Just got back from 5 days at the HPOE. I've been scouring the site for a long time for hints and tips and thought I'd give a little back.
(Not so) Quick hotel review: Stayed 11/16-20 at the DLH, thanks to the offer w/code rec'd in the mail some months ago. $179/night for a "standard" room. Was all set to stay offsite this year, but the rate persuaded us to stay on property. Read much on this site and elsewhere about how best to go about securing a free upgrade...
Here's what worked for me:
I did call ahead and mention my preference for the Dreams tower, "even if I'm on the 2nd floor"....When we arrived to check in I asked which tower they had me in (they won't give the room # till it's ready) - the very nice woman at the front desk said Magic. Not feeling good about things, I asked if they had any preferences noted on my ressie - she confirmed they did - "2nd floor, Dreams tower". I clarified to her that I'd take ANY floor in the Dreams tower, in fact, the higher the better. 
She said "okay"...."Okay" turned into 9th floor - Downtown Disney view! At the standard rate! 
Sweet! Room was very clean, service was outstanding. View was terrific! Absolutely no complaints. With all that said though, I do not think we'll be on property next year. We just don't spend enough time in the room to make it worthwhile. We wake up, get everybody dressed (DD10, DD5) grab some coffee and head out. Then, at the end of the day, everybody gets in their jammies and we're asleep within the hour. Lather, rinse, repeat. The majority of the time in the hotel room we're SLEEPING. I've stayed at the Grand Californian twice and HOJO's - and now DLH and just not getting the value-added for staying on property. And I LOVE all things Disney. Just can't enjoy 'em while I'm asleep! 
Now, during the times of year with longer park hours where part of your ritual is to come back to the room mid-day to unwind or get in some pool time, THEN, it can make sense. But when DCA is 10:00-6:00 and DL is 10:00-8:00, I recommend off property. I don't have the love-fest with HOJO's that many on this site do - we'll stay at a closer spot on Harbor next year and reserve judgement on the off-property sites till then.
Our luck continued early on Day 2 while at DCA!
We received Fantasy Fast Passes from 2 blue/white CM's! Sweet again! The irony is - during the time we were there (11/16-20) we NEVER needed the Fast Passes for anything. Lines too short! 
The one time where it might have helped (Soarin') - the CM just waived us through the Fast Pass line without collecting a stub. And the 3 rides that actually had lines, Nemo, TSM & Small World Holiday - don't offer fast passes. So I've got 4 intact Fantasy Fast Pass souvenirs!
Pin Trading: This was our first trip where we had the girls try pin trading. Absolutely awesome! We bought ~40 pins on EBAY prior and the girls just had a blast trading. Every CM was at least very polite, some out-of-their-way nice. The girls got good practice using their manners when approaching CM's... They were both shy at first, but in short order, even the 5-year old (when suitably motivated by a baby-Minnie pin) would go up to a CM and ask to see their pins! What a great experience. I will say this regarding "scrappers" and the like: I'm pretty confident we must have had some knock-offs from EBAY. I'm equally confident we rec'd some in trade from the CM's. What are you to do? The kids don't even know what a scrapper is. I'm sure I can't tell the difference 9 times out of 10. We just enjoy 'em for what they are. Again, if you've never traded pins at the park - give it a try!
Character Meals: Our 4th time at Goofy's - best yet. A Sunday night, the place about 2/3rds full - Goofy, Minnie, Pluto, Chip, Dale, Sleeping Beauty and Mulan were all there. All the characters spent good quality time at the table. And I know this is heresy, but even the food was better than average! Still expensive - ~$130. for the 4 of us for dinner. Will definitely go again, though.
The other Character Meal was Lilo & Stitch. First time there - definitely more low-key than Goofy's. Plus, it's the only place to see Daisy! Big deal at our place. Still great character interactions! Anyway, for breakfast, I got the buffet, everyone else ordered off the menu. Experience excellent, food very good. Unanimously agreed to include L&S next year again. $68 including tip & AAA discount. Not bad!
Photopass - joined Share group on this site...so far, so good. Everybody is so considerate and helpful! 7 families total, I believe. Should knock the price down to ~$15 per. Plus, it was fun tracking down the Photopass Photog's!
Last quick story - DD5 was tall enough for her first ride on Space Mtn last year, but cried (for a while) at the end of the ride. It was quite a source of anxiety for her this year that she might "have" to ride it again. Of course, we assured her she would ride it only if she wanted to. Well, fast forward to Day 1 and we headed for SM. DD5 said NO WAY. But, by the time we got there - she said she'd give it another try. Unfortunately, tears again afterwards. Later Day 1 DD10 wanted to ride again (no lines, what the heck!) DD5 to our amazement, said she wanted to try again. Not only did she get through it with no tears she had her hands up the whole way and shouted "again, again" at the end. Whoo hoo! Every ride from there on it was "hands up" and when's the next roller coaster? As we headed home on our late flight Thursday night - DD5 was in the seat next to me as I was nodding off. As the plane was speeding down the runway towards take-off I peeked over to check on DD5. She was trying to be funny...... but, Hands up!
