August 20, 2005 - L.A. to Port Canaveral - Eastbound Repo Cruise - The SHIP OF FOOLS

[Bmwdsny]

Barbara, what is your suggestions on how many days should we spend in the parks?? Is 2 day enough, 1 day for each park or should i go with 3 days?? Does it get really crowded in Aug?? I am avoiding weekends to visit the parks. Also, why is it that we can't order tickets now for next year?? That is so much different than WDW!!!!

 

[Scratch42]

Hi,

The package is the one that is being offered on Disney.com! I put in our dates and then I called DCL. They gave the same thing for $200.00 less! I am also afraid that they will book up quickly at the DL Hotels and since this is a once in a lifetime trip!

So I have the Disney Package Deal. I know, I know but sometimes a gals gotta do what a gals gotta do!

DVC hasn't got the points up for DL yet and don't want to wait!

Plus this way, I don't have to put down any deposits except for the DC one! Just keep adding everything to my ressie!LOL

Scratch

 

[Bmwdsny]

Originally posted by Scratch42

DVC hasn't got the points up for DL yet and don't want to wait!

Scratch

Isn't that aggravating ??? DVC really need to get their act together!!
What are the dates you are going?? Which hotel are you staying??

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Arlene,

The 4 hotels we are choosing between are (in particular order), Best Western Park Place & Inn, Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites, Park Inn & Suites and Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel. None of them have thier Aug 05 rates available at this time.

Jindy and Barbara, Thanks for the info on the park tickets. I think since we only have 2 days anyhow, we will buy the 1 day/ 1 park passes and forget the hopper passes. I'm thinking we can see each of the parks in one day.

Now we are looking at sidestep.com for flight information. They aren't showing any dates passed early June 2005.

I guess I'm really rushing all this planning stuff. I need to relax. I'm just so worried at getting locked out of the deals at the hotels!!

 

[izzinmac]

Originally posted by Mom2Belle&PeterPan
Barbara (PS I sent you the HOJOs contact info. in a PM. Supposedly this is a good deal, izzimac is going to look in to it, let us know Bob what you find!)

Barb gave me some good contact info at Howard Johnsons and I've sent them an email seeing if they were interested in a group rate similar to what Ivanova arranged at the San Pedro HI. Even asked if they might be able to provide transportation to the Port. Too early to see what they come back with, and you can't make regular reservations until 364 days before arrival. If this doesn't work out, they do have a good deal based on the info I got from Barbara. Don't have the actual rates for when we are there, but do know how to get the best rates when we can make reservations.

Anyway, as soon as I hear something from them, you will be the second to know!!!

Bob

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

Originally posted by Bmwdsny
Barbara, what is your suggestions on how many days should we spend in the parks?? Is 2 day enough, 1 day for each park or should i go with 3 days?? Does it get really crowded in Aug?? I am avoiding weekends to visit the parks. Also, why is it that we can't order tickets now for next year?? That is so much different than WDW!!!!

Hi Melinda,

Yes, the parks will be busy in August and it will be hot. It will probably be even more busy due to the anniversary. If you can swing it and have the vacation days, I recommend 3 days. Two days would be fine, but three days even better. Then, you can take a mid-day break to swim and relax. You'll be much better off to enter the parks as soon as they open, take a break, then come back later afternoon thru the evening. Or go as long as your bodies can handle the heat, then take a pool or air conditioned break. Also, I recommend eating at times that are not regular meal times and riding rides at meal times. Lines will be the least long right when the park opens for one to two hours depending. Have a plan, and go to it! We often take the monorail in and ride the Matterhorn two or three times (this because it is dd's favorite), run over to Indiana Jones, then Splash Mountain. Lately, Pirates and The Haunted Mansion lines have not been too bad, so we leave those for later. Hopefully, Space Mountain will be completed in time and you'll want to hit that first too. At DCA, go to Soarin' and Grizzly River Rapids first, and for you roller coaster fans - California Screamin. The Aladdin Show is SPECTACULAR, so try to get tickets early in the day for a later show. Fantasyland first for those of you with little ones!

Lynda - you will be AOK doing one park only tickets, it will save you some travel time too. It's easier to do park hoppers if you are staying on site. If the AP friend & family 2 day hoppers are available next summer, please, I'd be happy to meet up and share the discount with you and yours! Don't need to hook up to go to the parks, just buy the tickets! That way you and yours can have some family time at the parks!

OK, time to go run some errands! Trying to decide if we are taking dd to see "The Cinderella Story" today or ds to see "I Robot." I love having the summer off!

Happy Friday everyone!

Barbara

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Bob,

You are the best!! (Even if you tease me!!!) You were so smart to ask about group rates!! The gentleman from mouseinfo.com seems so nice and from reading some of the threads over there, Willie sounds very nice also.

