kP72
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2014
Hi All. 
Spring Break is over for us so now its time to share some thoughts of Disneyland from my point of view.
This TR of our vacation to DLR will be more informative than entertaining . I think Im too drained from this past week to be funny and whimsical! After four days in DLR and another four days in Arizona Im spent, but didnt want to wait too long to get this TR out for those who have upcoming trips and had some questions.
Please note I will be sharing the ups and downs of our vacation, so please dont take any of my less than positive comments as being pissy or entitled, but as being honest. Also remember, everyone has different experiences just like child labor! We love Disney. We will continue to support Disney parks, and we do take home more magic than not! Regardless of your destination, there will always be pros and cons . And we definitely had more pros than cons!
March 9-12 (Sunday- Wednesday) we stayed at the DLH in a 2 bedroom suite (#2103) Fantasy Tower.
We: Me (41), DH (42), DS (15, almost 16), DD (10, almost 11), Sons best friend (15).
This was a first DLR visit for DH and DS friend.
Background: I have been to DLR three times now (1984, 2010) and WDW four times (1994, 2004, 2006, 2008), and DCL once (2009). By no means am I an expert, but know enough about Disney to understand MOST of the ins and outs and what one can/should expect.
About the TR title
A few years ago while on vacation at the lake, we heard a mother screaming at her brood of kids We are NOT here to have fun we are here to be a family!, and she was dead serious!
After that, we made it our motto, but in a humorous way!
Sunday:
Arrived at LAX from Wyoming at 9:30 AM and our limo from Royal Sedan was waiting. Weve used them before and they are very good. Nice clean cars and cordial drivers.
We pulled up in front of the hotel shortly before 11:00 AM.
Weather was quite warm that day (aprox 85 degrees) and it felt great!
Crowds were bad, but Ill touch on that later.
DISNEYLAND HOTEL
Room wasnt ready of course too early, but we did leave our bags with bell hop and headed to DTD for a sandwich at Earls. Very good. Try their classic beef n cheddar with horseradish sauce!
(5 sandwiches, 1 PowerAde, 2 beers, and one potato chip= $59)
Bell Hop CMs were great and so friendly. I had to make a few stops at bell hop and it became a running joke for them oh, its you again! And yes, they were well tipped! Say hi to Al and Jim if you have the pleasure of meeting them.
It should be noted that I ordered the Mickeys Grand Welcome package from Disney Florists which consists of minimal room decorating (5 min. tops) of banners and balloons, and a box of gifts, which some were sitting out on display. The gifts were everything Disney Florists said it would be a great package, if not a bit steep in price ($310), but hey, when in Rome or Disney! If you ever decide to get the Grand Welcome, be sure to plan accordingly . The Plushes are huge and take up lots of suitcase room, which I knew and planned for.
When I booked the suite back in September, I requested both rooms to have two queen beds instead of the one king in one room and two queens in the other room. With the sleeping arrangement, I wanted both boys to have their own bed and room, and then DD could sleep in the other queen in my/DHs room. I really wanted everyone to enjoy the light up headboards, especially DD, and of course, have the living room area open for relaxing with evening cocktails or conversation without worrying about kids sleeping in there. When paying $5400 for a suite (with park tickets) for four days, I at least expected to get this one request. In fact, I was under the impression it was a standard option, not a request.
I was informed at the front desk that it doesnt work that way If a family of eight requests a suite, then they will need the extra beds and your family doesnt require the extra bed since the sofa couch constitutes as a bed.
This irked me since they were keeping a four queen bed set up for just in case that scenario happened. Chalk it up to travel weary and expecting what I thought I was paying for. Yes, I know requesting certain towers or balconies or views cannot be guaranteed, but amount of beds????
Just FYI for those who do not know this! I always learn something new. LOL. If thats the way its done, Ill book two connecting rooms next time.
ANYWAY, THAT did not please me, and said as much to the CM. The CM (who was very nice) also said that since we had ordered the Mickey Welcome gifts, they were already decorating and couldnt move us. Keep in mind its only 11:00 AM at this time, but I didnt question it. At no time did I become irate or yell at the CM I just smiled and went with the flow . We are on vacation and its going to be great!
