So, I thought I would report back since I asked so many questions on here before our trip last week.
Our flight arrived at LAX earlier than planned so were able to catch an earlier shuttle (DLR Express) and arrived at the DLH around noon. Check-in was quick and we got our room right away. Frontier Tower 11th floor with pool view and resort view over the Adventure tower. It was an amazing view and the little bit of extra distance to the Frontier tower did not bother us at all. The only thing is that we did not run into characters as much as what I had read on here. I saw Goofy a couple of times only. Maybe because we never needed to walk into Fantasy Tower? But we loved our stay at the DLH. Really enjoyed the room, the pool (2-3 hour pool break every afternoon) and the customer service. Only complaint was the slow service at the pool. Not nearly enough waiters to serve the large amount of people, which were probably escaping the hot weather like we did.
We went to the park 5 days (first day was on arrival day, from 3pm), and with a DD5 and our long afternoon breaks at the pool, we did not have enough time to do it all, not even close. The crowds were very heavy the first couple of days and lines were long. We did spend lots of time (3.5 hours) waiting for Frozen, but it sure was a highlight of the trip for our DD5. We enjoyed the fireworks on first day (thanks for suggesting the earmuffs for DD5 who does not like loud noises!). We were right at the hub and were absolutely pleased with the view and the magic!)
Highlights
Three character meals:
1) Ariel where DD5 loved meeting the princesses (Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, Belle, Minnie). DH and thought it was very low interaction, took forever for princesses to come outside and get to us, so it was a very long lunch, very expensive for food that was good but not worth the price. But DD5 thought it was amazing just to be able to take her picture with each princess who was there.
2) Storyteller: Now talk about a fun interactive and delicious experience. The whole time spent there was fantastic. Characters (Brother Bear, Little Bear, Chip, Dale, Meeko) were awesome. The singing and dancing were so much fun for DD5. Food was delicious.
3) Goofy's kitchen. Very fun and lots of characters there (Pluto, Goofy, Alice and MadHatter, Chip, Dale, Baloo) who were very fun and interactive. Food was good with lots of choices, not at all healthy though.
Food
We were not even close to having enough time in the parks to enjoy all the food I was wanting to try that I had noted from here.
Thumbs up for Cream cheese pretzel, chocolate covered pineapple, mint Julep, Blue Bayou, Flo's V8, churros, Carnation Cafe (we got to meet Oscar who visited us at our table and was so much fun with our DD5 and our friends' DD5 too), poolside drinks at the DLH
Rides
Our top 5: RSR, ToyStory (thanks to the tips here, we rode it first thing on magic hour and walked on two times in a row), Goofy Sky School (almost walk on during magic hour), Mater (really quick during Pixar Parade) and for DH Haunted Mansion. DH also loved Pirates (rode it 3 times on the Sunday we got there since it closed on the next day). I found the courage to ride Screaming during DCA magic hour (ride-on) and it made me feel so sick, I had to take a break at the hotel for the rest of the morning and take some gravol. Boohoo for me for wasting my morning in a very low crowd DCA. It was a fun ride but I should have known better!
We missed many many rides due to closures, DD5 being scared, me having motion sickness and mostly lack of time. Fantasy Land was a real zoo every time we were there, so we did not do much there except lots of the tea cups (DH and DD5, as they make me sick). I had expected to ride lots more than we did. Touring the park with a 5 year old when it's so hot slows you down like crazy.
Big thumbs up to Photopass+ We have lots of pictures and they are all so nice and we are all on them, not just DH and DD5 unlike all our other trips.
We watched both parades and loved them both.
We also watched Mickey and the Magical Map when we arrived at the park on our first day. We loved it. DD5 loved Disney Jr. Sadly, we ran out of time for Aladin (makes me really sad to have missed it). We decided to skip WoC since evenings were so much less crowded and we felt we were running out of time to do rides. We had a glimpse of it one evening and it looked beautiful but feel ok that we skipped it.
Characters: our favorites were Tinkerbell and Anna&Elsa. They were just awewome with DD5. We also ran into both Mickey and Minnie together with a very short line, so totally enjoyed that opportunity and have amazing Photopass+ pictures of that.
It was magical and all the reading I did here helped so much. DH was really happy that I had spent so much time finding information and tips on here. So big big thank you to everyone who answered all my questions prior to our trip.
