D-land on 6/7-6/8 or 5/20-5/22/

[VandVsmama]

So about a week ago, when DH & I started planning our Disneyland trip (1st ever for our kids), we were originally going to to Sun 6/3 and Mon 6/4.

Then I spoke w/my SoCal college buddy, who suggested that we use SoCal discount tickets that she'll get, which are blocked out for 1 of those dates (6/4).

Plan B then was to:

• drive from AZ to Anaheim on Wed 6/6
• Disneyland day 1 on Thurs 6/7
• day 2 on Fri 6/8
• hang out in SoCal on Sat 6/9 or drive back home
• Sun 6/10 to drive home

Then this evening, DH said, "Can't we go in May instead?" So here are some factors floating around in my head...

• YDD is 3.5, in preschool, so missing a couple of days is not a big deal
• ODD will be finishing up the kindergarten year in May. Our schools finish right before Memorial Day.
• Should we take our kids out of school for a couple of days for Disneyland?
• If we do take them out of school, I don't want to do it the week of Mother's Day...partially because ODD's school is doing DIBELS testing that week. Plus, according to touringplans.com, crowds are higher on Mother's Day.

So a possible plan C is this:

• Sat 5/19 - drive from AZ to Anaheim
• Sun 5/20 - Disneyland day 1
• Mon 5/21 - Disneyland day 2
• Tues 5/22 - drive home to Anaheim...OR do a 3rd day at Disneyland and drive home on Wed 5/23.

DH said that he's thinking about going in May instead because he's worried about hotter weather in June. Here in Tucson in June, it is hot as a blankety blank (106-110). On ODD's birthday (6/19) when she was born, it was 105 out. Plus, we'd be staying at my friend's house in Riverside (which often has comparable temps to Tucson) and she has no air conditioning (ouch!).

....factors which, of course, now have me reconsidering Hydroguy's strong recommendation to stay across the street.

Plan B or Plan C both still have openings available at the Entertainment book rate at Hojo's. If we were to stay near the park, I've decided that we want to try Hojo's because:

• everybody here recommends it so highly
• they don't charge for parking
• on the day we check out, we can keep our car in the Hojo's parking lot for free
• on the day we check out, Hojo's will store your stuff in a locked room behind the check-in desk, so you don't have all of your stuff in your car waiting to get ripped off.
• the ENT book rates are CHEAP!!

So I guess my questions are two-fold:
1. If you've taken your kids out of school for a couple of days to go to Disneyland, what was it like (both dealing w/your child's school & when you were at Disneyland)?
2. If you were in our shoes, which of these sets of dates would you pick?

 

[azdisneylover]

I would check to see when Grad Nites were scheduled and I would avoid those weekends. If there aren't any Grand Nites scheduled for June, I would go in June. Then, it would be the later in May, then the earlier in May. As for staying in a hotel on Harbor or staying with the friend in Riverside, I would definitely stay in a hotel on Harbor. I have a sister who lives in Rancho Cucamunga and the drive from her house to Disneyland is too long (for me and the kids LOL). Plus, you can go back to your hotel/motel for a dip in the pool, a nap, etc.
Have a wonderful time!

 

[skiingfast]

I would check to see when Grad Nites were scheduled and I would avoid those weekends. If there aren't any Grand Nites scheduled for June, I would go in June.

There are.
http://www.disneyyouth.com/grad-nite-disneyland/catalog/

So I guess my questions are two-fold:
1. If you've taken your kids out of school for a couple of days to go to Disneyland, what was it like (both dealing w/your child's school & when you were at Disneyland)?
2. If you were in our shoes, which of these sets of dates would you pick?

1. I wouldn't, not at the end of the school year.
2. Considering just the dates...

Plan B, drive Wed after school stay at friends(make friends happy). Go to Hojo Thurs AM, make DH check in take girls to the park. With the young kids know that entertainment may be scheduled ealier as it will be grad nites and DL may close around 10pm. There will be teens in the parks, probably much more at night. Carsland is likely to be open, but SoCal APs are blocked. I think this would work best in your situation.

Plan C, Busy Sunday, have a quiet Monday and Tuesday morning before driving home Tueday afternoon. Carsland may be open and Sunday may be insane. Stay on Harbor the whole time.

 

[HydroGuy]

So I guess my questions are two-fold:
1. If you've taken your kids out of school for a couple of days to go to Disneyland, what was it like (both dealing w/your child's school & when you were at Disneyland)?
2. If you were in our shoes, which of these sets of dates would you pick?

