Help! I need a breakdown to get us to DL!!

[MagicalMomAZ]

Me proving what's being spent on what is my ticket to getting to DL this January!!!
I went to Disney.com to get the package to see what we were looking at - it came to about $3200 for 4 nights.

So this is what I have:
4 nites at DLH, 1 bdrm suite $1200
3 Day Park Hopper tickets (2 adults, 2 kids 3-9) $616
1 Character Meal $89

That adds up to about $1905

WHERE is the other $1295????? Is that my EE, TT Morning Madness, 4 shows preferred seating, DTD Savings Card & $150 GC????

So here's where I'm confused & need answers;

CAN I purchase those 3 things above seperately? If so, where's the best place to purchase from?
CAN I get EE by doing a seperate purchase?

I'm hyperventilating right now bc I think DH is going to go for it if I can keep it no higher than $2000.

I hope the answers I get are good ones bc I'm ready to burst into tears - maybe I'm hormonal. I don't know - this just seems like it COULD happen now, it IS a possibility!!!!!

 

[DL4my2kids]

it's cheaper that way. Only problem for me was the tickets. If you piece it out, you get no toontown or preferred seating tickets.

If you have AAA, get the room from them.
Get the tickets on line at Disneyland.com
Get the preferred seating reservation from Disney dining and pay for it when you get there.

Others may have better ideas but I find the packages to be a bit pricey

 

[DLR29]

No, they don't charge you for EE, MTTMM, preffered seating, etc. So I don't know where that extra $ comes from. Tax maybe? But it still seems too much. I would book separately. Packages often are not the best deal because Disney can charge for convinience too.

The only thing that you can get (from your list) w/o buying a package is EE. Just staying onsite allows you to take advantage of EE every day of your trip that it's offered (M, T, Th, Sa). The other stuff is not worth it. The preferred seating really doesn't do much unless it's SUPER crowded (like Christmas).

Maybe book through Costco because I know their packages come with everything you mentioned, as well as a free character meal. If not Costco, check here for discounts on lodging, tickets, and meals if you choose to book separately:
http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyland.html

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

getawaytoday.com might get you a better deal

 

[bumbershoot]

Why are you getting 3 day tickets if you're there 4 nights (AKA 5 days)?

Staying onsite gives you EE every day it's offered during your stay (it's not advertised, but during our stay at PPH recently they gave us a newsletter with that spelled out, AND the CM checking us in told us exactly what days we could go to EE during our stay), so you do not need the package for that.

Someone mentioned ToonTown...they mean the Mickey's ToonTown Morning Madness, which gets you into TT an hour before it normally opens (which means at the same time DL opens). It was very cool, but that was mainly b/c DS got us chosen to be part of the opening ceremonies...otherwise it wasn't ALL that exciting.

Editing as I'm writing....ohhhhhh, if you're staying after a certain date, maybe you're getting the "pay for 3, but get 5 days" hopper? Cool.

So I'm going through disneyland.com, and I don't know your dates, but I put in the 15th through 19th. I get a total package price of 1762.08, PLUS $1,356.00 for the one bedroom suite. So just in case you're looking at the list of room types and seeing 1200 for that room, it's PLUS 1200 on top of whatever they are charging you already.

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

bumbershoot - staying 4 nights bc we don't typically go to the parks our 1st day there. We take it slow on our drive & get there & take advantage of DTD, etc. Then the park days are the following 3 days. Just tradition I guess.

Everytime I tried Disney.com & then even called in for help the amount came to $3118 - 3225....for Jan 17-21. Sooooo....DH is CONVINCED & we WILL go as long as we buy stuff seperately - which I'm ok w/ bc all I want is EE anyways.

I am one VERY excited lady!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Arriving on 1/17/2008 for 4 nights; 2 Adults and 2 Children

Room Type:Standard View
Package: Resort Package
Tickets:5 for 3 Park Hopper® souvenir ticket
Dining:None
Special Features:
Disney Gift Card
Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness
Character Calls

$1,762.08

*********
upgrade to a:

1 Bedroom Suite +$1,356.00

*********

= $3,118.08

______________________



Going through disney, hotel only, for the 1 bed suite, I don't see that room at all.

