3 nights versus 4

[Anater]

I have a dilemma. I booked our December vacation for three nights at DLR with three day park hoppers. Now I am starting to reconsider staying a fourth night; I'm looking for opinions - or reassurement of my original plan! We are arriving Saturday night and doing DTD and getting a goods night rest then hitting the park early Sunday. However, that means that we'll be checking out Tuesday morning, which is one of our EE days (and I think TTMM). Couple the time wasted on checkout as well as not having a place to rest in the afternoon is starting to concern me. I would hate for our third and last day to be a day where we just rush through everything in order to get out of the park early for our drive back (we staying with relatives the rest of our trip). We have the option of staying with family on Saturday night and driving down to Disneyland Sunday, but then we're stuck with a similar predicament of not having a place to relax our first day because of 3:00 check in at DLR. I called to inquire about adding a fourth night and it is almost $300 - ouch. We could stay at an off property hotel but then we will have to lug bags back and forth....hmmm. Any suggestions?

 

[talie95]

I think if you can affort it, I would definitely stay. We only live about an hour away from DL (if there's no traffic) and we usually end up getting a hotel for the last night because we're so tired at the end of the day that we don't even want to make the drive home! So if you can swing it I think it would definitely be worth it to have the room available for that last night.
Then you would be able to stay at the parks all day too and not have to worry about getting out early to drive home.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Four nights are always better than three!

I think a lot depends on when you're going in December -- if it's the early or middle, then things won't be as busy as Christmas. If you're traveling with kids, how old are they? If they are young, then the more time you can spend at DL, the better.

Without knowing more details, my suggestion would be to arrive on Sunday and lay low having fun in DTD then early to bed so that you can be at the gate early Monday morning. Same for Tuesday and Wednesday. I really think waking up on-site for three full days is the perfect DL vacation! Especially if you have young kiddos.

Good luck and have fun in December!

 

[Hound 109]

For what it's worth, on our "Checkout Day" (at the PP) we:

- Walked over to DL (from the PP) for EE (30 min. before EE opening).
- Toured DL for 3 1/2 hours (picking up FPs in both DL & DCA for the afternoon/evening).
- Went back to the PP and freshened up & changed clothes & packed.
- Checked out of the hotel at noon(ish).
- Put luggage in car (in the parking garage which we were allowed to use until that evening.
- Enjoyed DCA & DL until 7pm that evening.
- Drove to our relative's home. (in greater Santa Monica - a 70 min. drive) from 7:20pm - 8:30pm.

hound -

 

[wendypooh22]

We usually try and stay an extra night so that on our last day, we aren’t rushed to leave the park and drive home tired…. If you can afford to, I would recommend staying a 4th night at the DLH. But, if you were going to switch hotels, maybe you could use the transfer to your new hotel as an afternoon break? You can do an early morning checkout at the DLH and store your bags at the Bell desk to pick up later… We have never had a problem checking out of the DLH. Instead of lugging all of you luggage to your new room, could you pack the essentials needed for your last night/day in a single bag to transfer to your new room? We have been fortunate when checking in to our hotels (whether at the DLH or off-site) that most of the rooms have been available before 3:00 pm..
Good Luck!

 

[Hofmanns4]

You may want to inquire about the 4th night free promotion at the DLR hotels. I am not sure if it is available the days you are going but it is worth a try.

 

[Anater]

Well, I ran a fourth night by my husband (who is already tired of hearing about my planning of the trip) and there was absolute silence, so no fourth night anywhere. Unfortunately we had already booked our package before the fourth free night was announced, and we are arriving the day the promotion ends. Thanks Hound for the reassurance - I think we're just going to try and follow your checkout plan and see what happens. Our four year old will just have to nap in his stroller, or maybe we'll find a quiet shady area somewhere for an hour or two. He doesn't nap much anymore but I figure maybe he'll be so exhausted after three days in the park he'll crash for an hour or two and we can stay until 7:00 or so before driving back to LA. Silly hubby thought we were leaving mid afternoon! Thanks everyone.

