The DLR hotels are really expensive, especially when there are very viable, closer, and reasonably priced ones right there. I would love to stay at one of them, but I just can't justify the cost yet. I guess you get early entry with their hotels, but it still wasn't as big of a bonus as it is at WDW, I think. The SW stuff should be cool. I am looking forward to seeing it WDW in March. It won't be as cool as SWW was, but I am sure you will still enjoy what DLR offers.
I am really excited that we will be staying so close to the park entrance. I mean, I really would love to stay in the bubble at a DLR hotel, but there is just no cost-comparable/justifiable option.
I always say that I wish they had a Pop Century there too. And you are right about the early entry, but at least we will get one early morning with our park ticket. I am excited to see what the Star Wars stuff is like, but you are right - won't ever be the same as a SWW.
Oh, sure. I get that.
But usually the line is "As long as it doesn't cost a penny more."
Yeah, they are pretty awesome about these things, it seems. I mean, when he first started, they were fine with flying him between Palm Springs and Hawaii (vs. MN), due to the coincidental timing of our trip (he had to miss part of our first Hawaii trip, but worth it to get the job he loves). And this time, it was just "as long as it's a reasonable option" (which is definitely was).
"Gimme more!"
Yup, that's my motto!
Agreed.
I have this vision of you bolting out of your seat and sprinting off,
stroller careening wildly down the walkway.
Something like that.
But keeping the stroller under control to veer around all the oblivious wanderers.
Suitable for framing!
Man, my walls would be packed if I framed all my photos of this quality level.
Buying a piñata?
Um, something like that....
Oh, Gawd. It starts that early????
I know!
I am actually not a shopper at all (not my idea of a good time), but she sure seems to be.
(Tonight, at her direction, we played "shopping at Target". It consisted of bringing her grocery cart and shopping basket to "Target" (a bag full of play food items) and both going, "I'm buying an orange!", "I'm buying a pizza!" "I'm buying chocolate!" Etc. Until the cart and basket are full. Which is pretty much how real life works at Target, I guess
).
It was a great surprise to see those fireworks!
Nice way to end off the evening.
For sure!
Can't pass up a deal like that!
Exactly! Which is why we are taking two trips nearly back to back (Hawaii, then
Disneyland)! I just can't pass up the deals/opportunities!
They're right. But I was also told that 3 days is longer than we could have possibly needed. And I easily could have filled a couple more days. Granted, we did almost everything there is to do and a few things multiple times. But several things were closed and we did miss out on a few things. I think 5 days is ideal because you will have time to do everything and you should be able to do so without feeling too rushed. It will be especially nice having that cushion with the parks being so crowded!
I'm glad to hear your opinion. I know that MOST people would probably say that 5 days is way too much. But we felt incredibly stressed with 8 days at WDW last time (before/after the cruise) and one of our biggest take-aways from that was that we'd try to give ourselves enough time to take it easier next time. Especially in a place we don't go often and will want to do everything. To be honest, I'm still even worried with 5 days, as there is so much we want to do, places we want to see, places to dine, possibly people to visit with, etc. Hoping it will work out just right and feel at least a bit "leisurely."
That's not bad at all. When I looked into this last year, they were going to charge me $100 in addition to the regular rental fee just to drop off at DTD and then another $100 in addition to the rental fee to pick up there and drop off at John Wayne airport. I just kept our car all week and paid parking. Basically... I'm saying it sounds like you found a pretty good deal. Nicely done!
Guess I lucked out?
I don't know. I saw the rate on Costco Travel, but my membership was temporarily lapsed (I just renewed yesterday), so I originally booked directly through Alamo and that was the rate on their website. Yesterday, I changed it to Costco because I now could and it allowed me to get a Full Size for the same price as the Intermediate I'd reserved directly.
A free breakfast is always a nice perk.
Definitely! One less thing to think about.
That will be a huge benefit! It looks like the Best Western is just as close if not closer to the Esplanade entrances than GCH.
Yes, it should be super close! I have heard it is closer that the DLR hotels.
Sure does. Just bought the tickets yesterday and she's really only a few dollars less than us. But, you know, can't ride any headliners.
I'm sorry you're going to miss this one! I really enjoyed that show!
I'm bummed about that, as I've always heard such good things about it. Oh, well.
Um... well, not a lot different. There are some subtle differences in it that I'm sure you'd appreciate, but this isn't a make or break type of thing.
That's good, as Jungle Cruise is still showing as down for our whole trip.
What?? They were down for a significant refurb just last year!!! We missed both of them when we went last winter!
