Disneyland frugally with 6 kids

[aliceindisneyland]

We stayed in the Anaheim Plaza in Oct--it's not that clean or well-maintained. It is comparable to HoJo for the walk, and if you cross over to the Disneyland side of Harbor right away you can walk on the sidewalk nearer the gate around DL instead of the sidewalk on Harbor which is nice. Anaheim Plaza backs up to the Garden Walk area (chain restaurants, etc.), but the gate is closed off, so you have to walk all the way to Harbor and make a uturn to walk back to the Garden Walk entrance.
We just got reservations for the Best Western park place inn 3rd weekend of Feb for $87 per night, includes continental breakfast by going through the Best Western rewards site (just sign up for a member #) and choosing AAA rate (if you have AAA).
We prefer BW Park Place Inn & Suites over the BW Anaheim Inn, and it's right across the street.

 

[M4travels]

snip.....You can't gurantee when the Ent rate becomes available, so it's good to have several backups.

The Hojo's site is showing that the Entertainment rate is good beginning the 17th of Jan and continuing for 26 nights, well into the month of February. (We just may have to book a night or two!!) If you do book it, just remember to call in-house reservations and only in-house.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/
you can book online too for the entertainment rate use promo code sd50.

Make sure the entertainment rate is available for all the days you want or the code wont work.

 

[christineka]

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/
you can book online too for the entertainment rate use promo code sd50.

Make sure the entertainment rate is available for all the days you want or the code wont work.

So, then when we get there we just have to show the card? I don't sleep well in uncomfortable beds and I kinda want sleep for the week. Having a microwave to reheat leftovers is a bonus. I've checked the dates and our week is listed.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

So, then when we get there we just have to show the card?

Yes, just show the card. (Sometimes they don't ask for it, but make sure you have it just in case.) Sorry I didn't double check what dates you were going when I posted earlier. Glad you are able to get the Ent rates! It's a very good value at that price.

 

[christineka]

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/
you can book online too for the entertainment rate use promo code sd50.

Make sure the entertainment rate is available for all the days you want or the code wont work.

The code didn't work, so I called, but that was fine

 

[pixiewings71]

The cheapest rates I've found are for the anaheim plaza hotel and howard johnson with the entertainment discount. After reading reviews I've decided I'd rather pay a little more for a comfortable bed.

The HoJo beds are awesome!!!!!! And at $59-99 a nite you absolutely cannot beat it.

So, then when we get there we just have to show the card? I don't sleep well in uncomfortable beds and I kinda want sleep for the week. Having a microwave to reheat leftovers is a bonus. I've checked the dates and our week is listed.

The code didn't work, so I called, but that was fine

YAY!!!! I'm glad you got it!! Now as a PP mentioned you don't need a book, just a card, we got ours on eBay last year for $5, you can use ANY card from ANY book, you just flash it when they ask and you're golden. Having a micro and fridge will be great. And remember, if you are absolutely too tired to walk back at night they do have taxis at the front of DLR, you can get one to take you back to the HoJo, or you can grab an ART ticket at the end of the day or during your midday break and take ART back to the HoJo.

 

[ballarinamom]

Please don't buy a card on ebay. PM me. I work for entertainment and can get you a card

 

[c&m]

Can you buy decent souvenirs at target and walmart? Any recommendations for souvenirs that are around $10? I'm not really into souvenirs, but dh insists. I really, really do not want more stuffed animals, nor do I want "cheap junk". Maybe we have to up the cost...

With souvenirs, we always go to the dollar store located in the plaza on Chapman and S. Harbor. It's next door to the Target facing S. Harbor. There's one long aisle of Disney stuff and my DDs can pick anything they choose to bring home to their best friends. The damage? Usually $10 total. Not bad eh?

The character-themed stuff they have (and we were last there in March 2009):
Disney notebooks of all sizes and all characters (Tinkerbelle ones were the nicest)
Packs of pens and pencils with all characters (the Disney fairies were really nice)
Stationary sets
Rulers
Pencil cases
Erasers

You can't really go wrong with those items for $1. You're about a 5 min. drive from this store from the Anaheim Plaza hotel.

 

[Leofoenget]

So, then when we get there we just have to show the card? I don't sleep well in uncomfortable beds and I kinda want sleep for the week. Having a microwave to reheat leftovers is a bonus. I've checked the dates and our week is listed.

I will say this about Anaheim Plaza, many rooms do not have a microwave which is a P A I N!. When I drive, I have a small microwave that I take with me so it's no big deal, but come on, why should I have to schlep a MICROWAVE with me on vacation?? Heck even the cheapo Motel 6 in Buttonwillow has a microwave! But the mini fridge was brand new and it was nice to have a new fridge. I really like AP the pool is huge

 

[doclegler]

A great hotel for kids is the Comfort Inn on Harbor a mile or so south of Disneyland. The kids suite has a main room with 2 queens and a seperate room with 2 bunk beds. The hotel itself is nothing fancy but the room was large and perfect for kids and clean. The hotel gives a free breakfast of cereals, waffles, juice, etc.

We just booked this place for about $80/night. I'm hoping its decent! We'll be there in about a week.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We just booked this place for about $80/night. I'm hoping its decent! We'll be there in about a week.

We stayed in one of their kid suites a couple years ago, my kids & I, my mom, my sister and her son - we enjoyed it, I do prefer to stay within walking distance though - you'll want to use ART.

 

[melbarkwith]

Any recommendations for souvenirs that are around $10? I'm not really into souvenirs, but dh insists. I really, really do not want more stuffed animals, nor do I want "cheap junk". Maybe we have to up the cost...

