With 3 days left my verdict is in

[farmgirljen]

Jack I am sorry to hear about your friend's son. i saw that on the news.

 

[iKristin]

Really sorry to hear about that I saw that on the news. That's one of the reasons I refuse to swim at the Oregon coast. Plus all the times you hear about logs rolling in and pinning people down and killing them. Not my favorite coast by far.

 

[OrcaPotter]

Whoa, 8 pages of this! Ah, the internets.

Bad days happen at Disney; Lord knows I've had my share, though as a local to WDW it's not that big of a deal in the end since I can go back almost whenever. Summer can make mishaps and such that much more dramatic because of the crowds and weather. I rarely attempt theme parks in summer; in FL, it's because I don't want to die due to heat, humidity, crowds, and tour groups. It was close at DLR, though the middle of the week was easier on crowds and the last few days was gorgeous as far as a Floridian's perspective goes. I'm glad we gave ourselves 2 full days for each park, since we also had problems with ride closures and crowds.

I'm sad that the OP's time was less than magical.

 

[snikelfrizt]

I love that area we go down at least once a month. One of the nurses my wife works with, her 19 y.o. son just drowned in the ocean there off the coast. (I Think about 3 days ago.)The Tillamook area has some real nasty undertows. We are saddened, he was an eagle scout and an excellent swimmer. Stuff happens.

Jack

yes, I read about this..... No words, to express to people who have lost loved ones.
Glad to hear you like the area though, it is beautiful.... of course to far away from Anahiem!!

 

[Disney Dreams]

...My almost 80 yr old Father almost died yesterday...

I hope your dad is doing well. Here's some pixie dust going his way!

...You know it really wasn't the ride closures that bothered me,it was the manuevering of a double stroller aroumd crowds. I wish the walkways were bigger....

Interesting how when you look at it, you can discover that something completely different is REALLY what was bothering you all along --- something that only YOU could change. The double-wide strollers are a nightmare a DL, for those pushing them, and those trying to navigate around them. The double-longs seem to work much better.

...and yes a little MAGIC.

- Dreams

 

[tinkermomma]

I hope your dad is doing well. Here's some pixie dust going his way!

Thanks Dreams! His kidney has finally turned a corner, thank god. I just know his sense of humor is a big part of what's getting him through.

 

[nunzia]

I love that area we go down at least once a month. One of the nurses my wife works with, her 19 y.o. son just drowned in the ocean there off the coast. (I Think about 3 days ago.)The Tillamook area has some real nasty undertows. We are saddened, he was an eagle scout and an excellent swimmer. Stuff happens.

Jack

I'm sorry Jack..what a tragedy.

 

[IloveDisney77]

I read the whole thread and just have to laugh that A) Anyone thinks the OP was being "lambasted" and B) The OP himself thinks he is being treated unfairly.

Have any of you spent any time on the WDW Theme Parks and Attractions board? Oh my gosh! No topic, and I mean no topic, is too small to incite absolute war. A post like the first one in this thread would have set off Armageddon.

I have loved planning a trip to DL because I get to be over here, where 95% of the posts are measured and thoughtful (Tino's earlier Matterhorn posts, and his first post here being among the 5% that stuck out as the opposite - but anyway). This thread is many people commiserating with the OP despite his original tone and other people reasonably objecting to his tone. This thread isn't a lambasting!

This is SOOOOO dang true I thought pp's were going quite easy on him. As we go to WDW frequently I'm on those boards all the time. If you had opened up a new thread saying "WDW sucks..." all sorts of heck would have descended upon you. It would have been so nasty that even your mother would've been brought into the discussion in a not so nice way.

My family goes to WDW every year but went to DLR for our first trip back in June for my DD6 b-day. I spent a great deal of time reading everything I could from all of you knowledgeable DLR vets and it made for a great trip!!! Even though my trip is done I keep coming back to this board as it is so much friendlier!! Also, I miss DLR already so I enjoy reading about what is going on over there.

I wrote up a lengthy summary of our fantastic trip with all the great things and a couple of minor hiccups. I say that because I do agree with Tino in one key area that, even as someone used to crowds, was surprised by. Given the more compact nature of the Disneyland park it always felt VERY crowded even though the wait times of the rides didn't reflect what it "felt" like...I'm still having flashbacks to the bottleneck between POTC and Indy....that was 15 minutes of my life I'm never going to get back

One last minor thing....personally, I think the term of "knockoff" to refer to WDW is off base but I am soooo not going to debate that one

Oh this is off topic but I hope ya'll realize how lucky you are when it comes to making dining ressies at DLR. I joined the masses yesterday calling into Disney dining to snap up Candlelight Processional tickets for December. I was one of the lucky ones who got right in at 7 and waited 5 minutes or so....by 7:10 when I got off the call, over 500 people were in que(their max). I read later that people were waiting over an hour, after tryinig to call in for an hour or so, just to get a ressie.

 

[Tino]

At airport, John wayne is so easy to get around. I just want to say that after a long week, my kids were both untested when we left for airport. Did someone tell the nice lady at Mickeys Morning Madness about my whining, because the Federicos were picked as the honorary family. Could not believe it. My kids were stunned. So was I. The lady videoed everything and even took pics. We received a rolled up certificate and we stood up. The funny thing is when they asked where I was from I said Brooklyn NY. Very few people clapped. Anyway great ending to a very good stay. My wife and I have discussed coming back in 2 years but hear is a new debate. Would you rather see the new fantasy land expansion in Disney World or new Cars land in Disneyland. Not sure. But in 2 years my daughter will be able to walk parks without sitting in stroller and my son will be out of that mid sfternoon nap stage. Take care guys and thank you.

