TR w/4000+ Pics/Disney on Ice w/184 Pics!!

[GoofySon'sMom]

How disappointing! That restaurant looked so fun and the food pretty tasty! Bad service can certainly ruin a meal!

I totally forgot about the Disney warehouse! Oh well ... again, I will say ... maybe next time!

 

[DizNee Luver]

The Howard Johnson....also lovingly known as the HoJo. It was everything that we'd read prior to booking. We were very pleased with our stay here & would have no problem booking another stay here. We were in Building 1, 4th floor, rooms 1-401 & 1-403, premium Disney view.

Here's the outside:

I didn't get a pic of the laundry room which was in our building in the basement. It cost $1.25 to wash & $1.00 to dry......trust me....don't leave your stuff in the dryer the entire time allotted......gets the clothes VERY hot!

Here are the grounds.....very lovely:

The Pool & Castaway Cove:

 

[DizNee Luver]

Oops, ran 3 pics too long last post.......

I never got over to the pool to use it but did get the kids to the water play area & toddler pool at Castaway Cove a few times. Michayla would sit in the toddler pool & spin circles & put her face under the water.....scared me to death!! Shyann liked the toddler pool & going down the mini water slide & playing with the water fountains. They both loved it & melted down when we would leave. Anthony & Addy had a blast doing the slides & when the bucket would dump on them. A really neat area for kids of all ages. I believe the older boys also played in this area a few times as well as take advantage of the hot tub.

Next installment will be the rooms & our view. I also have dinner at Millie's & fireworks from the balcony of our room. Might not get these done until tonight but will try to do sooner.

 

[DizNee Luver]

How disappointing! That restaurant looked so fun and the food pretty tasty! Bad service can certainly ruin a meal!

I totally forgot about the Disney warehouse! Oh well ... again, I will say ... maybe next time!

The service definitely spoiled the meal.....but now we know...that is one we won't be going to again. I believe there's another one in the LA area we might try next time.

 

[Belle Ella]

Mom's name is Rosemarie and my girls are Katy (the oldest) and Shelby.

Your girls were so much fun!! Someday I'd like to go on the Girls trip or just any trip wit multiple DIS'ers, lol. Someday. Someday. It wont be for a while though. Boo.

So glad you loved the HoJo Laurie!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Okay, was able to get back on before I need to leave, so here goes the next part of the HoJo. Our rooms!! We booked thru Disney Travel & had standard rooms but I had arranged prior to arrival to upgrade to the Premium Disney View rooms. These also included a microwave (that we really ended up not using...usually we do) The view from my room (corner room) had a pretty nice view of the fireworks, but the boys room, right next door had their view blocked by trees....if that had been our only room...I would have been a bit upset.....but no worries.....one balcony worked for us.

Our rooms had 2 queen beds that were very comfortable with lots of extra pillows. A small round table with 2 chairs. A tv, dresser that ran along the wall with a chair, small fridge, microwave, full-sized closet with iron & ironing board in it. The bathroom had a tub/shower combo, sink & toilet. We also had another sink outside of the bathroom. My only complaint was our shower didn't work that great. When you pull the knob to go to shower, half of the water went to the shower, while the other half still poured from the faucet.....so not great water pressure. Glad I hacked off all my hair before going....otherwise, getting the soap out of it would have been a process.

We also had 2 portable cribs in our room (not the portable travel cribs that fold up....but actual small cribs) We found the girls are a little big for them...but they managed. Even with the 2 cribs in our room....we had plenty of room to move around. We even kept the 2 strollers in our room folded up.

