Saturday, July 7: Downtown Disney, food, drink, and fireworks?

[SacTown Chronic]

So we'll be down for a short visit to Disneyland the weekend after the Fourth of July. We thought it would be fun to hook up with interested LoTers in DtD/AP Lounge for dinner (if anyone's interested), drinks (definitely!), and maybe a fireworks viewing from our hotel balcony or the DLH concierge lounge. I understand they synch up the soundtrack with the show for concierge guests, so that might be fun.


Any takers for Saturday Night Shenanigans?

[blueerica]

Wait... I am around on this weekend... Now I'm confused and need to look at a calendar.

Scratch what I said in the Sooo... thread.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Keep this on the calendar- I don't know how July is shaping up yet but it'd be fun to meet you and hang out. :)

[Kevy Baby]

Any takers for Saturday Night Shenanigans?I'm always up for a good shenanigating. I'll see how July shapes up - I (we) should be able to make all or part of this.

I understand they synch up the soundtrack with the show for concierge guests, so that might be fun.If not, Zap is a master at it!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Nothing comes to mind as being on the calendar (I can skip Fast Times at Ridgemont High at the cemetery, as much as I love that movie). And I believe CP even has the day off work!

[Crystal]

Wait... I am around on this weekend... Now I'm confused and need to look at a calendar.

Scratch what I said in the Sooo... thread.

WooHoo!!!

[SacTown Chronic]

I spoke too soon, it seems. We will NOT be going to Disneyland next month. We'll have to catch up with our swanky friends next time.


Sorry for the false alarm, folks.

[Moonliner]

Scratch what I said in the Sooo... thread.

I spoke too soon, it seems. We will NOT be going to Disneyland next month.

Damn, now I really feel bad for Blueerica... :(

[blueerica]

LMAO

ETA: I'm sure I'll be just fine. :)

[alphabassettgrrl]

Awww, what a bummer. Let us know when you can come play. :)

[Not Afraid]

I was just opened this thread to check dates/time so i could add the event to my calendar. Bah.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Booooooooooo.

[SacTown Chronic]

^Yeah, I know.

[innerSpaceman]

And, may I add - Hiiiiisssssssss.

[Scrooge McSam]

I'm sorry, buddy! I'm sure you and Crystal were looking forward to this.

[innerSpaceman]

Fine, meet us in Sequoia then. It's a midway-point compromise!

[SacTown Chronic]

I'm sorry, buddy! I'm sure you and Crystal were looking forward to this.No worries, we'll still have our fun. It turns out the kids want thrill rides this summer. Yeah, you read that right -- the kids vetoed Disneyland.


Fine, meet us in Sequoia then Would if we could, brother. Don't think we didn't look into attending the camping swanking.

[Gemini Cricket]

Yeah, you read that right -- the kids vetoed Disneyland.
I guess geekery skips a generation.
Maybe your grandkids will be into Disneyland.
:D

[SacTown Chronic]

Heh, the thought of not seeing our Disney geek friends was the only thing giving them pause as they considered a non-Disneyland summer.

[innerSpaceman]

Sniffle. We have Knott's nearby ... and Magic Mountain, if they've had their shots.

[blueerica]

Magic Mountain! I haven't had an excuse to go there since... OK, last year.

[Isaac]

If not, Zap is a master at it!
Sadly, the master is moving that weekend & it's highly unlikely he can make it to the resort.

:(

[Plumenom]

I spoke too soon, it seems. We will NOT be going to Disneyland next month. We'll have to catch up with our swanky friends next time.


Sorry for the false alarm, folks.


attention all CM's: cancel all backdoor attraction plans. repeat all backdoor plans and VIP viewing has been cancelled.

oh, and your kids suck.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Where are the thrills at?

Oh, and I don't blame 'em - I was the same way. I still miss my Magic Mountain season pass

[innerSpaceman]

Seriously, tho, SacTown ... and not that Disneyland has been free of negligent homicide attractions ... but doesn't yesterday's Six Flags news leave you reluctant to take your offspring to one of their parks just now???

[~MS~]

coming in late to this but I can confirm that they do have the music to the show in the concierge lounge....we sat there and watched the show last December and it rocked hard....you have munchies and nice comfy chairs and the music...it was so awesome we're doing it again this coming December.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Seriously, tho, SacTown ... and not that Disneyland has been free of negligent homicide attractions ... but doesn't yesterday's Six Flags news leave you reluctant to take your offspring to one of their parks just now???Puh-leeze, do not pull the fear card. We were at Disneyland right after the Big Thunder death. :rolleyes:

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, I am pulling the fear card. (heheh, whatever it takes .... I miss the Sac Clan).

