jenjersnap
yadda yadda yadda
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2004
- Messages
- 7,226
and I wanted to thank everyone on the Disneyland forums who helped us plan both the DLR and San Diego portions of our vacation. Y'all helped make our trip with your tips and friendly answers to my many questions. We had a wonderful time.
We fell hard for DLR's unique charms. I am not sure how a place that would seem to share - on the surface - so many characteristics with WDW (many of the same rides and the same clean, charming feel) and still be so different. I hope to do a trip report with more details.
We stayed at the Hojo's and the service was a tad disappointing there. We had Disney premium view reserved with a room request that was, basically, "not 7th floor and quiet, i.e., not highway end of the building". We were, of course, put on the 7th floor in the second to last room even though we showed up early to try to secure our room request (this was my fault that I thought hotels assignment system works like Disney's, I am still uninformed about that aspect, I guess, but our original desk clerk didn't explain to me that our room wouldn't be assigned until I returned ... though I made our requests clear to her and she also didn't tell us to return earlier to make sure we got our requests. We came back at 3:30 and that room and one other were all that was available). The front desk wouldn't let us change and, when I inquired if we could move the next day - a Monday - was told, "Hmmm ... probably not ... I wouldn't get your hopes up, they probably won't allow it." I was also told "no one has EVER complained about highway noise in the premium view rooms." I thought about that often as I laid there listening to the rumbling, lol. My only concern was that the skylights and noise would prevent my boys from getting adequate sleep and this turned out to be true - they were up by 6 a.m. and couldn't nap in that room no matter what I did so, they were a tired mess by the time we checked out 4 days later. The room was fine though we couldn't see any DL except Space Mountain because of a palm tree in front of the room. I would stay there again if we got the entertainment rate but I wouldn't pay rack rate I don't think. And, Lorealle still rocks! I hope the powers that be realize she is the best thing at Hojos! Oh, and don't be afraid of the length of the walk! It didn't seem far at all with the shuttle area short cut.
We continued onto La Jolla for a few days where we played on the beach and the boys rested up. It was blissful! Then, since our wonderful hotel the Grande Colonial had booked up many months ago due to the U.S. Open, we moved on to the Bay Club on Shelter Island in San Diego.
We were so sad to leave! We ate so much great food that I think I have gained 10 lbs. We noted that DLR's food quality, though fewer choices, of course, outshined the current WDW; we wondered if it's because of WDW's dining plan and continued standardization of menus but who knows? That debate has been done to death on the forums to the north of this one.
Thanks again. Off to do laundry and try to find our Photopass cards!
We fell hard for DLR's unique charms. I am not sure how a place that would seem to share - on the surface - so many characteristics with WDW (many of the same rides and the same clean, charming feel) and still be so different. I hope to do a trip report with more details.
We stayed at the Hojo's and the service was a tad disappointing there. We had Disney premium view reserved with a room request that was, basically, "not 7th floor and quiet, i.e., not highway end of the building". We were, of course, put on the 7th floor in the second to last room even though we showed up early to try to secure our room request (this was my fault that I thought hotels assignment system works like Disney's, I am still uninformed about that aspect, I guess, but our original desk clerk didn't explain to me that our room wouldn't be assigned until I returned ... though I made our requests clear to her and she also didn't tell us to return earlier to make sure we got our requests. We came back at 3:30 and that room and one other were all that was available). The front desk wouldn't let us change and, when I inquired if we could move the next day - a Monday - was told, "Hmmm ... probably not ... I wouldn't get your hopes up, they probably won't allow it." I was also told "no one has EVER complained about highway noise in the premium view rooms." I thought about that often as I laid there listening to the rumbling, lol. My only concern was that the skylights and noise would prevent my boys from getting adequate sleep and this turned out to be true - they were up by 6 a.m. and couldn't nap in that room no matter what I did so, they were a tired mess by the time we checked out 4 days later. The room was fine though we couldn't see any DL except Space Mountain because of a palm tree in front of the room. I would stay there again if we got the entertainment rate but I wouldn't pay rack rate I don't think. And, Lorealle still rocks! I hope the powers that be realize she is the best thing at Hojos! Oh, and don't be afraid of the length of the walk! It didn't seem far at all with the shuttle area short cut.
We continued onto La Jolla for a few days where we played on the beach and the boys rested up. It was blissful! Then, since our wonderful hotel the Grande Colonial had booked up many months ago due to the U.S. Open, we moved on to the Bay Club on Shelter Island in San Diego.
We were so sad to leave! We ate so much great food that I think I have gained 10 lbs. We noted that DLR's food quality, though fewer choices, of course, outshined the current WDW; we wondered if it's because of WDW's dining plan and continued standardization of menus but who knows? That debate has been done to death on the forums to the north of this one.
Thanks again. Off to do laundry and try to find our Photopass cards!
