First timer with a few questions

[Kit Jackson]

If you can afford it, because you know your budget better than anyone, I would recommend more time in the parks for a first visit. If something is down, it gives you potentially another day to ride it depending on how long it is down for. I would recommend the new version of Genie+ because it included PhotoPass, if you are into character photos or photos near places like the Castle, the Falcon, and CarsLand and sometimes they have photographers roaming around.

 

[lindyv321]

Chiming in about walking from an onsite hotel to an off site hotel. You technically could but would have to go through security unless you planned to walk all the way around. I’d just use a rideshare

 

[Gocanes0506]

Back for round 2 with more hypotheticals:

It seems that my work may send me out there in mid January and im thinking that may he better time to take my wife than June due to crowds sizes.

Unfortunately the middle seating fantasmic dining meal is already gone but the other 2 are still available.

Hotels: so all 3 still have military rates for 2 people (sorry kids im leaving you home for this one *evil laugh*)

Question on place for 3 ish nights?
Pixar place for the cheapest rate?
Grand Californian?
Or club level Pixar Place for 100 more than the GC?

Ive read up on each option. I guess i would need an opinion from a Disney adult here. What would be cool? Like I don’t really care about decorations or really anything about the Disney experience. cost is about all i care about. So im trying to get an opinion on what she would like (since she likes all that stuff). Also would all the club level amenities be worth it for 3 nights if we are open to close in the parks?

We likely aren’t going to have to time for a rest day as we can’t leave grandma with the kids for to long trying to juggle all activities and school.

Im thinking ill do the 3 day with LLMP although we may not need it. I will be paying for one of them buying the separate picture pass anyways.

Still waiting on work to give me firm dates of travel but it’ll be somewhere around the 15th.

 

[LKing]

Unfortunately the middle seating fantasia meal is already gone but the other 2 are still available.

What is this?

 

[KimberMama]

Back for round 2 with more hypotheticals:

It seems that my work may send me out there in mid January and im thinking that may he better time to take my wife than June due to crowds sizes.

Unfortunately the middle seating fantasia meal is already gone but the other 2 are still available.

Hotels: so all 3 still have military rates for 2 people (sorry kids im leaving you home for this one *evil laugh*)

Question on place for 3 ish nights?
Pixar place for the cheapest rate?
Grand Californian?
Or club level Pixar Place for 100 more than the GC?

Ive read up on each option. I guess i would need an opinion from a Disney adult here. What would be cool? Like I don’t really care about decorations or really anything about the Disney experience. cost is about all i care about. So im trying to get an opinion on what she would like (since she likes all that stuff). Also would all the club level amenities be worth it for 3 nights if we are open to close in the parks?

We likely aren’t going to have to time for a rest day as we can’t leave grandma with the kids for to long trying to juggle all activities and school.

Im thinking ill do the 3 day with LLMP although we may not need it. I will be paying for one of them buying the separate picture pass anyways.

Still waiting on work to give me firm dates of travel but it’ll be somewhere around the 15th.

Club level adds a lot more per night than just buying food and snacks, even if you use room service. I would much rather be at the GCH if you are choosing between that and PP with club level. But if you are all about saving money, just do PP without club. And no, you won’t get enough value from club level if you are in the parks open to close. We’ve done club level at GCH twice and at DH once, and we’ve decided we won’t do it again. Food quality and variety has decreased. No one was ever going to make up the cost by saving money on food and beverages, but if that’s the case, then you do need to use the lounge to make it worthwhile.

No idea what you mean about middle seating Fantasmic!, they only have two shows per night.

 

[Gocanes0506]

What is this?

Im sorry, Fantasmic. I was going off memory and it went poorly

 

[Gocanes0506]

Club level adds a lot more per night than just buying food and snacks, even if you use room service. I would much rather be at the GCH if you are choosing between that and PP with club level. But if you are all about saving money, just do PP without club. And no, you won’t get enough value from club level if you are in the parks open to close. We’ve done club level at GCH twice and at DH once, and we’ve decided we won’t do it again. Food quality and variety has decreased. No one was ever going to make up the cost by saving money on food and beverages, but if that’s the case, then you do need to use the lounge to make it worthwhile.

No idea what you mean about middle seating Fantasia, they only have two shows per night.

Thanks for the opinion on the reservations. I care about the cost but I know my wife cares about the experience. Is GCH worth about 600 dollar difference for 3 nights knowing that we’ll be open to close?

I meant Fantasmic dining, sorry. I was trying to go off memory on the name and failed.

