Originally Posted By crapshoot <<They have quail???? And it's well done? (not by heating but by preperation)>> Yes, and not deep fried on a stick.
Originally Posted By SafariRob Nice recap. I am glad you had a good time! Here are a few of my favorite comments (and my replies). "I personally prefer it to its predecessor." Are you referring to Disneyland or DCA 1.0? "Had I not been surrounded by screaming babies and Mickey hats I could have easily been dining in Chicago or San Francisco." LOL. San Francisco and Chicago have screaming babies, too. "Do yourself and everyone else a favor and kindly leave Little Precious at home with the sitter." Yes, yes, 1000 times yes. "God help us if Disney is forced to allow Segways." I really, really hope not. The strollers and motorized scooters are dangerous enough! I witnessed some guy's foot get run over by a scooter at WDW. "What was once the graceful entrance to Tomorrowland is literally nothing more now than a parking zone for strollers and Fastpass distribution." Part of the problem with stroller congestion is the size of the strollers themselves. Like most other things since 1955, they have gotten considerably larger. 1955 stroller: <a href="http://pashpics.xmission.com/gallery2/d/46748-4/Box1F_Slide16.jpg" target="_blank">http://pashpics.xmission.com/g...de16.jpg</a> Average 2012 strollers: <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9SlYS77Pdxg/ShLlA3ybzVI/AAAAAAAACME/NRLbg1nMJlo/s400/Baby.Stroller.jpg" target="_blank">http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9SlY...ller.jpg</a> <a href="http://mbeans.com/images/dynamic/Bugaboo/bugaboo-donkey-double-stroller.jpg" target="_blank">http://mbeans.com/images/dynam...ller.jpg</a> "Disney Cruise Line has adults-only restaurants, lounges, pools and even an adults-only beach at Castaway Cay. If they can do it so can Disneyland and Disney World." That kind of defeats the purpose of Disneyland. It was designed to be a place for families to experience together. I understand the need for separate spaces on cruise ships because that is where people go to relax but I don't see that happening at Disneyland. "But some people are seriously going to fault a parent with cranky kids in the grocery store? Seriously??? What do you want them to do? Leave them home alone or pay someone to watch their baby or small children every time they run an errand." Either that or have one parent do the shopping while the other stays at home with the kids. My wife will go shop while I am getting the kids ready for bed. We do that most of the time. Better for everyone. Obviously, not everyone has this option. You do what you have to do. "We waited until Sunday night at about 10:30 PM when we knew the crowds would be low and the kids fast asleep and had the teen-aged neighbor come over to watch them while we shopped." That works, too. We think alike. Shop late, avoid the drama. "I just wonder what benefit is there for a child to be at Disneyland when it's so small that it can't even remember what happened 5 minutes ago let alone go on rides or even comprehend what Disneyland is." You mean other than let the characters scare them and leave them permanently scarred? Pictures, of coarse. It's all about the memories...even if you have to scar your child in the process. Seriously, though, the comment below is usually why. "If you have older kids, taking infants sometimes is just a necessity, but the baby won't get anything out of the place, and it's really difficult trying to deal with babies in the parks." EXACTLY! That's us. Cannot be avoided most of the time. "...we have some very special father and son photos from those trips, including our very last family picture." :-( from me, too. I am glad you have those special memories.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I just wonder what benefit is there for a child to be at Disneyland when it's so small that it can't even remember what happened 5 minutes ago let alone go on rides or even comprehend what Disneyland is.<< Speaking for myself, I enjoyed taking my kids at various ages, even as infants, watching them enjoying various things in that moment. (I also enjoyed that admission was free when they were little, LOL). My daughter may not remember her first trip there at 1 year old, but we have some great photos and memories of that vacation. She couldn't go on very many rides, but like most kids, she was dazzled by it's a small world.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Hans, you and I are twins separated at birth." Hahaha! Don't you love it when you encounter people who share a similar view as yours? "The only comment I have is aout the merchandise." I don't think you realize how bad it is. I wanted to purchase a simple classic Disneyland logo T at Elias & Co and all they had were a thousand different character screens. Here's an example of what I was looking for: <a href="http://www.disneystore.com/tees-clothes-men-disneyland-resort-mickey-mouse-tee-for-men/mp/1305159/1000228+1000764/" target="_blank">http://www.disneystore.com/tee...1000764/</a> The helpful cast member seemed surprised and blamed it on the influx of new Cars Land merchandise. It's kind of hard to understand why something so basic would be so difficult to find.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt >"I personally prefer it to its predecessor." Are you referring to Disneyland or DCA 1.0?< I prefer the current DCA to Disneyland. "San Francisco and Chicago have screaming babies, too." I live in San Francisco, eat out quite a lot, and I can honestly say that I have never heard nor have I seen, a baby at dinner in a high end restaurant.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS <No booze report, but I will say that Trader Sams is the bomb and the lounge at Carthay Circle is going to be fantasic once the mixologists there get the hang of things. The place has a very ambitious beverage menu.> Could you elaborate on what went wrong at Carthay? (If anything?). I only ask because we pop into the lobby for drinks and apps and have not yet had any issue with the drink service. In fact, if at the bar, they are very willing to explain what's happening as they mix your drink. Hmm..maybe that's what was holding up your drink order LOL
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Oh no, the service was great 999Haunts. What I meant was that the server we had seemed to be fresh out of training and still in learn mode if you know what I mean. The other mixologist had just been transferred from the Winery and the two of them were working their first shift together. There was a general vibe of newbie-ness to the bar at the Carthay Circle lounge that I expect to disappear as more people discover the bar area.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Ahh...gotcha! PS - I love the ice spheres. They are so classy (cause you know I'm just as classy, er...yeah.)