At the time of booking I made other minimal requests with the knowledge that Disney cant guarantee certain requests, but it was as if they didnt take any of my requests into consideration. Everything I did NOT want is what they gave us.
I did not request any certain tower, but I did ask for a room with a view of DTD/parks or pool, or at least some nice grounds. Denied. I requested a room with no views of a parking lot. They gave us a room with the view of the front entrance and convention building. The Frontier Tower has balconies on the top level, so I requested a balcony (for Shints & Giggles) and obviously, we did not get one.
Other than that, the room was nice, clean, and comfortable.
Also note that I called Disney a week prior to our visit to confirm my requests and the gentleman read back what I had requested at booking. At check in, they claimed that I had no requests listed.
The CM asked if we were celebrating anything and I did mention that it was a week before our 16th anniversary and she was so sweet about that told me to wait a minute while she went into the back room to bring out two anniversary celebration pins and a black and white photo signed by Mickey and Minnie. Nice touch.
Also, since we had the room decorating thing going on, they would call us (not text) when our room would be ready. As many of you know, actually receiving that call or text is another thing Disney doesnt guarantee, so I didnt hold my breath!
We wandered DTD and hung out at the pool for hours. 1:05 PM I checked on room and was told it was close to being done. 2:50 PM, I checked at the front desk again and still no room. The CM (a different one) said that they were decorating our room. Ummm . I was told four hours ago that they were decorating!
4:00 PM rolled around and we are all hot, tired, hungry and getting quite impatient for our room. I checked at the front desk again and our room was finally ready. No phone call of course.
We were on the 3rd floor in the Fantasy Tower (main tower). I was hoping for a room higher up, but after seeing how slow the elevators were, I was glad to be closer to the ground. And besides, if we were any higher up on that side of the tower, the palm trees would have blocked out less of the ugly view we got to see every day. Forgive me, but I am a hotel room snob when it comes to our vacations, especially Disney vacations. Yes, yes, I know NO GUARANTEES! But I do appreciate a good room with good views and the view we had was pretty crappy. Many people will let the view go by the sidelines since they seldom spend time in their room. Yay for those people but I wake early and go to bed late and enjoy balconies and views more than the average person. Hey, you try living in cold and windy Wyoming all your life and tell me how important that feature is to you!
Rooms are well appointed. I wouldnt go as far as saying they reeked of Disney theming Walt and Disneyland black and whites on the walls are a nice touch and carpet was full of hidden Mickeys. Room coloring was muted, and very comfortable. In the couch cushions, we did find an Ariel head, popcorn debris, and a lanyard which was found due to searching for my photo pass card, not inspection of cleanliness!
The headboards lighting up and playing When You Wish Upon a Star was sweet and enjoyed every night.
The rooms were very quiet. Toilets are loud! That was the only thing I heard from other rooms. And the flush is strong! Important factor for those with teenage boys!
No exhaust fan in bathrooms either.
Lighting was fine.
Hair dryer worked great.
Desk area houses numerous plug-ins for phones and whatnot. Convenient.
Minimal outside noise came through the windows.
The doors close loud, so be sure to catch them during early/late hours.
USA Today was available by elevators.
We did not order room service but I recall the hours being 6AM-Midnight.
Bedding was very nice. Pillows are soft.
Towels were a bit rough, but standard of any Disney resort. Plentiful.
TP was ok. Think Quilted Northern but much thinner and not as soft.
Great shower pressure.
A/C worked very well. I appreciated the three temperature controls so each room could be set at different temps.
Our suite had a mini bar area with fridge in living room that kept things good and cold (beer and wine perfect temps!) I mention the mini bar area since I saw pictures that showed a 2 bedroom suite with what looked like a mini kitchen area, but we did not have that. The set up was fine for our needs though.
Room safe was easy to use (pin code) and held money and smaller things. Probably could fit a laptop in there
TVs in all rooms. Not one was turned on during our stay so I dont know what channels were offered.
The grounds at DLH were impeccable. Very beautiful with a Polynesian flare.
For those who do not know this nugget of info, DLH does NOT have a staircase for guests to use. Staircase can only be used in an emergency. There are three elevators, but only two were working so during busy times, expect to wait at least 5-10 minutes for an elevator.
Once on the elevator, it moved very fast, but waiting was another story.
