Introduction
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Introduction
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I grew up at Disneyland. Well, OK, not literally. I would guess I've been to the park perhaps 50 or 60 times. Now, when you consider that I moved from Southern California to New York some 13 years ago - before they came up with the idea of inexpensive annual passes - that is a pretty impressive record. When I was a kid I'd go at least 3 times in the summer with my best friend Kirk, plus a few times through the course of the year. I cut back on my Disneyland intake as a young adult, but went at least 2 or 3 times a year during my last 4 or 5 years as a California resident.
I lived in New York for a few years before going back to visit again, and in the last 10 years or so I get back at least once a year. With the exception of a business trip last year, I have visited Disneyland during every single trip I've made to Southern California since moving. Usually I've gone out by myself, and we'd only been back once as a family - about 5 years ago. We even stayed at the Disneyland Hotel on that trip.
With all those trips, however, not once was Disneyland a "major destination" for the trip. Not once. It was always "I'm going to Southern California to visit family. And while I was there, I went to Disneyland."
Well, with this trip that all changed.
Yes, the main focus of the trip was to visit family. However, we would make a trip to Disneyland a major part of the trip. Of course, the impetus for this was the huge expansion of Disneyland in "Disneyland Resort", with a new theme park, hotel and shopping/entertainment district.
I booked 3 nights at Disney's new "Grand Californian" hotel. The original package cost something like $1400 and included park passes and lots of other goodies. A little while later I found out that the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) was offering exchanges for stays at the Grand Californian, so I checked it out. The exchange rate was 32 points for Sunday-Thursday and 42 points for Saturday. For us that would total 106 points. Now, as a rule DVC members consider $10 per point as the rate at which they consider an exchange acceptable, so even though it would no longer include park passes is seemed like a fair exchange. I also like to use DVC exchanges because they're already paid for - you feel like you're getting your vacation for free.
When I made the reservation I was very careful to make sure that they understood that I wanted a "Park View" room. The Grand Californian has view of Disney's California Adventure as well as views of Disneyland and Downtown Disney, in addition to "courtyard views" and "city views". I happened to be in Downtown Disney a few days before we were scheduled to check in, so I went to the reservation desk to make sure all was OK. It was then that I was informed that DVC reservations are for "standard view" rooms. Now, I was a bit annoyed because I had made every attempt to be clear when I had previously been dealing with anyone at Disney in regards to this reservation, and I was told in no uncertain terms that I would be able to get a "park view". Well, all I had to do was to pay an extra $50 per night to get the view I wanted, and I figured it was worth it, so I said OK. It turned out to be a moot point, as they didn't charge us for it.
The cast member was able to make the room request right there, and she told me that one problem was that we would have to settle for a room with one Queen size bad and bunk beds, as opposed to 2 queens. I said fine - I actually figured the kids would enjoy the bunks. I had a choice between a "Grizzly Peak" view and a "Paradise Pier" view. I picked "Paradise Pier" at her suggestion - she said it was a prettier view at night and also quieter. So, we were all set to check in on Wednesday.
Some notes on nomenclature. From here on out I will use the following abbreviations:
