Heidi-meetsTCD@TSM

TCD, All caught up! We also thought that DL's Small World was so much better than WDW. We were there in August both times, so didn't see the holiday overlay, but we did really enjoy all of the various Disney characters scattered throughout the ride. It gives an otherwise boring ride (for us anyway!) something fun to look for! We all loved Space Mountain, but prefer the WDW version. My boys however, loved the music playing throughout the DL version. I would prefer no music blaring in my ears, but to each their own! Overall, I don't care for "driving car" rides at any theme park. I was so

TCD, I am sure when you see this it will be too late, but for anyone else that is interested that show about Guy F at Disneyland is on right now (6:00) on the food network. It was originally taped in 2009 and is about the various foods/snacks at DL as well as the Holiday decorations etc. Heidi

I have a feeling you bought some candy canes!!! $14.00 does seem crazy for a candy cane, but when I find myself at DL during candy cane season, I AM getting one!! A few years ago we watched a show on foods/snacks at DL over the Holidays hosted by Guy F (not sure how you spell his last name, but he does the "diners, drive-in and dives" food show. Part of show was about the candy canes and how they are made fresh right on Main St. every morning. They never have enough and sell out everyday. Ever since I saw that show, I have wanted a DL candy cane!! The free bottled water was a great perk and w

Was eight nights too long?? I can answer that in one word...NO!!!! For us, it was perfect. In fact when we went back in 2012 for 5 nights, we wished we had more time! One thing that was different for us on our trip, compared to your trip, was it was HOT!! As in Florida hot! We were there in August for both trips and we were unlucky in that on both trips, southern California was in the throes of a heat wave with terrible humidity! In fact on both trips if I had a dollar every time someone told me, "we never have humidity out here, this is so unusual" I could have paid for our trip! So because

Yes!! Totally worth it!!

I am all caught up and ready for more!!! The castle is tiny!! We knew it was small before we went, but I still remember that stunned feeling I had when we saw it for the first time!! I remember my husband took one look at it and was said, "what the heck is that??" It did seem strange to have the Matterhorn so close to it and towering over the castle!! I remember hearing the Morse code at the train station! I figured it was saying something, good to know what it is! We ate at that French Market and all had great meals! I know there are a lot of wires around the castle, but seeing Dumbo come

I just finished the first page and was so excited to read that you are staying at the Park Vue Inn!!! That's where we stayed both times and had EXCELLENT stays both times!! We found the place as accommodating and friendly as any of the WDW resorts. On our second stay we arrived after being on the road for two weeks touring lots of National Parks. Our rental van was filled with luggage, bags of souviners, food etc. It was a hot mess of disarray!!! Our room was not ready, but they happily offered to store everything for us, when I told them we were returning the rental van in the hour. (We rente

I am soooooo behind on my trip report reading!! I came on today to do some catching up and see your trip report from DISNEYLAND!!!! Woohoo!!!!!! I haven't read any of it yet and had to comment first!!! We have been twice, first time in 2009 for 8 nights and the second time in 2012 for 5 nights. We LOVE WDW, but we LOVE DL too!!! I hope you enjoyed it half as much as we did!!! Ok, off to read!!! Heidi

Ha, ha, yes, we went to the fort just for those National Park t-shirts!! Normally we go to the fort and rent bikes and spend the day when we are staying at another resort, but we have reservations to stay in the cabins for a week in Jan. so I figured on this trip, we would just skip the fort. Its all good though! I LOVE the fort and there is NOTHING like walking into the Trading Post, taking a deep breath and looking around! Thanks for the link, I will check it out! So sorry to read about the roommate drama.......UGH!! My biggest worry for my boys going to college was who they would get fo

