Heidi-meetsTCD@TSM

Back when I was a kid and then as an adult, when we joined my parents on trips to the Fort in their motor home, my Dad always packed everything up the day before we left. Course we had to drive 1,400 miles to get home to NH and my Dad generally left between 3-4 am to get an early start. We always left on Saturday and everyone had to be back at work/school on Monday. Yes, it was/is a drag to pack up the day before and have to leave so early. I could only dream about being 2 hours away instead of 25-28 hours!!!

I am setting my sights on getting one of those two cabins on our trip in October/November!!! Wish me luck!! Ha, ha!!

Thanks again for writing up a trip report to share!! I have really enjoyed it! Hopefully you have another one for us soon! In the meantime, I am going to read your Easter trip report!

On ‎6‎/‎16‎/‎2017 at 10:06 AM, Tri-Circle-D said:

 

By the way, I am really glad to hear that your are officially a cancer survivor now!

TCD

Thanks so much!!! It is a good feeling!!! It will be six years in July that I was diagnosed.It will be six years in August that we took a two week trip to Disney to help pass the time between the surgery when I was diagnosed and another major surgery at the end of August. It was on that trip six years ago, that my boys and I were in line for Toy Story Midway Mania, that I did a double take when I thought I saw the famous TCD behind us in line!!! I was able to confirm it was TCD when I spotted the equally famous twin #1 and twin #2!!! Hard to believe that was six years ago!!!!

Way to go twin #1 on chatting up the CM and getting the whole family on Flight of Passage!!!

Truly, you guys need to hire yourselves out as tour guides!!!

Bad show by the Fort for not having the music piped in for the fireworks show!!!!!!

Good Lord, that SOS turned my stomach just looking at it!!! I was sitting here and laughing out loud over your description of it and my husband wondered what was so funny, so I showed him your pic and read what you wrote!!! We both groaned and laughed!! Thanks for taking one for the team!!

Love your new magic band! Wish Disney would put teal bands into the rotation for guest to select. I "need" a teal one as teal is the color for ovarian cancer survivors, of which I am!!

Loved all of your fort photos!!

9 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

 

LOL.  Snowcone party?  I never heard of that.

The Year of a Million Schemes is real!

I think we will see more and more of it.  Can't blame Disney for trying.

7 hours ago, Duane said:

There will be no shaming or judging here!  If you feel the need to pay $50 for a snow cone, then go right ahead and let it go (your money that is!)

Ha, ha, ha!! I actually had to go on-line and see if this is still offered and surprise, surprise, it is not!! It actually ended about a week after we were there! It was officially called a "Frozen pre-show package"

I looked at their advertisement from last year and this is what was included for $50.00 per person.

-Event credentials lanyard with collectible pin    -Frozen shaved ice treat     -beverage station with soft drinks, beer and wine (this is true, but was a waste for us. The kids and I do not drink any soft drinks, weird I know!! My husband loves beer, but you were given a certificate and were limited to ONE!! My oldest son did not have his license with him to get a voucher for a beer. My youngest son was not 21. I don't like beer or wine, but did use my voucher to get my son a beer. So while the drinks sound like a nice little perk, it wasn't all that great for us.)  -3 photo op locations, one with a character. (While true there were 3 photo op locations, they appeared poorly thrown together and not appealing for us, with our boys being 20 and 23. There was NO character photo op!!! At the very end, Olaf basically ran through the room, but he didn't stop for any photos.)   -Crayon and coloring sheets (WooHoo!!!)  -gallery of original art design. (This was news to me, when I read that today. We saw no art!)   -magical snow moment  (this did happen right before we were escorted to the Hyperion Theater. It was the "soap snow" that we see at WDW)     -priority admission to front row seats in the theater. (that was awesome!)

So, like I said, we still laugh at what we call our $50.00 snow cones!!!  I guess, we should technically say that two of us got a beer and a snow cone for $50.00.

But yeah, Disney is good about separating us from our money and not always giving us a fair return on our money!!!!

Great update TCD! I loved all of your early morning photos!!

So did Disney fill in the old River Country pool with sand? My son and I tried to walk over and talk a peek through the fence when we were there in Feb., but two cast members appeared out of no where and told us that we weren't supposed to go past the old admission building.

4 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

 

Good to see a post from you, Heidi!

I'm bummed about the closing of the loophole too.

