Advice on Disneyland with toddlers/coupons?

[kdzbear]

Hi, I need some planning help. My husband is attending a conference in Oct. in San Diego. I am thinking about joining him for the 4 day event. I may try to go a day early to attend the Mickey's Halloween Party. I would be traveling with a special needs 3 year old that can walk, but must be strapped in in his stroller or he will run off and a nine month old. With my tentative plans we would arrive at the airport at 10 am and I would like to have lunch that day at Goofy's Kitchen at 12:30. Is this itinerary possible with drive time, picking up luggage and a rental car? I am looking for an inexpensive car rental. Has anyone used Fox Car Rentals? Then I would like to go back to Disneyland either Sunday or Monday. The rest of the time I will be in San Diego. Can anyone tell me of a good beach to take the kids? I am open to any coupon/discount suggestions as it will be me and the two kids most of the time while my husband is in meetings. My sister lives in LA and may be able to join us on the weekends and possibly for the Halloween party. Thank you in advance for any help that you can provide!

 

[Brady's Mom]

We used Fox Car Rental last Sept. My DH and I went for my Birthday and flew into SNA. Fox was the cheapest. They shuttle you to their store and you rent the car there. We were upgraded to a really nice Chrysler 300, because they didn't have any of the size cars we reserved. They also had a really great map that we still have and use when we go to Anaheim. And they tell you how to get back to their place when you need to leave.

We also have a double jogging stroller that has very nice over the shoulder straps that we have used for our littles and it reclines if anyone needs to sleep. We always take that with us, even though our kids are getting a little bigger they still get tired.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Hi, I need some planning help. My husband is attending a conference in Oct. in San Diego. I am thinking about joining him for the 4 day event. I may try to go a day early to attend the Mickey's Halloween Party. I would be traveling with a special needs 3 year old that can walk, but must be strapped in in his stroller or he will run off and a nine month old. With my tentative plans we would arrive at the airport at 10 am and I would like to have lunch that day at Goofy's Kitchen at 12:30. Is this itinerary possible with drive time, picking up luggage and a rental car? I am looking for an inexpensive car rental. Has anyone used Fox Car Rentals? Then I would like to go back to Disneyland either Sunday or Monday. The rest of the time I will be in San Diego. Can anyone tell me of a good beach to take the kids? I am open to any coupon/discount suggestions as it will be me and the two kids most of the time while my husband is in meetings. My sister lives in LA and may be able to join us on the weekends and possibly for the Halloween party. Thank you in advance for any help that you can provide!

I don't think you can arrive in San Diego at 10 and drive to Disneyland in time for lunch at 12:30 especially considering that you need to get your luggage and rent a car! Unless of course you can drive really fast!!!

 

[kdzbear]

I guess I need to clarify. I plan on flying to SNA on the 3rd and out of SAN on the 7th. I thought I would be closer to Disney if I flew into Orange County and then after the Halloween party night I will drive down to San Diego after staying with my sister in her one bedroom apartment for one night.

Thank you for information about Fox rentals. We do have a double jogging stroller that does lay back and I love it. I was just worried that it might be too big to gate check at the airport, but I can't live without it.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I guess I need to clarify. I plan on flying to SNA on the 3rd and out of SAN on the 7th. I thought I would be closer to Disney if I flew into Orange County and then after the Halloween party night I will drive down to San Diego after staying with my sister in her one bedroom apartment for one night.

Thank you for information about Fox rentals. We do have a double jogging stroller that does lay back and I love it. I was just worried that it might be too big to gate check at the airport, but I can't live without it.

Where are you staying in Anaheim? I only ask because if you are staying on property (lets say GCH for example) you might consider just catching a cab (cheap) from SNA to the GCH and drop your bags with the porter. Then go eat lunch at goofy's. Then check into the GCH. This way while you are in the DLR you don't need to be paying for a rental car. Now when it is time to drive down to San Diego you can rent a car from Alamo in Down Town Disney. This way you'll save $$$ not renting a car for a couple days you don't need it and you won't wast time renting the car in SNA, where you have to take a shuttle wasting time all while schlepping the kids around!.

 

[kdzbear]

Where are you staying in Anaheim? I only ask because if you are staying on property (lets say GCH for example) you might consider just catching a cab (cheap) from SNA to the GCH and drop your bags with the porter. Then go eat lunch at goofy's. Then check into the GCH. This way while you are in the DLR you don't need to be paying for a rental car. Now when it is time to drive down to San Diego you can rent a car from Alamo in Down Town Disney. This way you'll save $$$ not renting a car for a couple days you don't need it and you won't wast time renting the car in SNA, where you have to take a shuttle wasting time all while schlepping the kids around!.

The first night we will be staying with my sister in LA. Then on Saturday morning I will drive down to San Diego to pick up my husband at the airport. I found car rental for about $20 a day through Fox. My only concern was that the other car rental places wanted close to $50 a day and we do not have Fox here so I am not familiar with them. I did look into staying at one of the Disneyland hotels for one night and it was close to $200 so I opted against this option. Thank you again for all of the tips and help!

 

[kdzbear]

After two weeks of daily searching Frontier Airline's website my fares dropped so I booked them today. This was after they tripled on Sunday and I was nervous that they would not go back down. Then yesterday they were $20 higher than today. I am so glad they dropped! Now, I still need a car rental. If anyone knows of any discount codes for Fox or if they use them I would appreciate the help.