WDW or DL President's week 08?

[Magic4Four]

My wife is a teacher here in New York. We have to follow the school calander for our vacations.For the past few years we have been going WDW during President's week. The crowd level is always large and the airfare is never cheap. This year we were thinking about DL instead. California schools are only off for that Mon. not the whole week ,I think. The airfare is also cheaper to California than to Florida. What I want to know is DL a week long vacation and how are the crowds? Thanks in advance.

 

[Casey's Mommie]

We are in northern California and our district has that whole week off.

 

[DizneyMommy]

Most of southern california schools are only off for the day - not the whole week, so you won't have a lot of locals to contend with beyond the actual holiday. But, the rest of that week does stay pretty busy. You could make a week out of it, lots of people do, especially if you plan to arrive ON Monday and make that a take-it-easy day, then spend the next 4 days in the parks. Between the 2 parks and Dowtown Disney, there is plenty to see and do for 4 days at a nice casual pace.

 

[1FoolishMortal]

If this is your first time, you can easily make DL into a 4+ day vacation. Like others have said, Monday will for sure be packed. The rest of the week shouldn't be too bad, though it won't be as dead as it normally is that time of year. I wouldn't expect it to be too crowded, though.

DizneyMommy suggested a very good idea to arrive Monday, take it slow that day, then start really diving in the next day. Even if you don't think you'll have enough to do in DL for a week, there's still Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios, and even San Diego's offerings that are all within a 1-2 hr. drive from Anaheim.


Let us know if you have any other questions.

 

[DLR29]

I have been that week at DL and it's crowded, but not unbearable. If you expect President's Weekend to be crowded and the week will not be, you will be disappointed. There are definitely enough schools that have that week off for it to be crowded. However, go because of the cheaper airfare, cheaper hotels (not as crucial to stay onsite), something different, and it's DISNEY!

For number of days, for a first timer, I'd say 4 or 5 during that time. If you want to make it a whole week, I'd recommend getting a So. Cal City Pass which gets you 3 days of Disney, Universal Studios, Seaworld in San Diego (about a 1 hour drive from DL) and your choice of the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Wild Animal Park. It's a fun vacation to tour So. Cal for a week.

I really wish I could go during President's week, but my school opted for an extra week of summer instead of a February break this year.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I think Disneyland easily has enough to do on a week long visit. I have done it a few times, in fact last June we stayed for 11 nights. Granted we spent two days at the beach, but mostly we just did DL and never got bored!

I think you will find way less crowds than at WDW after Monday. However, do know that things like the fireworks and Fantasmic won't be run nightly. They will be on the weekends and likely that Monday night. Also, the Electrical Parade won't be running and hours will be a bit shorter. But the trade off is lower crowds! They just don't run nightly entertainment during the week off season like they do at WDW. So make sure you have at least one or two weekend nights to see the fireworks, they are incredible. And Fantasmic is different at DL and very much worth seeing. Most find it better than the MGM version.

 

[Magic4Four]

Thanks for all the info. Does staying at a Disney hotel make a difference for along stay or are the good neighbor hotels a better choice? I was thinking of using DVC points instead of paying cash.

 

[1FoolishMortal]

Thanks for all the info. Does staying at a Disney hotel make a difference for along stay or are the good neighbor hotels a better choice? I was thinking of using DVC points instead of paying cash.

What do you mean exactly? Like added perks and benefits from staying on property?


If so, it's not as crucial to stay on property in DL as it is in WDW. Last week was my first time staying on property at WDW, and I don't think I'd do it any other way. DL, however, while I prefer staying on property, isn't as huge of a loss if you stay at a Good Neighbor hotel. Many of those hotels are very nice and are still right across the street from the resort.

If you do stay on property, though, you get the added benefit of the full Disney experience, the ability to ship souvenirs back to your hotel (guaranteed to be on-time unlike our experience in FL), very friendly & accommodating hotel staff, and if you stay at the Grand Californian you'll have a very nice room to relax in when you just want a break from it all.

Also, if you buy park hoppers online ahead of time, you get the Extra Magic Hours in the mornings or Mickey's Toontown Madness or whatever they're offering at the time. Sometimes they also throw in a $10 gift certificate to ESPN Zone so it all depends on what they feel like giving away for free.

It's really up to you what you'd like to do, though!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks for all the info. Does staying at a Disney hotel make a difference for along stay or are the good neighbor hotels a better choice? I was thinking of using DVC points instead of paying cash.

I do think for a longer stay staying onsite is nice. And when you use points (as I do) you really get a good deal. Rack rates are high right now and points are pretty reasonable. You also won't pay tax (very high in So. Cal) and the nightly resort fee (around $12). That resort fee includes free internet access, USA Today paper Mon-Fri, and health club access as well as parking. And since its part of the Disney Collection, you do receive daily maid service. I like having the dining choices, nicer pools, and many other amenities a deluxe level resort can offer. Most of the nearby motels to DL are motels, with none of those amenities. And the per point cost of using your points will be very nearly the same as what you pay to stay offsite.

