DL April 2005 ` Family Trip for S.CA Residents

[Jade]

Okay. We decided we are going to do Disneyland family trip in April.

Drive down and stay overnight Tuesday, April 5th. Depart Friday, April 9th.
We are going to do CA and DL (Park Hopper) Wed, Thurs and part of Friday. Driving back home Friday late afternoon early evening time.

DH does Smoke. I'm looking to book two adjoining rooms. I think that would be cheaper than a suite. Looking to stay at Disney themed hotel.

Seeking out to do a Character Breakfast. In doing so, would you suggest PS? Or just go in around 10am or so and sit down at that time. I heard some folks go do DL for a few hrs then come eat. Sounds good to me. Undecided on this just yet though.

Who is going? Myself and DH with our three daughters ages 9yrs, 5yrs and 3yrs old.

I'm looking for any helpful information. Should I sign up with AAA to get their discounts? Buy my park tickets online? Buy hotel rooms seperate from the "package deal?" Really, I am clueless and trying to budget if possible but make it as fun as we can for the family.

I did some research and if I get 3Day Park Tickets it comes to $495 (S.CA Resident).

If I do the vacation package through Disney then it comes out close to $2k. Staying at GCH 3nights/3day park passes/character breakfast with a city/standard view. I was thinking it would be really nice to get 2 adjoining rooms but that will raise the cost another 300-500. Ugh.

Now if we stay at DLH it will come out to $1681.96. With all that I included staying at GCH above. This does not include two rooms. I thought 2 adjoining rooms would be cheaper than a 1 or 2br suite.

Also, what if I wanted to buy stuff and not have to carry it around all day?! Isn't that supposed to be included in the package or is that extra money as well?

Also, I like the idea of getting the "Fast pass" tickets. Just no clue how much they are or if they are really worth it.


Goodness me oh my. I'm utterly confused. Book everything seperately or just bundle it all together?!

 

[LucyKate]

Wow - lots of questions - might have been better if you'd broken them down into separate posts. If you don't get answers maybe repost them as separate questions.

But here's a couple of suggetsions for you - definitely do the Princess Character breakfast - my daughters aged 9 and 6 loved it - greeted by Mary Poppins and Bert singing and teling them to stand up straight, pictures and autographs with Belle and Beast, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin and Jasmine, Mulan - all brilliant.

We booked, went straight to a table, but others who just turned up had to queue, so I would book - it doesn't cost any more.

Fast passes are definietly worth it - they don't cost anything! They only work at the most popular rides. If there is a queue greater than half an hour (check the signs) simply ask an attendant where the fast pass machine is, put your ticket in, and out comes another ticket for that ride with a time you can ride - a 1 hour slot. Come back any time after the time at the start and you will either go straight to the head of the queue, or, a separate shorter queue - it works very well. In the meantime go ride some other less popular rides.

As for hotels, we stayed at the Howard Johnson - 10 minutes walk off site but a very cheap, clean family hotel which wins all the awards on fan sites. Great cheap family restaurant across the street - Mimis.

Finally - you can hire a locker for $5 inside Disneyland (just off Main Street) and put your coats etc in there in the morning and retrieve them when it gets cold (as we did) and store your gifts there during the day. However, if you are staying at a Disney resort I believe they will deliver them back to your room for you.

Whew, anything I forgot?