Thankfully, Haunted Mansion is no longer on the closed list. We are so relieved on that one!
Looking at Touring Plans' list, Soarin' is doing some sort of strange open/closed/open again thing. And Disneyland's site seems to agree, as it shows Soarin' down the day before we arrive, then open for our first three days, then down again starting on the 8th.
Also, a new one is that Splash goes down on the 8th too. I honestly think we are getting there at JUST the right time to catch most things (except train and boats and Fantasmic). Even World of Color is down a few days before we arrive, but should be running through our visit.
I hope you can ride it. We were there in mid-January last year and rode Small World twice over our 3 days. The holiday overlay was still up, but in the process of coming down. It looked like they were just taking it down little by little at night as we could notice changes between our rides.
Holiday overlay sounds cool, but will be down for us. I'm just excited to see the Disney characters in it and stuff. And I'm sure Izzy will still love it. Good news is that it now is showing as open for our visit (or maybe down the first day, if anything).
And don't be afraid to park jump for them!
Definitely! Looking forward to how easy it will be to do that!
I'll speak on behalf of the Aladdin meal. We got it for Fantasmic and I thought the food was very good and actually seemed to be a pretty good bargain for the money. I wasn't so happy with the spots they gave us for Fantasmic though. I'd recommend this meal, but make sure you do your research and know where the viewing spots will be.
Good to know. I think the parade viewing was listed as being in front of It's a Small World?
Ok, I had to use that one given the release of the new movie this week. But really, yeah, it's a trap.
If waiting twice through single rider will work for you, then don't worry about running to RSR. But if you want FP, get there first thing or you will likely wait in a long line just to get FP, or there is a good chance they'll run out by the time you get there.
Good to know. Since Izzy definitely won't be able to ride (unless we find her some 3-inch shoes that nobody notices
), single rider is probably a good option for us (and on many other rides). However, if there are still FP after the madness dies down, I wouldn't mind grabbing a couple for later (like a late night ride or something). Just won't bank on it, though.
I think you'll enjoy this one! The princesses were awesome there and the food was good.... nothing I'd get overly excited about, but definitely not a bad meal.
Sounds good to me. Looking forward to it.
Sounds like a great idea to me!
Me too.
Come on Izzy, just cooperate this one time!
Sure would be nice. But I'm thinking it's more likely she'll be sitting there munching on some snacks or something.
Learn something new every day.
I know, I had no clue about this until I saw it on the schedule.
If Izzy is as into Cars as you say, I'm sure she'll enjoy checking the place out. And the food there is actually very good and a little bit of a different selection for Quick Service. We loved it and I highly recommend it.
Good to know. Sounds like a good option for us.
Awesome! You did a great job planning this trip out. That's not bad at all.
Thanks! I definitely take advantage of all the deals I can to save some $$$. Still adds up, though. I mean, back in the pre-Izzy days, we did a couple of our WDW trips for $1400/each trip (both 5-7 days at Pop). I think those days are gone, though.
Ok, you mentioned getting into the park and grabbing FP first thing... I'd think twice about that. Maybe grab that FP second or third thing. Granted, when we went, the crowd levels were in the 3 -5 range, but FP didn't seem to go as fast as they do in WDW with the exception of RSR. I'd maybe get in a ride or 2 on those attractions that don't have FP and then grab FP somewhere close by to use later.
To give you an idea of how it worked for us, we could go to BTMRR just about any time and get FP for about an hour away. Now, other attractions did go faster than that and you couldn't do this with Space, but just something to think about.
Duly noted, thank you!
Thanks, she had a great Christmas!
Yeah... what he said. We did this one morning and we rode the Nemo Sub first thing. Not necessarily the type of ride you'd think to hit right away, but we didn't wait in the 40 - 60 minute line we saw there at other times.
I think I also read somewhere that the subs are good to hit right at the end of the early hour?
Thanks!
I can only imagine. I can't say that I wouldn't do the same.
Me too!
Cool!
Looks like a nice evening all around!
It was!
Just a quick post to let you know that I might be a bit scarce around here for a bit (yes, even more than usual, haha! 
schedule. Who knows, maybe I'll even pop in from Hawaii. 
See ya real soon! 
She's a doll!
This past trip, I finally got to experience the pain you've felt. He really wanted to walk around a lot this trip, which made for more tantrums and getting places much more slowly. 
(If only the princesses were having a viewing party, he'd be there. 
There was a lot of giggling and toddler flirting going on. The lady was very friendly and perhaps a bit flattered by all the attention. 
And, in true trip reporter fashion, I even grabbed a picture of her after the fact:
