Pre-Planning our March 2010 trip - anything new?

[rszdtrvl]

We went to Disneyland in March of this year, and since then I have been MIA on the DisBoards.

Now, I am in the process of planning our March 2010 trip. Nothing will be set in stone until January though, so that gives me a few months to be the neurotic person I am and plan, plan, plan!

Unfortunately, it looks like we will be going during cheer season again.

I guess that is the price we pay for going during Spring Break.

We know we will be staying overnight in Portland the night before again like we did this year. That worked out great. And we know that we would like to stay 4 nights in Anaheim.

Right now, we are trying to decide between Best Western Anaheim and Ramada Maingate. And Ramada is ahead by a smidge because of their Continental Breakfast.

We have stayed at the Camelot and Hojo in the past. But as much as we liked Hojo, the walk was too much for us at the end of the day, and we just can't see taking a taxi or bus when the hotel is not really that far. ]

We would like to do 2 days of DL/DCA, and a day at Universal Studios and a day at Lego Land.

Any recommendations? Anything new at the parks I should know about? What hotel out of the 2 that are our main choices is the best?

Thanks!!

[DangerMouse]

During your visit the Rivers of America will be drained. So you will see a lot of construction walls blocking off the mess, and there will be no trips to Pirate's Lair on TSI, no Mark Twain, Columbia or Canoes, and most importantly, no Fantasmic! showing during that time.

Can't help ya with hotel, I go HoJo!

[momtoccc]

Originally Posted by DangerMouse

During your visit the Rivers of America will be drained. So you will see a lot of construction walls blocking off the mess, and there will be no trips to Pirate's Lair on TSI, no Mark Twain, Columbia or Canoes, and most importantly, no Fantasmic! showing during that time.

Can't help ya with hotel, I go HoJo!

Really?? No Fantasmic during Spring Break in 2010??? I'm planning a trip for then also - what construction are they doing there??? Bummer.. I wanted dd to see Fantasmic.. and I"ve never seen it at DL - on WDW.

[momtoccc]

Originally Posted by rszdtrvl

We went to Disneyland in March of this year, and since then I have been MIA on the DisBoards.

Now, I am in the process of planning our March 2010 trip. Nothing will be set in stone until January though, so that gives me a few months to be the neurotic person I am and plan, plan, plan!

Unfortunately, it looks like we will be going during cheer season again.

I guess that is the price we pay for going during Spring Break.

We know we will be staying overnight in Portland the night before again like we did this year. That worked out great. And we know that we would like to stay 4 nights in Anaheim.

Right now, we are trying to decide between Best Western Anaheim and Ramada Maingate. And Ramada is ahead by a smidge because of their Continental Breakfast.

We have stayed at the Camelot and Hojo in the past. But as much as we liked Hojo, the walk was too much for us at the end of the day, and we just can't see taking a taxi or bus when the hotel is not really that far. ]

We would like to do 2 days of DL/DCA, and a day at Universal Studios and a day at Lego Land.

Any recommendations? Anything new at the parks I should know about? What hotel out of the 2 that are our main choices is the best?

Thanks!!

I'm planning mother/daughter trip in March 2010 (my dd will be 6 then). I'm currently booked at HoJos but also debating this given the longer walk since dh will not be there to carry her if need be.... I think I might be better to get something closer since it is just dd and me. Did you have kids walking back to HoJos? How old were they?

[DangerMouse]

Originally Posted by momtoccc

Really?? No Fantasmic during Spring Break in 2010??? I'm planning a trip for then also - what construction are they doing there??? Bummer.. I wanted dd to see Fantasmic.. and I"ve never seen it at DL - on WDW.

No construction, they just have to drain the waterways every few years for cleaning. Currently they are reporting the RoA will be drained Jan-April. I'm sure they would like to have it refilled in time for the peak Spring Break crowds, but that won't be until the 2 weeks surrounding Easter, so late March/early April.

[rszdtrvl]

Originally Posted by momtoccc

I'm planning mother/daughter trip in March 2010 (my dd will be 6 then). I'm currently booked at HoJos but also debating this given the longer walk since dh will not be there to carry her if need be.... I think I might be better to get something closer since it is just dd and me. Did you have kids walking back to HoJos? How old were they?

It was myself, DH, and our son who is 12.

We were all totally exhausted at the end of the day with the walk. I mean, we loved the hotel - the pool was great, the room was excellent (loved the natural light in it!!) - but the walk at the end of the day was just too much after being in the parks all day.

This time, we just decided to stay in a hotel a lot closer. We are only really in the hotel to sleep, so as long as the price is low, the hotel is clean, and it is close to the crosswalk, that is really all that matters to us.

[DisneyMomma81]

Originally Posted by momtoccc

I'm planning mother/daughter trip in March 2010 (my dd will be 6 then). I'm currently booked at HoJos but also debating this given the longer walk since dh will not be there to carry her if need be.... I think I might be better to get something closer since it is just dd and me. Did you have kids walking back to HoJos? How old were they?

My 6 year old still uses a stroller (Mac Volo) for Disney trips and only for Disney for the past few years. You can bet I'm bringing it to WDW next week. My DS who was 8 the 1st time we stayed at HoJo's had no problem with the walk.

[mlenz]

We Stayed at the Ramada Inn maingate on our trip in JAn and did NOT care for it and probably wouldn't stay there again, the first room we got smelled awful and the bathroom was gross. I am not a hotel snob at all but I did not want to shower in that room, So we paid to be upgraded to a moderately better room where the bathroom still left alot to desired. It is an older motel style building which may make you feel a little unsafe. That being said it is Very close to DL which is nice after a long day in the parks the continental breakfast was okay your basic fruit, pastries,juice and milk the eating area is outside by the pool which was okay. The pool didn't look great but we saw people enjoying it. The staff was also friendly so that was nice. All in all if staying at this hotel I would say definatly pay for the "better" rooms on the upper level , dont excpect much and definatly be prepared for more of a motel feel than hotel or Inn. Wherever you decide to stay I hope you have a wonderful vacation.

[JustAKid]

Check out Del Sol, Tropicana, Desert Inn, and Best Western Park Place. These seem to be the most popular places for people who are looking for a clean, safe, CLOSE (they are all located pretty close to the crosswalk to Disneyland) hotel that they will pretty much use for sleeping and showering.

Also, beware the World of Color is scheduled to be open in "Spring 2010". I have not heard anything about exact dates, or even months, or even if they are on schedule, but if it DOES open before or during your dates of stay...it should get pretty busy as APs won't be blacked out then.

HTH! Good luck planning, and many magical vacation wishes!

[HydroGuy]

Originally Posted by JustAKid

Also, beware the World of Color is scheduled to be open in "Spring 2010". I have not heard anything about exact dates, or even months, or even if they are on schedule, but if it DOES open before or during your dates of stay...it should get pretty busy as APs won't be blacked out then.

They are saying March 2010 for WoC.

[rszdtrvl]

Thank you so much for the information!

DH said that the Ramada is a "no go" - especially since we read a few reviews that were less than positive, including one about someone who walked across their room floor in white socks, and they were all grungy afterwards.

We didn't really want to do Fantasmic, and we were really not much for the whole Rivers of America stuff either. So I doubt that the draining of the river would affect anything.

Anaheim is basically going to be a hub for us on the next trip - we plan on doing Universal and Lego Land, as well as Disneyland, and doing it all in 4 days.