But, like Walt always said, when one loophole opens, another opens.

I will figure out something and share my findings.

TCD

PLEASE figure something out before we come down at the end of October!!!!! I "need" a loophole!!!! Ha!

I am super envious of your luck in getting those VIP cabins!!! My oldest son and I came down in Feb. and having remembered how you had gotten one of those cabins last year, we did ask, but the answer was no. In the end it all worked out as my brothers family were all camping and they put us in a cabin that was very close to his campsite. My son and I had a blast staying in the cabin, just the two of us, so tons of room!!! But, I would have loved to have had a rocking chair like the one you had pictured on your deck!

On ‎6‎/‎7‎/‎2017 at 4:11 PM, Duane said:

How long to do you think it will be before Disney rolls out another "fleecing scheme" like:  "For the low price of $59.95 per person, you can relax in an air conditioned lounge while waiting for your pre-assigned ride time to experience the wonders of Pandora.  You will be treated to local beverages and snacks while you wait."

I am slightly embarrassed to admit that when we went to Disneyland last summer we engaged in a "fleecing scheme"! They were offering priority seating to the new Frozen Broadway type of show, with a "snow cone party" beforehand. It was $50.00 per person and there were four of us, so I actually plunked down $200.00 for it!!! I still can't believe I did it, but we were there in August and pretty much every line at DL is outside in the heat. The thought of lining up like cattle for an hour while baking in the sun was not appealing!! Plus we would need a FP for the show and we also wanted FP's to the new Soarin ride and Radiator Springs. Since you can only get one FP at a time out there, I know there was no way we would be able to get all 3 FP's before they ran out. So, I sucked it up and spent the money!! Our joke of that trip was our $50.00 snow cones were terrible!!! But, hey we did each get a pin on a lanyard too!!!

WOW!!! Four rides in Pandora on opening day!!! Impressive!!! Who needs to pay for a VIP tour if you can hang out with TCD!!!!

I am super bummed to hear that Disney is going to crack down on the FP loophole. I learned about it on here from you and have become a master with the "loophole" in the last couple years.

OMG, I haven't been on here for months and months, and I visit today and not only do I find a TCD trip report, but I am posting on the first page!!! WooHoo!!!!  Looking forward to hearing more about your trip!!

On ‎7‎/‎15‎/‎2016 at 8:29 AM, Tri-Circle-D said:

 

Five years?  Awesome!!! 

That's great that you're making it back to Disneyland.  I hope you have your room booked at the Park Vue.  You will be making in time to enjoy the 60th Anniversary stuff.  I highly recommend the Paint the Night Parade and Disneyland Forever fireworks.  Make time to see both of those on Main Street.  Also, don't miss Hyperspace Mountain. 

I'm sure you've heard that the train, Fantasmic, and the boats around Tom Sawyer island are down because of the Star Wars Land construction.  That's too bad, but there's still plenty to do and see.

 

Thanks! Yes, 5 years is a great milestone!!

We do have our room booked at the Park Vue!! It will be our third stay there. Last month I was actually considering canceling the Park Vue and staying at Disney's Paradise Pier, so that we could have the Magic Morning everyday. It would have cost about $800 more, which I was ok with, but once I mentioned it to the boys and told them we would get Magic Mornings everyday, BUT there would be no free continental breakfast and a MUCH longer walk between the hotel and park, they said to forget it!!! So the Park Vue won out over a Disney Resort! Now, if I could have gotten the Grand Californian for the same price as the Paradise Pier, I would have snapped that up, but holy moly, they really jack the prices up at that place!

I am excited for the Paint the Night Parade and the fireworks. I need to read your report to see if there is a special place on Main Street that we should grab for viewing.

I am a bit bummed about the train being closed, as I love the Disneyland train ride.

Great rest of the cruise!! I actually felt sad for you and Mrs. TCD when it ended and you dropped one twin back off at school. As happy as we both are, I am sure, that our kids are leading the productive and happy lives that they do, it is still sad to have them all grown up and not as available anymore! Hoping you can have another trip with them all soon!

I know I felt like I hit the lottery when both of my boys said they wanted to come on our western trip and were able to work it out with their schedules. Being away for 2 1/2 weeks with a 20 and 23 year old, who have busy schedules, is no easy feat, but much to my delight it all worked out!

