Headed to DLR in June...worried we chose poorly on dates!

[Safari23]

So, I had been considering trying to move our hotel stay. We are at the Hyatt House but I have a dd with mobility issues and something closer would be nice. I cannot find all the nights open anywhere closer. I actually contacted one resort to ask and they said the 22nd was booked up, which is the same night that all other resorts are booked too. I asked the guy if he knew why and he said that other than WoC opening back up, he has no other notes as to why they are booked solid. Seems really weird that people would come in for one night to see WoC?!?

I just cancelled a reservation for the Best Western Anaheim Inn, last night on cheaptickets, not sure if it's still there? Or maybe you could call the motel directly? I had a res for June 18-23. One room, 2 queens.

 

[Angrose]

Hi Wendy! I'm sorry that you're stressing about your trip. It sounds like that one date, June 22nd, before Pixar Pier opens on the 23rd is the road block for hotels. I agree that a lot of people are probably arriving that evening to get an early start on the 23rd. At least you have Hyatt House booked, which is a NICE place with free breakfast and the walk is not too bad. You had to get 2 rooms there, right? Does that work better for you than one room that could fit all 6 of you?

As for Plaza Inn, as Dory would say, just keep swimming, or in this situation...checking. People will start cancelling the closer it gets, especially the day before. Something is bound to pop up!

I think you have been wise in picking your dates. I don't think July will be any better crowd-wise and it's not worth changing your plans now. As moms, I know we put a lot of stress on ourselves to create the perfect trip for our families. You guys will have a great trip, even if it's without a character breakfast or a hotel right across the street. We are all here to help, so keep asking questions if you need to!

 

[smartlabelprint]

No, I didn't. We didn't know for sure we would even be able to take this trip until recently so I held off on booking. Totally my fault! I guess I also was working under the assumption that DLR restaurants didn't need to be booked up as far in advance as we are used to having to do at WDW.

I always book 60 days out.

Things may open. There can be cancellations. So, keep looking even while you’re there for something to open.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Hyatt house isn’t a bad walk. 3 stoplights you’ll have to cross.

 

[wendow]

Hi Wendy! I'm sorry that you're stressing about your trip. It sounds like that one date, June 22nd, before Pixar Pier opens on the 23rd is the road block for hotels. I agree that a lot of people are probably arriving that evening to get an early start on the 23rd. At least you have Hyatt House booked, which is a NICE place with free breakfast and the walk is not too bad. You had to get 2 rooms there, right? Does that work better for you than one room that could fit all 6 of you?

As for Plaza Inn, as Dory would say, just keep swimming, or in this situation...checking. People will start cancelling the closer it gets, especially the day before. Something is bound to pop up!

I think you have been wise in picking your dates. I don't think July will be any better crowd-wise and it's not worth changing your plans now. As moms, I know we put a lot of stress on ourselves to create the perfect trip for our families. You guys will have a great trip, even if it's without a character breakfast or a hotel right across the street. We are all here to help, so keep asking questions if you need to!

Thank you, friend I appreciate the encouragement! I *am* stressing. I feel like such a dummy for cancelling the Tropicana I had!?! Like, what was I thinking...I just got FOMO from everyone raving about the Hyatt House. I cancelled the Tropicana rooms (two rooms there), thinking that I had just seen it on the UR site for the same points. Booked the Hyatt House (one room...with one bath for 6 people!...for more points) using UR points. Once I realized it actually was more, I tried to go back and look at Tropicana but it was not showing up and hasn't since. I wasn't able to book Hyatt through their site cause the only room for reward points (on Hyatt's site) is a king bed/sofa bed which only sleeps 4. So, I had to book through UR. And the points aren't awful but it's higher than 2 rooms at Tropicana and definitely not the good deal of the Hyatt points.

I will keep checking for the Plaza Inn. You know I sat on this...totally my fault I didn't get this booked...but job stuff/moving/life, and thinking DLR restaurants didn't book up very early lulled me into complacency. And it will be ok if we don't get the meal. My kids are so, so excited about going that they will never miss a character meal

So, back to the hotel thing, the Hyatt is by the Toy Story lot. I guess these shuttles start running prior to park opening. We are planning to use our MM at a 7am opening. What time should we try to catch the shuttle? The rest of us can easily walk but I'm still unsure of pushing a wheelchair that far. Am I over thinking this, and it's not as far as it looks on the map? We could also take uber or lyft, maybe?

 

[wendow]

Hyatt house isn’t a bad walk. 3 stoplights you’ll have to cross.

I wouldn't bat an eye about the walk except we will be pushing one of our kiddos in a wheelchair. That gets hard on sidewalks with divets and bumps. Wondering about trying to use the Toy Story lot but I'm not really sure how that works. Any advice?

 

[Kimberly1]

This is probably not the reason for your dining, but VIDCON which is a huge video/youtube conference is during those dates and that may be part of your hotel problems.

 

[wendow]

This is probably not the reason for your dining, but VIDCON which is a huge video/youtube conference is during those dates and that may be part of your hotel problems.

Interesting, I've not heard of them but that may be the issue. There certainly seems to be something going on!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I wouldn't bat an eye about the walk except we will be pushing one of our kiddos in a wheelchair. That gets hard on sidewalks with divets and bumps. Wondering about trying to use the Toy Story lot but I'm not really sure how that works. Any advice?

You won’t be able to get to MM using their shuttle. The Toy Story Lot doesn’t open until MM starts (even Mickey and Friends only opens 30 minutes before MM).

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I push a stroller and walk to and from the Toy Story Lot rather routinely and it takes me 15-20 minutes. My stroller is nice and easy to manuever; I’m not sure how it compares to a wheelchair...