I do agree with 1FoolishMortal that staying onsite isn't quite as big as WDW. But really only because of location. Unlike WDW, there are dozens of nearby, walking distance motels to DL. However, they are a clean room and a place to sleep with very little in the way of magic or amenities (unless you go with the Hilton or say Embassy Suites, but none of those are walking distance and what you will pay a night will probably be more than what your per point cost is. At least that has been my experience). For longer trips (esp offseason when hours are shorter, therefore you are in the room more) I very much prefer to stay onsite. However, staying offsite will be just as convenient. And I have several good experiences with the nearby motels on Harbor Blvd. Definitely if you are paying cash and don't end up using points, staying offsite will save you some money. Many of those nearby motels have a free continental breakfast. But I generally don't like to do that for stays of longer than four nights. But then I have stayed onsite too many times and its hard to turn back once you do!

I have used my points at Disneyland a few times now and will again in January. For me it works, for some it doesn't. However, if you have the points available, I would go for it!

Oh, and staying onsite means that you will get Early Entry privilidges each day they are offered (which right now is something like three or four mornings a week). If you stay offsite and have a park hopper, you will only get one EE day with your ticket. EE at DL means you get into most rides in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland one hour before park opening. Its a very nice perk, esp. if you can use it several times during your stay.

 

[HydroGuy]

I think you will find way less crowds than at WDW after Monday. However, do know that things like the fireworks and Fantasmic won't be run nightly. They will be on the weekends and likely that Monday night. Also, the Electrical Parade won't be running and hours will be a bit shorter. But the trade off is lower crowds! They just don't run nightly entertainment during the week off season like they do at WDW. So make sure you have at least one or two weekend nights to see the fireworks, they are incredible. And Fantasmic is different at DL and very much worth seeing. Most find it better than the MGM version.

I agree with Amy as usual. I think she may have cut and pasted from another thread I wrote

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

 

[keishashadow]

I do think for a longer stay staying onsite is nice. And when you use points (as I do) you really get a good deal. Rack rates are high right now and points are pretty reasonable. You also won't pay tax (very high in So. Cal) and the nightly resort fee (around $12). That resort fee includes free internet access, USA Today paper Mon-Fri, and health club access as well as parking. And since its part of the Disney Collection, you do receive daily maid service. I like having the dining choices, nicer pools, and many other amenities a deluxe level resort can offer. Most of the nearby motels to DL are motels, with none of those amenities. And the per point cost of using your points will be very nearly the same as what you pay to stay offsite.

I do agree with 1FoolishMortal that staying onsite isn't quite as big as WDW. But really only because of location. Unlike WDW, there are dozens of nearby, walking distance motels to DL. However, they are a clean room and a place to sleep with very little in the way of magic or amenities (unless you go with the Hilton or say Embassy Suites, but none of those are walking distance and what you will pay a night will probably be more than what your per point cost is. At least that has been my experience). For longer trips (esp offseason when hours are shorter, therefore you are in the room more) I very much prefer to stay onsite. However, staying offsite will be just as convenient. And I have several good experiences with the nearby motels on Harbor Blvd. Definitely if you are paying cash and don't end up using points, staying offsite will save you some money. Many of those nearby motels have a free continental breakfast. But I generally don't like to do that for stays of longer than four nights. But then I have stayed onsite too many times and its hard to turn back once you do!

I have used my points at Disneyland a few times now and will again in January. For me it works, for some it doesn't. However, if you have the points available, I would go for it!
------------

for us the end of June '08 @ lowest priced studio onsite property for 8 nights using points ($10 per point cost comparison) vs most of the well-regarded harbor blvd hotels is well over $1 K , unless DL resorts run a heck of a cash promo, think we'll soak up the ambiance whilst we're in the park & use the $ saved elsewhere on the trip.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Keishashadow:
$10 per point is the going rate for renting someone else's points. I have always used the member price (since they are my points) of $5.50 per point. This is how my DVC rep told me to figure the price of using my points vs. paying cash. That was based on the price per point I paid in 2004.

Using that math, my cost for my premium view DLH room was around $150 a night. That included tax and resort fee since that is not charged separately. I paid $149 a night for the Best Wester Park Place Inn for the same trip (stayed there two nights before moving over to the DLH) plus tax. So I felt like I was getting a good deal. Oh, and rack rate at the DLH for my room at that time was $265 plus tax and resort fee. I felt like I was getting a good deal.

Unless my rep told me how to figure this completely wrong (wouldn't surprise me, the guy was an idiot) I saved 50% off rack rate and came out a bit ahead of offsite. If I didn't, I am still okay because I checked in for nine nights and didn't pay one dime which was nice. I felt like my points were working quite well for me. I find staying onsite and using points at DL just as good of a deal as WDW but I love the onsite DLR hotels as much as the WDW ones. Not all people feel the same, but I am just too much of an onsite junky at either park to give it up, even if I don't save a ton of money. And with the crowds and heat of our June trip, it was nice to have the Neverland Pool! And the pool bar too...

