Feedback Please-plans shaping up...

[trodrigue]

Driving from Washington State to Disneyland, leaving Sat. Dec. 15th, arriving Sunday Dec. 16

We have reserved through Costco at Paradise Pier for 4 nights, plus 4 citypasses. Includes, lanyards, pin, coin, EE, TTM, Character Breakfast, and $20 Disney Gift Card. For $1575

Additonal 2 nights at candy cane inn. $139 each night AAA rate for premium rooms!

1 night in SanDiego, yet to be booked.

Celebrating 5 year old's 5th B-day. We also have an 11 year old son.


Sunday-Paradise Pier-late arrival, early to bed (okay, we may go watch the fireworks from the rooftop pool area)

Monday- EE to DL, Hit PP first and other slow loads, utilizing FP runner system. 11:30 at Blue Bayou, first seating and requesting waterfront table and b-day celebration. Back to room to nap from 3-6, gathering FP's as we go. 6:00 return to DL, through DCA, hitting FP rides as we go through, arriving at Riverbell terrace for late dinner at 7:30 or 8, staying for Fantasmic show at 9:00. Hitting more rides during fireworks and final fantasmic.

Tuesday-Oldest son and Dad to Universal Studios. Youngin and Mom stay at Paradise Pier to lounge at pools, maybe hit Peter Pan pool too. Maybe do Rainforest Cafe for dinner and/or movie.

Wednesday-DL at opening, FP program again, then over to DCA at opening to grab fast passes and spend day there, plan to be fine tuned. rest from 3-5:30, then in DL park for 6:30 Christmas Parade,and then view the fireworks from Mainstreet.

Thursday- Sleep In-Storyteller Cafe for FREE (I love that word) character breakfast, with B-day celebration. Morning at pools, pack and load, then more pool and/or downtown disney or beach time, until check in at CC Inn.
Dinner out.

Friday-DL at rope drop, TT Madness and Toontown, grab FP on way. Rides/FP plan. 10:00 Discover Magic Tour for little one and Mom. 12:30 Meet for lunch and FP rides, back to room at 2:30-5:30 DCA for Block Party Bash, and then over to DL for Electric Parade, and Probably fireworks again.

Sat Morn, Load and leave early, drive to Sea World, new hotel
Sun. SanDiego Zoo or Wildlife Center, and then drive to Yuma to spend Xmas with Gram.


I know I have a few kinks to work out to maximixe our days in the parks and to make sure we hit all of our favs, but what else will make this magical for us.

Thanks for your time in reading and responding. I could not have done this plan without you all. For that I am thankful!

 

[DLR29]

Sounds like a very good, well thought out plan. It's probably what I would do as well. Just one thing, the Electric Parade is shown at DCA, not DL.

 

[Hound 109]

Looks great.....except....

Youngest & Mom should enjoy all that is Disney on Tuesday.

- EE (since you're at the PP). Enjoy Buzz & your favorite FL rides.
- Ride the fun rides that the older guys wouldn't think are cool enough.
- Do character greets, do Bugs life area, do Redwood trail, Toontown, etc.
- Relax & use the GCH entrance into & out of DCA in the afternoon.
- Ride all the carousels.

I had a great time with DS 8 last year, doing just this type of thing. Just the two of us.

& you're taking a "break day" on Thurs.

Have fun.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sounds nice!

I personally think you're bonkers for driving in December (or Jan or Feb or even March), but if you're comfy in the Siskyous, go for it. We scared me silly in September doing that drive, but I hope you enjoy the molly-free highway!

Have you included the Santa's Reindeer RoundUp in your plans? It's over behind BTMRR, and if it's half as cute as the Halloweentime Woody's RoundUp, you should do it. I hear there's a Santa thing at DCA, too.

Very cool that you got the citypasses! Be sure to think about if you're going to want to go again to DL within the year, b/c you can upgrade to APs from the 3 day hoppers. If you think you might be back, it makes overall financial sense.

Oh, speaking of that, you know that b/c of the PP stay, you might have another EE day, right? For some reason the days of EE slip through my mind (even though I was posting about them earlier today), but if there's more than one EE day while you're at PP (even on checkout day), you can partake, because of the PP stay.


have fun!!!!!

 

[Hound 109]

Bumbershoot, will reindeer roundup be going on on 12/9 & 12/10? Would an 8 y/o enjoy it (or would he be too old)? Thanks!

OP....another thing to enjoy on Tuesday w/o the older men of your family.

 

[Tink208]

Not sure if it will still be when you are there, but the River Belle Terrace was closed for refurbishing while we were there this past weekend/early this week.

 

[Hound 109]

Bumbershoot, will reindeer roundup be going on on 12/9 & 12/10? Would an 8 y/o enjoy it (or would he be too old)? Thanks!

OP....another thing to enjoy on Tuesday w/o the older men of your family.

I just looked at the website. It said Clara Cluck was going to be at the round up. I haven't seen her in decades.

 

[trodrigue]

Did not remember that about the electric parade, but now that you mention it, I did watch it when I was there two years ago! My memory is failing me...

I am leaving Tuesday open to potential meandering of all that other stuff at the parks with the little one. I know I can pay the difference to get another day on my citypass, but have not been able to figure out what the difference is. I think it will be somewhere around $50. each. I know I saved that much in other tickets etc. so may just go for it. But on the other hand, we never have time to do nothing when we are at home, so I am looking forward to that down time with him. I do have most of the other stuff planned, but have not figured out the when and where on our park days.

PS We did see the reindeer thing two years ago, but it was sort of stinky and my little one was not interested at all! (we are city folks!)

We did spend countless hours in Bugs Life Land in the water play area, as it was incredibly warm in November.

Thanks everyone!

 

[abby]

You didn't say why you were going to San Diego, but we love to stay at Paradise Point resort and spa across from sea world.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Tuesday-Oldest son and Dad to Universal Studios. Youngin and Mom stay at Paradise Pier to lounge at pools, maybe hit Peter Pan pool too.

Years ago apparently pool-swapping among the resort hotels was allowed, but I've heard it is no longer. Entry into each resort's pool area is via the electronic room card, and I believe the card now only works for your own resort's pool.

I honestly don't know for sure either way (we didn't try to go to another pool) so I'd advise checking at the hotel before heading over in swimsuits and flipflops.

 

[bumbershoot]

Years ago apparently pool-swapping among the resort hotels was allowed, but I've heard it is no longer. Entry into each resort's pool area is via the electronic room card, and I believe the card now only works for your own resort's pool.

I honestly don't know for sure either way (we didn't try to go to another pool) so I'd advise checking at the hotel before heading over in swimsuits and flipflops.

Ooh yeah, good point. My dad's family went to PP a few years ago, and my stepmom had great fun going to the other pools. But when I started planning our Sept trip last Feb, all I found on disneyland.com was that PP and DLH could hop, but then in the few months before our actual trip, that info was taken down. So that might be problematic (or maybe not).


Hound, I have only been to the Halloweentime round-up, so I don't know about the Santa one. I didn't know there was the potential to be stinky. Then again, I wasn't taking the reindeer part literally, but maybe I should! (only reason I can think to describe a stinky thing, lol)


OP, I know I have seen multiple, answered, question about the upgrade value of the citypass hoppers. I just can't remember the answer right now! Sorry. Is there a phone number for citypass that you could call to ask?