[blueerica]

Hey, I'm with iSm... whatever cards we can pull to get the SacFamily down here. Hey - I suppose Six Flags isn't that far away...

[Not Afraid]

Pul out the whole deck! I think we should just kidnap the SacClan and bring them to DL. How bad could it be?

[innerSpaceman]

Ok, the fear card, the loathing card, the terrorist attack card. Check.

[SacTown Chronic]

No, not SFMM. If we went to Magic Mountain, nothing would stop us from heading 60 miles farther south to see our LoT friends. We are going to hit Paramount's Great America, head over to Monterey and Big Sur for a few days, then finish up at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk where I shall ride Giant Dipper over and over....giggling all the while.

Oh, and to soften the blow off not getting Disneyland, I booked a night at the Argonaut Hotel (http://www.argonauthotel.com/)on San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf to start our little trip off right.

iSm, you're welcome to join up with us at at any point. That goes for all of you -- we miss you guys.

[innerSpaceman]

:D Hmmm, Santa Cruz and the Giant Dipper, eh?




Very, very tempting.

[Scrooge McSam]

Jason at the Argonaut???

LOL

[Kevy Baby]

To show that there are no hard feelings about being bypassed, I looked up directions for you to the Argonaut:

Take the I-5 South, exit Disney Way, follow into parking structure. Take tram...

[SacTown Chronic]

Thanks Kevy, I'll write those directions down.


iSm, don't forget all the tan hardbodies (of both sexes) that parade around the Boardwalk practically naked. And the tangy smell of pot that hangs over the entire town. Good times.



FU, Sam.:D

[Scrooge McSam]

yeah yeah yeah

promises promises promises

[MouseWife]

We are going to hit Paramount's Great America, head over to Monterey and Big Sur for a few days....

So...when will you be in Monterey? We are there the evening of the 3rd and leaving the 5th. Well, Pacific Grove more precisely. But, we are looking forward to enjoying whatever 4th celebrations they have going on {I've seen a parade, bbq, fireworks over the water...}.

Oh, and last time they sold fireworks in Seaside and guess where the Hubby is loading up? :rolleyes:

No Big Sur for us. :( Although the Big Sur River Inn looks pretty cozy.

[SacTown Chronic]

You'll miss us by one week, MouseWife.

I love Pacific Grove. We stayed at Borgs a few times when the kids were younger and money was tight. Not the swankiest place, but a prime location and reasonable room rates.

[MouseWife]

Hmmm..haven't heard of that place.

We've stayed at a few different places, this time curious to try out the Asilomar Conference Grounds. We are taking bikes and hopefully will make proper use of them. :rolleyes: I know the rest of the gang will. :p

Aw, one week. Well, one week while traveling is a big gap.

Where do you plan on spending your 4th? I am excited as this is the first 4th I've spent away from home.

[Crystal]

Aww, Mousewife, it would have been great if we were going at the same time. We're going to stay at the Asilomar Conference Grounds ourselves.

I say everyone meet up in Santa Cruz! Good Times to be had by all there.......

[innerSpaceman]

So what's the date(s) you're in Santa Cruz???

[SacTown Chronic]

Hmmm..haven't heard of that place.You've probably seen it. Borgs is located right across the street from the water and the park at Lover's Point. It's the cheap-ish looking two-story motel.

Where do you plan on spending your 4th? I am excited as this is the first 4th I've spent away from home.We'll be home for the 4th and on the road the following weekend.


Let us know how you like the Asilomar Conference Grounds. We decided to stay there and cancel our reservations on Cannery Row in an exchange of convenience for rustic peace and quiet.

[SacTown Chronic]

July 12th, iSm.

[Kevy Baby]

I find it interesting that there have been more than five times as many posts since announcing that they weren't coming than there were before that.

[innerSpaceman]

There was no arm-twisting necessary when they were coming.



And bah for the 12th being a Thursday. I don't really think I can be in Santa Cruz on a school day.

[€uroMeinke]

And bah for the 12th being a Thursday. I don't really think I can be in Santa Cruz on a school day.

What if you were sick, or abducted by space aliens? that stuff happens every day

[MouseWife]

Aww, Mousewife, it would have been great if we were going at the same time. We're going to stay at the Asilomar Conference Grounds ourselves.



