Help with trip on Friday (or Thursday!)!!

[disneydenisel]

Hi there,

It's been nearly 7 years since we visited Disneyland. I know, I must be crazy! Well, we spent a lot of that time going to Orlando instead. We'd fly, show up, check-in, and be car-less and use the buses . I always found it very, very easy and relaxing.

Now going to DLR has me confused and nervous! First, 4 of us were were flying, now 3 of us will be in the car and 1 flying...but, airfare is super high ($421.40 RT for one)...so...

PLAN 1: If we were to drive down on Thursday night instead of Friday day and stay in a Priceline hotel for one night, what do you think traffic would be like driving from the UC Irvine campus to Disneyland in the morning? My DH would have to work that day until 3, so we would have to go and pick him up again that afternoon. So what would the reverse drive be like at 3, and then back up to DLR?

We would do this to save one-way airfare, but we'd have to pay for a Priceline hotel, plus the gas and time to take DH to and from work. We don't check into the VGC until at least 4pm, so the kids (9 and 12) and I would be roomless. Should we activitate our hoppers (mine is a PAP) and just leisurely stroll around? Maybe get in a line or something? Is it a total pain to have to leave to pick up DH at 3 in Irvine? $$$ SAVINGS airfare of $210.20 less cost of Priceline hotel. Plus DH would have a couple of extra hours at the parks.

PLAN 2: Kids and I drive down for arrival 3-4 pm Friday afternoon. Check-in, hang out. DH flies for arrival into Orange County airport at 6:10pm. He takes a shuttle to DLR and we meet up to enter parks together for dinner, etc.

Not sure it is worth leaving Thursday and staying in another hotel for the savings, what do you think?

I CANNOT believe how much this trip has already cost !

3 nights accommodations $1150 VGC 2 nights and PPH 1 night
Hoppers $597 3 x 199
PAP $459
Estimated gasoline $160
Current refundable airfare for one $421.40

 

[skiingfast]

From Irvine to the park, maybe 20-25 minutes in the morning. In the afternoon to pickup DH, 15 minutes each way if you are getting back to the park of GCH at 3:15. All in all not too bad.

If you are there in the morning of plan 1. You could get in some fun rides and grabbed some FPs for later.

 

[disneydenisel]

From Irvine to the park, maybe 20-25 minutes in the morning. In the afternoon to pickup DH, 15 minutes each way if you are getting back to the park of GCH at 3:15. All in all not too bad.

If you are there in the morning of plan 1. You could get in some fun rides and grabbed some FPs for later.

Thanks for the Irvine to park driving time information. I think now we are leaning toward Plan 2, since it is just a whole lot simpler. But who knows. I will have to crunch some numbers again tonight .

 

[SueTGGR]

Hopefully not this thursday as there is a grad night

 

[disneydenisel]

Hopefully not this thursday as there is a grad night

This Thursday, but we would not be staying at DLR until Friday.