 

[KimberMama]

Thanks for the opinion on the reservations. I care about the cost but I know my wife cares about the experience. Is GCH worth about 600 dollar difference for 3 nights knowing that we’ll be open to close?

I meant Fantasmic dining, sorry. I was trying to go off memory on the name and failed.

After our last trip, I would say if you are in the parks open to close the $600 difference probably isn’t worth it if you are in the parks open to close. We weren’t even in the parks open to close, but the room wasn’t a great place to hang out and it wasn’t nice enough to hang out by the pool. The lobby is always busy with people who aren’t even staying at the GCH, although you can hang out up in the little 3rd floor lobby. PP is a 5 minute walk from GCH. We haven’t stayed there and only recently checked out the hotel while eating at Great Maple, but it seems clean and attractive. If you have the $600 to spend, I would see about getting Lightning Lane Premier Pass one day (it will be priced between $300 and $400 per day starting in January). We go often, so we don’t need it, but I think it’s a fantastic way to enjoy the parks in a more immersive way. You can use the LLs whenever you want without having to book them, which means you can enjoy each land and the attractions in them without hopscotching all over the park.

 

[Gocanes0506]

After our last trip, I would say if you are in the parks open to close the $600 difference probably isn’t worth it if you are in the parks open to close. We weren’t even in the parks open to close, but the room wasn’t a great place to hang out and it wasn’t nice enough to hang out by the pool. The lobby is always busy with people who aren’t even staying at the GCH, although you can hang out up in the little 3rd floor lobby. PP is a 5 minute walk from GCH. We haven’t stayed there and only recently checked out the hotel while eating at Great Maple, but it seems clean and attractive. If you have the $600 to spend, I would see about getting Lightning Lane Premier Pass one day (it will be priced between $300 and $400 per day starting in January). We go often, so we don’t need it, but I think it’s a fantastic way to enjoy the parks in a more immersive way. You can use the LLs whenever you want without having to book them, which means you can enjoy each land and the attractions in them without hopscotching all over the park.

Thanks for the advice.

With the military tickets I can get Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a 96 dollars on a 3 day hopper. Is that premiere pass worth it? I don’t know anything about it. I’ll have to do some research

 

[irlandaise]

I meant Fantasmic dining, sorry. I was trying to go off memory on the name and failed.

I think everyone understood that "fantasia" meant "Fantasmic." What we don't understand is your reference to "the middle seating" and "the other 2." As KimberMama noted, there are only two showings of Fantasmic each evening.

 

[Gocanes0506]

I think everyone understood that "fantasia" meant "Fantasmic." What we don't understand is your reference to "the middle seating" and "the other 2." As KimberMama noted, there are only two showings of Fantasmic each evening.

The restaurant choices. The Mexican fusion section seating is on the left for fantasmic. Bayou restaurant is the center seating for Fantasmic then the fireworks. I can’t remember the name of the third restaurant that has the right side seating.

 

[LKing]

The restaurant choices. The Mexican fusion section seating is on the left for fantasmic. Bayou restaurant is the center seating for Fantasmic then the fireworks. I can’t remember the name of the third restaurant that has the right side seating.

River Belle is the other restaurant. Although, after Jan 10, Blue Bayou will no longer have Fantasmic Dining packages. Instead, they will be offered by Cafe Orleans.

 

[Artygal90]

Back for round 2 with more hypotheticals:

It seems that my work may send me out there in mid January and im thinking that may he better time to take my wife than June due to crowds sizes.

Unfortunately the middle seating fantasmic dining meal is already gone but the other 2 are still available.

Hotels: so all 3 still have military rates for 2 people (sorry kids im leaving you home for this one *evil laugh*)

Question on place for 3 ish nights?
Pixar place for the cheapest rate?
Grand Californian?
Or club level Pixar Place for 100 more than the GC?

Ive read up on each option. I guess i would need an opinion from a Disney adult here. What would be cool? Like I don’t really care about decorations or really anything about the Disney experience. cost is about all i care about. So im trying to get an opinion on what she would like (since she likes all that stuff). Also would all the club level amenities be worth it for 3 nights if we are open to close in the parks?

We likely aren’t going to have to time for a rest day as we can’t leave grandma with the kids for to long trying to juggle all activities and school.

Im thinking ill do the 3 day with LLMP although we may not need it. I will be paying for one of them buying the separate picture pass anyways.

Still waiting on work to give me firm dates of travel but it’ll be somewhere around the 15th.