That would have been cool. Especially with so much going on for the summer, a lot to do. Usually when we go it is winter-ish and not a lot for the kids.

Hmm. SCT I still can't place it but I will look for it this time. That name, I'll remember 'Star Trek'. :D

Well, if I get back in time I will post a review of the ACC. We also decided to stay there for the same reason as you. I kept envisioning the Wharf, Cannery Row, and then the lovely grounds and all of Pacific Grove we never have explored. The building looks awesome, designed by the woman who did the Hearst Castle, right?

Did you guys reserve a room with a fireplace? We did but were told that it is not a guarentee. :( That would be so perfect out there. You know it is going to be chilly and when the fog rolls in a fire will be perfect.

The price was pretty good as well. Includes breakfast which is good, too.

Anyways, we will be back here about the 7th, I think.

[SacTown Chronic]

Bummer, iSm.



MouseWife, you just know we requested a fireplace and got the "no promises" song and dance. Yeah, many of the buildings at Asilomar were designed by Julia Morgan, famed Hearst Castle architect

[MouseWife]

Yeah, and the promise of having the difference refunded doesn't really mean squat, does it? I mean, we have reservations for a room with a fireplace, how hard is it to make sure we get one? I mean, when they accepted our requests, they had them.

Those front desk clerks just have to keep stronger backbones and not cave into other people coming in and trying to steal them!! :mad:

[innerSpaceman]

You have to "steal" your requests first, before earlier arrivals get the chance.

Always follow up your reservation "request" with a letter, oh two weeks to 10 days out, addressed to the front desk or the reservations dept. Tell them how much you've been looking forward to your stay at their fine establishment, and how feature "A" will add to your enjoyment.

It has worked for me every time. I really don't think too many bother with such a thing nowadays, and I believe it trumps day-of requests made at the point of check-in that might otherwise have "stolen" your original time-of-reservation request.



* * * * *

ok, we now return to the Sac Clan thread, already in progress.


Have you told the kids there's a new submarine ride????

[MouseWife]

I have forgotten about those letters, I have written them before...Dah!

Well, we usually are early check ins ourselves. Maybe I'll put in a call...oh yeah, I will as they called me about a bbq they are having...Thanks for the reminder!!!

iSm, I love your persistence!! :snap:

[MouseWife]

Well, Crystal and STC, we all just arrived home tonight from our trip.

Won't go in to all of the details but I will tell what I saw around the Asilomar Conference Center~ Did you get the address? LOL We didn't. I just figured we would know right where it was at...we didn't.

It is a big place. Really big. Spread all over a heck of a lot of acres. They say there are mountain lions but we didn't hear anything about them. There are deer all over {not just on the grounds, all over that part of Pacific Grove, it would seem, especially around the graveyard across from the lighthouse}.

So, back to its' size. Big. While I was checking in a woman was telling me her keycard had demagnetized for the 3rd time that day. Not a big deal, she said, but it was a long walk to the check in. This is because you really can't park anywhere around the place. We had to park along the street outside of our building. Okay, the building, they all have names, ours was 'Ember'. Downstairs there is a 'living room' type place with a fireplace and seating. I supposed this is for when it is rented by a group? Actually, pretty cool. There are elevators, and, from our area, if you parked underground {our SUV with Yakima did not fit} the elevators go right up to your building, pretty cool}.

There is a pool, this we could drive to, don't know if we were supposed to, though. Bikes are a great idea but there are a lot of hills. Walking is probably best. Lovely walks all over the property. Not a good walk into Monterey, Cannery Row, though. We did drive up and that wasn't a problem. If you park at an all day lot,and you want to ride up towards the Wharf from Cannery Row, you can leave your car there and take the free shuttle trolley.

The kids will love the deer at Asilomar. Oh, so cool. From our balcony {which is what the upstairs room has, the downstairs a little patio with table and two chairs} we saw a doe and two fawn. This is their element, and, they are beautiful to watch.

The room wasn't too big, but, it wasn't bad either. Ours had a double bed and a double Murphy bed. That saved space during the day. The fireplace comes stocked {ours wouldn't stay lit very long} and over by the elevator is a box of more wood.