Dan, What a treat to see and read your trip report tonight!! I live in NH and have spent SO MUCH time in the White Mountains!! We haven't camped in the mountains for three years now, but for seven years straight my boys and I would drive up and camp EVERY SINGLE week of the entire summer!!! We would stay for either two or three nights, then drive home to go to our place on the Lake for the weekend. Those were the days and I miss them so much....... now that my kids are 18 and 21 and work all summer and want to hang out with their buddies, those days are long gone!!! What campground were you

Just want to say a BIG congratulation to twin #1!!!! That is so exciting!! What a neat opportunity for both of them, having grown up going to Disney and now getting to work there! What a dream!! I can see why twin #2 (and twin #1, I am sure too) is making her mark and impressing her supervisors. What an asset she is to the company! I am sure she is a breath of fresh air to all of the guests who ask her a question and she can answer them with CORRECT information!! So many CM's (probably like the twins roommate who had never been to Disney until she came down for the college program) just don'

I agree with you Aaron!! The parade seemed pretty weak.......maybe you had to be there? It doesn't look like anything I would want to wait too long for to watch........like a couple minutes would probably be too long to wait!!! LOL!! TCD, I hope twin #2 makes it for the sing along. I also hope you do the ice skating as I would like to see photos of that! I mentioned the ice skating to my boys over the weekend and they were trying to imagine it. They are both hockey players and have never seen a patch of ice they didn't like!! Depending on your review we may have to check it out when we are

What an EXCITING night at the Fort!!! Thanks for sharing all of the action with us and of course thanks for the great photos!! All ready for some bonus features! Heidi

Ha, ha its settled, I just showed my husband your photos of the National Park t-shirts and he said, "I want that Yosemite one", we'll be stopping at the Fort to get some!!! I somehow don't think we will have to worry about them selling out!!

TCD, Wow, you were in some serious crowds at the MK!! We had a similar experience in the MK on July 3rd years ago. We had watched the fireworks right in the hub (Best show EVER!!!) after the show ended we just stood in place for a good 10-minutes waiting for the crowd to dissipate. Then we set off for Frontierland by way of the bridge going into Liberty Square. Once we got on that bridge everything stopped moving.....it was complete gridlock....we couldn't go forward or backward and people started pushing....it was downright frightening...ugh!! I love the FP+ cheats that you have discovered!

Thanks TCD! Yes, we are all well and looking forward to our upcoming Disney trip. I keep wondering if we will bump into your cast member daughter!!

TCD, So happy that you could get all three girls together at the Fort! I am finding out with my 21 and 18 year olds it is getting harder and harder for us all to be together. Back in 2006 we were in Disney over the 4th. We weren't staying at the Fort, but went over for the parade. We were shocked with both the amount of participants and the amount of spirit that people put into their decorations!! We watched the July 4th fireworks in the MK on the 3rd. They were the most amazing display I have ever seen. Afterwards was the only time in my life that I felt a little panic with claustrophob

TCD, I loved reading about your extended family trip to Key West! I have never visited there before, interesting place for sure! Also so neat that you got to go to a taping of Jimmy Fallon's show at Universal! Heidi

WHATTTTTTT??? No sinking sands? The last time we were there was 2010 and it was there then. I didn't realize that they have renovated the pool in the last four years!!!! Thanks for the heads up TCD!!!

Sorry!

double post

Dave, I am late to the party, I just started reading this yesterday and finished today!! The cruise sounded like so much fun! Must have been even more fun having the extended family all together. That is AWESOME that you surprised your girls with a 2 night stay at the YC! I love surprises and have pulled off some good ones for my boys over the years. In a month we are heading to Disney and staying at week at the All Stars and 4 nights at the YC. We have stayed at the BC and Boardwalk, but this will be our first stay at the YC. I am happy to hear that you liked it! Of course the pool c

I am SO EXCITED that you were there for the 24 hour event!!! I got lots of Facebook updates from Disney during the event and even mentioned to my husband how I "wished TCD was there so I could see some pics of what people were wearing!!" My wish came true!!! Looking forward to hearing more about your day!

triple post!