Welcome back - looking forward to reading your report! We grew up going to DL given that we lived in Oregon, and we were last there this past April. Love the GC hotel! Also love the CA Adventure park there and of course Cars Land and the Radiator Springs ride there. I also love the theming of that park around the area of Soarin' and the nature trail and water ride that all make you feel like you are in a national park. I will agree that it seems more crowded though and they have a lot more locals making up the crowds there. In the end we do prefer WDW for the immersive Disney experience.
Thanks!! I agree with everything you said! The GC was great and the CA park was awesome, we loved the themes. Sadly didn't get to go on the Grizzy Peak nature trail but we went on Soarin' many times!
Your DLR trip and next WDW trip sound exciting. I can't wait to read your DLR report. Awesome job on getting such a deal on the WDW December vacation! We will be there in December, but alas, it's the end of December. We haven't seen the xmas stuff either and will have just enough days to do it. Whoopie sounds good for the Candlelight Processional. It's still going on when we will be there, but it wasn't someone I cared to hear. Not being overly religious, I only wanted to go if it was someone I liked doing the readings. Maybe another time.
Thanks! Oh too bad we'll miss each other! I think you said you're spending NYE there? Good luck! I'm sure it'll be awesome!
I'm not sure who is doing the CP on the other days we are there, there was a TBD next to some of the dates and so far, only Whoopie as been assigned so I think we'll stick to that until they announce someone else whom we prefer.
We were there in February and it didn't feel terribly crowded to me - of course, I'd heard about it being crowded, so maybe my expectations were low.
I think we had residual crowds from the DL Marathon over labor day weekend, as well as the shortened hours. The days it opened at 10am just made it feel more crowded when entering the park. When the park opened at 8am it definitely felt less crowded and we were able to do a lot in a short amount of time.
The convenience was awesome!
Hmmm, interesting. We used Disney Gift Cards to pay for everything and I don't remember any ID checking that way (plus, you can buy them for 5% off at Target).
True! I have done that but just applied it to my account and paid for everything with magic band or KTTW card on the cruise ships, but I guess I was expecting to do the same at DL resort but never really did.
I think there are pros and cons of both. I have to admit that I really enjoyed finding paper FP on the ground at Disneyland.
funny! We never found FP on the ground!
Totally agree! I could ride it over and over and over!
Such a good ride! Loved it!!
Sounds like my style of travel!
Also, definitely do a mini-TR on Hawaii!
Thanks! Will do!
Our plan is tentatively to head to DHS and do the Star Wars party that night. (And then possibly go over to Epcot to catch Illuminations, but you'll be gone by then). Maybe we can figure something out - it would be fun to meet up!
Cool! I'll definitely see if we can meet up. Maybe we'll head over to DHS as well. Are they offering the SW dessert party then? I hadn't seen notice of dates past October.
They do? I've never heard of that and I've used old ones. Is this new?
This was what I was told! I am not 100% sure about the expiration date but I guess I'll have to do some research. I think I just want to get myself a special magic band anyways...
I'm off to your DL trip report! Geez, I should get working on mine... My excuse is we had some things to plan/work on, and that's what I've been doing a lot lately...
Looking forward to reading more about your trip!
We'll be on the Dream. I'm so excited - really, we both are. We wanted to go, but figured it wouldn't happen for several years.
That's great! You're going to have an awesome time! The cruises are really special. It's like Disney but...relaxing!
It was a lot of fun and the food was pretty good!
I bought those! They're my first ears!
They are so cute! I love the baby blue color! I am not really an ears person. I wear them for a few hours then they annoy me. But I really liked these and it was worth the few hours of wearing it.
I can't wait to hear what you think of the Dolphin, the differences, etc. I'm going to go read your Swan TR too. We are planning a small wedding down near Disney, and our honeymoon, and we got the SPG AMEX for the sign up bonus, so we'll be staying 5 or 6 days at the dolphin for free (well, except that $25 charge). I want to try and rent DVC at one of the Epcot area resorts for the rest of the time. I thought it would be really great to be able to walk into Epcot (and it should be during F&W), especially as a honeymoon activity - just wander, snack, drink, maybe just for a dinner... whatever. The free nights really help that budget though!
That's great! The SPG card is the best way to earn those coveted Starwood points. I don't stay enough at hotels to earn enough points so the signup bonus is key. I really love the locations of the Epcot resorts, because Epcot is my favorite park! And entering from the WS is really nice as it's easy to eat around there. F and W is the best! I haven't been for a few years but it's one of my favorite times to go. I'm totally planning for next year. Wait, when are you getting married again?