Originally Posted By Dabob2 Trip report for our trip to DLR, Dec. 16-19. Cast of characters: Just me (Dave) and spouse Jerry. First trip since February 2006, so nearly two years. We live in Brooklyn, USA, and were in L.A. semi-unexpectedly (i.e. fairly short notice) for a business function that I usually don’t attend, but did this year. Jerry worked it so he could come too and hey - we’re already in SoCal, might as well have some fun, right? After the business thing we went down to southern Orange County, where a friend I’ve had since I was 5 now lives with his wife and kids. We spent some time with them and it was great. Then on Sunday the 16th drove up from there to Anaheim. We got to Anaheim around noon, and went to check in at the DLH. This is where I always wanted to stay as a kid, but never did (I grew up easy driving distance for a day trip, which is what we always did). Never stayed there as an adult either - stayed at one of the Harbor places for years, and then graduated right to the Grand and got hooked on it. But this year with the Grand’s price for this week through the roof and the DLH semi-reasonable, I opted for it. Hadn’t been inside the DLH for years, so I was quite pleased to see what a nice “welcome to DL†vibe the entrance has, along with the great paintings of the park in the lobby and all that. Got me psyched and in the right frame of mind. We left our bags with the bellman, and I went to self-park. On the way back, I realized I’d left our electronic parkhoppers in one of the bags, and we’d need them after lunch. I figured the guy I’d just left the bags with would recognize me and it wouldn’t be a problem. But getting back to the bell desk, it turns out he had just left for HIS lunch break, and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to retrieve the hoppers. But the woman at the desk just took my name and actually took me back behind the desk where the luggage was, led me right to our bags and let me get the hoppers. Thus making this the first encounter with DLH cm’s who were uniformly helpful and nice, I have to say. We tried to check in, but the room wasn’t ready, so we wandered the grounds a bit. I remembered the waterfalls and koi ponds from decades ago - don’t know if they’ve ever been remodeled, but they were always very nice. That whole expansive area between the towers does have a very “Disney resort†feel (as RoadTrip has pointed out), and though we wouldn’t be using it, the Neverland pool looked like fun. But what I really dug were the rows of photos of Walt and celebs and of the DLH itself through the decades in the Marina (Magic) Tower - along with the huge display case of DL memorabilia. I’d seen many of those pics before reprinted elsewhere, but not all of them, and Jerry hadn’t seen most of them. He was quite surprised that the DLH had started so small and lo-rise; I had to point out that in 1955 few were convinced that DL would be a success, so it didn’t make sense to build too big. After a little while it was time to head to DTD for one of the highlights of the trip: meeting SingleParkPassholder and the lovely Mrs. SPP at the Uva Bar for lunch. You never know when meeting someone if you’re going to get on, but the two of them made it easy. Very laid back and intelligent conversationalists, and we immediately felt like we already knew them and just had a very nice time. Strangely enough, since I had known SPP mostly from the WE boards, we talked about just about everything EXCEPT politics. Also I’d never eaten at the Uva Bar (or Catal), and the food was really good; I tried an unfamiliar beer that I liked as well. But the main thing was just this really nice lunch/conversation with SPP and Mrs. SPP. Like I said, it was one of the highlights of our trip, and we were sorry they had to go so soon. It was still well before 3:00 and our room wouldn’t be ready, so we headed for DL. We had electronic (online) tickets for the first time but they were accepted without a hitch, and we were soon heading through the left tunnel (as always) and into Main Street. It’s always great to see Main Street for the first time after a couple of years away. The tree was beautiful as always, and we got our first look at the new “winter†castle. You don’t really get the effect in the daytime, of course. It was obvious immediately that this Sunday was going to be packed. Really packed. Jerry doesn’t like crowds at all (me either, but they don’t bother me as much), so it looked like this could be something of a trying day for him. So we headed for his favorite of favorites, the Haunted Mansion, to start things off right. Unfortunately, when we got there it was an hour wait. So we picked up fastpasses and went to Pirates instead, which looked like a huge line, but I knew would only be about 20 minutes, with Pirates being such a people-eater. That’s about what it was, and this was our first look at the recent movie-oriented changes. What I liked: the Depp/Sparrow AA’s were really good, and well integrated. They didn’t dominate the classic scenes, or “take away†anything for me. I VERY much liked the new lighting in some of the cave (skeleton) scenes, especially the one at the ship’s wheel. Creepy and cool. And the sound throughout seemed improved, which is always big in my book. What I didn’t like: the new Barbossa AA. It didn’t seem any sort of improvement over the old Blackbeard guy, and maybe a slight step down somehow. What I’m not sure about: the Davy Jones projection. I liked the effect, and it looked good, but I missed the long, narrow, dark section it replaced. Looking at our watches, it seemed like if we took the train from NOS back to Main Street and walked back to the DLH, we’d be there just about when it was time to check in, so that’s what we did. After all these years, I still dig the sights and sounds from the train, and even more, the SMELL. Especially when you’re enclosed in the GC/PW dioramas, that smell is just unmistakably DL. We walked back through DTD to the DLH, and our room was ready. I asked if we had gotten the tower (Sierra - excuse me, Dreams, ugh) and the view I’d asked for. The desk clerk told me we’d gotten “just about the best view there is.