Really, especially if you are from Tucson, the weather/heat should not be a factor in whether you choose May or June.

See "Detailed Weather Data for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

Your Plan B dates are likely to be a little more crowded, and if Cars Land opens by then (but not in May) then June will be much more crowded.

Unless Cars Land appeals to you, I would choose Plan C and go in May. Unless of course you have concerns about missed school in which case June is your only choice.

Then I spoke w/my SoCal college buddy, who suggested that we use SoCal discount tickets that she'll get, which are blocked out for 1 of those dates (6/4).

Note that if your SoCal buddy is not with you going into the parks you can't use these tickets. Is it possible that Disney will not check your address and you can get in? Yes. But it is also possible they will turn you away. I would suggest you find an alternative.

 

[tony609]

We are going 5/20-2/26. There are grad nights the last 2 days. However we leave the 26 so no park that day. We are only affected on Thursday. I don't think grad nights would affect earlier in the week. I am hoping. If anyone knows different let me know.

 

[skiingfast]

We are going 5/20-2/26. There are grad nights the last 2 days. However we leave the 26 so no park that day. We are only affected on Thursday. I don't think grad nights would affect earlier in the week. I am hoping. If anyone knows different let me know.

Grad nights may add crowds to the day, surely add crowds in the evening, and likely add a couple park hours that you will be able to use.

 

[LucasandMickey]

I don't think it is a big deal to pull your ODD out of school. Especially Kindergarden. I would do it!

Like PP said, if you don't care about guaranteeing that you see carsland, then I would go in May.

And definitely stay at hojo. I wouldn't want to A)deal with the lack of AC,that sucks!!And B) it's so nice to have the option to hop back over to the hotel for a nap or a swim. Especially with small childen!

 

[pixiewings71]

I was going to say what Hydroguy said, make sure your friend is going with you because otherwise you cannot use the So Cal passes. Also, I wouldn't hesitate to pull my child out of school, especially at that age.

 

[VandVsmama]

Thanks for all of your input and suggestions! Hubby & I talked this evening and here's what we've decided to do:
1. drive to Anaheim on Tues 6/5. Check into Hojo's (I'm calling Hojo's tomorrow to secure 3 nights of the $59 double-double bed room rate!)
2. Wed 6/6 - Disneyland day 1. College friend of mine is going to meet us there. I'm going to make reservations at Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique around noon (this is going to be my sister's b-day gift to her 2 little nieces).
3. Thurs 6/7 - Disneyland day 2. Probably do Magic Morning this day.
4. Fri 6/8 - Disneyland day 3, check out of Hojo's. Spend night w/friend in Riverside after a day at the parks.
5. Sat 6/9 - drive down to San Diego to visit some relatives.
6. Sun 6/10 - do the trek back to AZ.

so now I need to:
a. reserve the cheap room rate at Hojo's before it disappears.
b. buy park tickets
c. make sure our car is up to snuff before we drive out there
d. buy ODD (who'll be 6 in June) a Princess Aurora dress. YDD (who'll be 4) will wear her Halloween princess costume/dress on the BBB day (day 1)
e. go to Dollar Tree for some cheap glow sticks & glow necklaces (enough for each kid to have one on each day).
f. go to Dollar Tree, Walmart, etc. for some cheap Disney princess stuff to surprise them with when we're there.
g. make sure my packing list is squared away so I don't forget anything (as I tend to do)
h. bring camera & video-record kids' reactions when we pull up to the main Disneyland entrance and tell them where we are going for their birthday. We've decided that it's going to be a total surprise. My kids (currently 3.5 and 5.5) believe that all of the princesses, Mickey, Minnie, etc., live at Disneyland. :-D

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

Sounds like a good plan to me!! When my girls were younger and we went for a yearly trip we did small gifts from Tinkerbell. I took a Polly Pocket shoe and some glitter, sprinkled the glitter on the table where we put the gifts and used the shoe to make prints as if Tink had walked on the table...OMG they loved it!!!! It was such a hit that my youngest DD would leave notes for the Tooth Fairy to pass on to Tink saying Thank You. And ya know, the TF would leave little footprints behind as well. I miss doing things like that....

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

If you have a Party City, they have a lot of Disney/Princess stuff for $1 including kid size lanyards, white boards, crayons, etc.