Originally Posted By familyguy Today is the day we check out and head back home. But our train doesn't leave Fullerton station till almost 7pm, so we've still got a day to spend at Downtown Disney. So we had some stress at the beginning of the trip, and now at the end of the trip in regards to the hotel. In the past we have stayed at the Hojo, but with their prices increasing we figured we'd try somewhere else this time. Based on the location right across from the parks, and the fact that we had a larger party this time around (9 with my brother nieces), we decided to stay at the Desert Inn and Suites since they had some Suites that could accommodate 10 and at a pretty good price. We were less than impressed for a couple reasons. When we have stayed at the hojo in the past, although we arrive early on the train (7am), many times our room was available. If not they would gladly hold our luggage for us till we were able to check in. Desert Inn and Suites was not so accommodating. They had lockers available that we could pay for to hold our luggage, and they weren't very big. So we avoided this on the day we checked in because we still had a rental car at that time and just kept our luggage in the car while we did some things at Downtown Disney and the parks. Today we didn't have a vehicle and had to try to shove all of our belongings into several lockers. It wasn't my favorite situation. Some other stuff we did not like about the hotel was the pool. It was a small indoor pool that didn't look inviting at all. It had a solid wall on one side and a nice view of the parking lot on the other. We didn't bother visiting even once. In addition there was only one slow elevator that went up to the 5th floor where our room was, so there was often a line of people waiting to get on the one elevator. Sometimes you had to wait for more than one elevator to go up and come back before you got on. Also not my favorite. Otherwise, the rooms were ok. We probably won't be back. So after loading up the lockers it was back to Downtown Disney and by this time it was about 11 and we were ready for an early lunch. My brother is a big sports fan and had been wanting to visit the ESPN Zone since we arrived, so this is where we went for lunch. This was actually a pretty cool experience because they seated us in a privet room all to ourselves where we had several TV's to ourselves and were given access to the controls so that we could put on whatever we wanted to watch in there. It was very cool! We had a great lunch and all wanted to go shopping now. One thing that my wife and I learned a long time ago is that I'm not the most patient person when it comes to shopping with her. She is the typical woman that loves to look around at everything, and I am the typical male that shops on a mission; I know what I want and I go in and get it and I'm done. So what happens when she shops, is that I go do something else and it works out great! In this case, by two boys were not interested in shopping, but wanted to go upstairs at the ESPN Zone and play some video games. The World Cup was on and so I figured I'd go get these guys a game card and let them go wild while I grabbed a seat at the bar up there to watch the game and have a couple cold ones. I had a great time all by myself watching the game, and from time to time looking over at my boys playing video games and thinking about how much I loved them. From time to time I'd go over and challenge them to a game of basketball shootout and I'd "take them to school". What good is a Dad if he doesn't from time to time show his boys that he's still better than them at sports! It just gives them more reason to look up to Dad and think he's cool. haha It was good times. After a while everyone was back and I got to see all the great purchases they all made. I'm a coffee mug guy, so i usually try to pick one up each trip. My wife picked me up one of the new land themed mugs they are selling now. I got Adventureland and I love it! Everyone got their last bit of Disney magic and then it was time to take the last gulp of my cold beer and start heading back to the hotel so we could grab our stuff and make our way to the train. I always call our last walk off of the property the walk of shame. It's never a fun filled walk, and is usually taken with a heavy heart. We walked up Downtown Disney, across the street, grabbed our luggage from out of the lockers, and called the cab to come take us to the train station. All in all it was a very good trip, and one that will be remembered as special because it was experienced with a couple new additions to the Disney crew. I think we did a good job of REALLY introducing my brother and his daughters to the parks. They had been before, but they didn't experience it like they did this time. They didn't have a good method to touring the park and waited in a lot of long lines, not to mention the last time they were there, my niece was scared of everything, which was not the case this time. Anyway...this was our trip. I mainly did these reports so that I could come back and read them with my family in the future and recall all the great memories we had. But i appreciate you all reading and the comments you have left. I know you all have the same love for this place that I do. I feel accomplished knowing that I am passing this on to my children, who will in turn pass it on to their children. Here's to keeping the faith that Disneyland will continue to uphold the quality that has been their trademark for so many years, so that generations in the future will continue to be able to cherish the magic that is Disneyland!
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips Oh, I am so there with you about that last walk..... I am usually so tired but so sad I would not like the hotel charging to stow my bags ....in fact, I personally have never heard of that
Originally Posted By iamsally Charging for lockers at the hotel!?! Yikes! That would turn me off for future visits; as does charging for parking. Oh, the walk of shame. Our trip in June was not complete until our dear little granddaughter Morgan (8yo) sobbed her little broken heart out. I am not talking an I don't want to leave tantrum. She really gets the parks, unto the 4th generation for us now, and falls to pieces when we have to leave. She did this when she was 5 as well. Happy Memories!
Originally Posted By teddibubbles thank you for sharing the trip with us.. God Bless you and your family brother :-D
