Thanks Ms.Shuttergirl for starting this thread. I will get it started with some tips for those newbies planning their DL (
Disneyland) trip.
Some abbreviations for Disneyland
DL - Disneyland
GCH - Grand Californian
DLH - Disneyland Hotel
PPH - Paradise Pier Hotel
IASW - It's a Small World
POTC - Pirates of the Caribbean
CA - California Adventure
DTD - Downtown Disney
TA -
Travel Agent
PS - Priority Seating (for restaurants)
WOC - World of Colour
(anybody else have others let me know and I'll add them to the list)
First booking accommodation.... My advise (and just my opinion
) is to NOT book your DL accommodation or DL vacation package with an Australian TA (that is for Disney Hotels). The Australian companies who wholesale DL are just so expensive it's ridiculous, often more than twice the price, sometimes more!
So it's best to book direct with DL or use a TA in the USA, there are many of them,
Dreams Unlimited Travel sponsor Disboards and there are others (Magical Journeys Travel is who we use, but there are many others, just make sure they are a Disney Authorised Vacation Planner). There are also online companies like getawaytoday.com (I haven't used either of these, I have used a TA in the USA though and had fantastic experiences).
There are other great motel style accommodation opposite DL and well within walking distance (and some not). Hojo's offer an entertainment rate on select dates (this is available from their website) and you book this rate direct with them. Using an entertainment card from an Australian entertainment book is ok, it doesn't have to be an American card.
There is Hojos, Fairfield Inn, Candy Cane Inn, Camelot, Best Western and many others.
Tickets - Again I have had prices from many Aussie TA's. I have collected the brochures from Creative Tours etc to get the different prices for the passes, including the 14 day pass and Expedia.com.au has always had the best price. But it's best to do research on this and work out which is the best deal for you. The 14 day pass is not available direct with Disney or once you get there from the ticket booths, it is for prepurchase. When you buy the pass from Expedia, you print off a voucher and present the voucher at a ticket booth at DL or you can present it at check in at the three DL hotels and they will give you your ticket there (very easy)!
We got annual passes one annual pass and the rest 14 day passes and the annual pass gave us amazing discounts on tours at DL park, meals in the parks, DL hotels and DTD and merchandise (not just Disney stores, DTD stores too) whilst at DL! (just check the blockout dates that they won't affect you whilst there).
Disneyland Express - This is not owned by Disney, it is operated by a company called Grayline Tours. The bus picks up right outside the the Tom Bradley terminal and all other terminals at LAX, it's very easy and we booked direct, online with Grayline Tours. There are also shuttles available from various companies.
RACQ/RACV/NRMA etc If any of you have these memberships (not sure what they are in other states), then look on the back of your cards. You will see the
AAA symbol and below that will be your club code. There are many places (tours, accommodation) that offer a AAA discount. Grayline tours is one, if you book at tour with them (not Disneyland Express) then you can get a AAA discount simply by mentioning it when you book and then presenting the card when you arrive there on the morning of the tour and they will apply the discount. Also when booking many hotels, they offer a AAA discount. For Example, when I was looking at Doubletree's website getting prices there was an area that asked for the AAA club code. I entered the code from the back of my RACV card and presto, it not only gave me all of the regular discount prices but also revealed the AAA discount prices which I was not able to see until I had entered the AAA code. So something to keep in mind and always travel with your card as you never know where you may get a AAA discount!
Shopping There are some great malls below, but just wanted to mention some of the shopping discounts. At Macy's stores there is a 10 or 11% (it keeps changing) card that you can get. You usually go up to the gift wrap counter which is usually on an upper floor where you get your international savings card (I've been to may Macy's with my shopping problem and they have always been at the gift wrap counter). In Honolulu the concierge desk also keeps some 5 day ones so you could also try your hotel concierge desk in many cities. The international ones usually last for 30 days and can be used at most Macy's stores in the USA. It can't be used on cosmetics and perfumes but you can use it on sale items. I bought a pair of jeans once that were 25% off, there was a 25% off off store wide sale and I used the 11% off card so I got a total of 61% off Bargain!!!! So you can even use the savings card on sale items!
A lot of malls also have a special savings booklet. Many of the outlet malls you can register online before leaving home and print off a voucher to receive their discount book. Some malls with a Bloomingdales give some sort of free gift voucher, so it's worth visiting the concierge desk/information kiosk at the malls when you walk past to see if there is a discount book.
Another service that many malls offer is a free parcel check. We made good use of this service in December at South Coast Plaza, as we would get more parcels, we would just go back and add them to our growing pile. My son even had this really great (and huge) spider balloon that he got from Rainforest Cafe at SC Plaza and we left that there too as it was annoying to carry around. When we returned everything was there and had been looked after.
I will keep adding tips as I think of them, LOL
.
(not as good as South Coast Plaza! but still a decent mall)
and I'm planning to get a 3 day pass to DL California when we actually get to Anaheim from DL itself. Are the lines huge in the mornings?? Am I best to get them online? I don't mind standing in line for about 15 mins (max.) on the day we get there, but anything longer, I think will be a little too much. thoughts?
- I can see there is going to be lots of great info. 
