HELP! Last minute, super-low-budget DLR trip for before TG.

[pixleyyy]

HELP! So as mentioned before DH broke his hand and has the next 4-6 weeks off work. Now I'm scrambling to see if I can put together a DLR trip for the week before TG week. So I need your help.

I'm looking for SUPER LOW BUDGET ideas here. We'll drive from Oregon (thankfully gas prices have gone down).

I'm looking for a way cheap hotel very near DLR. I was thinking Hojo but I can't find the link to the entertainment dates. Anyone have the link? Or other cheap but very near hotels for us?

Also looking for the cheapest way to get tix. We'll need probably 5 day passes.

We'll try to take snacks and will eat breakfast and some lunches/dinners at the hotel.

So please pass along your best last minute money saving tips for me. And wish me luck getting this all planned (and getting the time off). I'd really appreciate it!!!

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

Here is the Hojo link
http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

Arestravel seems to have the least expensive tickets that I have found.

Eatting in the room or brown bagging as much as possible is a great way to save money. As is eatting at restraunts outside the parks.

Have fun planning, I hope it all works out and you get to go

 

[pixleyyy]

Here is the Hojo link
http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

Arestravel seems to have the least expensive tickets that I have found.

Eatting in the room or brown bagging as much as possible is a great way to save money. As is eatting at restraunts outside the parks.

Have fun planning, I hope it all works out and you get to go

Thank you so much for the link!!!

 

[DangerMouse]

If you can't get ent. rates at the HoJo, my next choice for super cheap accommodations within walking distance would be the Anaheim Plaza.

 

[avalon451]

The Ent rates for HoJo are on for the 16th-20th, so if it's not sold out (call the hotel directly and ask for IN-HOUSE reservations tomorrow morning, 9 a.m.!) you could get a standard room for $59 a night. Can't beat that. Plus you could go see the fireworks Sunday night.

If you get your tickets through GetawayToday.com, you can get 2 Magic mornings, and then use them on Tues. and Thursday. They cost the same as DL Travel, but they usually charge a $12 customer service fee. However, if you call them on the phone and say that you'd intended to use the discount code "castle" maybe they'll stretch the rules and waive the service fee-- it's supposed to be only when you book your hotel through them (but then you can't get the Ent rate) but I have heard of some people getting them to waive it by mentioning that code. Not always, though. If not, I'd just tell them no thanks and book through Ares, which I believe is $5 or 10 off? Maybe somebody else knows for sure.

Hope that helps!

 

[pixiewings71]

Grab a breakfast or two at Millie, they have huge portions and you should be able to share. Or at McD's, no dollar menu at that McD's but still pretty cheap. We like to grab muffins at Costco and take them, take your own water bottles in and buy glow sticks at the dollar store before you go! Then you can both use glow sticks but not spend a fortune (I love glow sticks). Mimi's has really great food too, huge portions so we can normally get a lunch out of them. HoJo will have a fridge to keep leftovers cold. Hmmmm, what else, we took cup o soups and easy mac and had those for dinner/lunch in our room but you have to make sure you've got a room with a microwave to do that. I'll keep thinking and post more ideas if I can think of them.

 

[pixleyyy]

Thanks for all the ideas. I'm taking notes...

 

[Zoemakes5]

We've also brought cereal and milk in our cooler. Works even if we get a room without a fridge. When it's really tight we eat dinner outside the parks. Something we do as well is bring sandwiches and most of our lunch meal into the parks for the adults and then buy the kids their kids meal.
If you want to do meals in the parks, there's alot of suggestions to reduce the costs, there.
I ditto the Anaheim Plaza. My older kids actually like the pool area better than Hojo's now because it's large and warm. But, overall, Hojo's is our favorite. Love the amenities and staff. Be careful staying too far away, or you may end up paying more than you would have otherwise in the additional cost of parking or shuttle.

 

[pixiewings71]

In the parks get kids' meals when you can, they can actually be quite filling. OR share a main entree with your kids.

We can go to the Golden Horseshoe (or Stage Door Cafe, same food) and get 1 order of chicken w/fries and 1 order of cheese sticks w/fries and share it between our group of 4 and be happily full at the end. DBF and I can go to Rancho Del Zoccalo and share an enchilada meal and a bag of chips and be more than full as well. The pizza slices at Pizza Port are HUGE, 1 fills me up and I give the last part of my slice to DBF to finish. LOL The salad and pasta there are great too, we have been known to share a pasta and salad plate when we've been there. Corn dogs at the fire engine on Main Street or at Corn Dog Castle in DCA are huge and so filling and Taste Pilots Grill in DCA has really good food!! I refuse to share my TPG food though, it's so good I just want to eat it all myself. LOL Whitewater Snacks inside the GCH has huge portions and really good, fresh food!! Easy to find too, just use the GCH exit from DCA and at the end of the hallway turn left, it dead ends into WWS. Outside of DL/DCA is Rainforest Cafe, DBF and I always share when we eat here. Good food, service isn't the best but the food is great. Make a reservation the day before, you'll be glad you did! The wait times can be horrendous! Millie's and Mimi's are both on Harbor, they have really good food, huge portions and very sharable.