We had cocktails at Trader Sams. The Ka-Bluee (sp??) was tasty, and Im not a foo foo drink kind of gal. House brews were pretty good Longboard Lager-good, Kona Firerock- hoppy. Very small bar and the wait for a drink can be quite long. Oh, and bring ID! One lady was 84 years young and was carded!
Right outside of Trader Sams there is an outside seating area with fireplace and couch-like seating which was nice. The area accommodates smokers, which was great for me.
One evening we (DH and I) met some great people at that seating area and had so much fun! That evening was probably the best part of our trip!
People, remember you are on vacation and enjoy the small things. Thats what makes for a great vacation! Dont be afraid to strike up a conversation with people you never know who you will meet! It started with just DH and I and one lady from Maine in a leg cast (surgery) and then three other couples, then another couple I had met the night before. Everyone was buying drinks for each other, sharing stories, and causing the random walk-bys to stop in to join the party! We even met another woman from our town and it became the running joke that 50% of Wyoming was at Disneyland! Im smiling right now just thinking about that evening!
The pool area was pretty nice. Water slides were fun. Smaller area than what is perceived in photos, but still a lot of fun for all ages. There are two big slides: one loopy one that had a longer wait, and a shorter one that kids could pretty much walk on. Two slides are also available for toddlers.
The seating/lounging area around the pools was great . Lots of shaded areas and plenty of seating. We never had an issue trying to find lounge chairs in the shade to accommodate our group of five.
We were highly impressed with the lifeguards. They were serious about their job and always watching the kids in the pool. I felt very comfortable with my DD playing without me having to watch her every move.
DD said the temperature was perfect in the pools. Well heated, but refreshing.
There were two hot tubs that I saw. Yes, kids pretty much took over one, but there is another hot tub that the kids didnt invade so adults were enjoying it.
I saw lots of cabanas that can be rented out for XXX hours. Many were available, but Im betting that summer months they book up quick.
There were no CMs taking drink/food orders in the pool area unless you have a cabana. FYI. Trader Sams and Tarragona Terrace are just around the corner so one can easily get food/beverages without having to trek too far.
Gift stores in DLH were nice and had a great selection. Again, CMs were wonderful and so friendly.
Walking distance to and from DLH from the parks isnt very long. 10 minutes can put you in at bag check in front of the parks. Of course, this is pending on crowds.
Lots of people were wondering about the monorail near DLH and I would say its a hit or miss option for DLR entrance.
Pending on the time of day, using the Monorail can be beneficial, but I would not bank on it mid day or EMH. For those who do not know, you will need to have your park ticket and room card (if memory serves) to get on the monorail in DTD. There is a bag check as well. The line can get long and you could be standing in line for at least 30 minutes for a seat. In that time, you could have walked to DLR and been in the gates FYI. Also, DLR monorail is not like WDW as you cannot stand in the DLR one, which cuts back on capacity.
Guests are urged to disembark at each destination so others can utilize this means of transportation.
Monorail in DTD stops only in DLR, not Cali Adventure.
Monorail was coming by every 5-8 minutes.
Would we stay at Disneyland Hotel again? Probably not. The kids and I stayed at Grand California last time, and even though I dont prefer the woodsy/lodge motif while on vacation (looks like my house!), I liked the proximity of Grand Cali to the parks and having stairs available.
Overall, I would probably recommend DLH to others. Our stay was pleasant even with the minor room request mishap.
Next up: The parks and crowds.
Spring Break is over for us so now its time to share some thoughts of Disneyland from my point of view.
This TR of our vacation to DLR will be more informative than entertaining . I think Im too drained from this past week to be funny and whimsical! After four days in DLR and another four days in Arizona Im spent, but didnt want to wait too long to get this TR out for those who have upcoming trips and had some questions.
Please note I will be sharing the ups and downs of our vacation, so please dont take any of my less than positive comments as being pissy or entitled, but as being honest. Also remember, everyone has different experiences just like child labor! We love Disney. We will continue to support Disney parks, and we do take home more magic than not! Regardless of your destination, there will always be pros and cons . And we definitely had more pros than cons!
March 9-12 (Sunday- Wednesday) we stayed at the DLH in a 2 bedroom suite (#2103) Fantasy Tower.