†That sounded good, so we took the keys to the room, and she wasn’t kidding. As promised, our luggage had already been delivered and was waiting for us. We were on the 10th floor, facing DL/DTD, in the northeast corner of the tower (the closest to DL). Being a corner room, it was a bit larger than most I think (based on pics other people have posted here), and we got the king bed we requested too, but the view was the main thing. It was just spectacular. Since they call it “DTD view†rather than park view, I assumed you wouldn’t be able to see much of DL, but you pretty much see it all. Now, of course, so much of DL is covered with trees that much of it just looked green. But you got a great view of the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, and (because it’s closer) Splash Mountain. And you could pick various other landmarks out as well. And you could HEAR the evocative whistle of the Mark Twain, even from that high up. You also had a fine view of all of DTD; close up the baseball diamond pattern on the top of ESPN Zone, the DLH Christmas tree directly below, and of course the monorail pulling into its station. And then all of DTD stretching out farther away. What surprised me most was what a good view of DCA you got also. It wasn’t as close and “in your face†as the view from a GCH room, of course, but from the 10th floor you could see basically all of DCA - PP in the foreground with its movements and pretty lights after dark, GRR, the Wharf area, TOT in the distance... I was surprised and delighted. You could pretty much see the entire DLR from that room! I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the DLH after 3 stays at the Grand, but I’d definitely consider it again, certainly if I could get that view. I guess the trouble is, they never guarantee it, so you have to get lucky. But we had only good experiences with the DLH, and if nothing else I’m glad I got to stay there once before they change it all out (if, indeed, they do). We were ready for a nap. Zzzzzzz. Post-nap, we headed to the DTD monorail station to go back to the park. I’m not sure if there were 2 or 3 monorails running (Darkbeer said there’d be only two; it was impossible to tell with the identical blue YOAMD layovers on them, which I didn’t like). But whether there were 2 or 3, we never waited more than 5 minutes for a monorail at either station, and since we napped once a day and ate mostly at DTD, it saved us a LOT of walking - another plus for the DLH. Back inside, we wanted to use our fastpasses for HM, but on the way we saw the Matterhorn had a quite manageable line, so we did that. Left side. Only about 5:30 but already dark this time of year, so even more fun. We then headed over to HM and used our fastpasses. I really love DL at Christmas, but I’m kind of hoping our next trip isn’t Oct-Dec., if only because I prefer the “regular†HM and really want to see it again. On our last trip, it was closed for refurb, and the 2 trips before that were Fall or December, so it’s been ages since I’ve seen the regular version. Also, we didn’t get to see the new floating table effect or the attic with the new bride, since they don’t exist in the NBC version. I also thought the tree and gingerbread house were SO big in the ballroom scene that the “ghosts†(especially the dancers) were overlapping them/crashing into them, which didn’t look good. Don’t get me wrong, I do like the NBC version (especially the carnivorous plants and “Santa Jackâ€), and the basis of the HM is just so solid it’s always terrific, but I REALLY miss the original and hope we can see it next time. The park was still packed to the gills, and we knew that we had presumably less crowded weekdays coming up, so at this point we just wandered around and took in some of the decorations, especially in NOS. They looked really good, and Jerry did a little shopping. We very slowly ambled our way back to the monorail, passing the now-lit castle on the way (which looked better in person than in pics - that thing actually looked COLD). Picked up fastpasses for Space. We took the monorail back to DTD and ESPN Zone for dinner. There was a bit of a wait, but every eatery in the park was packed, and I don’t know that we’d have done any better in any other DTD place either. Besides, we’d each discovered a couple of favorites on the ESPN menu on our last trip, and it’s really pretty reasonable. My fave which I ordered again was the tortilla soup. Yummy. As dinner was ending, we realized that the fireworks were going off and we could watch them from the room. We didn’t get up in time for the whole show, but nearly. We didn’t mess with trying to get the sound from the TV, and just watched them “silent.†I had never watched the fireworks from a hotel room before, and as you might expect, this room offered an amazing view of them. Just wonderful. The park was open till midnight, and we hoped after the fireworks on a “school night†that the crowds might thin out some. Happily, they did. We hopped on the monorail again (getting in the front nose cone this time - love it). Used our fastpasses for Space, then did the Matterhorn - right side this time. We thought about Peter Pan, but that one still had a long line, so we did the shorter-lined MTWR instead. (Is it just me, or did they turn down the heat in the Hell room?). Still in a “thrill†mood we headed for BTMR, which I like a lot better at night anyway. We had about a 15 minute wait, but when we got off we noticed it was only about 5, so we immediately did it again. It was nearing closing time and the park was really emptying out. Heading back to TL and the monorail, there was NO line for the Astro Orbiter. That’s something I’ll only do IF there’s no wait for it, and there wasn’t. It totally belongs back up high on the PM platform, but it’s still fun in its way. Then hopped back on the monorail, which of course left us just steps from our room and a good night’s sleep. Next up: a semi-packed Monday includes our first trip on the subs in a decade.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Dave (and Jerry), Thank you very much for the kind words. As I already told you via private e-mail, my wife and I felt exactly the same way. She remarked for days after what a nice time she had at lunch with you both, and I certainly second that. It's a shame our timing and itinerary didn't mesh any further than it did. Next time, more beer!
