Which tour/activity?

[zanzibar138]

My parents and I were planning to do the WIWF tour as a special birthday activity (14th of September). After the recent news that Walt's Apartment will not be included on this date, I have started thinking about other options.

Option A - Do the WIWF tour anyway. Personally I don't think it would be worth it with no Club 33 and no Walt's Apartment. I was looking forward to Walt's Apartment so much I think I'd be really disappointed to take the tour without it.

Option B - Try the new tour in DCA. It doesn't get great reviews, and certainly wouldn't be as special as WIWF, but at least I'd get to go inside the Club 33 equivalent at Carthay.

Option C - Do a Happy Haunts tour, assuming it's available that early. Probably another step down on the 'specialness' factor as it will have nothing to do with Walt at all. Plus, my parents aren't really fans of Halloween. I love different theming and think I would find it interesting.

Option D - Do something completely different. We're already doing a WOC dining package. Maybe a F! dessert package?

Option E - Don't do any special activity, and my parents will buy me a souvenir for my birthday instead. I'd really prefer to share an experience with my parents.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

 

[HydroGuy]

I have not seen any reviews om the new DCA tour (Disney California Story) but went on it a couple weeks ago and wrote one. It will be published here on the forum this week sometime if I understand right. It is worthwhile. Nothing overwhelming but informative even to someone who thinks they knows a lot about Disney.

I liked it better than WIWF which I did 3-4 years ago.

I have not done the Haunts tour but have heard it is cool. I would lean towards that myself if it is offered. But if the folks re not Halloween types maybe not. But the DCS tour is also cool.

I can't think of any other options along these lines.

 

[zanzibar138]

I'll be on the lookout for your review on DCS Did you go on any rides as part of the tour?

I'll have to try to find a TR that includes a Happy Haunts tour I think to get an idea about whether my parents might enjoy it or not.

 

[HydroGuy]

I'll be on the lookout for your review on DCS Did you go on any rides as part of the tour?

I'll have to try to find a TR that includes a Happy Haunts tour I think to get an idea about whether my parents might enjoy it or not.

Soarin Over CA, RSR and a class in animation drawing at the Animation Studio.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

My parents and I were planning to do the WIWF tour as a special birthday activity (14th of September). After the recent news that Walt's Apartment will not be included on this date, I have started thinking about other options.

Option A - Do the WIWF tour anyway. Personally I don't think it would be worth it with no Club 33 and no Walt's Apartment. I was looking forward to Walt's Apartment so much I think I'd be really disappointed to take the tour without it.

Option B - Try the new tour in DCA. It doesn't get great reviews, and certainly wouldn't be as special as WIWF, but at least I'd get to go inside the Club 33 equivalent at Carthay.

Option C - Do a Happy Haunts tour, assuming it's available that early. Probably another step down on the 'specialness' factor as it will have nothing to do with Walt at all. Plus, my parents aren't really fans of Halloween. I love different theming and think I would find it interesting.

Option D - Do something completely different. We're already doing a WOC dining package. Maybe a F! dessert package?

Option E - Don't do any special activity, and my parents will buy me a souvenir for my birthday instead. I'd really prefer to share an experience with my parents.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Do the Fantasmic Dessert Package! I took the very first DCA tour on July 17. I also did WIWF on the same day. The DCA tour was a bit of a let down. It's not worth the price at all (IMO). WIWF was nice, but I've been in the apartment before. So if that's your main motivation, you and it's not available, I'd skip it.

The F! dessert package is a great way to enjoy Fantasmic! I've seen this show at least 35 times, and done the dessert package probably ten times. Although it was much better when dessert and seating were on the balcony of the old Disney Gallery, this still never gets old, even in the current seating area.

To help you on your tour choice, here's my mini review of the DCA tour:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3304799

 

[mummabear]

I too was planning on doing WIWF tour on 9/17. I decided not to do the tour without the apartment, for me I was doing the tour to see the apartment and C33, the rest was just icing and I'm not willing to spend the money or time without it.
We are doing the F! dessert party on the 13th (but we were already doing that).
Personally I would choose the Happiest Haunts over the DCA tour but having done neither its just what peaks my interest more.

 

[zanzibar138]

Thanks for the suggestions. Neither the DCA tour or the Happy Haunts tour are particularly appealing, so I might go with the F! package after all!

Thinking of my parents' enjoyment too, after reading up a little bit on the Halloween tours, I really don't think it's something they would like very much. Plus, my Mum is the biggest ride wimp out and wouldn't go on RSR or Soarin' for the DCA tour, and out of all the rides on the Halloween tour, would only go on HM. Doesn't seem like it would be worth the money.

I was originally tossing up whether to do the F! package or not as part of this trip, so it might just be a good option to go back to I was hoping to use the tour to escape the weekend crowds, but we'll just have to deal with it.

 

[Nonsuch]

This is just Disney marketing, but still interesting

QUIZ: Which Disneyland Resort Tour Should You Take?

 

[zanzibar138]

This is just Disney marketing, but still interesting

QUIZ: Which Disneyland Resort Tour Should You Take?

