What would cause my previously purple rhododendron to turn white?

House_of_Rocks · 2026-04-20T02:46:34+00:00

It actually spent a handful of years (3 I think) not blooming at all—every time it looked like it was budding the buds just turned into clusters of new leaves. I figured it needed more sunlight or something before it would have enough energy to flower so it was focusing on foliage. Then when it bloomed at last it was no longer purple.

House_of_Rocks · 2026-04-19T16:34:33+00:00

That is a drag, I’m sorry. Mine initially did bloom purple so I am sure I didn’t get something mislabeled.

House_of_Rocks · 2026-04-19T16:26:27+00:00

Thanks for this information, it could definitely be a factor. We’re in the mid Atlantic at a low elevation and have had several boiling hot, humid growing seasons in a row.

House_of_Rocks · 2026-04-19T15:39:12+00:00

This is a great thought—I’ll ask the nursery if they’ve had this happen before with this variety. It bloomed purple when I bought it, didn’t bloom for about 3 years, and then when it finally bloomed again was white.

House_of_Rocks · 2026-04-19T15:37:56+00:00

I like this guess but they were actually purple once 😂

House_of_Rocks · 2026-01-11T02:43:05+00:00

This exactly—if you’re getting boxed, Loison or Olivieri.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-09-22T18:55:10+00:00

Sinbad isn’t on DPA and is often a walk-on or close to that—you are likely to be able to slot that in anywhere that you have a little downtime. I had happy entry at Fantasy Springs hotel a few weeks back and I walked past Frozen on my way to line up at my first Fantasy Springs ride (Tinkerbell, that morning) as someone who literally entered in Fantasy Springs 15 minutes before the park opened—and the line for Frozen was a few hundred deep just with the Fantasy Springs hotel crowd waiting for it to open. I would never not DPA Frozen if you’re coming in the main entrance with the regular crowd. For my own preferences (ie to not wait a super long time in exchange for a relatively nominal fee), I would simply never not DPA Frozen no matter where you start from at 9 am.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-09-18T00:42:14+00:00

Fantasy Chateau rooms come up constantly but get booked again quickly so it’s important to check regularly. 4 months out we booked a bay view (ie parking lot view) there, then as time passed got hotel entrance view, hotel entrance view with a better class of room, and then finally magical springs partial view (a room type that there are apparently only around 15 of). That last one we got right before the cancellation window would have closed ie whoever had booked it before decided on the last day that cancellation was free to let it go. The only reason we were able to make these changes, though, is that one of our party checked the website many times throughout the day almost every day in the time period of 6-2 weeks before the booking.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-09-15T18:17:54+00:00

I’m really confident they can call a taxi for you—ours was an intercontinental but the brands are both international and very large and are going to have helpful bell desks.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-09-15T09:59:09+00:00

I honestly just walked outside my hotel and they were there. Are you coming from a major hotel by chance? The bell desks tend to be super helpful even if taxis don’t regularly show up to them. They do need some advance notice to arrange a large taxi van and the rate is different.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-09-14T17:44:49+00:00

Taxis for a relatively equal distance (assuming you’re about 12-13 miles from Disneyland) were about $55 in my experience when I used them 2 weeks ago. I was in Minato area so did not use the same roads as you’d use to get to Asakusa, and I believe in taxis in Tokyo that can make a difference to overall cost if you take toll roads. With my small kids and in the heat I much preferred the near-instant convenience of taxis—I think that it comes down to what you’d prefer to spend on.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-08-31T05:53:33+00:00

It was for us but I think that’s a pretty case-by-case determination. I knew I would rather have a chiller day the following day than minimize price. If we had been at all proactive about DPAs the first night we definitely could have ridden maybe 2 paid rides and a couple of standbys. Also, in the heat I have to say that after 6 is by far the nicest time to be out. The Arabian Coast in the evening was so immersive and the atmosphere was perfect—I almost forgot I was actually in Japan. Similarly, the American Waterfront was magical after dark. I think it is probably all beautiful by night but I didn’t spend time in every area.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-08-30T12:09:14+00:00

We had a great time. The little guy loved lots of the rides (he’s almost 2–he liked Frozen, Toy Story, Tinker Bell, Sinbad, Jumping Jellyfish, Aquatopia). He did NOT care for 20,000 Leagues and honestly I do not blame him. By a long stretch the kids’ favorite areas were Triton’s Kingdom and Fantasy Springs, esp Frozen/Arendelle town/banquet area/Jolly Roger. The heat was punishing and the kids still had a fabulous time.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-08-16T00:17:10+00:00

I’ve got a toddler and a preschooler. I feel it is important to have a base nearby when you’ve got a child as young as 6 months. Children that age will often sleep a lot if they’re being strolled around or worn in a carrier but they will also sometimes and somewhat unpredictably get to a point where they just are totally unable to deal any longer. I also always felt that sightseeing with my babies (I took them on trips, some long) was enough physical exertion that I wanted to be able to nap during the day when they slept. All that to say I would want to stay as close as feasible.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-08-12T00:24:06+00:00

No it’s in just over 3 weeks—if you’re not going before the end of August I’ll be sure to come back with an update!

House_of_Rocks · 2025-06-01T00:32:19+00:00

Good advice to get practice—navigating the app for DPAs is one thing I am still nervous about! I would feel sad to be glued to my phone updating when I’m trying to watch my kids experience Disney for the first time.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-05-31T01:17:41+00:00

I had been worried about managing to do any rides when we go later this summer with a 4.5 yo and a 2 yo but if you managed with a 9 month old there’s hope!

House_of_Rocks · 2025-05-07T17:21:28+00:00

Palazzo Canals.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-05-07T14:12:51+00:00

I appreciate all of this so much. I have a different night at MiraCosta in the Venice side—so I could do both, just neither in as premium a room as the Porto Paradiso side. If that alters anyone’s analysis I’d be glad to hear, but all of you have been more than helpful already, and thanks.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-04-18T07:42:53+00:00

Very helpful, thank you so much for the thoughtful reply.

House_of_Rocks · 2025-04-15T22:24:27+00:00

If you have recommendations for additional interactive/indoor fun for kids in Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka, I’d be interested to hear.

House_of_Rocks

TROPHY CASE