I think it's so nice you are planning this surprise for your wife. I'll go a bit against the grain here, but as a Disney adult who does rope-drop to close I would recommend GCH over PP and encourage you to take at least a short midday break to enjoy some of the amenities there. GCH is so close (and has a dedicated entrance directly into DCA!) that it's much much easier to go back to the room midday than it is at WDW. If I ever win the lottery I plan to stay there! If I were budget-conscious above all I else, I actually would not stay on site and would stay at one of the hotels on Harbour Boulevard. But of course your wife may really want to stay in the "bubble" and I know plenty of people like Pixar Place.

LLMP is very nice to have and easier to use (IMO) for a surprise trip than at WDW. It also will give you more time to take a midday break. The Premier Pass also would be easier to use at DLR than WDW, but I personally would spend that money on a nicer hotel or more sit-down meals.

In your position I would choose Rancho Del Zocalo for your Fantasmic dining package. It gets you a spot with a good view for Fantasmic but isn't crazy expensive, and I hear the food is better than River Belle Terrace. I plan on booking it for my June trip.

 

[MouseBrief]

Question on place for 3 ish nights?
Pixar place for the cheapest rate?
Grand Californian?
Or club level Pixar Place for 100 more than the GC?

We have not done club level at Pixar Place Hotel, but many on these boards seem to think it’s not as nice there as at other Disney hotels.
If your wife loves Disney parks and you want to save money, maybe the sweet spot is Pixar Place? The hotel had a full re-theme and grand opening in January 2024. Depending on what kind of fan she is, maybe she would be interested in the “new” hotel at Disneyland? That could be exciting for someone who follows the latest park developments. There are even two characters who regularly appear here.
If you want to spring for something extra, maybe go for a park view room instead of club level. A park view room gives you a view of World of Color (with the soundtrack playing from the TV) if you were ever not in the parks in the evening, and she would get to wake up and go to sleep to a view of Disney California Adventure Park.

 

[Gocanes0506]

Its a go for this Friday through Sunday. I got the 3 day with LLMP.

When i called for reservations they said they were only offering 10% room discounts for military at this time. I hadn’t told her a date yet so I know it wasn’t a case of them running out of the military availability. So the discount wasn’t enough to convince me to stay on property. So im paying about 50% less than DLH to stay right off property.

I got a reservation for lunch at carthay circle for Friday since yall said it so highly recommended. And did the dessert party.

I got 1st show reservations for fantasmic on Saturday

So we don’t have to fight for spots for the shows.

Probably do quick services outside of that.

Any recommendations for dinner in downtown Disney place or a place right outside of Disney when we arrive on Thursday?

Thanks for all the help

 

[irlandaise]

Your plans sound great. Is this still a surprise for your wife, or have you spilled the beans now?

 

[Gocanes0506]

Your plans sound great. Is this still a surprise for your wife, or have you spilled the beans now?

Unfortunately I have spilled the beans so she could pack the Christmas stuff up with her mom coming to watch the kids, and she needs to pack.

 

[irlandaise]

Unfortunately I have spilled the beans so she could pack the Christmas stuff up with her mom coming to watch the kids, and she needs to pack.

Ah, yes, practical considerations can interfere with surprises. I bet she was excited when you told her, though! Hope you have a great trip.

 

[tink89]

You have had many great tips. As someone who goes to DL frequently and i am a planner of all trips for my family. My husband would be probably so scared to try and plan this type of surprise because he knows just how I like to plan things out.

If its my bday and my only ever trip i would say stay on site if you can not do the 5 nights do split stay with the on site being at the end not the start. Yes the courtyard Marriott and a few other hotels are right out side but it is about half a mile to the park and so is the walk from DLH we have done both walks. We have done offiste and taken the bus or driven to the lot. Nothing beats just being on site and walking out from your hotel and still being in Disney.

Transportation to the parks uber or hire a company but that will cost about $100-$200.

Lik others have said Blue Bayou, Catharay, Napa Rose. you could do Trader sams and then meet the kids for dinner or the new lounge and then dinner. check when you are going if there are any special events happening.

 

[xipotec]

Short answers.

After tens of visits , we went from premier hotels to basics when we are hitting parks hard. (Open to close). If your goal is to walk through a nicer lobby on the way to and from a full park day, and you have 600 to blow on that walk through, by all means spend it ....

However, a bed is a bed, and spending 600 on a room I'll be unconscious in most of the time is a huge waste to me. I would spend that money on tours, after hours parties and special seating and events. I'd do Napa Rose or Cathay's with that money.

Now if it's a once in a lifetime, I wpuld maybe splurge, but I would highly recommend a non park resort/shopping day.