Breakfast was cool. They give you a little ticket/slip upon checking in {make sure you get one for everyone for every morning of your stay, they almost forgot ours}. We walked over for ours {helps to burn it off, too}. They greet you at the door {the place is west of the check in building}, ask if you are leisure or with a convention/group. You will be seated {or allowed to choose} at a table where others will also be joining you. The table has the coffee, hot water, and other things. The buffet for breakfast is simple, you walk up and they hand you a plate with a cover. As you walk out, there is a table with pastries which are good. :0) The little ones that look like cookies are not, they are like the tops of muffins. Yummy. Anywho, they also should offer you oatmeal, just in case they forget.

The building where you check in has billiards and ping pong. The gift shop sells coffee and hot cocoa.

The guest service is great. Everyone is quite attentive and helpful. There is one housekeeper per building, I think, as well as someone who comes to clean the fireplace and clean it daily.

Did we like it? The Hubster and I did. There is no phone or television which really was a let down for the Boy. We did get him out to the wharf to see the fireworks and he even went for a run. Oh, and in Yosemite they were showing Tom Hanks' movies and we saw 'Forrest Gump' a few times and so we ate at Bubba Gumps. We enjoyed that, too. Just remember to put your name on the waiting list. These poor guys were standing there a while and when I got in line behind them I asked if they were in line, yes, they were. Had they put their name down yet? And they were like 'What?' and I bet just a little perturbed that our name was called first as the Hubster went right up and gave them our name. :D

We would love to go back. The people there are really nice, it was nice to sit at a table and meet other people. Of course, this can be hit or miss. {oh, also, for breakfast if someone doesn't make it you can take a plate/box back for them, including a coffee, etc.}

Well, that is all I can think of. I am wondering if you guys are already on your way there...it is cool. Oh, and, while I don't think it is butterfly season, I was surprised to see a lot of them fluttering about the trees outside of our room. I thought they might be moths but they weren't.

You all have a great time, wear your walking shoes, and take a jacket!!

[SacTown Chronic]

Won't go in to all of the details but I will tell what I saw around the Asilomar Conference Center~ Did you get the address? LOL We didn't. I just figured we would know right where it was at...we didn't.

We stumbled across the Conference Grounds about ten years ago while staying in Pacifc Grove and trying to find a shortcut to the beach.

Okay, the building, they all have names, ours was 'Ember'. Downstairs there is a 'living room' type place with a fireplace and seating. I supposed this is for when it is rented by a group? Actually, pretty cool. There are elevators, and, from our area, if you parked underground {our SUV with Yakima did not fit} the elevators go right up to your building, pretty cool}. Our room was in 'The Hearth' and we were able to park in the garage and take the elevator to within 30 feet of our room. Very convenient.


Walk to Cannery Row? What, are you high?


We would love to go back.We've already made reservations to stay there for Thanksgiving. We love the place.

and take a jacket!!We wuz robbed! 70 degrees and sunny the whole time. No fog, no chilly. We still used the fireplace both morning and night but we didn't really need it.

[MouseWife]

LOL Oh man, when I realized just how far we were from Cannery Row, I said no freakin' way. {that was our plan, my plan actually, to say how we would get from the room to the fireworks....}

Wow, that warm? We were so happy to be there at that time. We had just come from very hot weather and this was a blessing.

Aw, you guys are going back for Thanksgiving? Like, the actual holiday? How long does it take you to get there? It takes us quite a while so we don't go as often as we'd like. We actually broke up the trip home with a night in San Simeon. {another cool place}

I think your building was in the set of ours {Embers, Hearth, that theme}. The parking garage was cool...if you could fit. :(

Next time....

[SacTown Chronic]

Yes, the actual Thanksgiving holiday. It's a tradition we started just last year. We found that it's more fun to go to the coast for Thanksgiving than to spend time with our families. Monterey/Pacific Grove is only a three hour drive from home. Last Thanksgiving we stayed at Ragged Point (not far from San Simeon), and that was a bit of a drive for us.


Now to find a Thanksgiving feast somewhere in Monterey and reserve a table.

[MouseWife]

We also have found spending time away from family for the holidays is best. Glad we aren't the only ones.

Ragged Point, I know I've seen that on the map...

I would imagine the Conference Center will have a dinner. They had a bbq meal on the fourth {not an actual bbq, just the food} that was about $18 per adult. It was really good, I'd imagine they'd do Thanksgiving up right, too.

Other than that, I guess it would depend upon what you are willing to spend.

If you do go back to San Simeon, here is something I've found. The Best Western Cavalier hotel is quite nice, but, can be pricey. Right next door, the Sands by the Sea is way less. This last time, our room was $79+ while the BW was $150.+. They are right next door to one another and the SBTC is all newly refurbished.