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| | | Mouseketeer
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/13/2008 8:14:51 PM
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| 2/13-2/15: Disneyland
Ahh…finally here. Firmly tucked into the Grand Californian. Miss G declares this is the BEST HOTEL EVER. 3 day park hopper.
Hotel Higlights – Grand Californian:
I’ve detailed most of this in another post. The monorail view rooms are just awesome. We got 2x the monorail this time since it goes the same way back and forth due to work on Nemo. Fridge is where the minibar used to be so it makes the room seem bigger since we don’t have that hanging out this time in the sink area.
Storytellers: I know it’s a hot button. We love this character meal and the food on this buffet. I’ll leave it at that.
Pinocchio’s Workshop: Again – review in another post. If your kids are 5 and over – this is a good option if you want to get a few hours alone with your significant other.
DCA Highlights:
Turtle Talk with Crush: If you have kids old enough to be interactive with Crush (say 4 and up..)– you have GOT TO DO THIS. If you have AAA vouchers – use the preferred seating. Sit first row – send the kids to sit on the seaweed (green areas) of the carpet. Miss G was chosen by Crush – on Valentine’s Day – to be the one he started the conversation with. Then he wanted to talk to the “pater familias parental unit” – so DH got a good 3-4 min with him as well! Got the whole thing on video. It’s awesome.
Being evacuated off Grizzly River Rapids: Again – new experience. At least we weren’t up the big hill yet – but a great “behind the scenes” tour of the ride!
Ariel’s Grotto: Miss G is just about out of her princess stage. Unless the princess is riding a horse – it isn’t making our radar now. However – I had painted her fingernails as a vacation treat (for those of you wondering – Urban Decay / Big Bang – hot pink with sparkles) – and ALL the princesses (Belle / Cinderella / Jasmine / Ariel / Snow White) asked if her servants had done her nails that morning. The short answer was yes! J I’ve written about what they’ve done to the meal in another post.
DL Highlights:
Miss G met Captain Jack Sparrow, and he sweet talked her into getting POTC again. I think he would have ridden with us if the character handler hadn’t gotten firm with him. Her first ride in Mar 05 at WDW was stopped for 5 min at the fire scene - and it’s taken us this long to get her back on!
Riding Peter Pan. This is my favorite ride. Miss G decided she liked it this time as well.
First rides: Miss G rode Space Mountain 4 TIMES! She calls it the Super Slide. She also loved the Red Hot Chili Peppers music (a good version of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground"). She loves rock music though - I think it is because she went to a U2 concert 6 months in utero. She loves U2 music - it's kind of scary. My gal is getting too big. She also rode Star Tours twice. This is one of my favorites – having been brand new the first time I visited Disneyland in 1987.
Getting to ride HM / Indy / Mr. Toad – all things Miss G won’t ride – and hanging out at the Lost Bar with my favorite guy on Valentine’s day J
Finding out that Billy Hill and the Hillbillies varies their show! Who knew? I wrote a review for Leanne – but check this out next time you are in the park!
Getting to wear my "bling" around the park. Yes...I do collect pins - you guys didn't know that! I love wearing my lanyard while at DL! I collect special pins commemorating rides and characters that mean something to our family (like Mulan, or rides...like a 50th Matterhorn when Georgia rode that..etc.)
I don't get much chance to wear it in KY! lol!
I should note that Critter Corner area of DL is WAY DEAD with Splash Mountain down. We rode Pooh 5 times in a row. No one but those of us with little kids are going back there. The Hungry Bear is basically shut as well I think with SM being down. Like Leanne - I never saw it open either.
Souvenir Count: New pins for my lanyard (Peter Pan / Rockin Space Mountain / Valentine’s Lady and the Tramp / 2007 –Tinkerbell / Thumper), t-shirts for Miss G and nephews, new mousepad, picture album for the trip, magnets for self / inlaws / nephews, New storybook about Marie, activity book for plane ride home, groovy princess underwear for Miss G, Grand Californian Hoodie Sweatshirt for myself.