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Not much. I think parents mistakenly think it's going to be a wonderland for kids from birth on. And it's not. My daughter was 2 and a half when we first went.<< My first visit was on my 6th birthday. I have only vague memories of that day. The one that stands out the most was eating chocolate while riding in the skyway at night.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "They are so classy (cause you know I'm just as classy, er...yeah.)" Just like me.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>On another note, who knew that there was an upstairs outdoor lounge at the Winery? I just discovered it on this trip.<< It was there when DCA first opened, but was quietly closed shortly after Mondavi moved out. When remodeling the Wine Country complex to get it ready for WOC, they added the overhead wooden structures up there and on the first floor patio, and reopened the upstairs bar. It was really quiet the first 6-8 months it was open, but the crowds have definitely caught on. If you can find a table, it's one of my favorite places in the resort to relax for a little while
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I had no idea Ferret. The outdoor lounge furniture looks really cozy and there are some nice views of Cars Land from up there.
Originally Posted By Scutr Thank you for an intelligent and concise trip report! (and really, did anyone expect anything else from Hans?) Happy to see you enjoyed yourself overall, and I get the impression that you did so far more than you expected to.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 "My first visit was on my 6th birthday." Mine too! " I have only vague memories of that day. " I seriously remember at least 5 or 6 things about that day vividly - the place just made a huge impression on me.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Thank you for an intelligent and concise trip report! (and really, did anyone expect anything else from Hans?) Happy to see you enjoyed yourself overall, and I get the impression that you did so far more than you expected to." It was a nice trip and long overdue. I'm starting to get the post Disneyland trip blues!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Thank you for an intelligent and concise trip report! (and really, did anyone expect anything else from Hans?) Happy to see you enjoyed yourself overall, and I get the impression that you did so far more than you expected to." It was a nice trip and long overdue. I'm starting to get the post Disneyland trip blues!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA >>On another note, who knew that there was an upstairs outdoor lounge at the Winery? I just discovered it on this trip.<< It was there when DCA first opened, but was quietly closed shortly after Mondavi moved out. When remodeling the Wine Country complex to get it ready for WOC, they added the overhead wooden structures up there and on the first floor patio, and reopened the upstairs bar. It was really quiet the first 6-8 months it was open, but the crowds have definitely caught on. If you can find a table, it's one of my favorite places in the resort to relax for a little while> I'll agree here. On one of our first trips to DCA in 2001, we ended up on that upper patio area, drinking some wine and eating some appetizers, and being taken care of by a very knowledgeable Mondavi employee. (When the Winery first opened, Mondavi had contracted to have their own trained employees working at the restaurant. It was a fantastic experience. Later that same year, we had a delicious and peaceful (there were very few guests in the park) dinner at the Vineyard Room. 4-5 months later, Mondavi had pulled their sponsorship and both sections of the Winery were closed. We still talk about that day on that patio section of the Winery at Disney's California Adventure.
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<"My first visit was on my 6th birthday." Mine too!>> I was three on my first visit. What I vividly remember was Mr. Toad's. Only the way I remember it is so strange. The cars ran on a half circle track layout. The scenes were laid out in pie wedges on the inside of the loop. On the outside of the loop, I picture a dark warehouse with dirt floors and a open door way across the space with light coming in. I have hung onto that "mind's image" for more than fi^%$ years. Someday I should get that analyzed.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Im so glad you had a great time Hans and i always get the blues after leaving too. Big Thunder even when i went last October needed to be refurbed. I remember seeing the water was all green and icky, so hopefully that will happen. The merchandise for the most part is crapola, you should have looked for your shirt in the emporium thats where i bought the exact same one my last trip. Im glad that you like Carsland and RSR! i know you give honest opinions, so if you say it's good then i believe it.
