Travel dates: June 10-12
Travel method: Flight into John Wayne Airport
Resort: Hyatt Regency Orange County
Accommodations: Standard 2 Queen Room
Ages Represented in Group: 5,7,20,41
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group: Second trip through very experienced!
Comments: Awesome Trip
Cast of characters: DD1 = 7yo Star Wars fan; DD2 = 5yo Princess fan; Au Pair (AP) = 20yo German Princess fan; Me = 41yo Disneyland fan
June 10th
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Flight touched down at John Wayne Airport at around 8:40AM. We had gate checked our boosters and they were on the jetway, and with our carry on bags we wenst straight to the taxi to the hotel. Hyatt Regency has its own shuttle that leaves 15 minutes before and after the hour from the hotel, and on the hour and the half from Disney. We arrived at the hotel at 9:40, they rushed our shuttle passes, grabbed our bags and tossed us claim tickets so we could make the 9:45AM shuttle. Big points for fast service and understanding the rush to Disney!!! Cars2 playing in the shuttle, kids were happy. About 15 minutes to the dropoff point at Disney.
Started with Toon Town and RRCS and GG - then off to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for the girls to get made over - they chose the Disney Diva colored hair look. We brought our own dresses and used their dressing rooms to change and the girls loved it. The transformation was the biggest hit with AP - she picked it as her favorite part of the trip. DD1 has really long hair and the hairdo took over an hour. Her eyes were glassing over. DD2 has really short hair and was done in about 15 minutes and was tired of waiting for her sister and her hair hurt and she wanted the clips and extra hair taken out right away. They were both happy with how they looked and we went to lunch at Ariel's Grotto and they felt fantastic.
After lunch and grabbing Fastpasses we went to the hotel as our room was ready and took a really long nap. Shuttle was on time. Beds were super comfy. Curtains dark enough to blot out the afternoon sun so we could sleep. Went back to the park at around 8PM. Rode Soarin and skipped back to DL for Space Mountain and fireworks. After fireworks ducked into Plaza Inn for dinner to avoid the crowds. Very nice!! After dinner rode IASW, Indy, JC, Star Tours, Winnie the Pooh, and maybe something else? Went back to the hotel on the 12:30AM shuttle and fell asleep in our clothes.
DD2 is into trading pins at the moment so she and I went looking for someone to trade with while DD1 and AP were on any rides DD2 is too young for throughout the trip.
June 11
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Our well planned big Disney full day! Arrived at 9:30AM to open up DCA. Breakfast from a cart - croissants and drinks while waiting for the rope drop. Rode Toy Story for the first time, Great ride! Then Mickey's wheel, Soaring and Screaming Fastpasses, then zipped over to DL for Jedi Training. AP and kids waited while I ran for Splash Mountain fastpasses. With 8.5x11 signs and a lot of excitement, both kids were chosen - DD2's first try (she was afraid of Darth Vader before). Awesome! Then off to Meet Mickey, which was nice and cool in the heat of the day. Then the Railroad over to New Orleans Square (have to see the dinosaurs!) and lunch at the French Market. Kids still eating while I ran for Star Tours fastpasses.
By now it's busy and hot and so AP and DD1 hit Splash Mountain and we head back to the hotel for a serious nap. Back to the park in time to ride Soarin and Screaming (FP for Screaming was still not on network when we were there - you could get both Screaming and Soaring at the same time) and race to DL to see the first Fantasmic show - we sat at the railing in front of the Haunted Mansion at the advice of a CM. AP ran for dinner while we waited maybe 30 minutes for the show - a side view but perfectly fine. After the show, Star Tours and then back to the hotel, not as late as the night before. I'm skipping some rides I'm sure, but I don't remember them all!
June 12
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Up, checked out and bags with concierge by 10:15. Feels late but don't want to push it on a travel day! Mickey Mouse pancakes at River Belle Terrace - then I ran for fastpasses while the kids kept eating with AP (slower eaters!). Grabbed them for Space Mountain, Soaring and Screaming. Finished the FP dash before they finished the pancakes! Went to the Tiki Room, then saw Aladdin, then split up so that DD1 and AP went on Screaming and DD2 and I went on Soaring and then we all met at the DCA exit and went over and rode Space Mountain. Then shuttle to the hotel to pick up the bags and taxi to the airport. Ate at the airport at the food court - surprisingly ok food. Kids slept on the plane!
Great trip! We did Disney like mad, no waits over 25 minutes for anything, everyone did their favorite things, everyone did something they hadn't done before, avoided the worst of the heat and the crowds, and just had a great time.
Big thanks to everyone on mousepad - the advice here totally rocks, dude.
Originally Posted by curtsinore
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