bubbaray
05-01-2009, 01:43 PM
Thanks to everyone who PMd me and for the great tips here.
We had 3-day ParkHopper passes and did 2 days in DL, 1 day in CA. I think other than Ariel's lunch, we could have totally skipped CA. Once they are old enough for rides, it might be different, but there didn't seem to be much of interest to my girls there. They aren't familiar with most of the newer Disney/Pixar movies, so the Toy Story, Bugs Life, etc. characters were a mystery to them. Aladin wasn't playing on the day we were there, but they would have liked that.
DL, OTOH, was a complete HIT. Seriously, even DD#2 had an awesome time. We basically spent most of our 2 days in Fantasyland. Dumbo and the carosel were huge hits. I couldn't get them on the teacups or Alice in Wonderland. DD#1 loved loved LOVED Its a Small World and must have done that ride at least 4x. She sang the song the whole ride at the top of her lungs.
We didn't do Tomorrowland at all. We did Adventureland and Pooh Corner, and walked through Frontierland. We sang and danced with the MardiGras band in New Orleans square.
We did the Bibbity Bobbity makeover for DD#1 on the morning before our lunch with Ariel. HUGE hit. Seriously HUGE. I highly recommend that. Well worth the $50 (Crown package). Lunch with Ariel was nice -- we met Urquie and her family there! :) :wavey:
We also did breakfast with Minnie, which was fun, except for DD#2 being completely TERRIFIED of any non-human characters. Like, out of her mind terrified. She was fine with Santa at Christmas, so it didn't dawn on me when I booked the trip that that might be a problem. Well, apparently the Easter Bunny a week prior to the trip was NOT a good experience. I would do that breakfast again, though, if for no other reason than the price is cheaper than the IHOP outside of the park and if you book a 1-hr prior to park opening reservation, you get into the park early even without a Magic Morning pass. Sweet.
We stayed at the Howard Johnson and it was nice. Average rooms, but very clean. The kids waterpark ROCKED. Its only a 5 minute walk to Disneyland from there, not 10 minutes.
DD#1 had some behavior issues (see separate plea for help), but overall, we had a good trip. Our flights were uneventful, well except for the Alaska cabin crew serving snacks that were not peanut/treenut allergy safe. Sigh. Thankfully, I grabbed them and had a veritable grocery store of other snacks with me. The TSA staff completely ROCK at both YVR and LAX. On our return, a kindly border agent put us in a faster "family" line (which I've never had happen before!).
BTW, I ordered a Flip Mino and had it waiting for me at the hotel when we checked in. GREAT device. Seriously, LOVE it.
Oh, and thanks to whomever posted the Disney Outlet bargains back in February. I pre-ordered all our tshirts and some souveniers for the girls and saved a bundle. Seriously, I probably saved about $500 doing that. Plus, when the girls woke up on the first morning there, Minnie Mouse had magically left behind 2 stuffed Minnies for them. They loved them! I also saved by buying their Princess costumes here ($20Cdn each) and not at the park (at least $65US each).
Overall, I can't wait to go back. DH wanted to go back when DD#2 was 5 (in 3 years), but I have the girls working on him to go back next year, LOL.
We had 3-day ParkHopper passes and did 2 days in DL, 1 day in CA. I think other than Ariel's lunch, we could have totally skipped CA. Once they are old enough for rides, it might be different, but there didn't seem to be much of interest to my girls there. They aren't familiar with most of the newer Disney/Pixar movies, so the Toy Story, Bugs Life, etc. characters were a mystery to them. Aladin wasn't playing on the day we were there, but they would have liked that.
DL, OTOH, was a complete HIT. Seriously, even DD#2 had an awesome time. We basically spent most of our 2 days in Fantasyland. Dumbo and the carosel were huge hits. I couldn't get them on the teacups or Alice in Wonderland. DD#1 loved loved LOVED Its a Small World and must have done that ride at least 4x. She sang the song the whole ride at the top of her lungs.
We didn't do Tomorrowland at all. We did Adventureland and Pooh Corner, and walked through Frontierland. We sang and danced with the MardiGras band in New Orleans square.
We did the Bibbity Bobbity makeover for DD#1 on the morning before our lunch with Ariel. HUGE hit. Seriously HUGE. I highly recommend that. Well worth the $50 (Crown package). Lunch with Ariel was nice -- we met Urquie and her family there! :) :wavey:
We also did breakfast with Minnie, which was fun, except for DD#2 being completely TERRIFIED of any non-human characters. Like, out of her mind terrified. She was fine with Santa at Christmas, so it didn't dawn on me when I booked the trip that that might be a problem. Well, apparently the Easter Bunny a week prior to the trip was NOT a good experience. I would do that breakfast again, though, if for no other reason than the price is cheaper than the IHOP outside of the park and if you book a 1-hr prior to park opening reservation, you get into the park early even without a Magic Morning pass. Sweet.
We stayed at the Howard Johnson and it was nice. Average rooms, but very clean. The kids waterpark ROCKED. Its only a 5 minute walk to Disneyland from there, not 10 minutes.
DD#1 had some behavior issues (see separate plea for help), but overall, we had a good trip. Our flights were uneventful, well except for the Alaska cabin crew serving snacks that were not peanut/treenut allergy safe. Sigh. Thankfully, I grabbed them and had a veritable grocery store of other snacks with me. The TSA staff completely ROCK at both YVR and LAX. On our return, a kindly border agent put us in a faster "family" line (which I've never had happen before!).
BTW, I ordered a Flip Mino and had it waiting for me at the hotel when we checked in. GREAT device. Seriously, LOVE it.
Oh, and thanks to whomever posted the Disney Outlet bargains back in February. I pre-ordered all our tshirts and some souveniers for the girls and saved a bundle. Seriously, I probably saved about $500 doing that. Plus, when the girls woke up on the first morning there, Minnie Mouse had magically left behind 2 stuffed Minnies for them. They loved them! I also saved by buying their Princess costumes here ($20Cdn each) and not at the park (at least $65US each).
Overall, I can't wait to go back. DH wanted to go back when DD#2 was 5 (in 3 years), but I have the girls working on him to go back next year, LOL.