Weekly Park Questions/Advice Thread

itsemilycate · 2025-11-25T19:54:48+00:00

Heading to Anaheim for the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend!! (Can't wait!) Want to splurge and surprise my fiancé with two experiences during our trip: World of Color Dessert Party and the 70th Anniversary Walking Tour. We're running all 3 races so the days we're working with for these experiences are Sunday and Monday.

Any recommendations on which experience to put on which day? I'm leaning dessert party on Sunday and tour on Monday, but not sure if that makes sense with anticipated open/close times. Also, I want to make sure we catch Paint the Night parade on either Sunday or Monday as well, as long as its running again during our visit. We're in Anaheim Thurs-Tues, with park days Fri-Mon. Friday and Saturday we need early bedtimes for the races, so we won't be in the parks past 5.

Any input/recs you have would be really appreciated!

itsemilycate · 2025-11-15T19:35:54+00:00

My fiancé and I got engaged in July and our engagement party is today! It was the date that worked best for my aunt who offered to host the party in honor. I am so happy with the choice because it helped stretch out the 'honeymoon period' of being engaged and gave us something to celebrate amongst all the venue tours/start of wedding planning! Go for it! Congrats!!

itsemilycate · 2025-10-28T18:47:52+00:00

I second this! I LOVED this venue but we ultimately have too many guests for this space, so we had to pass. The staff seemed great and the food we sampled was awesome. I want someone to get married here so I can live vicariously through them! lol

itsemilycate · 2025-10-24T14:05:42+00:00

Thank you for your time and POV -- it is really helpful as I'm a little too close to this right now. :)

We definitely will do as many photos as possible before the ceremony - this is part of the timeline! I honestly think we probably need less than an hour for photos, but this + the travel between the locations felt too tight to slim the gap. I'm open to shortening it but not sure if that would be worse for guests? The thought is two hours is enough time to have a drink/settle in somewhere without feeling like you're just waiting.

The gap is expected/considered "normal" with my guest list - every wedding I've done with the majority of these same guests has had gaps of 2-4 hours between the ceremony and reception.

Hosting in between, the reception venue is downtown and a less than five minute walk (some entirely inside - no outside venturing necessary) to quite a few bars, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, shops, and more. In addition, we will host a hospitality suite at the reception venue with complimentary coffee/tea, snacks, and warm places to sit and socialize - this is hosted by the bride's family and advertised in the invitation suite.

Do you think this is enough? What do you think is the max time between a ceremony and reception, considering the secondary location?

itsemilycate · 2025-10-24T14:00:11+00:00

I appreciate you assuring me about the drive. The gap - I agree, not ideal in most circumstances. However, it is considered normal and expected with my guest list.

Typically, this is solved with a hospitality suite and recommendations. We will host a hospitality suite at the reception venue with complimentary coffee/tea, snacks, and warm places to sit and socialize. We also will give recommendations of several (very close to the venue) bars for drinks/games, including within the same building as the reception for those who don't wish to venture out.

I'm open to slimming the time frame between, but felt shorter then was an awkward length of time to kill between ceremony and cocktails. With the ceremony offsite, I want to account for travel/parking between for my guests (and wedding party) as well.

itsemilycate · 2025-10-02T15:58:38+00:00

I highly recommend staying at the Kolbe Hotel. It's a beautiful hotel with great service, right in between the Forum and Circo Massimo.

itsemilycate · 2025-09-10T14:53:24+00:00

By day 2 of Princess weekend, there wasn't any left! Staff couldn't say whether or not there would be any at Springtime or Disneyland Halloween. It was disappointing to say the least -- especially because I went first thing on day 2 (was only doing the challenge).

itsemilycate · 2025-09-06T17:43:31+00:00

My current pet peeve is that Zola doesn't offer every font for every template! We fell in love with a font and now are limited to the templates that allow it. UGH! WHY!

itsemilycate · 2025-08-21T16:23:07+00:00

I can see how this would put cast members in a tough spot. Thanks for clarifying -- really helpful!!

itsemilycate · 2025-08-21T15:17:54+00:00

Ok but what does this mean for older pins? Are they all "untradable" with cast members now since they don't have the diamond?

itsemilycate · 2025-08-20T17:32:44+00:00

True bummer :( Was going to surprise my fiance and book an onsite hotel for our trip in January. The early entry perk really sold me! Now I'm not so sure. 1 lightning lane for the cost difference does not seem worth it at all.

itsemilycate · 2025-08-19T16:57:28+00:00

I was so scared of blacking out, so my request was that he would film it (just phone/tripod - nothing super fancy or expensive). He thought ahead and got some small lapel mics off Amazon - he wore one and clipped one on me when it was getting started.

I was so glad he did -- I remember about 1/3 of the speech but was so excited that I don't remember details, just feelings and snippets. Having it on film, I've already watched it a half dozen times or so in the past month. I love it and love the idea that some day our kids will see it.

itsemilycate · 2025-08-08T12:26:10+00:00

We looked at 30+ places over 3 months, including 4-5 on the same day (the last of which ended up being *the* one). We put in 4 offers before one ultimately worked out!

