Almost 60 days out and haven't really planned much! Few questions...

[Morgan063006]

Our trip is scheduled for 12/7-12/14 and I just realized its only two months away and I haven't really planned anything. Last year I had our entire week planned almost 4 months early. Now it doesn't feel real since I haven't even started. I still have to decide between flying or driving from outside the Portland area. That makes a huge difference on our time to get there and back and time at the parks. I missed a great air deal this summer so now I don't know. Anyway, to my questions that you may be able to help with:

I know we don't want to do BBB but I've been thinking about Studio 365 (or whatever it is by that point) for my DD5. Any recent updates on that situation/pricing/etc?

We've done Ariel's Grotto that last two trips because she is my older DDs favorite but I was not impressed last year so we are planning on skipping it if there is a good chance of meeting her at Fantasy Faire. Does Ariel regularly meet there now? What about Merida? I thought I read that her meet and greet closed so is she still in the park for M&G at all?

Can you book Minnie's breakfast on an early entry day without having/using magic morning? We plan on buying hoppers but upgrading to APs when we get there. I'd like to use magic morning early in the trip (Tues) to get return times for A&E so we have more time later in the week if something doesn't work out. I was thinking Minnie & Friends for Thursday morning but I'd like to not lose too much park time. I just can't recall if you can make reservations during EE/MM without having it yourself?

Thanks in advance!

 

[figment_jii]

What about Merida? I thought I read that her meet and greet closed so is she still in the park for M&G at all?

Merida meets outside of the Fantasy Faire. I saw her there last week, but I don't know what is her schedule.

 

[jsgrant5]

When we were there over the summer Merida met starting at 10:00 under the umbrella outside Fantasy Faire. She was by far our favorite character interaction.

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

*MOST* of the time, JetBlue flies between PDX and Long Beach for $99 per flight. I just checked your dates and it is $99 per adult to get to Long Beach and $180 to get back. I would most definitely prefer to fly. $180 is kind of rich for my blood - been spoiled with $99 airfare too many times. We have driven from Portland twice....never again.

 

[Escape2Disney]

*MOST* of the time, JetBlue flies between PDX and Long Beach for $99 per flight. I just checked your dates and it is $99 per adult to get to Long Beach and $180 to get back. I would most definitely prefer to fly. $180 is kind of rich for my blood - been spoiled with $99 airfare too many times. We have driven from Portland twice....never again.

I'd have to agree with Patrick. Going over the passes (Sexton, Siskiyou, Shasta) can be really unpredictable in December. It's the main reason we're flying this year instead of driving. Since we live in the southern part of Oregon, we're paying considerably more than the deal he listed. I'd say fly

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

I'd have to agree with Patrick. Going over the passes (Sexton, Siskiyou, Shasta) can be really unpredictable in December. It's the main reason we're flying this year instead of driving. Since we live in the southern part of Oregon, we're paying considerably more than the deal he listed. I'd say fly

That's also a great point. I was just thinking that driving there means driving back and after long days in the parks, it's exhausting

 

[10stime]

We are flying out of Portland to Long Beach on JetBlue around the same time as you (we booked a few months ago). I just received an email today with a promo code OCTOBER14 that saves you 20% off of flights, anything helps!!!! I had a heck of a time trying to figure out how to apply promo codes on their site (of course I had to look and see how much we could have saved ) so if/when you look, go to www.jetblue.com/promo

 

[Morgan063006]

We are flying out of Portland to Long Beach on JetBlue around the same time as you (we booked a few months ago). I just received an email today with a promo code OCTOBER14 that saves you 20% off of flights, anything helps!!!! I had a heck of a time trying to figure out how to apply promo codes on their site (of course I had to look and see how much we could have saved ) so if/when you look, go to www.jetblue.com/promo

Thanks. I will try that. We looked at flights last night on JetBlue into long beach and decided to fly home a day early and that helped the cost by about $50 per person plus 1 less hotel night. And originally we were planning flying home Sunday morning (if we flew) so we don't lose too much park time with a 6pm flight.

 

[Morgan063006]

I think flying it is. I've done the drive in winter but no longer have a large SUV and would rather just get there quickly and not spend 3 total days driving. Now the challenge is booking flights, seeing as how I'm terrified of flying. My last flight was coming home from Disneyland in November 2011 and it was rough for me so I haven't done it since.

 

[mummabear]

We saw Ariel both at FF and just alone near town hall. However it is near impossible to get any idea from the CMs about when x character will be out, so you may have to repeatedly check FF.
Merida we saw under the purple umbrella at FF.

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

We are flying out of Portland to Long Beach on JetBlue around the same time as you (we booked a few months ago). I just received an email today with a promo code OCTOBER14 that saves you 20% off of flights, anything helps!!!! I had a heck of a time trying to figure out how to apply promo codes on their site (of course I had to look and see how much we could have saved ) so if/when you look, go to www.jetblue.com/promo

Well DAGGUM! After this tidbit, I might get a trip in December afterall

 

[Escape2Disney]

We saw Ariel both at FF and just alone near town hall. However it is near impossible to get any idea from the CMs about when x character will be out, so you may have to repeatedly check FF.
Merida we saw under the purple umbrella at FF.

You can get a list of where/when the characters will be out each day from City Hall and near the ride wait time board.

 

[10stime]

Well DAGGUM! After this tidbit, I might get a trip in December afterall

Yay, happy it could help you out! Beware, the code was only good for 2 days which means today is the last day to take advantage of it

 

[Ratherbeatdisneyland]

I think it depends on who your driving with. Driving can be fun. my son is awesome on road trips. We drove from slc to Sacramento at the beginning of the year (he was 2) and had zero issues. Flying is nice too. We really love jetblue.

 

[Morgan063006]

I booked flights today on JetBlue for just under $200pp with the promo, thanks to pp for posting the code. That's one decision down and now the real planning begins!