 

[Tino]

At airport, John wayne is so easy to get around. I just want to say that after a long week, my kids were both untested when we left for airport. Did someone tell the nice lady at Mickeys Morning Madness about my whining, because the Federicos were picked as the honorary family. Could not believe it. My kids were stunned. So was I. The lady videoed everything and even took pics. We received a rolled up certificate and we stood up. The funny thing is when they asked where I was from I said Brooklyn NY. Very few people clapped. Anyway great ending to a very good stay. My wife and I have discussed coming back in 2 years but hear is a new debate. Would you rather see the new fantasy land expansion in Disney World or new Cars land in Disneyland. Not sure. But in 2 years my daughter will be able to walk parks without sitting in stroller and my son will be out of that mid sfternoon nap stage. Take care guys and thank you.

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

Jack, I am so sorry to hear of that tragedy. My heart goes out to the family.

Tino, it sounds like we were able to come through for you at the end . Personally I'd come back to see Cars Land over the Fantasyland expansion because Cars Land is completely new and different but Fantasyland is, well, Fantasyland. But of course it's up to you. I'm glad your trip ended well.

 

[closetmickey]

At airport, John wayne is so easy to get around. I just want to say that after a long week, my kids were both untested when we left for airport. Did someone tell the nice lady at Mickeys Morning Madness about my whining, because the Federicos were picked as the honorary family. Could not believe it. My kids were stunned. So was I. The lady videoed everything and even took pics. We received a rolled up certificate and we stood up. The funny thing is when they asked where I was from I said Brooklyn NY. Very few people clapped. Anyway great ending to a very good stay. My wife and I have discussed coming back in 2 years but hear is a new debate. Would you rather see the new fantasy land expansion in Disney World or new Cars land in Disneyland. Not sure. But in 2 years my daughter will be able to walk parks without sitting in stroller and my son will be out of that mid sfternoon nap stage. Take care guys and thank you.

So glad it ended well. Funny how that happens with Disney. I change my mind....I hope you do come back some time....and that the Matterhorn and everything else you missed is up and running.
Wow...your question is a hard one. Maybe wait until there is enough visual information on the internet and see which interests your kids more. Safe travels.

 

[disneydenisel]

My wife and I have discussed coming back in 2 years but hear is a new debate. Would you rather see the new fantasy land expansion in Disney World or new Cars land in Disneyland. Not sure. But in 2 years my daughter will be able to walk parks without sitting in stroller and my son will be out of that mid sfternoon nap stage. Take care guys and thank you.

I've been reading this thread and am glad to see that you had a pretty good trip, after all. I know how hard it is to see your kids disappointed, but it sounds like everyone had a good time in the end and now you are thinking about a return trip to Carsland! We will try and check out Carsland next year, and the new WDW Fantasyland in 2013 . I suggest you do both .

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

BAHAHA Disneyland wanted to kiss your feet, Tino! See? It's not all bad ROFL Did the lady have Gray hair? The one who gave us the Dream Suite was so amazing and I worried about all the people who 'didn't have a job' after the Year of a Million Dreams.

 

[azmommyto3]

I love, love love Disneyland, and I was so excited to be going for 5 days this past week.

But there were SO many rides breaking down, it completely ruined my enjoyment of the parks. I felt like we wasted so much time waiting in line, just for the ride to break when we were almost to the front and told to get out of line.

Indy broke twice while we were in line, Splash Mountain broke just as our butts touched the logs, and we were told to get out of the logs and back onto the platform. Peter Pan broke twice while we were in line, Thunder Mountain broke while we were in line once. California Screamin broke while we were in line, Grizzly River run broke while we were in line. It might not have been so bad if we had walked up and seen it closed, but to waste 30+ minutes in line each time and not be able to ride it really sucked.

I still love Disneyland, but I'm thinking I won't want to try it again for a few years

 

[bumbershoot]

Did someone tell the nice lady at Mickeys Morning Madness about my whining, because the Federicos were picked as the honorary family. Could not believe it. My kids were stunned. So was I. The lady videoed everything and even took pics. We received a rolled up certificate and we stood up. The funny thing is when they asked where I was from I said Brooklyn NY. Very few people clapped.

4 years from now you might still have that scroll on the fridge...like we do. And FWIW when we said we were from Tacoma WA, no one really cared, but the skies suddenly opened up and it started POURING. Everyone ran for the building, and we had to get our buttons and whatever they gave us, so we, the honorary family, were among the last in Mickey's House to meet Mickey.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the comments on my wifes working partners sons drowning. I did pass the comments along to Laura and her husband and ther are much gratefull.

Some people actually do have worse days than rides being down.

Jack

 

[rune_74]

At airport, John wayne is so easy to get around. I just want to say that after a long week, my kids were both untested when we left for airport. Did someone tell the nice lady at Mickeys Morning Madness about my whining, because the Federicos were picked as the honorary family. Could not believe it. My kids were stunned. So was I. The lady videoed everything and even took pics. We received a rolled up certificate and we stood up. The funny thing is when they asked where I was from I said Brooklyn NY. Very few people clapped. Anyway great ending to a very good stay. My wife and I have discussed coming back in 2 years but hear is a new debate. Would you rather see the new fantasy land expansion in Disney World or new Cars land in Disneyland. Not sure. But in 2 years my daughter will be able to walk parks without sitting in stroller and my son will be out of that mid sfternoon nap stage. Take care guys and thank you.

Man I would love for my family to be the honarary family...funny how someone with such a negative approach gets it, ahh such is life. I would be in seventh heaven.

 

[Tino]

Guess Hydroguy didnt except my apology. Oh well.

 

[DangerMouse]

Guess Hydroguy didnt except my apology. Oh well.

Trey did say that he was done with this thread. Perhaps he meant it and hasn't returned to see any of the more recent postings. If you want him to see your apology, you might want to send him a private message.