Our room had Mike & I, Betty & Addy & the twins, while the other room had the 3 older boys & Anthony. This seemed to work out nicely for all of us (ok, maybe not so much for the older boys.....lol)

Room 1:

Room 2:

The view from the balcony:

I enjoyed sitting out in the evenings & watching the World of Color lasers, water sprays & the fun wheel lighting up DCA, seeing some of the lasers & fireworks from Fantasmic & of course, the fireworks from the balcony.....well worth paying for the upgrade!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I had called Vacation Planning to surprise Derek & Betty with a Birthday Basket. They deliver to the Good Neighbor Motels....so that was nice!! The basket was waiting for them at check-in. They won't put these up in the rooms, but will leave them at the front desk if not staying in one of the 3 resort hotels. The basket was made up like a birthday cake with the base being chocolate bars, a small vinylmation box on the inside & birthday ears. I believe it ran me in all around $66 (a little spendy but worth it for the surprise)

After checking in, we went down to Castaway Cove & let the kids play for a couple hours. Next thing we needed to do was find some dinner. We decided to go & try Mimi's since so many people rave about this restaurant. It was 7:30pm & the wait would have been almost an hour!!

So we decided to walk to Millie's which is in front of the Fairfield Inn.

No line.....no waiting. They even said, the automatic tip (large group) would be less than Mimi's.....lol I think they charged us 15%. I was a little worried since I really hadn't seen anything on this restaurant & we were seated immediately with a group of 10. The service was great & quick. The food was really, really good!! It was a pleasant surprise!

Addy & Anthony had Dino Nuggets & Pizza:

Derek had the Flatbread Chicken Fajita Tacos:

Tyler had the Philly Cheesesteak:

Nick had the Taco Salad (love the shell made from avocado!):

Betty had the Steak Dinner:

Mike had the Lemon Piccata Chicken & I had the Lemon Piccata Tilapia:

Mike thought the Piccata sauce had too much lemon in it...but I thought it was perfect with the fish.

I think we ended up with 2 desserts: one was a chocolate cake & the other a peach pie that everyone shared:

These are from our walk back to the motel (they divide the 2 sides of traffic on Harbor Blvd.....very pretty at night when all lit up):

 

[DizNee Luver]

After dinner we got back to our rooms & got the twins to bed. We watched the fireworks from our balcony. As we waited, we noticed the Mickey FunWheel lighting up & then we saw lasers & occassionally we saw the water spray fountains!

We also noticed we could see some of Fantasmic lasers, fireworks & flames:

Then the fireworks started! This is the first time I've had a camera that would actually take decent pics of the fireworks!! I'm so excited to finally get some!

And so ends our day (July 25)......tomorrow I start the Disneyland Photos with Day one in the parks!!!!

 

[joyfulDisneytears]

Subscribing!

I've only been to DL once and that was for a single day with a friend who was a CM. We just hit a few major rides and that was it. I'm planning on moving to the Phoenix, AZ area in the next couple years though, so I'm trying to get as much DL knowledge as possible since I'll be within a reasonable driving distance!

Looking forward to hearing about your time in the parks!

 

[kelmac284]

Afternoon everyone!!

Ok I will admit I am a dummy and never learned how to multi quote and this old dog can't learn new tricks. Several people have tried to tell me and I still can't get it LOL. But anyway,

Michelle it was great to finally meet you after talking on here for so long and hopefully will get to see you more in the future either on a ladies trip or perhaps on another mini meet?

Jessica it was also nice finally meeting you as well and thanks so much for the compliment on the girls. They had a blast meeting everyone as well and I do hope that one day we ALL can make it to a ladies trip together. I KNOW you guys would love it and we would all have such a blast together!! And heck we are all pretty close so I still think maybe a day trip would be fun. Maybe a longer one this time. I know I know organizing one that everyone can actually make is the tough part lol but maybe we can do that in the fall or something. It would be fun to have more time to visit!!

And Laurie loving your report so far. I know I should do more and I USED to do one every time I went on a trip on Mouseplanet but I just have gotten lazy in my old age LOL. Esp when it comes to having to download all the pics to photobucket and then onto here. I LOVE fb for that reason because it is just a onetime dowload and wa la they are there! LOVING how detailed you are and really enjoying this!!

Can't wait for the next installment!!

 

[APX]

I have to say... that steak looked pretty small, but that baked potatoe = HUGE. Just the way I like it.

Nice TR, i'm watching this one.

