I want to say welcome back Todd!  I thought about your family a lot in the past few days and boy I wished we were all at Disneyland with you.

So welcome back, we missed you here!  I can't wait to hear about your trip.

Leanne

May All Your Days Be Filled With Magic!  And your nights full of Disney Dreams!

Happy your back with us, sad you had to leave Disneyland.........  but fill us in.....lots of eager ears wanting to know how wonderful it was !!!

Wow, Todd must still be exhuasted from his trip!  Must have been a blast.

We miss you Todd!  Hurry back and tell us all about it!

Leanne

May All Your Days Be Filled With Magic!  And your nights full of Disney Dreams!

Dead men tell no tales.......

Sad things.  Oh no, is everything okay?  Welcome back, because we all missed you!

I am glad to hear you had fun, and can't wait to read about it.

Leanne

May All Your Days Be Filled With Magic!  And your nights full of Disney Dreams!

Nothing major went wrong with our trip but unfortunately not everything is perfect in the happiest place on earth.... Actually it wasnt Disney itself but California Adventure and Downtown that the biggest disappointments happened.

Here is my review of California Adventure - A couple of good rides coupled with a very poor staff. When you walk into DL the cast greets you with enthusiasm and excitement, like they are really happy to see you. The cast at CA only speaks to you if you speak to them first and you rarely see a smile. The hours during the week are 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.... Why bother opening at all? By the time you are hitting your stride its time to leave.....

We decided to have lunch here one day and chose the pizza joint. When we got to the place we had chosen at 11:50 they were closed.?.? So we went next door and got my daughter a happy meal (yes, McDonalds). While my wife and I were trying to decide what we wanted the pizza place opened. I went inside placed our order for a couple of slices and waited and waited. All the while other people were getting their orders filled. I finally asked what was going on and was told the the pizza we ordered wasnt ready yet. When I asked why others were getting their orders I was told that I just needed to be patient.

One of the good things is the Aladin show - What an absolutley awesome production!!!!! The genie does a lot of on the fly ad lib that just is incredible. We actually had heard about this show from someone and were waiting for a particular point. We could see were the effect was going to begin - saw the people getting it ready but it never happened. We found out later that there was a mechanical failure but you would have never known - nobody missed a beat.

Downtown Disney - I really enjoyed this area. In the early mornings before all of the major stores and such open this area is extremely nice and peaceful. We strolled through here every morning and entered through the front gates just to enjoy the calm before the storm so to speak.

We did have one bad experience with one of the resturuants here. We deceded to eat at Naples one night and boy are we sorry we did. We were seated and the waiter walked by and said he would be by to get our drinks in a second. After he had walked by and said this three more times I finally stopped him and said a second is up..... He took our drink order and returned a short time later saying he would be back to take our order. After 15 minutes he returned to take the order. I ordered Lasagne and a dinner salad, my wife a salad and my daughter a personal cheese pizza. Nothing out of the ordinary. I received my salad after 20 minutes of waiting. There was a couple that was seated next to us at the same time we were seated and they had ordered a pizza. They had not only received their pizza but had eaten it and had an additional glass of wine before I had received my salad. When I complained the manager was sent over. He appologized and offered to buy me a glass of wine. I told him of the poor service from our waiter hoping things would improve. Lets just say it never got any better. After we finished eating and our dishes were cleared by another person we were waiting for our bill. 15 mutes passed (I had sent the wife and kid to go shop by now) I got up and went looking for my waiter to get the check. The manager and I were both walking the place to find him. Needless to say I paid the bill and left after a close to two hour ordeal...... My review of this place - just okay food, horrible service.

Dead men tell no tales.......

Todd,

Wow, I am so sorry you didn't enjoy Disney's California Adventure much.  We have never had a problem with the people there.  I do know that when California Adventure is not on summer hours, some restaurants are not always open.  I believe this is just a staffing issue in non peak times, but could be wrong.  Again, I am sorry you had such a rough time there. 

I really like California Adventure for some of the rides, the lack of huge crowds, Ariels' Grotto and Redwood Creek Challenge Trail to mention of few of my favorites.

And I think we have it on our site that we don't like Naples either. (probably in a trip report) I will NEVER refer someone to eat there.  We had the same issues you did with horrible service and mediocre food!  Maybe its time for Naples topic where we can warn others of how we feel.

I do know this trip we are getting ready for, we will be doing a review of each restaurant and then putting a page of restaurant reviews on our main site.

I am so sorry you ran into this problem, and were at Naples.  If we can keep even one other person from having a bad experience there, I will be happy.

So, that is the bad.  What did you love??  How was the birthday party at Plaza Inn?  Disneyland Hotel?  Everything else??? lol

Leanne

May All Your Days Be Filled With Magic!  And your nights full of Disney Dreams!

My favorite part of the whole trip was watching my 5 year old daughter walk through the gates for the very first time. At check in at the hotel (Disneyland Hotel) we asked about the birthday sticker and they gave my daughter a button instead. This was very cool as it is a pin on button and not a flimsy sticker. All of the staff at the front gates just went above and beyond wishing her a happy birthday and welcoming her to the park.  She walked in and saw the big floral display and the train just happened to roll by as she was standing there.

Another great deal was the birthday party at the Plaza Inn. Again, the cast is what makes this place as great as it is. We had a cast member that was extremely good and really made our day great. The party is $10.00 per person and each person gets a small cake to decorate. The host Pat E. Cake comes by several times and addresses each birthday person on a personal level. He takes the time to learn each persons name before the party begins so when he greats you he knows who you are. I was impressed that they went to that extent. What made this party the best is that they bring out special guests in Mickey and Minnie. They dont just pop in and then out either. They stay to sing and dance several songs and then spend personal time with each birthday person. My duaghter had three pictures taken and then spent about 5 minutes with them alone. Nowhere else in the park can you do this - at least not that I saw. I do have pictures of the Buzz Lightyear Birthday Bucket for you but they were out of the princess one. I reccomend this party to everyone. The cake is definitely nothing to write home about but the character visit more than makes it worth it!!!!

Dead men tell no tales.......

Todd,

I TOLD you the hotel would give you a button!  Cool isn't it, and a wonderful keepsake.  A sticker would just get ruined.  The button will last forever!

Yep, I knew about Mickey and Minnie at the Birthday Party.  I didn't mention that to you because I wanted it to be a huge surprise that they actually spent time with you!

I am so glad a few things I recommended worked for you!

And yes, I know how it is to see your child get their first look at Disneyland.  Priceless, isn't it?!

Leanne

May All Your Days Be Filled With Magic!  And your nights full of Disney Dreams!