 

[Amy&Dan]

I agree with Amy as usual. I think she may have cut and pasted from another thread I wrote

Thanks Trey, but remember we don't always agree! I LOVED the Snow White Show!

 

[keishashadow]

Keishashadow:
$10 per point is the going rate for renting someone else's points. I have always used the member price (since they are my points) of $5.50 per point. This is how my DVC rep told me to figure the price of using my points vs. paying cash. That was based on the price per point I paid in 2004.

Using that math, my cost for my premium view DLH room was around $150 a night. That included tax and resort fee since that is not charged separately. I paid $149 a night for the Best Wester Park Place Inn for the same trip (stayed there two nights before moving over to the DLH) plus tax. So I felt like I was getting a good deal. Oh, and rack rate at the DLH for my room at that time was $265 plus tax and resort fee. I felt like I was getting a good deal.

Unless my rep told me how to figure this completely wrong (wouldn't surprise me, the guy was an idiot) I saved 50% off rack rate and came out a bit ahead of offsite. If I didn't, I am still okay because I checked in for nine nights and didn't pay one dime which was nice. I felt like my points were working quite well for me. I find staying onsite and using points at DL just as good of a deal as WDW but I love the onsite DLR hotels as much as the WDW ones. Not all people feel the same, but I am just too much of an onsite junky at either park to give it up, even if I don't save a ton of money. And with the crowds and heat of our June trip, it was nice to have the Neverland Pool! And the pool bar too...

ROTF, i've heard that rate given too...think it's just to soothe the savage DVC beasties .

Regardless, whatever works for you, sometimes it's about the vibe not the $ .

For us, we are point shy, pending our last (and probably not final ) DVC add-on (we're big on the 11 month window because of the popular times we visit) and i'd either have to borrow the points ; or buy them from another member @ at least $10 point....so that is my real basis.

Now that the DVC is coming to the GC, i'd like to see more options...unfortunately, think it'll be very difficult to reserve @ the 7 month window.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I actually posted this question (what are my points really worth in cash type thing) on the DVC Planning Board. Carol the mod over there said she goes with the same formula I do, another guy said its more like $8 a point. Who knows! I did refigure based on the maintenance fees we pay now, and its more like $5.81 a point. In any case, I am with you, I think the 7 month window will be hard to book at GCH. With only 50 2br units the pickings will be slim! And very high in points too no doubt. I am sticking with the DLH, although I'll be heading to WDW mostly since I can't afford AP's at both parks anymore! I have one trip left in January to DL, after that, it may be awhile regardless of point values!

Good luck with renting points, I ended up having to stay at CBR last December when I couldn't find anyone to rent points that I trusted enough! How the heck do those points disappear so quickly anyway?!

ROTF, i've heard that rate given too...think it's just to soothe the savage DVC beasties .

Regardless, whatever works for you, sometimes it's about the vibe not the $ .

For us, we are point shy, pending our last (and probably not final ) DVC add-on (we're big on the 11 month window because of the popular times we visit) and i'd either have to borrow the points ; or buy them from another member @ at least $10 point....so that is my real basis.

Now that the DVC is coming to the GC, i'd like to see more options...unfortunately, think it'll be very difficult to reserve @ the 7 month window.

 

[Cora]

My son and I will be at DL for two nights over President's week - family in So. Cal. that we are visiting. We're using points and staying at GC. Can't wait. Glad to hear that crowds should be less after Mon. We arrive Tues and depart Thurs.

 

[kyrkea333]

I'm in Canada, so please forgive my ignorance, but when is President's week actually in 2008? Is it the week BEFORE President's day or the week after? I am trying my hardest to avoid crowds because I love Disneyland so much when it is uncrowded.
Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm in Canada, so please forgive my ignorance, but when is President's week actually in 2008? Is it the week BEFORE President's day or the week after? I am trying my hardest to avoid crowds because I love Disneyland so much when it is uncrowded.
Thanks for any help you can give me.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was young. And when I was young the US celebrated George Washington's and Abe Lincoln's birthdays - both in February and both about a week apart. Fortunately, their birthday's always fell on Mondays. So we got two national holidays in February. Then 20-30 years ago these two national holidays were collapsed into a single holiday and dubbed "President's Day", which also falls on a Monday usually somewhere between Feb 15-22. I am not sure of the rules.

In answer to your question, the President's day week is the week which follows President's Day. Hence next year President's day will be on Feb 18, and the week of the 18th will be President's Day week.

When the President's Days were collapsed into a single day, either at that time or shortly thereafter another US holiday was added in mid-January to celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King.

Note that MLK and President's Day are primarily bank, school and federal holidays. Most businesses do not take these days off. So the number of Americans off those days is no where near as many as on Memorial Day (late May), Independence Day (July 4) or Labor Day (early Sept). All of these are true national holidays.

 

[kyrkea333]

Thanks, HydroGuy. A concise answer with history attached! How can you not love that! I'm calling about my trip today!!!