If they do offer group rates PLEASE count us in too!! Like you said, even the rates they are quoting now for this August, aren't too bad!!! And it sounds like they are more than willing do work with any members of that website (like discounts and upgrades, etc.). I haven't contacted anyone over there yet. Just haven't had the time.

Please let us know what you find out reguarding your e-mail to them. Thanks!!!

Lynda

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

Thanks Bob for the HOJOs info.! Great idea about group rates and a possibility of transportation to the port!!!

Barbara

 

[Scratch42]

Originally posted by Bmwdsny
Isn't that aggravating ??? DVC really need to get their act together!!
What are the dates you are going?? Which hotel are you staying??

Very Aggrevating!

I wanted to do GC on points but they could only give me a guesstimate. Then that's when I decided to try Disney.com and then called DCL. I figured I could always change but after seeing what they want for points in FLA! Maybe not! I did not want to be scrambling last minute looking for a place to stay!

Scratch

 

[Luv2Dream]

I did the same thing you did. I booked GC thru DCL and if I want I can cancel it and go with DVC when the points come out. This way, I can't lose. It's tough to swallow the price though. But I figure it's one of the very few times we'll probably ever get there.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Barbara,

Thanks for the offer on the friends & family tickets. You are so sweet!!! We were thinking of purchasing the tix before hand to avoid the wait at the DL ticket window, but it would be sooooo cool to meet up with you there!!

You could be my first DISer to hug!!! That would be neat!!!

Thanks again!!!

Lynda

 

[paulcrsb]

We too booked DL through DCL. I'm hoping for better rates but I'm not holding my breath. At least I've got some place to stay.

Paul

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Paul,

We also looked at the packages offered by Disney Travel and even the off site "good neighbor hotels" packages were very pricy!! I am so sure we can do better buying hotel and tickets separately (or at least I hope so!!)

The Ho JOs Anaheim has a very good rate and I have only read good reviews! I'm waiting to see if their prices are going up next year because of the 50th anniversary. We'll see!!!

Lynda

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

Originally posted by EmmasGrammy
Barbara,

Thanks for the offer on the friends & family tickets. You are so sweet!!! We were thinking of purchasing the tix before hand to avoid the wait at the DL ticket window, but it would be sooooo cool to meet up with you there!!

You could be my first DISer to hug!!! That would be neat!!!

Thanks again!!!

Lynda

You are more than welcome Lynda! I would love to share these with you & your family and all our fellow cruisemates! We Disney fans need to stick together! Here's hoping that these AP friends & family tickets are offered next summer. If it is similar to this offer, we would be able to obtain 16 two day hoppers per day. Y'all do what is best for your families, I certainly understand having the tickets in your hands to avoid the lines.

Anyway, really look forward to meeting you Lynda and all the DIS friends here, aren't we a lucky bunch?!

Have a great weekend!

Barbara

 

[paulcrsb]

Lynda - You're right! They are way pricey. We haven't been to DL since 1996 so we thought we would like to stay at a Disney hotel. Even though we live on the West coast I find it cheaper to fly to Florida and stay on property at WDW than to fly to California and go to DL!

Paul

 

[DudetteTwo]

Just wanted to say "Good Morning" to my chatty cruise mates. Hope you all have a terrific weekend. Toodles JEANNE

 

[piglet33]

I went to our local Disney Store last and asked about Disneyland tickets and was told they don't sell them at all only for Disney World. I thought they did.

I only need one day or one day hopper tickets and can't find them for sale anywhere in advance. I am also one of those people that likes to have their tickets in hand to avoid waiting in lines to get them.

I keep checking Grumbo's favorite place - costco.com since they are supposed to be selling DL tickets online. I'll post when they do in case anyone wants them.

I also bought Haley a Tinkerbell costume, wand and shoes for Halloween. It was so adorable that I couldn't pass it up.

Reneé

 

[Grumbo]

Costco
My wife is out shopping for a big pool party this afternoon. God help us

For the Canadians you can get DL passes with Air Miles....

I bought WDW passes that way but won't bother with DL as they expire.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I booked a cruise pre stay through Dreams adding on to the DCL package, you didnt have to pay any more deposit and I will be staying at the Grand Californian, with a three day mutli park ticket.

Its a special add on package and seemed to be cheaper than booking direct, and Dreams also sort our your priority seating at meal times.

One extra issue, is I have read that Disneyland it cutting back on fastpass, as they do not feel they work, and some are being removed at this time, others fazed out by Winter. They feel Fastpass doesnt help the queues!

I understand you can use the park ticket on any three days you wish, either starting on your first day, before first night of hotel, or on the last day.

This is important as it really isnt worth paying for a ticket and on your last day onlu being in the park for a couple of hours in the morning, before transfer ot the cruise.

 

[Denine]

So much info! I can't even think about stuff right now with trying to sell our house, pack and move to the new house.