DISNEYFOURME
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2008
- Messages
- 414
Well we are back home and the last traces of luggage, etc. are put away!
We stayed 8 nights in a one bedroom at VGC and the resort was awesome. This was our first real trip to DL with our 2 DDs aged 14 and 8. We flew into LAX and used Execucar as our transportation to/from the resort. It was nice as it was a 5 passenger van and we didn't have to stop at other locations or fill up every last seat. However we got to VGC at 11 and my husband was feeling ill from medication taken for some emergency dental work done the day before. They were unable to give us our room until nearly 5 p.m. so that was a LLLOOONNNGGG wait especially when your not feeling well and having been up/traveling since 2 a.m. (Chicago time).
But, as it turned out, that was the worst part of our trip. We finally got to our room and had a beautiful view of PP. (We found that we had the luxury of watching WOC from a comfy chair in our living room and listening to the piped in music. We didn't see much of the projections but it was a nice way to see it as well.) We put away the groceries that Vons had delivered earlier in the day and Bell services kept them for us. It was nice to have a full kitchen and we ended up eating in our room that night as DH went right to bed.
The next day he felt better and we all were well rested. We found out that WOC fast passes are literally handed out near the resort entrance to CA at 9 a.m. and you never actually had to go into the park and use the FP machines. This worked nicely for us as we just stayed in the line and waited for them to open the turnstiles at 9:30 and we would have our oldest run ahead and get FB for Soarin and we would ride it immediately with no wait at all and use the FB later in the day. Other times we would let her run to Soarin to get FP and we would go to where they let you wait to enter the park at 10 and stand in that line to head towards TS or Screamin. It was spring break that week so it was crowded.
Other days we would head to DL and go for MM or before rope drop. Most of those days you could walk right on to PoC or HM. Kids loved to go on Autopia early in the day as it too had no wait. However later in the day the parks would get really busy. We usually left for a few hours and came back at night. Most nights DL was open until midnight.
We found the best place to watch the fireworks was infront of TT next to IASW as they projected images on the building as the fireworks went off. There was hardly anyone there and you could see Tink make her flights back and forth when you turned to the side.
Having had 6 day park passes we were able to ride everything several times and see all the night time "shows" numerous times. We all loved Alladin and went twice to see that! We ate at Carnation Cafe for the best breakfast ever! Had a nice lunch along the water at Blue Bayou... good food and nice atmosphere but pricey as this board states often. Had a bad expensive dinner at House of Blues (even with restaurant.com gift card it was expensive, steak was raw when we asked for medium Well and the service was THE slowest). Had a nice buffet dinner at Storytellers. Love the soup bowls and even got to see the wild cats! As a treat my DH bought a Mickey head taffy apple.. it was so pretty we hated to eat it (although for $10 we did!!) We also loved the nachos at Whitewater Snacks! I could go for one right now..
The weather was cold while we were there so the girls were a bit disappointed they didn't swim much. However they braved the weather and went into the heated pools a few times. The pool cushions at VGC are ridiculous!! They were softer than my couch!! Plus having someone come around asking if you wanted a drink poolside was a bit of heaven! lol! Guess it was good it wasn't warmer!!
We should have packed less tank tops and more sweatshirts. It showed it getting to 80 the day after we left! Also we had a bit of rain. It helped lessen the crowds though. We had to cancel our dinner at the Celebration BBQ and never did make it back there.
But we loved our California visit!! We usually go to WDW once a year and we were a bit afraid to venture to DL. In fact my oldest was giving me grief about going there instead and, as it turned out, she cried the morning we left because she had such a great time she hated to leave!! I loved no buses!! I also loved how you could walk out any door of that resort and be within footsteps to either of the parks or DTD! Although it was odd to see TM where HM should be, and I never felt right not seeing Crystal Palace off Main Street, I will never enjoy the Pirates ride as much at WDW as I did at DL! Walt's park was incredible and I hope to get there again sooner than later!