 

[Michelle2]

Thanks so much for the Hojo pics! We are staying here in a week for one night before moving into the Grand Californian for the rest of our stay....can't wait! I think my kids will LOVE the theme pool! I have always wanted to try this place out! (And the food looks delicious, thanks for being so thorough)

 

[disneydreamer74]

Great trip report and awesome photos!!! I totally understand about the bad experience at the Ice cream shoppe. I feel 100% that bad service can completley ruin a dining experience. At least the food was good!
The hojo looks great! I keep saying I will stay there on one of my trips, but...I worry about the walk back and forth for naps and after a long day of walking (gulp!) How was the walk for you?

The last trip we tried Millie's and I have to say, it was a really cheap meal, but.....not good! None of us liked our meals Perhaps we just happened to eat there on an off day. Your meals looked really fresh and tasty..so, maybe I will have to give this place another chance!!
Thanks for sharing your trip with us!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Subscribing!

I've only been to DL once and that was for a single day with a friend who was a CM. We just hit a few major rides and that was it. I'm planning on moving to the Phoenix, AZ area in the next couple years though, so I'm trying to get as much DL knowledge as possible since I'll be within a reasonable driving distance!

Looking forward to hearing about your time in the parks!

Since you only got to experience a few things on your day trip.....you will be amazed at all the little things that make Disneyland so special. I love all the details, the flowers, the castmembers, the little shops, the entertainment, fireworks, parades & then the rides. The DIS is a great place to get all that info & watching trip reports for details & pics. Thank you so stopping in on mine!!

Afternoon everyone!!

Ok I will admit I am a dummy and never learned how to multi quote and this old dog can't learn new tricks. Several people have tried to tell me and I still can't get it LOL. But anyway,

Kelly it's very easy.....down by the quote button is a smaller button....click on the small one with quote marks on it for each person you are quoting....then on the last person, click on the small one & the quote one....& you've got it!!!

Michelle it was great to finally meet you after talking on here for so long and hopefully will get to see you more in the future either on a ladies trip or perhaps on another mini meet?

Jessica it was also nice finally meeting you as well and thanks so much for the compliment on the girls. They had a blast meeting everyone as well and I do hope that one day we ALL can make it to a ladies trip together. I KNOW you guys would love it and we would all have such a blast together!! And heck we are all pretty close so I still think maybe a day trip would be fun. Maybe a longer one this time. I know I know organizing one that everyone can actually make is the tough part lol but maybe we can do that in the fall or something. It would be fun to have more time to visit!!

And Laurie loving your report so far. I know I should do more and I USED to do one every time I went on a trip on Mouseplanet but I just have gotten lazy in my old age LOL. Esp when it comes to having to download all the pics to photobucket and then onto here. I LOVE fb for that reason because it is just a onetime dowload and wa la they are there! LOVING how detailed you are and really enjoying this!!

Can't wait for the next installment!!

I love doing these reports......We take a ton of pics & this way I can share them with everyone!!! Next installment will be tomorrow.

I have to say... that steak looked pretty small, but that baked potatoe = HUGE. Just the way I like it.

Nice TR, i'm watching this one.

My mother in law thought it was a good balance since our 3 yr old helped her eat the potato......lol Thanx I hope you stick around for more!!

Thanks so much for the Hojo pics! We are staying here in a week for one night before moving into the Grand Californian for the rest of our stay....can't wait! I think my kids will LOVE the theme pool! I have always wanted to try this place out! (And the food looks delicious, thanks for being so thorough)

We really were impressed with the HoJo....next time...we'll plan a day off just so we can spend more time playing in Castaway Cove!!

Great trip report and awesome photos!!! I totally understand about the bad experience at the Ice cream shoppe. I feel 100% that bad service can completley ruin a dining experience. At least the food was good!
The hojo looks great! I keep saying I will stay there on one of my trips, but...I worry about the walk back and forth for naps and after a long day of walking (gulp!) How was the walk for you?

The last trip we tried Millie's and I have to say, it was a really cheap meal, but.....not good! None of us liked our meals Perhaps we just happened to eat there on an off day. Your meals looked really fresh and tasty..so, maybe I will have to give this place another chance!!
Thanks for sharing your trip with us!!

We were concerned when there wasn't a bunch of people in there....but all the food was good.....really good.....so as you said, maybe an off day or maybe we hit on a rare good day??