 

[bumbershoot]

I didn't chime in when I first read your post b/c my brain wasn't working, and I didn't entirely understand the question.

But I just noticed your update...I know it's too late, but did you call the place where you booked your package, to ask if you *could* change it? I mean, if you could get another night FREE, maybe hubby would be cool with it.

I booked with Costco, and I've changed my hotels 2 times (first Paradise Pier, then Carousel, and back to PP), and I added a day when I changed back to PP (taking advantage of the 4th night free), and it hasn't been a problem at all.

And I know that with WDW, even if your'e arriving on the last day of a special (free dining, for instance), you are still allowed to take part in the special...it *might* be the same at DL?

Might be worth a call, just to be sure that you have every last bit of info with which to make a decision...

Then you could spring it on him while there when he's having a terrific time and doesn't want to leave. (if you could get that 4th night free, I mean)

 

[Anater]

But I just noticed your update...I know it's too late, but did you call the place where you booked your package, to ask if you *could* change it? I mean, if you could get another night FREE, maybe hubby would be cool with it.

I booked with Costco, and I've changed my hotels 2 times (first Paradise Pier, then Carousel, and back to PP), and I added a day when I changed back to PP (taking advantage of the 4th night free), and it hasn't been a problem at all.

I didn't even consider the possibility of changing my reservation until I read your post! I called Disney Travel and they said that I can cut one day off my DLH reservation, and I can reserve two nights at a Good Neighbor Hotel. I would have to reserve the Good Neighbor Hotel myself, but that way I can get four nights for the price of what my total DLH is currently. I would still get all the package extras like TTMM. I am now looking at BWPPI for the first two nights since it is so close and they have vacancy for my travel dates. Also, by staying at DLH I might still get my two EE days. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[noryglory]

If you can do this without causing marital strife, I say go for it. You will be far less miserable by the end if you can just crash another night and get up in the morning and go. I would hate my last day at Disney to be a day that I kept thinking, I am leaving here in a few hours waaaah versus just having a "full" day and then getting up the next day being a non-park day.

Good luck!

PS I think Bumbershoot is the current reigning Queen of Indecision Caused Entirely by Too Much Information!

 

[bumbershoot]

PS I think Bumbershoot is the current reigning Queen of Indecision Caused Entirely by Too Much Information!

Thank you, thank you very much.

 

[Hofmanns4]

getawaytoday .com may have all 4 nights at the DLH for the price of 3. I think it may be kind of a pain switching hotels in the middle of your trip.

 

[Anater]

Thanks so much for your input! It's great to see so many people offer their thoughts and assistance. After reading Hoffmanns4 note re the 4th night free at Getaway I got onto their site. Unfortunately, the fourth night was not available for DLH (check in must be by 12/12), but I noticed that some off site properties were offering 4th night free for check in up to 12/16 (Thanks Hoffmanns4!!). I called WDT and they had the 4th night free available for BWPPI. I quickly looked at reviews online (I must be Bumbershoot's doppleganger) and it seemed to be exactly what we're looking for, plus it definitely seemed close enough to return for an afternoon nap. After telling my husband that we can get an extra night and spend $350 less than our original package, he thought a fourth night was a great idea . I was bummed at first that we'll be missing the magic of DLH - especially since it will be decorated for the holidays. But now we're going to be in the parks for three full days - can't beat that! Unless of course we could swing that extra EE that we would have had at DLH Thanks again everyone!

 

[Hound 109]

$350 can buy alot of Mickey Waffles, Dole Whip Floats & Tigger Tails.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Hooray for you!!

 

[Hofmanns4]

(Thanks Hofmanns4!!).

You are so welcome!

If it was not for all the Dis'ers out there that keep us all informed, I would not be getting my trip in Nov for half the price I was going to pay!

Woo Hoo!