We stayed 8 nights in a one bedroom at VGC and the resort was awesome. This was our first real trip to DL with our 2 DDs aged 14 and 8. We flew into LAX and used Execucar as our transportation to/from the resort. It was nice as it was a 5 passenger van and we didn't have to stop at other locations or fill up every last seat. However we got to VGC at 11 and my husband was feeling ill from medication taken for some emergency dental work done the day before. They were unable to give us our room until nearly 5 p.m. so that was a LLLOOONNNGGG wait especially when your not feeling well and having been up/traveling since 2 a.m. (Chicago time).But, as it turned out, that was the worst part of our trip. We finally got to our room and had a beautiful view of PP. (We found that we had the luxury of watching WOC from a comfy chair in our living room and listening to the piped in music. We didn't see much of the projections but it was a nice way to see it as well.) We put away the groceries that Vons had delivered earlier in the day and Bell services kept them for us. It was nice to have a full kitchen and we ended up eating in our room that night as DH went right to bed.
The next day he felt better and we all were well rested. We found out that WOC fast passes are literally handed out near the resort entrance to CA at 9 a.m. and you never actually had to go into the park and use the FP machines. This worked nicely for us as we just stayed in the line and waited for them to open the turnstiles at 9:30 and we would have our oldest run ahead and get FB for Soarin and we would ride it immediately with no wait at all and use the FB later in the day. Other times we would let her run to Soarin to get FP and we would go to where they let you wait to enter the park at 10 and stand in that line to head towards TS or Screamin. It was spring break that week so it was crowded.
Other days we would head to DL and go for MM or before rope drop. Most of those days you could walk right on to PoC or HM. Kids loved to go on Autopia early in the day as it too had no wait. However later in the day the parks would get really busy. We usually left for a few hours and came back at night. Most nights DL was open until midnight.
We found the best place to watch the fireworks was infront of TT next to IASW as they projected images on the building as the fireworks went off. There was hardly anyone there and you could see Tink make her flights back and forth when you turned to the side.
Having had 6 day park passes we were able to ride everything several times and see all the night time "shows" numerous times. We all loved Alladin and went twice to see that! We ate at Carnation Cafe for the best breakfast ever! Had a nice lunch along the water at Blue Bayou... good food and nice atmosphere but pricey as this board states often. Had a bad expensive dinner at House of Blues (even with restaurant.com gift card it was expensive, steak was raw when we asked for medium Well and the service was THE slowest). Had a nice buffet dinner at Storytellers. Love the soup bowls and even got to see the wild cats! As a treat my DH bought a Mickey head taffy apple.. it was so pretty we hated to eat it (although for $10 we did!!) We also loved the nachos at Whitewater Snacks! I could go for one right now..
The weather was cold while we were there so the girls were a bit disappointed they didn't swim much. However they braved the weather and went into the heated pools a few times. The pool cushions at VGC are ridiculous!! They were softer than my couch!! Plus having someone come around asking if you wanted a drink poolside was a bit of heaven! lol! Guess it was good it wasn't warmer!!
We should have packed less tank tops and more sweatshirts. It showed it getting to 80 the day after we left! Also we had a bit of rain. It helped lessen the crowds though. We had to cancel our dinner at the Celebration BBQ and never did make it back there.But we loved our California visit!! We usually go to WDW once a year and we were a bit afraid to venture to DL. In fact my oldest was giving me grief about going there instead and, as it turned out, she cried the morning we left because she had such a great time she hated to leave!! I loved no buses!! I also loved how you could walk out any door of that resort and be within footsteps to either of the parks or DTD! Although it was odd to see TM where HM should be, and I never felt right not seeing Crystal Palace off Main Street, I will never enjoy the Pirates ride as much at WDW as I did at DL! Walt's park was incredible and I hope to get there again sooner than later!
but we were at WDW at the same time you were at DLR (Mar 18-24) and were fortunate to have 85 degree days every day with no rain. Just about as perfect as you could get. We never had to even put on a sweatshirt. Just shorts and tees.