Anna
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Sorcerer Mickey
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| | Anna - What room category are the Monorail view rooms? I have always wondered, but am pretty sure they are not the 'standard' view, so thought you could tell me. Miss G liked Star Tours? Alex has finally decided to ride it next trip! I even said I would, even though it makes me sick, just so I can be on it with him for the first time. And space mountain - wow! Storytellers - can I have you do a review for me please? I would love an awesome review! How said that Captain Jack didn't get to ride Pirates with you. That would have just been too cool for words. At least you got to spend some quality time with him though! Wow - learn something new everyday. Anna collects pins everyone! Guess what? I do too, but I don't wear them - cause I refuse to trade. lol I was wondering how Splash being down would affect Critter Country - good to know, thanks! And Billy Hill - we are definitely putting that on the list of things to do this trip! Thanks to your review. lol Leanne
 May All Your Days Be Filled With Magic! And your nights full of Disney Dreams! |
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Sorcerer Mickey
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| | I loved reading your trip report. It sounded like so much fun. Don't you just love Turtle Talk. At WDW my son had the chance to speak with Crush and it was such a nice moment and go figure I had forgot the video camera that day. I am glad that your hubby was able to video tape yours. I am shocked that your daughter was able to last all week without a stroller. I know my 6 year old has already informed me to pack ours. Did she ever have a hard time keeping up with you all? And I am glad she was able to ride POTC again and my man was able to talk her into it. That would have been so neat if he would have rode the ride with her. Can't wait to see the pics if you post them.
Kristi
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| | | Mickey Mouse
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| Thanks for these hilights! It's fun to read!
Katie |
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Sorcerer Mickey
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 9:59:49 PM
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| Kristie - YOUR man? Ahem. I take offense to that!  I love hearing all of you say wonderful things about Turtle Talk with Crush. I must say that when I watched the 'show' on the All of Disneyland DVD's it bored me rather quickly, and Alex was out of the room after 30 seconds. lol Of course, while he has seen Finding Nemo a few times, he doesn't 'know' it very well, which could be part of the reason. Leanne
May All Your Days Be Filled With Magic! And your nights full of Disney Dreams! |
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| | | Mouseketeer
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/13/2008 8:14:51 PM
Posts: 149, Visits: 190 |
| OK - here goes the question answers:
Monorail Rooms: The Monorail Rooms are standard view. I've never bought any room but the standard view. The first time we lucked out with them. The second time, I called the hotel about a month before and asked that the preference be put in my file (along with checking on Pinocchio's reservations, and the fridge deal). Then when we checked in, I asked again - and they said it had been noted and I was set up for a monorail courtyard room. The room has a little terrace (very little..) with 2 chairs and a table - so you can sit outside and wave at the monorail 
Star Tours: On Star Tours - just make sure you are sitting toward the front row OR in the front row if you can ask the CM. We sat in the front, and in the back. I don't get sick, but am very motion sensitive. The front is much less jolty than the back. My feet also don't touch the ground in back (I'm 5'4") - and that makes it much worse from a motion perspective. I guess some people would call that better  !
Turtle Talk: Leanne - You have got to do this. Even if you just get Alex to watch the Crush part of Nemo a few times - this is a great experience. I can't say that enough. Even the waiting area at DCA in the animation pavillon is amazing. They continually show clips of different movies and add additional effects. Miss G was entranced the whole time.
Stroller: She had no problem keeping up. Miss G is on the 95% percentile height/weight for a 5 year old. She got the tall genes from my 6'3" DH - YEA! (not my short squatty genes!). We had to walk a little slower sometimes - but most of the time she was doing the running forward / running back thing that kids do where they cover 2x the ground that you do with no visible tiring. LOL!
Other: I love to wear my pins. I had all these CM's wanting to trade ("you have cool pins..") - but I don't trade either. I just like being in a place where I can wear them and not be strange. I wore them at work the Friday before we left, along with my DL sweatshirt - and all my coworkers - who usually see this transportation manager who is all business didn't know what to do!
I will write a review of Storytellers for you...no problem - I'll PM it later.
I just have to say - you guys are too great. I stayed away too long. Kristi - I'm going to need your wisdom for our April 08 trip to WDW! I'm nervous about the crowds!
Anna
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Sorcerer Mickey
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| | Leanne, I promise if I get ahold of him we can share him. Or a Turtle Talk is a must do. It is so neat and I think will blow Alex away once he swims up there and starts interacting with the kids. I have no problem giving WDW advice out. But I would take a stroller because the parks are so spread out. That is just my opinion and maybe it is always because we tend to speed walk at times. I don't know I have mixed feelings about the stroller. It just seems our kids prefer it and I do because I don't have to worry about the crowds and them getting lost. Sometimes different areas are busier than others. I think it would be great having the freedom without the stroller but we will have one for my 3 year old and probably take one for the 6 year old too or the double stroller.
Kristi
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Mickey Mouse
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| | Anna, Thanks for the report. We loved Turtle Talk at WDW. Crowds were light so we did it twice in row. I wonder if the DL Nimo ride is going to be the same as the one at WDW. It's very cute. It sounds like DL lets Jack Sparrow mingle with the guests. At WDW he does a 20 minute skit (Pirate Tutorial) with another pirate and there is a little audience interaction. But there is no one on one unless you do the Pirate and Princess party.
Elaine
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