I'm not sure if you are buying souvenirs that are for kids, but one of my DD3's favourites is a growth chart that shows how tall you have to be for certain rides. It cost $2 at DL (I think I got it at the toy shop just inside DCA). DD measures herself nearly every day to see if she is tall enough for Grizzly River

 

[kkmcan]

Definitely bring snacks and breakfast. We hit Costco a day or two before we leave on our trip. We get the individual packs of peanuts, fruit snacks, granola bars, turkey jerky, a huge package of bottled waters, and a pkg of muffins from the bakery.

We load up a gallon size baggie with our snacks each morning before we head to the parks. We take 4 water bottles and we good to go. We also grab a muffin or sometimes just a 1/2 a muffin to eat on our walk to the park.

Sometimes I also bring a bunch of bananas to go with our breakfast. Dh likes those mini Cliff bars since they have protein so we get those as well for snacks.

 

[doclegler]

I'm not sure if you are buying souvenirs that are for kids, but one of my DD3's favourites is a growth chart that shows how tall you have to be for certain rides. It cost $2 at DL (I think I got it at the toy shop just inside DCA). DD measures herself nearly every day to see if she is tall enough for Grizzly River

That sounds SO cute! I may have to check that out for my own 3 year old!!

 

[disney-inspired]

I'm another big fan of Howard Johnson Hotel! I have had nothing but good experiences and the prices are great, too.

As far as being frugal with food, I'd say bring your own; Your own snacks and drinks because drinks are $3 a bottle and food is overpriced and not that great. If you want to eat out I'd suggest going to In-N-Out off site.

 

[aussiegirls]

I think there are quite a few good souveniers that are around $10 or so.

I don't know how many girls you have but I know DL has lots of nice earrings and things for around $10. Also we love those little vinylmation things and I think they are a great reminder of the trip. I hope this one doesn't sound to ewwwww but the big lollipops are great souvies too, if you don't eat them of course. They are gorgeous and will last forever as an ornament type thing - just remind the kids that after a few months they are not to try and eat it And of course ear hats. They are a bit over $10 but not too much

HTH


xxx

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

Someone mentioned lockers, but I assume you will have at least one stroller, you can bring food into the park with you.
Plan to bring your snacks and for lunch either bring that too or eat back at the hotel if you are going back for nap time.

Mimis is an inexpensive restraunt (share)
ESPN Zone and Rainforest Cafe, may not be the cheepest, but have good sized kid menus.
Down Harbor, accross from Target, there is a good pizza place that I found good prices.
As someone said, very few of the restaunts in DLR are fast food, most are counter service (you walk up and order), but definatly not fast food.

Check out the Disneyland Menu Database on the top of the Disneyland Dis board or check out allears here for menus and priceing to figure out what will work for your family

 

[Mugglemama]

we have 4 kids and have found lots of ways to save money on the little things while at DLR. everyone has already mentioned bringing in sandwiches, snacks, etc., so i'll just mention the snack things that haven't been mentioned yet.

i have actually gone so far as to pop microwave popcorn in the hotel room before we leave in the morning, ration it out into ziplock baggies, so that we have it on hand in the evenings when the popcorn smell in the parks is irresistable.

my kids used to always ask for cotton candy inside disneyland, but then they would hardly eat any of it. so last time we went, i bought these $1 buckets of cotton candy at wal-mart and brought those instead. that way, i was only out $4 total, and the cotton candy didn't really get wasted because it came in these very convenient plastic tubs with snap-on lids. so the stuff stayed fresh and mess-free all the days of our vacation. bonus!

the next time we go, i'm going to bring homemade chocolate chip cookies. also, we've made tigger tails at home before which turned out fantastic, so i'm going to make some mini tigger tails and bring those with us, too. i can make about 24 minis for the price i'd spend on just 3 regular ones inside the parks, or 12 regular ones for the same price.

one other thing we do is get ice cream at 31 Flavors instead of inside the parks. we all like 31 Flavors better, and we end up spending half of what we would spend inside the parks for ice cream that tastes better to us.

 

[Leofoenget]

we have 4 kids and have found lots of ways to save money on the little things while at DLR. everyone has already mentioned bringing in sandwiches, snacks, etc., so i'll just mention the snack things that haven't been mentioned yet.

i have actually gone so far as to pop microwave popcorn in the hotel room before we leave in the morning, ration it out into ziplock baggies, so that we have it on hand in the evenings when the popcorn smell in the parks is irresistable.

my kids used to always ask for cotton candy inside disneyland, but then they would hardly eat any of it. so last time we went, i bought these $1 buckets of cotton candy at wal-mart and brought those instead. that way, i was only out $4 total, and the cotton candy didn't really get wasted because it came in these very convenient plastic tubs with snap-on lids. so the stuff stayed fresh and mess-free all the days of our vacation. bonus!

the next time we go, i'm going to bring homemade chocolate chip cookies. also, we've made tigger tails at home before which turned out fantastic, so i'm going to make some mini tigger tails and bring those with us, too. i can make about 24 minis for the price i'd spend on just 3 regular ones inside the parks, or 12 regular ones for the same price.

one other thing we do is get ice cream at 31 Flavors instead of inside the parks. we all like 31 Flavors better, and we end up spending half of what we would spend inside the parks for ice cream that tastes better to us.

I always pop my own popcorn in the hotel room and bring it along, and we usually get Cold Stone on Harbor. What are Tiger Tails and how do you make them? Are they chocolate dipped pretzels?