Originally Posted By ssturgeo Back Sunday night from the Happiest Place on Earth...and finally recovered enough from the trip, the three hour time difference, and a daylight savings time change to write a trip report. Flew into LAX on Sat. March 1st with my granddaughter...the trip was her 16th birthday present. First time we had taken the DL Express (prebooked online). I had always used Super Shuttle before. The bus is nice and goes directly to the DL hotel first. But, only runs every hour before 10:00, which, since we were at the designated pick up place at 9:50, did not think would be a problem. At about 5 after one stopped and said the resort one would be along in about five minutes. We waited until 10:45 and one finally came...as we watched MANY Super Shuttles pass by! Returning to airport, again they pick up on the hour, so we had to arrive at the airport earlier than necessary, but it was there right on time, and you do not have to call ahead to book a pick up as you do the Super Shuttle. We stayed at the DL Hotel and I still love it!! The staff are all just super!! From check-in to housekeeping. They do have complimentary coffee every morning from 6:00 to 9:30 in the lobby. And, I was able to purchase blockout day tickets for Sat. the 8th, that morning at the desk...NICE. They also had all the paperwork waiting for Krystle's AP, so all we had to do was take the monorail into the park and get an updated picture for her. She has not had an AP for a couple of years, and they still had all her info in the computer at AP Processing on Main Street, so we only spent a couple of minutes in there. Vacation Planning..Brad..never can say enough nice things about these people!! Ordered two baskets (the California Cooler and a Birthday basket), chocolate covered strawberries, and a Tink Cake and all were delivered on the day and time requested. The Tink cake was GORGEOUS...she loved it! I just got the small one, and it was enough for 6 people at least...very rich, so you could probably get even more slices out of it. Besides a 3" figure of tink it had little chocolate Mickey faces on it, a larger chocolate Minnie face, and ribbons. They also brought candles and DL Hotel matches. When we arrived there was a baloon bouquet, a packet with an autographed picture of the princesses, a couple of souvineer postcards, and her birthday button (and even though we already had that, we stopped in City Hall the morning of the 7th so she could have her "Goofy" birthday call. Also at the hotel Guest Services booked the Sephora makeover for us, and Sat. evening printed out my boarding passes for me. The monorail was only down once the 8 days we wanted to ride it, and we never really mind the stroll thru Downtown Disney either. On to Disneyland...finally!! Weekdays were great, not a lot of people, short lines, cannot remember how many times we walked right on to Space Mt. and Indy! We rode, in the week, every ride in the park, except Pooh and Casey Jr....not intentional, just always on our way to something else! Did not spend as much time in DCA this trip, but did ride Screamin' and TOT and Soarin' a few times. Also took in the Aladin show, she had never seen it and I think it is amazing. Did Tough to be a Bug also, which had never seen. At DL, her first ride on Nemo, the canoes, the Columbia, Pirates Lair on TSI and she did get to see Capn' Jack, and the additions on Pirates of the Caribbean. Oh, and Monsters Inc at DCA. Fun to have new stuff to share with her (her last trip was Nov. 05) I had booked the Lilo and Stich breakfast, and it remains my favorite. The staff, the characters, everyone spends more time with the guests, more relaxed, and just more FUN!! They brought her out a dessert with a candle and the staff and characters sang happy birthday. We also did the Minnie and Fiends again on spur of the moment...always have fun with Captain Hook! Blue Bayou for her birthday dinner, her request! Got a water table, and they too brought out a dessert with a candle. The highlight of the trip for her (and for me too) was lunch on her birthday at CLUB 33!! A business contact of my brother arranged it for us and we did not tell her until he was pressing the buzzer to be let in! She loved it, and it is always an amazing experience. They too brought her out a dessert with a candle. Weather was great...we did get in some pool time at the hotel too...so hard to come back to winter in Indiana. We took a side trip to Universal one day...booked online via Greyline...very convenient, picked up at the hotel. If you stay at one of the resort hotels you can book a makeover at Sephora, Sat. (and maybe Sundays) before they open. $35 but then you get a $35 gift card, and a little bag of samples. We did that Saturday and it was great! I knew the park would be crowded that last day, Saturday, with cheerleaders, beginning of some spring breaks, etc., so the makeover was nice. The park was a zoo that day! But we got fast passes EARLY for the things she wanted to ride "one lst time" and was glad we did. At 5:25 when we used our FP for Space Mt., the line was 70 min. long and no more FP's to be had. I have NEVER seen so many people at the park or such lines (I avoid summmer and peak times as much as I can). But, we were just doing "lasts", enjoying being there, etc., so the crowds did not bother us! Was happy the Jungle Cruise opened a day early and also happy that Carnation Cafe was not closed the entire week as it had said on DL website. A perfect trip...and now I am suffering from PDD!!! Sharon Next trip Nov. 16-22
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 Thanks for sharing your trip report! I am now even more excited to celebrate my birthday there in June!
Originally Posted By oredisneyfan thanks for the awsome trip report!!! I cant wait to go in June....we are doing vacation planning and I was a little concerned but after reading your report I am so excited and cant wait to get there!!!
Originally Posted By rtjl72 what a nice trip report! it sounds like you and your dgd had a great time! i am happy for both of you. if you think of any other details you would like to share i would love hearing them!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 What a wonderful trip! In reading your report I almost felt like I was there. I really appreciate all the details, from bus trip to the crazy last day crowds. I'm sure this birthday trip is one your grandaughter will remember forever.
Originally Posted By liveforvacations Your trip sounded fabulous! What a wonderful grandma! We are going for my daughter's 10th birthday so I have a few questions. What exactly was in the baskets? Can you have them delivered on their birthday? What is the birthday call? Do I just need to make a request to Vacation Planning to get the balloons and autographed pictures on check-in? Do they just do this for the birthday person or can I get it for my son as well? What cake did you order? Did you give specific instructions as to what you wanted on it? Sorry for so many questions but this is the first time we have been at Disneyland for a birthday and I want to make it so special!
Originally Posted By ssturgeo live4vacations... Birthday basket...gee, not sure I remember what all was in it, I know for sure birthday Mouse Ears and a NICE picture frame...VP will send you a list of all the baskets and their contents....and they have them for different age groups. Yes, you can request delivery on their birthday, or any other day...I actually had them leave it the night before so she would have her ears on her birthday. The birthday call is at City Hall...a phone on the desk...just ask! Goofy is on the end with a cute happy birthday message. Yes, I requested the balloons and autographed pictures from VP. If you mention your son and his favorite character, I am sure they would have pictures waiting for him also. They also had the birthday pin waiting for Krystle with her pictures. I ordered the small Tinkerbell cake...it is PLENTY for four people, probably six people...just requested Tinkerbell on it, along with her name...it was GREAT...decorated so cute!! Worth every penny...VP will also send you a list of the cakes, sizes, decorating choices, flavors, etc. Again, if you want I can send you that information also. Any other questions feel free to ask, you can email me personally if you want. Sharon Next Trip Nov. 16-22
Originally Posted By liveforvacations Thank you so much for all the information, you have been really helpful!
Originally Posted By CindyH Thanks for the TR, sounds like you and your granddaughter had lots of fun! Do you have Brad's email? Thanks.
Originally Posted By ssturgeo I just used the following email, vacationplanning@disneyonline.com and put "Attention Brad" in the subject line. And then he contacted me. You can also call VP and ask for him: 714-300-7526 - if he is not available he will return your call Sharon Next Trip Nov. 16-22