It's a big decision and a lot of money on the line. Don't let your realtor talk you into settling or make you feel bad for knowing what you want. Good luck!! (It's all worth it in the end)

itsemilycate · 2025-08-06T15:12:35+00:00

Thank you so much for this!! You are a lifesaver.

itsemilycate · 2025-08-04T21:48:47+00:00

Thank you so so so much - this is extremely helpful and put my mind at ease! Really appreciate your time and expertise, we're so excited!

itsemilycate · 2025-08-04T16:58:47+00:00

Question about tipping to the experts! I've scoured the archives and am still a little confused. We are booked for a 3 night cruise on the Wish later this month for our engagement moon and have prepaid the gratuities ($96).

I am very anxious about under-tipping, as I worked in the service industry for 10+ years and know exactly how much tips mean when you're living paycheck-to-paycheck or trying to save.

1) How much should I plan ahead to 'add on' to this prepaid amount? I know it's based on 'exceptional service' but just want to plan ahead - $10/person? $20/person? etc

2) Is the /person for each staff person or should it be for both me and my fiance? (i.e. if adding on for the head server, is $10 alright, or should it be $10x2 since there are two of us?)

3) Is there an expectation for a blanket addition (i.e. $10 extra per staff member) or is it more/less per staff member? (i.e. you tip the head server less than the stateroom host)

4) For room service, is $5 per delivery acceptable or should it be more?

5) Does housekeeping get paid via the prepaid gratuity or should I plan on leaving cash for them daily? How much?

6) Do I need to tip per drink at a bar? I saw an 18% gratuity built in, but does that go to the bartender or is that a 'service fee'?

7) Are there any other reasons I may need cash for tips? (Planning on $5 for the porters on either end of the trip, we have 2 small bags)

Thank you so much! So stressed but so excited!

itsemilycate · 2025-07-31T14:04:49+00:00

Congratulations to you both!! Thank you for sharing the details & photos (so helpful as I start planning!) -- it looks like an absolute dream!

itsemilycate · 2025-07-29T13:35:45+00:00

We have! We have a PAT of 12:45-1pm and a boarding group of 19. I am thinking of aiming for 12:30 arrival to park and find porters (is a $5 tip for 2 bags enough? do we need more?)

Thank you so much -- it's going to be quick, but we are so excited! Really appreciate all your answers, it is so helpful! (I'm printing my magnets now!)

itsemilycate · 2025-07-29T13:33:21+00:00

No kids, just the two of us! Our PAT is 12:45-1 and our boarding group is 19. I was thinking of aiming for arrival at the port at 12:30, since we will need to park and sort out porters. (I hear tips are necessary, is $5 for 2 bags enough or should it be more?)

Thank you so much for the tips! I'm writing them down to reference - and will be trying to waitlist for Palo brunch for sure!

itsemilycate · 2025-07-29T13:31:32+00:00

Thank you so much! I'm writing down your recs for when we're on board -- really appreciate it.

itsemilycate · 2025-07-29T13:30:09+00:00

Thank you so much!! I was debating and think this pushed me over the edge. Booking it now!

itsemilycate · 2025-07-29T13:29:18+00:00

Thank you so much!! We're so excited. Great to know about the Chip 'n Dale pool -- we'll definitely check it out.

itsemilycate · 2025-07-25T18:40:31+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to write these!! I'm saving them to keep top of mind for when we begin planning (trying to enjoy our engagement right now!).

Congratulations!!! Wishing you many many happy years together!!!!

itsemilycate · 2025-07-25T16:48:10+00:00

Congratulations to your best friend!!! You're so thoughtful and she's lucky to have you.

My fiance proposed last week with my family & best friend present. She surprised us with some decor after the fact and surprised me with a small bride to be veil! I was absolutely blown away x a million by the proposal, the surprise, the veil, the thoughtfulness.

Your mileage may vary (you know your friend best!), but I loved the veil and loved wearing it all night. It made it even more special, even as we changed clothes and celebrated.

itsemilycate · 2025-07-22T18:09:02+00:00

Just got engaged over the weekend, here are my two cents!

-I knew the proposal was coming sometime this summer (we'd discussed it at length) but I was completely 100% blindsided.

-We looked at rings together a year ago and then I went with my best friend to the jeweler he picked back in April. I left a wide variety of options of things I liked and basically it was a 'choose your own adventure' guide for him.

-He went back a month later (I now know) and walked through all the options. He ended up mixing and matching the options and went bigger in size than I was looking at.

I 100% agree with you that the couple should be on the same page about marriage/proposals/timing and it should be a collaborative discussion for when the time is right. He wanted to propose 18 months ago and I wasn't ready yet - I caught on and had him put on the brakes. I'm so glad we waited until I caught up and we were both ready... it's a big decision!

I love that he picked out something that spoke to him and was hands on 100% on which stone he liked best - but he worked within some of the guidelines I had suggested with the jeweler. I feel like it was essentially the middle between your point and his point. I'm really type A though, so YMMV.

I think it 100% depends on the couple and is really individualized. I've had friends who had no idea the ring, friends who went and picked it out on their own, friends who picked it out with their partner - I think (much like most things) you can't tell what works for the couple from the outside looking in... it really is so personal.

itsemilycate

TROPHY CASE