The walk back & forth really wasn't that bad. My mother-in-law used the ART & we pushed the strollers to & from a few times each day. We walked along the Disneyland fence line & avoided the crowded sidewalks. It was leisurely & nice. Even at the end of a long day....I was able to do this walk with no problem (I have fibromyalgia). I'd say it took us about 8 mins or so to walk it.

 

[Belle Ella]

Talk about a park view - you really did get to see the fireworks at night! I'd be so tempted to upgrade but I really know I shouldn't unless my cousin and my friend come along. Although if my parents do we'll be staying at the GCH ... lol. Between that and the fact that building 1 means less walking on the trek back to the hotel every night. Right now we'll be in the building at the back. Not looking forward to that, but oh well.

Awesome photos!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Talk about a park view - you really did get to see the fireworks at night! I'd be so tempted to upgrade but I really know I shouldn't unless my cousin and my friend come along. Although if my parents do we'll be staying at the GCH ... lol. Between that and the fact that building 1 means less walking on the trek back to the hotel every night. Right now we'll be in the building at the back. Not looking forward to that, but oh well.

Awesome photos!!

The upgrade really wasn't that much more. I believe we paid $15/night +tax to upgrade each room......just food for thought!!

Thank you on the photo compliments!! I was so excited to get fireworks pictures this time......I love the fireworks!!

 

[kelmac284]

LOL I know Laurie about the quoting thing I have had it explained so many times but for some reason I just can't get it to work. I am SO not computer savvy!

The Hojo does look really nice and that is actually where the gals stay on the ladies trip and they always get GREAT deals but mom and I have not stayed there because she has a REALLY bad knee. On the first trip we stayed at the Desert Inn and this last one we stayed at PPH. They do the first night Meet and Greet at one of the conference rooms and it is really nice. I think I would really like to stay there if it were a bit closer but she just can't do the walk and we don't want to mess with waiting around for the shuttle.

Plus we have gotten REALLY spoiled staying on property and it is going to be so hard going back to the good neighbors. NOT that there is anything wrong with them and there are several of them that we have stayed at and enjoy but I have to say in Oct of 09 Shane and I and the girls got one of those really great discounted AP rates and stayed at the DLH and it was SO nice to have all the amenities of being right there. The pool, the restaurants and being able to do the MM since I have an AP and normally wouldn't get to use it. And then mom and I did PPH as I said for the ladies trip and this past trip we tried GCH. Room wise I think that the good neighbors are JUST as nice if not better in some aspects because at least the standard rooms at some of the Disney hotels are VERY small, esp the Grand and I have had some very nice rooms at some of the others. But having the closeness and all the other little perks was REALLY nice and like I said we got pretty spoiled but unless they have some killer deals I doubt we will be able to swing it in the future but hey it was fun while it lasted

Can't wait for your next installment!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Monday, July 26 Day 3 of our trip & Day 1 for Disneyland!! Also Derek's 21st Birthday!!

We were up early to get to the gates prior to opening. The park opened at 8 & so I figured they would open the gates at 7:30 & do the rope drop at 8.....but they didn't open the gates until 7:45am. Here are some pics on our walk over & the different things in the esplanade area between DL & DCA.

The crowds weren't too bad this morning:

The twins as we were waiting to be let thru the gates into Disneyland.

Addy & Anthony with Betty while we waited in line.

I'm not going to get too far into this report until I figure out why I'm missing Ty's pics on my CD.......Once I get them....I'll continue....otherwise I'll be repeating myself......but at least you got a little taste of Disneyland this morning!

 

[DizNee Luver]

LOL I know Laurie about the quoting thing I have had it explained so many times but for some reason I just can't get it to work. I am SO not computer savvy!

The Hojo does look really nice and that is actually where the gals stay on the ladies trip and they always get GREAT deals but mom and I have not stayed there because she has a REALLY bad knee. On the first trip we stayed at the Desert Inn and this last one we stayed at PPH. They do the first night Meet and Greet at one of the conference rooms and it is really nice. I think I would really like to stay there if it were a bit closer but she just can't do the walk and we don't want to mess with waiting around for the shuttle.