We: Me (41), DH (42), DS (15, almost 16), DD (10, almost 11), Sons best friend (15).
This was a first DLR visit for DH and DS friend.
Background: I have been to DLR three times now (1984, 2010) and WDW four times (1994, 2004, 2006, 2008), and DCL once (2009). By no means am I an expert, but know enough about Disney to understand MOST of the ins and outs and what one can/should expect.
About the TR title
A few years ago while on vacation at the lake, we heard a mother screaming at her brood of kids We are NOT here to have fun we are here to be a family!, and she was dead serious!
After that, we made it our motto, but in a humorous way!Sunday:
Arrived at LAX from Wyoming at 9:30 AM and our limo from Royal Sedan was waiting. Weve used them before and they are very good. Nice clean cars and cordial drivers.
We pulled up in front of the hotel shortly before 11:00 AM.
Weather was quite warm that day (aprox 85 degrees) and it felt great!
Crowds were bad, but Ill touch on that later.
DISNEYLAND HOTEL
Room wasnt ready of course too early, but we did leave our bags with bell hop and headed to DTD for a sandwich at Earls. Very good. Try their classic beef n cheddar with horseradish sauce!
(5 sandwiches, 1 PowerAde, 2 beers, and one potato chip= $59)
Bell Hop CMs were great and so friendly. I had to make a few stops at bell hop and it became a running joke for them oh, its you again! And yes, they were well tipped! Say hi to Al and Jim if you have the pleasure of meeting them.
It should be noted that I ordered the Mickeys Grand Welcome package from Disney Florists which consists of minimal room decorating (5 min. tops) of banners and balloons, and a box of gifts, which some were sitting out on display. The gifts were everything Disney Florists said it would be a great package, if not a bit steep in price ($310), but hey, when in Rome or Disney! If you ever decide to get the Grand Welcome, be sure to plan accordingly . The Plushes are huge and take up lots of suitcase room, which I knew and planned for.
When I booked the suite back in September, I requested both rooms to have two queen beds instead of the one king in one room and two queens in the other room. With the sleeping arrangement, I wanted both boys to have their own bed and room, and then DD could sleep in the other queen in my/DHs room. I really wanted everyone to enjoy the light up headboards, especially DD, and of course, have the living room area open for relaxing with evening cocktails or conversation without worrying about kids sleeping in there. When paying $5400 for a suite (with park tickets) for four days, I at least expected to get this one request. In fact, I was under the impression it was a standard option, not a request.
I was informed at the front desk that it doesnt work that way If a family of eight requests a suite, then they will need the extra beds and your family doesnt require the extra bed since the sofa couch constitutes as a bed.
This irked me since they were keeping a four queen bed set up for just in case that scenario happened. Chalk it up to travel weary and expecting what I thought I was paying for. Yes, I know requesting certain towers or balconies or views cannot be guaranteed, but amount of beds????
Just FYI for those who do not know this! I always learn something new. LOL. If thats the way its done, Ill book two connecting rooms next time.ANYWAY, THAT did not please me, and said as much to the CM. The CM (who was very nice) also said that since we had ordered the Mickey Welcome gifts, they were already decorating and couldnt move us. Keep in mind its only 11:00 AM at this time, but I didnt question it. At no time did I become irate or yell at the CM I just smiled and went with the flow . We are on vacation and its going to be great!
At the time of booking I made other minimal requests with the knowledge that Disney cant guarantee certain requests, but it was as if they didnt take any of my requests into consideration. Everything I did NOT want is what they gave us.
I did not request any certain tower, but I did ask for a room with a view of DTD/parks or pool, or at least some nice grounds. Denied. I requested a room with no views of a parking lot. They gave us a room with the view of the front entrance and convention building. The Frontier Tower has balconies on the top level, so I requested a balcony (for Shints & Giggles) and obviously, we did not get one.Other than that, the room was nice, clean, and comfortable.
Also note that I called Disney a week prior to our visit to confirm my requests and the gentleman read back what I had requested at booking. At check in, they claimed that I had no requests listed.
The CM asked if we were celebrating anything and I did mention that it was a week before our 16th anniversary and she was so sweet about that told me to wait a minute while she went into the back room to bring out two anniversary celebration pins and a black and white photo signed by Mickey and Minnie. Nice touch.