 

[JaneJetson]

The Anaheim Plaza is pretty close and is typically only $69 a night. You don't need an entertainment card or anything. We've been there twice and both times our room had a fridge and microwave (not sure if all rooms do or not though.) There's a Target a short drive away so we get a case of bottled water (way cheaper than water in the parks.) We also get milk and cereal sometimes. And snacks. It's cheap/easy to bring things like granola bars as snacks for when blood sugar gets low in the parks.

You probably get the most food for your money at the Pizza Port in Tomorrowland. the pasta portions are pretty big. It's easy for two people to share a plate of pasta and then each get a side salad.

If you drink a lot of water, you really can save a lot by bringing your own so definitely do that. A case of bottled water at target is really cheap where as bottled water in the parks is insanely expensive.

 

[Mugglemama]

super 8 is about $58 a night, has fridge & microwave, and the rooms were very recently remodeled/refurbished. they have donuts/pastries for free in the early morning...

within walking distance.

 

[tink2dw]

Here is the Map of the closest hotels to DL. the hotels are linked
http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

AAA has 5 day tickets here are the prices:

5-Day Hopper Adult Ticket - $193.80 ($10.20 savings +free parking)
5-Day Hopper Child (3-9) Ticket - $165.30 ($8.70 savings +free parking)

Check out Desert Inn and Suites this link shows there Rooms and Suites

http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/room_suites.htm

Have a bunch of Fun!!!!!

 

[spacemermaid]

Another recommendation for Anaheim Plaza Hotel! Standard rates are $59-$69 a night; you don't need an Entertainment card to get those rates. Most of the rooms have a balcony or an enclosed "yard", the pool is HUGE, and they have a hot tub as well. It's not directly across the street from the Park's main entrance, but it is within reasonable walking distance; I timed my walk from room to Park gates, it was 12 minutes.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Desert Inn and Suites is right across the steet and they usually have very good rates, along with a continental breakfast.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Wherever you eat, inside the park and out, ask for a glass or cup of water free with your meal. It is cheaper than sodas and better for you anyway.

Split meals.

Bring in snacks with protien- like a trail mix or something- for energy. Not only do you save money, but you will save time as well because you can eat in line.

 

[pixiewings71]

I know I mentioned bringing our own water in previously but I wanted to expand on that. You can refill your water bottles in Rancho Del Zoccalo or the First Aid Stations, they have good filtered water available there. Just go in and fill up, it's not a problem in any way. Also, many of the CS places have their soda machines accessible for refills, these will also have water available and there is no problem using these to refill your bottles. Oh and if you don't like "plain" water go to justlemon.com and fill out a free sample request, you will get some packets of flavorings, perfect for adding to a bottle of water. I got lemon, lime and orange flavors.

 

[JaneJetson]

I know I mentioned bringing our own water in previously but I wanted to expand on that. You can refill your water bottles in Rancho Del Zoccalo or the First Aid Stations, they have good filtered water available there. Just go in and fill up, it's not a problem in any way. Also, many of the CS places have their soda machines accessible for refills, these will also have water available and there is no problem using these to refill your bottles. Oh and if you don't like "plain" water go to justlemon.com and fill out a free sample request, you will get some packets of flavorings, perfect for adding to a bottle of water. I got lemon, lime and orange flavors.

Before our WDW trip I asked people on that section of the board about places to refill water bottles. I was attacked by a bunch of weirdos telling me how unsanitary it would be to refill water bottles in fountains and under faucets. People are nutty (and MAJOR germaphobes!)

 

[pixiewings71]

Before our WDW trip I asked people on that section of the board about places to refill water bottles. I was attacked by a bunch of weirdos telling me how unsanitary it would be to refill water bottles in fountains and under faucets. People are nutty (and MAJOR germaphobes!)

Really?? I do it all the time at DL. I walk into the First Aid Station and use the fountain, I go into Rancho and use either the fountains in the dining area or the soda machine. I guess I'm just a nasty unsanitary person. LOL But I'm not spending $3-4 a bottle on water so I'm a nasty unsanitary person who has more $$ for her trip. LOL When it's just DBF and I we normally take 6 bottles so we do actually recycle them. In fact....my grocery store just had 6 packs for .75 cents each....I should have I should have grabbed some!! D'oh!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

We take about 5 or 6 water bottles and refill them throughout our stay too. I've heard people say it's nasty and unsanitary, but it saves us money and we usually go to the first aid station and get cold filtered water. I think reusing the water bottles there are a great idea!

 

[JaneJetson]

We take about 5 or 6 water bottles and refill them throughout our stay too. I've heard people say it's nasty and unsanitary, but it saves us money and we usually go to the first aid station and get cold filtered water. I think reusing the water bottles there are a great idea!

I wouldn't call myself a germaphobe. But I do carry wet ones and/or purell to use before I eat. But overall...some germs are good. Our society has become too clean and uses too many antibactierial products. It's NOT good. Makes me wonder about the future.