(Not so) Quick hotel review: Stayed 11/16-20 at the DLH, thanks to the offer w/code rec'd in the mail some months ago. $179/night for a "standard" room. Was all set to stay offsite this year, but the rate persuaded us to stay on property. Read much on this site and elsewhere about how best to go about securing a free upgrade...
Here's what worked for me:
I did call ahead and mention my preference for the Dreams tower, "even if I'm on the 2nd floor"....When we arrived to check in I asked which tower they had me in (they won't give the room # till it's ready) - the very nice woman at the front desk said Magic. Not feeling good about things, I asked if they had any preferences noted on my ressie - she confirmed they did - "2nd floor, Dreams tower". I clarified to her that I'd take ANY floor in the Dreams tower, in fact, the higher the better. She said "okay"...."Okay" turned into 9th floor - Downtown Disney view! At the standard rate! Sweet! Room was very clean, service was outstanding. View was terrific! Absolutely no complaints. With all that said though, I do not think we'll be on property next year. We just don't spend enough time in the room to make it worthwhile. We wake up, get everybody dressed (DD10, DD5) grab some coffee and head out. Then, at the end of the day, everybody gets in their jammies and we're asleep within the hour. Lather, rinse, repeat. The majority of the time in the hotel room we're SLEEPING. I've stayed at the Grand Californian twice and HOJO's - and now DLH and just not getting the value-added for staying on property. And I LOVE all things Disney. Just can't enjoy 'em while I'm asleep! Now, during the times of year with longer park hours where part of your ritual is to come back to the room mid-day to unwind or get in some pool time, THEN, it can make sense. But when DCA is 10:00-6:00 and DL is 10:00-8:00, I recommend off property. I don't have the love-fest with HOJO's that many on this site do - we'll stay at a closer spot on Harbor next year and reserve judgement on the off-property sites till then.
Our luck continued early on Day 2 while at DCA!
We received Fantasy Fast Passes from 2 blue/white CM's! Sweet again! The irony is - during the time we were there (11/16-20) we NEVER needed the Fast Passes for anything. Lines too short! The one time where it might have helped (Soarin') - the CM just waived us through the Fast Pass line without collecting a stub. And the 3 rides that actually had lines, Nemo, TSM & Small World Holiday - don't offer fast passes. So I've got 4 intact Fantasy Fast Pass souvenirs!Pin Trading: This was our first trip where we had the girls try pin trading. Absolutely awesome! We bought ~40 pins on EBAY prior and the girls just had a blast trading. Every CM was at least very polite, some out-of-their-way nice. The girls got good practice using their manners when approaching CM's... They were both shy at first, but in short order, even the 5-year old (when suitably motivated by a baby-Minnie pin) would go up to a CM and ask to see their pins! What a great experience. I will say this regarding "scrappers" and the like: I'm pretty confident we must have had some knock-offs from EBAY. I'm equally confident we rec'd some in trade from the CM's. What are you to do? The kids don't even know what a scrapper is. I'm sure I can't tell the difference 9 times out of 10. We just enjoy 'em for what they are. Again, if you've never traded pins at the park - give it a try!
Character Meals: Our 4th time at Goofy's - best yet. A Sunday night, the place about 2/3rds full - Goofy, Minnie, Pluto, Chip, Dale, Sleeping Beauty and Mulan were all there. All the characters spent good quality time at the table. And I know this is heresy, but even the food was better than average! Still expensive - ~$130. for the 4 of us for dinner. Will definitely go again, though.
The other Character Meal was Lilo & Stitch. First time there - definitely more low-key than Goofy's. Plus, it's the only place to see Daisy! Big deal at our place. Still great character interactions! Anyway, for breakfast, I got the buffet, everyone else ordered off the menu. Experience excellent, food very good. Unanimously agreed to include L&S next year again. $68 including tip & AAA discount. Not bad!
Photopass - joined Share group on this site...so far, so good. Everybody is so considerate and helpful! 7 families total, I believe. Should knock the price down to ~$15 per. Plus, it was fun tracking down the Photopass Photog's!
Last quick story - DD5 was tall enough for her first ride on Space Mtn last year, but cried (for a while) at the end of the ride. It was quite a source of anxiety for her this year that she might "have" to ride it again. Of course, we assured her she would ride it only if she wanted to. Well, fast forward to Day 1 and we headed for SM. DD5 said NO WAY. But, by the time we got there - she said she'd give it another try. Unfortunately, tears again afterwards. Later Day 1 DD10 wanted to ride again (no lines, what the heck!) DD5 to our amazement, said she wanted to try again. Not only did she get through it with no tears she had her hands up the whole way and shouted "again, again" at the end. Whoo hoo! Every ride from there on it was "hands up" and when's the next roller coaster? As we headed home on our late flight Thursday night - DD5 was in the seat next to me as I was nodding off. As the plane was speeding down the runway towards take-off I peeked over to check on DD5. She was trying to be funny...... but, Hands up!
