u/mike_owen

Got to the station today at 7:45am, and the garage was full, but there were plenty of permit parking spaces available. OK, I am happy to pay for the day since I only commute downtown a couple of times a month.

However, when selecting a station at which to buy a one-day permit, both Lynnwood and MLT are missing from the list; only Shoreline North & South and Northgate are available. Thinking that maybe the daily spots are gone, I tried to the SOV option, but again not available.

The signs at Lynnwood with the QR code about parking are still out, and the ST personnel at the station didn’t have any information.

We're planning a "fancy" (in my daughter's term) trip to Disneyland for our family of three (mom, dad, 21 year old daughter) to celebrate her college graduation. We live on the west coast and have been to Disneyland regularly over the last 20+ years, so we know the parks well and have our favorite rides, restaurants, and food. We typically stay at an off-property resort close to the entrance, and have been at the Anaheim Inn for the last several trips. The last Disney property we stayed at was Pixar Pier, and we have never stayed at DHL or GCH.

For this trip, we are planning to upgrade the experience from start to finish: first class airfare, a stay at the GCH, dinners at Napa Rose and Carthay Circle, LL Premier, etc. We'd like to hear your thoughts on what special experiences and add-ons you would recommend to make this trip special.

A note on logistics: we are planning to be in SoCal in September for 10-12 days, leaving after Labor Day and returning on the 14th. For the first half of the trip we're planning to stay in San Diego, and will tentatively be at the parks for the last five nights or so.

We've never stayed at GCH, but know that you can book nights directly via Disney or by purchasing DVC points. Pros and cons of each approach? Is the concierge level worth it when booking a hotel room?

We spoke to some friends who raved about their VIP tour, but they had a larger group, and I don't know if I can justify the price of a ~$4000-$9000 tour for just the three of us, however, luxe it may be. I'd like to get your thoughts if you've been on one of the VIP tours (either the regular Disneyland VIP Tour of the Land of Dreams Tour).

It's been several years, but we have been on "normal" group tours at DL before. Is there a tour tier between those experiences ($100-$200 PP) and the VIP level ($500-$800/hour)?

On the LL front, we have bought the LLMP on prior trips, and will plan to get LLP for at least one day in each of the parks.

Our daughter loves a good steak, so we'll plan to grab a reservation at NR. Is Carthay Circle a must-do for foodies? We always eat at Blue Bayou, so we'll be sure grab a lunchtime table as well. What other special food experiences should we consider, both inside the parks and in the general resort area?

We also enjoy a good cocktail, and on our last trip we got to experience the atmosphere at Broken Spell Lounge, but could not get a seating at Trader Sam's. We'll try to get a table there, and possibly do a cocktail class if they still offer them. We haven't been to Oga's, would love to hear your thoughts on how to best experience it.

It has been several years since we sat through Fantastic (we usually use that time to cut the wait on our favorite rides), but the dinner package at River Belle Terrace sounds intriguing. Many years ago my wife and I did a dessert and viewing package from the balcony above Royal Street Veranda, but that hasn't been on offer for many years. What other special dinner-and-a-show type packages are available?

What else? If you could splurge (say less than $1000) for an unforgettable Disneyland experience, what would you recommend?