Tickets only...

3-Day Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket - Ages 10 and up
$169.00
3-Day Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket - Ages 3 to 9
$139.00


Definitely try getawaytoday dot com, just so you know your options! AAA and Costco too, if you belong to them.

 

[Husker Mickey]

This is our 6th time to use getawaytoday.com We look to see what is available online, but always call and talk with a rep. They have always been extremely helpful and patiently answered every question. It can't hurt to take a look. Happy planning!!!!!! We will be there in 25 days!

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

Well - we decided to forgoe the DLH experience - we will stay at Desert Inn & Suites for the sheer fact we'll be saving like $1100....

AND we used map.live.com on MSN & tracked the distance - it's 1/2 the length to the gates from Desert Inn than it is from DLH - pretty impressive when you have a 3 yo who fights the stroller!! I think it was like 443 yds compared to 830 yds or something like that!!!

Thanks for all the help - I was sort of in a crisis earlier. All of my own making, but a crisis nonetheless!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

AND we used map.live.com on MSN & tracked the distance - it's 1/2 the length to the gates from Desert Inn than it is from DLH - pretty impressive when you have a 3 yo who fights the stroller!! I think it was like 443 yds compared to 830 yds or something like that!!!

Definitely.

We stayed at PPH recently, and it was AGES longer than our last two days at HoJo's. Plus the walk doesn't take you through the umpteen stores selling umpteen items that the 3 year olds just HAVE TO have. (cough, Lego, cough)

 

[mariezp]

Well - we decided to forgoe the DLH experience - we will stay at Desert Inn & Suites for the sheer fact we'll be saving like $1100....

AND we used map.live.com on MSN & tracked the distance - it's 1/2 the length to the gates from Desert Inn than it is from DLH - pretty impressive when you have a 3 yo who fights the stroller!! I think it was like 443 yds compared to 830 yds or something like that!!!

Thanks for all the help - I was sort of in a crisis earlier. All of my own making, but a crisis nonetheless!!!

If money plays a big factor into getting your trip to Disneyland then you made the right decision! We have stayed at the Anaheim Desert Inn for the past 7 years with no problems to speak of. They are not fancy but a good place to shower and sleep. Our latest bill was $1500 for 11 nights in their largest room vs. just a standard room in a resort hotel... can you imagine! I would have to mortgage my house! No thanks. I, personally cannot say that spending the extra money to stay in a resort hotel would really add that much value to my DL experience.

We have walked back to the DL hotel on various occasions. Without a doubt it is faster to walk across Harbor. So handy to go back to your room for an afternoon break, especially with a little one. And at the end of the day those few steps across the street are just about as far as my little tootsies can go!

Have a great time!

 

[MIDisFan]

Arriving on 1/17/2008 for 4 nights; 2 Adults and 2 Children

Room Type:Standard View
Package: Resort Package
Tickets:5 for 3 Park Hopper® souvenir ticket
Dining:None
Special Features:
Disney Gift Card
Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness
Character Calls

$1,762.08

*********
upgrade to a:

1 Bedroom Suite +$1,356.00

*********

= $3,118.08

______________________

MagicMom, Not sure if you seen this reply or not. Your original quote from the Disneyland website is for a SUITE not a standard room. That would explain the inflated price. The suite is $1356 in addition to the standard room price.

 

[ter-moo]

Even with the Desert Inn, I'd book everything separately if I were you. You generally get one EE with a multi-day hopper pass. (Buy at Arestravel.com or see if your husband or you can get cheaper tickets through a work organization, etc.)
Ares Travel: $154/3 day adult hopper; $148/3 day kid hopper TOTAL: $456

Get the Desert Inn through their website, or call them and ask for the best rate available. Check AAA rates, Entertainment book rates, etc.
Website: $139/night for a parlor suite

You can book a character breakfast by calling Disney Dining and pay separately for that.

I think you can get your vacation down even farther $$--wise.