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy Great trip report so far! It's bringing back memories of my DLH visit in September when I ran in the 1/2 marathon.
Originally Posted By ecdc Great report, Dabob2! I'm most jealous you got to meet up with the SPP's. SPP and yourself are two people I'm hoping I can meet outside of WE's someday I'm curious, how did you book your room? Online? How might one request such a great view, even if not guaranteed.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 What a great beginning! A couple of times we have been lucky enough to have the same room you had but on the opposite end. I think it might be smaller than the one you had but the views are fantastic. I also think they turned down the heat in the Hell room
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Great report, Dabob2! I'm most jealous you got to meet up with the SPP's. SPP and yourself are two people I'm hoping I can meet outside of WE's someday > Thanks - would love to meet you too someday. <I'm curious, how did you book your room? Online? How might one request such a great view, even if not guaranteed.> I called and talked to an actual person. I requested the Sierra (Dreams) tower with a DTD view and tried to be very polite about it, and although they pretty much have to say "it's a request, but not guaranteed," I got the vibe that she might actually do what she could to help us out and get us a nice room. When we stayed at the Grand last time I actually requested the same "line" we had been in before, because I had a map and knew the room numbers. That too was a request, which I did NOT receive, but got pretty close to. I've heard of people requesting an actual room number they've been in before, saying something like "it's a special room for us; could we get it again?" Of course, they don't guarantee that either, but they can put in the request. Since the Dreams tower is hi-rise, you could probably request something like "Dreams Tower, DTD view, 6th floor or above, please, if you could." (Making sure to put in the "please, if you could" part.) Then hope the agent does what she can AND it doesn't get shuffled around in between the booking and the stay.
Originally Posted By dlport Great TR! You guys were there about a week after my family and I had been there, so I recognize a lot of our own trip in yours! Did you ever watch the fireworks with the music from that dedicated TV channel available at the Resort hotels? Our room was at the GCH facing DCA, so obviously we could not see any fireworks, and I am curious as to how well they synched up. How would you compare the level of walking to/from the parks, you had to do at the DLH compared to the GCH? As you noted, the price has gone UP at the GCH, and we are debating staying at the DLH for our next trip, but the increased distance concerns me.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Great TR! You guys were there about a week after my family and I had been there, so I recognize a lot of our own trip in yours!> Actually, I noticed that in YOUR trip reports. <Did you ever watch the fireworks with the music from that dedicated TV channel available at the Resort hotels? Our room was at the GCH facing DCA, so obviously we could not see any fireworks, and I am curious as to how well they synched up.> No, we didn't. We'd already missed the first 1/4 of the show or so before we got up to the room, so I didn't want to have to hunt for it, and we just watched them without sound. The next two nights we were in the park. I've heard they synch up very well, but can't speak to it personally. <How would you compare the level of walking to/from the parks, you had to do at the DLH compared to the GCH? As you noted, the price has gone UP at the GCH, and we are debating staying at the DLH for our next trip, but the increased distance concerns me.> If you can catch the monorail, it's great. If you don't, it IS a bit of a walk, but at least it's a pleasant walk through DTD. And remember, if you're going back to your room from DCA, you can cut through the Grand to get back to DTD and then DLH, which will save some steps compared to going out the main entrance, especially if you're near GRR anyway. You can also re-enter DCA that way (I think just not the FIRST entry of the day, which is GCH guests only). I think you'll still save more steps overall at the Grand (especially if you get in the east wing), but if you like to nap, know roughly when you'll be doing it, and can get yourself to the east side at about that time, the monorail is a great convenience. And, of course, you can take it going back too (DL only, not DCA, of course). I love the Grand, but I thought the DLH would be more of an overall comedown than I actually found it to be. Certainly, if you can get the view we got, I don't think you can go wrong with either.