Also, since we had the room decorating thing going on, they would call us (not text) when our room would be ready. As many of you know, actually receiving that call or text is another thing Disney doesnt guarantee, so I didnt hold my breath!
We wandered DTD and hung out at the pool for hours. 1:05 PM I checked on room and was told it was close to being done. 2:50 PM, I checked at the front desk again and still no room. The CM (a different one) said that they were decorating our room. Ummm . I was told four hours ago that they were decorating!
4:00 PM rolled around and we are all hot, tired, hungry and getting quite impatient for our room. I checked at the front desk again and our room was finally ready. No phone call of course.
We were on the 3rd floor in the Fantasy Tower (main tower). I was hoping for a room higher up, but after seeing how slow the elevators were, I was glad to be closer to the ground. And besides, if we were any higher up on that side of the tower, the palm trees would have blocked out less of the ugly view we got to see every day. Forgive me, but I am a hotel room snob when it comes to our vacations, especially Disney vacations. Yes, yes, I know NO GUARANTEES! But I do appreciate a good room with good views and the view we had was pretty crappy. Many people will let the view go by the sidelines since they seldom spend time in their room. Yay for those people but I wake early and go to bed late and enjoy balconies and views more than the average person. Hey, you try living in cold and windy Wyoming all your life and tell me how important that feature is to you!
Rooms are well appointed. I wouldnt go as far as saying they reeked of Disney theming Walt and Disneyland black and whites on the walls are a nice touch and carpet was full of hidden Mickeys. Room coloring was muted, and very comfortable. In the couch cushions, we did find an Ariel head, popcorn debris, and a lanyard which was found due to searching for my photo pass card, not inspection of cleanliness!
The headboards lighting up and playing When You Wish Upon a Star was sweet and enjoyed every night.
The rooms were very quiet. Toilets are loud! That was the only thing I heard from other rooms. And the flush is strong! Important factor for those with teenage boys!
No exhaust fan in bathrooms either.
Lighting was fine.
Hair dryer worked great.
Desk area houses numerous plug-ins for phones and whatnot. Convenient.
Minimal outside noise came through the windows.
The doors close loud, so be sure to catch them during early/late hours.
USA Today was available by elevators.
We did not order room service but I recall the hours being 6AM-Midnight.
Bedding was very nice. Pillows are soft.
Towels were a bit rough, but standard of any Disney resort. Plentiful.
TP was ok. Think Quilted Northern but much thinner and not as soft.
Great shower pressure.
A/C worked very well. I appreciated the three temperature controls so each room could be set at different temps.
Our suite had a mini bar area with fridge in living room that kept things good and cold (beer and wine perfect temps!) I mention the mini bar area since I saw pictures that showed a 2 bedroom suite with what looked like a mini kitchen area, but we did not have that. The set up was fine for our needs though.
Room safe was easy to use (pin code) and held money and smaller things. Probably could fit a laptop in there
TVs in all rooms. Not one was turned on during our stay so I dont know what channels were offered.
The grounds at DLH were impeccable. Very beautiful with a Polynesian flare.
For those who do not know this nugget of info, DLH does NOT have a staircase for guests to use.
Staircase can only be used in an emergency. There are three elevators, but only two were working so during busy times, expect to wait at least 5-10 minutes for an elevator.Once on the elevator, it moved very fast, but waiting was another story.
We had cocktails at Trader Sams. The Ka-Bluee (sp??) was tasty, and Im not a foo foo drink kind of gal. House brews were pretty good Longboard Lager-good, Kona Firerock- hoppy. Very small bar and the wait for a drink can be quite long. Oh, and bring ID! One lady was 84 years young and was carded!
Right outside of Trader Sams there is an outside seating area with fireplace and couch-like seating which was nice. The area accommodates smokers, which was great for me.
One evening we (DH and I) met some great people at that seating area and had so much fun! That evening was probably the best part of our trip!
People, remember you are on vacation and enjoy the small things. Thats what makes for a great vacation! Dont be afraid to strike up a conversation with people you never know who you will meet! It started with just DH and I and one lady from Maine in a leg cast (surgery) and then three other couples, then another couple I had met the night before. Everyone was buying drinks for each other, sharing stories, and causing the random walk-bys to stop in to join the party! We even met another woman from our town and it became the running joke that 50% of Wyoming was at Disneyland! Im smiling right now just thinking about that evening!
