3 day after 4pm conference tickets. Never been to DL, need a strategy.

[PsychNurse]

So I'm thinking I might be going to Disneyland for a conference in late October. I've been to WDW many times, but never been to DL. If I get the special priced "after 4pm" conference tickets for the 3 days I'm there, how should I tour? What should I not miss? I would be staying at the Disneyland Hotel. Is this walking distance to the parks?

 

[skiingfast]

I don't think they have those tickets for DL.

From the Disnland Hotel it's about 10 minutes to the gates. It's about 20 minutes to the Anaheim convention center. The ACC is right behind DCA. The gates of DL and DCA face each other.

You might consider going to a Halloween Party in DL. It starts late. These are the party dates. The tickets are for late afternoon to late at night.

Monday, October 3
Friday, October 7
Tuesday October 11
Friday, October 14
Tuesday, October 18
Friday, October 21
Tuesday, October 25
Friday, October 28
Monday, October 31

 

[DangerMouse]

I don't think they have those tickets for DL.

Ski, many conferences held in Anaheim offer their attendees reduced price after 4pm "conference" tickets for DLR.


To the OP, the monorail is a very convenient way to come and go from the parks when staying at the Disneyland Hotel. The monorail is just steps from your resort, and will deposit you in Tomorrowland. I would recommend the first time you enter DL, you walk through DTD to the main gate so you can experience Main Street USA and our mini castle the way Walt intended. Enjoy your visit!

 

[skiingfast]

Ski, many conferences held in Anaheim offer their attendees reduced price after 4pm "conference" tickets for DLR.

Do they have to hold their conference in DLR to get the conference tickets from Disney? Or are the conference holders over at the ACC susidizing the cost?


In WDW where the OP likely has been to(they mention never been to DL), after 4 or other convention tickets are common. This is because WDW has over a half dozen convention buildings on property. But you can't get those tickets if the convention is off propert.

By pointing out that DL may not have convention tickets unlike WDW that almost always does, it may help the OP realize they should confirm if it's something they can get.

 

[PsychNurse]

I Got the following information from the Disneyland meetings website, The website for my conference also mentions that discounted tickets will be available to purchase once registration is confirmed. I have not yet decided, so I haven't registered to get the official information.

Twilight Convention Ticket
An ideal admission option for after meetings or events! Admission is valid for either Disneyland® Park or Disney California Adventure™ Park after 4:00p.m., or four hours before park closing, whichever is earlier.
All Guests Pre-Arrival
Purchase Price
One-day ticket $43.00

How to Purchase These Special Meeting & Convention Tickets
These tickets prices are available only to Meeting & Convention groups with special events booked at either the Disneyland® Resort or an Anaheim Area Hotel. You can arrange to purchase tickets in bulk for your group through the Disneyland® Resort Catering & Convention Services manager facilitating your booked event.
Additional Information
Tickets are date-limited to coincide with the schedule of the Meeting & Convention group arrival and departure dates.
For more information please contact your Disney Meeting Specialist >>

So because it says on my convention's website that they are available, I am assuming these are the tickets.
For those of you that have been, are 3 evenings an okay amount of time to explore the 2 parks, or should I add an extra day to the beginning or end of my conference? What is the weather like in California in October? I've never been. What are crowds like?

 

[skiingfast]

So because it says on my convention's website that they are available, I am assuming these are the tickets.
For those of you that have been, are 3 evenings an okay amount of time to explore the 2 parks, or should I add an extra day to the beginning or end of my conference? What is the weather like in California in October? I've never been. What are crowds like?

It would be really ideal to add on a Sunday or Saturday or an extra weekday.

October is quite nice to visit, a sweatshirt in the evening, low chance of rain, cool mornings, and pleasant during the day.

The problem will be the park hours. They are going to be short and close at about 8pm. So you are looking at 4 hours a day, little crowds. Which is good, but the two DLR parks have almost as much to do as the 4 WDW parks. They are packed very dense. Also during the week no fireworks, no Fantasmic, both better shows at DL than the WDW counterparts. Probably no parades either.

But with low crowds not terrible with limited time.

The big problem is going to be the Halloween Parties. On Tuesday and Friday extra people in the park during the day, they really will start coming in at 3pm. Greatly after 5pm when locals come after work and school. Then super crowds until the park closes to regular guests. You would really like a Ticket for this special event, since it's a seperate admission the party tickets are from 3pm to 12am, ideal if you tack one of these days on.

It's basically the same as WDW if you've been there, so you may not care about the Halloween fireworks or parade. But even though the park is full rides will have short waits as people do character meet and greet and trick or treating.

Two exceptions to the short waits during your visit. Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain. Rides you would want to do, A because they are classics, B. because they are differents in DL. While you are there Haunted Mansion will have a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay, Space Mountain its Ghost Galaxy overlay.. Both of these rides will draw extra big lines. Make these a priority.