Thanks for sharing - that was a bit of fun

Apparently I should hire a VIP tour guide. Uh... that's not quite in the budget

 

[planningjollyholiday]

You should listen to the podcast where Mary Jo give a review of the tour. Might help you decide.

 

[zanzibar138]

You should listen to the podcast where Mary Jo give a review of the tour. Might help you decide.

I already listened to it

 

[SMD]

Isn't there a $20 tour in DL that includes some FPs? There is also a free tour of Carthay daily at 10:30. It doesn't include 1901, but it's free. I'd do those and get a smaller souvenir.

 

[zanzibar138]

Isn't there a $20 tour in DL that includes some FPs? There is also a free tour of Carthay daily at 10:30. It doesn't include 1901, but it's free. I'd do those and get a smaller souvenir.

You mean the 'Welcome to Disneyland' tour? That one sounds a bit basic for us and I think would be a waste of time more than anything else. We already know how to use FP and make dining reservations The tour was more for the historic information and 'special' privileges like Club 33/Walt's Apartment than FPs.

I'll keep the free Carthay tour in mind

 

[WanderlustNZ]

This is just Disney marketing, but still interesting QUIZ: Which Disneyland Resort Tour Should You Take?

That was a fun quiz.

Apparently I should do the Discover the Magic Tour which is convenient given that that is the one I plan on booking.

Zanzibar, as you know I have no first hand experience with any of them, but good luck picking. I think my personal preference would be for the Halloween tour, but based on the interests of your mum, I think perhaps Fantasmic might work best for you.

 

[TulipsNZ]

Thanks for the suggestions. Neither the DCA tour or the Happy Haunts tour are particularly appealing, so I might go with the F! package after all!

Thinking of my parents' enjoyment too, after reading up a little bit on the Halloween tours, I really don't think it's something they would like very much. Plus, my Mum is the biggest ride wimp out and wouldn't go on RSR or Soarin' for the DCA tour, and out of all the rides on the Halloween tour, would only go on HM. Doesn't seem like it would be worth the money.

I was originally tossing up whether to do the F! package or not as part of this trip, so it might just be a good option to go back to I was hoping to use the tour to escape the weekend crowds, but we'll just have to deal with it.

The good thing about the F! package is enforced time to sit down together, I love chances to just sit and stop & smell the roses with my family.

 

[zanzibar138]

That was a fun quiz.

Apparently I should do the Discover the Magic Tour which is convenient given that that is the one I plan on booking.

Zanzibar, as you know I have no first hand experience with any of them, but good luck picking. I think my personal preference would be for the Halloween tour, but based on the interests of your mum, I think perhaps Fantasmic might work best for you.

I hadn't even considered that one! I guess I consider it too kid-centric for what we want.

I'll be disappointed not to do a tour, but I'll be even more disappointed if we pay all that money and do one and it doesn't live up to expectations. I think we might be safer with F! At least you know exactly what you're getting with that!

 

[zanzibar138]

The good thing about the F! package is enforced time to sit down together, I love chances to just sit and stop & smell the roses with my family.

I don't think that will be a problem with my family - we have a very relaxed touring style and will probably be spending more time sitting down eating/drinking than doing much else

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I hadn't even considered that one! I guess I consider it too kid-centric for what we want. I'll be disappointed not to do a tour, but I'll be even more disappointed if we pay all that money and do one and it doesn't live up to expectations. I think we might be safer with F! At least you know exactly what you're getting with that!

Yeah, I don't think we would be considering it if it weren't for DS.
Yet somehow my answers to the quiz have labeled me as a 'big kid at heart' and a person most suited to this kiddie tour

 

[HydroGuy]

I'll be on the lookout for your review on DCS Did you go on any rides as part of the tour?

FWIW
new blog: New Tour Review: The Disney California Story
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=52126627

 

[Natara]

You'll love the F! dessert package. It's wonderful. The treats are really lovely and the seats for the show are excellent.

As for the tours, I haven't done the DCA one yet (hope to on my next trip, though), but I have done both the Happy Haunts and WIWF. The former is probably my favorite of all the tours I've done so far. I didn't think I'd like it nearly as much as I did, but the tour guides really sold it and the story that goes along with it was perfectly campy and sweet.

WIWF, on the other hand, wasn't nearly as impressive as I hoped. Really didn't enjoy it much, though I know I'm in the minority... I should note, though, that my disappointment had a lot to do with our particular tour guide. She was the worst guide I've had so far, mainly because she made several strange and somewhat rude comments and just acted very judgmental. I'm sure if I had a different guide, I would've enjoyed it much more. (All the other tour guides I've had have been fantastic.)

We also didn't get the audio equipment that most people who do the WIWF tour receive (at least I think they do...). A lot of the information I already knew, so without Club 33 and the apartment, it probably wouldn't have been worth it -- for me, anyway.

You really can't go wrong with the Happiest Haunts tour or the F! dessert package, but it seems like the latter would be more enjoyable for your particular group. So I say go for it! You'll have loads of fun.