 

[wendow]

I push a stroller and walk to and from the Toy Story Lot rather routinely and it takes me 15-20 minutes. My stroller is nice and easy to manuever; I’m not sure how it compares to a wheelchair...

Good to know, thanks! The chair is a transport, rather than a true wheelchair. So, it has 4 small wheels which are harder to push (and get stuck more) than a traditional chair with two big wheels in the back. I almost dumped my dd out when the wheels got stuck in the railroad ruts in the MK hub (bad mom!!) so they don't really glide all that easily. As long as the sidewalk is smooth though, without too many curbs to go up and down, we should be fine.

I'll keep stalking hotel sites for a closer place. We could also consider driving and paying for parking or uber. We have options so it'll all be good

 

[Elle23]

The week after will be WORSE. The Southern CA and Select AP's are blocked out 20-23. While hotel and restaurant availability seems bad, the in park crowds won't be that bad. Some schools are still in session this week in southern CA...

The following week, blackouts are lifted for 5 days until the rest of the summer is blacked out, so all those APs will be flooding the parks to see Pixar Pier before they get blocked out until late August. I am staying far, FAR away from the parks from the 24-28.

Man, looks like I dodged a bullet. I will be at Disneyland on the 29th!

 

[hootey]

We have spent the week of CHRISTMAS at the parks for the last six years or so. The parks are near capacity or at capacity every single day. We always enjoy ourselves. If part of a park is super-packed, simply go to another part of the park or park-hop. If your nerves get a little frazzled by the crowds, go have some pool-time at the hotel. There is usually a morning or two when the parks are not crowded and wait times are short, enjoy these and ride as many big rides as you can!

 

[HydroGuy]

Man, looks like I dodged a bullet. I will be at Disneyland on the 29th!

I know what you mean, but the "bullet" you dodged was not random. It was shot off in July 2017 when Disney set the SCAP blockout schedule. So it was a very slow moving bullet that many folks did not pay attention to until recently.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I wouldn't bat an eye about the walk except we will be pushing one of our kiddos in a wheelchair. That gets hard on sidewalks with divets and bumps. Wondering about trying to use the Toy Story lot but I'm not really sure how that works. Any advice?

The toy story lot is equal distance from the gates if I recall.

 

[Angrose]

Thank you, friend I appreciate the encouragement! I *am* stressing. I feel like such a dummy for cancelling the Tropicana I had!?! Like, what was I thinking...I just got FOMO from everyone raving about the Hyatt House. I cancelled the Tropicana rooms (two rooms there), thinking that I had just seen it on the UR site for the same points. Booked the Hyatt House (one room...with one bath for 6 people!...for more points) using UR points. Once I realized it actually was more, I tried to go back and look at Tropicana but it was not showing up and hasn't since. I wasn't able to book Hyatt through their site cause the only room for reward points (on Hyatt's site) is a king bed/sofa bed which only sleeps 4. So, I had to book through UR. And the points aren't awful but it's higher than 2 rooms at Tropicana and definitely not the good deal of the Hyatt points.

I will keep checking for the Plaza Inn. You know I sat on this...totally my fault I didn't get this booked...but job stuff/moving/life, and thinking DLR restaurants didn't book up very early lulled me into complacency. And it will be ok if we don't get the meal. My kids are so, so excited about going that they will never miss a character meal

So, back to the hotel thing, the Hyatt is by the Toy Story lot. I guess these shuttles start running prior to park opening. We are planning to use our MM at a 7am opening. What time should we try to catch the shuttle? The rest of us can easily walk but I'm still unsure of pushing a wheelchair that far. Am I over thinking this, and it's not as far as it looks on the map? We could also take uber or lyft, maybe?

Don't get down on yourself! I am constantly second guessing my decisions, making double reservations, just in case, etc. I have a crazy idea that just may work for you...the Best Western Park Place Inn (right across the street from the Habor Blvd gates) is available on the Chase portal for June 19-22. It's a 2Q with sofabed, includes breakfast. THEN you could move down to the Courtyard Marriott Theme Park Entrance (the super awesome new hotel with the water park) for your last two nights June 22-24. It is available on Chase as well, 2Q + bunkbeds. Those nights are also available on the Marriott site for award points, if you have Marriott or SPG pts available. Remember, you can book Marriott in advance with no points and transfer them later if needed. The split stay would require you to load up the luggage, send the family to the parks, check-in, then meet up with them after. The Courtyard is up the street a bit from the BW, but not far at all. If you're interested in doing this, act fast because I don't imagine these being available for long. Also, you could keep checking the BW to see if your other nights open up then you wouldn't have to move.

 

[wendow]

Thanks @Angrose! Appreciate you

 

[WonkaKid]

I chose our dates based on the whole blocking of AP's but several things are beginning to make me think these are not good dates!

We are planning June 20-23 as our park days.

Here's my take. If you plan to go anytime during the summer, you're virtually assured to hit some crowds. Gone are the days (seemingly) when attendance is light. If it were me, I'd stick with the original plan. No time is ever going to be perfect. Believe me, no one gets more obsessive about DL than me. But at some point you simply have to roll the dice and resolve to be satisfied with whatever results. Hope you have a great time! .

 

[Whistlebee]

I know what you mean, but the "bullet" you dodged was not random. It was shot off in July 2017 when Disney set the SCAP blockout schedule. So it was a very slow moving bullet that many folks did not pay attention to until recently.

 

[Whistlebee]

Didn’t read the whole thread but I agree that your dates are good. Crowds aren’t predictable anymore. It should be decent with all of the AP blockouts. I wanted to go during that time but didn’t work for my friend that is going too so we’re going in July but I think your dates are better. Regarding Plaza Inn, if you don’t end up with a reservation try walk-up.