait!

Thanks - Got you updated.. can you check on the ADR page to make sure I have all of your dining plans organized? Would like to put a star next to them.

Thanks

Bob

 

[SilentFeline]

Thanks - Got you updated.. can you check on the ADR page to make sure I have all of your dining plans organized? Would like to put a star next to them.

Thanks

Bob

It all looks good!

 

[Dismamx2]

I am sooo late to the party
We had youngest dd's Confirmation at the weekend - a great time was had by all

Belated Mother's Day wishes to you all, we had Mother's Day back in March



1. Are you one Park a Day or Park Hoppers?

Park Hoppers

2. Do you like taking afternoon breaks?

Yes at WDW, no at DL Paris

3. What do like to carry in the Parks? Back Packs, Waist Packs, Hipsters, Large Totes or _____?

I usually carry a small shoulder bag or waist pack and we share carrying a string backpack

4. What do you take pictures & videos with? Digital Combo Video / Cameras, DSLR Cameras, DVD Camcorders, H8 Videos, Digital Camcorders or Phones?

Combo digital camera and video

5. Do you bring your own snacks & drinks, buy your snacks & drinks or do a little of both?

A little of both

6. Do you end up shopping at least once at a Target, Wal-Mart or _____ while you are at Disney?

Planning to visit Wal-Mart at N Euclid St

7. When you get to Disney… What is one thing you forget to bring?

Can't be anything important as I can't remember and I usually do forget things

8. Do you wear tennis shoes, sandals, crocks, flip flops or _____?

A combination of all of the above

9. Do you do laundry while at Disney? If you do, do you bring detergent pod, small powder boxes, liquid detergent or purchase your needs at the laundry room?

Never do laundry

10. Do you carry a mini first aid kit to the parks?

A few bits

11. Do you bring your own rain gear from home or purchase souvenir rain gear if needed?

Both

12. Do you take sun screen to the parks or put it on before you leave your hotel?

Both

13. Do you get groceries delivered? If so who do you use?

I looked into Vons but as I don't have a US billing address I can't use this service but I'm happy to take a trip to Walmart.
I've booked Lansky/DK Livery for transport from LAX and they include a grocery stop so I may use that for a few quick bits

 

[RHMH]

It all looks good!

YAY!!!!

 

[RHMH]

WOW!!! - Another round of great answers to the questions... Thanks everyone...

 

[RHMH]

I am sooo late to the party
We had youngest dd's Confirmation at the weekend - a great time was had by all

Belated Mother's Day wishes to you all, we had Mother's Day back in March

And to you too!!!!

Congrat's to you and your Youngest DD..

Midori goes for her confirmation next year.