Plus we have gotten REALLY spoiled staying on property and it is going to be so hard going back to the good neighbors. NOT that there is anything wrong with them and there are several of them that we have stayed at and enjoy but I have to say in Oct of 09 Shane and I and the girls got one of those really great discounted AP rates and stayed at the DLH and it was SO nice to have all the amenities of being right there. The pool, the restaurants and being able to do the MM since I have an AP and normally wouldn't get to use it. And then mom and I did PPH as I said for the ladies trip and this past trip we tried GCH. Room wise I think that the good neighbors are JUST as nice if not better in some aspects because at least the standard rooms at some of the Disney hotels are VERY small, esp the Grand and I have had some very nice rooms at some of the others. But having the closeness and all the other little perks was REALLY nice and like I said we got pretty spoiled but unless they have some killer deals I doubt we will be able to swing it in the future but hey it was fun while it lasted

Can't wait for your next installment!!

Betty used the shuttle pretty much the whole time & one time she sat at DL for an hour because they were doing a shift change (driver).....it sucked because we never knew how soon she'd show up at the parks so we could meet her & start our day or how long it would take to get her back at the motel......I've never been that impressed with the ART system & avoid it as much as possible.

I loved staying on property but even with my AP we just can't afford it. I priced out our trip for 9 nights, 2 rooms at the HoJo & at the Paradise Pier & to stay on property would have run us over $2000 more. Just wasn't worth it to me.

 

[kelmac284]

Yeah when we used to go when the kids were little we stayed at the Embassy suites once and then at the Holiday Inn over on Manchester that has the suites and has the full breakfast. That is a GREAT hotel esp for someone like you guys that have a large group. You get a 2 room suite with a kitchen and a living room and they have FULL breakfast in the mornings that is included BUT it is a ways and you HAVE to take the stupid shuttle.

When the kids were small we did it but I waited a LONG time esp at night for that stupid thing and the worst part was I had the double stroller and I can't tell you HOW many times I would have people practically run me over trying to get in when I was FIRST in line but I was trying to get two sleeping babies AND my huge stroller into the van BY myself cuz mom and I went a few times without my dh. He was in Iraq for 15 months and we took a few trips without him. I couldn't believe how rude people were and would push through and it was bad enough to make two women possibly be last on the bus or have to NOT get a seat with two sleeping little ones and a huge stroller but a LOT of the time we were there first but they would push in front while we were trying to get on with the kids and the stroller. It was ridiculous. In fact we had the passes and one night people were so rude we just said screw it and went and got a cab. I think that was the LAST time I stayed at that hotel.

It wasn't long after that that I learned that staying RIGHT across the street was SO much more convenient and as nice as it is to stay farther away and have the nicer rooms and full breakfast you really can't beat the advantage of being able to go back to your room so conveniently and NOT have to worry about using a shuttle or whatever.

And also like I said now that my mom has such a hard time walking the shorter the better.

She is getting to the point where I am trying to convince her to get one of those scooters because she has to sit and rest a LOT and can't stand or even sit on the ground for long periods of time. So it is something we are going to have to consider.

And I TOTALLY get you on the disney hotels. It would NOT be worth it esp for 2 rooms.

It is sometimes not worht it for ONE and it is DEF more expensive even WITH the discounts to stay there but the last few times my mom wanted to do it and she is one of those people that likes to spend a little more to have the "extras". WE did it that one time but most of the time we can't afford it either. If mom is paying she will usually splurge cuz that is how she is but I totally get you and if it is US paying we can't usually afford it either We usually go the cheapest route possible so that we can afford more OTHER stuff!!

But that one time in Oct the Disneyland hotel was really cheap and so we splurged for the onetime experience and it was SO fun although they gave us a crappy room but everything else was great. The kids got to swim in the pool and Shane and I got to have a nice adult dinner at Hook's so it was really nice.

But like I said esp with the ticket increases I don't even know if I am going to be able to renew my AP.

A lot of things are going to change if they keep increasing their prices that's for sure!!