The pool area was pretty nice. Water slides were fun. Smaller area than what is perceived in photos, but still a lot of fun for all ages. There are two big slides: one loopy one that had a longer wait, and a shorter one that kids could pretty much walk on. Two slides are also available for toddlers.
The seating/lounging area around the pools was great . Lots of shaded areas and plenty of seating. We never had an issue trying to find lounge chairs in the shade to accommodate our group of five.
We were highly impressed with the lifeguards. They were serious about their job and always watching the kids in the pool. I felt very comfortable with my DD playing without me having to watch her every move.
DD said the temperature was perfect in the pools. Well heated, but refreshing.
There were two hot tubs that I saw. Yes, kids pretty much took over one, but there is another hot tub that the kids didnt invade so adults were enjoying it.
I saw lots of cabanas that can be rented out for XXX hours. Many were available, but Im betting that summer months they book up quick.
There were no CMs taking drink/food orders in the pool area unless you have a cabana. FYI. Trader Sams and Tarragona Terrace are just around the corner so one can easily get food/beverages without having to trek too far.
Gift stores in DLH were nice and had a great selection. Again, CMs were wonderful and so friendly.
Walking distance to and from DLH from the parks isnt very long. 10 minutes can put you in at bag check in front of the parks. Of course, this is pending on crowds.
Lots of people were wondering about the monorail near DLH and I would say its a hit or miss option for DLR entrance.
Pending on the time of day, using the Monorail can be beneficial, but I would not bank on it mid day or EMH. For those who do not know, you will need to have your park ticket and room card (if memory serves) to get on the monorail in DTD. There is a bag check as well. The line can get long and you could be standing in line for at least 30 minutes for a seat. In that time, you could have walked to DLR and been in the gates FYI. Also, DLR monorail is not like WDW as you cannot stand in the DLR one, which cuts back on capacity.
Guests are urged to disembark at each destination so others can utilize this means of transportation.
Monorail in DTD stops only in DLR, not Cali Adventure.
Monorail was coming by every 5-8 minutes.
Would we stay at Disneyland Hotel again? Probably not. The kids and I stayed at Grand California last time, and even though I dont prefer the woodsy/lodge motif while on vacation (looks like my house!), I liked the proximity of Grand Cali to the parks and having stairs available.
Overall, I would probably recommend DLH to others. Our stay was pleasant even with the minor room request mishap.
Next up: The parks and crowds.
Ive been to WDW during some busier times, but this was ridiculous! There are a few reasons as to why the crowds were so thick
.
Never liked it, so I dont know what compelled me to actually torture my group waiting for it. Perhaps it was the only attraction that seemed to have a shorter line. Well, it was a short line, but the Fast Pass system in DLR really needs work. 
It should be noted that we had been up since 3:30 AM (actually 2:30.. daylight savings), traveling, waiting a very long time in the hot sun for our room, and fighting crowds
so my levels of Pixy Dust were waning! 
This was all for my benefit since they thought I was staring at them! I had my back to them for most of it so DH informed me of some of the foreplay going on. This grope-fest went on for the next 30 minutes in front of my kids! (turn around kids!) I didnt say anything since these are the type of people who are looking for attention and would love nothing more than for me to confront them so they could lash out and receive more attention from others. Longest wait for a ride ever!!! 
But the new addition to CA is very well done and obviously enjoyed by many.
Keep this in mind when your spouse says oh, lets do Cali Screamin then TSM. Ya
that didnt work.
, then headed back to CA since DH and I had ressies for Wine Country Trattoria, which I will give a report on later.
Who would have thought I could love something as much as my children! Whopping price on that bad boy, but with my Disney CC, got a good discount! This bag worked perfectly as a carry-on
and a pillow!
), but this time, only one pair was purchased since the options in style were limited. I didnt want yoga style or elastic leg bands
only one style (straight leg/no elastic ankle band) was to be found in over a dozen shops and it was in black with Disneyland plastered in white on the side. They are comfy though. The last pair I bought in 2010 are just now falling apart! Oh, how I love my sweatpants!
Blast you Disney!!!