Our flight arrived at LAX earlier than planned so were able to catch an earlier shuttle (DLR Express) and arrived at the DLH around noon. Check-in was quick and we got our room right away. Frontier Tower 11th floor with pool view and resort view over the Adventure tower. It was an amazing view and the little bit of extra distance to the Frontier tower did not bother us at all. The only thing is that we did not run into characters as much as what I had read on here. I saw Goofy a couple of times only. Maybe because we never needed to walk into Fantasy Tower? But we loved our stay at the DLH. Really enjoyed the room, the pool (2-3 hour pool break every afternoon) and the customer service. Only complaint was the slow service at the pool. Not nearly enough waiters to serve the large amount of people, which were probably escaping the hot weather like we did.
We went to the park 5 days (first day was on arrival day, from 3pm), and with a DD5 and our long afternoon breaks at the pool, we did not have enough time to do it all, not even close. The crowds were very heavy the first couple of days and lines were long. We did spend lots of time (3.5 hours) waiting for Frozen, but it sure was a highlight of the trip for our DD5. We enjoyed the fireworks on first day (thanks for suggesting the earmuffs for DD5 who does not like loud noises!). We were right at the hub and were absolutely pleased with the view and the magic!)
Highlights
Three character meals:
1) Ariel where DD5 loved meeting the princesses (Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, Belle, Minnie). DH and thought it was very low interaction, took forever for princesses to come outside and get to us, so it was a very long lunch, very expensive for food that was good but not worth the price. But DD5 thought it was amazing just to be able to take her picture with each princess who was there.
2) Storyteller: Now talk about a fun interactive and delicious experience. The whole time spent there was fantastic. Characters (Brother Bear, Little Bear, Chip, Dale, Meeko) were awesome. The singing and dancing were so much fun for DD5. Food was delicious.
3) Goofy's kitchen. Very fun and lots of characters there (Pluto, Goofy, Alice and MadHatter, Chip, Dale, Baloo) who were very fun and interactive. Food was good with lots of choices, not at all healthy though.
Food
We were not even close to having enough time in the parks to enjoy all the food I was wanting to try that I had noted from here.
Thumbs up for Cream cheese pretzel, chocolate covered pineapple, mint Julep, Blue Bayou, Flo's V8, churros, Carnation Cafe (we got to meet Oscar who visited us at our table and was so much fun with our DD5 and our friends' DD5 too), poolside drinks at the DLH
Rides
Our top 5: RSR, ToyStory (thanks to the tips here, we rode it first thing on magic hour and walked on two times in a row), Goofy Sky School (almost walk on during magic hour), Mater (really quick during Pixar Parade) and for DH Haunted Mansion. DH also loved Pirates (rode it 3 times on the Sunday we got there since it closed on the next day). I found the courage to ride Screaming during DCA magic hour (ride-on) and it made me feel so sick, I had to take a break at the hotel for the rest of the morning and take some gravol. Boohoo for me for wasting my morning in a very low crowd DCA. It was a fun ride but I should have known better!
We missed many many rides due to closures, DD5 being scared, me having motion sickness and mostly lack of time. Fantasy Land was a real zoo every time we were there, so we did not do much there except lots of the tea cups (DH and DD5, as they make me sick). I had expected to ride lots more than we did. Touring the park with a 5 year old when it's so hot slows you down like crazy.
Big thumbs up to Photopass+ We have lots of pictures and they are all so nice and we are all on them, not just DH and DD5 unlike all our other trips.
We watched both parades and loved them both.
We also watched Mickey and the Magical Map when we arrived at the park on our first day. We loved it. DD5 loved Disney Jr. Sadly, we ran out of time for Aladin (makes me really sad to have missed it).
We decided to skip WoC since evenings were so much less crowded and we felt we were running out of time to do rides. We had a glimpse of it one evening and it looked beautiful but feel ok that we skipped it.Characters: our favorites were Tinkerbell and Anna&Elsa. They were just awewome with DD5. We also ran into both Mickey and Minnie together with a very short line, so totally enjoyed that opportunity and have amazing Photopass+ pictures of that.
It was magical and all the reading I did here helped so much. DH was really happy that I had spent so much time finding information and tips on here. So big big thank you to everyone who answered all my questions prior to our trip.