 

[Hound 109]

I Got the following information from the Disneyland meetings website, The website for my conference also mentions that discounted tickets will be available to purchase once registration is confirmed. I have not yet decided, so I haven't registered to get the official information.

Twilight Convention Ticket
An ideal admission option for after meetings or events! Admission is valid for either Disneyland® Park or Disney California Adventure™ Park after 4:00p.m., or four hours before park closing, whichever is earlier.
All Guests Pre-Arrival
Purchase Price
One-day ticket $43.00

How to Purchase These Special Meeting & Convention Tickets
These tickets prices are available only to Meeting & Convention groups with special events booked at either the Disneyland® Resort or an Anaheim Area Hotel. You can arrange to purchase tickets in bulk for your group through the Disneyland® Resort Catering & Convention Services manager facilitating your booked event.
Additional Information
Tickets are date-limited to coincide with the schedule of the Meeting & Convention group arrival and departure dates.
For more information please contact your Disney Meeting Specialist >>

So because it says on my convention's website that they are available, I am assuming these are the tickets.
For those of you that have been, are 3 evenings an okay amount of time to explore the 2 parks, or should I add an extra day to the beginning or end of my conference? What is the weather like in California in October? I've never been. What are crowds like?

A couple of questions:

- What are the dates of the convention (day of week & date)? (it will help with our recommendations)

- What is the price difference between 3 of these $43 tickets & a 3 day Park Hopper? (or a 4 day park hopper)?

- What are the hours of your convention?



A few things to consider:

- 3 "evenings" is not enough time. (especially when these evenings might see the parks crowded with locals coming out for halloween activities)
- the early MORNING is the best time to tour (no matter what day).
- I assume you're coming from Maine.....it will be EASY to get up EARLY in the morning (especially the first couple of days).
- Because you're staying at the DLH, you'll get MM EACH day it's offered. Take advantage of this perk.


If it was me, i'd get a 3 or 4 day park hopper (& use your first day before the convention to visit both parks ALL day). Then visit in the early morning & late evening the other 2-3 days. (unless you take a rest/break half way through). If you need to supplement these with another evening pass do it....but it would probably be cheaper to just get a 4 day (or 5 day) park hopper & be done with it. (for the MOST flexibility).

Have you seen Hydroguy's tip threads? (Especially his DLR for WDW veteran thread?)

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[jenniferrose]

Just one thing to think about if you haven't... my husband recently went to a Disney Institute conference and they served breakfast and lunch. His company offers a $60/day allowance for meals and they allowed them to use the allowance to buy their Twilight Tickets and they just ate cheaply for dinner.

 

[PsychNurse]

A couple of questions:

- What are the dates of the convention (day of week & date)? (it will help with our recommendations)

- What is the price difference between 3 of these $43 tickets & a 3 day Park Hopper? (or a 4 day park hopper)?

- What are the hours of your convention?

The dates are October 19-22, which is Wed thru Sat. The actual program schedule has not come out yet, but usually for these type of things the first day is an evening pre-conference, so probably starting around 5 and lasting a couple hours. Then 3 days of conference which will probably be 8ish to 3 or 4pm. Depending on what flights I can get I will try to get into California in the afternoon of the first day, and plan on coming home sunday sometime. I may try and take the next monday off from work as well so I can move the travel day to then and have all day sunday for the parks. If I add an extra day of tickets, it would be cheaper to just get a 4 day hopper, rather than 3 conference tickets and a full day ticket. Or maybe I should get a 3 day hopper and a party ticket for on of the evenings its going on.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far, keep 'em coming

 

[PsychNurse]

Just one thing to think about if you haven't... my husband recently went to a Disney Institute conference and they served breakfast and lunch. His company offers a $60/day allowance for meals and they allowed them to use the allowance to buy their Twilight Tickets and they just ate cheaply for dinner.

My company gives me $1500 a year for education and I can use it however I need to. This will blow the entire year, plus some I'm sure. But How can I give up an opportunity to get to Disneyland so cheap?!

 

[skiingfast]

If I add an extra day of tickets, it would be cheaper to just get a 4 day hopper, rather than 3 conference tickets and a full day ticket. Or maybe I should get a 3 day hopper and a party ticket for on of the evenings its going on.

That is something to consider.

I would really do a party ticket, I mean you will be there during Halloween afterall. And a hopper would be nicer than 3 sinlge park tickets.

Maybe arrive Tuesday, MHP that night. Wed park in the day, Thursday park, Friday skip, or do the party if not on Tuesday, because it will be crowded. Saturday early then leave. If you stay until Sunday or Monday then MHP + a four or five day PH.

If you add a weekend days or two, I'd really push for the Party on Tuesday, use Friday night for sleep because Saturday will open early. Also on the weekend you will surely be able to see Fantasmic, Fireworks and the Parade.