On ‎7‎/‎6‎/‎2016 at 1:56 PM, Tri-Circle-D said:

 

Hey- it's great to see a post from you, Heidi.

I hope all is well with you and the family.

 

 

Thanks Andrew! We are all good! Celebrating my 5-year anniversary of being diagnosed with cancer today, which means that next month it will be 5-years since my boys and I spotted you and the twins in line at Toy Story Mania! Time flies!!!

Congrats on the 5k!! I used to run in a lot of races, but I know that I couldn't have done one in the heat you described!

Sounds like a wonderful cruise and wonderful family time for the 5 of you.

next month we are going on another western National Park trip and ending it with 5 days at Disneyland. It will be our 3rd Disneyland trip, but our last one was 4 years ago. I know you have some Disneyland trip reports on here and I need to go and read them for hints and tips!

Thanks for sharing your trip!

OMG, I think I made it on page 1!!!! That's NEVER happened!!! WOOHOO!!!!

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As usual a wonderful trip report!! I am very behind on my TCD trip report reading! I intend to catch up!

Happy belated Birthday to the twins! That is so special that they wanted to celebrate at the fort and Hoop De Doo!! True Disney girls!!

Andrew,

I am not all caught up yet, but have a few comments!

That was a beautiful sunset and great photos from the top of the Contemporary.

Is that splash area new at the All Star Movies? I don't remember it. I know years ago, there was a splash area at the "Winners Circle" in the Love Bug section. You did have photos of the winners circle, was the splash area still there?

Glad they let you park at the Contemporary. Have you been turned away there in the past? Three years ago (during the trip I met you at Toy Story Mania)on our trip that I was recovering from my second cancer surgery, I had a hard time standing on the buses and since I was dealing with one hot flash after another I didn't want to wait in the August heat for the next bus. So on that trip we parked at the Contemporary 3-4 times around 5:00-6:00 and walked into the Magic Kingdom. (I know you aren't supposed to!) Since that trip, we have parked there occasionally, including just recently on our January trip and we have never had a problem and are always welcomed in. Of course the times we are there are never peak times, so maybe that is why!

OK, now for my BIG news!!!! I received the candy cane today in the mail!!!! I was/am so excited. Here is my "candy cane review"!!!!!!

The peppermint smell is heavenly! It definitely has a MUCH stronger smell then the average candy cane.

After having a few licks, I can say that it has a stronger peppermint flavor then the average candy cane and was super yummy!

After taking a bite, I have to say that the texture was really different.....not sure how I can explain that any better, but it was almost grainy and not as smooth as a store bought candy cane.

My overall opinion.....I like it for sure and will enjoy every bite/lick......but, it is not as good as I expected after watching them being made on Guy F's show. They are NOT worth $14.00.

Andrew, you have completed a bucket list item for me in getting a chance to have an authentic Disneyland candy cane!!! Thank you SO MUCH!!!!!!

I got the PM.  As soon as I can figure out how to pack the candy cane, it will be on the way!

I'm sorry about all that you went through during your January trip.  That stinks! 

Don't worry about any special packing! It will taste just as good if it is broken in pieces!!  Thanks again!

Wow, page 2 for me! That's a record for sure!!

I have never eaten at the Plaza Restaurant. I think that the next trip, we'll have to try it!

Having two boys in college, I am shocked by the number of cancelations that one of them has!! Really has....not allegedly!!! My older one never has anything canceled. They both go to state universities but the one my younger one goes to is MUCH smaller, not sure if that has something to do with it or not.

The luck you had getting the bus to the MK, is typical of our luck with Disney buses!!

Heidi

How long do you think candy canes will last?  Nobody wants to eat the one I have, so I'll give it to you.  Seriously, if you want it, PM your address to me, and I'll wrap it up in bubble wrap and send it.  I'd love to hear the opinion of a candy cane expert. Or, if it will keep, I'll get it to you in person the next time you're at WDW.

 

I would like to get out to Disneyland again this year to see the 60th anniversary stuff.  If the twins do another college program out there, then I'll probably go several times before this year is out.  We shall see.

 

TCD

Oh my, be still my beating heart!!!! YES.....I would LOVE the candy cane!!! I will PM you my address. I am not sure when our next WDW trip will be. Our January trip was a DISASTER (I got VERY sick......had to go to the ER at the Celebration hospital twice........it was an awesome hospital and I would highly recommend it to anybody in the area in need. Unfortunately, I was not getting better, so we had to spend close to 1k to change our flights and fly home early......I needed to be hospitalized one more time once we arrived home, but I am happy to say that all appears to be well now!) so we have tossed around the idea of flying down in May right after our boys college semester ends. However, I am not sure if that will work with everybody schedules, so our next trip won't be until October. Sure wish we lived close like you do so we could visit almost anytime and not have to deal with the expense of airfare. I would hate for the candy cane to have to wait until October, so if you are really willing to mail it that would be AWESOME!!

I am not sure if I am a "candy cane expert" but I did buy 4 more boxes today!!!

That would be great if the twins do the college program at DL. Best of luck to them if they are applying for that now. Off to send you a PM!!

sorry-double post

TCD,

Thanks SO much for this terrific trip report!!

What a let down on the candy canes!! Man, I have wanted one ever since I saw them being made on Guy's show!!! Actually I still want one! I take comfort in the fact that you admit that you and the twins are not big fans of candy canes to begin with. I, however, LOVE candy canes! In fact just last week I bought 8 boxes of the mini candy canes on clearance at Walgreens! So, while I realize they may not taste any better than the average candy cane, I do believe I will really enjoy a Disneyland candy cane when I finally get out to DL during the Holidays. I wish I lived close to you, then I would buy your extra one that is sitting in your cupboard!!

Really enjoyed your comparison of WDW and DL. I totally agree with all of your points. They are some of the very things that I have shared with friends and family too. However, most people don't get it, and don't understand how great DL and DCA is!

I wish we had a DL trip planned this year, but sadly will most likely not get out there again until 2016.

Heidi

sorry double post

I am finally all caught up!!

Those piranhas on Jungle Cruise actually startled me enough that I jumped!! LOL!!

As I said earlier in this trip report, we too, stayed at the Park Vue. Therefore we were not resort guests. We did however get the "magic morning" entitlements. We were given two mornings on our six day ticket and one day on our four day ticket. That was an excellent perk!!

That Redwood Creek Challenge trail is VERY well done. While I am sure it was made for the younger set, my teenagers at the time and my husband and I all enjoyed it. One thing that was really neat for us, since both of our DL visits followed a couple weeks of touring various National Parks, was that they had LOTS of National Park memorabilia throughout the area. They also had a large "slice" of a Redwood tree, the type you would see at a museum in there. Like I said, it was really well done.

We rode the monorail in the August heat and it was NOT fun!! Not only was it hot it was very crowded. Also when we arrived at the stop in Downtown Disney they made everybody get off. So we had to walk down the ramp, then turn around and walk back up and then wait in line for the next monorail........and it was HOT!!!

You have mentioned a few times how the lines were not bad. We found the same thing in August. Before we went I had read horror stories about the summer crowds and lines! We did make maximum use of FP's, but never saw lines more than 30-minutes for the most park even in mid day. For example, 30-minutes for Space Mountain between 12:00-3:00. You could NEVER get on Space at WDW in August in the mid afternoon in 30-minutes. We never actually waited 30-minutes for anything, but I liked the fact that if you REALLY wanted to ride something, the waits weren't super crazy!

We too, loved how compact everything was and how quickly you could go from place to place. I have told many people that one of our favorite things a bout DL was just how "easy" it was. By easy, I mean, we were a five minute walk to the 2 parks from the Park Vue. No waiting for crowded buses, boats or monorails to get into a park. Just a quick walk! It was great having the 2 parks so close, so you could just go back and fourth between them and again, not have to use transportation to go from park to park, just  a hop, skip and a jump from one to the other. Of course we LOVE WDW and everything that it offers, but we LOVE DL too! We have been twice in the last five years and its only a matter of time, before we go back. Most likely next year.

Oh and one more thing! You wondered where all of the "beautiful people" were??  I know!! They are up here in NH on the high school ski team!!! LOL!! I am not kidding!! My youngest gave up hockey five years ago and joined the ski racing team. I still remember looking at his teammates when I picked him up from the mountain after his first practice!! They were all beautiful! That night I even said to my husband, I guess all of the beautiful people are on the ski team!!! I know, so silly of me.

Heidi

I am back from our Disney trip and trying to get caught up! Haven't yet, but figured that I would make a couple comments, then go back to reading!

We REALLY liked the World of Color show! We saw it in August 2012 and I cant remember what section we were in now. I ended up buying the meals and getting the "priority" viewing location. I felt like we had a good view and could see everything. If we didn't, I guess we are just easy to please as we loved it!! LOL!!!

It was funny to hear you talk about the "early" sunsets, because what you described is the normal sunset here in NH during December!  I know I turn on our outdoor Christmas lights between 4:00-4:30 and it is pitch black between 4:30-4:45. I know when we are at Disney in the winter, we marvel at how "late" the sun sets in Florida!!! Its all in what you are used to I guess!!

Very cool about eating breakfast with Beau Bridges!!!

Loved seeing your photos of where you parked and the outside entrance to the Grand California. Since both of our DL visits were on the longer side, we had time to investigate and see everything.......but I never did see the outside entrance to the Grand Californian, only the DL entrance and the Downtown Disney entrance. I wondered where people parked who stayed there, and now I will have to wonder no more!!!

Heidi

I am back from our Disney trip and trying to get caught up! Haven't yet, but figured that I would make a couple comments, then go back to reading!

We REALLY liked the World of Color show! We saw it in August 2012 and I cant remember what section we were in now. I ended up buying the meals and getting the "priority" viewing location. I felt like we had a good view and could see everything. If we didn't, I guess we are just easy to please as we loved it!! LOL!!!

It was funny to hear you talk about the "early" sunsets, because what you described is the normal sunset here in NH during December!  I know I turn on our outdoor Christmas lights between 4:00-4:30 and it is pitch black between 4:30-4:45. I know when we are at Disney in the winter, we marvel at how "late" the sun sets in Florida!!! Its all in what you are used to I guess!!

Very cool about eating breakfast with Beau Bridges!!!

Loved seeing your photos of where you parked and the outside entrance to the Grand California. Since both of our DL visits were on the longer side, we had time to investigate and see everything.......but I never did see the outside entrance to the Grand Californian, only the DL entrance and the Downtown Disney entrance. I wondered where people parked who stayed there, and now I will have to wonder no more!!!

Heidi

Let me try that picture again!  

 

Congratulations!!!! He is a sweetie!!

Same holds true for the subs. That ride SUCKED. They spent a boatload of money to develop that ride and make it safe for what amounts to a very unconvincing, dull experience. I don't think they achieved the illusion they were trying to create with it. Being able to plainly see the surface and then all the cheap underwater props held in place with fishing line or whatever, it always struck me as a cheap experience. I remember thinking that when I was, oh, 8. I'm glad they got rid of the subs at the World. Unfortunately the Mine Train sucks almost as bad. But I'd rather ride the mine train than the boring, stuffy, hot, cramped, slow, leaky sub.

Totally agree with the Troll here!!!! I just remember as a kid, you couldn't pay me to ride that!! It was such a joke of a ride to my family and friends growing up. I think 20,000 Leagues to us is what Stitches Great Escape is to this generation. What always left us scratching our heads was the fact that the subs ALWAYS had a long line!! I am always stunned when I read various threads when people talk about bringing old rides back and people want the 20,000 Leagues back!!! WHY???

TCD,

I am loving this trip report!! We are flying to WDW on Wed. and I am sort of wishing we were going back to DL instead. As of now I don't think we will get back to DL until 2016.

Ok, those ear gauges are disgusting!!! What could he be thinking??? Ugh!!

I have loved Mr. Toad since I was a little kid, but agree it is such an odd little ride!! Especially ending the ride in hell!!

I too, loved the Bengal Barbecue. The problem I always had there was it SO understaffed! Even with only a couple people in front of you, there was a bit of a wait.

Bummer of a first ride on Pirates!!

We also watched the second Fantasmic show of the night. We arrived 15 minutes before show time and sat on some steps. I am so sure that a CM would tell us to move, that I searched one out to ask if our spot was ok. I didn't want to be asked to move right before the show. The CM said it was fine. We sat there and waited then stood and watched the show and had a perfect view. Fantasmic is really not a favorite show for us, but I LOVED how DL used the Columbia and the Mark Twain. We gave DL the edge on presentation over WDW.

I love the Carsland Christmas decorations. Our two DL trips have been in August. I can see I need to get out there for the Holidays to see the decorations.

Ready and waiting for the next update!!